Those running on empty need your help

An emergency situation concerning humans and animals has arisen and the readers of this blog are the very people who can help.

There is a homeless camp in the southeast area of Gainesville, Florida, called "Tent City." There are humans, cats, and dogs living here - all God's creatures without homes, banded together to survive on very little.

People in this situation are the most vulnerable among us and need to be provided with a safe space to rest, to sleep, especially children. Unfortunately, these "tent cities" do not enjoy zealous protection from the dangerous elements of society and security is not assured.

There were two stabbings at the Gainesville "Tent City" this past week and now the property owners are asking the police to "enforce the trespass laws" and evict the tenants by Thursday, June 11. (It's important to note the perpetrator was not a usual visitor to the "city." He had twice been convicted of homicide, yet amazingly recently released from prison.)

The people whose lives had no roots before will be uprooted once again and their next step in life unknown. Some of the homeless people will attempt to keep a pet with them - yes, homeless people often have pets too! But most of the animals will be left behind and will face disease, abuse, starvation or death.

If you can help the people, please contact Saint Francis House Homeless Shelter & Soup Kitchen at 352-378-9079. Donations of time and/or money would be appreciated.

You can help the animals by donating money to area animal groups who are actively engaged in helping these animals, by fostering and/or adopting one of the animals soon to be in need of a good home, by providing transportation to help with the round up of abandoned pets, pet carriers, pet food, leashes, collars and other pet supplies, please contact Elizabeth Howard, coordinator of the Home Van Pet Care Project at holisticliz@hotmail.com.

Hell is for animals too

One of the most poignant songs I've ever heard is, "Hell is for Children", sung by Pat Benatar. Pat was, of course, referring to child abuse and one line in the song was especially powerful, "...you shouldn't have to pay for your love with your bones and your flesh."

Nor should animals. I hate to report this, but according to Pet-Abuse.com, Florida is #1 in the nation when it comes to cruelty to animals. When I read that, it hurt my heart. There are so many wonderful, loving people in this state, many who, with limited financial and physical resources, devote their lives to the well-being of all kinds of animals.

Given that, I have reason to believe the trend can be reversed.

One area where change is starting to manifest itself is the way in which domestic violence shelters deal with their clients who have left pets in the very homes they fled. Many had little choice at the time. Most domestic violence shelters don't have accommodations for pets. I used to work at such a facility years ago and I once mentioned this very topic to our director. While she was a sympathetic cat person, her reply was a bit out of touch, "Well, the men won't hurt the pets."

Well, yes, they do. Unfortunately, we've learned that when a woman leaves, the chance for harm to come to the remaining "family" pet nearly quadruples. The anger, the violence, hasn't left the house and a dog, cat, rabbit, or other smaller animal makes a handy and helpless target.

Harbor House of Central Florida and the Central Florida Humane Society’s PAWS program have joined forces to create an on-site kennel for about 15 pets. Now women who have fled a violent life with their companion animal can be assured of the pets protection as well. The project will be complete in early 2010.

You can help! To donate or support the program, please contact Carol Wick at Harbor House at 407-886-2244.

For those needing such services, Harbor House has a 24-Hour Crisis Hotline which can be reached by calling 800-500-1119.

Found: Canine Octo Mom

The headline reads, "Florida couple's pit bull gives birth to 20 puppies". The mom, a pit bull, is barely 1-1/2 years old. The couple's 13-month-old male pit is the father. There are 10 males puppies and 10 females.

The couple said they would like to keep all 20 puppies, but can't, so in lieu of that, they said they just "want them all to go to good homes."

Oh, really? Well, if that happens, they will go to homes where their human guardians will have them spayed and/or neutered as soon as they are old enough so they will never have to go through what their parents just did!

The couple didn't say if they'd be placing a "FREE PUPPIES" ad to find those great homes for all those puppies, but if they do, these precious darlings will more than likely be relegated to a life in the dog fighting industry. But if they get that "good home" the couple fantasizes about - and we pray that they will - they will not be used as a "feeder" pup or one of the dogs trained to fight another to the death.

If indeed however, 20 loving, humane families are found for the puppies, they will get quality veterinarian care, timely immunizations, regular heartworm testing and weekly or monthly heartworm and flea/tick preventatives. They will be warm in the winter and cool in the summer. They will not live outside, will not be tied to anything, but when outside to do their business and to romp and play, they will be protected by a fenced yard and a watchful guardian. They will not be allowed to roam the neighborhood and will be properly leashed and supervised when in public. They will be humanely trained to earn the distinction of "good dog!"

It would be nice if the puppies' parents could have that kind of life too.

Florida Legislation to help animals

THIS WAS SENT TO US FROM THE ANIMAL RIGHTS FOUNDATION OF FLORIDA:

Last week of legislative session - Animals need your help!

Friday is the scheduled end of the 2009 Florida legislative session (the session may be extended one-week). Two important bills that would impact animals in Florida remain undecided.

RE: Sexual Activities Involving Animals
Yesterday, the Florida Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 448 (introduced by Sen. Nan Rich), which would prohibit sexual contact with animals. But the companion bill, HB 273 (introduced by Rep. William D. Snyder), has yet to be scheduled for a vote in the Florida House.

Please contact Rep. Bill Galvano, Chair of the Rules & Calendar Council, and urge him to bring HB 273, "Sexual Activities Involving Animals", to the floor of the Florida House of Representatives for a vote.

Contact:

Rep. Bill Galvano
Chair, Rules & Calendar Council
Go here to send email to Rep. Galvano
Phone: (850) 488-4086

RE: Greyhound racing
The Florida House and Senate remain divided about whether or not to expand gambling in Florida. One proposal under consideration is to allow greyhound and horse tracks to add "Historic racing" games, computerized machines that replay previously run, but unidentifiable, races that viewers can bet on. These games have been called "slot machines in disguise." If approved, the profits from these games will prop-up dog tracks, ensuring that the cruelty of dog racing will continue for years to come.

The following legislators are members of a committee tasked with creating a compromise gambling bill. Please contact each member and urge them to oppose the addition of "historic racing" games or slot machines at dog tracks and other pari-mutual facilities in Florida.

Contact:

Representative Sandy Adams
Send an e-mail here
Phone: (850) 488-0468

Senator Ken Pruitt
E-mail: pruitt.ken.web@flsenate.gov
Phone: (850) 487-5088

Representative D. Alan Hays
Send an e-mail here
Phone: (850) 488-0348

Representative Joseph Abruzzo
Send an e-mail here
Phone: (850) 488-4791

Representative Joe Gibbons
Send an e-mail here
Phone: (850) 488-0145

Senator Dennis Jones
E-mail: jones.dennis.web@flsenate.gov
Phone: (850) 487-5065

Senator Ted Deutch
E-mail: deutch.ted.web@flsenate.gov
Phone: (850) 487-5091

Senator Alex Diaz de la Portilla
E-mail: portilla.alex.web@flsenate.gov
Phone: (850) 487-5109

Tails a-wagging about Twitter

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Ew, dog spit! Not so fast.

Remember the times when Snoopy would plant a big ol' smacker on little Lucy van Pelt and how she would run away screaming, "Germs! Disease! Infection!" - yes, those were the days.

I'm sure Lucy would be aghast to hear what Kansas State University veterinarian Kate Stenske has to say about dog spit. Stenske studied the incidence of the E. coli bacteria in both dogs and their people. The results? Dog people who were OK with face-licking were no more likely to harbor the bacteria than those who were not OK with canine smooches.

Here's the part of the study that won't really surprise dog people. People with pets had more multiple-drug resistant strains than their pets. That means people are more likely to spread the E. coli bacteria to their pet, rather than the other way around.

So, it appears, sleeping with your dog and allowing him to give your face a few licks isn't going to increase the threat of you acquiring the E. coli bacteria. But you should still wash your hands after petting your dog since you don't want to give her the germs!

The study is scheduled to appear in an upcoming issue of the

American Journal of Veterinary Research.

Aid for Pets

I talked about this in November and I finally got a page together. Aid for Pets is in the early stages, but I'm adding new info every week.

If you have any resources that could help people having problems keeping their pets - and keeping them healthy - during these precarious economic times, please leave a comment below.