As we are nearing the end of our second week of sub-zero temperatures, it is important that we keep our pets in mind. I feel like I should be driving around picking up any strays I find wandering the streets just to get them out of the cold.

I watch my dogs outside during those brief potty breaks and see how cold their little feet get (I've tried using the booties and they won't keep them on) and can only hope for those poor homeless or lost dogs and cats that they are able to find warmth somewhere.

It iritates me to no end when I still hear those morons say "my dog is fine, he has fur", "cats were meant to be outdoors, he'll survive". If you don't want to do outside, what makes you think your pet wants to go outside, especially for any length of time.

Thank goodness the holidays are over. I hope everyone had a safe and warm holiday season. It was busy over here at the kitty B&B. I did get a few adoptions over the holidays and ignored anyone looking for a present. Animal Control had lots of adoptions before Christmas, but at the same time, there were several owner releases the day before Christmas.

Another cat rescuer was telling me that she was plaqued by telephone calls from a guy who lived with his mother. This 40 something year old man called her daily telling her the only thing his mother wanted for Christmas was a kitten...she had to have a kitten...the only thing she talked about was a kitten....kitten...kitten...kitten. She relented, against her better judgement (listen to that inner voice, it knows what it is talking about) and let him have the kitten. He adopted it from her on Christmas Eve and guess what....his mother wouldn't let him in the door with that kitten. Because my friend wasn't home when he called her, he was one of those several people who at 3 or 4 minutes to 6 (they closed at 6), dumped the kitten off at Animal Control. So, the day after Christmas, she was there bailing out the cat.

I am so glad APD is finally training a police officer in the investigation of animal cruelty. It will certainly help Animal Control to have an officer that can assist them and bring animal cruelty to light and justice. I know it's only one officer, but it's better then what we had before. Hopefully it is something that APD will expand on. It is long overdue these animals have a voice. These animal cruelty cases need to be put in the paper with the names of these abusers so everyone knows who they are (same with the abuse of people). It's just sad that animal cruelty is only a misdemeanor.

For those of us in rescue, the holiday season is a mixed bag of good and bad. We are swamped with calls..."I need a dog (or kitten) for Christmas"...most want the pet to be a present for their kids. Several want me take their pets...various reasons...to include wanting to get a puppy for Christmas and the dog they have won't tolerate a new puppy...so can I take their dog?

While I was dealing with the death of my friend on Sunday, my phone was a-ringin' with Christmas pet requests. One guy called about six times in the span of two hours (getting more and more irritated that I had not call him back yet). He wanted a kitten for a Christmas present for his child, but he did not want to get one from Animal Control because he did not want to pay for it. By the time I heard his last phone call, I decided he did not deserve for me to call him back...we don't have any kittens right now and he would not get a Christmas kitten from me anyway.

After working about 160 hours in the last two weeks putting together a huge Yummy Chummies order, I now have time to catch up on a few things...writing thank you notes, processing adoptions of KKC pets, reading mail, blog, etc. In the mail, I received a wonderful newsletter from the Alaska SPCA. I have enjoyed the entire newsletter...if you did not get one, let them know and request one at 344-3622.

As you can guess, in these difficult economic times donations to pet rescue programs are down (quite a bit). The Alaska SPCA has come up with a great way to improve this situation for their rescues. In their newsletter under the heading "Help Us Win Up to $1 Million" they explain they are participating in a national contest sponsored by the popular internet site zootoo.org. The winner of the contest will receive up to $1 million in renovations...and as we all know, they do have a terrific but small facility. If you have access to a computer, here is how you can help: log on to www.zootoo.com/reg/aff/alaskaspca2; register and affiliate with the Alaska SPCA; start earning points through activities on Zootoo.com. The more active you are on Zootoo.com as an affiliate of Alaska SPCA, the more points they receive.

Many people don't stop to think about the safety of their pets during this stressful holiday time. When you are bringing the tree in, make sure your pet doesn't escape out the door. While trees are nice and make the holidays a bit more festive, plan your decorations accordingly. Those Christmas ornaments make for great toys, or so the cat might think, but most break fairly easily so make sure the breakables are higher up. Icicles can be deadly for dogs and cats alike. Dogs and cats end up chewing on them, many ingest them and it can be fatal. Sames goes for the garland and the strings of popcorn and other things you make for decoration.

But I have been so busy at work, putting in extra hours that by the time I get home and get the critters fed, watered, medicated, litter boxes cleaned and cleaned again, it's late and the last thing I want to do is turn on the computer. I need a vacation..if only I could be so lucky, but will try and do a better job of blogging.

Just a reminder. Meeting is tonight at 5:30 pm at Anchorage Animal Care & Control.

I hardly ever get on Craig's List, but I was on there today and someone had posted this story called "How Could You" by Jim Willis, 2001 and I thought I would put it on the blog. So many people take their pets to Animal Control thinking "he's such a good dog, someone will adopt him", he's so cute/beautiful, she'll find a home", but the reality is that there are a lot of 'good' dogs, 'cute' dogs, 'smart' dogs that get euthanized every day. So, like the blogger on Craig's List wrote "anyone who even thinks of getting a pet should read this first".

"How Could You?"
Copyright Jim Willis 2001

Here is an email that I received from Elvi Gray-Jackson this morning.

Dear Sue:

Here is the response I received when I asked about the situation with
the dog as you described.

Elvi

Elvi Gray-Jackson, Assemblymember
Anchorage Assembly-Seat G
343-4118 (Voice Mail)
gray-jacksone@muni.org
________________________________

Animal control responded a number of times to conduct a welfare check on the dog. Most recently, officers observed the dog in its yard Monday, Thursday, and Friday of last week. On the visits, the dog had shelter, bedding, water, and appeared healthy in terms of body condition and behavior. The amount of feces present was not excessive. During one visit, ACCC provided the owner a cable run which was installed allowing the dog more freedom of movement. Knowing the housing provided for the dog would not be appropriate throughout the winter as weather conditions worsened, officers worked with the owner to either relinquish the dog to them or find a new home for it where it was allowed indoors. The owners found a new home for the dog and are hopeful it will be a good match.

The last couple of days, the Pit-Bull we have all cared about has not been outside. When things do "flare-up" about this dog, he does disappear for a couple of days and then back outside...so several have been checking for him. Some have their camcorders ready to record and show that he is shivering and rotating his paws to keep warm.

From what I understand, he is listed on Craigslist.

When I was there yesterday, there were about five small dogs outside looking chilly. They were gone from the yard within a half an hour. Still wondering about a kennel license requirement...which would include welfare checks on all pets in their care.

The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue. --Anonymous

Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful. --Ann Landers

If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went. -- Will Rogers

There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face. -- Ben Williams

A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself. -- Josh Billings

The average dog is a nicer person than the average person. -- Andy Rooney

We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made. -- M. Facklam

The Animal Control Advisory Board holds it's meetings on the 4th Thursday of the month at Anchorage Animal Control, beinning at 5:30pm. THIS MONTHS MEETING HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL DEC 4TH DUE TO THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY.

It would be to our advantage to help Cheeko and other dogs for everyone that is able to attend this meeting to be there. It is best to be a bit early so you can sign up to speak as the meeting starts promptly at 5:30, and you cannot sign up after it starts. Speaker time is 2 minutes per person.

I will post another reminder the day before the meeting. Sue

Well, we have had a little bit of contact back from the Assembly after emailing them letters.

This is the email that I sent them:
My name is Sue Wirth. I am an animal rescuer with Kitty & K-9 Connection and an Animal Advocate.
I'm sure by now you have received several emails on this Animal Cruelty issue of the dog chained out in the backyard with inadequate shelter and care.

Given this situation, it is obvious that sections of Title 17 need to be rewritten. The section 17.10.030 Care and sanitation is too open to interpretation. It needs to be more specific as to weather conditions, dog types, etc. The way it is currently worded is not good enough to help the dogs of our community that freeze to death on the ends of their chains in someones' back yard. Perhaps more specific description would give Animal Control more power to do something about these backyard dogs.

As she drove by the Pit-Bull mid-afternoon today, she saw him hunched over and trying to stand lifting first one leg and then another. He was cold. She drove by two hours later; he was still there looking oh so cold. She checked on him again...and finally she burst into tears...she could not tolerate his abuse anymore.

Paula went to the door, knocked and when the woman answered, she explained that she was there about her dog. The door was slammed in her face. That did not stop Paula, she yelled through the door that the dog was cold...freezing. "How would you like to be out here in weather this cold without proper shelter and warmth?" she yelled. "How can you do this to this dog? How can you not care?" The answer was that they would call the police. Paula told them "Please call the police...please call them so they can see this animal abuse!" She told them that several people were involved and were not going away because they cared about their dog. While there, she saw no dog food and the water was frozen. The dog no longer even barked at her...he continued to be hunched over and trying to rotate his cold feet. Paula's heart was breaking and she continued to campaign for the dog, begging the owners to care and do something to get the dog out of this cold weather. She begged them to give her the dog if nothing else. She told them that others cared about this dog, the news has been contacted about their lack of care, etc. Paula finally left...in tears...but did she not give up.

Hello Again...

Here are pictures of the chained and neglected Pit-Bull...pictures were taken about an hour ago.

Please note his chain is shortened by being wrapped around the tree, the blanket is out of the kennel and frozen, the water bowl is out of his reach (the water was frozen), there is poop all around his area, a rake turned up (which is a safety issue) and his "appropriate shelter" is an unstable plastic airline carrier. This situation is heart breaking to say the least...yet his conditions have been deemed within the requirements of Title 17 according to Animal Control.

Because the comment section is too limited...I thought I would blog my e-mail the the Assembly members. Understand, I spoke MY opinion and from my heart...

Hello...
My name is Carol L. Hawn-Miller. I am a rescuer with Kitty and K-9 Connection and an Animal Advocate.

Since early September, several individuals have collectively and individually been trying to assist a Pit-Bull that is chained to a tree with limited or no shelter. Animal Control has been called numerous times, yet the dog's situation has not substantially improved. Please read the ADN Animal Rescue blog (http://community.adn.com/?q=adn/blog/66334) which discusses the ongoing efforts on behalf of this dog. During a telephone conversation with Myra Wilson (manager at Animal Control) yesterday, I was informed that everyone should contact their Assembly members if there are any further concerns about this dog. That recommendation was also e-mailed from Animal Control to another individual...it was posted on the blog. Based on Animal Control's recommendation, I am contacting each of you to request your assistance on behalf of this dog and many other animals in our local area that live in substandard conditions.

He is about a year and a half old. A Red-nose PitBull who lives outside, tied to a tree twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, year around. Numerous people have called Animal Control to get him some assistance. Apparently three of us called all on the same very cold day...he is still tied to the tree. His shelter consists of an airline kennel, which has been deemed sufficient because the owners finally put a blanket in the kennel, but it is usually not accessible to him because his chain gets tangled on it and moves the door away from him. On one of the days I called, there was no blanket, the dog was in such a tight little ball under the tree in an effort to keep warm you could hardly see him, the food and water bowls were way across the yard (water frozen), a wooden box has a door that was closed by his chain and he looked pitiful. The Animal Control complaints have been closed for various reasons...the owner said the dog was not his (it is his son's and is on his property so he is responsible in my opinion), there is a blanket in the kennel now (apparently sufficient for a short-haired dog), etc. but nothing has been done to ensure this dog stays warm or fed. The only recent break this dog got was after he bit a child over the fence and had to spend ten days in quarantine...then back out under the tree on the short chain...out in the cold without any attention or shelter (except the occasional use of that airline kennel...if the door is accessible) but now with a "Beware of Dog" sign posted on the fence next to him.

I subscribe to a monthly newsletter called CatTails thru Yahoo Groups. It has great photos, stories and information. Link to the Nov 9th Cat Tails Newletter

Here is a poem from that newsletter by Annette Easdon
Thoughts of a Feral Cat

(Dedicated to all the kind and caring people, who give the
lonely Ferals a little care, a little love, and a little hope)

I sit beneath the bushes as she fills my dish each day,
I only venture out to eat when she has gone away,
I know it will upset her when I turn away and hide,

(Lovingly called that by several people who have met him) AKA Finn, who was profiled in our blog earlier this year, turned one recently. It's amazing all the trouble he gets into that he made it, but he did and we had a birthday party for him. He got to have his canned food of choice (which is pretty much anything) and greenies plus a new toy. He had his special day as do most of the other dogs and cats I share my home with. Do you celebrate your pets birthday? If so, what do you do?