On November 4, Massachusetts voters will have the unique opportunity to end the cruelty of greyhound racing in Massachusetts.

Question 3, the Greyhound Protection Act will phase out greyhound racing in the Bay State by 2010. This humane ballot question is sponsored by the Committee to Protect Dogs, which is comprised of the Humane Society of the United States, the Massachusetts SPCA and greyhound protection group, GREY2K USA.

As long as dog racing continues, greyhounds will continue to suffer and be hurt. According to state records, over 800 greyhounds have been injured at Wonderland and Raynham Greyhound Parks since 2002. Eighty percent of injuries are broken legs and other reported injuries include head trauma, cardiac arrest, paralysis and seizures.

When not racing, these gentle friends live confined in warehouse style kennels inside small, stacked cages for twenty hours a day. This is no way to treat a dog!

You can help spread the word by getting “Yes on 3″ flyers into the hands of other Massachusetts voters. Handing out information at your local grocery store, dog park, pet supply store, farmers market, train or bus station or anywhere that attracts large groups of people would be a tremendous help in raising awareness about this important issue.

Another great way to spread the word is to contact local veterinarians and pet supply stores to see if they will make them available to customers and clients or even post one on a bulletin board. Email info@ProtectDogs.org with your name, mailing address and phone number or call the Committee to Protect Dogs at 617-666-3526 if you would like to get involved.

To download flyers or for more info visit Committee to Protect Dogs

Thank you for caring about the greyhounds! Working together, we can end the cruelty of dog racing in Massachusetts.

Sincerely,

Wayne Pacelle
President & CEO
The Humane Society of the United States

Here is a fun quiz put out by Dogster to find out what breed you would be in the dog world.

Are you a flamboyant Jack Russell type, a happy carefree Golden Retriever or a hard working German Shepherd?

click here to take the quiz!

Pet friendly: Northeast Animal Shelter moves to larger space
By Kristin D’Agostino/kdagosti@cnc.com

“Push!” two women shout as Hazel May crouches with tail in the air, struggling to bring her ninth puppy into the world.

The amber-colored stray collie arrived pregnant at the Northeast Animal Shelter last week and she’s been treated like a celebrity ever since. Her labor pains began last night, says Michelle Briand, 33, the kennel manager who has been here with her since 6:30 a.m. when the dog began going into labor.

“I rushed right over,” Briand says. “She shouldn’t be left alone. I offered her water and support and she was really happy to see me.”

If Hazel May had come to the shelter two months ago, she would have been turned away because she was pregnant. The animal shelter moved on May 22 from a tiny basement space on Highland Avenue into a former Honda dealership down the street that offers literally 10 times the space. For the first time in their 32-year history, they can accommodate pregnant animals.

“Before we didn’t have the space for it,” director Laurie McCannon says. “We’d rush the dog off to foster care.”

In between pushes, Hazel May sprawls out in the corner of her stall in a windowed room that bears resemblance to a hospital’s maternity ward. Staff peer in the windows and point and smile at her crop of nursing babies.

It’s not just Hazel who’s reaping the benefits of more space. Just a couple rooms over, Crackers, a black and white cat, is enjoying a leisurely stroll around his new digs in a 10-by-8 foot room complete with a small sofa and two climbing posts. At the old shelter, Crackers — who was found abandoned in an old apartment — was prone to moodiness and bad behavior.

“He was cranky and would scratch people,” McCannon says. Here in one of two new cat “community” rooms where he’s allowed to roam free, Cracker has become much more relaxed. Sure, he shares the space with six other cats, but now his time in the shelter feel less like a prison sentence and more like a night out with the boys.

The community rooms are just one attempt at improving the animals’ quality of life — a stroll through the shelter reveals many others. In one room about 50 caged cats doze and stretch to the sound of opera music piped in through the shelter’s new speaker system, an effort to help relax the animals. They seem to like it, McCannon says, though the real mood enhancer is no longer having to share their room with barking dogs.

Since moving, “there is a noticeable change in their behavior,” McCannon says. To read more of this article visithttp://www.wickedlocal.com

The Northeast Animal Shelter will celebrate the move to its new home with a special grand opening at the new location, 347 Highland Ave., Sunday, June 29 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Special activities include an auction, featuring gifts and services from local businesses. The silent auction runs 2-4 p.m. with winners announced at 4:30 p.m. In consideration of shelter residents, visitors are asked to leave their own beloved animal companions at home.

Special guided shelter tours include: Up-close-and-personal time with the animals; “Ask the Vet” and “Ask the Trainer,” an opportunity to get questions answered by the experts; Training demonstrations led by local trainers; Face painting; special appearances by favorite TV cartoon characters; raffles and refreshments; and Stuffed Animal Wellness Clinic, in which kids bring a favorite stuffed companion for a checkup by a real veterinarian and receive a personalized wellness certificate.

For information call 978-745-9888 or visit www.northeastanimalshelter.org.

This is Park who is 8 years old and Judd who is 6 1/2 months old basking in the San Diego sun. Such stunning dogs. A special thanks to Marilynn, their owner for allowing me to post their picture.

German Shepherds are my favorite breed of dog. I was fortunate to have three shepherds, Merlin, Nina and Liberty while living in San Diego. All have passed on since.

German Shepherds are very intelligent and love to have jobs. They were originally bred to herd sheep. The herding instinct make them an excellent dog to have around children. The GSD need activities and exercise. Training is essential for this breed. If they become bored they can become very destructive. They are fearless, loyal and devoted. There are no words for the bond between a shepherd and their owner.

For those who need help in training your GSD please read “How to be your dog’s best friend”, by the Monks of New Skete. These men are Dr Dolittles in monk robes! I have never in my entire life met such well behaved dogs as the ones at New Skete.

Unfortunately many Shepherds suffer from hip dysplasia. Other problems may include allergies or arthritis in old age. Acupuncture, a change in diet, supplements and Chinese herbal formulas can help with many of these ailments. My dog Merlin suffered from hip dysplasia in his later years. After incorporating Traditional Chinese medicine, cooking for him and giving him acupuncture. His symptoms improved. Merlin lived to be almost 15 years old. Not bad for a GSD! Four Paws Acupuncture began as a result of Merlin’s success.