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Puppy-mill operators should pay for sick animals
A Skagit County judge should compel the owners of an massive puppy mill operation that was uncovered by investigators to pay for the costs of the hundreds of animals rescued from the operation.
SKAGIT County prosecutors were right to ask a Superior Court judge to force two people charged in a massive puppy-mill operation to post bonds for the animals’ care — and the owners should.
The judge should agree and compel the defendants to help clean up the mess they made.
Cash-strapped animal shelters should not have to bear all the costs of caring for the hundreds of sick and diseased puppies seized during raids last month.
Some 600 dogs were rescued from two homes in Snohomish and Skagit counties and since then, local shelters and animal advocates have scrambled to provide care. About 80 percent of the dogs were pregnant and some have required costly medical treatment. Donations and a community fundraiser have helped, but the costs go beyond puppy chow.
The animal shelter in Skagit County has incurred $30,000 in expenses so far for the 70 dogs in its care.
A mass adopt-a-thon would ease shelter budgets and offer the puppies respite from the hell they’ve been through. Indeed, animal shelters ought to be the starting place for any would-be pet owner. But for now, the puppies remain evidence in a criminal trial. Technically, they are still the property of their owner while the case is adjudicated.
That could be awhile. Meanwhile, expenses mount. Dogs kept in cramped, unsanitary conditions tend to have health and socialization problems that could cost plenty to resolve.
A glimpse of what is faced by the puppies and those who care for them can be see through the eyes of Ruth Brombaugh. The elderly widow answered a classified ad and envisioned the Yorkshire terrier she purchased as a healthy, good companion and one who would alert her to strangers.
Instead, she ended up with nearly $1,200 in veterinary bills for a dog that was deaf, couldn’t bark and had to undergo a cesarean section to deliver two stillborn puppies.
Charging papers show similar complaints date back to the late 1990s. Someone ought to pay. The judge should start with the defendants.
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Local shelter implements new adoption program
Meet Your Match enables staff at the Lewis Clark Animal Shelter to match dogs to the best family.
Published: 02/18/2009
Harry got to meet Sally, now you can meet your match.
Not a typical partner, but a dog.
For nearly a year, those who want to adopt a dog have had the choice of choosing a pet based on a character match at the Lewis Clark Animal Shelter.
The Meet Your Match Canine-ality adoption program, started by The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, is designed to increase the likelihood that shelter dogs bond with their adopters and are accepted as part of the family.
Jerry Varner, director of operations for the Lewis Clark Animal Shelter, said each dog is assessed on its canine-ality with five tests – friendliness, playfulness, energy level, motivation and drive.
The canine-ality assessment places dogs in one of three color-coded groups that represent the dog’s persistence. For example, dogs that fall in one particular category may be a wallflower, a busy bee or a goofball.
“After the dogs are profiled, it’s time for potential parents to take a survey too,” Varner said.
Donna Duffau, the kennel manager at the Lewis Clark Animal Shelter, said interested clients are Read more
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LETTER: Use care when introducing new pets
February 03, 2009 6:00 AM
Use care when introducing
new pets
The purpose of this letter is to offer a reply to Editor Bob Unger regarding his Jan. 25 column, "Doggone good advice for the First Family." I work for the Worcester Animal Rescue League, and Mr. Unger did in fact adopt a dog named Bear from our shelter on Jan. 10.
On Jan. 20, I received a call explaining that the family was having a difficult time introducing Bear to their cat, Larry. Bear was apparently taking every chance he had to chase the cat. Never during the course of adoption did the shelter sugarcoat the fact that this would be a difficult transition. I explained that the shelter would be able to extend their trial period with Bear to one month, provided that the family work daily on this issue. I further explained that a situation like this could potentially take several months to work out, if at all. The fact that the dog was listed as a retriever mix is in fact accurate. And there is always a possibility that the mix is with a hound.
The Ungers loved Bear already, and were willing to take the advice I offered when I referred them to the following Web site: http://www.canismajor.com/dog/dogscats.html. This Web site detailed several effective ways to train a dog with a high prey drive to live peacefully with cats. With the extreme vigilance of the owner, over time, it is usually possible to stop a dog from chasing a cat. Never did the article suggest leaving the two animals unattended. In fact, it specifically stated not to do so. The instructions explained how to manufacture a situation in which the family was Read more
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Stop Puppy Mills Now!
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