Morsels of Goodness: Bear

Just a few weeks ago, they were the infamous 'feral, KOA pups.' After being presumably dumped and consequently picked up at a KOA campground, a group of feral puppies - fifteen to be exact - were taken to Prescott Animal Control. Originally, United Animal Friends PAC liasons and volunteers were extremely worried for their survival, but as soon as word got out that we needed volunteers to help socialize the pups, well - you all came to the rescue. Just a few weeks passed before ALL FIFTEEN puppies were placed in foster homes and/or adopted! This month's Morsel of Goodness features the story of Bear, the very last of the feral pups to be adopted. Bear was a very, very frightened and timid young fella when we met him, but according to new dad, Jeff, he's re-adjusting splendidly now! (Special thanks to Barb C. for facilitating this adoption! Nice work, Barb!)

". . . he is just the happiest little pup. He sleeps all night but right away I get him out of his crate in the morning and hussle him outside so he can do his business. He then always wants hugs and kisses before running around outside and sniffing everything. He found a rawhide the other day and it is his new best chew thing! Yesterday he stayed in the outside kennel for the morning. I let him out at lunch to run around. I went inside to grab a bite to eat and when I came back out to find him he had gone back into the kennel all on his own - he likes it in there . . . all nestled in the straw and chewing his rawhide. He spent the afternoon inside the mudroom as it was raining heavily and I wanted him to stay dry! He is quite the snuggly pup - loves hugs and kisses!"

Prescott Animal Control Vote Postponed

As many of you know, earlier this week the Prescott City Council postponed a voting session that would determine the future of Prescott Animal Control. Both Yavapai Humane Society and United Animal Friends are currently bidding to manage the animal control center in the coming fiscal year (2009-2010), but operations will continue as normal until the vote is rescheduled, presumably in a few weeks. Yesterday, the Town of Prescott Valley voted to accept their portion of the Yavapai Humane Society's proposal. Read the full Daily Courier article here.

Picture Perfect: Dandy Dawgs' Spay Neuter Walk

Well, suffice it to say, it's been a long week. Here at Table Scraps, we thought everyone could use a bit of a breather, and we've got just the thing for the occasion. Last weekend's Spay / Neuter Dog Walk (hosted by Dandy Dawgs) was a huge success, so we've put together a slide-show recapping the fun. Hopefully, this'll remind us all why we do what we do. (Special thanks to Krys's husband for great pictures!)

YHS To Take Over Prescott Animal Control

Well, it's finally out! In what is surely some of the most controversial news ever to hit the tri-cities rescue community, Prescott's Daily Courier reported today that the Yavapai Humane Society is attempting to take over management of Prescott Animal Control at the start of the 2009 fiscal year. According to the Courier report, Prescott City Council members will vote this week on whether or not to proceed with proposed two-year contract. Per the agreement, YHS will receive $49,334 a year to handle issues "pertaining to housing, care, adoption, disposition and return of unwanted, lost and aggressive dogs."

City Manager Steve Norwood cited public confusion about the difference between the neighboring facilities as part of the impetus for the contract, in addition to stating that ultimately for the City, "it didn't make sense to have our facility there." Interestingly, the article also mentioned that the City would keep on three animal control officers as staff, though the three officers (there are currently four ACO's) would not work in the animal control center. It has yet to be revealed how the proposed contract will work out in terms of space management, staff allocation on the Humane Society's part, or public awareness about the merger.
Currently, PAC works with the Humane Society for some medical and re-homing purposes, but many of the dogs who find their way out of Prescott Animal Control do so via the adoption processes of United Animal Friends. United Animal Friends also runs an extensive dog-walking volunteer program at PAC, and maintains a database of incoming animals at the pound, updated weekly. How these programs will be affected by the take-over is yet to be determined, but we may assume they will in the very least change dramatically, if not altogether cease.
So, we know some of you have some opinions about this - how it will change rescue operations here in Prescott and what it will do to the many stray and abandoned dogs who find themselves at Prescott Animal Control on any given day. Let's hear it!

Collar-Up Campaign!

As the 4th of July weekend approaches, United Animal Friends (UAF) announces its "Collar Up" campaign. During 4th of July celebrations many dogs and cats go missing each year because fireworks send them into a panic. The best solution is to keep pets safely inside. However, if Fido runs off, a good fitting collar with ID tags and micro-chipping will improve his chances of a fast and safe reunion with his family. A permanent black marker can also be used to write his family name and phone number on a collar.
Anyone wishing to donate or pick up a gently-used collar can go to a UAF weekly adoption event, Saturdays, 8 A.M. – Noon , at Prescott Farmers Market at Yavapai College ; or Sundays, Noon–3 P.M., at Petco in Prescott. (Special thanks to Andrea and Krys for the write-up and organization!) For more information call UAF at 928-778-2924.

Adoptable Mutt of the Month: Alfred

Okay, so not everyone knows this, but Alfred is actually a name reserved only for the most well-behaved, polite and HANDSOME dogs out there. So, just the fact that we’ve now named a dog Alfred should get some folks off their bums pretty fast! Alfred is a border collie / lab mix who is utterly lovable. Alfred is around five to seven years old, and though he’s a very big boy, he’s extremely gentle, friendly and affectionate. He’s also very laid-back and just seems totally at home in his own skin, with a sort of ‘that’ll do’ attitude that’s just infectious. Because he appears to be house-trained and walks so well on a leash, we think Alfred has definitely lived in a home before, and at some point along the way, he got neutered too! All this guy is waiting for now is someone worthy enough to take him home. It won’t be easy living up to the standards we think Alfred deserves, but if you ask him, he’ll tell you ‘that’ll do’ just fine!

Gaining Ground Against Breed-Banning

Score! Last week, opponents of breed-ban legislation achieved a significant victory in Denver, Colorado. Backed by the AKC, three individual pet-owners took their case to the United States High Court of Appeals for the 10th circuit, where they argued against the constitutionality of Denver's pit-bull-ban. The city-limit ordinance, first instituted in 2005, outlaws "ownership or possession of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the American Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and the American Pit Bull Terrier." What's most outrageous to breed-ban opponents, though, is the standing bill's inclusion of any dogs who appear to display a "majority of physical traits of one or more of these breeds." (Read a summary of the events here.)
The recent ruling overrides a 2007 dismissal of the same suit, which means the plaintiffs can proceed with their case against the city of Denver, and continue their plight to overturn the breed ban - which is responsible for the deaths of at least 1,000 dogs since 2005.
While this is great news for those of us standing against breed-specific legislation, what we here at Table Scraps find even more inspiring is the AKC's involvement in the case. When one works or volunteers regularly in rescue, the importance of breed-specific regulations and standards falls to the way-way-wayside, and it becomes all-too-easy to disregard the importance of organizations like the AKC. But this is an excellent and extremely note-worthy example of the potential for partnership amongst groups who share a solid ideological foundation despite wildly disparate missions. Just think of the difference we might make by applying that type of mentality to the work of animal protection in general. Here here, to putting aside lesser grievances for the sake of a far more important cause.