In "Didn't see THAT coming!" news, the founder of Dogs Deserve Better, the group that took over michael vick's property in Virginia and turned it into a dog sanctuary, has been charged with animal cruelty.
Allegedly, they used mace and tasers to discipline the dogs held there (though that's a weird charge to make up, who knows, it may be the result of some disgruntled ex-staff looking for revenge).
In addition to the mace and tasering charges, the article states...
"...and dogs are being crated for long periods, up to 19 hours a day. According to
the warrant, injured and sick dogs are not getting proper veterinary care..."
Huh?
That sounds a lot like our not-so-friendly neighborhood animal "shelter," doesn't it?
Why isn't the ASPCA using their legal powers to enforce animal cruelty laws in NYC?
Harris Bloom
Founder/President
Stewie to the Rescue
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
ANOTHER Reason Not To Dump Your Pet At The Shelter...
According to this article, babies growing up with animals are healthier than those who don't, as their germs may actually help our immune system.
ANOTHER reason not to dump your pet at the shelter just cause you're having a baby!
Harris Bloom
President/Founder
Stewie to the Rescue
ANOTHER reason not to dump your pet at the shelter just cause you're having a baby!
Harris Bloom
President/Founder
Stewie to the Rescue
Monday, August 20, 2012
The Royal Dog Boy???
This is obviously a sad story, as it appears that a few of the Queens' dogs attacked one of Princess Beatrix's dogs.
Having said that, there are a few funny takeaways from the article linked to...
1 - An insider described the person walking the dogs as "The Queen's dog boy."
First of all, the "dog boy" is a person, right? England doesn't have half-human, half-dog things runnin' around, I presume.
Also, is that how the Queen refers to him (it?)... Dog Boy? Why am I picturing the Queen ringing a bell, while summoning him with, "Oh dog boy, come hither!"
2 - The title of the story puts quotes around the word "attack."
Why?
Is the editor telling us something here without saying it? Does he (or she) not believe that those bite marks were made by the dogs in question?
3 - To confirm my suspicions, the sub-heading uses the word "allegedly" while referring to the corgis "attack."
Allegedly?
Are they saying allegedly as it hasn't been proven in a court of law that it was, in fact, the Corgis? I can't wait for that trial.
Maybe they can't believe it wasn't a pit bull, given England's feelings about pitties.
Or, is The Telegraph telling us they don't think it was the Queen's Corgis? Do they know something here? Maybe they did their own investigation, and though they don't have they think it was something else, or maybe someone else. Or maybe both... that's right...
Dog Boy!
Harris Bloom
Founder/President
Stewie to the Rescue
Having said that, there are a few funny takeaways from the article linked to...
1 - An insider described the person walking the dogs as "The Queen's dog boy."
First of all, the "dog boy" is a person, right? England doesn't have half-human, half-dog things runnin' around, I presume.
Also, is that how the Queen refers to him (it?)... Dog Boy? Why am I picturing the Queen ringing a bell, while summoning him with, "Oh dog boy, come hither!"
2 - The title of the story puts quotes around the word "attack."
Why?
Is the editor telling us something here without saying it? Does he (or she) not believe that those bite marks were made by the dogs in question?
3 - To confirm my suspicions, the sub-heading uses the word "allegedly" while referring to the corgis "attack."
Allegedly?
Are they saying allegedly as it hasn't been proven in a court of law that it was, in fact, the Corgis? I can't wait for that trial.
Maybe they can't believe it wasn't a pit bull, given England's feelings about pitties.
Or, is The Telegraph telling us they don't think it was the Queen's Corgis? Do they know something here? Maybe they did their own investigation, and though they don't have they think it was something else, or maybe someone else. Or maybe both... that's right...
Dog Boy!
Harris Bloom
Founder/President
Stewie to the Rescue
Friday, August 17, 2012
Next Time, Bring A German Sherpa, Rather Than A German Shepherd
This story, at first moves me to tears, then infuriates me...
Quick synopsis - This guy goes hiking up a 15,000 foot mountain with his German Shepard and another hiker. Due to a storm moving in, and the dog's already poor condition, he left the dog up there when they scaled back down.
Another hiker, along with his wife, found the dog a few days later. The dog was injured and too big (over 100 pounds) for them to get down to safety, so they patched her up as best they could and went down for help.
Eventually, a team of rescuers made it up to the dog, and they saved her! Tears!
Now, for the infuriating part...
The owner, one Anthony Ortolani, wants his dog back.
He's got to be kidding. I understand him leaving the dog up there, but to make no attempt to find her after the storm passed!
Not only wouldn't I give him "his" dog, but I hope he gets cited for animal cruelty (which may be forthcoming)...
Note to Anthony - Next time you scale a mountain, bring a German Sherpa, rather than a German Shepherd.
Harris Bloom
Founder/President
Stewie to the Rescue
Quick synopsis - This guy goes hiking up a 15,000 foot mountain with his German Shepard and another hiker. Due to a storm moving in, and the dog's already poor condition, he left the dog up there when they scaled back down.
Another hiker, along with his wife, found the dog a few days later. The dog was injured and too big (over 100 pounds) for them to get down to safety, so they patched her up as best they could and went down for help.
Eventually, a team of rescuers made it up to the dog, and they saved her! Tears!
Now, for the infuriating part...
The owner, one Anthony Ortolani, wants his dog back.
He's got to be kidding. I understand him leaving the dog up there, but to make no attempt to find her after the storm passed!
Not only wouldn't I give him "his" dog, but I hope he gets cited for animal cruelty (which may be forthcoming)...
Note to Anthony - Next time you scale a mountain, bring a German Sherpa, rather than a German Shepherd.
Harris Bloom
Founder/President
Stewie to the Rescue
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
My Friend, The Idiot
Knowing that I recently became a vegetarian, when my friend invited me to his barbeque, he felt the need to pull me aside to say, "Don't worry, for you, I am making turkey burgers."
Harris Bloom
Founder/President
Stewie to the Rescue
Harris Bloom
Founder/President
Stewie to the Rescue
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Book Covers
Dunno if any other animal, and specifically pit bull, advocates feel this way, but although I preach not to judge dogs by their breed (or looks), I can't help but judge people in my neighborhood, when I see them walking an un-neutered pit bull with a chain, or spiked collar.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Pet Ownership Down Since 2006
Dunno if you've seen this, but it looks like the economy has definitely affected pet ownership.
Americans own 2MM fewer dogs and over 7MM fewer cats than they did in 2006. Not a shock.
What should be shocking (but isn't) is that people are spending more on vets than ever. Dog owners spent 18.6% more in 2011 than 2006, a huge increase, especially given the lower ownership. Expenses for cats rose 4.2%.
There really needs to be something done. Vet expenses are insane. People don't bat an eye to pay when Dr. XXX says Muffy needs x-rays. MRI's and surgery's when Muffy is hurting, because our pets are our children... but unless these costs get under control (and vets become more human), pet ownership will continue to fall.
Harris Bloom
Founder/President
Stewie to the Rescue
Americans own 2MM fewer dogs and over 7MM fewer cats than they did in 2006. Not a shock.
What should be shocking (but isn't) is that people are spending more on vets than ever. Dog owners spent 18.6% more in 2011 than 2006, a huge increase, especially given the lower ownership. Expenses for cats rose 4.2%.
There really needs to be something done. Vet expenses are insane. People don't bat an eye to pay when Dr. XXX says Muffy needs x-rays. MRI's and surgery's when Muffy is hurting, because our pets are our children... but unless these costs get under control (and vets become more human), pet ownership will continue to fall.
Harris Bloom
Founder/President
Stewie to the Rescue
Friday, August 3, 2012
Meet The Rescuers! Part 4, with Donna Darrell of Rebound Hounds!
Welcome to the 4th Edition of my Frost/Nixon-esque interview series, Meet the Rescuers! Today, we're talking to Donna Darrell of Rebound Hounds...
First of all, I can't believe how fast you responded - Do you have some sort of obsessive gene?
I do!
How many years have you been rescuing animals and why did you start?
Since Nov 2010
How many years has Rebound Hounds been around?
Since Nov 2010
Nope i didn't know anything about rescue. In 2002 i even bought my bulldog from a pet store. when he died in Nov 2009 i was ready to go to another pet store to buy one then found out about puppy mills.
How do you find homes for your dogs?
We find homes for our dogs via PetFinder, Craigslist, Facebook, Adopt-a-Pet and word of mouth.
How do you decide which animals to pull?
We'll (my rescue partners) talk about the dogs that are out there, but mostly it happens when someone reaches out to us and wants to save that particular animal.
The last person I interviewed, told me that the ACC is getting better (see Susan Cava's interview) - Do you agree, disagree or have no comment?
I really don't know if the ACC is getting better. They aren't funded properly so they cannot be doing better by the animals.
We are getting dogs that have been so sick and it has not been communicated to us.
Actually by pulling these sick dogs (we pulled 6 that had pneumonia in May/June) they didn't tell us therefore burdening the rescues.
So i would then need to disagree. I think they are fine tuning things as far as communication, but don't see an overall improvement.
Do you have goals for your rescue? If so, what are they?
Well we haven't really been discussing goals but we are definitely learning by experience. I mean ultimately, having a "place" where we can keep our dogs instead of boarding would be ideal, but that's not a revenue making opportunity. We would have no way of funding that.
How often, and for how long, do you follow-up with people who have adopted your dogs?
We follow up with many many adopters. They keep us updated with pics on Facebook, emails etc. We just got one today that a foster took 2 cats (to adopt) and a dog to foster in April. She told us that she had to remove the eye of one of the cats because the vet said it needed to come out. They got back the results of the tests they did and they said had they not removed the eye (it was cancerous) it would have metastasized and it could have been a lot worse.
Just last week an adopter of ours stepped up to foster Bubby. We vetted her but she wasn't getting better. So our foster took her to her vet and spend $1200 of her own money and in the end we had to put her down.
She had possible brain damage, fused vertebrae, kidney failure etc. We didn't know anything about her health issues from the shelter.
First of all, I can't believe how fast you responded - Do you have some sort of obsessive gene?
I do!
How many years have you been rescuing animals and why did you start?
Since Nov 2010
How many years has Rebound Hounds been around?
Since Nov 2010
So, wait, you didn't know anything about rescue and started a rescue? Like how did you even learn about the whole rescue "business?"
I went on Craigslist late Nov 2009 and looked to foster a dog and began fostering with Loren who is now my rescue partner. She was working with different rescues and we just liked each other. She always wanted to have her own rescue and asked me if I wanted to be part of it. I didn't like the woman Paula who was going in on it, so i declined. In the end, they told Paula that they couldn't work with her. So by Oct - Nov 2010 we started pulling.
I learned whatever i know from Loren.
How many animals has Rebound Hounds saved?
From Oct/Nov 2010 to today 7/25/12 we saved 413 animals from the ACC.
How do you get most of your funding?
100% of our funding comes from private donations.
I learned whatever i know from Loren.
How many animals has Rebound Hounds saved?
From Oct/Nov 2010 to today 7/25/12 we saved 413 animals from the ACC.
How do you get most of your funding?
100% of our funding comes from private donations.
How do you find homes for your dogs?
We find homes for our dogs via PetFinder, Craigslist, Facebook, Adopt-a-Pet and word of mouth.
How do you decide which animals to pull?
We'll (my rescue partners) talk about the dogs that are out there, but mostly it happens when someone reaches out to us and wants to save that particular animal.
The last person I interviewed, told me that the ACC is getting better (see Susan Cava's interview) - Do you agree, disagree or have no comment?
I really don't know if the ACC is getting better. They aren't funded properly so they cannot be doing better by the animals.
We are getting dogs that have been so sick and it has not been communicated to us.
Actually by pulling these sick dogs (we pulled 6 that had pneumonia in May/June) they didn't tell us therefore burdening the rescues.
So i would then need to disagree. I think they are fine tuning things as far as communication, but don't see an overall improvement.
Do you have goals for your rescue? If so, what are they?
Well we haven't really been discussing goals but we are definitely learning by experience. I mean ultimately, having a "place" where we can keep our dogs instead of boarding would be ideal, but that's not a revenue making opportunity. We would have no way of funding that.
How often, and for how long, do you follow-up with people who have adopted your dogs?
We follow up with many many adopters. They keep us updated with pics on Facebook, emails etc. We just got one today that a foster took 2 cats (to adopt) and a dog to foster in April. She told us that she had to remove the eye of one of the cats because the vet said it needed to come out. They got back the results of the tests they did and they said had they not removed the eye (it was cancerous) it would have metastasized and it could have been a lot worse.
Just last week an adopter of ours stepped up to foster Bubby. We vetted her but she wasn't getting better. So our foster took her to her vet and spend $1200 of her own money and in the end we had to put her down.
She had possible brain damage, fused vertebrae, kidney failure etc. We didn't know anything about her health issues from the shelter.
What do you do when you're not rescuing animals?
Walking dogs, boarding dogs and doing lots administration duties for the rescue.
Whats your favorite TV show?
Actually a lot of the "reality" shows on Bravo (head held in shame).
Walking dogs, boarding dogs and doing lots administration duties for the rescue.
Whats your favorite TV show?
Actually a lot of the "reality" shows on Bravo (head held in shame).
How would you spend all the free time you'd have if you never got into rescue?
I remember before I was in rescue, I would do lots of soul searching trying to figure out what is it i wanted to do. What were my hobbies.... This is it now.
Name something about you that most people don't know...
I remember before I was in rescue, I would do lots of soul searching trying to figure out what is it i wanted to do. What were my hobbies.... This is it now.
Name something about you that most people don't know...
I finished high school six months early.
Well, aren't you something! BTW - you have an interesting name - three letters are repeated and both names start with the same letter (I'm guessing you already knew this)
My whole life, I have been told I had a movie stars name. LOL.
I've been told I have an accountant's name.
You do! LOL.
Thanks.
To learn more about Donna's work with Rebound Hounds, go to their website here.
My whole life, I have been told I had a movie stars name. LOL.
I've been told I have an accountant's name.
You do! LOL.
Thanks.
To learn more about Donna's work with Rebound Hounds, go to their website here.
Harris Bloom
Founder/President
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