In the decade since 9/11, there have been many tributes to the heroic SAR dogs and handlers who worked tirelessly in the weeks following the attack, searching for victims. Their efforts helped bring peace to many families who lost loved ones on that awful day. In addition to those valuable SAR teams, there were also … Continue reading The Ethics of Comfort
Category: animal shelter
Who would you call for help with your pets on a Sunday night?
I was just looking through some photos from Austin Pets Alive's rescue operation involving the pets from the Bastrop shelter. I couldn't help but draw some comparisons in my mind to the webcam screenshots from the Memphis pound that I look at regularly. In Memphis, I see workers taking dogs from cages like this: At … Continue reading Who would you call for help with your pets on a Sunday night?
Police Chief Defends Oklahoma Gassing Facility (Weirdly)
There is currently a petition on Change.org aimed at ending the practice of gassing shelter pets to death in Oklahoma. Russell Frantz, chief of the Shawnee police department is among those being petitioned as he oversees the city's animal control department. This is what Change.org has to say about Shawnee AC: In one particular shelter … Continue reading Police Chief Defends Oklahoma Gassing Facility (Weirdly)
Proposed Changes after HSUS Evaluation of Dallas Animal Services
The shocking cruelty reported in the media that shamed Dallas Animal Services into paying for a $25,000 shelter evaluation by HSUS has prompted some planned changes at the shelter. First let's take a look at the HSUS evaluation from November 2010, which included the following items: HSUS dinged the shelter because a worker was observed … Continue reading Proposed Changes after HSUS Evaluation of Dallas Animal Services
How Desperate Must a Surrendering Owner Be to Escape Judgment?
Earlier this month, IL Governor Pat Quinn signed a new law which mandates shelters to scan pets for chips and examine them for other forms of identification - twice. A newspaper article decided to speak with some members of the shelter community to get their take on the law. They all said their facilities already … Continue reading How Desperate Must a Surrendering Owner Be to Escape Judgment?
Texans: Would You Like to Mandate Your Shelters to Work Hard to Save Pets’ Lives?
The Companion Animal Protection Act of 2011 has been introduced in Texas. Provisions include: Shelters can no longer kill pets when an adopter or rescue group is willing to take them. Shelters can no longer kill savable pets at the owner's request. Shelters can no longer kill owner surrendered pets immediately upon intake. Shelters can … Continue reading Texans: Would You Like to Mandate Your Shelters to Work Hard to Save Pets’ Lives?
Kill the Phones! Kill the Rescue Lifelines! Kill the Kitty!
The deeply troubled animal shelter for the Town of Hempstead, NY continues its downward spiral, unabated. First they banned the rescuers who spoke out about alleged abuse at the shelter. It was then revealed that the shelter had a $7.1 million annual budget but took in less than 3500 pets last year - many of … Continue reading Kill the Phones! Kill the Rescue Lifelines! Kill the Kitty!
Shelter Reform Event on Saturday in Pueblo
In the time since Tonya Barker sent me the information about the PAWS shelter in Pueblo, she has been organizing her shelter reform efforts. She started off by creating a Facebook page for her group where she can share photos and stories of the dogs she knew at the shelter. There is also a video … Continue reading Shelter Reform Event on Saturday in Pueblo
Accidents and Miracles
A pet is euthanized by injection but doesn't die. This happens. I don't know how often but sometimes it makes the news. This Rottweiler was non-euthanized at a veterinary clinic. The owner said he couldn't bring himself to have the dog put to sleep a second time. A dog named Gabby was non-euthanized at a … Continue reading Accidents and Miracles
37 Dogs Gassed Due to Suspected Skin Mites
Ruth Wilder lives in Brown County, Ohio. She has several acres of property and regularly picks up stray dogs in order to care for them: "They're like my babies, like my family you know." Yes, we do. In response to a complaint made about the 47 dogs on Ms. Wilder's property on January 10, the … Continue reading 37 Dogs Gassed Due to Suspected Skin Mites
YesBiscuit! 