Ever Hear of Turnspit Dogs?

Someone asked me if I knew why the SPCA was founded.  I replied that Henry Bergh founded the ASPCA in New York because of the mistreatment of horses.  "No", I was told, "It was because of turnspit dogs."

With a little research, I found that small dogs were used in a wheel to turn the spit for meat cooking over the fire.  This occurred mostly in England during the 16th century.  Some individuals attempted to recreate the use of the turnspit dog in Manhattan, NY; but it was deemed cruel to the dogs and was frowned upon.

The specific article I read about turnspit dogs did say that the SPCA was founded because of the poor treatment of the dogs.  And that is also true, but it wasn't just the unfortunate turnspit, but all dogs, cats, and horses. 

Back to the 21st century where SPCAs everywhere continue to battle cruelty to animals.  A lot of our investigations are situations of neglect where uneducated, impoverished individuals don't provide necessary care. 

Animals have been used for centuries to work.   How is it that one person can perceive treatment as "normal" and others deem it cruel?  Why is it that some people are in tune to an animal's suffering while others are not?  I guess that is why we have SPCAs.  We need to educate people and keep our eyes open for the animals.

Animal Cruelty in Pennsylvania

The Lycoming County SPCA constantly receives calls about dogs chained to dog houses and we respond to every single call.  Unfortunately this is no illegal in Pennsylvania.  The dog house must maintain the dog's body heat when it is cold, shelter it from inclement weather, and be clean and sanitary.  The dog must have access to food and water.  The dog must have access to necessary veterinary care. 

When people call us to complain, they think we can take the animal away because it lives outside.  THIS IS LEGAL IN PENNSYLVANIA!  So when you call a Humane Society keep in mind that the Officer can make recommendations for the owner to be in compliance but the Officer cannot remove the animal without a warrant and without just cause.  Any warrant must be approved by the district attorney's office and a judge. 

If you do not want to see dog chained to dog houses 24/7 call you representatives and senators and tell them you want the laws changed.  You have the power to make a difference.

CAn't We Just Get Along?

This week we received a dog from a "foster mom" who could not handle the dog.  In her defense, she wanted to foster a small dog but instead got a 10 month old, 100 pound dog with bad behaviors.  To top it off, she was on crutches. 

A rescue group was involved and wanted to transport the dog from PA to Michigan.  The woman who made contact with me about transport was told (by me) that it wasn't necessary to send the dog to a rescue, we would be able to find a home for the dog.

Well! what a firestorm I set off by saying we didn't need to send the dog to rescue.  I was called a liar, an abuser, and I was being cruel to the dog. 

I'm not sure how my response to "find the dog a good home" caused such venom and hateful words.  Why should there be conflict between rescues and shelters?  If a shelter can find a home for a dog why should the rescue be offended?

I received a call from a woman in Michigan who questioned what was going on with our shelter.  We had a nice conversation for 15 minutes and she was very understanding.  I liked that she called to get the story straight, too bad there aren't more people like her.  She was willing to "get along".  Let's play nice and keep the animal's best interests in mind.

Consistent Training

I'm watching my friend's dog while they are out of town.  He has separation anxiety so he is a nervous dog.  I take him to work with me and he stays with me in my office.  If I leave my office for a few minutes, he is so excited that I came back that he jumps on me.  Ordinarily, this would not bother me, but this dog is a little over 100 pounds.

My friend agreed that the jumping is a problem.  In talking to her about it she said that there are times when they invite him to jump up on their shoulders.  (Light bulb!!)

This dog has learned that it OK to jump on people because he is sometimes allowed to do so.  Dogs need consistent training in order to avoid unwanted behaviors.  This dog should never be permitted to jump on anyone because he is unable to distinguish when it is OK and when it in not OK.

If you have a behavior that you do not want repeated, you need to have the same response every time.  In that way the dog can learn what is expected from him. 

So the moral of this story is, if you get a cute puppy that is going to grow to 100 pounds, don't ever let him jump on you unless you are willing to accept the consequences. 

Eater Basket Hazards

Easter is not too far away and with Easter comes a variety of hazards for our pets.  Many dog owners are well aware that chocolate is toxic for dogs, especially dark chocolate.  So don't let the dog eat the bunny.  (Chocolate bunny, that is.)

Be VERY aware of candy or gum that has XYLITOL as an ingredient.  This can be deadly for your pets.  More and more products contain this chemical and it is a killer of pets.

And that cute and colorful "grass" can create blockages in cat stomachs.  What is it with cats that they like to eat that?  If only they could talk.

Be aware of Easter Lilies, Daffodils-they are toxic to pets too.  These are not the only plants that are harmful to pets, but are most often associated with Easter.

Holidays can be busy times and we can be distracted with a lot of comings and goings.  Keeping our pets out of mischief can be a full time job.  With a little extra awareness we can keep our pets safe and the humans can be the ones to eat the bunny ears. 

Cruelty Takes its Toll

Animal sheltering can be a very difficult job.  People are very emothional about their animals, and then again some are not.  Probably the worst part about the job is the neglect and crueltly inflicted on animals.

So far this year, as of March 26, Officer have seized 72 animals due to neglect!  That is 20% more animals seized during the same time period compared to last year. 

On March 25, Officers seized two horses.  When they arrived with a search warrant, they found a deceased horse.  It had dug a trench in the barn in its efforts to try to get back up, but eventually succombed and died.  It was a gruesome sight.  The horse obvioulsy suffered and the owner did not show any sympathy for the unfortunate horse's plight.  The two hourses that were removed were pathetically thin.

Now here comes the emotional part.  The owner can't believe we took her horses! She is distraut to the point that she went to the hospital.  Really?  Who among us think this horse is OK?

I Heard You Smother Dogs

I answered the phone to a woman who was asking about our cremation services.  She was having her sick and elderly dog put to sleep and wanted to know how much it cost to have a cremation so that she could get the ashes back. 

To clarify the costs I asked her if the dog would already be deceased or would we be performing the euthanasia.  She replied indignantly, I wouldn't let you do it, you smother them don't you?

Sorry, but I actually laughed out loud at that one.  She didn't think it was funny and said so.  I agreed it is not funny but it is amazingly inaccurate.  I explained that the dogs receive a shot in their rump that sedates them.  Then they receive an intravenous injection that totally sedates them and stops their heart from beating.  It is a very quick procedure.

How do stories like this get started?  It is so unfortunate that rumors spread so rapidly and the truth gets buried much more quickly.  I receive calls, emails and facebook messages asking questions about many topics.  It makes me appreciate people who take the time to get the facts instead of relying on the rumor mill. 

So no, we do not smother animals.  How sad that someone would believe that!