Happy Valentine’s Day!!! Will YOU be my Valentine?
I want to remind you that the Animal Welfare Blogger Challenge IS still going strong. Please write your post on how decisions you make in your daily life impact animals.
The Animal Welfare Blogger Challenge
And please vote for me today and every day in the World Spay Day Pet Pageant. I want to raise awareness about World Spay Day, which is February 26th, and about why spay/neuter of companion animals is so important!
And last, but not least, a big CONGRATULATIONS!!! to Isaiah’s Mom, the winner of the ASPCA prize pack! woo woo woo!
To enter to win this prize, please comment below and tell us of YOUR ideal animal companion (offer open to residents of the US). Then be sure to attend the live Meet Your Match Dating Show this Tuesday at 6pm Eastern, and fall in love.
DISCLAIMER: I am not being compensated for this post. The ASPCA is providing the prize pack being given away.
Oh Dog! I’m back with Emily Schneider, Senior Manager for Media and Communications with the ASPCA. Yesterday we talked about how the ASPCA gets involved in helping during a natural disaster. Today we’ll get more in-depth with what that involves. But first, here’s a video of an actual Staten Island rescue!
Scene from the Staten Island rescue (ASPCA photo)
Rumpy: Emily, yesterday we talked about the weeks of planning that went into preparing for a natural disaster response like you launched for Hurricane Sandy. Let’s talk about what it takes to get people actually out there responding to help animals in need.
Emily: The ASPCA Field Investigations and Response team has an incredible team of staff and volunteers who are available to deploy at a moment’s notice. The team also had a extensive network of response partners—other animal welfare groups and agencies—who have sent their responders to assist us in large-scale disaster responses. There are too many groups to list them all here, but just to give an example, the ASPCA was able to help more than 1,300 animals displaced by the Joplin tornado last year with the assistance of 89 agencies from across the country who sent responders on the ground.
This kitty is getting some needed loves! (ASPCA photo)
Rumpy: That’s a lot of animals helped! Now tell us what happens with the animals when you rescue them?
Emily: In disaster response operations, we focus our efforts in reuniting lost pets with their families, or offering temporary sheltering so pet owners can focus on getting back on their feet without having to stress about caring for their pets. It’s hard to provide a percentage as every response operation is different. For animals that are not reclaimed by their owners, the ASPCA helps to find placement for the animals.
Helping people care for their pets is a major focus! (ASPCA photo)
Rumpy: And who pays for all of that?
Emily: More than two million supporters strong, the ASPCA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation and rely strictly on donations. The ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services.
Rumpy: It’s sure comforting to know that there are so many people out there that are dedicated to making sure us animals are taken care of. Why does the ASPCA do all this?
Come out kitty! We’re here to help! (ASPCA photo)
Emily: Founded in 1866, the ASPCA is the first animal welfare organization in North America and serves as the nation’s leading voice for animals. Our mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States.
Rumpy: Emily, I am simply amazed at all the hard work that goes into keeping us safe. Thank you so much for being my guest, and thanks to all the hard-working men and women of the ASPCA and their partners who help us in times of crisis.
We take it for granted these days that when disaster strikes, there will be trained animal rescue volunteers on the ground helping to rescue and care for the displaced animals. But what does it take to launch such a major effort?
Today I’m talking with Emily Schneider, Senior Manager for Media and Communications with the ASPCA. She’s here to shed some light on what such an undertaking involves.
Do you know how much effort goes into helping animals after disaster strikes?? (ASPCA photo)
Rumpy: Thanks so much for being my guest Emily. Let’s start at the beginning. How does the ASPCA become involved with a response effort?
Emily: The ASPCA Field Investigations and Response team assists animal victims of both natural and man-made disasters throughout the country. The team is made up of investigators, veterinary and animal handling experts. The team has been called in to assist in the event of natural disasters, but is more commonly called upon by state and municipal governments and other animal welfare partners to lend expertise during large-scale animal rescues.
An emergency boarding facility set up to provide temporary housing. (ASPCA photo)
Rumpy: Wow! And how do you get involved in these rescue efforts?
Emily: The ASPCA is typically contacted by the local agency for assistance and we then deploy responders to assist with animal rescue and relief efforts.
Rumpy: So you don’t just decide to go in without being called. How long after you get the call do you expect to be involved in a rescue effort?
Emily: We really don’t have an average; the length of each response operation varies as it is determined by the community and its needs. For example, we were in Joplin, Mo., for 45 days following the EF-5 tornado that decimated a third of the community.
Look at all the food that’s needed! (ASPCA photo)
Rumpy: I remember! What services did you provide there?
Emily: We assisted with field rescue, reunion efforts, emergency sheltering for lost pets, and eventually finding new homes for orphaned animals that were not reclaimed by their owners.
Heading inside to rescue (ASPCA photo)
Rumpy: That sure is a lot of work!
Emily: We have currently been on the ground for more than six weeks planning ahead of Hurricane Sandy, and now focusing on the emergency boarding facility that we established a week ago to assist pet owners and temporarily shelter their pets until they can get back on their feet.
Rumpy: I can only imagine how much planning has to go into such efforts!
Tomorrow, Emily and I will talk about what it takes to make these rescue efforts happen!
providing medical care! (ASPCA photo)
NOTE: All photos posted today were taken by staff of the ASPCA and were used with permission.
The bad news is Jen got a call-out and was out very late last night. Poo! Lesson learned, and one chore for this weekend is to have a few canned blog posts ready for such occasions.
I do want to share something nice that happened this week. I got an email from Bella and Beary of Bumpy Road to Bubba. They won the coupon for a free bag of Innova. Sadly, none of the distributors in Australia would honor the coupon. But I contacted Tammy Barker at the Innova headquarters and the company is going to send Bella and Beary something else so they can try Innova food. Isn’t that awesome? Thanks so much Tammy!!!!
Also a big thanks to Olivia Melikhov at the ASPCA. It was her idea to offer the giveaway and she was very quick to respond to the winner. And that on top of all the wonderful things they’re doing to help animals after Hurricane Sandy. I’ve talked to another person at the ASPCA about their efforts after Sandy and will share that info with you soon.
So happy Friday everyone! Enjoy your day, and have a fantastic weekend! woo woo woo!
Oh Dog! Dear DeDe here! Last night was the first night of Hanukkah, and so I want to wish all of our Jewish friends Chag Chanukah Sameach!
I want to remind you to enter our Take the Pledge! Contest. Entries are accepted through midnight Central, so take the pledge to not shop at stores that sell puppies or kittens, and then enter to win a cool prize pack provided by the ASPCA!
Now sorry to be short with you today, but it seems we have a busy day ahead of us. Talk with you next week!
Oh Dog! I’m so excited! It’s the Holiday Season, and shoppers near and far are searching for that perfect gift that will make the faces of their loved ones light up! That includes us animals!
I can’t wait to see what you bought me!
According to newly released poll, Americans plan to spend more than $2.5 billion on pets over the holidays this year. Unfortunately, 59% of pet gift shoppers would consider buying gifts at a store that also sells puppies—meaning some of that $2.5 billion in revenue may be supporting the puppy mill industry. The ASPCA is aiming to reduce this high percentage of potential shoppers by encouraging them not to shop for gifts at stores that sell puppies. As an alternative, shoppers may consider giving gifts that make a difference in the lives of animals in need, such as those from their online store.
Why is where you shop important? Watch this short video (nope, nothing gross):
To encourage you to Take the Pledge to not shop in pet stores that sell puppies, the ASPCA has provided me with a great giveaway with items for both two-legged and four-legged family members that includes:
Jingle bell collars
Smidge cat toy
Paw stockings
ASPCA holiday cards
ASPCA orange tote
Walker’s Shortbread cookies
Gift card to Paperless Post
ASPCA orange wristband
How cool is that! So what do YOU have to do to win? Simple, go to nopetstorepuppies.com and take the pledge, then come back here and comment on why you want to put an end to puppy mills in the US. The winner will be chosen at random from all comments received by midnight Central Time on Sunday, December 9th, 2012. Sorry gang, but this giveaway is open to US residents only.
MEOW! My name is June Buggie, and I have an important announcement!
Rumpy received an email from Olivia Melikhov of the ASPCA asking me to get the word out about the following:
The ASPCA will be hosting a large-scale adoption event in Jacksonville, Florida, on August 11 & 12 to help find loving homes for the hundreds of cats rescued from Caboodle Ranch in February. It’s been nearly five months since the cats were rescued, and they can now legally adopt out the animals to responsible, forever homes.
These kitties need YOU to play bubbles with them.
There are hundreds of cats to choose from. Some of these cats have special needs, including barn cats and those that are FIV+ or have feline leukemia.
So if you live nearby, come to the ASPCA Temporary Shelter at 2580 West 1st Street in Jacksonville, FL 32254 Saturday and Sunday between the hours of 10 AM and 5 PM. Bring a government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, passport, non-driver ID, etc.) proof of address, and a pet carrier.
These kitties are waiting for you to give them a loving, forever home.
These adoptions will be fee-waived. In addition, all of the cats that are available for adoption will be micro-chipped and spayed/neutered.
And if you’re in the Sarasota or Tampa Bay areas, you can also adopt a former resident of Caboodle Ranch. Smaller, separate adoption events for the Caboodle Ranch cats will also be held that same weekend in Sarasota (hosted by Cat Depot) and in the Tampa Bay area (hosted by the Humane Society of Pinellas in cooperation with SPCA Tampa Bay).
This kitty is ready for the Olympics!
So PLEASE share this information, and let’s help these cats find forever homes.
MEOW! My name is June Buggie, and I have something to say.
MEOW!
On June 28, a Florida judge ruled that the 700 cats of Caboodle Ranch could be permanently removed from the “no-kill sanctuary” and put into the care of local authorities. The judge also ruled that sanctuary owner Craig Grant could not aquire more animals.
Caboodle Ranch is a morality tale for all humans who love animals- not every rescue is indeed a rescue, and even those with the best of intentions can get over their heads.
Oh they had a great story, and a cool-looking website. There are even videos on Youtube of a kind man caring for many cats.
from CaboodleRanch.com
But that wasn’t what was really going on. Cats did not receive proper medical care. Cats weren’t spayed/ neutered. Dead cats were left on the grounds. Funds were misappropriated.
I’m not posting details here. I looked at the info, and it made me physically ill. You can find out more about the case at CaboodleRanch.net. There are also videos on YouTube of the investigation.
Two points I want to make about this case:
ONE: People are STILL believing this place is a great place for cats. And they still send money to this guy. It’s your money, and you can do whatever you want with it. Personally, I’d rather people send money to groups that actually HELP animals, but hey, to each his own.
TWO: In the video above, the Jackson County sheriff stated that they contracted with the ASPCA to investigate and care for all the cats removed from the property. He said it was costing around $3 MILLION dollars to do all this, and that the ASPCA footed the entire bill.
If it was a rare occurance that such operations took place, it would be sad, but the truth is, we hear about such operations happening all the time- though not often on such a large scale.
On July 9, the Animal Rescue Corps helped White County Sheriff’s dept. rescue 67 animals. And on the 3rd they helped Wilson County Animal Control rescue over 100 dogs from a hoarding situation. And this is just THIS MONTH in MY STATE.
My point? Not everyone that claims to be an animal rescue is doing right by animals. It may be deliberate, or it may be a case of good intentions that got out of hand. Either way, it’s not healthy and it’s not humane.
So before you support a rescue, make sure you know who you’re dealing with.
MEOW!
Oh, and you ARE voting for this blog to win the DogTime Petties Best Cause-Related Blog…. right? I mean, you wouldn’t want me to come and scratch your ankles. Trust me….. it hurts. So go here and vote every day.
Meow! My name is June Buggie and I have something to say!
It’s been a tough year for those in the trenches fighting for the well-being of us animals, but lots of good work has been done. According to a study commissioned by Tom’s of Maine, animal welfare is the number-one cause for volunteerism in America.
from USA Today
Today I’m going to touch on just some of the great things advocates have been doing.
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The ASPCA helped rescue animals after the devastating tornadoes in Joplin and Hurricane Irene. Think about how much man-hours and money is needed to find, feed, and provide medical care for these animals while helping humans find their pets. It’s nothing less than amazing.
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Mercy for Animals has gained the attention of the news media and corporations by going undercover to expose abusive factory farm practices. These investigations include the E6 Cattle Company in Texas, Iowa Select pig factory farm, and Sparboe Egg Farms in Iowa, Minnesota and Colorado.
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Born Free USA and other activist organizations continue to push to make the owning and selling of exotic animals illegal. On December 22nd Inside Edition ran a story of a legal white tiger for sale in Ohio. In fact, it’s easier to buy a tiger than it is to adopt a dog or cat!
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The Humane Society of the US profiles its Top 10 Success Stories of 2011, including the end of using chimpanzees for animal testing, ending using animals to test Botox and continuing the fight against puppy mills.
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You know my stance on animal activism- while we need people to rescue and care for strays, ferals, and abused/neglected animals, we also need these people who are working hard to make conditions better for ALL animals.
For those of you who are a part of the solution, I say thank you. And for those of you that are on the fence post wondering what you can do to help, come back Friday and read Rumpy’s interview with a shelter volunteer.
MEOW!
If you’re looking for a link to the BlogPaws Blog Hop, click here.
Hi! My name is Rumpy, and I am an Alaskan Malamute. I used to live in Middle Tennessee, but now my family and I reside in the Florida Panhandle of the US. I have this cool blog that I started in 2011. Here at rumpydog.com we talk about all things animal, with a focus on animal welfare and responsible animal companion guardianship. But we also like to throw in a heaping helping of cute! cute! cute! I mean, how could you look at me and not melt, right?
My story? Well, I was found on the side of a busy street. Jenny thought she would help me find my home, but nobody claimed me. So now I live with her. She's a pretty good ole' gal, but she is mighty stingy with the dog cookies. *sigh*
Also living here is DeDe- an older lady of unknown origins that was living at the trash dump. DeDe has many health concerns, yet you'd never know it by looking at her. She's the happiest dog in the whole world!
There are also some cats- they each have their own story. June Buggie is their chief spokesperson. He is 16 years old, crotchety, and not afraid to say what's on his mind.
All writings and photos are the copyright property of Jenny Threet (unless the writer is a guest blogger, in which case it is the property of that guest blogger) and may not be used without permission.
