Wednesday, June 29, 2011

FIREWORKS ARE NO FUN FOR PETS!

More pets get lost and end up in shelters on the 4th of July

Independence Day is fun and festive for many families; let’s also keep it SAFE for you and your pets! Big gatherings, loud noises, and fireworks are the things we love about the 4th of July and those can be very frightening for our pets. With a little planning, you can ensure that this holiday will be enjoyable for everyone.

Pet Safety Tips:

• KEEP PETS INDOORS

Keep your pets in a safe, enclosed room, preferably one without windows. If you’re having guests over, consider keeping pets in a room that’s off-limits to guests, with plenty of water and food.

• CREATE A CALMING ENVIRONMENT

Surround pets with their favorite toys and other familiar objects. Sometimes the smell of an article of clothing from your laundry can help comfort them. Play soothing music and keep the room as quiet as possible by closing doors, windows, and blinds.

• KEEP AWAY FROM FIREWORKS

Even if your pet doesn’t seem obviously upset by fireworks, t
hey can still cause harm to pets. Avoid potential burns, injuries, or possible ingestion by keeping all pets out of the vicinity of fireworks.

• UPDATE IDENTIFICATION

The biggest risk of all this 4th of July is that pets will get loose and become lost. Even if a pet is secured inside, the sound of fireworks can cause them to panic – sometimes even breaking through glass windows. Make sure your pets are microchipped and wearing identification tags. Dogs should have a City License on their collar. Call to confirm that the pet’s veterinarian and the microchip company have your current address and phone numbers.

Enjoy your Holiday and play it safe! Happy 4th of July Los Angeles!


The mission of the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services is to promote and protect the health, safety and welfare of animals and people. Call us at 1-888-452LA-PET1/1-888-452-7381 (TTY Hearing impaired: 877-875-8205) or visit the website at www.LAAnimalServices.com to learn more.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Take Your Dog to Work Day!

On Friday June 24th, work places across America are literally going to the dogs! That’s right- it is Take Your Dog to Work Day! Started in 1999, this fun day helps promote the human- canine bond with both owned pets and shelter dogs. Having a dog at the office can decrease stress and increase motivation to work.

In order to make this an enjoyable day for both dogs and people, here are a few tips:

  • Get permission from your place of work, before bringing your dog.
  • Work on obedience cues before bringing your dog to work with you.
  • Have a reliable contact to pick your dog up, if a full day at the office is too stressful for your canine companion.
  • Have your dog on leash at all times, to keep everyone safe and secure.
  • Respect other people and their dogs, never forcing interactions
  • Take plenty of treats that your dog enjoys, to reward good behaviors.
  • Find out where designated potty breaks are.
  • If your workplace is not appropriate to bring your dog, ask if you can promote local adoptable dogs instead.
Enjoy this day with your dog or by helping a dog who needs a loving home. For more information, go to: http://www.takeyourdog.com/

Monday, June 13, 2011

Standing Against Breed Specific Legislation

Last week, a bill was introduced in Michigan that sought to end "pit bull" ownership across the state. The good news is that Rep. Hugh Crawford, chair of the House Regulatory Reform Committee, said he has no intention of taking up the legislation. Rep. Crawford accurately stated: "I don't think it's a dog problem, I think it's a people problem."

The bad news is that this is not the first nor the last we've seen of breed specific legislation. The Michigan bill can still be resurrected, and policies that target pit bulls are being proposed, discussed, passed or repealed in cities across the country.

Pit Bull Rescue Central is opposed to all breed-specific legislation. Below is the letter sent from PBRC's President to Rep. Tim Bledsoe, who introduced the Michigan pit bull ban, urging him to research the issue further and seek alternatives that judge a dog based on behavior rather than appearance.

There are few things as emotional as the prospect of losing your dog. But if BSL comes to your neighborhood, remember to always remain polite and professional. The facts are on our side.

Feel free to use the talking points below. For more resources, including the latest news and tools to fight BSL, check out Understand-a-Bull.com and PBRC's website.

*****

Dear Rep. Bledsoe,

I was dismayed to read the text of HB 4714, “the pit bull regulation and prohibition act,” introduced last week. While Rep. Hugh Crawford has indicated that he will not be hearing the bill in the Michigan House Regulatory Reform Committee, I wanted to reach out to you to provide information on the issue and to encourage you to seek more effective alternatives to protect Michigan citizens.

In recent months, Dearborn, Lincoln Park, Rochester Hills, Southfield, and Sterling Heights all opted not to pursue breed-specific measures after researching the issue. While HB 4714 was introduced in Michigan, Ohio, the only state that currently regulates dogs based on breed, was hearing testimony on a bill that would overturn its breed-specific law. In addition to being constitutionally challenged, Ohio’s law has proven ineffective and expensive.

The media has reported that you introduced this bill in response to a constituent who had been injured in a dog attack, based on the belief that some breeds of dog are a greater threat to public safety than others. This belief, while unfortunately common, is not supported by facts. Consider the following:

- Dog bite statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are often cited as support that some breeds of dog pose a greater threat than others. However, the CDC and the authors of that study have stated that its purpose was to show that it is not one breed that is responsible for dog bites. They have also admitted that the data is inaccurate because media reports were a major source of the information.

- There is no statistical evidence that some dog breeds are more dangerous than others. The CDC dog bite fact sheet states: “There is currently no accurate way to identify the number of dogs of a particular breed, and consequently no measure to determine which breeds are more likely to bite or kill.” In fact, the CDC stopped tracking dog bites by breed years ago.

- The lack of information on how many pets or what breeds are owned is exaggerated when you consider that dog breeds in bite reports are identified by the victim, police officers, or reporters -- none of whom are trained in dog breed identification. A study by Dr. Victoria Voith found that, when compared with DNA tests, visual identification by animal shelter workers (who are experienced in dog breed identification) was only correct in 25% of the cases.

- Dog bite studies that rely on media reports (e.g. The Clifton Study, Dogsbite.org) are particularly inaccurate. In addition to the reasons cited above, the media is inconsistent in reporting bites by other breeds, or may initially report that a “pit bull” was responsible for a dog bite when it is later discovered that the dog involved was not, in fact, a pit bull breed.

- I understand that you are the owner of a Golden Retriever, a breed which has a great reputation as a family dog. According to the American Temperament Testing Society (http://atts.org/), which administers standardized temperament tests, 84.9% of Golden Retrievers tested passed their temperament evaluation. Yet 86.4% of American Pit Bull Terriers, 84.2% of American Staffordshire Terriers, and 89.7% of Staffordshire Bull Terriers also passed the test, disproving claims that they are less stable than other dogs.

The fact is that dogs do not bite because they look a certain way. Banning breeds will only punish responsible owners and innocent dogs, while those whose recklessness endangers others will ignore the law or simply switch to a different breed. Successful dangerous dog legislation, in states like Illinois, focuses on the responsibility of the owner and on the dog’s behavior, rather than its appearance.

As a pit bull owner and a Michigan taxpayer, I would be happy to work with you on alternative legislation that can achieve our common goal of enhancing public safety based on a deeper understanding of the issue.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Feldstein
Resident of Ypsilanti, Michigan
Pit Bull Rescue Central President

Monday, June 6, 2011

Saving Audie

If you are looking for a great family and pit bull friendly book, check out "Saving Audie". This book highlights Audie, a former Vick dog, and his journey from a fearful dog to a breed ambassador.

His website is:
www.savingaudie.com

He even has his own Facebook page!


This brave, adorable dog is getting lots of well deserved publicity! Check out the links below with just some of the reviews:


From Best Friends Animal Shelter website about the book:
http://network.bestfriends.org/campaigns/pitbulls/16600/news.aspx

Here's the review from Publishers Weekly:
Saving Audie: A Pit Bull Puppy Gets a Second Chance

“This polished photo-essay by frequent collaborators Patent and Muñoz will tug at the heartstrings of readers--especially those sympathetic to the plight of the often-maligned pit bull. In cogent, conversational prose, the author chronicles the rehabilitation journey of one of the dogs rescued in 2007 from NFL quarterback Michael Vick's illegal dogfighting operation. Named Audie by his eventual owners, the dog first spent months caged in a shelter until animal rights groups successfully petitioned the courts to allow the rescued pit bulls to be tested to determine if they were safe to handle. Placed in a permanent home, Audie gradually learned to trust people and get along with other dogs. After undergoing knee surgery, he began training for agility competitions and, in a satisfying cap to his success story, now acts as a "canine coach," helping shy and fearful dogs. Muñoz's crisp, candid photos include many endearing shots of Audie--both solo and interacting with humans and other rescued dogs. Bright backgrounds and caption-like commentary keep this uplifting and informational book lively.” – Publishers Weekly

And the starred review from School Library Journal:


“This is the story of one dog’s journey from NFL star quarterback Michael Vick’s insidious dog-fighting kennel to a good home. With the help of animal-rights groups like the ASPCA and BAD RAP (Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pit Bulls), Audie was tested, trained, and taken into foster care. His foster family identified his needs and potential, and continued his training until they found Linda and William, who loved and adopted him. Patent and Muñoz bring to life each step of progress and show how the bandy-legged, shoe-chewing puppy grew and graduated from Canine Good Citizen and obedience classes. Due to court-ordered reparations pertaining to the Vick case, the pup received knee surgery that allowed him to participate in agility work that turned out to be one of his talents. From cowering against a wall to learning self-esteem, the pit bull became a coach to other dogs learning to live with people and animals. This book has a positive impact to counteract the myths about the breed. The back matter includes information about pit bulls, BAD RAP, advocates of the breed, the Vick case time line, and a list ‘for further reading and surfing.’” – School Library Journal