I received this email from Jenny Stephens at North Penn Puppy Mill Watch yesterday. Please circulate!
Animal advocates from across Pennsylvania will rally Sept. 13 on Harrisburg’s Capitol Steps sending a message to state legislators: Pass Animal Legislation now.The rally on the 3rd Street steps from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. is a follow-up to years of effort by animal welfare advocates to pass legislation to improve the lives of all companion animals living in the state’s shelters, commercial breeding kennels and homes.“In this significant election year, here's our chance to make sure legislators hear us: pass meaningful animal welfare legislation,” said Helen Ebersole, president and co-founder of United Against Puppy Mills, one of several groups organizing the rally.Legislation relating to how long animals may be tethered outside, health and sanitation regulations in commercial breeding kennels, and eliminating carbon monoxide “gas chamber” euthanasia of shelter animals has long languished in the General Assembly or been diluted before being passed.Steven Hoover, director of the League of Humane Voters’ Western PA Chapter, supports Senate Bill 672 to outlaw carbon monoxide euthanasia in animal shelters. The bill was introduced in 2006, but has yet to be passed, even though legislators assured Hoover it would be.“This General Assembly is lagging way behind other states,” Hoover said. “This rally is to try to get them in step with states that have made great strides in getting animal welfare legislation passed. All of us in the animal protection community vote. If the people in this General Assembly won’t listen to us, we will find someone who will.”Legislators returning from summer break Sept. 13 will be met by rally attendees and their canine companions who are asking all legislators to create animal welfare policy statements – essentially putting their intentions on paper to ensure accountability. “Over the last five years we’ve heard many promises that, in some cases, amounted to lip-service and we’d like to see our elected officials live up to the guarantees they made,” said Jenny Stephens, director of the animal advocacy group North Penn Puppy Mill Watch. Tamira Thayne, founder of Dogs Deserve Better, which seeks to limit the length of time dogs may be chained outside (S.B. 1435), will also speak at the rally about similar laws that easily passed in many other states. “Here in Pennsylvania, six years have gone by while we attempt to pass much more modest legislation,” Thayne said.
I just read Carol Bradley's blog and learned about a new law taking effect in January in Illinois. (Do you remember Carol? She's the author of Saving Gracie, the story of a dog rescued from a Chester County puppy mill who was brought to the ARL to heal and recover. She was adopted by Linda Jackson, a Berks resident.) This law will require that pet stores (and animal shelters and rescue organizations) must supply a written record of the pup's gender, breed, date of birth, vaccination history, health history and the name, address and identification number of the breeder. According to carol's post, this information must be supplied prior to the sale. Please read more on Carol's blog: Carol Bradley
Listen up, PA and other states! There is so much more that can be done to crack down on disreputable breeders and sellers of our sweet puppies.
Are you old enough to remember the days before web sites, Petfinder and Adopt-a-Pet? It wasn’t so long ago that finding a new pet meant physically visiting the shelter or the pet store or reading the classifieds in the newspaper. Now with the Internet, searching for a pet takes only minutes and you can be connected to the pet of your dreams. Or can you? While the Internet has made it super-easy for shelters and rescue organizations to promote their available pets, it has opened the door for other issues.
First, although it’s wonderful to be able to look for a certain breed of dog or cat from web sites, I too often hear people say that they “want that” pet before actually meeting him or her. Wanting is based on looks alone, and that’s no way to select a forever pet. In-person meetings are so important to assure that everyone is a good match. A pet is more about personality than looks.
Next, the Internet has enabled puppy millers to fool the public into thinking that they are reputable breeders. I can’t tell you how many people I know who have been tricked by a slick web site, cute pictures of perfect puppies and a helpful person answering the phone when you inquire about buying a pup. This is so sad for several reasons: the real reputable breeders cannot be distinguished from the disreputable ones and surprisingly quite a few people are still uninformed about millers selling on the Internet.
The Internet is either your friend or foe, depending on how you use it. Like anything else, be careful and be educated.
Did you see Parade magazine yesterday? The cover article was a story about the new book called The Lost Dogs, Michael Vick’s Dogs and Their Tale of Rescue and Redemption. The book is due to be released in September. If the book is anything like the article in Parade, then I will be first in line to buy it. For anyone who thinks that Pit Bulls are mean dogs, this book will hopefully change their minds. Some of the dogs are certified therapy dogs!
Please see the BAD RAP web site for a short review of the book and mark your calendars to buy the book.
All summer, the ARL has seen an influx of pet rabbits surrendered and even left in the stray room (yeah right, I thought, someone found a stray bunny!). I wondered why so many bunnies all of the sudden. I presumed that because it was summertime and vacation time, people were busy and didn’t want to take the time to bother with their pet rabbits. While that may be the case for some people, an article on MSNBC’s web site claims that the novelty of the new rabbit purchased at Eastertime wears off coincidentally once summer arrives. And guess what? Yes, some people will just let their pet rabbit loose, assuming that it can survive in the wild just like the other rabbits. Gee, I was wrong then about those strays!
Fact is, pet rabbits cannot survive if turned loose because they are accustomed to being fed, and cannot fend for themselves. When a pet rabbit is purchased/adopted, it can be a commitment for 7 - 10 years, the lifespan of a bunny. So next Easter, please think twice before giving the gift of bunny. Make it a chocolate one, like the article says.
You may have heard the words “no kill” referring to animal shelters and rescue organizations. But did you know that it needs to be a community effort in order to be successful, not just a single shelter saying that they are no kill? There are more and more communities in the U.S. who are embracing this philosophy. The movement is growing, so there needs to be public awareness about the subject because it can be easy to be fooled by the terminology. Some shelters claim no kill status just to entice more supporters and donations. One thing that most people do not understand about many no kill shelters: they have limited admissions, meaning that they turn away animals once they are full. To a true no kill community, that is unacceptable. All animals must be accepted.
Recently, the Delaware County SPCA announced that they will be a no kill shelter in mid-2011 and no longer will accept stray animals. The announcement stunned the municipalities in Delaware County because there will be no shelter to handle the strays. That means the local governments must quickly find a way to deal with the problem. Where will they go? Here in Berks County, the ARL takes in all of the county’s strays. And we even get strays from Lancaster County because the Humane League of Lancaster doesn’t accept them. What would happen if we suddenly said we no longer took in homeless animals?
When one shelter in the area suddenly announces that they are no kill, that places the burden of handling the animals on other resources. In effect, no less animals are being killed, it’s just not happening at that particular shelter.
Our community needs to begin thinking about what it will take to be no kill. But it requires cooperation from everyone – all shelters and rescue organizations working together, with the involvement of the government and even the schools. A no kill community consists of many elements: spay and neuter campaigns, shelters working together and with rescue organizations, aggressive adoption and foster programs, behavior and training programs, and humane education programs in schools.
A very large, successful No Kill Conference was just held in Washington D.C., showing that the no kill movement is growing in this country. But it takes the community to change its mindset instead of assuming that the shelters will accept the burden.
In the two years since I joined the staff of the ARL, we’ve lost a couple of regular characters in the barn: Rod Stewart the rooster and Mr. Swanson the turkey. I was so sad to see both of them go. But the most recent loss has me particularly saddened. Betty, the goat who has been a regular resident since her rescue from terrible conditions last year, passed away on Friday from unknown causes. The ARL staff and our veterinarian did everything possible, including a blood transfusion from a staff member’s own personal goat.
Betty was not a very social goat when she first arrived, most likely because she had little positive human interaction in her previous living quarters. But here at the ARL, people are constantly coming into the barn or stopping to see the animals. Betty grew more trusting as she realized we were there to give her all good things. Several of us liked to feed our girl Betty some special treats. When you called her name, she came running over to the fence, just like a dog responding to its name. She learned that we were her friends and she became our friend too. I always began and ended my days with visits to Betty, with a few breaks during the day too, because she was such a happy soul and she made me feel good.
The barnyard is not the same without Betty and her beh-ing. We’ll miss you, sweet girl.
Did anyone watch the show on Animal Planet last night about animal hoarders? It was fascinating yet very, very sad. The show is a six-week series depicting a couple of people each week. Last night showed a man who had too many cats. He was not your typical hoarder who intentionally took in stray animals. He had a couple of cats of his own and obtained another from a relative. His issue was that none of the cats were spayed and neutered. As you can imagine, his house quickly became overrun with cats. Once the home was so out of control, the man had no idea where to start to fix the problem.
The other person in the show was a very unhealthy, overweight woman who kept buying animals. She had numerous dogs but she never allowed them to go outside for fear that they would run away and get hit by a car. And the woman was so infirm that she was incapable of walking them. So…the dogs eliminated in the house – on the carpet. Ugh!
One thing I did not like about the show is that both of these people had very little income, thus representing hoarders as very poor people who cannot afford to care for themselves and the animals. There are a lot of hoarders who are not poor; they live in nice neighborhoods and live regular lives. Just last year, a hoarder was arrested in Jeffersonville (Montgomery County) in a very nice neighborhood. I hope that future Animal Planet shows about animal hoarders depict a cross-section of our society – hoarders come from all demographics.
I recently walked through the ARL’s lobby and saw a girl with a medium-sized dog. She was repeatedly yanking up on the leash and commanding the scared dog to “Sit!” The poor dog was already terrified just by being in the commotion of the strange place and probably had a sixth sense that this place was going to be his new residence. Most dogs will not sit under duress. I grabbed a treat and intervened, patiently showing the girl the proper way to teach a dog to sit. The sad dog was leery of me at first but after two tries, he sat! The girl was thrilled at this new, successful and very humane technique.
Just then, her mom saw what we were doing and asked my advice on how to house train a dog. It seemed obvious that the dog was being surrendered because of this issue. I tried to give her some tips but she was distracted by signing the surrender papers, plus she had a couple of children with her who required her attention.
I sadly thought that this poor little dog is now homeless because the family didn’t seek advice for training the dog. Is it because they didn’t know who or where to ask for this advice? Or could it have been that they thought they were doing everything right and it was the dog’s fault? Or maybe the reason for surrender was something completely different.
Whatever the reason, it feels that we aren’t doing enough to educate people. I try and try and try through this blog, with our monthly BCTV show and in our newsletters. The ARL offers dog training classes with Awesome Dawgs. But it’s not enough. How can we reach more people to educate them about how to care for pets? The homeless pet problem will not go away unless we approach it from many directions. Education and spay/neuter are two of the biggest ways.
Do you have a dog like mine who goes into a total panic at the sight of a dark cloud or the sound of the first raindrop? Maybe help is on the way! I’ve been hearing great things about a new product called a Thundershirt. It’s very similar to the Anxiety Wrap that came out several years ago but is easier to put on the dog (the Anxiety Wrap is very tight). The Thundershirt is a shirt for dogs but it’s made out of durable fabric that exerts constant pressure that has a calming effect on the dog. Read more on their web site: Thundershirt.
The ad on their web site says “no training” which is good because most people don’t want to take the time for extensive counter-conditioning routines. However, if you read more on the web site, some dogs may require further behavior modification along with the Thundershirt if the dog’s issues are complex. That would be my dog! He’s over-the-top phobic of thunderstorms.
The Thundershirt may be helpful for other-anxiety-related issues too, such as separation anxiety, nervousness with going to the vet, barking issues, and travelling in the car.
Check it out!
Many thanks to ARL friend Valerie for passing along this important recall information:
Merrick Pet Care, Inc. of Amarillo, Texas is recalling 86 cases of its 10oz “Beef Filet Squares for Dogs” pet treats (ITEM # 60016 LOT # 10084TL7 BEST BY MARCH 24, 2012) because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can affect animals and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products. People handling the treats can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the chews or any surfaces exposed to these products. Consumers should dispose of these products in a safe manner by securing them in a covered trash receptacle.
If you have Merrick Beef Filet Squares for Dogs that are covered by this recall, please stop feeding them to your pet immediately and return them to PSP for a complete refund. (Returned items should be double wrapped in plastic bags to avoid exposure to possibly contaminated product.) Also, if your pet has any unfinished Merrick Beef Filet Squares, be sure to remove them safely from your home, disposing of them so they cannot be eaten by wildlife. All surface areas that come into contact with any product suspected of being contaminated with Salmonella should be washed and disinfected. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling affected products. Pregnant women, young children, the elderly and anyone recovering from an illness should not handle products that may be contaminated with Salmonella.
People who handle these products can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with them or any surfaces exposed to these products. Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with the product should contact their healthcare providers.
Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian immediately. The Beef Filet Squares were shipped to distributors and retailers throughout the US. These individuals have been notified and have activated their recall procedures. The treats are sold in 10oz plastic bags marked with “Lot # 10084TL7 Best By Mar 24, 2012” on the top of the bag and on a sticker applied to the bottom.No illnesses have been reported to date. FDA collected a surveillance sample of “Merrick Beef Filet Squares for Dogs” (lot #10084TL7) which were purchased from a retail store. The sample tested positive for Salmonella. Consumers who have purchased 10 ounce packages of “Beef Filet Squares for Dogs” are urged to return the unused portion to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-800-664-7387 M-F 8:00 – 5:00 CDT.
Everywhere I go, people ask me questions about various pet-related issues. A 4th of July party over the weekend was no exception. Someone asked my advice about what kind of puppy to buy for her family. Neither she nor her husband had ever had a dog so this would be a new experience for them. She said that a friend was breeding a Lab and was thinking about getting one of those puppies. But then she went on to say that she didn’t want a dog that sheds. And she was intending for the dog to be the responsibility of her two young children, ages 5 and 7. Wow, what a set up for me to provide tons of information!
Her dog of choice, a Lab, is not the best choice for her family. Labs shed a lot and most require a great deal of training and exercise. And that’s a very big dog to expect young children to care for. Without proper training, a Lab may knock down small children. And even with proper training, a playful, energetic Lab can be difficult to handle.
We discussed the issue of shedding and the size of the dog a little more. She began to see that a smaller or a medium-sized dog might be a better choice for them. Some of us suggested maybe a Bichon Frise, a miniature Poodle, a Schnauzer, or a Yorkie. And the woman piped in that she liked Cocker Spaniels or Cockapoos. Yes! We were now getting somewhere! I tried to impress upon her that mutts can be outstanding dogs. And very fortunately, someone arrived at the party with their 6-month-old mixed-breed pup that they had rescued from a shelter. The pup was so sweet and well-behaved, and everyone fell in love with him! I couldn’t have timed it better.
Finally, of course I coached her about where to not to get a puppy (no pet stores, not from the Internet, and to watch out for private homes/farms) and encouraged her to visit her local shelter or go to Petfinder.com and fall in love with a homeless dog.
Here’s some great information from the Fairchild Foundation for how to help orphaned kittens – a great alternative than bringing them to the overcrowded shelters! Thanks to Dr. Jennifer Fry for sending this out:
Always use kitten formula such as KMR to feed orphaned kittens. Never feed cow’s milk to kittens--it can cause harmful or cause fatal digestive problems. Make sure to purchase a kitten nursing bottle. Eye droppers are not recommended as tiny kittens do not have a gag-reflex and could aspirate the milk into their lungs. Always feed them in an upright position. NEVER FEED A COLD KITTEN! Newborn kittens cannot maintain their own body heat for the first three weeks. Kittens quickly enter a downward spiral when they get cold, becoming too weak to nurse which leads to low blood sugar, coma and death. Gently warm a kitten until it is alert and mewing for food. An electric heating pad UNDER the crate is a convenient way to maintain the ideal temperature but it should NEVER be placed directly into the crate. Formula should be warmed to body temperature and fed every 3-4 hours. As they get older, every 6-8 hours will be enough. A kitten needs approximately 8 mls of formula per ounce of body weight each day. Make sure to weigh the kittens daily to ensure they are gaining weight.
Kittens under 3 weeks old are unable to eliminate on their own. The mother normally licks them under their tails to make them void. You must rub the kitten’s anus and genital area in a back-and-forth motion with a warm wet washcloth or cotton ball until the baby urinates and defecates. Stimulate the kittens to go before and after each feeding.
By 4 weeks, kittens are ready to start eating solids. Begin by mixing pureed canned kitten food with kitten formula and offer it, slightly warmed, in a small flat dish. In another week or two, you can begin adding dry food into the mix and discontinue the formula. Royal Canin Baby Cat is one of the best foods for this stage.
At 5 weeks, you can start litter box training. Kitten Attract Litter works great to get them using the box http://www.preciouscat.com/kitten-attract-p-10.html.
I was watching a television show the other day and noticed that the dog on the show just hung around with the actors, never needed to be told what to do and was exceptionally well-behaved. What most people don’t realize is that these actors-dogs are highly trained. Hours and hours are spent with them to make them look that way. Is television jading our perceptions of how a dog should behave in real life? I think so. Just like reality shows really aren’t reality (sorry to tell you, most of them are now scripted!), dogs on TV don’t naturally act that way.
We recently had a puppy returned to the shelter because the dog would not stay in the yard with the owners. They did not hire a trainer for the poor dog; they just expected him to hang around. That’s so unfortunate because this pup is wonderful…and now homeless again. It's possible that their previous dog never left the yard, but that's a completely different dog! Dogs require instructions. They don’t know what’s expected of them unless we teach them. Good training requires time and commitment to get the best results. But what a great investment! A wonderful friend for life.
Some days at the ARL can be like the Gulf of Mexico over the past 57 days: disastrous amounts of incoming pets with no end in sight like oil gushing from the well. The staff here can be like the oil clean-up workers, mopping up the mess that others have created. The ARL and other open-policy animal rescue organizations are fighting the same losing battle as the oil clean-up workers. Until the well is permanently capped and until a solution to pet over-population can be found, both battles are losing propositions.
The solution is not about cleaning up but the need to put a stop to the problem. Just as the oil spill has to be stopped by capping the well, the pet over-population problem needs to be addressed at the source. It cannot be the sole responsibility of the rescue groups, just as the oil spill cannot be stopped by the clean-up workers. If every animal lover took a personal stake in seeking solutions to the root causes, we could cap the gushing well of homeless pets.
What are some of the root causes of pet homelessness?
What else? Is there something you can pick from this list that you can take on as your own cause to resolve the problems at the root? For many people, all it takes is a little education to get them to understand the issues and to change their behaviors. Here’s a recent example: My nephew’s girlfriend is looking to get a dog and she knows not to buy one at a pet store or from the Internet, but she didn’t know about Petfinder.com. I pointed her in that direction and hopefully she’ll adopt instead of buy.
The ARL and other rescue organizations cannot do it alone – we need every animal lover’s help. A little education goes a long way. Thank you.
No other breed of dog stirs up controversy like a Pit Bull. Even the spelling of its name is now controversial! It’s Pit Bull, by the way, not Pitbull. You don’t see Goldenretriever! At least I hope we never do because it’s just plain incorrect. And so is the breed profiling that happens with Pits. Nobody understands this issue more than the staff of the ARL. The majority of dogs who come into this shelter are Pits (and Chihuahuas – but that’s a blog topic for another day). Like any other breed, some are nice and some are not. They will be treated no differently than any other breed or mixed breed who comes here for help. They are respected for their loving, affectionate nature and for their other breed characteristics – tenacity and strength. The ARL has extensive experience with Pits and all other animals, and we want to educate people about the breed and to try to get through to the people who continue to over-breed these dogs that will eventually end up here.
I just completed filming a segment for Comcast’s Pets on Demand and I worked with two delightful Pits. They were sweet, happy and loved to give kisses. That’s what the breed is supposed to do. They are very people-focused and like to please. Many people don’t know that. They see a Pit and cower in fear. Many Pits, however, have a high prey drive and may not get along with other animals. That’s part of their breeding and nothing to be held against them. But…it’s something that needs to be understood about them when adopting one.
Just as sporting dogs, herding dogs or guard dogs may not be the best pet for everyone, a Pit may not be the right dog for everyone. Breed-specific knowledge is so important before adopting or buying a dog. Do your research before you commit to a lifetime friend. Ask the staff here; they can give you the lowdown on all of the breeds.
I’m saddened when I see strays come into the shelter with no identification – no tags, no microchips, signs that nobody cared about them. Just anonymous, no-named, homeless animals. In mid-May, we picked up one of many dogs with no identification. We scan all incoming strays for microchips and this dog did not have one. Luckily, he was a very nice, middle-aged guy and we were able to quickly place him in a foster home where his foster mom fell in love with the way the little dog sat up and begged, and acted like a perfect gentleman. He loved to play with her other dogs. But along came his owner who happened to see the dog’s photo – more than two weeks after he was picked up by the ARL. The owner claimed him and was incredibly lucky that the dog had not been put down after the mandatory waiting period for strays.
I wonder how many other dogs and cats with no identification suffer that fate. Microchipping is easy and inexpensive. All veterinarians will microchip and it does not hurt the pet. When the microchip is inserted, ensure that the vet scans the chip to make certain that it shows up properly. Also, be sure that you register ownership of the pet through the microchip’s manufacturer. A microchip is worthless unless your information is registered.
Several cities have banned the sale of dogs and cats in pet stores. West Hollywood, CA and Albuquerque, MN are just two of an increasing trend to try to put an end to puppy mills and encourage adoptions from shelters. According to an article on MSNBC, adoptions are up in the shelters supporting these cities. Would a strategy like this work in our area of Pennsylvania where you can just drive to a local farm and find the dog of your dreams? As much as I would love to encourage Reading and other area cities to enact legislation to ban sales of dogs in pet stores, I fear that it would not decrease the number of puppy mills in our area. The only thing that will work is education and getting people to care.
I recently met a college student who is heading up an animal welfare group. They asked me to speak at one of their meetings. After the meeting, he asked me if I knew where he could buy a certain breed of dog. He said he had his heart set on this breed. I threw my hands up in frustration! Here we have a person who is involved with helping the animals but still didn’t get it.
Do you think that banning the sale of dogs in pet stores would be effective in shutting down puppy mills and encourage adoptions at shelters in our area?
Get ready, here it comes! The forecast is predicting high temperatures in the 80’s this week, just the beginning of several months of hot weather. While you may love these temperatures, your pets may not. They don’t have the ability to take off their sweaters and long pants! Pets overheat very quickly so here are a few reminders to ensure your pet’s health during hot weather:
Always remember that your pets are wearing fur coats. Even though you may think it's not too hot, they might disagree!
