DFW Animal Rescue

Help Build the First Veterinary Hospital for Homeless Animals; Join Mazie’s Mission for the 2nd Annual Disco InFURno Gala

Rebecca Poling — Thu, 02 May 2013 13:15:53 +0000

Mazie’s Mission, a Frisco-based animal rescue agency, will hold their 2nd annual BARC Gala on Friday, May 17, from 7-11 pm at the Frisco Embassy Suites. BARC stands for Build A Rescue Clinic, a capital campaign to raise funds to build the first ever veterinary hospital for homeless animals.

According to Erin Shults, DVM and CEO of Mazie’s Mission, veterinary care is a huge challenge—and overwhelming expense—for cash-strapped rescue groups. “We euthanize over 200,000 animals in North Texas every year. Rescue groups and municipal shelters do their best to save as many animals as they can, but sometimes the cost of veterinary care can be overwhelming. Local veterinarians offer as much discounted care as they can to help these organizations, but they have financial responsibilities they must meet also,” explained Shults. “By building a hospital with the benevolence of the public, Mazie’s Mission can offer greatly discounted care strictly to the animals who need it the most.”

This BARC gala builds upon the success of the first Disco InFURno—a fundraising effort that sold out three weeks prior to the event. The 2013 event will feature a sit-down dinner, drinks, and disco dancing late into the evening. There will also be raffle prizes, a wine pull (participants could win a bottle of wine worth over $100), and the unveiling of the proposed hospital and rehabilitation center.

Tickets are $100/person and can be purchased at http://maziesmission.org/event-barc.

Dallas Companion Animal Project: Crossroads Community Outreach Needs Pet Food

Rebecca Poling — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 21:35:08 +0000

Pet Owner Outreach is an important component of the Dallas Companion Animal Project’s plan to make Dallas a No Kill Community. Helping pet owners with limited financial means find and utilize available resources to better care for their pets means keeping those pets in loving homes and out of shelters and rescues. Here’s what they are doing, how, and what you can do to help.

What DCAP Is Doing:

Keeping pets in loving homes and out of shelters and rescues is an integral part of the DCAP plan. To that end, DCAP supplied over 40,000 lbs. of pet food to low income food banks, the homeless, and local rescue groups between August of 2012 and March of 2013. They have worked with Crossroads Community Center in downtown Dallas, Angie Manrigurez, Duck Team 6 and others, and secured donations from Bark to Basics, Pet Supplies Plus, Dallas Animal Services, Elliotts Hardware, and caring individuals who were able to purchase pet food at wholesale cost for the project thanks to Eloy at The Green Pet.

DCAP chose to work closely on this program with Crossroads Community Center because it is an established and very well organized Outreach Center. Crossroads is a joint venture between the downtown First United Methodist and the Presbyterian Churches (the Stewpot) and provides low income families with food, clothing, career counseling and other amenities. In addition to simply providing pet food for Crossroads’ clients, DCAP volunteers developed a survey (in both English and Spanish) to find out how many pets those clients owned, if they are spayed or neutered, and if they are registered in the City of Dallas. So far they have received completed questionnaires from over 250 Crossroads recipients, showing over 80% of Crossroads Clients have pets that are not spayed or neutered, although they would all like to get that done for their pet. Spay/neuter resources are plentiful here in Dallas, but DCAP volunteers think finding transportation to get those pets to spay/neuter clinics could be a challenge. They are also facing challenges getting in touch with those folks who wish to spay/neuter their pets to set up appointments because of the language barrier.

Volunteers Needed:

If you are bi-lingual (English/Spanish) and would like to volunteer to make calls and help set up spay/neuter appointments from your home evenings and weekends, DCAP could use your help. Contact them at dallascompanionanimalproject@gmail.com. DCAP is also looking for help creating simple, informative stickers to place on the bags of food being handed out to make it as easy as possible for the pet owners to make their own surgery appointments, and simple, one-page handouts (in English and Spanish) for Crossroads 40+ satellite locations. If you have experience in simple desktop publishing and can help out, or know a printer who might donate printing, please get in touch with them.

More Pet Food Needed:

According to the latest figures from Crossroads, 300 lbs. of pet food lasts approximately two weeks when distributed at a rate of one bag per household. If the food is distributed on a per “pet” basis, so that families with multiple pets get more than just a single gallon bag of food each month, DCAP will need to significantly increase the amount of food being supplied, and today DCAP received word that Crossroads has run out of pet food altogether. Now, not only do they need to restock the cupboards for the main Crossroads location, they are also hoping to begin providing food and services to the 40 smaller Crossroad satellite locations. Those locations are key to reaching out to even more low income residents with not just food, but spay-neuter coupons, low-cost vaccination clinics, and other resources to help them keep and care for their pets.

It’s easy to donate pet food to the Crossroads Project:

You can drop off unopened bags of dog and cat food at Petropolitan Dallas, 408 S. Harwood, Downtown.
Or you can double your donation by calling Petropolitan at (214) 741-4100 to purchase FreeHand Dog Food to be donated to DCAP. For every bag of FreeHand purchased for DCAP Community Crossroads Project, FreeHand will donate a second bag to the project - pound for pound, scoop for scoop, meal for meal!);
Or make an online credit card donation at http://www.prestodonate.com/cgi-bin/order.pl?ref=DAnimal123&fm=1 and choose DCAP Community Crossroads Project and the DCAP program coordinators will purchase whatever food they need most for the project.

Find out more on the DCAP website at http://dallascompanionanimalproject.net/ or find them on Facebook at facebook.com/pages/Dallas-Companion-Animal-Project.

Moving toward a humane community will require more pet friendly landlords

Rebecca Poling — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 14:27:31 +0000

Frape, a 10 month old boxer mix available for adoption from Dallas Animal Services

What’s one of the things shelters and rescuers hear all too often? I’m moving and I can’t take my pet. Pease help me find a home for it. Why? Because so many apartment complex owners simply don’t allow pets, or if they do, they limit their size and their breed. A recent study indicates only 9% of pet-friendly apartments allow pets without any significant restrictions.

One of things that’s going to have to change for Dallas to become a more humane community is we’re going to have to convince more landlords to become “pet friendly”. Firepaw co-founders Dr Joshua M. Frank and Dr. Pamela Carlisle-Frank may be able to help. They created CARP, the Companion Animal Renters Program. CARP materials, available on their website at www.firepaw.org include a Tenant Information Book, a CARP for Landlords brochure, and the results of the CARP study conducted in 2005. They’ve also written a book, “How Landlords Can Make More Money By Going Pet-Friendly” available from Amazon.com. If you live in an apartment and it’s not pet-friendly, maybe your landlord needs a copy?

Or, perhaps your landlord can take a cue from The Solaris apartments in Northeast Dallas. They allow pets, they have a specially designated “dog park” area, and they even provide a unique pet ID tag identifying your pet as a member of their community. And if you live at The Solaris and you adopt a pet from a local rescue or shelter, they’ll waive all pet fees (a savings of $275 – $300). Check them out at http://thesolaris.com, and if you know of anyone who has a pet and is looking for a new apartment, send them the link.

ASPCA, HSNT and DAS assist FBI and US Attorney’s office in federal dog fighting raid

Rebecca Poling — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:47:21 +0000

U. S. Attorney Barry Grissom speaks to reporters about the raid

At the request of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the United States Attorney’s Office, the ASPCA assisted in a multi-state, federal dog fighting raid in Missouri, Kansas and Texas this past weekend. The ASPCA managed the removal and transport of nearly 100 dogs involved in the investigation, and is overseeing forensic evidence collection, as well as the dogs’ veterinary care and sheltering. Agencies assisting the ASPCA with the operation include the Humane Society of North Texas and Dallas Animal Services as well as Wayside Waifs of Kansas City, Missouri, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Nebraska Humane Society, Sumter (Florida) Disaster Animal Response Team, and Great Plains SPCA of Kansas.

A search warrant was executed Saturday night in Kansas, after the FBI raided a location suspected of holding a contract dog fight in north Texas. The ASPCA and other agencies assisted in the seizure of the dogs. Two additional warrants were served Sunday morning for the removal of 60+ of the dogs in Kansas City, Missouri.

The dogs were transferred to a temporary shelter in an undisclosed location where they will receive veterinary care from the ASPCA’s medical team, led by Dr. Sarah Kirk, medical director of ASPCA Field Investigations and Response.The HSNT will manage the transport of dogs seized from the Texas investigation.

According to Fox 4 news in Kansas City, Pete Davis, Jr., 38, and Melvin Robinson, 41, both of Kansas City, Kansas, were were charged with one count of felony buying, selling, delivering or transporting animals for participation in an animal fighting venture.

The ASPCA Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) team, assisting under the direction of the FBI, is collecting forensic evidence to be submitted for prosecution. The CSI team brings state-of-the-art forensics tools and expertise to crime scenes in order to strengthen cases. The ASPCA will also collect DNA samples from the dogs and submit them to Canine CODIS (Combined DNA Index System), the nation’s first criminal dog-fighting DNA database, which will help law enforcement agencies identify relationships between dogs and enable investigators to establish connections between breeders, trainers and dog fighting operators.

Your action is needed to keep Texas House from gutting the Dangerous Wild Animal Act

Rebecca Poling — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 15:24:48 +0000

Photo: Stacy Smith

The Dangerous Wild Animal Act (DWAA), passed in 2001 with the support of the Texas Humane Legislation Network, requires the owner of a dangerous wild animal (a lion, a tiger, cougar, leopard, cheetah, jaguar, bear, coyote, hyena, jackal, baboon, gorilla, etc.) to register the animal with the local animal control authority and send a copy of the registration certificate to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

This is important for several reasons:

it allows the public who live near these dangerous animals to know where and what type of dangerous animals are being kept and by whom so they can take whatever precautions they think appropriate to ensure their safety and the safety of their family.

it also provides law enforcement and disaster relief agencies the information needed to protect the public’s safety if the animal escapes and in emergency situations and natural disasters such as floods, fire, tornados, etc.

The DWAA does not in any way prohibit the ownership or possession of any dangerous wild animal.

But now a bill has been introduced in the Texas Legislature that will effectively “gut” the Dangerous Wild Animal Act (“DWAA”). HB 629 will exempt from the registration requirements of the DWAA, all roadside zoos, certain private animal collectors, and so-called “substandard wildlife sanctuaries.

This bill is being brought at the request of the very same special interest groups that would be exempt from registration under the bill. Given the powerful influence of the proponents of the bill, THLN predicts it will take a huge grassroots effort to kill the bill. But you can help. All you have to do is call, fax or email (instructions below) and ask your friends to do the same. But you must hurry!

Call, write, fax, or email each of the committee members listed below and ask him to oppose this bill:

Chair, Ryan Guillen
(Email: ryan.guillen@house.state.tx.us; Tel: 512/463-0416; Fax: 512/463-1012)
Vice-Chair, Dawnna M. Dukes
(Email: dawnna.dukes@house.state.tx.us; Tel: 512/463-0506; Fax: 512/463-7864)
Jimmie Don Aycock
(Email: jimmie.aycock@house.state.tx.us; Tel: 512/463-0684; Fax: 512/463-8987)
John Kuempel
(Email: john.kuempel@house.state.tx.us; Tel: 512/463-0602; Fax: 512/463-5896)
Lyle Larson (Bill Sponsor)
(Email: lyle.larson@house.state.tx.us; Tel: 512/463-0646; Fax: 512/463-0893)
Poncho Nevarez
(Email: poncho.nevarez@house.state.tx.us; Tel: 512/463-0566; Fax: 512/463-0220)
Wayne Smith
(Email: wayne.smith@house.state.tx.us; Tel: 512/463-0733; Fax: 512/463-1323)

To make it as easy as possible for you, THLN has provided the following talking points:

Under current Texas law, every county must either: (i) totally prohibit the ownership of dangerous wild animals in their county; or (ii) register and regulate those dangerous wild animals in accordance with the Dangerous Wild Animal Act. The vast majority of counties have chosen to totally prohibit ownership of dangerous wild animals in their county and the remaining counties have enacted registration and regulatory ordinances in accordance with state law. HB 629 is amending the current state law to exempt roadside zoos, exotic animal owners and substandard wildlife sanctuaries located in the counties that register these animals from having to register their animals. This is bad public policy and will have a negative effect on the Texas regulatory system for dealing with dangerous wild animals. Registration is necessary for several reasons:

it allows the public who live near these dangerous animals to know where and what type of dangerous animals are being kept and by whom so they can take whatever precautions they think appropriate to ensure their safety and the safety of their family.

it also provides law enforcement and disaster relief agencies the information needed to protect the public’s safety if the animal escapes and in emergency situations and natural disasters such as floods, fire, tornados, etc.

The registration requirements under the DWAA for dangerous wild animals are no more stringent than those required for a “dangerous dog.”

If HB 629 passes, it will exempt the very facilities where the vast majority of these dangerous wild animals are being kept. Thus, the public and law enforcement will not know who owns all the animals or where they are kept.

Prior to the passage of the DWAA, numerous deaths and maulings occurred from attacks by these dangerous wild animals. A wild animal can never be tamed and is always a danger to attacks and maulings. Since the passage of the DWAA, there have been no known attacks on the public resulting in injury or death. The DWAA is working well and it should not be weakened to please one or two people who want to be exempt from having to register their animals.

Help protect Texas’ animals. Sign up for Action Alerts on the THLN website.

Humane Society of Flower Mound’s “Love on Wheels” transport program sends dogs to new homes in New York

Rebecca Poling — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 22:23:43 +0000

On March 4, 2013, the Humane Society of Flower Mound (HSFM) put three dogs on a truck bound for Dewitt, NY. It was the beginning of an innovative new program that will send dogs to partner organizations in other parts of the United States where adoptable dogs are in short supply. The first transport was so successful, that another six dogs left Texas bound for New York yesterday.

“Love on Wheels” takes dogs facing euthanasia from shelters in the DFW area and sends them to rescue organizations in the northeast such as New York, where effective spay/neuter and education programs have resulted in adopters being placed on waiting lists to find available rescued dogs.

“It’s a little surreal to those of us in Texas who see hundreds of dogs in shelters every week with no place to go, to think that there are places where people want to adopt but can’t find dogs,” said Stacy Smith, Vice President of Animal Advocacy for HSFM. “When we realized we could save them if we could just get them to where the adopters are, we knew this was something we had to do.”

A year of careful planning and thought has gone into the program to ensure that HSFM partners with reputable organizations that share its philosophy and standards, said Smith. “We are personally visiting each receiving organization before we send them dogs, gathering information about their adoption process and requirements, and getting to know them to make sure these dogs will be placed in the same quality of home that we would expect of our adopters here.”

The first such organization to sign on is Helping Hounds Dog Rescue of Dewitt, NY. Volunteers were there to greet the first group of dogs–Lucky, Prius, and Skye–when they arrived on March 10, 2013. Prius, a shepherd mix who had been at the Wise County Animal Shelter for weeks before being accepted into the program, was adopted that day. Smith said that was possible due to input from a foster home in Texas who housed Prius for two weeks before her trip. “Our foster homes are a key part of the success of the program,” she said. “Foster homes allows us to ensure the dogs are healthy and ready to make the trip, but more importantly, they provide important information to the receiving organization about the dogs’ personalities, which lets them start looking for adopters before the dogs even arrive.”

The second set of dogs includes Carrie, Smokey, Sugar Bear, Bandit, River, and Sally. Two are from The Colony Animal Shelter, two from Collin County Animal Serices, one from the Joshua Animal Shelter, and one who came here originally from a shelter in Missouri.

HSFM expects to save an additional 20 dogs per month by mid-year through Love on Wheels, using the services of professional transporters like Dog Runner Pet Transport, who take great care in the handling and comfort of the dogs on the long trip. However, the program is not without cost: each dog costs HSFM approximately $150, which the organization will not recoup in adoption fees. Smith said the financial support of the community will be vital to sustain Love on Wheels.

The next transport leaves Texas April 7th with twelve lucky dogs on board.

For more information, visit the HSFM website, or find them on Facebook. For specific information on Love on Wheels, email wheels@hsfm.org.

Love On Wheels

MAC and Dallas Animal Adovcates merge with Dallas Companion Animal Project creating one large, powerful organization determined to make Dallas a “No Kill” Community

Rebecca Poling — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 00:06:48 +0000

Three Dallas animal welfare groups are joining forces for the good of companion animals and their owners.

Dallas Animal Advocates, the Dallas Companion Animal Project and the Metroplex Animal Coalition will now work under the same nonprofit umbrella: the Dallas Companion Animal Project (DCAP). The project began in July 2011 as the official task force appointed by the City to guide the community toward increasing programs to end the killing of adoptable animals.

The programs that all three groups have begun will continue largely as before, under the same leadership. Virtually all of the members of the boards of the former organization have signed as to serve as volunteers or as advisory members, signifying a hearty endorsement of the new organization.

The team who will serve on the board of directors of the new organization initially will be:

•   Chris Watts, President
•   Maeleska Fletes, Vice President/Secretary
•   Susan Gregory, Director
•   John McQuade, Director
•   Elaine Munch, Director
•   Mary Spencer, Director
•   Jody Jones, Director
•   Pam Asturias, Director
•   Rebecca Poling, Treasurer

“We realized that we were all working together in our various missions and found our paths crossing on an almost daily basis,” said DCAP President Chris Watts. “So we said, why not make it official? It’s been a very exciting time for us all.”

Former President of the Metroplex Animal Coalition Elaine Munch agrees. “So many organizations were focused on the City of Dallas and the Dallas Animal Shelter for virtually the same purpose,” she said. “We wanted the public, supporters and charitable foundations to have one source to work with when they wanted to help.”

The new organization’s overall goal is to make Dallas a “no kill” city for adoptable animals by increasing emphasis on spaying and neutering, education and awareness, community outreach, pet placement and feral cat awareness.

Of the new, combined organization, Susan Gregory, former president of Dallas Animal Advocates adds: “Since we began discussions toward this consolidation, we didn’t look back. We began to immediately to test the idea, and it became natural . . . almost overnight. It was so gratifying.”

To learn more about DCAP visit: http://dallascompanionanimals.org

Collin County veterinarian convicted of animal cruelty

Rebecca Poling — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 02:26:01 +0000

Last Thursday, after a week-long trial, a jury found Collin County veterinarian Janine Joyce Charboneau-McInnis guilty of animal cruelty after Collin County investigators found more than 40 neglected and cruelly confined dogs on her property in Lucas in November of 2011. Photos provided by investigators showed most of the dogs were living in tiny wire cages in a dark shed on her property, while others lived in trash cans and plastic totes; still more were found in small plastic kennels inside her home. The floors of the shed were covered in feces and urine. Photos show most of the dogs were living in their own filth, and there was no food or fresh water available at the time of the seizure. Many of the dogs were covered in fleas and matted, and some had ear infections and others eye discharge.

According to witnesses at the trial, the defendant claimed that trash cans were part of her animal behavior modification program. She told the jury that the dog’s mats were similar to human dreadlocks, that the fleas were resistant to flea treatment, and that the dog’s ear infections were resistant to antibiotics. According to witnesses, when asked about the dogs not having fresh water and being forced to drink their own urine, her response was to cite a UK study that showed that eating feces and drinking urine was good for a person’s health.

Dr. Charboneau was given 365 days in jail and a $ 2,000 fine. Collin County Court at Law Judge Jay A. Bender prorated her sentence to 10 days in jail, and 24 months on probation, plus a psychological evaluation and a substance abuse analysis, and forbid her from owning any animal during the time. She will be reported to the Texas Veterinary Medical Board, the body that licenses veterinarians in Texas.

Dr. Erin Shults, who testified for the prosecution in the case, had this to say about the trial, “Times are changing and no matter who you are, society is not going to allow you to neglect or abuse animals.”

Photos: Collin County Public Information Office

Get a professional photo portrait of your pet for just $75 and help end gas chambers in Texas

Rebecca Poling — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 17:44:17 +0000

Love at Last pet photo sessions, hosted by The Petropolitan Dallas, will raise awareness and funds to support the bill sponsored by Texas Humane Legislation Network to eliminate the use of the gas chamber in Texas. 100% of proceeds benefit Texas Humane Legislation Network.

Photo shoots will take place at Petropolitan on March 16 & 17 and March 23 & 24. 20-minute sessions are just $75 (cash or check) and include one 8×10 print (additional prints may be purchased directly from the photographers). Selected prints will be displayed at Petropolitan through May 31.

Then, you’l want to join THLN on March 31 at the Easter in the Park celebration at Lee Park from 10am to 6pm. Petropolitan will be hosting a special party at which you may pick up (and show off!) your pet’s photos, view the display, and learn more about THLN and their legislative agenda for 2013. The event will include a pet parade, cocktails, great food and drink, and special appearance by rescue dog Brinklee, who was saved from a gassing shelter in 2012. If you can’t make it that day, you may pick up your prints at Petropolitan during their regular business hours. The Petropolitan is located at 408 South Harwood Street in Dallas.

Check out the galleries of the photographers participating:

Saturday, March 16:

Jean-Paul Bonnelly, www.therepublicofdog.com (8-12) and
Kristina Bowman, www.kristinabowmanphotography.com (1-5)
Debbie Bryant, www.debbiebryantphotography.com (8-12)

Sunday, March 17:

Judy Babinski, www.dogbiscuitphotos.com (1-5)

Saturday, March 23:

Mark Nardecchia, www.shagly.com (8-5)

Sunday, March 24:

Nancy Degenkolb, www.ndegenkolb.com (8-5)

Sessions are by appointment only–email dogsave@earthlink.net to schedule yours today!

Want to learn more about how strengthening animal-related laws in Texas? Check out the THLN website at thln.org.

Pit bull lovers, check out North Texas Pit Bull Alliance

Rebecca Poling — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 00:55:58 +0000

Gator A762099, a Pt Bull available for adoption at Dallas Animal Services 2/7/2013

North Texas Pit Bull Alliance was established in 2012 to organize North TX residents who appreciate Pit Bull type dogs. They aim to change public perception of Pit Bulls, encourage responsible ownership and reduce the homeless Pit Bull population through education and advocacy.

The first Alliance meeting has been scheduled for March 23 from 11:30 – 2:30 in Arlington. This event is designed to bring together area rescues, shelters and animal advocates to understand the issues surrounding Pit Bulls in North TX. The information will help North Texas Pit Bull Alliance to construct programs that are relevant to the area.

NTxPBA is already working on a number of programs for Pit Bull type dogs in the North Texas area such as a training program, a Canine Good Citizen test day, monthly meetup walks, and compiling resources such as Pit Bull friendly housing in the Metroplex.

Space for the meeting is limited. RSVPs can be made by visiting the North Texas Pit Bull Alliance website.