ADOPT.....a pet and consider making your new family member a special needs animal. Find a special needs pet in your area by searching petfinder.com's directory of more than 13,000 shelters.
Donate.....pet food to Petco's Food Bank Collection Program which helps owners who have fallen on hard times. Find participating locations at petco.com/petcofoundation
Supply.....shelters with cozy bedding for animals. Pets often sleep on the cold concrete or in a cramped cages as they await adoption. Purchase a bed for as little as $35 from kuranda.com/donate, and the site will ship it to a shelter of your choice.
Answer.....the daily trivia question at freekibble.com and the pet company Halo, Purely for Pets will donate 10 pieces of free kibble to one of more than 50 shelters nationwide. Since the site launched in 2008, the nonprofit has fed over 5.6 million meals to dogs and cats.
Like..... Petango.com at facebook and the site will donate $1 to an animal shelter
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
HSUS Seeking to Provide Relief from Shelter Adoption Tax
In the midst of an economic crisis, which often drastically reduces donations to charitable and community service organizations, the Missouri state legislature has slapped a new fee on non-profit animal shelters and rescue groups already extremely tight on resources to fund their operations.
"Animal shelters are already struggling to care for the vast number of homeless animals in Missouri...a challenge compounded by the sudden influx of animals stranded by recent natural disasters and near record flooding. The last thing they need is to be hit with a senseless government tax on their lifesaving, charitable efforts," said Barbara Schmitz, Missouri state director of The HSUS.
"This new fee is the wrong policy, at the wrong time, and will mean fewer dogs and cats get the medical care, vaccinations, and new loving homes they deserve."
In the midst of an economic crisis, which often drastically reduces donations to charitable and community service organizations, the Missouri state legislature has slapped a new fee on non-profit animal shelters and rescue groups already extremely tight on resources to fund their operations.
"Animal shelters are already struggling to care for the vast number of homeless animals in Missouri...a challenge compounded by the sudden influx of animals stranded by recent natural disasters and near record flooding. The last thing they need is to be hit with a senseless government tax on their lifesaving, charitable efforts," said Barbara Schmitz, Missouri state director of The HSUS.
"This new fee is the wrong policy, at the wrong time, and will mean fewer dogs and cats get the medical care, vaccinations, and new loving homes they deserve."Until the passage of SB 795 last year, Missouri's animal shelters were exempt from the licensing fees that the Missouri Department of Agriculture imposes on licensed breeders, dealers, pet stores, kennels, and other commercial entities through the Animal Care Facilities Act. Animal shelters are non-profit organizations that provide a public service to the community, and should not be lumped into the same category as for-profit commercial enterprises. In fact, it's very often the animal welfare organizations that are left to clean up the mess created by the profit-serving entities, such as the large-scale puppy mills that flood the market with dogs and puppies.
The removal of the exemption for these non-profit, community-based shelters, combined with the recent increase in the allowable range of state licensing fees passed as part of the bill enacted by the legislature which gutted the voter-approved Proposition B, could subject the already cash-strapped animal shelters in the state to hundreds or thousands of dollars, in additional fees each and every year. As a result, shelters will have fewer resources to care for animals and place them for adoption.
To counteract this severely misguided legislative maneuver, The Humane Society of the United States leaped into action on behalf of shelters and rescue groups throughout Missouri. The HSUS, the Dogwood Animal Shelter in Osage Beach, MO, and Stray Rescue of St. Louis, have filed suit seeking to stop this new government fee. In addition, the HSUS is urging the Missouri Department of Agriculture to include a hardship exemption for shelters and rescue groups in the regulations it has proposed to implement SB 161.
The legislative actions taken here in Missouri present a stark contrast to those in Pennsylvania. While Missouri is taxing shelters who adopt out dogs and cats, thereby actually imposing a financial penalty on animal welfare groups who provide new loving homes to dogs and cats in need, Pennsylvania is providing a tax credit to those who adopt homeless dogs and cats. PA's H.B. 1765 would provide a $300 tax credit to people who adopt dogs or cats from animal shelters throughout the state. The Pennsylvania model would serve as an example of a tax incentive which is properly aligned with the humane goal of providing loving homes for animals in need...this is the type of clear logic which seems to be in short supply these days in Jefferson City.
The removal of the exemption for these non-profit, community-based shelters, combined with the recent increase in the allowable range of state licensing fees passed as part of the bill enacted by the legislature which gutted the voter-approved Proposition B, could subject the already cash-strapped animal shelters in the state to hundreds or thousands of dollars, in additional fees each and every year. As a result, shelters will have fewer resources to care for animals and place them for adoption.
To counteract this severely misguided legislative maneuver, The Humane Society of the United States leaped into action on behalf of shelters and rescue groups throughout Missouri. The HSUS, the Dogwood Animal Shelter in Osage Beach, MO, and Stray Rescue of St. Louis, have filed suit seeking to stop this new government fee. In addition, the HSUS is urging the Missouri Department of Agriculture to include a hardship exemption for shelters and rescue groups in the regulations it has proposed to implement SB 161.
The legislative actions taken here in Missouri present a stark contrast to those in Pennsylvania. While Missouri is taxing shelters who adopt out dogs and cats, thereby actually imposing a financial penalty on animal welfare groups who provide new loving homes to dogs and cats in need, Pennsylvania is providing a tax credit to those who adopt homeless dogs and cats. PA's H.B. 1765 would provide a $300 tax credit to people who adopt dogs or cats from animal shelters throughout the state. The Pennsylvania model would serve as an example of a tax incentive which is properly aligned with the humane goal of providing loving homes for animals in need...this is the type of clear logic which seems to be in short supply these days in Jefferson City.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Fabulous Information From the Wonderful Site of The Puppy Mill Project
Know the Law
Current Pet Store Law in Illinois
What you need to know about Pet Store Disclosure in Illinois
Pet stores like to tell their customers that they get their puppies from small family breeders, or local breeders that they have been dealing with for many years. Sometimes they say they go and hand pick the puppies and drive them to the store themselves. They also say their breeders are private breeders, home breeders, reputable breeders or even USDA approved breeders. These sorts of statements should be enough to make you question where the dogs are coming from.
Most people do not willingly buy puppies from puppy mills or mass dog breeding operations where profit is more important than the health of the dogs but according to the Humane Society United States, that is where 99% of puppies sold in pet stores come from, regardless of what the store says.
Illinois laws have changed for consumer protection because so many have not been told the truth about the new puppy they have purchased, and so many have spent thousands of dollars on vet bills enduring heartache with sick and dying puppies.
On Sunday, August 22, 2010 Governor, Pat Quinn signed a law provides consumers more information before they purchase a dog or cat. As of January 1, 2011, pet stores in Illinois are required to post the breeder information on the cages of the puppies they are selling. The information should be posted out in the open for all to see. If you have to ask the store for it, they are breaking the law. This disclosure is very important and allows the consumer to do their research before they purchase a pet.
What Pet Stores must disclose on or near the cages:
If you have to ask for this information, they are in violation of the law and you should report them to the Illinois Department of Agriculture. jackie.eckert@illinois.gov,
Name and address of breeder
License number and USDA license number if applicable
Age, sex and weight of the animal
Breed of the animal
Record of vaccinations, veterinary care and treatment
Record of surgical or lack of sterilization
Current Pet Store Law in Illinois
What you need to know about Pet Store Disclosure in Illinois
Pet stores like to tell their customers that they get their puppies from small family breeders, or local breeders that they have been dealing with for many years. Sometimes they say they go and hand pick the puppies and drive them to the store themselves. They also say their breeders are private breeders, home breeders, reputable breeders or even USDA approved breeders. These sorts of statements should be enough to make you question where the dogs are coming from.
Most people do not willingly buy puppies from puppy mills or mass dog breeding operations where profit is more important than the health of the dogs but according to the Humane Society United States, that is where 99% of puppies sold in pet stores come from, regardless of what the store says.
Illinois laws have changed for consumer protection because so many have not been told the truth about the new puppy they have purchased, and so many have spent thousands of dollars on vet bills enduring heartache with sick and dying puppies.
On Sunday, August 22, 2010 Governor, Pat Quinn signed a law provides consumers more information before they purchase a dog or cat. As of January 1, 2011, pet stores in Illinois are required to post the breeder information on the cages of the puppies they are selling. The information should be posted out in the open for all to see. If you have to ask the store for it, they are breaking the law. This disclosure is very important and allows the consumer to do their research before they purchase a pet.
What Pet Stores must disclose on or near the cages:
If you have to ask for this information, they are in violation of the law and you should report them to the Illinois Department of Agriculture. jackie.eckert@illinois.gov,
Name and address of breeder
License number and USDA license number if applicable
Age, sex and weight of the animal
Breed of the animal
Record of vaccinations, veterinary care and treatment
Record of surgical or lack of sterilization
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
The Puppy Mill Project Rocks.....
What you should know
Facts and Common Misconceptions
Puppy mills commercially breed dogs. They are poorly regulated by the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture). Under the Animal Welfare Act, dogs are considered "livestock". This enables mass production of dogs in horrible conditions. The dogs are bred and sold in the same way as chickens or cows. They are purchased from the mills by brokers who then take them to a "distribution facility" where they are put on a truck and shipped to pet stores.
The dogs live in deplorable conditions. They are kept in wire cages. They are denied adequate exercise, medical care and water. The cages are filthy and the dogs must sit, eat and sleep in their own mess. They are not bathed or cleaned. The adult dogs are bred every heat cycle until they can no longer produce puppies or are no longer profitable. Then they are disposed of by poisoning, drowning or by gunshot. A few get rescued.
PLEASE - DON'T BE FOOLED!!
Thinking of buying a puppy at a pet store? They're so cute!!! Do you know where that puppy comes from? Do you know the breeder? Are they reputable?
When you buy a puppy at a pet store, you are not "rescuing" that dog - you are perpetuating a cycle. They will fill the empty cage the next day. When you see that cute puppy in the window of a pet store, it is likely that it came from a place like the one pictured above. A commercial dog breeding facility or puppy mill where dogs are constantly bred so the puppies can be sold on the Internet or in pet stores.
HERE ARE SOME FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE YOU BUY:
Buying a puppy from a pet store, internet site and through newspaper ads supports puppy mills.
Pet stores, that sell puppy mill puppies to consumers, are committing consumer fraud. They tell consumers that their puppies come from responsible breeders, when in fact they come from inhumane puppy mills. Pet stores deceive the public by telling their customer they use local, private, USDA approved, responsible and home breeders. They can say anything they want to get you to buy the dog. Puppy mills sell the puppies for $300 - $500, brokers sell them to the pet stores for $400 - $800, and the stores sell them to the public for $600 - $3000 per puppy! Huge profits are made at the expense of the dogs in the mills.
Even buying a puppy online supports puppy mills.
Internet sales of animals are not regulated by the USDA, so online pet stores can evade all regulatory requirements. Puppy mills can sell puppies online and directly thru newspaper ads easily, without a need for a pet store with a store-front to impress and fool consumers. Don’t be fooled by beautiful web sites! They can portray any image they want but the reality of the “kennel” is not what they say. Be aware of a “breeder” who will ship a dog overnight.
COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS:
“A pet store I visited said that their puppies come from responsible breeders.”
Responsible breeders only sell their dogs personally (never in a store or online) because they want to ensure that their dogs are going to quality homes. Don’t be fooled by this! Anyone who puts two dogs together and produces puppies can be called a breeder.
“If I want a specific dog breed I have to buy from a pet store.”
Every dog breed has a rescue and a kennel club. Ask them for names of responsible breeders and by the way pocket puppies are not a breed.
“Only designer dogs come from puppy mills.”
No dog breed is immune to the horrors of puppy mills, from Cocker Spaniels to Golden Retrievers, and Labradoodles to Puggles, all dogs.
“If I want to get a dog right now I should buy from a pet store where they are waiting in the window for me.”
Don’t let a need for instant gratification get the best of you, you may be able to buy a dog now, but you may pay for it later in veterinary costs due to the poor conditions that the dog was born in.
“Pet stores have guarantees that ensure I buy a quality dog.”
The guarantees many times protect the the store's interest more than the customer. Some only last for a very limited amount of time and may not allow for health problems to surface, if you return a dog realize that it will be returned to the puppy mill to become a breeding dog or simply killed.
“Dogs from pet stores come with papers of authenticity from a kennel club, so it must be a quality dog?”
Papers are purchased and not earned, with kennel clubs and unofficial ‘registration’ organizations providing paperwork for a small fee to anyone willing to pay, the only way to ensure a quality dog is to meet the dog’s parents in person. A responsible breeder has nothing to hide! The AKC and APRI will register a puppy mill dog.
The Puppy Mill Project.
Facts and Common Misconceptions
Puppy mills commercially breed dogs. They are poorly regulated by the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture). Under the Animal Welfare Act, dogs are considered "livestock". This enables mass production of dogs in horrible conditions. The dogs are bred and sold in the same way as chickens or cows. They are purchased from the mills by brokers who then take them to a "distribution facility" where they are put on a truck and shipped to pet stores.
The dogs live in deplorable conditions. They are kept in wire cages. They are denied adequate exercise, medical care and water. The cages are filthy and the dogs must sit, eat and sleep in their own mess. They are not bathed or cleaned. The adult dogs are bred every heat cycle until they can no longer produce puppies or are no longer profitable. Then they are disposed of by poisoning, drowning or by gunshot. A few get rescued.
PLEASE - DON'T BE FOOLED!!
Thinking of buying a puppy at a pet store? They're so cute!!! Do you know where that puppy comes from? Do you know the breeder? Are they reputable?
When you buy a puppy at a pet store, you are not "rescuing" that dog - you are perpetuating a cycle. They will fill the empty cage the next day. When you see that cute puppy in the window of a pet store, it is likely that it came from a place like the one pictured above. A commercial dog breeding facility or puppy mill where dogs are constantly bred so the puppies can be sold on the Internet or in pet stores.
HERE ARE SOME FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE YOU BUY:
Buying a puppy from a pet store, internet site and through newspaper ads supports puppy mills.
Pet stores, that sell puppy mill puppies to consumers, are committing consumer fraud. They tell consumers that their puppies come from responsible breeders, when in fact they come from inhumane puppy mills. Pet stores deceive the public by telling their customer they use local, private, USDA approved, responsible and home breeders. They can say anything they want to get you to buy the dog. Puppy mills sell the puppies for $300 - $500, brokers sell them to the pet stores for $400 - $800, and the stores sell them to the public for $600 - $3000 per puppy! Huge profits are made at the expense of the dogs in the mills.
Even buying a puppy online supports puppy mills.
Internet sales of animals are not regulated by the USDA, so online pet stores can evade all regulatory requirements. Puppy mills can sell puppies online and directly thru newspaper ads easily, without a need for a pet store with a store-front to impress and fool consumers. Don’t be fooled by beautiful web sites! They can portray any image they want but the reality of the “kennel” is not what they say. Be aware of a “breeder” who will ship a dog overnight.
COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS:
“A pet store I visited said that their puppies come from responsible breeders.”
Responsible breeders only sell their dogs personally (never in a store or online) because they want to ensure that their dogs are going to quality homes. Don’t be fooled by this! Anyone who puts two dogs together and produces puppies can be called a breeder.
“If I want a specific dog breed I have to buy from a pet store.”
Every dog breed has a rescue and a kennel club. Ask them for names of responsible breeders and by the way pocket puppies are not a breed.
“Only designer dogs come from puppy mills.”
No dog breed is immune to the horrors of puppy mills, from Cocker Spaniels to Golden Retrievers, and Labradoodles to Puggles, all dogs.
“If I want to get a dog right now I should buy from a pet store where they are waiting in the window for me.”
Don’t let a need for instant gratification get the best of you, you may be able to buy a dog now, but you may pay for it later in veterinary costs due to the poor conditions that the dog was born in.
“Pet stores have guarantees that ensure I buy a quality dog.”
The guarantees many times protect the the store's interest more than the customer. Some only last for a very limited amount of time and may not allow for health problems to surface, if you return a dog realize that it will be returned to the puppy mill to become a breeding dog or simply killed.
“Dogs from pet stores come with papers of authenticity from a kennel club, so it must be a quality dog?”
Papers are purchased and not earned, with kennel clubs and unofficial ‘registration’ organizations providing paperwork for a small fee to anyone willing to pay, the only way to ensure a quality dog is to meet the dog’s parents in person. A responsible breeder has nothing to hide! The AKC and APRI will register a puppy mill dog.
The Puppy Mill Project.
Should I Be Present for My Pet’s Euthanation??? By: Dr. Eric Barchas
The decision to euthanize a pet is the hardest choice any pet owner has to make. Although euthanasia may be the best thing for a suffering animal, it is never easy to decide to put a long-time friend to sleep.
Although liability concerns are starting to take a small bite out of owner choice on the matter, the majority of vets I know offer the choice to stay with your pet during euthanasia. In my experience, about half of owners wish to be present for their pets’ final moments. The other half prefers to remember their pets as they were in life.
If you decide to be present, you should be aware of what will happen. The euthanasia solution is usually injected intravenously (directly into a vein). Some vets have staff members place IV catheters in pets beforehand so that it’s not necessary to stick the pets with any needles. Because it is a type of sedative, the procedure is rapid and generally very peaceful. Some vets administer additional sedatives before the euthanasia solution.
Animals’ eyes usually remain open, and some may lose bowel or bladder control. A small number of pets seem to take a few short breaths after the procedure, but these are reflexive motions of the chest muscles and diaphragm.
Ultimately, only you can decide whether it’s appropriate to be present during the procedure. Look inside your heart to see what’s best for you and for your pet.
The decision to euthanize a pet is the hardest choice any pet owner has to make. Although euthanasia may be the best thing for a suffering animal, it is never easy to decide to put a long-time friend to sleep.
Although liability concerns are starting to take a small bite out of owner choice on the matter, the majority of vets I know offer the choice to stay with your pet during euthanasia. In my experience, about half of owners wish to be present for their pets’ final moments. The other half prefers to remember their pets as they were in life.
If you decide to be present, you should be aware of what will happen. The euthanasia solution is usually injected intravenously (directly into a vein). Some vets have staff members place IV catheters in pets beforehand so that it’s not necessary to stick the pets with any needles. Because it is a type of sedative, the procedure is rapid and generally very peaceful. Some vets administer additional sedatives before the euthanasia solution.
Animals’ eyes usually remain open, and some may lose bowel or bladder control. A small number of pets seem to take a few short breaths after the procedure, but these are reflexive motions of the chest muscles and diaphragm.
Ultimately, only you can decide whether it’s appropriate to be present during the procedure. Look inside your heart to see what’s best for you and for your pet.
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