Posts from — January 2012

Here is a link for the organization that sends out emails about the bills that the Humane Society is working on for this session of state congress. It is free to join and there is a link to sign up and get the emails. I think this group is pretty much responsible for all the good animal legislation that passed last year. This year there is a bill about pet stores selling puppies and having to tell people where the pupppies came from. It’s a start at least. It also has direct links to find out who your representative is and how to reach them.

Sammy waits for her friends to arrive at the park.

Goldens will meet this Saturday (the first Saturday of the month) at the John G. Lancaster Park off of Willows Road in Lexington Park at 10 am. Check the blog for any weather cancellations.

I don’t leave my dogs in the car (van) when we go somewhere. I think the longest I ever left them in the car was last month when I ran into Food Lion to get some yeast and the express lane was anything but express. They were probably in the van for 10 maybe 15 minutes. It was chilly outside, but not frigid.

Don’t get me wrong, I pop into the post office to check the rescue’s mailbox and don’t take them in and I stop at Peppers to pick up some raw marrow bones and don’t bring them in, but I’ve never like gone out to lunch and left them in the car.

Of course, I hope no one would leave their dog in the car when it’s hot or even warm outside. (Sit in your car for an hour on a sunny 65 degree day with the windows cracked and it’s plenty hot and stuffy in the vehicle.) But what about winter when the weather is like it is now, not frigid?

I was asked to go to lunch on Thursday after Anna and I go to a school to read, but I wouldn’t have time to take her home and drop her off. It was recommended I leave her in the van while we had lunch. I just felt really uncomfortable about leaving her in the car for so long so I declined lunch.

When we lived in Norfolk dogs were stolen from locked vehicles (heck, even from their privacy fenced yards) so that lingers with me, but it’s unlikely that anyone would steal Anna in St Mary’s County, so I’m not sure what my issue is other than I don’t like waiting in the car.

What are you thoughts?

I should have know something was wrong when I arrived at the dog park and several vehicles were leaving, but there were two dogs in the large dog area and one in the small, so I thought we just came a time when there was a lull.

I saw a gentleman with a pitbull mix on leash. I thought that was odd, but some people don’t know you are supposed to take your dog off leash at the dog park; hence the name, “Off Leash Dog Park Area.”

Before I let my golden gang in I asked if his dog was good with other dogs. He replied, “Oh yes, he likes other dogs. He’s a rescue.”

So I let my four in and tossed a couple of tennis balls out, he unleashed his dog, and his dog started bullying each of my dogs. We moved away from the gentleman and his dog, but his dog, of course wanted to “play” with my guys. Poor Ruby was on her back, Maddie was standing behind me, Anna was trying to get her ball and my big baby, Harry was being mauled.

The “play” was quickly escalating. Harry was down on his back and the pitbull had him by the neck. I asked the guy to get his dog off Harry and he said, “Oh, he’s just playing.”

I extracted Harry and suggested his one year old, very dominant male dog might do better at the dog park if he were neutered. He continued with his dog was a rescue. I asked where he got his dog (he said CAWL) and I told him I was very surprised that a local rescue would adopt a dog out without being spay or neutered.

I didn’t find out the rest of the story as his dog was back terrorizing my whimpy goldens, so we left after less than five minutes at the dog park. My guys EAGERLY got back into the van and now we’re going out in our safe yard to play.

The suspense is killing him!

http://www.lifewithdogs.tv/2012/01/smitty-loves-watching-marmaduke/

Taking care of rescue dogs
Is something I do best.
I know because I’ve done it,
And I’ve surely passed the test.
The dogs I’ve bathed, the food I’ve fed,
The vacuuming I’ve done,
And all to watch a frightened soul
Sit dreaming in the sun.
My own dogs I’ve neglected,
But I tell them everyday
That I love and cherish each of them
Though a new dog’s come to stay.
I know they understand this,
For in their eyes I see
The love that I have given them
Come shining back at me.
Some people think I’m crazy,
Some others think I’m great.
But very few can understand
What really is at stake.
If I can love and help a dog
To find a better way,
My own life is much richer,
I look forward to each day.
So now you know my secret,
It’s there for all to see,
The love I give, the life I save,
I do it all for me.
~~ Kathleen Parsons

tsantelli@humanesociety.org
These are the bills that the Humane Society and Maryland Votes for Animals will be working on during this legistative session. If you can’t come to the lobby day you can help by contacting your represenative. It’s really easy.
If you would like to car pool or meet us there let us know. I will add the link to the Humane Society website so that you can sign up to get the emails if you would like.

Welcome to our first session update! I will try to send these regularly (maybe once a week) as bills start moving. If this is too much email for you, just let me know and I can remove you from the list.

The session began on Wednesday, January 11th and will run for 90 days, until April 11, so today is Day #17! Bills are starting to be introduced and there are even a couple of hearings scheduled for next week! Here are the details, so far:

· Costs of Cruelty (SB 203). This bill will allow judges to order people convicted of cruelty to pay the costs of caring for the animals during the trial. This is critical for animal control folks, since right now, they are often stuck with the bill – which can be tens of thousands (sometimes hundreds of thousands!) of dollars. This bill would conceivably allow for non-profits or rescue groups to be reimbursed as well. This bill has a hearing in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on February 8th at 1pm. If your senator is on this committee, call and ask for their support! You can find out who represents you here.

· Pet Stores (HB 131). This bill requires pet stores to disclose basic information about the origin of the puppies they sell, and provides remedies for people who purchase a sick puppy from a pet store. Most puppies sold at pet stores come from puppy mills, and oftentimes have diseases or congenital disorders that end up costing the new owner thousands of dollars in vet bills – not to mention the heartbreak of having purchased a sick dog. This bill has a hearing in the House Economic Matters Committee NEXT TUESDAY, January 31st at 1pm. If one of your delegates is on this committee, call and ask for their support! You can find out who represents you here.

· Animal Abuser Registry (SB 301). This bill establishes a registry for people convicted of animal cruelty—and it has been getting a lot of press! The HSUS will not be taking a position on this bill, for the reasons outlined in this blog written by our President, Wayne Pacelle: http://hsus.typepad.com/wayne/2010/12/animal-cruelty-registry-list.html. But, I know many advocates are interested in this bill, so I will do my best to keep you posted of its progress. It has not been scheduled for a hearing yet. Please let me know if you have questions about this issue. If you are interested in supporting this bill, you could contact the sponsor, Senator Ron Young, at Ronald.young@senate.state.md.us. He would be very glad to have your support.

· Cruelty to Bison (HB 80/SB 102). This bill exempts bison from the part of the cruelty code that requires animals to be provided with adequate shelter and protection from the weather. It’s unclear what the reason for this bill is, but exempting a species of animal from protections in the anti-cruelty code is a scary proposition. It has been scheduled for a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee next Tuesday, 1/31 and the Senate Judicial Proceedings committee on Thursday, 2/2. I will be monitoring this one closely and will likely register our concern.

I have discovered this great link that will show a running list of all animal related bills introduced (I think! We’ll have to test it out). Take a look and let me know if you have questions: http://mlis.state.md.us/2012rs/subjects/animals$.htm

If you haven’t already, don’t forget to register for our 2012 Humane Lobby Day on February 23rd!

That’s it for now! Hope to see you soon!

A companion, a pal,
A very best friend.
Someone to trust,
To love ’til the end.
Someone to trust,
When feeling blue.
Always a smile,
T’always greet you.
Always a smile,
To dry up your tears.
A person to be there,
To quiet your fears.
A person to be there,
When lonely or sad.
Loving regardless,
If hating or mad.
Loving regardless,
If caring or cruel.
No matter what,
Genius or fool.
No matter what,
They stand by you.
Who is this person,
Have you a clue?
Who is this person?
I’ll tell you who.
This is your pet,
That loves through ‘n through.
~~ Author Unknown

A Foster Dog Poem

This was written by Diane Morgan, who does basset rescue, in addition to writing several (good) dog books.

A poem to my foster dog I am the bridge Between what was and what can be. I am the pathway to a new life.

I am made of mush, Because my heart melted when I saw you, Matted and sore, limping, depressed, Lonely, unwanted, afraid to love.

For one little time you are mine. I will feed you with my own hand I will love you with my whole heart I will make you whole.

I am made of steel. Because when the time comes, When you are well, and sleek, When your eyes shine, And your tail wags with joy Then comes the hard part. I will let you go–not without a tear, But without a regret. For you are safe forever– A new dog needs me now.

by Diane Morgan

Over the years, the universal skunk remedy has been widely accepted as the canned red stuff in your pantry. However, as reported in the Chicago Tribune several years ago, a chemist by the name of Paul Krebaum discovered what turns out to be the hands-down best solution for eliminating odor on dogs who have been skunked. You can still find the ingredients in your cupboards. And yes, it really works!

Here’s the odor-blasting formula: Take 1 quart of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of liquid hand soap. Mix and immediately apply to the stinky pet. Then rinse thoroughly with tap water. For a big dog, such as a Labrador, you may need to double the recipe to improve coverage. Common sense dictates keeping the mix out of sensitive areas like the eyes and ears. Also, don’t allow your dog to ingest the mixture, because hydrogen peroxide can cause vomiting.

Obviously, no one wants to take the time to run to the store when you have a stinky dog, so buy the ingredients now and keep them on hand if you are likely to have a skunked dog situation! But remember — don’t mix them until seconds before application.