|
Animal Advisory Council May Be
Coming to Bonner County
In the last few years, reported incidents of animal
cruelty and neglect have increased in Bonner County. Accompanying these
reports are a wide variety of opinions on what constitutes abuse and
neglect. Although there are clear cases of abuse and neglect, others may
ride an unclear boundary.
What determines how laws are clarified is often
community standards. This is why in some areas of our country things
that are perfectly acceptable may be perfectly illegal in other areas.
Idaho is one of the few remaining states where animal cruelty is not a
felony.
What does constitute cruelty? Is it cruel to keep a
dog on a chain? If so how short can the chain be before it's considered
cruel? Ten feet? Five feet? How about two feet? Most people in our
community would probably agree that two feet would be cruel, but our
laws are vague in matters such as this and need to be clarified.
Other questions that need clearer guidelines include
what would be considered abuse when "breaking" a horse, or what's the
safest way to capture an emu on-the-Ioose? Since there are many opinions
as to what exactly "vicious" means when referring to a potentially
dangerous animal, terms such as these need to have clearly defined
explanations in order for our laws to fit our community standard.
Plans are in the works to form an Animal Advisory
Council to help create these clearly defined policies in dealing with
Bonner County animal control issues. This council would consist of 10-12
volunteers: approximately 1/3 vets, 1/3 animal groups and 1/3 community
members participating with the sheriffs office.
For more information or to find out how you can help,
contact the Bonner County Sheriffs office.
COMMUNITY VISION FOR BONNER COUNTY TO EVOLVE TO NO-KILL STATUS
Our local
shelter is a no-kill facility. This means that animals are no longer put
to death unless it is unavoidable due to medical conditions. But this
does not mean that our county has no-kill status.
It takes a
lot of effort in a community to achieve a no-kill status in a county.
One or several animal rights groups cannot do it on their own. It has to
be a community effort, involving city and county officials, animal
control officers, county politicians, area residents-what it takes
really at the heart of the matter is people who fight against
indifference, emotional callousness, selfish pursuit of comforts,
pleasures, greed, power, prestige- people who believe more in living
life with a higher purpose. One of which is spending ones self on things
that really matter: things or living beings that have eternal value and
to make a choice to give reverence, respect and to cherish all
creatures.
Animal Cruelty is Domestic Violence
Our thrift
store, Sanctuary Seconds, has a banner up that says "ANIMAL CRUEL TV IS
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE" The link between animal cruelty and domestic battery
is important for everyone to see. Please report any animal cruelty to
your local Animal Control.
Sometimes
abusive family members injure or kill pets as a way of threatening or
controlling others. If you know of a person or animal that is in a
physically abusive situation, you can call VAST-Victims Advocate
Services Team at
265-3586.
Please stop
the cycle of abuse and take action now. Everyone deserves a life free of
violence.
Learn about Idaho Cruelty to Animals Statutes
http://tarlton.law.utexas.edu/dawson/cruelty/id_cruel.htm
A
COMMITMENT TO MAKING A DIFFERENCE
An
overwhelming number of animals are stray, abused or abandoned. We are
asking the community to enlarge their hearts, exercising compassion,
mercy and respect toward these animals. Please get them spayed or
neutered, properly dewormed and vaccinated, medical attention if needed
and simply give them a home. Do this and the emotional rewards will be
rich indeed. It is mankind that has caused this situation: it must be
mankind who takes action to make things right. Please join us and become
a part of the solution.
If you pick
up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is
the principal difference between a dog and a man. --Mark Twain
We'd like to Give a Very
Special Thanks to
Dr
Bob Stoll and his precious wife Heidie of Animal Medical Care have
always been there for us! Animals coming into the Sanctuary are almost
always sick or diseased. Thank you for helping us to bring these
abandoned animals to a level of health and healing!
SECURING THEIR FUTURE
Have you thought
about what will happen to your
pet/s
if something happens to
you? It is an important part of Estate Planning and your Will to provide
them with a continuous, loving home. With proper financial arrangements
in place, LTFAS can provide them with a permanent home for the rest of
their lives.
Life-Time Friends Animal
Sanctuary, Inc. (LTFAS) is a non-
profit organization funded solely by donations and run 100% by
volunteers: every dollar goes toward the care of stray, abandoned or
abused animals.
One of the primary goals
of LTFAS is to find loving homes for these animals. We provide life long
shelter and protection in a non caged environment to animals who are
unable to find a loving home due to overpopulation, health issues or
other reasons, and as much love as our volunteers and fostering programs
can give.
It is our sincere goal to
educate the public that to spay and neuter is a loving act that prevents
hundreds of unwanted animals from a life of abandonment, misery,
starvation, disease and ultimately death. We work with local
veterinarians to provide low cost spay and neuter clinics along with low
cost disease control vaccinations. We often act as an overflow for the
local animal shelters and humane societies to
help them to achieve a
no-kill status. .
The Sanctuary is about
people, too. Many people give of themselves whether in time and talent
or money to the Sanctuary because they believe in our work and purpose.
LTFAS is about helping animals in need, but it's also about involvement
in other people's lives, hopefully enriching their life experience.
Adoption Process
at Life-Time Friends Animal Sanctuary We
know each of our animal friends intimately. Every one of them is unique
with it's own personality. Thus, we are able to make an almost perfect
match for someone who wants an addition to their family. We are happy to
help you match an animal to your personality, your environment and your
companionship needs.
|
