Time is ticking to RSVP to Indiana Humane Lobby Day (Feb. 21, 2012). Follow the link below for more information about representing Indiana’s animals at the statehouse. Learn about the process and be their voice!

MUST RSVP to be able to attend. 

Register Today for Indiana Humane Lobby Day!

Date: Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Address: 450 West Ohio Street Indianapolis, IN

New bill targets coyote, fox penning: wishtv.com

Despite public and hunter attitudes, which are measurement tools that DNR often uses to determine the success of policies and rules, the NRC voted for it, with an amendment for a moratorium on any new pens opening after January 1, 2012. We are glad for the moratorium in the future, but it does nothing to stop a problem from taking root between now and then.

So basically, all those wildlife “kill” pens that were banned in Florida recently due to the inability to stop the illegal and inhumane activities that surrounded them, can come here to Indiana between now and 2012 and stay — forever, unless the ruling changes or state law prohibits the enclosures.

The NRC has little to say to really explain why they voted this way which makes you wonder, and why didn’t the pen operator from Greene County even show up to the meeting? Only one person spoke in favor of the pens.

The proposed rule package is now open for a period of public comment before a final vote by the NRC in the coming months.

You can leave a comment and let the NRC know that wildlife penning has no place in Indiana.

Also contact your Indiana legislators and Governor Daniels and ask them to also let the NRC know this is unacceptable.

Governor Mitch Daniels

Locate your Indiana Legislators

News Stories:

Indiana NRC Approves “Kill Pens”

Indiana NRC to vote on “Kill Pens”

Two Indiana dairy farms recently sold animals for slaughter that were later found to be carrying drug residues at levels higher than allowed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Bos Dairy at Oaks and Irish Acres at Berne both received warning letters from FDA about their alleged animal drug abuse.

In an Oct. 13 warning letter to Bos Dairy, FDA said the farm sold an animal for slaughter was adulterated because it contained an animal drug that is unsafe.

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service’s “analysis of tissue samples collected from this animal identified the presence of 0.755 parts-per-million (ppm) and 0.767 ppm of sulfadimethoxine in the liver and muscle tissues, respectively.

FDA has established a tolerance of 0.1 ppm for residues of sulfadimethoxine in the uncooked edible tissue of cattle

The presence of this drug in the edible tissues from this animal in these amounts causes the food to be adulterated within the meaning of food safety laws and regulations.

“Our investigation also found that you hold animals under conditions that are so inadequate that medicated animals bearing potentially harmful drug residues are likely to enter the food supply.” The warning letter said.

FDA sent a warning letter to Irish Acres on Oct. 14, raising similar issues to that facing Bos.

Irish Acres sold a cow for slaughter as food on or about last April 29.

FSIS analysis of tissue samples collected from the animal identified the presence of 0.578 parts-per-million (ppm) and 0.272 ppm of sulfadimethoxine in the liver and muscle tissues, respectively.

FDA has established a tolerance of 0.1 ppm for residues of sulfadimethoxine in the uncooked edible tissue of cattle.

FDA also told Irish Acres that its animals are held under conditions that “are so inadequate that medicated animals bearing potentially harmful drug residues are likely to enter the food supply.”

FDA also found record keeping at Irish Acres lacking. The diaries were given 15 working days to respond to FDA concerns.

Letter from FDA to Irish Acres

Letter to FDA to Bos Dairy LLC

Source: Food Safety News

It’s unfortunately not the first time “shelters” in Indiana have been exposed using less than humane ways to euthanize animals. Most recently, Fox 59 helped reveal this very situation in Miami County, Indiana.

Watch the video for yourself, but you will see the brazen attitude of those in charge allowing this to happen. The accepted, most widely spread and most humane means of euthanizing an animal is by sedation and injection. It causes the least amount of pain and suffering for the animal, which is what any true humane shelter should have as a guiding principle. The cost for materials and training is not exorbitant.

It is true many of the rural communities in Indiana suffer lack of support and financial backing, but regardless of that fact, humane euthanasia should never be cut from the budget. Shooting a dog in these situations is simply barbaric and a throw back to days before man had evolved to treading lighter, thinking smarter and finding less violent ways to solve problems . We can do better and should.

Undoubtedly there is more to this than what is being portrayed in this story and we hope it comes to light for the sake of the animals suffering in this community. There is a right and wrong way to humanely run an animal shelter and animal control. Hopefully the new shelter mentioned will be a professional shelter employing best practices for all aspects of its operations.

Let the Miami County Commissioners know that shooting dogs at a “shelter”, really is…”that bad”.

Please be respectful in your communications.

Miami County Commissioners

Craig Boyer (R): no email available

Jon Faust (D): no email available

Greg Deeds (D) : gdeeds@northcc.net

Letters to the Commissioners can be sent to:

Miami County Commissioners

Miami County Courthouse

25 N. Broadway

Peru, IN 46907

Larry and John are being honored for the August 2009 dogfighting raid resulting in the seizure of nearly 100 dogs found chained to trees over 15 acres of land in Orange County and the recent cockfighting raid in Shelby County, seizing over 200 birds being kept for breeding and fighting purposes.

IAACWO congratulates Larry, John and the Indiana Gaming Commission for their commitment to stopping these cruel bloodsports in Indiana.

Laurie Adams, Founder, Casa Del Toro Pit Bull Education and Rescue

Casa Del Toro Pit Bull Education and Rescue is a central Indiana-based non-profit animal rescue and welfare group dedicated to the rescue, placement and public education of pit bulls and ending the suffering caused by animal fighting in Indiana while also improving the quality of life for shelter animal, particularly “pit bulls”.

Laurie Adams, former Indianapolis Animal Care and Control Animal Control Officer founded Casa Del Toro and has since created the Kennel Enrichment Program. While many shelters are stretched to the limits, dogs being held deserve to be as comfortable as possible during their stay. And Laurie is working to see that it happens. Laurie was spurred to action not only by her compassion for animals, but also from tirelessly assisting with 100 dogs from the largest dog fighting raid in Indiana conducted by the Indiana Gaming Commission in 2009.

Since then the Kennel Enrichment Program has taken shape and is moving full steam ahead. ” The goal of kennel enrichment is to provide variety for dogs at the Indianapolis Animal Care & Control (IACC) shelter. We try to reduce stress as well as introduce change into a static environment. Anything that stays the same for long periods of time loses its uniqueness and becomes part of the scenery. Frequently people think that just because a dog makes it to the adoption floor they are out of harms way, that couldn’t be further from the truth. It is imperative that these dogs have the same enrichment as the investigation/long term custody animals for whom we originally created the program”, said Laurie Adams, founder of the program.

Dogs playing and relaxing at IACC during Kennel Enrichment

Working with a team of dedicated and hard working volunteers, the KEP team utilizes basic positive reinforcement training, grooming, scent therapy, agility training and breaks from the noisy shelter environment. For cases that cannot leave their kennels, elite volunteers roll enrichment carts that are loaded down with treats, bones, soothing scents, toys and much more through the kennels and interact with each animal.

It’s no doubt Laurie, her team of amazing volunteers and Casa Del Toro are making a big impact for shelter animals in Indianapolis and animals around the state. Alongside her own rescue and programs, Laurie can be found assisting various other organizations across the state in cockfighting, dog fighting, hoarding and other cruelty cases. Thank you Laurie for all you do to prove if there is a will there is a way.

If you are interested in implementing a similar program at your shelter contact Laurie at: CDTBullyRescue@aol.com or visit her website for more information.