Another Failure for Breed-Specific Legislation

Ontario, Canada enacted a pit bull ban in 2005 due to several incidents of dog bites in summer of 2004.  Pit bull owners are required to spay/neuter their dogs as well as muzzle and leash them in public. Those owners that don’t follow the law have their pit bulls seized and euthanized. Recently, the Toronto Humane Society did a study of dog bites in the municipalities of Ontario and found that bites did not reduce significantly in the years following the ban. Click the link below for more details about the issue.

http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100428/pitbull-ban-criticism-100428/20100428?hub=Toronto

I bring this issue to your attention because the State of Texas currently has a ban on breed-specific legislation but that could change at any time. Garland is petitioning the state for special permission to enact breed-specific laws. Let your representatives know that the citizens of Texas do not support the banning or killing of dogs based on breed, but that you do support holding owners accountable for the actions of their dogs.

Love-A-Bull based out of Austin, Texas has a petition on their website that you can download, complete and mail back to them. They will present the petitions to our state representatives.

http://love-a-bull.org/

Remember to love on and play with your animals daily (and your kids too!)

Animal Education Opportunities for Kids

If you are looking for something educational for your kids this summer consider enrolling them in one of the summer camps offered by Operation Kindness or SPCA of Texas. These camps are a great way for your child to learn about animals from experienced shelter workers and interact with shelter animals.

Check out these websites for more information about the camps, cost, etc.

www.spca.org

www.operationkindness.org

New updates soon!

I apologize to all my readers for my disappearing act. I was working nonstop for a couple of months, but now I’m back. I need to get caught up on all the events for the past few months, and then I can resume posting!

More Shame for Garland – Another Texas City Ends Gassing

Good news for the animals of Sulphur Springs! The Sulphur Springs city council has voted to end gassing in their city. For those that aren’t familiar with the city, Sulphur Springs is located 80 miles east of Dallas with a population of about 15,000. The city council voted in favor of the change from gassing to lethal injection because the Sulphur Springs shelter employees requested it. I have to ask the obvious – why isn’t the management at Garland Animal Shelter requesting progressive changes to their shelter? I’m tired of the excuses that the management gives for why they don’t change. I would like to see them at a city council meeting in a public forum defending their policies and procedures.  

Again, please write your councilperson about your concerns and continue doing so. They need to know how we feel about these issues. And let all of your friends know about this – the more public pressure, the better.

As always, I welcome all comments and suggestions.

New Organization Does Garland Adoptions

Feeling overwhelmed and frustrated by the controversy that is going on in Garland over the policies of Garland Animal Services? Here is a way to actively help save the lives of dogs and cats from the Garland shelter. Garland Pawsabilities (formerly Garland Bark Park) has been reorganized and is now focused on adoptions of Garland Animal Shelter animals. On the third Saturday of every month, they hold an adoption event in Garland near Firewheel Town Center and are looking for volunteers. These adoptions events have been very successful in increasing the adoption rate of shelter animals.  Please consider volunteering a couple of hours on a Saturday. Saving the life of one dog or cat from the shelter or euthanasia is worth your time.

Visit their website garlandpawsablities.org for contact information.

Valentine’s Day Pictures

Celebrate Valentine’s Day by getting professional pics of your pet for only $10!  Proceeds will benefit Animal Allies of Texas – a nonprofit rescue group based in Garland, TX.

Location: 5401 N Garland Ave, Garland, TX

When: February 13, 2010 , 1 pm to 4 pm

Cost: $10 for the first picture, $5 for each additional picture

Please come out to support Animal Allies of Texas!

Change on the Way!

Let’s hope so anyway…

There is an article in the Dallas Morning News online edition that gives me hope that there is change on the way. The Animal Services Commission may be recommending some changes to the shelter policies that will have a positive effect on animal services. They are looking to start adopting out pit bulls that have been determined to have a good temperament instead of just automatically sentencing them to death. This is great news in several ways!

First, pit bulls are great dogs! Any responsible pit bull owner will tell you that they are the best dog - smart, loyal, obedient. They deserve a chance at a great life!

Second, this will reduce the euthanasia rate at the shelter which is great for everyone involved.

Third, this could be the start of a change in Garland from solving dog problems with euthanasia to progressive policies that are much more effective. Education of the public about responsible dog ownership and enforcement of laws that protect animals are much needed in Garland.

So, now I need your help. Please contact your citycouncil person and let them know that you support positive change at Garland Animal Services. The city needs to know how you feel about this. Consider attending the city council meeting on Tuesday, January 19th at 7pm to show your support.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-garanimal_16met.ART.State.Edition1.4bc5a45.html

http://www.ci.garland.tx.us/Home/City+Hall/Council+Agendas+and+Minutes/

New Policies for Garland Animal Services

Why is Garland Animal Services so content to keep the same animal control policies year after year? Why do they insist on not changing when it’s painfully obvious that what they do does not work? In so many other areas Garland is progressive – from it’s neighborhood revitalization, free lunch programs for kids during the summer, city programs to educate citizens about conservation and recycling, and even a liberal trash pickup program, Garland is a great place to live.

But if you are a dog or cat dropped off at the shelter or picked up on the street, Garland is a terrible place to live. Your chances for adoption are slim, and if you are a pitbull (or just look a bit similar to one), you are immediately sentenced to death if your “original owner” does not claim you.

What else is Garland Animal Services doing wrong?

- Lack of spay/neuter program even though they have an in-house veterinarian

- Pictures posted on pet adoption websites are less than appealing. You can barely see the animal and no information on breed, weight, etc. is included.

- Have not promoted good working relationships with rescue groups, thereby euthanizing animals that could be saved. 

I could name many other issues, but you get the picture. I know that shelter workers have a difficult job, a job that I could never do. But I firmly believe that if the management of Garland Animal Services really cared about animals, these policies could be changed at little cost to the city especially if a volunteer group would be allowed to help.

THE GAS CHAMBER…GARLAND’S SHAME

How unfortunate that Steve Blow allowed himself to be a pawn of the Garland City Council and Animal Shelter.Had he not been so woefully ignorant of their tactics, I am sure that he would have been insulted by the fact that they were trying to divert him from the real issue which is the Gas Chamber and the fact that Garland is the only Texas city of its size that still uses Co euthanasia. Surely he would not have written the piece that the Dallas Morning News published on Sunday.

Time and time again the City Council and Animal Shelter have used diversionary tactics to obscure the fact that they still use the gas chamber to kill animals.

While overpopulation and human indifference, ignorance and cruelty are HUGE problems in Garland, this has nothing to do with the fact that the Shelter still uses the gas chamber.Through no fault of their own, the animals unfortunate enough to end up in the Shelter will be sent to the gas chamber where they will suffer an excruciatingly painful death. Had he been better informed, Mr. Blowwould have kept the focus on the fact that the City Council and Shelter refuse to do anything about this deplorable situation.

Mr Blow should have insisted that the Garland City Council and Animal Shelter have the courage, the conviction and thecompassion to step u up to the plate and do the right thing…REMOVE THE GAS CHAMBERS IMMEDIATELY…STOP THE GASSING AT ONCE…AND END THE SUFFERING OF INNOCENT ANIMALS NOW.

In my opinion Mr. Blow appears to be a victim of the policies and politics of the Garland City Council and Animal Shelter….although to a MUCH lesser degree than the poor animals that are routinely killed in the gas chamber.

A New Year, A New Garland Animal Services

As we approach 2010, let’s make a resolution (one we actually keep) to make improvements to Garland Animal Services. To do this, we need the support of citizens, the city council, the mayor and the media. Make it your mission to get this support. Contact the mayor’s office, your city councilperson, newspapers, tv stations and talk to your friends, family, coworkers, etc about all the issues that need to be addressed. It’s VERY important that those in city government understand that Garland citizens want improvements to animal services in Garland. They need to remember that they answer to the citizens.

I will use this blog to report on issues and provide relevant, objective information. Use this blog to make your comments and to connect with other citizens who support these changes. I know that we can do this!