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Last Updated: 12/21/2009

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City: ENGLEWOOD
State: COLORADO
Country: US

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Thursday, December 17, 2009 
Recently, I got a call from my neighbor, whose dog had died. She was upset and she didn’t know what to do or who to turn to for help and consolation.

For many, losing a pet is like losing a family member. In my family, we had four beagles, the oldest of which died at age 17. He was a fixture in our family, having been with us for so many years, and it wasn’t the same after he’d gone.

Losing a pet is even more difficult when it happens during the holiday season. It’s hard to deal with grief when most people around you are celebrating and singing Jingle Bells. The holidays already bring so many pressures -- grief and loss only add to the general stress.

For some people, losing a pet can be as hard as losing a child. In a 2007 National Humane Review article, Dealing With the Loss of a Pet, Kay Gilchrist, co-chair of the Human/Animal Bond Trust in Denver, pointed out that animal companions are like children in that they are dependent on people for their basic needs, but unlike children, they never grow up, start taking care of themselves and leave home.

Sadly, a number of our staff members here at American Humane have recently lost pets. Here, we have a policy that allows staff members to bring their pets to work, so we get to know many of our co-workers’ pets. They are like a surrogate family to us, so when a staff member loses a pet, we all lose one. As hard as it is, at least we are among people who understand. Many of those who don’t have pets don’t fully understand.

When you’ve lost a pet, you may get the idea that some people around you think, “It’s just an animal. Get over it.” Grief is grief. You’ll experience emotions of shock, denial, anger, numbness, guilt and depression whether you’ve just lost a human family member, a pet or your house. Loss creates a void; whatever you lost filled your life with something, be it love, affection, recreational opportunities or simply a part of your daily routine.

If you are grieving a pet during this holiday season -- or at any time of year -- and you need help, surround yourself with people who are understanding and supportive and please look into these resources:
Contact your local animal shelter to see if they have any programs or services available to you. Some shelters host or can refer you to support groups or grief counseling sessions. Or, see the Delta Society and The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement websites for lists of counselors, support groups and other local resources in your area.

The loss of a pet may be your child’s first experience with death. If you have children, share a book on loss and grief to help them cope. See Colorado State University’s Argus Institute for a list of appropriate books.
And finally, remember your pet by emailing me and telling me about the animal you loved.

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3:16 PM 
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Thursday, December 10, 2009 
One of our board members sent me a link to an article about a Pennsylvania man who is accused of kicking his girlfriend’s puppy down the street until it was dead. Reportedly, he did not like the puppy or the fact that his girlfriend had acquired it, and walking the puppy was keeping him from watching a football game.

How unconscionable to have such a blatant disregard for life. What makes some people behave like this?

Some have theorized that respect for life, empathy and compassion are traits that people are either born with or more pointedly, born lacking. Others believe that such traits are taught. They are traits we learn and develop from our mothers and fathers, or families and teachers. These people believe that children learn at a young age what is acceptable and not acceptable behavior. Regardless, it is in our children where attitudes about right and wrong begin. How do we, as a society, fail our young people that they think it is OK to brutally murder an innocent puppy?

In a remark of the type often heard from observers in cases like this, a police officer involved in the case was quoted in the press as saying that this kind of thing will not be tolerated.

The way we show that we do not tolerate such things is to have consequences and penalties for unacceptable behavior. In this case, there are animal cruelty laws. Depending on where you live, some such laws make cruelty to animals a misdemeanor and some, a felony. Some impose consequences such as fines and some, jail time. One man in California, for instance, was sentenced to 25 years to life for beating a dog to death, partly because he had two prior convictions of violent crime committed against people. The judge recognized that the man was fully capable of committing further acts of violence toward both people and animals.

Consequences and penalties show society’s general displeasure with acts of violence and are perhaps a good way to discourage certain behaviors, and American Humane continues to advocate for tougher animal cruelty laws. Some states, such as Arkansas, have passed laws that allow prison sentences for committing animal cruelty in front of a child. But we must also change attitudes and teach our children compassion.

Children learn from adults’ actions. Take for instance the child who is taken to a dog fight. What does that child learn? Even if the child is sensitive to the violence and finds the experience traumatic or upsetting, he will understand that the adults find the event acceptable and probably also exciting and enjoyable. We must lead by example and teach our children to have respect and empathy for all living things.

We shouldn’t have to have animal cruelty laws. Animal cruelty, like other reprehensible crimes, should be truly intolerable and unthinkable. It should simply not be acceptable in a civilized society.

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3:36 PM 
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Thursday, December 03, 2009 

Category: Pets and Animals
Animal hoarding can pose great difficulties for communities, animal shelters, law enforcement, pet adopters and the animals themselves. This week, I asked Debrah Schnackenberg, vice president of our Animal Protection Division, to be a guest blogger and discuss the psychology of hoarding.

Experts estimate that there are at least 5,000 new cases of animal hoarding annually in the U.S. From July through September of this year alone, the news was filled with stories of animal hoarding. In Dearborn, Mich., 105 Chihuahuas were removed from a local residence. In Anne Arundel County, Md., 21 dogs were seized from a home filled with dog feces and deemed unlivable for both animals and humans. And in Marion County, Fla., more than 400 animals, including dogs, cats, birds and wild animals, were confiscated from a home and yard filled with crates and pens overflowing with animal waste.

Animal hoarding exists in every kind of community and at every socioeconomic level. But what is the root cause of this behavior? What is animal hoarding?

While there is no one standard for defining an animal hoarder, many working definitions describe the hoarder as someone who:

Accumulates a large number of animals

Fails to provide even minimal standards of care

Fails to act on the deteriorating conditions of the animals or environment, even if the animals are starving, diseased or dying

Fails to act on the negative impact of the hoarding on his or her own health and well-being and that of other household members

Current expert opinion often compares animal hoarding to delusional disorders, early-onset dementia and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Other psychological models describe the hoarding behavior in terms of information-processing deficit, issues with irrational emotional attachments and distorted beliefs about possessions. Hoarders may have had abusive, neglectful or inconsistent parenting. As a stable fixture in a chaotic home, an animal may allow a hoarder to deal with unresolved trauma and displaced emotional pain.

Most experts see animal hoarding as more of an illness than a crime, but because affordable mental health resources and early-intervention structures are limited, prosecution is often the only recourse in such cases. There are no federal laws relating to animal hoarding, so the only legal tools available for intervention are at the state or local statute level. And since animal hoarders tend to have an extremely high relapse rate, long-term probationary oversight is typically the most useful method of preventing hoarders from resuming their hoarding behaviors.

Like most harmful psychological behaviors, animal hoarding is best dealt with through prevention. Family, neighbors and friends often have the best opportunity to intervene in hoarding behavior early and with the most impact.

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5:07 PM 
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Wednesday, November 25, 2009 
My childhood Thanksgivings weren’t about fancy meals so much as setting aside time to “count my blessings.” Call me hokey, but I think it’s still a valuable exercise.
My list starts with you -- our donors, collaborators and supporters. It’s not a fundraising line, it’s a fact: We simply couldn’t do anything without you. I’m especially grateful that you came through for us in a year that was financially tough on everyone.
Here’s a small sample of what I am deeply thankful to you for helping American Humane achieve in 2009:
    We launched the National Quality Improvement Center on Differential Response in Child Protective Services. I know it’s a mouthful, but the bottom line is this new venture will help show what works for abused and neglected children in the child protection system -- children who need solutions, and need them now. Differential response is perhaps one of the most promising approaches out there, but we need evidence to prove this, and I’m thrilled that the center is now working toward this end.

    We provided more than $280,000 in grants to 260 animal shelters (in fiscal year 2008-2009, which was July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009). From helping shelters pay for the medical treatment of severely abused pets, to covering much-needed shelter facility improvements and expansions, to ensuring that animal victims of foreclosure received proper care, your dollars truly made a difference.

    We grew the Pets and Women’s Shelters (PAWS) Program. There are about 2,500 domestic violence shelters in the United States, and to our knowledge, fewer than 40 of them allow pets on site. However, before the PAWS Program was launched, we knew of fewer than five! We’ve made a lot of progress toward ensuring that women in abusive relationships don’t have to stay in those relationships to protect their pets or say goodbye to their pets when they start new lives.

    We helped pass 16 animal- and child-friendly bills (in fiscal year 2008-2009). Our Office of Public Policy, thanks to your donations and support of our Action Alerts, helped pass bills that increased animal cruelty and neglect penalties in four states; allowed for the inclusion of pets in protective orders in four states; banned inhumane gas chamber euthanasia of shelter pets in two states; banned the depiction of animal cruelty on the Internet in one state; encouraged the adoption of children with special needs through the Protecting Incentives for the Adoption of Children With Special Needs Act; and ensured health care coverage through the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act for 4.1 million children who would otherwise have been uninsured.

    In addition to regularly visiting clients in 50 hospitals, schools, homeless shelters and other facilities, seven of our animal-assisted therapy teams met with troubled kids in a juvenile correctional facility. Our highly trained teams worked one-on-one with incarcerated boys aged 10 to 16, helping the boys connect with animals and learn valuable life lessons about patience, empathy, anger management and socially appropriate behavior.
That’s just a small sample of what we’ve achieved together. I hope this good news makes your Thanksgiving dinner taste a little sweeter!

I would be remiss, however, if I didn’t also mention all of the children, families and animals out there who have very little to be thankful for, who remain alone and in pain. Please remember to keep them in your hearts this holiday season.

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5:03 PM 
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Thursday, November 19, 2009 
I had lunch the other day with an old college friend I hadn’t seen in years. We opted for Chinese food, and the meal came with the obligatory fortune cookies on a tray with the meal tab. I rarely eat the cookies, but always crack them open to read my fortune.

Besides my “lucky numbers” on the back (Powerball, here I come!), the front of the slip of paper said: “The philosophy of one century is the common sense of the next.”

That got me thinking about how American Humane, founded more than a century ago, has achieved hundreds of milestones in improving the welfare of both children and animals over its more than 13 decades of existence. Now those advances are today’s common sense and are the widely accepted approaches to preventing child or animal abuse, even though they probably seemed “out there” and utterly utopian in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

And it made me think even more about just how American Humane achieved those milestones.

Generally and historically, American Humane has not been an in-your-face, threatening or bullying organization. We were -- and are -- a thoughtful, reasoned, solutions-oriented organization. Instead of simply casting aspersions and blame, we look for ways to create a more humane world through education, persuasion and collaboration, and by generating real engagement with everyone involved, whether they are in agriculture, the sheltering community, the child welfare system or even Hollywood.

Some of our biggest advances in changing humane attitudes and practices have come from working cooperatively with and through other organizations to achieve true, long-lasting and positive change in animal welfare and child well-being. That progress did not come by way of the tactics that some more extreme groups use today -- namely blatant publicity stunts, boycotts, reputation trashing, threats and intimidation, or through legislation or regulation that forces change but does not offer effective or achievable solutions.

American Humane, as one of the tenured and historic leaders of the humane movement in the U.S. (along with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), has created and led the humane agenda in this country and has produced significant results, notching major successes long before many organizations even existed with their deep pockets and sometimes hidden agendas.

And we’ll keep it that way, moving ahead in collaboration with other stakeholders, steadily improving the lot of children and animals alike over time -- without all the polarization, name-calling and bluster.

We know it’s more effective in the long run because we’ve been here for the long run -- and we’ve seen it happen.

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8:54 PM 
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Thursday, November 12, 2009 
I first heard Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) Founder and President Marian Wright Edelman speak several years ago while I was with the American Red Cross. I remember thinking, “I would follow that woman anywhere.”

Two weeks ago, I had the honor of hearing Edelman again, and I was just as impressed. She helped focus my attention on a critical issue: how children are being addressed — or, as the case may be, overlooked — in the push to reform health care.

I’m sure you’ve heard the arguments in favor of and against health care reform. Regardless of where you stand, have you considered the plight of uninsured and underinsured children? Many kids will be deeply and irrevocably affected if their health care needs go unmet. And unfortunately, children’s health seems to be taking a back seat in the current debate. Congress must understand that children are not merely little adults — they have their own unique needs.

We support comprehensive health reform. However, children must not be left worse off, and lawmakers must include language ensuring comprehensive health coverage for all children. With this in mind, we have joined with other groups in calling on members of Congress to ensure that the following principles are included in any health reform legislation:

Affordable coverage. I would like to see a national eligibility floor established that is at least 300 percent of the federal poverty level for all children and pregnant women, with an affordable buy-in based on a family's income for those over that income level.

Comprehensive benefits. I think we should guarantee every child access to all medically necessary services to maximize children's health and development.

A simple, seamless system. To ensure children get enrolled and stay enrolled, we should simplify the application and enrollment process. This must include eliminating known barriers to enrollment and instituting automatic enrollment of eligible children.

While the House and Senate health reform bills do contain some provisions that would benefit children and families, we would like to see stronger assurances that coverage for children currently offered under the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) will not be compromised or reduced.

Children have no voice in government. They rely on us utterly. And they are falling through the cracks when it comes to health care.

Please let Congress and President Obama know that you believe all children deserve proper health care. As Frederick Douglass once said, “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”

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3:14 PM 
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Thursday, November 05, 2009 

Category: Pets and Animals
Our Red Star Animal Emergency Services™ team responded to a request last week that was a first for us. The Shelby County, Tenn., Sheriff’s Office was preparing to execute a search warrant of the City of Memphis Animal Shelter, and needed our help caring for the pets involved. The warrant had been issued after a concerned citizen accused shelter workers of negligence and abuse.

Shelters are usually among our strongest allies, and many of our employees are former shelter workers -- so you can imagine how shocked we were. Although the case remains under investigation, it would be a tragic irony if any of the allegations -- which include housing vicious and sick dogs in group kennels with other pets, failing to provide animals with adequate food and water, and inhumanely euthanizing pets -- turn out to be true.

I want to make it clear that American Humane is not a governing agency for animal shelters. However, we regularly train shelter workers and, at shelters’ request, conduct assessments to help them operate more effectively. With this in mind, I went to our animal protection team for some tips on what to do if you suspect a problem at your local shelter:

Start by speaking with the shelter manager to discuss your concerns in a non-accusatory fashion. Usually, issues can be resolved quickly when they are brought to the attention of management.

Offer to help by volunteering to clean cages, walk dogs, organize a food and blanket drive, or recruit other volunteers in your community. Many shelters are underfunded and understaffed, and volunteering to give animals some extra attention can make a huge difference.

If you feel that there is true neglect or abuse occurring and the shelter’s management is not responding appropriately, then you should contact the governing body for that shelter and request an investigation. In the case of a nonprofit shelter, this would be the board of directors. In the case of a municipal animal shelter, governance would fall under a sheriff, mayor, chief of police, city council, or board of county commissioners. Remember that an investigation may take time.

It is always important to report suspected abuse. But please don’t let a few “bad apples” cause you to make assumptions about all shelters. The overwhelming majority of them are doing things right -- and getting very little credit for their hard work.

What would happen to the millions of homeless pets in this country without local animal shelters and the dedicated, caring people who staff them? Day in and day out, shelter workers advocate tirelessly for animals. Furthermore, they do so in the face of hard truths -- truths that can take an emotional toll over time:

Many pet owners relinquish animals to shelters for poor reasons.

There are not enough willing adopters for all of the friendly, healthy shelter animals who need new homes. According to an American Pet Products Association 2009 survey, only 20 percent choose to adopt when acquiring a new pet.

Many shelters operate mostly or exclusively on donations from the public. When shelters do receive government funding, it usually covers only a small portion of their total operating budgets.

The last thing our nation’s shelters need is an undeserved bad reputation. If you don’t already, consider donating to your local shelter. I’d also love to hear about your shelter experiences. What is your impression of the animal shelter in your community?

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3:36 PM 
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Thursday, October 29, 2009 
Each year, when Halloween comes around and the news media start running scary stories about the dangers of trick-or-treating, I find myself wondering if times were safer in years past. Are there really more dangers lurking in the shadows now than there were in the “good old days”?

Maybe.

But maybe it’s also that today we hear about more things faster, longer and from many more sources than we used to. For better or for worse, the power of the media has helped make people aware of the dangers of certain things -- although sometimes it seems like it’s everything: diseases, vaccines to prevent those diseases, foods that will “kill” us, foods that were supposed to cure us but now will kill us, cell phones, video games, etc. And many times, those dangers are sensationalized for the sake of ratings or sales. So should we take all the reports of danger and their urgency at face value?

I don’t think so. What I think we need to do is temper those reports with good old common sense.

I know there were some bad people when I was a kid, and there are some bad people now. But does that mean we should lock our doors, duct-tape our windows and keep our kids dead-bolted inside the house? If we take reasonable precautions and make prudent decisions, can’t we keep our kids and ourselves safe while still enjoying life?

I grew up in a rural area where the houses were spread out quite far, so the kids in the “neighborhood” didn’t bother to go trick-or-treating. Halloween was pretty much like any other day. But when I was married and had a daughter, I would enjoy seeing how very excited she got as Halloween approached. When she was 6 years old, she even designed her own costume and helped me construct it according to her sketches (both front and profile views!). She donned her creation and became “Queen of Evil” to go trick-or-treating among the other neighborhood ghouls and goblins. My husband and I were careful about her safety, but we also avoided making her paranoid about the possible dangers. We always supervised her as she went house to house, and we would check her candy before allowing her to eat it. We had heard the stories about people tampering with candy, and we felt that keeping an eye on her and taking a close look at the goodies she accumulated were the prudent things to do. She never got hurt, and neither did any of the other neighborhood children. But each year, we’d still hear the stories on the news... (though I don’t doubt that some bad people in some places did -- and still do -- try to hurt kids).

As a result, in the last decade or two, it seems it’s gotten popular for parents to take their kids to an organized Halloween party at a school, community center or neighbor’s house, or to a “Trick-or-Treat Street” at the local mall, instead of letting them seek treats door-to-door in their neighborhood. And that’s not a bad thing. My Rotary Club sponsors a trick-or-treat event with high school students, as an alternative activity for the neighborhood kids. The parents, who know and trust each other, bring Halloween goodies to share, and kids from the entire neighborhood participate. It’s a great way to have the Halloween experience while being in a safe environment. As an added “treat,” the high schoolers use the event to raise money for a worthy cause -- fighting hunger in Africa.

Maybe the real, imagined and/or overly publicized horrors of Halloween have caused trick-or-treating to evolve into more of a neighborhood event involving both parents (supervising their kids while socializing with each other) and kids (enjoying the costumes, the candy and a bit of “safe” scariness). And maybe that’s just as well.

If you have children or grandchildren who go trick-or-treating, please take some precautions to keep the kids safe. And keep your pets safe, too!
Halloween -- and life in general -- should be fun, and we can all be safe while still enjoying it.

Happy Halloween!


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3:32 PM 
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Thursday, October 22, 2009 

Category: Pets and Animals
In recent weeks, I’ve noticed more “For Sale” signs around the community. With the current economic situation still affecting many people, I asked Dena Fitzgerald of our Animal Protection Division staff to be a guest blogger and discuss moving with pets.

When I read about the passing of the world’s oldest dog, a 21-year-old dachshund named Chanel, I felt a mix of emotions: a deep sadness for the loss of a beloved family member, but also a sense of joy for the human-animal bond that resulted in 21 wonderful years of love and companionship for both dog and owner. I was especially touched to read that Chanel’s owner took Chanel with her to live in Germany for nine years while in the U.S. Army.

Sadly, many people do not make that same lifetime commitment to their pets when faced with a move -- even a move that is only a short distance away. On any given day, thousands of ads appear under the “Pets” section of the internet site Craigslist, placed by owners who are trying to re-home their pets. Far too many read like the following actual ads:
“Black Lab/Golden Retriever mix needs a good home. We are moving out of state and will not be able to keep Dante.”

“Wonderful tabby cat to a good home. We are sad to get rid of him, however, we are moving to an apartment that will not allow cats.”
In a recent American Humane survey of 93 shelters across the country, “moving” was the number-one reason given by owners for relinquishing a pet, and “landlord won’t allow” was the fourth most-common reason. With approximately 8 million animals entering shelters each year, I find it especially tragic that so many owners make the decision to give up their pets when a life or career change requires a move. However, I believe that many of those owners are heartbroken at the thought of separating from a family member and that they might make a different decision if they knew about the resources that can make moving with their pets possible.

I have firsthand experience with this issue, having been a renter for the past 17 years and having made three interstate moves. Each time, I had four or more pets and never once considered not taking all of them with me. Moving with pets doesn’t have to be unduly challenging, expensive or stressful, especially with the resources available on the internet and at your local animal shelter.

Rental properties that allow pets are actually the norm rather than the exception. When I recently checked properties listed in the Denver area on www.apartments.com, 98 percent allow cats, 93 percent allow small dogs and 66 percent allow large dogs. Finding a pet-friendly rental property anywhere in the country only takes a few clicks of your mouse on that website or similar ones, like www.peoplewithpets.com. Many animal shelters also maintain lists of local pet-friendly rental properties and have staff that can assist you in your search.

If you’re like me, and you have more pets than most managed rental properties will allow, then renting from a private landlord is a better option. Most private landlords want to find a reliable tenant as quickly as possible and are therefore often willing to be flexible in their pet policies. American Humane provides tips that will help you negotiate pet policies with a private landlord.

Once you have secured your new pet-friendly home, you will have to consider the logistics of moving. American Humane also has tips for planning a safe and successful move with your pets.

If you find yourself facing challenges when moving with your pet -- such as a pet deposit you can’t afford, or the need for temporary housing while you are searching for a new home -- your local animal shelter may be able to assist you. In our survey, 68 percent of shelters reported that they offer free counseling to owners who are considering relinquishing their pets. Your local shelter may also be able to assist you with funding for a pet deposit and/or finding a short-term foster home or boarding kennel for your pet. American Humane’s Foreclosure Pets Grant program provides funds to animal shelters that assist foreclosure victims and their pets.

I can’t imagine my life without the love and joy my pets bring me on a daily basis. Having them with me made my moves less stressful, because in each strange new city, my furry family members were at home, waiting for me at the end of the day! Taking my pets with me no matter where my life or my career takes me is part of a lifetime commitment that gives back a lifetime of love and companionship. I hope more and more people who move will explore their options more thoroughly and honor their own commitment to their pets.

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2:54 PM 
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Thursday, October 15, 2009 
Two weeks ago, I wrote about selfishness and selflessness, and received a lot of comments. In that blog, I wondered what makes some people act selfishly and inconsiderately, while others act with generosity, empathy and compassion. I just read an article by Christine Kenneally that discusses some fascinating observations on empathy and compassion in animals -- and relates it to humans.

She cites a book by Frans de Waal (The Age of Empathy: Nature’s Lessons for a Kinder Society), who makes the assertion that “good” qualities, such as empathy and compassion, are as innate and natural in people as “bad” qualities (like selfishness and aggression) have long been thought to be. And that, because some of those good qualities appear in animals, they may be instinctual -- both in animals and in people. Examples she gives from the book include chimpanzees honoring “ownership” and sharing food with their entire community -- as well as consoling chimps whose offspring have died -- and an elephant that stayed by its dying companion.

The discussion raises some interesting concepts and questions. If it’s just as natural for people to be compassionate as it is for them to be mean and violent, then what makes people tend toward one end or the other? And what makes people change from one tendency to the other?

What especially interests me is what makes some children who are naturally sweet and kind become less so as they get older. Do they find that being nice to others doesn’t always mean others will be nice to them? Do they see bad things happen to nice people and to innocent animals? Are they taught that they should be wary of others because everyone is only looking out for himself? Were they treated unkindly and thus learned to treat others that way?

I know there isn’t one answer; that people are complex and that we are a product of our environment, upbringing and experiences, as well as some “hard-wiring” in our brains (as de Waal asserts), which makes all of us different and unique.

But I still can’t help wondering about these things, especially when I learn about disturbing incidents of children harming animals. A recent example is a cat and dog that had been set on fire by two boys, ages 9 and 12, in Kansas City. What makes this case even more disturbing is that both animals were their family pets. Thankfully, the cat recovered after receiving extensive medical treatment, including support from an American Humane Second Chance® Fund grant. Sadly, however, the dog did not survive.

Do I think it is “natural” for children -- or people of any age, for that matter -- to treat animals that way? Absolutely not. But I’m not naive; I know that the world is full of both unkind and kind people. On the kind side of this case, an intern at the University of Missouri veterinary school, where Phoenix was treated, told the Columbia Daily Tribune, “It’s extremely sad, but we’re lucky to get to help them [the injured animals that come in] and provide them with care and make them feel better.” Phoenix was helped by a number of kindhearted and compassionate individuals at the veterinary school, as well as at the KC Pet Program, which is now caring for Phoenix while she waits for someone to adopt her into a loving home.

I also can’t help but wonder whether the right “life lessons” taught to children could prevent these types of horrific things from happening. Could humane education learned at home, at school or at an animal shelter have made a difference for those kids and others like them? Humane education can teach character lessons that foster empathy and respect for others, which is why we’ve expanded our humane education program in the past few years. At the same time, we’ve increased our focus on studying The Link® between violence to people and violence to animals, in hopes of understanding this topic’s complexities, and providing information and tools that help parents, professionals and others recognize problems and take actions to prevent or stop abuse.

Are empathy and generosity basic to human nature? Are violence and selfishness? I want to say “yes” to the former and “I hope not” to the latter. But regardless of whether those good and bad traits are a natural part of human nature, I don’t think we should use nature as an excuse for not treating others with respect and compassion, and for not constantly wanting, and striving, to learn from our mistakes and make ourselves better than we are.

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2:24 PM 
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Thursday, October 08, 2009 
I recently read an article about an unusual case involving neighbors in Michigan -- a case I first saw as a bureaucracy gone wild. It involved a mother, Lisa Snyder, who was warned by the state to stop running an unregistered day-care operation. Was this mom running an illegal business? No. She was simply being a good friend and neighbor by routinely watching several neighbors’ kids as they waited for the school bus. The bus stop is right in front of her house.

Apparently, someone in the state government thought it was worth sending Ms. Snyder a letter informing her that she was in violation of a law that requires registering as a day-care center when children “are received for care and supervision for periods of less than 24 hours a day, unattended by a parent or legal guardian ... [in] a home in which care is given to an unrelated minor child for more than 4 weeks during a calendar year.”

My first thoughts were, “Are they serious? Isn’t this simply an example of someone helping her fellow neighbors? Isn’t the safety of the children more important than determining if this situation qualifies as ‘day care’?”

Instead of making it more difficult for community members to look out for each other and to help out each other, shouldn’t we be encouraging more people to do the same as Ms. Snyder -- care for children and support families in their communities? Those are good things.

I was relieved to see that once this issue received publicity, the governor and the director of the state agency quickly made statements that neighbors should be able to act neighborly to protect the well-being of their children, and that the law should be changed.

While changing the law so that it doesn’t interfere with neighbors helping neighbors is a good start, I urge the state of Michigan, and every other state, to take an extra step to proactively encourage and support efforts by neighbors to help each other. That’s the very concept behind The Front Porch Project®, American Humane’s prevention program. One key component is the provision of training to community members to equip them with additional knowledge and skills to help protect children and support parents and families.

The Front Porch Project gets its name from a time when people showed neighborly care and concern for one another. American Humane believes we can bring people back to their “front porches” — which will, protect children and strengthen families. The Front Porch Project is built upon recognizing “the power of one,” every person can do something to help, based on their comfort level and abilities.

One of the most recent communities to implement The Front Porch Project is the city of Tulsa, Okla., through coordination by The Parent Child Center of Tulsa. The city was looking to address the overall rate of child abuse and neglect, and the community members were enthusiastic about the opportunity to make a difference for children and families.

Feedback we’ve received from participants in The Front Porch Project community trainings include: “A renewing in the spirit that we need to be aware of what is around us and we can play a role, no matter how big or small, to make changes.” “It empowers you and helps you muster up courage to intervene.” “Permission to get involved and do it in a way that’s acceptable. There’s kind of a hope that our society will return to a more loving and compassionate state.” “You learn how to be a better parent, better citizen, and how to help children in your community.”

It’s encouraging to see community members respond so positively to helping children and supporting families. It reinforces in my mind the positive value of communities that are truly communities, where neighbors help neighbors.
If you want to help in your own community, right now, here are some ideas:

- Offer to babysit the children of a parent who is under stress.
- Talk calmly to a parent who is on the verge of becoming angry with a child.
- Volunteer at or donate to a child- or family-serving agency in your community.
- Advocate for after-school activities for children.
- Show support and empathy for a child or parent by smiling or offering to help.
- Get to know your neighbors and their children.

Do you know your neighbors? Is your neighborhood a collection of households or is it a true community, where neighbors help their neighbors?

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Thursday, October 01, 2009 

Category: Life
As I was walking in Washington, D.C., last week, I passed a woman who dropped a crumpled piece of paper on the ground. It may have fallen by accident, but then I saw her look at it lying there -- and continue walking away.

That same day, while I was at the airport, a man who was talking loudly on a cell phone seemed to have only partially overheard the customer service rep say something to a customer about a flight. Abruptly ending his call, he then, even more loudly, shouted at the rep -- who was in the middle of helping another customer, “Are flights to Denver delayed?!”

Back home in the Denver area, on any given day, I encounter aggressive drivers during my commute -- like the ones who speed along in the fast lane and impatiently tailgate dangerously close to the car in front of them, while driving excessively over the speed limit. Or the ones who cut suddenly from lane to lane, without signaling and without regard to the driver they cut off, for the purpose of possibly saving only a few extra seconds in the course of a half-hour drive. Meanwhile, both types of drivers are endangering the lives of others.

I know that those instances and my experiences with many other inconsiderate, self-centered and rude people aren’t unique. Every day, we experience firsthand, or see or hear about, people doing selfish things with no consideration for safety, fairness or common courtesy. In fact, sometimes I feel as if courtesy has become quite uncommon. On the worst of days, this realization can be very disheartening to me.

But then I focus on the other side of the coin -- the shinier side -- which reminds me that for every person who only cares about himself, there are several more who are kind and giving and want to help others. Like when I watched an elderly man leading his frail wife across a busy street, and struggling himself as he held her arm to keep her stable. Another man who was walking in the same direction noticed the pair and gently took the woman’s free arm and assisted them both in making a safe crossing. Then he continued on his way, as if there was nothing unusual about helping others, even strangers.

And I know that, for many people, there is nothing unusual about that. The vast majority of American Humane’s supporters never meet our staff or get to look into the eyes of the animals or children who their donations have helped, or whose lives were saved. So in one sense, they are helping strangers. But, in another sense, they are anything but strangers, because they recognize that we are all part of the same family, and they feel compelled to act humanely and charitably toward their fellow beings.

What is it, I wonder, that makes some people act selfishly, self-centered and inconsiderately, while others act with generosity, empathy and compassion? Is it the way they were raised and socialized? Did one or more significant experiences shape their lives? Did a good or bad role model make all the difference? Or are they just good people who are stressed out or having a bad day?

We’ve all seen cases of people who were dealt a terrible hand in life, yet they still have tremendously positive outlooks and they achieve great things for themselves, and for others. And we’ve also seen those who were given everything anyone could ask for, yet they’re miserable and selfish. What makes the difference?

Perhaps it’s all in the way they view themselves, others and life in general. A friend of mine with a positive outlook once told me how he deals with the aggressive driver or the rude customer. “I consider all those people as if they were children -- my children,” he said, “and they need help from me.” With that approach, I think we’d all be more likely to lend a hand to those in need, and less apt to get mad or act aggressively ourselves when we’re the victims of negative actions by others.

So, when I encounter people who are less than considerate, I remind myself of what my friend said. I try to view it as if that driver who just cut me off needs my help, my understanding. I’ll admit, it isn’t always easy, but I’d much rather add humaneness to the world than add more aggravation and antagonism.

If you consider yourself a person with compassion in an often uncompassionate world, I’d like to hear from you. What is it that shapes your outlook on life? How do you deal with the downside of human behavior? What thoughts color your world and keep you looking up? Let me know.

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Thursday, September 24, 2009 
You may have heard about the nation’s largest dogfighting bust, which took place this summer in eight states, including Missouri. Because of American Humane’s current involvement with the case, I asked Katenna Jones, animal behaviorist and humane educator for American Humane’s Office of Humane Education, to be this week’s guest blogger.

When I heard about the recent eight-state dogfighting bust, my heart dropped -- like it does each and every time such an operation is uncovered. For many, it is surprising to hear that this ancient “blood sport” still exists in the United States. Yet, right now, animal fighting persists in a quiet, underground sector of our society -- and the more than 500 dogs seized in the Missouri dogfighting raid bear the scars to prove it.

In the wake of such an event, and after the raids and trials are over, important questions remain: What happens to the unfortunate dogs seized in the case? Can they be rehabilitated and adopted into loving homes?

There are differing opinions about whether fighting dogs are simply too dangerous for society. Should they be euthanized because they have been bred and trained to kill each other? Are they dangerous animals that pose a threat to other dogs and children alike? Is the risk far too great?

Let’s look at the facts:
Aggression toward other animals and aggression toward humans are two very different behaviors.
Fighting dogs are rarely, if ever, human aggressive. Humans directly handle dogs during fights, and human-aggressive dogs are considered unacceptable.
Many dogs seized in dogfighting raids are surviving “bait dogs” that serve as “punching bags” to train the fighters. Some clearly do not have the ability, stamina or drive to fight.
Breeds typically used for fighting are devoted, highly intelligent, thrive in training and are known to be very loving.
Some former fighting and bait dogs go on to thrive in dog sports such as  fly ball, agility and pulling, while others serve in search and rescue, drug or explosives detection and pet therapy.
Numerous former fighting and bait dogs are currently loving, safe, friendly family pets.

When considering whether a fighting or bait dog can be adopted into a home, we must ensure that qualified behavior experts assess each dog’s temperament thoroughly and accurately after the dogs are medically deemed ready for adoption. The dogs must be individually evaluated around humans (both adults and children), around other dogs and around other animals. Each dog must be examined for its ability to be trained, to recover from trauma and to adapt into a “normal” environment. If a dog is unable to pass such assessments or has little potential for rehabilitation, then I fully respect and support the decision to humanely euthanize. 

Labeling all fighting dogs as dangerous or unadoptable is directly in line with other forms of prejudice and assumption. Seized dogs should be considered on an individual basis. Each is a unique creature, with its own genetics, its own experiences and of course its own individual personality. 

American Humane’s Red Star Animal Emergency Services™ team is doing just that by continuing to assist the Humane Society of Missouri and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals following the Missouri raid. Responders are tasked with the emotionally and physically challenging work of caring for, sheltering and socializing the hundreds of dogs and puppies that have been seized.  

At American Humane, we continue to create public awareness, work at the legislative level, provide educational resources and train professionals on dogfighting. We are taking a proactive role in situations such as these -- and the public also needs to do more to stop this horrendous “sport.” If you see, suspect or hear of animal fighting in your community, please alert the authorities. Regardless of the size of your town, the socio-economics or the culture around you, animal fighting is everywhere -- and your phone call could make a difference.

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Thursday, September 17, 2009 

Category: Pets and Animals
I spent Labor Day weekend in my home state of Tennessee -- Shelbyville, to be exact, home of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, which is the most prestigious horse show of its kind. The amazing -- and controversial -- horses it celebrates were the reason for my attendance, both in my official capacity representing American Humane, and as an appreciative spectator.

For those of you unfamiliar with this unique and magnificent breed, Tennessee Walking Horses are born with a fluid, easy gait that is beautiful to behold. Over the years, they have been bred and trained to exaggerate that gait into the distinctive high-stepping performance that thrills Walking Horse aficionados, as evidenced by the more than 195,000 tickets sold during the 10-night event.

The controversy lies in the fact that some of the methods used to train these horses to lift their hooves high are indisputably inhumane. These methods -- collectively known as “soring” -- were outlawed by the Horse Protection Act in 1970 after a public outcry. The objectionable techniques include applying caustic chemicals to the horse’s feet, pressure shoeing (nailing the shoe so that it applies pressure to the sole of the foot) and inserting an object between the hoof and the shoe -- all of which make the horse lift its feet higher and faster because of the deliberate pain inflicted with each step.

Although soring is illegal, some trainers and owners unfortunately still employ these techniques in order to win at any cost. However, after the Shelbyville Celebration was not able to award a World
Grand Champion in 2006 because eight of the 11 finalists failed inspection due to evidence of soring, something had to be done.

Since then, the Walking Horse industry has been making a concerted effort to improve training techniques and standards, and it has included American Humane in this ongoing process. I was invited to be part of a working committee comprised of equine veterinarians, veterinary academics and horse industry leaders to develop a plan to end soring, and I spent an entire day during my recent visit meeting with this committee to find solutions.

This year, a new inspection structure, more consistent inspections and more serious penalties were implemented at the Celebration -- and quite a few competitors were disqualified as a result. In addition, three people recently received lifetime suspensions from the sport as a result of violations at a July horse show -- the strongest penalties ever given in the Walking Horse industry and a bold move that demonstrates the industry’s commitment to ending the practice of soring.

I applaud the industry’s efforts to continually improve, and I hope that in the not-too-distant future, these inhumane techniques will be a thing of the past. As I attended the last three nights of the Celebration, that hope was reinforced by something very special that I witnessed. About 15 young horses were being led around the ring during the Weanlings Class competition. As I watched these adorable, frisky young horses displaying their natural, unspoiled gait, I thought, “If these little guys are trained with good, humane techniques and can grow up without pain or scars and compete with others just like them, that will be a great thing.” It occurred to me that, thanks to all of those interested in the welfare of these wonderful animals, I was seeing the bright, new future of Tennessee Walking Horses.

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Thursday, September 10, 2009 

Category: Pets and Animals
I’ve been hearing lately that the recession is over, or almost over, or will be over by the end of the year. Apparently nobody knows for sure, but one thing is certain: Millions of Americans have lost businesses, jobs and homes -- or are on the brink of doing so. Times are still tough, and it’s not only humans who have been hit hard by the economic downturn.

Animal shelters and rescue groups across the country are facing a dangerous double whammy as a result of the recession. They’re taking in more homeless pets whose families are giving them up, either because they can’t afford to care for them anymore, or because their homes have been foreclosed on and they no longer have a place to keep their pets.

At the same time, these shelters and rescues have less money to care for the growing pet population due to fewer donations by a financially strapped public and -- in some cases -- dwindling investments.

It’s a perfect storm of circumstances that has created a genuine crisis for a growing number of animal care and control agencies that are being forced to shut their doors and desperately try to find homes for the animals in their care. Here are just a few cases that I’m personally familiar with:

The Montgomery County Humane Society in Rockville, Md., closed one of its shelters in early September due to a 15 percent drop in donations during the past year.
The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals announced the closure of three of its seven animal care and adoption centers in February, along with the elimination of 46 positions, after losing 25.7 percent of its endowment in 2008.
The Bideawee Animal Shelter’s facility in Wantagh, N.Y., closed in March and laid off 36 employees, citing a 30 percent decline in contributed revenue since October 2008 and nearly $2 million in lost investments.
The Watertown Humane Society in Wisconsin has been devastated by a drop in donations of more than 70 percent from July 2008 to July 2009, and has been making pleas to the bank and the public for financial help in order to remain open.

Here’s what these unfortunate stories are saying to me, loud and clear: Animal shelters need support from their communities now more than ever. If you’ve never adopted a dog, gone to look for a lost cat or taken a stray animal to your local shelter, you may not even know where it is. But believe me, that shelter provides an important service to both the people and the animals in your community -- one that would be sorely missed if it had to close down.

Support for your local shelter can come in many forms. Of course, contributions of money are always welcome, but you can also contribute your time. With staffing being cut at some shelters, they are in real need of volunteers to walk dogs, brush cats, clean kennels, take pet photos or help out with any number of other important duties. And shelters make wonderful places for kids to volunteer and to learn empathy and compassion, especially when they don’t have a pet at home.

You can also help out by donating in-demand items such as cat or dog food and treats, pet toys, towels and blankets, laundry soap and bleach, garbage bags, paper towels or office supplies. Ask your shelter for its “wish list,” and hold a community drive to collect whatever it needs most.

Or get out there and encourage your local newspaper or TV station to do stories about the shelter or a regular weekly feature starring some of the adoptable pets.

Speaking of adoptions, maybe you’ve been thinking about bringing a new pet into your home and your heart. If so, I urge you to go to your local shelter, where so many dogs, cats and other creatures are waiting to be part of a loving family. It’s the best kind of support you can offer -- and the most rewarding. If you can’t adopt a pet right now, consider fostering an animal that isn’t faring well in the shelter until its forever home can be found.

Thanks to generous donations from animal lovers even in these difficult times, American Humane is providing financial assistance to shelters that care for abused and neglected animals with our Second Chance® Fund Grants, and to shelters that take in animal victims of foreclosure with our Foreclosure Pets Grants.

Together, we can all make a huge difference in the lives of homeless animals and in the continued success of the shelters in our communities. So many animals -- and the people who care for them -- are depending on us.

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