Tails in the News
By Sarah Dahnke
The Cook County Board of Commissioners passed the Managed Care of Feral Cats ordinance on Oct. 16, making Trap-Neuter-Return the approved method for managing feral cats in the Chicago area. The ordinance allows feral cat colony caretakers to be primarily responsible for managing the estimated 800,000 feral cats in Cook County by providing food, water, shelter, vaccinations, spay/neuter surgeries, and ear tipping. Area shelters will register and serve as sponsors to review and approve feral cat colony caretakers, provide education to these individuals, and oversee their responsibilities. The Department of Animal Control will remain the final authority and will have the right to trap and remove unvaccinated cats that show signs of disease, those who are not spayed or neutered, and those who have not been given identification through ear tipping.
“This legislation legitimizes the important work that a lot of people have been doing for many years,” says Abby Smith, Executive Director at Felines, Inc., a Northside no-kill cat shelter. “A group of dedicated volunteers have made a significant impact on the number of feral cats in Cook County and my hope is that this ordinance inspires more people to become involved in TNR efforts. I am very proud that Felines Inc. will become a sponsor to caretakers of feral colonies. This ordinance has helped to galvanize the city’s cat shelters as we work together to address the feline overpopulation problem.”
To read the new ordinance, visit Co.Cook.IL.us.
In early October, Tails Humane Society (THS) in Dekalb seized hundreds of animals from Barbara Munroe’s house in Rochelle, Illinois. Munroe, an accused animal hoarder, was keeping cats, dogs, and birds in a house littered with garbage and decaying animal carcasses. When THS volunteers entered the house, they found at least 200 dead animals, in addition to the hundreds of live pets that the shelter seized. Munroe faces 10 misdemeanor charges related to animal cruelty. Officials have said this is one of the largest animal hoarding cases in the state’s history.
THS now has official custody of the animals, and is providing them with the appropriate medical treatment, as many of them need to be spayed or neutered, have dental issues, are malnourished, and have respiratory infections. They will become available for adoption as they recover. The shelter is also in need of money, supplies, and volunteers to help care for such an overwhelming number of animals. People interested in making a donation or adopting one of the animals should visit TailsHumaneSociety.org.
Sergeant Brian Degenhardt, Officer Thomas Barker, and Officer James Conlan have received the 2007 Humane Law Enforcement Award from the HSUS. The organization recognized these members of the Chicago Police Department for creating the Animal Crimes Unit, which focuses on combating dogfighting. In 2007, the unit was responsible for more than 40 dogfighting-related arrests and recovered more than 100 abused dogs.
Snowball, a sulfur-crested Eleonora Cockatoo from northwestern Indiana, has gained worldwide attention. A YouTube video of the bird squawking and dancing to the Backstreet Boys’ “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” has been seen on television shows, such as Inside Edition and The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet.
Snowball lives with guardians Irena and Chuck Schulz, who run a bird rescue shelter called Bird Lovers Only Rescue. They currently have about 30 birds up for adoption, but Snowball, the 11-year-old darling, will stay with the Schulz family permanently.
For the past three years, Dog Fancy magazine has published a list of the most dog-friendly cities in the United States, using criteria based on dog-centric activities, dog-friendly hotels and restaurants, quality of veterinary care, and local animal laws. This year, Chicago landed a spot on the list due to its bevy of pet-friendly attractions including dog-friendly architectural boat tours and the White Sox annual Dog Day baseball game. Other cities topping the list include New York, Colorado Springs, and Long Beach.
The Anti-Cruelty Society has begun demolition at its facility, clearing away office space for their newest rehabilitation center: The Virginia Butts Berger Cat Clinic. This new long-term care facility, with almost 100 animal spaces, will be dedicated to helping more cats and kittens recover from treatable illnesses and behavioral problems, giving them the opportunity they deserve—to be adopted. Furthermore, the Butts Berger Cat Clinic may provide an opportunity—and needed space—to increase cat transfers from Chicago’s Animal Care & Control, thereby helping even more animals. The clinic is scheduled to be completed by early 2008.
Evanston photographer David Sutton has announced the release of the eighth-annual Dog Days calendar by Sutton Studios. The calendar has been donated to more than three dozen shelters and animal welfare organizations, which can sell it for a suggested price of $10 and keep 100 percent of the profits. For a complete list of participating shelters, visit SuttonStudios.com.
Feral cat ordinance passes in Cook County
The Cook County Board of Commissioners passed the Managed Care of Feral Cats ordinance on Oct. 16, making Trap-Neuter-Return the approved method for managing feral cats in the Chicago area. The ordinance allows feral cat colony caretakers to be primarily responsible for managing the estimated 800,000 feral cats in Cook County by providing food, water, shelter, vaccinations, spay/neuter surgeries, and ear tipping. Area shelters will register and serve as sponsors to review and approve feral cat colony caretakers, provide education to these individuals, and oversee their responsibilities. The Department of Animal Control will remain the final authority and will have the right to trap and remove unvaccinated cats that show signs of disease, those who are not spayed or neutered, and those who have not been given identification through ear tipping.
“This legislation legitimizes the important work that a lot of people have been doing for many years,” says Abby Smith, Executive Director at Felines, Inc., a Northside no-kill cat shelter. “A group of dedicated volunteers have made a significant impact on the number of feral cats in Cook County and my hope is that this ordinance inspires more people to become involved in TNR efforts. I am very proud that Felines Inc. will become a sponsor to caretakers of feral colonies. This ordinance has helped to galvanize the city’s cat shelters as we work together to address the feline overpopulation problem.”
To read the new ordinance, visit Co.Cook.IL.us.
Shelter assumes custody of animals from hoarding bust
In early October, Tails Humane Society (THS) in Dekalb seized hundreds of animals from Barbara Munroe’s house in Rochelle, Illinois. Munroe, an accused animal hoarder, was keeping cats, dogs, and birds in a house littered with garbage and decaying animal carcasses. When THS volunteers entered the house, they found at least 200 dead animals, in addition to the hundreds of live pets that the shelter seized. Munroe faces 10 misdemeanor charges related to animal cruelty. Officials have said this is one of the largest animal hoarding cases in the state’s history.
THS now has official custody of the animals, and is providing them with the appropriate medical treatment, as many of them need to be spayed or neutered, have dental issues, are malnourished, and have respiratory infections. They will become available for adoption as they recover. The shelter is also in need of money, supplies, and volunteers to help care for such an overwhelming number of animals. People interested in making a donation or adopting one of the animals should visit TailsHumaneSociety.org.
Local officers recognized by HSUS
Sergeant Brian Degenhardt, Officer Thomas Barker, and Officer James Conlan have received the 2007 Humane Law Enforcement Award from the HSUS. The organization recognized these members of the Chicago Police Department for creating the Animal Crimes Unit, which focuses on combating dogfighting. In 2007, the unit was responsible for more than 40 dogfighting-related arrests and recovered more than 100 abused dogs.
Dancing cockatoo finds Internet fame
Snowball, a sulfur-crested Eleonora Cockatoo from northwestern Indiana, has gained worldwide attention. A YouTube video of the bird squawking and dancing to the Backstreet Boys’ “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” has been seen on television shows, such as Inside Edition and The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet.
Snowball lives with guardians Irena and Chuck Schulz, who run a bird rescue shelter called Bird Lovers Only Rescue. They currently have about 30 birds up for adoption, but Snowball, the 11-year-old darling, will stay with the Schulz family permanently.
Chicago named one of the nation’s dog-friendliest cities
For the past three years, Dog Fancy magazine has published a list of the most dog-friendly cities in the United States, using criteria based on dog-centric activities, dog-friendly hotels and restaurants, quality of veterinary care, and local animal laws. This year, Chicago landed a spot on the list due to its bevy of pet-friendly attractions including dog-friendly architectural boat tours and the White Sox annual Dog Day baseball game. Other cities topping the list include New York, Colorado Springs, and Long Beach.
Anti-Cruelty Society to expand rehabilitation center
The Anti-Cruelty Society has begun demolition at its facility, clearing away office space for their newest rehabilitation center: The Virginia Butts Berger Cat Clinic. This new long-term care facility, with almost 100 animal spaces, will be dedicated to helping more cats and kittens recover from treatable illnesses and behavioral problems, giving them the opportunity they deserve—to be adopted. Furthermore, the Butts Berger Cat Clinic may provide an opportunity—and needed space—to increase cat transfers from Chicago’s Animal Care & Control, thereby helping even more animals. The clinic is scheduled to be completed by early 2008.
Local photographer’s eighth-annual calendar helps fund shelters
Evanston photographer David Sutton has announced the release of the eighth-annual Dog Days calendar by Sutton Studios. The calendar has been donated to more than three dozen shelters and animal welfare organizations, which can sell it for a suggested price of $10 and keep 100 percent of the profits. For a complete list of participating shelters, visit SuttonStudios.com.
