Animal News (other than cats)

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To celebrate their new building, located at 2020 State Route 142 NE in West Jefferson, the Humane Society of Madison County will be holding an Open House and Adopt-a-thon Friday, February 10 (1-7pm), Saturday, February 11 (Noon to 5 pm), and Sunday, February 12 (1-5 pm). The official ribbon cutting will be Friday at 1 pm.

During the Open House, tours of the facility will be given. There will also be door prizes, refreshments, and tons of happy animals to meet.

If you bring an item from the shelter’s Wish List, you’ll get an extra door prize raffle ticket.

To read more about the Open House and see the Wish List, click on the newsletter page below:

To read “Bites from the Director,” Betty Peyton, and print out a “Membership Form,” click on the newsletter page below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The entire February newsletter can be opened by clicking below:

February 2012

I wanted to update everyone on the situation in Canton with the feral cats that are being captured and then killed at the Stark County Humane Society. Fellow trapper and Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) advocate, Tobin Franks (who first alerted me to the issue), sent me a follow up email below. Alley Cat Allies has gotten involved in this fight for the cats, but they still need you to keep signing the petition and calling and emailing the Canton Council members.

If you can also attend the next Council meeting, it will be Monday, February 6, at 7:30 pm in the Canton City Hall, 218 Cleveland Avenue SW.

The cats in the photo above are from one of our TNR clinics. They were released, not killed. TNR works!

From Tobin: Thank you everyone who came to the City Council Meeting & all who called and sent emails to Canton Officials!

ALLEY CAT ALLIES PRESS RELEASE:
http://www.alleycat.org/page.aspx?pid=1123

CANTON REP ARTICLE:
http://www.cantonrep.com/news/x370660645/Canton-Council-urged-to-be-more-humane-with-cats

As you have seen in the paper, read on Facebook & heard on the radio – we are off to a good start, but the City of Canton is still considering the renewal of the city’s contract with Phil Sedlacko for ‘animal control’ services. Phil rounds up cats & kittens and takes them to the Stark County Humane Society. After years of denial, Stark HS Executive Director Louis Criswell has finally admitted that feral cats brought in by Phil are killed.

Sedlacko is to be paid $27,129.00 for this part-time “animal control” service – in addition to his regular full time job as a deputy Dog Warden.
Cats in Canton still need your help. Please come to the next meeting & bring your SAVE THIS CAT posters (click on any of them in this posting to enlarge and print). There will be a THIRD reading of the proposed contract renewal at this meeting. If you wish to speak please get their early & sign in. Remember they only give you 3 minutes. We especially need people to speak who have has personal,1st hand experience with Phil Sedlacko.
If you cannot make the meeting –  PLEASE keep calling & emailing Council. Tell them there is a better way!

 

 

 

 

The Next Meeting is: Monday Feb 6 2012 – 7:30 pm

Canton City Hall
218 Cleveland Avenue SW
Canton, OH 44702

Summary of Phil’s activity for 2011: (The status of these animals is unknown.)
JAN: 15 cats 1 kitten 1 dog 3 raccoons 1 opossum
FEB: 21 cats 1 opossum
MAR: 23 cats 5 kittens 1 dog 1 raccoon 1 opossum 1 groundhog
APR: 35 cats 11 kittens 11 raccoons 9 opossums 6 groundhogs 3 rabbits 1 skunk
MAY: 46 cats 20 kittens 18 raccoons 3 opossums 11 groundhogs
JUNE: 46 cats 21 kittens 23 raccoons 14 opossums 19 groundhogs
JULY: 26 cats 12 kittens 22 raccoons 13 opossums 23 groundhogs 10 skunks
AUG: 22 cats 14 kittens 20 raccoons 6 opossums 16 groundhogs 10 skunks 2 squirrels
SEPT: 15 cats 6 kittens 6 raccoons 2 opossums 5 groundhogs 2 skunks 1 squirrel
OCT: 13 cats 2 dogs 4 raccoons 11 opossums 2 groundhogs
NOV: 7 cats 2 kittens 1 dog 2 raccoons 4 opossums
DEC: 14 cats 1 opossum

 

Canton Officials Contact Info:

http://cantonohio.gov/council/

The Honorable William J. Healy II
Mayor, City of Canton
Canton City Hall – 8th Floor
218 Cleveland Avenue SW
Canton, OH 44702
P.O. Box 24218
Canton, OH 44701
Phone(330) 438-4307
Fax(330) 489-3282
 

Allen Schulman – Pres
Address:
3519 Culver DR NW
Canton, OH 44709
Home: 330 492-5409
Business Office: 330 456-4400
Council Office: 330-489-3223
E-Mail: allen.schulman@cantonohio.gov

Mary M. Cirelli – At Large
Address:
424 – 19th Street NW
Canton, OH 44709
Home: 330-455-4967
Council Office: 330-489-3223
e-Mail:marycirelli@neo.rr.com

Joe Cole – At Large
Address:
1402 – 27th St NE
Canton OH 44714
Cell: 330-327-2346
Council Office: 330-489-3223
E-Mail: joseph.cole@cantonohio.gov

James Babcock – At Large
Address:
3711 – 9th St SW
Canton, OH 44710
Home: 330-454-4027
Mobile: 330-495-7202
Council Office: 330-489-3223
E-Mail: james.babcock@cantonohio.gov

Greg Hawk – W1
Address:
2907 – 6th Street NW
Canton, OH 44708
Home: 330-455-7333
Council Office: 330-489-3223
E-Mail: gregory.hawk@cantonohio.gov

Thomas E. West – W2
Address:
625 – 12th Street NW
Canton, OH 44703
Home: 330-430-9378
Council Office: 330-489-3223
E-Mail: thomas.west@cantonohio.gov

James E. Griffin – W3
Address:
202 Poplar Ave NW
Canton, OH 44708
Home: 330-478-2297
Council Office: 330-489-3223
E-Mail: james.griffin@cantonohio.gov

Chris Smith – W4
Address:
458 Waynesburg Rd. SE
Canton, OH 44707
Home: 330-453-5981
Council Office: 330-489-3223
E-Mail: christine.smith@cantonohio.gov

Kevin Fisher – W5
Address:
1641 Alden Ave SW
Canton, OH 44710
Home: 330-412-4681
Council Office: 330-489-3223
E-Mail: kevin.fisher@cantonohio.gov

David R. Dougherty – W6
Address:
2426 – 16th Street NE
Canton, OH 44705
Home: 330-453-9950
Council Office: 330-489-3223
E-Mail: david.dougherty@cantonohio.gov

Patrick Barton – W7
Address:
503 – 21st Street NW
Canton, OH 44709
Home: 330-353-9395
Council Office: 330-489-3223
E-Mail: patrick.barton@cantonohio.gov

Edmond Mack – W8
Address:
4816 Ellinda Circle NW
Canton, Ohio 44709
Home: 330-323-3755
Council Office: 330-489-3223
E-Mail:edmond.mack@cantonohio.gov

Frank Morris – W9
Address:
1406 – 19th St NE
Canton OH 44714
Home: 330-224-0913
Council Office: 330-489-3223
E-Mail: frank.morris@cantonohio.gov

Stark County Humane Society
5100 Peach St Louisville, OH 44641
(330) 453-5529
http://starkhumane.org

Stark Humane also has a Facebook Page

Stark County Dog Pound
1801 Mahoning Road Northeast, Canton Ohio
(330) 451-2343

http://www.co.stark.oh.us/internet/HOME.DisplayPage?v_page=commissioners_dogWardenOffice

 

The Humane Society of Madison County (HSMC) is finally in their new expanded building located at 2020 State Route 142 NE, just off of I-70 at the Plain City exit. The new shelter has a West Jefferson address, but is only about 5-10 minutes outside of Plain City.

An article in The Madison Press gave some good PR to the shelter. You can read that HERE.

And there was also a nice story in the Columbus Messenger. Read that HERE.

The shelter does not have a permanent phone number yet. If you need to reach them currently, call 614-359-7560.

 

First off, our good friend and B and O supporter, Olivia Brininger, will be at Eldchrist Winery (8189 State Route 736 in Plain City) tonight, January 12 from 6-9 pm for Ladies Night, selling Lia Sophia jewelry. Olivia has done numerous events where she donated jewelry sales to B and O to help the kitties. So we’d like to ask everyone to stop out and support her tonight at the Winery event. Enjoy a night of wine, jewelry, and tons of fun!

Secondly, another good friend to kitties and a former B and O foster, Linda Stanek, has started a new business called Ari’s Garden, which creates puzzle books and other creative items for children and adults. Linda had asked me a few months ago if I could send her photos of feral kitties for a puzzle book she wanted to do to teach kids about Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). Several of our supporters and fosters emailed her pictures, so I will be excited to see which photos turn up in the book. Linda blogged about the book, which will be released soon, on National Feral Cat Day in October. The kitty on the front of the book is one of her own feral boys! I’ll keep you posted about this book as it becomes available for sale. I am so excited.

And also check out Linda’s cat drawings and her blog posting on “The Illustration Process.” I knew Linda could write, but I didn’t know what a fabulous illustrator she was, as well.

Next up are some fabulous spay and neuter deals.

One of a Kind Pet Spay and Neuter Clinic in the Akron area (please let your friends up North know about this) will be offering a “Beat the Heat” deal for the month of February. Cat Spays will be $20 for the entire month. For more info call 330-865-6890.

SOS of Ohio (Shelter Outreach Services) will also be doing a “Beat the Heat” event for the month of February. Cat spays are $20 with them, as well, and they are located right here in Columbus at 691 E. Dublin Granville Road.

In addition to their Beat the Heat event, SOS is also offering “Luv-A-Bull” for Spay Day 2012, which falls on February 28th. For owners of pit bulls who can show they are on government or other financial assistance, SOS will spay and neuter their pit bull or pit bull mix for $30!

Finally, only 361 more signatures are needed to get the Ohio Dog Auctions Act on the 2012 ballot for voters. This act will ask Ohio residents to ban dog auctions in the state. The final 361 signatures must delivered to the Secretary of State by January 20 so your signatures must be turned in by January 17 to Mary O’Connor Shaver (347 Meadow Ash Drive, Lewis Center, Ohio 43035).

To download a copy of the Ohio Dog Auctions Act and pages for gathering signatures, go HERE.

For instructions on gathering signatures and how to help, go HERE.

Remember, only 361 signatures are needed by January 20!!

 

National Bird Day celebrates birds, while at the same time trying to educate the public about the plight of parrots and songbirds who face extinction at the hands of habitat loss, disease, and the illegal bird trade. Additionally, National Bird Day, which is hosted by Born Free USA and The Avian Welfare Coalition, hopes to improve the welfare of those birds that are kept in captivity and to stop pet stores from selling birds (often to uneducated people who do not know how to care for them).

National Bird Day, which is in its 10th year, also asks home owners to take action and prevent bird deaths through window collisions. In a nice article, “10 Things You Can Do to Reduce Bird vs. Window Collisions,” you can learn how to lessen the 1 billion bird deaths that occur each year in North America from confused birds hitting glass windows.

If you make your windows bird friendly for National Bird Day, you can enter the 2012 Photo Contest. Just send a picture of your bird protected windows before February 1, 2012 and you could win a pair of binoculars. Details for the contest are provided HERE.

Through increased awareness and education, perhaps some day, we will live in a world where people truly “think outside of the cage” and all birds fly free.

 

I recently received the September 2011 newsletter from the folks at the Humane Society of Madison County. As I had told everyone before, the shelter has acquired property and a building where they will be moving off of State Route 142, about 10 minutes from Plain City (can you read my excitement that they are going to be so close to us?), but in the West Jefferson zip code. Renovations have been going on and they hope to be moved in to their new “digs” very soon. The latest newsletter updated some of the things that are going on with the move.

If you click on the page from the newsletter to the left, you can enlarge it and read about the new shelter and what is going on now.

Additionally, I’ve included the entire newsletter link at the bottom of this posting. The newsletter includes lots of good information and photos of the renovations.

I wanted to include in this posting, however, an invite from shelter director, Betty Peyton, to come take a look at the new building and also help out with some of the renovations on Saturday, September 17, and Sunday, September 18. Below is the information on this volunteer opportunity:

On Saturday, September 17th, starting at 9:00am until ???, we need volunteers at the New Shelter located at 2020 ST RT 142 NE, West Jefferson, just a quarter of a mile south of I-70. Volunteers are needed to help finish up painting, wash windows, clean, build stuff, etc.

On Sunday, September 18th, starting at 10:00am until ???, we will finish up all we can.

We think we may already have folks who can build the playpen wall and shelves in the cat playpen area, but there is plenty more that needs to be done.

We are also looking for folks who can help with the landscaping in the front of the shelter. There are a couple dead bushes and others needed trimmed up. We would LOVE to have some fall plants if possible.

All volunteers are required to fill out a volunteer form which can be done that day. If you are under 18-years-old, a parent or guardian is required to also sign the form. Folks can pick up these volunteer forms at the current old shelter at 1357 ST RT 38 SE, London during open hours of noon to 5pm Monday to Saturday or wait until the day of volunteering and fill out at the new shelter.

Come and be a part of the New HSMC Shelter.

I was also happy to read in the newsletter that Madison County is now doing all their spays and neuters in-house and will eventually move to doing public clinics. Because they are up and running with “Neuterville” for the shelter animals, they do have a wish list of needs. You can read the entire wish list by clicking on the flyer to the right to enlarge it and print it out if you would like. There is also a regular shelter wish list on this page, too.

Please help HSMC in any way you can. Once their public clinics get started, we will be able to send Plain City and Madison County people there to have their cats fixed, as it will be very, very close.

To read the entire September 2011 HSMC newsletter, which features lots of photos of the new shelter, click on the link below to open it in PDF format.

September 2011

This past week has been full of ups and downs. I couldn’t really tell anyone much about the condition of Bowie the Husky, because there were too many unknown factors. But with a text from Dr. West that said, “100% our doggie,” I am free to fill everyone in on the panic we’ve been feeling over our husky girl who fell from the back of a pick-up on to Interstate 70 (you can read Part 1 of her story HERE).

Just a quick synopsis: last Friday, September 2, Dr. Kim West was on her way to the Franklin County Humane Society to pick up a dog who was slated to be euthanized. On her way, she rescued a young husky who was riding in the back of a pick-up truck and was thrown out on to I-70 East. Dr. West took the dog (who she named Bowie) to OSU vet hospital where Bowie’s right front leg was amputated.

That is where we left you hanging and where all our troubles began.

On Monday, Bowie was released from OSU in to foster care with a dear friend, Caroline (several years ago Caroline took in a Plain City dog who was in desperate need of a home and we love her for spoiling “The Moo”). The Chief of Police of Dublin was interested in adopting Bowie. All awesome news for our sweet girl.

However, on Tuesday, things began to go wrong. On Tuesday, we discovered that Bowie’s owners had come looking for her. While, at first, we thought this was a good thing–they had missed her and wanted her back–it quickly became apparent that Bowie’s situation might change for the worse if she returned to her former home.

As you know, we had been fundraising to pay Bowie’s bill, which came to over $2700. With the arrival of the owners, the bill was transferred over to them. We still wanted to help another animal in need, like Bowie, so we planned to donate what we had raised to the Good Samaritan Fund at OSU.

However, while the owners at first said they could make payments, they later backed out.

Bowie, in the meantime, was having a difficult recovery period. Caroline was keeping her in a crate most of the time, allowing her to get out to use the bathroom and to stretch for brief moments. But sometimes, Bowie wasn’t able to get up very well and would have accidents. Caroline was cleaning her up and keeping her quiet and sleeping beside her to make sure she was okay.

The final event came when OSU spoke with one of the owners and told them that even if the bill was wiped away and they did not have to pay it, Bowie would still need a ton of rehabilitation and further vet care. There would be a lot more costs.

The owners could not assume this type of financial responsibility. They also told the vet on the phone that Bowie was an outside dog and they could not keep her in their house to recuperate. Thankfully, they then relinquished ownership of Bowie to OSU.

Dr. West called me with the wonderful news that Bowie was ours! She said OSU wanted to wait twenty-four hours to make sure the owners did not change their mind. So, with the text, “100% our doggie,” I knew Bowie was never returning to her old life.

Bowie still has a rough road ahead of her, but she now has tons of people who will ease her troubles. She is not spayed and she must be tested for heartworm. Dr. West plans to get these things done in the next month when she has healed more. She will need rehabilitation and patience and further care for her injuries.

But as soon as Bowie leaves Caroline and The Moo, she will be going to her new forever home with the Chief of Police of Dublin, where she will get a new name (Harley) and a new life.

Finally, I also want to tell everyone thank you for your care and generosity. We have raised almost $2,000 toward the total vet bill. OSU originally pulled the money for Bowie out of their Good Sam Fund. We did not want to deplete that fund, however, in case another animal needed help in the future and we were not there to fundraise. So we are going to try to pay every penny of Bowie’s bill and allow the money to be there for the Bowies of the future! We could only do that, because of you. Thank you, thank you!

The first thing I want to tell everyone is that BarkPark is re-opening in 2011! The members only dog park, which raises money for local rescue groups and shelters, closed its gates in 2009 after raising millions of dollars to help area homeless animals. Happily, they are now back for the summer of 2011.

Membership to BarkPark has changed. The membership fee is now $100 and there is no longer an entry fee to come to BarkPark. The park is open once per month and the $100 membership fee entitles members to attend five events per year.

All of the money raised, however, still goes to help animal welfare groups in the Central Ohio area. 

BarkPark offers a lot of neat experiences that canine lovers and their dogs will not find elsewhere, including:

*Ten fenced in acres that are carefully monitored by volunteers to insure the safety of both dogs and humans.

*A concession stand with both vegetarian and non-vegetarian fare to keep your belly from growling while the dogs are having fun–but watch out for the hot dog pooch patrol that loiters need the stand!

*A half acre pond, dog agility course, tons of toys, and a dog wash area that provides shampoo, towels, and ear cleaner.

*Inside restroom facilities for the humans who visit.

*Happy, healthy dogs that must prove they are spayed/neutered and up-to-date on vaccines before playing in the park.

If you would like to find out more about BarkPark, please visit their web site HERE.  For more information on membership, email bpmembers@me.com

The second exciting news about a local animal charity is that Rascal Charities, home of the mobile Rascal Unit, will be opening the Rascal Animal Hospital in the Fall of 2011. The facility at 5830 Britton Parkway in Dublin, is easily accessed from I-270 and is located next to the Best Buy and Wal-Mart in Tuttle. The 5,000 square foot building will offer full service vet care as well as hospitalization and emergency care. 

Finally, the 11th Annual Rescue Run, presented by PetPromise, will take place on Saturday, May 28, with registration beginning at 8 am. Besides the 5K run, there will also be a food court and vendor fair, as well as music and other fun activities for both two and four-legged family members. This event raised $45,000 in 2010 to help PetPromise with their programs for homeless animals. 

To register for the run and see the full calendar of events, as well as download a flyer about the run, please go HERE.

We hope you will support these wonderful organizations that work so hard in our community for animals in need.

I just recently learned that two groups I support, one national and one local, will be moving into new and bigger homes, which will allow them to help even more animals. 

The first group is Dogs Deserve Better (DDB), a charity in Pennsylvania that is committed to “ending the cruelty of chaining and penning dogs.” Dogs Deserve Better is buying “Bad Newz Kennels,” the property that was previously owned by Michael Vick and facilitated his dog fighting ring.  The former site of cruelty and suffering will be transformed by DDB into the “Good Newz Rehab Center for Chained and Penned Dogs.” 

I can think of no better way to honor the dogs that died there under Michael Vick’s reign than by giving other dogs that have suffered a new lease on life.

The 15-acre property on Moonlight Road in Virginia contains a house and various sheds. DDB is buying the property for $595,000. The group has already put down 30% ($178,500) and has been approved for a loan for the rest. Now they just need to raise the additional money to pay off the loan, build a fence around the property, and renovate the buildings for their state-of-the-art rehabilitation center. They hope to begin the transformation from Bad Newz to Good Newz by the end of May.

With this new facility, which will also include a memorial for the dogs that died under Michael’s Vick brutal ownership, DDB will be able to help 500 more chained and penned dogs each year. They currently rescue and rehabilitate 400-500 dogs per year in foster homes nationwide. Until now, the group has never had a shelter.

To read more about DDB’s efforts and to make a donation, please go HERE.

The second group that is expanding into new digs is the Humane Society of Madison County (HSMC).

With their move, the shelter will actually be relocating closer to Plain City (which thrills me). Their new building used to be a church. In fact, in a weird twist of fate, it was the church that one of my dear friends, Paul Carpenter, attended before his death in 2001. Paul was a huge animal lover and I know he would be delighted to know that his former church will now be a sanctuary for homeless animals. I went to several church services with Paul and his wife, Jean, at this building. It was also the place where Paul’s funeral was held in December 2001. I know a tiny part of him will be there watching over the animals. 

The building, located at 2020 State Route 142 NE, is just off I-70 at the Plain City exit. While the new shelter will have a West Jefferson address, they will only be 10 minutes from Plain City. The building is 5,000 square feet and includes five acres. Geo-Sites, Ltd. bought the property when the church moved and now plans to lease it to the humane society for $1 a year for twenty-five years. 

The new site will allow HSMC to house all of their animals in one building. Currently, the dogs are in a block building and the cats are housed in two trailers.

The shelter’s upcoming fundraiser, Cash 4 Kibble Dinner and Auction, will be held at the new building on Saturday, May 21. If you would like to attend and check out the facility, please go to the HSMC web site and download your RSVP form.

HSMC will also need additional funding to help them with their move and renovation. They hope to be in the building by July or August. 

With the expansion by DDB and HSMC, more animals will be helped across the country and in our own back yards.

I recently learned about The Pet Postcard Project while I was researching Nitro’s Law. Nikki Moustaki, who started the site, is also carrying out a campaign in which she plans to eat dog food for one meal a day until Nitro’s Law is passed (she started eating dog food on February 1, 2011).

With The Pet Postcard Project, postcards equal food for animals in shelters and rescues. You make postcards and for each postcard turned in, a pet food company agrees to pledge a certain amount of food to shelters and rescues. “Spokesdogs” or “Spokescats” (groups of people, represented by a cute furry face, such as Girl Scout Troops, clubs, or other organizations) choose a shelter that they want to receive the food and they ask others to help them send in as many postcards as possible.

Your postcards could also help you win cool prizes! Read the contest guidelines HERE.

The postcards are homemade by YOU and must feature a dog or cat in your life. They also must include a “funny, heartwarming, or profound” sentiment. The cards are in one of four categories: confessions/secrets, advice, wishes, or “you know you love your dog/cat when…” Once you have made your postcard, you mail it in an envelope to The Pet Postcard Project, 676A Ninth Ave. #321, New York, NY 10036.

To read the complete guidelines on how to make postcards, go HERE.

Some of the winning postcards also get featured on the web site, so if you are creative, get cracking to help feed hungry animals.

 

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