Another Questionable Episode

     

My certificate of recognition for being one of four finalists for 
Best Blog Video in the Blog Paws 2015 awards competition. Awards for the winners will be given in May. 

     We have some important issues to address in this post, but first  I want to thank my latest Save 90 advertisers: 
Silberstein Insurance Group: Employee Benefits Consultants 
Suburban House Restaurant 
and 
Zibazz Day Spa and Makeup Art

     These ads will appear below the text of this post along with complete lists of advertisers, individual donors, and organizations that have each received a $750 check from Save 90, as well as a tally of money raised so far.

Let's get started...
Another sign of positive change at the Baltimore County Animal Shelter (BCAS) : 
     I requested and have been cleared to shoot and edit videos of animals at BCAS for the shelter's new Facebook page. This is a great opportunity to give a fuller view of the animals' personalities which will hopefully increase their adoptability. Thank you, Baltimore County for allowing me to do this. I'll be shooting the first videos in the next few days.
     In addition, check out this post which appeared on Facebook on Friday, March 27:
"Just got back from the shelter checking for a friend's lost cat. Everyone was so cheerful, the construction looks good, the work release ladies in the cat room were very helpful and nice (still confused as to why we can't go into the trailer looking for lost cats...), and a wonderful woman up front even looked on the database for a cat matching his description. The computers up front for people to search and place lost/found animals were a really nice touch.
Everything was clean, there's treats mounted on the kennels and a gorgeous brown pittie was microchipped and being adopted while I was there. 
Best experience I have ever had there by far!!!"
     
     Clearly, the staff and leadership at the Baltimore County Animal Shelter are working very hard and doing so many great things. 
     
Legislative news in a moment but first the main story of this post:
Another Questionable Episode
      In spite of all the positive work happening at the 
Baltimore County Animal Shelter (BCAS), there are some ongoing issues that must be addressed. A recent incident there has echoes of the story of Briar Rose, about which I wrote on Jan. 20 of this year. 
     This latest issue involves a dog named Buddy Boy. He was surrendered to the Baltimore County Animal Shelter on 
Feb. 9th after his owner died.

Buddy Boy

     On intake, he was listed as a Siberian Husky. But shelter veterinarians raised concerns that Buddy Boy might be a wolf dog (the offspring of a wolf and a domestic dog.) It's illegal to own a wolf dog in MD. 
     BCAS sent a DNA sample from the dog to UC Davis in California for testing. 
     In the meantime, on Feb. 14th, Rob Ross, who works in conjunction with several wolf sanctuaries, went to BCAS and evaluated Buddy Boy. 
     According to Ross, the dog exhibited no physical wolf dog traits. In addition, he was "not skittish, did not have wolf vocalizations, and was obedient."
     Ross says he intentionally took a dominant stance to test the dog's response, but again, there were no indications of wolf dog behavior, namely Buddy Boy's ears "weren't pinned back, his hackles weren't raised, and his tail remained neutral, not curled or tucked, or wagging aggressively." 
     Ross shared this information with BCAS, and, in addition, found a rescue facility in New Jersey that was willing to take Buddy Boy while the shelter awaited DNA test results. 
     The rescue called Howling Woods Farm specializes in wolf dogs which are legal in New Jersey.
     Howling Woods President Mike Hodanish says he would have put Buddy Boy in a large outdoor pen about 100'X40' equipped with an enclosure. In addition, Buddy Boy would have been joined by a companion dog if he got along with one of the other dogs there. Surely this would have been better than remaining by himself in a much smaller shelter cage at BCAS.  
     In addition, getting Buddy Boy out to a rescue would have freed up a cage at BCAS. That's important because the shelter is often full, and when all cages are full, animals must be euthanized to make room for new ones brought in by Animal Control. 
     So, you say, surely the vets at BCAS allowed Buddy Boy to go to Howling Woods, right? No. They did not. Instead, he remained at the shelter until March 19th, a total of 38 days. At that point, the UC Davis DNA wolf test results came back negative and BuddyBoy was adopted. 
     I spoke with Acting Chief of Animal Services Laura Culbertson who told me, "We all spent a lot of time conferencing about 
Buddy Boy. Two vets determined he exhibited some wolf characteristics and weren’t comfortable letting him leave the shelter. We didn’t feel comfortable overruling a veterinarian. I kept going back and saying why can't we, shouldn’t we, but I was shut down every time."
     Here's the strange part. Culbertson told me, "We had an agreement with Howling Woods Farm just in case the test came back positive."
     So, BCAS veterinarians were willing to let Buddy Boy go to 
Howling Woods Farm if he turned out, in fact, to be a wolf dog, but they were not willing to let him go there while they waited to learn the test results. This makes no sense at all.

     As I mentioned, this story has a similar quality to the case of 

Briar Rose, a puppy that BCAS veterinarians feared may have been exposed to rabies. In that incident, BCAS ignored offers from a rescue group to provide a required quarantine for Briar Rose. The shelter made no effort to confirm reports that the puppy had been vaccinated for rabies. And after just two days, they euthanized her, despite the shelter's four day hold policy. A rabies test after her death was negative.  
     Fortunately Buddy Boy's story has a happy ending. But his whole ordeal appears to have been unnecessary. 
     BCAS veterinarians not only saw wolf-like qualities where none existed. They also refused to send Buddy Boy to rescue where he would have been far more comfortable during the long wait for DNA results.
     Culbertson says Buddy Boy didn't show signs of kennel stress during his weeks at BCAS. Animal advocates who saw the dog disagree with that assessment. 
     I don't personally know whether he suffered from kennel stress or not. But at the very least, I'm sure that 38 days of shelter confinement were unpleasant for him. 
     There appears to be a pattern of poor choices that seem to be made out of fear rather than logic and best practices. As Baltimore County moves forward with so many great planned shelter program improvements, this must be addressed. 
     Baltimore County citizens deserve to have the utmost confidence in the judgement of BCAS veterinarians. Stories like Briar Rose and Buddy Boy are making that increasingly difficult.

Buddy Boy and his happy adopter

Buddy Boy in his new home

Disappointing news from the Maryland General Assembly...
Two important animal bills are dead

• First the Shelter Standards Act, HB 876

     HB 876 would have set standards for MD animal shelters but the bill never made it out of committee. The legislation has been assigned to summer study. 
     One of the bill's primary sponsors, Del. Christian Miele of MD's 8th Legislative District, had this to say about why this happened and about the way forward:
   "Despite the drafting of several sets of amendments after the bill hearing -- one of which stripped the bill entirely of references to eartipped and feral cats -- many of the members of the House Environment and Transportation Committee still did not feel comfortable moving forward with HB 876. 
     A handful of delegates on that committee frankly did not understand what the bill did, which is not altogether surprising given its scope and the use of unfamiliar terms. Fortunately, 
Del. Kumar Barve, chairman of the committee, saw value in our efforts and suggested we commit the bill to a work group for summer study. 
     This work group will consist of legislators, stakeholders in the animal shelter and rescue community, and representatives from the Maryland Department of Agriculture and Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. 
     The hope is that the members of this task force will work toward crafting a bill that will (1) establish a minimum set of standards for animal shelters across the state, and (2) address and work through the concerns raised this year by the Environment and Transportation Committee. The bill has been officially withdrawn."
     This is a disappointing outcome, but there is always next year to try again.

• The Extreme Weather Protection Bill, HB 153 

     House Bill 153 is also dead for this session. 
     Current MD law prohibits leaving a dog tethered outside in unsafe conditions. HB 153 would have made the law more specific. It would have prohibited someone from leaving a dog chained or tethered outdoors for longer than 15 minutes when the National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather warning, or for longer than an hour when the temperature dipped to 32 degrees or below, or when it rose to100 degrees or above. 
     HB 153 died after receiving an unfavorable report from the House Judiciary Committee.
     I spoke with Margie Brassil, Legislative Director for 
Del. Dana Stein, the bill's primary sponsor. She told me the Judiciary Committee's chair, (Joseph F. Vallario, Jr. of Prince Georges County), believed "current law was sufficient, even though we had strong testimony from animal control representatives" to the contrary.
     One of those representatives was Patty Quimby, 
Executive Director of Talbot Humane. Says Quimby, "...we do not have a chaining ordinance at the county level in Talbot County. When dogs are on tethers, as long as they are not “suffering” from hypo or hyperthermia, the owner fulfills the minimum standards of care, we cannot force these animals to be taken indoors to a safer area when temperatures are extreme. Yes, we know the suffering of these animals is often inevitable, and it is unbelievably frustrating. Sadly, the law doesn’t permit us to prevent it, only intervene once it has occurred. The inclusion of extreme weather events in the current chaining bill would allow our officers to do exactly what our community wants from us, prevent suffering and protect the animals of our state."
     MD Votes for Animals Executive Director Lisa Radov says specific temperatures are needed in the law, and when the bill failed, she was "shocked because it seemed so obvious."
     Expect to see this bill in some form again next session.

Now the latest Save 90 ads from Baltimore County businesses:
The Silberstein Insurance Group: Employee Benefits Consultants 
The Suburban House Restaurant
and 
Zibazz Day Spa

Here's the growing list of Baltimore County businesses that have advertised on Save 90...I hope you'll support them:
Chesapeake Contracting
Needles and Threads of Ruxton
Bare Necessities
Edie Brown Associates
The Mark Building Company
Studio of Makeup
BJS Insurance
Parsonizing Dry Cleaners
Graul's Market
Zibazz Hair Studio
Linens and Lingerie
Betsy Robinson's Bridal Collection
Nationwide Nissan
The Jewelry Lady
The Big Screen Store and The Sofa Store
Barre at the Quarry
The Lichter Group
The Little Shoebox
Window Consultants, Inc.
Matava Shoes

Gourmet Again

Four Corners Travel
Charles Levine Caterers
Len Stoler Auto Group
Eddie's of Roland Park on North Charles Street
Studio 111
Great Finds and Designs
Stone Mill Bakery
The Manor Shopping Center Merchants Association
The Silberstein Insurance Group: Employee Benefits Consultants 
The Suburban House Restaurant
Zibazz Day Spa and Makeup Art

Individual contributors
Jim and Bonnie Hunter
Marty Sitnick
Elmo Barranco
Eric Brennan

Funds raised so far: $7186.00

Recipients of Save 90 donations (Each has received a check for $750):
Animal Allies Rescue Foundation
Adopt a Homeless Animal
Feine Rescue Association
Tara's House
Bella's Bully Buddies
Homeward Trails
Recycled Love
BARCS

If you would like to donate to Save 90 or know of a business that would like to advertise on this blog, please contact me at debstone01@comcast.net
Thank you!

A WHOLE LOT GOIN' ON

          There's a lot of animal news to report! Before I dive in, I want to thank my latest Save 90 advertisers:
Great Finds and Designs
Stone Mill Bakery and
The Manor Shopping Center Merchants Association

     In addition, I've had several people ask if they can contribute as individuals to Save 90. I've begun accepting these contributions and will use them as I've been using my advertising revenue, donating all of it to reputable animal rescue groups and animal organizations. 
     I'm excited that Save 90's very first personal donation came from Baltimore Orioles announcer Jim Hunter and his wife, Bonnie. Here's a special message from the two of them.

Thank you so much to the Hunters! 
And to Animal Behavior Counselor and Trainer Marty Sitnick who has also donated personally to Save 90. 

A couple of quick items...
Baltimore County Shelter Oversight Commission
     I'm proud to say that Baltimore County Councilwoman 
Vicki Almond has chosen me to represent District 2 on the new Animal Shelter Oversight Commission. 
     I want to thank Councilwoman Almond for drafting the legislation to create the Commission, for her work in getting all six other Council members to co-sponsor the legislation, and for her faith in me. 
     I believe the Commission has important work to do, and I'm excited to be a part of it.
     We should know the full list of Commission members and the official Commission start-up date soon. Stay tuned.

An honor for Save 90 
    Save 90 is a finalist for one of the 2015 BlogPaws Nose to Nose Awards. My video on the volunteer program at the MD SPCA is one of four finalists in the Best Pet Blog Video category. 
     If you want to watch the video, here's the link: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGuOHM99yOA
And here's the link to the post the video appeared on, called "Volunteers Work":
http://save90.blogspot.com/2014/10/volunteers-work.html
     Award winners will be chosen May 30th. 

Now the news. Let's start with an update from 
Baltimore County.
     In my last post, I wrote about some wonderful changes slated  for Baltimore County's Animal Services. Among them are plans to 

• Implement a pilot Trap Neuter Return (TNR) program ( (If you want to learn more about TNR, I wrote extensively about it two posts prior to this one. Just scroll down to a post called, "TNR-Why It's Time Baltimore County Adopted It".)
• Create two new full-time positions at the Baltimore County Animal Shelter: 1) a volunteer coordinator and 2) a foster care coordinator, both of which will facilitate greater adoption opportunities for the shelter's animals
• Expand the county's low-cost spay and neuter program through satellite locations on the east and west sides of Baltimore County 
• Add a Facebook page to enhance the county's ability to network animals needing adoption.

     You can find the Facebook page under the name, "Baltimore County Animal Services." Kevin  Kamenetz's Chief of Staff Don Mohler says the page needs some tweaking. I would like to see more information about each pet and perhaps even videos of them.   But embracing social media is a great step by the county to increase visibility for the animals that need homes.
     To learn more about the county's other plans, I recently interviewed County Executive Kevin Kamenetz. Click on the video below (the video is less than 5 minutes long) so you can hear what he had to say. 

    This blog will continue to follow changes as they are implemented at the shelter and will keep you informed. 
     Another interesting development concerning Baltimore County Animal Control is a plan to work with Rescue Well which, among other things, operates a 24-hour hotline for callers to report neglected or abused animals, and to seek assistance with pet supplies, veterinary care, training, and re-homing. 
     This cooperation is simply awesome.

There's lots of news on the statewide level too as the 
General Assembly session continues in Annapolis

Some Bumps in the Road for the Animal Shelter Standards Act, HB 876

     HB 876 had its hearing in Annapolis on March 4th before the Environment and Transportation Committee and took some real hits in that hearing. 
     The bill is aimed at improving all shelters in Maryland by creating uniform standards and protocols for veterinary care, intake, euthanasia, etc.    
     Unfortunately, those against the bill have focused negatively on one particular part of its language. The wording involves cats that have been part of a Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) program and have had a tip of their ear removed to indicate they've been neutered or spayed.  
     The bill says, "If an ear-tipped cat...comes into an animal shelter's custody, the...shelter shall:
I) Immediately notify all registered animal rescue organizations specializing in ear-tipped cats
II) Return the cat to the field; or
III) Allow the cat to be adopted.
     Because of this wording, some are referring to HB 876 as a TNR bill. This is not accurate. There is nothing in the legislation that calls for communities to conduct TNR programs. 
     The language is merely an effort to address an issue that comes up at animal shelters when Animal Control brings in a stray that is ear tipped. The question is: what do you do with that animal if it has been TNR'd and previously returned to its colony, but now is at a shelter? The language is aimed at saving the lives of these cats.
     Representatives of the MD Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene were among those testifying at the bill's hearing and expressing opposition to the bill. This is because of concern that ear tipped cats might not be up to date on rabies vaccinations and therefore could carry rabies and should not be returned to the wild.
     Members of the American Bird Conservancy also testified against the bill, complaining that free-roaming cats kill many birds.
     Of course, the irony is that if there is no TNR, there will remain very large numbers of free-roaming cats that have not been "fixed" nor vaccinated for rabies at all. 
     Trap and Kill programs do virtually nothing to decrease their number. So, there will be no fewer cats killing birds, nor will any of the cats have been vaccinated for rabies even once. Opposition to the bill's language makes no sense at all.
     A more valid problem for HB 876 is its projected expense. The Dept. of Legislative Services estimates it will cost $142,900 to implement and enforce the bill. Needless to say, in this time of tight budgets, lawmakers are likely to balk at the cost. 
     As a result of these two issues (the ear-tipped cat language and the expense) one of the bill's drafters, Del. Christian Miele of MD's 8th Legislative District, predicts amendments will be needed to keep the bill alive as it heads to the Agriculture Subcommittee and then back to the full committee for a vote. 
        I call on MD legislators to understand that 1)this is not a TNR bill, and 2) many U.S. cities as well as Disney Land and 
Disney World conduct TNR and return ear tipped cats to the wild with no ill effects. 
     But I also call on those who worked so diligently to create this bill to be flexible and go along with some amendments. The bill may ultimately not be everything they want, but it would be a first step to build on. If supporters refuse any amendments and the bill dies as a result, they'll get nothing. This is politics. It's all about compromise.

Proposed Rabies Regulations-Yes, this involves TNR too  

     In my last post, I wrote about proposed amendments to MD's rabies regulations. To learn more, I recently interviewed 
Dr. Katherine Feldman, Maryland's Public Health Veterinarian at the MD Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH). 
      Dr. Feldman says an average of 19 cats were diagnosed with rabies in Maryland each year from 2000-2014. She explained DHMH proposed the changes to bring its regulations into alignment with a document published by the 
National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians.
    One of the proposed changes would modify the definition of an animal's custodian. A custodian would now include "any person harboring or providing care or sustenance for" an animal. 
     This sounds innocuous but it actually has far-reaching implications for those caring for colonies of free-roaming cats. These caretakers would be required to keep rabies vaccinations up to date for all of the colony's cats. Keep in mind that an average cat colony has between 5 and 20 cats, and some can include as many as two to three dozen (according to Rebecca Sass-Crews of the Community Cat Project). Those numbers give you a pretty clear idea of what a daunting task it would be to keep all rabies vaccinations up to date. 
    Many are concerned this vaccination requirement will have a negative impact on Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) programs in the MD. (Again, with TNR, free-roaming cats are trapped, neutered or spayed, vaccinated for rabies, and then returned to the same communities where they were found.)
    As many as a thousand comments came pouring in after DHMH proposed these new regulations. Among those expressing concern were representatives of the ASPCA. Here's an excerpt from that organization's letter to DHMH:
     "...The proposed regulations would subject free-roaming cat caretakers to the same vaccination requirements as pet owners. While we agree that revaccinating free-roaming cats is ideal, there are practical challenges associated with re-trapping these cats that would make this requirement an undue burden on colony caretakers and ultimately, would discourage TNR, and thus initial rabies vaccination."

     I agree with the ASPCA. If Maryland imposes these new requirements, as well as penalties for those who don't comply, there's a good chance caretakers will be reluctant to care for community cats or participate in TNR programs. 
     Without TNR, the cats won't be vaccinated for rabies even once. And communities will be forced to rely on Trap and Kill programs, which are inhumane and are shown not to reduce the number of community cats. 
     So, while DHMH has a goal of decreasing incidents of rabies, these regulations may, in fact, have the opposite effect. 
     I asked Dr. Feldman if other states have regulations like this. She said she did not know. But the ASPCA's letter says, "...we are not aware of any state that requires colony caretakers to revaccinate free-roaming cats."
     It will take time for the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to go through all the comments it received and determine whether to implement the proposed changes. I'll keep you posted. 


Now the latest Save 90 ads from Great Finds and Designs, Stone Mill Bakery and The Manor Merchants Association 

Here's the growing list of Save 90 advertisers. I hope you'll support them.
Chesapeake Contracting
Needles and Threads of Ruxton
Bare Necessities
Edie Brown Associates
The Mark Building Company
Studio of Makeup
BJS Insurance
Parsonizing Dry Cleaners
Graul's Market
Zibazz Hair Studio
Linens and Lingerie
Betsy Robinson's Bridal Collection
Nationwide Nissan
The Jewelry Lady
The Big Screen Store and The Sofa Store
Barre at the Quarry
The Lichter Group
The Little Shoebox
Window Consultants, Inc.

Matava Shoes

Gourmet Again

Four Corners Travel
Charles Levine Caterers
Len Stoler Auto Group
Eddie's of Roland Park on North Charles Street
Studio 111
Great Finds and Designs
Stone Mill Bakery
The Manor Shopping Center Merchants Association

Individual contributors
Jim and Bonnie Hunter
Marty Sitnick

Funds raised so far: $6526.00

Here's a message from BARCS, the latest recipient of a Save 90 donation.

Recipients of Save 90 donations (Each has received a check for $750)
Recipients of Save 90:
Animal Allies Rescue Foundation
Adopt a Homeless Animal
Feine Rescue Association
Tara's House
Bella's Bully Buddies
Homeward Trails
Recycled Love
BARCS

If you would like to donate to Save 90 or know of a business that would like to advertise on this blog, please contact me at debstone01@comcast.net
Thank you!

Baltimore County Takes a Giant Step Forward-Thank You to our County Executive!

     Well, what can I say? After months of calling for change at the Baltimore County Animal Shelter, the beginnings of change are now at our doorstep. Baltimore County has announced plans to alter its animal services in several very important ways. The county will

• Implement a pilot TNR program (see my previous post to learn all about TNR)
• Create two new full-time positions at the Baltimore County Animal Shelter: 1) a volunteer coordinator and 2) a foster care coordinator, both of which will facilitate greater adoption opportunities
• Expand low-cost spay and neuter programs through satellite locations on the east and west sides of the county this spring and summer

     It turns out that over the past months, County Executive Kevin Kamenetz has had an ongoing dialogue with Jen Brause, the Executive Director of the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS).  

     I've long seen Jen as a dedicated, pragmatic and knowledgeable shelter administrator who has created remarkable life-saving progress at BARCS. Clearly, Kamenetz recognized those qualities as well. I cannot commend him enough for reaching out to her. And I thank Jen for offering her time and expertise to the county.

     All of the new shelter plans have been announced as the county moves toward the opening of its new shelter facility, which is under construction and is scheduled to open this fall. 

     On another front, the County Council recently approved a bill that will create a Commission to look into shelter issues and make recommendations. The members of that Commission should be announced soon.

     So, the months ahead will be very busy and there's a lot of work to be done. There are many (including me) who would like to see Baltimore County replicate the actions of Baltimore City which created a public/private partnership with BARCS, allowing it to become a non-profit organization. The same kind of partnership would allow the Baltimore County Animal Shelter greater autonomy to implement change. Perhaps that may come down the road. 

     For now, let's give credit where credit is due. It's not easy to take a first step in a new direction. I hope all who've been clamoring for change will recognize the courage and vision this has taken and will send words of support to County Executive Kamenetz.

     And don't forget the dedicated county employees who work at the Baltimore County Animal Shelter. They've had to listen as criticism about the shelter swirled around them over the past months. They must be feeling a little anxious as the ground shifts beneath their feet. They work with the shelter's animals every day, and no doubt want what is best for them, as we all do. Let's give them encouragement. 

     I expect to interview County Executive Kamenetz soon and will include that taped interview on this blog. I hope all my readers will applaud him and give him support as he works for better outcomes for all of our county's animals.  

TNR-It's Time That Baltimore County Adopted It

For starters, I want to thank my latest advertisers on Save 90:
The Len Stoler Auto Group
Eddie's of Roland Park on North Charles Street
and 
Studio 111.
You'll find their ads below the text of this post as well as a tally of funds raised so far and a thank you from the latest group to receive a $750 check from Save 90.

A big thank you as well to Mark Brodinsky who profiled me and Save 90 in his blog called The Sunday Series. Here's the link if you want to check it out. 
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-58-with-mark-brodinsky/

Before we talk TNR, here's the news...two items on the statewide level. 

Shelter Standards Bill
     13 members of the Md House of Delegates have signed on to The Animal Shelter Standards Act of 2015 (HB 876) which has been introduced in Annapolis in an effort to create some standardization for the way shelters are run in Maryland.
Here's a summary: 
"Requiring an animal shelter to develop and adhere to a specified written veterinary care protocol; stating specified requirements for the written veterinary protocol; requiring an animal shelter to meet specified veterinary care requirements; requiring an animal shelter to maintain specified holding periods; stating specified criteria for an animal shelter to seize, impound, or otherwise take custody of a specified cat; requiring an animal shelter to take specified steps to determine the identity of an animal in its custody; etc."
     There's great excitement over the bill and the concept of getting some uniformity in the way shelters operate. But not everyone feels the bill's wording is perfect. 
     Jen Brause, the Executive Director of BARCS in Baltimore was part of a meeting held to work on the language of the bill. She says, "I think the intent of the bill is very good and animal shelters should be operating under best practices in order to save as many lives as possible. The most recent version of the bill is an improvement over the original version but there are still minor amendments that need to be made in order for me to support the bill."
     We'll be following the progress of HB 876. Its hearing date is Wednesday March 4th at 1PM in Annapolis. 

Statewide Rabies Regulations
     Here's an item of great concern relating to the subject of today's post, Trap Neuter Return (TNR). The Maryland Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene has proposed new statewide regulations concerning rabies that, among other things, will require feral cat caretakers to vaccinate cats and provide repeat vaccinations. 
     Many, including the ASPCA are very concerned about these proposed rules and the burden they will place on caretakers. Some say this will strengthen local laws against TNR. 
     There will surely be efforts to encourage revisions during a comment period for the proposed regulations. I'll have more on this in the coming weeks.

And now the subject of today's post: 
Trap Neuter Return (TNR)-It's Time That Baltimore County Adopted It
     What do you do with tens of millions of cats? That's how many cats the ASPCA estimates are free-roaming in the United States. It's a daunting number. These cats are a mixture of truly feral or wild cats, abandoned or lost animals, and their offspring.
     For decades, the answer to the problem in many communities (including Baltimore County) has been to trap unwanted cats and kill them. Yet the number of these cats continues to grow. 

A Different Solution-Trap Neuter Return 
     Trap Neuter Return or TNR is a relatively new way of managing the free-roaming cat population that is gaining in use and popularity. It involves trapping cats, spaying or neutering them, vaccinating them and then returning them to the place where they were found. 
     When 90-100% of cats in a given colony are spayed or neutered, that effectively stops reproduction and stabilizes the colony's numbers.
     According to Wikipedia, TNR came into use in the U.S. in the late 60's. 
     Today it's embraced as an effective solution in many countries and in cities all over the United States, including Baltimore City, Washington D.C., N.Y., Boston, Oklahoma City, Houston, San Antonio, Beverly Hills, San Francisco...it’s even done at Disney Land and Disney World!
     
One place that refuses to do TNR is Baltimore County. 
    Despite the growing number of cities turning to 
Trap Neuter Return, our Baltimore County government remains opposed to TNR and refuses to allow it. Baltimore County continues to rely on Trap and Kill. And the number of cats killed at the Baltimore County Animal Shelter (BCAS) reflects that philosophy.
     In 2013, 2800 cats were impounded at BCAS. Of that number, 1947 or 69.6% (almost 70%!) were euthanized. Are there fewer cats roaming our community? No. 
     Why? There's a very good reason. Cats congregate in colonies, usually around shelter and a food source. When Animal Control agents trap and remove some members of a cat colony, this creates what's known as the "Vacuum Effect". That means other cats will move in to fill the vacuum in the colony and take advantage of the food source that's there. Then reproduction starts all over again. 
     So, a growing number of communities are turning to TNR. It's not only humane; many (including the ASPCA and many other animal organizations) believe it's the only method of controlling cat populations that works.
        I'll talk more about Baltimore County's position on TNR in just a few moments. But first let's talk about a TNR program in use in Baltimore City. 
   
The Community Cat Project 
    There are many groups performing TNR in Baltimore City. One of them is the Community Cat Project, based out of the 
Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS). 
     BARCS received a one million dollar grant for the program from Best Friends Animal Society and PetSmart Charities. Watching the Community Cat Project in action is pretty amazing. Take a look.

     In case you didn't watch the video, one point bears repeating. The Community Cat Project has had a real impact on the number of stray cats coming into the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) with an accompanying 34% decrease in cat euthanasia. 
     BARCS's Executive Director Jen Brause says, "We know that program [has] prevented thousands and thousands of litters." 
     In addition to the Community Cat Project at BARCS, 
Best Friends Animal Society and PetSmart Charities are running similar programs in 5 other cities as well. Says Barbara Williamson of Best Friends Animal Society, "By sterilizing and vaccinating thousands of cats annually in communities across the country, we are reducing shelter intake and shelter killing of cats."
     According to Ashley Sheridan, the SPCA's Spay/Neuter Program Manager, "TNR is the most effective and humane way to reduce our community cat population." 
     In addition, she points out, the health of the overall cat colony is improved because the cats are examined by a vet and vaccinated.
     And here's one more important point. The Community Cat Project and other TNR programs recognize the valid concern of homeowners who want to keep cats off their property, so they provide solutions. There are all kinds of products that work including motion activated sprinklers, and an ultrasonic, battery-operated cat repellent with a motion detector. 

 So why is Baltimore County so opposed to TNR?
     I'd like to answer that question, but I can't. That's because County officials say they've been instructed by lawyers to say nothing about the county's animal shelter while a lawsuit filed against the shelter is pending. I don't understand why they're prohibited from explaining a county policy.
      
Not only is Baltimore County against TNR, but officials regularly spread false information about it. 
     It's difficult to know whether county officials are uneducated or misinformed, or whether they simply want to turn county residents against TNR by spreading false information. They regularly say untrue things about it and describe it as a terrible idea proposed by a small (read:wacky) group of animal advocates. 
     Here's just one example. When the Baltimore County Council recently introduced a bill to create a Commission to look into the shelter, Ellen Kobler, a spokeswoman for 
County Executive Kevin Kamenetz was quoted in the Capitol Gazette as saying the bill appeared to be "an overreaction to a small group of advocates who are part of a national movement demanding that the county and all public shelters release wild, feral cats into our neighborhoods."
     This makes it sound as though TNR supporters are in favor of finding feral cats and dumping them around the county. The cats, of course, are already there.
     At the very least, it completely misses the long view. By placing a neutered cat back in the colony where it was found, you prevent a cat capable of reproducing from taking its place and creating more cats. The county's present policy is never going to get us anywhere.
     On the C4 show on WBAL, County Executive Kamenetz recently said, "There's a very small group of advocates...and they believe...cats should be trapped, neutered, and released back into the wild and our health officer says those stray cats...carry diseases." This ignores the fact that the cats go back into the colony vetted and vaccinated.
     So here are the facts: 
• Trap and Kill does not reduce the number of free-roaming cats so the county's program is ineffective.  
• TNR is not only humane but is the only method of population control shown to stabilize the number of cats in a colony. 
• If it's disease that concerns you, TNR'd cats are vetted and vaccinated, and therefore, healthier.
     It would appear that all of the County's arguments fall flat.
Instead of railing against Trap Neuter Return as some extreme idea, endorsed by only "a small group of advocates", our county officials should acknowledge what is actually true: that TNR is endorsed by municipalities all over the country (not to mention the Disney properties.) 
     Baltimore County should admit that Trap and Kill doesn't work and that killing close to 70% of cats in our Baltimore County Animal Shelter is a disgrace. 
     Our government should stop spreading fear through misinformation, and embrace TNR as an effective and humane alternative.
     
"Ideas...are the natural born enemy of the way things are."
     I heard that expression on a GE commercial recently. It certainly resonates here. It's disappointing because I want my 
Baltimore County government to welcome ideas. Ideas move us forward. 
      By staying stuck in outdated Trap and Kill efforts, 
Baltimore County is not only killing countless cats needlessly, it's endorsing an effort that doesn't even work.

Now the newest Save 90 ads from the 
Len Stoler Auto Group
Eddie's of Roland Park on N. Charles St.
and
Studio 111 

The latest rescue group to receive a $750 check from Save 90 is Recycled Love. Here's a message from that group.

And now a tally of the funds raised so far by Save 90.
$5596.00 
Thank you to all Save 90 advertisers!

Here's the growing list of Save 90 advertisers. I hope you'll support them.
Chesapeake Contracting
Needles and Threads of Ruxton
Bare Necessities
Edie Brown Associates
The Mark Building Company
Studio of Makeup
BJS Insurance
Parsonizing Dry Cleaners
Graul's Market
Zibazz Hair Studio
Linens and Lingerie
Betsy Robinson's Bridal Collection
Nationwide Nissan
The Jewelry Lady
The Big Screen Store and The Sofa Store
Barre at the Quarry
The Lichter Group
The Little Shoebox
Window Consultants, Inc.

Matava Shoes

Gourmet Again

Four Corners Travel
Charles Levine Caterers
Len Stoler Auto Group
Eddie's of Roland Park on North Charles Street
Studio 111

Recipients of Save 90:
Animal Allies Rescue Foundation
Adopt a Homeless Animal
Feine Rescue Association
Tara's House
Bella's Bully Buddies
Homeward Trails
Recycled Love









     
     

   

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

Consider this a Save 90 mini post. Click on the video below to see how many people celebrated Valentines Day at the Baltimore Humane Society...taking vows of forever friendship with their pets.

Wishing you lots of love on Valentines Day from the pets in your life!

ENRICHMENT

New Save 90 Ads:
     Before we dive in to this post, I want to thank Save 90's latest Baltimore County advertisers:
Gourmet Again,
Four Corners Travel and
Charles Levine Caterers
Their ads will appear below the text of this post along with the latest tally of money raised through ads so far. 
If you know a Baltimore County business owner who would like to buy an "ad" on Save 90, please have them email me at debstone01@comcast.net.

Big News. Success!
     We've finally taken the first step toward change at the  
Baltimore County Animal Shelter.
     The Baltimore County Council last night 
(Monday, Feb. 2, 2014) passed Bill 2-15.
Councilwoman Vicki Almond drafted the legislation and all 6 of her fellow Council members signed on as co-sponsors. The bill will create an Animal Services Advisory Commission to look into the 
Baltimore County Animal Shelter and make recommendations.
     Each Council member will appoint one member to the Commission. Four more will be appointed by 
County Executive Kevin Kamenetz. 
     There was some concern expressed by animal advocates over an amendment to the bill. It will require Commission members to give a 4- hour notice in order to visit non-public areas of the shelter. 
     According to Steve Heinl, Councilwoman Vicki Almond's legislative aide, this was done as a compromise after the County Administration requested a 48-hour notice.
     Heinl says the 4 hour compromise seemed reasonable..."that Council members agreed that it is the duty of the Commission to observe and make recommendations, not be inspectors who implement penalties or fines on the shelter." 
     While I believe there should be complete transparency, and I don't understand why there isn't, I'm not overly worried about the four hour notice requirement. I feel that the issues the Commission should be most concerned with deal with the big picture of shelter philosophy and practices. I don't believe the four hour advance notice requirement will diminish what the Commission can accomplish.
    I spoke at the Council meeting to thank the Council for taking this action. And afterward I interviewed 4 County Council members about why they wanted to create the Commission and what they hope it will accomplish. Here's what they had to say.

More news-Ravens player Terrence Cody indicted
     Baltimore Ravens nose tackle Terrence Cody has been indicted for animal abuse of his dog and an alligator. Cody, who was released by the Ravens just before the indictment was announced, turned himself in and posted $10,000 bail. 
     An investigation started after Cody took his dog (a bull mastiff) to a veterinarian for treatment and the dog later died.
     According to the Baltimore Sun, Cody is facing a total of 15 criminal charges including two felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty. 
     
      
Now, let's talk about enrichment.
    When you hear the word, "enrich," you think of making something better. That's exactly what it means for shelter animals. 
     Enrichment in a shelter setting is about supplying dogs and cats with mental stimulation, social interaction and exercise to help alleviate some of the stress of the shelter environment.  
     Enrichment improves animals' mental health and keeps them calmer and happier. This naturally makes them more adoptable. 

     Anyone who's ever been in a shelter can imagine how stressful it is for animals. Shelter pets find themselves in a place where nothing and no one is familiar. They're confined, behind bars, with lots of loud barking and other unfamiliar noises. 
     Without enrichment, animals that stay for any length of time face a real danger of deterioration in physical and mental health. They may exhibit all kinds of negative behaviors. 
     According to the SPCA of Texas, dogs might "spin in circles, jump, bark frequently and hysterically, chew on kennel bars or on their own bodies. Cats may over-groom, over- or under-eat, sleep around the clock, sleep in their litter boxes, hide under bedding or resist leaving their cubby hole. In serious cases, both cats and dogs may become aggressive, making them unsuitable for adoption. In addition, stressed animals are more likely to get sick."
     Thats why enrichment is so important. 
     Here's a look at some of the enrichment activities happening at the Baltimore Humane Society, the MD SPCA, and BARCS in Baltimore City. 

     There was a time, not too long ago, when enrichment was completely off the radar for the Baltimore County Animal Shelter (BCAS). There have been improvements. 
     For one thing, when I visited recently I saw containers of treats outside some of the dogs' cages, so that people walking by could give treats to the dogs.
     Acting Chief of Animal Services Laura Culbertson says all dogs are walked each day by staff members and all dogs get a toy each night.
     Cats also get some enrichment. One of the volunteers brought in scratch posts to attach to the cat cages.

     As for the dogs, this past summer, Culbertson arranged for the county to renovate a small cottage on the shelter property so it could be used for socialization time. There's a small outdoor fenced area there and a couple of rooms inside.

     Culbertson says some dogs are deemed eligible for socialization and approximately 10 volunteers at the shelter are allowed to walk them and take them to the cottage. 
     Here's a look at one of the volunteers, Paul Johnson, and the time he recently spent at BCAS with a dog named Levi. 

    I applaud Laura Culbertson for making efforts to create enrichment opportunities at BCAS. Things at the shelter have improved under her leadership.
     Unfortunately it appears changes at the shelter are implemented in a piecemeal fashion when what is needed is a large-scale change in philosophy and practice. 
     The shelter needs a bigger volunteer force with broad responsibilities like BARCS (400 volunteers) and the MD SPCA (800 volunteers). BCAS has only about 20 volunteers with volunteer hours limited to 3-5 P.M. weekdays (not convenient for those who work 9-5) and 11 A.M.-1 P.M. on weekends. 
     With such small windows of time available, one has to wonder how many of the dogs get quality socialization time.
     In addition, one volunteer recently went to BCAS and found only 3 dogs with the required slip for socialization. 
     Culbertson says things will be better when the new 6 million dollar shelter building is completed later this year. A new building will bring great improvements to the facility. But without broad changes (a bigger volunteer force, more coordination with rescues and a strong foster program), it will simply become a much nicer place for 2500 animals a year to die.
         
Now let's talk ads.
Here are the latest Save 90 ads from Andy Hoffman at 
Gourmet Again, Barbara Rock at Four Corners Travel, and 
Charles Levine of Charles Levine Caterers. 

Here's the growing list of Save 90 advertisers. I hope you'll support them.
Chesapeake Contracting
Needles and Threads of Ruxton
Bare Necessities
Edie Brown Associates
The Mark Building Company
Studio of Makeup
BJS Insurance
Parsonizing Dry Cleaners
Graul's Market
Zibazz Hair Studio
Linens and Lingerie
Betsy Robinson's Bridal Collection
Nationwide Nissan
The Jewelry Lady
The Big Screen Store and The Sofa Store
Barre at the Quarry
The Lichter Group
The Little Shoebox
Window Consultants, Inc.

Matava Shoes

Gourmet Again

Four Corners Travel
Charles Levine Caterers

     As you know, all money raised from Save 90 ads goes to area animal rescue groups. Here's a message from the latest rescue group to receive a $750 check from Save 90, Homeward Trails.

So far Save 90 has raised $4860! 

The following rescues have each received a $750 check from Save 90:
Animal Allies Rescue Foundation
Adopt A Homeless Animal
Feline Rescue Association 
Tara's House
Bella's Bully Buddies
Homeward Trails 

Save 90 will be ready to write its next check very soon!