Tickets going fast! Don't miss Gimme Shelter Rock & Rescue at the Highline Ballroom Oct 6th

Time's running out! Get your tickets NOW to the star-studded 2008 Gimme Shelter Rock & Rescue benefit concert at the Highline Ballroom on October 6th. Doors 6pm, Show 7pm.

Purchase tickets via TicketWeb here.

Our online auction via CharityFolks.org has launched and will be live through October 13th. See the full list and photos of our amazing rock & roll one-of-a-kind items and get your bidding on here.

The concert not only includes legends like Debbie Harry and talent like Moby, Bloody Social, Lissie Trullie, Earl Greyhound, and more, but there will be a fabulous raffle with over 30 prizes, as well as a VIP section for VIP ticket holders.

Don't miss this event! Buy your tickets TODAY!

GQ's "Dig the New Breeds" Buries Reality and Sense, Should Offend Readers

In the August 2008 issue of GQ, there was a section titled "Dig the New Breeds". Pretty ridiculous- they were touting 3 breeds of dogs, which I presume people had "created" by cross breeding, i.e. the labradoodle, their dogs. That's ridiculous enough in itself, but GQ, perhaps catering to its mimbo readers, seemed to convey that hot new breeds were like the new style of shoes.

I wrote a letter to them, and I am too lazy and dont have time to edit it for Blog-ish content so read below and see images I scanned from that issue here (they're all pixelly within a blog post, but I included at the bottom here anyway): http://picasaweb.google.com/Courtney.J.Kistler/BloggerPictures?authkey=ji_lB-Rk05U#

Dear GQ,

When I read “Dig the New Breeds” in your August 2008 “Manual: Look Sharp, Live Smart” section, I was surprised to see such a backwards-thinking article in GQ. What it actually conveyed was that animals are no different from fad fashion accessories like the Yorkies and Chihuahuas Paris Hilton and Britney Spears buy at pet stores and tote around in their purses. You even put a price range on each as well as list these “most sought-after dogs of the moment” with “the watch, the car, and the girl”. I consulted my three best guy friends, all subscribers, and they were equally turned off by this piece. They and, I would hope, the majority of GQ readers are not as shallow as such rhetoric would suggest, and are, instead, more in tune with contemporary humane issues, and thus do not view animals as property only to be discarded when it is no longer “of the moment”.

In addition, there was no mention of ways to acquire any breed of dog from a reputable source and not from a puppy mill, which, thanks to intelligent celebrities like Oprah, is now more widely known for the inhumane and shady business it really is.

This would have been a more helpful and worthwhile piece had you mentioned the thousands of animal shelters across the country, which usually have pure breed dogs up for adoption, as well as pure breed rescue groups.

In fact, promoting the purchase of a particular breed of dog undermines the unique qualities any individual dog would have. This may be taken as an insult to readers who have adopted their dog from a shelter, including pit bulls, because they were drawn to its personality and the shelter staff was helpful in finding a companion animal that fit with their lifestyle. After reading your piece, however, a person may order a new Staffordshire Terrier, assuming it will fit with their lifestyle based on a couple lines from the Performance report and exude the Star Power behaviors in your descriptions. Not only does this promote irresponsible decisions, it also undermines the importance of behavior training.

“Dig the New Breeds” conveys that GQ is out of touch with prominent issues, when many other features in your magazine would suggest differently. While GQ often produces thoughtful, socially conscious articles each month, this Pets section was more a show of social ignorance and insult to its more sophisticated readers.

I look forward to GQ redeeming itself by highlighting the intelligence, compassion, and yes, sex appeal of a man who adopts a dog.

-Courtney Kistler
New York, NY

2008 Gimme Shelter Rock & Rescue NYC - tickets on sale now!!

Rational Animal Presents 3rd Annual 'Gimme Shelter: Rock and Rescue NYC' Benefit Concert
TICKETS on sale now!

October 6, 2008, at NYC's Highline Ballroom
Doors at 6:00pm
2-hour complimentary Lagunitas beer and Zipang sake!

Debbie Harry, Honorary Chair and Guest Hosts Adam “AdRock” Horovitz and Gina Gershon

Performances By Lissy Trullie, Jesse Malin, Earl Greyhound, and Bloody Social, plus special performance by Debbie Harry. Moby will be the house DJ throughout the show.

On October 6, Rational Animal, a non-profit media and events organization and a leading advocate for at-risk animals in New York City, will present the 3rd annual ‘Gimme Shelter: Rock & Rescue NYC’ benefit concert. Debbie Harry is serving as the event’s honorary chair and Beastie Boy AdRock and actress Gina Gershon will be guest hosts. A co-venture with the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the event honors and raises money for ten NYC area rescue groups, who, as ten of the over 140 members of the Mayor’s Alliance, were chosen this year to be beneficiaries of the event fundraiser.

Gimme Shelter also highlights the citywide mission to end euthanasia of animals in city shelters that are of reasonable health and temperament by 2015 – as declared by Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2002, the year the Mayor’s Alliance was established. The Mayor's Alliance public-private partnership is setting — and being recognized as — a national model for community animal rescue efforts.

Emceed by nightclub impresarios Chi Chi Valenti and Johnny Dynell, this year’s concert will feature up and coming rocker Lissy Trullie, Brooklyn indie power trio Earl Greyhound, singer songwriter Jesse Malin, and Bloody Social, the rock band of Calvin Klein model, Jamie Burke. Debbie Harry will also perform along with a few surprise guests, and Moby will be house DJ throughout the show.

Susan Brandt, Rational Animal’s Founder, says, “Our goal at Rational Animal is to end euthanasia of healthy and treatable animals. ‘Gimme Shelter’ is a rockin’ way to spread our message, and we’re thrilled that this community of fellow artists and animal lovers have donated their time and talents to the cause.”

The 2006 Gimme Shelter exceeded expectations, both in fundraising and attendance, and was named one of the Top Live Shows of the year by Time Out New York.
Past performers have included rock legends the Beastie Boys, Debbie Harry, Marshall Crenshaw, Nellie McKay, and members of Blue Oyster Cult, the Buzzcocks, and the Dictators.

The Gimme Shelter concert is supported by the Highline Ballroom, VIP sponsor Save The Chimps, media partners NY1 News, GBH TV, Bark Magazine, and New York Tails, beverage sponsors Zipang and Lagunitas Brewing Company, food sponsor Red Jacket Orchards. Silent auction can be accessed online: www.charityfolks.com/rational-animal, and donors include Debbie Harry, the Beastie Boys, and the Black Crowes.

Tom-cat of Toledo, All-American City with its own...Dog Warden?

Yes, that's right. My hometown, Toledo, Ohio, pays a guy about $70k / year (that's a bit for the Glass City), to, ironically, fight what he thinks is a pit bull problem. He's called the Dog Warden. And if the name of his position alone isn't laughable enough, consider that Toledo Blade reporter, Dale Emch, an attorney who also wrote the deeply moving The Ohio Dog Bite Book (seriously? please), concluded from his field work and research that pit bulls are inherently dangerous dogs that possess some "switch" that can "flip" and lead to "remarkable" damage.

In his 2005 so-named personality profile of Tom Skeldon, Dog-Bite Dale goes on about Skeldon's lifelong involvement with animals, which included "practically growing up" at the local zoo, where he worked the concession stands during Summer break, managing “guard dogs" in Vietnam, and leaving a 3-year stint heading up a Delaware zoo to form a "guard dog company" in the Philippines that made profit off, as he admits himself, "money changers and smugglers".



Is it surprising then that in the mid '80s he came back to Toledo and took on a job that hadn't even existed previously? It is to an extent, but, I’ve concluded that, sadly, it’s not that surprising for Toledo. His credentials are based on his work seeing wild animals in captivity over a sno-cone or through an office window, training dogs to fight crime just outside Saigon, and then protecting criminals in Southeast Asia. And his appointment was, according to Dale Emch, based on a rec by his uncle Ned. No joke...but feel free to crack up.



I'm not saying shame on Tom Skeldon, I'm saying shame on The Toledo Blade and shame shame shame on the city of Toledo. Skeldon has been my hometown's Dog Warden for over 20 years now, and he has not only unleashed an attack on the pit bull breed but demonstrates a totally misguided, close-minded view of rescue groups in the area. He says, "A lot of rescue groups don't have a long record of standing...They almost tend to be cults of personality around a few activists."


Read these three articles from The Blade, the only newspaper in Toledo (sadly).

1. Feb 21, 2005, by Dale Emch, reporter for Blade, personal injury lawyer, has defended dog-bite victims.
2. Aug 14, 2008, re. petition to get Dog Warden Skeldon out (as if the position of Dog Warden is even relevant today anyway)
3. Aug 23, 2008, follow-up/opinion by same Feb reporter. Reveals his ignorance and affinity for Skeldon's muscle-flexing.

----------------------------

This post is meant to initiate dialogue, reflect on New York's city-wide initiative for lowering and hopefully eliminating euthanisia, and think especially about how more and more people see animal advocates not as some "cult of personality" but pretty with-it people working for a cause they feel strongly and are knowledgeable about. Should the no-kill status be met in NYC, it would reflect also an increase in compassion for animals and people, zero tolerance for the violence of animal cruelty especially for the lawlessness of dog fighting rings, and a more informed public on an issue that we all have had at least some experience with. I don't see a lot of compassion coming from anyone speaking out for or against Toledo's Dog Warden or its "vicious dog" issue -- only animosity.

Although NYC doesn't have a perfect system between the AC&C and rescue groups, it's a great example to cities around the US who are not quite there yet in terms of working toward a no-kill status and an increase in awareness of animal cruelty as well as the importance of adopting, spay/neuter, and responsible animal guardianship.

Please leave comments, questions!

Sean Casey Animal Rescue and the Missing 2-Headed Turtle

Sean Casey has been doing amazing rescue work for many years, and he's known for his "variety" of animals, including exotics.

Well, not sure if exotic describes this particular rescued turtle, which has 2 heads. How much is that turtle in the window? Possibly $5,000, and on Sunday it was stolen right out of his aquarium in Casey's Hamilton Dog House store/shelter. If you have information, contact Sean!

THE HAMILTON DOG HOUSE
Adoption Facility and Pet Supply Store!
155 E. 3rd St., Brooklyn, New York
Between Caton and Ft. Hamilton
718-436-PETS
http://scarnyc.org


While this is a tragic crime, the news story also highlights the unique rescue work that Sean Casey does for all animals, not just the furry ones. People disgard of their turtles and snakes just as they do their dogs. Most of the time these amphibious animals are not to be kept as pets in the first place.

Read this NY Times article, in which Sean reveals some very interesting facts about two-headed turtles and the reasons they must be in a protected environment, not in someone's bathtub, which is where it may be!

Missing Turtle Report: Watch for the Two Heads

By JENNIFER 8. LEE
Published: August 18, 2008

When Sean Casey called the police on Sunday to report that a nameless two-headed turtle had been kidnapped, the officer had him repeat the complaint two or three times.
Sean Casey said his missing turtle lived in a tank in the window of the Hamilton Dog House in Brooklyn. It was not for sale. “It comes off that I am a prankster,” said Mr. Casey, who runs the Hamilton Dog House, an animal shelter and pet supply store on East Third Street in Brooklyn. “Most people have never heard of a two-headed turtle,” he explained, much less a missing one.

But the turtle was indeed two-headed, and it was missing. The police finally took Mr. Casey seriously: “They said, ‘We’ll send somebody.’ And they did.”

The police arrived several hours later and took a stolen property report. The turtle, popular among the neighborhood children, had been kept by the window. Sometime on Sunday, between 11 a.m., when the store opened, and noon, when a child asked Mr. Casey where the turtle had gone, it disappeared.

“It looks like they searched the entire store and they could not find the turtle,” said a police spokesman. “I guess this qualifies as a missing turtle report, but I don’t think we’re out there looking for it.” There were no suspects in the case.

Two-headed turtles are rare, but they do have a chance of surviving in captivity, Mr. Casey said. “In the wild, they would have zero chance. In captivity, most die within a few days of birth.”
Mr. Casey said he obtained the turtle a few months ago from a man in Florida who had been struggling to take care of it. “They were trying the best they could, but the turtle was just starting to waste away. It wasn’t feeding properly.”

In 1999, an even rarer three-headed turtle was reported to have been found in Taiwan.
Two-headed turtles have to be watched carefully. “There is always a drowning risk,” Mr. Casey said. “They don’t have the ability to dive and swim the way a normal turtle will. If they are put into deep water, they will actually drown.”
Such turtles have maneuverability problems, he said. “They will flip themselves over and they can’t right themselves because one head is going one way while the other head is going the other way.” Feeding is also a problem. Turtle pellets must be broken into two pieces or the two heads will fight over the food, he said.

Mr. Casey said he suspected that the turtle had been taken by a neighborhood child, rather than a thief intent on selling it. He said he believed the turtle was worth between $2,000 and $5,000, based on what museums and zoos might be willing to pay. The store is offering a reward of at least $1,000, partially financed by donations.

The turtle was nameless. Mr. Casey said that was partly because he avoids naming animals, lest he get too attached to them. He said he had been planning to have a naming contest through The Daily News, which published an article on the turtle.
There was no rush, he said. “It’s not like a doggy needs a name. He won’t come when you call him.”

New Hopes this Week! (August 18, 2008)

Please cross post this information only to anyone interested in fostering, rescuing, or adopting. More background for each animal will be available upon request.Contact ckistler@rational-animal.org


Amber: 10 month old female Pit, 37 pounds.



Sweet Amber has been up for adoption, still awaiting her forever home. Giver her a chance, she's a gem!






Ibu: 4 yr old male Pit, 35 lbs.



Wags his tail and loves people!








Henney: 5 yr old female Pit, 51.5 lbs

Previous owner says Henny is good with adults and kids. New Hope coordinator says Henney is very sweet, friendly, follows commands.

—ABOUT NEW HOPE at NYC AC&C— New Hope is a network of over 100 pet rescue, support and adoption agencies in the eastern US who are now associated with AC&C in the process of locating homes for the animals we rescue. As the largest animal rescue organization east of the Rocky Mountains, AC&C has begun to function as the source of adoptable pets for numerous animal rescue organizations including breed-specific groups (for both cats & dogs). In recognition of these organization’s work and collaboration with our successes, AC&C assists New Hope partnered rescue groups by offering low cost microchips, free spay and neuter, vaccinations, behavioral tests and transport for animals that are rescued from our shelters.You can contact us at (212)788-4000 or email us at info@nycacc.orgIf you are a rescue group and would like to apply to become one of our New Hope partners, please see application link below. Please email application to info@nycacc.org

New Hopes this Week! (August 11, 2008)

Please cross post this information only to anyone interested in fostering, rescuing, or adopting. More background for each animal will be available upon request.Contact ckistler@rational-animal.org

Amber

10 month spayed female pit bull, 37 pounds.

Amber is up for adoption, won’t you help her find her happy ending?

Yankee

11 month female Lab / GSD mix, 54 pounds

Great with adults, kids; energetic and friendly; needs owner who can give a lot of attention and exercise

Leila

2 year old female pit, 49 lbs

Loves her toys!!!

—ABOUT NEW HOPE at NYC AC&C—
New Hope is a network of over 100 pet rescue, support and adoption agencies in the eastern US who are now associated with AC&C in the process of locating homes for the animals we rescue. As the largest animal rescue organization east of the Rocky Mountains, AC&C has begun to function as the source of adoptable pets for numerous animal rescue organizations including breed-specific groups (for both cats & dogs). In recognition of these organization’s work and collaboration with our successes, AC&C assists New Hope partnered rescue groups by offering low cost microchips, free spay and neuter, vaccinations, behavioral tests and transport for animals that are rescued from our shelters.You can contact us at (212)788-4000 or email us at info@nycacc.orgIf you are a rescue group and would like to apply to become one of our New Hope partners, please see application link below. Please email application to info@nycacc.org