8.01.2008
Meet Molly
She's a grey speckled pony who was found abandoned after Hurricane Katrina. She spent weeks on her own before finally being rescued and taken to a farm where abandoned animals were stockpiled. While there, she was attacked by a dog and almost died. Her gnawed right front leg became infected, and her vet went to LSU for help, but LSU
But surgeon Rustin Moore met Molly and changed his mind. He saw how the pony was careful to lie down on different sides so she didn't seem to get sores, and how she allowed people to handle her. She protected her injured leg. She constantly shifted her weight and didn't overload her good leg. She was a smart pony with a serious survival ethic.
Molly happened to be a one-in-a-million patient. She's tough as nails, but sweet, and she was willing to cope with pain. She made it obvious she understood that she was in trouble.
The other important factor, according to
Molly's story turns into a parable for life in post-Katrina
The prosthetic has given Molly a whole new life, Allison Barca, DVM, Molly's regular vet, reports.
And she asks for it. She will put her little limb out, and come to you and let you know that she wants you to put it on. Sometimes she wants you to take it off too. And sometimes, Molly gets away from Barca. 'It can be pretty bad when you can't catch a three-legged horse,' she laughs.
Most important of all, Molly has a job now. Kay, the rescue farm owner, started taking Molly to shelters, hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers. Anywhere she thought that people needed hope. Wherever Molly went, she showed people her pluck. She inspired people, and she had a good time doing it.
'It's obvious to me that Molly had a bigger role to play in life,?
Barca concluded, 'She's not back to normal, but she's going to be better. To me, she could be a symbol for
Below is Molly's most recent prosthesis showing the ground surface that she stands on, which has a smiley face embossed in it. Wherever Molly goes, she leaves a smiley hoof print behind. 
7.14.2008
Bumping old post and new comment about Katrina dogs
Just because GOD is DOG spelled backwards...doesn't give you or anyone the right to play God.
The following is Dave Gourley's response (in red) to an email sent to him by a Stealth Volunteer. His email response to her was forwarded to many of us who were volunteering to reunite Katrina pets with their owners and I posted it on my blog on 1/26/06. Today, Dave posted a comment:
(I have no idea what he means by people in glass houses but I'll be posting a comment soon, when I have some time)
I have not been able to read the orginial (sic) thread -however regarding the dogs of Katrina -We were instrumental in helping with the rescue of over 100 Rotts from Lamar-Dixon, in Gonzales, La I managed to rescue 3 rotts and assisted with the rescue of one Bullmastiff...The American Rottweiler Club mobilized & got out over 100 dogs themselves.
I have never in the 30 + years of being in the dog world ever seen dogs of all breeds go thru the TRAUMA that these dogs have.
Personal opinion -
NO DOG SHOULD BE RE-UNITED WITH PAST FAMILY MEMEBERS!!! (sic)
Now this is a brash statement - why would I make it...these people left their dogs...dogs were left on the side of the road - in crates - covered with clothing or blankets in 100 + degree heat.
They were abandoned by their owners an (sic) put through tremendous fear of the unknown,rescued by strangers,given a fresh look at like (sic) through the eyes of fear.
If the people who are yelling at this dog are trying to make the dog forget - IT WILL NOT HAPPEN - they are only reinforcing the fear and growing mistrust that the dog is going through.
This dog needs to totally resocialized from the get go and that means a NEW FAMILY - foster care - whatever - but should not be returned to it's owners -
Of the dogs that I rescued - the foster/permamnet (sic) families - started from the begining (sic) -I understand that Rottweilers are not Poodles - I am beginning to beleive (sic) that Poodles maybe more intelligent - but they still have memories - Rotties are less likely to accept immediate change...they are more suspect, but they also realize and accept HONEST caring and sense that the people who are working to rehab these dogs in questions are real in their efforts.
Poodles are a hearty breed - but are they as hearty as rotts - I do not know - But what I do know is the dogs who were abandoned and had to fend for themselves - regardless of breed - they are still somewhat distrustfull (sic) of their new areas
Once a dog has been rescued and re-introduced to society they should NOT be re-traumitized (sic) - they should not be returned to those that abandoned them in the their time of need!
Dave Gourley
Sandragon Kennels
Home of 1 Bullmastiff,1 Standard Poodle,2
Rottweilers,1 Chinese Crested & 5 Border Terriers
dragonman19465@yahoo.com
Anonymous said...
Dave Gourley here - had no idea this blog existed -
Yes - at the time of Katrina - I represented Sandragon Kennels in Pa. Yes - we have been in the dog world for over 30 years. - I had been involved in Rottweiler Rescue
for over 12 years prior to Katrina - NO - we did not come to bring your dogs out and breed to them - After seeing the sheriff department officers shoot those dogs in the school, I canceled my appointments in my real job ( providing homecare for seniors) rented a van and headed for Lamar-Dixon -I understand that those people who were ordered to leave their dogs did so extremely reluntant (sic)- I have no complaint with them -
It is the people who left their dogs on the sides of the road - bitches in whelp - whole litters in vari crates - covered with clothing in temperatures exceeding 100 degrees - it is with people who LEFT their dogs tethered to their houses and left them...
It is these people that I was so upset with.
The 3 dogs that I managed to get out - One was adopted in Staten Island by a rescue group, who spent $35,000 to rehab this dog - the dog had 4 major surgeries on its eyes, it tested positive for heartworm, the dog was 33 pounds under weight, he was neutered and finally place in a loving home.
One dog was a rottweiler mix - went to a couple of Doctors (husband & wife) who spent a ton of money rehabing the dog - mediacal (sic) bills - animal behavorist (sic)- etc. the 3rd dog - we guessed her age at between 6 to 9 months - she was positive for heartworm, she had tapeworms and a host of other parasites in her body, she was a mess. My wife n I kept her with our family for 7 months - getting her healthy - socializing her - and eventually found a retired nurse who fell in love with her to adopt her.
The Bullmastiff went to Bullmastiff rescue and was properly cared for and placed.
The poodles that Carolina Rescue took out were all properly cared for and placed in loving homes...
We are not bad people - we are dog people - we are horse people and yes I have been in your shoes - more times than I wish to speak of...
People who live in GLASS houses should not throw stones
7.09.2008
Anonymous person paid entire vet bill for abused Philly cat.
click above to view NBC-10 video
There was quite a bit of interest in the story of Riley the cat NBC 10 first reported Monday night and someone, we don't know who, decided to do something about the cat attack. It's going to take weeks for Riley the cat to recover from a senseless attack.
The 1-year-old Manx is well known on the 900 block of Pine Street, often posing in the window of his owner's antique store City Chateau. He is so popular that one customer made him his own MySpace page. The cat's trademark greeting is sticking his paw through the front door mail slot until Fourth of July weekend.
"The cat put his paw through the door slot and it was grabbed and someone pressed the mail slot down against the cat's foot and broke his foot," Joe Connolley, Riley's owner, said."Who would have the capacity to doing something like that to such a sweet animal," a neighbor said."Just low, down dirty, horrible. It's a horrible act," another neighbor said.Neighbors think some young boys drinking on the steps of the store may have been responsible."We had to put a bone plate, which is a stainless steal plate, and screws to hold the fracture in place," the veterinarian said.On Monday night, NBC 10 reported neighbors planned to help raise money to pay the $3,400 vet bill."My coworker just came into my office and said someone paid the vet bill," Connolley said.
Someone anonymously paid the entire vet bill Tuesday morning."To whoever did this, you know, I don't even know how I can return this kind gesture. It was way out of the realm of what I even expected someone to do. I can't thank you enough. Please in a few weeks come to our store and visit our kitty," Connolley said.Unfortunately, Riley injured his paw again while NBC 10 was visiting him at the vet's office and he's going to have to spend some more time at the hospital before he gets to go home.
7.06.2008
Infamous quotes from Tiffany & PawMatch
The following two quotes are from the "PawMatch Katrina Relief" blog:
Sept. 28th 2005:
Great news, we have an update from Hope's foster momma on her condition: "Hope is doing really well. She was depressed for the first day but is now starting to come out of her shell.... She will look us in the eye more and roll over so we can rub her belly (this is a new development as of about 15 minutes ago).... She is just a wonderful girl who is a little sad and confused but as sweet as can be."
(my comments in red)
Sorry, not a whole lot to report. Andy has been trying to conserve his phone minutes, as he is way over his plan for the month (that is why I post so late, I wait until after 9:00 PM to call him for updates). But our little cocker spaniel girl has had her checkup. She is approximately 6 years old and is suffering from a urinary tract infection and has a thyroid problem, but is negative for heartworm. We are waiting for additional bloodwork to come back. Please note that she is now available for adoption. If you are interested in giving her a loving home, please complete our Meet Your Match™ Questionnaire so we can see if she would be a good match to your lifestyle and expectations.
Tiffany Madura, who was then working as a Katrina reunion volunteer and given access to Petfinder records, KNEW that pets were not to be adopted until at least December 31, 2005. And then only if and after the shelter or rescue organization exhausted all known avenues for locating the pet's owner and cooperated with all inquiries from potential owners.Sept. 28th 2005:
Great news, we have an update from Hope's foster momma on her condition: "Hope is doing really well. She was depressed for the first day but is now starting to come out of her shell.... She will look us in the eye more and roll over so we can rub her belly (this is a new development as of about 15 minutes ago).... She is just a wonderful girl who is a little sad and confused but as sweet as can be."
(for those who don't know, Andy Odam/PawsMatch renamed Jazz, "Hope Floats.")
The following was posted on the nola.com Pets & Animals forum by Tiffany:
16001. Foster dog
by chiquitita75, 9/26/05 10:30 ET
I have a dog I am going to pick up and take to the vet before fostering today. Does anyone have any thoughts on - should I ask to see if the vet will give me a discount since I am a regular customer of theirs? I am a little overwhelmed with animal rescue efforts and then buying stuff for the hurricane in case it hit and now a little tapped, though she will get care - also I have a kitty with a hurt paw I need to take so do you think it would be unreasonable to ask the clinic if they could help me out a little on this one dog? Her owners were dead and she was found in an oily bayou. (has bladder infection).
16001.5.1.1.1. yes
by chiquitita75, 9/26/05 11:12 ET
I don't know many details but apparently they know the owners are dead and I don't believe she was found in a city.
* Andy KNEW that Jazz's owner was not dead. Jazz had an intake form duct taped to her crate with an address. Read previous post for time-line and complete story.
* Andy Odam and Tiffany Madura decided to play God, judge and jury and they lost.
* I don't know what Andy stood to gain from his mis-guided and selfish deception of Shalanda except for the money he raised by using Jazz as his Katrina poster dog.* Tiffany obviously believed that she would get away with this, perhaps daddy would defend her actions.
Only problem is that daddy is not the one who will experience the karma that is sure to come as a result of all the pain and anguish she has caused Shalanda.
...and a personal note to Tiffany about the "assault."
Everyone said the same thing when they heard of it: "if it had been me, I would have ________." I'll leave it up to your imagination to fill in the blank.
You should be counting your lucky stars that Shalanda is a person of great dignity, intelligence and mental & emotional strength; that after all the lies, deceit, manipulation and emotional torment put her through, that all she did was yank a piece of your hair.
Tiffany goes wahhh....wahhh...wahhh... SHUT UP!
Jazz's timeline: her theft from New Orleans by PawMatch, Tiffany's refusal to return her to Shalanda, the DNA evidence and the crooked Texas judge
First, I want to acknowledge Barbara Cotters as one of the hardest-working and most dedicated Katrina reunion volunteers from the beginning. She is the one who found the photos of Jazz posted on Andy Odam's PawMatch website. Andy is the man who stole Jazz out of Jefferson Feed and took her to Texas.
Like many of us, Barb felt overwhelmed at the sheer volume of pets and the magnitude of the disaster and rescue/reunion efforts, so she decided to focus on the Cocker Spaniels, the breed she is most familiar with. She created the Lost Katrina Cockers website with photos and information on many of the lost and found Cockers.
She made this statement:
The dog was dehydrated, though not drastically, suffering from the heat...but not in bad shape at all compared to many of the dogs who went through the storm. Look, I saw animals before Katrina and then rescued the same animals...and even within the first 10 days after the storm they looked bad. There is no way what looked ill and crappy after Katrina looked the same before Katrina. The animal would have been dead if that were the case. The dog was matted, but it looked like a recent development... the hair was long enough that I would say it was groomed about six to eight weeks before Katrina. I only touched it through the front of the cage, and did not take the dog out of the kennel. There were no obvious infections or skin conditions or the animal would have been moved from the 'okay' pile to the 'in treatment' pile of kennels, which were away from the kennels okay to go to Lamar. The treatment kennels were kept there overnight at minimum, in the air conditioning, with a vet overseeing their care. Every single animal that came into Jefferson Feed was examined by the vet, Dr. Missy Jackson, a friend of mine. Dr. Jackson is employed at Southern Animal Foundation in New Orleans.
Understand that the temperature outside was 99 degrees at minimum... inside the houses it was 120 to 150 degrees depending on how well shut the house was. Very old houses, built in the Victorian days, with real high ceilings were only at about 120-130. Newer structures, from 1920 on, were hell houses... without tall ceilings for the heat to rise to, and with tighter closures. Those were at minimum 150 degrees.
How long can an animal stay alive in a car which will reach 180 degrees in twenty minutes in the oppressive heat of the south?
I can tell you this, there was definitely an intake form duct taped to the top of the cocker's kennel. The boys who delivered the donations, from an animal organization in Austin, were just volunteers. I don't know why they took the dog, or why the dog was let go in their hands.
Shalanda Augillard leaves her home in
After working through the night, Shalanda gets off work early Sunday morning and goes home to pack, then goes to her parents’ home. They spend the afternoon making sure they and their neighbors and friends are prepared. Shalanda leaves to take some supplies to a friend west of them and then is unable to get back to her parents’ home because a curfew had been put into effect earlier than expected.
In the very early morning, Hurricane Katrina makes landfall just east of
The Augillards provide a refuge for neighbors, several of them elderly people with no families.
The National Guard evacuates the family. As Shalanda’s mother tries to board the boat with Jazz in her arms, the Guard orders her to leave the dog behind. She places Jazz in their second-floor apartment with lots of water, food, and access to a well-ventilated porch, thinking they will return soon. CBS reporter John Roberts is on the boat with the Guard.
Shalanda succeeds in contacting her parents and learns that they were forced to leave Jazz behind.
Shalanda's employer, which never suspended operations, sent teams to survey hard-hit areas to determine the most efficient way to continue service. Shalanda is assigned to survey the area in which her parents live and goes to her parents’ home. The door has been kicked out, the home has been ransacked, and the building has been marked with the date of September 7th . Jazz is not there.
Shalanda makes the first of many trips to Lamar-Dixon to look for Jazz, who needed her medication for a thyroid condition. She inputs all of Jazz’s information on Petfinders.com.
Andy Odam of PawMatch and Thomas Darnell of Rivers & Reefs leave
A black cocker spaniel appears at the Jefferson Feed Store. The spaniel had been examined by a veterinarian and had documentation attached to her crate. No one reported seeing any other cocker spaniels that day. See statement below from Charlotte Bass for the full account.
After being told not to remove any animals from the Jefferson Feed Store, Andy Odam steals the black Cocker and transports her back to
Jennifer Hays, then a PawMatch board member, posts information about the black cocker spaniel on the PawMatch blog before Odam returns to
The PawMatch blog recounts Odam’s return to
Andy Odam and PawMatch place the black cocker spaniel in foster care with Catherine Danie of ARF, an animal rescue group, in Wimberley. At the time of placement, Odam had not provided any medical care for the dog.
Another ARF volunteer takes Jazz to veterinarian Dr. Thomas House at San Marcos Veterinary Clinic. Dr. House exams Jazz and determines that she has numerous health issues that are all treatable. His tests indicate that her urine contains triple phosphate crystals and that she is Heartworm NEGATIVE. He suspects that she has bladder stones and that she is hypothyroid. The ARF volunteer declines any further treatment.
PawMatch posts that the cocker spaniel needs a new foster home.
Tiffany Madura agrees to foster the black cocker spaniel.
Madura takes the dog to Dr. Barrett Donop at
The dog undergoes surgery for removal of bladder stones at Oak Springs Veterinary Clinic.
Barbara Cotters sees the PawMatch web site, which has photos of a black cocker spaniel on the home page, along with a link to contribute to PawMatch through PayPal. Barbara believes that the dog is Jazz and sends the photos and link to Shalanda who notices that the dog has white markings on her mouth that are very similar to Jazz's distinctive white markings.
Shalanda contacts Odam, who refuses to let her see the dog.
Shalanda continues her attempts to persuade Andy Odam to allow her access to the dog on his web site. She provides the medical records that she was able to retrieve from Jazz’s veterinarians (their clinics had been destroyed by Katrina) to Louisiana Deputy Attorney General Mimi Hunley, who tries to negotiate a meeting between Augillard and Odam. Odam cuts off contact with Hunley.
March, 2006 – May, 2006
Many people involved in animal rescue throughout the
Shalanda obtains a temporary restraining order from the
Jazz is held at a kennel at Shalanda’s expense.
The first of two parts of the preliminary injunction hearing is held in
When the preliminary injunction hearing resumes, Judge Henry is not available. Because Augillard has again traveled to
Two sweaters and a hairbrush belonging to Jazz are sent to Dr.
Dr. Halverson reports that even though she found hairs on the sweaters, there is inadequate amplification. She does, however, find a serum exudate encrusted at the base of the bristles of the brush that yields adequate DNA. She then requests a reference sample from the dog in
Attorney for Madura files a motion for a protective order, arguing that Jazz should not be made available for DNA sampling because Augillard, Philips and Smith had access to her on
Even though Judge Davis had ordered the DNA testing, an additional hearing is required to compel Madura to produce the dog for DNA sampling. Judge Henry orders the defendants to produce the dog within one month; Shalanda is at the hearing.
DNA samples are taken from the cocker spaniel by Thomas Beckett, DVM, in the presence of Dr. Donop at Oak Springs Veterinary Clinic . The samples were sealed by Dr. Beckett in the presence of Dr. Donop and
Dr. Halverson concludes that the samples from the hairbrush are from the same dog that the samples were taken from in
A hearing is held to determine if the Court would allow Dr. Halverson to testify by telephone. The request is denied. Shalanda attends the hearing.
Dr. Halverson is deposed in
Dr. Halverson travels from
The parties mediate for four hours.
The parties mediate for an additional three hours but do not reach an agreement.
To provide even more proof that Jazz and the dog in
Laura Maloney, director of the Louisiana SPCA, writes to Andy Odam, requesting the immediate return of the cocker spaniel he removed from Jefferson Feed Store in violation of established protocol. Odam never responds to that letter.
Trial is held in Hays County District Court in
Judge Henry faxes a letter to counsel stating that the Court renders judgment in favor of Madura. No explanation is provided.
Judge Henry releases his findings of fact, contending that the testimony of Augillard’s witnesses was not credible and alleging that the DNA evidence had a “high potential for tampering” even though no evidence of tampering was ever introduced.
Shalanda’s attorney files a notice of appeal.
Appeals Court overturns the trial Judge Henry's asinine decision and Shalanda is reunited with Jazz almost three years after Katrina.
7.04.2008
Another video of Shalanda's reunion with Jazz
Watch as Tiffany's lawyer tells even more lies. This guy is quite a piece of work - a walking caricature of a sleaze-bag, conniving lawyer.
For those who have not followed this from the beginning:
Jazz was one of the most well-cared for, most loved
and cherished dogs rescued after Hurricane Katrina.
To insinuate anything else is just stupid.
and cherished dogs rescued after Hurricane Katrina.
To insinuate anything else is just stupid.
All the true facts of this ordeal will be posted soon.
Below: Mimi Smith, one of Shalanda's lawyers, holds Jazz.
7.03.2008
Video of Shalanda's Reunion with Jazz
Watch as Tiffany's S-L-E-A-Z-Y lawyer lies and squirms when confronted by direct & clear questions from Shalanda's lawyer.
Watch as he completely avoids eye contact with her.
Watch as he exhibits the classic signs of lying.
But best of all - and have a tissue ready for the ending.... Watch as Shalanda comes out of the courthouse, scoops her baby up in her arms and walks away. Triumphant. Joyful.
A beautiful site to behold.
(the full story will be posted soon)
Watch as he completely avoids eye contact with her.
Watch as he exhibits the classic signs of lying.
But best of all - and have a tissue ready for the ending.... Watch as Shalanda comes out of the courthouse, scoops her baby up in her arms and walks away. Triumphant. Joyful.
A beautiful site to behold.
(the full story will be posted soon)
7.02.2008
NEW ORLEANS GETS ITS JAZZ BACK !!!!!!! WE ARE ALL SO VERY HAPPY FOR YOU, SHALANDA
Above: Jazz escorted by Mimi Smith, one of Shalanda's lawyers.
Below: SHALANDA REUNITED WITH HER JAZZ
6.30.2008
Animal Abuse Irony of the Year
James Valley, pathetic excuse for a mayor, set 10 dogs loose in the
St. Francis National Forest
a few weeks ago.
As of yesterday, half the dogs have been found (with one already enjoying a new home) "and two or three others were shot by a resident who saw them on his land."
Hopefully St. Francis will look after the remaining dogs until they can be found.
A special judge authorized an arrest warrant Friday for Helena-West Helena Mayor James Valley, finding reasonable cause to believe that Valley committed animal cruelty by releasing stray dogs to fend for themselves near a national forest.
In a one-page order, Circuit Judge David Henry of Stuttgart also found reasonable cause to arrest Valley over accusations that he obstructed the Humane Society from caring for the canines.
Humane Society officials have said they asked Valley to let them find homes for the eight to 10 dogs that he removed 2 1/2 weeks ago from the city’s makeshift animal shelter.
The charges of cruelty to animals and obstructing the prevention of cruelty to animals are misdemeanors.
“The fact that this complaint has been signed and is going forward makes us happy,” said Ruby Burton, director of the Humane Society of Southeast Arkansas. “That’s good news to us.”
On June 16, Burton signed a criminal complaint against Valley, alleging animal cruelty and neglect over a period of almost five months, from Jan. 24 to June 11.
On June 11, he authorized a city worker to let the dogs go near the city landfill and the St. Francis National Forest on the outskirts of town.
Valley said he released the dogs after residents complained that the makeshift animal shelter at the city’s sanitation department was inadequate. The shelter consisted of nothing more than penned cages, Valley said.
He said he has committed no crime.
“I look forward to my day in court,” the mayor said Friday. “It’s been a rough and rocky road the last few weeks. It’s been a real distraction to the good public service we’re trying to perform for the citizens.”
This is not the first time Valley has gotten sideways with the Humane Society. After receiving complaints in January, people with the Humane Society of Southeast Arkansas used wire cutters to pop the locks on the city’s old animal shelter. Inside, they found rats the size of puppies, dehydrated dogs and layers of feces, Burton said.
Valley called the Humane Society’s January actions “renegade.”
Phillips County Sheriff Ronnie White said he hadn’t seen the warrant as of Friday. He said that because the warrant is on misdemeanor charges, a deputy will likely notify Valley of his court date instead of arresting him.
A court date has not been set.
Prosecuting Attorney Fletcher Long of the 1 st Judicial District said this week that his office will likely prosecute the case if it remains in Circuit Court.
Valley could also face federal charges if he is found to have released the dogs in the St. Francis National Forest. It is against federal regulations to release animals, livestock or abandoned personal property on public land.
The U. S. Forest Service has turned its investigation over to the U. S. attorney’s office in Little Rock, forest service spokesman Tracy Farley said this week.
Valley said he has been bombarded with nasty e-mails from angry animal lovers all over the country.
In an open letter published June 22 on his Web log, jfvalley. blogspot. com, Valley apologized to Helena-West Helena residents for dragging them into the mess involving the animal shelter.
“I am sincerely sorry that a decision made by me, in the run of the hundreds of decisions I make every day, has brought the wrath of the animal loving world to your front door,” Valley wrote. “This saga has lasted too long and is a distraction to the good work that has been and is being done in Helena-West Helena, Arkansas. We are a community that has made a major turn-around. We are resilient people.”
Valley said most of the angry e-mails and phone calls have come from out of state, including one from as far away as Canada.
Even fellow mayors from across the state are chiming in. Last week, at the annual Arkansas Municipal League convention, outgoing league president and Paragould Mayor Mike Gaskill introduced the mayor as James “Who Let the Dogs Out” Valley, referring to the song released in 2000.
Valley said other mayors from across the state have offered him oral support.
Arkansas Chief Justice Jim Hannah on Tuesday appointed Henry to review the Humane Society’s complaint after district and circuit judges in Helena-West Helena and Forrest City recused themselves from the case.
Henry found reasonable cause to believe that Valley violated Arkansas Code 5-62-101 and Arkansas Code 5-62-111.
According to Arkansas Code 5-62-101, “a person commits the offense of cruelty to animals if, except as authorized by law, he or she knowingly abandons any animal; subjects any animal to cruel mistreatment; subjects any animal in his or her custody to cruel neglect; or kills or injures any animal belonging to another without legal privilege or consent of the owner.”
According to Arkansas Code 5-62-111, “any officer, agent, or member of a society which is incorporated for the prevention of cruelty to animals may lawfully interfere to prevent the perpetration of any act of cruelty upon any animal in his or her presence. Any person who interferes with or obstructs any officer, agent, or member of a society which is incorporated for the prevention of cruelty to animals in the discharge of his or her duty is guilty of a misdemeanor.”
The director of the Humane Society of the Delta, Gloria Higginbotham, said the group is working to attain funding to open a new shelter in Phillips County.
“The Humane Society of the Delta is trying to acquire land — if anybody wants to donate some outside the city limits — and we’re trying to work to build our own shelter because we’re the ones who want to be in the dog business,” she said. “The city and county don’t need to be in the dog business. We do.”
As for the released dogs, Higginbotham said about half of them have been found, and two or three others were shot by a resident who saw them on his land.
One of the dogs, a mixed breed, is enjoying his time at a new home in Helena-West Helena, owner John Warnken said.
Warnken said he found the dog about two miles from where a city worker released the strays.
“At first, I couldn’t get him to come to me,” Warnken said. “I tried to feed him, but he was real skittish.”
He said a group of children was able to earn the dog’s trust and catch it.
“They asked me if I wanted to keep him, and I said ‘yeah, ’” Warnken said. “I was going to name him Killer, and I joked about naming him Mayor Valley, but I decided to name him Redneck. He’s a pretty good dog. He looks like Spuds MacKenzie.”
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6.27.2008
Chained Dogs
Mama dog and her pup chained together
Small pit bull mix living on a chain.
This neglected mama dog was kept on a chain for 13 years!
Three dogs chained together - notice how the chains
are tangled and restrict the two dogs in the foreground even more.
This dog lived like this for 12 years;
her owner refused an offer of a better home for her.
Attention pet owners & animal lovers in metro Houston
A wonderful rescue organization in the Houston area Pals for Pooches operates the Animal Charities Thrift Shop.
"Our mission is to raise funds to support and subsidize the spay and neuter program of pets in our community, help fund Pals for Pooches, assist senior citizens with medical and food needs for their pets and assist other local animal organizations."
They rely on "the generosity of the public and welcome any donations with open arms" and request that donations of clothing, household items, furniture and pet items be brought to the thrift shop at 22323 Loop 494 in Kingwood, TX
The phone # is 281-359-7166
Their stated hours are:
Tues-Fri from 10:00 - 4:00 and Saturday from 11:00 - 2:00
but as with any business or service that is all-volunteer run, it's always a good idea to call first to confirm hours ... especially with $4 a gallon gas!
Pals for Pooches also has a wish-list of items needed for the animals in their care.
"Our mission is to raise funds to support and subsidize the spay and neuter program of pets in our community, help fund Pals for Pooches, assist senior citizens with medical and food needs for their pets and assist other local animal organizations."
They rely on "the generosity of the public and welcome any donations with open arms" and request that donations of clothing, household items, furniture and pet items be brought to the thrift shop at 22323 Loop 494 in Kingwood, TX
The phone # is 281-359-7166
Their stated hours are:
Tues-Fri from 10:00 - 4:00 and Saturday from 11:00 - 2:00
but as with any business or service that is all-volunteer run, it's always a good idea to call first to confirm hours ... especially with $4 a gallon gas!
Pals for Pooches also has a wish-list of items needed for the animals in their care.
Dogs most likely to be stolen by breed and location
According to the Dog Detective, the breeds and colors of dogs listed below are the most likely to be stolen. Statistics are based on dogs reported as stolen to Dog Detective in the past two years.
Breeds Most Likely to be Stolen:
Pit Bull Terrier - American
Labrador Retriever
Chihuahua
Yorkshire Terrier
Pomeranian
Shih Tzu
Boxer
Bulldog - English
German Shepherd
Siberian Husky
Highest Number of Dog Thefts by City
Houston
Los Angeles
San Antonio
Miami
Dallas
Chicago
Phoenix
Indianapolis
Las Vegas
San Diego
Color of Dogs Most Likely to be Stolen
Brown & White
Black & White
White
Black & Brown
Gold/Yellow/Tan
Black & Gold/Tan
Black
Gray & White
Red
Brown/Chocolate
Highest Number of Dog Thefts by State
California
Texas
Florida
Georgia
Arizona
Ohio
North Carolina
Washington
New York
Illinois
Breeds Most Likely to be Stolen:
Pit Bull Terrier - American
Labrador Retriever
Chihuahua
Yorkshire Terrier
Pomeranian
Shih Tzu
Boxer
Bulldog - English
German Shepherd
Siberian Husky
Highest Number of Dog Thefts by City
Houston
Los Angeles
San Antonio
Miami
Dallas
Chicago
Phoenix
Indianapolis
Las Vegas
San Diego
Color of Dogs Most Likely to be Stolen
Brown & White
Black & White
White
Black & Brown
Gold/Yellow/Tan
Black & Gold/Tan
Black
Gray & White
Red
Brown/Chocolate
Highest Number of Dog Thefts by State
California
Texas
Florida
Georgia
Arizona
Ohio
North Carolina
Washington
New York
Illinois
6.26.2008
Article & response: Evaluating shelter dogs for a safe, friendly, and adaptable temperament
After the following article appeared on Petfinder, some animal welfare / animal shelter people objected to parts of it for a variety of reasons, mostly because of the controversy of Sue Sternberg's methods and beliefs.
Mike Fry, Founder and Director of Animal Ark, the largest no-kill shelter in Minnesota, offers an objective and compelling argument against some of the points of this article. Be sure to read Mike's letter to Petfinder here.
IMHO, the issue of whether or not to euthanize those dogs that are not well socialized and those with severe medical issues is what divides the animal welfare/shelter world.
| How to Pick a Winner
Pat Miller
Ask trainer Sue Sternberg where you should get a dog and, without hesitation, she'll tell you to go to an animal shelter. She should know – as a nationally recognized dog trainer and owner of Rondout Valley Kennels, a boarding kennel, training and behavior center, and private shelter in Accord, New York, she regularly works with shelters across the country, and counsels families who have adopted from them. In addition, Sternberg has produced several booklets and videotapes about issues specific to shelter dogs and shelter dog adoption. The booklets include Temperament Testing for Dogs in Shelters and A Guide to Choosing your Next Dog from the Shelter; the videos include The Controversial Pit Bull about temperament testing Pit Bulls in shelters, and Training Your Shelter Dog. She also is a frequent and popular speaker at all sorts of dog-related venues. Setting aside all of the arguments for buying a puppy from a breeder, Sternberg emphatically pronounces that you should adopt a dog from a shelter because, as she says, 'it's the right thing to do. Because there are great dogs in animal shelters, and because dogs in shelters need homes. There is no need to get a puppy from a breeder in order to raise it right – getting your dog at an early age is no guarantee of how he will turn out. Plus, you can find all the great qualities you could ever want in a shelter mixed-breed dog or puppy, or in one of the thousands of purebreds waiting in shelters on any given day.” Of course, there are plenty of canine train wrecks desperately seeking homes in animal shelters as well – dogs who will cause heartache and trauma for the average dog owner. Sternberg offers tips to help prospective adopters find the diamonds in the rough world of animal sheltering. Before you visit a shelter
The shelter visit
Stand firm on this behavior criteria as you progress through Sternberg's 12-step program for adoption success:
Pit Bulls: How to Separate the Time Bombs from the Tender Buddies Twenty-five years ago, Pit Bulls were an unusual sight in animal shelters. They exploded onto the scene in the 1980s, and today it's a rare shelter that doesn't include one or more of these distinctive and powerful dogs in its kennel population at any given time. Their history as fighting dogs, their recent record as one of the breeds most responsible for human dog-bite fatalities (surpassed only recently by Rottweilers), and their potential for mayhem has landed them in the middle of an intense debate about the breed's suitability as a companion animal. At one time, shelters almost universally euthanized all Pit Bulls that were in their custody. Over time, that position has softened, and while some shelters still refuse to place Pit Bulls for adoption, others routinely do, with screening protocols that vary in rigor. Sue Sternberg has had extensive experience with surrendered and stray Pit Bulls and Pit Bull mixes and has strong opinions about the dogs. This isn't unusual; join any debate about Pit Bulls, and you will encounter devotees who swear that they would trust their Pit Bulls to baby-sit their firstborn heir, and at the opposite extreme, parents who turn deathly pale and snatch up their children at the sight of any dog that even remotely resembles a Pit. Sternberg has seen many dogs that deserve the former reaction – sweet, devoted, tolerant dogs – as well as dogs that deserve the latter reaction – aloof, dominant, and aggressive animals. 'There are many appropriate and lovely Pit Bulls and Pit mixes,” she says. 'But because they are so strong and have such potential to do damage, however, you need to be more careful when adopting one. These are very athletic and physical dogs, far more capable than the average Beagle or Cocker Spaniel of doing serious damage, if and when they do choose to bite.” Last year, Sternberg produced an 80-minute videotape, 'The Controversial Pit Bull,” that explores the differences between Pits and Pit-mixes and most non-Pit shelter dogs. The video puts special emphasis on observing and temperament testing Pit Bulls in order to weed out potentially dangerous dogs from the candidates for placement in homes. This is especially important with Pit Bulls, because, Sternberg explains, 'At first glance, there may not be any discernible differences between a good Pit and a scary one; the average owner will think that both dogs are just being effusively friendly. Most Pit Bulls will greet you by wriggling all over and wagging their tails exuberantly, their tongues hanging out with big grins. A temperament problem is more evident in most other dogs; in Pit Bulls, it's very hard for the average person to appreciate – until it's too late.” Fortunately, there are some subtle but important differences in the behavior of Pit Bulls with latent aggressive tendencies, and Sternberg often presents lectures to shelter and training professionals on recognizing those differences. To name just a few, some of the behaviors that Sternberg regards as signs of a potentially aggressive dog include:
Sternberg recommends that anyone adopting a Pit Bull – or, for that matter, any of the 'big, macho breeds” – confer with a professional trainer/behavior consultant. 'My rule of thumb is that if you are selecting a dog that is heavier or stronger than any of your family members, talk to a pro first,” she advises. If you choose to own a Pit Bull, your already significant responsibilities as a dog owner are magnified, both by the dog's potential as well as by the eye of public scrutiny. When it comes to Pit Bulls, many people will leap to condemn a behavior that might be overlooked in a different breed of dog. And, face it: A mistake in judgment with even small dogs can have serious consequences. A judgment lapse with a Pit Bull can prove deadly. But What About the Others? Some people who are familiar with Sternberg's shelter dog selection criteria and temperament testing procedure regard her methods as overcautious and too restrictive. If everyone followed Sternberg's guidelines, some say, an awful lot of shelter dogs would get passed over and be euthanized. Sternberg admits that her guidelines are designed for the least common denominator; the average adopter from a shelter is a family with children, perhaps with another dog already, perhaps with a cat in the household, whose parents are relatively inexperienced in handling and training dogs. If followed to a T, her guidelines will identify the dogs who have the greatest potential for success in any household – a friendly, confident dog who really likes people, and does not have any blatant tendencies toward resource guarding or aggression. She also recognizes that some of the dogs that would be cast aside by her evaluation would make great canine companions in the right (experienced, perhaps dog-, cat-, and kid-free) hands and homes. But these homes are in short supply. And, in fact, an awful lot of shelter dogs do get euthanized. The current estimate is that 3 to 4 million dogs are put to death in shelters in this country every year. Many are euthanized after being returned to a shelter several times in succession, after not adjusting well to several homes, after breaking the hearts of several families in the process, and stressing the dog repeatedly. If dogs must be euthanized until this country's pet overpopulation problem is solved, it is by far the lesser of two evils that the best dogs be adopted to lifelong loving homes, rather than dogs with serious behavior problems who are recycled through numerous homes, with rare success. Besides, some of the dogs with more challenging behaviors will be adopted by experienced owners who are prepared to direct high energy and assertive personalities into appropriate channels. Others will be adopted by well-intentioned and kindhearted folks who resign themselves to managing difficult behaviors for the rest of their dogs' lives. When you find yourself feeling sorry for the poor, unsocialized dog huddling in the back of her kennel, or tempted by the challenge of the dog who avoids your advances, stop and think about it. You and your family are making a commitment to this dog for the next 10 to 15 years of your lives. You can look forward to 10 to 15 years of joy, sharing a bond with your dog that is based on mutual trust and respect, or you can face the prospect of a decade or more of headache and heartache while you manage difficult behaviors. You decide which is the right thing to do. Pat Miller is a freelance author and a professional dog trainer in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. For information about her training classes, contact Pat at Peaceable Paws Dog & Puppy Training, phone (423) 326-0444.
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