Fetch the Paper: Digital Dog Edition

Three Years Later: Are Your Pets Ready for Disaster?

Three years ago this week in 1995, Hurricane Katrina blew through the Gulf states with disastrous results. This year, we sit and watch helplessly as Hurricane Gustav does his business in the same region. 

One big difference: this time, more people are ready to safely evacuate their pets, and rescue workers are more prepared to deal with the special task of caring for animals who are either lost or left behind.

In 1995, hundreds of thousands of family companion animals were left behind and found themselves in a horrible crisis. More than 6,000 of those left behind made it to makeshift rescue. About 100 times as many – yes, more than 600,000 – died.  Oregon film maker Mike Shiley documented the rescue – and our society’s failure to adequately deal with the staggering task of saving those left behind – in his film Dark Water Rising.

Today, as Gustav gains force and heads for Louisiana, there is one thing you can surely do. Make sure you think about, document, and prepare your own disaster plan, and include your pets.

Californians must prepare for, and do encounter flooding and earthquakes. In the last three years winter storms have caused serious flooding throughout the Bay Area, so it’s not just the more easily disregarded “Big One” earthquake for which we need to prepare.

I am willing to guess that many of you don’t even have an adequate disaster kit for yourselves, much less your pets. (My own kit is a small box with a smattering of useful things: a hand-crank radio that I got as a premium for my last donation to KQED; some rations I got for going through a disaster training workshop; batteries; and dog food; I still have more work to do.)

To make sure your pets are ready, research and then put your plan into action. Start by collecting everything you need for your evacuation and first aid kits. San Francisco Animal Care & Control provides a useful guide that includes checklists for your pet’s first aid and other needs, as well as making sure your neighborhood has a plan to help animals if residents are not able to return home during a disaster.

If you really want to dig into this topic, the American Veterinary Medical Association has a comprehensive disaster preparedness and response guide on its site. By the way, while there I learned that California is one of about a dozen US states and territories that do not yet have a state disaster plan, so you might want to contact your favorite state legislator and find out why. Another great asset on the AVMA site is their Saving the Whole Family brochure (PDF). 

Well, off to the store now… need to stock up!

Off-leash Advocacy Alert

This off leash action alert requesting IMMEDIATE action just in from Sally Stephens, Chair of SF Dog:

Last week I sent out an email about a bill introduced by Nancy Pelosi, HR 6305, that includes a section that would change the name of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area to the Golden Gate National Parks. While this seems like an innocuous cosmetic change, the implications for recreation in the GGNRA -- including off-leash recreation -- are disturbing:

1. The legislation that created the GGNRA states that the GGNRA was created to: "provide for the maintenance of needed recreational open space necessary for urban environment and planning." Recreation, including off-leash dog walking, was the primary reason the GGNRA was created.
2. For years, GGNRA staff have been citing the fact that the GGNRA is a national park as the reason they have to restrict off-leash recreation. They say that the primary reason national parks exist is to preserve and restore habitat, and that recreation interferes with that mandate.
3. The US Code says that national parks have to be governed uniformly (with an emphasis on scenery and habitat). But it also says (16, U.S.C. Section 1a-1) that: "the protection, management, and administration of these areas ... shall not be exercised in derogation of the values and purposes for which these various areas have been established, except as may have been or shall be directly and specifically provided by Congress."
4. Even if Congress doesn't intend it, this bill will be cited by those opposed to off-leash and all other forms of recreation as evidence that Congress wants to overturn the recreation mandate contained in the legislation that created the GGNRA. This name change will be cited as proof Congress wants the GGNRA managed to restore habitat, not to maintain needed recreational open space.
5. This is not just about dogs. All current, non-hiking recreational users of the GGNRA are at risk with this bill. Equestrians, surfers, windsurfers, mountain bikers -- all could be banned from GGNRA trails if this name change goes through. Look at Yosemite's park rules -- no bikes or trails, no dogs on trails.
6. This name change will be used to push all recreational users -- including people with dogs -- out of the GGNRA.

Several representatives of dog groups met with Pelosi's staff last Friday morning. We were assured this bill would not be heard in the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands tomorrow (Tues 7/15) as had originally been planned. I have just learned that information was not correct. This bill will in fact be heard by the Subcommittee tomorrow (Tues, 7/15) and will be passed on to the full House Committee on Natural Resources for action the next day (Wed 7/16). The claim is that nothing will really be happening with the bill until September, and that Pelosi's office knows that they have to make some changes to the language of the bill (not just the name change section, but other sections too) and so we all shouldn't be too worried at this point. Don't believe it.

If this bill, H.R. 6305 is passed by the Subcommittee tomorrow, there's no guarantee it won't continue to sail through.

Please email, fax or call Pelosi's office, as well as the Subcommittee members BEFORE 10 am EDT tomorrow (July 15) and demand they remove Section 2 from H.R. 6305.

Ask them to delay any action on the bill until the problems with it can be addressed.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi
sf.nancy@mail.house.gov
San Francisco office: (415) 556-4862 phone, (415) 861-1670
Washington DC office: (202) 225-4965 phone, (202) 225-4188

Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands:
(202) 226-7736 phone, (202) 226-2301 fax
Raul Grijalva (D, Ariz), Chairman
Rob Bishop, (R, Utah), ranking Republican

Committee on Natural Resources:
(202) 225-6065 phone. (202) 225-1931 fax
Nick Rahall II (D, West Virginia), Chairman
Don Young (R, Alaska), ranking Republican

Also contact your San Francisco Supervisor:
http://www.sfgov.org/site/bdsupvrs_index.asp?id=7271
and Mayor Newsom:
gavin.newsom@sfgov.org
(415) 554-6141 phone, (415) 554-6160 fax
and let them know this bill is unacceptable and will have a negative impact on San Franciscans quality of life and recreational opportunities.

Off Leash Updates

A couple of important items related to off-leash space came across my inbox today.

Is their vision your vision?
If you care about the off-leash use of Ocean Beach, one of SF's favorite dog socialization spots, you may want to show up at the Ocean Beach Vision Council meeting this Thursday, July 8, 6-8 PM at the Osher Great Hall at the San Francisco Zoo.

The Ocean Beach Vision Council was formed by the Golden Gate National Recreation Area officials and SF Mayor Gavin Newsom to discuss how best to improve the use of SF's Ocean Beach, a 5-mile long beach that has been in the center of some controversy around off-leash use by dogs. While some environmentalists claim that parts of Ocean Beach house vulnerable species that are threatened by the presence of dogs, many of SF's dog loving folk enjoy using Ocean Beach and tout it as a valuable exercise and socialization resource in the urban environment--something key for our city's dogs.
SF Dog Chair Sally Stephens notes that many dog advocates are concerned that the Vision Council is biased against off-leash use of Ocean Beach, citing that plans to commercially develop Ocean Beach may leave dogs and their people to find other spots for exercise.

This is an excellent opportunity to advocate for our community's dogs. Urban dogs need sufficient space and fresh air, and the unfettered socialization that off-leash recreation affords. Ocean Beach's 5 miles of shoreline can provide a very special environment for our canine friends.

What's in a name?
I also got word today from Suzanne Valenti, a representative of Ocean Beach Dog, that Nancy Pelosi has submitted Bill HR 6305 that would, among a number of other things, rename the Golden Gate National Recreation Area to "Golden Gate National Parks." If you think this is meaningless, you might want to think again.

Years ago when the people of San Francisco turned some of their key open space over to the Federal government, it was with the intention that the land continue to be used recreationally. According to the Ocean Beach Dog web site:

Off-leash advocates have been told by GGNRA staff for years that changing the name from Golden Gate National Recreation Area to Golden Gate National Parks will make it easier for them to further restrict recreation within GGNRA boundaries. There is no other reason for this name change. They want to remove recreation from the park just as they remove it from their name.

It's been no secret for the last few years that a vocal group has called for dogs to either be banned completely from certain land in the GGNRA or to be forced to return to leash-only recreation. The Ocean Beach Dog group contends that this "name change" would effectively allow the affected land to be treated more like a national park rather than the recreational treasure it has been for the many Bay Area residents who have enjoyed it with and without their dogs.

If you would like to comment on this issue:

• Contact Nancy Pelosi and demand that she remove Sec 2 from HR 6305:
  email: sf.nancy@mail.house.gov
  District Office - 450 Golden Gate Ave. - 14th Floor - San Francisco, CA 94102, (415) 556-4862
  Washington, D.C. Office - 235 Cannon HOB - Washington, DC 20515 - (202) 225-4965
• Also contact the Committee on Natural Resources to which the bill has been referred:
  1324 Longworth House Office Building
  (202) 225-6065 Fax: (202) 225-1931
  MR. NICK J. RAHALL, II, West Virginia, Chairman
  MR. DON YOUNG, Alaska, Ranking Republican Member
  and the Subcommittee on National Parks Forests and Public Lands to which it was referred on June 25:
  1333 Longworth House Office Building
  (202) 226-7736 Fax: (202) 226-2301
  Mr. Raul M. Grijalva, Arizona, Chairman
  Mr. Rob Bishop, Utah, Ranking Republican Member 

Thanking the Monkey

At the last minute, we just got word that Karen Dawn, animal rights activist and author of Thanking the Monkey, will have a book launch part in San Francisco on Tuesday July 1.

The event will be held at The Usual Suspects, a North Beach vegetarian restaurant located at 450 Broadway. Karen will do a reading upstairs at 7 pm, and attendees are welcome to have dinner downstairs after the reading.

Karen's trying to round up a few local "special guests" so you never know who might show!

Karen's email about the event instructs folks to go to www.thankingthemonkey.com and click "Readings" to RSVP if you plan to be there. Please spread the word and let everyone know.

Not-quite-live-blogging Oprah

No matter what you might think of Oprah, she has a media machine that is the envy of many. Her perch is mighty high and reaches a lot of people.
In the past, I've had a few words of scorn for the daytime queen. Mostly around her adopting those oh-so-adorable Golden Retrievers, then featuring training sessions with them. Give me a break! She should try her hand some day with more challenging dogs like Wylie, I scoffed.

Well, today she redeemed herself. If you have not had a chance to see the show, find someone who Tivo'd it, or look for it in reruns. She featured an inside look and puppy mills, reported by Lisa Ling. That was intense enough--then she took us into the daily life at the Fort Worth, TX animal shelter, including the filming of an euthanasia procedure.

If you know of anyone who needs to know more about why adoption and rescue are such critical issues for our community, make sure they watch this episode of Oprah because it's a mind changer.

Oh--and Oprah says, from now on she will adopt dogs from shelters. Her mind was changed, too.

We had tears all around in this house, and hugged the dogs hard.

Video, Photos, Resources and more on the Oprah site.

San Francisco Zoo to become rescue facility?

In animal advocacy news, there's a proposal going before the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to convert the San Francisco Zoo into an animal rescue facility. If the Supes approve, the Zoo would become a sanctuary for exotic animals who had been kept in poor conditions by their previous owners.

The Zoo has been in the news quite a bit since the December tiger attack when a tiger escaped from its enclosure and killed a man. It's taken heat from animal advocates who say the animals are treated and housed poorly. The Zoo's safety regulations have also come under fire.

The Board may also discuss the creation of a Zoo Oversight Commission to focus on animal welfare at the Zoo.

You can read the full article here.

Photo by Kris Larson.

Operation Teacup Comes to the Bay Area

Once again, the fine folks at Marin Humane come to the rescue. Late last week, when more than 800 dogs, mostly teacup varieties, were found in horrid conditions in Arizona, Marin Humane stepped in to take 150 of them and bring them here to be rehomed and cared for as needed.

Friday, March 14th was the big day of arrival, and Carrie Harrington in the PR department sent me this photo of 4 of the new arrivals.

We imagine that once the dogs have had a chance to be evaluated and treated, if needed, Marin Humane will be looking for foster and/or forever homes for them... you know what that means!

Speaking of celebrities, did you know...

...That Oleysa Rulin, one of the stars of High School Musical and High School Musical 2, loves dogs? She has fostered six dogs, and fell so in love with the last one that she adopted him. In an interview in Bleech Magazine, Rulin says "There is something beautiful in coming home to an animal that gives you unconditional love...always. Your pets can't lie to you...they don't care what you look like or if you showered that day...they just want your love."

If you know a teen or pre-teen, consider encouraging them to get involved with animal activism. Contact your local animal shelter to find out how children and teens can help. If Oleysa can do it, they can too!

This image is courtesy of lukeford.net, from the Wikipedia page on Oleysa Rulin.

"They Keep Having Babies"

Just when you think things can’t get any crazier, Paris Hilton appears on Ellen and admits that she has seventeen dogs. Yes, seventeen. And maybe if she was adopting homeless, vulnerable dogs we’d think OK, she’s taking dogs off the street. But no; she admits to Ellen that she ended up with so many because “...they keep having babies.” ARRGGGH!
If you absolutely must torture yourself, here's the video.

The Best Yet: Vick's Dogs

Not one for football, really, even the Superbowl. So I watched a movie and perused the New York Time online. Here's the best story yet on what's happening to some of Vick's dogs... and kudos to the Bay Area's own BAD RAP, who is fostering ten of the dogs.
Yes, I did shed some tears when I read it. What wonderful things it says about the folks who are involved in the rescue of these dogs, the hard work that is required, the patience, and the respect.