Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic - Iowa

I am posting a list of Low Cost Spay / Neuter Clinics that I have run across in my internet travels. I've never tried these clinics out but if you have, PLEASE post your experience about them!! For a complete list of the states/provinces, see the contents page here.

IOWA

Featured Rescue or Guess The Breed? - Tux the Red Mix

Tux is listed on Petango as a "Lancashire Heeler / Mix" however after running a quick Google search on this breed, I just DON'T see the resemblance! Perhaps they know something about the owner?? Or perhaps there is a Lancashire Heeler enthusiast that volunteers at the Orangeville SPCA. Tux is listed as a medium sized, stray. He is reportedly very nervous.

Here's a picture ... what do you think?? Let's do a quick Guess The Breed and see what you guys think! What breed would you guess at being in Tux?

Ready?


SET?!


GO!!!!!




I'm going to guess ... yep, you got it! Kelpie. It's really hard to tell from this angle but he looks like a Kelpie. I'd love to see what his tail looks like or even better -- a picture that is a side profile.

Pupdate - ACD Foster ... Red-dog

Well it's been an interesting adventure with our foster dog, Red (which is what we tend to call her). As I mentioned in an earlier post, she is a 2 year old, deaf Australian Cattle Dog. I have to say that it's been an adventure. Working with a deaf dog is new to me so it's been a great challenge.

When Red first came home, she spent hours trying to attack the dogs. She tried to eat the cats. She couldn't even begin to comprehend the farm animals in our barn (and we didn't take her there for the first three weeks). She would be out of her crate or kennel for an hour and be mentally exhausted. (Thank goodness that we have both!)




I spoke with some people and found out that when people are in jail, they tend to sleep a lot when they've been "in" for a while. I believe Red had a similar experience. I wonder if it is a form of depression? I'm no shrink so I can't really begin to speculate.



It's been a month now and we've learned a lot about her. First, let me update her "ad" for you ...



Red is a 2 year old ACD. While she seems to be deaf, there are instances when no other animals are around and she does seem to hear sounds so we wonder if there is a hearing impairment coupled with some selective hearing. For the time being and for all intensive purposes, we consider her to be deaf. She is super affectionate with people and will melt anyone's heart and while she does not like cats at all, she does seem to genuinely like some dogs. Like most ACD's, Red needs a strong, firm but fair leader - no pushovers please!

We have learned a few things about Red ...



She will attack a dog that seems fearful, weak or is unable to defend itself (it may be sleeping or have something in its mouth). In that way, she is a bully.



She loves dogs who are older, bigger or have boat-loads of confidence.




She LOVES to swim. We take her to the pond every few days and she will swim around just for the sake of swimming. For the days we don't want to go to the pond, we do have a toddler pool that she enjoys using.



She gets the “zoomies” now. It’s so funny to see. Her “zoomie” time is usually after dinner during our evening walk.



She is mimicking my dogs’ behaviour and that of dogs who visit us. She watches them intently and then does exactly the same thing. Very entertaining.

Red is not yet ready to go to a new home. She is only able to take 4 hours of mental stimulation before getting irritable (at which point, she will take her frustration out on anything with 4 legs). She can only take about an hour of physical stimulation (running around the field on a long line or swimming and splashing around the pond). We are looking to get a vibrating collar courtesy of BAS ... we'll see. I'd like to teach her to come when it vibrates (I know, most people use the vibration as a "reward" but I don't want that ... I want something that will tell her to come back - this is how a hunter I know trains his redbones). If she will come when it vibrates, it will make me feel a whole lot better because I would know that there is a way for me to communicate with her when she's far away.


** Note the two "kiddie pools" below ... note the price difference. You can get them cheap if you go and buy a kids pool rather than a "dog" pool.

Featured Rescue - Adonis the American Bulldog

I thought I'd start today's Featured Rescue with a little lesson ...



Adonis was the young lover of Aphrodite. He was gored by a wild boar in the hunt and died in the arms of Aphrodite, who came to him when she heard his groans ... He has had multiple roles, and there has been much scholarship over the centuries concerning his meaning and purpose in Greek religious beliefs. He is an annually-renewed, ever-youthful vegetation god, a life-death-rebirth deity whose nature is tied to the calendar. His name is often applied in modern times to handsome youths.

Today's Featured Rescue is named Adonis and a handsome youth he is! Adonis is in the care of Tuscola County Animal Control Shelter which is located in Caro, MI. Adonis is reportedly 2 - 3 years old. The Shelter reports that he is gentle. Here's hoping he finds a wonderful, loving home who will keep him healthy and safe until he is old and grey (and keeps him away from any wild boars).

PSA ~ Help Me ... Take Me To The Clinic!

Roberta @ Silverwalk posted a comment and a link in one of my blog entries so, naturally I went and visited it (as I do with every link people send me). The link I went to was the blog for a newspaper called Southeast Missourian. When I went there, I found the video below and thought I really should post it. Crossposting helps get the information out there and in my opinion ... anything that will help should be done.



Some people I've met have troubles learning certain concepts but they have told me (and I strongly believe) that if you put that same information to a song, you will learn it FAR quicker with less pain. So ... here goes nothing! (I hope it works).



Enjoy.

News Reel ~ Charges Dropped!

I read this on Monday and was so angry that I haven't been able to post about it until now. Monday morning the press releases started ... the Crown has dropped all 46 charges against Tim Trow and other "higher-ups" of the Toronto Humane Society. From what I've read, the OSPCA's warrant had some big issues which allowed all evidence gathered to be thrown out. Check out the articles below for details.

*headdesk headdesk headdesk*

Why charges were dropped in Humane Society case



Animal cruelty case bungled



This is a classic example of how much our animal cruelty laws suck and how the legal system works against itself. It's absolutely ridiculous that this would happen. For those of you who don't remember the problems of THS, please review the following blog entries I made here, here, here, here and here.



To summarize ... The THS was not feeding each of the animals on a daily basis. In order to ensure their euthanasia numbers were low, staff were instructed to let the animals die in their cages. There were dead, emaciated cat bodies found in live traps in the ceilings. Many of the animals in the cages were sick/injured and required medical attention. Most should have been humanely euthanized.



*** Here's My Rant ... This is infuriating. This is ridiculous. This is horrible. The legal system here in Ontario is horrible and protects the people it should be prosecuting. Asshats. All of them. Idiots. Complete and utter morons. What a waste. Some people are a Waste of Skin and Resources. Tim Trow and his "Cronies" are good examples.



Looking at the silver lining ... Tim Trow is no longer associated with THS; he probably won't be able to find work in the animal care field for a long time; THS has new staff; THS has gone through a thorough cleaning both metaphorically speaking and physically; the animals at THS are being better taken care of now.

*sigh*

Back to the drawing board ...

All I can do is make a difference, one dog at a time.

DDF Contest Results!

Yes everyone ... the results for the DDF Contest to Celebrate 200 Followers is in! Thank you to everyone who participated.

I wrote out all the entrants on Post-it Notes.

Then we put into a container and I asked my nephew to pull out the winners. I numbered them as they came out so we remember who's entry was pulled at what time.

Congratulations to the winners! The order they came out are as follows:


1 ~ Maria Liza ... 14 day ad on Adgitize
2 ~ Sherry ... 7 day ad on Adgitize
3 ~ tatess ... 1000 Entrecard Credits



I will be contacting you shortly to arrange your prizes.



Since I have some extra Entrecard Credits, I am going to add a little bonus into the contest! I am going to divide the ECs up that I have left and send an equal amount to each participant! It won't be much but it is a small thank you for all of you.

DDF PSA ~ Adopt A Pet Q&A

Jeff from Adopt-A-Pet.com asked that I share some questions and answers about Pet Adoption with my readers. It is quite different from most of the Q&A's that are published about Pet Adoption because it is written as an interview would be conducted. It is not your normal questions either ... I found it interesting to read and I hope you do too. I have highlighted sentences that I found to be keystones in RED (though normally my comments are red, they aren't today!).

Common Questions About Pet Adoption

Featured Rescue Friday ~ Penny the Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkie)

Happy Friday everyone! I thought I'd post a Featured Rescue today ... There have been a lot of controversy about rescues buying old breeders from puppy mills and whether or not this perpetuates the problem ... I'm not getting into that today or poor Penny would never be Featured!

Penny spent her first 4 years in a wire cage "working" for a puppy mill. When she arrived in rescue she reportedly had "swollen, infected paws, ear infections and a very deep ulcer in her right eye". She has since had surgery to correct her eye and is recovering well. She is friendly with other dogs and ignores cats. Although she likes people well enough, there are some lingering trust issues that the potential adoptive home will have to work out.



If you are interested in offering Penny a home, please contact Marilyns Voice Inc. which is a 501(c) (3) registered non-profit corporation out of Mentor, OH run 100% by volunteers.

We're All in This Together ... Right? WRONG!

Before you read on, please note that I'm not trying to say anything bad about one organization vs. another ... I am simply stating things the way I see them. If you have different opinions, please feel free to post them ... but please back up your statements with facts - not feelings.

I feel that every dog should have a good home but that's not going to change anything because it is simply a stated "feeling". I foster because I can change things for that dog. This is a fact. I may not change the world, but I changed the world for that dog.

It never ceases to amaze me how Rescues, SPCA's and Humane Societies refuse to actually work together. It is something that really infuriates me. It will send me over the edge within seconds.

We're all in this together ... right?! WRONG

Let me explain a bit.



I look at animal rescue as something that needs to be done. You are there to help the animals. So why is it that these organizations refuse to work with other groups unless they need something?



SPCA's and Humane Societies are quite happy to send their dogs through Breed Specific Rescues because the rescues are helping them. The SPCA and Humane Society gets angry at the Breed Rescue that refuses a dog. The Breed Rescue gets angry because it feels that the SPCA and Humane Society is using them. It is a vicious cycle.



The Breed Rescue refuses to take on a dog for a multitude of reasons; all of which are valid ... but will they cross post a dog that is "their breed" on their website to direct potential adopters to the SPCA or Humane Society? No. That might take away from people who would adopt from them.



Do these Breed Rescues, SPCAs or Humane Societies actually do anything to HELP each other?? No. Why? Business is Business.



If you have a different experience, please share with the group. If you have an example of a time when one of these organizations helped out the other WITHOUT the motivation of "how can this help me", please share. Or perhaps multiple organizations got together and did a fundraising event where they helped each other get attendees, then split the profits??



So if we're all out there to help animals and we all share a common goal, then why the tension between groups?? Why don't we work together? Why aren't we helping one another for the animals, if for nothing else??



No matter how you look at things, these organizations are trying to pay the bills at the end of the month; just like any other business. And just like any other business ... well ... "business is business".

Here's a question no one ever asks ...




Why are there some shelters with dog kennels and space for 20 dogs but they only have 3 in the building? Why are the "shelters next door" still euthanizing for space if there is so much space elsewhere? Why are the kill shelters screaming for rescues and shelters to help them? Why aren't these shelters working together?



Why are the animals not the number one priority?



Business is Business.

Featured Rescue FollowUps - June and July

Today's Featured Rescue Followup will be for June and July. I haven't posted many Featured Rescue posts this summer ... without further ado, here are the Followups.

News Reel - External Investigation into Ringworm Outbreak

I know many of you remember the Ringworm Outbreak at the York Region Branch OSPCA (in Newmarket, Ontario). I have blogged about it previously (here as a Featured Rescue and here as a News Reel). Many people were outraged that the OSPCA would decide to euthanize healthy animals simply because they share a building/shelter with infected ones. It is not a popular decision and it is not one that I condone. I do not believe the OSPCA needed to euthanize all the animals ... however we should all remember that the number of animals that were to be euthanized is but a drop in the bucket.



Below is a media release from the OSPCA. The organization is bringing in an external body to conduct a formal investigation about this whole thing. They do not have a date yet set for a follow up media release but I will be sure to let you know.



I think this is impressive. That an organization would allow an external investigation - that may potentially air out dirty laundry - is big news to me.



My personal opinion is that rescues should all work together (I know ... it's idealistic and unrealistic) and that even a body as big as the OSPCA has room for improvement. We all do. So why would we try to cover it up? Why not identify where the flaws are and fix them??



Check out the Media Release and let me know what you think ... what are your views on this??



Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals welcomes independent experts to review York Region Branch ringworm outbreak

News Reel - Couple's Dogs Killed in Repeat Crime

Here's today's Asshat Article ... Henious Headline ... Cruelty Case ... Kruel Killers ... Overconfident Owners ... and so on. Couple's dogs killed in repeat crime.



Apparently, this couple's "basset hound Annie and Belgian shepherd Rio were shot last year; police believe someone poisoned [basset hound] Ellie May and [German Shepherd] Schultz this week."




Alright, what's the first thing that comes to your mind when you read this article?? The first thing that comes to mine is ... What did these dog owners do?



First off, that is very sad that their dogs were both killed last year. It is terrible that their new, replacement dogs were killed this year.



Now ... the next thing that pops into my head ... what have these owners done to cause someone to need to kill their dogs?? Why are these people still allowing their dogs outside without supervision?? Why are the owners giving the killers an opportunity to even get close to their dogs?!?



*headdesk headdesk*



We all have to admit that there are idiots and asshats everywhere. It is our job as dog owners to protect our dogs from those crazy people.



The next thing that I start to think about is ... what could cause people to shoot these dogs?? Are they barking all night long?? Are they going for a walking "tour" and chasing/killing the neighbours' livestock??



My mind starts looking for the cause and effect ... things like that don't happen randomly.

Adopt-A-Pet website ... a new way of listing shelter dogs

I received an email from a representative of "Adopt-A-Pet.com" recently. I'm sure other bloggers received the same email. The rep requested that I publish a post about the website. After spending some time checking out the site, I agreed. (See below for more info) This will be similar to a Post Exchange.

News Reel - Scientists Discover World's Oldest Dog Bone

Ok, this is just neat. In Tuebingen University, scientists have identified a bone that has been sitting around in storage since it was found in Switzerland in 1873. (Read the entire article here - Scientists discover world's oldest dog bone )



The bone has been identified as a canine jaw bone that is between 14,000 and 14,600 years old! Scientists have confirmed that it is a dog bone, not a wolf bone (the shape is distinctly different).




This find proves that humans kept dogs over 14,000 years ago, which was a time when humans were still hunter-gatherers. "The find shed no further light on when man began to tame wolves but indicated that the process was well underway 14 000 years ago, as the dog bones had already evolved differently from their wild ancestors"




So why is this important to us?? It doesn't really change the way we treat our dogs, but it is important that we understand how long the relationship between dogs and humans have existed.




I think that the lengthy relationship is, in and of itself, important to acknowledge.

Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic - Indiana

I am posting a list of Low Cost Spay / Neuter Clinics that I have run across in my internet travels. I've never tried these clinics out but if you have, PLEASE post your experience about them!! For a complete list of the states/provinces, see the contents page here.

INDIANA