Cats & pit bulls to benefit from low-cost spay/neuter surgeries

You, my beloved readers, can help put an end to a tragic situation…

Each year, thousands of kittens and puppies wind up in shelters as you know. Many are euthanized as a result of accidental litters from pets that are not spayed or neutered.

In fact, 11,000 pets in this country are euthanized daily – that’s half of the 8 million pets that land in shelters each year, according to a PetSmart Charities study.

Not all of these pets start out homeless.

Half of U.S. pet owners who’ve had a pregnant dog or cat say the pregnancy happened “by accident.”

Spaying/neutering at an early age is the best way to prevent unplanned litters and also has health benefits for pets. Many people don’t realize that operations as early as 8 to 10 weeks is safe for most pets – and waiting longer puts you at risk for an unplanned litter.

So I’m helping PetSmart Charities spread the word about early spay/neutering because it’s one the best ways (in the top three) to save homeless pets and curb the pet overpopulation problem in the US.

PetSmart Charities, the nation’s largest funder of spay/neuter initiatives, recently announced a NEW $1 million national grant program to fund high-quality, affordable spay/neuter operations to save the lives of pets that are at the highest risk for euthanasia: cats and pit bull terriers-these guys have that high risk due to overcrowding in shelters, which is due to overpopulation, etc.

Do you see how the circle works? If I were a graphic artist I would make an infographic but I’m not so I can’t. I did find one that’s to the right though from Pawesome.net.

The new PetSmart Charities grant program builds on the group’s efforts to:

- improve spay/neuter rates

- reduce shelter overcrowding

-increase pet adoption

Since 2007, PetSmart Charities has provided $26.3 million in grants that have subsidized almost 1 million spay/neuter surgeries in the United States.

Today, this year, the new grant program will help 65 nationwide non-profit spay/neuter clinics provide high-quality, affordable spay/neuter surgeries for more than 23,000 cats and pit bull terriers, ultimately reducing the homeless pet population by tens of thousands of at-risk cats and dogs that would otherwise wind up in shelters because of unplanned litters, according to Susana Della Maddalena, executive director of PetSmart Charities, Inc.

Four million adoptable pets are euthanized every year in the United States because they aren’t adopted.

“Approximately 34 percent of dogs and cats in U.S. households are not spayed or neutered yet the procedure is one of the most effective ways to reduce the homeless pet overpopulation,” said Della Maddalena. “With our new national grant program and our ongoing efforts to make affordable spay/neuter available to the public, PetSmart Charities is addressing the root cause of pet homelessness and this will have a national impact on reducing shelter intake and, ultimately, the euthanasia of adoptable pets.”

Lori Redmon, president/CEO of the Kentucky Humane Society in Louisville agrees.

“Shelters do their best to find forever homes for all of their cats and dogs that are loving pets, but unplanned litters quickly lead to overcrowding, and tragically, too many wonderful pets are at risk for euthanasia. With the grant from PetSmart Charities, we will be able to perform 200 more spay/neuter surgeries and give some much-needed help to cats and pit bull terriers that are especially at risk.”

“Beat the Heat” and “Primp Your Pit”

PetSmart Charities’ new grant program will support two spay/neuter campaigns:

·         “Beat the Heat” was held in February 2012 to spay female cats before they go into heat, and prevented 17,000 unplanned litters during the “kitten season” spring months.

·         “Primp Your Pit” will be held in August 2012, giving clinics resources to spay or neuter pit bull terriers. This breed, in particular, ends up in shelters in large numbers due to the myths and negative media and public perceptions that are associated with pit bulls. Search BSL or pit bulls on ThoughtsFurPaws.com for more information on that (don’t get me started about myths on these sweet, gorgeous, loving dogs…)

Through these special campaigns, spay/neuter clinics receive:

1. grant funds to help lower the cost of spay/neuter for the public
2. professionally-developed marketing materials to educate the public
3. funding and support to advertise and promote the campaigns in local communities

To find high-quality, low-cost spay/neuter services locally, the public can go online here to access a free searchable database made possible through a partnership between PetSmart Charities and the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®).

How to Donate to Save Pets’ Lives

Donations allow PetSmart Charities to offer these types of grant programs and resources that support local clinics and shelters across the nation. Members of the public can join the fight to end pet homelessness by making a tax-deductible donation online, by email at gifts@petsmartcharities.org or via phone at 623-587-2826.

Stay up to date on the lives that are being saved through PetSmart Charities’ Facebook page at www.facebook.com/savehomelesspets.

About PetSmart Charities®

Established in 1994, PetSmart Charities, Inc. is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that creates and supports programs that save the lives of homeless pets, raise awareness of companion animal welfare issues and promote healthy relationships between people and pets. The largest funder of animal-welfare efforts in North America, PetSmart Charities has provided more than $134 million in grants and programs benefiting animal-welfare organizations and has helped save the lives of nearly 5 million pets through its in-store adoption program. To learn more about how PetSmart Charities is working toward its vision of a lifelong, loving home for every pet, visit petsmartcharities.org or call 1-800-423-PETS (7387).

The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) today announced that it has been awarded more than $1.4 million in funding from Subaru of America, Inc. as a result of its participation in the Subaru “Share the Love” event.

Sixty-two percent of the donation the ASPCA received has already been earmarked for the ASPCA’s “Share the Love” Grant Program for shelters in all 50 states.

To-date, approximately $884,000 has been distributed to local shelters.

“Year after year, we’re honored and overwhelmed by just how much Subaru customers care about their pets,” said Elysia Howard, vice president of marketing & licensing for the ASPCA. “In 2011, the ASPCA was able to distribute more than $15 million in the form of 1,300 grants to 740 animal welfare organizations in all 50 states. The funding from the “Share the Love” event will enable us to save more animals through our national programs and give even more to shelters and rescue groups across the country in the coming year.”

* Note that Subaru has been heavily involved with animal charity and animal welfare here in Ohio — they had an event a while back, remember? Read it here

During the “Share the Love” event, which ran from November 19, 2011 to January 3, 2012, Subaru pledged to donate $250 for every new Subaru vehicle sold or leased to the customer’s choice of one of the following five charities: the ASPCA, American Forests, Make-A-Wish Foundation®, Meals On Wheels Association of America and Special Olympics.

Subaru Dogs! Photo Courtesy Facebook/ASPCA.com

“Our new car owners helped us give more than $5 million to charities in just six short weeks of Share the Love,” said Dean Evans, senior vice president and CMO, Subaru of America, Inc.

“We’re proud to have donated more than $20 million to worthy charities over the last four years, helping them carry out the vital work they do every day.”

ASPCA Rescue Dog: Photo Courtesy ASPCA.org

As part of “Share the Love,” the ASPCA also worked closely with Subaru dealerships across the country to help them partner with local animal shelters and host a range of events including pet adoption, food donation drives, holiday pet picture-taking, pet ID-tagging and micro-chipping.  As a result, approximately 100 events took place, more than 1,000 dogs and cats – and even two horses – were adopted, and $121,000 was raised for local shelters. (See above link…)

The ASPCA also held a shelter incentive contest during “Share the Love,” and the following winners were selected to receive a total of $35,000 in grants from the ASPCA, awarded as follows:

• 1st prize (winners of a $20,000 grant): Protection of Animals in Wakefield Society (PAWS) – in partnership with Subaru of Wakefield in Wakefield, Mass.

• 2nd prize (winners of a $5,000 grant): Friends of Sangamon County – in partnership with Green Family Subaru in Springfield, Ill.

• 3rd prize (each winner of $2,000 grants):

-          Spokanimal – in partnership with Appleway Subaru in Spokane, Wash.

-          Irvine Animal Care Center – in partnership with Irvine Subaru in Irvine, Calif.

-          Charlotte Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control – in partnership with Subaru South Blvd in Charlotte, N.C.

-          Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region – in partnership with Heuberger Subaru in Colorado Springs, Colo.

-          Kent County SPCA – in partnership with Dover Subaru in Camden, Del.

In addition to supporting the ASPCA through its annual “Share the Love” event, Subaru supports other key ASPCA initiatives including Team ASPCA, the upcoming ASPCA Mega Match-a-thon event and the National Spay/Neuter project.

*** In addition to this wonderful ‘partnership’ that’s blossomed, the ASPCA recently announced that it will provide more than $340,000 to 15 local municipal shelters, animal control agencies and non-profits throughout the state of New York to create and expand low-cost spay/neuter programs!

ASPCA Kitty: Photo Courtesy ASPCA.org

“By providing grants that specifically fund low-cost spay/neuter projects, the ASPCA hopes to directly impact the number of homeless animals in New York, as well as help pet owners who are most in need of assistance,” said Michael Barrett, vice president of grants management for the ASPCA. “We encourage local animal shelters to apply for these grants, which will not only help expand their spay/neuter efforts, but could greatly impact their work to eradicate animal homelessness in their communities.”

Increased spay/neuter programs can help to prevent litters of homeless kittens and puppies from entering the sheltering system, in addition to reducing the number of free-roaming cats in communities when Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is practiced. Spaying and neutering not only helps reduce animal homelessness but has numerous behavioral and health benefits for dogs and cats as well.

About the ASPCA®

Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is the first humane organization established in the Americas and serves as the nation’s leading voice for animal welfare. One million supporters strong, the ASPCA’s mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. The ASPCA, which is headquartered in New York City, offers a wide range of programs, including a mobile clinic outreach initiative, its own humane law enforcement team, and a groundbreaking veterinary forensics team and mobile animal CSI unit. For more information, please visit www.aspca.org. To become a fan of the ASPCA on Facebook, go to www.facebook.com/aspca. To follow the ASPCA on Twitter, go to www.twitter.com/aspca.

About Subaru of America, Inc.

Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of approximately 600 dealers across the United States.  Subaru boasts the most fuel efficient line-up of all-wheel drive products sold in the market today based on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fuel economy standards.  All Subaru products are manufactured in zero- landfill production plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc. is the only U.S. automobile production plant to be designated a backyard wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. For additional information, please visit www.subaru.com.

- SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HEARING ON SUB HB 14 -REPEAL OF BREED DISCRIMINATION

VICIOUS DOG (Sears, B.) To remove pit bulls from the definition of “vicious dog” in state law, to establish a process by which owners, keepers, or harborers of dogs that have been designated as nuisance, dangerous, or vicious may appeal that designation, to define a “nuisance dog,” to change the definitions of a “dangerous dog” and a “vicious dog,” to require the owner of a dangerous dog to obtain a dangerous dog registration certificate, to prohibit certain felons from owning dogs under certain conditions, and to change the penalties involving ownership of nuisance, dangerous, and vicious dogs. (REPORTED-AMENDED; 4th Hearing-All testimony-Possible amendments & vote)

The panel amended the bill before reporting it out of committee. The changes would:

–Waive the requirements relating to spaying and neutering dogs if the animals have a medical condition that would make doing so harmful to the dog.

  I will keep you posted everyone!

*** This is my second official post on the fabulous and fantastic We Are Pet Nation. Please guys, come and check it out: awesome site, no bull**it, real news, funny stories, and lots of great animal welfare updates via, who else… ME?! *** Here goes….

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Animal welfare advocates should pick a passion when it comes to fighting for our favorite four-legged friends… I guess a better way of saying “pick a passion” is, “choose your battles.”

Yes, I mean battles– plural.

Fellow bloggers and I (on right) at BlogPaws, learning to advocate!

One step at a time, you can do it.

Whether you are waging a campaign to overturn BSL, are arguing with Council for stiffer animal cruelty penalties, or are going to a state /national level with a fight like the one I discussed about puppy mill legislation, you have to focus on one thing; it’s imperative to do this first. As much as we want to run out and change all the laws, save all the animals, get every pet “fixed,” and put every cat and dog into a home, we must take small steps if we want to change the world. (And I firmly believe that one person can change the world because I have seen it.)

Call me a believer; call me an optimist. But if you’re going out there to fight the “fat cats” (no pun intended), particularly ones with deep pockets, you should be, too. Otherwise, you may get knocked down the first week… So – hone in on one thing to achieve first. Also – set realistic goals, even if you take baby steps.

And remember – always, always believe in yourself. Do not yield. To anyone. To any statement made against you. To anything. Carry courage in conviction everywhere you go. Now read on and then you’re ready to roll…

To be successful in advocating for animals in your city or area:

1. Find supporters who are willing to walk the line… find some who are super-intelligent and can talk politics, some who have connections (and, if you’re indeed trying to pass/overturn legislation, find some who are willing to strongly voice opinions to ANY audience). You’ll need volunteers and campaign coordinators willing to stand in the snow carrying signs, getting signature on petitions, and some to “pester” locals by handing out brochures, getting more signatures on petitions, and approaching people who are attending pet shows, conferences, & gatherings or going into pet stores/malls.  (Please see number 4 before completing this.)

To read the other nine tips, and some more great information about animal welfare advocacy and how to achieve success in doing it locally where you live, check out this link.

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.

The consequences of pet overpopulation are much too tragic to be simplified. The number of victims – unwanted homeless dogs and cats – is of such magnitude that it is time that society be made aware of the reality of this tragedy. The statistics tell the story.

Three to four million dogs and cats are killed in shelters across the United States every year. These staggering numbers don’t include the animals that die on our roads or from unreported animal abuse. Also not included are the animals that die after being sold to research laboratories from our shelters. During 1999, animal shelters in Ohio killed 196,831 dogs and cats. Only a small fraction of these animals are vicious because of owner mistreatment or illegal intentions.

Only a small fraction are terminally ill or too sick to be treated. The majority of these dogs and cats are healthy. Many can be treated and behavior problems eliminated. We are killing adoptable dogs and cats capable of giving and receiving love for many more years.

WHAT IS THE ROOT CAUSE?

1. People acquire cats and dogs from sources that perpetuate overpopulation. They buy from breeders and pet stores. 5,000 puppy mills breed more than 1/2 million dogs in deplorable conditions, most of which are shipped to pet stores. By buying from these sources we perpetuate the market. 25% of the animals in shelters are purebred. When a pet is purchased, a shelter animal dies.

2. Many pet owners who fail to spay and neuter their animals. Whether by intent or neglect, these dogs and cats reproduce. For every litter born, that many will die in a shelter. Many of these people are hobby and professional breeders, others are backyard breeders wanting their children to see the miracle of birth. Perhaps these people need to visit the killing room of a shelter to watch the tragedy of death.

3. People treat pets as disposable commodities. People simply surrender or abandon their animals instead of taking responsibility for them for their lifetime. Every day people walk into shelters and surrender animals for reasons as frivolous as the animal not matching their furniture anymore or we’re going on vacation and can’t afford to board – we’ll just get another dog when we come home. The number one excuse is moving – the owner doesn’t consider the animal important enough to find animal friendly housing. More excuses include – behavior problems, not enough time, can’t afford, and allergies.

A Dog in OSPCA's Current Care

In summary, failure to spay and neuter is the major cause, but how we acquire our dogs and cats and how long we keep them is also a contributing cause. For every animal killed – be it a dog, cat, pig, rabbit, or bird – there is a human outside the walls of the shelter responsible.

Ohio SPCA’s Position

• Don’t Breed or Buy – Adopt

• Keep Your Pets Safe at Home

• Spay and Neuter

And remember – pets are living creatures, capable of fear, love, pain, loneliness, and joy. They should never be considered disposable property, for they should be considered members of the family. Every companion animal must be loved and protected.

Ohio SPCA believes that no person should be breeding while dogs and cats are dying every single day. To find out more about puppy mills, pet stores, and how you can stop pet overpopulation, visit the web sites below.

This OSPCA Dog Has Hope!

In Defense of Animals
What is a Puppy Mill?
Prisoners for Profit

Pet Overpopulation Statistics

We all know the ASPCA is seriously dedicated to animal welfare, spay/neuter (S/N) and all other over-arching causes regarding animal rescue & animal welfare in general.

And, of course, as evidenced by its weekend animal shelter “rescue pet” showings/adoption centers, and its ongoing support of animal ADOPTION versus buying at a pet store, it is not a HUGE surprise that PetSmart Charities joined forces with the ASPACA .

Last month, the two powerhouse animal welfare contributors gave a HUGE donation of $5.2 million to Humane Alliance, another welfare cause that slowly has stretched its North Carolina roots across the country to provide cheap spay/neuter, veterinary student externships and training for not only those who want to open their own spay/neuter center, but also for private vets.

I was lucky enough to spend some time speaking with Julie Morris, Senior VP of ASPCA Community Outreach, who has over 28 years of shelter experience and has been with ASPCA for 20 years.

But first, a small summarization of this generous, MAJOR donation from the ASPCA press release:

“PetSmart Charities® and the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) have announced that they each will pledge $2.6 million to Humane Alliance in 2011 as part of a five-year commitment totaling $5.2 million to increase affordable spay/neuter services across the United States and prevent the births of millions of pets for whom there are no homes.

This funding will help 80 low-cost, high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter clinics to open across the U.S. Combined with the nearly 70 Humane Alliance clinic already open, the clinics will provide up to 800,000 sustainable spay/neuter surgical slots, preventing an estimated 11 million births through 2013.”

According to Morris, Humane Alliance is THEE model to follow in terms of high-quality spay/neuter that is cheap (in terms of price – NOT quality) yet seamlessly performed with perfection and ease.

“Humane Alliance is the gold standard when it comes to successful high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter,” she said.

“Replicating their model program in cities across the country will help us to make real, measurable progress in the fight against pet homelessness and overpopulation.”

Morris also noted that the Humane Alliance, started in 1994 as a teeny tiny S/N center in little Asheville, N.C. , grew and spread quickly because of its mission, dedication and vision (not to mention its leadership.)

“Humane Alliance has started over 80 clinics across the country in a few short years and plans to start at least 80 more in the next 5 years,” Morris said.

Humane Alliance Volunteer Worker

The donation money – which many people wonder about (for various organizations) - will be used for:

-assistance with all the national training programs for vets and volunteers

- externship costs

- operating costs

- the Emergency National S/N Response Team

- an organizational videos (to increase awareness/PR, etc)

- a conference in 2011 (more info on that later this summer…)

- starting new shelters, which includes design, flow, pace and tons more details

Essentially, the $5.2 million will be distributed over a 5-year period, helping to create thousands of reliable, affordable and sustainable S/N surgical slots through capacity-building grants and training programs for veterinarians and clinic staff.

PetSmart Charities and the ASPCA recognize that adoption alone will not solve the problem of homeless-pet overpopulation.

** For example, in the U.S. annually, it has been estimated that 4 million pets are euthanized simply because they don’t have homes. (The economy doesn’t help, and neither do people who continue to BUY animals from places like Petland and “boutique pet shops” across the country, not to mention puppy mills and irreputable breeders…)

Last year, PetSmart Charities provided more than $8.2 million for S/N efforts nationwide and the group remains 100% committed to expanding these services in the future.

The ASPCA has a deep commitment to Humane Alliance, and the Asheville community in North Carolina, where Humane Alliance is based. Asheville is one of 10 ASPCA Partnership Communities and Humane Alliance has been instrumental in piloting ASPCA programs related to feral cats and effective spay/neuter mapping mechanisms which will benefit the county.

“PetSmart Charities and the ASPCA have been instrumental to the success of Humane Alliance,” said Humane Alliance Executive Director Quita Mazzina.

“Our continued partnership means that we can continue to provide the spay/neuter services that pets desperately need, as well as the high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter technique training for the veterinary community so that even more pets are sterilized every year.”

Furthermore, Morris also explained to me that the ASPCA is quite careful about and extremely thorough in choosing where its “substantial grant money” goes. The group systematically bases its choices on Partnerships (10 communities involved in this), the live release rate of a particular facility after rescue and S/N in different states, and shelter programs related to that capacity.

Bassets Rescued in Ohio

In my (humble) opinion, this is FANTASTIC NEWS and such a large donation and the bigger mission behind it could help save and spare the lives of COUNTLESS cats and dogs over the next decade. That’s why I chose to interview Julie to get more information and post this news.

This will undeniably MAKE A MAJOR IMPACT on the animal relief efforts across the country.

If you are interested in learning more, I encourage you to click through on the links of the organizations highlighted above.

Also, only if you are as dedicated & serious about animal welfare and or consider yourself a “professional AW advocate” (in Morris’ words), then visit the little known site, aspcapro.org. It’s for folks like me who are extremely active in the welfare movement and deadly serious about contacting the legislators, getting petitions moving, getting more participation and involvement from others, donating to shelters and organizations, and doing whatever is needed to promote the cause.

My Rescue Sasha (in bad shape...)

rescue as I am,

Let me know what you think about this partnership and donation program in the Comments section!

House Bill 55:

- HB 55, known as the “Animal Cruelty and Pet Protection Bill” encourages judges to include pets in domestic-abuse protective orders. A protective order is a legal order issued by a court that requires one person to stop harming, stay away from and/or cease contact with another person or, in the case of HB 55, that person’s pets as well.

This critical bill also emphasizes the need to counsel convicted animal abusers and strengthens misdemeanor penalties for intentional torture of livestock and wildlife. The bill would help ensure that Ohio treats animal cruelty crimes seriously by making additional acts of torture to livestock and wildlife misdemeanors of the first degree (punishable by up to six months’ imprisonment and/or a $1,000 fine). This very modest increase goes a long way toward making Ohio a more humane state.

HB 55 just passed the House Criminal Justice Committee. However, the lengthy summer legislative recess is quickly approaching. Now is the time to ask House Speaker Budish to put HB 55 on the House floor for a vote!

Learn more about this important bill.

Ohioans for Humane Farms (trying to get on November ballot):

- Ohioans for Humane Farms is spearheading a new, citizen-backed ballot initiative to prevent some of the cruelest factory farming practices in Ohio. The measure will require the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board to adopt certain minimum standards that will:

* prevent animal cruelty

*improve health and food safety

*support family farms

*safeguard the environment throughout the state of Ohio

The ballot measure is backed by HSUS, Farm Sanctuary, the Consumer Federation of America, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the Ohio SPCA, the Toledo Area Humane Society, the Geauga Humane Society, the Humane Society of Greater Dayton, Medina County SPCA, Mercy For Animals, and a quickly growing list of other reputable organizations.

With more than 600,000 signatures needed to get on the November ballot, the group desperately needs volunteers. While the opposition will have big agribusiness contributors, we’re relying on you—our supporters—to help us get there. Please sign-up above to join the campaign. Thanks for all your help to protect farm animals.

Endorse the campaign: join the growing number of Ohioans endorsing our campaign. Print out one of the following pdf forms and mail or fax it in to our HQ:

Business
Elected Official
Celebrity/Prominent Individual
Organization
Veterinary
Farm
Congregation/Religious Leader

Find the group on Facebook under “Ohioans for Humane Farms,” or, to find an event, click here.

Also, check out the HSUS article on this effort here.

House Bill 79:

Introduced last year by Rep. Barbara Sears of Sylvania, HB 79 will strike down breed bans, particularly those on our precious pit bulls. It would remove the longstanding BSL from state law. Late in 2009 the Bill moved to the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. This bill needs all the support it can get.

Image courtesy BADRAP blog

See this post for good information on this bill. Residents, please contact your state representative and let them know you support HB 79: http://www.house.state.oh.us/

The bill can be tracked here: http://lsc.state.oh.us/coderev/hou128.nsf/House%20Bill%20Number?SearchView&Query=HB%2079&start=1&count=10

Previous alert and more info on the bill: http://stopbsl.com/2009/03/18/ohio-hb-79-would-remove-bsl-from-state-law/

House Bill 70:

We all are familiar with this one – the Ohio Puppy Mill Bill. Sponsored by Rep. Gerberry it passed the House and is on its way to Senate. The “Puppy Mill Cruelty Bill” specifically prohibits cruel treatment of a companion animal by an owner of a kennel, including cruelty and depriving the animal of food, water or shelter, and makes it a felony of the fifth degree.

An Ohio Puppy Mill

This Bill is ALL OVER the Internet: simply Google “Ohio Puppy Mill Bill” and a huge list of pet blog posts and animal welfare site articles will pop up with additional information and updates, as well as opinion pieces and petitions. For Ohio Puppy Mill Bill articles on ThoughtsFurPaws, type the same thing into the Search Bar on the bottom right of this page.

**This is perhaps the most FAVORED of all of Ohio’s animal welfare legislation right now. If you haven’t already, sign the petition here please.

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There are a few other animal welfare issues up for debate in Ohio right now – most moving at a snail’s pace through the legislature. (What else is new?) Seems to me that most of Ohio’s designated Reps and Sens just don’t care enough about animals in general to put these Bills at the top of the priority list.

**For more information on Ohio Animal Welfare Legislation, visit the Humane Society Legislative Fund’s State Legislation Page, or click on the “Animal Welfare” Category tab to your right on this blog’s home page.

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Each year, 5 to 7 million dogs and cats enter the nation’s 5,000 shelters  — or are taken in by over 2,000 rescue groups. Some of these animals are lucky: they get adopted.

But 3 to 4 million dogs and cats are euthanized every year — most of them  loving animals who would make perfect companions, but lack one crucial thing: someone to adopt them.

The ASPCA is acutely aware of the myriad of problems that many community shelters face, including lack of space, staff and funds needed to house these animals, care for them and pay for their vet costs in order to get them adopted. It also recognizes that to be successful in their goals, these shelters need direct support from the communities in which they operate.

That’s why on April 8, 2010 (yes I’m a little late telling you), the ASPCA launched a new competitive grant aimed at helping shelters save more lives and elicit community involvement.

Save More Lives: ASPCA $100,000 Challenge will award a $100,000 grant to the shelter that saves the most animals’ lives during a three- month period in 2010, compared with the shelter’s same three-month period in 2009. The ASPCA will also award an additional $25,000 to the shelter that does the best job of getting its local community involved.

Bert Troughton, MSW, ASPCA VP of ProLearning, says, “We’re tapping the collective intelligence of shelters nationwide to bring forth the best programs and practices for saving more lives. To be competitive shelters must save at least 300 more lives within a three-month period (YOY) and increase their community’s direct involvement to help homeless animals.” She notes, “Above all, we want to help shelters raise public awareness about animal homelessness and how adopting from a shelter can make all the difference in the world.”

The ASPCA $100,000 Challenge is limited to 50 shelters, and will run during August, Sept, and Oct. Shelters must be non-profit organizations or government-controlled, and they must spay or neuter animals before adoption.

Ed Sayres, ASPCA President and CEO says, “Unique from our other grants that fund specific programs, the $100,000 Challenge is a competition to inspire creative solutions for increasing pet adoptions and improving return-to-owner rates.”

Shelters up for the grant include those from coast to coast, including those in: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. For information on the specific shelters selected in these states, click here.

For more information on the $100,000 Challenge, please visit www.aspcapro.org/challenge. For a media kit chock-full of information on how you can help your favorite shelter, and even more details, click here.

**Some of the info in this post was taken from the “ASPCA Action Spring 2010″ print mailer

May 2-8 is the American Humane Association’s Be Kind to Animals Week.  Be Kind to Animals Week is American Humane’s annual event celebrating the unique bond between people and animals, and encourages the humane treatment of all animals.

But why limit kindness to one special week? Here are five ways to be kind to animals every day:

1. Adopt a pet from a shelter or breed-specific rescue. Shelter pets make loving lifetime companions, and many shelters offer pet-matching services and follow-up training and advice to help you and your new best friend form a beautiful bond.

2. Report animal abuse. Violence against animals is terrible enough, but it could also be a sign that other violent behavior, like domestic abuse, is happening.

3. Spay or neuter your pets. An estimated 3.7 million animals are euthanized in America’s shelters every year due to a lack of homes. Help stop pet overpopulation and euthanasia of adoptable animals by making sure your own pets are spayed or neutered.

4. Live humanely with wildlife. Learn how to peacefully coexist with deer, bats, skunks, squirrels, raccoons and rabbits.

5. Get active in local animal welfare policies and legislation. Sign up with American Humane to receive action alerts about issues affecting animals.
 
As part of Be Kind to Animals Week, American Humane is sponsoring Lemonade for Shelter Aid, a contest that encourages children to set up lemonade stands to raise money for their local animal shelters. The contest runs until May 10, 2010, and is open to children and teens (ages 6-14). One grand-prize winner/team will be randomly selected to receive three Nintendo DS Lite game systems. Learn more and enter!

**Thanks to AHA for this release.

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