News Alert: May 29, 2009

1. Wisconsin Rescue Update: Sanctuary Owner Charged
2. ASPCA Pets of the Week: Tale of Two Kitties
3. Your Cat Photos Wanted: Let’s Get Physical!
4. Help Keep Horse Slaughter Out of the U.S.
5. Your Wedding Can Change a Homeless Animal’s Life
6. ASPCA Happy Tails: The Great Escape
7. ASPCA Job of the Week

1. Wisconsin Rescue Update: Sanctuary Owner Charged

On Thursday, May 21, Jennifer Petkus, founder of the Thyme and Sage Ranch—a sanctuary once entrusted to care for homeless animals in Richland County, WI—was charged with 11 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty and five forfeitures after nearly 400 animals were seized from her property. The charges include improper shelter and the mistreatment of animals by intent or negligence.

“The ASPCA Forensics Investigation Team is now beginning to evaluate the evidence they collected from the scene,” says Jeff Eyre, the ASPCA Director of Field Operations and lead investigator on the case. “This includes documentation of the injuries to the animals seized, causes of death and a review of sales, adoption and medical records. All evidence will then be turned over to Richland County authorities to aid in the prosecution of Petkus.”

Animal welfare organizations, in conjunction with the Dane County Humane Society, are currently housing many of the animals seized from the ranch. They include 315 dogs, 21 rabbits, 14 birds, two chinchillas, one cat, one ferret and one rooster. 23 horses also seized from the property are being housed at a Wisconsin horse rescue. Many of the animals are suffering from skin, eye and ear conditions, malnutrition and various internal infections.

Despite numerous attempts to have Petkus sign the seized animals over to authorities, so far she refuses to relinquish ownership. By law, the Dane County Humane Society cannot place any animals up for adoption until Petkus surrenders them or a judge mandates their release.

Petkus is currently free on a $10,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court today, May 29, at 1:00 P.M.

2. ASPCA Pets of the Week: Tale of Two Kitties

Just like sugar and spice, Brad and Angelina make a very sweet couple—but unlike their celebrity counterparts, the members of this adoptable dynamic duo are siblings. At two years old, brother and sister share more than a common ancestry—they both have lovable and gentle personalities.

While Angelina is a bit unsure of herself in new surroundings, given a little adjustment time—and a few loving scratches under her chin—she’ll purr her way into your heart. Brad on the other hand, is always up for an adventure! There’s nothing he enjoys more than chasing feather toys and catnip mice.

“They are both extremely sweet and Brad’s happy purr is so loud, you can hear it from across a room!” comments Katie Watts, ASPCA Senior Feline Behavior Counselor. “They're very attached to each other, but always have time to bask in human attention and indulge in hours of playtime.”

Both kitties would do best in a patient household, where they can take their time getting used to new surroundings. Brad and Angelina are very much bonded and are hoping for a second chance at happiness in a home together.

If you’re like us, and think adopting two kitties is better than one, please call the ASPCA Animal Placement department at (212) 876-7700, ext. 4120 to set up a time to meet Brad and Angelina. To view other animals waiting for homes, please visit the ASPCA Adoption Center online.

****Got Facebook? Won’t you please donate your status to Brad and Angelina today? Just copy and paste the following message onto your profile status to help spread the word that these kitties need a home!

[Name] is donating his/her status to Brad http://www.aspca.org/brad and Angelina http://www.aspca.org/angelina, two cats at the ASPCA who need a new forever home.

3. Your Cat Photos Wanted: Let’s Get Physical!

Has your kitty embraced the latest exercise fad? Is she a master yogi who can put her leg behind her ear or does she prefer to run sprints up and down the hallway? This year’s ASPCA Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat Month Photo Contest will feature cats caught in the act of cat-ercising!

Send us your best photos of Fluffy workin’ it out with her favorite “aerobic” activity—from doing the couch potato to boxing with the dog—we want to see your cat at her most active. The top ten winners—selected by ASPCA staff—will receive an ASPCA Prize Pack and be featured on our website. So take your best shot—photos must be received by June 30!

Enter the contest.

4. Help Keep Horse Slaughter Out of the U.S.

In 2007, a hard-earned victory for horses in the U.S. was achieved: state-level legislation succeeded in shutting down the nation’s last three horse slaughterhouses. These foreign-owned businesses, located in Texas and Illinois, were economically draining, environmentally damaging and treated animals with exceptional cruelty. The owners paid no export taxes and little in income taxes.

Unfortunately, pro-horse slaughter legislation is on the rise. State governments all over the country are considering offering special protections, tax breaks and other incentives for horse meat processing plants to open.

Pro-slaughter legislation introduced this year includes:

• Montana: In early May, MT passed a law to allow investor-owned horse slaughter plants to operate and prohibit courts from granting injunctions to stop or delay their construction.
  
  
• Tennessee: State Rep. Frank S. Niceley has proposed amending a bill that has nothing to do with horse slaughter with language to pave the way for the construction of a horse slaughterhouse. TN residents, take action
  
  
• North Dakota: The Legislature and Governor Hoeven have approved a bill to spend $50,000 of taxpayer money to study the feasibility of opening a horse slaughter facility.

You can help keep horse slaughter out of the U.S. for good by urging Congress to vote for the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act. This federal bill will criminalize the purchase, sale, delivery, or export of horses and horse meat intended for human consumption. If passed, it will override any state efforts to legalize horse slaughter for human consumption.

Please help us fight for passage of the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act.

Join the ASPCA Advocacy Brigade and receive regular alerts telling you how to help fight for laws that prevent animal cruelty.

5. Your Wedding Can Change a Homeless Animal’s Life

Thanks to the ASPCA Wedding Pages, your special day can have long-lasting effects on more than just your life. Start your own personalized wedding page and have guests donate to the ASPCA as your big day approaches. Wedding pages come with photo albums, a guest book and a link for friends and family to make a donation in your honor. We’ll also provide you with a short address for your web page that’s easy to remember and an email tool for inviting your friends and family to visit it.

See an ASPCA Wedding Page. 
 
Don’t want to do the online thing? Make a donation to the ASPCA in honor of your guests instead of buying wedding favors. You’ll receive special place cards that let your guests know a donation has been made in their honor, and everybody will get a chance to enjoy the feeling of giving back!

6. ASPCA Happy Tails: The Great Escape

On Wednesday, May 6, a 500-pound Black Angus cow made history by escaping from a Queens, NY, slaughterhouse. The one-year-old led NYPD officers on a mile-long chase through the residential neighborhood of South Jamaica, Queens, before getting trapped in a backyard, where she was subdued with a tranquilizer dart.

How she escaped is still a mystery to police, but one thing is for sure—her intuitive sprint saved her life. Says ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement Agent Richard Ryan, “This cow’s ability to have found a weak link in the process of being transported to a slaughterhouse and alter her destiny is something to be honored.”

NYPD officers transported the bovine to Animal Care and Control’s Brooklyn shelter, where she received water, hay and a name—Molly. One day later, ASPCA Special Agent Ryan and ASPCA Special Investigator Timothy Stack transported Molly to her new home, a sanctuary called the Farrm in Calverton, NY, with a 15-year history of taking in a variety of species of rescued animals.

Says Agent Ryan, “Molly was a little frightened of humans, as you can imagine, but she’ll soon become acclimated to people as she lives out her life peacefully on an organic farm, rather than on a plate. Her future looks bright!”

Bright indeed, Molly is now dining on Farrm-made hay and beginning to trust humans a little bit more. Rex Farr, the sanctuary’s owner, notes, “Molly shied away when I first put hay into the feeder. Now she’s warming up to me and her new friend, a steer named Wexley.”

“We’re getting new pastures,” Farr continues. “This summer, Molly and Wexley will have nice organic grass to munch on.”

Learn how you can help farm animals live more humane lives.

7. ASPCA Job of the Week

Are you a people person? The ASPCA is looking for a Client Services Representative to meet and greet customers and their pets at our Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital (BMAH) in Manhattan. BMAH is a state-of-the-art facility that offers digital radiography, surgery, dentistry, endoscopy, ultrasound, cardiology, spay/neuter services and vaccines. We’re searching for a friendly face with experience in customer service—preferably in a veterinary or medical office—and excellent computer skills. If you’re a skilled communicator who thrives in a fast-paced workplace, we’d love to hear from you!

The ASPCA offers generous benefit packages for full-time employees. Please submit your resume and salary requirements for our prompt consideration.