July 29, 2010

No More Doggies in the Window!

San Francisco has balls. SF. is attacking the loopholes that keep illegal animal traffickers running, by cutting off the head of the snake. San Francisco is proposing to end the sale of live animals within the borders of the City and County of San Francisco. In case you don't know it, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, This is a BIG DEAL.

For decades now, localities have been up against federal statutes that prevent the prosecution of store owners who are complicit in the sale of puppymill puppies, smuggled exotic animals, and other animals for whom the origins or means of procurement are less than legal.

This may be the answer. If San Francisco makes it illegal to sell live animals, then Californians will take notice. If California were to make it illegal to sell live animals, then the country would take notice.

Are you with us California? Are you with us USA?

July 20, 2010

The Good Dog: Animal Hoarding Premiers tomorrow night on Animal ...

The Good Dog: Animal Hoarding Premiers tomorrow night on Animal ...: "The therapist notes, 'Without treatment, 100% of animal hoarders relapse.' NBC is bringing attention to the terrible condition known as An..."

Animal Hoarding Premiers tomorrow night on Animal Planet.

The therapist notes, "Without treatment, 100% of animal hoarders relapse."

NBC is bringing attention to the terrible condition known as Animal Hoarding. This morning, The Today Show interviewed a recovering hoarder and a therapist who talk about why people hoard. Often the process starts with issues of feeling needed, wanted, and loved. They want to be a wonderful person who does good, with good intentions, and who loves animals in a way that no one can.

A new series is starting to address this uniquely troubling condition, and the people and pets who are suffering because of it. Please watch ,Animal Hoarding, beginning tomorrow night on Animal Planet.

Another Summer Tradition, RUINED.

Like a lot of Southern California residents, I always looked forward to summer, and Opening Day at the Races at Del Mar, also known as the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Its a completely unique party, one with excitement, horses, great-looking people, and fun, fun, fun!

I love horses, horses love to run, we love to watch them, and who doesn't love a cool beverage with a view of the ocean, surrounded by gorgeous people? It's awesome. Except for one little thing...

The Horses. What no one wants to talk about on Opening Day of the races, is the long list of fatal injuries sustained by horses at Del Mar, every year, so that we can have a party. For some reason, we are (and I have been, until now) able to shield our eyes, our hearts, and our conscience from a very gruesome truth:

The Races are cruel. It's not the running, but the industry norms have become (or have been) deadly for many horses, who have unnecessary pain for our pleasure.

The rest of my rant is made complete in the following well-written and factually accurate op ed piece: http://www.sandiego.com/beach-life/opening-day-at-del-mar-remember-the-horses. Please read it, and find something less insensitive to do with your summer. I will miss the fun, but frankly, the knowing has ruined horse racing for me forever.

If the industry changes the rules to favor healthy horses, and instututes stricter protections to save lives, I would consider returning. As it is, I have seen my last Opening Day at Del Mar.

July 13, 2010

Oh look. It's a puppy. Wonderful.

I'm in a local small-chain pet store, and there's a 20-something girl with a small fluffy puppy, about 6 weeks old. This little thing is about the size of a large baking potato. Definitely not the result of a responsible breeder, and since this is San Diego, she probably bought it in a parking lot from a mexican smuggler who brought the litter in from Tijuana. Possibly crammed in a tire or car door.

Having seen this before, I know several things:
1. She doesn't know this puppy is not eating dog food yet. This puppy was ripped from the teat so someone could make a buck and they didn't care to wait for the requisite 8 weeks and supervise a weaning process.

2. The puppy has no shots. He or she has not, and likely will not see a vet. Ever.

3. The puppy has a 20/80 chance of survival. He's probably already sick, and she doesn't know it. He's slumped over, and she doesn't get that puppies are either asleep or they're really energetic, anything in the middle is cause for concern.

4. When this puppy dies, she will throw it in a dumpster and eventually find another smuggler (they're regulars in some areas) and get a new one.

5. This puppy had siblings. They will likely all meet similar fates.

6. There's nothing I can do.

Number 6 kills me. I feel helpless and frustrated.

July 11, 2010

Animal Hoarding Cases: Coming Out From Under the Secrets, and the Rubble.

Do you know someone who rescues lots of animals, doesn't invite you to their home, believes that no one else can care for the animals as well as them? Do you hear regular barking, whining, meowing from a nearby house? Is the yard cluttered, tarped, or otherwise hidden from view? Do you smell something foul?  Contact your local code enforcement and your local animal care and control. Take action, and you can save lives!

Animal Hoarding Cases NBC San Diego

July 10, 2010

When "Animal Rescuer" turns "Animal Hoarder" things get ugly fast.

It's not true that everyone who "rescues" animals is doing what's best for the animals. 
There are serious psychological issues when someone rescues more than they can realistically afford to care for. The woman in this story turned the corner from rescuer to hoarder, and now she's facing serious charges for animal abuse.
How can we get a handle on this phenomenon?  http://www.10news.com/news/24121168/detail.html

"EL CAJON, Calif. -- Dozens of dogs taken from the home of a Lakeside woman charged with failing to properly care for the canines can be given away, a judge ruled Friday.
In March, animal control officers found 63 dogs -- mostly boxers, Chihuahuas and a few small terriers -- in dirty cages stacked throughout 65-year-old Alice Via's two-bedroom, 750-square-foot home on Moreno Avenue, said Dan DeSousa of San Diego County Animal Services."

July 7, 2010

The Trip to Crazytown

The dogs had a great time in Tahoe for the Fourth of July weekend, and the trip up was scenic...however it was also very very NOISY!

Katie, my eldest fuzzy child, has developed a terrible behavior: She cries. The whole time she's in the car. THE WHOLE TIME? Really? Really.  It's  a ten hour trip, people!

It's time to do a serious re-train. I need to get one of those barriers that segregate the dogs from the people (I don't like it already) and black out the windows in the back of the car, effectively making a black box for katie to travel in. Then we drive around and wait for her to settle down. When she's quiet, we can try opening the front so she can see out. If she starts crying again, we close it back up. The theory is that the whole visual thing is too much to take in.

I'll let you know how it goes...in the mean time, no road trips for us!

July 6, 2010

Find TRUE LOVE at your local shelter.

This One Got Adopted!
It's a perfect time to adopt a dog. Shelters are at their breaking point, full of adorable, sweet and loving dogs of all ages, breeds, and personalities. There are at least eight poodles in the San Diego County Shelter alone! http://www.sddac.org/.

If you want to help and you can't adopt, please DONATE to san diego humane society, http://www.sdhumane.org/, or rancho coastal humane, or escondido humane of that's closer to you. These are the shelters that take in the dogs from the city and county shelters when they are overcrowded to the max.

Adopt a dog and find your TRUE LOVE!