Paw Prints!
Friends of the Sangamon County Animal Control Monthly Newsletter
Sangamon County Animal Control is located at: 2100 Shale Rd., Springfield, IL 62703 217-535-3065 (fax 217-535-3067)
Protect Against Fleas ‘til Freeze!
Open to the public: Monday - Friday 10:30am - 4:15pm
November 2012
Saturday 10:30am - 12:45pm
Many people make the mistake of discontinuing flea prevention too early in the season. Though it is acceptable to protect your pet against fleas all-year-around, you should only discontinue the use of a preventative after a there is an
established period of frost. Fleas can be relentless and resilient and you do not want to run the risk of a flea infestation. For more information on flea prevention, please contact your local veterinarian.
Calendar of Events 11/3 11/7 11/8 11/10 11/17 11/22 11/24
Off-site Adoptions @ Farm & Home Monthly Board of Directors Meeting Quarter Auctions @ KC Hall in Pawnee Off-site Adoptions @ Goodwill (Wabash) Off-site Adoptions @ Farm & Home Quarter Auctions @ Oasis in Auburn Off-site Adoptions @ Goodwill (Wabash)
Friends of the SCAC Mission Statement: Friends of Sangamon County Animal Control is dedicated to enriching the lives of, and eliminating the euthanasia of, adoptable pets in residence at Sangamon County Animal Control Center. These objectives will be served by promoting and facilitating adoptions and transfers to other animal shelters, by participating in community outreach events to enhance awareness of Sangamon County Animal Control, and by educating the community on animal welfare issues.
October Adoptions! Unveiling of Sherman’s First Dog Park—“The River Romp”
43
Dogs Adopted
26
Cats Adopted
Share Your Stories Submit your adoption/rescue stories and be featured in an issue of Paw Prints! We openly accept stories, ideas for features, and upcoming events for consideration. Please send your e-mails to StacieLynnTaylor@FOSCAC.org.
Disclaimer: "Friends of Sangamon County Animal Control" is not
affiliated with the Sangamon CountyGovernment. We are a non-profit group of volunteers who help homeless animals at Animal Control.
For months, the Friends of the Sangamon County Animal Control have been planning the construction of a new dog park— “The River Romp”— in the west lot of Sangamon River Meadows. Be among the first to experience this new development as Sherman welcomes its first ever dog park. On Saturday September 22nd, 2012, the Friends of MCAC will host the unveiling ceremony followed by a celebration featuring contests, canine demonstrations, micro-chipping, dog adoptions, and a variety of local vendors. The festivities will kick-off with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10:00am and will continue through 4:00pm. Friends of SCAC have been working diligently for several years toward providing Sherman with a dog park. By means of fundraising, generous donations, and dedicated
volunteers, the Friends have finally completed their mission. The River Romp covers over an acre of land and is comprised of two separate fencedin areas to allow for safe socialization and recreation for Sherman’s canine community. Many of the parks features such as water stations, benches, and dog waste bins were generously donated by Sherman Public Works. “We are really excited to have finally completed what—years ago—may have seemed only like a dream to us. Our community has worked very hard toward this and we are eternally grateful for their support in making this park a reality,” says Friends of SCAC president, Jennifer Sutton. “I hope that everyone— especially those who contributed to the development of the park— can come enjoy the great opening we have planned!”
Reccomended by a ‘FRIEND’!
In response to the media, many people associate negative thoughts with the mention of pit bull breeds. Beyond the Myth is a compelling documentary that unveils the devastating effects of breed selective legislation. By integrating historical references, personal accounts, government spending, and many other aspects that are affected by BSL, Beyond the Myth demonstrates that these laws are ineffectual and are not addressing the real issue. The documentary follows the histories of breed bans in four different cities: Denver, Cincinnati, Miami, and San Francisco. In these locations, BSL has spiraled out of control. At the height of their bans, city officials were authorized to go door-to-door and seize any dog that qualified as a “pit bull breed” based solely on their appearance. These laws have instilled fear and frustration into the lives of families across the United States.
Cocoa, a pit bull whose family resided in Denver, was impounded as a result of the outright ban. Even with the help of an attorney, Cocoa’s family could not free him and he was returned to them by the city in a plastic bag. Cocoa was just one of the more than 4,000 dogs that has been euthanized in Denver based solely on appearance. The fact that these situations were occurring daily led to the formation of an underground railroad that hid dogs in the city and worked towards finding them new homes or would take care of them until their family could leave the city. The film concludes by providing viewers with hope and reassuring them that this cause is worth fighting for by explaining the headway that activists have made in recent years. Thanks to their efforts, 12 states have prohibited the passage of BSL including: CO, FL, IL, MN, Minn., NJ, N., OK, Penn., TX, VA, and WA. Denver and Miami’s bans were in place prior to the passage of these laws and therefore allowing the cities bans to remain in effect This is a very emotional documentary that would be great for any animal lover. It has a strong balance of factual information and real life stories of the devastating effects of BSL. By educating and emotionally striking viewers, this documentary will help spread awareness and benefit the plight of these helpless animal companions.
November’s Featured Adoptable Pets One day, an little pup wandered upon the country property of a loving family. She had a bad limp and it appeared that she had been hit by a vehicle. The family came to call her Karmen and offered to foster her until she recovered. Unfortunately, the family cannot keep her and they are diligently looking for Karmen’s forever-family. This playful pooch is house-broken and very obedient. She loves children, but would live more peacefully in a house without cats—they scare her. Luisa is a beautiful cat who was originally born to be a mouse-hunter on a local farm. When the crops failed during the unusually dry summer, the farm went out of business and the farm cats were left to fend for themselves. Luisa is one of the 12 cats that the SCAC rescued from this farm. Her transition from the farm to our shelter has demonstrated that Luisa is very adaptable. She has been updated on all medical treatments and is ready to move on to her forever-home.
Chanel is a 4-year-old calico cat who still thinks of herself as a kitten. Similar to Miss Coco Chanel herself, Chanel’s interests include feathers and sunbathing. She is very affectionate and loves being held. Her only challenge is that she loves too much. Chanel is up-to-date on all of her shots and vaccinations and is ready to take on the world! She is very easy-going and would be great with any family.
November’s Featured FSCAC Member
Charlie Washburn When Charlie is not taking care of people working as a Tele-nurse, she can be found at the SCAC bettering the lives of animals. Since she was a child, Charlie has been an animal lover. “My family always had a pack of dogs. A variety of pit-bull mutts mostly” Charlie remembers. It was not until she started volunteering with the SCAC when she was a teenager that Charlie really began dedicating herself to the welfare of animals. Growing up around pit bulls, Charlie has found her main interest to be putting a stop to Breed Selective Legislation. These are laws that ban or restrict certain breeds
from an area based solely on their appearance. “These laws are ridiculous. Not only are they discriminatory, but they attack responsible owners and great dogs,” Charlie urges. Last month she visited three elementary schools in the area and gave presentations on responsible pet guardianship. Charlie insists that the community will know no different if we do not educate them. These “dangerous breeds” are only given media coverage when something really terrible happens. Consequently, the public thinks it is a trait of the breed. This is not the case. Charlie assures the SCAC that she will not be going anywhere soon and claims that she enjoys her volunteer work more than anything. She has been an outstanding addition to the Friends of the SCAC and has made great strides in educating our community on animal welfare issues. Board member, Bob Knope, shared, “It is our dedicated members, like Charlie Washburn, that keep us going strong. Her passion is motivational for anyone who crosses her path and we could not thank her enough.”