Posted on July 09, 2010 by: WayCoolDogs

• Tweet

Due to the high numbers of animals in San Francisco shelters and high numbers of dogs who are euthanized, San Francisco’s Commission of Animal Control and Welfare is planning on passing an ordinance that will ban the sale of all companion pets except fish.  Referring to companion pets – dogs, cats, lizards, hamsters, snakes, birds, mice, rats, chinchillas and guinea pigs – the only thing left that can be sold is fish in pet shops. If the pet sale ordinance passes, anyone who buys a companion animal will end up in jail.  Looking for a pet will force pet seekers in San Francisco to go to shelters or rescue groups, look through the classifieds, or hunt for one in another city.

This is not a new move for the city that went no-kill a couple about five years ago. The San Francisco SPCA decided to discontinue its animal control contract with the city in order to reduce the high rates of euthanasia of unadoptable pets. The private shift toward no-kill shelters successfully opened new doorways for the city’s animal shelters, control agencies for animals, and the now adoptable and treatable animals.  Today the city of San Francisco and the city’s SPCA has formed a pact that guarantees all shelter dogs and cats to be adopted, or that no animal will die because of lack of medical treatment before finding a new home. This has set in motion the current ordinance that is trying to ban all sales of companion animals while homeless pets are being euthanized.

San Francisco’s SPCA successful goal to end euthanasia of all shelter pets is due to several things. A big reason is that a lot of well-meaning and not so well-meaning folks out there buying hamsters, gerbils, and other animals who have no right doing so. They don’t understand what it takes to care for and keep an animal, even ones that seem low-maintenance compared to our typical cat and dog companions.

Why the success of the San Francisco no-kill shelter programs:

• Sterilization of all animals that leave the shelter and a feral and stray cat program that actually pays people to bring cats for the surgery;
• A pet care program for seniors that includes lifetime care for a pet that loses its home when the owner dies or becomes incapacitated;
• Behavior modification for dogs with bad habits that interfere with adoptability;
• Obedience classes for the general public as well as shelter adoptees;
• A landlord-tenant program that allows more apartment dwellers to have pets;
• A requirement that each SPCA department share the responsibility of raising its own budget;
• Counseling for prospective adopters;
• Medical care for animals that are debilitated, injured, or chronically ill;
• A pact with the city animal control agency to provide the same services for adoptable and treatable dogs at that facility;
• A commitment to each and every animal that enters the building on 16th Street that it will be given the best chance possible of finding a new home.
• A marketing program that puts the SPCA on the doorstep and in the living room in the city with frequent mailings, newspaper articles, television appearances, and radio interviews;
• A volunteer program that integrates caring helpers into every aspect of the effort;
• A staff that is constantly on the make for new ideas and solutions;
• An outreach adoption program;
• A variety of education sessions from counseling for cat owners to summer camp for city kids;
• An ethical issues department;
• A membership of more than 60 thousand;
• A deep-seated belief that most people will do the right thing if they are given the opportunity and the knowledge to do so.

Sources:

Huffington Post – San Francisco May Ban the Sale of Pets

Dog Owner’s Guide – San Francisco’s SPCA stops the killing

SF Gate: Banning pet stores in SF

UPDATE: July 11, 2010

Source: Care2 -

Pet Sales Ban in San Francisco Tabled

Even though the proposal has not been passed into law, at least it has drawn attention to the issue and perhaps there will be less purchasing of small animals like hamsters and gerbils. Perhaps the proposal can be amended to focus only on the small animals that are the most abandoned and most euthanized. Originally the proposal was intended to reduce the number of puppies sold that came from puppy mills.

_________________________________________________________________________

MORE CUTE STUFF . . .

________________________________________________________________________
GRANDMOTHER’S CORNER . . .

A little girl was diligently pounding away on her grandmother’s word processor, totally engulfed in what she was doing.  She told her grandmother that she was writing a story.

“What is it about?” asked her grandmother.

“I don’t know,” replied the little girl. “I can’t read.”
________________________________________________________________________

DAILY TIP FOR DOG CARE

“Infectious Disease Specialists Reverse Thinking on H1N1 and Pets”

Early in November, the Department of Public Health in Iowa made an announcement that a cat became infected with the virus shortly after a family of three became ill with Flu symptoms. And while infectious disease specialists thought that cats and dogs were less susceptible to the virus than pigs, turkeys, ferrets and humans, recently their thinking has definitely been changed.

The ailing 13-year-old indoor-only cat was taken to the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center, at Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine for treatment where a diagnosis of H1N1 was confirmed by the collective work of the Iowa Department of Public Health, The State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Immunobiotics, the Translational Comparative Medicine, Center for Advanced Host Defenses, the USDA, and the IDALS Animal Industry Bureau. And while the family and the cat made a complete recovery, according to the Pet Health Examiner, it is “clear that cats can become infected with the H1N1 influenza virus. Sadly, the last reported case has been fatal.”

Recently a cat, living in Oregon, succumbed to the virus, becoming ill a week after being exposed to child living in the same household exhibiting flu-like symptoms. The cat exhibited symptoms of labored breathing, and was diagnosed with pneumonia by the veterinarian.

The cat died on November 7. Necropsy results were positive for the H1N1 Influenza. Samples sent to the National Veterinary Service Laboratories for confirmation are still pending, however. The diagnosis at this time is presumptive for H1N1 Swine Flu. It is now being advised that pet owners take precautionary measures for the virus. (Source: Petside)

* * * * *

For more dog health info, dog stories and fun stuff, subscribe to our newsletter here!

* * * * *

(Sponsored)

Related posts:

• Iowa cat diagnosed positive for H1N1 Swine Flu
• Detroit Receives Anonymous Gift for No-Kill Dog Shelter
• Quick notes about dogs and swine flu
• Promoting “Feeding Pets of the Homeless”
• To My Pets and Visiting Non-Pet Owners!