So my favorite Basset Hounds in the world, Franklin the puppy mill rescue many of you have read about (read here and here), and Henry, the ornery, senior, speckled Basset Hound, who I sometimes refer to as Henry the Horrible, and who my sister calls the “Speckled Hen” because of the adorable spots all over his under-belly, will be taking the amazing Eukanuba 28-Day Challenge thanks to the oh-so-generous folks at (P&G Pet Care and) Eukanuba.

— We are setting off with Senior Formula (for Henry) and Joint Formula (for Franklin). —

Franklin Lauding Eukanuba, His New Fave...!

These sweet and rambunctious boys have gone from one food to another in recent times as the economy slowed and funds for premium food has slowly diminished. Most of the time they were eating Noutrish, which they did like, or another “over-the-counter” good food.

However, we have always wanted to try out Eukanuba…

When we heard about the Challenge, we thought it would be great to see if we could actually see a visible change in them (like so many past participants purport…), in their coats, their eyes, their movement, their energy and/or something else tangible. After all, the 28-Day Challenge has a seriously good reputation.

** Henry in particular is aging quite quickly (he is 10) and is getting more irritable and a hell of a lot slower as he goes. We’re hoping the Senior Formula can help – well welcome it with open arms.

** And for Franklin, he has joint issues because he sat in a cage at a puppy mill in Holmes County, Ohio, (aka “Puppy Mill Country, Ohio”) for the first 4.5 years of his life…

So let’s try this out!

You guys will read my first week’s review NEXT Wednesday.

The feeding of Eukanuba starts today; and yes, I am a bit behind the other Challengers as we had some issues here at home.

Anyhow, we are stoked — we’ve heard such great things about the Challenge already and can’t wait to let you know what we uncover! Keep posted – we’ll check in again a week from today!

♥Jaime, Frank, Henry and Ashly Smith♥

♥This Year’s Event to Shine a Light on Pet Adoption!

♥ On November 16, 2011, Petside.com, the premier site for pet owners and pet enthusiasts, will host its 4^th Annual Pet ‘Net Event to

raise awareness of pet adoption.

Check out my 2010 Pet Net post here, my 2009 0ne here, and the first one in 2008 here... to read ALL past blog posts for Petside.com Pet ‘Net Events, click here!

I’ve been a part of this esteemed group since the first year! I have great respect and admiration for not only the folks over at Petside.com, but also for my fellow Pet Net bloggers. I’ve been lucky enough to write beside and in partnership with such beloved and leading bloggers as Caroline G. of Romeo the Cat. We’ve written about pet safety, pet rescue and more. This year we’re going back to our roots and posting about pet adoption… we all know this is a topic that cannot be publicized, featured on TV, written about, talked about, or blogged about enough:)

But this year’s event is bigger than ever, and features:

- a comprehensive hub page of adoption-related articles from the web’s very best pet-bloggers

- a social media donation campaign to engage the pet community at large

- a blogger competition with the winner receiving a $500 donation from Petside to the shelter of their choice

♥ Petside.com’s Pet ‘Net Event maintains its commitment to educate people and honor the pets who love them. While revisiting its inaugural topic from 2008, The 2011 Pet ‘Net Adoption Event marks the first in a partnership with IAMS on a social media donation campaign.

♥♥♥ Calls to action on Twitter this year will yield food donations as part of Iams Home 4 the Holidays Bags 4 Bowls initiative. For all information related to the social media donation campaign, please visit www.Petside.com/PetNetDonations. IAMS has been holding Home for the Holidays for decades and has made such a huge imprint on the issues of homeless animal populations, shelter donations, food donations and more. The program is championed by Helen Woodward Animal Center President, Mike Arms, my personal hero.

♥ Petside.com is ranked among the top 5 Pet Websites & offers unique editorial features, expert Q&A’s, tools and how-to videos. And, they are a great resource for all types of information on all types of animals. Petside.com carefully and personally (or corporate-ly??? lol) chooses the bloggers who represent their quest to inform the animal-loving public about related issues, and thus, participate in each yearly event, so please be sure to stop by and check it out next Wednesday

Don’t forget:

Franklin Smith, from Ohio Basset Rescue, survived appalling conditions at a puppy mill before his rescue.

WHEN:       Wednesday, November 16, 2011                    

WHERE:      http://ThoughtsFurPaws.com and www.Petside.com/PetNet2011

Next Wednesday when I post, I will give you a list of the other bloggers involved! 

And…. just as a little teaser, on my blog, you will be hearing a very special adoption story — and an adoption angle not often taken. I will be telling, at length, the story of Franklin Smith, the rescue Basset Hound who is a former puppy mill stud. My sister and I (and her man at the time) drove three hours to go visit him & ended up taking him home after he got along with our other Basset, Henry the Horrible.(You gotta’ click on that link and read about Henry– he is a devil dog, counter-surfer, howler, squawker dog!)

Franklin went from surviving day to day in a hellish cage not even big enough for him to stand in — to living in my sister’s free, fun and fabulous, no-rules home environment where he is wholly loved and absolutely cherished…for the first year-and-a-half I was the dog-sitter, coming about twice a week spending about 5 hours a night.

Franklin, though so happy that you would think he actually forgot his atrocious beginnings (!!), still faces a long road, and big bumps (for sure) and debilitating detours may still remain…

STAY TUNED…

Ohio has no laws preventing dog auctions. Ohio, according to multiple reports, one from us here, has the third weakest protections for animal welfare of any type in the entire nation…

This HAS to stop. Between dog auctions, puppy mills, and other animal cruelty issues like abuse (i.e. Nitro’s Law), Ohio has been hesitant, to put it mildly, in the Senate at least, to pass any type of animal welfare legislation that stiffens penalties for animal abusers or similar offenders.

Why? No one is quite sure. But what is known is that your help is needed to move along an imperative piece of legislation that could be the starting point of a new outlook by legislators toward animal welfare in Ohio.

Many concerned, fed-up and caring Ohio citizens – from breeders to rescuers to shelter volunteers – firmly believe that dog auctions, which have historic roots in Holmes County, Ohio as well as the central and southcentral parts of the state, serve not reputable breeders but the other kind… those large commercial facilities where dogs are bred to produce as many puppies as possible in conditions ranging from unsanitary to inhumane. In other words, dog auctions are where puppy millers sell and buy their “wares.”

The Coalition to Ban Ohio Dog Auctions (BODA) is spearheading a citizen-backed ballot initiative – “The Ohio Dog Auctions Act.”

Click here to download a copy of the Ohio Dog Auctions Act.

The measure (similar in language to Pennsylvania’s Statute 459-603) will establish a statute to the Ohio Dog Law making it illegal for anyone to auction or raffle a dog in Ohio. It also would prohibit bringing dogs into the state for sale or trade that were acquired by auction or raffle elsewhere.

Voters from all over The Buckeye State are communicating with fellow citizens and are well on the way to completing a goal to gain 120,700 (minimum) signatures by Thursday, December 1, 2011 to place a crucial measure on the November 2012 ballot.

WE HAVE ONLY 30 DAYS REMAINING UNTIL DECEMBER 1!

BODA and its supporters need your help to end a major distribution channel that serves puppy mill breeders from 15 states, many of whom have repeated, long standing violations of the Animal Welfare Act (the Federal Law passed in 1966 {and amended several times since}, that provides regulations for research facilities, state and private run shelters and pounds, transportation of animals, and stolen animals) and/or have been convicted of animal cruelty!

Please help the organization, which is the only of its kind in Ohio, reach a critical ‘STRETCH’ GOAL of 140,000 signatures by Dec. 1! (As of October 23, there are over 130,000 signatures from registered voters across 88 counties!) The stretch goal will ensure that any signatures collected that cannot be used for some reason (improper voter registration, etc.) will have “back-ups” that can be counted.

BODA asks that you take a pledge to collect 41 signatures from registered voters (they must be registered voters) – which is ONE completed PETITION. Then, ask three friends to do the same!

Below are the eight (8) counties in which signatures are desperately needed for the 2012 ballot initiative (Ohio Dog Auctions Act) in November.  If you can help, please contact the volunteer team leader listed (below) next to the county!

Wayne (Barbara McK. – barbaramckelvey@roadrunner.com)

Darke (Garri G. – gguecking@yahoo.com

Harrison (Barbara McK. – barbaramckelvey@roadrunner.com)

Delaware (Mary O’C-S. – mshaver_0462@columbustopdogs.com)

Logan (Laurie C-W. – SCraigLWright@netzero.com)

Sandusky (Barbara McK. – barbaramckelvey@roadrunner.com)

Hardin ((Laurie C-W. – SCraigLWright@netzero.com)

Franklin (Mary O’C-S. – mshaver_0462@columbustopdogs.com)

** Volunteer petitioners are needed to make the ballot initiative (Ohio Dog Auctions Act) a reality in Ohio. Remember —the deadline is December 1, 2011! BODA needs participation from as many as possible to make this vital effort a success! **

Click here to download a copy of the Ohio Dog Auctions Act.

♥To receive “Instructions for Collecting Signatures” in support of the Ohio Dog Auctions Act, please email me at thoughtsfurpaws@gmail.com.

♥To receive the AWESOME Campaign Flyer for our ballot initiative (Ohio Dog Auctions Act), please email me at thoughtsfurpaws@gmail.com.

Please send any completed petitions you have to:

Mary O’Connor-Shaver

347 Meadow Ash Dr.

Lewis Center, OH 43035

Amish-Run Mill in Holmes County

Here are some other ways that you can help; these are events in which BODA has petition tables set-up:

1. SIGNATURE GATHERING at GENERAL ELECTION DAY (NOVEMBER 8)!

General Election Day is November 8 – this is a fantastic opportunity to meet and collect signatures from Ohio voters!  Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Volunteer petitioners are permitted to set-up booths 150 feet from precinct polling places as measured from all parts of the building containing the voting place. ** If you are interested in collecting signatures at a nearby precinct on General Election Day, please contact Mary at info@banohiodogauctions.com **

2. OHIO VOTERS AGAINST PUPPY MILLS AND DOG AUCTIONS!

We invite you to join the over 2,000 voices who have become members of our Facebook group, Ohio Voters against Puppy Mills and Dog Auctions. Membership is FREE, and this portal serves as a great vehicle where you can receive timely updates on issues and campaigns addressing Ohio dog auctions, puppy mills and the entities that support and keep them in business.

ACTION NEEDED! For more information on how you can become a member, please click here.

To find your state legislators, click here.

Below, please read to see what has happened over the last month to move this campaign forward:

1. CIRCLEVILLE PUMPKIN SHOW (OCTOBER 19-22) 

BODA would like to offer a HUGE thanks to an incredible team of 14 volunteers (Susan D., Barbara McK., Jody B., Diane K., Sandy S., Signe S., Jeanie McD., Zaron V., Linda S., Marilyn T., Jon G., Helene G., Barbara S. and Jack McM.) who did an amazing job collecting signatures from registered voters in 32 different counties! No doubt, your efforts are imperative to the success of this campaign and words cannot convey enough gratitude…

A SPECIAL thanks to members of the Pickaway County Farm Bureau and Pickaway County Visitor’s Bureau, who also did an amazing job helping to promote the 2012 ballot initiative during the Show!

2. PEACEFUL RALLY!

HUGE thanks to the 17 supporters from six counties who served as a strong voice for the dogs during the October 8 “Peaceful Rally against Ohio Dog Auctions and Puppy Mills” in Millersburg, OH!

A special thanks to Rachel Lauren of Rachel Lauren Photography who did a fantastic job capturing the essence of our event!  For a look at Rachel’s portfolio, please click here.

Finally, BODA’s founder and, to many, a walking miracle and angel to animals, Mary O’Connor Shaver, is pleased to announce that both the Ohio Secretary of State’s minimum required signature goal and the ‘stretch’ goal for Holmes County!  This is an incredible milestone in the campaign, given that Holmes County, as referenced above, serves as ‘ground zero’ for puppy mill breeding in Ohio!

Mary would also like to thank everyone who serves as a strong voice for the animals!

For more information, please visit:

http://www.ColumbusTopDogs.com or http://www.BanOhioDogAuctions.com

On Friday, October 21st, after much prodding from not only animal welfare/animal rights groups, but from his own constituents, supporters and non-supporters, Ohio’s much contested Governor John Kasich signed an Exotic Pets Bill into law.

This was only days after the Zanesville, Ohio massacre (which made national news) of almost 60 wild animals, including rare big cats, bears, monkeys, and more.

Is it too late?

I say yes.

** Previous Governor Ted Strickland noted in an article that he had created legislation for the ban, but was quick to note that the new Governor had let it slide — not uncommon in Ohio, which ranks near last in the US for animal protection/animal welfare laws and legislation. **

Want to see the REAL track record of ALL of Ohio’s lawmakers in helping animals?

Check out this video from the amazing folks at Nitro’s Law… (grab a BOX of Kleenex first)

Parts of the new law are explained here:

ALL EXISTING NATIVE WILD ANIMAL PERMITS WILL BE REVIEWED: The Ohio Department of Natural Resources regulates ownership of dangerous wild animals native to Ohio. ODNR will review existing permits to ensure proper compliance and perform onsite inspections to the fullest extent possible with existing resources, and additional resource needs will be identified for future enforcement efforts.

WILD ANIMAL AUCTIONS WILL BE RESTRICTED AND ANY UNLICENSED AUCTIONS WILL BE SHUT DOWN: The Ohio Department of Agriculture will use its existing authority to regulate auctions to pursue agreements with auction houses that trade in dangerous wild animals to impose a temporary moratorium on their sale. Additionally, the Department will work with the US Department of Agriculture, local law enforcement, veterinarians and humane societies to enforce existing laws and to identify and shut down unlicensed auctions.

OHIO WILL WORK WITH ZOOS TO IDENTIFY SAFE PLACES TO KEEP CONFISCATED OR IMPOUNDED DANGEROUS WILD ANIMALS: A safe and appropriate location to house confiscated or impounded dangerous wild animals is essential to enforcing existing animal cruelty and public health laws, as well as future Ohio laws regulating these animals. Ohio will work with zoos to identify their ability to accept animals that are confiscated or impounded and help meet their needs.

NEW LEGAL POWERS WILL BE PROPOSED BY NOVEMBER 30: A task force including representatives of the Humane Society of the United States, county prosecutors, and veterinarians—led by the Department of Natural Resources—has been crafting a new legal framework for the General Assembly’s consideration that would give Ohio the authority to regulate dangerous wild animals. That task force will complete its work and submit its report by November 30.

OHIO WILL WORK WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO IDENTIFY THE LOCATION OF POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Ohio will establish toll-free hotline and website and work with local law enforcement agencies, veterinarians, county humane societies, and other stakeholders to identify potential problem locations where dangerous wild animals are kept so that the appropriate authorities can ensure all existing laws and regulations are being followed and enforced.

A COPY OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDER CAN BE VIEWED HERE: http://governor.ohio.gov/Portals/0/pdf/executiveOrders/EO%202011-24K.pdf

I personally called the Governor’s office to voice my opinion (Ohio’s legislators are on my speed-dial I swear…) last Thursday and was told a solution was being “worked up.”

But while I had a secretary or office drone on the line, I did pose the question: “will this make the Governor more aware and hence, more apt to voice his support to law-makers on OTHER CRUCIAL pieces of animal welfare legislation for Ohio, i.e. Nitro’s Law (HB 108)?”

The worker bee replied with, “with who’s Law?”

THESE PEOPLE ARE UN- f-in-BELIEVABLE.

It took EVERY SINGLE OUNCE OF SANITY AND GRACE I have to not jump through the phone and strangle this person. Instead, I politely explained Nitro’s Law and was told that the Governor does support the passage of important laws to protect animals, but needs to “focus on unemployment and bringing jobs to Ohio right now.” Also, he “does not have the power necessary to PASS the actual law.” Is this guy a first-year intern or what??

This guy is so fired.

I quickly wrote up and fired off a personal letter — NOT an email — to the Governor. Please email me if you would like to follow suit. I will email you the Word document.

So what do you think? Are Ohio’s politicians playing ostrich when it comes to passing important animal welfare legistation?

Not only on Nitro’s Law, but a Puppy Mill Bill, Ban on Dog Auctions, etc?

I mean, Nitro’s has been around for three years, and a puppy mill bill has been in the works for even longer…

Why can’t they get it done? Is it laziness? Do they not care? Do they not have time? Do not enough Ohioans care? Do we need to throw money at the problem via a lobbyist or something?

Or do they simply not hear from US – their supporters – enough?

As anyone who has worked in animal welfare knows, the internet has become a prime breeding ground for puppy mills to sell their puppies. Why? Because they are not subject to inspectionby the USDA. If you sell a puppy or kitty directly to someone, either through the internet or via the newspaper, you do not fall under the purview of the USDA and can operate as you wish without fear of being inspected or shut down.

Congress has a bill before them this year to address this very issue called the Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety (PUPS) Act (H.R.835/S.707). On March 1, U.S. Representative Gerlach, along with Reps. Farr, Capps and Young, introduced the Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety (PUPS) Act, to bring all commercial dog breeders in the United States under federal oversight, in the House of Representatives. On March 30, Senator Dick Durbin introduced the same bill in the Senate.

** This is bipartisan legislation that has attracted high-ranking cosponsors in both chambers, but we need your help drawing more attention to it and attracting even more support in Congress. **

Currently, only breeders who sell their dogs to puppy brokers or pet stores are required to be licensed and inspected by the USDA. If passed, the PUPS Act would require any breeder who sells or offers to sell more than 50 dogs annually directly to the public—including over the Internet—to also be licensed and inspected.

The Act would also require all dog breeders licensed under the federal Animal Welfare Act to exercise every dog every day, including allowing the dogs to reach a running stride without the use of treadmills or similar devices. Commercial breeders often keep their dogs in tiny cages for their entire lives. Requiring exercise could dramatically improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of dogs suffering from endless confinement at the hands of the commercial breeding industry.

What You Can Do
Please email your U.S. representative and Senators today and ask them to support and cosponsor the PUPS Act! To learn more about this issue, please visit www.aspca.org/puppymills. They have a pre-written letter that you simply add your name and address to. Please — let’s get animal welfare issues on the priority list this year. Contact anyone and everyone you can and spread the word!

We all are aware of the tragic turn of events in Missouri that resulted in Prop B being essentially stipped of everything that would stop the millers and bad breeders. Here’s a little something from the Humane Society (I realize everyone has their own opinions about HSUS) that should be spread around…

“Missouri’s dogs are suffering in thousands of large-scale puppy mills, and last year Missouri voters approved a ballot measure to turn around the state’s reputation as the puppy mill capital of America. But a handful of career politicians in Jefferson City substituted their judgment for the wisdom of nearly one million Missouri voters, and they gutted the new puppy mill standards before they were even allowed to take effect.

Mill Dogs Courtesy HSUS

We vow not to turn away from this shameful step backwards, but to keep up the fight for Missouri’s dogs and against animal cruelty everywhere. That’s why we signed on to the “Your Vote Counts” campaign in Missouri. We want to make sure that future citizen initiatives — and the voices of Missouri voters — can’t be simply ignored when it doesn’t sit well with powerful special interests and a small group of legislators.

Let’s support this effort to protect Missourians’ right to a fair ballot initiative process and democracy — sign the pledge and join the campaign.

If passed, the Your Vote Counts Act would require a three-fourths vote of each chamber of the Legislature or another vote of the people in order to change or overturn a voter-approved ballot initiative. Right now, it only takes a simple majority in the legislature to overturn a citizen initiative — and that’s all that was needed when they gutted Prop B earlier this year. Several states, including Arizona, Michigan, Nebraska, and Arkansas have all implemented similar measures to protect the will of the people — let’s join them and turn around our reputation as the state whose lawmakers are most willing to ignore the voters.

Click here to sign the pledge and show your support for reining in Missouri’s out-of-control legislature and helping protect dogs from future legislative malfeasance.”

This post is in honor of Petfinder.com’s “Adopt-A-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week” – which starts on Saturday, Sept. 17th and goes through the 25th.

The special week is devoted to giving those pets who are often overlooked at shelters and rescue groups for whatever reason a better chance at finding homes, no matter the reason — they’re old, the wrong breed, have special needs, or are simply different or the wrong color. Big black dogs. FIV+ cats. Senior pets. Special-needs animals. Many factors can make a pet seem “less adoptable.” So to promote these unusual (or, in some cases, too common) animals, Petfinder has designated Sept. 17-25, 2011, as “Adopt-A-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week.”

Petfinder.com is doing some special things to pay tribute to this week. Here’s a main hub page of all the stories being done; and here’s a Photo Gallery of some four-legged friends who are having a tough time finding a home. You can also see the Facebook page, which will be filled with messages and blog posts and pictures and fun stories.

I have a special place in my heart for these types of pets. Many times when I visit my favorite local shelter – the Friendship APL – my Mother and I talk about how we would take all the kitties over age 8 or 10 and bring them home since it seems that about 75% of adopters there want kittens or cats under the age of 2 (statistic from Executive Director of the shelter).

And this brings me to a story that I wrote a LONG time ago for a different publisher about this issue.

Many people think animal rescues or “shelter pets” – as Mike Arms of Helen Woodward Animal Center has said — are places (or things) where the pets are banged up, imperfect, unwanted. And some of them are. The word shelter has come to have a negative and ill-perceived undertone in today’s world. But in reality, rescue pets end up being the best kind to have because their little souls have seen so much in life that they would do anything to make you happy and to be loved in return.

How do I know? Because I’ve had rescue pets for my entire life – for 30 years. Too many cats to count and about five dogs. Plus we’ve fostered feral cats, indoor cats, and puppy mill Basset Hounds — who are the most injured and damaged of the injured and damaged…

And I happen to have a few friends in animal rescue because of the work I do locally and at a state level with animal welfare groups.

Running an animal rescue is hard work. And it’s not for the faint of heart. Most rescues are funded by donations only and are run on a volunteer basis. If not for the big wide open hearts and equally large open wallets of people who run and volunteer at these facilities and give in-kind with time and consistently donate money, hundreds of thousands more pets would die each year.

My well-respected friend, Amy Weitzel, is the Founder of Multiple Breed Rescue (MBR) in Elyria, Ohio. For years she actually ran TWO rescues – one was a state breed rescue. Now she focuses on one — MBR from her personal home and farm. This is one of the most sensible things she ever said to me:

“If you are willing to find the RIGHT dog and not just the first dog you see then the puppy mills and backyard breeders would not exist,” Amy said.

That’s the whole reason she got involved. She bought a cute little Jack Russell Terrier (JRT) from a pet store awhile back. She was uneducated about the process, and was horrified after she researched where the puppy really came from.

“Do you know not ONE pet store clerk asked if I had experience with JRT’s? Not one pet store clerk asked if I had any other dogs. Did you know female JRT’s do not get along with other female dogs 90% of the time?” Amy recounted. “Not one person said a thing. I was some young kid with a credit card. Heck they didn’t even ask me how old I was.”

Pet stores, puppy mill stock sellers (Internet breeders) and backyard breeders don’t care about the dogs themselves, they care about making money off of them…they care about churning out litter after litter to make the big bucks off the parents.

And as Amy so eloquently put it, we are in a society of “I want it now…” hence the reason pet stores are so successful.

Therein lays one of the challenges of running a dog rescue or a shelter.

“Adopting a pet takes a little effort. You have to find a pet that interests you, complete an application, meet the dog, etc.,” Amy said. “All of this takes time. Usually a week or two. People don’t want to wait that long. Unfortunately our society treats dogs like they treat a new CD that was just released. GOT TO HAVE IT NOW. Go to the store, buy it and when they get bored with it throw it away and get a new one.”

Thus Amy began her crusade to save animals from untimely deaths. It’s not an easy job. She doesn’t get paid. She doesn’t get reimbursed in any way. Most of the time she ends up in the red. Many times she spends tons of money to recuperate the dogs, have them spayed/neutered, get them their shots, only to have a potential adopter rudely scoff at her $100-$200 adoption fee. And remember – Amy travels around Northeast Ohio pounds taking the MOST UNWANTED and most “UNADOPTABLE” dogs they have. She doesn’t take the cute puppies; she doesn’t take the purebreds; she doesn’t take the ones with no health problems. She takes the “tough to take” ones.

“Normal adoption fee is between $100 for a dog I get in that is already fixed and $200 for a dog that I had to get everything done and pay a pull fee for,” Amy said. A pull fee is a fee that pounds charge Amy to save a dog that is on death row. Yes, they actually charge her to save a dog’s life. “If it is in an older dog and even though I have a lot of money into the dog I will adopt it out for $100. I might have put $300 into the dog but it is 10-years-old. I am just lucky to find it a home.”

That’s the whole purpose of Amy’s Multiple Breed Rescue – to help all the “mutts” and all the “hard to adopt” dogs from the shelters.

“When I say ‘hard to adopt dogs’ I am speaking of the dogs that might require more medical attention due to skin allergies, broken bones, eye infections, etc. or dogs that are older and black – the most common in all shelters” she said. “There are rescues out there that, although I think they do a great job, stick to the easy to place dogs, leaving the dogs that really need help at the shelters to die. I personally like to take the leftovers, the dogs no one looks at twice, they usually turn out to be the best dogs!”

Amy placed about 183 dogs in loving, forever homes in 2010. She saved 183 lives. All in all, since the start in 2005, she has saved a whopping 730 dogs. This is a one-woman show, keep in mind. Yes, she has foster families and tons of volunteers, but she started out of the goodness of her heart when she realized the “less adoptables” being skipped over. Amy now takes in anywhere from two to 20 dogs a month, depending on how much space she has in her home and in foster homes. (The majority of the dogs stay at her home and large farm.)

Amy has adoption events at places like PetSmart and local festivals and stuff every month and has a whole slew of volunteers and caring foster parents who help her.

She thinks the biggest hurdle is getting the word out about adopting. It’s hard to educate people about adoption because they either don’t listen or don’t care. (I can’t say that I argue with her. Many of my regular readers know how strongly I feel about this.)

“Animal rescue isn’t a moneymaking business so it isn’t like we have money to spend on advertising. Most of the media don’t care about pet adoption because again, it isn’t a moneymaker,” Amy said. “I dream about having billboards and large newspaper ads with statistics and facts about the pet overpopulation problem and about the adoption option vs. the pet store or backyard breeder advertising in the newspaper, on the Internet or on the telephone poll.”

Don’t we all?

The "Less Adoptable" Liz: See Her Description at the Bottom

All of this brings me to my main point: pet adoption is really the only viable option there is. Even if you want a purebred dog, go to that breed’s local rescue chapter and save one’s life. You can find any breed rescue in any state on Petfinder.com. You can find any dog or cat that you want on Petfinder.com. And if you want the animal bad enough – you’ll figure the ways and means out.

But please, first consider one of the less adoptable ones. Consider what they might have been through in life already. Consider what they’ve seen and felt and heard. Consider how long they may have been in a cage. Consider the raw emotions they must have – although animals are masters of disguise and stronger than all humans in terms of emotional strength. For once, consider adopting a less adoptable pet. They have so much to give (I can tell you from personal experience.) They just want to be loved and I GUARANTEE that they will give you all that you need or expect and more in return.

And remember: every time you buy a dog from a pet store, another dog dies in a shelter somewhere.

To follow Amy’s everyday life, visit her dog rescue blog, A Dog Rescuers Life.

Click here for a picture gallery of Petfinder’s Less Adoptable Pets.

And remember:

“Saving just one pet won’t change the world… but, surely, the world willchange for that one pet…” (courtesy Petfinder associate)

Pictured: Liz, beautiful black & white Persian mix with luxurious fur. She is a lap cat who needs a quiet home without other cats. If she is displeased, she may poop just outside the box, a problem that can easily be remedied. Check Maumelle Friends of the Animals for more information about her!

Governor Perry signs H.B. 1451 establishing basic humane standards of care for breeding dogs

Governor Rick Perry signed House Bill (HB) 1451 into law this week. It initiates oversight of large-scale commercial breeding facilities, aka “puppy mills.”  Sponsored by Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, and championed in the Senate by Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, the bill establishes minimum standards for the humane handling, care, housing and transportation of dogs and cats by breeders.

Texas Mill Dogs...

This is the second state to pass “Puppy Mill Bills” recently, though Missouri reneged on its Bill after passage.

The new law applies to large-scale cat and dog breeders who maintain 11 or more female breeding animals and sell twenty or more animals per year.

HB 1451 requires that breeders be inspected and that enclosures have adequate drainage, are made out of safe materials and have adequate space for animals to comfortably stand, sit, turn around and lie down in a natural position. The ASPCA worked with The Texas Humane Legislation Network and The Humane Society of the United States to support this bill.

“Texas was one of the last states without a law concerning commercial breeding operations, so Governor Perry’s signature today marks a new era in the Lone Star State,” said Jill Buckley, senior director of Government Relations for the ASPCA. “The public has become aware of the horrible conditions inside puppy mills and is no longer willing to tolerate animal cruelty in the dog breeding industry. Texans truly care about their pets and will not stand for cruelty in their commercial kennels.”

Unlike responsible loving breeders – real breeders who only have a certain number of litters per year and do it for love of the breed, who also place the utmost importance on producing the healthiest puppies possible, puppy mills prioritize profit over the well-being of the dogs. Dogs from puppy mills are sold in pet stores, online and directly to consumers with little to no regard for the dog’s health, genetic history or future welfare. The ASPCA and other animal welfare groups urge people to not buy a puppy from a pet store or any place that does not allow you to see its entire facility and meet the mother dog. This includes websites that sell pets online.

For more information on puppy mills and other states’ laws and proposed laws, click on the Puppy Mills tab to your right. You can also click on the Animal  Welfare tab to learn more about them, the bills fighting them currently, and other groups that work tirelessly to fight them.

THANK YOU GOVERNOR PERRY. YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION and other state Governors should follow your lead.

Many of you ask me how to talk to representatives, senators, mayors, etc about how you feel about current and proposed animal welfare laws. Well here they are: the tips you’ve been waiting for. I also put an update in here at the top on which House Bills are going up for vote when, including Nitro’s Law, which is coming up soon.

SCHEDULED ON THE HOUSE CALENDAR FOR NEXT WEEK – EXPECTED VOTE ON HOUSE FLOOR

Sub. H. B. No. 108 - Nitro’s Law as Introduced — Representatives Ron Gerberry (D-59),  Robert Hagan (D-60)

Cosponsors: Representatives Hagan, R., Fedor, Yuko, Letson, Phillips

To amend sections 959.131 and 959.99 of the Revised Code to specifically prohibit an owner of a kennel of dogs from committing cruel treatment of a companion animal and to give a prosecutor who prosecutes an owner of a kennel of dogs who commits cruel treatment of a companion animal discretion in prosecuting the owner for the offense.

SCHEDULED ON THE HOUSE CALENDAR FOR NEXT WEEK – POSSIBLE VOTE ON HOUSE FLOOR

Sub. H. B. No. 25 — Representative Courtney Combs (R-54)

Cosponsors: Representatives Derickson, Grossman, Patmon, Pillich, Beck, Stinziano, Dovilla, Maag, Blair, Stebelton, Rosenberger, Hackett, Ashford, Winburn, Garland, Williams, Weddington, Bubp, Blessing, Hayes, Slaby

To amend sections 959.99, 2152.19, 2903.213, 2903.214, 2919.26, 3113.31, 4732.141, and 4757.33 and to enact section 4731.284 of the Revised Code to revise the penalties and sentencing provisions regarding violations of the cruelty to animals statutes and to include the protection of companion animals in temporary protection orders, domestic violence protection orders, anti-stalking protection orders, and related protection orders. (Committee on Criminal Justice recommends substitute bill for passage, see House Journal, May 25, 2011, p. 684)

H. B. No. 112 — Representatives Cheryl Grossman (R-23), Tom Letson (D-64)

Cosponsors: Representatives Murray, Stinziano, Beck, Garland, Ruhl, Fedor, Antonio, Carey, Combs, Newbold, Stebelton, Fende

To enact section 2927.28 of the Revised Code to require the inclusion of a bittering agent in engine coolant and antifreeze. (Committee on Transportation, Public Safety and Homeland Security recommends passage, see House Journal, May 24, 2011, p. 672)

SCHEDULED ON THE HOUSE CALENDAR FOR NEXT WEEK – CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE HEARING (Wed., June 8 – 9:00 A.M. – Room 114)

H. B. No. 14 — Representative Barbara Sears (R-46)

To amend section 955.11 of the Revised Code to remove pit bulls from the definition of “vicious dog” in state law.

How to Lobby: Playing to Win

Tips from “Get Political for Animals and Win the Laws They Need” by Julie E. Lewin.

Available through www.nifaa.org

Don’t be shy. Say what you need to say and watch out for bluster. Politely try to keep the lawmaker on track. And don’t shrink from asking “May I count on your vote?” after you discuss each bill (see below).

Your rap. The lawmaker will spend only so much time with you, so try to guide the conversation forward. You are here to convince your lawmaker to commit his or her support for certain bills and to solicit information from the lawmaker to report back to the humane lobbyists.

Openly take notes on what the lawmaker says.

Your rap: “Rep_______?  I’m Julie Lewin, your constituent who lives at 1000 Long Hill Road in Guilford. It’s exciting to meet you in person!  I’m here to ask for your support for six bills.

ü  HB 14 would remove pit bulls from the definition of “vicious dog” in Ohio law.

ü  HB 25 would strengthen penalties and sentencing provisions regarding violations of cruelty to animals to include the protection of companion animals in temporary protection orders, domestic violence protection orders, anti-stalking protection orders, and related protection orders.

ü  HB 108 would give a prosecutor who prosecutes an owner of a kennel of dogs who commits cruel treatment of a companion animal discretion in prosecuting the owner for the offense.

ü  HB 138 would require a person to file proof of successful completion of training with the county recorder prior to being appointed as a humane society agent and to require the revocation of an appointment under certain circumstances.

ü  HB 570 would establish standards of care for commercial dog breeding kennels and to establish requirements governing the sale of dogs. (Waiting to be reintroduced in 2011!)

ü  2012 Ballot Initiative (Ohio Dog Auctions Act) would ban puppy mill dog auctions and raffles in Ohio. (Waiting to be introduced in January 2012!)

“May I count on your vote? No? What problems do you have with it or questions about it?” Listen carefully. Read back to the lawmaker what you’ve written. “I’ll let our lobbyist know your concerns and have her get back to you.”

“May I count on your vote?” After you’ve described a bill you must ask May I count on your vote? That’s the ONLY way you know if the lawmaker has made a commitment! Don’t be impressed by lawmakers who talk about how much they love dogs, etc. Many of them want to vote against us. Without answering the essential question, they’ve made no commitment and know they can mislead you.

One bill at a time! Discuss each bill separately. Ask “May I count on your vote?” after you’ve described each bill.

Report back to your lobbyist, even when the lawmaker “hasn’t really said anything.” Even that is essential information for the lobbyist.

Lobbyists for each bill:

ü  HB 14 and HB 25: Jean Keating (Ohio Coalition of Dog Advocates) canineadvocate1@yahoo.com

ü  2012 Ballot Initiative (Ohio Dog Auctions Act): Mary O’Connor-Shaver (Coalition to Ban Ohio Dog Auctions)  info@BanOhioDogAuctions.com (my personal hero and a total rockstar – everyone thank Mary for what she does every day…!)

ü  HB 108:  Liz Raab (Nitro Foundation)  interappl@aol.com

ü  HB 138: Sharon Harvey (Cleveland APL)  sharvey@clevelandapl.org

ü  HB 570: Zaron Van Meter (SK9 Scottish Terrier Rescue) artloar@aol.com

Lobby Day is the beginning, not the end! When you get home- Contact as many of your state senator’s and state representative’s animal-friendly constituents as possible. Instruct them to email or phone these lawmakers to support each bill—and give them the contact information.

Our power is in numbers, coming from the ground up! Keep turning up new constituents to contact your lawmakers to support the bills!

Each bill must survive several steps in the lawmaking process to become law! Contact your lawmaker again at each important step—as directed by the lobbyist—and urge other constituents to do so.

Thanks for this article

(Jefferson City, MO) — On a day of dizzying legislative speed, Gov. Jay Nixon signed two pieces of legislation aimed at modifying regulations on the state’s dog breeders.

As part of a political deal worked out between the governor and the legislature, Nixon started his day Wednesday by signing Senate Bill 113, legislation passed by the House and Senate last week in response to Proposition B, the so-called “puppy mill cruelty prevention act” passed by voters in November.

Later in the day, the legislature passed another bill on the matter, Senate Bill 161, which alters the law addressed in Senate Bill 113. Senate Bill 161 was brokered in negotiations between the governor’s office, legislators, the state Department of Agriculture, dog breeders and animal rights groups.

Elements of the work already accomplished by the General Assembly in SB 113 can be seen in the text of the SB161 compromise. For instance, provisions remain to increase license fees to support Missouri’s Operation Bark Alert, which targets problematic breeders. And gone is the reference to puppy mills. The law is now known as the Canine Cruelty Prevention Act.

Missouri Puppy Mill Dogs Suffer in Protest

But some major changes are evident, as well, including provisions to expand the cage sizes of breeding dogs, doubling the space mandated by current regulations for existing facilities by Jan. 1, 2012, and providing “constant and unfettered access to an attached outdoor run.” Cage sizes in any new construction are to be three times as large, according to the compromise.

After about an hour of noontime debate, most of which featured House Ag Policy Committee Chair Tom Loehner, R-Koeltztown, explaining the the new bill’s details and the deal by which the legislature was abiding, the House passed the bill by a 108-42 margin.

“Does it put some added burden on the breeders? Yes it does,” said Loehner during floor debate. “But it allows them a time to decide whether they want to stay in business and do a good job. And if they don’t, then they can get out of the business.”

Little opposition was voiced during the debate. Only Rep. Margo McNeil, D-St. Louis, rose to speak against the legislation, saying the voters had spoken and it was her duty to support them.

“I think this legislation is going to improve things, however, I made a pledge to my voters that I would not overturn the will of the voters,” said McNeil, who’s district voted heavily in favor of Proposition B.

“This is a Missouri solution to a complex issue,” said Nixon speaking to a group of about 50 reporters, legislators and bill supporters. “Each of the leaders here today shares a common belief that agriculture is the backbone of Missouri’s economy. Responsible, professional, dog breeders are a vital part of our agriculture industry.”

The governor defended the speed with which the legislation moved through the process.

“I think this is an issue that requires action…now,” Nixon said. “I certainly think that if there are animals that are being mistreated or malnourished, that we shouldn’t wait until August 28th (when legislation traditionally becomes law) to get that problem solved.”

Critics continue to contend that the legislation passed in the last week and signed by the governor does away with Proposition B and the people’s vote to protect dogs in the state. Nixon strongly disagrees.

“But for the people of the state voting on this, we wouldn’t be here today,” Nixon said. “Their votes fundamentally changed a discussion that was going on in our state and played a vital role in getting this to the finish line.”

Then House then voted to pass the legislation with an emergency clause that makes the new law effective immediately upon the governor’s signature. The emergency clause passed with one vote to spare after House Minority Leader Mike Talboy, R-Kansas City, called into question the emergency clause’s effect on the ability for the public to challenge the new law by referendum.

As fast as the House went through the legislation, the Senate moved even faster, voting once on the bill, then reconsidering after some Senators claimed they were confused about what they were actually voting on, then voting in favor of the legislation again by a margin of 24-10, all in about an hour. The Senate accepted the emergency clause 32-1. The bill is now heading for the governor’s desk.

“If you really care about the animals, on which ever side you are on, this goes into effect right now,” said Sen.Mike Parson, R-Bolivar, who championed both versions of the Prop B revisions in the Senate. “We can do something about the mistreatment of animals in the state and you can do it today.”

Barely two hours later, Nixon hosted a bill signing ceremony in his office for Senate Bill 161.