Tag Archives: chester county SPCA

life’s little realities can be so unpleasant.

Posted on by

DSC_0239When I blog, I blog for me.  I find things that interest me to write about and I do just that.  Both here and on my breast cancer blog.

They say God never gives you more than you can handle, and I am almost to the point where the Lord and I need a sit down so we can discuss the definition of that.

I am being faced with the grim reality that I might very well be losing another dog.

It has been barely two months since I said good-bye to my beloved Mr. Peanut, and well I have had some rather difficult news about his brother Iggy.

Iggy has lymphoma.

Iggy is not so old, only middle-aged in fact.  So tomorrow we go to a dog oncologist.  Dr. Ann Jeglum in West Chester.  One of my vets recommends her highly.  I have however, seen mixed reviews so I am anxious.

Iggy and his brother saw me through breast cancer and the break up of my former relationship. Well technically I guess you could call it abandonment – the ex factor had a late midlife crisis as the first blizzard of February 2010 was beginning and took off in the snow never to be heard from again.  He left his dog with me.  She was quite elderly and failing. (We lost her Labor Day 2010)  To this day that is still what sticks with me about that whole time: he left his dog.

Anyway Iggy and his brother saw me through all that.  So I owe it to him to try to not go to pieces.

But this is incredibly hard.   The prognosis is not so hot for dogs that have this.

So all of you out there that send me stuff, it is 15 days until Christmas and I can’t help you.   My interest is in hopefully being able to save my dog. Or being able to let him go if I can’t.

Right now I would be happy if I could stop crying.   So when some of you write to me and talk about things that are unfair, well sorry, I think this is grossly unfair.  So pardon me while I am a little selfish right now.

If you want a good rescue to donate to this holiday season there are two I recommend: Chester County SPCA and Main Line Animal Rescue.   And if you see an animal being mistreated, or one that has been abandoned, call the proper authorities and keep calling until something is done.  I don’t care if it is a hamster or a horse….abuses is abuse, neglect is neglect.

Please say a prayer to St. Francis for my Iggy.

 

 

 

 

 

not snapped to anyone’s lead line

Posted on by
This looker lives in the Hamptons

This looker lives in the Hamptons

You know something? I am not particularly naïve.  Even if I do want to believe in the goodness of mankind sometimes.  And I have a lot of friends involved in animal rescue.  I have seen the good, the bad, and the very ugly when it comes to that.  And I have known all along the bigger the animal the nastier it can get.

When it comes to horse country out here I am an ausländer.  I don’t own horses, don’t ride any more.  I do love horses. I find them magnificent and regal, which is why I love to photograph them.

I am one of those people who doesn’t patronize those people in cities like Philadelphia and New York City who have the carriage ride companies because I have never seen a horse hitched up to one of those rigs that looks happy and I want to throw up every time an abuse case linked to that part of the tourism industry surfaces. I also don’t go to race tracks.  No offense, I find them seedy.  I find almost anything having to do with gambling seedy and déclassé. Different strokes for different folks, but not my cup of tea.

When it comes to horses, I like to do things like watch dressage and polo.  And my friends’ kids doing pony club and things like Devon.  I also think carriaging is cool.  Growing up, we had a neighbor who was a carriager, and I loved looking at all his carriages, carts, and even sleighs in his barn.

When I wrote my first post wading into a potential manure pile I had no idea it would lead to a second post (the funny thing about asking questions about horse rescue) and ALL the comments.

I think given ALL the comments some part of the system of horse rescue in Chester County is broken. And as a result I am calling upon the Chester County SPCA, LAPS, ASPCA, and The Humane Society to do whatever they have to do to check this out thoroughly and put this issue to rest.

And I don’t mean polite let’s have tea and check out horse rescues, I mean inspect them, look at paperwork, match paperwork up to horses, any kind of identifying marks horses might have (someone said they can be tattooed or microchipped?), and treat it like the rescues I know more about which are dog rescues. Put them through their paces. People with nothing to hide, won’t mind, will they? They will understand, won’t they as it is about the welfare of the animals, right?  Dog rescues go out and check out potential forever homes and often do follow up once a dog is adopted out, does this happen with horse rescue? It should if it doesn’t.

I get that rescue is an often ugly business and again I feel the the bigger the animal the uglier it gets.

The volume of comments on this stuff has blown me away.  But I am just a blogger who found something weird and asked some questions.  I literally do not have a horse in this race.

But what I don’t understand (among other things) why there is a thing called Large Animal Protection if they aren’t doing any protecting?  It’s their job, they have the jurisdiction, it’s their raison d’être, yes? They receive funding to not muck about, yes?

I am not going to go out and inspect barns, I am not going to rescue a horse.  I might not know all the lingo but I know what an abused or miscared for animal looks like and I know what filth looks like.  But I am not the authorities.  So leaving comments on a blog post are just that: leaving comments.

What should you do if you have proof something is a non-profit and they are not? Call the State Charities inspectors and complain. Here are the numbers: 717-783-1720 or 800-732-0999.  What should you do if someone is abusing an animal? Call any of the groups I have referenced above.  And call the media.  Go to the police. Let professionals handle it.

If you people are seeing things that are wrong, it won’t stop unless people come forward. On their own. I believe some of the people who have left comments are trying to do just that and God bless them for it. Sometimes the courage of convictions comes at personal cost, especially when something is of a sensitive, difficult, or emotionally charged nature.  And when it comes to animal rescue issues, I find them often as emotionally loaded as issues involving children.

craigslist_001My curiousity with this began with odd Craigslist postings that  continue to go tb_001up every day.  I don’t know who you are who is doing this, but I think you need to contact authorities or media.  Or both. You wanted attention? You got it, now take the other step.

I want to have faith in mankind this Christmas season, and animals that give us unconditional love and companionship should be protected.  If you want to get all religious on me, that is indeed what Jesus would do. Period.

daily salvo goes to the dogs and amen to that!

Posted on by

I am posting this because it is just quite simply true and awesome!  Thank you Daily Salvo!  You can “like” Daily Salvo on Facebook and they deserve it for sticking up for the dogs.

once a “jackass”….

Posted on by

….Always a jackass?

I realize that Chester County native son Bam Margera is like the second coming to a lot of residents, but no disrespect to them, I find that he has gone from local boy done good to problem child many wish would just go away.

Also, he’s not a child (although he undoubtedly influences many.). And I know a lot of people may have a lot to say that I am taking him to task on his latest not so funny bit of jackassery.

So what the heck did he THINK would happen when he posted a photo on twitter looking like he was pointing a gun at the head of an innocent PUPPY?

Hey Bam? Here’s the 411: I have never been a fan of your antics.  But it’s a big world out there and normally I can’t see what you do from my window.  But sooner or later, dude, you and your motley band of pranksters need to grow up and become contributing members of society.  Why can’t you use your celebrity for good?  Why is it every time you hit the news, or someone in your circle hits the news it is less than positive?

Is that how you see the world?  

I find this latest stunt, apology or no apology profoundly disturbing.  Personally I am thinking you should be making big whopping donations to Chester County SPCA and Main Line Animal Rescue if you are REALLY sorry.

Shaking my head in disgust at this one, and how embarrassing is it for Chester County that Bam has made the news from coast to coast on this? No, Bam, I would disagree.  All press is NOT good press and joking about animal cruelty is not funny. You are in the public eye, and like it or not have an obligation to NOT behave like a jackass once in a while.

‘Jackass’ star Margera condemns animal abuse, says meant no harm by prank involving puppy, gun Washington Post.com

By Associated Press, Updated: Tuesday, October 9, 10:13 AMAP

PHILADELPHIA — “Jackass” star Bam Margera says he condemns animal abuse and didn’t mean any harm by a photo posted online showing him holding his pit bull puppy with a toy gun pointed to its head.The 33-year-old Margera had posted the photo on Twitter, saying that if the dog made a mess in his bed again “Penny goes Bye Byes.” The Philadelphia Inquirer reports (http://bit.ly/SL6f9O ) that Margera says he loves animals and wished he had made it more clear the gun was fake.

Jackass’ Margera apologizes for gun-on-puppy post

By Mari A. Schaefer  Inquirer Staff Writer

And given this tweet I just stumbled upon and am posting, was this just the latest attention grabbing publicity stunt?  What happens when someone emulates this?

LOST DOG FOUND IN WEST CHESTER!!

Posted on by

**UPDATE** I spoke to Chester County SPCA.  The dog is still there and did have a microchip….which led to a disconnected cell phone from New York.  I asked if I could come see her and maybe walk her while she is in their care, and they regretfully told me no.  The Chester County SPCA will keep her for three days.  As per the comment below, Collie Rescue of SEPA has offered to help them if they need it.  PLEASE, if you know where this dog lives, know a family who recently relocated from New York to the West Chester/Malvern area, please call the Chester County SPCA.

*****************************************************************************************************

HI! I found a dog, or she found me this morning.  I don’t know her name, but she responded to Sweetie…probably because she is so sweet.  Found  North Chester Road (352).  She is very sweet, elderly, possibly collie/shepherd or collie/husky mix.  Either has severe hip dysplasia or was injured.  Dirty, but obviously not out that long.  No collar, no tags.

The Chester County SPCA is coming to pick her up within the hour.  Please, please, please if you know who she belongs to, please contact either East Goshen Police or the Chester County SPCA.  The Chester County SPCA will have a vet check her.

This is the kind of stuff that breaks my heart, so I would like to find her home.  Her teeth look old, but not the worst shape, but her nails need a trim.  She is very overweight.

Again, this is a sweet dog, not aggressive in the least.

Chester County SPCA can be reached at Phone Number: 610-692-6113

East Goshen Police Department can be reached at 610-692-5100.

She will be going with Chester County SPCA, because I can’t keep her.  And my instinct says she needs a vet to look at her.  Main Line Rescue doesn’t have any dogs missing meeting her description, and the same goes for all the vets I have called.

Please, if this is your dog, come forward.  I do not want this sweet girl to end her days in a shelter. She reminds me of a dog I used to have and loved very much named Mattie.

Thank you for reading, please cross-post and please, please, please call Chester County SPCA ASAP if you recognize her.

is phoenixville the wild, wild west?

Posted on by

Someone I know told me a story about Phoenixville the other day.  It involved a police officer shooting a dog believed to be a pit bull mix.  I am going to preface this entire post with a couple of things:

  1.  I wasn’t there
  2. This was recounted to me
  3. Anyone who knows me knows that pit bulls are so not my breed and we will leave it at that.
  4. Being a police officer or any type of first responder is a very hard job with often the need for difficult decisions to be made.

However, that all being said, drawn guns in neighborhoods when there are people and even children around gives me pause.

So I was told that this dog got out of her owner’s yard.  As unpleasant as that can be, it happens.  The dog apparently was in an empty lot?

I am one of those people who does not like roaming dogs. At all.  But I also know not to confront them.

When I was first out here in Chester County part-time, I actually called the police about two dogs on the lam.  The police came out, and were completely calm and got the dogs into the police car and returned them to their owners.  No muss, no fuss.  And these were big dogs.  Not pit bulls, or even  pit mixes, but big dogs – and any dog has the potential of reacting negatively in loud, chaotic situations.  Especially if the humans around are all tense and upset.

So as it was told to me, the owner of the dog, who by newspaper accounts was a Spanish-speaking  woman was trying to get the dog to come to her so she could get her inside, and begging the officer not to shoot her dog?  And that some on the scene have said the dog was upset but had not charged?  Is it possible in the chaos that this officer made a mistake?

Again, I am  not condoning loose dogs AT ALL, but I was also told that this dog was not male, but female and also had dropped a litter of puppies a few weeks ago?  Is that true?  Because if that is true and the dog was shot close to her home, that could have some bearing on her barking and attitude?  Mother dogs will protect their young and their humans if they perceive a threat, won’t they?

It seems for an incident like this that there is a lot out there right away in the media.  If the dog was a danger, then the police acted correctly albeit tragically.  But, what if this dog was shot needlessly?  What if that action was a bit precipitous?  What if part of the stress of the situation was a language barrier between responding officer and the Spanish-speaking woman?

I for one would like to know.   It kind of freaks me out when people shoot dogs.

Phoenixville seems to have issues.  And it seems they might need to address their issues versus building a platinum coated municipal building, doesn’t it?

Sign me torn on this issue. Can anyone tell me if Phoenixville has an animal control person or a relationship with say the Chester County SPCA or anyone else who could assist in these situations?

I respect the difficult jobs police officers and first responders have.  I want no misunderstanding there.  But I also know how dogs react  when threatened.  And if this dog was just scared and was a female who had a litter of puppies close by?

Or if loose dogs are such an issue in Phoenixville then maybe the officials should spend a little more time educating the public on how bad that can be?

Again, sign me torn with many questions.  I know many people with what qualify as breeds of dogs that are larger and working.  And when I read things like this, it scares me that something like that could happen to their dogs if they accidentally got out.

Here’s the press on this:

Police & Fire

Phoenixville Police Shoot, Kill Threatening Dog

The animal was shot near Barkley Elementary School on Monday.

ByTom Sunnergren

Email the author

A dog that appeared to be part pit bull was shot and killed by Phoenixville Police on Monday after it went on a rampage, The Mercury is reporting. The animal was shot once before later dying at the vet.

PHOENIXVILLE — A dog acting aggressively, trapping residents in their cars and homes, forced police to shoot and kill it Monday afternoon.
Police Chief William Mossman said the dog, described as being brown with “some pit bull in him but bigger than a pit bull,” charged officers multiple times while growling and barking….A woman driving by in a car told the officers she knew who owned the dog….One of the officers went to the owner’s house nearby. A woman reportedly confirmed she owned the dog but did not know it had gotten out or where it was…..“(The officer) wanted to give the dog every opportunity,” he said. “It’s our responsibility, we have to protect the public. The officer was protecting himself and the crowd.”….Mossman emphasized that there was little to no danger for the public related to the actual firing of the officer’s gun. The officer involved is about six feet tall and was shooting on a down angle so the bullet wouldn’t have gone anywhere if he missed, Mossman said….  Additionally, Mossman said the officer involved is highly trained, a former marine that is also a part of the Northern Chester County Emergency Response Team. “That guy spends more time shooting and qualifying more than anyone,” he said. “We don’t like to shoot our guns in the borough if we can avoid it.”