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Friday, November 16, 2012
Los Angeles Bans the Retail Sale of Dogs, Crushing Puppy Mills
Last week, the city banned the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet stores. I'm over the moon. What do you have to say, Dogster readers? \ABS\Auto Blog Samurai\data\Popular Dog Blogs\Dogster\PinExt.png "Pin It")
They don’t call it the City of Angels for nothing. We’re not being sarcastic -- Los Angeles has a serious soft spot for little furry critters. Last week, on Halloween, the L.A. City Council pulled off an impressive trick: formalizing its approval of an ordinance that bans the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits, becoming the largest American city to do so.
You heard right. In the future, the dogs, cats, and rabbits seen in Los Angeles pet stores will be from shelters or rescue groups. Products of puppy and kitten mills will simply not be available for sale in L.A. Animal advocates around the country are cheering this as a giant leap toward the Golden State becoming the largest no-kill community in the country. Way to go, Los Angeles!
The action is significant. It makes L.A. the largest city in the U.S. to enact legislation that puts an effective stopper in what, until now, has been a seemingly unstoppable stream of puppy-mill pets. As more and more Americans learn about the cruel reality behind these cuteness factories, and that the majority of the commercially-bred animals impulse-purchased at pet shops wind up on death row at animal shelters, this legislation is a major scoop -- and reason to cheer, for it will have a profoundly positive impact on California's pet overpopulation problem.
L.A. alone operates seven municipal, open-admission animal shelter facilities, each one of them overloaded with beautiful dogs (and cats) who are killed every day for lack of space, because impulse buyers have been busy maxing out their credit cards at pet shops. Well, no longer.
“It’s a very good day for the people and animals of L.A.,” said Elizabeth Oreck of Best Friends Animal Society, the highly respected non-profit headquartered in Kanab, Utah, which has been at the forefront of puppy-mill initiatives for years now. “Not only will this restrict the flow of animals coming into our city from pet mills and backyard breeders, it will help alleviate the pet overpopulation problem in our shelters by providing more opportunities for rescued animals to find homes.”
Said Carole Raphaelle Davis of the Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS), “After eight years of investigations and protests, we are satisfied and optimistic about breaking the blood money contracts between puppy mill owners who abuse animals and L.A. pet retailers." CAPS provided the L.A. City Council with the results of its two-year investigation into L.A.’s retail pet stores and the commercial breeding facilities, located mainly in the Midwestern states and in rural California, that supplied them.
“This ordinance will relieve mill animals and help save the lives of animals who are killed at Los Angeles Animal Services,” Davis added. “The 2011-2012 body count is unacceptable, with 9,056 dogs and 12,061 cats killed in our shelters. We are relieved that finally, the cries of L.A.’s shelter animals have been heard. Puppy mills and cruel pet factories will fade into history at last.”
OK, so putting emotions aside for a moment, let’s say you don’t care about shelter euthanasia rates or the greed of commercial breeders. With the general election just days away, fiscal matters are top of mind right now for all taxpayers, regardless of which candidate you intend to cast your vote for. And on top of the terrible karmic cost of taking innocent animal lives, killing shelter pets puts a huge dollar burden on us, the American taxpayers.
“More than 70,000 animals are euthanized in Los Angeles city and county shelters every year -- at taxpayer expense,” Oreck explained. “To continue importing puppies and kittens from mills in other states while we are killing the surplus that are already filling our shelters simply doesn't make sense. Today, Los Angeles took a reasonable and progressive step to addressing these issues in our city.”
Oreck was careful to add that the ordinance will not affect responsible, hobby breeders, the existence of whom Dogster has evidence, who will remain a source of purebred animals for those who are not able to find the purebred of their choice through shelters, purebred rescue groups, or online databases such as Petfinder.com. In fact, the ordinance should actually help increase business for the breeders in local communities, which is preferable to importing business from outside of Los Angeles, she added.
Oreck has been busy fielding calls and emails from people all over the country, asking how they can enact an ordinance to ban retail sales of pets in their own communities. "We are witnessing a cultural shift that comes from true grassroots advocacy in action,” she concluded. “It is only a matter of time before there will be very few places where one will be able to walk into a pet store and purchase an animal from a puppy or kitten mill.”
Here's what this reporter says: Hear, hear! What do you think, Dogster readers? Is this the kind of political-cultural trend you’d like to see more of? Please make your voices heard in the comments!
Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson Rescue Another Shelter Dog
"I'm just sort of obsessed with rescuing the pooches," Kristen says. Bravo!
Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson are two young actors who love to go on talk shows and not talk about their relationship, and that leaves ... what? Often, seething anger and resentment toward the host. But at other times -- dogs! These are the times we're concerned about. These are the good times.
The two often speak of their love for their adopted dog Bear, who Pattinson rescued from a high-kill Louisiana shelter "on his sixth of his seven days." Kristen considers the dog her child and usually spends all the time in interviews talking about him and not about Pattinson. Sometimes the hosts, with a wistful sigh, imagine that she is really talking about Pattinson when she is talking about Bear.
Yesterday, Kristen dropped a bombshell on Live With Kelly and Michael. They got a new dog! Not only is Bernie another rescue, but he's an older dog, not a puppy, which adds more fuel to our theory that Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson are the best dog owners in A-list Hollywood.
When Kristen talks about saving dogs from high-kill shelters, people listen. When she pulls her hair, stares at the floor, and says into her fist (she's a bit awkward during these things, no?) that she considers her dog her child, people take note.
"I'm just sort of obsessed with rescuing the pooches," she said to Kelly.
"They're really very different," she said, explaining the two dogs. "I feel like I've raised Bear, whereas Bernie, we got her when she was like four, five -- we're not positive -- but she feels like my roommate. She's just like living in my house."
Referring to the decision to adopt the dog, she said of Bernie, "She was very emotionally manipulative. She really milked it. Then I got her home and she was like 'I have arrived. I am fine.'"
Bernie took over the household right away, Kristen said: "You know, she was very comfortable instantly, like taking Bear's stuff. It was like 'You need to slow your roll, girl. You need to watch it.'"
Via Examiner.com
Seven of Michael Vick's Rescued Dogs Reunited
The dogs had the time of their lives. So did the adopters. The photographer had a rougher go of it!
Five years ago, the Pit Bull advocacy group BAD RAP left Virginia with 10 of Michael Vick's dogs "secreted" in the back of its RV, according to ABC News. The group had worked with prosecutors on the case to identify which dogs could be rehabilitated.
All of them went to good homes, and all are doing well. Last month, seven of the dogs were reunited for a photo shoot and a celebration.
They have a lot to celebrate. If there was any question in the public's mind that Vick's abused dogs -- trained to fight -- could not only be rehabilitated but turned into loving, happy dogs, it's gone.
All seven have Canine Good Citizen Certificates. Three work as therapy dogs in hospitals and children’s literacy programs. One, Jonny Justice, appeared on the Rachel Ray Show and won GUND's Top Dog contest -- his likeness will soon show up as one of GUND's famous stuffed dogs.
“They’re very forgiving, and they all really enjoy other dogs, which is probably the other big surprise that came out of the case,” said Donna Reynolds, director of BAD RAP. “In fact, dogs were a comfort to them.”
“Dogs live in the moment; they don’t dwell on the past,” she continued. “Once they have enough positive experiences to draw on, they just run right into the present.”
And the present is a fun place. At the reunion, the dogs had the time of their lives -- what dog wouldn't, surrounded by a pack of well-adjusted, happy dogs, all of whom happened to look a lot alike?
“There were lots of hugs, kisses, lots of crying. When people meet these dogs, they cry,” Reynolds said. “They understand that they are little pieces of positive history.”
The only one who had trouble was the photographer, Mark Rogers. Imagine trying to wrangle seven wiggly dogs and their adopters to one good picture.
Actually, you don't have to imagine it. Watch the wiggly wiggliness of the photo shoot right here:
Getting the Shot! from BADRAP.org on Vimeo.
Via ABC News
Battered by Sandy, NY's Rescue Ink Shelter Seeks Donations
The rescue group run by tattooed bikers sets up an Indiegogo page to raise money and rebuild.
There are many ways to donate to Sandy relief, but if you're looking for animal-centric concern, look no further than Rescue Ink, the rescue shelter run by large, tattooed bikers who use "their intimidating presence to shame and report animal abusers and rehabilitate distressed animals," according to its Facebook page. The Long Beach, NY, shelter was nearly destroyed in the storm and was flooded, but because it's run by badass bikers, the staff members have their recovery efforts well under way.
Oh, and their dogs? You think these guys would let any harm come to their dogs? The dogs are fine, sitting happily in foster homes until the the shelter can be rebuilt. That's where you come in. The group has set up an Indiegogo page seeking $10,000 in donations.
Here's part of the group's statement on the site:
We've lost towels, litter, dry food, electric systems, bedding, Rescue Ink t-shirts, heat, computers, washer and dryer, everything. ... We even had a car donated earlier this year to help us go on cases. It was also destroyed.
The building is sturdy, it still stands. But the cleaning and restoration will be a hard process.
The sooner we start on the process of rebuilding, the sooner we can get the animals back into the shelter, as well as being able to take in more in the coming days.
If you'd like to donate computer equipment, washer, dryer, or other items, please write to tracy@rescueink.org.
Thus far, the group has received $5,000, and the quick response left the team humbled. Posted yesterday on its Facebook:
Thank you to everyone who has given. We are humbled by this experience and the outpouring of support. We are determined to make the transition back into the shelter easy for the animals, and quick. We're trying to clean in the dark ... there's no power, no water. We're just doing what we know, trying to make it right for the animals. Please keep sharing, this isn't going away anytime soon for anyone in our area, it's bad for everyone. ... We have so much to do.
In addition to donating, you can vote for the group in the The Animal Rescue Site $300,000 Shelter Challenge of 2012, which is run with Petfinder. The grand prize is $5,000, which would go a long way toward fixing up Resuce Ink.
"We have much to rebuild," Rescue Ink posted on its Facebook page. "So many of you have said you want to help and we are grateful. Let's start here ... if Rescue Ink could win this grant, it would make such a difference."
Photos via Rescue Ink's Facebook.
Alan Titchmarsh Smacks Down Cesar Millan on Talk Show
During a heated exchange -- with all the heat coming from the host -- the Dog Whisperer desperately defends his methods.
Plenty of people don't agree with the methods of the Dog Whisperer, Cesar Millan. Daytime chat-show host Alan Titchmarsh is one of them, in a very big way. Last Thursday on London's The Alan Titchmarsh Show, he let Millan have it -- and have it, and have it -- peppering the dog trainer with accusations that he punches dogs and calling his methods "barbaric."
Millan surely knew what was coming. His appearance on the show was hotly contested beforehand, with Twitter campaigns against his appearance and protests on Facebook. The production staff was inundated with hundreds of e-mails and calls, according to the Daily Mail. Still, he gamely showed up, though he seemed a bit thrown by the questioning.
Here's some of the more heated moments of the exchange:
Titchmarsh: "You punish dogs, you hit them. I’ve seen you punch a dog in the throat to get it to behave, and to most people, like myself, I would say that is totally unacceptable as a way of training a dog."
Millan: "Well, obviously I would respectfully disagree with that. It’s not a punch, it’s a touch."
Titchmarsh: "I watched the video of it and if somebody touched me like that I would be hurt. You went for the throat [Titchmarsh mimics big walloping punches] and you punched the dog back and the dog bit you and held on to your hand."
Millan: "It's a touch ... It's a touch ..."
Titchmarsh: "Having watched a lot of boxing matches it looked like something Henry Cooper would deliver."
Pause for mostly uncomfortable laughter all around. Millan explains his methods a bit before the host again goes on the offensive.
Titchmarsh: "But you also work with electric shocks and collars and spikes on collars that really hurt them. You know, this is pretty barbaric treatment. Now, we wouldn't treat children like this. We'd be locked up if we did. Now, what's your reasoning behind treating dogs like this?"
Millan: "Well, there is a certain situation for that purpose, you know."
Millan goes on to explain how he is simply teaching people how to properly use the controversial tools they're already using. He says he recommends that people see a professional when training a dog using these methods, but he acknowledges, when pressed by the host, that people end up trying them on their own at home, because they see it on TV.
Titchmarsh never lets up, asking if Millan would ever give up his methods, asking him if he gets pleasure out of hurting dogs, countering Millan's assertion that dogs are pack animals striving for dominance in the household, and so on.
"We don't beat our children," Titchmarsh says at one point, "and we're a pack."
Internet reaction was swift, but divided. Many backed the host, but some Twitter users, like these two, thought Titchmarsh went over the top:
@floatygoat: Alan Titchmarsh interviewing Cesar Millan was so frustrating. Less of an interview, more of a series of stupid accusations.
@bigGstacey: very frustrating, the guys has clearly never watched dog whisperer.... I wana punch titchmarsh now. #mynanwillhateme
What's your take, Dogster readers? Is Titchmarsh on track? Did Millan get a raw deal? Before you answer, you might want to check out an edited video of the exchange for some ammunition:
Thursday, November 15, 2012
You Can Help During Hurricane Sandy: Join the Blogger Disaster Response Network
BlogPaws and World Vets formed the network to help animals affected by disasters.
Hurricane Sandy has begun to pummel the East Coast, and weather forecasters expect a mess combining high winds, heavy rains, extreme tides, and even snow lasting through Wednesday. Millions of people are expected to be without power, and emergency shelters have opened their doors to people as well as pets. In times like these, pets need us to be their voice and keep them safe from harm.
BlogPaws and World Vets, with the help of Dr. Jessica Vogelsang, have joined forces to create The Blogger Disaster Response Network to help animals in need during times of disaster.
If you have an account on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, or any other social media channel, you can participate to help animals. If you are also a blogger, then you can help spread the word to your followers and readers.
According to its website, the group was formed in 2011 after the earthquake and tsunami hit the Japanese coastline and left thousands of animals homeless and in danger. In the days after that disaster, BlogPaws created the Paws for Japan Blog Hop, a campaign to help spread the word about disaster relief. It helped World Vets bring in a great deal of money on short notice. Based on that success, the Blogger Disaster Response Network was created.
“Members of this voluntary organization will be the first to be notified of a global disaster response effort through World Vets, and given all the information they need to help spread the word about how people can help,” the site states.
Vogelsang is quoted on the site as saying, “I am continually reminded of the power of the pet blogging community. It is a truly potent force. To have the opportunity to create a network that will harness this power in the short time frame demanded in a disaster situation is a truly unique opportunity, and I couldn’t be more thrilled that BlogPaws is going to be a part of this history making network.”
Visit the BlogPaws and World Vets Blogger Disaster Response Network page.
You will be asked to share basic information like name, e-mail address, blog/Twitter/Facebook page with BlogPaws and World Vets. This data remain safe in the network, and BlogPaws will only contact people via broadcast e-mail when a disaster happens and the word must get out immediately to help animals in need.
Participation can mean a blog post, a Tweet, a Facebook status update, a Pinterest post, a YouTube video, or any other social media channel Dogster readers wish to use. Many times, World Vets sets up a “chip-in,” and sharing the chip-in is a way to share the message and help the cause.
If you are interested in more hands on assistance, please visit The Disaster Response page of Word Vets.
You can sign up here and spread the word. The more bloggers that BlogPaws and World Vets can contact when a disaster strikes, the bigger the positive impact.
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