Humanely Slaughtered Meat

I posted about this subject vaguely the other day. I regretted that I did not have enough time to search through a favorite blog of mine to link to an excellent article about the subject.

Rolling Dog Farm (seems I missed they renamed themselves!) has a post today about Annabelle, a calf that was just born. Steve (one of the two angels that co-founded Rolling Dog Farm) writes about her and logically links back to the article he wrote a few months ago and which is the one I just thought of the other day. And, I learned, he has an article about the subject in Bark Magazine this month.

See what you think about what he and Alayne have learned about feeding their brood a humane diet, partly consisting of meat. Here is his February post about the subject, and here's the article in Bark, in which he goes into even greater detail.  (Bark, BTW, is an excellent magazine. I've been a longtime subscriber).

It's a tough subject, thinking about slaughtering the meat you're either going to eat, or in their case, going to feed to your farm animals. However, read his reasons. I really applaud his honesty and openness to step outside his own beliefs for the sake of their animals.


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POS ALERT

Petty Officer Austin P. Walsh, 26, allegedly abused a 4-year old dachshund, nearly killing it.

Phone credit: Mugshot, Cook County.

This one is a heartbreaker. Regular readers will know that I love soldiers and I have supported them actively for years through Soldiers' Angels.

I love posting stories about dogs and soldiers, bringing together my two loves.

And I love dachshunds.

But, this guy is a Piece Of Shit. And he happens to be a naval officer.

And he's still a Piece of Shit.

I have decided that if  I have to choose, I am siding with the dogs, who cannot speak for themselves. And besides, this guy nearly killed his girlfriend's dog because they had a fight.  And, in the years I have written this blog and supported soldiers, I have never heard of a soldier conducting himself in this way. Soldiers are better than most people. They are the trouble shooters in the room, the problem solvers, the people you go to to get things done. They can withstand more than most people. And they secure our freedom.

However, this guy won't be getting any care packages!  Austin P. Walsh must be an affirmative action hire for the Navy; they had to have at least one dumb guy make officer.

Get the full story by Joshua-Paul Agnell of the Chicago Animal Welfafe Examiner.




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Here's Why It Should Not Be Illegal To Film Meat Processing Plants Or Farms

This is difficult to watch.



There is no shortage of these kinds of examples, but since I posted about this twice in the last week (here and here), I thought I would share another tidbit that's made it to the public eye. This is precisely why my strong independent and pro business streak yields to greater scrutiny of farm and processing plant practices. There are just too many of these examples. It's no wonder they want to prevent the public from seeing what they do. People react viscerally to abuse and that's normal.

Mercy For Animals has the story.

During the undercover investigation at E6 Cattle Co. in Hart, Texas - a factory farm which rears nearly 10,000 calves for use on dairy farms - MFA's investigator documented:

•Workers bludgeoning calves in their skulls with pickaxes and hammers

•Beaten calves, still alive and conscious, thrown onto piles to slowly suffer and die

•Workers kicking sick or injured calves in the head, and standing on their necks and ribs

•Calves confined to squalid hutches, thick with manure and urine buildup, and barely large enough for the calves to turn around or fully extend their legs

•Gruesome injuries, including open sores, swollen joints and severed hooves

•Sick, injured and dying calves denied any medical care

Many have differing viewpoints on a vegan diet (absolutely no animal products) versus meat eating, occasional meat eating, or any animal product consumption. That's okay. You do not have to conform to the two book-ended examples out there (ie: no oversight of processing plants or totally vegan). I ate at a wonderful restaurant last night and they specialize in cured meats. Yes when I order my food from Freshdirect.com, like many NY'ers, I usually buy all vegetarian entrees -- because they are good and I like them (and they stay fresher longer in my fridge). I do not believe one has to conform to an all-vegetable diet in order to be against cruelty. Animals can be slaughtered humanely. Yes, they are being killed, but for consumption, and I personally do not have a problem with that. I want it done with the least amount of stress, fear, and pain, so I applaud the efforts of groups with whom I may not completely agree ideologically, but who work on behalf of those who have no voice.

Note that there was some felony abuse that was charged, and some misdemeanors, which of course carry less jail. The pretties in this case may not receive a lot of time in the slammer, but this case will be one more link in the chain towards better protection of animals, on or off of farms.
 
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Adoption Event At Yonkers, New York Animal Shelter

Come see Mr. Willie, Miss Sophie, Petey, Batty, Amanda, Toni-Ann, Dixie, Nana, Africa, Rufo, Courage, Snowflake, Cole, Blu, Hercules, Hershey, Sheeba, Darby, Princess, Jo-Jo, Lexi, Mandy, Dana, Annie, Danielle, Chooch, Pearl (black), Gracie, Tasha, Chip, Duchess, Burt-With-The-Crooked-Tail, Chubbs, Tonya, Bojangles, Tiber, Rosie/Suzie, Olive/Suzie, Topaz, Nikki, Misty, Suzie, Gerti, Lucy, Arthur, Foxy, Rocky, Sylvie, Mason, Ginger, Vixen, Tony, Scooter, Brody, Cindy, Diesel, Prescious, Michelle, Danny, Muffin, Poppy, April, Clyde, Champ, Bubba, Tara, Reggie, Tyson, Cloe, Mickey, Ernie, Joey, Julie, Digby, Phantom, Baby, Fawn, Blaze, Barama, Cookie, Barney, Killer (but he's nice), Oreo, Cable, Ben, Millie, Monte, Ashes, Sally, Mr. Big, Brownie, GiGi, and Little Casesar.


Read about our babies here.

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Way To Go Ohio!

Folks, much legislative news this week. Thanks to those who care enough to see it through.

From the wonderful Toledo Blade (I love this paper and I live in New York!):

COLUMBUS -- A bill granting the "pit bull'' a reprieve from an Ohio law that automatically judges it to be a vicious dog won bipartisan support Wednesday on its way to the House floor.

The House Criminal Justice Committee voted 10-2 to send the bill to the full chamber, where it is expected to see a vote before the General Assembly recesses for the summer before the end of the month.

"This has been around the block a number of times,'' said the bill's sponsor, Rep. Barbara Sears (R., Monclova Township). "We've been through the painstaking process of getting due-process into the bill. It's there, and it's been very well vetted.''

And this part I really love because it shows that legislation takes negotiation and hard work and patience and perseverance and it's so good to be able to report a victory after all that...

The House approved a measure removing the breed-specific language from Ohio law last session only to see it die without a vote in the Senate. Ms. Sears hopes that recently added language creating new and revised classifications of dogs and spelling out the responsibilities of owners for each class will make the difference this time.

The changes have brought the Ohio Dog Wardens Association, who previously opposed the bill, on board.

Check out the full story.
 
 

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Dogs At The Mall

The lights blinked on and off!

You know you've moved up in the world when your species is featured as a mannequin!

It was pouring rain when I took this shot so I cannot believe you can't see big thick raindrops!

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POS Alert

Photo credit: Madison County Sheriff's Department

Collinsville, IL - Authorities arrested Denis Soto, 47 who lives on the 3200 block of Fairmont Ave. for felony animal abuse after he allegedly ordered his two German shepherds to kill a passing cat in front of neighborhood children.

Cheryl Hanna at Pet Rescue Examiner has the story. Notice he was charged with felony animal abuse. That represents effort on the part of some group of people to increase penaties to animal abusers. It's a painstaking process (changing legislation) but things are beginning to move in this direction.

Soto was charged with aggravated anmal cruelty and jailed on $15,000 bond. He was out of jail and home last night however has not returned any phone calls.

The cat died. She had no collar or identification, and it is not known if the cat was a stray or someone's pet.

Two of the children buried the cat.

So, the kids knew how to behave and the adult was the wrongdoer.

Hence the POS moniker.




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Another Reason To Love Our Soldiers

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POS Alert

Jimmy Spears Jr.

Credits: WFMY.

This one got some good jail time.  He deserves it. He starved three dogs to death. They were found huddled together in one dog house. May he enjoy every moment of his incarceration; three consequetive sentences! Woot-woot! He'll serve three 19-23 month sentences.

Penny Eims at the Examiner has the goods.

North Carolina does still gas their animals to death in shelters, but they did pass Susie's Law in December 2010, making intentionally starving a dog a Class H felony. Formerly, it was a Class I felony and carried no jail time.

Susie's Law passed unanimously. Here are the people, and Susie, who helped get it done.

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World's Ugliest Dog® Online Voting Gallery

You have to see it to believe it, folks.

I like Pee Wee Martini!

These folks run the contest each year:

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Cloud Nine Barkery... Order now thru July 15

The moment we have all been waiting for! Cloud Nine Rescue Flights opened its barkery!

See, order, and let your little one enjoy. Mr. Wiggins got some Flee Flea biscuits. They are 8 bucks a bag ; not bad, especially since you are contributing towards the very worthy work of Cloud Nine.

Cloud Nine Rescue Flights aims to eliminate the euthanasia of pets in the United States and provide aid to animals worldwide. We do this by providing safe, fast, and cost-effective air transports of rescue pets, providing animal welfare-related transports to people who provide aid to animals in underserved areas, and by educating the public on the importance of spaying and neutering of pets. In doing so, we manage to not only attack the problem on the surface, but also at its roots.

Cloud Nine is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization that relies upon donations, grants and sponsorships to perform our life-saving transports.

I'll be writing a full food review later, once Mr. Wiggins weighs in. I expect Renaldo to turn up his nose if it's not cheese or meat, but we shall see.

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Our Boy Looks Better

Please remember all those dogs that are going through the same thing Patrick did but who have no one advocating for them. There's many.

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NY State Will Be Voting On The Same Issue As Four States That Just Defeated It

via the ASPCA advocacy alert:

Dear New York Advocates,

We need your help to stop a terrible, anti-animal, anti-democracy bill under consideration in the New York State Senate. This legislation, S. 5172, would criminalize investigative efforts to expose institutional mistreatment of farmed animals. It is an attempt by New York-based agribusiness concerns to keep the public in the dark and uninformed about activities occurring on our state's factory farms.

Your state senator could vote on this dangerous bill at any time!

S. 5172 would criminalize simply taking a photograph of a farm animal without the farm owner’s written consent. Doing so would be considered "tampering with a farm animal," a misdemeanor offense punishable by up to a year in prison or a fine of up to $1,000.

Rather than stop cruel treatment of animals—and the related environmental and food-safety risks—S. 5172 would prevent the public from learning about it and punish those who hope to expose it. We need more transparency on our farms, not less.

Please contact your local legislators about this. See the ASPCA's site for info for your district if you don't already have it and for sample letters and how to send them.









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German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County (California)

Over the years I have known of this group and their outstanding rescue work. I am pretty sure I donated to them as well, for one dog or another. I learned of them on facebook, where much rescue happens.

Penny Eims, of Examiner.com (I always applaud her efforts) posted on GSROC recently. It seems they have adopted so many absolutely urgent dogs who have been severely neglected that it is now impeding their ability to rescue any additional dogs.

PLEASE consider even a modest contribution. This is a great group that meets great needs.


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NYC Animal Care & Control ... killing dogs for barely a reason?

Here are five posts from Urgent 2 on facebook. Urgent 2 is a page that voluntarily posts dogs housed within the NYC shelter system. As you may recall, there is a controversy over the shetlers (Brooklyn, Manhattan and Staten Island) euthanizing dogs that no one has posted to be adopted, that Emily Tanen used to take pictures of, that no one is bothering to write bios for in an effort to get them adopted.  This means more dogs are going down, and many find that unacceptable.

Urgent PART 2

Manhattan is the new Brooklyn... no bio, no eval... no nothing. Poor Arthur just sat and waited to sneeze... now, he will die alone tomorrow. A forgotten dog at the NYC ACC





Sasha is ADORABLE! She was rated MILD which is AMAZING. She has no bio yet but I can tell that this is a girl that wants to love so badly. Please go meet her and save her tonight.




Samspon was frightened while "playing" tag. The shelter is now using that as an excuse to kill him tomorrow. As per his owners he loves everyone. Since when did the safer test become the sole reason for destroying a great dog?? This is wrong yet the ACC does it every day. Do not let it happen... PLEASE HELP HIM!

Another Manhattan dog that was ignored. No bio and no eval. He has a cold so they will kill him tomorrow without giving him a second thought. What the hell is going on in NYC?!?!?

Mary is injured and needs a vet ASAP. Please help her. As far as I know, a broken bone is not fatal. She should not have to die because of it, right?


 
 
 
 

 



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Good For Nevada!

Pawsitively Texas has the goods.

It is now a felony to unjustifiably multilate, torture, maim, or kill animals. The law was named after a three year old beagle that was brutally killed by her owner last year. At the time, the only penalty allowed by law was a misdemeanor.

We will get them; one POS at a time!

RIP Cooney.


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POS Alert

Pit Bull Survives Being Thrown 50 Feet From Window

YourHoustonNews.com has the goods.

Court records show Nidra F. Billard is accused of hurling the 6-week-old pitbull, belonging to her boyfriend, to the partially paved courtyard below after he left the building following an argument.

Here's who Piece.Of.Shit. Billiard took her anger out on:

Photo credit: Treat Em Right Rescue (the rescue caring for and treating Wyatt)

Here is their address in case you feel inclined to help: 448 W 19th Street #274, Houston Texas 77008
 And from Penny Eims of the Examiner.com (always on the case!)

Those hoping to see Billard receive the maximum penalty are asking for concerned individuals to write to:

Animal Cruelty

Attn: Belinda Smith

1201 Franklin Ste 600

Houston, Tx 77002

ATTN: Nidra Billard case number 130851001010 - 3

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Legislation Aimed At Stopping Videos of Farm Animals Fails

The Washington Post has the goods.

I'm glad. I have seen enough videos to stop eating pork and start eating more vegetarian meals, but I am in no way a militant vegetarian. I'm not even a vegetarian! Suffering must be stopped, however.

“A well-managed farm has nothing to hide,” said Emily Vaughn, a program manager at New York-based Slow Food USA. “It’s something that people have the right to know.”

I'm not advocating for Slow Food USA, because I don't know enough about them, but I agree with the sentiment Ms. Vaughn shared.

Here's another quote, from a pig farmer, who rightly feels under seige and calls into question those who lie to get a job in slaughterhouses, just so they can get video tape.

In some instances, operators admitted the videos showed problems, but they said activists should have reported any mistreatment directly to farm managers rather than publicize the images.


“I don’t believe in people being hired under false pretenses to get access to these facilities to portray their side of the story,” said Cody McKinley, a public policy director for the Iowa Pork Producers Association.

The thing is, I don't believe that bringing the images to the attention of the owner of the farm would really improve anything.

There are many times when I feel government oversteps. I feel we are too regulated a country. But where the suffering of animals is concerned, even if those animals are destined to be dinner, I do want regulation and oversight. And accountability.

Another quote:

Bruce Berven, a lobbyist for the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, claimed activists had broader goals than ensuring farm animals were treated humanely.


“Their agenda is clear and basically anti-livestock,” Berven said. “They are basically just using this issue to promote their vegan-slash-vegetarian agenda. There’s a bigger war going on than this issue.”

I don't see that it matters that Slow Food's agenda is to be anti-livestock, as Mr. Berven suggests. He's probably right. Slow food is probably made up of people who eat no animal products, nor wear leather and certainly not fur. The whole country and the legislative process if made up of "bigger wars," as he says. The public gets to decide to take a little of this, leave a little of that, and bar some practices entirely. If you are neither farmer nor vegetarian, would it make sense to have to belong on one side of the fence or another?  I think people look at this proposed legislation to ban any video taping of farm animals and their treatment in slaughterhouses and say, "yeah, it stinks they lied to get jobs just to get in and video tape you, but your practices are inflicting pain and I don't like it."

A well-managed farm has nothing to worry about.

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Water Intake For Dogs

Dogster.com has a good posting about the subject.

For Wiggins and Renaldo I keep two bowls of water out at all times. One in the kitchen and one in the bedroom. The dishes are always in the same spot. I change the water daily and sometimes twice, depending on whether they've been in it a lot. When I do change it I always fill the bowls to a certain line, so I can monitor their intake. Of course they have to have ceramic bowls!

As the article at Dogster notes, increased or decreased water intake usually means something.

In summer months, and lately since NYC has been hot as hell, I notice they are drinking slightly more.

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Dogs Helping Humans, Again

In case you needed to be convinced that dogs and humans share a special bond, here is something that brings together two of my loves: Dogs and Soldiers. If you ever doubt or know someone who doubts that Americans rise to the challenge when it's needed, read this story from the Orlando Sentinel.

A man named Dave Cantara (who was a volunteer for the most excellent organization Patriot Guard Riders) formed a group called Patriot Rovers, and he professionally trains dogs to be therapy companions for soldiers suffering from post tramatic stress (I purposefully leave off the word disorder! It's their "new normal."). Kyle Evans, Purple Heart Recipient and Iraq War Veteran, lives in Orlando, Florida with his family and Mr. Cantara trains his dogs in North Carolina. None other than Pilots N Paws flew Marley (a dog trained by Mr. Cantara) to meet his new family.

In the span of one article, three citizen led and run organizations have risen to the challenge before them.
Oh, and Marley was a rescued dog!

(Photo credit:  Jacob Langston, Orlando Sentinel / June 8, 2011 )

Army veteran Kyle Evans stands with his family as he watches "Marley" walk toward them at the Orando Executive Airport on Wednesday afternoon, June 8, 2011. He received the golden retriever service dog from Carolina Patriot Rovers, Inc. The organization provides service dogs to veterans diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. (Jacob Langston/Orlando Sentinel)

 

"I knew this could be an alternative way to help these soldiers," Cantara said. "This program provides hope for soldiers like Kyle and other wounded warriors. The dogs are a calming influence at their side. They give the constant unconditional love and reassurance the soldiers need."

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Interesting Study On Causes of Dog Deaths

This is a really interesting article about a study conducted over 20 years.

I was dismayed that chihuahuas die most often of cardiovascular disease. Recently I brought both boys in for their vet visit. Mr. Wiggins (a mini-pin rescue from Louisiana) was having a heart worm check up (he passed! ...no more heartworm!) and Renaldo (a chi-dachshund mix from a local shelter) was getting his full yearly. I also get him a six-month check up with complete blood work and a poop test, now that he's a senior. I was advised that Renaldo has developed a heart murmur and would need an echocardiogram. The echo showed no severe damage but the vet also wanted two xrays to establish a base line of what his heart looks like, and adviced me to get an echo each year from now on.

I was betwixt and between but ultimately opted for knowing what his heart looks like now, so we can be prepared as he ages. There is medication that can slow heart disease but fortuantely he didn't even need that yet. So while an echo in my neck of the woods cost $360, I do feel a great deal of comfort knowing what we're dealing with. Seeing this study released confirms that I made the right decision in optin for extra testing.

Knowing what your breed or breed-mix is predisposed to can help you look for signs and get early treatment. Dog care is much like people care. Identify a problem early and you can get a handle on it.


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NYC Animal Care & Control Kills A Dog Wanted By Rescue

Saving Shelter Pets has the scoop.

I really hope we can keep the pressure up on these people. As a reminder, here are some places you can call to complain:

Julie Bank, Director of NY ACC at jbank@nycacc.org

Mayor Bloomberg:  mbloomberg@cityhall.nyc.gov

Jane Hoffman (Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals) an email at info@animalalliancenyc.org

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More on Rolling Dog Ranch

This is a really nice video shot by AARP and shown on their website.

I guess they are up to 80 dogs! Wow!




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Incompetence Alleged Against NYC's Animal Care & Control's Executive Director, Julie Bank

I have to say that this story gets worse and worse in New York City. Julie Bank - the Executive Director of Animal Care & Control - has a terrible reputation in the rescue community.  Apparently it's "too painful to go to the shelter."

Oh, really? Well, then, what the hell are you doing in your job, may I ask?

Now they are not only not searching their own shelters for citizen calls about lost dogs, they not only still haven't hired back Emily Tanen, but now they euthanizing the wrong animals.

I'll be running regular updates on these folks. The gloves are off. By the time this many people are calling for your resignation, it's Gospel. Rescue people like good animal shelter directors, because it can always be worse.
Read and see.


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Some People Suck

Dog has wheelchair stolen.

...and some people don't suck.

Kudos to Handicappedpets.com for coming to the rescue!

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Rolling Dog Ranch Suffers A Loss

Here is Bailey in the arms of Alayne, one of the dynamic duo that takes care of about 50 "disabled" dogs and blind horses. Rolling Dog Ranch in New Hampshire exists solely for the purpose of giving dogs like Bailey, who I think suffered from a spinal degenerative disease and would have most certainly been put down anywhere else, a happy and safe existence for the rest of their lives.

I strongly encourage you to not only donate to this wonderful place but to read their blog on a regular basis. What angels Steve and Alayne are to all of these animals. And what a readership they have! I can assure you there were and are many tears shed over Mr. Bailey. We've all seen him be adopted by RDR from a hoarding situation and need to be nursed back to health. (Hoarders are called that because of the obvious -- they take on too many animals to care for -- but what is less obvious is that many of the animals, due to cost and limited hours in the day, are usually medically neglected and often thin from having to eat amongst many animals at once.

Steve writes the blog. Alayne cooks the food -- yes, for all the animals. Their home is also their job, and while many of us envy them for a perfect life, it's a lot of work. Reading their blog you will learn about various diets they've tried for their dogs, more medical issues than a nursing home, about horses and grazing and pastures -- and all sorts of things on a real ranch, but the best of all is the heartfelt stories of dogs like Bailey, who live out their final years in the lap of luxury and happiness, allowing their full personalities to come out and for them to feel secure and loved. Read a while, you'll see what I mean.

In the picture above, Alayne is taking Bailey on his Daily Constitutional around the house, wrapped in a blanket, because he was incontinent and because she didn't want him to miss out on anything.

Thank you Steve and Alayne, and we'll-see-you-on-the-other-side to Mr. Bailey.


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Companion Animal Access and Rescue Act (CAARA)

From a New York Action Alert by Best Friends Animal Society:

CAARA would set minimum standards that would allow qualified rescue groups to recover animals from a shelter, spca, humane society or pound that are scheduled to be destroyed. Current New York law only allows for individuals to adopt form shelters, which gives the shelters the ability to deny qualified groups access to these pets.

Pets Alive Westchester also alerted me today. (They call CAARA "Oreo's Law").

Note from me: You may recall, there was a dog thrown from a roof in NYC, who ended up surviving but became extremely aggressive. ASPCA had custody of that dog, Oreo, and after a long while and many attempts at rehabilitating her, they felt it was best to euthanize her. I support ASPCA and I trust their decisions (more than the Humane Society of the United States, that's for sure), but I do think it wouldn't have been terrible for Oreo to go to a sanctuary. In rescue/shelter work, you often support groups who sometimes have strongly opposing views.

Back to Pets Alive Westchester's alert...

 WE NEED YOUR HELP!

http://www.petsalive.com/

Oreo's Law (now CAARA) WILL "die" without your calls and letters!

On Monday or Tuesday, Oreo’s Law (now known as CAARA - Companion Animal Adoption & Rescue Act ) will be voted on by the New York State Assembly Agriculture Committee. But it is not likely to pass without a large showing of community support between now and then. That is because the opposition has been lobbying strongly against the bill once again. We told them last year we would NOT allow this to happen again.

WE NEED YOU NOW.

"Where New York goes, SO GOES THE NATION."

CAARA would:

End “convenience” killing when there are empty cages and when animals can share kennels or be sent to foster care;

Require pounds to post strays, including photographs and descriptions, on the Internet so their families can search for them online;

Require transparency in operations by requiring shelters to make their statistics public ;

Require pounds to scan for microchips, maintain lost/found lists, and match lost with found animals in the shelter;

Require fresh food and water, environmental enrichment, clean living environments, as well as prompt and necessary veterinary care.

If CAARA is defeated, thousands upon thousands of cats, kittens, dogs, puppies, rabbits, and other animals will continue to be needlessly killed in NYS shelters every year—animals CAARA has the power to save.

A statewide survey of NYS rescue groups found that over 70% were being turned away because the shelters were hostile to rescue groups, and then those shelters turned around and killed the very animals the rescuers were willing to save. We have experienced this time and time again, right here in Orange County, in our own backyard. Time and again we offer to take in animals that other local shelters are about to kill and they turn us away. THIS HAS TO STOP!

WITHOUT YOU MAKING THESE CALLS AND SENDING THESE EMAILS - CAARA is dead - just like Oreo is today,

...even though Pets Alive offered to give her sanctuary.

Tragically, right doesn’t always defeat might. Sometimes the animals don't win. Sometimes they continue to get killed despite a readily available lifesaving and rescue alternative. Sometimes a feral kitten who a rescue group is willing to socialize and place in a loving home will instead get injected with poison from a bottle marked “fatal plus” and then dumped in a landfill. Sometimes a puppy who can go to rescue and be guaranteed a home will be killed instead. For their sake, please do not let this be one of those times. This may be the best chance we have as a generation to make a PURPOSEFUL POSITIVE impact for animals! We can change the world here folks - please. Help. This is critical. Time is of the essence. Don't think about it - take a few moments to send an email or make a call.

Please call & email Senator Ritchie & ask her to pass CAARA! ritchie@nysenate.gov 518-455-3438

Please post on your social media sites and ask your friends to do the same. You can find a sample letter here. (Please modify it into your own words). You can also cut and paste the following e-mails to your letter as well.

mageew@assembly.state.ny.us; amedoreg@assembly.state.ny.us; benedettom@assembly.state.ny.us; blankenbushk@assembly.state.ny.us; bronsonh@assembly.state.ny.us; butlerm@assembly.state.ny.us; crouchc@assembly.state.ny.us; finchg@assembly.state.ny.us; gunthera@assembly.state.ny.us; hawleys@assembly.state.ny.us; liftonb@assembly.state.ny.us; lopezp@assembly.state.ny.us; maisela@assembly.state.ny.us; markeym@assembly.state.ny.us; mcenenyj@assembly.state.ny.us; moyaf@assembly.state.ny.us; reillyr@assembly.state.ny.us; riveraj@assembly.state.ny.us; riverap@assembly.state.ny.us; russella@assembly.state.ny.us; rosenthall@assembly.state.ny.us; avella@nysenate.gov; gallivan@nysenate.gov; shuntley@nysenate.gov; kennedy@nysenate.gov; omara@nysenate.gov; ranz@senate.state.ny.us; ritchie@nysenate.gov; seward@nysenate.gov; valesky@senate.state.ny.us; cyoung@senate.state.ny.us;

Because without you, the animals don't stand a chance.

This is Oreo. She was killed even though Pets Alive offered her sanctuary.

Don't let this happen to another animals.

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Is New York City Euthanizing Healthy Animals?

A short time ago I posted about the plight of a now-former worker of Animal Care and Control in New York City named Emily Tanen. Many in the rescue world believe Emily was fired for her essessive enthusiasm where it came to getting dogs adopted.  (Scroll halfway down in the post to read about Emily).

You will also recall that the euthanization rates in the City shelter system have gone down considerably in the past five years, and the adoption rates have gone up. (See the graphs from the Compassion Project's website).

A couple of days ago the New York Post wrote a story about the conditions at the shelters in the City. The article raises the very questions many in the rescue community have been saying for years; that New York City euthanizes perfectly adoptable pets, for things as minor as kennel cough (which is easy to treat), or for overcrowding.

BTW -- highlighted in the article is Emily Tanen, the fired worker I mentioned above.

photo credit: Helayne Seidman

BLOWING THE DOG WHISTLE: Emily Tanen, with her pups Beau (top left) and Cody (bottom left) and adoptable rescue pooch Paprika, charges that Animal Care and Control routinely kills healthy pets.

Now you may be saying, don't shelter deal with overpopulation issues by euthanizing? You would be correct. But New York City is on track to be no-kill by 2015. And with the work of places like The Mayor's Alliance for New York City's Animals, which brings together over 150 rescue groups that move the dogs and cats out, and seeing their results over the past few years, then it boggles the mind why AC&C would fire the very person who was taking the interesting pictures of the dogs (it's a known fact in rescue that a dog with a good pic is adopted while others that are just listed essentially are being given a death sentence), and who was forging relationships with rescue groups.

I read about shelters all over; I post about a good deal of them, I write extensively about the ones that deserve it.  (See here, here, and here for the crappy one's and here for the good example). I normally don't see such frustration with a shelter director as I have seen in New York City. It seems, and many have suggested, that the positive changes that have happened in the last few years have been in spite of the staff at AC&C.

CBS News New York also has an article out this week and they quoted Emily as well.

“These animals are not being walked, sometimes emaciated dogs that should be eating three times a day aren’t being fed three times a day,” said Tanen. “It’s not like a fancy boarding place where they’re being taken care of and hopefully be adopted.”

She says the shelter takes in more dogs and cats than they can adopt out, so the shelter would make up excuses to kill animals."

From the New York Post article, a quote by Julie Bank:

Julie Bank, executive director of ACC, which also runs shelters in Brooklyn and Staten Island, dismissed criticisms about the shelter's euthanasia practices as baseless, noting the organization rescues about 40,000 animals annually.

"Last year, over 17,000 animals got out of our building alive," she said. "So the thought that we are not proactively trying to get the animals adopted is not accurate."

The agency's Web site also notes that the number of euthanized dogs has fallen dramatically in the past five years, dipping from 4,824 killed in 2006 to 2,226 last year.

Many in the rescue community are calling into question Ms. Bank's math. For example, where are the other 20,000 pets she mentions get brought in?

I think this is the result of a few things. I think the City, in hard economic times, cut AC&C's budget. Julie Bank says it was cut by 20%. But, why does she have such a poor reputation in the animal rescue community? Why do her workers routinely turn away rescues? It's a known fact that if you want to adopt a dog, don't bother calling a shelter in the City to put a hold on him. No one will answer your phone call. This is a place that uses public funds and yet it has shown, time and again, how hostile it is to that public. It's a lot of work to work with rescues to get dogs and cats adopted. So if your load is lightened by saying a dog is mean or has a cough, and so then you are legally able to euthanize it, and no one cares to complain... well, it could continue like that for a while, right?

Back to the subject of using public funds to run the system, and then that money being cut.

Did you know that the City shelter system no longer has a lost and found? It is not possible to search shelters to see if your dog is there, having been picked up by animal control. Metrosniff has the goods:

City animal shelters, crippled by deep budget cuts, have stopped taking lost reports. After Dec. 1, staffers will no longer search their three facilities for missing dogs and cats.

That has angered rescuers, who fear pets separated from their owners could end up being adopted or euthanized before they're identified.

And...

Stray dogs and cats are held for 72 hours in city shelters before being put up for adoption, but animals deemed unadoptable or sick can be euthanized.

Rescuers said it will be difficult for owners to repeatedly visit all three shelters to see if their lost dog or cat shows up - a process can take weeks.

"This is going to really affect pet owners and end up with animals dying who did have homes," said Jane Hoffman of the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals, a coalition of rescue groups.

"This is a basic service that any shelter should be providing to the community."

So, if your unlucky enough to have your dog be lost, and your dog happens to be picked up by a less-than-enthusiastic municiple worker in the City system, and there is no one like an Emily Tanen who cares enough to take a picture of your dog or work tirelessly with area rescues to get your dog out, what do you think is going to happen?

Here is what did happen to one person.  Hat tip to They Call me Concha.

This is a quote from a story from a NY Magazine article that is unfortunately all too common at the AC&C.

"I was away with my family over the weekend," says Adrienne Evans, a financial assistant at BMG Entertainment in New York. "My neighbor was watching our dog for us. She took him for a walk in the park and he slipped his collar." The dog, who had the misfortune to be born a pit bull, was sitting on his own doorstep when the CACC picked him up. Evans came home a day later and immediately began searching. When a neighbor informed her that the CACC had picked up the dog, she called the shelter right away. "I was told they couldn't find him, and that I had to come in and look for myself. The dog was really distinct, brown and white with big blue eyes." His ears and tail were not cropped, indicating that he had never been a fighting dog. The following day, Evans went straight to the Manhattan shelter after work. She went through the wards, calling out the dog's name. "I knew he'd cry out to me," she said. She stopped every kennel worker and described her dog. Yes, someone told her. "He's here. I saw him." Yet no one could find him, or knew where he had been caged. After a painful search, one of the managers brought Evans into a room and sat her down.”

Her dog’s body was still warm.

And this was before they stopped doing lost and found checks.

I think it's time for a new approach, something even beyond the wonderful efforts of the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals. I think the City Shelter system needs to be more fully committed to using ingenuity and creativity to get more animals adopted. 

I think they need to hire back Emily Tanen.




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June is Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month

I know I gravitate towards dogs but the felines among us need a home, too.

Check out ASPCA, who has the goods.

They have a nice feature on their website called "Find a Shelter."  You can also just wander down to your neighborhood shelter and see what you see. I've gotten my last four dogs that way.  Best decision of my life!

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NYC-area Adoption Events

And up in Westchester County:

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