Tag Archives: Massachusetts

Are cats the only ones with 9 lives? I don’t think so.

Posted on October 22, 2012 | Leave a comment

This is the story of Suzie, believed to be a Bichon Frise/Poodle cross. Suzie lives in Taunton, Massachusetts.

Earlier this month, Suzie got out and darted across Route 44 in front of a Toyota that was driving about 50 mph. The driver slammed on his brakes and, not feeling anything and not seeing the dog, he continued driving assuming he had missed Suzie.

Eleven miles later, he was flagged down by another driver in East Providence, Rhode Island who saw a little white dog wedged up behind the front grill of his car. He drove immediately to the police and animal control officers helped rescue a wedged Suzie from the front of his car.

Suzie was extremely frightened but had no broken bones. Her injuries included a broken tooth and a concussion. She was soon on the mend with pain medication and antibiotics. Her owners have taken her home and hopefully she won’t have any more close encounters with cars.

Here’s Suzie’s story which appeared on local television:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iLODiEn8yc

An obesity clinic for pets

Posted on September 7, 2012 | Leave a comment

The Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine based at Tufts University in Grafton, Massachusetts has opened the first obesity clinic for pets in the United States.

Studies have suggested that up to 60 percent of dogs and cats are obese or overweight. However, a recent survey of client-owned animals at the Foster Hospital, one of the busiest teaching hospitals for pets in the US, suggests that that figure may be higher at 70 percent.

Dr Deborah Linder, who will oversee the clinic, says that the clinic will employ sound, research-proven principles in assisting pets to lose weight.

‘We hope to effect change in the obesity epidemic among companion animals.’
Source: Tufts University media statement

Congratulations, Massachusetts – a job well done

Posted on August 9, 2012 | Leave a comment

I’m very proud of my home state of Massachusetts. Last week, Governor Patrick signed bill S. 2192 “An Act Further Regulating Animal Control” into law.

The new law:

Creates a statewide spay/neuter program to reduce the number of homeless animals and will, in turn, also reduce the cost to cities and towns for housing and sheltering these animals. This is funded by a voluntary tax check off.
Adds enforcement provisions to section 139A (the spay/neuter deposit law for animals adopted from shelters and animal control facilities) to ensure homeless animals can’t reproduce.
Requires animal control officers to receive training. This is funded by the tax check off.
Prohibits carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide gas as a means to “euthanize” dogs and cats. (Anyone who saw the HBO documentary One Nation Under Dog knows why this important)
Improves the dangerous dog law in a breed neutral manner
Allows pets to be included in domestic violence protection orders

The law will also create some statewide oversight for animal control, which previously did not exist in the state; creates categories for kennel licensing; creates consistency in the holding time for stray dogs and provide other meaningful updates to the state’s antiquated animal control laws. An amendment to the bill also added some restrictions on the tethering of dogs.

This new law will not cost money, it will actually minimize costs to cities and towns by reducing the number of homeless animals and the associated cost to house and take care of them. In addition, ensuring that animal control officers are trained, and improving the dangerous dog law to protect public safety, will provide indirect cost savings.

Best of all, this bill proves that animal welfare agencies can work together. The bill was drafted as a collaboration between the Animal Control Officers Association of Massachusetts (ACOAM), the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA), the Animal Rescue League of Boston, the state’s Bureau of Animal Health within the Department of Agricultural Resources and the Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA).