Michael Vick's Dog Receives Key To The City - Deadspin

http://deadspin.com/5801308/michael-vicks-dog-receives-key-to-the-city (via shareaholic)

Michael Vick's Dog Receives Key To The City

Emma Carmichael Back in February, when folks in Dallas were outraged that the city's Mayor Pro Tem had awarded Michael Vick with a key to the city that, he explained, was really "for the children," the Dallas Observer ran the headline that included the phrase, "As It Turns Out, Anybody Can Get a Key to the City of Dallas." Last week, City Councilwoman Angela Hunt proved them right by presenting an edible key to the city of Dallas to a dog.

Hunt presented the key at a ceremony to honor Richard "Big Dick" Hunter, the radio host who adopted Mel (one of the most abused and also, we'd argue, most adorable pups involved in Vick's dog-fighting ring) and who works "tireless[ly]" for animal rights.

"One of my colleagues in the city of Dallas showed a grave lapse in judgment by awarding the highest honor our city can bestow," Hunt said, "on someone who was entirely undeserving and someone who has shown serious cruelty and inhumanity."

And now, with an animal that has shown serious adorability and harmlessness, and that will eat his key for dinner all week, that honor is restored. Students of city politics, expect to find this mess in your "public relations" chapter beginning next fall.

Good Dogs > Bad Humans. One Dallas City Official Finally Gets It Right. [Dallas Observer]

*loves*

NATIONAL REGISTRY FOR ANIMAL ABUSERS | Petition2Congress

http://www.petition2congress.com/4426/national-registry-animal-abusers (via shareaholic)

"It is of the utmost priority that each State keep and maintain a registry of all animal abusers. These abusers have been linked to serial killing, domestic violence as well as drug related issues and so forth. This kind of crime breeds other crimes and must be stopped. If we have a national registry of these criminals, we would be able to keep them from ever adopting an animal again, we would be able to look at them first when searching for a serial killer, we would be able to protect those who are victims of domestic violence. It's a new day and our animals need our voice. Please, President Obama, get involved in animal rights and make this happen.
Please support this petition.
Thank you and God Bless you
from all of us who care about our animals "

County looks at how to solve tire problem | Coshocton Tribune | coshoctontribune.com

http://www.coshoctontribune.com/article/20110523/NEWS01/110523008/County-looks-how-solve-tire-problem?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Frontpage (via shareaholic)

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In other business, commissioners heard from:
� Chris Sturtz, officer for the Humane Animal Treatment Association of Coshocton County, asked commissioners if they would allow the agency to keep an additional $10 of the $50 adoption fee for shelter dogs.

Sturtz said for the past several months, they staff has had to dip into the association%u2019s savings, about $500 a month, to keep operating. The agency operates the county-owned shelter under contract for $12,500 per year, plus the county covers utilities, which run about $15,000 per year, said Commissioner Curtis Lee.

The shelter doesn%u2019t receive funding support from the Four Paws Thrift Store and Pet Adoption Center, Sturtz said. It does receive $1,085 per month from the county dog and kennel fund, plus Sturtz%u2019s salary and benefits totaling $2,100 annually are out of the county general fund.

Of the $50 fee, $12 is for a dog license which goes to the county, $10 goes to the county dog and kennel fund, and the remaining $28 is for the HATA. Sturtz said expenses can run beyond that to feed the animal, treat for parasites, vaccinate, and after a few days, there%u2019s the cost to euthanize the animal.

In 2010, 750 dogs were left in the drop box at the Coshocton County Animal Shelter.

Sturtz said she doesn%u2019t like dipping into HATA%u2019s savings, aswell as other costs the organization could be liable for, such as mistreatment to horses, which can be quite expensive to remedy, she said.

%u201CWe are lucky to have the building and to be able to do the work we%u2019re doing,%u201D she said. %u201CBut if we could keep that $10 that would be a big help.%u201D

Commissioners said about $3,500 was generated by a $10 share of the dog adoption fee in 2010.

kdickers@coshoctontribune.com;
(740) 295-3442