All the dogs and cats at Macon Animal Control in GA must be out of the facility before June 7 as it will close for treatment with pesticides for 3 to 5 days. Local rescuers are working hard to network animals:
Paws for Hope and Faith President, Shane Smith, slipped through the gates to snap pictures of the animals for his website where people from all over the country and Canada can see them.
“The in-state people can go to the shelter and adopt from the shelter. The out-of-state can go through a rescue. The rescue will come and pull the animal, set up transport, get it vetted, and get it delivered,” says Smith.
It’s a fight against time to save the animals and it’s all hands on deck. Anne Brennaman from Macon Purrs ‘n Paws encourages people to foster the animals. “A cat is a cat. It doesn’t matter if it’s the ugliest cat or the most beautiful. It’s worth saving,” she says.
The pound’s page on PetFinder (which has 25 animals listed as adoptable) states:
The city of Macon Animal Control Shelter is open Monday through Friday from 9:30am until 4:30pm. Our adoptions are based on a first come first serve basis and we are not allowed to place holds on any dogs or cats. We accept cash only and a photo ID is required.
Macon AC has 7 cats and 63 dogs listed on PetHarbor. Here are a few:
Cat #A245232 at Macon AC, as pictured on PetHarbor.com. The description indicates this cat is a male, orange and white DSH, age unknown.
See the above listing on PetHarbor. I just don’t know.
Dog #A245343 at Macon AC, as pictured on PetHarbor.com. This dog is pictured on a chokepole and described as a “male, white Labrador Retriever mix” whose age is unknown.
See the above listing on PetHarbor.
Dog #A245375 at Macon AC, as pictured on PetHarbor.com. This tiny dog is pictured on a chokepole next to a carrier with the top open. I wonder how the dog got out of the carrier and on to the floor.
See the above listing on PetHarbor.
These animals seem to need all the help they can get. If you would like to adopt, foster or rescue:
City of Macon Animal Control Department
1010 Eleventh Street
Macon, GA 31201
Phone: 478-751-9200
(Thank you Clarice for alerting me to this story.)
Foster Pet of the Day
May 27, 2012
Submitted by reader Terri who writes:
Miss Bea is a eight-ish year old border collie mix with a touch of chow (the tongue doesn’t lie). She came to us after a national group did a rescue at a local hoarder. Miss Bea was at their temporary shelter when she started to give birth and they asked us to put out a call for a foster home. The ease with which Miss Bea raised her puppies leads us to believe this was not her first litter; thankfully it is her last, and we were pleased to be able to help her raise these puppies in luxury.
Despite an old injury from being hit by a car, Miss Bea was apparently a dominant force in the pack of dogs at the hoarder home. However, she has settled in quite nicely at my house and gets along with all of the dogs we have exposed her to-dominant as well as submissive. She is smart and just wily enough to make you smile. Miss Bea is not trustworthy around cats or chickens, and in a small household she would probably be ornery to the other dogs when it came to food. She is not food aggressive around me or my dogs but I am a strong pack leader.
Miss Bea comes fully vetted and is heartworm negative. We would transport her for the right home (after arranging a home visit).
We would love to find a forever home for this sweet dog. I think she could be happy in many different situations-as a companion for an older person or as a partner for someone who hikes. She will be an active dog for many years to come. Don’t let that grey muzzle fool you-this girl ain’t no granny.
Please contact Terri at homewardboundofms@gmail.com
The Homeward Bound Project of MS is a 501(c)(3) organization started and run by vet students at Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Since 2007 we have coordinated the transport of Mississippi shelter pets to no-kill shelters in New York and New Hampshire. All shelter pets are fully vaccinated, altered, heartworm tested negative (or treated) and have been in foster care. Our transported pets do not displace local dogs; most are adopted within 2 weeks of arrival and the increased traffic often results in local shelter pets being adopted as well.
Illinois ACO Charged with Animal Cruelty
May 26, 2012
Last weekend, a Macon Co ACO with several years of experience had his AC vehicle parked outside his home. The stench emanating from the truck in the 90 degree heat was overwhelming enough that a neighbor called the police. Sheriff’s deputies came to investigate and discovered a dead groundhog next to a live 4 week old kitten. The animals had been in the truck for 2 days. The kitten was taken to a vet for treatment and is now reportedly doing well in the care of the AC director. The suffering of the kitten is terrible to contemplate but possibly pales in comparison to the suffering of the groundhog:
Police are still investigating details of the case and couldn’t say for sure if the groundhog had also been dead when it was placed inside the truck.
“At this point, I am not 100 percent sure either way,” said Lt. Jeff Scheibly, who oversees animal control. “It may have died in the back of the truck.”
The ACO reportedly told police he knew about the groundhog being in the truck but “was unaware he had left the kitten” there. He was arrested and charged with one count of animal cruelty. Jail time is described as “very unlikely”. An internal disciplinary hearing will determine if the ACO receives anything from a reprimand up to termination. He has been suspended with pay.
If the investigation reveals the groundhog was alive at the time he was placed in the truck, I hope a second charge of animal cruelty will be filed against the officer. And if this ACO is found guilty, I hope Macon Co does the right thing and terminates him. I’ll post an update on this case if I come across one but please help me by looking out for developments on this story.
(Thank you Clarice for sending me the link.)
Note: The original title of this post incorrectly identified the state as Georgia and has been corrected to Illinois.
New Zealand: On Thursday, a 12 year old boy named Damon Boyer-Marwood was walking home from school when he heard a dog crying out in pain. He found a group of school boys with a dog pinned down to the ground. The boys were taking turns kicking the dog and hitting her with a cricket bat. Damon told the boys to stop and they ended up running off. He picked up the injured dog, carried her to a friend’s house and called the Wellington SPCA.
Via a microchip, the dog was reunited with her owner. The owner asked to meet Damon in person:
“I want to thank him from my heart, I want to know his face.”
Rose the dog with her grateful owner and Damon, as shown on the TVNZ website.
Everyone involved is applauding Damon’s bravery and action:
Damon’s grandmother Jenny Marwood said she was proud of him. “It makes you wonder what would have happened if he didn’t step in.”
Yes, it makes you wonder.
Shelter Pet of the Day
May 25, 2012
Dog #581 at Rabies Control in Jackson, TN, as pictured on Facebook.
Submitted by reader Nicci who writes:
This boy came in as a “stray” with an akita mix looking dog. Apparently a note was left on the owner’s door, but no one has come for them. His stray hold is up on Tuesday 5/29. If he is still there when the place opens up on Tuesday, my husband and I will get him out of there, get him tested for HW, have him altered if needed, etc. but I would much rather have someone who has more room for him step up and adopt him first! I will pay his pull fee ($38) for anyone who wants him and is willing to give him a good home.
Very little information is available on this dog. Vaccination/heartworm/reproductive/overall health status is unknown. Temperament and age are unknown. If anyone has any additional info on this dog or is interested in talking with Nicci about him, please leave a comment here.
146 Miller Ave.
Jackson, TN 38305
(731) 668-4211
This shelter’s kill rate is unknown.
Open Thread
May 25, 2012
Use this thread to share animal related links, stories, questions, etc.
I wanted to share a couple of links I posted on Facebook this morning that tie in with dog bite prevention week:
This one is from doggonesafe and although it is aimed at kids, I think it’s useful for adults too.
This post dissects a photo on the cover of a catalog of a kid kissing a dog’s face.
Open Letter to Glenn Andrews in Memphis
May 24, 2012
Tonight on the blog’s Facebook page, someone claiming to be Memphis ACO Glenn Andrews left a lengthy comment. This is my response.
Dear Glenn Andrews,
I’m going to answer your questions about shelter issues here. I won’t be addressing the other comments that have nothing to do with animals.
You asked about Mario and why I haven’t posted any updates on him. You may have missed the most recent update from March. He is doing well at the sanctuary and I am grateful to Steve Markwell for believing in Mario. Every day that Mario is alive to feel the sun on his face and sleep peacefully in a safe environment is a good day.
You asked if I believe the people in Memphis can handle their own affairs. I do believe in the people of Memphis and I have blogged about this many times. More to the point, I believe in you, Glenn. Many of my readers have met you in person and every one of them has reported back that you seem to sincerely care about the animals. I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting you myself obviously but I trust my readers’ judgment.
I made a donation to the No Kill Advocacy Center some months back when they were running a promotion and gave them your name and the shelter’s mailing address for where to send a copy of Nathan Winograd’s book Redemption. I asked that they send it anonymously because I feared you might have some bias against the information in the book if you saw it came from me. I hope you received it and have had a chance to read it. My reason for sending it was because, as someone who cares about saving shelter pets, I knew you would likely be interested to read how it is possible to save every healthy/treatable pet at your shelter. And I hoped you might be inspired to use your leadership skills to take action on some of the key steps outlined in the book.
If you are interested in learning more, there is a wealth of free information available online. I would suggest this guide, among many others. If I can support you in any way, please let me know. You can comment on the blog anonymously. You can also e-mail me anonymously if you choose. I can help network your least adoptable animals, share pleas with the public about special circumstances at the shelter, assist with fundraising – anything that can be done via computer from another state, I’m willing to do it.
Shelter Pet of the Day
May 24, 2012
Dog #A241047 at the Memphis pound, as pictured on the PetHarbor website.
Looking at this dog’s face is causing my heart to crumble. This is what MAS has posted about him on PetHarbor:
This DOG - ID#A241047
I am a male, black Labrador Retriever.
The shelter staff think I am about 2 years old.
I have been at the shelter since May 19, 2012.
Can anyone help him? We have a fund that readers have donated to which can help with vetting – just need a compassionate person to care for him. He looks like he’s come up short so far in life on being told what a good boy he is and how much he is loved.
Raise Your Paw If You Want to Get Out of MAS Alive
May 24, 2012
Dog # A241196 at the Memphis pound, listed on PetHarbor.com as a 4 week old male Pitbull. Uh, black.
See this dog on PetHarbor.
In January of this year, McDowell County commissioners approved a group called McDowell County Animal Outreach (MCAO) to run the county shelter. State inspectors approved an old car dealership building for use as the shelter site. The state inspected the site in March, April and May, noting violations of the state Animal Welfare Act. MCAO’s failure to correct the violations has resulted in a $1000 fine. Among the findings:
- Dirty kennels
- Animals without water
- One wire crate contained 5 dogs
- Large cracks in the floor
- Animals being kept in unventilated areas, not approved for housing
- Isolation building “heavily soiled at the time of inspection with food, urine, feces and hair.”
- Cats stacked in unsecured crates
- Cats in crates on unstable surfaces such as tires and storage containers
- Records lacking information including medicine administration
- Animal food bowls sitting in stagnant water in the bathroom
- Dirty litter boxes stacked on the floor
- Insufficient staff to care for the number of animals housed
In addition, there have been concerns about the spread of disease resulting in pet killings at the shelter:
“Dirty mop water, foot baths and equipment baths were found that suggest that disease could be spread easily,” read the inspector’s report. “After conversing with a permanent volunteer, it was determined that a veterinarian was contacted who gave recommendations regarding the sickness at this facility. The volunteer also confirmed that these recommendations are not being adhered to. The volunteer confirmed that several animals that were adopted have been returned to the facility due to sickness. Puppies were present at the facility that appeared lethargic and had loose stool. The potential cause of these symptoms is currently unknown.”
Carol Ferebee, assistant director of MCAO, indicates the group intends to contest the fine. She cites lack of guidance from the state on how to correct problems, the group’s inexperience in running a shelter and a lack of dependable volunteers as the reasons for the violations.
On the one hand, I would be inclined to give a group that is just starting out the benefit of the doubt. They are probably well intentioned people who care about pets and, depending on the luck of the draw, an inspector at even the best shelter is likely to find some dirty kennels. On the other hand, it shouldn’t require a state inspector to tell you it’s wrong to leave animals without water. And you are never going to attract quality volunteers if you are asking them to care for cats stacked in crates and on tires in an unventilated area. That is just plain miserable for those cats and it should never have been allowed to happen.
Ferebee said MCAO is doing an excellent job in caring for homeless cats and dogs and making sure they have good homes, despite the amount of funding and the loss of good volunteer help.
“We continually improve,” she said. “Our goal is to have a 100-percent adoption rate. There is no animal abuse here.”
It’s little wonder volunteers quit. I only hope Ms. Ferebee is contending that the group does “an excellent job” because she’s trying to put the best possible spin on a bad situation. That is, I hope she doesn’t truly believe that.
