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I arrived at work yesterday morning to big brown eyes staring at me from the car that I had parked next to. A gorgeous boxer was seated politely, apparently waiting for her owner to return. All four windows were cracked a couple of inches, and I greeted her back with a bright “Morning pup!” and went along my way up to my office. As the morning went on, I noted that the car was still parked in the parking lot. I was making mental notes of what the temperature was outside, and feeling bad that the bored and lonely dog just had to sit there all morning. Around lunchtime, as the car was still parked there, I was consistently growing more nervous. Even though the windows were cracked, the temperature was creeping into the 70s, and I knew that the beautiful dog could not stay in that car all day. Not knowing whom the pup belonged to, I had no choice but to call the authorities and ask them to come over. They arrived late in the afternoon and tracked down the owner of the dog. Surprisingly, they apparently determined that, although this was far from ideal conditions for the dog, it wasn’t so hot in the car that the dog was in any immanent danger, and the authorities left the lot, and the owner returned to work until 4pm. Although they determined that the dog’s immediate health was not in danger, the poor dog sat there, in an extremely warm car for over 8 hours with no toys, no one to play with, and nothing to do but sit there and bake. I was appalled. Apparently the girl had a good enough excuse for the authorities to allow the dog to suffer for the entire day.

I understand, as a dog Mom of 2, and sometimes more, that things come up… And problems always seem to surface at the most inopportune times. We have all left our dog an hour or two more than expected at home, and felt miserable about it, or, as I recently did, forgot a dog’s birthday until the next day. Things always happen, and I am sure that your dog understands; that is what is so great about dogs, they always forgive you, and they always seem to forget all the accidental parenting that you might do. However, when these problems arise, or something comes up, and it is putting a dog’s health in danger, I do not believe that there is an excuse. I don’t know what the situation was with the dog in the car yesterday, but it simply needed to be avoided. There is absolutely no excuse for that.

I have said it before and I will say it again, we can’t blame people for what they don’t know. Even though I completely consider this common sense, I will share it all with you, and hope that you pass it along to EVERYONE you know….

• Hundreds of dogs DIE every year in parked cars that get too hot. These are avoidable deaths.
• Hundreds of dogs that live through the heat suffer from permanent brain damage as a result of sitting in a hot car.
• The temperature inside a car can raise 30 degrees or more higher than the temperature outside because of the lack of air, and magnifying windows.
• Cracking the windows does NOT make it ok to leave your dog in a car on a hot day, and only slightly decreases the temperature.
• Don’t assume that because it is moderately warm outside (50s and 60s) that it is ok to leave your dog in a car. That temperature can quickly rise to 70s and 80s or more.
• Always think ahead when you are leaving your dog in a car, even if you think you are only going to be a “couple of minutes”. Things come up, and that small amount of time can turn into an hour. One hour can be deadly for your best friend.
• Leaving your dog in a car all day long while you are at work is unacceptable, regardless of the temperature. Have a backup plan.
• IF you see a dog in a car on a warm day, assess the situation and call the appropriate parties if necessary.
• ALWAYS make sure your dog has plenty of fresh cool water, even on cool days!

Please visit mydogiscool.com for more information and SPREAD THE WORD!!!

www.packlife.org

Neville, a Bomb Sniffing Dog

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Every single time I hear about a dog biting, attacking, or mauling a person, a little part of my heart breaks. It is just a horrible situation that affects so many people, and I think that the more we recognize this threat, the more we will be able to prevent these bites from happening. Since last week was dog bite prevention week, I feel this a very fitting area to discuss, and hope that in turn we will all learn something of great value.

There are around 4.5 million dog bites reported in the US every year, with about 885,000 actually requiring medical attention. Of the people bit, children are the most susceptible to dog bites and, because of their smaller size; typically sustain more damage than an adult person would.

Why should we all care about dog bites?

A dog bite can undoubtedly cause absolute turmoil within the family of a person who has been bit, especially when the person who has been bit is a child. What a horrific experience to have to go through, for both the child, and the family. Dog bites can inflict very serious injury including death. So many people are at risk of feeling the effects of a loved one being hurt. 

Dog bites cause genuine hostility between advocates and the uneducated. There are so many organizations who work tirelessly to educate the public about dogs temperament and dog bites, and every single time a bite occurs, I feel that it inadvertently sets them back in regards to reaching their goals. As we all know, rumors spread quickly, even if they are not accurate. The misconceptions about pit bull breed dogs spread much quicker than these groups are able to convince people of the real facts. Understandably so, it is challenging to expect anyone to believe that a parent/guardian would ever knowingly put a child in the line of danger, and it is much more convenient to blame the one who is unable to stick up for themselves, the dog. If an organization or person even seems to stick up for the dog in the situation, they are written off as being barbaric. The fact of the matter is, for every bite that a person hears about, they lose part of the logical and factual information that they have received from organizations that work toward getting the truth about bites, and “bully breeds” out into the public. It seriously sets us back in reaching all of our missions for all breeds of dogs. Dog bites are inadvertently fueling the dark cloud hanging over so-called aggressive breeds, and making it impossible for us to make positive changes.

Dog bites seriously affect the dogs that are involved. While some people view it as being an uncompassionate person to even think of the dogs in these situations where a person has been hurt, they are also victims of the situation. Sometimes dogs bite out of fear, sometimes out of anger that has been instilled in them by humans, and sometimes, we really don’t know why a dog bites. But when you really sit and think about it, how horrible is a life for a dog that attacks a person? Whether it is because of fear, anger, or something else, there is clearly something within that dog that is making things just not right. Once he has bitten, depending on the severity of the attack, the dog’s future is almost surely grim. The dog might be placed into quarantine and possibly further agitated, and in some cases, the dog will be killed because the forces that are believe that he cannot be trusted, or that he is permanently damaged.

What dogs are targeted?

There are some people out there who are convinced that they will never change their perception of “aggressive type” dogs, mainly pit bull type dogs. Possibly without ever even knowing it, people are targeting this breed constantly. The area that we hear about it the most is in the media. How many headlines have you read before that read something similar to “Pit Bull Mauls Boy”? Ok, now how many times have you read this headline, “Chihuahua Mauls Boy”? Probably not very many. For one, the damage that a person can sustain from a larger breed dog will generally be worse than that of a smaller breed dog, but also, people are not as inclined to report on a story about a Chihuahua bite. This, in my opinion, is due to a couple of different factors. As much as we all hate it, the media produces stories that are going to get the attention of their viewers. These stories can be horrific, sad, ridiculous, or misleading. A story of a Chihuahua bite is not going to alert as much attention as a Pit Bull bites, thus causing them to be reported on less. The media would much rather report of a pit bull bite (as twisted as it sounds) because it will generate a larger “ruckus” if you will, and will draw more attention to the media outlet. It also gives all of those uninformed people the opportunity to scream, “I told you so!!!” and suffices the satisfaction of doing so. If the dog even remotely looks like a pit bull (sometimes even if it doesn’t) the breed of the dog can be seriously mistaken in the story. If we only knew the number of times we have commented on a “pit bull” dog where the dog actually had no traces of the breeds that are actually considered pit bull, I think we would all be very surprised. Unfortunately, this dark cloud that these “aggressive type” dogs have hanging over their heads only materializes into more and more problems for them and the people who are trying to protect them.

What can we do to prevent more bites?

I am a very strong advocate for spay/neuter, not only because it prevents unwanted and unnecessary litters that are helping to stockpile our shelters and contributing to the unnecessary 4-5 million shelter killings every year, but also because it makes a great difference in a dog’s behavior. I honestly think that many people don’t understand how important this is for not only the wellbeing of the world and for overpopulation, but also for the dogs own wellbeing. Intact dogs cause the majority of dog bites. I’m not suggesting that this is the only contributing factor, but it is a staggering enough of a number and simple enough of a fix to take some action. I encourage everyone to have his or her dog spayed or neutered, at a young age, to prevent this type of behavior from becoming common and comfortable for the dog. I also encourage you to spread this information among everyone you come in contact with. This is important information for everyone, and is the type of story you should be seeing on the news. Whenever I come in contact with someone who has an unaltered dog, I politely ask them if they have considered getting their dog fixed. If not, I ask why. Sometimes, it is something as simple as the financial aspect, and I am happy to offer many many resources that are available to all of the people in Maine to overcome these obstacles, but sometimes, it is a matter of the dog owner being uninformed and uneducated about what having an unaltered dog entails, and the negative impact they have on our society.

Another thing that we can do to help change people’s perception of the “types of dogs that bite” is to downplay the situation. I am not suggesting downplaying the fact that a person or child was bit, but to focus on the points that matter. Was there something that provoked the dog? What steps had been taken by the owner to ensure that this would not happen? Was the dog fixed? By focusing on these points, the ones that really matter in a situation like this; we are changing the focus of the attention from the facts that do not even play a role in a bite, such as breed.

It is unfortunate that some people use dog bites as a way to attack a breed, or even the dog loving community because not only does it shine an extremely negative light on all of us, but it takes the attention away from the parties who need it most to recover from the situation they are in.

We all need to be aware of the misconceptions of dog bites so that we can protect ourselves, and help to inform others so that we can bring these dog bite numbers down. Not one organization can change the beliefs of millions of people who continuously have inaccurate information drilled into their heads. WE have the accurate information and the statistics to back it up, so it is important that we use that information to help protect all of the people that are affected by one dog bite.

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It is nearing that time of year again when everything starts to melt, and all of the unmeltable items that have built up over the winter begin to surface and… well, smell. Yes, I am referring to dog doo, the ever-annoying substance that seems to be causing lots of dialogue within the local area lately. It seems as though many of the public walking trails within the Lewiston/Auburn community have been littered with the stuff, and now that the snow has almost completely melted, the poo has risen. Understandably so, people are very upset. No one wants to have to clean up another dog’s stench, and no one should even have to smell, step in, or look at it. Apparently, people have not been picking up after their dogs, and it has become such a problem that city officials are considering closing some of these areas down to dogs.

Unfortunately, there are many responsible dog owners who DO clean up after their dogs who will all be penalized for other’s actions if this happens. This makes this an important issue for everyone who uses the trails. This also makes for an important issue for our entire community; non-dog lovers included. Why? It’s important for many reasons. If these trails are closed down to dogs, less people will have reasons to travel to our lovely community. It is also a factor that could make owning a dog unfavorable for some, if they don’t have a recreational area to take their dogs. This works against our efforts to place more adoptable dogs in good homes for obvious reasons. For every wonderful member of the dog-loving community, it sometimes feels like there are 5 people who will disagree. We don’t need any more strikes against us!

Dog poop is a large part of owning a dog. It’s no ones favorite part, but it is a part, and people need to understand that when they decide to have a dog. I am currently the guardian of 3 very large dogs. Whenever we go outside, their activities are supervised. If I can juggle 3 large dogs with 3 leashes, and still pick up 3 (or more) poops, and carry all of them home, then I really don’t see any excuse for not picking up after a dog other than laziness. It does not matter if it is “off to the side of the trail”, pick it up. Carry poop bags with you wherever you go. Think of it like having a baby. You have to pack diapers for that baby, don’t you? It’s the same thing! Not to mention it is unhealthy for everyone to to be inhaling the fumes from dog waste. Anyone who owns a dog also know that some dogs actually have a certain "stink-tooth" for the smelly stuff, and no one wants their dog hauling them down a trail at 90 miles per hour just so they can get a whiff of another dogs brew. It's just not fun for anyone.

The point that I am trying to make is that every member of the dog community has a responsibility to protect our image. It makes things easier for us in the long run, and it will help us gain more benefits in the future. By skipping the step of not picking up after their dog, these guilty parties are just making more work and hardship for all of us than they are actually saving themselves.

How do we solve this problem and get it through people’s heads how important it is to pick up after their dog? The city has considered signs, and/or “clean up stands”. They have imposed a fine for anyone they happen to catch in the act. Pack Life has planned an “April Stools Day” cleanup event for April 3rd (more info. to come!) to help clean the area. This will make it nice, but how do we keep the area looking (and smelling) beautifully? What things are done in your community to ensure people clean up after their pooches? What worked? What didn’t? Any advice would be greatly appreciated, as we would like to keep Androscoggin County a dog friendly community.

Thanks for your input!

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In the wake of the horrifying devastation in Haiti, a question of morals that is all too commonly asked is again being brought to light, perhaps more prevalently than ever before. It is a question that I have been asked many, many times, and one that I never really know how to answer. I am a person who has, since I began volunteering, thought that I was always doing a good thing. I feel that what I do for animals is more than I could do for the world than by just sitting around, so I believe that what I am doing and where I am focusing my efforts is beneficial. The more I have immersed myself in this world, the more questioning I have heard from others (who I have to assume don’t really care about animals) about why I support the rescue of animals when there are so many human beings dying and suffering in our world. I feel that every time I come in contact with this question, or this “conviction of betrayal” I feel that it is being used as a defense for people who are unable or unwilling to do more themselves. I honestly do not understand why someone who is clearly doing something good for another living thing should be questioned about his or her antics.

I believe that we can create a better world for both animals and humans alike through humane treatment of animals, and programs that promote human to animal relationships.

Recently, Friends of Animals sent a letter to Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir confronting him about the white fox fur that he had specifically added to one of his costumes. He added the fur to the costume that he personally designed and stated that he thought it “looked pretty”. When Friends of Animals confronted Mr. Weir, he came back stating that he “totally gets the dirtiness of the fur industry and how terrible it is to animals. But it’s not something that’s the No. 1 priority in my life”. Weir went on to state “There are humans dying everyday. There are thousands if not millions of homeless people in New York City. Look at what just happened in Haiti. I tend to focus my energy, if there is a cause, on humans. While that may be callous and bad of me, it’s my choice”. Personally, I feel that it is his choice to support whatever cause he believes in, however, I don’t feel it necessary to outright support an act that you know is horrific just because you don’t choose to advocate for this group. My real point of this story is to show how this person is using what some people are passionate about as a defense. Just because you don’t support animal rights does not give you the right to support the mutilation and murdering of animals for fashion. And just because someone supports animal rights does not mean that they don’t support the human race. We all focus our efforts and our money where we see it is going to make the most difference in the lives of the things we care about. We all do what we think is best, and I personally will not criticize someone for doing what they think is right. I would strongly encourage everyone to thoroughly research ANY organization that you are considering supporting.

I don’t think that it is about putting humans first, or putting animals first, but it is about everyone doing their part. Some people are skilled in and dedicated to disaster relief for animals, while some, are dedicated to humans.

We can all watch the horrifying videos on TV, but unless we are actually there, we will never be able to imagine the mass devastation that was caused by this natural disaster. By supporting rescue efforts for animals, we are not being unsupportive of human rescue, but rather focusing our efforts into something that is very important to us. We are not “turning the other cheek” to our fellow humans by supporting the rescue of those who cannot support themselves. I think that many people think that by rescuing the animals, we are denying the people who need savior as well, and that is not the case. In many cases, if these rescue groups were not there rescuing animals, what are the chances that they would be there rescuing humans? Many of the people and organizations that are supporting the rescue of the animals in Haiti are also supportive of the rescue efforts provided by groups such as the American Red Cross. I personally know people who have made donations to both types of organizations. That is a personal choice that should be respected.

There is also a lot to be said about creating a humane nation through animal advocacy, because it is a proven fact that a humane community is a safer and healthier community. Both of these issues and these groups go hand in hand in regards to creating a better world.

My shelter love

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He excitedly told me that him and his wife took the plunge and got a dog. When I asked him where they got the dog, he replied that they bought him from a pet store in Portland, because they saw him and just had to have him. I felt like someone had slapped me in the face. I wasn’t able to understand how someone could legitimately buy a dog from a pet store, and then live with themselves. As I pondered the fact for a couple of days, I realized that many people who support pet stores and other negative dog places might not necessarily understand the actual consequences of doing so. If you ask the average person about puppy mills, they might tell you that they know it’s bad. They might also tell you that they really don’t think it’s a problem in our area, or that since it really doesn’t affect them, they don’t know why they should care. The average person does not understand the very harsh consequences of supporting these businesses in their entirety, and that is why I think that those of us who do need to talk more. The people I am speaking of are friends of mine, and they should have known better than to buy a dog from a pet store, and I clearly didn’t convince them well enough. I have never been accused of not talking enough, but I think that in this case, I needed to talk more. People might get tired of all of the talking, but as long as people are still buying puppy mill dogs, I for one am going to keep on talking.

Picture this: you walk into a pet store and you see that same puppy in the window. Instead of being so cute and cuddly he is dirty and smells of urine and feces. He has mats in his fur, and something that looks like an eye infection. Not only is there a puppy in the window, but there are seven of them crammed into a little cage. They are all climbing all over each other, treading sludge. There is a sign on the cage that labels them all as AKC registered. Also listed on the sign is the AKC annual revenue, and you learn that 80% of their income is supplied by puppy mills, and that they do nothing to stop this because hey, it’s a nice paycheck. AKC registration guarantees nothing about the dog’s health or well being, but simply collects a registration fee for a title. Paints a different picture doesn’t it? That puppy in the window might not look like this picture, but 24 hours ago he was in this exact situation, and the rest of his family probably still is, and will remain that way until there is no longer a demand for these puppies.

So what is the alternative? Most people don’t know that an estimated 6-8 million cats and dogs enter shelters every year, with half of them being killed, simply because no one wants them. That is 11,0000 animals being killed PER DAY. That also means that the next time you take a stroll through a shelter, half of the animals you see are going to be killed. Maybe not those exact half, since shelters kill rates are all very different. Knowing those types of statistics, are you still willing to support puppy mass production? Most all dogs in pet stores come from puppy mills. By supporting pet stores who purchase their dogs from puppy mills, you are getting your cute puppy, but you are supporting a horrific life for the rest of the dogs on the production line left back at the mill.

I have actually heard people say that there are no good dogs at the shelter and they want a good dog. Once again, these people are completely misinformed and misguided. It is estimated that 25% of the dogs in shelters are purebred dogs. Regardless of the tireless convincing about the benefits of owning a “blend”, some people are just not satisfied unless they have a “purebred”. Well guess what? People with purebred dogs have the same problems as everyone else with allergies, misbehavior, and every other reason/excuse for relinquishing a dog, and guess where they end up? At the shelter. I have visited and volunteered at many different shelters, and have met hundreds of dogs who have come from shelters, and I don’t have to be the first person to tell you that they are amazing.

So is this what our society has come down to? Do people really believe that there are no good dogs in shelters? If so, WHY do they believe that, and what can we do to show them the truth? For some people, this might be common knowledge, but for the person who doesn’t know any better, it’s not their fault that they were never told these facts. I could place some fault on them for not doing their research, but no one is perfect.

There is also something that needs to be said about the selection of dogs in a shelter. I personally believe that you cannot dream up, or buy the perfect dog. While I feel it necessary to research the common traits and behaviors of certain breeds to match your family’s personal lifestyle, I also believe that you will connect with the dog that is right for you. Sometimes it might be a little easier to walk into a pet store and just pick your puppy out from a wall and take him home. When you walk into a shelter, the experience may be less than pleasant, and you might not find the dog you are looking for the first time around. So I am prompted to ask, if you are shopping for a car, do you just go to one dealership and say, “I want that one!” and drive home? No, you look around, compare options, go home and think about it, you go back and see if they might have a new selection. You have to understand that adopting from a shelter is not exactly like shopping from a store. It takes a little more work and extra effort than that, but it is work that is well worth it. There is also something very special about adopting a dog that is not a puppy anymore. Also, if you are really looking for a very specific dog, more than often the shelter will be willing to work with you to help you find this dog. They want to find good matches for all of their dogs, and will usually be very receptive if you just take the time to ask.

When a puppy comes from a puppy mill, they are likely to have health problems, due mostly to the conditions that they are born in, as well as the inbred tactics of the “breeders”. These dogs are also not fixed, and the puppy store generally does not encourage them to do so. When you adopt a dog from a shelter or rescue group, the fee is considerably lower than purchasing a dog. The dog is usually already fixed, which saves a lot of money, and also encourages spaying and neutering, which, if not done as early as possible can be put off until it is too late. These dogs also have had their first vet checkup, and generally come with a coupon for a free follow up visit. The dogs in pet stores usually come without having any previous medical attention, and absolutely no health guarantees. Many people make the misconception that AKC registration will protect them if their new prized possession turns out to be a “lemon”, but that is not true. In some states there are laws in place if this were to happen, but they generally don’t make for a happy outcome for the dog, which is supposed to be our main concern here.

If you are like me and already live by these standards, please talk about them. Please understand that not everyone is interested in this stuff, and doesn’t spend hours researching puppy mills. Their lives simply are not surrounded by this information, so who are we to blame them for not knowing. This is why we all need to talk more. If you know someone who is considering getting a dog, talk to them. You might be saying stuff they have already heard, but you might just convince them to adopt. You never know what you are going to get out of a conversation, and we have a lot to gain here.  It may be unfathomable for us to understand, but some people truly believe that they are above shelter dogs, and if that statement does not give you the motivation to talk, then I don’t know what will.

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I woke up this morning to another snowy day in Maine. As I looked out my window and saw the large falling flakes, I began to prepare to write a piece about dog fighting and its effect on our society.  After the recent and tragic loss of Fay, a previous fighter, I was feeling the need to write about why we, as Mainers should be very concerned about dog fighting and the very tragic effects it has on dogs and communities. But as I sat at my kitchen table, laptop in hand, my own two dogs had another idea. Sherwood & Ace are both lab/lab blend breed dogs, and they (obviously) require not only a lot of physical exercise, but also a lot of mental stimulation. I heard Ace crying like someone just stole his kibble and I went to find him standing at the top of the stairs with one of my socks hanging out of his mouth. This is Ace’s way of saying “Mom, I’m bored come pay attention to me”. I obtained the sock back and proceeded to the kitchen for a fix all. I found two of their food-brain games and filled them with kibble. “This ought to entertain them long enough that I can finish writing” I thought. They both played with their food toys and got all of the kibble out of them surprisingly fast (I think they are catching on to them). I began to write, and soon enough, they were both back at my feet, ready for their next challenge.

I decided that I wasn’t going to get much work done until I had satisfied my two dogs, so I bravely asked in that kind of tone that only a dog can get excited about “wanna go for a walk?” It was a brave decision considering the weather conditions, but I figured that it would be fun, and a good time for us to spend together. I bundled us all up, and we headed outside up the hill.

Knowing how large plow trucks are, and how little our roads are, I was very skeptical about walking very far on the main road, so I found a clearing up on the hill where we could stop and play. If you have never actually taken your dog outside to play in the snow, and I don’t mean let him out, I mean take him out, you are truly missing out on another amazing trait of the canine species. No matter what might have you down, I promise, if you take your dog out to play in the snow, I guarantee he will have you rolling in the snow with him laughing. Ace likes to scrunch down like a cat preparing to pounce, and then dart back and forth in the snow. They both also dig in the snow like it is a giant, tasty sandbox. The great thing about this sandbox, however, is that they don’t get in trouble for digging up the flowers when they play in it. I make a large snowball and ask Ace if he is ready, he sits back and stares at me, like I am the only Mom in the world, and waits for me to throw it. I throw it up in the air, and he jumps up to grab it. He grabs the snow in his teeth and it diminishes to flakes again, soaking his mouth with cold water. Sherwood rolls around in the snow until he is no longer very chocolate looking. I am thinking to myself, “I really hope the neighbors are watching, because this is hilarious!” Both of their eyes fill with that look that a dog gets when he is really really excited about something.

After a while of playing, I am starting to get cold, so we decide to walk (or prance) back the house and warm up with some hot cocoa for me, and treats for the boys. I have successfully found a fun activity that helps bond us all together, give the dogs some well needed exercise, and give me more laughs than I can possibly write down on paper, all in our backyard, and without spending any money. I encourage you to take your dogs out to play in the snow today; I promise you will not regret it, and he will surely love you for it!

Have fun!

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I have been following the information being presented on Pets Alive website about their attempts to rescue Oreo, and I think that it is very commendable that they are sticking up for what they believe in by using mostly very factual information. While some of their tactics, or methods of communication may be socially questionable (clearly their emotions are involved), I think that it's completely acceptable for them to "point the finger" at the ASPCA and support them in the decision to do so. Unfortunately, euthanasia has progressively become more humane, rather than just accepted, and because some organizations drill it into our heads all of the time that it is the "humane thing to do", we sometimes are lead to believe that this is the only answer. I will agree that in some circumstances, and in some shelters, this may be a better alternative for the animal at this point in time. However, it is absolutely necessary to change this, and to be effectively working toward changing that mindset, and the array of options that are available to a dog that has behavioral issues, which I would solely blame on Oreo's previous owner in this case. And I DO feel that because this option has become so accepted among the animal loving community, and because we have all been lead to believe it is humane, it has become a much easier way to sweep the underlying problems under the rug.

Not that I feel the need to redeem myself, but I have volunteered at various different shelters, as well as personally rescued dogs who have had behavioral problems, and I find it interesting that certain comments would automatically assume that I do not have the proper "credentials" to speak on this topic without even knowing me. I am one person, and I do everything I can to work toward what I believe in (much more than the average person). I point a finger at the ASPCA not because I am too lazy to do anything about it, but to raise questions, and to get people to ask themselves if this really is the only way, or if we've been wrongly lead to believe that it is the only way.

From my personal research, I feel that the ASPCA made the wrong decision, and I absolutely will stick up for that notion. People sometimes hear about things, and they are told that it’s the right way, or the only way, so they don’t know any different than to agree with it and go along with it. Maybe if more people really did stick up for themselves and their beliefs, things would be different.

Maybe shelter life is worse than being killed in some shelters, but definitely not all shelters, and definitely not in shelters the way they should be. I am not simply saying that shelters are awful and they do everything wrong, and I am not trying to “call anyone out”. I know that many, many people who work in shelters are extremely overwhelmed, overworked, and underpaid, and have personally worked together with these employees to help with some of the load. I have worked with many shelters, and I know this for a fact. I know that many of us are just doing the best we can, and I would never discourage anyone from doing that.  I know that only in a perfect world would all shelter life be pleasant, but it's definitely something that is worth working toward. I know that a lot of people keep saying that shelters aren’t doing enough, and I know that that is very discouraging to hear, when most shelter employees work harder than the average person. Many of the shelters clearly just need help. They need direction, and volunteers; I am not denying this. While some of them, in my opinion, are simply being run by parties who do not know any better, or simply do not care.

Generally, when a shelter relinquishes a dog to another rescue, the liability goes with whoever is caring for the dog. While I’m sure the ASPCA would not have wanted to seen damage to a person or another dog after relinquishing Oreo regardless of where the liability lay, I think that Pets Alive provided more than enough credentials and positive track records to take her in.

I recently was granted the pleasure of meeting some of the Vicktory dogs, as well as many previously aggressive dogs, housed at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. Some of these dogs have since been adopted, while some of them are court ordered to stay at the sanctuary for the rest of their lives, which was their alternative to death. These dogs were all happy and healthy, and I absolutely believe that they are living a better life than they would be dead. They get walks, exercise, human interaction, toys, top-notch medical care, and they are all treated and cared for as individuals. Not just because they are high profile dogs, but because of where they are.  They are my proof that it is possible. Obviously I do not think that a lab animal has a happier life than if they were dead, but I do NOT think that we, as humans, have the right to take them out of that horrific environment only to kill them, when we have the ability to do something better.

I know that not every shelter is Best Friends, and I know that we don't all have those resources right now, but isn't this a wonderful thing for us to work on and focus on achieving? We might not always have the ability right now, but we do have the ability to work toward it, and make change so that dogs who are behaviorally challenged, or maybe even are just having a bad day, aren’t being killed and forgotten about by the millions; especially when there is someone there willing and able to help. Just because the ASPCA could not handle Oreo, does not mean no one could, and just because you’ve never seen something, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Best Friends literally worked themselves from the ground up. They were a group of 20 people in the 80s who decided that killing wasn’t the only answer, and surely wasn’t the best. They decided to stick up for the animals, and now they are making absolute history by saving the lives of countless animals that would have otherwise been “humanely” killed. They started literally with nothing other than a can for change, a card table, and a phonebook. If you decide that I have not had enough experience to advocate for these animals, and for working toward a true humane community, you do not have to read my blogs, or agree with anything I say, but I would seriously challenge you to just think, for one second, that maybe there is a better way. I surely don’t have all of the answers, and I don’t claim to. I’m just trying to get readers to think of different ideas, and different possibilities, because one thing that we can all agree on, is that there is a problem, no matter what you think the solution might be.

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Although it seems like an eternity ago, it was just a few short months ago that we decided to establish an organization to work with and educate our community and help protect dogs all over the country. Although we never thought our efforts would grow this large this fast, our first year as an organization has been a very special and effective one!

 

In March, we raised over $2500 for Best Friends Animal Society, and traveled to Kanab, UT where we volunteered at Dogtown. This money will directly help the no-kill nation in establishing and implementing standards in shelters all over the country to find an alternative to killing "unwanted" dogs. Through this initiative, we were able to meet many of you, and hear your moving stories about how a shelter dog has changed your life, or how Best Friends has affected you in some important way.

 

This summer we traveled throughout Maine to different dog-related events and got the opportunity to meet many more of you and establish wonderful relationships. We also successfully raised money for local animal welfare organizations, and interacted with the public to help educate about important issues like spay/neuter, adoption option, dog enrichment, and more.

 

This October we traveled back to Best Friends to attend the No More Homeless Pets Conference. We learned more valuable information that we are using to help our local communities. This time, we traveled with over $2000 worth of dog supplies for the residents at Dogtown, many of whom we had met on our previous trip.

 

And today, we have helped to successfully facilitate a transfer of two dogs who had a very uncertain and dark future. Thanks to all of you, Quinton & Xander are once again safe, and slowly working their way down their road to recovery, into their forever homes. They are currently being housed at Animal Refuge League in Westbrook, ME, where they are receiving their heart worm treatment. The staff at ARL are also working with them on their behavior to ensure that they will make a great family member for the right home.

 

As we look back at the things we have accomplished in the past months, we reflect on how all of these things were made possible. We would like to thank all of you, because without you, we never would have been able to climb this mountain and begin to make a difference. You are the friends and family members that believed in our passion, and even more so, the strangers who had faith in the two of us, to begin to build an army who will stand up for the dogs, and do their best to bring us to a time where there are No Dogs Left Behind. Thank you so much!

 

We are currently accepting donations for Quinton & Xander. Heart worm treatment is generally very expensive, and we are very grateful that ARL was willing to take on this expense, and give these two dogs the second chance they deserve. To see pictures of Quinton & Xander, or to make a donation, please visit our website.

Thank you once again, we sincerely appreciate your undying faith in our mission, and your ongoing support. We wish you and your family very happy holidays.

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I am prompted today to write about a soulful little pit bull name Oreo, who was tragically killed last week at the hands of the ASPCA. I had received an email from the ASPCA last year triumphantly telling Oreo’s story and how they bravely rescued her from her abusive owner. After Oreo’s extremely sad demise, I am thinking about what “humane euthanasia” is, and what it means to different organizations. I touched on this subject two weeks ago when I wrote about the “no-kill revolution”, and I will bring you back to the notion that a “no-kill shelter” means different things to different people, as does “humane euthanasia”.

Oreo was “rescued” last year by the ASPCA after being thrown off from a 6-story building by her extremely abusive owner. She was around one year old, and suffered two broken legs and a fractured rib. Her story was paraded around by the ASPCA and she was deemed the “miracle dog”. It was a very touching story of a dog that had suffered so much, and her upcoming road to recovery.

Last week, after determining that Oreo, at the age of 2, was deemed “too dangerous and unpredictable around people” the ASPCA decided that she could not possibly live a safe and fulfilled life, and they killed her via “humane euthanasia”. While this has outraged many (including myself), it brings many questions to the table by many different parties: What was the evaluation process that determined that Oreo was “too dangerous” and could not be rehabilitated? How much pain was she still in after recovering from her injuries, and had she been given enough time to recuperate and re-learn how to trust humans again? Had she ever even had the opportunity or reasons to trust a human at her young age? From my research, I have not been able to find any reliable information from the ASPCA giving any details of her evaluation, which they describe as “guarded information”.

I know I talk a lot about Best Friends Animal Society, and I do so because I honestly feel that they set the most wonderful example that a real animal welfare organization should display. Being so close with many different aspects of this sanctuary, as well as the employees that work there, I feel that I can speak knowledgably about some of the incidents there. I have seen so many examples of unbelievably aggressive dogs, among other extreme behaviors, being rehabilitated, that I personally have a very hard time believing that there was nothing further that could be done for Oreo. I do not believe that every dog in the world can be rehabilitated from past experiences 100% and be placed in a home, but I do strongly feel that they can be rehabilitated back into a state where they are living a happier like than they would be in the ground, if given the chance and the right expertise. Don’t we, as a society, owe it to dogs like Oreo? Considering the fact that it was our humane race that put her in the situation she was placed in in the first place? I for one am not convinced that Oreo was given a fighting chance, and I don’t believe that many dogs are in the shelters, because it is simply too easy to just kill them, and call it “humane”. Sad of a fact as it is, no one is help accountable for the deaths that occur in some shelters, and many times, are overlooked or even commended.

Despite what your personal belief on humane euthanasia may be, (I don’t believe common ground will ever be reached on that one) sometimes, especially in animal welfare, we must agree to disagree. I believe that in animal welfare there are 3 types of people. One group, the group who makes the right decisions and is currently bringing us closer to a day where there will be no more homeless pets, another group who wants the same end result, but has been educated wrongly or misguided and makes decisions that bring us further away from this goal, and then one who is just in this business for the wrong reasons. Ed Sayers, the President of the ASPCA, earning a $500,000 salary, falls into the last category for me, not solely for that reason…

Pets Alive, a no-kill sanctuary in New York offered to take in Oreo, and rehabilitate her to a point where she was living a quality life, and not threatening those around her. Last week, once they learned of Mr. Sayre’s plans to kill Oreo, they called and emailed him, as well as every other person listed on the ASPCA website. The ASPCA flat out either denied their help, or did not return their calls, or simply hung up on them. How in the world do we ever plan to fix our problems if we cannot work together, or at the very least rationally listen to each other? Are we really all that self-righteous that we cannot even consider accepting the help from someone else? Did they even consider it? If they did, they have not made any notions that they did, and why they did not accept the help.

My point is, no matter which group you are from above, you have to, as a person, accept the fact that you may not always have all of the answers, and sometimes, you might have to seek out help from other sources, because at the end of the day, we are in the business to help the animals; not to protect our image, or earn revenue, and if you are, then you sadly fall into the third group, and should seriously consider a career change.

This was a wonderful sanctuary in New York who was ready and willing to take all of the baggage that came with Oreo, simply because they wanted to SAVE HER LIFE. We are not doing these animals a favor by pulling them out of abusive homes and killing them. We have to find a better solution than just killing them and thinking it’s ok. If you don’t know the solution, then ask someone else who might. Instead of researching ways that they can prevent this from happening again, the ASPCA is busy posting letters of support from PETA, and defending themselves, while blindly throwing jabs at nearly everyone credited for the no-kill revolution.

On the other side of the fence, there are 2 people, New York Assembly Member Micah Z. Kellner and State Senator Thomas K. Duane who are planning to introduce a law to ensure that this does not happen again. “Oreo’s Law” will prevent organizations from killing an animal when there is another shelter or rescue that is willing and able to take them in. It is modeled after a similar law, Hayden Law, which was voted into California State with overwhelming acceptance and success in 1998. I encourage you to research and support this law, and the thought of never thinking you are too big, or the politics are too messy to help out our animals. At the end of the day, you will be judged on whether or not you did the right thing, and this killing, to me, was not the right thing. Whether you agree with me or not, keep your mind open and keep your best interest in the right place.

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Pack Life began overnight in May of 2009, as something that had been developing without our knowledge for a long time. Chris and I have always been dog lovers, mostly inspired by our own two, Sherwood & Ace, and somehow always knew that we would end up working with dogs in one way or another. We were somewhat aware of the problems surrounding millions of unwanted and mistreated dogs, but never really realized just how bad it was. Once we began to get an understanding of how huge of a problem the nation is facing, and how many dogs are being mistreated and killed, we realized that we could not possibly live with ourselves without doing everything we could to help stop these actions.

In December of 2008, Chris bought me the Vicktory Dog wine collection for Christmas. Through this purchase, he learned of Best Friends Animal Society, in Kanab, UT. They are the largest no-kill shelter in the country, as well as the home for the Vicktory pit bulls that were rescued from NFL star Michael Vick’s dog fighting ring. We really liked the concept of a shelter where there are no dogs too damaged to help, and we began to research them some more. The more we learned about them, the more we liked. It just seemed like everything they did, it was done the right way. They share our belief that if a dog has behavioral problem, regardless of how severe, they are because of human induced behavior, and it is our duty, as the human race, to fix them, and give them that chance to live. We subscribed to their wonderful magazine through a small donation, and continued to learn more about their organization.

One day, on his lunch break; Chris got a phone call from Gabriel De Payer, one of the co-founders of Best Friends Animal Society. Gabriel was calling Chris to thank him for our donation, albeit small, he was still grateful that we took our time and money to thank and support them. When Chris called me to tell me about the phone call, I was floored. Best Friends is a world-renowned animal sanctuary that houses up to 2,000 animals at any given time, and has literally changed and developed the “no-kill” revolution in the United States. Countless lives have been saved because of them, and to think that one of their co-founders would actually call 2 kids in Auburn Maine to thank them was unbelievable to us. This confirmed our notion that this was a special organization, and we decided to invest in a little trip out there to volunteer.

If you have ever taken a trip across the country, you know that there is a lot of work and money involved. To make things a little more interesting, we thought that we could maybe save a few bucks by camping out in the desert instead of renting a hotel. We didn’t really think about all of the camping gear that we would somehow have to fit in our luggage! Once we realized how much work it was going to be, we realized that we really needed to make this trip special, not knowing when we would get the opportunity to do it again. We also decided that we could not possibly go to this place, as representatives from Maine, empty-handed. We started soliciting donations from our friends and family. Everyone thought it was a really great idea, and agreed to donate. We soon realized that we needed a little more structure if we were going to do this right. We decided to set a goal of $2500, in honor of Best Friends 25th anniversary this year. It was an extremely lofty goal considering our average donation was around $25. We realized that if we were going to reach our goal, we would have to ask everyone we knew for a donation. If we were going to ask everyone for a donation, we would need to be more than just a couple of kids asking for money. So we decided to create Pack Life, a not for profit organization that would basically do what we could to help dogs. The goal of $2500 became our first mission. We solicited businesses for product donations, and held a large raffle for anyone who donated, and ended up giving away about 25 prizes. Right before we left for our trip we had raised about $2000. We knew that after all of our hard work, we couldn’t possibly fall short of our goal. We, as Pack Life, decided to donate the remaining $500. This money came straight out of our pockets, and we were overjoyed and relieved that we met our goal, and completed our first mission. We presented the $2500 to Gabriel upon our arrival at Best Friends, and stayed to volunteer for a week.

Since returning from our trip in July, we have developed our organization quite a bit. This summer we set up the Pack Life table at various events. At these events we have raised another $500 plus dollars, which we have donated to Best Friends, and other local animal shelters/rescues. We also spend a lot of our time talking to people through these events about issues like dog retention, spay/neuter information, dog enrichment, etc. All of these ideas that we talk about, we hope in turn will help to reduce the number of dogs ending up in shelters, and the number of dogs being killed in shelters every year.

In October, we traveled back out West to attend the Best Friends ‘No More Homeless Pets Conference’ in Las Vegas. We were looking for ideas and inspiration, which is exactly what we got! During this trip, with the help of many people and organizations, we donated over $2000 worth of dog toys, treats, harnesses, and other items that were on the Dogtown wish list. We just wanted to help the dogs at Dogtown feel happy and at home during their stay.

Chris and I both still work full time, and that is how we are able to purchase supplies for our events. Every dollar we raise is donated directly to another non-profit organization that will put it to good use. We are a very small organization of 2 people who are just using their spare time to do what we can to help save dog’s lives. This opportunity has also allowed us to spend a lot of time with our own two dogs, as they accompany us to mostly all of our events. Although I’m not sure if we’ve ever actually saved a life, I know that our time is well spent. One day, Chris and I just sat down and thought to ourselves “there has got to be something we can do”; this is us doing it. We couldn’t go to bed at night anymore thinking about all of these dogs being killed, and NOT do anything about it. It just didn’t sit with us.

All of our incoming donations are donated to other organizations, because we are currently not registered as 501(c) 3. We donate to the organizations that we feel will be able to use the money best, and support the programs that we personally believe in. We also work non-stop educating anyone we possibly can about fixing their dogs, licensing their dogs, talking to kids about dog fighting, humane treatment, dog enrichment, and more. When we are given the opportunity to talk, we talk! We volunteer at our local shelter, and do whatever we can to help when asked for help by anyone. We are not always organized, and we don’t have any fancy structure, we’re just doing what we can.

We are working on a few events for the holiday season, all of which will be up on our website, packlife.org once finalized. I encourage you, as I always do, not to necessarily start up a non-profit organization, but take a couple hours a week to volunteer at your shelter, or write a check to an organization that you believe in. Think of any skills or assets that you have that you might be able to share. Whatever it is, the animals could use them, and will gladly accept them. Everyone can do something.

For anyone who has supported us in the past, we thank you. We wouldn’t be able to do what we do without the Pack Life nation! If you have any further questions, please leave them in the comments sections below, or email me at Cassandra@packlife.org You can also visit our website at www.packlife.org If you would like to learn more about Best Friends, you can visit their website at www.bestfriends.org