Bake Sale Fundraiser in Ephrata
When:
Saturday, April 7th. 9am until 12pm
Where:
Pancake Farm
1032 S. State Street
Ephrata, PA 17522
What: Cupcakes, Brownies, Rice Treats,
Puppy Chow, and Cookies!
100% of the benefits will go to A Tail to Tell
Public Lecture this Saturday
Don’t forget about our first-ever public lecture on puppy mills this Saturday in York!
PUBLIC LECTURE, MORGAN”S PAWS PET CARE CENTER
Time: 1pm
Address: 305 Hill St, York Pa 17403.
Date: March 31
New Dogs!
We’d like to welcome and present Eddie, a beagle who was kicked to the curb because he wouldn’t hunt:
Tater, given up because someone just didn’t want him anymore:
Eddie, from a puppy mill:
and, finally, Brandy, who was given up by a nasty, screaming man:
All of these dogs are available for adoption and you can see more photos on our Available Dogs page.
Facebook Rejects Puppy Mill Ads for Good!
Thanks ASPCA and Facebook!! This is exactly the kind of thing that needs to happen in order to take puppy mills out at the knees:
In response to concerns raised by the ASPCA and its national “No Pet Store Puppies” campaign, measures will be put in place to ensure that puppy mill dogs will no longer be sold via Marketplace on Facebook. The ASPCA is working with Facebook and Oodle, the online classifieds service that powers Marketplace on Facebook, to restrict listings of puppy mill dogs on the popular social media site. Through an ongoing removal process, ads placed by puppy mills have already started coming down. The process was designed to ensure that individuals may continue to post dogs available for a nominal adoption or rehoming fee.
Read the rest of the article at the ASPCA website.
Wisconsin Couple Vows to Give up Home Before Dogs
The town of Wausau, Wisconsin should be ashamed of themselves and gets a great big dog turd from us as a thank-you for their unreasonable stance on dog ownership. It’s their loss for forcing people with this much integrity out of their community.
Read the article here from Life With Dogs.
In early January, a couple in pursuit of the American dream moved to Wausau, Wisconsin, buying a home with the thought of settling down. In just two months, that home was back on the market, and James and Melissa Lecker say they are even willing to take a loss to unload it.
That’s because the town has told them to choose between their home or their dogs. The Leckers moved to Wasau without realizing that the town has an ordinance limiting the number of pets a resident may legally own. The limit for dogs is two: the Leckers own four dogs.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Melissa Lecker said after a police officer notified her she was in violation of the law and subject to a fine of more than $100 per day. “I had never heard of anything like that.”
Lecker says the town gave her an ultimatum, and she and her husband asked them to reconsider. That request fell on deaf ears.
“They told us that the ordinance clearly states they cannot work with us, that it’s either two dogs or that you have to move, as you can’t have four dogs here.”
Faced with the decision, the Leckers said it was an easy one to make.
“These dogs are our family. They are just like our children,” she says. She goes on to explain that her four dogs are worth more to her than money or a house. “This house doesn’t mean as much to us as they do.”
The Leckers have put the house on the market and say they are willing to take a $15,000 loss in order sell it. If leaving town is what it takes to keep their family together, they are ready to move on.
“I hope we can work something out,” Melissa said. “But they are just being so mean. My dogs didn’t bother anyone.”
Video here.
Municipal Judge Teresa Carr Deni, Typical PA Failure on Behalf of Animals
There’s a municipal court judge in Philadelphia, Teresa Carr Deni, who is notable for her 2007 decision in which she dismissed charges against a man who raped a prostitute at gunpoint. Four men, in fact, and one of whom who was charged for another rape just days later. That same year the Philadelphia Bar Association released a statement saying
Judge Deni’s retention of an armed robbery charge for “theft of services” in the case of a defendant accused of forcing a prostitute at gunpoint to have sex with him and three other men—and the related dismissal of all sex and assault charges—belies a basic understanding of what constitutes rape in Pennsylvania.
They also said that her decision reflects a clear disregard of the legal definition of rape and the rule of law in this case. You can read about the story at this ABC news link.
Clearly, Judge Deni also lacks a basic understanding of what constitutes animal abuse in Pennsylvania…or, alternatively, she fits right in with the rest of our makers and interpreters of the law because she just returned an abused and neglected dog back to its “mentally off” owner.
Dr Elyse S. Rubenstein submitted this letter to the Philadelphia Inquirer that explains her friend’s situation:
March 15, 2012
Attention Commentary page editor Inquirer:I am writing this to communicate outrage and concern regarding the failure of our animal welfare/legal system to effectively protect an innocent, victimized animal.On January 2, 2012, a close friend of mine fostered a 7 year-old dog name Black Jackie from the Erie Ave SPCA. She is a chocolate lab/spaniel mix. She had been confiscated in October, 2011 and brought in to the SPCA. Because she was the subject of an animal cruelty investigation, she was not adoptable until after a hearing, which was to take place sometime in February.When she was removed from the original home, she was 20 lbs. underweight. She had active ear and eye infections. One of her ear canals was virtually closed due to the effects of chronic, untreated, severe infections. She had a suspicious growth removed by the SPCA vets. Her skin was extremely dry and compromised from malnourishment, and a vet commented that “it would take at least a year for it to normalize.” It was surmised that she had not had prior vet care up until that point. She was not spayed and it appeared as if she had given birth to multiple litters. The dog was in heat while under the care of my friend, but he was not permitted to spay her, because he did not yet own her. She also had some orthopedic issues which would likely require surgery down the line.This unfortunate, but sweet and affectionate companion animal thrived under the six week “respite” she had in the care of my friend. The two of them bonded, Blackie received the vet care she needed, she became housebroken, and gained 20 lbs. No one suspected that this was merely a reprieve from the abuse and neglect she had experienced her entire life, under the “care” of a man the police described as “mentally off.” It was the strong belief of the adoption department at the SPCA that this was an “open and shut case,” and the dog would clearly become permanently adoptable, once this hearing took place.On the night of February 23rd, without warning, the SPCA police officer showed up at my friend’s home and repossessed Blackie. The hearing had apparently taken place that day,WITHOUT my friend ever having been informed that it would be occurring. The presiding judge completely dismissed the charges and the case in its entirety. Blackie was taken back to the SPCA where the perpetrator was to pick her up in a few days and resume ownership. The sympathetic police officer promised my friend that he would check in on Blackie, but this seemed vague and perhaps unrealistic due to the extent of his other obligations. There was not even a formal stipulation mandating follow-up checks or home visits to monitor the welfare of this extremely vulnerable dog. How could this be possible??To add to the poignancy of this case and its outcome we took a look at the Judge of record on this case. Teresa Carr Deni is a Philadelphia Municipal Court Judge who made a less than favorable name for herself in 2007 when she dismissed all sexual assault charges against 4 men who gang raped a 20 year-old prostitute. One of the defendants went on to be charged with a similar crime 4 days later. The Philadelphia Bar Association subsequently denounced Deni for her “unforgiveable miscarriage of justice” and “clear disregard of the legal definition of rape and the rule of the law.”This is the very same individual who turned her back on the suffering of an innocent animal, an animal who had already found solace and safety in a humane home with a stable individual. What would be the justification for even speculating that a 60 year-old man described as “mentally off,” who had spent the past 7 years or so overbreeding and inflicting harmful neglect on an innocent animal, would suddenly mend his ways? Actually Deni did not speculate she assumed the man would change his ways because she returned the animal “free and clear” without mandated follow-up. How is this “just” or even rational? Given had what had already transpired between this man and this animal one could argue, why risk it, when the animal had found a suitable, healing home?If the SPCA (who we charge with the protection of innocent animals who cannot advocate for themselves), and a Judge (who is charged with the delivery of justice to all members of our society human and animal) fail us, to whom CAN we turn?A “miscarriage of justice” is a grave thing, because it carries the power to adversely impact the wellbeing and even the very survival of its victims.Maybe the SPCA needs to be a better advocate for the animals it exists to protect, and maybe Judge Deni’s decisions merit further scrutiny.Elyse S. Rubenstein, M.D.
Thank you Dr Rubenstein for taking the time to compose and send that letter and also for standing up for an animal and caretaker that were terribly wronged. This is the kind of thing citizens need to do; call these lawmakers to the carpet and spread the story around. Judge Deni is a disgrace to her profession and a detriment to any animal falling under her jurisdiction.
Philly Dawg: Humane Lobby Day in Harrisburg
From the Philadelphia Inquirer, Amy Worden’s blog, Philly Dawg
TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 2012
Animal lovers from across Pennsylvania gathered in the Capitol Monday for Humane Lobby Day 2012, meeting with lawmakers at the Capitol on behalf of legislation to reduce animal suffering in the state.
Among the issues on advocates’ agendas: ban the private possession of exotic animals as pets, prohibit the use of carbon monoxide chambers to euthanize animals, ending live pigeon shoots, banning the 24/7 tethering of dogs.
The Humane Society of the United States and the ASPCA hosted Humane Lobby Day and were joined by representatives from Animal Care Sanctuary, Humane League of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania Animal Welfare Network.
Among those on hand for the event: Wayne Pacelle, president of The HSUS, who presented Rep. John Maher, (R., Allegheny) with the Humane Legislator of the Year award. Also attending were Humane PAC president Elissa Katz of Elkins Park, the PAC’s central Pennsylvania director Brett Miller, HSUS lobbyists Heidi Prescott and Roy Afflerbach, HSUS state director (and state House candidate) Sarah Speed, Karel Minor, executive director of the Humane League of Berks County and Pennsylvania’s ”dean” of animal crusaders Johnna Seeton.
Among the animal welfare bills under consideration this session are:
H.B. 1398 would ban the private possession of exotic animals as pets. Several horrific cases of captive wild animals mauling their owners or escaping and threatening the community demonstrate the necessity of this legislation. It is nearly impossible to provide a quality standard of living for exotic wildlife in private menageries. This legislation will protect both the animals and the public from the perils of substandard enclosures.
S.B. 1329 to end the use of carbon monoxide chambers to euthanize animals. The carbon monoxide chamber can only provide humane euthanasia in the most ideal circumstances, which can rarely, if ever, be met by shelters and private animal control operators. This legislation will ban the use of carbon monoxide chambers to euthanize all except the most dangerous animals and put into place a system for shelters to gain access to euthanasia drugs which are safer, more efficient, and capable of providing a more humane death. The bill was scheduled to be voted this week, but was delayed for reasons unknown.
S.B. 626 to bar live pigeon shoots that kill thousands of birds each year – many of them are wounded and die a slow death. At pigeon shoots contestants compete to shoot down the most birds within a designated scoring area. In a historic vote last year, over NRA opposition, the bill passed out of committee, but has failed to be brought up for a Senate floor vote.
SB 972 would ban the 24/7 tethering of dogs. The bill has sat in the Senate Agriculture Committee since April.
SB 968 would increase the penalty for animal cruelty when such cruelty occurs within the realm of domestic abuse. The bill was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee in Dec.
Pennsylvania ranks 20th in the HSUS’ 2011 state animal protection rankings, which grades each state based on a wide range of animal protection laws regarding pets, animal cruelty and fighting, wildlife, animals in research, and farm animals.
The state won points for its strong animal fighting and puppy mill laws, but remains one of only a handful of states with no felony penalties for first offense animal cruelty violations.
Prophet the Puggle
We got another dog! This one is an indirect puppy mill refugee; he was purchased at a pet store by a young couple who soon lost interest in him and kept him crated almost all the time. One of our volunteers knew of his situation and brought him to us. He’s a really nice dog and did just about anything the photographer asked when having his mug shots done. He’s food motivated, but not rude about it so he seems like he’d be easy to train. Neither pugs nor beagles have stellar reputations in the intelligence department, but Prophet seems like he might be closer to the top of the bell curve than most puggles.
Merci to the Cocker Spaniel Adoption Center, Inc.
Donations are support are always greatly appreciated, but when the donation comes from a group of fellow volunteers working hard in a non-profit organization in support of down-and-out animals, well, it’s enough to make a person get a little misty. Cocker Spaniel Adoption Center in Westminster, Maryland recently made a very generous donation to A Tail To Tell and we are ever so grateful.
Rescue organizations supporting fellow rescuers when they themselves are always in need of funds (what non-profit isn’t?) shows a tremendous amount of goodwill and thoughtfulness.
If you have your heart set on a cocker spaniel, please check out the dogs on their website and spread the word! They’re clearly an outstanding group of people!!
Good Kids Turn Into Good Adults
We have in our ranks of volunteers a young lady named Shelby who is an asset we’d have a hard time doing without. Her quiet, calm and levelheaded presence allows her to handle frightened and damaged dogs with an ability that surpasses that of even the most compassionate adult. Her maturity goes way beyond her years and is evidenced by her dedication (how many kids her age would give up every Saturday to do volunteer work?!) and thoughtfulness about the world around her. She recently undertook an endeavor at her school to raise money for A Tail to Tell and explains it in her words below.
Thanks, Shelby, for your time, dedication and skill. Everyone at ATTT appreciates it and so do the dogs. And thanks to Shelby’s parents for raising such a fine young woman who is already making the world a better place.
Click on image to enlarge.
