PetSmart donated $10,000.00 to a North Carolina Gas Chamber Shelter, what?

 

See Mimi Cooper pictured above with her PetSmart Inc, check in hand

 

PetSmart Inc supports killing homeless animals via the Randolph NC Gas Chamber. Do you want the facts that this reporter left out? Do you care about how the media spins just about anything and everything these days?

When you go to check out at PetsMart register the screen will ask if you would like to donate money towards their PetsMart Charity group, which one would reasonably think has been checked out thoroughly esp. those they choose to donate money to, if you were under this impression you would be wrong, dead gas chamber wrong that is. Is the Prison program a great program that's up and running in many animal shelters, YES. However you have to better understand the history of the Randolph Animal Shelter located in Asheboro NC.

See link: http://courier-tribune.com/sections/news/local/county-%E2%80%98-new-lease-life%E2%80%99-program-receives-petsmart-grant.html#.UnFkuZEtuQY.facebook

 

 1/ They are a double Gas Chamber facility. Not one but two, wow is all I can say here.

2/ They were offered in 2010 from a private citizen a sum of over $10,000.00 for the County to do with as they wished for any dept. if they would just dismantle the Gas Chambers and move to EBI, a more humane option when dealing with euthanasia of an animal.  Mimi Cooper, with the County Health Dept. refused this donation.  As she prefers to kill animals via a Gas Chambers than a more humane and cost effective way. ( That tells the story within itself.)

3/ HSUS of NC and ASPCA then donates $6,000.00 to the same shelter for a fresh coat of paint. And never addresses the animals are being killed via a barbaric Gas Chamber, that volunteers are refused time and time by Mimi Copper and her staff, animals are not pictured at intake and posted immediately for owners to recover their lost animals or to jump start the adoption process for those in need.

Could I list about 8 other infractions and heartbreaking items, yes I could but what is the need. The only item I feel anyone needs to take away here is PetsMart Inc, supports killing animals via a  Gas Chamber and that’s how cut and dry this needs to be.

Will I ever walk in a PetsMart again NO. And with as many animals as I have both personally and in my rescue, this was not a wise move for them.

Goodbye PetsMart and shame on your Corporation of Charities for not taking the time to better understand the situation at the Randolph County Animal Shelter and to write a $10,000.00 check off the backs of your daily donators who now see what little education and knowledge your employees have before they write out any checks. If we were to dig deeper, would we find even worse with some of the checks they have written die to their sloppy protocol, I bet we would.

But this ends now for me, I will never shop one of their stores again.

 

 

Double Gas Chambers at the Randolph County Animal Shelter  right beside the first kennels of dogs to not only see their pals drug and shoved into these chambers, but also in a direct ear shot to hear them scream, fight and claw their way to death.

 

Yes, Petsmart Charities this is what you just paid for and now many of us will never shop your stores again.

 

Shame on anyone who feels this is a humane way of death for any creature. 

NC makes provisions thru the general statues for animals left unattended in vehicles

                                     click on picture to view larger text


A huge thanks to Pricey Harrision for her hard work to make sure this provision was included with SB 626. 

144 geese euthanized in Gaston Co. North Carolina

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. —

The only sign that there were ever geese Gaston County's Dall Park are the hundreds of feathers we found along the bank of the lake.

Resident Rebecca Duffeck showed us where she came to visit the Canada geese nearly every day at the Dallas Park. On Wednesday, Eyewitness News couldn't spot one of the birds after the county decided to euthanize the geese.

"It was sick on my stomach I have taken care of these geese and loved these geese for so many years and it broke my heart to find out she had actually gassed them," Duffeck said.

The County Parks and Recreation director said the decision to euthanize the birds came after years of complaints and concerns over health issues. Before taking action, they applied for a federal permit and contracted through USDA'S wildlife services.

"Each goose has waste of a pound and a half a day. And when you add that up with the total geese we are dealing with that's 200 pounds of waste a day," director Cathy Hart said.

The county said the decision to euthanize the birds only came after several attempts were made to keep them away. Channel 9 could see signs posted near the lakes warning park visitors about the problem.

"We tried chemical repellents that would supposedly repel the geese with smell. We tried growing the grass tall around the lake. We tried harassing them with dogs," Hart said.

None of it worked and Hart says the birds did not migrate away from the three lakes at the park instead staying year around. Duffeck looked out Wednesday over the lake and couldn't see any wildlife. She believes that is part of the reason people come here.

"It is a park. Look at it now What is it now -- nothing. It is empty. It has no character. Parks should have animals," Duffeck said.

The director said she regrets having to make this decision but was concerned about the health and safety of the nearly 80,000 people who visit the park every year.

Carolina Waterfowl Rescue posted a message on its Facebook page saying it offered to help the county with removing the geese, but the birds were killed instead.

Link for online video: http://www.wsoctv.com/news/news/local/officials-144-geese-euthanized-gaston-co/nYWsX/

NC House Bill 956 moves to ban agressive breeds in 2014, speak out now before it's to late.

NC Residents stand up and be heard. Contact your NC State Legislators now and ask for this Aggressive Breed Ban to be stopped or re-written. As it is now all of these breeds will die the day they make their way into a NC County Animal Shelter as the time to apply for these conditions would expire as you cant do all this in 72 hrs that the Shelter works on. Stand up now before it's too late for all these breeds.


I understand this was to reduce dog fighting here in NC and I applaud those efforts with however they forgot to make any provisions for these breeds that end up as strays or lost dogs in our County Shelter System. This would mean death for each one of these breeds that make their way into our County Shelters again as no one has the space to hold them until these conditions are meet.

Speak up now before it's too late:

http://ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2013&BillID=H956&submitButton=Go

Who do I contact about a County Animal Shelter Violation in North Carolina

Have you seen a violation towards the animals in a County Shelter and you didn’t know who to contact? In NC the Dept. of Agriculture overseas our County Animal Shelters. Here's a list by County, however you can call the main office in Raleigh to notify them of your complaint or what you are concerned about. If you don’t make the call, who will? These animals need your voice when abuse is thrust upon them, they can’t speak for themselves.  Email AGR.AWS@ncagr.gov or Call Phone: (919) 733-7601; FAX: (919) 733-2277

Feds shut down Cherokee North Carolina bear park, from Public view

http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20130130/NEWS01/301300041/Feds-shut-down-Cherokee-bear-park

Feds shut down Cherokee bear park ( for public view and entertainment that is)

Jan 29, 2013   |  Written by John Boyle

Bob Barker and the Cherokee bears: Animal activist Bob Barker and PETA complain about treatment of bears in zoos on the Cherokee Indian reservation.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals called zoos in Cherokee "bear prisons," in billboards for a time in the Asheville area. / Citizen-Times file photo

CHEROKEE — Federal regulators shut down a bear park and fined it $20,000 after it was cited for failing to provide adequate shelter, food and veterinary care for the animals.

The Chief Saunooke Bear Park generated multiple protests by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, including a visit by former game show host Bob Barker, a PETA activist. PETA has lobbied heavily for the closure of the park, which they say is long overdue because of the inhumane conditions the bears are kept in.

(Watch the video at the top of this story from PETA and Barker's visit in 2009.)

“We’re very pleased this step is being taken and they’re being held accountable for the long-standing abuse and neglect of bears,” said Delcianna Winders, foundation director of captive animal law enforcement at PETA. “Ultimately, the bears need to come out of those pits.”

The park previously was cited for failing to maintain adequate barriers between visitors and the bears. Last year, PETA posted billboards calling the bear zoos “prisons” and noted in news releases that in two cases visitors had been bitten, including a 9-year-old girl who was feeding a bear cub Lucky Charms cereal and cat food.

A phone call Tuesday afternoon to Chief Saunooke Bear Park went unanswered. The zoo’s owner, Kole Clapsaddle, could not be reached.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued the fine and order suspending the park’s exhibitor license. The park had 11 bears in its latest inventory in the spring of 2012 — two Asiatic black bears, three grizzly bears and six North American black bears.

In a Jan. 15 order, the USDA stated that Clapsaddle agreed to the entry of the order and acknowledged the USDA’s jurisdiction over the matter. But he “neither admits nor denies the remaining allegations,” and “consents and agrees, for the purpose of settling this proceeding and for such purpose only, to the entry of this decision.”

The order calls for Clapsaddle, the park and its employees to “cease and desist from violating (the Animal Welfare Act)” and states the license is “suspended until (his) facility achieves full compliance.”

Of the $20,000 civil penalty, $5,000 is due immediately, and the remaining $15,000 will be held “in abeyance,” provided Clapsaddle does not “have any serious violations” of the Animal Welfare Act for two years.

USDA spokesman Dave Sacks said his department will not take custody of the bears. Clapsaddle will have an opportunity to come into full compliance with the regulations.

“He would still need to provide humane care and treatment for those bears,” Sacks said. “In order to get his license reinstated, he would have to prove that to the USDA. It’s not like we’re taking over the care of the bears. They are still his property, legally, so that’s still up to the individual to care for them.”

The USDA can confiscate animals if it can prove they are in “a state of unrelieved suffering,” Sacks said.

“That’s the only time we can take an animal, not because they’ve been written up for 20 different things or an animal advocacy group tells us to,” Sacks said.

The USDA will not conduct inspections on the park now that it is not licensed, but Sacks said “there are ways we would find out” if the bears are being mistreated, most likely through visitors, employees or the media.

The USDA previously found that the park’s operators failed to:

• Maintain a sufficient distance or barrier between animals and the viewing public to assure safety.

• Maintain dangerous animals such as bears under the direct control and supervision of a knowledgeable and experienced animal handler.

• Provide food for public feeding that was appropriate to the type of animal and its nutritional needs and diet.

• Maintain housing for animals that is structurally sound and in good repair to protect animals from injury and contain them securely.

• Keep food receptacles clean and sanitized.

• Provide adequate veterinary care.

PETA had lodged formal complaints with USDA and met with federal officials, as well as with members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

The animal rights group also issued a 62-page report from bear experts who visited the bear park and noted many apparent violations of the Animal Welfare Act.

Winders said PETA’s hope is that Chief Saunooke’s will never reopen and the bears will be relocated “to a reputable sanctuary where they’ll have the veterinary care, food and other essentials that they have been denied for years.”

PETA is “researching our options” on future action, Winders said.

 

Spay & Neuter in Robeson County North Carolina

Robeson County Humane Society helps with Spay & Neuter  Clinics.To combat the problem, the animal shelter at 3180 W. Fifth St., which is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., is offering a voucher redeemable at any veterinarian’s office in Robeson County for a free spay or neuter. A person making less than $33,510 a year is eligible. Two people making less than a combined income of $45,390 a year are also eligible.

All Natural Dog Treats and made in the USA

http://www.americanhealthkennels.com/

Help NC in 2013 pass an ANTI SLAPP SUIT LAW

 

 

 

 

In North Carolina we have no Anti Slapp Law, in fact we don’t even have one on the table to go up for a vote, why should this matter to you? If you care about any issues in our State, whether it be about the Animals and their Welfare, The School System, Fracking, Farm Land Issues or just local Politics on getting a street light up you need to care about the lack of this State Statue. Many NC Tax Paying Residents are in court being suit via SLAPP Lawsuits, these Lawsuits are meritless cases that are clogging up our court houses only filed to stop us from speaking out on valid concerns on State and County Issues. I urge you to please contact your General Assembly Members and tell them it’s time we put an Anti Slapp Bill back on the table and move forward like other states.

 

Right now there are 28 states with ANTI-SLAPP laws. The North Carolina bill introduced by Representative Hamilton did not make it out of committee last year. And if we want one back on the table for 2013 the General Assembly needs to hear from YOU!

 

http://www.ncleg.net/

 

North Carolina Animal Shelter & Rescue Inspectors Fall Short on Employee Handbooks

 

                                                                                                                   

In North Carolina we have State Animal Shelter & Rescue Inspectors that are put on the job with no Policy and Procedure Manuals. So now we know why Shelters are not Inspected or Audited in the same fashion or timeline, this is why many in the Animal Rescue Community do not see consistency from Inspection on local rescue to the next. If NC can create an Animal Welfare Act, Hire State Inspectors from a State Budget then the least they can do is prepare an Employee Handbook on how to conduct yourself for rules and procedures while doing these State Required Inspections, if you agree I hope you write the NC Dept. of Agriculture and tell them it's time they draft and publish a Shelter & Rescue Inspection Employee Handbook for their employees to adhere to. Maybe this way they can keep themselves out of many of the ditches they found themselves in lately. Favoritism is at play when no written policy is in place for everyone to follow.

http://www.ncagr.gov/

lee.hunter@ncagr.gov
Steve.Troxler@ncagr.gov
 

North Carolina Kills on Thanksgiving Week

A Shelter Pet’s reality during a Holiday week in NC. Most County Animal Shelters will close for of a total 4 days this week, which means Wed, Nov 21, 2012 many NC Shelters will KILL every animal in their facility. Why? As the staff does NOT want to come in to feed & water or clean their kennels. Welcome to North Carolina where you better pray you never lose your pet close to a Holiday as the 72 hrs. rule doesn’t seem to apply.  See how many dirty little secrets we hold in our Country Animals Shelters in NC, is this the state you want to move to, drive thru, give them your money or even come for a Holiday at? BTW, NC still believes in GASSING their animals to death, so hold tight to your little one while at the rest stop, the last place to want to misplace your family pet is North Carolina !!  We are a High Kill State, where about 14 of our Counties still refuse to report their kill numbers and more than 65% of them do NOT have a microchip scanner to even try to reunite these lost pets with their family before they shove them into a Gas Chamber. Again Welcome to North Carolina, where we put laws on the books that are unenforceable due to we place them under the wrong department. Example GS_130A-192. Looks wonderful on paper but it’s unenforceable as it was placed under the incorrect dept. which is regulatory and hold no enforceable power. Thank you Floyd McKissick Jr (Demo no less). For refusing to ever return a phone call or email on your own bill and correct your mistake that cost so many animals their lives every day. 
 http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/members/viewMember.pl?sChamber=Senate&nUserID=228

North Carolina High Kill Animal Shelters

Saving one life from a County Shelter is more than most ever accomplish. God Bless and Thank You to those who fight on the front lines daily trying to save lives in a responsible manner. The cards are stacked against those in rescue due to the 72 hr. timeline and mass number of animals killed every hour in these County Shelters. Give what you can, do what you can do and again Thank You to those who take on this action. You’re a hero to the animals who walk out the front door versus being tossed out lifeless thru the backdoor. Never give up the fight for responsible rescue and to save lives correctly.

Rabies & Mico-Chip Clinic in Winston Salem NC November 10, 2012

North Carolina Department of Agriculture County Animal Shelters Inspectors list by County

This will aid you to get in touch with the correct State Inspector of our County Animal Shelters by County.

The North Carolina Department of Agriculture directly over seas our County Shelters. Click on the link below to search by County Shelter Inspection, Report, Warning Letters and Fines.

http://www.ncagr.gov/vet/aws/

NC Gas Chambers to kill Shelter Animals must END!

 

Why are Flow meter’s not being used on the Gas Chamber’s here in the NC Animal Shelter System? When was the last state Inspection on any of these Gas Chambers? Why are we even in this day & time with the information we have today euthanizing our unwanted pet population in this barbaric way? It’s bad enough over 300,000 ( and that is a skeptical number as if you pull by County reports we sit  about 350,000 animals) that are being killed in the NC Shelter System every year with more that 50% being puppies and kittens which are 12 weeks old or under.

Yet still in NC over 19 Counties electively choose to kill via Gas Chambers. Yes, they electively choose to use Gas Chambers even knowing how barbaric it is and knowing that euthanizing via EBI would save their counties money. So what surrounds the madness in some of these NC Counties to still choose to electively use Gas Chambers to kill these sweet souls, well I encourage you to sit down and write a personal letter to each of these County Managers and ask them for that answer. And let’s see if in 2013 we can dispose of all remaining Gas Chambers here in NC and for this to happen we need YOU ! The animals need you to get involved, the animals need you to write heartfelt letters to these County Officials and help us turn this around. Being killed in a County Shelter at 12 weeks old is horrible enough but to be killed via a Gas Chamber is just unacceptable in this day in time.

 

North Carolina you can do better and as citizens of North Carolina we should all be embarrassed after all these other states in close proximity around us have stepped up to ban Gas Chambers at County Shelter’s all together. We don’t have to sit and wait for a State ban on these Gas Chambers, we just need to address each of these remaining Counties on a personal level.

 

I’m in are you?

Quick List:

 

Wilson County Animal Control

http://members.petfinder.org/~NC508/index.htm 4001 Airport Drive NW Wilson, NC 27896 Phone: 252-291-8142

 

Rowan County Animal Control

http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/NC350.html Rowan County Animal Control Just off I-85 1465 Julian Road Salisbury, NC 28146-2322 (704) 216-7768

 

Cabarrus County Animal Control

http://www.cabarruslaw.us/animalcontrol_0.asp Animals listed here: http://www.cabarrushumanesociety.org/   The Animal Control Office is located off of NC Hwy 49, behind Terminal Trucking, on G...

 

Gaston County Animal Control

http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/NC278.html Gaston County Animal Control 220 Leisure Lane Dallas, NC 28034 Phone: 704-922-8677

 

Union County Animal Services

http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/NC320.html Union County Animal Services 3340 Presson Road Monroe, NC 28112 704-283-8303

 

 

Davidson County Animal Control

http://www.co.davidson.nc.us/community/AnimalsforAdoption.aspx   If no animals are listed, please call!  Davidson County Animal Shelter 490 Glendale Road Lexington, NC 27292 336-357-0805

 

Randolph County Animal Control

www.petfinder.com/shelters/NC384.html Randolph County Animal Shelter 1370 County Land Road Randleman, NC 27317 Phone: 336-683-8235.

 

 

Iredell County Animal Control

www.petfinder.com/shelters/NC117.html   Iredell County Animal Control 243 Twin Oaks Road Statesville, NC 28677 Phone: 704-878-5424

 

Craven-Pamlico County Animal Control

http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/cpasc.html Craven-Pamlico Animal Services Center 1639 Old Airport Rd. New Bern, NC 28562 (252) 637-4606

 

Brunswick County Animal Control

http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/NC312.html Brunswick County Animal Services  429 Green Swamp Rd. 1.5 miles west of Supply, NC (910) 754-8204 or (910) 754-9261

 

 

Wilkes County Animal Control

http://www.humanesocietyofwilkes.org/animals.html Wilkes County Animal Control 408 Call Street Wilkesboro, NC (336) 903-7688.

 

Ashe County Animal Control

http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/NC682.html   Ashe County Animal Control 767 Fred Pugh Road Crumpler, NC 28617 Phone: (336) 982-4060 (near West Jefferson)

 

Nash County Animal Control

www.petfinder.com/shelters/NC277.html Nash County Animal Shelter 921 1st Street Extension Nashville, NC 27856 (252) 459-9855

 

Granville County Animal Control

http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/NC135.html Granville County Animal Shelter 5650 Cornwall Road Oxford , NC 27565 Phone: 919-693-6749

 

 

Johnston County Animal Control

www.petfinder.com/shelters/NC292.html Johnston County Animal Services 115 Shelter Way Smithfield, NC 27577 919-934-8474

 

Vance County Animal Control

www.petfinder.com/shelters/NC59.html Vance County Animal Shelter 165 Vance Academy Rd. Henderson NC 27537 Contact Phone: 252-492-3136

 

Beaufort County Animal Control

http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/NC293.html Beaufort County Animal Control 3931 Hwy 264 East Washington, NC 27889 Phone: 252-946-45

 

Sampson County Animal Control

http://www.Sampson.Petfinder.com If no pets are listed, please call! Sampson County Animal Control 168 Agriculture Place Clinton, NC 28328 (910) 592-8493

 

Cleveland County Animal Control

Cleveland County Animal Control 1601 Airport Road Shelby, NC 28150 (704) 481-9884 sam.lockridge@clevelandcounty.com (704) 476-3161 Fax: (704) 482-3432

 

Martin County Animal Shelter

Recently bought used gas chamber from New Hanover County 1411 Land Fill Rd, Williamston, NC - (252) 792-6910

Duplin County Animal Shelter fails State Inspection yet again Oct 25,2012

What does it take to understand that if you work in an Animal Shelter and you go by a kennel with an animal inside a cage and they have no water, you stop what you are doing and you give it water. Why would anyone need to have it in writting that you MUST GIVE WATER TO CAGED ANIMALS? If this is your staff then you need to fire and re-hire people with compassion and people who can think on their feet.

Duplin County Animal Shelter and Staff you are a disgrace, your excuse that you are doing the best that you can is a poor answer. Anyone who leaves animals with no water or a water bowl so high puppies cant reach it, feeds puppies & kittens hard food when their teeth are not developed yet to chew it, to allow animals no care over a weekend, well there is no excuse for this.

Revamp Duplin County Animal Shelter, get a new staff that has compassion and understands that caged aniamls need water and food. My heart breaks for these caged animals.

 

 

SomnaSol being used in some NC Animal County Shelters improperly to kill cat's.

ONLY USE ON CANINE

SomnaSol

This page contains information on SomnaSol for veterinary use.
The information provided typically includes the following:

·       SomnaSol Indications

·       Warnings and cautions for SomnaSol

·       Direction and dosage information for SomnaSol

Somnasol

This treatment applies to the following species:

·       Dogs

Manufacturer: Butler Schein™ Animal Health

Euthanasia Solution

For Dogs Only

For Intravenous Or Intracardiac Use.

Each mL contains: active ingredients: 390 mg pentobarbital sodium (barbituric acid derivative), 50 mg phenytoin sodium; inactive ingredients: 10% ethyl alcohol, 18% propylene glycol, 0.003688 mg rhodamine B, 2% benzyl alcohol (preservative), water for injection q.s. Sodium hydroxide and/or hydrochloric acid may be added to adjust pH.

Product Indications

SomnaSol is indicated for the humane euthanasia of dogs.

Description/indications

SomnaSol is a non sterile injectable solution labeled for the humane euthanasia of dogs.

SomnaSol Dosage And Administration

Use 1 ml per 10 pounds of body weight. IV injection is preferred but intracardiac administration can be used when IV application is impractical.

SomnaSol Caution

Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.

Caution should be exercised to avoid contact of the drug with open wounds or accidental self-inflicted injections. Keep out of reach of children.

Euthanasia may sometimes be delayed in dogs with severe cardiac or circulatory problems.

Warning: For canine euthanasia only.

Must not be used for therapeutic purposes.

Do not use on animals intended for food.

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD: This product is toxic to wildlife. Birds and mammals feeding on treated animals may be killed. Euthanized animals must be disposed of properly by deep burial, incineration, or other method in compliance with state and local laws, to prevent consumption of carcass material by scavenging wildlife.

Use of Luer-Lock syringe is recommended to prevent separation. The calculated dose should be given as a single bolused injection.

Manufactured by an non-sterilizing process.

Store between 15° and 30°C (59° and 86°F).

100 mL Multiple Dose Vial

Manufactured For: Butler Animal Health Supply, Dublin, Ohio 43017

Nac No.

10822362

BUTLER SCHEIN™ ANIMAL HEALTH
A Henry Schein Company
400 METRO PLACE NORTH, DUBLIN, OH, 43017-7545

Telephone:

614-761-9095

Pennsylvania House Bans Gas Chambers

Pennsylvania House Bans Gas Chambers

Latest news on PA, it seems the senate after the 3rd time has now passed a Gassing Ban on Shelter Animals, now that's left is for the Governor to sign off. Will we see PA become the 20th State to ban Gas Chambers for unwanted and homeless animals? Will NC be the last state to ban Gas Chambers due to their close relationship with Dr. Hauser? Why would any state want to Gas an animal to death after knowing what we know now?

http://www.northcountrygazette.org/2012/10/02/chamber_ban/

 

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has applauded the Pennsylvania House for voting to pass House Bill 2630, which would ban the use of carbon monoxide chambers at animal shelters, and allow shelter personnel to procure the drugs necessary to euthanize animals in a humane manner.

 

The bill, sponsored by Rep. John Maher, R-Allegheny, passed 189 to 6, and now moves to the Pennsylvania Senate.

 

 Current Pennsylvania law makes it difficult for animal shelters to procure the drugs needed to euthanize animals humanely, because the drugs can only be licensed to veterinarians, leaving the animals to suffer more painful and gruesome options such as gas chambers. The new legislation, HB 2630, bans gas chambers and also provides meaningful access to sodium pentobarbital to help ensure that when animals must be euthanized in shelters across the Commonwealth it is done as humanely as possible.  It also imposes penalties for violations of the act.

 

“The swift passage of HB 2630 means the tragic euthanasia of cats and dogs by gas chambers in Pennsylvania will soon come to an end,” said Rep. Maher immediately after passage. “I’m excited by the overwhelming passage in the House and hopeful for quick Senate action.”

 

On Wednesday (Oct. 3) , the Pennsylvania House is expected to take up the Costs of Care of Seized Animals Act, HB 2409, a bill stating that owners have a financial obligation for the care for their pets. In addition, owners will be held responsible for costs of care if their animals are seized for cruelty or neglect. By shifting the burden for the cost of care from an investigating agency to the alleged abuser, the act will encourage the vigorous investigation and enforcement of animal cruelty and reduce the financial costs to local taxpayers.

 

Facts:

 

The few animal shelters inPennsylvaniawhich use out of date carbon monoxide chambers as a method of euthanasia do so because they have no access to a veterinarian to provide the necessary euthanasia drugs. HB 2630 will allow shelters across the Commonwealth the ability to procure euthanasia drugs themselves, at a lower cost – both practically and emotionally – over operating a carbon monoxide chamber.

 

The animals euthanized in shelters are often old, young, ill or injured; none of these animals can be humanely euthanized in a gas chamber. Even healthy adult dogs and cats will suffer stress just by being placed in a gas chamber, making their death inhumane.

 

Gas chambers pose great physical and psychological harm to staff. Staff must handle, transport and place animals into the chamber, putting them at risk of bites and scratches. Animal care workers have also been injured and killed by carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless and tasteless toxic gas.

 

Studies have proven that it is more expensive to operate a gas chamber than it is to purchase and use euthanasia drugs.

 

For more information on animal welfare legislation in Pennsylvania, please visit humanesociety.org/pennsylvania.

Where will 250 animals go now as a County Shelter Closes?

Humane Society votes to close shelter

by Mallory Brown and Dawn M. KurryRichmond County Daily Journal

25 days ago | 22918 views | 11 | 28 | |

Valerie Davis

slideshow

Kenneth Robinette

slideshow

Thad Ussery

slideshow

Time is running out for the Humane Society of Richmond County’s local animal shelter.
In a meeting on Thursday, the Humane Society board voted unanimously to cease shelter operations as of Oct. 31, 2012, according to Director Valerie Davis.
Davis said the decision is due to a lack of funding.
“A couple of months back, I began presenting to the board,” she said. “I kept telling them that it’s really bad. We’ve been running about a $35,000 deficit for over a year. We need to start making some decisions.”
According to Davis, shelter maintenance requires approximately $26,000 a month, and expenses have been piling up.
The Humane Society of Richmond County formed in 1981 as a small cat shelter, she said. In 1999, the officers of the Humane Society approached the county government and proposed the county aid them in operating a shelter. In 2002, doors opened to the new animal shelter located at 529 U.S. Highway 74 West Business, in Rockingham.
“For the last ten years, it has hung in there,” Davis said on Friday. “But there have always been budget constraints and tough times … In our contract, if we can’t function and operate the shelter on the funds we get, it reverts back to the county.
“Last night I asked the board, as a group, to please make a decision tonight. I asked them if they were going to pull out, because, as the director, not only am I going to be unemployed, but I have 11 other employees. I need to start making provisions,” said Davis.
Humane Society Board Chair Evonne Swanson confirmed on Friday that a vote had been taken.
“We have voted as a board that we will not operate in that shelter and continue the contract with the county,” Swanson said. “We won’t be there unless the county assists us in some way … We cannot continue as we have been. There has to be a change.”
Swanson said the shelter can still continue just as it is, but it becomes the county’s responsibility.
Although Davis and Swanson both said Friday that the Humane Society’s plans to withdraw from the shelter had been finalized, a letter from Humane Society Attorney Kelly G. Williams of Deane, Williams & Deane to county officials hints at other options.
The letter to county officials reads, “It has become painfully obvious to the Humane Society of Richmond County, Inc. that it can no longer operate its animal shelter under the current income/expense projections for 2012 through 2013.”
However, toward the end of the letter, Williams wrote, “Time is of the essence for the Humane Society to restructure its income base. If the Society has not received firm commitments from the local governments by October 31, 2012, it will be forced to close its shelter and dissolve its corporation.”
According to the letter, the shelter could stay open with monetary contributions from local municipalities each month. Proposed allocations include $300 from Dobbins Heights, $500 from the Town of Ellerbe, $800 from the City of Hamlet, $250 from the Town of Hoffman, $100 from the Town of Norman, $1,000 from the City of Rockingham and $22,000 from Richmond County. Those figures are based on the number of animals that the Humane Society received from the city limits of each city or town and within Richmond County, the letter said. Municipalities could opt to be billed monthly per animal, each of which would cost $76.50, according the letter. It goes on to list the average number of animals received from each jurisdiction per year, for example 150 from Rockingham.
The letter also reads: “After careful review of past income/expense reports and the projected income/expense report for 2012-2013, the Humane Society estimates a deficit of $53,000.00. Currently, the Humane Society has a deficit of $44,000.00 from Fiscal Year 2011-2012.”
Richmond County Board of Commissioners Chairman Kenneth Robinette said Friday that if the county has to take over the shelter, it would do so.
“Our staff has been monitoring this over the last few weeks and has offered ideas and suggestions to the Humane Society,” said Robinette. “I understand they have sent a letter, which I have not yet seen. If the county takes over the shelter, I promise we’ll run it as efficiently and effectively as we can.”
Robinette also said, “The board will continue to support the Humane Society.”
County Commissioner Thad Ussery said, “I really hate to hear this, but we were trying to help them through their budget crunch. But if they won’t take advice, I don’t know what else they can do. If they give it up, we will have to take it over and run it more efficiently. There are some things that could be changed.”
“There are so many people in the community who have supported us for so long, that have a right to know what’s going on,” Davis said. “We want the community to know that the Humane Society isn’t going to cease to exist. We’re still an organization — we’re just not going to be operating the animal shelter.”
Due to its Oct. 31 closing date, Davis said the animal shelter is working to find a home for all 250 of its animals.
“We’re taking it week by week now,” she said. “We’re going to encourage folks to come and pull — to rescue. We probably will waive adoption fees. We’ve got extra dog houses and transport kennels that were donated to us, and I’m going to donate those with the dogs.”
Davis said the shelter will also adopt new shortened hours, and will be closed to the public on Sunday through Tuesday. It will remain open on Wednesday through Saturday from 12 to 3 p.m.
— Staff Writer Dawn M. Kurry can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 15, or by email at dkurry@heartlandpublications.com. Staff Writer Mallory Brown can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 16, or by email at mallorybrown@heartlandpublications.com.

Read more: Richmond County Daily Journal - Humane Society votes to close shelter

Nature's Recipe Oven Baked Biscuits Recall

 

Recall -- Firm Press Release

FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls and market withdrawals from the firms involved as a service to consumers, the media, and other interested parties. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.

Nature's Recipe Voluntarily Recalls Nature's Recipe Oven Baked Biscuits With Real Chicken Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination

Contact:
Consumer:
800-237-3856

Media:
Chrissy Trampedach
Del Monte Foods
Chrissy.trampedach@delmonte.com
415-247-3268

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 13, 2012 - Nature’s Recipe brand is voluntarily recalling a limited supply of Nature’s Recipe® Oven Baked Biscuits with Real Chicken, manufactured in one of its U.S. production facilities. This is being done as a precautionary measure, as the product has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some, or all, of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected, but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

No pet or consumer illnesses from this product have been reported to date. However, because of its commitment to safety and quality, the Company is conducting a voluntary recall of this product.

The potentially affected lots of Nature’s Recipe Oven Baked Biscuits with Real Chicken were distributed nationally, primarily through pet specialty retailers.

Nature’s Recipe Oven Baked Biscuits with Real Chicken is sold in 19-ounce stand-up resealable pouches. The product affected by this recall is identified below and has the following "Best If Used By" dates:

Lot Code:	UPC Code:	Size:	Product Name/Description:	Best If Used By Date:
2199TP	30521 51549	19-ounces	Nature’s Recipe Oven Baked Biscuits with Real Chicken	10 11 13
2200TP	30521 51549	19-ounces	Nature’s Recipe Oven Baked Biscuits with Real Chicken	10 12 13

Product and product lots that do not appear on the list above are not subject to this recall.
Consumers who have purchased the above lots of Nature’s Recipe Oven Baked Biscuits with Real Chicken should stop feeding the product and discard immediately. For further information about the recall and for instructions on obtaining replacement product, consumers can use the Contact Us form at www.naturesrecipe.com¹ or call the Consumer Hotline, 24 hours a day, at 800-237-3856.

About Nature’s Recipe® Nature’s Recipe®, a brand of Del Monte Foods, markets a complete line of natural dog food and treats and recently introduced a line of natural cat food. Nature’s Recipe® has been making better pet food where “Every Ingredient Counts® ” for more than 30 years. For additional information about Nature’s Recipe®, visit www.naturesrecipe.com².

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