More on the Amish

It MUST Be Stopped!
More than 400 kennel licenses are issued in Holmes County, OH alone. Puppy sales have turned into big business! Few are legitimate, well-kept kennels where the breeders limit the number of dogs they have, maintain their physical and mental health and, best yet, care for them like the loving pets they are. The rest are puppy mills.


What is unbelievable is there is no limitation on how many dogs a kennel can have. In Holmes County, there are puppy mills with from 75 to more than 100 dogs.
This is outrageous. How can anyone possibly give this many dogs all the care they need both physically and emotionally?


Even if these puppy mills were to give adequate physical care to their animals, what kind of quality of life do these poor dogs have? These animals are certainly lacking in love, nurturing and companionship. Isn't that the reason we have pets?


When their usefulness is gone, these dogs are dumped like garbage into the dog pound where they try to undo all the damage that has been done. Or worse, they are taken behind the barn and shot, or drowned in the family pond. Their puppies are sold as pets, but the parents of these puppies are not treated as pets. They are nothing more than livestock to the perpetrators of this disgraceful act. As 18th-century German philosopher Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) said..."We can judge the heart of a man by the way he treats his animals."


It's imperative that we stop this inhumane process. The best way to stop puppy mills from continuing their abuse is for consumers to stop buying the puppies they breed. Many people think they are rescuing a puppy by buying one. Don't be fooled. You're just creating space for another puppy to be sold.


Never buy a dog unless you can see for yourself where it was born, how the parents are kept and what condition all the dogs are in. A reputable kennel owner and breeder will never sell to a pet store, and they will willingly give you the name of their veterinarian as a reference.


Another way is to contact your county dog warden and your commissioners to make sure that they are enforcing what is enforceable. Call or write your state representative. Changes must be made through the law in order to protect God's loving, innocent creatures from this kind of abuse.


All of us here at NJM are passionate when it comes to dogs everywhere. It has become our mission to raise awareness of any issues that affect them, from their health, food and nutrition and training to their welfare. Canine advocacy is something that everyone who cares about dogs needs to be aware of and we all need to share that and raise our voice for those who cannot speak for themselves.


But the cruelty is not limited to Pennsylvania or Ohio. There are also Indiana's Amish Puppy Mills. When people think of the Amish, they tend to think of a people who live according to God's word and religion. But watch the following video and you will see a side of the Amish that you never knew. You will see cruelty, heartlessness and greed.


I warn you, there are some graphic images on the video. But if you care anything about the problem of puppy mills, you will force yourself to watch this. Many things have touched and saddened me through the years, but nothing like this. I pray that as you watch it, your tears of sadness may turn into tears of determination.

The Truth About AMISH COUNTRY

The Amish (and Mennonite) community are known as "The Gentle People". Amish Country is known for its wonderful restaurants, craft shops and well-kept Amish farms. Beautiful fields where bearded men in wide-brimmed hats lead teams of shaggy plow horses tilling the soil. Hay fields dot the rolling hills of Amish country, and the fields that sustain the simple lifestyle are mostly bare. But one crop the most important crop to some remains: Puppies.

Be warned ... the Amish life that is depicted for tourist is nothing like the reality. There is animal abuse among Amish in the form of puppy mills. A simple Google search for Amish puppy mills will return thousands of hits. For farmers, a big crop of dogs can gross up to $500,000 annually, with successful operations netting six figures. For critics, the men in the suspenders and bushy beards are masking a cruel form of factory farming behind the quaint and pure image of the Amish culture.

In areas of the U.S. where Amish dwell, there is a high number of puppy mills. The Pennsylvania Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement lists 243 kennels in Lancaster County. Pennsylvania, 98% of them owned by Amish. Holmes County, Ohio, has 470 kennels -- more than any other county in the nation.

Do you know what puppy mills are?
Puppy mills are mass dog-breeding operations. They have been around for decades, but they continue to be a problem because unsuspecting consumers keep buying those adorable puppies in the pet store window or recently on some Internet sites and ads in local newspapers. But many times, these chanels masquerade the truth ... they are dogs purchased from puppy mills.

These canine breeding facilities frequently house dogs in shockingly poor conditions, particularly for breeding stock animals who are caged and continually bred for years, without human companionship and with little hope of ever becoming part of a family. After their fertility days are over, breeding animals are commonly killed, abandoned or sold to another mill. The annual result of all this breeding is hundreds of thousands of puppies, many with behavior and/or health problems.

Daily existence for these dogs is a life of neglect, abuse, torture and suffering, and when they have outlived their usefulness, an often brutal ending! Disease, malnutrition, dehydration, sickness and death flourish in cramped filthy cages, freezing in the winter, scorching in the summer. Females bred and over-bred from their first heat cycle through every subsequent one until their bodies are so used up and broken down that death is a welcome release for them. They never know a kind word or a gentle touch. And this description barely scratches the surface of the cruelty. 

Do a Google on the Amish and puppy mills. Look at the pictures and read the newspaper articles that come up. Nothing has changed despite attempts to change the laws.
While the Amish landcape is among the most beautiful in the world, the puppies bred at the mills NEVER see the outside of wire cages that are usually stacked on top of each other in dark barns.

We are not throwing ALL the Amish into the same category. Actions of a select few is might sound prejudiced, but hold on! The puppy-mill breeders might be just a small fraction or a very small percent of the Amish population, but the majority of the population have chosen to ignore what is going on in their own backyards. NOTHING IS BEING DONE TO THEM! And we must remember the words of writer, political activist and Holocaust survivor, Elie Wiesel... "to remain silent and indifferent is the greatest sin of all." And the Bible itself says, in James 4:17, "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.


"IF" the Amish faith opposed this mass production and torture of dogs, I would hope the people would rise up and take a stand.

But as they say, MONEY TALKS. The Amish have been allowed to continue their inhumane treatment of animals without pressure from the rest of the population because of the money that tourism brings to Amish businesses.

Most people who visit Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and Holmes County, Ohio go there to experience the Amish Culture. Yes, the Amish in general are a hard working, modest people. But ethical? NO! Hypocritical? ABSOLUTELY. Selling your religion for tourism bucks and international trade does not seem ethical to me. On top of that, they have others ("the English" as they call outsiders) post on the internet for them. Isn't it amazing how these Godly people who shun the outside world have no qualms about using a third party to do what God has forbidden them from doing. I would say that the majority of Amish are living double lives or have double standards.

The Amish continually breed poor quality pups and keep their breeding animals in a state that defies decency. They all should be barred from dog breeding as all they breed is poor quality dogs. They get away with it because people think that religious people would never do anything bad. We can't let their religion exempt them from humane treatment of animals!

SHOCKING!!!
In Berlin, Ohio, if it weren't for the constant yelping of 313 dogs confined in stacked cages in a room closed off to the auction block, it may have appeared to an outsider as just another run-of-the-mill day at the Amish Flea Market. But the Buckeye Dog Auction has grown into anything but run-of-the-mill. Some breeds are able to fetch more than a few thousand dollars, while others can net hundreds of dollars for the seller. The auction and the success of local breeders has convinced others to forsake their farm livestock for canines. Apparently, there's more money in dogs than cattle.

The auction house takes in a $10 registration fee for every dog to go on the block and a 10 percent commission on the sale. Mixed breeds will sell for as little as $25 while a purebred female Cavalier King Charles Spaniel might sell for more than $5,000.

Now that's putting your best paw forward!

God Humor on Sunday

It was a slow day in heaven so God phoned Satan 
to see what was going on down there. 
'It's slow here, too', said Satan. 
'Well,' God said, 'I think a dog show might be fun.' 
'Sounds good', says Satan, 'But why are you calling me? 
You've got all the dogs up there.' 
'I know,' answered God, 'But you've got all the judges.'

God made the earth, the sky and the water, the moon 
and the sun. He made man and bird and beast. 
But He didn't make the dog: 
He already had one.

American Indian saying

Weekend Fun

A friend is someone we turn to when our spirits need a lift

A friend is someone we treasure for our friendship is a gift

A friend is someone who fills our lives with beauty, joy and grace.

And makes the world we live in a better and happier place.

There is a miracle called friendship that dwells in the heart. You do not know how it happens or when it gets its start.

But you know the special lift it always brings. You realize that friendship is the world's most precious gift.

WHY GOD  MADE PETS:

They help out around the  house...

They  protect our children...

They look out for the smaller ones...

They show us how to relax...

They help  you when you're down...

They  are great at decorating for the  Holidays...

They have 'great' expectations...

They  are happy to 'test' the  water...

AND -  They know when we need a good  LAUGH!

HAVE  YOU SMILED TODAY? It is done by moving the corners of the mouth upward. LET  ME SHOW YOU HOW...

Let your pet know how much they mean to you every day!!!

Happy Photos with Music by Norah Jones

Sydney, the cane corso female who was rescued from the auction in MO surprised her new family with a litter a week after she arrived. There are 3 girls and 2 boys and all are doing well. These puppies won't ever know the life their mother endured as a puppy mill dog and that is something to be thankful for.

Spread the word

Here's a creative idea to spread the word about Puppy Mills.  I'm getting a bumper sticker.  You should too.

Visit http://www.puppymilltruck.com/

Ö Stop buying pets from pet stores, pet shops, and puppy mills posing as reputable breeders.

Ö Adopt from your local shelter, pound, or rescue.

Ö Donate to The PuppyMillTruck and help us increase our exposure.

Ö Purchase a Puppy Mill Truck Bumper Sticker and Drive!

Ö Donate a pre-paid gas card to keep us rolling!

Ö Donate your stuffed animals to the Puppy Mill Truck.

Ö Add our website to your favorite social website.

A Weekend in the Life of a Rescuer

This is an actual post from a rescuer on a group I monitor. 

You aren't going to believe this....

It's been an interesting weekend.  Thank goodness we didn't schedule an adoption event!  I had already planned to drive to New Florence yesterday to pick up 3 six week old Chinese Crested/cocker spaniel/schnauzer puppies <I know!  What a goofy mix>.  Friday morning, I got a call from Kirkwood Petco saying that someone had 3 newborn shih tzu puppies that the mom had rejected.  This was at 11 am, the pups were born at 4 am.  I told them, over the phone, what they had to do to hand raise the pups, including every two hour feedings and stimulating them to poo and pee after each feeding.  The lady said, "F*** that!", so I said that I'd be there before noon to get them.  She asked if I wanted the mom, too.  I said, "Sure!", thinking that if I had the mom in a different environment, I might be able coax her to feed her babies.  I got to Petco minutes before noon.  At that point, the 'lady' called and said that they changed their mind, that they were keeping the mom.  Ok.  Whatever.  I went in the office to see the pups and she called again saying that she wanted the pups back, too, since they were 'high dollar dogs'.  Great.  She didn't want to do what they need done to survive, but she wanted them back.  In the meantime, I'm in the office when I realize that these pups are 8 hours old, had never nursed and were as cold as ice.  Petco wouldn't let me take them since the customer wanted them back but I said, "I'm not leaving until this is resolved.  These puppies are freezing and I'm going to feed them, too."  They said ok.  I'm so glad that I stayed.  I fed them tiny bits of formula every 30 or 40 minutes and held them inside my shirt to try to warm them.  An hour later, that person still wasn't there to get the puppies.  The manager tried to call her number and had to leave a message.  Another hour goes by and he leaves another message.  Yet another hour goes by and he leaves the message that if she doesn't call him back within 15 minutes, they will consider the pups abandoned.  Imagine if I hadn't stayed to warm and feed them.  She didn't care a wit about those pups or the way she was inconveniencing everyone else involved.  Finally at 4pm <FOUR hours later> the manager calls her on his personal cell phone and when he identified himself, she hangs up on him!  So he calls the district manager, who's been involved in this almost from the get go, and she said to let me take the puppies home but that if the lady wanted them back within 72 hours, I had to return them.  That give her until 11 am Monday.  I doubt that she'll try to get them back.  I sure hope not.  The are doing well at this point, two boys and a girl - 4 ounces each.  

I had my drive to New Florence planned already so I had to take the newborns with me so that I could feed them.  I picked up the 3 crestie mix pups and headed to Ivan's.  One of them had an enlarged eyeball and I really wanted her to examine it sooner rather than later.  They were super busy at the office so I just hung around and helped out where I could.  She said that the pup has congenital glaucoma and gave me drops to try to save the eye.   Three boys in that crew.  All hairy hairless, all cute.  All 3ish pounds give or take a few ounces.

I went over to my little Walmart last night to get some jumbo cotton balls to potty the shih tzu puppies and as I'm leaving, I drive past an SUV in the parking lot where a young couple is holding a sign that says:  Free Puppies.  Oh good Lord.  Of course, I pull over and they only had two puppies left.  I explained why this wasn't a good idea for the puppies.  What if the person gets the puppy home and their parents/significant other says 'NO!' to a new pup?  What if they tie it out?  Will they get it vetted?  Give it to a 2 year old?  I asked what kind of pups - pit mix.  Great.  They are also 6 weeks old, born the day before the cresties and the same size.  One boy, one girl. 

I wormed and gave neopar to all of the 6 week old pups this morning.  Everyone is eating, their poo looks great and they all seem to be healthy.  Can you believe all of this took place in the space of about 30 hours?  What a crazy life!!!  I love rescue - I really, really do!

Regulating Puppy Mills - More Socialism

Even the Dog Whisperer can't see that a law regulating puppy mills is one more step to making America a communist society.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Big Red Dogs
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Rally to Restore Sanity

Too cute!

Surprise...I'm an Auntie!

See my post from October 31 about the Cane Corso's I transported to WI. Well, we suspected the female (now Sydney) had either recently given birth or was currently pregnant. Her WI rescuer, Lisa and I have been in contact...here's how that went:

***************
Me to Lisa
Nov 5 (6 days ago)
Hi Lisa,

Just wondering how the "kids" are doing. I am in love with Wally now, you know. I wrote about my adventures on my blog if you're interested.

I hope you and your family are well too.


Sara
*********************

Lisa to me
Nov 5 (6 days ago)

Sara,
Both are AMAZING! Alison is the director of Shelter from the Storm in Madison and she too feel in love with Wally! Needless to say he is with her now .... she is fostering him to see if he will be the final fit to her family! I am so excited!!!

Sydney the girl is walking around here as we speak with her baby bunny (stuffed) hanging out of her mouth. This girl is amazing! Loves and makes friends with anything she comes into contact with. I can finally walk her and take her in and out of her crate without her crawling to and from me. I think she is comfortable with us all now that she knows there is a schedule and she knows she has so much for freedom here. She loves to lay in front of the fireplace at night when we have it going.... she nibbles on the wood too! LOL

I will update with better photos..... she is always on the go and Wally has a few outside while playing with his little Pittie sister! LOL


THANK YOU so much for helping get them to us! I have been in touch with another foster mommy... she is fostering a 7-9 yr old and may keep her as well~
**********************

Me to Lisa
Nov 6 (5 days ago)

Hi Lisa

I am so happy to hear about Sydney and Wally. Hard not to love those two. Was she pregnant? So cute how she carries everything in her mouth. I'd love to see some photos and post some on my blog.

Sara
*****************************

Lisa to me
Nov 10 (Tonight)


Sara,
You are the 1st person I am writing to tell you of my shock just a few minutes ago.... LOL
I dropped my girls off at church class only to come home to a hysterical 16 yr old.... Sydney is having puppies! So far she has had 1 .... OMG!
We had an appt for her last week and they had to reschedule for this Friday....needless so say she will not need an Xray nor her spay just yet! LOL

I will keep you updated on her progress and how many she has had!


ARGH..... another sleepless night!

Lisa
***************************


Me to Lisa
November 10 (Tonight)
Lisa,

OMG! I suspected she was pg from how she looked and the way she was carrying everything around in her mouth. Well, it would have been too late to spay her at this point anyway and I know you'll do your very best to find homes for those babies (unless you keep them all). I am anxious to find out all about what happens. Have you delivered puppies before? I saw my olde english sheepdog have two litters and it was pretty cool how they know just what to.

Congratulations Gramma :O ... Give Sydney a hug for me!

Auntie Sara

********************** 

I hope to post some puppy pics and I'll let you know the rest of the story when I do. I know there are already too many dogs in the world, but it seems these puppies were meant to be born outside the puppy mill world. I pray they will have a much better life than the one formerly lived by their parents who are now free to be as dogs deserve to be.

Puppy Mill's - Petland's Dirty Little Secret

There is absolutely NO REASON to buy a puppy from a store.  The pet stores that sell puppies are the reason puppy mills exist. It's a simple matter of supply and demand. Go to www.petfinder.com and look up any breed, size, gender or age dog you might consider...you'll find it there, somewhere.  Adopt, don't shop!

The awful truth

View from a traditional shelter manager...

I think our society needs a huge "Wake-up" call. As a shelter manager, I am going to share a little insight with you all...a view from the inside if you will. First off, all of you people who have ever surrendered a pet to a shelter or humane society should be made to work in the "back" of an animal shelter for just one day. Maybe if you saw the life drain from a few sad, lost, confused eyes, you would stop flagging the ads on craigslist and help these animals find homes. That puppy you just bought will most likely end up in my shelter when it's not a cute little puppy anymore. Just so you know there's a 90% chance that dog will never walk out of the shelter it’s dumped at? Purebred or not! About 25% of all of the dogs that are "owner surrenders" or "strays", that come into a shelter are purebred dogs.

The most common excuses: "We are moving and we can't take our dog (or cat)." Really? Where are you moving too that doesn't allow pets? Or they say "The dog got bigger than we thought it would". How big did you think a German Shepherd would get? "We don't have time for her". Really? I work a 10-12 hour day and still have time for my 6 dogs! "She's tearing up our yard". How about making her a part of your family? They always tell me "We just don't want to have to stress about finding a place for her we know she'll get adopted, she's a good dog".

Odds are your pet won't get adopted & how stressful do you think being in a shelter is? Well, let me tell you, your pet has 72 hours to find a new family from the moment you drop it off. Sometimes a little longer if the shelter isn't full and your dog manages to stay completely healthy. If it sniffles, it dies. Your pet will be confined to a small run/kennel in a room with other barking or crying animals. It will have to relieve itself where it eats and sleeps. It will be depressed and it will cry constantly for the family that abandoned it. If your pet is lucky, I will have enough volunteers in that day to take him/her for a walk. If I don't, your pet won't get any attention besides having a bowl of food slid under the kennel door and the waste sprayed out of its pen with a high-powered hose. If your dog is big, black or any of the "Bully" breeds (pit bull, rottie, mastiff, etc) it was pretty much dead when you walked it through the front door. Those dogs just don't get adopted. It doesn't matter how 'sweet' or 'well behaved' they are.

If your dog doesn't get adopted within its 72 hours and the shelter is full, it will be destroyed. If the shelter isn't full and your dog is good enough, and of a desirable enough breed it may get a stay of execution, but not for long . Most dogs get very kennel protective after about a week and are destroyed for showing aggression. Even the sweetest dogs will turn in this environment. If your pet makes it over all of those hurdles chances are it will get kennel cough or an upper respiratory infection and will be destroyed because the shelter gets paid a fee to euthanize each animal and making money is better than spending money to take this animal to the vet.

Here's a little euthanasia 101 for those of you that have never witnessed a perfectly healthy, scared animal being "put-down". First, your pet will be taken from its kennel on a leash. They always look like they think they are going for a walk happy, wagging their tails. Until they get to "The Room", every one of them freaks out and puts on the brakes when we get to the door. It must smell like death or they can feel the sad souls that are left in there, it's strange, but it happens with every one of them. Your dog or cat will be restrained, held down by 1 or 2 shelter workers depending on the size and how freaked out they are. Then a shelter worker who we call a euthanasia tech (not a vet) find a vein in the front leg and inject a lethal dose of the "pink stuff". Hopefully your pet doesn't panic from being restrained and jerk. I've seen the needles tear out of a leg and been covered with the resulting blood and been deafened by the yelps and screams. They all don't just "go to sleep", sometimes they spasm for a while, gasp for air and defecate on themselves. You see shelters are trying to make money to pay employee pay checks and don’t forget the board of directors needs to be paid too, so we don’t spend our funds to tranquilize the animal before injecting them with the lethal drug, we just put the burning lethal drug in the vein and let them suffer until dead. If it were not a “making money issue” and we had to have a licensed vet do this procedure, the animal would be sedated or tranquilized and then euthanized, but to do this procedure correctly would cost more money so we do not follow what is right for the animal, we just follow what is the fastest way we can make a dollar. Shelters do not have to have a vet perform their euthanasia’s so even if it takes our employee 50 pokes with a needle and 3 hours to get the vein that is what we do. Making money is the issue here not loosing money.

When it all ends, your pets corpse will be stacked like firewood in a large freezer in the back with all of the other animals that were killed waiting to be picked up like garbage. What happens next? Cremated? Taken to the dump? Rendered into pet food? Or used for the schools to dissect and experiment on? You'll never know and it probably won't even cross your mind. It was just an animal and you can always buy another one, right!

I hope that those of you who still have a beating heart and have read this are bawling your eyes out and can't get the pictures out of your head, I deal with this everyday. I hate my job, I hate that it exists & I hate that it will always be there unless you people make some changes and start educating the public. Do research, do your homework, and know exactly what you are getting into before getting a pet. These shelters and humane societies exist because people just do not care about animals anymore. Animals were not intended to be disposable but somehow that is what they are these days. Animal shelters are an easy way out when you get tired of your dog (or cat), and breeders are the ones blamed for this. 

Between 9 and 11 MILLION animals die every year in shelters and only you can stop it. I just hope I maybe changed one persons mind about taking their dog to a shelter, a humane society, or buying a dog. For those of you that care--- please repost this to at least one other craiglist in another city/state. Let's see if we can get this all around the US and have an impact.

Fight Animal Cruelty

When I see stories about animal cruelty I feel a mix of sorrow, revulsion and anger.  I can't understand how anyone could abuse or mistreat an innocent animal.  Here's one horrifying story that recently found my inbox:


Dog found in ditch had live roaches in fur


LOS ANGELES - Its hair was so matted and overgrown, the poodle had to be sedated just to be groomed. Veterinarians found live and dead cockroaches snared in the 2 1/2 pounds of fur they cut from the dog.


The dog's condition was so unbelievable that Tracy Lapeyrouse named him Ripley.
The 2-year-old poodle was found Oct. 19 in a ditch in LaPlace, La., with no identification. He was taken to Lapeyrouse, who runs My Heart's Desire animal shelter in Houma, La., about 60 miles from New Orleans.


"He didn't know he had ears. When his ears would touch his skin, he would shake his head," Lapeyrouse said in a telephone interview from Louisiana. "It took a week before he could walk normally."


The dog was skinny but not malnourished, and no one could figure out how he ate because his mouth was blocked by overgrown hair. He has packed on a half pound since his rescue and now weighs 5 1/2 pounds. Sores hidden beneath the fur healed once they were exposed to the air.
"Now he's a social butterfly," Lapeyrouse said. "We have to go slow, but he wags his nub of a tail and is seeking interaction with people."


Several people have filled out adoption papers. Ripley Entertainment Inc., parent of the Ripley's Believe It or Not! brand in Orlando, Fla., will offer the new owners a gift card for future grooming and other expenses. It also donated $400 to the shelter and may feature the former fur ball in its next book.

Poor baby - Before, Amazing baby - After

The ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) was the first humane organization in the Western Hemisphere. Their mission, as stated by their founder, Henry Bergh, in 1866, is “to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States.”

The ASPCA is very active in lobbying and advocating for animal rights. They maintain a website full of information about preventing cruelty to animals.  I found this article and thought it was helpful in understanding what we can do as individuals to help our animal friends. 

Signs That an Animal Might Be Abused

Recognizing cruelty is simple, right? Not quite, say ASPCA experts. Aggressive, timid or fearful behavior doesn't always tell the whole story. Animals may appear to be timid or frightened for many reasons other than abuse.

“It’s almost impossible to make conclusions based on a pet’s behavior alone,” says the ASPCA Animal Behavior Center’s Kristen Collins, CPDT. “The best way to tell whether a pet is being or has been abused is to examine him and his surrounding environment.”

Check out our list of signs that may alert you an animal needs help:

Physical Signs

• Collar so tight that it has caused a neck wound or has become embedded in the pet’s neck
• Open wounds, signs of multiple healed wounds or an ongoing injury or illness that isn’t being treated
• Untreated skin conditions that have caused loss of hair, scaly skin, bumps or rashes
• Extreme thinness or emaciation—bones may be visible
• Fur infested with fleas, ticks or other parasites 
• Patches of bumpy, scaly skin rashes
• Signs of inadequate grooming, such as extreme matting of fur, overgrown nails and dirty coat
• Weakness, limping or the inability to stand or walk normally
• Heavy discharge from eyes or nose
• An owner striking or otherwise physically abusing an animal
• Visible signs of confusion or extreme drowsiness

Environmental Signs

• Pets are tied up alone outside for long periods of time without adequate food or water, or with food or water that is unsanitary
• Pets are kept outside in inclement weather without access to adequate shelter
• Pets are kept in an area littered with feces, garbage, broken glass or other objects that could harm them
• Animals are housed in kennels or cages (very often crowded in with other animals) that are too small to allow them to stand, turn around and make normal movements possibly with too many other animals

“Reporting suspected animal cruelty ensures that animals in jeopardy receive prompt and often lifesaving care,” says ASPCA Special Agent Joann Sandano. “By making a complaint to the police or humane society in your area—you can even do so anonymously—you help ensure that animals in need are rescued and that perpetrators of animal cruelty are brought to justice.”

If you see signs of animal abuse, don’t keep it to yourself. Here’s how to report cruelty in your area.

Questions or concerns about calling in a cruelty complaint? Take a look at our Reporting Cruelty FAQ.

The joys of fostering

The easy thing about fostering is that you get to meet some great dogs who really appreciate and need some help.  The difficult thing about fostering is that, if it works like it should, they find someone else to love them and they leave you.


My first foster was Bernie, the very scared and anti-social Pomeranian who came from a hoarder and possibly a puppy mill via Happily Ever After.  After 3+ months, I decided to hold Bernie on my lap, despite his protests, extending the time each day.  He put up with the "holding sessions" but didn't like them much, except for the treats that followed.  Then one day, he jumped up on my lap without any provocation.  That was the day I knew he was destined for a forever home and he now lives happily with the Briggs family where he is considered to be their "lap dog".

Bernie on his way to his new home

Next came Princess, who was surrendered by an elderly man's family when he went to a nursing home.  Princess is still with us.  She's deaf and elderly and sometimes a pretty crabby old lady who startles easily, but underneath there's a sweet, gangly old gal who needs love just like we all do.  I have become pretty attached to my first "girlfriend" who I call Princess Maxine after the Hallmark card lady Maxine.  She's been here since early summer and she helped me get through the loss of my little sweetheart Zacy.  Right now her forever home is my home and she can stay as long as she needs us.

Princess Smiling for the Camera

Note:  Princess is now an official adoptee...guess where?  Ok, after a year and a half I could not imagine surrendering her an anyone else.  I'm her mom now.  She is so sweet.

Benni came on the heels of Gizmo, the bichon mix, who didn't get along well with Princess.  I had to send him back to HEA.   It was just one of those doggie dislikes that I never understood, but she was here first.  Benni stole my heart totally and I knew giving him up would be tough.  Enter Pat and Ron who live a few blocks away and lost their beloved dog about a year ago.  I liked them immediately and knew they loved Benni too.  He now lives with them but visits when they go away for an extended time which is often as Pat does a lot of volunteering.  We've seen him every week since he left and that's a bonus.

Benni lounging at the pool with Gizzy

Shadow came when Benni left.  She is a sweetie too who was left by her family at the vet's office when they learned she needed some expensive surgery.  Happily Ever After paid for her surgery, the removal of a benign growth on her back and a dental.  She's now in great health and a real joy to have around.  She's very submissive and Princess sometimes gets the dogs all worked up by playing the "bed troll", growling and barking at anyone who attempts to jump up.  Gizzy, my cairn, accidently bit Shadow today in a fit of craziness initiated by Princess.  That was just before I took her on a home visit.  It went well for her where she met an older woman and her truck driver hubby.  The family does not have other dogs which seems like a good fit for Shadow.  I may be having to say good bye to her soon too.

Shadow at Happily Ever After event

Note:  Shadow was adopted but a couple of months later they found she had cancer that had spread throughout her body.  She was returned (as requested when things are not working).  HEA kept her comfortable until her death surrounded by people who cared.

Although each dog who has lived here has been deeply loved, I know that each deserves the very best home and long-term relationship that can be found.  I have been fortunate to have some input about their re-homing and I have had every confidence that they will continue to have the same good treatment and affection they received from me.  I am so proud of my Bubba and Gizmo for allowing these foster dogs to have a part in our lives and our home. That is why I foster and I encourage anyone who can to experience the joys and rewards of fostering.

Bubba looking shaggy and big 

Graphic Night

Tonight I spent too much time fooling around with my header graphic for this blog.  I must say, I think it's kind of cute, but that's just me ('cause I drew it).

Later today, because it is Saturday, rescuers everywhere will be out doing what they do...attending events, fundraising, showing and cheering on their animals...hoping to find homes for the homeless.  When I go out, I'll see them, perhaps I can snap some pictures.  Look for more later.

Things are not always as they seem

I am going to try to stay positive, although I've had a few disappointments lately in the rescue world.  My Pollyanna view has been somewhat dimmed by some nasty quibbling that resulted after some of the rescues (not present) questioned the motives, tactics and results of the auction/rescue.  Accusations and back seat quarterbacking comments flew on my auction rescue group and it became very upsetting, unfair and mean-spirited.  I'm told the rescue world, which is made up of mostly women (no surprise), is also full of "alpha bitches" who are not afraid to give an opinion, even when not asked.

Yesterday, I found a post from someone who claimed to have 2 shiba inu's, 6 puppies, a shih tzu and 3 poodle mixes that were surrendered by an Amish farmer in SW Wisconsin.  I cross-posted and quickly heard from a few people who were interested in helping.  One person in the Milwaukee area even went so far as to find a foster home for the momma and pups.  We found out the dogs were still available but the person who originally made the post suddenly stopped answering our emails.  Now we are left wondering "What the hell just happened?"

I heard from the poster of the original message.  The dogs are still with the Amish farmer who is surrendering them and several potential fosters have come forward for the momma and pups.  The other dogs are still available for foster or rehoming.  See my page Wisconsin Dogs Need Help. 

Yesterday, after the passage of Prop B in MO, the breeder release group posted a number of voluntary releases available to rescues.  They seem to be responding to the call.  However, at the same time, an independent rescue in Nebraska had all her dogs confiscated by the area Humane Society after a report she was running a substandard facility that was covered in urine and feces.  They took somewhere between 50-100 dogs from her (depending on whose story you believe).  The rescues who know this woman claim she is a saint and she says she has been set up.  I'll continue to monitor that situation too.

One thing I am quickly learning...The rescue world, just like any organized effort, is filled with animosity and acrimony.  Everyone thinks they do it best.  Independent rescues do not believe in the tactics of the Humane Society, PETA or the ASPCA, for varying reasons, some I have yet to understand.  Everyone wants a favorable outcome for the dogs, but hardly anyone agrees about how that should be achieved.  It's a wonder these poor creatures survive in man's world at all.

I am bewildered and disappointed, but this appears to be the reality of the rescue world.  Still, I choose to keep my eye on the stories that inspire and amaze.  I refuse to let my respect and admiration be tempered by a vocal few and will continue to report the stories that uplift from the heroes I discover.

Please forgive me for my negative post today, but it's my blog, and I gotta "calls it as I sees it."