Fetch the Paper: Digital Dog Edition

Good News: Novato Cat Rescued from Drain

Copy is one lucky cat.  Yesterday he was stuck for almost 4 hours in a storm drain. I posted about his rescue over on my Pets page on examiner. com:

Don't you just love a happy ending? I know I do. So does Copy the cat, and his person, Lisa Hoytt, of Novato. Monday, Copy was chased down a storm drain by an over-eager terrier in Hoytt's neighborhood, and became wedged in the drain.

Who ya gonna call? In this case, Marin Humane came to the rescue, bringing the Novato Fire Department and Department of Pubic Works into the fray. And they used a bit of high-tech help: a cable optic camera (yes, not unlike those used in colonoscopies!) to locate twelve-pound Copy in the drain so they could chart his rescue.

Read the whole thing - and more photos - here.

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!

"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.

Last Day to Comment on GGNRA Beach Closures

SF Dog President Sally Stephens sent us this reminder for dog owners to comment on the GGNRA proposed closures of Crissy Field and Ocean Beach (to protect the Western Snowy Plover). If you have not commented on this very important issue, we urge you to do so now. Here's Sally's letter:

Today, Monday, Jan 21 is the final day to submit public comment on the GGNRA's proposed closure of parts of Ocean Beach and Crissy Field to off-leash dog walking because of the presence of Western Snowy Plover birds. It's important that people set aside their cynicism and comment even if it's just to say "I oppose the closure. There is no scientific evidence that off-leash dogs are deterimental to the plover population at Ocean Beach or Crissy field."

It's too late to mail a comment in, but you can comment online at:

http://tinyurl.com/299re6

For more detailed talking points, you can go to: http://sfdog.org/news/news.htm

Protecting Pets from Domestic Violence

Recently California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed SB 353 into law. When a victim of domestic violence decides to leave their abuser and applies for a restraining order, the order can include the household pets. Because many domestic abuse shelters do not accept pets, this provides some legal safety for the pets who are left behind. The bill was submitted to the Senate Judiciary Committee by Senator Sheila Keuhl, D-CA.

In the past, some judges would include pets in the restraining orders, while others could chose to consider the pets part of the property settlement, and therefore not protected.
There is a high correlation between domestic violence and animal abuse, according to research presented to support passage of the bill. 25% to 40% of women will not leave a domestic violence situation if it means leaving their pets behind. And more than 70% of women in shelters report that the animals in their home have also been abused by their perpetrator.

According to the University of San Diego School of Law, studies have shown that very few people are more attached to their pets than victims of domestic violence. Psychologists speculate that it’s important for victims to feel compassion and love for a creature who poses no threat, unlike their human relationship. Others believe pets offer abuse victims some means of control over their lives. Regardless of the reason for the attachment, abusers often prey upon this attachment as a means of control.

FETCH readers might like to know that several local agencies offer special programs to help protect pets in domestic violence situations. Marin Humane’s Companions in Crisis program offers confidential sheltering of pets. You can reach the program at 415-883-4621 24 hours a day. In San Francisco, ACC’s Safe Pets Program provides shelter and care for vulnerable pets in violent homes; contact Judy Choy at 415-554-9401 or e-mail judy.choy@sfgov.org.

Finders Keepers

The whole Ellen vs. Mutts & Moms story is making headlines as this issue of FETCH goes to press. Regardless your opinion about this particular episode, let’s talk for a minute about the big picture. And that picture is about who “owns” an animal, and whether animals are property or family members.
First, one of the items recently in the news is the California law that will allow family pets to be included in restraining orders for domestic violence cases. Now for many of us, that’s a no-brainer. But the reason we need a law, you see, is because traditionally pets are considered part of the property settlement in a divorce case. One could look at it that way, I suppose; pets are often purchased. But to regard them as simply property means that their best interests are not relevant; the judge will give more weight to other factors when the pet cat is an asset to be assigned.
But here’s the rub. If I adopt a pet and sign some agreement that makes me that animal’s guardian and limits my rights to “possess” the animal, then I may be vulnerable to the animal’s being taken back, as Iggy was in the Ellen case. Depending on what I sign, the group that granted me the custodial “guardianship” of the pet can, at its whim, revoke that guardianship and reclaim possession of the pet.
So who “owns” a companion animal? If a rescue group has harbored it, then adopts it out, how long do they retain any kind of oversight? Forever? What is reasonable for any outside group to decide about your relationship to your companion, as long as you are not abusive or breaking any laws?
Having two rescue dogs myself, I like knowing that if it ever becomes necessary I can return them to the shelter or rescue group from which I adopted them. But that’s an option I would only consider if I had no other viable options for placing them with people I know and trust. (Heck, I have friends who would line up to take Bennie!) But I am not comfortable thinking that some shred of “ownership” or legal obligation would keep me from making my own choice. Once I have assumed full responsbility for the animal, shouldn’t I make the determination what’s in her best interest?
What do you think? Let us know.

Off Leash Proponents: Last GGNRA Committee Meeting

SF Dog just sent this; please make sure you attend or send your comments as instructed.

FINAL MEETING OF GGNRA NEGOTIATED RULEMAKING COMMITTEE

Saturday, October 27, 2007
9 am to 3 pm
Building 201, Upper Fort Mason
San Francisco


Beginning in March 2006, a Negotiated Rulemaking Committee has been meeting to see if any consensus could be reached about a Dog Management Policy for the Golden Gate National Recreational Area. The Committee is composed of representatives from a variety of dog groups (including SFDOG), local environmental groups, equestrians, the SF/SPCA, and other "stakeholders". The October 27 meeting is the final scheduled meeting of the Committee.

The GGNRA has restricted the sites that the Committee can consider for off-leash recreation to 12:

1. Ocean Beach (north of Stairwell 21 and south of Sloat Blvd, excluding the Snowy Plover area
2. Baker Beach
3. Lands End Trail
4. Crissy Field (excluding fenced tidal marsh and dune areas, and the Wildlife Protection Area on west beach)
5. Upper Fort Mason Great Meadow and Parade Ground
6. Muir Beach (excluding tidal lagoon, Redwood Creek, wetland and dune habitat areas)
7. Rodeo Beach (excluding Rodea Lagoon, and fenced habitat protection area)
8. Homestead Valley
9. Fort Funston (excluding fenced and/or signed areas closed for protection of endangered species, habitat restoration, erosion control and public safety)
10. Oakwood Valley trails (Marin)
11. Cattle Hill (San Mateo)
12. San Pedro Point (San Mateo)

Eight areas are under consideration for on-leash only access:

1. Mori Point Trails (San Mateo)
2. Sweeney Ridge trails, excluding the Notch trail (San Mateo)
3. Milagra Ridge trails
4. Ocean Beach Snowy Plover Management area between Stairwell 21 and Sloat Blvd
5. Sutro Heights Park
6. Alta Avenue trail (Marin)
7. Fort Baker (excluding fishing pier and Chapel Trail)
8. Other areas with threatened or endangered species (if potential adverse impacts can be mitigated)

This meeting will be the first time that the Committee will discuss the specific sites under consideration and where dogs can be off-leash at each site.

If you care about off-leash recreation in the GGNRA, you should try to attend this meeting.

There will be a period for public comment at the end of the meeting. This is your chance to let the GGNRA and the Committee know that you support off-leash access in the GGNRA. Let them know which of the sites under consideration you use and how many years you've been using them. Let them know that there are few problems with off-leash dogs at the sites you frequent. Support continued off-leash access at these and other sites.

Unfortunately, at the urging of representatives of some of the environmental groups, the Committee voted in one of its first meetings to limit the total length of public comment to 20 minutes. Bring a written copy of what you want to say and give it to GGNRA staff and tell them you want it included in the public record as your public comment. You can also write a comment down on forms available at the meeting. You can submit written public comment if you are denied the chance to speak because of the time limit.

If you cannot attend the meeting, you can submit the public comment you would have said at the meeting to:

Public Comment for 10/27/07 NR Committee Meeting
c/o Chris Powell
Golden Gate National Recreational Area
Building 201
Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123

Be sure to indicate you are submitting public comment for the meeting, and that you want your comment to be included in the public record for the Committee meeting.

Sally Stephens
Chair, SFDOG

Please feel free to post this notice to other pro-off-leash listserves and websites.

Morning Musings

I've been on hiatus for a while during the time we were planning and then recovering from the 2nd Annual Bay Area Pet Fair & Adoptathon. We had more than 4500 paid participants, and around 200 animals found new homes because of the Fair. We also crowned our new "Best in Show" picks, chosen from the dozens of shelter animals who entered The OTHER Dog Show. Where else can a 3-legged pit bull and a rabbit take top honors?

Anyway, I want to thank Daneen Akers for her wonderful series "An American Dog in Paris." The full text of Pali and her peoples' adventures in the City of Love are right below. We're also sharing the story in the November issue of FETCH in an abridged form.

And now, we return to more regular blogging. Glad to be back!

Taking the Rap

I was just talking about the Michael Vick issue at lunch, then came back in to find an email from Mary Ellen at MaSnax, pointing me to a blog post from Donna at Bad Rap on this topic. Donna's post is excellent, a must-read opinion on why these abused dogs will likely still take the "bad rap" for Vick. And some fascinating history on the origins of the prejudice of pit bulls. Read on...