Tomorrow I’ll be traveling back to Prescott AZ to visit the Yavapai Humane Society. This will be my 3rd visit since The new No-Kill ethic has been put into place by Ed Boks and the results are staggering. The kill rates at this small shelter are among the lowest in the country. This is due to the hard work of …
PuppyMill Awareness Day 2011
Puppymills are one of the cruelest operations that are allowed and to make it worse, they are even permitted by our government. It angers me that they exist and I have fought against them for years – and will continue to do so. The difference between puppy mills and respectable breeders is similar to a person working a 9-5 job …
the demise of the pet shop – a great thing
Today I read an article about a local mall in Orange County that will not lease to stores that sell puppies, dogs, kittens or cats. I can see absolutely no benefit to stores that sell pets. And, before anyone lectures me on free enterprise, I’d like to state that there are some moral implications at play here. Just like we …
win the battle or win the war…
As most people know, I am not one to run from controversy or conflict. My background in eastern studies have taught me that one must face the enemy head on in order to win, and one should fight with honor. I have lived by my honor my entire life and fought for what I believe in even when the odds …
Socializing Dogs in Shelters
One of the biggest issues facing dogs in shelters is the shut down of the behaviors we’ve bred into them for so many years; namely socialization. A dog’s ability to live with, and be happy with, other dogs and people is one of the key things that makes the dog a perfect companion animal. Among the people who have done …
Here Kitty Kitty….
As an advocate for dogs and someone who has given up a large part of my life to advocate on behalf of dogs; both pets and shelter dogs, I am saddened by the plight of cats at the shelters. They truly are the silent victims, often shut away in small cages and killed in far larger numbers than dogs. For …
Tell me again… why would I want the dog that you don’t want?
It’s not uncommon that I get a call, email or facebook post from someone looking to dispose of their dog that is absolutely perfect… EXCEPT for when….. That is when the litany of excuses comes in: • He loves other dogs, except for when he’s on a leash or there’s food, or if the other dog has brown fur. • …
spreading the message
The last several years have been such a great experience for me. All of the people I’ve met and worked with to save more and more animals really fuel my fire to take Bound Angels to the next level. I’ve seen the videos from the Bound Angels Shelter Angel Video program place dogs into loving homes, and these were dogs …
it’s about the follow-through
It’s never a surprise to read a story of a rescue stepping up for a high needs dog and then getting the shaft. In fact, it’s often the case because of the flow of human emotions. Rescue, for the most part, is dictated by emotions and because of that the follow through often lags. When a dog’s photo is in …
defending the temperament test concept.
There was a recent online article condemning temperament tests for dogs at animal shelter. The link to the article is here: My response is below: While I agree with the notion that bad temperament tests are deadly to dogs, I disagree with those that say “there in no place for temperament testing in our shelter system.” There are plenty of …