Making a Difference for Ohio Puppy Mill Dogs

PRESS RELEASE
April 4, 2009

BARK TIL DARK DOG PARK HOSTING PARTY WITH A PURPOSE

On March 17, 2009, members of The Humane Society of the United States and other consumers filed a class action lawsuit alleging that Petland, Inc. and the Hunte Corporation are conspiring to sell unhealthy puppy mill puppies to unsuspecting consumers in numerous states. The lawsuit, filed in federal district court in Phoenix, alleges that Petland and Hunte violated federal law and numerous state consumer protection laws by misleading thousands of consumers across the country into believing that the puppies sold in Petland stores are healthy and come from high-quality breeders.

Founded in 1967 and headquartered in Chillicothe, Ohio, Petland, Inc. currently has 140 stores in the United States and 63 in foreign markets. Founded in 1991 and headquartered in Goodman, Missouri, Hunte Corporation buys and sells purebred puppies for markets in 30 states that include Ohio, Illinois and Florida.

According to Dean Vickers, HSUS State Coordinator for Ohio, “The class action lawsuit is the result of many months of investigative and legal research, and comes after an eight-month investigation into Petland stores by The HSUS that demonstrated a direct link between multiple Petland stores and unscrupulous puppy mills. Numerous other reports have also surfaced of Petland's allegedly deceptive sales practices, including the marketing and sale of puppies with life-threatening genetic defects and highly contagious parasitic and viral infections. “

In response to findings revealed during the HSUS investigation, Bark Til Dark Dog Park will be hosting a “Hope. Change. Making a Difference for Ohio Puppy Mill Dogs” party on Sunday, April 19, 2009 from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM at Bark Til Dark Dog Park in Delaware, Ohio. The entrance fee is $10 per family to enter the park.

Guests will have an opportunity to meet Dean Vickers, HSUS State Director for Ohio, and learn more about the new Ohio Puppy Mill Bill soon to be introduced by Representatives Cheryl Grossman and Carlton Weddington. Food will be provided by Massey's Pizza and all guests can enter a raffle to win a $50 American Express Gift Card, courtesy of Columbus Top Dogs. All proceeds will benefit the HSUS Legislative Fund.

Bark Til Dark Dog Park, based in Delaware, Ohio, is a private, off-leash dog park with six fenced acres and an acre pond. The park is open seven days a week, year round, and is host to monthly “Mingle with Your Mutts” adoption events. Owners must provide their dog's up-to-date vaccination records, including proof of spay/neuter. Children must be 12 years or older to enter the park.

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is the nation's largest animal protection organization — backed by 10.5 million Americans. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs.

For More Information:
Missi Hamilton
Bark Til Dark Dog Park
(740) 369-9170
http://www.barktildarkdogpark.com/

Rat Loves Cat

Rat loves cat... cat tolerates rat. A really cute interspecies relationship!

Stop Shelter Animals From Being Sold for Research!

The American Humane Association has started a Care2 petition that relates to my previous post this month, Cruelty in Montcalm County MI Must Come to an End.

A small handful of people, myself included, have been working very hard to stop the practice of selling shelter animals to research labs in Michigan.

I DO NOT live in Michigan, however, this is a practice that still goes on throughout the United States. If we can get this bill passed in Michigan, it will help stop this practice in other states as well.

It has been proven that experiments conducted on animals have little to NO effect on humans.

These animals are "tortured" repeatedly without anesthesia. They have surgical procedures done, limbs amputated, organs removed, their skulls are cut open to observe the brain after being given certain drugs .... and all without ANESTHESIA. Most die in agony right there on the operating table, those that survive are simply euthanized, thrown in a plastic bag, and hauled out to the trash. And yes, some are just left to die on there own. It's "cheaper" that way.

Once again, it has been proven that these barbaric and inhumane procedures performed on animals have no direct correlation to the "human" body.

Why do they continue this practice? It's simple.... GREED. Research labs receive millions of dollars each year from our government (your tax money) to conduct research on new drugs and procedures, which once again, has little to no meaning on the human body. Shelters and pounds can receive up to $200.00, per animal, that is sold to a research facility.

Please sign the petition and send a link to everyone you know. Help US to help them. We MUST stop this barbaric and inhumane treatment of our companion animals.

The Petition
Michigan House Bill 4663 will eliminate pound seizure in Michigan animal shelters. Pound seizure is the practice of allowing shelter cats and dogs to be used in experimental research. HB 4663, called "Koda's Law," is named after a shelter dog that, instead of being placed for adoption, was sold to a USDA Class B Dealer (animal broker) and resold to the University of Michigan, where he was used in the university's Advanced Trauma Life Support Class, and then euthanized. Koda's former family believed that taking him to a shelter would allow him another opportunity to find a home and did not know he would be used in a research experiment. Sadly, this happens to far too many shelter cats and dogs in Michigan.

They need 50,000 signatures. Please take a moment to sign this important Care2 petition TODAY!

Thank you,
Jo Ann & "Gang"

Urge President Obama to Stand Up for Wolves

From Defenders of Wildlife...

On Thursday -- just one year after the famous wolf Limpy was shot and killed just outside Yellowstone National Park -- President Obama’s pick as Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, has taken it upon himself to eliminate Endangered Species Act protections for wolves in Greater Yellowstone, the Northern Rockies and other parts of the American West!

As a result of Salazar’s action, more than 1,000 wolves in Idaho and Montana could be killed by people like Idaho Governor Butch Otter, who recently reaffirmed that he wants to be one of the first to shoot a wolf.

Thanks to the help of supporters like you, Defenders of Wildlife is already preparing legal action to save the lives of other wolves like Limpy. But today I need your help to let as many people as possible know about this awful plan before May 4th, when the federal protections are lifted and the wolf killing can resume.

Take Action Now!

Cruelty in Montcalm County MI Must Come to an END

The letter below comes from a dear friend Nancy Jean Rose and rescuer who has been actively involved in helping to end the collection of dogs and cats in local pounds for use by R&R Research.

With the help of many rescuers and concerned citizens, we've made great strides -- but more help is needed. Nancy is asking for your assistance by APRIL 13th!

Please read the letter below for the details:

For those of you who have not been following this, there has been a tremendous fight going on in Montcalm Co. MI. Last November a terrible, unjust and cruel situation was brought to the attention of rescuers nationwide. My husband, Don, and I were some of the first rescuers in the country to respond to the situation by rescuing and sponsoring four dogs from the facility. We felt like guerrillas in a war zone trying to get the dogs out of Montcalm. At one point, one of our dogs was kidnapped! And we had to fight to get him back. This is a very real situation.

For years R&R Research (a family hierarchy) has been collecting animals from the local pound--cats and dogs who had been taken there by owners to find new homes, those who had been spoken for by rescue groups and were awaiting rescue transport, those who had been rescued from abusive situations and strays--and selling them (for HUGE profit) to research institutions where they perpetually were uselessly abused, tortured and finally killed.

Imagine turning your pet over to someone who wants to conduct an experiment on them to answer a question such as: What happens to the animal when I repeatedly spray acid in it's eyes? OR (better yet) What happens to the animal when I set it on fire? Or even cut open for some nonsensical reason. (Keep in mind, that these animals are ALIVE and AWAKE when these experiments are conducted.)

Sometimes these experiments have been conducted in the name of "medical research." New research shows that conducting "medical research" on animals is a useless endeavor since there is very little correlation between animal and human response to drugs, etc. The local Michigan veterinary college has stopped using live animals to train their future vets, preferring dummies instead.

Even though we are almost at the finish line of this dispute, apparently there still needs to be a great, huge push to see that justice and mercy is finally extended to the animals in Montcalm Co. MI. Join the fight. Please respond to the suggestions below to help stop this criminal activity. I am also forwarding an email listing Wood-TV public opinion sites where you can politely voice your feelings on the subject. The public conscience must be aroused and their breasts filled with indignation and anger because the politicos involved in the proceedings have gone to obvious unjust extremes to keep R&R Research involved with the county pound.

Please forward this information to all you know. This cruelty must be brought to an end.

We Need Your Help Once Again
Your voices have helped make this happen

The Blue Ribbon Committee voted to have the board of commissioners re-evaluate the contract with the Montcalm County Shelter & R&R research.

Thanks to Dr. Carpenter, Fran Schuleit, Rhonda Waldorf, and Steve Crouse they have come up with UNDISPUTABLE reasons to END IT NOW!

We are in need of your polite letters and faxes to the commissioners before their meeting on April 13th to vote on the contract

(Contact info below)

Some points to mention in your letters and faxes:

Animal shelter recommendations

Recommendations for the Montcalm County Animal Shelter that the County Board of Commissioners will consider on April 13:


Citizens advisory board
The board would help with fundraising, goal planning, updating the policy and procedure manual, establish a responsible pet ownership education program, work with rescue groups and community leaders, assist with adoption protocols and advertising animals up for adoption. Initial members would be Animal Control Director Patty Lentz, Fran Schuleit of Greenville, Dr. Randy Carpenter of Greenville, Rhonda Waldorf of Sheridan, District 1 County Commissioner Ron Blanding, a member of the veterinary advisory board and a county resident at large.


Veterinary advisory board
Local veterinarians would consult with shelter staff on health and safety issues for animals and pet sterilization. Initial members would be three veterinarians from the county, a citizens advisory board member and Lentz.


Action plan for policies and procedures
• Implement a new software program already purchased to track animals in the shelter by April 30.

• Begin using a new microchip scanner that was donated.

• Get new signs.

• Purchase a secured safe to hold euthanization drugs.

• Provide more office space.

• Build kennel partitions

• Install eye wash stations.

• Provide a new medical room to be set up by the veterinary advisory board.

• Complete staff training on officer safety, animal bites, cleaning, adoptions procedure, transportation, when to involve police, emergencies, dog fighting, when to involve the DNR, use of restraints, temperament testing and nutrition.

• Allow the citizens advisory board to review the county's recently amended animal control ordinance again.

• Install water bowls in each kennel and do away with the existing spigot system.

• Follow up to make sure people who adopt a pet get it spayed or neutered.

• Improve community outreach by working on education materials, launching a Web site and educating the community about pet ownership.

• Encourage philanthropy by launching endowment through a local community foundation.


Disposal of animals
Have animal carcasses cremated at Sleepy Hollow Pet Cemetery in Byron Center or in a crematorium that can be donated instead of giving them to R&R Research to sell.


Disposition of animals
Work better with other animal shelters and rescue groups to ensure more animals are adopted. People could take their animals back from the shelter and bring them to a research institution if they choose


Read More...
Panel Discusses Ending Animal Research Contract March 25, 2009

http://www.wxmi.com/pages/news_landing_page/?Panel-Discusses-Ending-Animal-Research-C=1&blockID=195786&feedID=2515


We need letters mailed or faxed to the Commissioners
(an e-mail is too easy to delete).



Please write, fax or call today.
KEEP IT PROFESSIONAL!


Fax # for the commissioners - 989-831-7375


District 1- Ron Blanding
403 W High Street
Greenville, MI 48838
(616) 225-7972

District 2- Tom Lindeman
8060 S. Backus Road
Greenville, MI 48838
(616) 754-4918
email: tblindeman@sbcglobal.net

District 3- Ron Retzloff
786 S. Senator Rd.

Crystal, MI 48818
(989) 235-6827
email: comish@casair.net

District 4- John Johansen
3503 S. Monroe Rd.
Greenville, MI 48838
(616) 754-5375
email: johm@pathwaynet.com

District 5- Carl Paepke
18419 Stanton Rd. NW
Pierson, MI 49339
(616) 636-5692

District 6- Ron Baker
PO Box 91
Howard City, MI 49329
(231) 937-5465
email: rbaker68amx@hotmail.com

District 7- Pat Carr
10397 Almy Rd.
Lakeview, MI 48850
(989) 352-8129

District 8- Roger Caris
8984 E. Deaner Rd.
Vestaburg, MI 48891
(989) 268-5875
email: rcaris@gccmha.org

District 9-Steven Crouse
8701 Session Rd
Carson City, MI 48811(989) 235-4696
email: crousetax@nomadinter.net



STOP
-Stop Taking Our Pets
www.stoptakingourpets.org
(coming soon)

Send a Thank You!

SEND A THANK YOU! 250 Dogs Saved by White County Sheriffs!

Petition sponsored by ASPCA

Here is a happy ending for puppy mill dogs! The White County Sheriff's Department in Tennessee recently rescued more than 250 dogs from a local puppy mill.

The dogs are small breeds, most under 20 pounds, and were rescued from malnourishment, dehydration, and a host of upsetting medical conditions. The rescued dogs are now safely housed in an emergency shelter.

Let White County know how much we appreciate their efforts -- sign the thank you letter!

Urge House to Pass Anti-Horse Slaughter Bill

Ask President Obama to urge Congress to support the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act.

Petition sponsored by ASPCA.

Horses have been our trusted companions and are a historically significant part of American culture. They deserve a more dignified end to their lives than to be inhumanely slaughtered and served for dinner.

H.R. 503 would put an end to this practice by prohibiting the transport of America's horses to foreign countries for slaughter. Ask President Obama today to urge Congress to support H.R. 503!

Sign the petition and tell a friend.