Educate Police Officers to Keep Community Safe for Dogs

To the Editor of the Denver Post,

How Commerce City police officers came to kill Chloe, a lab/pit bull mix, provides a tragic opportunity for reflection.

The officers were clearly unprepared to either evaluate or assist this frightened dog. As a dog trainer and behavior specialist, I assessed Chloe's body language in the video and could see she was terrified, not dangerous. Officers in these situations need specific, compassionate, non-confrontational, non-violent training. Chloe, who was away from home and disoriented, needed containment, not killing.

When government employees behave in such a brutal way, they seem barbaric, unprofessional and unintelligent, and do not serve their community.

I can't help but wonder if the pit bull stereotype came into play with Chloe's killing. Had she been a Golden Retriever, for example, would officials have responded in the same way? We must confront this absurd prejudice that has no statistical basis locally or nationally.

One goal of a new coalition, No Kill Colorado, is education. We need to understand what dogs are communicating and why, so that reactive public officials don't kill more vulnerable unattended dogs.

It is as inexcusable to kill a terrified dog because she is a pit mix as it would be to murder a frightened person for the color of her skin.

Sincerely,

Lorraine May, M.A.

Founder and Executive Director, Misha May Foundation Dog Training and Rescue

Vice President, No Kill Colorado

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/FOR-ANIMAL-LOVERS--A-MOMENT-FOR-MUTTS-IN-THE-MOUNTAINS-2012.html?soid=1103211070781&aid=cj3pBUW_9SM#fblike

Stop the senseless killing of wolves

Federal employees from the Wildlife Services program killed14 wolves over the Clearwater National Forest in Idaho -- their mission was towipe out these wolves to artificially boost game populations. This isunacceptable. I just wrote to Wildlife Services urging them to stop these typesof killings -- I hope you will too. Please visit http://dfnd.us/waK1fw to take action.

Sign petition against barbaric Wisconsin wolf hunt

They want to use dogs to hunt them.......Please sign this petition and share like crazy:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/no-wolf-hunting-in-wisconsin/

Hospice Care for Lovely Lola through HSSPV

When I saw her photos, I knew I had to help her. She went through surgery for a huge mammary tumor which could have been avoided had she been spayed and not bred. Since the cancer has mestastisized to the lymph glands, she may only have a few months to live.

She is about 4-6 years old. I'm fostering for the Humane Society of South Platte Valley located in Littleton. They found her as a stray and have already spent a fortune on her care. They will continue to take care of her bills until she passes. They didn't want her to spend her last months in the shelter so they actively sought a foster which turned out to be me. Lola doesn't act sick now but her time will come. I already feel very close to her. It will be hard to watch the cancer take over. But I am determined to do everything I can for her so she feels safe and loved and has fun. She was so appreciative today for the attention, pets, bully stick, toys and fun in the yard. Someone abandoned a perfectly wonderful dog.

Stop Diving Horses

It can be so embarassing to admit to being a part of the human race when ideas like this are suggested.....



http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-the-reopening-of-the-cruel-diving-horse-show?utm_medium=email&utm_source=action_alert

The Power of 'Leave It'

All four of my dogs backed off an injured woodpecker in our yard today. I cannot tell you how proud of them I am. Shadow, the rat terrier, and Twinkle, the boxer mix, were only too happy to go to the porch and get out of the deep snow. Tara, the black lab, had a tougher time 'leaving it', but did so fairly easily compared to Valentino, the beagle mix.

Valentino finally relented when he saw that I meant it, when he realized that I was blocking his every move, because he understands 'leave it', and most importantly, because we have a close happy bond and in the end he wants to comply.

The woodpecker had lost a few feathers and was hopping across the deep snow. He hopped into one of the dog igloos where I gave him food and water. I then sealed the entrance with a blanket to keep out the wind and snow and predators, including my dogs! Hopefully, his injury is minor and he will have the time and the warmth to recover fully.

When I allowed the dogs back into the yard they all ran over to the place where they had first discovered him. But it was Valentino only who immediately tracked him to the igloo. Fortunately, the blanket and my faithful 'leave it' were enough to redirect Valentino to other projects.

I've always been proud that I can drop food on the kitchen flooor and all 4 dogs will 'leave it'. But this was a much more sophisticated achievement and I am absolutely thrilled!

Bittman’s vegan dishes: Bean burgers and more

Bittman’s vegan dishes: Bean burgers and more

Thank you TODAY show for speaking for the animals for health!

Animal Legal Defense Fund : Abusers Near You?

Animal Legal Defense Fund : Abusers Near You?

Sign this petition to create Animal Abuser Lists in your community....