Tails in the News
By Sarah Dahnke
Illinois House Bill 9 has officially been signed into law by Gov. Rod Blagojevich and will go into effect Jan. 1, 2008. The new bill will enable animals to be included in court-designated protection orders and give the petitioner exclusive custody and care and control over the animal. Judges will have the power to forbid respondents to take, transfer, conceal, harm, or dispose of the animal, in turn helping victims of domestic violence to escape dangerous situations without fearing for their pets’ safety. The bill, which was sponsored by Rep. John Fritchey, unanimously passed through state Congress in May and was awaiting the governor’s signature until late August.
The Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation Facility at Northerly Island in Chicago is seeking volunteers to help rescue fallen birds during the autumn migratory season. As birds migrate biannually through the city, they often strike buildings, lose consciousness, and risk being eaten by predators or stepped on by pedestrians. The facility is forming rescue and recovery teams that will patrol downtown, rescue the birds, and transport them to the Northerly Island facility, so they can receive prompt medical care. Flint Creek has reported that more than 80 percent of rescued birds recover and are released back into the wild.
The facility, which opened full-time on April 1 as a triage center to treat critically injured birds, was established in partnership with the Chicago Park District. Members of the Grant Park Conservancy and Grant Park Advisory Council are helping to recruit volunteers, in order to make downtown more environmentally and nature-friendly.
Interested volunteers can fill out an application at FlintCreekWildlife.org. If a fallen bird is found, contact Flint Creek at (847) 602-0628.
When Bob O’Neil, president of the Grant Park Conservancy in Chicago, discovered the first population of rabbits living in Grant Park in 2001, they had eaten away at a grove of crab apple trees that had just been planted in the park. Around 2005, he noticed honey locust trees near the Kennedy Expressway at Ohio and Grand Avenues, had also been killed by rabbits living in embankments. “The rabbits came in from the suburbs then traveled down along the lake or the river,” says O’Neil.
Now there is a thriving population of them in Grant Park who have acclimated to people. O’Neil speaks of a baby rabbit he saw south of the Sears Tower, who was so tame that he almost welcomed petting, and another, who was seen sitting in a revolving door of a downtown building. “It’s an interesting balance,” he says. “Rats really lost the urban animals battle, with their scaly tails. Rabbits won because they are cute.”
Balancing the human population with the urban animal population has become one of the Grant Park Conservancy’s missions, as they try to build awareness that the abundance of wild animals living in the city is a positive aspect of Chicago. “It’s a great problem to have, if you want to call it a problem,” O’Neil says. “It’s part of the greening of Chicago. The wild animals are coming back into the city, and that shows we’re doing something right. It should be celebrated.”
He says rabbits damage young trees, which can be a costly expense, but wrapping the base of a tree with mesh wire can easily be done for around $4 or $5. They also can destroy plants and vegetation, but those will grow back. He adds that the recent abundance of urban coyotes can help keep the rabbits from overpopulating and are otherwise only dangerous to unsupervised pets. “It’s sort of a natural way of doing it,” O’Neil says. “Coyotes never bite people. They have a right to be here, and they aren’t hurting anyone.” He also says that allowing dogs in Grant Park helps curb the rabbit population, as rabbits do not want to breed in areas where they are scared of predators.
O’Neil urges people to try and coexist with rabbits and other urban wildlife and resist overreacting in a negative way. “The last thing you want people to do is turn on nature,” he says. “People from all over the world travel to Chicago and leave with a much better understanding of animals and nature. They take pictures of the rabbits in Grant Park. They obviously don’t have that in their city.”
On Sept. 5, the Chicago City Council passed an ordinance allowing restaurants to purchase a dog-friendly license. Establishments holding such permits will allow licensed, leashed pets to dine at outdoor cafes with their human guardians. The ordinance was fully supported by a team of aldermen, including Gene Schulter, Walter Burnett, and Brendan Reilly. It will take effect next spring when the outdoor dining season begins.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will offer a Masters degree in Animal Behavior beginning this fall. The program, which will be administered through the biology department, will receive adjunct support by the ASPCA. Students interested in careers in companion animal behavior consulting, shelter behavior, training and enrichment in animal shelters, zoos, laboratories, and farms, the commercial pet care industry, and other areas of applied animal behavior will enter this two-year, in-residence program. Applicants to the program have to provide evidence of prior experience in the animal field, such as working with shelter animals or in animal training. As a consultant to the program, the ASPCA says it hopes to help mold some of the brightest animal behaviorists in the world, helping to strengthen and improve relationships between people and their pets.
Members of the Dog Advisory Work Group (DAWG), the Alliance for Community Peace, the Chicago Police Department, and other community activists, have announced the launch of the Safe, Humane Chicago initiative to urge communities to rise up against dog fighting. The campaign aims to build alliances between partnering organizations, host education programs for adults and children, develop youth intervention programs to prevent violence, prevent crimes against animals, educate the public about reporting animal abuse, and encourage safe interaction with dogs.
The coalition has been in the works since the beginning of the year, according to D.A.W.G. Executive Director Cynthia Bathurst, who says it was important to approach this effort as a unified one. “To stop the violence against people and companion animals and to foster a safe, humane city, Chicago needs a grassroots movement and an ‘umbrella organization’ to stop dog fighting and other forms of animal abuse in our communities and to provide education about responsible dog [guardianship] and beneficial activities with animals that engender the respect our children and young adults seek,” she says. For more information visit DAWGSite.org.
Thirty runners have pledged to race in honor of Best Friends Animal Society’s Race for the Animals during the Oct. 7 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. The 26.2-mile race attracts around 40,000 participants, and this year, 83 charities have recruited more than 6,200 runners to raise money for numerous causes. Some of the Best Friends runners, like Laura Jarvis from Stockbridge, Michigan, are running their first Chicago Marathon, while others, such as Jeff Van Denbussche from Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey is running his 18th Chicago Marathon this year. Last year, despite freezing temperatures and snow flurries during the race, 27 runners raised $15,000 to support Best Friends. To sponsor a Best Friends runner, visit Network.BestFriends.org/ChicagoMarathon.
The Naperville Area Humane Society’s Pets and Kids After School Program kicked off in September and will continue through the spring. Children between the ages of 8 and 12 are encouraged to participate and learn about animal behavior and communication, handling and caring for cats and dogs, and the fundamentals of training. A veterinarian will show students how to give pets a basic exam and will also advocate the importance of spay and neuter efforts. Kids will also have the opportunity to interact with animals from the humane society’s shelter. Five sessions are available, and each session meets for six consecutive Mondays. For more information or to register visit NapervilleHumaneSociety.org.
Biscuits and Burgers 2: A Farewell to Summer Fling drew in more than 100 people and their pets to Carmichael’s Steakhouse in Chicago’s West Loop on Sept 6. The event was a fundraiser for the Chicago Animal Shelter Alliance (CASA) and raised close to $6,000 for the organization. People were treated to an all-you-can-eat meat and veggie burger buffet and ice cream social while canines enjoyed dog treats and complimentary canine massage. The mission of CASA is to unite Chicago Area shelters to work together to end pet overpopulation in the city of Chicago. For more information visit CASAChicago.org.
Gov. Blagojevich signs pet protection legislation into law
Illinois House Bill 9 has officially been signed into law by Gov. Rod Blagojevich and will go into effect Jan. 1, 2008. The new bill will enable animals to be included in court-designated protection orders and give the petitioner exclusive custody and care and control over the animal. Judges will have the power to forbid respondents to take, transfer, conceal, harm, or dispose of the animal, in turn helping victims of domestic violence to escape dangerous situations without fearing for their pets’ safety. The bill, which was sponsored by Rep. John Fritchey, unanimously passed through state Congress in May and was awaiting the governor’s signature until late August.
Fallen migratory birds need help in downtown Chicago
The Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation Facility at Northerly Island in Chicago is seeking volunteers to help rescue fallen birds during the autumn migratory season. As birds migrate biannually through the city, they often strike buildings, lose consciousness, and risk being eaten by predators or stepped on by pedestrians. The facility is forming rescue and recovery teams that will patrol downtown, rescue the birds, and transport them to the Northerly Island facility, so they can receive prompt medical care. Flint Creek has reported that more than 80 percent of rescued birds recover and are released back into the wild.
The facility, which opened full-time on April 1 as a triage center to treat critically injured birds, was established in partnership with the Chicago Park District. Members of the Grant Park Conservancy and Grant Park Advisory Council are helping to recruit volunteers, in order to make downtown more environmentally and nature-friendly.
Interested volunteers can fill out an application at FlintCreekWildlife.org. If a fallen bird is found, contact Flint Creek at (847) 602-0628.
Urban rabbit population works to find balance with humans
When Bob O’Neil, president of the Grant Park Conservancy in Chicago, discovered the first population of rabbits living in Grant Park in 2001, they had eaten away at a grove of crab apple trees that had just been planted in the park. Around 2005, he noticed honey locust trees near the Kennedy Expressway at Ohio and Grand Avenues, had also been killed by rabbits living in embankments. “The rabbits came in from the suburbs then traveled down along the lake or the river,” says O’Neil.
Now there is a thriving population of them in Grant Park who have acclimated to people. O’Neil speaks of a baby rabbit he saw south of the Sears Tower, who was so tame that he almost welcomed petting, and another, who was seen sitting in a revolving door of a downtown building. “It’s an interesting balance,” he says. “Rats really lost the urban animals battle, with their scaly tails. Rabbits won because they are cute.”
Balancing the human population with the urban animal population has become one of the Grant Park Conservancy’s missions, as they try to build awareness that the abundance of wild animals living in the city is a positive aspect of Chicago. “It’s a great problem to have, if you want to call it a problem,” O’Neil says. “It’s part of the greening of Chicago. The wild animals are coming back into the city, and that shows we’re doing something right. It should be celebrated.”
He says rabbits damage young trees, which can be a costly expense, but wrapping the base of a tree with mesh wire can easily be done for around $4 or $5. They also can destroy plants and vegetation, but those will grow back. He adds that the recent abundance of urban coyotes can help keep the rabbits from overpopulating and are otherwise only dangerous to unsupervised pets. “It’s sort of a natural way of doing it,” O’Neil says. “Coyotes never bite people. They have a right to be here, and they aren’t hurting anyone.” He also says that allowing dogs in Grant Park helps curb the rabbit population, as rabbits do not want to breed in areas where they are scared of predators.
O’Neil urges people to try and coexist with rabbits and other urban wildlife and resist overreacting in a negative way. “The last thing you want people to do is turn on nature,” he says. “People from all over the world travel to Chicago and leave with a much better understanding of animals and nature. They take pictures of the rabbits in Grant Park. They obviously don’t have that in their city.”
Doggie dining bill officially becomes reality
On Sept. 5, the Chicago City Council passed an ordinance allowing restaurants to purchase a dog-friendly license. Establishments holding such permits will allow licensed, leashed pets to dine at outdoor cafes with their human guardians. The ordinance was fully supported by a team of aldermen, including Gene Schulter, Walter Burnett, and Brendan Reilly. It will take effect next spring when the outdoor dining season begins.
ASPCA provides support for new Masters in Animal Behavior degree
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will offer a Masters degree in Animal Behavior beginning this fall. The program, which will be administered through the biology department, will receive adjunct support by the ASPCA. Students interested in careers in companion animal behavior consulting, shelter behavior, training and enrichment in animal shelters, zoos, laboratories, and farms, the commercial pet care industry, and other areas of applied animal behavior will enter this two-year, in-residence program. Applicants to the program have to provide evidence of prior experience in the animal field, such as working with shelter animals or in animal training. As a consultant to the program, the ASPCA says it hopes to help mold some of the brightest animal behaviorists in the world, helping to strengthen and improve relationships between people and their pets.
New initiative aims to curb dog fighting and violence
Members of the Dog Advisory Work Group (DAWG), the Alliance for Community Peace, the Chicago Police Department, and other community activists, have announced the launch of the Safe, Humane Chicago initiative to urge communities to rise up against dog fighting. The campaign aims to build alliances between partnering organizations, host education programs for adults and children, develop youth intervention programs to prevent violence, prevent crimes against animals, educate the public about reporting animal abuse, and encourage safe interaction with dogs.
The coalition has been in the works since the beginning of the year, according to D.A.W.G. Executive Director Cynthia Bathurst, who says it was important to approach this effort as a unified one. “To stop the violence against people and companion animals and to foster a safe, humane city, Chicago needs a grassroots movement and an ‘umbrella organization’ to stop dog fighting and other forms of animal abuse in our communities and to provide education about responsible dog [guardianship] and beneficial activities with animals that engender the respect our children and young adults seek,” she says. For more information visit DAWGSite.org.
Runners Race for the Animals during 30th annual Chicago Marathon
Thirty runners have pledged to race in honor of Best Friends Animal Society’s Race for the Animals during the Oct. 7 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. The 26.2-mile race attracts around 40,000 participants, and this year, 83 charities have recruited more than 6,200 runners to raise money for numerous causes. Some of the Best Friends runners, like Laura Jarvis from Stockbridge, Michigan, are running their first Chicago Marathon, while others, such as Jeff Van Denbussche from Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey is running his 18th Chicago Marathon this year. Last year, despite freezing temperatures and snow flurries during the race, 27 runners raised $15,000 to support Best Friends. To sponsor a Best Friends runner, visit Network.BestFriends.org/ChicagoMarathon.
Area students invited to participate in animal care after-school program
The Naperville Area Humane Society’s Pets and Kids After School Program kicked off in September and will continue through the spring. Children between the ages of 8 and 12 are encouraged to participate and learn about animal behavior and communication, handling and caring for cats and dogs, and the fundamentals of training. A veterinarian will show students how to give pets a basic exam and will also advocate the importance of spay and neuter efforts. Kids will also have the opportunity to interact with animals from the humane society’s shelter. Five sessions are available, and each session meets for six consecutive Mondays. For more information or to register visit NapervilleHumaneSociety.org.
Biscuits and Burgers 2 a success!
Biscuits and Burgers 2: A Farewell to Summer Fling drew in more than 100 people and their pets to Carmichael’s Steakhouse in Chicago’s West Loop on Sept 6. The event was a fundraiser for the Chicago Animal Shelter Alliance (CASA) and raised close to $6,000 for the organization. People were treated to an all-you-can-eat meat and veggie burger buffet and ice cream social while canines enjoyed dog treats and complimentary canine massage. The mission of CASA is to unite Chicago Area shelters to work together to end pet overpopulation in the city of Chicago. For more information visit CASAChicago.org.
