Been really busy on a lot of things the past few weeks, and I had a computer meltdown, and so I've been HORRIBLE about the weekly roundups. So this week's is going to work a little different. I'm cleaning out my saved links this week and anything that seems interesting and still relevant from the past month or so I'm posting (there are a couple of recent items I'm saving for posts this coming week). Trying to get back on schedule...
Cities/States/Countries and Laws
West Fork, AR has dropped their proposed breed ban.
Hobart, IN has decided against breed specific legislation in favor of legislation that puts responsibility on owners to properly care for and manage their dogs.
An Aurelia, IA couple finally reached a settlement with their community to allow them to keep their pit bull service dog. While the terms of the agreement are not announced, the couple's legal fees were over $25,000 -- a substantial amount for the couple or a small community like Aurelia.
Dangerous dog reports are up significantly in Leicestershire, UK. The UK has had a ban on four breeds of dogs since 1991....but public safety continues to not be improved.
Abuse Cases
Authorities have seized nearly 300 dogs, mostly pit bulls, from a hoarding situation in Montgomery County, TX that was acting as if it was a "no kill" shelter. Hoarding is not No Kill. No Kill is finding homes for them. Not hoarding and neglecting them. An ex employee called it "a living hell".
No Kill
Shelby County, KY has been running a No Kill Shelter for several years -- but an increase in intake coupled with a decline in adoptions put them in a tough situation earlier this month. Achieving No Kill is hard, and once you get there it isn't a guarantee of future success, as it is more of a journey than a destination.
Now, only about 2% of dogs die in shelters annually.
Cumberland County Animal Shelter went from killing 89% of all animals that came in to not euthanizing a single adoptable dog since November. I'm not sure how they're defining "adoptable", but even with a lax definition it is still a huge improvement.
West Valley, UT has formed an agreement with Best Friends Animal Society in hopes of moving that community closer to No Kill.
Maryland
In April, a Maryland Supreme Court ruling essentially provided a case precedent that pit bulls are presumed to be dangerous. The state legislators quickly went to work to create legislation that would legally overturn the decision. A task force was assembled to create the legislation to potentially be heard at a special summer session. The session may not happen, but the state attorney general did put on hold any legal changes that may result from the court ruling until the legislators meet again. More info here and from the National Canine Research Council here.
Lennox
The news of Lennox's death in Northern Ireland has sparked a lot of commentary (and rightfully so). Here are a few of the best:
Lennox: The gloves come off -- Jim Crosby was very involved in the case and shares his insider knowledge of the situation in a must read on this topic.
The BS that is BSL -- from I say things so you don't have to
You have to be taught to hate pit bulls -- great thinking (per usual) from Honest Dog
Lennox becomes the symbol of the fight against breed discriminatory legislation -- from Best Friends
And then there's this video from Stubbydog
Miscellaneous
How to take irresistible photos of your pets with your iPhone -- You know you do it, might as well make them good photos.
What every dog needs: meat flavored beer designed for them to drink.
This is a great story about a group I think is really cool -- but Gretchen Meyer has formed a group called "Firecracker Dogs" to help high energy, mischievous dogs that find their way into shelters and often are the hardest to adopt out for shelters.
In some great news in understanding how pets can offer comfort to those in need, some hospitals now allow patients' dogs to visit them.
Blog Posts You should read
A teaspoon a day helps keep the bias at bay -- from Bless the Bullies
Baking cookies in your car -- this video made the rounds on the internet earlier this summer as a "heads up" to not leave your dogs in your car on hot days -- it's a very telling video, and I saw it first on Pound Dogs
Survey reveals that 90% of pet owners would choose pets over money in a divorce -- from Paw Prints the Magazine.
The many breeds of Corgis - a little fun for Corgi fans out there from I Love Charts
Pug Poses - -more fun from I Love Carts (and I think you'll love this regardless of your breed of choice because they all have these poses).
The Telltale sign - a good chart about what the tail says about a dog's mindset
Sadly, there are too many cliches -- a good blog post by Ryan Clinton on the cliches used to justify unnecessary killing in shelters.
Couldn't have been a lab -- they don't bite - -an article about media coverage of dog bites from Save the Pit Bull, Save the World.
The Consequences of Pet Limit Laws - -from the Milwaukee Pets Examiner
Walking your dog is more important than you think -- From PetMoz
Compassion Please, for Pets and People -- Wisconsin Watchdog notes how important compassion is for both animals and for their owners -- even if their owners are struggling to get by
Uhhh, the Telltale Tail chart is actually about kitty tails...still good though!
I'm glad to see a weekly roundup! I hope things are getting less discombobulated for you.
Posted by: KateH | July 23, 2012 at 12:02 AM
It was creepy to read the quote from Peter Tallack in the Leicestershire story. I hadn't realized how deeply he is identified with the Dangerous Dogs Act.
http://www.dardni.gov.uk/dog-response-tallack.pdf
Posted by: Karen F | July 23, 2012 at 03:19 AM
LOL Kate. Sorry. Apparently sped through that a little yesterday...
Karen, great info -- I had no idea.
Posted by: Brent | July 23, 2012 at 10:22 AM