The Humane Advocate

Time to get real

During the past several months, Bloomington has been a buzz regarding the antiquated business of pet stores, animal welfare and puppy mills. The MCHA is strongly urging Delilah's Pet Store and Anthony's Pets to change their current practice of selling puppies and kittens. Other pet supply stores such as Petco and PetSmart have ethical policies regarding cats and dogs, working with shelters and rescues to help place homeless animals. Petco has recently gone a step further in their commitment to ethical business practices and animal welfare by announcing they will now phase-out the sale of rabbits. Locally owned pet supply store, T & T Pet Food and Supply does not sell animals of any kind and is a wonderful source of a large variety of pet food and supplies.

Those in defense of Delilah's selling pets have argued that the store does not obtain animals from puppy mills or backyard breeders and that some people don't want to "deal with those shelter dogs". These opinions are very telling of the lack of understanding of overpopulation, animal sheltering, animal welfare and commitment to the greater good of animals. In addition, there is an easy solution to the question of the source of animals from Delilah's, which would be full disclosure to the public.

To set the record straight, some of the top reasons for relinquishment to a shelter are: cannot afford/no time for pet, moving and landlord doesn't allow. This is contrary to the pro-pet shoppers spiel that there is something inherently wrong with animals that end up in a shelter. I find that to be an interesting "selling" point.

Animal shelters across the nation have a high percentage of pure bred animals at any given time. If the other side is going to argue that shelter dogs are flawed they should check the facts to know where shelter animals come from, including many purchased from Delilah's and the Anthony's Pets in the mall.

To sweeten this even more, just this week 9 mixed breed (lab/pit bull) puppies were given up to the City of Bloomington Animal Shelter from a backyard breeder who supplies puppies to Delilah's. He stated he is now in a tough spot since Delilah's burned down because he had sold the last two litters to them. He refused spay/neuter assistance for the lab and pit bull he is breeding.

I can undoubtedly say this was a direct contribution to the pet overpopulation crisis in our community and would welcome the other side to debate how it is not. Clearly breeding lab pit bull mixes to put a hefty price tag on should also be called into question for a myriad of reasons. This is not a responsible or reputable breeder or a store acting in the best interest of animals.

Not to be forgotten, Anthony's Pets in College Mall is another dark spot within our community. Contained in inspection reports from the City of Bloomington Animal Shelter, the owner of the store indicated he obtains his animals from an Amish breeder. When asked if it was the puppy miller who had been investigated by Channel 13 recently, he indicated it was.  Watch the Channel 13 Puppy Pipeline investigation video here.

To add to this unfolding debate, a class project at Indiana University has stirred further controversy. A group of students decided to hold a fundraiser for Delilah's titled Dollars for Delilah's. The group of well intentioned student thought they were raising funds for the care of the animals who survived the fire. According to Delilah's website : "All the puppies and kittens that were saved by our heroic public servants have been adopted, and they were all healthy due to the quick work of the fireman and the police." Those lucky animals were evaluated by a local vet, did not need any treatment and were released hours later, free of charge.  The students have stated they were told that funds were needed for the care of the surviving animals.

With the advent of the Owen County dog breeder, currently under investigation, stating that she also wants to open a pet store in Bloomington, unsuspecting consumers beware and be educated. Dealing dogs is a dirty business that requires deeper awareness and consideration by everyone.  The Bloomington community must demand a higher, more humane standard. We are better than this.

Take action today and sign the petition asking Delilah's and Anthony's Pets to stop selling puppies and kittens.

Truth Hurts

Amidst much debate about puppy mills and pet stores, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) today released results of an 8-month investigation of Petland, Inc., the nations largest chain of pet stores still selling puppies.

What they found is what many of us already knew to be true, pet stores do in fact sell puppies from puppy mills. In this case, Petland employees are caught on tape denying their puppies come from mills, yet HSUS visited 21 large-scale breeding operations connected to Petland finding animals in cramped, filthy, inhumane conditions. Of those facilities visited, many were located right here in the midwest.

Despite media and public attention regarding puppy mills, pet stores are still operating selling animals to an unsuspecting consumer.  Pet stores claim they know where the animals come from. How is it possible to keep the shelves stocked, run your business, manage your employees and visit every single source your animals are coming from? Not very likely. Pet stores often use brokers or online puppy buying sources without ever knowing the source of the animals. I'll say it again...reputable breeders do not sell to pet stores.

Still have a doubt or two? Read what a former Petland Kennel Manager had to say.  Whatever you do this holiday season, don't support puppy mills and don't buy a pet from a pet store. Companies like Petco and PetSmart have it right working with local rescues and shelters to adopt out homeless animals not contributing to the overpopulation crisis in this country.

The truth is hard to take for those that just don't want to believe how ugly it is. The truth however is going to prevail and the lies will no longer stick.

Visit our website to find out more about what you can do to stop puppy mills, and also visit the HSUS website to help take action by sending a message to Petland telling them to stop selling puppies.

 

In times of tragedy, opportunity knocks

The fire several weeks ago that destroyed Delilah's Pet Shop here in Bloomington was a tragic loss of animal life and a locally owned business. More than 20 animals perished in the fire and the building is beyond repair.

Recently, Delilah's has reopened in a temporary location selling pet supplies while another permanent location is being renovated. We can't imagine what the owners of the store have gone through over the past few weeks. Opportunity is however knocking at the door.

Selling animals is a risky business if you really care about the welfare of animals. It is nearly impossible to deal in dogs and not support backyard breeders or even worse, puppy mills. It's a matter of being educated about the issues and acting in ways that are in the best interest of the greater good. We don't doubt the Kidwell's care about animals, but they have a great responsibility to this community who has animal welfare high on its priority list. 

In this day and age, traditional pet stores are on the way out and should be. Millions of perfectly wonderful adoptable animals unnecessarily die in animal shelters across this country simply because they can't find a home. This is a crisis that requires more responsibility and awareness across the board to solve this unnecessary travesty. 

Shelters across the nation have a host of pure bred animals of all ages as do many breed specific rescues. Many of these animals are given up for reasons as simple as, no longer having time for the animals, moving, landlord won't allow or cannot afford. And, yes, people do spend $1200 on a puppy and turn around and relinquish it to the shelter because they just didn't realize how much work it would be. These are statistically the top reasons animals end up in a shelter.

In light of a new beginning for Delilah's we think it is time for an upgrade into a new era. I urge Delilah's to work with local shelters and rescue groups to help place adoptable animals instead of adding to the surplus of companion animals. Opportunity is knocking offering a more humane and responsible path and we hope this opportunity for change will be seized.

Chicken Dance Anyone?

This election cycle was a resounding success and moment in history, not only for this country, but for our animal friends.  The biggest animal welfare win to date has gone down in the history books with the dominating win of Proposition 2 in California. I’ve written about Prop 2 before and am thrilled beyond words to be on this side of a big win for the animals.

The passage of Proposition 2 now means that animals raised for food in California will have room to stretch out, stand up, spread their limbs, turn around and lay down. This means no more stacks of battery cages for chickens who spend their entire lives crammed into a tiny cage with many other birds, unable to act out any natural behaviors or do much else than suffer. This means sows will be freed from being totally unable to turn around and veal calves will have a little more comfort and some relief from spending day after day standing, chained inside a painfully small crate.

The human error in factory farming is enormous. We as a society have ended up in this situation of inflicting mass cruelty to animals for our gain because the focus has been on cheap mass production of a "product". It's one thing if we are talking about widgets of some sort, but this product involves a living, feeling animal.

Proposition 2 marks the dawn of a new era where our society has stood up and said we can do better. We most certainly can and will. Compassion for animals must span all animals, even those raised for food. They feel pain and suffer. A little more comfort and consideration for their plight is not too much to ask, and California agreed.

Indiana is the third highest ranked state for egg production with Monroe County being one of only four counties that does not have any CFO’s (Confined Feeding Operations) or CAFO’s (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations). 

Indiana communities are increasingly considering the expansion of large animal farms as key sources for food manufacturers and strategies for economic development. We hope that the passage of Proposition 2 will have ripple effects across the United States including right here in Indiana. A more humane Indiana is most certainly in order.

I did a little dancing for the animals..you should feel free to do the same.

Politics and Animals

So you wonder how the two go together? For some elected officials it's like oil and water. For others animals are an easy mix.

Electing humane minded individuals to office is one of the best things we can do to help animals. So much of what is need to stop the senseless suffering of animals depends on the support and leadership of decision makers at the local, state and federal level.

Case in point, the most recent puppy mill bust in Sullivan County, IN. Clara Vowell, the operator of this long-time Indiana puppy mill was in the end allowed to keep over 100 animals in horrific conditions that no reasonable person should think is humane or an acceptable life for any animal.

Why did this happen?  One, there has to be a willingness of local prosecutors to prosecute these cases. Animal cases get dismissed on a regular basis as not high on the priority list, not taken seriously and if they do make it through to court, the charges are often minimal. And, sadly many times corruption and complacency in local law enforcement often results in abusers being tipped off or protected.

Two, current Indiana state laws protecting animals are some of the weakest in the nation. Period. It should be an embarrassment to our legislators that Indiana has a national reputation as being a backwards state soft on animal protection issues. We can do better than this and the citizens of Indiana should demand it. Currently, Indiana state law basically only requires that companion animals have some form of shelter, food and water. Based on this definition, proving and charging neglect of animals such as the animals in the Sullivan County Mill, is nearly impossible. See what the Herald-Times had to say here.

Bloomington and a select few other cities and towns across Indiana have taken matters in their own hands and enacted local ordinances to protect animals and punish abusers. But, we are in the minority as there are 29 counties across the state that do not have a shelter, animal control and few if any resources to protect animals.  Sullivan County is one of those counties and a prime example of what happens to animals when local ordinances don't exists, state laws fail and local "politics" meant turning a blind eye for years. It took outside pressure and the help of the Indiana State Police to accomplish anything.

The status quo and message sent to us from our decision makers is that abuse stands a good chance of going unpunished and unchecked in Indiana. If it can be ignored, brushed under the rug or actually protected by small town politics, it most certainly will be. I've seen it and witnessed first hand the types of abuse that have gone unpunished and unchecked. It is morally and ethically wrong and must be stopped.

So this is where you come in. Educate yourself about your local, state and federal representatives. Ask them where they stand on animal welfare. Check their voting records to see if they voted for or against animals. You may be surprised at what you find.

One tool you can use to check on your federal representatives and senators is the Humane Scorecard produced by the Humane Society Legislative Fund. It's election time and you should know if your vote is helping or hurting animals.

A true animal hero

Meet Cathi Eagan, a remarkable local animal advocate who has recently been nominated and is in the running to be Animal Planet's 2008 Animal Hero of the Year. 

Cathi is the inspiration and energy behind the Canine Express transport program that is responsible for transporting over 3,434 Indiana shelter dogs to various New England area shelters to be adopted. Many of those dogs came from our very own City of Bloomington Animal Shelter. 

With a caravan of 4 -5 cargo vans, Cathi and a crew of volunteer drivers start out once a month early in the morning making the rounds to local shelters to pick-up the precious cargo that has been selected to make the trip to New England. They then drive through the night on a two-day trip to drop-off the lucky pups at the various shelters that have agreed to take them.  

Thanks to aggressive spay/neuter programs and laws, the New England area has seen a decline in the number of dogs in shelters. Lucky for many Monroe County dogs, Cathi has created an opportunity for a happy second chance at the life they deserve. 

This is what you would consider a labor of love as the trip is grueling for the drivers, who along the way make stops to walk each and every dog, sometimes taking up to an hour or two to finish the job. 

As all of us who work to protect animals have had our defining moment, committing ourselves to the animals, Cathi's moment involved standing afoot the tomb of St. Francis of Assisi in Italy.

St. Francis is the patron saint of animals and the environment and quite the appropriate figure to inspire Cathi's work. 

Cathi without a doubt earns the title of Animal Hero and serves as inspiration to everyone who cares about the welfare of animals. We all can make a difference.

 

Make sure to visit the Animal Planet website and vote for Cathi. To find out who wins, watch Animal Planet Heroes, Dec. 4 at 10PM e/p.

 

As a side note, if you are Catholic ask your church if they will be holding a ceremony on October 4th, which is the feast day celebrating St. Francis. Many churches hold pet blessings on October 4th in his honor.  

    

  

Farm Bloomington, better for you, better for the animals

If you haven't visited FARM Bloomington yet, I'll give you another reason to consider it as your next dining out destination.

I've previously written about Proposition 2, the California ballot initiative that will improve the quality of life of animals raised for food by requiring minimum standards of housing, allowing animals to have the ability to stand up, turn around, extend their limbs and lay down.

This measure will not only have a positive impact on the welfare of the animals, but also the quality and safety of food you are eating.

Right here in Bloomington, we are fortunate enough to have a thriving restaurant that is doing even better. FARM Bloomington obtains much of the food on its menu from locally produced sources including the use of cage-free eggs and meat from Indiana farms that allow their stock to roam freely, graze on grass and carry out their inherent behaviors.

Chef Daniel Orr, a Columbus native and world traveled chef, has established a dining gem here in Bloomington that supports local growers serving healthier food and supporting farms utilizing more humane methods of raising animals for food.

Thumbs up from the MCHA and if you haven't been there yet, do visit the Farm. It's fantastic! 

Educating for now and the future

Education has long been a cornerstone of the mission of the MCHA. From the inception of our organization in 1956, the founders set out to educate our communities about animal welfare and the humane treatment of all animals.

With school back in full swing, the MCHA is actively engaged in our local school systems, as well as Greene County. Sarah DeLone, MCHA Education Program Director is hard at work visiting classrooms of all ages teaching our youth about compassion for all animals, responsible pet ownership, wildlife, animal welfare issues and much more.

The MCHA proudly provides over 200 free humane programs a year to more than 6,800 individuals with our cast of animal ambassadors.

MCHA programs are customized for age appropriateness and meet Indiana Academic Standards helping teachers meet teaching requirements. Education programs are also available to community groups and can be customized to meet specific needs.

Alongside our Education Programs, the MCHA also provides KIND News to over 100 Monroe County Classrooms, free of charge, thanks to the generosity of our donors. This age specific publication teaches compassion for animals and the environment in a fun and engaging monthly newspaper providing a copy to each student in each sponsored classroom.

And, did you think we let up during the summer? Never! This summer marked the third annual Paws and Claws Summer Camp for kids. Due to popular demand our summer camp expanded in year two and three to offer two sold out sessions of camp.

New this year the MCHA is kicking-off a Middle School Animal Welfare Club to engage middle schoolers. The new club will be named by members and will of course focus on animal welfare and taking action as a group for the animals. Don't miss the the first meeting September 24th!

It's heart-warming, encouraging and rewarding for the MCHA staff to see so many young animal advocates, eager to learn, take action and growing into strong voices for the animals that need us. These children are the future of the animal welfare movement.

Click here to see a quick list of what some of our humane kids have done. If you have stories to share of acts of kindness from kids, let us know! We want to recognize these efforts and share them with the community.

It's a dogs life at the MCHA

A day in any of the MCHA staff's work lives can cross a broad spectrum of topics, experiences, emotions and activities. But, we don't stand alone. What many of you might not know about are the dogs that are just as much staff as the humans at the MCHA. We have a corporate culture and it includes several four-legged friends.

I start each day with my former shelter dog Audrey who dutifully reports to the office as if she has as long a to-do list as I do. By the time we make it into my office I have usually accumulated an extra dog or three.  These dogs would be Audrey's extended dog family of Journey, Gage and Daisy, dogs of MCHA Education Program Director Sarah DeLone.

Thanks to a very committed long-time MCHA volunteer, Jeanne Antilla, a treat jar on my desk is always generously stocked and the dogs know it. Nothing can happen until they get their morning treat. The silly human has effectively been trained in this case.

Each one of our dogs provide us with moral support and have their role as part of the MCHA. Journey is the famous one of the bunch who is the star of many of the over 200 free humane education programs provided by the MCHA to our schools and community each year.

Journey is also a VIPaws Pet Partner volunteering her services and good cheer to those that need it most. She has been visiting children at The Rise in Bloomington every Friday for many years, among other facilities. We truly owe Journey the corner office for all she is doing for other animals and the MCHA.                                                     

Not to slight the others, Gage and Daisy are also both accomplished VIPaws Pet Partners participating in such programs as ARF (Animal Reading Friends) at the Monroe County Public Library (MCPL). ARF is a partnership between the MCPL and the MCHA providing children the opportunity to practice their reading skills by reading to the dogs.

Audrey, who might not have all the perfected skill sets the DeLone dogs hold, has her place as well. This includes mothering any small animal that may be in our office especially rabbits and her favorite, kittens.

All the dogs look forward to weekly visits from our fantastic Stonebelt volunteers who collect donations from our donation cans around town and bring treats to our kids. 

Faithful canine companions enrich every dog guardians life with unconditional love and companionship. Our dogs are also woven into the tapestry of our mission as tightly as we are.

On behalf of the MCHA dogs I encourage you and your furry pals to join us at the Walk for the Animals, Sunday, October 5, 2008,1 - 4PM at Karst Farm Park, to celebrate all animals and support the mission of the Monroe County Humane Association.

If you haven't already, register for the event by setting up your personal fundraising webpage and start helping the animals today. For all the animal companions we cherish in our own lives, there are many more less fortunate that need us.

 

Gage with Diamond, MCHA Animal Ambassador

 

 

 

 

 

                                                          Daisy at Meadowood

Give Props to Prop 2

So much is happening in the animal welfare world that it can be hard to keep up. One issue that has many animal advocates across the nation down right giddy is the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act or Proposition 2. Prop 2 is a ballot initiative that will appear on the November 2008 election ballot in California that will stop the inhumane practice of confining farm animals into small cages completely inhibiting their ability to turn around, lie down or extend their limbs.

Currently, many farmed animals such as veal calves, pigs and egg-laying hens are confined to tiny cages barely larger than their bodies. Calves are tethered by the neck unable to move, pigs in severe confinement bite the metal bars of their crates and hens get trapped and even impaled in their wire cages.

All animals regardless if they are for food or not, deserve better treatment. These animals have the ability to suffer and feel pain just as other animals do and are being subjected to some of the worst treatment and conditions imaginable.

The term compartmentalized compassion comes to mind regarding farmed animals. It is easy for many to say that abuse of a dog or cat is wrong, but somehow we have compartmentalized our compassion to exclude animals raised for food. Prop 2 will be a monumental win and shift in how we view and treat farmed animals.

Not only will countless animals have their suffering reduced by being given the ability to lay down, turn around, extend their limbs and stand up, but we can count on safer food and an improvement to human health. Factory farms can also have terrible effects on the communities in which they are located, contaminating waterways, soil and the air. Read the facts about Prop 2.

The opposition has been busy at work trying to undermine this simple, sensible reform by attempting to mislead the public and protect their own interests, which most definitely have nothing to do with the humane treatment of the animals. Check out the facts, who the opposition is and their less than stellar track records.

Photo: Farm Sanctuary

Our thoughtful consideration to this issue as a society is necessary and something each one of us should take a moment to really think about. It is a moral and ethical question we shouldn't sweep under the rug or pretend doesn't exist. Compassion and humane treatment must extend to all animals including those raised for food. Visit the Prop 2 website for complete details and be sure to tell any friends or family members you may have in California to vote YES on Prop 2. My family members in California are ready and waiting to cast their yes vote!