In a case involving custody of a cat, a New York Court let the kitty help decide who he wanted to live with (after considering the totality of the circumstances). In doing so, the judge refused to provide the time honored rule of personal property involving “things that can be used, handled, or transported” and instead ruled that “it is time to declare that a pet should no longer be considered ‘personal property’ like a…
Shelter (verb): to protect or shield from something harmful. Shelter (noun): a refuge; a place giving temporary protection from danger. A healthy dog on intake, after getting sick at the pound, and then dying on a cold, concrete floor from “marked emaciation” and pneumonia. She was not treated by the pound and the poundmaster claimed her staff did not notice she had stopped eating. Over a decade and several scandals later, the pound still kills…
Without the force of law, animals remain at mortal risk in Austin, TX. Tucker was killed by Austin Animal Center despite a rescue group offer to save him, his former owner begging for custody, and department policy which permitted placement (but was ignored). In April of last year, for the first time since the Austin City Council passed the 2010 No Kill law, the placement rate for cats fell below 90%. Dozens of cats were…
The killing of dogs for alleged “behavior” continues apace by agencies who claim to embrace a No Kill ethic, as underscored by the recent killing of Tucker by Austin Animal Center and the killing of Linda by the Larimer (CO) Humane Society, despite rescue groups ready, willing, and able to save them. They are not the only ones. The New York City pound recently killed April, an eight-month old dog (the black pup in…
Any shelter in any community with a can-do attitude and the right approach can end the killing. One of my roles as the director of the No Kill Advocacy Center is working with elected officials nationwide on reforming archaic policies, implementing No Kill programs, and codifying No Kill practices. Recently, one of those elected officials suggested to me that his community would be unable to achieve No Kill because the municipal shelter did not have…
Austin Animal Center (AAC) recently killed Tucker, a dog, who had three places to go: a local non-profit organization; a trainer/rescuer out of state; and Tucker’s former family who pleaded with them to release him to their care. The official justification for his killing is “behavior” or “aggression.” Tucker had a bite history. The real cause of death appears to be spite. This is the story of his short life and tragic death. Beginning It…
This was Linda. She spent five months with a Colorado rescue group, living with and playing with other dogs without incident. After adoption, the family, who had her for one year, surrendered Linda to a local pound. The family claimed she had incidents with other dogs. The rescue group which originally placed her wanted her back. The pound said no. They ultimately did return her — in a garbage bag. Since the mid-1990s, I have…
A new report says that within two decades, most of the world’s meat will NOT come from slaughtered animals. Earlier this week, I posted about my experience returning to Burger King for the first time in 24 years because of the launch of a new plant-based whopper. Earlier this year, I wrote about my experience going to Red Robin for the first time ever, when it did the same. In both those posts, I noted…
A dog considered not “the best” and killed by a pound who shares the deadly philosophy espoused in the Animal Farm Foundation podcast. Instead of being sent to a rescue group who requested the dog, her body was put in a garbage bag where she will rot in a landfill. Earlier this week, I wrote a rebuttal to a podcast by Animal Farm Foundation (AFF) whose guest wants “shelters” to kill more “behavior” dogs, wants…
A Former ASPCA “Director of Animal Behavior” Wants “Shelters” to Kill More “Behavior” Dogs, Wants Rescuers to Stop Saving Them, and Gives People Permission to Kill Theirs. “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” — William Faulkner Animal Farm Foundation’s recent podcast interviewing a former ASPCA “Director of Animal Behavior” and euphemistically entitled “We Need to Talk About Behavior Euthanasia” is, without a doubt, the single worst commentary on sheltering I have encountered…