Fixing our nation’s shelters: Yes, there ought to be a law

May 25, 2011

It’s true: I was against legislating shelter reform before I was for it.

But a string of particularly horrific stories of abuse and neglect in our nation’s shelters, as well as watching our economy crash and burn because we’d gotten to the point where we were basically letting Wall Street “regulate” itself, have combined to turn me into a shelter reform flip-flopper.

That’s why I’m now strongly supporting passage of laws based on the model “Companion Animal Protection Act” (CAPA) in every state in the U.S. From my column today on SFGate.com:

It’s more than a little disturbing to consider how little actual “shelter” homeless pets receive in some agencies bearing that name. Take Tennessee’s Memphis Animal Shelter, for example.

Conditions there were so bad that they prompted a high-profile sheriff’s raid on the facility in 2009. Investigators found animals starving to death and going without water; there were even allegations of dog-fighting going on at the agency

After the raid, the city installed webcams inside the facility so citizens could see what was going on behind the scenes, but even then, conditions didn’t improve all that much.

Blogger Shirley Thistlewaite, who has been covering the situation in the Memphis shelter for more than a year, posts webcam images from MAS several times a month.

Some of the images show dogs being dragged, terrified, to the kill room. Others show cats being poked with sticks by staff members. There are examples of workers violating city policies, of pets escaping from kennels and cages, even of a puppy being hauled to his death, dangling from a worker’s hand that was holding a fistful of the loose skin on the puppy’s back.

If you’re tempted to dismiss the situation at MAS as an aberration, think again. Other animal control facilities may not have webcams in their backrooms, but volunteers and animal rescuers frequently report abuse and neglect in shelters all over the country.

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I don’t normally get on board the legislative express when it comes to reform. I think that education and advocacy are the best approaches to take when trying to change things. In fact, when (CAPA author Nathan) Winograd proposed that San Francisco adopt its own version of CAPA at a meeting of the city’s Animal Welfare Commission two years ago, I didn’t agree. I thought it was micromanagement. I thought it was government run amuck.

I’ve changed my mind. There are simply too many abuses going on in too many shelters, and too many of them are going unpunished or even uninvestigated. The provisions of CAPA are not outrageous, and most of them are being used already by the best shelters in the country, including animal control agencies in Reno, Nev., Charlottesville, N.C., and Ithaca, N.Y.

Read the complete article, including about the launch of Rescue-50, a joint project of Winograd’s No Kill Advocacy Center and the Florida organization No Kill Nation, to pass CAPA nationwide, here.

Photo: Puppies in a feces-smeared cage in a “shelter,” courtesy of Nathan Winograd.

View the original article here

Nation’s first animal trauma center opens

Tracking veterinary school advances gives us clues to what the future of veterinary medicine might be. Big news, then, out of the University of Minnesota. UMN’s Veterinary Medical Center is opening the country’s first animal trauma center. From a university press release:

According to board-certified veterinary criticalist Dr. Kelly Hall, the hope is that the University of Minnesota’s new trauma center model will be adopted by other large veterinary medical centers and teaching hospitals across the country, creating a network that will work collaboratively to continually develop methods to improve trauma patient care.

“By working collaboratively with leaders in the veterinary trauma field throughout the country, advancements in trauma care will be shared between centers rapidly, assuring the most severely injured patients have access to the most advanced therapies,” Hall said.

Like human trauma centers, the Animal Trauma Center will also provide leadership in education and research. The Animal Trauma Center designation reflects a depth of resources as opposed to just an ability to deliver medical care.

Let’s see more of these to come in other parts of the country!

Prop B to be reversed: We kept close track of Missouri’s Proposition B in November. Though it passed with 52 percent of the popular vote, the state Senate is now watering it down in a big way. Business Week reports the legislature is concerned Prop B will destroy the state’s dog breeding (read: puppy mill) industry.

Missouri has about 1,400 licensed commercial dog breeders, according to the Missouri Department of Agriculture. They amount to a $1 billion industry that employs thousands of people and spends millions of dollars annually on dog food, veterinarian services and utilities, said Sen. Mike Parsons, R-Bolivar, who is sponsoring the legislation reversing parts of the voter-approved initiative.

[...]
The Senate bill would strike a provision in the voter-approved initiative that limits businesses to owning 50 breeding dogs. It also would roll back various requirements on the dogs’ living conditions. For example, it would replace a mandate that water bowls remain free of debris, feces or algae with a general requirement for water to be provided in a safe container. Parsons had argued that, under the ballot initiative, breeders could be jailed if dog dropped a piece of food in its water bowl.

Specific language mandating that dogs have sufficient space to lie down or turn around in their cages? That’s being struck down. Plus more. Maybe the “Show Me” state could show some concern over the dogs forced to live their lives in these places?

Iditarod update: The 2011 Iditarod Sled Dog Race is underway in Alaska. Defending champion Lance Mackey’s team is seriously depleted, and two other teams have already withdrawn. Thanks to AP and the Anchorage Daily News for the updates.

Caution on Easter rabbits: Easter is April 24. For those considering buying a rabbit as an Easter gift, please don’t, unless you’ve thought it through very carefully. The House Rabbit Society gives you a few points to keep in mind.

Rabbits are not “low-maintenance” pets, and are a poor choice as a pet for children.They have a lifespan of 10 years and require as much work as a dog or cat.Your home must be bunny-proofed, or Thumper will chew cords and furniture.Rabbits must be neutered or spayed or they will mark your house with feces and urine.They should live indoors, as members of the family.

Perhaps it might be better to consider the Make Mine Chocolate campaign. That’s right, I’m urging you to support your local chocolatier. You could send me some, too. Dark, please.

Work out with your dog! A fun iVillage slide show to remind you about the importance of getting enough exercise for your pooch – and yourself. Stay tuned for a post later today from me on the topic, too….

Caring for Cara: Do you read Covered in Cat Hair? Robin’s tale of the enduring struggle of monitoring her cat Cara’s ongoing health issue is exhausting, scary, and at the same time, it leaves me with lots of hope.

Al fresco in Poe’s back yard: Now here’s some legislation I can get behind. The state of Maryland is considering a bill to allow dogs to accompany diners in outdoor venues. Ever had fresh Chesapeake stone crab on a warm summer night in Baltimore? It’s worth trying, trust me. (thanks, NBCWashington)

Irony – Ur doin’ it right. Finally, a Thursday chuckle. Enjoy.

see more Lolcats and funny pictures,

Note: The news wrap is taking a short hiatus. You’ll be hearing from me plenty over the next week, but most of it will be from Global Pet Expo 2011 in sunny Orlando. I’ll be joined by a Pet Connection posse: Ericka, Gina and Dr. Becker. Plus, a cameo appearance by our own Dr. Tony. Hmmm, Dr. Becker, Dr. Johnson and yours truly in the same place? This could be fun (or dangerous, take your pick).

I always like to hear from readers, especially if you have tips, and links for interesting stories.  Give me a shout in the comments, or better yet,send me an e-mail.

Photo credit: UMN ATC screenshot courtesy KARE11.com. MMC logo, makeminechocolate.org.

View the original article here