Lotsa News and Project Mickey!

     As usual, there's a lot to report. But before we get started I want to extend a big thanks you to Save 90's newest advertisers:

Octavia Boutique
and
Andy's Animals

You'll find their ads below the text of this post as well as a complete lists of Save 90 advertisers, personal contributors, and recipients of Save 90.

Let's get started.

The Animal Services Oversight Commission is ready to roll.

     Finally! All is in place for the Commission to begin its work. Although 4th District Councilman Julian Jones has not made his appointment to the Commission, 2nd District Councilwoman Vicki Almond says she wanted things to get up and running by June 1st. So, the Commission will go ahead and hold its first meeting. That should happen soon.

     1st District Councilman Tom Quirk made the most recent Commission appointment, choosing Darla Feeheley for the post. Feelehey's appointment brought a shower of praise on Facebook...she's being hailed as a great choice.

     County Executive Kevin Kamenetz has announced his appointments as well. Kamenetz was required to make two at large appointments, one veterinarian appointment, and one representative of a humane organization or animal shelter. Here are his choices:

• Two at large appointments: Leslie Kaminski (Currently serves on the Baltimore County Animal Control Board) and James P. O'Neill (former Director of Corrections in Baltimore County)
• Veterinarian: Dr. Jocelyn Spiga (currently a vet at the Baltimore County Animal Shelter)
• Animal Shelter Representative: Kevin Reed (Reed is the Baltimore County Deputy Director for Finance and Administration in Health and Human Services with direct responsibility for the fiscal management of the shelter) 

     Some people have posted negatively about the 
County Executive's appointments on Facebook. Surely this stems from past distrust between the Administration and animal advocates, but Save 90 urges everyone to put aside that cynicism and negativity. 
     The Administration's mindset concerning the shelter has changed in so many great ways. Don't presume that people who work for the County will join the Commission with negative goals. Let's give the Commission a chance to do its work. 

Really Good Stuff 

     It would be difficult to overstate the number of wonderful comments coming out of the Baltimore County Animal Shelter (BCAS) these days. All indications are that its new leader, 
Dr. Melissa Jones, is dedicated to positive change with the welfare of the animals her paramount concern. 
These are just a few of the good things happening at BCAS: 

• As cats like this one flood into area shelters during kitten season, BCAS is joining the Baltimore Animal Welfare Alliance (BAWA) in offering free cat adoptions during the month of June. The MD SPCA, BARCS, and the Baltimore Humane Society (members of BAWA) are leading what is known as the Baltimore 500. The aim is to save the lives of 500 cats. The decision to participate in BAWA events is a leap forward for BCAS. 

• BCAS is participating in an offsite adoption event! To kick off the Baltimore 500, BCAS is taking part in an adoption event at the Cat Hospital at Towson (CHAT) this Saturday, June 6th from 11 AM-2PM.
• The shelter is connecting itself to the greater animal community by reaching out to ask for donations. Generous volunteers have provided many donations including milk replacer for kittens, thunder shirts, temporary kitty litter boxes, etc. 
• BCAS's Memorial Day half-price adoption event (from May 17-25) was highly successful. 44 animals were adopted (23 cats and 21 dogs). This is a substantial increase over last year's event when 28 pets were adopted.

     Here's what seems to be most evident in the stories we're hearing and in what we see when we visit the 

Baltimore County Animal Shelter these days. There appears to be a growing shift, moving the shelter toward a more forward-thinking operation...one that embraces modern day procedures and works to save as many lives as possible. 

     There's still a great deal of work to be done but those in charge seem excited to do that work. 

     We've come light years in less than 12 months. It feels like everything is moving in the right direction.

     BCAS continues to allow me to shoot videos of the animals for the Baltimore County Animal Services Facebook page. Here's a short video about Paeley, one of the great dogs I met on a recent visit. 

     By the way, Shelter Supervisor Cat Kelly, (who you saw in that video) gets rave reviews. She spent a recent day off driving two kittens to Virginia for rescue. How awesome is that?

Project Mickey-A Program With Big Goals for Little People
     Many people in our area work tirelessly to improve the lives of animals. Every once in a while, their efforts result in programs that provide answers in new and unique ways. 
     So it was with Kate Callahan of an animal welfare organization called Jasmine's House. Kate had heard many news stories about animal abuse perpetrated by kids and teens, and wanted to find a way to address the problem at its root.
     She talked with Heidi Trasatti, a psychologist in the Baltimore City School system. Heidi devised a curriculum, now called 
Project Mickey, which she takes into kindergarten, 4th, and 5th grade Baltimore classrooms. Through Project Mickey, she nurtures positive attitudes toward animals by teaching children about pets, their needs, and their feelings. 
    Save 90 recently visited a kindergarten Project Mickey lesson at Franklin Square Elementary. What happened there was heartwarming. Check it out in this brief video and see for yourself! 

     Project Mickey was named for a malnourished 8-week-old puppy named Mickey, taken in by BARCS after he was thrown from a car window. Sadly, he later died. But his spirit lives on through Project Mickey, and the lessons it shares with Baltimore children.

Now, the latest Save 90 ads from Octavia Boutique and 

The complete list of Save 90 advertisers ( Save 90 hopes 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

Steven Caplan, Esq.

Anne George (Bark Busters)

Greetings and Readings

Mary Jane Buettner, Author

About Faces

Stevenson Village Veterinary Hospital

Cavalier Realty
Octavia Boutique
Andy's Animals

Individual Contributors to Save 90:

Jim and Bonnie Hunter

Marty Sitnick

Elmo Barranco

Eric Brennan
Amy Elias

Recipients of Save 90:

Animal Allies Rescue Foundation

Adopt a Homeless Animal

Feline Rescue Association

Tara's House

Bella's Bully Buddies

Homeward Trails

Recycled Love

BARCS

Baltimore Humane Society

Rescue Well

If you know of a business that would like to buy an ad or an individual who would like to donate to Save 90, please ask them to email me at debstone01@comcast.net

Thank you!