Split?

Years ago (yeah, I'll update the design eventually...) I started the site as a place to put all the fun stuff I found around the internet. As things evolved I started using the site for writings and news on animal welfare (and specifically dogs) as well. So I'm wondering what people think: should I split this blog in two, one for humor related content and one for animal related content?

I'm sort of inclined to leave things the way they are - it won't hurt people coming here to see some fun stuff to see a bit about dogs (and gloss over it if they so choose), and it definitely won't hurt those of us tacking some pretty serious subjects to have a laugh now and then, but I wanted to know what YOU think. Feel free to comment as well!

Macaroni

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Shelter Access

The Jersey Shore Animal Center is set to kill a mother cat and five kittens today. Normally this would not be news, as shelters kill animals all the time. What is news is that there is a No Kill rescue with a wonderful setup for cats that's willing to take them in and save their lives - and has been told no.

The mother cat has been tested for, and is positive for, FIV - a slow moving immunodeficiency virus. FIV is certainly not a death sentence in cats and many FIV positive cats live very long and happy lives. It's also fairly difficult for cats to transmit to each other - it's most commonly transmitted through deep bite wounds - and does not infect any other species. There's really no reason to kill an FIV positive cat, any more than there's a reason to kill for diabetes, blindness, or a skin condition - it's just something to be aware of and educated about.

The Jersey Shore Animal Center missed the memo on that one. They consider FIV cats "sick", and when a rescuer brought in a mother cat and her newborn litter for care and the mother cat tested positive, they slated them for killing (although FIV is not always transmitted to kittens, they didn't bother to test the kittens - presumably because they didn't know that). When their rescuer found out the fate of the cats, she asked to take them back and was told she couldn't have them. When their rescuer called Pets Alive for help and they offered to take the cats - and provide them with lifetime care if necessary, they were told no because killing all FIV positive cats is the policy of the Jersey Shore Animal Center, logic be damned.

This is what shelter access laws such as California's Hayden Law, Delaware's Companion Animal Protection Act, and the proposed Oreo's Law of New York are designed to prevent, and why it's so very important to continue working for shelter access laws across the country.

The number one cause of death for dogs and cats in the United States isn't cancer, or being hit by cars, or neglect by hoarders, or any exotic disease. It's shelter killing. Shelter access laws like Oreo's Law guarantee access to animals in immediate danger of being killed (what shelters usually call "euthanasia") and give rescuers a chance to save their lives. Period.

Much has been made over protections and safeguards in these laws to make sure that only the "right" people get them, and certainly some level of safeguarding is a good idea. It's important, however, not to lose sight of the overall risk/reward scenario: the animals that these access laws usually are designed to help are the ones in immediate danger of death, and opposing laws giving rescuers access to animals based on the objection of what theoretically might happen to them in order to send them to a certain death is quite simply idiotic. Indeed, if we were to follow this logic to its end no organization would ever adopt out a dog or cat - they would simply kill them all. Although I'm in favor of some level of safeguarding in these laws, even a bill with no safeguards at all has the potential to save a tremendous number of lives by virtue of providing a chance to go on living versus a near certain death.

With shelters out there like the Jersey Shore Animal Center - and they're not at all uncommon - we need all the help we can get.

John Callahan

I found out today that cartoonist John Callahan had died, I've been a fan since discovering his incredible autobiography in the 80s. Godspeed to a remarkable (and very, very funny) man.

Batman Pug Remix

Pets Alive Wednesdays

Busy day at Pets Alive! I was very happy to see that the Freegle enclosures were packed away and nearly every Freegle has been adopted! There are just a few left and even some of them went home while I was there - I'm betting that next week they'll all be in homes, which is so awesome.

Since the Freegles were well in hand I spent the day with my regulars, including my new boy... Andy. A few of my regulars are lifers, but Andy's not, he's just a sweet boy who needs a little extra help. We took our usual walk and headed out on an outing to get an Italian Ice, but Andy was too nervous to eat. He loves the car and he's very calm riding in one, but he's nervous in new situations - not too bad, just a little shy - and lots of situations seem to be new to him. Sitting on a bench, relaxing and eating an italian ice just wasn't something he's used to... but don't worry, he will be!

Continuing to explore what Andy likes and what motivates him, he met my little dog Ginger.


Ginger is a fantastic test dog to meet other dogs - she's small, very non-threatening, female, and has great dog skills, she reads the intentions of other dogs very well. No surprise for an ex-puppy mill dog!

Andy liked her very much and instigated play with her. She also let him know when he was being too rough and he accepted the correction instantly, a wonderful sign. I think these two are going to be buddies and hopefully can go on some outings together - once they're friends I'm hoping Andy picks up on Ginger's excitement to be out and about!

I'm hoping to give them a play date together next week!

I got to visit my ferals, too. When I first started at Pets Alive there was a large group of dogs that had always lived together, had minimal human contact and were badly undersocialized. It's amazing to see how far they've come and how much they enjoy people now. One of the crew, Tarzan, is slowly losing his sight due to an irreversible eye condition:


No worries though, on the trail he rolls deep with his seeing eye pack, including the dapper Stuart Noble.


I'd never met Stuart before last week, but he's a very impressive little guy - especially with all he's been through. He's very friendly to people, loves the group of dogs he lives with, and is in better shape than any dog of his age I've ever met - he's very active and playful. He's just fantastic. I'm really hoping he finds the right person soon, he's a very sweet guy!

Finally, I had to see Cam to make sure he'd recovered from this recent humiliation...


He was fine. Whew! Won't someone save him from the next dress-up opportunity?

Pugs Love Batman

Back to Pets Alive!

Dropped by Pets Alive today to visit the dogs of the Great Beagle Rescue - so good to see so many of them GONE! They're flying into their new homes just as fast as they can have their spay/neuters! Several went home today while I was there including this cutie.


I also met this really cool dog who I think I'm going to be spending some time with: Andy! Andy's had a hard start to his young life but he is SUCH a sweet boy! The shelter environment makes him a little nervous and hyper so I took him on a little field trip - he calmed right down the moment he hit the car seat and was a perfect gentleman on his ride (though the ice cream shop was out of italian ices - drat!). Next week we'll go on a longer outing and I'll be sure to get some pictures. Such a sweet guy!

Doga

I don't care what the New York Times says, I find doga kinda weird.

Heartbreaking

Thanks to Shirley at YesBiscuit for catching this story today.



I'm not sure how much I have to add here that's constructive except to say that this one simple video exemplifies everything that's wrong with some shelters in this country today. You've got a TV news crew in the building - what a golden opportunity to ask for the help of the public, to ask for foster homes, to ask for adopters to step forward, to promote your animals, to do some good in the world.

Instead, they vilify and blame the public and kill a puppy while the crew is there for good measure while telling their community "this is your fault". Who in the world is going to want to step forward and help you when you're telling them how horrible they are?

No, it's not the fault of the community. It's the fault of a hellhole who seem to be actively trying to drive away and reject the people who could help them rather than engaging their community in a positive way, appealing to the better nature of humanity, and asking for the help of the public. Putting that puppy on camera and talking up how wonderful he is instead of putting him to death would literally be the very least they could do. This sort of self-sabotage of a shelter's essential mission is grossly unacceptable.

What a waste.

Safe for whom?

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It's OK, we're all safe now.

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Might be an improvement

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Profile of a Backyard Breeder

Just ran across this series of TV reports. A few thoughts come immediately to mind...

It is an absolute travesty that this woman was allowed to operate as long as she did when authorities were obviously well aware of what was going on. A lot of people clamor for new laws restricting "bad breeders" when simply enforcing laws we have now would go a LONG WAY towards shutting down backyard breeders like this.

There are really people out there who will spend $6500 for a dog, sight unseen? The second travesty is that some of her customers were not arrested as well for utter stupidity. It's awful to be taken advantage of, but sending $6500 for a good-lookin' website?

Finally, love the hair. Queens NY REPRESENT!

Your thoughts?

I think that's from the Made Up Testament

How did I miss this?

How did I miss this video? It's great!

Beaglemania continues!

Had to go back to Pets Alive today, I needed a beagle fix. They're just so damn happy, and they're really loving the cuddling they're getting.


I also picked up some freshly-neutered beagles from the vet - so cute and sleepy and almost ready for adoption - so exciting! They've got a TON of applications and I can't wait to see them go into homes!


I've been so busy with the beagles that I hadn't been spending enough time with my old friends, so later in the afternoon I took Cam and Bindi out for lemon ices. Yes, really. You've got to look out for the long-term residents, you know - they need some fun outings!



Now THAT is a goofball pittie face! Bindi remains that happy, bouncy clown princess of Pets Alive. Maybe with all the media attention from the beagles there might be that one special pit bull lover who falls for Cam or Bindi...

On Activism

Embrace radical transparency. Own your successes, but also own your mistakes. Admit to both.

Love.

If you believe in what you're saying, stand behind it. Do not allow yourself to be bullied or shouted down.

Be truthful. Be honest. Be respectful. On the other side there is also a human being.

Be persistent.

Believe in yourself.

To speak is not enough; you must also lead by your actions. Be the change - in word and deed.

Be kind.

Be open. To possibility, to change, to debate, to discussion.

Embrace technology. We live in a golden age of mass communication, where free and inexpensive tools enable anyone and everyone to potentially reach millions in an instant. Experiment with new technologies. Keep what works.

Laugh. Often.

Ask questions. Seek understanding. Educate yourself.

Be calm, especially when there is chaos all around you.

Believe in, in the words of Lincoln, "the better angels of our nature".

What would you add?

Image: Banksy

Competitve Eating

I like competitive eating more than soccer because there's more drama.

Beagleriffic

Gettin' Pricey

New cost for cigarettes at some locations in NYC: $14.50. Awesome.

Bo Burnham with the Nerd Rap - NSFW

Breathe, damn you, breathe!

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Beaglemania Slide Show

I went to see the Freegals at Pets Alive today. As I was walking through the pens, there was this one female dog that really, really, really wanted my attention. I went in with her and took a seat on her dog house, and she jumped up and put her front paws in my lap, pressed her head into me, and thumped her tail like mad. We sat that way for five minutes or so, her tail going the whole time. She just wanted to be held.

She's what it's all about.

The Great Beagle Escape

The Great Beagle Rescue. The Freegles. Beaglemania.

Whatever you want to call it, Pets Alive and Best Friends rescued a large group of beagles from a failed research lab in New Jersey today.

I thought I was on the unload end when I headed up to Pets Alive today but the team pulling the dogs needed some supplies, so I loaded up the truck and GPSed the destination, an idyllic country setting in a beautiful area of NJ.



At first glance it looks like a farm. You probably wouldn't even look twice on your way by. But it's not, it's an animal research lab compound. The "barn" in the photo is a fake, a concrete building that's been dressed up to look like a barn. Four vans went in with teams of two loaders, one van at a time, and loaded up to take the beagles to freedom.



They're an awesome group. A little scared (understandably!) but very social, very friendly. The vans brought them back to Pets Alive, where pens have been built just for them in a pasture.



So many first for these guys. First time walking on grass. First time on a leash. And some of the best firsts of all as they were paired up and had playmates for the first time in their adult lives, and they started to play. To explore. To bask in the attention from their adoring public.



If you've ever wanted to get started volunteering with an animal rescue, now would be a fantastic time. There's a lot to do with these guys and with the rest of Pets Alive's animals (dogs, cats, horses, goats, birds...). As much as anything, these guys just need some socialization, some loving guidance, and some fun! They're great dogs to hang out with.



It's fantastic to see two orgs who have had their differences put them aside for the good of the animals and collaborate on such a wonderful and worthy project - one that any and every animal lover can get behind! I've never been prouder to be a volunteer for Best Friends and Pets Alive.

Blog to Watch

Keep an eye on Wisconsin Watchdog, new and fantastic! I'm adding it to my blogroll.

Freedom Beagles!

Pets Alive of Middletown, NY is doing a mass rescue of 90 beagles who will be coming to their facility Friday, July 2. If you've ever wanted to get involved with animal rescue... well, now would be a great time, they're going to need a lot of help this weekend and beyond! Check out their website or their Facebook page and GET INVOLVED!

The name I hoped to never speak again.

So evidence suggests that the reformed Mr. Vick violated the terms of his parole and his Eagles contract in the latest criminal case he's involved in - a shooting at his birthday party. (He was not the shooter or the shootee.)

I'm sure the HSUS will stand by him. After all, he's changed.

Can we now leave this man in the dustbin of history where he belongs?

Ice Cream