Talkin Pets

NEWS RELEASE
 
Help In Suffering (HIS) Tends Animal Population in Jaipur

Despite making significant economic progress, modern India is a country where millions of animals continue to suffer severe neglect or abuse. Overpopulation, poverty, superstition, apathy and ignorance all contribute to their plight.
 
Fortunately, improvements are starting to take root thanks to the work of animal welfare organizations striving to provide immediate health benefits for animals, while fostering a more caring culture in Indian society.

Help In Suffering, Jaipur
A good example of this noble effort is Help in Suffering (HIS) {www.his-india.in <http://www.his-india.in> } a registered Indian charitable trust that for 30 years has championed animal care and welfare in Jaipur, a city of almost four million in the province of Rajasthan.
 
Located in a shaded two-acre compound on the outskirts of Jaipur, Help in Suffering provides shelter and medical treatment for injured and sick dogs, cats, cattle, donkeys, ponies, horses, camels, monkeys, and birds – and until recently even elephants! It also does its best to educate people to make a better world for animals in India.

HIS employs about thirty-five staff and has three rescue ambulances and two mobile clinic vehicles. Six separate animal welfare projects are conducted, each headed by a veterinary surgeon.
 
Chief Vet Dr. Jack Reece
Dr. Jack Reece, an English vet, has been the cornerstone of the HIS veterinary staff for the past 12 years. He is recipient of the first Trevor Blackburn Award by the British Veterinary Association for work in the field of animal health and welfare in a developing country.
 
“Working to help animals in India is no more or less important than helping animals anywhere else on the planet,” he says.  “The plight of animals is global and even in the more prosperous nations of the West there is still much to be done to improve their lot. The big difference is that India is a huge country with a rampant population of street, working, and wild animals and very few resources to help them. That’s why I chose to offer my services here.”
 
 
Some would cast Jack as a modern day James Herriot, the kind-hearted Scottish veterinary surgeon who wrote the best-selling book All Creatures Great and Small. Dr. Reece will have none of that and prefers to stay out of the limelight, selflessly going about his work and lavishing praise on others for the accomplishments of HIS. And certainly, there are others who are well deserving of credit.

Helping Camels
Dr. Pradeep Singhal heads the HIS Camel project. Each day his team visits parts of Jaipur and nearby villages where large numbers of working camels congregate. Pradeep’s team also organizes an annual treatment camp at the Pushkar Camel Fair and has helped build a Camel Treatment Centre at nearby Bassi.  Common among camel ailments are parasites, worms, infections, and incorrect use of nose pegs. “As much as we treat wounds and injuries, we focus on educating owners so that improved management practices can be introduced,” he says.

Equine Care
Dr. Sudhir Swami splits his time between work in the compound’s dispensary and traveling in a mobile clinic to minister to the working donkeys, ponies and horses of Jaipur.  Sudhir and his staff provide free care to these animals that frequently suffer from exhaustion, lameness, debilitation, and disease from cart overloading, inadequate diet and water supply, and general overwork in extreme heat. “We are reducing these problems, many of which are preventable,” says Sudhir.  “For example, daily hoof care helps prevent injury, infection and lameness and so we distribute hoof picks together with information on how to properly clean the hoof.”
 
Sudhir and his assistants also tend to hundreds of animals brought to HIS each year by concerned owners, or rescued from street accidents by its large ambulance with a hydraulic lift. Some of the suffering, crippled and injured animals with no hope of recovery have to be humanely destroyed.
 
Animal Birth Control/Immunization
The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) provides technical support for an Animal Birth Control (ABC) and Immunization program pioneered by Dr. Reece to create a friendly, stable, rabies-free street dog population in Jaipur. To date over 68,000 dogs have passed through the program and the incidence of human rabies in Jaipur has been reduced to zero for the past four years.
 
According to Dr. Reece, 71 percent of the city’s female dogs are now sterilized and 72 percent of the entire street dog population has been vaccinated against rabies. “Visitors to Jaipur report that our street dogs looks extremely healthy and friendly, sharply in contrast with other cities and towns of India where such programs are not yet in operation,” he says.

Animal Rescue and Rehoming
HIS also operates an Animal Rescue program that makes at least ten animal rescues a day. Dr. Mukesh, a clinical surgeon who works in the dispensary says this includes monkeys (often injured or burnt on power lines), birds such as peacocks, pigeons, and raptors, ponies and donkeys, pigs and camels, cattle, dogs, cats and even squirrels.
 
“We treat about 450 cases a month, from a small boy with a sick pet rabbit, to a village woman whose goat has mange, to a family in tears because the street dog living at their gate has been injured on the road,” says Mukesh. “Animals are held at the clinic for treatment and recovery as needed, after which they are returned to their owners, placed for adoption or put down if their injuries or illness cannot be cured.”

Funding and Donations
Timmie Kumar, HIS managing trustee says that caring after India’s animals is a never-ending endeavor. “We are making progress thanks to many dedicated and kind people, who help fund and provide our medical supplies, food and equipment. However, having the resources to keep going and growing is always a challenge. Unfortunately, the only thing that is not in short supply is the number of animals in need.”
 
HIS receives funding from various government agencies in India as well as donations from groups such as Humane Society International of the USA, Animaux Secours of France, the Marchig Trust and ELSU Foundation of Switzerland, and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) and Carpenter Trust of Great Britain.
 
HIS has organized an Adopt a Pet program, and also sells postcards of animals online as a means to raise funds. Donations from caring individuals are always welcome and can be made at www.his-india.in/ <http://www.his-india.in/>;   
 
Volunteer Vets
Help in Suffering gladly accepts experienced or newly qualified veterinary surgeons to assist with surgery, radiography, treatment or nursing care. The organization prefers a minimum stay of three months. Veterinary students are also welcome and will find plenty of opportunity for “hands on experience.”  
 
However, due to funding challenges, HIS requires volunteers to pay for their own transportation, accommodations and meals. Veterinary surgeons and veterinary students interested in volunteering should email Dr. Reece at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
 
“At HIS we gladly share duties and responsibilities to look after the animals in this part of the world,” says Dr. Reece.  “It is a labor of love. We get immense satisfaction from what we do, and enjoy a strong bond of friendship among ourselves in helping the animals of Jaipur.”     

Resources:

YouTube Video Link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHaouopP89I



HIS Website

www.his-india.in <http://www.his-india.in>



Facebook

www.facebook.com/pages/Help-In-Suffering/319028590596 <http://www.facebook.com/pages/Help-In-Suffering/319028590596>

NEWS RELEASE

Animal Welfare Group Provides Medical Aid and Promotes Humane Treatment of Camels

Jaipur, India, August 17, 2011 – The province of Rajasthan in Northwest India is home to kings of legendary wealth, vast deserts, fairytale fortresses and a dazzling array of colors and culture. From time immemorial, the camel has been a fixture of this blisteringly hot desert landscape, as a means of personal transportation and beast of burden.

Known as the ship of the desert, thousands of camels continue to populate the region and, sadly, as they have throughout history, many continue to suffer the ills of neglect, disease, ignorance and maltreatment. In 2001, Dr. Devi Shankar Rajoria of Help in Suffering (HIS), a charitable trust working for the benefit of animals in the city of Jaipur, established the HIS Camel Project as a result of the extreme suffering of working camels.

To further help these legendary beasts of burden, a Camel Rescue Center (CRC) was recently built at Bassi, on the Agra Road, where many camels work, and much help is needed to reduce their plight. A resident vet and two assistants staff the Center around the clock, providing free treatments for injured or sick beasts.

This past June, Dr. Pradeep Singhal and a team from Help In Suffering comprising of five veterinary physicians from India and the United Kingdom plus six veterinary technicians, joined the staff at Bassi to assist with camel care. “Camels are among the most noble and regal of animals, and we are committed to doing as much as we can for them,” he said.

Equally important, the HIS team was able to provide treatment to all other animals in the locality. “There’s not much in the way of veterinary support in this area, and we got the word out that we were also here to take care all other animals,” said Pradeep.

The team from HIS treated a total of 985 animals during a one-month stay, including camels, cattle, buffalo, sheep, and goats.

Most of the camels were treated for parasites such as worms, external ticks and mites. Others suffered from lameness, or wounds indicating poor management and awareness by camel owners towards their animals.

According to Dr. Singhal, special considerations must be taken into account when your patient weighs around 1,000 pounds, especially if you are going to do surgery! But unlike the popular misconception of a spitting and stubborn animal, the camel is a model patient. “You might come up against one that doesn’t want to behave, but not very often,” says Pradeep. “They are actually quite friendly.”

As always, the HIS vets advise the camel owners to follow better management practices to take care of their poor companions, handing out prepared leaflets in Rajasthani that explain why the animal is suffering, and how this can be avoided in future.

For example, a common method of treating throat and cold infections, or lameness, has been to inflict a deep burn wound by means of a heated iron rod applied to the skin of the affected area. Owners are advised that this is not only useless and needlessly painful, but can threaten the life of their camel.

Another major cause of camel injury is the incorrect use of the nose peg. “Friction caused by the nose peg results in suppurating, non-healing wounds which attract flies which lay eggs that turn into maggots,” says Pradeep. “Parts of the nose and face can then be eaten away. This not only causes the camel to become worthless to the owner, but the animal suffers the constant pain of exposed nasal passages and bone.”

Sheep and goats were treated for heavy infestations of worms, especially internal parasites that show up in symptoms of rough skin coat. Cattle and Buffalo were treated for infertility problems, skin infections, general anorexia and debility.

“The Bassi experience was intense, frustrating, enchanting, bewildering and rewarding all at the same time,” says Pradeep. “We awoke each morning to stifling heat and humidity so intense that we kept troughs of drinking water near the entrance so that the animals would not collapse while waiting for treatment. 

“People came from miles away and were very grateful for the help and more so that it was for free. They were very kind in thanking our Help In Suffering staff and in appreciating the support of our generous donors in providing this service in their locality.  There’s still much to be done and we will definitely be returning.”

Timmie Kumar, managing trustee of Help In Suffering says that caring after India’s animals is a never-ending endeavor. “We are making progress thanks to many dedicated and kind people who help fund and provide our medical supplies, food and equipment. However, having the resources to keep going and growing is always a challenge. Unfortunately, the only thing that is not in short supply is the number of animals in need.”

How You Can Help:

Donations from caring individuals are always welcome and can be made at www.his-india.in/ Help in Suffering also accepts experienced or newly qualified veterinary surgeons from all countries to assist with surgery, radiography, treatment or nursing care. The organization prefers a minimum stay of three months. Veterinary students are also welcome and will find plenty of opportunity for “hands on experience.” 

About Help In Suffering (HIS)

HIS is a registered Indian charitable trust established in 1980 for the benefit of animals in India.  Its mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and give better lives to stray, working, abandoned and wild animals. The organization will help any animal in distress or suffering and will work towards educating people on the humane treatment of all animals in India.  The scope of animals treated by HIS includes dogs, cats, camels, donkeys, mules, horses, monkeys, cattle, buffalo, goats, elephants and birds.

YouTube Video Link (Camel team at work)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCb9GjPracE

HIS Website

www.his-india.in

Facebook

www.facebook.com/pages/Help-In-Suffering/319028590596

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Eight animal welfare groups recognized with $10,000 grants for
going above and beyond to save animals

NEW YORK—The ASPCA^® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®) today announced it will provide eight animal welfare groups each with a $10,000 grant to recognize their efforts for going above and beyond to save animal victims of cruelty or natural disasters this year.

Each group is part of the ASPCA’s Response Partner Program, a network of animal welfare organizations from across the country that assists the ASPCA Field Investigations and Response team by providing qualified personnel and services to respond to cruelty investigations and natural disasters. The network also helps the ASPCA’s field operations by taking in animals and placing them into permanent homes.

Among the 173 animal welfare and rescue groups in ASPCA’s Response Partnership network, the following groups have been recognized for their outstanding efforts in 2011:

• Columbia-Greene Humane Society in Hudson, N.Y.;
• Dumb Friends League in Denver, Colo.; 
• St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center in Madison, N.J.;
• Washington Animal Rescue League in Washington, D.C.;
• Spay and Neuter Kansas City in Kansas City, Mo.;
• Wayside Waifs in Kansas City, Mo.;
• Charleston Animal Society in North Charleston, S.C.; and
• Humane Society of Broward County in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“The ASPCA wanted to thank those agencies that helped us make it possible to do our life-saving work, especially in communities that were affected by devastating disasters this year,” said Jessica Rushin, partnerships manager for the ASPCA Field Investigations and Response team. “We work collaboratively with numerous agencies on cruelty cases and disaster response operations, and these agencies have stepped up to the plate and done an exceptional job by dedicating resources, time and personnel to help us in the field. We are grateful for their assistance and look forward to saving countless more animals in the New Year.”

Each of the grant recipients were selected based on the following criteria: taking in a significant number of animals from cruelty cases and disasters and placed into permanent homes; deploying multiple response teams to assist the ASPCA with operations in the field; and providing spay/neuter services and personnel to assist disaster and cruelty victims. All of these agencies have made immense contributions to the ASPCA’s disaster relief efforts this year, including the catastrophic tornadoes in Joplin, Mo. and Tuscaloosa, Ala., and severe flooding in Memphis, Tenn., Caruthersville, Mo., and Binghamton, N.Y.

In addition to this year’s devastating disasters, the ASPCA Field Investigations and Response team has responded to major events like Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008 and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. The ASPCA is commonly called upon by state and municipal governments and other animal welfare agencies to lend expertise during large-scale animal rescue operations. This year alone, the ASPCA has assisted more than 20,000 animals in communities throughout the U.S. that were devastated by tornadoes, flooding and storms.

About the ASPCA^®
Founded in 1866, the ASPCA^® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®) is the first humane organization established in the Americas and serves as the nation’s leading voice for animal welfare. One million supporters strong, the ASPCA’s mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. The ASPCA, which is headquartered in New York City, offers a wide range of programs, including a mobile clinic outreach initiative, its own humane law enforcement team, and a groundbreaking veterinary forensics team and mobile animal CSI unit. For more information, please visit www.aspca.org.

To become a fan of the ASPCA on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/aspca. To follow the ASPCA on Twitter, go to http://www.twitter.com/aspca.

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It's hot, dark and foul inside a Matson Navigation shipping container, where 115 pigs are crammed in tight. Without even room to lie down, the pigs stand in their own waste, which pours out the bottom of the container whenever the ship hits rough water on the way from Oakland to Honolulu.

Up to 1 out of these 5 pigs transported from places like Montana, Iowa and South Dakota won't even survive their week-long journey to the slaughterhouse in Hawaii.

Leilani Farm Sanctuary is a nonprofit farm animal sanctuary in Maui that wants this cruelty to stop. The folks there started a petition on Change.org calling on Matson Navigation to join other shipping companies -- including its main competitor, Horizon Lines -- in committing to end its inhumane practice of live pig transport to Hawaii. Please sign Leilani Farm Sanctuary's petition to stop the live transport of pigs from the mainland to Hawaii now.

Thousands of pigs are transported in terrible conditions like this to Hawaii every year. Video obtained by the Handle With Care Coalition shows pigs being held in metal containers in the hot sun before they even get on a Matson ship in California -- already a violation of U.S. animal transport laws. Perhaps the worst part, though, is that none of this suffering and cruelty is necessary -- not when there are locally raised pigs and other more humane alternatives.

One Hawaii resident explained that he signed the Leilani Farm Sanctuary's petition because "it is not pono to inflict cruelty on these animals by subjecting them to shipping across the ocean." (Pono means "righteous" in Hawaiian and is a fundamental ideal in Hawaiian culture -- it's even in the state motto.) Neither local Hawaiians nor tourists want to be associated with this kind of severe animal cruelty.

Sign the Leilani Farm Sanctuary's petition calling on Matson Navigation to end the live transport of pigs to Hawaii now:

http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-shipping-live-pigs-from-the-mainland-us-to-hawaii-for-slaughter

Thanks for being a change-maker,

- Stephanie and the Change.org team

***PRESS RELEASE***

THOUSANDS DEMAND ST. PETERSBURG POLICE STOP SHOOTING DOGS

Explosive campaign on Change.org calls on St. Petersburg Police Department to immediately adopt non-lethal standard operating procedures for canine encounters in wake of tragic shooting of 12-year-old family pet.  

WASHINGTON, DC – More than 3,000 people have joined a popular campaign on Change.org calling on the police department in St. Petersburg, Florida, to stop using lethal force on dogs.

Nancy Smith, a member of the volunteer group Hand4Paws, launched the campaign on Change.org after hearing that a St. Petersburg police officer had shot and killed Boomer, a 12-year-old arthritic golden retriever owned by couple Roy and Lauren Glass. Smith had been taking action online for animals for more than two years, but because of her own senior golden retriever, Boomer’s story felt even more personal, inspiring her to start the petition on Change.org. Boomer was only the latest in a series of dog killings by the St. Petersburg police.

“Seven dogs have been shot by St. Petersburg officers this year,” said Smith. “In just a few weeks, more than 3,000 people have signed our online petition campaign on Change.org. The animal community is extremely passionate and thousands more worldwide are sure to join if the police don’t stop this deadly trend by immediately improving their officers’ training on dog handling techniques and adopting a clear policy that lethal force should only be used as a last resort.”

The campaign is in support of Boomer’s owners, Roy and Lauren Glass, who want to see their local police department change the way it deals with dogs.

“The grief is real, severe, and continuing, passing from sorrow to anger,” said Roy Glass. “With the help of others, we established the ”Boomer’s Voice” Facebook page and a campaign on Change.org to improve pet handling in police training and education and to sponsor and promote legislation to provide a means of statutory redress for the deliberate or reckless injury of killing of pets by others. Many fine and caring people from all walks of life have joined in our effort.”

“What these pet lovers have accomplished in just a few days is remarkable,” said Director of Organizing Stephanie Feldstein of Change.org, the world’s fastest-growing platform for social change. “By using social media and Change.org, Nancy and Hand4Paws have managed to recruit thousands of people demanding action from the St. Petersburg Police Department. Change.org is about empowering anyone, anywhere to demand action on the issues that matter to them, and it has been incredible to watch Nancy’s campaign take off.”

The U.S. Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services Office recently issued a publication on dog-related police incidents, stating that “the use of a weapon is seldom required in dog-related incidents or encounters.”

Live signature totals from Nancy Smith’s campaign:
http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-st-petersburg-police-from-shooting-dogs

St. Petersburg Times coverage of the campaign:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/owners-of-fatally-shot-dog-wants-st-petersburg-police-to-change-procedure/1196829
http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/article1125700.ece

For more information on Hand4Paws, please visit:
http://www.hand4paws.com
Hand4Paws is a group of world wide animal activists that use social media to promote animal rights and fight for animal welfare. Hand4Paws informs the rest of the world and brings together people that take action and give a voice to the animals. All work is done on a volunteer basis, just people who truly care.

For more information on Change.org, please visit:
http://www.change.org/about
Change.org is the world’s fastest-growing platform for social change — growing by more than 400,000 new members a month, and empowering millions of people to start, join, and win campaigns for social change in their community, city and country.

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CARE PACKAGES FOR K9 TEAMS READY TO GO!

We are excited to report that our goggles, boots and treats for the dogs have arrived and we're ready to start shipping - we just need your donation to seal these boxes up, drop in your letter or thanks to the troops and send it off!

We must say, these items are very nice quality, especially the dog goggles. Having never seen these types of products before we were very impressed by the quality and workmanship in the dog goggles, the manufacturers must really care about the dogs who will be wearing their products.

Here are some of our big donors who have really stepped up to help the K9 teams. There must be some real dog lovers in the pro-troop community! 

"

Amy and Jon W. of Cypress, Texas  ...$1,200
June R.h of Anchorage, AK  ...  $999
Freddie M. of Verdi, Nevada ...  $999
Susan C. of Baldwinsville, New York ...  $499
Gerald W. of Edmonds, Washington ...  $250
Joni W. of Reno, Nevada ...  $200
Milton F. of Sunnyvale, California ...  $200
Victoria C. of Seguin, Texas ...  $200
Thomas W. of New Canaan, Connecticut...  $200

DOG GOGGLES, BOOTS, AND TREATS
SHIPPING SOON! ORDER NOW FOR THE 1st WAVE!

"Now that we've been promoting our Care Packages for Military Working Dogs for several weeks, its time to finally start shipping these packages overseas!

We're proud to announce that MAF is including DOG GOGGLES, DOG BOOTS and TREATS in our special packages available now, specifically tailored for a soldier/marine + K9 combat team.

In addition to the regular recipe of coffee, cookies, beef jerky, gatorade and other items, these care packages each include a pair of goggles, a set of four doggie boots, and a bag of treats. Please Donate Now to be part of the 1st Shipment!

***PRESS RELEASE***

More than 1,000 people sign online petition asking Governor Perry to save struggling ranchers and dying horses by bringing hay to Texas during record drought.

SOUTH ARGYLE, TX – More than 1,000 people have joined a popular campaign on Change.org urging Texas Governor Rick Perry to use state funds to alleviate the drought’s negative impact on small ranchers and farm animals.

Bob Williams, founder of the Texas-based animal rescue organization Ranch Hand Rescue, launched the online campaign on Change.org, the world’s fastest-growing platform for social change. Williams has received a record number of requests to care for horses, cattle, and other farm animals as a result of the Texas drought, which has caused a major hay scarcity in the state.

“We desperately need to raise awareness about this issue,” said Williams. “Hay prices continue to climb, and much of the hay that’s being brought into Texas is of poor quality. We know Governor Perry is a good man, and we want to work with his team to develop a plan to make sure we help our ranchers and farm animals.”

The drought has caused the price of hay to nearly quadruple in recent months, leading small ranchers and farmers, already struggling in a down economy, to sell off large portions of their herds or give them to farm rescue organizations like Williams’. Some horses and cattle have starved to death because of the lack of hay, and conditions are expected to worsen. Williams is asking Governor Rick Perry to use state funds to truck in hay from other states into Texas.

“Bob Williams is standing up and taking action for what he believes in,” said Change.org Senior Organizer Sarah Parsons. “Clearly, farmers, ranchers and concerned citizens across the state agree with him. Change.org is about empowering anyone, anywhere, to start campaigns on issues they care about, and Bob’s campaign is a perfect example of that.”

State Climatologist John Nielson-Gammon recently declared Texas’ ongoing drought to be the state’s worst one-year drought on record. Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration indicates that the drought will likely persist through the winter.

Live signature totals on Bob Williams’s petition:
http://www.change.org/petitions/governor-perry-save-our-starving-farm-animals

For more information on Ranch Hand Rescue, please visit:
http://ranchhandrescue.org/
Ranch Hand Rescue fosters, houses, feeds, and medically cares for ranch animals in distressed conditions. The organization is located in South Argyle, Texas.

For more information on Change.org, please visit:
http://www.change.org/about
Change.org is the world’s fastest-growing platform for social change — growing by more than 400,000 new members a month, and empowering millions of people to start, join, and win campaigns for social change in their community, city and country.

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"This just in! MAF is proud to announce that we've found the perfect solution to the problem of how to reach out and help our troops in Afghanistan and their loyal military working dogs.

We're proud to announce that MAF is including DOG GOGGLES, BOOTS and TREATS in our special packages available now, specifically tailored for a soldier/marine + K9 combat team.

In addition to the regular recipe of coffee, cookies, beef jerky, gatorade and other items, these care packages each include a pair of goggles, a set of four doggie boots, and a bag of treats.

SEND A CARE PACKAGE FOR A MILITARY WORKING DOG TEAM NOW!

As we all know, our troops serving overseas must go to great lengths to deal with the harsh environment of the Middle East. In the summer the days are a scorching 120+ degrees, and in the wintertime the mountains of Afghanistan are covered in snow and temperatures reach extreme sub zeros.

Military dogs have to deal with the same harsh environment. Dust storms obscure a dogs visibility and interfere with a dog's acute sense of smell, which is critical to their job of finding IEDs and roadside bombs.

The rocky terrain and poorly built roads also plague the dogs because they don't have boots to protect the pads on their paws.

Did you know that there are over 2,700 military working dogs currently serving?

Dogs are trained at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas. Suitable dogs go through a rigorous 90 days training program which trains the animals in how to recognize and detect the explosive materials used in IEDs, how to attack and take down the enemy when threatened, and how to operate in a war zone where the sounds of battle and unpredictable nature can be very confusing for an untrained dog.

Dogs are selected for the program based on their sense of smell, speed, endurance, courage, intelligence and adaptability to the harsh desert environment.

The top breeds that possess these qualities are "German Shepherds, Dutch Shepherds, and the Belgian Malinois. However, other breeds such as Golden Retriever, Labrador Retrievers, Boxers, Bull Mastiffs, Collies, Briards, and many others have been used successfully.

It's exciting that our efforts to support these military dogs has gotten attention and is gaining steam, but we still need your help and donations now! 

Please sponsor a care package that will help out a military working dog and his handler!

56 exotic animals ran wild in Ohio yesterday after their owner let them escape from his property before taking his own life. All but a few were shot and killed by police. 

Terry Thompson's personal menagerie included tigers, lions, bears, wolves, leopards, and monkeys. And despite numerous previous complaints and visits from police, his operation was totally legal: Ohio has no regulations on the sale and ownership of exotic animals.

Liz Dumler is a Change.org member and student at Ohio University who worked for a ban on exotic animals in Ohio last year. When she heard about this disaster, she knew that Ohio's lack of regulation had threatened public safety and animal welfare for too long. So she started a petition on Change.org asking Ohio Governor John Kasich to immediately issue an executive order banning exotic animals. Click here to add your name to her petition now.

In the last six years, local authorities visited Thompson's farm nearly 30 times in response to complaints about escaped animals, animal cruelty, and more. Police knew the rare animals were at a huge risk, but there was nothing they could do.

After Liz and other animal advocates fought for a ban, then-Governor Strickland outlawed exotic pets in January. But when the new governor, John Kasich, took office, he purposefully let the ban expire, saying it would "hurt small businesses." 

Ohio is one of fewer than 10 states that have no regulations about private ownership of exotic animals. After yesterday's disaster, it should be clear to Governor Kasich that Ohio needs to take exotic animals out of unsafe private collections, for the safety of the animals and the public. And when Ohio moves to protect these animals, other states will soon follow.

Please sign Liz's petition asking Ohio Governor Kasich to immediately take action to ban private ownership of exotic animals in his state:

http://www.change.org/petitions/gov-john-kasich-ban-the-sale-ownership-and-harboring-of-wild-and-exotic-animals-in-ohio

Thanks for being a change-maker,

- Michael and the Change.org team

Lexi was found in a pile of trash by the US Soldiers patrolling in the Badghis Provence, in the western part of Afghanistan. They picked up the tiny puppy. Lexi found herself part of the patrol as she was carefully placed in a drop pouch and carried back to the base where a quick scrub and meal were the order of the day. She settled in well with the soldiers. Cpl David Day had made plans for Lexi to come to the US through Nowzad, a charity assisting our troops in rescuing the pets they have adopted while "in country" and bring them home.

Nowzad was arranging the collection of Lexi from Cpl Day to bring her to the Nowzad Shelter in Kabul. Tragically, Cpl David Day was killed in action before Lexi could make the long journey to the shelter. His comrades had no intention of leaving her behind to fend for herself in that harsh environment, and went forward with the plans David had made. Thankfully and with much relief Nowzad was able to safely transport Lexi to the shelter.

Using their reserve funds, Nowzad has already made plans to ship Lexi to the US where the soldiers of David’s platoon will look after her until David’s wife is able to take Lexi on. She is expected to arrive in North Carolina June 28, Wednesday.

The Nowzad charity was able to support Lexi's rescue by raiding their limited emergency funds. To rescue, medically care for, feed and transport a dog from Afghanistan to the United States the cost is $4,000.00. This money needs to be replaced in case of another emergency rescue of another soldier’s pet.

Please, can we ask for your assistance in replenishing the Nowzad kitty. Nowzad and Cpl Day’s comrades have set up a Chipin to repay for the rescue of Lexi. If you'd like to assist these soldiers, please do so at this link:

Nowzad and SACFund are making a special appeal to you! Please open your hearts and wallets to on behalf of Cpl David Day who lost his life in his duty to America, and in behalf of his comrades, who would not leave Lexi behind.