Time is critical for Puppy & Kitten Mill Bill

Reposted from the Animal Humane Society Website:

Time is critical for Puppy & Kitten Mill Bill

Friday, March 5, 2010

The Dog and Cat Breeder Bill (S.F. 7/H.F. 253), also known as the Puppy and Kitten Mill Bill is before the Minnesota Legislature. The bill will put in place licensing and inspection of dog and cat breeder facilities in Minnesota, bringing an end to inhumane breeding practices.

Currently, the bill is still “on the table” in the respective agriculture and veterans committees in both the Minnesota Senate and the House of Representatives. We need your continued support to help members of the committees understand the importance of the bill and to “call it off the table” for discussion.

Time is critical. The first policy committee deadline is next Friday, March 12. If we are not granted a hearing by that time, the bill will not pass this year.

You can make a difference with one phone call. Please call all of the following members on the committees (listed below) before noon on Monday and let him or her know you support S.F. 7/H.F. 253. If you live in one of these districts, please make certain your legislator knows that fact. To find your district and State legislators, go to: Minnesota District Finder.

MN Senate Agriculture and Veterans Committee Members
State the bill number and the Senate author's name: S.F. 7 authored by Senator Don Betzold

Tony Lourey 651.296.0293
Lisa A. Fobbe 651.296.8075
David W. Hann 651.296.1749
Rod Skoe 651.296.4196
Dan Skogen 651.296.5655
House Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Committee
State the bill number and the House author’s name: H.F. 253 authored by Representative Tom Tillberry

Mary Ellen Otremba 651.296.3201
Kent Eken 651.296.9918
Terry Morrow 651.296-8634
Dean Urdahl 651.296.4344
Now is the time to be a voice for animals.

Explain the importance of the bill and that it is a highly collaborative effort among many animal groups and volunteers, and the bill has a long list of supporting organizations and individuals—including you.

Talking points for your call

Educate them on what goes on in puppy and kitten mills

If you call this weekend, chances are you'll reach the legislator's voicemail. Please leave a message with your name and support of S.F. 7 (Betzold) or H.F. 253 (Tillberry).

Legislators are also hearing from breeders and others who oppose the bill. Your voice will make a difference. Don’t wait—call today!

Adoption Event Today!

Small Dogs:  Wayzata Chuck & Don's,  1147 Wayzata Blvd. East, Wayzata, MN 55391

Medium & large dogs will be at the Minnetonka Petco at 13691 Ridgedale Dr, Minnetonka.

Hours for both events are 10 am to noon.

We hope to see you there!

The continued progress of the Puppy Mill Girls

Daisy, the Shih Tzu  and Susie the Poodle continue to adapt and adjust in their foster home.  Their foster mom has sent me an update, which you can read below.  These two little dogs came to us from a puppy mill with a myriad of health problems and an evident lack of socialization with humans.  They're making progress and looking great.

Daisy is afraid of new people, she will run to her kennel and won't come out until the people are gone. These are people she sees 5 times a week. Last night after much coaxing I was able to call her out, but she belly crawled over to me. Hey it's start, the people were still here.

Susie will not go to anyone else but me but she will stay out of her pen and sit on a dog bed out of everyone's way. I think she will adjust fine to people.

Daisy is such a jokester. She loves to run, chew and do whatever is fun. I cant really blame her. Sunday morning I told them we were sleeping in until 9, Daisy had other ideas. When I got up at 7:30 she had the bathroom rug in the living room, my slippers, shoes, and she tried for the kitchen rug but I think it was to heavy for her to drag. She doesn't chew on them or if she does, she doesn't cause any damage. I try to distract her with appropriate toys for chewing.

Daisy's eyes are really looking good. (Daisy has 'dry eye' -- her eyes do not produce tears.) We started new medicine that only needs to be applied twice a day. No longer look dried up and dead.

Susie ear infection I think is really gone for good this time. She has had 4 baths with the special shampoo and her coat looks good for about 3 days, than she needs another bath, hopefully in a month she won't need baths weekly.

House training is not progressing as fast as I would hope. I take them out 3 times a day, sometimes I have luck with them going and other days I don't. They both are getting much more comfortable with outside, so maybe it will click all at once.

I still hope to place the two together. I think it is so neat that they had each other when they were in the hell hole. At the very least another dog for them to bond with is a must.

Adopted Dog Update: Ahnung - continuing to shine

It's been over a year now since my last "foster failure" (in animal rescue term that translates to ... the foster can't let go of their foster dog and adopts their dog!! ... fyi, this last foster failure was my third one with Pet Haven so I am officially on the DO NOT LET MARILOU FOSTER!!) ... On January 3rd, 2009 I officially adopted Ahnung (pronounced ah-NUNG and means star in ojibway). Ahnung came to Pet Haven from Red Lake Rosie's Rescue .... dumped along with her litter of 8 puppies in October, 2008. She has come a long way since then ... she arrived with heartworm, lymes disease, coccidia, and no front teeth (grinding her front teeth down to her gums in search of food) ... after adopting her and getting a thorough check by our vet we learned she had also been shot and has remnants of a pellet in one of her nipples. There is so much to her story, and to mine, as we have walked this incredible journey of healing together. And as we have done we have expanded that circle of healing to include youth at a program of St. Paul Public schools called The Lab that serves youth in special education, grades 7-12 and are committed to providing creative and experiential learning opportunities that support long-term social & emotional health for urban youth.

Last year Ahnung and I spent many hours and months bonding and going through training. At the end of 2009 Ahnung officially passed the Delta Society therapy dog test and we are now a Pet Partner team as we volunteer doing animal assisted education at The Lab. I wrote a reflection piece that was posted on The Lab's website that shares more of the work we are doing at The Lab. I named my sweet girl Ahnung because I wanted her to have a name that will always remind her of her roots ... I wanted her to know she came from Red Lake reservation and to be proud of her ojibway roots. I also wanted her to know that she is my north star and as she works with youth at The Lab I have witnessed over and over again the birth of a star as I witness the connection and healing that takes place between a youth who has been through so much (just like Ahnung, and many of us) and an angel with four legs and lots of fur! :)

Ahnung and I will continue our work in the community and at the end of April will be going through training so that we can volunteer at hospices in addition to schools.

If you would like to read more about her journey and her adventures, she has her own blog: http://ahnung-northstar.blogspot.com/ and you can also find her on facebook ... search for "Ahnung".

I have been blessed and honored to be serving my third term as president of Pet Haven. And I share with you just one story of the gift I have been given through the work of Pet Haven ... there are many more, and I am sure all of you have many to share as well. If you have adopted a dog or a cat from Pet Haven we would love to hear from you. Email us at editor@pethavenMN.org.

Adopted Dog Monday!

Fluffy, cuddly Ollie the Red Lake Pomeranian was adopted this week.

She attracted a huge audience at our last adoption event.  After talking to several applicants, Ollie's foster mom Agnes and Sally, one of our Dog Directors, chose the perfect forever home for this charming little puffball.

Coins for Canines!

Pet Haven was the recipient of Coins for Canines, money raised throughout the Golden Gophers Women’s Basketball season. Coins for Canines was a contest where people submitted photos of their very cute pooches dressed in their Gopher best. Each photo was placed on a large water cooler jug and fans voted for their favorite photo by placing coins (and bills!) into the jugs. The money raised as part of this effort was donated to Pet Haven.

I was honored to represent Pet Haven at the Gopher Women’s Basketball game on February 25th to receive a check for Pet Haven for just under $1400! Before I received the check, Deborah Diamond, Associate Director of Marketing for the Gophers, told me the final amount would probably be a lot more since they were still counting the money. I was called onto the floor during halftime, where I was presented the big check. Jim Marshall, the Gophers announcer, introduced me with the same excitement he does for the players, which was very exciting for me and probably as close as I’ll ever come to feeling like a rock star.

The plan was for the winning dog to be announced at the end of the game. Unfortunately (or fortunately for us!) there were so many coins, that folks were still counting the money at the end of the game! Deborah emailed me the next day that the total raised was an impressive $2,266.82! Nachito, the winning dog, received roughly $600 worth of votes!

Although the Gopher Women lost the basketball game on Thursday, Pet Haven was a clear winner! Thank you to Deborah, the Golden Gophers Women’s Basketball Team, and all the fans who voted. We’ll be able to help a lot of cats and dogs!

Posted by Karen Scott, Vice-President, Pet Haven of Minnesota

Puppy/Kitten Mill Public Forum tomorrow

From the Animal Humane Society website:

Puppy & Kitten Mill Bill public forum
Golden Valley, 2/27/2010 11:00 am-12:00 pm

Senator Don Betzold and Representative Tom Tillberry to discuss Puppy & Kitten Mill Bill at public forum

Are you interested in learning more about the effort to regulate dog and cat breeders in Minnesota to stop inhumane practices in this industry? Join us on Saturday, February 27, 2010, for a public information session on the Dog and Cat Breeder Bill (S.F. 7/H.F. 253), also known as the Puppy and Kitten Mill Bill, with Minnesota Senator Don Betzold and Minnesota Representative Tom Tillberry who authored and introduced the bill in the Minnesota Senate and House of Representatives respectively.

Learn firsthand about the bill and its importance to the welfare of thousands of neglected animals in the State of Minnesota.
Understand how requiring licensing and inspections of breeding facilities in the state will protect animals from breeders engaging in inhumane breeding practices.

Arm yourself with information on how you can be a voice for animals and let others know what they can do.
Join us:

11 a.m. to noon on Saturday, February 27, 2010
Animal Humane Society, Auditorium
845 Meadow Lane North, Golden Valley

Reservations are not required, but seating is limited. For more information, please email animaladvocates@animalhumanesociety.org.