But What Can I Do?

With all the horrible events taking place around us every day, we can easily become overwhelmed and overcome by apathy towards problems that seem to be beyond our control. It may be true that there is often little we can do to change the most immediate, direct behaviors that lead to tragic events. But, as you've likely heard many times before - the world is an interconnected web that encompasses all. None of us lives in an isolated vacuum. Our thoughts, actions, and choices DO have an impact - sometimes directly and often more indirectly - on the tragic events that surround us. 

When you ask yourself, "What can I do?", don't stop without an answer. This is your opportunity to do some soul searching and truly find what you CAN do.

Here are just a few things that most of us CAN do to promote a more peaceful world:

Make a commitment to practice attitudes and behaviors that promote peace: tolerance, humility, kindness, forgiveness,...  Meditation and prayer provide a powerful vehicle for instilling this practice in us.

Ask yourself if your peaceful goals are reflected to others through all your actions. A few behaviors most of us can improve upon to better reflect our better natures include:

• restricting unkind and bitter commentary in social media and elsewhere (this doesn't mean that we cannot disagree - just that comments be respectful and constructive.) 
• peaceful resolution of our personal conflicts and points of disagreement 
• choosing consumption practices that favor conscience and responsibility over convenience and impulse
• avoiding blaming others for ineffective problem solving while forgetting our own roles and limitations in addressing problems 
• practicing love and forgiveness with ourselves first and then also with others 

Remember that EVERYTHING we do has an impact on the whole. So if you want to know what you CAN DO - simply remember the advice of Gandhi and "Be the change that you wish to see in the world."

Do we have a pit bull problem?

The problems associated with the group of dogs loosely identified as of the pit bull type have become one of the greatest concerns faced by those concerned with dog welfare and by those whose concern is focused on human safety from dog bites and severe attacks.  In the article recently published by BarkPost (http://barkpost.com/good/pit-bulls-history-of-americas-dog/), Kellie Stevens offers a familiar defense of the pit bull "breed" (a term that defies clear definition) stating that "Thankfully, more and more people are getting on board with the fight for Pit Bulls’ rights." 

Such articles beam with positive examples of pit bull type dogs throughout history and currently. These examples are lovely and heartwarming. But what’s notably absent from such articles is an honest look at the tragic plight of pit bulls in today’s culture and any real discussion of possible solutions for addressing that problem.  

As usual, I bring an uncommon perspective (a perspective I’m told is often at odds with socially acceptable thought among animal advocates) because I believe we benefit from considering issues beyond black and white / popular and unpopular portrayals. With pit bulls - as this article begins - this love or hate polarization is especially pronounced.

Among the current 12 rescued dogs that reside in my home, one is a very clear pit bull, Myrtle. I learned much of the history related in Steven’s article when I researched pit bulls prior to adopting Myrtle from a county shelter where she was slated for euthanasia because she was going crazy. (Pit bulls can be highly sensitive and many do not handle intensive kenneling well!) I adore Myrtle - she is incredibly sensitive. loyal, and yes - neurotic (i.e. she has intense fears that don't quell). I'm also well aware of her destructive potential and I will not understate that. Despite the fact that she's had a wonderful and safe life here with us for the past 8 years, I am always highly selective and cautious in introducing her to new people and new animals.

Interestingly, the statistics cited in the BarkPost article regarding dog attacks in the U.S. were from 1965 to 2001. They chose not to look at the stats from 2001 - 2015 which illustrate the heavy rise in pit bull attacks and fatalities. This point is not made to vilify pit bulls but to inject some validity and balance into the discussion. One may choose his or her own preferred sources of factual information (I've cited some common ones below) but I urge you to know and consider the source and its likely biases. 

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatal_dog_attacks_in_the_United_States#Fatalities_reported_in_2015
• https://dogbitelaw.com/dog-bite-statistics/the-breeds-most-likely-to-kill
• http://www.dogsbite.org/dog-bite-statistics-quick-statistics.php

While I don’t advocate the mis-characterization of pit bulls, neither do I think it’s fair to deny the valid concerns of those who know, first hand, the potential dangers of pit bulls and the statistics that document the frequency with which such incidents are occurring. 

I'll focus my attention on information from the AVMA which is as balanced a view as one is likely to find on this topic: https://www.avma.org/KB/Resources/LiteratureReviews/Pages/The-Role-of-Breed-in-Dog-Bite-Risk-and-Prevention.aspx 

In reading the AVMA article, one should notice a frequently cited factor in the high rates of pit bull attacks - that of the high prevalence of pit bull dogs in our communities and especially in those communities that are most likely to misuse and abuse them.

• "If you consider only the much smaller number of cases that resulted in very severe injuries or fatalities, pit bull-type dogs are more frequently identified. However this may relate to the popularity of the breed in the victim's community,"
• "any estimate of breed-based risk must take into account the prevalence of the breed in the population at the time and place of serious biting events."
• "It should also be considered that the incidence of pit bull-type dogs' involvement in severe and fatal attacks may represent high prevalence in neighborhoods that present high risk to the young children"

One need only look at the prevalence of pit bulls in our local shelters to understand that our society is clearly faced with an excess number of poorly cared-for pit bulls – poorly care-for (neglected, abused, abandoned, unsocialized, ….) being the type most likely to cause harm to another. It would stand to reason that if we truly want to reduce the incidence of attacks from whatever potentially dangerous dogs are popular at a given time (be it pit bulls, or rottweilers, or shepherds, or dobermans...) we would choose to regulate the proliferation and ownership of these dogs in the society. That is NOT saying that we would seize dogs that are loved and cared for.  But in choosing to permit the irresponsible breeding and proliferation of dogs that are: 1) horribly abused and misused, 2) make up a huge portion of shelter killings and long-term holdings (not to mention consumption of tax dollars), and 3) responsible for high rates of bites and fatal attacks to people and other animals, don’t we, in fact, accept the status quo?

But moving on beyond what one believes about the value of reducing the prevalence of dangerous and abused dogs, the one clear statement made by the AVMA about the effective approach to reducing dog bite tragedies is the "active enforcement of dog control ordinances" ("Strategies known to result in decreased bite incidents include active enforcement of dog control ordinances, and these may include ordinances relating to breed.")

The sad reality is that this one recognized preventive measure is at best minimally applied in many, if not most, communities in Virginia. To my knowledge, there is no tracking of the enforcement of dog control ordinances nor any reports or attention offered to provide an effective look at this across the state.  If fact, I learned recently that it’s common in many Virginia localities for county sheriffs to essentially forbid their AC officers  (either implicitly or explicitly) from enforcing animal control laws because the laws are often unpopular and residents held accountable to the law might retaliate by voting against the sheriff in subsequent elections!   This despite the fact that law enforcement is considered by the AVMA to be the only effective strategy for decreasing bite incidents. 

My own efforts (through the use of FOIA) to identify animal law enforcement among selected counties in Central Virginia are reported here: http://www.myrtlerun.com/docs/survey/srvyCitations.pdf   (part of a larger survey with stats from 2010)

Anyone familiar with dog keeping habits in rural central Virginia knows that violation of our dog laws (weak as they are!) is incredibly commonplace, and yet the stats for law enforcement are miniscule!  But when was the last time you heard any real discussion on this issue?  Why are we not thinking and talking about this???

Am I grateful to live in a state that will not seize my dog simply because of her breed? - Absolutely! 

Am I satisfied with the status quo that allows unregulated breeding and selling of the dogs most likely to cause harm to humans and other animals and to be severely abused themselves? – No!  

Am I satisfied with the lack of animal control law enforcement to address irresponsible ownership and decrease dog bite incidents? – No! 

If we really want to serve the best interests of pit bulls and of human safety then we must honestly  address the serious problems of unregulated pit bull proliferation and ownership in our society.  I may not have the answers to the pit bull problem but I’m willing to acknowledge that we have a pit bull problem and that we need to openly engage in a search for solutions without banning each other from the discussion table - because if we don’t, we’ll all - pit bull advocates, pit bull opponents, and most of all pit bulls - will continue to suffer tragically.

My Plans for Changing the World

Leo Tolstoy once said “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.”   Indeed, who would truly disagree that change starts with one’s self.  It’s just that it’s easy to forget or to shortchange that part of the equation – especially when change is difficult – which, of course, it always is!

So I got to thinking about how I want to live in a humane world – a world characterized by compassion and respect for all life.   So putting first things first, I realized that in order to pursue a humane world, I must first be willing to change (more than) a few things in myself.

Sure, I love and protect my family and friends.  I lend a helping hand to others when I can. I keep pets that I adore and I stop to help turtles get across the road.  I’m usually polite and friendly with my neighbors and colleagues. I drive an “energy-efficient” car and I recycle my household waste. Like most, I shun images and stories of abuse.   Isn’t this enough to live humanely?

Well - Yes and No.

But maybe first I should consider why it is that I or anyone might strive to live humanely.  Humane is defined as being “marked by compassion, sympathy, or consideration for humans or animals.” (Merriam Webster) Most of us care about people and animals – at least a little bit. In fact, without delving too far beyond our current scope, we might at least acknowledge that a look at the most widely practiced religions will consistently reveal an emphasis on compassion, a term defined as “the humane quality of understanding the suffering of others and wanting to do something about it.” (Princeton Wordnet Lexicon database)

Many consider compassion to rank among the very highest of human qualities. In fact, as the features once thought to set humans “above” the other animals continue to be overturned upon our closer inspection of other animals, our capacity for compassion may well be a principle defining hallmark of being fully human. 

But in our complex world, living humanely and compassionately doesn’t come easily nor passively.  We depend upon inexpensive clothing and material goods often produced by young people working in slave-like conditions in other countries. We buy pets produced by breeding stock so ill-kept we cannot bear to witness it.  We consume record amounts of animal products produced under the most horrific conditions our world has ever seen.  The waste we produce and discard threatens the health and sustainability of our environment in drastic measures that far exceed our awareness and our willingness to acknowledge. And we readily unleash our resulting pent up frustrations through a mask of social media and politics that allows us to bully and belittle those whose opinions we don’t want to hear.

Well – this list could go on but you can see, it’s really not easy to be humane in our culture. 

Humane living is the practice of living with conscious awareness and attention to how our choices affect the wellbeing of people, animals, and environment.  Such a practice requires a conscious commitment and dedication.  As Jane Goodall, the prominent primatologist and humane education advocate, once said: “The most important thing is to actually think about what you do. To become aware and actually think about the effect of what you do on the environment and on society. That's key, and that underlies everything else."

Our efforts to live humanely are challenged on so many levels. We have limited knowledge of the consequences of our choices.  Big institutionalized systems hide abuses and use the immense power of marketing to influence our choices and lure us into an insatiable wanting for their goods.  We naturally resist the discomfort of change. We pursue power and prestige and compete for resources – even when resources are plentiful. Information overload wears down our physical and mental ability to attend to critical detail.  And we find ourselves simply being swept up in a culture of comfort at the top of the “resource chain.” 

One might easily throw up one’s hands and declare a life of humane compassion to be beyond our reach.  Indeed, our tendency is to deny and to “normalize” the disturbing impact of our behaviors on the lives of others.  (see How People Come to Accept Violence Against Animals as Normal) Of course, life has “always been full of hardship and suffering – it’s really not our responsibility.”

While it may not be “my responsibility”, the simple fact remains that the complex process of human activity, when driven by greed and thoughtlessness, introduces enormous suffering into the world.  And it is equally true that we, as humans, hold the power to ameliorate and end most of this “man-made” suffering – if and as we choose to do so.   

 If I hope to make a difference I must remember the greatness of our power.  That power lies, first, in our capacity, beyond all other creatures, to thoughtfully and critically choose our actions and behaviors; secondly, in our ability to share ideas and speak freely – to be influenced by and to influence those around us and; and thirdly, in our consumer power – the power to influence and change institutionalized processes through our purchasing and consumption choices.

So lest I rest passively in my general good nature while the broader impact of my humanity is wreaking havoc on the life of planet earth, I will actively engage the practice of humane living.  I will seek to learn about the impact of my choices on those near and far, human and non-human. I will invite the guidance and teaching of others willing to share. I will gently acknowledge my failures but I will not let them stop me. And I will joyously celebrate each success that moves me and us toward a more humane world.

A question posed by environmentalist and artist, Chris Jordan, aptly captures the challenge before us.  He asks, “Do we have the courage to face the difficulties of our time and to feel deeply enough that it transforms us and our future?”   I will strive to have the courage and the will to change the world through my choices and I invite you to join me.

The question of PAIN in animals answered – and what this means for neglected animals

I recently had my attention drawn to an article about pain in animals that was published in the Tufts Veterinary Medicine publication for Winter 2013. The quote that drew my attention:

“As recently as a decade ago, most veterinarians assumed that animals didn’t feel pain, or at least experienced it differently than humans. Now all evidence points to the contrary. Research has shown that animals and humans have similar neural pathways for the development, conduction and modulation of pain, making it pretty likely that our pets experience pain in much same the way we do.”

This issue is so frequently debated and misunderstood that I felt the need to underscore this recent finding from a respected veterinary school.  Especially considering that here in rural Central Virginia, it’s often likely that the majority of pets are kept entirely outdoors and often with NO veterinary care at all.  Dogs typically live and die at the end of a chain or, if running loose, hit by a car or killed by other animals.  The concept of considering the pain suffered by these animals  that are left to the ravages of neglect, disease, injury, and often starvation with no attention or intervention is profound and certainly, if seriously considered by most minimally compassionate humans, would be cause for taking some action to prevent the prevalence of such needless suffering.  And yet – that action is rarely taken.

I don’t have the answer to why attention at the local level is so rarely brought to bear on the inhumanity with which we keep our companion animals (not to mention those not considered companion animals.)  Having tried on many occasions to bring that attention into focus in my own local community and among the local animal advocates, I have experienced not only the apathy but even surprisingly opposition from local advocates who don’t want “to go there.”  To “go there” means to address the sometimes stinging realities that dictate the cultural attitudes and neglect of animals in a community that has not yet reached a level of compassion and honesty that supports humane and responsible care of animals.

While many will ooh and ahh over a rescued dog or cat, there are few that will honestly address the source of the problem – taking concerns to the municipal leadership, pushing for the enactment of necessary local ordinances, organizing or attending informed discussions on the issues. 

No I don’t have answers to the dilemma but I do know that as long as we decline to address the roots of the problem, we will continue to battle the symptoms of the problem – broken animals, needless misery, an endless flow of rescued animals in need of our time, money, and care.   Think about your own answers to this challenge and feel free to share your thoughts and knowledge about how we can bring attention to the prevention of animal neglect.

The ongoing battle for the human soul...

If you don't believe that evil exists and is in force daily in our midst, try following the dog articles reviewed by Penny Eims at Examiner.com (http://www.examiner.com/dogs-in-national) for a week or so. 

And if you don't believe there are true angels that routinely deliver from evil and rescue those in the most abject distress, try following the dog articles reviewed by Penny Eims at Examiner.com (http://www.examiner.com/dogs-in-national). 

Our nation's tragic challenge with the animals in our midst brings us as as sharply in touch with the battle of good and evil as many of us will ever see. The striking reality is that it is all played out daily and often with little to no notice or recognition. It is a battle crying out and offering us the opportunity to take notice, to engage in the battle, to fight the evil and let the good reign victorious. 

Who needs entertainment when real life is begging us to join in.

Learning to Think Outside the Shelter

Be honest.  How many times have you either silently or openly lashed out at pet owners who seem to thoughtlessly give up their pets to a pound?  Of course, it is the endless relinquishment of these pets to the pounds that results in the high euthanasia rates of shelters throughout the Central Virginia region.  Non-profit rescues are currently able to rescue only a fraction of the animals from our region's pounds.  You might think, if only we could stop people from giving up their pets. Well, if we put our collective minds, hearts, and resources to the task of helping people learn and be able to properly care for their pets, we just might be able to do so!

This blog post from the ASPCA is on target with the current goals and focus of the PAWS Safe, Responsible, Humane Communities Initiative in recognizing that we must find ways to help those who acquire animals but find themselves unable to manage them effectively.  Our tools are those of education - on every front possible, and providing access to the knowledge and resources that can help pet owners resolve problems and become effective guardians of their animals.

If you would like to join us as we work to create and offer avenues of support for community education and assistance for compassionate and responsible pet care, please contact us. Help us start the transformation of all our communities in Central Virginia into Safe, Responsible, Humane Communities.

Helping your community: Where to start?

If you are one of the many people who care about animals in our communities and the importance of building safe, responsible, humane communities then you may be wondering how you can help your community move forward.  Anyone and everyone can help our communities become safe, responsible, and humane and your participation is critical!

Step one is to learn what you can about basic factors affecting the management of companion animals (i.e. pets) in your community.  Animal management takes place primarily at the local level. That means that your community’s animal control officers, county or city administration, and/or sheriff’s office are crucial to the administration of effective animal management.  The state provides guidance and a foundation of applicable laws but otherwise provides relatively little oversight of local practices.  Your community administrative agencies are the ones that define the nature of animal management in your community. If it is good - thank them.  If it is not so good, ask for their attention and assistance.

The Companion Animal Survey Report provides a fairly thorough review of the key factors that affect companion animal management and helps to create a stable framework for understanding the challenges and the opportunities. It also provides some detailed information about the specific practices and nature of each of the fifteen counties surveyed.  It is designed to be easy to read and access and to give a broad overview of relevant issues.

The landscape of companion animal management:
One important thing you will learn is that the practice and promotion of humane management of companion animals can be a somewhat contested process. Old customs and attitudes towards animals may oppose the practice of humane management.  For this reason, some communities will avoid openly addressing barriers to humane animal management. In all honesty, such avoidance is not only needless but is in fact, counter to effective government and to the administration of justice and public safety. However, it’s always important to know well any issue that needs to be addressed, to communicate respectfully and clearly with community officials, and to be persistent!

Most of the non-profit activity around companion animal management is seen in efforts to re-home shelter cats and dogs and to reduce the rates of euthanasia for unwanted animals.  If you are one of the volunteers that support these valuable services – THANK YOU!  However, not everyone that cares about animals is prepared to work with fostered animals or shelters.  In fact, the focus of the Safe, Responsible, Humane Communities Initiative begins with preventing the need for animal sheltering.  With an emphasis on enabling our communities to provide education, effective animal law enforcement, and access to pet care resources we strive to reach and teach pet owners to help them provide good care for their pets and, in so doing, keep these pets out of the shelters, off the streets, and away from neglect and abuse.

Your awareness and your voice in support of Safe, Responsible, Humane Communities is the foundation that will help us achieve this goal!  The easiest way to sum up our process is that we seek to encourage all community members to become learners and teachers about effective companion animal management and humane education. The principles are simple and effective and their application can transform the nature of animal welfare in any community that cares to do so.

Below are some tips for getting started.  Start wherever you are and build your skills and knowledge. You may be very surprised at how much you learn and what ways you find that you can make a difference!

• Be the example you want to see in others.  Have your pets licensed, provided with identification – collar, tag, and microchip, spayed or neutered, and provided with appropriate veterinary care. Learn how to care for them properly and respect their needs: for security, for companionship, for quality nutrition, for exercise and housing, and most of all for your patience and love.
• Become acquainted with and follow the laws that pertain to responsible animal ownership at the state level as well as the community level.   Knowing these laws – even just a few of the key ones such as those addressed in our survey – will give you the foundation you need to support and build your community’s progress in animal welfare.
• Know the resources available to your community. There are many non-profit assistance organizations and animal welfare services around the Central Virginia region these days.
• Hold the expectation that your community will honestly enforce the laws that pertain to and protect animals.  Voice this expectation at every opportunity and encourage others to do the same.
• Get to know your supervisor or council representative.  You can request a meeting with him or her or talk with them at public board or council meetings. These representatives are there to serve your interests in the community.  Share your knowledge and concerns with your representative along with some proposals for feasible solutions. If you can, consider offering your help to work with community agents to address the issues. 
• Ask questions and require answers.  Give yourself permission to learn all you can about policies and procedures in your community’s management of animals.  Public awareness and sound guidance are the keys to bringing about the best behavior and practices in any community.
• Keep issues alive by TALKING about them!  Share concerns and information about animal issues in your community with others: friends, family, neighbors.  Don’t let your concerns be swept under the rug – out of sight and out of mind. 
• Put it in Writing.  Do you like to write? Identify specific issues in need of change in your community – for instance a need for a ban on dogs-running-at-large or to increase enforcement of licensing laws because too many dogs are found stray with no tags.  In the wake of a specific occurrence or public disturbance ask your local paper to run a story.  Once an issue is in the papers you can also build on it with well-written, timely letters to the editor.  If you really like to write, consider proposing a series of public information articles on responsible pet care topics that you could write for your local newspaper.
• Enlist friends to work with you! Engaging in your community is much more fun as well as more effective when you can voice your interests in concert with others who share those interests.  A growing chorus of knowledgeable and respectful voices making a reasonable request is difficult to avoid.  Your leaders need to hear your persistent sincerity and that others share your concerns. 

I'm happy to offer you suggestions, direct you to information, or provide other assistance I can to help you in your efforts.  The critical point is that you find ways to make your knowledge and expectations known to your community members and leaders and that you be respectful, reasonably well-informed, and honest.  You can contact me: Alice Leigh at alm@myrtlerun.com or 540-967-0999.  Your thoughts and additions below are welcomed!

The greatness of a nation...

Our ability to embrace compassion and empathy for those who share our world, to treat all members - even the least ranking and non-human members - with respect, is central to our wellbeing. Only when able to overcome the limitations of our compassion will we fully develop our potential and the greatness that is possible of a human(e) community. And there is no better place to learn the practice of compassion than with the lowest ranking of our community members - the animals that share our world.

Imagine a community that embraces compassion for life at the foundation, and that honors and promotes the safety and wellbeing of its members by building an ethic of personal responsibility, accountability, and informed decision-making.

As science continues to overrule the conventional assumptions about what makes humans different from other animals - a characteristic to be celebrated in humans is their amazing capacity for learning, problem-solving, and above all, compassion. Non-human animals also exhibit these traits - but humans possess the greatest capacity to transform our world through compassion and problem-solving.

Some believe that we're in transition from an "age of information" to an "age of humanity" or an "age of compassion". Major successes occur routinely in efforts to mobilize and advance our compassionate engagement with our world. Organizations like the Institute for Humane Education embrace and share solutions for advancement in compassion in all areas of human activity. The Humane Society of the United States, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and numerous other organizations have seen great success in advancing social awareness and progress towards compassion for the animals in our world. Major religions are increasingly recognizing and embracing the importance of compassion - not only for humans but for all of God's creation: World's Major Religions Call for Compassion for Animals.

While the challenges remain great, the hope for a compassionate world is alive and well and your engagement in its progress is invited and celebrated! Please join us and others as we work together to continue to share and build compassion for animals and people in our own local communities here in Central Virginia.

The Hounds of Myrtle Run

When my husband and I moved to our property in Louisa,VA (we are both natives of Virginia) we wanted to find ways to help animals in the community. Of course, one of those ways is through rescue.  When we received a call from the shelter staff asking if we could please take a frightened, heavily pregnant, stray hound, we looked at our, then empty, pen and said OK. Knowing nothing of puppy birthing, we learned all we could, provided a safe environment and good food and hoped that nature would be kind with us. Nature was, and within a few days, this skinny, frightened hound gave birth to 8 hound puppies. We fed mama well, mama fed the pups well, and all thrived.

As soon as the pups were old enough and vaccinated we began taking them to adoption events to find homes.  They were so cute and people adored them! But few wanted to adopt a hound. Hubby and I were out every weekend showing off our pups and seeking good homes.  We eventually found homes for four of the pups. But the others were growing large quickly and needed to find homes soon. So with the kind help of others, we managed to ship the last four to a deluxe shelter in New Jersey.  We were able to see their profiles online and watch with amazement at how rapidly each remaining pup was adopted for sums of money we could scarcely imagine.

Fast forwarding to the present, we have now received back two of the four pups adopted locally when the families decided they could no longer keep a hound. Now, having accumulated 11 dogs in our short tenure in rescue, we no longer foster dogs for adoption. For those who came into our home and failed to be adopted (or were returned), we provide a home full of love, patience, room to run, and responsible ownership. We adore our three hounds, our two beagles - one so shy and sweet and the other a remarkably resilient survivor, our two wonderful pit bulls, our once feral shepherd mix who was expected to be returned to the shelter for euthanasia after her pups were weaned and adopted, and our elderly dachshunds and spunky min-chow mix. Having dipped a finger randomly into the rescue pot for a very brief moment in time, this is what we accumulated - a snapshot of rescue in rural Central Virginia - hounds, beagles and pits.

We adore our pack and would not now trade them for any other. We have learned, first hand, the overwhelming challenge of rural animals in need of homes. And we are committed to working to support the education and cultural shifts that are essential if we are ever to reduce the numbers of animals in desperate need.

No relief for tethered dogs...

As a relative newcomer in the realm of serious animal advocacy, I am still in the period of learning the depth and details of the issues.  Part of my learning involves coming to understand the political and legislative issues of animal welfare.

I recently attended a meeting of the House Agriculture sub-committee at which HB 888 was discussed.  This bill had sought to grant permission (in accordance with the Dillon Rule) to localities to enact tethering ordinances.  Numerous people spoke convincingly about why localities need the freedom to manage the tethering of companion animals to promote the wellbeing of the community.  Only one person spoke in opposition citing that there were too many laws already.

Animal management is administered at the local level and thus if localities are to do their job effectively, they need the tools and freedom to do so – unless we prefer state or federal management.

Despite wide support, the bill was killed. Committee members noted that since tethering has not been defined as a “cruel practice”, they cannot then grant permission to address it.  

For those who don’t know, unrestricted tethering is a horribly common and cruel practice exemplified by attaching a dog to a heavy chain for the duration of that dog’s entire life, and leaving the dog with such minimal attention that it lives in its own fetid waste, suffers endlessly from want of food, water, shelter from cold, relief from heat, worms and parasites, lack of exercise, lack of socialization, and lack of medical attention until it finally dies a slow, lonely, tragic death.

Female dogs tethered in this way are often un-spayed and susceptible to breeding from whatever wandering male gets lucky – leaving the pups to the same desperate life or worse.  All tethered dogs are susceptible to attack from wandering dogs –a notable recent national case involved a tethered dog that was eaten by wolves.

Data on the safety hazards with tethered dogs is extensive and readily available.   And yet, as our delegates on the sub-committee pointed out so well, we - citizens, caretakers of “our” animals, children of God, humans – have not defined this as a “cruel practice” and thus must be denied the freedom to govern this in our own communities.

Your legislative representatives have spoken.  However if, like me, you feel that our humanity has not been well-represented and you believe communities should be allowed to effectively manage their dog populations, then please talk to your state and local representatives.
 
Don’t wait for the next legislative session.   Speak to your representatives now and regularly.  Otherwise they will continue to take the easy path and disregard our humanity.  Virginia’s General Assembly site is an excellent resource (http://legis.state.va.us/) and you’ll be surprised at how easily you can make your voice count.  Your voice is what defines our humanity.   The wellbeing of our communities and the animals therein depend upon it.

Managing Companion Animals: PART II – Animal Control

Above and beyond our personal efforts to promote responsible animal care, we need to look to our Animal Control Officers (ACOs) for the critical role they play in community education and law enforcement.

As ACOs engage with the individuals that either don’t know or choose to violate the laws of animal management, our ACOs  are in the unique position to teach people about the reasons for the laws, the importance of following the laws, and beyond the law, the importance of properly caring for and assuming responsibility of one’s animals.

We should be highlighting the value of our Animal Control Officers, inviting them to share their knowledge in our community activities: classrooms, civic meetings, public events, ….  How well do you know your ACO?  If you find that your ACO is not available for such events, consider encouraging your community’s administration to ensure time and availability for your ACOs to provide community education.  Make sure they know just how important this education is in the community’s role of promoting effective animal management.

The added strength we have in our ACOs is their ability and responsibility to enforce animal management laws.  Education isn’t always enough to change old habits and dissuade some people from abusive and neglectful behaviors.  Where education fails, we must rely on law enforcement. 

Throughout Virginia, licensing compliance rates are frequently low or unknown despite a state law requiring licensing for dogs and giving localities the right to require licensing for cats.  Many rural communities simply fail to prosecute cases of serious abuse and neglect as they have become accustomed to perceiving such cases as insignificant and remain sadly unaware of the strong associations between animal abuse and the development of violent behavior against humans. In order to overcome the customary inattention to animal laws, community residents will have to speak up and make known to our community administrations that we need and expect strong enforcement of laws pertaining to animal management and that the Animal Control agencies must receive the support they need to carry out their responsibilities effectively.

Animal Control Officers are under-paid and under-educated for the demanding and complex responsibilities they hold in today’s culture.  Too many localities still embrace antiquated notions of the “dog catcher” – someone who simply rounds up stray animals.  Education requirements for Animal Control Officers are minimal – 84 hours.  Even this can be delayed for two years – thus allowing individuals to work as an Animal Control Officer for 2 years with no training at all.  Sadly, state regulations continue to lag behind the needs of the profession.  Fortunately, the Animal Control profession is changing greatly in those localities that have come to understand and value the uniquely critical role of Animal Control Officers.

Virginia is fortunate to have a well-established and highly regarded statewide association – the Virginia Animal Control Association (VACA) – that is working hard and making headway in bringing about positive change – such as strengthening educational requirements and pursuing stronger law enforcement status for ACOs.  But change is hard and VACA needs support for these changes to come from the residents of the communities that will benefit from stronger, better educated, and better supported Animal Control professionals.

Here again, we, individuals and animal guardians, can play a role to help improve the responsible management of animals in our communities.  We can support and encourage the professional development of our community Animal Control Officers.  This is the agency that ultimately holds the promise of providing a solid foundation for our communities to evolve into truly humane communities with the ability to both communicate and enforce the guidelines for responsible pet ownership and thus promote the overall safety and well-being of the community and its animals.  I urge you to take the opportunity to get to know your Animal Control professionals and to urge your community leadership to fully support its Animal Control department.  This is what we can do to promote humane communities.

Managing Companion Animals: PART I - Personal Responsibility

Earlier this summer a letter to the editor from the president of our local humane society spoke out on the importance of individual personal responsibility in caring for companion animals, “Dog owners must become more responsible.”

It’s true that so many problems in the world would disappear if people would just be more responsible.  But getting this to happen isn’t easy!  We wrestle with issues of personal responsibility on many fronts of human behavior:  driving vehicles, consuming alcohol, managing finances, managing anger & violence – just to name a few.  People just are not naturally responsible –whether due to a lack of understanding, disagreement, financial

barriers, or just plain apathy.

In order for us to live together in relative harmony we have to build and enforce responsibility in those areas where behaviors of individuals can negatively impact others in the community.  This task falls to individuals as well as to our local governing agencies.  We rely on education to instill an awareness of responsible behavior.   We look to our community leaders, as well as to our family, friends, and neighbors, to set examples for responsible behavior. And we develop laws to articulate responsible behavior that our law enforcement agencies carry out into the community. 

If we ever hope to build responsibility among animal owners, we must begin building and enforcing responsible pet ownership to the same degree that we do so for other areas of human behavior.   What can we, as individuals, do to bring this about?

First, and most simply, we can be an example for responsible pet ownership.  We can be sure to have our own pets licensed, tagged, spayed or neutered, properly cared for and provided with appropriate veterinary care.  We can make sure to have plans in place for our pets in the event that we are unable to care for them so that they do not wind up by default at a local shelter or as an unexpected burden on someone.  And we should learn how to manage appropriate behavior in our pets so that they don't bother others and so that they don't become an unwelcomed burden to ourselves.  In addition, we should become acquainted with and follow the laws that pertain to responsible animal ownership at the state level as well as our community level.

Next, we can encourage our community leaders to set proper examples of responsible behavior. Many community leaders continue to turn a blind eye to concerns and laws regarding animal management.  Sometimes, they are guilty of the very behaviors we seek to correct. Not long ago one of our community’s leaders was a well-known dog fighter.   Some community members, upstanding in other respects, may still engage in backyard breeding and inattention to their own tied-out or roaming dogs and breeding cats.  Through our everyday engagement with our community leaders, we can help them understand the importance of responsible animal care and their role in promoting it in the community.

Thirdly, we can encourage and support the education of other community members, most importantly our children, about responsible pet ownership and compassion for animals.   Educators can find a wealth of resources available to support humane education.  It’s easy to incorporate humane education into the classroom.  Kids have a natural affinity for animals.  Teachers who develop programs and techniques for humane education can also inspire and help others to do the same.  

Assuming our personal roles in promoting responsible pet ownership is an important first step towards building a more humane community.  In combination with effective community support services, our personal commitment to advocating for responsible animal care is a winning hand.

The key to animal welfare...

... is human education.

Thinking, planning, moving towards humane communities ...

What is a humane community? A simple term that's been around for a long time, I'm always surprised that we hear so little talk about the value and process of developing humane communities. Talk abounds around shelter adoptions and spay/neuter options.  But relatively little talk comes around to considering the full picture of effective, humane pet management in communities.

While I'm not aware of a given definition for a humane community, I'd suggest that a humane community is one which values life, both human and animal, and chooses to promote that value by building and supporting responsible animal management practices that benefit both the animals in a community as well as the safety and well-being of the humans that interact with those animals.  These practices include, at the minimum, education for animal guardians about humane and responsible animal care, enactment and enforcement of laws that promote humane and responsible animal care, and the inclusion of animals in a community’s emergency services plan and operation.  In partnership with responsible community administrations, charitable agencies can provide significant support in conceiving, developing, and sustaining programs to promote humane communities. It is this partnership that is often found lacking. 

Often misunderstood, “SPCA” is merely a term commonly applied to non-profit animal shelters.  An “SPCA” organization has no connection to other SPCA organizations and has no meaning other than that given by the organization applying the term.  Increasingly, the term SPCA has been applied to organizations whose primary and perhaps sole purpose is the management and re-homing of homeless animals.  The original intent of the name – Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals – has lost much of its meaning given that so many SPCA’s currently do little to significantly address social issues of cruelty or neglect to animals.   By law cruelty and neglect issues are handled by a community’s Animal Control service.  It’s not uncommon that significant discrepancies exist between the attitudes and beliefs of Animal Control officers and those managing an SPCA shelter.  However, little public attention comes to these issues and the shelters typically have their hands full with the job of managing a shelter and re-homing countless animals.  They understandably have little time or ability to address larger issues of animal cruelty and neglect.

Pet management, and the problems of ineffective management - neglect and abuse, backyard breeding, bite cases, animal aggression, owner-surrendered pets, and disease transmission – are issues of community and individual responsibility and education.  Pet rescue/adoption and low-cost spay/neuter address pieces of the solution, but, as evidenced in the ongoing pet management problems in communities, they don't provide effective solutions in isolation.  While some may espouse a vague notion of responsible pet ownership, few people seem to understand that "responsible pet ownership/guardianship" is a process that is as dependent upon the active involvement and support of a community's administration as it is upon the actions of pet guardians.  This concept is slowly beginning to materialize in forward thinking communities and is embraced by the National Canine Research Council.  It's my hope that we can begin to weave some of these practices together for the benefit of communities and their animals in Central Virginia. 

The No-Kill debate … an Introduction

With the annual conference of the No-Kill Advocacy Center just over and with dire forecasts for the American economy ahead of us, the question over the potential reality of a no-kill society takes on new fervor and heightened attention – and nowhere more so than here in Virginia.

For the uninitiated, “no-kill” refers to the practice of finding adoptive homes for all shelter pets that are of sufficient health and temperament to be adoptable. (There are specific guidelines on this which I will not go into here.)  The basic premise is that, since there are estimated 23 million people adopting a new pet in the U.S. each year, and there are now only about 3-4 million dogs and cats being euthanized in shelters each year, there should be an ample supply of good homes for these pets if only the effort is made to get them matched up.  Those seeking a good look at the no-kill topic are often referred to the book “Redemption” by Nathan Winograd, founder of the No-Kill Advocacy Center.

Representing the flip side of this debate is PETA – People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals – an organization often known for its radical animal welfare activities.  According to PETA, the notion of “no-kill” shelters is misleading when the reality is that such shelters, when full,  must decline the intake of homeless animals and, when unable to adopt animals in a reasonable time frame, are forced to warehouse animals in confined situations that may result in fates worse than death.

This question is no more alive than right here in Virginia where the Virginia Alliance for Animal Shelters (VAAS) has arisen as an alternate voice to the Virginia Federation of Humane Societies (VFHS) , the long-time central voice for animal welfare in Virginia.  While not embraced as part of its official mission, VFHS is generally seen as promoting the no-kill goals of the private shelters that dominate its membership.  In contrast, the focus of VAAS is upon the “open-access” shelters “which cannot or do not ‘pick and choose’ the animals they receive. “  Often, these are municipal shelters but they may also include privately run shelters that practice “open-access” admission.  In its case statement VAAS provides an informative account of the nature and history of this division. 

The “no-kill” debate is an important and often misunderstood issue.  Some people question the availability of truly “good” homes and worry about the fate of animals not adopted or adopted into hoarding, abusive, and neglectful situations.  Others counter that achieving a truly no-kill society is simply a matter of a willingness on the part of those managing shelters to be committed to it. 

While I cannot address the issue in depth here, I'll occasionally return to this issue bringing different facets into discussion.   And I invite readers to consider and explore the issue:  how it plays out in your own localities and what you can offer to help promote understanding and collaboration among shelters and individuals who strive to find the most effective balance for the well-being of animals in your community.

"Speak the truth - even if your voice shakes."

I love this quote.  I stole it from Lisa Compton who provides a great example of how speaking the truth helps her advocate for and improve the lives of chained dogs all around the Richmond area through her organization Rescue of Chained k-9s (ROCK).

Speaking the truth when those around you don't want to hear it can be very challenging. Especially for those who don't seek to be confrontational but only to extend a compassionate hand to the desperate animals in need around us. It can take practice to learn to speak out about the truth when those around you wish to keep it silent.  It's an important practice to undertake.

How change comes about...

Successes in the battle to end slavery in the American South did not come from polite, heartwarming stories about all the happy, free negroes and patient, ego-soothing strokes to those that resisted change. It came out of deep uprising, extended violent clash, and a long history of harsh political struggle and attacks on those who resist change and lawfulness. Ending the deep-seated practice of individuals to neglect and abuse animals and communities to disregard the laws protecting them, will also require unpleasant confrontation. Do not let this dissuade you.

Building Humane Communities: Facing the Facts

Let’s face it – until our culture undergoes a radical change in attitudes towards our relationship with animals:

• There will never be enough homes for all the unwanted animals discarded by human society.
• Communities will remain full of people who consider dogs, cats, and other animals, to be chattel not worth the consideration given to a worn out bicycle and not even close to the value of an automobile.
• Power struggles over who’s right and who’s wrong will always veer to the side of those who have something financial or political to gain – never with those purely fighting for mercy, compassion, or morality.

This list could go on, but – you get the point. The point is that the welfare of the animals in our midst is not simply going to happen on its own.The desperately high rates of stray animals, abused animals, neglected animals, homeless animals, and euthanasia will not decline on its own. No matter how many no-kill rescues there are, there will still be far too many homeless and ill-tended animals as long as our societal attitudes about animals remains as it is.

Legally, animals are property.  In the Virginia 2011 legislative session, animals gained slight protection from an owner’s abusive partner only by their inclusion as “property” akin to a piece of furniture or equipment (HB 1716).  This is a troublesome, though currently necessary, reality.  The more we understand and grapple with this fact, the better able we will be to work with it effectively.

Legislatively, animal laws are far too weak and too vague to provide significant protection for animals at the mercy of an “owner” or retailer who is too uneducated, too lazy, too greedy, too ill-tempered, or simply too un-caring to provide proper care for the animal.  The better we understand the current laws, why they exist and how they are used,the better we’ll be able to help shape and build these laws to make them truly effective.

Administratively, counties and cities have high-priority concerns and financial needs that precede those of animal welfare such that little to nothing is left when it comes to animal issues and animal law enforcement – UNLESS the community residents demand it.   The animals have no defense but in us.  They depend on us to demand that our administrations enforce the laws that protect them. And the well-being of our communities depends on us to demand enforcement of animal laws that protect residents from stray, feral, dangerous, and unvaccinated animals.  In order to do this, we must first learn how our administrations address animal management – both sheltering and law enforcement; what laws they follow (or do not follow), what resources are available to help them, and who are the responsible and accountable players.

Morally – well, communities have a tough time with moral issues and responsibilities.  And sadly, communities of faith often seem to lose site of the fact that animals are God’s creatures too and find it easier to leave such challenging issues as animal welfare unchallenged.  Each of us can bring our knowledge and faith in the value and worth of God’s non-human creatures into focus in our own religious and spiritual communities and thus, help to spread our awareness of the importance of including our respect for animals in our moral and spiritual development.

Without your voice and your active, ongoing involvement and support -- dogs will continue to die in hot cars while the owners that locked them there go un-punished; cats will continue to over-populate in feral colonies and suffer from disease and hunger;  puppies and kittens will continue to be born to worn out, emaciated , sickly mothers;  millions of animals will die slow, premature deaths of neglect while languishing on a chain or under a shed in someone’s backyard – unseen, unheard, unloved. 

With your voice, this sad reality can be transformed.  As you and others like you become actively involved in learning about animal management practices in your neighborhood and community and learning to speak out amongst your friends, family, church congregation, and community about your concerns for the welfare of animals in your community, problems will find solutions, hearts will open up, people who care will step up to support each other, lives will be saved, tragedies averted, misery turned into joy, mountains will be moved.  Thus is the process of building humane communities. 

I hope this blog may help provide windows to the relevant issues of local animal welfare, and reveal opportunities available to those in Central Virginia willing and ready to learn about animal care and animal advocacy. Please share this information freely!

To find out how we can help or how you can become involved in our programs, call us at 540-967-0999, visit our web site at www.paws-cva.org,  or email us at paws@myrtlerun.com.

Humane Investigators - Have they a future in Virginia?

A public meeting was held by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) on July 7 to solicit input and comments about the Humane Investigator program in Virginia.  Despite the fact that this would be the only public comment period for a current review of this program,  the meeting had only been announced six days beforehand and then, not given any publicity whatsoever to solicit public attendance.  Needless to say, there wasn’t much “public” in attendance.

 

I’d been lucky to have notice of the meeting forwarded to me and lucky that I was able to schedule the time.  Knowing little about the Humane Investigator program, I hoped to learn much.  The bulk of discussion came from the Humane Investigators in attendance.  I was  impressed with the professional demeanor and well-articulated comments of these individuals who, in most cases, had served for many years in their positions as unpaid, certified, trained Humane Investigators – working in tandem with Animal Control Officers to augment the eternally insufficient staffing of this workforce.   Anyone attending this gathering would have been struck by the commitment and integrity with which these individuals regarded their positions and their responsibilities.  Their stories told of mutually beneficial and valuable relationships between their municipality’s ACO’s and themselves and of the education, positive outreach, and law enforcement they were able to bring to their communities.   

The stated purpose of the meeting was to gather input on “the pros and cons of an expanded humane investigator program” and “how animal law enforcement in the Commonwealth could be strengthened and made more efficient.”   There were lots of pro’s in evidence but scant comment on any con’s of the program.  One commenter from the Virginia Farm Bureau questioned if it wouldn’t be preferable to expand the ACO departments rather than have Humane Investigators.  Knowing the weak support that our ACO program receives from the county and the unavailability of funds even for what’s currently in place, I found it inconceivable that the county would ever consider funding an additional ACO position, especially if a qualified, unpaid position were available to provide needed support.  No additional comment was made as to how an expanded ACO program might be preferable to the Humane Investigator program.

As the meeting wore on, tensions became apparent that heralded back to 2003 when the rug had been pulled from beneath this program and a tight lid placed on the appointment of new Humane Investigators.  Distrust in the meeting began to rise as Human Investigators and other animal advocates questioned, understandably, the process that has now been undertaken to review this program and determine its future.  The “study group” that will review the program was not identified in the meeting except for the fact that it included no Humane Investigators.   When asked about the workings, schedule, and process of this review, the answers were plainly evasive.  When asked why such little notice had been made of this, the only public input slated for the review process, the answers were again evasive and insufficient.  The distrust was certainly understandable if not warranted. 

I was disappointed that there was essentially no discussion on the topic of how animal law enforcement could be strengthened and made more efficient.  Neither the meeting’s leader nor anyone else had any meaningful input on this topic despite strong recognition of the need for such strengthening.  The implicit sense was that this Humane Investigator program was, by far, the best option available for providing added support to the dearth of attention placed on Virginia’s animal law enforcement.  And now, the future of this program was in question. 

 

The most productive proposal of the meeting was the reiterated suggestion that legislation be established to allow the municipalities to decide for themselves whether or not they wanted to “employ” Humane Investigators.  In a state priding itself on individual rights, this certainly seems to be a most appropriate approach (even though it doesn’t bode well for my own county which had declined the cost-free support of a humane investigator years ago.)

In the end, I came away with a high regard for the Humane Investigators who are clearly committed to providing an affordable, quality service in support of the animal welfare laws currently in force, with great puzzlement about why there would be an effort to eliminate this program with no apparent alternatives for anything to replace it, and with the hope that given the obvious value of the program, the study group would find that rather than be discontinued, the Humane Investigator program should be supported and expanded.

Since only a small percentage of localities actually have Humane Investigators, perhaps if those recognizing the value of a program like this would make known to your community leaders the need for this program in your community, then awareness and common sense might prevail and we would all win.