Nova Scotia SPCA Quarterly NewsletterIssue 6, November 2009Click here to view print version in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format. In this edition:
Freddy & Fianta: Two Metro Shelter Success Stories
http://dailywag.marthastewart.com/ This is the official blog of Martha Stewart’s French bulldogs, Francesca & Sharkey. Follow their daily adventures and lessons with mommy Martha in the garden and kitchen and check out the “adoption” section, in which F & S provide their insights and stories of adopted pets, along with occasional (human) guest, Dr. Pia Salk, animal psychologist and welfare activist (not to mention the niece of polio vaccine developer, Jonas Salk!).
Branch Spotlight: La Baie SPCA La Baie SPCA was formed in 2005 by a small group of concerned people who all shared a common bond of wanting to care for the many unwanted, abandoned and mistreated animals in our community. For all of these individuals frustrated from working for years on their own, coming together seemed to bring the strength needed to form a branch with the SPCA. Our first mandate was to begin fundraising for a much needed shelter to house the animals. As in any small community, this takes time and determination. Finding common bonds was easy but keeping our focus on the building became more difficult when there were animals needing immediate help. So, we began a foster program to try and manage some of the animals in need right away. We were able to obtain some assistance from our municipality, which enabled us to take on cases of abandonment and neglect. Our beautiful area of Clare stretches along Baie St. Marie where we have many wharves that had become populated with feral cat colonies. The numbers were just too high for us to cope without a shelter and limited funds. We decided to handle only the immediate domestic situations until hopefully in the future we can implement a TNR program. There is now a separate group in Clare who are working hard to deal with the feral cats in our area. Education will be our next step as we need to establish more focus on what we do as an SPCA branch. We really want to focus on getting the message out to the general public of how they can prevent situations of animal abuse, abandonment, and over population. The more conversations you encourage, the more you pique the public’s interest, and that means they know what to do when they are faced with these issues. Informing the public will start a chain of information, and we hope to continue building the chain by talking to schools, etc. Like all branches, La Baie has had some sad cases of abuse. One of these was a cat found along a secluded back road. Trauma to her head had resulted in a broken jaw and left her with only the use of one eye. She was in very bad shape. If she could speak for herself that day when found, it’s safe to say that her words would have been emotionally shattering. We placed an ad in our local paper and received an immediate offer of financial help to close up her infected eye. Her recovery was successful and she has been placed in a foster home. Pussy Willow, as she came to be called, has been fostered for over a year now and is still waiting for that special person who can give her the warm and loving home she deserves. Pussy Willow sits by the window looking out and waits patiently for her turn to be adopted and we all wait with her with hope and determination for that day to come. If anyone is interested in knowing more about Pussy Willow or any other animals we have up for adoption, please contact the La Baie Shelter at labaiespca@hotmail.com or call 902-769-2589.
Preventing Dog Bites: Train Smart, Train Safe By Adina MacRae Dogs can bring a great amount of joy to a household but they also come with a responsibility to keep your family and the public safe. According to the Animal By-Law in HRM, a dog can be deemed dangerous if it “attacks” another person or animal off their property. The by-law defines an attack not only by a bite or injury but if your dog “threaten(s) or give(s) the impression of threatening.” This has a lot of dog owners concerned for the welfare of their dogs and many are seeking professional advice to help modify problematic behaviour. However, for every person that seeks the advice of a professional, there are dozens more who get their information from popular dog training shows that generally illustrate “success” by suppressing unwanted behaviour by establishing dominance over the dog. You may be asking what’s the big deal? As long as the unwanted behaviour goes away then problem solved, right?Unfortunately, the techniques often illustrated in popular culture are based on outdated research and lead to an increase in aggression in some dogs. Two of the most popular dog training shows instruct owners to become dominant over the “alpha” dog. The trainers on these shows are still holding onto theories proposed in a paper by L. David Mech that was published in 1970 and is now disputed by the same author. Dr. Mech points to the research he has performed in the past thirty plus years, illustrating that the “hierarchies” established in wild wolf packs are by a breeding pair or the “mother wolf” and “father wolf.” There are no battles for dominance, rather a pair of wolves mate, produce a litter and form a pack with that litter and juveniles from previous litters (for more information on his current research, check out www.davemech.org). Unfortunately, the methods that stem from the desire to be “dominant” can actually cause your dog to better fit HRM’s definition of a dangerous dog.Most recently, the journal of Applied Animal Behaviour Science published the results of a year-long University of Pennsylvania study illustrating the risks of aggressive training. It was discovered that “alpha rolls,” where dogs are rolled onto their backs and held there, and “dominance downs,” where dogs are physically forced onto their sides, resulted in an aggressive response from at least 25 per cent of the surveyed group. The study’s findings are backed by a 2008 American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) position statement on the use of dominance in animal training. The AVSAB recommends veterinarians not refer patients to trainers who adhere to dominance hierarchy theory and the confrontational training that typically results. The society went on to recommend the use of positive reinforcement to safely train animals, an idea that is also supported by the Humane Society of the United States. Joan Orr of Doggone Safe (www.doggonesafe.com), a non-profit organization dedicated to dog bite prevention through education, recommends clicker training as a hands-off way of training a dog while reducing the risk of bites. If your dog is reactive or aggressive with people and other dogs, it is best to consult with a trainer who is experienced in behaviour modification based on positive reinforcement. If you are trying to find a dog trainer to help you and your dog, be sure to ask about their opinions on dominance theory. If they instruct you to be the “alpha,” think twice before inviting them to work with your dog. As with any topic, there is plenty of information online and sometimes it is difficult to decipher myth from reality. When you are first starting your research, look to the forward-thinking leaders in animal science like Dr. Ian Dunbar and Jean Donaldson. If you prefer watching television, look out for Victoria Stillwell’s “It’s Me or the Dog,” for a dominance-free approach to effective dog training. Remember a confident dog is a safe dog!
Paw Prints on Girl Guides’ Hearts Starting early in 2010, we will be challenging all members of Girl Guides of Canada/Guides du Canada in Nova Scotia to take the ‘Paw Prints on your Heart” challenge. The challenge encourages the girls and women to learn what the SPCA does and to make a practical contribution to the SPCA either through volunteering or by donating goods that are needed. To support this program, we are creating special resource sections on the websites of both the Nova Scotia Girl Guides and the Nova Scotia SPCA. Resources will include background information, age-specific activities and local contact information. The program is being organized by the Nova Scotia SPCA Education & Outreach Committee and is funded from a generous bequest. The driving force is Kelly Welsh, our Outreach Officer who will be supported by a network of outreach volunteers in the Branches and from Nova Scotia Girl Guides. In launching the challenge, Cait Maloney, Chair of the Education and Outreach Committee, said that “we are very excited to be able to carry our message to such a large group of young Nova Scotians. Working together is a natural fit as both our organizations are committed to serving and improving our community.” Kelly’s next plan is to expand the program to other youth organizations in the province. As she says: “We believe that focusing on youth education will help break the cycle of animal cruelty that is far too common in Nova Scotia.”
Coming Soon to a School Near You
Special Animal Cruelty Constables Needed Nova Scotia SPCA recently held a two day training session for special constables. Sean Kelly, Nova Scotia SPCA president said, “this event is the first step towards building the network of volunteers who respond to complaints of animal cruelty. I am profoundly grateful to volunteers Peter Woolridge and Glenis Sullivan for their efforts to get this program underway and to the staff who helped make it so successful.” Roger Joyce, Chief Provincial Investigator; Sylvia Jay, an expert in animal behavour; and Dr Lesley Steele, the veterinarian for the Metro Shelter; also made significant contributions to the weekend event. Roger said that, “without the commitment of these volunteers, the Nova Scotia SPCA could not be as effective as it is. However, we do need more constables to share the load.” Find out more about how to become a volunteer special constable at http://www.spcans.ca/cruelty/volunteerSC.html. There are many ways you can help animals in need, if you have the time and passion. Our volunteers are enthusiastic, trustworthy, accountable, compassionate and feel the need to do something to help whether working directly with the animals or working behind the scenes in shelters, education and/or planning events and fundraisers. Volunteering provides a sense of pride knowing that you have made a difference in the life of an animal whether you work directly with them or not. The Provincial Office and its branches and shelters are always looking for reliable volunteers for many areas. There truly is something for everyone! Some of the areas in which we are looking for volunteers include: fostering animals, dog walking and cat cuddling, maintenance & Repairs, outreach programs, education, advocacy, publicity & media relations, web maintenance, graphic design, fundraising committees/events, and administrative tasks. Volunteers are the heart of the SPCA and are a valuable asset. Without volunteers, we would not be able to continue. We thank all of our current volunteers for their ongoing support and look forward to all newcomers. To learn more about volunteering, please visit our website www.spcans.ca or contact the branch or shelter in your area.
Gearing Up For Our Annual Donation Appeal As a non-profit charity that receives very little government funding, our donors are our lifeline – literally! Quite simply, we would not exist without support from generous donors like you. Because of our supporters, the NS SPCA was able to rescue more than 500 animals as a result of cruelty complaints during the first seven months of 2009 alone, and give them a new start in life. Our Cruelty Investigators also responded to more than 892 cruelty complaints in the first half of 2009 which is an increase of more than 30% over 2008! Our efforts to stop animal cruelty extend beyond investigations and because of donations we are increasing our efforts in advocacy, humane education, outreach and public awareness. Sadly, the trend for cruelty complaints will continue to rise and with that, so will associated costs. This is where YOU come in. You can help continue to make a difference with our fight to stop animal cruelty and increase awareness and education. Our annual donation appeal will be taking place in November and we are asking for your continued support. There are number of ways to make your donation including: returning the donation card in our annual appeal, over-the-phone or online (Canada Helps) Visa or MasterCard donations, one-time cheques or a monthly pre-authorized withdrawal through your bank or credit card. You can choose the method that works best for you.. We would like to remind you, our donors, that we are not affiliated with any SPCAs outside Nova Scotia, in particular, the Canadian SPCA who do canvas in our area. All our materials clearly indicate that it is from the Nova Scotia SPCA, but if you have any questions, contact our office at 902-835-4798 or 1-888-703-7722.
Board Notebook: August - October 2009 The Board of Directors of the Nova Scotia SPCA is comprised of a President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, nine Directors-at-Large, and ten branch representatives. The Board meets monthly to discuss issues related to animal cruelty investigations, finances and fundraising, educational initiatives, public relations, branch developments, and the operation of the Metro Shelter, which also falls under the responsibility of the Nova Scotia SPCA. This Board Notebook feature provides a summary of the Board’s activities and decisions during the past three or four months to keep Society members, supporters, and the general public informed about the work of the Nova Scotia SPCA. August To help with recruitment and retention of volunteer Special Constables for investigating animal cruelty, the Board approved a payment of $20 per cruelty case in recognition of the training requirements, performance expectations and time commitment required of the volunteers. The Board also approved significant changes to the Society’s policies with the creation of three new policy manuals covering governance, employees and animal care. The three new manuals are publicly available through the Nova Scotia SPCA website and replace a paper-based Board of Directors manual that had become obsolete. The Board discussed development of a training policy to ensure equitable access to Society financial resources to support training needs, including training for branch staff and volunteers. Scott Millar, Director at Large, briefed the Board on Director’s liability issues, presenting an overview of his research on the matter. The Board also discussed advocacy activities related to the rodeo associated with the Maritime Fall Fair, and plans for approaching the Halifax Regional Municipality about establishing a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program for feral cats. October |
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