by Bob Christiansen, co-founder, The Boca Fund (See also How to heal pets, heal the humane community, & heal the veterinary profession and Is the Veterinary Profession Serving All Companion Animal Medical Needs in America Today?, subtitled “A Case for Full-Service, Low-Cost, Non-Profit Community Veterinary Care Centers,” by Bob Christiansen.) For anyone involved in animal […]
Rich Avanzino, 84, one of the suspected “fathers” of bastardized no-kill
Avanzino in 23 years at the San Francisco SPCA helped to create the “no kill movement,” but in 17 years as founding president of Maddie’s Fund tended to discredit the concept PLEASANTON, California––Maddie’s Fund on September 29, 2026––nine days after Richard Avanzino’s actual death, announced that “Rich Avanzino, affectionately and widely known as the father […]
Ed Duvin: “I saw the best minds of animal advocacy destroyed by madness”
The no-kill movement is not yet old enough to be suffering from advanced dementia This will be a different essay than I normally write, not carefully constructed and edited, but a stream of thoughts shared with fellow activists. Why? Issues that should elicit a sense of urgency in the movement, from the rising bloodshed by […]
Guest column by Ed Boks: Finish the job that no-kill started
This ANIMALS 24-7 guest column originally appeared as the September 1, 2026 installment of author Ed Boks’ own blog, Animal Politics with Ed Boks. Boks may be reached at animalpolitics8@gmail.com. Ed Boks’ resumé in animal welfare includes having headed the animal control departments in Maricopa County, Arizona; New York City; Los Angeles; and Yavapai County, […]
Is your allegiance to movement leadership or those you serve? by Ed Duvin
Choose wisely, as homeless animals have no choice. Editor’s note: ANIMALS 24-7 guest columnist Ed Duvin began his long career in social justice movements in civil rights and anti-poverty work during the Lyndon Johnson presidential administration. He later advised animal advocacy organizations including the Humane Society of the U.S., the No-Kill Conference, and In […]
Alfred M. Kailihiwa & Susan Solari died in the line of duty toward animals
Murder victim Alfred M. Kailihiwa was feeding cats; fire victim Susan Solari stayed with her dogs KAHULUI, Hawaii; ANGELS CAMP, California––Neuter/return cat trapper Alfred M. Kailihiwa, 71, of Waihee, Hawaii, allegedly murdered on August 6, 2026, and German shepherd breeder Susan Solari, 70, of Angel’s Camp, California, a wildfire victim reported dead the same day, […]
Four more fatalities, at least 3 by pit bull, raise 2026 dog attack toll to 50
“Pittie Moms” member Kathleen Noll, 79, was #50. Rescuer Amanda Nobiss, 37, was #48. PENN HILLS, Pennsylvania; HENNING, Tennessee; SANDY BAY FIRST NATION, Manitoba; SODDY DAISY, Tennessee––The 2026 U.S. and Canadian dog attack fatality count on July 21, 2026 reached 50 for the sixth year in a row, eight days earlier in the year […]
2026 dog census: more Labs than pits, but 3 times more pits in shelters
Labs & pits are together more than 40% of the dogs offered for sale or adoption The data from the 2026 edition of the most comprehensive annual survey of the U.S. dog population done anywhere by anyone is in––and what it shows is not good news for the shelter and rescue community. Once again the […]
200 cats in Puerto Rico doomed by 20 years of cat-feeding in name of TNR
Fixing 66 cats in 2008 could have fixed the problem. Feeding stations put three times that many at risk. WASHINGTON D.C.––Pending possible further appeals, U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss on May 20, 2026 appears to have ended the Battle of the Cats at the historic El Morro castle in San Juan, Puerto Rico, […]
Unmasking Miranda’s Rescue: what happened that we know about
Humboldt Spay/Neuter Clinic & Humboldt Critters Without Litters founder Jennifer Raymond dug up the evidence ANIMALS 24-7 on May 22, 2026 mentioned that, “The Humboldt Lost & Found Pets page on Facebook, serving Humboldt County,” in northern California, “has been flooded for days with desperate messages from individuals, rescues, and even established animal shelters, hoping […]