January 2010

Brandy’s an 11-year-old American Bobtail mix with gorgeous calico markings. She has some special needs, but this elder gal has a heart of gold and will return the favor a thousand times over with gentle affection.

“Brandy's a BIG, beautiful girl!” says ASPCA Senior Feline Behavior Counselor Katie Watts. “Despite her rather large size and senior status, she's still got a playful, goofy side. She loves her toy mice, but after a nice play session, she'd appreciate a fellow couch potato to lounge around with. She's an all-around terrific cat with looks and personality to match!”

If you’re interested in adopting this fine wine of a feline, please contact our Animal Placement department at (212) 876-7700, ext. 4120. To see other animals looking for homes, visit our Adoption Center online.

Jeff Eyre, the Northeast Director of the ASPCA Field Investigations and Response Team, is currently on the ground in Haiti, assisting with animal relief efforts following the devastating earthquake that struck the region on January 12. The ASPCA is a member of the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH), headed by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), which has deployed a team of experts to bring direct aid to the animals affected by the crisis. With limited communication in and out of the area, the following is the first in a series of field reports from Jeff on the frontlines.

Arrived in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and met with local ARCH member Sodo Prieca. They have a base camp set up within the embassy compound. Security is tight with both local state and federal presence. This compound is patrolled by U.N. troops.

We were able to secure a third vehicle through IFAW—in a three-vehicle convoy, re-checking specific areas for any recurring issues. We then split into two patrols. Our team then proceeded to the American Embassy for a meeting.

After this meeting, we proceeded to the U.N. logistics base and made a supply pick-up.

Community is strong and accepting our presence with our local partners, showing the awareness and empathy needed for an integration of animal and humane needs.

Saw five cows, four goats, chickens—who also come to meals with us—a couple of pigs and some street dogs—average condition. Will check in again…

If you would like to support the animal welfare relief efforts in Haiti, please direct your donations to IFAW or WSPA.

Stephanie Heaney of Manhattan met the mysterious black kitty formerly known as Oscar during her first visit to the ASPCA Adoption Center. “I met Oscar in the first habitat I entered,” she explains. “He was lying around, looking cute and watching us as we met the other cats in the room.”

The cat’s calm, confident demeanor spoke volumes—Oscar knew he was the one, and just sat back graciously until his future pet parent realized the same. It didn’t take long, and on October 6, Stephanie officially adopted the two-year-old feline and welcomed him into her home.

The proud new pet parent renamed her fur kid Dorian after the titular character of Oscar Wilde’s novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, because, she says, “He's beautiful and everyone loves him—even when he is a little nuisance, he still gets what he wants.”  

Like his hedonistic namesake, Dorian loves to play and is exceptionally gifted at finding cozy places to rest his furry head. “He plays and runs around freely,” says Stephanie, “and sleeps curled up against my legs at night.”

He also has what some might say is an unusually strong penchant for ping pong balls. Says Stephanie: “He can entertain himself with the ball for hours. He also burrows his head under your hands—no matter where they are—if he wants you to play or pet him.”

“He is the sweetest and most loving cat,” Stephanie muses. “He definitely makes everyone in my home happy and has a personality that makes us laugh every day.”

She adds: “We love having a cuddly cat around—he is truly our baby!”

On Sunday, January 24, under the authority and request of the City of Clarksdale, MS, the ASPCA dispatched members of its Field Investigations and Response Team to assist in the removal of more than 400 cats and dogs from the City of Clarksdale Animal Shelter.

aspca senior director of field investigations and response, tim rickey, tends to some of the dogs found on site.

Early Sunday morning, ASPCA responders led the effort to remove the animals from the site. The animals, housed in deplorable and overcrowded conditions, were suffering from obvious neglect—including medical conditions such as mange, as well as injuries and bite wounds as a result of living in overcrowded cages. A team of local veterinarians conducted exams on each animal and triaged any immediate needs. The animals were transported to a temporary shelter set up in a nearby location.

"What we've found are more than 400 animals living in a space designed for about 60," says Tim Rickey, ASPCA Senior Director of Field Investigations and Response. "We are making sure that the animals' immediate needs are being met, and all animals are being evaluated by a veterinarian and will receive appropriate care."

kristen limbert, a member of the aspca field investigations and response team, aids some of the cats found in the city of clarksdale animal shelter.

The ASPCA will also provide the local organizations with the tools, resources and guidance needed to help improve conditions at the City of Clarksdale Animal Shelter. Rickey says, "It appears that this is a situation where the intake of unwanted animals was much higher than the number of animals being adopted, and it led to horrible living conditions. We are glad to be able to provide relief."

The ASPCA is extremely grateful to the shelters and organizations that are aiding in the rescue and housing of these animals. The animals will eventually be made available for adoption with the help of Petfinder.com.

Read more about the ASPCA Field Investigations and Response Team and our rescue efforts here.

Attention, animal lovers! Tune in to Animal Planet today, January 25, at 10:00 P.M. (ET/PT) for the world premiere of a documentary about organized dog fighting. In this special edition of Animal Planet Investigates, two undercover agents take you deep inside the disturbing subculture of dog fighting’s hardcore criminals and their four-legged victims. Using undercover and investigative footage, the show examines specific cases in Ohio, Texas, Georgia, Michigan and New York to demonstrate the diversity and depravity of this cruel blood sport.

Two of the ASPCA’s experts in animal cruelty, Dr. Melinda Merck and Dr. Randall Lockwood, who were instrumental in the conviction of a certain high profile dog fighter—NFL quarterback Michael Vick—are also featured in the show. Dr. Merck joined the ASPCA in 2007 as a forensic veterinarian, and now serves as Senior Director of Veterinary Forensics in Anti-Cruelty. She frequently testifies as a forensic veterinary expert for animal cruelty cases across the country. Dr. Lockwood is currently Senior Vice President of ASPCA Anti-Cruelty Field Services. For more than 25 years, he has worked with humane societies and law-enforcement agencies, serving as an expert on the interactions between people and animals. He has testified in numerous trials involving cruelty to animals, including dog fighting, child abuse, domestic violence and homicide.

Dog fighting is now banned throughout the United States—in fact, it is a felony in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Those convicted of federal animal fighting charges face up to five years in prison. For more information about dog fighting, please visit ASPCA.org, and don’t forget to tune in to Animal Planet tonight!

Nothing compares 2 sweet Prince, a rambunctious young thing with a handsome face and an irresistible brindle body. He first arrived at the ASPCA with an irreparable elbow fracture that resulted in the removal of his left leg. But it doesn’t affect his sunny mood—or his irresistible thirst for action-packed fun!

Since this fetching fella can sometimes play rough, he would thrive best in a home without young children or small animals. If you’re interested in adopting this precocious pooch, please call our Animal Placement department at (212) 876-7700, ext. 4120. Or to view other animals looking for homes, visit our Adoption Center online.

From planning pet-friendly vacations to spending oodles of money on toys and treats, most people consider their pets members of the family. Unfortunately, when it comes to domestic violence, pets are also deemed part of the family unit and forced to suffer in silence at the hands of abusers. Some studies estimate that 88% of companion animals living in households where domestic violence occurs are routinely threatened, harmed or even killed.

In cases of spousal, child or elder abuse, a beloved family pet can become a pawn for an abuser who is willing to injure or kill the animal as a form of revenge, to create isolation, or to intimidate his or her victims. ASPCA Special Agents often witness this trend firsthand. "We see a connection between animal abuse and domestic violence all the time," says Special Investigator Diane DiGiacomo. "For example, we'll go out and investigate a complaint of animal abuse and find that the children have already been removed from the home or that the suspect has a history of spousal abuse."

Studies also show that 50% of domestic violence victims delay seeking help for fear that an abuser will harm a pet. Furthermore, most domestic violence shelters are simply not set up to accommodate companion animals—however, in recent years, animal “safe haven” programs, which provide foster care for pets in domestic violence situations, are becoming more common in cities across the country. And at least 11 states have enacted legislation to allows pets to be included in domestic violence-related orders of protection. This means a court can order an abuser to stay away from an animal or impose other conditions to protect the pet's safety—violations could result in arrest.

To learn more about the link between domestic violence and animal cruelty, or to find out how you can lobby for stronger legislation to protect animal victims of domestic violence, visit ASPCA.org. If you or your pet is a victim of a violent crime, please call 911 or your local law enforcement.

Is your pooch mad for people food? Does your kitty like to self-medicate? Sadly, not everything we love is good for us. In fact, many common household goods that we take for granted as harmless can poison our furry friends. In 2009, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center in Urbana, IL, handled more than 140,000 cases of pets exposed to toxic household substances, including insecticides, cleaning supplies and prescription medications.

To help you keep your pet safe and sound in 2010, our experts have created a list of the 10 common poisons that most affected our furry friends last year. Here’s a sneak peek at their advice:

• Top dishonors—once again—go to human medications, which accounted for the most calls to the ASPCA’s 24-hour poison control hotline in 2009. Pets often snatch pill vials from counters and nightstands or gobble up meds accidentally dropped on the floor. Remember to keep all medications, including pain remedies, antidepressants and decongestants, in a cabinet far away from pets’ prying paws.
• Cats and dogs are often the unwitting victims of our efforts to battle flea infestations. The misapplication of spot-on flea and tick products can be especially problematic for our feline friends. Talk to your vet about choosing the right, species-specific flea treatment for your pet and never use products made for dogs on cats, and vice versa.
• Some of the most delicious people food—including citrus, avocado and raisins—can be poisonous to pets. Chocolate ingestion accounted for nearly half of all people food-related cases in 2009, so be sure to keep cocoa hidden from your resourceful cat or dog.
• Pet parents also need to remember to protect their cats and dogs from common household cleaners such as bleaches, detergents and disinfectants. These products, when inhaled by our furry friends, can cause serious gastrointestinal distress and irritation to the respiratory tract.
• Household plants may keep your house green and your air clean, but some can cause serious gastrointestinal problems for companion animals who nibble on them. Check out our toxic plant list before your next visit to the nursery.

As always, if you suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, please call your vet or the ASPCA’s 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435.

ASPCA emergency responders and veterinarians were in Brooklyn, NY, this morning to intervene in a hoarding situation in which 37 cats and kittens were living in a one-bedroom apartment. The cats’ owner, whose name has not been released, cooperated fully with the ASPCA before and during the operation. She relinquished ownership of 35 felines, opting to keep only her original two cats.

Tim Rickey, ASPCA Senior Director of Field Investigation and Response, reports that the cats’ owner was not abusive and tried to care for all of her pets, but became overwhelmed by their out-of-control breeding.

All 37 cats were transferred to a staging area at Brooklyn Animal Care & Control (AC&C), where the ASPCA Mobile Clinic was on site to sterilize the two cats who were going to go back to the apartment and medically evaluate the others. Most of the cats appear to be in good health and were dewormed, deloused, vaccinated and implanted with microchip IDs.

After triage at AC&C was completed, the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals provided transport for the 35 relinquished cats to its various partner organizations around the city, where they will be cared for and eventually be made available for adoption. Participating shelters, aside from the ASPCA, include:

• Animal Haven
• A Tail at a Time
• City Critters
• Social Tees
• Friendly Ferals
• The Humane Society of New York
• Bideawee
• KittyKind
• North Shore Animal League
• AnimalKind

“The cats will receive complete medical exams and behavior evaluations before they go up for adoption,” says Rickey. “The collaboration among all of the participating groups, including the Mayor’s Alliance and AC&C, helped make this operation run smoothly. We were fortunate to be able to accommodate these animals, and getting them to shelters as soon as possible gives them the best chance for placement in a new home.”

Please contact these shelters directly or stay tuned to the ASPCA Blog for updates.

Here are some photos from today’s intervention:  

On January 11, ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement (HLE) received a tip from the New York City Police Department (NYPD) that a Manhattan woman was caught on video kicking and leash-choking her nine-pound dog. The incident occurred in the Grant Houses in Morningside Heights, the same public housing project where surveillance video captured an unrelated dog beating only two weeks prior.

At approximately 2:00 A.M. on Sunday, the NYPD's in-elevator surveillance system captured Tiara Davis beating Sparky, her four-year-old Pomeranian. The 31-year-old apparently lost her temper after Sparky urinated on the elevator floor. The video clearly shows Davis punching, kicking and swinging the small dog by his neck until he blacked out. PLEASE NOTE that the video footage is of a graphic and violent nature and is not suitable for all viewers. Viewer discretion is advised. The video can be seen here.

After consulting with the NYPD, HLE Special Agents Omar Negrillo and Brad English visited the scene, where the suspect, who works as a vocational counselor for ex-offenders, told them she never meant to hurt the dog. Davis cooperated by signing custody of Sparky over to the ASPCA and he was immediately brought to the ASPCA Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital for a medical evaluation.

Tiara was subsequently arrested and charged with torturing and injuring an animal, a misdemeanor. Sparky is currently recovering at the ASPCA hospital.

"The ASPCA is pleased that NYPD is diligently examining security footage with a focus on protecting both people and their pets," says Stacy Wolf, Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel for the Humane Law Enforcement department. "Prompt police reaction here enabled the ASPCA to apprehend the abuser."

If you know of an animal whose health is being compromised by neglect or abuse, please report it. Visit our Report Cruelty FAQ to learn how to report cruelty in your neighborhood.

Last week, the ASPCA welcomed 15 jet-setting Chihuahuas from San Francisco, CA, to its headquarters in Manhattan. It turns out that animal shelters in the Golden State are bursting at the seams with the wee little breed, and we are more than happy to help!  If you live near New York City, you're welcome to meet all the pups starting this Wednesday, January 13, at noon. In the meantime, here's a sneak peek at five of the cheeky, California canines.

Maximus

Teeny, tiny Maximus is only two months old, but he's already comfortable in front of the camera. He just wants to be held. (Don't we all!) Though he looks like he could fit easily in your pocket, this little guy needs special care from an adopter who enjoys the challenges of raising a puppy.

Colette

One of our golden girls at seven years old, Colette is the elder statespooch of the Cali Chihuahuas. She has a funny grin that will keep you smiling for hours of cuddly couch time. Irresistible and unflappable, this love bug will make a stellar pet for any small apartment-dwelling, Big Apple resident. 

Orlando

Orlando is a handsome, hunk of Chihuahua with a calm and collected demeanor. At five years old, this peaceful pup has supremely floppy ears and a face that would launch a thousand ships. Plus, he gets along great with his West Coast brothers and sisters. Surely he would make nice with a Yankee pooch, too.

Holly

Heartbreaker Holly is still a baby at one year old, and loves to cuddle and kiss her human friends. She has shiny black fur and precious white tips at the end of her 10 wee toes. This little lady would make the perfect addition to a caring family seeking some four-legged devotion. 

Jeb

Jeb has more character in one tiny paw than many have in their entire furry bodies. At two years old and with an alluring underbite, he likes to "chat" with his Chihuahua neighbors at the ASPCA. Jeb would thrive with an adopter who has time to give him the attention and affection he deserves.

For more information about adopting a lil' pooch of your own, please visit ASPCA.org or call our special Operation Chihuahua hotline at (212) 876-7700, ext. 3210. 

The new year offers a fresh start to develop good habits—and here at the ASPCA, we think it's only appropriate to focus on the four-legged members of the family. What can you do, pet parents, to make this year a great one for your furry pals? What about a resolution to brush your cat every week or a promise to extend your pooch's play time? Whatever you choose, resolutions aimed at making your pets happier and healthier can add years to their lives, fun to their days and much joy to your home. Check out our most popular pet resolutions for 2011!

Check-Up Time
You go to the doctor regularly—and so should your pet. This year, give your veterinarian the chance to notice any developing illnesses and the opportunity to take care of them right away. If it's been a year or more since your pet has seen a vet, make that appointment today!

Protect Their Pearly Whites
Does your pet have morning breath—all day long? Your cat or dog may need dental care. Pledge to check your pet's teeth and gums at least once a week, and ask your vet to show you how you can prevent dental disease by brushing regularly.

Shake It Up!
We all could use a bit more movement in our lives—make a resolution to shake it up with your pets! Healthy adult dogs need at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise twice a day—jogging, swimming and playing at the dog park are all great options. Get kitty fit with rousing play sessions of chase and fetch with furry toys, small balls or toy mice.

Battle the Bulge
Pets depend on us to regulate their nutrition and activity levels. It's important to follow strict feeding guidelines, since overweight pets face increased health risks. This year, vow to lay off those table scraps and consider switching to a well-balanced, high-quality pet food.

Poison-Proof Your Home
With various dangers lurking in corners and cabinets, the home can be a minefield of poisons for our pets. Don't leave it up to Fido or Fluffy to keep themselves safe. Resolve to make your home a safe place for your pets.

Get a New Look!
In 2011, give your pet the gift of glam! A regular grooming regimen will make your pet feel proud, pampered and healthy. Take a peek at our easy grooming tips for dogs and cats.

IDs, Please
Keep 'em close to your heart by outfitting all of your animal companions—even indoor-only pets—with an ID tag. Implanted microchips are also a smart option, but keep in mind that microchips are only as good as the information provided to the chip's company, so keep your contact info up-to-date!

For more information about keeping your furry pals happy and healthy in 2011, please visit the ASPCA's complete guide to pet care.

On January 6, the ASPCA Adoption Center welcomed 15 Chihuahuas who flew from California to the Big Apple in search of new forever homes. The dogs originated from the City of San Francisco Animal Care & Control, and their in-cabin transportation was donated by Virgin Airlines. After some post-travel rest and relaxation, the tiny pups will be made available for adoption next week at the ASPCA in Manhattan.

Over the past year, California shelters have seen a dramatic increase in Chihuahua intakes—this toy breed now makes up more than 30% of the state’s shelter dog population. While demand for Chihuahuas has declined in much of the Golden State, their popularity in New York City is as high as ever.

"They're portable, and people like portability in the city," said Gail Buchwald, Senior Vice President for the ASPCA Adoption Center in New York City. Aside from easily fitting in a carrier for a subway ride, their small size is ideal for living in compact apartments.

Gail adds: “We are glad to be given this opportunity to help New Yorkers get the small dogs they want, and at the same time, help find loving homes for San Francisco’s homeless animals.”

The dogs will be available for viewing at the ASPCA Adoption Center on Wednesday, January 13, between the hours of noon and 7:00 P.M. Adoption fees will range from $75 to $200, and include all medical and behavioral treatments, vaccinations, spay/neuter surgery and a microchip.

For additional information, please visit ASPCA.org or call our special “Operation Chihuahua” hotline at (212) 876-7700, ext. 3210.