DEAR EDITORSJune 2006
Bouquets and Darts for our Summer IssueGot my latest issue in the mail yesterday -- it's great and jam-packed with good info! It's such a valuable little publication, even for us outside of New Mexico.
So just wanted to say again that I really admire what you do -- turning this quality out on a volunteer basis -- and wow, now you've got the gov to declare a Petroglyphs Day! Impressive, really.
Fran Pennock Shaw
I did want to tell you about the article (Albuquerque Has Heart) in Petroglyphs. That law should be everywhere.I get so upset seeing people letting their cats (not ferals) run around the neighborhood - just can't see anything wrong with it. And then when they're laying in the street dead, it's not their fault. And not neutering is just irresponsible. These people just want to make money off the poor dog or cat by selling the offspring and don't care about the health or anything else.
Great article on the Avian Flu, too. Wish the media would shut up about this for a while -- a bit over the top if you ask me. I know people need to know about these things, but these scare tactics are just irresponsible. Sensationalism is what they're after.
Also enjoyed the article about Paws on the Road. A lot of changes have been made since we had the poodles. Buffy would have loved to go traveling with me.
Carol Dahn
Well, I just got Petroglyphs on the Web and must say am rather "tickled". The story (Geri Aron and Fran Bentley) was so well written and I will be emailing all my friends to check out the web...will be of special interest to those who have not seen me for "umteen" years (and probably a shock). Thanks again for thinking of us.Geri Aron
You did a great job on our article (Geri Aron and Fran Bentley) .. though I must say I blush over the praise . . . I read your new issue cover to cover yesterday. It’s so good!Fran Bentley
I read your article about HEART and am amazed that you could give credibility to an association of reputable dog breeders using education to help the pet buying public learn how to chose a pet, to understand the 15+/- year commitment to it, the expense and training involved vs. drunks! I also think you don’t have a clue what a reputable dog breeder does? How they take a chance on a pup and wait 2 -3 years before breeding it, waiting until it clears all breed appropriate health testing, on how the socialize, temperament test, and puzzle their pups, how they screen homes to ensure it will be with that family no matter what, how they take back any pet, they do not go to the pound. How about how they prepare their pups for homes, starting house breaking, crate training, leash breaking, introductions to noises, kids, cats, strangers, etc. Reputable breeders take risks, they can also have no litter born from a mating, they usually have a waiting list, they have registered pure breeds, they have titles on their dogs, they have animals that meet the breed standard, they invest thousands in health testing, training, grooming, showing, and in the initial cost. Their biggest reason for breeding is to improve the breed and to continue to have animals to meet the standards. HEART is about more than breeders and higher fees will not end the problem at the shelters, neither will crates big enough to exercise in which ruins the purpose for crate training pups and puts dogs after surgery at risk for injury, spaying and neutering all pets by 6 months will cause some to die or have life long health effects, ending dog parks which were a great place for socialization; making it illegal to spray your pet with water; there’s so much more…. There’s two ways to read HEART, one of the animal activists, you guys and one for people that actually know what they are talking about. I’m sure you won’t publish this letter.Janet Bosley
May 2006
Diego Garcia, Katrina and the GovernmentI was interested in reading the articles on New Orleans and how pets were forced to be abandoned. It should be no surprise about how the government works. Consider what happened on Diego Garcia when the citizens of that island were illegally thrown out by the British and American military, folk who had lived there for generations, and sent to other countries, and into poverty. They were not allowed to take their pets with them and it is reported that the U.S. military killed the pets, including shooting dogs right in front of their child owners.
What amazes me is the utter stupidity combined with cruelty in the governmental process. I recall someone once remarking about a poor person who kept a bird of some sort. She was criticized for expending part of her money on a "frivolity". The comment was that the bird was the one thing in her life that added beauty. Even the poor need the company of pets and flowers, etc. Certainly, our own two little dogs are not cheap to own, but how could we ever be without them? They are a part of us. They are the icing on the cake of our lives.
Ed Wicklein
Albuquerque, NM(For more on the horrific story about what happened to people and their pets on Diego Garcia, click here: The Guardian)
April 2006
Kudos for CalendarTHANK YOU!
I just wanted to send a thank you note to you to show my appreciation for your amazing online calendar of special Humane Days! I've referred over 1,300 rescues/ humane societies to your website on numerous occasions and am so glad that you have put that resource on the web for us all to use. We recommend your calendar because it has so many humane days, such as Hug Your Cat day or Adopt a Guinea Pig month. We encourage our list members to browse through your calendar and plan out fundraising activities and special press releases and public service announcements in advance. Thanks so much for your diligent work!
Purrs and woofs,
Danielle Hamilton
HumaneFundraising
A Yahoo group dedicated to sharing fundraising ideas for animal rescues and humane societies.
groups.yahoo.com/group/humanefundraising/
March 2006
The Root of the ProblemI just read your wonderful article in Petroglyphs ("We Can't Save Them All") .... and I can't thank you enough!
I've been having a running conversation (sometimes heated and unproductive) with two people I really like who are no-kill... Because it's such an emotional topic, I never feel that I get my point across well.... and that I would PREFER NOT to euthanize healthy animals, but that it must be done because people are so selfish and stupid ..... you make such a logical (and gentle) case for solving the root of the problem that I would like to laminate it and carry it around....
All of my cats are rescues.... and some still show the mental effects of institutionalized living.... I can't imagine anyone thinking any animal would be content to live in a box... just to stay alive.....
Thank you for providing such clear direction to a tragic situation....
Yvonne Boudreaux
ThanksI just wanted to thank you for the great article on euthanasia and Peta in the last issue (We Can't Save Them All"). You succinctly and beautifully covered this sensitive issue. I always enjoy your column (The Rights View) and this one was particularly great. The whole issue is wonderful - really enjoyed the Unsung Hero section (Unsung Hero: Ceil Lane) and Helga's article Understanding the Vegan in Your Life as well. Thanks for all your work!
Michele Rokke
September 2005
The Story of BooOn a recent trip to the vets, I saw a copy of your paper. This was the first time I had seen Petroglyphs, imagine my surprise that the story in Canine Corner was about Hannah and her 11 pups. I had adopted one of the pups from Beverly at Lab Rescue of SW New Mexico and here is her story.
Coming home from a shopping trip one day I heard on the radio about Lab Rescue of SW New Mexico, and told my husband about the 11 puppies which needed homes. We had owned a black Lab and had put her rest when she was 20 years old. So labs had always had a special place in our hearts. We contacted Beverly and went to see the pups. It was love at first sight!!! One of the female pups had the same white blaze on her chest that our much missed lab had, and we knew she was the one for us. Beverly conducted a home visit and called us a few days later with the news that our puppy was ready to go home. She was six weeks old, had her first shots and been cleared by the vet.
We had debated about a name, our first lab was also rescued from an animal shelter in England and her name was Bambi, we knew there would never be another Bambi, but our youngest daughter could not say Bambi at the time and called her Boo. We decided that Boo would be a good name for the new pup.
Our 3 other dogs, Jack, a Jack Russell terrier, 14 years old and diabetic, Sugar Bear a miniature schnauzer, 15 years old and blind, and Sassy a cross Yorkie, 3 years old and full of fun, were introduced to Boo and accepted her immediately. Boo is now nearly 10 months old, 60lbs and has the sweetest nature, is full of fun and mischief but along with our other dogs brings us unconditional love and we are proud to be their companions. All of our animals have been rescued from either animal shelters or abusive homes, as was the case with Sugar Bear.
Thank you for sharing Hannah and the puppies’ story. Beverly does such good work and is truly an angel on earth.
Dwayne and Pat Shipman, Proud owners of Jack, Sugar Bear, Sassy and Boo
June 2005
New Mexicans Treat "Man's Best Friend" PoorlyMohandas Gandhi once said, "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." My husband and I recently returned from vacation in New Mexico, and I am horrified at the treatment of dogs in this state.
Pet overpopulation is a nationwide problem. In Pennsylvania, animal shelters often dispense of surplus pets by lethal injection. In New Mexico, the method of population control appears to be random vehicular homicide.
Our vacation began in Albuquerque, and while heading north on Interstate 25, we were startled to see a dog wearing a collar running frantically along the road. We considered turning back and trying to catch the animal, but it was Friday night and we were on our way to a hotel in Abiquiu. We assumed this poor dog must be lost and hoped the owner was searching for it. Unfortunately, this was not an isolated incident, and the worst was yet to come.
Our trip took us to towns throughout New Mexico, and everywhere we visited, dogs were running loose on major highways, city streets, and country roads. We drove to Chama for a ride on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, and my husband had to slam on the brakes to avoid running over a puppy following its mother across Rt. 84 in downtown Chama. We stopped for dinner at a local restaurant and saw a dog wearing a collar sleeping in the parking lot. He was there when we entered the restaurant and when we left -- no owner in sight. How could anyone be so insensitive to the plight of their pet? We also saw packs of stray dogs running along roads in Questa, Espanola, Embudo, and Dixon.
In Taos, there were many free-roaming dogs wearing collars crossing busy Paseo del Pueblo and scavenging around parking lots of shopping centers, restaurants, and hotels. They all seemed to be searching for something -- maybe a responsible owner or anyone else who cared enough to protect them.
By far, our saddest experience was at Taos Pueblo. We saw close to a dozen dogs wandering around -- some looked fairly healthy, while others appeared emaciated. I threw scraps of fry bread to two very thin young dogs, and these pitiful creatures started fighting over them. One dog tried to follow me back to our car. This animal was not looking for a pat on the head, he was starving and desperately hoping for another handout. The trash can in the parking lot had been knocked over and rummaged through by hungry dogs searching for food, yet residents seemed oblivious to this suffering in their midst. I came to Taos Pueblo for an educational and cultural experience, but by the time I left, I felt like crying.
Even in Santa Fe, whose patron saint is St. Francis, the protector of animals, free-roaming dogs are a problem, and thousands face the gas chamber or death by needle each year. Why aren't leash laws enforced in New Mexico? Pet owners are required to purchase a license for their dogs yet suffer no penalties when their pets run loose. Neutering will eliminate the birth of surplus animals, but it won't prevent pets from getting hit by a car if they are allowed to roam unsupervised.
Clearly, the way to improve the lot of so many stray animals in New Mexico is for elected officials and the community to take the problem seriously and work towards humane solutions. Aggressive spay/neuter campaigns, increased efforts toward adoption of homeless animals, and humane education outreach programs geared especially toward children are very effective. Local businesses that profit from and depend on tourism should get involved by funding spay/neuter clinics or mobile vans that bring veterinarians to remote areas where people may not have transportation. Merchants can also sponsor "pet of the week" ads featuring animals in local shelters. Otherwise, thousands of tourists, silent minority though we may be, will just vacation elsewhere. The "Land of Enchantment" is anything but enchanting for stray animals in New Mexico.
Sadly, our trip ended as it began. While driving back to Albuquerque, we passed a mother dog and her two young pups running aimlessly along Interstate 25. Shame on you, New Mexicans, for treating "man's best friend" so poorly!
Marie Marinakis
Newtown Square, PA
January 2005
Spay/Neuter Cost ProblemsI am very upset by what I have found in the city of Albuquerque. I have two yorkie/maltese puppies that are ready to be spayed and neutered. So naturally I called my vet to make the arrangements and was stunned to find out the cost for my little boy is $195 and my little girl is $206. I was outraged and the vet told me this was the going rate in the city. Since my husband is retired from the air force I contacted the military vet to see what they could do and I was told that retired military were at the bottom of the list for the spaying and neutering program. They had nothing open until after March.
What now? I asked my friends and co workers where they got their animals fixed and would you believe most of them said “Mine is not fixed, it cost’s too much money.” One friend said her male was fixed by Animal Control when he was picked up after escaping from her back yard. No wonder this city has such a huge problem with over population. But, not to be knocked down I continued to look for something I could afford, I logged onto Abqdog.com and looked at their resources they had several listings (AAAA, AHA, Bernalillo County, NM Animal Friends, No More Homeless Pets, Spay/USA) I contacted them all only to find out that I made too much money (24,000 a year) to qualify for their services. I even offered to pay them versus having it done for free if I could pay less than $200 a dog but again I was told they only worked with low income families.
So here I am stuck, I make too much money to qualify for a low cost spay/neuter program and not enough to pay my regular vet. I spent the morning calling around to different vets only to find out that this is indeed the cost that most vets charge, except one that charged over $300 and required you to pay for an exam and blood work prior to the surgery and that ran over $100 itself.
So out of desperation I called VetCo, which I was told by my vet not to use because they do not monitor the animals as well as they should. Of course they don’t monitor the animals as well as our vet they have thousands of animals to fix for people who are stuck in the middle class and can’t afford to use their own vet. I am extremely upset over this event, I trust my vet and my dogs love our vet we have spend months building a good relationship with them and now the most important medical treatment they will get I can’t have done by our vet because they charge an outrageous amount for it.
When will everyone (Vets, Animal Control, City, County, etc.) come together and realize that spaying and neutering your animals IS NOT an elective surgery, it is not something you do because you don’t want junior wandering the neighborhood or little susy being visited by every male dog around. It is a surgery that is a responsibility of a dog owner, the same as getting all their shots. If vets can make shots affordable and easy to obtain why can’t they make this procedure the same? Why doesn’t the city offer a low cost option to everyone, not just those on public assistance?
If you have answers to any of these questions I would love to hear them.
Cindy Cribbs
Albuquerque
(via e-mail)
Hi Cindy,Thank you for bringing your problem concerning spaying and neutering your animals to PETroglyphs. You are obviously a very conscientious pet owner, and it sounds as though you have been very thorough in trying to find a solution to your problem of finding low-cost spay/neuter services for which you qualify.
I have done some checking and can give you a bit of good news. February is Have A Heart for Animals Month in Albuquerque. One of the themes that is stressed during the month is the importance of spaying or neutering your animal. In order to facilitate this, the City's Animal Care Center and Animal Humane Association of New Mexico are joining to provide free spaying and neutering for pets. The service is free regardless of your income level. I am not certain of what dates the service will be offered yet, although we will have that on our website as soon as we know. However, if you call AHA at 255-5523 and ask about this program, they should be able to give you the dates that pets can be brought in and you may be able to make an appointment. Ask them about the free spay and neuter program being run in February.
I hope this helps you and that you will let us know the outcome of your phone call. Please pass this along to your friends as well so that they can take advantage of this offer.
Nancy Marano
