Possible Breed Ban in Aberdeen, S.D.

Dakotah, available for adoption at vrcpitbull.com/home.htm. This beautiful pit needs a home. Photo courtesy of Villalobos Rescue Center.

Tonight is the night. The Aberdeen, S.D. City Council is going to look at possible animal ordinance changes (at 5:30 at the courthouse). I wish I could say more, but the agenda is suspiciously vague.

On previous agendas, a pit bull ban was suggested. I have no reason to believe the suggestions today will be anything but a breed ban. There are rumors that they may expand the ban to include other misunderstood breeds. Why not discriminate against several breeds with one stupid law?

The reasons this is not a good idea are many, but here’s a few: breed bans never work; the majority of dogs in the U.S. are not pure breeds, they are mixed; there is no one in Aberdeen’s government who is qualified to identify breeds; they can’t enforce the laws currently on the books; there is no dog bite problem in Aberdeen (38 bites last year, population of about 26,000, means about 0.01 percent were bitten); and the only proven way to prevent dog bites is education.

The CDC, the Humane Society of the United States, the ASPCA and many other groups do not endorse breed specific legislation because it doesn’t work.

I really hope this doesn’t happen. I really hope there are several voices of reason on the council who will stand up and speak out against this nonsense. I also hope the public shows up in droves to stop this. Please attend this meeting. It’s 5:30 p.m. today (Monday, Feb. 28) in the courthouse. Send emails, call council members and make your voice heard.

The people can stop this. Our voices should be the loudest at this meeting. We don’t want BSL in this city. We are not uneducated fear mongers. Stop this before it even starts. It only takes three meetings to get this passed. Use your Constitutional rights and stop this now. We are the voice for those that can’t speak, now is the time to speak up.

Related Articles

• Cute of the Week: Pit Bull Scared of Cat (offtheleashsd.wordpress.com)
• Aberdeen, South Dakota, May Ban Pit Bulls (offtheleashsd.wordpress.com)
• Aberdeen City Council Considering Animal Ordinance (offtheleashsd.wordpress.com)
• Pit Bull Ban Won’t Work in Aberdeen (offtheleashsd.wordpress.com)

Cute of the Week: Pit Bulls and Spay Day

The Aberdeen, S.D., City Council is considering “animal ordinance changes” which may include a pit bull ban. This is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 28, at 5:30 p.m. in the courthouse. Unfortunately, the agenda is not specific. So here is a pit bull who needs a home. And, National Spay Day was last Tuesday, Feb. 22. While puppies and kittens are cute, there are too many unwanted pets in the world. Responsible owners, spay or neuter their pets.

Related Articles

• Aberdeen City Council Considering Animal Ordinance (offtheleashsd.wordpress.com)
• Cute of the Week: Pit Bull Scared of Cat (offtheleashsd.wordpress.com)
• Cute of the Week: Pit Bull Loves Kitten (offtheleashsd.wordpress.com)
• Aberdeen, South Dakota, May Ban Pit Bulls (offtheleashsd.wordpress.com)
• Pit Bull Ban Won’t Work in Aberdeen (offtheleashsd.wordpress.com)

Proof Cat Ladies Aren’t Crazy

From left: Chaos, Maddy and Raven. I love these cats.

A study recently released (read here) proves that women and cats have a special, social bond. There bond goes deeper than just owner and pet. Especially in homes with a single woman, cats can take on the social characteristics of human babies. Finally proof that cat ladies aren’t crazy, they just have a special bond with their cats.

While there is still work being done a similar study with humans and dogs, I think the bond shared between cats and humans is different. This study shows that cats influence their owners’ behavior and the owners in turn, influence their cats’ behavior. I think we could take this a step further, and say that they also influence each others’ emotions.

This study shows that cats have a social bond with their owners, something not usually seen between species. The study also shows that women have more interaction with their cats than men have with their cats. While it doesn’t mean that men don’t bond with their cats, it does mean the interaction is different.

I’ve often seen the similarities between cats and human infants. They make similar sounds, their facial structures are similar, i.e., the size of an infants eyes in comparison to the rest of his or her face is similar to the size of a cat’s eyes in comparison to the rest of his or her face. Both also control when he or she gets food, which is also noted in the study.

One disclaimer: only 41 cats were studied. Not exactly a huge study, but it reinforces previous studies. And it makes me feel a little less crazy. The bond I share with my cats is not in my head, there is proof, and I think they feel the same way about me.

Related Articles

• Science of cat ladies? Felines bond with females, study shows (msnbc.msn.com)

Aberdeen City Council Considering Animal Ordinance

How could Aberdeen ban such a cute a dog? Photo courtesy of Ildar Sagdejev via wikimedia.org

I’ve mentioned this before, but it seems the Aberdeen, S.D., City Council is planning on hearing a proposal for an animal ordinance. The agenda for the Monday, Feb. 28 meeting says: “Options for dealing with animal control issues: possible approval to direct city manager to prepare and present an ordinance making changes to the animal control laws.” Pretty vague.

I’ve noticed they’ve dropped a reference to pit bulls, but that doesn’t mean a pit bull ban won’t be suggested. It also doesn’t mean that this suggestion will be acted upon by the City Council. A majority of the council members would have to agree to the option presented before an official ordinance change will be drawn up. Then they have to have a first reading of the change, will a majority approving it. Then, a second reading with a majority approval and the ordinance becomes law.

Pet owners in this community should be very scared right now. There’s no telling what kind of ordinance will be suggested. The goal (supposedly) is to prevent dog bites in the city. Although, there were only 38 last year, according the Aberdeen American News, and only 8 of those came from pit bulls, also according the American News.

Considering the population in Aberdeen according to the recent census is around 26,000; 38 isn’t much. In fact, 38 is roughly 0.1% of the population. Keep in mind that my math skills are a bit rusty and I don’t have the exact census count (I know it’s above 26,000), it still doesn’t sound like dog bites are a problem our city council needs to worry about.

The animal ordinances in this city could use some improvements. Here’s a quick list of ideas: an actual leash law (that’s enforced); zero tolerance for leash-law offenders; increase the leash-law violation fine to $200 or more; require leash laws for both cats and dogs; require licensing; purchase a chip reader, give discounts on licensing fees to people who get their pets mirochipped; trap, neuter, release program for all cats; increase hold times at the pound; put pictures of found animals online; work harder to adopt out found animals instead of killing; and these are just the beginning.

Aberdeen, S.D., is not suffering from a dog bite or pit bull problem. Aberdeen, S.D., is suffering from an education and enforcement problem. Too many animals find they way to the pound (they won’t release the numbers) and are killed every day. Let’s stop this senseless murdering. With effective laws and better conduct by animal control and the Aberdeen Police Force.

I need to stop, because I’ve already gone on too long. Please, attend this meeting, Feb. 28, at the Aberdeen courthouse, 5:30 p.m. If we don’t speak up now, it could be our pets next. First pit bulls,  then German shepherds, Rottweilers and other misunderstood breeds are next.

Related Articles

• Aberdeen, South Dakota, May Ban Pit Bulls (offtheleashsd.wordpress.com)
• Pit Bull Ban Won’t Work in Aberdeen (offtheleashsd.wordpress.com)
• Cute of the Week: Pit Bull Loves Kitten (offtheleashsd.wordpress.com)
• Cute of the Week: Pit Bull Scared of Cat (offtheleashsd.wordpress.com)

Letterman Loves Cats; Oprah Still Hates Cats

I love David Letterman. I never thought I’d say that, until I watched the Tuesday night episode and saw Dusty the klepto cat.

Dusty is owned by Jean Chu of southern California. He was featured on Animal Planets, “Must Love Cats” on Feb. 19. Now Dusty has become a celebrity because he steals things. This snowshoe cats prowls his neighborhood at night, finds things and brings them home to his owners.

“Must Love Cats” showed footage of Dusty bringing strange items back to his house. I love this cat. I think it’s great that he loves his owners so much, that he brings them things (more than 500 items to date).

What I don’t like about this story, his owners let him roam at night. Their excuse is that he uses the doggy door. They must not know about the remote-controlled doggy doors available, which allow only an animal wearing a special collar to open the door and exit. Maybe someone should educate them.

Dusty is a beautiful cat and very well-behaved. I couldn’t believe how great he was on Letterman. He was held by one of his owners, didn’t make a fuss or try to get away. My cats wouldn’t fare so well on a late night talk show.

Let this be a lesson to Oprah, who snubbed felines on her amazing animal show. Cats are great guests, there are more felines as pets than dogs in the U.S. and cats do amazing things. Oprah needs to stop the snub and add cats to her website, just like the amazing dogs and have a cat or two on the show, it will class up the joint.

As for Dusty, this cat is great. I just hope his owners will wise up and keep him indoors only, always.

Related Articles

• Must Love Cats is a Must See (offtheleashsd.wordpress.com)
• Can’t Wait for Must Love Cats (offtheleashsd.wordpress.com)

Wordless Wednesday: Another Day at the Zoo

Pets Don’t Need Cosmetic Surgeries

From left: Chaos, Maddy and Raven

Cats should never be declawed. Dogs should never be debarked or have their ears cropped or have their tails docked. Why? It’s cruel, abusive and disgusting. The complications of these surgeries range from pain, disfigurement and even death. Not to mention behavioral problems.

Pets are perfect just the way they are. If you don’t want a cat to scratch your carpet or furniture, either learn to train it or you shouldn’t be allowed to have a cat. If you don’t like the sound of a dog barking, learn how to train it or you shouldn’t be allowed to have one. Likewise for ear cropping and tail docking, these are purely cosmetic unless your dog fights, in which case, you are a disgusting human being.

Many of these procedures are banned across the world, there are a few vets in the U.S. who won’t perform any of these, but the vast majority will. A vet will take your money and mutilate your pet. I would say let’s not got to any vet who would do these procedures, but in my area, that would mean my cats wouldn’t have a vet.

In a current poll done by the AP and Petside.com, a majority of pet owners think declawing is OK. Slightly fewer pet owners are OK with the other procedures. Read more here.

Declawing a cat is an unnecessary, cruel amputation that will permanently alter your cat. It will change his or her personality and could cause your cat pain for the rest of his or her life. An alarming number of declawed cats end up in shelters because of the changes they suffer after this procedure. Just don’t do it. Cats prefer scratching posts or cardboard, buy one and encourage your cat to use it.

Debarking a dog is just absolutely horrendous and anyone who does this, belongs in jail. Dogs bark, period. If you don’t like it, don’t get one or train one.

I’m disgusted than any pet owner would choose any of these things for his or her pet. Don’t do it. Enjoy your pet the way God made them, after all, that’s how they enjoy you.

Related Articles

• AP poll looks at feelings on declawing, debarking – Washington Post (news.google.com)
• Virginia Could Become Second State to Ban Devocalization (animals.change.org)

Do Indoor Cats Notice All the Snow Outside?

Raven watches snow blow by during the blizzard.

As I watched the snow pile up (more than 14 inches in less than 24 hours) I wondered if my cats notice the change. Certainly us humans realize our world is covered in wall to wall snow, but do indoor cats?

I’ve read that cats are red-green color blind, so they should be able to notice the immense white covering everything. They all seemed very interesting in watching the blizzard unfold outside. They especially seemed to enjoy watching me treading through all the snow to get to the house and watching my dad shovel snow from my steps, so I could see them. But do they realize the impact?

An outdoor cat would certainly realize what’s happened. I think indoor cats do, too. I also think they felt this coming, as Chaos was pacing all morning and Raven was very vocal. I’m glad that the most my cats are impacted by snow, is having to avoid the wet footprints I leave behind as I walk through the house. I wish all cats had it that good.

Related Articles

• Cat Tracks in the Snow (offtheleashsd.wordpress.com)

Cute of the Week: Orangutan and Bulldog

This video is too cute. A baby orangutan plus a bulldog equal brain-melting cuteness. Enjoy!

The Heart Has No Wrinkles (Even With Cats)

Chaos and Maddy cuddle. Every once in awhile, I catch them sleeping together.

Maddy, my 11-year-old beauty, has been on Cosequin for about 8 weeks now. She had been taking 2 capsules a day, then, after 6 weeks, I switched her to 2 capsules every other day. I noticed a difference almost immediately. Her activity level was back to almost zero, she even needed help getting off and on the couch. So, I put her back on 2 capsules a day and she seems to have sprung back. While she may not act like a kitten, she does seem to be moving around more. She goes to the second floor just to see what I’m doing, and back on the main floor when I go back down. She jumps on the couch more (and without help) and gets down by herself. It might not seem like much, but to me, it’s a giant leap in the right direction. Whatever I can do to make her life better, I’m going to do. Plus, I think she enjoys taking her medicine since you open the capsules and sprinkle it on her favorite canned food.

My other senior, Chaos, will be 10 in April. She still acts like she’s about 4 and out runs/out plays Raven, 4, all the time. Chaos is just a bundle of energy and always has been. No wrinkles for her, that’s for sure.

I recently learned that both Maddy and Chaos are considered geriatric, they surpassed their senior status. I don’t see them that way and I certainly don’t think they see themselves that way. You are only as young as you feel, and their hearts don’t have any wrinkles yet. With proper care and a little luck, I think my girls will easily make it another 10 or 11 years, heck, why not 20 more years.

Related Articles

• Hoping Cosequin Will Help My Cat (offtheleashsd.wordpress.com)
• My Cat is Still Taking Cosequin (offtheleashsd.wordpress.com)
• Cosequin for My Cat: Week 5 (offtheleashsd.wordpress.com)