300 dogs dumped on Malaysia islands turn to cannibalism May 8, 2009

Source: Associated Press, May 7, 2009

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — More than 300 stray dogs that were dumped on isolated islands turned to cannibalism after weeks of starvation, animal welfare activists said Thursday.

The plight of the dogs cast away by villagers on two small, uninhabited islands off Malaysia’s western Selangor state ignited outrage after activists this week released photographs showing dogs eating the carcasses of ones that had died.

Residents of a fishing village on Pulau Ketam, another island off Selangor, caught the dogs last month and took them to the islands covered in mangroves. The villagers said they never intended to be cruel — they believed the dogs could feed on the deserted islands’ wildlife — but wanted to rid their island of dogs that defecate on the streets and sometimes bite children.

A team from the Selangor Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals visited one of the islands — Pulau Selat Kering — on Monday and saw several emaciated dogs “crowded and hunched around something — they were hungrily feasting on the remains of another dog,” the SPCA said in a statement.

“Nearby, a weak dog was screaming because several dogs were trying to bite her,” it said.

Volunteers have so far rescued two dogs and left food for the others, said SPCA official Jacinta Johnson. They estimate 200 might have survived. Activists would also try to rescue any dogs left on the other island, Pulau Tengah.

Pulau Ketam’s residents have said some dogs tried to swim back to their island, about a half-hour boat ride away, but it was not clear how many succeeded.

Efforts to save the dogs have been slow because many were fearful of people and scampered into mangrove swamps when rescuers approached, Johnson said.

Activists have persuaded Pulau Ketam’s villagers not to dump any more dogs and are considering measures such as sterilization and relocation to ease problems posed by an estimated 2,000 stray dogs, the SPCA said.

SPCA International and Bark Busters Launch Reusable Bag Program to Help the Environment and Save the Lives of Animals April 20, 2009

Source: PRMediaWire.com, April 20, 2009

In support of Earth Day, SPCA International and Bark Busters encourage consumers to reduce, recycle and reuse in the name of animals.

Englewood, CO (PRWEB) April 20, 2009 — In observance of Earth Day, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals International (SPCAI) and Bark Busters, the world’s largest dog training company, announced the launch of their Partner for Pups Reusable Bag Program. The program was created for pet lovers to demonstrate environmentally responsible habits by using reusable bags for shopping to reduce the amount of plastic grocery bags in landfills and the environment and reduce animal deaths caused by these plastic bags. In addition to helping the environment and wildlife, all proceeds support SPCAI’s animal and shelter programs.

“We are delighted to partner with SPCAI on this program to help raise awareness of animal and environmental issues and to teach good pet-parenting practices,” said Liam Crowe, CEO and master dog behavioral therapist of Bark Busters USA. “By participating in this program, we can all contribute to a healthier environment, the safety of animals, and providing the resources people need to adopt and keep animals as members of their families.”

Made from sturdy, premium-quality, tear-resistant and water-repellent material, the reusable bags are 100% recyclable and reusable. The reusable bags are available through the websites of both organizations. For details, visit www.SPCA.com or www.BarkBusters.com.

With over 380 billion plastic bags used in the U.S. annually, it is no wonder why many of them harm animals. When plastic bags are discarded, they not only do they contaminate our soil and waterways, but also can choke, strangle, and starve wildlife. Once in the environment, many plastic bags take hundreds of years to break down and some cost animals their lives.

All proceeds from the Partner for Pups Reusable Bag Program will go to support SPCAI’s programs, such as Operation Baghdad Pups, an initiative that provides assistance to servicemen who wish to transport companion dogs from the war zone in the Middle East to their home in the United States.

About SPCA International
The mission of SPCA International is to raise awareness of the abuse of animals to a global level, to teach and foster good pet parenting practices, and to promote spay and neuter programs around the world with the goal of eradicating the need to euthanize healthy and adoptable companion animals. www.SPCA.com also provides a global information and referral resource to animal guardians and advocates throughout the world to those who seek a shelter or wish to adopt a shelter animal.

About Bark Busters
Bark Busters, the world’s largest, most trusted dog training company, started in Australia in 1989 and came to the United States in 2000. Since inception, more than 500,000 dogs have been trained worldwide using its dog-friendly, natural methods. With 250+ franchised offices in 42 states and more than 400 offices in 10 countries, Bark Busters is continuing its mission to build a global network of dog behavioral therapists to enhance responsible dog ownership and reduce the possibility of maltreatment, abandonment and euthanasia of companion dogs. Bark Busters is the only international dog training company that offers guaranteed lifetime support. SPCA International selected Bark Busters dog behavioral training services as the “Best of the Best” in its category. No other training company or dog trainer received such a distinction. To fetch a trainer in your area, call 1-877-500-BARK (2275) or visit www.BarkBusters.com, where dog owners can complete a Dog Behavioral Quiz to rate their dogs’ behavior.

Money pours in to help Lincoln April 20, 2009

Source: The Dominion, April 20, 2009

ROSS GIBLIN/The Press

NOT A HAPPY DOG: Lincoln, who was stolen and used as fighting bait, with owner Janet Cuthers. Mrs Cuthers has opened a bank account for Lincoln after an outpouring of public generosity.

The owners of Lincoln, the old dog stolen and used as fighting bait, have opened a bank account for him after an outpouring of public generosity.

“It’s not our money, it’s his,” owner Janet Cuthers said.

The Easter Monday mauling left Lincoln, a 14-year-old ridgeback cross, with serious bite wounds after he was attacked by two dogs.

A $20,000 reward is earmarked for two witnesses to the attack who came forward to police, but depends on a prosecution.

About $300 now sits in Lincoln’s bank account, and will be used for his care.

His dog food bill will not be a problem, with one man offering to buy him dog food for the rest of his life.

Public donations have also covered a $1000 vet bill at Wellington SPCA.

“It’s been amazing, there are a lot of dog lovers out there,” Mrs Cuthers said.

Lincoln was reunited with his family on Friday.

Yesterday, he greeted visitors with a wag of his tail and a friendly lick, before limping stiffly back to his bed and flopping down with a sigh.

“He’s a tough old bugger,” Mrs Cuthers said.

The callous way in which Lincoln was used as dog fighting bait has touched a public nerve.

A table beside his bed was packed with get-well cards.

Lincoln is not yet out of the woods, with vets still concerned a deep chest wound could get infected.

“He’s been in a lot of pain, and he’s not been eating as much as usual. He’s still not a happy doggy,” Mrs Cuthers said.

A 25-year-old man was arrested on Friday in connection with the mauling and will appear in Porirua District Court tomorrow charged with theft of a dog.

“It’s fantastic,” Mrs Cuthers said of the arrest.

Wellington SPCA spokeswoman Lisa Snow said police had seized a large cross breed dog with a bite wound.

“I feel sorry for the dogs, it’s the owners that are the mongrels,” Mrs Cuthers said.

$20,000 bounty for dog fight culprits April 17, 2009

Source: Newstalk.com, April 16, 2009

There is a $20,000 bounty on the head of the men who stole a Wellington dog and used it as dog fighting bait.

Wellington SPCA says there has been an outcry of public concern following news that Lincoln, a 14-year-old ridgeback cross, had been left with serious rips and deep wounds after being used as bait for two pit bulls.

Originally the SPCA offered a reward of $1,000, but two substantial donations from Wellington business people and smaller offerings have increased the total reward.

Wellington SPCA spokeswoman Lisa Snow says the news has shocked a lot of people.

L Snow says Lincoln is on the mend, but still has pain in his legs where someone tried to split them apart.

Appeal for dog killer information, Scotland April 3, 2009

Source: BBCNews.com, April 3, 2009

The Scottish SPCA has made a fresh plea for information to find the person who tied a dog to a barbed wire fence in Angus and left it to starve to death.

The reward to find the animal’s killer now stands at £3,300 after donations from groups and individuals.

The female Mastiff cross was discovered on the Kinnaird Park Estate, on the outskirts of Brechin, on 13 March.

She had bits of wood and soil in her stomach after desperately trying to eat anything she could reach.

‘Come forward’

Senior Insp Mark Lumgair said: “We’ve had an overwhelming response to our initial appeal, with members of the public calling in with information, messages of concern and offers of reward.

“However, all of this means nothing if we are not able to track down the callous person who did this.

“No information has been received yet that will enable us to charge anyone for this offence.”

Insp Lumgair wanted to draw to people’s attention to the blue webbing collar and the black muzzle the dog was wearing.

“From the scars on her face it looks as though she has been wearing this muzzle for a long period of time,” he said.

“We are urging anyone who saw this dog when it was alive, wearing the blue collar and black muzzle, to call us immediately.

“We are also appealing to anyone who has not already contacted us, but who does know something, to listen to their conscience and come forward now.”

SPCA looking to place 30 dogs, Canada March 4, 2009

Source: CVTA.com, March 4, 2009

Mr. Magoo was born without eyes. He was one of 60 dogs turned over to the SPCA last weekend. (Mar. 4, 2009)

They have been groomed, they have been given medical care and now they need families.

Last weekend a puppy mill owner surrendered 60 dogs to the SPCA. Thirty of those dogs are still waiting for homes.

“A lot of them are quite shy, they certainly have some special needs. A lot of them have not been handled very much by people,” said Alanna Devine SPCA Montreal.

Mr. Magoo is one of those dogs. He is two or three years old, and was born without eyes. His skull is not fused properly, and is at risk of hemorrhaging if he is handled roughly.

The SPCA says every time there has been a puppy mill bust, members of the public have turned out to take the animals into their homes.

Adam Dianantopoulos adopted one of the dogs after he heard the story on the news.

“People view them as an animal they really don’t understand the love that a dog can give a person and vice versa,” he said. “And they’ve got feelings– a lot more than a lot of people I know.”

For More information, contact the Montreal SPCA at (514) 735-2711 or visit their website at http://www.spcamontreal.com/intro.php?lg=en

Police Bust Alleged Dogfighting Ring In Strawberry Mansion, PA January 22, 2009

Source: MyFoxPhiladelphia, Jan 21, 2009

PHILADELPHIA  –  Eight dogs are now evidence in a criminal investigation. Police say they were bred to fight.

Slideshow: Graphic Images From Scene | Video: Police Bust Alleged Dogfight In Progress

SWAT and SPCA officers arrived to the 2500 block of North Dover Street in the Strawberry Mansion section of the city after a neighbor called police Wednesday afternoon.

Police said an officer saw a dogfight in progress when he looked through the window of the row home.

“The officers came. One officer actually went up the alley here and looked through the back window and that’s where he saw and heard the dogfighting going on,” said Lt. Michael-Jerry Lee of Philadelphia Police.

Six adult dogs and two puppies were recovered from the scene that police described as a “bloody mess.” Five were found chained in the basement.

“A few of them were limping and you saw blood on a few of the dogs,” said Lt. Lee.

Four men inside the home were taken into custody. They face dogfighting charges.

SPCA officers said the dogs’ injuries are relatively significant.

“The basement seems to be set-up for keeping dogs separated. Appears to be, they have a kennel-type set-up. All the dogs are chained in separate corners. Living room-area appears to be where they were fighting the dogs,” said Derrick Schlitter of Pennsylvania SPCA.

Investigators said the four arrested could have broad connections so there may be more arrests to come.

“It’s very rare that you get an actual fight in progress. So the neighbor did a good thing by calling. It’s good that we got out here in time,” said Schlitter.

Crews rescue 100 dogs from alleged Ont. puppy mill, Canada December 4, 2008

Source: ctvtoronto.ca,  Dec. 02 2008

Investigators from the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals rescued 100 mistreated and sickly dogs from an alleged puppy mill in the province’s Georgian Bay region, northwest of Toronto.

The OSPCA rescued the small-breed canines, ranging from puppies to elderly dogs, from a home in Meaford, Ont., near Owen Sound on Monday night.

The house was covered in “feces,” Ontario SPCA spokesperson Alison Cross told CTV Toronto on Tuesday.

One veteran investigator said it was the worst odour she had ever smelled.

Many of the severely matted dogs were suffering from open wounds and possible infections along with a host of other complications, Cross said.

The 100 pups were all brought to the York regional SPCA facility in nearby Newmarket, later that same night. The dogs are receiving much-needed medical attention, Cross said.

It is expected that many of the dogs will require long-term veterinary care.

It’s still too early in the investigation to put dogs up for adoption, but the SPCA promised to let the public know when it’s time to find the pets a permanent home.

“I saw this on CTV News last night…I knew there was a great need for support and help so I’m here to do whatever is necessary,” Linda Weir, a local volunteer, told CTV Toronto on Tuesday.

The rescue was one of the largest ever made by OSPCA. The organization said it was tipped off by a concerned citizen.

The names of the homeowners have not been released and charges are pending in the ongoing investigation, Cross told ctvtoronto.ca on Tuesday.

If convicted, the accused could face up to two years in prison, a $60,000 fine and lifetime ban from pet ownership, she said.

Seventy-six dogs seized in Oxford, NY October 14, 2008

Source: By: Melissa Stagnaro, Chenango Sun Staff Writer, Published: October 14th, 2008

OXFORD – Seventy-six Pomeranians were rescued from a property in Oxford on Sunday in a coordinated effort by the Chenango County Sheriff’s Department and the Chenango County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). Their owner was taken into custody the following day.

At the behest of deputies, SPCA Executive Director Carol Hedlund led a team of SPCA board members and staff into the house at 145 Williams Road in Oxford to retrieve the animals. She described the conditions they found as “horrific.”

Hedlund, who has been involved with a dozen similar seizures including a puppy mill bust in Chenango County earlier this year, ranked it as one of the worst she has seen.

“Everything in the house was covered in feces. We had to wear respirator masks to go get the dogs,” said Hedlund. Those who entered the house also used mentholated rub under their noses to mask the strong odor of fecal matter and urine. Duct tape secured pant legs and boots.

The double-wide trailer was unoccupied with the exception of the dogs. Hedlund reported that bags of food had been torn open and left for the animals. The contents, which were still being consumed by the dogs, had been defecated and urinated upon.

The dogs, which are considered evidence in the case against their owner, were taken to the SPCA where they will remain for the time being.

In addition to the 76 dogs recovered from the house, the remains of more than a dozen more were discovered in a wooded area adjacent to the structure.

“We took out 13 bags with at least one dog in each,” said Hedlund. A more accurate count was difficult because of the decomposition of the remains.

Hedlund stated that she believed the remains had been recently removed from the house, explaining that a cardboard box that held some of the bags did not appear to have been weathered.

The owner of the property, Steven W. Fong, 56, of 405 Clinton Avenue in Brooklyn, was arrested on Monday. He was charged with 76 counts of failure to provide for an impounded animal.

NY man accused of burying starved dog under trash October 4, 2008

Source: Newsday, October 3, 2008

NEW YORK – Animal-welfare officers say a New York City man with a history of domestic abuse and sex offenses has been arrested for starving his dog to death and burying it under a pile of trash.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says it first found the man in February near his Queens home trying to hide the body of the emaciated mixed-breed dog.

ASPCA peace officers took the dog’s body for an exam. The dog had lost all fat and muscle and had no trace of food in its stomach.

ASPCA officers say they arrested the man Thursday near his home.

The man is charged with animal cruelty and evidence tampering.

He faces up to three years in prison if convicted.

The ASPCA says his record shows arrests for rape, failing to register as a sex offender and other crimes.