A Voice For Animals Column – Week of August 8th – Sharron Hubbard

Dear Readers,

It’s been a long time since I’ve written about a very special dog in need of a loving family. To tell you the truth it’s hard to do. It breaks my heart and I wish that I could adopt each and every one, but of course I can’t. Please read Buddy’s story, I’m hoping he will touch your heart as he has touched mine.

“Buddy” was found navigating a large highway alone, very scared and confused . As The cars whizzed by Buddy tucked his tail tightly between his legs and breathed the kind of whimpering cries only the lonliest of little souls can make. As horriffic as this sounds, there is one element that gives this scene an even more nightmarish quality. Buddy is blind. He has a degenerative retinal disease and he will never be able to see.

Luckily Buddy was picked up and taken to the Town Of Brookhaven Animal Shelter and met shelter director Dori Schofield and the Brookhaven Shelter staff and volunteers. Although it is very scary for Buddy at the shelter, as you can see from his picture, Buddy has a bright, hopeful disposition. He is so very happy when someone stops to give him his food, take him out of his cage for a walk or stoops to give a reassuring pat on the head. Buddy is young, only about one or two years old, he is sweet and loving and eager to please. Both humans and dogs adjust well to the onset of blindness, they just rely more heavily on their other senses. The most important sense for a dog is his sense of smell, even sighted dogs rely more heavily on scent than on sight. And we all know that dogs have a great sense of hearing. Buddy will do just fine in a home with a family of his own and familiar scents and sounds around him.

So what do you think Readers? Is Buddy’s special angel/angels out there reading this now? I’m praying you are.

To meet Buddy (case # 10-53-7471) please call 631-286-4940 or stop by the shelter at 300 Horseblock Road, Brookhaven New York

Coming next week in an Exclusive you won’t see anywhere else! Who are the Guardians of Rescue? I met them and they’re the biggest meanest toughest guys around…or are they?

Please visit a shelter and adopt. Remember, Your Best Friend Is Waiting…

A Voice For Animals Column – Sharon Hubbard Week of August 1

Dear Readers,
“When shelters act in ways that harm animals, the No Kill Advocacy Center has the courage and conviction to take them on.
The No Kill Advocacy Center is the only national nonprofit organization working exclusively to end the systematic killing of animals in U.S. shelters. “
I recently received a press release from Nathan Winograd, author and founder of the No Kill Advocacy Center and I’d like to share it with you.
“The Governor of Delaware just signed the most sweeping, progressive companion animal protection legislation in the United States. The law was modeled on the No Kill Advocacy Center’s Companion Animal Protection Act.
Like Oreo’s Law sought to do, the Delaware Companion Animal Protection Act mandates collaboration between shelters and rescue groups. A shelter cannot kill an animal if a rescue group is willing to save that animal’s life. But that is just the beginning. It also makes convenience killing illegal. Shelters can no longer kill an animal when there are available cages or the animals can share a cage or kennel with another one.
Specifically, the Delaware CAPA states:
Animal shelters shall ensure that the following conditions are met before an animal is euthanized:
(i) The holding period for the animal required by this chapter is expired;
(ii) There are no empty cages, kennels, or other living environments in the shelter that are suitable for the animal;
(iii) The animal cannot share a cage or kennel with appropriately sized primary living space with another animal;
(iv) A foster home is not available;
(v) Organizations on the registry developed pursuant to §8003(d) are not willing to accept the animal; and
(vi) The animal care/control manager certifies that the above conditions are met and that he/she has no other reasonable alternative.
The law also requires posting “all stray animals on the Internet with sufficient detail to allow them to be recognized and claimed by their owners,” requires shelters to maintain registries of rescue groups willing to save lives, and requires shelters to post statistics (intake, adoption, reclaim, transfer and killing rate).
While the law is now the most progressive companion animal protection legislation on record in this country, and can only be considered an unqualified victory for the No Kill movement, some of the No Kill Advocacy Center’s recommendations were not accepted. Nonetheless, Delaware continues to lead the way in embracing the legislative framework necessary to ensure justice. And we will build upon this framework in the coming years to strengthen protections for animals even more.
Nathan J. Winograd
Director, No Kill Advocacy Center”
Readers, Civic Associations are now forming across Long Island.
Their goal will be to transition their town shelters to NO Kill and ensure the best possible care for the animals in the shelters as they are waiting to be adopted.
please contact Janice at xenamom@optonline.net to join the Civic association for the following towns: Lindenhurst, Copaigue, North Babylon, West Babylon, Babylon, Amityville, Oak Beach
If the Islip Animal Shelter is your town shelter contact Rosemary at: RVolvo960
This is your opportunity to join with fellow like minded citizens and make your votes count!
Please visit a shelter and adopt.
Remember, Your Best Friend Is Waiting…

Weekly column – Week of July 18th

Dear Readers,
In the July 7th column I wrote the following about forming civic associations to deal with improving the town animal shelters:
“I had an interesting conversation with a brilliant, Very High Profile attorney recently.
We discussed various ways that the animal loving public could present a stronger, united, and more powerful voice when dealing with local town government. His suggestion was that we should form a civic association in each town made up of animal lovers! The idea being that we could make our wishes known and back our demands with a large voting block. The larger the membership of each group, the more votes the group would represent and the more votes, the more influence with our local elected officials.”
Here are some of your responses to that column:

“Dear Sharon,

I never thought I would be making special trips to an out of the way supermarket just to pick up the latest issue of “Neighborhood Newspaper” just to read your column, but you’ve got me hooked.
In reference to your column on July 7…..a civic association in each town made up of true animal lovers…..what a great suggestion. Its about time. I am a busy person with a full time job that requires me to work evenings and holidays and weekends, but that is something I would certainly make time for. I hope you get a lot of good responses to this idea. I think its high time those of us who care for animals and all livings things get up off the couch and at least do something small. I always have felt like there is nothing I can do to make the world a better place for animals…..but hey….this sounds like something I can participate in. ”

” Dear Sharon,
I would be very interested in being involved with a civic association in the town of Islip. I am not an organizer but I would do whatever I can to be involved and help someone that can organize this group.
What people must be aware of is that we are taxpayers paying these elected officials which make them our employees and if they cannot do the job that the people are asking for we need to elect officials that are willing to listen to us and move forward in making the changes we are asking for.
We can demand change! These officials are working for us and if they don’t respect our wishes then we should take them out of office.
Remember these defenseless animals have no voice except ours.
R. V.”

Readers, If you would be interested in joining a Civic Association dedicated to improving the conditions at your town animal shelter, please send me an email or call 631-226-2636 ext.301 and leave me a message with your name, email address or other contact information and the town you live in.
Please visit a shelter and adopt.
Remember, Your Best Friend Is Waiting…
Your Best Friend Is Waiting…

A Voice For Animals Column Week of 7/4/2010

Dear Readers,
I had an interesting conversation with a brilliant, Very High Profile attorney recently.
We discussed various ways that the animal loving public could present a stronger, united, and more powerful voice when dealing with local town government. His powerful suggestion was that we should form a civic association in each town made up of animal lovers! The idea being that we could make our wishes known and back our demands with a large voting block. The larger the membership of each group, the more votes the group would represent and the more votes, the more power with our local elected officials.

Readers, I would love to know what you think about this idea. If you would like to start or join such an association of like minded citizens in your town please contact me and let me know. Please include the town you live in.

Readers, I have some great news to share with you. Dori Schofield, the president of Save A Pet Rescue in Port Jefferson has been named the Town Of Brookhaven Animal Shelter Director! I told Dori when I congratulated her, that I expected to see the Brookhaven Shelter become the best shelter in the U.S. I’d also like to offer my congratulations to Supervisor Mark Lesko for a wise decision and a great choice.

Many of our Readers have contacted me wanting to know the outcome of the hero dog story I wrote about a few columns back. I’d like to share the following email with you

Hi Sharon,
I just wanted to let you know the good news!! An organization called Hope for
our warriors may be cutting us a check for $6,000.00 which is exactly how much
we need to rescue the rest of the dogs. They help grant injured soldiers
wishes…and they read your story, which is how they got in contact with me. I
wanted to thank you again for your incredible story. You have truly made all
the difference in this rescue. I will keep you updated! xos

Anna Maria

Anna Maria recently told me that the soldiers were indeed given the money by Hope For Our Warriors. Thanks to the Readers who donated and to Hope For Our Warriors. All the dogs are coming home to the U.S.

Please visit a shelter and adopt.
Remember, Your Best Friend Is Waiting…

Rockville Centre Column

Dear Readers,
This one’s for the books. The specific book would be George Orwell’s 1984. Remember the phrase “Big Brother Is Watching?” George Orwell wrote 1984 as a warning and in the hope that we would watch out and protect our civil liberties and that we would realize how important it is to vote and to vote wisely.

Readers, I am sorry to tell you that breed specific legislation has passed in Rockville Center. The local government is banning people from owning Pit Bulls and Rotweillers. Many people are very upset about this, myself among them. Another very upset individual is Jennifer M. DeFrank, Executive Director of City Pitties, who issued the following statement to all citizens concerned with our personal rights:

“RVC’s ban is un-American and against the law. Dogs, by law, are considered property in New York State. This is still a democratic Republic we live in, with reasonable search and seizure laws. How can this village board enact a law against the State of New York and without a vote of the constituents and taxpayers in the district? The result of this irresponsible and unlawful ban is to ultimately give carte blanche to local law enforcement to search, seize, shoot, and confiscate from your hand, homes, and vehicles anything that remotely looks like a pit bull or rottweiler, YOUR PROPERTY. Good dogs will be destroyed by lethal injection when all these pit bulls want to do is smile, wiggle, play, eat, sleep, and please a human being.
Why do ignorant people continue to demonize and criminalize the Pit Bull who throughout history has shown us their loyalty as companions, therapy, search and rescue, diagnostic, agility champ, drug and bomb detection dogs, war heroes (Sgt. Stubby!) and more?
This is where our Constitutional rights offer defense to us and our pets. Our First and Second Amendment rights, shall not be infringed by tyrannical elected officials!
I say, my pit bulls don’t vote, but I do. I am not a subject but a citizen. Thank you for standing up to the Village Idiots. I look forward to fighting this ban with you.”

Readers, do you remember Petey the lovable dog in “The Little Rascal Movies?”

Well, Petey was a Pit Bull and he was adored by the public. When The Little Rascal movies were popular, it was fashionable to own a Pit Bull and they were coveted as “ideal family dogs”. So what happened? Somehow, over the years the heinous “sport” of dog fighting became popular and because Pit Bulls were strong, loyal, and easy to train, they were exploited in this horrible way. Another reason that Pit Bulls were used to fight is that they were (and are), by nature, so extraordinarily friendly to humans that when they were seriously injured in a fight, unlike other breeds, they did not bite the human beings that would “rescue” them from the fighting area. Most dogs in that condition, filled with adrenalin, will perceive almost any action by anyone as a continuation of the assault — Not the Pit Bull! The Pit Bull would recognize the hand of a human as friendly and instantly submit — So much for the viscous personality MYTH! So now the poor Pit Bull is not only being victimized by the inhumane criminals who torture and “fight them”, they are being victimized by the local government.

The Long Island Coalition Of Dog Fanciers will address the village board at 8PM on June 29th, 1 College Place, Rockville Center. They are protesting the ban. Many other Rescue Organizations and citizens will be there to protest also. Please try to make it AND call or email the Rockville Centre Village Board.

I can remember when the town shelters were filled with German Shepherds because people thought they were vicious dogs. Later on, it was Doberman Pinschers and now it’s Pit Bulls and Rottweilers.
I really don’t think it’s right that local government assumes the power to tell us what breed of dog we can own. Do you?

Please visit a shelter and adopt. Remember, Your Best Friend Is Waiting…

Brooklyn NY – Adoption Event and Clinic

Clinic and Dog Adoption Day!

Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
on 5th Avenue, corner of 59th Street
Sunset Park, Brooklyn
SUNDAY, JUNE 27TH
8am to 2pm
Rain or Shine!

Clinc_and_Adoptions_June_27th_COLOR_flier

Family Friendly “Bully Breed” Dogs for adoption are courtesy of Four Paws Sake Rescue (Queens), Animal Center of Queens, Red Hook Dog Rescue, Bobbi And the Strays, City Pitties and more! Clinics are courtesy of Tavi and Friends (TTouch) and the ASPCA (spay/neuter).

A small donation will get you a cool vest for your hot dog, Rescue Chocolate for a human, IDTAGS, high quality dog food samples courtesy of Lee’s World Pet Supply of Bay Ridge, NYCPet.com of Park Slope, and more!

Refreshments will be available courtesy of the Knights of Columbus and other vendors at the OLPH $upa Flea Market around the corner at 60th St. at 6th Ave.

STOP*Rockville*Center,NY*Breed*Specific*Legislation.

On June 29 the LI Coalition of Dog Fanciers will address the Village board to protest recently passed breed specific legislation. We will attempt to have the law repealed on the basis that it is not allowed under NYS law. The more people we have with us, the stronger the impact. Please attend this VERY IMPORTANT meeting with us on June 29 at RVC Village Hall. The meeting starts at 8pm-please be there by 7:30pm. Ask everyone and anyone you know to attend. NUMBERS COUNT-even if your breed it not the one targeted it is important to all of us…. after all, who is to say that your breed won’t be next.

Boarding Your Pet While on Vacation

Dear Readers,

The sun is shining, the breeze is balmy, and the days are long. It’s vacation time again. But when you’re a devoted pet owner, vacations can be bittersweet and tinged with guilt. We jet off to some exotic (or not so exotic) locale swimming, dining and adventuring, while our beloved pets are whisked off to a very different experience…a cage and the stress of wondering where the family went and worse … are they ever coming back?

At this time of year, I’m besieged with emails requesting my recommendations for boarding, pet sitting, etc., which always reminds me of a horrific experience I had when I dropped my beloved dog Pooka off at a so called “pet hotel” in Freeport. After paying extra for Pooka to live in an apartment with a trainer, I showed up a day early and unannounced. To make a long and outrageous story short, Pooka was not living the good life with a private trainer in a suite. He was in a cage, he was filthy, and the top of his nose was bloody from pushing through the cage grates. Yes Readers, this awful place is still in business, and the name is available if you send me an email inquiry.

As far as I’m concerned, the best and happiest solution (if you can’t take your pet with you that is) is to have someone stay in your home with your pet. That means no stress for your pet and no guilt for you. Of course, this person would need to be someone you could trust, someone who has pet care experience, and who has a genuine love of animals.It would need to be someone whose sole purpose would be to exercise and play with your pet, take care of your pet’s every need, and make sure your home is as tidy as you left it when you closed the front door.

As a result of my own terrible experience with Pooka as well as the many horror stories sent to me over the years regarding beloved pets not being properly cared for while their owners were away, I believe I have come up with a near perfect solution (Remember, bringing your pet along is always the perfect solution when, in fact, it’s possible). If, indeed, you are one of the many pet owners who does not have a reliable caretaker for your pet when you are away on vacation, please contact me at sharonadoptpet@aol.com and I’ll fill you in on the details. The service that I’ll be telling you about also makes available trained vet techs for pets with medical needs (When Shadow was ill, I had one of these techs overnight in my home taking care of the IV that ran through the night as well as taking care of all his other needs — and No, it did NOT cost an arm and a leg!).

Please contact me if you would be interested in this service — After all, you deserve a great (and guilt and worry free) vacation!

Please visit a shelter and adopt.
Remember, Your Best Friend Is Waiting…

Update on the Velvet situation

Dear Readers,

This is The Conway’s response to Islip Commissioner Chris Andrade’s “explanation” as to why Velvet was killed at the Islip Shelter despite the Conway brother’s attempts to adopt her.

The town has issued several different “reasons” for Velvet’s destruction. They began with “food aggression” and quickly followed with “dog aggression”. The latest statement sent to me by Chris Andrade stated that Velvet was destroyed because she tried to bite the vet. Mr. Andrade stated that the vet recommended Velvet be destroyed at the shelter. When contacted the vet’s office denied saying this, stating that it was not their policy to recommend killing vet aggressive dogs.
To add outrage and boldfaced “chutzpah” to the story, the shelter lied to me when I called saying that Velvet had been adopted. When I told the shelter I would formally request the town records regarding Velvet’s death, they angrily admitted they had killed her.
Despite public outrage and an outpouring of requests for the dismissal of animal shelter director Joanne Daly, Philip Nolan has chosen to ignore the situation. My suggestion is that when election time comes around…..we ignore Philip Nolan.

Please contact Town Of Islip Philip Nolan and Islip DEC Commissioner Chris Andrade at (631) 224-5500 and let them know how you feel.
Sharon Hubbard
A Voice For Animals

Dear Readers,
Memorial Day was last week and if you’re like me, you were well aware that our young men and women continue to be in harms way, risking their lives to keep us safe each and every day.

I have a story to share with you. It is a story of courage, devotion, love, and hope and is told to me by Sgt. Christopher Duke.

While Chris is now “stateside,” part of his heart is still thousands of miles away in Afghanistan with Rufus.
The story begins on February 11, 2010, after another blistering hot day, fifty soldiers were trying to unwind from this horrible war of cruelty, fanaticism, and uncertainty. Some of the soldiers played cards. Others wrote letters or simply talked while idly stroking the head of one of the company’s dogs. Others just tried to sleep.
Chris sat at the computer in the barracks about seventy-five feet from the door. No one was aware that Death had come into the camp…no one but the dogs that is. Rufus lunged forward before the suicide bomber could reach the barracks, biting him in the leg. Target (who was pregnant) and Sasha also attacked and barked furiously to alert the troops. The suicide bomber never made it to the living quarters. Startled by the dogs, he blew himself up before he reached his destination but fatally injured Sasha and seriously injured Rufus and Target.
Meanwhile, the hallway channeled the blast towards Chris “blowing the doors off their hinges and shattering windows.” Chris was hit by shrapnel in his left arm, left leg, left rib cage and small fragments in the side of his very handsome face. Chris and four other soldiers had to be medivaced to hospital. But thanks to Sasha, Rufus and Target, all of the fifty soldiers survived!
When Chris returned to the base, he cared for Rufus, gently cleansing his wounds and nursing him back to health. When Chris was on guard at night, Rufus made sure to stay close by his side.
Chris and Rufus developed a very deep bond. As Chris told me, “Having grown up on a farm, I have always had a huge love for dogs, but nothing like I have for Rufus. There isn’t a doubt in my mind that Rufus saved my life. The time came for me to return home and I had to leave Rufus behind. But we are so close to getting him back to the states. Once he returns, he will come to live with me at my five acre home. I plan on seeing to it that Rufus is treated like the hero he is for the rest of his life.”
Readers, if you’re anything like me, you want to get involved and help bring Rufus, Target, and Target’s and Sasha’s puppies home. Sasha sacrificed her life, the least we can do is bring her baby to America.
This is where Anna Maria comes in. It costs about three thousand dollars per dog to bring them home. So Maria has started “Rescue Puppy Mission.”

Anna Maria’s boyfriend (also named Chris) is still in Afghanistan. This is what Anna Maria told me: “These dogs are the only sense of normalcy that our soldiers experience. Our soldiers feed these dogs from their own plates, care for them on a daily basis and treat them as if they were their own. I don’t hear from Chris very often but when I do, you can hear a smile on his face…his voice just lights up when he talks about these puppies. I am currently in the process of raising money to help get these little pups home. While juggling work and school, I have been fundraising by selling candles and running an online raffle to help rescue these animals. The more we raise, the more animals we can rescue.”
Readers, I think this would be a wonderful girl scout and boy scout project! And Teachers, wouldn’t this be a great class project?
If you would like to contribute and/or write to these brave soldiers, here is all the contact information.

Anna Maria Cannan
207-316-8023

Checks can be made out to Puppy Rescue Mission and sent to:

Anna Maria Cannan
149 19th Avenue
Madawaska, ME 04756

Dog food and letters can be sent to:

Christopher J Chiasson
TF Avalanche B / 3-172 IN
FOB Gardez / COP Dand Patan / ABP2
APO AE 09354

Donation website:is:

puppyrescuemission.chipin.com

Sgt. Christopher Duke
gabulldawg83@yahoo.com

Please visit a shelter and adopt.
Remember, Your Best Friend Is Waiting…