Join THLN For An Evening With Animal Advocate Madeleine Pickens

The Texas Humane Legislation Network’s mission is to promote the humane treatment of animals through legislation, education and advocacy. They are the political arm and voice for every animal abuse victim, animal rescue group and shelter in Texas, and are responsible for making animal cruelty a felony in Texas.

They are having a very special event for Metroplex animal lovers this Thursday, May 7th from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. “An Evening with Madeleine Pickens” will be a fun and informative discussion regarding the state of animal welfare and advocacy in Texas. Mrs. Pickens, a famous horse breeder and lifelong animal advocate, and her husband, T. Boone Pickens, have been a driving force against horse slaughter in the United States, and were instrumental in the rescue of over 800 animals during Hurricane Katrina.

If you are interested in the welfare of animals in our community and wish to help protect those who cannot protect themselves, please join THLN as they celebrate our mutual passion for improving animal’s lives by “giving a voice to those who have no voice” at this exciting event.

Date: May 7, 2009
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Place: The Plaza, 3535 Gillespie, Dallas, Texas
RSVP: rich@thln.org
Hors d’oeuvres * Wine * S. Pellegrino
Donations Accepted

DOGWELL'S Bow-Wow Bailout!

DOGSWELL wants to do its part to help during a down economy. They realize that when people lose their homes, the dogs sometimes pay the price as well. Therefore, the company is giving a free bag of dry dog food to the first 10,000 eligible people who submit a completed DOGSWELL Bow-Wow Bailout redemption form.

For more information and to see if you are eligible for free dog food, please go to http://www.dogswell.com/index.php?id=148. DOGSWELL does not have corn, wheat, or added hormones in in its food.

Pets Lower Your Stress

These are stressful times, and we could all use something to help us relax a little. If you have high blood pressure or are feeling stressed, adopt a pet! Researchers at the State University of New York at Buffalo found that people with hypertension who adopted a cat or dog had lower blood pressure readings in stressful situations than did those who did not own a pet. Other studies have shown that the impact of a stressful situation is less on pet owners, especially men, than on those who don’t own a pet. So in addition to providing unconditional love, devotion and companionship, our dogs and cats can help us live healthier, happier and maybe longer lives.

By Jonnie England
Metroplex Animal Coalition

Candlelight Vigil for Burned Dogs Tuesday, April 14, at Dallas City Hall

A Candlelight Vigil in memory of the two dogs who were set on fire in southeast Dallas last weekend will take place Tuesday, April 14, from 8 to 9 p.m. at Dallas City Hall, 1500 Marilla St. Animal Connection of Texas (ACT), Metroplex Animal Coalition(MAC), and Texas Animal Defense Coalition(TADC) are sponsoring the vigil.

Speakers include Susan Oakey with ACT, Jonnie England with MAC, and Kent Robertson with Dallas Animal Services (DAS). Candles will be provided, and participants are invited to bring their dogs. Animal Guardians of America will have adoptable pit bulls on site.

Saturday, April 4, residents in Pleasant Grove called 911 to report two “fireballs” running down the street. Dallas police responded and found two badly burned pit bull terriers — a male and a female. Dallas Animal Services was called to rescue the dogs, which had to euthanized the next day. Two teenaged boys have been identified as suspects, and Dallas police are investigating the case. Seven other dogs belonging to the same family are in protective custody at DAS. A Dallas municipal judge will decide April 15 whether they will be returned to the owners.

The two burned dogs have been named Hope and Justice by organizers of the Candlelight Vigil.

By Jonnie England
Metroplex Animal Coalition

List Lost & Found Pets on Pegasusnews.com

When a beloved pet is missing, getting the news out is critical. In addition to hanging up flyers and canvassing the neighborhood, you can post the information on PegasusNews.com at http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/in/news/missing/. Found pets can be posted as well. The posts have information about the pet that will help with identification and the location where the pet was last seen or found. Photos and any reward information can be included.

Photo courtesy of missingpetpartnership.org.

21 Cats Recovered From Plano Motel Room; Ron Teague Arrested on 2007 Felony Animal Cruelty Charge

More than 20 cats were recovered from a Plano motel room Monday after authorities learned the room’s occupant had been jailed.

Ronald L. Teague, who was indicted by the Dallas County Grand Jury earlier this month on a charge of felony cruelty to animals, was arrested Sunday after being questioned by Plano Police in an unrelated incident.

Monday morning Plano Animal Services recovered 21 cats and kittens from his room at the Motel 6 on Hwy. 75 at Park, where Teague had been living for some time.

“As you might expect, the stench was terrible,” said Jonnie England, Director of Animal Advocacy with the Metroplex Animal Coalition. “Litter boxes lined the walls, and there were plates of food all over the floor. Many of the cats appeared to be in fairly good condition, but several had obvious signs of illness. Three cats, including the mother of four young kittens, were confined to the small bathroom. One cat has a severe mouth infection, at least one has ringworm, and another was thin and had hair loss.”

Six of the cats had been taken by Teague from other individuals, said England, and those were returned to their owners. The remaining 15 cats were taken to Plano Animal Services for evaluation.

The felony cruelty indictment stems from a July 2007 charge in which approximately 60 live and 25 dead animals were found in deplorable conditions inside his East Dallas home. The day before the animals were discovered, Teague had been arrested following an hour-long, high-speed car chase from Dallas to McKinney. When finally stopped by police, Teague had a dead cat inside a carrier in his car and said he was taking it to a veterinarian.

It’s expected that Teague will be transferred within a few days to the Lew Sterrett jail in Dallas to await trial on the felony cruelty charge.

Story and photos by Jonnie England
Metroplex Animal Coalition

Cat Adoptions This Saturday at Northpark

New Beginnings Cat Rescue will be holding an off-site adoption event this Saturday at the Northpark location of Lush Cosmetics.

Northpark Center
(1st level near Macy's)
Saturday, April 4th, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm


While homeless animals have been sold to research facilities for experimental testing, Lush Cosmetics is an animal-friendly business. They do no animal testing and will not buy ingredients from companies that do.

In addition to the opportunity to provide cats with a permanent and loving home, visitors to the adoption event can get one-on-one skin and hair care consultations and hand treatments. Product demonstrations and samples will be available. People who adopt a cat at this event will receive a free gift courtesy of Lush Cosmetics and guests will have the opportunity to enter a drawing for free Lush products. No purchase is necessary.

To learn more about Lush Cosmetics please visit www.lushusa.com.

CLEAR OUT YOUR CLUTTER TO HELP WILDLIFE!

The DFW Wildlife Coalition is welcoming spring by kicking off a campaign designed to raise much-needed funds for the nonprofit organization, create awareness of wildlife issues, and help all of us clear out accumulated clutter.

With the message “Clean Out Your Nest so We Can Feather Theirs,” the DFW Wildlife Coalition is asking area residents and businesses to search their homes, garages, outside storage units, offices and warehouses for any unwanted or unused items that can be resold on eBay. They’ve made it as simple and easy as possible by contracting with EasySale to pick up items directly from donors and handle the sale. Donors will be given a tax receipt from DFW Wildlife Coalition.

“With the current economic climate, we are all looking for ways to save money,” said Prudi Martin-Koeninger, president of the DFW Wildlife Coalition. “Each of us has items that we no longer use that can benefit our organization's educational development needs.”

Prudi says that, through the Coalition’s hotline, its volunteers educate the public daily on “humane solutions for urban wildlife conflicts.” They also explain the choices available that can save homeowners and businesses valuable dollars while humanely evicting or coexisting with wildlife.

Among the “hot sellers” on eBay these days are everyday household items, including dinnerware, crystal and china, cameras, video games, sporting equipment, bicycles, cars, boats, collectibles, sports memorabilia, musical instruments, lamps, clocks, auto and motorcycle parts, designer clothing and ladies handbags.

Business items that sell well include office furniture, medical equipment, phone systems, older but working laptops, flat screen monitors, discontinued stock, tools, vending machines and even specialized items like floor buffers and pallet jacks.

The campaign begins the first day of Spring, Friday, March 20, and runs through April 6. To donate gently used items and help wildlife efforts throughout North Texas, call 817-640-EASY (3279) or go to www.easysaleinc.com, click on the “Donate” icon, and then click on the DFW Wildlife Coalition icon. EasySale will schedule a convenient time to pickup the items.

Proceeds from the “Clean Out Your Nest so We Can Feather Theirs” campaign will directly benefit the Coalition’s WildSpeak! youth programs that provide necessary education about coexisting with native Texas wildlife.

For more information about the DFW Wildlife Coalition or to view helpful hints for handling specific wildlife issues and concerns, call 972-234-WILD (9453) or visit www.dfwwildlife.org.

- By Jonnie England
Metroplex Animal Coalition

New Dallas Ordinance Prohibits Animals as Auction Items

Springtime is a prime time for nonprofits and schools to host fund-raising events, so this is a good time to remind everyone that it is illegal in the City of Dallas to offer puppies, kittens or any live animal as auction prizes.

Last summer the Dallas City Council passed new ordinances to improve the quality of life for animals, including Sec. 7-7.6, which makes it illegal to sell, exchange, raffle, auction or give away—or offer to sell, exchange, raffle or give away—any live animal as “a prize; an inducement to enter a place of amusement or a business establishment; or an inducement to participate in a charitable fund-raising event.”

Here’s what happens at so many charity events that have auctioned animals in the past: You’re at an event, feeling generous, supporting a cause you care about—maybe enjoying a drink or two. Suddenly you see the cutest puppy EVER! Caught up in the emotion and cheered on by your friends, you make the high bid—after all, it’s for a good cause. You get home, reality sets in, and you have a living, breathing puppy to care for. What were you thinking??

The reasoning for the new ordinance is simple and makes perfect sense to animal-welfare organizations: Adopting a puppy or kitten should be a thoughtful, deliberate decision—not one that’s made at the spur of the moment or as an emotional response. It’s a lifetime commitment that requires a great deal of time and financial resources.

While some nonprofits and schools may be upset to learn of this new law, it’s a good thing for the animals!

For more information about all the ordinances concerning animals in Dallas (tethering, intact animals, dogs in pickup truck beds, pet limits and more), go to http://www.dallascityhall.com/.

-Jonnie England
Metroplex Animal Coalition

Preventing Dog Bites & Protecting Your Family

There’s no way to ensure that your dog will never bite, but there are steps you can take to reduce the risk. Jonnie England, Metroplex Animal Coalition Director of Animal Advocacy's recent column for Oak Cliff Online tells how. Just follow this LINK.


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KRLD’s Dangerous Dogs Segment Audio Online Now

KRLD has posted the audio from last Friday's special edition of the KRLD Nightly News Roundup devoted to the issue of "Dangerous Dogs." Guests included Metroplex Animal Coalition Director of Animal Advocacy Jonnie England, Dallas Animal Services Manager Kent Robertson, animal law attorney Yolanda Eisenstein and Adam from the Humane Society of the United States. Keep reading for links to this great segment!

Help Defeat House Bill HB 1046

HB 1046, the bill that would allow appeals in civil seizure cases involving cruelty to animals will be heard before the Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Committee at 2:00 pm, Monday, March 16, 2009, in Room E2.010, the Capitol Extension Building, Austin, Texas.

Thank you to those who responded to our original Action Alert to oppose this bill. Your calls, letters and emails have been duly noted by the members of the Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Committee and are having a BIG impact. Now's the chance to put the final nail in this bill's coffin!!

Background
Under current law when law enforcement officers seize cruelly treated animals the trial to determine whether or not the owner will be divested of ownership is held within 10 days in a Municipal or Justice of the Peace Court and the decision of that court is final and not appealable. HB 1046 will change that and allow the owner to appeal the Municipal or Justice Court's decision and get an entirely new trial.

Action NeededPlease contact or re-contact the members of the Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Committee and ask them to oppose HB 1046. Also, if possible, please come to Austin to sign in as opposing this bill. You will not be asked to testify, all you have to do is sign a card and turn it in to the clerk.

Talking Points
HB 1046 will make the seizure and disposition of cruelly treated animals by law enforcement officers much more difficult and much more expensive.

• If this bill passes, many small towns and lesser populated counties (where starving horses and puppy mills most often are) will not have the resources to pursue these types of cases.
• Allowing appeals will cause additional expense to the cities and counties to keep and care for the animals during the appeal process which could last for months.
• During this time, the seized animals (which often total in the hundreds and are almost always malnourished and sick) will suffer longer and cannot be adopted or, when necessary, be euthanized.
• Taxpayers should not have to pay the expense of keeping cruelly treated animals.

Contact Information
Contact the members of the Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Committee at these adresses:

Representatives Email 512 Phone/Fax
Todd Hunter (Chair) todd.hunter@house.state.tx.us463-0672/463-2101
Bryan Hughes (Vice-Chair) bryan.hughes@house.state.tx.us 463-0271/463-1515
Roberto Alonzo roberto.alonzo@house.state.tx.us 463-0408/463-1817
Dan Branch dan.branch@house.state.tx.us 463-0367/322-9935
Will Hartnett will.hartnett@house.state.tx.us 463-0576/463-7827
Jim Jackson jim.jackson@house.state.tx.us 463-0468/463-1044
David Leibowit david.leibowitz@house.state.tx.us 463-0269/320-0555
Tryon Lewis tryon.lewis@house.state.tx.us 463-0546/463-8067
Jerry Madden jerry.madden@house.state.tx.us 463-0544/463-9974
Armando "Mando" Martinez mando.martinez@house.state.tx.us 463-0530/463-0849
Beverly Woolley beverly.woolley@house.state.tx.us 463-0696/463-9333

Please call, write/FAX or email each of them to oppose the bill

Ask your friends and neighbors to do the same. As always, please be courteous and polite when communicating with the Representative and their staff.

HSNT Rescues Bengal Tiger

The Humane Society of North Texas, a MAC Member Group, recently removed a 250 pound full-grown adult Bengal tiger from a home in Hamilton County after officer's determined his cage was filthy and inadequate, he was not registered as is required by law, and he appeared malnourished. The big cat, named Hamilton, was understandably frightened when he first arrived at the shelter, and was only about half the weight he should be. But now with good meals- a whopping 10-15 pounds of fresh meat a day – things are looking up and Hamilton is beginning to feel at home. The Humane Society of North Texas is actively pursuing a quality sanctuary for permanent placement. To find out more about Hamilton’s story and see more fabulous pictures of this gorgeous big cat, visit HSNT at www.hsnt.org.

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MAC on KRLD Tonight - Dangerous Dogs Segment!

TONIGHT! Friday, March 6, from 7 to 8 p.m., KRLD 1080 will air a live,one-hour show on Dangerous Dogs. The subject is a hot topic now in light of three attacks or bites by pit bulls in the past 10 days and DallasMorning News columnist Jacquielynn Floyd's columns favoring a ban on thebreeding and sale (but not ownership) of pit bull breeds. Guests on the KRLD program are Kent Robertson with Dallas Animal Services,Jonnie England with the Metroplex Animal Coalition, Animal Law AttorneyYolanda Eisenstein and Adam Goldfarb with The HSUS. Tune in Friday from 7 to 8 p.m. on KRLD 1080, or listen online at krld.com!

Texas Unites for Animal Welfare Conference

The Texas Federation of Humane Societies (TFHS) and the Texas Animal Shelter Coalition (TASC) have joined forces to host the biggest and best animal welfare conference in Texas. The Lone Star Conference runs April 18 – April 21 in Austin and includes fantastic workshops in three tracks: Field & Shelter Services, Placement Strategies for Increasing Adoptions, and Animal Health & Wellness. DFW animal welfare groups are urged to take advantage of this great opportunity to attend a first class Conference close to home. Registration fees are only $ 75 for members and $95 for nonmembers. For more details about the conference or to register, visit http://www.texasunites.com/.

Area Pets Suffer As Economy Worsens

Last week the Fort Worth Star Telegram ran an excellent article about the effect the economy is having on pets and the rescue groups and shelters that try to save them. Find out how three MAC Member Groups are coping – Operation Kindness, Legacy Boxer Rescue & the Humane Society of North Texas, get tips for keeping your pet-related costs down, and find out about fostering or adopting an abandoned pet at http://www.star-telegram.com/living/story/1222898.html

MAC Spay/Neuters 11,429 Animals!

Since it’s inception in 2002, the Metroplex Animal Coalition’s Patt Davis Memorial Spay/Neuter fund has spent just over half a million dollars to sterilize 11,429 animals at an average cost of only $ 50. You may find it hard to believe, but 97.5% of MAC’s income goes directly to spay/neuter program expenses with only 2.2% going to administrative/fundraising costs. With MAC – your dollars work harder!

Wildcare Plans Triage Center For Injured Wildlife!

Wildcare, a MAC Member Group, recently announced plans for a Wildcare Triage Center. Unlike most large US cities, DFW doesn’t have a centrally-located wildlife rehab facility where animals can receive immediate care from trained wildlife specialists. Many times sick or injured animals suffer or die because the people who find them don’t know how to find a wildlife rehabilitator. The Wildcare Triage Center will be able to take in injured wildlife of all kinds, give them immediate medical attention, and ultimately transfer them to state licensed rehabbers. For more information, visit www.wildcaretx.org.

Low-Cost Microchip ClinicSaturday, Feb 28

Dallas Animal Services (DAS) launches its monthly low-cost Microchip Clinic this Saturday, Feb. 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The cost is $15 per animal and includes registration. DAS will hold its Microchip Clinics the last Saturday of every month.

In the procedure, which takes less than 5 minutes, a microchip the size of a grain of rice is inserted just under the skin between the animal's shoulder blades. The small chip is engraved with an exclusive ID number that identifies the animal when a special scanner is used. The chip also includes a toll-free phone number to call, and operators are on hand 24 hours a day to contact the pet's owner.

Dallas Animal Services & Adoption Center is located at 1818 N. Westmoreland at I-30, just minutes west of downtown Dallas. For more information, call 214-670-8246 or 214-671-0249, or visit www.DallasAnimalServices.com.

Check out this FUN, musical spay-neuter video!

Thanks to Nancy Pinkston for forwarding this YouTube video, created by the Alliance for Humane Action. Turn up your speakers and enjoy!

"Clever Cat" music video for spay-neuter!