Saturday wag Dec. 19
Pennsylvania SPCA board president Harrise Yaron resigned suddenly early this week, saying she it was "time to move on." Yaron had served on the board for seven years and presided during the turmoil over PSPCA CEO Howard Nelson's departure earlier this year and the hiring of the organization's current CEO Sue Cosby. She spoke to Stu Bykofsky at the Daily News.
Pennsylvania SPCA board president Harrise Yaron resigned suddenly early this week, saying she it was "time to move on." Yaron had served on the board for seven years and presided during the turmoil over PSPCA CEO Howard Nelson's departure earlier this year and the hiring of the organization's current CEO Sue Cosby. She spoke to Stu Bykofsky at the Daily News.
The PSPCA is looking for animals lovers to give a homeless dog or cat a comfy home to cuddle up in for the new year. To help speed their journey home, the PSPCA is offering reduced rates on senior animals and long-time residents. See all the cute faces at www.pspca.org. When you stop by to look at the pups and kittens take a new or gently-used blanket along to help keep the residents warm this winter.
The ace veterinary surgeons at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton center in Kennett Square are credited with saving the life of a Lancaster mascot. Duke, a beloved equine member of the Lancaster City police mounted unit, suffered an intestinal blockage on Wednesday, according to the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal. Surgeons performed an emergency operation on the 9-year-old Percheron/thoroughbred cross to remove the blockage. His surgery is expected to cost between $6,000 and $10,000. Donations are being accepted by the Lancaster City Police Foundation. (Photo courtesy of the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal)
Out west, an animal protection group is hoping a federal judge will give 2,500 wild horses a Christmas reprieve. As part of its effort to reduce the numbers of mustaings on public lands, the Bureau of Land Management is planning a big round up on Dec. 28 in Nevada. The Associated Press reports federal officials plan to use helicopters to force the horses into corrals where they will be held for adoption or sent to long-term holding corrals in the Midwest. In Defense of Animals call the helicopter round up inhumane because horses are traumatized, injured or killed. They say the action is illegal under the wild horse protection act of 1971. The bureau - which is trying to avoid the need to kill animals - estimates about half of the nearly 37,000 wild mustangs live in Nevada, with others concentrated in Arizona, California, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming.
Automaker Suburu has made animal welfare one of its causes. Perhaps you've seen the commercials where Suburu says it will donate a portion of new car sales to a charity of the buyer's choice, including the ASPCA. As part of the effort, Suburu gave $5k to a local group, The Spayed Club, the only spay/neuter clinic in Delaware County. They also gave the group the use of a new Subaru vehicle for two years. The vehicle is being used to transport pets to the clinic for spay/neuter that may have no other means of getting to the group's new facility at Sharon Hill.
The Humane Society of Berks County is hosting two holiday season food distribution events - one of them in Montgomery County. On December 22 distribution will begin at 9:00 am and last until noon or until supplies are exhausted at the Pottstown Cluster Outreach Center, 137 Walnut Street, Pottstown. The pet food - Hill's Science Diet brand - is excess donated to the Humane Society's Ani-Meals on Wheels program, which serves the elderly, disabled, and disadvantaged by providing free pet food and discounted veterinary services. On Christmas Eve the shelter will give away food at its Lindy Scholar Center, located at 1801 N 11th St in Reading. Surplus cat and dog food will be given away to those in need from 9:00 am to noon, or until supplies are exhausted.
Dog owners across Pennsylvania are reminded to apply for 2010 dog licenses before the Jan. 1 deadline. State law requires that all dogs three months of age or older be licensed each year.An annual license is $8 and a lifetime license is $51. If the animal is spayed or neutered, the annual fee is $6 while a lifetime license is $31. Discounts are available to older adults and people with disabilities. Failure to license a dog is a summary offense and could result in a maximum fine of $300 for each unlicensed dog. The fees are used to support the state Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement, which inspects licensed kennels, rounds up strays and responds to dangerous dog calls. That fund was raided by legislators to the tune of $4 million to patch up a budget shortfall this year. License applications are available at county treasurer's offices.
Who says birds and cats are mortal enemies? Watch this parrot take a rescued kitten under its wing.