This note came from a reader with whom I was discussing shelter staff who champion the idea that some killing is fine, so long as it represents a decrease in killing over time. I thought her response was a gem worth sharing: They lack…that certain spark. The can-do attitude of “Why, we can put the … Continue reading Mailbag
Month: April 2013
Discussion: Are we blinding ourselves to dangerous dog behavior in bully breeds?
Dr. Stanley Coren writes in Psychology Today that we tend to explain away what he describes as "a disproportionate number of dog bite related injuries and deaths [by Pitbull type dogs]" because we love them as family members. Does his thinking ring true to you? (Thanks Christine for the link.)
Bringing Up from the Comments
Several people have written to me regarding photos of dogs and living conditions at Olympic Animal Sanctuary which have recently been posted to this Facebook page. I am bringing up 2 recent comments from an old post about Mario, who was sent to live at Olympic Animal Sanctuary when the Memphis pound threatened to kill … Continue reading Bringing Up from the Comments
Alabama Animal PAC Pushing Bill Which Will Save Zero Shelter Pets
My view that animal shelters can and should stop killing pets immediately is regarded by some as extreme. There are many people who believe some period of time is required (months or years) in order to fully implement all the needed programs, personnel and funding which will secure no kill for the long term. During … Continue reading Alabama Animal PAC Pushing Bill Which Will Save Zero Shelter Pets
Case Update: MA Junkyard Shelter
Regular readers might remember the post on the Salisbury, MA junkyard dog catchers - a father and daughter team allegedly defrauding taxpayers. One owner described to a local news reporter how the female ACO came into her yard and cut the rope to which her dog was tied. The owner says she tried to reclaim … Continue reading Case Update: MA Junkyard Shelter
Photo Call
(Crossposted from Hell YesBiscuit!) I would like to put together a post of children demonstrating proper animal handling techniques for the Hell YesBiscuit! blog. The idea being to contrast with the mishandling of shelter pets by animal shelter workers so often seen in photos online. If you would like to submit a photo for inclusion, … Continue reading Photo Call
Name That Animal
This is just for fun. The only rule is: no researching. Just post your best (or worst) guess in the comments. Reading other people's answers before posting your own is optional (but not recommended since there are almost always correct answers in there). Answer will be posted in the comments later today.
Alternatives to Shelter Surrender: KY Pound’s “Furbabies” Fail
This is a Facebook posting from the page for the municipal animal shelter facility in Benton, KY. I checked the "About" information and it is indeed the pound's page, not a "Friends of" or other type of page. The pound is closed on weekends. I can't speak for anyone who may have posted their pets … Continue reading Alternatives to Shelter Surrender: KY Pound’s “Furbabies” Fail
Be Seeing You, Roger Ebert
To my mind Roger Ebert, "film critic since time immemorial", did his best work in the last years of his life, after losing the ability to speak. In this 2009 installment of Roger Ebert's Journal, he wrote about his childhood pets and how he longed for decades to have another dog: Every time I see … Continue reading Be Seeing You, Roger Ebert
Save them all, kill the excuses.
Many pet killing facilities in this country are enabled by caring volunteers and rescuers who buy into the Save a Few, Kill the Rest business model. How it works: The pet killing facility allows members of the public to care for, network and rescue certain pets so long as the public plays by its rules. … Continue reading Save them all, kill the excuses.
YesBiscuit! 