Two teens arrested in Dallas dog burning

The Dallas Morning News is reporting that two teens have been arrested in the April 4th incident in which two pit bulls, named Hope & Justice by animal welfare advocates, were set on fire and let loose in a Pleasant Grove neighborhood.  The injuries to the dogs were so severe that they could not be saved and had to be humanely euthanized.

Dallas Assistant District Attorney David Alex will be handling the case against the teens. It is our hope that the boys will be tried as adults and held fully accountable to the extent of the law for their actions.

Dallas Animal Services confiscated 7 other dogs at the home where the boys lived.  At a court hearing on April 15th, the owner of the home denied owning the dogs.  A judge later deemed them too dangerous to be rehabbed and ordered them humanely euthanized.

For more info: Find out more about the vigil held for the Hope & Justice, read the remarks our President, Rebecca Poling made at that vigil – learn why animal abuse is not just a pet problem, but a people problem, too, and find out more about the April 15 hearing and the judge's ruling on the disposition of the dogs.

Swine Flu: info for people, pets and pig farmers

To say people are concerned about this Swine Flu outbreak might be a slight understatement, so we thought we’d help make sure y’all have the information you need to make good decisions and take care of yourselves (and your animals)! We’re not generally in the habit of sending out health advisories, but this is an unprecedented situation so here’s the 411:

First up – you need to stay healthy so you can take proper care of your pets. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security:

• People cannot get swine flu from eating pork or pork products. Most influenza viruses, including the swine flu virus, are not spread by food.
• Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.
• No food safety issues have been identified, related to the flu.
• Preliminary investigations have determined that none of the people infected with the flu had contact with hogs.
• The virus is spreading by human-to-human transmission.

The CDC sensibly recommends the following measures to prevent the transmission of flu: 

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.                                                        
• Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands frequently (for at least 20 seconds – FYI that’s as long as it takes to sing the alphabet) and use alcohol-based sanitizers.
• Try not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Try to stay in good general health.
• Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

Are you concerned about your pet contracting swine flu?

Various sources, including this veterinary health blog (which is definitely worth a read), suggest that most likely, your dog or cat will not contract swine flu. “This isn't an absolute answer, as viruses change, but historically there are no known dog/cat to human (or vice-versa) influenza transmissions.” Obviously, if you suspect that your dog or cat is sick, please contact your veterinarian directly for an examination and to discuss any questions.

And finally, because some people keep pigs.

If you own swine, take steps to prevent the disease from being transmitted to your herd:

• Workers should shower and change into farm-specific clothes and shoes before entering swine facilities. 
• Establish, implement and enforce strict sick leave policies for workers presenting influenza-like symptoms.
• Recommend that workers with symptoms be seen by a medical provider immediately.
• Restrict the entry of people into your facility to only workers and essential service personnel.
• Prevent international visitors from entering your facilities.
• Ensure adequate ventilation in facilities to minimize re-circulation of air inside animal housing facilities. 
• Vaccinate pigs against the influenza virus.  Vaccination of pigs can reduce the levels of virus shed by infected animals
• Contact your swine veterinarian if swine exhibit flu-like or respiratory illness, especially if the onset or presentation of the illness is unusual.  
• Notify your Texas Animal Health Commission area office or the Austin headquarters at 800-550-8242, after you have contacted your veterinarian.

The Texas Animal Health Commission is ready to assist with on-farm investigations, if pigs are present where a known human case has occurred, and to assist with epidemiological investigations with any human cases that may have links to swine in Texas.

Finally, DON’T PANIC! Get informed, stay informed and take sensible precautions. The CDC has up to date information on their site - http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/ – we hope you, your pets (and your pigs) stay healthy through these interesting times!

An Evening with Madeleine Pickens Thurs May 3!

The Texas Humane Legislation Network’s mission is to promote the humane treatment of animals through legislation, education and advocacy. They are the political arm and voice for every animal abuse victim, animal rescue group and shelter in Texas, and are responsible for making animal cruelty a felony in Texas.

They are hosting a very special event for Metroplex animal lovers on Thursday, May 7th from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

“An Evening with Madeleine Pickens” will be a fun and informative discussion regarding the state of animal welfare and advocacy in Texas.

Mrs. Pickens, a famous horse breeder and lifelong animal advocate, and her husband, T. Boone Pickens, have been a driving force against horse slaughter in the United States, and were instrumental in the rescue of over 800 animals during Hurricane Katrina.

If you are interested in the welfare of animals in our community and wish to help protect those who cannot protect themselves, please join THLN as they celebrate our mutual passion for improving animal’s lives by “giving a voice to those who have no voice” at this exciting event.

Date: May 7, 2009

Time: 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Place: The Plaza, 3535 Gillespie, Dallas, Texas

RSVP: rich@thln.org

Hors d’oeuvres * Wine * S. Pellegrino

Donations Accepted

Dogswell® Bow-Wow Bailout helps unemployed pet owners!

Sometimes tough times bring out the best in people and companies – and it’s nice to hear about a company who wants to help people struggling as a result of the current economic climate.

DOGSWELL® is doing its part with a nationwide Bow-Wow Bailout, offering a free bag of dog food to 10,000 unemployed pet owners from April 15-May 15 2009.

Simply complete and submit the Dogswell® Bow-Wow Bailout Redemption Form to:

• Email - bailout@dogswell.com
• Fax - 877.730.7877
• Mail - DOGSWELL®, Attn: Bow-Wow Bailout, 1964 Westwood Blvd.Ste. 350, Los Angeles, CA 90025

It turns out that sometimes there is such a thing as a free lunch… for your dog!

Terms and Conditions - The first 10,000 eligible people to submit a completed DOGSWELL Bow-Wow Bailout redemption form will receive one (1) free bag of DOGSWELL dry food for dogs.  To redeem, you must submit a completed DOGSWELL Bow-Wow Bailout redemption form, including email address, contact information and dog breed, to DOGSWELL via email, fax or mail.  Redemption forms can be found here at www.dogswell.com, or by emailing bailout@dogswell.com, or calling 888.559.8833.  All entries must be postmarked between April 15, 2009 and May 15, 2009 or received electronically between 6am PST on April 15, 2009 to 11:59pm PST on May 15th, 2009.  Incomplete redemption forms will not quality.  No redemption forms will be returned.  All dry food for dogs will be mailed out within 45 days of DOGSWELL receiving your completed redemption form.  Limit one bag of free DOGSWELL dry food for dogs per mailing address.  P.O. Box addresses will not be accepted.  Mailing address must be in Continental U.S.

(posted by urbancritter)

Technorati Tags: Dogswell,free dog food,dog food giveaway

Lost pets are breaking news for local neighborhoods

Did you know that Pegasus News has a free free pet finder that makes your lost pet a breaking news story highlighted for people who live and work in your neighborhood. What a great idea, helping people look out for each other by giving them information – after all, they can't start looking out for your pet unless they know he's missing! Pegasus News Lost Pet Finder is sponsored by The Petropolitan.

http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/in/news/missing/

How to save the planet this Earth Day

 

In honor of Earth Day today, here are some ways you can contribute to a healthier, more humane planet:

• Adopt a pet and make sure your pets are spayed or neutered! Addressing animal overpopulation has a direct impact on your local environment by reducing animal waste from strays on the street and cutting down on the damage to local ecosystems - in addition, reducing the number of animals in shelters is also eco-friendly. Remember, euthanasia is not green! Conservative estimates last year indicate that Dallas Animal Services contributed over 425 tons of pet carcasses to our city's landfill each year - well over a ton each and every day – not to mention the sodium pentobarbital used in euthanasia contaminating the land and potentially killing local wildlife. By spaying and neutering your pets, and by adopting or rescuing instead of buying from a breeder, you’re saving lives and saving the planet!
• Check out http://greatgreenpet.com/ - a shopping blog devoted to the green, eco-friendly, pet owner. When you bring your new pet home from the shelter, this blog can help you find environmentally friendly products including toys, beds and blankets, treats and more!
• Honda is in the process of building a pet-friendly Element, check out the youtube video about the Honda Element EX - the 1st vehicle designed with the comfort and safety of a dog in mind - http://tinyurl.com/ddldoy – Soon you’ll be able to drive your adopted fur kid around in style!
• Learn about how factory farming is impacting the environment, and consider going vegetarian or vegan – even for just one day a week!  Livestock’s Long Shadow is a UN report on Factory Farming documenting the issues. By eating less factory farmed meat, eggs and dairy you’re helping save even more animals and the planet.

Let’s make the world a better place for ourselves, our children and our animals – Happy Earth Day!

 

Technorati Tags: Earth Day,adopt a pet,factory farming,environment,Honda Element,eco-friendly,green pet products,environmentally friendly

Looking for volunteer opportunities?

If you enjoy working with kids and are available this Saturday April 25th, we have a great volunteer opportunity for you!  

Paws In The City is having a private fundraiser at a home in Highland Park and they’ve asked the Companions For Life team to handle the kids area.  We’ll be doing coloring, crafts and teaching bite prevention.  There will be a big crowd, a catered picnic and lots of activities.  We’ll get to meet a lot of potential donors as this is an “invitation-only” event so we’re looking for someone who can be a great representative. 

Additional volunteer opportunities – are you good with the public?
We also will be attending the White Rock Lake festival on May 2^nd and the Texas Animal Shelter Coalition Adopt-A-Thon on May 9^th.

Interested?

If you’re interested in helping please email your details to info@companionsforlife.org or if you’re in Austin this week (April 19-21), come see us at the Tawzer Videos boot at the Texas Unites Conference! 

Hope and Justice – Why We Need Humane Education

On Saturday April 4, two juvenile males (aged 15 & 17) <we have to say allegedly> set two pit bulls on fire. The dogs sustained such extensive injuries from the attack they unfortunately they had to be euthanized.

A Candlelight Vigil in memory of the two dogs was held on Tuesday evening at the Dallas City Hall, sponsored by Animal Connection of Texas (ACT), Metroplex Animal Coalition (MAC) and Texas Animal Defense Coalition (TADC). Speakers included Dallas District Attorney David Alex, Dr. John J. Pippin, Jonnie England with MAC, Kent Robertson with Dallas Animal Services (DAS), Niloofar Asgharian, Shannon Morgan and Rebecca Poling of Companions for Life.

Concerned Dallas citizens asked Judge Acuna NOT to let this go unpunished, but rather to apply the full force of the law to this felony.

Rebecca Polling spoke about the proven link between cruelty to animals and violence to humans and the need for humane education, stating that “It is important that everyone understands that what happened to Hope & Justice is not just a pet issue but is also a people issue.  Studies have shown a concrete link between animal cruelty and domestic violence.”

And it’s not just domestic violence either: “The FBI will tell you that virtually every serial killer our country has ever known abused animals when they were young.  Violent and aggressive criminals… are often known to have gotten their start as children, inflicting pain and suffering on animals.” 

Humane Education can help prevent felonies like this, and the escalation of violence or cruelty, by building a more compassionate society that places greater value on the role of companion animals. 

In this case, however, it is up to law enforcement and our court system to take cases like this seriously – these are not just childhood pranks, but potentially serious precursors other types of criminal violence.

View the video coverage of the vigil for Hope and Justice.

 

RIP Hope and Justice. May your deaths not be in vain, but drive a community to find their humanity and build a more compassionate world.

 

What to do about animal cruelty? The ASPCA has tips on recognizing and taking action against it here. If you are a witness to animal cruelty, call 911 immediately!

Candlelight Vigil for Burned Dogs Tuesday, April 14, at Dallas City Hall

A Candlelight Vigil in memory of the two dogs who were set on fire in southeast Dallas last weekend will take place Tuesday, April 14, from 8 to 9 p.m. at Dallas City Hall, 1500 Marilla St. Animal Connection of Texas (ACT), Metroplex Animal Coalition (MAC) and Texas Animal Defense Coalition (TADC) are sponsoring the vigil.

Speakers include Susan Oakey with ACT, Jonnie England with MAC and Kent Robertson with Dallas Animal Services (DAS). Candles will be provided, and participants are invited to bring their dogs. Animal Guardians of America will have adoptable pit bulls on site.

Saturday, April 4, residents in Pleasant Grove called 911 to report two “fireballs” running down the street. Dallas Police responded and found two badly burned pit bull terriers—a male and a female. Dallas Animal Services
was called to rescue the dogs, which had to euthanized the next day. Two
teenaged boys have been identified as suspects, and Dallas Police are
investigating the case. Seven other dogs belonging to the same family are
in protective custody at DAS. A Dallas municipal judge will decide April 15 whether they will be returned to the owners.

The two burned dogs have been named Hope and Justice by organizers of the Candlelight Vigil.

Lovin’ the new Dallas Animal Services Website!

Dallas Animal Services has re-designed their website at http://dallasanimalservices.org/ - while they’ve introduced a vibrant and contemporary new look and feel, the site’s improvements are more than skin deep.

It’s now super easy to find what you may have come to the site for:  clear buttons help you get right to the point for the most popular actions, while a concise yet comprehensive navigation makes it easy to find other important information you may need. And in case you missed it on the navigation bar, important information such as ordinance updates is also showcased on the page in an attractive and eye-catching banner.

Critical information like hours of operation and location is presented front and center in easy-to-see boxes, and people are encouraged to check out DAS’s pet of the week, showcased prominently and appropriately above the “adoptions” button.

Overall, the site has kept the customer’s needs in mind, with an attractive aesthetic and a functional design – it’s optimistic, action oriented and easy to use.

Here’s a look at how the page hangs together:

It definitely gets the paws up from us at Companions For Life!

Save the date! Metroplex Animal Coalition and SPCA of Texas host first ever DFW Spay Day – April 26, 2009

Help us prevent this!

Metroplex Animal Coalition (MAC), with the help of the SPCA of Texas, is hosting the first ever “DFW Spay Day” on Sunday, April 26. 

It is the first ‘collective’ spay/neuter event in the DFW area that is designed to support pet owners who simply cannot afford to have their pets sterilized and vaccinated. In these tough economic times, and with the population explosion of Spring about to hit, it is more important than ever to help people who want to be responsible pet owners but who just can’t afford the fees.

MAC Member Groups and supporters, along with a group of veterinarians dedicated to lowering the pet overpopulation, have donated their time, energy and funds to make this event happen.  Don’t miss the opportunity to have a part in it!

On April 26, 2009 (Sunday), 100 pets will receive an examination, rabies & distemper vaccinations, flea treatment, microchip and spay or neuter…all for the low price of $42! 

If the pet owner can’t afford even this amount, we have some sponsorships to help.  This event will take place at the SPCA’s Martin Spay Neuter Clinic (see below for address).

SO, don't miss out on the opportunity to take part in this historic event! How?

• Refer folks whose pets need to be sterilized!  (email onecatsluv@sbcglobal.net or call 972.671.0429 to make an appointment)
• Sponsor a spay or neuter (even one will save hundreds of lives)!  (click here to donate on-line:  http://www.metroplexanimalcoalition.com/credit.html or send a check to Metroplex Animal Coalition, 8333 Douglas Avenue #1350, Dallas, Texas 75225 (with notation on check “DFW Spay Day”)
• Volunteer to help at Spay Day!  (email onecatsluv@sbcglobal.net or call 972.671.0429 to volunteer)

DFW Spay Day offers us a way to make an even bigger statement to the residents of our community about the importance of spay and neuter. Join us and help make a difference for animals!

http://www.dfwspayday.org