Spring Newsletter - Humane Society of Utah

Speaking of
4242 South 300 West • Murray, UT 84107
(801) 261-2919 • www.utahhumane.org
Animals
Spring 2014
The Humane Society of Utah is dedicated to the elimination of pain, fear, and suffering in all animals.
Four Years of Hope and Hard Work Reach
GRAND FINALE!
Page 3
Goals for 2014
The 2nd Annual
“Wags to Wishes” Gala is Coming!
Humane Society of Utah — 1960
Page 6
Luxurious Surroundings
for HSU’s Rabbit Community
Humane Society of Utah — 1990
Page 4
Page 5
Bright Future for Handicapped
Puppy, Thanks to HSU
Page 7
Plus:
Special HSU Animals Sparkle at Sundance,
A Sweet Adoption Follow-up,
Heartbreak on Capitol Hill, and more!
Humane Society of Utah — 2014
Second Annual “Humane Lobby Day” at Capitol
Board of Directors
a Great Success!
Craig S. Cook, President
Dr. Eric Belnap, Vice President
Dr. JoAnn B. Seghini, Secretary
Randy John, Treasurer
Directors:
Timothy R. Pack, Steve Starley,
Tim J. Williams, Susan Wood
Administrative Staff
Gene Baierschmidt, Executive Director
Paul Chapin, DVM, Veterinarian
Shama Chapin, DVM, Veterinarian
John Paul Fox, Chief Investigator
Pauline Edwards, Director of Clinic
Susan Carpenter, Director of Shelter
Jamie Usry, Director of Development
Carlene Wall, Director of Operations
Carl Arky, Director of Communications
Katharine Brant, Director of
Publications and Membership
Oliver Schmidt, IT Manager
Loraine Delgadillo, Business Manager /
Human Resources
Lesa Essary, Volunteer Coordinator
Jessica Almeida, Animal Transfer Coordinator
Barbara Conrad, Foster Animal Coordinator
Rachel Kelly, Special Events Coordinator
Services Provided
Adoption of animals to qualified homes
Low-cost sterilization surgeries
v Receiving of unwanted animals
v Preventive immunizations
v Investigation of animal abuse and neglect
v Animal rescues
v Humane education and pet-facilitated therapy
v
v
For further information on services provided
by HSU, call (801)261-2919 during business hours.
Remember, HSU is your shelter.
We are here to help the animals of Utah.
Please help maintain and support our programs
with your contributions.
The Humane Society of Utah is
an independent 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization
that is not affiliated with any other group, nationally
or locally. We receive no funding from taxes or any
source other than your contributions.
Incorporated 1960
4242 South 300 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84107-1415
Telephone: (801) 261-2919
Fax: (801) 261-9577
www.utahhumane.org
© 2014 Humane Society of Utah. All rights reserved.
On February 6th a crowd of nearly 100 concerned citizens met at the Utah State Capitol for Humane
Lobby Day, sponsored by HSU, the HSUS, and the ASPCA to educate our lawmakers about animalprotection issues, specifically the strengthening of our cockfighting laws, and to give constituents tips
on how to communicate with their legislators more effectively. Even though the cockfighting bill failed
again, we’ll keep introducing it, and each year we learn more from exercises like this one.
On February 6, 2014, members and supporters of the Humane Society of Utah, the
Humane Society of the United States, and the American Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals converged on the State Capitol Building for the observance of our
second annual Humane Lobby Day, an opportunity for ordinary citizens to learn about
effective communication with their legislators concerning their opinions and wishes.
And it was a huge success. More than 80 citizen lobbyists gathered on the Hill to tell
their representatives to vote “YES!” on SB 112, “Game Fowl Fighting Amendments,”
sponsored by Senator Gene Davis and co-sponsored by Representative Johnny Anderson.
As you all remember, the same bill passed very nicely in the Senate last year, but was
defeated in the House. Unfortunately, the same thing happened this year (please see
p. 8), but we’re determined eventually to get stronger laws passed against the brutal
“sport” of cockfighting, as most of the rest of the country already has.
HSU Leads the Charge
HSU Executive Director Gene Baierschmidt opened the
official proceedings with a rousing address about why we, as
voting constituents, should not allow our state to remain so
far behind the rest of the nation in our protection of animals.
The audience took this message to heart and enthusiastically
expressed their eagerness to let their legislators know how we
feel about this issue. Many Representatives were called out
from the House floor to speak with these animal advocates;
lawmakers need to listen, and understood why it’s a travesty of
justice that cockfighting is not yet a felony offense in Utah.
Currently, we rank 43rd among all the states in the country
regarding our animal-protection laws. The passage of SB 112
would have allowed Utah to join the ranks of enlightened states
that have already taken a tough stance on this barbaric activity.
HSU Executive Director
Gene Baierschmidt opened
the day’s activities with a
speech about why humane
laws are important in any
culture, and why prestigious
animal-welfare groups must
act together to effect progress
in getting such laws passed.
THANK YOU to everyone who attended the 2014 Utah
Humane Lobby Day, and a big thanks to the HSUS and the ASPCA for organizing the
conference and providing information, tips on effective lobbying, and an overview of
pending legislation that directly impacts Utah’s animals. We appreciate your concern
for animals, your dedication and commitment, and your invaluable help in this year’s
legislative session. v
As I see things
Four Years of Hope and Hard Work Reach
GRAND FINALE!
Join us May 10th for “The Wait is Over, Rover” Opening Festivities —
the Crowning Touch to our Complete Restructure! — by Gene Baierschmidt
HSU Executive Director
It all started in the fall of 2010 — the Humane Society of Utah’s
first big renovation project since our move from West Valley City
nearly 20 years earlier. Now, almost four years after the groundbreaking ceremonies for this momentous event took place, we’re having a
wonderful party to celebrate the completion of the very last stage of
the entire overhaul, and you’re invited!
Many Miracles Accomplished,
Many Angels to Thank
Briefly, over the past 48 months of planning, designing, digging,
framing, wiring, plumbing, painting, and plastering — to name just a
few of the basics — this is what we’ve accomplished:
• “Kitty City” — the finest feline adoption center in the
western United States, characterized by its roomy, relaxing,
home-like holding facilities and the ease with which cats can
interact with potential adopters
• “The Wait is Over, Rover” Dog Adoption Center and
canine transfer and evaluation wing — this represents the
very last word in doggy digs, from the delightful open-access
kennels for the small dogs of “Tiny Town” to the enormous,
well-lighted indoor “Dawgville” runs for the big guys
• A brand new clinic, including separate canine and feline
entrances and waiting rooms, up-to-the-minute examination
rooms and surgical suites
• Creation of a spacious, separate and completely fitted-out
new Foster Department wing containing all of the unique
supplies and furnishings that babies and other “special-needs”
animals require, well isolated from the activity of the rest of
the shelter
• Completely new administration wing, which offers individual office space, the latest in technology, and all the other
materials needed to keep HSU’s “central nervous system”
running at peak performance
• Expansion and modernization of the Animal Receiving
lobby, with individual reception areas for dogs and cats
• “Bunny Bungalows” — special quarters for the rabbits
located in a quiet part of the facility, offering plenty of space,
exercise equipment, and healthful, appropriate diet
• Fully-stocked retail area where an adopted pet’s family can
pick out high-quality collars, leashes, bedding, toys, treats,
food and just about anything else necessary to send the new
baby home in style
Obviously, all of this cost lots and lots and lots of money. Members
and supporters like all of you certainly played a big part in making the
new HSU possible, and we sincerely thank each and every one of you
who help us out on a regular basis. Thanks to all of you for being the
strong, steady pulse that keeps our lifeblood constantly flowing.
And at this time we’d again like to extend our very deep gratitude
to those individuals whose truly extraordinary gifts allowed us to make
the literally multi-million dollar investments that have transformed
the Humane Society of Utah into one of the most efficient, animalfriendly, physically beautiful, top-of-the-line, hard-working animal
facilities in the country. With paws on our hearts, we most solemnly
thank these Animals’ Angels:
• Drs. George D. and Esther S. Gross, Salt Lake City pediatric
physicians and dog afficionados who made possible the erection of our electronic message boards along the freeway, and
to whom our entire new clinic area is dedicated
• Ronald N. and Darlene Boyce, who throughout their lives
gave abundantly to the community on more fronts than can
be listed here, and whose generosity to HSU allowed “Kitty
City” to come into being
• Robert and Teresa Kay of Vernal, whose bounteous gift in
memory of their own beloved bearded collie dogs is the
foundation of the whole “The Wait is Over, Rover” canine
adoption center that will benefit so many dogs throughout
not just Utah, but our entire rescue-and-transfer web
Please Come to our “Grand Finale” Party
— It Will be Unforgettable!
So please clear your calendars for Saturday, May 10th, and plan to
spend one of the happiest days you could ever imagine right here at
the Humane Society of Utah. Just to remind you, we’ll soon have billboards announcing the big day all around town, magazine ads, notices
on our social media outlets, press releases, and a ten-day-countdown
on our electronic message boards!
The official ribbon-cutting and other ceremonies begin at 10:00
AM, so be sure you’re here early enough that you don’t miss a minute
of the fun. All morning Dave and Deb from Z104 will be broadcasting
live from the shelter, and representatives from the media will be on
hand to film the excitement. Volunteers will be here until 7:00 PM
to give tours and answer questions. AND — every dog adopted from
“Tiny Town” or “Dawgville” on that day will be implanted with a free
microchip.
As if all that isn’t enough, there’ll be non-stop fun going on everywhere outside, too. We’ll have a genuine pet psychic, face-painting,
balloon-animal-makers, booths featuring a dog trainer and a dog
groomer, a bounce castle — something for anybody of any age and any
number of legs. We hope you’ll be there, because — at long last —
The Wait is Over, Rover! v
3
Our Goals for 2014
We’ll Reach Them with Your Help!
For over half a century, the Humane Society of Utah has
been leading the movement to improve the way animals in our
state are regarded and treated. We’ve made tremendous strides
since the days when most people had never even heard of
spaying and neutering their pets, when turkey shoots and
greased-pig chases were considered great family entertainment,
and when people could inflict horrendous injuries on companion
animals with total impunity.
We’ve come a long way, but we’re not going to just rest on
our laurels. There’s still so much to be done, and we’ve already
outlined some of our top priorities for this coming year. One of
the most important, for example, is to save the lives of a total
of 10,000 animals from our shelter each year, and on our website
we’ve got a special banner that’s constantly updated with each
week’s total adoptions, transfers, and other live-releases so you
can keep track of our progress for yourselves.
What We Stand For
Since 1960, the Humane Society of Utah has been sheltering
abandoned animals, fighting cruelty and neglect, and creating an
environment of respect, responsibility, and compassion for all animals
across our state.
2. Foster care in the homes of over 150 volunteers
for special-needs, sick, or baby animals to ensure
adoptability
3. Behavior assessments, positive-reinforcement training,
and enrichment activities to keep pets mentally and
emotionally healthy while at our shelter
4. A transfer and rescue network of over 140 partner
facilities and groups to place more dogs and cats
5. Off-site adoption events in cities around Utah to
highlight adoptable pets and educate the public
about adoption
6. Social media to increase the visibility of adoptable
pets and engage the public in our efforts to control
the pet population and increase adoptions
7. Volunteer program with 700 active volunteers to keep
all pets healthy and happy at our facility
8. Expanded outdoor dog play areas for get-acquainted fun
Visible Results
Furthering our multi-pronged approach to increase adoptions
and placements of dogs and cats, we are constantly improving
While we prefer that strays be turned in to the local
our shelter. Beginning in 2011, HSU embarked on an ambitious
Animal Control facility where the animal was found, HSU is an
rebuilding project to increase holding space and create a more
open-admissions shelter, meaning that our doors are always open for
inviting atmosphere for the public. Already completed are
any animal that we can legally accept. We work hard to ensure that
the expansions of our foster care, clinic, and administration
every healthy and treatable pet that enters our facility will be placed
departments. Also complete is “Kitty City,” a state-of-the-art
into a loving home. HSU is committed to reaching a 90%
adoptions area that features our cats
placement rate of dogs and cats
in a home-like setting and allows people
by 2016, meaning that we will save
to interact with their future pet more
the lives of over 10,000 companion
comfortably (cat adoptions have increased
animals each calendar year (this
28% since the opening of Kitty City in
goal is based on our current annual
August 2012). The “Bunny Bungalows” —
intake of dogs and cats).
a new adoption area for our third-mostWe have no set limits on the
adopted species — have increased the
length of time that a pet will remain
space available to showcase rabbits. Lastly,
in our adoption program. In our
set for completion in 2014, “The Wait is
Go to our website, www.utahhmane.org, to watch our daily
efforts to find all adoptable pets
Over, Rover” will contain new adoption
updates of the number of HSU animals adopted so far as we aim
homes, HSU has already achieved
areas for big and small dogs. “Dawgville”
for our goal of 10,000 adoptions per year. As we go to press with this
issue of Speaking of Animals, you can see from this printout that by
the goal of placing all healthy and
and “Tiny Town” will make the
March 26 we’d already found good new homes for 1,882 of them.
treatable dogs from our shelter for the
atmosphere less stressful on the dogs
past five years. We seek to achieve
and allow the public to interact with them in a more natural
the same standard for cats within the next two years. Please join
environment. Save the date for the Grand Opening — May
us in our life-saving mission, and stand with us to ensure that our
10th at 10:00 AM — and plan to be there!
doors are always open for every animal, every day.
The Humane Society of Utah is a private nonprofit organization
that receives no government grant funding, and is supported solely
by contributions, individual grants, bequests, investments, proceeds
HSU currently embraces, and will continue to expand, a
from its retail outlets and some fees for services.
variety of programs to achieve the aforementioned objectives
HSU requires significant resources to provide our programs
and save more lives each year:
to animals in need. We can’t do it alone. This is a community
1. Veterinary care and sterilization surgeries at our
initiative which involves collaboration, and the support of donors
in-house clinic for all homeless companion animals in
like you. Thanks so much for all that you’ve helped us do to help
our care (over 10,000 spays/neuters performed per year)
the animals. v
What We’re Doing Right Now
4
“Bunny Bungalows” Provide
Luxurious Surroundings
for HSU’s Rabbit Community
Every autumn, the Humane Society receives a disproportionately
large number of a certain breed of animal that we don’t usually see
coming in en masse, the way we always get the predictable rush of
kittens and puppies in the spring. No, the fall flood consists of rabbits — those cute little Easter “surprises” that turned out to require a
lot more commitment and care than the people who bought them as
presents for their kids expected.
As we discussed last year (Speaking of Animals Spring 2013),
certain symbols are always associated with holidays in the public’s
mind — flags on the Fourth of July, pumpkins at Halloween, candy
canes for Christmas, and bunnies around Easter. The problem with
this last one is that,
The Bunny Bungalows, located in the
serene Kitty City area of the shelter,
unlike the other
provide a snug retreat for the Humane
emblems, rabbits are
Society’s adoptable rabbits. Each suite,
living, aware, feeling
like the one pictured below, features
animals; moreover,
a water supply, plenty of good food
tailored to meet a rabbit’s special dietary
they’re animals with
needs, a pile of soft, fresh hay, and even
specialized dietary,
a litter box to keep the
veterinary, and
quarters tidy. (And that
environmental needs.
means that when you adopt
a bunny from HSU, he or
This means a reasonshe will already be familiar
able expenditure of
with using indoor sanitary
time, money, and
facilities!)
personal attention
on the part of the caregiver for the lifetime of the rabbit. After this
alarming reality dawns on some spur-of-the-moment bunny buyers,
they turn their purchases in to shelters — or, far worse, they keep
them outside and neglected, or simply abandon them in empty fields.
Don’t get us wrong — rabbits do make wonderful, affectionate,
delightful companions. People just have to understand that this
is what they should be taken for: real members of the family, not
throw-away stuffed toys.
This past fall we had about 40 ex-Easter bunnies surrendered, so
we made them available for adoption at a 50% discount. Because all of
our rabbits are already spayed or neutered at our in-house clinic, there’s
no need to worry about their reputation for prolific breeding. And they
really are just as soft, cuddly, and adorable as their acrylic counterparts,
with an incredible added attraction: They love you back!
The Right Source
So, to everyone who’d like a bunny buddy and plans on playing for keeps, HSU’s elegant new Bunny Bungalows complex is the
place to look! Located in the quiet, stress-free Kitty City wing, the
Bungalows are roomy, cozy, and equipped with all the necessities for
the good life, including litter boxes (yes, rabbits can be box-trained
and make great totally-indoors house pets). We provide information
about their particular needs (they should have their nails trimmed
regularly, their little bones
are very fragile, and they
don’t eat cat or dog food, for
example) and go over all
questions a potential adopter
may have on a one-on-one
basis to make sure that both
the bunny and his new
family are going to enjoy
a mutually rewarding and
Two representative rabbit rogues from
happy life together.
last fall’s influx of Easter castaways show off
Take a look at this repre- their appeal during one of the group play sessions
that the bunnies enjoy every day.
sentative gallery of roguish
rabbits, and then hop on down to our shelter to see many more just
as adorable. They’ll keep your laps and your hearts warm for a lot
longer than just a few weeks at Easter time — if you’re willing to get
serious about the relationship. v
A Sweet Adoption Follow-up Story
Editor’s note: On Valentine’s Day, we received the following delightful letter from a lady who had adopted a little Chihuahua mix named “Hero” from the Humane
Society at the very beginning of the new year. Hero had already been with us for two months, and had twice been adopted and returned to the shelter — so when
Ruthie Naccarato picked him out to be her personal companion, we were all heartily hoping that the old saying “The third time’s a charm” would come true for
Hero. As the following account shows, we couldn’t have asked for a more wonderful ending to his story. Here’s the way Ruthie tells it:
To whom it may concern:
Just wishing you all a very happy Valentine’s Day! I adopted my
little Chihuahua mix, “Hero,” from you on January 2nd, 2014, and
I am so happy to say that he is doing amazingly well. He’s made a
great adjustment to his new home, and gets along beautifully with my
five-year-old cat. Potty training was the most difficult obstacle, since
he was an adult when I got him and apparently hadn’t had any prior
instruction in such matters, but he’s perfected those skills now and is
doing great — no issues and no accidents!
He’s loving and social with other animals and people, including
kids. He’s very well-behaved when we take him out and about, which
is nice — I always wanted a dog that I could take places with me. But
even though he’s so good-natured around company, it’s abundantly
clear that his heart belongs to Mommy! He sleeps all night in his own
little bed, only inches away from me and my kitty. He had a great deal
of separation anxiety at first, but now that he knows he’s home to stay,
and that we’re his forever family, he couldn’t be more secure. He is, in
short, a perfect dog!
I know that Hero was returned to you twice before I adopted him.
I also know that you have a lot of other dogs who need to be adopted,
and so I’m asking you to please share the story of my experience with
as many people as you can. All dogs are different. Please tell everyone
that, with patience and understanding, just about any dog can become
a terrific companion. I myself had some reservations about getting a
Chihuahua, since they can be nervous and noisy, but, honestly, my
Hero has turned out to be the best dog I’ve ever had (previously, I’ve
been caregiver to a German shepherd, an Airedale, and a Vizsla, each
one staying with me for between eight and twelve years)!
I am not a “sappy” kind of person, but I think stories like this
need to be shared. Maybe I’ll help one of your other Chihuahuas get
adopted. I’ve posted pictures on my Facebook page to let people know
what a great experience it was for me to get a “rescue” animal from
the Humane Society of Utah. Honestly, you run a top-notch operation there — I was so impressed!
Many thanks for all you do for animals and for people.
Most sincerely,
Ruth Naccarato
5
The 2nd Annual “Wags to Wishes” Gala is Coming!
Join us at a Great Party for a Great Cause!
Do you remember what a fabulous time we had at last year’s
first-ever “Wags to Wishes” gala dinner party? Here’s wonderful news
— we’re doing it again this summer! Here’s everything you need to
know about making sure you don’t miss the fun (and a terrific way to
help our animals):
2nd Annual “Wags to Wishes” Gala
sponsored by the Arthur E. Benjamin Foundation
and the American Dog Rescue Foundation
Hosted by Dan Evans and Kerri Cronk from Fox 13 News
Keynote Address:
Jill Rappaport, TODAY Show correspondent
and winner of the HSUS “Voice for the Animals” Award
Silent and live auction, banquet dinner, live music, and more!
When: Saturday, June 7th, 2014, beginning at 6:00 P.M.
Where: The Garden Place building at
“This is the Place” Heritage Park
2601 E. Sunnyside Ave., Salt Lake City, UT 84108
Attire: Cocktail attire requested
Here’s More IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
Individual Seat tickets and Table tickets (seats eight)
are on sale NOW!
Sponsorship opportunities are still available!
To purchase tickets or a sponsorship opportunity, please visit
our website, www.utahhumane.org, or contact
Special Events Coordinator, Rachel Kelly,
at 801-261-2919, ex. 212 or at rachel@utahhumane.org. v
Cat Shot with Arrow
Humane Society Calls on Community to Pull Together to Oppose Animal Cruelty
Washington City is a suburban area northeast of St. George, in
the heart of “Utah’s Dixie” in the southern part of the state. It’s primarily a haven for tourists and vacationers, but it also has the usual
municipal facilities associated with a town its size — even an Animal
Welfare Services department. It was in the middle of February that
this office received a call from a concerned citizen regarding a cat,
apparently a homeless animal, who had been shot in the mouth with
a standard-sized hunting arrow. The arrow had passed down the cat’s
gullet and into her body cavity, with the point protruding from her
back. The cat was still alive.
This homeless cat was shot in the face with an
arrow in an apparently random and pointless
act of violence. The tip of the arrow can be seen
protruding from her back. She’s recuperating at a
veterinary clinic, but will always suffer handicaps
as a result of her injuries. HSU and other animal
agencies immediately offered rewards for the arrest
and conviction of the perpetrator of the crime.
The Community Has to Care
Animal Control officers were, luckily, able to catch the injured
cat and take her to a veterinarian, who at once anesthetized her and
carefully removed the arrow. X-ray photographs showed that the
shaft of the weapon had narrowly
missed her spinal column and
several major organs. She was
stitched up, started on a regular
course of antibiotics and painkillers, and put into a soft, warm bed
in one of the vet’s kennels to recuperate. With continued care —
and a safe, permanent new home
— she is expected to recover,
The veterinarian’s X-ray of “Quiver’s”
wound clearly shows the gravity of the
although she will be a “specialdamage done to her facial bones and
needs” cat for the rest of her life.
internal tissues. She’s lucky to have survived
A living being doesn’t just come
such a brutal attack, and will require
out of a trauma like that without
special care for the rest of her life.
suffering permanent aftereffects.
6
The next steps to be taken were not in the medical field, but the
legal halls and the arena of public opinion. The Humane Society of
Utah immediately offered a reward of $3,000 for information leading
to the arrest and conviction of the shooter, and the Humane Society
of the United States and the Best Friends Animal Society quickly
added another $3,000 apiece to the reward fund. Many people in the
Washington City vicinity called in leads to both the local sheriff and
to John Paul Fox, HSU’s Chief Cruelty Investigator. Within days, a
juvenile was arrested and charged with the crime.
Our Voices are Being Heard
The prompt apprehension of the perpetrator was the direct
result of the large number of responses officials received to their plea
for information about the identity of the person who had shot the
arrow into “Quiver’s” muzzle (that’s the name the vet’s staff gave to
the wounded cat). The really uplifting aspect of the large swell of
reaction, though, was the reason voluntarily given by so many people
regarding why they had contacted authorities about the case: with
very few exceptions, most indicated that they weren’t motivated
by the potential $9,000 reward, but by their shock and horror over
what had happened to this helpless animal, and their desire to send
a strong message to society in general: We won’t tolerate this kind of
senseless mayhem.
What will happen to the juvenile if he’s convicted? Probably
not very much, given the fact that he’s not 18 years old yet; he may
possibly be given some detention time and/or be ordered to get
counseling and pay restitution charges. But we can hope that he —
and others who think that causing incredible pain and lasting
damage to creatures less competent than humans to defend
themselves against us is just “fun” — will nevertheless think twice
about acting on such misguided impulses in the future. The mass
outrage generated at all levels of our community over what
happened to Quiver is an unmistakable sign that times and attitudes
have changed dramatically. People may be evolving at a sloth’s pace,
but we are becoming something better than what we were even fifty
years ago. Thanks to the official groups and the private individuals
alike who made their voices heard. Your actions weren’t in vain. v
The Story of “Chicken Wing” —
Or, Why Supporting Breeders is NOT a Good Idea (Again)
You’ve heard us talk about this before, but the problem is still
out there, so here we go again: When you want to add a new animal
member to your family, adopt, don’t shop! Purchasing a purebred
dog or cat from a pet store, a professional breeder, or, heaven forbid,
a puppy mill, is just plain impractical for a number of reasons,
including the following:
• There are too many homeless animals as it is! Paying
high prices to people who deliberately breed them simply
encourages the bringing of more and more puppies and
kittens into an already overcrowded world.
• To those who look upon living beings as nothing more
than a profitable business commodity, the welfare of
“the product” is a low priority. Females may be forced to
breed repeatedly until their bodies are literally worn out.
Careless matching of genetic strains can result in terrible
congenital deformities in the offspring, like blindness or
deafness. Disease can spread rapidly in crowded animal
factories. Babies may be separated from their mothers
before they’re emotionally or even physically ready.
• Shelters everywhere are always filled to capacity with
animals — and many of them are fancy, costly, special
breeds — who need homes. For every one that somebody
buys from a pet shop, a shelter animal’s chances of
getting adopted are jeopardized.
No Dollar Value? We Think he’s Priceless!
In early January, a breeder brought a puppy to HSU because
she knew she’d never be able to sell this one. It was one of a litter
of adorable six-day-old purebred Huskies whose eyes had only just
opened one single day before — but this particular little guy hadn’t
turned out quite as perfectly as the others: his left forepaw was only
a short, crooked stump curled up against his chest. We affectionately
called him “Chicken Wing” at first, simply because that’s what the
misshapen limb resembled.
His baby ears
This little six-day-old
were still folded flat
Husky puppy’s eyes had
against his head,
just opened the very day
before he was brought to the
his fleecy coat was
HSU shelter by a breeder
as soft and fluffy as
who knew she couldn’t sell
a duckling’s, and as
him for a high price because
he gazed up from
he had been born with a
deformed left forepaw.
his blanket at us
This is the official portrait
with his innocent,
we took of “Bering” after
barely-opened blue
admitting him into our
eyes, every heart in
foster care program.
the room melted
like butter on a summer afternoon. He was immediately taken to the
foster department, where he was given a thorough checkup, a bottle
of puppy formula, and a proper permanent name: We decided to call
him “Bering,” after the Bering straits between Siberia and Alaska,
the homeland of his breed.
Bering is now in the expert care of one of our most dedicated
foster parents, Terri Williams, where he’s being given plenty of
nourishing food, lavish love and attention, and careful training in
the process of learning how to get around on three legs. Terri will
keep him for several months while he grows bigger and stronger and
becomes more fully deWe took an X-ray of
Bering’s arm to determine
veloped and coordinated;
the extent of his handicap
then our veterinarians
and plan the best course
will surgically remove the
of treatment for him. After
useless stump, which will several months in Terri’s care,
make it even easier for him he’ll be big and strong enough
to have the useless appendage
to balance and navigate
surgically amputated; then
on his remaining paws.
he’ll get loving, one-on-one
When Bering is all
care in teaching him how to
walk on three legs.
healed up and feeling
confident, he’ll be placed
for adoption to a loving, responsible family who’ll see that he grows
up to become the powerful, magnificent specimen of his breed that
he was meant to be. Sergeant Preston of the Yukon himself would be
proud to make such a fine animal his deputy!
The Humane Society of Utah is gratified to have been able to
rescue this little scrap of “throw-away” life and turn his future from
bleak uncertainty into bright, secure hope. Thanks to all of you
whose generous support makes it possible for us to be the guardian
angels of animals like Bering, who was
worthless to the person who had caused
him to be born because he couldn’t be
sold for profit on the open market —
but who was a priceless treasure to all of
us who had a hand in bringing out his
real potential as a loving, happy, loyal
companion to the right people. v
Actor Josh Duhamel was here at the Humane Society
to film a public-service announcement for us on the
day that Bering came in, and he graciously agreed to
pose for a photo-op with the irresistible puppy and his
devoted foster mother, Terri Williams.
Save When You Shop at Smith’s —
Save Animals’ Lives, That is!
You have to buy groceries. Did you know that you can help the
animals of the Humane Society of Utah by shopping at Smith’s
stores and using your Rewards card for each purchase? All you have
to do is swipe your Rewards card — selecting a charity does NOT
affect your coupons or fuel points! Just follow these three easy steps:
• Go to www.SmithsCommunityRewards.com
• Click on “Community Rewards”
• Enter NPO number 55380 or Humane Society of Utah
To verify that you are enrolled correctly, you will see “Humane
Society of Utah” on the right side of your information page. Baby
Girl and her friends say THANK YOU SO MUCH! v
7
Celebrities, Special HSU Animals
The Humane Society of Utah is proud to have been chosen to
help PEDIGREE roll out their new national campaign, “See What
Good Food Can Do,” during the Sundance Film Festival in January.
PEDIGREE recognizes that there are millions of dogs in shelters
every year, and their campaign is aimed at helping those dogs get a
positive start in their new homes. On television, social media, and
a variety of events, PEDIGREE is using this campaign to feature
transformation stories about shelter dogs.
During the Sundance Film Festival, HSU took adoptable dogs
to Park City every day to bring attention to homeless pets and help
collect stories about people and their canine companions. With
cameras rolling, nearly one thousand people told their stories to
PEDIGREE — including a few celebrities! Every story was touching,
and, more importantly, many stories were about adoption. Very
evident was the transformative power of a loving home for many dogs
who had a troubled past.
Our Shelter Becomes a Sound Stage
In addition, we were honored to have the popular young actor Josh
Duhamel, from the TV series All My Children and the Transformers
films, spend a day working at our shelter to help PEDIGREE bring
attention to adoptable dogs and the shelters that care for homeless
pets. We’re happy to
Much more than just a
say that Josh is a true handsome face, actor Josh
Duhamel gets down and
dog lover, and his
dirty helping out here at
stories about his own
the HSU shelter. Besides
recently passed-away
being in town for the
dog, Meatloaf, were
Sundance Film Festival
both sweet and funny. in Park City, he was also
an active promoter of
Although we had
PEDIGREE pet foods’
high hopes that Josh
campaign to encourage
would adopt that day,
adoptions from shelters.
Heartbreak on The Hill
As we discussed in our article on “Humane Lobby Day” (please see
p. 2), this legislative session opened on a note of high hope for Utah’s
animal advocates, especially as far as our efforts to get cockfighting
made a felony in this state were concerned. Gene Baierschmidt, our
Executive Director, was physically present at the legislature every day
it was in session, and he himself testified at length on every possible
occasion — before the House, before the Senate, throughout all
the intricate maneuvers and loopholes of the lawmaking process,
to lobbyists, to campaign managers, and to individual lawmakers
— about why this blood sport, which, as he pointed out, “has no
redeeming value,” should not exist in the 21st century.
Unfortunately, at the very last minute our bill failed. Even South
Dakota, previously the only other dark blotch on the map west of
the Mississippi River, felonized this activity in its 2014 legislature.
This now makes us the only state in the entire West without the
felony provision.
There Was Hope
Naturally, we’re deeply disappointed with the final outcome,
but — just as happened last year — the bill did do very well in
the Senate. Once it got to the House of Representatives, however,
legislators couldn’t agree on the bill’s language and the clock ran out
as the session came to a close at midnight on March 13th.
8 It’s important to note that the House did pass SB 112, but only
Sparkle at Sundance!
he only had charity on his mind as he spent hours helping with our
daily cleaning and feeding, socializing with dogs, and working hard to
bring attention to the animals. Josh did bond with two adorable dogs,
Charlie and Oakley, both of whom have been adopted since the event.
The entire day was filmed by a documentary crew and will be released
by PEDIGREE on the internet soon. If you have not already LIKED
the Humane Society of Utah on Facebook or Instagram, be sure to do
it now so you can view the video as soon as it’s released.
It turns out that Red Sox
baseball star David Ortiz
is another celebrity whose
heart belongs to animals!
Here he and television/
movie actor Josh Duhamel
pose with two HSU shelter
residents who caught the
attention of the big-name
visitors to our facility.
Another highlight of our PEDIGREE campaign was the
appearance of Red Sox baseball star David Ortiz, who promoted
the Humane Society of Utah and several of our dogs during his
nationwide satellite media tour at Sundance. PEDIGREE and David
took the “See What Good Food Can Do” campaign to a whole new
level on dozens of national and local television and radio stations,
explaining the importance of adopting and helping local shelters. As
we quickly discovered, David was in love with little Nacho from our
shelter (pictured here), but because of his two dogs he could not adopt.
In the end, five of the dogs that we took to Sundance were
adopted at the Festival! We wish Marcel, Scarlett, Oreo, Grover,
and Nacho—our Sundance dogs—happy tales in their new homes.
Thank you PEDIGREE, Josh Duhamel, and David Ortiz for making a
difference and helping to save lives. v
after removing most of the key elements of the entire proposal. We
had initially compromised by changing the bill to make cockfighting
merely a Class A misdemeanor on the first offense, with third-degree
felony penalties going into effect only on the second and subsequent
convictions. But the House insisted on removing the critical felony
provision under any circumstances, and also knocked out important
penalties for secondary activities — for example, evidence of
having the obvious intent to use roosters for fighting by possessing
implements such as gaffs (razor-sharp blades that are attached to
the birds’ legs before a fight). Basically, all it would have done was
change cockfighting from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class A
misdemeanor. After having thus stripped the bill of any significant
meaning, the House then sent the gutted version back to the Senate
for concurrence. Wisely, the Senate refused to accept it in that form.
They asked the House to rescind its changes and reinstate the original
language, but the representatives couldn’t agree, and, just six votes shy
of our getting the bill accepted in its stronger form, the clock struck
twelve times and the 2014 Utah State Legislative Session was over.
Not the End at All
Please know that the Humane Society of Utah, the Humane
Society of the United States, and the ASPCA will re-introduce this
bill again in 2015, and as many times as it takes to bring us up to par
with other areas of America. THANK YOU to all of our members
and volunteers who worked so hard to strengthen Utah’s laws for
the animals, and a HUGE thanks to Senator Gene Davis and
Representative Johnny Anderson, the bill’s sponsors. v