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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.

MEGA ADOPTION EVENT !!!

PET ADOPTIONS AT BLOOMINGTON

MARC STEINORTH PROVES TO BE DOG'S BEST FRIEND

Once again Marc Steinorth, Assemblyman for the 40th Assembly District, sponsored adoptions at the local shelters, Devore being just one of those. Thank you, Marc, for being a friend to our shelter pets.

PAWS PET RANCH VICTIMS ARE READY FOR ADOPTION

POOR CRUELTY LAWS IN WASHINGTON STATE, BUT PETS ARE STILL BEING SHIPPED THERE

Washington State has become the major dumping ground for pets pulled from Southern California shelters. Look at Olympia Sanctuary, OAS, Devore dogs were left there and when OAS was finally shut down, those dumping rescuers didn't go back for the Devore dogs. 

The Shepherds Way fiasco, actual terrorists as well as a 'sanctuary' where California dogs were dumped. The well known attorney for these less than reputable rescues, Marla Tauscher, sent this poor dog to this place and now she won't do right and get that dog out of that place. 

Now there is another one, another dumping ground for California rescuers/transporters. Outta sight, outta mind is the present day mentality of those following the No Kill movement. It is these people that are causing so much harm to the shelter pets. 

""The reports show Gold dumped 50 dogs at the shelter simply because she had “too many dogs.” She also turned over 18 dogs to JAS for euthanization. Conversely, Furever Homes gets weekly deliveries of dogs indiscriminately pulled from shelters in California or taken off the streets of Mexico. Gold then tries to adopt out the dogs as quickly as possible, usually without a comprehensive medical exam or behavior testing.""

http://www.seattledogspot.com/dog-adoption-rescue/furever-homes-dog-rescue-100-cases-thurston-county-animal-control-since-2010/

Rescue means taking a pet and providing it with better than it had. Not these days. These people aren't rescuers, they are the ones who make the problems. No KIll is slow kill, ship them to places like the above and forget about them. The state of the humane community is a disgrace these days. 

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!
Join us at the Devore Animal Shelter this Sunday May 22 for super savings. Enjoy our Pet Fair special pricing all day at the Devore Animal Shelter.

EXPOSURE TO RABIES, SPEND $12 INSTEAD, VACCINATE YOUR PETS

This piece delves into the cost of an unvaccinated dog that contracts rabies and bites.

When the mobile home residents took the mother dog to Town & Country Animal Hospital, Veterinarian Scott Chapman and other staff members (a total of nine) also were exposed to rabies and had to get expensive shots, for being what Chapman called “good Samaritans.”

Those were claimed at $800 each on insurance, he said; and every staff member also had to be inoculated.

If the shots have to include gamma globulin, he said, the bill increases to about $13,000.

He said some got the shots at PRMC’s lower cost, but at another Kerrville vet clinic, they paid workman’s comp.

“The doctors here had pre-exposure shots and when we were exposed we only had to get two more,” Chapman said.compensation $11,000 for post-rabies exposure shots.

“By comparison, at our area veterinarians’ offices, a pet’s rabies vaccine is about $12,” Chapman stressed.

http://www.hccommunityjournal.com/article_98a67354-16d7-11e6-aa37-6f2c9a3b843f.html

 

BEST OF THE HOLIDAYS TO THE STAFF AT DEVORE

This was a posting on facebook and I thought I would share with you.

I don't understand the outrage over Christmas and New Year's Eve, and the concept of employees having a nice Holiday being somehow offensive to people?

Shelter staff are human beings with feelings.
Why are people asking them, expecting them, to sacrifice their children's Christmas mornings, so that more "rescues" can have access to the dogs?

It's just a manufactured crisis wrapped up in a hoax, this story of evil shelter workers who refuse to work Christmas for the dogs, making it "impossible for rescues to rescue".

I am tired of the myth of rescues beating down the doors, and the shelter shutting them out so they can go celebrate the Holidays.
It's just not so..

I'm sorry that the dogs landed in a high kill shelter.
Shelter workers didn't breed and dump these animals.
You'd think they did, by reading the FB comments on pages that ought to know better by now.

If not for the shelter, these dogs would have nowhere to go.
Shelter cannot say no.
They cannot turn their backs
They never do.
But they do have to euthanize for space, or for behavior, or illness.
It is the RIGHT thing to do for those animals.

The shelter staff sees and deals with things most cannot imagine.

Making them feel horrible for doing their job is a form of insanity and an exercise in futility.
And making them feel horrible for taking Christmas off when the City offers it as a benefit?
Please.
Shame on those people who are hating right now.

The shelter employees deserve to have a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year..

I know you understand.

Maybe we can spread the word, combat the hatred, and gently remind people that we are all in the same boat.
Fighting Animal over population together.

Have a Blessed Holiday Season, and thank you all, so much, for caring about the shelter animals after they are pulled.

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY LOOKING GOOD AGAINST MANY OTHER ANIMAL CONTROL AGENCIES

The 2014 Annual Report of Local Rabies Control Activities is out and I would like to do a comparison of San Bernardino County as a whole, compared to neighboring counties. 


San Bernardino County 2014 (Incorporates all the individual agencies that have their own jurisdiction.)

Total live admissions for dogs - 39,933
  Reclaimed - 5,402 or 13.5% of intake
  Adopted - 21,322 or 53.4% of intake
  Euthanized - 9,484 or 23.7% of intake

Total live admissions for cats - 30,580
  Reclaimed - 284 or 1% of intake
  Adopted - 9,800 or 32% of intake
  Euthanized - 15,133 or 49.4% of intake

Riverside County 2014

Total live admissions for dogs - 39,037
  Reclaimed - 6,700 or 17.2% of intake
  Adopted - 12,729 or 32.6% of intake
  Euthanized - 11.154 or 28.5%

Total live admissions for cats - 26,978
  Reclaimed - 419 or 1.5% of intake
  Adopted - 6,316 or 23.4% of intake
  Euthanized - 18,126 or 67.2 of intake

Los Angeles County 2014

Total live admissions for dogs - 97,492
  Reclaimed - 15,860 or 16.3% of intake
  Adopted - 45,517 or 47.7% of intake
  Euthanized - 20,068 or 20.5% of intake

Total live admissions for cats - 83,963
  Reclaimed - 1,193 or 1.4% of intake
  Adopted - 20,544 or 24.5% of intake
  Euthanized - 44,092 or 52.5% of intake

Remember the statistics listed above are for all animal control agencies which provided reports in the respective Counties. 

Now I will referenced Fresno. You may remember they contracted out animal control services to a private vendor and recently have now contracted with a “rescue group” to provide animal control and sheltering services.  A newspaper story reflecting what is occurring in Fresno can be found at: 
http://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article33209376.html  Obviously, their euthanasia rates are high and adoption rates low.

Fresno 2014

Total live admissions for dogs - 21,289
  Reclaimed - 2,414 or 11.3% of intake
  Adopted - 4,947 or 23.2% of intake
  Euthanized - 11.990 or 56.3%

Total live admissions for cats - 11,701
  Reclaimed - 151 or 1.2% of intake
  Adopted - 1,624 or 13.8% of intake
  Euthanized - 9,147 or 78.1% of intake

As for the County of San Bernardino itself and it's owned shelters, the numbers are pretty good if you compare to the above agencies.

San Bernardino County owned shelters only 2014

Total live admissions for dogs - 5,667
  Reclaimed - 631 or 11.1% of intake
  Adopted - 3,985 or 70.3% of intake
  Euthanized - 909 or 16% of intake

Total live admissions of cats - 4,605
  Reclaimed - 37 or .8% of intake
  Adopted - 1,474 or 32% of intake
  Euthanized - 2,925 or 63.5% of intake

STOP THE DUMPING ONTO CANADA

Canada loosened their regulations on importing dogs during the Katrina crisis to help us. But the US has taken advantage of that. Canada has now their previous regulations in place. Are the transporters adhering to that? Nope. Scanning facebook posts, one can see that rescues show no concern for these regulations, no concern for bringing in diseased dogs, no concern for the Canada dogs that die from the taking of homes by imports. They even are tagging dogs as emotional support dogs. Lies, more lies, just so certain people can feed their egos. Many of the transported dogs are ending up in shelters in Canada. Many fall off the face of the earth. 

Less than 8 months of age fall going to another rescue is a commercial category. So false paperwork is done listing foster homes as private adopters. Again, scanning facebook posts, this means that contrary to the public relations done by these transporters/rescues that the dogs have homes waiting for them, the dogs are actually up for grabs. 

Demand regulation of these transports. Actually, demand that they stop. We can't continue to dump onto places that are still euthanizing for time and space. It is immoral and very unethical. 

CANADA: MECCA FOR RESCUE OR EXCUSE FOR DOG FLIPPING?

In a series of three articles, Canadians are exposing the lack of regulations concerning transports of dogs into Canada and what is happening to these dogs.

The stories are heartwarming, saving a thousand dogs at Thanksgiving, flying them all over the country. But is it really that heartwarming? Inhumane transports, dumping with questionable 'rescues' in shopping center parking lots, is this what we want for our shelter pets? The highway to hell is paved with good intentions.

Series of 3 articles

http://infotel.ca/newsitem/vernon-dog-rescue-closes-doors-amidst-infonewsca-investigation/it25612

http://infotel.ca/newsitem/why-this-vernon-dog-rescue-wasnt-the-saving-grace-it-claimed-to-be/it25607

http://infotel.ca/newsitem/the-free-for-all-of-dog-rescuing-and-why-so-much-falls-through-the-cracks/it25618

NO SHELTER SHOULD TURN AWAY A VICIOUS DOG INTO THE COMMUNITY

A woman takes a pit bull to a shelter because it has become aggressive and she can't handle it. The shelter turns her away. A shelter's first priority should be the safety of the community, yet this shelter turned away a threat to their community. This is how No Kill works, how No Kill disregards the first priority of shelters and animal control, the first priority of community safety. 

Why did this shelter turn away a vicious pit bull, what did the shelter think this woman would do with that vicious pit bull? What if she had kids at home? 

""Later on Saturday, animal control officers received reports of a roaming pit-bull near Maltby Lake and looked for the animal, but it was too late."

Instead this explanation was offered by a member of law enforcement, of all people. 

“We don’t have the facilities. We don’t have the resources to take all these animals and, especially if someone comes in and says, ‘Hey my dog is vicious.’ That’s not the city’s responsibility to take your dog that was mistrained.” Tamarro said.

Hey, you take the dog and euthanize it. What resources do you need to do that? This is the No Kill mentality. And West Haven Animal Shelter does list itself as No Kill. 

http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Police-Investigate-After-Pit-Bull-Owner-Tried-to-Give-to-Shelter-Dies-360106151.html

PETS TO VETS ADOPTION EVENT