"Dustin was rescued from a home in Denham Springs, LA where he was being neglected. He was taken to a no-kill shelter and a volunteer at the shelter got on the internet and started spreading the word that this baby needed help and fast! We agreed to take Dustin into our organization, and with the help of several wonderful people, Dustin has made it to Houston.
This is Dustin right after he was picked up about the first of August. He is approximately eight months old and is extremely emaciated. His weight should be in the 50 lb range, at this point, he only weighs 28 lbs. (EDITORIAL COMMENT: What amazes me about this boy is that, even though he is in such bad shape, look at how proudly he stands for a picture!)
Dustin arrived at my house last Saturday, August 12, 2006. He is the sweetest, most trusting Weimaraner puppy I have ever met. He has settled in, learned to love my cooking - Chicken and Rice, and tolerates his baths. Dustin has made remarkable progress in the short time he has been here, but has a long way to go.
Enough of my two cents. Here's a message from Courtney Frank at HHS that she asked me to pass on:
The Houston Humane Society is opposed to pet auctions, and we always spay and neuter animals up for adoption in our care. As such, HHS officials are working with Liberty County officials to discuss possible alternatives for re-homing the puppies. The HHS is committed to finding loving, safe homes for ALL animals, and it goes against our policy to allow animals into situations where they would be mistreated, abused, fought or illegally bred.
Please let your readers know that we appreciate the public's support and input on the future of the puppies, and we will forward all opinions on this sensitive matter to the courts.
As a final note: the defendant has until Monday, August 28th to appeal the auction of the puppies. No decision on the puppies can be made until that date has passed."
RoamEO doesn't come cheap, though. The intial system is $459 dollars and another $149 for additional collars. Check out more on the system at the RoamEO website here.
Surfers included bulldogs, Labradors, Dalmatians, poodles and terriers, Chihuahuas and mutts. The dogs caught three waves each and were judged on length of ride, confidence and style. They were rated on a five-point scale: horrid, gnarly, stellar, tubular and “hang 20.”
The Associated Press is reporting that investigators believe Thomas Weigner - the owner of the Pit Bulls currently housed at the Houston Humane Society -- was shot to death because of his involvement in the dogfighting industry..
Thomas Weigner was awakened by his barking American pit bull terriers, nearly 300 of them on his 24 acres down a county road that eventually leads to the Trinity River bottom.
At least three masked men broke into his brick ranch-style house and tied up his family -- including his three children -- and searched for money and firearms. Then they shot Weigner above the right knee and he bled to death.
Authorities believe Weigner's August 1 death opened a small gateway into the dogfighting subculture that they rarely glimpse, and the FBI and Texas Department of Public Safety are now investigating.
My dogs have a lot of tags on their collars: their name tags, their rabies tags, a nide gift of a St. Francis of Assisi (I'm told he's the patron saitn of pets) tag, and their Avid microchip. They make a log of noise, especially in the evening when I'm trying to sleep an they're trying to figure out where they're going to sleep..... jingle jangle..... in the morning when they're ready to wake up and I'm not.. ...jingle jangle. ARGH.
Someone said, "Why don't you just take off their collars?" I don't want to do that. What if something happens - fire, break-in, carelessness - and the dogs get out? I doubt most people have microchip readers in their homes! The Quiet Spot does the trick.
I don't claim to be an expert in 'everything animal.' I appreciate and would even love to have more guest columnists who can lend perspective or constructive opinion (please note CONSTRUCTIVE) on current animal issues. If you'd like to share your thoughts in a well-written column, email me at lforonda@khou.com.
Here is Zandra Anderson, who kindly provided the "blow by blow" Pit Bull hearing information posted here, sharing her perspective on yesterday's Pit Bull ruling in Liberty County. Zandra is a trial attorney who also works with animal law, and serves as legal counsel to Spindletop Refuge.
"We aren't sure how that part (the ruling that the dogs six months and younger must be sold as they are - meaning, not spayed or neutered) will work, what with the law saying all animals coming from humane organizations must be altered, but we're looking into it...
...The ones under six months that don't go at auction will be returned to us, and we're doing research into where will be the best place (or places) for them to go....
.. Sherry (Ferguson, HHS's executive director) tells me Mrs. Weigner (the dogs' owner) said she wanted to appeal the decision about the puppies, though, so that might take even more time. I don't even want to think about who the high bidders would be....
...I think people *do* understand that these dogs have been a) bred and b) trained to fight and kill. It isn't their fault, and we wish it didn't have to be this way, but if this case can teach the community that how we treat our animals has a direct correlation to how they turn out, then it is worth it."
WITNESSES:
-Sgt. Chad Langdon, from theLiberty County Sheriff's Department, was the first state witness. He was the local sheriff assigned as the point person for the dogs. He is the person who got Sgt. Timmers of the Houston Humane Society (HHS) involved in the case. He investigated the dogs on the Weigner property as a part of Mr. Weigner's murder.
-Sgt. Timmers, a licensed Peace Officer employed by HHS as a cruelty investigator. He testified as follows:
-That the dogs on chains were standing in water, mud and their own feces.
-That fecal matter was in the paws of these dogs
-About 50-60% of the 285 dogs were staked on chains in a field
-The dogs had 55 gallon drums elevated off the ground used for shelter for these dogs
-That is was over 100 degrees when they were seizing the dogs
-That a treadmill w/chains was found and also a water tank. He testified that these were equipment that dog fighters use. On cross, he admitted that the
Dog Whisperer, Cesar Millan, uses treadmills and pools to exercise his dogs
-Some of the dogs he said were aggressive and around 12 had to be sedated to remove them
-He testified that the dogs were being cruelly treated
-He said they had no problem with the wife of Thomas Weigner, Julie Laban, during the seizure and that by agreement with the local sheriff, Ms. Laban was allowed to pick four of the pit bulls to keep, which she did
-He asked Ms. Laban for vet records proving Rabies vaccination but she could not produce them. However, the records were seized by police investigators. While she could not produce the records, she didn't say they weren't vaccinated. There was no evidence one way or another that whether the dogs had their Rabies vaccinations
-He made records of the dogs which included 145 females, 72 males and 68 puppies
-154 dogs were chained in the field, 108 in kennels in the back of the house and 23 were in the house
-When asked, "If a pit bull has been bred to fight can they be rehabilitated for pets?" His answer was, "No."
`
-Timothy Harkness, DVM, a Vet for HHS, who inspected the dogs during the seizure. He testified as follows:
-Went with Sgt. Timmers to oversee the general conditions of the dogs and puppies and to sedate dogs that were aggressive
-Said the dogs had mud and fecal matter in their fur
-Some were tangled in their chains
-Said there was a smell of feces and urine
-Tested the puppies for worms and they had tapes, hooks and giardia.
-Said there was sand and debris in the fecal matter of the dogs on location leading him to believe that their food was thrown on the ground
-They had large pails for water and there was green algae in some of them
-Testified that the dogs were being treated cruelly
-When asked, "If a pit bull has been bred to fight can they be rehabilitated for pets?"
His answer was, 'No."
- On a follow up question from the wife's lawyer, he further stated that, "Dogs bred or trained for fighting aren't suitable for pets."
DEFENSE WITNESSES:
None. The attorney for the wife wanted a
continuance, alleging that any witnesses had been intimidated by what was in the press about anyone claiming these dogs might face criminal charges. He said that HHS had denied him access to see the dogs and that he wanted to see them and have them seen by a vet to prepare this case.
JUDGE PHIL FITZGERALD'S ORDERS:
1. Denied the defense's request for a continuance.
2. Determined that the dogs were being treated cruelly.
Then he said he needed to decide on the disposition of the dogs. He recalled Timothy Harkness, DVM to the stand. He asked Dr. Harkness at what level of maturity can a puppy bred for fighting be rehabilitated. Dr. Harkness stated, "Six months." The Judge asked him if he could determine which puppies were less than six months old, and Dr. Harkness said, "Yes."
Judge Fitzgerald then made the rest of his Orders:
3. All puppies and dogs greater than six (6) months old will be disposed of by the HHS and will be euthanized.
4. All puppies less than six (6) months old will be sold at a public auction.
5. All puppies not sold at the auction, wll be put up for adoption.
The judge was asked about spaying and neutering of the puppies so he further
ruled:
6. All puppies will be sold in the condition that they are in.(My comment: that means dogs that are NOT FIXED will be put up for auction. Who will buy these dogs that are fully intact? I fear irresponsible breeders will..)
APPEAL:
Pursuant to
Sec. 821.005 of the Health and Safety Code:
-Only the selling of the puppies at public auction may be appealed
-The order awarding all dogs over the age of six months to be euthanized
by HHS may not be appealed
-The owner has ten (10) days to appeal and must post a bond for the care
of the dogs
August 17, 2006
BARC's new Pet of the Week video is here!
Click here for Kent Robertson's latest furball for adoption.
BARC is at 3200 Carr (here's a map). It's open for adoptions from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Call 713-238-9600 or visit their website here for more info.
August 17, 2006
Yo yo! This cat's got BLING
This cool cat has traded
in his catnip for some blingIn Alexandra, Indiana, Sebastian, a one-year-old Persian with long black hair, sports gold crowns on his two bottom canines, which grew sticking out from his lips in an underbite similar to a bulldog's.
His owner, dentist David Steele, said he gave Sebastian gold crowns to help strengthen the fanged feline's teeth. Steele said he was worried the unique canines would break off or become a problem.
"It's possible to work on animals the same way we do humans," he said. "I did it to strengthen (Sebastian's) teeth, but it had an excellent cosmetic result. The cat gets a lot of attention now. Everyone is tickled to death when they see him."
Sebastian's two gold teeth protruding from his furry face make him seem a little menacing, like a hip-hop star's guard-cat or a movie villain's pet. The feline didn't seem too happy with his new look at first.
"He's normally around me all the time," Steele said. "After I put the crowns on, he didn't 'speak' to me for two days."
When Sebastian was tranquilized about a month ago to get his coat trimmed, Steele used the occasion to take impressions of his teeth. He then sent those impressions to a company that prepares crowns for his human patients.
"They called back and asked me what I was up to," Steele said.
Two weeks ago, veterinarian Larry Owen tranquilized the cat at the Alexandria Animal Hospital about 30 miles northeast of Indianapolis so Steele could do the dentistry work, which took about 15 minutes to complete.
Buy AP Photo Reprints
Owen said putting gold crowns on teeth can be done for any pet with a dental problem.
"Mostly, though, it was a fun thing to do," Owen said. "(Steele is) always up to something or trying something new."
Steele said he has put a crown on a cat once before, after the animal was hit by a car. He also put a gold crown on his Boston terrier.
Steele said the cost for each gold tooth is about the same as for humans - about $900 each.
Information from: The Herald Bulletin
August 17, 2006
Truck driver in penguin crash didn't have commercial license
The penguins before they
left IndianapolisThe Indianapolis Zoo is reviewing its hiring policies after learning that the driver of a truck that crashed along a Texas highway, killing four of the zoo's penguins, did not have a commercial driver's license.
Texas Highway Patrol Trooper Richard Buchanan also said the leased truck's registered weight was 33,000 pounds, well above the limit allowed in Texas or Indiana for a driver without a commercial license.
Troopers had warned driver Kelly Hodge about the violation but did not cite her following the August 8 crash, Buchanan said.
Hodge was cited for failing to stay in one lane and failing to maintain a log book that records hours spent behind the wheel, as required of all long-haul truck drivers. Read more on KHOU.com's website here, and check out video of the penguins arriving at Moody Gardens here.
August 16, 2006
Country singer accused of killing tame bear
Troy Lee Gentry, 39, of Franklin, Tennessee, and Lee Marvin Greenly, 46, of Sandstone, appeared Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Raymond Erickson in connection with a sealed indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Minneapolis.
Authorities allege that Gentry purchased the bear from Greenly, a wildlife photographer and hunting guide, then killed it with a bow and arrow in an enclosed pen on Greenly's property in October 2004.
The government alleges that Gentry and Greenly tagged the bear with a Minnesota hunting license and registered the animal with the state Department of Natural Resources as a wild kill.
Gentry allegedly paid about $4,650 for the bear, named Cubby. The bear's death was videotaped, and the tape later edited so Gentry appeared to shoot the animal in a "fair chase" hunting situation, the government alleges.
If convicted, both Gentry and Greenly face a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a $20,000 fine.
Gentry's manager, Johnny Dorris, said Wednesday that Gentry, an outdoorsman and hunter, expects to be exonerated.
Gentry "relied on the knowledge and expertise of a local guide to obtain the proper permit," Dorris said in a written statement. "Troy felt what he did was legal and in full compliance of the law and was surprised to hear of the indictment."
Greenly did not return a phone message seeking comment.
Montgomery Gentry, along with co-singer Eddie Montgomery, are known for hits such as "My Town" and "If You Ever Stop Loving Me."
August 16, 2006
Burmese Python slithers around airport
Don't laugh.. . I've heard about the movie Snakes on a Plane, too.. but the real Burmese Python hanging out at an airport in Tallahassee, Florida, was no laughing matter. Watch the video here.
The 9-foot Burmese python was picked up by police near the Tallahassee Airport on Sunday. Snake handler Sean Belanger said even he was surprised at the snake's size.
"Most of the calls I get, people always tell me, 'We've got a 4-foot, 5-foot snake,' and you get out to the site and sure enough, it's like about a 2-foot snake," he said.
But police were even more surprised. They thought the snake was dead lying on the side of the busy highway, until they walked up on it and it moved.
Experts said the snake was most likely released by an owner who no longer wanted it. Wildlife officials said that's illegal.
"That is a violation that can land you in jail for a year and cost you a $1,000 fine," said Henry Cabbage of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The 9-footer has a strong will to be free. After police initially captured the snake and put it in a bag, it escaped from the back seat of the patrol car.
"See, he's kind of nervous. Like when they're used to being handled, they don't crawl around this much. They kind of are a little more easy going. He's wanting to get away," said Jon Johnson of the St. Francis Wildlife Association.
Whether the snake could have lived through the North Florida winter is questionable, unless it found a way to hitch a ride south.
August 16, 2006
Watch the big cats at the Houston Zoo
From the Houston Zoo:
One of the hottest new developments at the Houston Zoo allows guests to get a totally different perspective on the big cats - African lions and Indochinese tigers.
The zoo unveiled a new feature Wednesday that opens up a new window into the world of the big cats.
Until now, zoo guests viewed the lions and tigers through panes of Lexan, a clear plastic. The Lexan did not allow the cats to have any kind of interaction with our keepers.
Two of the Lexan panels have been replaced by panels of thin but strong steel mesh and drop down doors that create a stage for presentations.
The windows provide an up-close view of how keepers work with lions and tigers behind the scenes.
Carnivore keepers conduct training demonstrations with the big cats every day and twice each day on Saturday and Sunday.
The training sessions allow the cats to stretch their muscles and their minds, according to zoo officials.
Here's the video of the unveiling of the camera and here's a slideshow..
August 15, 2006
Can you help these dumped dogs?
UPDATE August 15th: The dogs mentioned in this post have been fostered.
Originally posted August 11th: I dreaded opening these pictures when I received this email, but I knew I had to do it. We can't ignore the sad face of abandoned dogs. Cindi Hohle sent this email out to her animal friends. These dogs are in the Acres Homes/Pinemont area. Contact Cindi at 713-248-2653 if you can help in some way.
Cindi writes: "Well, this has been another bumper year in the Pinemont/Acres Homes area and I had planned on sending out a "positive" e-mail on the area rescues and adoptions BEFORE sending yet another plea for help, but I have found there is no such thing as "Good Timing" where animal rescue is concerned and this guy (the picture on the left) can't wait.
I discovered this dog about a month ago on a Saturday morning, and he was very hot and weary and I left him a meal and water - he looked pitiful w/ his bloody ears and weary posture. I haven't previously publicized him because, first I thought he had been picked up by Animal Control after seeing them in the area and not seeing him again. Then he shows up again a few days before I leave town for a week and I asked a friend to feed him if she saw him while I was gone. Upon returning, find out SPCA has been out and assumed they had picked him up since I didn't see him again. But last night I received a call that he had been seen again, so he is still alive. I know that HCC has called both AC & SPCA to pick him up.
In the days before I left town, he allowed me to pet him and even put flea treatment on him and antibiotic ointment on his sores (ears were chewed up pretty good), so I feel pretty good about being able to pick him up. He must be a really good dog if he would let me do that. You don't know how hard it was to drive off and leave him standing there and not pick him up, all because there was no place for him to go, and not wanting him to be put down at the SPCA. A friend went out there last night and tried to get him, but he was frightened of a stranger and ran off, so this angel friend went ahead and took the black and white dog (picture on the right), whose picture I had circulated a few weeks ago, and who also showed up again on the scene last night after being dumped again (long story, but someone had poured vinegar all over this poor girl in an attempt to heal her mange, but all he did was burn her skin severely and cause her to bloat terribly (she looks pregnant).
Please pass this along and pray that he touches someone's heart to reach out and help him soon. I don't think he will last long out there. I honestly don't mean to "whine", but I really, really need some help out there. In the week before I left town, I picked up 4 dogs from there (after several dogs had been poisoned) and am currently working on getting another dog, with several other needy dogs waiting in "the wings", one with a dislocated or fractured shoulder and pregnant. I can't even describe how overwhelmed I am with all this, between my nerves and my finances, and can't take on the responsibility of yet another dog to heal and board. Please open your hearts or ask friends to consider fostering. I'm sorry that I live near such a bad area of town - what's even sadder is that this is but a small niche of "bad area" in this huge city."
August 15, 2006
A well trained dog..
Hmm.. My Finlay would never be this patient.
August 15, 2006
New Kitty Korner at BARC
BARC director Kent Robertson
hangs out in the new Kitty KornerGot this from the folks at Houston's
Department of HHS...
Choosing between a cuddly cat or an energetic and playful kitten up for adoption at the Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care (BARC) is easier now that the Houston Department of Health and Human Services has set up Kitty Korner.
People can use Kitty Korner, a bright, cheery, air-conditioned room full of toys, to visit, play with and get to know the kittens and cats at BARC, 3200 Carr (here's a map).
"You don't really get to know an animal behind a cage," said Kent Robertson, BARC's new bureau chief. "Kitty Korner will help people considering adoption whether the cat they like will jump in their lap to give and get a lot of attention or sit nearby offering companionship."
Kitty Korner is open daily from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. The cost of adopting a cat is $55 and includes vaccinations, spaying or neutering, feline leukemia/FIV test, worming, and microchip.
BARC shelters about 5,600 unwanted, lost or stray cats every year. BARC also offers dogs for adoption, vaccinates against rabies, rescues and shelters lost and stray animals, licenses dogs and cats, investigates reported animal bites and enforces Houston’s animal ordinances.
Responsible pet ownership includes vaccinating pets against rabies, spaying or neutering and providing veterinary care, identification, food, water, exercise, grooming and love and affection.
For more information about Kitty Korner or BARC, call 713-238-9600.
August 15, 2006
Puppy Picassos for SNAP
Bring your puppies, bring the adults, and don’t forget the cameras because you are going to want to capture this. On Sunday, August 27, from 3:00 – 5:00 PM Bering and James Gallery, located at 805 Rhode Place, just one block south of Allen Parkway behind Gravitas Restaurant (map here), is letting our puppies take over to create their unique art displays.
After your dog creates his or her masterpiece they can rinse their paws off in the wading pool and wait as their painting dries. Paint will be provided and the proceeds from your art sales will benefit SNAP, the Spay-Neuter Assistance Program.
For questions or more details visit www.bayoucityoutdoors.com, or call 713-524-3567.
August 15, 2006
Barbaro is the big horse that COULD!
Barbaro hand-grazes with his
vet, Dr. Dean Richardson
photo courtesy of Sabina Louise PierceHow's this for a breath of fresh air?
Barbaro the racehorse is enjoying daily outings outside his intensive care stall to pick his own grass, enjoy the warm weather and stretch his recovering legs.
Barbaro stepped outside his ICU stall and started daily walks on a grassy area near the unit last week for the first time since having catastrophic injuries in the Preakness nearly three months ago. The Kentucky Derby winner, also recovering from a severe case of laminitis on his left hoof, continues to show signs he's on the road to recovery.
Read more about the story on KHOU.com's website here. You can see also video of Barbaro on his outing, walking around and happily munching away on grass here.
August 15, 2006
New Spay/Neuter Clinic Arrives at BARC
From the folks at Saving Animals Across Borders:
Dr. Renee Bazan, Chief of Staff for Saving Animals Across Borders Houston Spay & Neuter Clinic, was spaying a dog when she learned that the modular building, which would soon be the home for Saving Animals' Houston Spay & Neuter Clinic, had just arrived.
"I can't wait to see it," she said. "We've all been anxiously waiting for this day."
Dr. Bazan, and other veterinary staff, have been spaying and neutering adoptable pets in a make-shift operating room in BARC's shelter for over six months now. Thanks to a generous gift from Mickey Hagey, the veterinarians and medical team will be operating in a new state-of-the art medical facility located on BARC property in Houston's Fifth Ward.
The building will be formally named the Mickey Hagey Center for
Animals in a dedication celebration on September 28, 2006 attended by Houston's Mayor Bill White.
The 2,500 square-foot modular building features a spacious drop-off and waiting area and two surgical suites for spaying and neutering pets. Modern exam room will enable BARC staff to provide expanded care for animals in BARC's new foster home program waiting for adoption.
The new Mickey Hagey Center for Animals will also provide high-volume, high-quality sterilization services for dogs and cats belonging to the general public, in an effort to curb the overpopulation problem that plagues Houston. BARC's adoptable pets as well as dogs and cats already in homes in the community will benefit from the clinic's
sterilization and wellness services. A generous grant from PetSmart Charities purchased the surgical equipment to complete the new clinic, which is expected to open in September.
Also.....
You may have seen Max Mixson saving animals on Animal Planet's Animal Cops: Houston, but now you can see him helping animals every weekend at Saving Animals Across Border's new Pet Adoption Center, sponsored by the Petco Foundation, at Northwest Mall.
Mixson has joined the Saving Animals Across Borders team as the manager of the Pet Adoption Center to help homeless pets from the City of Houston's Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care (BARC) find permanent and loving homes. "It's really sad that our city has to euthanize so many animals," says Mixson. "I want to do what I can to see that shelter pets get spayed and neutered and adopted into new homes."
"We're very excited to have Max on board," says Sean Hawkins, president of Saving Animals Across Borders. "His celebrity-status will help bring a lot of attention to the plight of homeless pets in Houston."
The Pet Adoption Center is not funded by the city or state and relies entirely on donations to operate. Mixson has graciously agreed to sign autographs and have his picture made with visitors for a small donation to the Center.
The Pet Adoption Center will open in August and will operate every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. For information about the Pet Adoption Center contact Max@savinganimals.org, to volunteer contact Kathy@savinganimals.org.
And...
On May 11, 2006, Saving Animals Across Borders partnered with the Animal Alliance of Galveston to open the county's first high-volume spay & neuter clinic. Supporters may be interested to know that in just three months time, the state-of-the-art facility has already sterilized over 1472 dogs and cats.
"Clearly, these services were badly-needed in Galveston County," says Sean Hawkins, President of Saving Animals Across Borders. "Studies have shown that the best way to reduce the population of unwanted animals is through the continual presence of sterilization programs in the community."
Saving Animals is currently looking for ways to fund sterilization programs to reduce feral cat and pit bull populations in Galveston County.
August 14, 2006
Alaska's Brown bears.. are they in danger?
Just when I was feeling all happy about watching Alaska's McNeil River Sanctuary Brown Bears on a webcam stream, seeing them playing and fishing in their natural environment, CBS News brings us this story: the bears are so comfortable with human being around, they may not be ready for what happens next year, when buffer zones around the Sanctuary are opened for bear trophy hunting.
You can read the copy version of the Evening News story here. The video is here
Needless to say, a lot of people who are fans of those "people friendly" bears are a bit concerned. You can find a lot more information at the Friends of the McNeil River .website.
August 14, 2006
Houston Astros' dogs are pinup pets
Take.. me out the balllllllll game..
Take.. me out with the crowd.....
Oh, I can't sing anyway. But, I can appreciate a good ball game and the Houston Astros - especially the boys of summer who love their dogs! Members of the team posed with their pooches (as well as some very adoptable dogs from BARC) for a calendar (you can check out the video here) to raise money for Saving Animals Across Borders and the Astros in Action Foundation.
Read more and see a slideshow on the KHOU.com website here.
August 14, 2006
Pit Bulls are making people crazy. Can we be civil, please?
OK, folks. It's getting ridiculously nasty now, with profanity laced tirades about the Pit Bulls. So, I am now moderating all comments. It will have to be approved by me before it's posted.
This is supposed to be an informative blog about animal news and issues. You are more than welcome to share your comments. But I ask that you think twice - maybe three times - before hitting the "ENTER" button after you comment. If you cannot comment without throwing in some profanity, if you cannot somehow think of some other way to get your point across without cursing, then you have no business commenting here. It appears some people believe profanity in a comment immediately adds some kind of prestige or distinction to their opinions. In this case, however, it will only lead to the comment being banned and never being seen by anyone.
August 14, 2006
Update on the Liberty County Pit Bull seizure
Info sent to me today from the Houston Humane Society about the Pit Bull seizure previously blogged about here and here:
At today's hearing determining custody of the pit bulls seized from Liberty County, the widow of the breeder had an attorney appear on her behalf to claim ownership of the dogs, which means this case WILL go to trial. Her attorney was granted a 72 hour continuance, and now she has until 10am Thursday to post a bail of $28,500. If she does say, she and her attorney will have until Thursday the 24th to prepare for trial, and
if she does NOT come up with the bail, the case will go to trial immediately this coming Thursday, the 17th, at 1pm.
Either way there will be a trial, but whether it begins this Thursday or next Thursday is the question. And either way, these dogs could be settling in at the HHS for quite awhile.
August 11, 2006
Good news! Katrina dog reunited with owner nearly one year later!
Walter Williams was forced to leave his dogs, Patches and Lobo, behind when he fled New Orleans before Katrina made landfall.
After relocating to Houston and getting his own life in order, Williams was finally able to track down his dog Patches through Petfinder.com - nearly one year later - and today they were reunited in Houston.
Patches has been staying for the last few months at Spindletop Refuge, a Houston-based rescue group specializing in American pit bulls and American Staffordshire terriers.
Walter has big plans for Patches once he gets her home: the couch and the bed. "I want to make her real happy and comfortable. I want to help her forget all about Katrina."
Read the rest of this story and see video of the reunion on our KHOU.com website here.
August 11, 2006
BARC is full! La Porte is, too!
This doggie's waiting
at BARC
Here's a kitty
at La Porte
I always feel I am going back to the well for help when I post entries like these. Most of you already know our area shelters are bursting. BARC (shelter information/hours/location
here) always seems to be, and so does the shelter for the city of La Porte (shelter information/hours/location
here). Sigh.
August 11, 2006
Undercover kitten killed by car
Fred, the Undercover Kitten who gained fame by posing as a would-be patient to help police nab a phony veterinarian, has died, authorities said Friday.
The tabby was killed Thursday when he wandered into traffic and was run over by a car, according to the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office.
Fred was a rescued stray when he was enlisted by law enforcement in February. He got his due at a press conference, where he sported a tiny badge on his collar.
"He's pretty easygoing, a real Brooklyn guy," his caretaker, prosecutor Carol Moran, said at the time.
Fred received a Law Enforcement Appreciation Award and was honored at an adopt-a-thon benefit hosted by Mary Tyler Moore and Bernadette Peters. He had been "preparing for a new career in education," with a "significant role" in a classroom program that teaches children how to care for animals, the District Attorney's Office said.
August 11, 2006
Stowaway Suburban kitty
Watch the story here
An eight-week-old kitten from Idaho had the ride of its life recently, having traveled over 300 miles clutching to the undercarriage of a Suburban.
Colleen Lordemann says she first saw the kitten in Ashton, Idaho when her dog was barking at it outside the Ashton Inn. Then she saw it again, more than 300 miles later, when she arrived home in Boise, Idaho Wednesday.
Colleen says during her trip, she stopped to get groceries and heard a cat meowing but thought it was a cat near the store. Then when she arrived in Boise, she heard the meowing again. When she investigated she found that the sound was coming from the right rear area of her S-U-V.
Colleen tried to coax the kitten out but with no success. Some neighbors came to her rescue and with the help of some tuna fish, the kitten was captured.
Colleen says she's amazed the kitten is still alive since she says at times she was driving more than 80 miles an hour. She's hoping the original owners in Ashton might claim the kitten but until she's notified, she says it has a home at her house.
August 10, 2006
Amended ordinance could have kennels howling with relief
Susan Briggs
of Urban TailsMaybe you've noticed it, because city officials say Houston is home to fewer and fewer dog kennels.
A little-known city code outlaws kennels within 100 feet of houses, churches, schools and hospitals.
However, city officials are crafting legal language that would keep kennels from losing.
In urban Midtown sits a kennel called Urban Tails.
"Wonderful sit. That's a wonderful sit. Good girl," said Susan Briggs, co-owner of Urban Tails.
Its owners opened their puppy pampering business in Midtown six years ago.
"We knew that the area was revitalizing and apartments and townhomes were moving in. And the kennel ordinance says you have to be 100 feet from a school, church, residence or hospital," said Briggs.
Now city officials say Houston’s kennel ordinance has helped drive Houston’s kennel business to the dogs.
Read the rest of the story on KHOU.com's website here.
August 10, 2006
The Great Pet Crate Drive
What to do with your pets during a hurricane evacuation? I've blogged about it here, here, and here. In many cases, you can now take them with you, but you'll need something to carry them in.
That's where the Disaster Animal Management Task Force (DAMT) is stepping in, with its "Great Pet Crate Drive. The group, made up of Houston and Harris County agencies, is looking for about 8000 gently used pet crates. They'll be stored at Houston's SPCA, ready for emergencies.
What kind do they need? The hard-top kind - no soft side crates! All sizes, please! I know from experience it's a bit more difficult transporting a 70 pound dog (can't even imagine a Mastiff!) as opposed to a 10 pound cat.
As quoted in the Houston Chronicle, the HSPCA's Heidi Brasher said, "Whether you don't have a vehicle, or are handicapped in someway, they can call the SPCA and we will have crates here and ready to go. We encourage people to call 2-1-1 ahead of time and get on a list if you have a pet that needs to be evacuated."
The Chronicle also says Metro is working with the plan, outfitting some of its buses with shelves to accomodate the four legged passengers.
Click here for a page that has all the locations collecting crates.
August 10, 2006
Houston Zoo shows off new baby giraffe
The Houston Zoo announced the birth of a female Masai giraffe Thursday, the fourth successful giraffe birth at the Zoo in as many years.
Born to mother Tyra, the as yet unnamed calf tips the scales at 143 pounds and is 5 feet 11 inches tall.
Zoo officials report mother and baby are doing well. Tyra is eight years old. The baby’s father, Kiva, is ten years old.
Tyra went into labor shortly before 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday, August 8 and delivered the baby at approximately 3:50 p.m. The baby giraffe was standing less than 90 minutes after birth and began nursing at approximately 5:15 p.m.
You can read the rest of the story on KHOU.com's website here, as well as check out video of the new giraffe here.
August 9, 2006
Surviving penguins get TLC at Moody Gardens
The penguins that survived a harrowing crash in Marshall, Texas arrived at Galveston's Moody Gardens a few hours late Tuesday night.
The surviving penguins arrived at Moody Gardens Tuesday night. They were somewhat disoriented, but safe.
The ones that were injured when the truck overturned are being treated and they're all getting plenty of tender loving care after their ordeal.
"I think it's a miracle, quite honestly. I've heard reports from several people that were on the scene and they're surprised that anybody walked away, bird, person or fish," said Greg Whittaker, Animal Husbandry Manager.
Moody Gardens experts are still mulling over whether to perform surgery on a King penguin with a broken wing.
He is being treated with anti-inflammatories and antibiotics and will be re-evaluated Thursday.
You can read more about this story on our KHOU.com website here. Here is a slideshow of the penguins' arrival, and here is some raw video.
August 9, 2006
Addressing some of your concerns about Pit Bull seizure in Liberty County
Warning: this is a long post, but there's a lot going on.
The Pit Bull seizure in Liberty County this week has spurred a lot of discussion and even brought some trouble to the Houston Humane Society.
I emailed the folks at HHS to ask about their whether these seized Pits would be adopted out, and shared some concerns that their request for donations to help care for these dogs during the court process should have also included their Pit Bull procedures.
This is what I received from Courtney Franks in HHS PR:
"The pit bulls seized from Liberty County on Monday are evidence in a criminal case, and are not the property of the Houston Humane Society. It will be up to the courts to decide the ultimate disposition of the dogs. The HHS will do all we can to care for the animals until we are notified of the courts decision, however long that may be. There have already been disputes over the ownership of these dogs and, as such, the dogs may never even be turned over to the HHS.
Because of the long process we face, the staff here is taking care of first things first, and law enforcement has only given us the task of making sure these dogs are safe, cared for, and healthy. Because these dogs were living in standing water and waste, we are taking special care to make sure they carry no bacteria or other transmittable diseases.
On a regular basis, you are correct that we don't adopt out pit bulls, and if people call asking to bring in pit bulls we try to direct them elsewhere. The reason for this is not because of the breed itself, but rather that it takes specially trained individuals to properly screen potential adopters, in order to make sure that they want to adopt this highly publicized breed for the "right" reasons rather than the wrong ones. Since we don't specialize in just one breed like the pit bull rescues do, we would hate nothing more than to put one of our adoptables into the wrong hands, just because someone wants to own a breed that conveys a certain status or statement. I think we can all agree that improper ownership is more dangerous than any particular breed of dog could EVER be.
In this specific case, though, these dogs aren't the property of the HHS, so they don't fall under our normal operating procedures. The seizure warrant says they'll be housed here until the courts say otherwise, so here they'll stay. The money raised will go towards their food, shelter, and medical care for the foreseeable future, which could
total in the tens of thousands of dollars. This is obviously a huge financial impact on the HHS, since we in no way want this operation to impact our day-to-day goings on at the shelter, and we're still taking in and adopting out animals every day.
.....about the temperament of these specific dogs: The owner of these animals bred them for fighting, mistreated and neglected them and, we're told by experts, also bred his specific bloodline to be physically and tempermentally as vicious as possible. The dogs on the property in Cleveland were wild, but not by virtue of being pit bulls. They were wild because they were treated as such by the humans purportedly caring for them. Authorities are planning to bring any and all charges they can against anyone involved in the breeding and improper housing of these dogs, and the HHS fully backs
them.
We received a lot of calls yesterday disputing ownership of the pit bulls, and yesterday evening several people showed up on our property in an attempt to bully Houston Humane Society employees into letting them back there to where the dogs are being held.
HHS investigator Sgt. Mark
Timmers patrols the shelter after
trouble with the Pit Bulls Because of the extremely sensitive nature of this criminal case, we are 100% dedicated to not letting these animals get back out into the public and into the hands of people who want to mistreat them. We are asking people to donate to our security efforts, because we now have to employ armed, uniformed police officers to ensure safety on the property 24 hours a day. We are also going to be securing the area where the dogs are held to an even greater extent than before, given the conflict arising over ownership of these animals.
Those interested in donating should call 713-433-6421 or visit http
://www.houstonhumane.org. In the past few days, HHS has incurred thousands of dollars in expenses in this case. To ensure these animals stay safely in the custody of the HHS until the court case, and are not put back in the hands of animal abusers or let out into the public, we need your help in adding security to our site. "
August 9, 2006
Pit Bull Updates.... Penguin Updates.. coming tonight!
I'm waaaay behind, but we have some big developments in the Pit Bull seizure story, as well as the terrible journey those penguins made from the Indianapolis Zoo to Moody Gardens... I'll post tonight.. I promise!
August 8, 2006
Penguins, fish killed in accident during trip to Galveston
Kelly Hodge carries a penguin
to safety after the truck
she was driving overturned
near Marshall.
MARSHALL NEWS MESSENGER
MARSHALL, Texas -- Motorists dodged penguins on an East Texas highway Tuesday after a truck carrying the flightless birds overturned.
The rig was hauling penguins, exotic fish and birds to Moody Gardens when the accident happened on U.S. Highway 59, eight miles north of Marshall.
The Department of Public Safety said one penguin and all of the fish died in the accident.
Three more penguins were run over and killed by passing vehicles.
The truck was transporting animals from the Indianapolis Zoo, where their exhibit space is being renovated.
When the truck slipped off the road shoulder, driver Kelly Hodge tried to veer back — then overcorrected.
Hodge was transported to Marshall Regional Medical Center. A passenger suffered slight injuries.
Twenty-one penguins survived, although some were treated for minor injuries.
The refrigerated truck was one of two transporting inhabitants to Moody Gardens. The earlier truck's cargo was alligators and snakes.
Read the rest of the story on KHOU.com's website here.
August 8, 2006
Man searching for one dog saves another
Trina relaxes as
she awaits a new homeSAN LEON -- The tale of a dog now awaiting adoption at a San Leon shelter begins with the story of a dog stranded in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Scanning through The Dallas Morning News, Don Rohrschach saw a photo of a lost dog covered in oil. A longtime dog lover, Rohrschach was outraged by the dog's plight and set out to rescue the animal. He put out word over the Internet that he would offer a $2,000 reward to anyone who could steer him to Oily Dog (remember him? - picture here).
Rohrschach, a retired attorney, succeeded in his quest, and the dog, now named Orli, is one of three dogs currently sharing his Irving home. (Read more about it here).
"When I was trying to find Oily Dog, I got about 6,000 e-mails," Rohrschach said.
Some of them came from people offering help in finding Orli. Others came from people seeking help in saving other dogs.
Rohrschach sent $2,200 to a woman trying to save some dogs in Georgia.
"Then one evening I got a note from a woman about this beautiful dog in La Porte that was scheduled to be killed the next morning," he said. "She said she didn't know where I was in relation to La Porte, but she wondered if I could help."
Read the rest of the story on KHOU.com's website here.
August 8, 2006
Twin pandas give birth to twin cubs
BEIJING -- A pair of twin giant pandas each gave birth to twin cubs this week, bringing the number of pandas born in captivity this year in China to six, China state media reported Tuesday.
Qi Zhen and Qi Yuan delivered their babies on Sunday and Monday at a giant panda research center in Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's Sichuan province, where they live, the official Xinhua News Agency said.
A 7.7-ounce panda cub was also born on Monday in another center in Sichuan, and it became the heaviest cub in the history of China's artificial breeding program, the report said.
Its mother, Zhang Ka, also set a record for the longest delivery after about 34 hours in labor.
You can read the rest of the story on KHOU.com's website here.
August 8, 2006
Help us find Thembi!
This baby, Thembi, got out of her home Sunday night (8/6) in the Section 1 area of
Garden Oaks. Her owner fears someone had been walking through the neighborhood, using a garage door opener to see which doors might open, and hers was one.
Thembi was spotted that night by the owner of the Shell Gas station on the corner of Shepherd and 610 and then by the Sonic, but that's the last time she's been spotted.
Thembi, as you can see from the pictures, is black brindle in color and 16 inches tall. She is very friendly and She is micro-chipped but not wearing her tags or collar.
Thembi is a lap dog and her family is just worried sick. Please call Vanessa at 713-724-8207 or Casey Farris 713-688-6363 with any information or possible leads.
August 7, 2006
Huge Pit Bull bust in Liberty County
325 Pit Bulls were seized from a farm in Liberty County - a startling discovery in the middle of a murder investigation. Precinct 6 Deputy Constables had gone to the farm to investigate a break-in at the 2200 block of CR 2252.. and found 27 year old Thomas Weigner killed in his home.
Officials believe he was breeding the Pits for fighting, then shipping them around the country.
You can see the story filed by 11 News reporter (and great animal activist) Brad Woodard here. The picture above is from Air 11, our helicopter, but Sherry Ferguson of the Houston Humane Society just sent me these (click for larger versions):
She writes: "Early this morning HHS RAIDER cruelty investigators and volunteers drove to Liberty County to seize 325 Pit Bull dogs from horrendous living conditions. The dogs were being bred at this location and sold all over the country, allegedly for fighting. This is the largest seizure to date in the area and it took hours for Houston Humane Society workers to get the dogs under control and safely into crates.
Liberty County officials discovered the operation while investigating a murder that occurred in the home on the property and called in the HHS. We will be housing, feeding and providing medical care for all of the dogs until the court case is resolved, which could take weeks.
In the past 10 days, HHS has already incurred thousands of dollars in expenses on this case and the fighting roosters we seized last week. The costs for transportation, food, housing and medical care for these cases alone could go as high as $100,000 or more, if these cases are not settled quickly through the courts. For information and to donate to help these animals, please go to this website."
We also have some raw video from the site here.
August 7, 2006
Pet resources for the military
A reader forwarded this email on to me:
Because dogs (and other pets) are an integral part of the lives of families in the military, as they are with any American family, deployment can wreak havoc with a military family's pet situation. Deaf or not, the dogs and cats of these families often need a place to go temporarily when the serviceperson is sent somewhere where dogs are not allowed. Often, the family left in the states can keep the dog until the end of the deployment, or a friend or relative can, but sometimes housing changes or the lack of dog-loving friends or relatives can pose a serious dilemma.
For the service person who does not want to give up a pet permanently, because of an assignment, there is help. The following are websites which can provide help in finding a temporary foster in this situation.
You service folks, keep these links handy for folks you may know. Other folks, keep these links handy for when you come across a family and their pet who need such services, whether on petfinder or on a Yahoo group or in an email.
http://www.tamc.amedd.army.mil/headlines/PetsAndDeployment.htm
(directed to Hawaii-based servicemen, but good info for all)
http://www.operationnoblefoster.org/
(cat (only cats) foster for military families)
https://www.netpets.org/militarypet/foster.php
(all animals - dogs, cats, ferrets)
http://www.guardianangelsforsoldierspet.org/
August 7, 2006
Sugar Land shooting blamed on dog dispute
Custody disputes are all too common in divorce cases with children, and often with the family pets. But now, it appears a custody battle over a dog went too far.. Sugar Land police say a woman shot her her estranged husband today during an argument about who would take their Shitzu dog. The picture you see here is from Air 11, showing a red convertible, a dog crate, and a scene that was surrounded by police crime tape.
Incredible, huh? Read the rest of the story at KHOU.com's website here.
August 4, 2006
Mr. Floppy.. now called Mufasa
This is a happy ending to a pretty fierce story. A cat, initially dubbed "Mr. Floppy, had be a feral, cared for by a woman named Edna. One day she found Mr. Floppy terribly injured. Someone had tried to cut off his testicles (you can read the original blog post here).
In any case, this story does have a happy ending. Mr. Floppy was adopted and re-named Mufasa - I'll bet like Mufasa from The Lion King! New mama Nickie and Kristyn have this report:
"Oh my gosh! He is so funny! He is sleeping in the big window in the bathroom! He loves it. He has been exploring in there because I find paw prints all along the sink and bathtub!
Giving him medicine is very easy. He just takes it, as long as there is a brush in my hand.
This morning was quite an experience. About 2 am, there is a loud crash in the bathroom. He knocked over a large clam shell in the window. This morning, I heard a lound noice while in the shower; I walked back in the bathroom to find he had pulled the curtains down! He was sitting on the sink when I walked in. I started brushing my teeth and he sat there for a few seconds before he decided to jump down.
He is warming up to us very well. I just walk around the my bedroom talking to him, hoping that he will eventually venture out!
Sunday morning, there was no food left in his bowl! He ate it al!"
August 4, 2006
Information from Harris County about pet evacuations..
Just got this from Colleen Hodges with Harris County Animal Control...
The Disaster Animal Management Task Force has been working with the state and local emergency management folks to facilitate evacuation with pets. While the Red Cross does not allow pets there are programs in the works to set up temporary animal shelters close to human shelters to allow owners to care for their animals. Also, Jack Colley with the state has said animals will go with their owners on the evacuation buses. Metro, who will be coordinating local evacuation efforts, has
already retro-fitted some buses to handle animal crates.
The Task Force has launched "The Great Crate Drive" to collect the 8,000 crates. Metro feels will be needed to handle a full scale evacuation. Heidi Brasher with the SPCA has been doing the publicity. We have 5 drop-off locations for crates; the SPCA, here at Harris County Veterinary Public Health, Jesse Jones Park, Burroughs Park, and Baldree Greyson Community Center. New or gently used crates will be accepted. Of course, any help in getting out the word will be greatly appreciated!
If you go to http://www.damtaskforce.com, you will see a list of the task force members and the literature developed for folks to prepare before a storm threatens. Also, the Texas Ag Extension has done a really neat video explaining how to make you pet preparations. Go to http://agnews.tamu.edu/dailynews/stories/CFAM/Jun2006a.htm and click in the movie in the green box on the right.
There's lots of stuff being worked on by lots of people here locally. The biggest 2 points are; 1 - to encourage people to make their disaster plans. Whether they will be evacuating or sheltering in place there are specific things that need to be done. And number 2, if they are evacuating and they will need a ride they need to register with 211 now. People evacuating with pets will need carriers for their pets, leashes
and muzzles for large dogs and their medical records.
During hurricane season I keep my cat carriers where I can get to them quickly, stocked with a spare collar and tags, small litter boxes, and zip lock baggies. I also keep a pet travel bag with medical records, trash bags, leashes, contact information, first aid kit, towels, and small bowls. (I use this whenever I take the dogs anywhere - just in case. My husband thinks I'm nuts but it's come in handy a couple of times for small injuries and one emergency trip to a vet in Mason) In the event we have to evacuate I can grab food, water & litter and we're off.
August 4, 2006
Senate Passes Landmark Bill To Leave No Pet Behind
From the Humane Society of the US, news that the Senate has unanimously approved a Senate substitute to H.R. 3858, the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act, just before adjourning for the August recess.
The PETS Act, introduced in the House by U.S. Reps. Tom Lantos (D-CA) and Chris Shays (R-CT) and in the Senate by U.S. Senators Ted Stevens (R-AK) and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), will require local and state disaster plans to include provisions for household pets and service animals in the event of a major disaster or emergency. As this year's hurricane season approached, The HSUS had lobbied Congress and mounted a national advertising campaign to pass this legislation quickly to keep people and pets together next time disaster strikes.
"The House and Senate have taken an important step in ensuring that Americans will never again be forced to make an impossibly difficult choice: leave their animal behind while they flee a disaster or take their chances by staying in a disaster-stricken area with their pet," said Wayne Pacelle, HSUS president and CEO. "We are grateful to Senators Stevens and Lautenberg and Representatives Lantos and Shays for championing this important legislation. We hope it will soon be on its way to President Bush, who said during Hurricane Katrina that he would be sure to take his dog, Barney, if he was forced to evacuate."
The bill that passed the House in May calls for emergency preparedness plans to include consideration of people with pets and service animals before a disaster strikes. The Senate substituted its bill for the House measure, and that measure grants FEMA the authority to assist in developing these plans, authorizes financial help to states to create emergency shelters for people with their animals, and allows the provision of essential assistance for individuals with household pets and service animals, and the animals themselves, following a major disaster. While The HSUS supports both bills, it favors the Senate version because it is more comprehensive
The House can either take up the Senate version and pass it in that form or a conference committee can work to reconcile differences between the bills.
August 4, 2006
New Book about the pet survival stories of Katrina
Best Friends Organization has published a heartwarming but bittersweet book about their time rescuing the animals left behind after Hurricane Katrina. The photos are beautiful. The stories are touching. Money raised goes right back to helping the furry ones.
Check out a direct link to the book the the Best Friends website here.
August 4, 2006
Yet another mass dog slaughter in China
The massacre of dogs in China
apparently spared only military
guard dogs and police canine units. Information on how you can make your voice heard at the end of the article
SHANGHAI, China (AP) -- For the second time in days, Chinese authorities have ordered a mass slaughter of dogs to curb a rabies outbreak -- drawing criticism from animal lovers but also support from many who say it's the only way to contain a disease that kills more than 2,000 Chinese a year.
Officials in the eastern city of Jining plan to kill all dogs within three miles of areas where rabies has been found, the official Xinhua News Agency said Friday.
The measure came in response to the deaths of 16 people from rabies in Jining in the last eight months, Xinhua said. It didn't say when the slaughter would begin or how the animals would be killed. It said the city had about 500,000 dogs.
http://ifaw.orgRabies cases are on the rise in China, with 2,651 reported deaths from the disease in 2004, the last year for which data was available. Only 3 percent of the country's dogs are vaccinated against rabies.
Last week, a county in southwestern Yunnan province killed 50,000 dogs, many of them beaten to death in front of their owners, after three people died of rabies.
The slaughters have outraged animal rights groups, who call them cruel and a sign of government incompetence in dealing with rabies, an often fatal disease that attacks the nervous system but which can be warded off with a series of injections.
"I think this is completely insane," said Zhang Luping, founder of the Beijing Human and Animal Environmental Education Center.
"What's more, this really damages our national image and sets a really bad example to show how lazy and inconsiderate those local government officials are," Zhang said.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals called such killings a "hideously cruel response," in a statement on its Web site.
After last week's slaughter, the group canceled about $300,000 orders for merchandise made in China and called for a boycott of Chinese-made products to protest what it calls widespread cruelty to animals in the country.
The killings in Yunnan prompted unusually pointed criticism in state media, with many commentators saying it signaled how little capacity the local government had to deal with routine health issues.
Other slaughters have been reported elsewhere in China this year, although the government says it has no standard policy of destroying dogs.
Zhang, the founder of the Beijing education center, said there were no laws under which citizens could stop the killings. However, she said she and other animal protection activists were reaching out through the media to try to change policy.
"I think this brutal and cold-blooded campaign should stop as soon as possible," Zhang said.
People who answered the phone at Jining's city government and the epidemic control center refused to comment or said they weren't authorized to release information to the media.
The World Health Organization has not directly criticized the slaughters, but WHO experts have said they underscore a lack of coordination and other problems within China's health care system.
The killings have also prompted a slew of impassioned postings in online forums.
"Tens of thousands of people die in traffic accidents each year, but we don't ban cars. Dogs are simply easy to persecute," said one unsigned posting on Xinhua's electronic bulletin board.
"People opposed to killing dogs ought to think how they'd feel if they or a relative was infected with rabies. Are people's or dogs' lives more important?" said another, also unsigned.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The International Fund for Animal Welfare has this page set up about about the mass slaughter. You can donate here to stop the killing..
August 3, 2006
The latest on taking your pets with you during hurricane evacuations
From http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/Big sigh of relief: Tropical Storm Chris seems to be weakening. Still, there's no telling when another might build and threaten the Gulf Coast. Yes, I sound like a broken record, but you must think about what you will do with your pets if a hurricane comes to the Houston area. Here's the latest (as of August 3rd) that I've dug up about what is available to you:
Galveston: The Mayor says things should run a lot smoother this year if there's a hurricane and people need to get out. Last year evacuation buses wandered the state with no clear destination. But this year plans have been made to take residents, and their pets, to austin. But you need to call to sign up NOW. The number is 409-797-3723. You WILL be able to take your pets with you. I am not sure how many, or how big, but call this number and you'll get the information you need.
Galveston County: Not sure about pets being allowed, but for information about evacuation and pets, call the county's information line at 211.
Harris County/Houston: I haven't heard anything about allowing pets to come to shelters, or to include them in any publicly sponsored evacuations. Harris County's Office of Emergency Management is at this website.
Be aware, however, of this direct quote lifted from the Red Cross's website:
Red Cross disaster shelters cannot accept pets because of states' health and safety regulations and other considerations. Service animals who assist people with disabilities are the only animals allowed in Red Cross shelters. It may be difficult, if not impossible, to find shelter for your animals in the midst of a disaster, so plan ahead. Do not wait until disaster strikes to do your research.
The Red Cross has tips on planning ahead for your animal here.
August 3, 2006
Meet-and-Greet this Saturday in the Heights
Normally I'd just leave this in the Pet Calendar, but I've received so much email on it I figured I'd better make it a full post:
"Please pass the word and plan to stop by the Meet and Greet and Adoption event this Saturday, August 5th from 10AM to 3PM at Cooper Animal Clinic, located at 1136 Heigts Blvd in the Heights to benefit the shelter animals at BARC.
There will be adorable cats and dogs available for adoption, micro-chipping for your met (a must), information on hurricane readiness, Tellington Touch, a pet psychic, a kissing booth and much more.
Also, please don't forget to bring your donations for the needy animals at BARC. It's a drive to supply every shelter animal with a bed, bowl and a toy. Please help us with the animals.
Please spread the word and plan to come join us for a day of fun for a great cause, and if you are looking for a new pet, please come see the many homeless animals searching just for you!"
August 3, 2006
Guard dog shreds Elvis teddy bear
For all you dog lovers who know the joy/agony of your puppy eating everything in your house and home:
LONDON (AP) - A guard dog has ripped apart a collection of rare teddy bears, ncluding one once owned by Elvis Presley, during a rampage at a children's museum.
"He just went berserk," said Daniel Medley, general manager of the Wookey Hole Caves near Wells, England, where hundreds of bears were chewed up Tuesday night by the 6-year-old Doberman pinscher named Barney.
Barney ripped the head off a brown stuffed bear once owned by the young Presley during the attack, leaving fluffy stuffing and bits of bears' limbs and heads on the museum floor. The bear, named Mabel, was made in 1909 by the German manufacturer Steiff.
The collection, valued at more than $900,000, included a red bear made by Farnell in 1910 and a Bobby Bruin made by Merrythought in 1936.
The bear with Elvis connections was owned by English aristocrat Benjamin Slade, who bought it at an Elvis memorabilia auction in Memphis, Tenn., and had loaned it to the museum.
"I've spoken to the bear's owner and he is not very pleased at all," Medley said.
A security guard at the museum, Greg West, said he spent several minutes chasing Barney before wrestling the dog to the ground.
August 2, 2006
Let's get today's bad news over quickly, shall we?
Nothing like coming in to work and having a host of emails about sad things and BAD things in the animal world. I am consoling myself with the fact that we've finally gotten BARC set up with its weekly weblog, and I have been wasting a little time at work watching the Alaskan brown bears having a good old time fishing for salmon. Still, there is the realization that bad things are happening, and perhaps you can help do something about it.
It's a long post. Sorry. So..in no particular order of horrendousness...
1. In Midland, TX, (here is a link to the city's official page, by the way), 28 year old Caleb Edwards, an officer who had been on administrative leave since beating his dog to death returned to patrol duty (here's a link to the Midland Police Department page) on Friday. Read the rest of the story here in the Odessa American Online. Yes, I am sure I am thinking the same things you are.
2. A semi-feral black cat, Shadow, had been shot several times with a pellet or BB gun. He made it home, & was totally docile, letting the woman who'd been watching out for him - Carol - put him in a crate, letting the vet take X rays without anesthesia. The x rays showed 15 pellets ! It's amazing that none penetrated vital organs, but one elbow was badly broken, in several pieces.
Shadow had his surgery at Gulf Coast Vet Clinic, since they do a lot of bone work, joint replacements, etc. Shadow will have some control & movement in that leg, but won't be able to run well or jump, and now must become an indoor cat once he recovers from surgery. He seems to be totally tame now, having trusted Carol to help him, knowing he could not help himself. Shadow never hurt anyone, didn't spray or destroy property, didn't start fights --- but some sadistic sob tried to kill him anyway!
The medical bill will be around $4,000.00 . If anyone wants to contribute, please contact me & I will give you Carol's info. For information on how to help this cat, contact Deborah Braunstein at Deborah@smith-air.com.
3. 
Someone in Austin hit a dog with a car and left him there to die. A Good Samaritan pulled over - as well as (lucky stars!) a vet! The pup was emaciated, dehydrated and full of stickers, fleas and bug bites. His injuries included a dislocated pelvis, major head swelling, some scrapes, bruises and scratches, and a dislocated right front leg that now has some neurological damage. Had no one stopped by he most likely would have just laid there and died that day, alone. The vets cannot keep him long term, nor is it good for his recuperation and asked us to help find him either a permanent or foster home.
Elliot is a ~3-year-old Shepherd mix, not currently neutered, heartworm negative (miraculously) white with brown spots and the sweetest face. Right now he is walking some, but still in pain. He's really smart, wants so badly to play (but can't), very gentle and loving and seems to be okay with our other dogs, as long as they don't come too close. Not too bad for an injured animal. If the nerve damage in his right front arm doesn't come back in the next couple of days, it is most likely beyond repair and will have to be amputated. We will take him in on Tuesday and the vet will make that determination. At that time we'll go ahead and have him neutered. Dr. Blatt at Feathers and Fur has been an amazing person with this situation -- he has said "...let's not worry about the bills, but whatever you can give will really help."
Contact Benae & Anna Colbert at 512.280.6921or 512.461.6336 or by email at abc2002@flash.net
August 2, 2006
Missing Silver Shepherd near Chimney Rock
This female German Shepherd got out of its back yard Saturday, July 29, while work men were in the yard.
Owners live in Hunters Creek, at Memorial Drive and Chimney Rock.
Her name is Violet. She is spayed, was wearing a collar with tags (vet and phone numbers), is well-behaved and friendly; medium size. Violet has silver hair, lightly interspersed with black, but no significant markings.
Contact: Joanna (713)252-8788 mobile or email at johnston@templecommercialrealty.com
August 2, 2006
BARC's director doubles as a cat tree!
Do I have your attention? Kent Robertson really did double as a cat tree bit of furniture, in his debut today in our new weekly BARC PET OF THE WEEK segment. He has volunteered to allow a webcam into his office and show off one of BARC's adoptable pets every week. He'll also talk about special events and off-site adoptions. This week's pet is Henry, a black cat, who enjoys crawling around on people's shoulders and heads. Just ask Kent. Or, better yet.. you can watch him here.
Kent would love for you to come and see the other adoptable animals at BARC, located at 3200 Carr off the North Freeway just north of downtown Houston. The kennel is open to the public 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Click here for a map. Call 713-238-2170 for more information, and you can head to BARC's webpage here.
Why am I doing this with BARC and not another shelter here in town? Because if you're in the city limits, BARC is your tax dollars at work. It's had such a rotten reputation as being the last place in the world you'd want to be if you were an animal. I believe in Kent Robertson and I believe he wants positive change. I want to help, and I hope you will, too.
August 1, 2006
Chinese kill 50,000 dogs in campaign against rabies
SHANGHAI, China - China slaughtered 50,000 dogs in a government-ordered crackdown after three people died of rabies, sparking unusually pointed criticism in state media Tuesday and an outcry from animal rights activists.
Health experts said the brutal policy pointed to deep weaknesses in the health care infrastructure in China, where only 3 percent of dogs are vaccinated against rabies and more than 2,000 people die of the disease each year.
You can read more at the KHOU.com website here.
August 1, 2006
Watch Alaska's Brown Bears... from the comfort of your computer!
Da brown bears in Alaska are having a good old time this summer, sunning themselves on the rocks and fishing for tasty salmon at the
McNeil River State Game Sanctuary. The 114,000 acre refuge is a favorite stop for the big grizzlies in July and August. Only 250 people are allowed in the park during this time, but now everyone can see the bears cooling off in the falls on the park's new bear cam (you can access it
here).
The bear cam is on from 8AM until 2AM Houston CDT, but the best time to watch is between 4PM and 8PM when a museum interpreter controls the solar powered camera. It's hidden under a fake boulder at the falls. The video ends up in Seattle, where National Geographic is publishing the live video stream to the web. The camera, which went online in early June, will likely be shut off for the season in late August, when most of the bears leave and prepare for winter.
August 1, 2006
Some dogs clean up after themselves
(Courtesy of www.comics.com / F Minus comics by Tony Carrillo, Distributed by United Features Syndicate)
I saw this in today's Chronicle comics section and it cracked me up. I guess it comes as no surprise that the best-dressed dogs would make sure they had their own doggie bags when they went to the bathroom. However, since there are very few dogs I know that walk around on two legs and in business suits, it's up to you, their owners, to take the pooper scooper bags and clean up after them..
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It’s a birthday celebration fit for, well, a meerkat. 
The need to help animals knows no boundaries, and help is needed all over the world. We may have criticisms of the American animal welfare system, but it's worse in other countries.
