Still such a dangerous place

from the CBC news website, tonight
Guard dog's frozen body discovered in N.S.
Warning: this story contains graphic content.
Last Updated: Thursday, February 4, 2010 8:59 PM AT CBC News
A Nova Scotia man is demanding answers from the SPCA after he found a dog's frozen body near his home Wednesday night.
Joe Bona of Barrachois Mountain in Cape Breton said a guard dog for a local construction site was chained up outside in freezing temperatures.
"The dog was at the end of the chain, frozen to the ground, and I took sick to my stomach and I'm still sick to my stomach over what I seen," he told CBC News.
Bona said he first saw the dog nearly two years ago when he was walking his own dogs at night. He said he contacted the SPCA because he felt the bullmastiff did not have food, water or proper shelter.
"You can't save all the dogs," said Bona. "But there's something could have been done about that dog."
Kristin Williams, the executive director of the Nova Scotia SPCA, said inspectors had been checking on the dog regularly since 2007. The most recent inspection was just before Christmas last year.
Williams said the owner had been meeting the minimum standards of care for the animal.
Bona — who had gone to check on the dog because of the recent cold snap — said the animal deserved better.
"We found him curled up in a pile there," he said. "All the snow that was under him, he melted down into the dirt and that's where he met his demise. Right there, in the snow.
This bullmastiff was discovered frozen in the snow this week at a Cape Breton construction site. (Wendy Martin/CBC)"It's unexplainable that somebody would leave their dog in that situation knowing the temperatures and knowing the shape the dog was in."
Williams said the SCPA is waiting for an autopsy to determine the cause of death and whether charges are warranted.
Attempts to contact the owner of the property on Thursday were unsuccessful

To everyone who has ever sent an ugly email demanding to know who the &^% that I think I am trying to work for legislation to limit tethering .... to every politician... including my own MLA ... who has ever sidestepped suggestions that the practice of chaining dogs is both inhumane and a public safety issue .... for everyone who didn't want their name associated with an open facebook group to drum up support for anti tethering legislation .....take a good hard look at this.

We've been down this road before .... remember Po? http://www.animalrescuecoalitions.com/30078.html His before picture is on the cover of the facebook group, Break the Chain in Nova Scotia and bears no resemblance whatsoever to the pictures of this great guy AFTER substantial sums were spent by ARC to rehabilitate and heal this good dog. ( The subject of how these lovely folks do not define "healthy and treatable" by the dollar sign is a separate topic for another day )

The Cape Breton SPCA was 'checking' on him and 'couldn't' do anything for him either.

Chained dogs are like mice .... for every tragic story like this in the news there are untold numbers whose stories never see the light of day. How many more dogs have to die before the ugly emails stop, the MLA's grow a backbone and people stop looking the other way?

What time is it? Its time to recognize that every dog that dies on the end of a chain is also a victim of indifference.

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

On a morning like this

On a morning like this, I'm better than a barometer. Even before I set foot out the door with the dogs a few minutes ago, I didn't need to look at the weather station to know it would be bitterly cold out. Every bit that has ever been operated on or injured smarts, even in the warm house.
Even on a morning like this, we have so much wildlife around here that I always go outside with the dogs in the play yard. Andy and I bundle up in our parkas before we head out. Sadly the big dogs will not wear warm coats ... being of the unfortunate opinion that a coat is just a stuffy with more tug of war play potential.
On a morning like this, none of them waste any time attending to business outside, because they know I am resigned to what one friend refers to as wrestlemania inside on cold days.
On a morning like this ... and until very recently ... for every morning like this, twelve year old Jack has been chained outside like a lawn ornament instead of the living, breathing, loving sentient being that he is.
All those mornings like this have taken their toll. The vet believes that he has degenerative myelopathy and while it doesn't cause him any pain, it does mean that he is slowly losing function in his hindquarters. In spite of this, he is a sweet and gentle soul who gets along well with every dog that ARC has had him with.
All those mornings like this and he is still generous enough to be super friendly and easy going.
After all those mornings like this, Jack might not have a lot of time. ARC is looking for someone who can offer this sweet old guy some long overdue TLC, so that he can live in peace and dignity for whatever time he has left.

Are we there yet?

According to the nifty weather station my brother gave me last year, its minus 22 tonight and that makes the living room the most popular spot in the house. Between chairs and dog beds .... between rockers and rugs, there are enough cozy spots for everyone to bask in the cozy warmth of the wood stove.
For my money, the fact that they all get along well together is a much bigger part of the picture of domestic bliss than the toasty fire could ever be. Admittedly, their social networking isn't always face to face, but they have still become a well oiled team that would be the pride of any section head.
At the end of the day, the way ahead for the animals will take both teamwork and social networking. This is something that successful managers understand, and bit by bit it is rippling out into the animal rescue community on this continent.
One of the first, and best examples of this, was the Mayor's Alliance for NYC Animals, http://www.animalalliancenyc.org/new/index.php. In the eight years since its inception in 2002, this organization has united over 160 rescues and shelters in the pursuit of reaching the goal of a No Kill New York. They're not there yet, but in the first six years they have succeeded in dropping the kill rate by 35%. Their website is an awesome example of what is possible when everyone works together and pools their resources.
In the course of researching the Rescue without Borders story, I've tripped over another great example of how social networking and teamwork are saving lives.... a great group of volunteers that have formed a rescue and shelter alliance called "Highway to Heaven". http://www.highwaytoheaven.350.com/home.htm They are a volunteer transport network that works with southern shelters and northern rescues to successfully save lives ... lives that would often be lost in the horror of a gas chamber.
And before the keyboards catch on fire ...yet again ... about that, I would like to remind folks that life is life, no matter where it is. To criticize groups that try to save lives from away with statements like " we have enough &^* homeless pets here in NS without importing them" reflects the same narrow thinking that has some mean spirited people criticizing the generous help for Haiti because we have needy people right here in Nova Scotia.
There is the promise of this type of cooperation both in the new strategic plan for the society and in the burgeoning spirit of support at Metro for the rescue community. Better yet, if you read the online minutes of the January 25, 2010 BOD meeting, item 6 includes the very promising statement that "With the additional kennel capacity that will be available as of April, the shelter will be able to take in more dogs from other SPCA's and rescues in Nova Scotia and beyond"
Its been a rough old ride for the society since the Celtic Pets seizure two years ago tonight. In the months that followed, public support dwindled to the point where the society was at real risk of drowning in its own dirty washwater.
Along the way, me and my big mouth have burned more than one bridge at branch level, and I make no apologies for that. Like the three year old in the back seat, I'm only really asking 'are we there yet?'
It was two years ago... and it was yesterday. But it was yesterday. We might not be there yet, but I'd like to think we're on the way.

The best things in life are worth the extra effort

Oscar loves laying on the raised edge of the wood stove hearth ... but he hasn't got an aggressive bone in his body and will quickly surrender his spot to anyone who elbows him aside.
From the first, it was clear that this sweet and gentle soul didn't have even a smattering of kitty street smarts. He was so thin and so scratched up and limping so badly when he first showed up here.
To this day, I'm not sure whether Dora saved his life by sharing the food I put out for her with him, or if he saved her life by helping her not to be afraid of me. Like the cowardly lion, Oscar was a reluctant hero who did his level best to protect little Dora from visiting toms until I was able to get my paws on her and get her spayed. ( the subject of how very young a female cat is when she can start to go in heat is a well worn topic that is still deserving of its own post on another day )
But I am wandering afield here. Why am I babbling about Oscar when these are very clearly not pictures of my (now ) sleek and handsome tuxedo fellow? This morning, I received an email from a friend about a sweet fellow named Lefty who really, really reminds me of Oscar.
Lefty was lucky enough to be scooped up in the latest TNR done by Sonya from SCAR. Why is he available for adoption? Doesn't the R in TNR stand for Return?
Of course it does, but sometimes common sense has to prevail. It quickly became evident that Lefty wasn't part of the feral cat colony. He was badly wounded, his tail was fractured and he had a broken tooth. Sadly, the spirit of this formerly tame cat has also been broken and SCAR wants his new family to be willing to take whatever time is needed to build trust with this sweet and handsome boy.
He has been tested, vaccinated and neutered. He has been given antibiotics and his physical wounds are beginning to heal. He is responsive to a gentle touch and just needs the security and love of having his own family. If you believe that you are willing and able to share such a rewarding journey with this great guy, contact katsonya@accesswave.ca.
I could almost envy the person who will be wise enough to recognize this sweet boy's potential. Long after the flowers have wilted and the chocolates are gone, Lefty will still be able to warm up a kind heart.

The Little Rescue that Could

I love February. I know it can be cold and I truly doubt that this weekend's weather was the last storm of the season. Unlike Europe, we are still a country mile from anything remotely resembling the first signs of spring.
Or are we? In spite of the new blanket of snow, the first little hints are all around us. The "February Birds" .... the juncos and all the lovely varieties of grosbeaks and finches ... are starting to find their way back out of the deep woods and out to the bird feeders. Seed orders are starting to be pared down to something more sensible.... what we used to refer to in the military as a 'more achievable objective'. Best of all, instead of full dark, we can savour the prettiest twilights of the year now during our after supper strolls.
If you really want to drive the cold winter away and see the promise of something better, give yourself a treat and visit the new P.E.T. PROJECTS website. These people understand that there is no one single magic solution that will make a better world for the animals.
Look at their front door! To start with ... adoption is only PART of these folks are offering. Their resource center definitely raises the bar. As well as offering information and suggestions, these folks are also:

• asking people to report a cat colony because Pet Projects does TNR
• offering spay neuter subsidies .... visitors can apply online
• providing emergency vet care subsidies ... once again with an online application
• offering emergency foster care ... once again with an online form
• running a Roof over Rover program to try to help the dogs living outside in their area
• offering to partner with pet owners to rehome chained dogs
• willing to come talk about advocacy issues or humane education to any and all interested groups

If adopters can't find the pet of their dreams in their virtual adoption room , then there is a PET Match service that is offered on the site.

Like any other rescue group, these folks are powered by volunteer love ... unlike many others, they are upfront and specific about the ways anyone can help. Their volunteer positions are detailed enough to include the time commitment expected .... with a wide range from an hour a month and upwards for interested applicants to pick from.

When my daughter was a little girl, I used to read her a classic old children's story about a stranded train that was looking for an engine to haul it up over the mountain. After all the big shiny strong ones refused, a little engine said that she would give it a try .... chugging up with all her might while chanting ' I think I can, I think I can, I think I can .... "

On the way back down the mountain, she proudly chanted " I thought I could..".

Not unlike P.E.T. PROJECTS .... who 'think they can' keep the numbers of homeless pets down by helping pet owners keep the pets that they love.

The New SPCANS Strategic Plan

From the SPCANS web page tonight

Nova Scotia SPCA Strategic Plan 2010 - 1012

Vision

Nova Scotia is a no-kill province and a safe place for all
animals with zero tolerance for animal cruelty.

Timeframe

The strategic plan sets three to five year high-level goals for the
organization that will be reviewed annually and updated as goals
are reached and new priorities identified.

Strategic Goals

The strategic goals have been grouped into six themes that align
with the operational and Board level functions of the organization.
Each theme area will be supported with an action plan that will identify the specific objectives and strategies to reach our goals.

1.Governance

• To establish, collectively with our branches, a commonset of policies, standards and best practices that support our strategic goals while allowing flexibility in recognition of the unique context of each branch and community.
• For the provincial Society to provide increased support and direction to its branches in support of our shared strategic goals.
• To have a stable financial base that supports all our desired initiatives.
  To incorporate risk management and succession planning into Board activities.
• To invest in our employees through professional development and communication.
• To attract and retain talented volunteers and employees committed to our vision.
• To implement a stream-lined provincial Board structure that reflects and supports the strategic goals of the organization.
  

2. Animal Care

• To establish Nova Scotia as a no-kill province through implementation of the programs and strategies of the no-kill equation.* To work towards this goal, the target is to:
  - For branches with a live release rate for cats of less than 90% in 2009, increase live release rates for cats by 15% per year until 90% is achieved
  - For branches with a live release rate for dogs of less than 90% in 2009, increase live release rates for dogs by 10% per year until 90% is achieved
• To provide first-class care for animals in our control through implementation of provincial standards and best practices.
• To lead and facilitate community support systems to help keep animals in their homes and improve outcomes for stray and feral cats.
• To adopt a consistent province-wide approach to highvolume, low-cost spay/neuter programs for owned animals and Trap-Neuter-Return programs for feral cats to ensure consistent access throughout Nova Scotia.
  See end of plan for the complete No-Kill Equation.
  

3. Investigations

• To operate a respected system for responding to animal cruelty and fulfilling our mandate as defined in the new Animal Protection Act and associated regulations.
• To improve the public perception of the SPCA as a professional animal cruelty investigation agency.
• To work closely with the provincial government to develop regulations to support the Animal Protection Act.
• To implement standards and protocols to support professional and timely investigation of animal cruelty and facilitate communication with local branches.
• To increase capacity through recruitment and training of paid and volunteer Special Constables.
  

4. Marketing

• To create and implement a comprehensive communications, marketing and media plan that supports a provincially consistent SPCA approach and brand.
  

5. Public Awareness and Advocacy

• To become the most credible source of information on companion animal welfare in Nova Scotia.
• To engage all levels of government to support creation of a safe haven for animals in this province; in particular, to engage municipal governments to increase support for animal care initiatives in communities across Nova Scotia.
• To grow our network of volunteers, donors and adopters through increased community engagement and strong, consistent public relations.
  

6. Fund Development

• Actively identify and expand SPCA friend base.
• To turn SPCA friends into SPCA donors by expanding and enhancing donor stewardship activities.
• To take a provincial, integrated approach to fundraising to raise our profile through concentrated public awareness and promotional strategies that benefit the branches and provincial Society.
• To regularly review fundraising initiatives to refine the focus of activities based on overall performance.
  

The No Kill Equation
Feral cat TNR program
Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs improve animal welfare, reduce death rates,
and meet obligations to public health.
High-volume, low-cost spay/neuter program
Low-cost, high-volume spay/neuter services will quickly lead to fewer animals
entering the SPCA system, allowing more resources to be allocated toward saving
lives.
Coordination with rescue groups
Transferring animals to rescue groups frees up scarce cage and kennel space,
reduces expenses for feeding, cleaning and killing, and improves a community’s rate of lifesaving. In only rare circumstances should a rescue group be denied an animal.
Foster care program
Volunteer foster care is a low (or no) cost way to increase animal care capacity,
improve public relations, increase the SPCA’s public image, and rehabilitate sick,
injured or behaviourally challenged animals.
Comprehensive adoption programs
Lifesaving is a direct function of policies and practice. Comprehensive adoption
programs include public access hours for working people, offsite adoptions, adoption incentives, and effective marketing.
Pet retention programs
Saving animals requires communities to develop innovative strategies for keeping
people and their companion animals together. And the more a community sees the SPCA as a place to turn for advice and assistance, the easier the job will be.
Medical and behavioural rehabilitation
In order to meet its commitment to a lifesaving guarantee for all saveable animals, SPCAs need to keep animals happy and healthy and keep animals moving through the system. To do this, shelters must put in place comprehensive vaccination, handling, cleaning, socialization, and care policies before animals get sick and rehabilitative efforts for those who come in sick, injured, unweaned or traumatized.
Public relations/community involvement
Increasing adoptions, maximizing donations, recruiting volunteers and partnering
with community agencies comes down to one thing: increasing the SPCA’s pubic
exposure. And that means consistent marketing and public relations. Public relations and marketing are the foundation of all a SPCA’s activities and their success. To do all these things well, the SPCA must be in the public eye.
Coordinated volunteer program
Volunteers are a dedicated “army of compassion” and the backbone of a successful no-kill effort. There is never enough staff, never enough dollars to hire more staff, and always more needs than paid human resources. That is where volunteers make the difference between success and failure.
Pro-active owner redemptions
One of the most overlooked areas for reducing killing in most animal control shelters are lost animal reclaims. Shifting from a passive to a more proactive approach has proven to have a significant impact on lifesaving and allow shelters to return a large percentage of lost animals to their families.
A compassionate shelter director/manager
The final element of the no-kill equation is the most important of all, without which all of the other elements are thwarted – a hard-working, compassionate shelter director or manager not content to continue killing while regurgitating tired clichés or hiding behind the myth of “too many animals, not enough homes.”
Source: http://www.nokilladvocacycenter.org/nokillequation.html

The original document can be found at Downlaod Strategic Plan 2010-2012, btw.
Well then .... this isn't the kind of thing that was whipped up in the last week. The fact that there has been a new strategic plan in the works hasn't exactly been a secret, eh?
Although, it IS particularly good timing for the society to be able to move forward with this plan instead of dwelling on Metro's loss of the sheltering contract.
Does this mean that everything has changed overnight? Nope. But this is a plan that has been approved at a well attended board meeting ( although as of this writing I am depending on the word of someone I trust as the online minutes from that meeting are not on the site)
I've always marched to my own beat and in keeping with that have no intention of jumping on board the bandwagon of celebration that Metro lost the contract. If it had happened a couple of years ago, back when everything was veiled in secrecy ... including the killing ... I would have been blowing my horn along with the rest of them.
But there is a part of me that thinks it is colossally unfair for them to lose the contract AFTER they have turned so many things around and moved so far in the right direction. And of course, everyone seems to be conveniently forgetting that there is no obligation for an AC pound that has nothing to do with the society to post its statistics. HRM can spin it anyway they want because they are under no obligation to provide stats. ( The subject of what a fuzzy grey area it can be to obtain freedom of information data from a government contractor is a separate topic for another day )
Politics is supposed to be the second-oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first. Ronald Reagan

An Ounce of Prevention

It was absolutely beautiful outside when the dogs and I were out for our last stroll just now ... one of those rare winter nights where it was warm enough to really enjoy the clear night sky. We're still a few days away from the full moon, so even without my trifocals, the stars were easy to see.
For the past few days, I've been working on a new section of the homeless pet site which is focused on the other end of the stick .... how to keep pets from becoming homeless. Some of it came from an awesome Best Friends webinar that I 'attended' recently .... some came from the No Kill Advocacy Center and some came from our own SPCANS education section.
Hand in hand with that, I opened up a new facebook group tonight to serve in the same self help capacity that the Canadian Military Pets Foster Network . The group is called the The NS Good Neighbour Pet Foster Network and will remain public unless problems arise.
There are of course other things that would help keep pets with their families ... but that involves the kind of advocacy that is kept separate and apart from the homeless pet site. Lifetime licenses for microchipped and altered pets. Free rides home for licensed pets. Forgiving fines for first time offenders when unlicensed pets are impounded. Municipally sponsored dog training workshops. Off leash dog parks to encourage socialization.
Like a stuck record I could go on and on .... but tonight I'm going to add a new bit in .... right now the onus is on the pet owner to find a lost pet. Studies have shown that lost pets are often mistaken for strays .... and so they are either adopted by the person who finds them or entered into the animal rescue system.
AC is subject to all the same budgetary concerns as every other government department. On the surface, it might seem like wasting time they do not have to ask around the neighbourhood about 'strays' they pick up before taking them to the shelter....BUT every animal that does not have to be sheltered represents a fiscal saving too, eh?
Studies have shown that is an effective way to reduce intake at AC shelters ... while at the same time providing a service for grieving tax payers and voters who have lost their pet.
And before the keyboards catch on fire, I am not suggesting that every instance of pet abandonment represents a lost pet. Nor am I suggesting that the pet owners who habitually allow their pets to wander should get the 'free ride home'
What time is it? With this .. as with anything else in life ... its always wise to remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure