reporterrescue village Geauga Humane Society Newsletter • Sponsored by Invisible Fence Co. issue 1 - 2010 From the Field: Stopping Neglect & Cruelty by Christian Courtwright, Geauga County Humane Agent When I first started working as a humane name). Helen was a middle-aged woman, agent, one of my instructors taught me that well spoken and articulate. But there was this job requires wearing “many hats.” He something very sad about her. After I ex- said we must act as police officers, emergency plained who I was and why I was there, she responders, animal handlers, vet techs, and admitted that she had six dogs and two social workers — sometimes all at once. A puppies inside the house. She said that she recent case brought that lesson home. lives at a neighbor’s house now, because her house is “such a mess.” Helen explained that An urgent voicemail message claimed there she had been trying to find homes for the were eight to ten dogs abandoned at a prop- puppies and that her kids said they would erty in Claridon. I met with Barnee Woolf, take the older dogs. who coordinates dog intake at the shelter, so we could make a plan to We spoke about the dogs’ bring in that many animals at “On any given day, quality of life, and she soon one time. Her supernatural the types of cases offered to surrender one to calm was a big help. Ready Rescue Village. When pressed that come in change, for anything, I drove to the about the other dogs, she said Christian Courtwright with Aquilla photo: Amanda Hrabak property. and the “hats” I her kids would come to get have to wear vary.” them. I told her that I would ous and unsanitary for them to stay. She I knocked on the front door, need to see the conditions of agreed, but didn’t want to lose contact with and the house erupted with her home to make sure none of the dogs are any of the animals. She had had them since barking. It sounded like eight to ten dogs suffering or in danger. She agreed to let me they were young. She wept. to me! I knocked again and waited, hoping go inside, but warned me that “it’s bad.” someone would be home. Several cars and Understanding Helen a motorcycle were parked in the driveway, And it was. Trash was everywhere. The front I needed to change hats. I could no longer covered with snow. door didn’t open all the way, and the upstairs be the stern humane officer. To resolve this hall was completely blocked. The dogs case with the best results, I needed to find Eight dogs in Claridon climbed over piles of garbage like mountain out what caused this situation in the first One dog was barking in the garage. I looked goats. Somewhere, in the kitchen, I heard a place. So Helen and I went outside to an old through a window and saw a medium-sized cat meow. Helen said she had two cats that picnic table, brushed off the snow, and sat brown dog on a short cable, surrounded by sometimes go outside. A large silver tabby and talked for a while. We talked of general garbage. The dog was wagging his tail and popped out of an empty cat food bag, looked things at first. When I mentioned her snow- seemed to be in good shape. But the condi- at me, and then returned to his nest. covered motorcycle, Helen said it belonged tions looked terrible, and I needed to find the to her boyfriend. I asked where he was and if owner right away. Although none of the animals looked starved maybe he could help with the dogs. She said and all appeared to be friendly and socialized, When I went back to my van, the owner he was killed not long ago, but wouldn’t go I advised Helen that the animals couldn’t arrived. I’ll call her “Helen” (not her real into detail. remain in these conditions; it was too danger- continued on page 2 fromthe executive director Diversity and Direction Every May we take shelter dogs with us to the Blossom Time Parade in Chagrin Falls. It is a joyous day, and we are always surprised how well the dogs cooperate, considering the crowds, rescue noise and heat. While parade floats line up, we gather at the Simpsons. The dogs run free in their fenced-in yard. Add the resident dogs, Cara, Grace and Emma, and there is a big mix that village could result in a big mess! They graze, wrestle, occasionally raise a hackle or two, but basically Geauga Humane Society/Rescue Village work it out. Doggie politics at its best— agreeing to disagree! Post Office Box 116 Novelty, Ohio 44072-0116 We come together around Rescue Village, hundreds of us 15463 Chillicothe Road, Russell Township ☎ 440.338.4819 humans, a community of animal lovers united by com- e-mail [email protected] passion. A humane ethic runs, like a luminescent thread, web www.geaugahumane.org through the fabric of our lives. How many times have we cried together? How often have we shaken our heads Rescue Village Hours in unison in disbelief or smile in celebration of happy Monday: noon to 7:00pm outcomes? Tuesday: noon to 5:00pm Wednesday: closed Yet, somehow, our politics are more difficult. They intersect Thursday: noon to 7:00pm with a complicated reality. I chuckle sometimes, wondering Friday: noon to 5:00pm Hope Brustein photo: Amy Sancetta if having language and soooo many words make it harder Saturday: noon to 5:00pm to understand each other. We live in a time when issues of Sunday: noon to 5:00pm humane treatment of animals are societal issues, throbbing with passion and contention. From adoptions stop 30 minutes before banning dog auctions in Ohio to determining standards of care for Ohio’s livestock and poultry, posted closing times people and organizations, including Geauga Humane Society, are taking stands and acting on ethical convictions. The debate will ebb and flow. I am confident that these waves are slowly eroding old values and justifications for continuing practices that are inhumane. Certainly no one can make a powerful argument anymore that animals do not experience, on their terms, comfort, sadness, boredom, pain, fear, or love. All animals deserve our moral concern. And, as we witness every day at Rescue Village, we choose how we act on those concerns. Information in RV Reporter is believed accurate. Geauga Humane Society does not accept responsibility for errors or omissions. Maybe you are thinking, “It’s spring, why such a weighty letter?” Because, this season, and Consult your veterinarian for animal related concerns. It is our those coming, will see many debates on animal welfare in Ohio. And, just as surely as the general policy not to sell or give away our mailing list. We do, however, reserve the right to share our list with certain strategic spring wildflowers will emerge, so will the colorful diversity of opinion, even among friends partners who are working with us to advance our mission. If you and family at Rescue Village. A human hackle or two may rise, but it is the way we work things do not want us to provide strategic partners with your name, please send written notification to P.O. Box 116, Novelty, OH 44072. out— agreeing to disagree, while taking responsibility for the future. Newsletter design by Sally Biel Contizano, [email protected] Illustrations © Jenny Campbell, Campbell & Co. Cartooning, [email protected] From the Field continued from page 1 Helen told me about the hard times she had Before leaving, Helen and I sat at the picnic On any given day, the types of cases that come experienced and her efforts to rebuild her life. table again and talked about her future. in change, and the “hats” I have to wear vary. We agreed that she could have a few days to She was sad to see the animals go, but also This work is about stopping animal neglect see if her kids would help with the animals. seemed relieved not to have to worry about and cruelty. But, whenever I can, I work to The weekend passed, and Helen’s kids took them. I gave her some numbers of social help the people, too. just one dog. I felt much sympathy for Helen, service agencies that might be able to help her, but explained that the animals needed to be and I gave her my card, asking her to call me if out of that environment, and extra time wasn’t she needed anything. I loaded up the dogs and likely to yield different results. She agreed cats and headed to the shelter, so that they to sign over all of the remaining animals to could be cared for and begin their new lives. Rescue Village. our thanks to these veterinarians who offer free examina- tions for animals adopted from Rescue Village answers Able Animal Hospital H.S. Sandhu, D.V.M. animal Animal Clinic of Chardon, Inc. Tom and Wendy Frankmann, D.V.M. Animal Hospital, Inc. 2010 is the year of the Tiger. What is GHS doing for the cats? Scott Murray, D.V.M., Debbie Dennis, D.V.M. Megan Barnhizer, D.V.M., Jeanne Friedman, D.V.M. Q Animal Medical Center of Euclid Auburn Veterinary Hospital, Inc. Paul Clemens, D.V.M. In honor of the year of the Tiger and Rescue Village’s devotion to Aurora Veterinary Clinic saving cats, 2010 is the Year of the Cat.