Hurricanes And The Animals.

Again, mother nature has seen fit to take her wrath out on the gulf coasts. And, again, the animals suffer as much as the humans. The Humane Society of the United States has a video showing the sheltering of these animals from the ravages of the storms. You can see this video at www.hsus.org.

The shelters in these storm ravaged area will be over-run again, as they were when Katrina hit. They, again, will need monetary donations to keep up with food and vet bills. Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated. Go to the website above and they will have info on how you can help. Thanks.

Designer Dogs And Pet Store Puppies.

Chance and Mr. Puppy say, "Don't buy from a pet store, they sell puppy mill puppies and mixing breeds brings out the worst of both breeds."

I have been cruising the Internet and found a site for "puppies for sale" in the Ashland/Huntington area. I was dismayed to see the number of "designer" puppies for sale on this site. Also, there were many people looking to buy these dogs, because they looked "sooo cute." Buying a dog because it is cute is a really, really bad idea. You need to research very carefully when purchasing a puppy.

In the Herald Dispatch opinion section today, a lady wrote about a puppy she bought from a retail store that was sick. I wish she had read my blog. I have many, many posts on why not to buy a puppy from a pet store. I am sure I know the one she is talking about, but for legal reasons, I am not going to mention it. Pet stores have what is called "Pet store doublespeak."

From what I read in the letter to the editor, the lady's puppy survived. She is very, very lucky. I will continue to speak out against "designer" dogs and buying a dog from a pet store. If you want to ensure you are getting a healthy puppy, never buy a dog from a pet store, through a classified ad either in the physical paper or off a classified ad on the Internet. Any reputable breeder never sells through these means. You need to see both the parents or if both are not on site, contact the owner of the parent dog that is not available to view and talk to the owner of that dog.

But, I advocate getting a dog from a shelter, as they have many purebred dogs, and there are many, many breed rescues out there. And, let it be known, that these places will not place a dog with special needs to just anyone.

Largest Puppy Mill Bust In TN. History.

** some info taken from www.hsus.org **

On June 26, 2008, the HSUS (Humane Society of the United States) along with local authorities executed a warrant on a puppy mill called Pine Bluff Kennels. The suffering they saw was unimaginable, even to the seasoned officers. More than 700, yes 700, dogs, 25 horses and donkeys, 20 cats, 4 parrots and 15 chickens were seized.

There was the the smell of massive tragedy. The most neglected area of this puppy mill housed mother dogs and young offspring. These animals were left to wallow in mounds of their own feces, most of them with no food or water. Because the youngest animals are most vulnerable they found several puppies who succumbed to neglect.

These animals died without ever having a chance. They never even had names—nothing but misery. The older breeding dogs at the facility didn't fare much better. They were housed in a sea of tiny wire cages that made it impossible for them to stand comfortably—forcing their legs through the grates. Many had never had the opportunity to feel the security of solid ground beneath their feet.

The team came across the grave site of a pile of dogs with multiple gunshot wounds in their decaying bodies. Shot and thrown away like garbage. But, people that have puppy mills don't care about anything but money. These animals are garbage to them when they can no longer produce.

The owner of this horrid operation had agreed to surrender all of the animals to the local district attorney's office. May the punishment fit the crime this time. So, remember, if you purchase a dog from a pet store, this is the kind of operations you are keeping in business. People who just breed dogs to death.

I have many, many posts on puppy mills, but this one took my breath when I read about it. Please, please don't purchase a dog from a pet store or off the Internet, or through classified ads in the paper. Remember, reputable breeders do not sell their dogs through these means. If you absolutely think you need a purebred dog, there are many, many breed rescues out there. I have heard people say, "Oh, I don't know what these dogs have been through, and I bet they have all kinds of behavioral and genetic problems." This is not the case.

Breed rescues know what animals are special needs and only place them with people who can give them that special care. And, your local shelters have many purebreds up for adoption. Give a shelter dog or a breed rescue dog a second chance.

Why Do Shelters Kill?

source: www.dogsindanger.com

The connundrum of doing society's dirt work while trying to remain mentally and spiritually intact. Nobody who works at an animal shelter wants to kill the animals that are brought in for shelter. They do it because they see no alternative. They indeed see it as a necessary evil preventing the suffering of millions of animals that would otherwise be abused, neglected or abandoned to starve on the streets. Shelters across the country accept 6-8 million dogs each year. The inflow of animals is far greater than shelter space, and the shelter resources to find new homes. Shelters that euthanize dogs do so because they believe that warehousing the dogs is not in the best interest of the animals. Every animal deserves a decent quality of life, and living in prison cages over the long term does not support this principle. People who work in shelters want to help animals - they should not be required to take on the job of killing the creatures they love most. This terrible burden is unfair to shelter workers everywhere who care deeply for the animals and desire to nurture life not destroy it.

Relief For Overwhelmed Animal Shelters Due To The Foreclosure Epidemic.

I have written about this, but now it is finally happening. On June 4th, '08, the first round of grants from a special fund created by the HSUS (Humane Society of the United States), went out to local shelters and rescue organizations. This fund was created in March of this year. It will help shelters and rescue organizations with the overwhelming amount of animals that are being left behind because people are having their homes foreclosed and the financial crisis that our country is in.

The grants can help alleviate some of the already massive load that the shelters are encountering. Unfortunately, the humans are not the only ones suffering. Family pets have to be given up or some are just left behind to fend for themselves. I have had some people leave comments that the HSUS is an organization just like PETA. That they want all animals to be free of human control. This is so untrue. If they were like PETA, they would not help shelters and rescue organizations. They are helping animals get a second chance at a life with a family that can care for them, instead of starving to death, which is the cruelest way to die.

The grants range from $500.00 to $2000.00 per organization. To be eligible, the organization has to be a registered 501(c)3 non-profit or a municipal animal control agency. Preference is given to shelters and organizations that have a cooperative agreement with other community agencies such as food banks or other community service agencies.

We Need More People To Adopt Shelter Animals!

Chance says, "If you are looking for a new companion, check out your local shelters. Give all of them a try. You will find your perfect companion."

I just wanted to give a shout out to a great lady I met just today, 6/9/08, her name is Michelle. She is in the process of adopting one of the shelter dogs at Little Victories. If more people were like her, our shelters, kill and no-kill wouldn't be over-run. Go Michelle and good luck!

The Ultimate Betrayal.

Being unwanted is bad enough, but to be euthanized and then just thrown into a shallow, mass grave, behind the pound where you were brought to hopefully, find a new and loving home, is the ultimate betrayal.

80 miles SE of Columbus, in a town called McConnelsville, OH, this happened. Animal rights activists brought it to light on Sunday, the 31st. of March. A mass grave with the unknown total of dead animals was uncovered. The dog warden, of 21 yrs., has 30 days to dispose of the animals properly. At least he is on unpaid leave. The EPA cited Morgan County, which is the county that the pound is located in.

This is another case of abuse at a shelter. I thought I had heard it all, but each day, something new hits me like a baseball bat.

Another Shelter Abuse Case - The Public Didn't Know About!

Chance thinks if the news media would get more involved in animal abuse cases, it might slow the tide.

Almost 2 yrs. ago, a Berkeley County woman was charged with keeping 149 dogs in inhumane conditions. Mari Spade, a 61 year old woman (at the time) that started a rescue called, ironically, "Second Chance", that actually arranged adoptions for hundreds of dogs at several Loudoun County pet stores and a local veterinary clinic, has been charged with animal cruelty.

This is another case of someone opening a shelter and not being able to handle it. Who suffers, the animals, of course. Her lawyer had the audacity to say, "There is no abuse. She may have been a little over-whelmed, but she is not a cruel person by definition." But, anyone that would defend someone like this woman, is desperate for a case. The evidence was abundant.

She has been ordered to pay restitution of about $115,000.00. This amount came from the total cost it took to take care of the dogs rescued from the hell they were living in. She pleaded no-contest in Dec. '07 to one count of misdemeanor animal cruelty. The charge is too lenient. I feel she should at least have done 6mo. to 2 yrs. in jail and paid the county back.

Another Horrid Case Of Shelter Abuse.

Chance asks, if you can - Please Help!

I am sure that everyone has seen the story about the raid on the animal shelter in Eastern KY. What a nightmare! More than 115 diseased and starving dogs and more than 40 dead dogs were discovered by the Jackson County KY sheriff's department. The abuse ranged from starvation to wounds inflicted on dogs by other dogs. 2 people were charged with 117 counts, each, of animal abuse, and the wife of one, will be allowed to surround on her own, as she was at the hospital with a sick child.

The 75 living dogs were taken to the Gray Hawk Veterinary Clinic on US HWY 421 So., McKee KY 40447. Their phone number is 1-606-287-8475. The clinic will house the dogs until they can be adopted out or placed in rescue organizations or foster homes. They will need dog food and monetary donations. If you can help in any way, please do. I know our shelters here need help, too, but this is an emergency. Thank you.

Updated information:

Send checks or donations to: P.O. Box 387, Gray Hawk, Ky. 40434. Another fund has been set up for paying veterinarian bills and buying dog food. The address: In care of Tim Fee, Jackson County Sheriff, P.O. Box 426, McKee, KY 40447. People can also send food directly to the Jackson County Sheriff's office.