Action Needed: Including Pets in Orders for Protection

IMMEDIATE ACTION ALERT!

On Wednesday, March 10, the Crime Victims/Criminal Records Division Committee voted to approve a bill that would authorize courts to include pets and companion animals in orders for protection. Reps will be asked to vote on this today!

Please take a moment to call YOUR rep listed below and leave a message with his or her aide that you'd like them to support HF1396 Domestic abuse; courts authorized to include pets and companion animals in protective orders!

Read more about this on the MPR website where Lara Peterson (of A Rotta Love) shares first hand how she comes home to the lifeless body of her 5 month old cat in a trash bag. Lara testified before legislators this week to support the bill.

Minnesota Voters for Animal Protection also has additional information on their website.
Public Safety Policy and Oversight Committee Members:

Joe Mullery 651-296-4262 rep.joe.mullery@house.mn 58-A (Minneapolis)
Gail Kulick Jackson 651-296-6746 rep.gailkulick.jackson@house.mn 16-A (Princeton, Milaca, etc.)
Steve Drazkowski 651-296-2273 rep.steve.drazkowski@house.mn 28-B (Goodview, St. Charles, etc)
Tony Cornish 651-296-4240 rep.tony.cornish@house.mn 24-B (Lake Crystal, Wells, etc.)
Debra Hilstrom 651-296-3709 rep.debra.hilstrom@house.mn 46-B (Brooklyn Park/Center)
Kory Kath 651-296-5368 rep.kory.kath@house.mn 26-A (Waseca, Owatonna, etc.)
Sheldon Johnson 651-296-4201 rep.sheldon.johnson@house.mn 67-B (St. Paul)
Tim Kelly 651-296-8635 rep.tim.kelly@house.mn 28-A (Red Wing, Lake City, Cannon Falls, etc)
Paul Kohls 651-296-4282 rep.paul.kohls@house.mn 34-A (Chaska, Waconia, Victoria, etc.)
Dave Olin 651-296-9635 rep.dave.olin@house.mn 1-A (NW cities in State)
Michael Paymar- bill author 651-296-4199 rep.michael.paymar@house.mn 64-B (St. Paul)
Sandra Masin 651-296-3533 rep.sandra.masin@house.mn 38-A (Eagan, Burnsville)
Ron Shimanski, R 651-296-1534 rep.ron.shimanski@house.mn 18-A (Hutchinson, Glencoe, etc.)
John Lesch, DFL 651-296-4224 rep.john.lesch@house.mn 66-A (St. Paul)
Bruce Anderson 651-296-5063 rep.bruce.anderson@house.mn 19-A (Monticello, Buffalo, Maple Lake)
Karla Bigham 651-296-4342 rep.karla.bigham@house.mn 57-A (Cottage Grove, S. St. Paul, St. Paul Park, etc.)

Please contact your representative - you can find him/her by going to: http://www.gis.leg.mn/mapserver/districts/

If your rep is listed above please leave a message of support for this piece of legislation being heard in committee. If you know anyone who may live in the areas listed above please encourage them to make a quick 1 minute call in support of HF1396!

Help pets in need by a simple click

Thanks to founder Kim Carrier of The Pet Project there is a non-profit now whose mission is to helps people keep their pets by providing pet food and basic supplies to those who are struggling.

After being featured in the Star Tribune about the work she is doing she got a phone call from Cargill. Nutrena (owned by Cargill) makes the premium pet food Loyall. After reading the article on The Pet Project and how Kim is working to stock food shelves with pet food (as they are very much a part of the family) they donated a truck load of pet food (worth approximately $10,000!)!. They have agreed to donate another truckload of pet food if the following youtube video is viewed 10,000 times by April 30th. Please consider watching the video and pass the link around to all those you know.

Thanks Kim! Thanks Cargill/Nutrena! And Thanks to all for what you do on behalf of animals and their guardians who love them.

Adoptions

Sadie has found a home! This shyer girl who grew up in a shelter without the sounds of a household around her and who knew nothing about windows, was slow to adjust to her foster home. She had met few people in her life and was an introvert. Gradually she began to blossom and has found the perfect spot for her - with a woman as an owner which seemed to be Sadie's preference. She sleeps with her owner and comes for attention at bedtime and is very gradually exploring the house. Lucky Sadie!

Sonic has also found a home - a little girl, under a year, who was not at all fond of our adoption events and grumbled away while there. She was visited in her foster home where she acts like the star she is and went home to a family with children and a dad who works from home - she'll love it!

Silas has also found a home. He and Sadie are siblings and he was the braver of the pair but still found windows and household sounds intimidating at first. Silas loves to give hugs and is very playful and will love being an only guy with a man for an owner!

It was a good week for cats who had names that began with an 'S'!

Louie and others

Do you remember Louie? The fellow picked up by impound with severe frostbite, starvation and other ailments? He's definitely a senior citizen and had either been put outside to survive or die on his own or gotten lost and not found by his owner. No one claimed him at impound and he went to live with a Pet Haven volunteer and foster who has a special place in her heart for the 'older' set.

Here's a pix of the 'before' Louie. In the top picture you will see how his coat has improved and he's feeling pretty happy!

Louie has gained weight - a pound. He's warm and happy. He has new friends - not just people but other cats. He's gained strength.

Will he live a long, long time and be a loved companion for many years? No, he won't.

But he and his foster will have many special moments to cherish and remember - the best one being that Louie has a home, one that will stick by him forever.

Others who have found homes recently are of the younger set - Speedy, Libby, Sadie, Smokey Joe (a middle aged fellow himself) who came from a hoarder house through the Animal Humane Society, April and Bijou.

Thank you to all of you who adopt a rescued companion animal. Those who open their hearts to cats and dogs who have been surrendered or abandoned at least once in their lives are special people.

Living in foster homes, Pet Haven can tell you what these animals need to feel loved and secure and help you find the best fit for your family. Lucky you - lucky them.

Time is critical for Puppy & Kitten Mill Bill

Reposted from the Animal Humane Society Website:

Time is critical for Puppy & Kitten Mill Bill

Friday, March 5, 2010

The Dog and Cat Breeder Bill (S.F. 7/H.F. 253), also known as the Puppy and Kitten Mill Bill is before the Minnesota Legislature. The bill will put in place licensing and inspection of dog and cat breeder facilities in Minnesota, bringing an end to inhumane breeding practices.

Currently, the bill is still “on the table” in the respective agriculture and veterans committees in both the Minnesota Senate and the House of Representatives. We need your continued support to help members of the committees understand the importance of the bill and to “call it off the table” for discussion.

Time is critical. The first policy committee deadline is next Friday, March 12. If we are not granted a hearing by that time, the bill will not pass this year.

You can make a difference with one phone call. Please call all of the following members on the committees (listed below) before noon on Monday and let him or her know you support S.F. 7/H.F. 253. If you live in one of these districts, please make certain your legislator knows that fact. To find your district and State legislators, go to: Minnesota District Finder.

MN Senate Agriculture and Veterans Committee Members
State the bill number and the Senate author's name: S.F. 7 authored by Senator Don Betzold

Tony Lourey 651.296.0293
Lisa A. Fobbe 651.296.8075
David W. Hann 651.296.1749
Rod Skoe 651.296.4196
Dan Skogen 651.296.5655
House Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Committee
State the bill number and the House author’s name: H.F. 253 authored by Representative Tom Tillberry

Mary Ellen Otremba 651.296.3201
Kent Eken 651.296.9918
Terry Morrow 651.296-8634
Dean Urdahl 651.296.4344
Now is the time to be a voice for animals.

Explain the importance of the bill and that it is a highly collaborative effort among many animal groups and volunteers, and the bill has a long list of supporting organizations and individuals—including you.

Talking points for your call

Educate them on what goes on in puppy and kitten mills

If you call this weekend, chances are you'll reach the legislator's voicemail. Please leave a message with your name and support of S.F. 7 (Betzold) or H.F. 253 (Tillberry).

Legislators are also hearing from breeders and others who oppose the bill. Your voice will make a difference. Don’t wait—call today!

Big Adoption Weekend

Pet Haven has adoptions both Sat. and Sunday in one location.

PetCo Richfield, 66th and Lyndale Ave. S

Sat. March 6 11-1 p.m.

Sun. March 7 1-3 p.m.

Come and meet us and think about adopting a new furry friend for your home! Some of the cats who will be there are:

Ladybug

Look at those long eyebrows and whiskers!

Riley loves those head scritches!

Kati - sassy and beautiful!

Larry a boy full of fun and games -

And many more, of course! Kittens in the 9 month to 1 yr. range. Others who are 5-6 yrs. old. Most 2-3 yrs. of age.

Coins for Canines

Pet Haven has been the recipient of another fund raiser!

As you check the cat and dog blogs, you will notice that we take in cats and dogs who have health issues and need a lot of care as well as vaccinations and altering. We help folks in the community and other groups with spay/neuter grants. We appreciate all of the funds we receive to help support these vital programs!

Pet Haven was the recipient of Coins for Canines, money raised throughout the Golden Gophers Women’s Basketball season. Coins for Canines was a contest where people submitted photos of their very cute pooches dressed in their Gopher best. Each photo was placed on a large water cooler jug and fans voted for their favorite photo by placing coins (and bills!) into the jugs. The money raised as part of this effort was donated to Pet Haven.

I was honored to represent Pet Haven at the Gopher Women’s Basketball game on February 25^th to receive a check for Pet Haven worth nearly $1400! Before I received the check, Deborah Diamond, Associate Director of Marketing for the Gophers, told me the final amount would probably be a lot more since they were still counting the money. I was called onto the floor during halftime, where I was presented the big check. Jim Marshall, the Gophers announcer, introduced me with the same excitement he does for the players, which was very exciting for me and probably as close as I’ll ever come to feeling like a rock star.

The plan was for the winning dog to be announced at the end of the game. Unfortunately (or fortunately for us!) there were so many coins, that folks were still counting the money at the end of the game! Deborah emailed me the next day that the total raised was an impressive $2,266.82! Nachito, the winning dog, received roughly $600 worth of votes!

Although the Gopher Women lost the basketball game on Thursday, Pet Haven was a clear winner! Thank you to Deborah, the Golden Gophers Women’s Basketball Team, and all the fans who voted. We’ll be able to help a lot of cats and dogs!

Karen S.