As 2011 comes to a close, I’ve reflected on this past year on many different levels. Of course, I write about animal issues and the impact they have on us and most importantly how these issues affect those who have no voice. Through my writing, tv show, radio appearances and advocacy, I’ve tried to give a voice to those who cannot speak. But I also have a personal investment in animals which has affected me greatly this year.
This year started with Michael Vick receiving his first endorsement deal. Vick has turned out to be quite the quarterback for the Eagles. He is being praised for his football achievements. As you can guess, I don’t care. I can’t get images out of mind of him drowning, beating and electrocuting dogs to death. Vick now wants a dog and he will get that right, unfortunately. It seems crime- murderous crime- pays. Yes, I know he paid his debt to society by serving time in prison but to allow him to have another dog is illogical to those of us in the animal welfare field.
Tami Thayne, friend and animal advocate for chained dogs bought Vick’s old Bad Newz Kennels and has turned it into the Good Newz Rehab Center. I remember visiting Tami a few times while she chained herself to a dog house on the steps of the capital in Harrisburg. Some poked fun at her attempts to get the attention of our legislators but I praise her to think outside of the box to change the law for tethered dogs. Once again, the law didn’t change. Who suffers…the poor dogs.
As time moves on, the more things stay the same. Pigeon shoots. PA is the last state in the nation to still allow them to occur. I showed footage of what was left of the pigeons after a shoot from November 2010, courtesy of SHARK. I went to a pigeon shoot outside of Winge Pointe (hunting club?) in Shoemakersville where I met up with a couple of members of SHARK. It was my first time to be at a pigeon shoot. Moments after being asked to leave by police, Steve Hindi, president of SHARK, was hit by a vehicle whose driver fled the scene. The so-called hunters are allowed to kill the pigeons and get away with a hit and run. The driver was cited and received a $400.00 fine. So much for fairness. As the Congressional year was ending, a bill , HB 71, was to be introduced to ban pigeon shoots once and for all in PA. Indications showed it stood a good chance to pass but it was never introduced. Insanity!
PA animal legislation- an oxymoron…..we can’t get animal legislation passed in PA. Why? It took 28 years to get the new Dog Law in 2008 only for it to be watered down and actually not be enforced. How many puppy mills have met the criteria to update their kennels? Have officials checked on them? I attended the meeting in Harrisburg when the Independent Regulatory Review Commission allowed for this slow evaporation of PA’s dog law. How can this be??? As time moves on, the more it stays the same…..
There is a piece of legislation that did pass on December 14th in the Senate Agriculture and Rural Committee that would ban the use of gas chambers. I attended a rally in Malvern, Chester County, where Senator Dinniman, main sponsor of SB 1329, spoke about the miracle dog, Daniel, who survived a gas chamber in Alabama. This is a great step forward. After reviewing the bill, I am quite frustrated and upset. If this bill passes as is, there is a section in SB 1392 that would allow commercial kennel operators and employees to kill dogs again- an outright contradiction to Act 119- PA’s Dog Law. WHY IS THIS BEING PLACED IN A GAS CHAMBER BILL? I WANT TO KNOW. To allow this bill to be passed as is would be a travesty!
As I said, as time moves on, the more things stay the same. Animal advocates fight to help the animals. They/We are their only voices and our voices are drowned out about by bureaucracy. I am sick and tired of legislators not caring enough about the innocent animals who are forced to suffer because our hands our tied and we can’t do anything. Laws aren’t changing. What..must we wait another 28 years for another bill to pass?
That’s where YOU, the animal advocate, has made the difference in the lives of the abandoned, injured, homeless, abused and even those who had to die at the hands of people who snuffed out their lives prematurely.
From individuals to grass-roots organizations to shelters and rescue groups, to Facebook where people post information about animals all the time…….it is all of you who are my heroes in this fight to save animals’ lives!
Earlier this year, I was the keynote speaker at a First State Greyhound Rescue dinner and I am in awe of the work they do. They literally save the lives of greyhounds who are no longer wanted because they don’t win races and rake in money for those who bet on them. This group saves these dogs from horrific deaths. Great group of people!
NoNonsense Neutering opened up a brand new clinic in Muhlenberg Township that allows low-cost spaying and neutering for dogs and cats-one of its kind in Berks County. I was invited to the grand opening and was impressed by their facility. My hat is off to Martha Kahan and all of the volunteers who have worked diligently to attain this building and to create this clinic to help the animals in our county.
I became a member of the Friends of the Reading Police K-9 Unit. I am proud to be part of a group which is the sole reason that Reading has a current K9 Unit. Reading needs this unit to stay intact to help with the rampant crime in the city. The dogs do the trick. When criminals see the dogs, they are more frightened by them than by a gun. Imagine that. Love it!!
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention what has happened on a personal level when it comes to my beloved Shadow. My heart broke this past August 4th when Shadow went into acute respiratory distress for the second time due to fluid around his heart. All of the efforts provided by the Berks Animal Emergency Hospital and my own veterinarian could not save his life for the second time. It was with great sadness that my husband and I had Shadow humanely euthanized. As Shadow struggled to breathe, he was given the lethal injection. As the liquid poured through his body, he stared into my eyes one last time as he finally got relief. Our eyes met and it was as if he was telling me he loved me and thanking me for allowing his suffering to end. I didn’t want to let him go and he didn’t want to die. I wasn’t prepared for Shadow to leave my world. I didn’t have a choice. It was his time to go. I grieve for him so badly. My life is no longer the same without him. He and all of my beloved pets who have passed on have left lasting imprints on my heart. Shadow took a piece of my heart that day.
Sadly, my father who introduced me to the love of animals, also succumbed to his own health issues in the beginning of the year. Now he and Shadow are together along with my mother and sister along with all of my pets and other animals I’ve known. I know there are people who don’t believe that we will meet up with our pets after death but I respectfully disagree.
If this year wasn’t difficult enough for me, I am currently dealing with diagnosis of cancer in my other dog, Jazz. Jazz, who has been mourning the passing of his best friend and buddy, was diagnosed with oral melanoma, a very aggressive form of skin cancer. It has been caught in Stage I which is a good thing. He has been receiving radiation treatments to kill the remaining cancer cells in his mouth. He has been a real trouper with his treatment. So much so, that one of the staff at the Veterinary Radiation Center in Chalfont, PA, wants to keep him. I don’t think so.:) I’m so proud of Jazz. He and I have become even closer, if that’s possible. He and I are on this journey together.
I thank all of you, animal advocates, readers, friends and relatives who have stuck by me during this difficult year. It is so appreciated and words could never convey what it has truly meant to me. You have helped me in ways you can’t begin to imagine. Your support has helped me tremendously even though you can’t take away my pain.
Most of all, I thank everyone who has helped animals in any capacity this past year. As I stated earlier, YOU are the heroes. No matter what your role is in animal advocacy, it is greatly needed. We can change things for animals despite not having animal legislation being passed. The work is never done. I wish it weren’t so. I spoke with Jenny Stephens, President of North Penn Puppy Mill Watch and I feel she said it perfectly. The work to help the animals is frustrating. We seem to spin our wheels and seem to stay in place. The energy to help the animals becomes depleted because the cause never ends. Despite the lack of energy, the aggravation, the never-ending stories of animal abuse/cruelty, we can’t walk away. It’s in our blood. Animal advocates understand this philosophy so well.
So thank all of you for what you have done for the animals in 2011!
Have a happy, healthy, and safe New Year! I wish you nothing but the best. Looking forward to a better year for animals!!