Good morning! The weather may not be perfect but my weekend started on a high note despite the weather! Last evening we went to visit with Bowser and his adoptive family. For those of you who do not remember Bowser the original story can be found here:

The Gift of Love

Bowser just before his adoption in December of 2010

Bowser went home with the Lambert-Park family shortly before Christmas. This however was no ordinary adoption, the family was finally settling back into normal life after dealing with the business of getting through baby Brygette’s bone marrow transplant surgery. They had lost their beloved dog Buddy the December before, and were missing the love of a good dog. Buddy was a rescue they had adopted from me three years before, we never knew where he came from but he bonded with the Lambert-Park family and was their constant companion until cancer took him on December 29th, 2009.

Without their beloved dog, and facing the most difficult hurdle they had come up against since Brygette’s birth was not easy on the family. That is when I offered them one of Buddy’s pups. Bowser. They fell in love with him at first sight, the same way they had fallen in love with his father before him. But they could not take their dog home yet. Brygette was still in the hospital, and her parents were living in transition at the Ronald McDonald House near Toronto Sick Kids Hospital. “Not to worry” I said Bowser would stay here with Todd and I until Doctors gave the okay for him to go home.

That day finally came, and Penny came to pick up her dog. Bowser left the home he had lived in for the past two years and without so much as a glance back in our direction jumped into Penny’s car and was gone. For the next few months I received updates from Penny and pictures kept coming in of Bowser with Brygette. It was clear that this adoption was working out wonderfully. Bowser had bonded with Brygette and was now her constant companion just as I had hoped.

Todd plays with Brygette while I visit with Bowser and Penny.

Then came the invitation to visit. Penny was amazed by the bond between Brygette and Bowser and wanted us to see for ourselves how the baby and the dog interacted with each other. The bond between Brygette and Bowser is nothing short of amazing! He never leaves her side, and I am told he whines for her if she is not present. Despite the fact that he was raised by Todd and I, last night he watched us carefully when we interacted with Brygette. At one point in the evening I picked Brygette up in my arms to bring her inside, the second I put her back down Bowser had to “inspect” her to make sure she was alright. I am told he does the same thing every time she goes down the slide at the local park.

Bowser and his family lounge on the couch. It is clear they love their rescue dog.

All in all folks I would have to say that Bowser’s adoption has been one of the most memorable to date. It illustrates perfectly how the unconditional love of an animal for it’s human family can help them through the most difficult things life throws at them. They have come a long way from wondering how they were going to face life without their Buddy boy. Bowser has stepped up and filled that void. They will never forget Buddy of course. He came along at a time in their life when they had given up on hopes and dreams of ever having a child, and got them through the diagnosis of Brygette’s illness and the ensuing treatment. When he died part of their strength died with him, but now they have their Bowser, and he will be by their side no matter what life throws at them. If you were to ask the Lambert-Park family how they feel about adopting their rescue dog, they will probably tell you they would do it again in a heartbeat!

Buddy and Bowser did something for us too! They gave us wonderful friends in the Lambert-Park family, people we might never have met were it not for the fact that they were seeking the love of a good dog.   To Penny and Trevor I want to say thank you. Thank you for choosing to adopt, thank you for giving not one but two of our rescues a second chance at life, and most of all thank you for being you. You are wonderful people, and I am glad to call you friends.

You can find the same unconditional love as the Lambert-Park family by opting to adopt. There are many wonderful pets just waiting for a home and a family to call their own. Adopting a pet will change your life, it is one of the most rewarding things you will ever do! So remember, ADOPT DON”T SHOP!

Until Tomorrow Remember

BE THE CHANGE YOU SEEK!

Janette

Happy Friday all! I have not been around much this week as some of you may have noticed. That does not mean I have abandoned you, I have been busy working on a couple of fund raising projects, networking with some very wonderful people, and attempting to set our summer rescue efforts in motion.

Now some of you have already contacted me with offers to foster or transport, and I thank you. You will be contacted soon about your first foster pet or transport run, and I hope I can count on you to be true to your word. To anyone wishing to step forward and become more involved in our work, links and email addresses will be given in this posting please read on.

Those wishing to volunteer for transport relay driving, please join the Let’s Adopt Canada Rescue Transport Team

Those wishing to open their home to foster pets, please join the Let’s Adopt Canada Foster Care Team

Those who would like to help us keep track of what is happening across the country by blogging animal news in their region, please email me at:

janettehamilton@bell.net

I would like to see all of our members encourage their friends to join us, so please invite them to “like” our fan page, or join our group page.

This weekend I will once again be away from my computer. I will be busy visiting a couple of local rural areas where animals are regularly abandoned to fend for themselves. We have received reports that there may be a few young mothers with litters living outdoors so we will be searching for them. Should we find them we will need to call on those of you who have stepped forward to assist us. We have no idea what we will find , or what shape the animals will be in, so we need you to step forward and assist us. I will keep the group posted on the weekends rescue efforts so be sure to check the page walls regularly.

Next week I will be meeting with two local school principals to discuss day seminars on animal care and handling, for their students when schools reopen in the fall. I believe that educating our children about animals is an important part of the effort to end the cycle of abuse that society has fallen into. Education of children on how to approach animals has been proven to reduce dog bite incidents. Education also dispels the myths and old wives tales many people believe about companion animals.

I am currently talking with several area bands and performers, and we are in the first planning stages of putting together a benefit concert for the early fall. Details of dates and times will be released when arrangements are finalized. At present we are looking for a large enough venue to accommodate us.

Well I hope you all feel up to date on what is happening with Let’s Adopt Canada. We are growing slowly, but we can do better! Don’t forget to invite your friends and family to join us!

Until Tomorrow Remember

BE THE CHANGE YOU SEEK!

Janette

Does this look like the way a puppy should start life?

On May 31st, 2011 the Toronto Municipal Licensing and Standards committee (MLS) will meet to discuss a proposed ban on the retail sales of puppies and kittens in pet stores across the GTA. (Greater Toronto Area) The ban, which would make it illegal to sell puppies or kittens in pet stores, would curb the supply and demand from puppy mills as well as reduce incidences of impulse buying of animals which later end up in shelters because the decision to purchase was made spur of the moment. It would also (according to some) reduce the overpopulation of feral cats, and deal with concerns over treatment of animals in pet shops.

In a preliminary report issued by the MLS, the committee states: “Municipal Licensing and Standards recommends amendments to Article XX, Pet Shops of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 545, Licensing to clarify requirements for pet shop keepers.  In addition, MLS will ensure that establishments are regularly inspected for compliance.  MLS does not recommend an outright ban on the sale of cats and/or dogs, which could have a significant negative economic impact on pet shop owners.”

A significant negative economic impact on pet shop owners? Really? I and many other animal advocates do not agree with this statement. If banning retail sales of animals is going to have such a horrific negative impact on pet shop owners, does that not prove our point? I mean let’s look at this from a logical perspective shall we? The bulk of income in pet stores should not be from the sale of animals. Pet stores traditionally sell animal foods and accessories, sales of these items should far outweigh sales of live animals, which should make up only a small portion of a business’ yearly revenue.

The report goes on to say: “Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 545, Licensing, Article XX, Pet Shops addresses standards for the care and housing for animals being kept in pet shops. It also sets requirements for the overall condition that the pet shop must be kept in. Some of the bylaw requirements correspond with or go beyond what is outlined in the OSPCA Act. Examples of the Pet Shop by-law going beyond the requirements set out in the Act regarding care of animals include, but are not limited to:

1. Pet shop owners not keeping animals or birds in crowded quarters or cages

2. Pet shop owners not selling animals that are diseased or unfit for sale

3. Pet shop owner’s responsibility to ensure that any animal or bird indicating signs of sickness or disease is examined and appropriately treated within 24 hours of the onset of illness by a veterinarian or other qualified person
experienced in the care and treatment of the animal.”

The problem with this however is the fact that every inspector has their own take on what does and does not violate the Toronto Municipal code. A code which has been in place for years but does nothing to stop the mistreatment of animals in pet stores, or regulate the industry, because it is not actively enforced.

What we truly have to ask ourselves here is this, do we trust that the municipality will step up their inspection schedule, and enforce the existing licensing standards, or is this just the municipal governments way of attempting to appease animal rights activists by appearing to take action? How does this address the problem of reducing demand for puppy mill pups, or aid in reducing the population of feral cats on Toronto streets? Quite simply put, it doesn’t address either of those issues.

Surely the city of Toronto is aware that other municipalities have banned retail sales of animals (Richmond BC being the first municipality in Canada to pass the ban) with the result being little or no financial impact on pet shop proprietors. Surely the powers that be are aware that the present regulation of pet stores does nothing to stem the tide of animals from puppy mills being sold to the public as healthy companion animals?

Truth is the city doesn’t really care that they are dealing with lives and not inanimate merchandise, traditionally the powers that be view companion animals as property, and therein lies the problem. As long as we as a society refuse to see companion animals as living breathing beings that deserve humane treatment, the abuse and exploitation of animals for profit will continue.

Want to let the Toronto Municipal Licensing and Standards committee know how YOU feel about this issue? Here’s the link to their website:

Toronto Municipal Licensing and Standards

Don’t sit back and let the city make the decision for you, stand up and be counted. We owe it to the animals to ban retail sales.

Until Tomorrow Remember

BE THE CHANGE YOU SEEK!

Janette

I apologize for my weekend absence I have been allowing an injury to heal and truthfully have spent the time in bed surrounded by my beloved dogs. Of course we won’t mention the fact that it was one of my beloved dogs that caused the injury in the first place. We will blame it on the fact that I decided not to use the halti (a.k.a -gentle leader, or head collar)on a dog I am well aware believes she is pulling a wagon train every time you clip a leash to her collar. She gave my right arm a good wrenching and now it is very painful to move, and of course I am right handed! It appears that the shoulder muscle has been strained, so typing, driving, cooking etc. are all proving to be a little difficult. However, I do not blame the dog, the injury is my fault not hers, I should not have been lazy and should have used the proper equipment.

Notice how I am not blaming the dog for being a dog? Instead I take full responsibility for the injury which I could have prevented by the use of a halti to stop the dog from pulling. That got me thinking about dog bite incidents and who is truly at fault when someone gets bitten.

I can tell you right now it is NEVER the dog’s fault. It is ALWAYS the fault of the human. Dogs DO NOT attack without provocation, yet how many times have you heard a bite victim say, “the dog just attacked me! I didn’t do anything wrong.” This is almost NEVER true, usually there is something the victim is not even aware of doing which has challenged the animal and put it on the defensive.

In most cases, the animal in question is responding to the body language of the “victim” If that person approaches an unknown animal without caution, they are already causing friction between themselves and the dog in question. The dog will pick up on their fear or aggression and will become anxious. THAT is what will cause the dog to go on the defensive, THAT is what will cause the dog to bite.

People always expect dogs to be well behaved when out in public, they think nothing of approaching a strange dog and getting right in their face. They allow their children to approach any dog on the street without the caution that should be used when confronting a strange animal. They do not teach their children that it is best to stop and ask permission before touching or getting too close to a dog they do not know, they themselves approach strange dogs without as much as a “by your leave” to the owner. Then when they or their child gets bit, they blame the dog. No mention is made of the fact that said child approached said dog at a full tilt run and invaded the animals personal space, or that the victim was two inches off the nose of the animal in question when they got bit. Instead they blame the dog, saying it attacked unprovoked.

People have respect for the personal space of others most of the time. We would never dream of approaching someone and sticking our noses into their personal space. How is it then that we constantly invade the comfort zone of dogs without giving it a second thought? Do you honestly think the dog enjoys having their personal space invaded any more than we do? You would not walk up to a person you had never met and lay hands on them, so why do you feel it is alright to allow your children to approach a strange animal and lay hands on it? What’s more, how can you expect that animal to put up with being handled by strangers without a reaction?

The bottom line here folks is this, you should not be approaching strange animals without caution, and you need to teach your children respect for personal space and caution when approaching animals. BSL won’t stop dog bite incidents no matter what the government says. The only thing that keeps us and our children safe from being bitten is proper respect for animals, and their space, and a healthy respect for the damage a dog COULD do if YOU provoke such a reaction. Caution and respect is key when dealing with strange animals.

Until Tomorrow Remember
BE THE CHANGE YOU SEEK!
Janette

If a picture is worth a thousand words, just think what an entire calendar featuring our members beloved pets says about us! The first annual Let’s Adopt Canada Calendar Pet Photo Competition is underway. We are receiving so many great photos of your pets that choosing just 13 of them is going to prove a difficult choice. The competition is stiff, but we want more pictures to choose from! If you haven’t entered your pet yet, go to the competition site and sign up. Here are the rules:

1.) Photo must be YOUR original work no professional pet portraits may be entered.

2.) Photo must be highest resolution for printing.

3.) Photo MUST be accompanied by animals name and short bio. (Please note, as of June 1st, 2011 any entry without a bio will be disqualified.)

4.) Photo titles should contain your name and the name of your pet only!

5.) Entries can be made or changed up until midnight on June 1st, 2011. At that time the competition will be closed to entries.

6.) Winners will be chosen by a panel of judges chosen by Let’s Adopt Canada. Judges MAY NOT have photo submissions in the competition. Anyone wishing to be a judge for the competition can leave a note on the group wall.

7.) Each winner will receive a free copy of the finished 2012 calendar.

8.) Each member may enter a maximum of five photos (this is per member not per individual pet)

9.) Good luck to you all!

Here’s a short vid featuring some of the competition submissions:

To enter the competition go to the competition site. It is also the home of our new giftshop so be sure to check that out while you are submitting your photos. 10% of your purchase goes to our rescue fund. Here’s the link:

Let’s Adopt Canada Competitions

Until Tomorrow Remember

BE THE CHANGE YOU SEEK!

Janette

Someone sent me the following joke in an email the other day, and after I had my chuckle, it got me thinking. Well here, you read it, and tell me what you think after the chuckle value has worn off and you really think about it:

Patti asks her mother, ‘Mom, can I take the dog for a walk around the block?’
Her mom replies ‘No, because she is in heat.’
‘What does that mean?’ asks Patti
‘Go and ask your father. I think he’s in the garage.’ Replies her mom.

Patti goes out to the garage and says, ‘Dad, can I take Lulu for a walk around the block? I asked Mom, but she said the dog was in the heat, and to come ask you.’

Patti’s Dad took a rag, soaked it in gasoline, and scrubbed the dog’s backside with it to disguise the scent, and said ‘Ok, you can go now, but keep Lulu on the leash and only go one time around the block.’

The little girl left and returned a few minutes later with no dog on the leash..

Surprised, Dad asked, ‘Where’s Lulu?’

The little girl said, ‘She ran out of gas about halfway round the block, so another dog is pushing her home.’

Yes it has it’s chuckle value, but when you really think about it, it illustrates perfectly people’s ignorance when it comes to spaying and neutering their pets. It also illustrates the fact that we as a society have to come up with a serious working plan to deal with the pet overpopulation problem. That means educating the public to the TRUE realities of the situation, a tough thing to do when shelters such as the Newmarket, Ontario branch of the OSPCA for one, play fast and loose with the truth.

The reality of the matter is this, instead of fattening up the coffers of a poorly run system that has not seen a serious overhaul to its operations in decades, the government should be looking for practical solutions that actually work.

Perhaps instead of bolstering the corruption and failure of the present system with tax payers hard earned dollars, the government would do better to implement programs designed to address the companion animal overpopulation problem in a more practical and direct manner.

Spaying and neutering ones pets is an expensive endeavor. Many people don’t do so for that very reason, and no other. Given the opportunity to do so at an affordable cost most would. We have only to look at the miles long waiting lists in low cost spay and neuter clinics to prove that point. The local clinic which we use to spay and neuter our rescues has a present waiting list 16 weeks long. Clinics in other areas have waiting lists just as long if not longer.

If even a portion of the annual “gifts” given to SPCA shelters every year were instead used to offer pet owner no cost/low cost spay and neuter surgery to their pets, we would be a lot closer to solving the companion animal overpopulation problem.

Granted, that isn’t going to completely solve the problem. There are other issues to consider, such as the existence of many puppy mills across the country, and those idiots who, no matter what discounted or free services they are offered, still can’t be bothered to spay or neuter their pets, but it would be a step in the right direction. You can’t begin a journey without taking that first step. It is high time our government took REAL responsibility for animal welfare in our country! The number of innocent lives that are lost each year due to pet overpopulation is no joke!

Until Tomorrow Remember

BE THE CHANGE YOU SEEK!

Janette