Found in Pineville safe and sound in a yard with several other dogs, also possibly stolen.  Jason is going to pursue filing charges against the individual.

 
  Hello, My name is Jason and I'm in pineville visiting my in-...laws and was letting my dog out Thursday and she was stolen right in front of me. She was stolen on the corner of Hwy 107 & Pete's lane which is about 200 yards from Hwy 454. "Madly" is a 4 1/2 year old female white Labrador retriever with papers. She has a small blue tattoo on her belly from being spayed. The tattoo is minute circles or dots. She's very friendly and very intelligent and knows approximately 52 commands. She's traveled the world with us and means the world to us. We can't have kids so she's considered our daughter. A dark blue and grey 2 tone extended cab Dodge truck pulled over real quick while Madly was using the bathroom in the ditch & snatched her up before I realized what was happening. I ran after the truck but couldn't read the license plate. From my research, dog snatching is not uncommon in the pineville/center point area around Hwy 454 & Hwy 107. I live in Boulder Colorado and will be here until I find our daughter. A reward is offered to anyone with info that leads to her safely returning home. I'm visiting my in-laws and they stay on Pete's lane. Thanks for your time and any help or reposting you can do. Contact Jason with any info or concerns. 830-569-7780.. thank you.

 Compliments of Laura Lanza with the ASPCA.

ANIMAL LAW NEWS
Animal Trusts as Alternative Sentencing
By Jan C. Trendowski
December 26, 2013

Traditional trust law requires that the subject of a trust be a person. People who
wanted to provide care for their pets as part of their estate were required to
create complex testamentary documents, often to no avail if they were
challenged. To remedy this situation, Connecticut, like most other states,
passed legislation expressly permitting trusts where the beneficiary is an animal.

Connecticut’s Animal Trust Law, C.G.S. 45a-489a, delineates the creation of a
trust with an administrator and caretaker which assures that pets will be taken
care of after an owner’s death. Animal trusts are relatively easy to create, simple to administer, and would hopefully withstand challenges from disgruntled heirs. Aside from being quite practical, the trusts are easier to fund than a trust for a person as animals don’t cost much to care for and simply don’t live as long as people.

While animal trust legislation certainly accomplished its intended purpose, the legislation has “off label” uses for the care of animals in general. One use, furthered by Attorney Richard Weinstein of New York, is to enable a person to act as an advocate for animals under a euthanasia order. Once a trust is created, the administrator of the trust is legally entrusted with the well-being of the animal and has legal standing to act on its behalf.

Another use, which is slowly gaining ground, is to use an animal trust as a sentencing alternative to people charged with animal abuse. When a person is sentenced for animal abuse, the court typically has few options. The defendants either go to jail or they don’t. There is no “victim” in a purely legal sense. The abused animals are turned over to an Animal Control Officer, who thereafter finds a new owner or euthanizes them. In the best of all worlds, the animal is turned over to a rescue group which will devote its very limited resources to medical care and rehabilitation. In most cases, the
injured and abused animal can only look forward to a hopefully painless death.

In response to this sad state of affairs, an innovative Texas judge sentenced an animal abuser to pay for the rehabilitation and care of the abused animal. Combined with animal trust statutes, this approach has numerous benefits.

1. The abused animal is rehabilitated at no cost to the state or volunteer animal rescue groups.

2. The animal is much more adoptable as the costs of care for a fixed or indefinite period are covered by the trust.

3. The trust is self-administering both financially and procedurally once the administrator is appointed, so no state or local resources are used.

4. Once the trust is in place, the only function of the Judicial Department is to step in if the abuser is not funding the trust.

5. The sentencing court has additional options in sentencing that are beneficial to the animal and the community.

6. Rescue groups and Animal Control Officers can devote their resources to other animals in need.

7. The defendant can propose an animal trust as restitution to avoid or reduce jail time.

The primary hurdle to this point in time is that Trust and Estate law, like many areas of the law, is a specialty. Further, like many specialties, there is little crossover between practitioners in different areas. Trust and Estate lawyers generally don’t represent criminal defendants, and criminal defense attorneys have little interest in drafting trust agreements. To resolve this issue, Attorneys Jeannine Wyszkowski of Hudson & Kilby and Elizabeth Leamon of Murtha Cullina generously volunteered their time and expertise to create a draft animal trust specifically intended to be used as a sentencing alternative. Both Jeannine and Elizabeth are well versed with trusts and; unfortunately, the ones who benefit from their work will never be able to thank them. Needless to say, the trust needs to be tailored to specific circumstances, but it is an excellent starting point. For a copy of the draft Animal Trust for Sentencing, please contact Elizabeth McLaughlin at emclaughlin@TrendowskiLaw.com.

Jan Trendowski is an active member of the Bikers Against Animal Cruelty and currently serves as its Legal Director. The BAAC is a volunteer 501c3 nonprofit organization devoted to preventing the abuse of animals and assisting with the rehabilitation and care of injured animals. Aside from caring for the victims of animal
abuse, the mission of BAAC is to engender a healthy respect for animals and to support laws protecting our furry and feathered friends.

The Animal Law Newsletter is created by the Legal Task Force of the BAAC to keep the rescue community abreast of changes in the law and to alert them as to upcoming legislation on animal issues, primarily in Connecticut. The newsletter is free to anyone.

Please visit http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bikersagainstanimalcruelty.org%2F&h=JAQHXMCZ2&enc=AZMcI_oiRSYLDATSWrvZeXbihrb8cRdJkLx0DdoGBG24cblrJlv_C2Ll0SOETxSdvXaCEpNFTvL2XUjxCn9m6ismR9mgRkumRSghfBNKQ8QR-g0WwP2qPKSLQvoHcQnYIoMfeldz10VfW48Kok4-7DdnhWNhafEgWMIQK7TevfBNiQ&s=1 for further information about BAAC,
or Find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/B.A.A.C. Bikers Against Animal Cruelty.org.

 

News Release — American Red Cross
Jan. 17, 2014

Contact:
Doug Bishop
Director of Communications
Phone number: 802-343-7597

App helps dog and cat owners provide emergency care until veterinary assistance is available

(Burlington, VT – January 17, 2014) Pets are an important part of many families, and a new Red Cross Pet First Aid App puts lifesaving information right in the hands of dog and cat owners so they can provide emergency care until veterinary assistance is available.

The 99 cent Pet First Aid app gives iPhone and Android smart phone users instant access to expert information so they learn how to maintain their pet’s health and what to do during emergencies.
“Pet owners learn how to recognize health problems and when to contact their veterinarian,” said Doug Bishop, Director of Communications at the Vermont & the New Hampshire Upper Valley American Red Cross. “The Pet First Aid App provides step-by-step instructions, videos and images for more than 25 common first aid and emergency situations including how to treat wounds, control bleeding, and care for breathing and cardiac emergencies.”

Additional topics include burns, car accidents, falls and what to do for cold- and heat-related emergencies.

Other features in the app allow pet owners to:
· Create a pet profile including tag identification number, photos, list of medications and instructions.
· Use the list of early warning signs to learn when to call their veterinarian.
· Use “click-to-call” to contact their veterinarian.
· Find emergency pet care facilities or alternate veterinarians with the “animal hospital locator.”
· Locate pet-friendly hotels.
· Test their knowledge with interactive quizzes and earn badges that they can share on their social networks along with their favorite picture of their pet.

History shows that people have not evacuated during disasters because they did not want to leave their pets behind. The Red Cross app contains resources to help owners include pets in their emergency action plans. Pet owners may also take a Red Cross Pet First Aid course so they can practice the skills and receive feedback. People can go to redcross.org/takeaclass for information and to register.

The Red Cross has made great strides in making emergency information available whenever and wherever people need it. The Pet First Aid App and other Red Cross apps can be found in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android by searching for American Red Cross or by going to redcross.org/mobileapps.

Friday, January 10, 2014 - 1:00pm

At the ASPCA, we believe that innovative animal welfare organizations have the power to change an entire community. That’s why we are pleased and proud to announce our latest grant recipient: the Shelter Medicine Program at Louisiana State University.

This unique program takes LSU veterinary students and teams them up with inmates at three prisons in southern Louisiana. Together, they trap, neuter, and return feral cats to prison grounds. Trap, neuter, and return (TNR) programs have a proven benefit to feral cat colonies, and to date, this program has spayed/neutered, ear tipped, vaccinated, and dewormed nearly 350 cats!

The Inmates

Inmates who participate in this program are required to attend a veterinary seminar series, upon completion of which they receive an LSU Shelter Medicine Certificate.  Additionally, they gain sympathy for animals and experience the rewards of serving their community. In fact, three inmates have continued their education and become certified veterinary technicians. 

The Vet Students

Students in this program gain hands-on veterinary knowledge that they wouldn’t typically acquire during regular veterinary training. They get invaluable experience working with and managing feral cat colonies, prepping cats for surgery, assisting with anesthesia, and monitoring recovery. 

The Cats

TNR programs understand that cats have been living outside for thousands of years. TNR’s purpose is to reduce overpopulation while offering feral cats a better chance at long, healthy lives. After being spayed/neutered, most cats in this program are returned to their colonies. However, the friendliest cats and kittens are put up for adoption at the Dixon Prison’s Pen Pals Animal Shelter—a state-of-the-art animal shelter located right on prison grounds. Pen Pals has successfully placed 303 dogs and cats since 2010.

 http://www.aspca.org/blog/louisiana-unique-partnership-brings-students-animals-and-inmates-together

 

 Concerns raised about parish animal shelter

Government promises improvements

By William Johnson
wjohnson@dailyworld.com

Is a new day dawning for the St. Landry Parish Animal Shelter? If you be­lieve Parish President Bill Fontenot, it is. “Icommittoyouit is go­ing to get better and it will get better tomorrow,” Fon­tenot told a group of about 30 concerned citizens Thursday night. The animal shelter is lo­cated near the parish air­port and collects stray dogs and cats from throughout the parish and its 12 municipalities. It is also home to abandoned horses, donkeys and other livestock. The shelter got a shot in thearmrecentlywhenvol­unteers with FUR — Friends Underwriting Rescues — got involved. With the influx of volun­teers FUR helped inspire, cameagreatercommunity awareness of conditions at the shelter and a growing concern. “You have a serious problem, a more serious problem than you may realize,” resident Sonny Ray told Fontenot and Par­ish Council members Wayne Ardoin and Dexter Brown who attended the meeting. “It is a business, but it is being run like a circus,” Ray said. Raywasonlyoneof doz­ens who shared stories of neglected animals, filthy conditions and a staff said to be rude to people seek­ing to adopt pets from the shelter. Mary Richard, who has volunteered at the shelter, told of animals being forced to live in crowded cages filled with several days’worthofurineandfe­ces.

During the recent cold snap, Richard said she brought five large tarps to the shelter to help seal it off from the weather but said the staff of six didn’t bother to put them up. Brooks LaCombe Da­vis, another volunteer, said she brought blankets to the shelter for the animals but was told they wouldn’t be used. “Theytoldmetherewas no point in giving the dogs blankets as theywouldjust mess on them,” Davis said. “It broke my heart.” Sue Elder said other area shelters treat animals better than St. Landry Par­ish.

She recommended the parish contact the shelters in Acadia and St. Martin parishes about how they operate.

“The shelter in St. Mar­tinville is impressive,” El­der said. “They went from an 86 percent kill rate to an 86 percent saved rate. There is no reasonwecan’t do that.”

“I’m certainly open to that. We are very interest­ed in doing better,” Fonte­not said. “I want to make it a priority.”

As for staff members’ rude behavior, he said that will change immediately.

“That is unacceptable. They represent me,” said Fontenot, who handed out business cards and urged residents to callhimif they encounter any further problems.

Ellen Satterly, who vol­unteers regularly at the shelter, put much of the blame for the shelter’s problems on a staff that just doesn’t seem to care.

“Some are good, but some need to go,” said Sat­terly, whopraisedthework of shelter director Patricia Street.

“I can say nothing but the best about her, but the staff is disorganized,” said Satterly, who claimed somestaffmembersspend muchoftheirdayonbreak. “They take 10 breaks or more a day. That needs to stop.”

The shelter volunteers said the facility also needs basic equipment to do its job, particularly an indus­trial size washer and dryer tocleanbeddingandadish­washer with hot water to clean food and water bowls.

Fontenot said that is a matter of finding the mon­ey in the already tightly stretched parish budget. Hesaid he would approach local businesses to see if something can be donated.

“It sounds like we have a great deal of work to do,” Fontenot said. He asked residents to form a com­mittee to meet with him on a regular basis until things improve.

Richard said Friday they were in the process of forming that committee.

Fontenot and the volun­teers also agreed on the need for greater aware­ness for spaying and neu­tering to reduce the num­ber of unwanted animals.

Jessie Bellard with par­ishgovernmentsaidonany given day, the shelter is home to about 75 animals, primarily dogs. For some reason, he said, the Christ­mas holiday period has also seen an influx of farm animals. “People are just turning horses loose on the road,” Bellard said. To deal with the grow­ing number of horses and donkeys, Bellard said the parish is searching for a roughly 20-acre site where theanimalscanreceivethe specialized care they need.

“We have been looking for that for about six months. If anyone has any land they want to lease or sell to the parish they should call me,” said Bel­lard, whocanbereachedat 337-948-3688. He said the parish has also been working for months to upgrade the shelter, which has an annu­al budget of about $200,000. There are plans to add two buildings to the site. One would be a kennel that could hold about 40 large dogs. The other would be a facility for euthanizing the animals, so it will no longer be in the main building where most of the animals are housed. “The volunteers are really helping us improve adoptions, sowedon’t need to put as many down. That is good,” Bellard said. He said the parking area at the shelter is being improved and the parish is adding a walking track so volunteers can easily exer­cise the dogs.

Fontenot said the parish has also requested to be in­cluded in the Louisiana StateUniversityveterinar­ian program’s Shelter Medical Rotation, which has senior veterinary stu­dents intern at shelters.

“We have applied but we don’t know if we will be accepted,” Fontenot said.

After the meeting, Richard said she was satis­fied with what she heard but would reserve judg­ment until she can see some actual improve­ments.

Professional pet groomer Sue Elder talks about conditions at the St. Landry Parish Animal Shelter during a concerned citizens meeting on Thursday. She said the St. Martinville shelter “went from an 86 percent kill rate to an 86 percent saved rate. There is no reason we can’t do that” in St. Landry Parish. PHOTO BY FREDDIE HERPIN

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