Last Day for Georgia's Gas Chambers -- Happy New Year!

You may remember this post on the subject. 

Thank you to Georgia Representative Tom Knox, who pushed HB788 through the Georgia legislature in 2010, and canine hero, Amazing Grace, who survived the gas chamber at the now defunct Liberty County Animal Control Center in 2006 and went on to become dog celeb lobbying against this barbaric practice. Because of them, from now on animals will no longer be euthanized in this excruciating, painful, prolonged, and inhumane way.

Louisiana, on the other hand, is not so humane in its treatment of animals in shelters. The gas chamber is still used regularly there, and now the animal rescue community will focus its efforts to eliminate it.

Read a quote from an article about Georgia's use of the chamber:

“Euthanasia” is a gross misnomer for the killing of pets as a means of population control. It is doubly unacceptable to use the term to describe a method in which animals can experience prolonged and extreme distress. Rabbi and Macon City Councilman Larry Schlesinger witnessed the gassing of seventeen dogs and was instrumental in the dismantlement of the Macon chamber. He wrote of the experience:

"The sounds of shrilled panic and desperation that I heard through the gas chamber's thick cinderblock walls clearly indicated to me that those canines were quite alert and conscious that something terribly out of the ordinary was happening to them. Their chorus of 'squealings' continues to haunt me, and as a result, I am thoroughly convinced that there is nothing at all 'humane' about this practice."

In the meantime, look here to see efforts being made to end the chambers use in Louisiana. Note there is a video towards the end of this link that shows the actual use of it, and it's very hard to watch.  If you've ever wondered what this is all about, take a look.

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When the President Calls About the Vick Dogs, by Best Friends Animal Society

A most excellent response to idiocy.

via Best Friends Animal Society.


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ASPCA Announces $100,000 Shelter Challenge Winner

via the ASPCA's site:



Humane Society of Boulder Valley

Wins ASPCA $100K Challenge

After months of life-saving efforts and herculean data keeping by all of our $100K Challenge contestants, the ASPCA is pleased to announce the contest’s grand prize winner and recipient of $100,000 is the Humane Society of Boulder Valley.

In total, Boulder Valley saved 2,640 animals’ lives—an increase of 968 lives saved over the same time period in 2009.

See here for more information about this impressive shelter and it's dedicated staff.

See other funding that the ASPCA granted for work well done.

Click here to order your free "Animals Inside" sticker from the ASPCA.  They are so helpful!


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Mobile Adoption Near You... in New York City that is

The wonderful ASPCA has a mobile adoption van that goes into different areas to encourage adoption within the five boroughs of New York City. I think this is a wonderful idea. Sadly, this is only in the New York City area but at least it's happening.

From their site:

All of our animals are spayed or neutered, up-to-date on vaccinations, microchipped, and come with a leash or carrier, as well as a certificate for free follow-up veterinary care at the ASPCA Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital. Adoption fees range from $75 to $200. Our knowledgeable adoption counselors are on hand to provide all the information you need and help you find the purrfect match.

For more information about our Mobile Adoption schedule, please call (212) 876-7700 ext. 4120.

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Animal Rescue Site Contest Winners

You can vote daily for shelters you know, and they can win serious money for their mission... saving shelter pets. Visit the Animal Rescue site for the contest (new one to begin Jan. 10th) and the daily clicks-for-food-bowls ongoing program they have. I will put up the links when the contest begins again, but you can go to this link to click daily to give away a bowl of food to a shelter pet.

Winners for The Animal Rescue Site $100,000

Holiday Shelter Challenge

- together with Petfinder.com

Congratulations to the 72 groups who have won prizes during our Holiday Shelter Challenge, especially to the 29 groups who have never won before! More than 13,000 rescue groups, all part of the Petfinder.com Nework, participated in this Challenge, raising awareness of the plight of homeless animals everywhere.
The millions of votes cast have encouraged us to plan a whole new $300,000 Shelter+ Challenge for 2011, beginning on January 10th. Stay tuned for details!

Winners:

Dark Horse Prizes:

Our top rescue groups that have never won before

will each receive a $1,000 grant to help animals!

Save a Sato Foundation San Juan , Puerto Rico

The Animal League of Green Valley Green Valley , AZ

Angel Dog Rescue, Inc. Georgetown , GA

Kitten Action Team Fountain Inn , SC

Citizens for Animal Protection Houston , TX

Bristol Animal Shelter Bristol , RI

Collierville Animal Services Collierville , TN

Animal Haven Merriam, KS

The Grand Prize, a $10,000 grant to help animals, went to:
Best Friends Animal Society of Kanab, UT.

Second Prize, a $5,000 grant, went to:

Rolling Dog Ranch Animal Sanctuary of Lancaster, NH.

Third Prize, a $2,000 grant, went to:

Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary, Inc. of St. Pauls, NC.

Adoption Events in NYC - January & February 2011

via Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals, a most wonderful collaborative effort.

January 2011

Neighborhood Cats / NYC Feral Cat Initiative/ SaveKitty Foundation:
Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR):
How to Manage a Feral Cat Colony Workshop

Saturday, January 22, 2011

10:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Queens Library
21-45 31st Street, 2nd Floor
Astoria, Queens (NOTE: not wheelchair accessible)

Come learn how to care for the feral and stray cats in your community and make use of the many resources now available to assist you. All steps in setting up a managed colony will be covered, including establishing good community relations, feeding, building and placing shelters, arranging vet care, finding recovery space, safely handling feral cats, and trapping (with an emphasis on conducting a mass-trapping of an entire feral colony at once). All workshop attendees will become TNR certified, and NYC residents will gain access to no-cost spay/neuter and trap rental. Join the 3,100+ caretakers trained to date! There is no fee to attend this class, but advance registration is required.

For more information or to register, contact SaveKitty Foundation at (718) 507-6843 or TNR@SaveKitty.org, or visit the NYC Feral Cat Initiative website.

Neighborhood Cats / NYC Feral Cat Initiative / Staten Island Feral Initiative:
Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR):
How to Manage a Feral Cat Colony Workshop

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Noon–4:00 p.m. (includes half-hour lunch break)

Blue Heron Nature Center
222 Poillon Avenue
Staten Island

Come learn how to care for the feral and stray cats in your community and make use of the many resources now available to assist you. All steps in setting up a managed colony will be covered, including establishing good community relations, feeding, building and placing shelters, arranging vet care, finding recovery space, safely handling feral cats, and trapping (with an emphasis on conducting a mass-trapping of an entire feral colony at once). All workshop attendees will become TNR certified, and NYC residents will gain access to no-cost spay/neuter and trap rental. Join the 3,100+ caretakers trained to date! Suggested donation of $15 payable at the door; advance registration is required.

To register, e-mail lois@NYCFeralCat.org or leave a voicemail with Neighborhood Cats at (212) 662-5761 with your name, address, phone number, and date of workshop you wish to attend. For more information, visit the NYC Feral Cat Initiative website.



February 2011

NYC Bar Association Committee on Legal Issues Pertaining to Animals:

Putting the Safety and Welfare of the Horse First

Tuesday, February 8, 2011
6:30–8:30 p.m.

The Great Hall of the New York City Bar Association

42 West 44th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues)

Manhattan

Issues to be discussed include: Changes proposed by veterinarians to promote health and decrease injury, insurance fraud, racehorse registries and use of registry fees, federal and state bills to prohibit horse slaughter for food, providing for and funding humane retirement for racehorses, and owner/breeder perspectives. Moderators will be Frances Carlisle and John Douw. Speakers will be Terry Finley, Dr. Scott E. Palmer, and Diana Pikulski. Admission is free.

For more information, visit the NYC Bar Association website.

Rational Animal: GIMME SHELTER Rock & Rescue

Thursday, February 17, 2011

7:00–10:00 p.m.

Morrison Hotel Gallery

313 Bowery

Manhattan

This event supporting Rational Animal and the Picasso Veterinary Fund will feature a rock headliner, with special guests to be announced. Complimentary beverages, gourmet vegetarian and vegan food, silent auction with gifts ranging from a private party at the SoHo Morrison Hotel Gallery loft, spa treatments, and more! Festive attire. Tickets are $100 for individuals, $150 for couples; a portion is tax-deductible.

For more information, contact Emma at (917) 257-4648 or emma@thepresshouse.com, or visit the Rational Animal website. For tickets, contact Susan Brandt at (212) 965-5102 or sbrandt@rational-animal.org.



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A few things...

I just came across this interesting group and the new book they are promoting. Got good reviews. Fight Dog Cancer is compiling treatment stories for dog owners to read and share for the benefit of us all, and they will donate $1 for your story to a dog cancer treatment organization.


Other good  news, and some that's not:

Seems dogs can help detect arson now, as well as track counterfeiting!

And read about three dogs who have returned the favor of being rescued, Gee Whiz, Holly, and Max, all dogs who saved their humans' lives.

They do these amazing things, and yet some humans can be cruel.

Not this man, who gave his life for his companions. God bless you, Frank "Poncho" Kruse.

And finally, Delta Airlines better get its act together where transporting pets is concerned. This is the second story of a lost pet I know of. I've stopped flying them, until they figure out a new system or train their people better. Over the summer, I had occasion to book 35 flights for a group I volunteer for, and not one was for Delta. I made a point of it!


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Glory to God in the Highest! (and Peace to all Dogs on Earth!)

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Merry Christmas to All!

As we all run around like chickens getting ready for the holiday, let me take this opportunity to thank you for reading my bits and pieces over the year, for your support of shelter animals, and wish you and yours

a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Enjoy this photo montage of those pets that found homes that cherish them, as they deserve.
Please consider adoption!

Thank this guy for the good laugh!

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Behold:

Know what it does? I'm glad you asked!

If you go to this site, and input your favorite charity's name, and if that charity is registered with Good Search, each time you search using Good Search you will generate money for the charity!

I received a most excellent mailing from Cloud Nine Rescue Flights yesterday, and though I have made all the 2010 contributions I can (and then some), I searched them today for a friend who needs to transport a dog. I noticed the Good Search logo on their site and started clicking to learn more.

If Cloud Nine Rescue had just 1,000 followers using Good Search in stead of Google or Yahoo, etc., almost $7,500 a year could be generated and sent to Cloud Nine Rescue! That's a lot of operating money, especially considering Cloud Nine uses about $2,000 for each rescue flight (which can rescue upwards of 20 animals at once). This would be a great help to them!

So I have made them my favorite charity (at least, for the purposes of searching online -- there are too many charities I love to list) and will be using Good Search from now on. While there are many worthy organizations, there does seem to be a threshold that needs to be crossed to make the effort worthwhile, so it doesn't help if you list a group and you are the only one listing that group. Let's channel our effors and help a national organization.

You can look here to see that with a little help, we can save a lot of dogs.

Let's help Cloud Nine Rescue get those search numbers SKY HIGH!

Have a good day!

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Blanket-and-Bed Time at Yonkers Animal Shelter

UPDATE:

39 BEDS are confirmed as purchased or pledged!!

Thank you to anyone who helped in this effort. I cannot tell you how much it means to those dogs.  The volunteer who organized this effort said she saw the new beds being put out, and the dogs were jumping up and down at being given something new, and sniffing, and wagging their tales.

We still need 5 more for the dogs in runs (that is, indoor/outdoor concrete areas), but with your help we're getting there.  Here is the updated link to a new kind of bed, for the dogs that like to chew or destroy out of boredom (these beds are practically indestructable), and we use them for dogs that can't handle the nicer heavy-duty cloth on the Kuranda beds in the previous link.


Thank you!! You have made the holidays a little brighter for a lot of little souls!


Occasionally I post something about Yonkers Animal Shelter, which is the place where I walk dogs on the weekends. Mostly we have pitbulls and I've learned, like many people, what a maligned breed they are. Fortunately it is a low kill shelter, so not only is that obviously good for the dogs, but we have a honest chance to socialize the would-be pets so they are more adoptable. It works! We get numerous dogs adopted each month. Just recently a dog I was worried about, Fido, whose picture I've posted in the left hand column, was adopted. Same with Patchy Patch, Tatey Tate, and Female Oreo (we had a girl-Oreo and a boy-Oreo, both black and white!) whose pictures also appeared. These were all favorites of mine and the other volunteers. Actually they are all our favorites, but never mind that.

You can drop off blankets, toys,  and food to the shelter any time and many people do. Here's an assistant principal who organized a week-long food drive in his school. We were so grateful! That donated food alleviates what the City has to pay and that means less pressure fiscally, which means more dogs stay alive longer.

On a related note, it's cold here in New York and that means it's the time of the year when we start to have blanket drives. This year, I'm happy to report that even if you don't live in the area you can be helpful.  The beds in this link are great because they are high enough off the ground that the dog stays warm, dry, comfortable, and -- they are the most durable beds on the market, bar none!  The best to order are either the standard 40 x 25 or the aluminum 40 x 25 which fit best into the dog runs.


Please consider buying a bed and donating it to the shelter. You just have to click this link and the bed you buy will go to a dog at Yonkers Animal Shelter.  It's an unglamorous place, to be sure, but one where the dogs get a great deal of love, attention, plenty of treats (and food), and many people looking after them. We are just a municipal shelter, so spending any money on nicer beds is a tough case to make. I've bought one of these for two senior dogs we house together and it's held up really well. (They are the shelter's unofficial mascots, Debbie and George, and they literally are like two old people). FYI -- the bed they are on in this picture taken outside is not the one I bought; that was just to keep the rickety old people comfortable while they sunned themselves.)


So if you live in the NY, NY area, please look around your house for sheets, blankets, towels, comforters, pillows, even tablecloths, and bring them in.  If you are not in the area, please consider buying a bed for a dog this holiday season.


Thanks!

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PET FOOD RECALL

via Triangle Business Journal:

Kroger Co., the largest U.S. grocery-store chain, recalled kitten, cat and dog food sold in stores in North Carolina and 18 other states because of the possible presence of a toxin in the food.

The brands are Pet Pride, Old Yeller and Kroger Value food sold in packages ranging in weight from 3 pounds to as much as 50 pounds, the company said in a statement.


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Whiskers in Wonderland: New York, New York, Dec. 18 & 19

The largest adoption event of the season.

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Holiday Gifts and a Recipe

This calendar's proceeds supports keeping pets in their own homes when their owners are having a tough financial time.  Check out the website of the Pet Assistance Network and click on their food assistance links. Great stuff for folks having trouble buying dog food in Tennessee.

Best Friends has a $100,000 matching challenge going on. Now is the best time to make a contribution to this important and impressive organization. You can double your gift's power to them!

Animal Farm Foundation has merchandise with a mission. I've mentioned their note cards and post cards before. High quality stuff. Great pics.

Here's a whole slew of books about shelter dogs. Good stuff for kids, and adults!

Pinups for Pit Bulls puts out an annual calendar that has become increasingly popular over the last couple of years. This calendar is reminiscent of the old timey pin-up calendars of the 1940's and 1950's featuring pretty women in sexy outfits striking PG rated poses --and in this case, along with pit bulls. For the right person, this gift will be a real hit.

If you're not into pinups, try this.

A great children's book that teaches them not to judge a book by its cover.

Don't forget you can buy a specially priced bed for a dog at Yonkers Animal Shelter. Already 16 beds have been purchased!  I bought two of them and the shipping was reasonable, as well.

The very awesome group Mutts N Stuff also has a calendar. All proceeds support their much-needed and excellent work.

And here's a recipe for dog biscuits from Mutts N Stuff's site:

From the Kitchen of Chloe & Paco

Everyday Holiday Biscuits

Ingredients:

2 cups whole flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 cup peanut butter (smooth or chunky)
1 cup skim milk
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix flour, baking powder, and cinnamon in a bowl. In another bowl, mix peanut butter and milk (microwave peanut butter to soften before adding milk if necessary.) Add peanut butter mixture to flour mixture and mix well. Put on lightly floured surface and roll to 1/4 inch thickness. Using cookie cutters, cut out biscuits and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 20 minutes or until lightly golden brown. Let cool completely and store in an airtight container.

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Angels Among Us... and Happy Hanukkah!

I know this very small group personally as I have contributed to dogs that they were saving at one time or another. They put out a calendar to raise more money to rescue other shelter dogs. Take a look. Makes a great gift! All the dogs were saved due to people pulling together, making a small contribution here and there, and pullers, fosters, and adopters stepping forward.

The same group is also in the running for the Animal Rescue Site's latest contest. Please vote for them; they are currently in the number 2 spot in Georgia. This group can use your help!  You click "Georgia" as your targeted state, and type in Angels Among Us Pet Rescue.

Thanks!

And, Happy Hanukkah!

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