New Jersey and TNR

Lately, NJ has been in the news quite a bit regarding feral cats and TNR. For the most part, the state seems to be leading the way in implementing TNR programs; however, Mt. Olive (whom I recently blogged about) is still practicing trap and kill.

Helping ferals in NJ is the New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance via their Project TNR. According to the group’s website, their project is “endorsed by the NJ Department of Health & Human Services' Office of Animal Welfare, the National Animal Control Association & the Humane Society of the United States.” The group’s mission is to make New Jersey a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) friendly state, by working with caregivers and municipalities.

Point Pleasant Beach has also adopted a TNR approach to their feral cat situation. In a recent news article, Karen Mills, borough board of health secretary, said this, “We wouldn't really know the number of cats being picked up until after they were euthanized. One time we received a bill for 37 cats euthanized and it hit us. It was just very upsetting.” So last year, Councilwoman Kristine Tooker began to form an animal welfare committee to examine ways of controlling the population in a humane way. “I just thought something needs to change because what everyone is doing (trap and kill) isn't working,” Tooker said. Tooker researched TNR and presented it to the committee, and within a few months an ordinance was passed to implement TNR. Point Pleasant Beach is now feral cat friendly.

Just to name a few more feral friendly groups and cities in NJ: Burlington County Feral Cat Initiative, the City of Cape May, Atlantic City Boardwalk, Neighborhood Feral Cat Initiative in Hudson County, Animal Welfare Federation of NJ. For more organizations that support feral cats and TNR programs in NJ, check out our CAT Directory: http://www.saveacat.org/catlinks.html#NJ.

Unfortunately, Mt. Olive’s officials do not feel the same about TNR as many of their fellow NJ officials. A group of Mt. Olive residents has been trying to persuade officials to adopt a TNR program as a way of managing the town’s feral and stray cat population for the past several months. However, thus far they have been unsuccessful and the town is currently practicing trap and kill.

In a recent news article, a group of township residents will be bringing its plea to prevent the euthanization of feral cats to voters on the November election ballot if the council continues to reject their proposal. Last year, Mount Olive impounded 181 cats, 141 of which were euthanized at a cost of $18,000 to the township. “TNR is doing a public service with private donations to save the town money,” said Michelle Lerner, founder of the project. I guess we’ll have to wait and see if Mt. Olive decides to take the humane approach to managing feral and stray cats or if they decide to continue to trap and kill.

ACR the Charity of the Month

Alley Cat Rescue has been named the charity of the month by a cat blogger. The Adventures of the Casbah Kitten and Friends is a blog managed by two kitties, Jelly Bean and "the Momma". These two kitties started a cat toy business (The Casbah Kitten) in 2007. Since that first toy, the cats have inspired a line of eco-friendly toys that have sold around the world.

We thank The Casbah Kitten for naming us the charity of the month and for blogging about kitties. We encourage our members to stop by and check out their blog.

http://thecasbahkitten.blogspot.com

The Animal Rescue Site Shelter Challenge

The Animal Rescue Site has partnered with Petfinder.com to grant up to $100,000 in support and assistance to select domestic and international animal rescue and welfare organizations.

Voting began on April 13th, 2009, and ends at midnight (PST) on July 26th, 2009. Voters are limited to one (1) vote per person per day. So, please help us spread the word to get ACR more votes!!

The grand prize of $20,000 will go to the group with the most overall votes and the second place winner will receive $5,000. There are many awards to be granted, including weekly prizes; $1,000 will be awarded each week for the organization with the most votes during that week. So, please stop by The Animal Rescue Site once a day to place a quick vote for ACR. It only takes a minute and the click on a button!!

Cut and paste the link below into your web browser and you will see Alley Cat Rescue with a “VOTE” button beside it. Simply click on the button and then answer one question to confirm, and that’s all there is to it. (If for some reason you do not see ACR when following the link provide, you can search for us. Type in “Alley” in the name queue, “MD” in the state queue, and click the “search” button. ACR should pop up, so you can vote.

Thanks again for everyone’s support!!

LINK:
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_home_sidetabs

Serial Cat Killer of Miami-Dade Florida

(police mug shot released by the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office)

During the month of May, residents of the Miami-Dade area were warned to keep their pets indoors and to report any suspicious activity, due to a cat murderer roaming the streets. Residents woke to find their beloved cats’ lifeless bodies lying mutilated on their front porches and lawns. The first cat victim was found at the end of April, and it was on May 19th, when the initial report was filed with the Miami-Dade police that eight cats from the Cutler Bay area were missing.

On June 15th, Tyler Weinman, 18, was formally charged in Miami-Dade court with 19 counts of felony animal cruelty, 19 counts of improperly disposing of an animal body, and four counts of burglary. He has pleaded "not guilty" and is currently free on bond, though he is under house arrest.

According to police reports, Weinman was spotted on different accounts (from neighbor witnesses) in the vicinity of the murders and a tracking device placed on Weinman’s car by police also revealed he was parked in close proximity to individual’s whose cats later were found dead. Not to mention, during the first interview with Weinman, the teen spoke of cat scratches on his neck and back (allegedly from his mother’s cat), and he spoke of his high school’s dissection program, where he gave police details on how to dissect a cat.

After consulting a psychologist about animal cruelty, Detective Dominick Columbro states in the affidavit that he believes that Weinman fit the profile of the killer. And after reading the affidavit myself, I would agree; whoever is responsible for these heinous crimes definitely fits the profile of a killer (and I don’t say that just because I am a cat lover, but because of the details in which each cat was killed; see link below only if you have a strong stomach). Weinman has a wrap sheet of two prior offenses as a juvenile, and “experts say cruelty toward cats, as opposed to other animals, can fulfill a deeper need for control. Cats, unlike dogs, can be more difficult to control. They don't come when they're called and are often more independent, said Dr. Randall Lockwood of The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and author of "Forensic Investigation of Animal Cruelty” to The Huffington Post. Behavioral profiling long ago identified three key, aberrant behaviors in youth that may predict a serial killer: bedwetting, arson, and cruelty to animals. Studies have shown that kids who display violent acts towards animals have the potential to inflict violence on humans. Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy, and David Berkowitz all delighted in torturing animals before moving on to human prey.

If Tyler Weinman does turn out to be the serial cat killer of Florida, may justice be served and may the courts not sentence him lightly. With such links between animal cruelty and violence towards humans, it would be foolish to allow such a crime to go unpunished. I would hate for him to receive a slap-on-the-wrist and then later be charged with a more violent crime, especially one committed on a human. If convicted, Weinman could face more than a decade behind bars. I guess we’ll see…

To view the entire affidavit, visit the below link. Please note the document is graphic in nature.
http://static.cbslocal.com/station/wfor/files/WeinmanWarrant..pdf

The ScareCrow in Action

I previously blogged about humane cat deterrents and I recently saw a video on YouTube demonstrating how the ScareCrow sprinkler works, so I wanted to revisit the topic.

From experience, the number one complaint individuals have about cats is that they use yards, flowerbeds, and gardens as their own personal litter boxes. As soon as you turn over the dirt and plant new flowers or vegetables, you will see a cat surveying the soil to find a good spot to leave you a present. It's like cats have radar for fresh soil!

But do NOT be discouraged, thanks to the ScareCrow, you can keep your yard feces and cat free! (All the while, being humane to animals!)

How It Works

The Scarecrow senses animals the same way security lights detect people, by movement and heat. When an animal is detected, a valve opens instantly releasing a three-second pulsating spray of water. The combination of the sudden noise, movement, and water frightens animals away. This startling, yet harmless action is a remarkably effective deterrent.

Works on Deer, Dogs, Cats, Rabbits, Raccoons, Squirrels, and Birds! The ScareCrow will keep plants safe from becoming deer and rabbit meals too.

Please watch the video below to see the ScareCrow in action!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWuhhD4LfTg

For more information and to purchase one please visit: http://www.greentouchirrigation.com/scarecrow.html

Ellen DeGeneres Fires Back at Gov. Schwarznegger

So just the other day I blogged about Gov. Schwarznegger's plan to reduce the number of days a shelter animal in CA has before being killed. Well, ACR wasn’t the only ones to disapprove of his proposal; Ellen DeGeneres has started a Twitter campaign to protest the Governor’s plan.

According to Franny's Cats Blog on About.com, it took less that a day to reply to Ellen with a Tweet of his own:

Thank you for sharing your concerns with Governor Schwarzenegger about the proposal to lift restrictions on hold times at animal shelters. The Governor values your input during these challenging economic times.

As you know, we are in the midst of the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression. We now face a budget shortfall that has grown to $24.3 billion. The Governor has proposed cuts that he would have never proposed except in a worst-case scenario, including eliminating General Fund support for programs like Healthy Families, CalWORKs, Cal Grants and State Parks. This was not an easy decision for the Governor. As a dog owner himself, he has always supported animal welfare and worked to ensure the humane treatment of animals.

Currently, the state requires all shelters to hold stray animals for four or six days and reimburses them for the associated costs. To address our budget crisis, the Governor has proposed to suspend some Non-Proposition 98 mandates, including the reimbursement funds for these shelters. To help local shelters deal with the challenges of this difficult budget situation, the Governor has also proposed that the state no longer require the four or six day hold time. Shelters still have the flexibility to keep the animals for more days, but the Governor's proposal avoids placing an unnecessary burden on local communities.

As the Governor works with his partners in the Legislature to find solutions to these problems, know that he will keep your thoughts in mind. Working together, he believes we can weather this storm and start the slow but steady march back toward prosperity.

Sincerely,

Jenna Anderson
Office of Constituent Affairs

With that said, it would be wonderful, Governor, for shelters to increase the number of holding days, but that will NOT happen. Consequently, the opposite will happen. With shelters more crowded than ever and state funding being cut, this plan will inevitably lead many shelters to increase the euthanasia rate. Arnold's proposal might help balance his budget, but it will most definitely NOT help the animals.

Again, please tell Gov. Schwarzenegger NOT to balance his budget at the expense of helpless animals.

How You Can Help:

• Contact Governor Schwarznegger
o Email: http://gov.ca.gov/interact#email
o Phone: 916-445-2841
o Fax: 916-558-3160
• Locate and Contact Your State Legislators
o http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html

International Day of Action for Dogs and Cats in Korea

Picture: Courtesy of Encyclopedia Britannica's Advocacy for Animals

In Defense of Animals (IDA) will again be co-sponsoring this worldwide event to stop the terrible suffering these animals endure. IDA continues to work with the South Korean animal protection organization Coexistence for Animal Rights on Earth (CARE) to end the brutal slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption.

According to IDA’s website, two million South Korean dogs are electrocuted, strangled, or bludgeoned to death each year. They are killed in the cruelest ways imaginable, because some Koreans believe the adrenaline that rushes through the system will improve virility. Eyewitnesses have reported dogs being torn apart while still alive; their tormentors saying that the more prolonged the torment of death, the better the taste.

On July 14, IDA intends to have activists posted at the Korean Embassy in Washington D.C. and as many Korean Consulates and Embassies around the world as possible. There are Korean Consulates in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, Atlanta, Houston, Honolulu, and Newton, Massachusetts. If you would like to help coordinate a demonstration in any of these cities, please contact Hope@idausa.org or (415) 448-0048 ex. 211. They will provide you with all the materials you need such as posters and brochures to have a successful and effective protest.

Demonstrations already scheduled for July 14:

San Francisco, California:
Demonstration at the Korean Consulate
3500 Clay St., San Francisco, CA.
11 a.m. - 12 noon
signs and leaflets provided
contact Hope@idausa.org or (415) 448-0043 ex. 211

Los Angeles, California:
Demonstration at the Korean Consulate
3243 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA.
11 a.m. - 12 noon
signs and leaflets provided
contact Bill@idausa.org or (310) 301-7730

Washington, DC:
Demonstration at the Korean Consulate
2320 Massachusetts Ave., Washington, D.C.
11 a.m. - 12 noon
signs and leaflets provided
contact Annie@idausa.org or (757) 374-8112

Seattle, Washington:
Korean Embassy
2033 Sixth Ave. #1125, Seattle, Washington, 98121
11 a.m. - 12 noon
contact: Sandy Clinton: numptyland@yahoo.com or (206) 618-4930

What ELSE You Can Do:

Send letters, fax, e-mail to:
Ambassador Duk-soo Han
Embassy of the Republic of Korea
2320 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20008
Phone: (202) 939-5600
Fax: (202) 797-0595
E-mail: korinfo@koreaemb.org
-----------------------------------
ACR has also been in contact with the International Aid for Korean Animals (IAKA), a non-profit organization founded by Kyenan Kum in 1997 to promote animal protection and humane education in Korea. ACR has financially assisted IAKA with their campaigning to stop the cruelty of the dog and cat meat industry in Korea. IAKA is also working to translate our feral cat handbook into Korean for their new Adoption and Education Center in Seoul (South Korea’s capital). The picture above is of a mother cat and her kittens for sale in a Korean market; such animals are touted as the source of medicinal tonics and fraudulent “cures” for ailments such as rheumatism and arthritis. According to IAKA, “dramatic distortions of Korean culture [have promoted] all kinds of new animal products in Korea based on unchecked exploitation of Korea’s animals and environment.”

For more information on IDA and their Korea Campaign, please visit:
http://ida.convio.net/site/MessageViewer?em_id=4801.0&printer_friendly=1#cr

For more information on IAKA, please visit: http://www.koreananimals.org/index.htm

Mt. Olive, NJ Cats in the News Again

At the beginning of May, the Mt. Olive Township Board of Health voted to trap and kill stray and feral cats in the area, despite several residents’ requests to implement a TNR program. Now, this past Tuesday night, the township council agreed to try to schedule the health officer and animal control officer to be present at its next meeting to continue the discussion on the program to TNR feral cats.

According to an article in The Star-Ledger, "'trap, neuter, return' would improve Mount Olive," Michelle Lerner said, who proposed TNR to the council. "This has really developed into a movement of residents." Tom DeVoe, a township resident who teaches at the middle school, added, "I ask you to consider this program because it is very important. You really have nothing to lose and everything to gain."

ACR has received letters from a few Mt. Olive residents (and ACR members), wanting to make us aware of the situation and to express their support of TNR. Again, we also sent a letter to the township council members encouraging them to implement a TNR program, explaining its many benefits, but we received no response. For the cats’ sake, we hope Mt. Olive makes the humane decision to TNR instead of killing.

Pet Poison Helpline

Thanks to Dr. Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC for the following information:

I wanted to make you aware of an important resource out there also - Pet Poison Helpline is an additional Animal Poison Control Center, and it's one of the most cost-effective animal poison ($35/case vs. ASPCA's new $60/case) controls out there nowadays. Unfortunately, because animal poison controls are not federal- or state-funded, there is a fee to allow the service to be run 24-7.

The Pet Poison Helpline number is 1-800-213-6680.
And the website is www.petpoisonhelpline.com.


Dr. Justine Lee is the Associate Director of Veterinary Services for the Pet Poison Helpline.
Her website is www.drjustinelee.com.

Another Decision by Schwarznegger NOT in Favor of Animals

We all know that the US’s and the World’s economy are in terrible shape and cut backs need to be made everywhere possible, but to cut costs at the expense of voiceless animals' lives is going entirely too far.

The time mandated in the State of California from the day an animal is admitted to a shelter to the day of its death by euthanasia is currently six days. However, in his latest budget proposal, Gov. Schwarznegger wants to cut that reprieve back to three days. This barely allows time for owners to discover their cat is missing! Not to mention, the time it takes the owner to track him down at a local shelter and then arrange for his release. Plus, add in all the day-to-day dealings that make such a situation even more complicated (work hours, shelter hours, transportation arrangements), and numerous cats with owners would die needlessly!!

And this is not the first time Schwarzenegger has made life harder for animals. In 2004, he proposed a similar law to decrease the holding time for animals at shelters, but was cut down by his constituents and backed off. And again, in 2008, when he proposed taxing veterinary care, classifying it as a "luxury," but was again defeated by a public outcry.

Kiska Icard, a spokeswoman for the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, told SFGate that suspending the state requirement on animal shelters to hold strays at least six days to save the state $24.6 million would result in euthanizing more animals. "Obviously monies need to come from somewhere, but to do it on the backs of these animals is just really sad," she said.

How You Can Help:

STOP the proposal:
• Contact Governor Schwarznegger
o Email: http://gov.ca.gov/interact#email
o Phone: 916-445-2841
o Fax: 916-558-3160
• Locate and Contact Your State Legislators
o http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html

PROTECT your pets if the proposal does go into affect:
• Keep Your Cats Indoors
10 Reasons Why: http://cats.about.com/od/indoorsvsoutdoors/tp/keepindoors.htm
• Identify Your Cat With a Microchip or Tattoo
Info on Identification: http://cats.about.com/cs/petidentification/a/identify_cat.htm