I read something about this a while back and it is truly one of the most horrific things imaginable, dog death squads that come to kill your dog.

It sounds like something out of a horror movie, but it’s not. As you can see from the message below another city in China is going to start a mass slaughter tomorrow, we can help.

Read through the instructions,  even if you can’t make a donation please take a moment to send an email, you don’t need to write it just use the one provided and fill in your information.

Thank you in advance to all those that take a few minutes out of their day to do this.  If you think you’re too busy, think about if someone from the government knocked on your door, took your dog, and then beat it to death in front of you. Don’t let this happen to the innocent dogs of China.

I’ve just received an urgent report that another city in China is planning a mass cull to slaughter any unregistered dogs, strays, and even registered family dogs that are over 14 inches (35cm) tall.

Dog owners in Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province, are even being told to kill their own dogs, or else their dogs will be beaten to death by the police and the owners will be charged a fine. Can you imagine being forced to kill your own dog to save it from a more brutal slaughter?

Unless we can stop this now, the Dog Death squads could be roaming the streets tomorrow – beating, stoning, and killing dogs – some right in front of their owners.

You might remember the attached e-mail I sent you recently about a similar cull. We found out too late for many of those dogs, but this time we have a chance to stop it before it starts.

I need you to do two things right now:

1. Send an e-mail to the Chinese Ambassador in your country. So you can act quickly, I’ve written an e-mail for you - click here to review and send it.

2. Make a donation to help IFAW end dog culls in China and to protect animals around the world from similar cruelty.

It’s crucial that you act quickly –according to the government notice, the police will begin combing the streets tomorrow to kill dogs. Please send your message now, and then forward this e-mail to as many of your friends as possible urging them to help us stop this slaughter.

In addition to working to stop this cull, IFAW is helping draft China’s first national animal welfare legislation that will prohibit culls like this. And we’re developing a rabies vaccination and sterilization program that we can offer to rural communities to humanely prevent rabies and control dog populations.

We’ve stopped culls like this in other Chinese cities, and we can stop this one too! Please send your message of protest today.

And then please make a donation to help us continue our efforts to help save animals around the world from cruelty and exploitation.

Please act now to save these dogs – make it the very next thing you do.

Thank you,

Fred

I just filled out the info and sent off my email, it took less than a minute.  I also made a donation, no amount is too small, we need to help IFAW fight back against this horrific injustice taking place in China.

Please post and crosspost this message, we need to get the word out.

I find this disturbing on so many levels, I hardly know where to begin.  When your power of choice is taken away and someone else steps in to make your decisions you no longer live in a free country. This isn’t about protecting you from a dangerous breed,  it’s about the government coming in and telling you what it deems a dangerous breed and therefore making it so.

Are we not capable of making our own decisions anymore?

Here’s a comment from Best Friends Animal Society, eloquently summing up all that is wrong with the proposed bylaw.

Best Friends Animal Society feels compelled to emphasize that the aim of this bylaw is to hunt down all dogs that have the appearance of a certain breed of dog and destroy any offspring.

This bylaw is a representation of misinformed policy-makers and public making panic-induced decisions without consideration of civil liberties and reason. It takes on a school of thought similar to the witch hunts that took place in Massachusetts over three hundred years ago whereby paranoia and panic is taking over logic and reason.

These assertions and recommendations are counterproductive to ensuring the safety of town residents and are wholly unsupported by any scientific evidence.

There you have it, start with this law and what’s next? Maybe only dogs with blond fur and blue eyes will be allowed to live-sound familiar?  Who’s going to be the judge of which dog has too much pit bull?  And what exactly is too much pit bull? After the pit bulls are destroyed what breed is next, and where does it end? Or will it ever end?

To all owners out there, just remember the old adage: First they came for the pit bulls and I didn’t speak up because I didn’t own one. Then they came for German Shepherds and I didn’t speak up because I didn’t own one. Finally they came for my Shih Tzu, and by that time no one was left to speak for me.

A law like this must not be allowed to pass, it is unjust and unfair. It takes away one of the best things about being an American….freedom of choice.

The City of Mashpee will hear about this alarming breed discriminatory bylaw at its Annual Town Meeting on October 19, 2009. Best Friends implores Massachusetts residents to take action and get in touch with their town representatives regarding this proposal.  Please go to their website for all the contact information and specifics on what to do.

*Pic of Sasha and Charlie courtesy Best Friends

I want to thank Carol for letting me know about the situation Sabbath Rescue is dealing with. The rescue is about to be closed due to a zoning issue and their 150 dogs are at risk of being put down.

Here’s more details from The Pet Postcard Project website.

In light of the enormous foreclosure problem we are experiencing here in south Florida, the number of dogs rescued by Sabbath Rescue within the last two years has exploded. These abandoned dogs, most sickly and inhumanely treated, now have a home where they are cared for, loved, and have the possibility of being adopted. Sabbath has been rescuing dogs for the past 9 years.

And now, Miami-Dade County wants to close Sabbath down because of a kennel license violation. Animal Services director, Sara Pizano, has filed a $5,000 lien on the farmland on which Sabbath is located. Sabbath has been ordered off the farm within 12 days. We will fight this, but regardless, if Animal Services finds that we have not moved in time, it is their intention to forcibly take the 150 dogs to their slaughter.

We desperately need your help to convince the City officials to either immediately issue a kennel license to Sabbath, or, in the alternative, to grant a stay for 12 months in order for Sabbath to resolve this situation.

It would be a horrible tragedy if the rescued dogs who cheated death once got put down without a chance for adoption. Take a minute to sign the petition asking Miami-Dade County for an extension.

If there’s anyone who knows how to legally help Sabbath Memorial Dog Rescue and these 150 shelter dogs, please contact Danny Kresky via email or at (954) 929-2097.

* Sabbath, the inspiration to start the rescue.

I received a message from one of our Dogster members pertaining to Vick’s new contract with the Eagles.

Many people are outraged by this decision but not sure how to make their voice heard. The message below provides information to help ensure the Eagles will know how the public feels.

Maybe it would put the matter in an easier to comprehend perspective for the general public if we replaced the term “dog fighting” with “pedophilia.” Get it now, sports fans?

If you are as sick as I am about hearing from, reading and listening about Vick, and all the people blogging about Vick, and all the organizations jumping on the Vick bandwagon, please do something useful:

a) Let the corporate partners of the Eagles know that you not only are not going to support the team, you’re also are not going to buy their products & services.

Be sure to copy your messages to the corporate partners, then paste and send to the team through their contact form.

b) I talked to the Eagles’ front office today. They are preparing for “outrage.” Call them at 215-463-2500, a human will take your call during business hours, and transfer you to a line they’ve set up to record you expressing yourself. (Please be civil. The person answering your call and tasked with listening to messages will not be Michael Vick.) I’m listing that as an option, but telling their corporate partners your opinion is going to be much more effective.

Despite if you believe he served his time and should be able to live his life, or that football players aren’t role models,  I still can’t understand why the Eagles would want to associate with the kind of human being that would commit such despicable acts.

Now you have the contacts you need, there’s no excuse to just talk about your outrage and not take action.

I’ve received many emails requesting information on how to help the dogs that were rescued from the dog fighting raids. Unfortunately I really don’t have any updates.

I do have a request from Mary K. LaHay, Director of Iowa Voters for Companion Animals, to take action ensuring the defendants in the case are punished to the fullest extent of the law.

Make a quick call to make sure the people who are charged in the dog-fighting bust don’t get off without facing punishment.

Here’s contact info for the presiding judge,

Judge Sarah Hays, US Magistrate Judge, 816/512-5775

I just called and she picked up the phone!! I simply and quickly asked her to ensure that these folks face charges. She thanked me for calling and we hung up.

I also called the number in the message below and left a message. PLEASE KEEP YOUR MESSAGES AND/OR CONVERSATIONS SHORT AND RESPECTFUL.

Please consider making these calls. It takes less than a minute!

Mary K. LaHay, Director

Iowa Voters for Companion Animals

The seven defendants from Iowa, Missouri, and Nebraska who have been indicted on dog-fighting charges will be arraigned day after tomorrow. Carl, I don’t know how far you are from 400 East 9th Street in Kansas City, but the defendants indicted for dog fighting charges will be in court with Judge Sarah Hays at 11:30 on Thursday July 23. She can do whatever she chooses with these guys, and I just visited with someone from the office, and some of the accused have already hired attorneys who will be pushing for dismissal of charges. Whitworth, US Attorney who announced the charges has an office in Kansas City. His phone number is 816-426-3122 or a toll-free number is 800-733-6558. How sad it would be if these charges were dismissed.

If we want change we need to take action.

“You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result”

Mahatma Gandhi

* Photo courtesy AP Photo/St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Phoenix was the victim of horrible animal cruelty, it happened on May 27th. I didn’t originally post the story because I try to keep a balance on the blog so it doesn’t become too depressing. However, when there is a chance that we can do something to help find the perpetrators or make the difference when it comes to getting justice I feel it’s important to get the word out.

In Baltimore, MD. a pit bull was set on fire and left to die. A Baltimore police officer came to her rescue but unfortunately the dog, despite medical treatment, didn’t make it. Two brothers were later arrested, due to their age they were charged as juveniles with animal abuse and cruelty.

The dog had burns on 98 percent of her body.

“This was one of the most cruel things I’ve ever seen. It hurt me to my heart,” said Baltimore city police Officer Syreeta Teel, who used her sweatshirt to put the fire out.

Denise Griffin said her boys were taken in for questioning on Friday night. She said her sons could never do something like that and thinks it’s all about money.

“I know they didn’t do it. I keep hearing different things around the neighborhood about the dog ran up to there. The dog — nobody said the dog was right there. So, I feel as though I know my boys didn’t do it. It’s a reward out and then wasn’t nobody picked up around there until they said something about a reward,” Griffin said.

The reward grew to $24,500 by the end of last week.

“They didn’t do it. I would put my life on the line that they didn’t do it,” said the boys’ father, Charles Johnson. “If you’re on fire or anybody else is on fire, you’re going to take off running. That’s probably what the dog (did). Who knows where it was set on fire at.”

“You know, 17-year-olds, they’re going to get into a little something. But they wouldn’t set a dog on fire. I think one of them is afraid of a dog,” Charles Johnson said.

Can you say denial?

Martin Mersereau, director of the cruelty casework division of the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals, said he hopes the juveniles receive maximum penalties for the incident if convicted.

“We’re thrilled to hear [of the arrests],” Mersereau told FOXNews.com. “People who abuse animals rarely do it once and almost never stop there.”

Mersereau said abuse of animals is common among serial killers and that FBI officials frequently use such crimes to gauge the potential threat of suspected and known criminals.

“The biggest mistake here is that people call this a ‘boys being boys’ thing,” Mersereau said. “I do hope they’re charged with felonies for malicious torture.”

Penalties for felony animal abuse in Maryland include up to $5,000 in fines and three years imprisonment, he said.

This is not a ‘boys being boys’ thing, it is a callous and cowardly act committed on an innocent animal. Travis and Jermaine Johnson are headed for a life of crime, they are just getting started. We need to make sure they are tried as adults and not juveniles. A petition has been started to make this happen, please go to the Care2 Petition Site and add your pawprint to ensure justice for Phoenix.

Post and crosspost this message everywhere, the Griffin boys’ need to be stopped now, not later.

* Pic courtesy WBAL TV 11

On Friday I posted the horrific story about Ella, the young German Shepherd who was left in a locked cage to starve to death after her owner moved out.

Christine Abrams, the woman responsible, was convicted of a misdemeanor and sentenced to 12 months probation, a $5,000 fine, and 80 hours of community service. Out of the 12 months she was supposed to serve eight in jail, she only served about six.

Abrams who was just released  is currently appealing the case, post-conviction, on grounds that the police searched her house illegally. It is speculated she is appealing to get out of the imposed court fines and probation.

While it’s too late to do anything to save Ella it isn’t too late to change the outcome of future cases. We need to join together to help get Florida law changed, making animal cruelty a felony. Death by starvation is a horrible way to go, this should never have been allowed to happen and the person responsible got away with murder as far as I’m concerned.

In some states animal cruelty has been changed to a felony, but not all, which is a travesty of justice. Every Monday I post safety tips from Anna Nirva , the founder of Sunbear Squad, who started her organization because of a case very similar to Ella’s which happened in Virginia.  A dog named Sunbear was locked in a shed and left to die, no one came to her aid until it was too late. The owner was eventually tracked down, arrested, and charged with a misdemeanor. There was an outcry from the dog lovers in Virginia, they got together and helped get the law changed so now animal cruelty is a felony in that state.

I have a challenge for all the wonderful Dogsters out there, to join me in the fight for justice for Ella. When I posted the original article it wasn’t to make people sad, although it is very sad, but rather to make people angry. I wanted you to be angry enough to take action, to make sure this doesn’t happen again.  I want to get the ball rolling by bringing what happened to Ella to the attention of the legislators in charge, those who have the power to  help make this type of change a reality. We need our elected officials to help us make sure a law is passed in Ella’s name.

My problem, I’m not totally sure where to start. I’m looking for people with experience dealing in legislation, with legislators, and petitions. As well as anyone who is willing to help spread the word, get petitions signed, and support changing the law.

You can contact me through the ‘Bark Back To Dogster Blog’ form on the upper right hand corner, the message comes directly to me. C’mon Dogsters, let’s make this happen for Ella and all the other dogs that depend on us for a voice.

Please post and cross-post this message, we need as much help and support as possible.

* Photo of Abrams & Ella courtesy FLORIDA TODAY

There is a wonderful organization that started in the Atlanta area, Daffy’s Pet Soup Kitchen. They are all about keeping pets and people together.

No one should have to choose between feeding themselves or their pets. Daffy’s takes away having to make that choice, they provide pet food so you can stay together. They also have numerous other programs to help families and their pets.

Daffy’s is looking to expand nationwide and they need your help.

Our goal is to get 10,000 people interested in assisting or helping us start a Daffy’s Pet Soup Kitchen in every state. We are one of the largest pet soup kitchens in the country and probably the first.

We have been assisting with pet food for 11 years. We now have 6 branches in Georgia where it was founded and are starting branches in about 28 states. We need your help to let people know the importance of keeping pets at home where they belong and the benefit of keeping these families together.

See our interview on CNN and Headline News and visit our website and please sign up today and assist where and when and how you can. Every branch is mainly funded through our main office in Georgia so it is easy to start a branch in every area.

Help us now spread the word of our mission. We want to know people are listening to our cry for help and the whimpers of these pets in need of food and assistance. Sign up now and look for us in your area. Send a message of you thoughts as well. Thank you.

You can put paw to paper on the Care2 Petition Site and help Daffy’s reach their goal of 10,000 signatures. Also, for anyone in the area who can help out with needed supplies and/or food donations check out their drop off sites.

*Pic courtesy Daffy’s Pet Soup Kitchen

Dogster member Carol barked this to me, it’s Michigan’s disgusting practice of selling animals in shelters to brokers who sell the animals for research.

Right now in Michigan, shelter cats and dogs are allowed to be bought for experimental research. The animals are then euthanized.

Support Michigan House Bill 4663 to eliminate pound seizure in Michigan animal shelters >>

Companion animals depend on humans for their safety and well-being. Tragically, this dependency is betrayed when shelters allow these pets to be taken by Class B Dealers for resale to research.

When Class B dealers (animal brokers) and research facilities can obtain cats and dogs from animal shelters, it diminishes the shelters’ credibility and purpose, and betrays public trust.

We have a chance to change this. Please sign today to support Michigan House Bill 4663 >>

Thank you for helping animals today.

Sincerely,

Emily
Care2 and ThePetitionSite Team

You can help by putting paw to paper and signing the petition on Care2, they have 25,000 signatures and have set a goal for 50,000.

* Pic courtesy Care2 site

The Davis family of Odenville, AL need our help to bring justice against the man who cold-heartedly shot their dog Babyboy. He was a beautiful one-year-old Basset Hound who accidentally got out of their backyard.

On the evening of Saturday June 28, 2008  the Davis’ family lives were changed. Their little Basset Hound, Babyboy, slipped out of the safety of his backyard. Moments later a neighbor came to the Davis’ front door to report their precious little dog was hurt.

Another neighbor, had shot and killed Babyboy.  Surrounded by a crowd of people, Terri picked up his lifeless little body screaming to God, as tears ran down her face. At that point she didn’t know how Babyboy had died. They brought him home and it was then, as they looked him over, that they found the bullet hole.

Delawder was part of the crowd that surrounded Terri. He was asking if, “Anyone had seen anything.” In other words, he was acting like he had no knowledge of the shooting. When the police arrived he lied to them. It was after Mr. Delawder contacted his attorney, (2 hours later) he admitted to shooting the Davis family dog.

His excuse? He stated he had every right to shoot the dog to protect his cats. It is suspected that his cats, (if there really are any) are locked in an unventilated box in his backyard. In which case, not only is he guilty of a crime by shooting the dog, he is also guilty of animal abuse.

Alabama state law made it a class C felony in the year of 2001: Title 13A. Criminal Code. Chapter 11. Offenses Against Order and Safety. Article 1. Offenses Against Public Order and Decency. § 13A-11-14. Cruelty to animals. Section 13A-11-240. Definitions. Section 13A-11-241. Cruelty in first and second degrees. 13A-11-14. Cruelty to Animals. (a) A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if, except as otherwise authorized by law, he intentionally or recklessly: (1) Subjects any animal to cruel mistreatment; or (2) Subjects any animal in his custody to cruel neglect; or (3) Kills or injures without good cause any animal belonging to another. (b) Cruelty to animals is a Class B misdemeanor. (Acts 1977, No. 607, p. 812, § 5565.) 13A-11-240. Definitions. (a) The word “torture” as used in this article shall mean the act of doing physical injury to a dog or cat by the infliction of inhumane treatment or gross physical abuse meant to cause said animal intensive or prolonged pain or serious physical injury, or thereby causing death due to said act.(b) The word “cruel” as used in this article shall mean: Every act, omission, or neglect, including abandonment, where unnecessary or unjustifiable pain or suffering, including abandonment, is caused or where unnecessary pain or suffering is allowed to continue. (c) The words “dog or cat” as used in this article shall mean any domesticated member of the dog or cat family. (Act 2000-615, p. 1252, § 1.)

This petition is to urge the magistrate and police of Odenville, AL to take action. Help us bring the town of Odenville, Alabama, to task, for failing to uphold the law. Help us get this man prosecuted for his CRIME. Thank you all, for your support.

This is a very sad story, that man’s crime was cruel and unconscionable. He shot a defenseless dog for nothing more than getting loose.  If it was really an act of protection one doesn’t deny it and then call an attorney.  I just hope that there are no neighborhood kids that disturb him, or ‘threaten’ him in any way.

There is a petition to get the police and authorities to take action against this man.  The goal is to get 10,000 signatures, if you would like to add yours, stop by The Petition Site. You can also read more on Babyboy’s MySpace page.