Tails in the News

By Tails Staff

Highway construction halts adoptions

The road to true love may not run smoothly, but for the Animal Protective Association of Missouri (APA), it may not be running at all for quite a while. As construction crews work to repair Highway 40/I-64, dozens of dogs and cats are waiting for longer periods of time inside the APA shelter for the chance to be adopted into forever homes.

Director of operations for APA, Steve Kaufman, observes a direct link between the closing of the eastbound ramp to Highway 40 at Hanley Road and the decreasing number of people visiting the shelter to adopt pets. Since construction began, the situation has only gotten worse, according to Kaufman, and no improvements are in sight for the next few years. “Not only are we dealing with Highway 40 being shut down,” says Kaufman, “but construction on Hanley is expected to begin in 2009, creating a permanent median in front of the APA, which will make it even harder to get to us.” While adoption rates plunge, the number of animals given to the APA remains stubbornly robust. In the wake of this increasingly urgent need to accelerate adoptions, the APA is launching a new adoption program, “Adoptions 2.0,” and debuting a mobile adoption vehicle.

For a map and directions to the facility, visit APAMO.org. For the latest updates on the progress of I-64/Highway 40 construction, visit TheNewI64.org/GetTrafficUpdates.do. ––Melissa Wiley

Area groups pitch in after Piedmont

shelter floods

Not only were people’s homes evacuated on March 18 due to a severe flash flood, but the Piedmont Animal Control Shelter was also completely flooded. While it was too late for some animals to be rescued, others are now being cared for by area shelters and humane societies. ACT Now! Rescue is one of the groups that has volunteered to care for and house the pets from the Piedmont shelter. According to ACT Now! Rescue representative Janette Seiner, “a total of eight dogs and 15 cats were lost. We made the plea for help.”

Organizations including Felines Forever, Show Me Pets, Stray Rescue of St. Louis, Paws for Consideration, Angel Acres, All Paws, and Teris CAT Rescue all came to help the displaced animals in the Piedmont area. The Humane Society of Missouri disaster team helped in transporting the animals from Piedmont to St. Louis.

Although the Piedmont building is salvageable and many have made monetary donations, help is still needed. “We have received office supplies, towels, blankets, cleaning materials, crates, dog leashes, food bowls, toys, dog and cat food, litter, crates, carriers, a used washer and dryer, and a refrigerator––all from kind and compassionate animal lovers,” Seiner says. “But we are currently seeking donations to help with medical costs.”
While organizations are working hard caring for the animals, they are also desperately seeking available homes. “We are still trying to find fosters for these wonderful dogs and hopefully a forever family,” Seiner says. “We will try to do adoption events every week until these guys are home. They are survivors, and they deserve a great life.”

Donations to assist with medical costs can be sent to: ACT Now! Rescue, PO Box 510321, St. Louis, MO 63151. —Elizabeth Piwowarski

Bark in the Park returns

Purina and the Humane Society of Missouri encourage all animal lovers and their best friends to come, walk, stay, and play at the annual Bark in the Park. The event is the group’s largest fundraiser and will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, at Cricket Field in Forest Park. The Walk for Animals will begin at 11 a.m., but visitors can enjoy other types of entertainment at the Country Fair Festival including music, food, contests, and fun for the whole family. Registration is available to individuals and teams. Fundraising prizes range from apparel to a digital camera. The top fundraiser will win a vacation for two. ––Renee Krejci

For more information to register for the walk, visit HSMO.org.

St. Louis animal talk show

to return to airwaves

St. Louis animal lovers have a lot to talk about, and a popular talk show is back to prove it. Airing every Sunday at 8 p.m. on 103.3 FM, Animal Tails made its official comeback on March 30. Having originally aired in 2006, Animal Tails provides a dynamic, offbeat forum for discussion of the latest in animal welfare and advocacy. Guests of the show include top newsmakers, veterinarians, and authors in the animal world. Marking the program’s comeback after a six-month hiatus, the March 30 show featured animal-activist celebrities Barret Jackman of the St. Louis Blues hockey club and Loretta Swit from the television show M*A*S*H.

Listeners can call in to the show for advice for their personal pet problems from co-hosts Randy Grim, St. Louis’ own animal aficionado, and Lisbeth Tanz, freelance writer and professional animal communicator. Grim is the founder and executive director of Stray Rescue, while Tanz previously hosted the radio program Authors on the Air.

“It feels great to be back on the air, giving a voice to animals, nature, and environmental concerns,” says Tanz. “It’s also a great way for people to learn about Stray Rescue and the amazing work Randy’s organization is doing.” For Grim, the show is a way to promote animal welfare in the St. Louis community. “If we can change one person’s opinion about animals, animal cruelty, and global environmental events,” Grim emphasizes, “then we’ve done our job.” —Melissa Wiley

Spotlight on All Paws Rescue’s Pets

for Vets program

According to a major Veterans Affairs study, 31 percent of male and 27 percent of female veterans of the Vietnam War suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at some point after their return home. Symptoms of PTSD can include depression, bad dreams, irritability, and flashbacks. Many veterans from various wars are still receiving disability compensation for PTSD.

Steven Kingan of St. Louis, a disabled Vietnam veteran, knows what it’s like to live with the disorder. “You can get lost in your own disability,” he says. “Anything that gets you out of it is a good feeling.”

Thankfully, Kingan has found something that gives him a purpose in life—his 13-year-old white Persian cat, Polly, and his Chow/German Shepherd mix, George, also 13. Kingan adopted Polly from All Paws Rescue more than a month ago. Polly was going to be put down because senior cats have a difficult time finding forever homes. Through a mutual friend, Andrea Ohms of All Paws Rescue was able to get in contact with Kingan and give him Polly for free. Polly previously lived with a veteran who passed away. Kingan adopted George after his gaurdian passed away last August. He says that Polly and George get along very well.

“Steve is really good with animals,” Ohms says. “He calls me every week and says he loves [Polly] to death.”

After Ohms brought Polly to Kingan and saw how much the love of an animal brightened his day, they both agreed it would be a great thing to do for all veterans. Kingan was the first veteran adopter, but Ohms hopes the Pets for Vets program will grow. The program will be a way to not only help veterans, but also older and disabled pets, who would otherwise have difficulty finding a forever home.

According to Ohms, veterans interested in adopting a pet from All Paws Rescue must show proof of a military record and honorable discharge to ensure the safety of the animal. Although the pets will be free of charge, the adopting guardian must still go through an adoption process and show that he or she is capable of taking care of the animal.

Many soldiers returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan are dealing with various mental and physical disabilities that the unconditional love of a pet could ease. “If they can get this program up and going, I think it’ll make a difference to the [men and women] coming home now,” Kingan says.

All Paws Rescue and Kingan will be at the Moving Wall, the traveling half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, at Walther Park in DeSoto on Saturday, May 10, with a booth to hand out more information on the Pets for Vets program and answer any questions. —Renee Krejci

For more information, visit APRescue.Petfinder.org or call (636) 288-2999.