Heart Like a Dog

The Good, the Bad, and the Oh My God of living with dogs!

Don’t Be a Dick

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Today is October 15th, which means it’s time for Be the Change for Animals. A day when bloggers unite to shine their lights on causes near and dear to our hearts in hopes of affecting real change for animals.

Blog the Change

I struggled with this one, I really did.  I mean, there are so many things that need to change in animal welfare it’s hard to choose just one.

While driving to a baby shower on Sunday we passed a house with a sign out front that said, “Free kittens.”  I thought perhaps I could focus on educating people about the hazards of offering animals for free, whether it be in the paper, online or via a sign in their front yard.

I mean we’ve all heard the stories of puppies or dogs offered for free, only to find out they wound up used as bait dogs for fighting rings, or were tortured and killed.  I’m sure those devious folks could find ways to use cats and kittens as well.

I made a mental note to myself to find the petition asking Craig’s List to stop taking ads for free animals.

Yesterday was Hubby’s birthday and I got super busy when I got home, so sadly the post I had planned for today didn’t happen.

But I happened to have this little gem come across my facebook page yesterday and thought it might tie in nicely with Be the Change.

Don't be a Dick This was originally (as far as I can tell) shared by Ashley Moore a vet tech at Vogel Veterinary Hospital.

Now before you go getting your panties in a bunch, I know that some of you have dogs that are not spayed/neutered.  I am also aware that some of you breed your dogs, and you are responsible dog owners that are not letting your dogs run willy nilly wherever they like, humping anything in sight.  I know that puppies your dogs are having/siring are NOT being dumped at shelters.  I’m cool with those of you who are breeding your dogs responsibly and for the betterment of the breed.

I am not speaking to you.

I am speaking to those who for whatever reason are letting their pets have litter after litter of unwanted animals.  Animals that end up in shelters where they are killed by the thousands.

Perhaps they are unaware that there are low cost spay neuter clinics available. If that’s the case and you have a pet that needs neutering and cannot afford to take it to a traditional vet, let me know.  I will help you find a low cost spay neuter clinic in your area.

If that is not the case, I beg you to educate yourself.

Don’t be a Dick.

In CT it’s Against the Law

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There’s not much about my state government that impresses me, I’m not impressed with the Governor with the exception he’s very good about signing bills regarding laws protecting animals.

On June 4th of this year he signed H.B. 5844:

“AN ACT CONCERNING THE OVERNIGHT TETHERING OF DOGS OUTDOORS AND THE TETHERING OF DOGS OUTDOORS UNDER CERTAIN WEATHER CONDITIONS.

To prohibit the overnight tethering of dogs outdoors and to prohibit the tethering of dogs outdoors during certain weather conditions unless shelter is readily accessible to such dog.”

It’s not ideal, but it’s a start.

Tethered dogs are typically dogs that haven’t been socialized either with people or other dogs. They live their lives on a small length of chain.  They have nowhere to run should an animal or person threaten them and their world is limited only to what their chain allows.  Many times they are left outside in rain, heat and snow with inadequate veterinary care and many times they lack the necessary food and water needed to survive.

This little guy lives right on the edge of our park. He is always on tether and I worry that someday he will get loose and get hurt.

This little guy lives right on the edge of our park. He is always on tether and I worry that someday he will get loose and get hurt.

 

Recent studies show tethered dogs are 2.8% more likely to bite than non-tethered dogs with the majority of victims being children.  This is not a surprise considering their lack of socialization.

As I said, it’s not ideal but it is a start. Our current legislative office also passed:

  • a bill expanding benefits to pets in low income households
  • a bill requiring euthanasia to be performed by a licensed veterinarian
  • legislation forbidding municipalities from enacting breed specific legislation
  • a bill allowing students to opt out of viewing or participating in animal dissection
  • shot down a lottery for bear hunting
  • defeated a bill allowing bow hunting on Sundays

The bill most important to me, banning the sale of COMMERCIALLY bred puppies and kittens was tabled this session and instead a task force was assigned to investigate pet shops and the origins of the animals they sell.Hopefully the task force will present their findings to the legislative body and a bill will be introduced and passed in next year’s session.

Sadly banning the use of pig gestation crates and provisions for a volunteer to advocate for animals that are the victims of cruel and violent crimes were not brought up this session.  The goal is to reintroduce these for the next session in 2014.

One of the reasons CT is enacting tougher animal welfare laws is because of an organization called Connecticut Votes for Animals.  This is a not for profit organization that is really being the change for animals in CT.

Interested in getting some animal legislation passed in your state?  I bet CVA would help you get started.

Blog the Change

Wild Heart Ranch

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Blog the Change is an event, where bloggers from all over the globe focus on animal causes that are near and dear to our hearts.

Blog the Change

 

Today I’d like to shine the light on someone who works tirelessly in the field of animal rescue.  I’ve been following her efforts on my facebook page for the last few months.

Annette King Tucker is the owner and operator of a 10-acre ranch located in Claremore, Oklahoma.  Wild Heart Ranch is an animal sanctuary that rescues, and rehabilitates wild animals, who are injured by either natural causes or the cruelty of man.

Picture copied from Wild Heart Ranch Website.

Picture copied from Wild Heart Ranch Website.

 

I copied her mission statement from her website:

  • Provide medical or infant support to any indigenous wild animal in need of assistance and release it into suitable wild habitat once care is completed.
  • Refrain from imprinting the animal to its human caretakers during its stay in captivity
  • Educate the public about wild animals in our area and teach a genuine appreciation and respect of their needs and characteristics
  • Educate ourselves in the care and needs of each species that we experience so that all animals receive complete, professional and individual care
  • Maintain our facility in the most stringent of cleaning and organizational standards to prevent errors, disease, infection and hazards to both humans and animals
  • ALWAYS respond with patience when faced with ignorance and remember that not all the world has seen through our eyes or cared with our hands
  • Lend assistance, instruction or advice to anyone trying to assist a wild animal in need of care
  • NEVER cage a wild animal a day longer than necessary, and always euthanize if release will never come

On her facebook page she shares pictures of wild babies that have been brought to the ranch along with the circumstances surrounding their injury or illness.  The photos show staff tenderly caring for the delicate lives they’ve been intrusted with.

When she can’t save them, she will help them find peace and freedom from pain in the only way she knows how. That’s when you see her mad, especially if the injury has resulted from something evil, like a leg trap.

What I love about this woman is her passion.  Not only will she take in, help and rehabilitate any form of wildlife, but she works hard at educating the public. Her posts will explain to you why the cute orphaned deer should NOT be brought into your home and made into a family pet.

Wild Heart Ranch doesn’t normally take in cats and dogs, but they will assist them in other ways, or provide another resource to assist the animal.

Annette King Tucker talks the talk and walks the walk.

But she’s got a little problem, her wonderful ranch is quickly outgrowing the small ten acres that surround it. Recently 40 acres across the street from the ranch went on the market, Annette is working hard to raise the needed funds to purchase the land in order to expand the ranch.

She has a chip in widget on her website, and through her website you can connect with her on her social media sites.

I’m not asking you to donate money to WHR, I’m asking you to take a moment and check out Annette King Tucker and if you (like I) think she’s making a difference, can you please share her story.

Together we can be the change.

(Author’s note, the ‘cat’ you see in the left side of the picture is Kira, a cougar that had her claws removed by a man with a pair of wire snippers.   Annette rescued her and Kira lived her life at Wild Heart Ranch, until a few months ago when she passed away.)
(I did send a message to Annette asking her to contribute to this post, but she did not respond.  If she would like the picture to be removed I will do that. )

 

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