Sen. Al Franken is introducing a new bill which would give service dogs to injured veterans.

Franken’s legislation, which is an amendment to a 2010 military funding bill, would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to create a pilot program to train at least 200 service dogs through nonprofit organizations and give them to veterans with physical and mental disabilities.

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that Luis Carlos Montalvan, a disabled Iraq war veteran, suggested the idea to Franken months earlier at the presidential inaugural ball in Washington.

“It was really like a dream come true,” Montalvan, a journalism student in New York City, told the paper.

According to the paper, Montalvan told Franken that his service dog named Tuesday helps him deal with life after suffering fractured vertebrae and a head injury in an attack near the Iraq-Syrian border in 2007.

“There is going to be a clear return on investment here,” Franken told the paper. “My hope is that at the end of this they’ll go, ‘A ha! These dogs pay for themselves or more than pay for themselves, we have fewer suicides, fewer incidents of hospitalization, less costs in prescription drugs and more productivity.’ “

Our disabled veterans are definitely deserving of a service dog.  After the program has been in effect for three years the National Academies of Science will be compiling a report on the feasibility and benefit of providing veterans with service dogs.

* Hanson in his service dog attire.

This petition only has a little over 700 signatures, let’s see what we can do to get that to a respectable number.

One that will make the New York Senators stand up and take notice.

There is a petition here to ban the gassing of dogs, cats & wildlife in New York and also VERY important is that no animal can be sold to a research or any other facility by the shelter. This means that those people who collect dogs and cats from shelters and sell for research will have to pay the adoption fee to get them from and their profit will be gone.

This also means that dogs and cats that have to be killed will be done so with compassion and peacefulness. Not scared and afraid.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Support-Ban-of-Gas-Chambers-in-New-York-State-Animal-Shelters

PLEASE PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION AND WRITE TO THE LAZY SENATORS OF NY (WHO HAVE DONE NOTHING FOR THE LAST MONTH AND YET WE PAY THEM) AND TELL THEM THAT WE THE PEOPLE OF NY DEMAND THAT THEY PASS THIS BILL.

Thanks
Jennifer Fedele
Best Friends NY Ambassador
Pit Bull Rescuer and Advocate
Pitty Love Rescue

You do not need to reside in New York to sign the petition.

* Pic of Buddah from Pitty Love Rescue

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

This is terrific news, especially after all the animal abuse cases I’ve been reporting on. A new law was just passed in Arkansas to make animal cruelty a felony.

LITTLE ROCK — Gov. Mike Beebe signed legislation Wednesday to make torturing a dog, cat or horse a felony on first offense in Arkansas.

Senate Bill 77, crafted by Attorney General Dustin McDaniel and sponsored by Sen. Sue Madison, D-Fayetteville, became Act 33 at a Capitol ceremony.

The bill, which had no emergency clause to make it law upon getting the governor’s signature, becomes effective 90 days after the end of the legislative session making a conviction for aggravated animal cruelty punishable by up to six years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

The legislation also includes a five-year sentencing enhancement for anyone convicted of torturing an animal in the presence of a child.

Once again, it was the voice of the people who helped this law come to fruition.

“It was the people of Arkansas who demanded this bill. The letters I received, the letters to the editor, the e-mails, the calls — they never let up,” Madison said. “This bill is law today because the people of Arkansas would not give up.”

Now, let’s see about getting this law passed in every state where animal torture is not a felony.

* Kodi perusing the new law.

A kennel in Emmaus (PA) will have its license revoked after an inspection by The Department of Agriculture cited the owner for severe sanitation issues.

Derbe Eckhart, the owner of Almost Heaven Kennel, will be cited for violating the state’s dog law and will have to sell or transfer enough dogs to no longer be considered a kennel. Any kennel housing more than 25 dogs is required to be licensed and inspected.

“Mr. Eckhart allowed conditions at his kennel to deteriorate into a deplorable state,” said Jessie Smith, special deputy secretary for dog law enforcement. “While we continue investigating his operations, we are taking this action to protect the health and welfare of the animals there.”

Thanks to House Bill 2525, recently passed by the House making progress in the Senate, if passed it will strengthen the current dog laws concerning commercial breeding kennels.

“Raising the minimum standards for commercial breeding kennels and requiring annual veterinary checks will benefit all dogs in these types of settings,” said Smith. “Current law does not require that dogs ever receive routine medical care and as a result, many go without.

H.B. 2525 would require veterinary examinations for each dog twice per year. It would also double the minimum floor space for dogs, eliminates wire flooring, and requires access to an exercise area twice the size of the dog’s primary enclosure. Current law does not require dogs ever be taken out of cages, much less given access to exercise areas.

I realize this is only a start,  but at least we’re beginning to see some change.  You can visit DogLawAction, to learn more about Pennsylvania’s Dog Law proposed legislation.

This is truly a historic week when it comes to puppy mill reform.  A few days ago the Puppy Mill Bill was passed by the PA House of Representatives and is on the way to the Senate.

Now, there is new legislation seeking to close a loophole in the Animal Welfare Act, which allows puppies to be sold via the internet without Federal oversight.

WASHINGTON – The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund commend federal lawmakers for introducing bills that will crack down on abusive “puppy mills” in the United States – where breeding dogs are often stacked in wire cages for years to produce litter after litter. The legislation will close a loophole in the Animal Welfare Act that currently allows large, commercial breeders who sell puppies online and directly to the public to escape licensing and regulation.

The legislation – known as the “Puppy Uniform Protection Statute” (PUPS), or “Baby’s Bill” in honor of rescued puppy mill survivor Baby who is the subject of Jana Kohl’s new book A Rare Breed of Love – was introduced in the House of Representatives yesterday as H.R. 6949 by Reps. Sam Farr (D-Calif.), Jim Gerlach (R-Pa.), Lois Capps (D-Calif.) and Terry Everett (R-Ala.). A companion bill, S. 3519, was also introduced in the Senate by Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.).

The statute is pretty long, but worth reading, so check out the Humane Society site to read in full.  Once again we’ve proven when dog owners become a united front we are a powerful lobbying group.  We cannot, and will not,  be ignored.

I want to thank Gizmo for giving me a bark to let me know about the new legislation.

In yesterday’s post,  Come Join The “Stop The Puppy Mills” Stroll,  I mentioned the Pennsylvania Puppy Mill Ban  that was going before the PA House of Representatives.  The law was to improve conditions for dogs in Pennsylvania kennels.

I wrote that we, as dog lovers and owners, need to take a stand and help change the laws.  The power of the people has spoken,  we now have House Bill 2525.

Today is a great morning, hopefully the start of many, because the House Bill has made it through the PA House of Representatives and is now on to the Senate.

HARRISBURG – Governor Edward G. Rendell today praised the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for voting to pass House Bills 2525 and 2532, which he said will protect kennel dogs and the families that welcome them into their homes.

He urged swift passage of the bills in the Senate to help rid Pennsylvania of its reputation as “Puppy Mill Capital of the East.”

“The bills that passed in the House today with overwhelming, bi-partisan support will go a long way to protecting dogs kept in kennels with poor but currently legal conditions,” the Governor said. “I applaud the House of Representatives for defeating the many amendments to House Bill 2525 filed on behalf of special interest groups and aimed at weakening the bill. The House has delivered strong legislation that reflects not only the needs of dogs, but the will of the public in improving the minimum standards in the worst of Pennsylvania’s kennels.

“Current Pennsylvania law allows dogs to be kept in cramped, stacked cages their entire lives with no opportunity to exercise and minimal care,” the Governor said. “These conditions lead to dogs with physical and behavioral problems. Pennsylvania must ensure that the standards of care are raised for the sake of dogs and the families that will eventually own them.”

Governor Rendell said widespread public support could help move the legislation through the Senate, and urged Pennsylvanians to let their senator know their thoughts on the issue.

As you can see from Governor Rendell’s statement, our help is still needed to make sure it is passed swiftly in the Senate and becomes law.  Again, I ask you, please go over to DogLawAction and show your support by putting paw to paper.

As you know, Puppy Mill Awareness Day is only 3 days away.  The day is devoted to educating the public about the connection between consumers and commercial breeding facilities.

The big event will be taking place on Saturday September 20th at the Intercourse Community Park in the heart of Lancaster County Pennsylvania, and you can join in the day of fun and learning.

Over the past few months Dogster has been vigilantly working to get the word out about the horror of puppy mills.  While legislation has been slow to change, there have been more crackdowns on puppy mills due to increased attention from the media.

We at Dogster plan on continuing to do our part,  by educating the public to the horrors that go on behind closed doors.  We all know when the “dirty little secrets” that take place from public view are exposed in the light of day, change starts to take place.  Now, it can no longer be ignored.

We recently posted an article, A Day In The Life Of A Rescuer, of a heartbreaking look at one of the amazing people who put themselves on the line to help save these dogs.  For those of you who have not read it, I urge you to take a few minutes to do so, then pass it on to a friend. Here’s a snippet…

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A RESCUER
E.S. EVERITT

I rise at 4 a.m., get coffee, check supplies, and leave by 5. I drive alone, my van full of empty crates. As I drive through the cold dark morning, my only company is the churning of my emotions. Hope that most of the crates will be full of dogs on the way home. Anger than anyone could bring puppies into this world with no plan other than a quick profit. Sorrow that companion animals are viewed as, even legally classified as livestock, rather than the family members they should be. And fear that I will fail them.

I know that I will fail some of them. I cannot save them all. Neither I nor my organization have the money, the manpower, the political clout or enough other resources to remove all of them from harm. But we will keep trying, because we can and because we have to. We can at least save some, give them the gift of love and family and future.

We, as dog lovers and owners, need to take a stand and help change the laws.  We can start by taking part in the Pennsylvania Puppy Mill Ban. The bill, which we’ve been waiting for quite some time, is intended to reduce the number of dogs in puppy mills and end suffering.

We’re encouraging Dogsters and Catsters to tag photos with “stop puppy mills” so that we can create a stroll to highlight our members’ concerns about this problem.  If you’re not sure how to tag photos just follow these instructions, it’s easy.

Dogster link to the stroll is http://www.dogster.com/photos/tags/stop+puppy+mills

Catster link to the stroll is http://www.catster.com/photos/tags/stop+puppy+mills

What a great way to take your loved one on a stroll, even if it’s raining outside!