Author: SPCAI Staff

SPCAI Protests Abuse in Barcelona

by SPCAI Staff
By Meredith Ayan, Executive Director On June 13th, 2015 we joined our partner organizations, SOS Galgos and C.R.E.L. in Barcelona to march through the streets to protest the cruel practice of using Greyhounds for hare coursing. The march began at Tanatoria de Sancho de Avila (cemetery) as a symbol of the thousands of dogs that die each year from this practice. The crowd was over 500 people strong as we chanted and marched through the streets of downtown Barcelona. The destination was the government building in downtown where protestors staged a peaceful sit in. We laid flat on the pavement so the Greyhounds that marched with us could be seen. We marched to be a voice for these dogs and their right not to be subjected to this cruel treatment that is deemed “tradition”. SPCA International collected hundreds of new signatures for a petition, already 69,000 strong, that will be presented to the United Nations and European Union showing international support for outlawing hare coursing with Spanish Greyhounds.  We stand proudly with our partner organizations and we will not rest until this practice has been eradicated. June 13th was an important day in the fight for the protection of Spanish Greyhounds. Learn more about the abuse and murder of tens of thousands of Spanish Greyhounds every year.

Challenging Baghdad Pups Rescues Underway

by SPCAI Staff

By Lori Kalef, Program Manager

During coordination of an Iraqi rescue mission, it is often the case that I speak with more people in Iraq than in my own country! As Program Manager for Operation Baghdad Pups: Worldwide, I am in contact with many incredible individuals around the world all striving for the same goal: to bring home the cherished dogs and cats befriended by American deployed overseas to their awaiting families in the United States.  But it doesn’t come without its challenges!

Our missions out of Iraq get more difficult with each passing month. We continuously have to revise our logistical planning due to so many restrictions on movement within the country, our well trusted transporter moving out of Iraq and the reduced use of the northern location where we formerly staged dogs and cats in preparation for transport. Since safety for the animals and our team members is our top priority, the recent bombings at the U.S. Embassy in Erbil have prohibited us from sending rescue experts into the country.

Now that we can no longer use the Erbil route, we are finding innovative ways to get a group of 18 beloved pups belonging to American troops and contractors directly out of Baghdad. Although it may sound simple, transporting the dogs a few miles to the airport is a daunting task in itself.  One cannot simply move around freely in Baghdad; something we take for granted on a daily basis here in North America. There is a shop that could order airline cages, but it’s almost impossible to get to that shop. There is government paperwork to be issued, but you can’t get to the government offices.  The challenges are endless, and even the smallest obstacle can seem entirely insurmountable in this difficult environment.

The odds are stacked against the 18 Americans and the animals they love, but SPCAI is committed to finding a way. Slowly, but surely we are jumping hurdles, changing routes and making new contacts that we hope will ultimately result in freedom and safety for 18 animals beloved by our troops.  Stay tuned for more news about the challenges ahead and how you can help.

How Many People Does It Take To Get 2 Dogs Out Of Baghdad?

by SPCAI Staff

By Lori Kalef, SPCA International Staff

The answer to that is way too many to count on two hands! Over the last few months, our team has been hard at work with OBP:Worldwide rescue missions for American military personnel serving around the globe. In fact, in the span of one month, we reunited 7 dogs from 3 different countries with their beloved humans!

While the logistics, planning and routing can often be very challenging for every country, Iraq continues to be the most challenging of all. With ISIS threatening the borders and checkpoints, and military and security personnel unable to leave their posts, let alone walk outside the parameters of their base, our team has learned how to get really creative.

This last mission featuring two female dogs, Patches and Lil Runt, were no exception to the rule. It came down to the final 24 hours to get them safely transported outside their gates where they have been living with their security personnel family for the last few months. After many phone calls, several hundred emails, over two dozen people on the ground and two companies who handed off the dogs in tandem, they made it safely to Erbil to meet our team member who rushed them to the ministry to get their export paperwork finalized, literally in the nick of time.

It’s incredible to see and feel the support and effort that so many people are willing to offer for the fate of two beautiful dogs who would otherwise be subject to an awful fate. The bond between human and dog that is created over a short period of time while our brave Americans are serving our country is what makes these rescue missions so enormously rewarding.

Patches and Lil Runt made it safely to the U.S. this past weekend and had the chance to rest up over night and have a bath and some much deserved R&R before they made their final leg of the journey to their separate forever homes with the families who fell in love with them in Iraq.

Welcome home Baghdad Pups!

 

You mean we really get to go live with you in the U.S.?

by SPCAI Staff

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This past month, Operation Baghdad Pups brought home 3 beloved mascots befriended by soldiers deployed in Egypt. Bingo, Scrappy and Whiskey could hardly believe that they would get to spend the rest of their lives with the soldiers who cared for and loved them while they were serving overseas.

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The logistics behind each mission takes several months of careful planning and preparation to ensure each animal can safely make it to the U.S. in the shortest route possible. During this time, we really got to know the soldiers and learn about the unbreakable bond they have built with these beautiful dogs. The days and nights are very long during a deployment far from the comforts of home and family. These heroic men and women have often told us that their four-legged buddies have gotten them through the most difficult times.

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So when it was time for the soldiers to say goodbye so the dogs could travel home with our team, we were pretty sure there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. : (

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"Wait, we went into this box and now we’re in a different land where there is grass and lots of people telling us they love us already?"

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"…Boy do they ever love us!"
After the long journey the dogs were greeted by our team on the ground who anxiously awaited their arrival at the airport. After lots of tummy rubs and yummy food, the dogs were able to rest for a night before making their final trip to their military families in separate states across the U.S.

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Don’t you just love a happy ending? Judging from these smiles all around, we’re pretty sure that Scrappy, Bingo and Whiskey are glad to finally be "home!"

OBP: Worldwide – Egypt Rescues Underway

by SPCAI Staff
The days and nights can be very long and grueling for our service men and women deployed overseas. Our brave heroes go many months without seeing their loved ones or enjoying the simple comforts of home. So when Whiskey wandered into the heart of this young captain stationed in the middle of the Sinai desert, the bond was instant. Whiskey was very shy with the other soldiers at first and hid under a building for nearly 3 months, but Captian Stephen was not about to give up. Whiskey soon learned to trust his ‘human’ and the pair soon became inseparable. Whiskey, and two other beautiful dogs befriended by soldiers serving in Egypt will soon be making their journey ‘home’ where they will be reunited with their military dads and moms in just a few short weeks through our OBP: Worldwide program. Stay tuned as we send you updates from the ground!

Big Thanks to Operation Military Pets

by SPCAI Staff
By: Julie Spendal, SPCA International Executive Assistant Operation Military Pets not only celebrated its two-year anniversary this past month, but it also celebrated helping its 300th military family. This is a huge and proud milestone for the program because of what it represents; helping countless military families and beloved pets move all over the world so they can stay just that, a family. With much appreciation and gratitude, those families want to say thank you. The Bronk family relocated to Japan this past year and needed help bringing their dog, Parker, along with them. Operation Military Pets was happy to help and the Bronk’s couldn’t be more thrilled.  “Operation Military Pets has been such a blessing to us! We can’t thank you enough for the contribution to get him here and keep our family together.” The Lunger family just recently had to relocate to Hawaii and thankfully, Diesel and Rowdy were also able to make the trip and are now hanging ten on the beach, “Thank you very much. Our whole family truly appreciates your help.” Zoe made it from the UK across the pond back to the states to be with her family because of this program and her family is overjoyed, “Thank you so much for the financial help you guys have provided us so that our wonderful dog can continue to be a part of our family.” Canine and feline pals, Wilfred and Louie, successfully made the trek from Germany back home to the US safe and sound to their families delight, “My family and I wanted to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the grant to help ship our animals back to the United States with us. We appreciate you helping us keep our entire family together!” Even Aussie got to make an around the world trip from Australia to Texas with the help of this program and he and his family are forever grateful, “I feel so grateful for your assistance and for the SPCAI for helping me out with this.  I can’t thank you enough, and Aussie will likely be picking out some new toys and maybe looking at an upgrade for his house, pool, and play area.  Spoiled guy.  Thank you again. P.S. Aussie is being a little bashful, but he thanks you too.” We are so proud of all this program has achieved in two years and we couldn’t have done it without sustaining support from SPCAI donors. Thank you!

Watch the Documentary: “February: The Fear of Spanish Greyhounds”

by SPCAI Staff

By Meredith Ayan

We are pleased to share the online release of the award winning documentary, February: The Fear of Spanish Greyhounds.  As many of our supporters know, in many rural areas of Spain there exists an age-old tradition of cruelty toward greyhounds used in hare coursing.  Filmmaker Irene Blanquez’s documentary focuses on the inhumane treatment, training methods and ultimate abandonment of thousands of Greyhounds at the end of hunting season in February each year. (Blanquez testified before the Spanish Congress of Deputies in March 2014 alongside SPCA International and SOS Galgos to bring awareness to the cruel practice of hare coursing in rural areas of Spain.)

Blanquez has published , February: The Fear of Spanish Greyhounds online to educate people about the harsh realities of this “sport”.  I encourage you to watch it and spread the word.

http://www.februarythedocumentary.com/home

Dog Rescue Romania is Saving Lives Every Day

by SPCAI Staff
By Lori Kalef, SPCA International Program Manager In Romania, it is very common to see dozens of unwanted dogs in just a one-block radius in downtown Bucharest.  They roam the streets in search of food, shelter and perhaps a kind hand, but sadly, the plight for these dogs is an awful one. Abused, neglected, starved and killed; they are unwelcomed. In May 2013, a veterinarian by the name of Dr. Rudi Hofmann decided to open a small shelter for approximately 50 animals in the heart of Bucharest on a small piece of land. He called it Dog Rescue Romania.  Seeing the immense need, his intention was to help those with critical medical issues, and once treatment was over, find them good homes. But only 3 months after their opening, Dr. Hofmann found himself in the middle of a shocking cruelty crisis. Romania passed a new law giving dogcatchers and public pounds the authority to execute mass killings. Angry citizens, fed up with the amount of homeless dogs, took the law into their own hands and began brutally attacking hundreds of helpless dogs in the streets. Some of those angry citizens only succeeded at inflicting terrible wounds.  Dr. Hofmann and his team were then faced with an extraordinarily large population desperately needing their help. Fast forward to 2015, Dog Rescue Romania’s small shelter in the city and a new sanctuary on the outskirts of town now houses close to 800 dogs that are cared for by a handful of outstanding individuals. Dr. Hofmann’s team now also runs Romania’s first mobile veterinary triage and spay and neuter clinic.  In the short time since they began, they have already sterilized over 1600 animals and have found homes for close to 1000. Through all of this hard work, Dr. Hofmann’s hope is to improve conditions by overseeing treatment, feeding, sterilization, educational programs and adoptions. In February of 2015, our team arrived in Romania to work with Dr. Hofmann and his team at Dog Rescue Romania. Our goal was to help Dog Rescue Romania strengthen and expand partnerships with the public.  We met with the mayor of two towns and discussed long-term goals for Trap, Neuter, Release (TNR) projects. Those meetings were extremely successful.  We also helped Dr. Hofmann with a Shelter Support Grant and Veterinary Supply Aid for their newly opened veterinary clinic.  And we were able to assist his team with life-saving surgeries in their mobile clinic. We are honored to be a partner to the amazing team at Dog Rescue Romania. Dr. Hofmann is an inspiration to us and to all animal activists worldwide. We hope his work will continue to grow and make a bigger impact year after year for the animals in Bucharest. With Dr. Hofmann’s help, we are sure that one day the plight of Romania’s unwanted dogs will change.

Tails from an Animal Welfare Volunteer: How to Successfully Navigate the Adoption Process

by SPCAI Staff

By Fionna Keller, Animal Rescue Volunteer
Guest Blogger

I volunteer weekly for an amazing, all-volunteer run rescue in Canada. If I had to sum myself up in one sentence, I would say that I am passionate about all things animal welfare. Being directly involved with several rescue organizations and animal adoptions has been one of the most difficult, but also one of the most rewarding things I have ever done in my life. From time to time, I hear people complain that they find the adoption process complicated and/or lengthy. Some adoption applicants get frustrated, and occasionally even give up on adoption all together, because they don’t always hear back from volunteers regarding the status of their application. Here I hope to explain why adopting may take a little time, as well as give some tips on how to successfully navigate your way through the adoption process.

One of the biggest issues anyone who works in animal rescue has to deal with is limited resources, both financial and personnel; some rescues are 100% volunteer run and most operate entirely on donations. At all-volunteer run rescues, most of the people involved work full-time, are parents, have their own pets and commitments, so they do the best they can by giving the time they can. Sadly, there are only so many days in a week and hours in a day. Often, there is no rest, or break, or time to pause. Furthermore, for every dog that comes in, 5 more are waiting to get in.  Often these rescues are just trying to keep their heads above water and save as many animal lives as they can. If things are taking a little time, please be patient. They probably have not forgotten you. I encourage you to consider that they are working diligently on the other end saving lives that hang in the balance. If for some reason you don’t hear back from a rescue or organization, I recommend you follow up and try again. Remember as well that the reward of adopting is two-fold: not only are you saving the life of the dog you are adopting, but also of the dog who gets into the rescue to take his or her place!

Furthermore, while adoption forms are often lengthy with many questions and some may be off putting, please know that there is a method to that madness! Lengthy adoption applications with probing questions protect the animals in our care and weed out half-hearted adopters.  No animal advocate ever wants to make the mistake of placing an animal with someone who might endanger them or abandon them. I have seen firsthand how devastating it is on a dog when they are abandoned.  It is terrible; they are so afraid, almost broken. Many are stressed for days and some even become depressed. Lengthy and probing application forms help avoid having the animal returned a second or third time.

This is a problem that we all need to take issue with!  It is a terrible reality how many animals are abandoned, abused and euthanized every year. (3-4 million are euthanized every year in the U.S. alone!) All rescues are doing their best to try to help as many animals as they can.

If you haven’t heard back from one particular rescue, know that they are a small piece of a larger whole; there are plenty of excellent rescues to adopt from. Your options are far from limited! Please don’t give up on adoption if you aren’t hearing back from one rescue.  Try them again or try another. If you genuinely care about the welfare of animals, you must be part of the solution.  Be the change you wish to see in the universe – don’t give up on adoption.

Max in Romania

by SPCAI Staff

By Lori Kalef, SPCA International staff

The streets of Romania are filled with some of the most beautiful and friendly dogs on earth. They wander endlessly through their long days and nights in search of scraps of food, shelter from the harsh climate and refuge from the frequent encounters by abusive humans.

In the last two years, Romania has received worldwide attention in regard to the way hundreds of thousands of stray dogs have been managed, destroyed and brutally abused. All across social media we have heard their cries and we have seen their awful pictures. Max is one of the rare Romanian stories with a happy ending.

As a young and naive street pup, Max he was determined to find his way into the heart of a stranger. Unfortunately, he found out too quickly that life on the streets in a Romanian city could be shockingly cruel and unkind.

It is unclear what he was beaten with, but during his time as a homeless stray he was beaten brutally by someone. So brutally that their violence left him with a broken back, and paralyzed for life. Amazingly, his extraordinary will to live kept him going; dragging his broken body behind him through the street. He must have still had faith that someone might come to his rescue.

Sadly, that’s when another group of humans chose to inflict more unimaginable pain. We don’t know who they were, but someone mutilated his body with a razor blade. They cut him all over his lower body over 100 times. That’s when our friends found him.  They had heard reports of Max dragging himself through the streets – even with all the pain and abuse he had an incredible will to survive.

The kind of brutality Max suffered is commonplace in Romania. That is why we must keep working – never stop working – to help the homeless animals of Romania.

Today, against all odds, Max is happy. With a cart to carry his broken back and paralyzed hind legs, he gets around with ease. He is at home among the 70 other rescued animals he lives with. Although he is still shy with strangers, if you offer him a hint of love and a lot of patience, he will give you his trust and melt right into your arms. That’s what I found when he melted into mine – and being given his love was so sweet.

Thanks to donations from supporters like you – many Romanian dogs who deserve love, care and a place to call home will get it, just like Max. It is thanks to your financial support that we are able to work with individuals and organizations in Romania to promote government partnerships, anti-cruelty legislation, education campaigns, spay and neuter initiatives and individual rescues. It is our promise to you that we will continue to join forces and hold hands across the world to help the precious, deserving animals of Romania – just like sweet Max.

Thank you with all our hearts for being part of our team.