Miami Marlins’ new pitcher Mark Buehrle takes a stand on pit bull ban

January 11, 2012 By Joanne Brokaw 6 Comments

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Mark Buehrle and his wife in a 2010 PSA for AdoptAPet.com

This week comes news that Miami Marlins’ pitcher Mark Buehrle was willing to pass up a deal with the South Florida baseball team because Miami-Dade county has a ban on pit bull ownership.

In December, Buehrle signed a $58 million, four-year contract with the club. But he reportedly wasn’t willing to make the move unless he and his wife Jamie could find a house in a community that would accept their adopted pit bull and three Vizlas.

The Buehrles are avid supporters of animal causes; in 2010 the couple did a series of PSAs for AdoptAPet.com, appearing on billboards and commercials in support of animal adoption. Buehrle also founded the Sox for Strays program, which featured adoptable animals at White Sox games once a month. That’s in addition to his other causes, visiting military hospitals, and children’s hospitals to spend time with kids with cancer.

Animal lovers reacted with loud voices and lots of support over the recent story about retired police officer Jim Sak and his service dog Snickers. A pit bull ban in his town of Aurelia, Iowa forced him to give up his dog, and then led to a lawsuit that temporarily reuinted man and dog. It was likely the first time most people had ever heard that there are places in the country where specific breeds of dogs are banned.

With Buehrle’s move to Florida and his own experiences with breed discrimination laws, let’s hope that he’ll continue his animal rescue efforts in his new home. The cause needs a celebrity name to bring the issue to the mainstream, not just in the animal rescue community.

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Filed Under: Animal rescue, Animals and the law, Animals in the news, Celebrities, Dogs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , 6 Comments

New Year’s resolutions for animal lovers: #5 – Learn something new about animals

December 30, 2011 By Joanne Brokaw 2 Comments

One of my goals for 2012: learn more about otters! (Photo credit: Jacqueline Yockey)

To say that I read a lot would be an understatement; I try to average a book a week, and my topics range from pop fiction to indepth nonfiction on a variety of subjects. But one this is for sure: on my reading list every year are books about animals. All kinds of animals.

This year, for example, I stumbled upon a book called “Red Tails In Love” at the used bookstore, about the birds in Central Park, specifically the red tailed hawks that made headlines when they nested on a posh building. That led to “The Big Year”, a book about three guys chasing a dream of seeing the most birds in a single year.

Note that I am not a birdwatcher. I just like learning stuff. I’m fascinated by facts and figures and trivia and stuff that makes me go, “Ooo, now that’s interesting!” (For example, did you know that people used to use dogs to turn the spits that roasted meat in a fireplace? They were called … Turnspit dogs!) I think it’s important to keep learning – it makes me a better pet owner, a better person, and a better member of my community. (And maybe even a little more interesting … or at least it gives me an edge when I watch “Jeopardy”.)

So my last suggestion for a New Year’s resolution: #5 – Learn something new about animals! [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bible verses, Birds, Books, cats, Critters, Dogs, Elephants, Wildlife Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

Pet sales banned at malls nationwide; rescue stores begin to replace pet shops

December 15, 2011 By Joanne Brokaw 14 Comments

Westside Pavillion mall in Los Angeles, as the heart of the recent change in policy for Macerich malls.

Even though the story broke in October, it’s still making the rounds on Facebook -  just in time for Christmas: retail developer Macerich announced that it will no longer allow pet stores that sell animals in more than 70 malls nationwide. According to a story from October at GlobalAnimal.org, “This new humane policy designed to break the puppy mill business chain is taking effect nationwide within 30 days. Macerich confirmed that they will not renew the leases of existing pet stores that sell animals and in their place, are opening humane stores offering adoptions of rescued pets.”

And Macerich isn’t the only retailer stepping up to the plate. According to Best Friends Animal Society, “Irvine Company, owner of shopping centers throughout central Orange County, California, implemented a policy to not rent to retailers planning to sell dogs and cats in any of its shopping centers a few months ago. The company noted, though, that it would honor its existing contractual commitment with Russo’s Pet Experience until its lease expires in October 2012.”

This wasn’t an overnight success. In October 2008, Best Friends Puppies Aren’t Products Los Angeles (PAPLA) began protesting in front of Barkworks in the Westside Pavillion in Los Angeles. When Macerich restricted the group’s access to protest only in specified areas of the mall, Best Friends sued for the right to protest in other areas of the mall. Best Friends lost that lawsuit, but in 2010 the California Courts of Appeals ruled in favor of Best Friends. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Animal health, Animal rescue, Animals and the law, Animals in the news, Dogs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , 14 Comments

Featured shelter pet: Mack, the FIV positive black cat

November 10, 2011 By Joanne Brokaw Leave a Comment

Mack is a sweet, snuggly black cat looking for a forever home!

In honor of National Shelter and Rescue Appreciation Week, here’s another super pet looking for a forever home!

This is Mack, a 3 1/2 year old kitty who’s currently being fostered by Black Cat Rescue in Boston. Not only is he at a disadvantage when it comes to finding a home because he’s a black cat (black cats are about half as likely to be adopted as cats of other colors), but he’s also FIV positive. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Animal rescue, cats, Featured Shelter Pet Tagged With: , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment
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