It is so sad.

The shelter I volunteer at locally has seen a HUGE increase (over 30%) in surrenders this year (over last year at this time). Be it foreclosure, vet bills, or whatever… people just don’t have the money to pay for their pets’ care anymore because the economy is so bad.

I can see right through people’s usual excuses when they drop off their lifelong pet for adoption. Most are just too lazy to care for them or think they aren’t as cute anymore once their adults (and not “cute” puppies and kittens).

But people lately have legitimate, bona fide reasons for surrendering their cats and dogs.

Let’s see… fix Fido’s hips or fill up the gas tank so I can get to work. Essentially: fix Fido or get fired.

Hmmmn.

It’s absolutely heartbreaking.

I just found this story on MSNBC.com talking about other areas hard hit by foreclosures and the economy and the effect that it’s having on pet owners. Have a look…

FRANKLIN, Mass. - Diana Bardsley wiped tears from her eyes as she recalled taking food off her plate to feed her beloved spaniel Hunter and two Siamese cats.

Her greatest fear: that she could be forced to surrender the animals as she struggled to stretch her food stamps and Social Security income to meet the escalating cost of living.

Some hope was restored after she visited a local food pantry, which has started offering free pet food to help owners keep their animals out of shelters.

“I know a lot of people will probably say, ‘Well, if you don’t have enough money to be able to feed your animals, that you shouldn’t have pets,”’ said Bardsley, 53, of Franklin, as Hunter played in the living room with three of her grandchildren.

But, “Just because financially you may go downhill a little or a lot, doesn’t necessarily mean you have to give up the part of your family that you love,” she said.

For some pet owners, though, there is little choice.”

Check out the rest of the article here.  ** WARNING: You will probably need Kleenex.**

Thanks to the United States Humane Society and Mary O’Connor Shaver from Columbus Top Dogs for this information. 

The U.S. Senate at the end of last week followed the lead of the House of Representatives and overrode President Bush’s veto of the Farm Bill, ushering in key new protections for animals.

The final bill (which is now considered law) - except for one section excluded due to a technical glitch - bans the import of puppies from foreign puppy mills for commercial sale in the U.S. The law spares young, unweaned and unvaccinated pups from harsh, long-distance transport during which they are exposted to extreme temperatures and often die in cargo holds — and will keep foreigh breeders from the tragic overpopulation of pets in this country.

The Farm Bill also adds a provision to federal law to make almost any form of animal fighting a federal felody. It’s also now a federal crime to knowingly possess or train animals for fighting, and the maximum prison time for a single violation of any section of the law varies from 3 to 5 years.

It’s hard to overstate what a blow this is to dogfighters and cockfighters and it brings us one step closer to eradicating these criminal industries!

The law also authorizes an increase in potential fines - quadrupuled from $2,500 to $10,000 - for violations of the Animal Welfare Act, fines that haven’t been increased in more than 20 years. Such penalties will more effectively deter abuses at puppy mills, laboratories, circuses and other facilities that use animals.

This is a HUGE victory for animals!

This week, May 4-10 is the American Humane Association’s Be Kind to Animals Week! The group created this celebratory week in 1915 to celebrate the unique bond between humans and animals.

Though we all love our fur-babies, there are some special things we can do this week to work towards a better future for all animals, everywhere.

So how can you be kind to animals this week? The AHA recommends the following:

Speak out for animals. Get active in local animal welfare policies and legislation.

Report animal abuse. While acts of violence against animals are tragic in their own right, they are also a red flag for other violent behavior, including domestic abuse and violent crime.

Appreciate wildlife. Create an inviting space in your yard or garden for butterflies and birds. Feed the local birds, ducks, bunnies, deer, etc. (Some people might disagree with this one, but oh well. This is my feeling on the subject of starving wild animals).

Make a donation to a local animal shelter. A donation can be monetary, but you can also volunteer or offer up some other service in-kind like contributing to the shelter’s marketing efforts, etc.

Adopt a pet from a shelter or a breed-specific rescue. Approximately 8 to 12 million animals enter our nation’s shelters every year, and more than half of these pets will have to be euthanized because of a lack of homes. Local shelters are the best place to find companion animals, even purebreds — 1 of every 4 dogs in a shelter is a purebred.

Educate others. Share information about animal welfare issues with friends, family and co-workers. Research an issue close to heart, i.e. puppy mills, factory farming, breed-specific legislation, and do something about it! Write letters, call legislators, and get involved with animal welfare advocacy groups!

Spay and neuter. Help solve the problem of euthanasia of adoptable animals by not contributing to it. Make sure your cats and dogs are spayed and neutered.

Did you know that April is designated Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)? The month is designated to increasing awareness and prevention of cruelty to all types of animals.

Last week we celebrated ASPCA Day (April 10) by wearing orange. This week, I’m announcing some ideas of things you can do all year round in support of the prevention of animal cruelty.

Make a donation

Donations to the ASPCA will help to alleviate the needless fear, pain and suffering in animals’ lives. There are a variety of giving options available on the ASPCA website. If you don’t donate to the organization, why not donate to a local shelter? You don’t even need to offer financial assistance. Most shelters welcome donations of pet food, cat litter, dog toys, towels and other supplies.

Volunteer at a shelter

Volunteer at any shelter, in any town across the country. Whether it be a local no-kill shelter or a county Humane Society, give in-kind by offering your time or any other assistance the shelter may need.

Foster animals

If you have the space and the time, fostering animals is a great way to help out. Contact your local animal shelter or a local chapter of a specific breed rescue to see if you can help.

Contact Your Legislators

Write letters to your Congressman and local officials to urge them to vote for harsher penalties for animal abusers. Research your state’s laws in the House and/or Senate at this time. Laws range from regulations to punishments for issues like puppy mills, horse slaughter, breed-specific legislation and dog fighting.

PLEASE CROSS POST!

This is perhaps one of the most important petitions we can all sign. It calls for a boycott of all Amish products until they stop their inhumane and disturbing practices of running puppy mills.

Thanks so much to Dogster’s For the Love of Dog Blog for this information.

Here’s more information from the Boycott Amish products until puppy mills are discontinued petition.

“To: Amish & Mennonite puppy mills
I will boycott all Amish products until puppy mills are stopped. This is greed in its worst form and this is how consumers make their demands known. I simply will not buy Amish products while this practice continues.”

And before you start saying that boycotting Amish products will affect people who aren’t participating in puppy mills, think again. Amish communities are very closed to and extremely disinterested in what they call the “English.” That’s all of us, btw. Unless their leadership declares puppy mills are off limits, the Amish puppy millers will keep up their dirty work. The only way to convince these puppy millers to quit is to make the whole practice very expensive to the WHOLE community.

Everyone gather your orange gear together for ASPCA Day today!  The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals encourages everyone to wear its signature color, orange, to celebrate its 142nd anniversary.

From the ASPCA Groups website:

On Thursday, April 10, cities all over the country will be going orange to celebrate the ASPCA’s victories on behalf of animals and the joy they bring to pet parents everywhere. Lend us your voice on April 10 by dressing yourself, your kids, your pet–even your school or company!–in ASPCA orange, and show the world you support the ASPCA and the pets we protect.”

For other ideas on how to go orange today, visit the ASPCA website. Also, if you order ASPCA gear from the online store today you get 10% off!

I posted in March about the horrible cat cullings taking place in Beijing to “clean up” the city before the Olympics this summer. If you don’t recall, China is inhumanely killing the city’s cats (whom they allege have SARS) by rounding them up and putting them in death camps to die slow, miserable deaths from starvation, dehydration, filth, and poor medical conditions.

My original post, Boycott Beijing Olympics, promised an update when I found a way for people to take action. At that time, only the Humane Society was doing anything (Humane Society International sent a letter to the International Olympic Committee condemning the culls. They also contacted Chinese animal welfare organizations on the ground).

The World Society for the Protection of Animals has joined the fight. From their site:

Taking action: first steps

As media reports do not always accurately reflect the situation on the ground, WSPA examines allegations of animal cruelty. This enables us to understand the underlying motivations and to ensure we can respond effectively.

Peter Williams, WSPA Regional Director of Asia, is currently investigating the most effective way to collaborate on this issue and urge the Chinese authorities to adopt humane methods of stray cat population control.

He says “We are making positive and progressive headway to hold meetings with officials to resolve this issue.

“Next week WSPA China plans to facilitate and obtain authorisation for two of its veterinarians to visit the cat holding facility in order to discuss alternative and humane methods in controlling the cat population of Beijing.”

Peter is also working with local and international animal welfare groups and the authorities to resolve the underlying problems. By understanding why authorities are concerned about populations of cats in Beijing, and where these cats are coming from, we can design humane interventions to manage their numbers. “

For their full take on the killings go to the article on their site.

In the mean time, WSPA recommends that we all contact our local Chinese embassy with a letter expressing our concern.

Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong,

Email: chinaembassy_us@fmprc.gov.cn;

Phone: 202.328.2500;

Address: Embassay of the People’s Republic of China in the United States of America, 2300 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, D.C., 20008

I received this email from Wayne Pacelle, author of A Humane Nation (the United States Humane Society (USHS) blog) and CEO of the USHS. Wayne distributed this informative email after Oprah Winfrey last week featured an expose on the horrible puppy mill industry (and problem) across the United States. Her broadcast reached millions across the country, undoubtedly encouraging thousands of people into action.

Wanye released this email to newsletter members on Seven Things You Can Do to Stop Puppy Mills after Oprah’s show aired.

Undercover footage showed dogs in filthy, overcrowded conditions, where they are confined for their entire lives, without human companionship or adequate veterinary care. These dogs are often killed once their reproductive capacity wanes.

The HSUS has been investigating and fighting against puppy mills for decades. With your help, we can advance our fight to stop puppy mills and the tragic consequences of pet overpopulation. You’ve already shown your commitment to help stop puppy mills by signing our Stop Puppy Mills pledge.

Here’s more that you can do right now:

	If you are thinking of bringing a new dog into the family, or know someone who is, request a free copy of our puppy buyer’s guide for information on how to find reputable breeders, shelters, and rescue groups.
	Ask your federal legislators to crack down on puppy mills.
	Get the word out about puppy mills: write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. Visit StopPuppyMills.org to educate yourself.
	Download one of our Stop Puppy Mills campaign badges or banners to your own MySpace or Facebook page, blog, or website.
	Did you adopt your canine companion from a rescue group or shelter? Then order our Proud to Adopt care package.
	Download Puppy Mill Cruelty flyers and post them or give them out at your neighborhood dog park, to engage fellow dog owners and help spread the word.
	Help us place advertisements and billboards to spread the word about puppy mill cruelty.

The puppy mill industry will thrive as long as consumers are kept in the dark about the “mass production” of purebred and designer dogs. With your help, we’ll shed light on the cruelty of puppy mills and put them out of business for good. We can’t do it without your help!

 

Thanks again to Wayne Pacelle for this information. Visit Wayne’s wonderful blog for all kinds of information, tips and updates on animals in the news and legislation for animal welfare.

Thanks to Dogster’s For the Love of Dog Blog for this information:

“KINSHIP CIRCLE ANIMAL DISASTER RELIEF - PERMISSION TO CROSS-POST

3/18/08: Animal Control (& Entire Town) Underwater! Piedmont, Missouri

Kinship Circle has just learned tonight (3/18) that the town of Piedmont, in rural Missouri, has evacuated due to severe flash flooding. We are posting as much information as we have at this time and will follow-up with more verified facts as they become available.

We know, but have not yet confirmed:

The town’s animal control is underwater, animals evacuated. Some died in floodwaters. Stray Rescue St. Louis (active in Katrina rescue) appears to be headed to Piedmont. It has been raining nonstop 48+ hours and other Missouri/Illinois shelters may need help.”

================================
1. Piedmont Animal Control Underwater - Emergency
=========================================

ALERT FROM / REPLY TO:
CONTACT: Susan Rhoades, suerhoades@gmail.com

PLEA FOR HELP FROM PIEDMONT, MO:
3/18/08, From Susan Rhoades, suerhoades@gmail.com

PIEDMONT ANIMAL CONTROL UNDERWATER — EMERGENCY:
Piedmont has been evacuated. Cibele got out what she could, but many of her babies have drowned. Please, if you can, post, cross post, anything you can do to help her. Not only are Piedmont AC’s animals in danger, but the town’s animals are in danger as well.

Stray Rescue’s disaster team is gearing up to go there — Jan Siener from Act Now! Will be going there tomorrow. We will need fosters, transport, etc.

TO HELP, CONTACT:
suerhoades@gmail.com

Piedmont Animal Control Shelter
115 W Green Street; Piedmont, MO 63957
573-223-4020; Cibele: cibelebr@care2.com

Stray Rescue of St Louis
1463 S 18th St; St Louis, MO 63104
314-771-6121

Jan Siener, ACT Now! Rescue
P.O. Box 510321; St. Louis, Missouri 63151
info@actnowrescue.org

Seems that PETA is coming down on the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary for recuperating the Michael Vick dogs, the brutalized victims of his dogfighting ring. These people (at PETA) never cease to amaze me. If anything, they are jealous because of the money and recognition tied to these dogs that they didn’t get. 

Anyways, read this great article in the New York Times that their Sports Writer, William C. Rhoden, wrote about the differences between PETA and Best Friends Animal Sanctuary:

Vick Case Exposes Rift Among Animal Rights Advocates

Many people have become anti-PETA recently becuase of the group’s unsavory behavior and political agenda. Furthermore, read this anti-PETA article about the group’s mass killing of pets it was supposed to rehabilitate and adopt out.