Daisy (my Daisy) is (not surprisingly) a fan of Snoopy because he was born at the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm. (I’ve tried to explain that the Farm was named long before Daisy was born, but she doesn’t quite grasp that concept.)
Mr Schultz, creator of Peanuts, clearly didn’t know about puppy mills when he was creating the story of Snoopy’s adoption – because the Farm looks nothing like the puppy mill operations we see today. Snoopy was able to be raised with his mother and siblings in a ‘free range’ environment which included a healthy buffet for dinner and musical interludes…
This YouTube video shows what the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm looked like:
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all puppies were raised in these conditions?
This month, Ralph Lauren, has chosen to feature rescue dogs in showing his Fall 2013 Accessories Collection. This collection includes items of dog apparel, such as cashmere sweaters! (October is Adopt a Shelter Dog month, by the way)
If you buy any of the featured items between 15 October and 15 November, 10% of the proceeds will be donated to the ASPCA.
The internet is now the preferred resource for dog owners looking for information. But did you realize the creative ways people are using the medium?
Here are two of my favorites:
a) Hope for Paws, a charitable organization involved in animal rescue, has compiled beautiful photos of their rescue dogs into a book. With every download of the book, Hope for Paws earns 10 cents. It all adds up. Why not click today?
b) Author Colleen MacDougall is publishing the first ten chapters of her book, The Patron Saint of Dogs, online – one chapter at a time. I’m really enjoying reading the book and can’t wait for the email that lets me know another chapter is ready for reading. You can visit Colleen’s website here to join her mailing list.
Rescue groups often put photos and videos online to showcase key cases and the good work they do. Every now and then, though, there will be a video that is particularly well done and with a success at the end.
As we reach the end of another week (yes, it’s Friday!)…here’s a story of a Pit Bull and her chance at a better life thanks to Hope for Paws:
New Zealand’s Animal Welfare Amendment Bill is now before a Parliamentary select committee. Submissions from the public are being accepted from now until 4 October.
Here’s why I’m making a submission:
I want to make a difference for animals and having good animal welfare laws is essential to achieving this
Silence is acquiescence. Too many New Zealanders do not engage and this allows poor legislation to pass. MPs like to say that they voted in favor of the ‘silent majority’
The Animal Welfare Amendment Bill is lacking in many areas and now is our chance to improve it
The Bill doesn’t ban testing of party bills on animals, nor does it ban the use of animal testing in the cosmetic industry. As far as animal welfare issues go, these are ‘no brainers.’
I’d also like to see an independent Commissioner for Animals because I don’t think the Ministry of Primary Industries, with its focus on economy and production, can make good choices.
It’s been just over two weeks since 367 lives were saved in a multi-state raid in the United States, the second-largest dog fighting raid in U.S. history.
Photo by the ASPCA
The Humane Society of the United States and the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®), called in by the United States Attorney’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), assisted in seizing 367 dogs in Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia.
‘The lowest places in hell would be reserved for those who commit cruelty to our animals’ George Beck, U S Attorney, Middle District of Columbia
Dogs were found in appalling living conditions, with little shelter from the area’s sweltering summer temperatures.
Federal and local officials also seized firearms and drugs, as well as more than $500,000 in cash from dogfighting gambling activities that took place over the course of the investigation. Remains of dead animals were also discovered on some properties where dogs were housed and allegedly fought. If convicted, defendants could face up to five years in prison, as well as fines and restitution.
The dogs, which ranged in age from days-old puppies to 12-13 years, are now receiving medical care and are being assessed for adoptive homes.
These videos show the condition of some of the dogs that were seized during the raid as well as the living conditions they were found in:
The rescue was the result of many agencies working together. Agencies assisting the ASPCA and the HSUS with the operation included the Florida State Animal Response Coalition and Sumter Disaster Animal Response Team (Bushnell, Fla.), University of Florida (Gainesville), Humane Society of South Mississippi (Gulfport), International Fund for Animal Welfare (Yarmouth Port, Mass.), Asheville Humane Society (Asheville, N.C.), Charleston Animal Society (Charleston, S.C.), Louisiana SPCA (New Orleans), American Humane Association (Washington, D.C.), Greater Birmingham Humane Society (Birmingham, Ala.), Atlanta Humane Society (Atlanta, Ga.), PetSmart Charities (Phoenix, Ariz.), Code 3 Associates (Longmont, Colo.), Montgomery Humane Society (Montgomery, Ala.), and Dr. Melinda Merck.
Tim Rickey, Vice President of the ASPCA’s Field Investigations & Response Team, participated in the raids and has commented on the realities of dogfighting:
When I first walked on the property, I stared across the yard and saw more than 100 dogs, most of them tied to heavy log chains, anchored to dilapidated dog houses. The dogs ranged from old to young, living on a worn dirt ring that likely had seen generations of dogs come and go to a sad fate.
Most were chained nose-to-nose to their neighbors to ensure continuous arousal.
This cycle begins with being chained at such an early age with little to no positive human or animal interaction. The burden continues with heavy chains, often with additional weights, to drag around their entire lives. The constant noise, arousal and anxiousness push them towards aggression to or from their yard mates. If they don’t respond, their life may end quickly, but if they do, they have sealed their fate of a long, torturous life.
Their only reprieve from the chain is death or brief release to be tested against another dog, eventually going back to the chain with little attention to their wounds. What follows is weeks of intense training and significant human interaction with the person who will commit the ultimate betrayal and force them into a barbaric battle for entertainment and profit. If they survive, they go back again to the chain: A vicious cycle that could go on for years until these dogs finally have no value or fight left in them and are discarded.
Donations to support the care and rehabilitation of these dogs, to any of the organisations involved, will be gratefully accepted.
It’s been a variable week of dog news here in Christchurch (to say the least).
The news was all bad by mid-week, when it was reported that two Rottweilers mauled a young boy of eight, named Mason Bennett. Mason had been staying with his mother and her partner (who owned the dogs). And there had been a previous incident when the dogs were aggressive with another young boy.
The recent dog attack saw lots of comments about how Rottweilers can’t be trusted. Was it the dog or the owners who are to blame?
In the same edition of the newspaper, columnist Rachel Young wrote about My dog was a rottweiler. In general, a defense of the breed, Ms Young also mentions in her story that when her family Rottweiler, Zeb, became unwell with kidney disease he became more aggressive. Her parents decided to euthanize him. To quote “Despite the loving environment, at times you can’t beat nature. In Zeb’s case, it seemed the protective, aggressive nature was developing as he got older and sicker.”
Which shows that even some dog owners don’t know a thing about dogs. Maybe a sick dog lashes out because they are in pain and can’t communicate that in spoken words – and their family doesn’t get it!!!!!
This provoked a Letter to the Editor on my part – which the newspaper largely got right but they decided to edit it by attributing the dog attack to dogs that were unwell (which there isn’t any evidence of – just poor owners!)
The dog news turned for the brighter the next day when police dog Gage was honoured with the PDSA Gold Medal posthumously. Killed in 2010 during a drug raid, Gage took a bullet that was meant for his handler Bruce Lamb. The PDSA Gold Medal is known as the Animal’s George Cross, for civilian bravery.
Today is Monday and there is mixed news for dog owners in today’s newspaper. Front page news is the story of landlords charging special pet bonds to allow tenants to keep pets. This is when a tenant pays more than the standard four week’s rent upfront to secure their rental and it is illegal.
The story goes on to say that charging more for a pet-friendly rental (week to week, or month to month) is okay. Unfortunately, since Christchurch is still in earthquake recovery mode, rental housing is at a premium. Many dog owners don’t dare contest a pet bond because they need a home for all members of the family. Read Landlords in dog box over pet bonds.
Further into the newspaper, some better news. A little puppy of about six weeks old was found cowering under the seat of a car when it was stopped by police. The offenders fled and the dog is believed to be stolen property. A police constable is appealing for information about the wee puppy.
Here’s hoping that the stolen pup is returned home soon…
I’d like to see more positive news about dog and dog ownership in Christchurch. But it seems that for every bad news story, we need about ten more to gain the confidence of the public.
How does your city/town deal with dog news? Please get in touch.
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand
Whoopee! (or should I say ‘woof woof’). This week the White House put out an official statement concerning its position on breed specific legislation. And it’s great news…
“We don’t support breed-specific legislation — research shows that bans on certain types of dogs are largely ineffective and often a waste of public resources.
In 2000, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at twenty years of data about dog bites and human fatalities in the United States. They found that fatal attacks represent a very small proportion of dog bite injuries to people and that it’s virtually impossible to calculate bite rates for specific breeds.
The CDC also noted that the types of people who look to exploit dogs aren’t deterred by breed regulations — when their communities establish a ban, these people just seek out new, unregulated breeds. And the simple fact is that dogs of any breed can become dangerous when they’re intentionally or unintentionally raised to be aggressive.
For all those reasons, the CDC officially recommends against breed-specific legislation — which they call inappropriate. You can read more from them here.
As an alternative to breed-specific policies, the CDC recommends a community-based approach to prevent dog bites. And ultimately, we think that’s a much more promising way to build stronger communities of pets and pet owners.”
Ginger Girl is one of the ex-fighting Pit Bulls saved from Michael Vick’s Bad Newz Kennels and rehabilitated. She lives in a loving home. Pit bulls are often the subject of breed specific legislation; yet they are very sweet dogs capable of much affection and devotion.
I love innovative fundraising campaigns that attract attention. (Plus I’m sick of people who peddle fundraising boxes of chocolates which in my opinion is simply too easy and contributes to the obesity problem.)
So this year, I’m supporting SPCA Cupcake Day. Instead of selling human cupcakes, I’m selling doggy cupcakes. These cakes are tummy friendly with fresh ingredients like banana and apple. The frosting is low fat cream cheese and the treat on top is one of my Chicken & Parsley Doggy Bites.
I’m having lots of fun taking orders and baking these, plus I feel like I’m supporting a cause I believe in and giving back to my community.
My cupcakes for Cupcake Day are selling for $2 each
DoggyMom.com 