CORP-12-08 - City of Oshawa

CORP-12-08
From: ariel lang
S. 14( 1), Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2012 10:30 PM
To: Mary Medeiros
Cc: John Henry; John Aker; Roger Bouma; Bob Chapman; Nancy Diamond; Amy England;
Tito-Dante Marimpietri; John Neal; Nester Pidwerbecki; Doug Sanders; Bruce Wood
Subject: OAS initiatives to "save lives" July 2010-Sept.2011--J.Conlin, R.Stockman,
K.Feagan
Hi Mary:
Please include this "cover" email with the handouts for the Corp. Services Committee
re OAS initiatives to "save lives" July 2010-Sept. 2011 to J. Conlin, R. Stockman and K.
Feagan.
The initiatives address: shortage of staff; lack of volunteers/groomers/dog walkers; lack
of collaboration with rescue and with other shelters; posting photos/bios that "attract"
adopters/Speaking of Dogs Rescue Directory; networking; fostering; increased hours of
adoption; Pet Finder tips; Bill Bruce; "pilot" program for an OFF-SITE Volunteer Rescue
Coordinator; and Nathan Winograd's Redemption.
I received no response following an offer to: share my concerns with Jerry's Oshawa
Animal Consultative Committee (Corp. Services Committee???); forward a Shelter
Resource Guide for "kick'starting" a compaign (shelter resources, recruitment and
organization of volunteers).
Nor did I receive a followup email re Calgary Animal Shelter's website (to Rick and
Jerry); nor my email re "If Calgary can do it Oshawa can too!!! (a NO KILL [Bill Bruce]
Success Story in the Toronto Star).
And whilst Kevin gave the "green light" re sending info about OAS impounded dogs, to
my knowledge his collaboration with rescue is poor.
Sincerely,
-ariel lang
S. 14( 1), Municipal Freedom
oflnformation and Protection
of Privacy Act
6
S. 14( 1), Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
From: ariel lang
To: John Gray; Brian Nicholson; Robert Lutczyk; Nester Pidwerbecki; Joe Kolodzie;
John Henry; April Cullen; John Neal; Maryanne Sholdra; tdmarimpietr@oshawa.ca
<tdmarimpietr@oshawa.ca>; Louise Parkes
CC: harbm@sen.parl.gc.ca <harbm@sen.parl.gc.ca>
Sent: Tue Jul 13 11 :05:20 2010
Subject: Oshawa Animal Services
Mayor John Gray: For many years, Animal Rescue has attempted, unsuccessfully, to collaborate with Oshawa Animal Services in an effort to help it find homes for its homeless residents. Please note that handing dogs awaiting euthanasia over to Rescue is not an uncommon practice. A colleague recently sent me the OAS website, after discovering that one of the dogs
posted there remarkably resembled one of my own pets.
I phoned and asked OAS if I could be contacted should the dog not be adopted and
scheduled for euthanasia (apparently it's performed randomly!). My request was denied!
I was told that OAS didn't work with Rescue because of a lack of "person power."
My sense is that dropping the adoption fee, regardless of the circumstances, would
also have presented an issue.
I understand the OAS budget has recently been halved. I also received some other
disturbing information:
a) Staff: OAS only has four employees: two kennel attendants for approx. 80 animals;
one clerk; and two field officers.
b) Volunteers/Grooming and walking: OAS does not allow volunteers, according to one
of its employees "because they would have to have rabies shots." Neither the Toronto
Humane Society, which had hundreds of volunteers, nor Toronto Animal Services asks
its volunteers to get a rabies shot "as they don't work with wildlife or animals that bite."
c) Networks: OAS doesn't work with Rescue Organizations. Any number of the myriad
of breed-specific and all-breed rescues (compiled in a book listing all rescues) would
love to try to help the OAS find forever homes for its animals.
e) Fostering: OAS does not have foster homes for its abandoned and, sometimes,
abused intakes (again, because of a lack of person power!) Puppies and kittens are
particularly vulnerable. I was told that cats are killed much more frequently than dogs.
f) Adoption agencies: OAS doesn't work with other shelters. Other locations provide a
whole new community of adopters and save the shelter the cost of housing animals.
g) Information: Because they are so short-staffed, OAS does not describe its intakes
with a view to attracting potential adopters: It provides only the most basic facts, i.e.,
"neutered, male, black and tan, Coon hound" next to a photo of the front half of the dog.
This omits much important information. Examples:
* Photos: photographs typically don't include a fore or background object to provide a
reference for the dog's size;
* Weight: dogs are not weighed because OAS doesn't have a scale and are, merely
designated as small, medium or large;
* Age: Staff "guess" at an animal's age;
* Behavior: dogs are not tested to ascertain whether or not they like dogs, cats,
.~,
'
kids;
* Clean in crate: lack of info re whether the dog is house (toilet) trained;
* Obedience: assessment of an animal's knowledge of basic commands such as sit,
down, etc;
Obviously, Oshawa's lack of human resources (both staff and volunteers) greatly
diminish an abandoned animal's prospects.
Animals denied champions on the outside spend needless time in kennels and result
in a needless allocation offinancial resources ..
And, the topper? OASis asking a whopping $260 to buy out unwanted dogs (big
bucks for most residents of Oshawa!) But are these dogs vetted, i.e., shots, neutered
and/or spayed prior to adoption? Why would OAS allow an animal to die rather than
lose the adoption fee by handing it over to a reputable rescue organization?
Animals in the custody of the OAS are not getting re-homed through no fault of their
own.
Wouldn't you concur that OAS would have a much greater success rate if it opened
its doors to volunteers and fosters and worked with rescue, and other shelters with more
adopter potential?
Mayor Gray, I think you will agree that changes are needed and many of us are
trying to help achieve this goal. Might I please have an appointment with you to discuss
this matter further?
http://www.petharbor.com/results.asp?WHERE=type DOG,age o&PAGE=1 &searchtyp
e=AII&stylesheet=http://www.oshawa.ca/objects/
Sincerely,
-Ariel Lang
S. 14(1 ), Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act 8
S. 14(1 ), Municipal Freedom
of Information and Protection
From: ariel lang· of Privacy Act
Subject: Re:Thank you!
" <RStockman@oshawa.ca>, JConlin@oshawa.ca
To: "Rick Stockman
Cc: " John Gray "
·<JGray@oshawa.ca>, "bill bruce" <Biii.Bruce@calgary.ca>
Date: Thursday, August 26, 2010,4:19 PM
Mr. Stockman and Mr. Colin:
Thank you, again, for taking time out of your busy schedules to meet with me yesterday
to
discuss initiatives to re-home Oshawa 's abandoned dogs.
I believe we are all in agreement that initiatives to optimize adoption are needed, in addition to the recruitment and training of volunteers to support OAS staff. I visited your shelter on my way home. Happy to learn old dog Duncan has been adopted. I've been following Beagle/Shep A029678, and would appreciate feedback re your successful "homing" of him, hopefully, in the near future. I'm attaching a copy of my comments and for a list of reputable rescues are listed below. For a hard copy, you can phone/email Lorraine Houston at 416-444-4190 or lhh4dogs@rogers.com Looking forward to speaking with you soon and supporting OAS in any way that I possibly can. Sincere appreciation, -ariel lang. _"). ~~ ( ;) , "-'(MPf'A
Speaking of Dogs Rescue Directory attached.
.9 TO: Rick Stockman, Commissioner of Corporate Services and Jerry Conlin, Director, Municipal Law Enforcement and Licensing Services (Animal Control; Rental Housing; Licensing Nuisance Standards; and Corporate Security) FROM: Ariel Lang DATE: August25,2010 For many years, several rescues, including Adopt-a-Dog: Save-a-Life and Mature Dog
Adoptions, have attempted to collaborate with Oshawa Animal Services (OAS), in
an effort to help it find homes for its canine residents. Elsewhere, working with, and
handing dogs awaiting euthanasia over to, rescue is a common practice.
A colleague recently sent me the OAS website, after discovering that A029678--one
of the dogs posted--bore a remarkable resemblance to my dog, Jack.
I phoned and asked the OAS if I could be contacted should the Jack look-a-like
not be adopted and scheduled for euthanasia, which is apparently
performed randomly! My request was denied! I was told:
a) to call the OAS daily for info about the dog (why doesn't A029678 have a name?); and b) that the OAS doesn't work with rescue because of a lack of "person power." I understand from yesterday's conversation that the OAS budget has recently been
re-directed toward the investigative side. Are investigations becoming more frequent? I
also received some other key information from the OAS:
a) Staff: In addition to a clerk and three (currently two) field officers, OAS has only
one kennel attendant and two vet techs for approximately 150 animals of which 50 are
dogs (I only observed, perhaps, a dozen when I was there?).
b) Volunteers/Grooming/Walking: Most SPCAs and shelters rely heavily on its
volunteers. The OAS has neither volunteers nor a volunteer to recruit others.
c) Networks: OAS doesn't work with rescue groups for the same reason--it doesn't
have a volunteer for this task! A myriad of breed-specific and all-breed rescues are
compiled in a directory (see previous email). A number of rescues will (and do) post
OAS dogs on its websites directing potential adopters to the OAS.
d) Fostering: OAS has a limited number of foster homes for its abandoned and
sometimes abused impounds, again, because of a lack of person power! Puppies and
kittens are particularly vulnerable. I was told that many more cats are killed than dogs.
e) Adoption Agencies: OAS doesn't work with other shelters or humane societies
(again, a lack of volunteers); Moving an animal to another location provides a whole
new community of adopters and saves the shelter the cost of housing. For example:
Beagles are impossible to home in Kingston, yet Labradors are in high demand.
f) Hours of Adoption: I understand the OAS is only open 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
weekdays and Saturdays. All four TAS centres are open seven days a week 10:30 to
6:30p.m.
f) Pet Finder Info: Because it is so short staffed, OAS does not describe
its intakes with a view to attracting potential adopters: It often provides only a head shot
and the most basic facts, i.e., "neutered, male, black and tan, Coon hound."
Posting Dogs: Pet over population has increased the fierce competition for adoptions. The more specific the information, the quicker dogs will be adopted; fewer will get sick, depressed and/or go "kennel crazy" and instead of it costing the City of Oshawa money for euthanasia, it will recover money on adoption fees. In an effort to give dogs every opportunity for adoption, a detailed description,
gleaned by observing and testing by a professional, is essential. It will also limit
LIABILITY.
An animal needs to be "matched" with its adoptive family. Otherwise it could
end up in a horrific situation, i.e, on Kijiji!
Current OAS Website:
Photos: Photographs typically don't include a fore or background object to provide
a reference for the dog's size;
Weight: Dogs are not weighed because OAS doesn't have a scale and are
designated only as small, medium or large;
Age:
Staff "guess" at an animal's age;
Behavior:
Dogs in kennels are often depressed or hyper. A kennelled dog's
response to other dogs, including unneutered males, cats, and children is
unreliable. Those exercised and assessed outside a cage provide a much
more accurate barometer;
Clean in crate:
Lack of info re whether the dog is house (toilet) trained and attempting to
keep
clean whilst in an "unnatural" situation, i.e., kennel;
Obedience: Assessment of an animal's knowledge of basic commands such as sit,
down, stay, etc.
Oshawa's lack of human resources (staff and volunteer) greatly diminish an
abandoned animal's prospects.
Animals denied champions on the outside spend needless time in kennels and result
in a needless allocation of financial resources.
Please consider opening the OAS doors to volunteers and fosters and working
with rescues, other shelters and humane societies to provide optimal adopter
potential.
And please consider contacting Bill Bruce, the Director, Calgary Animal Services
whose initiatives have emptied his shelter--but not by euthanasia!
The City of Oshawa and its abandoned animals DESERVE better!
-30­
For further information, contact: Ariel Lang S. 14(1 ), Municipal Freedom
of Information and Protection
of Privacy Act
11 S. 14{ 1), Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act From: ariel lang
Subject: Fw: oshawa pound
To: JConlin@oshawa.ca
Cc: "John Gray" <JGray@oshawa.ca>, "Rick Stockman" <RStockman@oshawa.ca>
Date: Thursday, September 16,2010,3:11 PM
Hi Jerry:
The OAS does extremely well with its small band of employees! We addressed
the lack of volunteers at our meeting. Might you consider a "pilot" program if an
OFF-SITE reputable "rescuer" volunteered to act as Rescue Coordinator (that is
work closely with your staff and only REPUTABLE rescues) to find homes for
some of the dogs deemed difficult to re-home?
·
The Volunteer Rescue Coordinator would arrange for an external community
contact to visit the shelter lo assess older dogs, those with health issues, and
those
that have been at the OAS for a long time, in order to determine the best way to
help
the OAS move these dogs into forever homes.
If the program is successful, the Volunteer Rescue Coordinator could act as a
resource following the recruitment and training of a local volunteer.
The kinds of dogs the Volunteer Rescue Coordinator would champion, for
example, are the (see attached) 8-1 0-year-old Border Collie mix A030871 and the
JRT mix. Because his rear end looks "bald" in the photo. Most people would
immediately think he would cost big bucks and take a pass on him!
Again, Jerry, I don't want to interfere, I merely want to HELP!
Best,
-ariel lang
~ _114(•). MHfPA
From: ariel lang Subject: BC mix at OAS A030871 To: "Jerry Conlin" <JConlin@oshawa.ca> Date: Monday, September 13, 2010, 2:57 PM Hi Jerry: I have learned about this dear old border collie mix at your shelter. I am currently trying to find him a forever home. Jerry, could you please keep him SAFE? Grateful thanks, ~ri~
.
P.S. We are ALL anxiously awaiting publication of Bill Bruce's book. In the meantime,
Nathan Winograd's "Redemption" might be a useful resource for the OAS
S. 14(1) vu · .
f I ft.
' .tvt. mcJpa/ Freedom ofpn
?rmaflon
and Protection
O nvacy Act
From: ariel lang Subject: Thank yoU! To: "Jerry Conlin" <JConlin@oshawa.ca> Cc: "Rick Stockman" <RStockman@oshawa.ca>, "John Gray" <JGray@oshawa.ca> Date: Friday, September 10, 2010, 12:42 PM Hi Jerry: Thanks so much for your speedy response! The email was a "heads up" from a potential adopter -- a great "forever" home for
one of
your "difficult to home" older dogs. Her experience with OAS mirrors some of the
concerns
that I expressed during our meeting.
Glad to hear about your kennel improvements. Assume the dog with Parvo has
been
isolated? Is it okay?
Yes, I am extremely pleased that you will share my concerns with members of your
recently-formed Oshawa Animal Consultative Committee~ When is your first
meeting?
I, or one of my colleagues, would consider it a privilege to speak at a Committee
Meeting.
Calgary Animal Services is, unquestionably, the prototype for Canadians. Following
input
from my rescue colleagues, I'll forward a Shelter Resource Guide for "kick-starting a
campaign, i.e., shelter resources, recruitment, and organization of volunteers.
Jerry, I'm cognisant that your staff do the very best possible with the resources at
their
disposal. Know that many people want to support the OAS in any way it can.
Please let me know how I can assist and please keep me posted.
Regards,
-ariellanQ
.$ . 1-...\( ') ' l--(f1fl-t>P..
From: ariel lang [mailto ~.~ .... c. ),;..-~f'tPPA
8:22 PM
adopter!
Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2010
To: Rick Stockman ; Jerry Conlin; John Gray
Subject: A potential OAS
Hello Rick and Jerry:
I have been anxiously awaiting feedback re my comments following our recent meeting.
I was sorry to learn about yet another parvo outbreak at the OAS.
I am forwarding two recently-received emails. The first is a response to a rescue
focusing
on mature dogs in Kingston to a potential adopter of one of your homeless animals.
Have you had an opportunity to visit the Calgary Animal Shelter's numerous
websites? Look forward to hearing from you. Regards, -ariel lang S. 14(1 ), Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act From: Kevin Feaqan <KFeagan@oshawa.ca>
To: ariel lang
· Cc: Melissa Galea <MGalea@oshawa.ca>; Lindsay Darnley
<ariellang( ~f\(.}p;q.
<LDarnley@oshawa.ca>; Alyce McEachnie (Nee Collingwood)
<AMcEachnie@oshawa.ca>; Greg Scarborough <GScarborough@oshawa.ca>
Mon, February 28, 2011 12:38:14 PM
Animal Services
Sent:
Subject: RE: Eddie: 5 months at Oshawa
Hi Ariel:
Good to hear from you. Thanks for your interest in Eddie- please don't hesitate in
referring him on to your contacts for adoption or fostering. I will have staff take a
more flattering photo of him for viewing.
Thanks,
Kevin C. Feagan, Manager
Department
2141
Municipal Law Enforcement Services
The Corporation of The City of Oshawa
Corporate Services
Telephone: 905-436-5636 Ext.
From: ariel lang [mailto::. 5 ·''-{Ct). t<-1f-.P.L:1+ _
Sent: Monday, February 21, 2011 6:52PM
To: Kevin Feagan
Cc: Mayor@Oshawa.ca; Jerry Conlin ; Rick Stockman
Subject: Eddie: 5 months at Oshawa Animal Services
Hello Kevin:
I recently spoke with your assistant, Cathy, about Eddie, likely an Australian
Cattle/Border Collie cross, who has been at the OAS for five months!!! Five months is
an incredibly-long time for any dog, especially a herding/working mix who not only
needs a "job", but is also much more intelligent than most other breeds! (I had a Border
Collie for nearly 20 years!)
As you know, Kevin, photos and background info are the "primary" means of
attracting adopters! Eddie is a good looking boy! Unfortunately, his photo does not do
him justice; it is very difficult to appreciate how handsome he really is. In the photo he
appears to have a hip/leg/back injury? Might you consider posting a new photo of him?
Incidentally, please advise Cathy that Petfinder's December admin problems were
solved before the end of last year. And in spite of the fact that the photos took a lengthy
time to load, all other shelters and rescuers continued to post successfully!
In an effort to give Eddie an advantage, a "good" photo, as well as his size using
the "knee-high" method, approximate weight and other pertinent information is
·
essential, especially, temperament and personality info, i.e., he's "good with" cats, other
dogs, children, etc. Additional info that "attracts" adopters (standard for many shelters)
includes: is he affectionate? does he shake a paw, fetch, roll over? etc.
Because of the extended length of time Eddie has been impounded, Kevin, I
implore you:
TO GIVE ME YOUR PERMISSION TO EMAIL EDDIE'S PHOTO AND INFO TO
SOME OF MY "TRUSTED" COLLEAGUES IN RESCUE TO HELP SEEK AN
ADOPTER AND/OR POTENTIALLY, FOSTER PLACEMENT???
In Eddie's case, finding a foster experienced with herding breeds is essential. An
added benefit of a foster home (besides the obvious), is that all additional information
gleaned increases a dog's adoptability.
The reputable rescuers that I work with provide: foster homes (kenneling is
unacceptable); veterinary care, as needed, including spay neutering; matches to
potential adopters with full disclosure regarding all pertinent info regarding the dogs
health and background; a veterinary reference and a home check of any potential
adopter; and a binding contract that the dog be returned to its placement rescue should
the adoption not work out for any reason!
Kevin, I just want to HELP Eddie! I'm asking you to PLEASE give rescue a trial
run. Let's circulate an updated photo of Eddie and see what transpires through our
combined efforts to find this darling boy his forever home as soon possible!!!
Look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
-ariel lang
S i'-1(•), y(-jPP4
EXAMPLE OF INADEQUATE INFORMATION:
EDDIE- ID#A031247
My name is EDDIE.
I am a neutered male, tricolor Border Collie mix.
The shelter staff think I am about 6 years old.
I have been at the shelter since Sep 14, 201 0.
s. l l....i( '), f-{f\~.0(\.
From: ariel lang
To: councillor_crawford@toronto. ca; councillor <mayor_ ford@toronto.ca> :.
councillor_dford@toronto.ca; councillor_palacio@toronto.ca; councillor_lee@toronto.ca;
councillor_nu nziata@toronto.ca; councillor_debaeremaeker@toronto. ca;
councillor_perruzza@toronto.ca; councillor_lindsay_luby@toronto.ca
Cc: Mayor@Oshawa.ca ; Kevin Feagan <KFeagan@oshawa.ca>; Jerry Conlin
<JConlin@oshawa.ca>; Rick Stockman <RStockman@oshawa.ca>; Melissa Galea
<MGalea@oshawa.ca>; Lindsay Darnley <LDarnley@oshawa.ca>; Alyce McEachnie
(Nee Collingwood) <AMcEachnie@oshawa.ca>; Greg Scarborough
<GScarborough@oshawa.ca>
Sent: Wed, September 14, 2011 10:39:43 PM
Subject: Story from the thestar.com: What Cowtown's pound can teach Hogtown
If Calgary can do it, Toronto (and Oshawa) can too II!
What Cowtown's pound can teach Hogtown
Calgary Animal and Bylaw Services covers its entire $5.3 annual budget through revenues raised , with no tax monies. You can view this story at: http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1053251-what­ cowtown-s-pound-can-teach-hogtown Page 1 of2
Print Article
ADDITIONAL RE. CORP-12-08 thestar.com
f
Back to What Cowtown's pound can teach Hogtown
~
What Cowtown's pound can teach Hogtown
September 13, 2011
Valerie Hauch
Hello Hogtown, Cowtown has a lesson for you when it comes to delivering
animal services- and it's a big one in these hard budgetary times because
it's all abou t saving money, wh ile offering compassionate creature care.
Toronto could realize some minor savings if it implements a recommendation
in a report from the city manager to stop picking up animals surrendered by
their owners, except in emergency situations. (There's another reference in
the report's appendix for continued consideration of privatizing Toronto
Animal Services.)
I
I
But it could save a lot more by fo llowing Calgary's example, even though that
city claims the lowest euthanasia rate in North America and among the
highest rates of licensing compliance and return of lost pets.
Revenues raised by Calgary Animal and Bylaw Services (licensing, adoption,
fines etc.) cover its entire annual $5.3 million budget- funding extensive
programs and staffing without a penny of taxpayer money. (The only area not Bill Bruce, director of Calgary Animal and Bylaw Services, holds his dog Amy, who
covered is corporate ove rhead, su ch as accounting and human resou rces.)
was rescued from a dumpster about seven years ago.
Supplied photo
Calgary's is the only Canadian municipal pound to offer a free rewards
program - I Heart My Pet Rewards- with more than 60 businesses involved , which give discounts on restaurant meals, hotels, car lube
jobs, clothing and more to owners of licensed pets .
"By using the I Heart My Pet card just a couple of times, you could recoup the cost of your pet licensing fees. We see this as an additional
reward for being a licensed, respo nsible pet owner," says director Bill Bruce.
Calgary's innovation even extends to smartphones.
"You can download our free mobile app called City of Calgary Pets to view available pets on your mobile phone," says Bruce, who will give
a public lecture on the Ca lgary model at Toronto's Inte rcontinenta l Hotel on Sept 30. The rece ntly introduced app garnered 8,000
downloads in just two weeks.
With just over a million residents, Alberta has 107,500 licensed dogs (about 90 per cent compliance) and 49;500 licensed cats (about 50 per
cent compliance), says Bruce.
It costs $31 to license a neutered dog, $53 for an unaltered one; $10 to license a neutered cat, $30 if not altered. There is no limit on the
number of cats and dogs allowed per household.
Cats are not supposed to roam off an owner's property, although Bruce says "if a cat comes into your yard and you don't care, we don't
care." If a resident does care, the city will supply free humane cat traps and follow up with the offending owner.
Cat owners have been more reluctant to get licences, but Bruce says th is is changing rapidly. "We went from no cat licences in 2007 to 50
per cen t compliance now."
The fine for an unlicenced pet is $250, but low-income owners can have their pets neutered free.
·we have the power to waive licence fees ... maybe there's a senior who can' t afford the licence fee for hardship issues. You have to build
that in, that compassion," says Bruce, who calls his city an "animal friendly town."
http://www.thestar.com/printarticle/1 05325 1
01/ lR/20 1?.
Print Article
Page 2 of2
Calgary people like their pets. "Our firefighters are all trained in pet CPR," says Bruce, wh o adds that firefig hters carry pet-size oxygen mask
adapters for their equipment.
"It's a collaborative commun ity. If Calgary police appear at a scene of domestic abuse and the woman has to leave, they'll bring us the
pets," says Bruce, and staff will find long-term foster care for the animals.
Although Calgary's animal services department does not solicit funds , people still donate. It now has about $8,000 that will be funneled into
a non-profit charitable foundation.
The city's euthanasia rate has been decreas ing for years. In 2010 it declined from the previous year's 22 per cent to 18 per cent for cats (of
869 cats impounded). Bruce says an animal is destroyed only for health reasons or issues that make it unadoptable. Space is never an
issue, he says; the she lter can hold 88 cats and 84 dogs.
"We haven't been at capacity for years," he says.
So what is Ca lgary's winning formula?
Some years ago,.the animal services department decided to emphasize getting across the message of responsible pet ownership.
"The licence is your dog or eat's ticket home," says Bruce. " It's about accountability. We don't have an animal control law, we have a
Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw. It sounds simple, but these are mindset changes."
"People know we're open for business and we're here to serve. We've worked to build trust with the animal community, we collabo rate and
we're open and transparent. We wanted to get away from the Cruella de Ville model- that image of the pound. We wanted to create value.
We wanted to create a government department that people want to do business w ith. The public knows the money from licences doesn't go
to filling potholes; it goes back into providing services to an im als and the community."
CALGARY'S MODEL
In 2010, Ca lgary Animal and Bylaw Services reun ited 479 cats and 3,746 dogs w ith their owners.
Adoption cost: $200 for dogs, $150 for ca ts, including microchip, spaying and neutering.
Funded comp letely by its own revenues, Calgary has 24 animal control officers, two teachers who run school programs, three licensing
staff, nine animal health techn icians, 1.5 veterinarians, four shelter assistants, a full-time animal behaviour specialist and a shelter manager.
Services include:
• Free spaying and neutering for qualifying low-income owners
• School and pub lic education programs
• Helping neighbours resolve animal-related i ssues
• Investigating animal complaints (including wi ldlife)
• Adoption services
• Funding for emergency medical care for injured strays
• Website updated every 15 minutes with information about impounded pets
• If a licensed and/or microchipped animal is found at large by an animal control officer, it will be driven home, if possible.
http://www.thestar.com/printarticle/1 053251
01/18/2012
Page 1 of2
Print Article
thestar.com
f
Back to Pet pictures that save lives
~
Pet pictures that save lives
November 11, 2011
David Graham
The poignant story of two Great Danes languishing, unadoptable, in a U.K. animal shelter captured the attention of pet lovers around the world. Six-year-; old Lily has been blind since she was a pup and her best friend , Maddison, has been her guide dog. The story tugged at heart strings. But it was the photos of the two dogs that made their story irresistible. Teresa Berg knows the importance of a good picture to help get pets adopted -and bad ones make her barking mad. Violet after Berg, a Dallas portrait photographer who is usually hired to take portraits of
individuals, families, babies and pets, volunteers her services to Dallas-area dog rescue missions. She teaches staff and adoption shelte r volunteers how to take pictures of rescue animals, even with a simple point-and-shoot camera. The goal: Photos that are so engaging adoptions are virtually guaranteed. See a photo gallery here
Berg has built a career taking artful pictures. So when she decided to add a pet to her own fami ly she was appalled at the quality of
photographs on online adoption agencies' websites- timid, unkempt animals peering through cage bars with menacing red eyes- hardly
an animal you'd want in your home, says Berg. Those anguished photos may be effective at attracting donors. But they don 't inspire people
to adopt, says Berg.
After adopting a small long-haired Dachshund she advised the rescue organization that they might expedite adoptions by using better pictures. She was right. Using a few simple tricks, she was able to speed up the average adoption time from three to six months to as little as six to
eight weeks. "Immediately we noticed the online hits went up tenfold. We knew we were on to something."
·our goal is to show the rescue animal as a pet that could come into your home- not distressed or damaged. We don't want to pla y on
people's sympathy. The animals should seem happy and friendly- not traumatized , not pathetic. We don't want to play the pity card."
Berg says she wants each dog's true personality to shine through.
Berg does admit, however, that if a rescue dog has just been spayed or neutered, "I have been known to Photoshop the scar."
From her Dallas studio, Berg offers webinars instructing rescue staff and volunteers who don't have photography skills or professional
equipment on how to photograph a rescue dog as if they were a best-in-show purebred.
Berg also works with the Collin County Humane Society which struggles to find adoptive homes for hundreds of dogs each year. Because
the numbers are overwhelming, Berg deals specifically with the hard-to-adopt animals- black dogs and seniors, and animals with physical
injuries, for example. She recalls one dog that had no lower teeth because it had spent a lifetime attempting to chew through a chain around
its neck.
It broke Berg's heart to learn that 75 per cent of rescue dogs in Dallas are euthanized - a startling statistic that plays out in many urban
centres, she says. The story is different in Toronto, however. The "low-kill" Toronto Humane Society, fo r example, reports a euthanasia rate
of just 2.3 per cent.
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Berg's idea is catching on. In Toronto, Berg disciple Karen Weiler has operated Posh Pets Photography for over a.year. Just this week she started rescue volunteer work at Toronto Animal Services, taking professional pictures of animals offered for adoption. "I started out as a wedding photographer," says Weiler. But that career was short lived. "I'd rather photograph dogs than brides," she says. "Animals can't speak for themselves,' says Weiler, who asp ires to give rescue cats a nd dogs a voice through her photographs. The Toronto Humane Society, on the other hand , relies on the dedicated work of staff and volunteers to take their photos for their onl ine adoption gallery- and the results are hit and miss. Berg says it doesn't have to be that way . Even with a basic point-and -shoot came ra amateurs can take better photos. Her blog offers five simple tips on making the most of each dog: Look fo r light. If you don't have access to fancy equipment, f ind the biggest window you can, says Berg. De-clutter the background. "I can't tell you how many pictures I've seen of dogs sitting in front of baskets of laundry or a stack of empty p izza boxes." Get them in a homey environmen t so people can imagine them cu rled up on the end of their bed. Get down on you r hands and knees. You need to get the proper perspective on the body of the dog. Dogs often look distorted when photographed from above. Be patient. Get good doggie posture, not cowe ring and slinking shots. Above all, get the dog out of the cage , out from behind bars. You don't want the dog to look cornered. Make eye contact. Try to reveal a happy expression. Prospective adopters have to imagin~ the dog as part of their family. http://www.thestar.com/printarticle/1085906
01/18/2012