Your Tax Dollars at Work

The Hopkins Co Humane Society in KY sounds all right on their website. They offer low cost neuter, reasonable adoption fees which include neuter and they investigate cruelty.

Turns out though, they kill roughly 8 out of 10 pets that come through their doors. The community wants to work toward less killing and has mobilized at all levels to make that happen. But the HCHS President wants to maintain the status quo. She doesn't want volunteers helping out at the shelter because "they become too attached to the animals". Which would be a terrible quality to have in someone caring for pets because that attachment might foster some motivation to do something for the pets besides kill them. Of course there is no room at a "Humane Society" for something like that. In fact the shelter President is not at all concerned about killing pets or leaving kittens in urine filled bins overnight although she is concerned about pesky potential adopters and apparently makes it difficult for anyone to adopt a pet from her shelter.

I wonder how much longer this one lady will be allowed to dictate cruelty and death to the pets in her care. On the taxpayers' dime.


Hat Tip: For Your Entertainment

Checking Up on TLAC

Another Day in the Death at Town Lake Animal Center in Austin:

7-1-09:

Adoption: 16
DOA: 27
*slams on brakes*
Twenty-seven dead on arrival? Listed are 14 cats, 12 dogs and 1 "other". ??? Also: !!!

Euthanized: 35

• 5 killed due to "Agg policy"
• 22 due to "no pick"
• 2 due to "rabies risk"
• 2 due to "sick/injured"
• 4 due to "suffering"

7-9-09:

Adoption: 9
DOA: 3
Note: There is also 1 bird is listed as "died in kennel"

Euthanized: 32

• 1 killed for being a kitten less than 4 weeks old
• 12 killed due to "Agg policy"
• 16 due to "no pick"
• 1 due to "rabies risk"
• 1 due to "sick/injured"
• 1 due to "suffering"

Should I still keep hoping that the Committee who voted for major change in the killing policies at TLAC will have any real impact? It's hard to remain optimistic when I read stats like these. Because I can't help thinking these aren't "stats" so much as "pets".

Treats on the Internets

NYT Op-Ed on family farms vs. factory farms

This lady doesn't need animal cruelty charges, she needs mental health counseling

Mississippi animal control officer sounds like a pretty good guy

Lassie, Get Help has an interesting discussion going on

UC Davis study finds racehorses die more often due to injury on synthetic tracks vs. dirt

In PA, new law states only Vets can perform ear cropping, tail docking, declawing, debarking and c-sections

Proposed BSL in MA would require owners of litters from Pitbull type dogs to turn pups over to the city for killing

Eagles lose no sponsors after signing Vick

Puppies Dressed as Kittehs

Let's Play Oddball

If anyone actually signs a pet up for this, please let us know how it goes

I am a sucker for this type of thing: Unusual Animal Friendships

Offspring of Boston Terror wants to find & eat your dog

Lost dog: I hate it when that happens

Could you produce 5 neighbors in favor of your dog in court?

Should be easy to hide: "Man with Britney Spears tattoo accused of stealing Chihuahua with pink earrings from gay bar"

Python in CA yard, another at Serbian ATM and still another in English woman's shopping bag (Papillon mix hero in that story)

It's August

If you live in SC, FL or any other place that has extreme Summer heat and humidity, you'll need to provide shade and water for your dog. Shade means an open air area in which shade is maintained throughout the day. The sun travels during the day so a shady part of the yard in the morning will not be shady in the afternoon. Water means fresh, cool water provided multiple times throughout the day. Cool water left in a bowl in the morning heats up. It also gets lapped up by thirsty dogs. It must be replenished throughout the day.

Without access to open air shade and cool water, your dog will die:

Police say Wombley, a year-old yellow Labrador retriever, was found dead Thursday evening on a second-floor balcony at a Tampa hotel.

The dog's owner had recently moved to Florida from South Carolina.

Police say the dog was left on the balcony late Thursday morning. Investigators found a dried-up water bowl, saliva and scratch marks were found near its body.

A car does not qualify as "open air shade". If you leave your dog in the car in the extreme Summer heat, your dog will die:

"A person can't crack the windows enough to cool down the dog without letting it out of the car. This is the worst case scenario and it only takes a few minutes before it becomes a matter of life and death."

Symptoms of heat exhaustion:

* Heavy panting
* Dog begins huffing and puffing or gasping for air
* Dog begins to weave when it walks because of dizziness
* Dog lays down or collapses and can't get up
* Dog becomes unconscious

I personally know someone I would describe as a responsible dog owner who left 3 dogs in her vehicle with windows rolled down (dogs in wire crates) on an overcast Spring day in Seattle. She checked on them periodically and ultimately found 2 of the dogs dead from the heat with the third dog in distress. Not at all the typical circumstances that come to mind when we think of dogs dying in cars but it was a lesson for me and I'll never forget it.

When in doubt, err on the side of safety and leave your dog at home with access to open air shade and cool water.

Help Me Brainstorm!

We are out a fridge for the time being. My usual food routine for the dogs involves preparing batches in advance and storing them in the fridge/freezer. Since that won't be an option for now, I need some alternative suggestions. Please recommend any commercial food (specific brands) or homemade ideas you might have. All I've got so far is one that I already use about once a week which is canned new potatoes with canned fish. Anything that doesn't require refrigeration and is affordable by non-Bill Gates standards is most appreciated!

Treats on the Internets

Note: I'm on a sort of mini-vacation, monitoring Emily's post surgery recovery (also using convenient excuse to avoid exercising - "I can't, my dog just had surgery") so not too much reading going on but here are some I wanted to share:

Theories on what caused a pack of dogs to kill a GA couple

ASPCA Pres Ed Sayres weighs in on Vick

Judge orders IL school to allow 5 year old's service dog in class

AVMA vs. HSUS on industrial farm animal production

Entertaining and useful website by chicken producer Foster Farms on the practice of "plumping" chicken with additives

Attention Shoppers: My friend Rochelle found this I heart Obama collar & leash

What's Going on with Pitbulls at NYC Shelters?

This sounds pretty good:

This year New York City Animal Care & Control has not had to euthanize any healthy animals because of space and officials say they would like to keep this going for the remainder of the year, if not indefinitely.

Note: This same info appears on NYC Animal Care & Control's own website.

But then a whistleblower provided some of the animal info from the shelter for the same time period surrounding the above news story. Apparently "New Hope" is code for "Killing" in these records:

My name is HANK. My animal ID # is A819916.
I am a male, brown and black am pit bull ter mix. 2 YR, 0 MO of age. SCAN NEGATIVE BRIGHT, ALERT, RESPONSIVE, HYDRATED PHYSICAL EXAM eent clear, mild dental staining, mild gingivitis h/l sounds wnl smi: bcs 5/9, amb x 4 hyper during exam but sits when asked FECAL FLOAT INCONCLUSIVE FECAL FLOAT NEGATIVE FOR PARASITES

Reason for New Hope: SPACE.

My name is WONGSTER. My animal ID # is A821269.
I am a male, black and white american staff mix. 1 YR, 6 MO of age. BAR; hematochezia; tenesmus A: Large bowel diarrhea/hematochezia P: metronidazole 250 mg: 1 1/2 tab BID x 5 days; panacur sid x 5 days; parvo test (unlikely positive) Exposed to sick ward, monitor for cough/nasal dc SCAN NEGATIVE BRIGHT, ALERT, RESPONSIVE, HYDRATED PHYSICAL EXAM Too tense and nervous Nosf

Reason for New Hope: SPACE.

My name is XENA. My animal ID # is A820324.
I am a spayed female, br brindle and white pit bull. 15 YR of age. Intake Date: 7/16/09 Reason for Surrender: OWNER SURRENDER/ LANDLORD ISSUES Pet Profile: Loves men, women, children and cats SHE IS A VERY SWEET DOG GOOD FOR A HOME THAT DOESNT HAVE A LOT GOING ON NO CONCERN by vet staff SAFER Test and Date Performed: 7/22/09 BEHAVIOR-MODERATE Stare:2.Pulls out three times, still body ears back,mouth closed Sensitivity:3.Pulls away from the touch ears back mouth closed Tag:3.Not fearful but unresponsive, pulls body weight back, does not approach when game ends Pinch:2.Quickly pulls out Pinch2:^ Food Aggression:1.Lifts head allows dish to be moved Toy aggression:1.No interest Rawhide aggression:^ Dog to dog:1.Approaches to investigate and turns away Volunteer Bios: N/A Advertised 7/23 Zip Code: 11385 Medical entry and behavior: BEHAVIOR AS PER MEDICAL-NO CONCERN scan neg barh amb x4 sociable and tolerance of handling umbilical hernia severe tarter and gingivitis, nuclear sclerosis over grown nails-trimmed possible heart murmur geriatric nsf QARH - BCS - 4/9; EENT - nuclear sclerosis, mild dental tartar Hr/Lung - regularly irregularly heart beat did not hear murmur w/synchronous pulses Integ - 1 cm diameter soft tissue mass on left prescapular region, 3cm ST mass on left thorax, 2cm mass on ventral abdomen, fatty deposits present on bilateral thorax MS - amb x 4, nsf GI - nonpainful/soft abdomen GU - nsf NS - nsf A: geriatric -Ventral ST mass r/o umbilical hernia vs neoplasia (benign vs. malignant) vs. infectious -ST masses Thorax and prescap - r/o lipoma vs other neoplasia P: recommend cardiology consult - monitor for lethargy, syncope, cough; FNA masses; +/- CBC/Chem/TXR for geriatric workup Weight:56.0LBS Additional notes: Advertised 7/26

Reason for New Hope: SPACE.

My name is JENIFER. My animal ID # is A820178.

I am a female, brown and white american staff mix. 2 YR, 0 MO of age. Dog tolerates handling and did not become aggressive towards the handler during the assessment. Dog growls while in the vicinity of other dogs. DOG AGGRESSION IS A BEHAVIOR THAT CAN BENIFIT FROM BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION AND/OR MANAGEMENT. Assessment items are scored from 1 - 5 ( least aggressive - most aggressive) Look; 1 - Dog leans forward or jumps up to lick the Assessor's face with tail wagging, ears back and eyes averted. Sensitivity: 1 - Dog leans into the Assessor, eyes soft or squinty, soft loose body, open mouth. Tag: 1 - Dog assumes play position and joins the game or indicates play with huffing, soft 'popping' of the body, etc. Dog might jump Assessor once play begins. Squeeze 1 & 2: 1 - Dog gently pulls back his paw. Dog may lick hand. Food: 1 - Dog lifts head and ceases eating when you reach to pull the bowl away or push him out. Toy: Dog takes toy away, keeps a firm hold. his body is between you and the toy, and he is loose and wiggly. No growling or stiffness. Rawhide: No interest Dog to Dog: 4- Dog approaches with stiff body, high tail and piloerection. Dog growls after prolonged exposure to helper dog. Initial exam Scan negative Barh Slight dental tartar Alopecia located on both front paw's forepaw area Has diarrhea,was parvo tested results:Negative Bring stool to medical sign for fecal float was placed on cage A litlle tense Nosf

Reason for New Hope: SPACE.

My name is MISSY ELI. My animal ID # is A821255.
I am a female, white and tan pit bull mix. 1 YR, 6 MO of age.

Reason for New Hope: BEHAVIOR.

My name is TYSON. My animal ID # is A820961.
I am a male, white and black pit bull mix. 3 YR of age. sURENDERED 7/21 No pets allow Loves men,women, children, dogs WALKED TWICE A DAY. ONLY FED PEDIGREE DRY FOOD. EXTREMELY LOVING AND CARING ANIMAL. EXTREMELY HYPERACTIVE AS WELL. LOVES TO PLAY ALOT. Friendly by intake Mild by vet staff Questionable on SAFER below Look 1:Jumps up to the assessor while licking the assessors face with ears back and averted eyes Sensitivity 1:leans in to the assessor with soft relaxed body,open mouth ,ears back and wagging tail Tag 1 :Follows at the end of leash with soft body ,wagging tail,ears back and open relaxed mouth Squeeze 1 :Pulls paw away Squeeze 2 :Pulls paw away Food 1 :Calmly allows food to be moved follows the dish while soft in body Toy 1:No interest Rawhide 1:No interest Dog to dog 4 :Approaches the helper dog by rushing in with stiff body ,ears forward and growling Advertised to rescue groups

Reason for New Hope: BEHAVIOR.


I can't help noticing every one of these dogs is a Pitbull type. Does NYC Animal Care & Control kill other breeds as well or just Pitbulls? And why was the apparently inaccurate info given to the press about not killing for space when records seem to indicate that killing for space does occur, at least for Pitbulls?


Related Reading: Metro City Tails

Blog Posting from Vick?

I don't know if this is actually Michael Vick's posting or an internet hoax but you can make your own judgment:

What I did was horrendous. Awful. Inhumane. And I've no excuses for my actions. It makes my heart hurt now to think about what I've done. And I'm gonna be real honest, it took a while for me to get to this place.

Sitting in a prison cell didn't make me feel remorse. It was meeting so many animal lovers, speaking with them and looking them in their eyes. Staring at them. Looking so deep into their eyes that I began to feel their pain. Allowing that pain to enter into my body is when I started to understand how bad it really was. I have been trying hard to connect with people who feel this pain,because for my whole life I was disconnected from the suffering of animals. And you might say, "come on Mike, how could you do those things to those dogs?" And you're right... I ask myself those questions every day. What kind of person does this? How does a human-being treat dogs or any animal with such pain and cruelty? And the hard part for me is the answer to these questions. Because the answer is ME. And I am trying so hard right now to become a better person, because who I was, I am ashamed of.

Treats on the Internets

In FL, pet horses being killed, possibly for food

Also in FL, from VIN News: Fla. clinic sees outbreak of hemorrhagic diarrhea in dogs

Anyone owning 5 (or more) cats or 3 (or more) dogs qualifies as a "kennel" in Camden Co, NC and needs to pay a licensing fee as such

Looking for a t-shirt?

I catch up on a lot of my dog news at KC Dog Blog's Weekly Roundup. This week's story about the WA grandmother who unintentionally set her dog up to bite her grandchild two days in a row caught my eye. Another example of the importance of owner education in dog bite prevention and the insignificance of breed.

Reminder: The list of Philadelphia Eagles sponsors and their contact info is here.

Let's Play Oddball

Not too many oddities this week that really struck my fancy...

Wedding party tuxedo savings

OK - what?

Crappy Taxidermy:
Q: Am I supposed to be scary?
A: I have no idea.

Cute alert: That's just ducky.

What is a Rape Rack?

Ever since Vick was signed to the Eagles, this blog has been deluged with Googlers trying to find out what a rape rack is and what it has to do with Michael Vick. I'm writing this brief post to answer those queries.

A rape rack (aka "rape stand" or "breeding stand") is a torture device used to force a bitch in heat to allow a male dog to breed her against her wishes. As a breeder, I have always believed "bitches know best" - that is, most bitches will mate willingly with most dogs and if my bitch ever refused a particular male, I would follow her lead. Mating is an instinctive act for dogs and therefore, if a female wants nothing to do with a certain male, I have to believe she may instinctively have a reason for it. And if I'm wrong in my thinking - so what? I'd still never force a bitch to be bred against her will. Luckily I've never encountered that problem.

The idea of justifying the use of a rape rack because it "protects the male" is hogwash. Normal dogs need no extreme "protection" during mating such as this evil device provides. And if a female is so aggressive she refuses all suitors, well obviously that is not normal and you wouldn't want to breed from her anyway.

According to published reports, authorities found a rape rack (among other things) on Michael Vick's property during the 2007 dogfighting raid.

Dignateh: i haz it

This is our Pot Bellied Beagle, Graham. She'll be 10 next month. There is no spot in this house that you have to walk more than 4 paces before running into one of her dog beds. None of our other dogs have dog beds. How did she manage this?

Charity Begins at Home

See now, this is funny.

Wayne Pacelle of HSUS says this about Vick's deal with the Philadelphia Eagles:

Michael Vick admits that what he did to dogs was cruel and barbaric, but now that he has served his time, he wants to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem. He has pledged to make a long-term commitment to participate in our community-based outreach programs to steer inner-city youth away from dogfighting. At events with Michael in Atlanta and Chicago, we've seen him deliver a powerful message against animal cruelty. Like so many other major American cities, Philadelphia has a serious dogfighting problem, and groups like the Pennsylvania SPCA have excellent programs to combat dogfighting locally.

Vick commented today that he'd like to continue his animal welfare activities locally. But a local Philly news station reports this:

Fox 29 was there when the top leadership of the Pennsylvania SPCA tried to drive into the Novacare Complex on Friday morning.

The group wanted to attend the Michael Vick press conference and to kick-start a dialogue with Eagles management.

But they never got past the gate and security turned them away as the newest - and most controversial - Eagle made his press conference debut.

[...]

[...]SPCA leaders say they're dumbfounded no one from the Eagles contacted them before dropping the Vick bombshell.

Vick spoke at the presser today saying good sounding things about being a part of the solution, not part of the problem (just like it says in Pacelle's press release). My thoughts on redemption are complex but to simplify: If you truly wanted to do good and help dogs and demonstrate that you're a changed man, wouldn't you just, you know - do that?

For Those about to Boycott, We Salute You

Update, 8-15-09: The Eagles have apparently removed their list of corporate sponsors. Game on bitchez.

Original post:

Here is a clickable list of corporations who sponsor the Philadelphia Eagles. Take a moment to contact the ones you do business with and let them know why you'll no longer be supporting them.

Contact the Philadelphia Eagles directly here.

Hey HSUS - They're Gonna Let Squeaky Fromme Out, Can You Do Anything for Her?

Another coincidence of timing: Vick makes two closed-door appearances for HSUS which are taped for a 60 Minutes story this Sunday and he gets signed to the Eagles on Thursday night.

Michael Vick has many to thank for getting his old job back as NFL quarterback, not the least of which is HSUS:

But they [the Philadelphia Eagles] also understand that they did every bit of research they could to support their decision. They spoke extensively with Goodell. Reid spoke with Dungy. The team spoke with the president of the National Humane Society and everyone who had a voice in the outrage that surrounded Vick's involvement with dog fighting.

1. HSUS was hardly "outraged" that Vick killed Pitbulls. In fact, post rescue, HSUS advocated that all Vick's Pitbulls be killed, in keeping with their (now supposedly former) policy of death for all seized Pitbulls.

2. The Eagles didn't speak with everyone:

Name That Animal

(Cheaters: Answer is in the photo file name)

Gosh, Lookit All the Dogfighting Raids

Post HSUS going through "the change", seems like Pitbulls are being rounded up faster than Obama can kill the elderly and disabled with his death panels. I guess that's just a coincidence. And the concurrent timing of HSUS's double super secret Michael Vick "I'm sorry I got caught dogfighting" motivational speeches to young people is another coincidence. If we watch the 60 Minutes show about Vick and HSUS, will the truth be revealed? Hint: Watch for code delivered via eye blinks.

80 Pitbulls Seized in IN Dogfighting Raids

The AP reports one man arrested in connection with the raids:

Authorities have seized about 80 pit bulls during raids at two southern Indiana sites suspected of breeding and training dogs for illegal fighting.

State police say dog carcasses and dog fighting paraphernalia were also seized when the Indiana Gaming Commission and other agencies executed search warrants Tuesday in Orange County.

Adam Parascandola of the Humane Society of the United States says many dogs had scars and marks consistent with fighting.

More info as I come across it...