The Purebred Paradox the Problematic Quest for a “Perfect” Dog

September/October 2010

A Kennel Makeover in Kansas City Emergency Planning in the Post-Katrina World The Purebred Paradox The Problematic Quest for a “Perfect” Dog

Volunteers are donors of their own time, and they deserve the same kind of care and maintenance as those donors who give money. You need to understand who they are and how they’re connected in your community. It’s a matter of resource mapping, which leads to a better understanding of what skills and abilities your organization has at its disposal. Volunteer Management, p. 53

24 32 The Purebred Emergency Paradox Planning The quest to create the “perfect” dog After Katrina may be contributing to a genetic health Thanks in part to the tragedy of Hurricane crisis among purebreds. A lack of genetic Katrina, the welfare of pets is now widely testing, mating of closely related animals, recognized as a critical aspect of any and breed standards that encourage emergency preparedness plan. Animal extreme features over health have been shelters in nine jurisdictions in Northern blamed for a host of health problems Virginia have banded together to make sure facing scores of breeds today. that if a calamity ever strikes their region, pet owners and their furry best friends will be able to seek refuge together. COVER: JOSH SOLAR/WAYSIDE WAIFS HUMANE SOCIETY 5 Letterbox Animal Sheltering is a publication of The Humane Society of the United States. ANIMAL SHELTERING MAGAZINE STAFF Editor 6 Scoop Carrie Allan A kitty in Nevada climbs to new heights, Associate Editor James Hettinger then requires a little help; animal protection Staff Writer/Copy Editor organizations fight an uphill battle to Jim Baker Production/Marketing Manager improve pet welfare in Peru; one Canadian Shevaun Brannigan animal shelter discovers that dog washing n Advertising Manager doesn’t have to be a messy chore—it can be ReNae Vorgert Design a great source of revenue; and much more. Bussolati Associates n Chairman, Board of Directors, Humane Society 22 Coffee Break of the United States In your space, you told us about a time Anita W. Coupe, Esq. President and CEO, Humane Society of the United States when you decided to stop working Wayne Pacelle in the animal sheltering and rescue n 47 Shelter Medicine ABOUT THIS MAGAZINE field, the reasons you wanted to Animal Sheltering (ISSN 0734-3078) is published bimonthly by Canine distemper virus can easily enter The Humane Society of the United States. Our magazine serves leave—and what brought you back. the people on the frontlines of animal protection—by offering a shelter, is tricky to diagnose, and may practical expertise, technical know-how, forums for debate, program profiles, news on the latest research and trends, and a sense wreak havoc on a shelter’s dog population. of inspiration and community among those striving to make the 37 The “101” Department world a better place for animals. A veterinarian and a shelter official The most common option for working with Subscription Prices discuss the policies and procedures that Single-copy subscriptions are $20 each ($25 for subscrib- frightened dogs is the catch pole, the tool ers outside the U.S.). Members of Shelter Partners receive a helped a shelter in West Kennebunk, 10-percent discount. For information on multiple-copy dis- most ACOs and shelter staff resort to when counts, visit animalsheltering.org. Maine, cope with an outbreak. Circulation Offices a dog refuses to be handled. But the catch To order, renew, change your address, or inquire about other subscription-related issues, visit our website at pole can be abused; as often as possible, animalsheltering.org or contact our circulation office: 53 Volunteer Management Animal Sheltering shelter staff and ACOs should seek humane P.O. Box 351; Congers, NY 10920-0351 Shelters need systems to track information 866-512-3111 (toll free) 845-267-3004 (local) alternatives. One of these is the Y pole—a 845-267-3478 (fax) related to their volunteers—everything [email protected] “Y”-shaped metal pole that functions as Editorial Offices from names and emergency contacts to Please send letters to the editor, an extension of the human hand and, used Coffee Break submissions, and article ideas to: education and the hidden talents and Animal Sheltering magazine/HSUS properly, can help convince animals to relax. 2100 L St., NW community connections that can benefit Washington, DC 20037 the organization. Problem is, volunteer 202-452-1100 (phone) 43 Q & A 301-258-3081 (fax) managers are usually so busy they either [email protected] The major raids that result in the rescue animalsheltering.org can’t take time to develop the tracking Advertising Information of dogs from puppy mills begin not with Contact ReNae Vorgert, Animal Sheltering’s advertising manager, systems they need, or don’t take the time at 701-572-9100 or [email protected]. dramatic stakeouts, but rather with a flurry to put onto paper what they know in their Job Listings of phone calls, e-mails, and paperwork. At To post a free job announcement, visit animalsheltering.org. heads. Setting up a system anyone can Reprint Information The Humane Society of the United States, We encourage private humane organizations and public animal use will save time and help you get the services agencies to reprint Animal Sheltering articles by HSUS that hard work is the job of staff members authors in whole or in part, without prior permission, provided most out of your volunteers. that the reprinting serves educational purposes in keeping with on the Wilde Puppy Mill Task Force, part of the magazine’s intent. Please credit the article’s author as well as Animal Sheltering magazine, and send us a copy of the reprinted the organization’s larger Stop Puppy Mills material. If you are interested in reprinting articles by non-HSUS 60 Off Leash authors, special permission may be required; e-mail us at campaign. Task force members Justin Scally [email protected]. Eileen Smulson’s nonprofit, Operation The Small Print and Michelle Cascio discuss the challenges The HSUS does not endorse or guarantee any products, services, Blankets of Love, helps provide many of the or vendors mentioned in Animal Sheltering, nor can it be respon- and successes of the group’s first year. sible for problems with vendors or their products or services. Also, little extras—everything from blankets and The HSUS reserves the right to reject, at its discretion, any advertising. Views expressed by non-HSUS authors are not necessarily towels to cat scratchers and dog igloos—that those of The HSUS. ©2010 The Humane Society of the United States. Los Angeles area animal shelters couldn’t All rights reserved. otherwise afford. ED W NT IT RI H P

1 0 Y 0 % G W ER Cert no. SW-COC-002281 IND EN www.NewWindEnergy.com

2 ANIMAL SHELTERING SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 ANIMALSHELTERING.ORG

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Dear Editor: Thank you for your story “A Tribute to Mutts” (May-June 2010, p.34). I love our mutts, and we will probably never own a purebred. My only quibbles are your characterization of cages at the shelter you visited. Many of us are working to change the language of cages, wards, and other such language; I think it’s an important step as we reframe shelters as adoption destinations. Additionally, you wrote that most boutique stores don’t smell like bleach and cat food. Shelters should not smell that way either! If they still do, that’s part of the problem; the olfactory sense is very important

to many adopters. Again, thanks for the story ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/MIVPIV and insights for shelters!

—David Wintz Shelter Program Manager Five years ago, as New Orleans and the Gulf our response needed strengthening for Humane Strategies Inc. Coast woke up to the nightmarish aftermath future disasters. Fort Collins, Colo. of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, thousands of Now, as the Gulf Coast again faces a cri- animal lovers around the country and around sis—this one manmade—we take the time to Editor’s note: Thanks for writing! We the world watched their televisions and read remember those humans and animals who definitely understand your concern. At Animal their newspapers in growing concern. The died five years ago, those who lived through Sheltering, we try to advocate for better Big Easy was still flooded, rescuers were it, those who lost their homes, and those standards in shelters, and we absolutely agree overwhelmed, and many of the people and who—thanks to the hard work and dedica- that a positive presentation of the animals animals of the region were in desperate need tion of people like you—found them again. and the facility as a whole is crucial to the of help. And we vow to continue reporting on the mission. To some, it seemed there was nothing to work that will help us prepare for the future, That said, while we work toward the do but watch and hope. For others, simply to help the field meet crisis with compassion, ideal, we do want to report the realities. watching was unbearable. They had to do resourcefulness, and very large umbrellas. And many shelters—whether due to lack something. And hundreds did—whether that In this issue, we highlight the preparation of adequate funding or staffing, competing something amounted to simply giving money of nine Virginia communities that have been priorities, or simply because they haven’t or actually working online to help reunite pets working together to make sure they’re ready considered the issue—are still bound to who’d been separated from their guardians. to cope with future disasters, whatever form traditional cages, and don’t always smell like Many people took time off their own jobs and they take. roses (especially first thing in the morning). went south to help in person, as members of And as always, if you’ve got an ap- As the field continues to progress, we rescue teams searching the flooded wards or proach that’s working for the people and hope that will become less of an issue. going house to house in destroyed buildings animals in your community—whether it’s Thanks for all you’re doing to help move in Mississippi, or doing the sweaty work of car- related to disaster preparation or just good, shelters along. ing for and cleaning up after the hundreds of old-fashioned kitten care or cleaning— animals taken to temporary shelters. Animal we want to hear about it! Drop us a line at welfare organizations around the country and [email protected] to share your sto- around the world sent people to help. ries, ask for advice, or let us know how we Amidst the chaos and grief of a national can improve your magazine. tragedy, the people of this field showed ex- traordinary compassion and generosity, and —Carrie, James, Jim, and Shevaun we learned valuable lessons about where Animal Sheltering magazine staff

FIND ANIMAL SHELTERING ON FACEBOOK AND FIND A COMMUNITY OF FELLOW ANIMAL LOVERS! 5 scoop

Slow but Steady Progress in Peru Peruvian animal shelters make do without a “culture of adoption”

BY SARAH OSTMAN SAMANTHA WINTER SAMANTHA

Animazul focuses its energy on spaying and neutering. Surgeries are performed in the homes of volunteers throughout the city; veterinarians operate on the dogs atop tables, and the animals recover on cardboard sheets on the floor.

When Lourdes Chino goes to work sell- roaming the country’s streets, often matted refuge for abandoned dogs for the past nine ing cigarettes and candy bars on a hilly street and infested with fleas, surviving on garbage. years. Sixty dogs currently live at the shelter, off the Plaza de Armas in Cusco, Peru, she “Animal abandonment is a huge problem dividing their time between large communal doesn’t go alone. She brings her dogs, Chiqui in Peru, as well as many lower-income coun- kennels and a dusty outdoor play area tufted and Beto, with her. While the 14-year-old girl tries,” says Molly Mednikow, the U.S. citizen with grass. The entire operation is run by six sits, calling out to tourists who pass her cart, who founded Amazon Community Animal volunteers and one onsite caretaker who lives Chiqui and Beto run free in the streets, pick- Rescue, Education & Safety (Amazon CARES), in an adjacent home. ing through garbage and ducking into open an animal protection organization in Iquitos. In a culture where adopting a mutt is storefronts to beg for scraps. “People that are struggling do not share the akin to adopting a rat, Animazul asks tough So far the two dogs have been fortunate; same bond with their animals as people in questions of its potential adopters: “Are you like many other dogs in Peru, they seem to more industrialized nations.” going to walk your dog?” asks one question have a sixth sense that keeps them out of This attitude makes for a unique set of in a 21-part adoption questionnaire on the harm’s way. But, Lourdes acknowledges, let- challenges for those determined to help group’s website. “If you go away for more ting them run free is risky. “People leave their Peru’s animal population. Indeed, animal shel- than a day, who will take care of it?” pets on the streets,” she says nonchalantly. ters are a foreign concept to most Peruvians. The questionnaire is largely symbolic, “Sometimes, they are killed by cars.” Still, a few committed organizations are though—an endorsement of the values the Such casual attitudes about pet welfare working to carve out their niche, control the group would like to see in its adopters. But are common in the developing nation, where pet population, and change public perception those adopters are scarce; once a dog arrives Chiqui and Beto are considered lucky to have about strays, one family at a time. at the shelter, she’s pretty much there to stay. even a casual caretaker. Thousands of per- Animazul, a small shelter built on des- Animazul is lucky to adopt out one dog per ros callejeros (street dogs) are less fortunate, ert land an hour outside Lima, has provided year, says shelter volunteer Samantha Winter.

6 ANIMAL SHELTERING SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 ANIMALSHELTERING.ORG Animal Sheltering Online “It is so difficult because they are all The city’s distinct lifestyle adds to the Your magazine isn’t just grown up,” Winter says. “And most of the problem. People in Iquitos are accustomed in print—it’s on the Web, dogs … are a mixture of many breeds, so to living with open homes; doors are left too. Check out this issue’s people don’t like that.” The shelter’s intake ajar for ventilation, and children and pets online extras. numbers are on the rise, she notes; fre- alike spend their days in the streets. When n Go to animalsheltering.org/ quently, volunteers find a dog or two dumped they are inside, pets often serve a purpose, mouthpieces to download a at the shelter’s door in the morning. such as killing rats; when animals age and poster encouraging pet owners But necessity, as they say, is the mother are no longer considered useful, Mednikow to think ahead and prepare of invention. With no adoptions to speak of, says, they are tossed into the street. These a disaster plan that includes Animazul has developed a new approach to abandoned animals are left to forage for their furry family members. make ends meet: sponsorship. Sponsors— food and are infested with parasites, causing For more information, go to mainly animal-loving Peruvians—send 70 a health hazard. ready.gov/america/getakit/ soles ($25 in U.S. money) per month to In the years leading up to the founding and humanesociety.org/ “adopt” a dog, underwriting the cost of that of Amazon CARES in 2004, Mednikow says, petsanddisasters. animal’s food and veterinary care while he these problems had grown out of hand. “It n As a supplement to our continues to live at the shelter. That program was impossible to walk five feet without Volunteer Management has proven more successful than traditional stepping over a very ill, stray dog,” she says. column on determining adoptions—nearly half the shelter’s dogs are And many locals didn’t just “step over” the how to track information claimed by a benefactor, Winter says. dogs. Because the dogs were suspected of about your volunteers, go to The group has also begun focusing on carrying disease, it was common for people animalsheltering.org_databases a larger mission: spaying and neutering. to pelt them with rocks, beat them with to read “Choosing a Volunteer Surgeries are performed in volunteers’ living sticks, or throw boiling water on them. One Management Database,” and rooms in neighborhoods throughout Lima; was doused in kerosene and set on fire. go to animalsheltering.org/ owners turn over their pets to a volunteer vet- “Residents did this due to fear,” Mednikow volunteer_application to read erinarian who clips the dogs’ nails, cleans their says. “People do not want these infirm “The Volunteer Application.” ears, and fixes them on the spot. The vets op- dogs around.” erate on the animals on folding tables, and the Amazon CARES fought back with a animals recover on sheets of cardboard on the campaign to educate the public, offering living room floor—a less-than-ideal solution, mobile veterinary and birth control clinics, but one that has enabled the organization to humane education, and animal therapy for sterilize 120 dogs so far. The group hopes to children with disabilities. Its success over reach more by going mobile. “Our dream is the past five years, especially in the area of to have a van, to move from that street to spaying and neutering, has been incredible: this street and to have all the equipment and In 2009 alone, the organization sterilized just operate and operate, one surgery after more than 1,800 animals. another,” Winter says. “When we started, we had to trap all The group provides the surgeries at no the dogs and met with much resistance,” cost to the owners—a crucial element. “If Mednikow says. “Now we, sadly, have to turn you say you have to pay 10 soles or 20 soles people away from our campaigns, as we have [$4 to $7 in U.S. dollars], the people won’t people lined up to spay or neuter their pet.” pay that,” she says. The organization also keeps a shelter It’s not just a shortage of cash that’s the for abandoned dogs, many of whom are problem, though. Cultural differences and disabled. Most will stay there until they die— a lack of education also lead to an exorbi- including the dog who, miraculously, survived tant number of mistreated and abandoned the kerosene attack. But as with Animazul, dogs, especially in rural areas of Peru, says adoptions are a constant challenge. Mednikow. It’s undeniable that Animazul and

In Iquitos, the humid jungle town where Amazon CARES are fighting an uphill battle. WINTER SAMANTHA Amazon CARES is based, ill and stray dogs Jessica Higgins, former program manager are especially common. Because the city is for the Humane Society International’s Latin The very idea of an animal shelter is often a foreign concept to people who are surrounded by water and is only accessible American programs, explains that Peru does struggling themselves just to get by. But by boat or plane, Mednikow says, it’s difficult not yet possess a “culture of adoption.” this little boy seems very taken with a tiny kitten at the site of a mobile clinic run by for people to take animals with them when Therefore, Higgins cautions, those Latin Animazul, an animal shelter located about they move. Americans pioneering in animal protection an hour outside Lima.

FIND ANIMAL SHELTERING ON FACEBOOK AND FIND A COMMUNITY OF FELLOW ANIMAL LOVERS! 7 [scoop] need to put their energy where it will be the most effective—and that may not be an animal shelter. “Don’t start an animal shelter,” Higgins says. “Essentially you’re going to be running a sanctuary.” That’s fine, she says, “but in terms of making the biggest possible impact for the biggest number of animals, put those resources into spay and neuter. That is going to prevent a lot more suffering in the long run.” There’s no telling how CAUPER ANTHON long it will take to change Animal abandonment is a huge problem in Peru, and street dogs are a common sight throughout the developing the general attitude about nation. One such dog watches the activity at a mobile spay/neuter veterinary clinic run by animal protection organization Amazon CARES. animal protection in Peru. For now, stray dogs are just a regular part of population and abuse, Peru “is probably not Sarah Ostman is a journalist and graduate the culture—a part most Peruvians hardly no- too different to how the U.S. was 50 years student from Chicago, Ill. She enjoys writing, tice and don’t see changing any time soon. ago,” she says. “It took a major effort to get traveling, and trips to the park with her But, Higgins points out, it’s important to to where there aren’t strays everywhere in 2-year-old shelter dog, Bailey. remember that the fight for animals has to the U.S. It was not something that’s just in- start somewhere. In terms of animal over- herent here.”

8 ANIMAL SHELTERING SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 ANIMALSHELTERING.ORG [scoop]

end, five to eight cats who met the study’s criteria were assigned to the two study groups. The conditions of the study were in effect over Days 1 and 2, and adoptions were tallied for both days. “Even though the presence of toys in cages did not affect the cats’ behavior, cats with toys were viewed more often than cats ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/KVKIRILLOV without toys. Adopters viewed cats in the upper tier [of cages] more times than cats Toy Story in lower tiers …” the researchers write. The Study finds that toys and eye-level placement study indicates that strategies that lead to help shelter cats find homes more viewings of cats are likely to lead to more adoptions. BY JIM BAKER These findings suggest that shelters Shelters that want to increase the odds the toy group were given a yellow plastic ping- should consider housing cats who’ve been of their cats getting adopted should consider pong ball and a “Cat Dancer” toy made of a harder to place in cages that offer the best putting toys into their cages and housing the piece of flexible yellow plastic strapping, fed visibility. And, since adopters prefer to both felines at eye level. through a hole in a rubber stopper wedged view and adopt cats who are active, shelters Those two steps alone gave cats in one in the cage door. Part of the strapping stuck might find it helpful to come up with ways shelter a significant leg up on finding a new outside the cage, so that potential adopters of stimulating activity in their cat adoption home, according to a study published in the could move the inner segment. Cats in the areas. Even though the addition of toys to Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science control group did not receive toys. cages didn’t spark playtime, the toys did at- (Vol. 13, No. 2). The study took place during 16 weekends tract people’s attention—and that often led The study, “Factors Relevant to Adoption from March through July of 2007. Each week- to adoption. of Cats in an Animal Shelter,” looked at the effect of providing cats with toys, the location of their cages, and individual characteristics (activity level, age, sex, and coat color) on 111 cats available for adoption in an animal Enormous. Wonderful. Possibilities. shelter—in this case, the ASPCA’s facility in New York City. “The analysis revealed a greater adopter viewing of cats housed at eye level and of those with toys—even though the toys did not affect the cats’ behavior,” write researchers Jacqueline M. Fantuzzi, Katherine A. Miller, and Emily Weiss. This report, the authors note, builds upon recent studies in shelters that suggest that a cat’s activity level, playfulness, and cage en- Imagine if we all went to the same place when we lost or found richments can affect the cat’s adoptability, a pet. Countless lost pets would be returned to the people who and that simply placing toys in an animal’s are missing them, freeing up space and resources in shelters cage can affect the perception of adopters. for pets who need a good home. Cats included in the study were domestic shorthair breeds between 12 and 39 months of The Center for Lost Pets can fundamentally change the way we age, with no known behavior or health issues. look for our lost pets. But it can’t happen without you. They had been in the shelter between three Learn more @ www.TheCenterForLostPets.com and 168 days. The 111 cats in the study (47 neutered males, 64 spayed females) averaged 22 months of age and had spent an average of Made Possible By: 23 days in the shelter when the study began. The cats were divided into two groups: the toy group and the control group. Cats in

FIND ANIMAL SHELTERING ON FACEBOOK AND FIND A COMMUNITY OF FELLOW ANIMAL LOVERS! 9 TO THE RESCUE BY JIM BAKER Tower of Power Nevada kitty climbs to new heights—then learns the value of an exit strategy

Many cats venture no higher than the upper reaches of their kitty condos, the warm surface atop refrigerators, or the occasional bookcase. They enjoy having high perching spots from which to survey the territory, just like their big brethren in the wild. But one kitty in Nevada carried things a little too far, and required help from local animal welfare groups to follow the old rule that what goes up must come down. It was early March when Washoe County Regional animal services officer Cindy Doak responded to a report of a cat stranded in the crook of a power pole, some 40 feet up, in a rural, windswept part of the county, which encompasses the cities of Reno and Sparks. People who live nearby and others who’d driven past had been calling her department to alert officers to the cat’s situation. So Doak went to check it out, and quickly verified that the cat was still there—and that there was no way she could rescue him without assistance. She notified her supervisors, who contacted a local company with a boom truck—the kind with an extendable arm with a basket at the end for a person to stand in— that had helped in other instances when cats had gotten stuck out of the reach of animal control officers. The truck arrived shortly, and Doak stood

back to watch as the employee went up in SERVICES ANIMAL REGIONAL COUNTY DOAK/WASHOE CINDY the bucket. Though not a professional ani- In early March, this kitty got himself stranded 40 feet from the ground, on a power pole in mal handler, the man got lucky: The trapped rural Washoe County, Nev.—not a good place for a cat to be. Luckily for him, residents of cat was amenable to coming down. “The cat nearby homes, and motorists passing by, spotted him and alerted local animal control. just sat there, and he reached over and pat- ted the cat, and the cat sat there and looked in the facility shared with NHS. Doak’s de- I mean, what else you gonna call a cat on a at him,” says Doak. “So he picked the cat up partment typically keeps stray animals for a power pole?” and held it against him, and I had the cage five-day holding period, giving owners time The newly christened Sparky was neu- and everything, so when he came down, he to claim their pets, but Phillips was eager to tered, vaccinated, microchipped and made just handed me the cat. I put him right into take in the rescued cat more quickly. She available for adoption. Based on his good the transfer cage, and took him right to the knew that if the shelter publicized his un- condition and friendly demeanor when she truck,” she says. usual story in a press release, word would rescued him, Doak draws some conclusions Doak took the cat—a handsome, black- get out, and someone would likely reclaim about Sparky. “He either was somebody’s and-white male—back to her shelter, where or adopt the cat within days. Doak agreed cat, or had been somebody’s cat. He was she shared the news of his high-wire act to let her take him. about a half mile from houses, there’s a lake, with Kiersten Phillips, lead cat caregiver at But the fortunate feline still needed there’s a park and stuff right there. So he the Nevada Humane Society (NHS) in Reno. a name, as he had no collar or ID tags. probably got out there, doing cat things— In Washoe County, the impoundment fa- Doak did the honors: “I said, ‘Let’s call him hunting, whatever he was doing—and I bet cility for animals is in the Washoe County Sparky,’” she says, laughing. “She thought the coyotes were on him, and chased him up Regional Animal Services Center, which is that was cute, so they just put that on there. the pole,” she says.

10 ANIMAL SHELTERING SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 ANIMALSHELTERING.ORG [scoop]

Word got out about Sparky, thanks to a humane organizations, in their goal of press release from the shelter and an item on creating a no-kill community. Together, a Reno-Gazette Journal blog, and a local TV NHS and Washoe County Regional Animal station picked up the story, too. That’s how Services have achieved a countywide save a man in the area learned about Sparky, and rate of 90 percent for dogs and 89 percent quickly phoned his wife in her car, telling her for cats. to immediately go to the shelter to see the For Doak, who’s been with her agency cat. The couple had been looking for their more than eight years, the whole episode own lost cat for two months, and the hus- with Sparky couldn’t have gone better. band thought that Sparky might be him. “That cat wanted to be rescued. … He Phillips brought Sparky out to the visiting needed help, and he knew it. And he was room to meet the woman. “He was loving totally calm. … He was like a textbook cat on her so much it was hard for her to look at rescue. He was totally cooperative about KARI RILEY/NEVADA HUMANE SOCIETY him [to see if he was her cat]. He was such a being picked up off of that power line way When Kiersten Phillips, lead cat caregiver sweet, sweet guy,” she says. Sparky turned high in the air, he was fine about riding at the Nevada Humane Society, heard about the rescue, she knew the cat would out not to be the couple’s lost pet, but the down in a bucket, he was fine about being be adopted quickly once she got the word woman felt the charm of his “electric” per- handed to me, he was fine about going into out. Seen here with Phillips, the cat dubbed Sparky found a home within a week. sonality and decided to adopt him anyway. the carrier. He had no issues whatsoever Within about a week of being rescued, about anything.” Sparky had found a new home. Maybe Sparky was so mellow because he odds were against him, and he recognized a It was a happy ending for the high- knew the folks trying to help him sure beat good thing when he saw one. climbing kitty, but not an unusual one for a the alternatives: staying stranded 40 feet “He was just extremely lucky to be spot- pet in the Reno area. NHS and Doak’s ani- high in the air; or trying to climb down on ted,” Phillips says. “If you look at the pictures mal control agency work together closely, his own, only to risk running into any coyotes of how little he was [on the power pole], he’s along with many rescue groups and other lurking about. Sparky seemed to know the just a very lucky boy.”

FIND ANIMAL SHELTERING ON FACEBOOK AND FIND A COMMUNITY OF FELLOW ANIMAL LOVERS! 11 SHOW ME THE MONEY BY CARRIE ALLAN Dirty Dogs Bathed Dirt Cheap A shelter’s onsite dog wash cleans up pooches and brings in moola

While the K9000 may sound like a robot didn’t require an extra room for maintenance, All those wet dogs add up. “We aver- attack dog from outer space, it’s actually a and the height of the platform seemed user- age 500 to 600 dollars a week on this unit,” coin-operated dog-washing machine. And in friendly and safe for the animals. Plus, she McDonald says. “It takes about 20 to 30 Edmonton, Canada, it’s not only popping out notes, “it’s a stand-alone unit, so basically, washes to get clogged up with hair, so our cleaner pooches, it’s helping the Edmonton you just need water and power and a drain, janitors just go by and take out the clumps Humane Society bring in cash for real, earth- and that’s it. It’s really minimal in terms of as necessary. Aside from that, so far it’s bound shelter dogs. what a shelter has to put together.” been a virtually zero-maintenance, huge The K9000 wasn’t executive director Rechristened the Muddy Paws Self Serve cash cow for us.” Stephanie McDonald’s first choice for spiffing Wash & Groom by the shelter, the canine Edmonton Humane widely publicized up local animals. Before the recession settled cleanser has paid for itself in the 10 months the dog wash when it opened its new fa- in, when the organization was planning for since it was installed. Given the device’s hefty cility, and continues to promote it to new construction of its new facility, its goal was price tag—McDonald says her organization adopters as well. People about to adopt to have a full-service grooming salon onsite. paid $20,000 Canadian for it; the pricing learn about the shelter while they wait. “We But, McDonald says, once the economy listed on the company’s website is $18,495 in kind of follow the Disneyland model, where shifted, she felt that would end up being a U.S. dollars—that’s saying something. as you’re waiting in line you watch these risky venture for the shelter. So she started The dog wash has functions for soap and little clips,” says McDonald. The videos googling to see what backup options were water, and a dryer as well. Pet owners are cover the basics of the adoption process out there. She wanted a system that would be with their dogs throughout the process, and as well as the shelter’s return policy, what durable and allow people to use it with little do the washing personally, using the hose to to do if an adopted animal gets sick, and staff supervision. wet, lather, and rinse. At Edmonton, the wash shelter programs that are available to assist There are other systems available, but costs visitors $10 for 10 minutes of use; they new owners. One of those programs is the the K9000 seemed to fit her shelter’s bill—it can pay for more time if they choose. dog wash. Exposure! ClientClient Driven!Driven! Exposure! Client Approved! Exposure! Let your animalsE strutxp theiros stuffure! Chameleon Software puts your pictures on PetHarbor.com, and automatically uploads them to AdoptAPet, Petfinder and other top sites. Give your animals the ultimate chance of finding a new home or returning home after being lost!

12 ANIMAL SHELTERING SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 ANIMALSHELTERING.ORG [scoop]

“[The video] says something like, ‘You may not want to take your animal home a little dirty … because at the shelter we do our best, but we just don’t have the opportunity to give them a full wash. So if you want to get them clean and ready to go, just head over there for 10 dollars.’” The operating costs are minimal, McDonald says—soap, some minimal staff time to ensure the room is kept clean, and, of course, water—but, she points out, shelters use water like crazy already. (Steve Putnam, executive director of the National Federation of Humane Societies, notes that federation members get a 10 percent discount on the equipment and special pricing for ongoing supplies.) McDonald’s one caveat about the MARLEE MONAGHAN/EDMONTON HUMANE SOCIETY HUMANE MONAGHAN/EDMONTON MARLEE installation is that, were she to do it over The K9000 coin-operated dog-washing machine has proved a huge hit at the Edmonton again, she’d have different flooring installed Humane Society in Alberta, Canada, where it brings in $500 to $600 per week in revenue for the shelter. Staff member Stephanie Price uses the contraption to bathe a furry friend. in the room. “I didn’t realize it would be as Expo11_Ad_1_3Sq_ASM_07_10:Layout 1 7/29/10 3:11 PM Page 1 wet a room [as it is],” she says. The room has industrial laminate flooring, and she thinks epoxy resin flooring would have been a better option. Join Us in Sunny Florida! The dog wash has proved popular with new adopters, but the majority of users are return visitors, some of whom come back on a biweekly basis. McDonald says she worried that, with Edmonton’s cold weather and co- pious amounts of snow, the wash might not be used consistently, but she says it’s been a nonstop activity. The room has windows, so people watch the washing going on as they wait, and some customers drive across town to use it to avoid clogging their own drains May 4–7, 2011 with pet hair. Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort | Walt Disney World® Resort, Florida One of the wash’s best sources of customers, though, is the shelter’s three-acre, mem- The best conference experience in the animal protection field, Animal Care Expo bers-only dog park. People who’ve let their is an unparalleled opportunity to recharge, learn new skills and strategies, and network dogs loose to run for a while come over and with likeminded people from around the country—and the world! use the wash once their pooches are good and dirty. “I should have put a mud pit in the Attend workshops on topics important to you, including animal care and behavior, community park, and then I could generate more money,” disaster planning for animals, staff and volunteer management, adoptions, foster care, McDonald jokes. community outreach, shelter and emergency veterinary medicine, field services and cruelty investigations, and street animal welfare in developing nations.

For more information, visit animalsheltering.org/expo or call 1-800-248-EXPO.

FIND ANIMAL SHELTERING ON FACEBOOK AND FIND A COMMUNITY OF FELLOW ANIMAL LOVERS! 13 PEOPLE POWER BY ANDY MACALPINE A Georgia Berry Who’s a Real Peach A volunteer finds her niche aiding rescue operations

When responders arrive at the scene of a major cruelty bust, the amount of suffering laid out before them can be overwhelming. From puppy mills to the homes of hoarders to dogfighting pits, these rescuers work against the worst acts people commit against animals, determined to help these creatures survive, and ideally go on to experience some of the best that life has to offer. It’s a dirty job, but Jane Berry loves to do it. A Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) volunteer from north Georgia, Berry’s memories of dogs being led away from their abusive owners sustain her. She regards helping get those animals to better lives as some of the most important work she’s done. With her combination of dedication, animal-handling experience, and engaging personality, Berry has become a vital part of the fieldwork executed by The HSUS’s End Animal Cruelty and Fighting Campaign. “I think I just found my niche,” says Berry, who was presented with a Humane Recognition Award at The HSUS’s Humane Law Enforcement Awards ceremony last

September. The Humane Recognition Award YOUNG MARK is given annually to members of the public Jane Berry, a volunteer for The Humane Society of the United States who lives in north who contribute to animal rescues and the Georgia, has quickly become an important part of the fieldwork carried out by The HSUS’s enforcement of animal protection laws. End Animal Cruelty and Fighting Campaign. In September 2009, Berry received a Humane Recognition Award at The HSUS’s Humane Law Enforcement Awards ceremony. The work has been so engaging, Berry says, that the 14 years she spent working for a phone company—a job that took her from Sterile Feral clinic brings in veterinarians for nearly 10 years after Sparky lost his battle Milwaukee, Wis., to Rome, Ga.—feels like a two spay days a month; the vets donate their with cancer. lifetime ago. Berry left that job, and drifted time to spay or neuter between 20 and 40 She didn’t stop there. After seeing images through a few dead ends before she started feral cats each day. To date, the organization of the devastation Hurricane Katrina wrought fostering kittens to help a local animal shelter. has sterilized 6,337 cats. on the Gulf Coast, Berry orchestrated a one- “That was my way of keeping myself busy After Berry had started the clinic, a woman rescue of 31 animals who had been and out of [my husband’s] hair,” she says. chance encounter with someone who was left behind by their owners in a jam-packed The work that started with a few kittens looking for an adoptive home for a cocker shelter in Alexandria, La., and took them all has become a way of life. A discussion with spaniel-golden retriever puppy led Berry back to The Sterile Feral clinic to be adopted. a friendly veterinarian encouraged Berry to start getting to know the canine set. On a second trip to the New Orleans area, to launch The Sterile Feral in 1999 to help She adopted the puppy—to the surprise Berry met people working for the Washington control the cat population in her county of her husband—and named him Sparky. (D.C.) Animal Rescue League and helped though trapping, spaying or neutering, and Before long, she had added dogs to her them deliver food to area shelters. releasing feral felines. The organization philanthropic endeavors, learning to handle The contacts she made on that trip quickly moved from her basement into a them, and also coordinating a transport of led to more work, and eventually to the 2,500-square-foot clinic she and her husband companion animals from Georgia shelters beginning of Berry’s relationship with The purchased when the facility’s retiring to shelters in states with lower euthanasia HSUS. When 10 dogs seized from the north veterinarian put it up for sale. Today, The rates. It’s an effort she continues today, Georgia property of known dogfighter

14 ANIMAL SHELTERING SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 ANIMALSHELTERING.ORG [scoop]

Gerald “Irish Jerry” Holcumb needed a place knowledge at all to being thrown in there above and beyond to make the job easier to stay in August 2008 while prosecutors and just learning as you go.” for her colleagues, Schindler says. When were building their case, Berry’s reputation Berry turned out to be a quick study. HSUS staffers accompanied a 15-hour from her work in the field led The HSUS to When Schindler called in the fall of 2008 to transport of dogs seized from a French come calling. see if she could lend a hand at two north Lick, Ind., fighting operation, Berry stayed Holding those 10 pit bull victims Georgia dogfighting raids—actions that behind to organize the paperwork and was Berry’s first experience with abused resulted in 17 seized dogs and charges against wound up washing their muddy clothes to fighting dogs, and Chris Schindler, The prominent dogfighters Randall Thaxton and make their trips home easier. On another HSUS’s manager of animal fighting law Ray Beavers—she was more than willing raid in North Carolina, Berry arranged for enforcement, provided support and advice. to begin the newest chapter in her animal the use of a heated four-wheeled utility Berry was surprised by how aggressive the rescue career. vehicle to help everyone stay comfortable animals could be toward other dogs while These days, few raids go by without a in cold and rainy conditions. being so affectionate toward people. She similar phone call. “In a moment’s notice, “She has a very positive attitude for also discovered how destructive they could she will be there on the ground helping us someone who has been working in the be as a result of their bad training and with very dirty, very long work,” says Ann trenches for so long,” Schindler says. “… She’s pent-up energy; one dog destroyed every Chynoweth, The HSUS’s senior director of the so selfless with everything she does. And not water hose he could get his mouth around, End Animal Cruelty and Fighting Campaign. just what she does with us, but everything and others chewed through the steel and “She’s very good at what she does. And she does is for the animals.” plastic buckets of drinking water. there’s a level of trust and confidentiality It’s work Berry hopes to continue as long At that point, Schindler explained how involved, so there are a lot of issues that make as she can. “It’s just a passion,” she says. “It’s to make concrete bowls that the dogs it difficult finding people like her.” probably something I’ll do for the rest of my couldn’t tip or destroy, says Berry, who gave On site at a raid, Berry typically life until I’m physically unable to.” the pit bulls nicknames like “Grandma” manages the documents describing the and “Big Daddy” as she looked after them. physical condition of every dog seized for “It was quite an experience going from no evidence. She has a reputation for going

FIND ANIMAL SHELTERING ON FACEBOOK AND FIND A COMMUNITY OF FELLOW ANIMAL LOVERS! 15 FIELD TRIP BY JIM BAKER

New Canine Cool in Kansas City A shelter’s new housing for dogs has tails wagging JOSH SOLAR/WAYSIDE WAIFS HUMANE SOCIETY

The renovation features lots of shiny glass and bright colors—quite a change from the old, chain-link gates that filled the space before. The $250,000 makeover has been a huge hit with shelter staff, the public, and volunteers like Julie Biersmith, who’s catching the eye of a cute canine.

Not in Kansas anymore, Toto? the lack of sound that’s a pleasant change “Other than in the morning, when we’re That’s OK: At Wayside Waifs Humane from the soundtrack of frantic barking doing the feeding, it is so quiet in there—al- Society, just over the state line in Kansas City, provided by canine residents at many most in an eerie fashion, because it’s some- Mo., you can check out some of the coolest shelters. thing that we’re so not used to,” Thomas shelter dog digs around. “In fact, one of the things I’ve com- says. “It has created a much calmer environ- In February, the shelter unveiled the mented on quite often with folks is how ment for the dogs.” $250,000 makeover of its dog adoption amazing it is that you walk into our dog And, the shelter staff hopes, a healthier center, in which it swapped out traditional, adoption center, and it is silent,” says one, too. galvanized steel kennels for glass-enclosed Courtney Thomas, director of operations, The new accommodations—the word “doggie apartments” with colorful back pan- who served as point person for the proj- “kennel” almost seems too coarse for the els and “indoor living suites” for small groups ect. She researched different options, shiny, glass affairs—were more expensive of dogs to enjoy communal living. helped create the layout, and worked with upfront, but Thomas says they are likely to The snazzy digs for dogs don’t just look T-Kennel Modular Systems Inc., to custom- reduce the spread of disease. Now, dogs are good—they sound good, too. Or rather, it’s ize the dog housing. no longer able to touch noses—a behavior

16 ANIMAL SHELTERING SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 ANIMALSHELTERING.ORG JOSH SOLAR/WAYSIDE WAIFS HUMANE SOCIETY

The glassed-in dog runs at Wayside Waifs not only look sharp, but also keep dogs from touching noses, which can lead to cross-contamination and illnesses. JOSH SOLAR/WAYSIDE WAIFS HUMANE SOCIETY

The new layout and accommodations in the dog adoption area of Wayside Waifs include three large spaces where groups of four or five dogs of similar size live (and play) together.

that can lead to cross-contamination and “I think it has not only improved the at- illnesses—nor can visitors go down a row of mosphere and the environment for the ani- chain-link gates, petting one dog after an- mals, but it’s made a huge difference in our other and helping germs and viruses work staff’s level of satisfaction with the job that their not-so-merry way through the shelter they’re doing, just to see the animals being so population. There are 61 glassed-in dog runs, happy,” says Thomas. “Our volunteers love it. plus some smaller, double-stacked “quad” The public is just blown away when they walk units that are used primarily for puppies, for a through the doors.” total of 71 separate housing units in the dog The response to the renovation has been adoption center. Then there are three indoor so positive—from staff, volunteers, and the living suites, each one used for a group of public—that the shelter’s board voted in late four or five dogs to live (and play) together. May to overhaul the 32,700-square-foot facil- Overall, there’s room for about 100 dogs in ity’s dog holding area to mirror the adoption the new center, according to Thomas. center’s new look. It’s expected to cost an ad-

FIND ANIMAL SHELTERING ON FACEBOOK AND FIND A COMMUNITY OF FELLOW ANIMAL LOVERS! 17 [scoop]

has already been installed in the cat adoption At a Glance area, and it can be opened to provide access MOUTHPIECES Shelter: Wayside Waifs Humane Society to fresh air. Newly designed, extra-roomy cat kennels, also featuring glass door fronts, will Location: Kansas City, Mo. replace older ones, and a large sunroom Just add your Staff: 62 full- and part-time will be built, so that cats can enjoy direct YOU CAN’T PREDICT THE FUTURE—BUT organization’s employees YOU CAN BE READY sunlight. Changes to the entry area of FOR IT. contact information

There was Capacity: 800 animals New Orleans and the Gulf Coast in 2005—no way to know that flooding would the shelter—coming later this year—will no w ensue, that mass evacuationsay anyone wouldcould havebe necessary, known what that someHurricane citizens Katrina would would be kept do to away f for rescue.rom their homes for weeks while the stranded pets they’d left behind waited and branding, and

Disasters do not call ahead. They do not schedule a date that works for you. They do not knock and wait for you to get dressed. But there are ways to prepare. Does your family have a disaster plan? Does it include your furry family members? Do you have a “go bag” with supplies, in case you need to leave quickly? allow the public a full view of the cat A good evacuation kit will include a first aid kit, 3-5 days of nonperishable food Facility: 32,700-square-foot building and water, and medications—for everyone in the family. hang the materials up in It will tographs, litter also boxes include or leashesbags for and waste. It should also include clear written instructions for any special foods and medications your pets need, in case you have to board them. car And remember: Take your animals with youriers when for pets, you theirevacuate. medical records and pho- You can’t know what’s coming, but you can stay ahead of the storm. For more on a 44-acre campus that includes adoption area. information, go to your lobby or hand them ready.gov/america/getakit/ Wayside Waifs Memorial Park, opened It’s not only the shelter that’s and humanesociety.org/petsanddisasters. out at your front desk, in 1946, that contains the graves of looking different these days, but the as appropriate. You don’t more than 10,000 well-loved pets. leadership at the top, too. Cynthia L. Smith even need to tear out the Statistics: In 2009, more than 6,500 took over as the new president in March, page: Go to animalsheltering. pets were taken in; the shelter placed replacing Patti Glass, who retired after serv- org/mouthpieces to download and print a clean PDF copy. a record 5,200 pets into homes. ing more than six years in the job. Smith is a newcomer to the field of animal welfare; Send suggestions for ditional several hundred thousand dollars. But she spent the bulk of her career in TV broad- future Mouthpieces to the effort won’t require loans or fundraising; casting in the Kansas City area. She came to [email protected]. the privately operated shelter already has the Wayside Waifs in March 2010 after serving money set aside for operational expenses and five years as president and CEO of Sunflower capital expenditures, thanks to the generous House, a child-abuse prevention center in to. He really was a great companion dog,” donations of its supporters. nearby Shawnee, Kan. Smith says. The decision to continue the renovation Smith became an ardent animal lover Smith had Wishbone trained to become a thrills Thomas, because it will mean that the ef- thanks to Wishbone, a golden retriever certified therapy dog, and, when he got can- fort to reduce stress in dogs will begin at intake, she got for her now-21-year-old son when cer and had to go through chemotherapy, he offering the animals a calm, quiet, and con- he was a child, on the advice of a doctor (with Smith’s help) “wrote” a book aimed at trolled atmosphere at the start of their journey. who said dogs could really help youngsters helping children who have cancer. Dogs aren’t the only ones getting an up- with attention deficit hyperactivity disor- Wishbone, who died in January, left a grade. Improvements are afoot for feline resi- der (ADHD). “He became my son’s read- deep impression on Smith. “I just felt like dents, too. A new, 7-foot-by-7-foot window ing companion, like a brother he could talk every dog needs a chance to find a great home, because of all they do for us,” she says. “I am definitely an animal person. [This job] was made for me—that’s what everybody said when they heard about it.” Smith says the remodeled dog adoption center is roundly praised by everyone who sees it, and she gets compliments from the public all the time. “They love it, because the dogs don’t look like they’re in jail. And you can see the dogs better, they’re happier …” The staff are happier too—because of the way the kennels are configured, Smith says, they’re easier to clean, and staff can feed the dogs without opening the kennel doors. She’s already settled into a daily routine. “I walk through the shelter every morning, and see who’s getting surgery, and then walk through and see who came in and how they’re doing. And then every night, I walk by and see who’s got a tag that says, ‘I’m going

JOSH SOLAR/WAYSIDE WAIFS HUMANE SOCIETY home today,’” she says.

The shiny, new glass-front kennels at Wayside Waifs Humane Society create a terrific showcase for dogs awaiting adoption, like this handsome shar pei mix.

18 ANIMAL SHELTERING SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 ANIMALSHELTERING.ORG YOU CAN’T PREDICT THE FUTURE—BUT YOU CAN BE READY

There was no way anyone could have known what Hurricane Katrina would do to FOR IT. New Orleans and the Gulf Coast in 2005—no way to know that flooding would ensue, that mass evacuations would be necessary, that some citizens would be kept away from their homes for weeks while the stranded pets they’d left behind waited for rescue. Disasters do not call ahead. They do not schedule a date that works for you. They do not knock and wait for you to get dressed. But there are ways to prepare. Does your family have a disaster plan? Does it include your furry family members? Do you have a “go bag” with supplies, in case you need to leave quickly? A good evacuation kit will include a first aid kit, 3-5 days of nonperishable food and water, and medications—for everyone in the family. It will also include leashes and carriers for pets, their medical records and photographs, litter boxes or bags for waste. It should also include clear written instructions for any special foods and medications your pets need, in case you have to board them. And remember: Take your animals with you when you evacuate. You can’t know what’s coming, but you can stay ahead of the storm. For more information, go to ready.gov/america/getakit/ and humanesociety.org/petsanddisasters. MUTTerings BY ARNA COHEN

Run a mile in their wheels. If you’ve al- in 2009 and taken to a shelter, where he was 1, with space for up to 50 cats and dogs who ways wondered what it’s like to be a hamster, adopted by a professional dog trainer who live at the annex until they’re adopted. The wonder no longer. Because saw his star potential. View all four videos at goal is to find homes for 1,300 animals per now you, too, can live youtube.com/wearefordogs and learn more year, but Brandon Bennett, director of the the hamster life, or a about Tripp at pedigreeadoptiondrive.com. city’s code compliance department, which reasonable facsimile n oversees the shelter, says the annex is far ex- thereof. Looking to cash Holy stitches, Catman! Whenever a villain ceeding expectations. Adoptions have been in on travelers’ taste threatened Gotham City, Mayor Gordon sim- so steady that the new center at times runs for unique hotel experi- ply picked up the red Batphone in his office out of animals and offers to take adoptable ences, an enterprising for a direct connection to Batman. Starting pets from shelters in nearby cities. The Fort innkeeper in Nantes, July 1, People for Animals (PFA) in Hillside, Worth shelter hasn’t euthanized a single France, has opened Villa N.J., turned on its red Catphone, a toll-free adoptable pet since the center opened on Hamster, essentially a giant hamster cage hotline for New Jersey pet owners in need April 22, Bennett says. “If it holds out the with a human-sized wheel, a water tube, a of a spay/neuter superhero. The low-cost way it’s going right now, we’ll come in pretty ladder leading to a sleeping platform, and clinic outside Newark is the close to [the] 2,500 mark, which makes up a bowl of organic seeds (plus a coffee- largest such facility the 2,500 which would have been euthanized maker and microwave, in case the seeds in New Jersey and had it not been for this center.” aren’t filling enough). To keep the expe- expects to spay or n ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/GEOFFREYHOLMAN rience authentic (aside from the cof- neuter 15,000 cats feemaker?), the proprietor supplies and dogs in 2010, ac- hamster hoods for guests to wear during cording to clinic direc- their stay. Evidently the concept is a hit—The tor Jane Dillonaire. Now, with assistance Guardian newspaper reports that the hotel is from nationwide information network Spay/ in such demand that the owner has raised the USA, the clinic is launching SpayNJ, a com-

price to 120 euros per night (in hamster dol- ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/MARI prehensive clearinghouse of low-cost/no-cost lars: unknown)—though most people choose spay/neuter resources for the entire state. to stay just one night. Dillonaire also plans to sponsor a contest for n area middle and high school students to de-

Lights, camera, adoption! “Charlie’s sign a logo for the hotline; the winning logo ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/PETESPHOTOGRAPHY Story” had YouTube viewers on tenterhooks will be chosen by visitors to spaynj.net, which for weeks this spring. The tale of a dog also went live in July. Kidding around. Although Jim and Beverly abandoned in a warehouse spun out over n Evens are now millionaires—courtesy of a four short video episodes, the first three with Out of this world. There are all kinds of California Lottery scratch-off ticket—they cliffhanger endings. satellites—communications, map- won’t be quitting their jobs or taking extrava- The shorts were part ping, spy, parking lot. Now PetSmart gant vacations. Instead, their “kids” will be of Pedigree UK’s 2010 Charities, PetSmart Inc., Fort Worth the beneficiaries of the windfall. The Evenses adoption drive; the (Texas) Animal Care and Control, and live with 35 goats, three horses, and a num- company pledged to private donors have collaborated to ber of chickens in Happy Valley, Calif., on a donate one English pound for each viewing create a new type: a permanent, city-run pet 10-acre property that they run as a sanctuary (up to 100,000 views) to animal shelters adoption center inside the PetSmart store in for abused billy and nanny (male and female) throughout England and Ireland. New Hulen, Texas. The store donated the space, goats. The couple ba-a-acked into goat res- episodes were posted only after a minimum while the charity gave 100 percent of the cue nine years ago when they took in Bucky, number of viewings had been reached. The funds to build the mini-shelter, hoping to save a 2-day-old abused male kid, bottle-feeding story arc follows Charlie the dog as he is left more cats and dogs by easing overcrowd- and nursing him back to health. The $2 mil- in a deserted building in part 1, found and ing at the main shelter and reaching out to lion in winnings ($60,000 per year for 25 taken to a run-down shelter in part 2, and led potential new adopters. While PetSmart has years, after taxes) that came their way in May to a door marked Staff Only in part 3. In part long provided space within its stores for res- will go toward fencing, hay, and toys for the 4, the door opens to a sunny living room, cue groups to showcase adoptable pets, this animals. The Evenses belong to the Shasta where a family greets him with hugs and is the first time a fixed, government-run shel- Pack Goat club and have lent their goats to kisses. Tripp, the Benji lookalike who plays ter has been located inside one of its stores. the U.S. Forest Service to help carry out trash Charlie, was himself rescued from the street The 1,830-square foot center opened on May collected in national forests.

20 ANIMAL SHELTERING SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 ANIMALSHELTERING.ORG

coffee break

Has there been a point when you decided to stop working in the animal sheltering and rescue field? ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/PKLINE I’d been on the board of Kingdom Animal I reached a point where I was overwhelmed Why? What Shelter for three or four years, and we were by the sheer number of animals I could not having some strife on the board. I was feeling rescue from euthanasia facilities. I had con- brought you very discouraged and defeated. I resigned, as I templated leaving this line of “work” when was done with the stupid politics and person- my local dog pound called and asked if I could back? alities. After several of the people causing the take a very pregnant young Lab. Needless to trouble resigned, I was torn on returning. In the say I did, and 10 beautiful pups later, all got That was the question we asked end, my desire to make a positive difference wonderful homes—along with momma, who for this issue’s Coffee Break, and for the animals won out. I felt I could do more is so adored by her family. All the updates I re- you responded with a slew of being in the organization than on my own. ceive about these animals and how much they stories. In almost every case, your —Joyce Littlefield, president are loved brought me back to the rescue life! time away impacted your work Kingdom Animal Shelter —Charlene Jacobs, adoption coordinator for the better—fostering new St. Johnsbury, Vermont Talk To The Paw! perspectives and fresh outlooks Fenton, Missouri on how you could be more I began volunteering at the Animal Welfare effective in helping animals. Department’s Eastside Shelter in 1995. I used to It gets dark early here in our Pennsylvania walk in on Saturday mornings, before the shel- winters. I was washing a very needy dog in ter was open, before the runs had been cleaned, the grooming area when all the other dogs in and all I could see were the bodies of animals the shelter began howling and howling and being humanely euthanized. I knew in my mind howling. I looked around for another human, that it had to be done … there just weren’t to no avail. I felt this deep, dark sense of enough homes, but my heart broke. I swal- hopelessness come over me. The dogs contin- lowed the tears, and I told them all they were ued to howl, only louder this time. I began to loved. When the numbness set in, I knew it was cry and vowed never to return. My heart was time to take a break. … For a while, I used the broken. I couldn’t sleep. I kept hearing them website to get animals adopted, but refrained howl. And I would wake up with a sense of from actual contact with them. Somehow that panic. I went back a week later and there just didn’t satisfy my soul, so back I went to try, were all new faces looking at me. I was afraid try again. Then I lost that one very special dog, to ask what happened. That was at least 15 and now I concentrate on pulling little rescues. years ago. And I never left again. I realized if My heart knows I’m making a difference, and a volunteer helps comfort even one animal, if no matter what, I’ll keep on keeping on because we can make even one little stray feel comfort every homeless animal matters, and they matter for even a short time, it is worth it. We can- more than my hurting heart. not turn our backs on them. We are all that —Susan Smith, volunteer they have. Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department, —Lorraine Smith, volunteer/board member Eastside Shelter Hillside SPCA Albuquerque, New Mexico Hanover Township, Pennsylvania

22 ANIMAL SHELTERING SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 ANIMALSHELTERING.ORG [coffee break]

I have worked with the SPCA for 18 years. At we say, everything we do in this field makes the time I started, our shelter looked at the a difference for at least one person or one Congratulations to Susan Smith public as the bad guy. Day after day, the flood animal. of Albuquerque, N.M., whose of people surrendering their pets for reasons —Kara Montiel, animal shelter supervisor submission was selected in a that we deemed unacceptable continued. It San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter random drawing from those was normal to spend my drive home crying, San Marcos, Texas published in this issue. Her I started to drink more than I should, I would organization, the Albuquerque lose my temper or cry at the drop of a hat. I grew frustrated when, as a staff person, I Animal Welfare Department’s Other employees commented that this may was no longer allowed to also volunteer for Eastside Shelter, will receive not be the course my life should take, and I fear there would be a lawsuit (saying I was a free coffee break: a $50 gift started to feel they were right. But in 2000, made to work off the clock). I had started certificate to a local coffee the HSUS Pets for Life program selected me at the shelter as a volunteer and was hired shop. “Bone” appétit! to attend their first training in Denver. My shortly after. I loved being able to volun- outlook on sheltering was turned around! teer in jobs outside of my normal job scope. My focus now is on providing education to When they told me I could no longer do that, the public on realistic expectations of animal I almost quit in frustration. But I have a policy care and behavior. Training classes have been that I cannot make a life-changing decision developed, as well as a help line and counsel- without thinking about it for at least three ing, to help prevent animals from being relin- days. I came up with a compromise where quished. I still have days when I may still cry I am now paid for the stuff I used to volun- on my drive home (now and then), and I will teer to do, but donate the money back to the always give my heart to those animals that shelter. I felt that what I was able to do for deserve to have a tear shed for them leav- the animals was what was most important, ing this world. But the kind of shelter we are and years later feel I have made a difference today is one of humane treatment to humans in many animals’ lives. as well as animals. —Julie Cross, —Donna Bainter, animal care attendant director of animal behavior and care Minnesota Valley Humane Society SPCA Tampa Bay Burnsville, Minnesota Check out the latest Coffee Break question Largo, Florida and submit your responses (150 words or I left briefly after about two years in the shel- less) at animalsheltering.org/coffeebreak Working for four years at an animal shelter as ter for a job in another field. I didn’t think it or send them to Editor, Animal Sheltering/ a veterinary/euthanasia technician, I burned mattered where I worked, and went for more HSUS, 2100 L St. NW, Washington, DC out. It was a high-intake shelter. I had eutha- benefits and money. It took me all of the 20037. Your answer may be printed in nasia duty two to four days a week and saw first hour at the new job to realize where I a future issue of Animal Sheltering. If too many healthy, adoptable animals put to was supposed to be, which was back at the your response is chosen for publication, sleep. I do not blame the shelter or the pro- shelter. Luckily, my old position opened back you will be entered into a drawing to win tocols. We do what we can, but it seems like up, and I was hired back in a few months. I a free coffee break (valued at $50) an endless road. I went back to work at a was there six more years before leaving for for your organization. Responses may be private vet practice. During my year there, I my current position in shelter management. edited for length or clarity; no donation found myself still educating people and often I never regretted leaving, because it allowed or purchase is necessary to win. See defending the animal shelter, and why things me to become very clear about which direc- animalsheltering.org for contest rules, happen the way they do in that environment. tion I wanted to take in my life/career. I’ve or send an e-mail or letter to the above I realized that regardless of how difficult it is never looked back, and can’t see myself in addresses to request a printed copy. to work in a shelter that euthanizes, I would any other field. rather dedicate myself to one and do what I —Cindy Burnham, animal services manager can to help. The public will never understand Salinas Animal Services why we do what we do. They don’t realize Salinas, California that it takes a stronger affection for animals to do it. It is ironic, but it’s true. There is a balance of affection and understanding that not all of them can be saved, but we (I) do it because every decision we make, everything

FIND ANIMAL SHELTERING ON FACEBOOK AND FIND A COMMUNITY OF FELLOW ANIMAL LOVERS! 23 BIRTHING DIFFICULTIES Puppies are delivered by cesarean section because their characteristically large heads can become lodged in the mother’s birth canal.

FOLD DERMATITIS Unusual or excessive facial skin folds can lead to infection if not cleaned regularly.

SENSITIVITY TO HEAT A stout muzzle, an underbite with pinched or clogged nasal passages, and an abnormally small trachea make it difficult for the English bulldog to pant sufficiently to cool himself down.

BREATHING PROBLEMS Structure leads to noisy, open- mouth breathing; snoring; panting; drooling; exercise intolerance; vomiting; and difficulty eating due to compressed or narrowed air passages.

HIP AND ELBOW DYSPLASIA Developmental malformation or subluxation of joints can lead to limping and chronic pain. MWP/ALAMY The Purebred Paradox Is the quest for the “perfect” dog driving a genetic health crisis? BY CARRIE ALLAN

In the days leading up to the annual Westminster Kennel English bulldog-ness? Does this Rhodesian ridgeback have Club Dog Show, the hotels around Madison Square Garden the correct symmetrical ridge of hair along her spine? in New York City fill up with owners, handlers, and hundreds Watching the lively animals in the ring, how can a dog of purebred dogs. They come from around the country, lover not be charmed? Westminster and other shows like the spiffed up and ready to shine: prancing white poodles with annual AKC/Eukanuba Championship have a loyal following their fur teased into towering pompadours, basset hounds among breeders and casual dog lovers alike. with their ears held up in shower caps to keep them from But the shows are not without their critics. Though the dragging on the ground, bright-eyed Chihuahuas peering dogs who compete at Westminster are beautiful and most eagerly out of fancy carriers. are likely healthy, the rise of such spectacles—and judging For these show dogs, who must be registered with measures that in some cases emphasize appearance over the American Kennel Club (AKC), this is the Oscars—“the welfare—has been blamed for a host of genetic health symbol of the purebred dog, in show rings as well as in problems facing scores of breeds today. millions of television homes across America,” according to Brachycephalic (or short-faced) breeds like bulldogs its marketers. They vie for a hierarchy of awards: best of and pugs suffer from breathing problems; Great Danes breed, best in group (sporting, herding, hound, toy), and, and other large dogs from joint problems; long dogs like most prestigious of all, best in show. dachshunds and basset hounds from back problems; In an interview filmed during the show this February, wrinkly-faced dogs like boxers and shar-peis from skin Kimberley Meredith-Cavanna explained the criteria and eye problems. And due to prolific production to meet that she and other judges consider when determining public demand, the most coveted dogs tend to have the how closely these premium pooches match the “ideal most genetic disorders; Labrador retrievers, who’ve topped specimen” prescribed by each breed’s parent club.“We’re the AKC’s popularity list for 19 years, are prone to around looking to see what its head should look like, its eye set, 50 inherited conditions. its proportions, its size, how the dog moves, and how it The stories of those who fall in love with these animals, should be built,” she said. only to watch them suffer, are often heartbreaking. On New While it may seem as though contestants are competing Year’s Eve, Janice Pfeiffer’s dog Daisy suddenly “started against each other, they are actually judged against yelping really loud,” says the New Hampshire resident. “It standards written by the clubs and ratified by the AKC: Are turned out she had a seizure, and she recovered from the this dog’s ears long enough to make her an ideal beagle? Is seizure on the floor, and crawled into a corner and just that one’s head big enough to make him a prime example of looked glassy-eyed.”

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An MRI revealed the painful truth about the Cavalier “What happens when you have a small and inbreeding King Charles spaniel Pfeiffer had bought at a pet store: At population is that the probability of two negative recessive less than a year old, Daisy had syringomyelia, a condition in genes finding each other increases as the gene pool chokes which fluid-filled cavities occur within the spinal cord near down to a smaller and smaller pool,” says Patrick Burns, a the brain. In severe cases, a dog’s brain swells beyond the Dogs Today columnist who frequently writes about genetic space provided by her skull. Some studies have indicated health issues on his blog, Terrierman’s Daily Dose. that, due to its prevalence in the breed’s gene pool, 30 to A closed registry that allows no “new blood” into the 70 percent of Cavaliers will develop the condition. mix exacerbates the problem, he argues: “In many AKC dogs, the founding gene pool was less than 50 dogs. For The Genetic History of Man’s Best Friend some breeds, it was less than 20 dogs.” Once upon a time, people believed that purebred dogs were naturally healthier than mixed breeds. How have we arrived Standard Problems at a point where it may be safer to presume the opposite? This year’s Westminster champion, a Scottish terrier named Like humans, dogs are diverse in appearance—perhaps Sadie, hails from one of these tiny gene pools and is “very one of the reasons we love and identify with them. But that heavily inbred,” says Burns. The limited ancestry for AKC- wasn’t always the case. registered Scotties, he adds, helps explain why 45 percent All dogs share ancestry with the wolf, but since die of cancer. their domestication at least 15,000 years ago, they’ve “We do not need to have a closed registry to keep a been selectively bred by people to assist with herding, breed,” Burns says, pointing out that breeds existed long hunting, and—in the case of the Pekingese—warming before there was an organization to track them. “We did the laps of Chinese emperors. For the better part of not create the dogs we love in a closed registry system—we canine history, the physiques of breeds were driven by have only ruined them there.” dogs’ role as working animals, a classic example of the Some breeders would doubtless disagree with Burns dictum that form follows function. on this issue. But the inherent difficulties of protecting the As that role diminished and pet keeping health of a breed within a closed registry are exemplified by became common, dogs began to be bred more for a project undertaken by the Basenji Club of America, which appearance. You can see the resulting diversity any has in the past requested that its stud book be opened time you go to the dog park and watch an amorous temporarily to bring in healthier animals. Chihuahua trying to make time with an embarrassed Genetic problems in registered Basenjis were detected in St. Bernard, while a baffled Afghan and whippet look the 1970s, when many of the small curly-tailed dogs known on. They’re all dogs—but if you didn’t know that, you for being “barkless” began suffering from hemolytic anemia. might believe they were different species. After a test for the disease was developed, breeders tried to The thought wouldn’t be unreasonable. A recent study protect the gene pool through euthanasia of affected dogs, in The American Naturalist compared the diversity in the says club president Sally Wuornos. But eliminating dogs with dog to that across the entire order carnivora. They found hemolytic anemia left a much smaller number of registered more difference between the skulls of a Pekingese and a Basenjis. And many of the remaining animals now displayed a collie than between those of a walrus and a coati, a South different problem, a kidney disease called Fanconi syndrome. American member of the raccoon family. By addressing one disorder, the breeders had unwittingly Left to their own devices, dogs will be dogs—and will amplified another. eventually intermingle enough to level out extreme differences Instead of repeating past mistakes and culling Fanconi within the species. Natural selection ensues, and hybrid vigor carriers, the club received the AKC’s permission to open results: Witness the similar color and size of mutts in Mexico the Basenji registry to dogs from countries with no AKC- and other countries where they’re allowed to roam. To protect accepted registry. Since then, Basenji lovers have brought particular characteristics, though, breed enthusiasts have long dogs back from isolated areas in the Congo and successfully guarded a highly controlled process, regulating genetic lines integrated these healthy animals into the breeding pool. and creating registries that stipulate which animals can be Obtaining such permission to bring in new genes is bred to produce more of the same type. unusual. Many breeders and clubs employ less dramatic But therein lies the problem: The more limited the number measures: They pair mates who are healthy. They keep dogs of mates, the greater the chance a dog will be bred with a with known disorders out of their breeding stock. They insist relative who shares similar genes. Genetic diseases are caused on conducting available genetic tests. by recessive genes, so a good gene from one parent will Yet in spite of these efforts, purebred health problems trump a bad gene from the other. But if both parents have a have continued and in some cases worsened. While genetic bad gene—such as one that predisposes them to hip dysplasia testing has made precautionary measures possible for some or blindness—the likelihood of a sick puppy increases. breeds in recent decades, people have been breeding dogs

26 ANIMAL SHELTERING SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 ANIMALSHELTERING.ORG purebred genetics for centuries. Much damage has already been done. The she assumed the breed “at the very least was physically modern German shepherd provides a classic example: One of strong because it was being bred for athleticism,” she says. the breed’s primary disorders, hemophilia, is thought by most But because many racing greyhounds are killed when experts to have spread almost entirely through the descendants they cease performing on the track, few people knew of of a single popular stud dog born in 1968 in Europe. their genetic issues. As her dogs aged, “they were getting Though veterinarians learn about such problems in some really serious conditions in a proportion that was school and see them in their practices, even they are much higher than … the general population,” says Kislak, sometimes still surprised by their prevalence. When a member of the Humane Society Veterinary Medical veterinarian Paula Kislak adopted retired racing greyhounds, Association’s leadership council. “The oncologists were

Tips for Adopters Looking for a Healthy Purebred

We all agree that adoption is the best option. CHOOSE A RESPONSIBLE BREEDER. How can you Not only do adopters give homeless pets a second tell? A good breeder invites you to the place where chance, they can probably find a purebred if they she’s raising the puppies—frequently, her own want one. After all, purebreds make up an esti- home. She socializes her pups and doesn’t place mated 25 percent of the dogs in shelters. them too early. She asks you lots of questions and But when your shelter just doesn’t have that is concerned about where her dogs are going. She’s border collie or shih-tzu an adopter has decided on, able to provide papers that show not only the pup’s it may make sense to let them know about the other heritage but any genetic screening that was done options—the ones that will keep them from patron- on his parents. She encourages spaying or neuter- izing pet stores or buying a dog off the Internet— ing of “pet quality” puppies to prevent accidental and thereby helping puppy mills stay in business. breeding, because she values the breed and wants A good breed rescue group is an ideal choice, it to remain healthy and sound. And she makes you but if that’s not an option, you may consider advis- promise to bring the dog back if you ever become ing them to find a responsible breeder. (We’ll say it unable to care for him. again: a responsible breeder.) Responsible breeders are devoted to their animals’ well-being and com- BE REALISTIC. Sometimes, no matter how good a mitted to placing them in loving homes. And if every dog’s breeder was, no matter how carefully her par- shelter dog were adopted and every puppy mill ents were screened, she will get sick. There aren’t were shuttered, there would still be a need for good yet tests for all the genetic disorders out there, so breeders to supply dogs to American households. now and then even the best of breeders get a sad These tips can help those adopters determined to surprise (and if one of their puppies does get sick, get a purebred find one who’s likely to be healthier. even years later, they will want to know). For dog owners, it’s good to have some money socked away DO YOUR RESEARCH. Want a particular kind of dog? in case the worst happens—and that goes for own- Check out the available dog health resources, such as ers of purebreds and mutts alike. the Canine Health Information Center (caninehealth- info.org) and the Canine Genetic Disease Network CONSIDER ADOPTING AN OLDER DOG. Millions of (caninegeneticdiseases.net), to learn about what dis- adult dogs are in need of homes—and it is often easier orders your chosen breed may be prone to, as well as to assess the health and temperament of an already what genetic tests are available. mature companion. An added bonus is that these animals are usually housetrained and have passed the CHECK WITH A RESCUE GROUP. These groups know destructive teething and hyperactivity stages. their favored breeds and are generally forthright about both their great qualities and the challenges FOR MORE INFORMATION on responsible puppy- they face. Not only will they try to find you a great buying, go to humanesociety.org/puppy. dog who needs a home; they’ll be able to give you tips on any health issues the breed is prone to.

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Extreme breed features can drive health problems for the individual animals. What needs correcting, says Fran Smith, a veterinarian who serves as president of the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, is “this idea that if one wrinkle is good, then 12 wrinkles is better. If a 4-pound Chihuahua is good, then a 1-pound Chihuahua would be spectacular.”

seeing a lot of osteosarcoma. In fact, 50 percent of the inquiry led by Cambridge University professor emeritus greyhounds I’ve had have died of some sort of cancer.” Sir Patrick Bateson. The resulting report largely confirmed the documentary’s findings, concluding that inbreeding, A Shot Across the Bow selecting for extreme characteristics, and the practices While pet owners have been dealing with these issues of mass breeding facilities known as puppy mills were relatively quietly for decades, the documentary Pedigree negatively impacting dog welfare. Dogs Exposed recently brought them to the forefront. Describing the tension at the heart of the issue, Bateson Broadcast in the U.K. in 2008, the film was critical of the wrote, “To the outsider, it seems incomprehensible that Kennel Club, the British equivalent of the AKC, and showed anyone should admire, let alone acquire an animal that has purebreds with a range of health problems. Among its difficulty in breathing or walking. Yet people are passionate revelations: The 2003 champion of Crufts, the country’s about owning and breeding animals which they know and most prestigious dog show, was a Pekingese who had love, even though the animals manifestly exhibit serious to be photographed sitting on ice blocks because his flat health and welfare problems.” face made him so prone to overheating. The film showed Britain’s Kennel Club has since banned the registration of images of certain breeds in the early 20th century alongside puppies from closely related parents (matings of fathers and pictures of the same breeds today, demonstrating how a daughters, for example) and revised many breed standards, century of selecting for looks had lengthened the back of adding language to emphasize health and soundness, says the dachshund, rounded the skull of the bull terrier, and the group’s public relations manager, Heidi Ancell. dropped the hindquarters of some German shepherds into Many of the standards, she says, were amended an almost froglike stance. to ensure they don’t encourage extreme features. The The filmmakers interviewed the RSPCA’s chief Pekingese standard now specifies that a “muzzle must be veterinary adviser, Mark Evans, who noted that his group evident.” The bulldog’s standard calls for a “relatively” was extremely concerned about “the very high levels short face, stipulating that pinched nostrils and heavy of disability, deformity, and disease in pedigree dogs.” wrinkles over the nose should be severely penalized by According to the documentary, sickly purebred dogs show judges—who have in the past awarded high marks were costing British owners 10 million pounds a week in for such features. veterinary fees. Some breed clubs have welcomed the changes; others In response, the Kennel Club and the Dogs Trust—a have protested. But in the United Kingdom, at least, charity that, along with the RSPCA, had been critical of there seems to be momentum for change. Whether that the club’s policies—jointly commissioned an independent momentum will gather steam in the U.S. remains to be seen.

28 ANIMAL SHELTERING SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 ANIMALSHELTERING.ORG purebred genetics

Breeding Discontent But there’s nothing to compel less conscientious hobbyists The AKC and its member breed clubs have devoted and commercial puppy millers who would rather avoid considerable effort to improving the health of purebreds, the costs. in part by funding research to find the genetic markers tied Moreover, the AKC has not publicized any plans to to certain disorders. In 1995, the AKC launched the AKC encourage its member clubs to update their breed standards, Canine Health Foundation, a charitable organization that and the organization continues to register puppies from the raises funds to support canine health research; the AKC matings of closely related dogs. gives the foundation $1 million in annual funding. The latter allowance is especially problematic, Bateson Dedicated breeders have also made significant strides, says. He notes that the immune systems of inbred dogs do says veterinarian Fran Smith, citing the success in correcting a not function as well, “which explains why pedigree dogs run disorder known as collie eye anomaly. “In order to have that up such large veterinary bills and are twice as likely to get pretty collie head shape, it doesn’t leave as much room in cancer as outbred dogs.” the skull for a particular eye shape,” says Smith, who serves The issue goes beyond inbreeding. Quality control on the AKC’s Canine Health and Welfare Advisory Panel and is an important part of any good business but is largely is president of the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals.“But absent from dog breeding, says Jerold Bell, clinical collie breeders—the serious collie breeders—have made a associate professor of genetics at Tufts Cummings School huge impact in selecting for dogs who have the correct eye of Veterinary Medicine, who serves on the AKC’s Canine shape without that eye problem.” Health and Welfare Advisory Panel. But the test for collie eye anomaly was developed only The AKC is unlikely to make testing mandatory, Bell five years ago, and plenty of collies were bred before then. notes, adding that such a requirement would drive less Many have been afflicted with retinal disease; many still end responsible breeders to simply register their puppies up blind. elsewhere: “They won’t miss a beat in terms of what Smith doesn’t blame written breed standards as much they’re doing.” as people’s interpretation of those standards. What needs Recent history has proven his point. In 2000, the AKC correcting, she says, is “this idea that if one wrinkle is good, instituted a requirement that any male dog bred more then 12 wrinkles is better. If a 4-pound Chihuahua is good, than seven times would have to have a $40 DNA test. The then a 1-pound Chihuahua would be spectacular.” It’s policy inspired a boycott of AKC registration by breeders a trend that even prompted Consumer Reports to issue a in Iowa and Missouri, two states where puppy mills thrive. warning in 2003, telling readers that the “demand for ever- The Iowa Pet Breeders Association urged members to more-perfect purebred dogs has concentrated bad recessive register dogs through alternative organizations, according genes and turned many pets into medical nightmares.” to news reports. Many of the disorders affecting dogs aren’t as visually With the rise of these competing registries over dramatic as the scenes of yelping and pain shown in the the past few decades, the AKC—still the nation’s most British documentary, says Stephanie Shain, senior director prestigious—has observed a change in the perceived of The HSUS’s Puppy Mills Campaign. But they’re no less value of its name. “Before, AKC represented purebreds, awful when they lead to shorter, less comfortable lives for and everyone wanted an AKC puppy,” says Bell. “But now the dogs. “[This is about] the dog who’s going to die when you don’t need AKC to be purebred.” He believes that she’s 8 rather than when she’s 12,” says Shain. “It’s the dog if the AKC continues to encourage testing and to push who’s not going to be with her person for as long as she the message that AKC-registered dogs are healthy and should be.” screened, the organization will be able to rebrand itself as In the end, genetic tests are one of the only ways the registry for healthy purebreds. puppy buyers can protect themselves; the Canine Health Information Center, jointly sponsored by the AKC and the A Moral Tightrope Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, serves as a central But for all the effort the AKC devotes to that messaging, the repository for information about dogs who’ve been screened organization shies away from the kind of tangible consumer for genetic disease; its database is accessible to consumers advice offered by experts like James Serpell, a professor and breeders. Consumers can also check AKC registration at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary papers for health certification numbers indicating that a Medicine who has long studied the effect of genetics on puppy’s parents have been tested. dog behavior. But many puppy buyers aren’t likely to find such proof: “Step one,” Serpell says, “is never buy a puppy from a Plenty of disorders aren’t even detectable yet, and the AKC pet store. … What people don’t realize is that you can buy a does not require breeders to test for those that are. registered pedigree dog from a pet store [that] … was bred Responsible breeders who value breed health over and produced at a puppy mill where there is virtually no profits have an interest in accurate testing and reporting. regulation of breeding practices whatsoever.”

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investigated by The HSUS and sued by consumers who had bought sick dogs. “I would like to call attention to every single Parent club’s … code of ethics that says we will not sell to pet stores,” Laurans was quoted as saying in the transcript. “I would like to call attention to the fact that, from my humble belief, we are selling our birthright for a few shekels.” The most thorough response came from David Merriam, a representative from the Duluth Kennel Club and vice chairman of the AKC’s board of directors, who pointed out that the AKC’s coffers had long been lined with money from lymphangiectasia corneal dystrophy breeders of all sorts. As long ago as 1981, 96 percent of the group’s income came from registrations. “That money did not come only from the Fanciers or the Sport,” he said. “That money came from all the dogs … which means it was the backyard breeders, and it was the commercial breeders.” If he applied his personal standards, he said, the AKC’s registry—and consequently its revenue—would be tremendously reduced, resulting in significant reductions of the organization’s services. “I think if we go that direction, the American Kennel Club will not exist 100 years from today,” Merriam said. In spite of his warning, the delegates voted to recommend that the AKC board drop its pursuit of an official relationship with Petland. degenerative disc disease But since then, there have been signs that puppy mill money has proved too tempting. The AKC is syringomyelia opposing a ballot initiative in Missouri that would crack down on puppy mills by requiring higher standards of care and limiting the allowable number of The AKC’s website provides helpful breeding dogs to 50. What’s more, in 2009, an anti-puppy guidance for making more informed choices, advising mill activist obtained a description of an AKC-copyrighted pet seekers to find responsible breeders. The group also software program designed for use in pet stores. The recommends that breeders meet and screen potential program, Puppy Registration & Inventory Management buyers—a practice that suggests a commitment to ensuring Extranet, was intended to make it as easy and seamless as the dogs end up in loving homes. possible for stores to sell AKC registration along with dogs. But even as the AKC preaches good behavior, its The document ended up in the hands of The Dog practice of courting registrations from “high volume Press, a Web publication for dog breeders and fanciers that breeders” undermines the advice. This revenue source lamented the ease with which users of the program would drives the organization to stop short of advising people to be able to obtain AKC registration for pet store puppies— avoid pet stores, most of which don’t screen buyers and and to process their “returns.” frequently sell dogs from puppy mills that subject parent “Customers have 21 days in which to return the puppy animals to lifelong confinement in barren cages. And the and that too is easily handled through the PRIME program,” AKC’s promotions encourage more such breeding: In April, wrote The Dog Press. “Gone is the breeder-instilled for example, it launched “Dollar Deal Days,” which allows commitment to a new puppy. Gone is the traditional breeder breeders who register 11 litters or more in nine months to support. The sales-aid return policy can lead to unnecessary register the 11th for only a dollar. stress, mismanage [sic], or abuse of puppies.” Some AKC members have fought to reduce the When editor-in-chief Barbara Andrews queried the influence of puppymillers. The minutes of a September AKC about whether the software was in use, a club official 2006 meeting document a skirmish. Patricia Laurans, a called it an “internal business matter” and declined further representative from the German Wirehaired Pointer Club of comment, according to The Dog Press. (The AKC declined America, questioned the AKC’s plan to form a relationship to answer specific questions posed by our magazine as well, with Petland, a pet store chain largely supplied by the though officials did refer us to veterinarians Bell and Smith, Hunte Corp., a large puppy broker. In 2009, Petland was who serve in an advisory capacity to the organization.)

30 ANIMAL SHELTERING SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 ANIMALSHELTERING.ORG purebred genetics

Americans regard their dogs as substitute children; they can also become symbols of identity or status or power. And there’s likely nothing wrong with that, as long as it doesn’t compromise the animals’ well-being. Few animals exemplify the dichotomy of the human- canine relationship like the celebrated white bulldogs who have long patrolled the sidelines at University of Georgia football games. The adorably ugly “Ugas” are venerated by Georgia fans and have achieved national fame: In 1997, Uga V appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated. But in November 2009, Uga VII died suddenly of a heart attack at age 4. His two most recent predecessors, Uga VI and Uga V, also died of heart failure, though they were much older. Their health problems were in no way due to poor treatment. Their owners, the Seiler family, provided the dogs with excellent medical care. Ever since Uga II collapsed panting during a hot practice in 1967—an episode the dog JOHN BAZEMORE/APJOHN survived, but that left him mostly deaf—the family has been Uga VII keeps cool in his sideline doghouse during a particularly careful to attend to the dogs’ health during football game in August 2008. Beloved by the University of games, providing them with air-conditioned doghouses and Georgia community, the Uga line of dogs has been part of the school football tradition since 1956—but the last three bags of ice to lie on. animals have died of heart failure. These are necessary strategies for caring for a breed gone awry. English bulldogs have trouble breathing and are prone to heat stroke; most can neither mate nor give birth Soul Searching for Dog Lovers naturally due to the size of their heads. And according to the Many within the AKC and its affiliated breed clubs are Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, more than 30 percent obviously committed to the health and welfare of dogs. Yet of bulldogs suffer from the organization’s continued attempts to support itself with elbow dysplasia, and more registration fees from puppy mills surely conflict with its than 70 percent from hip efforts to brand AKC dogs as healthy and sound. dysplasia. And some purebred lovers who’ve been through the Frank Seiler isn’t overly economic and emotional wringer have had enough. troubled by the breed’s Soon after Karin Shulin of Westlake, Ohio, got her problems; he and his family Doberman at a local pet store, she found out that the have simply learned to treat 6-month old puppy had cardiomyopathy—a common them. And any dog chosen condition in the breed—that had already resulted in a stage to take on the mascot role Fanconi syndrome 3 heart murmur. “I spent thousands,” says Shulin. “I think I undergoes special surgery put the new wing on my vet’s house.” to prepare him for the gig. She still has a hard time talking about what happened to “We have these dogs Ranger. “Last April he was out playing with my other dogs operated on when they’re and he just dropped dead,” she says. “It was horrifying.” less than 1 year old,” he says. “ … They go in and clear out Though Shulin has owned Dobermans since she was a the breathing passage under gentle anesthesia, and from child and has worked with local breed rescue groups, she that point they don’t have breathing problems. They don’t says she’s “done with purebreds.” even snore.” But that’s a hard stance to take if you love the loping That kind of devotion to helping the dogs live a more gallop of a golden retriever, the pep of a poodle, the fire normal life is admirable. But should dogs have to go of a German shepherd. For breed enthusiasts, and for dog through surgery simply to function as dogs? Is this what we lovers who delight in the diversity of the species, all of this want for our best friends? may mean some soul searching. Some of the ways humans hurt animals are clear and easy to see, but others are more subtle—and more difficult to address. Dogs, perhaps more than any other species, have become entangled in our sense of self. Today, many

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ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/GSCHROER ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/IMAGEDEPOTPRO

ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/BLUEFLAMES Emergency

Planning in ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/KRAKOZAWR a Post-Katrina World Northern Virginia shelters pull together to obtain trailers to aid pets in disasters BY JAMES HETTINGER

Five years later, the images remain vivid and disturbing: pets plies, then consulted with the AWLA to develop a plan for left behind in homes ravaged by floodwaters, and home- how it should be stocked and operated. The AWLA unveiled owners airlifted off rooftops after risking their lives to stay the county’s trailer in February 2007. with their animals. The trailer has not yet been called into action, but in When Hurricane Katrina slammed the Gulf Coast in the event of an emergency requiring a temporary human August 2005, it brought unprecedented attention to the shelter, Sherman explains, county officials could notify plight of companion animals in disasters—and to the people the AWLA that they want it to be pet-friendly. The AWLA who, often through no fault of their own, were unable to would tow the trailer to the designated site and make the safely shepherd their pets through the storm. supplies available to set up the animal portion of the shelter. “After Katrina, I think everybody became a lot more AWLA employees and trained volunteers would provide aware of what could happen. We learned from that that the staffing. Only pets belonging to people entering the there are people who will not evacuate if they can’t take shelter would be admitted, and the human guests would their pets. We also learned that pets get sometimes aban- be responsible for caring for their own pets. “They’re going doned, left behind, and the suffering that’s caused when to be on one side sleeping on cots, and the pets will be in that happens,” says Susan Sherman, interim executive di- crates, sleeping on the other side of the building,” explains rector of the Animal Welfare League of Arlington (AWLA) Debbie Powers, a deputy coordinator for the Arlington in Northern Virginia, a private, nonprofit humane society County OEM. that runs a shelter and contracts with Arlington County to The trailer broadens the AWLA’s mission but also fits provide animal control services. “So we wanted to try to do with the shelter’s longstanding focus on helping pets in the something to make it possible for people to evacuate with community through programs such as low-cost spay/neuter their pets.” and assistance for people who have a veterinary emergency Shortly after Katrina, an AWLA official attended a disas- they can’t afford. Sherman says the AWLA has “always had ter planning conference sponsored by The Humane Society a pretty large component of outreach to the community, and of the United States (HSUS) and learned about disaster pre- not just care for the animals that happen to be in our shelter.” paredness pet trailers—which are designed to help set up a It makes sense for the AWLA to operate the pet portion temporary pet-friendly shelter at a site such as a school dur- of an emergency shelter because its staff and volunteers ing an emergency that forces people to leave their homes. know how to care for animals and handle such procedures The trailers are stocked with everything a shelter would as animal intake—complications that those accustomed to need—from crates and litter pans to food trays, ID bands for dealing with the human side of disaster response may not animals to wear, garbage cans, hand sanitizer, flashlights, be ready for. “I think there was a lot of difficulty in helping duct tape, mops and buckets, and office supplies. out with Katrina because there were volunteers that poured Arlington County’s Office of Emergency Management in, but they weren’t necessarily trained or familiar with how (OEM) obtained a $20,000 U.S. Department of Homeland to deal with any of those tasks,” Sherman says. “We already Security grant to purchase a 20-foot-long trailer and sup- have a corps of volunteers that know exactly what to do.”

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The idea that animal shelters should be more involved ers and supplies, in the interest of creating a system where in disaster preparedness has caught on in Northern Virginia, the localities can easily work with each other, Koenig says. where a total of nine jurisdictions (four counties and five The trailers are all the same size and loaded with the cities) banded together to obtain (through the Virginia same supplies, and the coalition members participated in a Department of Emergency Management) a $500,000 regional training and a drill simulating an emergency. If one Homeland Security grant that helped each jurisdiction locality has to call for help in a disaster, the others can step get its own trailer. The process began about two years in to set up and manage the pet-friendly shelter, right down ago, when the state and the region’s emergency manag- to the paperwork, Koenig says. Adds Schwengel: “We know ers had a chance to obtain the money through Homeland how to support each other, because we have the same ap- Security’s Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI), says David proach throughout the region.” Schwengel, director of regional emergency preparedness Schwengel says the collaborative effort on the grant in- planning for the Northern Virginia Regional Commission. volved a seemingly endless stream of meetings, phone calls, In discussions with state officials, the emergency man- and e-mails, but the process strengthened the participants’ agers identified care for animals during human evacua- working relationships. “These people know each other so tions as an issue that needed to be addressed, according well now,” he says. “They kind of knew each other before to Schwengel. The Pets Evacuation and Transportation this, [but] by working on this together, I would say that there Standards Act passed by Congress in 2006 requires state are some very, very strong relationships in place now, and and local emergency plans to include the needs of people that, I think, is the bedrock of emergency preparedness.” with household pets or service animals in order to be eli- gible for federal disaster funds. Stormy Weather? The nine jurisdictions (Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Northern Virginia isn’t known for severe weather, so why and Prince William counties, and the cities of Alexandria, does it need all these trailers? Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park) had That’s the kind of thinking that can lead to trouble. Few to decide how they would spend the money, and whether people think a disaster will occur in their community, until they would act separately or take a regional approach, says it actually happens. And in the case of Northern Virginia, Thomas Koenig, director of Loudoun County’s Department shelter officials say the region isn’t immune to natural or of Animal Care and Control. The group opted for a regional manmade situations that can prompt evacuations. Situated approach, using the bulk of the money to purchase the trail- outside of Washington, D.C., the region neighbors a prime terrorist target and could also be called on to help cope with the aftermath of an attack. The area also occasionally experiences flooding and tropical storms, notes Michael Lucas, Fairfax County’s director of animal control. When Hurricane Isabel hit the Washington, D.C., area in 2003, Lucas says it re- minded officials that “yes, natural disasters can strike this far up north. We can have some severe flooding. People can be displaced. People are gonna need to find temporary shelter, and people want to take their pets.” The region experienced unusually heavy snow last winter, Koenig adds, and a fire or tornado could shutter the animal shelter and force the county to set up a temporary facility at a school or fairgrounds. The region also has animal hoarders and puppy mills, Lucas says, noting that in cases where large numbers of animals are seized, it’s helpful to set up a command post on the scene. Fairfax County has two trailers, the first of which it purchased with county funds shortly after Katrina, says Lucas. Larger and more elaborate than the trailers purchased with the Homeland Security money, it can hold about 30 cages and is loaded with an office, a generator, inside and outside lighting, air condition- MICHAEL LUCAS/FAIRFAX COUNTYMICHAEL ing, and a tarp that would enable the setup of an out- Northern Virginia can make use of its disaster pet trailers (like this one, shown door registration table. The county has used it on several during an exercise in Fairfax County) because the area is not immune to hoarding cases and to complement a human shelter in emergencies where people are forced to evacuate their homes and want to bring their pets. flooding situations.

34 ANIMAL SHELTERING SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 ANIMALSHELTERING.ORG emergency planning

“I think in doing it again, we would want to have more help for setup and breakdown.” The regional group held a similar exercise in November, with all nine jurisdictions participating and a host of observers (including emergency planners) on hand to evaluate. Koenig, who served as one of the evaluators, said the staffers participating in the exercise worked well together—even keeping the natural bottleneck at the intake area manageable. “We’ve proved that you can pull everybody together and make this work,” Koenig says. “Because at the end of the day, we kind of leave our hats at home, and come in with a new hat that says: Pull together as a region. … Create a sense … among the region that in the event [that] anything happens, our partners will be there to help us out.”

Trying This At Home Northern Virginia officials say in developing emergency plans and acquiring equipment, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel, and make sure you talk to your jurisdiction’s ANIMAL WELFARE LEAGUE OF ARLINGTON emergency managers. Animal Welfare League of Arlington staff members unload “There’s no reason to have to come up with this from crates from an emergency trailer during an exercise at a scratch, because there are models out there,” Sherman says. school in Northern Virginia. If a disaster forced officials to set up a human shelter, the trailer’s supplies could help Obtaining a trailer is definitely a partnership with local gov- make it pet-friendly. ernment officials, who likely already have disaster contin- gency plans. “What we did is really just say to them, ‘We A jurisdiction’s responsibilities don’t end once it gets need to include animals,’” she says. “… Our county was very the equipment, Lucas says. Like firefighters, animal care receptive to that, and has been very, I think, happy to in- and control personnel need to conduct exercises and gain clude us in those plans, which is great.” hands-on experience with the equipment, “and not wait for Not every region will be able to obtain UASI money that first event, when everything’s going crazy, and then try (which is targeted to urban areas), but animal welfare of- to figure this stuff out.” ficials anywhere can work with their jurisdictions’ emer- The AWLA and Arlington County OEM, with assistance gency managers and other government officials familiar from the local chapter of the American Red Cross, ran an with the grant-making process. Lucas says his office com- exercise in May 2008 called Frosty Paws, in which workers municates regularly with the county emergency manage- simulated an emergency response to a winter storm that ment office and the grants coordinator for the police caused a power outage. The practice run involved about 50 department, who help ensure that forms are filled out volunteers posing as evacuees—some with pets (stuffed ani- properly. “We know that there’s money available, but it mals and a few pet dogs), others without. The exercise re- might involve you going to a meeting of the emergency quired workers to set up a pet-friendly shelter, check people managers, and talking about things, and putting on a and pets in and out, then break down the operation, clean PowerPoint presentation, and expressing your needs,” he the facility, and pack up the trailer. says. The idea is to help managers see the importance of The setup at a local middle school involved covering the preparing for the region’s animal sheltering needs during hallway floor and walls with plastic and running a rubber an emergency. runner down the middle for a walking space, Lucas explains. Responding to an emergency, of course, is something Crates and registration tables had to be set up, and workers you hope you never have to do, but it’s prudent to be photographed every animal, wrote a description, put a cage prepared. card on every crate, and placed a neck-band ID on every dog Koenig is confident that Northern Virginia has made and cat. Owners got an ID bracelet with the same number strides in the right direction. He says a year ago his county as their animal. could have put together a pet-friendly shelter, but now it Sherman says about a half dozen people were assigned can do one the right way. Workers from other localities or to setup and registration, and officials found that wasn’t national organizations could come in and easily aid in the enough—a useful thing to know for the future. “What we care of animals. “That level of readiness was necessary,” he discovered is that that takes a lot of people,” Sherman says. says. “We didn’t have it before.”

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One Cool Tool An expert explains how to use the Y pole, a tool for working with fearful dogs

BY MARK R. JOHNSON, D.V.M. ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/LYLY

One of your animal control officers has The catch pole is a valuable and funda- In addition, the control that the catch brought in a dog found roaming the streets. mental tool for the ACO, allowing an officer pole provides allows significant potential for The dog has a collar, and through her mat- to work safely with potentially dangerous abuse. Having problems with a dog? Grab ted hair you can see an ID tag. But no mat- dogs and to catch a dog who may not be the catch pole. Is the dog fighting hard? Fight ter how calmly you approach the dog, she is captured with a leash. With the catch pole, back harder. If a shelter worker or ACO is not so fearful you cannot safely touch her. The a properly trained ACO can catch a dog out extremely attentive to the amount of force he dog becomes defensively aggressive, and you in the open so that the animal does not have uses, this tool can actually escalate the en- have to back off. to be cornered. This is one of its most impor- ergy and aggravate the fight between human You need to handle this dog to provide tant assets. And when necessary, the catch and dog. Without a measured, deliberate ap- the best care and to read her tag, but the pole also allows an ACO to work by himself, proach, the catch pole can influence the han- dog refuses to cooperate. because it controls a dog in every direction dler to be sloppy or overly aggressive. What are your options? she might try to move. For this reason, the catch pole should be Unfortunately, the catch pole is not very used only as a last resort. As often as pos- The Traditional Catch Pole forgiving, because if things go wrong and sible, shelter staff and ACOs should seek hu- The common option for working with the dog vigorously fights the snare pole, she mane alternatives. uncooperative dogs is the catch pole (also can become seriously injured and may even Used correctly, the Y pole can be one known as the control pole or the snare pole). be killed. And it is not forgiving because, of these. Every shelter in North America has one or in effect, the snare pole motivates a dog to knows what it is. It is the tool most ACOs and fight to protect herself, since a loop around What Is a Y Pole? shelter staff resort to when a dog refuses to the neck is very threatening and can easily I learned about the Y pole working with be handled. inspire a dog’s fear. captive-wolf facilities. It is an effective and

FIND ANIMAL SHELTERING ON FACEBOOK AND FIND A COMMUNITY OF FELLOW ANIMAL LOVERS! 37 [101]

humane tool for handling captive wolves without chemical immobilization. Years ago, managers of captive-wolf programs noticed how quietly most wolves would submit to the calm use of the Y pole. It was not only amazingly calming and effective, it also allowed people to conduct physical exams, vaccinations, and minor treatments without fighting or drugging the animals. I see the same potential for the Y pole in shelters, and teach those who handle dogs about the Y pole, because I believe it embodies a compassionate approach to working with fractious canids in a calm, respectful manner. Having used it effectively with hundreds of dogs, I believe that every professional working with dogs should know about the Y pole. Shelter workers, animal control officers, disaster responders, those rescuing dogs from puppy mills and hoarding cases, and trap/ neuter/release programs may all benefit from BILL GILBERT/HEART OF THE VALLEY ANIMAL SHELTER knowing how to use this simple tool. Rub the Y pole on the dog’s cheek to greet her. This will calm the dog, and let her know that The Y pole is simply a “Y”-shaped metal the Y pole will not hurt her. pole with a long handle—typically 4 and a half feet long, with 6-inch tines forming the Y. But it can be made to any size. The tines are heavily padded with rubber so, should a dog bite it, his teeth will never touch the metal.

How Does It Work? The Y pole is not a pin stick—it is not used to physically force the animal down. Rather, it is an extension of the human hand that can be used to safely and compassionately enter the animal’s personal space, touch her, and convince her to relax. Used properly—with dominance and compassion—the Y pole’s control is 75 percent psychological and only 25 percent physical. An officer’s calmness and smooth movements will allow him to touch the dog while communicating to her that it is safe to submit. One of the main reasons the Y pole works on dogs is because of their pack mentality. In the wild, dogs and other canids quickly learn to submit to more dominant animals in the pack. The Y pole placed across the dog’s neck imitates the same pressure he could get from the jaws of dominant dogs.

BILL GILBERT/HEART OF THE VALLEY ANIMAL SHELTER When the Y pole is used properly, there Place the Y pole on the dog’s neck without forcing her to the wall or ground. The contact on is nothing punitive or demeaning for the dog. her neck echoes the way wild dogs communicate. With this compassionate extension of the

38 ANIMAL SHELTERING SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 ANIMALSHELTERING.ORG Increase Cat Adoptions with Fancy Feet! “SoftClaws colored nail caps have proven to increase cat adoptions” –reported by HSUS of Vero Beach, Florida, Sheltering Magazine July 2007 BILL GILBERT/HEART OF THE VALLEY ANIMAL SHELTER Shelter visitors easily become cat adopters Place a towel over the dog’s head without moving too fast and scaring her. knowing Soft Claws nail caps: hand, an interaction can actually build more sive to the dog’s behavior and personality. Help protect them and their children trust and tolerance between the dog and her Instead of putting steady pressure on the from playful scratches handler. dog as you move her and continuing that Many people learning about the Y pole way, move in waves. Take a few steps, then Help protect their home furnishings have said that, in order to successfully use stop and settle. Take another few steps, Easy to apply and each application it, they would have to redefine their con- then stop and settle. With most dogs, you lasts up to six weeks cepts, change habits, and interact with can do this in a way that calms the animal each dog in a whole new way. The Y pole and lowers everyone’s energy. (For an ex- requires us to invite the dog to participate ample, watch the video “Using Dominance in the handling rather than continue our to Humanely Catch a Wolf” on Dr. Mark’s usual habit of forcing ourselves on the dog Feral Dog Blog.) to catch her. 1 2 Other people are enthusiastic about the Approaching the Dog 1. Trim 2. Apply adhesive tool for the same reasons, and have told me It is best if you have three people on hand, nails to caps that their desire to work with fearful dogs though two can be effective. Two people with calmness, compassion, and respect is carry Y poles, and one carries a towel. The embodied in the Y pole because it requires lead person will first greet the animal and will them to be steadily mindful of being compas- eventually use the pole on the neck. This is all sionate and helping the dog feel safe. about guiding the animal while helping her 3 4 feel safe to cooperate. If you are calm and re- 3. Apply caps 4. Observe for How to Use a Y Pole laxed, it will help calm the dog. to nails 5 minutes Setting Up the Situation If the dog is a candidate for the Y pole, To successfully handle a dog with a Y pole, she will eventually settle into a corner. She To purchase contact: the dog must be contained. She can be in may be standing or lying down, but she a large pen or room, or in a small kennel. will not be trying to flee with your every Pet Edge - 800.738.3343 If the animal is in a large pen, you must re- movement. Ryan’s Pet Supplies - 800.525.7387 duce the space available to her; a “wall” Hold the Y pole so the padded tines are For special adoption programs call: of calm people can slowly move a dog directly up and down. Keep the fork at the Soft Claws direct 800.762.7877 x508 into a corner. But be sensitive and respon- dog’s eye level or slightly lower, and slowly www.softclaws.net FIND ANIMAL SHELTERING ON FACEBOOK AND FIND A COMMUNITY OF FELLOW ANIMAL LOVERS! 39 Soft Claws is a registered trademark of Soft Paws, Inc., Lafayette, LA. Patents #4,962,731, #7,069,879, # D564,713S other patents pending. Product components made in USA and China. Distributed exclusively by SmartPractice, Phoenix, AZ. 71826_1008 © 2008. [101]

n Don’t approach the dog with two Y poles at once. That is like two people talking in each of your ears. The person using the Y pole on the hips should be a little behind the person using the pole on the neck. The neck person is in charge. n Don’t be tense—the dog can feel your tension and will be more tense. Teach yourself to relax. Take a slow breath, and consciously relax your shoulders.

What the Y Pole Cannot Do n The Y pole cannot catch free-ranging dogs. The dog must be confined—to a room, to a large pen. It will work in most restricted spaces—but there must be some degree of confinement in order for the psychological restraint to be effective. n The Y pole is not effective with every dog.

BILL GILBERT/HEART OF THE VALLEY ANIMAL SHELTER Some dogs may be too skittish and leap away any time the Y pole is moved in their A towel on the dog’s head can comfort her, as well as make things safer for the handler. direction. Some “alpha dogs” may refuse to submit. If an alpha dog must be handled, move toward the dog, a few steps at a ond Y pole on her hip and then apply the then the Y pole can be used to restrain time, then stop and settle. Each time, move towel. Covering the eyes is important be- or distract the dog long enough to give a few steps, then settle and allow the dog cause it reduces the dog’s stress and in- anesthetics with a syringe pole. to recognize that she’s still safe as you move creases your safety. But some of what the Y pole cannot closer. This—moving into the animal and Be aware of the vertical angle of your do is good: You cannot harm dogs the moving with the animal at the same time, handle. If your handle is too high, the dog way that you can with a catch pole. If a without scaring her—is the most difficult might be able to slip under the Y pole. If it problem occurs, you simply back away and part to learn. is too low, there may be an opening above start again. As you move, do not focus on catching or the Y pole. The Y pole also cannot be used in a controlling the dog. Focus on greeting the ani- With a Y pole in place and a towel on fast way or at the pace of the handler. The mal with kindness so she feels safe. Remember: the head, the animal can be handled in Y pole must be used at the dog’s pace. This Think of the Y pole as a compassionate exten- many ways. You can examine a surgical is a good thing, because instead of forcing sion of your hand; let the animal know that the site, conduct a physical exam, give a dog to cooperate, we are asking the dog Y pole is not a threat. Take your time. vaccinations and minor treatments, or to cooperate. It’s more respectful, more administer chemical capture drugs with a compassionate, and more humane. Engaging the Dog hand syringe or pole syringe. You can also Practice with friendly dogs to get Move the pole toward the corner of the dog’s physically restrain her with a head-cover and a feeling for how to connect with the mouth and let her bite the Y pole if she wants hobbles (a belt-like strap used to safely and animals and successfully interact with to. Don’t react—when she bites, do not pull humanely restrain a dog while she’s being them. Although it is very difficult using back with the pole. That will only encourage carried), so she can be moved to another the Y pole with a goofy, friendly dog who her to bite more and will make her feel less location. By placing the Y pole in front of only wants to play, it is great practice, and safe. Let her chew on it until she gets bored. you and guiding the dog in a soft way, you when properly used, it will not be stressful As she settles, consider rubbing the tip of one can also use it to guide her into a transport for the dog. fork below her ear and later on the neck, like crate or into another kennel, if there is an Animal shelters, spay/neuter programs, petting. Let her relax and accept the situation. open path to it. and groups responding to disasters and Once she settles or submits, pet her a hoarding cases often have to handle few more times with the Y pole, then gen- What Not to Do With the Y Pole difficult dogs who cannot be safely caught tly slide the pole across her neck, pause, n Don’t poke the animal, or use it in a way with bare hands. Too often these situations and relax. At this time, consider covering that decreases her sense of trust and turn into a fight, with animals injured and her head with the towel, or use the sec- safety. handlers bitten. The ideal solution is to

40 ANIMAL SHELTERING SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 ANIMALSHELTERING.ORG handle the dog in a calm, respectful manner that is effective, humane, and safe for both people and the dog. Give the dog a chance to cooperate. Reach for the Y pole, calm yourself, and enjoy the improved interactions that are possible.

Resources n Go to the Y Pole Page on the website for Global Wildlife Resources Inc. at wildliferesources. org/the-y-pole/. n Read articles about the Y pole and watch it being used in the video “Using Dominance to Humanely Catch a Wolf” on Johnson’s Feral Dog Blog, feraldog.wordpress.com. (Click on the video category for the latter.) n To purchase a Y pole, visit Tomahawk Live Trap at livetrap. com; Heart of the Earth Animal Equipment at animal-traps. com; Animal Care Equipment Services at animal-care.com; or Global Wildlife Resources at wildliferesources.org/.

Mark Johnson, D.V.M., is a wildlife veterinarian and executive director of Global Wildlife Resources Inc., a nonprofit organization specializing in humane animal capture and handling. In the past 10 years, he has directed his expertise toward improving the lives of people and dogs, and has handled more than 2,000 feral dogs throughout the world, including the Caribbean, India, and tribal lands, and during three rescue operations after Hurricane Katrina. He is the author of the Feral Dog Blog.

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q&a

Force for Good Task force’s behind-the-scenes legwork makes dramatic puppy mill rescues possible KATHY MILANI/THEKATHY HSUS

Justin Scally, manager of the Wilde Puppy Mill Task Force, often deploys to join other trained animal welfare rescuers and volunteers at the scene of puppy mill raids around the country.

When you see video clips of animal wel- steps foot onto the property—to make such from humane societies and rescue groups. fare personnel carrying filthy, matted pup- scenes possible. And all the resources needed to execute pies and parent dogs out of the horrendous The major raids that result in the rescue a raid have to be assembled, so that every- conditions in the cramped cages of a puppy of dogs from puppy mills typically begin not thing’s ready to roll when the time is right. It mill, it often seems like the whole story: The with dramatic stakeouts, but rather emerge takes experienced, specially trained people to rescuers have swooped in, saving the abused from a flurry of phone calls, e-mails, and pa- make this happen. animals and starting them on a journey to- perwork. Background information has to be The goal of the Wilde Puppy Mill Task ward safety, love, and new lives. But a lot has gathered, cases have to be developed, and Force—part of the larger Stop Puppy Mills to happen behind the scenes—often months relationships forged with local law enforce- campaign of The Humane Society of the of careful preparation, long before anyone ment, veterinarians, and staff and volunteers United States (HSUS)—is to provide expert

FIND ANIMAL SHELTERING ON FACEBOOK AND FIND A COMMUNITY OF FELLOW ANIMAL LOVERS! 43 [q&a] guidance to local law enforcement, animal In this edited interview with Jim shelters, and other agencies, as well as sup- Baker, staff writer/copy editor of Animal port other HSUS experts in the investigation Sheltering, Scally and Cascio talk about and execution of raids/rescues on puppy the first year of the Wilde Puppy Mill Task mill operations. The task force represents a Force—their successes, and the obstacles dramatic expansion of HSUS resources and they’ve faced. was made possible by a donation from the Kenneth and Lillian Wilde estate; the Wildes Animal Sheltering: What is it that the cared for many pets and strays throughout Wilde Puppy Mill Task Force does? their lives. Justin Scally: Essentially, we act as the The task force offers a wide array of ser- enforcement arm of the Stop Puppy Mills vices, ranging from telephone consultations campaign. When we get a complaint, to field response assistance all the way up to we’re going to check into it. We’ll provide full-response deployment of HSUS staff re- guidance and expertise to law enforcement, sources and equipment, including setting up provide on-the-ground assistance. We an emergency animal shelter for veterinary realize that a lot of places that deal with triage and temporary animal sheltering. It also these puppy mill situations don’t have the operates a toll-free puppy mill hotline, created resources or, many times, the expertise to to encourage calls for help from people with handle such a situation. Obviously, each RILEY/THEMICHELLE HSUS information about puppy mills. and every dog’s a piece of evidence, the Michelle Cascio, casework coordinator for Since launching in July 2009, the task property’s a piece of evidence, and so it the Wilde Puppy Mill Task Force, cuddles a puppy rescued from a mass-breeding force has been involved in rescuing nearly has to be handled accordingly. … It’s the facility in Tennessee. Cascio manages the 2,000 animals. It has also provided tele- whole law enforcement approach that task force’s puppy mill tip line and helps to develop cases against those who profit from phone consultation for cases involving al- maybe a local ACO is not used to doing. these inhumane operations. most 500 more. Staff members have fielded … We want to be able to provide that hundreds of calls from concerned members resource to them nationally, so that we can of the public, sifting through this flood of in- help them make sure that the animals are Can anyone call the tip line if they have formation to find the tips that could lead to rescued, they’re able to do their job, and something that they want to report? a puppy mill bust, such as the raids in Texas justice is served. Cascio: Yes, they can. [Many of] our calls are and Tennessee that rescued 550 and 223 just public citizens who have concerns. Maybe animals, respectively. What kind of calls do you get at the they went to purchase a dog, and the breeder As manager of the task force, Justin tip line? said, “Yeah, sure, come to my house, and I’ll Scally works with law enforcement agen- Michelle Cascio: It runs the gamut. We sell the puppy to you. I breed the dogs in my cies to build cruelty cases against puppy mill have a lot of advocates doing their own home.” And they come to the home, and the operators and then try to ensure successful investigations, maybe into classified ads or home doesn’t look so great, and it definitely prosecutions in court. Formerly the director Internet ads, and they see a breeder listing doesn’t smell very good, and they bring out of the Wayne County Department of Animal many, many different types of breeds, so this bad-looking puppy, whether he’s under- Control Services in North Carolina, Scally was they’re pretty sure that person is a puppy weight or he’s covered in feces, and they hear also sworn as a special deputy sheriff and miller. But breeding multiple breeds isn’t an a lot of dogs barking in the background, but volunteer firefighter. He’s trained in investi- illegal activity, so then we have to explain they can’t get a good look at the breeding gations, rescue operations, emergency man- to them that we need an eyewitness ac- operation. They call us because they want to agement/response, leadership, animal care, count, someone that will maybe even sign know if they’ve been to a puppy mill. That’s and enforcement, and is a certified crime a sworn statement down the road, if we are when probably the bulk of my work happens, scene investigator. in the process of helping local law enforce- is trying to figure out if there’s something ac- Michelle Cascio is the task force’s case- ment bring charges or get a search war- tionable for us, based on their information. work coordinator, managing the puppy mill rant. It starts with teaching our wonderful tip line, gathering actionable information, advocates what’s legal and what isn’t, and What are some big successes that you and helping to develop cases. Cascio joined what we need [for a complaint] to be ac- had in the last year? The HSUS in November 2007 as shelter ser- tionable. And it runs all the way to a sheriff Scally: The case in Kaufman [Texas] was a vices coordinator in the Companion Animals calling us because they’ve just responded to huge success. [Five hundred and fifty ani- section; before that, she managed animal a complaint, and they’ve found 300 breed- mals were rescued from a puppy mill there in care, volunteer, and adoption programs for ing dogs in filthy conditions, underweight, August 2009. Texas subsequently brought a one of the two facilities of the Washington other medical or health issues, and they case against breeder Peggy Boyd, the owner Humane Society in Washington, D.C. need our assistance immediately. of Klassie Kennels.] We were contacted by a

44 ANIMAL SHELTERING SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 ANIMALSHELTERING.ORG [q&a]

What You Should Do The Wilde Puppy Mill Task Force offers these tips for animal welfare groups that participate in the rescue of puppy mill dogs: n Document, document, document! Record information, and capture images of the scene; everything you see is potential evidence in a cruelty case. n For that reason, don’t bathe or feed the animals until you’ve documented their physical condition. n Plan ahead. Make contact with a local veterinarian who has training or experience in cruelty investigation, and arrange for emergency housing of the animals, as well as the resources

KATHY MILANI/THEKATHY HSUS you may need (such as staff and volunteers). Members of the Wilde Puppy Mill Task Force often spend months doing the behind-the-scene legwork that makes the raids on mass-breeding facilities possible. Their efforts lead to the n Remember you’re dealing with a rescue of dogs from deplorable conditions—the start of their journey to safe, loving homes. possible crime scene; photograph and diagram it and any evidence. n Photographs should be taken at local humane society that said that a person lar. And these dogs were sitting in there suf- a distance, then mid range, and had come to them; they had a food bank, a fering. You’d pick up the dog, and they were finally close up; include multiple dog food bank, and said, “I need help feeding covered in urine and feces to the point that views of all animals. my dogs.” And they said, “Well, how many their fur was sticky—it was sticking to your n Call the Wilde Puppy Mill Task dogs?” “I’ve got 400 dogs.” And so we were skin and your clothing. So imagine what they Force for guidance or assistance. contacted. … What we did basically was we felt like, on a hot, humid day, sitting there in sent an undercover investigator … to deliver their own excrement. the food to this person’s property, and they were wired. And so while they were there, Did they shut this place down? Share Your Concerns they were able to get video and audio, and Scally: She was charged with cruelty and has Do you think there might be a puppy we then in turn took that to the sheriff, and since pled guilty. She was fined; I wasn’t very mill in your community? Are you a that’s what enabled us to get the warrants. happy with the actual sentencing, but she law enforcement officer who has was fined, community service. … There were “insider” knowledge of an inhumane It was a puppy mill? also conditions that would prevent her from breeder? The Humane Society of the Scally: Yes. All types of small-breed dogs. being able to operate a breeding business in United States’ toll-free puppy mill And the conditions there were horrible. There the future. tip line, 877-MILL-TIP, was created were dead piles—piles of dead dogs, and to encourage those who have any trash, there were dogs that were dying, ani- Tell me about the recent Tennessee bust. information to contact the Wilde mals with open wounds. It was horrible. One [The HSUS was called in by the White Puppy Mill Task Force for help. of the rooms—I’ll never forget—probably County Sheriff’s Department to lead the had the most strong ammonia smell I have rescue of 221 dogs and two cats from ever experienced. I walked into this room, Gayla’s Poodle Palace in Sparta. All of a call from a sheriff in White County that and my lungs felt like they were on fire. We the animals were surrendered to the cus- says that he’s on the scene, or his deputies [had to] put on a respirator. Those dogs are tody of the sheriff’s department.] are on the scene, of a puppy mill situation forced to live in those cages and breed, and Scally: I received a call from our Tennessee in Sparta, Tenn.” And I said, “OK, well, go breed, and breed, in order to increase profits state director, Leighann McCollum, and ba- ahead and let’s get in contact with him, and for these people. It’s for nothing but the dol- sically what she said was, “I’ve just received let’s see what we can do to help him out.

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Scally: Of course, because we’re looking at these animals who are suffering.

Cascio: And by the time we push it to that level, we have real evidence, not speculation, not rumor and innuendo, but usually very hard evidence.

If law enforcement won’t move on your evidence, does that mean your case can’t proceed? Scally: Unless we can come up with another option. And sometimes there are other options, but that’s not always the case … I distinctly remember one case where law enforcement just sat there and told me, “We’re just not doing it.” And the district attorney and the sheriff would blame it on each other. The district attorney would say, “It’s because of the sheriff that we’re not doing it,” and the sheriff would say, “It’s because of the district attorney that we’re not doing it.” And the only thing that we could figure was, in this particular county, there was a puppy mill bust before, and apparently they caught some KATHY MILANI/THEKATHY HSUS flak, because there’s a lot of puppy mills in An early success of the Wilde Puppy Mill Task Force was helping to coordinate the rescue of their community. So maybe that brought con- 221 dogs and two cats from Gayla’s Poodle Palace in Sparta, Tenn. A call from White County cern that if they did another one, they’re up Sheriff Oddie J. Shoupe led to the deployment of resources to the scene. for reelection, it’s going to be fresh in their constituents’ minds, and instead of support- It’s going to be tough, because he’s already owner] would surrender the animals and no ing them, they won’t get their votes. on the scene, but we can see what we can charges would be filed. do.” We end up getting on the phone with Cascio: And on occasion, you might have a this guy—wonderful sheriff, [Sheriff Oddie Do you ever encounter folks in law en- sheriff that would like to be cooperative, but J. Shoupe], who is a strong advocate for forcement who are not sympathetic to he doesn’t have the resources. They have animals, and we couldn’t ask for anything what you’re trying to do? maybe a single ACO or a part-time ACO, and better out of him—we were on the phone Scally: Sometimes they don’t get it. Maybe they have a six-run kennel or they’re contract- with him, trying to make arrangements to they’re not sympathetic to the issue; maybe ing for their animal housing with a local vet, come in to help him with the situation, be- they don’t see necessarily that it’s a problem. they have no shelter, and now there are 300 cause the original estimate was that there There’s different viewpoints. Some of them, animals. And they haven’t done anything were only 80 dogs, and then it went to 100 they tell you that’s how they were raised, and about it … because they don’t know what to and then 150, and then it went to over 200. that’s just how it is. do about it. So a lot of times when we call in He had dealt with a puppy mill situation then and start talking about how we can help before, but he was totally lost on where Cascio: Or they may be related to the suspect. and how we can provide a full deployment— to go from here. We kept in constant con- housing, animal removal, evidence collection, tact, we deployed resources. Unfortunately, Scally: There might be a relationship. We’ve emergency animal sheltering and then place- prior to us even leaving, the district attor- had cases like that, where there’s been a fam- ment, and we can show up and do that for ney had made an arrangement that [the ily relationship or a friendship that has been them—they’re suddenly very cooperative. involved with the suspect, and so, because of To learn more about the Stop Puppy that, they cover for them. Scally: And sometimes they’re hesitant from Mills campaign, and the Wilde Puppy the beginning, and once all is said and done, Mill Task Force, go online to humane- So is that frustrating for you, when you they’ll come back to us and say, “Wow, you society.org/issues/puppy_mills. present evidence, and you have to walk guys did a really good job. We appreciate away? your help.”

46 ANIMAL SHELTERING SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 ANIMALSHELTERING.ORG

shelter medicine

Canine Distemper Virus: Anatomy of an Outbreak One shelter’s experience getting rid of a microscopic enemy

BY MIRANDA SPINDEL, D.V.M., M.S., ASPCA AND BOBBI ALLEN, ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY JOCELYN LAYMAN/ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY WELFARE LAYMAN/ANIMAL JOCELYN

After a distemper outbreak caused some sheltered dogs to get sick, titer-testing helped the Animal Welfare Society of West Kennebunk, Maine, figure out which dogs could be safely kept in the adoption area.

The Veterinary Perspective: transporting animals from regions where Although many veterinarians and animal Miranda Spindel adoption may be unlikely to areas where care workers think CDV is rare, it’s actually As the director of veterinary outreach resources and homes are more abundant. still present in many communities, often at the ASPCA, much of my work involves Organizations involved in transporting do persisting in wildlife populations. Raccoons, answering questions and consulting with risk bringing infectious diseases like CDV into foxes, skunks, and coyotes can circulate and humane organizations across the country the receiving shelter along with friendly and transmit distemper to dogs. CDV can easily about infectious disease control. Recently, adoptable dogs. But in most cases, the risks enter a shelter, is difficult to distinguish from I’ve been receiving an increasing number associated with transport can be mitigated other canine respiratory diseases, can be of questions about canine distemper virus with some commonsense measures, and are tricky to diagnose, and may slowly wreak (CDV), particularly from groups involved in far outweighed by the potential to save lives. havoc in a shelter’s dog population. Shelters

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In a pinch, a well-signed curtain can help direct employees away from isolation areas. But the Animal Welfare Society took its containment procedures even further, creating a separate area where it could isolate sick dogs and where only two specific employees were allowed to enter. MIRANDA SPINDEL/ASPCAMIRANDA BOBBI ALLEN/ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY WELFARE ALLEN/ANIMAL BOBBI

In the wake of the outbreak, all asymptomatic dogs with positive titers (indicating a low risk Nasal swabs on dogs with varying symptoms for canine distemper virus) remained in the adoption section. The one dog with a low titer helped the shelter rule out the possibility of result (and therefore a higher risk of infection) was kept isolated. canine influenza as the culprit behind the outbreak. need to be aware of the clinical signs of CDV Animal Welfare Society was bringing in dogs a second time. Some became only mildly ill, and know steps to take to confirm cases and and puppies from partnering shelters on a while others developed severe pneumonia. stop transmission. monthly basis. New arrivals were isolated Bobbi reported that out of 55 dogs My first contact with the Animal Welfare from the general population for a week after housed at the shelter, 20 were showing Society in West Kennebunk, Maine, came arriving at the shelter. clinical signs of significant respiratory in October 2009. After learning that this Bobbi explained that canine respiratory disease: coughing, thick nasal discharge, shelter was experiencing some unusual disease seemed to be escalating. Some vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite, and canine respiratory disease, a colleague from months earlier, a puppy had been transported, some pneumonia. These dogs were on broad the ASPCA introduced me to the shelter’s co- spent a short period of time at the shelter, spectrum antimicrobial coverage, but Bobbi manager, Bobbi Allen. In her first e-mail to and then was euthanized with severe was quite concerned, as they had recently had me, Bobbi wrote, “Hopefully you have some respiratory disease. The puppy’s clinical signs two dogs with signs of respiratory disease die insight or suggestions for us. We have an of nasal discharge, cough, and subsequent at the shelter. outbreak of disease affecting a large number pneumonia were consistent with distemper— Although the shelter did not have a staff of dogs here at our shelter.” though unfortunately, a confirming necropsy veterinarian, veterinary guidance and support was not performed. from the community was strong. Recently, Escalating Illness At the time, shelter staff felt that other a community veterinarian had performed a The Animal Welfare Society was a well- dogs hadn’t been significantly exposed. polymerase chain reaction (PCR) panel test run shelter with first-rate shelter medical However, cases of respiratory disease recently on one of the very ill dogs. Results were health care protocols. Following shelter seemed to be increasing and not responding negative for canine influenza virus, Bordetella medicine standard recommendations well to the typical therapies the shelter bronchiseptica, adenovirus, and corona virus, (available at aahanet.org/PublicDocuments/ customarily used with success. The shelter but positive for distemper and parainfluenza. VaccineGuidelines06Revised.pdf), the shelter had been keeping good records of affected However, this particular dog had received was administering modified live Da2PP animals and did not detect any particular a modified live Da2PP vaccine within the vaccinations and intranasal trivalent kennel pattern. Young and geriatric dogs were preceding two weeks, and Bobbi had been cough vaccines to all dogs on arrival. Like affected. Some dogs became ill soon after correctly informed that the sensitive PCR many well-resourced Northeast shelters, the entry; some recovered, and then became ill test could be detecting the vaccine rather

48 ANIMAL SHELTERING SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 ANIMALSHELTERING.ORG [shelter medicine] than actual infection. These tests must be from many areas of the country, and a high Animal Sheltering article, “Canine Influenza interpreted carefully, as positive results are percentage of dogs showing clinical signs and Virus: Fact or Fiction?” and the chapter not always indicative of the cause of an some showing pneumonia, CDV was high on on canine influenza in the new textbook illness. Confirming a diagnosis at this point the list of possibilities. However, pre-death Infectious Disease Management in Animal was critical, not only for treating the affected diagnosis of distemper is, unfortunately, not Shelters.) All dogs tested negative for canine dogs, but also for strategizing to prevent a simple undertaking. Although there are influenza virus both via PCR and serology, further disease spread. many tests for distemper available, they all making this disease a very low likelihood as require interpretation. Recent vaccination the cause of the outbreak. Diagnosis Dilemmas (within approximately one to three weeks) At this time, two dogs started to show Everyone, including myself, was worried. can interfere with most test results, including neurological signs—a classic symptom While a definitive diagnosis was pursued, serology, immunofluorescent antibody associated with CDV. Euthanasia was elected the shelter put steps in place to ensure testing, and PCR, creating confusion in due to poor prognosis, and distemper was that the disease was contained and further shelters where vaccination on intake is quickly confirmed through a necropsy transmission stopped. Although this sounds standard practice. at the state laboratory. Had these dogs simple, enacting any type of effective We also discussed canine influenza virus not developed obvious distemper signs, quarantine requires tremendous staff effort. (CIV) as another rule-out. Several of the further testing would have been required Bobbi and I talked over the two most dogs seemed to have had repeated bouts of to properly determine management steps, likely rule-outs for the clinical signs she illness, which is typically not the case with as there are many other infectious agents was observing in her shelter, with the CIV. Because testing for CIV is a little more that can cause canine infectious upper understanding that many agents of canine straightforward, the decision was made to respiratory disease. In many shelter outbreak infectious respiratory disease can cause similar run serum antibody titers and nasal swab PCR situations, animals euthanized due to illness clinical signs—and sometimes there can tests on 12 dogs with varying clinical signs provide ample opportunity for necropsies be more than one infectious agent present and shelter intake dates in order to attempt to be performed. It’s an opportunity that’s at a time. With a recent case of possible to rule CIV in or out. (For more information frequently overlooked and is generally one canine distemper virus, transport occurring on testing methods, read the Mar-Apr 2010 of the fastest and most economical means to

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took a step back to evaluate the flow of both was stocked with all the supplies needed for human and animal traffic in the building. We daily enrichment, sanitation, feeding, medical realized that our situation and some of our treatments, first aid, etc. We prepped the practices were less than ideal. room to exist as a stand-alone operation Given our current facility, true isolation or that would be staffed by two employees all quarantine is virtually impossible for us in our day for 90 days; these employees were not daily operations as a busy open-admission permitted access to the rest of the shelter shelter. Because most canine respiratory after beginning their shifts. All dogs who agents transmit through direct contact, exhibited symptoms of illness were moved through fomites (surfaces that can carry to this area. We literally locked the door that disease agents), and through the air with connected the area to the rest of the shelter relative ease, Dr. Spindel recommended that building and put up a plywood wall to prevent we separate all of the dogs in the building any possibility of accidental exposure. (both exposed and sick) from any new dogs The remaining dogs underwent bedside Bobbi Allen coming in. She also suggested to further distemper antibody testing to establish separate symptomatic dogs. Some shelters, whether individual dogs were at a high or low she explained, can do this by simply halting risk for infection. Titer testing is a somewhat admissions. In other shelters, that’s not an experimental method of management in option, and creative use of space can allow a shelter outbreak situation. In our shelter, a break between incoming and existing all asymptomatic dogs with positive titers populations. Some facilities even use an off- (indicating a low risk for CDV because they site building for intake. were likely to have strong immunity) remained We decided the best plan for our shelter in the adoption section. The one dog with a was to stop accepting owner-relinquishments low titer result (and therefore a high risk for and halt dog adoptions while diagnostics infection) was relocated to isolation. took place. Our shelter has contractual After the move was complete, we spent arrangements, and a clean area was set up for two whole days rigorously cleaning and new stray animals to be received and handled disinfecting the building. While the virus separately from the exposed population. cannot survive long-term outside a host, we Miranda Spindel After two weeks, the diagnosis of canine had to be vigilant to eradicate any possibility distemper virus was confirmed, and the shelter for new animals to be exposed. On the third direct treatment and management steps that management pulled together to discuss day, we reopened to the public for dog can save other lives. the options. We talked about how long the adoptions and relinquishments. With the diagnosis of distemper now exposed and sick dogs would need to stay For the first six weeks after reopening, certain, Bobbi and I were able to discuss separated based on incubation and shedding we drew blood on each incoming dog the options for how the shelter should manage periods. The unfortunate aspect of distemper moment she came through our doors to the outbreak. is that it has a lengthy incubation time (weeks measure distemper antibody levels, then to months) and a lengthy shedding period vaccinated against DA2PP and Bordetella The Shelter Perspective: (two to three months), and some animals can bronchiseptica as part of an established Bobbi Allen be infectious without obvious clinical signs. routine protocol. We titer-tested these dogs When Dr. Spindel and I first spoke, she We were basically faced with two choices: because we wanted information about explained to me the importance of isolation strict isolation of the sick and exposed dogs their immunity to distemper on intake. We to mitigate the spread of disease. We were for the 90-day period required to ensure dogs hoped that this information might allow us operating as usual and did not realize that are no longer incubating or shedding virus, or to diagnose disease and decide on a plan some common practices—in conjunction with total de-population. Euthanasia of our entire of action should any sickness appear in the the layout of the building—were contributing dog population was not something we were new population. to transmission of respiratory disease among willing to consider. One discovery that was particularly the dogs. alarming was the evidence of unprotected Despite being a well-used, aging building, Splendid Isolation and under-vaccinated dogs. About half of our shelter has many great features, and our We made a plan to seal off a kennel room the local dog population that came in during experienced management team and staff that houses 23 kennels to give us the space this time did not have sufficient antibodies on have developed some good protocols and needed to isolate nearly 30 dogs. An existing the titer test to be considered protected. We standard operating procedures. However, exterior door was modified to accommodate were fortunate that not one dog fell ill after when faced with this disease outbreak, we staff entrance only from the outside. The area the initiation of quarantine.

50 ANIMAL SHELTERING SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 ANIMALSHELTERING.ORG [shelter medicine]

Clear Communications mish-mash group of highly desirable adoption The Animal Welfare Society is now We decided right from the beginning to let candidates. operating with a heightened awareness the public know about what was happening The final release of quarantine was a of the general health of residents, tighter via press releases and the Internet and to day of celebration and lots of wonderful transfer dog protocols, and is quick to provide frequent, factual, non-alarming adoptions. Fifteen dogs went home on that perform diagnostic testing (up to a necropsy) updates. Our honesty and openness were first day! One dog went to Massachusetts, in the event of illness. Shelters need to know key in maintaining the public’s trust, gaining to a new owner who had been following the that there are resources available and should support, and generating adoption interest. story on our website and was excited to adopt feel comfortable asking for help if animals Our careful approach enforced the fact that a dog who had undergone the training we are not responding to typical treatments, we are a competent group of animal care had invested in the dogs to keep them healthy are dying, or if a large percentage of the professionals who are caring for homeless and sound. All of the quarantined dogs found population is ill. The earlier that diagnosis animals. We are extremely fortunate to have new homes within a short period. and management steps can be implemented, the resources and support that we have. While operations at the Animal Welfare the better off a shelter and an entire Our donors, volunteers, colleagues, local Society are back to normal now, managing community will be. veterinarians, and the public all stood behind this outbreak highlighted some important The outbreak at the Animal Welfare our efforts to successfully care for these dogs. lessons, both from a management and a Society serves as an important reminder of Our dedicated and enthusiastic staff veterinary perspective. No shelter is immune the vital role that shelters play as sentinels and were determined to create an environment to viral disease outbreaks, and an outbreak educators for the community—and not just where the isolated dogs would thrive, with of a disease like distemper is a lot of work in cases of disease. While canine distemper a goal of releasing for adoption those dogs to manage! Not every shelter would be virus is almost entirely preventable through who were behaviorally better than when they able to successfully complete a distemper good vaccination programs, it is a disease went in. Daily obedience training, scheduled quarantine, not just because of physical that is still circulating in the dog population. rest time, play groups, indoor agility, treat building limitations, but because maintaining Ultimately, learning to reduce any infectious puzzles, and quiet one-on-one time in the animals’ behavioral well-being during this disease in an animal shelter will result in more kennels for 90 consecutive days produced a time requires creativity and dedication. healthy animals finding lifelong homes.

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volunteer management

The Tracks of My Volunteers Improve your program by getting to know your people

BY HILARY ANNE HAGER

We live in the Information Age, but larger perspective on what type of community understanding of what skills and abilities your sometimes it seems like the flood of support your organization has, as measured organization has at its disposal. information simply leaves us overwhelmed. by volunteer time and effort. Shelters need systems to track information For shelter volunteer programs trying to Regardless of whether they give a financial related to their volunteer programs, and the keep their heads above water, figuring out gift in addition to their time, volunteers are system needs to be accessible to the pertinent which information to track is just as critical as donors, and they deserve the same kind shelter officials—it can’t just “live” inside of figuring out how to track it. of care and maintenance as your financial the head of the program manager. Gathering and maintaining information donors. You need to have an understanding Volunteer programs are information- and about your volunteers is important on many of who they are and how they’re connected time-intensive, and involve a lot of details levels. You need the small details—which in your community. Gathering more that need to be tracked. Volunteer managers volunteers are providing service at which information about your volunteers is a matter are usually so busy they either can’t take time times, for example—but you also need the of resource mapping, which leads to a better to develop the tracking systems they need,

FIND ANIMAL SHELTERING ON FACEBOOK AND FIND A COMMUNITY OF FELLOW ANIMAL LOVERS! 53 or don’t take the time to put onto paper General Contact Information what they know in their heads. If that critical This one is obvious—organizations need person leaves the organization, this can lead to communicate with their volunteers, so to burnout and staff turnover; without a clear gathering mailing addresses, phone numbers, set of instructions on the program’s different and e-mail addresses just makes sense. elements, the systems won’t transfer to new Keeping track of where volunteers live hires, and the institutional knowledge and can also be useful; if they live nearby, perhaps details will be lost with the former employee. they can help out during inclement weather? It’s also important to track why volunteers Knowing where they live can also help you leave. When someone stops volunteering, figure out where to hold a big event, or to you should contact them to find out why, develop a recruitment strategy; if volunteers and then observe any patterns that may help aren’t coming from the areas closest to the you improve your program and retain your organization, some local outreach might be volunteers. in order. At my organization, I’ve developed a Knowing where they come from can “What to do if Hilary is hit by a bus” manual. also help an organization that’s developing (Others prefer to call it the “What to do if relationships with government agencies or Hilary wins the lottery” guide, but let’s be lobbying for passage of animal-friendly laws. serious about which is more likely to occur.) Having volunteers as constituents in different This manual outlines all of the elements of communities, and knowing who and where my job, including system passwords, what they are, means having allies on the ground. tasks need to be done at which point in the month, instructions on data entry, scheduling, Date of Birth running reports, giving orientations and Many volunteer programs have minimum age trainings … the whole nine yards. requirements. If that’s the case, volunteers’ This may seem obsessive, but it has value: date of birth is a must. Another benefit For one thing, it means I can actually take of knowing birthdates is being able to a vacation and have someone step in to do acknowledge a volunteer’s special day with a my job while I’m away. It also means that if I card or e-greeting—an easy and inexpensive ever leave, the next person hired can step in way to make volunteers feel as though they’re and carry on until they figure out a new and a part of a community. better way to do things. Believe me when I tell you that taking the time to get this set up Emergency Contact Information and structured now will save you more time Nearly every volunteer application I’ve seen than you can imagine later on. asks for an emergency contact, which is a solid practice. It’s important to ensure that Shall We Gather? information is accessible: In the case of a Before we talk about tracking information, serious emergency, can someone get to it let’s identify what information to gather. For quickly? A Web-based database allows users me, a guiding principle is to ask only for the to access the information from outside of the information that I’ll actually use; otherwise, building, which is ideal. A low-tech option it’s unnecessary. That said, though, I like to is having a binder containing emergency think big: I may not need certain information contacts; this can be kept with all other right this second, but if I think it could come emergency preparedness items. Make the in handy later, I start collecting it so I’ll have it information as accessible as possible so it can when I need it. be utilized if it’s ever needed. You’ll want to have a schedule for keeping Keeping a binder requires periodic updating information up to date; information is only to remove the forms from former volunteers useful if it’s current. Consider sending out an and add new ones from recent additions. annual reminder to ask people to update their information; some people simply don’t think Employer of telling their volunteer manager when they It’s a good idea to find out where your move or their emergency contact changes, as volunteers work, because they can serve it may in the case of a death or divorce. as a bridge and create a connection in the

54 ANIMAL SHELTERING SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 ANIMALSHELTERING.ORG [volunteer management] community. Some companies make matching donations for employees who volunteer a certain number of hours, or match donations of monetary gifts. Some employees have no idea their company offers the benefit, so it’s nice for development staff to be able to make those connections. Employment information can also be helpful when your shelter is looking for event sponsorships or donations of supplies, equipment, or other items. Companies may find requests made by employees more appealing.

Personnel Files An effectively managed volunteer program should look and act a lot like an effective human resources department. Volunteers should have personnel files just like employees (a paper filing system with folders for each volunteer is a great place to start). The file should include all of the relevant documentation for the individual, including their volunteer application, signed volunteer attend can also help you make connections Ask volunteers if they belong to a service agreement, any training documents signed in the community. You can make a club or speaker’s bureau, or if they have any by the volunteer to indicate they’ve read presentation at the school to talk about additional skills or hobbies that you should know and understood the training content, volunteer opportunities, or have the school about. People with construction or mechanical evaluations of the volunteer and their service, become a site for senior service-learning abilities, sewing, knitting, or designing skills, or correspondence to or from the volunteer, projects, etc. who are members of Toastmasters, can all be paperwork about any corrective or disciplinary Students in technical schools, community huge assets to any organization—but only if action taken, notations of any awards the colleges, or universities may help your you know about them! volunteer has received, and so on. organization access people with specific This information comes in handy in skills, such as groomers, photographers, Schedules a couple of ways; it’s there to create a marketing and promotion professionals, video Groups that rely on a consistent number record if a volunteer ever needs to be let producers, copy editors, statistical analysts, of people to do a set amount of work at a go, if a special award is to be given, or if fundraisers, and more. particular time need to establish a schedule in the volunteer needs proof of service for order to know who is going to be there and community service requirements. Background Checks what type of work they’ll be doing. It also ties to what I mentioned earlier— Some organizations require background One of the goals of my volunteer such records ensure that the history of the checks for volunteers participating in their program is to have consistent and high- person’s relationship with the organization program; that’s the case at my shelter now. quality care for the animals in my shelter. is accessible, and exists somewhere outside We have established guidelines for which Predictability is critical; I have a schedule of the volunteer manager’s head. If the types of offenses our volunteer program with a set number of volunteers due to volunteer leaves but later decides to return, considers acceptable, and which types come in at particular times. Volunteers the record of their involvement—good and prevent participation. make a commitment to work a certain bad—will be available and easy for any new shift every week for a minimum of three managers to review. Hidden Talents months, and if they’re not able to make it, Each organization will need a plan for Volunteers bring with them a wide range of they have to try to line up a substitute to how long to maintain these files after a skills, hobbies, and abilities that might benefit cover for them. volunteer departs, but three to five years is your organization in ways beyond the direct In other organizations, the setup allows usually a good rule of thumb. animal care or in-home foster care they more flexibility for volunteers to come in provide. It may not even occur to them that when they can, or to fulfill a certain number School their skills can be helpful, so it behooves any of hours in a 30-, 60-, or 90-day period. Or If your organization allows teenage organization to ask questions and find out volunteers sign up to participate in one event volunteers, finding out which schools they what makes their volunteers tick. at a time. A variety of models can work, but

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are outlined, and the tool is accessible to the hours required to complete a community volunteers as well as other organization staff service project. Resources so they know where to go for assistance at Knowing when a volunteer began serving Go to animalsheltering.org/ any given time. allows managers to send cards to acknowledge volunteer_databases for information significant milestones, such as completion of about choosing the volunteer man- Service an initial commitment period, or a six-month agement database that best fits your This is the nuts and bolts of tracking: How or one-year anniversary. Start dates can also be shelter’s needs. many hours has the volunteer served? used to track probationary periods or prompt How many animals has the foster home an evaluation if one is required after a certain Go to animalsheltering.org/ taken into care? When did the person start amount of time is completed. volunteer_application for information volunteering, and when did they stop? Has Some groups use paper sign-in systems, about how to structure a volunteer the volunteer fulfilled her weekly/monthly/ or e-mail hours report forms to their application. annual commitment? volunteers to fill out and return. All of these For many programs, knowing how do the job, but entering the data can be in my program, the need for consistency and many volunteers have performed how very time-consuming, and these systems predictability requires a set schedule. many hours of service is a metric for mea- don’t inform the program coordinator until Regardless of what your scheduling suring success. Volunteer involvement can well after the fact if volunteers haven’t met needs are, each organization needs to be a measurement of community support. their time requirements or shown up at their identify a process for identifying its volunteer Independent Sector, a national coalition scheduled time. needs and allowing people to sign up and of charitable organizations, calculates the Other organizations use Web-based carry out their service. Whether the system value of volunteer service at more than systems that allow volunteers to sign in using utilizes spreadsheets or paper sign-up sheets, $20/hour. a time-clock function, or remotely with a online scheduling programs or appointment Volunteers may also need to know the timesheet that automatically tracks hours and calendars, the important thing is that the extent of their service, whether they’re does all the math. process exists, the steps of the system calculating tax-deductible transport trips or Managing a volunteer program is much more complex than simply lining up a person to do a specific task at a specific time. Managing the appropriate data in a useful way can sometimes feel less imperative than making sure the organization’s core mission is met, but investing time in setting up the right systems to collect the information that best serves the needs of the organization and the volunteers will absolutely save time and effort down the road.

Hilary Anne Hager is the shelter activities coordinator for Everett Animal Services in Everett, Wash.

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58 ANIMAL SHELTERING SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 ANIMALSHELTERING.ORG [marketplace]

FIND ANIMAL SHELTERING ON FACEBOOK AND FIND A COMMUNITY OF FELLOW ANIMAL LOVERS! 59 off leash

Blankets and Beyond Operation Blankets of Love spreads out

BY JAMES HETTINGER BRAD SMULSON BRAD SMULSON Smulson says her rescue dog, Ginger, Eileen Smulson, founder of Operation Blankets of Love in California, delivers a load of pet inspired her to start Operation Blankets comfort items to an animal shelter in Long Beach. of Love.

Eileen Smulson says the collection of pet- tions in media outlets ranging from local dreds of items. OBOL—run by Smulson with related stuff stacked in her garage and shed newspapers to radio and television. the help of her husband, Brad Smulson, and in California is kind of like a tide: “It fills up, it She founded the organization in early a handful of volunteers—now has about goes down.” 2008 after seeing puppies shivering at West three dozen drop-off sites and serves dozens Smulson, the founder and president of Valley Animal Services Center, a shelter near of shelters and rescue groups in 10 California Operation Blankets of Love (OBOL), initially her home in Granada Hills. She says it dis- counties, Smulson says. She says OBOL has focused on collecting blankets and towels to turbed her to think of her dog Ginger, whom collected more than 200,000 items. She distribute to Los Angeles area animal shel- she had adopted years earlier, lying on a cold hopes to attract corporate or foundation ters. Now her stash includes new or gently cement floor. sponsors and possibly establish OBOL chap- used collars, leashes, crates, dog igloos, cat Smulson voiced her concern to Capt. Jan ters around the country. scratchers, pet food, first-aid items, vitamins, Selder, then the shelter’s manager, who of- Blankets and towels are a big benefit to pet shampoo, and dog clothes. Even in a fered her a tour of the facility. Selder says shelters and rescue groups—saving them bad economy, she says, people love animals she explained that although the center was money and helping make the animals feel safer, and are willing to donate. The total rises and newly built and had heated floors, some of more relaxed, happier, and ultimately making falls as she makes her collections and deliver- the cages were still cold, especially on windy them more adoptable. But Smulson has taken ies, but she says it never drops below several days, and the shelter’s budget didn’t fund OBOL, which became a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) thousand items. beds and blankets for the animals. They dis- nonprofit last year, well beyond blankets. A onetime school teacher and former cussed ways that Smulson might help, and She and Ginger, a certified therapy dog, fundraiser for nonprofit organizations who soon after she started OBOL, placing dona- present humane educational programs to founded a singing telegram balloon delivery tion boxes at her veterinarian’s office, her pet youth and civic groups, sharing Ginger’s story business in her native New Jersey at age 25, groomer’s, and a local pet supply store. of being found on a desert highway. Smulson says she likes to think outside the The operation grew quickly, Smulson OBOL also partners with local emergency box. Her entrepreneurial attitude and passion says, as she found out how easy it was to rescue groups, providing comfort items for pets for animal welfare issues have broadened the gather donations. Within weeks she had 15 victimized by disasters. “You can call us the Red scope of OBOL, and helped it garner men- drop-off locations and had collected hun- Cross to the rescue world,” Smulson says.

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