It's Time for Local Gov to Step Up to the Plate

As volunteers we've done about all we can do.  We've gotten over 30 dogs off their chains and into roomy kennels with proper doghouses.  
Many more are needed but unless the City of Monroe changes some laws, we're spinning our wheels.  The cycle will just continue.

Here's one area where help is needed:

Tarps are needed for the back of some of the kennels to give the dogs a way to get out of the sun when it gets too hot.  Many phone calls have done into Lowes about setting up an account for Project Slum Dogs so people can donate for these.  So far......crickets from Lowes.  They sure were there to take the estimated $30,000 for the kennels when our donor had a handy credit card.  But now when we need a little help from them.......silence.  This is not okay.

Suggestions for the City Council:
1. Pass a mandatory spay/neuter law.
2. Anyone breeding dogs having over 10 puppies/yearly should register with the City and pay a stiff fee for this "privilege".  
3. Pass a no tethering law.  Other cities have done it.  Why can't Monroe?
4. Keep the $26,000 you send to the county every year, for decades now, and use it to support your own Animal Control. 
5. Send Code Enforcement out and start citing the slumlords who are allowing their properties to look like something out of a third world country, unless this how you want Monroe to look. A lot of us are starting to wonder on this point. 

Over & out.  It's time for the city to do something! 

An Interesting Update

1. Did you know that 80 - 100 dogs & cats are taken every month from the city of Monroe to the county shelter?  That's a staggering number.  In fact, it looks like a vicious cycle: breed a litter, sell them or give them away in the community and finally the dog ends up at the county shelter.

2. While we're on the subject of the Union County shelter, the latest figures published by the state, for 2010, are very interesting. (A link to the full report is located in the sidebar)
Here are the numbers:
a.  Total number of cats & dogs taken in: 6208
                         Returned to owner       Adopted      Killed 
     Dogs: 2980        288                            610           1949 = 65%
     Cats:  3222          21                            241           2904 = > 90%


The combined kill rate at our county shelter is a staggering 78%.  I bet you wouldn't think it takes much money to kill so many pets, would you? Lets take a look at how much the county spent in 2010.  Again, this is per state records. 

Total operating expenses for the year: $1,060,747. 

That's a whopping $168.85 per pet.   

It doesn't cost that much to kill a pet.  Only about 10 counties in the entire state have a higher cost/pet.   What does this mean to the city of Monroe?  Considering that most of the dogs going from the city to the shelter are large dogs and many are Pits, it's safe to say that most are not being adopted.  They're being killed.  

What can Monroe do about this?  If the following were done the numbers of pets going from the city to the county shelter would decrease.  In the end, the city would save money.
1.  Revamp the city animal ordinances NOW.
2. Mandatory spay/neuter laws within the city.  When you have a local Humane Society willing to use grant money to do much of the spay/neutering for free, why is there no spay/neuter law?
3. If a household is going to have more then 15 puppies per year they must register as a breeder at a stiff cost paid to the city.
4. Pass a ban on tethering; other communities have done it. 
5. Enforce all animal ordinances.  When AC goes to any household for any reason, ask to see a current Rabies certificate.  Issue citations with fines for violations of any of the ordinances.
6. Work with local rescues on a TNR program for feral cats: trap them, spay/neuter and then release them back. 

Bill in Massachusetts Legislature re: Chaining

No, it's not in North Carolina.  I wish it were.  But it's still good to know that the anti-chaining movement is alive & well and growing.  Here's a link to the info:
http://www.care2.com/causes/support-a-bill-to-help-chained-dogs-in-massachusetts.html

It's interesting to see the groups that oppose the bill.  Bizarre is more like it.   They sure can't be opposing it out of concern for the chained dogs.  So why would any person or group oppose such a law?  Money? 

Foster Home Needed

This is Annie, currently being boarded at a kennel because there haven't been any foster homes available. 

She's 18 months old, has had her vaccines and will be getting spayed this Wednesday.  

Annie is a happy girl and needs to be in a home.  Until her owners surrendered her, she'd spent her days 24/7 at the end of a chain. 

She weighs 52 pounds and still acts like a puppy.  I guess she's making up for lost time.   

Please pass the word. Contact:furever_angels@yahoo.com

 

Can Anybody Help Foster Annie?

Annie is a 18 month old girl taken off the chain and owner surrendered last week.  She looks like a Lab/mix, is very sweet and weighs 52 pounds.

We had a rescue group for her but not a foster home.  She's currently being boarded at a kennel.  She's safe but she needs more than she can get at a kennel.

Annie needs someone to spend some time with her, take her for walks, teach her the basic commands and interact with her.

Perhaps someone could at least take Annie out of the kennel for a weekend?  If you can help in any way please email: 
furever_angels@yahoo.com

It's okay to post and cross-post this plea.  There has to be someone out there with a little room in their home & heart for this girl.

RIP Romeo ♥

You all remember Romeo from when we first saw him living in the "air conditioner enclosure", utterly neglected.  His sister Valentina made it out to rescue.  At that time we didn't have a foster home available for Romeo but we starting looking.  Then the owner said he'd found Romeo a home.  We didn't know if he was sold, given away or what.  A week or so later we found Romeo, chained next door.  A chained puppy!  Fortunately this time we had a rescue group with a foster home available and off he went.

Over the weekend Romeo came down with Parvo, the dreaded disease that can strike with lightening speed.  And it did.  Within 3 hours of showing symptoms Romeo was at the vet's office.  Everything was done for him.  Sometimes despite everyone's best efforts, there's a higher power at work.  Romeo passed away this morning. 

He wasn't in foster care long, only about a week.  In that time though, Romeo got to experience all the things a puppy needs; good food, a warm bed, fresh clean water, toys and the freedom to run & play.  But best of all Romeo got to experience love and lots of it.  Romeo was truly loved by the lady who rescued him and his foster mom.   

This sweet boy will be missed.  We send our prayers as he crosses the bridge. 

A Few Thoughts

I read all the comments before posting them.  So long as they're not crude, foul or in some way deranged, I post them. From the comments, I'm aware of people's frustrations with the conditions of many of the dogs in Monroe.  Some people get mad at the dog owners, some get mad at law enforcement, and some get mad at the dogs!  What's the solution?  
I decided it was time for a fresh look at the AC Ordinances.  Problems abound. 

The AC Ordinances were last updated in 1999.  
In the year 2000 the population of Monroe was roughly 24,000.  
In the year 2009 the population was 33,400. 
Let's take a look at some ordinances.

1. "It shall be unlawful for any person to locate, keep or maintain on any lot or parcel of land within the corporate limits more than two dogs over four months of age......."
Some people have complained because kennels were placed at homes with more than 2 dogs.  Would anyone like to be the one picking which dogs should be taken and killed?  No.

I have an idea on how this could be handled.  It's called "grandfathering".  It means those pets owners would be allowed to keep their dogs BUT they'd have to agree to spay/neuter all of them.  Remember, the Humane Society will do this for free. 
What do you think of this idea?  I'd like your feedback.

2. "Female dogs in heat shall be confined in such a manner as to prevent them from attracting other dogs." 
This is a good law but what do you do about a pet owner who doesn't let his unspayed female run loose but still breeds her? Hmm.  Perhaps a mandatory spay/neuter law is the way to go.  Any breeders would have to register with the city.  It's a thought. 

3. "It shall be unlawful for any person to allow an animal enclosure of any nature to become unsanitary or allow mosquitoes, flies or other insects and vermin to breed therein." 
I look at this law and get visions of the bug man coming out to count mosquitoes or look for rats.   

4.  "No owner or keeper of any dog shall permit such dog to run at large or cause a nuisance to any other person."
This is a good law.  Barking dogs would fall under this one. 

In reading through the AC Ordinances three times, there's really not much else worth mentioning.  There's not!  These ordinances are so pitiful and so lacking that it dawned on me what's happened. Not only are there dogs on chains, we've got law enforcement in chains because they don't have the ordinances they need to help the dogs. 

It's time to rewrite the ordinances.  The police and/or AC go out when we call them.  But they can only enforce the laws that are on the books.  It's past time to write new ordinances.  Opinions?

Houston, We Have a Problem

Remember the "air conditioner" puppies?  Well, momma dog is looking pregnant again.  Our big dog expert volunteer was just driving past the house and shot the pictures you're going to see.  The pictures say it all so I really don't need to write much.......but you know I will.

Is she supposed to jump up onto the air conditioner to eat?

Don't miss the fact that the fencing panel is just leaning against the house.  Waiting for when the next litter is 4 - 5 weeks old?

Some doghouse, huh?  It's off it's base, leaning backwards.  How much protection from the rain did this dog get?

Is she thirsty?  Too bad for her.  Hungry?  Tough luck for this girl.

In case anyone forgets, AC was AT THIS HOUSE about 2 weeks ago.  Why were they there?  See the next picture. 

I mean, who keeps their puppies like this?  There were 3 pups in that makeshift enclosure.  He gave away or sold the black one.  The other two, Valentina & Romeo, made it to rescue but not before he gave Romeo to the neighbor and we found him chained!!!




I asked our volunteer if she's sure the momma dog is pregnant.  Without a doubt, she's sure.  She told me she'd first filed a complaint with AC when the owner put the above puppies in that nasty enclosure when the babies were only 4 - 5 weeks old.  The momma dog would lay next to it, on the outside, trying to let them nurse through the fencing panel.  Is AC going to let this happen again?  Is society?

Here's what needs to happen:
1. The owner needs a citation and a fine.  Hell, if you can arrest him for neglect, do it, handcuffs and all.
2. He owner surrenders the pregnant dog OR the city confiscates her.  Enough already.  Get that dog out of his hands.
3. This pregnant dog is NOT to be gassed at the county shelter.  No way, no how is she to be killed.
4. We're going to need a few days to find a rescue able to take a pregnant Pit.  Give us the time.  We want her to go from the holding part of the shelter into rescue with no fees!

Remember, this owner has 4 adult Pits: 2 females, 2 males.  He asked us for kennels and Igloos.  He was told the only way we'd do it is if he'd agree to spay/neuter his dogs.  The Humane Society of Union County will do this at no charge to him.  He refused!!

Now consider this: those 10 x 20 kennels cost over $400 EACH.  Add a large Igloo to that and you're over $500 per dog. If he turned down over $2,000 in kennels/igloos, don't you have to wonder just how much he's making from breeding his dogs?   

This has to end.  Now.

Letter in Today's Enquirer Journal

Rocky: Another Dog Unchained!

A reader wrote in last week about an emaciated Boxer tethered with no food or water.  What should she do?  I told her to take pictures from the street to document the neglect and call Animal Control (in the county).  She went back with her camera!  This isn't a good shot but it's good enough for you to get the idea; tethered dog, no water, no food.  Sadly that picnic table had nothing on it for him.  Garbage was strewn about.  A dog house with no shavings.  On an emaciated dog, it's not easy on his body to lay on wood. 

As frequently happens, when the lady was taking the pictures the owners came out.  They gave her the dog! 

His name is now Rocky and the lady & her husband are keeping him.  He's been to the vet and was found to be heartworm positive.  Darn.  He will get treated.

Here's Rocky in his new home with a soft, clean, cushioned bed.  Look at that picture.  You can count his ribs and his vertebrae.  He only weighs 47 pounds.  

Rocky,  you're safe now.  Your guardian angel arrived! 

FOSTER HOME NEEDED ASAP

Here's Annie, a Lab/mix, 18 month old female living out her life on a chain in isolation & total squalor. Her left leg is there, it's just tangled in the chain.  She has water; she just can't reach it. She has a dog house; it's just not fit for a rat.  This is the dog that has/had the rope burns on her neck.

We brought her a brand new Martha Stewart red collar, but even good old Martha couldn't make things look good.  The collar was filthy dirty in no time.   

Annie was taken in to rescue by Furever Angels.  But no foster homes are free. With no foster home available, Annie's being boarded at a kennel.  It's a very good kennel, it's just not the best place for Annie.  For a dog who was used to isolation, being one of many in a kennel is not the best.  Annie needs a foster home pronto.

Can you help this sweet girl?  She'll remain under Furever Angels but you will be the foster mom.  She needs a foster home where she's the only foster dog so you'll have time for her.  If you have another dog, that's okay.  We just don't want a foster home that has a pack of dogs. 

Annie has had her vaccines, is heartworm negative and has had a fecal test done.  Her spay will be done through Furever Angels.  

Her disposition is very sweet, she rides well in the car, does well with children but no cats please. 

If you can foster Annie, please send an email to: furever_angels@yahoo.com   
A comment that came in about Annie:

I have been with Annie more than several times, but the best time was when I had the opportunity of releasing her from her chain. This happy, loving, trusting and grateful dog loved giving kisses and was very cooperative driving to the Vet's office.
 

Annie is a medium sized dog who travels wonderfully in the car.  She's curious about all the new sights and smells that exist otherwise from living solely on chain.

She is a beautiful Lab mix that is alert, gentle and very loving. With the right person or family, and a little patience with Annie, she will make a very loyal, dedicated and loving addition to the right home!

13 More Dogs UNCHAINED today!!

Despite the rain, it was a busy day for some lucky dogs in Monroe.  13 dogs were taken off their chains and given roomy kennels with Igloo doghouses.  

I'll have pictures tomorrow with a more complete update.  Tonight, our volunteer is understandably exhausted. 

Check back tomorrow. 

Updates

1. Our large dog expert went to see the dog on Temple & Euclid.  She said this dog is on a runner that's properly installed.  He has plenty of room to run and move around.  NO problem there.

2. In the 3 weeks since we started this project we've taken 17 dogs off their chains and placed in roomy kennels.  The owners agree to give us the chains when we loan them a kennel.  Yes, if there's a stake in the ground, we even take that.  I used the word "loan" because when the owner no longer needs it, we'll place it with another home.

Of the dogs taken off chains, 4 of them were given up by their owners and placed with local rescue groups.  

3. We've got another "unchaining" day coming up.  Will post details when I have them.