Sharing a Great Pet Adoption Pet Story!!
Our friends, Al and Andrea, in Corpus Christi moved there with 3 cats. Over the past five years, one… Maggie, has passed on and gone to kitty heaven. But during that time, they have rescued a black pug that had some health issues, a Black Ker (maybe) out of a litter of abandoned puppies and an orphaned Chihuahua. This was quite a feat for my friend, Andrea, who was basically afraid ‘or at least leery’ of dogs before they adopted their first one, Buddy, at Al’s urging. Then ‘she’ adopted the next two, Beau and Princess.
Then about 10-days ago they ran across, almost over, a kitten. The Calico kitty who looks like one of their older cats, Peaches, was running across the highway when they found her. They did more than their due diligence to find the kitten’s owners but she is now one of the family and has been named Kit Kat… along with Peaches and Bart makes three.
3 kitties and 3 doggies… a nice family now that the kids are grown!
If you are an animal lover 4 to 6 pets, throw in a bird, fish or pocket pet, perhaps making even 7 or 8 are a fun and manageable number for a couple or a responsible family teaching their kids the values and joy of taking care of another living creature and overall responsibility (under supervision). If you aren’t, it probably seems like a nightmare… but then you probably wouldn’t be reading this blog.
Adopt Just One More Pet and Save a Life!!
Posted: Just One More Pet
November 5, 2009
Posted by justonemorepet |
Uncategorized | adopt a pet today, Adopt Just One More Pet, adopt just one more save a life, All Animals, any animal, Birds, bunnies, Cats, dogs, exotic pets, fish, gerbils, Pets, pocket pets, pot belly pigs, rabbits, reptiles, Stop Euthenization, There Is Always Room For One More Pet |
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At the end of November, 2008, this dog, Casper, starved to near death, plus several other sick, neglected dogs were found at the home of Wilmer Fernandez, 34 and Aixa Rodriguez, 33. Although Fernandez and Rodriguez lived in a nice house in Carrolwood, FL, had a Cadillac and Lexus sitting in the driveway, nice furniture and possessions in the house, they claimed they had no money to feed or care for their pets.
Casper, a 9-month-old Boxer when found, weighed only 32 pounds when he should have weighed 60-80 pounds. He’d had no water for at least three days based on a vet’s testimony and the starvation had been ongoing, he also had skin problems.
Charged with felony animal cruelty, Fernandez and Rodriguez said they didn’t have any money, they said they fed Casper twice a day but because of some mysterious illness he kept losing weight, they said he kept turning his water bowl over which is why he was dehydrated to near death, they said they tried to treat his skin problems with OTC shampoos and treatments, they said they were loving pet parents.
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Posted: Just One More Pet
This story and the related posts here are only the tiniest fraction of the abuse to animals that is everywhere. It is our duty as loving human beings and fellow creatures created by God to stand up for them… and to do so proactively!! We need to change the laws everywhere and increase the penalties for animal abuse. But before it even gets there, like with child abuse or any abuse, we need to intercede as soon as we have the slightest incling that there could be a problem. Better a false report and dropped charges than a ongoing abuse!! And for me, if I see actual abuse, not that I recommend this, I go over there and stand up to the abuse or rescue the abused myself if I witness a problem.
Each one of us needs to follow out conscience! We also need to change the ridiculous restrictive laws of only one or two pets allowed… especially in todays environment. We need to stop euthenizing animals that are healthy and either take care of them in decent facilities and allow willing pet parents to Adopt Just One (or Two More Pets). Nobody is advocating the hoarding of pets and animals!! But for those that love pets, taking care of 3, 4 or 5 pets is a blessing, not a burden and completely doable!
Marion Algier/Ask Marion – JOMP
August 24, 2009
Posted by justonemorepet |
Animal Abandonement, animal abuse, Animal or Pet Related Stories, Animal Rescues, Animal Rights And Awareness, animals, Fostering and Rescue, Just One More Pet, Pet Abuse, Pet Adoption, Pet Friendship and Love, Pet Health, Pets, Political Change, responsible pet ownership, Stop Animal Cruelty, Stop Euthenization, We Are All God's Creatures | abused animals, abused animals need your help, Adopt Just One More Pet, All Animals, all peta, ASPCA, Be Their Voice, Cats, Change pet restriction laws, dogs, every animal deserves humane treatment, Fox News, humane treatment of animals, justice for animals, justice of pets, mistreated animals, more pets allowed less euthanization, no more euthanization of healthy animals, no more euthanization of healthy pets, Pets, pets are family too, prosecute animal abusers to the full extent of the law, prosecution for pet abuse, starving animals, stiffer animal abuse laws needed, stimulus funds for California's Animals, stimulus money to care for abandoned animals, there is always room for just one more pet, throw the book at animal abusers, Throw the book at pet abusers, toughen the animal abuse laws, tougher prosecution for pet abuse |
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More than 1 million dogs and cats are at risk for becoming homeless, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) believes.
In response to a request from DVM Newsmagazine, ASPCA officials estimate that 500,000 to 1 million cats and dogs in the country could be given up by their owners for economic reasons.
Why the huge disparity? Many shelters are not equipped to accurately report numbers and reasons for relinquishments, says Alison M. Zaccone, manager of media and communications at ASPCA.
“Economic issues aside, it is estimated that 5 million companion animals enter shelters each year,” Zawistowski adds.
“If you factor in the animals merely in danger of becoming homeless, it could result in an extra 10 percent to 20 percent increase in relinquishments to shelters. This has the potential to grow into a serious animal-welfare issue, and some regions of the United States, like Nevada — where the foreclosure rates are three times the national average could be hit much harder than others.”
Source: Dr. Mercola – Healthy Pets
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Up to 1 million pets at risk during economic crisis
New York– More than 1 million dogs and cats are at risk for becoming homeless, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) believes.
In response to a request from DVM Newsmagazine, ASPCA officials estimate that 500,000 to 1 million cats and dogs in the country could be given up by their owners for economic reasons.
Why the huge disparity? Many shelters are not equipped to accurately report numbers and reasons for relinquishments, says Alison M. Zaccone, manager of media and communications at ASPCA.
“According to national financial estimates, approximately one in 171 homes in the United States is in danger of foreclosure due to the subprime mortgage crisis,” adds Dr. Stephen Zawistowski, executive vice president of ASPCA programs and its science advisor, in a prepared statement. “Considering that approximately 63 percent of U.S. households have at least one or more pets, hundreds of thousands of animals are in danger of being abandoned or relinquished to animal shelters.
“Economic issues aside, it is estimated that 5 million companion animals enter shelters each year,” Zawistowski adds. “If you factor in the animals merely in danger of becoming homeless, it could result in an extra 10 percent to 20 percent increase in relinquishments to shelters. This has the potential to grow into a serious animal-welfare issue, and some regions of the United States, like Nevada – where the foreclosure rates are three times the national average – could be hit much harder than others.”
Originally Posted: Feb 5, 2009
By: Daniel R. Verdon – DVM NEWSMAGAZINE
——
In October 2008, an article appeared in The Denver Post about a woman who tried to poison her dog with an overdose of anti-anxiety pills. When it didn’t die, she shot it four times with a .22 caliber handgun.
Animal cruelty?
Yes, but at its roots, sheer desperation…
Paula Harding, age 33, told police she couldn’t afford a veterinarian due to financial problems, nor could she afford euthanasia for her sick 15-year-old terrier/poodle mix. She called her dog a “good friend” and felt she had no other option. Now, on top of her financial difficulties, she faces animal cruelty charges.
The Grim Reality
Sad cases like this are turning up all over the country. On May 28 a big semi pulled into my veterinary practice after-hours and begged the last remaining staff person to please take their ill cat. They were passing through the area and felt we may be compassionate enough to euthanize their sick cat for free. Otherwise, they told my employee, they would be forced to dump her paralyzed body along a busy street, hoping someone would find her and be able to afford a humane euthanasia.
Pets are the voiceless victims of the tanking economy and are frequently abandoned at shelters or even left behind in foreclosed homes.
Some of these abandoned and starving animals aren’t being discovered until real estate agents come to show the property, many days or weeks later. There are tales of dogs being found in state parks, cats left on doorsteps in cat carriers, and animals simply abandoned on the street.
People are having to choose between feeding their children and feeding their pets, and pets are losing. As the cost of food and healthcare rises, so does pet food and veterinary care.
So many people are feeling forced to abandon their animals that a new term is being used: “foreclosure pets.” The number of foreclosure pets is increasing while the donations and offers for housing are decreasing.
According to the New Haven Register, shelter and rescue operations are up by 15 or 20 percent, in some cases more. The number of people adopting is dropping in some areas, but increasing in others…a small bright spot in the story.
Donna Miles of Bella Vista Animal Shelter reported she receives two or three calls per day from pet owners who are no longer capable of caring for them. These calls used to come from folks who had been through divorce and could not keep their pets, but lately, the foreclosure crisis is the cause, although owners are often reluctant and embarrassed to talk about it.
Another shelter owner said the animals she used to receive were scruffy and underfed, but of late, she is receiving animals that are obviously well loved and well cared for. These pets are arriving shelters, complete with cat trees, litter boxes, favorite toys and photo albums.
This is such a heart-breaking testament to the anguish people must face in having to part with their devoted companions.
Big Hearts Are Stepping Up
Many shelters are seeing an increase in donations and adoptions. Instead of taking a vacation, some animal lovers are rescuing an abandoned pet instead.
Pet food banks are emerging in many neighborhoods.
Organizations are popping up everywhere to help with the pet crisis. An organization called No Paws Left Behind helps people find new lodging for their animals, trying to work with pet owners before the foreclosure takes place.
One of their main goals is to educate people about the types of shelters they’re selecting. Many have a No Kill policy in place. However, shelters without a No Kill policy are responsible for euthanizing more than 12 million dogs and cats each year.
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) created a grant program in March 2008 to help with the foreclosure pets. Grants ranged from $500 to 2,000 per organization.
However, due to financial constraints, they had to temporarily close the Foreclosure Pets Fund as of May 4, 2009. Unfortunately, there are more dogs than dollars.
What You Can Do
The Humane Society website has some excellent suggestions for pet owners who are facing economic hardship. Here are some of their suggestions, and a few additional thoughts:
- Plan ahead. There are folks who can help you find animal friendly housing, but you must not wait until you are homeless to get your ducks in a row (or your cats and dogs). Check ads and contact real estate agents at least six weeks before you have to move. Contact your local Humane Society office, which sometimes keeps a list of pet-friendly apartments. Gather proof that you’re responsible. Once you have permission from a landlord, get it in writing.
- Be proactive. It is unlikely you’ll be able to rent a small apartment with 6 animals in tow. Try to find homes for your animals yourself. What about friends and family? What about a local shelter? People at church?
- Don’t be shy—ask for help. Reach out to fellow dog and cat owners. Put the word out. Ask your neighbors to help. Even contact a news organization!
- Let your vet know. He or she might be able to help by offering a discount, and by prescribing only the most vital vaccination (the only vaccine required by law is rabies vaccine) to keep your pet healthy. And vets are usually knowledgeable about local community resources.
- Keep the faith. There are a lot of good people out there who are looking for ways to help. Once you are on your feet again, you may be able to retrieve your pet.
- DON’T leave your pet behind, no matter what. No matter how hard it is to cope or how overwhelmed you are, please don’t leave your pets in your house when you move out. It can be weeks before the lender or a realtor comes to the house and finds Fluffy slowly starving inside.
If you are considering adding a pet to your life, please consider rescuing a homeless pet from a shelter, instead of buying a puppymill pet from a store. Or, if you want a slightly different experience, you might be interested in becoming a foster care volunteer for a homeless dog or cat.
The bottom line is, our pets are in need of bailout, far more than our banks. You can make a difference, and the first step is getting educated on the issues.
Our pets, who bring us many years of happiness and devotion and good health, are completely dependent on us. Don’t let them suffer in silence any longer.
Good Animal Welfare Organizations
The following is a list of animal welfare organizations that are actively involved in lessening the impact of this economic crisis on our furry friends.
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Posted: Just One More Pet
August 21, 2009
Posted by justonemorepet |
Animal Abandonement, Animal or Pet Related Stories, Animal Rescues, Animal Rights And Awareness, animals, Fostering and Rescue, Just One More Pet, Pet Abuse, Pet Friendship and Love, Pets, Political Change, responsible pet ownership, Stop Animal Cruelty, Stop Euthenization, We Are All God's Creatures | 1 million pets at risk, abandonement is cruelty, Adopt Just One More Pet, All Animals, All Pets, always room for just one more pet, American Society For the Prevention Of Cruelty To Anima, animal lovers, ASPCA, Be Their Voice, Cats, change restrictive pet laws, change restrictive pet rules, do not leave your pets behind, dogs, don't dump your pets, Don’t dump your pets when times are tough, foreclosure casualties, foster care volunteers, help foreclosure pet victims, HSUS, irresponsible pet owners, Just One More Pet, no animal left behind, no kill pet network, no kill pet shelters, no paws left behind, no pets left behind, over-flowing shelters, PAWS, pet food banks, Pets, Pets Are Family, pets are family too, pets are forever, pets are members of the family, Pets are victims of economy, pets at risk, Progressive Animal Welfare Society, serious animal-welfare issues, The Humane Society of the United States, there is always room for just one more, there is always room for just one more pet |
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This past March, Dr. Melinda Merck, ASPCA Senior Director of Veterinary Forensics, helped secure an animal cruelty conviction by testifying in the trial of Kathy Bauck, operator of Pick of the Litter Kennels. The New York Mills, MN, breeder sells animals to pet stores and online—and has at times housed more than 1,300 dogs of at least 32 different breeds. Bauck was arrested in August 2008 and charged with several counts of felony animal cruelty, torture and practicing veterinary medicine without a license. On March 24, after a 4½-day trial and six hours of deliberation, a jury cleared Bauck of felony charges but found her guilty of four misdemeanors (one count of animal cruelty and three counts of torture).
In early 2008, a freelance animal cruelty investigator, Jason Smith, began working at Pick of the Litter to gather evidence against Bauck. Smith submitted testimony and videos of alleged abuse to Otter Tail County sheriff’s detectives last May. The videos included footage of injured, ill and emaciated dogs, as well as of Bauck dunking dogs in vats of insecticide. “The veterinarian working with the prosecution contacted me about one month before the trial started,” recalls Dr. Merck. “I was asked by the prosecutor to review all the video and case files and provide expert opinion.”
With a history of complaints and citations against her—including a 2006 cease-and-desist order from the Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine for performing surgery on animals without a veterinary license—Bauck is well known to ASPCA investigators. “Kathy Bauck has been a chronic problem,” states Bob Baker, ASPCA Anti-Cruelty Initiatives Investigator. “I visited her facility in 1998 and reported her to the USDA for violations of the Animal Welfare Act—but as far as I know, there was no follow-up on the part of USDA.”
At her sentencing hearing last Friday, May 1, Bauck was sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 20 days to be served right away. The other 70 days were “stayed,” meaning they will be served only if she violates her probation. The judge also sentenced Bauck to 80 hours of community service and ruled that if she plans to continue participating in operating the kennel, she must allow unscheduled inspections—and that inspectors must be allowed entry into ALL areas.
As the ASPCA says… “We Are Their Voice!” Please report all suspected abuse or neglect of any kind… and to anyone!!
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May 8, 2009
Posted by justonemorepet |
Animal Rescues, animals, Just One More Pet, Pet Abuse, Political Change, Stop Animal Cruelty, Stop Euthenization, Success Stories, We Are All God's Creatures | All Animals, animal abuse, animal advocacy, animal cruetly, Animal Welfare Act, animals, ASPCA, Birds, breeders, Cats, dogs, domestic and animal abuse related, felony animal cruelty, horses, kittens, livestock, need tougher sentences for animal abusers, Pet Abuse, Puppies, Puppy Mill Conviction, puppy mills, report all abuse, report animal abuse, Stop Animal Cruelty, tougher punishment for pet abuse, we are their voice |
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Early last week, ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement Special Agent Debbie Koch arrested Manhattan resident Richard Smith, 24, on multiple charges related to domestic abuse. Smith allegedly assaulted his 21-year-old girlfriend and severely beat a two-year-old Shiba Inu belonging to the girlfriend’s sister. Multiple attacks on the dog allegedly occurred in the last few months.
“As we have seen in the past, the brutality associated with domestic violence all too often affects other members of the household, including pets,” says Joe Pentangelo, Assistant Director, ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement.
The dog, named Michigan, was brought to the ASPCA’s Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital (BMAH) on March 25 in a state of distress. ASPCA veterinarians discovered that she had sustained 12 fractured ribs and suffered from trauma. Michigan is currently recovering at BMAH and will be reunited with her owner.
Smith was charged with one count of aggravated animal cruelty and assault. If convicted, he faces up to two years in jail and a $2,000 fine. (Not enough, but it is a start.)
If you know of an animal who is being hurt, please report it—those who assault animals often abuse the people in their lives, too. To report animal cruelty in New York City, contact the ASPCA’s anonymous tip line at (877) THE-ASPCA. Visit our Report Cruelty FAQ to learn how to report cruelty elsewhere.
Source: ASPCA.org
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April 11, 2009
Posted by justonemorepet |
Animal or Pet Related Stories, Animal Rights And Awareness, animals, Just One More Pet, Pet Abuse, Political Change, Stop Animal Cruelty, We Are All God's Creatures | All Animals, animal abuse, animal advocacy, ASPCA, Cats, dog, dogs, Manhatten Beach domestic and animal abuse related, Pet Abuse, Shiba Inu, we are their voice |
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One of the greatest tragedies of the failed housing market is the cost to pets and animals. And although highlighted now and again after some tragic event where a pet has been left behind to starve without food or water in an abandoned house or chained to a tree when their family moved, it has been under reported.
Losing your home, often after having also lost your job in today’s uncertain financial environment, can be both scary and overwhelming. People become panicked and often make rash and unsound decisions under the pressure or go into a state of denial. But leaving your pet or any animal behind without making arrangements for them to be taken care of could end up haunting both you and your family forever. A pet is a family member and abandoning them, besides being illegal, could leave permanent scars, especially on children.
Often lack of planning is the greatest culprit. Friends or family members will usually take your pets, either permanently or until you or an adoptive family can take them, if you really cannot or do not know where you are going or cannot take them along. Running an ad in the local paper, online, or in the neighborhood ad sheet is usually free for pet ads, but people tend to want to believe that things will get better so often wait until the last minute when they are out of time and therefore often also out of options. I have seen people walk their pets or sit outside a market with them wearing a sign: ‘I need a home’ or ‘Will you take me home?’ with relative success. Networking with friends, neighbors and co-workers, or putting up signs at markets, at your veterinarian’s office, church, and on community boards and mailboxes are also great sources, as well as contacting local rescues and no kill shelters. Many pet sites also have message boards where you might find an adoptive parent or a foster family for your pet, giving you more time to find another solution.
I have also seen people negotiate with new landlords or network to find a place that will allow their pets to move with them, even though the listings originally said no. Getting a written reference from either a former landlord or neighbors is helpful and working through a realtor or leasing agent also usually ups your chances. Remember if you are going to rent, the owner pays their fee, not you.
Be creative! I recently came across someone who traded their car for an old camper by running an ad in the newspaper. It gave the family and the pets a crowded but temporary place to live and stay together. We are surrounded by community, sometimes our greatest failing is the fear or hesitance to ask for help.
Where there is a will… there is a way, and it starts with planning.
By: Marion Algier/Ask Marion
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April 6, 2009
Posted by justonemorepet |
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Ending Euthanasia of Healthy & Treatable Animals – A New National Initiative of the American Humane Association In Cooperation with Visionary Corporations and Foundations
The American Humane Association’s Getting to Zero®
Initiative is a critical, new national undertaking based on realistic assumptions and the profound belief that, within our lifetime, American society can reduce to zero the number of healthy or treatable dogs, cats and other companion animals that are euthanized in animal care and control facilities. This will not be easily accomplished, but we believe that with the replication of identified best practices to shelters and animal-welfare groups across the country — utilizing seed and operational funding provided by visionary companies and organizations as well as advice and consultation from the best in the field — the immediate impact can be substantial and sustaining, thus leading to zero euthanasia of healthy and treatable animals within 25 years.
Funding will be used to take the best practices available and replicate them, initially, to 12 shelters in geographically diverse areas of the country and, subsequently, to encourage and sustain further replication of these best practices to most, if not all, animal care and control facilities in the country.
Working in partnership with the animal-welfare community and corporate and foundation donors, American Humane launched this three-year initiative in 2006.
American Humane has made the reduction and eventual elimination of shelter euthanasia of healthy dogs and cats one of its highest priorities. Although many Americans maintain a deep love and affection for animals, and pets are cherished members of millions of families, the millions of healthy, adoptable dogs and cats euthanized each year remains a source of shame for our country. It is a situation that most view as socially and morally unacceptable.
There is growing public support for assuring that no adoptable animal is put to sleep at a shelter or abandoned in the street. It is a goal that deserves the efforts and commitment of every group and individual with concern and compassion for animals. American Humane recognizes that animal overpopulation is the result of human decision-making and all of us have a responsibility and role in its reduction.
Every year, at least 3.7 million dogs and cats are euthanized in shelters in the United States. Indeed, it has been noted that in many areas of the country, a majority of animals entering the shelter system “are euthanized rather than adopted or reclaimed by their owners.” This problem is not limited to a single area of the country or a single segment of our population — animal care and control facilities from coast to coast are flooded with healthy animals looking for a good home. It has been this way for decades although over the past 20 years, we have seen a sharp reduction in the numbers of animals euthanized.
American Humane is committed to helping identify, support and obtain funding for the replication of community-based interventions that have demonstrated success in reducing the euthanasia of healthy or treatable animals. We are convinced that by working together and adopting practices that have been shown to be effective, we will hasten the day when euthanasia is no longer viewed by the public as an unfortunate but inevitable consequence of animal control.
Source: American Humane
February 27, 2009
Posted by justonemorepet |
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The current U.S. financial crisis has the potential to grow into a serious animal welfare issue, warns Executive Vice President of ASPCA Programs, Dr. Stephen Zawistowski. As households across the country are caught in the economic downturn, an estimated 500,000 to one million cats and dogs are at risk of becoming homeless.
“According to national financial estimates, approximately one in 171 homes in the U.S. is in danger of foreclosure due to the subprime mortgage crisis,” Zawistowski observes. “Considering that approximately 63 percent of U.S. households have at least one pet, hundreds of thousands are in danger of being abandoned or relinquished to animal shelters.”
To avoid or ease the heartbreak of losing an animal companion due to economic hardship, the ASPCA urges pet owners who are faced with foreclosure to think of alternatives ahead of time:
- See if friends, family or neighbors can provide temporary foster care for their pet until they get back on their feet.
- If they are moving into a rental property, get written permission in advance that pets are allowed.
- Contact their local animal shelter, humane society or rescue group before they move. If a shelter agrees to take the pet, they should provide medical records, behavior information and anything else that might help the pet find a new home.
“Everyone is being affected by the current economic crisis in some way,” says ASPCA President & CEO Ed Sayres. “Community animal shelters and rescue groups across the country may soon be seeing an increase in homeless pets or a decrease in the donations they rely on.”
We urge ASPCA News Alert readers to help in any way that you can:
- Adopt a homeless pet.
- Donate used blankets, towels or even tennis balls to your local animal shelter.
- Foster adoptable animals until they find their forever homes.
- Help community members who may be struggling to take care of their pets.
For more information on pets in the economic crisis, please visit our pressroom.
February 21, 2009
Posted by justonemorepet |
Animal Abandonement, Animal Rights And Awareness, Just One More Pet, Pet Abuse, Pets, Political Change, responsible pet ownership, Stop Animal Cruelty, Stop Euthenization, We Are All God's Creatures | adopt a homeless pet, Adopt Just One More Pet, All Animals, All Pets, Animal Advocate, ASPCA, be an advocate, Cats, dogs, every pet deserves a home, foster a homeless pet, Human Society, No Kill Shelters, persponsible pet ownership, Pet Adoption, Pets, rescue group, responsible pet owners, shelters, Stop Euthenization, Stop Unnecessary Pet Euthenization, There Is Always Room For One More Pet, We are all God's Children |
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Introduction
Because pets usually have shorter life spans than their human caregivers, you may have planned for your animal friend’s passing. But what if you are the one who becomes ill or incapacitated, or who dies first? As a responsible pet owner, you provide your pet with food and water, shelter, veterinary care, and love. To ensure that your beloved pet will continue to receive this care should something unexpected happen to you, it’s critical to plan ahead. This information sheet helps you do just that.
What can I do now to prepare for the unexpected?
In the confusion that accompanies a person’s unexpected illness, accident, or death, pets may be overlooked. In some cases, pets are discovered in the person’s home days after the tragedy. To prevent this from happening to your pet, take these simple precautions:
- Find at least two responsible friends or relatives who agree to serve as temporary emergency caregivers in the event that something unexpected happens to you. Provide them with keys to your home; feeding and care instructions; the name of your veterinarian; and information about the permanent care provisions you have made for your pet.
- Make sure your neighbors, friends, and relatives know how many pets you have and the names and contact numbers of the individuals who have agreed to serve as emergency caregivers. Emergency caregivers should also know how to contact each other.
- Carry a wallet “alert card” that lists the names and phone numbers of your emergency pet caregivers.
- Post removable “in case of emergency” notices on your doors or windows specifying how many and what types of pets you have. These notices will alert emergency-response personnel during a fire or other home emergency. Don’t use stickers; hard-to-remove stickers are often left behind by former residents, so firefighters may assume that the sticker is outdated or, worse, they may risk their lives trying to find a pet no longer in the house.
- Affix to the inside of your front and back doors a removable notice listing emergency contact names and phone numbers. Because pets need care daily and will need immediate attention should you die or become incapacitated, the importance of making these informal arrangements for temporary caregiving cannot be overemphasized.
How can I ensure long-term or permanent care for my pet if I become seriously ill or die?
The best way to make sure your wishes are fulfilled is by also making formal arrangements that specifically cover the care of your pet. It’s not enough that long ago your friend verbally promised to take in your animal or even that you’ve decided to leave money to your friend for that purpose. Work with an attorney to draw up a special will, trust, or other document to provide for the care and ownership of your pet as well as the money necessary to care for her.
How do I choose a permanent caregiver?
First, decide whether you want all your pets to go to one person, or whether different pets should go to different people. If possible, keep pets who have bonded with one another together. When selecting caregivers, consider partners, adult children, parents, brothers, sisters, and friends who have met your pet and have successfully cared for pets themselves. Also name alternate caregivers in case your first choice becomes unable or unwilling to take your pet. Be sure to discuss your expectations with potential caregivers so they understand the large responsibility of caring for your pet. Remember, the new owner will have full discretion over the animal’s care—including veterinary treatment and euthanasia—so make sure you choose a person you trust implicitly and who will do what is in the best interests of your pet.
Stay in touch with the designated caregivers and alternates. Over time, people’s circumstances and priorities change, and you want to make sure that the arrangements you have made continue to hold from the designated caregivers’ vantage points. If all else fails, it is also possible to direct your executor or personal representative, in your will, to place the animal with another individual or family (that is, in a noninstitutionalized setting). Finding a satisfactory new home can take several weeks of searching, so again, it is important to line up temporary care. You also have to know and trust your executor and provide useful, but not unrealistically confining, instructions in your will. You should also authorize your executor to expend funds from your estate for the temporary care of your pet as well as for the costs of looking for a new home and transporting the animal to it. The will should also grant broad discretion to your executor in making decisions about the animal and in expending estate funds on the animal’s behalf. Sample language for this approach is:
{Article Number} A. As a matter of high priority and importance, I direct my Personal Representative to place any and all animals I may own at the time of my death with another individual or family (that is, in a private, noninstitutionalized setting) where such animals will be cared for in a manner that any responsible, devoted pet owner would afford to his or her pets. Prior to initiating such efforts to place my animals, I direct my Personal Representative to consult ______________________, D.V.M. (currently at the _______________________ Hospital), or, in the event of Dr. _____________’s unavailability, a veterinarian chosen by my Personal Representative, to ensure that each animal is in generally good health and is not suffering physically. In addition, I direct my Personal Representative to provide any needed, reasonable veterinary care that my animal(s) may need at that time to restore the animal(s) to generally good health and to alleviate suffering, if possible. Any animal(s) not in generally good health or who is so suffering—and whose care is beyond the capabilities of veterinary medicine, reasonably employed, to restore to generally good health or to alleviate suffering—shall be euthanized, cremated, and the ashes disposed of at the discretion of my Personal Representative. Any expenses incurred for the care (including the costs of veterinary services), placement, or transportation of my animals, or to otherwise effect the purposes of this Article ___________ up to the time of placement, shall be charged against the principal of my residuary estate. Decisions my Personal Representative makes under this Article ____________________—for example, with respect to the veterinary care to be afforded to my animal(s) and the costs of such care—shall be final. My intention is that my Personal Representative have the broadest possible discretion to carry out the purposes of this paragraph.
Can I entrust the care of my pet to an organization?
Most humane organizations do not have the space or funds to care for your pet indefinitely and cannot guarantee that someone will adopt your animal, although some may be able to board and care for your pet temporarily until he can be transferred to his designated caregiver. There are, however, a few organizations that specialize in long-term care of pets of deceased owners. For a fee or donation, these “pet retirement homes” or “sanctuaries” may agree to find your pet a new home or care for your pet until she dies. Be aware, however, that pets are companion animals who need lots of care and affection; they may suffer from long-term confinement in such facilities. Your pet will not want to be institutionalized any more than you would want to be. Before making any formal arrangements, visit the organization to see how animals are cared for; where they are confined; who looks after them; when they are socialized and exercised; and what policies and procedures exist regarding care at the facility and placement with a new family. Also consider what might happen to your pet if the organization were to suffer funding or staff shortages. If you decide to entrust the care of your pet to an organization, choose a well-established organization that has a good record of finding responsible homes quickly.
Can I request that my pet be euthanized after my death?
Being concerned about what will happen to your pet after your death is normal. But some people take this concern to extremes, requesting that their pet be euthanized out of fear that no one else will care for the animal appropriately. When an owner puts this request in his will, that provision is often ruled invalid by the legal system when the animal is young or in good health and when other humane alternatives are available. There are good homes out there for your pets and usually you can choose a home yourself in advance by planning and making arrangements. If not, if you make the proper provision, a good home will be found.
Every Dog’s Legal Guide: A Must-have Book for Your Owner
There are some cases when euthanasia may be appropriate. If a pet is very old or requires extensive treatment for a health condition, for example, it may be unfair to both the pet and your designated caregiver to insist on indefinite care. That’s why it’s important to choose a responsible caregiver and thoroughly discuss the animal’s condition and needs so that the caregiver can make the best decision after you’re gone.
Do I need legal assistance?
Before making formal arrangements to provide for the long-term care of your pet, seek help from professionals who can guide you in preparing legal documents that can protect your interests and those of your pet. However, you must keep in mind the critical importance of making advance personal arrangements to ensure that your pet is cared for immediately if you die or become incapacitated. The formalities of a will or trust may not take over for some time.
In most cases, this book is all you need: Every Dog’s Legal Guide: A Must-have Book for Your Owner
Is a will the best way to provide for my pet?
Although your lawyer will help you decide what type of document best suits your needs, you should be aware of some drawbacks to wills. For example, a will takes effect only upon your death, and it will not be probated and formally recognized by a court for days or even weeks later. What’s more, if legal disputes arise, the final settlement of your property may be prolonged. Even determining the rightful new owner of your pet can get delayed. In other words, it may take a long time before your instructions regarding your pet’s long-term care can be carried out.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that you should not include a provision in your will that provides for your pet. It just means that you should explore creating additional documents that compensate for the will’s limitations.
How can setting up a trust help?
Unlike a will, a trust can provide for your pet immediately and can apply not only if you die, but also if you become ill or incapacitated. That’s because you determine when your trust becomes effective. When you create a trust for your pet, you set aside money to be used for his care and you specify a trustee to control the funds.
- A trust created separately from the will carries certain benefits:
- It can be written to exclude certain assets from the probate process so that funds are more readily available to care for your pet.
- It can be structured to provide for your pet even during a lengthy disability.
Which is right for me—a will or a trust?
There are many types of wills and trusts; determining which is best for you and your pet depends on your situation and needs. It’s important to seek the advice of an attorney who both understands your desire to provide for your pet and can help you create a will and/or trust that best provides for him.
You and your attorney also need to make sure that a trust for the benefit of one or more specific animals is valid and enforceable in your state. Even if your state law recognizes the validity of such trusts, keep in mind that tying up a substantial amount of money or property in a trust for an animal’s benefit may prove to be controversial from the point of view of a relative or other heir. Moreover, trusts are legal entities that are relatively expensive to administer and maintain, all of which underscores the need for careful planning and legal advice. After you and your lawyer create a will, a trust, or both, leave copies with the person you’ve chosen to be executor of your estate as well as with the pet’s designated caregiver so that he or she can look after your pet immediately. (The executor and caregiver may or may not be the same person.) Make sure the caregiver also has copies of your pet’s veterinary records and information about her behavior traits and dietary preferences.
Consider also a Power of Attorney
Powers of attorney, which authorize someone else to conduct some or all of your affairs for you while you are alive, have become a standard planning device. Such documents can be written to take effect upon your physical or mental incapacity and to continue in effect after you become incapacitated. They are simpler than trusts and do not create a legal entity that needs to be maintained by formal means. Provisions can be inserted in powers of attorney authorizing your attorney-in-fact—the person designated to handle your affairs—to take care of your pets, expend money to do so, and even to place your pets with permanent caregivers if appropriate.
Like any other legal device, however, powers of attorney are documents that by themselves cannot ensure that your pet is fed, walked, medicated, or otherwise cared for daily. Legal devices can only complement your personal efforts in thinking ahead and finding temporary and permanent caregivers who can take over your pet’s care immediately when the need arises. It is critical to coordinate, with more formal legal planning, your own efforts in finding substitute caregivers.
For more information
If you or your legal advisor would like more information on any of these matters, please contact The HSUS’s Planned Giving Office, at 1-800-808-7858, or The HSUS’s Office of the General Counsel, at 202-452-1100, extension 3320.
You can help your fellow species even after you’re gone with a bequest supporting HSUS animal protection programs. Naming The HSUS in your will demonstrates your lasting commitment to animal welfare. Please keep in mind that we’re just as happy to be last in line in your will; we hope you will consider The HSUS for at least the residue of your estate. In the meantime, we have materials on numerous subjects that we can send you, including:
Bequests/Wills
- How to include The HSUS in a will as a primary or secondary beneficiary
- How to include The HSUS in a will as a final beneficiary for the residue of an estate
- “37 Things People ‘Know’ About Wills That Aren’t Really So”
- The HSUS Creative Estate Planning Course
Other Estate Planning Vehicles and Charitable Gifts
- Charitable gift annuities and trusts
- Helping Hands recognition society
- Kindred Spirits pet memorials
- Making gifts of stock and avoiding capital gains tax
NOTE: The foregoing is intended to provide general information and to stimulate your thinking about providing for your pet in the event of your incapacity or death. It is not intended to provide legal advice and is definitely not a substitute for consulting a local attorney of your choosing who is familiar both with the laws of your state and with your personal circumstances and needs, and those of your pets.
Courtesy of
www.hsus.org
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Every Dog’s Legal Guide: A Must-have Book for Your Owner
February 13, 2009
Posted by justonemorepet |
Animal Rights And Awareness, Just One More Pet, Pet Friendship and Love, Pets, Political Change, responsible pet ownership, We Are All God's Creatures | All Animals, animals, Cats, dogs, Every Dog's Legal Guide, pet caregivers, Pet Love, Pet Wills, Providing for your Pet's Future, Resopnsible Pet Ownership, Responsible Pet Parenting, Wills |
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Believe it or not, your pet knows the secrets to achieving a successful relationship. Here are five love lessons that man’s best friend can share with you.
Though dogs have been labeled man’s best friend, when it comes down to it, Fido is probably more the type of buddy you’d seek out for a game of catch, not love advice. According to Harrison Forbes, professional dog trainer and author ofHeart of a Dog: What Challenging Dogs Have Taught Me About Love, Trust and Second Chances, however, you might want to reconsider the notion that your canine knows nothing about matters of the heart. “Dogs do the types of things we should do more often, and the things they don’t get involved in — well, we should really skip them, too, if we’re looking for love,” he asserts. Puzzled by the notion that you may actually be able to get some romance pointers from your Pointer? Read on for five love lessons you can learn from dogs.
1. The reassurance of forgiveness
In order to have a successful partnership, letting bygones be bygones is crucial. An inability to get over issues and move ahead is a key roadblock to happiness. Dogs, Forbes notes, are always in the moment and therefore don’t hold grudges or hang onto resentment. “Dogs wipe the slate clean many times a day,” he explains. “If you are grumpy and yell at your dog, but then wait a minute and act like you never did, he will forgive you — many times over. If humans could let the little things go as easily as dogs do, their relationships would be better for it.”
2. The security of unconditional love
Forbes says that as a rule, when a dog loves his owner, that bond is lasting and real. “It’s interesting to note that celebrities are over-the-top pet lovers,” he says. “This is because their dogs really love them for who they are, not their A-list status; a dog will always treat you the same. Dogs offer truly substantive relationships in a way most people don’t,” he notes. When it comes to romantic relationships, humans should strive to emulate a dog’s focus on what a person really offers in terms of love, kindness and warmth, he advises.
3. The comfort of consistency
In a romantic relationship, consistency can be quite comforting. What’s not to love about a partner who is never moody or capricious? “We as humans understand there are different types of behavior, yet we crave consistency,” Forbes says. “With dogs, regardless of your animal’s personality, you pretty much get the same behavior unless he’s ill. A lot of people take comfort in that aspect of pet ownership, so you can only imagine how much similar behavior could add to a romantic relationship.”
4. The need to be playful
Forbes notes that most dogs want to have a good time, keeping things light and not so serious all of the time. “The easiest way to burn out a working dog is to work him all the time — that pretty much goes for relationships as well,” he says. In police-dog training, Forbes explains, training is balanced with play and fun. “The harder you go at it in a training phase, the more you have to counterbalance it,” he says. “It’s the same with a relationship — you have to relieve the pressure through play and good times.”
5. The importance of effective communication
While communicating with your partner is important in a relationship, it’s not merely the act of communicating that will ensure your relationship’s success, but finding the way to do so that best matches your partner’s needs. This is a skill that you can easily learn from working with dogs, Forbes says. “The different ways in which I communicate with my three dogs are suited to what works best for them … and for me with them,” he explains. You have to be willing to experiment and find the best way to communicate with dogs, and the same goes for your romantic interests, he says: “Just as a hot-tempered dog won’t respond to yelling and lots of commands, neither will a hot-tempered person. At the same time, some more sensitive types may need a gentler approach. Essentially, no one person or dog communicates the same way — each individual has a unique style, and taking the time to learn about your partner’s needs is the key to a strong bond.”
By Chelsea Kaplan
Source: MSN/Relationships
February 2, 2009
Posted by justonemorepet |
Just One More Pet, On The Lighter Side, Pet Friendship and Love, Pets, We Are All God's Creatures | All Animals, All Pets, best friends, confort of consistency, dogs, effective communication, Fido, five lessons, foregiveness, key to strong bonds, lessons from animals, lessons from our pets, man's best friend, man's best friends, need to be playful, partnerships, Pets, relationship lessons from our pets, relationships, unconditional love |
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