Emergency! Full Shelter

     This is an unexpected post because of the current difficult situation at The Baltimore County Animal Shelter (BCAS). The shelter is beyond full. 
     This is not an uncommon occurrence, since BCAS is the county's open admission shelter. That means it must accept every animal that comes through the door whether it's an owner surrender or is brought in as a stray by Animal Control.
     When kennels are full, animals must be euthanized to make space. Some animals have reportedly already been put down this week.
     Animal overpopulation is not the fault of the shelter. Not only that, but the people in charge there (including the new Chief of Animal Services, Dr. Melissa Jones) appear to care deeply about the animals and have been scrambling to find ways to get animals out alive to make room for more. 
     This is a difficult task, and it's an issue that needs to be taken up by the Animal Services Oversight Commission which was created by the Baltimore County Council.
     Unfortunately, the Commission has not had its first meeting because county officials have yet to work out the logistics for it to happen. This needs to be resolved ASAP. 
     In the meantime, a number of animal advocates have proposed ideas to begin to ease the overcrowding crisis, and they seem to have merit. Here are a few that make a lot of sense. 

1.) Begin requiring those surrendering their pets to make an appointment to do so. In cases where the person surrendering the animal is in crisis, this wait period obviously could be waived. But in many cases, people can and will wait at least a few days. 
       This is something that's done by many shelters for two reasons. It allows them to plan for some of their intake, and sometimes it even results in owners deciding they can keep their pets after all. That's because the shelter is able to offer them access to services that would help them keep their pet.

2.) One of those services would be low or no cost veterinary care.      The shelter would need to develop a network of veterinarians who could offer services at low or no cost. This would be a tremendous help to those who can't afford veterinary care, and might alleviate the need for them to surrender their pet.

3.) Another needed service is behavioral training as many people give up their animals because of behavioral problems. If the shelter had arrangements with behavioral trainers, that would be another service it could offer to pet owners. In fact, what an amazing thing it would be to offer low cost obedience classes right at the shelter. I know there are trainers in this area who would be willing to be a part of that effort. 

3.) Begin a training program for animals when they arrive in the shelter. Well-behaved pets are much more adoptable, and are less likely to cause problems once they are adopted that could land them back in the shelter. There are trainers in our area who will surely be willing to offer training to shelter staff and/or volunteers in how to do some basic obedience work. 

4.) Start a pet food bank with donations from the public. Save 90 would be willing to make a donation to get it started. If a family is in financial crisis and cannot afford to feed their pet, this could help them avoid the need to give it up.

5.) Put out press releases. I think this goes against the county's way of doing things because authorities don't want to seem like they don't have everything under control. But the animal overpopulation problem is not under anyone's immediate control. And when it gets out of hand, there's no shame in asking for help. Baltimore County should put out a press release, asking the media to publicize the overcrowding problem so that the public can respond by coming to adopt/foster animals. This is not a position of weakness. It's a position of strength to ask for help when it's needed. Many people would want to help, but can't if they don't know there's a problem.

6.) Offer reduced rates for adoptions. This could be part of the press release and could be publicized along with an appeal for adopters and fosters. Reduced fees worked very well at the shelter over the Memorial Day holiday.

     Save 90 hopes that shelter administrators will consider these options as a way to ease the current crisis. I know Dr. Jones is trying to save every life possible and that this is a particularly stressful time. I hope she knows she's not alone in feeling the pain and that there are many who want to help in any way they can.

Please scroll down to see the most recent Save 90 post with the latest news and a report on an amazing program called Project Mickey.

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!

     

How Other Shelters Do It

     Before we get into this post, I want to extend a big thank you to the latest Save 90 advertisers:
About Faces
Stevenson Village Veterinary Hospital
and
Cavalier Realty Company
     You'll find their ads below the text of this post, along with a complete list of Save 90 advertisers, a list of personal donors, and a thank you message from Rescue Well (the latest group to receive a check from Save 90).

Let's get started with a few quick items
Reduced Rates at BCAS for the Memorial Day Holiday
     The Baltimore County Animal Shelter has two great offers in honor of the 2015 Memorial Day holiday (May 17-May25):
1) Adoption and spay/neuter fees will be waived for U.S. veterans who are Baltimore County residents. (This offer will also be available during the Veterans Day holiday).
2) Adoption and spay/neuter fees will be cut in half for all others who come to the shelter. Adoption fees will be just $25 for cats and $32.50 for dogs. Adopted animals will be spayed or neutered, vaccinated against rabies and other diseases, licensed and micro-chipped at no additional cost. 
     The same low fees ($25 for cats and $32.50 for dogs) will be offered to anyone who makes an appointment during this time period to have an existing pet spayed or neutered at the shelter. And the shelter will provide a license, rabies shot, and a microchip at no additional cost.
     Sounds like a perfect time to adopt a pet or spay/neuter the pets you already have! 

Good vibes
     As you may know from the last Save 90 post, the county has not provided much information about its new shelter director,
Chief of Animal Services, Dr. Melissa Jones. This has been frustrating and discouraging. 
     Still, Save 90 has heard a number of positive things about 
Dr. Jones. Many believe she will be a force for change and will move the shelter forward. 
     Save 90 looks forward to working with her and seeing what unfolds over the coming months.

Two Council members still have not made their appointments to the Animal Services Advisory Commission
     This is really disappointing. First District County Councilman Tom Quirk and Fourth District Councilman Julian Jones have still not made their appointments, and the Commission cannot begin its work until they do.
     All five other Council members have announced their appointments to the Commission. and County Executive 
Kevin Kamenetz says he has chosen his four appointments and will make them public as soon as all Council members have announced theirs.
     Clearly Council members have to deal with many issues. The animal shelter is just one of them. But it's been over three months since the Council approved the bill creating the Commission. 
     It's time for this to happen.

Shelters that Have "All That" Going On
     Save 90 recently toured two nearby shelters that are accomplishing great things: the Washington Humane Society in our nation's capital and the Fairfax County Animal Shelter in Virginia. 
     Included on this tour were two area animal advocates and 
Third District Baltimore County Councilman Wade Kach, who is passionate about animal welfare issues. 
     To say we were all blown away by what we saw would be an understatement.
     Just take a look at this short video to see what we found. 

     The  Fairfax County Animal Shelter (FCAS) is run by the Fairfax County Police Dept. but also benefits from a non-profit organization dedicated to providing financial support. 
     The shelter takes in approximately 5 thousand animals a year. Interestingly, it acts as both a shelter as well as a rescue to other shelters. Shelters that it designates as Strategic Transfer Partners are able to send some of their animals to FCAS. This is especially helpful for shelters like those in Prince Georges County where pit bull adoption is prohibited. FCAS took in over 500 animals from its Strategic Transfer Partners last year.
     FCAS is dedicated to working with animals as individuals. It does not list dog breeds on the cards outside its kennels. This makes sense when you think about it, because genetic testing is the only sure way to know what an animal is. And with such a stigma attached to certain breeds like pit bulls, adopters can form their own opinions based on the dog itself...not its suspected breed. 
     FCAS is also committed to Trap Neuter Return (TNR). TNR is an alternative to Trap and Kill, and is increasingly used in many communities around the U.S. to control the number of free-roaming cats. The cats are spayed or neutered, vaccinated and returned to the communities where they were found. 
     Since 2008, Fairfax County has TNR'd about 7 thousand cats. According to Auerbach, this has made a huge difference. She says, "We have a downward trajectory on cat intake, an upward trajectory on cat adoptions, and a downward trajectory on cat euthanasia, which are all trends we want to keep seeing."
     (If you want to learn more about TNR, check out my Save 90 post at this link:   http://save90.blogspot.com/2015/02/tnr-its-time-that-baltimore-county.html)
     With a 96% live release rate, an average length of stay of only two weeks, a staff of just 25 augmented by 300 highly skilled volunteers, and an elaborate foster program that includes weekend fostering and even one hour fostering, Fairfax County's shelter is a gem. 

The Washington Humane Society
     The Washington Humane Society is also a great operation.  Unlike Fairfax County's shelter, it's not a government-run agency, but a private 501 c 3 organization which gets some of its funding from the D.C. government. This arrangement is known as a public/private partnership (BARCS in Baltimore City is run the same way).
      The Humane Society not only runs the shelter, it's also in charge of Animal Control, and employs 8 Animal Control Officers as well as 4 Humane Law Enforcement Officers. The latter deal with cases of animal fighting and abuse. 
     Says Chief Operating Officer, Stephanie Shain, "These officers protect animals from people. The Animal Control Officers protect people from animals."
      The Humane Society's main facility is on 
New York Ave. but it also has an additional small adoption center and a spay/neuter facility. Its intake is large...about 10 thousand animals a year. (That's just over twice as many animals as those that come in to Baltimore County's shelter, but not quite as many as the 12 thousand BARCS takes in annually in Baltimore City.) 
      The Humane Society is in an aging facility and its administrators have been working on plans to build a new shelter for the last 7 years. They recently bought property in SE D.C., are interviewing architects and expect to raise (Are you ready for this?) 40-45 million dollars for the project.
     To give you an idea of just how incredible that number is, the new animal shelter being built by Baltimore County will cost 6 million dollars.
    Like Fairfax County, Shain says the Humane Society has about 300 very active volunteers (although there are 1400 volunteers in all). 
     Here are some of the unusual and forward-thinking programs at the Humane Society:
     About a year ago, staff began requesting appointments for those who want to surrender a pet. Many shelters are beginning to do this. The reason? It can lead to some owners deciding to keep their pets. Sometimes shelter staff is able to inform pet owners about assistance they didn't know was available, or even convince a pet owner to keep the animal for just a few more days if the shelter is particularly full.

•      When pet owners arrive, a staff members meets with them in private and talks with them in-depth about the pet. Even if an owner must surrender an animal, Shain says, "The more we know, the better position we are in to understand what the animal truly needs to thrive.  It just makes for a better process all around, so people aren’t having the conversation over a counter in front of other people."
•      All dogs at the shelter are now going to be fed out of food puzzles...no more bowls. This is an enrichment technique that prolongs meals and makes them challenging and fun.
•      The shelter sees its mission as being a community service organization and is looking for ways to provide more services to pet owners in poor areas where there are few or no pet stores or veterinarians. For example, the Humane Society recently sponsored a free vaccination day in one community and signed up citizens for spay and neuter services. 

   The Humane Society was not always so forward-thinking or successful. About 8 years ago, when a new CEO, Lisa LaFontaine, took over, the shelter had an 85% euthanasia rate. 

     Under LaFontaine's leadership, within three years, that number was down to 50%. Today it is approximately 15%.
     Shain attributes this drop largely to three things:

• An expansion of TNR
• Not making decisions about dogs based on their breed 

and 

• Expanded cooperation with rescues

     Perhaps the most amazing thing about the 
Washington Humane Society is the open-minded mentality that permeates it. It's a place where reinvention is an ongoing process.
     Says Shain, "The mindset that's been helpful here is to constantly try things and assess how they work."  
     This way of thinking isn't rocket science. It's what businesses do every day. But often shelters get entrenched in doing things the same way, just because that's the way they've always been done. An openness to change can lead to a more effective and successful (i.e. lifesaving) operation. 

     Just visit the Washington Humane Society and you'll see...this flexibility works.

Now on to Save 90's latest ads from 
About Faces
Stevenson Village Veterinary Hospital
and 
Cavalier Realty Company.

Here's a message from Rescue Well,  the latest group to receive a $750 check from Save 90.

The complete list of Save 90 advertisers:

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

Individual Contributors to Save 90:

Jim and Bonnie Hunter

Marty Sitnick

Elmo Barranco

Eric Brennan

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!

Administrative Shakeup at the Baltimore County Animal Shelter

This was an unexpected post because of the sudden changes at the shelter. So, no ads on this post. Ads will resume with the next Save 90 post.

     Major administrative changes are underway at the Baltimore County Animal Shelter (BCAS) but Save 90 can't tell you much about them. Questions sent to the county two days ago (May 4) remain unanswered.
     Here's what we know.
     On Friday, May 1, 2015, the county removed 
Acting Chief of Animal Services Laura Culbertson and replaced her with Dr. Melissa Jones, one of the shelter's veterinarians.
     Baltimore County Health Dept. spokeswoman, Monique Lyle, has confirmed that 
Dr. Jones' title is Chief of Animal Services, so clearly she is Laura Culbertson's permanent replacement. 
     Save 90 was not able to officially learn where Culbertson has been reassigned but one person who says she spoke with Culbertson says she has been named Public Health Administrator. 
     In addition, the county has also reassigned Katarina (Kat) Stice. Many say Stice is particularly wonderful in working with the shelter's animals. Why she would be removed is unknown.
     Here are questions Save 90 has asked the Health Dept. without response so far:

1) Why were these changes made?
2) Where have Laura and Kat Stice been placed?
3) Many felt Kat Stice was a particularly great advocate for the animals…why was she replaced?
4) How long has Dr. Jones been at BCAS?
5)  What is Dr. Jones’ background?
6)  Is Dr. Jones my new contact at the shelter? How do I reach her? Calling the shelter is impossible. No one answers.

   Several months ago, Baltimore County posted a job opening for the position of 
Chief of Animal Services. Before any interviews took place, all candidates were informed their interviews were cancelled. County officials said they had decided to leave things as they were for the time being with Laura Culbertson as Acting Chief.
     Now the county has appointed a new Chief without any press release or effort to notify outsiders what is happening in the shelter.
      Clearly, personnel issues are sensitive. But there's a real need for transparency here as well. The shelter is a hot button issue and many concerned animal advocates want to know what's happening there. 
     Not only have animal advocates been left out of the loop, but apparently so have members of the Baltimore County Council. Save 90 has spoken with 
Councilman Wade Kach and people in Councilwoman Vicki Almond's office. They are attempting to find out what's going on.
     There's a pretty obvious question here: Why the secrecy?
     On Friday, May 8th, (several days after this post), I emailed Don Mohler, the County Executive's Chief of Staff regarding Dr. Jones' appointment. He replied, "We are very excited about her assuming the duties as the Chief of Animal Services. As you know, we have been very deliberate in our efforts to find just the right person for the shelter, and we think Dr. Jones’ expertise as a veterinarian and her people skills make her a perfect fit for this position...
Really good things are happening at the shelter, and these changes are just one more example of those changes."
     Save 90 believes good things are happening at the shelter.It would be helpful if it weren't so difficult to learn about changes as they take place. Openness benefits everyone and helps create a perception that we're all working together for a common goal. 
     
A few other items
Plans for one of the spay/neuter satellites:
    District 7 Baltimore County Councilman Todd Crandell has announced the location of one of the two planned spay/neuter/microchipping satellites in Baltimore County. It will be located at the health center property at Merritt Point Park in Dundalk.
     The location of the second spay/neuter satellite has not yet been announced.

Reduced Shelter Fees:
     Baltimore County is reducing adoption and spay/neuter costs. Effective June 15, the price for adopting dogs will fall from $65 to $50, and cats from $50 to $40. The adoption fee covers spaying or neutering the pet, a microchip, deworming, a license and initial shots.     
     County residents who bring in pets for spaying or neutering (animals not adopted from BCAS) will pay $20 for cats and dogs and $10 for microchipping. 
     The county will continue to offer periodic adoption fee discounts, as well as free pet adoptions for veterans during the week of Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
     Save 90 applauds the changes. Anything that encourages more people to spay and neuter their pets helps bring down the number of unwanted animals.

The Last Two Animal Commission Appointments Expected:
    District 4 Baltimore County Councilman Julian Jones says he plans to announce his appointment to the Animal Services Oversight Commission by the end of this week (today is Wednesday). A spokesman for First District Councilman Tom Quirk said she also expected an announcement this week. 
     County Executive Kevin Kamenetz has said he will announce his appointments as soon as all Council members have announced theirs. That would complete all 11 appointments, and the Commission could finally begin its work.

     Save 90 will be posting other items soon including information on a visit to two other shelters in our area, the Washington Humane Society and the Fairfax County Animal Shelter. What they are accomplishing is amazing. 



    

It Takes a Village. Or two.

     Before we get to our main topic, Save 90 extends many thanks to its latest advertisers: Greetings and Readings in Hunt Valley and one of the authors on its shelves, Mary Jane Buettner.
     Greetings and Readings is contributing in two ways to Save 90. Not only has it purchased an ad on the blog, but it's also hosting an upcoming book signing for Mary Jane Buettner, a local author who's donating profits from that event to Save 90. More on that in just a few moments. 
     You'll find new ads below this post's text, as well as a full list of advertisers and individual donors, and a sum of all money raised by Save 90 for area rescues and animal shelters.

Do You Want to Make a Huge Difference for the Animals at BCAS? Now's Your Chance!
     Baltimore County is accepting applications for the two new positions being created at the Baltimore County Animal Shelter: a volunteer coordinator and a foster coordinator.
Here are the links if you want to apply.
1) Animal Services Foster Coordinator (http://ow.ly/M4EhF)

2) Animal Services Volunteer Coordinator (http://ow.ly/M4ECm)
   
New Commission Appointments. Wonderful!
     Two more Baltimore County Council members have named their appointees to the Animal Services Oversight Commission. 
District 6 Councilwoman Cathy Bevins has announced she is appointing Janice Vincent.
     Bevins says Vincent is a retired advertising account representative who is "an advocate for the rescue and adoption of dogs and cats and has provided foster services for pets in need of forever homes."
     District 7 Councilman Todd Crandell has appointed 
Roy Plummer. In an email announcement, Councilman Crandell says Plummer, "has decades of experience in many roles relating to animal services, including training, various certifications, and experience as a veterinary assistant. Roy comes highly recommended by prominent veterinarians and brings an understanding of the sciences that inform public policy regarding animal welfare."
     There are now two Council members who have yet to make their appointments...1st District Councilman Tom Quirk and 4th District Councilman Julian Jones, Jr. 
     Save 90 urges these Council members to make their appointments as soon as possible so the Commission can begin its work.


Two More Videos For BCAS
     BCAS is continuing to allow me to do videos for some of the shelter animals in hopes that this might help get them adopted. Here are links to the two most recent videos. Thank you, BCAS!
 http://youtu.be/54aZpOh6TBo

https://youtu.be/dAPEqQErbI8

It Takes a Village. 
     Hillary Clinton coined this phrase in the title of a book she wrote in 1996. Her book, "It Takes a Village: And Other Lessons Children Teach Us" focused on the impact individuals and groups outside the family have on a child's well-being. The same is true when it comes to the well-being of animals.
     There are so many animal advocates in our area who do amazing work in different ways. Some have formed their own groups or volunteer at area shelters or rescues. Some work to fight animal cruelty; some find homes for homeless animals; others get involved politically. Each of us does what we can, focusing on the things we do best. Collectively, we form a village of people who make things better for animals.
     This is where a former Mrs. Maryland named 
Mary Jane Buettner comes in.
     Mary Jane always wanted to write a novel with the specific goal of donating all profits to charity. She published "A Key to Love" in 2013 and has donated to many causes including the 
American Heart Association, the Wounded Warrior Project, and The Rape Crisis Intervention Service of Carroll County.
     Her next event will benefit Save 90. 
     Watch this 1 minute video to hear more about Mary Jane's dedication to charity, her love for animals, and why she chose Save 90 as her latest beneficiary.

     So, if you can make it to Hunt Valley on Saturday, May 2 between 1 and 5 P.M., stop in to Greetings and Readings, purchase a copy of  "A Key to Love" and Mary Jane Buettner will sign it for you. 
     I hope you can make it to support Mary Jane and Save 90.

Another town's village
     While Save 90 focuses on local shelters around Baltimore and particularly the Baltimore County Animal Shelter, many other Maryland communities are struggling with similar issues and problems at their own shelters.
     In Queen Anne's County, a group of volunteers 
believed that Queen Anne's County Animal Services wasn't doing enough to save lives. In 2013, for example, the shelter euthanized 37.4% of the animals that came in to the shelter. Only 27 dogs and 2 cats went to rescue. 
     The volunteers began working with rescue organizations to get some of the dogs out, and even used their own money to board some of the animals at a local boarding facility.
      One day they realized they had more dogs in boarding than there were in the shelter, and decided it was time to make real change.
     In 2013, county lawmakers agreed to allow the volunteers to form a charitable organization (501 C3) to take over the open admissions shelter. In a public/private partnership, the county provides a yearly stipend. 
     They re-named the facility 
The Animal Welfare League of Queen Anne's County,
and today staff members focus on saving every life possible. 
     Here's a video just over a minute long that shows some of the wonderful work they're doing.

     Here's the bottom line of what The Animal Welfare League of Queen Anne's County (AWLQAC) accomplished in 2014, as compared with numbers from 2013 when the shelter was run by the county.

                                                  2013                    2014 (AWLQAC)
Dog Intake:                               318                      418     

Dogs reclaimed,
transferred to rescue,
adopted                                      203                     381


Dog Live Release Rate:            63.8%                 91.1%      
______________________________________________

Cat Intake:                                435                      767     
Cats reclaimed,
transferred to rescue,
adopted                                      96                       655




Cat Live Release Rate             22.1%                 85.4%       

(It's a little difficult to compare some numbers because the county in 2013 lists a category for animals "released/lost" and puts the number at 9. It doesn't indicate if these are dogs or cats or some other kind of animal. I have no idea how an animal might be released or lost.)
     The Animal Welfare League of Queen Anne's County has a much smaller intake than the Baltimore County Animal Shelter. Still, what its members have accomplished proves change can and does happen. It's happening in Baltimore County on many levels too.
     Don't be discouraged while we wait for the new shelter volunteer coordinator and foster coordinator to start work and make progress after the start of the new fiscal year or while we wait for the outcome of a pilot TNR program in the county. 
     Change comes slowly. But look at where we are today and compare it with where we were a year ago.
     There has been a sea change. We must all stay focused and diligent and remain constructive in our approach. Polite and respectful dialogue is essential. 
     There's a long way to go. We will get there.

Now Save 90's newest ads from Greetings and Readings and Author Mary Jane Buettner.

Here's a complete list of Save 90 advertisers:

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

Individual Contributors to save 90:

Jim and Bonnie Hunter

Marty Sitnick

Elmo Barranco

Eric Brennan

Funds raised so far: $8210.00

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

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!

Let's Get The Commission Rolling

     We have a lot to talk about. But before we start, I want to tell you about some changes in the works for Save 90. 
     Until now, all of this blog's "advertisers" have been businesses in Baltimore County. The reason was to let our government know that the people who keep our local economy rolling really care about the animals in the Baltimore County Animal Shelter to encourage county officials to begin to make changes at BCAS.
     But the landscape has changed in the past few months. County officials have begun to embrace many of the ideas put forward by animal advocates and this blog. The county gets it. As a result, Save 90 no longer needs to limit endorsements to businesses in Baltimore County. So, if you know people who own businesses anywhere in our area who would like to support the rescues and organizations to which we donate, please have them contact me.
    New "ads" this week are from Steve Caplan, Esq., a family law attorney in Towson and Anne George, a dog trainer with
Bark Busters Home Dog Training in Baltimore. I want to thank them for their support.
     Their ads will appear below the text of this post along with my list of all advertisers, funds raised so far, and a thank you from the latest recipient of a Save 90 check, the Baltimore Humane Society.

     Now let's get down to business. We need to get the Commission rolling.

     It's been over two months since the Baltimore County Council approved Bill 2-15, creating an 
Animal Services Advisory Commission. 
     The Commission is tasked with looking into the 
Baltimore County Animal Shelter and making recommendations. 
     Each of the seven County Council members must appoint one member to the Commission from his/her district. The 
County Executive will appoint four members.
     Several weeks ago, County Executive Kevin Kamenetz told me he had chosen his four members and was waiting for members of the County Council to appoint theirs.
     But as of now, only three Council members have named their appointees to the Commission:
District 5 Councilman David Marks has appointed 
Animal Behaviorist and Trainer Joy Freedman. 
District 2 Councilwoman Vicki Almond has appointed me.
The most recent appointment comes from District 3 Councilman Wade Kach who announced last week he is appointing Veterinarian Dr. Jean Townsend.
     Says Dr. Townsend, "I want to say that I am pleased to be named to the Commission.  I feel my training as a veterinarian will be put to good use in this capacity as will my lifelong interest in cats. My goal is to increase adoption of cats especially and to be an advocate for trap-neuter-return."  
     There's no doubt Trap Neuter Return (TNR) for free-roaming cats will be one of the issues before the Commission. As you might know, Baltimore County recently announced that it will conduct a pilot TNR program. I'm among those who hope that will lead to full use of TNR in Baltimore County.
     There are four County Council members who have yet to make their appointments to the Commission. Councilman Crandell expects to make his appointment by the end of this week. Councilman Quirk who did not have many applicants for the position now has had several people come forward. There is still time to put your name in the running if you're interested.
     I urge all the Council members to make their appointments soon. There's a great deal of work to do. The quicker it starts, the better.

Another Animal Bill Dies in Annapolis-SB 393/HB 362
     The cost of Animal Care bill died at the very end of the  
2015 MD General Assembly session. This bill would have allowed animal control agencies to recover costs for caring for animals seized in cruelty cases by making the animals' owners pay restitution. 
     The House and Senate passed different versions of the bill and these differences were to be worked out in a conference committee, but the session ended before a compromise could be reached.
     Lisa Radov of Maryland Votes for Animals sums up the legislative session this way:
     "The 2015 Maryland Legislative Session was a combination of new and old. We were greeted by a General Assembly with 69 new legislators, many of whom had never heard about the types of animal issues raised this session. 
     This presented a challenge, but also an opportunity for us to educate these new legislators about the animal issues that are vitally important to Marylanders....
     The 2015 Session featured legislation affecting many types of animals: companion animals ( dogs & cats), farm animals (for example banning the use of non-therapeutic antibiotics) and wildlife (Sunday hunting legislation, Ivory Ban).
     I am proud that Maryland Votes For Animals was a leader in defeating bills to expand Sunday Hunting in several counties. These bills would have changed a 300 year- old law banning hunting of deer with bows on Sundays. Thanks to the efforts of a coalition of determined animal advocates and concerned legislators, we can safely say that families in these counties can continue to enjoy Sundays without hunting.   
     There is still work to do! Many bills such as those dealing with the cost of care of animals in abuse cases, protecting pets in extreme weather, banning horse slaughter, prohibiting non-therapeutic use of antibiotics on farm animals  and others did not pass this session. Although these bills were unsuccessful, we remain optimistic about them for next year."
     Radov encourages voters to contact their legislators and let them know about their concerns involving animals.
     Next session is a whole new ballgame. We'll fight another day.

Kitten Season
     While the county determines whether or not to conduct TNR on a county-wide basis, the number of free-roaming cats is about to go through its annual explosion. Spring is the start of kitten season, the time of year when cats give birth, flooding animal shelters with homeless litters. 
    The Baltimore County Animal Shelter is beginning to use fosters for these kittens. If you're a Baltimore County resident and are interested in becoming a foster for the 
Baltimore County Animal Shelter, please contact Laura Culbertson at lculbertson@baltimorecountymd.gov.
     The Baltimore Humane Society also needs foster parents to help care for newborn kittens. It also has a registry of items it needs to help in their care. You can find a full list of these items by clicking on this link:
http://bmorehumane.org/wp-
content/uploads/2014/03/KittenShower2015-flier.pdf
     BARCS is in need of fosters as well. Its Executive Director, 
Jen Brause says, "At BARCS, we take in over 6,000 cats and kittens annually. We are always looking for foster parents to temporarily house them and to help us network to find them homes. Of course, if anyone is interesting in adopting, now is the time to head to the shelter and save lives!" 

     A cat can become pregnant at 5 months of age. Please remind everyone you know to spay and neuter their pets.

2014 Shelter Statistics
     Save 90 has obtained the latest 2014 statistics for the Baltimore County Animal Shelter. 
     (My apologies...I misunderstood one of the stats and miscalculated earlier. These numbers are updated.)
     Here are some of the figures and a comparison from 2013 numbers. 

                                          2013                                    2014

Cat intake                          2800                                    2945
Dog intake                         1759                                    1219
Total Animal intake          4559                                     4164

Cats Adopted                     540 (19.3%)                       541 (18.4%)
Dogs Adopted                    726 (41.3%)                       437 (35.8%)

Cats to Rescue                   275   (9.8%)                        515 (17.5%)
Dogs to Rescue                  209   (11.9%)                      224 (18.4%)

Cats Returned                     38                                       76
to Owner
Dogs Returned 
to Owner                            406                                       398


Cats Euthanized  
(Includes owner request)  1947  (69.5%)                    1859 (63.1%)
Dogs Euthanized                                 
(Includes owner 
request)                             418 (23.8%)                        304 (24.9%)

Approximate Live 
Release (Cats)                   853 (30.5%)                        395 (17.5%)

Approximate Live 
Release (Dogs)                  1341 (76.2%)                     1059 (76.6%)
                          
     To summarize, BCAS took in more cats than the year before but fewer dogs. 
     Adoption percentages went down. The actual number of cats adopted was almost identical to the year before and the number of dogs adopted went down. 
     BCAS increased the percentage of both cats and dogs going to rescue, but the number of dogs wasn't much higher than the year before. 
     Finally, the big number...the percentage of cats euthanized went down slightly. The percentage of dogs euthanized went up slightly.
     This tells the story of the work that's needed. Clearly adoption numbers need to improve. Part of the way to do that is through better marketing. The shelter's new Facebook page is a start.      
     But the bigger picture requires a broader approach. Many county residents don't even know about the shelter or where it is. If you need proof of that, take a look at these interviews I conducted with people in Baltimore County for a Save 90 post that ran last August. 

     Here's a link to the entire post with many suggestions for improving the shelter's visibility. 
http://save90.blogspot.com/2014/08/so-where-is-it.html
     At the very least, the county could make a flyer about the shelter and its Facebook page and begin posting it throughout county buildings. And when the County Executive is invited to appear at various events, his staff could hand these posters out. What a perfect opportunity for Kevin Kamenetz to showcase the improvements underway in Animal Services.
    Visibility is only part of the story, of course. If there weren't so many homeless animals, we wouldn't have a problem. So, the biggest solution is spay and neuter. Baltimore County will be opening satellite low-cost spay/neuter locations on the east and west sides of the county. I hope the county will market the heck out of this so residents know the service is there.
     Another disappointing statistic involves the number of dogs and cats the shelter is getting out to rescue. BCAS needs to augment its list of rescue partners and bring those numbers up. 
     In addition, more foster families are needed as interim caretakers. Presumably this will improve once the county hires a foster coordinator in the coming fiscal year.
     In addition, the county needs to begin thinking about implementing counseling programs... one for adopting families so that people choose an animal that is right for them, as well as a program to counsel anyone who comes to the shelter to give up their pet. If we can connect them with needed support services, they might not need to surrender their dog or cat.
     Another big piece of the puzzle is TNR. If cats are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and returned to the communities from which they came, they'll no longer take up space in the shelter or need to be euthanized. The cat euthanasia numbers will drop like a rock.          Let's hope the county's TNR pilot is a huge success and will lead to broad use of Trap Neuter Return for free-roaming cats.
     
Now on to advertisements. Here are Save 90's latest ads from 
Octavia II
Steve Caplan, esq. 
and
Dr. Evan Feinberg.

Here's the complete list of Save 90 advertisers:
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)

Individual Contributors

Jim and Bonnie Hunter

Marty Sitnick

Elmo Barranco

Eric Brennan

Funds raised so far: $7466.00

Here's a thank you video from Save 90's latest recipient of a check for $750, the Baltimore Humane Society.

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

Baltimore Humane Society

If you know of a business that would like to advertise on Save 90 or an individual who would like to contribute please have them contact me at debstone01@comcast.net.