Once the most common fate of pound animals, carbon monoxide gassing is now nearly history RALEIGH, North Carolina––The last dogs and cats in North Carolina to be killed in animal shelter gas chambers died as anonymously toward the end of February 2015 as most of the 21 million or thereabouts before them. Gassing dogs […]
Adoption transport, Crazy Cat Ladies, & pyramid schemes
21st century versions of taking unwanted animals to Crazy Cat Lady HOUSTON, DENVER––Are adoption transport and feral cat translocation truly intelligent free-market approaches to reducing shelter killing, or just the 21st century versions of taking unwanted animals to Crazy Cat Lady? In India, cities without federally subsidized Animal Birth Control programs often covertly hire truckers […]
Casualties of the “save rate”: 40,000 animals at failed no-kill shelters & rescues
25,000 dogs and 15,000 cats At least 25,000 dogs and 15,000 cats found at failed no-kill shelters and rescues from 2005 through 2014 might be politely described as casualties of the “save rate,” also known as the “live release rate.” The numbers of dogs and cats impounded by law enforcement from failed shelters and rescues dropped […]
ASPCA and the Humane Alliance move toward merger
“While nothing is final at this point, we intend to merge with Humane Alliance” ASHEVILLE, N.C.; NEW YORK, N.Y.––The American SPCA, the oldest animal advocacy organization in the U.S., and the Humane Alliance, the largest facilitator of nonprofit spay/neuter surgery, are exploring the possibility of a merger. “While nothing is final at this point, we […]
Multnomah County animal control director Mike Oswald to retire after 37 years
“Whenever I needed to know what was going on across the country, I could always contact you.” I am writing to let you know that I have announced my intention to retire from Multnomah County. My last day of work will be April 30, 2015. It has been a pleasure to have worked with you […]
Former Pennsylvania SPCA executive director Erik Hendricks, 71, pushed breed-specific legislation to end pit bull overpopulation
Erik Hendricks, 71, for 27 years executive director of the Pennsylvania SPCA, died on January 30, 2015 of leukemia at Bryn Mawr Hospital, near Philadelphia. “Born in Rochester, New York,” recalled the Pennsylvania SPCA web site, “Hendricks was a longtime resident of Haverford. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 1966, he worked on […]
Former New York City animal control chief Julie Bank takes the reins in Oklahoma City
Bank is expected to help Oklahoma City achieve further dramatic drops in shelter killing OKLAHOMA CITY––Former New York City Animal Care & Control chief Julie Bank on January 16, 2015 assumed direction of the Oklahoma City Animal Shelter and Animal Welfare Division. Succeeding acting director John Gary, who had replaced 14-year executive director Catherine English, […]
Bali governor Made Mangku Pastika invites public to kill dogs
“If you see a free-roaming feral dog just kill it” DENPASAR, Bali, Indonesia––Raged Bali governor Made Mangku Pastika on January 31, 2015, seven years into the most badly bungled rabies control program of the 21st century, “There’s so much rabies. Our money has been depleted just to purchase rabies vaccine. Please help. If you see […]
Taiwan adopts plan to become no-kill nation by 2017
Bans killing impounded dogs TAIPEI, Taiwan––The Taiwanese legislature, the Legislative Yuan, on January 24, 2015 adopted 25 revisions to the 1998 national Animal Protection Act that are intended to make Taiwan a no-kill nation. The revisions includes a ban on killing impounded dogs, to take effect in 2017. The ban resembles laws in effect in […]
Should animal shelters re-open night drop-off kennels?
Opened in mid-2013, the state-of-the-art Whatcom Humane Society shelter may be the newest in the U.S. to include a night drop-off facility BELLINGHAM, KENAI––How far apart are the Whatcom Humane Society, of Bellingham, Washington, and the Kenai Animal Shelter, of Kenai, Alaska? Both are just five or ten minutes from airports. Measured in flight time […]