Help Create "Caylee's Law"

Dear Friends:

In the past (almost) year of blogging, I have been astonished by what we 'Pet Bloggers' can all accomplish when we work together for a cause. Whether we have participated in Blog the Change, donated to a friend's cause or even just sent a friend a gift of support, we have made a huge impact on the world around us.

I know it may be a little strange to ask pet bloggers to support a child welfare cause but I am going to do it anyway. I am sure you have all been reading about the Casey Anthony trial and verdict; many are extremely disappointed in the verdict (we are in this house) and rightfully so. A child's life is so precious...and when it is taken away and no one is held responsible, well that is just horrible.

A wonderful woman from Oklahoma has begun a crusade to create a law - Caylee's Law - that would charge parents who fail to notify the police of a missing child, in a timely fashion (not 31 days!!!) or be charged with a felony. She has created a petition at Change.org and I am asking you, if you are a friend in the U.S., to sign the petition and help create this law.

The direct link is : http://www.change.org/petitions/create-caylees-law Please visit the link and help protect the other children that could be victims of such horrible crimes. (Note: The website is slow for all the people signing the petition...and because the site was attacked recently. Please be patient and give the page time to load so you can sign!)

I want to thank you all, in advance, for helping! Let us continue to make a difference!

Sincerely,

Oz (and his human)

New Law in Effect in My County

This past Friday, July 1, Palm Beach County enacted a new anti-tethering ordinance considered a victory for local animal rights groups - and a major victory for many dogs and other animals that tend to be left outside all day in the scorching Florida heat.

The ordinance prohibits the tethering of animals at any hour of the day or night if not directly supervised by their human. It also includes a new requirement for outdoor shelters, which now must be at least 80 square feet and must never exceed more than 85 degrees (F) inside. Sounds reasonable to me.

Unfortunately, there are many groups that are against this new ordinance including some local hunt clubs. The hunt clubs state that it will cost too much money for them to bring their outdoor cages up to code (since they can no longer just tether the dogs outside unattended) and thus, they believe that hunters will start abandoning their dogs. Really?!? If that is the case then the "hunters" shouldn't have so many dogs to begin with if they cannot afford to house them properly. Are you hunters or animal hoarders?

Another organization to "jump on the bandwagon" of being against the ordinance is the National Animal Interest Alliance - an organization that represents animal breeders as well as owners and their animals. This organization was very unhappy with the unanimous passage of the new ordinance stating that at times, tethering (on trolleys or runners) can be a humane way to allow dogs to roam in an un-fenced yard. They do support the outdoor cage size part of the ordinance.

So, the National Animal Interest Alliance claims the same thing as the hunt clubs - people will start abandoning pets because they cannot keep them tethered (unattended, all day) outside.

Seriously? Why can't the dog(s) stay in the house, in the air conditioning, while their owners are of gallivanting all day long? Why then even have a dog, if you are just planning on tying it up outside and never socializing with it?

I actually think it is a good ordinance; Miami-Dade County has had a similar one since 2009. If you are a responsible pet owner, you will most likely not be affected. This ordinance is for those people who don't look out for the welfare of their animals to begin with!

See what Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control has to say, courtesy of The Sun Sentinel:

 

Wordless Wednesday - June 29

Ma, like many in her family, is a true dog person.  She has grown up around dogs all her life.  One of the very first dogs she ever met was her Uncle Mike's dog...Shaina.



Shaina taking a rest in the yard



Shaina was an Irish Setter - smart, playful and affectionate (at least, when she wanted to be). Anyone who has ever owned an Irish Setter knows they can be stubborn, hyper and mischievous sometimes...but boy are they pretty with that flowing red hair!

Shaina was around when Ma was still a tiny tot; Ma remembers her fondly because they grew up together.  



Shaina and Ma playing with a rubber steak...BOL

 Are your Irish eyes smiling?

Moody Monday

“A dog that intends to bite
does not bear its teeth.” 

 ~ Turkish Proverb

Catch the Contest at my Other Blog!

Yep!  I am holding a contest over at my other blog, Taste Tested by the Dog and you could win all this:

I received two packages - one for me and one for the winner - which included everything you see above!  There are seven flavors of Cesar Canine Cuisine dog food, two bags of their Softies Medley treats and a t-shirt for your human!

What are you waiting for, pals?!?  I cannot eat two of everything!!!  Enter to win the contest by clicking HERE!

Oz