News Alert: April 30, 2010

1. Victory for Racing Dogs: New Hampshire Passes Greyhound Protection Act!

On Wednesday, April 14, the New Hampshire State Senate voted nearly unanimously to pass the Greyhound Protection Act (House Bill 630) to permanently ban the racing of Greyhounds in the Granite State. The bill had already passed the state’s House of Representatives in March, so it now goes to Governor John Lynch, who is expected to sign it into state law.

Thanks for this legislative victory are due in part to the New Hampshire-based members of the ASPCA Advocacy Brigade, who sent 267 emails to their state senators urging support for the act, and to Senator Sheila Roberge, who took the Senate floor to tell the tragic story of Amber, a Greyhound who lost her life in a violent track accident. Amber was one of nearly 1,200 dogs injured while racing in New Hampshire between 2005 and 2008—these injuries included broken legs, paralysis, cardiac arrest and head trauma.

The ASPCA opposes dog racing, which is an inherently cruel form of entertainment. Racing dogs are confined for 20 hours or more a day in small cages, often wearing muzzles; they are bred excessively in the quest for good runners, with the “excess” puppies killed or otherwise discarded; they suffer from inhumane transportation as they’re shuttled from state to state for racing purposes; and they regularly endure serious and fatal injuries.

The nine states that have banned dog racing are: Maine (1993), Virginia (1995), Vermont (1995), Idaho (1996), Washington (1996), Nevada (1997), North Carolina (1998), Pennsylvania (2004) and Massachusetts (2008, effective 2010). You can learn more by checking out our frequently asked questions on Greyhound racing.

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2. ASPCA Pet of the Week: Extra Sharp Cheddar

Sweet Cheddar is a darling four year old with special needs. She has fully recovered from a potentially serious liver condition—caused by not eating—but still requires an attentive pet parent who will remind her to chow down.

“Cheddar is amazing!” says Katie Watts, ASPCA Senior Feline Behavior Counselor. “She's very affectionate and would do well in just about any home, including with a first-time cat parent or with children. She's really one of the friendliest cats out there!”

If you’re interested in adopting this little cutie pie, please contact our Animal Placement department at (212) 876-7700, ext. 4120. To see other animals looking for homes, visit our Adoption Center online.

****Got Facebook? Won’t you please donate your status to Cheddar 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 Cheddar http://www.aspca.org/cheddar, a cat at the ASPCA who needs a new home.

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3. Animal Lovers “Go Orange” Across the Country

This April, we asked you to join millions of animal lovers nationwide to honor Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month and raise awareness of our collective victories on behalf of our four-legged friends. As we wrap up the month, we’d like to send a special shout-out to our supporters, who helped make this April one of the best and brightest ever. Check out some of the creative ways your fellow animal lovers “went orange” this year:

• P.S. 30 Goes Orange: Public School 30 in Staten Island, NY, took part in its first “Go Orange” celebration on April 7, when students donned orange and donated dog and cat food to their local shelter. The children also took part in humane education lessons throughout the day to encourage compassion and kindness for all living things.
• Zumbathon for Pets: On April 11, a fitness instructor who teaches Zumba, a form of aerobic dance, in Centreville, VA, hosted a “Zumbathon” to generate funds for animals and fun for those who love them. With 100% of the proceeds going to the ASPCA, the event was a rousing success and raised more than $600 for animals!
• Buildings All A-Glow: Along with the yearly spectacle of the Empire State Building bathed in orange light, the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA, and the Red Lion Hotel at the Park in Spokane, WA, are just a few of the landmarks that joined the fun and went orange, too!
  
• Party on the Block: On April 17, the great borough of Brooklyn hosted a festive block party on the steps of the Brooklyn Public Library near Prospect Park. The day-long event, sponsored by Subaru, included performances by American Idol winner Fantasia and Grammy-nominated singer Maiysha, as well as free spay/neuter surgeries and vaccinations.

Many thanks to all of our members for making April such a banner month!

Action Tip: Want to wear your compassion on your sleeve all year long? Spread the word that you love animals with an orange wristband!

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4. ASPCA Anti-Cruelty Veterinarian Honored by Brooklyn D.A.

On April 23, Dr. Robert Reisman, Medical Coordinator of Animal Cruelty Cases at the ASPCA, was honored with a “Making a Difference” Award from Kings County (Brooklyn) District Attorney Charles J. Hynes. Each April during Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month, the Kings County D.A. presents these distinguished awards as a tribute to those who have made outstanding contributions to the prevention of animal abuse.

Dr. Reisman was recognized for his work at the ASPCA, where he handles a caseload averaging 300 animal victims each year. Since joining the ASPCA as a clinician in 1988, Dr. Reisman has played a vital role in the growth of the organization’s Humane Law Enforcement Department. Today, his medical and forensic investigations of animal cruelty enable the prosecution of hundreds of criminal cases each year. Just last month, Dr. Reisman assisted the Kings County D.A. in the prosecution of a Brooklyn man convicted of beating his Dachshund puppy to death.

“Dr. Reisman’s expertise and dedication is unparalleled. He makes an extraordinary difference in every case he handles,” says Stacy Wolf, ASPCA Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel of Humane Law Enforcement. “He consistently works to mitigate the problem of animal abuse and neglect within the community, and is an asset to the ASPCA Bergh Memorial Hospital staff.”

No stranger to honors, Dr. Reisman has received many distinctions for his dedication, including the ASPCA’s Angel Award, the Merit Award from VMANYC and the Maxwell Medallion from the Dog Writers Association of America, and was named 2008 Veterinarian of the Year by the Veterinary Medical Association of New York City.

More information on our Agents and the work they do can be found in our Humane Law Enforcement section.

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5. ASPCA Happy Tails: The Long Way Home

A true model of patience and modesty, Willamina had the dubious distinction of being our longest resident at the ASPCA Adoption Center—she was with us for more than 800 days! Though we loved having the little fireball around, we all cheered loudly when she finally found her forever home with Brooklynite Dana Wagner on April 14. Below Dana describes the fortuitous events that lead to their meeting, which was most certainly meant to be.

ASPCA: How did you first hear about Willamina? Dana: I first saw Willamina's bio and video on ASPCA.org over a year ago. I was immediately drawn to her, and kept noticing over the past year that she was still available for adoption.

ASPCA: When did you officially meet? Dana: In early April, I was browsing the adoptable cats list online, not intending to adopt, when I saw Willamina again. I re-posted her page on Facebook and Twitter, but something stirred in me, and I felt perhaps she belonged with our family. I discussed it with my partner, Iris, and we decided to go to the ASPCA to meet her.

ASPCA: Was it love at first sight? Dana: I knew right then and there that I would not leave without Willamina. I guess that her medical condition was the reason many potential adoptive parents had passed her up during her two years at the ASPCA, but it didn't deter us. She was so sweet and absolutely perfect. I knew that she belonged with us.

ASPCA: Do you have any other pets? Dana: Yes, we have three other cats: Spanky (2), Kai (5) and Hershey (5)—all boys. All were adopted as kittens from local animal rescue organizations.

ASPCA: How has Willamina settled into her new home? Dana: She's assertive and has been curiously exploring the apartment—the bedroom is her favorite place and she loves to cuddle at night. The boys have really welcomed her in, and Spanky, in particular, has been trying to get closer to her, but I think she's a bit shy when he gets too close.

ASPCA: Does she have any funny habits or behaviors? Dana: Yes! When she gets playful, she will nibble at our hands like they’re toys, turn herself upside down on her back and start kicking wildly with excitement.

ASPCA: What does she mean to you and your family? Dana: Willamina is a joy and a wonderful addition to our family. We're very happy to have found this sweet girl who was cared for by the ASPCA but couldn't find the right home. We know she was just waiting to come to ours.

Check out more stories of furry fate in our Happy Tails archive.

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6. We’re Honoring Moms with 25% Off in the ASPCA Store!

Mother’s Day is Saturday, May 9—don’t wait until the last minute to pick up a little something for the special ladies in your life! Mom will love that all purchases from the ASPCA Online Store directly support our life-saving programs—and to sweeten the deal, we’re offering 25% off all jewelry, ladies apparel and accessories when you enter the code MOTHERSDAY25 at checkout (code is good until May 6). Be sure to order by May 3 to receive her goodies in time for Mother’s Day.

Mother's Day Gift Ideas To celebrate her special day, the ASPCA Online Store is highlighting a slew of mom-friendly items for all tastes and budgets.

Travel: Pet Auto Barrier Unrestrained pets cause more than 30,000 accidents each year. Help mom and her furry friends stay safe on the road with this backseat car barrier for pets.

Cat Toy: Turbo Track Cats are wild for this interactive, expandable toy. An entertained pet is a happy pet, and happy pets make mom happy, too!

To see more fabulous items mom will love, visit the ASPCA Online Store.

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