The simple joys of summer!
http://www.wimp.com/babymoose
Friday, June 25, 2010
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Animal Welfare inspection
FROM: Minnesota Humane Society [info@mnhumane.org]
In response to consumer complaints, media investigations and pressure from animal welfare organizations, the Inspector General conducted an audit of APHIS/USDA inspections of licensed breeding facilities. The audit was performed between 2006 & 2008, and the final report was released just this week.
The conclusions of the audit confirm what animal welfare organizations have long suspected. USDA inspectors are not adequately trained and are not enforcing the Animal Welfare Act. The audit report cites the following findings:
• The enforcement process was ineffective against problematic dealers. Education was the preferred action taken and no enforcement action was taken against violators.
• Violations were not cited or documented properly by inspectors to support enforcement actions.
• The monetary penalties assessed were not adequate to deter violators.
• The internet is a loop hole allowing an increasing number of large scale breeders to avoid inspections and these breeders are not being monitored to ensure the animals are being humanely treated.
APHIS/USDA has acknowledged the various problems raised in the audit report and is working to incorporate the recommendations of the Inspector General. Additionally, these findings could give leverage to the national legislation, Puppy Uniform Protection Statute (PUPS), which if passed would require:
• All breeders selling more than 50 puppies per year to the general public be federally licensed and inspected.
• Dogs at commercial breeding facilities must be given the opportunity to exercise for 60 minutes daily.
Help get the PUPS legislation passed. Please call your US Senator and Representative and urge them to vote in favor of PUPS. Below are links to access contact information for your US Senator and Representative.
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
http://www.house.gov/
In response to consumer complaints, media investigations and pressure from animal welfare organizations, the Inspector General conducted an audit of APHIS/USDA inspections of licensed breeding facilities. The audit was performed between 2006 & 2008, and the final report was released just this week.
The conclusions of the audit confirm what animal welfare organizations have long suspected. USDA inspectors are not adequately trained and are not enforcing the Animal Welfare Act. The audit report cites the following findings:• The enforcement process was ineffective against problematic dealers. Education was the preferred action taken and no enforcement action was taken against violators.
• Violations were not cited or documented properly by inspectors to support enforcement actions.
• The monetary penalties assessed were not adequate to deter violators.
• The internet is a loop hole allowing an increasing number of large scale breeders to avoid inspections and these breeders are not being monitored to ensure the animals are being humanely treated.
APHIS/USDA has acknowledged the various problems raised in the audit report and is working to incorporate the recommendations of the Inspector General. Additionally, these findings could give leverage to the national legislation, Puppy Uniform Protection Statute (PUPS), which if passed would require:• All breeders selling more than 50 puppies per year to the general public be federally licensed and inspected.
• Dogs at commercial breeding facilities must be given the opportunity to exercise for 60 minutes daily.
Help get the PUPS legislation passed. Please call your US Senator and Representative and urge them to vote in favor of PUPS. Below are links to access contact information for your US Senator and Representative. http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
http://www.house.gov/
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.
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.
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.)
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.
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.
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.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
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