Questions arose from my previous post about giving pet shops and puppy mills the boot  program that Best Friends designed and is now being implemented in several states. There was concern voiced from some involved with shelters that if all the prime dogs are transferred to the boutique adopt shops, shelters would lose significant revenue. Here are some answers to that and more.

1. Can you walk us through the process of how dogs are turned over to the new pet shops that adopt?

I can’t speak for all of the “humane” pet stores nationwide, but of the ones I know of, either (1) independent rescue groups come in and host mobile adoptions whereby they showcase their own adoptables, or (as in the case of WoofWorx)  the store pulls animals directly from the shelters, paying the same adoption fee as anyone else. [read more on  WoofWorx in Best Friends Take the Road Less Traveled]

2. If all the highly adoptable dogs puppies kittens are at the boutique pet shop, what’s going to attract people to the shelter?

The ratio of rescue-only pet store animals to shelter animals is such that there are thousands of adoptable animals still remaining in the shelters even after a humane pet store pulls the few they do for their own adoptions.  The reality is that many people will never go to the shelter, no matter how much they would like to adopt, and if humane pet stores offer a venue for those animals to be seen by people who would otherwise never be exposed to them, then great – they’re receiving an opportunity to be adopted that they would not have in the shelter.

3. Won’t pet shops simply move online, where it’s still the wild west, with no regulations?

That is certainly a possibility, although their sales would undoubtedly be much lower, as most people are not as willing to spend several hundred or thousand dollars on an animal they can’t see or interact with in person before committing to.

4. People say pup my ride is a success because BF is already a no-kill shelter with infrastructure and financial backing in place to care for and rehome the less adoptable dogs – the majority of the shelters in this country can’t afford to operate the same way. In what ways does BF help cash strapped shelters join in this project?

Pup My Ride is a success because we are able to save thousands of dogs that would have been destroyed in shelters (or by commercial breeder)s by networking them out to rescue groups throughout the country.  We only take a few of those dogs back to the sanctuary.  Thus, we are alleviating the burden on the shelters, not alienating them.  For more information about the national puppy mill Pup My Ride program and the Los Angeles shelter Pup My Ride program, please visit our website:  puppiesarentproducts.com 

5. What  successes/trends are you seeing so far with the possible closing of puppy mills due to this program?

The Puppies Aren’t Products campaign seeks to address the pet overpopulation crisis by promoting adoption, relieving the burden on shelters through programs like Pup My Ride, educating the public and advocating for better legislation regarding commercial breeding and pet store/internet regulations within the pet trade. 

We have seen significant success within each of these components, from pet store bans to the increase in rescue-only pet stores, to higher adoption rates, to a greater public awareness of puppy mills and the pet store connection.  We anticipate that these successes will continue, and we will continue our efforts until we have achieved our mission of No More Homeless Pets.

Many thanks to Best Friend’s Elizabeth Oreck, the National Campaign Manager of Puppies Aren’t Products, for her considered answers to these questions, and to Barbara Williamson, Media Relations Manager, for facilitating the request. 
 

Remus and Brutus got a reprieve.  In what’s been described as a groundbreaking decision, the two dogs who were held as abuse victims of a dogfighting bust are off to their new home in a New York sanctuary thanks to something new this year: The Court Case Program.  Best Friends and Safe Humane Chicago devised and head the program with the collaboration of D.A.W.G. Court Advocacy and Chicago’s Animal Care and Control.  Dogs had been held as evidence for as long as two years and destroyed when a guilty verdict was reached. Today dog candidates evaluated as having the right stuff to be family pets or who would be otherwise manageable in a sanctuary setting are socialized and trained for success.

For 19 months Remus and Brutus have been in limbo after the November 2008 arrest.  Judge Victoria Stewart put the three men arrested on probation for 24 months with anger management/sensitivity to animals training, and no contact with dogs during probation.  Each of the three convicted were ordered to pay $3,612 for the rehabilitation of the dogs, and, as I understand it, defray costs of care over a lifetime, plus $3,000 each for the care of the dogs over the past 19 months. This is a precedent-setting ruling for Illinois law that will help these victimized dogs get the care they deserve. 

There is a range of behavior that passes the evaluation bar.  Not only those who are considered adoptable are saved, but those that may not do well within the confines of home life also get a chance. That’s big. Remus and Brutus were transported thanks to Best Friends and will be spending their days at the Spirit Animal Sanctuary.

Sanctuaries are self-supporting organizations and because of that usually house less than 100 animals.  Are there sanctuaries in your area or any you have ever dealt with? What can you share about them?

What’s happening in your area to help evidence dogs get a new life? Got a story you’d like to share?

 (Source and Brutus’s Photo: Best Friends )

Outdoorsman Zak Anderegg hikes, climbs, and videos his finds in the scenic canyons that run along the Arizona Utah border. The unexpected happened when he found a stray dog who had either fallen or been thrown several hundred feet into a cavern.  He was alone.  How could he save the dog without help? He tried to do the smart thing and call for help, and was refused. But he couldn’t just leave the dog to die down in that dark hole in the world.

Anderegg ended up risking his own life climbing down into a cavern several hundreds of feet below the surface to rescue the stray–and he gets it on film!  What a guy!  After the flood of recent bad news recalls, I found this great feel good story and wanted to share it. Enjoy!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Source: Today Show

 Adopt, don’t buy is getting a new shout out from some big names in the news: Hallmark and Pedigree partnered to produce a movie about a rescue dog, tossed in a shelter by one show trainer, who gets adopted and makes good as a herding dog with show ring smarts.  The rescued Border Collie not only saves the farm and family relations, but also saves some local school children too! You’ll have to tune in this Saturday, June 26th at 9pm ET for the Premiere  broadcast of “You Lucky Dog” on the family friendly Hallmark Channel.(Sorry Harry Hamlin and Natasha Henstridge, it’s really all about the dog here:)

I got a chance to speak with internationally renowned  trainer, competitor and judge in the Herding Dog field, Joyce Geier, engaged by Hallmark as their dog expert.  Geier shared the inside story of Lucky the dog star of the movie, who is a great little actor and, being no Diva, performed all his own stunts. Geier noted that a couple of trainers from NW Canada worked with Lucky to produce the necessary result.  She said that with movies you have to speed through training – every day impacts the budget. ”It usually takes a year to 18 months to make a dog useful in the field.” For the movie role, Geier can get it done in 2 months.  Task performance is far different than the actual thinking dog you get in sheep trials and the show ring.  Lucky took 5 months to train for his role in “You Lucky Dog.” 

Geier wanted to halt any possible misconceptions about the breed before popularity looms large. She made it clear that Border Collies are not dogs for inactive families.  They demand what many of us would consider to be an inordinate amount of activity, both physical and mental.  She mentioned that a several mile run or hike would be a good start to day, but don’t think you’re going to have your tea and sit for awhile. The Border Collie is just getting started! [Tashi would think this dog was crazy, being the lap dog he is, and I would probably have a breakdown if I had to do any more than the morning hike!  Knowing your limits is a very good thing!]

In case some parents think they can handle it because their kids pine for the cute movie dog, Geier cautions that if you do not expend all the dog’s energies, “they will take up landscaping in your yard, and you won’t like it.” With 25 years of teaching herding skills and obedience, I would pay close attention to her advice.

I got an advance copy of the made-for-tv movie, and it’s a nice little summer flick for young children and their parents to watch together.  Nothing bad happens to anyone, the family is saved from hard times, the story line is easy for the very young to follow and kids learn a very positive lesson that rescue dogs from shelters are as capable as any other when they are in the right hands.  And of course the message that you should check out your local shelter and adopt is one I’m all for:)

Many thanks to Joyce Geier who took time out of her busy day to speak with Dancing Dog Blog, and to Hallmark for making her available!

Dog-unfriendly people resorts laid waste.  Dogs are mad as doghell, snarl they’re not gonna’ take it anymore! Demand vacation time with their families. Grrrr!

Bloodless coups are preferred over the alternative, but no need to get mad or overrun people resorts anymore, at least not in the Adirondacks!  Lake George is in the news as a dog-friendly vacation spot where dogs and their humans can enjoy the swimming, hiking, fishing, chasing, barks and crafts, lure coursing, flyball, agility, even Canine Good Citizen classes. You and your dog can play and learn together, as much or as little as suits you.

Club Canine Getaway is a place that has a truly dog-friendly program, where dogs can dine with you and sleep in your the bed. No doggy weight limits either!  There are trainers, a behaviorist and a staff vet on site for your peace of mind. It’s $1000 for the week per dog, humans are free, and so are your meals. It is BYODF of course–no need for upset tummies on vacation.

Resorts and hotels in the area dedicate weeks when dogs are welcome, but check out this CBS video report by Steve Hartman–and his dog Scout–who experienced first hand the delights of a vacation without the guilt, worries, or boarding bills!

Watch CBS News Videos Online

I spoke with Janice Costa, co-owner of Canine Club Getaway, who explained while this year’s dog camp is over, they may consider adding an October dog-friendly week due to the great response to the CBS report.  They will announce in a couple of weeks if this will work so keep an eye on the website, but next year’s calendar is set for June 25-29.

(Source: Mark Ramirez, Dog Owned Life)

“For the rescuers who rescue us too, by bringing dogs into our lives…”

Edie Jarolim has produced a real gem in her soon to be classic “Am I Boring My Dog? And 99 Other Things Every Dog Wishes You Knew“  What appears as an unassuming little book of 230 pages turns out to be the next ”gotta have it” reference for your personal library.

When I read it, I felt a little disoriented – it reminded me of Dr. Who’s Tardis, the time traveling spaceship that defies the laws of physics by being tiny on the outside and huge on the inside. Such a small book – how could it contain so much useful information? I would advise every shelter, rescue, and good breeder that this book should be cost-factored into each and every adoption. No kidding. It’s that good!

Save dogs from being returned to a shelter. The first weeks after adopting are crucial for keeping a dog in the home. “Fixes” can be easy if you know where a problem is coming from. It’s generally a lack of understanding or information that causes adopters to get fed up and want to return a dog.  This book would go a long way to relieving the frustration of adopters by providing answers to frequently encountered problems.

Beautifully and simply organized, it is easy to see exactly what the focus of book is: It’s about you and your dog. From the moment you’re thinking of getting a dog, the vetting, general care, feeding, training, grooming and various particulars of old age, to how to decide when “it’s time”, this book has the smart answers wrapped like a gift just for you.

It doesn’t matter if you’re just getting your first dog, or your last.  This book is a primer for the neophyte, as well as a handy reference to those with years of dog caretaking experience.

Important details like shelter and good breeder adoption contracts are found at every turn of the page. The problems with food safety, spay/neuter and what it means to your pup, puppy mills as sellers of puppies through pet shops, dental care, the tools you’ll need, like collars, leashes, harnesses and others appropriate and those not so appropriate are discussed, detailed, and defined. Even traveling with your dog, doggy shrinks, and safe cleaning products for use around dogs are topics of exploration. The book is surprising in it’s depth given the broad topic range.

The writing is clean, spare, but never dry, lifeless or, dare I say, boring.  Jarolim’s sense of humor, which I know well from reading her blog  Will My Dog Hate Me?, is there in the form of puns and deftly placed quips. Don’t forget to read the footnotes – lots of funny, interesing bits!  For transparency’s sake, Edie Jarolim is a twitter and blogging pal.  We have talked via email and on the phone a couple of times about our dogs, book signings, and blogging. I’ve seen several reviews of her book, one notably on video by an excellent dog trainer, all of which were most enthusiastic.  Now I see why!

You can get the book here at Amazon for less than $11 in paperback.  Makes a great gift, too!

San Diego can go meet Jarolim and her dog Frankie for Canine Cocktails, book signing and Padre home game viewing from 5 to 9pm at Hotel Indigo’s Phi Terrace Bar, a rooftop indoor/outdoor hotspot with a clear view of home plate at PETCO Park.

The contest winner of Alite’s designer dog collar and leash – with the handy pod for waste bags that lies (practically) flat on the leash - has been determined by the cool and new to me (it’s only been around since the late 90’s!) Random.org tool that offers the same benefit of picking numbers from the hat, without the bits of paper:)

I can’t show the tool on this site, which is a real pity as I had hoped to maximize transparency.  Best laid plains….so, drumroll….I input 1 -10 to represent how many entrants, and it spit out #4.  Now let me go back and see who that is…Kelly Ann T., you were the fourth person to comment and you win this wonderful collar, leash and leash pod for your dog Kouga!

Now all you have to do is send me via email your full name and mailing address and contact phone number, along with the proper size collar for your dog as mentioned in the original post. I will forward the mailing address to the company who will ship out your prize set. Congratulations, Kelly!

And for everyone else, don’t worry – we have more cool contest stuff for your dogs coming up, and I think a couple of copies of a great summer read will be up for grabs soon, too!

Thanks to you all for your entries!