Animal lovers and welfare activists are demanding that a dog that survived a six-story fall this summer be allowed to live, despite calls to euthanize her.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) said last June officers found a 1-year-old, brown and white pit bull mix named Oreo at the foot of a Brooklyn building with two broken legs. The dog had been beaten by its 19-year-old owner and thrown off the roof of the six-story building, the Associated Press reports.
Though Oreo has been physically rehabilitated, the ASPCA announced plans to euthanize her because of unpredictable bouts of violent aggression.
On Friday, protesters rallied outside the organization’s building in New York City, insisting the organization spare Oreo’s life.
"The aggression thing is a dumb excuse because all dogs can be worked with," Emily Danks, a protester and self-described animal rescuer, told the news source.
Claiming a wealth of experience handling dogs like Oreo, the ASPCA considers the pit bull’s aggressive behavior to be a public safety risk and has stood by its decision.
Oreo’s assailant, Fabian Henderson, has pleaded guilty to aggravated cruelty to animals and is scheduled to be sentenced on December 1.
Blog posts Categorized under ‘Pet Rescue News’
Protesters rally for life of dog that survived rooftop dive
Food bank helps families keep their pets
The economic downturn has forced many families across America to decide what commodities in their lives are most valuable. Many households have cancelled their accounts with cable television providers or begun purchasing generic brands at the grocery store. Families more deeply impacted by the recession may even have to consider cutting costs by surrendering a beloved pet to an animal shelter – an action a food bank in Georgia is trying to prevent.
Daffy’s Pet Soup Kitchen in Lawrenceville, Georgia, is asking community members for monthly sponsorships of about $25, so they may keep their doors open, feed dogs and cats in the area and keep families together, the Examiner reports.
"Our mission is to help those who are in financial crisis continue to feed and care for their pets," the food bank’s founder Tom Wargo told the news source. "In addition to the heartache the family or individual endures by giving up part of their family, there is the additional cost on the community for every surrendered or abandoned pet."
The food bank also provides pet healthcare through a network of participating veterinarians.
According to the Human-Animal Bond Survey by The Hartz Mountain Corp, about 75 percent of pet owners consider their animals a member of the family.
Fire departments help pets breathe easy
Losing one’s home to a fire can be a devastating experience for a family to endure. Most Americans buy insurance plans for their houses and family members to guarantee a measure of safety, should bad luck raise its ugly head. Since – according to the Human-Animal Bond Survey by The Hartz Mountain Corp – about 75 percent of pet owners consider their animals a member of the family, new steps are being taken to protect the safety of our four-legged friends as well.
This week, fire departments in Chicago and south suburban Matteson, Illinois, secured new ways to help save the lives of pets threatened by house fires, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Oxygen masks developed specifically for pets will be distributed to the departments, and firefighters will be trained in their proper use. The masks are cone-shaped, and designed to fit over the snouts of pets, including dogs, cats and some birds.
Prior to use by these fire departments, the masks had been used by veterinarians for assistance in pet care.
According to the Tribune, about 150,000 pets die in fires each year, mostly due to smoke inhalation.
It’s a bird, it’s a flame?it’s a Fireman!
Firefighters rushed to the rescue of birds, reptiles, dogs and other pets in an Oregon pet store after responding to an early-morning fire on Friday.
Though the firemen evacuated a large number of the animals and hurried some to a nearby veterinary animal clinic, unfortunately, not all of the would-be pets survived.
Just before 3 a.m. Friday, a fire broke out at the Zany Zoo pet shop in Eugene, Oregon. Glenn Petter, spokesperson for the Eugene Fire Department said he believed the blaze to be caused by a grouping of overloaded electrical circuits, KVAL reports. The fire likely started in the reptile room, which was fit with devices providing intense heat and light to the animals.
On the bright side, the firefighters were able to save more than two-third of the animals, and no puppies died in the fire.
"We were able to rescue a large number of birds, rodents, reptiles, puppies, cats and they [were all transported] to the vet emergency clinic that’s just about two blocks away," Eugene fire chief Mark Grover told KMTR reporters.
Damage to the building is estimated at $100,000, with $25,000 in lost property.
The blaze comes as a reminder that pet insurance plans are available to ensure that animals remain safe, with a limited expense to animal-loving households.
Pet calendar raises money for animal shelter, seeks submissions
Pets that like to strut their stuff on the catwalk, French poodles and German Shepherds who dabble in the latest European fashions trends and hamsters with visions of becoming the next Miss July may have a creative outlet.
In preparation for their Almost Home 2010 calendar, the U.S. Humane Society is accepting photos of pets around the country. The winners will be chosen by a panel of judges and will be notified by late November, the Lafayette Journal and Courier reports.
The calendars, which will be available on December 13, cost $12.50 each and will raise money to help the Almost Home Humane Society in efforts to control the pet population, promote pet care and give shelter to homeless and neglected animals.
Contestants must submit a pet photo by this Friday, along with an entry form and $5.
"This is a fun thing that gives people a chance to interact with us, and it doesn’t cost much," said Michelle Warren, the Humane Society’s executive director.
The Almost Home Humane Society is an independent nonprofit agency that sates its mission is "the prevention of cruelty to animals, relief of suffering among animals and the extension of humane education."