TO DATE, THEY HAVE FAILED MISERABLY IN GETTING THE WORD OUT.
Commentary on the efforts of the national animal organizations
TO THE LARGE NATIONAL ANIMAL RIGHTS, ANIMAL WELFARE
AND ANIMAL PROTECT ORGANIZATIONS
For 20 years that I've worked and lived, Americans have spent $1billion annually on animal control efforts in their communities.
That is $20 Billion
For 20 years, Americans have pleasured you with $1billion annually in charitable donations under the misguided assumptions that you are there to help the animals.
That is another $20 Billion - Total of $40 billion!
Over the same period of time more than 3,000 non profit organizations dedicated to their own idea of animal protection has logged nearly 25 Billion man hours - many struggling to survive when they are the ones who are putting in the time, money and efforts to actually save the animals that are considered 'excess' - something that after 20 years and $40 billion, we should no longer be burdened with had you done even half of what you suggest you do. You offered little or no real substantial support to any of them from your air conditioned offices or your luxury homes.
That is a D minus report card and if this is offensive to those who are employed by you or support you, I do not apologize. Regardless of your highly paid public relations department who will no doubt put a very different spin on this letter, the facts are in and they are not very complimentary to your efforts.
You are large organizations. You are not THAT large. You are no longer respectable or the nationally revered organization you once were. You are really no longer a big deal to those of us who see the light at the end of the tunnel - the light you shield from your supporters in order to continue receiving their financial donations even though you have no intention of ever solving any of these problems. Like our fanatical minority and religious leaders, our large animal protection organizations need their victims to survive. Absent crimes and imaginary situations against their people and teachings, these organizations disappear. This means jobs. As long as they can convince those who don't know better, they will survive.
Let me explain this to you: We are not afraid of any of your size and will no longer view you as the respectable ''God-Like" entities you would like us to. To give you that reference, to even call you respectable, gives you far too much stature.
It is politics that prevents most of the good and compassionate efforts to help the animals, not be implemented, as well as envy, jealousy and all the human foibles that haunt us. Yet we think our mission noble and righteous. You know honor and good conscience would have handled many things differently, that would have helped us all to enjoy a happier, safer place for all to exist The animals who lost their lives over the past years only wish you had a little more honor and conscience.
There is all too much talk here, with a tremendous lack of action. And I say that to everyone with the utmost respect. We are dealing with actual lives here - lives that are no less important than ours in the eyes of those up above. We are not your enemy or combatant, but the ones who will make the truth known in order to save our society the agony, the billions of dollars and the embarrassment of assuming these problems just can't be solved, when in reality, they can be. The citizens of this great nation have been lead down the wrong path by your rhetoric. We will come and lay out evidence on which specific matters can be judged - to mold and shape and refine our sense of compassion and responsibility
We now know they can be.
What was it that led me to this outburst? When confronting the larger organizations with questions, I have been lied to when looking for the delicate answers. When approaching the same with some very worthy ideas to bring more people to our level of understanding the importance of appropriate education to raise the level of compassion, I've been told that for political reasons, your organizations could not support our efforts. That for reasons of ego, could not be associated with 'that' organization. And for reasons of anger would not work with 'those people' and still claiming to be devoting your lives to the animals.
I have listened respectfully to what you have to say over the years. And I asked you to search your heart and ask yourself what sort of unfathomable morals have led you to do what you are guilty of doing. Promising to so many to help the animals by deceiving the public for so many years. We remained ignorant due to the spewing of your gruesome statistics and confusing programs and simply lead to believe that any solution was simply out of reach and that not much could be done, ''but that you were certainly the entity that would trust with this effort."
See Animal Protection's Version of 'OPUS ONE" for clarification of political damages.
Do you really wish to be viewed with respect - even in heroic light?
Then, I have an answer for you..
It may not satisfy you. But as I search this entire record it comes as close to understanding as I know. It seems to me you fear the one thing that is most precious - TRUTH. Be honest. Here, in this society, the very winds carry freedom based on truth from coast to coast. We can speak out and we aren't arrested for being stupid or wrong. It is because we prize individual freedom so much that you are allowed to do what you do. So, it is this I suggest in order to hold your heads up high and prove once and for all that the 'animal rights' fanatics have finally scored one for the sane.
Alert the public that NEXT year you will be dissolving a major portion of your fictitious store front of an operation and will donate the necessary costs to fund spay/neuter programs nationwide for one year. NATIONWIDE. That includes Tuscaloosa, Fremont, Boise and even Mason City and every city in between. So that everyone can see, truly see, that solutions to these problems are known, can be attained and are even more cost effective than the follow-up, clean - up rat race we burden ourselves with now - simply by default. THEN your organization and efforts will be remembered, revered, respected and will even be able to continue your foundation, although at a lower level. But your 'come-back' or regrowth would be astronomical and historic in magnitude simply for doing something that the world could witness and to prove that you are not a false, hollow body of cold-hearted money grabbers, but truly see that this is the right thing to do. The truth will surface with or without you and if that means that you must relinquish your exorbitant salaries, so be it. It will be your decision.
We are Americans. We are a noble society - proud of most everything we stand for and certainly about truth. We have been through the ire before with other elected politicians and large corporations who defrauded their clients and supporters as well. We've watched as politics have ruined the respectable and seen that hatred and egos have brought down the mighty. It will happen to you as well. As politics is a way of life in almost every other area of our society, it is also politics that is certain death to the animals you pledge your very existence to.. Americans put a man on the moon, can cure diseases, win wars in under 100 days and have the marketing prowess to change mankind's behavior on a global scale, but are told that we cannot convey the important message to the public of the subsequent consequences that result from how we treat and care for our companion animals - the very information that would grant us the solitude of compassion and honor.
Though we've been mislead, misguided and shaded from any truths in these matters by the large animal organizations for all these years we still need your involvement in this battle. We need everyone to possess the knowledge and put forth a unified effort. We are becoming more uneasy, less respectful and feel betrayed by your warring factors as well as the greed to keep yourselves funded as opposed to actually solving these problems. Because we all know that the way we treat our animals - those we share this blessed earth with, is a true reflection of the level of civilization we boast of, we will not give up, but push harder for the answers and efforts necessary to weed out the unnecessary and revere that what is dear to us, as it is the measure of our own liberties as well as pride.
Make no mistake though: It is true that we will bear any burden, pay any price, to see that these problems can find resolve and without the political wrangling that the larger animal protection organizations seem to embroil themselves in. So, if you should decide to scoff at this letter in the uncanny assumption that it means nothing, then I suggest you look around this nation. Remember it well. For in the near future, the animal protection movement will finally take the effort to see that changes be made. For if you are not a part of that, you will most assuredly not be a part of any high, medium or low level efforts to help the animals. The world is not going to long remember what you or I say here. Day after tomorrow it will be forgotten. But this, however, will long endure. We know now that the solution to pet overpopulation and even most animal abuse is more easily within reach, less expensive than holding onto you and will give us the pride we deserve once it is solved without your involvement. Here, and all across America, the American people will gather to see that justice,justice for all - including the animals - justice is in fact being done. With or without you.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
DOGS AND CHILDREN
Dogs & Children
How many times have we seen Lassie save Timmy or some other child from disaster? What about Rin Tin Tin and Rusty? Who could forget Nana from Peter Pan? What about the flip side? How often do we hear reports of the family pet mauling a young child? How many pets are surrendered each year when a new baby arrives? How many pets are given up because owners find they have little time for the child and the dog? Dogs and kids can be the best or the worst match. What can you do to help ensure the best with your dog and child?
Socializing and training beginning when the dog or puppy first joins your house is a key element in how it will handle various situations. Puppies should learn to accept people of all ages. A trusting bond between dog and owner as well as one where the dog is responsive to the owner is very important. Even if you do not have or ever plan to have children, your dog should be used to them. Children can be threatening to dogs. Children are at eye level, have higher voices, faster motions, often forget to use gentle hands and can be unpredictable. Make sure your dog is used to various actions around him as well as sounds and smells. The more accepting your dog is of new things and the more things he is used to, the better.
Children need to learn how to properly behave around dogs. Pulling ears and tails, running like crazy, teasing, hitting, cornering the dog, tormenting the dog when he is sleeping, etc., can lead to a nip or worse. Granted, dogs should learn to tolerate all body parts being touched, having food and toys taken from them and various sounds, but even the best trained dog has his limits. Many dog bites are not directly the fault of the dog but were instigated by a child. Even the best trained dog if hurt or pushed enough could bite. Dogs have bad days and if they are not feeling well, a pulled ear that normally would be ignored could this time end in a bite. Being with a dog is a privilege for a child. If he cannot behave, he cannot play with the dog. Always supervise children and dogs when they are together.
class dr br.jpg (48902 bytes) Children must learn never to go near any dog – even if it is known to the child – without permission from the owner. A dog running loose can act far differently than the same dog on lead with his owner. Dogs roaming lose are a threat to safety. Any dog that is loose should be reported to an adult. The child should never attempt to catch the dog. Some animal rescue groups even teach classes on safety around dogs. These are great to look into – even if you do not have a dog!
Children should not torment dogs that are confined to the dogs' property - this includes: running up and down fences getting dogs to chase; poking sticks at or tossing things over the fence; barking at or otherwise aggravating the dogs. Ideally, dogs should not be outside if no responsible person is home to intervene should children start to tease the pet. However, many dog owners leave their dogs out when no one is home so parents must make sure their children are behaved and know rules about dogs. A hand dangling over a fence to tease a dog is a prime target for a bite. Children must learn that dogs are feeling beings. To tease and/or hurt a dog can lead to a serious problem. Again, never leave dogs and kids unsupervised – no matter how trustworthy both are. Remember, dogs are dogs and kids are kids. Neither thinks nor rationalizes like adults do (or adults should, many children seem more adult than adults at times).
Now, what if you have a dog and are expecting a child? Ideally, you should have begun to get your dog set for children long before your pregnancy. Socializing with any situation your dog could encounter at any time should start from day one. Your dog should meet and learn how to behave around children of all ages. He should get used to having his entire body touched and poked. Children will grab at ears, tails, try to peek in mouths, etc. Your dog should learn to give up any toys and food if a human puts a hand on it. Many children get nipped when they go to remove a toy from Rover or go near his food. I insist my dogs learn that humans can take food or toys from then at any time. A solid basis in obedience training is a MUST for any dog. This also helps you bond with your dog and develop a hierarchy in your house. The dog is not the chief! That role is for humans. Fido is a pack member ranking under humans.
When you find out you are pregnant, you should begin getting your dog set for the new changes in the house. Granted, the concept of dog training while going through morning sickness is not top on the list of most expectant parents; however, it should be. If you know you will have to change the dog's schedule for eating, walks, etc., start to do so long before the baby arrives. This way, the dog will not be hit with several big changes at once. Begin working on brushing up on basic commands – especially STAY and OFF. There is nothing worse than having a dog jump on you when your balance is off due to a growing belly or when holding a child. I also teach dogs to sit at the top of stairs and then go down ahead of me. I do not want them charging behind me and knocking me and/or the child over. Should you have complications with pregnancy and be confined to bed, do the best you can. Your spouse, family members, friends, etc., can all be of assistance – or even hire a dog trainer to help you out if need be.
Get Scruffy used to the various sounds and smells (if possible) of a child long before yours arrives. Tape record the myriad of sounds a child makes and play them at different volumes in all rooms of the house. If you have a friend with a toddler, ask if you can use the opportunity to get your dog accustomed to the various odors and motions of a child. (Though this socializing to children should have been done when you first got your pet. However, if you suspect your dog may act aggressively, consult with a behaviorist beforehand, this will be discussed further later on). But if you can borrow clothes, etc., for short periods, do so. Babies not only sound different, but they can really smell neat!
If possible, set up the nursery a month or so before the baby is due. This will give your dog time to adjust to the new room. The rule in our house is if no adult is present, no pets in the room. (In other words, when the child is napping, all critters are out). Baby gates will be your best friends here. If your dog jumps over the gates, consider installing a screen door so you can see and hear the child easily but the pets cannot get into the nursery. I just closed the door and used monitors so I could hear if my child woke. Get your dog used to doing a down/stay in the room. I allowed my dogs in while I nursed or changed my child. The rule was, the dogs had to down and stay quietly for the privilege of being in the nursery with us. Since I insisted they start doing this before our child was born, it was easier to adjust after the birth. I would sit in the rocking chair and have the dogs do down/stays next to it. Anything you want your dog to do after the baby arrives, start teaching beforehand. Trust me, there will be little time for this after the birth!
Many new parents get concerned when the BIG DAY arrives. Well in advance, decide who will be responsible of caring for your dogs while the baby is being born. We had a friend lined up in case I went into labor and it would be so long as the dogs could not wait for my husband to return home. We also decided that he would not spend the first night in the hospital with us. Instead, after our child was born and we were all set, my husband would go home and tend to the dogs. Our back up was our vet who would board the dogs if need be. Luckily, my labor was five hours total. I left for the hospital at 3pm (the dogs were run, fed, pottied and brought back in first) and my husband was home shortly after midnight to care for them. My dogs were with me during the time I was in labor at home. My big guy had already learned to let me lean on him so he was great helping me get in and out of the bathroom and bed as each contraction hit. My little guy stayed right by my side and endured hands grabbing his fur suddenly. Their comfort allowed my husband to be able to pack the car and make any necessary calls. However, not all labors will be this fast and not all dogs this tolerant. Seeing you in pain can be disturbing for dogs. You are acting odd and smell different. Chances are your dog will be the last thing on your mind, but please try to remember him.
In this day and age of "drive-thru" deliveries where the mother will be lucky to spend a night in the hospital (two nights if you have a great insurance plan), the old idea of bringing home a blanket the baby was wrapped in so the dogs can spend a few days getting used to the scent is difficult. My husband still did this – however, our dogs ignored the blanket. They were more interested in looking for me and then getting reassurance that all was OK. However, there are things you can do to help the transition when baby comes home.
The day you are to go home, make sure the dogs get a real solid run beforehand. The dogs should be really worn out. This will help temper an over enthusiastic greeting. I also kept a couple treats they normally do not get ("moo tubes") packed away. When we got home, the first thing I did was go inside and take the dogs out back while my husband and mother brought the baby into the nursery. I played about five minutes off fetch and then brought the dogs in and gave them their treats. I went upstairs to the nursery. As each dog finished, he came to find me. I sat on the floor and had each dog do a down/stay. My husband was holding the baby. Each dog got to greet the new addition gently. This way, the dogs were not hit with everything at once and they had a transition between greeting me and meeting the baby. As I took a nap, my husband took everyone out for more playing. My mother was in town for the week and this gave me time to work with the dogs and reinforce the prior training in nursery rules while Mom helped with the house.
I like to make it a point to allow the dogs access to all aspect of raising the child. They could be with me while I nursed as long as they were quietly on a down/stay. They could watch diapers being changed as long as they were calm and quiet. Same for when we were all just hanging out on the bed napping. When my son napped, I would spend alone time with the dogs before I napped. Making sure the dogs get one-on-one time without the baby is very important. You want to keep that bond with your dogs but also enforce that child will be higher on the pack rank than the dog. Baby is not a bad thing but a welcome addition and there will still be time for the dog. However, safety is always first and no matter how well trained and socialized your dog is, never leave him unattended with an infant or child.
As the baby grows, use the opportunity to teach the child "Gentle Hands." I started showing my son how to gently touch the dogs and not to grab as soon as I could. Waiting until the child is a toddler to try and start teaching Gentle Hands can be too late. Babies start to grab and poke and even hit at a young age. They need the same gentle love and guidance as you used when getting your dog set for the new arrival.
I found it is far easier to teach a child what you expect from the beginning than it is to change the rules midstream! At two, my son helps me feed the dogs, aids in bathing (his is Soap Man!) and is learning how to gently brush them. He is a far cry from a former neighbor's toddler who would grab their dog so hard that the dog would snap. No one taught either dog or child proper behavior. This was a serious accident waiting to happen. Already, they had gotten rid of one dog as opposed to training the dog and their children.
With work and luck, your dog and child will grow to be a wonderful team, but not all parents are so lucky. Should you notice your dog acting dominant, snapping at or even biting the child and the child has done nothing to provoke it, seek professional help. Even if the child did provoke it, the dog must learn that biting is not acceptable and to walk away. Should there be ANY question in your mind at all about your dog's response to your child, seek professional help immediately.
If your dog is known to be aggressive before you have children, seek help long before you have a child. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Make certain you do all you can long before pregnancy to prepare your dog for children - is far easier than fixing a problem allowed to go on too long. Even if you do not have children of your own, your dog must be accepting of them. Insist that all children around your dog know the rules and follow them. I have banned children from visiting my dogs since they repeatedly refused to follow the rules. Children will be children and forget, but rules must be followed or they will not have the privilege of visiting my dogs. Safety for child and dog is always first priority!
Dogs and kids can be the best or the worst matches. Timmy and Lassie are not reality. However, there is no reason why your dog and you child cannot coexists happily if you are a responsible dog owner and parent. The worst thing for a dog is to be banished or ignored when a child is born. Many dogs will die in shelters when a new baby arrives. With planning and forethought on the part of dog owners, this need not happen.
How many times have we seen Lassie save Timmy or some other child from disaster? What about Rin Tin Tin and Rusty? Who could forget Nana from Peter Pan? What about the flip side? How often do we hear reports of the family pet mauling a young child? How many pets are surrendered each year when a new baby arrives? How many pets are given up because owners find they have little time for the child and the dog? Dogs and kids can be the best or the worst match. What can you do to help ensure the best with your dog and child?
Socializing and training beginning when the dog or puppy first joins your house is a key element in how it will handle various situations. Puppies should learn to accept people of all ages. A trusting bond between dog and owner as well as one where the dog is responsive to the owner is very important. Even if you do not have or ever plan to have children, your dog should be used to them. Children can be threatening to dogs. Children are at eye level, have higher voices, faster motions, often forget to use gentle hands and can be unpredictable. Make sure your dog is used to various actions around him as well as sounds and smells. The more accepting your dog is of new things and the more things he is used to, the better.
Children need to learn how to properly behave around dogs. Pulling ears and tails, running like crazy, teasing, hitting, cornering the dog, tormenting the dog when he is sleeping, etc., can lead to a nip or worse. Granted, dogs should learn to tolerate all body parts being touched, having food and toys taken from them and various sounds, but even the best trained dog has his limits. Many dog bites are not directly the fault of the dog but were instigated by a child. Even the best trained dog if hurt or pushed enough could bite. Dogs have bad days and if they are not feeling well, a pulled ear that normally would be ignored could this time end in a bite. Being with a dog is a privilege for a child. If he cannot behave, he cannot play with the dog. Always supervise children and dogs when they are together.
class dr br.jpg (48902 bytes) Children must learn never to go near any dog – even if it is known to the child – without permission from the owner. A dog running loose can act far differently than the same dog on lead with his owner. Dogs roaming lose are a threat to safety. Any dog that is loose should be reported to an adult. The child should never attempt to catch the dog. Some animal rescue groups even teach classes on safety around dogs. These are great to look into – even if you do not have a dog!
Children should not torment dogs that are confined to the dogs' property - this includes: running up and down fences getting dogs to chase; poking sticks at or tossing things over the fence; barking at or otherwise aggravating the dogs. Ideally, dogs should not be outside if no responsible person is home to intervene should children start to tease the pet. However, many dog owners leave their dogs out when no one is home so parents must make sure their children are behaved and know rules about dogs. A hand dangling over a fence to tease a dog is a prime target for a bite. Children must learn that dogs are feeling beings. To tease and/or hurt a dog can lead to a serious problem. Again, never leave dogs and kids unsupervised – no matter how trustworthy both are. Remember, dogs are dogs and kids are kids. Neither thinks nor rationalizes like adults do (or adults should, many children seem more adult than adults at times).
Now, what if you have a dog and are expecting a child? Ideally, you should have begun to get your dog set for children long before your pregnancy. Socializing with any situation your dog could encounter at any time should start from day one. Your dog should meet and learn how to behave around children of all ages. He should get used to having his entire body touched and poked. Children will grab at ears, tails, try to peek in mouths, etc. Your dog should learn to give up any toys and food if a human puts a hand on it. Many children get nipped when they go to remove a toy from Rover or go near his food. I insist my dogs learn that humans can take food or toys from then at any time. A solid basis in obedience training is a MUST for any dog. This also helps you bond with your dog and develop a hierarchy in your house. The dog is not the chief! That role is for humans. Fido is a pack member ranking under humans.
When you find out you are pregnant, you should begin getting your dog set for the new changes in the house. Granted, the concept of dog training while going through morning sickness is not top on the list of most expectant parents; however, it should be. If you know you will have to change the dog's schedule for eating, walks, etc., start to do so long before the baby arrives. This way, the dog will not be hit with several big changes at once. Begin working on brushing up on basic commands – especially STAY and OFF. There is nothing worse than having a dog jump on you when your balance is off due to a growing belly or when holding a child. I also teach dogs to sit at the top of stairs and then go down ahead of me. I do not want them charging behind me and knocking me and/or the child over. Should you have complications with pregnancy and be confined to bed, do the best you can. Your spouse, family members, friends, etc., can all be of assistance – or even hire a dog trainer to help you out if need be.
Get Scruffy used to the various sounds and smells (if possible) of a child long before yours arrives. Tape record the myriad of sounds a child makes and play them at different volumes in all rooms of the house. If you have a friend with a toddler, ask if you can use the opportunity to get your dog accustomed to the various odors and motions of a child. (Though this socializing to children should have been done when you first got your pet. However, if you suspect your dog may act aggressively, consult with a behaviorist beforehand, this will be discussed further later on). But if you can borrow clothes, etc., for short periods, do so. Babies not only sound different, but they can really smell neat!
If possible, set up the nursery a month or so before the baby is due. This will give your dog time to adjust to the new room. The rule in our house is if no adult is present, no pets in the room. (In other words, when the child is napping, all critters are out). Baby gates will be your best friends here. If your dog jumps over the gates, consider installing a screen door so you can see and hear the child easily but the pets cannot get into the nursery. I just closed the door and used monitors so I could hear if my child woke. Get your dog used to doing a down/stay in the room. I allowed my dogs in while I nursed or changed my child. The rule was, the dogs had to down and stay quietly for the privilege of being in the nursery with us. Since I insisted they start doing this before our child was born, it was easier to adjust after the birth. I would sit in the rocking chair and have the dogs do down/stays next to it. Anything you want your dog to do after the baby arrives, start teaching beforehand. Trust me, there will be little time for this after the birth!
Many new parents get concerned when the BIG DAY arrives. Well in advance, decide who will be responsible of caring for your dogs while the baby is being born. We had a friend lined up in case I went into labor and it would be so long as the dogs could not wait for my husband to return home. We also decided that he would not spend the first night in the hospital with us. Instead, after our child was born and we were all set, my husband would go home and tend to the dogs. Our back up was our vet who would board the dogs if need be. Luckily, my labor was five hours total. I left for the hospital at 3pm (the dogs were run, fed, pottied and brought back in first) and my husband was home shortly after midnight to care for them. My dogs were with me during the time I was in labor at home. My big guy had already learned to let me lean on him so he was great helping me get in and out of the bathroom and bed as each contraction hit. My little guy stayed right by my side and endured hands grabbing his fur suddenly. Their comfort allowed my husband to be able to pack the car and make any necessary calls. However, not all labors will be this fast and not all dogs this tolerant. Seeing you in pain can be disturbing for dogs. You are acting odd and smell different. Chances are your dog will be the last thing on your mind, but please try to remember him.
In this day and age of "drive-thru" deliveries where the mother will be lucky to spend a night in the hospital (two nights if you have a great insurance plan), the old idea of bringing home a blanket the baby was wrapped in so the dogs can spend a few days getting used to the scent is difficult. My husband still did this – however, our dogs ignored the blanket. They were more interested in looking for me and then getting reassurance that all was OK. However, there are things you can do to help the transition when baby comes home.
The day you are to go home, make sure the dogs get a real solid run beforehand. The dogs should be really worn out. This will help temper an over enthusiastic greeting. I also kept a couple treats they normally do not get ("moo tubes") packed away. When we got home, the first thing I did was go inside and take the dogs out back while my husband and mother brought the baby into the nursery. I played about five minutes off fetch and then brought the dogs in and gave them their treats. I went upstairs to the nursery. As each dog finished, he came to find me. I sat on the floor and had each dog do a down/stay. My husband was holding the baby. Each dog got to greet the new addition gently. This way, the dogs were not hit with everything at once and they had a transition between greeting me and meeting the baby. As I took a nap, my husband took everyone out for more playing. My mother was in town for the week and this gave me time to work with the dogs and reinforce the prior training in nursery rules while Mom helped with the house.
I like to make it a point to allow the dogs access to all aspect of raising the child. They could be with me while I nursed as long as they were quietly on a down/stay. They could watch diapers being changed as long as they were calm and quiet. Same for when we were all just hanging out on the bed napping. When my son napped, I would spend alone time with the dogs before I napped. Making sure the dogs get one-on-one time without the baby is very important. You want to keep that bond with your dogs but also enforce that child will be higher on the pack rank than the dog. Baby is not a bad thing but a welcome addition and there will still be time for the dog. However, safety is always first and no matter how well trained and socialized your dog is, never leave him unattended with an infant or child.
As the baby grows, use the opportunity to teach the child "Gentle Hands." I started showing my son how to gently touch the dogs and not to grab as soon as I could. Waiting until the child is a toddler to try and start teaching Gentle Hands can be too late. Babies start to grab and poke and even hit at a young age. They need the same gentle love and guidance as you used when getting your dog set for the new arrival.
I found it is far easier to teach a child what you expect from the beginning than it is to change the rules midstream! At two, my son helps me feed the dogs, aids in bathing (his is Soap Man!) and is learning how to gently brush them. He is a far cry from a former neighbor's toddler who would grab their dog so hard that the dog would snap. No one taught either dog or child proper behavior. This was a serious accident waiting to happen. Already, they had gotten rid of one dog as opposed to training the dog and their children.
With work and luck, your dog and child will grow to be a wonderful team, but not all parents are so lucky. Should you notice your dog acting dominant, snapping at or even biting the child and the child has done nothing to provoke it, seek professional help. Even if the child did provoke it, the dog must learn that biting is not acceptable and to walk away. Should there be ANY question in your mind at all about your dog's response to your child, seek professional help immediately.
If your dog is known to be aggressive before you have children, seek help long before you have a child. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Make certain you do all you can long before pregnancy to prepare your dog for children - is far easier than fixing a problem allowed to go on too long. Even if you do not have children of your own, your dog must be accepting of them. Insist that all children around your dog know the rules and follow them. I have banned children from visiting my dogs since they repeatedly refused to follow the rules. Children will be children and forget, but rules must be followed or they will not have the privilege of visiting my dogs. Safety for child and dog is always first priority!
Dogs and kids can be the best or the worst matches. Timmy and Lassie are not reality. However, there is no reason why your dog and you child cannot coexists happily if you are a responsible dog owner and parent. The worst thing for a dog is to be banished or ignored when a child is born. Many dogs will die in shelters when a new baby arrives. With planning and forethought on the part of dog owners, this need not happen.
HOW TO START A HUMANE EDUCATION CLUB IN YOUR LOCAL SCHOOLS
Welcome, and thanks to all who visit this page. By learning the problems we face, how they came to be, their causes and society’s shortcomings, we can better appreciate the ways in which we all can help correct them. By forming a humane education club, you will learn much of this through your efforts and experiences. We are very proud of today’s youth who wish to learn, in order to help educate others.
Increasing the participation of students in community service has long been a goal in the United States. It was specifically included in the third National Education Goal for 2000, which states that all students will be involved in activities that promote and demonstrate good citizenship, good health, community service, and personal responsibility. To recognize those individuals who engage in community service and to encourage more young people to serve, the Presidential Student Service Challenge was established in 1999. This program honors student volunteers with awards and scholarships. For more information about this program, visit http://www.student-service-awards.org/ or write to President's Student Service Awards, P.O. Box 189, Wilmington, DE 19899-0189 or President's Student Service Scholarships, 1505 Riverview Road, P.O. Box 68, St. Peter, MN 56082.
Many of your students will express a high affinity for animals and a desire to act to help them. There are a number of ways you can assist your students in their efforts to help animals. Your local animal shelter may have a junior volunteer corps through which students can volunteer their time.
Many animal shelters also have wish lists. These are lists of items that the shelter needs, such as food, towels, newspaper, etc. If your local shelter has a wish list, your students could hold a drive for these items at school. If the shelter does not have such a list, your students could hold a towel drive (shelters always need towels), or have a bake sale, cat toy and dog treat sale, or other type of fundraiser to benefit the shelter. Penny harvests are a great idea and it is amazing how much money can be collected in this manner. Students can also make safe toys for the cats and treats for the dogs in the shelter.
Throughout this site you are provided with ideas and suggestions of projects, programs and ideas of how to help the community, your school and club get involved, learn and improve the relations humans have with each other and our companion animals.
This page is primarily to help your club:
*Raise Money
*Obtain local and area media attention
*Involve the community in your efforts
*Join forces with other humane ed groups over the internet
*Ideas for events to inform, be seen & pass out flyers
*A complete list of ideas for community service projects at the bottom of the page.
We also want to help you garner additional memberships from various groups of students. We want the group to become an enjoyable social circle of all sorts of students. By having a set membership of only animal lovers, your group will not have the basis it needs to share the information it gains, with those who really need to hear it.
- Educate the community and how to accomplish this (must EDUCATE your members first!) This truly helps you organize the important issues as well as the need to be accurate in presenting them to others. Email Randy Warner 21stcares@gmail.com for help
- Help with community projects this helps bring notoriety to your organization for when you need to ask the community for its assistance or for donations.
Show the importance of voting This shows how apathy allows your representatives to vote on issues that truly affect you and your lives in many ways. Every ''problem'' we have in this country is basically attributed to apathy of one form or another.- Creative means of reducing the number of dogs and cats dying in your local facility, through adoptions in the paper, giving info on how to keep your pets, www.wonderpuppy.com/canwehelp/ is a great site for this. This brings the problems to the forefront of your members' thinking process. You've always 'heard' about the problems of overpopulation. SEEING with your own eyes will amaze you at the number of good, lovable pets who will die due to human egos and ignorance.
- Provide presentations to surrounding schools of any age students, This not only helps with communication skills, but with planning and especially public speaking
- Help other high schools form humane education clubs - can be done primarily over the internet or with occasional group meetings, This helps with organizational skills, professional persuasive skills which each student will need in order to get ahead in life. Most importantly by helping to form another humane education club, we all win by having additional people who are knowledgeable.
- Have an active, informative Website, This not only allows you to communicate your message and goals to others, but can help bring in a student from the computer class that wouldn't normal consider joining. Show your goals, your event dates and locations, your success stories, your needs, the problems of the community and how each resident can help in the solutions. (focus on what people can do without giving money) Everyone can learn a little about website design. Make sure they follow through with adding your site to some major search engines.
- Do off property adoptions, This is where you negotiate with the local dog pound to take some of their good adoptable animals who almost certainly face death, to a community location such as a park and give them one last chance for the residents to see what wonderful lives are available and otherwise would be lost to ignorance. This takes some considerable planning and effort, but brings unbelievable results as well as media attention to your club. Call 21st Century Cares for more details.
- Take three or four members to the home football game - each one of them caring for a dog that needs a home. (Alternate weeks with cats) providing you present this in a proper and professional manner, the school will likely grant permission. MAKE SURE YOU PROMISE TO AND THEN FOLLOW THROUGH WITH CLEAN UP DOG"S MESSES. Make sure the pets are very social and adoptable, before hand. Think ahead. This means that you will have to keep the pet inside your house for the night and return it to the pound the next day - hopefully to be adopted by someone who saw it at the game.
Each community has it's own parades. Devise a creative theme to take dogs in the parade that need to be adopted. (green water based polka dots on the dogs for the St Patricks’s Day Parade, or dress like the dogs, etc.) Have 2 students without dogs to have cans for donations and walk on either side of the street for coins and bills from the public.
- Have a booth at your county fair. This takes a lot of organization to man the booth for all the hours of the event. People will learn about you, they'll learn how to help their pet, they may wish to join, they may donate, and they may adopt a pet you have there. Make sure to bring plenty of Jim Willis’ written pieces along as hand-outs. You’ll need them when you hear how many people ‘had’ a pet until something ‘tragic’ happened. (the tragedy is likely going to prove their own ignorance)
- Saturday succor games, children's events, home and garden shows, pancake days, marathons and take a dog (who is a running/active type) to a health club to show the benefit and safety factor that is offered to a female jogger when accompanied by a good dog. Possibly get an adoption.
- Work to get members to be more community active, This will help the community to understand some of the many problems facing them, but will also see that there is much that should be done and that it is up to them and then only.
- VOTE. The single most likely reason we see so much distain and mistrust for elected officials is a lack of involvement on the part of the voters. An average of 33% of eligible voters actually vote. If you wish to make a difference in how your community, state of federal government handles issues such as animal overpopulation, taxes and all issues that affect your lives, you MUST VOTE!
- Work with legislation issues, Keep abreast of the issues and the candidates who are running for office. Get an interview with a local representative and ask some pointed questions about how they plan to help change come about in the animal issues. Then track them on their promises. Go to www.congress.org/
- Don’t be afraid to write letters. Find a cause or situation that needs attention from the public or your elected officials. Get a letter-writing campaign from students in your school and let your voices be heard. It does make a difference. Send copies to your local animal control, television stations and ALL newspapers.
- Help senior citizens and low-income families with their pets, Many senior citizens and low-income families have to relinquish a pet simply due to their inability to drive and obtain dog food or vet appointments. Once a month, you could pick up donated food from local pet stores and deliver it or make trips to vet with their pets. (This is not ONLY a charitable opportunity for your organization, but also an opportunity to help them improve the care of their pets.) We wouldn't make a trip for the food or to the vet if the family were not willing to make some minor, but necessary changes that would make their pet safer.
- Have fundraisers for local animal agencies or rescues. DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Do NOT raise money for any animal group or agency that is unfriendly, working for an agenda not related to the animals or who isn’t clean or have a good adoption rate. Again, this helps in planning, money management, organizational skills and public relations
- Have periodic guest speakers from animal control and police dept to discuss problems they face in everyday life, Local police, animal control, humane organizations and many others would be happy to come speak at one of your meetings. This is suggested especially during your first 3-4 meetings, to help the newly formed group to assemble a better idea of what the community's needs are.
Write this up formally to become your platform and mission statement. Research bi-laws and platforms on the Internet
Have an art student design a logo that will work for letterhead and website and to shirts. Again, this helps to gain a member that may not have considered joining the group.
The cheerleaders could do a bake sale periodically and share the profits with your organization. They could take a dog or cat onto the field before the game to try and find a home for it.
The shop class could build some dog houses to be donated to the next 10 families who give a homeless pet a permanent, loving home.
The track team could take one day of practice and jog with dogs from the local pound who need homes. MEDIA LOVES THIS STUFF. Dogs and track team both get good excercize and you may find some more homes. (possibly a new member or two from the team.)
Have some creative writers write the opening statement, which will make others want to navigate through the site. You may also wish to have a form for new members, asking what they are good at and what they may wish to help with.
Have a math major design a tentative budget for the first year and possible means of raising those funds. As well as doing your best to include this math student in all future events in an attempt to have them join.
Have a business major write proposals for business to sponsor a free pizza night in exchange for a nice mention in the newspaper article, which will surely follow. After you've just held your first big community event, you should have had the local paper and TV station there and that is fairly easy to do if you know what you are doing. This will help in obtaining a 'pizza night' or other donations you may need, when the local businesses realize that by helping your group, they are likely to be recognized in the article that covers each event. That is free advertising to them.
Ask marketing people to come up with some good ideas to spread the word to other animal welfare clubs This could be students or local professional marketing people. This will help in gaining insight on how to get important messages across.
Be creative and try to gain membership from those who would not normally join a group such as this. They are really the ones who will benefit the most. This is where your social events and parties will come in handy after big events. Only members and their dates will receive invitations.
Call newspapers and local radio stations for stories on your new group. You’ll likely need to be doing something they can actually report on. You may even be able to get a TV station to come out if you are enthusiastic and motivated. Tell them you are trying to get other schools to do the same and you would like to challenge them.
See how to write a press release at www.21stcenturycares.org/prguide.htm
This will be one of the most important of all your duties. If you can't even share your learned information with those in your own school, then you would essentially be accomplishing little. Make certain you get no fewer than two nice front page articles in your school newspaper per school year, too. These articles should be hard hitting essays to tell the other students what you’ve done, why you’ve done it and what the entire student body should know in order to improve, but to at least be aware of these points. The written pieces I’ve provided to you by Jim Willis are wonderful stories with a much-needed message as well. Begin with any of the articles found on this site by Jim Willis or myself. Permission is given. Get the students to 'think' about what is happening. jwillis@bellatlantic.net is a good friend of mine and is the author of "PIECES OF MY HEART" which is wonderful reading for all in this club as well as great handouts at your booths and events. Also give to younger students you speak to. Ask that they read them after you leave and write an essay on how they think we can change these problems (teacher will possibly offer extra credit to them)
Have a 50’s party or dance and use the dogs as your invitation. We did this at the Anaheim Hilton in 1995 for a 50’s party and the girls here were the goodluck dogs for the gambling tables. What is difficult to see in this photo is that Maddy, on the left is wearing a “PEOPLE SKIRT” instead of a POODLE skirt..
You could set up a doggy walka thon for the local community. Proceeds to benefit the local animal org and your club. To publicize this, the track team could run dogs for the week prior with signs on the dogs to advertise. You could even bring a few dogs that need homes, in hopes they would get adopted. Get the track team members to consider joining. You do this by getting others involved and making your events and follow-up parties FUN.
A great and very successful idea is at www.21stcenturycares.org/cannes.htm
Make sure that you tell your members that learning the correct care for animals is only part of the goals, that they need to speak out when they see something questionable or wrong. Otherwise your knowledge is only helpful when the pet is YOURS. That is just to limiting for those poor animals that are suffering at the hands of ignorant humans.
Sometimes, there are events at your own school, which would generate income from a food booth, or the likes. Keep your eyes and ears open for any and all events in and around your general area – especially the school and it’s activities.
See what it would take to form a local doggy park in your community. That will be a long project and will take some follow-up, long after the students are on to college or other things. IT would become an ongoing project for the club. (To help maintain the park and clean it once a month)
Be as active in the community as your membership will allow. Make sure that all banks and veterinary offices have information about your club and it’s goals and objectives. Also, take a couple dogs to the local senior citizen centers for their enjoyment. It's just really fun for everyone. Leave brochures and tell them what you are doing. That is a wonderful way to get practice for public speaking. They love anything the youth do for and with them.
Make sure that events and projects are covered in the media with Public Service Announcements, These are 15-30 second commercials they all run free to help community organizations to publicize their upcoming events.
Don’t forget a newsletter. You may even include it with the local newspaper once a month or so. You can sell ad space to local businesses to cover the costs of printing and distribution. Check for prices on 10,000 for example and price out several 1" X 1" ads from dry cleaners, banks, other stores. Make sure the newsletter is professionally done and has YOUR information inside, not copied information from other animal newsletters. The locals want to know what you want to do. Let them know what you need and how they can help without giving cold cash. A lot of folks will give furniture, old computers, dog supplies, provide items or services for your events at no charge, etc.
For those who go to the schools:
www.21stcenturycares.org/he/humaneed.htm.htm
www.21stcenturycares.org/spayn.htm
www.21stcenturycares.org/importance.htm
www.21stcenturycares.org/edpresentation.htm
www.21stcenturycares.org/lessonplan.htm
HOPEFULLY YOUR BIGGEST GOAL IS TO GET OTHERS STARTED AS WELL. IT DOES NO GOOD IF WE ONLY EDUCATE 20 KIDS FROM THAT TOWN AND 22 FROM THIS TOWN. WE NEED TO GET THE WORD OUT TO EVERYONE AS BEST WE CAN. OF COURSE THE FOCUS IS ON 18YR AND UNDER, AS THOSE WHO ARE ABOVE THAT AGE HAVE ALREADY MADE CHOICES AND DECISIONS AND ARE DIFFICULT TO RE ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.
Ideas for Teachers and Students to do as a Classroom or Club
ORGANIZE A FUNDRAISER: Choose a humane society, animal shelter or rescue group to which to donate the proceeds of a bake sale, car wash, book sale or carnival. Contact the organization and ask them for general information to distribute to students and the public.
FORM A CLUB: Organize an animal club that meets weekly. Discuss animal-related topics, go on field trips and develop community service projects.
ORGANIZE AN ANIMAL AWARENESS WEEK: a school or community- wide animal awareness week will help get the message of kindness to animals heard.
GET THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED: Ask local businesses and the media to spread the word about caring about animals. Organize a dog walk or wash in your community and ask for donations or sponsorship.
VOLUNTEER: Volunteer your time at a local animal organization. They sure can use your help!
SPONSOR A SPEAKER: Invite an animal expert to speak at your school. Host the event in the evening, sell tickets and donate the proceeds to a local humane organization.
GIVE OUT INFORMATION: Man a table at school or in front of the local supermarket. Ask the community to sign a pact to be responsible pet owners. Display all the signatures at the local community center.
EDUCATE: Give out correct information about animals to help people become more informed and responsible.
BE CREATIVE: Perform a play, design a poster, create an animal bulletin board, make a quilt, write a newsletter or write a song about animals.
KEEP UP TO DATE: Read lots of books about animals. It will keep you knowledgeable and accurate.
BE RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERS: Show others how to be a responsible pet owner by example--be one yourself.
WRITE LETTERS: Write letters to lawmakers and the media expressing your concerns about animals and the environment.
ORGANIZE A DRIVE: Organize a toy, towel or animal food drive in your community. Put a marked container in a high traffic area for people to see. Give the collected items to an animal organization.
Always know that I will be willing to speak to the advisor, or any student regarding ways to help the club or for projects in which they can become involved.
SUGGESTED PROJECTS FOR KIDS 5TH GRADE AND UP
Organize and support a humane education club in your school - much like Future Teachers Club or FFA, etc.
Offer to assist senior citizens and low income families with necessary medications, vet visits, delivery of food, training tips, etc to make the pets happier and healthier with those given family dynamics.
Plan for an all school assembly where you and others in the humane ed club can speak to the entire student body. maybe not all at once, but over a full school day, etc.
Help the community in securing appropriate licensing and ID for all pets in the area.
Have a drive to get local pets micro-chipped.
Have a spay neuter clinic come to your town for discount surgeries.
Try to convince club members to begin acting like a ''community watch'' effort by respectfully addressing someone with whom you feel is being neglectful or abusive to an animal by not treating it's medical needs, tying it up to a post 24 hours, not feeding it, etc AND TO SPEAK OUT TO PARENTS OR AUTHORITIES IF THE SITUATION IS MORE SERIOUS.
Help local dog pound with adoptions by holding an adopt a thon at your school on Sat for the locals.
Make sure ALL these events are covered by the local newspapers and even TV and radio stations. Remember,what you are doing is CHANGING THE WORLD. Photo ops with kids and dogs are HUGE SELLERS and marketing tools for papers and tv news. You hold that key.
Speak to your town council and discuss the possibilities of opening a dog park for excercize, socialization and to bring the community together.
Consider electing a Lead committee that will visit neighboring schools to join in for the after school meetings or to help them also form their own local humane education clubs so you can all share info and grow together.
YOU MUST BE ABLE TO PROUDLY SPEAK OUT WHEN SOMEONE IS NOT GIVING THEIR PET THE PROPER CARE AND NECESSARY MEDICAL TREATMENT. YOU CANNOT ALLOW FAMILY, FRIENDS OR RELATIVES TO ABUSE NOR NEGLECT THEIR PETS. IF YOU CAN'T SAY IT TO THEM DIRECTLY THEN CALL AUTHORITIES AND LET THEM DETERMINE THEIR FATE. IF YOU SEE A DOGGY TIED TO A STAKE WITH A 6 FT CHAIN, JUST THINK HOW HORRIBLE THAT WOULD BE IF YOU WERE HIM. THINK HOW IGNORANT THE HUMAN IS THAT IS DOING THAT TO THE POOR DOG. IF YOU ALLOW THIS TO CONTINUE BY NOT SPEAKING OUT, YOU ARE JUST AS MUCH TO BLAME FOR THE POOR DOG'S SITUATION AND JUST AS ABUSIVE AS THE PERSON WHO DID THAT.
Welcome, and thanks to all who visit this page. By learning the problems we face, how they came to be, their causes and society’s shortcomings, we can better appreciate the ways in which we all can help correct them. By forming a humane education club, you will learn much of this through your efforts and experiences. We are very proud of today’s youth who wish to learn, in order to help educate others.
Increasing the participation of students in community service has long been a goal in the United States. It was specifically included in the third National Education Goal for 2000, which states that all students will be involved in activities that promote and demonstrate good citizenship, good health, community service, and personal responsibility. To recognize those individuals who engage in community service and to encourage more young people to serve, the Presidential Student Service Challenge was established in 1999. This program honors student volunteers with awards and scholarships. For more information about this program, visit http://www.student-service-awards.org/ or write to President's Student Service Awards, P.O. Box 189, Wilmington, DE 19899-0189 or President's Student Service Scholarships, 1505 Riverview Road, P.O. Box 68, St. Peter, MN 56082.
Many of your students will express a high affinity for animals and a desire to act to help them. There are a number of ways you can assist your students in their efforts to help animals. Your local animal shelter may have a junior volunteer corps through which students can volunteer their time.
Many animal shelters also have wish lists. These are lists of items that the shelter needs, such as food, towels, newspaper, etc. If your local shelter has a wish list, your students could hold a drive for these items at school. If the shelter does not have such a list, your students could hold a towel drive (shelters always need towels), or have a bake sale, cat toy and dog treat sale, or other type of fundraiser to benefit the shelter. Penny harvests are a great idea and it is amazing how much money can be collected in this manner. Students can also make safe toys for the cats and treats for the dogs in the shelter.
Throughout this site you are provided with ideas and suggestions of projects, programs and ideas of how to help the community, your school and club get involved, learn and improve the relations humans have with each other and our companion animals.
This page is primarily to help your club:
*Raise Money
*Obtain local and area media attention
*Involve the community in your efforts
*Join forces with other humane ed groups over the internet
*Ideas for events to inform, be seen & pass out flyers
*A complete list of ideas for community service projects at the bottom of the page.
We also want to help you garner additional memberships from various groups of students. We want the group to become an enjoyable social circle of all sorts of students. By having a set membership of only animal lovers, your group will not have the basis it needs to share the information it gains, with those who really need to hear it.
- Educate the community and how to accomplish this (must EDUCATE your members first!) This truly helps you organize the important issues as well as the need to be accurate in presenting them to others. Email Randy Warner 21stcares@gmail.com for help
- Help with community projects this helps bring notoriety to your organization for when you need to ask the community for its assistance or for donations.
Show the importance of voting This shows how apathy allows your representatives to vote on issues that truly affect you and your lives in many ways. Every ''problem'' we have in this country is basically attributed to apathy of one form or another.- Creative means of reducing the number of dogs and cats dying in your local facility, through adoptions in the paper, giving info on how to keep your pets, www.wonderpuppy.com/canwehelp/ is a great site for this. This brings the problems to the forefront of your members' thinking process. You've always 'heard' about the problems of overpopulation. SEEING with your own eyes will amaze you at the number of good, lovable pets who will die due to human egos and ignorance.
- Provide presentations to surrounding schools of any age students, This not only helps with communication skills, but with planning and especially public speaking
- Help other high schools form humane education clubs - can be done primarily over the internet or with occasional group meetings, This helps with organizational skills, professional persuasive skills which each student will need in order to get ahead in life. Most importantly by helping to form another humane education club, we all win by having additional people who are knowledgeable.
- Have an active, informative Website, This not only allows you to communicate your message and goals to others, but can help bring in a student from the computer class that wouldn't normal consider joining. Show your goals, your event dates and locations, your success stories, your needs, the problems of the community and how each resident can help in the solutions. (focus on what people can do without giving money) Everyone can learn a little about website design. Make sure they follow through with adding your site to some major search engines.
- Do off property adoptions, This is where you negotiate with the local dog pound to take some of their good adoptable animals who almost certainly face death, to a community location such as a park and give them one last chance for the residents to see what wonderful lives are available and otherwise would be lost to ignorance. This takes some considerable planning and effort, but brings unbelievable results as well as media attention to your club. Call 21st Century Cares for more details.
- Take three or four members to the home football game - each one of them caring for a dog that needs a home. (Alternate weeks with cats) providing you present this in a proper and professional manner, the school will likely grant permission. MAKE SURE YOU PROMISE TO AND THEN FOLLOW THROUGH WITH CLEAN UP DOG"S MESSES. Make sure the pets are very social and adoptable, before hand. Think ahead. This means that you will have to keep the pet inside your house for the night and return it to the pound the next day - hopefully to be adopted by someone who saw it at the game.
Each community has it's own parades. Devise a creative theme to take dogs in the parade that need to be adopted. (green water based polka dots on the dogs for the St Patricks’s Day Parade, or dress like the dogs, etc.) Have 2 students without dogs to have cans for donations and walk on either side of the street for coins and bills from the public.
- Have a booth at your county fair. This takes a lot of organization to man the booth for all the hours of the event. People will learn about you, they'll learn how to help their pet, they may wish to join, they may donate, and they may adopt a pet you have there. Make sure to bring plenty of Jim Willis’ written pieces along as hand-outs. You’ll need them when you hear how many people ‘had’ a pet until something ‘tragic’ happened. (the tragedy is likely going to prove their own ignorance)
- Saturday succor games, children's events, home and garden shows, pancake days, marathons and take a dog (who is a running/active type) to a health club to show the benefit and safety factor that is offered to a female jogger when accompanied by a good dog. Possibly get an adoption.
- Work to get members to be more community active, This will help the community to understand some of the many problems facing them, but will also see that there is much that should be done and that it is up to them and then only.
- VOTE. The single most likely reason we see so much distain and mistrust for elected officials is a lack of involvement on the part of the voters. An average of 33% of eligible voters actually vote. If you wish to make a difference in how your community, state of federal government handles issues such as animal overpopulation, taxes and all issues that affect your lives, you MUST VOTE!
- Work with legislation issues, Keep abreast of the issues and the candidates who are running for office. Get an interview with a local representative and ask some pointed questions about how they plan to help change come about in the animal issues. Then track them on their promises. Go to www.congress.org/
- Don’t be afraid to write letters. Find a cause or situation that needs attention from the public or your elected officials. Get a letter-writing campaign from students in your school and let your voices be heard. It does make a difference. Send copies to your local animal control, television stations and ALL newspapers.
- Help senior citizens and low-income families with their pets, Many senior citizens and low-income families have to relinquish a pet simply due to their inability to drive and obtain dog food or vet appointments. Once a month, you could pick up donated food from local pet stores and deliver it or make trips to vet with their pets. (This is not ONLY a charitable opportunity for your organization, but also an opportunity to help them improve the care of their pets.) We wouldn't make a trip for the food or to the vet if the family were not willing to make some minor, but necessary changes that would make their pet safer.
- Have fundraisers for local animal agencies or rescues. DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Do NOT raise money for any animal group or agency that is unfriendly, working for an agenda not related to the animals or who isn’t clean or have a good adoption rate. Again, this helps in planning, money management, organizational skills and public relations
- Have periodic guest speakers from animal control and police dept to discuss problems they face in everyday life, Local police, animal control, humane organizations and many others would be happy to come speak at one of your meetings. This is suggested especially during your first 3-4 meetings, to help the newly formed group to assemble a better idea of what the community's needs are.
Write this up formally to become your platform and mission statement. Research bi-laws and platforms on the Internet
Have an art student design a logo that will work for letterhead and website and to shirts. Again, this helps to gain a member that may not have considered joining the group.
The cheerleaders could do a bake sale periodically and share the profits with your organization. They could take a dog or cat onto the field before the game to try and find a home for it.
The shop class could build some dog houses to be donated to the next 10 families who give a homeless pet a permanent, loving home.
The track team could take one day of practice and jog with dogs from the local pound who need homes. MEDIA LOVES THIS STUFF. Dogs and track team both get good excercize and you may find some more homes. (possibly a new member or two from the team.)
Have some creative writers write the opening statement, which will make others want to navigate through the site. You may also wish to have a form for new members, asking what they are good at and what they may wish to help with.
Have a math major design a tentative budget for the first year and possible means of raising those funds. As well as doing your best to include this math student in all future events in an attempt to have them join.
Have a business major write proposals for business to sponsor a free pizza night in exchange for a nice mention in the newspaper article, which will surely follow. After you've just held your first big community event, you should have had the local paper and TV station there and that is fairly easy to do if you know what you are doing. This will help in obtaining a 'pizza night' or other donations you may need, when the local businesses realize that by helping your group, they are likely to be recognized in the article that covers each event. That is free advertising to them.
Ask marketing people to come up with some good ideas to spread the word to other animal welfare clubs This could be students or local professional marketing people. This will help in gaining insight on how to get important messages across.
Be creative and try to gain membership from those who would not normally join a group such as this. They are really the ones who will benefit the most. This is where your social events and parties will come in handy after big events. Only members and their dates will receive invitations.
Call newspapers and local radio stations for stories on your new group. You’ll likely need to be doing something they can actually report on. You may even be able to get a TV station to come out if you are enthusiastic and motivated. Tell them you are trying to get other schools to do the same and you would like to challenge them.
See how to write a press release at www.21stcenturycares.org/prguide.htm
This will be one of the most important of all your duties. If you can't even share your learned information with those in your own school, then you would essentially be accomplishing little. Make certain you get no fewer than two nice front page articles in your school newspaper per school year, too. These articles should be hard hitting essays to tell the other students what you’ve done, why you’ve done it and what the entire student body should know in order to improve, but to at least be aware of these points. The written pieces I’ve provided to you by Jim Willis are wonderful stories with a much-needed message as well. Begin with any of the articles found on this site by Jim Willis or myself. Permission is given. Get the students to 'think' about what is happening. jwillis@bellatlantic.net is a good friend of mine and is the author of "PIECES OF MY HEART" which is wonderful reading for all in this club as well as great handouts at your booths and events. Also give to younger students you speak to. Ask that they read them after you leave and write an essay on how they think we can change these problems (teacher will possibly offer extra credit to them)
Have a 50’s party or dance and use the dogs as your invitation. We did this at the Anaheim Hilton in 1995 for a 50’s party and the girls here were the goodluck dogs for the gambling tables. What is difficult to see in this photo is that Maddy, on the left is wearing a “PEOPLE SKIRT” instead of a POODLE skirt..
You could set up a doggy walka thon for the local community. Proceeds to benefit the local animal org and your club. To publicize this, the track team could run dogs for the week prior with signs on the dogs to advertise. You could even bring a few dogs that need homes, in hopes they would get adopted. Get the track team members to consider joining. You do this by getting others involved and making your events and follow-up parties FUN.
A great and very successful idea is at www.21stcenturycares.org/cannes.htm
Make sure that you tell your members that learning the correct care for animals is only part of the goals, that they need to speak out when they see something questionable or wrong. Otherwise your knowledge is only helpful when the pet is YOURS. That is just to limiting for those poor animals that are suffering at the hands of ignorant humans.
Sometimes, there are events at your own school, which would generate income from a food booth, or the likes. Keep your eyes and ears open for any and all events in and around your general area – especially the school and it’s activities.
See what it would take to form a local doggy park in your community. That will be a long project and will take some follow-up, long after the students are on to college or other things. IT would become an ongoing project for the club. (To help maintain the park and clean it once a month)
Be as active in the community as your membership will allow. Make sure that all banks and veterinary offices have information about your club and it’s goals and objectives. Also, take a couple dogs to the local senior citizen centers for their enjoyment. It's just really fun for everyone. Leave brochures and tell them what you are doing. That is a wonderful way to get practice for public speaking. They love anything the youth do for and with them.
Make sure that events and projects are covered in the media with Public Service Announcements, These are 15-30 second commercials they all run free to help community organizations to publicize their upcoming events.
Don’t forget a newsletter. You may even include it with the local newspaper once a month or so. You can sell ad space to local businesses to cover the costs of printing and distribution. Check for prices on 10,000 for example and price out several 1" X 1" ads from dry cleaners, banks, other stores. Make sure the newsletter is professionally done and has YOUR information inside, not copied information from other animal newsletters. The locals want to know what you want to do. Let them know what you need and how they can help without giving cold cash. A lot of folks will give furniture, old computers, dog supplies, provide items or services for your events at no charge, etc.
For those who go to the schools:
www.21stcenturycares.org/he/humaneed.htm.htm
www.21stcenturycares.org/spayn.htm
www.21stcenturycares.org/importance.htm
www.21stcenturycares.org/edpresentation.htm
www.21stcenturycares.org/lessonplan.htm
HOPEFULLY YOUR BIGGEST GOAL IS TO GET OTHERS STARTED AS WELL. IT DOES NO GOOD IF WE ONLY EDUCATE 20 KIDS FROM THAT TOWN AND 22 FROM THIS TOWN. WE NEED TO GET THE WORD OUT TO EVERYONE AS BEST WE CAN. OF COURSE THE FOCUS IS ON 18YR AND UNDER, AS THOSE WHO ARE ABOVE THAT AGE HAVE ALREADY MADE CHOICES AND DECISIONS AND ARE DIFFICULT TO RE ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.
Ideas for Teachers and Students to do as a Classroom or Club
ORGANIZE A FUNDRAISER: Choose a humane society, animal shelter or rescue group to which to donate the proceeds of a bake sale, car wash, book sale or carnival. Contact the organization and ask them for general information to distribute to students and the public.
FORM A CLUB: Organize an animal club that meets weekly. Discuss animal-related topics, go on field trips and develop community service projects.
ORGANIZE AN ANIMAL AWARENESS WEEK: a school or community- wide animal awareness week will help get the message of kindness to animals heard.
GET THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED: Ask local businesses and the media to spread the word about caring about animals. Organize a dog walk or wash in your community and ask for donations or sponsorship.
VOLUNTEER: Volunteer your time at a local animal organization. They sure can use your help!
SPONSOR A SPEAKER: Invite an animal expert to speak at your school. Host the event in the evening, sell tickets and donate the proceeds to a local humane organization.
GIVE OUT INFORMATION: Man a table at school or in front of the local supermarket. Ask the community to sign a pact to be responsible pet owners. Display all the signatures at the local community center.
EDUCATE: Give out correct information about animals to help people become more informed and responsible.
BE CREATIVE: Perform a play, design a poster, create an animal bulletin board, make a quilt, write a newsletter or write a song about animals.
KEEP UP TO DATE: Read lots of books about animals. It will keep you knowledgeable and accurate.
BE RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERS: Show others how to be a responsible pet owner by example--be one yourself.
WRITE LETTERS: Write letters to lawmakers and the media expressing your concerns about animals and the environment.
ORGANIZE A DRIVE: Organize a toy, towel or animal food drive in your community. Put a marked container in a high traffic area for people to see. Give the collected items to an animal organization.
Always know that I will be willing to speak to the advisor, or any student regarding ways to help the club or for projects in which they can become involved.
SUGGESTED PROJECTS FOR KIDS 5TH GRADE AND UP
Organize and support a humane education club in your school - much like Future Teachers Club or FFA, etc.
Offer to assist senior citizens and low income families with necessary medications, vet visits, delivery of food, training tips, etc to make the pets happier and healthier with those given family dynamics.
Plan for an all school assembly where you and others in the humane ed club can speak to the entire student body. maybe not all at once, but over a full school day, etc.
Help the community in securing appropriate licensing and ID for all pets in the area.
Have a drive to get local pets micro-chipped.
Have a spay neuter clinic come to your town for discount surgeries.
Try to convince club members to begin acting like a ''community watch'' effort by respectfully addressing someone with whom you feel is being neglectful or abusive to an animal by not treating it's medical needs, tying it up to a post 24 hours, not feeding it, etc AND TO SPEAK OUT TO PARENTS OR AUTHORITIES IF THE SITUATION IS MORE SERIOUS.
Help local dog pound with adoptions by holding an adopt a thon at your school on Sat for the locals.
Make sure ALL these events are covered by the local newspapers and even TV and radio stations. Remember,what you are doing is CHANGING THE WORLD. Photo ops with kids and dogs are HUGE SELLERS and marketing tools for papers and tv news. You hold that key.
Speak to your town council and discuss the possibilities of opening a dog park for excercize, socialization and to bring the community together.
Consider electing a Lead committee that will visit neighboring schools to join in for the after school meetings or to help them also form their own local humane education clubs so you can all share info and grow together.
YOU MUST BE ABLE TO PROUDLY SPEAK OUT WHEN SOMEONE IS NOT GIVING THEIR PET THE PROPER CARE AND NECESSARY MEDICAL TREATMENT. YOU CANNOT ALLOW FAMILY, FRIENDS OR RELATIVES TO ABUSE NOR NEGLECT THEIR PETS. IF YOU CAN'T SAY IT TO THEM DIRECTLY THEN CALL AUTHORITIES AND LET THEM DETERMINE THEIR FATE. IF YOU SEE A DOGGY TIED TO A STAKE WITH A 6 FT CHAIN, JUST THINK HOW HORRIBLE THAT WOULD BE IF YOU WERE HIM. THINK HOW IGNORANT THE HUMAN IS THAT IS DOING THAT TO THE POOR DOG. IF YOU ALLOW THIS TO CONTINUE BY NOT SPEAKING OUT, YOU ARE JUST AS MUCH TO BLAME FOR THE POOR DOG'S SITUATION AND JUST AS ABUSIVE AS THE PERSON WHO DID THAT.
| Early Age Spay/Neuter
and the benefits accompanying this procedure. It is our goal to disassemble the silly unsubstantiated myths of 'one litter is beneficial to the female' or 'male dogs need to breed' 'the dog will become fat and lazy once altered' or ''it's unnatural''. |
Many veterinarians are now safely and routinely performing spay and
neuter surgery on kittens and puppies at eight weeks of age. The low body fat makes these
surgeries easier to accomplish and puppies and kittens tolerate the procedures very well
and recover more quickly than do older animals. Some veterinarians use the
"two-pound" guideline. As long as a puppy or kitten is healthy and weighs at
least two pounds, they may be spayed or neutered safely. During these surgeries, young
animals need to be carefully monitored just as older animals do when it comes to
anesthesia.
What is spay/neuter?
Spaying/neutering are safe, inexpensive and permanent procedures that not only prevent accidental breeding but also reduce potential behavioral and health problems. A female cat does not have to go through a heat cycle before being spayed. In fact, multiple heat cycles increase her chances of developing mammary cancer. In males, neutering reduces the risk of testicular cancer and enlargement of the prostate and related infections.
Spaying/neutering are safe, inexpensive and permanent procedures that not only prevent accidental breeding but also reduce potential behavioral and health problems. A female cat does not have to go through a heat cycle before being spayed. In fact, multiple heat cycles increase her chances of developing mammary cancer. In males, neutering reduces the risk of testicular cancer and enlargement of the prostate and related infections.
Many animals adopted from shelters are young in age. Studies have
shown that if these animals are not spayed/neutered before going into their new homes, the
surgery will never be done and these animals then produce more unwanted pets. When these
procedures of spaying/neutering are performed early, the chance for unwanted litters is
eliminated. These animals are not going to contribute to the surplus pet population of
tomorrow.
There is little scientific information to back up the current
standard age of six to eight months for spaying/neutering. This figure seems to have been
chosen quite arbitrarily and followed down through the years without question. Today, we
recognize the safety and many benefits of early-age spay/neuter.
REASONS TO OPT FOR EARLY-AGE SPAYING/NEUTERING:
Helps to control pet overpopulation - less homeless offspring -
Decreased killing of healthy animals
Decreases the rate of animals returned to shelter
Improves animal's adoptability
Improved health care of pets - pets live 5-7 years longer if altered at 6 months or earlier
Surgery less stressful/quick recovery for younger animals
Early spay/neuter can be done in conjunction with other surgeries
Spayed and neutered pets are less aggressive, less likely to roam, less likely to fight and therefore less likely to contract contagious diseases lives a much healthier life, less likely to bite or fight
Decreases the rate of animals returned to shelter
Improves animal's adoptability
Improved health care of pets - pets live 5-7 years longer if altered at 6 months or earlier
Surgery less stressful/quick recovery for younger animals
Early spay/neuter can be done in conjunction with other surgeries
Spayed and neutered pets are less aggressive, less likely to roam, less likely to fight and therefore less likely to contract contagious diseases lives a much healthier life, less likely to bite or fight
But remember, it is never too late to spay or neuter your pet. Talk
with your veterinarian. Even older animals benefit from these procedures.
BACKYARD BREEDERS!!
AMERICANS WILL KILL UPWARDS OF 8 MILLION HEALTHY, ADOPTABLE
PETS THIS YEAR.
WHY? TOO MANY PETS – NOT ENOUGH HOMES!
WHO IS AT FAULT? ANYONE AND EVERYONE WHO HAS A LITTER FOR FUN, FOR PROFIT, OR “BY ACCIDENT’’! THE ‘’BACKYARD BREEDER’’
Backyard Breeders misrepresent themselves as
responsible/respectable breeders. They have the misguided thoughts that AKC papers means
their pet is breeding quality. If you allow your pet to parent even one litter,
then
YOU are the BIGGEST problem!WHY? TOO MANY PETS – NOT ENOUGH HOMES!
WHO IS AT FAULT? ANYONE AND EVERYONE WHO HAS A LITTER FOR FUN, FOR PROFIT, OR “BY ACCIDENT’’! THE ‘’BACKYARD BREEDER’’
I
author and assemble
humane education materials for schools. For over 22 years, I've
fostered, rehabilitated and placed rescued dogs of many breeds.
Dalmatians are one of my specialty breeds but I also rescue,
train and foster many others
as well. Because of this, I WANT to speak out today on the issue
of breeding for fun
and profit. Some of you will be upset by this written
piece and that is good, maybe
you'll help us do something about the problem. For, each
person who throws their
arms in the air, or rolls their eyes in disgust for something
I’ve said in this
piece, you are the likely intended target. For
verification on anything I say on
this page, ask ANY person associated with an animal welfare
group or facility –
ANYWHERE.
If you take personal offense to it then you need to examine your activities very carefully as you are likely my target or reason for writing this. If you wish to respond negatively to this, you will find you won't get much support from myself or those who are knowledgeable. I am speaking OUT today, not only for myself, but also for all rescuers across the nation, the very limited numbers of the ‘respectable’ breeders around the country and all of the responsible pet guardians. Therefore, I will not say, "In my humble opinion", as this opinion is shared by the respected breeders and pet guardians, as well as the ASPCA, Humane Society of the United States and all of the Shelters and other Humane/Animal Welfare organizations in this country.
BACKYARD BREEDERS ARE - If you take personal offense to it then you need to examine your activities very carefully as you are likely my target or reason for writing this. If you wish to respond negatively to this, you will find you won't get much support from myself or those who are knowledgeable. I am speaking OUT today, not only for myself, but also for all rescuers across the nation, the very limited numbers of the ‘respectable’ breeders around the country and all of the responsible pet guardians. Therefore, I will not say, "In my humble opinion", as this opinion is shared by the respected breeders and pet guardians, as well as the ASPCA, Humane Society of the United States and all of the Shelters and other Humane/Animal Welfare organizations in this country.
| **Anyone who has a litter for fun, profit or by
‘accident’. **Anyone who is so uninformed that they think having AKC papers means that their pet is breeding quality. RIDICULOUS!! **Anyone who advertises their litters in the local paper for sale. (respected breeders only advertise in trade magazines) **Anyone who thinks that by finding their puppies good homes that they somehow don’t have to play by the rules or take responsibility. MANY WILL STILL ULTIMATELY END UP IN THE POUND AFTER YEARS OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT!!! **Anyone who thinks they found their litter good homes, simply because everyone that took one, smiled honestly and ‘promised’ to treat them well.. Thus insisting on no background check, no enforceable contract or any type of follow up. A PERFECT RECIPE FOR A SAD LIFE FOR THE POOR PUPPY. **People will provide erroneous information to the potential adopters regarding the required care and treatment necessary for the pet - simply for their own personal gains and claim to know much more than they really do for ego boosts. **Respectable breeders will have walls adorned with trophies and certificates which represent the numerous championships they’ve acquired over the years. |
Up to 8 million healthy animals are killed in
U.S. pounds and shelters every year. The majority of killing could easily be prevented by
spaying OR neutering. Euthanasia is the single largest cause of death for dogs in the U.S.
Each year 27 million DOGS are born. 8 or more million we classify as "surplus"
ARE killed. That's about ¾ million per month. These numbers do not include the
millions of dead dogs whose bodies we scrape off the streets, the growing number
that are put to sleep at vets’ offices or the hundreds of thousands THAT ARE
abandoned.
LET'S NOT FORGET THE severely neglected or abused ones who never make it to our shelters to be counted and OR EUTHANIZED. The ten million figure represents those we "MUST" kill because they are unwanted!!! Most of these animals are young and healthy; in fact, it is estimated that a majority are less than one year of age. The problem is simple: we have too many dogs...Too many for the too few homes available TO THEM. The solution we have opted for is to kill the extras. This solution has been considered acceptable by default, as though there were no other way to control the crisis. And we spend over $11 billion every year destroying "man's best friend."
A common sense look that you cannot deny or argue with: If you were part of a company who made ‘pets’ and every year for the past 20 years, you had been overstocked to the point of having to dispose of the overstocked inventory, what would you suggest they do this year to improve? So, if you KNOW we are killing this vast number of innocent, loving animals each year, why in the world would you think that having a litter of puppies or kittens is OK?
Why is this happening in the United States today? The number one biggest contributor to the problem is the "backyard breeder" not the puppy mills. This is a name that has become unpopular and no one wants to admit they are a "backyard breeder".(Anyone having a litter in their home with just the family pet as one of the breeding parents, and advertise in the local papers) Many people do not even realize they are part of the problem. This is what I need to address in this post. The only way to stop the needless killing of dogs is to stop the needless breeding of them.
Every breed of dog recognized by the AKC has a written standard, a blueprint of what the dog should look like and act like. These standards were written so that all would know what a quality example of the breed is and strive to produce dogs that meet or exceed the standard in health, temperament and appearance. To be sure you are breeding dogs that meet these standards, your dogs must be judged by people who have a lifetime of experience among the breed. If your personal dog has not yet been in front of a judge, then you do NOT have an AKC standard dog, you have one that is pet quality and that is fine. AKC papers DO NOT signify a dog with Breeding quality standards!!!!!
. A pet is to be loved, cherished, trained, cared for, spoiled and bragged about, but it is NEVER to be bred. No matter how cute or sweet the dog may be, if it is not up to the standard, you have no business breeding it. Even if you have a purebred dog this does not give you the right to breed it. Most purebred dogs are not breeding quality. If you breed your pet quality dog, you are a "backyard breeder", whether you breed the dog in your backyard, garage, living room or an expensive hotel room, the term is still backyard breeder. If your pet quality dog has AKC papers, that's nice but it doesn't change anything. You still don't have the right to breed it. If your pet quality dog cost you $500 be glad you had the money to afford it. You still have no right to breed it.
Do you think you can RECOUP your $500 INVESTMENT if you breed your pet dog? OR DO YOU THINK YOUR pet dog is a color or size that isn't in the standard but you just know everyone will want buy a pup if you breed her? Shame on you! Now you are a "backyard breeder" with the purpose of breeding pups for fun and profit. That is despicable!!!
If the price for a tail dock or an ear crop seems high to you, what are you going to do when your beloved pet needs an emergency C-section? Will you even be there to know if she is in trouble? Would you recognize trouble before its too late AND BE MONETARILY ABLE TO SEEK VETERINARY HELP?
If you still want to breed your pet but need to ask, "Who's suppose to cut off the tails and ears"? Ask yourself, "What the Hell am I thinking?" Do you think genetic testing is something they used in the OJ trial but has nothing to do with your dog-breeding career you are a "backyard breeder".
"Backyard breeders" sell pups that aren't up to the standard of the breed. They do this for many reasons. None are good enough reasons to contribute to the killing of dogs. Period.
"Backyard breeders" will swear all of their pups went to a good home. They believe this, but it's not NECESSARILY true. Some may have been lucky enough to go to a good home at the time of adoption, but more than half of them will end up dead, in a shelter alone, on a cold table with a needle sticking out of their leg. Why? Because the Backyard Breeder didn’t follow through or even know enough about adoptions to ask the right questions up front. Some of those good homes will get tired of the dog and they will just give it away to anyone who is willing to take it. Some of your beloved dog's children will end up living alone in a backyard, barking all night, cold and neglected until the guardian gets complaints and then that pups will be dead. Some will be starved and beaten. Some will be bred until they die from THE MANY BIRTHS.
Some will end up in rescue and I will have to find space for it in my home. I will GIVE IT LOVE TO SHOW IT that not all humans are bad. I will train it, and feed it the proper food so it can heal, MENTALLY AS WELL AS PHYSICALLY. I will take the fleas off and I will get rid of the worms. I will give it the shots it should have had but no one remember to DO it. I will do these things because the "backyard breeder" didn't. I will spay or neuter that pup before I find it a new home so that I will never have to rescue one of it's pups. THAT WAY I CAN BE ASSURED it will never end up in the hands of another "backyard breeder" looking to make profit from puppies.
"Backyard breeders" are not responsible pet guardians. They claim that they love the dogs but it's not true because they don't really want to be bothered with doing all that it takes to breed ethically. They love feeling important when they say, "I breed mini schnauzers". But breeding pet dogs isn't something to be proud of. IT'S a shame on our society. It's the reason for the killing that goes on in shelters. Why do you want to be part of that? Do you want to be respected? Spay or neuter you pet dog. There's really no other way. The kind of homes you want for your pet pups don't want to buy from you. They are looking for responsible, respected breeders who are doing something for the breed as a whole. Most of those WHO WILL BUY your pups are the kind of people I wouldn't give a dog I didn't like to. They are the ones who will turn your puppy into a shelter when the novelty wears off. That's a PROVEN fact. Want to stop the problem of killing 1 Million dogs a month all over America? Spay or neuter your pet dog now and tell everyone you know to do the same. Leave the breeding to the people who are doing something to better the breed.
DO you want to have a litter of puppies to show your children the miracle of life? Then to be fair and honest, volunteer yourself and your children to work at the county dog pound for no less than thirty days to show them the miracle of death.
AS A "BACKYARD BREEDER" THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE CONTRIBUTING TO. YOU ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THIS MASSIVE PROBLEM NATIONWIDE.
IF YOU FIND THIS INFORMATION VALUABLE AND HOPE TO SEE THIS MESSAGE SHARED WITH OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS, PLEASE VISIT THE HOME PAGE AND CLICK ON THE PAY PAL BUTTON AND GIVE WHAT YOU CAN TO HELP FUND THIS EFFORT!! EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS!!
For more information, please contact:
Randy N. Warner
President
21st Century Animal Resource and Education Services
16224 North Linda Dr Dolan Springs, AZ 86441
Email
21stcares@gmail.com
LET'S NOT FORGET THE severely neglected or abused ones who never make it to our shelters to be counted and OR EUTHANIZED. The ten million figure represents those we "MUST" kill because they are unwanted!!! Most of these animals are young and healthy; in fact, it is estimated that a majority are less than one year of age. The problem is simple: we have too many dogs...Too many for the too few homes available TO THEM. The solution we have opted for is to kill the extras. This solution has been considered acceptable by default, as though there were no other way to control the crisis. And we spend over $11 billion every year destroying "man's best friend."
A common sense look that you cannot deny or argue with: If you were part of a company who made ‘pets’ and every year for the past 20 years, you had been overstocked to the point of having to dispose of the overstocked inventory, what would you suggest they do this year to improve? So, if you KNOW we are killing this vast number of innocent, loving animals each year, why in the world would you think that having a litter of puppies or kittens is OK?
Why is this happening in the United States today? The number one biggest contributor to the problem is the "backyard breeder" not the puppy mills. This is a name that has become unpopular and no one wants to admit they are a "backyard breeder".(Anyone having a litter in their home with just the family pet as one of the breeding parents, and advertise in the local papers) Many people do not even realize they are part of the problem. This is what I need to address in this post. The only way to stop the needless killing of dogs is to stop the needless breeding of them.
Every breed of dog recognized by the AKC has a written standard, a blueprint of what the dog should look like and act like. These standards were written so that all would know what a quality example of the breed is and strive to produce dogs that meet or exceed the standard in health, temperament and appearance. To be sure you are breeding dogs that meet these standards, your dogs must be judged by people who have a lifetime of experience among the breed. If your personal dog has not yet been in front of a judge, then you do NOT have an AKC standard dog, you have one that is pet quality and that is fine. AKC papers DO NOT signify a dog with Breeding quality standards!!!!!
. A pet is to be loved, cherished, trained, cared for, spoiled and bragged about, but it is NEVER to be bred. No matter how cute or sweet the dog may be, if it is not up to the standard, you have no business breeding it. Even if you have a purebred dog this does not give you the right to breed it. Most purebred dogs are not breeding quality. If you breed your pet quality dog, you are a "backyard breeder", whether you breed the dog in your backyard, garage, living room or an expensive hotel room, the term is still backyard breeder. If your pet quality dog has AKC papers, that's nice but it doesn't change anything. You still don't have the right to breed it. If your pet quality dog cost you $500 be glad you had the money to afford it. You still have no right to breed it.
Do you think you can RECOUP your $500 INVESTMENT if you breed your pet dog? OR DO YOU THINK YOUR pet dog is a color or size that isn't in the standard but you just know everyone will want buy a pup if you breed her? Shame on you! Now you are a "backyard breeder" with the purpose of breeding pups for fun and profit. That is despicable!!!
If the price for a tail dock or an ear crop seems high to you, what are you going to do when your beloved pet needs an emergency C-section? Will you even be there to know if she is in trouble? Would you recognize trouble before its too late AND BE MONETARILY ABLE TO SEEK VETERINARY HELP?
If you still want to breed your pet but need to ask, "Who's suppose to cut off the tails and ears"? Ask yourself, "What the Hell am I thinking?" Do you think genetic testing is something they used in the OJ trial but has nothing to do with your dog-breeding career you are a "backyard breeder".
"Backyard breeders" sell pups that aren't up to the standard of the breed. They do this for many reasons. None are good enough reasons to contribute to the killing of dogs. Period.
"Backyard breeders" will swear all of their pups went to a good home. They believe this, but it's not NECESSARILY true. Some may have been lucky enough to go to a good home at the time of adoption, but more than half of them will end up dead, in a shelter alone, on a cold table with a needle sticking out of their leg. Why? Because the Backyard Breeder didn’t follow through or even know enough about adoptions to ask the right questions up front. Some of those good homes will get tired of the dog and they will just give it away to anyone who is willing to take it. Some of your beloved dog's children will end up living alone in a backyard, barking all night, cold and neglected until the guardian gets complaints and then that pups will be dead. Some will be starved and beaten. Some will be bred until they die from THE MANY BIRTHS.
Some will end up in rescue and I will have to find space for it in my home. I will GIVE IT LOVE TO SHOW IT that not all humans are bad. I will train it, and feed it the proper food so it can heal, MENTALLY AS WELL AS PHYSICALLY. I will take the fleas off and I will get rid of the worms. I will give it the shots it should have had but no one remember to DO it. I will do these things because the "backyard breeder" didn't. I will spay or neuter that pup before I find it a new home so that I will never have to rescue one of it's pups. THAT WAY I CAN BE ASSURED it will never end up in the hands of another "backyard breeder" looking to make profit from puppies.
"Backyard breeders" are not responsible pet guardians. They claim that they love the dogs but it's not true because they don't really want to be bothered with doing all that it takes to breed ethically. They love feeling important when they say, "I breed mini schnauzers". But breeding pet dogs isn't something to be proud of. IT'S a shame on our society. It's the reason for the killing that goes on in shelters. Why do you want to be part of that? Do you want to be respected? Spay or neuter you pet dog. There's really no other way. The kind of homes you want for your pet pups don't want to buy from you. They are looking for responsible, respected breeders who are doing something for the breed as a whole. Most of those WHO WILL BUY your pups are the kind of people I wouldn't give a dog I didn't like to. They are the ones who will turn your puppy into a shelter when the novelty wears off. That's a PROVEN fact. Want to stop the problem of killing 1 Million dogs a month all over America? Spay or neuter your pet dog now and tell everyone you know to do the same. Leave the breeding to the people who are doing something to better the breed.
DO you want to have a litter of puppies to show your children the miracle of life? Then to be fair and honest, volunteer yourself and your children to work at the county dog pound for no less than thirty days to show them the miracle of death.
AS A "BACKYARD BREEDER" THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE CONTRIBUTING TO. YOU ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THIS MASSIVE PROBLEM NATIONWIDE.
IF YOU FIND THIS INFORMATION VALUABLE AND HOPE TO SEE THIS MESSAGE SHARED WITH OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS, PLEASE VISIT THE HOME PAGE AND CLICK ON THE PAY PAL BUTTON AND GIVE WHAT YOU CAN TO HELP FUND THIS EFFORT!! EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS!!
For more information, please contact:
Randy N. Warner
President
21st Century Animal Resource and Education Services
16224 North Linda Dr Dolan Springs, AZ 86441
Saturday, May 25, 2013
START YOUR OWN CUSTOMIZED HUMANE EDUCATION PROGRAM
Hoping
to be getting though to some of you, here is a page that allows you to
customize your own humane education program for your specific community
or region using all the information and resources I've already
researched and accumulated over the years. The complete overview and additional ideas, see this page: http://21stcenturycares.org/start.htm
WELCOME AND CONGRATULATIONS ON RECOGNIZING THAT THIS IS ABSOLUTELY THE ONLY HOPE WE HAVE OF RESOLVING THE ISSUES WE CARE SO DEEPLY ABOUT.
2 - Once you have 3 that you are totally comfortable with, decide on a name for the group. If you would like to use ''21st Century CARES - (your city here)'' you can do that and I'll obviously have all your info already on the website as to what this org does for easy reference and access. No charge. I'll even design a page listing any interested group by location and name with contact info. In other words, you'd have a website, your own page and all the web info, costs, etc are mine.
Of course, you can also come up with your own name for the group. In my opinion, there is no need to become a non profit all on your own, but that will be the decision of your 3 front line founders
Bringing a dog or two is ALWAYS fun for the students. I usually took all five of mine. I'd always begin by asking the teacher if anyone is afraid of dogs or had any allergies to them. If so, they were ok'd to sit away from the dogs and near a trusted adult. We cannot have screams & shrieks or kids getting sick. I was clear to the kids that I'd let them off leash during my talk if only they would pet them QUIETLY!! If it became a distraction, I'd call the dogs back and put them on leash and continue.
YOU MUST MAKE CERTAIN THAT THESE DOGS WILL NOT JUMP NOR BITE ANYONE. The best means of preventing them from jumping is on leash. But once students are seated on the floor in a semi circle or in established seating area, you can move forward. Never take your eyes off the dogs.
3 - Contact me for a listing of materials that you need to focus on as well as other issues you may need to address throughout and I'll email you the links to what I have on the site or provide recommendations.
4 - Make sure all three of you read this material enough times that you can have an intelligent conversation with any other person to show your knowledge and determination. No need to memorize, but at least to have answers to questions or to begin a good conversation.
5 - Determine which one(s) will actually speak, who will make calls in person and on the phone to set up presentations and the third will be a fill in when 1 and 2 are busy. Of course as you grow, more people are optional, but to start this, 3 is fine.
6 - If planning to start a larger effort that involves a more expansive area and multiple groups, call an initial meeting and determine level of interest, dedication to the project and again, do your interviews as if hiring for a job. This is really an excellent opportunity to reach out and share info and build a trusted effort that is recognized. However, all you need is one bad apple within this and it's easy to loose everything you've ever done.
7 - Begin making your first calls. Charter schools are easiest access due to lack of red tape and continuing effort to justify their existence. Scout troupes, both boy and girl are good. They even offer badges for this. Boys and Girls clubs usually care for lower income and need positive influence such as this. According to the National Education Assoc. and the Dept of Education, students k-4 will not be able to absorb the bigger picture or implement the necessary 'reasoning' skills to totally understand. Begin with 5th grade and move up.
Try to make time for
a at least an hour with the students. This gives you 45 min and then
they still have time for Q and A. I've always been surprised
at just how much the young men and women want to know so they can
help.
At first there is no
need for you to absorb any printing costs. Send the teacher or
administrator an email with the links from my website regarding the
topics you plan to touch on. Consider a set of FREE online
business cards. Simple and effective when meeting potential 'keepers
of the keys' as they say.
When scheduling
presentations, it's ok for the first few, to attend a single class
with just 30-40 students. But once more comfortable make
arrangements to speak to all the 5th graders at that given school,
or all the 6th graders at once. You can also plan to stay at
the school for the duration of the school day so you can reach more
students. A successful effort will reach every student (5th
grade and older) in a given school in 3 visits or less.
Bolder and more
confident speakers can move to the 7th, 8th grades and even high
schools. Sometimes this age group can be inattentive or even
disrespectful and you must be prepared. I have a very quick
wit and can put them in place quickly without starting a shouting
match or needing to involve the teachers.
A GREAT means of cold
calling is "Hello, my name is XXX and I was in your parking lot
yesterday with a friend picking up her son/daughter and we met such
a nice teacher - she was a real animal lover. I've forgotten her
name, can you help me find who this is?" Every school has a
woman teacher who loves animals. They'll put you right through and
you begin to talk to her about coming in to speak to her kids.
8 -
Take the info I've offered and put it
into your very own presentation, print it off in extra large text
and bring it with you so you can quickly refer to it on those
occasions when you go blank or forget a detail.
I usually begin with
something that gets everyone involved i.e. this:
Girls, I'm gonna
bring up a point to the guys and I need your support to verify my
comments if you think I'm correct.. OK? So, if you agree with this
next statement, I want you to stand up and clap your hands.
MEN!!! You're always wondering what you can do to get that certain girl to pay attention to you. You're all picturing a woman in your heads right now, huh? Women of all ages value your treatment and caring for animals more than how good looking you are because they can't stand to see animals abused, mistreated or neglected. Isn't that right ladies?( then look at the women for support) They will stand and cheer. The men will look totally surprised.
An easy way to get your dog to do right doesn't always include training, but ALWAYS includes giving the dog all of what it needs instead of just what you want it to have or do. The gap between the two is monumental. Learn to distinguish the difference and you'll always have good dogs at your side and a good woman beside you for life. (we do this because most of the abuse and neglect comes from men)
MEN!!! You're always wondering what you can do to get that certain girl to pay attention to you. You're all picturing a woman in your heads right now, huh? Women of all ages value your treatment and caring for animals more than how good looking you are because they can't stand to see animals abused, mistreated or neglected. Isn't that right ladies?( then look at the women for support) They will stand and cheer. The men will look totally surprised.
An easy way to get your dog to do right doesn't always include training, but ALWAYS includes giving the dog all of what it needs instead of just what you want it to have or do. The gap between the two is monumental. Learn to distinguish the difference and you'll always have good dogs at your side and a good woman beside you for life. (we do this because most of the abuse and neglect comes from men)
EVERYONE MUST BE ABLE TO PROUDLY SPEAK OUT WHEN SOMEONE IS NOT GIVING THEIR PET THE PROPER CARE AND NECESSARY MEDICAL TREATMENT. YOU CANNOT ALLOW FAMILY, FRIENDS OR RELATIVES TO ABUSE NOR NEGLECT THEIR PETS. IF YOU CAN'T SAY IT TO THEM DIRECTLY THEN CALL AUTHORITIES AND LET THEM DETERMINE THEIR FATE. IF YOU SEE A DOGGY TIED TO A STAKE WITH A 6 FT CHAIN, JUST THINK HOW HORRIBLE THAT WOULD BE IF YOU WERE HIM. THINK HOW IGNORANT THE HUMAN IS THAT IS DOING THAT TO THE POOR DOG. IF YOU ALLOW THIS TO CONTINUE BY NOT SPEAKING OUT, YOU ARE JUST AS MUCH TO BLAME FOR THE POOR DOG'S SITUATION AND JUST AS ABUSIVE AS THE PERSON WHO DID THAT.
Remember, there is a lot more valuable information and suggestions at http://21stcenturycares.org/start.htm
THE IMPORTANCE OF HUMANE EDUCATION
"THE IMPORTANCE OF HUMANE
EDUCATION''
To The Animal Welfare and
Education Community
By, Dr. Jeanette Shutay Ph.d.
I am currently an
Assistant Professor at National-Louis
University in the College of Education. I
teach research methodology and statistics
courses and am writing this at the request
of Mr. Randy N. Warner of 21st Century
Animal Resource and Education Services. My
future research interests include designing
and implementing Humane Education programs
into the Chicago Public Schools. I feel that
Humane Education programs are pertinent to
the moral development of children.
Furthermore, I believe that children who are
offered a science curriculum that emphasizes
animal ecology and behavior will find the
scientific experience more interesting and
more rewarding. The hypothesized result is
that not only will the children develop a
more sophisticated and solid moral
structure, but they will come to enjoy
education more, resulting in higher
attendance, more participation in the field
of science, lower drop-out rates, etc.
The effects of Humane Education programs have not been well documented in the published literature. However, many teachers that I have spoken to about humane education and bringing animals into the classroom have said that they felt it had been a great experience for the children. Not one teacher that I have spoken to said that they thought that it was not a good idea.
Although I have not found any published research yet that specifically discusses the effects of humane education, I have found some unpublished master theses and dissertations which focus on exactly that. Theses and dissertations tend to be subjected to the highest forms of criticism and evidence some of the best research rigor. Therefore, although these studies are not published, I am fairly certain that the research is sound and the findings are credible. These studies provide empirical support for the implementation of Humane Education programs.
For example, one study conducted by Justine Tweyman-Erez (1998) examined the effects of a Humane Education curriculum on the attitudes of fourth grade students. Statistical analyses confirmed that the Humane Education curriculum changed the attitudes of the fourth grade students in the study. Furthermore, this change in attitude was found to be stable over time.
Another study conducted by Wendy Shoemake Neyer (1998) examined the impact of humane education on adolescent attitudes and knowledge towards animals and others. Her results indicated that those students who received the intervention (i.e., Humane Education program) had significantly higher knowledge scores related to humane treatment of animals as well as humans. Open-ended comments by the experimental group participants (i.e., those who received the intervention) suggested awareness, empathy, and adoption of non-violent conflict resolution techniques.
A third study conducted by Thomas Acton Fitzgerald Jr. (1980) evaluated the effectiveness of humane education. Specifically, do Humane Society Education programs result in improved attitudes toward animal life? Thomas analyzed the impact of three different humane education treatments which were examples of the traditional programs taught by local humane societies to fifth and sixth grade students. The three treatments varied in terms of reading material with no instruction, reading material with instruction, and reading material with instruction repeated over time. The results indicated that there were significant differences between the groups as a function of the treatment. Those who received reading material with instruction evidenced more humane attitudes than those without instruction and those without any training at all.
These studies are just a select few that I have chosen to briefly discuss for the sake of keeping this letter short and to the point. However, in addition to these studies I would like to point out another reason for implementing Humane Education programs. This second point relates to the correlation between animal cruelty and other behavioral/personality disorders. Research has indicated that those who are physically abusive to animals tend to be more violent than average, in general (e.g., in all domains of life). Let me give you some specific examples that support this supposition.
The Child Abuse Potential Inventory (CAP) is an instrument which is designed to measure one's potential for abusing children (Milner, 1986). This instrument has been referenced as a research tool in the abuse literature. One of the statements on this questionnaire is "I enjoy having pets" in which the person is to state whether he or she agrees or disagrees with the statement. This particular item is on the questionnaire because it has clinical significance. In other words, there is a relationship between one enjoying or liking pets and one's likelihood to be a child abuser.
Another instrument, which is intended to detect child behavioral problems, references animals. The Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 2-3 (CBCL) developed by Achenbach (1988) specifically asks if the person's child is "cruel to animals" in which the person is requested to indicate how true the statement is for his or her child (0 = not true; 1 = somewhat or sometimes true; and 2 = very true or often true). In this case the child's behavior towards animals is considered to be a valid indicator of behavioral problems which later tend to turn into conduct disorder in the teen years and antisocial disorder in the adult years.
Both of these instruments have been found to uphold high standards of reliability and validity. These instruments have been used many times as a research tool for empirical studies as well as for detecting and or predicting child behavioral problems (CBCL). It is not a coincidence that both of these instruments reference either one's view or treatment towards animals. Although these two particular questions do not in and of themselves define an adult as an abuser or a child as one that possesses behavioral disorders, they have been found to be highly related to the dependent variable (e.g., abuse or behavioral problems).
In sum, based on the unpublished research and the relationship between animal cruelty and other forms of potentially criminal behavior, I believe that aggressive and detailed Humane Education programs are not only a good idea, but they are critical! There are several societal problems that I believe can be at least partially remedied by the implementation of Humane Education programs. Some of these societal problems include, but are not limited to the following: criminal behavior towards animals and humans; weakened moral development; poor academic achievement; and disinterest in academics, particularly in the field of science.
If you would like additional information on any of the studies or instruments in which I speak of in this letter, please feel free to contact me at jeanetteshutay@msn.com.
Sincerely,The effects of Humane Education programs have not been well documented in the published literature. However, many teachers that I have spoken to about humane education and bringing animals into the classroom have said that they felt it had been a great experience for the children. Not one teacher that I have spoken to said that they thought that it was not a good idea.
Although I have not found any published research yet that specifically discusses the effects of humane education, I have found some unpublished master theses and dissertations which focus on exactly that. Theses and dissertations tend to be subjected to the highest forms of criticism and evidence some of the best research rigor. Therefore, although these studies are not published, I am fairly certain that the research is sound and the findings are credible. These studies provide empirical support for the implementation of Humane Education programs.
For example, one study conducted by Justine Tweyman-Erez (1998) examined the effects of a Humane Education curriculum on the attitudes of fourth grade students. Statistical analyses confirmed that the Humane Education curriculum changed the attitudes of the fourth grade students in the study. Furthermore, this change in attitude was found to be stable over time.
Another study conducted by Wendy Shoemake Neyer (1998) examined the impact of humane education on adolescent attitudes and knowledge towards animals and others. Her results indicated that those students who received the intervention (i.e., Humane Education program) had significantly higher knowledge scores related to humane treatment of animals as well as humans. Open-ended comments by the experimental group participants (i.e., those who received the intervention) suggested awareness, empathy, and adoption of non-violent conflict resolution techniques.
A third study conducted by Thomas Acton Fitzgerald Jr. (1980) evaluated the effectiveness of humane education. Specifically, do Humane Society Education programs result in improved attitudes toward animal life? Thomas analyzed the impact of three different humane education treatments which were examples of the traditional programs taught by local humane societies to fifth and sixth grade students. The three treatments varied in terms of reading material with no instruction, reading material with instruction, and reading material with instruction repeated over time. The results indicated that there were significant differences between the groups as a function of the treatment. Those who received reading material with instruction evidenced more humane attitudes than those without instruction and those without any training at all.
These studies are just a select few that I have chosen to briefly discuss for the sake of keeping this letter short and to the point. However, in addition to these studies I would like to point out another reason for implementing Humane Education programs. This second point relates to the correlation between animal cruelty and other behavioral/personality disorders. Research has indicated that those who are physically abusive to animals tend to be more violent than average, in general (e.g., in all domains of life). Let me give you some specific examples that support this supposition.
The Child Abuse Potential Inventory (CAP) is an instrument which is designed to measure one's potential for abusing children (Milner, 1986). This instrument has been referenced as a research tool in the abuse literature. One of the statements on this questionnaire is "I enjoy having pets" in which the person is to state whether he or she agrees or disagrees with the statement. This particular item is on the questionnaire because it has clinical significance. In other words, there is a relationship between one enjoying or liking pets and one's likelihood to be a child abuser.
Another instrument, which is intended to detect child behavioral problems, references animals. The Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 2-3 (CBCL) developed by Achenbach (1988) specifically asks if the person's child is "cruel to animals" in which the person is requested to indicate how true the statement is for his or her child (0 = not true; 1 = somewhat or sometimes true; and 2 = very true or often true). In this case the child's behavior towards animals is considered to be a valid indicator of behavioral problems which later tend to turn into conduct disorder in the teen years and antisocial disorder in the adult years.
Both of these instruments have been found to uphold high standards of reliability and validity. These instruments have been used many times as a research tool for empirical studies as well as for detecting and or predicting child behavioral problems (CBCL). It is not a coincidence that both of these instruments reference either one's view or treatment towards animals. Although these two particular questions do not in and of themselves define an adult as an abuser or a child as one that possesses behavioral disorders, they have been found to be highly related to the dependent variable (e.g., abuse or behavioral problems).
In sum, based on the unpublished research and the relationship between animal cruelty and other forms of potentially criminal behavior, I believe that aggressive and detailed Humane Education programs are not only a good idea, but they are critical! There are several societal problems that I believe can be at least partially remedied by the implementation of Humane Education programs. Some of these societal problems include, but are not limited to the following: criminal behavior towards animals and humans; weakened moral development; poor academic achievement; and disinterest in academics, particularly in the field of science.
If you would like additional information on any of the studies or instruments in which I speak of in this letter, please feel free to contact me at jeanetteshutay@msn.com.
Dr. Jeanette Shutay
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