South County Animal Shelter Coalition

South County Animal Shelter Coalition Update - February, 2012

You can join us by e-mailing your name, e-mail address and city to BlandMJ@AOL.com
If you live in Laguna Hills be sure to see the Laguna Hills Watch Dog - click on http://lhwatchdog.blogspot.com/ to stay informed about what your City Council is doing for you and your pets. 
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RUFF’s PET FOOD FOR THE UNEMPLOYED - Free Pet Food for unemployed people on the second Saturday of every month from 10 am to 11 am at the Alicia Pet Care Center at 25800 Jeronimo Rd. #100, Mission Viejo. Also, the South County Outreach Food Pantry at 26776 Vista Terrace, Lake Forest, is open Monday - Friday from 9 AM to 4 PM and has free pet food. Ann Breuer who started the Pet Food Giveaway program, with her husband Jim Gardner, is also part of a volunteer group making coats for pets in animal shelters. Both Pet Food programs are sponsored by RUFF (Rescuing Unwanted Furry Friends
www.ruffrescue.org. You can contact Anne Breuer at annebreuer@yahoo.com
** Donations from local food banks and pet food manufacturers have dried up in the last month or two so donations of pet food are needed again. Please call 949-722-1511 for drop off location and information.
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WHAT'S NOW FOR SOUTH COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER COALITION
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TAKE ACTION to Stop the CA Governor from Killing Pets To Save Money

(ANIMAL NEWS/TAKE ACTION) CALIFORNIA — Saving a life costs money, and California Governor Brown doesn’t want to spend any more. The state of California currently has legislation that requires shelters to allow adequate time for animals to be adopted before considering euthanasia. However, Brown wants to repeal the law to save money. Read more about his proposition, and sign the petition below. Tell the governor that killing animals to save money is disgusting and wrong. — Global Animal

California’s budget crisis has inflicted an enormous amount of suffering on millions of California families. But its worst victims are likely to be the hundreds of thousands of animals that enter the state’s shelters every year.

According to recent media reports, Gov. Jerry Brown is planning to propose a repeal of key provisions of a 1998 law written by legendary political activist and former State Sen. Tom Hayden to protect shelter animals in California from premature euthanasia and increase their chances for adoption.

The “Hayden Law” requires shelters to wait at least four to six days before killing an animal, rather than the 72-hour minimum that prevailed prior to 1999. It also requires California shelters to schedule their operating hours to allow working people to visit during weekends and evenings so that they can find their missing companion animals or adopt an animal that would otherwise be put to death, and mandates that animals be provided needed veterinary care
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Repealing the law would do away with all of these basic protections, consigning countless animals to death. Sadly, this heartless remedy is what passes for a practical solution in today’s fiscal and political climate. In a video message to Gov. Jerry Brown released this week by Dog Park Media, Tom Hayden urges California Gov. Jerry Brown to leave intact the law he wrote over a decade ago. “The cost of (repeal) is to put countless dogs and cats to death,” says Hayden in the video. Addressing the Governor, Hayden continues, “I urge you to look at your dog before you allow this bill that protects animals to die.”

Nathan Winograd, director of the California-based No Kill Advocacy Center and author of Redemption: The Myth of Pet Overpopulation & The No Kill Revolution in America, agrees. “Other states also face economic challenges,” Winograd told me. “But instead of gutting animal protection laws, they are expanding them. When it comes to protecting animals in shelters, California is far from generous. Turning the clock back almost 15 years as the Governor proposes is unconscionable.”

Dog Park is circulating an online petition to accompany the video, calling on Gov. Brown “not to kill thousands of innocent shelter animals” to solve the state’s budget woes: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/protect-shelter-animals/ These animals have nothing to do with California’s budget shortfall and it is wrong to kill them to solve our fiscal problems.
You can also call Governor Brown at his office at 916-445-2841 to ask him to scrap his proposal to remove baxic protections for shelter animals.  

Tom Epperson, Attorney, and Samoyed Rescue Group Leader from Laguna Hills said, I think the major concerns, to most citizens who live in Cities that rely solely on services of the Orange County Animal Shelter (OCASC) are the decrease in holding period requirements from 6 days to 72 hours and the lack of veterinary care administered to intake animals if the Hayden Act is repealed. Our citizens and their animals would suffer the highest risks if the Hayden Act were to be repealed. A repeal of Hayden will relieve pressure, particularly on overcrowded and understaffed shelters such as the Orange County Animal Shelter. This shelter takes in approx. 40,000 animals per year and, even with Hayden, has a kill rate near 50%.

Speaking of the Orange County Animal Shelter we found this story from the Orange County Watchdog in the OC Register Newspaper at the end of January -  http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/2012/01/31/fewer-animals-killed-at-oc-animal-shelter-in-2011/147462/
The Title of the story was Fewer Animals Killed at the OC Animal Shelter in 2011 but when you read the story you learn that is because fewer animals were admitted to the shelter in 2011 but the total euthansia rate was still 53% which was said to be pretty much identical to the year before.

Check the Humane Society's Humane Scorecard to see if your legislators voted in support of animal protection in 2011. http://hslf.typepad.com/political_animal/2012/01/hot-off-the-press-112th-congress-midterm-humane-scorecard.html

From USA Today - Poll: Euthanasia to control shelter population unpopularhttp://yourlife.usatoday.com/parenting-family/pets/story/2012-01-05/Poll-Euthanasia-to-control-shelter-population-unpopular/52388770/1

Best Friends is going to operate a shelter for the Department of Animal Services in Los Angeles as an adoption and spay and neuter center, he said. All animals will come from six open-admission Los Angeles city shelters.
Los Angeles, with help from Best Friends, is making big changes in their Animal Shelter Situation but Orange County continues to keep it's outdated, deteriorated and too small 70 year old animal shelter with only excuses but never actual progress toward building a bigger better shelter and no progress toward better control of pet overpopulation through neuter and spay. If you want this situation to change be sure to consider this when voting for Orange County Supervisors in the future.

Tom Epperson, Laguna Hills Citizen, Attorney and Samoyed Rescue Group leader, recently said - Frankly, I find it embarrassing that the 3.9 million citizens of one of the wealthiest counties in the United States (Orange County) must rely on an animal shelter constructed over 70 years ago for a county of 225,000 citizens. Over the years many citizens have performed yeoman service to persuade both South County cities and the Orange County Supervisors to become involved in solving the shelter problem, but nothing has been done for over 70 years; let alone since Supervisor Tom Riley’s call for a new shelter some 30+ years ago. The will of the citizenry just doesn’t seem to carry much weight with our political representatives.

More News on Pressure to stop Puppy Mills -

Dana Point is voting on banning the retail sales of dogs and cats in their city and to require owners of pets that are repeatedly impounded to pay to spay or neuter them before getting their pets back. http://www.ocregister.com/news/pet-336131-animal-point.html

In January KABC TV reported that for the 1st time thanks to Pet Connections Inc. Barkworks pet store in the Westside Pavilion in Los Angeles will no longer sell commercially bred dogs. It said that if all goes well in this store Barkworks they will convert the rest of their stores into adoption centers. http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/storysection=news/local/los_angeles&id=8503367

70 Malls Across US To Ban Pet Sales - an Oct. 11, 2011 story - The story says much of this is thanks to film producer and animal activist Jennifer Peterson. http://www.globalanimal.org/2011/10/11/breaking-news-70-malls-across-us-to-ban-pet-sales/54618/
City Of Angels Bans Puppy Mills - a June, 2011 story http://www.globalanimal.org/2011/06/08/city-of-angels-bans-puppy-mills/41868/

Locally we thank Barb Holcomb and her group in Mission Viejo and Gail Lewis and her group in Irvine who have all accomplished so much and worked so hard for such a long time to combat the puppy mills that contribute so much to pet overpopulation. OCREGISTER: Irvine bans retail sales of dogs, cats  http://www.ocregister.com/news/irvine-321520-animals-pet.html Good Cities and good people working together are accomplishing great things all over the country.

Visit website@aspca.org to learn more about supporting puppy mill reform
From Mike Markarian, President, Humane Society Legislative Fund - http://www.hslf.org/ One of our top priorities in the 112th Congress is to pass the Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety (PUPS) Act which would crack down on puppy mills selling directly to consumers via the Internet. Take action now to urge your legislators to support this bill.
Join the ASPCA in helping to fight PUPPY MILLS at http://www.nopetstorepuppies.com/ and spread the work on social networks.
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WHAT'S NEXT FOR SOUTH COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER COALITION
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*** You can sign the ASPCA Pledge against shopping at pet stores who sell puppies at - http://www.nopetstorepuppies.com/ - "If a pet store sells puppies I won't buy anything there." Take the pledge. Thank you to Rose for this information.

*** Update on the Issue of Orange County Pet Rescue Groups being forced to pay the Orange County Animal Shelter for Kenneling and other fees - On Dec. 19 we received a message from Fran that a letter dated Sept. 20, 2011 had been received from Ryan Drabek at the OC Animal Care Services that it was determined by the County Board of Supervisors that the retail establishments (Petsmart) are responsible for the permit (kennel) fees. Then on Dec. 7, 2011 Fran received a certified letter stating that unless her rescue group pays the balance of the kennel fees, they must have only 4 cats remaining at Petsmart. She also said that on Dec. 18, 2011 she received a tax due statement from the county for kennel fees and unless they are paid by Jan. 8, 2012 her group will be closed down. Fran asked that you who are involved with other groups please let her know if you are dealing with the same problem. So this issue Remains A Problem for Pet Rescue Groups  If you have questions please contact Fran at frannie0416@comline.com 

****A 2011 News Story about how much these rescue groups help the Orange County Animal Shelter. - 2 kids, 110 cats removed from Santa Ana home http://www.ocregister.com/articles/cats-291334-rescue-home.html
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FEATURES OF THE MONTH AND SPECIAL THANK YOUs
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A Visit With The President of the HSUS - I had the honor of hearing Wayne Pacelle, President of HSUS, at the Mariner's Church in Irvine recently. He and Christine Gutleben won the entire audience over completely and the tasty vegan dinner afterwards was a huge hit. Mr. Pacelle, touched on many areas of animal issues from farm factories to puppy mills. He was interviewed on stage after his 20 minute presentation and the young presenter likened one of Wayne's messages to Spiderman's moral code. He said we, as humans, have great power and great responsibility to these animals because we consider them to be not as smart as we are. In a break out session Wayne took several excellent questions from the audience. One question was, why can't all these animal organizations unite for the common good?  Wayne told a story of one group building fences in yards so that dogs that were chained up all their lives could be better off.  He said different organizations perform different services.  The HSUS is the large force that can lobby forcefully for animals. He related that it is the largest organization for animals in the US. Mariners Church has a therapy dog program and several dogs and their guardians were present at the break out and recognized on stage at the end.   Valerie Bromberg

Revisiting the Children's Book Author in Laguna Hills - We did a story on a Laguna Hills Resident, wild life photographer and author Marilyn Mansdorf about her first children's book entitled - Bunny's Busy Day in the September 2011 posting of the SCASC Blog, then found a new and better story about this with great photos in the Orange County Register Newspaper at http://sciencedude.ocregister.com/2011/12/20/for-bunny-whisperer-its-a-riot-of-wild-rabbits/165807/ For ‘bunny whisperer,’ it’s a riot of wild rabbits - December 20th, 2011, 8:00 am · posted by Pat Brennan, science, environment editor

Then we learned that Ms. Mansdorf's "Bunny's Busy Day" books had sold out through Amazon and Yahoo. We congratulated her for her success and now Ms. Mansdorf has told us that she is looking for partners, investors and donations to assist with the printing and publishing of 4 more children's books that she has on hold. If you are interested in this opportunity you can contact Mayrilyn Mansdorf at marilyn@bunnybooksinc.com ,  through http://bunnybooksinc.com/ or at PO Box Bunnybooks, Inc. Laguna Hills 92654
**The South County Animal Shelter Coalition does not recommend any investment opportunities, we provide this for your information only. 
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HELPFUL INFORMATION FOR PET OWNERS
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How to Ease Your Dog's Separation Anxiety - From the ASPCA Does your dog get stressed or depressed when you leave, then get into all sorts of trouble while you're gone?

Tips to find the perfect pet sitter  http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/life/10-tips-to-find-the-perfect-pet-sitter-1877335/http://www.ospcablog.ca/?p=173  

ASPCA tip on boarding facilities - http://www.aspca.org/about-us/faq/pet-sitters-and-boarders.aspx

Be alert and walk with a walking stick to protect your dog from Coyote Attacks and continue to protect your pets at all times when they are outside.
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PET LOST AND FOUND E-MAIL NOTICES FROM SCASC
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Laguna Hills Citizens who sign up with SCASC at BlandMJ@AOL.com help protect their pets through our Free Lost and Found Pet e-mails to everyone on the Laguna Hills e-mail list. If you lose or find a pet e-mail us a description of the pet, when and where it was lost or found, and your name, phone # and/or e-mail address for contact information. The anxiety you feel when you lose or find a pet in Laguna Hills is because it is not tolerable to turn a defenseless pet over to the Orange County Shelter with its high kill rate. While most other So. County Cities have or share safe City Shelters, the Laguna Hills City Council has chosen to retain the worst animal control services available - the 70 year old County Shelter 20 miles away that is consistently overcrowded, and has a consistently high kill rate. These are the same services we had before we became a City 20 years ago.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
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http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/pets/detail?entry_id=94119
Beginning January 2012, Bill SB 917 prohibits the sale of animals on streets, in parking lots and from other similar public venues, and increases the penalty for animal cruelty by neglect to up to one year of incarceration. A Victory for California's Animals. Unregulated animal sales are an animal welfare problem in addition to posing problems for consumers. Many of these animals are bred and raised in poor conditions and are often sick at the time of sale. They are usually not spayed or neutered, which further contributes to the tens of thousands of homeless animals that are euthanized in California each year. Thank you to Rose T. for this info.
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IMPORTANT LEGISLATIVE ISSUES FOR CA. PETS & PET OWNERS
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** See above regarding the repeal of the Hayden Act.
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JUST FOR FUN
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Dec 28, 2011 ... A troop of wild mountain gorillas recently turned a typical ecotourism encounter upside down when the animals paid a visit to a tented camp in Uganda and Groomed a tourist. A little bit scary and a tourist who couldn't be more thrilled! Really worth seeing. http://www.youtube.com/v/1eXS0o6r-Wk%26rel%3d0%26hl%3den_US%26feature%3dplayer_embedded%26version%3d3
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SPECIAL EVENTS CALENDAR
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Thursday, February 9, 7 to 10 pm The Ashby Group presents WINE, CIGAR and NETWORKING NIGHT. Bring your business cards to the Fund Raiser for Animal Rescue and Welfare Organizations held at Dana Point Cigar and Wine, 34255 Pacific Coast Hwy. #103, Dana Point Tickets are $35 and include wine, appetizers and imported cigars. Silent Auction, Raffles and more. Make checks payable to The Ashby Group, Inc. Box 3705, Dana Point CA. 92629 For additional information call 914-469-0815. Benefits go to RUFF, ARK of San Juan, Laguna Beach Animal Shelter, San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter, The Pet Rescue Center, Animal Crackers Rescue, German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County and more.

Sunday, February 12, DOG BISCUIT DAY, 9:30 to 11:30 am - In the parking lot of A Med Health Care at 5302 Rancho Rd., Huntington Beach, CA.  The Pet Food Bank and the Girl Scout Troop #393 of Ladera Ranch will be distributing dog biscuits.  Make a $5 donation to help feed homeless animals. 

Sunday, February 12,  BOOK SIGNING for A RARE BREED OF LOVE by Jana Kohl, Psy.D. 12 - 2 pm at
Just Food for Dogs - 500 West Coast Hwy, Newport Beach, CA 92663  The Story of Baby a Puppy Mill Survivor and her celebrity fans.  100% of the proceeds go to benefit local non-profit animal organizations.

Saturday, February 25 - Spay Day USA. Go to the Orange County Animal Shelter at 561 The City Dr. in Orange, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM to see the wonderful animals available for adoption. All adopters who find their forever friend will receive a free spay or neuter for their new pet. For more information go to:  http://egov.ocgov.com/vgnfiles/ocgov/OC%20Animal%20Care/Content/SpayDay2012.pdf

Saturday, February 25 - The Animal Kinship Ministry sponsoring "Doing It for Love" at the Aliso Creek Inn and golf course in Laguna Beach Have a good time and be helping animals at the same time. It is open to the public and all the profits will go to an animal welfare organization chosen that evening by the attendees. Any type of animal welfare organization qualifies, domestic, farm or wildlife with a 501(3)(c) nonprofit designation. http://events.ocregister.com/laguna-beach-ca/events/show/230836444-do-it-for-love
To purchase tickets, all you have to do is call this automated line (949)633-1056. Tickets are $50.00 each. We will have dinner, live music for dancing or listening, entertainment and fantastic silent auction items. An evening celebrating the love we all share for animals with people of like mind. Hope we see you there. If you desire, it could also be a great belated Valentine celebration for you and your friends.

Sunday, April 29  WOOFSTOCK will be coming again to South Shores Church. This is another Ashby Group Production that Nadine has so generously done annually for several years to benefit local animal shelters and rescue groups. It is always exciting!
All Winter - Presents for Paws Drive - Desperate Paws of Orange County is running a collection drive for lightly used blankets and dog and cat toys for its annual and will distribute items to dogs and cats at area animal shelters - please go to http://www.ocregister.com/articles/blankets-327714-toys-paws.html for drop off sites all over Orange County.
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LISTENING TO SCASC SUPPORTERS
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Dec. 2011 - Anonymous said - Sellers Exposed - This morning, NBC's "Today" show aired the shocking results of a new Humane Society of the United States investigation linking a massive Internet dog seller, Purebred Breeders, LLC, to cruel puppy mills. HSUS investigators visited and researched many of the facilities that sell puppies online through Purebred Breeders and found dogs living in shockingly poor conditions. HSUS attorneys also filed suit on behalf of customers who bought sick or dying puppies from Purebred Breeders.
The winter holidays are the busiest puppy-buying season of the year. Help us spread the word about the danger of purchasing puppies online. Watch our video; then take action today to urge the USDA to immediately close a loophole that allows large-scale puppy mills to sell puppies online without being licensed under the Animal Welfare Act or meeting even basic animal care standards. http://www.humanesociety.org/news/press_releases/2011/12/purebred_breeders_120711.html and Send a message to President Obama at https://secure.humanesociety.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=5291

Dec. 2011 - Anonymous said...The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council is the lobby unit that sent out a "Pet Alert" against the Irvine Ordinance to block the sale of live dogs and cats in Irvine Pet Stores. This link shows both people from Petco and Petsmart as Directors on the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council : http://www.pijac.org/about/board/ For an example of where they stand, click on the 2nd "In the Press" titled "Irvine Citizens to be deprived of Pets, circuses and Rodeos" on this link: http://www.pijac.org/about/press/ To understand why Petco and Petsmart would be so active in this organization, take a look at this element of the PIJAC's mission statement: ENSURE the availability of pets. People will have pets and spend money on them with or without Puppy Mills but they don't see it that way. If you think about how salesmen think, their job is to sell you something that you may not have intended to buy such as a cute puppy. Petco and Petsmart set an image that they are against the selling of pets but they are not. They are just "back dooring" it. It is always about making money.

From Rose Tingle with the Animal Kinship Ministry - Vital Farms has received the Humane Certification for raising their egg laying hens. Currently the eggs cost just a little more than average but certainly worth it because they are more nutritious for us, produced by chickens raised humanely on pasture and supporting this farm. Here is a brief video. http://vitalfarms.com/ Mother's Market and Whole Foods Market carries these eggs. You can ask to have the dozen packs cut in to 1/2 dozen packs if you wish. If you do not live in the area of these markets, you may check online for a grocer near you, at this website.http://www.certifiedhumane.org/index.php?page=where-to-buy
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IMPORTANT REMINDERS
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*** Winter is here and Operation Blankets of Love needs your help to help shelter animals at http://www.operationblanketsoflove.com/ provides recycled and new pet-related items to comfort stray, sick, neglected and abused homeless animals in shelters, rescues and foster homes. They also partner with other organizations to provide relief and comfort to animals displaced or endangered by catastrophe.

The Blankets of Love Collection Centers in So. Orange County are: Mission Viejo - Neighborhood Car Care, 23761 Via Fabricante, # A, 949-707-5991 and Pet Supply Warehouse 23854 Via Fabricante, # E1, 959-951-1284; Laguna Woods - Nifty after Fifty, 24258 El Toro Rd., 949-900-0500; Laguna Hills - The UPS Store 24881 Alicia Parkway Ste. E (behind Carl's Jr.), 949-855-8544; Tustin - 14402 Chambers Rd., 714-368-7077.

Due to the very bad economic conditions there are many Farm Animals in need of adoption in Devore, (by San Bernardino) CA. including horses, game fowl, goats - pygmies and standard, chickens, donkeys, mules, ponies and rabbits. Contact:
Horse_Rescue_and_Sanctuary@yahoogroups.com to learn more about these animals if you live where you can have a farm animal and want to give any of them a good home for the rest of their lives.
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PETS & PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
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Don't forget to track Samantha Gowen OC Register Staff Writer and Pet Reporter online at her new address - ocregister.com/pets
Also look for OC Register Reporter Erika Ritchie who writes a lot of pet and wildlife stories.
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HOW TO CONTACT ELECTED OFFICIALS
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Laguna Hills City Council e-mail - ccouncil@di.laguna-hills.ca.us for all City Council Members
City web site - www.ci.laguna-hills.ca.us   phone - 949-707-2610 fax 949-707- 2614

Orange County Supervisors: Pat Bates: Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, the community of Newport Coast, & the unincorporated areas of Coto de Caza, Ladera Ranch, Las Flores, and Wagon Wheel PatBates@ocgov.com
Shawn Nelson: Anaheim, Buena Park, Fullerton, La Habra, Placenta Audra.Adams@ocgov.com
John Moorlach: Costa Mesa, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Newport Beach, Seal Beach, Stanton. district2@ocgov.com
Janet Nguyen: Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Westminister janet.nguyen@ocgov.com
Bill Campbell: Anaheim, Brea, Irvine, Orange, Tustin, Villa Park, Yorba Linda. Bill.Campbell@ocgov.com