Best Friends Magazine: May/June 2004

Transcription

All the good news about animals, wildlife, and the earth
Best Friends
May/June 2004
Learning to
Love Again
What the
Animals See
Wise World
of Fairy Tale
Critters
Plus
• Wild & Wacky Cat World News
• SUPER Super Adoption
• World’s Wealthiest Pets
BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE May/June 2004
1
from the editor
Victor the
Dogfather
By Michael Mountain
Our work for the animals is a work
of the soul.
V
“
The simple
truth is that
all aggression
is born
of fear.
”
2
ictor the Dogfather had no high-tech
weapons – no nukes, cruise missiles,
star wars satellites, or cluster bombs;
and no chemical weapons, dirty bombs, or
other cheap WMDs.
He didnʼt even have an army – just a
couple of slightly overweight, old black
Lab/spaniel mixes who considered themselves his chiefs of staff.
Victor couldnʼt even have defended his
territory, Victorville, if other dogs had
crossed his line in the sand and challenged
him. But the point was, they never did.
This was all 15 years ago, and Victorville was just across the way from Octagon
Three, where breakfast was prepared every
morning for 600 or more dogs. Dozens of
street-smart dogs, abandoned pets, and old
mutts would mill around, watching for tasty
morsels to drop as volunteers loaded the
bowls onto pickup trucks for delivery all
over Dogtown.
But however excited the dogs might be,
none of them ever ventured across Victorʼs
line in the sand just a few yards away.
Instead, they would take a detour around
his tree, and only then race off to the dog
compounds along the delivery route.
It wasnʼt that other dogs couldnʼt have
taken him on. Victor was old and creaky with
arthritis. Heʼd lived on a heavy iron chain
in a trailer park for years before coming
to Best Friends. He walked stiffly. But no
young upstart ever challenged him.
And while handsome “Sheriff” Amra
the Malamute strutted around, greeting
people like he was lord of the manor, Victor remained the true alpha dog.
What was his secret?
It wasnʼt that the other dogs were afraid
of him. They knew there was nothing he
could have done to stop them. But he didnʼt
need force. There was something about him
that simply commanded respect.
There have been occasional people in the
human world who have commanded the kind
of respect and honor that was natural to Victor. But I canʼt think of any today.
Instead, we live in a world that grows
ever more dangerously polarized – where
violence is the order of the day, and selfrighteous men worship gods of hatred and
intolerance that reflect just how uncertain
and insecure they truly are.
Itʼs a world divided against itself, and mirrored right here at home in a country thatʼs
split angrily down the middle in whatʼs set
to become the longest, nastiest knock-down,
drag-out election campaign ever.
Itʼs a world of aggression. And the simple
truth is that all aggression is born of fear.
Any of us can be scared by things we have
no control over. But the fear thatʼs endemic
in the world today comes not from outside
threats but from deep within ourselves. This
kind of fear is born of a sense of disconnection – from ourselves, from each other, and
from nature.
Itʼs the kind of fear that Victor the Dogfather never felt. He knew who he was, and he
knew his place in the scheme of things. And
he projected an inner confidence that made
other dogs feel secure rather than afraid.
So they honored his line in the sand – not
because they feared reprisals, but because he
was truly the Dogfather of Dogtown.
True power doesnʼt depend on the ability to destroy, but on the ability to offer life
and love.
Our would-be world leaders today could
learn a lot from Victor.
contents
Best Friends
M A G A Z I N E
M a y / J u n e
14
2 0 0 4
Minority Report III
Reservation Rescues
BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE
Editor: Michael Mountain
Managing Editor: Steven Hirano
Assistant Editor: Estelle Munro
Senior Editor: Julie Richard
Associate Editors: Anne Zepernick,
Elizabeth Doyle
Photos: Clay Myers, Troy Snow
Graphics: Arnie Bishop, Diane Doyle
Cartoons: Marc Brown, Steven Hirano
Advertising: Ashley Tillman, Denise Kelly
Distribution: Denise Kelly
BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY
President: Michael Mountain
Sanctuary & Animal Care: Faith Maloney
Rescue Programs: Francis Battista
Spay/Neuter & Adoption: Gregory Castle
No More Homeless Pets: Bonney Brown
Veterinarian: Virginia Clemans, DVM
Treasurer: John Fripp
ADVERTISING OFFICES:
Los Angeles: Ashley Tillman (818) 986-3006
New York: Denise Kelly (212) 592-0743
5001 Angel Canyon Rd • Kanab, UT 84741
Tel: (435) 644-2001 • Fax: (435) 644-2078
e-mail: editor@bestfriends.org
www.bestfriends.org
26
The Earth
Olympic Wonder
Best Friends magazine is
published by Best Friends
Animal Society. Located at
Angel Canyon, in the majestic
red-rock country of Utah, Best
Friends runs the nation’s
largest sanctuary for abused and
abandoned animals, and is also
home to a host of wildlife who
find refuge here.
Best Friends operates a low-cost
spay/neuter program, sponsors
a network of members in rescue,
foster care and humane education, and works with humane
groups nationwide to bring about
a time when there will be No
More Homeless Pets.
The society is supported primarily by memberships and donations, and subscriptions
to this magazine.
Your contributions are taxdeductible.
B E S T F R I E N D S M AG A Z I N E
is published by Best Friends Animal
Society, 5001 Angel Canyon Road,
Kanab, Utah 84741. Subscriptions are $25 (6 issues per year).
Standard A postage paid at Maple
Grove, Minnesota. Vol. 13, issue 3
© 2004, Best Friends Animal Society. All rights reserved.
Cover photo of Dauveny
by Troy Snow
2
4
From the Editor
• Victor the Dogfather
5
Oddly Enough
• “Siamese” turtles • Clubby cub • Hereʼs your ball…and
a furball • Families that rattle together • Oddly but briefly
6
Reviews & Updates
• The dark underbelly of ecotourism • Chippy chipper
• For the love of pups • Dogs of war • Elephant on ice
• New “pocket” pet
Mysteries of Life
• A land before RAID • Land Oʼ Spooky Lakes
• Studs “R” Us • Get your Dasani water here
8
12
18
21
22
24
28
Thinking Globally
• News and photos from around the world
38
40
42
44
46
48
Ambassador to the Animals
• SUPER Adoption!
54
On the Light Side
• Soon to star in an NBC reality show • There goes the
neigh...borhood! • Their food bowls runneth over • Free
at last • Run, postman, run! • Pamper your pets…or else!
No More Homeless Pets
• Stop Woof & Co! • News briefs
Animals & Society
• Learning to love again through Project Second Chance
London Hound
• Culture shock! Adopting a cat in the U.K.
Talking with Animals
• The wise world of fairy tale animals
On the Wild Side
• You are so there! An animalʼs eye view of the world
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
• News from the sanctuary • Rockyʼs road to adoption
• Special adoptions • Tomatoʼs Cat World News
Health & Behavior
• Faith Maloney answers your questions
The Animals’ Bookshelf
• Lessons from our animal friends
Point Counter Point
• Should dogs go veggie?
On the Radio
• Pets, people, personalities
Members & Pets
• The miracle of Zoe • Letters • A grey angel flies home
• Sweet memories
3
mysteries of life
A Land Before RAID
Land O’ Spooky Lakes
Studs “R” Us!
Get Your Dasani
Water Here!
It was so spooky that most residents near the Thunderbird and Britannia Lakes in Florida didn’t even want to
talk about it.
But with more and more people hearing the nocturnal
din – a series of basso bellows – the mystery began to
grow. What was making that spine-tingling sound?
Some of the locals put
it down to bullfrogs in
their attics; others believed
these were
the ghostly
moanings of
sad spooks.
As the noisy nights
went on, it became clear that
the sound was emerging from
two nearby man-made lakes. Nessie in Florida?
Turns out it wasn’t anything so exotic. The otherworldly
noise issued from black drum fish sending out their mating call.
These huge creatures (one was found weighing 93 pounds!)
move inland in the winter to mate in warmer waters.
But residents needn’t fear that they’ll have to suffer
through the spring ritual. Warmer weather sees the fish
moving back out to deeper water where they normally
forage.
www.nasa.gov
Long before humans
took over the earth
– long before the age
of the dinosaurs – huge
insects were lords over
all they surveyed.
Three hundred million
years ago, when much
of the land was lush and
tropical, an explosion
of plant life gave off so
much oxygen that insects
just grew and grew and
grew.
There were dragonflies
with wingspans of two and
a half feet. Five-footlong millipedes. Superscorpions. Humongous
spiders.
What happened to
them all? A huge extinction event 250 million years ago, much bigger than the later
dinosaur apocalypse, wiped them all out.
And what happened to all the plants? They’re still with us,
in their own way. They just got buried and turned into coal.
Wish you could preselect whether your baby will be a boy
or girl? Deer can already do it.
As urban sprawl increasingly claims their habitat, deer
are “choosing” the gender of their children. The healthiest
females are producing more male children. Weaker, less
favored females deliver females.
Bees, wasps, and some birds have been known to practice selective breeding, too, but until now it was a matter of
debate whether mammals could do the same.
Having the strongest females produce male heirs ensures
that there are enough high-quality males available to become
the next generation’s studs. Nobody knows quite how they
go about this regulatory process.
4
Is there life on Europa? When the spacecraft Galileo
first flew by this moon of Jupiter, scientists were excited. It
was a world covered in ice – most likely ice made of water.
And where there’s water, there may be life.
But latest observations suggest that the ice is not quite
so hospitable. It’s frozen sulphuric acid!
Europa may have volcanoes deep down under the water,
spewing sulphur and other chemicals into its ocean that
turn water into acid. Or possibly it’s being bombarded with
sulphur from Io, another of Jupiter’s moons.
So, does that rule out Europa as a possible home for
living creatures? Not so fast, say biologists. Here on earth,
there are species of bacteria that thrive deep down in ocean
vents where the water is just as sour.
oddly enough
Photo: Sharon Ehasz
Whew! That Was Close!
You canʼt have one without the
other … only now you can.
Peanut Butter and Jelly, a pair of
conjoined tortoises, have been successfully separated and are recovering in an Arizona clinic.
The two were joined at the side of
the belly near their tail ends and had
spent half of their lives with one on
Clubby
Cub
Here’s Your Ball ...
and a Furball
EPA/Barbara Walton
Youʼd think that a baby
piglet would automatically
be lunch for a hungry twoyear-old Bengal tiger. But
one such man-eater prefers
to romp as brothers with a
litter of piglets.
Saimai, the tiger, was
suckled by a sow when he
was a cub, and he grew up
with a litter of piglets. As
an adult, the tigerʼs natural
urges havenʼt taken over – at
least not as yet.
An animalʼs early
experiences can apparently override its genetic
predispositions. And there
are many cases where early
life experiences affect later
life behavior. In other words, a pig can be imprinted on a tiger cub, and the
tiger may, in turn, begin to think he or she is related to the pig.
But those piggies better not get too clubby. Nobody knows how long the
imprinting lasts, but most such instances find the animal reverting to its
natural behavior sooner or later … and often when itʼs least expected!
its back and the other trying to kick
itself over. Their people routinely
flipped them, logging the time one
stayed on its back while the other
was upright.
The condition is rare, but after
surgeons agreed to operate, the siblings were free to crawl together ...
or opt for a little alone time.
Dogs who fetch the paper or their personʼs slippers are a
fairly common occurrence. But cats?
Until recently, the retrieving skill was thought to be the
preserve of canines, but these days about 44 percent of cats
fetch and return items tossed for them by their people. The cats
use their natural behavior
(retrieving prey) to encourage people to interact with
them, thereby garnering a
lot of attention.
Burmese and Siamese cats are at the top
of the retrieving list, while
mixed breeds show the least
interest. Paper, tinfoil balls,
feathers, socks, brushes, and
even ear plugs were all items
of choice on the play list.
The “new” behavior is
attributed to a change in
lifestyle, with more cats
living closely with human
companions rather than out
trawling the land for their
own dinner.
Families that Rattle
Together Stay Together
They can send most people into terror-filled paralysis – or screaming off
into the woods. But rattlesnakes might
be getting a bad rap.
The supposedly fearsome reptiles
are actually caring, social creatures
who even form family groups. Females
associate more with their sisters than
with unrelated kin and they form birthing rookeries with other snakes when
theyʼre pregnant.
The ability to distinguish relatives from
those unrelated to them was previously not
thought to exist in snake species.
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reviews & updates
www.fotosearch.com
The Dark Underbelly of Ecotourism
I
t has been promoted as the way forward for all animal-loving
travelers. Ecotourism – the modern, compassionate answer to
safari hunting – has given poor countries an economic boost
while protecting their most precious natural resources. It has helped
transform poachers into guardians of the animals they once destroyed.
And it has helped finance countless wildlife preserves.
But now, it seems, some of those best efforts may have a dark
underside. From penguins to polar bears, dolphins to dingoes, animals
are showing signs of stress, ranging from weight loss to premature
death. Itʼs painful news for an industry that was designed to have
exactly the opposite effect.
Evidence is growing that animals do not react well to having
tourists tramping around their habitat. The effects can be subtle and
difficult to detect at first: changes in heart rate, an increase in stress
hormone levels, and alterations in social behavior.
For example, when New Zealandʼs bottlenose dolphins were
monitored, they became increasingly agitated when tourist boats
were present. They rest for as little as .5 percent of the time when
three or more boats are within close range, compared with 68 percent
of the time when only a single boat is present. Similarly, dolphins
in Scotlandʼs Moray Firth spend significantly more time surfacing in synchronization when tour boats are present than they do
otherwise. And that, in turn, means they have to rest more at night,
which reduces the time they spend socializing among themselves
and foraging for food.
6
Tourists are fanning out all across the globe in search of ecotourism opportunities. Special vehicles designed to transport visitors to
watch polar bears in Manitoba have been in operation since the 1980s.
The tourist season is short, lasting only from October to November,
but this is the time the animals should be resting, waiting for the
Hudson Bay to freeze over so they can hunt for food. The presence
of visitors means the bears are not resting up for the work ahead.
Male bears show a marked increase in defensive vigilant behavior
when even as little as one vehicle is around. Their heart rates and
metabolism increase, which means their body fat and individual
fitness is reduced. For slow-breeding animals like the polar bear,
the effects could take years to reverse.
And while poor countries that are rich in biodiversity have been
encouraged to benefit from the industry, oftentimes their ecotourism projects arenʼt properly accredited and are only on the fringe
of being environmentally friendly.
But the news isnʼt all bad. There are carefully controlled programs, such as those in the Galapagos Islands, which raise money
for preservation without causing any damage to wildlife. Studies
in that area have shown that the islandsʼ famous reptiles do not
have any increased stress or behavioral changes in the presence
of humans.
Wildlife experts are calling for more studies and careful monitoring
of ecotourism programs to ensure that the goals the industry wanted
to accomplish when it was born are really the end result it achieves.
AP Photo/ Anchorage Daily News/BNob Hallinen
Chippy Chipper Again
He became an instant celebrity when headlines captured his
100-mile adventure up the San Joaquin River.
Chippy the sea lion (so named by the California Highway Patrol
officers who rescued him) had swum up the river to the agricultural
canals. From there, he moved onto land for about half a mile. When
he was found, he had a bullet wound in the back of his head.
His post-operative recuperation saw him paddling in a pool
and munching on 14 pounds of herring a day. But he wasnʼt much
interested in cavorting with the other sea lions at the wildlife rehabilitation facility. With his wounds healed, Chippy was ready to
return to his home in the Pacific Ocean, hopefully back with family
and friends.
So the 315-pound sea lion was released amidst much fanfare and
good wishes from his legion of fans.
For the Love of Pups
Computer and canine geeks alike are logging on to the hottest
new website to hit the animal kingdom: dogster.com.
It started as a small social network site for dogs, complete with
mug shots, heartwarming stories, and a list of pet peeves. When it
went live on January 12, there were fewer than 100 dogs sharing
stories of their personal adventures. Within three months, more than
8,000 dogs had been posted on the site with more being added daily.
And these arenʼt just local pooches; they come from all over the globe
– from Malaysia, Afghanistan, New Zealand, and even Croatia.
Dogster may just be the ultimate home for canine fanciers. It connects pooches and people where theyʼre sure to receive not only likeminded companionship but also an endless dose of puppy love.
Outfitting the Dogs of War
The new recruits heading to Iraq and Afghanistan are now being
properly outfitted – the canine ones, anyway.
K-9 units deployed to the war zone will now be issued Kevlar vests
that cover their bodies from shoulders to hindquarters, protecting
them from bullets, shrapnel, and knife attacks.
The Marinesʼ K-9 units are used for sentry duty and for detecting
explosives. Although no dogs have been killed in Iraq, some have
been injured, prompting the decision to provide the vests.
The body armor includes pouches for cooling packs in high
temperatures, and rappel loops and a harness should the animals
need to scale a steep slope or be deployed via parachute.
Itʼs the Free Willy campaign of this century. But now itʼs an
elephantʼs turn to raise awareness and become the focus of a campaign to better her life.
The “Free Maggie” movement has been gaining momentum and
attention as pleas for a new home for a 22-year-old African elephant
at the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage resound around the world.
It doesnʼt take a genius to see that Maggie is cold and cramped in
her winter compound and clearly missing her companion, who died
seven years ago. Since then, Maggie has lived without the company
of any other elephant, contrary to national zoo standards. Elephants
are social creatures who need companionship.
Alaska zoo officials are coming under fire as they weigh the
benefits (to them) of keeping Maggie against the cost of spending
the money required to improve her living conditions or even provide
her with friends.
Locals who profess to “love” Maggie want her kept where she is,
claiming sheʼs a favorite of the kids and is perfectly content in her
long-time home. Others say that she should be given the chance to
thrive in her homeland by being moved to one of the state-of-the-art
elephant preserves in Africa, where she can lumber about among
her own kind and be free to roam the range.
New Old Stuff
Theyʼre baaaaaack. Those ubiquitous Tamagotchi pocket pets
that graced key chains everywhere in the 1990s have been upgraded
to a new 2004 version.
The older version of the virtual pets required them to be fed,
walked, and played with, lest they expire. In the newer digital version, available in the U.S. this summer, the virtual pets are able to
date, fall in love, and have babies. (Did no one tell the software
nerds about virtual spay/neuter?)
AP Photo/HO
AP Photo/Fresno Bee/Mark Crosse
What’s Wrong with This
Picture?
7
www.dominaweb.net
thinking globally
Got Grass?
Wales: Three Asian water buffalo have
been imported to a Welsh wildlife center to
help in conservation work.
The animals, originally from Romania,
graze in swamp areas that provide an important habitat for wetland birds. In the past,
cows and horses were used to keep down the
grass and scrub, but they proved to be fussy
eaters. When a local farmer loaned six adult
water buffalo to the wildlife center, they
were so pleased with the herdʼs eating habits
that they decided to acquire more.
The unconventional grazers have attracted a lot of attention, and now other conservation groups are following the model.
Determination Fuels
Conservation
another 10 percent last year. Only 100 specialist horse butchers remain in the country,
with Paris containing only 32. (Twenty years
ago, there were over 100 in the capital city
alone.)
The increasingly successful political
challenges in France to animal cruelty
(including foie gras production and bullfighting) have been slowly altering Gallic
opinion and practices. The decline is also
attributed to an increased popularity in
horseback riding and the concerted public
awareness campaign by the organization
The Ethical Association of Horses.
Nigeria: The Environment Minister has
warned that the countryʼs animals, fish,
and plants in the wetlands might be lost if
indiscriminate bush burning and wood fuel
extraction continue unabated.
The ministry is determined to create a
national policy and action plan for sustainable use of the wetlands and to raise awareness among the public about protecting its
resources.
The Ultimate Whaling
Ban!
Worldwide: Animal welfare groups
from around the globe have joined together
to launch an international campaign for the
outright banning of whaling.
The Whalewatch Coalition is comprised
of 140 organizations from 55 countries
and is lobbying the International Whaling Commission to stop both commercial
and research whaling. Traditional whaling
countries such as Japan, Norway, and Iceland
dismissed the campaign as “environmental
imperialism.”
Doctors Debate
Vivisection Policy
France: The French, one of the firmest
holdouts in reducing gastronomic animal
cruelty, finally seem to be setting out on a
more animal-friendly course.
There has been a steady decline in eating
horse meat in the past two decades, with
consumption down 17 percent in 2002 and
Humane Care Tops Bill of Fare
Three out of four American consumers would choose food products
certified as protecting animals over those that do not, according
to a recent study on behalf of the United Egg Producers.
Consumers would also be willing to make the choice in favor of
humane animal care even if the products might cost more. A
whopping 77 percent of consumers would consider switching
to animal friendly brands if their usual brand was not certified
as protective of animals.
The results are encouraging to all those industries that want to
respond positively to humane animal farming issues.
8
www.photolib.noaa.gov
Gaul Gastronomy Not So
Galling
United Kingdom: Doctors are calling
for a moratorium on animal experiments
until their contribution to human health is
properly evaluated.
Physicians from the London School of
Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and other
members of the Reviewing Animal Trials
Systematically Group say there is little evidence that animal research has contributed
to treating human disease. The doctors want
a study performed that reviews the existing
animal data to determine whether animal
research can be applied to humans. This
could end the debate between pro- and antivivisectionists about the value of animal
research to human health.
The group asserts that no new animal
studies should be conducted until the best
use of existing studies has been made and
until their validity has been assessed independently. The Royal Society has rejected
the suggestion that animal research isnʼt
pertinent in medical research, claiming that
every medical treatment in the past century
rests in some way on vivisection.
Meanwhile, Britainʼs science minister,
Lord Sainsbury, is set to announce plans
for a “virtual” national research center to
replace some animal testing.
New Zealand: In a bid to save the islandʼs
Maui dolphins – called by many the worldʼs
most endangered marine mammal – New
Zealandʼs public conservation agency is
testing satellite tagging on three Hectorʼs
dolphins.
Those animals, which number around
7,000, are less endangered than the Maui,
whose population is down to about 150. If
the experiment is successful, the Maui will
also be tagged in order to provide critical
information about the animalʼs range.
Maui dolphins are now protected through
a ban on the use of commercial nets set
within four nautical miles of the countryʼs
North Island, where they live. But some have
been spotted well outside the protected area,
exposing them to danger from the fishing
industry.
The transmitters are tiny satellite tags
that will be attached to the dorsal fins with
nylon-coated pins. Some local conservation
groups are opposed to the trial on the basis
that other, non-invasive research methods
(such as acoustic, boat-based surveys)
should be used.
Crime & Punishment
Canada: After seven years of legislative
stalling, the Species at Risk Act (SARA) is
finally set to be implemented.
The law, which was passed last summer,
aims to prevent wildlife species from becoming extinct and help endangered animals
recover their numbers. June will mark the
first time that SARA will be used to prosecute those who contravene the law.
Until now, education, financial incentives, and compensation have been the
extent of the actʼs powers, but proponents
say the change will allow the law to have
some real bite. For example, it will now be
a punishable offense to destroy habitats of
endangered or threatened species; it will be
illegal to kill, harm, harass, or take them,
and illegal to possess, buy, or sell them.
It’s the Law
India: A new brand of cruelty-free
silk, Ahimsa Peace Silk, which has been
two years in the making, is ready to be
released for use.
The developers, People for Animals, are
hoping to attract boutique owners who are
interested in offering customers a crueltyfree silk alternative. The silk is the only one
of its kind, and sales will benefit 21 animal
hospitals in the country.
The invention was launched at the
international textile fair in Delhi recently,
with foreign buyers nabbing the initial stock. For more information, visit
www.ahimsapeacesilk.com.
Elephants in Wisconsin: The owner
of Lota, a Milwaukee County Zoo
star elephant, has
settled
charges
brought
against
him by the federal
government for violations to the Animal Welfare Act.
John Cuneo and
the Hawthorn
Corporation
have admitted
guilt to violations
of the Animal Welfare Act in addition
to inadequate veterinary care. The
settlement includes a $200,000 fine
and the removal of Lota and 15 other
elephants. The animals will go to the
Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee.
Touting a Turtle
Turnaround
Singapore: It was a first when experts
from seven Asian countries gathered for a
four day conference aimed at finding ways
to reverse the slide toward extinction of the
turtle and tortoise populations in Southeast
Asia.
The animals are poached for the pet trade,
food (turtle soup and eggs), and in quack
“medicines.” Habitat loss and pollution
add to the
problem.
A major
concern at
the meeting was that
many of the
turtles who
are disappearing
are adult
breeding females, making it difficult for
populations to replenish themselves.
Pledging to Protect
United Nations: More than 180 countries
signed an agreement in Kuala Lumpur that
is designed to slow the loss of species and
habitats around the world.
A network of protected areas will be
established on land and sea to offer incentives for poorer nations to protect the environment. It is intended that by 2010, areas
of the world that boast a huge diversity of
species will be part of the network of protected areas.
Led by the United Nations, the conference set targets and timetables toward the
goal of reducing the number of species dying
out within six years.
www.turtlesurvival.org
Steve Dawson, ©2002 www.theglobalbridge.com
Studying Dolphin Trips
Luxurious & Cruelty Free
Animals as Prizes in Iowa: Lizards,
mice, goldfish, rabbits, and baby
chicks can no longer be awarded as
prizes at carnivals and fairs under a
new bill passed by Iowa’s House of
Representatives. The Animal Rescue League of Iowa pushed for the
ban after receiving complaints last
year about animal abuse at carnivals. The bill now moves to the state
Senate for ratification.
Dissection in Virginia: The state
Senate passed a bill allowing Virginia
students to opt out of vivisection and
study computer models of animals
instead. If the governor signs the bill,
Virginia will join nine other states that
offer alternatives to dissection. Not
all senators sided with the bill. Senate minority leader Richard L. Saslaw declared: “We are on our way to
becoming a nation of wimps. It’s just
a frog, for crying out loud.”
Microchips in Illinois: Cook County
(which includes Chicago) gave the
green light to mandatory microchipping of pets. With only one “no” vote,
the board voted to require that all
dogs, cats, and ferrets be fitted with
microchips in order to reduce the
number of lost animals who never
make it home.
9
thinking globally
Two Inca cockatoos eye each other up at the Animal Paradise Center
in Gross Schauen, Germany.
10
A man takes his goose chicks for
a walk in Taiping, China, after
theyʼve been given the okay by
the bird flu authorities.
AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko
EPA/Patrick Pleul
EPA/IFAW
Melanie Adendorff of South African National Parks with Thandi,
a black rhinoceros calf who was
found abandoned. Thandi belongs
to an extremely rare sub-species of
which only 850 now remain in the
world. It is hoped that Thandi will
eventually breed when released into
the wild.
REUTERS/Stringer
EPA/David Jones
Standard poodle Chyna of Corringham arrives on the opening day of
the 101st Crufts dog show in England. Crufts is regarded as the worldʼs
most prestigious dog show.
A bald eagle says farewell to the Wind River Wildlife Rehab Center
before being released in Menasha, Wisconsin, after being treated for
injuries.
REUTERS/Kimimasa Mayama
AP Photo/The Post- Crescent, Mike De Sisti
A monk prays as cats play around him at a temple in Thailand.
U.S. Army Private Second Class Michael Roleson strokes a stray dog while
on duty in the center of Baghdad.
11
no more homeless pets
Stop Woof & Co!
A new chain of pet stores means a
whole new round of homeless pets
By Jim Davis
D
og by dog, kennel by kennel, community by
community, rescuers on the front lines of the
animal welfare movement fight heroically to
save lives and find homes for a seemingly endless
flow of homeless dogs.
They combine dogged determination with a relentless education campaign, in an attempt to reduce the
canine population and bring about a day when there
will be no more homeless pets.
Some of the biggest successes have come in New
England, where spay/neuter campaigns have gotten
birth rates largely under control, and the kill rates
are among the lowest in the country.
Enter Woof & Company.
With a glitzy approach, cute graphics, and upscale
accessories for “companion animals,” the store purports to offer a “holistic approach” to pet sales and
ownership. But the main attraction is cage after cage
of purebred puppies, sold at prices ranging from $750 to $1,800
– with a 50 percent profit margin.
Led by a high-powered management team of former Gap and
IKEA executives, Woof & Company (soon to be reborn under the
name Rufus Inc.) brings its purebred puppies to New England by
the truckload from breeding sites across the country.
The company has opened two stores in the Boston area, with
six more planned over the coming year. And, if those stores do as
well as expected, sources report that the firm is prepared to enter
the national market in a big way in 2005.
Woof & Company ignored multiple requests for comment for
this article, but CEO Don Jones has been quoted elsewhere as saying the company hopes to become the “clear market leader” in the
“retail market for puppies.”
This is a goal guaranteed to strike fear in the hearts of rescuers
around the country.
“It is good for no one, any way you turn,” says Mary Webber of
the Alliance for Animals in Massachusetts. “Itʼs ruining the ecology,
and itʼs going to sink us.”
Webber says she is infuriated by the cavalier attitude of Woof &
Company “taking over the puppy market.”
“Itʼs evil, itʼs really evil,” she says simply.
Animal advocates are concerned that the new company is already
disrupting the delicate balance achieved in New England. By conquering some of its own problems, the animal rescue community
there has been able to give much-needed relief to shelters in other
areas of the country.
Thanks to aggressive spay/neuter campaigns and assorted other
efforts, there are parts of New England where puppies have actually been in short supply. That has resulted in national partnerships
through which shelters with too many puppies, largely in the South
and Midwest, send puppies to New England.
Anne Lindsey, of the Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem, Mass.,
recognizes that the exchange program is controversial among some
animal welfare advocates, who want to focus on animals close to
home. But to her, a puppy is a puppy.
“Emotionally, I have a hard time drawing geographic lines on
humaneness,” she says.
Lindsey says the Northeast Animal Shelter started importing
puppies 11 years ago to fill an obvious need. In addition to helping other shelters, she says the puppy importations also help her to
place older shelter dogs.
“Youʼve got to get people in the doors in the first place,” she
says, “otherwise theyʼre going to go to pet stores.”
Undoing years of good work
Profiteering off puppies
Rescuers fear that every sale the company makes can mean another
life lost. Every time a cute and cuddly puppy goes out the Woof
& Company doors, a shelter or rescue somewhere may have lost a
potential adoption. There is also a considerable risk that when the
adorable Woof & Company puppy grows up, he will find himself
in a shelter kennel.
Helen Rayshick of the Massachusetts Animal Rights Coalition
is horrified that breeders are churning out puppies in high volume
just to turn a profit through stores like Woof & Company.
“How much more suffering is there going to be if they open
nationally?” she asks. “And whatʼs [happening to] those puppiesʼ
parents in the puppy mills?”
12
Rayshick is taking steps to make her voice heard by helping to
organize a letter-writing campaign directed at Woof & Company
and its parent firm, Meridian Venture Partners of Pennsylvania,
and coordinating protest marches.
There are some indications that the protests have made an impact.
In an attempt to redefine its image, Woof & Company has already
announced it will re-emerge as Rufus Inc. The company also says it
will counsel would-be buyers on the demands of each breed, follow
up after sales, and work with animal activists and veterinarians.
Notably, the store did not suggest that it would stop selling
puppies. Rather, CEO Jones, a former Gap executive, wrapped his
statement in animal welfare lingo. Stressing a “holistic approach,”
he said the new company is designed to “enhance the quality of
lives of companion animals.”
The executives who run Woof & Company are savvy business
people. Putting the high-end stores in upscale malls was a particularly effective touch. And while the store asks for up to $2,000 for
one of its puppies, it also attempts to tug at consumer heartstrings
with claims that its dogs “need homes.”
What they donʼt say is that for every Woof & Company puppy
who “finds a home,” another is bred to takes his or her place.
Behind the scenes: puppy mills
The origin of the Woof & Company puppies is also a matter of
considerable concern.
The company has indicated its animals are purchased from Missouri-based Hunte Corporation. Founded in 1991, Hunte proclaims
itself as the worldʼs leading licensed distributor of purebred puppies
to pet stores.
On its website, Hunte boasts, “We take great pride in our ʻpuppy
firstʼ policy and are totally committed to animal welfare. . . . Our
puppies are supplied by the best licensed professional breeders in
the country. Each pup is double-examined by one of our full-time
vets, both incoming and prior to delivery.”
Critics take a different view.
“
poor socialization skills due to lack of human companionship,
genetic problems due to inbreeding, and a variety of other health
issues. Wheeler says that many puppy mill dogs, sold for hundreds
or thousands of dollars in pet stores, ring up many more hundreds
of dollars in veterinarian bills to treat these disorders.
And while Wheeler canʼt specify where all of the Hunte puppies come from, she says that research done by Hearts United for
Animals shows that 98 percent of puppies sold in pet stores come
from puppy mills. And the 3,500 pet stores that sell puppies push
500,000 dogs out their doors each year.
In Missouri alone – the undisputed puppy mill capital of the
country – the puppy industry is valued at $40 million annually.
As long as these numbers continue, animal rescuers fear that they
wonʼt be able to reduce population below a certain point. And as long
as dogs continue to die because there arenʼt enough homes, many
say it is immoral for pet stores to flood the market with puppies.
Facts and figures aside, Wheeler says the best approach animal
advocates can take is to urge people not to buy puppies from pet
stores and to refuse to patronize stores that sell puppies. If people stop
buying, then business will fall off, and puppy mills will close.
“If you buy a puppy, youʼre just contributing to the cycle of
misery,” she says. “Never, ever buy a dog in a pet store. This is an
individualʼs ability to make a difference.”
Woof versus the other chains
The comparison between Woof & Company and some of the
nationʼs leading pet stores is rather stark.
Woof & Company executive Linda Povey has been quoted as
saying that her company wants to distinguish itself from chains like
PETsMART and Petco: “Weʼre not interested in going head-to-head
selling dog food. . . . Weʼre a lifestyle store.”
And Woof & Company does take a different approach from other
national chains. PETsMART and Petco both refuse to sell dogs or
cats, instead contributing store space and money to the adoption
efforts of local shelters and rescues.
By contrast, Woof & Company seems bent on exploiting the “market” created by the success of adoption
efforts. If ventures such as this succeed, it will mean
that dog overpopulation will continue as long as there
is a buck to be made from the life of a puppy.
In a call for protestors to join their effort, Helen and
Steve Rayshick proclaim that “Woof is test-marketing
animal exploitation in [Massachusetts]; it is vital that
we send a clear, strong message that this is unacceptable and immoral.”
Mary Webber is hopeful that this message will be heard. She
says she is inspired by the growing number of caring animal people
across the country who are joining the campaign against pet stores
that sell puppies or kittens.
“They donʼt know us, and we donʼt know them by name, but weʼre
on the same team,” she says. “Those are our hearts and hands.”
Woof & Company seems bent
on exploiting the “market” created by
the success of adoption efforts.
”
Lee Wheeler, director of Hearts United for Animals, headquartered in Nebraska, is something of an expert on professional
breeders. During her agencyʼs first seven years, it rescued some
3,000 dogs from puppy mills.
Wheeler says Hunte is very careful in proclaiming how well it
treats its animals.
“What they never, ever say is where the puppies come from. Hunte
is a puppy broker,” she says. “Iʼd like to know, has [CEO Jones] been
to the kennels? Has he seen the conditions where the parents live?
The parents are going to be there for the rest of their lives.”
By law, puppies cannot be sold until they are eight weeks old.
And Wheeler says that what happens to the puppies during their
first eight weeks, before they are transported for sale, can have
lifelong repercussions.
Dangers include inadequate early nutrition due to poor food,
Send letters, faxes, and phone calls to:
Don Jones, CEO, Woof & Company, 55 Carter Drive, Edison, NJ
08817. Phone: 732-339-1323.
Robert E. Brown, Jr., President, Meridian Venture Partners, 201 King
of Prussia Road, Suite 240, Radnor, PA 19087. Phone: 610-254-2999.
Fax: 610-254-2996.
For more information on puppy mills or to adopt a former puppy mill
dog, visit: www.hua.org or www.nopuppymills.com.
13
no more homeless pets
Minority Report – Part Three
Reservation
Rescues
By Estelle Munro
T
he lines were long around the large trailer. People had risen
early, bringing their dogs and cats for the event. It was April,
and a mobile spay/neuter team had come to the reservation to
help people get their family pets fixed. The fact that they were there
at all, these members of the Navajo Nation, shatters a belief held by
many in the welfare community that itʼs impossible to make a dent
in the pet overpopulation problem on reservation lands.
The Native American community is spread all across America.
Yet, even though it includes hundreds of separate tribes and customs,
it remains one of the smallest minority groups.
Many people have preconceived notions about the relationship
between Native Americans and animals. The concept that their
fundamental culture is one of an elevated respect for and symbiotic existence with animals seems in sharp contrast to what many
visitors to reservations find: large numbers of cats and dogs who
seemingly roam free and uncared for. David Ortiz is a writer and
anthropologist based in Flagstaff, Arizona. His work has taken
him to the heart of the Navajo population – a patriarchal culture
where elders still pass down traditions and customs, and shape the
attitudes of younger generations.
“Many older people on reservation lands were brought up with
the idea that animals are a resource,” says Ortiz. “Dogs guard the
hogan or house and herd sheep and goats. A catʼs job is to kill mice
and other smaller animals. When animal welfare people show up
and start talking about altering the animals to control the population, they just canʼt relate to it. They feel in part that dogs and cats
need to reproduce to provide food for coyotes and other predators.
Theyʼre part of the cycle of life.”
These cultural attitudes are often an obstacle when it comes to
interacting with the Native American community.
Historical treatment of their people at the hands of the white
world has left deeply embedded suspicion – and that hesitation is
14
often present when humane groups come to town.
“Language can be a barrier,” says Dr. Carol Holgate, a Navajo
veterinarian who runs the health services of Plateauland Mobile
Veterinary Clinic. “There are many English-speaking people, but
among the older generation, there are also those who only speak
Navajo. Iʼve been working with some groups that come to the
reservations to come up with ideas on how to communicate more
effectively. What would help is to have materials – videos, audio
cassettes, and pamphlets – that are written in the language. And we
have to educate people not to judge. Just to understand that there
are differences in attitude and culture.”
Culture or economics?
Still, in todayʼs world, working with companion animal issues in
the Native American community is not very different from working
with any other group of people.
“I think that economic differences are far greater than cultural
differences,” says Paula Johns-Fellman, the executive director of
Plateauland. “The idea that animals are animals, that you donʼt need
to do stuff like take them to the doctor, and that they can take care
of themselves, is the same as in poorer Anglo communities.”
Many tribes are excessively poor, and some of the most basic
human needs – food, medical care, and adequate housing – are not
met. And thatʼs often the biggest stumbling block when trying to
change attitudes about animals. Add to that the belief that all of life
will begin and end as it is intended, as part of the natural world, and
the resistance to animal welfare is understandable.
“Some customs and cultural behaviors have to do with the belief
that animals have their own integrity that we as humans will never
really understand,” says Ortiz. “The trick is to develop programs
that donʼt try to change this attitude but rather emphasize that the
existence of animals is just as important and just as valid as human
existence and that we share life on this planet, with both of us con-
“If you talk to the animals
They will talk with you
And you will know each other.
If you do not talk to them,
You will not know them,
And what you do not know
You will fear.
What one fears one destroys.”
– Chief Dan George
tributing to an earthly existence.
“The other thing to stress is that animals are not here to amuse
us or to provide entertainment for us, but rather that sharing life as
we do, they are deserving of our respect.”
Reaching a new generation
When Ted and Susan Fadler moved to the Navajo Nation, where
Ted was to become the principal of the primary school, they noticed
many unhealthy, malnourished stray dogs and cats. So the couple
developed RUFF (Reservationʼs Unwanted Four-footed Friends)
and gathered a group of teachers, students, vets, and volunteers
who established a shelter for homeless animals and raised funds to
provide spay/neuter services.
The program was so successful that others have adopted the
model, and some humane workers have now formed web groups to
expand its reach. While the original purpose was to find homes for
the strays, it quickly grew into a full humane education program
in the school.
Children began keeping journals of their experiences with animals. They were taught to write letters to their local newspaper and
politicians on issues affecting animals, and their creative writing
assignments often had animal themes. The curriculum was taught
“
people will receive more understanding. It will take a while, and
you can waste your time trying to convince older Native American
people to change long-held and ingrained beliefs. Preaching doesnʼt
work – especially if you are white. Youʼre just one more example
of a white person telling Native Americans what to do. Many of
them, particularly the older ones, experienced prejudice, and it still
exists, so if they put up with it at work or school and then are told
in a private setting what they are doing wrong with animals, well,
you will never make any change in their beliefs.”
Working together
So what does work? Regardless of the particular tribe, all who
have worked on reservations agree that the key is to know the audience.
“Each tribe or reservation has their own customs, traditions and
spiritual beliefs,” says Suzi Hansen, program coordinator for the
Northern Rockies Regional Office of the Humane Society of the
United States. “Before coming to a reservation, you must have some
knowledge of their history, their customs, and the way of life of that
particular tribe. And your program has to relate to the ʻIndian way.ʼ
On many of the reservations I have visited, our organization was the
first that had ever taught a humane education class to their youth.
After going back year after year, the animal bite incidents
went down, and animal control programs have started.
“These children are bright and eager for the knowledge
of pet care responsibility, dog bite prevention, careers with
animals, veterinary care, and so on. The reservation schools
have been wonderful to work with. The second time I
returned to the Wyoming Wind River Indian Reservation, I asked the children questions to ascertain what
theyʼd remembered from my visit a year ago. Again and
again, I asked them questions about what to do if they
were approached by a dangerous dog or ʻHow many times do you
feed and water your pet?ʼ ʻWhen should you groom your pet?ʼ Not
once did my questions stump them. I was overjoyed that the seeds
Iʼd planted had taken root!”
Besides knowledge, respect for the community can help to create
the much desired change that those who love animals strive for.
“People need to introduce themselves and their organizations
with proper respect for the community,” says Hansen. “And donʼt
believe rumors or old sayings that stereotype Native Americans. If
you donʼt know something, you will be more respected if you ask
the elders and community members.
“People who come into these communities wanting to effect a
change need to realize that, yes, they are a teacher, but they are a
student as well.”
The Navajo philosophy that all life
is sacred made it easy to explain the
need to spay/neuter the animals.
”
in their native Navajo language, and when instructors were in doubt,
they called on traditional medicine men and women for assistance.
Beginning with the Navajo philosophy that all life is sacred made
it easy to segue into a discussion of what animals need and what
care they require. As with most things, success often lies in the
approach.
“Some older Navajo people are tolerant of animal welfare,” says
Ortiz, “when they see the benefits of cutting down on the number
of stray dogs, who sometimes roam in packs. Other work, such
as vaccinating, is also seen as okay since it really doesnʼt hurt the
animal. Many also are used to taking their cows, goats, sheep, and
horses to vets, but for some of them, it is a new idea to do the same
thing with dogs and cats.
“I think that as a younger generation comes along , animal welfare
15
no more homeless pets news
Hidden Treasure in Illinois
Chows Fly First Class
Tampa, Florida – The day had gotten off
to a bad start for the staff at Hillsborough
County Animal Services in Florida. They
had just rescued 49 chows, many of them
puppies, from a single-wide mobile home.
“The animals werenʼt socialized,” said
animal control director Bill Armstrong at
the end of a chaotic situation. Staff members
had been bitten and had to use a chemical
dart gun to catch all the dogs. “They were
in varying states of physical condition,” said
Armstrong. “I was afraid theyʼd all have to
be destroyed.”
Across the country, in Lubbock, Texas,
Anna Wallace of West Texas Chow Chow
Rescue got word of the situation and offered
to take some of the puppies. Trouble was,
she had no way of getting to Florida and
back with the dogs.
But word had also gotten to Tom Kolfenbach, CEO of Florida-based Southeast Airlines. Kolfenbach has a chow called Ming.
And the airlineʼs vice-president of marketing, Mary Jo Hoday, has two chows.
“We donʼt have scheduled flights to
Lubbock,” said Hoday. “So we bought
her a ticket on Southwest Airlines to fly
to Tampa.”
When Wallace arrived, she offered to
take 29 of the pups. But how to get them
back to Texas?
Kolfenbach immediately decided to personally charter one of Southeastʼs planes,
a DC-9, complete with a flight crew of
attendants. And since he wanted the dogs
to go first class (well, at least coach!), he
bought 29 dog carriers (with the help of gift
certificates from Wal-Mart) and strapped all
the pooches into passenger seats.
Officer Armstrong went along for the
ride. “It was a bumpy trip,” he said, “and
we landed in a driving snowstorm. But
the people from West Texas Rescue were
there with vehicles on the parking apron.
The chows are all doing well and will be
saved. And thatʼs the most important part
of the story.”
West Texas Chow Chow Rescue is at www.
westtexaschowrescue.com.
New Program in the Galapagos
Digital Stock
The famous Galapagos Islands, off the equatorial coast of South America, are worldfamous for their unique wildlife, including iguanas, birds, and turtles.
The islands are also home to people and their pets.
Puerto Villamil, a fishing village, has an estimated 1,400
dogs and 800 cats, triple the population of just one year
ago. They wander Isabela Island, many of them hungry,
hunting wildlife. Sick animals are often shot.
A new group, Animal Balance, is working to establish
a program that will sterilize and treat cats and dogs and
teach humane treatment of sick animals.
Animal Balance has been raising funds and gathering supplies,
which were shipped in February. A team of about 30 volunteers
will depart for the Galapagos in May. To learn more, visit the
Animal Balance website at www.animalbalance.org.
16
Springfield, Illinois – State treasurer
Judy Baar Topinka places a high value on
homeless pets.
“Iʼm a sucker for animals,” she says. “I
wanted to be a veterinarian as a kid.”
Instead, she now uses her government
website to help find homes for shelter dogs
and cats, linking her Treasured Pets program
to no-kill shelters throughout Illinois.
Topinka says the idea took root when she
was at the Sangamon County pound in 2001,
helping a co-worker adopt a dog. She ended
up adopting one herself – and deciding to
launch the program.
Since last August, Treasured Pets has
helped find homes for 36 dogs and 27
cats.
Treasured Pets is at www.state.il.us/
treas/Programs/Treasured_Pets.htm.
Humane Society Wins
“Jackpot” Donation
Reno, Nevada – A small dog, adopted
11 years ago from the Nevada Humane
Society in Reno, has brought a milliondollar donation to build a new shelter for
the community.
Local philanthropist Link Piazzo is
making the donation for the new Regional
Animal Center, which will be shared with
Washoe County Animal Services.
The 85-year-old Piazzo says he was
inspired to make the gift because of Punkin, a black cocker spaniel mix.
Couch Potato PJ Party
Fundraiser
Ann Arbor, Michigan – “Why go traipsing off to a fundraiser,” wondered Cathy
Leonard, “when you can lounge about at
home with Fido and Fluffy?”
Leonard is a board member of the
Humane Society of Huron Valley in Michigan and was chairperson of the shelterʼs
March fundraiser.
But rather than mount a special event,
with all the costs and hassle, and have
everyone come out just to make a donation,
Leonard offered a new type of event: “Be
the Catʼs Pajamas.”
Members of the humane society and other
pet people were encouraged to stay home for
the Friday evening, relax at home in their
pajamas, and send in a donation.
Snoozy people responded as hoped – with
$13,000 and counting.
churches, lodges, and businesses. “I wrote a
paper telling what I was collecting and why,
and the next day the boxes were [overflowing]. We had a full truckload. I was really
happy that everybody who donated wanted
to help just like I did.”
Spay Day Record!
This Scout’s a Trooper
Smithfield, Pennsylvania – Fifth-grader
Shannon Lewis completed her Bronze
Award for Girl Scouts – the highest honor
a Junior Girl Scout can attain – by helping
homeless dogs and cats.
“I wanted to help out the SPCA because
I care for animals,” said Shannon, who has
four cats. “I went there to see what kind of
things they needed.”
Shannonʼs mother, Denise Lewis, is the
leader of the Girl Scouts troop. “Shannon
had seen a story in the paper and asked,
ʻWhat do they mean it might close?ʼ”
For a month, Shannon collected food,
toys, blankets, cleaning supplies, etc., from
Sacramento, California – The Sacramento area was the scene of the nationʼs
largest spay/neuter event ever.
Last year, they broke a world record by
spaying and neutering 650 animals in one
day. This year, they broke their own record
by performing surgery on 1,100 animals.
“It has an immediate translation for next
year into a staggering number of about
10,000 dogs and cats who wonʼt be born
and show up in shelters next year,” said
Jennifer Fearing of the Sacramento Area
Animal Coalition.
Twenty-five clinics in the region took part
in the Sunday event. Among them was the
new Veterinary Medical Laboratory Facility clinic at the University of California at
Davis.
“Iʼm here because itʼs cheap,” said local
resident Betty Girtman, a senior with a fixed
income, who received more than $300 in
First Steps in Polynesia
Bora-Bora, French Polynesia – Fenua Animalia is the biggest humane group in Polynesia.
But it’s still tiny, with just 200 members (less
than a dozen active ones, with no veterinarian
or shelter). The group’s president, Eric Loeve,
writes:
“After two years of a big struggle, we are starting today the sterilization campaign of all pets
on Bora-Bora Island with the Esther Honey
Foundation volunteer vet team.
“Bora-Bora is the most touristic island in French
Polynesia. There are about 4,000 pets for about
10,000 inhabitants. This leads, like everywhere
in Polynesia, to a huge amount of abandons.
“This mass action for pets is the very first one
in Polynesia. Its mission starts today and will
last for a month. We expect to make 400 to
500 sterilizations.
“We are going to face a bill of about U.S.
$30,000–$50,000 for these 400–500 sterilizations. This amount will put us at risk, but
we don’t care for now because the top-most
services.
“This is our first year participating in
Spay Day USA,” said the dean, Bennie
Osburn, adding that students and faculty
all joined in the spay-a-thon. “This year,
weʼll do 500 to 700 spay/neuters for animal
shelters in the area. But we never did 300
in a day before!”
This yearʼs Spay Day USA, organized by
the Doris Day Animal Foundation, was the
best ever. Humane groups prepared weeks
in advance, with veterinarians, volunteers,
city and county administrations, and people
everywhere pitching in to help offer low-cost
spay/neuter in their communities.
More information is at www.ddaf.org.
thing is to start the process, to open a new hope
for history.
“We hope that after this, authorities will help
us financially, but it is still not awfully obvious
today.
“However, to reach this point is a big victory in a
country where there are dog meat eaters, and
we are proud to share this victory with you all. It
is one more example to give to convince those
who are in a very difficult situation, like ours at
the start, that obstination and patience pays and
that, with the Internet, even on the remotest part
of our Earth, you are not alone.
“Our aim is to be able one day to do the same on
Tahiti, the main Polynesia Island, where there are
60,000 to 70,000 pets with the same life conditions. Any help of any kind is welcome, but we
know that you are all with the same needs.”
Eric Loeve, President, Fenua Animalia, BP 9075,
98715 Motu Uta, Tahiti, French Polynesia
Checks made out to Best Friends, with a note
saying that the donation is for Fenua Animalia,
will be collected here and sent in full to the
group in Polynesia.
17
animals & society
T
he teenagers waited
who populate the city in
anxiously on the
overwhelming numbers.
curb for the van to
Each dog was happily led
arrive – their excitement
away by his or her new
palpable. Perhaps it came
friend.
from knowing they were
S stood anxiously. His
the “chosen,” entrusted to
dog was the last to emerge.
a special mission.
His supervisor went into
This group was handthe van and escorted out
picked. As residents of
his charge. The boyʼs
Albuquerqueʼs
Youth
mouth dropped open in
Diagnostic and Developshock and outrage. This
ment Center, a juvenile
wasnʼt the expected pit
facility, theyʼd all had
bull or Rottweiler. This
hard starts. They came
was no lathering beast.
from violent homes,
This was … this was a …
By Julie Richard
broken homes, and from
fluffy, white French poono homes at all. And now
dle. And a female poodle.
they were going to meet
And with a decidedly girly
their animal counterparts,
name: Sadie.
dogs who, like them, had
“No way,” he declared
entered the “system.”
emphatically, his eyes conThe kidsʼ job wasnʼt
demning his supervisor
simple. They were to
with undisguised scorn.
spend three intensive
“I donʼt want that dog.
weeks each caring for,
Iʼm not taking that dog.”
training, and socializing
This pooch could ruin his
a dog on the road to being
image in a heartbeat.
adopted.
But as his superviThe dogs were timid
sor, equally determined,
and frightened, nervous
explained, S was taking
and wary, and sometimes
this dog. Heʼd signed up
just too enthusiastic and
for the program, and this
rowdy. The kids also
was the dog for him. The
ran the gamut of perboy glowered and capitusonalities. Some were
lated.
emotionally damaged,
Over the next few
victims themselves, wary
weeks, the children would
of people. Others were
teach their dogs to sit and
tough cookies, “thugs”
stay, walk on a lead, and
many would call them.
to trust and love humans.
A few even had abused
But at the end of three
animals themselves. But
weeks, S had taught his
all of these kids, like
dog something more. He
the dogs, had come from
would run down the grass
damaged backgrounds and
field, Sadie romping hapneeded help.
pily along, as he belted
“S” was particularly
out for the world to hear
elated to be chosen. At
a song he had customized
age 17, he was a strong, macho boy. He was proud that he had been
especially for her: “Sadie, Baby,” sung to the tune of “Angel, Baby.”
picked and had already put in his bid for the kind of pup he wanted
After gaining enough speed, he would fling his arm out to the side,
– a pit bull or Rottweiler or maybe a chow. It didnʼt matter which,
and the poodle would jump up, run up the length of his extended
as long as it was rough and tough just like him.
limb to perch on his shoulder and trade kisses. He had taught Sadie
The van pulled up the drive, and the kids began to stir eagerly.
to love. And she had taught him.
The supervisors of Project Second Chance had teamed up with a
When it came time for Sadie to go to a new home, S wrote a
local humane group, the Animal Humane Association, to provide
letter to her new family with explicit instructions. She liked to be
the dogs who would enter the program. They already knew which
sung to each night (he included the words to “Sadie, Baby”). She
dog would be paired with which youngster. The van doors opened,
loved being cuddled. She needed to be groomed. She liked her treats
and the dogs were brought out one at a time to meet their new
given to her just so. She was a very good dog and deserved a loving
trainers. Most were nondescript – the medium-sized brown mutts
family who would dote on her like he had.
Learning to
Love Again
Illustration: Marc Brown
A new program gives dogs and
people a second chance at life
18
How one bad thing leads to another
S and his friends, along with the dogs, who were all placed in new
homes, are one more success story for Project Second Chance.
“This program is just as important for the dogs as it is for the
kids,” says Tamara Ward, the centerʼs community and social service
coordinator who introduced the course. “It has to be good for the
dogs, too. We want them to be adopted. Thatʼs why we limit the
program to three weeks; anything longer and the dogs and the kids
get too attached to each other. Itʼs just the right amount of time to
form a bond, but one thatʼs temporary.
“The kids are given a chance to be good kids. The program
teaches them empathy for another being. Thatʼs something many
of them donʼt start out with. By the end of the training, they know
theyʼve done something good for this dog, and thereʼs no reward
for it other than that theyʼve done a good thing.”
“
of abuse it is and the age of the child. If an eight- or nine-year-old
uses violence to solve problems rather than talking it out, theyʼve
already established conduct disorder behavior. By that age, the pattern is set, but you can still intervene. If at age six, a kid is really
into animal abuse, itʼs a pretty good sign that he or she is going to
become one of these disordered kids because of their inability to
control impulses. So when a six-year-old does something to the dog
or cat, a parent or teacher has to assess the child right then. They
have to determine if there are attachment disorder problems that
are causing the child to displace anger.”
After assessment comes treatment. With Anicare, that means helping abusers develop a critical emotion that they lack – empathy.
“Kids who have difficulty forming attachments often lack empathy – and that starts the behavior that gets them into trouble,” says
Ward. “Itʼs easier to establish empathy with animals.”
In the Project Second Chance program,
the kids rise at 6 a.m. to walk their dogs.
They feed and groom the animals throughout
the day, spend playtime with the dogs, and
take them on a few more walks before bedtime. They come together as a pair, always
under the watchful eyes of supervisors. And
they attend therapy sessions with their animals. Theyʼre asked basic questions and must
respond not as themselves but as their dog.
What would their dog say? What is the dog feeling? What emerges
from the sessions most often is a sudden recognition of what an
animal feels when faced with less than kind human hands.
“The kids finally get whatʼs going on,” says Ward. “They recognize that the dog has feelings. When they can attach those emotions
to the animal, itʼs a lot harder to think of it as just a dog. Theyʼre
able to see that the dog or cat theyʼve mistreated is afraid, that the
animal was going up to someone hoping to get some compassion
and got something else instead.
“Answering as the animal when theyʼre asked questions about
what it feels like to be hungry or scared or what it feels like to be
Those who engage in habitual violence,
from domestic abuse to serial murder, often
start off by abusing animals.
”
Project Second Chanceʼs methods are adapted from Anicare, an
intervention program developed by Ken Shapiro of Psychologists
for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PSYETA) and Mary Lou
Randour of the Doris Day Animal Foundation.
Anicare was born out of California legislation that made animal
abuse a felony. The link between animal abuse and violence toward
people has already been well established. Those who engage in
habitual violence, from domestic abuse to serial murder, often start
off by abusing animals. Professionals working in social services
and law enforcement are increasingly aware of the connection – so
much so that in many states, they are instructed to check for signs
of spousal or child abuse when they are called out to investigate
animal cruelty.
Several organizations were involved in convincing the California judiciary to take animal abuse seriously. Once they did, it was
apparent that there was a need to treat the abusers with counseling, just like domestic batterers. But there was no existing model
for therapists to follow. So, says Shapiro, “We thought weʼd better
provide a treatment.”
Catching the first signs
Gradually, Anicare took shape. The program was originally
developed to identify and treat adult offenders, but as Shapiro and
Randour traveled around the country providing workshops to law
enforcement, social workers, and other professionals, they kept
being asked “Could children be assessed and treated the same way
as adults?” And thatʼs how Anicare Child was born.
Both programs use the same two key elements. The first is assessment – identifying a person as a potential or active abuser.
“With children, age is critical,” says Shapiro. “Three-year-olds
canʼt be given the responsibility for proper care, but if a six-year-old
is throwing the dog down the stairs, itʼs a different ball game. By six
and eight, you can really start assessing a childʼs behavior.
“Most kids go through a stage of experimenting with animals, and
that can be abusive in many instances. You have to assess what kind
From the journals and letters of young
people in a Second Chance Program.
(Grammar and spelling have been left intact.)
“It helps me to have patience so I don’t get frusterated when the
dog dosn’t do something right, and it makes me feel good to know
that I can make a difference in the dogs life.” A.W.
“I saw that dog and said I want that dog and that dog came strate
to me. I think he is thinking where’s my family? Why am I hear?
This boy seems nice so I will be nice. So we had a lot of fun
today. We walked ran and sat down all togather. I already love
that dog and I hope I do a good job with him and he gets a new
home. This program shows us how to treat dogs with respect
and it shows us how to be a good father.” D.H.
“From this program I have gotten patience and have learned to
deal with people that I don’t usually work with” S.F.
“To whoever adopts Sidnye: Please don’t tie or cage this dog
up… She will probably get you mad at her the first few days you
have her cause she don’t know you. She needs lots of love and
[praise]. Give her your hart and you will see what a great dog
you have.” V.W.
19
shouted at and told youʼre terrible reaches them. As they tap into
the animalʼs feelings, they see from the animalʼs point of view. Itʼs
the animal saying to them, ʻI came to you for help and you threw
rocks at me.ʼ Everybody can relate to that. Itʼs the same as, ʻI came
home from school, and I was feeling bad, and you yelled at me.ʼ
Thatʼs how we start connecting.”
Along with the sessions, the children keep journals about their
experience. Their counselors and therapists read these, and they
measure the childʼs emotional progress, looking for the signs of
empathy being formed.
“Weʼre trying to find specific statements that show theyʼve been
able to integrate something,” Ward explains. “When they write things
like they hope the dog will go to a loving family who wonʼt abuse or
mistreat the animal, thatʼs a good measurement. Itʼs not egocentric
thinking of what a good job theyʼre doing. Theyʼre not writing about
themselves; theyʼre thinking of the animal.”
The adult program
The core of the Anicare adult program is the same: assessment
and empathy-based therapy. And it can be critical for the animals.
“Helen” sat in her group therapy session, feeling anxious and
scared. She was preparing herself for a revelation that she knew
would surprise her therapist. Like everyone in her group, she was a
survivor of abuse herself. Recovering from the effects of beatings
and low self-esteem was painful and draining. But she knew she
needed help, and what she was about to reveal about herself struck
her with even more fear and horror. When it was her turn to speak,
she became teary as she revealed her awful secret. She had been
abusing her beloved animals herself, and now she was afraid she
was going to abuse her child.
Her therapist, Karen Schaefer, a psychologist at New Mexico
State Universityʼs Counseling Center, knew that victims of abuse
often displace their anger through violence themselves. But Helenʼs
admission stopped her in her tracks. Abusing animals? This woman
was an animal rescuer.
The therapist promptly got a second surprise. “I asked how many
“
a bargain with Helen. They were going to get her help as fast as
they could, but if any further abuse occurred, Helen would report
herself to the authorities. Helen agreed.
“Iʼve learned so much since then,” says Schaefer. “Now weʼre
starting to ask on intake ʻHave you witnessed or committed animal
abuse yourself?ʼ But even then the staff will say to me, ʻI just canʼt
bring myself to ask.ʼ They know thereʼs nothing they can do. Weʼre
trying to incorporate it into the written forms because, believe it or
not, people will often put it down.”
But what about all the abusers who refuse to seek help even if
they admit what theyʼre doing to the animals? Therapists canʼt do
anything, and they often suffer their own emotional turmoil over
it. With PSYETA sponsorship, Schaefer is preparing a survey to
determine how such cases affect her colleagues emotionally. She
hopes her research will lead to legislative changes to include animals
in the mandatory reporting laws that already exist for children and
the elderly.
Until then, Shapiro is urging people in animal welfare, along with
teachers, counselors, law enforcement, the judiciary, social workers,
and anyone who encounters potential animal abuse in the context of
their profession, to become trained in the Anicare programs.
“The bottom-line goal is to give animal abuse the same status
as child and spousal abuse,” says Shapiro. “Iʼve trained over 200
professionals across the country, and we want to have teams of
people traveling the country, holding workshops in assessment, and
as many therapists as possible trained in the treatment phase to be
able to alter these behaviors.”
Learning to be a dog – and a boy
For those already working with the program, Anicareʼs positive
effects are already invaluable.
“We had a 17-year-old who had abused animals in the past placed
in the program,” Ward recounts. “He was given a scruffy little white
dog called Velma to partner with who had been horribly abused.
She was incredibly fearful and timid, but it was a perfect teaching
moment. We explained to the boy that this is what a victim looks
like. You may be long gone, but that animal
is still afraid today because of what someone
did to her.
“Velma wouldnʼt go near him at first.
He spent 10 days sitting on the floor with
hot dogs, placing them a foot in front of
her, talking to her calmly and quietly until
finally he got the dog to come into his lap.
Instead of trying to get her on a leash, he
would be in her kennel just rubbing her ears. Velma went through
the program and then into a foster home, and eventually she did get
a home of her own. But it was a long, painstaking therapy for her
to just learn to be a dog.”
And the boy? “Well, at the next session he asked to be a teen
supervisor. This is a perfect example of a survivor. Heʼs come through
all that heʼs come through in his own life, and I truly believe he will
never abuse another animal. He knew heʼd done something bad,
and he could see before him the effect his actions might have had.
But with Velma, he knew heʼd done something good. And that felt
a whole lot better.”
This is what a victim looks like. You may
be long gone but the dog is still afraid today
because of what someone did to her.
other people in the room had ever abused their animals and threequarters of them raised their hands,” says Schaefer. “You know,
I specialized in abuse, and it wasnʼt until this point that I started
putting together that there were animals in these homes and abuse
would be going on.”
Schaefer swung into action to help Helen and her animals. “We
were in that house within 48 hours. I worked with her and the animals,
getting them rehomed. Helenʼs view of the animalsʼ needs was very
distorted. She cared about them. But almost every time there was
an incident of abuse, it was triggered by unreasonable expectations
of the animals. And this was a woman who came from a history of
being abused herself.”
There was another problem. Because she is a therapist, subject to
strict confidentiality laws, Schaefer couldnʼt report known animal
abuse to the authorities without her patientʼs consent. So she struck
20
”
If you would like to learn more about the Anicare program, contact
www.psyeta.org or call (301) 963-4751. For more about Project Second Chance, contact Tamara Ward at THWard@cyfd.state.nm.us.
London Hound
By Julie
Richard
Culture Shock!
British people always ask me about culture shock. Whatʼs it like being an American
and actually living in England as opposed
to being a tourist? Most Americans donʼt
ask; generally, they donʼt really recognize
that there would be culture shock. After all,
how different can it be? We speak the same
language, right?
But assimilating to a different culture
goes beyond learning to ask for kitchen roll
rather than paper towels or understanding
that youʼre not going to the movie theater
(make that “theatre”) to see a movie but
rather to watch a film at the cinema. It goes
further than referring to the drugstore as
the chemist (lest someone think youʼre after
illegal substances) or even learning to drive
on the left-hand side of the road. (Just ask
my driving instructor, who seems to quiver
every time I get behind the wheel.)
If you want real culture shock, try adopting an animal in the U.K.
“Can’t do that, old thing”
After adjusting to my move to the U.K.
from Los Angeles, where Iʼd worked with
animal rescue groups, I wanted to adopt
some cats.
I thought Iʼd be the perfect home – with
a sunny (unusual for London) flat (read:
apartment) that had floor-to-ceiling windows
complete with comfy, cushy window seats
that look out on the River Thames, with a
continual show of sea gulls swooping on one
side and quacking ducks waddling about in
the shallow water on the other. This was sure
to engage the interest of any cat worth his
salt. I also prepared by having the windows
screened (the British donʼt normally screen
windows) and picked out multiple-level cat
condos to adorn the corners of my home.
Once I had kitted up, as they say here,
I started phoning some local, overcrowded
shelters. I knew Iʼd be welcomed (after
the obvious mandatory home check) as a
dream home.
Oh, how wrong can one woman be?!
Group after group told me that far from
being a welcome new cat mom, I was simply
not “qualifying” material. Why? Because I
lived in a flat. A third-floor flat, no less. A
flat that was sans garden and hence kitty
would be forced to live indoors.
British cats must have access to the great
outdoors. They must romp in fresh air and
the daily rain shower. They must be free to
chase hapless little critters, crawl through
the underbrush, and roam city streets. Cats
kept indoors, I was informed, are terminally unhappy. It didnʼt matter how much
you arranged the décor to suit them, how
much interaction you had, or the fact that
you worked at home and could be a constant
companion. Cats simply did not belong in
indoors-only homes.
Things got even stranger when the head
of one very well-known organization told
me that indoors-only cats had often been
known to commit suicide.
“From an overdose?” I asked. Or did they
shoot themselves?
Apparently, they had flung themselves
off balconies.
Maybe it was an accident, I suggested.
Perhaps they were just leaping for leaves
that floated by.
“Donʼt be stupid,” was the answer.
because now I have Joe (who prefers to be
called Joseph when heʼs feeling particularly
cocky) and Miss Kitty, an elderly lady who
was clearly once queen of her domain but
had spent six months in a cage awaiting a
“temporary” foster home.
I find myself watching them sleep – the
sheer beauty of their faces in contented
repose. They both had such a hard time of
it. Joe was abused by local yobs (read: thugs)
and took months to catch, and Miss Kitty
was found wandering the streets, obviously
abandoned or lost and so thin and ill they
didnʼt think she would make it. Sheʼd been on
the euthanasia list of a larger shelter before
being smuggled out by a caring worker to
a no-kill group.
Each morning as I work, I occasionally
glance over at Miss Kitty stretching herself
out on her back on the window seat, warming
up under the streaks of sunlight falling over
her. Now well filled out, she will open one
eye as a particularly vocal gull sweeps by
screeching. Often she raises a lazy paw to the
screen as if to say, “Yeah, well, if I werenʼt
so comfortable, youʼd be lunch.”
Jolly good idea!
I was determined not to cave and buy a
cat from a breeder. So I took to prowling
the streets at night, looking for any scruffy
stray who looked like he could use a good
meal and a home. But since everybody lets
their cats out, I couldnʼt figure out who
was genuinely in need and who I would be
kidnapping.
Then I had the brilliant idea of signing
up as a foster parent – not just for any cat (as
an indoors-only home, I wouldnʼt be acceptable), but for cats who had been deemed
“unadoptable.” Iʼd look after those who suffered from FIV or feline leukemia, cats who
were elderly and needed daily medical attention, or habitual biters and scratchers. (Okay,
so Iʼd learn to type wearing gloves.)
That offer apparently hit the right note
How many millions of people living in
flats in London could provide a wonderful
home to adopted cats? How many resort to
buying from stores or breeders?
I get periodic check-in calls from the
rescue group that still “owns” Joe and Miss
Kitty. They are concerned about the catsʼ
mental state at being confined indoors. They
called me today. Was I noticing any signs
of depression? How was being house-bound
affecting their health?
I glanced over at Joe, stretched out on the
kitty heating pad on his side of the sofa. He
had fallen asleep clutching his catnip pillow
to his chest with both paws.
“Uh … no real signs of it yet,” I said.
“But Iʼll be on the lookout.”
21
talking with animals
Wise World of Animals
What they teach us in fairy tales
By Rae Ann Kumelos
22
Illustration: Marc Brown
O
nce upon a time ... Before time ... Beyond time ...
When we read these words, we know we are in a fairy
tale world, the realm of enchantment. Fairy tales are
timeless and placeless; they lead us into a magical sphere
where anything can happen. In this world, animals talk
with people to inspire, guide, assist, and protect. But is
this notion really just a fairy story? There are several
ways to understand the animals in fables.
One is as a symbol of our own instincts and
inner nature. Marie Louise von Franz, the
famous student of psychologist Carl Jung,
discovered a remarkable fact about the role
of animals in myths. She studied hundreds
of folk tales over the years, searching for
some basic overall guidelines that could
be applied to human behavior. In all
those stories from dozens of cultures,
she found only one rule for which there
is no exception or contradiction: “If
you do not listen to the helpful
animal – if any animal gives you
advice and you donʼt follow it
– then you are finished.” Finished! It did not matter what the
animal told the hero to do: lie,
donʼt lie, fight, donʼt fight.
What mattered was following the animalʼs advice. If
the hero didnʼt, it meant
certain disaster.
Psychologists like von
Franz and Jung view fairy
tale animals as an example of our own instincts
taking over when we need
them most. We compare
instinctual animal behavior to our own in everyday
phrases like “clever as a
fox,” “the eyes of a hawk,”
and “horse-sense.”
These instinctual perspectives and phrases give
us a common language we
all immediately understand.
Yet, what about the actual
physical presence of a fox, hawk, or
horse? Is their appearance or companionship in our
lives reduced only to observing their characteristics for guidance
in our actions? Does that mean that if I happen to see a fox in my
“
”
If any
animal gives you
advice and you don’t follow
it, then you are finished.
backyard, I am to assume she is telling me to be clever and cunning
in whatever I happen to be doing?
Interpreting animal messages as an embodiment of our own
instincts is one possibility; another comes from the world of the shaman, a medicine man or woman who has the ability to communicate
with animals when in a trance. This supernatural ability has led to
shamans often being called “walker of worlds between ordinary and
non-ordinary reality.” While in a trance, a shaman meets up with
his animal spirit guide, who in turn steers his course and inspires
him in some area that will be of help to him or his community. In
fables, this guidance and inspiration eventually concludes with a
“happily-ever-after” ending.
The shamanic “walking between two worlds” motif populates
stories such as Snow White. The heroine is lost in a forest and
suddenly finds herself in a timeless Otherworld, usually inhabited
with talking animals who help her in her quest. (In Celtic tales, if
these animals are white with red ears, then one knows they are in
the land of faerie).
In the Cinderella story, our heroine travels back and forth between
the otherworldly realm of the magical ball (where, in the version
we are most familiar with, she is taken by animals metamorphosed
into useful footmen and horses) and her everyday life among the
cinder ashes. In the Disney movie, rats and lizards are transformed
into horsemen and footmen who ferry Cinderella back and forth
between the two worlds. In the Irish version, Cinderella is assisted
by a tortoise-shell cat who gives her all she needs. The Egyptian
Cinderellaʼs wishes are granted from a tree that grows on her beloved
petʼs grave. What is common to all versions is that she is helped by
her animal friends. Cinderellaʼs Otherworld brings us a little closer
to appreciating the animals who live with us in this world.
There is one more lens through which to view animal helpers in
legends and myths: the dream world. There has been much speculation that fairy tales may have originated from nighttime dreams in
which a person was helped by an animal. Perhaps the next morning,
over the dayʼs chores, trips to the local well, or in gatherings with
the royal court, the dream was retold, and a fairy tale was created.
Today, in modern-day dream workshops and clinics, when a person
dreams about an animal, they are not just looking for the “horsesense” reasoning the animal brings, but to hear the actual voice of
the animal in the dream. Just what is it that the polar bear, tiger,
lizard, dolphin, or ladybug is trying to tell you?
In a harried and hurried society where we often donʼt take the time
to pay attention to the natural world, whether it is the presence of our
own cats and dogs, or the appearance of the fox in the backyard, our
dreams can act as a radio through which other voices are broadcast.
It is one place where we let go of the craziness of a busy day long
enough for us to hear the wisdom and guidance of animals. And,
the animals need us to hear them, for their message and wisdom
lies mute until the dream is paid attention to. And when we do pay
attention to our dreams, what will emerge are images full of guidance and inspiration that we can take into our waking lives.
However we choose to interpret the animals that come to us in
fairy tales and legends, one fact remains consistent: Their message
is essential. Once upon our time, we can choose to follow in the
dance steps of our fairy tale heroes and heroines by embracing
all the four-footed, crawling, swimming, and winged helpers who
envelop and protect us in a timeless weave of inspired grace. And
that is no fairy tale.
Rae Ann Kumelos and her husband are co-owners of Star Hill Inn,
an astronomy retreat in northern New Mexico.
A Special Conference Presented by
Best Friends Animal Society
No More Homeless Pets
Conference
October 22-24, 2004
Cincinnati, Ohio
How can your community bring an end to the killing
of healthy homeless pets? Cities, counties, and entire states across the country are doing it.
... And yours can, too!
Meet the people who are creating a new world for
homeless pets at this landmark gathering of experts
from across the country, as we explore strategies to
develop no-kill communities.
Adoptions: How to get more animals out of the shelter
and into good homes – guaranteed!
Spay/neuter: The best programs from around the country, and how they can work for you.
Fundraising: How to get the funds you need. (It’s not
difficult!)
Promotion: How to get the attention of the media and
really reach your target audience.
Plus: Saving feral cats, working with animal control,
dealing with burnout, attracting volunteers, building coalitions, going no-kill, and much more.
For more information, contact
Best Friends Animal Society
phone (435) 644-2001 ext. 129, fax (435) 644-2078
e-mail: info@bestfriends.org
www.bestfriends.org
go to www.bestfriends.org
Visiting Best Friends
The Best Friends Welcome Center is open every day except
Christmas from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Mountain Time.
The sanctuary covers a large area and some of the animal areas
are several miles apart. Guided tours of the sanctuary leave
from the Welcome Center twice daily. They need to be booked
ahead of time.
To book a tour, or for more information about visiting the sanctuary, e-mail visiting@bestfriends.org or call (435) 644-2001,
ext. 0. Your furry friends look forward to seeing you soon!
23
on the wild side
You Are SO There!
An animal’s eye view of the world
By Simone Szaraval
I
tʼs the sound that comes at you first. Snuffling and scratching;
heavy thundering; whining and growling.
As you absorb the reverberation – either high pitched or the
kind that kicks you right in the solar plexus, you begin to focus on
the wiggling, twitching ears that resemble cacti; or a fleecy head
bobbing and dipping; or maybe the slithering slide through a thick
stream of water.
And then you begin to laugh, realizing that youʼre experiencing
a herds-eye view of what it feels like to be part of the pack.
Welcome to Sam Eastersonʼs world of Animal, Vegetable, Video.
Itʼs reality video like no other.
Youʼre not just watching animals in their natural habitats, itʼs
like you are the animal.
A graduate of the University of Minnesota, Easterson began his
career as a landscape researcher. One of his projects was to study
the world from the point of view of sheep. So he strapped small
cameras on their heads to see how the land looked to them.
A stint at the Los Angeles Natural History Museum followed,
and from there, the project began to grow. His ever-expanding collection features a variety of American wildlife, and Easterson plans
to keep it that way. He has no plans to travel to the heart of Africa to
capture big cats or great apes. His is a more personal, more ordinary
approach, and itʼs the animals at home that he wants as his stars.
And sponsors have come calling. From Animal Planet to
National Geographic, Eastersonʼs homegrown project is attracting
attention. As the project expands, he hopes that more interest will
follow, allowing him to purchase equipment and add to his library
of species that weʼd all like to know more about. A session with
wolves has been integrated into Dogs, an exhibit at the National
Geographic Explorerʼs Hall in Washington, D.C., which runs from
May 20 to September 6.
“That footage is some of the most heartwarming and funny that
24
Iʼve captured,” says Easterson. “Wolves are really amusing animals,
far from the pack of ravenous predators that some people imagine
them to be.
“I was working in the Colorado Rockies at a wolf rehabilitation
center, and I got some great footage of one wolf chasing after a squirrel who had embedded himself in a ground nest. That wolf spent 10
minutes digging into the squirrel hole. But he just could not get to
the squirrel. And you can just feel the alpha frustration. ʻI canʼt get
him…I canʼt get him.ʼ As a man, I found it very relatable.”
The bird’s eye view
After filming armadillos and frogs, crocodiles and bison, this
year Easterson is branching out to the sea and sky. Heʼs developing
a system of aquatic harnesses and underwater cameras in order to
capture sea turtles, jellyfish, lobster, snails, and starfish. And heʼll
go airborne to capture life as a falcon and a hawk.
Always on the lookout for sponsors and financing to help nurture
his dream, Easterson hopes that one day heʼll have accumulated
enough unique footage to assemble a feature-length documentary.
That could take a decade or more, since his shoots last anywhere
from two minutes (in the case of a tarantula) to two hours, and end
abruptly when the subject simply gets bored and shakes the camera
loose or the batteries wear out. When that happens, Easterson lets
nature take its course and goes with the footage he has.
“What the animals tell us is the most fascinating thing to me,”
he says. “Everybody has seen documentaries of animals in Africa
or sharks or dolphins, but when we place a video cam on a snail, I
dare you to take your eyes off it.”
Helmet cams donned by a variety of animals – from sheep, cows,
wolves, and crocodiles to frogs and tarantulas – take you up close
and personal like never before.
“The films show us how a species exists – not just the big mammals that are the poster children for conservation campaigns, but the
small and ordinary that are also so fascinating. I believe it elevates
species in a thought-provoking and entertaining way. It can be viewed
from merely a scientific standpoint – thereʼs a huge amount of data
and so much to dig into that can be very significant. But I think
people will also view the films and the animals beyond mere science.
I think theyʼre beautiful and poetic. To me, the films are art.”
The heart’s eye view
Easterson has also gained some major insights into the emotions
of animals and their relationships.
“I was filming cows last fall,” Easterson recalls. “We put a helmet
cam on a cow, and she walked off into the field, and all the other
cows could tell something was off. They began coming up to the cow
and licking her. They licked the camera. They rubbed against her,
trying to comfort her as though they knew something was abnormal
... different. Then, after about an hour, when the camera fell off as it
was supposed to, a sense of normalcy returned. The cow ran back
into the herd, and the others didnʼt approach her the same way as
when she had the camera on. Suddenly, she was normal again.
“The same thing happened with the sheep.
“And sometimes animals donʼt notice at all. Sometimes theyʼre
oblivious. We try for that. We try to put the camera on discreetly
so no one notices. Thatʼs sort of the perfect scenario.”
Although no harm comes to any animal, nor are animals sedated
or handled harshly in the effort to put the camera on, Easterson says
there are still ethical dilemmas about studying animals.
“Iʼm very careful, and I feel like the outcome of what we are
achieving far outweighs any temporary inconvenience or stress the
animal may feel. There is a mass of information that people can
gather from the footage. Most importantly, there is an emotive value
to it. You can see how animals think, how they feel. You can watch
problem solving at work, which is the sign of real intelligence. Itʼs
really incredible seeing how theyʼre navigating the landscape or how
theyʼre interacting to a specific area or to a herd.”
In order to capture the animalʼs point of view, Easterson customizes all the helmet cams and adjusts them to the size of the animal and
his or her lifestyle – larger, sturdier versions for thundering buffalo,
miniscule mini-cams for smaller creatures such as tarantulas.
Easterson sees his hands-on project as being very different from
the more “normal” stream of animal documentaries. “This footage is
rooted in popular culture,” he says. “Itʼs Big Brother to the extreme.
Itʼs a great way to introduce people to scientific ideas. It disarms
people and lets them look at footage from a different viewpoint. So
much emerges from it.”
For more information, go to www.anivegvideo.com.
25
the earth
Olympic Wonder
By Clay Myers
the Olympic is as diverse as the land itself. Marmots and mule
deer forage for food in the high country, and starfish and mollusks
cling to rocks in tidal pools. Bald eagles soar overhead, and herds
of Roosevelt elk live in lush, primeval forests.
If you think of grandeur and adventure when you think about
our national parks, then the Olympic lives up to those perceptions
like nowhere else.
Photos by Clay Myers
Imagine standing in a sub-alpine meadow watching the sun rise
over snow-capped peaks, then hiking through a temperate rain forest
graced with lush mosses and ancient trees, down to a wild, undeveloped beach as the sun slowly sets into the Pacific Ocean.
Yes, you did it all in one day, here at Olympic National Park.
The park is located on Washington stateʼs Olympic Peninsula,
and it is one of this landʼs most precious jewels. The wildlife of
26
27
best friends animal sanctuary
May I Cluck
Who’s Calling?
Visitors to our Feathered
Friends bird home are
delighted to meet the new
receptionist, Gretchel the
chicken.
As soon as you walk in,
Gretchel stops whatever
sheʼs doing and struts down
the hallway, clucking all
the way to greet you.
Gretchelʼs cluck really
sounds more like a purr,
and she loves to be petted
and picked up for cuddles.
So now sheʼs on payroll
and happy to work for
chicken feed. And sheʼs
even added yet another
new responsibility to
her job description. She
walks on
a leash
a n d
accompanies
staff as
they make
the rounds
to feed the other
birds.
Bathing Baby
Lovable, vocal Baby the cat is a natural
gymnast, able to walk across the floor in a
straddle handstand, since her hind legs and
28
Meet the Dream Team!
Laundry Room Kid
The mini-sized old dogs in the laundry
room may lose their “ornery old coot” status
now that they are baby-sitting a goat. Wordʼs
getting out they like the little tyke.
How did a newborn goat get into the
laundry room at Best Friends? Pat Baker,
who runs things in there, is looking after
the kid because her mama couldnʼt care for
her properly. The baby has to eat every three
hours, and the mama goat cannot produce
nearly enough milk.
“So sheʼs named Lucky, because sheʼs
lucky to be alive.”
Lucky has a playpen in the laundry, can
walk on leash, and is having a great time giving kisses to the old dogs, as well as visitors.
Sheʼs even figured out the dog door.
back end donʼt work very well.
Like all the other kitties at the Incontinental Suite at Best Friends Cat World, Baby
needs the help of her human friends
when it comes to grooming.
Genny Franzen of Concord Township, Ohio, was only too glad to bathe
Baby. And even though Baby had
a definite opinion about the whole
process, she really did appreciate
Gennyʼs grooming assistance.
This was the fourth visit to the
sanctuary for Genny and her husband Peter. She said, “This is the
best time of our lives. Every time we
walk away from Best Friends, I feel
blessed. This is the happy ending.”
Little Baby, who isnʼt even two
years old yet, strutted through the
Incontinental Suite, showing off her
freshly flounced fur. Sheʼll be happy
to see Genny next time.
Watch out, New England Patriots. Thereʼs
a new team on the horizon. Itʼs furry, itʼs
fierce, and it means business. A group of
Best Friendsʼ older dogs have formed a
football team, and age isnʼt going to slow
them down.
It started with Red, formerly known as
“The Tub-Monster” until he lost weight.
He may be … oh … letʼs just say, over ten,
but he still likes the ladies. Heʼs got quite a
reputation going for his good manners, and
now, heʼs a pro athlete as well.
Then Mickey showed him girls can
do anything boys can do. Zebra and Ezra
decided if footballs were being thrown, they
had as much right to them as anyone else …
by wrestling, if necessary. And Vincent and
Cassius, who are a little slowed down by age,
decided their job would be to watch (or, as
watchers prefer to call it, “referee”).
Yes, itʼs a co-ed football team comprised
of old dogs and a few mild heart conditions
that have to be monitored during play. If that
doesnʼt scare the NFL teams, maybe they
havenʼt watched this talented crew play!
Stop Press report: Thereʼs an opening on
the team. Red has been adopted by a family
in Pennsylvania.
From Psycho to Mellow
Perry the cat is an old love muffin who
seems to have grown out of truly frightening
behavior all on his own.
Best Friendsʼ Carey Belcher says Perry
started out as a “psycho kitty.”
“Iʼd be out in the hall sweeping,” she
recalls, “and Iʼd hear this awful screaming
and yowling, like the
worst cat fight in the
world. Iʼd rush into
Perryʼs room, and there
would be no cat fight,
just Perry viciously
attacking his own tail.
Heʼd stop as soon as
you came into the
room.”
That was four
years ago, when Perry
came to Best Friends at
the age of 15. His person
was heartbroken when her
health problems forced her
to let go of Perry, whom
she had lived with since
the day he was
born. He was very
attached to her but
would not go near
other people.
Perryʼs heartbreak
showed up in his very
disturbing behavior. The medical team put
Perry on some medication, but when that
made no difference, he was taken off of it
again and just loved as he was.
Now, at age 19, Perry greets people with
rubs and purrs. He sits up on his back legs
in a very endearing manner and entertains
visitors with “the Perry Wave” – waving
with his front paws like a puppy begging
for a walk.
“He just mellowed out ,” Carey says.
Looking for a Running Mate
The sheep and the goats here at the sanctuary are having a slight problem with their
fitness and weight loss program.
Thatʼs because their personal trainer has
just been adopted!
Logan is a heeler mix – and heelers are
herding dogs, who always love having something to do. In fact, Logan was so bored in
his old home that he kept jumping the fence,
getting out, and getting into trouble – which
is why he was given up.
So here at the sanctuary he got a really
good job doing his favorite thing: herding.
And with nearly a dozen sheep and goats
here at the sanctuary at any given time,
thereʼs always some herding to be done (at
least according to Logan).
The sheep and goats enjoy it all – plus,
it keeps them busy, and the exercise is good
for them.
In fact, when Logan first started encouraging the sheep and goats to jog around their
pasture, they looked more like giant cotton
balls than animals. For his part, Logan was
always very gentle with them, never nipping at
their heels, the perfect personal trainer. And
it worked. They started to lose weight.
But great dogs like Logan donʼt hang
around here at the sanctuary too long.
Logan is off to a great new home, where
heʼll have plenty of new games and jobs to
keep him busy.
So what about the sheep and the goats?
Will they all turn back into giant cotton
balls again? Not likely. The search is on
for a replacement, and one of the border
collies is going to be taking over Loganʼs
position very soon.
Easter’s Rebirth
Easter was rescued from almost certain death, lost her mother, and then had to be given
up by the woman who rescued her.
Margie Rickards had bought Easter’s mother, Patsy, from a Premarin production line in Indiana. About 85 percent of the foals born to these mares are auctioned off for slaughter.
“I spotted the picture of Patsy in a horse magazine,” said Margie, “and found out she was
on a Premarin line, which infuriated me.”
It’s a brutal life for mares who are used in the production of Premarin, a hormone replacement therapy for women. Margie has been involved in the work of the United Pegasus Foundation, which rescues foals born as a by product of Premarin production.
Margie brought Patsy home to California and found she was pregnant with Easter. But
soon after Easter was born, Patsy died of colic.
Easter grew up to be a very smart horse – big, strong, willful, and difficult for Margie
to handle. So, she contacted Best Friends for help. “I was afraid of her. I knew at Best
Friends they would take good care of her, do right by her, and find her a good home.”
Easter is settling in just fine and has a bright future ahead of her.
Read more about the work of the United Pegasus Foundation, and check out alternatives
to using Premarin by doing a web search on “alternatives to Premarin.”
29
at the sanctuary
Once they were just cast-offs.
Now, thanks to you, these oncesad faces are living “happily ever
after” at Best Friends, the nation’s
largest sanctuary for abused and
abandoned animals.
“You be happy in your new home, Lore!” For many people, Best Friends is
their annual vacation spot. Kelsey Kelly and her parents will be back next year,
as always. But this is Loreʼs time to say good-bye. Heʼs going off to a happy
new home! Heʼll never forget Kelly and her folks.
“I spy visitors! Everyone, on your best behavior!” Sassy the
cat acts as lookout for a room full of cats-in-waiting. Waiting
to be adopted, that is.
30
Taking a break at the TLC Cat Club: Big Boy, an FIV-positive love
bug, snuggles in the arms of staff member Lenny Domyan. Lenny must
have strong arms, because Big Boy didnʼt get his name for nothing!
Olʼ Blue Eyes – a.k.a. Toby. He may not be much of a singer,
but the lady dogs think Toby is a dream. No swooning!
Me, too! (left) Logan
brings the sheep back
after their daily workout. He figures he
deserves a treat, too.
Once an abandoned
herding dog, Logan is
getting ready to go to a
good new home.
Education or vacation?!
(right) Interns Melissa
Espino and Laurel Holding introduce Cowboy to
the camera. Melissa and
Laurel became close
friends during their six
weeks working at the
sanctuary.
31
Rocky’s
Road to
Adoption
And there’s no
such thing as
“finals”!
The writer of this piece poses with Rocky the St. Bernard. Except ... well ... we werenʼt sure
how Rocky would do on a face-to-face, so this is a “dramatization,” a “re-enactment,”
or whatever you call it, with Chewbacca standing in for Rocky!
By Elizabeth Doyle
T
oday is Rockyʼs big day. He doesnʼt know it yet, but heʼs about
to take an important test in front of a room full of strangers,
who are all watching to see how he does.
It may sound like an “I dreamed I was back in school” nightmare, but Rocky is a big, brave guy. Besides, heʼs surrounded by
well-wishers here at Best Friends Dogtown, where heʼs lived for
more than a month. And in some ways, Rocky is going to be the
teacher today, as well as the test-taker. By letting us watch his Big
Performance, heʼs going to teach us all a little something about
behavior assessment exams.
The purpose of the test
“This is not a pass/fail test,” says Best Friendsʼ dog trainer
Sherry Woodard. “Itʼs just an exercise to see what areas need
improving.”
For animals in many shelters, this is not the case. Unbeknownst to
the dogs, when they step forward for their behavior assessment trials,
their lives are on the line. A failing grade could be a death sentence.
Talk about test pressure! No college student has seen the like.
But here at Dogtown, nobodyʼs worrying when Rocky the St.
Bernard bonka-bonkas into the room for his official behavior assessment. Thatʼs because no matter how he does on his exam, heʼll be
bonka-bonkaing right back out again to rejoin his friends. He wonʼt
even know his grade.
Second chances
In fact, Rocky blew it completely on his first behavior test. When
he arrived at Best Friends from a rescue group that had closed down,
he seemed like a cuddly love-monster. Who could resist that face
and those giant feet! But when Sherry began evaluating him, it was
obvious he could be really scary toward people he didnʼt know.
A St. Bernard? Being mean? Is that possible? We picture them
32
as those big, lovable teddies rescuing strangers from snowstorms.
And thatʼs true, says Sherry, but any animal can become mean if
heʼs had a difficult enough past. And of course, the more dogs are
bred for looks rather than personality, the more likely they are to
have temperament problems. So she was surprised but not astounded
when Rocky did so badly on his first behavior exam.
On todayʼs first “re-take” of the exam, weʼre checking to see
whether Rocky has improved after a month of the “Dogtown treatment” – living with a lot of other dogs, and getting plenty of fresh air
and good food, along with some gentle guidance from the staff.
The room is full. Rocky canʼt be placed in a new home until
heʼs shown real improvement. But when heʼs ready, the national St.
Bernard Rescue Foundation will help find an appropriate placement.
And since some of their members happen to be enjoying a visit to
Best Friends, theyʼve stopped by to see the “problem child” going
through his paces.
Scary hooded people
Rocky is excited about his test! Well, actually, heʼs just excited
to see Sherry. He nuzzles her and slobbers, but Sherry is about to
trick him. Sheʼs about to disappear and re-emerge … as a hooded,
faceless stranger.
“Knock, knock.” Rocky wags his tail. He waits with a big, goofy
smile. Sherry opens the door, emerging in a heavily hooded sweatshirt. She does not speak to him, but keeps her face down like a
clunky teenager and stomps over to him. Rocky just nuzzles her.
Sherry knows that he recognized her anyway. And though sheʼs
pleased he wasnʼt repelled by the hood and mannerisms, that wonʼt be
enough to get a good score written down in her little lined book.
She calls in a young man whom Rocky has never met before.
This is the real test. Last time, Rocky growled, barked, and then
charged the stranger who approached him. For the first time, some
observers are nervous. The young man walks up to Rocky, who
keeps wagging his tail. He pats him on the head, a little uneasily,
and then keeps going. Rocky doesnʼt lose his goofy smile.
Nobody can believe this is the same Rocky! Now, thatʼs the difference a month can make!
Biting the hand that feeds you
Sherry loves her job, but she isnʼt willing to lose her hand for it!
She puts a stuffed glove at the end of a long barbecue skewer, making sure the glove carries her scent so the dog might think thereʼs
a hand in there. This is the “bite tester.”
Rocky is given a bowl of food. He plunks his giant
face into it and munches greedily. While he eats, his
fuzzy ears flopping around, Sherry pets him with the
fake hand. He allows her to do this. Next, she sticks the
fake hand in the food bowl itself and chomp! Rocky
bites it. Uh oh!
Sherry laughs and makes a note. Rocky still has
some work to do. He must learn to let people touch
his food and even take it away. This will be a focus in
the upcoming month, before his next exam.
part herself. She grabs a Homer Simpson doll, jumps up and down,
and squeals. She shoves the doll in Rockyʼs face, yelping about
how exciting this is. Sheʼs very convincing. In fact … glances are
exchanged around the room. Anyone else get the feeling she does
this sometimes at home? (Just kidding!)
Rockyʼs tail wags, and he seems to be happy that sheʼs so happy.
He grins and slobbers and then looks around the room when sheʼs
done. Wow – that was an embarrassing display. But stop staring,
everyone. Sheʼs still my friend!
Sherry makes a note that heʼs doing well with erratic behavior.
Grrrr…I love you…Grrrrr…
How important is a knowledgeable tester? Does it
matter whether the examiner is a dog expert or just a
person with a checklist?
Have a look at this:
Sherry suddenly opens an umbrella to see how he
reacts to surprises. “Umbrellas do something no one
would expect them to do, unless they already know,”
she says. Some dogs might react to the sudden opening, but not Rocky. Heʼs just wagging and grinning and slobbering
over to Sherry.
She gives him a bear hug and pets his ears. Then suddenly, it
sounds as though heʼs begun to growl. And for no reason! His tail
is wagging, but the sound is unmistakable. Whatʼs going on?
“
No matter how he does, he’ll
be bonka-bonkaing right back out
again to rejoin his friends. He won’t
even know his grade.
”
“Thatʼs just a St. Bernard sound,” Sherry explains. “It means,
ʻthis feels good.ʼ It sounds just like a warning growl, but if you heard
him actually growl, the two sounds are slightly different.”
Itʼs a good thing she knew that. Because to someone who didnʼt
know better, it really and truly sounded like a growl.
Sherry’s alter-ego
Now itʼs time for the kid test. In fact, because of his history,
Rocky will never go to a home with children. Still, itʼs good to test
his reaction.
Since no real children are used in these tests, Sherry plays the
Shades of gray
It doesnʼt take an expert to guess that tail wagging is good and
snapping is bad. But what about those in-between signals?
“You need to use some intuition,” says Sherry. “And you need
to put together all the different pieces to complete your picture of
the dog. Itʼs hardly ever black and white.”
Sherry holds each of Rockyʼs feet and then his tail. He doesnʼt
growl or snap, but his tail isnʼt wagging either. And heʼs doing a
funny thing – he follows her hand with his nose, as though keeping
a close eye on it as it travels his body. What does that mean?
Sherry says this is called “orienting” and it means different things
in different dogs. In some cases, putting his nose up to the hand
that holds his tail might be perfectly harmless. In other cases, an
“orient” leads to a snap.
Paw lifting is another vague gesture. It can mean, “I am showing
you submission.” Or it can mean, “I was taught to shake hands, and
Iʼd like to show you my trick.”
All’s well that ends well
Itʼs time for Rocky to thumpity-thump back to his play area,
where all his new friends are waiting for him. Heʼs enjoying life at
Best Friends and has made significant progress.
There was a time when he just couldnʼt pass a behavior assessment. He was a problem child.
But in just a month of gentle training, an open, sociable atmosphere, and a lot of encouragement, Rocky has improved his grade
from a definite “F” to what you might call a “C.”
And heʼs well on his way to passing with flying colors.
33
Pick Me!
From our Garden
of Love
Each of the animals on this page is
older, or needs some daily medication,
a little extra help getting around, or the
training and understanding to be comfortable again in a home environment.
If you’d like to know more about giving
one of them a home, please call the
sanctuary at (435) 644-2001.
There are more “special adoptables”
on the Best Friends website at
www.bestfriends.org/adoptions.htm.
34
Noah are best
Always on the go, Peekaboo and
The world is a big
friends on a never ending adventure.
this.
like
playground for a smart, curious pair
ect health. So
perf
in
are
Theyʼre friendly fellows who
without each
live
t
canʼ
y
The
s?
need
what are their special
a home thatʼll take
other. Their special wish today is for
not just one of them, but both.
ars. Peekaboo is
Noah is the one with the helicopter-e
ember once you
rem
ʼll
You
d.
frien
his patient, lop-eared
get them home!
Scared of linoleum?
Thatʼs a little embarra
Charmer had never
seen the indoors befo ssing! But poor
re.
He lived on a chain in
the backyard, where
would pull and try
this active guy
to play, but couldnʼt
. The chain stopped
every attempt … his
wh
of energy. It must ha ole life long. Heʼs 80 pounds and full
ve been hard!
He doesnʼt “get” cats.
But he likes girl dogs
heʼs fine with lino no
– a lot! And
w. His special hope
? To be picked by
grown-ups who know
a handsome face wh
en they see one!
allie suffered
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Ida
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come to an brought him here in h
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th
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.
to adopt him
Itʼs so frustrating! Baby Cakes is an insanely intelligent
dog with lots of focus and energy who canʼt do everything she
wants to do … because she was hit by a car. Now, her pelvis is
held together by plates and screws, and she has to be careful
with her activities. Not easy for a dog this alert!
Sheʼs a border collie mix who desperately needs a job. Jogging, herding, chasing errant sticks are all out of the question
since the accident. Today, this lovely dogʼs best shot at feeling
fulfilled is to find a home where she can be a devoted best
friend, and focus her energy on being the best companion
she can be.
Whoops! Reka thin
ks she blew it big tim
Sheʼd only lived wi
th one person her wh e.
person was her hom
ole life, and that
e. So when the lady
got engaged and the
whole family chan
ged,
“bad” all the time. Sh Reka got jealous and started being
e
got in trouble. Her pu thought it would help, but instead she
nishment? She woul
d be thrown out and
never get to see any
of her
Reka is four years old family again. Ouch.
sensitive, and incline , a real Dalmatian, emotionally clingy,
d to get attached ve
ry quickly. So pleas
donʼt lead her on! Sh
e
e
and cats, and promise wants a home, is fine with other dogs
s sheʼll be good this
time.
Faust canʼt believe
Never! Old folks lik what heʼs hearing! Old cats – useless?
e him have lots to of
fer.
At ten years old, he
m
ways. He likes his me ay be a little predictable and set in his
als to be served prom
you very much. He
ptly, on time, thank
likes to map out a ste
ady daily routine fo
himself. But heʼs extre
r
me
jet black cloud of velve ly intelligent, absolutely gorgeous, like a
t, and heʼs happy to sh
are a home with other
cats. So long as they
ʼre as mellow and co
nsiderate as he is!
Faust has been at Be
son passed away. He st Friends ever since his beloved perholds onto the hope
that thereʼll still be
another for him.
35
tomato the cat
CAT WORLD NEWS
TOMATO’S CAT WORLD
NEWS
ELVIS ALIVE
– LIVING AT
DOGTOWN
STRANGE
KIND OF
CAT
FOUND
ON
BED!
BED
KILLER CHIHUAHUA
HEADED FOR EARTH
DOGS ARE ALL RUNNING FOR COVER
NASA: MARS CAT
SIGHTING A FRAUD
Cats “from Mars” are really at Best Friends
By Tomato the Cat
The Weekly World News shook up the animal world with its recent
declaration that a new breed of cats has been discovered on Mars.
The tabloid, considered by media experts to be the main competition for Tomato the Catʼs Cat World News, stunned the scientific
world when it described “A pair of catlike creatures photographed
scampering across the dust-filled base of an impact crater!” The
photos seemed to prove it.
But Cat World News can now confirm that the Weekly World
News story is completely false. And our chief investigative reporter
and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Tomato the Cat (show us
your Pulitzer Prize-winners, Weekly World News), has the photos
to prove it.
“Those cats arenʼt from outer space,” said a spokesperson for
Cat World News. “You can see them right here at Best Friends,
where they live with staff member Peggy Sutton.” Sutton, noted the
36
spokesperson, is a attorney who now specializes in feline law.
“Best Friends … Mars … whatʼs the difference?” shrugged an
anonymous source at Weekly World News.
Officials at NASA were unavailable for comment.
KILLER CHIHUAHUA
HEADED FOR EARTH
Those dangerous asteroids, meteors, and comets that may be
on a collision course with Earth may not be simply lumps of rock,
say scientists.
Cat World News can now report that
the European Rosetta space ship, launched
on March 26th on a five-billion-mile, 10year journey to Comet 67P/ChuryumovGerasimenko, has instead rendezvoused
with an angry, stray Chihuahua.
“We were shocked to discover the dog
in orbit,” said an unidentified source at the
European Space Agency. “After all, it is
now known that the dinosaur age came to an end when a Yorkshire
terrier crashed into what is now the Yucatan region of Mexico.”
ELVIS ALIVE – LIVING AT DEAR
TABBY?
hocking revelation:
BEST FRIENDS DOGTOWN Dear Abby is really a cat
S
Admits he ainʼt nothinʼ
but a hound dog
By Tomato the Cat
Fans claim their faith has finally been
validated. Elvis is alive and living
at Best Friends.
And the proof? “It says
so on his I.D. card at
Dogtown.”
“Itʼs true,” said an
official at Best Friends
Dogtown. “We were a little
surprised to discover heʼs a
Labrador mix with an ʻiffyʼ
temperament. Somehow we
thought heʼd be … snugglier.
But thatʼs our Elvis, alright!
The king is alive.”
But how do they know
that heʼs the real Hunk
of Burning Love, and
not just a six-year-old
dog from California,
who came to Best
Friends because his
Humane League
couldnʼt find a home
for him?
“Well, for one
thing,” said the official, rolling his eyes
at the questionʼs absurdity,
“heʼs food aggressive. Hello? Iʼm the last
one to criticize The King, but wouldnʼt you
say that fits the profile?”
Fans are already gathering outside Elvisʼs
Dogtown home, where they sing Love
Me Tender, waving flashlights at all
hours of the night. They note that
there are clues in all of Elvisʼs
songs that he was profoundly
inspired by his surroundings at
Best Friends.
Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear
was obviously ghostwritten by
Boogie, known at Dogtown as “the
boppy-eared teddy dog,” who,
like the King himself, suffers
from severe separation anxiety.
And Jailhouse Rock, they say,
was originally called Dog
Pound Rock.
And what about all those
references to cats in his
songs? Rip It Up, they insist,
was clearly in reference to
Toshie the Cat, who spends
her days at the Best Friends
TLC Cat Club tearing paper
towels to bits.
Meanwhile, rumors
are spreading that Elvis
can only be adopted by
someone who can sing
Are You Lonesome
Tonight?
In an exclusive
interview with Cat
World News, a source
close to the world
famous advice columnist has revealed that
her daily columns are
really being written by
a cat at Best Friends.
“In order to hide
the true facts,” purred
the source, “she took
the first letter off her
name to change it
from Dear Tabby to
Dear Abby.”
The
columnist
herself has declined
comment, but observers have noted that her
answers to readers
have been getting
more and more “catty” over the years. A
recent question began:
“Dear Abby: My husbandʼs friend,
Kevin, has been coming to our house once
a week for the past eight years. He is always
broke and looking for a handout ... In the
beginning, I tried to help him by inviting
him to stay for dinner once in a while. Now
he has started to complain: The steak isnʼt
cooked the way he likes it ...”
A Cat World News expert cites this as
evidence, noting that “Kevin” is obviously
a stray cat, and that Abby – a.k.a. Tabby
– is trying to cover this up by focusing on
the “manʼs” bad manners.
New Improved
Adopt-a-mins
Guarantee Adoption!
Feeling abandoned? Need a new home fast?
Try new, improved Adopt-a-mins, the supplement that
guarantees a new home in three months OR YOUR
MONEY BACK.
Make sure the moment is right when you go out to an
adoption day. Adopt-a-mins are specially formulated to put
you in the mood for a new home. Lasts up to 36 hours.
(And now available: Adopt-a-vites. The best way to
ensure that people you don’t like will get adopted and
go away.)
37
ambassador to the animals
SUPER
Adoption!
By Francis Battista
he traffic jam on the Bob Hope Drive off-ramp of the 134 freeway
was a thing of beauty! It led to another traffic jam going north on Bob
Hope Drive, which led to the Best Friends Pet Adoption Festival in
Johnny Carson Park in Burbank, California.
By one oʼclock, all 2,000 parking spaces plus street parking were full and
the park was jam-packed with people. By the end of the day, roughly 10,000
people had come out to see the animals for adoption and enjoy some perfect
SoCal weather. And 60-plus rescue organizations, along with the city shelters,
spread out in the park with about 1,200 dogs, cats, bunnies, birds and a pair
of guinea pigs all looking for new homes.
Golden Globe winner Frances Conroy topped the Hollywood guest list,
encouraging everyone to adopt a new furry friend. But the real celebrities of
the day either had four legs and fur or feathers and wings. And more than 400
of them wound up making their way into new adoptive homes.
Many thanks to all the great volunteers, including our friends at West
Valley Dog Sports, who brought out their amazing agility dogs to entertain
the crowd. You made it all possible.
T
38
Join the Experts Online!
Spend some time each week with leaders of the No
More Homeless Pets movement. And discover how
to save the animals in your community.
Pose your own questions or just follow the discussion.
To join in, come to www.bestfriends.org and follow the
link to the No More Homeless Pets Forum.
Upcoming topics:
• May 3 – 7: Why People Give Up Pets
Karen Green of Best Friends on why animals end up in
shelters and what can be done to keep them in their homes.
• May 10 – 14: Holistic Treatment for Rescued Pets
Holistic veterinarians Dr. Randy Kidd and Dr. Rose Di Leva on
using alternative medical treatments for rescued animals.
• May 17 – 21: Events on a Shoestring
Megan Newman of No More Homeless Pets Hillsborough
County and Jill Borkowski, a special events consultant, offer
tips on planning frugal events that net serious results.
• May 24 – 28: Creative Fundraising Ideas
You’re the expert! Have you hosted a unique event? Had a
greatfundraising idea that worked? Tell us all about it or just
read what others are up to.
• May 31 – June 4: Engineering a Turn-Around
Want to make dramatic improvements in your local shelter?
Charlie McGinley of Brookhaven Animal Shelter and Susan
Feingold of Southern Hope Humane Society tell how they
did it.
• June 7 – 11: Puppy Mills and Pet Stores
Lee Wheeler of Hearts United for Animals and Francis Battista
of Best Friends on how to stop the sale of pets.
• June 14 – 18: Starting a Grassroots Program
Should you start a local group? Wendy Baron of AnimalHelp
of Central Washington and Michelle Hankins of DC Metro
No More Homeless Pets answer questions about grassroots
organizing.
• June 21 – 25: Creative Pet Adoptions
This week you are the forum guest: What are your top adoption
tips? Do you have a unique adoption event or venue? E-mail
your advice into the forum this week.
Full forum schedule at www.bestfriends.org
Sanctuary Workshops
How to Start an Animal Sanctuary
June 13–19 • September 12–18 • November 7–13
Pet adoption festivals are a great way to find homes and promote the
cause. You can find out more about putting on a pet adoption festival in
your community on the Best Friends website at www.bestfriends.org in
the No More Homeless Pets section.
An intensive, week-long workshop at Best Friends.
Includes outreach programs, fundraising, community
relations, spay/neuter programs, and hands-on sessions with the animals. Attendance limited.
Cost: $500, includes lunches and materials.
For more information, call Cathie Myers at
(435) 644-2001, ext. 317. Or send an e-mail to
humane.ed@bestfriends.org.
39
health & behavior
FAITHFULLY YOURS
clump of DNA, that will shape his or her little individual being.
But when it comes to love, few of us are sensible.
You may have to take a back seat on this one. Your friend has
the information, and you cannot stop her from doing something she
wants to do. She will come to her own realization that she cannot
reproduce her beloved pet by having him sire a puppy. Letʼs hope
the cycle stops there, and your friendship survives.
– Faith, hopefully
Are My Days Numbered?
Faith Maloney answers your questions about animals and life
Can’t Stop the Breeding!
Dear Faith,
My best friend (human) has rescued animals for the past decade,
placing numerous cats and dogs in great new homes. She has her
own dog whom she adores. Unbelievably to me, she has decided to
breed him. She declares that he is unique – so special that absolutely
everyone loves her dog and would want one of his puppies.
When I try to talk to her about it, she gets incredibly defensive
and tells me that she would never dream of breeding a cat but a
dog is different (especially her dog), and sheʼll make sure all the
puppies get homes. When I respond that she knows very well how
many dogs are already homeless, she starts screaming and saying
that this is whatʼs wrong with “animal rescue” people – that they
“take it too far and are extremists not living in the real world.”
How on earth can I persuade her not to breed him?
– Stumped
Dear Stumped,
I can hear your frustration in your letter. I have often found that
principles are all well and good until they conflict with something
we really want to do. Then
we all become very good at
finding the loopholes.
Your friend has convinced herself that her
own dog is so special that
one of his pups will help
her continue the identical relationship she has
with him. Sensible people
know that this cannot possibly be true, as each dog is
unique. Even a cloned dog
– should that technology
ever be perfected – is going
to start life as a pup and
have a whole new set of
experiences, different from
the parent or the original
40
My animals mean the world to me, but I work in an office where
nobody else is an animal lover. They think Iʼm a bit nuts and enjoy
torturing me.
Once, when I called in that I would be late because my cat was
critically ill, and I had to get her to the vet, my boss started screaming at me and told me to “just let the cat die and get to work.” My
co-workers are taking his lead and have started to say cruel things
in my hearing, like how they canʼt wait for upcoming hunting trips
and how much they enjoy killing.
I need this job badly, so I canʼt just walk out. What should I do?
– Victimized
Dear Vic,
Itʼs a shame you canʼt just walk out right now, because that is one
seriously hostile work environment. I would quietly start looking
around for something else in your field. Lifeʼs too short to spend a
good chunk of it with cruel and stupid people.
You mentioned the actions and statements of your boss. If the
boss you are describing is not the overall head of the company but
just your immediate supervisor, then maybe you have a good case of
harassment to take to your employer. If, however, he is the highest
authority, then Iʼm afraid that the only solution for you is to get out
as soon as you get another job.
Meanwhile, youʼll need to work something out for your own sanity.
Obviously I would recommend not talking about your own animals
in the workplace. Iʼm sure you have figured that out already.
And stop responding to your co-workersʼ jibes. They will only
continue to do this while they are getting a reaction, so let it roll
off your back like water.
But remember this experience for any future workplace, and get
the feel for your co-workersʼ reactions to animals before putting out
photos of your cats on your desk. Sometimes itʼs best to keep what
we love the most to ourselves. Insecure people who are abusive and
bullying often look for other peopleʼs personal sensitivities to use as
a weapon of control. So donʼt provide them with ammunition.
– Faith, strategically
Help Me Help Them
My local shelter is in terrible shape. The people there work very
hard, but because of funding, there are just so few resources.
I would very much like to help, but when Iʼm there Iʼm given the
impression that Iʼm just in the way and they donʼt need any help.
I know I could make a difference for the animals there if I was
given the chance. But I donʼt know how to make them want me.
Can you give me any suggestions?
– Feeling Unwanted
Dear Unwanted,
Volunteers are the life-blood of most animal rescue organizations and shelters, but many of them donʼt seem to know how to
utilize this asset.
If your shelter is understaffed and poorly managed, then volunteers can easily be seen as “getting in the way.” Staff members
usually have pre-set tasks to do, and it does take time to explain a
procedure or a policy to a new person.
Every animal organization needs a volunteer coordinator, even
if itʼs another volunteer who fills the role. That person can then act
as a buffer between the staff and the volunteers. Might this be a
role you could take on with your shelter?
You might find that the director leaps at the chance to have you
do that job. I suspect you are not the first person to have this problem
at the shelter. If you are not sure what might be involved, find an
organization that has a volunteer coordinator and ask that person how
itʼs done. (We have one here at the sanctuary.) Then, when you sit
down with the director to propose the idea, you can have a concrete
plan in place – not just an idea that they have to develop!
If you get a go-ahead from the boss, you could interview the
staff, find out where they need help the most, and offer to train
the volunteers yourself. Sure, this stage might take up some precious time, but the benefits in the long run far outweigh the minor
inconvenience.
If they are not responsive to this proposal, or itʼs not something
you feel you can take on at this time, find a place that welcomes
your help. The animals need you.
– Faith, voluntarily
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youʼll be helping those
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e-mail: info@bestfriends.org
www.bestfriends.org
41
the animals’ bookshelf
Friendly Lessons
By Sally Rosenthal
Laurenʼs Story: An American Dog in Paris by Kay Pfaltz. J. N.
Townsend Publishing, 2002. Hardcover, 203 pages, $22.50.
Speaking of Cats by Harry Cauley. J. N. Townsend Publishing,
2003. Softcover, 103 pages, $13.00.
Calico Tales ... and Others by Betsy Stowe. Infinity Publishing,
2004. Softcover, 109 pages, $14.95.
Riding Between the Worlds: Expanding Our Potential Through
the Way of the Horse by Linda Kohanov. New World Library, 2003.
Hardcover, 252 pages, $22.95.
Stories Rabbits Tell: A Natural and Cultural History of a
Misunderstood Creature by Susan Davis and Margo DeMello.
Lantern Books, 2003. Softcover, 358 pages, $22.00.
T
he grocery store clerkʼs bubbly voice interrupted my reverie
as my husband and I unloaded our cart onto the conveyor belt.
“See that dog?” she called out in amazement to the clerk at
the next register. “She can walk down the meat aisle and not even
go for anything!”
“Yes, sheʼs a good girl,” I said as I reached down to pat my guide
dog Boiseʼs broad Labrador head. While I knew that Boiseʼs training
meant she would never go on a rib roast rampage in the supermarket, I had to smile to myself because she often did suggest with a
tug toward one of her favorite smells that we turn into the pet food
aisle. (OK, she might be a highly trained professional, but, beneath
the harness, sheʼs all food-driven Lab.)
The checkout clerkʼs remark was a variation on a common theme.
Strangers often stop me to express their admiration for what Boise
has been taught. While guide dogs possess more skills than average
pets, however, what Boise teaches me and others proves much more
interesting to me than what she has learned from trainers.
Working dog or companion animal, the creatures who share
our homes and hearts come, I believe, to teach us many things.
The authors of the following books feel the same and
give voice to their beliefs in
works about beloved animal
teachers.
As any Best Friends reader would attest, one of the
most important lessons animals teach is unconditional
love. They would get no
argument from Kay Pfaltz,
the author of Laurenʼs
Story: An American Dog
in Paris. Donʼt be fooled
by the subtitle; this book
is more than a canine travelogue. Much more. While
the author does pay homage
to her adopted city of many
years, the true object of her
42
affection is Lauren, an infinitely lovable, chronically ill beagle.
Virginia native Pfaltz was living a lone writerʼs life in Paris
when her sister acted as matchmaker between the author and a
small, charming beagle. It was, as the saying goes, a match made in
heaven. In this wonderful tale, Pfaltz chronicles her life with Lauren
on both sides of the Atlantic, making no bones about the depth of
their relationship. Laurenʼs Story is my favorite sort of animal book
– one that details a loving bond that enriches the readerʼs life almost
as much as the lives of the dog
and person involved.
While Pfaltz looks back in
middle age at her life with Lauren, Harry Cauley recounts, in
later life, the joys and sorrows
encountered in a lifetime filled
with special feline companions.
In Speaking of Cats, screenwriter and novelist Cauley
shares his memories of cats as
diverse as the aloof, mysterious Socrates, a stray who took
up residence with the author
briefly, and his beloved Nutsy,
a cat who weathered storms
but came through them with
an unabashed love of life.
Speaking of Cats might look
like a collection of reflective
essays about a particular man and his cats, but it is really a series
of love letters. The only problem I had with this book is its length;
like Cauleyʼs catsʼ lives, it is much too short. As a reader and cat
lover, I wanted it to go on longer.
Poet and photographer Betsy Stowe, too, knows all too well the
brevity of our catsʼ time with us. But, in the work included in Calico
Tales ... and Others,
Stowe uses her considerable skill with
words and camera
to examine the life
lessons she has
garnered from her
feline soul mate,
Cali, as well as
many former strays
who came to fill
her home and heart.
Although I have
been
acquainted
with Stowe professionally for years
and have enjoyed her
poems immensely as I came across them in magazines and online,
I wasnʼt prepared for the beauty and depth they would assume collected with her loving black and white pictures.
Not all the animals who
change our lives, however,
share our homes. Horses,
as Linda Kohanov eloquently argues in Riding
Between the Worlds, also
have the capacity to alter
our perceptions and spirituality. The author of The
Tao of Equus, Kohanov has
returned with this evocative work.
Riding Between the
Worlds, however, is not just
for horse lovers. Kohanov,
who works in cuttingedge equine-facilitated
psychotherapy, also brings
readers in touch with the
deep spiritual connection
between horses and those
of us in need of connectedness, higher consciousness, and empowerment. I came to this book knowing little about either horses or
the subjects Kohanov addresses, but I found myself engrossed by
the authorʼs craft and beautiful prose; I guarantee other readers
will feel the same.
Another fascinating – and often overlooked – animal with much
to teach us is the rabbit, as Susan Davis and Margo DeMello relate
in Stories Rabbits Tell. This thick volume, filled with cultural and
natural material, has been described as “ground breaking” in the publicity information that arrived
with my review copy. Although
such language is standard publicity-speak, it is nothing more
than simple truth in this case.
In over 15 years of reviewing
animal books, I cannot recall
receiving another rabbit-related
book or many works as comprehensive as Stories Rabbits Tell.
This book is one born out of
first-rate scholarship and total
commitment.
Davis and DeMello, both
long-time rabbit lovers and
advocates, cover a huge
amount of territory in their
inquiry into the rabbitʼs place
in nature, myth, religion, the
meat and fur industries, etc., but
the most important message of
this book is that rabbits are sentient, social creatures who have much
to teach humans about the value of life and the values to be cherished
in everyday life – a fact that might surprise my supermarket clerk
even more than Boiseʼs training does.
The Best Friends
Wishing Garden
May we plant a special wish for you?
The Best Friends Wishing Garden is just outside the Welcome Center at the sanctuary. Each wish is written on rice
paper that nourishes the earth and is then planted with a
flower seed.
Just send in your own special
wish and we’ll sow a seed of
good fortune for you.
And thank you for helping to
make Best Friends a dream
come true for all your furry
friends here.
Kindness to animals makes a better world for all of us.
That’s why Best Friends is working with our members all
across the country to bring about a time when there are no
more homeless pets, and when every companion animal
who’s ever born can be guaranteed a loving home.
The sanctuary, at the heart of the Golden Circle of Southern
Utah, is the nation’s largest for abused and abandoned
animals, home on any given day to about 1,500 homeless
dogs, cats, and other animals that come from shelters all
over the country.
Beyond the sanctuary, the work of Best Friends reaches far
and wide, helping people set up spay/neuter, shelter, foster,
and adoption programs in their own neighborhoods.
In our home state, Best Friends manages a model campaign,
working with shelters and humane societies statewide to
bring an end to the killing of healthy homeless pets.
And across the nation, the Best Friends Network of members and rescue groups works to help set up No More
Homeless Pets campaigns in local neighborhoods. You can
become part of the Best Friends Network on our website
at www.bestfriends.org.
Best Friends is supported through the donations of our
members. Thanks to the generous hearts and hands of
people like you, we can ensure that animals who come
into the care of Best Friends will never again have to be
alone, hungry, sick, afraid, or in pain.
43
point counter point
Should Dogs Go Veggie?
It’s a dilemma for many vegetarians who don’t want
their dogs contributing to the suffering and death of
other animals. Are we imposing our own human morals on animals by requiring them to eat a meat-free
diet? Or are we hypocritical in saying it’s fine for them
to be patronizing the factory farm industry?
Supporting canine vegetarianism are Ned Buyukmihci, professor of veterinary medicine (emeritus) at
the University of California and director of the Primate Sanctuary of the Animal Protection Institute,
and Margie Gill, co-founder and vice-president of
Kentucky’s Home At Last animal sanctuary, who
feeds her charges a vegetarian diet.
Against vegetarianism for dogs are Phil Brown, DVM,
a veterinarian who specializes in nutrition, and Nancy
Kearns, editor of the Whole Dog Journal.
Vegetarians are often conflicted about feeding their dogs a meat-based diet. Is it morally justified
for us to impose our own ethical dilemmas on our pets?
Yes. It’s not only morally correct to “impose” our beliefs
on our dogs, but it is a moral
imperative. Food is a necessity,
and as long as we provide a
nourishing diet, then there is
no harm in modifying that diet
to prevent suffering to others.
Otherwise, we are keeping one
animal alive by killing, or being
responsible for killing, possibly
hundreds of others over the lifetime of the animal in question.
– Dr. Ned Buyukmihci
I think it is immoral to knowingly deny an animal its evolutionary diet. While it is possible to design a complete,
balanced vegetarian diet for dogs, it is beyond the ability
of all but the most committed, knowledgeable, resourceful
owners. People need to take responsibility for the many
health problems that may result from feeding any animal
a diet that is less than perfectly suited to its biological
needs. Ideally, a dog owner who has an ethical problem
regarding their dog’s biologically appropriate (i.e., meatbased) diet will strive to find sources of humanely farmed
meat and poultry. If he cannot find a way to provide a
dog with the diet that best suits the biological needs of
the dog and meets his own ethical criteria, he should
reconsider having a dog. – Nancy Kearns
Carnivores in the wild kill other animals to survive. Is a vegetarian diet for dogs perverting
nature and disrupting the natural order of the food chain?
The domestic dogs we speak of have been
raised by humans, acclimated to the touch
of humans, and exposed to the amenities
of the human environment. Instinct exists
only in remnant form. Survival, for those
who are not so lucky, usually leads them to
a trash can on the back porch of someone
kind enough to make offerings. Free roaming dogs here at our sanctuary who have
full access to their “natural” prey ignore
such and wait patiently for their bowl of
veggie food. The natural order has long
since been disrupted. A vegan/vegetarian
diet for dogs is simply a healthy, crueltyfree, environmentally peaceful way to
adapt to the current order. Nature relies
on adaptation. – Margie Gill
44
Dr. Andy Turkel, spokesperson for the American
Hospital, stated, “Animals eat to live, whereas
people live to eat. Just because vegetarianism
is a trend among humans doesn’t mean it fits
the animal model.” Carnivores kill, not for the
sake of killing, but to survive. Instinctively their
desires arose from the physiological need for
specific nutrients obtained from meat.
Healthy eating has prompted many people
to switch their dogs to vegetarian foods, all
the while ignoring their animals’ ancestry and
anatomy. The nature of the species is being
disrupted, and the evolutionary process is being usurped by personal beliefs. The natural
order of the food chain is at risk in man’s
attempt to fix something that is not broken.
– Dr. Phil Brown
Dogs’ intestinal tracts are short (compared to humans), making it more difficult to digest plant
foods. Don’t these biological differences prove that dogs need meat to survive?
While it may be that digestion of
non-meat food is not as efficient in
dogs (and there is no proof of this
with certain high quality proteins
such as those based on soybeans),
this does not demonstrate a “need”
for meat. We human beings also
are “designed” to digest meat,
in addition to other foods. We
believe, however, that the moral
issues involved in taking another
life when not necessary outweigh
the physiological issues. The same
proscription should be applied to
dogs. – Dr. Ned Buyukmihci
The domestic dog is closest genetically to the carnivorous wolf,
differing in only one to two percent in gene sequences. Wolves
and domestic canines also have identical digestive tracts.
A dog’s mouth is designed to grasp, tear, and swallow meat
whole. A large mouth opening, single hinge joint for vertical action, and large facial muscles are typical features of carnivores.
Short, razor-sharp teeth facilitate grasping and ripping. The short
intestinal tract is designed to quickly digest meat and bones.
Due to a lack of oral digestive enzymes, complex carbohydrates
are not broken down in the mouth. Because carbohydrates
require a long time to break down in the small intestine, they
often pass through undigested, resulting in increased stool
volumes. Dogs also have a difficult time digesting and utilizing
protein from vegetable sources. – Dr. Phil Brown
Medical recommendations for human health often include restricting or eliminating meat, quite
apart from personal ethical questions associated with vegetarianism. Are there nutritional
advantages for dogs on a vegetarian diet?
Yes! We are reminded daily of the nutritional advantages. Amongst
our animals here, all the standard health indicators – appetite,
weight, energy, skin condition, disposition – have demonstrated
consistently that these vegan dogs are thriving. Obesity, one of
the most common nutritional problems in dogs, has rarely been
a concern on the vegan diet – which means there are fewer difficulties with heart and respiratory problems related to weight.
Skin problems are limited to the occasional hot spot on heavily
coated dogs in the summer, which are easily treated. Though
the average age of a dog at time of rescue here is about 3-4
years old (they usually come with histories), cancer prevention
begins with the first vegan meal free of chemicals. The dog’s
immune system gets an additional break since chemical control
of parasites is barely necessary. – Margie Gill
The only dogs who could be
said to enjoy an advantage
from eating a vegetarian diet
are those who have either an
allergy or an intolerance to
meat, fish, or poultry. In these
cases (and I’ve heard of many),
a vegetarian diet improves the
health of the affected individuals. I’ve heard allegations that a
vegetarian diet may be associated with greater longevity, but
there are no studies that bear
this out. – Nancy Kearns
The movie Shirley Valentine satirized an owner who had placed a Doberman on a vegetarian diet,
creating one unhappy, neurotic dog. Can “unnatural” diets lead to other behavioral issues?
To the extent that behavior is learned,
our dog friends are at our mercy for their
“conditioning.” We train them to do, and not
do, what fits our own lifestyles. Discontent,
whether due to stress, chronic disease, or
lack of companionship, causes behavior
problems. If a dog is fed a healthful diet,
and is strong, able to play well, rest well,
and finds their environment predictable and
stable, they just don’t question the source
of their contentment. – Margie Gill
Supplying dogs all the necessary nutrients is complex
and challenging. By ignoring dogs’ genetics, there is a
danger of providing too much or too little as well as a
risk of improper ratios. The result is often physiological
or behavioral malfunctioning. The movie Shirley Valentine placed the cause of neurosis of a Doberman on a
vegetarian diet. There are probably as many emotionally
dysfunctional canines on meat-based diets as there are
on vegetarian foods. The cause is most likely the result of
sharing space with upright creatures that have a talent for
disrupting the normalcy of nature. – Dr. Phil Brown
45
on the radio
Pets, People, Personalities
Best Friends Radio, which airs weekly on
stations around the country, features news,
call-ins, interviews, and round-table discussion. Check www.animalradio.com
for a station near you, or listen online.
In recent shows, we talked with
some experts on emotions,
morality, and personality in
the animal world. Here are a
few excerpts:
When
Fido Plays
Marc Bekoff, Ph.D. is professor of biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder. His main areas of research include
animal behavior and the study of animal
minds. He has published over 175 papers
and 15 books, including his latest book,
Minding Animals.
You say that from all the scientific study and work youʼve done,
animals definitely have a sense of morality.
Certainly dogs and cats, and a lot of mammals. I developed that
idea by looking at the way they play with one another, how they
negotiate the agreements to play rather than to mate or fight or eat
one another.
Why are you so interested in the way dogs play together?
In dogs and other canines, we see the play bow.
She crouches on her forelimbs with her butt
up in the air, may wag her tail, may bark. A
play bow is a classic play-soliciting signal.
So when my dog bows to another dog, heʼs
saying, “I want to play with you!” And if
theyʼre playing and heʼs going to bite
the other dog, he might bow
his head first, as if to say,
“Iʼm sorry. Iʼm going to
bite you now, but this is
still play.” And we found
that they also follow up a bite
with a bow, as if to say, “Iʼm
sorry I bit you so hard.”
Like I might come up
and meet you and slap
you on the back, and
Iʼm being friendly.
But you think Iʼm
really pushing it,
46
and I might back off for a moment and say, “Oh, Iʼm sorry. Didnʼt
mean to hit you so hard.”
Precisely. If I run up to you and push you and say, “Hello!” you
might get upset. But if I walk up to you in a loose gait, what they
call a gamboling approach, you would have a different response.
Thereʼs also something called self-handicapping. Youʼve seen a
dog or a cat bite a friend much less intensely than they could.
And thereʼs role reversal, when a dominant animal rolls over and
plays subordinate. A dominant animal would never roll over or allow
himself to be chased, if it were not in the context of play.
Like a German shepherd who rolls over and allows himself to
be attacked by a Yorkshire terrier!
Exactly! And the neat thing we do is look at video frame by
frame. It can take a week or two to just look at five minutes of play.
We look at the subtle interactions that occur between the animals,
and we find similar patterns – not only in domestic dogs, but also
in wolves and in coyotes. So this negotiating seem to go across the
different species of the members of the dog family.
What are you setting out to teach people about animals?
First, that animals can be very complex individuals, and that if
we really want to appreciate and understand how they behave and
how they live, we need to pay attention to the details.
Second, that these animals have highly developed cognitive skills
and emotional skills. They can also empathize with one another.
Once we all begin to understand this, how might this affect the
way we behave toward them?
Well, the more we attribute to animals, the better we usually treat
them. I actually think that that is ridiculous, because every life is
valuable. But if we think an animal can empathize and that theyʼre
feeling and sentient beings, then we tend to treat them better.
Fido’s
Personality
Professor Sam Gosling of the University of Texas at Austin is a social psychologist whose studies include how
personality traits are perceived and described in humans and other animals,
such as hyenas, dogs, and cats. You
can check out his personality tests at
http://gosling.socialpsychology.org.
How did you go about categorizing animalsʼ personalities?
There are a number of different ways of assessing personality.
One of the best is to simply ask people who know you well what
youʼre like. For instance, if I wanted to know what your personality
is like, Iʼd probably be well advised to go ask two or three people
who know you really well, and ask them.
So we applied that to dogs. We found people taking their dogs
for a walk in the park. And first, we had the owner tell us what the
dog is like and fill out a personality report on their dog.
And in the second phase, we had another person, who knew that
same dog very well, tell us what this dog was like.
Then in the third phase, which was the most important really,
we had the dog go to a dog park and engage in a broad range of
activities, and have observers watch them and rate their personalities.
The goal was to see if what the owners said about the dogs or the
other persons knowing the dogs said about the dogs corresponded
with what these new observers thought who had only seen the dogs
performing these behaviors.
Now if I get this right, there are basically four aspects to personality that you look for.
Yes, there are four, and the first
is the extrovert energy dimension,
distinguishing lively active dogs
from ones that kind of sit down or
nap all day.
Of course, all individuals show a bit
of both behaviors, but they do vary from
both ends of this dimension.
Second, thereʼs affection versus aggression. In humans, itʼs called agreeableness.
Next is what in dogs we call emotional
reactivity. It distinguishes anxious, nervous dogs from ones that are more calm
and placid.
And finally, thereʼs the fourth dimension,
which we call openness/intelligence. These
are dogs that are intelligent and perform
well, who are able to control their impulses
and not pick up the dog biscuit if they are told not to, and so on.
One of the big questions in the world of psychology is what they
call nature versus nurture – how much we inherit our personality
and how much of it is from what we learn.
Well, in terms of humans, the research now is pretty conclusive
that itʼs both. And thereʼs every reason to believe that itʼs the same
in non-human animals, too.
And we know that a dogʼs breed affects not only its physical
characteristics but also its psychological traits, including personality.
So Iʼm pretty certain itʼs a combination of both of these things.
In the last few years, almost any remaining shred of notion that
animals donʼt have consciousness and personality seems to be going
by the board in science just generally. Is that true?
Yes, thatʼs true. Thereʼs widespread evidence that animals have
consciousness and emotions. Of course, in 1872, Darwin explicitly
wrote about this in his book In Man and Animal. He was very clear
about it, and most scientists would now acknowledge that there are
emotions. And so we say, “Well, why not personality too?”
How is this knowledge going to affect the way we see ourselves
and each other and animals in general?
I think itʼs taking away the barriers we humans have put between
us and other animals. Itʼs a way of saying, “Look, although we might
like to see ourselves as different, weʼre not quite as different.”
And why should we be different? Weʼve all evolved from the same
ancestors, and weʼve evolved to meet similar adaptive challenges. So
it would be surprising if we were that different. Of course, there are
differences, but weʼre not as different as we might like to think.
It’s Not Fido,
It’s You!
Joel Gavriele-Gold, Ph.D., is a psychoanalyst and psychologist in private
practice. He is the author of When Pets
Come Between Partners, and answers
readers’ questions periodically in Best
Friends magazine.
When we donʼt want to take a look at our own problems, itʼs very
easy to drop our issues on our pets or somebody elseʼs pet as if it
were the pet who is having the problem or making the problem.
A young woman who came to see me had recently married. The
only problem in her marriage was her husbandʼs dog, whom she had
loved before, but now she found she couldnʼt stand the dog.
I said, “Well, what was there not to stand?”
She said, “He doesnʼt act like a dog. He sits and lies in front
of the television all day. Heʼs not interested in going out. Heʼs not
interested in other dogs. Heʼs not interested in playing. He doesnʼt
care if he ever gets a treat. He just lies there.”
So I asked her if the dog reminded her of anyone. After a minute
or two, she started to cry, and said, “My father.”
“What about your father?”
“Well, my dad was a big CEO. He got caught in a crunch where
he was forced into early retirement. Then he and my mom got a
divorce. My dad got very depressed. He sat around in front of the
television all day. He gave up golf. He wasnʼt interested in doing
anything with his friends.”
I pointed out that everything she was saying about her husbandʼs
dog was what she was saying about her dad. I suggested she still had
a whole bunch of unfinished business with her dad. So we agreed
to have a number of sessions together and work on that.
And that permitted the dog to go back to being a dog again.
Are you saying that the dog actually
became this way, or that he was probably
that way all along, and she was just reading things into that?
Well, the dog is a beautiful Irish setter.
And as we all know, Irish setters just have to
be beautiful; they donʼt have to do anything.
The dog was the kind of dog who could just
lie in front of the television all day. He was
just being his kind of dog.
So once sheʼd gotten over the problem from her point of view,
the dog could just be the same way as he always was and …
As he always was… just being a dog.
So itʼs not a matter of finding out whatʼs going on with the animal.
Itʼs a matter of finding out whatʼs going on with you.
Well, first, of course, I always ask if theyʼve checked the animal
out at the vet.
But then, as I say, there are a number of different things you can
look at in yourself, and ask some questions about yourself in terms
of what your pet means to you, how you react to your pet.
There are many tests in the book that people can take a look at.
They help you redirect whatever the issue might be back into taking
a look inside yourself, instead of dropping the issue on the pet.
47
members & pets
God’s
Little Gift
By Karen Franklin
Z
oe is my miracle. She came into my life when she was ten
months old. A friend of mine, who manages a shelter in
Louisiana, called me in tears over this darling little Shih
Tzu. The shelter didnʼt have the funds to care for sick animals. I
had been rescuing and rehoming little dogs for years and had taken
many from them.
Zoe had been adopted, but got sick the first day she went to her
new home. Her new family took her to the vet, only to find out she
had parvo. They were unable to afford the treatment – especially
since there were no guarantees it would work.
I readily agreed to take Zoe. I have a wonderful vet, Dr. Ricks,
who treats all my rescues at discounts. Since parvo is very infectious to other dogs, I couldnʼt bring her home, so I took her directly
to his clinic. Even though it was after hours, Dr. Ricks came to the
clinic, as he had so many times before. We started her on medication
and made her comfortable in a kennel and began the wait-and-see
process.
The following morning, I was there first thing and Zoe was doing
better. She was unable to eat but was getting the nutrients she needed
through an IV. After three days she was fine, and I bathed her and
took her home. She began to eat but kept choking on her food and
violently throwing up.
I took her back to the clinic and again she stayed for a few days.
She was so weak and only weighed three and a half pounds. When
48
she didnʼt improve and X-rays showed nothing, Dr. Ricks decided
to do exploratory surgery. I am a vet assistant, so I scrubbed up to
do it with him. We found some food blockages in her intestines and
cleaned them out. We were hoping this was the problem and that it
was fixed. Well, it wasnʼt.
After a few days of trying to eat, choking, and violently throwing up, we X-rayed her throat only to find what looked like a mass.
I feared I would lose this precious little girl. Fortunately, it was a
clump of blocked food, which we removed. When we finished, she
stopped breathing briefly, but Dr. Ricks was able to save her.
He sent her home on a diet of liquefied canned dog food and
several medications. He told me she would probably be like this for
life and always need the meds. Poor little girl was hungry all the
time and I fed her four times a day. I had to hold the bowl up so she
didnʼt have to put her head down to eat. This seemed to alleviate
the problem, but having several other dogs, it was hard keeping her
from their food. Every time she got the smallest piece of hard food,
she choked and vomited violently.
I had no problem accepting the fact that she would always have
special needs, and was more than happy to keep her as my own. I
was in love with her by now anyway. What a loving little dog she
was…and still is.
After a few months of eating like this and getting more medicine
on me than in her, something happened. Zoe got into the doggy
playroom and went straight for a doggy biscuit left by another of my
dogs. I panicked and ran after her but she had already eaten some of it.
To my surprise she didnʼt choke, and continued eating the treat.
Later that day, I cautiously gave her a few pieces of dry food to test
her eating. She ate it like a little pig with no problem. I was thrilled
and knew that God had given her one of his special miracles, and
me too. I stopped all her medication and she continued to do great
– no problem eating anything.
When I told Dr. Ricks, he was as surprised as I was and couldnʼt
believe she was eating everything and taking no medications at all.
This was truly a miracle, with no medical explanation.
Zoe is almost two now, and continues to be a normal little dog,
full of life, and up for playing all day and night.
Every night when I go to bed, I say a little prayer thanking God
for her and for Dr. Ricks.
When the
going gets
tough, the
tough go
shopping
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your mail
STRAYS IN PUERTO RICO
SCHOLASTIC SCANDAL
The story about the five dogs experimented on and then destroyed at Tufts
University broke my heart.
I wrote to Tufts and told them how I felt.
I also told them that in the past my family
has contributed to their school, thinking
it a fine educational facility, but as of the
moment I read that article, however, those
contributions have stopped.
ALICE DAVIS
BLACKSBURG, VA.
As for some dogs dying to promote the
health of others, years ago I took a philosophy course in which one of the “problems”
the professor gave the class went something
like this:
Aliens from outer space have come to
earth with a proposition. They have the
ability to cure all illness and confer perfect
health and harmony on humankind. And
they only want one thing in return. We must
give them a thousand children to take back
to their planet, to be cooked and eaten as
a delicacy. Will we say yes? Not surprisingly, no one in the class would agree to
this bargain.
The professor thus made his point that
justice for many cannot be based upon injustice to a few. Somehow this teaching parable
stayed with me over the years.
I think the case for the dogs at Tufts is
similar.
DOLORES RICCIO
WARWICK, R.I.
The inhumane and unnecessary experiments as described in your article are
unacceptable to many citizens of the USA,
including citizens with a university research
background.
It is a bad sign when scientific experiments do not tolerate open communication.
Is it possible for you to mention in the next
issue of Best Friends the e-mail addresses
of these individuals? I am not the only one
who likes to speak up.
FROUKJE BEYNEN, MD
Re. Trouble in Paradise. On our last day in
Puerto Rico, we stopped on the beach at Isla
Verde to enjoy a little more time in the warm
sunshine. While lying on the beach, we were
visited by an extremely friendly female dog
with a severe limp. Her leg appeared to have
been broken. But her temperament had not
been affected, and she walked up and down
the beach happily greeting everyone. Normally, I would have tried to do something to
help, but as it was a Sunday afternoon and
my plane left within hours, I was unable to
do anything at the time.
On the plane ride home, the thought of
this gentle, sweet dog limping and begging
from strangers nagged at me. Immediately
upon returning home, I got on my computer
and discovered the organization Save-A-Sato
at www.saveasato.org. (“Sato” translates to
“mutt.”)
The next day I received an e-mail from
a volunteer there, asking for details. A day
later, I got an e-mail from a volunteer who
told me that they had rescued Isla, as she
was named because of her location on Isla
Verde. For several weeks, the volunteer
sent me several updates on her progress,
including photos.
Islaʼs personality made her a bridge
between frightened, scared dogs not used
to people and to their human rescuers. While
she lived with her rescuer and her leg healed,
she helped several other rescued dogs come
out of their shells. The last letter I received
told me that she had been given a clean bill of
health and I hope that she has found a home
that suits her wonderful personality.
I am indebted to those dedicated volunteers at Save-A-Sato. They really went above
and beyond the call of duty.
TEREZA MARKS
NORTH BEACH, MD.
FERAL PUPPIES
We saw your article about the feral puppies (March 2004, pg. 32). We adopted/
rescued two such puppies at five months.
They had never been on a leash, never been
to a vet, never even been in a car. They had
been locked in a basement with a door to
the outside. Their owners threw food down
the stairs for them.
When we adopted them, they went
through a very hard time getting to know
us and adjust to a new loving home. When
we took them to the vet for the first time,
they were literally screaming.
Today, 10 years later, they are happy,
healthy, and terrific family members. All
the work for socializing a feral dog was
worth it!
GEORGE & LAURIE STRAGAND
LITTLETON, COLO.
THE DICKIN MEDAL
You identify the Dickin Medal, as
awarded to Buster, the British Army dog,
as the animal equivalent of the Purple
Heart. It is, in fact, the animal equivalent
of the Victoria Cross, which is the British
equivalent of our Medal of Honor. Buster is
the 60th recipient of this award, which was
established in 1943.
Three dogs from the U.S. have also
received the Dickin Award for their gallantry during and after the 9-11 attacks.
You can learn more about the Dickin
Medal at www.pdsa.org.uk/pages/page01_
13.cfm.
REV. K. CHERIE JONES
ATASCADERO, CALIF.
49
your mail
HMMMMMM
I think you make a mistake embroiling
the humming toadfish in the political process. (March 2004, Mysteries of Life)
If the humming toadfishʼs voice muscles
vibrate at 6,000/minute, thatʼs 100 Hertz,
which is only two octaves (+) below middle
A (440 Hz) – a pitch well within the vocal
range of most human males. I thought the
humming sound was supposed to be very
deep. No?
This looks like a major journalistic error
to me, requiring, at the least, a retraction and
an apology to the handsome fish, who are
evidently deeper than you have given them
credit for being. Demonizing the toadfish?
Fair enough in an election year, I suppose.
But next youʼll be quoting a toadfish as
saying “Itʼs the humans thatʼs supposed to
suffer, not the toadfish.” This would add
insult to injury.
Surely we can expect more humane
thinking and better grammar from a toadfish than from Mr. B. Remember, you donʼt
want to anger the fish too much, or theyʼll
be humming us all into insomnia, just as
the human politicians “ahem” us into deep
slumber.
TOM KIRSHBAUM
FLAGSTAFF, ARIZ.
It was actually the universe, or more precisely a black hole, in yet an earlier report,
that hums at depths more profound than
a toadfish – deeper even than James Earl
Jones announcing that “This ... is CNN.”
Of course, maybe the universe itself is
a toadfish – and we but its tiny cells, living
only to sing its praises, two octaves below
middle A, when it goes in search of parallel toadfish universes during the cosmic
mating season, humming, perhaps, to the
sweet strains of harmonious string theory.
Hmmm.
ELEPHANTS IN KENYA
Olly the elephant has been flown to the
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya, where
they have the room and decades of experience to raise orphaned elephants. Your readers can learn more about him and his move
to Kenya at www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org.
Unfortunately, most of the orphans are there
because their mothers and families were
poached for their tusks.
You also wrote about the Maasai who are
working on saving their lands by focusing
on wildlife and tourism. You mentioned
how tourists have been staying away from
Kenya because of travel warnings. I was
there last August to study black rhinos (at
the height of the travel warnings), and had
no problems whatsoever. Security in Kenya
is tighter than anything Iʼve seen here in
the U.S. I never felt unsafe. Of course it is
a developing country and has a high rate
of street crime, so normal precautions are
essential, but no one in our group ever had
any problems.
The Kenyan people are extremely friendly and love Americans. Anyone thinking
of visiting Kenya should do it. Seeing the
Mommy keeps me supplied with lots of toys and, as you can see, I
take them all into my bed.
MARILYN, STEVE, HARLEY, BLONDIE & LULU APELMAN
S. SETAUKET, N.Y.
50
wildlife in its natural habitat is amazing!
After seeing rhinos or massive elephants
munching grass by the side of the road itʼs
hard to imagine how someone could kill
them just for their horns or tusks.
DANETTE BORG
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
ANTIFREEZE
Antifreeze tastes sweet to children and
animals. A teaspoon or less kills. Many
thousands of animals and hundreds of
children die each year from swallowing
antifreeze.
There is an embittering agent, denatonium benzoate, that can be added to antifreeze
to deter children and animals from eating it.
It costs only 2-3 cents to add enough deterrent to a gallon of antifreeze. A national legislation pending, H.R. 1563, requires addition of an embittering agent. A few states
and cities already have a similar legislation.
Unfortunately, all legislation exempts the
55-gallon commercial containers, fearing
that the antifreeze manufacturers would
resist the bill if the 55-gallon containers
were required to contain the additive.
Please call the national Congressional
switchboard, (202) 224-3121, and speak with
your representative in support of H.R. Bill
1563, the antifreeze bill. Also e-mail the
same person at www.house.gov to express
your support. Ask them to include 55-gallon
containers in the legislation.
KATE JEWEL
SANTA FE, N.M.
When I let Sable in, she runs back out and grabs a leaf, or rock, and wonʼt
give it to me unless I give her a treat. Iʼm 81, a widow of 11 years after a
beautiful 51 years of marriage, and Sable is a blessing in my life.
BETTY COMBS
COLUMBUS, OHIO
KITTEN FOR MOM?
Re. Dr. Goldʼs advice in his March 2004
column supporting the idea of a Kitten for
Mom.
Any of us that have had kittens know the
unending energy they have as they climb the
curtains and constantly get into mischief. My
mother is in her 70ʼs and my mother-in-law
is 80. I would be very concerned that a kitten
would get underfoot. If an elderly person
falls or trips, it can be a serious health risk,
with breaking bones, etc.
Sometimes circumstances simply donʼt
allow you to bring another pet into your
household when your mother passes away.
Cats can easily live for up to 20 years. We
owe it to them to give them the most stable
environment we can. They are not toys to be
passed from person to person. The kindest
thing that “Daughter Knows Best” can do
is to go with her initial thought, which was
to have her mom adopt an older cat that
needed a home. Older cats are perfectly
suited to quietly give their elderly person
all the love, affection, and companionship
that they both need.
BONNIE A. TROWBRIDGE
CLAVERACK, N.Y.
QUOTH THE RAVEN, “PAR FOUR!”
I popped my (yellow) ball onto the green,
about 20 feet from the pin. A big black crow
came down from out of nowhere, landed
beside my ball, and looked at me as if to
say, “I saw you putting on the last green and
you could use a little help.”
Then, to the surprise and dismay of my
opponents, he started knocking it toward the
hole with his beak, leaving me a makeable
putt and a big argument and perusal of the
rule book by the other golfers.
Donʼt tell me these birds donʼt know who
the animal lovers are!
DONALD B. BROWN
TORRANCE, CALIF.
More than once, my cat Mojo, who was
adopted from the local SPCA as a kitten, is
the one thing that has kept me alive and going. I so love what you all have built at Best
Friends. If you did not exist, I may not have
met Mojo. No More Homeless Pets has spread
everywhere. As more and more SPCAs adopt
“no-kill” policies, more Mojos are there to be
adopted. God bless you all!
MERIANNE BARRY
SAN RAFAEL, CALIF.
Good news! Samantha the bear and her cubs
survived the hunt. She came back extra early
this year. I think she was letting me know
sheʼs fine and healthy!
SUSAN KEHOE
HIGHLAND LAKES, N.J.
Letters & Photos
Photos intended for publication must
be addressed to Best Friends magazine, not simply to the sanctuary.
Letters sent by e-mail and intended
for publication must include your name
and address.
While there is only limited space in the
magazine, many of the photos sent in
each month appear in the Members
& Pets section of the Best Friends
website at www.bestfriends.org.
We were very happy to visit Best Friends and
volunteer with the cats for the day. We regret
that our cats Noodle and Taco were not able
to make the trip. Both have always wanted
to be a part of Best Friends, but their biggest
ambition has been to appear in the official
Best Friends magazine.
VIRGINIA BOWEN & LONNIE TURNER
HAGERSTOWN, MD.
Gizmo (age 15+) showed up covered in ice on
Christmas 1991. Koko, a stray, was adopted
in 1997 as a companion for Gizmo when our
older dog and cat passed away.
MARILYNN WALSH
LAND Oʼ LAKES, FLA.
Susan and Samantha met in Susanʼs backyard
in 2001. Every spring the bear brings her cubs
to visit. Susanʼs blueberry bushes are a favorite
treat. But the bear hunt in New Jersey has put
Samanthaʼs life in danger, but so far, so good.
More information is at www.savenjbears.com.
51
sweet memories
A Grey Angel Flies Home
By Barbara Williamson
“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby
some have entertained angels unawares.”
K
– Hebrews 13:2
itty-Boy has been “tucked in” for the long nightʼs sleep at
Best Friendsʼ pet cemetery, Angels Rest. His courageous
battle against a legion of ailments is over.
Kitty-Boy was a grey long-haired stray cat, a shadow who came
out of the Ohio woods and gave the people who befriended him the
gift of becoming a force for good. He was at Best Friends for only
a few months, but everyone who met Kitty-Boy found him to be
compelling, the essence of love.
“There was just something spiritual about him; he got to everybody,” said Willis Payne, who along with his wife, Debbie, rescued
Kitty-Boy when he showed up at their home in Bellefontaine, Ohio,
in June 2003.
“You were in his presence, and he made you feel good. He made
you want to reach inside yourself and try to make a difference,”
Debbie said.
Debbie and Willis took him to the vet and found out the many
health problems Kitty-Boy faced: He had feline leukemia and FIV,
was diabetic and had liver, urinary tract, and respiratory problems.
They already had two rescued cats and could not keep him at their
house.
Their vet recommended euthanasia. But Debbie and Willis knew
this lovable cat was not ready to cross the Rainbow Bridge.
Debbie had seen a Best Friends newsletter, so she reached out
for help and talked with Best Friendsʼ Gloria Hill.
“Gloria was very supportive and gave me many resources. She
told me cats like Kitty-Boy can live good lives with proper care from
people who understand these conditions,” Debbie said.
52
Debbie, who had never used a computer, now learned about email. A friend helped her develop a website to help spread the word
about this special cat. And when they still couldnʼt find the right
home for Kitty-Boy, he was accepted at Best Friends.
His caregivers at the sanctuary were deeply impressed with how
affectionate he was, regardless of his illnesses.
Now, the legacy of Kitty-Boyʼs life is that he is helping other
cats with special needs.
The website http://classicx.homestead.com/Samson02.html,
which was developed originally in hopes of finding Kitty-Boy a
home, gets more than 1,200 hits per day. Several special-needs
animals have found homes through his website. And many people
have found the strength and the wisdom they need to keep their
ailing animals rather than euthanizing them or abandoning them
at shelters.
“I believe there are animal angels sent to help us, and Kitty-Boy
was one,” Debbie said. “He stayed alive because he had a mission.
He had to get to Best Friends. He had to get the message out about
special-needs kitties.”
In the end, the one thing Kitty-Boy couldnʼt survive was cancer.
On the overcast day when he was buried, Willis and several people
from Best Friends fondly remembered his brave spirit. One of the
dogs, Faith, who loves cats, also attended, gently kissed Kitty-Boy
good night, and buried a rawhide bone next to the grave. As soon as
Kitty-Boy was laid to rest, the sun broke through the clouds.
B
e kind to animals,
Be kind to trees,
Be kind to the earth and everything on it,
Be kind to children and one another,
…and God will be kind to you.
And thatʼs a promise!
Signed,
GOD
Hobo: The house is so quiet without you; I still
expect to hear you barking every time I come
home. You were a dear and precious friend. I was
blessed to have had you, if only for half your life.
I miss you and love you, but I know there are no
thunderstorms in heaven to scare you.
Alecia Williams, Rocky, Joe and Bugger
Beaufort, N.C.
Jones: I remember Jones as the mighty huntress of the wild Q-Tip; the one who met me at
the door each day to lead me to the food dish, in
case I forgot the way; the one who fought congestive heart failure, only to have osteosarcoma
take her. With love…
Uno: You were
my buddy and
friend from the
day you were
born. I will
remember you
always – your
cute face, velvet paws and
golden
eyes
that changed color with the sun. You were my
“sun boy” and my “gray man.” Thank you for
all the times we had together.
Nancy Huntoon
Reston, Va.
Katie:
Our
sweet
little
“bug.”
You
left us far too
soon.
You
were a once in
a lifetime gift.
You blessed
each of us
with your perfect love and
gentle nature.
Thank you for enriching our lives. You will
be loved and cherished always as we hold you
forever in our hearts.
The Ockuly family
Toledo, Ohio
Kathy Hays
Eugene, Oreg.
Ms.
Iggy:
Every day, Iʼd
say to you,
“Ms. Iggy is
the most beautiful iguana in
all the world.”
Even though
you have left
us, itʼs still true. Rest in peace, beautiful girl.
We love you and miss you.
Patti and Michael Wiggins
Howell, N.J.
Your memorial notices and
donations to the sanctuary are
deeply appreciated.
We publish all memorials on the
Best Friends website and send you
a copy. Once placed, no name, no
memorial, is ever removed.
Here in the magazine, “Sweet
Memories” is a selection of those
memorials: photos, poems, and
stories of your most memorable
moments with a pet who has
passed over the Rainbow Bridge.
So please send in your funny
stories and anecdotes, your
memories, and your memorials.
Include a photo, too, if you have
one.
And if you’d like your best friend
to rest in the peace and beauty of
our memorial park here at Angel
Canyon, or you would like a
special memorial placed in his or
her name, please write or call for
information.
Mechelle Miller and Smith
Rochester, Minn.
Sarah: My walking partner and best
friend for 141/2 years.
Thanks for sharing
your life with me.
Youʼll be with Norman and Tommy
now – theyʼll be so
happy to see you. Iʼll
always love you and
will see you again.
Angels Rest
Wheatoe: My sweet little girl, I miss you terribly! You were always there with me, following
me to any room, just to keep me company. We
had a good life together, 21 years, and I wish
you peace, happiness and a warm lap until we
meet again.
Stephanie Ball
Santa Barbara, Calif.
MoJo:
My
beloved companion of 10
years. “As it
is, the time we
had is worth the
time alone, and
lying by your
side, the greatest peace Iʼve
ever known.”
Thank you and bless you.
Angels Rest
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
Kanab, Utah 84741
angelsrest@bestfriends.org
(435) 644-2001, ext. 118
Elizabeth Fenley
Greensboro,
N.C.
53
on the light side
Soon to Star
in an NBC
Reality Show
held as a fundraiser at the Helen Woodward
Animal Center and hosted by the Del Mar,
California, Kiwanis Club.
Although there were also “cutest” contests – cutest costume, cutest dog, cutest dog
that looks like its cutest owner – the big prize
of the day went to the homely among us.
Having won the contest for the third year
running, Hoss has become somewhat of a
celebrity ugly dog. His shortened snout is
a condition that afflicts many dogs, and
most are euthanized because of it. Beauty,
however, is in the eye of the beholder. His
person, Mike Fournier, confesses a little
befuddlement at why his dog keeps winning the prize. “Weʼre proud heʼs won the
title three times but Iʼm surprised because
I think heʼs cute.”
against what? The most likely explanation
is that the vehicleʼs red color is triggering
the birdʼs aggression. The postman believes
the bird thinks he is a giant pheasant, which
it “has got to see off.”
Whatever the cause, the bird is clearly
obsessed with both the man and his van. The
postman runs the gauntlet every day along
a 50-yard country lane where he delivers
the mail to a farm at one end and a cottage
at the other.
No matter what he tries, he canʼt avoid
the bitter bird. Sometimes when he sneaks
along, the pheasant changes tactics by hiding
or cutting corners to get ahead of him and
ensure a confrontation.
Run, Postman!
Run!
Heʼs plain and heʼs proud of it. Hoss, a
10-year-old black Lab/basset mix with a
short snout and an underbite that makes
his bottom teeth protrude prominently like
a barracuda, beat off all competitors to take
the title of Ugliest Dog.
The 9th Annual Ugly Dog Contest was
An English postman is finding his rounds
a little tough going these days. He is repeatedly assaulted by a jealous pheasant.
The bird lies in wait for the postal van
and then attacks without warning. So far, the
mailman has suffered injury to his hand and
leg. But the cheeky pheasant hasnʼt stopped
there. Heʼs tried to sneak into the postal van,
hiding out for his moment of revenge. But
Their Food Bowls Runneth Over!
The world’s richest animals are scampering around with fortunes bequeathed by millionaires
who thought their money was best left to their pets.
A new report puts Gunther IV (the son of Gunther III) at the top of the well-heeled list. The lucky
German shepherd acted as companion to German countess Karlotta Libenstein. When she
passed away, Gunther III was left $110 million. But shrewd investments have tripled that sum,
and when Gunther passed, his son inherited the big bucks – along with his own butler.
That kind of moolah makes poor Hellcat and Brownie’s fortune appear quite paltry. They
landed a mere $3 million apiece from their person.
But it’s not only cats and dogs who are winning the pocket books. The second wealthiest
pet is a chimp, Kalu, who inherited $97 million – and perhaps a little bit of a scandal.
His person, Patricia O’Neill, changed her will to bequeath the money to Kalu while her
husband was away from home competing in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Then there’s Gigoo, the hen. Her person wanted to make sure she got more than chicken
feed and left her over $18 million after his wife had died.
Even some of the British Royals have thought of their animals. The Queen Mother made
provisions in her will for her 48-strong herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle and a flock of 100
Cheviot sheep to the tune of $368 million.
But not all of the world’s richest animals are merely playboy (or girl) pets. Some actually work
for a living. Moose (more commonly known as Eddie) of Frasier TV-show fame racks up a cool
$11,000 per episode and has amassed a $3.3 million fortune. That’s a lot of dog bones.
54
how it would help identify the birds. This
seemed a little quirky to the cops but they
had nothing to lose and so issued an appeal
for the public to be on the lookout for any
avian whistling Laurel and Hardy.
An anonymous tipster promptly called to
say he had heard the distinctive music coming from a house. The birds were recovered
and two people were arrested for the theft.
riding every day to avoid muscle cramps, so
she trained under a jockey just to be able to
handle him.
There were some concerns about the
neighbors, but so far, other than the odd
complaint objecting to late-night neighing,
the horse seems to be co-existing peacefully
with the neighbors.
There Goes
the Neigh…
borhood!
Free At Last,
They Whistled
the Theme from
Cops
Sometimes it pays to teach your animal
new tricks. Eight stolen cockatiels were
rescued by police after someone heard
them whistling the Laurel and Hardy
theme song.
The birds had lived in an aviary and had
developed a habit of whistling the song after
any new addition arrived. One bird, who
had been taught the tune, started the practice and pretty soon he had half the flock
singing along.
So when the birds were stolen, their
person told the police about the song and
An Indian couple has moved out of their
apartment to give their horse some room.
The couple moved into his parentsʼ home
next door so the horse could have the house
to himself.
They explained that the apartment was
only a one-bedroom, and with the horse
standing at over 5 feet in height, he wasnʼt
getting enough leg space to trot around when
sharing with two roommates.
The female half of the duo says that the
horse, called Akash, needs to be taken out
Pamper Your
Pets ... Or Else!
Itʼs not enough to simply meet their basic
needs. Pet people in Reggio Emilia, Italy,
must pamper their dogs, cat and birds (and
even show some mercy to lobsters) or face
up to $500 in fines.
Dog owners must provide sufficiently
spacious doghouses with ample shade; you
can no longer dye your animalsʼ fur (this was
presumably for those people who wanted
their pet to match the décor); and canary
owners must provide a significant other for
their birds, lest they get lonely.
55
...And They All Live Happily Ever After
“
Hi, I’m Wilson,
one of the dogs here at Best Friends, and this
is my story.
I was going to be sold to a laboratory for
experiments. At least, I think I was. Iʼd been
captured by a man in Arkansas who sold dogs
to all kinds of places, including laboratories.
Yuck – I donʼt think I would have liked that!
There were hundreds of dogs like me, all
crammed into tiny spaces while we were
waiting to be sold. It was so sad, you had to
be there to believe it.
But then we got a lucky break: a federal bust,
no less! It had been set in motion by an organization called Last Chance for Animals,
and we were all set free and placed in rescue
groups all around the country. I got to come
to Best Friends!
I really like it here. Iʼm a shy guy, but Iʼm
starting to make friends. I hope some day I
might even get to have a home of my own.
So thatʼs my story. It started out a bit sad, but
thanks to the wonderful people like you who
support Best Friends, Iʼm living “happily ever
after.”
”
God bless you.
5001 ANGEL CANYON ROAD • KANAB, UTAH 84741-5001
(435) 644-2001 • www.bestfriends.org
56

Best Friends Magazine: May/June 2004

Transcription

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