Did you miss it?
Cheryl Mercedes' story on pet injuries at grooming facilities and the possibility of licensing groomers. The story generated a lot of comments on this blog and plenty of calls to Channel 9. Find out what all the commotion is about.
Here's the link: http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?s=8256490
Tune into Channel 9 this Wednesday at 10 p.m. for Cheryl Mercedes' story on pet injuries at grooming facilities and the possibility of licensing groomers in Louisiana. Complaints of pet injuries at grooming facilities is on the rise and there is a national debate on whether licensing groomers could help. Tune into Channel 9 April 30th at 10 p.m. for details.
A New Orleans attorney has filed a civil suit in federal district court on behalf of over 15 pet owners alleging that St. Bernard Parish sheriff deputies killed their pets. The attorney general is also pursuing a criminal investigation.
Shortly after the storm, stories started circulating about the alleged slaughter of dozens of pets in three St. Bernard schools used as shelters. Mark Steinway, of Pasado’s Safe Haven an animal welfare refuge in Washington state, went to investigate. According to Steinway, the site was horrific. “There were bullets everywhere, shotgun shells everywhere, holes in the walls, holes in the floors,” Steinway said. “It was obvious someone was just chasing these dogs around the school wildly shooting at them.”
The St. Bernard's sheriff's office has denied the charges saying that any actions taken were done with the “utmost care, caution and belief of its necessity” in a time of emergency.
Tailwag to Hounded, Cowed and Badgered for this story.
Technorati Tags: pet law
"I just can't keep him. My new landlord won't allow pets."
This is one of the most common reasons for leaving a pet at a shelter, but it doesn't have to be that way. If more rental housing permitted pets, millions of dogs and cats could stay with their families when their guardians move. Allowing pets can make "cents" for landlords. Here a just a few reasons why:
If you are a landlord considering allowing pets, check out the resources on the HSUS website. They have a collection of resources, including a sample pet lease addendum to guide you.
Source for post: www.rentwithpets.org (Humane Society of the United States)
Nicole Stackpole dropped off her nine-year-old Pekingese, Toby, at a grooming salon in Branford, Conn., for a bath and a haircut. Later, she received a call from the groomer, who told her to go to a veterinarian's office. When she arrived, she found Toby dead. According to local animal-protection authorities, Toby had been strangled by a restraint device after being left unattended for at least 15 minutes.
This experience is one of a number of pet deaths that have occurred at groomers around the country in the past year, raising concerns among some pet owners. The disturbing cases include reports of dogs overheating under dryers and the recent mauling of a poodle mix by larger dogs at a pet salon in West Virginia. Legislators in a number of states are considering laws that would more tightly regulate the pet grooming industry. While the number of pet deaths and injuries is small, there is evidence that it is a growing problem. According to the Council of Better Business Bureaus in Arlington, Va., there were 340 complaints against pet groomers in 2005, up 50% from 2000.
Tips for Safer Grooming
Source: The Wall Street Journal
Technorati Tags: Pet Care, Pet Care Business, Pet Law
Army Lt. Jay Johnson was in Iraq when his family told him that volunteer rescuers who worked in New Orleans after hurricane Katrina had taken his Shih Tzu, Missy. He's one of about 20 Katrina survivors who have sued humane societies, animal rescue agencies, or people who adopted the animals, for the return their pets.
The lawsuits are efforts to reunite pets with their families. They raise questions about whether animals should be treated as property or as members of the family. State laws for the most part favor the original guardians because pets are considered property, not family. "Finders, keepers" laws typically provide that property must be abandoned for at least a year before the original owners lose their rights to it unless the finders can prove they made a good-faith effort to find the owner. In Louisiana, the requirement is three years.
Read more about the lawsuits at The Christian Science Monitor online.
Technorati Tags: Humane Society, Pet Care, Pet Custody, Pet Law
If you get a divorce or separate, who will be the primary guardian for your pet? How often will the other person get to visit your pet? When a couple splits, they often disagree about who will care for their pets. Recently, courts have become more likely to consider pets as part of a divorce proceeding, but the law is unclear. So, it is a good idea for pet guardians to draft an agreement that details their wishes regarding care of their pets in the event of separation or divorce.
Some sample provisions for a joint/shared custody arrangement might include:
These are just a few examples. A comprehensive agreement between the guardians can prevent disputes and help to resolve them if they come up.
Technorati Tags: Pet Care, Pet Contracts, Pet Custody, Pet Law
A New Orleans dog left homeless and without his family after Hurricane Katrina might finally be returning home after a year of moving from shelter to shelter and finally taken in by a family in Pennsylvania. Rocket, a 2-year-old chow-Finnish spitz mix could soon be on a flight to New Orleans and reunited with Sheila Combs and her 10-year-old son, who lost their home in addition to Rocket in the hurricane.
Many stories like this one are being played out across the country as pet guardians from the Gulf Coast try to relocate and reunite with pets they lost track of during the hurricanes.
Some cases are ending up in courtroom custody battles. In New Jersey, a judge earlier this year ruled that a Louisiana family who lost its dog after the hurricane — not the New Jersey family that adopted him — should keep the dog. An 86-year-old hurricane victim recently filed a lawsuit in attempt to get back his poodle from a woman in the Pittsburgh area, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Read more here: Family will return pet lost in Katrina (phillyBurbs.com) | Courier Times:
Source for post: www.phillyburbs.com
Technorati Tags: Pet Care, Pet Custody, Pet Law
Most dog bite victims are the dog owner's friends, neighbors or family. It isn't safe to assume that your dog won't bite because she is old, infirm or has never bitten anyone. Likewise, don't assume your neighbor's ancient Basset Hound is incapable of having a bad day and biting you.
Dog Owner Info
Generally, you are liable for your dog's behavior if you know he is dangerous, your carelessness helped to cause the injury or a state law makes you liable even if you don't know your dog is dangerous. Standards vary by state.
In Louisiana, you are liable if:
Some steps you can take to prevent bites are to:
Get more tips and information from the Humane Society of the United States by clicking here.
Victim Info
If you are bitten by a dog, the owner may be liable for your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages. Damages vary by state and may depend on the facts of your case.
If you are bitten, immediately wash the wound thoroughly with soap and warm water, call your doctor, and report the bite to your local animal control agency. Give the agency as much information as you have about the dog, such as where she lives, who the owners are, her description and where she was headed when you left. Get more info from the HSUS by clicking here.
Technorati Tags: Humane Society, Pet Care, Pet Law, Dog Bite
