WARL

By Allie Simone, Acting Director, Worcester Animal Rescue League

The Worcester Animal Rescue League has received considerable feedback from the public in response to Monday’s T&G article regarding the proposed muzzling ordinance. Clients, volunteers, WARL supporters and county residents are deeply concerned about the negative impact such an ordinance will have. Should this ordinance come to pass, we are certain that many dogs will be abandoned and consequently seized in record numbers.

And, where will they go? There is no official, city-financed “dog pound” in Worcester. The only facility in the city capable of accepting lost or abandoned animals is the Worcester Animal Rescue League. The Worcester Animal Rescue League is a private, non-profit, limited intake animal shelter, accepting pets only when space is available; Adoptable pets are not euthanized because of time or space constraints. This is our firm policy, and we have worked hard to make this a positive reality for the homeless animals of Worcester County. The Worcester Animal Rescue League currently has only 96 kennels for dogs and 41 cages for cats, plus a very limited number of foster home caregivers. On average, the WARL receives over 2,600 homeless animals each year. And, in the current economy, adoption rates have dropped while surrender rates have climbed.

We are very concerned that the City Council has not thought through the ramifications of the passing of this ordinance. Animal control officers were not consulted. County shelter administrators were not conferred with. What will happen to the numerous pit bulls, pit bull crosses and others mistakenly identified as pit bulls, all of which the city finds itself newly in possession of?

The Worcester Animal Rescue League values the long standing relationship it has built with the City of Worcester. However, it is not currently held by a contract to accept impounded dogs found in Worcester. If this ordinance passes, the Worcester Animal Rescue League will no longer accept dogs from Worcester. The dedicated staff and supporters have worked too hard and advanced the organization too far in the quality of care given to its animals to suddenly reverse our no-kill, limited intake policies. This ordinance would be asking us to take a giant step backwards, becoming once again a kill shelter. We wish to be very clear: The Worcester Animal Rescue League will have no part in euthanizing dogs or any other animal due to breed discrimination.

We all know that each animal is an individual. The staff and volunteers at the Worcester Animal Rescue League care for thousands of animals each year (including many wonderful pit bulls, which happily find forever homes throughout the county and beyond) and do not believe in discriminating against a specific breed of animal. What’s more, most animal behaviorists agree that humans are the cause of the vast majority of behavior issues.

Alternatively to the City Council’s proposed plan, the Worcester Animal Rescue League believes establishing a mandatory spay/neuter ordinance for pit bulls would be a much more effective program. We are convinced that a muzzling ordinance in Worcester will ultimately fail. Why? Muzzling does not prohibit breeding; what it does do is make a dog look more intimidating, which only satisfies the social/cultural needs of irresponsible owners who use the dogs as a status symbol.

According to the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association), 75% of dog bites are caused by intact (that is, unneutered) male dogs. It is no wonder than that a proactive bite prevention program begins with a stricter enforcement of spay/neuter practices. This is simply common sense.

The Worcester Animal Rescue League has nearly 100 years of experience in such matters, and it welcomes members of our community and the Worcester City Council to tour the shelter, meet the staff and new director, and visit with all the great pets waiting for a home. Additionally, The Worcester Animal Rescue League hopes to work collaboratively with the City of Worcester in developing practical pet ordinances that serve all residents (both two and four-legged) of our community.

editor’s note: Since we’re on a mini-vaca (not publishing InCity Times this week), we’re running the Worcester Animal Rescue League’s Pet Pals - kitties and doggies who need loving FOREVER homes - on our website. Please visit WARL and check out all these lovely animals. Remember: always rescue a homeless pet! You don’t need to buy a dog or cat from a breeder or (heaven help you) a pet store (puppy mill animals). If you can’t adopt, then volunteer to walk WARL’s dogs or help feed their cats.

P.S. WARL always needs: kitty litter, laundry detergent, bleach and any gently used towels or comforters you may not be using.

R. Tirella

Hi, I’m Oreo. I’m a chubby cat, weighing in at 24 pounds. They say I need a little exercise and a strict diet. I just think that I have more for you to love. I might look a little silly right now because they had to shave some matted hair on my back. When it grows back I’ll be super handsome. My front paws are declawed. If you want to adopt me I should let you know that I would prefer an adult home. I am over 9 years old, which qualifies me for WARL’s “Senior for Senior” program, meaning if a senior citizen adopts any pet over 7 years old, the adoption fee is completely waived. Think it over, you know where to find me. Thank you.

Hi, my name is Music. I came to the shelter with my kittens. Someone found us and brought us to the animal shelter. I was happy to be safe with a roof over my head. My kittens have all new homes now. I just need a home to call my own too. Could it be with you. Oh, I will live with kids if they are respectable of me and I’m not that crazy about dogs either. I hope I don’t sound to picky. Come to the shelter and meet me. Click to continue »

Wishing all the homeless dog and cats, puppies and kittens, (as well as mice, ferrets, gerbils) of Worcester County have loving homes for the holidays?

Then check out tomorrow’s (SUNDAY, DEC. 6) open house at the Worcester Animal Rescue League on Holden Street (Worcester)! From 1 p.m to 4 p.m. Dec. 6  WARL staffers and volunteers will treat you to holiday yummies, music, tours of the kennels and facility and more! Best of all you can visit with all their animals - and hopefully adopt one or two. I visit WARL all the time - adopted both my dogs from WARL. Click to continue »

Biscotti is a young domestic short hair cat that is tiger and white.
Poor Biscotti was abandoned by her family. Thank goodness she is here now, in a safe place, while she waits for someone to fall in love and take her home. She’s a lovely girl who likes people, though she appreciates having “me time” to spend doing secret cat things. She would prefer a home without dogs; she thinks they’re too loud and silly. Come on down to meet this pretty girl today!

Caterpillar is a domestic long hair dilute calica.I’m Caterpillar. I was pregnant when I came to the shelter. I gave birth to 6 kittens on May 2 during the shelter’s big yard sale. I’m a quiet cat. Sometimes people don’t hear me talking to them, so I’ll get on their laps or onto a counter to get their attention. Click to continue »

By Deirdre Healy

The morning of May 12 dawned like any other day here in the city of Worcester, with children going to school and people off to work. In one corner of the city, however, a little drama was about to unfold which would touch many lives for years to come. An animal hoarder under court order to remove a large quantity of cats from a third floor apartment was about to be visited by law enforcement and animal control officers to assure compliance with that court order.

Animal hoarders aren’t cruel, mean-spirited people; instead, they usually have some psychological need or dependency which the animals seem to fill. Hoarders keep a higher than usual number of animals without having the ability to properly house or care for them. The animals often suffer from malnourishment, neglect and overcrowding. The health of the people living near or with the hoarder can also suffer, due to the lack of veterinary care the animals receive and the lack of sanitation.
Hoarding knows no social or economic boundaries and can be found in cities, towns or rural areas. Click to continue »