March 2010

Spring has sprung, and with the change of season, our thoughts inevitably turn to Easter celebrations, spring cleaning and much-needed home improvement projects. But the new balmy weather can prove not-so-sunny for curious pets—or their unwitting parents. Before you embark on seasonal chores or outdoor revelry, take inventory of potential springtime hazards for your delicate, furry friend. To help you out, our ASPCA experts have come up with a few seasonal tips that will help prevent mishaps or misfortunes.

Here’s a sneak peek at Springtime Safety Tips for Pets:

• Easter Treats and Decorations
  Keep Easter lilies and candy bunnies in check—chocolate goodies are toxic to cats, dogs and ferrets, and lilies can be fatal if ingested by our feline friends. While bunnies, chicks and other festive animals are adorable, resist the urge to buy—these cute babies grow up fast and often require specialized care!
   
• Buckle Up!
  Dogs love good weather, too! But allowing them to ride in the beds of pick-up trucks or stick their heads out of car windows is downright dangerous. Abrupt stops or turns can cause major injury, or worse! Pets in cars should always be secured in a crate or wearing a seatbelt harness designed especially for them.
   
• Home Improvement 101
  Products such as paints, mineral spirits and solvents can be toxic to your pets and cause severe irritation or chemical burns. Carefully read all labels to see if the product is safe to use around your furry friends. It may be wise to confine your dog or cat to a designated pet-friendly room during home improvement projects.
   
• Ah-Ah-Achoo!
  Like their sneezy human counterparts, pets can be allergic to dust, plants and pollens. Allergic reactions in dogs and cats can cause minor sniffling as well as life-threatening anaphylactic shock. If your pet suffers from a springtime allergy, please visit your veterinarian.

Read our complete article Springtime Safety Tips for Pets, and enjoy a safe and sunny season.

On March 29, Bay County Sheriff investigators arrested 52-year-old Margaret Fowler, charging the Florida woman with felony animal cruelty for allegedly using a mallet to beat a neighbor's cat to death.

Fowler, a licensed veterinarian who runs an acupuncture and holistic vet service out of her home, had been spotted by a neighbor hammering a cat several times with what appeared to be a mallet. The witness told investigators she saw Fowler carry the cat across the yard by the tail and drop it by the fence separating the two homes. When Fowler returned to her house, the witness approached the cat, recognizing the animal as belonging to her own live-in boyfriend.

When questioned by authorities, Fowler denied any wrongdoing. She claimed the cat appeared to have been hit by a car and had pulled itself into her yard—she merely tapped the body with her foot to confirm death.

Helping to make the case was Dr. Melinda Merck, the ASPCA's leading forensics veterinarian, who performed a necropsy on the battered feline. Merck's report concluded that the cat was not hit by a car but instead beaten to death with a round, blunt object. She further ruled the cause of death was internal bleeding due to blunt force trauma to the head and abdomen.

"This incident is particularly unsettling," says ASPCA Senior Vice President of Anti-Cruelty, Matt Bershadker. "We are glad to have been able to provide assistance and that the criminal justice system is handling this case with the seriousness it deserves."

If you know of an animal who is being hurt, please report it. Visit our Report Cruelty FAQ to learn how.

As more and more Americans turn to the Web to find the pet of their dreams, scams have skyrocketed as criminals seek to take advantage of unsuspecting pet parents. According to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, hundreds of complaints are filed each year by victims who were conned when attempting to buy a dog online.

One potential pet parent, Diane, was hoping to add a Yorkshire Terrier puppy to her family when she spotted a classified ad in her local paper. “It was over my morning coffee that I saw the perfect ad for a Yorkie named Nancy,” says Diane, who lives near Cleveland, OH. She sent an email to the address listed, and immediately received a response—Diane could have the puppy if she promised her a loving home and sent $500 to cover the shipping fees.

“I corresponded for an entire week with this man who claimed to be a missionary,” Diane explains. Diane sent the requested payment via Western Union, but once she sent the code for the money transfer, she never heard from the “pastor” again.

Like many trusting animal lovers, Diane fell victim to one of many “free to good home” scams currently circulating the Internet and classified sections of newspapers. So how do you avoid persuasive cons and still get the dog of your dreams? The ASPCA recommends never buying a dog you haven’t met in person and always check references. Also, keep in mind that adoption is still the best option, even if you have your heart set on a purebred dog. There are thousands of dogs waiting for good homes at local animal shelters, including purebreds! Please help others avoid being cheated by emailing your puppy scam story to dogstory@aspca.org.  

On March 16, under the authority and request of the SPCA Serving Erie County (NY) members of the ASPCA Field Investigations and Response Team were dispatched to assist in the sheltering management and care of 73 horses seized from what is believed to be the area's largest farm animal rescue ever. More than 100 animals—including 53 cats and four dogs—were found living in deplorable and extremely unsanitary conditions on a farm in East Aurora, NY.

aspca field investigation and response team member, kyle held, comforts one of the rescued horses.

"Our goal is to help the SPCA Serving Erie County rehabilitate these horses, both physically and behaviorally," says Jeff Eyre, ASPCA Northeast Director of Field Investigations and Response. "We are glad to be able to provide support to the SPCA and the Erie County community."

For the horses' extended care, the ASPCA will grant $10,000 to the SPCA Serving Erie County and has provided them with a livestock trailer for transport. The Field Investigations and Response Team, as well as ASPCA staff skilled in horse handling, will be on hand to feed, water and clean the animals' for the next two to three weeks. Members of the American Humane Association have also been recruited to assist in the animals care. The ASPCA has contacted local veterinarians to provide pro-bono veterinary exams for the horses. The cats and dogs are being cared for at the SPCA's Tonawanda shelter.

aspca team members evaluate one of the rescued horses.

"So many people have been emotionally affected by this case—not just SPCA staff and volunteers, but hundreds of members of the community who are communicating with us through phone calls, e-mails and letters," says SPCA Executive Director Barbara Carr. "The fact that the ASPCA has stepped in with such an extreme level of assistance and care for these beautiful animals is overwhelming. It will make a difference not only in the lives of the horses, but in the minds of everyone involved."  

Stay tuned for the latest information about the rescued animals and for information on how you can report cruelty, please visit ASPCA.org.

April is just around the corner, animal lovers, and you know what that means: Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month! The ASPCA Online Store has all the best orange gear (and other cool stuff!) lined up for you and your furry friend to "go orange" this April.

The Go Orange Kit One-stop shopping, this bundle includes an orange ASPCA logo t-shirt (choose your size), an orange dog bandanna and five orange silicone wristbands. Order soon-this kit is 20% off for a limited time.

Will Fight for Animals Cap Enhance your orange gear with a fashionable cap. This version is embroidered on the front with "Will Fight for Animals," and comes in gray and light blue.

Pewter Initial Engravable Tag This adorable new pet tag is available in all 26 letters, five colors and three sizes. For a small additional charge, get your contact info engraved on the back to keep your pet safe.

Squeaker Mat Your squeaky toy-loving pooch will think this is the greatest invention ever. These stuffed plush mats have 16 squeakers inside for hours of noisy fun!

Asher is a tender, nine-year-old feline, who’s sweet as candy and twice as nice. This gentle guy is just plain good company for those who like to keep things on the quiet side.

“Asher is one of the sweetest cats you will ever meet,” says Katie Watts, ASPCA Senior Feline Behavior Counselor. “He's very laid-back and affectionate, perfect for someone who wants to curl up and cuddle for hours!”

Handsome Asher enjoys the company of other cats, but he’s FIV positive and should only live with other felines if they’re positive, too. If you’re interested in adopting this lovely lad, please contact our Animal Placement department at (212) 876-7700, ext. 4120. To see other animals looking for homes, visit our Adoption Center online.

On the evening of Monday, March 22, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will host its annual “elephant walk” through Manhattan to Madison Square Garden. The Asian elephants will disembark the circus train in Queens and walk into Manhattan through the Midtown Tunnel, then across 34th Street to Madison Square Garden. MSG is hosting the circus from March 25 through April 4.

Although the sheer oddity of seeing elephants walking our city streets compels many to stay out late to watch the spectacle, the ASPCA would like to remind New Yorkers of the inherent cruelty of circus life for wild animals. The abuse of elephants by the Ringling Bros. circus has been caught on tape by animal welfare organizations and documented by state humane agencies and U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors.

To attend the elephant walk is to endorse Ringling’s ongoing mistreatment of these intelligent, sensitive and endangered creatures. We urge compassionate people to avoid this event—as well as the circus itself, which subjects its animal performers to inhumane training methods and unnatural periods of confinement.  

Instead, we ask that you:

• Talk to your friends and family, especially your children, about why you will not be attending the elephant walk or the Ringling Bros. circus. Check out our list of cruelty-free circuses—ones that don’t feature animal performers.
• Write to management at Madison Square Garden: feedback.msg@thegarden.com and let them know that by hosting Ringling Bros., they are supporting cruelty to animals.
• Contact local newspapers, blogs and television stations to inform them about the cruelty inflicted on circus animals.
• Fight animal exploitation and abuse by taking the ASPCA’s Pledge to Fight Animal Cruelty.

To learn more about circus cruelty, please visit ASPCA.org/circus.

Homer is a polar bear of a pooch who’s eager to please his two- and four-legged friends. A quick study, he’s searching for a pet parent with a big heart and a good sense of humor, one happy to cuddle at home or frolic in the park.

Homer was returned to the ASPCA after three years, when his pet parents were forced to give up their pooch due to a new policy banning certain breeds and large dogs in NYC public housing. But like so many others affected by the new regulations, Homer is a loyal goofball who just wants a stable home.

If you’re interested in adopting this special 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.

 

When a tip came in about the suspected abuse of a Bulldog pup named Spike, our Humane Law Enforcement Department took immediate action. Working hard to make New York City a safer place for its four-legged inhabitants, our Agents often rely on the brave and swift actions of concerned citizens who report acts of animal cruelty.

To learn more about Spike's case please check out the New York Daily News story.

We will provide additional updates on Spike here at aspca.org as they become available.

On Monday, the ASPCA announced the Million Dollar Rescuing Racers Initiative to help rescue retired racehorses from neglect, abuse and slaughter. The two-to-three year initiative, which was made possible by a generous donor, involves six equine rescue groups and sanctuaries that have accepted the challenge of saving more thoroughbreds than ever before.

While healthy, well cared-for horses live an average of 18 to 25 years (and often much longer), a racing horse’s career generally lasts only one or two years. “Racing thoroughbreds rarely live out their final days in peace and comfort when their careers are over,” says ASPCA President & CEO Ed Sayres. “Too often, they end up at auctions—or worse, are sent to foreign slaughterhouses where their lives come to brutal ends. These grants will give organizations devoted to equine rescue the ability to save more horses and further advance their missions.”

The six grant recipients are: California Equine Retirement Foundation in Winchester, CA; Old Friends in Georgetown, KY; MidAtlantic Horse Rescue in Chesapeake City, MD; Kentucky Equine Humane Center in Lexington, KY; Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation headquartered in Saratoga Springs, NY, with contracted housing in 14 states; and Communication Alliance to Network Thoroughbred Ex-Racehorses (CANTER) in East Lansing, MI, with chapters in eight states. These recipients will use the grants to expand direct intake programs, incorporate physical therapy/rehabilitation programs, renovate facilities to accommodate more horses, create voucher programs to increase adoptions, and implement training programs for thoroughbreds to prepare them for second careers.

“The ASPCA truly values each group’s steadfast efforts to promote equine welfare,” says Jacque Schultz, Senior Director of ASPCA Community Outreach. “The thoroughbred that has given his all on the racetrack deserves to live out his life free of pain, fear and suffering.” For more information about helping horses and preventing equine cruelty, please visit ASPCA.org.

When King first arrived at the ASPCA, he was in rough shape. The elder pooch had been seized by ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement officers in September 2007, and suffered from an ear infection, hip dysplasia and various symptoms of neglect. After rest and treatment, he was eventually made available for adoption. Ashely Santana of New York, NY, was the lucky parent who fell for this big boy’s undeniable charm. We recently caught up with Ashely, who sent us a note detailing King’s happy adjustment to life in his cozy, new home—he even loves his kitty siblings!

In September 2008, I became an employee of the ASPCA—little did I know I would end up adopting a great dog about two weeks later! King, an adult Rottweiler, had been at the Adoption Center for some time and had become a staff favorite.

The second I saw him I knew he was meant to be mine, but my family wasn't sure about adopting a dog who was so big. I brought in my Miniature Poodle, Phoenix, to meet King, and the two got along great.

Now over a year later, King lives with Phoenix and two cats, including a kitten with whom he plays all day. He is a neighborhood favorite, especially with my landlord, who says he feels safer knowing King is watching out for the house. No longer the reserved Rottweiler I first met, King loves everyone he meets and even plays with babies!

I am so thankful to the ASPCA for helping me adopt the most amazing dog and for all the help and advice over the last year. King has found his forever home, and I couldn't imagine my life without him.