VA: Culpepper's top 10 stories of 2009
Pit bulls turn violent, kill 1
Four unexpected pit bull attacks escalated into two mauling cases, a local officer killing a reported aggressive dog and the death of a toddler — all in the Piedmont region this year.
It all started in February when Culpeper Town Police responded to an aggressive pit bull call in the 400 block of Hill Street in Culpeper. When police arrived, the dog reportedly charged an officer, forcing him to shoot and kill it. No residents were hurt in that incident.
Two months later in April, an 11-year-old Rappahannock County girl was airlifted to the University of Virginia Medial Center with severe bite wounds to the face, neck, arms and legs after being attacked by a 1-year-old pit bull. That dog was euthanized.
In May, a Culpeper woman was credited with saving her 3-year-old grandson’s life when they were attacked by two raging pit bulls. Tammy Powers, 47, and her grandson Hunter Ryder were walking in the 21000 block of Mount Pony Road when the animals attacked. A few days later, dog owner Jamie Whitmer claimed the two male dogs and signed over custody to the county. After a 10-day quarantine, those dogs were euthanized.
The most tragic dog attack in this region occurred in September when a 23-month-old girl was mauled to death by a pit bull in Orange. According to reports, Jasmine Deane wandered outside her home during the evening and was found with multiple wounds all over her body. The dog owners voluntarily surrendered the dog to animal control officers and it was also euthanized.
Source: http://www2.starexponent.com/cse/news/local/article/culpepers_top_10_stories_of_2009/49293/
Saturday, December 26, 2009
CA: Bors Plead Guilty To Horse Abuse, Seized Horses Find Good Homes
Bors Plead Guilty To Horse Abuse, Seized Horses Find Good Homes
 It took a year to nurse them back to health, but eight foals and 30 horses have all recovered and have been recently adopted by good homes from the Ventura County Humane Society in Ojai. Seven horses still remain. |
Reported by Alex Wilson
Joan, Ernie and Cecilia Bor all pled guilty to felony animal cruelty charges Monday, Dec. 21. They ran a horse breeding operation in Lockwood Valley at Cochema Ranch, from which half of the estimated 100 horses were seized by authorities in September and October 2008 after Mountain Community residents and feed store owners who had observed the Bors’ practices and had seen dead and abused horses wrote depositions and turned them over to the Ventura County Sheriff’s substation in Lockwood Valley.
Ventura County Presecutor Wendy Macfarlane said, “They didn’t feed their horses. They kept acquiring more horses when they couldn’t afford or weren’t able to take care of the horses they had. They also continued to breed horses when they couldn’t feed the ones they had. So it was gross neglect of the needs of the horses....”
Several horses died as law enforcement moved in. Two were euthanized because malnutrition had progressed so far. “According to Ventura County Animal Regulation and the Humane Society, these animals starved to death,” Macfarlane said. “Doctor (Craig) Koerner testified at the preliminary hearing that the ones that died had starved to death.” She said lab results showed that the others were “slowly being starved to death” with malnutrition.
The Bors each pled guilty to four counts of animal cruelty, and the remaining nine were dismissed. They are to be sentenced on January 22, 2010 at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom 13 before Judge Bruce Young. The judge offered them no more than 180 days in the Ventura County Jail and five years probation in exchange for their guilty pleas. The maximum they could have faced if they had been found guilty at trial is five years in state prison, and they could still be sent to prison if they violate their probation.
At the time of sentencing Deputy District Attorney Wendy Macfarlane will ask that the Bors be forbidden from owning any animals while they’re on probation. She’ll also ask for fines of up to $20,000 dollars each, she says. They were already forbidden from owning horses by a judge last June.
It has taken a year of care, but all but seven of the surviving horses have now recovered and have been adopted. This is part of the December 25, 2009 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.
CAN: Bakery is the Big Dog in the Beach
Bakery is the Big Dog in the Beach
Love for her Great Dane inspired owner to open shop where customers are greeted with a tail wag
Published On Sat Dec 26 2009
Jackie Krovblit's heart is bigger than the 120-pound inspiration behind her company's namesake, Big Dog Bakery.
Having instantly fallen in love with Trixie, her Great Dane and silent business partner, Krovblit opened Big Dog Bakery when she realized her "child" was too important for mass-produced pet food. And now Big Dog Bakery is the big dog on Queen Street in the Beach – the only boutique pet store in the area that bakes products on the premises.
The bakery, located in the building that once housed the Three Dog Bakery, is decorated in a rainbow of colours. Cupcakes covered in blue, pink, white and cocoa icing sit in display windows. The shelves are stacked with cookies and empanadas for cats and dogs. Dog cakes are baking in an oven behind the counter.
Trixie greets customers with a wag of her tail. The gentle Great Dane is the hallmark of Big Dog Bakery. Her face is on every package of treats the stores sells. Trixie "is my big dog in a little package," says Krovblit, who confesses, "I never thought I would have a dog. But when I got Trixie, my whole world opened up, like a lightning bolt."
Krovblit started Big Dog Bakery from her home in 2004. Making biscuits and treats in her toaster oven, she used Trixie and dogs in the park to figure what worked. Big Dog then moved to Toronto's Woofstock – a festival for dogs in the Distillery District – in its first year. "They (cakes and cookies) are healthy – it's like giving your dog something really special," Krovblit says. "Yes, the look is entirely marketing, it is for the person, the dogs can't really see the colour but they can smell. So the dog will think, `What's that?'
"It goes back to what makes something really palatable for the dog. The market is there, so give people what they want. And the dog is going to feed off it and the person will get a kick out of it."
After her inaugural year at Woofstock, she started selling gourmet cakes, made with natural, human-grade ingredients and an assortment of dog treats through select stores around the GTA. It was in 2006 when she lost her job in the restaurant industry and put all her efforts into the bakery, which she opened in July.
Big Dog Bakery has since expanded to Home Sense locations throughout Ontario and Quebec at Christmas. "I had to carry over from an existing store (Three Dog Bakery) with an American branding so it took a bit of work to convince people our product is better and healthier. All our bakery stuff is almost 100 per cent made in store. It's a new concept so people need to realize that," says Krovblit.
Iced with either carob or cream cheese, the store sells about 40 customized cakes each month in flavours like Peanut Butter Bliss, Chop Lick 'n Liver and Banana Rama. Krovblit has also discovered the purrfect companion products for dogs – cat food. So Big Dog Bakery now includes freshly made gourmet cat treats in its menu.
"People these days really care (about their pets), and they want to know where things are coming from and everybody in our market and demographic consider the dog to be part of the family," Krovblit said. "They want to give that dog a lot and they want them to live as long as possible. And why shouldn't that
dog be on the same level of health and nutrition (as its masters)?"
Source: http://www.thestar.com/business/smallbusiness/article/742412--bakery-is-the-big-dog-in-the-beach
AUST: Woman hospitalised after dog attack
Woman hospitalised after dog attack
Posted 5 hours 1 minute ago
Updated 4 hours 19 minutes ago
A woman is being treated in hospital after being attacked by two dogs in her home on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula.
Paramedics say two Staffordshire Bull Terriers followed the 70-year-old into her house, at the corner of Wilson Crescent and Arthur Street in Dromana, at 2:30pm AEDT.
She badly cut her wrist when she tried in vain to stop the animals killing her dog.
The woman's brother, Tony Hakim, says the terriers raced after her poodle.
"The other two dogs, they came in from outside, running after her dog, and she tried to stop them and they started biting her too, and they killed the other one," he said.
Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/12/26/2780965.htm?section=justin
==========================
Posted 5 hours 1 minute ago
Updated 4 hours 19 minutes ago
A woman is being treated in hospital after being attacked by two dogs in her home on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula.
Paramedics say two Staffordshire Bull Terriers followed the 70-year-old into her house, at the corner of Wilson Crescent and Arthur Street in Dromana, at 2:30pm AEDT.
She badly cut her wrist when she tried in vain to stop the animals killing her dog.
The woman's brother, Tony Hakim, says the terriers raced after her poodle.
"The other two dogs, they came in from outside, running after her dog, and she tried to stop them and they started biting her too, and they killed the other one," he said.
Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/12/26/2780965.htm?section=justin
==========================
Woman witnesses fatal dog mauling
Saturday, December 26, 2009 » 10:18pm A 70-year-old Victorian woman saw her pet dog mauled to death by two dogs who followed her into her home. The attacking dogs followed the woman inside as she brought her shopping into her house in Dromana on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, a Victoria Police spokesman said.
The pair, believed to be Staffordshire bull terriers, savaged her dog, Fluffy, to death, and the woman was bitten as she tried to stop them. The owner of the intruding dogs is talking to police and a council ranger has collected them.
Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman Lauren Nowak said the woman suffered a deep wrist wound as she tried to stop the attack. She said the woman managed to flee the house, locking one of the attacking dogs inside with her dead dog, before calling for help.
The woman received treatment at the scene but will be taken to hospital to receive the appropriate medical shots. The fate of the dogs is now a council matter, a police spokesman said.
Source: http://bigpondnews.com/articles/National-Regional/2009/12/26/Woman_witnesses_fatal_dog_mauling_411005.html
The pair, believed to be Staffordshire bull terriers, savaged her dog, Fluffy, to death, and the woman was bitten as she tried to stop them. The owner of the intruding dogs is talking to police and a council ranger has collected them.
Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman Lauren Nowak said the woman suffered a deep wrist wound as she tried to stop the attack. She said the woman managed to flee the house, locking one of the attacking dogs inside with her dead dog, before calling for help.
The woman received treatment at the scene but will be taken to hospital to receive the appropriate medical shots. The fate of the dogs is now a council matter, a police spokesman said.
Source: http://bigpondnews.com/articles/National-Regional/2009/12/26/Woman_witnesses_fatal_dog_mauling_411005.html
IL: Pipelines give pets new leashes on life
Pipelines give pets new leashes on life
Animals transported from areas where finding them new homes is unlikely
By John Keilman Tribune reporter
December 26, 2009
Gordo and Goblin, sweet-tempered pit bull mixes, were not long for this world when Candy Thomas met them in a downstate pound. The puppies had been corralled by animal control, and their owner, unable to afford the $50 impound fee, decided to relinquish them. But Thomas, who runs a rescue operation near Carbondale, thought they had a good shot at finding a home -- one that would be hundreds of miles away.
That's how the dogs ended up in a van headed north this week, two of the latest passengers in a pipeline that transports animals from southern Illinois, or even from other states, in the hope they'll find a better future in the subdivisions and condo towers of greater Chicago.
A change of scenery does not guarantee success: Most of the animals end up in shelters, albeit no-kill ones, which then must try to arrange adoptions. But advocates across the state say the animals' chances are far better here than in rural areas, where depressed incomes and an overwhelming abundance of dogs and cats make happy endings rare.
"Those are the lucky ones who get on that van," said Sally Matay of Illinois Animal Rescue, which brings up 60 or so animals every week. "The majority get adopted very quickly. Just given the chance for a good home, they get one."
Nationally, the Best Friends Animal Society began transporting small-breed dogs from Los Angeles shelters to other states two years ago, after finding other areas "that have not only a shortage of small dogs for adoption, but waiting lists for them," said Elizabeth Oreck, Los Angeles programs manager. Best Friends, based in Utah, also transported dogs rescued from Midwestern puppy mills to the East Coast through its Pup My Ride campaign, which passed through Midway Airport last month and was featured in a Tribune article. Oreck said there may be other similar efforts under way, but she was not aware of any that operated on as large a scale as Best Friends, which has found 2,500 dogs new homes, she said.
Matay's group, which is about 2 years old, formalized a practice that has been going on for years. Pet lovers in the Chicago area, hearing about dogs and cats facing euthanasia downstate, would drive there to retrieve the animals. Some rural animal control officers say that without such efforts, few of the dogs and cats they take in stand a chance. "My adoption rate is pretty pitiful," said Sandy Millman, Richland County's animal control officer. "We adopted 28 animals this year and impounded 824."
She and others say many downstate residents don't spay or neuter their animals because they find it too expensive or don't believe it's important. What's more, they said, the plague of unemployment has prompted more people to try breeding dogs as a business. When the puppies don't sell, they are usually abandoned or dropped off at the local pound.
Dr. Dena Heflin, a veterinarian in the small town of Iuka, 85 miles east of St. Louis, said most people in the area aren't sentimental about their animals. "I worked in Naperville for 13 years, and there is a huge, different mentality from there to here," she said. "You still have a lot of people here who love their pets, and they do whatever they can to keep them healthy, but the majority do just what they have to to get by. And most of those, it's barely even that."
Animal control officials around Chicago, though, said abuse, neglect and full shelters are a fact of life here too. Some had mixed feelings about the importation of more cats and dogs. "There's certainly a need in Chicago," said Cherie Travis of Chicago Animal Care and Control, which has had to euthanize about half of the 20,000 animals it has impounded this year. "There's a misconception among people that the problem is just downstate or in other states."
Dr. Robyn Barbiers of Chicago's Anti-Cruelty Society, an organization that takes in about 7,500 animals a year, said the region still seems to have room for dogs, especially puppies. "You have to make sure you're not bringing animals in at the expense of animals in the city," she said. "For the most part, though, there is a nice balance going on."
Save-a-Pet Adoption Center in Grayslake harbors mostly local animals, but it has accepted many from other areas too. Shelter manager Dana Deutsch said the group recently took in 18 dogs auctioned by a Missouri puppy breeder. "A life is a life is a life, whether it's here or down south," she said.
Illinois Animal Rescue focuses on pets that seem likely to be adopted quickly, though hard cases can make the trip too. A van load that arrived Tuesday included four terriers with matted fur and fearful eyes. Julie Marry-Falkenberry, the volunteer at the wheel, said they had been recovered from an animal hoarder.
But most of the 52 animals in her vehicle seemed happy and well-adjusted, bounding out of their crates as Marry-Falkenberry transferred them to other volunteers in a Joliet parking lot. One handsome boxer-shepherd preened in the back seat of a car as he awaited a ride to Huntley's Animal House Shelter. "We rescued him literally one hour before he was to be euthanized," Matay said. "He'll get adopted out right away."
Two dogs already had a permanent home lined up. Kelly Hjorth and Michael Olsen, of Crystal Lake, bought their first house in August but felt it wouldn't be complete without animal companions. They discovered a favorite pair online, and on a recent evening, volunteers delivered Gordo and Goblin to their new home.
The 8-month-old brothers beat a merry tattoo with their tails as they darted through the couple's split-level, pausing only to feast from matching food bowls set beside the Christmas tree. Finally they collapsed on the couch, their mouths lolling open as Hjorth and Olsen scratched the dogs' muzzles and bellies. "They are awesome," said Hjorth, 25, a special education teacher. "We are all about giving second chances, and this is definitely a second chance for them."
Tribune reporter Lisa Black contributed to this report. jkeilman@tribune.com
Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-pet-pipeline-26-dec26,0,4431080.story?page=1
Animals transported from areas where finding them new homes is unlikely
By John Keilman Tribune reporter
December 26, 2009
Gordo and Goblin, sweet-tempered pit bull mixes, were not long for this world when Candy Thomas met them in a downstate pound. The puppies had been corralled by animal control, and their owner, unable to afford the $50 impound fee, decided to relinquish them. But Thomas, who runs a rescue operation near Carbondale, thought they had a good shot at finding a home -- one that would be hundreds of miles away.
That's how the dogs ended up in a van headed north this week, two of the latest passengers in a pipeline that transports animals from southern Illinois, or even from other states, in the hope they'll find a better future in the subdivisions and condo towers of greater Chicago.
A change of scenery does not guarantee success: Most of the animals end up in shelters, albeit no-kill ones, which then must try to arrange adoptions. But advocates across the state say the animals' chances are far better here than in rural areas, where depressed incomes and an overwhelming abundance of dogs and cats make happy endings rare.
"Those are the lucky ones who get on that van," said Sally Matay of Illinois Animal Rescue, which brings up 60 or so animals every week. "The majority get adopted very quickly. Just given the chance for a good home, they get one."
Nationally, the Best Friends Animal Society began transporting small-breed dogs from Los Angeles shelters to other states two years ago, after finding other areas "that have not only a shortage of small dogs for adoption, but waiting lists for them," said Elizabeth Oreck, Los Angeles programs manager. Best Friends, based in Utah, also transported dogs rescued from Midwestern puppy mills to the East Coast through its Pup My Ride campaign, which passed through Midway Airport last month and was featured in a Tribune article. Oreck said there may be other similar efforts under way, but she was not aware of any that operated on as large a scale as Best Friends, which has found 2,500 dogs new homes, she said.
Matay's group, which is about 2 years old, formalized a practice that has been going on for years. Pet lovers in the Chicago area, hearing about dogs and cats facing euthanasia downstate, would drive there to retrieve the animals. Some rural animal control officers say that without such efforts, few of the dogs and cats they take in stand a chance. "My adoption rate is pretty pitiful," said Sandy Millman, Richland County's animal control officer. "We adopted 28 animals this year and impounded 824."
She and others say many downstate residents don't spay or neuter their animals because they find it too expensive or don't believe it's important. What's more, they said, the plague of unemployment has prompted more people to try breeding dogs as a business. When the puppies don't sell, they are usually abandoned or dropped off at the local pound.
Dr. Dena Heflin, a veterinarian in the small town of Iuka, 85 miles east of St. Louis, said most people in the area aren't sentimental about their animals. "I worked in Naperville for 13 years, and there is a huge, different mentality from there to here," she said. "You still have a lot of people here who love their pets, and they do whatever they can to keep them healthy, but the majority do just what they have to to get by. And most of those, it's barely even that."
Animal control officials around Chicago, though, said abuse, neglect and full shelters are a fact of life here too. Some had mixed feelings about the importation of more cats and dogs. "There's certainly a need in Chicago," said Cherie Travis of Chicago Animal Care and Control, which has had to euthanize about half of the 20,000 animals it has impounded this year. "There's a misconception among people that the problem is just downstate or in other states."
Dr. Robyn Barbiers of Chicago's Anti-Cruelty Society, an organization that takes in about 7,500 animals a year, said the region still seems to have room for dogs, especially puppies. "You have to make sure you're not bringing animals in at the expense of animals in the city," she said. "For the most part, though, there is a nice balance going on."
Save-a-Pet Adoption Center in Grayslake harbors mostly local animals, but it has accepted many from other areas too. Shelter manager Dana Deutsch said the group recently took in 18 dogs auctioned by a Missouri puppy breeder. "A life is a life is a life, whether it's here or down south," she said.
Illinois Animal Rescue focuses on pets that seem likely to be adopted quickly, though hard cases can make the trip too. A van load that arrived Tuesday included four terriers with matted fur and fearful eyes. Julie Marry-Falkenberry, the volunteer at the wheel, said they had been recovered from an animal hoarder.
But most of the 52 animals in her vehicle seemed happy and well-adjusted, bounding out of their crates as Marry-Falkenberry transferred them to other volunteers in a Joliet parking lot. One handsome boxer-shepherd preened in the back seat of a car as he awaited a ride to Huntley's Animal House Shelter. "We rescued him literally one hour before he was to be euthanized," Matay said. "He'll get adopted out right away."
Two dogs already had a permanent home lined up. Kelly Hjorth and Michael Olsen, of Crystal Lake, bought their first house in August but felt it wouldn't be complete without animal companions. They discovered a favorite pair online, and on a recent evening, volunteers delivered Gordo and Goblin to their new home.
The 8-month-old brothers beat a merry tattoo with their tails as they darted through the couple's split-level, pausing only to feast from matching food bowls set beside the Christmas tree. Finally they collapsed on the couch, their mouths lolling open as Hjorth and Olsen scratched the dogs' muzzles and bellies. "They are awesome," said Hjorth, 25, a special education teacher. "We are all about giving second chances, and this is definitely a second chance for them."
Tribune reporter Lisa Black contributed to this report. jkeilman@tribune.com
Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-pet-pipeline-26-dec26,0,4431080.story?page=1
Friday, December 25, 2009
FL: Cape rallies to support family
Cape rallies to support family
Fund opened in name of child fatally bitten by dog
By TIFFANY REPECKI, trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
POSTED: December 25, 2009
A bank account has been opened in the name of a Cape Coral toddler who was fatally bitten Tuesday morning by one of his family's two dogs. An account for Liam Perk has been set up at Fifth Third Bank, according to a bank employee. Those who wish to donate to the fund can drop by any branch of Fifth Third Bank and have their donation deposited into the account.
Liam, 2, was severely bitten in the neck area by his family's 8-year-old male Weimaraner. Officials were uncertain Tuesday about what occurred before the attack, but it appeared there was no direct provocation from the boy. "We don't know anything for sure, but it appears the child walked by the dog and for whatever reason the dog was startled," said Connie Barron, spokeswoman for the Cape Coral Police Department. "Something apparently, obviously, startled the dog when the child walked by and the dog immediately snapped at the child and bit him in the neck area."
Lee County Animal Services euthanized the dog Wednesday, after the family surrendered custody, because the dog could not be adopted out to a new home, officials reported. A female Weimaraner, also removed from the home but not involved in Tuesday's attack, posed no danger and was returned to the family.
Officials could not find a trigger or reason leading to this week's tragedy - the pet had no history of aggressive behavior and the bite was unprovoked.
While fatal attacks are rare, dog bites are fairly common, accounting for 5 percent of emergency room visits. Officials estimate that 1 out of every 2 children will experience a dog bite by age 12. For families with pets, local dog trainers offer some general advice on bite prevention and information about dog safety as most dog bites occur in the home and children, and the elderly, are the most common victims.
Patrick Logue, an advanced dog behavioral therapist and trainer with Bark Busters, said all interaction between dogs and young children needs to be watched.
"Dogs use body language and vocal tones to communicate," he said. "You want to make sure kids don't play too rough with a dog, even if they're having a good time," Logue said. "A dog might nip at a child even if it's playing because that's how a dog communicates."
Alice Roberts, a member of the Dog Obedience Club of Lee County, takes a similar view. "I think one of the main tips with very small children is they should always be under supervision when there is a dog around," she said. "It's a tragic thing that happened this past week," Roberts said. "Even gentle dogs should be attended to when there are small children around."
Logue also advised against allowing a young child to discipline a dog, and said children should not pull on a dog's collar, ears or tail. Children should not be allowed to feed or walk a dog without adult supervision, nor should they pet a stranger's dog without first asking for permission.
Roberts said people should do their homework before buying a dog, such as finding out about a dog's temperaments, and that all dogs should go through some level of obedience training.
"We have so many dog problems now, so many dogs that are at the Humane Society and Animal Control, and most of it is because the dogs are not trained," she said. "They don't respond to commands. "They are not socialized, which is very very important," Roberts said. "As puppies, they should be socialized."
The Dog Obedience Club of Lee County, partnered with the city of Cape Coral, offers dog obedience lessons in the employee parking lot at City Hall several times per year. The classes are broken down into puppy, beginner and advanced, and the cost ranges from $60-$80 for residents and $78-$104 for non-residents.
"You need to have control, and that's what we're about," Roberts said, adding that the lessons can go beyond the basics. "Any problems you have at home with the dog, we try to help."
Logue agreed. "We recognize dogs are great companion animals, but oftentimes they are misunderstood," he said. "We teach our clients how to better communicate with their dogs," Logue said. "Dogs use body language and vocal tones so we teach our clients to use their body language and vocal tones to mimic how a dog communicates."
Bark Busters, a worldwide dog training company established in Australia in 1989, also offers a free public service program online that is designated to teach children about dog safety and bite prevention. Children simply log on and the program walks them though a tutorial. At the end, they answer questions about the material they learned, then they get a certificate. "There's a lot of stuff geared toward adults out there, but nothing geared toward children," Logue said of why the program was created.
Visit the Bach & Buster Buddy Dog Safety Program online at: www.BarkBustersBuddy.com.
Bark Busters also provides free, dog safety workshops to community-based organizations. According to Logue, the workshops are an overview with some basic tips, followed by a question-and-answer session. For information or to schedule a workshop, call (800) 500-BARK (2275).
===============
General advice for dog safety
- Never leave a young child or baby alone with a dog.
- Never allow a young child to discipline a dog.
- Never allow a child to feed or walk a dog unsupervised.
- Never allow a child to pull on a dog's collar, ears or tail.
- Never allow a child to play aggressive games, like wrestling, with a dog.
- Never allow a child to pet a dog that is in someone else's vehicle.
How to stay safe when a dog approaches
- Do not turn and run - dogs naturally love to chase and catch things.
- Stand still with your hands at your sides. In most cases, the dog will go away when it determines you are not a threat.
- Do not put your hand out - just allow the dog to approach you to sniff you.
- Do not scream. If you say anything, speak calmly and firmly.
- Face the dog at all times, but do not stare. Avoid eye contact.
- Back away slowly, watching the dog from the corner of your eye until the dog is out of sight.
Source: Bark Busters Home Dog Training
Dog bite statistics
n Approximately 4.7 American are bitten by dogs each year, with small children and the elderly among the most frequent victims.
n 888,000 of those injured required medical attention, with dog-bite victims accounting for up to 5 percent of all emergency room visits.
n Most dog bites occur in the home of the victim's family members or friend.
n Children, especially boys ages 5-9, are three times more likely than adults to be seriously bitten.
n Dogs bite young children, ages 4 and under, most often on the face, head and neck because children are around the same height as a dog and because they crawl into small, low spaces where the dog can reach.
n 50 percent of all children in the United States will be bitten by a dog before their 12th birthday.
Source: Bark Busters Home Dog Training
Source: http://www.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com/page/content.detail/id/513749.html?nav=5011
Fund opened in name of child fatally bitten by dog
By TIFFANY REPECKI, trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
POSTED: December 25, 2009
A bank account has been opened in the name of a Cape Coral toddler who was fatally bitten Tuesday morning by one of his family's two dogs. An account for Liam Perk has been set up at Fifth Third Bank, according to a bank employee. Those who wish to donate to the fund can drop by any branch of Fifth Third Bank and have their donation deposited into the account.
Liam, 2, was severely bitten in the neck area by his family's 8-year-old male Weimaraner. Officials were uncertain Tuesday about what occurred before the attack, but it appeared there was no direct provocation from the boy. "We don't know anything for sure, but it appears the child walked by the dog and for whatever reason the dog was startled," said Connie Barron, spokeswoman for the Cape Coral Police Department. "Something apparently, obviously, startled the dog when the child walked by and the dog immediately snapped at the child and bit him in the neck area."
Lee County Animal Services euthanized the dog Wednesday, after the family surrendered custody, because the dog could not be adopted out to a new home, officials reported. A female Weimaraner, also removed from the home but not involved in Tuesday's attack, posed no danger and was returned to the family.
Officials could not find a trigger or reason leading to this week's tragedy - the pet had no history of aggressive behavior and the bite was unprovoked.
While fatal attacks are rare, dog bites are fairly common, accounting for 5 percent of emergency room visits. Officials estimate that 1 out of every 2 children will experience a dog bite by age 12. For families with pets, local dog trainers offer some general advice on bite prevention and information about dog safety as most dog bites occur in the home and children, and the elderly, are the most common victims.
Patrick Logue, an advanced dog behavioral therapist and trainer with Bark Busters, said all interaction between dogs and young children needs to be watched.
"Dogs use body language and vocal tones to communicate," he said. "You want to make sure kids don't play too rough with a dog, even if they're having a good time," Logue said. "A dog might nip at a child even if it's playing because that's how a dog communicates."
Alice Roberts, a member of the Dog Obedience Club of Lee County, takes a similar view. "I think one of the main tips with very small children is they should always be under supervision when there is a dog around," she said. "It's a tragic thing that happened this past week," Roberts said. "Even gentle dogs should be attended to when there are small children around."
Logue also advised against allowing a young child to discipline a dog, and said children should not pull on a dog's collar, ears or tail. Children should not be allowed to feed or walk a dog without adult supervision, nor should they pet a stranger's dog without first asking for permission.
Roberts said people should do their homework before buying a dog, such as finding out about a dog's temperaments, and that all dogs should go through some level of obedience training.
"We have so many dog problems now, so many dogs that are at the Humane Society and Animal Control, and most of it is because the dogs are not trained," she said. "They don't respond to commands. "They are not socialized, which is very very important," Roberts said. "As puppies, they should be socialized."
The Dog Obedience Club of Lee County, partnered with the city of Cape Coral, offers dog obedience lessons in the employee parking lot at City Hall several times per year. The classes are broken down into puppy, beginner and advanced, and the cost ranges from $60-$80 for residents and $78-$104 for non-residents.
"You need to have control, and that's what we're about," Roberts said, adding that the lessons can go beyond the basics. "Any problems you have at home with the dog, we try to help."
Logue agreed. "We recognize dogs are great companion animals, but oftentimes they are misunderstood," he said. "We teach our clients how to better communicate with their dogs," Logue said. "Dogs use body language and vocal tones so we teach our clients to use their body language and vocal tones to mimic how a dog communicates."
Bark Busters, a worldwide dog training company established in Australia in 1989, also offers a free public service program online that is designated to teach children about dog safety and bite prevention. Children simply log on and the program walks them though a tutorial. At the end, they answer questions about the material they learned, then they get a certificate. "There's a lot of stuff geared toward adults out there, but nothing geared toward children," Logue said of why the program was created.
Visit the Bach & Buster Buddy Dog Safety Program online at: www.BarkBustersBuddy.com.
Bark Busters also provides free, dog safety workshops to community-based organizations. According to Logue, the workshops are an overview with some basic tips, followed by a question-and-answer session. For information or to schedule a workshop, call (800) 500-BARK (2275).
===============
General advice for dog safety
- Never leave a young child or baby alone with a dog.
- Never allow a young child to discipline a dog.
- Never allow a child to feed or walk a dog unsupervised.
- Never allow a child to pull on a dog's collar, ears or tail.
- Never allow a child to play aggressive games, like wrestling, with a dog.
- Never allow a child to pet a dog that is in someone else's vehicle.
How to stay safe when a dog approaches
- Do not turn and run - dogs naturally love to chase and catch things.
- Stand still with your hands at your sides. In most cases, the dog will go away when it determines you are not a threat.
- Do not put your hand out - just allow the dog to approach you to sniff you.
- Do not scream. If you say anything, speak calmly and firmly.
- Face the dog at all times, but do not stare. Avoid eye contact.
- Back away slowly, watching the dog from the corner of your eye until the dog is out of sight.
Source: Bark Busters Home Dog Training
Dog bite statistics
n Approximately 4.7 American are bitten by dogs each year, with small children and the elderly among the most frequent victims.
n 888,000 of those injured required medical attention, with dog-bite victims accounting for up to 5 percent of all emergency room visits.
n Most dog bites occur in the home of the victim's family members or friend.
n Children, especially boys ages 5-9, are three times more likely than adults to be seriously bitten.
n Dogs bite young children, ages 4 and under, most often on the face, head and neck because children are around the same height as a dog and because they crawl into small, low spaces where the dog can reach.
n 50 percent of all children in the United States will be bitten by a dog before their 12th birthday.
Source: Bark Busters Home Dog Training
Source: http://www.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com/page/content.detail/id/513749.html?nav=5011
TX: Dog breeder gets 'F' from Better Business Bureau
Dog breeder gets 'F' from Better Business Bureau
Adorable Petz disputes critic's charge that it's a puppy mill.
By Patrick Danner
SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS
A week after buying a Maltipoo from a Castroville dog breeder in September, Kristie Williams of San Antonio awoke to find her pup Peyton whimpering in pain. "She was limp, like spaghetti," Williams said. By the end of the day, after a series of seizures, Peyton was dead.
Williams accepted another puppy from the breeder, Adorable Petz. But almost immediately, Daisy started vomiting and had bloody stools. Daisy was diagnosed with parvovirus and died less than two weeks later. Adorable Petz promised Williams a refund, but she has yet to see any of the $350 she paid for Peyton.
Williams lodged a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, one of 11 the agency has received in the past year and a half about Adorable Petz. This week, the bureau announced that it has revoked Adorable Petz's accreditation and given the company its lowest rating — an "F."
Adorable Petz owner Sylvia Guerra said she wasn't aware of the complaints but vowed to "rectify the situation." "I won't leave them without their money or their puppy," she promised .
Adorable Petz has been selling puppies online since 2006. Its site features photos of dozens of "designer poodles" and "hybrid puppies." Included on the site is the disclaimer, "We do not have any dealing with any type of puppy mill."
But that's exactly what Adorable Petz operates, according to Vincent Medley, assistant director of Animal Care Services in San Antonio. Last year, when Adorable Petz was located in San Antonio, the agency obtained a warrant and confiscated 30 sick animals from Adorable Petz. Twenty-seven of them died, he said. Guerra disputed the charge. Still, Guerra said she was getting two or three visits a month from Animal Care Services, which was a factor in her decision to relocate.
"Basically, people who operate these types of businesses are producing puppies for profit," Medley said. "They don't care if the puppy survives." No state laws prevent breeders from selling sick animals, he added.
Adorable Petz offers a 14-day health guarantee on infectious diseases and a one-year warranty on genetic defects, Guerra said. It's not in her interest to sell sick puppies, she said.
Still, unhappy customers abound. Michelle Tessaro of San Antonio bought two puppies from Adorable Petz last year. A Maltipoo, named Angel, soon became listless. It had diarrhea and was vomiting. Despite about $2,000 in vet bills, Tessaro said, Angel died about three weeks later. Tessaro called and e-mailed Adorable Petz but got no response, she said.
Six of the 11 complaints against Adorable Petz have been resolved, the bureau said. Given the pattern, the "F" rating was warranted, said Erin Dufner, a bureau spokeswoman in Austin.
Source: http://www.statesman.com/news/texas/dog-breeder-gets-f-from-better-business-bureau-148266.html
Adorable Petz disputes critic's charge that it's a puppy mill.
By Patrick Danner
SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS
A week after buying a Maltipoo from a Castroville dog breeder in September, Kristie Williams of San Antonio awoke to find her pup Peyton whimpering in pain. "She was limp, like spaghetti," Williams said. By the end of the day, after a series of seizures, Peyton was dead.
Williams accepted another puppy from the breeder, Adorable Petz. But almost immediately, Daisy started vomiting and had bloody stools. Daisy was diagnosed with parvovirus and died less than two weeks later. Adorable Petz promised Williams a refund, but she has yet to see any of the $350 she paid for Peyton.
Williams lodged a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, one of 11 the agency has received in the past year and a half about Adorable Petz. This week, the bureau announced that it has revoked Adorable Petz's accreditation and given the company its lowest rating — an "F."
Adorable Petz owner Sylvia Guerra said she wasn't aware of the complaints but vowed to "rectify the situation." "I won't leave them without their money or their puppy," she promised .
Adorable Petz has been selling puppies online since 2006. Its site features photos of dozens of "designer poodles" and "hybrid puppies." Included on the site is the disclaimer, "We do not have any dealing with any type of puppy mill."
But that's exactly what Adorable Petz operates, according to Vincent Medley, assistant director of Animal Care Services in San Antonio. Last year, when Adorable Petz was located in San Antonio, the agency obtained a warrant and confiscated 30 sick animals from Adorable Petz. Twenty-seven of them died, he said. Guerra disputed the charge. Still, Guerra said she was getting two or three visits a month from Animal Care Services, which was a factor in her decision to relocate.
"Basically, people who operate these types of businesses are producing puppies for profit," Medley said. "They don't care if the puppy survives." No state laws prevent breeders from selling sick animals, he added.
Adorable Petz offers a 14-day health guarantee on infectious diseases and a one-year warranty on genetic defects, Guerra said. It's not in her interest to sell sick puppies, she said.
Still, unhappy customers abound. Michelle Tessaro of San Antonio bought two puppies from Adorable Petz last year. A Maltipoo, named Angel, soon became listless. It had diarrhea and was vomiting. Despite about $2,000 in vet bills, Tessaro said, Angel died about three weeks later. Tessaro called and e-mailed Adorable Petz but got no response, she said.
Six of the 11 complaints against Adorable Petz have been resolved, the bureau said. Given the pattern, the "F" rating was warranted, said Erin Dufner, a bureau spokeswoman in Austin.
Source: http://www.statesman.com/news/texas/dog-breeder-gets-f-from-better-business-bureau-148266.html
NATL: Remember the breeding parents
USDA Standards for Breeding Females:
Sec. 3.6 Primary enclosures
(c)(ii) Each bitch with nursing puppies must be provided with an additional amount of floor space, based on her breed and behavioral characteristics, and in accordance with generally accepted husbandry practices as determined by the attending veterinarian. If the additional amount of floor space for each nursing puppy is less than 5 percent of the minimum requirement for the bitch, such housing must be approved by the attending veterinarian.
Sec. 3.8 Exercise for dogs
Dealers, exhibitors, and research facilities must develop, document, and follow an appropriate plan to provide dogs with the opportunity for exercise. The plan, at a minimum, must comply with each of the following:
(a) Dogs housed individually. Dogs over 12 weeks of age, except bitches with litters.
(a) Dogs housed individually. Dogs over 12 weeks of age, except bitches with litters.
What does this mean for the dogs?
Using the USDA formula for floor space determination (length of dog + 6") X (length of dog + 6"), the dog pictured below measures approximately 36" from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail and therefore requires a minimum of just 12 square feet of floor space.
Mother and puppies require a minimum total of just 17 ½ square feet of floor space, which equals the total floor space of the cage in which they are confined. Therefore, except for lacking 6 inches of head room, this cage meets the space requirements under USDA guidelines.
Assuming her 9 puppies are provided the standard 5% of the mother's floor space, she is provided only 5 ½ square feet of additional space to live with 9 puppies.
This will be her life for 4 months of the year. She will live, eat, drink, sleep, urinate, defecate and nurse her puppies in this cage. Once the puppies are weaned, she can be moved to a cage which is 5 ½ square feet smaller, based on USDA guidelines.
Since USDA guidelines exclude nursing mothers from the opportunity for exercise, she has no way of ever escaping her nursing, growing puppies. This often results in malnutrition and complete physical and mental exhaustion. There is no limit on the number of times nor number of years a female can be bred. Her puppies will be sold and she can be bred again in 6 months. She will be pregnant or nursing puppies for 8 months out of the year.
A note regarding Indiana:
A law was passed this year which states, "commercial dog breeders shall provide every dog with a reasonable opportunity for exercise at least one (1) time per day". However, at the present time this is not being monitored nor enforced.
Whelping Shed The photos below are of a typical whelping shed. It was for sale at a USDA sanctioned dog auction. The mother and her puppies will live inside the boxes with the grate on top.   Source: http://www.petshoppuppies.org/ |
NATL: Pedigree Dogs Exposed
In a controversial UK documentary that divided the British dog world, the practices and methods for breeding pedigree dogs are exposed with heartbreaking stories.
Two years in the making, Pedigree Dogs Exposed lifts the lid on the true extent of health and welfare problems in pedigree dogs. This in-depth investigation suggests they're in serious trouble, plagued by genetic disease due to decades of inbreeding. Disturbing footage includes Cavalier King Charles spaniels in terrible pain because they've been bred with heads so small that their brains outgrows their skulls.
Finally, the film offers up some options to dog lovers who want to safeguard the future health of their purebred dogs.
VIDEO - http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=44215931
Two years in the making, Pedigree Dogs Exposed lifts the lid on the true extent of health and welfare problems in pedigree dogs. This in-depth investigation suggests they're in serious trouble, plagued by genetic disease due to decades of inbreeding. Disturbing footage includes Cavalier King Charles spaniels in terrible pain because they've been bred with heads so small that their brains outgrows their skulls.
Finally, the film offers up some options to dog lovers who want to safeguard the future health of their purebred dogs.
VIDEO - http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=44215931
OR: Volunteers try to save dozens of dogs left in Harney County after Oregon Humane Society rescue
Volunteers try to save dozens of dogs left in Harney County after Oregon Humane Society rescue
By Lynne Terry, The Oregonian
December 23, 2009, 7:36PM
Michael Lloyd/The Oregonian
One of the 90 dogs rescued from Harney County rests at the Oregon Humane Society last week. The animals rescued from eastern Oregon and from the Tillamook area have been adopted at a record pace. The saga of the Harney County dogs is far from over.
The Oregon Humane Societyrounded up almost 90 dogs earlier this month, but the agency left dozens that were stuck outside on private property about 20 miles south of Burns.
More than 100 cats taken from Madras rescue
Sandra Ballard admits she became overwhelmed by caring for dozens of cats abandoned in Jefferson County.To read the full story, click here.
But a Long Beach, Wash., woman who grew up in Harney County hopes to save many more. On Wednesday, Melanie Epping, founder of Harney County Save a Stray, headed to the site with her husband to rescue more dogs.
Those that are not rounded up could be shot, said Harney County Sheriff Dave Glerup: "They'll probably be put down one way or another. They're chasing livestock and game animals out there."
Epping said that after the humane society rescue, at least 60 dogs and puppies were left on the property where Anita Darlene Anderson, 55 and her husband, Ronald Steven Anderson, 43, live. The couple, who are longtime renters on the property, were arrested this month by the Harney County Sheriff's Office on suspicion of animal neglect.
Some of the dogs, mostly border collie, Australian shepherd and Shiba Ina mixes, were left chained outside. Others ran wild. Some were cooped up in an uncovered pen next to a trailer. A few dogs found shelter by digging a hole under planks on the ground.
The dogs fed on carcasses and meat scraps that the couple picked up from a local meat processing plant. Cattle carcasses and bones litter the desolate piece of land. "It's difficult to describe how sad it is," Epping said. The Andersons are under a release agreement to help round up the dogs and feed them properly, Glerup said.
Safeway donated about 3 tons of dry dog food. "They just put aside bags that were broken," Glerup said. Epping and her husband drove to the property on Wednesday and put 23 dogs, including six puppies, in dog kennels and hauled them to Salem. "All of the ones that we handled today were fine," Epping said. "We just want to save as many as we can."
A rescue rendezvous was planned in a Lowe's parking lot in Salem with representatives from Greenhill Humane Society in Eugene, Heartland Humane Society in Corvallis and Pet Adoption Network in Philomath. Those organizations agreed to take several dogs, with Coopers' Boarding Kennel in Amity taking the puppies, Epping said.
The groups will examine the dogs, provide medical treatment as necessary and ensure that they are spayed and neutered before putting them up for adoption. Epping also found a woman in Longview, Wash., to foster a few dogs.
On Saturday, she will head back the property in Harney County to meet officials from the Meridian Valley Humane Society from Meridian, Idaho, which will take more dogs.
Epping said Save a Stray is looking for volunteers to help catch, transport, foster, socialize, and adopt the dogs.
-- Lynne Terry
Source: http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/12/rescue_workers_try_to_save_som.html
======================
Neglected Dogs Brought to Greenhill Humane Society
By: Stacia Kalinoski
EUGENE, Ore. -- In one of the worst animal neglect cases in state history, nearly 150 dogs were seized in Harney County earlier this month. Those dogs have gradually made their way into shelters around the state. And now, four of them have arrived at Greenhill Humane Society in West Eugene.
The four dogs are among nearly 90 others who were rescued by Harney County Save A Stray and the Oregon Humane Society, but Harney County Save A Stray Rescuer Melanie Epping said there are at least 60 dogs still on the property, a rural farm in Princeton.
Epping said at least 20 are puppies, so rescuers are giving them priority. Butt she said many of the older dogs are just too wild, and may not be able to be saved. Even the ones Greenhill took in, still need some work.
Rita the dog has nothing but food on her mind. Real dog food. The two-year-old has been living off cattle carcasses her entire life. "She definetely loves her treats," Greenhill Humane Society Kennel Supervisor Dustin Vissering said. Rita's the only one Vissering can take outside to play.
The other three are still terrifed of human interaction, after living under wooden planks or chained to farm equipment. "I would imagine the dogs, from what we've seen, are mostly unaltered, so there was probably a lot of reproducing going on," Vissering said.
Video courtesy of the Oregon Humane Society captures the nearly 150 dogs, living in sub-freezing temperatures in a high-desert area. The sight leaves dog lovers like one couple, heartbroken. "They were just out there in the snow. And i felt so sorry for them." The Cottage Grove woman has anxiously followed the dogs' progress. She and her husband even visited the OHS last week to see if any of the neglected collies were available for adoption. "We were a little sad that so many got adopted, but happy that so being so close to Christmas, they found homes."
Now Vissering is trying to get these four ready for adoption. We just want to place these dogs where we can, so we can work with them and get them the best care that we can. Socialization is their main goal as they attempt to get at least two of the dogs ready for adoption by Tuesday.
But Epping believes the neglect has been going on for at least five years, making socialization nearly impossible for some of the older breeds.
Source: http://kezi.com/news/local/157029
=====================
Amity kennel rescues dogs
Five puppies newly arrived at Coopers’ Boarding Kennel in Amity have known people only for a few hours, but already they’re figuring out that these initially frightening creatures have gentle hands, loving voices, food and warmth.
For two adult dogs, the transition will be harder. All seven animals were rescued Wednesday from a rural Harney County property in eastern Oregon.
Earlier this month, the Oregon Humane Society rescued more than 70 dogs, but some 60 or more remained on the property, where they were receiving food, but little or no care. Most had little shelter from the bitter winter weather.
Harney County lacks the resources to take the animals in and care for them.
Deputies were called to the property about 20 miles east of Burns by county social workers who were investigating an unrelated complaint.
Three people are facing animal neglect charges: Anita Anderson, 55; Ronald Anderson, 43; and Kathlean Fuchs-Goyogana, 34. Both the Andersons and Fuchs-Goyogana live in mobile homes on the property, the sheriff said. The Andersons are under a release agreement to help round up the dogs and feed them properly, Harney County Sheriff Dave Glerup said. Some of the dogs were living underground in holes covered with planks, while others were chained to farm equipment with little or no shelter, officials said.
On Wednesday, Melanie Epping of the rescue group Harney County Save a Stray, who has been trying to find shelters for the remaining animals, drove a U-haul trailer to the property where she succeeded in capturing 23 dogs, including six puppies. She loaded them into crates in the trailer and drove to Salem, to distribute them among several shelters that had agreed to help.
Another 40 animals remain on the property, and Epping is continuing to search for places able to take them in. She found a woman in Longview, Wash., to foster a few dogs and said the Meridian Valley Humane Society from Meridian, Idaho will take some more dogs on Saturday.
The 20 rescued dogs were divided among Joan Cooper, owner of Coopers’ Boarding Kennel, and representatives from Greenhill Humane Society in Eugene, Heartland Humane Society in Corvallis, Willamette Humane Society in Salem, and Pet Adoption Network, a Philomath-based rescue group.
Wednesday evening after arriving home from Salem, Cooper’s adult daughter, Patricia Tawney, sat on the floor of one of the runs holding a lapful of puppies, all of them shaking in fear of the strange new surroundings, and the barking of boarding dogs in the adjacent runs. At just 4 weeks old, the puppies are new to the world as well as to people. As they gradually calmed down, they began climbing down to lap from shallow pans of food, explore their surroundings, and find places to relieve themselves.
Tawney’s daughter, Elizabeth, cuddled a frightened 2-month-old puppy that was also from the rescue group.
Cooper is working with Linda Watkins of the Pet Adoption Network, and agreed to take in some of the animals, provide them with medical care and socialize them in preparation for adoption. “I’ve worked with Linda Watkins before and taken care of some of her rescue dogs,” Cooper said. “We try to help when we can. It’s really hard to find foster homes for them, and the right adoptive homes.”
The puppies won’t be ready to leave her facility for another two weeks, she said, but prospective owners are welcome to visit and help get them used to humans. “The sooner we can get adoptive families to help socialize and adopt them, the more dogs we can rescue,” Tawney said.
They also hope to adopt out the two adult animals, whom they have named Pearl and Cooper, the latter in honor of Cooper’s late husband. That, however, may be a longer-term process. Both are frightened of people. Pearl appears to be pregnant, and Cooper has a badly injured paw that healed poorly.
“My husband just passed away last week,” Cooper said. “He was a very tough, loving man. ... I thought, this dog has to have a tough, loving name, he’s got a long way to go.”
Watkins said that any help people can provide will be welcome. “Mostly what works out really well are donations of gift cards to places like Wilco, BiMart, Petco — places that sell pet supplies ... gift certificates to something like Valley Feed,” she said. “What we’re going to need is mostly dog food, training treats, toys. Cash donations, too. All the dogs have to be spayed, neutered, we have to give them all their shots, worming, all of that kind of stuff.”
To offer donations, go to the Pet Adoption Network website www.pan.petfinder.org. For information about adopting or helping with the Amity animals, call Coopers’ Boarding Kennel at 503-835-3647. In addition, Watkins said, Epping is looking for volunteers to help capture, transport, foster, socialize, and adopt a dog. Animals that cannot be captured and placed may be shot by county authorities, she said. Call Melanie Epping at 541-589-1104 or visit the website, www.harneycountysaveastray.com.
Donations of food, supplies or money can be made to the individual shelters taking the dogs. Financial donations also may be sent to the Save a Stray account at US Bank or mailed to HCSAS; PO Box 403; Burns, OR 97720.
Source: http://www.newsregister.com/article/42709-amity+kennel+rescues+dogs
Israel: When it comes to pet products, it's raining cats and dogs
Israel: When it comes to pet products, it's raining cats and dogs
By Rina Rozenberg
"What gorgeous shoes. I just have to buy a pair for my little one." One might be excused for assuming that the gushing footwear fiend had a child. Indeed she may, but the woman in question was in a pet store and "the little one" she was referring to was her 4-year old mutt.
Economic crisis be darned: Demand among Israelis for pet accessories, especially unique ones, has soared in recent years. Importers and retailers are happy to meet the challenge and offer a range of specialty products.
Shampoo for blondes at the drug store is so 1990s: how about special shampoo for black-furred dogs? (Or cats, if you dare.)
Maybe some perfume for your pooch? Then there are of course vitamins and minerals, special beds and enough toys (for enough species) to give Toys R' Us a run for its money.
Not only are the accessories proliferating: so are the sales points. This year the list was augmented by Pet Point, a 450-square meter Tel Aviv supermarket for petware and nothing but.
Experts in pet pampering a la Holy Land think it's just the beginning of the trend. Meanwhile, Pet Point features more than 10,000 products for pets.
"Just like the Tambour shops turned into Home Center, and all the mom & pop groceries turned into outlets of giant chain stores, the small stores in the pets sector too - which charge higher prices and offer a smaller range - are going to get swallowed up over time," predicts Oded Shilon, owner of Pet Point.
Shahar Dominitz, owner and CEO of rival retail chain Jungle, seconds that. "We've opened a roughly 250-square meter store in Yokne'am. In my opinion, the niche [of giant pet-product retailers] is going to develop at the expense of the 20-meter stores. The range available in Israel of chemical preparations, accessories and food for pets is so big that today customers look for stores with the biggest possible range, not a store like the neighborhood grocery."
Shilon of Pet Point says the market for pets is worth over NIS 100 million annually in the greater Tel Aviv area alone, which constitutes more than half the nationwide market.
One has to wonder whether the sheer abundance of goods and goodies leads pet owners to spend more than they need to.
"Naturally, 300 years ago, nobody dreamed of such plenty and they got along just fine," says Shilon. "But you could ask the same question about people. Look how many products there are at the drugstore chains, or food chains. It's actually a question about consumption culture. A person could also live on nothing but rice and chicken, but it's a question of quality of life. The quality of life, the health care and the recreation of pets has risen."
You can't argue with the fact that the higher the quality of life to which one aspires for Kittie or Spike, the more it will cost. But there are plenty of products out there that do nothing whatsoever to improve your pet's quality of life, from rubber chickens to designer cat litters to plastic pirates in your fish tank.
"The industry of toys for dogs and cats derives from personification, thinking of cats and dogs as human," says Dr. Danny Freudenthal, head of the Animal Care department at CTS Group, which imports and markets products for the healthcare, agricultural and veterinary sectors. "There are dozens of toys at the stores that look like objects humans use - a rolled-up newspaper made of plastic, a rubber steak, a silicon chicken. The thing is that it doesn't matter to the cat or dog whether the toy is a squeaking plastic steak or a simple tennis ball. He doesn't realize it represents a steak. You don't need these toys for pets."
Eau de Fido
People may want their beloved furry friends to have something to do while they're alone at home. But these purchased toys generally bore them after a short period of time, Freudenthal says.
That doesn't mean there aren't pet toys that really are useful, he qualifies: like toys that clean the teeth.
"The chew toys given to dogs to prevent plaque do some good, but they only postpone the problem. They don't solve it. You can't avoid plaque with dogs, like you can't with humans," says Freudenthal.
Put otherwise, buying Buster chew-sticks for NIS 5 a day may be pointless.
Treating pets as humans doesn't end with toys. Today you can find a range of perfumes for dogs that can cost as much as NIS 60 a bottle. Freudenthal says the scent evaporates after 10 minutes.
And then there's the bath. Where once you might have aimed the hose at the dog, today you can find high-end shampoos for animals based on natural components, or on protein, that cost as much as NIS 70 for a small 100-milliliter bottle.
And would you spring for a fur styling? That may cost as much as NIS 150 - and it's completely unnecessary.
"Why do people cut their dogs' fur? It's superfluous," says Freudenthal. "It contributes nothing. Shedding continues. It doesn't cool down the dog [in summer], quite the contrary - fur insulates against heat and cold. Generally speaking, if we brush the dog once or twice a day, most of the shedding fur will stay on the brush rather than scatter around the house. The only reason to cut a dog's fur is for the look."
And that's an indulgence for the owner, not the pet.
There are of course things pet owners can't do without. The heaviest outlay is food. The range of regular dry foods for dogs is NIS 150 to NIS 250 for a 15 to 18 kilogram bag, which will last a medium-sized dog a month or two.
A bag of regular dry cat food lasting a month or two may cost anywhere from NIS 80 to NIS 140. (There are specialty foods, for instance for cats with a propensity for kidney trouble, that may cost much more.)
Regarding dogs, the pros recommend premium food, even though it costs more than regular food. That's because the dog digests more and excretes less of it: 85% versus 50%.
The main ingredient in premium food is poultry powder, while the inferior foods have more corn and other carbohydrates.
The highest degree of digestibility is super-premium food, where the digestion level climbs to 92%.
But the difference between premium and super-premium is less significant than the difference between regular food and premium.
Don't forget the vet and his bills. They're as important as food. Pet owners may spend thousands of shekels a year on veterinary care. Some of that is essential: inoculations, flea shots.
But most people are somewhat in awe of their vet and don't question his convictions. In case of doubt, counsels Freudenthal, call another vet for a second opinion, and when the moment of totting up the bill arrives, do try to negotiate. You might get a discount.
Source: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1137617.html
By Rina Rozenberg
"What gorgeous shoes. I just have to buy a pair for my little one." One might be excused for assuming that the gushing footwear fiend had a child. Indeed she may, but the woman in question was in a pet store and "the little one" she was referring to was her 4-year old mutt.
Economic crisis be darned: Demand among Israelis for pet accessories, especially unique ones, has soared in recent years. Importers and retailers are happy to meet the challenge and offer a range of specialty products.
Shampoo for blondes at the drug store is so 1990s: how about special shampoo for black-furred dogs? (Or cats, if you dare.)
Maybe some perfume for your pooch? Then there are of course vitamins and minerals, special beds and enough toys (for enough species) to give Toys R' Us a run for its money.
Not only are the accessories proliferating: so are the sales points. This year the list was augmented by Pet Point, a 450-square meter Tel Aviv supermarket for petware and nothing but.
Experts in pet pampering a la Holy Land think it's just the beginning of the trend. Meanwhile, Pet Point features more than 10,000 products for pets.
"Just like the Tambour shops turned into Home Center, and all the mom & pop groceries turned into outlets of giant chain stores, the small stores in the pets sector too - which charge higher prices and offer a smaller range - are going to get swallowed up over time," predicts Oded Shilon, owner of Pet Point.
Shahar Dominitz, owner and CEO of rival retail chain Jungle, seconds that. "We've opened a roughly 250-square meter store in Yokne'am. In my opinion, the niche [of giant pet-product retailers] is going to develop at the expense of the 20-meter stores. The range available in Israel of chemical preparations, accessories and food for pets is so big that today customers look for stores with the biggest possible range, not a store like the neighborhood grocery."
Shilon of Pet Point says the market for pets is worth over NIS 100 million annually in the greater Tel Aviv area alone, which constitutes more than half the nationwide market.
One has to wonder whether the sheer abundance of goods and goodies leads pet owners to spend more than they need to.
"Naturally, 300 years ago, nobody dreamed of such plenty and they got along just fine," says Shilon. "But you could ask the same question about people. Look how many products there are at the drugstore chains, or food chains. It's actually a question about consumption culture. A person could also live on nothing but rice and chicken, but it's a question of quality of life. The quality of life, the health care and the recreation of pets has risen."
You can't argue with the fact that the higher the quality of life to which one aspires for Kittie or Spike, the more it will cost. But there are plenty of products out there that do nothing whatsoever to improve your pet's quality of life, from rubber chickens to designer cat litters to plastic pirates in your fish tank.
"The industry of toys for dogs and cats derives from personification, thinking of cats and dogs as human," says Dr. Danny Freudenthal, head of the Animal Care department at CTS Group, which imports and markets products for the healthcare, agricultural and veterinary sectors. "There are dozens of toys at the stores that look like objects humans use - a rolled-up newspaper made of plastic, a rubber steak, a silicon chicken. The thing is that it doesn't matter to the cat or dog whether the toy is a squeaking plastic steak or a simple tennis ball. He doesn't realize it represents a steak. You don't need these toys for pets."
Eau de Fido
People may want their beloved furry friends to have something to do while they're alone at home. But these purchased toys generally bore them after a short period of time, Freudenthal says.
That doesn't mean there aren't pet toys that really are useful, he qualifies: like toys that clean the teeth.
"The chew toys given to dogs to prevent plaque do some good, but they only postpone the problem. They don't solve it. You can't avoid plaque with dogs, like you can't with humans," says Freudenthal.
Put otherwise, buying Buster chew-sticks for NIS 5 a day may be pointless.
Treating pets as humans doesn't end with toys. Today you can find a range of perfumes for dogs that can cost as much as NIS 60 a bottle. Freudenthal says the scent evaporates after 10 minutes.
And then there's the bath. Where once you might have aimed the hose at the dog, today you can find high-end shampoos for animals based on natural components, or on protein, that cost as much as NIS 70 for a small 100-milliliter bottle.
And would you spring for a fur styling? That may cost as much as NIS 150 - and it's completely unnecessary.
"Why do people cut their dogs' fur? It's superfluous," says Freudenthal. "It contributes nothing. Shedding continues. It doesn't cool down the dog [in summer], quite the contrary - fur insulates against heat and cold. Generally speaking, if we brush the dog once or twice a day, most of the shedding fur will stay on the brush rather than scatter around the house. The only reason to cut a dog's fur is for the look."
And that's an indulgence for the owner, not the pet.
There are of course things pet owners can't do without. The heaviest outlay is food. The range of regular dry foods for dogs is NIS 150 to NIS 250 for a 15 to 18 kilogram bag, which will last a medium-sized dog a month or two.
A bag of regular dry cat food lasting a month or two may cost anywhere from NIS 80 to NIS 140. (There are specialty foods, for instance for cats with a propensity for kidney trouble, that may cost much more.)
Regarding dogs, the pros recommend premium food, even though it costs more than regular food. That's because the dog digests more and excretes less of it: 85% versus 50%.
The main ingredient in premium food is poultry powder, while the inferior foods have more corn and other carbohydrates.
The highest degree of digestibility is super-premium food, where the digestion level climbs to 92%.
But the difference between premium and super-premium is less significant than the difference between regular food and premium.
Don't forget the vet and his bills. They're as important as food. Pet owners may spend thousands of shekels a year on veterinary care. Some of that is essential: inoculations, flea shots.
But most people are somewhat in awe of their vet and don't question his convictions. In case of doubt, counsels Freudenthal, call another vet for a second opinion, and when the moment of totting up the bill arrives, do try to negotiate. You might get a discount.
Source: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1137617.html
OK: Avoiding puppy-mill pups at Christmas
Avoiding puppy-mill pups at Christmas
By PHIL MULKINS World Action Line Editor
Published: 12/25/2009 2:19 AM
Last Modified: 12/25/2009 5:17 AM
Dear Action Line: I told the little one if she was good for the relatives at Christmas time, I would buy her a puppy after Christmas. What's the best way to go about this? I don't want anything to do with a "puppy-mill puppy." — W.S., Tulsa
Puppy mills: The Humane Society of the United States warns families in your boat to make doubly certain they are not unwittingly supporting the cruel puppy-mill industry. Best advice? Don't buy puppies from pet stores, off the Web or from any source where you can't see the living conditions of the puppy's mother and other dogs at the facility. Quality breeders don't sell puppies through pet stores or over the Internet.
The society urges families to first consider adoption from local shelters or rescue groups, where healthy, loving animals need nothing so much as a happy family this holiday.
"Puppy mills" are exactly that: "machines that manufacture by the continuous repetition of some simple action" — like keeping the mother dogs pregnant their entire lives. The operators put breeding-age females in wire cages making puppies that are also kept in wire cages until sold. The animals receive no medical care and live in squalid conditions with no exercise, socialization or human contact. Puppy-mill moms who can't keep making pups are destroyed or discarded.
Society investigators and rescue teams have revealed over and over puppy-mill operators' disregard for the physical, social and emotional health of the dogs. Sloppy mass-breeding programs
and poor living conditions cause puppies to have more physical and behavioral problems than dogs from reliable sources.
Adopt a pet: The Society braces itself every year for the inevitable, upsetting post-holiday calls. People call about sick or dying puppies purchased for the holidays. Too often consumers don't research where their puppies have come from and wind up spending the holiday trying to save a sick animal instead of enjoying the season. Read the society's advisory "Adopting from an animal shelter or rescue group" at tulsaworld.com/AdoptaPet.
Tulsa Humane Society: Visit the Tulsa Humane Society at tulsaworld.com/TulsaHumaneSociety — or from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday visit them at 6232 E. 60th St., or call 495-DOGS or 493-CATS about adoptions. See its cats at tulsaworld.com/THScats and its dogs at tulsaworld.com/THSdogs. Also see a list of rescue groups in the Tulsa Yellow Pages under "humane societies."
Tulsa Animal Shelter: The Tulsa Animal Welfare Shelter is at 3031 N. Erie Ave., between Sheridan Road and Yale Avenue just north of Apache Street. It is open from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. Service hours (for reporting animal problems) are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 669-6280 and after hours at 596-9222. Also visit the shelter at tulsaworld.com/TulsaAnimalShelter.
Submit Action Line questions by calling 699-8888 or by e-mailing phil.mulkins@TulsaWorld.com or by mailing it to Tulsa World Action Line, PO Box 1770, Tulsa OK 74102-1770.
Source: http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=15&articleid=20091225_15_E3_DacinL883688
By PHIL MULKINS World Action Line Editor
Published: 12/25/2009 2:19 AM
Last Modified: 12/25/2009 5:17 AM
Dear Action Line: I told the little one if she was good for the relatives at Christmas time, I would buy her a puppy after Christmas. What's the best way to go about this? I don't want anything to do with a "puppy-mill puppy." — W.S., Tulsa
Puppy mills: The Humane Society of the United States warns families in your boat to make doubly certain they are not unwittingly supporting the cruel puppy-mill industry. Best advice? Don't buy puppies from pet stores, off the Web or from any source where you can't see the living conditions of the puppy's mother and other dogs at the facility. Quality breeders don't sell puppies through pet stores or over the Internet.
The society urges families to first consider adoption from local shelters or rescue groups, where healthy, loving animals need nothing so much as a happy family this holiday.
"Puppy mills" are exactly that: "machines that manufacture by the continuous repetition of some simple action" — like keeping the mother dogs pregnant their entire lives. The operators put breeding-age females in wire cages making puppies that are also kept in wire cages until sold. The animals receive no medical care and live in squalid conditions with no exercise, socialization or human contact. Puppy-mill moms who can't keep making pups are destroyed or discarded.
Society investigators and rescue teams have revealed over and over puppy-mill operators' disregard for the physical, social and emotional health of the dogs. Sloppy mass-breeding programs
and poor living conditions cause puppies to have more physical and behavioral problems than dogs from reliable sources.
Adopt a pet: The Society braces itself every year for the inevitable, upsetting post-holiday calls. People call about sick or dying puppies purchased for the holidays. Too often consumers don't research where their puppies have come from and wind up spending the holiday trying to save a sick animal instead of enjoying the season. Read the society's advisory "Adopting from an animal shelter or rescue group" at tulsaworld.com/AdoptaPet.
Tulsa Humane Society: Visit the Tulsa Humane Society at tulsaworld.com/TulsaHumaneSociety — or from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday visit them at 6232 E. 60th St., or call 495-DOGS or 493-CATS about adoptions. See its cats at tulsaworld.com/THScats and its dogs at tulsaworld.com/THSdogs. Also see a list of rescue groups in the Tulsa Yellow Pages under "humane societies."
Tulsa Animal Shelter: The Tulsa Animal Welfare Shelter is at 3031 N. Erie Ave., between Sheridan Road and Yale Avenue just north of Apache Street. It is open from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. Service hours (for reporting animal problems) are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 669-6280 and after hours at 596-9222. Also visit the shelter at tulsaworld.com/TulsaAnimalShelter.
Submit Action Line questions by calling 699-8888 or by e-mailing phil.mulkins@TulsaWorld.com or by mailing it to Tulsa World Action Line, PO Box 1770, Tulsa OK 74102-1770.
Source: http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=15&articleid=20091225_15_E3_DacinL883688
HI: Hawaii gets low ranking for animal protection laws
Hawaii gets low ranking for animal protection laws
By BRIAN PERRY, City Editor
POSTED: December 25, 2009
PUUNENE - While a California-based animal rights group contends Hawaii ranks among the worst states in the nation in terms of animal protection laws, Maui Humane Society Chief Executive Officer Jocelyn Bouchard says she's not surprised.
Only two or three years ago, after trying for eight years, animal rights groups were successful in lobbying state lawmakers to make animal cruelty a felony, she said. But even that law specifically excluded chickens because of the strength of Hawaii's cockfighting lobby. "We knew it wasn't perfect, but we knew we could get it through (the Legislature)," she said Wednesday. In lobbying for legislation, "you pass what you can, (and) work year after year to get it better and better."
In ranking animal protection laws, the Animal Legal Defense Fund looked at animal abuse laws in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Its study grouped Hawaii with Kentucky, North Dakota, Idaho and Mississippi as the five worst states. The nation's best states are Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Oregon and California, according to the group.
The group says that Hawaii state law doesn't include felonies for extreme neglect or abandonment of animals or provisions requiring veterinarians to report suspected abuse. It also says that Hawaii's animal fighting laws are insufficient and its peace officers have no duty to enforce animal protection laws.
Cockfighting in Hawaii is a "huge obstacle" for animal rights advocates, Bouchard said. Cockfighters are "very organized," and they "speak against any legislation that might affect them," she said.
Bouchard said she'd like to see tougher state laws against cockfighting specifically, but also against dogfighting, which "is starting to become a problem on Maui." She speculated that gaining legislation against dogfighting might be easier to do because laws against the blood sport are "something more people can rally around." Also, current state law bans cruelty against pet animals, such as dogs, cats and caged birds, but it excludes chickens, Bouchard said.
Hawaii law requires those prosecuting abuse to show someone was "willful and intentional" in inflicting pain or disfigurement, she said. Maui Humane Society officials investigate reports of abuse, but need physical evidence, such as injuries to the animal, to successfully prosecute a case.
Bouchard said that animal rights advocates would pursue improved laws during next year's legislative session, which begins in mid-January. Among the measures they expect to seek would be a law making it illegal to tie up a dog 24 hours a day or to use a heavy chain that would injure it. Another measure would put a limit on the number of dogs and cats that could be kept together in a cage, she said. "We've got a lot of work to do, and we're aware of that," she said.
* Brian Perry can be reached at citydesk@mauinews.com.
Source: http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/527063.html
By BRIAN PERRY, City Editor
POSTED: December 25, 2009
PUUNENE - While a California-based animal rights group contends Hawaii ranks among the worst states in the nation in terms of animal protection laws, Maui Humane Society Chief Executive Officer Jocelyn Bouchard says she's not surprised.
Only two or three years ago, after trying for eight years, animal rights groups were successful in lobbying state lawmakers to make animal cruelty a felony, she said. But even that law specifically excluded chickens because of the strength of Hawaii's cockfighting lobby. "We knew it wasn't perfect, but we knew we could get it through (the Legislature)," she said Wednesday. In lobbying for legislation, "you pass what you can, (and) work year after year to get it better and better."
In ranking animal protection laws, the Animal Legal Defense Fund looked at animal abuse laws in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Its study grouped Hawaii with Kentucky, North Dakota, Idaho and Mississippi as the five worst states. The nation's best states are Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Oregon and California, according to the group.
The group says that Hawaii state law doesn't include felonies for extreme neglect or abandonment of animals or provisions requiring veterinarians to report suspected abuse. It also says that Hawaii's animal fighting laws are insufficient and its peace officers have no duty to enforce animal protection laws.
Cockfighting in Hawaii is a "huge obstacle" for animal rights advocates, Bouchard said. Cockfighters are "very organized," and they "speak against any legislation that might affect them," she said.
Bouchard said she'd like to see tougher state laws against cockfighting specifically, but also against dogfighting, which "is starting to become a problem on Maui." She speculated that gaining legislation against dogfighting might be easier to do because laws against the blood sport are "something more people can rally around." Also, current state law bans cruelty against pet animals, such as dogs, cats and caged birds, but it excludes chickens, Bouchard said.
Hawaii law requires those prosecuting abuse to show someone was "willful and intentional" in inflicting pain or disfigurement, she said. Maui Humane Society officials investigate reports of abuse, but need physical evidence, such as injuries to the animal, to successfully prosecute a case.
Bouchard said that animal rights advocates would pursue improved laws during next year's legislative session, which begins in mid-January. Among the measures they expect to seek would be a law making it illegal to tie up a dog 24 hours a day or to use a heavy chain that would injure it. Another measure would put a limit on the number of dogs and cats that could be kept together in a cage, she said. "We've got a lot of work to do, and we're aware of that," she said.
* Brian Perry can be reached at citydesk@mauinews.com.
Source: http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/527063.html
CO: 100 starving dogs found in South Park
12/25/2009 2:35:00 PM Email this article • Print this article
100 starving dogs found in South Park
By Mike Potter, Christeena Sherman, Audrey Gilpin
Eight dogs were found dead, and more than 100 were found in extremely poor condition at a property about 10 miles west of Guffey and 15 miles southeast of Hartsel after Park County Sheriff's Deputies executed a search warrant on Dec. 16.
The animals, mostly huskies and husky-mixes, belong to Samuel Walker and Diane Walker, both of Florissant. They have been operating Pawsatrack Racing Sled Dogs.
Park County Undersheriff Monte Gore said on Dec. 22 that the Walkers could face 108 counts of animal cruelty.
The eight dead dogs were found stuffed in empty dog food bags in a pit. The starving animals were found chained to doghouses on the property.
Early in the morning, deputies and Sheriff's Office animal control officers executed the search warrant on the property off of Forest Service Road 108, according to a Dec. 17 press release from the Park County Sheriff's Office. The dogs that were found there rated a "1 or less" on the Hennekee Body Score System, which rates an animal's body condition from one to nine, with one being the lowest, according to the press release.
Initially, on Dec. 16, 30 dogs in the poorest conditions were taken to animal shelters in Colorado Springs, Buena Vista, Salida and Park County. Then on Dec. 17 the remaining 70 or so dogs were removed.
The dogs were found as a result of an anonymous tip to the United States Humane Society, which contacted Sergeant Bobbi Priestly of Park County Animal Control on Dec. 15, said the press release. Gore told The Flume, "The dogs were out in the open, but each had a house that they were fastened to with a 10-15- foot chain." The shelters in Park County and other counties that received the dogs have received considerable response from the public.
"We're calling the huskies "miniature" because of their small size and using it as a marketing strategy. There is no breed of husky or malamute that's miniature; the animals just look that way as a result of malnutrition," said Diana Cameron, from the Humane Society of Fremont County in Cañon City.
"All of the dogs are very nice and very happy to be out of the situation. People should come from miles around to adopt them," she said. That facility received four males and two females of the roughly 100 dogs that were recovered. For the most part the dogs will need about one week of recovery time.
The Walkers signed over ownership of 98 dogs to the Park County Sheriff's Office last week. While eight were found dead at the time of the seizure, one succumbed to death on the way to a veterinarian. Anyone wishing to make a dog food donation may send it or take it to the Park County Sheriff's Office, located at 1180 County Road 16 in Fairplay. Monetary donations can be sent to Park County Animal Rescue, P.O. Box 604, Fairplay, CO 80440.
One starving sled dog reunited
Old owner sees dog on TV, comes to rescue
By Audrey Gilpin - Mountain Mail Staff Writer
Chester, a 10 year-old emaciated Alaskan husky, was reunited with his former owner Tuesday at Ark-Valley Humane Society in Buena Vista after a four-day search triggered by a national newscast photograph. A sled dog racer for more than 15 years, Tammy Sullivan, 50, of Laramie, Wyo., was watching Denver Channel 9 News coverage of the Park County Animal Control rescue of more than 100 sled dogs near Hartsel in South Park when she recognized an old friend.
"Oh my gosh, that's my dog! That's Chester," Sullivan said she exclaimed during the newscast. Six years ago while living in Bailey, Sullivan said she faced financial problems and placed Chester at Pawsatrack Racing Sled Dogs, owned by Samuel and Diane Walker near Hartsel. Sullivan said she could not take care of 12 dogs she had then.
"I had known (the Walkers) for years. They didn't have a highly competitive team, but their race dogs looked good. The Walkers were doing just fine," Sullivan said. After seeing Chester on the news Dec. 16 when he weighed 46 pounds because of starvation, Sullivan said she spent four days calling shelters to locate him. Eventually, she searched the Ark-Valley Web site and saw a photo of Chester.
"I immediately called the shelter and asked about Chester. Did he have a bum knee? Was he neutered? After they said yes, I just knew it was him," she said. Sullivan drove from Laramie to Buena Vista and back Tuesday to adopt Chester. "You're damn right he's staying with us," she said. "He deserves a better home - he can be a couch potato with us."
She said she took Chester immediately to her regular veterinarian for an examination and blood tests. "I am just heartsick. I feel completely to blame. He wasn't safe," Sullivan said. Chester gained two pounds in six days at the shelter in Buena Vista. He weighs 48 pounds which is "better than most" of the other dogs rescued in South Park, she said. Alice Lively, Ark-Valley assistant manager, said a dog the size of Chester should weigh 60-65 pounds. Sullivan has about six sled dogs, mostly retired, in Laramie.
"The mushing (sled dog) community is really upset over this. It's not how we keep our animals. We'd starve ourselves before starving our animals." Sullivan said she saw Samuel Walker at a sled dog race in Leadville during the first week of March. "He had no dogs with him and said Chester was doing fine," she said.
Park County Undersheriff, Monte Gore told The Mountain Mail, a sister paper of The Flume, on Tuesday that the Walkers could face 108 counts of animal cruelty. Park County Animal Control personnel removed 30 dogs in the poorest condition Dec. 16 and the remaining 70 dogs Dec. 17. Eight dogs were found dead. Gore said more dead dogs could be found in graves when the ground thaws.
The rescued sled dogs were sent to Humane Societies in Longmont, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Cañon City and Buena Vista. A complete list of shelters where the dogs were placed is at www.parkco.us. With Chester gone, Ark-Valley has 13 of the rescued dogs. Nancy Best, animal care technician, said the rescued dogs are being fed four times a day. "We've had an outpouring of community response," she said.
People interested in donating to the emergency medical fund, becoming foster parents or adopting the dogs may call 719-395-2737. Best said people will be put on a list, and potential foster parents will be contacted after Christmas. People who offer themselves as potential adopters of dogs will be contacted after the dogs are in better health.
Source
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Update: Couple Surrenders In Sled Dog Abuse Case - Huskies Were Found Starving
POSTED: 4:01 pm MST December 28, 2009
UPDATED: 4:38 pm MST December 28, 2009
FAIRPLAY, Colo. -- The couple who owned more than 100 sled dogs seized after they were reportedly found starving in "deplorable conditions" has turned themselves in to face animal cruelty charges, officials said Monday.
Samuel and Diane Walker turned themselves in at the Park County Jail on Christmas Day, according to the Park County Sheriff's Office. They were released after both posted $2,000 in bail.
The Walkers were charged with two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, a felony, and 30 counts of cruelty to animals, a misdemeanor, officials said.
About 100 Huskies bred for sled racing were rescued on Dec. 16 and 17 from the Walkers' rural mountain property south of Hartsel. As many as 90 Husky and Husky-mix dogs were underweight and not properly fed, police have said. Eight of the dogs had died.
A tip to the U.S. Humane Society led to the investigation and the seizure of dogs. The dogs were dispersed to various animal shelters for treatment and rehabilitation and will be put up for adoption.
Source: http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/22075150/detail.html
|
By Mike Potter, Christeena Sherman, Audrey Gilpin
Eight dogs were found dead, and more than 100 were found in extremely poor condition at a property about 10 miles west of Guffey and 15 miles southeast of Hartsel after Park County Sheriff's Deputies executed a search warrant on Dec. 16.
The animals, mostly huskies and husky-mixes, belong to Samuel Walker and Diane Walker, both of Florissant. They have been operating Pawsatrack Racing Sled Dogs.
Park County Undersheriff Monte Gore said on Dec. 22 that the Walkers could face 108 counts of animal cruelty.
The eight dead dogs were found stuffed in empty dog food bags in a pit. The starving animals were found chained to doghouses on the property.
Early in the morning, deputies and Sheriff's Office animal control officers executed the search warrant on the property off of Forest Service Road 108, according to a Dec. 17 press release from the Park County Sheriff's Office. The dogs that were found there rated a "1 or less" on the Hennekee Body Score System, which rates an animal's body condition from one to nine, with one being the lowest, according to the press release.
Initially, on Dec. 16, 30 dogs in the poorest conditions were taken to animal shelters in Colorado Springs, Buena Vista, Salida and Park County. Then on Dec. 17 the remaining 70 or so dogs were removed.
The dogs were found as a result of an anonymous tip to the United States Humane Society, which contacted Sergeant Bobbi Priestly of Park County Animal Control on Dec. 15, said the press release. Gore told The Flume, "The dogs were out in the open, but each had a house that they were fastened to with a 10-15- foot chain." The shelters in Park County and other counties that received the dogs have received considerable response from the public.
"We're calling the huskies "miniature" because of their small size and using it as a marketing strategy. There is no breed of husky or malamute that's miniature; the animals just look that way as a result of malnutrition," said Diana Cameron, from the Humane Society of Fremont County in Cañon City.
"All of the dogs are very nice and very happy to be out of the situation. People should come from miles around to adopt them," she said. That facility received four males and two females of the roughly 100 dogs that were recovered. For the most part the dogs will need about one week of recovery time.
The Walkers signed over ownership of 98 dogs to the Park County Sheriff's Office last week. While eight were found dead at the time of the seizure, one succumbed to death on the way to a veterinarian. Anyone wishing to make a dog food donation may send it or take it to the Park County Sheriff's Office, located at 1180 County Road 16 in Fairplay. Monetary donations can be sent to Park County Animal Rescue, P.O. Box 604, Fairplay, CO 80440.
One starving sled dog reunited
Old owner sees dog on TV, comes to rescue
By Audrey Gilpin - Mountain Mail Staff Writer
Chester, a 10 year-old emaciated Alaskan husky, was reunited with his former owner Tuesday at Ark-Valley Humane Society in Buena Vista after a four-day search triggered by a national newscast photograph. A sled dog racer for more than 15 years, Tammy Sullivan, 50, of Laramie, Wyo., was watching Denver Channel 9 News coverage of the Park County Animal Control rescue of more than 100 sled dogs near Hartsel in South Park when she recognized an old friend.
"Oh my gosh, that's my dog! That's Chester," Sullivan said she exclaimed during the newscast. Six years ago while living in Bailey, Sullivan said she faced financial problems and placed Chester at Pawsatrack Racing Sled Dogs, owned by Samuel and Diane Walker near Hartsel. Sullivan said she could not take care of 12 dogs she had then.
"I had known (the Walkers) for years. They didn't have a highly competitive team, but their race dogs looked good. The Walkers were doing just fine," Sullivan said. After seeing Chester on the news Dec. 16 when he weighed 46 pounds because of starvation, Sullivan said she spent four days calling shelters to locate him. Eventually, she searched the Ark-Valley Web site and saw a photo of Chester.
"I immediately called the shelter and asked about Chester. Did he have a bum knee? Was he neutered? After they said yes, I just knew it was him," she said. Sullivan drove from Laramie to Buena Vista and back Tuesday to adopt Chester. "You're damn right he's staying with us," she said. "He deserves a better home - he can be a couch potato with us."
She said she took Chester immediately to her regular veterinarian for an examination and blood tests. "I am just heartsick. I feel completely to blame. He wasn't safe," Sullivan said. Chester gained two pounds in six days at the shelter in Buena Vista. He weighs 48 pounds which is "better than most" of the other dogs rescued in South Park, she said. Alice Lively, Ark-Valley assistant manager, said a dog the size of Chester should weigh 60-65 pounds. Sullivan has about six sled dogs, mostly retired, in Laramie.
"The mushing (sled dog) community is really upset over this. It's not how we keep our animals. We'd starve ourselves before starving our animals." Sullivan said she saw Samuel Walker at a sled dog race in Leadville during the first week of March. "He had no dogs with him and said Chester was doing fine," she said.
Park County Undersheriff, Monte Gore told The Mountain Mail, a sister paper of The Flume, on Tuesday that the Walkers could face 108 counts of animal cruelty. Park County Animal Control personnel removed 30 dogs in the poorest condition Dec. 16 and the remaining 70 dogs Dec. 17. Eight dogs were found dead. Gore said more dead dogs could be found in graves when the ground thaws.
The rescued sled dogs were sent to Humane Societies in Longmont, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Cañon City and Buena Vista. A complete list of shelters where the dogs were placed is at www.parkco.us. With Chester gone, Ark-Valley has 13 of the rescued dogs. Nancy Best, animal care technician, said the rescued dogs are being fed four times a day. "We've had an outpouring of community response," she said.
People interested in donating to the emergency medical fund, becoming foster parents or adopting the dogs may call 719-395-2737. Best said people will be put on a list, and potential foster parents will be contacted after Christmas. People who offer themselves as potential adopters of dogs will be contacted after the dogs are in better health.
Source
============================================================
Update: Couple Surrenders In Sled Dog Abuse Case - Huskies Were Found Starving
POSTED: 4:01 pm MST December 28, 2009
UPDATED: 4:38 pm MST December 28, 2009
FAIRPLAY, Colo. -- The couple who owned more than 100 sled dogs seized after they were reportedly found starving in "deplorable conditions" has turned themselves in to face animal cruelty charges, officials said Monday.
Samuel and Diane Walker turned themselves in at the Park County Jail on Christmas Day, according to the Park County Sheriff's Office. They were released after both posted $2,000 in bail.
The Walkers were charged with two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, a felony, and 30 counts of cruelty to animals, a misdemeanor, officials said.
About 100 Huskies bred for sled racing were rescued on Dec. 16 and 17 from the Walkers' rural mountain property south of Hartsel. As many as 90 Husky and Husky-mix dogs were underweight and not properly fed, police have said. Eight of the dogs had died.
A tip to the U.S. Humane Society led to the investigation and the seizure of dogs. The dogs were dispersed to various animal shelters for treatment and rehabilitation and will be put up for adoption.
Source: http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/22075150/detail.html
NY: Bird's the Word - Caniglia Receives Additional Criminal Charges
Bird's the Word - Caniglia Receives Additional Criminal Charges
By Brian Rubin
WAWARSING – Juan "Victor" Caniglia, who was arrested on December 4 for 78 misdemeanor counts of animal abuse, has been additionally charged with a felony by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) for possessing and intending to sell "protected wildlife consisting of wild birds with a value in excess of $1,500, without having obtained a license or permit from the New York State DEC." The initial arrest and animal abuse charges came after members of the Ulster County SPCA found over seven dozen birds being held in deplorable and unclean conditions in a small, under-heated shed.
Caniglia has pled not guilty to the charges brought against him.
According to Brian Shapiro, UCSPCA's executive director, each of the 78 misdemeanor counts of failure to provide proper food and drink to an impounded animal carry a penalty of up to a year in prison and $1,000 fine. Additionally, the felony charge carries a penalty of one to four years in prison.
The SPCA confiscated the birds that were found, as well as three rabbits presumably being raised for food that were also in the shed. Among the birds were "macaws, cockatiels, and two wild birds; a female cardinal and a tufted titmouse," said a press release issued by the SPCA earlier this week.
Since going into the care of the SPCA, said Shapiro, the birds' conditions have improved dramatically.
"The birds are in improved health at this time," he said. "Compared to how they were in that shed, they're like different animals, and it's really something positive to see. It's, quite frankly, a joy to behold."
The birds will remain in the SPCA's care until they are no longer needed for evidence in the animal abuse case. Shapiro said that the organization would request a bond hearing, which would require the defendant to provide money for the continued care of the animals.
"If [Caniglia] cannot come up with the funds, they have five days to relinquish the animals to the care of the impounding agency," said Shapiro. At this point, the animals would become the property of the SPCA, and once they're no longer required to be held as evidence in the trial, the adoption process would begin.
"Having so many animals has strained our resources," said Shapiro. "We are here to provide humane law services to the community. We're hoping that the community will help us through donations for this effort and other humane law efforts."
To contact the Ulster County SPCA, their phone number is 845- 331-5377, and their address is 20 Wiedy Road, Kingston, NY.
Source: http://www.shawangunkjournal.com/2009/12/24/news/0912243.html
By Brian Rubin
WAWARSING – Juan "Victor" Caniglia, who was arrested on December 4 for 78 misdemeanor counts of animal abuse, has been additionally charged with a felony by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) for possessing and intending to sell "protected wildlife consisting of wild birds with a value in excess of $1,500, without having obtained a license or permit from the New York State DEC." The initial arrest and animal abuse charges came after members of the Ulster County SPCA found over seven dozen birds being held in deplorable and unclean conditions in a small, under-heated shed.
Caniglia has pled not guilty to the charges brought against him.
According to Brian Shapiro, UCSPCA's executive director, each of the 78 misdemeanor counts of failure to provide proper food and drink to an impounded animal carry a penalty of up to a year in prison and $1,000 fine. Additionally, the felony charge carries a penalty of one to four years in prison.
The SPCA confiscated the birds that were found, as well as three rabbits presumably being raised for food that were also in the shed. Among the birds were "macaws, cockatiels, and two wild birds; a female cardinal and a tufted titmouse," said a press release issued by the SPCA earlier this week.
Since going into the care of the SPCA, said Shapiro, the birds' conditions have improved dramatically.
"The birds are in improved health at this time," he said. "Compared to how they were in that shed, they're like different animals, and it's really something positive to see. It's, quite frankly, a joy to behold."
The birds will remain in the SPCA's care until they are no longer needed for evidence in the animal abuse case. Shapiro said that the organization would request a bond hearing, which would require the defendant to provide money for the continued care of the animals.
"If [Caniglia] cannot come up with the funds, they have five days to relinquish the animals to the care of the impounding agency," said Shapiro. At this point, the animals would become the property of the SPCA, and once they're no longer required to be held as evidence in the trial, the adoption process would begin.
"Having so many animals has strained our resources," said Shapiro. "We are here to provide humane law services to the community. We're hoping that the community will help us through donations for this effort and other humane law efforts."
To contact the Ulster County SPCA, their phone number is 845- 331-5377, and their address is 20 Wiedy Road, Kingston, NY.
Source: http://www.shawangunkjournal.com/2009/12/24/news/0912243.html
NY: Filling Your Pet's Stocking this Christmas
| Filling Your Pet's Stocking this Christmas | |
| Sarah Sheridan | |
 | |
December 24, 2009 HORSEHEADS---Many people trekked to the stores to finish up last minute shopping for friends and family this Christmas Eve. But others have been flocking to buy gifts for the other member of the family, their pet. Despite the tough economy, people are still getting their furry friends something to put under the Christmas tree. Just like other retailers, pet stores are luring in customers with great deals. Shoppers in the Southern Tier have been filling their carts with squeaky toys, bones, toy mice and sweaters. A local pet store manager says merchandise has been flying off the shelves. The PetSmart in the Southern Tier Crossing in Horseheads has already done double the business this year compared to last. Petsmart Store Manager, Jessica Haight, says, "Alot of people this year came in. We have been busy non-stop for the last two weeks now. We get alot of 'I can't believe I spent this much on my on my dog or my cat.' A recent national survey by PetSmart claimed that out of 1,000 dog and cat owners, 95 percent said they would buy their pet a gift or special treat this holiday season. Source: http://www.weny.com/News-Local.asp?ARTICLE3864=9150180 | |
TN: New Animal Control Clears Final Hurdle
New Animal Control Clears Final Hurdle
Engineering study to begin soon
By Sherry Mitchell/ The News Examiner/ December 25, 2009
Sumner County Commissioners voted 16-7 on Monday, Dec. 21 to allocate up to $1.2 million plus an additional 5 percent for architectural engineering costs for a new animal control facility, slated to begin construction in early 2010.
“We cannot keep euthanizing (animals) and expect the problem to go away,” said Sheriff Bob Barker, whose office oversees the agency, prior to the vote. “The reason that we are where we are at now, for 30 years we’ve neglected to take care of the problem. I am asking that this be approved so that we can move forward with this.”
Presently, the county’s animal control operations are housed in a 30-year-old makeshift shed.
Proponents of the new facility see its construction as a continuation of improvements that have been made in the county’s animal control operations. Following a November 2008 takeover by Barker’s department, the number of adoptions has increased, and now a new facility, tentatively set to be more than 8,000 square feet, will allow more room for animals. It will also provide a low-cost spay/neuter facility and special facilities for livestock and equine.
Mindful that the new facility will be placed on county-owned property near the old Union School, Barker said he has sought a consensus of approval from local officials.
“I have spoken with the mayor’s office and every city councilman and no one has voiced opposition to a new animal control,” he said.
Candidate opposes new shelter
Several citizens had spoken in opposition of the project, including school board member Ben Harris, who in 2010 will run for a 5th District seat on the county commission.
“I’ve always had pets – I’m an animal lover,” Harris said. “I know we really need this dog pound, but the budget is going to be a lot worse next year.”
Barker said he appreciated input from residents, but he was quick to point out that the county animal control division is much more than a dog pound.
“My office is responsible for animal abuse calls, animal neglect, attacks and the enforcement of our wildlife laws,” Barker said. “We just rescued (108) dogs from a large puppy mill in Portland, and we recently (raided) one of the largest cockfighting rings in Tennessee, where children were not only present, but were encouraged to participate.”
Barker said in the past month alone, the agency has taken on an average of 10 animals a day.
Source: http://www.tennessean.com/article/20091225/GALLATIN01/91224023/2138/New+animal+control+clears+final+hurdle
Engineering study to begin soon
By Sherry Mitchell/ The News Examiner/ December 25, 2009
Sumner County Commissioners voted 16-7 on Monday, Dec. 21 to allocate up to $1.2 million plus an additional 5 percent for architectural engineering costs for a new animal control facility, slated to begin construction in early 2010.
“We cannot keep euthanizing (animals) and expect the problem to go away,” said Sheriff Bob Barker, whose office oversees the agency, prior to the vote. “The reason that we are where we are at now, for 30 years we’ve neglected to take care of the problem. I am asking that this be approved so that we can move forward with this.”
Presently, the county’s animal control operations are housed in a 30-year-old makeshift shed.
Proponents of the new facility see its construction as a continuation of improvements that have been made in the county’s animal control operations. Following a November 2008 takeover by Barker’s department, the number of adoptions has increased, and now a new facility, tentatively set to be more than 8,000 square feet, will allow more room for animals. It will also provide a low-cost spay/neuter facility and special facilities for livestock and equine.
Mindful that the new facility will be placed on county-owned property near the old Union School, Barker said he has sought a consensus of approval from local officials.
“I have spoken with the mayor’s office and every city councilman and no one has voiced opposition to a new animal control,” he said.
Candidate opposes new shelter
Several citizens had spoken in opposition of the project, including school board member Ben Harris, who in 2010 will run for a 5th District seat on the county commission.
“I’ve always had pets – I’m an animal lover,” Harris said. “I know we really need this dog pound, but the budget is going to be a lot worse next year.”
Barker said he appreciated input from residents, but he was quick to point out that the county animal control division is much more than a dog pound.
“My office is responsible for animal abuse calls, animal neglect, attacks and the enforcement of our wildlife laws,” Barker said. “We just rescued (108) dogs from a large puppy mill in Portland, and we recently (raided) one of the largest cockfighting rings in Tennessee, where children were not only present, but were encouraged to participate.”
Barker said in the past month alone, the agency has taken on an average of 10 animals a day.
Source: http://www.tennessean.com/article/20091225/GALLATIN01/91224023/2138/New+animal+control+clears+final+hurdle
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