ActionWinter 2007

ASPCA® Mission: Orange™

Heads WestThe ASPCA launches its groundbreaking program in Spokane

A Note From Ed Sayres

The ASPCA never takes a holidayfrom saving animals. We haveworked tirelessly over the years, andevery act of compassion that wehave been able to extend has addedup to thousands upon thousands of

loving animals getting a second chance at happy, healthylives. Under the leadership of the ASPCA, our nation’scapacity to combat animal cruelty improves constantly.

In the last year, our team faced unprecedentedchallenges and broke new ground. During the pet foodrecall crisis we were there serving as a resource forthousands of pet parents. When dog-fighting allegationsinvolving Michael Vick arose, we were there bringing anend to the brutal conditions these dogs suffered andensuring those responsible would be brought to justice.

This year also brought the launch of ASPCA®Mission: Orange™, and it’s already having an impact byboosting adoptions and expanding anti-cruelty trainingsand low-cost spay and neuter services in communitiesnationwide. Shelter by shelter and community bycommunity, the ASPCA is bringing about immediate,measurable and sustainable change for the animals weare honor-bound to protect.

I would like to take this time to thank you for beingthere for us, which has allowed us, in turn, to be therefor the animals we serve. Best wishes to you and yourfamily at this special time of year.

Edwin Sayres ASPCA President & CEO

>> PRESIDENT’S NOTE

2 ASPCA Action www.aspca.org2 ASPCA Action www.aspca.org

Board of DirectorsOfficers of the BoardHoyle C. Jones, Chairman, Linda Lloyd Lambert,Vice Chairman, Sally Spooner, Secretary,James W. Gerard, Treasurer

Members of the BoardCindy Adams, Penelope Ayers, Alexandra G. Bishop,J. Elizabeth Bradham, Reenie Brown, Jonathan D.Farkas, James W. Gerard, Joan C. Hendricks, V.M.D.,Ph.D., Angela Ho, Hoyle C. Jones, Linda LloydLambert, Franklin Maisano, Elizabeth L. Mathieu,Esq., Majella Matyas, Sean McCarthy, Gurdon H.Metz, Michael F.X. Murdoch, James L. Nederlander,Jr., Marsha Reines Perelman, Helen S.C. Pilkington,Gail Sanger, William Secord, Sally Spooner, FrederickTanne, Cathy Wallach

Directors EmeritiSteven M. Elkman, George W. Gowen, Alastair B.Martin, Thomas N. McCarter 3rd, Marvin Schiller,James F. Stebbins, Esq.

The ASPCA 424 East 92nd Street

New York, NY 10128-6804(212) 876-7700www.aspca.org

E-mail: information@aspca.org

Volume 3, Number 4ASPCA Action

is published four times a year by

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

424 East 92nd StreetNew York, NY 10128-6804

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ASPCA Action ReturnsP.O. Box 97288

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Copyright © 2007 ASPCA. All rights reserved.The American Society for the

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Send subscription inquiries to: ASPCA Action, 424 East 92nd Street,

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This newsletter is not intended to provide advice on individual pet health

matters or to substitute for consultation with a veterinary doctor.

On the tail of suc-cessful launches inAustin, TX, Gulf-port-Biloxi, MS,Philadelphia, PA andTampa, FL, on May16, Spokane, WA be-came the latest cityto team up with theASPCA to launchASPCA® Mission:Orange™ in itscommunity – acollaborative effortto create a “humanecommunity” bycurbing the needlesseuthanasia of adopt-able pets.

Through part-nerships with localcommunity groupsand animal welfareagencies in targetcommunities nation-wide, ASPCA Mission: Orange works to improve saverates, prevent animal cruelty and create model humanecommunities. More specifically, the two main goals ofASPCA Mission: Orange are to increase adoptions by 10percent in the first year, and move towards a 75 percentsave rate over the course of the three-year campaign.

The ASPCA will work closely with Spokane CountyRegional Animal Protection Services (SCRAPS), Spok-Animal C.A.R.E. and the Spokane Humane Society tocreate innovative programs to boost adoptions of shelterpets and expand anti-cruelty training and low-cost spayand neuter services.

“I am extremely pleased that so many wonderfulagencies in Spokane are joining with us to make theircity a true humane community, where no animal is atrisk simply because it lacks a home,” says ASPCA Pres-ident & CEO, Ed Sayres. “As we work collaboratively

toward achieving this goal, I am confident that thecitizens of Spokane will support their communityleaders in doing this, and recognize them for what theyare – true heroes of the community. ”

$200,000 will be invested annually in Spokane overthe next three years toward capacity-building andanimal welfare efforts. An assessment study has beenconducted by the ASPCA, and its Spokane shelterpartners will help determine specifically how fundingwill be allocated.

Spokane is already demonstrating its commitment to-wards creating a humane community for animals. Thethree ASPCA Mission: Orange partners are receivingtraining and have committed to work toward a com-munity-wide implementation of the Meet Your Match™adoption program. In August, the city of Spokane took a major step forward by passing Ordinance C34045,

>> COVER STORY

3Winter 2007 3

ASPCA® Mission: Orange ™ Heads WestSpokane teams up with ASPCA to create humane community

Left to right: Gail Mackie, Executive Director, SpokAnimal C.A.R.E.; John Pilcher, COO, City ofSpokane; Ed Sayres, President & CEO, ASPCA; Dave Richardson, Executive Director, SpokaneHumane Society; Mark Richard, Spokane County Commissioner; Nancy Hill, Director, SCRAPS.

which prohibits the sale of animalson public property, protectinghomeless animals from being sold orgiven away without the benefit of asecure and healthy adoption envi-ronment. In September, several localanimal adoption groups participatedin a booth at the county fair hostedby SCRAPS and sponsored by theASPCA. Animals were available foradoption and educational materialswere provided to the public.

October was a busy month. PetSavers, a spay/neuter clinic, held acommunity-wide ‘cat fix’ weekendperforming over 200 surgeries.Several spay/neuter veterinariansfrom SpokAnimal C.A.R.E., Spo-kane Humane Society, PetSavers andsurrounding communities, attendeda national spay/neuter conference,learning the latest information abouthigh volume, high quality, spay/neuter programs and networkingwith each other. Additionally, C.E.O.Robin Starr and Board Chair, AnneGrier, from the Richmond, VA SPCAvisited Spokane and gave a publicpresentation about their experiencesin the journey to make Richmond,VA a humane community. As the“learning laboratory” for ASPCAMission: Orange 2007 target com-munities, the Richmond SPCA issharing its resources and expertisethrough learning and exchangeprograms to help these communities.

“We’re extremely proud of whatour ASPCA Mission: Orange part-ners have accomplished in such ashort time,” says Sayres. “The con-tinued efforts of these dedicatedorganizations and individuals toimprove the lives of animals makethis campaign a model for the entirenation.” �

4 ASPCA Action www.aspca.org4 ASPCA Action www.aspca.org

Making Great StridesAustin: EmanciPET, a mobile and stationary spay and neuter clinic in Austin,treated 1,431 dogs and cats in September, making for a total of 12,985surgeries so far this year! Additionally, the Austin Humane Society’s (AHS)Feral Cat Spay Neuter Program is on track to hit the goal of sterilizing 1,500cats this year. The program is ramping up to fix 5,000 feral cats in 2008.AHS also recently added three new community cat adoption rooms to theirfacilities, where feline residents lounge and play together in the sun, allowingadopters to meet them in a more natural environment.

Gulfport-Biloxi: Between May and July 2007, adoptions at the HumaneSociety of South Mississippi increased by 11 percent (from 1,199 to 1,330),while transfers were down 36 percent compared to the same period lastyear (from 548 to 353). Also of note is the news that "returns to owner"during these three months (i.e. animals that were turned in to the shelter thatwere redeemed by/returned to their owners) were up 24 percent (from 219to 271), and surgeries at the Humane Society's high-volume spay/neuterclinic were up 78 percent (from 1,274 to 2,266). “We are thrilled with therecent successes we have had at the adoption center,” says Tara High,Executive Director of the Humane Society. “We have been working extremelyhard on a local level to implement positive changes in animal welfare, andare proud to be an ASPCA Mission: Orange target community.”

Philadelphia: The Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) opened thedoors to its new downtown adoption center in October, located in the heartof Olde City. The adoption center makes it possible for center city residentsto adopt dogs and cats without traveling to the shelter or waiting for specialevents. The PAWS Adoption Centerprovides a tremendous opportunity tosave lives, raise awareness, and increasethe community’s involvement in itsmission.

Tampa: The city of Tampa hasexperienced great success in increasingadoptions. In May, local ASPCA Mission:Orange partners participated in a large-scale pet adopt-a-thon at the Florida StateFairgrounds where more than 170 catsand dogs were adopted.Between May and July2007, adoptions inTampa were up by 51percent compared withthe same period lastyear. Additionally, theHumane Society of Tampa Bay’s 8thAnnual Pet Telethon was met with ahuge response. Held on August 4th and5th, the telethon raised more than$160,000 and found new homes for 84cats and dogs.

>> COVER STORY

Through our partnership with Fresh Step® Scoopable Cat Litter, the ASPCA announced grant recipients forthis year’s Safe Steps Home™ program. Safe Steps Home was created in 2000 to help rescue cats in needthrough innovation, education and prevention. Thanks to funding made available by Fresh Step Scoopable CatLitter (http://www.freshstep.com/safesteps.html), the program improves the lives of homeless cats andcombats cat overpopulation nationwide.

In 2007, grants have been awarded to the following shelters:

Animal Management Division of Prince George’s County,Prince George County, MD

Safe Haven for Cats, Raleigh, NCCapital Area Animal Welfare Society, Baton Rouge, LAHumane Society of Tampa Bay, Tampa, FLCitizens for Animal Protection, Houston, TXMEOW Cat Rescue, Seattle, WAEast Bay SPCA, Oakland, CACat Care Society, Lakewood, COAnimal Humane Society, Golden Valley, MNMSPCA, Boston, MAOur Companions Animal Sanctuary, Bloomfield, CTPennsylvania SPCA, Philadelphia, PA

These shelters were also invited to participate in the Fresh Step Pet Den at 2007 Animal Planet Expo events.Adoptable animals were on hand and local vets from the shelters answered cat care questions.Fresh Step also supported ASPCA® Mission: Orange™ and Adopt-A-Shelter Cat Month throughadvertising grants and special promotions focused on the adoption of shelter cats awaiting lovinghomes. ASPCA veterinarians participated in Ask-The-Vet sessions and spoke with local media inTampa and Philadelphia at the Animal Planet Expo events as part of the collaboration toraise awareness for homeless cats in these communities.

Honor Giving During the HolidaysWith the holidays right around the corner, many of us find ourselves in the same quandary – what do you get for the person who has everything? Why not give a gift that keeps giving? An Honor, Tribute or Memorial Gift is awonderful way to celebrate the special people, pets and events in your life –and give the gift of life to animals in need. Ifyou are interested in giving this way, logonto www.aspca.org/donate orcontact Linda Tiramani, Manager ofSpecial Giving, ASPCA, 424 E. 92ndStreet, NY, NY 10128, email:lindat@aspca.org.

Safe Steps Home

5Winter 2007 5

>> NEWS

When choosing a pet to bring intoyour home, it can be difficult todistinguish which, among themany adorable faces in the shelterwill be the best fit for you andyour lifestyle. That’s why, in fol-lowing with our successful MeetYour MatchTM Canine-ality andPuppy-ality programs, the ASPCAhas launched Feline-ality, thenewest addition to the Meet YourMatch adoption programs, aimed athelping potential adopters choosetheir perfect feline companion.Meet Your Match is currently the

only research basedmethod available toshelters nationwidethat specificallycombines both theadopter’s preferen-ces and the animal’sbehavior to createthe perfect match.

“The animalsmost at-risk in thecompanion animalworld are those inshelters,” saysASPCA President& CEO Ed Sayres,“and increasingand maintainingsuccessful adop-tions is an extreme-ly critical elementto providing theseanimals the secondchance they sorichly deserve.”

The Feline-alityprogram helps todispel the myth

that cats have no distinguishingcharacteristics other than theirlooks. By assessing a feline’s be-havior and interest in play, explo-ration, “talking” and being thecenter of attention while in theshelter environment, shelterexperts can predict how the catwill behave once they are adoptedinto a new loving home. Duringthe assessment, cats are categorizedinto one of nine “feline-alities” thatfall into a tri-color coded system. Acat might be a purple “privateinvestigator” that may need a few

days to adjust in the new home, agreen “adventurer” or an orange“personal assistant” just raring tohelp you read your newspaper!

Potential adopters are asked tofill out surveys about their personalpreferences and lifestyle to identifywhich feline-alities they are mostcompatible with. Based on theiranswers, adopters are given colorrecommendations that help themto easily pinpoint which felines inthe shelter are best suited to them.Even if adopters choose a catoutside of their recommendedcolor range, the Meet Your Matchtools will still help them to make agood match, and go home withthe right expectations.

Based on two years of researchincluding beta testing at fiveshelters around the country, theprogram has experienced encour-aging results. Initial beta testingshowed up to a 46% increase inadoptions, while returns and eu-thanasia decreased by up to 40%.

“The key to developingsuccessful adoptions lies in makinggood matches between adoptersand pets, based on the behavior ofthe pet, and the lifestyle and ex-pectations of the adopter, thuscreating lasting bonds,” says Dr.Emily Weiss, Senior Director ofShelter Behavioral Programs at the ASPCA, and researcher ofASPCA’s Meet Your Match.“Feline-ality is a tool that doesprecisely this; and everyone –adopters, shelter staff and most ofall, the cats – benefits from theprogram.” �

Prepare To Meet Your Match™!New classification system helps adopters select a feline companion

6 ASPCA Action6 ASPCA Action www.aspca.org

Dr. Emily Weiss, Coordinator of Meet Your Match.

An Interactive ZooOver 25,000 animal lovers cameout for the last stop on the annualAnimal Planet Expotour in Coatesville, PAon August 18. Visitorsgot up close andpersonal with exoticcreatures from aroundthe world in theAnimal House andvisited with creepycrawlers at the Bug House. Otherfun-filled activities included high-flying Frisbee dog shows, liveanimal presentations and the Kids’Zone, which had face painting,interactive trivia games and an 18-foot Spider Mountain climbingtower. Pets joined in on the fun,“chilling out” at the Expo’s petwatering holes and misters.

The makers of Fresh Step® littersponsored the Pet Den, whichprovided opportunities for petadoption. The Den also hosted anAsk-The-Vet session, where petparents got advice on pet-relatedissues from ASPCA Veterinarian Dr.Louise Murray. As part of the Expo,which was sponsored by AnimalPlanet and Comcast, the ASPCA,along with the makers of FreshStep® litter made a $10,000 dona-tion to the Pennsylvania SPCA. �

Borders Pet ProjectThe ASPCA teamed up withHowell Book House and Borders,Inc., for the Borders Book Project,a nationwide contest inviting petparents to share their stories ofanimal rescue and adoption.Winning entries were compiledto create Hopeful Tails: Stories ofRescued Pets and Their ForeverFamilies, a heartwarmingcollection of inspirationalstories. The book is availableexclusively at Borders andWaldenbooks stores nation-

wide, and online atwww.bordersstores.com.One dollar from the saleof every book soldthrough June 30, 2008will be donated to theASPCA.

“Ask pet parents to tellyou their rescue stories,

and you’ll inevitably find how anoftentimes chance visit to the localshelter has irrevocably changed andenriched their lives,” says Ed Sayres,President & CEO of the ASPCA,and author of the foreword forHopeful Tails. �

Remembering EllieIt was a bittersweet visit to theASPCA Adoption Center for Mary-Jo Duffy and her husband Matt onSeptember 30; the plaque memori-alizing their beloved Pit Bull, Ellie,served as a painful, yet upliftingreminder of the effect Ellie had oneveryone who met her.

Duffy first met Ellie almost 14years ago, while running theASPCA’s foster care program. Ellie,a 5-month-old abused puppy, wasbrought in to the program. “Thesecond I looked at her, I decided,

she was mine,” says Duffy. Ellie was enrolled in the ASPCA's

obedience classes where she becamethe star pupil. She earned a CanineGood Citizen certificate, and was

certified bythe DeltaSociety to dotherapy work.

After Elliepassed away inMay, Duffywanted tocarry on thelegacy of hercanine com-

panion. A $5,000 donation wasmade to the ASPCA in Ellie’s nameto fund medical costs for animalsrescued by the ASPCA’s HumaneLaw Enforcement team, and Duffyis still collecting donations for theASPCA in Ellie’s name. “I can’tbelieve the outpouring of love Elliehas received. She was certainly aonce in a lifetime dog.” �

Vet ChatTo celebrate Adopt-A-Shelter DogMonth, the ASPCA’s online com-munity hosted several moderateddiscussions in October. One guest,Dr. Lila Miller, ASPCA Vice Presi-dent of Veterinary Outreach, an-swered questions about shelter dogsand the health needs of pooches.

Highlights included questionsabout the benefits of adopting froma shelter rather than a pet store orbreeder. Dr. Miller pointed out thatmost shelters examine their animalscarefully, vaccinate, de-worm,spay/neuter and perform behavioralassessments. Also, dogs in pet storesoften suffer from congenital healthproblems and poor socialization as aresult of over-breeding. �

>> NEWS BRIEFS

7Winter 2007 7

Photo by Maureen Keating

88 ASPCA Action www.aspca.org

>> MAJOR GIFTS

Stephen Sander developedhumanitarian ideas early when as achild he adopted Emily, a GoldenRetriever and his family’s very firstpet. Growing up a stone’s throwfrom the ASPCA’s headquarters onEast 92nd Street, and living with anumber of shelter dogs and catsthroughout his childhood, Mr.Sander became a natural advocatefor animals.

So when Mr. Sander’s businesscareer proved lucrative, he knewhe wanted to do something foranimals like those he had lovedthroughout his life. Having recentlylost his Brindle Pit Bull Jake after14 years, he was also looking for anappropriate way to honor hisfaithful friend. He arranged a tourof the ASPCA’s renovated shelter,and during his visit, asked President

& CEO Ed Sayres if there wereany large-scale projects he couldfund to show his appreciation forthe organization’s work.

In July, the ASPCA unveiled thefruits of this conversation: a new685-square-foot mobile spay/neuter clinic. The addition of thenew mobile clinic brings thenumber of vehicles in the ASPCA’sspay/neuter fleet to 3, nowallowing the ASPCA to performfree and low-cost spay/neutersurgeries on 18,000 cats and dogsannually throughout the fiveboroughs of New York City. TheASPCA’s mobile clinics visit low-income neighborhoods throughoutthe city, providing services tomembers of the public as well as toindependent rescuers and managersof feral cat colonies. The work of

the spay/neuter fleet is an essentialpart of the ASPCA’s efforts to endthe tragic euthanasia of healthyanimals in New York City.

Prior to his donation of themobile clinic, Mr. Sander enjoyedthe unique experience of accom-panying the clinic staff on theirrounds for several days. “It was justincredible to see the work they doday in and day out. And seeingtheir work with my own eyes justreinforced my belief that spay/neuter efforts are the ultimate tool in preventing cruelty,” heremembers.

Mr. Sander splits his timebetween his Manhattan apartmentand Connecticut home, which heshares with his family and his tworescued dogs: Lupis, a Husky, andStella, a Labrador Retriever. �

Community residents and their pets line up for low-cost services offered by the ASPCA’s mobile animal clinic.

Animal Enthusiast Donates New Spay/Neuter Mobile Clinic

9Winter 2007

>> RESCUE

A truly heartbreaking sight greet-ed Special Agent Omar Negrillo,member of the ASPCA HumaneLaw Enforcement team, when hearrived on the scene of a domesticdispute in Staten Island, New York –one dead kitten, and its mother,beaten within inches of her life.

Agent Negrillo was first calledto the scene by observers whowere witness to horrifying acts ofanimal cruelty following anargument between a couple. Stillangry after the argument, themale came across a neighbor’s catand her kitten. He snapped thekitten’s neck, killing it immedi-

ately, then proceeded to throw themother to the ground with suchforce that her fur and whiskerswere scraped off of her face, andcaused one eye to hemorrhage.

The suspect was immediatelyarrested, and the cat, later namedPenny by members of theASPCA, was brought to theASPCA’s Bergh Memorial AnimalHospital to be treated for herinjuries. Penny’s owners decidedto give her up after she wasinjured, so she was brought to theASPCA Adoption Center to finda new loving home.

A New StartPenny’s heartwrenching story wasreported in the local newspaper,The Staten Island Advance. Touchedby her story, potential adoptersimmediately began lining up. Afterfour months at the ASPCA, Pennyfound a loving home with StatenIsland resident William Passo, whorenamed her Simba. “I called theASPCA almost every day formonths and visited the adoptioncenter four times before I was ableto take her home,” says Passo. “Iwanted to let them know howbadly I wanted her.”

Simba is enjoying life in her newhome, and has fully recovered fromher injuries. She enjoys spendingher days being combed andgroomed, trailing Passo around thehouse and hanging out with thefamily dog, a Golden Lab namedYeller. “She’s a terrific cat. At firstshe terrorized me and Yeller, butnow she is like my shadow.Wherever I go, she is right therebehind me,” says Passo.

“As this case illustrates, too oftenpets are at the center of violentdomestic conflicts. It’s great thatMr. Passo has gone to such lengthsand given Penny the care she sorichly deserves,” says JosephPentangelo, Assistant Director ofHumane Law Enforcement at theASPCA. �

Penny, later renamed Simba, enjoys a leisurely afternoon in her new home.

Nothing has exposed the face of cruelty like the realityTV series Animal Precinct on Animal Planet. The ASPCAgave one mother cat a new lease on life.

A Very Lucky Penny

>> OUTREACH

10 ASPCA Action www.aspca.orgYour Dolla10 ASPCA Action www.aspca.org

$20,000IMMUNOCONTRACEPTION FOR HORSES� Montana The ASPCA Equine Fund awarded the ZooMontana Conservation and ScienceCenter a $20,000 grant for their wildlife contraception program. One projectthis grant has helped to fund is the use of immunocontraception on wild horsesof the Shackleford Banks of the Cape Lookout National Seashore in NorthCarolina. This contraception program has reduced the birth of foals by morethan half and has eliminated the need for an annual roundup to thin the herdand send those selected to an adoption group.

$10,000EMERGENCY AID FORMUSTANGS AND BURROS� South DakotaA $10,000 emergency grant awarded to theInternational Society for the Protection of Mustangsand Burros in South Dakota has helped to providehay for three wild herds of mustangs and burrosduring a time of historic drought, when supplieshave become scarce and expensive.

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$50,000DISASTER PREPAREDNESS� ColoradoThe Society of Animal Welfare Administrators (SAWA) is using a$50,000 grant from the ASPCA to help fund disaster response andpreparedness training activities, as well as their annual trainingconference and the creation of an online database of members andtheir resources for disasters. SAWA, a trade association for animalwelfare professionals, has been instrumental in promotingcommunication and educational opportunities for individuals andorganizations in the animal welfare field.

$10,000EXPANDED SPAY/NEUTER SERVICES� OhioThanks to a joint $10,000 grant from the ASPCA and PetSmart Charities as part of theirImagine Humane project, the Cleveland Animal Protective League has been able toexpand their surgery suite in order to provide pediatric spay/neuter surgery to animalcontrol groups, and affordable spay/neuter surgery to individuals and groups involved in

trap-neuter-return programs for feral cats. “There has been a need for a proactiveprogram like this for a long, long time… all we needed was this initial donation to get

the ball rolling. There’s no doubt our program will have a huge, positive impact onthe animals in our community,” says Sharon Harvey, Executive Director of the

Cleveland Animal Protective League.

11Winter 2007rs At Work

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$10,000MOBILE VETERINARY

SERVICES� New Jersey

Animals in Camden, NJ are endangered bythe combination of inadequate resources,lack of accessible and affordable veterinarycare, and ignorance about the needs ofcompanion animals. A $10,000 grant fromthe ASPCA is helping the Animal WelfareAssociation to fund the Camden Project, a weekly mobile veterinary unit offering free orlow-cost spay/neuter surgeries and vaccinations. Staff and volunteers also hand out catand dog food, collars leashes and educational literature to neighborhood residents.

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$2,000 SPAY/NEUTER SURGERIES� OklahomaA $2,000 grant awarded to the Oklahoma Humane Federation will allow sevenof its member organizations to expand their spay/neuter services for low-income families throughout the state. The grant will help fund mobile clinicssuch as Volunteers for Animal Welfare, Inc.’s second Kitten Kaboodle Clinic(their first clinic resulted in 138 kittens being treated in just one day!), as well asin-clinic spay/neuter surgeries.

>> ADVOCACY

2007 has been quite a year for theASPCA’s advocacy efforts. One of thebiggest victories we saw this year wasthe passage of the Animal FightingProhibition Enforcement Act of 2007.This legislation prohibits sponsoring or exhibiting an animal in an animal-fighting venture if any of the animalshave been moved across state lines. Inaddition, it raises the crime from amisdemeanor to a felony. It is ourhope that this law will help deterothers from participating in this cruel“sport”.

Of course for every victory thereare still so many battles that need to befought to help create a humanecommunity for all animals. Here is alook at some of the current pieces oflegislation that the ASPCA issupporting:

Downed Animal and Food SafetyAct – This measure would requirethe immediate humane euthanasia ofany critically ill and injured cows, pigs,

sheep, goats, mules and horses too sickto stand and walk on their own.Currently, animals in these conditionsare dragged or pushed to slaughter andare allowed to enter the food chain.Such a situation causes needlesssuffering of animals, while also posinga health risk to the meat that isproduced.

Dog and Cat Fur ProhibitionEnforcement Act – This legislationwould make it illegal to sell apparelcontaining fur from raccoon dogs,members of the dog family native toChina killed in large numbers for theirfur. It would also mandate that apparelcontaining any amount of fur beaccurately labeled. Under current U.S.law, the sale of dog and cat fur isprohibited; however raccoon dogs arenot included in this ban. In addition,any item containing fur that has avalue of less than $150 is not requiredto be labeled, leading some consumersto purchase products they believe to

contain faux fur when this may not bethe case.

The Preservation of Antibioticsfor Medical Treatment Act – If itwere to become law, this act wouldphase out, within two years ofenactment, the common practice offeeding mass quantities of antibioticsimportant in human medicine to foodanimals. Livestock are currently givenlarge amounts of these life-savingdrugs to prevent diseases caused by theovercrowded and unsanitaryconditions prevalent in factoryfarming. Such use has contributed tothe rise of antibiotic-resistantinfections in humans. Passage of thisact would promote healthierconditions under which livestock areraised and have a positive impact onhuman health.

The American Horse Slaugh-ter Prevention Act – This billwould prohibit the interstate andinternational transport, delivering,receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling or marketing of any horse to beslaughtered for human consumption.Last year, the U.S. killed over 100,000American horses and shipped themeat to Japan and Europe for humanconsumption. The horses suffer duringthis process due to the long trips tothe slaughterhouse in double deckervehicles, overcrowding and inhumaneslaughter practices. With this law, thiscruel and inhumane practice could beput to an end.

To find out how you can help, pleaselog onto www.aspca.org/lobby. �

Advocacy Highlights of 2007The ASPCA continues the fight to improve animal welfare nationwide

12 ASPCA Action www.aspca.org

13Winter 2007

Illinois:The ASPCA applauds GovernorRod Blagojevich for signing intolegislation several bills that will go along way to help protect animals inthe state of Illinois:

Expanded Orders of ProtectionLike children, pets are often usedas pawns in domestic violence.House Bill 9 allows judges toinclude animals in orders ofprotection in domestic violencecases. Petitioners will be given solecustody, care and control of theanimal, and judges may orderrespondents to stay away from theanimal, as well as forbid them totake, transfer, conceal or harm theanimal.

Felony Penalty for AnimalFightingDog fighting is a felony in Illinois.Now House Bill 3614 hasextended felony charges to fightingcocks and other animals as well.

Ohio:A Disappointing DefeatThe Ohio Supreme Court hasdenied a motion for reconsiderationand decided to uphold Ohio and

Toledo laws classifying Pit Bulls asvicious, and regulating Pit Bullownership on this basis. “We haveseen time and time again thatresponsible pet ownership is thekey to successfully resolving thedangerous dog issue – and thisdecision does not take that intoconsideration,” says Ed Sayres,President & CEO of the ASPCA.Urge your state legislators to helpdefeat these devastating laws; visitwww.aspca.org/lobby.

Tennessee:Pets Included In Orders OfProtectionHats off to Governor Phil Bresdenfor signing House Bill 1161/SenateBill 196, giving Tennessee courtsthe power to protect pets byincluding them in protective ordersin domestic violence cases,helping to break the pattern ofabuse and violence.

Connecticut: Subsidized Spay/Neuter,Vaccination ProgramsRecognizing the importance ofspaying or neutering

companion animals in controllingpet overpopulation, Connecticuthas passed HB 7194, which willestablish subsidized spay andneuter services as well asvaccination programs for low-income pet parents, and expandthese services for feral catrescuers.

Protective Orders to IncludePets Individuals involved in domesticviolence situations often delayleaving the home and getting helpout of concern for the safety oftheir pets. Thanks to the passageof Senate Bill 284, court orders ofprotection may now be extendedto include companion animals,helping to break the cycle of abusefor both people and their pets.

California:Companion Animals Included inProtective Orders Studies show that abusers oftenthreaten, injure or kill pets as a wayof controlling others in the family.The ASPCA commends GovernorSchwarzenegger for signingSenate Bill 353, allowing judges toinclude companion animals whenissuing protective orders indomestic violence cases. This billassures that pets of domesticviolence victims are safe frombatterers even if the animal is notin the presence of the victim.

State Highlights

TAKE ACTION IN YOUR STATE

To learn more about importantanimal welfare bills in your stateand find contact info and sampleletters for your state lawmakers,join the ASPCA Advocacy Brigadeat www.aspca.org/lobby.

14 ASPCA Action www.aspca.org14 ASPCA Action www.aspca.org

>> PET PARENTS

Beware toxic holiday plants.Lilies are often used this time ofyear, and all varieties can causekidney failure in cats. CommonYuletide plants such as mistletoeand holly berries can also be toxicto pets. Poinsettias are low intoxicity, though they may causemild vomiting or nausea if ingestedby your pet.

Place harmful decorationsout of pets’ reach. Traditionaldecorations such as ribbons or tinselcan become lodged in the intestinesand cause intestinal obstruction ifingested. Decorations made of glassor toxic substances such as bubblinglights can be very dangerous if theybreak open. Consider decoratingyour tree with ornaments that areless enticing to pets, such as driednon-toxic flowers, wood, fabric orpinecones.

Be cautious with Xylitol.Candies and gum containing largeamounts of this sweetener can betoxic to pets, as ingestions ofsignificant quantities can produce afairly sudden drop in blood sugar,resulting in depression and seizures.Keep such products out of thereach of your pets.

Keep pets away fromChristmas tree water. Thewater may contain fertilizers thatcan cause stomach upset if ingested.Stagnant water can also act as a

breeding ground for bacteria and, ifingested, a pet could end up withnausea, vomiting and diarrhea.Water well covers will help to keepyour pet away from the toxic waterin the Christmas tree base.

Don’t give your pets holidaychocolate. Depending on thedose ingested, chocolate (bakers,semi sweet, milk and dark) can bepotentially poisonous to manyanimals. In general, the less sweetthe chocolate, the more toxic itcould be – unsweetened bakingchocolate contains almost seventimes more theobromine (asubstance similar to caffeine) thanmilk chocolate. Vomiting, diarrhea,

seizures, hyperactivity and increasedthirst, urination and heart rate canbe seen with the ingestion of aslittle as 1/4 ounce of bakingchocolate by a 10-pound dog.

Avoid a sour stomach. Keepyour pets on a normal diet. Anychange of diet, even for one meal,may give your pet severe indiges-tion and diarrhea. Do not feed petsholiday leftovers, and be sure tokeep them away from the garbage.Poultry bones can splinter andcause blockages. Greasy, spicy andfatty foods can cause stomach up-set; spoiled or moldy foods couldcause food poisoning, tremors orseizures. �

Holiday HazardsHow to keep your pets happy and safe during the holidays

What better way to share over 141years of pet-care expertise, thanthrough a wholly-branded line ofpet care products? The ASPCACollection is just that. Developedin close collaboration with theASPCA’s staff of animal behavior-ists and pet experts, this expand-ing line of products embody ourunique understanding of thehuman-animal bond, and help petsfeel safe, happy and loved. Just asthe ASPCA is the voice forcompanion animals, ASPCAbranded pet products are “Whatthey’d ask for, if they could”™.

In August, Wisconsin-basedShopko became the first retailer tocarry the newly launched “pettravel and safety” product line fromthe ASPCA in 13 states.

This is one of the firstcollections of pet careproducts under theASPCA’s brand newlicensing initiative, andis the culmination ofthe ASPCA’s partner-ship with TeamProducts International(TPI). Meeting the highstandards of the ASPCA,the innovative collection of22 products includes: “see-them-in-the-dark” light-up dog collarsand leashes, “keep-them-safe” in-car seat belt restraints, no-spill travelwater bowls and portable easy-to-carry/easy-to-set-up pet enclosures.

Future ASPCA branded pro-ducts will include toys, basic pet-care items like litterboxes andgrooming supplies, housewares andpet-themed pet products for kidsand people.

Here’s the best part: all sales ofthe ASPCA Collection will alsohelp support the ASPCA’s mission– the ASPCA will receive 5-7% ofthe purchase price on everyproduct!

Bonus: Look for Dr. Z’s pet caretips on every package!

Products are available at theASPCA’s online store atwww.aspca.org/store. Andstarting in November, the complete line of ASPCA travel andsafety products will also be availableon Amazon.com. �

1515Winter 2007

>> PET-CARE PRODUCTS

ASPCAHoliday Store

The ASPCA HolidayStore is now open for

business, and we havelots of great goodies to

satisfy all your gift needs.Send your warmest holidaywishes to friends and familywith our inspired holidaycards. Fill one of our cat ordog Christmas stockings withtoys and treats for yourbeloved companion, and whileyou’re at it, deck your hallswith ASPCA ornaments.ASPCA sterling silver andenamel jewelry is always inseason as are our logo t-shirts, tote bags and travelmugs. No animal lover’s list iscomplete this year withoutbestselling author Traer Scott’snew book Street Dogs, which isfilled with 90 stunning andunforgettable photographs ofdogs living on the streets inPuerto Rico and Mexico. Bestof all, your purchase helpsanimals. Log ontowww.aspca.org/shop today!

“ASPCA Collection” now available topet parents across the country!A full line of pet travel and safety products for your companion animal

16 ASPCA Action www.aspca.org16 ASPCA Action www.aspca.org

>> PLANNED GIVING

Leona Helmsley left a $12 milliondollar bequest to her dog “Trouble”.Call it extravagant or outrageous –but there is a lesson to be learned.Leona had a plan for the care of herpet in the event of her death. Un-planned emergencies could spelldisaster for a pet.

What to do?Carry a pet alert card in your walletinforming emergency personnel youhave a pet at home. The card shouldhave the name and phone number ofthe person you have designated asyour ICE - “In case of emergency”contact. Put the same information inyour cell phone under “ICE”. Place“pet inside” stickers with “ICE”information on your outside win-dows and doors to alert emergencypersonnel your pet is inside.

Identify a caregiver.Who is the best person to care foryour pet? A relative, friend, neighbor,petsitter, dogwalker, veterinarian?Whoever it is, ask them if they wouldbe your pet’s caregiver in the event ofa temporary or life-threateningemergency. Once you have found aperson, make sure you have at leastone back up person whether youhave one or multiple pets.

Provide instructions for care.What food does your pet like/dislike?Are there health issues? How oftenshould your pet visit the vet? Provideas much information as possible forthe caregiver. It also makes the periodof adjustment for your pet less trau-

matic if their daily routine ismaintained.

Informal arrangements.Establish a bank account for the careof your pet in trust for the chosencaregiver. Or, name a caregiver toreceive a portion of a life insurancepolicy or annuity. This way funds fora pet’s care will be available faster andwill not be subject to a delay if aprobate court has to intervene.

Contact a local animalorganization or rescue group.Ask about their adoption policy, andprearrange for the adoption of yourpet.

Formal arrangements.Consider will provisions, pet trustarrangements, animal sanctuaries andveterinary schools. Enlist the aid ofan attorney to name a caregiver andprovide funds for the care of your petin a will or trust. Note: a will contestcould delay providing immediatefunds for the care of your pet versusa pet trust in which a trustee overseesfunds given to the caregiver usuallyfor the duration of your pet’s life.(See the ASPCA website for a list ofstates with pet trust laws.)

Several animal sanctuaries acrossthe country will accept a pet on aprearranged basis. Some veterinaryschools have lifetime care programsfor pets of deceased pet parents.

Planning today will ensure thatyour pet has a safe and happy future.If you truly love your pet make sureyour final act is also one of kindness.

For more information about petplanning log ontowww.aspca.org/pettrust orcontact Kim Bressant-Kibwe,ASPCA Trusts & Estates Counsel, byemail at Kimb@aspca.org or bycalling 212-876-7700 ext 4554.

The $12 Million Dollar PoochPlan ahead for the care of your pet in the event of an emergency

>> ASK OUR EXPERTS

1717Winter 2007

Carmen Buitrago,CPDT is an animaltrainer at the ASPCAAnimal BehaviorCenter and is a CertifiedPet Dog Trainer.

Q. My Shetland puppies getoverly excited when going for acar ride, barking excessively.How can I train them to calmdown before and during carrides? H.C.

Louise Murray, DVM Diplomate ACVIM, is the Director ofMedicine at the ASPCA Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital.

Q.My Golden Retriever loves to swim in theoceans, lakes and pools. However, he alwaysdrinks the water. Afterwards, he will have

diarrhea. Is this harming him? F.L., Sneads Ferry, NC

A. It isn’t a good idea to allow dogs to drink salt waterfrom the ocean, or fresh water from a river or pond. Salt water is dangerouswhen ingested in anything more than a very small quantity, because the saltcan raise blood sodium to dangerously high levels, resulting in neurologicalproblems and even death in some cases.

Pond and river water also have hazards. Stagnant water may grow algae,which can contain powerful toxins that cause ‘blue-green algae poisoning,’leading rapidly to severe, often fatal, liver or neurological damage. (Stagnantsalt water can also contain algae.) Dogs who drink stagnant water can alsodevelop very serious fungal infections. And any body of fresh water can becontaminated with a microscopic intestinal parasite called Giardia.Additionally, bacteria called Leptospires can be found in fresh water that hasbeen contaminated by animal urine. Infection with Leptospires can lead tokidney and/or liver failure (though dogs can be vaccinated against sometypes of Leptospires).

Clean, cold, moving, fresh water is safest (algae tends to grow in warmwater); avoid warm, stagnant water. Speak with your veterinarian aboutvaccinating your dog against Leptospirosis, and have his stool checkedregularly for Giardia.

A. Reduce your Shelties’ reactionto the clues that they’ve learned leadup to a ride, such as picking up yourpurse. This desensitization involvespatient daily training, proceeding insmall increments over several weeks.Here are some suggested steps: Pick up your purse and do nothing. Becalm, ignore any reaction you get anddon’t leave the house. Once your dogsstop reacting, put the purse down.

Pick up your purse several times aday when you’re not planning to leave.Do this at random intervals, sometimesseveral times in a row, sometimes onceevery few hours.

Keep this up until your dogs havehabituated and no longer react. Yourgoal is to make purse lifting (and anyother predeparture cues that trigger theirbarking) a ho-hum event for them. Make sure your Shelties are hungrybeforehand, and give them a food-stuffed Kong, another food puzzle or achew bone when you get in the car.This should distract them for those firstfew minutes and keep them occupiedfor most of your car ride.

HAVE A QUESTION? ASK OUR EXPERTS E-mail: ASPCAAction@aspca.org, or write: ASPCA Action, 424 East 92nd Street, New York, NY 10128

Visit www.aspca.org for more answers about your companion animal health and behavior questions from the ASPCA experts.

OverzealousTravelers

Water Hazards

18 ASPCA Action www.aspca.org18 ASPCA Action www.aspca.org

>> PEOPLE & EVENTS

Hog Lovers Fight Animal Cruelty

A Hero MemorializedMembers of the ASPCA and New-foundland descendants from localrescue groups assembled at Green-Wood Cemetery on September 30 tounveil a plaque commemorating thelife of Gipsy, a Newfoundland whosaved his mistress from drowningmore than 128 years ago.

A second plaque, placed at theASPCA sculpture near the tomb ofHenry Bergh, Founder of theASPCA, was also unveiled.

Gipsy, who belonged to Mr. andMrs. Lemuel Wilmarth of New YorkCity, died in 1879 at the ripe old ageof 23, and was buried in the Wilmarth

plot at Green-Wood. Mr. Wilmarth,one of Green-Wood’s notable artists,intended to memorialize the dog’sgravesite with a headstone, and HenryBergh penned a poem to celebratethe life of the brave Newfie. But, alas,the headstone was never erected.

Over a century later, Gipsy receivedthe honor that was rightfully his.

“The ASPCA is thrilled to continueHenry Bergh’s work by honoring thetimeless bond between human andanimal at beautiful Green-WoodCemetery, both Bergh’s and Gipsy’sfinal resting place,” says ASPCAPresident & CEO Ed Sayres. �

Bikers turned out in droves withtheir pets in tow on July 15 tosupport the first annual BikersAgainst Cruelty to Animals(BACA) fundraiser held atOutback Choppers in Tuxedo,New York. Hosted by Outback

Choppers owners Paul and ReginaMaloney, the fun-filled eventincluded live music, raffles withprizes donated by local businesses,BACA t-shirts for sale and even abikini bike wash. Proceeds, whichtotaled over a $1,000, were

donated to the ASPCA, and theMaloneys continue to acceptdonations for the ASPCA at theirstore.

“The ASPCA really helps toraise awareness about themistreatment of animals, andmakes people feel like we can alldo something to help, either bydonating, or adopting, or helpingothers who may not be able tocare for their animals,” says ReginaMaloney. �

>> PEOPLE & EVENTS

19Winter 2007 19

Comic lovers gatheredat Flatiron Joe’s inManhattan on Sep-tember 19 to paytribute to belovedcomic artist and animallover Mike Wieringo,who passed away onAugust 12 from a heartattack. Artists Jae Lee,Tom Raney, DennisCalero, JimmyPalmiotti, AmandaConnor, ArthurSuydam, Paul Renaud,Rodney Ramos, PaoloRivera, Joe Quesada, and WaltSimonson were on hand tosketch, auction and commissionpieces, the proceeds from whichwere donated to two of Mike’s“pet” charities – The Hero

Initiative, a federally charterednot-for-profit corporationdedicated to helping comic bookcreators in need, and the ASPCA.The successful event raised over$4,000 in just two hours! �

Equestrians, spectators, and ASPCAofficials gathered in Bridgehamp-ton, NY, August 26-September 2 forthe 32nd Annual Hampton ClassicHorse Show, which was sponsoredin part by the ASPCA. Equestrian consultant to the ASPCAR. Scot Evans and Assistant Directorof the ASPCA’s Humane LawEnforcement department Joe Pen-tangelo presented the ASPCA

Maclay Trophy to ASPCA MaclayClass winner Olivia Fass, who willcompete for a spot in the ASPCAMaclay National Championship inSyracuse, NY on November 3.

Several ASPCA sponsored eventswere scheduled throughout theweek, including Q&A sessions withASPCA Animal Behaviorists andPet Behavior Specialists, as well asSupervisory Special Investigator andstar of TV’s Animal PrecinctAnnemarie Lucas. The ASPCA’sJennifer Dragotta read passages fromsome of this year’s winners of theASPCA Henry Bergh Children’sBook Award, while ASPCAHumane Education SpecialistJoanne Pentangelo and JoePentangelo taught children aboutthe humane treatment of animals. �

Horsing Around At The Hampton Classic

Q. What was the name ofyour first pet and what isyour fondest memory? A. We always had a dog or two ata time growing up. My favoritememories of our Yellow Lab, Lady,would be playing with her in thesnow and watching her play tug-of-war with our cow.

Q. Why are groups like theASPCA so important?A. Organizations like the ASPCAprovide resources, education andfunding to community groups on thefront lines of the fight against animalcruelty and pet overpopulation.

Q. Do you share your lifewith pets?A. My wife and I have four dogs, allrescued. Digger, Mopar, Harley andSocks are like our children. Also,we're fostering a dog we rescuedfrom euthanasia in Talladega. Itseems like we always have a fosterdog or two. The dogs outnumber us!

Q. What is the most re-warding part of owning apet?A. Our dogs like to go everywherewith us — to the shop, the lake andon road trips. They sleep with us atnight, and hang out in our officeduring the day. They even swim inour pond while I'm fishing. I couldn'timagine our lives without them.

Celebrity CornerRyan

Newman,Nascar Driver,

Founder of theRyan Newman

Foundation

A Comic Tribute

Founded in 1866, the ASPCA (American Society for thePrevention of Cruelty to Animals) was the first humaneorganization established in the Western Hemisphere and todayhas one million supporters. The ASPCA’s mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animalsthroughout the U.S. The ASPCA provides national leadership inhumane education, government affairs and public policy, shelter support, and animal poison control. The NYC headquarters houses a full-service animal hospital, animalbehavior center, and adoption facility. The Humane LawEnforcement department enforces New York’s animal crueltylaws and is featured on the reality TV series Animal Precinct onAnimal Planet. Visit www.aspca.org for more information.

Have a rescue tale for the ASPCA? Send us YOUR STORIES E-mail us: ASPCAAction@aspca.org, or write: ASPCA Action, 424 East 92nd Street, New York, NY 10128. Please include your name, address, and a photo (high-resolution digital or print) we can keep. Stories will be edited to fit.

ASPCA Action ReturnsP.O. Box 97288Washington, DC 20090-7288

YOUR STORIESA Dog of a Different Color

Harley and Brac; DenaDeW., Granite Falls, NC

Harley, the black-and-white Dalmatian in thephoto, was adopted fromour local SPCA. Wewent there to adopt aterrier, but fell in lovewith Harley the second

we saw him. He was 12-weeks-old, and had beenturned in by his owner because she felt he played toorough with her 18-month-old son.

Our love for Harley prompted us to become involvedwith a few Dalmatian rescue groups. One day I cameacross a website dedicated to “lemon” Dalmatians,which are Dalmatians of different colors. My daughterimmediately decided she “just had to have one.” Muchto my surprise, it was not long after that I got an emailfrom one of the rescue folks we were working withentitled, “Didn’t you say you want one of these?” Iopened the email to find a picture of the most adorableeight-week-old “lemon” Dalmatian brothers fromProject Zero, a rescue group in Gaffney, SC.

As fate would have it, my daughter had a businesstrip planned for the upcoming week, just an houraway from Gaffney. When she got there, they askedher to please take both pups...which I think she wasplanning to do all along.

A Ricket-y StartDelsie and Pete; Delsie L.,Muskogee, Ok

I was driving home fromwork on a Monday backin March when I saw twoadults and a child walkingdown the sidewalk.Behind them, trying tokeep up was a small whitepuppy, walking on hisfront elbows and dragging his paws. I stopped to visitwith the people and the puppy, and decided to takethe puppy to a veterinarian to have him checked out.

The vet told me the puppy had developed ricketsfrom being starved, and also had red mange. The vetalso informed me that the puppy was about 3 monthsold, and had a decent prognosis. I had the vet givePete (as I had named him), his shots and treat him forthe mange, and brought him home to meet my family.

After weeks of good nutrition, including a boiledegg a day and some home treatments, Pete began toflourish. Later that month I adopted another malepuppy, a Corgi named Rodeo, for Pete to grow upwith, and the two quickly became friends.

Three months after finding Pete and adoptingRodeo, I lost my 14-year-old dog Mary. Though theywill never take her place, they have helped meovercome her loss. Animals are priceless in so manyways, I thank God everyday I was taught to care forand love animals. Pet problem? Call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center

Hotline at (888) 426-4435; fees may apply.