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Photo courtesy of Carole Pitzer

Carole Pitzer assists animals in need

By Brendan Quealy

Carole Pitzer describes herself and the group of women who make up the Coalition for Animal Rescue and Education (CARE) as “a bunch of short, dumpy gray-haireds.” But to the animals they rescue every day—these women are so much more.

When people are experiencing a financial, emotional, or other kind of hardship, this dedicated group is there to help with animal rescue services, as well as pet medical assistance and spay/neuter programs. “We have been rescuing dogs and cats from Jefferson County since 2004,” Pitzer says. “It’s an extremely low-income county with a poverty rate around 30 percent. People can’t even feed their kids right now, so we get a lot of phone calls asking us to take their dog.”

CARE carefully assesses each situation before removing a pet from the home. If the only issue is an animal not being fed, the organization is more than happy to provide food. But if the situation is beyond a simple fix, the family may be encouraged to relinquish the pet. If necessary, CARE brings in the Animal Control Division to take charge of the situation. “Most of the folks in this area are poor and on a limited income,” Pitzer says. “Our typical phone call that we get is: ‘My husband lost his job. We lost the house. We’re leaving the dog here.’”
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Humane Society of Missouri
314.951.1588
HSMO.org

Hey there! My name is Michael and I am a very handsome Australian Shepherd mix. I’m just over a year old, and am doing very well learning my basic obedience commands. I love to play, and would love to be surrounded by a new family who is also energetic and active. I look forward to my daily walks, and extra exercise is a bonus. Forget that crazy fad diet … I will keep you fit and trim!

If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?
Hopefully, not one that I’ve been peeing on outside! Eeeew! Seriously, I’d be an apple tree, so I can provide you with delicious fruit.

If you won the lottery, what would you do?
I would buy toys and treats for every shelter animal in the world! And get my new family a great big house that we can run around in.

What do you dream of at night?
Hanging out with my forever family and going for nice walks after dinner. A nice big, meaty bone to chew, too!

Hamburger or hot dog?
Tough choice. But I’ll be happy with either one … or both if you’re feeling generous.

Humane Society of Missouri
314.951.1588
HSMO.org

Hi, I’m Casey, a lovely 9-year-old Domestic Calico Longhair. I am looking for a relaxed family where I can spend my days basking in the sunlight soaking up some rays. I love to cuddle and purr like crazy when you scratch my head. I am mature, well-mannered, and full of unconditional love. And, did I mention I’m a great napper?

What movie star would you want 
to portray you in a movie of your life?
Meryl Streep. She has aged with grace and elegance. She’d be perfect!

What do you dream of at night?
Spending the rest of my days with a great family. And ordering a giant tray of sushi and catnip from room service.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be the photo that you use as your wallpaper on your iPhone, because you love me so much! Nothing would make me happier or more proud.

Why should YOU go home with a family right now?
I am well-behaved, gentle, mellow, and loving. To sum it up: I am the perfect cat.

This comes from our good friend Kerri and her fellow citizens in Wentzville, MO. She has been working tirelessly to rid her town of Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) and it finally worked, last week the Board of Aldermen voted to remove the BSL in Wentzville. Kerri had contacted TAILS and asked if we could provide her some hard copies of our recent article about BSL. She felt it told the story well and that it might help sway the vote in the right direction. Since then, Kerri has been keeping us updated on the progress. Here’s the note we received last week. Please join us in saying a huge thank you and congratulations to the people of Wentzville who fought for the animals. As Kerri says at the end of her note, there is more work to be done. But, this is proof that it can be done!

Well, it’s official! Pit Bull BSL is GONE in Wentzville….Woo Hoo! After over 15 yrs of Pit Bull BSL, the Wentzville Board of Aldermen voted 5-1 to remove the current animal ordinance which required Pit Bulls/Pit Bull mixes to be confined their homes (with closed windows) or  locked kennel runs UNLESS they were leashed AND muzzled. The new ordinance does not refer to specific breeds and stresses owner responsibility.

In the last meeting I attended, the board was considering removing electric/underground fences as an acceptable source of containment.  But in the end, the board voted to accept the new ordinance which allows the animals to be contained in the back yard with electric/underground fences and  without being on a leash or tie down.

I must say that I am proud to live in Wentzville where our aldermen are receptive to change and are willing to listen to the comments from their constituents. There was such tremendous support for the removal of Pit Bull BSL not only through e-mail and social networking, but also through attendance by constituents(both Pittie and non-pittie owners).  One woman, who is a neighbor of a Pittie owner, showed her support by attending and speaking at one of the meetings about how she used to be wary of Pit Bulls until she met her neighbor’s  Pittie boy. She said he is very friendly and even plays with her dog.

I know that there was some opposition, but they were not strong enough! For we, the Pittie lovers of Wentzville,  prevailed : )  I don’t know if you are old enough to remember Scooby Doo’s little cousin(or brother..not sure) “Scrappy Doo”. But he always said, “Puppy Power!”  I would like to change this to “Pittie Power!”

Thank you so much for ALL of your support during the past few months! If I hear of anymore Pittie BSL issues, I will keep you informed. Unfortunately, Pit Bull BSL is still in existence: (

Rebecca Stevens fights ‘open-admission’ and Pit Bull stereotypes

Working at an animal shelter is not an easy task—especially when resources are low and certain things do not turn out the way you expected. For the staff of the Humane Society for Hamilton County (HSHC), working at an animal shelter is especially difficult because they are the only open-admission facility in their surrounding communities.

“We serve as the clearing house for all of the other animal welfare agencies,” says Rebecca Stevens, the executive director of HSHC. “We are the only animal welfare agency that is open-admission—we don’t shut down no matter what.”

“Open-admission” means that the facility cannot turn away any animal for any reason, and because of that, they are often forced to euthanize animals due to a lack of space. But Stevens has made sure HSHC never puts down a healthy animal. In fact, Stevens is quick to point out that not only is HSHC different from the other local animal shelters, but it is also different from many other open-admission facilities.

“The animals who are hit by cars, the ones who are really sick, or whatever else you can think of—they all come here and every single one of them gets the same chance to live,” says Stevens. “We are very invested in ensuring that every animal lives despite how marketable or not marketable he might be.”

To ensure that her staff only has to put down animals that are suffering medically or have dangerous behavioral issues, Stevens has taken the HSHC’s cause to the public. She and her staff have created a foster home community of more than 200 families and individuals.

The HSHC’s most successful program has been their “Survivor Program,” which Stevens began after she received numerous requests for dogs that had been rescued in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Unfortunately her facility was not taking in any of those animals.

“It was killing me to turn people away,” says Stevens. “So I started explaining to them that I don’t have the animal you’re looking for, but I’ve got another here with a story that you have to hear.”

Stevens realized that people were looking for a good story. They wanted to rescue an animal that had gone through a harrowing experience and come out the other side a better dog for it.

“These animals have survived the unthinkable,” says Stevens. “They have overcome so much, and it shows people that they have the means to survive.”

About 90 percent of the animals who come in with severe health issues survive their ordeal and are then placed in the “Survivor Program” to be adopted out.

Stevens gives much of the credit to the workers at the Humane Society for Hamilton County

“The staff here is amazing,” beams Stevens. “I could not do this by myself. The people here are incredibly dedicated. They have some of the hardest jobs, and I have the greatest respect for them because I know how hard it is to look in those faces every day.”

Stevens also works to educate people about Pit Bulls and dispute some of the myths that are out there about the breed. She believes better legislation and a better execution of those laws can help solve the problem. Her worry is that knee-jerk reactions will lead to breed-specific legislation that will target the Pit Bull, when “any person with an ounce of common sense can see that eradicating a breed will not put an end to this issue.”

Stevens says that the best way to help her and the rest of the dedicated staff at HSHC is to foster an animal—especially a Bully breed—because that opens up space at their facility.

To find our more information, please visit HamiltonHumane.com.

Animal House Fund
314.531.4626
AnimalHouseFund.org

Howdy! My name is Dallas and this is my brother Austin. We were only a few weeks old when we were found in an alley, too young, alone, and terrified. It took a lot of time and love to coax us out of our shells, but now we are healthy, rambunctious kittens. Come meet us, I just know you’re going to love my brother and me!

What is your favorite board game?
I think if there are games out there that I can play with my brother and my new family, I would play all of them in a heartbeat.

If you won the lottery, what would you do?
I would make sure that no other kitties have to go through what we went through.

What do you dream of at night?
Living in a beautiful house with Austin, and having a great family to call our own!

Why should YOU go home with a family right now?
We are very entertaining cats! We love each other and you can really see that when we interact!

Who is your best friend?
Austin, of course!

Animal House Fund
314.531.4626
AnimalHouseFund.org

Hi! My name is Precious and believe me, I am just that! I was a stray found living under a porch in north St. Louis. I was extremely skinny, my coat was dull and I had fleas. But now, I have a beautiful coat, am up to normal weight, and couldn’t be sweeter! Please come down and meet me—I promise I will win you over in a minute.

What movie star would you want to portray you in a movie of your life?
Emma Stone is very popular right now, so I think she would be great. We are both beautiful and very nice!

What is your favorite board game?
Apples to Apples! I hear people talking about this all of the time at Animal House. It really sounds like a lot of fun!

Why should YOU go home with a family right now?
I had it tough for a while, so I know I deserve a nice fluffy bed and some wonderful treats. I hope you can give that to me.

What do you want to be when you 
grow up?
Your best friend!

Support Dogs, Inc. will host its seventh annual “Tacky Ball” with this year’s theme “Happily Ever After…Furry Tails Can Come True” on Sat., March 24 from 6:30-11pm.  The fairy tale-themed event will be held at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis Riverfront located at 315 Chestnut Street in downtown St. Louis.  The evening will include dinner, a live auction, raffle and dancing to music by The Fabulous Motown Revue.  Proceeds from the Tacky Ball will benefit all programs and activities at Support Dogs.

Support Dogs, Inc. is a national non-for-profit organization that offers dignity, hope and independence by providing highly skilled service dogs to individuals with disabilities and uniquely trained dogs to serve the community.  Founded in 1981, the organization provides many services including an Assistance Dog program which matches people with various disabilities with a canine partner, an animal-assisted therapy dog program called TOUCH (Therapy of Unique Canine Helpers), and a Paws For Reading program that places dogs in school.  Support Dogs is a proud member of the United Way of Greater St. Louis.

Reservations are required, and participants must be 21 years or older.  Individual tickets are $90 per person prior to Feb. 29 and $100 per person during March.  For more information, call 314.997.2325 or visit the organization’s website.

People in Wentzville, MO are still working to repeal Pit Bull ordinances in their city. In the most recent city council meeting many more people in attendance were opposed to the ordinance than those in favor of it. It sounds like the conversation is still heading in the right direction, but the new police chief wants more information before the ordinance amendments will be presented to the Board of Alderman.

To read more about where things stand as of this writing, St Louis Today and Wentzville Patch both have informative articles.

Photo Credit: Love and a Six Foot Leash

They are still crossing their “paws” for a good outcome in Wentzville. If you live in the area, show your support! Attend a council meeting, talk to your local representatives. The animals will thank you for using your voice where they can’t use theirs!

Read the recent TAILS article about BSL and why it is NOT the answer.