SPOT POST  *  Vol. 1 *  Issue 2 * October, 2002

A Special Message from Our President :

Those of you who know me, know that I feel very strongly that rescuers and animal shelter employees should not use the word "euthanasia". Instead, I make it a point to use the word "kill" because it speaks the truth directly rather than softening the blow with regard to the solution to our nation's homeless pet crisis. Below is the article which changed my opinion of the use of the word "euthanasia . "   I now only use euthanasia to describe the humane ending of the life of a pet that is suffering and who cannot be saved. Protecting the public from the truth has proven not to work. By shielding the public and ourselves from the truth by using soft inaccurate words like "euthanasia" and "put to sleep" we are participating in the cover up and perpetuating of the tragedy. Please read this article and perhaps rethink your use of this over­used word by the rescue and animal welfare community.

-Janet Weiss, SPOT President  

  Killing: It's Not Just Euthanasia Anymore       

BY:   Lynda J. Foro , President of Doing Things for Animals

Here's a thought: Use the right words and improve communication!   We might even clarify some issues!   This is fairly simple advice, but somehow, the humane community has gone astray with the word euthanasia and inhibited the progress of no kill.  

Look in any dictionary and you will find a definition of euthanasia that describes the act of method of causing death painlessly, so as to end suffering; to deal with those dying of incurable, painful diseases.   The Greek word is derived from eu , meaning good or well, and thanatos , meaning death.   Thus, euthanasia is a good death to relieve suffering.  

Now, what does it mean to you when an animal shelter reports that 90% of their animals were " euthanized " in a given period?   Do you seriously believe that 90% of their animals were dying of incurable, painful diseases?   They were KILLED , while possibly a small percentage truly were euthanized for clinical reasons.    

When we understand the misuse of the word euthanasia historically in animal welfare, then we understand the honesty of the word "kill," and then we understand what "no kill" means.   No kills is the absence of killing healthy, adoptable animals.    

When language is used literally to describe a situation, then readers and listeners know what is truthful.   I am convinced that the failure to remedy the millions of homeless animal deaths in shelters is because a soft word has been used for decades to describe their killing.   Euthanasia is a feel-good word, a sad necessity word that leaves little doubt as to its appropriateness.   And you can be there are uneducated people who think, "It's OK to euthanize my dog, just don't kill it," when why relinquish their unwanted pet to a shelter.  

My recommendation is that we train ourselves to respond with a knee-jerk reaction anytime the word euthanasia is used.   Are we literally speaking the truth when we say euthanasia?   Or are we using a cover-up work for kill?   Listen to yourself as you habitually say euthanize when you mean kill.   Every time we report that healthy animals were euthanized , we have delayed the progress in saving animals' lives.

I normally include this caveat in my presentations, and it's surprising how many caregivers have never analyzed the use of the words in this business.   "Euthanasia" is the crux of the no-kill issue, and understanding the terminology helps use to understand the goal.

  Keep Pets Safe This Halloween

Halloween can be a traumatic and even dangerous time for your pets. While this is a fun time for people remember that your pets are depending on you to keep them safe from dangerous goblins and ghouls during the holiday period.  

·        Keep your pets inside. There are plenty of stories of vicious pranksters who have teased, injured, stolen, even killed pets on this night.

• Keep your pets away from candy. Chocolate is poisonous to pets and cellophane candy wrappers can be hazardous if swallowed.

• Be careful of pets around a lit pumpkin. They can knock it over and cause a fire or get burned.

• Don't dress your animal in a costume unless you know he loves it. Otherwise it will cause him lots of stress and anxiety.

• If you do dress your animal up, make sure the costume isn't constricting, annoying or unsafe.  

• All but the most social dogs should be kept in a separate room during trick or treat hours, strangers in costumes can be scary to your animal.

• Be careful your pet does not dart out through an open door. 

• Always have a current ID tag on your pet so if he gets lost he can be returned home safely.

 Things You Can Do to Help Save Animals

BY: Karen Hirsch

My nine-year-old niece recently asked me what she could do to help save animals. She had already become a vegetarian at age seven after announcing to her family (all meat eaters) that eating animals was wrong.   Having become a vegetarian at age 16, I am amazed by her determination and dedication.   The following is a list I compiled for my niece and for you on things we can all do to help animals.   

  Dogs and Cats  

• Spay or neuter your dog or cat. There are millions of dogs and cats without homes being killed each year at shelters.  

• Put an ID tag on your pet. Without ID tags, only two percent of cats and 16 percent of dogs ever see their families again.  

• Help out at an animal shelter by walking the dogs and cleaning the cat cages. Donate blankets, newspapers, cat litter, and old towels.  

• Report Cruelty to animals to your county's animal control center.   Since workers there are overburdened, be persistent and call several times. If you learn of an unreputable breeder or pet store, please contact the Department of Agriculture Protection Division at 404-656-4914. You should also contact the rescue group for that particular breed of dog.

          www .spotsociety.org/atl_shelter_list.htm    

• Adopt a pet from the animal shelter. According to a report in the "American Journal of Infection Control" pet guardianship increases the odds for survival in people who have had a heart attack, and people with dogs and cats have been found to have lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels compared to people without pets.    

• Keep cats indoors. Indoor cats live longer, safer, healthier lives.

• Don't declaw your cat.   The declawing procedure done on cats is a form of mutilation, irreversible and very painful. Instead train your cat to use a scratching post, use double-sided sticky tape in forbidden areas or use Soft Paws, vinyl caps that you slip over your cat's own claws. www.softpaws.com .  

• Buy only products that have not been tested on dogs, cats, and many other animals. Buy "cruelty-free" toothpaste, shampoo, and household cleaners.   You can find a list of companies that don't animal test at www.idausa.org/facts/crueltyfree       

Rescuing Animals In Need, Inc., or RAIN for short, is a small animal rescue group located in Buford.  It is licensed by the Department of Agriculture and is a 501(c )( 3) non-profit group.  It's founder, Nanci King, has been involved in animal rescue for almost 10 years.  She started out volunteering with local animal groups, and then in March 2000 decided to form her own group to try to help save more animals.  She envisioned doing this by working with the local shelters and the rescue community.   

RAIN works closely with the Barrow County and Gwinnett County Animal Controls by not only rescuing animals but also spreading the word to other rescue groups about the animals there.  Every Saturday Nanci goes to both of these shelters taking along treats and toys to share with the animals.  She stops at each cage and talks to the animal, giving it a treat and some loving.  If it is a purebred dog or cat or a highly adoptable mutt, she makes a notation of the animal's information as well as taking digital pictures.  To visit both shelters takes about five to six hours.  Once home she types up the list of animals needing rescue and distributes it to her fellow rescuers on the Atlanta Rescue List where it is then crosspost ed to many other groups.  If someone is interested in seeing the pictures of a specific animal, they will contact Nanci .   

Due to Nanci's working full time, RAIN mainly takes cats into its program, although an occasional small dog does find itself included!  Nanci feels that by her posting about all the dogs at the shelters, she is doing her part in trying to get as many rescued out as possible since she is not really able to take in many dogs herself.  She estimates her postings led to about 100 dogs rescued out in 2001 that otherwise would have been killed .  Nanci says the one question she gets asked the most is how she can stand going to the shelters week after week.  Nanci admits it is very hard to do.  She says, "I don't jump up and down in excitement each Saturday knowing I am going to the shelters and going to be looking into all those hopeful and haunted eyes, but how can I not do it?  If I can even get one animal a week rescued out from my postings that otherwise would have been killed , it makes it worth it.  For that one life, that one chance to make a difference, is why I do it."  

RAIN does not conduct offsite adoptions and relies solely on word of mouth from adopters, veterinarians, neighbors, friends and coworkers as well as hits on RAIN's website, www.HelpRAIN.com and PetFinder to help her place the cats.   All the cats are fully vetted prior to adoption.  Nanci feels it is critical to have ALL animals spayed/neutered prior to adoption as that is the only way she feels the pet overpopulation problem can ever be stopped.  "It is our responsibility as animal rescuers to make 100% sure that each and every animal leaving our control have been fixed.  If even one animal is adopted out who is not fixed and it ends up getting pregnant and having a litter, then we have directly contributed to the very problem we are trying to do away with.  The only guarantee is to do it before the animal is adopted," says Nanci .   

One of the cats in RAIN's program right now is Higgins.  Higgins is gray Persian and is approximately 7 years old.  Higgins came to be in the program when a local emergency vet contacted Nanci to see if she could help them get the cat placed into rescue.  Higgins was turned into the emergency clinic by a woman who heard a cat screaming in her backyard.  When she went out to investigate, she found Higgins in the middle of a creek in her backyard.  She got him out of the creek and thought he was bleeding as he was so flea infested that the water dripping off of him was red.  She rushed him to the emergency vet.  Not only was Higgins flea infested, he was completely matted.  So badly, in fact, that they had to use a surgical blade to shave him literally right down to his skin.  Nanci agreed to come over and at least get pictures of Higgins and do a posting to see if someone had room for one more.  "When they brought Higgins over to me, I saw the most pathetic Persian I had ever seen.  He had no fur.  In addition, he had scabs all over him from being shaved.  The minute I picked him up, he stared purring and just reached up with his paw and touched my cheek.  That was it, I was a goner and there was no way I was leaving there without him."  Higgins has tested negative for Feline Leukemia and FIV and has been neutered and had all his shots, as well as having a dental.  His fur is growing back and now is ready for a home of his own. Nanci thinks the perfect home for him would be with an older, stay-at-home person who has the time to clean and primp him and spoil him rotten as Higgins deserves nothing less.  "He is the sweetest, gentlest little man who just wants to be held and loved.  He is undemanding and so appreciative of being given a second chance."  

  Contact RAIN at (770) 945-3497 ( 9 am to 9 pm only)

Or by email at helprain@mindspring.com

Donations Help Stop the Killing

FACT :   Over 56% of dogs and puppies and 71% of cats and kittens entering animal controls are killed, based on reports from 1,055 facilities across America .

-National Council on Pet Overpopulation Study and Policy, "Shelter Statistics Survey" 1997 data.

Stopping Pet Overpopulation Together (SPOT) is a non-profit alliance of dog and cat rescuers, veterinarians, and pet lovers working to reduce the number of dogs and cats killed in Atlanta-area shelters.   SPOT is in constant need of funds to continue our spaying and neutering efforts.   For every pet we spay/neuter we prevent thousands of unwanted puppies and kittens.  

SPOT is also in the process of producing TV ads which will help convey our very important message.   However, airtime costs money and without donations these ads might never be seen.   SPOT donations also make wonderful gifts for birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries.   You may also make a donation in memory of someone or a beloved pet.   What better way to say you care?   

So please, make your donation today!!

To make your tax deductible donation online, go to our secure Paypal link or send your check or money order, made payable to SPOT, to the address below.   We also accept material donations such as cars, stock, land, boats and other items that can be auctioned off on Ebay .  

  SPOT, P.O. Box 801012 , Acworth , GA 30101

  Education Web Site: www.spotsociety.org

      Adoption Web Site: www.petorphans.com

Instructions for Paypal :

Send donations to info@spotsociety.org .   In the memo box please indicate what the donation is for.  

U.S. Postal Service Releases Spay/Neuter Stamps

On September 20, 2002 the United States Postal Service released its first ever spay/neuter stamps.   These stamps, featuring a kitten named Samantha and puppy name Kirby -both shelter adoptions-not only help relay a critical message, but part of the proceeds goes toward educating the public about the necessity of spaying and neutering our companion animals. 250 million stamps were printed in the initial print run. Animal advocates are hoping that all 250 million stamps will sell quickly enough that the U.S. Postal Service will print more, as well as offer more animal advocacy stamps in the future.  If your post office does not yet have these stamps in stock, ask them to order a large supply. 

So the next time you drop your credit card payment or a love letter in the mail, send it along with one of these great stamps.   It takes so little to say so much.

Order your stamps online at the U.S. Postal Store

Classifieds

A Timeless Investment... from McDowell's Fine Art, Inc.  

Attention Pet Lovers!! Cherish and celebrate the life of your pet(s) with an original fine art portrait from McDowell's Fine Art, Inc.   Have your work of art painted by Master Artist, Quientin D. McDowell who developed his formal style and technique while studying at Studio Art Centers International in Florence, Italy.  

Each original portrait is created with a high level of artistic refinement and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.   These unique works are available in oils, pastels or charcoal.   Let us help you take advantage of this valuable opportunity to mark the importance and significance of your pet's life.   Please write or call for an estimate to get started on an investment for life!  

McDowell's Fine Art, Inc.  
P.O. Box 20163
Atlanta, GA 30325
(770) 975-9100

*Help your business.   Help the animals.   If you are interested in placing an ad in the next SPOT Post, please email Nichole Garmon for pricing information.  

Contributors Help Make SPOT A Success

SPOT would like to send out a special thank you to Mr.James Carter for his continuing contributions and support. Mr. Carter is a retired pharmacist, turned stock investor. SPOT President Janet Weiss and SPOT Volunteer Ellen Star enjoyed Mr. Carter's vast knowledge of the stock market at a Thank You Dinner held for him.

It is supporters such as Mr. Carter who have enabled SPOT to launch it's now nationally known educational poster campaign. Thank you Mr. Carter, we at SPOT truly appreciate your remembering us.

Volunteer Corner      

Needs:

Want to volunteer from the comfort of your own home?    SPOT is seeking an individual with rescue or animal welfare experience to assist SPOT President Janet Weiss on day-to-day duties.   If interested, contact Janet today!!  

Don't have time to volunteer on a regular basis?   Then how about flyer distribution you can do on your way to the grocery store, dining at your favorite restaurant or even at your office!   Simply download and print our informative flyer and distribute them in low income areas or pass it along to a friend who might need financial assistance.  

Want to volunteer with SPOT---it's easy.   Contact Janet Weiss to volunteer: 404.584-SPOT (7768), info@spotsociety.org or fill out our online volunteer application .  

Dining Out for a Good Cause

Now through October 31, 2002 the Italian Kitchen will be donating 25% of your check to SPOT.   What a great way to make a difference for animals!!

 
Location : The Italian Kitchen
994 Roswell St., Marietta
(near the Big Chicken)
Phone : 770-427-0220

 Print the flyer and present to your server: http://www.spotsociety.org/italkit2.pdf

Help SPOT While Shopping Online

Shopping online is wonderful...no lines, no searching for that perfect parking space.  But wouldn't your online shopping experience be even better if you were helping a great cause?  It's easy!  Simply go to http://www.mycause.com/spot and purchase products from a number of popular retailers and they will donate up to 12% of the purchase price to SPOT, without any additional cost to you.  So the next time you need a gift or you're just treating yourself, shop online and help make a difference in your community for the animals.                     

Have a suggestion for the next SPOT POST?  

If so, please contact SPOT POST Editor Nichole Garmon via email or at (678) 363-5443.