News Alert: August 7, 2009

1. ASPCA Rescue Tails: Learning to Be a Dog Again

Jan Viney, Development Director of Dane County Humane Society (DCHS) in Madison, WI, knows all too well that working in animal welfare often means falling in love with a new furry friend every day. Until recently, she had reserved her love for the feline kind, specifically her three cats, but that changed earlier this year when DCHS received an influx of severely neglected dogs who needed extra care.   On May 19, DCHS joined the ASPCA, among other agencies, in a full-scale raid of the Thyme and Sage Ranch, an animal "sanctuary" in Cazenovia, WI. The emergency response teams discovered more than 400 animals housed in deplorable conditions and suffering from neglect—ear and eye infections, rotted teeth, mange, malnutrition and infections were rampant. One such victim was Skylar, a two-year-old dog whose fur was so matted she could hardly walk.

“Most of the animals from Thyme and Sage were very under-socialized,” Jan says. “Skylar had kennel cough, so it was difficult to get her out among other animals and people.”

Looking to lend a helping hand, Jan offered to foster the suffering pup in her office during the day. She admits, “I was a little nervous at first, since I’d never had a dog. July 6 was the first day she spent in my office, and she was terribly timid and wouldn’t even walk on a leash.”

“Within a week, I couldn’t bear returning her to the kennel at night,” says Jan. “So I started fostering full time—and the rest is history!”

Skylar is now happily ensconced with Jan, her partner, Peter, and their three cats, Prism, Maddie and Oliver. The family has adjusted well as Skylar learns for the first time to be a well-loved pet.

“It’s so fun watching her discover what it means to be a dog,” Jan reflects. “She is really coming out of her shell and loves to be outdoors. At first, she was unsure of the grass, but now every time I take her for a walk, she is so happy. That’s why I named her Skylar—the lure of the sky—Skye, for short.”

P.S.: Live in Wisconsin and looking to foster a pup like Skylar? DCHS is looking for experienced volunteers to care for the animals rescued from the Thyme and Sage Ranch. If you’re interested in volunteering, please contact Jan Viney at janviney@giveshelter.org.

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2. ASPCA Social Networks: Get Involved Now!

Want to be the first to find out about ASPCA arrests, raids and contests? There’s a whole galaxy of online options to help you stay connected up-to-the-minute with the ASPCA! Social networking sites are great for you and for us—we like them because you can give us instant feedback and we can respond back to you just as quickly. All of the following networking tools are free and help the ASPCA further our efforts to prevent cruelty to animals, so get involved now if you’re not already!

Twitter is hot right now! The ASPCA posts 8 to 10 instant animal welfare-related updates (or tweets) daily to our Twitter page, engaging our animal-loving subscribers (including rock legend Ozzy Osbourne) all day long. Check out our tweets on pet care tips and fighting animal cruelty, and post your own adoptable animals! You can also comment on News Alert using the Twitter hash tags below each article.   Facebook is home to our fan page and application that lets you virtually adopt our pets, and we’re giving away great prizes to Facebook app users each month!    MySpace lets you put an ASPCA donation widget right on your profile and download tons of other cool stuff, like banners, custom layouts and cute animal wallpaper for your computer.

Flickr is where we post tons of photos of our adoptable pets and of national and local New York City events, like our annual Go Orange for Animals Celebration and our Shelter Dog Talent Show! Comment on our photos and tell us what you’d like to see more of.

To find all of these links in one place, visit ASPCA.org/online-community.

Do you Twitter? Use this hashtag to tweet on this article: @aspca and #SocialNetworks

3. Dying Doves Rescued from NYC Park

Two weeks ago, dozens of White Ringneck doves took up residence in Flushing Meadows Park in Queens, NY. Although no one has come forward, the most likely explanation for the sudden appearance of these non-native birds is that they were released during a local wedding.

Unlike their pigeon relatives, White Ringneck doves are heavily domesticated birds who are unable to care for themselves—so rather than enjoying their newfound freedom, the 40 to 45 doves were attacked by larger birds and dogs, bombarded by rain, and suffered from starvation, hypothermia and infections. Happily, about half of the flock has been captured and is receiving veterinary care, while rescuers continue to search for those still remaining in the park.

“There is a common misconception that doves are just white pigeons, and that they’ll be fine out there in the world,” says Dr. Louise Murray, Director of Medicine at ASPCA Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital. “As this case has illustrated, nothing could be further from the truth. While I would hope that those responsible for releasing these doves in Queens didn’t know any better, at least this episode can serve as a lesson to make responsible decisions when involving live animals in an event.”

Setting doves loose isn’t the only popular, animal-related festivity faux pas. Releasing balloons can also endanger many species of wildlife, particularly birds and aquatic animals such as turtles, whales and fish. Animals often ingest deflated balloons, which can cause choking or gastrointestinal blockage, and can become entangled in the attached ribbons and string.

For more information about celebrating safely with animals, please visit our seasonal and holiday tips online.

Do you Twitter? Use this hashtag to tweet on this article: @aspca and #RescuedDoves

4. Brooklyn Woman Assaults Two ASPCA Agents

On July 23, ASPCA Supervisory Special Investigator Annemarie Lucas and Special Agent Kristi Adams arrested Brooklyn resident Andrea Stewart, age 39, after the woman attacked the two Agents.

Responding to an anonymous tip about a neglected cat, the Humane Law Enforcement agents arrived at Stewart’s residence to find a seven-week-old, one-pound orange tabby with his whiskers cut off and a serious injury to his right front paw. “The kitten’s leg was broken,” says Supervisor Lucas. “As of now, he might lose his paw and is suffering from a rib fracture as well.” It was determined that Stewart had failed to get medical attention for her cat.

Says Joseph Pentangelo, Assistant Director of ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement, “In response to the agents’ decision to seize the kitten, Stewart choked and knocked down one of the ASPCA uniformed officers and punched the other."

Stewart was arrested by ASPCA Special Agent Kristi Adams and taken to Kings County Hospital for observation. The agents were treated for injuries at local hospitals, while the kitten, named Macaroni by officials, was taken to the ASPCA Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital, where he’s expected to recover and be readied for adoption.

Since it is a felony to assault a New York State Peace Officer, Stewart could receive two counts of felony assault and one count of animal cruelty.

Do you Twitter? Use this hashtag to tweet on this article: @aspca and #AgentsAttacked

5. Your Videos Wanted: Dog Days of Summer Contest

The tail end of summer is officially here, and we want to see how your pup is spending these long, dog days of summer. Catch your pooch riding the waves or soaking up some rays—and send us the video evidence! Upload your masterpiece directly to YouTube and then submit the URL using this entry form. The top ten telegenic winners—selected by our doggie leisure experts—will receive a special prize pack from the ASPCA Store and will be featured on our website. But hurry up—summer’s winding down, and the deadline for entries is August 31!

Enter the contest.

P.S.: Have you seen the winners of the 2009 Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat Month Photo Contest? We asked you to submit pics of kitty engaged in his favorite “cat-ercise.” The public weighed in, and we awarded gold, silver and bronze to three agile felines. Check ‘em out!

Do you Twitter? Use this hashtag to tweet on this article: @aspca and #DogVideoContest

6. ASPCA Pet of the Week: Someone to Watch Over Me

Searching for someone to adore you? One-year-old Smokey might be the boy kitty you’re looking for. This handsome friend will love to love you—and really, what more could you want? With emerald green eyes, he’s a secret admirer, meaning he’s mostly level-headed, but still knows the value of a good head butt.

“Smokey likes other cats and loves people,” says Katie Watts, ASPCA Senior Feline Behavior Counselor. “Once he settles in, he's a relaxed kind of guy who would be happy just chilling with his favorite person or cat—and he always makes time for play.”

So get cracking, people—this little kitty won’t be here for long, especially once he starts batting those lashes at potential pet parents. If you’re interested in adopting Smokey, please call our Animal Placement department at (212) 876-7700, ext. 4120. To view other animals looking for homes, visit our Adoption Center online.

****Got Facebook? Won’t you please donate your status to Smokey today? Just copy and paste the following message onto your profile status to help spread the word that this kitty needs a home!

[Name] is donating my status to Smokey http://www.aspca.org/smokey, a cat at the ASPCA who needs a new home.

Do you Twitter? Use this hashtag to tweet on this article: @aspca and #SmokeyCat