Not a complete wrap-up this week (especially on the blog front), but there have been several interesting stories the past couple of weeks that I want to discuss a bit. Several probably deserve their own post, but for now, I want to get them out there.
Cities/States and Laws
The Ohio Senate Judiciary Committee will be holding a public hearing on Tuesday, January 10 at 3:15 on HB 14 -- the law that would repeal Ohio's statewide breed specific law.
More than 50 pit bulls have been allowed to live in Toledo after new Lucas County Dog Warden Julie Lyle has begun allowing pit bulls to be transferred to the local humane society vs just insisting that they be killed as would have happend under the previous dog warden. The locals are thrilled with the change.
After years of issues with running its animal shelter-- including a police raid on their own shelter, animal control officers being involved in dog fighting, abuse at the shelter, and an extremely high kill rate, the city of Memphis is finally caving and looking for a private organization to run the new animal shelter.
Xenia, OH is still considering a breed ban in their community.
Bristol, CT decides against breed specific laws.
Court Rulings
An appellate court in Texas made a ruling that dogs are "More than property". Prior to this ruling, damages for wrongful death for dogs assigned the value of the dogs as only the dog's monetary worth (similar to furniture)-- however, the new ruling allows owners to be entitled to "sentimental or intrinsic" value. I think this is a landmark decision that has elevated the dogs beyond just property value -- but not taken them out of the the role of property to protect them from search and seizure laws.
No Kill
The Olathe, KS Animal Shelter has an awesome "Home for Christmas" program. Essentially the program is designed to have fosters take all of the animals home so they can spend Christmas in the home. While that's a great idea, the results are even better. Of the 15 dogs that were sent into holiday foster homes, only 2 came back to the shelter as their foster families decided to keep them. Of the eight cats, 5 stayed permanently. In 2010, 20 of the 22 dogs and cats stayed in their homes. What an awesome way to begin the new year with an almost entirely empty shelter.
An anonymous California donor has given Detroit Dog Rescue $1.5 million toward building the first No Kill shelter in Detroit.
Really?
Thecity of Harrisburg, PA used to contract animal housing with the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area, Inc but because of financial concerns, they had to cancel the contract. So now, without a shelter to take animals to, the police department has issued an official memo to their officers that if they now have three options when responding to a dog complaint: Kill it, adopt it, or dump it. The memo also notes that officers may "destroy" animals at their discretion. Local advocates are rightfully noting that the memo basically advocates for abuse or animal abandonment and that officers who follow it should be charged. Yowser.
In Wichita, a dog owner surrendered her healthy, young Labrador Retriever, Lucy,to the Kansas Humane Society because Lucy suffered from separation anxiety and was destructive when left alone . Before she could bring herself to drive away, she had second thoughts, and went back to get Lucy. However, the shelter had already killed the dog when she got there. So within 10 minutes, a healthy happy young dog that exhibited dog-like behavior was killed by a "Humane Society" that should exist to protect it. The shelter of course defended its decision. Christie then asks if Scruffy's law could have saved Lucy?
UK Dangerous Dogs Act
In 1991 the UK passed a law banning four breeds of dogs from the country -- however, in spite of the law (and perhaps, because of it), dog attacks requiring hospitalization in the UK have nearly doubled over the past decade and now, new reports of breeders wanting to create aggressive dogs have started crossbreeding various large guarding breeds to create "super breeds". Now, the sensational rhetoric in the article is out of control (and the type of thing that caused the ban in the first place), but it doesn't point to the reality that if someone wants an aggressive dog, they will find a way to create one around a breed-specific law. The UK Dangerous Dog Law has been a failure by almost any account -- and Lord Redesdale's Dog Control Bill has passed the House of Lords and will overhaul the Dangerous Dogs Act which would dramatically improve the situatoin in the UK. More great info on this at Stop BSL.
Miscellaneous
Another study that highlights that dogs have unique abilities to understand human behavior based on subtle body language ques.
Earlier this month, the Miami Marlins signed left handed pitcher Mark Buehrle from the Chicago White Sox. But Buehrle and his family won't be moving to Miami -- because his 18 month old family pet Slater isn't welcome in Miami because of the county's pit bull ban. So Buerhle and his $14 million a year salary took his family and his money to Broward County to buy a home. Buehrle and his wife have been strong animal welfare advocates in Chicago for years and no doubt will continue to be vocal voices in the South Florida area as well.
Last spring, Dave DeWolfe and his family found themselves homeless after a devastating tornado wiped out large parts of the city of Joplin and their home was destroyed. In a frantic effort to find a new home, they bought a home in nearby Carl Junction - -however, found out a few months later that their dogs, an American Pit Bull Terrier and a Rottweiler, were both banned in Carl Junction -- so once again they are on the move looking for a place to live. Way to be warm and receptive Carl Junction.
Blogs
I may have made some horrible decisions -- by I Love Charts
A great Pet Frenzy Info Graphic -- from Dancing Dog Blog
Essay: What makes dogs different -- from Orvis
An update on Brittany and Rambo from Ontario -- via Stubby Dog
A 79 year old woman chooses to live in her car rather than give up her pets -- Seattle Dog Spot
A lost pit bull was found 8 years after it was lost -- The Washington Post
World Changer -- Save the pit bull, save the world comments on how deciding to adopt a pit bull 8 years ago changed her life.
So near, yet so far apart -- Cruel, Crazy Beautiful World takes a look at the differences between high kill and no kill shelters across the country.
The Great Meddlers of 2011 -- Winograd tips his hat to the leaders in the no kill movement -- in this post, he also notes those who are doing it all wrong.
Milestones and transitions for notable "bust dogs" -- Bad Rap follows up on the performance of several bust dogs and how they're doing now and how dogs that were once given up on for being broken, are now doing great.
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