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.**

Did you know that this month is the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal’s Adopt a Shelter Cat Month?

The group has all sorts of cool activities on its website and they’re all about kitties. All month. There is a photo contest, a fun cat quiz (well it’s actually a survey but it’s still fun), a Cat Care Guide, and all kinds of other neat stuff.

Do you know someone who is interested in getting a little furball for themselves? Send them to an ASPCA shelter in their area for a rescue pet! Whatever you do, DON’T let them go to a breeder!

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.

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 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.

I recently discovered that the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has a program that allows adopters to meet their perfect match. The first of its kind, the program, according to the ASPCA website, is the only method in existence that evaluates an animal’s interests, behaviors, etc. and matches them with a hopeful adopter’s preferences.

The Me et Your Match™ program will hopefully lessen the number of repeat surrenders. So often people adopt a dog or cat then take it home and realize a few weeks or months later that they don’t like its personality, so they drop it back off at the shelter.

The website says that there are specific “Canine-ality™,” “Puppy-ality™,” and “Feline-ality™” tests that result in the animal being classified a certain way. For example a dog could be put in the “Couch Potato” categoryor the “Go-Getter” category.

It’s a pretty cool idea. To read about the program, visit the Meet Your Match™ program page of the ASPCA website.

You might end up a match made in heaven!

In an effort to clean up the city for the upcoming Olympic ceremonies, the city of Beijing is inhumanely killing all of the city’s cats. No, they are not being euthanized by injection. No they are not being gassed. They are being sent to death camps where they will suffer for weeks on end and die slow deaths from disease and starvation. No food and water.

Supposedly the government thinks the cats are spreading SARS around the city. It has told citizens this so people are actually surrendering their cats and tossing them out of their homes to be picked up by the roving death squads.

Read the full story here courtesy the UK’s Daily Mail. I warn you this story is graphic and not for the weak of heart.

These incomprehensible killings are actually being used by the Chinese government to “clean up the city” for the Olympics. Local animal welfare groups claim they are almost powerless against the program, and are telling the government and media it will actually tarnish the image of the city to outsiders.

Um, I totally agree. “Tarnish” is too nice a word.

According the United States Humane Society website,

Humane Society International has sent a letter to the International Olympic Committee condemning these misguided tactics. HSI has also been in contact with Chinese animal welfare organizations on the ground, who have said they are presently working on solutions with government officials to halt cruel roundups of stray cats and managed colonies and to improve conditions at government-run shelters.”

I don’t know about you but I intend to fully boycott the city and the Olympics in whatever way I can. So far I can’t find any animal welfare organizations that are officially campaigning against Beijing or China but stay tuned for updates. And in the meantime, DON’T BUY ANYTHING FROM CHINA.

This photo is of the only woman in the city of Beijing, China who wants to keep cats, bless her heart she has 250 (also not the best idea…). (Photo courtesy The Daily Mail)

What do you think about the new Chinese cat death camps? I’m anxious to hear your feedback…

             11 pit bulls are safe and sound after being rescued in Preble County, Ohio last weekend. The pit bulls were taken from the backyard of a guy who is a drug and alcohol counselor for the county Health Department by day, and animal abuser by night apparently.

Amazing that a guy who tries to help humans can be such a viscous person in his spare time.
The dogs had scarring and injuries but they will not be put down. Some of them came into the County Resource Center vomiting blood and foaming at the mouth, the poor things.

The owner is being investigated and so is the scope of the dogfighting operation since the owner of the property is also a breeder. The name of his kennel says it all if you ask me — Drive or Die Kennel. His website boasts of premier breeding lines and shows pictures of the animals chained to concrete floors.

The Ohio Director of the U.S. Humane Society, Dean Vickers, said the county is a hot area for dogfighting and that he wants to present a solid case to a grand jury. No charges have been filed but it is expected that federal dogfighting charges will be filed before the end of the month.

Ohio is a state that classifies American Pit Bull Terriers as viscous dogs. Owners are required to leash and contain their dogs at all times. I am so glad the state carries a federal penalty for pit dogfighting - which in my opinion classifies the human as viscous - but don’t understand why the breed is considered dangerous.

The danger a dog poses is dictated by its upbringing I think. Anyone can raise any breed to be viscous. If you wanted to make a German Shepherd viscous, then raise him to be mean.  The media doesn’t help either. There are tons of dog attacks across the country on a daily basis but the media only report the pit attacks.

Pit bulls are widely known for their sweet demeanors. We have one in the family and he is sweet as sugar. He loves to play, he is a huge cuddler, and he loves the kitten of the family. There is no way he is a viscous dog yet he has to be on a leash in his own backyard (which he never is by the way).

When will Ohio get with it and repeal the law already? Numerous campaigns have emerged to advocate for just that, namely the Stop the Pit Bull Ban petition, online here. 

As for rallying against pit dogfighting? Well the 11 pit bulls mentioned in this article were saved because of an anonymous tip to the state attorney general’s anti-dogfighting hotline, so people are very aware of the terrible circumstances that surround dogfighting. And the Ohio Valley Dog Owners, Inc. has formed a task force to draft new legislation to help control it, legislation which targets owners mostly.

See more sweet pit bull pictures like the one above…and tell me what you think about state laws that classify pit bulls as viscous dogs.