Friends Forever Calendar -- Monday October 24th, 2011
The 1st ever Forever Friends calendar for MCHS has generated over 150 photo entries from fans of MCHS located in AL, FL, IN, LA and many other states. We have been blessed with such great sponsorships for the calendar but are in need of more! Sponsorship donations are being accepted until Nov 15, the same day as the winners will be announced. The winner for the front of the calendar will also receive a prize! Please email maconcountyhumanesociety@yahoo.com if you are interested in being a Silver Paw Sponsor (anything under $20) or a Gold Paw Sponsor (anything over $20).
Thank you Niffers! -- Monday October 10th, 2011
Thank you to everyone that came out Monday Oct 10 to Niffer's in Auburn to support MCHS! Niffer's agreed to donate 10% of all signed receipts from their sales throughout the day, which raised $99 for us. That money can help us save more homeless pets in the area and provide veterinary care to those we have already taken in. Please stay tuned for another Niffer's night!
Congrats to Dr.Karin Roth -- Wednesday June 15th, 2011
Macon County Humane Society would like to send out a very loud congrats to Dr. Karin M. Roth on graduating from Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine this past May. Karin was our standing Vice President for a very long time, and has helped to keep MCHS afloat through her years at TUSVM. MCHS will miss you but know that you are not gone! MCHS couldn't have made it this far without you! We are so thankful that the veterinary field has you to help treat animals and help client's made educated decisions on their pet's health. You will do great things!!
Strummin for Strays -- Tuesday February 15th, 2011
Well it's official! MCHS will hold their 1st annual fundraising event: Strummin for Strays. It will be held at the War Eagle Supper Club and will be Sunday April 3. All door cover charges will go straight to MCHS. There will be various entertainers who have commited to dedicating their Sunday to help raise $ for MCHS (Chris Posey, Adam Hood, and various others). There will be numerous raffle ticket sales for gift cards from retailers in the Auburn area. There will also be a "Wish List Raffle" which will be for those individuals who bring in items from our wish list, and will ONLY be open to those individuals. You can't buy into this raffle, and it's promised to be a great prize to the winning raffle ticket holder! Check back for details as we get closer!
TU Pre Vet club helps out -- Saturday January 29th, 2011
Saturday, January 29, the Pre Vet chapter from Tuskegee University donated their time to help clean up crates that were recently donated to MCHS. The crates were recently donated but needed a little touching up. Robyn White and other Pre-Vet club members drove to Shorter, AL to help out in taking the rust off the crates and repainting them. We appreciate the time that the Pre Vet club took to help MCHS out. MCHS is looking forward to continuing to work with this group of young pre-professionals.
What will 2011 bring? -- Sunday January 2nd, 2011
Well it's a new year and that means new beginnings! 2010 was a little rocky, but it ended with a bang! As many of you know Macon County Humane Society lost ALL of their funding due to the closure of Victory Land Casinos, but we are determined to stay afloat and continue to help the homeless animals in the Macon County area. We are very thankful and appreciative of the support we have received thus far. We hope that the support will continue through 2011 and we can make 2011 our best year yet! With a new class entering into Tuskegee's School of Veterinary Medicine we were able to recruit more staff (thanks to Ms. Karin Roth)! Yeah! We'd like to welcome: Jeannette Bimonte (Class of 2014) who is now head of Fundraising Thomas Caltabilota (Class of 2014) who is helping coordinate fosters. We also have a new office manager: Candis Ray, who is a student at Auburn Univeristy. Welcome aboard all! We would also like to thank our recent fosters who have come aboard as well, we thank you and without you we couldn't help save the lives of the precious animals! Please check back often to see our upcoming fundraising events! Thank you to all that helped in 2010 and we hope to make 2011 a record year!! Happy New Year!
Another FL Transport -- Tuesday March 2nd, 2010
Another Successful FL Transport
March 2, 2010By Sue-Ellen Brown, PsyD
On Saturday, February 27, 2010, the MCHS arranged to send 8 puppies and 3 adult dogs to the Suncoast Humane Society in Florida. Lorna Aho, acting president of the MCHS, and Karin Roth, vice president of the MCHS, got up at 2 am to transport them all to a meeting spot in Florida. Karin's mother (AnnaMaria Roth) met them there and transported them the rest of the way to Englewood, FL. They managed to fit all the animals in Lorna's horse trailer and then into AnnaMaria's car.
Lorna Aho did a lot of last minute rushing around to get all the animal's medical records from the Tuskegee Vet Hospital, to collect all the animals from their foster homes and to finally find places for them all to sleep the night before the trip. Demetrius and Megan were out of town, so Lorna ended up doing most of the running around and organizing herself. Transporting animals takes a lot of work and each animal must have the appropriate medical care ahead of time and records of that care in order to go across state lines.
Aho states, " It is an incredible amount of work that goes into transporting animals but it is well worth it in the end. Many of these animals are just not getting adopted here in Alabama. All the adults have been on our website for months with no applications and black puppies are so common they are almost impossible for us to adopt here. We work hard to get the animals in good shape medically and then we ship them out to other states like Florida or New Jersey where they have a better chance of finding a forever home."
Most of the animals at the MCHS were taken from the Macon County Dog Pound where they face certain euthanasia. They are placed in foster homes where they can get the experience of living in a home and also get the medical attention they so often need.
Thanks to all involved in getting these puppies to FL, but especially Lorna Aho and Karin Roth who made all the arrangements and then transported them all to FL! Also thanks to all the foster parents who cared for these animals and AnnaMaria Roth who drove them all to SW FL.
And a big thanks to the Suncoast Humane Society for taking all our puppies and dogs and finding them good homes!
To see our animals on the FL website, go to: http://suncoasthumane.org/pages/adoptdogs.cfm
Our animals will not show up until a quarantine period is over.
Suncoast Humane Society, Englewood, FL 34224, www.humane.org
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MCHS Escorts Dogs to FL -- Friday July 3rd, 2009
The Tuskegee News
Humane Society escorts homeless dogs to Florida
By SUE-ELLEN BROWN, PsyD
Special to The Tuskegee News
Updated Jul 02, 2009 - 06:20:15 EDT
One fact that has always been painfully obvious to the volunteers of the Macon County Humane Society (MCHS) is that there are not enough local homes for the many dogs and puppies they take in.
“We love to adopt locally because then we can more easily get updates and monitor their lives in their new homes. Also, we benefit from the adoption fees that help off set the medical costs of the animals,” says Karin Roth, vice president of the MCHS.
But Roth says the fact remains that, “Many of our puppies sit on our website for many weeks or go to pet adoption events and cannot find homes locally. Once they grow out of the cute puppy stage, they are harder to adopt.”
This becomes a problem for the MCHS since they do not have a facility and all animals are in foster homes. Once dogs become adolescents or adults, they usually take longer to adopt and take up space in the limited number of available foster homes. Once the foster homes are full, no more animals can be rescued.
Roth states that the sad reality is that not all homeless animals can be rescued by the MCHS. The many who cannot be saved must often be euthanized by the Macon County Animal Control, the City of Tuskegee Animal Control or other holding facilities.
Unfortunately, it boils down to an issue of supply and demand. There simply is not a large enough demand for the huge supply of dogs born in Macon County. Until the residents of Macon County spay and neuter their dogs and cats, the problem will continue.
The MCHS, like many other animal rescue groups in the South, found the best solution is to transport unwanted puppies and adult dogs to areas of the country such as the North Eastern states where there is a higher demand for them. These other states have stronger spay/neuter laws so they have fewer unwanted puppies.
In 2007, The Tuskegee News featured MCHS sending dogs and puppies to a rescue group in Wayne, N.J., called Friends of Wayne Animals (FOWA). The MCHS still works closely with FOWA because they find excellent homes quickly.
However, FOWA is also foster-based and can take only a limited number of animals at any one time. Whenever they become filled, they, too, can’t foster any more animals.
So Roth began to consider other options. She and her mother, Anna-Maria Roth, who lives in Fort Myers, Fla., decided to network to find shelters in Florida that would find homes for Macon County puppies and dogs.
“My mom used to be on the Board of Directors for the Gulf Coast Humane Society (GCHS) in Fort Myers,, so we decided to start there,” said Roth.
And what they found was that the GCHS was happy to take in Macon County puppies and dogs. They felt they could easily find them homes. The GCHS looked at the MCHS Web site (www.maconcountyhumanesociety.org) and decided which animals they would like.
So, during the first week of April, MCHS volunteers Donna Williams and Doris Netzler loaded their van with 11 MCHS puppies and drove the 13-hour round trip to a meeting spot half-way down the state of Florida. There, they met with Anna-Maria Roth, who transported them the rest of the way to the GCHS.
Anna-Maria Roth was quite proud of the van load of puppies. She said, “The Director of the GCHS would not stop raving about the MCHS. He said that he had never received such an organized transport. He appreciated greatly that we had names on all of their collars and well-organized and complete medical records. He was also pleased that they were in such great condition. He would not stop complimenting the MCHS and how this was the easiest transport that they've ever had.”
That shipment included a litter of puppies living in the woods in Macon County. MCHS volunteer Williams had worked hard to foster and socialize these nearly feral puppies who had been rescued by Bill Cook, Macon County animal control officer.
The GCHS kept the puppies a few weeks to be sure they were free of parasites and other diseases and to further their socialization. Once they were put up for adoption, they were all quickly placed in loving homes.
Later, during May 2009, Roth and her mother decided to expand to the Suncoast Humane Society (SHS) in Englewood, Fla., (www.humane.org). For this transport of 24 puppies and one adult dog to SHS, Karin Roth and Donna Williams woke up at 3 a.m. to begin the journey. They met Anna-Maria and a friend in Georgia to transfer the animals to them. Anna-Maria and her friend finished the transport to SHS later that day. It took two vehicles and lots of crates to accommodate all the animals.
The SHS was very pleased with the condition of the puppies. The MCHS keeps all puppies at least two weeks to be sure they have two sets of vaccinations before being transported. The MCHS works closely with the Tuskegee University Veterinary Teaching Hospital to be sure all animals are current on medical needs and have complete medical records.
Seventeen puppies were adopted to forever homes in the first weekend in Florida. The rest were adopted shortly thereafter.
“Hearing about how they all got good homes makes it all worth it” says Roth who plans to keep strengthening the Florida connection. “I am searching for grants that would give us a van for transport.”
“Even though it took a lot of hard work to get the animals ready for transport and then to make the transport happen, it was all worth it. It is very satisfying to know that we saved the lives of 33 puppies and one adult dog who might not otherwise have had a chance at a good life or even a life at all. I am very proud of all the MCHS volunteers who made this happen.
“Although I am very pleased to have found a way to save the lives of some of Alabama’s unwanted puppies and dogs, my bigger wish is to address the underlying cause of it all. If people would simply spay and neuter their pets, we would not need to transport our puppies and dogs to other states. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Macon County never had to euthanize or transport another homeless animal?”
The MCHS is an all-volunteer, non-profit 501c3 organization that relies on donations from generous citizens to function. Volunteers are needed at every level, not just as foster parents.
Visit the MCHS website at www.maconcountyhumanesociety.org.for more information on how to help, on pets awaiting homes, and on pet care. Anyone seeking more information about membership, monetary donations or other ways to help may also call the MCHS office at 334-724-9916.
Sue-Ellen Brown, PsyD is a volunteer at the Macon County Humane Society and works at the Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine’s Center for the Study of Human-Animal Interdependent Relationships.
'You Can't Save Them All' -- Thursday April 2nd, 2009
The Tuskegee News
April 2, 2009Opinion
Observations about 'You Can't Save Them All'
By SUE-ELLEN BROWN, PsyD
Updated Apr 02, 2009 - 06:19:55 EDTI ran into an old friend at a feed store a few weeks ago. I told him I have been rescuing dogs and puppies for the Macon County Humane Society (MCHS).
He paused, looked seriously at me and said in a stern voice, “You know, you can’t save them all.”
I replied that I knew that but I would save what I could.
Later, I began to think about that comment because I have heard it so many times before.
What exactly did he mean by saying, “You can’t save them all.”?
His demeanor and tone seemed to imply that I should stop trying to rescue animals because it is a waste of time. There are just too many stray animals in Alabama to even attempt to save any of them. And while it is true that there are way too many stray animals for any one person to save, something about this just didn’t sit right with me.
You could apply this same logic to any problems facing humanity today. For starving children, you could say, “You can’t feed them all.” Or with illiteracy you could say, “You can’t educate them all.” With cancer you could say, “You can’t treat them all.” As for our environmental problems, you could say, “You can’t clean it all.”
And what exactly would that mean? Does it mean, when you are faced with an overwhelming problem, since you can’t tackle the whole thing, you should give up and quit trying?
What if everyone did just quit trying? What kind of a world would this be then?
I contribute as much of my time and energy as I can to the dogs and puppies of Macon County. I am very grateful for the other volunteers of the MCHS who also give of themselves to save lives. Because of us, there are hundreds of animals that were slated for euthanasia now living as happy members of families all over the USA.
If we all do just a little bit, the world will be a better place.
I don’t understand why anyone would want to discourage someone from trying to help with a cause. Perhaps discouraging others is a way to make a person feel better for not doing anything themselves.
People who rescue dogs or cats in Alabama are well aware of the enormity of the task. Death is right around the corner for many of the animals. When I say no to an animal because it is not highly adoptable, I know it is often a death sentence. According to the Alabama Veterinary Medical Association (ALVMA), Alabama puts 135,000 dogs to death per year.
Thinking about all of this, I was reminded of a story that I first heard years ago when I was rescuing horses. It is called “The Starfish Story”1 and I would like to include an abbreviated version of it here.
The Starfish Story
One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.
Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”
The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”
“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!”
After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said…”
I made a difference for that one.”
(Original Story by Loren Eiseley from “The Star Thrower”, Harvest Books, 1979.)
And finally, I came across this quote in an e-mail someone sent me.
"I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do."
--Edward Everett Hale
If you are one of the people that says, “You can’t save them all” to those trying to save a few, I would challenge you to think about what you might be doing. Do you really want to discourage the few people that do help out the animals?
Apathy to the plight of homeless companion animals in Alabama is the problem. Trying to rescue them, humane education, donating money to animal rescue organizations, and changing legislation are some of the solutions. Do you want to be part of the problem or part of the solution?
The animals of Macon County need our help. Contact the Macon County Humane Society to see how you may be able to help. Our Web site is www.maconcountyhumanesociety.org and the telephone number is 334-724-9916.
Sue-Ellen Brown, PsyD is a volunteer at the Macon County Humane Society and works at the Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine’s Center for the Study of Human-Animal Interdependent Relationships.
http://www.thetuskegeenews.com/articles/2009/04/02/opinion/doc49d3d509ddf0a775413825.txt
Puppy in sinkhole -- Thursday January 29th, 2009
Tuskegee News
Puppy Rescued from Sinkhole
Updated Jan 29, 2009 - 06:17:44 EST
Puffy, a 4-pound Chow mix, is friendly and optimistic in spite of a recent ordeal that found her precariously perched on a ledge halfway to the bottom of a deep hole.
Wednesday evening, January 21, two Tuskegee residents said they called the Tuskegee Fire Department because they heard a puppy crying from inside a sink hole in their backyard.
The residents couldn't get to the hole because a car was parked on top of it and starting to fall into the hole as well. One of the residents said she had put food down the hole during the night, but knew nothing else to do for the animal.
The fire department never came to the house, located on Macon County Road 36, on Wednesday, so the residents called back Thursday morning (January 22). The fire department told them to get in touch with Bill Cook, Macon County’s Compliance Officer, who oversees the county’s animal control.
Cook went to the house to size up the situation and helped move the car from atop the hole. After that, the challenge was getting to Puffy, who was laying on exposed roots in the crevice about eight feet from the surface.
Cook said the hole was approximately 15 feet to the bottom, which was covered with sewage. Cook said it appeared the sink hole was made from septic water erosion.
In order to retrieve Puffy, Cook, aided by other county employees at the scene, rigged up a catch pole and managed to loop it around the puppy and pull her to safety. He then called the Macon County Humane Society (MCHS).
Cook met Sue-Ellen Brown, a Clinical Psychologist with Tuskegee University’s School of Veterinary Medicine and MCHS volunteer at the Macon County Courthouse and turned over the puppy to her.
Brown said Puffy was dirty and shaking.
“I took her straight to the vet school where they bathed her and dried her with a hair dryer,” Brown said. “They checked her out for possible injuries but she seemed fine. She was a little dehydrated so they kept her overnight for observation.”
Puffy has since been sent to a foster home where she will stay until she finds a permanent place to live. Puffy is clean and safe now and up for adoption.
For more information on adopting, visit www.maconcountyhumanesociety.org, call the MCHS at (334) 724-9916 or email Karin at karinmroth@gmail.com.
Puffy
Breed: Chow Chow / Mixed.
Sex: Female (not spayed).
Current Size: 4 Pounds.
General Potential Size: Small.
Current Age: 1.5 months.
Activity Level: Moderately Active.
Indoor or Outdoor: Both.
Good with People: Friendly.
Housetrained: No.
Alabama Angel goes to NY -- Monday September 29th, 2008
An Alabama Angel goes to New York
By Sue-Ellen Brown, PsyD
At midnight on Sept 3rd, Donna Williams, her mother and her teen age daughter left their home in Shorter, AL to begin their journey to Angel’s Gate Hospice for animals in Delhi, NY. Also in their vehicle was Josh, a 3 month old pit bull-rat terrier mix puppy. Williams is a volunteer and vice president of the Macon county Humane Society (MCHS).
The purpose of the journey to New York was to deliver little Josh to Angel’s Gate Hospice ( http://www.angelsgate.org ) so that he could have a peaceful, supportive and dignified death.
Josh was born with a hole in his heart and the veterinarian said he will not have long to live.
The Macon County Humane Society became involved with Josh when his owner called and requested help. She had bred her female pit bull terrier to her male rat terrier. She stated she had sold all the litter mates but was unable to sell Josh because he couldn’t stand or walk. The owner was unable to afford the veterinary care he apparently needed and did not want to euthanize him.
The MCHS is a nonprofit organization dependant on donations to function. They are only able to take in animals needing help as money and foster homes are available. Unfortunately, sometimes requests for help have to be turned down due to a lack of resources.
However, in this case, Donna Williams agreed to take Josh to the veterinarian to have his disability assessed. The medical exam revealed that Josh was full of intestinal worms and had a hole in his heart. Treatment for the heart defect is not available here and would be extremely expensive. The recommendation was that he be made as comfortable as possible for the rest of his short life.
Once the worms were treated, Josh became more active and was soon playing and running around Williams’ home and pouncing on her cats.
Williams had heard of Angel’s Gate Hospice in NY and felt it was worth a shot to contact them on Josh’s behalf. She called Susan Marino who is the founder and executive director of Angel’s Gate Hospice. Angel’s Gate Hospice has recently received national attention when it was on the Oprah Winfrey Show and the Martha Stewart Show.
Angel's Gate is a residential, non-profit, 501 (C) 3 home for special needs animals. Animals, many of whom are terminally and/or critically ill or physically challenged, go there to live out their days in peace, dignity and love. Their focus is on wellness and quality of life. They provide for the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of each animal. They take a holistic approach in animal care, giving all needed supportive services including hospice care.
Marino responded to Williams’ request with a warm yes and encouraged her to get Josh to them as soon as possible. Williams began making plans to transport Josh.
Williams had a second reason to visit Angel’s Gate. She was very interested in learning more about their program for cats. She had heard that an organization in NJ that works closely with the MCHS, Friends of Wayne Animals or FOWA, had donated $10,000 to Angel’s Gate to purchase a “cat house†where terminally ill cats can go live out their lives. Each cozy little cat house is equipped with heat, air conditioning and a screened in porch.
So, Williams and her family set out on their 20 hour drive to the Catskill Mountain town of Delhi, NY, approximately 150 miles from Manhattan, NY. They stayed a few nights in hotels along the way.
Marino greeted the Williams’ family and little Josh with open arms. They took a tour of the 100 acres of gorgeous meadows and wood lands in this picturesque college town where SUNY Delhi is located.
Little Josh was put in his new baby bed with side rails while they toured the facility. They were in the process of building an outdoor exercise pen for Josh to go out in during the day.
Angel’s Gate currently cares for some 200 individuals of many species. These include dogs, cats, parrots, ponies, ducks, swan, pigeons, geese, chickens and rabbits. All the animals are a part of the Angel's Gate household. Most are free to roam their home and/or the spacious back yard. Dogs and cats are not crated. Only the parrots are caged. The water fowl, chickens and pigeons are penned at night for their protection.
Angel’s Gate does not accept a fee when they adopt an animal with special needs. They depend solely on supporter contributions which come from all over the United States. They even have supporters from as far away as Canada, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Africa and many from Japan.
Marino is a registered nurse with more than thirty five years experience, specializing in emergency and critical care, mental health, and the care of critically and terminally ill children and their families. She is a specialists in many forms of holistic medicine including, homeopathy, animal communication, TTouch, essential oils and flower essences. Marino completed studies at Suffolk County Community college in 2005 and is now a Licensed Veterinary Technician. She also studied at the University of Tennessee completing her certification in canine rehabilitation, and is a New York State Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator.
Marino is a popular speaker and educator. She received The Woman of Distinction Award for the State of New York. She has appeared on The Martha Stewart Show in 2005. She was honored to receive the ASPCA Founders Award, 2001, for her work with animals. Marino has been recognized by CBS NEWS as a “Local Heroâ€, by NEWS 12 as “People Making A Differenceâ€, by NEWSDAY as an “Everyday Hero.â€
Williams continues to stay in touch with Marino to hear about Josh’s new life. Josh is quite happy and playful, oblivious to his uncertain future. The last report from Marino was that Josh is growing like a weed. She said she tried to “baby†him at first, but he wouldn’t have it. Josh likes to rough house with the big boys (dogs) so that is what he’s doing!
Thanks to Williams and the MCHS, the little angel from Alabama had reached his forever home in NY.
The cost of the transport to NY was $450. If you would like to support Josh’s transport or the MCHS, you can go to the website at www.maconcountyhumanesociety.org and pay with Paypal or mail a check to the office at 111 E. Rosa Parks Ave, Tuskegee, AL 36083.
Visit to Death Row Dogs -- Tuesday September 23rd, 2008
A Visit to Death Row Dogs
By Sue-Ellen Brown, PsyD
I recently went to the Macon County Dog Pound to give worming medication and flea and tick medication to 2 dogs that had appointments at the Tuskegee University Veterinary Clinic the next day. These two dogs were going to be rescued by the Macon County Humane Society (MCHS) and put up for adoption. They were the lucky ones. (For those who do not know, the county operates a small dilapidated “holding facility†for dogs picked up in the county).
I knew that all the other eight dogs were to be euthanized the next morning. I didn’t think much about that fact before I went to the dog pound that day.
I didn’t think much about it because I have suffered from burn out from rescuing too many dogs that were either strays or from the dog pound. At one point, I had 11 dogs at my house, 4 of my own and 7 foster dogs. Each dog had medical and behavioral needs that I had to take care of. I felt overwhelmed by taking care of all the dogs and resolved not to take so many in the future. Luckily, all the foster dogs except 2 have been adopted and I have been enjoying the reprieve.
The MCHS does not have a shelter or other facility in which to keep dogs. We are strictly foster based, so if there is no foster home available, we can not take them in. Therefore, in the past, when I saw dogs at the pound that were adoptable, I took them home with me so they would not be euthanized. What were my choices?
However, this time when I went to the pound, I knew I could not take any more. I knew I had to be hardened to the fact, the cold reality, that they would die the next day. This time no one would come to their rescue. I had to accept that.
But when I went to the pound that day, I did not count on witnessing what I saw.
While I was busy giving the medication to the dogs, a car pulled up. Out came three first year Tuskegee University veterinarian students. I introduced myself and inquired as to their reason for being there. They had come to pick up the 2 adoptable dogs to take them to the veterinary school to be sure they were not mistakenly put to sleep the next day. They were new volunteers for the MCHS and did not realize that the dogs we had chosen would be safe. We had previously informed animal control that the MCHS would rescue these 2 dogs.
Then, they announced they had brought a big bag of hamburgers for the dogs that were to be euthanized. I said, “You mean, as a last dinner?†They said yes.
They proceeded to feed double hamburgers to all the dogs that were to be euthanized. Some of the dogs were too scared of people to take them at first. But eventually, all the dogs ate them.
In the process of feeding the dogs, a student noticed that one dog had a huge wound on the top of his head. She immediately burst into tears.
I attempted to try to console her by telling her to not look at the dog. He would be put out of his misery the next day. And, in actuality, he would be put out of all of our misery. I told her she would have to become hardened to the reality of the situation if she was going to continue to help the dogs.
But I think their reactions to the situation made me stop and think about it too. These students were fresh and optimistic and did not have the same experiences or burn out that I did.
I looked at the dogs to be put to sleep. Several of them had come from living in the back yard of an elderly woman. Her daughter had to put her in a nursing home and she would not be returning to her house. The daughter was scared of the dogs and called animal control to come take them away.
It was clear that these dogs had little human contract. They were scared and huddled together in the back of the kennel. Some were too scared to even accept a hamburger.
I thought about the time, money and effort it would take to save them. Each one requires vet care which could cost from about $75 to $400, depending on their needs. The biggest veterinary expense is heartworm treatment which most dogs in the South need.
Then they would need to be placed in a foster home. That person or family would have to work with them on being socialized, housebroken, crate trained, learning to ride in a car, getting along with other dogs and maybe cats and children. They would also have to work with any behavioral problems such as excessive barking, aggression, destructive behavior or phobias.
It would be a long road to rehabilitation for each of these dogs.
And to make things worse, most of these dogs were pit bull mixes. Pit bulls and pit bull mixes are extremely hard to find homes for. Most apartments and even home owner’s insurance companies have policies against owning a pit bull. They end up plugging up the foster home for several months or even years.
So, I drove away from the pound with a heavy heart.
But I was haunted by the image of one small dog that might be adoptable. I told myself to forget about it, but I couldn’t. I called another MCHS volunteer, Donna Williams, and she agreed it could be adoptable. It was small, friendly, spaniel-like and not a pit bull. Donna agreed to take it to her home the next morning.
I called animal control and requested they not euthanize that one dog. Her name is now Bissett and she is available for adoption on the MCHS website at www.maconcountyhumanesociety.org.
Still, I was haunted by the sad faces of the dogs on death row. I felt like I was somehow an accomplice to this situation. Had I somehow become part of the problem and not the solution?
Does it matter that they have short, sad, neglected lives devoid of any human contact?
Humans have bred dogs for centuries and made them dependent on us for survival. And then, we turn our backs on them and put them to death because there are too many of them.
I heard on the radio in an ad for the Alabama Veterinary Medical Association (ALVMA) that Alabama puts 135,000 dogs to death per year. The ALVMA is sponsoring a spay-neuter license plate to support a program to get Alabama animals spayed and neutered (www.alvma.com).
Who is to blame for this situation? Why are there so many unwanted animals?
But then I reminded myself that I am not to blame nor are humane societies or animal control for killing these unwanted animals.
It is the people who keep their animals intact (not spayed or neutered) and allow them to run around and breed as they please.
I have heard it all many times before….â€He’s a male dog and doesn’t need to be neutered!†“It’s against God’s will to spay or neuter my dog.†“An animal should have the experience of having babies just like humans do.†The list of absurdities goes on and on.
Some states are moving toward making it illegal to leave dogs intact. Perhaps Alabama will be on that list one day. Personally, I agree with this idea. If someone is a responsible breeder, they should have to apply for and pay for a license to breed their dogs.
Finally, it might be a good idea to have those irresponsible “owners†who breed their animals and create the unwanted dogs and cats to be the ones to have to euthanize them. If you think about it, the innocent people kill the innocent dogs and cats while those who are responsible for this problem go unpunished. Something is wrong with this picture.
Thousands of caring animal care workers in humane societies and animal control facilities all over this country are being traumatized by having to euthanize so many innocent animals. Really, they are the angels of mercy. But they are not the ones creating this situation.
PLEASE spay and neuter your companion animals. Be a part of the solution to death row dogs and not the cause. Support your local humane societies.
Moral Progress: Coonhound -- Wednesday August 27th, 2008
Is Our Treatment of Coonhounds a Measure of Our Moral Progress?
By Sue-Ellen Brown, PsyD
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.†Gandhi (1869-1948)
So, what would that mean about Alabama?
What does it mean when one severely starved, tick infested, mange covered Blue Tick Coonhound was walking around on the main street of Hurtsboro, Alabama and everyone just walked past her?
This coonhound was barely able to walk but was still wagging her tail at people who passed by her. Her front teeth were worn down, probably from trying to chew out of a kennel and her neck was scarred from wearing a collar that was too tight. Yet, this dog STILL trusted people and was looking to them for help.
The concerned receptionist at the local veterinary clinic told me the dog had been wandering around Hurtsboro for a few weeks. Everyone had ignored her except for this receptionist and the UPS woman who had been giving her food when she happened to see her.
The dog reminded me of photos I have seen of starving humans who have been prisoners of war. I wondered if starving people walking down the streets of Hurtsboro would draw any attention at all.
I realize that Hurtsboro and many other small rural towns in Alabama have seen better days. The loss of farming as an occupation for the small town farmers decimated the economies of the towns. Unemployment rates are high and crime is on the rise.
But does poverty excuse the inhumane treatment of animals? If people are hungry and going without health care, should the animals suffer a parallel fate? Is a starved, parasite infested dog just a reflection of how the people themselves feel?
Why didn’t anyone pick up a telephone and call the Russell County Animal Control to come pick up this dog?
I could not leave this dog to die on the street.
As a volunteer for the Macon County Humane Society (MCHS), I knew we could help this dog. I brought her into the local veterinary clinic where they gave her the immediate treatment she desperately needed. We named her Blue Bell.
I placed Blue Bell on our MCHS website and she was adopted within a few weeks. She was adopted by a young couple from LaGrange, GA, Christina and Sean Murdoch. They own and run a large animal rescue facility, Windfire Ranch. She is now a happy, indoor companion for Christina and Sean.
But what about the fact that Blue Bell is the fourth coonhound I have found running loose in Russell County this year? There was one Black and Tan Coonhound I could not catch and animal control could not find. Then there was a beautiful Treeing Walker Coonhound that I found running along the road. I named him Hank and he was adopted into a forever home through the MCHS. Finally, there was another Treeing Walker Coonhound that was emaciated and standing on the side of the road. The MCHS nursed her back to health and she is currently on our website for adoption (www.maconcountyhumanesociety.org).
Russell County is not alone with the coonhound problem here in Alabama. I personally know that the Macon County Animal Control frequently picks up coonhounds.
I called some coon hunters that I know and asked some questions. I found out that it is standard practice among some coon hunters to turn loose (without collars or any identification) dogs that they no longer want. This could be due to being gun shy, not treeing the coon, not being aggressive enough, being too old, etc.
Valuable coonhounds owned by responsible hunters are not turned loose without tracking collars and/or collars with identification. Also, responsible coon hunters give their unwanted dogs to other hunters, friends or family members. They may also give them back to the original owner or breeder. Finally, if all else fails, they would have them euthanized before turning them loose.
Some of the coonhounds that are not good coon hunters are used for chasing deer. Apparently, sometimes when these dogs do not do a good job of hunting deer, they are also turned loose.
Do people honestly think dogs can fend for themselves in the wild? Dogs in the wild become infested with heartworms, hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms, mange, fleas and ticks, to mention just a few of the parasites. The parasites also carry diseases that can be transmitted to the dogs. They loose their fur and become weak due to being eaten alive by the parasites. They die a long, slow and miserable death.
The other common fate of stray dogs around Russell County is to be shot by hunters and farmers or hit by cars. Deer or turkey hunters who may have been sitting in stands for hours or paid large amounts of money to hunt get frustrated by stray dogs scaring off their game. Farmers shoot the dogs to protect their livestock, such as chickens or calves. Unfortunately, many of these dogs are not killed but only wounded and then end up with additional suffering.
How can people be so cold and callus and ignore the impending suffering of one of God’s creatures when they turn them loose?
One coonhound breeder and trainer told me that it is a myth that the coon hunters turn loose the unwanted dogs. He said it is the people who acquire coonhounds as pets that eventually turn them loose. He said coonhounds are loud and rambunctious and do not make good pets. People find this out after getting one and then let them go.
But either way, whether it is the irresponsible coon hunters or coonhound pet owners that turn them loose, it is wrong.
Turning a coonhound loose to live in the wild is like turning loose a tiny, indoor, French Poodle into a wolf pack and expecting it to blend in and survive.
Domesticated dogs are dependent on humans for survival. When we acquire them and fail to care for them we are not only morally deficient but committing an illegal act. To turn out or dump an animal out is a class A misdemeanor in Alabama.
Some people do not call animal control because they fear they will euthanize the dog. And unfortunately, this is often the case. But believe me, as someone who has seen first hand the condition of dogs living in the wild and nursed them back to health, humane euthanasia is better than living a long, slow, torturous death in the wild.
Stray dogs should not be a normal part of our scenery in Alabama.
I know that the cost of taking in and nursing a starved and parasite infested dog is probably prohibitive to the average person. The dog food, worming medications, flea and tick medications and vaccinations might be affordable. But the cost of treating heartworms is anywhere from $300 to $700, depending on where you go to get the treatment.
Luckily, the MCHS has a cooperative relationship with the Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine (TUSVM) Small Animal Clinic and gets discounted services. The TUSVM clinic has been extremely helpful in getting many of our coonhounds back on their feet and ready for adoption.
Please do your part to make Alabama a more caring place to live. Help our animals. Call animal control to take in stray dogs. Do not turn loose your unwanted dogs. Try to find them another home. But if you can’t find them a home, please take them to your local animal shelter. And finally, please spay and neuter your pets so we can reduce the current animal overpopulation problem.
If Gandhi’s quote were changed to “The greatness of Alabama and its moral progress can be judged by the way the people of Alabama treat its animals.†I would say we are in trouble.
NJ befriends MCHS -- Thursday December 13th, 2007
New Jersey befriends Macon County Dogs
by: Sue-Ellen Brown, PsyD
On a November evening, Donna Williams, vice president of the Macon County Humane Society (MCHS); her husband Jamie; and her mother Mary Slatton loaded their family van with 11 dogs and puppies. They would drive15 hours from their home in Tuskegee to Wayne, New Jersey. Their precious cargo consisted of eight puppies and three adult dogs from the Macon County Dog Pound.
The Williams drove all night, arriving in Wayne early the next afternoon. They were greeted by volunteers of the Friends of Wayne Animals (FOWA) and several people eagerly waiting to adopt the dogs. Seven families went home with their new friends that very day. The rest of the dogs and puppies found loving homes within two weeks.
This was the Williams’ second transporting trip to Wayne. The first time, during the summer of 2007, they transported seven mixed-breed, bird-dog-type puppies to FOWA. All seven quickly found homes in New Jersey.
Shirley Pallito, head of the foster home program of FOWA, coordinates the transporting of Macon County dogs. Pallito keeps a close eye on the MCHS website (www.maconcountyhumanesociety.org ). She quickly alerts the MCHS when she sees dogs they may be interested in rescuing. Many of the dogs who have been unable to find homes have been on Macon County’s website for a long time.
Once Pallito identifies dogs she would like to adopt up north, the MCHS makes sure everyone has the proper veterinary medical care. The MCHS works closely with the Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine’s Small Animal Hospital. Animals are given physical examinations, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, wormed, microchipped, and receive a health certificate before being transported.
Pallito posts the Macon County dogs on FOWA’s website, ( http://members.petfinder.org/~NJ26/FOWA.html ) before they arrive in New Jersey. That way, she has time to receive applications for the dogs and sort through them for the best matches. Sometimes, by the time the dogs arrive, the new family has already been screened and approved and is eagerly awaiting its new dog or puppy.
Both FOWA and the MCHS are all-volunteer organizations and rely on foster homes instead of shelters. Pallito says that she enjoys fostering and adopting the Macon County dogs because they are usually well socialized and have sweet dispositions. Often, dogs who are in shelters for a long time develop behavior problems that make them difficult to adopt out.
The Macon County-New Jersey relationship began when Dr. Jackie Johnson, a veterinarian who was completing her certification work at Tuskegee University’s School of Veterinary Medicine, began working in New Jersey. She had been active in dog rescue while at Tuskegee.
Once back in New Jersey, Dr. Johnson realized she could use her connections to help place Alabama dogs in New Jersey. She found that northern humane societies do not have as many puppies or stray dogs in need of adoption as does Alabama. Perhaps it is because New Jersey enforces strict spay/neuter laws.
Dr. Johnson’s first challenge was finding a home for one small, black, mixed-breed, labrador-retriever-type dog named Suzi. Suzi had been listed on the MCHS website (www.maconcountyhumanesociety.org) for many months, but could not find a home in Alabama. Johnson’s friend in New Jersey, Diana Wong, helped find a home for Suzi through another rescue group. Shortly after placing Suzi, both Wong and Johnson began working with FOWA.
The next challenge was getting Suzi from Tuskegee to New Jersey. Undaunted, Dr. Janet Haslerig, president of the MCHS, researched her options. She found that Peterson Express Transport Service (PETS, http://petsllc.net/) regularly drives southern dogs up north where stray dogs in need of homes are not as plentiful. For about $125, they agreed to carry Suzi from Tennessee to New Jersey. MCHS still relies on PETS to take dogs to New Jersey when only a few need to be transported.
MCHS has also placed puppies through the North Shore Animal League (NSAL), a shelter in New York. NSAL has its own transport system that brings hundreds of puppies to New York from southern shelters. Haslerig has personally driven homeless Macon County puppies to NSAL’s drop off spot in Tennessee.
Haslerig is quick to point out that MCHS prefers to work with FOWA now. “We couldn’t be more pleased with our relationship with the great people at FOWA,†states Haslerig. “They keep our dogs in loving foster homes before they are adopted and they send us lots of updated pictures once they are adopted. It is heart warming to see the pictures of dogs who went from a rough start at the Macon County Dog Pound to loving families with big smiles on their faces.â€
After making two trips to New Jersey, the Williams are hoping to start their own animal transport business. Although they were exhausted after their 15-hour drive, the excitement and joy they saw in all the people waiting in Wayne was over-powering. They said that they were energized and able to make the drive back to Alabama with the knowledge that they had brought so much love to Wayne.
The MCHS is an all-volunteer, non-profit 501c3 organization that relies on donations from generous citizens to function. Because Macon County has no animal shelter, dogs and cats live in foster homes that are carefully screened by the MCHS until they find a loving home. Haslerig stresses that volunteers are needed at every level, not just as foster parents. Visit the MCHS website at www.maconcountyhumanesociety.org.for more information on how to help, on pets awaiting homes, and on pet care. Anyone seeking more information about membership or ways to help may also call Mrs. Frankie Wise at 334-727-2464 or 334-724-9916.
Healthier pets -- Friday October 19th, 2007
Tuskegee University and Macon County Humane Society challenge Alabama residents to control pet population
by Caroline B. Schaffer, DVM
What a choice! Alabama residents are challenged daily to be responsible pet owners. Many are making the right choice. Some who make the wrong choice may just need more information. That is why the Macon County Humane Society and the Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine have teamed up to give local citizens important information and other assistance.
A health decision facing all pet owners is whether to “fix†their dogs and cats. Spaying and neutering have been shown to prevent many health threats.
Spay, neutering help everyone
Animals who are “fixed†(i.e. spayed or neutered) are less likely to run away from home where they may get in fights, be hit by a car, soil neighbors’ yards and children’s play areas, or terrorize children and adults. Drivers trying to avoid animals who are running free have been known to injure themselves, their passengers, and their cars, not just the animals.
If dogs and cats run loose, their bowel movement may spread roundworms, hookworms, and other bad diseases to children and adults. Each bowel movement attracts more than 100 flies every day that can also spread diseases.
Healthier females
If female dogs and cats are spayed when they are six-months old, the risk of breast cancer is almost zero. Life-threatening infections of the uterus or womb (called pyometra) are impossible.
Healthier males
If male dogs and cats are neutered, infections and tumors of their prostate glands are greatly reduced. Tumors of the testicles will never threaten their lives.
Rapid over-population
As cute as puppies and kittens are, seeing them starving or being put to death because they have no homes is not a pretty sight. It may be hard to believe, but because one average female dog can give birth to more than six puppies every six months, she and her offspring could produce 67,000 puppies in just six years. Think of that. That is more than five times the 12,000 people living in the city of Tuskegee, AL, according to the 2000 Census! Who will give them food, water, and loving homes? Who will keep them safe?
Grants and information
Thanks to a generous grant, the Macon County Humane Society hopes that all qualified low-income Macon County residents and full-time Tuskegee University students will apply now for low-cost spays and neuters. For details, call 334-724-9916 or go to the web site, www.maconcountyhumanesociety.org.
For more information on the health care needs of dogs and cats, call Tuskegee University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital at 334-727-8436.
Free brochures (“ABCs of Responsible Pet Ownership†and “12 Basic Rules for Responsible Pet Ownershipâ€) are available in the Veterinary Hospital’s waiting room on Hospital Road and the Humane Society’s business office on Rosa Parks Avenue in Tuskegee.
Everyone in Alabama—whether two-legged or four-legged—will benefit when pet owners make the right choices.
For more information, call Janet Haslerig, 727-8456 or Caroline Schaffer, 727-8122
Office Grand Opening! -- Thursday July 12th, 2007
Macon County Humane Society invites community to its grand opening, leash tying ceremony, & Microchip Day
by Caroline B. Schaffer, DVM
The bright red doors of the Macon County Humane Society’s first business office will open wide Friday, July 20 at 11 am for its Grand Opening and First Annual Open House. Volunteers of the Humane Society spent the last two months renovating the building at 111 East Rosa Parks Avenue (formerly Northside Street), Tuskegee.
The building that houses the Humane Society has a lot of history. It served as Attorney Jock Smith’s law office from 1980 until 1997 when he moved to his current law office at 306 North Main Street in Tuskegee.
“This is not an animal shelter and we are not animal control. No animals will be housed here,†stressed Dr. Janet Haslerig, president of the Macon County Humane Society. “We will need a lot more money to build and operate an animal shelter. But getting this business office is an important next step in our continuing efforts to help Macon County’s animals and citizens. We finally have a place to call home,†she said.
The Humane Society wants the community to join in its celebration of finding a home. All are invited to the festive Open House from 11 am to 1 pm July 20. Lots of food, treats, and fun are planned. Landlord Jock Smith will supply the food and Humane Society members will supply the answers to questions about its low cost spay/neuter program, pet adoptions, and volunteer opportunities for the general public.
Rather than cutting a ribbon, the celebration will feature a leash-tying ceremony to symbolize the connections being made between homeless animals and the responsible citizens of Macon County. Community leaders will be on hand to greet the public and lend their support to the Humane Society’s mission.
Although donations of furniture and equipment are still needed, the building is ready to be used for the Humane Society’s monthly business meetings, outreach programs, storage of files and supplies, and distribution of educational materials, and pet adoption, foster home, and low cost spay/neuter applications.
Information about animals ready for adoption or needing foster care will be available at the Humane Society’s new office beginning July 20. Pictures and descriptions are already available 24 hours a day, seven days a week on the web site, www.maconcountyhumanesociety.org.
Since its founding in 2003 as a non-profit, 501(C)3 organization, its mission has been to (1) provide public education regarding animal care and welfare, (2) prevent cruelty to animals, (3) eliminate animal overpopulation, (4) operate an animal shelter for the humane care of stray, lost, injured, unwanted, and abused animals, and (5) place homeless animals with caring, responsible people.
The grand opening celebration will continue the next day to help lost or stolen animals find their way home. The Macon County Humane Society is offering to permanently identify pets through a Microchip Clinic Saturday, July 21 from 10 am to 2 pm. These microchips have been shown to be safe, permanent, humane, and quickly implantable.
As a special service to the community, the Humane Society is charging $15 per pet for its paid, active members and new members. Nonmembers will pay $20 per pet.
To participate, pet owners must being their animals on leash to the Humane Society’s new business office and keep them restrained at all times. Each animal will be given a microchip identification as a shot under its skin. The chips are as small as a grain of rice.
Each tiny chip contains a one-of-a-kind identification number that can be read by special scanners. Once a pet with a chip is registered, humane societies and veterinary hospitals throughout the world will be able to read the unique number with scanners like the ones owned by the Macon County Humane Society and Tuskegee University’s School of Veterinary Medicine.
Anyone seeking more information about membership, ways to help, or Microchip Day may call Mrs. Frankie Wise at 727-2464 or 724-9916.
See photos of the office in our Photo Gallery on this website.
Microchip Clinic -- Thursday July 12th, 2007
Macon County Humane Society helps lost and stolen pets find their way home
by Caroline B. Schaffer, DVM
As part of its grand opening celebration and to help lost or stolen animals find their way home, the Macon County Humane Society is offering to permanently identify pets through a Microchip Clinic Saturday, July 21 from 10 am to 2 pm. These microchips have been shown to be safe, permanent, humane, and quickly implantable.
As a special service to the community, the Humane Society is charging $15 per pet for its paid, active members and new members. Nonmembers will pay $20 per pet.
To participate, pet owners must being their animals on leash to the Humane Society’s new business office at 111 East Rosa Parks Avenue and keep them restrained at all times. Each animal will be given a microchip identification as a shot under its skin. The chips are as small as a grain of rice.
Each tiny chip contains a one-of-a-kind identification number that can be read by special scanners. Once a pet with a chip is registered, humane societies and veterinary hospitals throughout the world will be able to read the unique number with scanners like the ones owned by the Macon County Humane Society and Tuskegee University’s School of Veterinary Medicine.
For more information, call Humane Society President Janet Haslerig at 724-9916.
PETCO Gives Gift to MCHS -- Thursday May 17th, 2007
PETCO’s belated Christmas gift to MCHS helps Macon County’s homeless animals
by Caroline B. Schaffer
April 11, 2007
The Macon County Humane Society received a belated Christmas gift of $4,278 from the PETCO Foundation and PETCO stores in Opelika and Montgomery, AL, last month. The gift was part of PETCO’s five-week Tree of Hope program during the Christmas holiday. Their customers in Opelika and Montgomery generously added one dollar to their purchases to benefit the animals of Macon County.
“As a non-profit that is 100% volunteer, we will make good use of this gift,†said Dr. Janet Haslerig, president of the MCHS.
“PETCO’s generous Tree of Hope donation will be pooled with money raised from MCHS’ fund-raising activities to benefit the Macon County animals and people who care about them,†she promised.
“We are pleased to add PETCO to our growing list of organizations providing financial assistance,†Dr. Haslerig added. For example, the Alabama Animal Control Association and Tuskegee University’s Small Animal Hospital have already helped provide low cost spay/neuters to those pet-owning residents of Macon County who meet the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) definition of low income.
PETCO of Opelika and Montgomery have hosted adoption efforts by MCHS for the past 12 to 18 months. MCHS volunteers escort Macon County animals in need of homes to the two stores on most weekends. Check www.maconcountyhumanesociety.org for times and locations.
The Humane Society encourages all citizens of Macon County and surrounding communities to consider giving their support by becoming members and by adopting or providing foster care for the many needy animals in Macon County. Regrettably, MCHS doesn’t have enough homes for all the innocent, adorable dogs and cats who are born in the county.
Without an animal shelter, MCHS has to depend on the kindness of those who open their homes, their wallets, and their check books. For more information, call membership chairman, Mrs. Frankie Wise, at 727-2464 or go to www.maconcountyhumanesociety.org.
PETCO and the PETCO foundation raised over $2.7 million through the Tree of Hope fundraiser that benefited more than 4,000 community animal organizations. Seventy percent of the funds donated by its customers, associates, and vendors went straight to the community organizations. The remaining 30% will be distributed to assist local animals during the rest of 2007.
PETCO is a leading specialty retailer of premium pet food, supplies, and services with a commitment to quality animal care and education. It operates more than 800 neighborhood stores in 49 states and the District of Columbia. For more information on PETCO and the PETCO Foundation, visit www.PETCO.com.
Leashes & Toys Donated! -- Friday May 4th, 2007
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. donates leashes & toys to MCHS!
A special thank you to Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc. for donating 25 leashes, 25 frizbee's and 50 tennis balls to the MCHS on 5-3-07!!! These special gifts will go to all the happy dogs of the Macon County Humane Society.
MCHS Awarded $10,000 -- Wednesday April 25th, 2007
Tuskegee Professor got $10,000 Check for Macon-County Humane Society at The Alabama Veterinary Medical Association Awards Ceremony
by Anissa L. Riley
Tuskegee, AL -- Along with the honor of being one of three recipients of the Alabama Veterinary Medical Association (ALVMA) 2nd Annual Bowie-Heath Humanitarian Award, Tuskegee Professor Dr. Janet M. Haslerig was also surprisingly awarded a check for $10,000 for the Macon County Humane Society.
Dr. Haslerig is an Assistant Professor at Tuskegee University’s College of Agricultural, Environmental, and Natural Sciences and the first and only president of the Macon County Humane Society in Alabama. She has served in this position since 2003 and is committed to the humane care of animals and the matching of stray or discarded animals with loving homes.
The check was presented by a second Bowie-Heath Humanitarian Award recipient, Ms. Lynne Fridley, on behalf of the Alabama Humane Federation. Ms. Fridley began her career in animal welfare 30 years ago at the Shelby County Humane Society. She then moved on to serve as Executive Director of the Humane Society of Chilton County for 18 years. Ms. Fridley has been active for over 28 years in the Alabama Humane Federation including serving as president for several terms. She is currently the first Field Representative for the Pet Rescue Foundation.
The third recipient, Mrs. Jama Singley is considered a leading expert in the field of animal cruelty prevention in the state of Alabama. She is currently Chief Animal Cruelty Investigator with the Lee County Humane Society in Auburn, AL, and is also head of the Lee County Department of Animal Welfare.
The three recipients were recognized on September 9, 2006, during the ALVMA’s "Animal Hall of Fame" Gala at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Montgomery, AL.
The ALVMA named the Bowie-Heath Humanitarian Award after Tuskegee’s Dean Emeritus Dr. Walter C. Bowie and Auburn’s Dr. M. K. Heath. Dr. Bowie is known for his works in creating the Tuskegee University Center for the Study of Human-Animal Interdependent Relationships. He served as the third dean of the Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine (TUSVM) for 18 years and has been associated with academic veterinary medicine for over 40 years.
The late Dr. Heath had an excellent teaching career at the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine (AUCVM) and also served as the executive secretary of the ALVMA for many years.
This year’s "Animal Hall of Fame" inductees were a hero dog named Muffin, a nationally famous chicken named Matilda, and Gucci, whose story changed laws in Alabama.
Humanitarian Award -- Wednesday April 25th, 2007
The Alabama Veterinary Medical Association Presents The Second Annual Bowie-Heath Humanitarian Award on September 9
by Anissa L. Riley
Tuskegee, AL -- The Alabama Veterinary Medical Association (ALVMA) 2nd Annual Bowie-Heath Humanitarian Award will publically recognize three individuals from the Tuskegee, Auburn, and Chilton County areas on September 9, 2006. They will be recognized at the ALVMA’s "Animal Hall of Fame" Gala at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Montgomery, AL.
Janet M. Haslerig, Ph.D., Mrs. Jama Singley, and Ms. Lynne Fridley are the recipients of this year’s Bowie-Heath Humanitarian Award. The Bowie-Heath Award recognizes individuals picked by local veterinary medical associations or representatives of local associations for their work with animals and people.
Recipient Dr. Haslerig is an Assistant Professor at Tuskegee University’s College of Agricultural, Environmental, and Natural Sciences and the first and only president of the Macon County Humane Society in Alabama since 2003. She shows her commitment to the humane care of animals and the matching of stray or discarded animals with loving homes.
Recipient Mrs. Singley is considered a leading expert in the field of animal cruelty prevention in the state of Alabama. She is currently Chief Animal Cruelty Investigator with the Lee County Humane Society in Auburn, AL, and is also head of the Lee County Department of Animal Welfare.
Lastly, recipient Ms. Fridley began her career in animal welfare 30 years ago at the Shelby County Humane Society. She then moved on to serve as Executive Director of the Humane Society of Chilton County for 18 years. Ms. Fridley has been active for over 28 years in the Alabama Humane Federation including serving as president for several terms. She is currently the first Field Representative for the Pet Rescue Foundation.
The ALVMA named the Bowie-Heath Humanitarian Award after Tuskegee’s Dean Emeritus Dr. Walter C. Bowie and Auburn’s Dr. M. K. Heath. Dr. Bowie is known for his works in creating the Tuskegee University Center for the Study of Human-Animal Interdependent Relationships. He served as the third dean of the Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine (TUSVM) for 18 years and has been associated with academic veterinary medicine for over 40 years. The late Dr. Heath had an excellent teaching career at the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine (AUCVM) and also served as the executive secretary of the ALVMA for many years.
This year’s "Animal Hall of Fame" inductees include a hero dog named Muffin, a nationally famous chicken named Matilda, and Gucci, whose story changed laws in Alabama.
The keynote speaker is 9-11 tragedy survivor Michael Hingson and his trusted guide dog Roselle. Mr. Hingson and Roselle were on the 78th floor of the World Trade Center when terrorists flew an airliner into the building 15 floors above them.
The public is invited and encouraged to attend the dinner and ceremony beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Embassy Suites in Montgomery, AL, September 9. Tickets are $100 each or table sponsorship tickets may be purchased at $125 each in lots of eight. Proceeds will benefit the Alabama Veterinary Foundation. For "Animal Hall of Fame" tickets and information, contact the ALVMA at 334-395-0086 or order online at www.alvma.com.
MCHS Low Cost Spay/Neuter -- Thursday April 12th, 2007
Humane Society offers new hope for Macon County’s pets and citizens
by Caroline B. Schaffer, DVM
Good news for all two-legged and four-legged Macon County residents! In the interest of the public health and safety of the citizens of Macon County and the well being of the County’s animals, the Macon County Humane Society (MCHS) is pleased to announce the implementation of a new low cost spay/neuter program.
Pet-owning residents of Macon County who meet the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) definition of low income and qualified fulltime students at Tuskegee University in Macon County may apply to the MCHS for financial assistance for low cost sterilization (“fixingâ€) of their dogs and cats.
Financial assistance is based on household income. To qualify, applicants must meet the income limits for Macon County as defined by HUD for 2006. This means that financial assistance will be provided to those pet owners whose household incomes fit HUD’s definition of “30% of median, very low, and low.â€
Pet owners with proof of having Class A income will pay $5 for each pet’s surgery and pre-operative work-up; Class B income will pay $15 for the first two pets and $5 for each additional pet; and Class C income will pay $25 for their first two pets and $5 for each additional pet.
The balance of the qualified pet’s surgical fee will be paid with funding from a grant from the Alabama Animal Control Association, fund-raising activities by the Macon County Humane Society, and the goodwill and surgical expertise of Tuskegee University’s Small Animal Hospital.
Applications will be processed by the MCHS in the order received. By appointment only, an MCHS volunteer stationed at the Gomillion Building, 302 South Main Street,Tuskegee, will verify income and determine eligibility.
For more information, email your questions to maconcountyhumanesociety@yahoo.com or call Frankie Wise at 334-727-2464.. Applications will be distributed after October 20 at the Macon County-Tuskegee Public Library, 302 South Main Street,Tuskegee; Room 102 of the Macon County Court House, 101 East Rosa Park (formerly 101 East Northside Street), Tuskegee; and Tuskegee University’s Small Animal Hospital.
“Spaying and neutering more of the County’s pets will decrease the community’s terrible problem with pet overpopulation. That is why we are very fortunate to be able to offer this new program of financial assistance at this time,†said Dr. Janet Haslerig, president of the Macon County Humane Society.
On behalf of the other Humane Society volunteers, Haslerig explains, “Many unwanted animals are born into very sad conditions. They may be abandoned by their owners and forced to find food and water for themselves, be hit by a car or truck, or get attacked by other animals. They can spread parasites and other diseases as they wander our streets. Some join dog packs who threaten the safety of our children and other loved ones. We just don’t have enough homes for all the innocent, adorable kittens and puppies who are born into our County.â€
MCHS Calendar -- Wednesday April 11th, 2007
“Macon Friends†Calendar on Sale Now
by Caroline B. Schaffer, DVM
Hot off the press is the Macon County Humane Society’s 2007 “Macon Friends†calendar that features 31 local pet photographs. Everything from dogs and cats to donkeys, horses, and cows appear in the Humane Society’s third annual fundraising calendar.
The $10 (now reduced to $5) pet calendar sales are part of the Humane Society’s ongoing effort to help animals who may be lost, stray, unwanted, injured, or abused.
Calendars may be purchased from Mr. Bill Cook at Room 102 of the Macon County Court House or from any other Humane Society volunteer. For more information, call 334-727-6050 or email maconcountyhumanesociety@yahoo.com.
At one dollar per vote, county residents determined which pets would be featured. The 12 photographs that won the coveted top position each month are animals owned by Cindy Kirk, Edward and Elaine Raymon, Marshalette Wise, Mabel and Tollie Malone, Helen and Bill Stringfellow, Henry and Ralphenia Pace, Ruth Bullock, Doris Netzler, Joe and Ruby Granberry, Donna Williams, and Tonya and Jerry Lumpkin.
Thor, a male Rottweiler living with Ruth Bullock, won the cover position by raising over $150 in votes.
The 31 competing photographs were submitted by the animal’s owner or taken by professional photographer Mr. Thomas Martin of Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine’s Media Center.
New this year are 12 pet owner pledges. These are pet care reminders that the Humane Society hopes everyone will take to heart. All pledges serve as reminders that adopting a pet is a lifetime commitment of love, time, and money by everyone in the family.
Pages 2 and 3 of the calendar show Humane Society volunteers at work throughout 2006, describe the Humane Society’s mission and vision, and list daily needs for donations for the animals in foster care.
The Humane Society also encourages all citizens of Macon County to consider giving their support by becoming members and by adopting or providing foster care for the many needy animals in Macon County. For more information, call membership chairman, Mrs. Frankie Wise, at 727-2464.