This is a Facebook posting from the page for the municipal animal shelter facility in Benton, KY. I checked the “About” information and it is indeed the pound’s page, not a “Friends of” or other type of page. The pound is closed on weekends.
I can’t speak for anyone who may have posted their pets in need of rehoming on the Marshall Co pound’s page, but experience tells me that these type of posts are often made by caring people who don’t want their pets to go to the local pet killing facility. In other words, these are people trying to find alternatives for their “furbabies” so they don’t end up “sitting in a kill shelter”.
A smart shelter is going to encourage and provide a place for these type of posts, even if it’s not on the facility’s FB page. By publicly shaming people who may not know where else to turn for help rehoming on their own, the pound is increasing intake and decreasing community support. Which will result in more killing. It is odd behavior for a pet killing facility because you know, nobody wants to kill animals. Or so I’ve heard.
The Dangers to Birds and Small Mammals
February 3, 2013
If you read recently about the Smithsonian study that stated free roaming cats kill up to 24 billion birds and small mammals annually, you probably had questions. Some of those questions may have been:
- WTF?
- Where can I buy whatever the Smithsonian researchers are smoking?
- Are there 24 billion bird and mammal skeletons weighed down with wee cement shoes at the bottoms of every river in the United States?
Thankfully, Peter Wolf at Vox Felina has answers to all these questions and more (well, not the second one actually). His post entitled Garbage In, Garbage Out looks at the research in detail and brings to light various flaws. Serious flaws. For example, he notes that the studies referenced in the paper are, in various cases, outdated, imprecise, misrepresented and counted more than once. Using these studies to extrapolate such things as the number of cats with access to prey and the number of birds and small mammals killed by these cats results in even greater imprecision. Thus the title of Vox Felina’s post. And then there is the issue of agenda, specifically to undermine TNR, and the authors’ apparent bias:
[Peter] Marra (a vocal critic of TNR) served as Nico Dauphiné’s advisor at the Smithsonian until October 2011, when she resigned after being found guilty of attempted animal cruelty. And [Tom] Will, also an outspoken critic of TNR, helped Dauphiné land her post-doc fellowship there with a letter of recommendation.* (Her position was funded by USFWS, just as [Scott] Loss’ is today.)
While I am grateful there are smart minds like Peter Wolf willing to put in the work to debunk this study, I think many people will simply apply the common sense test to the outrageous claims made in the paper. Which is to say, a quick glance at the sky, the trees and the ground reveal that indeed, bird and small mammal populations are thriving. And cats are not the wildlife mafia.
As one commenter put it on Gawker (Warning: bad language alert):
right. it’s not fucking encroachment by archer-daniels midland, or death by monsanto poisoned seeds or bayer or ortho pesticides and herbicides, oh no, it couldn’t be those things. it couldn’t fucking be from air, water and soil pollution, fuck no; everyone knows those things are *good* for billions of birds.
it’s frisky the cat. only cats. cats are to blame.
+1 for common sense.
Worst Neighbor in the World
September 2, 2012
A pet hating neighbor cited a 50 year old ordinance on the books in North Haven, CT to file a complaint with the town’s zoning enforcement office about a 7 year old girl’s pet bunny called Sandy. The outdated ordinance states that a property must be a minimum of 2 acres in order to raise rabbits:
The ordinance was put in place about 50 years ago when North Haven was a large farming community, and it was designed to prevent people from raising and selling rabbits and other livestock on less than 2 acres in competition with farmers, [North Haven First Selectman Michael] Freda said.
Sandy’s family received a cease and desist order. The little girl could not understand how anyone could be so cruel as to force her to give up her pet and her father says she cried every night over the situation. But the so-called irresponsible public rallied behind Sandy and bombarded town officials with phone calls and e-mails ultimately resulting in the town changing the ordinance to allow bunnies to be kept as pets. Sandy will be allowed to stay at home with his girl.
I am of course way more mature than a 7 year old girl so it would be irresponsible of me to suggest that she take Sandy out for walks along the edge of the property every single time the neighbor is outside for the rest of Sandy’s life while singing, “Go Sandy! Go Sandy! It’s your birthday!”, holding a sparkler and doing the hula-hoop.
In Terms of Excellence
July 23, 2012
The Memphis pound has hundreds of pets under its $7 million roof but just 13 dogs listed as “adoptable” on PetHarbor. Only 12 of them have photos.
The only weekend day that the pound is open is Saturday. Last Saturday, this was the featured “Pet of the Day” in the special cage in the lobby.
The featured adoptable pet at MAS was MIA on Saturday, July 21, 2012.
The Boxer whose photo I shared last week is still alive although he is defecating blood now. Steroid shot, perhaps?
Dog #243565 at the Memphis pound
“We’re on a positive trend. And we will continue to march forward in terms of excellence.” – MAS interim director James Rogers
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.
Cats at the Charlotte Pound
May 13, 2012
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control in NC hasn’t updated its statistics since the end of February 2012. That month, the pound killed 67% of the cats in its care. Here are some of the cats currently shown on Char-Meck’s PetHarbor pages.
Cat #A1030651 at Charlotte-Mecklenburg ACC, as pictured on PetHarbor.com.
Kitten #A1030580 at Charlotte-Mecklenburg ACC, described on PetHarbor as weighing 1 pound.
Kitten #A1030747 at Charlotte-Mecklenburg ACC, described on PetHarbor as weighing 1 pound, appears to be falling off the desk as he is scruffed for this photo.
Kitten #A1030905 at Charlotte-Mecklenburg ACC, described on PetHarbor as weighing 1 pound, pictured with both front feet off the desk.
Cat #A1031138 at Charlotte-Mecklenburg ACC, appears to have been in a cat carrier that was turned on its end, tossing the cat to the rear of the carrier before the photo was taken.
Can you feel the love? Kitten #A1030840 at Charlotte-Mecklenburg ACC, described on PetHarbor as weighing 2 pounds.
Posting from the Facebook page belonging to the "Friends" of MAS. (Click to enlarge.)
Yeah, Person from Another County Who Cared Enough about the Pets at MAS to Contact a Group at the Pound to Get Them Help, it would be great if YOU could drive over here and give them the veterinary attention they need. What are you by the way – an airline pilot? Barista? Oncologist? Oh who cares, just come down and help the animals out yourself.
OR
Maybe the “Friends” could ask one of the MAS veterinarians who pull down $80 grand a year to do their job.
11th Hour Social Media Blitz to Fight for Shelter Pets’ Lives
February 14, 2012
On Wednesday February 15, Assembly Bill A05449A will be introduced in the NY state Ag Committee. This quick kill bill is expected to pass and we need to make our voices heard tonight to keep that from happening. This quick kill bill is of immediate concern to NYers because it affects their community pets but it’s also very worrying for pet owners everywhere because it sets a legal precedent for more needless shelter pet killing.
And once again, it falls upon “the irresponsible public” to stand up for the lives of pets because the multi-million dollar animal welfare groups won’t do it. Where is Alley Cat Allies, the nation’s largest group advocating for feral cats? They should be mobilizing their forces in opposition to this bill which will legalize instant killing for every feral cat in NY. Where is Best Friends? They ask people to donate so there will be “no more homeless pets” but this bill might as well be named “no more living homeless pets”. Why aren’t they mass e-mailing members to take action against this? HSUS? Tuh, I know better than to ask. And of course ASPCA is the group that is leading the coalition to get the quick kill bill made into law.
It’s up to you and me. Again. No matter where you live, please take action and voice your opposition to the ASPCA’s quick kill bill. Then pass this information on to your compassionate animal friends. Every voice counts.
As always, please keep your comments respectful.
With permission, I am sharing Nathan Winograd’s most recent post on the subject, complete with action items, below. This is the most succinct explanation I’ve seen. If you aren’t familiar with the quick kill bill and need more information, there are links at the end.
From Nathan Winograd:
If the ASPCA and Assembly Member Amy Paulin get their way, feral cats and scared cats can be exterminated immediately on intake in New York State shelters.
The ASPCA is pushing legislation sponsored by Assembly Member Amy Paulin that would allow New York State shelters to kill animals immediately if shelter staff determine that the animals are in “psychological pain.” There is no definition of what constitutes psychological pain and no standards to how it will be applied. For the first time anywhere in the U.S., shelters will be allowed to kill animals with no holding period of any time based on the animals’ perceived state of mind, giving regressive shelter bureaucrats unlimited discretion to immediately kill animals based on unenforceable, unknowable, and completely subjective criteria. Not only is this a real and immediate threat to shy and scared animals, as well as feral cats, but it is a very dangerous precedent to introduce in the animal control laws of our nation.Whether you are from New York or not, please speak up for the animals:
- Email Ed Sayres: esayres@aspca.org
- Post comments on the ASPCA Facebook page: www.facebook.com/aspca
- Post comments to twitter: @aspca
- Email Amy Paulin: PaulinA@assembly.state.ny.us
- Post comments on Paulin’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/assemblywomanpaulin
- Post comments to twitter: @AmyPaulin
Learn more:
This blog will be going dark tomorrow to protest SOPA/PIPA
January 17, 2012
Image from sopastrike.com
You may already be familiar with the proposed legislation (SOPA in the House, PIPA in the Senate) that would, in effect, shut down this blog and a host of other internet sites if enacted. I want the internet to remain a place of free exchange of uncensored information and ideas. I want to continue my form of advocacy and I support the rights of others to do the same. Therefore I am joining in the blackout on January 18 from 8am to 8pm to protest these awful bills, to help raise awareness and get people to take action.
If you want to read more about SOPA/PIPA or want to know how to fight back, everything is here. This is the page that I will be directing visitors to tomorrow. I WILL be on Twitter tomorrow, following and sharing news about the #SOPAstrike. The blog will be live again at 8pm. Please consider calling or writing your Senators and Representative in opposition to PIPA and SOPA.
Would You Like to Adopt These Dogs Immediately?
November 9, 2011
Dogs who need help at the Memphis pound. (Photo courtesy of the caring staff and vols at MAS.)
MAS sent out a plea last night for these dogs to be rescued TODAY between 2 and 5 pm. I know it’s hard to tell much about the dogs from the photos that MAS provided, so let me share what I got:
Hey Everybody!
Whew, it has been hectic this week. We are moving into the new facility and will be open on the 15th. Before then, I have been asked to see if anyone could help with the following. Before I am asked, I cannot provide pictures at this time. Everything is packed up. Please let me know if you can get these dogs tomorrow between 2 and 5 p.m. They really need to be placed before the BIG MOVE. Thanks for all your help.
572 - 234530 - male, 1 yr old, HW-, black/white Siberian Husky. In on 11/7/11.
535 – 234528 - male, 4 yr old, HW-, black/white cocker spaniel. In on 11/7/11.
536 - 234643 - female, 3 yr old, HW-, pit bull with 6 pups, red/white. In on 10/13/11.
314 - 234427 - male, 3 yr old, HW-, shep/lab, black. In on 11/2/11. Very unusual dog. Not sure about breed. very skinny. very sweet.
Tracy Dunlap, Sr. Animal Care Technician
Volunteer Coordinator
Memphis Animal Services
3456 Tchulahoma Rd.
Memphis, TN 38118
tracy.dunlap@memphistn.gov
901-362-5310
The Pitbull dam has been there for a month. But they can’t get a picture of her because they’re moving. And she has to be out TODAY. Gosh, if only they could have sent out this plea a week (or two or four) ago, maybe there would be some reasonable chance to help this canine family. Are the puppies 1 week old? 4 weeks? 10 weeks? This is kind of essential information for anyone considering foster but I guess, whatevs. The Sibe and the Cocker just came in on Monday and they have got to be out TODAY too. (Today is Wednesday. Wednesday being 2 days after Monday.) Then there’s a very skinny/unusual/unknown breed shep/lab mix. What – you think a photo would be helpful for him? You’ve already been told – they’re moving. Now don’t ask again.
Anyway, there it is. Oh and apparently the phones have been cut off.
Instead of spending their time disconnecting the webcam feed, maybe they could have taken pictures of these dogs. Or at least if the webcams were still up, we might have a tiny hope of catching one of the dogs outside the cage. But we get nothing. How can anyone be expected to fall in love with a dog’s photo when there is no photo? Anyone want to adopt an ID number?
