Please read the below update from Darrin and Josy at MyCutePetPics about the work the three of us have been doing to fight the gas chamber being built in Taylorsville, UT.

From MyCutePetPics: “We just wanted to make a few announcements and explain why we haven’t updated the blog in the last few days.  We have been so busy working with our good friend Jaime, from ThoughtFurPaws, plus many other animal organizations & animal activists.  We have been doing everything we can to stop a shelter in Utah from building a gas chamber to perform euthanasia on all their unwanted pets. This method, as you all know, is barbaric and considered to be cruel by every other animal organization and true animal lover.”

We have spoken with the mayor and one of their council members several times over the last few days, trying our best to put a stop to this.  Tomorrow we have two phone calls to make that will hopefully join all the animal organizations, activists and animal lovers that are involved in this fight.  We will keep you posted on the progress.  For everyone who has written to them to voice your opinion on the matter, we applaud you and thank you so very much.  In case anyone else wishes to help make a difference we will provide the mayors e-mail below as well as the council members’.  If you write an e-mail to one you can just copy and paste it to each one, if you wish.

The mayor Russ Wall seems to be a caring man who really wants whats best for these animals. The only problem is that the shelter’s director, Kelly Davis, is doing everything she can to prove her point, that using gas chambers as a form of euthanasia is painless and good for the pets. (**Kelly Davis has replied to our emails with canned responses, referring us to the city’s website for more information. Darrin, Josy and I have all argued every false claim she has made with facts from the AVMA, HSUS, ASPCA and many other animal organizations.  The problem is we are not there and she is doing everything she can to mislead the mayor and council members.)

Darrin and Josy go on to say that she or someone made the mayor witness 7 acts of euthanasia to prove her/their point. The huge problem is that that person did it by intentionally performing lethal injection euthanasia, against AVMA’s recommended methods. The shelter out there made the Mayor watch one gas chamber euthanasia that apparently went well and quickly.  Experts that Darrin and Josy spoke to (after they have seen all the facts and e-mails) all agreed that she or whomever was responsible may have used a very high dose of the gas to ensure no complications — which no shelter could afford to do all the time when nobody is watching.  Then the shelter performed 6 euthanasias by lethal injections and half or more of them by way of abdominal injections (which is a whole different beast).

What kind of fair argument is this shelter trying to prove by comparing one method with one example compared to 6 examples using the other method? What this shelter did to these poor dogs & cats on purpose to try and prove their point should be considered severe cruelty. They intentionally made those poor animals suffer more so they can continue to build a gas chamber.

Shelters worldwide are known to favor gas chambers because only one staff member is needed for this type of torture, compared to two employees needed for lethal injections. This is an outrage and we cannot allow them to get away with this!

This is the Mayor’s last statement to Darrin and Josy after he viewed what a shelter (we do not know which one at this time) wanted and ill intentionally caused him to see:

“Bottom line for me is that after two days of observation, and after reading much information (and disinformation), and after much discussion with the people who have to deal with this regularly, I believe that most euthanasia procedures could and perhaps should be done by lethal injection. But there are many times when that form of euthanasia causes much more stress on animals (and human handlers) than a 15-30 second procedure in a CO chamber. I know many people may disagree but I saw what I saw and pray to God that I never have to do see any form of euthanasia again.”

**So at least he agrees that lethal injection is the best way, but for God’s sake, this is about the animals being comfortable as they’re on their death beds, NOT the humans being stressed. C’mon. And he still gave way to the other side at the end of his statement by saying there are times when that form causes more stress. So I don’t consider him to be 100% convinced.**

Just for the record the AVMA states that some pets have been known to take as long as 14 minutes to pass away in the gas chamber.  On top of that it is also a known fact that some pets survive all that suffering and then must be put down by other methods.  Include all that, the added pain and risks to health staff and you have to wonder why any shelter that is supposed to love animals more than anyone, would want to partake in such cruelty.

Please voice your opinion on this shelter’s plan and this form of euthanasia.

To voice any strong oppositions and to tell the shelter’s Operations Director, Kelly Davis, how barbaric her plans are for planning on using this form of euthanasia, here is her contact info.

Kelly Davis
Operations Director, Animal Services
West Valley City
4063 South 7200 West
West Valley City, UT. 84044
(801) 963-3364 Office
(801) 252-7541 FAX
kdavis@wvc-ut.gov

To contact the mayor (who is a very nice man) directly to voice your opinion, here is his contact information.

Mayor Russ Wall - rwall@taylorsvilleut.gov  1-(801)963-5400

The nicest person we spoke to thus far is Councilman Corey Rushton, but the more opposition to this shelter’s plan, the better it is for those poor animals. Here is his info:

Council Member Corey Rushton - Corey.Rushton@wvc-ut.gov

Their local news station aired a story but I have to warn you - the images are disturbing.  If you still wish to watch the video, Click Here.

Thank you all so much and any help, suggestions or media contacts, would be greatly appreciated.

A ThoughtsFurPaws reader sent me an email yesterday and I think the topic is worth bringing up here. When I saw the subject line my heart sank. It said: “West Valley City, Utah-Animal Shelter Gas Chamber.” Although I don’t live in Utah or anywhere near where this is occuring, I nonetheless would like to draw attention to this matter.

The reader writes, “I was unaware that the West Valley City Animal Shelter was going to have a gas chamber in their new facility to kill innocent animals. I am completely appalled about it and I think that you should be too. Animals are living and breathing just like you and me. I wouldn’t want someone to do that to me or any other living thing. It’s one thing to euthanize an animal with a shot. It’s another thing to put live animals in a chamber, close the door and turn on the gas and KILL THEM. Who would think of such a cruel way to kill an animal? Why would the Mayor allow this to happen? This is MURDER! This is CRUEL! This is WRONG! Please help do something about it before it’s too late and they take the lives of innocent animals.”

I must say that I agree with this reader. Although her statements are harsh and a little brutal, they are true. It IS cruel and it IS like murder. I shudder at the thought…

A further note in the email is from another concerned citizen reaching out to animal advocates. She says:

You may be aware that the new West Valley City Animal Shelter, currently under construction, will have a gas chamber for euthanasia. This is not a quick, painless or humane death for our animals that society has discarded.

Over 2,400 dogs and cats are euthanized at just this one shelter in a year. The Humane Society of the United States, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the American Humane Association, and the National Animal Control Association have all determined injection of sodium pentobarbital is the most humane, safest, least stressful and most professional means of euthanasia. Lethal injection is slightly less expensive than carbon monoxide gas chambers and does not entail the inherent human health hazards of the gas.

*We urge you to email, write or call all the elected officials in West Valley City and Taylorsville to register your objections to the installation of the euthanasia gas chamber at the new West Valley City Animal Shelter as soon as possible. Timing is critical. Once the gas lines are installed it will be too late for them to reconsider.

Contact information is listed at the bottom of this email. Your personalized message will be even more powerful. Please be respectful in your communications.

*The following dates are for council meetings at West Valley City and Taylorsville. Please mark these on your calendars and plan to attend. If you are a citizen of West Valley City or Taylorsville, we would appreciate you making a brief statement at the meetings. Please contact me for “talking points” or additional information.

*West Valley City – November 18 – 6:30 pm – City Council Chambers, West Valley City Hall, 3600 Constitution Boulevard, West Valley City. 801-963-3203

For more information, please contact Marylin Segall at 801-949-5991.

*Taylorsville – November 19 – 6:30 pm – 2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard, Taylorsville. 801-963-5400

On a personal note, I would like to say that I am currently working on a strongly worded letter to these folks on the City Council. Please contact me if you would like to cut and paste my letter and also send it with your name. Contact me at thoughtsfurpaws@gmail.com.

**Please cross-post this!**

From MSNBC, regarding Menu Foods…

“A federal judge (last) Tuesday approved a $24 million settlement for owners of dogs and cats who were sickened or died after eating pet food contaminated with an industrial chemical.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Noel Hillman clears the way for U.S. pet owners with claims to start receiving checks next year. A Canadian judge has scheduled a hearing for Nov. 3 to determine whether the settlement can also apply in that nation.

Under the deal, pet owners have until Nov. 24 to file claims.

The settlement is to compensate owners for many expenses, including: the cost of the food, medical and burial expenses for their animals, the value of the animals or the cost of replacement pets, checkups for animals who ate the food but did not get sick, replacing carpets ruined by sick pets, and time the owners took off work to seek treatment for their animals.

Sherrie R. Savett, a lead lawyer for plaintiffs in the case, has said she believes that more than 1,500 animals in the U.S. died after eating the food last year.

10,000-plus file claims
Lawyers said that so far, more than 10,000 people have filed claims. Of the claims analyzed so far, the average is nearly $1,500. But the lawyers say that average could drop when an administrator reviews the expenses to make sure they are reasonable.

If money is left over after all pet owners have been paid, it would go to animal-welfare charities. If the fund does not cover all the claims, pet owners would receive something less than 100 percent of their economic losses.

A few dozen pet owners formally objected to the settlement — some of them because they believe it should also compensate them for pain and suffering due to the loss of their pets. Some wrote letters to the judge describing their animals, who died after eating contaminated food, as best friends who should not be regarded as mere possessions.

But lawyers in the case say the law is not on the side of their deeply felt sentiments, and a hearing on the settlement Tuesday focused on more routine legal matters.

The case began in March 2007, when dogs and cats began mysteriously getting sick. It turned out that the common thread was pet food produced under nearly 200 labels — much of it by Streetsville, Ontario-based Menu Foods Income Fund.

Food tainted with melamine
Most of the food turned out to contain Chinese-made wheat gluten laced with melamine, an industrial chemical. Since then, the nitrogen-rich chemical used to make plastics and fertilizers have been found in a variety of food products in China. Authorities there have issued guidelines limiting acceptable levels of the chemical in food.

Hundreds of pet owners sued over the contamination. Just over a year after the pets began getting sick, lawyers for pet food manufacturers, stores that sold it, and pet owners had worked out the settlement, which would be in addition to about $8 million already paid by the companies to pet owners.

At Tuesday’s hearing, the judge also considered the issue of payment for the lawyers in the case. Fifty-five firms did work for plaintiffs. Savett told the judge that the lead firms alone had put in work worth more than $5 million.”

Read the full article

Losing a pet is a situation that no one deals with well (no one that I know anyhow). Oftentimes it helps to read soothing pet loss poetry to help you through your grief. It helps to know that someone else has been down the pet loss road before and thought enough about it to leave some comforting words for someone else.

Here are a few pet loss poems (some dog loss poems) that might help someone you know through this most rough of times:

Lend Me a Pup

I will lend to you for awhile
a puppy, God said,
For you to love him while he lives
and to mourn for him when he is gone.
Maybe for 12 or 14 years,
or maybe for 2 or 3
But will you, till I call him back
take care of him for me?

He’ll bring his charms to gladden you
and (should his stay be brief)
you’ll always have his memories
as solace for your grief.
I cannot promise that he will stay
since all from Earth return,
But there are lessons taught below
I want this pup to learn.

I’ve looked the whole world over
in seach of teachers true
And from the fold that crowd life’s land
I have chosen you.
Now will you give him all your love
Nor think the labor vain,
nor hate me when I come to take my pup back again?

I fancied that I heard them say,
“Dear Lord, They Will Be Done,”
For all the joys this pup will bring
the risk of grief you’ll run.
Will you shelter him with tenderness,
Will you love him while you may?
And for the happiness you’ll know forever grateful stay.

But should I call him back
much sooner than you’ve planned,
please brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand.
If, by your love, you’ve managed
my wishes to achieve,
In memory of him that you’ve loved,
cherish every moment with your faithful bundle, and know he loved you too.

- Author Unknown

A Bridge Called Love

It takes us back to brighter years,
to happier sunlit days
and to precious moments
that will be with us always.
And these fond recollections
are treasured in the heart
to bring us always close to those
from whom we had to part.

There is a bridge of memories
from Earth to Heaven above…
It keeps our dear ones near us

It’s the bridge that we call love.

- Author Unknown

I’m Still Here

Friend, please don’t mourn for me
I’m still here, though you don’t see.
I’m right by your side each night and day
and within your heart I long to stay.

My body is gone but I’m always near.
I’m everything you feel, see or hear.
My spirit is free, but I’ll never depart
as long as you keep me alive in your heart.

I’ll never wander out of your sight-
I’m the brightest star on a summer’s night.
I’ll never be beyond your reach-
I’m the warm moist sand when you’re at the beach.

I’m the colorful leaves when fall comes around
and the pure white snow that blankets the ground.
I’m the beautiful flowers of which you’re so fond,
The clear cool water in a quiet pond.

I’m the first bright blossom you’ll see in the spring,
The first warn raindrop that April will bring.
I’m the first ray of light when the sun starts to shine,
and you’ll see that the face in the moon shine is mine.

When you start thinking there’s no one to love you,
you can talk to through the Lord up above you.
I’ll whisper my answer through the leaves on the trees,
and you’ll feel my presence in the soft summer breeze.

I’m the hot salty tears that flow when you weep
and the beautiful dreams that come while you sleep.
I’m the smile you see on a baby’s face.
Just look for me friend, I’m every place!

- Author Unknown

From a press release I received:

The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is helping to care for more than 800 pets belonging to evacuees of Hurricane Gustov, with ASPCA teams working in tandem with other humane organizations in 12-hour shifts to conduct intake and escort pet owners to the dog and cat areas at the Louisiana Mega Shelter in Shreveport, La.

“We’ve seen everything from puppies, kittens, dogs and cats to rabbits, hamsters, birds, snakes and other reptiles,” said Sandy Monterose, the ASPCA’s Senior Director of Community Outreach who is on site in Shreveport. “Our team is working 24/7 with other agencies to assure the pets belonging to evacuees are cared for.”

The ASPCA deployed a team of 10 disaster response experts on Friday, August 29 at the request of the Louisiana State Animal Response Team (LSART), which serves as the volunteer animal emergency response partner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry under ESF-11. The ASPCA’s Disaster Response Team of ten includes a veterinarian, veterinary technicians, disaster responders and sheltering professionals.

This picture is from the ASPCA website. It says, “ASPCA Forensic Veterinarian Dr. Melinda Merck checks a puppy who was born at the Louisiana Mega Shelter in Shreveport. The puppy is the runt of a litter born just this morning! The litter of four was born to a dog whose owner lives in New Orleans.”

Other agencies besides the ASPCA that are assisting LSART’s efforts include United Animal Nations, Code 3, American Humane Association, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), International Fund for Animal Welfare, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary (they have some great information and updates on their website), Noah’s Wish and numerous other humane and disaster response groups.

This picture is courtesy Kathy Milani at HSUS. It says, “New Orleans Evacuation Center: Puppies are cooled down with water as they’re waiting to be loaded on refrigerated trucks to safety.”

You can check ASPCA Hurricane Gustav updates on the group’s website. Or if you were involved in the evacuation or got separated from a pet, click here for a list of pet-friendly shelters for evacuees. In addition, all of the rescue organzations mentioned above have updates and/or diaries on their websites.

I send a HUGE thank you to all the groups involved in saving these helpless animals, especially the ones who get left behind by their owners.

Jaime

This is dedicated to the most gentle and loving Golden Retriever, Marvin White and his human, Gary.

Just this side of Heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water, sunshine so our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill or old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy except for one small thing…they miss someone very special to them who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent, his eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group , flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted. And when you and your special friend finally meet you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life, but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.”

-Author Unknown

We love you Marvin. You are a special dog who taught us about love, life, laughter and patience. And its because of God’s gracious creatures like you, as this blog’s sub-head says, that All Pets Go to Heaven.

Love, Jaime.

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

Who knew?

I know this topic came up quite awhile back but I think it’s worth re-introducing.

I got some snail mail recently from PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)asking me to buy a membership. I always do research before donating to animal welfare groups because I get so many mailings in a week, and half of the so-called non-profits are shams that spend like 1 cent of a dollar on the animals. (Once you donate to one you get on ALL the mailing lists.)

Anyways, I found a website called PETAKillsAnimals.com. They report that PETA killed 97% of pets in their care in 2006 (most recent year for which stats are available).

97 percent.

This information came to light after a highly puclicized trial of two PETA employees who were arrested in 2005 for animal cruelty. They were found with a roaming “death van” and had been euthanizing pets and throwing them in trash bins. They were, to the dismay of the public, acquitted in 2007.

I wanted to find some back up information to support the claim from PETA Kills Animals and I found out, from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, that PETA killed (”put down”) 14,400 pets between 1998 and 2005. Pets that were supposed to go to homes. In fact, PETA actually told the vets and shelters they picked the animals up from that they would be going to homes and getting adopted out, according to the PETA Kills Animals site.

PETA employees even admitted on the stand that the group frequently kills animals. How frequently? Well in 2006 the group took in over 3,000 animals. Only 12 were adopted out.

This completely shocked me. This is sickening.

PETA’s own philosophy holds that people and animals are equal. It’s President, Ingrid Newkirk, has likened dogs to boys. And coming from a group that works so hard for animal rights and to harm the reputation of animal abusers…

PETA has become every piece the animal killer as the companies it commonly attacks.

So much for animal welfare.

Tell me what you think about this.

Coping with the grief after losing a pet can be a difficult thing to do. Those experiencing pet loss need to arm themselves with their toughest defenses because outliving a pet is a heartbreaking situation. The loss of any type of pet – guide animal, police animal, companion animal or other, is a devastating loss of a best friend.

The deep emotional bond one shares with an animal is hard to put in words. Whether you are grieving, or sympathizing with someone who is, take a soul-soothing journey through the pet loss poetry on this page. Pet loss poetry serves a dual purpose: it’s healing and supportive at the same time.

Feel free to comment and share with others experiencing pet loss.

The Power of the Dog

Excerpt:  
When the body that lived at your single will
When the whimper of welcome is stilled (how still!)
When the spirit that answered your every mood
Is gone wherever it goes–for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart to a dog to tear

A  Poem for the Grieving…

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn’s rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there, I did not die…
-Anonymous

The words inspired by Misty Blue, a retired racing greyhound may also be comforting.

Other good resources:
• Four Paws in Heaven
• http://www.pet-loss.net/
• My Pet Loss

If you happen to be comforting someone else through their tough time, try sending a little pet loss gift to show your support. Framed pictures are always a nice gesture. Surprise them with a note in their inbox to cheer them up; there is a wide variety of pet loss cards available online. A loss of a pet eCard might brighten their day a bit and let them know you are sympathizing with them.

Other uplifting gifts for pet loss include donations to an animal welfare groups like the Fund for Animals (which allows you to “adopt” a specific animal with your donation), In Defense of Animals, or a shelter in your area.