MAC Supporters are All Ages

Amber Houston (left), with her cat Maddie, and Gabrielle Jones recently had a bake sale to raise money for the Metroplex Animal Coalition (MAC). Amber, 12, and Gabrielle, 11, both students at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic School, baked cookies and cupcakes and set up a stand across from the Hampton Road DART station. They raised $50 for MAC by selling the cupcakes for 75 cents and the cookies for 50 cents each. (Photo: Jonnie England)

Being Prepared To Assist in Disasters

Many of you have asked what is needed to be "certified" or "trained" to respond to animals in disasters. While there is not, at least at this time, a standard, nationwide certification system, some minimal requirements have emerged for first responders who want to help animals affected by disasters.

First, you'll need to be associated with a national organization like HSUS, UAN, or ASPCA, or a staff member for a municipal or private agency in the affected area. National organizations have the credibility and the resources to deploy nationally and have the manpower, equipment, organizational plans, and legal documentation necessary to respond before, during and after a disaster strikes.

Second, you'll need to have specific training in the Incident Command System for first responders. ICS is an on-scene, all-hazard management concept adopted by FEMA, DHS, and virtually every law enforcement agency and first responder across the nation. Classes in the Incident Command System are available online from FEMA - they are free, and they are self-paced. HSUS and UAN both require completion of at least ICS 100, ICS 200, and ISC 700, and suggest also ISC 800 and ICS 10.

HSUS also requires specific training courses for their National Disaster Animal Rescue Team, and UAN requires certain UAN classes for the Emergency Animal Rescue Service.

You'll also need a current Tetanus shot, as well as Hepatitis A & B vaccinations. Red Cross courses in Humane CPR and Pet CPR & First Aid are also appreciated.

To find out more about training and volunteering for HSUS' NDART, visit www.ndart.org

To find out about training and volunteering for UAN's EARS, visit http://uan.org/index.cfm?navid=27

To sign up for FEMA's free online training courses, visit http://training.fema.gov/IS/

Other links of interest:

Governor's Division of Emergency Management: http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem/pages/index.htm

Texas Extension Disaster Education Network - http://texashelp.tamu.edu/

Texas State Animal Resource Team - http://txsart.org/

National Conference on Animals In Disaster - http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?e=115e5acc-d5fc-410c-9a3f-1fcc1a854a4d

If you have questions, please feel free to contact info@companionsforlife.org.

New Dallas Ordinances for Pet Owners

The Dallas City Council recently passed several new ordinances designed to encourage responsible pet ownership in our City. Dallas Animal Advocates and the City of Dallas Education Committee are requesting assistance getting information about these new ordinances to the public. A new brochure is now available detailing each of the new ordinances, when they go into effect, and whom to contact for more information.

You can help by sending the brochure to your friends, family, co-workers, and fellow volunteers, as well as distributing the brochures at vets, groomers, adoption events, and anywhere pet lovers are found.

You can download the new brochure from www.dallasanimaladvocates.org or send a message to dallasanimaladvocates@gmail.com and they will email it directly to you.

If you have any questions, please visit www.dallasanimaladvocates.org or email dallasanimaladvocates@gmail.com.

Thank you for your help!

HSNT present first Kurban Award for Equine Rescue work

Kurban Award and HSNT Equine Rescues

Since most of us usually deal primarily with small animals this is a bit different. The Humane Society of North Texas gave the first Kurban award, named for Judge Kurban who retired in 2006 and was a longtime friend to animals, to Detective Steve S. Shaw with the Johnson County Sheriffs Department in recognition of all his work on behalf of the animals of Johnson County. The award was presented on February 22, 2008. Tammy Roberts from our cruelty department put together a short presentation illustrating some of the equine cases our agencies have worked together on over the past year as part of the tribute to him. HSNT took in 101 horses in 2007 and have already taken 48 in 2008. HSNT's accomplishments working with the Johnson County Sheriff's Department are presented in this moving montage of images:
EQUINE RESCUE TRIBUTE


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Be a HAVE-A-HEART HERO

SM-M-L-XL
... donations of all sizes will fit perfectly in our SPAY/NEUTER FUND, helping low-income families to keep their dogs and cats litter-free.

Our HAVE-A-HEART campaign is the PERFECT time for you and your friends to give our SPAY/NEUTER fund a transfusion!

Please do not BYPASS this important opportunity to make a real difference in our community. MAC receives no city state or federal funding of any kind, so YOUR DONATION IS THE ONLY SUPPORT WE CAN COUNT ON.

To donate, fill out the form at the link below, and mail to:
8333 Douglas Avenue
Suite 1350
Dallas, TX 75225

Here is a link to a "HAVE A HEART CAMPAIGN" pledge form, and MAC President Elaine Munch's HAVE A HEART message:
HAVE A HEART FORM

Dangerous Dogs Forum

The SPCA of Texas is hosting “Legislating Dangerous Dogs,” a forum designed for animal care and control professionals, dog breeders, breed clubs and rescues, city and county officials and legislators.

TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2008
9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
SPCA of Texas Headquarters, 2400 Lone Star Dr., Dallas, TX 75212
Cost: $15

FOLLOWED BY:

The Texas Animal Shelter Coalition is hosting "Investigating Serious and Fatal Dog Attacks", an informative training session geared for law enforcement and ACOs. The session will cover in-depth procedures and standards for serious and fatal dog bite investigations.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2008
12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
SPCA of Texas Headquarters, 2400 Lone Star Dr., Dallas, TX 75212
Cost: Free for Texas Animal Shelter Coalition (TASC) members; $10 for non-members.

For more information, visit:
Dangerous Dogs Forum Flyer & Registration Information

Dangerous Dogs Forum Schedule & Speakers

Investigating Serious & Fatal Dog Attacks Flyer & Registration Information

Record Attendance at Annual MAC Meeting

At the annual MAC Meeting this past Sunday we set a new record for attendance - EIGHTY FIVE animal welfare organizaton staff and volunteers attended representing 34 MAC Member Groups, non-Member groups, and independent rescuers!

Attendees voted to extend MAC membership to municipal animal shelter agencies, re-elected five stand-out Board Members, cast their ballots in favor of adding one new member to the board - the wonderful, caring, committed editor of Urban Animal, Bob Walton. MAC President Elaine Munch presented an Certificate of Appreciation to outgoing board member and fundraiser extraordinare Becky Haisma, then led guests in group discussions to identify the biggest issues facing animal welfare organizations in the Metroplex.

The 3 hour meeting was hosting by the SPCA of Texas, with refreshments courtesy of Feral Friends an AdoptADallasPet. Door prizes were provided by Contemporary Cats, Remember Me Jewelry, Operation Kindness, Canine Comissary, and a few anonymous donors. Our thanks to all who donated and to the wonderful volunteers who helped make this event so special!

Update On Copper

The eye has been removed, the skin problem has been treated and cleared up and he will just have to learn to compensate using the crooked leg. He is still young so that probably will not be much of a problem. Copper is available for adoption - please contact info@metroplexanimalcoalition.com for more information.

Angie Manriquez Needs Help Saving Dogs Of West Dallas

If you are involved in animal rescue in the Metroplex, then you probably know who Angie Manriquez is. If you aren’t, let me briefly tell you that Angie is a kind-hearted MAC volunteer who has worked tirelessly for many years to save the neglected pets and strays of West Dallas.Angie picks up dogs with some of the most pathetic cases of abuse or neglect that I have ever seen; and like all of us, Angie needs financial help with all these rescues, However, Angie’s situation is different from most of us in that she lives only on social security, and a few donations sent her way.

I have photographed some of the saddest looking dogs for her in the past, and the truth is that many of these dogs are basically unadoptable due to a history of neglect, and from either bad socialization, or none at all. These particular dogs usually end up staying with Angie for the rest of their lives.A while back Angie picked up this little guy in a field. He has been named Copper. He was probably dumped because of his skin condition, or simply because his owners just didn’t care about him (which is so often the case). His eye had been punctured by something sharp—either accidentally or intentionally—and has now been surgically removed. He has gone thru a battery of tests, and luckily he does not have mange, but he is getting treatment for the skin condition and his front leg is twisted.

Angie needs help with her vet bills, as she cannot continue to help rescue and place these dogs without the help of people like you. No amount is too large or too small, and you could even ask friends, neighbors, and coworkers to chip in as well.Angie has two accounts, one at both City Vets here in Dallas. She needs help with both, but has asked that if anyone can donate, that they please help her pay down her debt at the Oak Lawn location first. Probably the easiest way to donate would be to phone in a credit card donation. Or you can mail a check in if you prefer.

The clinics are:

City Vet
2727 Oak Lawn AveDallas, TX 75219214.219.2838Ask for Wendy

City Vet Uptown3101 McKinney Ave
Suite 105Dallas, TX 75204214.953.1001

Angie is very well known (and thought of) at both clinics. The veterinarians and the clinic staff see her frequently and they are aware of what she does through her ministry for these forgotten and abused animals.

Angie's vehicle is on its last legs - 159,000+ miles and leaking everything. She bought it as a used car a few years ago and she has driven it many miles in her ministry of caring for the helpless. When it finally stops, hundreds of animals will immediately cease receiving food or care. With no transportation, Angie will not be able to help them at all. Please keep Angie, and especially the animals that she helps, in mind if you know of anyone who may be in a position to donate a vehicle as this year ends.

Angie’s commitment to the animals and her courage in the face of so much danger and cruelty in West Dallas is well known by many rescuers. She has been written about in the Dallas Morning News, is frequently mentioned on Larry Powell’s blog http://www.readlarrypowell.com/ and a few years ago, she was given the Kindness Award by Operation Kindness. Any help that she receives is of direct benefit to the animals who so desperately need it.

-AdoptADallasPet Blog Moderator

Kudos to MAC's S/N Efforts!

We received this yesterday via email:

"I would like to express my deepest gratitude for your generous program. I took my three male cats and a female dog in to the SPCA on Industrial Blvd. yesterday for their shots and to be spayed/neutered.

My cats are at the point in their lives where neutering was needing to be done before spraying started. With the Holidays upon us - the cost of having all of my animals taken care of was not in the budget or foreseeable future. Your program made this possible and for that I am truly grateful.

Thank You!
God Bless All!
Happy Holidays!
- Robert

Ermie, Tevin, Gabby & Sammie