To Keep This Blog

 Google demands this post to keep this blog with all it's info online.

DON'T BE JUDGEMENTAL

ANIMAL CONTROL APPRECIATION WEEK

I AM AN ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER

I AM YOUR ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER

I am your animal control officer.

I am not the dreaded "dog catcher" or the "murderer" you call me.

I’m not the one who allows your pets to breed, then dumps the unwanted puppies and kittens on roadsides and in shelters. 

I’m the one that must find the tiny animals before they die of starvation, exposure or disease and, as an act of mercy, exterminate them. 

It hurts me to be forced to kill hundreds of thousands of animals each year, but because of YOUR irresponsibility, I have no choice.

I’m not the one who abandons unwanted animals on the farm roads, telling myself that some friendly farmer will surely take them in and give them a safe home. But I am the one who picks up the frightened animals who waits in vain for its beloved master, wondering why it has been abandoned.

I am the one who must help that friendly farmer trap, tranquilize, or kill that animal because it has begun to roam in packs with other abandoned, hungry animals, killing livestock, fowl, and game.

I am not the one who breeds and fights dogs in the name of “sport”. But I am the one who fights breeders and participants, and must pick up the dead and dying animals that have been left behind.

So remember, the next time a stray dog bites your child, your trash is dumped and scattered, your pet is lost, stolen, poisoned, or hit by a car, it is the Animal Control Officer you call. Not the “dog catcher”.

The next time your pet is picked up, or you are cited for neglecting or abusing it, remember that I am only trying to get you to fulfill your responsibility to your pet, your neighbor and yourself. Do not scorn me. 

Respect me, for I am the product of your irresponsibility.
I love animals, and I care.

A DOG IN A SHELTER WAS EUTHANIZED

A dog in a shelter was euthanized.

A dog that spent months and months in a cage because certain volunteers fell in love.

A dog who was extremely large and extraordinarily unpredictable.

A dog who tried to attack, yes attack, a few different employees and volunteers.

Who actually landed a bite to an employee's face.

And the guilt trip begins.

Why is it that those that make the most noise about an animal being euthanized NEVER bring that animal home?

Is it because deep down you know how unpredictable that animal is or what it may be capable of?

Is it because your children and personal pets shouldn't be put in harm's way?

Then why should you ask another to take that risk?

I really don't know the answer because the dogs I fell in love with and were at risk, I brought them home.

And let me tell you, some were squirrelly as hell after months in a cage.

But I put my money where my mouth was and adopted them.

I have also held other dogs for euthanasia. Dogs that were wonderful with me but would pose a risk and a danger to the general public. And I knew they were finally finding peace from whatever demons they had endured.

I will never be an advocate of placing out a dangerous dog. In my profession I've seen the aftermath far too many times.

Did my heart break with every euthanasia?

Absolutely.

Am I at peace with those decisions?

Absolutely.

You may very well disagree with me, but I certainly feel it was the humane thing to do.

The RESPONSIBLE thing to do.

A dog living in a cage for months and months on end is not a life. Waiting for one of the very few people who can handle you to visit every now and then and take you for a walk.

It's hell on earth.

So yes, a dog was euthanized.

In order to keep people from harm.

To free him from his inner demons.

And I would like to think that he is running far and free. Free from his anger, free from his chain link kennel, free from whatever tortured his soul.

And until those who make the most noise regarding euthanasia and dangerous animals start taking those very animals home, they should take a seat.

When you go online to make that very shelter look bad. When you don't tell the entire story. When you had almost an entire year to find that dog a home, or better yet GIVE him a home.

Shame on you and all the others who loved him so but not enough to take him home.

"The decision to euthanize must be made in the best interests of the dog. He is living in the present. It is a human’s responsibility to make sure the dog is not living in what the dog would consider hell. It is selfish to keep a dog alive if he has deteriorated emotionally or behaviorally, or his mental health is gone. It is unfair to offer to the public a dangerous dog or one who will be a behavioral nightmare for life."

THE PASSING OF A FRIEND - JEANNE KROEGER

It is with regret that this informs you of the passing of a friend of the Devore shelter - Jeanne Kroeger.

Jeanne Kroeger worked for the County of San Bernardino for 20 years from 1985 through 2005.  Jeanne always had a love for animals and was originally hired as the Animal Shelter Supervisor for the County’s new animal shelter facility in 1985. She was also a certified veterinary technician and taught for a number of years at a local college.  She was promoted to the position of Program Manager or Director of the San Bernardino County Animal Care and Control program and was instrumental in advancing a variety of programs that are still in place today to help animals in San Bernardino County, California.

There are two specific programs that Jeanne initiated that require mentioning.  The first is the San Bernardino County spay/neuter voucher program that provides financial assistance to help residents obtain affordable spay/neuter surgeries for their pets.  This program has assisted pet owners in sterilizing thousands of dogs and cats, which has prevented the births of numerous unwanted puppies and kittens.  Jeanne was recognized on the tenth anniversary of this national award winning program by POPCO in 2011. 

The second was the formation of a non-profit organization, the Animals aRe First Fund (ARFF), which assists in raising needed financial resources to support a variety of programs and efforts to help homeless animals.  Jeanne was a founding member of ARFF in 2004 and it was one of her desires to establish this non-profit charity to benefit animals prior to her retirement in 2005. She requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to help animals. http://www.arffund.org/

Jeanne retired to the small Oregon coastal town of Waldport/Seal Rock. She was an artist at heart and taught classes at a local art gallery. She enjoyed her life in this scenic town working on her photography and in polymer clay. Please visit her site and enjoy her art. Her personality shines on. 

http://indreamsstudio.com/In_Dreams_Studio/Images/Pages/Cellar_Dwellers.html

REGULATION OF RESCUES TRANSPORTING DOGS

The State of Virginia has just passed a law regulating rescues and shelters about reporting to potential adopters about a previous history of bites with cats and dogs. This came about as a result of a horrendous attack by a newly adopted pit bull who killed within hours of adoption. The 'rescue' that adopted out this pit did so with a shock collar on it, and instructions to the new owner about removing the collar. As soon as the owner did remove the collar, the pit went after her mother and killed her. To top it all, this same rescue has many complaints and is still in business.

https://blog.dogsbite.org/2017/06/dog-bite-fatality-adopted-out-pit-bull-kills-virginia-beach.html

""Senate Bill 571 will become law on July 1st in the State of Virginia. The law requires releasing agencies to disclose all bite history for dogs and cats.

The releasing agencies must ask if the dog or cat has bitten a person or animal, including the date when the bite happened. The bite incident must then be documented.""

http://www.wvva.com/story/38472176/2018/06/20/new-law-in-virginia-requires-full-disclosure-of-dog-and-cat-bites

""RICHMOND, Virginia––The era of shelters and rescues concealing dog attack history from prospective adopters is over,  says the Virginia state legislature,  effective July 1,  2018.""

https://www.animals24-7.org/2018/05/30/virginia-bars-shelters-rescues-from-hiding-dogs-bite-history/

This is in addition to so many attacks and deaths by recently adopted dogs, especially pits. 

We must do better adoptions. The movement of more adoptions is not the path, better adoptions. Pushing pets out the door to brag about numbers is unethical. Unfortunately the horrible Hayden Law forces this path on our shelters, no longer can all their experience dictate what is in the best interest of our pets and public safety. Please repeal the Hayden.