New Mexico Bans Gas Chambers for Animals!

Gas chambers cause horrific, painful and slow deaths.  They are used for the convenience of animal control workers, with no compassion for the animals.  They are often terrified and crammed into the chamber with other terrified animals.  Those animals scratch, fight, and try to claw their way out of this "death box".  They vomit, defecate and urinate on themselves and the other animals in there with them. If we were a no kill nation, this wouldn't be happening, ever.  For more on the concept of no kill, please click here .  Click here to read a first hand account of killing animals in a gas chamber-the language may be considered graphic by some.


H.B. 265, a bill introduced by Rep. W. Ken Martinez, which previously passed the New Mexico House of Representatives by a vote of 62-3, has now been approved unanimously by the state Senate with a vote of 38-0.  The bill would ban use of gas chambers to euthanize dogs and cats. Currently, four localities, Portales, Tucumcari, Jal and Clovis use gas chambers. All other shelters use lethal injection.  The bill now goes to the House again for approval of Senate amendments which basically clarified that a supervising veterinarian is not required to be on the premises for a euthanasia and a euthanasia instructor need not be certified. 

There is similar bill to ban the usage of gas chambers in Georgia.

To read the text of the bill in Georgia, click here.



The West Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee has approved a ban on the use of gas chambers by public animal shelters. An amendment would limit the ban to apply only to new gas chambers, allowing use of existing chambers to continue.  I guess it's a start...
Click here to read the text of the bill.


Only thirteen states currently ban the use of carbon monoxide to euthanize animals, according to the Humane Society of the United States. 


Sources:
http://www.animallawcoalition.com/gas-chambers/article/710

http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=sb501%20intr.htm&yr=2009&sesstype=RS&i=501

http://alleycatrescue.blogspot.com/2009/03/more-states-to-vote-on-bills-to-stop.html

Animal shelter operators spent donations on drugs while cats languished and died

More than 70 malnourished cats and several cat carcasses were discovered by police Jan. 24 after the shelter's owner and operator, Virginia Kresge Justiniano, 49, and her boyfriend, Andrew Oxenrider, 38, of Tower City, were arrested on drug possession charges after a traffic stop in Pine Grove, Pennsylvania.

Police followed the drugs arrests by going to the shelter near Pine Grove. Investigators found cats and other animals that were dead, dying or starving. They found pallets filled with donated cat food, and they accuse Oxenrider of selling that cat food.

Oxenrider will also face attempted bribery charges after allegedly offering a Pine Grove borough police officer $500 to let him out of the traffic stop, while Justiniano will face animal cruelty charges after abandoning the felines for months, according to the Schuylkill County District Attorney's office.

Police said the home was littered with hypodermic needles and syringes while cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana and other drugs were found in both the house and a nearby hotel room Justiniano and Oxenrider were renting.

Also, Justiniano and Oxenrider could face federal fraud charges for using shelter donations to buy drugs, according to Hall.

On her way into court, Justiniano spoke with Newswatch 16. "I believe the media has been misleading and I have no other comment," she said. She then added, "I'll let my past actions speak for themselves."

While unconfirmed, Hall said stories have been circulating that out-of-state donors may have given huge sums -- in one case, $25,000 -- to Cats With No Name over the past several years.

Hall said the shelter had once been a reputable, legitimate animal-care facility. However, Justiniano and Oxenrider allegedly began using donation money to buy drugs rather than food or medical supplies for the felines, according to police.

Police also said allege couple sold crates of cat food to raise drug money.

SPCA workers said it appeared several cats had resorted to eating a decaying deer carcass after not being properly fed for weeks. Thirteen cats have been euthanized and at least five cats died from starvation or extreme temperatures, SPCA workers said.

A group from the SPCA helped police build the cruelty case against Justiniano and Oxenrider.

"We cannot find any excuse for this to happen," said Beth Hall of Deer Lake. "In my opinion, it was like a kitty concentration camp - frozen cats, dead cats, starving cats."

"It blows my mind!" echoed Kristen Overkott of Atlas. "She was fully aware of what was going on and she had all the proper materials - medications, food, everything - to keep these cats healthy, and just seemed to refuse to do so."

Justiniano and Oxenrider remain in Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail.  A hearing on the cruelty cases will be held next month in Schuylkill County. Justiniano and Oxenrider face fines and jail time if convicted.

Sources:
http://individual.com/story.php?story=95737375

http://www.wnep.com/wnep-schyl-cited-for-animal-abuse,0,2078910.story

"Second Chance for Love" Valentine's Weekend Adoption Event

PetSmart Charities® "Second Chance for Love" 2009 Valentine's Weekend Adoption Event February 13th thru the 15th

For more information, please visit petsmart.com 

We will be there from 4-7 Friday and 11-4 Saturday.

NW Kansas City (Tiffany Springs)
8970 NW Skyview Ave.
Kansas City, MO 64154
816-746-5392

Updates on Jackson, Daisy, Isabella and Annie

I went to visit Jackson, Isabella, Daisy and Annie yesterday.  As you may know, I brought all of them but Annie to the shelter last Tuesday so I could have space to bring Jonathon here.  Jonathon is FIV+ and diabetic and needed foster care to stabilize him.  


Jackson was very hissy the first day or two.  Isabella was pretty much fine the day I brought her.  She was curious and wanted to investigate.  She didn't want to hide which I was really happy about.  She seemed to feel fine about the situation.  Daisy hid for a few days.  Yesterday, when I saw her, she was sitting in her litter box.  For some reason, when cats are nervous, they sit in their litter boxes.  She was hiding in a little cubby, laying under the blankets for the first few days.  I was so happy to see that she had progressed to sitting in the litter box.  I also visited Annie who was really happy to see me.  She rolled around and wanted me to scratch her belly and under her chin. 

I feel a lot better about all of them.  It was hard for me to bring them to the shelter.  Now, I am happy I did because they are much more available for adoption.  It is hard to get a cat adopted when they are in a foster home.  The only way the public is aware of them is their picture on petfinder.  Now that they are living at the shelter, I don't have to arrange for a time for the prospective parents to meet them.  They can meet them anytime!

This picture of Jackson is sad.  I was leaving and I decided to take another picture of him.  He meowed and reached out to me.  I felt really sad when I left but I know that he is safe and is getting taken care of.  I would never leave them if I felt they would be neglected.  I am going to visit them on Wednesday.  

Gracie Mae is available for adoption!

Gracie Mae is available for adoption.  Click here to visit her petfinder page.  She is a sweet, playful kitten who would prefer to live with other cats.  She is spayed, microchipped and up to date on her vaccinations.

A Bill to Kill All The Pit Bulls Introduced! Don't let it become a law!

Montana state Rep. Robyn Driscoll, a Democrat who represents the 51^st District, has introduced a bizarre bill calling for the elimination of all "pit bulls" from the state.  If the bill, H.B. 191, becomes law, owners must surrender their pit bull dogs which must then be euthanized within 10 days.


Those who don't give up their dogs to be killed? Well, any peace officer is authorized to obtain a search warrant and come and get the dog.


The cost of paying animal control and other law enforcement officers throughout the state to round up family pets and kill them will be substantial. A task force found that a pit bull ban in Prince George's County, Maryland, just one county, cost $560,000 in one year.


There are exceptions for pit bulls temporarily in the state, passing through, or attending a exhibition, show or competition "sponsored by a dog club, association, or similar organization".  Even for the dog to attend an exhibition, show or competition, the owner must obtain written permission from the county and the sponsor must take steps to "prevent [the pit bull dog] from escaping or injuring the public." The only other exception is for a pit bull wearing a tag indicating it is a registered pit bull, but the registration and tag must have been obtained before the law's effective date.   


Here is a copy of the bill.


The National Canine Research Council reports that between 1965 and 2008, there were 3 fatalities in Montana from dog bites.  Yes, 3 in 43 years.  In 2005 alone,just one year in Montana, 1,400 people died from smoking and 251 in traffic accidents.  (Maybe Driscoll should work to protect Montanans from smoking and second hand cigarette smoke or negligent or drunk drivers; that would at least be something useful.)


The NCRC notes, "All the dogs involved ... were ...not spayed or neutered....All three cases involved unsupervised children left alone in a yard with unfamiliar dogs (2 cases) or the child wandering off and encountering an unfamiliar, chained dog (1 case)."


Significantly, none of the dogs was a pit bull.


The bill, H.B. 191, is now in the House Local Government Committee. Check Animal Law Coalition for updates.  


WHAT YOU CAN DO

Write or call Rep. Robyn Driscoll and urge her to drop this breed ban. Tell her dogs don't bite because of breed and breed bans don't make communities safe from dog bites. Instead, they penalize responsible owners and greatly increase animal control costs.  Send her the very important information found here.  Be polite!!  Being rude hurts our cause!


Robyn Driscoll, (406) 534-4874, rdriscoll@peoplepc.com


Contact the House Local Government Committee by calling Joe Kolman, 406-444-9280
Find Montana legislators and email, fax or call them and urge them to say no to H.B. 191.  Here is the fax number for the House: 406-444-4825

Make 2009 the year for animals!

Make this year the year for animals!  If you truly care about the welfare of animals, this is your year to prove it!  If you have only one hour or one day available, there is something you can do!  I recommend donating to smaller, local shelters.  The larger, more established shelters have many supporters while smaller organizations generally have only local residents supporting them.

Things you can do for a shelter:

Offer to help at adoptions, set up cages, take down cages and anything in between!

Return calls (to people who want to donate, people who want to relinquish their cat or dog, someone found an animal, or lost an animal, etc) or make calls to recent adopters to see how the animal is doing in their new home (you can do this at home!).

Volunteer to do laundry (at home or at the shelter if they have the facilities).

Foster an animal! Fostering an animal means that the animal lives with you and you help socialize that animal and learn more about their likes and dislikes and personality which makes for a very informed adoption when someone comes asking about that particular animal. Check with the shelter to see if the food, litter and vet costs are covered. Some shelters only offer paying for vet care, others, like the one I volunteer for pay for everything.

If you have extra money consider donating towards their medical care or food costs.  If you would rather buy items (instead of giving money) buy cat toys, dog beds, cat trees, chew toys for dogs, scratching posts, etc.  With so many animals, supplies can wear out fast!

Walk dogs for a local shelter or help socialize cats.  Animals in shelters benefit immensely from human contact.  Having a play session, being brushed or getting a pet behind the ears calms them and reduces their stress. (Which makes for happier cats and dogs on adoption day!)

Have computer skills?  Design a shelter's website, create invitations for upcoming events, design flyers to promote adopting an animal, etc.  The possibilities are endless!

Anything, really anything, you can give to or do for your local animal shelter will be appreciated. We always need an endless supply of air tight containers to hold dry food, newspapers, blankets, towels, pillows, toys, cat litter, treats, wet food, high quality dry food, flea medications (NOT over the counter meds-only Frontline, Advantage) laundry detergent, dryer sheets, hand soap, Purell, we use Swiffer Wet to clean the floors, plastic bags (for cleaning up after dogs), plastic baggies (ziploc-type bags of all sizes), trash bags, plastic measuring scoops for accurate amounts of food (not the glass cups), Clorox wipes, paper towels, latex gloves, cotton balls, q-tips, KMR-powder, kitten formula, KMR- powder, 2nd step, Royal Canine-small bite kitten formula.  These are things that we use daily and can always use.

Other things that we use that we don't necessarily need as often are collars, leashes, harnesses, food bowls, water bowls (stand alone and ones that attach to cages), cages, carriers, beds, scratching posts, cat trees/towers, brushes, cat window perches, anything that the cats can scratch on, not necessarily just scratching posts (cats have different preferences on scratching), night lights, rotating floor fans, space heaters, brooms, dustpans, trash cans, clip boards, pens, bird feeders, bird seed and anything else you can think of.

Whether you buy treats for $1.99 or a cat tree for $199.00, it will be appreciated! The more you donate, the more money shelters have to save more animals!
 

Click here to find your local shelter 

A little bit can go a long way when you help out a local animal shelter! Most of the people there are volunteers and are not paid anything. Some are a more commercialized and have very few volunteers with mostly paid workers. Those shelters have generally been around longer and have more supporters and get more donations.

And lastly, support the no-kill shelters! Why would you want your money to go to kill an animal?

What do you do for your local shelter?

I found a cat/kitten outside...now what?

This story has been moved to www.examiner.com

Can you help in Ohio?

Pet Guards Shelter, 950 Hardy Road, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223, is a low-cost spay, neuter and vaccination clinic for dogs and cats, as well as a shelter that houses and adopts out unwanted cats.

The shelter is seeking donations of 1,500 square feet of vinyl flooring, a 5- to 7-ton vertical-discharge, roof-mount heating and cooling unit, a tankless water heater, window tint, signage and awning materials.

In addition, it needs these volunteers: a licensed HVAC installer, an electrician, a flooring installer, a window tinter, a sign maker and an awning maker.

To volunteer, call Joe Elton, 330-431-9391.  For information on donations only, e-mail donations@pgfundraising.org. Information is at http://www.petguards.com.

Can you give an animal a temporary home?

The Friends of Parkville Animal Shelter Volunteers and Community Friends Needed to Save our Strays!

FOPAS is always in need of foster homes for our cats and dogs. With limited space available at the shelter, without your help we will need to turn animals away. 

Your support will save their lives!

What is a foster home? FOPAS provides food and medical care while the foster family provides love, attention, opportunities for socialization, and an indoor home until the cat or dog finds a forever family. 

Long and short term commitments are available. We ask that you transport the animal to Saturday adoptions and/or be available to meet a FOPAS volunteer with the potential adoptive family evenings or weekends.

Fostering is a very rewarding experience and you can help us know more about the animal's personality and behavior so we can match him/her with the best possible home.

If you are interested, or would like to know more about fostering, please contact Leslie at friendsofparkville@hotmail.com. Thank you in advance for your friendship and support!  

Visit our site at www.parkvilleshelter.com 

One of the saddest web sites I have ever seen...

This is one of the saddest sites I have seen. These are essentially dogs who are on death row for no reason other than space. :( What a sad world we live in where perfectly healthy dogs and puppies are killed because of space.

http://www.dogsindanger.com/

Photos with Santa in Ohio Dec 6 & 13

Photos with Santa: 


Bring your furry friend to meet Santa and receive a festive framed digital photo for only 8.95 plus tax. $5.00 from each photo purchase benefits homeless pets, at the Petco in Wadsworth this money is designated for Save Ohio Strays! Get pictures taken from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 6 and Dec. 13 at Petco in Williams Crossings, Wadsworth. There will also be dogs and cats to adopt and 2009 calendars for $5. The nonprofit group has rescued 1,022 animals over four years. Reach the group at 440-567-3585. www.saveohiostrays.org

Can you give a cat or dog a temporary home?

FOPAS Volunteers and Community Friends Needed to Save our Strays!

Due to the change in seasons and current economic conditions, FOPAS is in desperate need of foster homes for our cats and dogs. With limited space available at the shelter, without your help we will need to turn animals away. Your support will save lives!

What is a foster home? FOPAS provides food and medical while the foster family provides love and an indoor home until the cat or dog finds a forever family. Long and short term commitments are available. We ask that you transport the animal to Saturday adoptions and/or be available to meet a FOPAS volunteer with the potential adoptive family evenings or weekends.

Fostering is a rewarding experience and helps us know more about an animal's behavior so we can match with the best possible home.

If you are interested, please contact Leslie at friendsofparkville@hotmail.com. Thank you in advance for your friendship and support!  Visit our site at www.parkvilleshelter.com

$4000 Worth of Supplies Stolen From Animal Shelter!

To those that care about the homeless pets in Kansas City:

There has been a small tragedy at The Pet Connection (TPC). On 11/19/08, TPC was the victim of a crime that will have grave costs to their shelter animals and for those that they are not able to rescue. A trailer and all the supplies needed for building 8 new dog and cat rooms was stolen. It is so sad, disappointing, and everyone at the facility is feeling a little defeated. Jason Huff and another volunteer got most of the supplies donated and spent 2 days loading it all for TPC so that the cost would be minimal. Replacement value of our loss: $4000.

They were going to start construction over Thanksgiving. The Executive Director & Operations Director had cancelled holiday plans with their families so that they could build these much needed life savers. Their Christmas gift to the homeless pets was an important one. They estimate that these rooms will help successfully house and rescue 15-40 additional pets each month. Almost 70 percent of the rescued dogs at their facility were scheduled to be euthanized in area shelters simply because of space constraints.

If anyone can send additional funding for this project, they would really appreciate. If everyone they have helped this month, would send $5......that would be about $3000. We need help. Please send your pledge today. I know that together, we can make this horrible turn of events seem small.


If they do not receive a rally from their friends, they will not be able to complete the project until much later. They are turning away about a hundred animals a month, please help them! They need these resources to be available as soon as possible-to start from scratch again.

If you would like to donate, you can donate online by visiting their Donate Page. Or you can mail or drop donations by the facility at 5918 Broadmoor, Mission KS 66202.

Visit their website at thepetconnection.net

Can you give a cat or dog a temporary home?

FOPAS Volunteers & Community Friends Needed to Save our Strays!

Due to the change in seasons and current economic conditions, FOPAS is in desperate need of foster homes for our cats and dogs. With limited space available at the shelter, without your help we will need to turn animals away. Your support will save lives!

What is a foster home? FOPAS provides food and medical while the foster family provides love and an indoor home until the cat or dog finds a forever family. Long and short term commitments are available. We ask that you transport the animal to Saturday adoptions and/or be available to meet a FOPAS volunteer with the potential adoptive family evenings or weekends.

Fostering is a rewarding experience and helps us know more about an animal's behavior so we can match with the best possible home.

If you are interested, please contact Leslie at friendsofparkville@hotmail.com. Thank you in advance for your friendship and support!

Abandoned chihuahuas crowd Santa Barbara shelters

Chloe, the preening four-legged princess in the film "Beverly Hills Chihuahua," might want to take note. In this economy, even pampered pets from better addresses can quickly become Little Orphan Annies. Times staff writer Catherine Saillant reports:

In Santa Barbara County, three rescue shelters are housing a veritable glut of abandoned Chihuahuas. So many, in fact, that shelter managers are concluding a weeklong "Adopt-a-Chihuahua" campaign.

More than 100 of the high-energy pets went up for adoption Saturday. Though there's been a flurry of interest, more than 75 of the animals are still waiting for homes, said Animal Services Director Jan Glick.

Most were brought to county animal shelters as strays or were dropped off by owners who are moving or who can no longer afford to keep them, Glick said. High rents, rampant foreclosures and rising costs of pet food and veterinary care have dampened the popularity of the once-hip pooch, shelter operators say.

"People find they can't afford to feed them, or they lose their homes and they have to give up their animals," Glick said.

Read more here...

Personally, I think people are full of it. I don't care what happens, I am keeping my cats. There is no way I would bring them to a shelter to be killed! I could never give up my pets. I have had them for almost 10 years. I think it is just such a cop out when people say they are moving and can't take their pets. Why can't you take them? Because you are an idiot and didn't find housing that allows for pets? Tell the truth, tell us you have no compassion and are choosing to kill your pet instead of taking it with you and that you might get another animal in a few months or so. You are living in a dream world if you really think your adult cat or dog will get a home. People like this get my blood boiling!

These are the irresponsible a-holes who cause animals to be killed. They are ignorant about spaying and neutering and keeping their animals inside where it is safe. So, their cat is an indoor-outdoor cat, gets hit by a car and they go adopt a kitten from the shelter. The cycle continues...or god forbid they see a "free kittens" sign! I just want to rip people's heads off when I see signs like that. There is NO EXCUSE for not having your pet spayed or neutered. If you got off your lazy butts and looked online, you could find a low cost clinic or save the money you would use for those lattes at starbucks everyday and have enough to get your cat fixed at the end of the month.

Don't have pets if you can't be responsible!

Vote for the Parkville Animal Shelter!

Vote here!

* 1st Prize -- $10,000
* 2nd Prize -- $3,000
* 3rd Prize-- $1,000
* 4th and 5th Prizes -- $500 each

Over 7 million adoptable dogs and cats are put to sleep each year due to overpopulation. Through this contest Care2.com will reward shelters and rescue groups who work tirelessly to care for homeless animals, and raise awareness about the importance of supporting pet adoptions and taking action to save animals’ lives.

Ends November 1

Vote here!

Vote for the Parkville Animal Shelter!

Vote here!

* 1st Prize -- $10,000
* 2nd Prize -- $3,000
* 3rd Prize-- $1,000
* 4th and 5th Prizes -- $500 each

Over 7 million adoptable dogs and cats are put to sleep each year due to overpopulation. Through this contest Care2.com will reward shelters and rescue groups who work tirelessly to care for homeless animals, and raise awareness about the importance of supporting pet adoptions and taking action to save animals’ lives.

Vote here!

Small-dog rescue needs supplies in Tennessee-can you help them out?

Small-dog rescue needs supplies

Second Chance & Happy Tails, a small-dog rescue and retirement home, is in need of dry and canned Pedigree, Iams and Iams puppy dog food and monetary donations for veterinary care. The shelter also is in need of dental bones, biscuits, small collars, cleaning supplies, grooming tools, dog bedding, blankets and toys. In addition, the shelter is collecting the weight circle proof-of-purchase symbols from all Purina dry dog food bags to exchange for veterinarian visits or dog food.

Mail circles or donations to: 513 Yvonne Drive, Clarksville, TN 37042

Contact: Inge Irby, 503-8300, 1PawUp@bellsouth.net or visit www.secondchancehappytails.petfinder.org.

Do you have some extra love?

FOPAS Volunteers & Community Friends Needed to Save our Strays!

Due to the change in seasons and current economic conditions, FOPAS is in desperate need of foster homes for our cats and dogs. With limited space available at the shelter, without your help we will need to turn animals away. Your support will save lives!

What is a foster home? FOPAS provides food and medical while the foster family provides love and an indoor home until the cat or dog finds a forever family. Long and short term commitments are available. We ask that you transport the animal to Saturday adoptions and/or be available to meet a FOPAS volunteer with the potential adoptive family evenings or weekends.

Fostering is a rewarding experience and helps us know more about an animal's behavior so we can match with the best possible home.

If you are interested, please contact Leslie at friendsofparkville@hotmail.com. Thank you in advance for your friendship and support!