The tough economic times have hit all of us, but animal shelters and rescue organizations are feeling a particular crunch. When people lose their homes or are forced to cut back on expenses, their pets are sometimes the first to go. Dog food and vet bills can be expensive - if you have a pet, you know.
I saw a story by the Associated Press this week that really brings the issue home. Dawn Smith, the owner and founder of Daphneyland, a Basset Hound rescue in Acton, Calif., is horribly behind on her bills. She takes in $5,200 a month in donations but needs about $10,000 a month to survive.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals estimates that one to two million pets have been abandoned since the start of the recession in December 2007. The figures are based on real estate industry numbers and estimated pet ownership.
For someone like Smith, it means donations are down 40 percent, and some volunteers have had to quit to take on second jobs. But the bills don't stop, and Smith has some 100 dogs to feed and care for.
Stephen Zawistowski, the ASPCA's executive vice president for national programs, told the AP, "At pet food banks, they are seeing people who used to be donors now showing up asking if they can get a bag of dog food."
Daphneyland isn't the only rescue organization hanging on, not by a long shot. What can you do? If you can afford it, donate to your local animal shelter or a rescue group. Better yet, if you're thinking of adopting a pet, now is the time.
How about a Basset Hound? "They are stubborn, obstinate, but couldn't be more loving," Smith said of the big-eared dogs. "They are fabulous if you can handle a 65-pound lapdog."
A couple of months ago, I wrote about a woman who saved a dog's life by performing CPR after it was choked by a leash in a fall. It turns out the notion of giving mouth-to-snout resuscitation to our pets isn't so strange to many of us.
In a poll conducted for the Associated Press and Petside, 58 percent of pet owners - including 63 percent of people who own dogs - said they would be at least somewhat likely to perform CPR on their pet in a medical emergency.
No surprise there, if you ask me.
It goes beyond the fact that pets are an investment. We bond with them, nurture them and protect them in every way we can. In return, we receive their love and loyalty. Doesn't it stand to reason we would be willing to do whatever we could to save them?
In the poll, conducted Oct. 1-5 by GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media for AP and Petside, more women said they were likely to give CPR to their pets than men, 65 percent to 50 percent. But we're not as prepared for an emergency as we should be: 20 percent of pet owners have a pet first-aid kid at home, and 54 percent don't have an evacuation plan for their pets in case of fire.
Would you be willing to give mouth-to-muzzle to save your dog?
Michael Vick had an opportunity this weekend to see eight of the Pit Bulls that were rescued from his dogfighting operation, but he declined an invitation from the advocacy group that rescued and helped rehabilitate them.
Tim Racer, who co-founded BADRAP (Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pitbulls), told the Associated Press that the group sent the invitation to Vick through the Phiadelphia Eagles, the team he now plays for. The Eagles are in Oakland to play the Raiders on Sunday, and BADRAP is located in Oakland.
The team told Racer that Vick had declined the offer. Racer said Vick would have been able to view the dogs from behind a window.
"We understand Vick is trying to right his wrongs and is very interested in redemption," Racer told the AP, "but you can't find redemption without acknowledging your victims."
Racer said an appearance by Vick would have helped bring closure to those who participated in saving the dogs, but "it seems Vick is not ready to go there."
Maybe that's not a bad thing. The horrible dogfighting those dogs were subjected to is in the past, and perhaps it's best left there.
I wasn't really sure if dog lovers would band together and organize a protest when Michael Vick plays his first game for the Philadelphia Eagles, but here's one thing I never figured would happen: Someone is actually putting together a march in support of Vick.
That's right. When Vick makes his expected debut in an Eagles uniform tonight at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, demonstrators are scheduled to show up and offer support for the disgraced quarterback - despite a request from the team that they cancel their rally.
J. Whyatt Mondesire, president of the NAACP's Philadelphia chapter, told the Associated Press: "We believe Michael Vick has served his time, paid his debt to society and deserves a second chance and the animal rights groups want to hold him hostage for the rest of his life. We think that's patently unfair. It denies Michael Vick's basic civil rights, denies him his ability to make a living."
Besides the NAACP, other supporters include the Black Clergy of Philadelphia and several local civil rights groups.
Eagles security officials are planning for several individual animal rights protests outside the stadium, but there's unlikely to be an organized group. ESPN.com reported that animal advocates were planning a tailgate party on the other side of town for the 2nd Chance Dogs campaign to increase awareness about dogfighting.
"As a lot of people have pointed out, [Vick's] animals never got a second chance," SPCA chief executive Sue Cosby told ESPN. "We need to speak for them."
The blog site Profootballtalk.com points out that it's possible the rally supporting Vick may actually be the idea of the quarterback's people, who figured it might be a good way to offset any likely negative publicity he would attract from protestors.
Cynical? Yes, but very possible.
Dogs in church?
It wouldn't happen where I live, but there's a non-denominational church in Austin, Texas, that actually welcomes canines. Of course, the church is also in a bar.
The City Community Church holds services every Sunday inside La Zona Rosa, a bar and music venue. Letting dogs attend with their owners, church members say, is just a way to make people feel more at home while they worship.
Rev. Matthias Haeusel tells the Associated Press that most dogs are well-behaved, although a German Shepherd Dog once tried to eat a smaller dog.
When services end, it's back to being a bar. And out with the dogs.
