Thursday, May 27, 2010

Red Lake Rosie's Rescue

Red Lake Rosie's Rescue is an organization near and dear to my heart. I have worked with many animal rescue groups but in my experience this one has the purest motives and greatest need. I write their blog (www.redlakerosie.blogspot.com), help with transports, clinics, and foster cats and kittens for them.

This video was created with photos from a clinic at Red Lake in March 2010 and includes an interview with Karen Good the creator and driving force behind Red Lake Rosie's Rescue.

The Animals at Red Lake Rosie's Rescue from JanetRoper on Vimeo.

Red Lake Rosie’s Rescue is an all volunteer, non-profit organization with a board of directors from the Red Lake Indian reservation, and operates a shelter on Red Lake Tribal land leased to Karen Good. Karen grew up in a large family on the reservation, left to get a college degree and returned to teach at the high school.

On March 21, 2005, a Red Lake 16-year-old killed his grandfather and his grandfather's girlfriend and then drove to the school where he shot and killed seven people on the school campus, including five students, one teacher and an unarmed security guard. Five others were wounded and the shooting spree ended with the boy committing suicide.

The day of the Red Lake massacre, Karen was driving home in a state of shock and horror. She noticed a skinny dog at the dump scrounging for food. On the spot, she decided she had to take some kind of action to make some kind of positive change. She took that dog home and that act ultimately resulted in the rescue which is named for the dog, Rosie.

Now animals are picked up routinely from the reservation dumps where stray animals go to find food or where their owners have abandoned them. Police, social workers and residents have come to know that the rescue will take the animals that may be suffering from malnutrition, injuries and exposure. Before the rescue, the only option was to shoot them.

Animals taken in by the rescue have been transported to nearly 50 different rescues across Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin. Prevention and education are the other main components of Red Lake Rosie’s mission. The rescue organizes several animal care clinics each year with Animal Ark’s Neuter Commuter, the Animal Humane Society’s mobile clinic, vets from Minnesota and Wisconsin and HSUS/RAVs (the Humane Society of the United States Rural Area Veterinarians). Hundreds of spay/neuter surgeries have been performed and animals receive shots and basic medical treatment.

Education of the animal owners about appropriate pet care is also a big part of the clinics and continues with school children. The very basic information about the need to provide shelter, water and food is the starting point and people are provided with buckets for water and food, as needed. Visits with animals are made to elementary classrooms and the last two years the children have saved their pennies to make a donation to the rescue. Some groups of high school students have been able to visit at the rescue or help at the clinics.

Finally, there is a metro support group for Red Lake Rosie’s Rescue that helps in a wide variety of ways. Some volunteers drive north to help at the rescue or a clinic or they transport supplies up and animals down. But, many volunteers help from home by raising funds, creating informational materials, fostering animals. Learn more at www.redlakerosie.org.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Cockfighting in Lino Lakes, MN

Suspected cockfighting
ring busted in Lino Lakes

LINO LAKES, Minn. -- Nine people were arrested
after authorities discovered a suspected
cockfighting ring in Lino Lakes.

The Lino Lakes Police Department received an
anonymous complaint of a cockfight Sunday night at
a home on the 1400 block of Woodland Drive. When
officers arrived, they found several roosters that
appeared to be in poor physical condition with
several cuts and other evidence of cockfighting.

Animal welfare officers inspected the area Tuesday
and found hundreds of chickens on the property.
They removed 40 live game-cocks and seven dead
birds, as well as paraphernalia and other equipment
from the property.

All of the animals taken will be held in quarantine
pending a disposition hearing.

Authorities arrested a total of nine people. One was
arrested for felony permitting an animal fighting and
the others for attending an organized animal fight.
Some of those arrested admitted to being at the
residence to watch the fights. One suspect stated
that he had a $20 bet on a fight.

Animal Humane Society Senior Investigator Keith
Streff says this is one of the largest and most
sophisticated breeding, training and distribution
facilities he has seen since starting with the Animal
Humane Society in 1987.

Cockfighting is a felony in Minnesota and illegal in
all 50 states.

(Copyright 2010 by KARE. All Rights Reserved.)

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Government report on puppy mills

USDA fails to crack down on puppy mills, details horrific conditions and lax enforcement
By MARY CLARE JALONICK , Associated Press

Last update: May 25, 2010 - 11:51 AM

WASHINGTON - An internal government report says dogs are dying and living in horrific conditions due to lax government enforcement of large kennels known as puppy mills.

Investigators say the Department of Agriculture often ignores repeat violations, waives penalties and doesn't adequately document inhumane treatment of dogs. In one case cited by the department's inspector general, 27 dogs died at an Oklahoma breeding facility after inspectors had visited the facility several times and cited it for violations.

The review, conducted between 2006 and 2008, found that more than half of those who had already been cited for violations flouted the law again.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Tuesday that USDA takes the report seriously and will take immediate action.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Looking for love?

This has to be one of the best singles ads ever printed. It is reported to have been listed in the Atlanta Journal.

SINGLE BLACK FEMALE seeks male companionship, ethnicity unimportant. I'm a very good girl who LOVES to play. I love long walks in the woods, riding in your pickup truck, hunting, camping and fishing trips, cozy winter nights lying by the fire. Candlelight dinners will have me eating out of your hand. I'll be at the front door when you get home from work, wearing only what nature gave me... Call and ask for Annie, I'll be waiting.....see below:



Over 150 men found themselves talking to the Atlanta Humane Society.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Stamps to the Rescue

Starting April 30, 2010 new postage stamps became available at the post office or online at www.usps.com that help to raise awareness of shelter pets for adoption and support a donation of pet food to shelters.

Learn more and order stamps at http://www.stampstotherescue.com/

I ordered enough for my 2010 Christmas cards!

Friday, May 14, 2010

McDuffy puppy mill closes in Morrison County, MN

Controversial dog-breeding business closes in Little Falls
By The Associated Press

ST. CLOUD, Minn. -- A dog breeder who opened a 500-dog facility near Little Falls three years ago has apparently gone out of business.

The St. Cloud Times reports Gary McDuffee canceled his U.S. Department of Agriculture license on March 16, according to agency records. A neighbor who fought the kennel in court says she no longer hears dogs on the property, and a Morrison County official says it's no longer being used as a kennel.

There was speculation McDuffee was leaving the dog-breeding business last fall, when hundreds of his dogs were listed in auction ads in Missouri.

McDuffee declined to comment to the newspaper.

McDuffee opened his kennel in 2007 after receiving a permit to have up to 500 dogs. That prompted protests and a lawsuit.


(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Monday, May 10, 2010

Fundraiser for Red Lake Rosie's Rescue at Galleria, Thursday, May 13


Be alert to changes in pet foods

***Toxic Levels of Vitamin D found in Nutro Cat Food - specifically the Nutro Chicken Meal and Rice. If you feed any Nutro Cat Food, please read the information at this link: http://bit.ly/aOqK32

***Proctor & Gamble has acquired Natura Pet Food company, which sells products under the following brands: Innova, EVO, California Natural, Healthwise, Mother Nature and Karma. While no immediate changes in the formulas for these products is anticipated, those in the industry expect a lessening of quality. For those of you feeding these products, you may want to keep a close eye on the ingredients to see if they should change over time.

Other high quality grain free foods to consider: Wellness CORE, Halo, Nature's Variety RAW INSTINCT. Always beware of grains due to past problems with China adding melamine which proved fatally toxic to many pets.

For more information: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0520145720100505