1,746 Shelter Dogs and Cats in One Weekend -- WOW!

Maddie's Matchmaker Adoptathon

(Alameda, California) It's a pet adoption event for the record books: 1,746 shelter dogs and cats in two counties found homes on a single weekend.

The event was Maddie's® Matchmaker Adoptathon, held June 12 and 13 in California's Contra Costa and Alameda Counties. Forty-one animal welfare organizations in 72 locations participated, some of them doing as many adoptions in a single day as they normally do in a month. Overall, adoption activity was 500 percent greater than on an average weekend.

Dogs and cats were free to qualified pet lovers, but Maddie's Fund offered the organizations a $500 bonus per adoption, adding up to a total outlay for Maddie's Fund of $873,000. The Maddie's Fund "financial stimulus package" is intended to ease the burdens the recession has placed on so many Bay Area animal welfare agencies.

"We created this event in an ambitious effort to empty local animal shelters and the results exceeded our wildest expectations. We are absolutely thrilled that through this event 1,746 dogs and cats have found their forever homes," said Dave Duffield, Maddie's Fund founder. "We'd like to recognize the heroic effort of the Contra Costa and Alameda County shelters and rescues, and as importantly, the community members that showed up in masses to find their new best friends."

"We went home empty handed but our hearts were full of JOY, every pet found a new forever home," wrote Paws and Tails Animal Rescue.

Glenn Howell, Director, Contra Costa Animal Services Department, wrote, "We had a FANTASTIC day. I believe we adopted every available dog and cat. The animals win today!"

Increased public awareness of local shelters and rescues was another huge benefit of the event. Writes Mike Murray, Chairman of Golden State German Shepherd Rescue, "Besides the adoptions, which were wonderful, I think one of the things I felt was so important, was this adoptathon introducing so many people to shelter and rescue animals. Many of whom had never adopted a rescue animal, or really knew the situations that exist for these animals. This weekend gave all the shelters and rescues a chance to educate the public, as well as find some wonderful homes for all the animals in need."

As for the record-making adoption numbers, Maddie's Fund will be submitting them to the Guinness Book of World Records.

Maddie's® Matchmaker Adoptathon was held in honor of the Foundation's namesake, a miniature schnauzer named Maddie.


Most Adoptions:

Oakland Animal Services: 133

Contra Costa Animal Services: 111

East Bay SPCA: 103

HALO (Homeless Animals Lifeline Organization): 100

Safe Cat Foundation: 94

Great Kitty and Doggy Rescue of Rescue Alliance: 82


Please visit the Maddie's® Matchmaker Adoptathon website and Facebook Page to read more about this amazing event.


About Maddie's Fund

Maddie's Fund®, The Pet Rescue Foundation, is a family foundation which is funded by the founder of Workday and PeopleSoft, Dave Duffield and his wife, Cheryl. Maddie's Fund is helping to create a no-kill nation where all healthy and treatable shelter dogs and cats are guaranteed a loving home.

To achieve this goal, Maddie's Fund is investing its resources in building community collaborations where animal welfare organizations come together to develop successful models of lifesaving; in veterinary colleges to help shelter medicine become part of the veterinary curriculum; and in the implementation of a national strategy to promote accountability and transparency in animal shelter operations. Maddie's Fund is named after the family's beloved Miniature Schnauzer who passed away in 1997.




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Puppy Math

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Service Dog Turned Surfing Dog

You gotta see this. Five minutes long. Worth it! Get kleenex.

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=BGODurRfVv4


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Never Walk Alone -- T-Shirt Drive!

http://www.dogisgood.com/servlet/the-58/Tee-cln---Never-Walk/Detail

Remember Troy and Emmie, walking across the country to raise awareness of our soldiers? Emmie's goal is to sell 40 t-shirts today.  Please give them a hand!

http://drumhike.com/index.html

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Des Moines, Iowa: Where a dog that hasn't attacked anyone gets euthanized.

This just seems wrong.

http://www.woi-tv.com/Global/story.asp?S=12707448

"It should be this dog attacked somebody so we are going to euthanize it," Jessica said. "It shouldn't be the dog was sitting on a balcony relaxing, playing with his family; we are going to euthanize him."

Des Moines, Iowa: Where a dog that hasn't attacked anyone gets euthanized.  Never mind the private property rights homeowners ought to have; the level of stupidity on the part of local legislators is staggering enough. Now that lack of imagination will cost their city money to ward off the inevitable lawsuits challenging breed specific legislation, which the animal protection community will fully support.

Stupid is as stupid does. The owners ought to have been aware of the law; but a dog should not be euthanized when no crime has been committed.

Des Moines, Iowa.

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10 Things To Know About Adopting a Shelter Dog

...

I didn't write this but it looks like good advice! It comes from the wonderful program (and also website) of Rescue Inc., but I changed the title they used. They listed this as 10 Assumptions You Should Have About Adopting A Shelter Dog.

1. Your new dog knows nothing!

Although it’s very possible that your new dog has basic skills such as house manners and obedience, it is wiser to assume he has none and take on the responsibility of teaching him everything yourself. Expecting your new dog to understand the rules and boundaries that you live by can only disappoint every time he fails.


2. Your new dog has no pack leader!

When dogs are displaced, they lose the most important figurehead in their lives. Dogs live as our domesticated animals – as our partners. If we do not provide them with the basic information necessary to place ourselves in a leadership role, they will have no idea where to look for guidance every time a new challenge arises. Showing a dog where to find food, water and affection is not a leadership role. Only when you can affect his behavior on a moment-to-moment basis can you assure that your dog will be able to learn how to achieve this role of life partner and companion.


3. Your new dog needs rules!

Anxious, nervous, fearful or aggressive dogs do not act this way because they want to. They have these reactions simply because no one has ever shown them what to do. Before you bring your new dog home, take him for a walk. You want to be calm for the main entrance into your new sanctuary, and more important, you want him to be calm and comfortable, too. Taking your dog for a walk and expelling his energy - especially all of the pent up and toxic energy that a dog can accumulate in a shelter cage - is the best start you could ever offer.


4. Your new dog does not respect your home!

Your new dog may have never been allowed to roam free in an indoor environment, let alone one as comfortable as yours. If you allow your dog to run into your home ahead of you and immediately have the freedom of the whole house, you are essentially turning your whole home over to him. Making your dog wait before entering, making him follow your entrance into the house and by using a simple on-leash tactic for the first few hours or days could save months and years of misbehavior and training down the road.


5. Your new dog doesn’t respect your visitors!

Even if your new dog is very social with people, he will not think to control his excitement and invasive behavior if he believes this new home is his to own. But if you set this boundary from the beginning you have given him the knowledge that he will be able to use each and every time someone new comes into your home. Likewise - if you have already followed rules #1-4 then this task of asking for a polite greeting will be little more than an expression, a hand signal or a brief use of the leash. We make it harder for ourselves and for the dog when we do not set the rules from the beginning.


6. Your new dog may not like your visitors!

It is possible that your new dog has some fear or dominance issues that can lead him into an initial protection mode with new people. If this is the case: Don’t panic! If you have followed rules 1 through 4, then you must simply control your guests and your dog through initial introductions to ensure that you continue to provide the correct information to your dog. Your fear or anxiety will not benefit your dog and will in fact, make matters worse. If you do have these emotions, consider the possibility of help from a professional, especially with large and powerful breed dogs.


7. Your new dog may not like your other dog!

If you are unsure of the social skills your new dog has with other dogs, you cannot assume that introductions will go well. Never simply put two dogs in the house together and wait to see what happens. Introduce new dogs first on neutral territory and through a walk. Being able to smell, see, hear and feel another dog without forcing contact is the perfect first success for a new dog. If an immediate aggressive reaction is noted, desensitize this by moving forward and continuing the walk until you see the reaction subside. If it does not, then you know that you have an issue to deal with. Again – the assistance of a professional is advisable with notable social issues between dogs.


8. Your new dog does not need your emotion!

Of course it can be a very emotional experience to rescue a dog. But that flutter in your heart and stomach is understood in the animal kingdom as a lack of strength. If we can withhold these emotions when we first introduce ourselves to a new dog, we will be showing him that we are a source of strength, and he will automatically follow us.


9. You need to take it SLOW!

Your pace of life and expectations may not be natural to your new dog. You have the rest of your dog’s life for everything that you plan to show him. However, you only have his first day once, and it makes all the difference in the world for how he will behave every day to follow. Do not immediately parade your new dog to new people’s houses, yards or dog parks. If you first ask your new dog to respect you and your personal environment, this is challenge enough.


10. You have their whole life to love them, but only the beginning to teach them!

Dogs do live in the moment, but if you fail to show them certain things in their first minutes, hours and days with you, you will not only have to make up for this initial shortcoming, but you are giving them an opportunity to practice the wrong behaviors first. Then you will be working backwards to undo negative behaviors later on. Remember: Your confidence is built from their positive decisions. It is our choice to make this relationship what we want from the very first moment that we bring a new dog into our lives.


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Free/Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic in Yonkers, NY -- June 27th

United Action for Animals' free and low cost Spay/Neuter Clinic expands to Yonkers, NY. If you would like to volunteer on Sunday, June 27, 2010, please email info@ua4a.org.

See pictures from last month’s clinic in South Jamaica Queens- click link to follow:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/United-Action-For-Animals/112930905984#!/album.php?aid=221837&id=112930905984

Please pass this link around!   They need volunteers, too! So far there are about 120 animals scheduled to be fixed!



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Resources for Those Having Trouble Paying For Their Pet's Care

While I remain incensed at the Humane Society of the United States for their Michael Vick stunt, I also maintain that they do some good work.  Here is a comprehensive list of pet financial aid-related organizations they posted recently.

http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html#Organizations_that_provide_financial

Please pass the above link around. It's information worth keeping.

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A Dog's Last Will

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Cloud Nine Rescue Flights

I love this group!

This past weekend, Cloud Nine helped out a veterinary clinic by going to remote towns in northern Quebec that have no veterinary care. On Friday, we transported 4 veterinarians and vet techs up north, and spent Saturday helping them out. This weekend, we will be returning to bring them north after their week helping animals up there. These communities are very remote, and have zero veterinary care the rest of the year.

http://www.cloudninerescueflights.org/#


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Welcome News in Georgia!

via Valerie Hayes for the Atlanta Animal Welfare Examiner:

http://www.examiner.com/x-35783-Atlanta-Animal-Welfare-Examiner~y2010m6d8-A-dog-has-her-day---the-Graces-Law-signing-ceremony

As of December 31, 2010, it will be illegal--totally, completely, and unequivocally illegal, to kill shelter pets in gas chambers in the state of Georgia. No more grandfather clauses. No more loopholes. Just plain against the law of the land. Struggles are heating up in other states to accomplish something similar to what Georgia has, perhaps most notably in North Carolina and Texas, though there are others. They are looking to Georgia and to what we accomplished here. A bit of ceremony is called for on an historic occasion such as this, and a bit of ceremony is what we got.

This dog, now named Amazing Grace, was placed in the gas chamber and survived. Her story fueled inspiration to lobby for the abolishment of the chamber, which is a barbaric, prolonged, and painful way to euthanize an animal.  Kudos to the State of Georgia for being forward-thinking and for doing the right thing!

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Connection Between Animal Abuse and Violence Towards Humans

via Charles Siebert for The New York Times; this is a fine article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/13/magazine/13dogfighting-t.html

When I spoke recently with Stacy Wolf, vice president and chief legal counsel of the A.S.P.C.A.’s Humane Law Enforcement department, which focuses on the criminal investigation of animal-cruelty cases in New York City, she drew a comparison between the emerging mindfulness about animal cruelty and the changing attitudes toward domestic abuse in the 1980s. “It really has only been in recent years that there’s been more free and accurate reporting with respect to animal cruelty, just like 30 years ago domestic violence was not something that was commonly reported,” she said. “Clearly every act of violence committed against an animal is not a sign that somebody is going to hurt a person. But when there’s a pattern of abusive behavior in a family scenario, then everyone from animal-control to family advocates to the court system needs to consider all vulnerable victims, including animals, and understand that violence is violence.”

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Good News for the Animals at Robeson Animal Shelter in North Carolina

http://www.robesonian.com/view/full_story/7904608/article-Bass-out-at-county-pound?instance=home_news_lead

I can tell you that numerous animal rights/rescue people I know are thrilled at this news. The animals there are not out of the woods but there is one less person gunning for the dogs and cats at Robeson Animal Shelter.

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I am only one, but I am one.

I cannot do everything, but I can do something.

And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what

I can do.

~Edward Everett Hale

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A Word On a Good Shelter

I've been hitting pretty hard at shelters that are poorly run, and owners who abandon their pets. But here is another angle, one conveyed through a volunteer of Yonkers Animal Shelter, where I am a regular dog walker and member of the fundraising and events committee.

At Yonkers - a 50 year old shelter that is literally ducked taped together - what we don't have in facility we have in spirit and love of our animals. While our shelter is being moved sometime in the coming year or two, to a new location that the City of Yonkers is committed to paying for but struggles to do so, the 104 dogs and 75+ cats have many people looking out for them. While other shelter volunteers have to worry about abuse or dogs not being fed, or not brought to a vet when it’s needed, that is not the case in Yonkers. We lack anything remotely resembling glamour or even newness, but what I love about the place, ramshackle as it is, is that the volunteers are allowed to affect positive change in those animals' lives. This basic thing is not nearly the case at too many shelters across the country. Our dogs are socialized, happy to see people, hand fed treats regularly (to help them be less food aggressive), walked a few times a week, and given blankets in colder months. No, not all the dogs get plush beds. Most have functional beds of hard plastic, but each day in the colder months, and always for the arthritic dogs or those who don't tear up their stuff in two seconds out of boredom, volunteers go through and put bedding inside that some other volunteer has collected at stores or from friends. Dogs are all known by name, and looked after by staff and volunteers alike.

There is a sort of informal but very diligent volunteer base at Yonkers Animal Shelter, and the director and staff and all of us work fairly well together. Of course there's drama some days, but by and large, it's a good situation - one I'm always grateful for. Some who volunteer there would say it's not (we all want the dogs to have homes and it hard to watch them languish) but I say they don't know enough about other shelters in unseen places.

A final note: there are many volunteers who are not mentioned here. Their work is enormously appreciated.

SHELTER HEROES

In the glare of a dust-filled quarry, amid screeching machinery

blasting at concrete, a homeless dog eagerly runs after a ball tossed

by two kind souls - volunteers who've found time in their busy days to

bring some joy to those who need so little...a pat on the head, a

"Good boy!"...someone who looks into their anxious eyes and lets the

know they're not alone, that someone loves them. In the rain and

freezing cold, on their own dime, the volunteers at the Yonkers

Animal Shelter try to make a difference under some of the worst

conditions, without hesitation or regret.

Volunteers at animal shelters fill a need most people cannot. Those

who love dogs and cats - and understand their sameness to us, that

their need for attention and affection is identical to ours - are

often the ones least able to get involved. The majority of people

can't even go to shelters, much less help out. "People have a problem

with putting the animals back in their cages when they leave. It

breaks your heart when they look at your so longingly," says Laurie, a

relatively new volunteer "Some are resigned to the fact that they're

being 'left' again and go to the back of the cage with their head

down, as though they've somehow 'failed.' That's tough to take."

Erica, a longtime volunteer with health issues of her own, finds a

personal benefit. "It's like therapy for me. They have so much love

to give; I them all my attention and it takes my mind off myself. I

have my favorites, and I miss them when they are adopted." Roger, who

has been at the shelter for ten years, also helps stray animals who

seek shelter under cars and cry for a bit of food. "Some come right

up to me, they're obviously from someone's house - they've either been

lost or dumped. My house is 'filled up' just like the shelter - no

vacancies...it breaks your heart to have to leave 'em."

"The current sixty year old shelter is small, decrepit and woefully

inadequate,” reflects Kay Pistone-Carucci, volunteer chairperson for
the Building Hope committee which is raising funds for a new shelter.
“The new facility will be spacious, bright and supportive, a symbol of

what Yonkers can achieve...a place with a welcoming atmosphere for the
public and where both homeless animals and volunteers can find hope

and a respite from life's storms."

For more information, visit http://www.newyonkersanimalshelter.org/

Written by Kiley Blackman, Member, 'Building Hope' Committee

Letter From A Shelter Manager

I saw this letter some months ago. It's pretty brutal. I half wondered whether I should post it; I've also wondered whether it was written by an actual shelter manager, or a volunteer who wanted to tell it like it is. I recall that I read it on a blog actually written by a shelter, but either way, it speaks the truth. I've decided to post it to spread the word. Some readers may not like it but this blog's name is Shelter Tails and this is what happens. I'm not hiding it or sugar coating it.

When you bring your dog to a shelter, the vastly majority of those pets will be put down. Where you live determines how much time your dog gets, and how brutal the method of euthanasia. The State of Georgia just signed legislation ending the gassing of dogs and cats starting on December 31, 2010. That was a hard won battle. Stuff like that doesn't happen unless a reluctant state legislature recognizes the cruelty inherent in a particular method.  Gassing is neither quick, nor painless, and dogs die in a state of panic. So, when you hear someone say "I'm moving and I can't take my dog," question them. Look them in the eye and ask "whereare you moving to that doesn't take dogs?  Put on the pressure; make it un-cool to do, to leave your pet behind.  Times change, it used to be you could beat your kids and people would say "that's a family matter."  Not anymore. Many things continue to change. This will be one; animal protection people will spend their cash, time, and energy advocating for dogs and cats everywhere. In the meantime, literally millions of animals will perish, alone and scared, confused, and their so called owners can rot in hell, as far as I'm concerned. One day they'll need someone to push their wheelchair along, administer meds, or wipe drool. What comes around goes around. What you put out there comes back to bite you. Be on the right side of that fence.

LETTER FROM A SHELTER MANAGER:

I think our society needs a huge "Wake-up" call. As a shelter manager, I am going to share a little insight with you all - a view from the inside, if you will. First off, all of you people who have ever surrendered a pet to a shelter or humane society should be made to work in the "back" of an animal shelter for just one day. Maybe if you saw the life drain from a few sad, lost, confused eyes, you would help these animals find homes. That puppy you just bought will most likely end up in my shelter when it's not a cute little puppy anymore. Just so you know there's a 90% chance that dog will never walk out of the shelter its dumped at. Purebred or not! About 25% of all of the dogs that are "owner surrenders" or "strays", that come into a shelter are purebred dogs.

The most common excuses: "We are moving and we can't take our dog (or cat)." Really? Where are you moving too that doesn't allow pets? Or they say "The dog got bigger than we thought it would". How big did you think a German Shepherd would get? "We don't have time for her". Really? I work a 10-12 hour day and still have time for my 6 dogs! "She's tearing up our yard". How about making her a part of your family? They always tell me "We just don't want to have to stress about finding a place for her we know she'll get adopted, she's a good dog".

Odds are your pet won't get adopted and how stressful do you think being in a shelter is? Well, let me tell you, your pet has 72 hours to find a new family from the moment you drop it off. Sometimes a little longer if the shelter isn't full and your dog manages to stay completely healthy. If it sniffles, it dies. Your pet will be confined to a small run/kennel in a room with other barking or crying animals. It will have to relieve itself where it eats and sleeps. It will be depressed and it will cry constantly for the family that abandoned it. If your pet is lucky, I will have enough volunteers in that day to take him/her for a walk. If I don't, your pet won't get any attention besides having a bowl of food slid under the kennel door and the waste sprayed out of its pen with a high-powered hose. If your dog is big, black or any of the "Bully" breeds (pit bull, rottie, mastiff, etc) it was pretty much dead when you walked it through the front door. Those dogs just don't get adopted. It doesn't matter how 'sweet' or 'well behaved' they are.

If your dog doesn't get adopted within its 72 hours and the shelter is full, it will be destroyed. If the shelter isn't full and your dog is good enough, and of a desirable enough breed it may get a stay of execution, but not for long . Most dogs get very kennel protective after about a week and are destroyed for showing aggression. Even the sweetest dogs will turn in this environment. If your pet makes it over all of those hurdles chances are it will get kennel cough or an upper respiratory infection and will be destroyed because the shelter gets paid a fee to euthanize each animal and making money is better than spending money to take this animal to the vet.

Here's a little euthanasia 101 for those of you that have never witnessed a perfectly healthy, scared animal being "put-down."  First, your pet will be taken from its kennel on a leash. They always look like they think they are going for a walk happy, wagging their tails. Until they get to "The Room"; Every one of them freaks out and puts on the brakes when we get to the door. It must smell like death or they can feel the sad souls that are left in there, it's strange, but it happens with every one of them. Your dog or cat will be restrained, held down by 1 or 2 shelter workers depending on the size and how freaked out they are. Then a shelter worker who we call a euthanasia tech (not a vet) find a vein in the front leg and inject a lethal dose of the "pink stuff". Hopefully your pet doesn't panic from being restrained and jerk. I've seen the needles tear out of a leg and been covered with the resulting blood and been deafened by the yelps and screams. They all don't just "go to sleep", sometimes they spasm for a while, gasp for air and defecate on themselves. You see, shelters are trying to make money to pay employee pay checks and don’t forget the board of directors needs to be paid too, so we don’t spend our funds to tranquilize the animal before injecting them with the lethal drug, we just put the burning lethal drug in the vein and let them suffer until dead. If it were not a “making money issue” and we had to have a licensed vet do this procedure, the animal would be sedated or tranquilized and then euthanized, but to do this procedure correctly would cost more money so we do not follow what is right for the animal, we just follow what is the fastest way we can make a dollar. Shelters do not have to have a vet perform their euthanasia’s so even if it takes our employee 50 pokes with a needle and 3 hours to get the vein that is what we do. Making money is the issue here not losing money.

(NOTE FROM THIS BLOG: Some shelters do tranqualize first but if you live in the south, way up north, Ohio, Missouri, or Alaska, this is usually not the case.)

When it all ends, your pet's corpse will be stacked like firewood in a large freezer in the back with all of the other animals that were killed waiting to be picked up like garbage. What happens next? Cremated? Taken to the dump? Rendered into pet food? Or used for the schools to dissect and experiment on? You'll never know and it probably won't even cross your mind. It was just an animal and you can always buy another one, right?

I hope that those of you who still have a beating heart and have read this are bawling your eyes out and can't get the pictures out of your head; I deal with this everyday. I hate my job, I hate that it exists, and I hate that it will always be there unless you people make some changes and start educating the public. Do research, do your homework, and know exactly what you are getting into before getting a pet. These shelters and humane societies exist because people just do not care about animals anymore. Animals were not intended to be disposable but somehow that is what they are these days. Animal shelters are an easy way out when you get tired of your dog (or cat), and breeders are the ones blamed for this. Animal shelters and rescue organizations are making a hefty profit by keeping this misconception going.

Between 9 and 11 MILLION animals die every year in shelters and only you - as a pet owner - can stop it. I just hope I maybe changed one persons mind about taking their dog to a shelter, a humane society, or buying a dog without researching. For those of you that care--- please repost this to at least one other craiglist in another city/state. Let's see if we can get this all around the U.S. and have an impact.

PROMISE A FUTURE - and DON'T FAIL THEM! PETS ARE FOR A LIFETIME!!!
 
 
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An open letter to abandoned dog's owners

Each day dog-rescue people cannot believe how little regard people have for their pets. Yes, there are those who go above and beyond for their animals. Those stories are wonderful and they renew a sense of faith in humans. Somehow, though, the victories are balanced out by the thoughtless deeds people do. I usually think good triumphs over evil, but in this I think it's a wash. The pets don't factor large into their owner's lives, and it shows. One day that person is going to need someone to push their wheelchair around, or deliver a meals on wheels, and luck will have it that they'll be the daily assignment for someone who really couldn't care less. But I digress...

This is a fabulous open letter to an abandoned dog's owners:

Editorial


Everyday, I see the photos of Jetta and Bradley when I open my photos file. I can't bring myself to delete them. Jetta and Bradley are dead now - euthanized at the animal shelter in early May.

I have a sense of wanting to preserve them somehow. I don't want to delete the photos because it will make it seem as if these 2 little souls never existed. If the photos are deleted, the 2 dogs will be forgotten forever.

This letter is to the owners of these dogs, especially Jetta's owner. The shelter gave this little black/white AmStaff her name - not you. So if you happen to recognize this beautiful little girl, but the name isn't right, she truly could be your dog.

For the full story, click here:

http://www.examiner.com/x-2111-Dog-News-Examiner~y2010m6d9-An-open-letter-to-abandoned-dogs-owners


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xoxo

K9 Rescue Dog Dies During Training

A FEMA dog named Win died during training. Very sad. He did his job till the end.

via WVEWC.com:

VIRGINIA BEACH -- A rescue dog died during a training accident in Va. Beach.

Win, a seven-year-old Belgian Malinois/Shepherd, lived in Albemarle County and was part of FEMA Virginia Task Force 2.

Win's chest was punctured by a concrete reinforcing wire Friday while he was searching for someone in a pile of rubble. He located the "victim" and laid at her side to finish his search.

When his handler saw Win was hurt, he got the dog to the vet, but the dog couldn't be saved. The injury caused internal bleeding.

Win joined the FEMA team in October 2005 and had been sent to five disasters, including Haiti and Katrina.

Win had been buried at the family farm in Charlottesville.

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Save Todd Baran's Job!

Apparently this man has made a big impact in his community, by turning (de facto) his shelter into a no kill shelter for the past three years. The town where he works, Bolingbrook, IL, wants to eliminate his position as part of a cost saving measure. Now I know we need to keep budgets trim, but considering Mr. Baran has helped successfully adopt out all the dogs that might have been euthanized in his town, I think he's the type of worker a place would want to keep around.

Meet Todd Baran:

There is a petition being signed to help Mr. Baran keep his job. That can be found here:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/841074478

Another way to help is to write to:

Mayor Roger C. Claar

at bbmayor@aol.com 

or by sending "regular mail" to:

Mayor Roger C. Claar

The Town Center

375 W. Briarcliff Road

Bolingbrook, IL 60440

(630) 226-8412

Please be respectful; it does not help the cause to do otherwise, and this is democracy at work. The Mayor has a job to do, and just needs to know how much Mr. Baran's work is appreciated. 

Thanks.



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xoxo

Dachshund Rescue of South Florida

I have come across a really wonderful rescue group out of South Florida. I know I've really been hitting hard at a certain BAD SHELTER, but I do want to note that not only are there good shelters (one to be highlighted soon) but there are wonderful, loving, and caring rescues - many of whom go way above and beyond. The one below is both cheerful and effective (a nice if not rare combo), and they work with one of my favorite breeds, thanks to a certain little dog (ahem, person!) named Renaldo the Red.

And - they merited this: (not a small thing!)

Meet Dachshund Rescue of South Florida:

Dachshund Rescue of South Florida is a foster based 501(c)(3) rescue who helps hotdogs regardless of age, health, or behavioral issues find new homes after being in a shelter, as a stray out on the streets, or owner surrendered.

We take our work very seriously and screen our potential forever families thoroughly to ensure that our dogs will never have to worry or want for anything ever again.

Our mission is to educate people who may be unfamiliar with rescue and the time, love, and compassion that goes into identifying a little one in a shelters through getting them settled into their new forever home and why choosing to rescue a dog can be one of the most rewarding things a family can choose to do.

If you are looking to add a dachshund to your family we would love to work with you. We have done our best to help explain the process and share some our favorite "happy tales" from our former dogs with their new forever families. We are happy to answer any questions you may have and we are looking forward to meeting you!

Here's their site:

http://www.dachshundrescuesouthflorida.com/



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Bringing Dogs Home From Afghanistan

Now this combines my two loves: dogs and soldiers!

There are numerous soldiers who've taken their new-found buddies home with them after deployment. Here's a young guy looking to take home FIVE!  He wants to rescue the puppies from a mother dog the soldiers had befriended, who lost her life when she tried to thwart a suicide bomber.

See if you can contribute a little something towards his efforts, and don't forget to pass this around.

http://puppyrescuemission.chipin.com/puppy-rescue-mission


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Police Chief Takes Over Management of Forrest City Animal Shelter in Arkansas

via KATV:

Click title for full article.

Here's an excerpt:

“As a result of the investigation into the latest incident at the animal shelter, Police Chief Dwight Duch has assumed control of the Forrest City Animal Control Division as of June 4, 2010,” Mayor Gordon McCoy said in a press release. “I am currently evaluating the department, as I have been for some time, and the facility. I believe that there is a solution to the situation, and I am going to work with the Forrest City Area Humane Society to get this situation resolved and ensure that it doesn’t happen again.”

We'll be watching. I have inquired about an attorney being hired and will be reporting back. I have been busy with a weekend long event, and cannot post the information yet that I have promised. In the meantime this has unfolded, and I think it's good news.

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Dog Wash to Benefit Putnam Humane Society (NY)... Sunday, June 6th

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Forrest City, Arkansas Animal Shelter Petition Site -- Tell them it stops NOW

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/forrest-city-animal-shelterjustice-for-bozo

Bozo was the young and gentle labrador that was dragged around and had over 100 deep puncture wounds all over his body.  Bozo succumbed to his wounds. You don't leave ten dogs in a pen unattended, and especially not with two females in heat.

Later tonight I will be posting elected official information so you can write them some sharpy worded letters.

Here is another good source for the full story:

http://www.examiner.com/x-40189-LA-Dog-Rescue-Examiner~y2010m6d2-Breaking-news-Dog-fight-at-animal-control-shelter-leads-to-dogs-death



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More on Forrest City, Arkansas Animal Shelter

Local news is beginning to pick up the story. There are other links to stories broadcast but this one lists a good chronology of events and offers video of the vet's office in the aftermath.

http://webmail.c.peoplepc.com/wam/MsgAttachment?msgid=24570&attachno=1&folder=INBOX&x=-102318843


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Forrest City, Arkansas Animal Shelter UPDATE -- NEW VIDEO!

See for yourself.

I will be posting company information for this area (so we can all start making some noise), and there are strategy discussions going on in the dog-rescue community. For now, please educate yourself about part of the problem: incompetence, indifference, and/or sheer stupidity.

Stuff that needs to be changed always begins with pain. We must meet it with the message that this is absolutely unacceptable and we will demonstrate that face using many means at our disposal: press, lawsuits, pressure on local elected officials, protests, and company boycotts if it comes to it.




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Indifference at the Forrest City, Arkansas Animal Shelter

I volunteer at a local animal shelter each weekend. There was and continues to be a good amount of training. Volunteers have eagle eyes for anything that puts dogs in jeopardy. Included in the many thing you must be vigilant about is not putting two dogs together (or more!) Sometimes, and only with official sanction, can two dogs be placed together. We sometimes do this with older dogs that are very mellow and they often will respond well to the company, putting on much needed weight (shelters are stressful and most dogs lose weight).

So it is with a fair amount of disgust that I post for you the following video. Rest assured, various animal groups have this shelter's number. Still, your awareness is golden, as they say, because it makes the club to beat them with that much larger.

Be forewarned, this is a graphic video. Bottom line, shelter workers were negligent and uncaring about the welfare of the dogs in their care ... in FORREST CITY, ARKANSAS.

I will be posting about them again, and urge you to call local government officials in FORREST CITY, ARKANSAS.

I will be compiling a list of companies that do business in this area and will be posting it.





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Veteran Dogs

This information was kindly compiled by Sasha, the Great Northern Malamute of Facebook, Doggie Historian, and purveyor of always-useful info.

During this important holiday weekend, please keep in mind the real reason for the time off: people who risked their lives for you and me to have the freedoms we do. God bless them, their families, and may God continue to bless America.

Here's a great selection of those dogs that served their country and their soldiers well, and who made their own contributions to our great nation.

RAGS

Rags was a Cairn Terrier mix who served as the mascot of the 1st Infantry Division during World War I. He “joined up” in 1917 in France and held his title until his death in 1931. Rags was recruited by Private James Donovan, who found himself AWOL after overstaying his leave in Montremere. Just as 2 military policemen approached him, he tripped over the small stray. Donovan thought quickly and said he was part of a search party, sent out to find the Division’s Mascot. Thus Donovan was out of hot water and Rags had a name and a job! Though he was a small dog, Rags relayed messages from the front lines. His greatest moment of heroism came during the Meuse-Argonne Campaign in 1918, when he ran a vital message through falling bombs. Although the terrier was gassed and partially blinded, he survived. Donovan however, was not so lucky. In 1920 Rags was adopted by the family of Major Raymond W. Hardenberg. He is buried at Aspen Hill Memorial Park & Animal Sanctuary in Maryland.

LEX

Lex is a German Shepherd that served in Iraq alongside Cpl. Dustin Lee. Lee was killed in a mortar attack outside Falluja with Lex by his side. The German Shepherd was so faithful to his handler that he had to be pulled away from him to allow medics to attend to Lee. The dog sustained some shrapnel wounds. Lex was present at Lee’s funeral and comforted his younger siblings. Normally military dogs must “serve” until they are 10, but the family of Cpl. Lee was told that Lex would be able to take early retirement and come to live with them given the circumstances. There was much bureaucratic paperwork, but eventually the Lee’s prevailed. At a ceremony a Marine read a statement, “This is to certify that military working dog Lex, having served faithfully and honorably, was discharged from the United States Marine Corps on this 21st day of December 2007″.

NEMO

Nemo the German Shepherd was a veteran of the Vietnam War. Unlike most of the dogs that served during that time, Nemo was allowed to come home. Nemo was trained to be a sentry dog at Lackland Airforce Base in Texas and was shipped to Vietnam in 1966. After his original handler returned to the US, Nemo was paired with Airman Second Class Robert Thorneburg. The two formed a close bond right away. On on December 3rd, 1966 after a night of fighting, Thorneburg and Nemo were out on patrol when Nemo sensed something. Before he could radio for backup, a Thorneburg was shot in the shoulder and Nemo was shot in the muzzle. The bullet entered under his right eye and exited through his mouth. Ignoring the wound, Nemo ran towards the 4 gunmen and allowed Thorneburg the time to call for reinforcements. Both man and dog were rushed in for emergency treatment. Nemo’s right eye had to be removed and he received skin grafts on his wounds. Eventually he was flown home to Lackland where he could receive the best Veterinary care. He lived out the rest of his life at the dog training facility on the Lackland Air Force Base. Nemo died on March 15, 1973.

Sgt. Stubby

Sargent Stubby was the Pit Bull hero of World War I. He enlisted in the most unlikely of circumstances, wandering onto Yale University Field (which was being used at the time for military training)as a stray. His stocky looks and good nature made him the perfect mascot. When the soldiers were deploying, they had a quandary. Most of them would be traveling via mass transit and they couldn’t sneak a dog on with them. That’s when they discovered that Corporal J. Conroy would be traveling in a supply car. At first he was resistant to the idea, but after meeting the endearing canine, he couldn’t refuse. Somehow the soldiers managed to smuggle Stubby over to Europe (he wasn’t a trained military dog), and there his heroic career began. He managed to alert soldiers to gas attacks in time for them to get their gas masks on, he captured a German spy and even saved a girl from an oncoming car! Stubby almost perished from poison gas as well as a grenade attack, but the scrappy Pit Bull pulled through. After 18 months in Europe Stubby returned home with Corporal Conroy. When he attended Georgetown University Law School, Stubby became the unofficial Hoya mascot. Stubby died in 1926. His body is kept by the Smithsonian museum.

Chips 

Chips was a German Shepherd/Collie/Husky mix that ended up being the most decorated K9 that served during World War II. Edward J. Wren owned Chips, but donated him to the army (private citizens were asked to donate their dogs to serve). In 1942 Chips began his training as a sentry dog. He traveled the world while serving with the 3rd Infantry Division – seeing North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and Germany. In 1943, during the invasion of Sicily, Chips and his handler were trapped on the beach by machine gun fire. Chips broke free of his handlers grip and ran towards the fire, attacking the gunmen and eventually causing their surrender to American troops. For his heroism during the war he was given the Silver Star and Purple Heart, but those awards were later revoked (at that time dogs could not be given those awards). He was unofficially given a Theater Ribbon with an Arrowhead and 8 battle stars (for each of his campaigns). In 1945 he was returned to the Wren family.

SMOKY

Smoky is the smallest of the Famous Military dogs on my list! She was a 4 lb, 7 inch tall, Yorkshire Terrier who served in World War II. In 1944 Smoky was found in a foxhole in the jungles of New Guinea by an American soldier who brought her back to camp and sold her to Corporal William A. Wynne for $6.44. For the next 2 years Smoky lived a soldiers life. Because she was not an official military dog, she did not get dog food or medical care. She shared Wynne’s meals and slept beside him in his tent. The little dog even flew 12 air/sea rescue and photo reconnaissance missions, secured in the soldiers backpack. She survived 150 air raids and saved Wynne by warning him of incoming shells. Like many Yorkies, Smoky also loved to learn tricks and preform. She did so with the Special Services – entertaining soldiers in hospitals. After the war Smoky was flown back to the US hidden in a oxygen mask carrying case. For the next 10 years she made television and public appearances in Veterans hospitals until her death in 1957. Smoky is considered the first Therapy Dog.

SALLIE

Sallie was a brindle Staffordshire Bull Terrier (or Pit Bull Terrier – it is unclear) who served as the regimental mascot for the 11th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War. She was given to 1st Lt William R. Terry as when she was just 4 weeks of age. Sallie was raised with the men of the regiment and they were fond of her. She knew the specific drum roll announcing reveille. Sallie followed the men closely on marches and to the battlefield, always on the front lines. In a spring 1863 at a review of the Union army, Sallie marched along with “her” soldiers. Abraham Lincoln sat in the center of the reviewing stand and spotted the dog. He raised his famous hat in salute. At Gettysburg, Sallie became separated from the 11th in all of the chaos. Three days later they found Sallie guarding the bodies of the dead and wounded soldiers, herself unscathed. In 1865 at Hatcher’s Run Sallie was struck by a bullet to the head. She was killed instantly. She was buried on the battlefield while under heavy enemy fire. In 1890 the surviving veterans of the 11th Pennsylvania dedicated a monument on the Gettysburg battleground which contains a likeness of a sleeping Sallie.

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This Is An Actual Company In NYC

http://www.doggiecouch.com/index.htm

Hey, I'm all for it. Love their ad.

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Fed Report Says Dogs Are Dying In Puppy Mills

via The Christian Science Monitor; By Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press / May 25, 2010 :

Protestors outside the American Kennels pet store on Lexington Avenue in New York City. The protesters decry "puppy mills," which they say are the source of dogs sold at the store. A government report says dogs are dying in 'puppy mills.'
Picture credit: -- J.B Nicholas/ Splash News/Newscom
____________________________________________________________________________

The review, conducted between 2006 and 2008, found that more than half of those who had already been cited for violations flouted the law again. It details grisly conditions at several facilities and includes photos of dogs with gaping wounds, covered in ticks and living among pools of feces.

...Investigators say the Department of Agriculture agency in charge of enforcing the Animal Welfare Act often ignores repeat violations, waives penalties and doesn't adequately document inhumane treatment of dogs. In one case cited by the department's inspector general, 27 dogs died at an Oklahoma breeding facility after inspectors had visited the facility several times and cited it for violations.

...Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Tuesday that the department takes the report seriously and will force immediate action to improve enforcement, penalties and inspector training.

Click title of post for full story.

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