Overcrowding, understaffing at Chicago's Animal Care & Control

 
First we received pictures from inside Chicago Animal Care and Control taken over the past few weeks. The complaints were from longtime employees and a rescue worker, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of losing their jobs. There was also a veterinary intern who became overwhelmed by what she saw. They were concerned about the way the animals were being treated.

Earlier this month WGNTV went undercover inside Animal Care and Control.

Dogs were doubled up in cages because of overcrowding. Cats were living in small carriers because there wasn't a cage for them. Shelter workers tell us some stayed on a loading dock for up to 72 hours in sweltering conditions.

Cats were sick with upper respiratory infections. Their eyes were crusted over and they were sneezing.

Animals had open wounds; a dog with a sore on its back, acat with an eye infection, adog with the deadly and highly contagious parvo disease. They were all in cages next to healthy cats and dogs.

"Peter," a longtime employee, says he has never seen conditions at the shelter so bad. He says they don't have the staff to care for all the animals.

The director, Cherie Travis, agrees there is a staffing problem.

Travis is an animal rights attorney and an adjunct professor of Animal Law at DePaul and Northwestern Universities. She is the co-founder of CASA, an organization that wants to eliminate the needless euthanasia of Chicago's animals also known as no-kill. On her facebook page, she says her goal is to make Animal Care and Control no kill in 3-5 years. ] Although Travis doesn't really want to talk about it.

WGNTV gave her an opportunity to respond to the story and she chose not to. She called the news director and asked that the story not run.


http://www.wgntv.com/news/wgntv-chicago-animal-control-conditions-aug30,0,3802658.story

Dogs aren't the only ones being killed

According to the American Humane Association, nearly 10 million animals are euthanized annually in the United States. That's 833,333 every month- 208,333 every week - 27,778 each day - 1,157 every hour! Or...think of it this way - 19 companion animals are put to sleep every minute of every hour of every day each year!! PLEASE do your part by having your pet spayed or neutered!!

Thousands upon thousands of kittens die every year because they are unwanted. I came across this photo today and it tugged at my heart. Here is his info
NY NY Manhattan Animal Control 
Center (AKA Death Central)

August 31, 2010
****Soon
to be on Euthanasia
List if not
rescued!
Ralph #A872237 (His ID #)
shelter: CALL: 212 722 4939


Someone made a comment on my blog yesterday and asked if I care so much for animals why dont I ever post for the cats.Well heres the reason I keep my focus on dogs because that is the main stories I read up on. I also do post for other important issues but mainly dogs.I will try to post more stories about this issue in the following months to come. 




If you have never seen kittens being stuffed in a kill box and dug out to burn then you wont get the full picture here. Its time for people to wake up.Its a true fact of life and in order for things to change I think  people would have to be fined for not fixing their animal.




If you have something urgent you would like me to share just email me at justice4babyboy@yahoo.com

Dog chews off own foot to survive (story with updates)

This is Georgia. A beautiful 2 year old German Shepherd who was dumped  in the drop box at the Humane Society in Brewton, AL. Further investigation revealed that she was tethered to a metal chain, got tangled in it, and lost nerve and muscle function in the hind leg that was caught. Eventually the poor baby started to chew on her own leg to be able to escape her confinement.She is now in good hands, being stabilized at the local animal hospital (she is also as you can see rail thin, and anemic due to worms infestation). As soon as her physical condition allows it, she will undergo surgery to amputate her hind leg which can not be saved. Her surgery alone is expected to amount to around $1,500 which is a huge burden on a small rural shelter with limited possibilities. They are awesome people with hearts of gold who try to do everything right by the numerous animals dumped in their lap. Please help them if you can!!!They have just set a donation site which is only going be operational as of tomorrow - 8/20:

http://www.petango.com/humanesocietybrewton

(scroll all the way to the bottom of the page and there is a "Donate" button)

Their phone number is 251-867-6860See Morehttp://www.petango.com/humanesocietybrewton

(scroll all the way to the bottom of the page and there is a "Donate" button)

Their phone number is 251-867-6860

UPDATES 

Georgia has had her surgery and doing much better

Brave girl, showing so much courage despite what she went through. May she always be surrounded by the most gentle hearts and experience love every day of her life. This story broke my heart, I have much compassion for her. You are a beautiful girl Georgia, you deserve only kindness and love.






Layla was brought into the same shelter as georgia this is her story

Layla is a dog with an iron will to live and she needs your help to do that. Initially wandering the streets fending for herself, she ended up emaciated and parasite infested, in a home who treated her for the parasites and fed her, but then put her on a tether in the backyard. Once she regained her strength, she managed to escape the tether and set out again, only to be hit and dragged by a car. When she came to our shelter hours after being hit, the look in her eyes seemed to say "OK, I give up." But two days of pain meds and antibiotics have given her hope again. That, unfortunately, isn't enough. While no bones are broken, the black places on her chest and side are dying skin and must be removed and skin grafted for Layla to make a recovery. She must also have a caretaker who is willing to care for her during the months that it will take for a full recovery. Layla tried and tried again to find that home that she needs, but she needs our intervention now to make it a reality for her. So many don't make it this far on their own. We find them on the roads and highways dead, the broken chain still dangling from their necks. So many try and fail. Layla made it to us, she tried and got this far, into our shelter, into our arms. Won't you be part of her happy ending? Donate now toward her surgery and care.

www.petango.com/humanesocietybrewton

Raising Awareness That what it's all about

A Tri-Cities pastor admits to killing a neighbor's puppy

Story Published: Aug 27, 2010 at 11:31 PM

Link Here 

He says the dog was getting into his chicken coop and killing his hens.

KEPR Action News got both sides of the story, including the pastor who explains why he did it, and the dog owner who calls it cruel.

"I don't understand how someone could be so cruel and inhumane," Christy Rose said.

Christy Rose says her 6 month old Siberian Husky named "Jack" got out of the yard when she wasn't home.

When she got home, she had a note on her door from her neighbor. It said that her dogs had killed some of his chickens and that she should keep them locked up.

Christy went to her neighbor's house to get the dog.

"He looked at me and said your puppy is no more, he's dead. I looked at him. I was dumb founded and I didn't know what to say or do and I said so you shot my puppy? And he goes no , I used a knife on it, that's all I had," David Rea said.

Christy says her dog's throat was slit.

KEPR Action News went to talk that neighbor.

He is David Rea, Pastor of Tri-Cities Baptist Church.

He wouldn't go on camera, but he spoke to KEPR Action News for 30 minutes outside his home.

This is the story he tells: he says his children saw Jack and another dog jump his fence and start killing his chickens.

He told KEPR Action News he tried to get the dog off the chickens and when that didn't work, he says he had no choice but to kill Jack.

David wouldn't tell KEPR Action News exactly how the dog died, but he says he says it didn't die from a slit throat, he says he put him down "humanely."

David says if he was to do it again, he'd let the dog kill the chickens.

Christy showed KEPR Action News pictures she took of Jack's wounds.

The images are disturbing and were too much to air on TV.

She believes his throat was slit.

David Rea showed KEPR Action News the damage the dog did to one of his chickens.

He had to bury 9 of them.

"He claims to be a preacher for the Tri-Cities Baptist Church, he claims to be a man of God, a man of God would love the animals and respect nature, not horrifically kill something," Christy Rose said.

However, David says he's also lost animals.

He says he had a problem with dogs running loose in the neighborhood.

Christy says this is the first time her dogs had gotten out.

"Before I got home, my puppy was taken care of, without even the option of righting the wrong," Christy Rose said.

Christy says her children are devastated and she's hoping that something will be done before it happens to another family.

David Rea spoke to our partners at the Tri-City Herald on Thursday about a dog he shot that was on his property earlier this year.

When Action News spoke to David Rea on Friday he appeared to tell a story about a third dog he said he killed a couple years ago, when he found it on his property and didn't know where to take it.

He felt shooting it was the humane thing to do.

KEPR Action News went a step further and called the Benton County Sheriff's Department to see if he could face charges, but we have not heard back.

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How to Start a Non-Profit Animal Rescue

If you're an animal welfare supporter, you might have thought about starting up your own non-profit animal rescue. Perhaps there are no shelters in your area, or the existing rescues are being asked to assist more animals than they can accommodate.

If starting an animal rescue interests you, be aware that it is no small task. The smaller the rescue the more manageable it might be, but regardless of the size, you'll want to follow the same steps to get up and running.
step
1
Determine your community's need for an animal rescue. Visit local shelters in your area. Test the waters with them to find out how a new shelter would be received. If the need in the area for additional resources is great or if your community doesn't currently have a shelter, you're probably on the right track.

Step
2
Determine your own strengths and weaknesses. Where does your expertise lie? Are you business-savvy, a natural at fundraising or is your experience focused on taking care of animals? Whatever your experience, you will need to augment your talents with people who can fill in the blanks.

Step
3
Form a team. Use what you've learned from determining your strengths and weaknesses and seek out a group of like-minded individuals. You'll need people with experience in management, fundraising, accounting, and animal welfare to help get the rescue off the ground and keep it running. If you are incorporating, you will also need a board of directors.

Step
4
Develop your business plan. With help from your team, write out your mission and goals. Define roles and responsibilities.

Step
5
File for incorporation as a non-profit to qualify for the IRS's 501 (c) 3 tax-exempt status. You will need to submit your mission statement, bylaws, and articles of incorporation as well as a list of your board of directors. This can be a complicated process so you'll want to retain an attorney. Keep this in mind when you're assembling your initial team - perhaps there's an animal-loving attorney in your area willing to represent you pro bono.

Step
6
Open a chequing account for the organization and put in as much money as you can afford to cover incidentals like photocopying and small fees.

Step
7
Decide what type of animal rescue you'll pursue. Will the rescue be open to all animals, companion animals or a specific type or breed? Will you offer sanctuary until adopted ("no kill") or do you support euthanasia as a last resort? What role will you play in the community? Will you provide education through classes or newsletters? Will you require additional volunteers?

Step
8
After about six months, your organization will receive its incorporation as a non-profit and you'll need to turn your attention to raising funds. Hopefully you have an experienced fundraiser on your team who can lead you through this. Just remember, people tend to ignore a general call for help but are much more likely to assist if you make a personal request. Get in front of as many people as you can.

Step
9
Let the community know you exist. Scour the yellow pages for kennels, vet clinics, groomers and other animal-related businesses and services and let them know about your rescue. Start putting together a snail mail and email mailing list of other rescue organizations, individuals and businesses that would be interested in learning about your rescue.

Step
10
Open the doors and call the press. Your organization is now ready to fulfill its goals and provide a safe haven for animals in need. Put up some balloons, ask local businesses to provide door prizes and call the local radio stations and newspapers for some free press

How to Solicit Donations for an Animal Rescue Group

Animal rescue groups are often self-funded and rely on donations from the public in order to stay in operation. Donations of food, dog dishes, leashes, collars and other supplies are always in need, as are financial donations. If you want to help by soliciting more donations for your local animal rescue group, start spreading the word and working your community. The more donations you can obtain, the better off the animals will be in the future.
step
1
Make donation jars out of old coffee cans, jars or tin cans. Create fliers asking for donations for animals. Paste the fliers around the donation jars. Cut a slit opening in the top of the jars, so that people can drop money in.

Step
2
Visit local businesses and shops, asking them if you can leave the donation jars on the counters. Make sure you let them know that you will stop in once a week to collect, and leave your telephone number with them in case they fill up faster.

Step
3
Ask local grocery stores and pet stores if you can put out a large cardboard box to collect donations of animals food and supplies. This encourages people to purchase some while in the store. They can drop off their donations in the bin on the way out. Again, be sure to check these bins often in case they start to fill up.

Step
4
Write a letter to community residents asking for donations of either money or supplies. Contact a local title company to inquire about obtaining mailing labels to mail these letters. Most title companies have the ability to get mailing labels very easily, and if they know that it is for a good cause, they may do it for free. If you don't want to mail these letters, hand deliver them to the door, or put in their newspaper boxes.

Step
5
Contact a local newspaper to inquire about some free media attention for your efforts. Perhaps the newspaper editor can put in a story about helping animals and rescue groups, or maybe the advertising director will place a free ad asking for donations. Branch out a little and contact a few local newspaper editors in the surrounding communities as well.

Step
6
Contact local boy scout and girl scout groups to see if they would be interested in helping. These groups need to do these projects in order to earn badges, and the more people are out working for donations, the more you are likely to receive.

Step
7
Send letters home to all the children in the school system. Be sure to ask the principal of each school first. In the letter, explain what you are doing and where donations can be dropped off or sent.

Step
8
Ask a local store manager if you can set up a table or booth outside of his store on a busy day. Have information to pass out regarding animals in need. If possible, have an available dog or cat there as well to gain attention. It is hard to resist a cute animal.

How to Support Animal Rescue Groups

Animal rescue groups save the lives of thousands of domestic animals every year, but the work isn't easy. Almost all groups function on a donation basis and need help to continue to save homeless animals. Even if you can't take in a needy dog or cat, you can still support animal rescue groups. Just follow these easy steps.
step
1
Make a monetary donation when possible or purchase items where a portion of the sale goes to an animal rescue group. Organizations use these funds for medical care, food, shelter and training. The ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), the United States Humane Society, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and many others offer apparel, pet items and even personal checks to help raise money for their mission.

Step
2
Volunteer at an area shelter or with a local rescue group. They need help cleaning cages, walking dogs and feeding animals, assisting at adoption events and with general clerical work and fundraising. Even an hour or two of your time each week makes a huge difference to these groups.

Step
3
Donate items to a local rescue organization. They're in need of bedding for the animals (blankets and pillows), food, gently used collars and leashes, portable cages, dishes, as well as office supplies such as paper, envelopes, stamps and markers. Join their mailing or email list. Most groups sent out monthly newsletters detailing their specific needs.

Step
4
Spay or neuter stray animals you find in your neighborhood. Animal rescue groups are severely overcrowded, and strays (particularly cats) breed very quickly when left unaltered. They usually end up in shelters and are often put down for lack of space. Many veterinarians and city animal control offices offer discount services for strays.

Step
5
Adopt a homeless animal. A huge variety of dogs, cats and small domestic pets like rabbits and guinea pigs are available for adoption. Choose adoption over purchasing from a breeder. This frees up space for animal rescue groups to save other homeless animals. You can even find many pure-breed choices in a shelter. Visit Petfinder.com to locate a needy animal in your area 

KILLING DOGS THAT DISTURB THE PEACE IN TENNESSEE

LEBANON, Tenn. – The city of Lebanon might adopt a new ordinance that could lead to a dog being euthanized if it "disturbs the peace" and local pet owners are not happy.

City Councilman William Farmer is trying to pass a city ordinance that would help control dangerous dogs and dogs that cause a nuisance within the city limits.

Michelle Lee, with the animal welfare group New Leash on Life, is opposed to the ordinance.

"I think there are two many issues lumped together in one ordinance. You have issues of dangerous dogs, and then you have [dogs] running at large and disturbing the peace buy excessive barking," she said.

The ordinance would also allow the government to euthanize a dog if the owner does not change its behavior.

Farmer told News 2 that there is some miscommunication regarding that aspect of the ordinance, though.

"Anybody that thinks you can just take your dog and euthanize it because of this ordinance, No. 1, doesn't understand the ordinance," he said.  "There are three steps of due process that protect the dog from being officially harmed."

Farmer said that he loves and owns dogs himself, so the ordinance is written to give animal owners multiple opportunities to correct their pet's behavior before being subject to an order of destruction.

Barking dogs can be annoying in any neighborhood, but the idea of a dog being euthanized, regardless of how many warnings an owner gets, does not sit well with animal lovers.

"I don't think an animal should be euthanized because an owner leaves it outside on a chain for it to bark and disturb the neighbors," said Lee.

Lebanon Mayor Philip Craighead has already vetoed the ordinance.

The veto, however, could be overturned by the city council at their next meeting, which is set for September 7.

"Mr. William Farmer wants to silence Fluffy, permanently."

So, let's let our friends in Lebanon, Tennessee, know that their Mayor deserves a huge shout out for common sense in vetoing this crap the first time and that if this particular segment of the ordinance passes, Lebanon, Tennessee, will be known as the small town with a heart of stone - enough to kill family pets who bark. That should make it hugely attractive to people who might want to move there or employers looking to relocate to a small town with a friendly atmosphere. A few thousand emails from the world at large might remind them that their actions will affect how the world sees them. It may also affect their bottom line if people stop doing business with Lebanon, Tennessee.

As a start, let's send the city councilmen voting on this matter on September 5, 2010, a polite wave of emails reminding them that this ordinance makes them look like a bunch of hillbillies. You can reach them here:


Ward One
Alex Buhler
1003 N. Cumberland
Lebanon, TN. 37087
615-449-3945
Email: abuhler21@bellsouth.net

Ward Two
Kevin Huddleston
224 Sycamore Street
Lebanon, TN. 37087
615-444-8042
Email: khut615@aol.com

Ward Three - this one is the sponsor, so be sure to say hi!
William Farmer
406 Martin Ave.
Lebanon, TN. 37087
615-444-0477
Email: wefarmer.Lebanon@att.net

Ward Four
Joe Hayes
517 Terry Lane
Lebanon, TN. 37087
615-444-4600
Email: j.a.n.hayes@juno.com

Ward Five
Haywood Barry
103 Oak Hill Circle
Lebanon, TN. 37087
615-444-6371
Email: Haybay1938@hotmail.com

Ward Six
Kathy Warmath
2032 Blue Ribbon Downs
Lebanon, TN. 37087
Home: 615-449-1907
Work: 449-0045
Email: kwarmath@charter.net

Remember to be polite, but firm. 

The Humane Society coordinated a massive operations, and helped remove hundreds of dogs from Horton's business in November of 2007. It was considered the largest dog rescue operation in America.

"Never Forget "
This story all began in 2007 I wanted to share with you all that has happened.
Judge Turner did not sentence Horton to any jail time. Instead the judge suspended the 12 year sentence and placed him on probation. The judge also suspended most of the fines. Horton was only ordered to pay $250 on each of the 14 counts of animal cruelty and $50 on each of the 25 counts of neglect. Horton was fined $25 for failing to have a license. The fines imposed totaled $4,750. The judge also indicated Horton will be responsible for paying the cost of veterinary care for the dogs when they were seized in a raid last year.  Horton claims he will leave the state and find a place where "you have rights".


The judge left Horton with 250 dogs. But under the new puppy mill law set to take effect in January, 2009, Horton will not be able to operate as a commercial dog breeder under Virginia law because of the convictions and, even if he could, he would be limited to keeping no more than 50 dogs over the age of 4 months.

links to all news reports here

March 2009 

Court denies second appeal of Junior Horton

http://www2.wsls.com/news/2009/mar/17/appeals_cout_denies_case_of_convicted_animal_abuse-ar-387222/

Convicted Va. Puppy Miller Is Back

http://www.hsus.org/pets/pets_related_news_and_events/horton_arrested_again_042409.html

Blog with photos and Info

http://www.meetup.com/PlansForPups/messages/boards/thread/4061666?thread=4061666

Animal Law Coalition 

http://www.animallawcoalition.com/companion-animal-breeding/article/515

Dogs' Best Friends to the Rescue

Volunteers Rush to the Aid of Animals Seized at Suspected Va. Puppy Mill

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2007/11/10/ST2007111000241.html