Animals – Page 10 – In Brief Legal Writing Services

A wing and a prayer

Posted on February 22, 2017 by alexb2448

This vintage typwriter is our featured image.

I sure hope the passengers on four flights from Memphis, Tenn., to various parts of the country last week didn’t get air sick. It would have been a hell of a mess.

You see these weren’t ordinary passengers. These passengers happened to be cats and dogs. And they were on their way to their new homes.

Cute Kitten, courtesy of FURRR 911. Photo by A. Bogdanovic — Bolt, a kitten rescued by FURRR 911, at Puttin’ On The Dog & Cats, Too 2016. Photo by A. Bogdanovic

As The Commercial Appeal reported, a California-based animal rescue group provided the transportation for more than 400 unwanted dogs and cats languishing in Memphis-area shelters.

This was the second such mission for the group since the beginning of the year.

“We’re again here because they needed to go, the shelters are full and they are in absolute dire need of being saved,” said Yehuda Netanel, co-founder of Wings of Rescue.

Bound for better places

Representatives from some of the Tennessee shelters said they were thrilled that the animals were bound for better places.

Alexis Pugh, director of the Memphis Animal Shelter (MAS), said the fact that 25 dogs and 18 cats flown out last Tuesday will get another shot at lives in loving homes is “fantastic.”

Before the animals from MAS took off, Pugh got a chance to speak with her counterpart at their destination — a no-kill shelter in upstate New York.

“Their adoption gallery for dogs is empty. They have zero dogs. So we’re about to fill up their adoption gallery for available pets,” Pugh said.

In other words, it’s a win-win situation for everyone involved.

According to The Commercial Appeal, the director of the smaller DeSoto County Shelter put more than 100 unwanted companion animal flights on the recent Wings of Rescue flights.

“This is what we would do all month,” director Monica Mock told the media. “It’s very nice to move that many animals in one day, especially during the slow time of the year.”

She added that people want puppies, and demand for them is highest in the spring. Sadly, not many people are adopting the adult dogs and cats at the shelter.

“That’s why this is such a wonderful opportunity for us,” Mock explained.

Coming to the rescue

The rescue missions conducted by Wings of Rescue are part of an ongoing effort to save unwanted dogs and cats that might otherwise be euthanized. Specifically, animal rescue groups from states where there are fewer homeless dogs and cats travel to areas where overpopulation is still an issue. In most cases, the goal is to save unwanted dogs and cats in states with “kill shelters.”

At the same time, animal rescue and advocacy groups throughout the United States are also emphasizing public outreach and spay/neuter programs to combat overpopulation. And while they’ve made significant progress in some areas, it is still an uphill battle.

According to the ASPCA:

Approximately 7.6 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.9 million are dogs and 3.4 million are cats.
Each year, approximately 2.7 million animals are euthanized (1.2 million dogs and 1.4 million cats).
About 649,000 animals who enter shelters as strays are returned to their owners. Of those, 542,000 are dogs and only 100,000 are cats.
Of the dogs entering shelters, approximately 35% are adopted, 31% are euthanized and 26% of dogs who came in as strays are returned to their owner.
Of the cats entering shelters, approximately 37% are adopted, 41% are euthanized, and less than 5% of cats who came in as strays are returned to their owners.

You do the math.

Cats crash the party at Westminster Dog Show

Posted on February 20, 2017February 19, 2017 by alexb2448

Yes, this is probably old news by now. But I think it is such a significant development that it bears repeating. The domestic cats’ plans for world domination is finally coming to fruition.

Seriously.

Eli, the In Brief Legal Writing Services mascot. — In Brief Legal Writing Services mascot Eli catching up on the latest news. Photo by Alexandra Bogdanovic

How do I know?

Simple. In an unprecedented feat, a bunch of cats just participated in an agility competition — at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

“For the first time, felines sidled up to the nation’s premier dog show, as part of an informational companion event showcasing various breeds of both species. It included a cat agility demonstration contest, while more than 300 of the nation’s top agility dogs vied in a more formal competition,” a Connecticut-based NBC TV affiliate reported.

Cat agility at dog show yields mixed reaction

Apparently, this did not sit well with some dog lovers. To Hannah Naiburg of Milford, Conn., for example, the whole situation was just “so weird.”

Personally, I think anyone willing to enter their dog in an agility competition could show a little more flexibility. And some of them did.

Tina Ackerman of Goffstown, N.H., was perfectly fine with the idea of cats participating in agility competitions. Just as long as it’s not her cat.

“Good for them,” she said. “There’s no way we could ever have trained any of our cats to do agility.”

And the winner is…

When all was said and done, a rookie named Bemisu won the feline agility competition. And apparently, it only took her about half-an-hour to learn the ropes.

“I had no idea she would learn so fast,” said her owner Blake Gipson, who also has a pit bull. “She’s smarter than I ever gave her credit for.”

Bemisu’s success didn’t come as a surprise to Vickie Shields, who “helped organize cat agility as a sport” 14 years ago.

Contrary to popular belief, cats aren’t loners, Shields said. And because many cats enjoy chasing toys, training is also easier than most people think, she added.

It all depends on the cat

It’s a good point. After all, even house cats are predators. Their innate need to chase their prey is often manifested as “play.” So it makes sense that some cats enjoy chasing toys on an agility course.

However, I disagree with something else Shields said. She maintained that most cats “are often more motivated by chasing toys than getting treats.” I say it all depends on the cat. And I speak from experience.

When I first got Eli back in February 2008, he was obsessed with food. He was such a glutton that he would wolf everything down within a couple of minutes after I put it down. So in order to teach him patience and discipline, I taught him to sit.

You heard me. I taught my cat to sit.

Here’s how I did it: Whenever I put food on his saucer at mealtime, I told him to come and when I had his attention I held the saucer up in the air, so he had to look up at it. As he did, he naturally ended up in a sitting position. I reinforced all of this by saying “sit.” So he eventually learned to associate the word and his behavior with being fed. And the rest is history.

Today Eli sits on command (when he feels like it). He also comes when he’s called (when it suits him). He meets me at the door (sometimes). He also sleeps on my bed.

Yes, Eli is a very doglike cat. But he is a cat. And he’s awesome.

Crime and punishment

Posted on February 17, 2017 by alexb2448

So here’s a question for you.

How desperate does someone have to be in order to steal quarters from coin-operated washers and dryers? And how much do you think you could get?

Ok. So that’s really two questions. And yes, I am serious. Someone really did that.

According to published reports, Alisha Russell of Syracuse, NY, allegedly stole more than $14,000 worth of quarters from machines in an apartment complex in upstate New York. Russell, who once worked as the leasing agent at the complex where the thefts occurred was recently arrested on grand larceny charges.

Russell reportedly “had a key to the machines and regularly collected money from them as part of her job.” Police say she lost her job for unrelated reasons before the investigation into the coin thefts — which occurred over a 10-month period — began.

Hmm…

How much is that little doggy in the window?

In other news, a Long Island man was also arrested on several charges including grand larceny and identity theft last month.

Police caught up with Victor Franco, 23, after he allegedly used a fake credit card to buy a puppy from a Merrick, NY, pet store. And this wasn’t just any puppy. It was a French bulldog that cost more than $3,000. In fact, the grand total was $3,592.21.

At the time of Franco’s arrest, police said the dog “still hadn’t been returned” to the shop, and added that it would be returned if they found it.

Franco also stands accused of using a fake credit card to buy a cell phone worth more than $200.

What is wrong with people?

To summarize, two people in two different parts of New York were arrested on grand larceny charges after they allegedly committed two very different crimes.

In one case, someone allegedly stole $14,000 worth of quarters from coin-operated washers and dryers at an apartment complex in upstate New York. In the other case, someone allegedly used a fake credit card to buy an expensive puppy dog from a Long Island pet store.

All of which leads to yet another simple — but rhetorical — question.

What is wrong with people?

And on that note, have a great weekend everyone…

A belated Valentine’s Day story that will make you smile

Posted on February 15, 2017 by alexb2448

Founder/owner of In Brief Legal Writing Services, Alexandra Bogdanovic. Photo by N. Bogdanovic

Here’s a belated Valentine’s Day story that will melt your heart — or at the very least, make you smile. And God knows we can all use some good news these days.

With a little help from their friends, some service dogs in training delivered Valentine’s Day gifts to businesses throughout Indianapolis yesterday. Their mission was part of a fundraiser called Puppy Love Valentine 2017, with proceeds benefiting the Indiana Canine Assistant Network (ICAN).

As Denise Sierp, ICAN’s director of outreach and development told Good Morning America (GMA), “The first reaction we get is they think their husband, or whoever gave the Valentine, actually gave them the puppy. Then everybody in the office starts coming out and everybody gets excited.”

In some cases, people are so thrilled that they drop what they’re doing and take time to play with the dogs, Sierp said. Sometimes they even “get on the floor with the dogs and they roll around,” when that happens it is “pure joy,” she added.

A gift that keeps on giving

In addition to getting a chance to play with some truly awesome and adorable dogs, recipients get gift bags containing “cookies, artwork designed by dogs, a heart-shaped candle holder, handmade scarf and greeting cards featuring the ICAN service dogs.”

The prison inmates in the ICAN program who are responsible for training the service dogs also make a lot of the items in the gift bags, GMA reported.

According to Sierp, ICAN’s founder, Dr. Sally Irvin, started the program because she thought it could benefit everyone involved. And it has.

“She saw that it rehabilitated the inmates and provided them with loyalty and trust, which is huge,” Sierp told GMA. “They find freedom in training the dogs within the prison’s four walls.”

Since its humble beginnings 15 years ago, the ICAN program that gives inmates a second chance by allowing them to train the service dogs, has expanded considerably. According to GMA, it now has approximately 50 dogs “in training on a continual basis at the three local prisons, including a women’s prison.”

The easiest and most positive way to turn something around is to give to give back. — Andrew Cole, assistant superintendent of reentry at Pendleton Correctional Facility

As the person in charge of ICAN’s service dog program at a maximum security prison, Andrew Cole has witnessed just how much the program means to the inmates there.

“What we challenge everybody here on is that the easiest and most positive way to turn something around is to give back,” Cole told GMA. “This is selflessness on the ultimate level.”

There is a great deal of pride and satisfaction in knowing that each trained at the facility will have a positive impact on someone’s life for years to come, Cole added. And at no time is that more evident than at the ICAN “graduation” programs held when the dogs have completed their training.

“It’s an amazing experience to witness and the handlers take pride in that,” Cole said. “We’ve seen handlers who get attached to the dogs but at the same time when the dog leaves they know the dog is going to help somebody lead their life easier for the rest of their life.”

Animal law roundup

Posted on February 13, 2017 by alexb2448

At a time when most Americans view companion animals as family members, authorities are cracking down on people engaged in any unscrupulous activities that are harmful to dogs and cats.

Just recently, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced sanctions against a former Westchester County pet shop owner. Schneiderman’s office has been investigating the man, Richard Doyle, for more than a year and determined that he “sold animals that had serious medical issues, despite claims of being healthy.”

As a result, Doyle can no longer sell pets in New York state. Furthermore, he must surrender all licenses associated with the sales of animals and pay $20,000 in fines. According to media accounts, customers that bought sick animals from Doyle will get most of the money.

“Disturbing cases like these reaffirm my commitment to encouraging those in search of a new pet to adopt from a local shelter, rather than purchasing an animal. This gives an animal in need a home, and gives the consumer the peace of mind that they are receiving a healthy pet,” Schneiderman said.

The Connecticut connection

In an unrelated case, Doyle pleaded guilty to five counts of animal cruelty in Connecticut. The charges reportedly stemmed from arrests at his pet store in Danbury, where he was accused of “of illegally performing surgery on and failing to provide proper care for ill animals.”

As a result, he is also banned from having “any affiliation” with pet stores or animal rescue shelters there for three years.

More than 70 dogs confiscated from NJ pet store

Meanwhile, in New Jersey, the SPCA confiscated more than 70 dogs from an East Hanover pet store where the owner “allegedly failed to provide records and veterinary care for the dogs.”

The owner, identified as Vincent LoSacco in published reports, is now in trouble with the town health department in addition to being investigated by the state attorney general’s office.

In addition to the East Hanover shop, authorities have reportedly closed two of LoSacco’s pet stores in New Jersey and one in New York.

As nbcnewyork.com reports, one of the New Jersey locations closed after LoSacco was charged with 267 counts of animal cruelty late last February. The other “had also been the target of investigations and complaints.”

The mysterious case of the Long Island wallaby

Posted on February 1, 2017 by alexb2448

How did an animal native to Australia end up in a filthy, freezing, Long Island garage?

That’s the disturbing question that surfaced after authorities responding to an anonymous tip found a wallaby locked in an East Rockaway, N.Y., garage yesterday.

“There is not adequate heat in there, there’s no food or water and there are feces all over,” Gary Rogers of the Nassau County SPCA told the New York City media. “We are in contact with the district attorney’s office about possible charges.”

For one thing, town and county laws make it illegal to keep wallabies in East Rockaway. And then there’s the matter of potential animal cruelty or neglect.

The adult male wallaby found in self-described “exotic animal expert” Larry Wallach’s garage appeared to be starving and weighed roughly 20 pounds or half of what it should if it were healthy, according to published reports.

“Wallabies are typically small to medium-sized mammals, but the largest can reach 6 feet (1.8 meters) from head to tail,” according to a description posted on nationalgeographic.com. “They have powerful hind legs they use to bound along at high speeds and jump great distances. When wallabies are threatened by predators, or when males battle each other, they may also use these legs to deliver powerful kicks.”

They can live for up to nine years in the wild.

The wallaby rescued from the East Rockaway garage is being treated at a local animal hospital and “the SPCA is currently looking at options for a new home for him,” according to media accounts.

More than 100 puppies rescued after wild ride

Posted on January 30, 2017 by alexb2448

If ever there was a heartbreaking and heartwarming story, this is it.

According to published reports, police rescued more than 100 puppies — described as “varying breed types (including many toy and smaller breeds)” — after the truck carrying them crashed in upstate New York.

“The driver, Emily Woodrum of Missouri, was delivering 103 puppies of varying breeds to local pet stores on Tuesday when she lost control of the truck and crashed in the town of Avoca, New York,” NBC News reports.

The speeding vehicle — reportedly bound for “local pet stores” — ended up in a ditch, where it overturned. Luckily, only five puppies were hurt. Of those, only two were hurt badly enough to require extensive treatment.

That’s the good news. Now here’s the sad part.

The Finger Lakes SPCA, which responded to the scene and cared for more than 80 puppies after the Jan. 24 wreck, suspects that they came from a puppy mill. With no proof, however, the animals’ fate is uncertain.

“No health issues that would indicate an animal cruelty concern could be ascertained by veterinary medical professionals who examined the puppies. We are not aware of any other specific laws that would have allowed the transfer of ownership of these puppies to our agency nor were we directed by law enforcement to retain the animals,” the organization said in an update posted on its website.

“While we too abhor puppy mills, we know of no means to legally confiscate animals only because there is a strong likelihood that a puppy came from one.”

With no other recourse, the Finger Lakes SPCA said it returned all but four of the puppies to the transportation company the next day. The company did cover costs stemming from the puppies’ medical care and shelter, the organization said.

As of last Wednesday, the Finger Lakes SPCA said it was pursuing a “formal release of ownership for these animals.”

Courts beginning to view pets as more than property

Posted on January 27, 2017 by alexb2448

When it comes to an animal’s status under U.S. law, there seems to be little, if any room for debate. Legally, an animal is property… and that’s that. Or is it?

According to recent reports, a recent change to Alaskan divorce laws may herald a significant shift in the way courts treat our pets — or more accurately, how they decide who gets custody of the pet(s) when a marriage ends.

Alaskan divorce courts are now the first in the country where courts must consider “the well-being of the animal” while determining custody. The amendment to the state’s divorce laws also permit judges to order joint custody of the pet(s).

“It is significant,” David Favre, a Michigan State University law professor who specializes in animal law, told The Washington Post. “For the first time, a state has specifically said that a companion animal has visibility in a divorce proceeding beyond that of property — that the court may award custody on the basis of what is best for the dog, not the human owners.”

The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), a staunch advocate of such measures, concurs.

“Even though judges throughout the US can already choose, in their discretion, to consider an animal’s best interests, no other state legislature has required judges to do so when adjudicating property distribution upon the dissolution of a marriage,” the organization said in a recent blog.

And to the lawmaker who sponsored the bill, it’s simply common sense. As long as people think of their pets as family, the courts should treat them accordingly, she says.

“Pets are truly members of our families,” Rep. Liz Vasquez says. We care for them as more than just property. As such, the courts should grant them more consideration. It’s only natural.”

Additional changes to Alaska laws that just took effect “allow companion animals to be included in domestic violence protective orders, and permits a court to order that the abuser pay financial support for a pet in the care of the human victim, if that abuser has a legal obligation to care for the pet.”

For pet owners, this is a matter of life and death

Posted on January 25, 2017January 25, 2017 by alexb2448

As many of you know, Eli, my best friend and the mascot here at In Brief Legal Writing Services, had a couple of health scares last year. In fact, it was roughly a year ago this week that he had surgery to remove a small (and thank goodness relatively benign) growth on his back.

With that being stated, I am happy (and relieved) to report that Eli’s most recent vet visit (for his annual checkup and shots) resulted in a clean bill of health. You see, I love him more than life. And even though he’s 11 and I know he won’t live forever, the thought of him getting really sick scares me to death.

And frankly so does this.

According to a recent CNN report, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has announced that certain skin cancer creams that prevent or fight the disease in people can be lethal for our pets. Specifically, the FDA is warning the public about creams that contain fluorouracil or 5-FU. Common brand names are Carac, Efudex and Fluoroplex.

The FDA issued the warning after learning about five cases in which animals died after swallowing the cream.

“In one case, a playful dog punctured a tube of fluorouracil cream. Within two hours, the animal began vomiting, experienced seizures and died 12 hours later,” CNN reports. “In another case, a dog ingested a tube of the cream. Though the owner rushed the dog to a veterinarian, who immediately began to treat the animal, the dog’s condition worsened and after three days, the owner deemed it necessary to euthanize the pet.”

Because even a small amount can be deadly, experts are advising pet owners to store the cream in a place where their animals can’t get at it, and to discard it properly when it’s no longer needed.

Additional precautions are warranted. Specifically, the FDA recommends “patients safely discard or clean any cloths or applicators used when applying the cream.” The agency stresses that “it’s also important to make sure clothes, carpets, floors and furniture contain no creamy residue. Hands must also be cleaned after using the cream.”

Most importantly, experts urge pet owners who must use cream containing fluorouracil to avoid contact with their pets after they’ve applied the medicine. This is especially crucial for dog owners, whose animals are likely to lick the areas where the cream is typically applied.

“Immediately consult a veterinarian if a pet becomes exposed to the medicine or begins to vomit, have seizures or show other signs of illness,” the FDA warned.

By hurting animals to get drugs, addicts hit a new low

Posted on January 23, 2017 by alexb2448

Just when I thought I’d heard (and seen) it all, this is a new low.

According to published reports, veterinarians in upstate New York are voicing alarm about cases in which pet owners deliberately hurt their animals in order to get painkillers.

“There’s unfortunately always the risk of abuse with any of these medications, and it’s a sad reality we have to be aware of,” veterinarian Lexi Becker told an NBC TV affiliate.

When it comes to Tramadol, Becker definitely has cause for concern. Although it is generally used to treat discomfort in dogs and cats suffering from arthritis, it also appeals to people with certain proclivities. Because it’s cheaper than Oxycodone, some addicts will stop at nothing in order to get their hands on it.

As a result, New York State lawmakers have created strict rules with regards to prescriptions.

“There’s a new regulation that came out in January of this year for New York State that basically restricts how long you can prescribe it initially, so there’s only a seven-day course that you can initially prescribe,” Becker said.
Veterinarians also take certain precautions when prescribing Tramadol, Becker told News 10.

“We are very, very strict about following the rules as to how quickly they can have a refill,” she said. “We will only give certain amounts of refills. We’ll only give how much the patient should be receiving.

Concern about Tramadol abuse are hardly limited to New York, however.

As the New York Post reports, Oregon authorities “seized 100,000 tramadol pills and rescued 17 dogs living in conditions so squalid, there were dead rats in their drinking water” in a raid outside Portland in 2016.

Police also made four arrests in the case. While the suspects “claimed to be breeding AKC-registered puppies,” police believe they were actually “running a thinly disguised opioid distribution ring.”

If so, it may well be the largest operation of its kind involving dogs, The Post reports.

Smaller cases are just as disturbing — if not more so. For example, the suspect in a Kentucky case was arrested and charged with “using a disposable razor to slice open the leg of her 4-year-old retriever on two separate occasions to get her hands on tramadol,” The Post reports.

Chad Bailey, the veterinarian who initially treated the suspect’s dog, said he had a gut feeling something was amiss when the owner quickly requested a refill.

“What’s scary is it took me two times to pick up on what was happening,” Bailey told The Post. “It worries me about the instances we miss.”