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Posts Tagged ‘advocacy’

Wrapping Our Arms Around Greyhounds

November 7th, 2018

Wrapping Our Arms Around Greyhounds – Florida’s Brand New Law

On November 6th, 2018 Florida voters wrapped their arms around greyhounds on election night. Voters overwhelmingly supported an amendment that bans commercial dog racing. Amendment 13 won approval from roughly 5.4 million Floridians with a 69% to 31% victory.

The Committee to Protect Dogs, which lobbied for the racing ban, called the vote “a knock-out blow to a cruel industry that has been hurting and killing dogs for nearly a century.” Florida is the site of 13 of the nation’s 17 dog tracks. Amendment 13’s implementation means that the industry will basically be wiped out by the end of 2021.

The “sport” of dog racing has been rife with drugging of dogs, abuse, and the abandonment of thousands of greyhounds. Dogs were often kept in cages for 23 hours a day and lived in deplorable conditions. Greyhound rescues exist around the country to address the need for rescuing and rehoming these animals.

Yes, greyhound racing is big business and opponents of the amendment argued that ending commercial dog racing would cost the state tens of millions in money from gambling. As commercial racing ends there will be thousands of dogs that need homes. So far, all parties concerned have promised to help the dogs get happy endings. There will be challenges. But, wonderfully, doing the right thing by the dogs won the hearts, minds, and votes of millions of Floridians.

Ohio’s New Puppy Mill Legislation Upgrades Standards of Care

October 23rd, 2018

We at Rescue Village believe that puppy mills should be banned altogether. However, Ohio’s new puppy mill law, which was enacted last month, upgrades standards of care for dogs kept in breeding kennels that churn out large numbers of puppies, also called puppy mills.

 

“Commercial breeders in Ohio can no longer cram dogs into cages that are stacked on top of each other and deprive animals of basic necessities, like space to move, exercise and access to veterinary care. Under the new law, each dog must be given daily exercise that allows the animal to extend to full stride, play and engage in other types of mentally stimulating and social behaviors, receive an annual veterinary exam, and be housed with other dogs in temperature-regulated kennels, among other reforms. The law also mandates that only healthy dogs can be bred, and limits the number of times a female dog can be bred. It requires retailers selling puppies in Ohio to acquire animals solely from breeders who meet these standards, regardless of what state they are in…”

Humane Society of the United States

 

We encourage you to throw your support to the ongoing efforts to ban puppy mills in Ohio.

What you can do:

  1. Adopt your next pet
  2. Don’t buy a puppy online or from a pet store unless they offer rescued animals
  3. Take action against pet stores that sell dogs supplied by puppy mills
  4. Support legislation that regulates and reduces breeding of animals
  5. Become an expert on the subject
  6. Know the existing laws.

Click here to learn more.

All You Have to Be is Humane.

October 16th, 2018

All You Have to Be is Humane.

 

The RV barn program, headquartered at Billie’s Barn (named after major funder Billie Howland Steffee), has saved 65 horses since 2005 when the barn was built. While we provide education and assistance to owners, our court certified humane agent has the authority, with a court issued warrant, to take animals into our protective custody if laws have been broken and, without intervention, they are acutely suffering or in danger of dying.

This is difficult work. It is not a given that a starving horse, for example, can be saved. But Rescue Village is willing to spend thousands of dollars (that will never be made up by adoption fees) on their care, rehabilitation, and rehoming. We are required to enforce the law and we believe all animals deserve our moral concern.

Rockette at intake

Geauga County is a center for the horse industry in Ohio. It is not surprising that, while most horse owners take decent care of their equines, there are a few owners who allow their horses to dangerously decline in health and well-being. Rescue Village works closely with qualified veterinarians to make medical evaluations. In fact, we encourage owners who are unable to properly care for their horses to contact Rescue Village for assistance before the situation becomes critical.

The myth that humane societies, like Rescue Village, save horses in order to sell them at a profit could not be farther from the truth. Rescue Village picks up the entire cost of humane law enforcement in Geauga County – we receive no government funding. We enforce the laws pertaining to dogs, cats, horses, and farm animals. The barn program exists to carry out this responsibility. You can imagine the heartbreak when a normally 1,100 pound horse comes to us weighing 800 pounds.

It takes months to successfully bring an abused or neglected horse back to health and even more time to rehabilitate and rehome them. Community members who donate to or volunteer with the barn

program get tremendous satisfaction helping to bring dignity, better health, and safety to these animals. This, not financial gain, is the reward. Watching a horse regain his/her health, “brightness,” spirit, trust, playfulness, and movement is worth every dollar we spend. The cost of the RV barn program is approximately $120,000 annually. In 2017, we received $2,500 in adoption fees for all barn animals.

The RV barn program is a friend to the people, horses, and farm animals of Geauga County. This service continues with the support of the community. Ending cruelty and neglect – it is the law AND it is the right thing to do! We (and, most importantly, they) thank you. ■

Rockette after months of care at Rescue Village