UK's Boris Johnson Placed Animals Over People

 

Great Britain's Prime Minister may have done some dumb things in England for which his position is barely surviving, but he did something thousands of miles away that will endear him to animal lovers all over the world. Here's the scenario...

"Sifting through the rubble of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, they [his enemies] allege that he facilitated the airlift of 150 sheltered animals during the evacuation of Kabul, filling a plane intended to ferry refugees to safety with dogs, cats, and donkeys."

Everyone agrees, of course, that refugees should also be taken to safety, but in today's world animals are important too. The Boston Globe's Alex Beam feels that "There is plenty of evidence that animals are just as worthy of rescue as human beings." I could not agree more and will add that, in my opinion, animals are much more worthy of rescue than some human beings. To carry this a bit further, I know some people who prefer the company of animals over people.

I did a blog post back in 2021, "Animals to Humans: All we want is to live." To date, that post has had 1,676 readers, indicating some modicum of agreement with this premise. Yet, we still see animal cruelty on a regular basis. Only a coward would pick on an animal, many who can't defend themselves and won't fight back. Ezra Klein in the New York Times said, "We Will Look Back on This Age of Cruelty to Animals in Horror." Many will, unfortunately, many won't.

Have you ever read "All Creatures Great and Small," by James Herriot? I haven't and it will be my next read on my Kindle. Herriot wrote...

“If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans.”

China is doing its part and animal advocates are becoming frustrated with "official failure to ban animal cruelty." Xiaoyang was shocked as were many other dog owners over a series of animal-cruelty incidents and...

"he has been tracking a fierce national debate about whether dogs should be guaranteed better protection in law. (Cats and other companion animals, too, he acknowledges when asked.)"

Watch this and you'll never abandon your pet...

This Washington Post article by Christian Shepherd and Alicia Chen reports on the state of pets in China...

"But legislating to prohibit animal cruelty is an oddly controversial topic in China. While there are tens of millions of dog and cat lovers, their calls for change are often drowned out by a relatively small but vocal crowd of conservative thinkers who believe caring for animals is elitist, undermines China’s development and infringes upon the traditions of those few Chinese who still eat dog meat."

Peter Li, a China policy specialist at Humane Society International and an associate professor of East Asian politics at the University of Houston, says the animal welfare problem in China comes off mostly as a "Civil War." Here's a shocker, Chinese conservatives undermine what they consider an elitist issue, plus they feel it "infringes upon the traditions of those few Chinese who still eat dog meat." Here's the scenario...

"These sentiments, combined with concerns from farmers and slaughterhouses about welfare provisions undermining profit and city governments’ fears of areas being overrun by pets, have thwarted progress on an animal protection law that was drafted in 2009 but has never made it onto the legislative agenda."

Back to the U.S. and a subject that explores how states around the country stack up

in their legislation protecting animals. The Animal Legal Defense Fund has a nationwide ranking for "The Best And Worst States For Animal Protection Laws" that should interest animal lovers. Number one is Maine, number 50 is New Mexico. Take a look at your state and see how it fares after which you can decide if you need to work on laws at home. 

And finally, a "California lawmaker proposes 'Dog and Cat Bill of Rights' for family pets. Here's what it involves...

• The bill would provide the following rights to dogs and cats in California:
• The right to freedom from exploitation, cruelty, neglect and abuse
• The right to a life of comfort, free of fear and anxiety
• The right to daily mental stimulation and appropriate exercise
• The right to nutritious food, sanitary water and shelter in an appropriate and safe environment
• The right to preventive and therapeutic health care
• The right to proper identification through tags, microchips or other humane means
• The right to spaying and neutering to prevent unwanted litter

This is only in California and isn't even law there yet, but hopes are high and it's a good sign that should be considered nationwide.

Pets should not be given as presents

 

The Jacksonville, Arkansas animal shelter says it right: "Getting a dog is a lifetime commitment, not a Christmas gift." But hundreds of animals will be given this year at Christmas and hundreds will end up in shelters in 2023. Here are some numbers from PETA...

• A shelter in Fargo, North Dakota, reports that in its area, more than 700 animals are turned over to shelters right after the holidays every year.
• An adoption group in tiny Edinburg, Texas, gets more than 400 animals. It says that the surrenders normally start with a phone call from someone saying, “I got this [animal] for Christmas…and I can’t take care of it.”
• A humane society in Reading, Pennsylvania, says that most of its post-Christmas drop-offs are puppies and kittens. They’re dumped soon after the holiday when training them requires too much time.
• By January 4 last year, one Georgia animal shelter was posting on Facebook begging for adopters because of the onslaught of returned dogs it was bombarded with.
  

Here's the scenario from Jamie Parker, supervisor of Jacksonville Animal Shelter...

"Some of them get adopted and they stay. But a lot of them end up coming back to us, and a lot of them find themselves back in the kennel with no one that can play with them all day."

PETA says you should never give animals as Christmas gifts. It does sound like a

good idea and the expectation of those faces when they receive their new pet makes the giver think they have done something great. Apparently they haven't...

"By January, many of those “present” animals will have joined the more than 6 million who enter shelters in the U.S. every year. Some animal shelters even get in on the craze, offering discounted or free adoptions and encouraging people to give animals away as gifts. Their intentions may be good, but they likely don’t realize that they’re exacerbating the homeless-animal crisis."

Other reasons not to do this include the fact the holidays are full of a lot of people having fun; a great deal of frivolity in the household; noise and commotion a new animal doesn't understand and most likely will be frightened of. The house is filled with strangers coming and going. But the worst thing are the things left around from gifts like ribbons, ornaments, electrical cords, and sweets as well as other foods and drinks.

PETA also warns...

"When shelters offer animals up for a pittance (or for free), they devalue them and encourage impulse adoptions by eager people who haven’t considered whether they or their gift recipients are ready to invest the substantial amount of money, commitment, and care that the animals will need. And animals can be acquired as cheap gifts by people who can’t afford to care for them. After the holidays, many of these “present” animals end up back at the shelter or, worse, sentenced to a life of isolation on a chain or in an outdoor pen or dumped on the street."

I, nor PETA, nor all the animal shelters and rescues nationwide don't want to discourage the public from adopting pets, at Christmas or the rest of the year. But you must want that animal to become a member of your family and realize the responsibility of caring for them. It's not easy but oh so rewarding. I know, my wife and I have taken in eleven rescues and we've had the time of our lives. Merry Christmas to you and your pets and to the rescue animals all over the world.

The love of animals...

 

Immanuel Kant feels that people can be judged by the way they treat animals. I worked for a guy once who was a complete jerk, but one day I learned how much he loved his cat, often discussing with me his care of the animal because he knew we had cats. After this I realized I couldn't fault the man altogether and our relationship improved measurably. But treatment of animals by some results in abuse, even cruelty, an area requiring new laws. 

But have you ever taken the time to see that lovin' look in your pet's eyes that says they adore you. And, of course, you adore them too. The connection to our animals has grown over the years to where they are now one of the family. And that's the way it should be as most of us consider them our children, most especially when you don't have human kids. These households treasure their pets and some families spend large sums on their animal for toys and miscellaneous things. 

The main thing is you must keep them healthy making regular trips to the vet. Find a caring doctor for your species, dog, cat, horse, etc. Depending where you live, housing is important. As an example, you should never leave a cat outside for the simple reason they are easy prey for predators. Dogs are better able to defend themselves but should be in a fenced yard high enough to keep out all other animals. Climate change has made some desperate and they are on the prowl.

Animal lover and vet, James Herriot, draws a comparison between animals and

humans, contrasting the souls of each, and animals come out on top. The traits Herriot emphasizes are love, loyalty and gratitude, three qualities that many humans are sorely missing. There is a saying that I use regularly in my blog: "All I Want is to Live." Animals don't ask for much but the least we can give them is a loving family and a forever home.

Just think about these stats from the ASPCA...

Approximately 6.3 million companion animals enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.1 million are dogs and 3.2 million are cats.

Each year, approximately 920,000 shelter animals are euthanized (390,000 dogs and 530,000 cats).

Approximately 4.1 million shelter animals are adopted each year (2 million dogs and 2.1 million cats).

Why not go to your local animal rescue, shelter or humane society today and take one, or more of those statistics with you to your forever home.

NOW!...TODAY!...Stop Animal Cruelty

 

No matter whether you have a pet, or are living where there are farm animals, I hope you don't condone animal cruelty. But like most of us, you love and take care of your furry friends like your own children. You believe they deserve the best and do your darndest to see that they get it. You are what is called an animal lover, and although there are others not quite as devoted, they do believe animals should live the best life they can in forever homes. 

But there are those who think just the opposite, and these people are cruel to animals, the scourge of the earth. Their attitude is, it's just an animal. They would be wrong and that's what this post is all about. The Humane Society says...

"The shocking number of animal cruelty cases reported every day is just the tip of the iceberg—most cases are never reported. Unlike violent crimes against people, cases of animal abuse are not compiled by state or federal agencies, making it difficult to calculate just how common they are. However, we can use the information that is available to try to understand and prevent cases of abuse."

They are innocent beings that just want to live. And here is a story that defies

reasoning since there was an acceptable solution to the problem. This comes from rural northern North Carolina where things aren't so good, and families have a hard time caring for themselves, sometimes neglecting their animals. Here's the scenario...

"No person lives in this house...Let’s call it No-No Land. The house has been abandoned since January, when the owner, an elderly man, died of covid-19. We are here in late July...You hear the three dogs baying before you see them, and then you see them and recoil. Each is tethered to a metal cable, which is tethered to its own primitive wooden doghouse. Each animal has only a few dozen square feet within which to move."

The story goes on to say the three females have been here six months, unable to socialize together, with no neighbors bothering to come by. Today it is 85 in the shade. They're in a prison, says the Washington Post, with the daughter who
inherited the property in another state, a relative supposed to care for the dogs but

doesn't. WP again in exasperation...

"For reasons that defy common sense and decency, the daughter has chosen this heartless system rather than adopt the dogs herself or surrender them to someone who will care for them."

This is the epitome of animal cruelty and I urge you to read this story because it will either reinforce your present work for animal rights or prompt you to donate some time and money to animal causes. In another situation a Valley, Alabama man faces 12 counts of Animal Cruelty after police discovered a dozen malnourished Pitbulls living in deplorable conditions. What little water they had was green and filled with insects.

I hate to tell you, folks, but this kind of treatment of innocent animals is going on throughout the country and as the Humane Society reports, these are only the reported cases with thousands of others unreported. And not to lessen the urgency of animal cruelty, here's more bad news from the Animal Legal Defense Fund...

"People who hurt animals don’t stop with animals. There is an established link between cruelty to animals and violence toward humans — regularly referred to as 'The Link.'”

Watch this video of South Florida man sentenced to 10 years in prison for animal cruelty (Disturbing scenes)...

  

 This is why law enforcement is strongly urged to thoroughly investigate those involved in animal cruelty cases, because of this "link," and because the aftermath, not necessarily in the present sense, but a violent outburst that could occur in the future. Facts from the ALDF...

"A landmark 1997 study by the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Northeastern University found that animal abusers are in fact five times as likely to also harm other humans. 

"Another study, published in 2013, found that 43% of those who commit school massacres also committed acts of cruelty to animals — generally against cats and dogs."

Finally, to end on a high note, there is a new organization, Flight To Freedom, that through donations saves animals from euthanasia by picking them up from one location and transporting them to another location where they can find a forever home. I hope you will check this out and support them. 

Abolish Puppy Mills NOW!!!

 

Don't believe that puppy mills are designed strictly for the purpose of the fulfilling of a little girl's or boy's dream of having their very own pet. Not on your life or the animals that are abused on their way to the pet store. Yes, Petpedia says...

"The majority, if not all, puppies in pet stores come from puppy mills that can make even the most atrocious jails look like a haven."

Prisoners in a jail had a choice. These pups do not and the approximately 10,000 puppy mills in the United States are doing what they do for one reason. To make money. Petpedia states less than 3,000 are regulated and puppy mill death statistics are not reported. What we have here is an example of abhorrent treatment of innocent animals that cannot protect themselves, with the birther female used over and over, then discarded or worse when no longer able to produce.

Did you know that some puppy mills produce animals that are used in labs for animal testing? There are also groups that oppose using animals for testing like those who are against puppy mills. It's cruelty, plain and simple, and a clear illustration of how some lowlifes place money over a living thing. Would this country allow baby mills to operate in this manner? I think not and neither should the government permit puppy mills.

Here's a statement from the U.S. Humane Society that pretty much explains what the animal groups are up against...

"A puppy mill is an inhumane high-volume dog breeding facility that churns out puppies for profit, ignoring the needs of the pups and their mothers. Dogs from puppy mills are often sick and unsocialized. Puppy mills commonly sell through internet sales, online classified ads, flea markets and pet stores."

The key word in this statement is the word, inhumane; do you agree that there

should be stronger laws preventing any inhumanity against animals? In Germany you can go to jail for 3 years for cruelty against animals. And Ukraine, Russia, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Canada, Brazil, Japan, the US and Australia are all phasing out animal testing of cosmetics. However...

"Despite progress in humane product testing and bans on animal testing for cosmetics in other countries, the United States has no national law prohibiting the use of animals for cosmetics testing."

We are pathetic in our prevention of cruelty to animals, which clearly shows a lack of integrity in the American people. Were it not for animal lovers, you might wonder how bad this situation could become. How many times have you heard, "It's just an animal?" Here's another quote from the Humane Society...

"Mother dogs spend their entire lives in cramped cages with little to no personal attention. When the mother and father dogs can no longer breed, they are abandoned or killed. Due to poor sanitation, overbreeding and a lack of preventive veterinary care, the puppies from puppy mills frequently suffer from a variety of health issues, creating heartbreaking challenges for families who should be enjoying the delights of adopting a new family member."

Animal rights people are fighting a war that needs your help. As an example, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed legislation in 2016 to kill the ability of cities to keep pet stores from selling commercially bred animals. We are talking about animals from puppy mills and although Dufus Ducey is a dull-witted Republican, I suspect there are Democrats that would do the same. Here are the disheartening figures about puppy farms...

• There are 10,000 active puppy mills operating in the U.S.
• There are 50,000 dogs kept solely for breeding purposes in these puppy mills
• There are 2.6 million puppies sold each year from these puppy mills

Those are the facts. Now it is up to the American public, and I don't mean just animal livers, to help in any way possible to abolish these puppy mills with your generous donations, volunteering and contact your representatives in Congress. Together we can do it.

Read more here and here.

People Have More Humanity Toward Animals Today

 

That's why they call it a "humane shelter," because animals deserve considerate and merciful treatment just like us humans. I cannot understand why someone would abandon their family pet, much less abuse them. It is unconscionable and there should be more laws affecting their well-being. They are innocent, loyal, and all they really want is to live. That's right, something we take for granted but in the case of most animals, something they have absolutely no control over.

But there seems to be hope, if the amount of space on the Internet devoted to animals is any indication of the public's awakening to the fact that they do have rights. The enactment of animal protection laws has been slow but it is showing promise in several states across the country. The Animal Legal Defense Fund has ranked U.S. states in their order of protection based on 20 different categories of protection.

It seems that a lot of southern states, which also have low ratings in the care of their human populations, also neglect their animals. These, along with other states like Alaska, Wyoming, Utah and Idaho make up what is called the "Bottom Tier" of protection. The "Top Tier" includes states like California, Washington, Illinois, Colorado and eleven more. The in-between "Middle Tier" has Pennsylvania, Nevada, Arizona and Hawaii plus others.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund: All Our Clients Are Innocent...

The number one state for animal protection is Maine; number fifty is New Mexico. Here's the scenario...

"The disparity in various jurisdictions’ animal protection laws demonstrates the unfortunate reality that, in many places, the law significantly underrepresents animals’ interests. However, the Rankings Report also presents an opportunity to improve laws everywhere. New animal protection laws continue to be implemented around the country by motivated lawmakers and their constituents — just like you."

Some notations from ALDF...

Maine maintains its top rank

New Mexico ranked last for third year in a row

 Most improved: Maryland

Major trends: Animals included in protection orders and laws prohibiting sexual assault of animals

But, yes, I feel, at least from Internet activity, that the public is becoming more conscious of the rights of animals. And they are finding out just how much love and affection pets can contribute to your household. They become family and hope they have found their forever home. We cannot let them down! 

 

I Do My Best to Love You But...

 

...I didn't think you would do this to me. Do you know that one animal is abused every minute; 10 million animals in the U.S. are abused to death annually; Laboratory testing uses 115 million animals in experiments every year; Dogs comprise 65% of all abused animals. These and more statistics come from Peta, like, 88% of people investigated for child abuse also hurt animals. 100,000 horses die in the US every year due to the demand for horsemeat.

These are all abominable facts and reflects on a society that does not respect life. As proof, 88% of people investigated for child abuse also hurt animals. Less fatal but still frightening...

"250,000 animals are hoarded each year. Cat and dog lovers can take it too far, gathering hundreds of animals in one place without proper care. That’s why many of them experience malnourishment and various medical issues."

The PACT Act (Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture) was signed into law in 2019 making some of the most egregious forms of animal cruelty — specifically crushing, burning, drowning, suffocating, impaling or sexual exploitation unlawful, a federal crime. I recommend those interested go to the ANIMAL LEGAL DEFENSE FUND for laws that protect animals. In the meantime, be on the lookout in your neighborhood and elsewhere for signs of animal abuse and cruelty.

I do my Best to Love You but...

 

...I didn't think you would do this to me. Do you know that one animal is abused every minute; 10 million animals in the U.S. are abused to death annually; Laboratory testing uses 115 million animals in experiments every year; Dogs comprise 65% of all abused animals. These and more statistics come from Peta, like, 88% of people investigated for child abuse also hurt animals. 100,000 horses die in the US every year due to the demand for horsemeat.

These are all abominable facts and reflects on a society that does not respect life. As proof, 88% of people investigated for child abuse also hurt animals. Less fatal but still frightening...

"250,000 animals are hoarded each year. Cat and dog lovers can take it too far, gathering hundreds of animals in one place without proper care. That’s why many of them experience malnourishment and various medical issues."

The PACT Act (Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture) was signed into law in 2019 making some of the most egregious forms of animal cruelty — specifically crushing, burning, drowning, suffocating, impaling or sexual exploitation unlawful, a federal crime. I recommend those interested go to the ANIMAL LEGAL DEFENSE FUND for laws that protect animals. In the meantime, be on the lookout in your neighborhood and elsewhere for signs of animal abuse and cruelty.

Have you noticed? People are much kinder to animals lately...

HOORAY! Yes, you can see it all over the Internet with many of the posts reflecting some great incident where an animal is rescued and ends up finding his or her forever home. But, approximately 7.6 million companion animals are given to animal shelters nationwide every year, according to PangoVet. Did you know that only one out of 10 dogs born finds a permanent home? And, 75% of the animals euthanized in California shelters are cats. These are two dismal statistics that point out the plight of animal advocates. More bad news...

In the U.S., 20 percent of cats and dogs are homeless; there are 5.9 million dogs living in the streets, 2.3 million dogs in shelters, 35 million cats living on the street, and 2.1 million cats in shelters.

A National Pet Owners Survey reports that about 86.9 million U.S. households, or 66% of households, own a pet. This is an increase from 56% in 1988. I'm not saying it should be 100%, but my guess is there are several million homes out there that could take in a new family member from their local animal rescue and give it the forever home it deserves. My wife and I have saved eleven rescues (cats) since we got married. We are convinced, a home without an animal is a home that is not complete.

Now here's the good news of some successful rescues, compliments of PETA...

PETA fieldworkers found Henrietta and six other chickens imprisoned in a cluttered pen belonging to a woman who was moving away but hadn’t made plans for placing them in new homes. PETA took the chickens to a sanctuary, where they enjoy roaming a large meadow and taking dust baths.

PETA volunteers found Blue locked inside a crate outdoors along with the remains of another dog named Dynasty, who had a shattered pelvis and had been starved to death. Blue was malnourished, and his white paws were stained yellow from having to stand in his own urine. He was adopted into a loving home, and his former owner was sentenced to one year in prison for cruelty to animals and was prohibited from owning animals for three years.

Valediction was a horse who had been run on bad legs and was injured during a race. PETA supporter Sam Simon purchased Valediction, and PETA arranged for him to be sent to a beautiful farm in Virginia owned by other PETA supporters. Valediction is now enjoying retirement, and he will never be forced to race for his life again.

Bubbles, Brandi, and Marshall were among about 30 special-needs cats and nearly 50 dogs who were evacuated from severely crowded Gulf-area shelters in the wake of the BP oil spill. Brandi, who had recently given birth to a litter of kittens, was nearly bald from stress and flea allergies. Marshall was missing most of a hind leg and half of his tail. Bubbles was neurotic and jumped at every noise. The three felines are now beloved residents of PETA’s Norfolk, Virginia, headquarters.

After a long and hard-fought battle by PETA, the Animal Legal Defense Fund, and concerned citizens, Ben [a bear] was rescued from Jambbas Ranch Tours, an abysmal North Carolina roadside zoo, where he spent six long years locked away in a cage similar to a dog kennel, deprived of even the most basic necessities. Today, Ben is living out his days at the Performing Animal Welfare Society.

Despite the cruelties that prevail, leading up to some of these rescues, we like to hope the outcomes usually result in a forever home for the animal. The term 'good samaritan' is seen regularly in the rescue of animals these days and is the basis for my headline, 'People are much kinder to animals lately. They often come out of nowhere, and provide the help needed to save an animal's life. Right on, folks! We thank you for your efforts and please keep up the good work.

I urge you to look at the PETA site with 35 inspiring rescue stories, including the above,

Phoenix Shelter Not Providing Mandated Animal Care

 

It is downright heartbreaking to find out your local animal humane shelter is not providing the care mandated for the animals under their control. It is even more heartwrenching to learn the shelter management refuses volunteer help. Like walking dogs regularly. Employees, volunteers, and the community have repeatedly observed incompetence and lack of transparency from the Maricopa County, AZ, Animal Care and Control (MCACC).

My wife has worked with animals for years in the Tellington T-Touch program, retiring only a couple of years ago. She is still very sympathetic toward animal welfare; as a matter of fact it was she who thought of and recommended that I do this post. I have helped out over the years and twice have witnessed on my own the politics of management in animal rescues. It is disgusting when you observe an ego for power replace the daily care for their animals.

Lorena Bader has started a petition aimed at Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Jack Sellers and 7 other decision makers. They have 22,156 signatures so far and are striving for 25,000. You can sign the petition by going here. The petition is a no-confidence plea in the ability of the elected Maricopa County Board of Supervisors...

Jack Sellers, Thomas Galvin, Bill Gates, Clint Hickman, and Steve Gallardo, appointed Maricopa County Manager, Joy Rich, Maricopa County Assistant Manager, Valerie Beckett, Maricopa County Animal Care and Control (MCACC) Director, Michael Mendel, and MCACC Deputy Director, Crystal Enojos to run MCACC effectively and to provide proper medical and behavioral care for the animals in their charge.

The petition states residents' "efforts have largely been ignored or met with outright

disdain and obfuscation by MCACC leadership and the BOS (Board of Supervisors)." Examples include...

"The BOS refuses to communicate with concerned citizens by ignoring telephone calls and emails and by refusing to meet with individuals or a group. The BOS refuses to place MCACC concerns on its formal meeting agenda. Citizen recourse is limited to speaking (2 minute limit) during public comments of board meetings, expressing concerns on social media and going to the media. Even recommendations from a 2015 Task Force the BOS itself commissioned have been largely ignored. Repeated requests to meet with MCACC leadership and pleas for responsible course correction have been met with silence."

You can see the Task Force Final Report here. 

A classic example of the total problem is an accusation, "Michael Mendel Cancels Public Dog Walks to Spite Four Paws and Friends." Lorena Bader claims...

"Dogs sit in their kennels for up to a week without getting out for a walk or yard time. MCACC volunteers only filled 17% of the available shifts in August. The shelter desperately needs help to meet the needs of the animals in their care."

Bader exclaims the public dog walks were held weekly and could get 100 dogs out for a 30 minute walk in about 3 hours. However, Michael Mendel made the rash decision to cancel the Four Paws and Friends Mutt Strut. Bader says Mendel did it to spite Four Paws and Friends. Bader adds...

"I am personally so disappointed that the management would make the dogs suffer just to retaliate against me and my non-profit."

Protest takes place at Maricopa County Animal Care and Control...

And a tragedy did occur at MCACC that was preventable. In June of this year, a veterinarian employed at MCACC for 9 years was mauled by a dog who was exhibiting signs of extreme kennel deterioration. The dog Kronk's condition was due to neglect at the shelter and when brought to the deputy director's office for examination but was not leashed, a ridiculous decision knowing Kronk's status.

The dog attacked the vet and was pulled off by Michael Mendel, who was also bitten. This was Michael Mendel’s second bite in his short tenure as director from a dog showing serious, documented signs of deterioration. An issue that had existed for some time but apparently ignored by management. Lorena Bader asserts...

"this would look like an unprovoked attack however there were clear indications that Kronk was mentally struggling and should never have been placed in this situation. Instead of looking at management’s responsibility in this tragedy, they immediately banned any dogs from being in offices and started labeling more dogs as deteriorating and placing them on the euthanization list."

In this particular case Kronk was euthanized, in my opinion an inhumane act by this supposedly humane shelter. Bader says controversy has plagued MCACC for years and lists the following complaints...

-Basic medical needs of the animals are not met resulting in a year-long distemper outbreak, botched surgeries, and an excessive number of dogs becoming sick in the shelter or actually dying in their kennels.
-Basic behavioral needs of the animals are not met resulting in dogs not being assessed with other dogs, dogs only getting out of their kennels for exercise approximately 20 minutes per week and some dogs not getting out for weeks, staff lacking skills and training to handle fearful dogs or any with behavioral needs. High quality, in-kennel enrichment is sporadic and not funded by MCACC.
-Frequent firing of volunteers and silencing of those who speak up about inhumane conditions.
-Putting up roadblocks for community members, non-profits, and rescues willing to help.
-Toxic work environment that results in a high turnover and hiring practices that indicate nepotism and favoritism.
-Failure to be transparent and excessive efforts to find information leaks, including obstruction and delay of public record requests.
-Inability to identify all stakeholders and refusal to allow stakeholders any voice in decision-making that directly affects them.

Apparently this whole charade is no secret...

"Employees, volunteers, and the community have repeatedly observed incompetence and lack of transparency from MCACC. Those who speak up are faced with bullying, discrimination, and retaliation. Those who are incompetent at their jobs remain employed. Those who put ego, power, and control above saving lives are in charge."

Yet, this is the result...

"Mismanagement, nepotism, and unprofessionalism continues at the highest level. The most qualified are not hired to the top positions. Those who are true animal advocates and move the shelter forward are either forced out or fired. Management monitors communication by both employees and volunteers and threatens them if they speak publicly."

It is beyond belief that...

"In the past 3 months, under the direction of Michael Mendel, the pattern of poor decision-making continues, bullying and intimidation tactics have increased, employee and volunteer morale has decreased, and effective communication and transparency are at an all time low."

You can see a collection of Michael Mendel's questionable decisions here. The petition makes its demands but only time will tell if changes will be made at MCACC's top management. You can do your part by signing the petition and letting the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors know how you feel about this untenable situation. 

The question I still have...is this happening all over the country?

 

We Cannot Let The Needless Execution Of Animals Continue

 

The Oklahoma City Animal Shelter euthanized 34 dogs on Tuesday because they didn't have enough room for them. The animals shouldn't have been there but that's another story. Not being familiar with the Oklahoma City shelter, I don't know if they made an attempt to use Pilots N Paws, an organization that provides free transportation of animals to locations where there is either more room or there is a potential adoption. By the way, Pilots N Paws endures through donations.

But there are other ways to help control this situation like spaying and neutering. The ASPCA says...

By spaying or neutering your pet, you’ll help control the pet homelessness crisis. Millions of healthy dogs and cats are euthanized in the United States each year simply because there aren’t enough homes to go around. There are also medical and behavioral benefits to spaying (female pets) and neutering (male pets).

Agreed, a lot of folks out there are still struggling with their finances but if you are able, please foster an animal. which helps take the load off shelters. And there are always donations that can help these organizations to care for more animals and provide better aid to the general population. Finally, if you have the time, volunteer. You cannot believe the joy just a visit from someone brings to a caged animal. If you love animals, please do your part today.

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Animal lovers ALERT!

6.3 million domestic animals enter shelters in the United States each year, with 3.1 million being dogs and 3.2 million being cats. 4.1 million animals are adopted from shelters each year, with 2 million being dogs and 2.1 million being cats. But, here's the tragedy...920,000 animals are euthanized each year, with 390,000 being dogs and 530,000 being cats. There were 132,216,000 U.S. households in 2024, 66% of which, or about 86.9 million families, own a pet. Folks, there's room for a lot more.

Abandonment is one of the cruelest of all animal issues, with actual abuse cruelty being the worst. How many times have you seen a stray cat or dog walking the streets and wondered where they came from? Sure, there is birthing going on in the wild, but millions of pets are turned out to survive on their own and, because they have been domesticated with care, it is sometime impossible for them to endure in this way. They end up as prey for larger animals or they starve to death of die from the elements. 

I have collected several examples of animals who have fallen on hard times...

An elderly deaf dog was chained to a fence in Asbury Park, New Jersey, earlier this week and left to freeze, officials said. The dog, who also suffers from arthritis, was "frozen half to death" in the 20-degree temperatures when a good Samaritan called the Monmouth County SPCA's cruelty hotline and officers were able to rescue him, MCSPCA said.

Jaina and Ivy, dedicated rescuers from Cats of San Bernardino, CA, stumbled upon an unusual sight while grabbing coffee. There, at the Starbucks entrance, was a small dog tied up with a sweatshirt knotted around her collar. Terrified and shaking, she was all alone, abandoned by those who should have cared for her. Jaina and Ivy, known for their work with cats, felt an instant pull to help this sweet dog in her moment of need.

Julie Saraceno's video showcasing shelter dogs at the Benton Franklin Humane Society in Washington picking their own Christmas gifts is nothing short of adorable. One now-viral clip, however, highlights one loving shelter pup named Finn who is in desperate need of a home.

Dog Spends 13 Years Waiting for a Home Before Meeting an Adopter Who Wants to Be His 'Best Friend.' Vito was in a shelter looking for a home before moving to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. A man with experience caring for wolves adopted Vito this year and now travels regularly with the dog.

At the West LA Animal Shelter, staff and volunteers are heartbroken for one of their canine residents — Monty, a 3-year-old large mixed breed. Ever since Monty arrived at the shelter back in December 2023, he’s been nothing but a spectator of other dogs’ happy endings. Monty has watched — and continues to watch — other dogs that came after him go home with their new families, while he remains unchosen. He’s so far not gotten a single adoption application, and the reason is soul-crashing: potential adopters consider him “too big.”

A dog who was abandoned and left to fend for herself is facing a third straight Christmas without a home to call her own. n some way, Indigo is lucky to be alive. A spokesperson for Kiss My Paws, the non-profit dog rescue located in Las Vegas, Nevada, that first shone a light on Indigo's situation, told Newsweek she was "found in a park across the street from an apartment community." "They did some digging and ended up finding out what apartment and the people had either moved or got evicted and left her behind. She had been there several weeks."

Hearts have broken for a shelter dog who has completely shut down from the world around him. Ollie, found as a stray and brought to a shelter in Madera, California, where thanks to overcrowding, "shelter dogs are not promised tomorrow." In a video to her TikTok account @crittersandcrystals on December 18, which has over 277,000 views, Ollie lies on a concrete floor, ignoring a bed with a blanket, and looks utterly depressed, as Helga described it as "the reality of a dog who knows they lost everything."

It's Just an Animal...WRONG

 

Animals have feelings and if you don't believe it look at his dog who was abandoned in an old partment building, sad, crying alot until it met the rescuer...

He was devoted to his owner, where the dog, AJ, thought he had a forever home. He didn't. All of a sudden, he finds himself in a strange place surrounded by people he doesn't know, so what does AJ do? He cries. Yes, he is heartbroken that he was just left as yesterday's trash. The suddenness of it all places this beautiful animal in a position of refusing to socialize and to eat. Think, folks, if you have this in mind or anything like it.

Some 6.5 million animals enter shelters each year, but there are a total of 70 stray animals making it obvious there is much to be done in finding them forever homes. It was worse ten years ago when the shelters took in 7.2 million animals. It has been challenging recently as animals were adopted for companionship during the pandemic, then returned to the shelter buy things have gotten better.

Shelters across America, and the world, need help. If you think you might want an animal to care for and liven up your household, talk to someone at your local shelter. Take a look around, and if you don't fall in love during your time there, maybe it's not your time yet. Think about it and give these guys and gals another shot later. Whatever you do, you must be sure when you do adopt. If this isn't a move where your new animal is a part of the family, then it's the wrong move.

Good Luck!

Jennifer Aniston helps save animals in Los Angeles fires

Jennifer Aniston with her rescue, Lord Chesterfield

Jennifer Aniston, of course, isn't on the scene physically fighting the fires in the L.A. metro area, but she is doing her part behind the scenes urging people to be aware of and help when they can any animal threatened in the ongoing inferno. The Southern California holocaust has been described as the "'most destructive' blazes in modern US history," by Sky News. I lived in L.A. for several years and remember a constant threat caused in part by the Santa Ana winds, which returned this past Saturday.

Here's the scenario...

"The Friends alum joined the wave of celebrities sending thoughts and prayers to those affected by the Palisades Fire, which began tearing through Los Angeles’ Pacific Palisades neighborhood on Tuesday, Jan. 7. Many actors and actresses have been directly impacted by the fires as they faced evacuations and watched their homes burn."

And here's the perspective from Vox...

It’s not just human lives and homes that have been taken and are still at risk. A reporter and a photographer helped a Pasadena woman rescue her chickens from her burning home. Another journalist interviewed two residents evacuating with their horses while surrounded by flames. On social media, people have posted videos of animals like dogs and deer wandering alone amid the fires, confused and distressed.

 Here are the facts, also from Vox...

"In just four days, blazing wildfires across Los Angeles neighborhoods have put 150,000 residents under evacuation orders, burned over 30,000 acres, destroyed more than 10,000 structures, and, as of Thursday, killed 10 (now 11) people. Experts say it may be the costliest wildfire in US history. The fires are still ongoing, and the toll of destruction is still far from a final tally."

From High Country News, "Wildlife biologist Miguel Ordeñana explains how blazes push animals into the unknown." The piece continues...

"A family of deer gather around burned trees from the Palisades Fire at Will Rogers State Park on January 9, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California."

There's more...

"NBC LA coverage showed a fawn with singed fur running down the middle of a deserted street in Altadena with no doe in sight as the Eaton Fire burned. Later that night, camera crews from ABC 7 spotted a mountain lion and two cubs running across Topanga Canyon Boulevard away from the Palisades Fire."

 Ordeñana added...

"Bobcats, cougars, coyotes, birds, bats and more all live in the region. Slow-moving creatures like snails and salamanders, wildlife that require specific habitats, nocturnal critters forced to move during the daytime, and animals with young are some of the most vulnerable."

Jennifer Aniston's new childrens book

The latest on Sunday morning shows at least 16 deaths plus more than 10,000 structures either damaged or destroyed. Hollywood celebs like Billy Crystal, Jeff Bridges, Mandy Moore, Anthony Hopkins and John Goodman have either lost their homes or have had fire damage. Sunday afternoon the Santa Anas were expected to strengthen, which everyone who has lived in L.A. knows could spell more disaster. So far, evacuation orders are in place for 105,000 L.A. residents, and 87,000 are in evacuation warning zones.

The largest blaze, the Palisades Fire, has expanded as it moves east and threatens Brentwood, Encino and Westwood. It is only 11% contained. Four wildfires continue to burn, with the Palisades and Eaton blazes still lowly contained. The Santa Anas are expected to be around for several days and that will certainly interfere with firefighters. In case you're interested, here's an explanation of the Santa Anas...

"The Santa Ana winds occur when there is high pressure to the east, in the Great Basin, and a low-pressure system off the coast. Air masses move from high pressure to low pressure, and the more extreme the difference in the pressure, the faster the winds blow."

This churning effect is what makes the winds so dangerous and what has been instrumental in this disaster striking Los Angeles. The fact that it could even get worse is terrifying. As Jennifer Aniston pleads, please keep your eyes open for animals in distress. 

 

 

 

West's megadrought could kill animals quicker than humans

 

We're in a 20-plus-year drought here in the West and now the US government declared a water shortage on the Colorado River for the first time in history. And who get the brunt of all this? The animals! We live in the suburbs of Phoenix, AZ  and regularly see coyotes, bob cats and javelinas come out in the open looking for water. There will also be mandatory cuts to water for Zonis who cherish their swimming pools.

Here's a fact...

"Some 40 million people rely on the river for water, contributing to its decline — to say nothing of the nearly 5.5 million acres of farmland that it irrigates."

Although most of the yards are covered with granite here, some do have grass yards, mostly migrated mid-westerners. This requires enormous amounts of water, particularly when the temperature peaks over 100 degrees, as it has regularly this summer. "Wild animals can die of dehydration, but many of the major impacts of drought are far less obvious." Please take the time here to find just how all the animals are being affected, keeping in mind they are helpless in some situations.

The two sides to life and living

Maybe you haven't noticed, because of all the hostility in today's politics and this country in general, but there are many good things going on out there that prove we aren't ready yet to throw in the towel. My wife and I were discussing this at dinner last night and it made sense for me to share. Here's an example from Twitter re. the Los Angeles fires...

Los Angeles is a beautiful town filled with generous people and wonderful public servants. The way people came together to help each other over the last few days. With humor, grace and generosity. The way our brave firefighters and police officers risked their lives selflessly despite unfair criticism. We have each others backs and we will rebuild.

And here are some graphics that illustrate compassion between humans is not dead...

 

 

And the most amazing change over the years, people helping animals, supplanting much of the cruelty with good deeds: https://www.facebook.com/Strecci/videos/animals-asking-for-help-from-humans/9630244330320459/

And not to be outdone, animals do help other animals in ways that confirm just how smart they are with the ability to reason: 

A lot of the people in this country deserve better than they have been given in the last several years. It is both unfortunate and appalling to have to say, but the major portion of the responsibility for a divisive United States is with the Republican Party. Look who they just elected to the White House, to prove my point. Look at the GOP lunatics in Congress whose only agenda is self-adornment. And look at the recent suck-ups to Donald Trump from the corporate world and U.S. Congress. It is all pathetic but the current positivity is still conclusive.

There are two sides to life and living and my wife and I definitely prefer the good life.

Animals Abandoned Becoming A Crisis

 

How could anyone just abandon their pet on a street curb, even if they left food? Close to a car wash that had been feeding her and even after sleeping almost non-stop for two days, she was still so tired from waiting when a rescue came to help. This is not only spreading nationwide, but is also becoming more prevalent in the media, publicity which animal lovers are thankful for. It's beyond shaming those who give up their animals; we need a national fix.

Some time ago I posted on Twitter and Facebook that it would be great if some millionaires/billionaires would step up and fund a huge animal sanctuary centrally located where these deserted animals could go. They could coordinate with Pilots N Paws, an organization that flies pets to locations where they are wanted. This would be a great move by those with means and help a lot of animals that have lost their forever homes.     THINK ABOUT IT!       READ MORE...