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.