The Good, The Bad, and the Outrageous!
|
Dogs Deserve Better
E-News 09/09/08 |
|
Dear Tammy,
 Meet Molly, DDB Tennessee rescue living in Pennsylvania. Molly is just one of many, many dogs rescued this year by DDB.
Wouldn't it be great to meet them all? That's why we produce our
annual DDB Calendar, so you can! At DDB it's no secret that we LOVE
dogs! What better way to prove how special they are than with
pictures? Yes, it's that time of year when Dogs Deserve Better Reps get
a chance to show off just a few of their rescued angels in our 2009
Calendar. DDB calendars are vibrant, beautiful filled with
heart-warming stories and before and after pictures.
I'm sorry to say that our "Sexy Dog Contest" was a flop, but our
Calendar Dogs are always a hit! Please send your chained/penned rescue
success with before and after pictures to: dawn@dogsdeservebetter.org.
Once again, we will be letting YOU choose the calendar cover with
your votes! And please remember, the worse the economy, the
harder it hits chained/penned dogs. Our rescue cannot continue
without your financial support,
so please give what you can. Together we can paint a beautiful picture
of world where every dog lives as part of the family. |
Pennsylvania Childrens'Art and Essay Contest: "Unchaining Buddy"
Teachers and Students statewide Invited to Participate!
 Children
and Animals - Teaching Kindness In the weeks preceding the PA Week for
the Animals, teachers and students in participating classrooms across
the state are invited to take part in a children's Art and Essay
contest on the subject of "Buddy Unchained."
Through
their artwork and writing, children are asked to have Buddy the
Chained Dog explain how he feels being chained outside all alone, and
why he wants to come inside and live with the family.
The
artwork & essays will be displayed at Adams County SPCA in
Gettysburg. There will be 3 winners selected from the Art entries and 3
winners from the essay entries.
Each of the 6 winning children will be recognized at the Awards Ceremony & Open House on Monday, September 22nd.
Each
child will also be awarded a copy of "Buddy Unchained," from the
nationally recognized non-profit organization Dogs Deserve Better.
Please send all artwork and essays (one-page only) to:
Adams County SPCA, 11 Goldenville Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325
Phone 717-334-8876 ext. 29
Fax 717-334-1338
Entries to be received no later than Thursday September 18th.
|
 From the Mailbag: Letter & Response
(Note: The names have been changed in the following letter)
Dear Dogs Deserve Better:
I have a problem with your organization.
Dogs need to be chained and leashed at all times for their safety and
protection. (Unless they are Shutzhund level trained, or have UD, CD or
CDX level training.) That is common sense dog ownership responsibility.
I have had dogs for 55 years. All have always been on a restraint or in
runs... even when we lived on the farm. The only dogs who were allowed
to be loose were the flock guards and herd dogs. Not everyone can
afford the luxury of a fenced yard. Why don't you focus on real serious
issues like spay and neuter funding for common or poor people,
community education on dog care responsibilities, dog health care and
nutrition assistance for poor and working poor people? -Roseanne
Dear Roseanne:
Dogs
Deserve Better does not recommend leaving dogs to run loose. What we
fight against are 24/7 chained and penned backyard dogs. We do spay and neuter and
we help provide fencing for families. We provide up to $200 for welded
wire fencing if the caretaker will bring their dog into the home and
family. We also provide fencing
for those with multiple dogs who will take their dogs off of chains and
let them live, play and sleep together. This effort is funded solely
through donations from our supporters. There are some 6,000,000 chained and penned dogs in America.
Though
a fence is a nice way to let the dogs out to run, it is not all a dog
needs. Let me give you my example of a responsible dog guardian. My
dogs are inside the house, all 7 packed into my office at the moment
because "My dogs want to be with me. I am their pack leader". Though
they have the entire house, they prefer to be in whatever room I am.
When
I say, "Let's go out to the fence!" Not one of them will perk up their
ears, but if I merely pick up their leashes and collars an
instantaneous uproar of excitement begins. Why? Because going for walks
with you is a dog's favorite form of exercise. Dogs do enjoy being in
the fenced-in yard, but only if I am with them. If I go into the house
and leave them, they all sit at the gate waiting for me.
So
you see, Roseanne, it doesn't take a lot of money to bring a dog into
the home; just a little love and understanding and the price of a
collar and a leash. I would think that even the poorest of homes could
afford that. Most of these homes have only 1-2 dogs to care for.
Interestingly
enough, Iowa Representative, Gayla Hausman just took a dog to the vet
for immediate surgery, which is going to cost our organization over
$1000. The reason for the surgery? To save this dog's
life as his collar became embedded from his time on
a chain. Are you still of the opinion that what we are doing is
insignificant? Please read the following article, view the pictures and
tell me then if what DDB is doing isn't worthwhile.
Dogs Deserve Better |
Severely Embedded Collar: Jake, Iowa
 Jake
is an 8 year old Golden Retriever mix, who has lived chained for eight
long years. He lives in Sioux City, Iowa with his brother, Dale.
The owners are quite elderly, and poor, and have not cared well
for the dogs for the last few years. A kind neighbor who has
looked out for the dogs and befriended them called and asked if we
could help rescue both of the dogs. She told us one of the dogs is in
poor condition, and had an embedded collar.
Jake was taken to an animal hospital where he was found to be in
critical condition. Luckily he is heartworm negative, but his neck injury is so severe
that he requires reconstructive surgery. A wonderful
vet from the clinic said the Jake is just the sweetest thing.
Jake's surgery is going to cost DDB over $1,000.00. Please donate
to help Jake! If you could provide a loving home for Jake or his
brother, Dale (who is still living on a chain) please contact:
Jake's rescuer, Iowa Rep., Gayla Hausman gayla_hausman@hotmail.com for more information. | |
Foster Opportunity
Dale, Iowa
Dale, a sweet Golden Retriever mix, is awaiting rescue and foster in Sioux City, Iowa.
Dale's brother Jake was taken to the vet for immediate surgery due to an embedded collar.
Poor Dale is still living on his chain and now he does not even have the company of his brother.
If you could foster Dale, or adopt either one, they would be
forever grateful. If you can find love in your heart and a home for
either dog, please contact Gayla at 402-239-5106 Gayla_Hausman@hotmail.com
| |
Officers Return Seized Dogs to Rock Hill Man
South Carolina
13 Pit Bulls that were seized from a Rock Hill home in July were returned to caretaker Richard Leach last Thursday.
Though
the a local veterinarian offered to spay/neuter all the dogs at no cost
to Leach and the court ordered Leach to do so, he refused to have the
procedures done saying, "I'm out here to work, make a living, take care
of my family, take care of my dogs. I don't run the streets. I don't go
to clubs. I don't drink. I don't hang out. I done had those lives. But
this is where I choose to be, right here, with my dogs."
| |
Puddles on the Floor
by Lorena Estep, Illustrated by DDB Founder Tamira Ci Thayne
 Chance
is a Beagle puppy who is just like every other dog - he wants a home
and a family to love him. But Chance has a little problem with leaving
"puddles on the floor."
Without the proper training, he ends up in a horrible place-stuck
at the end of a chain. Will Chance find the loving inside home and
family he deserves? (Hint: there IS a happy ending, would we have it
any other way?)
Pre-Order your copy today!
This is the first children's book created just for Dogs Deserve Better!
This book is perfect for family educational reading, and for humane education from 2nd-through 6th grades.
If you operate a nonprofit and would like to buy wholesale
for fundraising purposes, please call us at 814.941.7447 for pricing
options.
|
| Imagine a World Where Every Dog Lives as Part of the Family!
 The
number one way to make a difference in the lives of chained dogs and
penned dogs in the short term is to get educational information into
the hands of the caretakers.
These brochures, in both English
and Spanish, will help you do that. We're excited to debut our latest,
2008 revised, full color English brochures! All new, more positive-focus, and more photos help
get the job done. And now, kid-friendlier, no graphic photos, suitable
for all ages. Written from the dog's perspective. Addresses dog
fighting.
Education can and does work with many people! Even
when we don't see immediate payoff for our efforts, rest assured you
are making progress, one educational block at a time.
Order your brochures today by visiting:
|
|
