We all want our animal control officers, shelter workers, veterinarians, and law enforcement officers to have the tools they need to improve the quality of care for shelter animals and animals in cruelty situations. To do their job well, these professionals need continuing education to satisfy licensing requirements, keep up with new developments in the animal welfare industry and to be more effective for our community’s animals.

But in this economy, getting that training can be especially challenging. Like so many other City departments, Dallas Animal Services’ budget belt had to be tightened and as a result NO funds are available for training this fiscal year.

The good news is that many from Dallas Animal Services are asking, in fact, begging for more training, and you can help. A great educational opportunity for animal welfare professionals is coming up this Spring and Metroplex Animal Coalition, Companions For Life, and Dallas Animal Advocates are teaming up to raise money to send deserving Dallas Animal Services staff members.

“Texas Unites” is an unparalleled educational conference which begins March 26th in Austin. Co-hosted by the three largest professional animal care and control organizations in Texas – the Texas Animal Shelter Coalition, the Texas Federation of Humane Societies and the Texas Animal Control Association, “Texas Unites” offers 36 courses in four specialized tracks including Field Operations & Animal Cruelty Investigations, Shelter Operations & Placement, and Veterinary & Health. For four days, experts from across the state will be joined by professionals from HSUS, PetsMart Charities, ASPCA, to share their knowledge with attendees.

We think you’ll agree that our community’s animal services workers should learn from the best in the industry about topics range from identifying animal cruelty and courtroom testimony to operational issues involved in large seizures and volunteer recruiting and screening to strategies for disease prevention in the shelter.

We need your contribution to make this education a reality:
- Your contribution of $25, when combined with three others, could pay for one night at the conference hotel
- Your contribution of $65 will pay for 1/2 the cost of registration for one staff member.
- Your contribution of $99 will pay for one night’s stay at the conference hotel’s special reduced rate just for conference attendees.
- Your contribution of $125 will pay for registration for one staff member for the entire 3-day conference including an inspirational keynote presentation by Texas own Kinky Friedman.
- Your contribution of $300 will pay for one double-occupancy room for two animal control officers for 3 nights
- Your contribution of $425 will pay for conference registration and hotel room for one staff veterinarian or animal control officer.

Donations in any amount are greatly appreciated. You can donate online using MasterCard, Visa, American Express or PayPal through the Dallas Animal Advocates website at www.dallasanimaladvocates.com - just click on the Donate button at the bottom left. Or send a check or money order payable to Dallas Animal Advocates, 11700 Preston Road, Suite 660-318, Dallas, Texas 75230-2718.

Please help us by sending your donation today. Early bird registration ends February 28, 2010 and hotel space is limited so we must reserve soon.

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Big News!

Dallas Animal Advocates is re-organizing and we’re building a new, permanent website. Our new mission will be to focus on the City of Dallas Animal Services & Adoption Center and the pets of Dallas residents. We’ll kick off our new approach shortly with a program to build or repair fences for low income residents who need to un-tether their dogs but can’t afford proper confinement (including houses, supplies, and of course spay/neuter for the dog(s), and another to help provide heartworm treatment for dogs going from the shelter to local rescue groups. If you are looking for information on these programs, or our raffle, or would like to donate online, please go to www.dallasanimaladvocates.com or email dallasanimal@yahoo.com.

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A group that works to unchain dogs

When this group of animal advocates worked together to champion the new city ordinances adopted in Dallas last year, one of those laws specified (among other things) that a dog cannot be tethered unless it is in the immediate possession and control of its owner – or it can only be tethered for no longer than is necessary (less than 3 hours) for the owner to complete a temporary task.

If a dog has to be confined outdoors, it must be in a fenced yard or other pen or structure that:  (i) is capable of preventing the escape of the dog;  (ii) has at least 150 sq. ft. of space per adult dog; and (iii) provides the dog access to the inside of a building, a dog house or other type of shelter.

In North Carolina, a positive, upbeat group of people called Coalition to Unchain Dogs is doing awesome work proactively reaching out to dog owners in that state and helping them comply with laws like this by building fenced areas in which a dog can live unchained.

Check out this video of one of their recent projects – it’s a joy to see how happy and grateful that dog is when his heavy chain is removed and he can run free! You can see more happy stories on their website – http://unchaindogs.net/tails.html.

 

These groups are doing great work – not only do they ensure spay/neuter services are provided to dogs they help, but their positive stance is more likely to change minds and open hearts of people who think it’s OK to chain their dog than just about anything else.

OTHER GROUPS WORKING TO UNCHAIN DOGS:

Fences for Fido

Dogs Deserve Better

Helping Animals

Mothers Against Dog Chaining

Chained dogs are unhappy, unsafe and dangerous – please don’t leave your dog tethered all day – find a group who can help you build a fence, and your dog’s gratitude and happiness will reduce your liability immediately!

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Save money on your pet’s prescription medicines!

Anyone who’s had a sick pet knows that it can get expensive fast – particularly if your furry friend needs ongoing medication. So what great news to know that there’s an opportunity for Dallas County residents to save up to 65% on prescription drugs – for you and your pet!

The new Dallas County Coast2Coast RX Card offers substantial savings on prescription drugs, including prescriptions for your pet.  There are no health restrictions, no income or age requirements, and the program covers both brand-name and generic drugs.

Participating pharmacies include Wal-Mart, Walgreens, CVS, Sam’s Club, Tom Thumb, Target, Kroger, Minyard, Costco and many more.

A complete list of participating pharmacies is available online and you can even print your new drug card right from the website.  So if you’ve got a diabetic cat, an arthritic dog – or any pet on prescription medicines – and you live in Dallas County, this little card could mean big savings!

For more info: Dallas County Coast2Coast RX Card.

Photo courtesy UrbanCritter. Exciting news courtesy of Rebecca Poling, our Dallas Animal Rescue Examiner – more of her articles here.

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SPCA of Texas offers $5,000 reward in cat killer case

As if there weren’t enough reasons to keep your cat inside, some deranged individual in Northwest Dallas has given us all another one by going on a killing spree, strangling and dismembering neighborhood cats.

Although this is not an isolated incident (there are too many stories of cats being killed and mutilated all across North Texas, whether by animal abusers or urban wildlife), it is sufficiently disturbing that the SPCA of Texas is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator.

"There is a well-documented link between animal cruelty and human violence." said SPCA of Texas President James Bias. "Helping the Dallas Police Department bring these individuals to justice will help stop the cycle of abuse." Anyone with information about the cat killings should contact Corporal Kimberly Crawford with the Dallas Police Department at 214-670-6037.

For more info: Learn how to report animal cruelty, or check out A Safe Cat Is A Happy Cat.  Robert Wilonsk writes for Dallas Observer’s Unfair Park blog and he recaps a  conversation with the lead DPD investigator in the case.  Think your outdoor cat will never be happy indoors?  Bringing an Outside Cat In tells you how to do it successfully.

Photo courtesy UrbanCritter. Content courtesy of Rebecca Poling, our Dallas Animal Rescue Examiner – more of her articles here.

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Cory captured Molly’s heart!

The latest addition to our DAS alumni page is Corazon, adopted by a DAS volunteer on Mother’s Day 2009. Isn’t he just beautiful, with that perfect little heart outlined on his chest?

If you’ve adopted your pet from Dallas Animal Services, we’d love to share your story! Just email a photo and a short paragraph about your pet to dallasanimaladvocates@gmail.com and together we’ll be able to show people what the sorts of wonderful new family members they could have if they’d consider adopting from DAS. Plus Fluffy or Fido gets their well-deserved 15 minutes of fame!

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August 12 is Adopt-a-less-adoptable-pet day!

Every shelter has them – the pets nobody thinks of or wants, for whatever reason: superstition; fear; misunderstanding; indifference… That big, black dog or “bully breed” who might otherwise have been a loyal and loving companion; the senior cat who still has years of mellow love to give; the special-needs pet who is an inspiring example of adaptability and courage – these animals are passed over time, and time again, for the adorable kitten (the result of an unwanted litter thanks to someone not bothering to spay/neuter their pet); the fashionable breed dog that fits in a handbag; the pet that looks like the star of a movie…

These hard-to-adopt pets don’t deserve to languish in a shelter, or ultimately be euthanized, simply because they’re different – they’re every bit as special as any other animal needing a home! Which is why Petfinder has designated August 12 as "Adopt-a-Less-Adoptable-Pet Day” – Shelters and rescue groups across North Texas will be showcasing their hard-to-adopt pets on August 12th as one more way to help end the euthanasia of adoptable pets.

Are you looking for a new pet? Will you consider broadening your criteria to include an older pet, or one with medical needs? Get to know that big black dog hiding in the back of his cage, or that midnight-colored cat. Pet a pit bull and see how his heart just bursts with joy and the hope that you might want him to join your family! Learn about how easily some medical conditions are managed and realize it’s not so hard after all…

Petfinder survey on which pets are the hardest to place – http://www.petfinder.com/lessadoptablepetday

Please consider those hard-to-adopt pets – with hundreds more dogs hitting Texas shelters this week after yet another massive puppy mill bust, finding homes for pets already waiting to be adopted is even more critical!

For more info: The Metroplex Animal Coalition has a list of more than 50 member groups, many of whom will be participating.  Or go straight to http://www.petfinder.com/lessadoptablepetday.

Let’s open our minds – and our hearts on August 12!

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Priceless…

For adoptable pets near you, check out http://www.dallasanimalservices.org/ or www.petfinder.com

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Find out what local laws and ordinances apply to your pets

Being a responsible pet owner also means being a law-abiding citizen. Texas has many local and State ordinances pertaining to pet ownership, and it pays to know which ones apply to you. Violation of pet ordinances can result in fines or worse – being required to surrender your pet to a shelter, and you cannot claim ignorance as a legal defense.

To help you stay on the right side of the law, here is a handy reference guide that makes it easy to know where to find out the laws in your area – click here to read it and know your legal obligations!

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Different ways of contributing to animal shelters and rescue groups

The latest Examiner.com article by Companions For Life President Rebecca Poling gives peoples various options for donating to animal shelters and rescue groups without necessarily having to write a check.

In these tight times, cash donations are down as people tighten their belts – but that doesn’t mean you have to give up on giving altogether! Volunteer time and in-kind donations are just as valuable as cash, and both businesses and individuals can donate services such as printing, copying, cleaning, grooming, vet care and more. Remembering your local charity in your Will is another way of giving, and of course anyone who is lucky enough to work for a company that matches donations should absolutely take advantage of that “free money”!

As Rebecca points out, “No matter how you donate, the important thing is that you contribute what you can.” We’re all in this together!!

• Read the full article here.
• Other Examiner articles by Rebecca.

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