Author: SPCAI Staff

Rescue Story: Melody’s Heart Finally Sings

by SPCAI Staff

By Lori Kalef and Meredith Ayan, SPCA International Staff

When our team first met Melody in a rural field in central Spain, she was locked in an enclosure with 2 other adult Greyhounds. There was no sign of other humans and barely any shade from the hot Spanish sun. As we approached the gate, we could tell that she was unsure of herself and if we meant any harm. We quickly offered her and her cage mates some food and water to relieve their hunger and thirst. One of the volunteers from SOS Galgos who lives in the area travels to their enclosure at twilight almost every evening to avoid being noticed and feeds them and many others kibble and treats.

Melody was only a few months old when we found her, scared and excited at the same time as if maybe someone was possibly coming to her rescue. Our wonderful interpreter, Fanny Rabourdin, immediately connected with the glimmer of hope in her sweet eyes and vowed that she would come back for her one day.

Fast-forward to 3 months later and a chance encounter with the hunter who owned the little black and white female Greyhound. The determined and strong willed volunteer who confidently approached the situation with an offer to exchange a few bags of food for her life was unexpectedly accepted. Melody was immediately taken to safety and put with the others in an undisclosed holding place until she could be transported to her new life in Barcelona.

Today, Melody’s heart sings as she experiences a life full of daily walks to the beach and a plethora of comfy places to sleep and the best part ever, two other rescued Greyhounds to share her home with. Greyhounds are pack animals; they thrive on companionship and learn from one another rather than competing for “top dog.” Integrating Melody into the household was a simple task and she quickly found her place amongst the love and care that Fanny and her boyfriend have offered.

For more information on how you can rescue and adopt an abused Greyhound from Spain, please Contact Us.

Rescue Story: Simba Heals After Years of Abuse

by SPCAI Staff

By Lori Kalef and Meredith Ayan, SPCA International Staff

When Simba was found by SOS Galgos volunteers in Toledo, Spain, earlier this month she was hiding between trees and had an olive branch embedded in her mouth, keeping her jaw from closing properly. This cruel trick is an all too common punishment used by hunters for Greyhounds that are not performing properly. Hunters that were near, denied any association to Simba thus avoiding any possible altercation. A “useless” Greyhound was not worth the fight, and the volunteers managed to quietly walk away with her and bring her to safety.

Simba is about 8 years old and rescuers tell us she is a dream to walk on leash. Even though she led a long life of abuse, her endlessly loving nature exemplifies the tender character of the Greyhound.

Simba was fortunate to be found when she was, but unfortunately, her story is not an uncommon one. In the south of Spain alone, upwards of 60,000 Greyhounds are tortured and killed each year.

SOS Galgos is a non-profit organization in Spain that we have been working with over the last year. They are fighting to defend the rights of Greyhounds like Simba, who are used by hunters to course hare simply for sport. Each year during the month of February, which marks the end of hunting season, the dogs are found abandoned, hanged, beheaded, beaten and left for dead. These acts of cruelty stem from age-old traditions thought to bring more prosperity for the next hunting season.

Help us stop this terrible abuse by signing our petition. If you are interested in adopting Simba or another abused Greyhound please contact us.

A ‘Must Read’ for Cat and Dog Lovers Alike

by SPCAI Staff

Here's a book I look forward to checking out at the library soon: The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide. Already a best-seller in France, this reviewer says of The Guest Cat, "The best novels are ones that…over time, they stay with us — like small miracles." Between this review and the book's title – it's made it's way to my "2014 Must Read" list.

http://www.npr.org/2014/01/21/261073342/here-kitty-kitty-even-dog-lovers-should-read-the-guest-cat

You Can Help Stop Animal Suffering!

by SPCAI Staff

How often have you scrolled through the posts on your Facebook page and found an entry about animal suffering? I see these types of posts frequently because of my extensive network of animal friends – linked together by Facebook. My initial response is still to skip over these posts, yet I force myself to stop – once again to be confronted by another despicable display of animal mistreatment. A story that screams, “You owe it to the animals to pay attention!” Even glimpses of the often-gruesome photos that entice you to read the story leave their mark – an indelible image imprinted in my mind.

Holmes County Humane Society

by SPCAI Staff

By Lori Kalef

The recent cold snap brought in record breaking below average temperatures prompting many severe cold weather warnings across the country. The extreme weather brought on many flight cancelations, school closures and forced businesses to close down. Many scrambled to find heat and comfort from the outside, while others suffered frostbite, hypothermia and even fatality.

Sadly, many companion and wild animals suffered the same exposure and were found frozen to death or with frostbitten ears and paw pads. One shelter in Ohio did their best to protect their 100+ dogs and cats, but unfortunately they are operating with an inadequate heating system and poor insulation from the cold. They are doing all that they can now to keep the animals warm and save new arrivals from the freezing temperatures, but they could really use your help. Please read on…

From Holmes County Humane Society (HCHS):

Our cats are cold! “Cool” is great but cold is not! The Holmes County Humane Society, Inc. (HCHS) needs emergency funds to seal and insulate the cat and kitten room portions of the shelter. HCHS, a no-kill shelter, is the only non-profit organization in the county that accepts adoptable cats and kittens. The funding goal for this project is $3625.

The shelter is located on a farm, donated in part to HCHS in 2006. It is located in a very rural area in Holmes County, Ohio. The barns, previously used for horses and farm equipment, were in no way adequate for dogs and cats. Converting the barns for companion animal living space has been a time consuming process.

The barn that houses the cats is a very large steel pole barn with a 13' X 24' room on each side, each with a large sliding door on the front. Screens over the sliding door openings allow fresh air for the cats in the summer. The adult cats live on one side and the kittens live on the other side. The large center section has a laundry/restroom and an office/surgery room plus a very large area used for storage until next steps are planned and funded.

Because the kitten room cannot be adequately heated, all cats and kittens are living in the cat room. On very cold nights, the kitten room was just above freezing, forcing closure of that room. The cat room is better insulated and has a lower ceiling. By supplementing with electric heaters and using the gas heater in the cat room, that room is between 50 and 60 degrees on a 'reasonable' winter day. The number of cats/kittens that can come in for adoption is seriously limited as long as we are using one room.

The work that will seal and insulate both rooms is: 
• Build a wall on the end of the room that has the sliding door. Put windows in it for airflow in the more temperate seasons. Leave the sliding door intact so it can be pulled shut during periods of extreme cold. Both rooms need this modification.
• Put bat insulation in the walls in the kitten room. 
• Install a ceiling with insulation in the kitten room.

A FundRazr account is active to help us reach our goal of $3625. Help us keep the kitties warm by donating today!

Domestic Violence and Pets: Finding Safety for Both Victims

by SPCAI Staff

Recently, we had the privilege of speaking to an incredibly inspiring woman who runs a shelter for victims of domestic violence in Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Maya Gupta. The shelter is called, Ahimsa House, meaning non-violence in Sanskrit and was founded in 2004 by Emilie Christie, a woman who fell victim to domestic violence and suffered more pain due to the abuse, and sadly the death, of her beloved pet. Emily’s vision of building the Ahimsa House became a reality because she saw a great need for victims of domestic violence to have a safe place they could turn to without leaving their pet behind.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence's directory of domestic violence programs, less than 1 in 8 domestic violence shelters is able to accommodate victims' pets. Because abusers often threaten to harm the pet if the victim flees, as many as half of all victims delay seeking safety because they fear for their pets’ life.

According to Dr.Gupta, “Recognizing the bonds between victims and their pets, many batterers threaten, harm, and even kill pets in the home in order to control, intimidate, and retaliate against their victims.”

domestic-violence-2.pngAhimsa House, the first organization of its kind dedicated to “helping the human and animal victims of domestic violence reach safety together,” provides a network of foster homes and boarding facilities, not only in Atlanta, but across the United States which offer strict confidentiality and a safe haven for both the victim and their pet. Aside from shelter and immediate needs, Ahimsa House will offer legal advocacy, veterinary care, pet supplies and food, as well as a 24-hour crisis hotline within the State of Georgia.

We know how sensitive this issue is for many, so we invite you to please share this link with those who might be in need or interested in the subject.

For a full list of organizations that can help you within your state, please visit: http://www.ahimsahouse.org/directory/

To find out more about how you can help, visit: www.ahimsahouse.org.

Fighting the Dog Meat Trade in the Philippines

by SPCAI Staff
By Lori Kalef, SPCA International You may remember PAWS (Philippine Animal Welfare Society) as one of the organizations SPCA International has worked with on several occasions for disaster relief. Did you know that PAWS was also the first animal welfare organization to successfully lobby for an anti-cruelty law in the Philippines? The Animal Welfare Act of 1998 was passed into law to protect animals regulate humane treatment. After this huge victory 14 years ago, they are once again at the forefront of lobbying for amendments to this law. The goal is to increase penalties and prison terms for animal offenders, primarily for those who make a living from the horrendously cruel Dog Meat Trade. The Dog Meat Trade in the Philippines is not referenced as often as the Thailand trade on popular social media channels. However, it is estimated that half a million dogs and cats in the Philippines are brutally slaughtered after experiencing inhumane transport, abuse, starvation and dehydration. Historically within the Filipino culture, the slaughter and consumption of dogs was associated with ritualistic events during times of mourning and grief; thus affecting a smaller number of animals. Sadly, over the past 25 years, the consumption of dog meat has increased in popularity resulting in a staggering number of dogs being tortured and brutally killed. PAWS is working hard to put a stop to this horrible and seemingly endless cycle of abuse and slaughter. Thanks to generous SPCA International donor support, we were able to deliver a $4,000 grant to this outstanding organization so that they can continue their work. They work tirelessly to improve humane education in schools and communities, and actively lobby their legislature to eradicate the Dog Meat Trade. Because of organizations like PAWS, the Philippine government has begun to express a greater commitment to animal welfare and Dog Meat Trade regulations.

Yellow Ribbon Warning

by SPCAI Staff

How many times have you walked down the street, passing one person after another, without saying a word to one of them? Plenty I’m sure. It’s often a different situation though when the person approaching you on the street has a dog with them. Then you usually stop and say something – at least to the dog.

Not every dog that you see out for a walk on a leash is a dog that welcomes a pat on the head or a scratch behind the ear though. It’s not necessarily because they are mean, but rather some dogs just don’t like “strangers” stepping into their space. It may be that the dog has fear issues, has just been through a traumatic experience or they are not up to speed yet on good dog manners. How do you know this though?

A dog can’t say, “Keep back,” so it’s up to the person walking them to say repeatedly, “Please don’t touch my dog.” However, there is also the person that wants to take their dog for a walk but does not want to broadcast the fact their dog has some issues. Some people feel this is a negative reflection on them not being able to control their dog.

Even when a person is warned, not everyone listens though, especially children that get extra excited when encountering a dog. To them, the dog is a friend to run up to and hug. When a parent is present, they will try to grab a child’s hand or jacket if they hear the owner’s warning, but sometimes they’re not fast enough. Sadly, that’s when children are putting themselves at risk of getting hurt or even bit. When this happens, the dog can be labeled vicious and that usually puts an end to their public walks or even their life.

We encounter lots of warnings in our daily life – red lights at an intersection means stop, a barricade across a sidewalk is there to direct us to find a safer route and a Watch Your Step sign means there is reason to go slow or else you might end up falling. At an early age, we are taught to pay attention to these kinds of warnings for our own protection. To ensure the message is easy to understand, universally recognized symbols are usually used.

Now there is a new warning and it’s quickly becoming recognized here in the United States and in an ever-growing number of other countries. It’s a yellow ribbon prominently tied to a dog’s leash. What this ribbon says is, “Dog needs space – do not approach.”

The ribbon can be seen from a distance, giving anyone approaching a clear warning to not approach the dog or make any contact with it. When adhered to, this reduces the dog and the walker’s stress levels and potentially keeps a passerby from being unnecessarily frightened or possibly bitten.

There are dogs though that should not be walked in public because they have been confirmed to be repeatedly dangerous and unpredictable. Putting a yellow ribbon on their leash is not appropriate. The dogs that have a yellow ribbon on their leash should be ones that are in the process of being trained or their desire to be “left alone” is only temporary, and when strangers keep their distance, they are fine in public places.

Adults need to be made aware of the yellow ribbon and parents need to educate their children to what they mean. This goes hand in hand with also showing children how to approach a dog safely if they have been told the dog does not mind being touched by strangers. To help ensure a happy encounter, a person should always slowly offer the back of their hand for the dog to sniff first. Most dogs will quickly realize the person standing in front of them is okay and they will gladly welcome the attention.
Dogs have an ever-growing presence in our daily lives and in order for all of us to get along; it’s smart to have ways to communicate clearly. The yellow ribbon does just that, in the same way that the special harness on a Seeing Eye dog says, “Working, do not approach.”

Another assurance for having a dog that behaves well in public is training – the way you communicate directly with your dog. If a dog continues to feel uncomfortable when on a walk, then additional training is recommended to help identify what the problem is and come up with a solution. A walk should be a positive experience for a dog and its owner, as well as the people on the street that naturally want to stop and say hi. Knowing your dog and taking the appropriate actions to keep everyone safe will keep tails wagging.

Struggle to Help Neglected Animals in Thailand Continues

by SPCAI Staff
By SPCA International staff For close to two years, SPCA International has been involved in the welfare of the animals at a remote Buddhist Temple in Thailand about 45 minutes outside Bangkok’s city center. After the big flooding in 2011, our team discovered this shocking “sanctuary” for animals, which was dubbed “Dog Condo” by locals. Inside this cesspool of feces and urine infected water and barely visible land, we found close to 1600 dogs and cats being looked after by only two women. Many were in cages, never leaving their perimeters for their entire lives and others who were found lucky to be roaming within the compound were often starving or disease ridden. During our first visit to Dog Condo, we learned that close to 300 dogs had drowned in the flood because they were not able to seek higher land. Many were found with their bellies split open in attempts to scale the high cement walls desperately searching for safety. Dog Condo is hell for animals. Anyone who has been capable of setting foot through the rusted wired doors will attest to this. If a cat or dog is left at the site, the likelihood of them leaving is slim to none. No person has ever attempted to do anything major about the state of the facility because up until SPCAI stepped in, there was never a long-term solution that seemed viable. In 2012, we worked with local architects to design and build septic tanks throughout the premises so water can steadily drain. On separate visits with volunteers from across North America, we built catteries, fixed cages, repaired the water system to clean the floors, bought and built feeding stations and made sure that no animal would go hungry. We even accomplished the greatest feat by developing a trusting relationship with the caretakers who allowed us to remove and seek veterinary help for some the animals were in very bad shape. Some of them have even made their way to the U.S. and have found loving homes. Since our last visit, we maintained a very strong bond with a local animal activist by the name of Soot Liang Woo. Countless conversations and trips to Dog Condo all resulted in the same conclusion: more work needed to be done. Our savvy and determined correspondent alerted Thailand Livestock Department about the situation and one early day in December, eight mobile spay and neuter teams arrived and began sterilizing each animal at Dog Condo. The event even generated awareness in the community, and many locals began bringing their own pets in to be sterilized. The hard to reach ones were darted by a licensed wildlife official. Many of the sick animals were taken and are still being treated for a very contagious venereal disease that runs rampant amongst stray dogs in Thailand. They have been put into a separate newly built clinic that Soot Liang Woo and her hired team of carpenters constructed for the 6-week duration of their treatment. Soot has also taken it upon herself to visit the facility almost daily to oversee other projects like cementing a new floor (which quickly became a paw marking ground for some of the wanderers before it dried!) installing double doors and building bridges and platforms for the shy dogs to congregate on in the middle of the marsh land. At the same time, tending to more sick animals including clipping matted fur that causes painful sores. And on top of all this, Soot is facilitating overseas and local adoptions for the cats and dogs of Dog Condo. For more information, please contact us and note that you are inquiring about Dog Condo adoptions. SPCA International continues ongoing communication with the Temple directly and through Soot Liang Woo, in an effort to find a long lasting solution to improve the conditions for animals at Dog Condo. Late in 2013 our staff received word that the Temple has decided a new facility must be built in order to resolve the many issues plaguing the current facility. The Temple requested help and input from SPCA International staff as they draw up their new plans. We responded with our full support and we are greatly encouraged by this development. We will continue to report on this as we learn more.

A Career Change Leads to a Way to Help Animals

by SPCAI Staff

By Brian Kroeker

Three years ago I was just another burned out cog in the advertising world. In my decade of working long hours at the computer producing ads for giant corporations with questionable practices, I did my best to balance the harm I was causing my body and the world by exercising, volunteering and fundraising for various charities, but I was starting to feel like Sisyphus in an unwinnable battle with the boulder of stress and dissatisfaction I was facing.

So I got out.

Within a month I quit my job and we traded our little 700 sq ft. house in the Junction neighbourhood of Toronto for a 20-year-old VW camper van, sold most of our belongings and set out to see the country with our two Boston Terriers, Kingston and Sweetie.

We spent a few months going from coast to glorious coast, falling in love with our country and our new bohemian lifestyle.

Eventually my wife Debbie and I planted roots on rural Vancouver Island and set about rebuilding our life on the foundations of personal health and wellbeing and being of service to others. In the summer of 2013, inspired by reading Blake Mykoskie's book about the origins of TOMS shoes, I had an epiphany. What if I combined my passions for yoga, dogs and charity?

"Up Dogs" was born.

See, I grew up with dogs in our home and have felt a deep connection with them my whole life. I truly feel that we owe a big part of our evolution as a species to these brave guardians and loyal companions.

I have this theory that yoga began when the monks in the temples of the east would come outside after long meditation periods and observe the temple dogs stretching in the sun after their naps. What's the first thing dogs do when they wake up? The poses we now call "Downward Facing Dog" and "Upward Facing Dog", or "Down Dog" and "Up Dog". I watch my own dogs do these poses dozens of times a day!

The name "Up Dogs" refers not only to the yoga pose, but also my mandate to uplift the lives of dogs in need through the sales of yoga-themed t-shirts and holding donation-based yoga classes and events.

Up Dogs is a way for me to combine the things I'm really passionate about and focus some of that energy towards giving back to these amazing animals. If you connect with my vision, I hope that you will support us by buying a shirt or simply sharing this story with your friends and family.

Peace,
Brian
http://www.updogs.org