On making mud pies

Like any gardener, I always like to spice up my repertoire of favourites with a couple of new bits every year.   Some, like okra, get added to the annual roster.  Others take a bit of time to find their right niche in the yard.  And a few simply become one hit wonders.

Truth be told, gardeners are masters at the old childhood game ... 'lets say' :) That is because gardening really is a journey .. not a destination.  Without yesterday's science projects there would be no old standbys ... and we would still all be foraging for nuts and berries.

It is much the same with the No Kill Movement ... which began with the wonderful premise ...'lets say' we didn't kill millions of homeless pets every year.  

Yesterday's science projects have a proven track record ... and there is now enough evidence to show that it is possible to adopt the way to No Kill.

Does this make the commercial pet breeders that form the mainstay of PIJAC nervous?  You bet!  In fact, the political ads we are seeing this month pale  by comparison to the campaign afoot on the PIJAC website.  

I was looking at it last night while perusing interesting documents such as 'Arguments against banning the sale of pets in pet stores'.  Word to the wise, don't have any beverages in your mouth when reading about how pets stores are reliable, trusted sources that are part of the solution.... and if you have high blood pressure issues, please don't read the bit where they pull a quote from an industry study that claims that 51.9 % of all cats and dogs adopted from shelters in 2008 had health problems within one week of adoption. 

That's pretty rich coming from an organization whose recommended  Stocking Densities  for pets in retail environments is measured in square centimeters and inches.

( Note from author ... when I popped into the site at time of writing there is a new emotional little video on the front door of their site inviting pet owners to help PIJAC become part of the solution.  Who knows what new little tidbits we can look forward to? )

Lets face it .. the Pet Industry represents big bucks.   The very fact that they have initiated this new campaign is real proof of the pudding that campaigning against selling pets in pet stores has elevated public awareness of the problem.   Of course some of their own, like Bud Wheatley, have done a bit of consciousness raising as well, eh?

So how CAN the rescue community counteract such a campaign?  Especially when PIJAC is so closely associated with our own 'national voice' for the animals?  How can genuine non profit groups without big money PR budgets get their own message out?

With offsite adoptions of course!   The animals make wonderful ambassadors!  Even better, their healthy, friendly, fully vetted and altered selves are the most effective way to discredit the scare tactics being promoted by PIJAC.  Best of all, every good pet adoption experience is the best possible PR for animal rescue in general and the shelter or group in particular.

Its almost frosting on the cake that it really boosts adoption rates, eh?

Tomorrow, the Yarmouth SPCA is holding another Adoption Fair at the Beacon Church Hall.  Admission is free and one can even pick up Rappie Pie for five bucks!   And of course, there will be beautiful cats and dogs to meet there as well.

What time is it?   It is always time to remember that there is no downside to offsite pet adoptions!

Taking a new tack

from the CBC News website
Rescued U.S. dogs to find homes in Edmonton
Last Updated: Sunday, June 28, 2009 1:27 PM MT CBC News
The Edmonton Humane Society has 43 new canine residents who made the long journey from California on a private jet.
The small puppies, including Chihuahuas and Yorkshire terriers, flew in Friday as part of the society's Operation California Canine Cuties.
The goal is to save dogs that were to be euthanized and put a dent in the puppy mill industry.
"It's also to help with the Alberta-born animals here, because …when they went up for adoption … our numbers overall for animals in our care for adoptions spiked. People were just coming to the humane society and adopting any kind of animals," said society spokeswoman Shawna Randolph.
Twenty-nine dogs were previously brought in from California in November, and the society said they were adopted within a few hours.
Randolph said having small, popular dogs at the shelter will help cut down on puppy mills by giving people a reliable source to buy dogs.
Honestly, this is one of the sweetest ideas I've seen .... but sadly we don't need anyone with a private jet here in NS.
SPCANS doesn't have to go south of the border to find puppy mills. As the laws have tightened up in Ontario and Quebec, the big operations have started shifting east. Its only a matter of time before Nova Scotia's will be famous for more than its hospitality.
Do we need better legislation? Of course we do. Its no secret that existing legislation is woefully inadequate. Changes are stymied by a horrible catch 22 .... with so many pet lovers, pets have become a multi million dollar business. The economic benefits for the CKC from its partnership with PIJAC pale by comparison to the PR benefits for PIJAC. This provides a mantle of respectability for PIJAC while promoting an adversarial relationship between CKC breeders and animal welfare groups.
So here in the real world, there is a country mile between recognizing the need for a strong Puppy Mill Law and actually getting legislation that would still be meaningful after the CKC lobbyists were consulted for input.
In the meantime, there is one thing that all rescues could, and should, be doing. Everyone should be listing every animal that comes into their care.... even the cute little ones that are usually spoken for by preapproved adopters. Especially the cute little ones.
I know I go on like a stuck record, but hand in hand with that, that would allow all the groups to have all kinds of cute little ones listed in their Happy Tails.
It isn't only the big and harder to place pets who should be listed on Petfinder. Why would I suggest that when they already have homes waiting? By listing them, however briefly, it lets the public know that cute little dogs DO come into rescue. Not listing them sends the exact opposite message.
Even though adopting from rescue is becoming more popular, at the end of the day, the heart wants what the heart wants. People who want one cute little dog will go to the pet store or the dreaded free online site if there are none available on rescue.
People who aren't involved in animal rescue don't know about preapproved adoptions. Nor are they aware that all the groups in the Maritimes will move heaven and earth to find the right fit for a good home. All they know is that when they go to Petfinder, or MAR, or even the homeless pet site, that they don't see the cute little dogs very often.
I don't need to remind anyone who works frontline animal rescue how many of their adoptees began their journey at a pet store or with a backyard breeder. Yes, it would take more time to list every adoptable pet. Yes it might not seem like time well spent for the ones who will surely be spoken for.
Still, I don't need to remind anyone that every pet adopted from rescue represents one less pet that will potentially need to be rescued later.
What time is it? Its time to use the 'easy to place' pets to boost adoptions and more importantly, to undercut the competition.

A Rose By Any Other Name

Spring is on its way ... I can smell it in the air. Literally - the compost is thawing out and humming with a distinctly organic fragrance when the lid is lifted. In much the same way, my nose tells me there is a provincial election on the way as well. The mudslinging is already underway and every second time I answer the phone there is some hopeful harry from a marketing company hoping to take up my time. I always decline these offers, being of the firm opinion that every politician at every level who represents me already knows how this middle aged granny feels about things. ( One can almost hear the heavy sighs when yet another email or phone call comes their way )
Elections can be very useful things. During the last Quebec election, a petition for better laws to prevent puppy mills garnered over fifty thousand signatures .... which of course inspired a new found interest on the part of their provincial government on behalf of the animals.
In the wake of the tighter laws in Ontario and the possibility of more in Quebec, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see where the new puppy mill capitol will migrate too. The groundwork has already been laid in the indifference of voters to the multitude of times that Digby's puppy broker/killer has been investigated and charged. And as we all know, voter apathy never gives our politicians any reason to stick their necks out.
Stick your neck out, ya say? How would that be? Wouldn't any politician WANT to be on the side of truth and justice? Not if it makes lobby groups and corporate sponsors uncomfortable in any way. Rocking the boat is normally reserved for issues that the voters care about.
We already have puppy mills here in Nova Scotia. There is only one way to shut these ones down and prevent others from setting up shop. And that of course is by bringing a "Puppy Mill" law through the legislature.
Sound simple? Not a chance. In a province where politicians are afraid to ban the freedom to drive down the road with your dawg in the back of your pickup, how do you think they will do standing up to a lobby group? Do you remember the submission that the provincial society made to the Law Committee when Bill 186 was being reviewed? Did they get through? Not even close.
So if we get past voter apathy and the self preservation instinct of our elected representatives, will that do the trick? Not even close. If we didn't know it before, thanks to Marketplace Canadian couch potatoes everywhere now know that one of PIJAC's main functions is to lobby on behalf of the Hunt Corporation, where puppies are treated like commodities instead of living breathing sentient beings.
When our legislators are working on tougher drug laws, they don't invite the dealers for input. Its time to recognize that as long as the CKC is partnered with PIJAC, neither of them are entitled to a place at the negotiating table for any dog law.
All the experts agree that effective puppy mill legislation begins with regulating the breeders. Big or small, two litters or two hundred, they all need to be licensed. The licensing process is a launchpad to establish a routine inspection process, without which any law is meaningless.
There also needs to be a ceiling on the number of animals permitted in any one operation. General consensus on pending and passed laws south of the border sets that number no higher than fifty.
Limits are also needed on the number of litters that can be produced by individual animals and the permissible ages for breeding animals. Britain's Breeding and Sale of Dogs Act sets an annual limit of one litter per bitch, with a minimum age for breeding set at one year. Virginia's new Puppy Mill law sets the minimum age at 18 months. Britain's law also sets a lifetime limit of six litters per bitch.
Every bit of this would be meaningless without the legislated need for all breeders to maintain auditable records. Nor would it be worth a tinker's dam unless pet stores and pet brokers were required by law to only deal with licensed breeders. Unless all the loose ends are tied up, the unscrupulous will find the loopholes in no time.
And of course, really effective legislation will not have any 'grandfathering' clauses. The legal limits that determine the benchmark blood alcohol levels for drinking and driving laws would be meaningless if people who were drinking and before the law was passed were exempted.
I know I sound like a stuck record, but the way ahead is always paved by voter feedback. For your own MLA's contact information, http://www.gov.ns.ca/LEGISLATURE/MEMBERS/directory/constituencies.html
This is one time when you need to do more than pester you own MLA. Do your homework and contact all the political parties in the province to let them know that this is an issue of concern to you.

• Nova Scotia Liberal Party
• Nova Scotia New Democratic Party
• Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia

The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis. - Dante Alighieri

The real cost of that doggie in the window

I love going to the feed store in Middleton.  Not just for the old fashioned 'warehouse' atmosphere or the know everyone by name friendly service either.  Nope ... in a world where imported wolves disguised as local sheep seem to find their way onto grocery store shelves, its a refreshing change of pace to get honest answers when I shop.
Its the same reason that I love going to our health food store in Greenwood.  Not the bulk barn in the mall, but the real deal across the street where the staff actually know what they're talking about. One can either buy small packages of things that haven't been pawed over by who knows how many or big bags straight from the supplier.  Once again .. there are no mysteries or fuzzy areas to be found.
When Ralph Nader first brought auto safety issues into the limelight, he was vilified by the entire industry. Why?  Did they not want to provide safe vehicles?  Did they want to be responsible for loss of life?  Or were they simply unwilling to cut into the profit margin? 
For whatever reason, the auto industry in general, and GM in particular, hired private detectives to tap Mr Nader's phones, investigate his past and even went to the extreme of hiring prostitutes to try to trap him in compromising situations.   Mr Nader's well publicized lawsuit against GM for invasion of privacy was ultimately settled for over a quarter of a million dollars.  In the same year, 1966, his book "Unsafe at Any Speed" was responsible for the unanimous passage of the National Motor Vehicle and Safety Act.
Why is that important?  Because the act shifted the onus of responsibility for automobile safety from the consumer to the manufacturer.   It set a precedent in consumer protection legislation that has rippled into all aspects of manufacturing. 
Its hard to imagine that was only forty four years ago.  These days safety standards are such a selling point that auto manufacturers are tripping over each other to compete.
This week, a promising proposal to ban the sale of pets in Toronto pet stores was postponed like the political hot potato it has become .... likely in the high hopes that it will be forgotten water under the bridge by the subject pops up on the agenda in the New Year.
Not surprisingly, local pet stores are opposed to the plan and a "Church St. pet store manager says his store buys from home breeders and tries to ensure older pets are sold before bringing in a fresh crop of kittens and puppies. He says he would be saddened to see the ban implemented — not only would he lose revenue, he would also lose the opportunity to sell pets to first-time owners."
Of course he doesn't mention that reputable breeders Never Sell to Pet Stores.  Naturally he doesn't explain that as imperfect as the CKC system is, that his puppies will likely not qualify for CKC registration.  Nor does he go into any detail about the environment the animals come from.
Why can he do this?  Because there are no consumer protection laws for pet owners.   Legislation would limit the ability of commercial breeders to market their wares.  Anything that will cut into THAT profit margin will be strongly opposed by PIJAC.  ( the sticky subject of how reputable breeders are allowing themselves to be tarred with the same brush is a separate topic that has been, and will again, find its way into its own posts on this blog)
The pet industry represents big money and it would take a bigger romantic than myself to expect it to be self regulating.   
What would good consumer protection legislation for pet owners look like?  It would:

• ban sale of any animal in the free online ad sites
• prohibit the sale of pets in pet stores
• include mandatory breeder registration, and
• a "lemon law" that would obligate all pets purchased to come with a health guarantee

The commercial pet industry would like the public to believe that banning the sale of pets in pet stores would mean that rescues and shelters would be their only options.  The pet store manager in the article was not alone in stating that "  At the same time, I don’t think people who are inexperienced pet owners should be getting pets from shelters"
Not to be mean ... but more problems have been posed for inexperienced pet owners with the show me the money no questions asked approach of pet stores than have have been generated by rescues and shelters.  But I don't want to wander afield.
If the NDP bobsled team would like to polish up its increasingly tarnished image, implementing provincial consumer protection legislation for pet owners would be a dandy place to start.  
What time is it?  Its time to remind our MLA's that when over half the voters in this province have a pet, making sure that 'doggie in the window' doesn't break their hearts and their bankbooks is long overdue.

Just the tip of the iceburg

Water changes everything.  This time yesterday my lawn was brown and even the leaves on the native trees in the yard were starting to droop.   Now everything has greened up and bounced back with this well needed rain.  
In other ways it seems like nothing is changing.  A friend just emailed me one of the 'free to a good home' ads from the Halifax Kijiji site where the poster is .. no word of a lie ... trying to give away  14 Free Dogs , stating in the ad that he/she has "many dogs free I am moving need homes for them email for pictures.   I have:

• 2 golden retrievers. ( buddy and missy)
• 1 doberman (Raven)
• 6 chihuahuas (bitbit, Marlkin, homy, penny, casey and moomoo)
• 1 german shepherd 9 (Dudley)
• 1 border collie ( dramaqueen)
• 3 black labs ( melinda, amanda, and gordon)

, and closes with "love them all, though i cant keep them.  please help they are not fixed though are all up yo date with vaccines and are micochipped."
As you know, I think Kijiji is a great place to get inanimate objects like furniture and appliances ...so I'm familiar enough with the site to follow through by clicking on the view posters other ads icons.
At the very same time this ad was posted, the poster also listed and ad that he/she is looking for a Sheltie and a few days ago on the third, an ad looking for a border collie was posted ( is that the one that is referred to as drama queen or the new replacement ?)
One can only speculate as to how many dogs are actually at this particular residence.... or how many of them live in the house ...or are kennelled without companionship? 
Not fixed?  Gosh that opens a whole other avenue of inquiry ... were they used for breeding or are there not deep enough pockets for altering the lot of them?
The ad is disturbing .. but it is a symptom rather than the actual problem.  At this point in time, in Nova Scotia, it is perfectly legal to:

• post ads like this on Kijiji
• breed animals without a breeders license
• sell the offspring on Kijiji ( or in flea markets/ fairs and roadside)
• breed bitches of any age
• breed bitches more than once a year
• breed bitches as many times in their lifespan as their poor bodies will hold up for
• breed companion animals without prior medical and genetic screening
• breed to the point of inbreeding
• keep dogs chained / penned / kennelled outside away from all human comforts and companionship
• maintain an unlimited amount of animals in a residence as long as they are all provided with food, water and housing ( the subject of how the minimalist status quo of standards for that is continually opposed by the PIJAC hot alerts to its breeder members is a separate subject needing a post of its own on another day.

When my best friend was a child, his father regularly came home and terrorized the family with his drunken rages.  The entire community knew about it, but at that time there were no resources for his mother to turn to.   That wouldn't happen as easily .. or at least as overtly .. now.  Why?
Because the law has changed.   Teachers and medical professionals are obligated by law to report these things.  Women are no longer required to lay charges against their partners.  
One of my favourite quotes of all time is Einstein's " The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil , but because of those who look on and do nothing"
In the real world that pretty much sums it up.   Until the laws to protect animals change, neighbours will continue to turn a blind eye to the chained dogs, the puppy mills and yes even to neglect.  Sometimes out of fear, some times out of apathy .. but always out of a reluctance to become involved. 
What time is it?  Its time to realize that everything is related.  Laws that protect animals always do double duty by creating safer communities.
If a few hundred worried taxpayers can send the NDP bobsled team off on an unprecedented series of culls, just imagine what would happen if every animal lover in the province took the time to let their MLA  know that Nova Scotia needs more specific legislation to protect the animals.

For goodness sake ... part 2

From this morning's Herald
Backyard puppy breeder faces animal cruelty charges Thu. Oct 22 - 4:46 AM
Animal protection officials expect to lay cruelty charges against a backyard dog breeder in Westville.
Provincial SPCA investigators seized 21 dogs from a Lyons Lane home on Monday, society president Sean E. Kelly confirmed Wednesday.
They included four adult Great Danes and 11 puppies, a chihuahua mix with three puppies and two other small mixed-breed dogs.
Mr. Kelly wouldn’t release many details while the matter is under investigation, but reported that seizing the animals was a last-ditch measure after other avenues to protect the dogs had failed.
The Society had been working with the breeder for an undisclosed period of time to improve the lot of the dogs, but moved to seize them when the health of one was threatened.
One of the mother dogs was dangerously emaciated, he said.
A warrant was obtained last Friday and executed on Monday by SPCA special constables, in conjunction with Westville police.
Mr. Kelly expects charges will be laid by mid-December under the Animal Cruelty Prevention Act and the Criminal Code of Canada.
The unidentified suspect will likely appear in New Glasgow provincial court if charges are laid.
Neither backyard breeders nor large-scale puppy mills are crimes, but cruelty to animals is illegal, he said.
I know I go on like a stuck record, but until appropriate penalties are awarded in cases like this, puppy mills will continue to spring up all around the province.
Why now? With the advent of tougher laws in Ontario and Quebec, these operations just naturally migrate to a central area with a climate that is friendlier to them.
Legislation is always the key to change... especially for a big money business such as this, because:

• the majority of people neither know enough nor care enough about animal welfare issues to understand the problem with buying a pet that is sourced from a puppy mill. These folks view efforts by animal advocates to have the online traffic of pets banned as infringing on their personal freedom ( which is a separate topic that has been, and will be again, needful of its own post)
• As long as input from commercial breeders is allowed, there will be no meaningful laws to regulate breeders. Not to be mean, but if drug dealers aren't given a seat at the table when new drug laws are being worked, neither should the PIJAC "special interests"
• Its a romantic fallacy to believe that the unscrupulous will stop preying on innocent animals for profit. It takes properly enforced legislation to stop any criminal activity

Until that day, we are just going to see more and more of this type of thing.

What time is it? It is always time to remember that the ONLY thing that will motivate our MLA's (Members - Constituencies) is strong voter feedback.

It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds. - Samuel Adams

Taking Stock, part one

My great grandmother was a baby when the current federal animal cruelty legislation was introduced in Canada. Not my 54 year old self .... not my mother....not even my grandmother .... but my great grandmother! Over the years amendments have made improvements for farm animals and wildlife, but companion animals are as legally vulnerable now as they were a hundred and seventeen years ago in this country.
Her generation would be the first to legally hold property, but before that happened, inventors of both genders would have already introduced the first X Rays, Movies and even the electric vacuum cleaner. Since rights varied between provinces, my great granny in PEI became legally eligible to hold property in 1903 .... the same year that the Wright Brothers built their first plane.
She would be forty before women were recognized by the Canadian Supreme court as persons in their own right. Before that happened, the Model T would have burst on the world. Although they wouldn't be yet be found in everyday homes, electric washing machines, air conditioners and Television were off of the drawing board and on their way. She was still considered property when the first rocket took flight.
She was on her way to being a great grandmother before Canadian white women had the right to vote .... and she was part of the family history before all women in this country had the right to vote. Working helicopters were being built before that happened.
She never did have the right to equal pay for equal work .... that wouldn't happen until her grandaughter's (my mother's) day. They were building nuclear power reactors and (possibly) walking on the Moon before that happened.
I belong to the first generation of women whose jobs were protected while they went on maternity leave ...in fact the ink was still wet on the legislation when my daughter was born. The first Apple and the original Dyson were launched before that.
From laser surgery to computers that fit in a cell phone ... gosh to cell phones themselves the world has changes tremendously since the late seventies. When I was a young mother, I could never have imagined that I would have a computer, let alone the multitude of conveniences it would offer.
My daughter was past being a toddler when I bought my first color tv. At the time, banks were still refusing loans for cars to divorced women with permanent jobs. Supervisors were still advising women not to pursue harassment charges because it "would be bad for the man's career" and priests were still counselling forgive and forget for assault and battery.
I'm not one of these women who yearns for yesteryear with nostalgia. I love having the ability to choose which electrical appliances I wish to have in my home for my own convenience. (Although I do have sympathy for the elderly women who never expected to have to pump their own gas and carry their own groceries )
With all of the changes that have happened in the last century and a quarter ... how is it that the federal animal cruelty legislation has stayed the same for companion animals?
Its not for a lack of trying ... but every time something meaningful is put on the table, it is either watered down by the voice for the puppy millers/ aka PIJAC or lacks the (voter driven) priority to get through parliament before an election is called.
Added to that is the popular misconception that moving animal cruelty offenses out of the property section means that pets will no longer be able to be owned. In reality, the latest attempt, Bill C -229 still refers to companion animals as "owned" ... the shift from their current status as property does not change that.
What it does change is the ability for justice to minimize animal cruelty offenses as property offenses by legally recognizing that companion animals are living breathing sentient beings who are capable of feeling pain and suffering.
The other important change that Bill C-229 is hoping to make is the removal of the phrase "willful neglect' from the language of animal cruelty legislation. Neglect is a very hard thing to prove legally and the stupid card is often used by defense lawyers to keep animal abusers from being convicted or having harsh penalties applied .... your honor my client didn't know that would hurt/harm/wasn't appropriate/etc.....
What time is it? If the whole world can change so radically in such a short time, its time for our federal Members of Parliament to stand up for the animals with Bill C-229.
If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality. - Bishop Desmond Tutu (1931- ), Nobel Prize for Peace 1984

Ready or not ....

From yesterday's Cape Breton Post
Pets Unlimited decision welcome

Published on June 20, 2011

Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post
The Pets Unlimited chain — which has 18 stores across Atlantic Canada — confirmed late last week that it’s no longer selling puppies.

The chain’s spokesperson didn’t give a reason for the decision, adding that will be explained this week.
Whatever the reason, the decision is welcome.
Nova Scotia SPCA executive director Kristin Williams told the CBC that one of two “mass breeding facilities” under investigation in Nova Scotia is shutting down because it supplied Pets Unlimited with puppies and will lose that business.
Williams differentiates between “mass breeding facilities” and “puppy mills,” but the distinction is somewhat obscure.
Although the mass breeding facilities aren’t illegal in and of themselves, they and stores such as Pets Unlimited have been subject to criticism by the public.
Specific accusations of neglect and overcrowding aside, the overarching problem with retail stores selling puppies is they provide the opportunity for people to make a knee-jerk, impulse purchase of a sentient being because it’s “cute.”
The trouble is, the puppy grows into a dog and goes on to live for 12 or 14 or 16 years if provided with even the minimum of care.
Unfortunately, that’s all many dogs get.
Alana McKay wrote a letter to the Cape Breton Post (Think long and hard before getting a dog, June 18, 2011), expressing sorrow and anger over the number of dogs she sees on her daily walks who spend most of their time tethered to doghouses by short ropes or chains.
“Animals are social beings,” wrote McKay. “When you make the decision to go out and adopt or purchase a dog, think long-term and consider the responsibilities of becoming a dog owner.”
There’s nothing to say a dog bought directly from a purebred breeder or adopted from a shelter won’t be neglected, but the forethought involved in both of those options suggests that’s less likely.
And there will always be an opportunity to get a puppy on an impulse as long as there are dog owners who don’t get their animals spayed and neutered.
Retail business is all about buying products at one price and selling them at a higher price. The advantage for the consumer is the convenience of having multiple products in one place.
That’s OK when the product is a watermelon or an SUV or a television. A puppy is a different story.
Those who want a specific breed, and have the money to spend, can visit and talk to reputable breeders, and inspect the facilities.
Those who simply crave a companion animal are urged to drop in to an animal shelter. The Nova Scotia SPCA has a “no-kill” policy, which means it only euthanizes sick or aggressive animals, and so has lots of dogs to choose from.
Well then.  Is this good news???  Of course it is.  While it is early days to break out the champagne, the simple fact is that it is huge, groundbreaking good news.
Even if this is simply a savvy marketing decision, it is still good news. For a major player to break ranks with the pet industry party line is a really big deal.   Remember that this is happening at the same time as the PIJAC inspired new "Breeder Codes of Conduct'  are being touted by the Urban Animal Summit
Until now, the pet industry has sung in closer harmony than any of my favourite bits from Glee.  To see such a wedge in such unity can only mean one thing... that public opinion about the practice of selling pets is changing.
A dear friend of mine who runs a very reputable rescue says that in the long run, there will be a noticeable impact on the load that animal rescue has to bear.
Does that mean there is no impact now?  Of course not!  In a world where we are still waiting for decent animal cruelty legislation, would the society have been able to shut down "one of two mass breeding facilities under investigation" ?  
Probably not ... especially since they are caught in the old catch 22 of needing more funds for investigations ... without having enough funds to successfully investigate and prosecute a case that would in turn garner the publicity needed to successfully fundraise. 
So it was, in Marthaspeak, a very Good Thing that Pets Unlimited are getting out of the puppy business.
Even better, every one of the cute little dogs that were surrendered to the society will finally have a chance at a decent life.
Best of all... none of these little dogs will go on to reproduce more 'product' that can be purchased on impulse.
When I was a little girl, summer started when we could play Red Rover after supper.   What time is it?  Even if we 'are not there yet', it is still sufficient unto the day to savour the significance of such a break in the line.
Coming  .... ready or not.  Childhood game.
Special note ... Pets Unlimited Press release on this subject finally came out today :
June 21, 2011 12:00 ET

Pets Unlimited is Pleased to Announce Their EVERY PET DESERVES A HOME Pet Adoption Agency Outreach Program
DARTMOUTH, NOVA SCOTIA--(Marketwire - June 21, 2011) -
Pets Unlimited has proudly been part of the Atlantic pet community since 1988. Over the course of the last 12 months we have been gathering information which has helped us to evaluate how best to serve the needs of the pet communities in the area. During that time we came to recognize that there is an urgent need to find homes for the thousands of pets in local Humane Societies, rescue groups and shelters. In January 2011, and in keeping with our mission of putting the care of pets first, we began the process of removing puppies for sale in our stores.

We are proud to announce:

• As of June 1, 2011 we no longer have puppies available for sale at any of the 18 Pets Unlimited locations.
• We have created the EVERY PET DESERVES A HOME Pet Adoption Agency Outreach Program which offers assistance to Humane Societies, rescue groups and shelters.

Our stores are visited by tens of thousands of pet lovers every year and are a natural forum for people to learn about all things pets. Our mission is to help increase the visibility of pet adoption agencies within the community by offering them the opportunity, within our stores, to educate the general public about their organization and the pets they have available for adoption.
Each store will have a dedicated area for adoption organizations to have a table and/or display where they would be encouraged to hand out brochures/pamphlets, handle adoption applications, and show photos of adoptable pets. Stores that can accommodate will also have kennel space devoted for this purpose.
We have began the process of reaching out to the long list of groups that we hope will take advantage of and benefit from the program.
For more information about or if you would like to become involved with Pets Unlimited's EVERY PET DESERVES A HOME Program we invite you to contact Amy Young at a.young@pets-unlimited.ca or 902-225-6968.

from http://www.southshorenow.ca/

Family calls for regulations after pet dies at kennel

by Keith CorcoranCOUNTY

This lab, named Boss, died at a South Shore kennel

An Italy Cross family mourning the loss of a beloved pet is calling for regulations to govern the way kennels in Nova Scotia are operated.
Their dog, named Boss, recently died in the care of a South Shore boarding facility and the family questions the story they were given about the cause of death. Krum Dochev, 20, speaking on behalf of his family, said they've incurred the costs of an autopsy, cremation and the legwork to track down the real story.
"We're not happy with the answers we have received and something that's come as a complete shock to us is that there's absolutely no regulatory body for kennels," Mr. Dochev said in a recent phone interview. "There's the SPCA but they only deal with cruelty and not industry standards, in general."
While they have the time and money to devote to the matter, Mr. Dochev said many others in similar circumstances don't, such as seniors on fixed incomes.
"We've had to mourn for a loved member of the family and play the role of investigators at the same time," he said, adding his point in contacting this newspaper wasn't about a vendetta against the kennel.
The facility operators explained to the family that a boxer's hind leg got caught in Boss' chain leash and the pulling caused Boss to strangle to death.
There were no indications of a struggle between the two 80-pound dogs, Mr. Dochev said and the kennel operators were both less than forthcoming with information and too hasty in its offer to pay for Boss' cremation.
He suggested there were "inconsistencies" with the kennel's story and said he figures Boss' chain got snarled in a fence, causing strangulation thereby making the kennel negligent in the care of the dog.
"I'm not saying that most kennel owners aren't good and honest people but at the same time they're businesses and if there isn't a law telling you, you have to do this, well, it's natural that people are going to cut corners. It's human nature."
Kristin Williams, executive director of Nova Scotia's SPCA, confirms there's no current provincial legislation that specifically addresses kennels through a regulatory system.
"However, the SPCA is mandated through provincial animal welfare legislation to inspect environments where animals are kept, inclusive of kennels," she said. "When we do an inspection, we review the standards of care."
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Why is it that, in a society with so many animal lovers, that regulations with respect to animal care and housing still have such trouble getting out of the gate? Is it because noone every tried? Nope, animal advocates all around the continent and beyond have been hard at work with this for quite some time. Is it that noone understands the specific shape that the legislation should take? Not even close.

Every single time that legislation is introduced anywhere in North America, the pet industry participates in the process.

When food service safety regulations were drafted for restaurants, restaurants were not able to 'water' down the laws to a more user friendly format. The listeria crisis was a less than shining example of what can happen when any industry is permitted to be its own watchdog.

Whenever regulations have been drafted with respect to drinking and driving, the brewers are not invited to the table for discussion ... no matter how many sporting events they might sponsor.

Part of the problem that animal advocates face is that most pet owners do not "relate" to the need for laws. They take good care of their own pets and don't understand what more might be needed.

It takes a personal tragedy like this to highlight the fact that every humane law to protect the animals does double duty as consumer protection legislation. Minimum housing standards. Breeding limit laws. Mandatory breeding registration. Anti tethering legislation.

Sadly ... as long as the reputable CKC breeders are willing to be tarred with same brush as the commercial members behind PIJAC, all efforts by animal advocates will continue to be watered down by the very industry they are attempting to regulate.

If our MLA's wish to redeem their reputations after the dubious distinction of winning the Teddy Award for Outrageous Government Waste (from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation), fast tracking decent regulations for the new Animal Cruelty Law would be an excellent place to start.

What time is it? Its always time to remember that the way ahead for the animals will only be paved by strong voter feedback.

The World is STILL a Very Dangerous Place

I love crisp cold days like this ... when a little snow and sunshine can surround us with such beauty.   Mind you, its ever so much easier to appreciate all this when we can come back into a comfy warm house.  Where the water is not as frozen as the pond ... where the food is not left to freeze in a clump under the snow ... and where noone is left out on their own to be lonely and cold and so hungry for a human touch.

This time last year, there was a dog in Cape Breton who was quite literally getting to the end of his rope.   Neighbours had complained to the SPCA for a couple years.  Inspectors were sent several times since 2007 but were " unable to do anything because the owner was meeting the minimum standard of care for the animal"

There was no surprise ending to that story ... the dog froze to death on the end of the chain.  As disheartening as it was to have such inconclusive necropsy results that the SPCA did not move forward with prosecution, the situation did underscore the need for anti tethering legislation.

Not for position papers.  Not for press releases .. but for real honest to gawd legislation specific enough to stop the practice.  To be perfectly honest, I'm surprised that this hasn't been pursued more aggressively by the society.

Chained dogs are out there for all the world to see.  When neighbours and kind hearts who are unfamiliar with the legislation ( or lack of it I should say ) complain, they simple assume that the society is unwilling or unable to address such obvious cases of cruelty.

Each and every time this happens, there is a notable negative impact on the society's reputation.   It reinforces the very urban legends that the society has been working so hard to overcome.  Even worse, anytime public confidence is diminished that has a direct impact on the society's ability to fundraise.

At the risk of sounding like a stuck record, we need Anti Tethering Legislation for the following reasons:

• Animal Cruelty - It is cruel and inhumane to isolate social creatures. Dogs are allowed to be treated worse than livestock. Their suffering is profound and well documented 
• Public Safety - All data confirms that unsocialized dogs are a grave danger to the public, especially to children.
• Public Nuisance - The dogs frequently bark, howl, cry, whine, escape, and menace, creating neighbourhood fear and anger. Noise complaints often results in further cruelty to the dog in the form of punishment, muzzling and poisoning.  
• Public Expense - Complaints and impoundment and disposal cost money, and these costs continue to rise as more dogs are owned. 
• Public Health - The areas the dogs are kept in are frequently contaminated with feces and urine and the food is a rodent attractant. 
• Lawlessness - When neighbours cannot get any action from city hall or the SPCA, they are forced to break the law by removing and rehoming the dog.  A broad spectrum of people have been forced to do this, from off-duty police officers, crown prosecutors, grandmothers, single mothers on welfare, wealthy socialites, ministers, community activists, and untold numbers of ordinary people who would not otherwise dream of committing a felony. They are forced by the lack of action from political leaders and the SPCA to become lawless.

This is particularly sad because the solution is so simple:

• limiting the number of hours that a dog can be chained and/ or penned utside each day
• legislation sets a ban from 1000 pm until 700 am 
• Insisting that someone is physically onsite at the same address as the dog whenever the dog is chained or penned,
• Clearly limiting the definition of indoors to the principal residence,
• Establishing a firm weather advisory policy, with minimum and maximum
  outside temperatures, to include storm watches and wind chill,
• Prohibiting the chaining or penning of any dog within a specific physical radius of a school.  This also reinforces the concept that anti tethering legislation is being introduced to protect the children in the community General consensus sets that at a minimum of 500 feet.   

Why didn't I include minimum housing standards and leash lengths in there?  Because:

• it invites input from PIJAC members and CKC representatives which could muddy the waters and impede the progress of the bil
• Minimum housing standards are an issue that is not limited to chained and penned dogs,
• Setting minimum leash lengths and housing standards has created loopholes elsewhere, such as in Texas, that have completely undermined the rest of the legislation
• Anti tethering legislation stands its best chance of success when it is presented as a public safety measure, and of course,
• setting minimum standards of housing for outdoor dogs does not address the issues of socialization and public safety. A chained dog living in an insulated house is still deprived of the interaction he or she needs to be a safe part of the community.

To be perfectly honest, I'm at an absolute loss to understand why this has not been aggressively pursued by the society, because it would:

• first and foremost, of course be of benefit to the animals,
• provide society inspectors with the tools they needed to properly protect the animals,
• improve the success rate of prosecutions,
• allow the society to take the proactive step of offering a more humane alternative to the smoke screen of public safety provided by BDL,
• engage the public in a shared journey that would of itself be an education process,
• effective advocacy in this matter would provide a road-map for future
  legislative change, and
• last but definitely not least, it would be a win win scenario for the society that would effectively address negative urban sometimes not so much legends.  At the end of the day what is good for the animals is always going to be good for, and reflect well, on the society.

To be perfectly honest, I can't think of a more sensible tack for them to take when they are so desperately trying to fundraise for cruelty investigations.

What time is it?  Like the old poster on my laundry room wall says ... "do something ... lead, follow or get out of the way"

The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing...   Albert Einstein

Basing on new assumptions

From the CBC news website
N.S veterinarians ban tail docking
Last Updated: Thursday, March 25, 2010 1:11 PM AT

Veterinarians in Nova Scotia will no longer cut the tails and ears of dogs for cosmetic reasons, prompting an outcry from some breeders.The Nova Scotia Veterinary Medical Association is forbidding its members from doing surgeries that alter an animal's appearance solely for cosmetic purposes.
Veterinarians say docking a Doberman pinscher's tail, for example, is unnecessary and cruel.
"In my opinion, Dobermans and Great Danes look great with their ears down and their long tails, so there's no reason to mutilate them by causing them to meet an arbitrary breed characteristic that has been around for so long that we can't remember why it's been around in the first place," said Dr. Frank Woodbury, a veterinarian in Halifax.
Mary Spinelli, a Doberman breeder in Dartmouth, disputes any suggestion that ear cropping and tail docking is cruel, and therefore can't see any need for the new rules.
"There was no impetus from anybody in the dog community to say, 'Please, consider this procedure,'" she said.
"These procedures have been performed for the better part of 100 years. They're not new, they're not revolutionary and, by and large, they're not cruel. They're done in proper conditions."
Spinelli said a Doberman's tail is removed when the animal is about two days old, while the ears are cropped at eight weeks.
She finds it hypocritical that the veterinary association is still allowing the declawing of cats.
"They have no qualms whatsoever about declawing cats, which is a far more invasive procedure done when the cat is significantly older," she said.
The new rules go into effect on April 1, though they won't be enforced until October. Similar bans on cosmetic surgeries are already in place in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Spinelli, a registered breeder with the Canadian Kennel Club, won't crop the tails of her dogs herself. She said the procedure should only be done under safe and clean conditions, like with veterinarians.
Another Doberman owner, Lendra Barker, fears that some owners will do whatever it takes to get their dogs to conform to a certain look.
"The people who own these dogs want them performed and without a vet to be permitted to perform these procedures, where is it going to go? Some people that aren't reputable may end up doing it themselves without the benefit of anesthesia or sanitary conditions," said Barker, a past-president of the Doberman Pinscher Club of Canada.
Non-veterinarians who attempt the surgeries on their own could be charged under Nova Scotia's Animal Protection Act.

Its not all that often I miss a story like that ( and before the keyboards catch on fire if I don't devote a lot of time or space to anything, sometimes its simply because I choose NOT to empower certain people whose heads are already two sizes too large,eh? )

Why did I miss it? Yesterday I was working on the slide show that you see at the top of the blog sidebar. It has all of the dogs listed on Petfinder for NS and if I didn't have time to edit every cats picture, there is still at least one cat for every dog.

So it simply fell through the cracks, between the time spent with that and going out and getting wet with the dogs: ))))

A few days ago, I was doing some research for a story I'm working on about an emaciated senior boxer who had a large litter of pups. Now, I've never shared space with a boxer, so of course the first place that I went for info was The Boxer Club of Canada site .... ( http://boxerclubofcanada.com/ ) ... where I learned that their Code of Ethics recommends that, wrt breeding, "Only bitches between the ages of eighteen months and six years and not more than once a year"

Along with all the wonderful information about boxers, there is a prominent link at the top of the front door for the K-9 Alliance http://www.k9alliance.com/, which proudly proclaims that it is 'fighting misconceptions among the public and veterinarians about docking, ear cropping and dew claw removal" The site contains the information that there is an Alert for NS and urges its members to write their MLA's. Sample letters are provided for user convenience.

Why did their campaign not work? Was it because the society has advocating for this? Was the decision based on the frontline experience of vets? Or all of the above?

It is always a mystery to me that reputable breed organizations are not at the front of the pack in advocating for mandatory breeder registration, breeding limit laws and decent minimum housing standards. Sadly, all these issues get sidestepped because of misinformation campaigns and scare tactics inspired by their strange bedfellow, PIJAC http://www.pijaccanada.com/en/ ... "the voice of the Canadian Pet Industry"

Which .. in true Monty Python style, is no odder than the partnership between the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies and Kijiji : ((((

Twenty years ago, none of the marketing experts could have predicted there would be such changes in consumer buying patterns. Nobody worried where their children's toys came from or whether their name brand clothes were being made in factories powered by child labour. Right up until the time the public stopped buying gas guzzling trucks, the former big three couldn't imagine the consequences of opting for profit at the expense of environmental sustainability.

The internet has changed how we see .. and move .. in the world. Issues are more immediate and advocacy has taken a new personal note with far reaching impact.

The muscle cars of the sixties are still beautiful to anyone my age ... but do we see them out and about now? Of course not. Their gas guzzling glory days are long gone and they are seldom seen outside of summer car shows.

Like the old sign in my laundry room, the breed associations and reputable breeders are at a crossroads where they can either lead, follow or get out of the way. If they want to play any meaningful part in the way foward, its time for them to revisit their ethical roots.

It would be a shame for the breed clubs to become the same kind of anarchism as a cherry red 64 GTO.

Most of our assumptions have outlived their uselessness." Marshall McLuhan