Is This a Puppy Mill Dog?

Today a 5-month old puppy was surrendered to our shelter. According to the paperwork that the owner was given when she purchased the dog, the dog is a "Peek-a-chon." (Please keep in mind that this dog has not yet been evaluated for adoptability, and it is premature to start seeking adopters.)

Also according to the paperwork, the dog's breeder was Marsha Cox of Mar-Don Kennel in Chillicothe, Missouri. You can read notes from an investigation of Mar-Don Kennel conducted by the Companion Animal Protection Society in 2007 here: http://www.caps-web.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=169&Itemid=207&report_id=126

You can read direct quotes from USDA Inspection Reports on conditions at Mar-Don Kennel at the following link. (You have to scroll down a bit to find the section on Marsha Cox.) http://www.petstorecruelty.org/USDA%20Violations%20by%20Petland%20breeders.htm

Or, you can read actual USDA inspection reports, here:

http://www.petshoppuppies.com/inspections/43-A-0841_JAN-23-2003.pdf

http://www.petshoppuppies.com/inspections/43-A-0841_JUL-01-2002.pdf

http://www.petshoppuppies.com/inspections/43-A-0841_NOV-26-2001.pdf

Also according to the papers, I have surmised that at some point early in life, this dog was sold by Marsha Cox to Lonewolf Kennels, of Iberia, MO. Lonewolf Kennels is a USDA Licensed Class B dealer. You can read a little something about an investigation of Lonewolf Kennels at this website: http://savepuppymilldogs.com/pow.html (scroll down a little). A video is attached, which shows some auction footage.

The paperwork also shows that the dog surrendered today had been purchased by the relinquisher at the Lucky Puppy store in Champagin.

So you tell me . . . does the Lucky Puppy store obtain dogs from Puppy Mills?

Bo Joins the First Family

Like many other animal-welfare advocates, sure, I'm disappointed that the Obamas didn't adopt a shelter dog. I was already composing pithy ad campaigns in my head: "There's a shelter dog in the White House. Why not yours?"

But at the same time I have to admit, I'm kind of o.k. with First Dog Bo.

The way I see it, once you take inhumane breeders out of the equation, the most important thing to me is not where a person obtains a dog, but that they select a dog wisely so as to minimize the risk that the dog will ever be homeless or cross the threshold of an animal shelter.


I believe there is a such a thing as a responsible breeder. I own two purebred dogs (both formerly homeless) and their breeding is part of what I love about them. They are uniquely athletic, intense, and talented at what they were bred to do. I would not for anything wish for the extinction of these breeds. I am not alone. I know a number of people who have given many years of their lives to dog rescue and advocate for shelter dogs with great passion. Yet they also have a special fondness for a particular breed of dog . . . one that speaks to their soul, or touches their heart, in a way that no other dog does.

The Obamas were looking for a reliable family dog that produces minimal dander. They did some homework and determined that a Portuguese Water Dog would be a good fit. Bo was a PWD in need of a new home because things weren't going well between him and another dog in residence. The Kennedys had purchased a PWD from the same litter and had a relationship with Bo’s breeder (reportedly, Martha Stern, of Texas). The Obamas met the dog, and all went well.

Obviously, the Obamas could have adopted a PWD from a shelter or breed rescue group. Wayne Pacelle, HSUS President, has been quoted as saying that HSUS provided the Obamas with a variety of adoption options.

On the other hand, the Kennedys offered the Obamas a dog whose history was known. Yes, rescue dogs can be great dogs with confidence and a rock-solid temperament. But the truth is, you can’t know all there is to know about a rescue dog until months, or even years (in the case of some genetic issues) down the road.

The First Family needs a dog that is more “bomb-proof” than most. They need a dog that harbors no demons. Bo will have to play well with children, members of the press corps, and heads of state. I realize there are no guarantees with any dog, from anywhere. But it would be dishonest for me to deny the fact that obtaining a dog whose genetics and early history are known lessens the risk that a problem of health or behavior will later arise without warning. Note I said, “lessens” the risk, not “eliminates.”

Dog lovers and animal welfare advocates ought to focus on what the Obamas did right. They delayed getting a dog until a major life transition was completed. They did their homework. They considered Malia’s allergies and all that would be required of this dog before they obtained him. They welcomed a displaced dog into their lives at 6 months of age, when they could have purchased a PWD as an 8-week old pup. It seems to me they did a lot of things right in selecting Bo.

I’ll close with two final points. First, the suggestion that the Obamas should now adopt a second dog from a shelter to make good on their promise to do so is ridiculous. The desire to satisfy ones critics is a poor reason for obtaining a pet. Second, this would have been a different essay entirely had the Obamas obtained their dog from a pet store or any other mass-breeding commercial enterprise.

Myles

This is Myles, a "Welsh Terrier Mix" in his adolescence (we estimate his age at about 15 months).

To answer the reader's question (see comment 4 to the previous post) . . . There is nothing particularly remarkable about Myles' adoption and return. As in many cases, it just wasn't a good match. We still think Myles will make a great pet for someone, which is why he is back up for adoption.

A Terrier in his adolescence has a lot of energy and could easily develop some bad habits if under-exercised and left to his own devices. Wait. What am I saying? Most dogs will make pretty unacceptable choices if we let them do the deciding. After all, these are dogs we're talking about. At the same time, most dogs can learn the rules that make for a happy co-existence with humans, if we take the time and make the effort to teach them.

Anybody interested in adopting a Terrier or Terrier-mix would be wise to do some reading about the breed, if they've never lived with one.

A "perfect" adopter for Myles will be looking for a fun, energetic, effectionate canine companion. Myles will need daily exercise -- probably two long walks and some playtime every day. I would recommend crate-training Myles right away, for two reasons. First, his house-training is probably not rock-solid, and crate training is an excellent tool for house training. (For great tips on house training, you can't beat Patricia McConnell's book, "Way To Go!" It's an easy-to-read, one-issue book and only costs about $6.00. Availabe at CCHS or the CARE Center.) Second, having a dog who is happy to "go settle" in his crate can save your sanity - and your furniture.

Myles' adopters should also understand that he can't be given "run of the house" when they're not at home; at least, not at first. I made this mistake with my very first dog, Spooner, who I adopted as a one-year-old from a Minneapolis shelter in 1991. Spooner didn't have anxiety about being left alone . . . but she also didn't have much experience distinguishing between the things she was allowed to chew and destroy (dog toys) and the things she was not (the comfy chair).

Finally, I think that Myles and his new people (whoever they are) would really benefit from taking a dog training class together. It doesn't have to be anything "serious" -- a simple "canine companion" class would help Myles and his new owner(s) learn to communicate and establish the boundaries of their relationship. Many adopters assure us that they don't need a class because they've raised many dogs, or they "know how" to train a dog. We encourage it nonetheless. In fact, the most knowledgeable and experienced dog owners I know always enroll in a training class when they get a new dog. And, most professional dog trainers do as well!! It's an opportunity to brush up on your skills, learn new techniques, and spend some time interacting with your dog, one-on-one. It's especially good for adopters of adolescent dogs to enroll in training. These dogs are full grown and full of energy, yet they haven't learned impulse control or boundaries. A basic class can make all the difference to a successful transition from rambunctious teen to well-adjusted adult.

One final note on Myles . . . The staff tells me that he doesn't always present himself well while in his kennel at the shelter, but once you get him out and start interacting with him, he is a very likable dog. The Adoptions Staff enjoys spending time with Myles behind the front counter. I'm sure he will be discovered one of these days by his new "forever family."

Sasha Update

Sasha went home on Saturday afternoon and was returned to the shelter less than 24 hours later. While we're very disappointed that it didn't work out, we also realize that, unfortunately, this kind of thing "comes with the territory" when you work in sheltering.

Frequently, when I meet someone who has adopted a pet from CCHS, their story includes the phrase, "the staff tried to talk me out of adopting him." Sometimes, that's actually true. In those cases, the staff is providing the applicant with information in the hope that the applicant will realize that the animal they are considering is not a good match for them. Sure, we could come right out and say, "No, we'll deny your application for Fluffy, please select a different cat." However, by providing the applicant with information upon which to make their own decision against adopting Fluffy, the staff is attempting to avoid hurt feelings and guide the applicant to consider the factors that will lead him/her to select an appropriate animal for their lifestyle.

In many other cases, and particularly in those cases where the adoption goes through and the pet is still in the home years later, the staff was not trying to talk the adopter out of the adoption at all. In these cases, the staff was simply making sure that the adopter was provided with as much information about the animal as possible. Adoptions tend to fail when they are based on unrealistic expectations. Our staff is often in that difficult position of trying to promote and encourage adoptions, while also making sure that each adopter knows what they're getting into. Walking that line is not easy. Sometimes the attempt to ensure that an adopter's expectations are in line with reality comes across as an attempt to discourage the adoption.

So, what happened with Sasha? A number of things happened on the day she went home that made the transition into the adopters' home a little more difficult than we hoped it would be. However, the bottom line is that the adopters didn't quite realize how difficult it would be to manage this young pup's behavior. Pam tried to tell them. The staff tried to tell them. It seems to me that sometimes when people attach to an animal, an impression forms in their mind that is very hard to alter with cautionary tales and factual information. At the same time, I have to admit that Sasha probably showed behaviors at the home that the adopters did not observe at the shelter or with Pam. That is not surprising with a young pup, and especially not with a headstrong one like Sasha. Pam is an experienced dog trainer who knew how to be very consistent with Sasha so that Sasha was starting to learn boundaries and acceptable behavior. She is too young yet to know that "the same rules apply" in all situations.

Sasha's adopters are good pet owners who, no doubt, will make a wonderful home for the right dog. We hope they'll adopt from us again. As for Sasha, we'll keep working on her manners and use what we learned from this experience to help us make a good match. I'll keep you posted.

Some Dogs Are Worth A Little Extra Effort

This is Sasha. Sasha is just about 4 months old. She came in with some littermates, went into foster care, and when she was old enough, went up for adoption at the shelter. A very nice lady adopted her and had great hopes that Sasha would be a companion for many years to come. But, unfortunately, it didn't work out. What could go wrong with such a young pup, you ask? Plenty.

Sasha is not just any pup. She is a handful!! With loads of personality and 'joie de vivre' for days, it would be hard for anyone to keep up with Sasha. And on top of all that energy, Sasha seems to think it's o.k. to grab everything, including human clothes and body parts, with her sharp little puppy teeth. Ouch! You could barely touch this pup without getting caught in her canines. So what were we to do with Sasha?

The adopter had tried hard to make it work. She enrolled in training classes and hired experienced canine behavior consultant, Pam Wasson, for advice. But after giving it a good try, it became apparent that Sasha and she were not meant for each other.

When I learned that Sasha's adoption wasn't going to last, I was worried. I had spoken with Pam and knew that Sasha was a challenging puppy whose behavior might get worse if she moved back to the shelter. We take good care of our animals, but we can't provide them with the type of training and behavior modification that would be required to make Sasha into a good candidate for a successful adoption. Sasha needed an intervention if she was going to turn around, and she needed it NOW.

Lucky for us, and really lucky for Sasha, Pam is a volunteer in our foster program. For purposes of this story, we could call Pam, "Sasha's BFF." Pam agreed to move Sasha home with her. I was relieved! If anyone could convince Sasha that life is better when you behave yourself (and keep your teeth to yourself), it would be Pam.

Pam quickly learned a few more things about Sasha. Sasha sure was a bit of a "bossy pants." And Sasha barked for everything. And, there was that mouthiness and those teeth! But right away it became apparent that Sasha was much easier to train and manage when she had had a big long walk with Pam's dog Bruno. It's always nice to learn that a dog like Sasha is actually capable of settling down and functioning at a more relaxed level . . . it gives you a glimmer of hope. Pam also quickly realized that Sasha is a quick learner who enjoys human interaction and training. She was already house trained (many thanks to her first adopter) and retrieved like a pro! Obviously, Sasha had some really good traits and Pam became highly motivated to address her negatives so that she could go back up for adoption.

Pam and Sasha had their ups and downs. I'd talk to Pam in the morning and she'd tell me what a "good girl" Sasha is. Then we'd talk again in the evening, and she'd say, "Let me tell you what that bad puppy did today!" But progress was being made, and after Sasha had lived with Pam for about a week, Pam started bringing her to the shelter, hoping that she would meet a new family for Sasha. On Wednesday of this week, Sasha started residing at the shelter full time. We set up camp for her behind the front desk. Pam provided explicit instructions for the staff on how to handle Sasha to discourage her mouthiness and encourage good behavior. Everytime I walked by the front desk, someone was working Sasha on her "sits" and "downs," or she was napping! By this afternoon, we were all impressed with Sasha's progress.

By the end of the week we had really great news: Tomorrow Sasha is going to her new home!! She is being adopted by a couple that came to visit her several times at the shelter and discussed Sasha's needs at length with Pam. Pam will have one last meeting with Sasha and her new adopters after they take Sasha home. We couldn't be happier for Sasha and from what I've heard, Sasha's new "parents" are pretty happy too.

Sasha was more difficult than your average pup. She required extra compassion, extra time, extra effort, and extra patience on the part of many staff members and, most of all, her BFF, Pam. Like most of us, Pam works long days and get exhausted. But Pam is an inspiration and I'm grateful to have her as a friend and colleague. I'm grateful to Pam for her energy, her intelligence and insight, and her endless generosity when it comes to helping animals, the people that love them, and our organization. I know what Pam will say when she reads this last paragraph. She'll say, "Yeah, it was exhausting . . . but it was totally worth it."

How can anyone resist this face?

Being a “Humane Society” Is About More Than Being Humane to Animals

Since our print newsletter arrived in mailboxes late last week, I've received some nice comments on the "From the Executive Director" essay. So I thought I would share it here as well:

Being a “Humane Society” Is About More Than Being Humane to Animals

In common parlance, the term “humane society” is understood to refer to an agency that cares for animals. The American Heritage Dictionary defines the word humane as, “having the good qualities of human beings, as kindness, mercy, or compassion.” Humane societies traditionally focus their kindness, mercy, and compassion on animals, rather than humans. Our supporters tend to be people who feel an affinity for animals, and people who don’t feel that affinity support other types of charities.

While our organization’s focus certainly is on animals, it disturbs me a little that the impact we have on the lives of humans is often overlooked or diminished. My first 14 months on the job have shown me that helping animals and helping people are inextricably linked.

Many non-pet owners may not understand how it is that we are helping people. They’ve never spoken on the phone with a widow who is distraught because her failure to manage her dog’s behavior prevents her friends and family from visiting. Nor have they taken the call from the senior citizen whose cat is in dire need of veterinary care that he cannot afford. They’ve never shed tears with a father relinquishing the family pet because he lost his job and can’t afford the expense. It wasn’t until the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina that a broad spectrum of the population saw what happens when pet owners are given the choice of evacuating without their animals or staying in harm’s way with them. At the Shelter, we witness the human-animal bond being threatened and broken routinely. It’s not on the same scale as a natural disaster, but it is no less tragic.

We’re here to help animals. But when you’re consoling a pet owner on the phone, or standing across the intake counter offering a Kleenex, there’s no doubt that you’re in the business of helping people.

Providing spay and neuter services to low-income pet owners is another way that we help people just as much as we help animals. I must admit that our primary motivation for offering these services has been to reduce overpopulation of companion animals. But after working at the two high-volume spay/neuter clinics we held this year, I’m no longer sure that the goal of reducing pet overpopulation should trump the goal of helping low-income pet owners obtain basic veterinary care. Perhaps helping people should not be secondary to our concern for animals; perhaps the two have equal value.

We recently received a thank-you card from a woman who brought her cat to CCHS on Cat Nip/Tuck Day. She expressed her gratitude for the services provided to her cat--the vaccines and the micro chip equally important to her as the surgery. But she didn’t stop there. She went on to explain that experiencing the generosity of Cat Nip/Tuck Day had renewed her belief that there are good people in the world and, since that day, she had started being a kinder person herself. Did we help this woman’s cat? Yes. Did we further our cause of decreasing the cat population? Yes. But arguably the most profound effect was on the cat owner, not the cat.

Perhaps the most important way in which we serve the people of Champaign County is through our interactions with children. Last year, our Humane Educator, Clay Foley, was a guest in several first grade classrooms in the Champaign Unit Four School District. He was invited to those classrooms to assist the teachers in presenting lesson plans that he helped create and that had been accepted into the First Grade Curriculum. We also provide educational experiences for children through the Cunningham Children’s Home, the Juvenile Detention Center, the Orpheum Children’s Science Museum, and the Urbana Free Library. These humane education programs don’t simply teach children facts about animals. They use topics about animals to teach lessons about respect and kindness towards all living things, responsibility, fairness, and caring. The lessons young people learn through these programs will make them good people, not just good future pet owners.

Although our concern for the animals of Champaign County takes top priority and we are driven by a desire to do right by them, we should not be shy about the fact that we also serve the human residents of Champaign County. Humans, too, are deserving of kindness, mercy, and compassion and we live our mission when we extend our humanity to all living beings.