The cutest kittens ever get another chance thanks to FURRR 911

Posted on September 23, 2016September 23, 2016 by alexb2448

This vintage typwriter is our featured image.

This has got to go down as one of the most turbulent weeks in recent American history. There were acts of terrorism in Minnesota, New York and New Jersey. Riots broke out in Charlotte after a yet another police shooting.

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

But there was one day when thousands of people came together for a good cause in Greenwich, Connecticut. That was on Sunday. And I was there.

This was the fourth year that I had the honor and privilege of photographing the action in the demonstration rings at the Puttin’ On the Dog & Cats Too festival at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park. Hosted by Adopt-A-Dog, the local animal shelter where I volunteer, the event attracts pet owners and animal lovers from the Tri-State Area.

At the festival, pooches participate in various competitions including a costume contest. Their owners can check out the latest pet supplies and pet foods available from the vendors on site. Most importantly, the host organization along with other area animal rescue and welfare groups, get to introduce some of the dogs and cats available for adoption to the general public.

Please take the "chance" to help this little guy. — Chance’s story. Photo by A. Bogdanovic

This year, FURRR 911 brought several young cats and kittens to the event. Based in Westchester County, NY, FURRR 911 specializes in rescuing, rehabilitating and re-homing young cats and kittens most in need of help. Their stories are heartbreaking and heartwarming.

There’s Chance. He was thrown out of a building in New York City. And there’s TumbeLina, who was born with a disorder that affects her balance. There’s another little kitten who is missing an eye. And then there are those who were simply born into feral colonies.

They are all bundles of cuteness. They are all in need of good homes. And to be honest, if I didn’t have my hands full with Eli (a big bundle of cuteness in his own right) I probably would have adopted one or two.

As it stands, I can only hope that some of them will end up in good homes. In fact, I hope that all of the dogs and cats available for adoption will end up in homes where they know nothing but love and kindness. They deserve nothing less.

Yes, a man actually threw a puppy off a building

Posted on September 2, 2016 by alexb2448

“Felony penalties for animal cruelty allow prosecutors to better prosecute offenders, because, sadly, most domestic violence cases are only prosecuted at the misdemeanor level.” — Animal Legal Defense Fund

A recent story about a Connecticut man accused of throwing a puppy off a building highlights the need for tougher animal cruelty laws and harsher penalties.

According to published reports, Shaquille McGriff, 24, of New Britain, allegedly threw a seven-month old Chihuahua off a “second-floor porch” in July. McGriff stands accused of “choking a man after an argument with a woman” and then tossing the helpless puppy “two-and-half stories in an arc that spanned about 25 feet.”

The puppy named “Munchkin” survived, but needed extensive medical care to repair a broken leg and internal injuries. Thanks to the Connecticut Humane Society, she received the necessary treatment and is now on the road to recovery. She will be made available for adoption once she is fully healed.

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

In the meantime, McGriff is reportedly being held on bond while facing assault and animal cruelty charges. If convicted of the latter, his maximum sentence under Connecticut law would be five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Now I don’t know about you but as far as I’m concerned, in this case even the maximum penalty doesn’t fit the crime. Personally, I would love it if the law would allow someone far bigger and stronger than Mr. McGriff to pick him up by the scruff of the neck and throw him off a building. Now that would be a fitting punishment for someone as clearly depraved as Mr. McGriff.

Of course, the law would never allow that. But with growing awareness about the links between animal cruelty and the propensity for violence towards people, the need for tougher animal cruelty laws is clear.

According to the Animal Legal Defense Fund, “felony penalties for animal cruelty allow prosecutors to better prosecute offenders, because, sadly, most domestic violence cases are only prosecuted at the misdemeanor level.”

As it now stands, the situation is grim. Citing information from “studies that were published in peer-reviewed professional journals or books,” the Animal Welfare Institute shared the following on its website:

Multiple studies have found that from 49% to 71% of battered women reported that their pets had been threatened, harmed, and or killed by their partners.
In a national survey, 85% of domestic violence shelters indicated that women coming to their facilities told of incidents of pet abuse.
According to a survey, women in domestic violence shelters were 11 times more likely to report animal abuse by their partners than was a comparison group of women not experiencing violence.

An article on the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) website pertaining to the link between animal abuse and violent crime is also disturbing.

“Of 36 convicted multiple murderers questioned in one study, 46% admitted committing acts of animal torture as adolescents.[ii] And of seven school shootings that took place across the country between 1997 and 2001, all involved boys who had previously committed acts of animal cruelty,” the HSUS article states.

I rest my case.

Eli The Cat for president?

Posted on August 31, 2016September 1, 2016 by alexb2448

Since I started my business and launched this site, I’ve made it a rule to refrain from discussing politics in this forum. It’s not that I fear voicing my opinion on controversial issues — just scroll through the archives and you will see that’s hardly the case. I just don’t think it’s appropriate.

But with Election Day looming — and two of the worst candidates in U.S. history seeking the single most important job in the world — I am officially diving head first into the cesspool otherwise known as presidential politics.

Unfortunately it’s too late to nominate my cat for president — but maybe I can organize a write-in campaign. Or maybe not.

But one thing’s for sure. It would definitely be worth a try… And no, I am not a crazy cat lady. There’s definitely a precedence for this.

According to a recent article on wthnh.com, a cat from Kentucky named Limberbutt McCubbins is “is officially registered to run as a democratic candidate for this year’s presidential race.” And apparently McCubbins has some competition — from a Louisiana crawfish named Crawfish B. Crawfish.

I kid you not. I couldn’t make this stuff up.

Apparently, at least five other animals of varying species have sought public office over the years. And some of the bids have been successful.

Maybe Eli will join them someday. Maybe he won’t. But in any case, I think he’s content with the titles he already holds. You see around here, Eli is also known Sir Sheds A Lot, slayer of mice and guardian of the realm.

It suits him.

When it comes to the court of public opinion, choose your battles wisely

Posted on August 22, 2016August 23, 2016 by alexb2448

There’s a lot to be said for individualism. There’s a lot to be said for standing up for yourself. There’s also a lot to be said for fighting the court of public opinion. Or trying to, at any rate.

But the sad reality is that if you try to do that — you’re probably going to lose. Because, like it or not (and personally I don’t like it a bit) the court of public opinion is pretty damned powerful.

It seems like the couple from Virginia that I told you about last week may have learned that the hard way.

To refresh your memory, the couple — who already owns a dog kennel — wanted to expand it. But in order to do that, the couple needed a special land use permit from the county.

From what I understand, the application for that permit has been withdrawn — for the time being, anyhow.

If you’d like to know why, you can read more about the decision — and what’s next for the couple — here.

In all honesty, I’m not surprised. As I told you last week, the couple’s plan came under considerable scrutiny — not from the county — but from the public. Dozens of people made their displeasure clear at the most recent municipal meeting on the subject. And even more did so by signing a petition.

Specifically, opponents have objected to the number of dogs the couple wants to keep on the property for breeding purposes and the number of puppies those dogs will have.

Needless to say, the couple’s attempts to allay the public’s fears and concerns regarding a potential “puppy mill” have fallen on deaf ears.

But just what is a puppy mill, anyhow?

According to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), puppy mills are “inhumane commercial dog breeding facilities that may sell puppies in pet stores, online or directly to the public (in flea markets or via classified ads).”

The HSUS also says puppy mills disregard the dogs’ health—both physical and emotional—in order to maximize profits.

The organization estimates that there are at least 10,000 puppy mills in the U.S., and that fewer than 3,000 of these are regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Collectively, the licensed and unlicensed breeding operations produce more than a million puppies that end up being sold in the United States each year.

Meanwhile, millions of unwanted dogs and cats are euthanized each year.

So an important question remains. Even if the breeding operation this couple is proposing is legitimate, do we really need more purebred or “designer dogs” when there are so many animals in need of forever homes?

There’s no punishment harsh enough…

Posted on August 19, 2016 by alexb2448

I’d like to think that I’m a fairly tolerant person. But there are some things for which I have absolutely no tolerance whatsoever.

I have no tolerance for bullies. I have no tolerance for ignorance. I have no tolerance for anyone who preys upon or otherwise exploits, children, the elderly or animals. Especially animals.

As far as I’m concerned there’s no punishment harsh enough for the owner of an animal shelter in Monroe, Connecticut, who was recently convicted of animal cruelty. Especially because he’s got prior convictions.

According to one news account, Frederick Acker “was convicted of 11 counts of animal cruelty in Ansonia-Milford Superior Court on July 26 and faces up to 11 years in prison at sentencing on Sept. 6.”

To make matters worse, Acker was reportedly convicted on 15 counts of animal cruelty in Litchfield Superior Court last year. He got off with a slap on the wrist.

The good news is that Connecticut politicians — some of whom have been aware of Acker’s exploits for sometime — are now planning on joining forces to close the legal loopholes that have allowed Acker to continue operating an animal shelter.

“We need to change our laws and our regulations to make sure that not only they are strict enough, but to make sure our judicial system is enforcing them,” said Connecticut State Rep. Themis Kalrdies, who learned about Acker’s exploits after she tried to adopt a kitten from the shelter. “We don’t want to stop anybody who is a good and caring person from taking care of animals, we want to make sure people who are clearly taking advantage of the system are not allowed to.”

Speaking as someone who loves animals and as someone who has devoted a considerable amount of time and energy to volunteering at a local animal shelter for the past few years, I hope Connecticut lawmakers follow through on this.

Allowing Acker and those like him to continue working with animals is a slap in the face to everyone who works tirelessly to help unwanted cats and dogs find forever homes.

More importantly, it is unfair to all of the animals who count on people for help.

In the worst of times, animals bring out the best in us

Posted on August 17, 2016August 17, 2016 by alexb2448

The stories coming out of Louisiana are heartbreaking. Epic flooding stemming from torrential rainfall reportedly claimed six lives and forced thousands from their homes.

As reported on foxnews.com Monday, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said more than 20,000 people had been rescued across South Louisiana as of Sunday night, and more than 10,000 people were in shelters.

On Tuesday, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries provided an additional update on the number of people and animals rescued from flood-ravaged areas.

“Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement agents have currently rescued a total of 3,139 people and 603 animals to date due to the flooding in Louisiana,” the agency said. “Agents began search and rescue missions around 4 a.m. on Aug. 12 and have ran search and rescue missions around the clock ever since.”

Agency spokesman Adam Einck told foxnews.com that the vast majority of animals rescued early on were pets.

“It does present a lot of challenges, but our agents have been trained for this,” Einck said. “What our guys do is very heroic – they are going into these neighborhoods, the terrain is very treacherous, they work throughout the night.”

The next challenge will be reuniting animals and owners separated due to the disaster — and the Companion Animal Alliance (CAA) of Baton Rouge is already on the job.

In a message posted on its website, the CAA says it had taken in 90 animals as of Sunday night, and offers advice for people who have lost and found pets.

“Lost pet owners and finders should put the information on Lost Pets of Baton Rouge on Facebook. Look at Visitor Posts for recent activity,” the agency’s message says. “There are also Lost Pet pages for Zachary and Central. Learn more about reuniting pets and families on our Lost and Found Pet page.”

The CAA says it is also in desperate need of “temporary fosters” for rescued animals waiting to be reunited with their owners. Interested parties should contact foster@caabr.org or call 225 774 7701.

For more information about how to help animals affected by the flood, click here.

Controversial Virginia land use application triggers puppy mill concerns

Posted on August 15, 2016 by alexb2448

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

It’s been four years since I left Warrenton, Virginia, and returned to civilization. But I still visit certain news sites to keep track of the happenings in my old stomping grounds.

To be honest, I don’t know why I bother. Considering all of the s–t I put up with when I lived down there, you’d think I’d be happy to put the past in the rear view mirror.

Having said that, it’s kind of fun to keep track of what’s going on now that I no longer have a dog in the fight — pun fully intended.

You see, a controversial land use application has caused quite a stir in good old Fauquier (pronounced faw-keer) County, Va. Specifically, the proposed creation of a dog breeding facility has triggered concerns about a puppy mill.

As reported on fauquiernow.com (the “go-to” source for news in the county) the applicants — who own more than 60 acres — want to expand their current kennel to house and breed dozens of dogs. They also want to provide “training for service and therapy dogs as part of the proposed expansion.”

More than two dozen concerned citizens spoke against the idea at a recent Fauquier County Board of Zoning Appeals meeting. More than 70 reportedly expressed their opposition by signing a petition.

The applicants, who have reportedly been breeding and selling dogs for nearly 20 years, have said the concerns are not justified.

Whether or not they will get the permits needed to make the proposed plans a reality remains to be seen.

All I know is I’m happy I don’t have to cover this story. I’ve covered more than my share of controversial municipal meetings like this. It’s not fun.

I’m also happy I didn’t have to write the story about more than 100 animals rescued from a “suspected puppy mill” in Mississippi.

According to published reports, authorities and members of Animal Rescue Corps saved the animals as the result of an investigation conducted by the Tate County Sheriff’s Department.

“Approximately 100 dogs, including litters of puppies and pregnant dogs, 1 donkey, 12 cats, including kittens, 50 chickens, 2 turkeys, 3 parrots and 6 rabbits were found without adequate food, water, or shelter, ” the Animal Rescue Corps said in a press release posted on its website. “The animals were all extremely dirty and suffering from heavy infestations of internal and external parasites such as fleas, ticks and worms. Many adults and puppies were suffering from alopecia and anemia as a result of their heavy flea and tick infestations.”

The animals confiscated by law enforcement were taken to an emergency shelter for further evaluation and veterinary treatment.

The owner was not identified.

New animal ambulance comes to the rescue

Posted on August 12, 2016August 14, 2016 by alexb2448

The First Connecticut Animal Ambulance

As a pet parent, it’s music to my ‘EARS’

Those of you who follow me on Twitter (@InBriefLegalWS) have already the links to the articles I posted about this. But it’s such a cool issue I felt compelled to share it here, too.

According to its website, a Shelton Connecticut-based group is now offering an ambulance service devoted specifically to animals. Its something I hope we never need, but I am happy it exists.

“In April our team was presented with an amazing opportunity to acquire a former ambulance to modify in to a fully outfitted animal ambulance – the first in Connecticut,” the Emergency Animal Response Service (EARS) says. “Through a major month-long fundraising effort with contributions from animal hospitals, veterinarians, other rescue groups, and public support, we were able to exceed our goal and we are extremely proud to announce that ‘Rescue 2’ has arrived and is now 100% operational!”

Once used to transport people, the rig is now fully stocked with everything needed to treat animals in distress. The crews that man it are “are certified in pet first aid, life support, and undergo special training involving the safe and compassionate transportation of animals in need.”

If you live in Connecticut, you can learn more about the animal ambulance at various events. The next one is at an EARS fundraiser in Orange tomorrow. If you can’t make it, there is another one on August 21.

In addition to providing the animal ambulance and “rapid response” service, EARS engages in community outreach programs. The programs include demonstrations, workshops and classes.

“Each program we present is individually designed based on the needs of who we are working with. The programs can be altered depending on the type of program, age of participants, size of location, main interest of the group, and many other aspects,” the organization says.

Clearly providing such comprehensive services requires a lot of manpower. EARS encourages anyone interested in volunteering to visit the volunteer page on its website. You can find even more information about how to get involved here.

It sounds like such a cool organization that I definitely encourage you to get involved if you can. And to be honest, I’m already thinking about joining,myself.

On Another Note…

Speaking of animals, I am happy to report that Eli is much better. We took him off the pain killers on Sunday morning, but he was still feeling out of sorts and hid in the basement until Wednesday morning, when I convinced him to come upstairs for breakfast. Since then he’s been back to his old self.

Now let’s hope he stays that way!

Drama, drama, drama…

Posted on August 8, 2016August 9, 2016 by alexb2448

As an old friend of mine used to say, “we all have choices.” So I guess there are a couple of different ways I can choose to reflect on the events of last week. I can look back at the first week of August 2016 as one of the most memorable weeks of my life — or as one of the most forgettable.

But the truth is, any way I choose to look at it, there was plenty of drama. And no, I didn’t create it.

As most of you know, the drama began when my cat, Eli, ended up at the vet. At first we weren’t sure what was wrong. We figured he might have had a really bad hair ball — but the vet who examined him said his back was extremely sensitive. An x-ray didn’t yield evidence of any sort of obstruction in Eli’s intestines, but we did learn that he has an extra vertebrae.

The drama continued when his medicine (including some anti-inflammatory pills and very potent pain killers) seemed to make Eli extremely timid and anti-social. He hid under the bed for four days, and only came out to use his litter box. He ate and drank from the bowls I put within reach, and stuck his head out far enough to be brushed, but that was about it.

Eli finally came out of hiding yesterday, but is now camped in the plant room in the basement. At least it’s quiet and cool down there. He’s got a litter box down there. He’ll eat and drink whatever I put down for him, and he’s being a lot more affectionate. Most importantly, no longer seems to be in any pain. So things are looking up…

But wait, there’s more…

Now if only we can get the situation with our kitchen renovation resolved. Due to a potential class action law suit (or other legal remedies) I can’t go into too much detail about this mess. Here’s what I can tell you. We put a kitchen addition on our house several years ago. The project got sidetracked due to unforeseen complications — but the work finally got started earlier this summer. Everything was going well… until our general contractor seemed to fall off the face of the earth.

As anyone who’s ever gone through significant renovations knows, that’s never good. To cut a long story short, last week we finally got a hold of someone who can help us resolve the situation. Of course, we haven’t heard from her since we spoke to her… so we will see what happens.

So much for a quiet weekend

So you would think that the drama would let up over the weekend. But no. Apparently that’s too much to ask.

Yesterday I had to call the cops. It wasn’t an emergency or anything. But let’s just say I wasn’t happy when I finished mowing the lawn, walked down to the river, and found an abandoned skiff tied to our landing. I had never seen this boat before. And there was no sign of the owner.

The most annoying thing — and the main reason I called the police — is that the only way to get from the landing (which is really a set of steps leading down to the water) to the street is to walk through our back yard. And I’m not really thrilled about the idea of someone I don’t know tramping across our property.

As it turned out, my concerns were merited. Let’s just say the owner is “known” to police. And let’s just say he’s not the type of guy anyone would want tramping through their yard…

Stealing someone’s pet bunny rabbit — now that’s just wrong

Posted on August 5, 2016August 4, 2016 by alexb2448

Just when you thought crime couldn’t get any worse in New York City, some scumbags come along and steal someone’s pet bunny rabbit. Now that’s just wrong.

I read about the incident on usnews.com a couple of days ago. But since the Associated Press doesn’t want its material rewritten or redistributed), I won’t go into any details here. If you want to know more, you’ll just have to click the link. If you don’t want to read the story yourself, you’ll just have to take my word for it.

But that’s really neither here nor there. The bottom line is the story made my blood boil. I mean, come on. Really? What the hell is wrong with people? It’s bad enough to steal someone’s stuff, but taking their pet is disgusting, cruel, and downright despicable. The people who did it obviously have no shame, that much is for sure.

Moral outrage aside, the incident does raise an interesting question about how we value our pets.

Assuming the owner(s) filed a police report, they would have to provide a monetary value for any and all stolen property — including the bunny. (Yes, legally, our pets are also considered personal property.) To the police, that’s very important. The value of the stolen property determines how the incident is classified — specifically whether it’s categorized as a misdemeanor (petty theft/petty larceny) or a felony.

Yes, it’s cold. But legally, that’s just the way it is.

So how much is a pet bunny worth? Or any pet, for that matter? Do you put what you paid for your pet? What if you got it for free? When you calculate its value, do you include veterinary costs, the amount spent on pet food, pet toys, and other accessories? If you have and show a purebred dog or cat, do you include its winnings? What if you have a purebred dog, cat, rabbit that you are breeding? Do you include income from the past sales of its offspring?

And then there are the emotional aspects. How do you put a monetary value on a companion? A family member? A friend? If your pet is also a therapy animal, how do put a monetary value on the service it provides for others?

The question is almost impossible to answer. Personally, I’ve loved my pets more than life and I’ve spent thousands on them over the years. So far this week alone, I’ve spent more than $200 on Eli’s medicine. His vet visit — including x-rays, blood work and exam — well, let’s just say it was expensive. But more importantly, it’s worth it.