Let's catch up on some of the top stories from the last two weeks in our weekly roundup:
Cities/States and Laws
Poplar Bluff, MO's law banning pit bulls goes into effect this week. The city says they are trying to phase out pit bulls from their city.
Crab Orchard, KY is pondering potential breed-specific legislation after concerns of dogs running loose in the community. Why a leash law wouldn't be a better solution is beyond me...
A councilman in Lawrenceburg, IN is pushing the community to re-enact a law against 'pit bulls'.
The shelter in Harlingen, TX is going to allow pit bulls to be adopted from the shelter. This is great news as far too many shelters still have prohibitions on certain dogs being adopted.
In spite of a lot of media coverage and hysteria over recent incidents, dog bites in Abilene, TX are actually decreasing.
Germany seems to be considering addressing their law that classifies pit bulls as "irrefutably dangerous" -- as advocates seem to be working toward helping them realize how many great family dogs are impacted by the law.
Sioux Falls, SD initially looked at breed-specific laws as an option for curbing aggressive dogs in the community but after thoughtful consideration, has determined to go after breed-neutral laws instead.
And here's a petition for my New Zealand readers to sign to try to end BSL in that country.
Dog Bites/Attacks
Major dog bites are rare -- but they do happen. And when they do, it is circumstances, not breeds, that are the reason for the attacks.
A 5 year old Santa-Barbara girl was bitten in the face when she was petting a woman's Labrador Retriever they met on the street. Apparently something in the interaction with the child caused the dog to bite at the child's face.
Three off-leash dogs have bitten several people in a city park in Aurora. Witnesses (who have no breed ID experience) are saying the dogs look like "pit bulls', even though pit bulls have been banned in Aurora for many years. The reality is that the fact that the dogs appear to be a free-roaming pack of dogs is the causal factor in these incidents.
Postal workers in the UK say their lives are at risk due to the failings of the dangerous dog laws in the nation - which have wrongly focused on banning 4 breeds of dogs and not focused at all on irresponsible pet ownership. Attacks seem pretty common in the UK because of the bad law - including this attack on a woman by a Japanese Akita, a breed of dog not targeted by their law.
A Toronto area man was hospitalized after being attacked by a Bull Mastiff that was eventually shot by police. Ontario has had a ban on 'pit bulls' for a number of years, but public safety is not improved.
No Kill
The West Valley-Taylorsville Animals shelter has started opening on Saturdays in order to increase adoptions at the shelter in an effort to become No Kill. Any shelter not open on the weekend days, when the typical person is off work and can come to adopt or find their lost pet, is barely even trying to save lives. Good first step for the WV-Taylorsville Shelter.
Ventura County Animal Services says they want to become a community of No Kill Shelters -- but then go on to public, irresponsible people, and there not being enough spay/neuter compliance for their problems.
In Cumberland County, TN, a once high-kill shelter has lowered its euthanasia rate from 68% for dogs to 17% -- with the adoption rate up to 81% -- due to better leadership and more of a focus on adoptions. Euthanasia rates for cats have gone from 88% in 2009 to 55%. Although the new group, AARF (All About Rescue & Fixin') is wanting to make further gains in both areas, the improvement is remarkable and a tribute to what can happen with compassionate leadership.
Kern County, CA has hired a new shelter director in an effort to increase live saving in the area. The task will not be easy, as the shelter currently takes in about 30,000 animals a year and kills 60-70% of them -- including just under 20,000 animals a year ago.
Niagra Falls, NY is making efforts to achieve No Kill. In 2011, only 56% of the animals that left the city shelter left alive, either through adoption or return to owners. In the first 4 months of trying to achieve No Kill, 86% left alive. Great progress in Niagra Falls.
Kansas City News
Kansas City has finally opened its second off-leash dog park.
Miscelaneous
A pit bull in Staton Island, NJ took a bullet for its owner during a home invasion. The dog sounds like he'll miraculously be ok.
Blogs Worth Reading
Dogged Blog wonders if the Shutdown of the Genesee County (MI) animal control volunteer program was illegal retaliation.
Why Fostering is important -- by one of our shelter volunteers on Homeless Dog Volunteer Blog. Fostering has become hugely important to our organization as the shelter environment is pretty devastating emotionally for many of our dogs (particularly high-drive or fearful dogs). Fosters are vitally important in helping save the lives of these animals.
A really great story on how the Missouri prison system has helped save over 1,000 dogs through their Puppies for Paroles program. I was lucky to be a part of the very first prison that began working on this project about 5 years ago and I'm thrilled to see its growth long after I've been out of the equation.
"Free cat adoptions" doesn't lead to less-quality adoptions - -from ASPCA Pro. Dogged Blog has a good follow up -- "What opponents of free pet adoptions don't get".
Memphis Animal Services employees who have been fired are now admitting to torturing animals while employed at the shelter. Yesbiscuit continues her coverage of the mess that is MAS.
How to live with a dog-reactive dog and not lose your shit: An (im)practical guide -- from Bull In the City.
Defining No Kill Sheltering -- a good overview by Yesbiscuit!
As always, you captured some interesting and important headlines I managed to miss. Thanks for including my piece on Missouri's Puppies for Parole program in the roundup. Our state really has something to be proud of in that program.
Posted by: Crystal Wayward | September 09, 2012 at 06:19 PM