Dog fighting is a crime and one where the victims (the dogs) have no voice. Luckily, animal welfare agencies such as the ASPCA are involved in investigating and prosecuting cases.
Successful prosecution is not easy – it takes a lot of effort to investigate and raid dog fighting rings. Increasingly, dogs who are rescued are assessed for behaviour and may be directed to welfare agencies for rehabilitation rather than immediate euthanasia.
These photos were taken at the dog fighting temporary exhibit sponsored by the ASPCA at the Crime Museum in Washington DC. They give a small glimpse into the plight of dogs used for fighting…
Scales such as these are used to weigh fighting dogs before they enter the ring
The investigation into Michael Vick’s kennels was a turning point in many ways; for the first time there was an offender who had the finances to pay reparation that would support rehabilitation of fighting dogs.
Let’s go back to basics for a moment and think about our role as caregivers for our dogs. Every animal owner should understand the Five Freedoms which are an internationally recognised code for animal welfare.
Anyone responsible for looking after animals should aim to meet each of these freedoms.
1. Freedom from hunger and thirst
This means giving your dog adequate food and water to keep them healthy
2. Freedom from discomfort
All animals deserve adequate shelter and a place to rest
3. Freedom from pain, injury and disease
Owners should focus on keeping their animals safe from harm and, when they are sick, they should be taken for appropriate care without delay
4. Freedom to behave normally
This is about ensuring there is enough space for an animal to exhibit its normal behaviour including having opportunities to interact with others of its own kind
5. Freedom from fear and distress
Treatment should ensure that animals are not distressed or fearful, exhibiting good mental health
Across all major cities in New Zealand this week, people and their dogs marched in protest of the Psychoactive Substances Act. This Act has come into effect to regulate ‘designer drugs’ or ‘legal highs’ to protect the safety of people who choose to take such drugs.
The Act allows for animal testing ‘when there is no alternative’ because the New Zealand MPs who voted for it refused to ban animal testing altogether.
A billboard by SAFE in Wellington
Many New Zealanders signed a petition to Government to oppose animal testing for something as frivolous as ‘getting high.’ The Ministers of Parliament didn’t heed those views when voting on the new law. Green MP Mojo Mathers has a members bill proposed to remove animal testing as an option – but there are no guarantees that it will be chosen from the ballot to move through the law-making process.
This isn’t about therapeutic drugs – this is about getting your jollies artificially and wanting assurances that you are safe because the products have been tested on animals.
I live in New Zealand, and I’m pretty saddened by the lack of leadership shown by the New Zealand Government. What do you think? Would you buy New Zealand made products or plan a trip here knowing that dogs and other animals may die for the legal high industry?
As the world awaits the arrival of William and Kate’s baby (which by all accounts is due in days), I’m wondering if there’s anything in this happy event that can help animal welfare.
What if shelters around the world named puppies born on the new Prince or Princess’s birthday after the royal baby? That way, adoptive owners will be adopting their own royal baby and can take part in the historic event.
Let’s hope that all of the puppies born that day are healthy and able to thrive in loving homes!
I’m ‘on the record’ that I don’t support breed specific legislation (BSL) and I consider it one of New Zealand’s great shames that it has adopted such laws (just one of the issues I raised when I submitted to the review of the Animal Welfare Act).
Breed specific legislation doesn’t work because, in part, these laws rely on visual identification of breeds. If a dog is identified as one of the banned or dangerous breeds, it can (literally) be ‘all over, Rover.’
There’s scientific research that shows why visual identification is a fatal flaw in BSL. Some of this research has been conducted by Dr Victoria Lea Voith who is based at the Western University of Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine.
In 2009, Voith and her colleagues published results of a study comparing visual identification of dog breed with DNA results. They showed that there was a very low accuracy rate when visual identifications were verified with DNA. The research team concluded:
There is little correlation between dog adoption agencies’ identification of probable breed composition with the identification of breeds by DNA analysis
Further evaluation of the reliability and validity of visual dog breed identification is warranted
Justification of current public and private policies pertaining to breed specific regulations should be reviewed
This year (2013), Voith and her colleagues published another paper entitled “Comparison of Visual and DNA Breed Identification of Dogs and Inter-Observer Reliability” Since their previous paper was based on the identification of breed by a single person, the research team wanted to see if the success rate of breed identification improved when multiple people were involved. The research team presented one-minute video clips of the same 20 dogs to over 900 people who were engaged in dog-related professions or services.
For 14 of the dogs, fewer than 50% of the respondents visually identified breeds of dogs that matched DNA identification. For only 7 of the dogs was there agreement among more than 50% of the respondents regarding the most predominant breed of a mixed breed. In 3 of those 7 cases, the visual identification did not match the DNA analysis.
This time, the research team concluded:
This study reveals large disparities between visual and DNA breed identification as well as differences among peoples’ visual identifications of dogs. These discrepancies raise questions concerning the accuracy of databases which supply demographic data on dog breeds for publications such as public health reports, articles on canine behavior, and the rationale for public and private restrictions pertaining to dog breeds.
Dr Voith explains her research in this YouTube video:
If you still want to know more about this issue, you can visit the Breed Identification page of the National Canine Research Council. On this page, you can download color posters that further explain the problems associated with visual identification of breeds.
Did you know that the USA has an evacuation center to cater for animals?
The Georgia State Animal Facility for Emergencies Center (S.A.F.E. Center) is the nation’s first permanent evacuation center for animals. It recently opened at the Fort Valley State University. The 7,800-square-foot facility contains 105 dog cages, 84 cat cages, stalls for 30 horses plus pastures available for livestock. It can be activated at short notice in the event of an emergency.
The S.A.F.E. Center
The facility is intended to temporarily house animals rescued from large-scale abuse cases, natural disasters, terrorist attack, as well as household pets whose owners are fleeing due to emergency evacuations. The Georgia location is ideal for southern state communities that may be fleeing large hurricanes during hurricane season via the interstate highway system. The University offers the services of an on-site school of veterinary medicine.
Through fundraising, the center is equipped with oxygen masks that can be used on dogs, cats, ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, birds and other animals. Used for resuscitation, these masks could help during emergency surgeries as well as to help animals exposed to toxic fume releases.
One of the great things about visiting and working at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is the range of dogs available for sleepovers. Since I am on my final night of sleepovers, it is time to pay tribute to all four of my sleepover dogs…
Timothy, a one-year old American Stafordshire Terrier. Beautiful boy with good manners. I’m sorry we fed you so many treats in training class that we caused your diarrhea! Timothy’s underbite makes this wee boy adorable.
Chester, a Boxer cross (I think Boxer/Mastiff cross because of his wrinkles and large head size), age 7. Chester is very bright and we practiced ‘sit’ during his stay. A snuggly boy who snores, I took Chester because he hadn’t been on a sleepover or outing for almost 2 months.
Madison, a young pit mix. A fairly new arrival at Best Friends, she’s not even on the website yet. Really intelligent, and happily slept the night through. Only drawback – she’s a covers hog who enjoys the middle of the bed.
Clover, another fairly new arrival from Texas and her photo isn’t on the website yet. A cattle dog mix, this young girl has good manners on leash and loves to disembowel toys. A rubber chicken and a small squeaky sheep were victims during our evening together. She also adores tummy rubs.
These dogs and many others can be viewed through the Best Friends website and so if you are thinking about adoption, this website is well worth a look.
A sanctuary is a place of refuge or asylum. Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah is a place of refuge for homeless animals; it is also a relaxing and peaceful place for the humans (like me) who visit and volunteer here. Think of it as a refuge from the rat race of everyday work and life.
If you would like a holiday where you can give back and help homeless dogs and other animals, I hope you will think about Best Friends!
Today, I ate my lunch at Angels Rest, one of the two pet cemeteries at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. This large cemetery is the resting place of many animals including some sanctuary animals (in recent years, a new cemetery for sanctuary animals and the companion animals of Best Friends staff has been used).
This is truly a peaceful place and a fitting tribute to the role of animals in our lives. It’s a wonderful location for some peace and quiet and reflection.
Here’s a number of photos and a brief video tour of Angels Rest:
Niches within the walls hold urns and other memorabilia
Many of the markers have been decorated by the owners of the animal
DoggyMom.com 