Then again, you may not

Kill it with fire

Awful

Plus we replaced his coffee with Folger's instant

But Keep Writing

Me Too

I'll take two

Daphne

My girl Daphne has a great story about her up on the Best Friends website! Now all she needs is a home!

Bark Radio

Hey, Amy Harmon and I were guests on this week's episode of Bark Radio, talking about Oliver the Pit Bull! Check it out!

Stop it, block it, lock it

Not again

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Daphne

Daphne is one of the dogs I care for at work, and this semi-feral sweetie has made such progress. The only thing she needs to complete her story is a forever home of her own; could it be yours?

Blues

Someday I hope to never hear this name again

But for now I can't ignore it when it still produces good observations. Dogged Blog: What we say about Michael Vick -- and what it says about us.

Optimism

Blue Fail

eat this you will

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Pets Alive and No Kill

A very thoughtful post from Pets Alive's Kerry Clair on what No Kill means and on the model of No Kill they have chosen to embrace.

I owe a tremendous debt to Pets Alive and I'm grateful to have been able to have the experience of volunteering there. I'm glad Kerry addressed the issue of warehousing, a charge that is frequently lobbed at sanctuaries, and talked about the unique way in which they handle the issue.

Dogs that go to Pets Alive for sanctuary due to behavioral (or any other) issue are given the best quality of life possible because all of their needs are considered; not just their physical needs. Even animals that can never be adopted out will be loved, socialized and walked not just by staff... but by volunteers. I'm talking about biters, dogs that have the capacity to be genuinely dangerous. Volunteers who understand the risks that they are taking and who want to develop a loving bond with these animals are allowed to work with them, hopefully to modify their behavior but if that is not possible to enrich their lives and give them as much social contact as possible - to keep their minds alive as well as their bodies, to let them know love.

I do not know of any other shelter or sanctuary that operates this way. Indeed, from a liability standpoint it may be quite insane. But when I was starting to learn more about dogs and really wanted to work with dogs that were behaviorally challenged with an understanding of the risks, Pets Alive allowed me to in a supportive environment - for me and for the dogs. I wouldn't have developed the handling skills I have without that, and I would not have got to know so many wonderful animals who need a little extra time and effort - for which I am profoundly grateful.

UPDATE 1/5: Fixed the first link to Kerry's blog! Whoops!

Healthy

Thanks, Scott!

Wallace the Pit Bull

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Euthanasia

"There is no disease or condition of companion animals that takes more of their lives than euthanasia."

-Janet M. Scarlett, DVM, MPH, PhD, Professor of Epidemology at Cornell University, Director of Maddie's Fund Shelter Medicine Program

This quote has been floating around the 'net today, and I find it disturbing. Dr. Scarlett has a very impressive resume and seems to have spend a great and admirable portion of her career working to end the deaths of animals in shelters - certainly Maddie's Fund has been extremely important and influential in that respect. Assuming the quote is accurate, however, it's an exercise in defeatism.

Dr. Scarlett does not seem to be referring to euthanasia here, she is referring to shelter killing. Euthanasia is a term co-opted by apologists for shelter killing to make it seem more palatable to the general public - necessary and noble, even. It is language used to make the slaughter of innocents seem like a good and positive thing.

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, euthanasia is defined as "the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals (as persons or domestic animals) in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy". Killing for space is not euthanasia. Killing because no one has adopted an animal in a predetermined length of time is not euthanasia. Killing because an animal has an easily treated disease, like kennel cough or an upper respiratory infection is not euthanasia. Killing for old age or minor behavioral issues is not euthanasia.

Dr. Scarlett has even written articles for an audience of fellow veterinarians decrying the number of animals killed in shelters and asking for their help to try to reduce it as much as possible; but isn't a good first step towards that goal to stop using a term popularized in order to make the killing of animals more acceptable to the general public and calling killing what it is?

Language is important. If you want to make the point that the needless death of animals is, in fact, a bad thing, can we all stop using language designed to make it seem like a good thing?

You have a point

No

Only in MA

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It's winter here in Massachusetts
And the gentle breezes blow
Seventy miles an hour
At thirty-five below.

Oh, how I love Massachusetts
When the snow's up to your butt
You take a breath of winter
And your nose gets frozen shut.

Yes, the weather here is wonderful
So I guess I'll hang around
I could never leave Massachusetts
I'm frozen to the ground!

AutoTune 2009

Dedication

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