Comments for www.ShannonLHill.com http://shannonlhill.com A rescuer's take on animal welfare Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:56:55 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Comment on Another Rescue Radar Moment by shannon http://shannonlhill.com/2011/12/another-rescue-radar-moment/comment-page-1/#comment-11295 shannon Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:56:55 +0000 http://shannonlhill.com/?p=672#comment-11295 UPDATE: The baby dustbunny will go to her new foster home on Saturday. She will shortly thereafter be available for adoption through Smart Rescue (www.smartpetz.com). Thank you to Smart Rescue for offering her a place to go! UPDATE: The baby dustbunny will go to her new foster home on Saturday. She will shortly thereafter be available for adoption through Smart Rescue (www.smartpetz.com). Thank you to Smart Rescue for offering her a place to go!

]]> Comment on All That Is Necessary… by Gianni http://shannonlhill.com/2011/09/586/comment-page-1/#comment-929 Gianni Tue, 04 Oct 2011 01:12:36 +0000 http://shannonlhill.com/?p=586#comment-929 I don't know much, but I have begun to read about animal laws in Texas. Here are some links. Texas Laws (Statutes), TITLE 10. HEALTH AND SAFETY OF ANIMALS http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us -- Chapter 821. Treatment and Disposition of Animals http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/HS/htm/HS.821.htm -- Chapter 822. Regulation of Animals http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/HS/htm/HS.822.htm -- Chapter 823. Animal Shelters http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/HS/htm/HS.823.htm -- Chapter 825. Predatory Animals and Pests http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/HS/htm/HS.825.htm -- Chapter 826. Rabies http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/HS/htm/HS.826.htm -- Chapter 828. Dog and Cat Sterilization http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/HS/htm/HS.828.htm -- Chapter 829. Animal Control Officer Training http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/HS/htm/HS.829.htm Texas Dept. of State Health Services, Animal Laws: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/health/zoonosis/laws SPCA of Texas, Overview of Texas Laws: http://www.spca.org/page.aspx?pid=316 Animal Legal and History Center, Analysis of Texas Laws: http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ovustxcruelty.htm I don’t know much, but I have begun to read about animal laws in Texas. Here are some links.

Texas Laws (Statutes), TITLE 10. HEALTH AND SAFETY OF ANIMALS
http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us

– Chapter 821. Treatment and Disposition of Animals
http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/HS/htm/HS.821.htm

– Chapter 822. Regulation of Animals
http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/HS/htm/HS.822.htm

– Chapter 823. Animal Shelters
http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/HS/htm/HS.823.htm

– Chapter 825. Predatory Animals and Pests
http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/HS/htm/HS.825.htm

– Chapter 826. Rabies
http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/HS/htm/HS.826.htm

– Chapter 828. Dog and Cat Sterilization
http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/HS/htm/HS.828.htm

– Chapter 829. Animal Control Officer Training
http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/HS/htm/HS.829.htm

Texas Dept. of State Health Services, Animal Laws:
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/health/zoonosis/laws

SPCA of Texas, Overview of Texas Laws:
http://www.spca.org/page.aspx?pid=316

Animal Legal and History Center, Analysis of Texas Laws:
http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ovustxcruelty.htm

]]> Comment on MCAS: The Low-Cost Clinic and the Veterinary Establishment by Nancy Nelson http://shannonlhill.com/2011/09/mcas-the-low-cost-clinic-and-the-veterinary-establishment/comment-page-1/#comment-772 Nancy Nelson Wed, 28 Sep 2011 11:44:26 +0000 http://shannonlhill.com/?p=581#comment-772 Shannon this all makes me sick to my stomach. Spending so much of my time and money trying to save animals I have a hard time wrapping my brain around someone who is supposed to be doing the same undermining the very core of animal welfare. The shelter offers these services to fill a void in the county that the local vets never stepped in to fill. For years they had the opportunity to start a low cost clinic and they could have made a killing but no one ever did. The people who use these services do so because they cannot afford the alternatives and would basically do nothing instead which means more disease, more animals, and more over crowding at an already overcrowded shelter. What vet who supposedly cares about animals and has made that his or her profession would be this callous and cold. I have a few ideas but I will keep that to myself for now. As tax payers of Montgomery Co we need to be very vocal in our support of these programs that cost the tax payers nothing and provide a benefit at the shelter that could only be replaced with the county allotting tax dollars. We need to make sure the commissioners realize that these programs are necessary and a service to the residents of Montgomery Co and that because a few vets are upset their profits are down, ( duh a recession and bad economy have nothing to do with that) should not ruin it for all the tax paying, voting residents of the county. Shannon this all makes me sick to my stomach. Spending so much of my time and money trying to save animals I have a hard time wrapping my brain around someone who is supposed to be doing the same undermining the very core of animal welfare. The shelter offers these services to fill a void in the county that the local vets never stepped in to fill. For years they had the opportunity to start a low cost clinic and they could have made a killing but no one ever did. The people who use these services do so because they cannot afford the alternatives and would basically do nothing instead which means more disease, more animals, and more over crowding at an already overcrowded shelter. What vet who supposedly cares about animals and has made that his or her profession would be this callous and cold. I have a few ideas but I will keep that to myself for now. As tax payers of Montgomery Co we need to be very vocal in our support of these programs that cost the tax payers nothing and provide a benefit at the shelter that could only be replaced with the county allotting tax dollars. We need to make sure the commissioners realize that these programs are necessary and a service to the residents of Montgomery Co and that because a few vets are upset their profits are down, ( duh a recession and bad economy have nothing to do with that) should not ruin it for all the tax paying, voting residents of the county.

]]> Comment on Basic Vocabulary for Animal Welfare Volunteers by lynette http://shannonlhill.com/2011/09/basic-vocabulary-for-animal-welfare-volunteers/comment-page-1/#comment-720 lynette Mon, 26 Sep 2011 21:19:07 +0000 http://shannonlhill.com/?p=561#comment-720 I get asked all the time what is "EU". :-( I also interviewed a new pet sitter this weekend; showed her my new (adorable!) foster puppy from MCAS. I explained that he is being treated for a non-contagious form of mange; she looked at him in horror and said, "aren't you afraid your other dogs are going to catch it?" I said, "It is NON-contagious demodectic mange.". UGH. :-( I get asked all the time what is “EU”. :-( I also interviewed a new pet sitter this weekend; showed her my new (adorable!) foster puppy from MCAS. I explained that he is being treated for a non-contagious form of mange; she looked at him in horror and said, “aren’t you afraid your other dogs are going to catch it?” I said, “It is NON-contagious demodectic mange.”. UGH. :-(

]]> Comment on I Think They Missed Me by shannon http://shannonlhill.com/2011/09/i-think-they-missed-me/comment-page-1/#comment-613 shannon Fri, 23 Sep 2011 21:36:51 +0000 http://shannonlhill.com/?p=568#comment-613 I'm thinking Pay Per View. I’m thinking Pay Per View.

]]> Comment on I Think They Missed Me by Gianni http://shannonlhill.com/2011/09/i-think-they-missed-me/comment-page-1/#comment-497 Gianni Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:27:52 +0000 http://shannonlhill.com/?p=568#comment-497 Please post a video of the Pekingese Circus in action. ;-) Please post a video of the Pekingese Circus in action. ;-)

]]> Comment on Shelter Politics: The Tuesday Night Meeting by teri drennan http://shannonlhill.com/2011/08/shelter-politics-the-tuesday-night-meeting/comment-page-1/#comment-72 teri drennan Thu, 01 Sep 2011 19:48:32 +0000 http://shannonlhill.com/?p=523#comment-72 I have been a recue group and shelter volunteer for several years and have seen some horrific examples of animal shelters. I have not decided on the privatization matter and just hope that it will be just what is best for the animals. Hate the politics! I have pulled 78 dogs from animal shelters all over the greater Houston area in the last 4 years. So, I think I have some idea of what shelters have more heart than others. I have seen things that I still can't believe people are capable of doing and it just gets worse. I would like to speak about MCAS. When I was first pulling from there you could walk in to the stray hold kennels and the smell of the bloody parvo diarhea would hit you in the face. Puppies laying in it and very sick. I met a very caring lady that was working there by the name of Minda Harris. I learned she started as a volunteer and then gave up a nice cushy lucrative job and a big cut in pay to work with the animals instead. I am not sure of what her title was at that time, but she called me and other rescue groups as soon as a dog came in that we could help. She would even try to keep them in a safe place from all the germs if we were coming straight over to get them. When she became acting manager I noticed constant improvements every time I picked up a dog. There are employees there that care about the animals and now under Minda they can help make the changes. I have pulled at many shelters and have never met the mangers/directors. They are away in their offices with the doors closed and keeping the stats away from the public. With Minda it has been an open door policy and she will tell you anything you want to know. She doesn't wear business suits and heels like the other directors because she is running around like crazy taking pics of new dogs and putting out pleas on facebook and just helping take care of the animals she loves. She is one dirty gal!! I have such respect of what she does and truly wish all of the shelters had a director of her caliber. The volunteers at MCAS are the best I have come across on my shelter travels. You can only have the best if the manager is inviting and wants this help. Shelters like HCPHES don't welcome volunteers, they do not want them to see what is going on and thinks it would be too much work. Very unfriendly to rescue groups also and won't even call one before they euthanize. I think when you go to a shelter and see lots of hard working volunteers it says alot about the shelter and its management. I decided to volunteer this past Sunday for the first time at MCAS. I went to help in the grooming room and a volunteer was bathing fleas off of a litter of puppies that had come in. They were so anemic their gums were white and skinny with huge bellies full of worms. I took one down to Minda's open office and showed the puppy to her and another great volunteer and next thing I knew the volunteer was down there giving worm treatments and B12 shots to that new litter. I was shocked and so happy to see that. I have been a recue group and shelter volunteer for several years and have seen some horrific examples of animal shelters. I have not decided on the privatization matter and just hope that it will be just what is best for the animals. Hate the politics!

I have pulled 78 dogs from animal shelters all over the greater Houston area in the last 4 years. So, I think I have some idea of what shelters have more heart than others. I have seen things that I still can’t believe people are capable of doing and it just gets worse.

I would like to speak about MCAS. When I was first pulling from there you could walk in to the stray hold kennels and the smell of the bloody parvo diarhea would hit you in the face. Puppies laying in it and very sick. I met a very caring lady that was working there by the name of Minda Harris. I learned she started as a volunteer and then gave up a nice cushy lucrative job and a big cut in pay to work with the animals instead. I am not sure of what her title was at that time, but she called me and other rescue groups as soon as a dog came in that we could help. She would even try to keep them in a safe place from all the germs if we were coming straight over to get them. When she became acting manager I noticed constant improvements every time I picked up a dog. There are employees there that care about the animals and now under Minda they can help make the changes. I have pulled at many shelters and have never met the mangers/directors. They are away in their offices with the doors closed and keeping the stats away from the public. With Minda it has been an open door policy and she will tell you anything you want to know. She doesn’t wear business suits and heels like the other directors because she is running around like crazy taking pics of new dogs and putting out pleas on facebook and just helping take care of the animals she loves. She is one dirty gal!! I have such respect of what she does and truly wish all of the shelters had a director of her caliber.

The volunteers at MCAS are the best I have come across on my shelter travels. You can only have the best if the manager is inviting and wants this help. Shelters like HCPHES don’t welcome volunteers, they do not want them to see what is going on and thinks it would be too much work. Very unfriendly to rescue groups also and won’t even call one before they euthanize. I think when you go to a shelter and see lots of hard working volunteers it says alot about the shelter and its management.

I decided to volunteer this past Sunday for the first time at MCAS. I went to help in the grooming room and a volunteer was bathing fleas off of a litter of puppies that had come in. They were so anemic their gums were white and skinny with huge bellies full of worms. I took one down to Minda’s open office and showed the puppy to her and another great volunteer and next thing I knew the volunteer was down there giving worm treatments and B12 shots to that new litter. I was shocked and so happy to see that.

]]> Comment on Amazing MCAS Volunteers and Trashy Political Tactics by Gianni http://shannonlhill.com/2011/08/amazing-mcas-volunteers/comment-page-1/#comment-71 Gianni Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:36:26 +0000 http://shannonlhill.com/?p=544#comment-71 My first visit to MCAS this weekend opened my eyes to the huge need for homes for the many cats and dogs I saw housed there, but I also saw that I could make a small impact by comforting a few of them while they waited for an uncertain future. The number and quality of volunteers I met on Saturday warmed my ticker. My first visit to MCAS this weekend opened my eyes to the huge need for homes for the many cats and dogs I saw housed there, but I also saw that I could make a small impact by comforting a few of them while they waited for an uncertain future. The number and quality of volunteers I met on Saturday warmed my ticker.

]]> Comment on Kids Can Help, Too. by Gianni http://shannonlhill.com/2011/08/kids-can-help-too/comment-page-1/#comment-57 Gianni Mon, 22 Aug 2011 18:28:14 +0000 http://shannonlhill.com/?p=535#comment-57 I was 14 at one time, and I remember voluteering though various groups, such as Boy Scouts. I found that I enjoyed making new friends and getting to know people while serving together for a worthwhile cause. You never know when volunteering may reveal a passion in life and an amazing experience! I was 14 at one time, and I remember voluteering though various groups, such as Boy Scouts. I found that I enjoyed making new friends and getting to know people while serving together for a worthwhile cause. You never know when volunteering may reveal a passion in life and an amazing experience!

]]> Comment on Shelter Politics: The Tuesday Night Meeting by Nancy Nelson http://shannonlhill.com/2011/08/shelter-politics-the-tuesday-night-meeting/comment-page-1/#comment-56 Nancy Nelson Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:28:59 +0000 http://shannonlhill.com/?p=523#comment-56 I am going to chime in here, I have not made a decision yet if I am for or against the privatization of the shelter yet, I am still forming my own opinion. I will say I am extremely disappointed by the former volunteers who have such a hatred for the shelter. Hate is a strong word but they are unwilling to see any good that has happened at the shelter and are so focused on what they conceive as the bad, even though they have not been up there is quite some time. So lets address some issues, the kennel cards, yes they have comments on them, if we can get that info from the stupid former owners. Parking lot drainage, they attempted to fix, we will have to see if it worked if it ever rains. Bigger issues than kennel cards and a wet parking lot, animal care. Do either of you ladies realize how many vets are treating animals at MCAS? REAL VETS not vet techs? Dr. Ryan thought vet techs were as good as the real things but they were not and was one of the reasons I almost quite fostering. There are vets there that will see and treat sick fosters, recent adoptions and you can get your pet checked before you even walk out the door with it just to make sure it is ok. This is HUGE... Add in they now actually have medicine to treat the animals and don't seem to run out as they used to. They are are spaying and neutering 7 days a week. Again a huge improvement. Most of this hatred and shelter bashing goes to the save rate, I have been there and seen the dogs make that walk and honestly I cried. It is a horrible gut wrenching thing to witness. I personally don't think there is one employee in the shelter who wants a dog or cat to be put down if it can be saved. What is the solution? Don't give me the No Kill crap, I read it and I don't agree with it. It is fundamentally flawed. To state there is not an animal over population problem is incorrect. If the shelter decided today, not to EU another animal, where do you suppose they house them? Where to you get the additional staff to adequately care for them. Where do you find the money in the budget to continue the current level of care for food and medicines? These are actual questions so please feel free to give me your actual solutions. Anyone can pound their chest and say their is a problem, not many can offer clear cut solutions. To say the budget is not an issue is wrong. If you want to see more changes at the shelter then the shelter needs the resources to make those changes and it is a cruel fact that money is what it would take. The shelter is already overcrowded, they are exceeding the max capacity. They have been very creative on how they fit them all in, but a life in a crate in no life. How do we get the public to stop buying and start adopting? How do we get the county to adequately fund the shelter? Have either of you gone to the county and asked for more money for the shelter? I am a realistic person and I would love for every animal to be saved but until the IQ of the population of Montgomery Co improves I don't see that happening overnight. Be for or against the privatization and debate the good or bad of that, but don't attack the staff or say they are not volunteer friendly because that is not the case. They are very willing to let volunteers offer opinions and offer solutions to problems and implement our suggestions. Do I like everything I see, not always, but I do know that unless I have a solution then don't bitch about it.. I am going to chime in here, I have not made a decision yet if I am for or against the privatization of the shelter yet, I am still forming my own opinion. I will say I am extremely disappointed by the former volunteers who have such a hatred for the shelter. Hate is a strong word but they are unwilling to see any good that has happened at the shelter and are so focused on what they conceive as the bad, even though they have not been up there is quite some time. So lets address some issues, the kennel cards, yes they have comments on them, if we can get that info from the stupid former owners. Parking lot drainage, they attempted to fix, we will have to see if it worked if it ever rains. Bigger issues than kennel cards and a wet parking lot, animal care. Do either of you ladies realize how many vets are treating animals at MCAS? REAL VETS not vet techs? Dr. Ryan thought vet techs were as good as the real things but they were not and was one of the reasons I almost quite fostering. There are vets there that will see and treat sick fosters, recent adoptions and you can get your pet checked before you even walk out the door with it just to make sure it is ok. This is HUGE… Add in they now actually have medicine to treat the animals and don’t seem to run out as they used to. They are are spaying and neutering 7 days a week. Again a huge improvement. Most of this hatred and shelter bashing goes to the save rate, I have been there and seen the dogs make that walk and honestly I cried. It is a horrible gut wrenching thing to witness. I personally don’t think there is one employee in the shelter who wants a dog or cat to be put down if it can be saved. What is the solution? Don’t give me the No Kill crap, I read it and I don’t agree with it. It is fundamentally flawed. To state there is not an animal over population problem is incorrect. If the shelter decided today, not to EU another animal, where do you suppose they house them? Where to you get the additional staff to adequately care for them. Where do you find the money in the budget to continue the current level of care for food and medicines? These are actual questions so please feel free to give me your actual solutions. Anyone can pound their chest and say their is a problem, not many can offer clear cut solutions. To say the budget is not an issue is wrong. If you want to see more changes at the shelter then the shelter needs the resources to make those changes and it is a cruel fact that money is what it would take. The shelter is already overcrowded, they are exceeding the max capacity. They have been very creative on how they fit them all in, but a life in a crate in no life. How do we get the public to stop buying and start adopting? How do we get the county to adequately fund the shelter? Have either of you gone to the county and asked for more money for the shelter? I am a realistic person and I would love for every animal to be saved but until the IQ of the population of Montgomery Co improves I don’t see that happening overnight. Be for or against the privatization and debate the good or bad of that, but don’t attack the staff or say they are not volunteer friendly because that is not the case. They are very willing to let volunteers offer opinions and offer solutions to problems and implement our suggestions. Do I like everything I see, not always, but I do know that unless I have a solution then don’t bitch about it..

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