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11/09/09
A lot of killing goes on in shelters. It’s a necessary evil, especially now that many shelters are overcrowded. We like to use words like “euthanasia” so that the act sounds less horrific, but killing is killing no matter how you sugar coat it, no matter how nice the shelter and its staff are.
Progress is being made in New York to ensure that unadopted shelter animals receive humane treatment at the end of their lives. A law was recently passed in New York state, prohibiting the gassing of shelter and stray pets, and requires that they be euthanized via injection. There’s much still that needs to be done, but it’s a small step forward toward an eventual goal of 0% euthanasia in this country. Here are the details from the ASPCA:
Victory! NY Bans the Gassing of Stray Pets
An especially challenging political climate in the New York State Legislature has slowed the progress of a variety of pro-animal welfare bills this year. However, hard work by legislators, committee staff, the ASPCA and New York’s animal advocates brought the humane euthanasia bill (NY A. 999B) over the finish line!
Introduced in January, the bill sat dormant until the ASPCA, working closely with Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, Senator Suzi Oppenheimer and staff, helped revive it and secure passage in the Legislature in the fall. On October 9, it was signed into law by Governor Paterson.
The new law, which goes into effect in one year, will:
- Prohibit carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide poisoning (gassing) of stray and shelter animals (effective in 90 days).
- Require that the euthanasia of stray and shelter animals be performed by injection.
- Require that such euthanasia be performed by a certified euthanasia technician, licensed veterinarian, or licensed veterinary technician.
- Prohibit intracardiac euthanasia—a painful injection right into the heart—on unsedated shelter animals.
- Require that veterinarians who perform intracardiac euthanasia on unsedated animals not under the care of a shelter do so only if it is the most humane option and that they document the event and rationale.
“The ASPCA recognizes the necessity of humane euthanasia as a last-step option to spare animals further suffering,” says Debora Bresch, Esq., ASPCA Legislative Liaison to New York State. “We thank the bill’s sponsors, Assemblywoman Paulin and Senator Oppenheimer, for their tireless efforts to assure that animals receive humane treatment at the end of their lives, and look forward to the day when euthanasia of unwanted animals is an infrequent occurrence.”
*Never miss an advocacy alert again—sign up for the ASPCA Advocacy Brigade to receive free legislative emails.
[LINK: ASPCA.org]
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04/03/09
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As most of you know, April is the ASPCA’s Go Orange for Animals month, which means it’s time for Fluffy to don her best orange finery and enter the Go Orange for Animals photo contest.
The top ten winners will receive an ASPCA Prize Pack, and will also be featured on the ASPCA website.
Go Orange for Animals month supports the ASPCA’s live-saving work as iconic buildings and landmarks across the country will light up in its signature color and “Go Orange for Animals.” Click here for ways you can go orange for animals. If you’re a Catster, go orange and tag your photo(s) “Go Orange 09″ to pawticipate in the Go Orange stroll!
Click here to enter the “Go Orange for Animals” photo contest.
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03/23/09
 There’s no excuse not to have a window cling for your home. The ASPCA is giving away safety packs that include them along with a poison control magnet.
In the event of an emergency, the pet rescue window decals alert rescue personnel that pets are inside your home. The safety pack also includes an ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center magnet—a great way to keep the APCC’s toll-free emergency number and website address handy in case your pets get into something they shouldn’t!
Click here to request your free safety pack.
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11/22/08
.jpg) From purrsonal experience, I know that the first thought you have when you’re laid off or money is tight is “How will I care for my cat(s)?” It’s overwhelming for some — just look at the explosion in the number of pets surrendered to shelters or simply abandoned this year.
Dr. Louise Murray, Director of Medicine at the ASPCA’s Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital, and Dr. Stephen Zawistowski, ASPCA Executive Vice President and Science Advisor, offer the following tips to help you save money on your pet’s health care.
Schedule Regular Check-Ups
Remember the saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure?” Well, it applies to pets, too. Don’t skip your pet’s yearly exam. It’s much more expensive—and risky—to treat illnesses than to protect against them.
Personalize Your Pet’s Vaccines
Hard times are not an excuse to skip your pet’s annual shots, but it does make sense to talk to your vet about personalizing your pet’s vaccine protocol. Some vaccines are optional, while others are essential in preventing serious diseases. [Note: See the video on Dr Barchas' blog, where he makes recommendations to Snuzzy on what vaccines his cat should get.]
Spay or Neuter Your Pet
Spaying or neutering your pet can save a lot of money by preventing serious health problems including uterine, ovarian and testicular cancer. Many local shelters provide resources for low-cost or no-cost spay/neuter surgeries.
Brush Your Pet’s Teeth
Dental disease—such as tartar, gingivitis, loose or infected teeth—can lead to heart and kidney problems and expensive procedures. Start a daily dental routine to keep your pet’s teeth and gums healthy.
Protect Your Pet from Parasites
Flea and tick infestations can cause a host of costly medical problems from minor skin irritations to life-threatening anemia. Stick with a topical flea and tick solution to keep the critters at bay.
Toss the Cigarettes
Secondhand smoke is no joke for pets—it can cause asthma, bronchitis, lymphoma and oral, nasal and lung cancers. Quit now and you’ll save money on vet bills. At the very least, avoid smoking around your pet.
See a Specialist
Pet parents can reduce costs by getting a pet’s condition diagnosed and treated by an expert as quickly as possible. Veterinary specialists are available for everything from skin disease to cancer, and will often work within your budget.
Consider Pet Health Insurance
If the cost of an emergency vet visit or serious illness would be a financial strain, consider investing in pet health insurance, while your pet is healthy. Be sure to read the fine print, though—not all plans are created equal.
Buy High-Quality Pet Food
A good quality pet food—formulated under the guidelines of the American Association of Feed Control Officials—is often more cost effective than a homemade diet. Avoid overfeeding your pet, which can lead to obesity and other health problems.
Shop Smart
Whether he’s looking for pet food, medicine or grooming supplies, the smart shopper clips coupons and buys in bulk. It’s also a good idea to shop veterinary practices by comparing fees for preventative care.
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11/14/08
 The holidays are stressful enough without having to make a trip to the emergency vet. With Thanksgiving approaching, the ASPCA has published info on what holiday foods you should avoid feeding your cat. Sure, a little well-cooked, boneless turkey is okay as a treat, but other common foods are poisonous to your pet. Here’s the list:
Turkey
If you decide to feed your pet a little nibble of turkey, make sure it’s boneless and well-cooked. Don’t offer her raw or undercooked turkey, which may contain salmonella bacteria.
Sage
Sage can make your Thanksgiving stuffing taste delish, but it and many other herbs contain essential oils and resins that can cause gastrointestinal upset and central nervous system depression to pets if eaten in large quantities. Cats are especially sensitive to the effects of certain essential oils.
Bread Dough
Don’t spoil your pet’s holiday by giving him raw bread dough. According to ASPCA experts, when raw bread dough is ingested, an animal’s body heat causes the dough to rise in his stomach. As it expands, the pet may experience vomiting, severe abdominal pain and bloating, which could become a life-threatening emergency, requiring surgery.
Cake Batter
If you’re baking up Thanksgiving cakes, be sure your pets keep their noses out of the batter, especially if it includes raw eggs—they could contain salmonella bacteria that may lead to food poisoning.
Other forbidden foods:
Macadamia nuts (can cause weakness and tremors)
Raisins and grapes (can cause kidney failure)
Onions and garlic (can cause anemia)
Chocolate (contains caffeine and theobromine, two different types of stimulants that affect the central nervous system and the heart muscle, as well as increasing the frequency of urination)
Of course, the safest route is to avoid feeding Fluffy table scraps entirely. For the ASPCA’s safe Thanksgiving guidelines, go to ASPCA.org.
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11/03/08
Whether you want Mittens or Rowdy for President this is a vote you’ll want to cast. The ASPCA is having a Vote Against Cruelty campaign, they are trying to get as many votes as possible before election day.
Stop by their site and you can check out the candidates and see where they stand. Read what Rowdy the dog has to bark about or Mittens the cat is meowing about. Click on the map, see how many signatures the Vote Against Cruelty petition has received in your state has.
Most important, have fun and then pass this on to everyone you know. The more signatures they have the harder it will be for lawmakers to ignore the cat (and dog) lovers of America. Take a stand, lend a paw for change.
by Horst Hoefinger–Author, For the Love of Dog Blog
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