Model shelter is no shelter at all PLEASANTON, California––The long-awaited state-of-the-art Maddie’s Fund teaching and training shelter turns out to be no shelter at all. Whether this reflects a change in the Maddie’s Fund thinking about how best to transition the U.S. to no-kill animal control is unclear, but the decision to scrap the notion […]
Massachusetts SPCA is also transferring law enforcement duties to local police
MSPCA was second in U.S. to do humane law enforcement BOSTON––The Massachusetts SPCA, founded by humane education pioneer George Angell in 1868, is believed to have been the second SPCA in the U.S. to do humane law enforcement on a constabulary basis. Like the ASPCA, which was empowered by the New York state legislature to […]
New adoption center gives Fresno humane community a point of pride
A rare “good news for animals” event in a city which has had little to celebrate FRESNO, California––Celebrating a rare “good news for animals” event in a city which has had little to celebrate, the Cat House on the Kings and the Petco Foundation on February 15, 2013 together opened a new 1,500-square-foot adoption center […]
New AHA study finds adoption failure rate of 10% in six months
Failure rates half of what they were in 1993 WASHINGTON D.C.––Adoption failure rates may now be as little as half of what they were 20 years ago, suggests a newly published study by the American Humane Association’s Animal Welfare Research Institute ––but also appear to be about twice as high as is now conventionally believed. […]
L.A. shelter deal transfers cash crunch to Best Friends
LOS ANGELES–“There is progress in Los Angeles!” exulted City of Los Angeles Animal Services general manager Brenda Barnette on January 5, 2012, anticipating the imminent transition of the idle Northeast Animal Care Center from a costly liability to an operating asset, run by the Best Friends Animal Society. “The contract between the city and […]
Humane success makes market for mixed-breed pups
“Jo Jo the Dog Man” dies on puppy-scouting mission to Poland TACOMA, Washington––Why did the Humane Society of Tacoma & Pierce County fire one 15-year employee on May 25, 2006, and suspend another without pay for three days, for mistakenly euthanizing five Labrador-mix puppies? Why did Joseph P. “Jo Jo the Dog Man” O’Neill, 70, die alone of a heart […]
Hurricane Katrina & Rita rescuers shift gears from rescue & reunion to rehoming
Holding periods expired NEW ORLEANS––All animals rescued from the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita became eligible for adoption on December 15, 2005, following the expiration of the last mandatory holding periods prescribed by the Louisiana and Mississippi state veterinarians. “We’re setting up two new rescue centers, in New Orleans and Gulfport,” Best Friends Animal Society […]
Aftershocks ripple from SF/SPCA (December 2000)
And are still rippling, 20 years later SAN FRANCISCO, PHILADELPHIA, KNOXVILLE––The San Francisco SPCA and San Francisco Animal Care & Control in calendar year 2000 together killed fewer than 2,000 cats and dogs. That was under 2.6 cats and dogs per 1,000 human residents, 15.6% of the national average, 1,001 fewer than the 1999 previous […]
Humane Society of the U.S. settles affairs without a Wills
by Merritt Clifton WASHINGTON, D.C.––Humane Society of the United States executive vice president Patricia Forkan is to assume authority over HSUS domestic operations effective on January 1, 1996. HSUS president Paul Irwin, now heading domestic operations, will move over to head the umbrella organization, Humane Society International, while current HSI president John Hoyt, 65, will […]
HSUS vp Wills sued for alleged bad debts
by Merritt Clifton (July 1995) DETROIT––Humane Society of the U.S. vice president for investigations David Wills, founder of the short-lived National Society for Animal Protection before assuming his present post, is accused of failing to repay NSAP-related loans totaling $57,411 in cash and valuables in separate lawsuits filed by William and Judith McBride, of Ortonville, […]