No More Homeless Pets
Weekly News

December 5, 2004
From super adoptions to spay/neuter successes, people working together to bring about a time when there will be No More Homeless Pets.

• Amazing Animals
• Adoption News
• Spay/Neuter News
• Feral Cat News
• Fabulous Fundraisers
• In Your Communities
• International News

TOP STORY

Tacoma, Washington - Following a strategy that has met with great success in other areas, the Humane Society of Tacoma and Pierce County has announced that it will no longer perform animal control functions, and will move out of the role of using euthanasia as a method of population control. The move came after the county council slashed funding for the society by 80 percent. The group says that even before the cut, it intended to halt animal control services so it could focus its resources on spay/neuter, adoption, and education campaigns. Last year, the humane society took in about 20,000 animals, about half of whom were euthanized. Read more about this big step in the News Tribune.

AMAZING ANIMALS

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - It is a story that combines the best and worst of mankind. A Bengal cat was being tortured by four boys -- they were hurling rocks and lighted matches at her -- when a courageous 17-year-old girl came to her rescue. The girl faced down the cat's tormentors and then took the trembling three-year-old home.

The cat's injuries were horrific, however, so the girl called Philadelphia Animal Care and Control for help. Since then, the cat has recovered under a combined effort from numerous groups, including the Bengal Cat Rescue and the Alliance for Philadelphia's Animals.

Now the cat goes by the name of Sugar Raye, in tribute to her sweet nature and her indomitable spirit. In fact, the Alliance has even formed the Sugar Raye Veterinary Fund to pay her bills, and to provide grants to shelters and rescue groups to cover emergency veterinary costs for other animals. For more on this amazing cat, go to the Philadelphia Daily News. (Article is free, but registration required.)

ADOPTION NEWS

Grants, New Mexico - A dog who survived against all odds was celebrated recently at a party at the Grants/Cibola County Animal Shelter -- and the whole county was invited. Dubbed "Miracle," the neglected pit bull was found alongside a companion who had died from exposure and starvation. But Miracle fought his way back to life. The shelter celebrated the one-year anniversary of this rescue with a party with pizza, dog treats and birthday hats -- and plenty of adoptable dogs. Organizers hope the party will lead to some adoptions, and educate people about the proper care of their animals during cold conditions. Read more in the Cibola Beacon.

Hernando County, Florida - A local government TV station is helping to find homes for homeless dogs and cats this holiday season. Through December 18, Channel 19's "Home 4 the Holidays" Pet Pageant will feature animals from animal services as well as private shelters. The program is part of the nationwide "Home 4 the Holidays" campaign. Read more in Hernando Today.

SPAY/NEUTER NEWS

United States; Mexico - The Spay-Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP) has launched a Spanish website. The website aims to educate Spanish-speaking communities in the U.S. and Mexico about pet overpopulation, and to help fill the void of Spanish-language humane education materials.

FERAL CAT NEWS

Waltham, Massachusetts - Thanks to the Cat Connection, some feral cats in the Boston area can come in out of the cold, if they so desire. The organization owns 50 three-by-two-foot "houses," built by volunteers and situated on private property, and has them sprinkled around Waltham, Newton, Brighton and Cambridge. Food is used as the initial attraction, and once cats settle in, they are trapped, spayed or neutered, and then returned to the neighborhood. Read more about this lifesaving venture in the Boston Globe.

FABULOUS FUNDRAISERS

Bend, Oregon - For its 12th annual fundraiser, the Humane Society of Central Oregon has brought Santa "Paws" to town -- a Santa who caters specifically to pets. Families and their pets are invited to pose for pictures with Santa Paws, and to purchase festive holiday accessories for their four-legged friends. All proceeds go to support the humane society.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - Volunteers with the no-kill Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley are trimming "Wish Trees" and placing them in area businesses all over the region, in an attempt to raise money and draw awareness to the homeless pet problem. People can choose a photo of an animal off a tree and make a monetary donation in the animal's name, or purchase a gift for the animal at the place of business where the tree is located. All monetary donations go toward medical care of the animals. Read more in the Valley News Dispatch.

Charlotte, North Carolina - Seven-year-old Michaela Okuda knew just what she wanted for her birthday -- a big party. When her mother, Carol, agreed to host an informal party for Michaela's entire class in a local park, Michaela had one more request. The party guests were to bring dog or cat food for a local shelter in lieu of presents. The local shelter received 500 pounds of pet food as a result. And Michaela? She still received numerous presents -- and had a kitten at the shelter named after her. Read more in the Charlotte Observer.

Topeka, Kansas - The Topeka Tarantulas hockey team is extending a helping hand to the local humane society. The Tarantulas, who play in the Central Hockey League, have announced that they will hold Helping Hands Humane Society Night on December 16, during a game against the Wichita Thunder. A portion of proceeds will go to the humane society. In addition, players will appear at PETCO and PETsMART to try to increase adoptions in the weeks leading up to the game. Read more on Our Sports Central.

IN YOUR COMMUNITIES

Stanislaus County, California - A second county animal-control facility in California may face suit for violating the state's laws requiring a minimum four-day holding period before euthanasia. The director of the Stanislaus County animal-control facility has admitted that owner-surrendered pets are sometimes killed on the day of arrival, in violation of the state's Hayden Law. An animal advocate has been quite successful in a similar suit filed in Kern County, winning injunctions against the county for immediate enforcement of several humane laws. Read more in the Modesto Bee.

Kansas City, Missouri - Inmates at the Lansing Correctional Facility in Kansas City have put their time served to good use, rescuing dogs through the prison's Safe Harbor program. To date some 150 dogs have been rescued from euthanasia through the program. The dogs receive training from the prisoners to overcome behavior problems and then are put up for adoption. Learn more in the Kansas City Star.

Winston-Salem, North Carolina - A new program is good news not only for the elderly, disabled and poor of Forsyth County, but also for their pets. Called AniMeals, the program promises free pet food to those who have difficulty providing a proper diet for their pets. The Forsyth County Animal Control Department has teamed up with Meals on Wheels to establish the unique program, which will deliver meals for the pets at the same time as their human companions. More on this venture can be found in the News Observer.

INTERNATIONAL

Galatzi, Romania - The no-kill ROLDA shelter seeks to aid and protect the estimated 14,000 stray dogs wandering around the city of Galatzi, Romania. The organization conducts spay/neuter clinics, keeps the dogs in its shelter until they recuperate from surgery, and then releases and feeds them. The shelter also keeps dogs for adoption and provides a permanent home to dogs with disabilities or illnesses. The group, which has received support from several U.S. organizations, was called the best shelter in Eastern Europe in the May 2004 issue of Animal People.