Photography Ban Is the Latest Chapter in a Controversy at a Tennessee Rabies Control Center

Rescuers, who allege harsh conditions at the facility, say the policy hinders adoption efforts.

Sometimes it seems almost a matter of courtesy to take a photo of someone's dog acting adorable and then share it with the rest of the world via Instagram or Twitter. In any case, you rarely hear people objecting to pictures being taken of their pets. Typically, they just stand aside, beaming like proud parents while you immortalize their pet in a high-rez, HDR image on your phone. And when it comes to adoption, rescue groups often use photo-sharing on the Internet to help find animals in shelters homes.

And then, there are people like those at the Jackson-Madison County Rabies Control Center in Tennessee. They would be very happy if you refrained from taking pictures or video of the animals in their facility, thank you very much. They've gone so far as to make an official policy saying so, which has added another layer of controversy around the center, which has already seen its share in the last few months.

The ban is in part a response to some extremely harsh allegations made by local activists about the conditions of animals at the center, including overcrowding, lack of medical care, a high rate of euthanasia, and dirty living conditions. The management has said that all the allegations are false, and it characterizes them as "hysteria." The Jackson-Madison County Health Department says that it has investigated all the claims and come up with nothing. The center says that the "no pictures" policy is at the advice of its attorneys, to prevent false claims of abuse.

But the activist group Reform Jackson Rabies Control sees the new policy as an attempt by the center to suppress criticism. Bridget Gross told local TV station WBBJ, "They want pictures shown of the dogs, but in the good conditions. They don't want the diarrhea, they don't want the bloody parvo pictures, they don't want the cats with the urine or feces floating in their bowls."

Rescuers say that it makes their job harder because if they can't post pictures of the dogs that are up for adoption, it makes the chances of finding homes for them increasingly slim.

"If we can't get the pictures out to the rescues, then we can't find a place for them," rescuer Susan Bell said. "If we can't take pictures then we can't really network."

Workers at the center are still posting pictures of animals on their own website, but photography by non-staff is forbidden.

At a protest against the Center in September, one of reform group's leaders, Rachael Ray (no, not the one with the cooking show) claimed that conditions were so bad that it might be better to consider closing the whole thing down.

"I don't think it's enough for JRC to just start following state law," she told the Jackson Sun. "We need way more than that. As far as the law is concerned, animals really don't have a lot of rights. You can tie a dog up to a tree and make it live that way for 14 years. I'm looking for more than the bare minimum."

One of the most perplexing things about the whole fuss about taking pictures is that there really do seem to be very few pictures available on the Internet chronicling the allegations that the activists are making. Even on the group's Facebook page, there are only three photographs: one of the sign banning photographs, one of a group logo, and one of a dog in a cage with a large red stain on the ground.

The comments claim that the stain is blood caused by the Parvo virus, and that the dog was killed with a heartstick after that. It seems that for all the controversy over photography, pictures don't make up the main thrust of Reform Jackson Rabies Control's case, and the policy probably isn't going to slow down its allegations.

Via WBBJ and Jackson Sun

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Treatment and Control of Fleas

Well, I have finally found the culprit to Brutus and Rufus’s itching and Rufus’s nasty under tail hotspot… Flea Dermatitis (aka flea bite hypersensitivity.  It is the most common dermatologic disease of domestic dogs in the US) OMG they have fleas!  I have never had fleas, ever, in the 10+ years of owning dogs and I saw one on Rufus’s rump!!!  Like many Americans this year I have fallen victim to the evolution of the super flea.  I normally don’t put the monthly Frontline Plus treatments on in the winter moths because its cold here in Ohio.  But we have had a very wet and warmer than usual fall which is perfect for breeding the little buggers and the poor boys managed to pick up fleas somewhere, Im pretty sure I know from where too grrrrrr!  I guess I will be treating monthly year round from here on out!

Fleas are the most common ectoparasite (An organism that lives on the outer surface of another organism, its host, and which does not contribute to the survival of the host) in dogs and cats.  They spread intestinal parasites, as well as causing painful dermatitis, skin infections and “hot spots”.  The fleas that you see on your dog represent less than 1% of the flea population in your home – the rest are growing and breeding in the environment (that means your carpets, furniture, bedding – GROSS).  Fleas spend the majority of their life cycle in the enviornment, only jumping on your dog or for that matter you, to take in a meal.  By the time you dog shows symptoms of fleas, the problem isnt the fleas you can see… its the vast numbers you cant!

Preventing flea infestation is much easier than treating one.  It is recommended that flea preventions such as Frontline Plus, K-9 Advantix II, Interceptor, Program, Advantage, Revolution, Sentinel or Comfortis (FYI flea collars DONT WORK) be used monthly from April to November.  Dogs with flea allergies (like Rufus) or households that have experienced a flea infestation over the winter months should treat all year round.  Waiting til you see fleas to begin using a preventative risks an infestation on your pet and in your home.  An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure!

So… now you are coming to grips that there is a bigger problem than you had realized, what next?  How do you get rid of them?

How to Treat Your Dog

I used Frontline Plus, it is a topical flea and tick treatment as well as preventative for both cats and dogs over 8 weeks.

Frontline Plus kills 100% of fleas on the dog within 12 hours of application.Long lasting: continues to kill fleas and ticks all month long.Approved for use on puppies and kittens 8 weeks of age and older and on breeding, pregnant or lactating cats and dogs.Waterproof: effective even after swimming, bathing and grooming.

It comes in multiple sizes for dosing.  Make sure you choose the one closest to your dogs weight for proper coverage.  The largest size covers up to 132 pounds and since my dogs are much larger than that, I combine two vials – 1 of the 89-132 vials AND 1 of the 23-44 vials for my saints to make sure they have enough of the active ingredient to be effective.  Apply directly to dry skin on the back between the shoulder blades.  It is important to apply to dry skin and allow the product to completely dry for 24 hours before allowing them access to swimming or bathing.

Fleas and ticks do not have to bite your pet for Frontline to work. Frontline kill fleas and ticks if they simply come into contact with your pet’s coat. The fleas will die within 12 hours of contact with your treated pet, and ticks will die within 48 hours.

Capstar is an orally administered tablet that provides fast flea relief and starts working within 30 minutes. A single dose of should kill the adult fleas on your pet. If your pet get reinfested, it is safe to give another dose as often as once per day. They claim “you will literally see fleas falling off your pet”. I’m not so sure about that… but hey, sounds good.

Make sure you treat all infested pets in the household. Fleas can reproduce on untreated pets and allow infestations to persist.  I used both Frontline Plus AND Capstar to try to nip any issue in the bud.  Their itching went into overdrive for a few hours.  Frontline will make fleas hyper-excited, causing them to become more frenzied and head to the “surface of the coat” before dying, making them more visible to you and can causing significant itching in dogs that are sensitive to fleas.

How to Treat Your Home

Treating the environment is one of the most effective ways to reduce the number of fleas you see on your dog.  House treatment sprays that contain ingredients to kill adult fleas and insect growth regulators are the most effective.  They break the flea life cycle by preventing flea eggs from hatching. My vet recommended Siphotrol Plus II Area Treatment.
Siphotorl Plus II:

100% Knock Down For Adult Fleas In 10 MinutesKills Both Adult And Immature Fleas & Ticks Safe for humans and animals as soon as it driesTreats 2,000 Square FeetLeaves No Lingering Odor, No Stains, No Sticky MessPrevents Reinfestation And Flea Build-up For 30 WeeksEasy To Apply Water-based Aerosol

First, vacuum thoroughly, including rugs and under furniture.  The vibrations from the vacuum cleaner encourages the flea eggs to hatch, (adults = easier to kill you my dearies). Remove the contents of your canister or you bag outside in to an outside dumpster or trash can.  Spray the new bag or your canister lightly with your treatment spray (this will stun/kill the live fleas you vacuum up – a cheap flea collar in the bag or canister will also work).  Launder all bedding, yours too if you dog gets on the bed, to remove any fleas or juvenile life stages.  Make sure you cover or preferably move any aquariums, birds or reptiles from the area while spraying.

Spray all the areas of your house with a light mist, soaking. If you miss an area, the fleas will move to the unsprayed area and set up shop there.  Even hardwoods and linoleum floors should be treated.  It is safe to spray furniture and pet bedding as long as the spray is dry before humans or pets use them.  Always check for color fastness before spraying.  Most fabrics are safe from coloring/decoloring but its always better to be safe than sorry.

Wait 24 hours before vacuuming then vacuum daily for at least 14 days.  Make sure you dispose of the bag OUTDOORS and treat the replacement bag with your Siphotrol Plus II spray.  If you are treating a flea infestation, repeat treatments in the house every 14 days until you see no fleas on your dog for 2-3 weeks.  Retreating your house is very important in preventing re-infestation of the house from the pupal stage fleas that sprays can not kill.  The little blood suckers can lie dormant in the environment for as long as s-i-x months!!!

Sprays are more effective than bombs or foggers.  You will need at least one fogger per room  The mist from the bomb will go straight up, mushroom out a bit then fall straight down. The chemicals wont travel through the walls, around corners nor will it make it up under furniture.

I’ve seen advertisements for ultrasonic pest repellers but haven’t gotten any feedback whether they actually work.

One final, yet disgusting, note… Fleas can carry Dipylidium caninum, a particular species of tapeworm must use the flea as an intermediate host in its own life cycle. Egg packets deposited by the adult tapeworm are shed into the environment where they are consumed by the flea larvae. If a pet ingests an adult flea that consumed the tapeworm egg pack as a larvae, the tapeworm parasite is passed on. Although tapeworm in pets usually doesn’t cause serious disease, it is particularly annoying to pet owners. Tapeworms are easily detected by the pet owner. Small rice-like objects are seen clinging to the hind end of the animal near the base of the tail. In addition, people can become infested if they inadvertently ingest infected fleas.

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Animal control saying ‘yes’ to tax dollars, ‘go away’ to taxpayers

It struck me as odd that so many animal control agencies in different parts of the country were responding in the same way to public calls for reform: by shooting the messenger.

There’s an epidemic spreading through the nation’s animal control shelters, and it’s not something a vaccination can prevent. It’s an epidemic of secrecy.

Consider this: Animal control is a government function, paid for with your tax dollars. It’s work done on behalf of the public; shouldn’t the public have some way to ensure it’s being done appropriately?

But in communities all over the country, including here in California, calls for animal control reform have been met with the sound of a door slamming in the public’s face.

[....]

The Central California SPCA, a private organization that holds the animal control contract for the city of Fresno, recently closed its board meetings to the public, sparking a wave of protests, including a July 19 demonstration organized by FixFresno.org, an advocacy group aimed at ending the killing of healthy and treatable pets in the city’s shelters.

It’s not surprising that citizens want to reform how Fresno’s homeless animals are treated; the CCSPCA kills around 80 percent of the pets it takes in, one of the worst kill rates in California and far above the national average of 50 percent.

Recently, animal rescuers in the community have also been alleging mismanagement, abuse and neglect at the shelter.

Until last month, the CCSPCA’s board meetings were open to the public, but on June 16, the president of FixFresno.org, Melissa McDonald, received a letter from the shelter’s attorney, Jeffrey M. Reid, advising her that the meetings were now closed and members of FixFresno.org would no longer be allowed to attend.

Attendance by FixFresno.org members had been permitted previously, he said, after the group asserted that the board meetings were subject to the Brown Act, California’s open meetings law. However, Reid told them this interpretation of the law was incorrect.

He pointed to what is essentially a loophole in the law, which calls for open meetings of private organizations contracted to do government work only in cases where the organization was created specifically to do that work, or if a member of the government sits on the organization’s board. Neither of those provisions applies to the CCSPCA.

Members of FixFresno.org showed up at the next board meeting anyway, only to be met at the door by Reid.

“He said that having us there was too ‘intimidating’ for the board to function,” McDonald told me. “It is sad that they chose to hide what is going on instead of addressing the problems.”

I called CCSPCA spokesperson Beth Caffrey, and asked what prompted the organization to contact an attorney on this matter in the first place.

“We want our board meetings to be productive,” she told me. “We couldn’t be productive because of the disruptive behavior of people who were there.”

In the rest of the article, I update the situation in Memphis and New York City, and have a great wrap-up commentary from FixAustin.org’s Ryan Clinton. It’s all here.

Photo: Courtesy of Celeste Pryor.

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Animal control agencies slamming door on public scrutiny

What the heck is wrong with all these animal control agencies, acting like doing the people’s work on the people’s dime means they don’t have to answer to the people?

First, of course, we have the Memphis city attorney going after blogger Shirley Thistlewaite, who has been covering abuses at the Memphis city pound for more than a year now. He cited, amazingly, a South Carolina state law — Memphis being, of course, in Tennessee — and issued a threat that looks an awful lot like a SLAPP to an awful lot of people, including Thistelwaite herself, who has asked the Tennessee attorney general to investigate whether her civil rights were violated.

Then in California, we have the Central California SPCA shutting the doors to its board meetings, using a tiny loophole in California’s open meetings law, the Brown Act. They hold the Fresno animal control contract, but won’t let the people of Fresno into their board meetings anymore — because they don’t have to. They even got an attorney to write a lawyer letter to a local shelter reform group, FixFresno.org, letting them know they’d no longer be allowed to attend the meetings. And that same lawyer met them at the door at the CCSPCA’s most recent meeting, barring them from coming in.

On the other coast, New York City’s Department of Health, which runs the city pounds, scheduled its board meeting in a room that holds fewer than 50 people, despite on-going, high-profile allegations of mismanagement, including animal neglect and cruelty, at their facilities. They had to turn away at least 100 people.

The Village Voice — whose reporter was among those who couldn’t get in — wrote:

In an email today, NYCAC&C responded to activists’ furor over yesterday’s meeting: “Our board meetings have been held in the same location for years and, as always, members of the public were permitted entrance to watch the board meeting. The public was also given a percentage of time for public comment. The public was allowed in on a first-come, first-serve basis and the room was filled to capacity.”

What does New York’s open meetings law have to say about that? As of April 14 of  last year (bolded text is mine):

Effective immediately, §103 of the Open Meetings Law requires that public bodies make reasonable efforts to hold meetings in rooms that can “adequately accommodate” members of the public who wish to attend.  The intent of the amendment, as expressed in the accompanying legislative memorandum, is for public bodies to hold meetings in rooms that can reasonably accommodate the number of people that can reasonably be expected to attend.  For example, if a typical board meeting attracts 20 attendees, and meetings are held in a meeting room which accommodates approximately 30 people, there is adequate room for all to attend, listen and observe.  But in the event that there is a contentious issue on the agenda and there are indications of substantial public interest, numerous letters to the editor, phone calls or emails regarding the topic, or perhaps a petition asking officials to take action, the new provision would require the public body to consider the number of people who might attend the meeting and take appropriate action to hold the meeting at a location that would accommodate those interested in attending, such as a school facility, a fire hall or other site.

Is this front page story in the New York Post “contentious” enough to trigger that provision? How about this in the New York Daily News? Or this… or this… or this?

I have calls in to officials involved with each of these incidents, for a story I’m writing. From where I sit now, it sure does seem like it’s getting awfully hot in those animal control kitchens. The answer to that isn’t to shut the place up tighter; it’s to open up the doors and windows and let the fresh air and sunshine in.

Oh… and still think we don’t need a law?

Photo: Max, an 8-month-old dog scheduled to die today at New York City Animal Care and Control.

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SportDOG Rechargeable NoBark 10R Bark Control Collar

SBC-10R Select from Temperament Learning, Progressive Correction or User-Selected Correction modes. The PerfectBark technology provides firm, fair and consistent bark control, requiring both vibration and sound to trigger a correction. The automatic safety shut-off eliminates the risk of overcorrection. Features: -Rechargeable.

Price: $119.99

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Remote Control Electronic Shock Dog Training Collar Pet Training Collars Vibration with 6 level Shock for Small/Medium/Big Stubborn Dog

You are looking at an Electronic Remote Electric Dog Training Shock Collar. This remote training shock collar has 6 levels of strong static shock and 1 level of vibration. It is an electronic dog training system with a working range up to 600 feet. This compact, easy to operate system will control bad behavior and dogs who run off when taken outdoors for exercise. This collar is suitable for small, medium to large dogs or pets.

Features:
Remote working distance: 250 m under ideal condition.
The six levels of different static impulse and the vibration can adapt to the needs of different situations. It is safe for the pet.
The conductive rubber electrode is soft and the static impulse can penetrate the hair of the pet. It is comfortable for the pet to wear.
The strongest static impulse can quickly and effectively curb the improper deeds of the pet.
The vibration call can help the master communicate with the pet gently. It will let your pet associate the vibration with static impulse. At the end, vibration will achieve the same effect as the static impulse.
Power-saving mode of receiver prolongs the life of the battery.
The soft remote controller antenna is anti-broken.
Adjustable collar length (from 8"to 20") fits different size of dogs.

Specifications-Collar:
Length: 60mm Height: 30mm Width: 35mm.
Weight 70 g (with battery)
Collar length: adjustable from 20 cm (8??) to 50 cm (20??)
Power: One 6V 4LR44 camera battery (One start-up battery is included).

Specifications-Handset:
Length: 120mm Height: 25mm Width: 45mm.
Weight: 100g (with battery)
Power: 9V battery

Package Includes:
1 x Multi-function training collar device
1 x Remote control unit
1 x Adjustable Snap-on/off Collar
1 x Collar Testing Unit (Clips to collar and lights up to tell you the shock action is operating)
1 x Operating Instructions
2 x 4LR44 Camera Battery
1x 9V Battery br>

Price:

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Remote Control Training Collar for 2 Dogs with Vibration and 3 Levels of Shock

Brand new dog training collars with one remote control. Can be used to train two small to big dogs at the same time. It is easy to use, great for training your dog(s).

FEATURES

* One remote control can operate the trainings of two dogs up to 300 meters away.
* The three different static impulse and vibration calls can meet the needs of different situations
* The soft conductive rubber electrode will discharge impulses through the pet's hairs without direct touch of the skin.
* The high static impulses can quickly and effectively curb the improper behavior of the pet
* The auto on-off switch for battery saving
* Water-resistant collar

Collar

Weight 65 (receiver+battery)

Collar strap length adjustable: 20-50 cm

Collar size 30mmx58mmx34mm

Power: 4x4LR44 6V batteries

Water-resistant and shockproof

Handset

Weight 90g (w/battery)

Length 120mmx45mmx25mm

Power: 1x9V battery

LED signal light

Water-resistant

What you will get

* TWO dog training collars w/4 batteries
* One remote control w/battery
* Instructions
* gift box

Price:

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