PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) -The Arizona family has learned that the director of the Maricopa County Animal Care and Control Shelter is on leave. Although the county won’t say exactly why former employees say there is a toxic work environment.

A former worker tells us that she created a petition calling for housing reform which now has nearly 25,000 signatures. She says the toxic work environment at the shelter leads to high turnover, which creates inadequate animal care. “It’s been a toxic work environment for many years, including when I volunteered there,” said Lorena Bader, a former volunteer.

Maricopa County has placed Animal Care and Control Center Director Michael Mendel on administrative leave.

“Everyone is very scared to speak up,” says Bader, who claims she was fired without cause. Saying that the workplace at the shelter has a history of being toxic. “They won’t necessarily fire you for that. [speaking up]but they will target you.

Mendel became manager in March this year, appointed to the post by Deputy County Manager Valerie Beckett.

“I don’t know. It was chaos. It was chaos. It was the worst experience of my life,” said Molly Judd, who stepped down earlier this year as director of East Shelter. She says Beckett oversees many departments in the county and is the root problem. “She thinks it’s like any other government organization. You just put in a few figureheads and the rest will follow. But it’s not it’s pet boarding. You really need to know what you’re doing to run this place,” Judd said.

Judd says she was bullied at work by Mendell and Beckett who pushed her over the edge. “I needed to quit for my mental health. They made me wonder who I was as a person,” Judd added.

She says she hopes the county makes serious and quick changes. “They don’t have leaders who are animal advocates and understand animal welfare. And until that changes, nothing will change,” Judd said.

We have contacted the shelter to comment on these allegations. They said in part: “Mendel is on leave and out of the office. At this time, a return date is unknown.

Copyright 2022 KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved.

Join The Cradle for Giving Tuesday at donate.cradle.org

EVANSTON, Ill., November 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Nonprofit supporters across the country will meet online at Tuesday, November 29, 2022, for Giving Tuesday, a national giving day after Cyber ​​Monday. The Cradle, a non-profit adoption agency serving Illinois and Indiana, will join the movement through their online donation site, donate.cradle.org. Giving Tuesday takes place during Adoption Awareness Month (November). For The Cradle, this year’s giving season also precedes an incredible milestone: the nonprofit celebrates its centenary in 2023.

“It’s such a special time for The Cradle as we celebrate our first 100 years of impact and enter our second century of service,” said Jason Friedman, President and CEO of The Cradle. “Our growing community of supporters is a common thread connecting our rich heritage of adoption services and the new ways The Cradle aims to become even more valuable to children, families and the wider community.”

The Cradle hopes to raise $125,000 donation this Tuesday to support her ongoing efforts to build families through adoption, support families through life’s challenges, and strengthen communities through education.

“We look forward to celebrating our national network of families who have been touched by adoption,” said Rachel J. Solomon, Associate Director of Development at The Cradle. “We hope to receive donations from all 50 states.”

Solomon says matching donations will be available for The Cradle on Giving Tuesday with themed challenges throughout the day. Donors can double the impact of their donations during these challenges, with $27,000 available as matching funds for The Cradle. In a special 100^e Birthday challenge, every $100 the donation made on Giving Tuesday will be matched dollar for dollar to celebrate the nonprofit’s upcoming centennial.

WATCH A STORY ABOUT THE CRADLE IMPACT: https://youtu.be/Gze92CxOOEA

DONATE ONLINE: Visit The Cradle’s Giving Tuesday donation site at November 29 at donate.cradle.org.

ABOUT THE CRADLE: The Cradle is a licensed non-profit adoption agency that provides adoption services, counseling and educational support. Since opening in 1923, The Cradle has facilitated over 16,000 domestic and international adoptions and has been at the forefront of open adoption, African American infant adoption, and LGBTQ+ placements. The Cradle is the only adoption agency in the country with an on-site crèche. Learn more about Cradle.org or call 847-475-5800.

SOURCE The Cradle Company

Kyiv, Ukraine
CNN
—

When Russian forces invaded their country in late February, Vladimir Bespalov and Maria Bespalaya feared their dream of having a family through adoption was over.

“I remember very clearly that morning of February 24,” said Vladimir Bespalov, a 27-year-old railway worker, of the first day of the war. “We thought we were too late. We realized we were already in a state of war and we thought we couldn’t adopt anymore.

Instead, the situation prompted the couple to try to do it sooner, he said. “We were waiting to make more money, get a better car, buy a house and build something to give our kids first. But when the war started, we thought why not adopt a child now and do these things together as a family.

That day, the married couple, who lived in eastern Ukraine, posted a call on social media.

“We want to adopt any boy or girl, any newborn or child,” he said.

Weeks later, that message would reach a volunteer helping those fleeing Mariupol, a southern city that has become emblematic of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ruthless campaign to take Ukrainian land, come what may.

Residents were forced into hiding for weeks as Russian troops pounded the town with artillery. It is now a virtual wasteland, with nearly all buildings damaged or destroyed, and an unknown number of dead under the rubble.

Among the survivors was Ilya Kostushevich, 6, an orphan and alone. Both of his parents were killed in the first week of the war.

His mother was shot by Russian artillery after leaving home to find food for her family, Bespalov and Bespalaya were later to learn from the police.

Unaware of his wife’s fate, Ilya’s father went looking for her the next day, but was also killed by shelling from the Moscow army, police said.

Little Ilya told how he was left at a neighbour’s house, where he sheltered in a cold, dark basement with strangers for weeks.

He got so hungry he started eating his toys, Bespalaya said.

“The men were drinking alcohol and the children of these neighbors bullied him. He was starving and freezing,” Bespalaya told CNN in a low voice. She’s careful not to bring up Ilya’s traumatic experience in front of him uninvited, but he told the woman he now calls ‘mom’ all about his terrifying three weeks in the basement, she says .

Bespalov and Bespalaya are now Ilya’s legal guardians. They have been a little family for over six months and plan to officially adopt him as soon as possible. All adoption processes are currently suspended in Ukraine due to martial law.

Like all parents, the young couple are fiercely protective of Ilya, shielding him from the horrors of war as best they can and trying to give him a sense of security and stability.

“You try to distract yourself from the fights and immerse yourself in the time spent with your child. We try to create memories of a normal childhood. Work takes time, but we spend every free moment together,” said Bespalov, who as an essential railroad worker was not called up for military service.

But there is nothing normal about war. After posting their appeal on Instagram, the couple have set up two spare bedrooms for the possible arrival of a child – one a child’s room with a white crib and blue bedding, the other equipped with a bunk bed and lots of toys.

Bespalaya had worked in an orphanage for several years and felt up to the challenge of raising a child no matter what.

“I completely stopped being afraid of adoption. I was convinced that we would have a child, and I was convinced that I could take care of anyone and manage their character,” he said. she told CNN.

But this plan too was shattered by the war. Shortly after the start, the two men were forced to flee their home in Sloviansk, a city in the Donetsk region on the front line, for Kyiv.

“Our stability was gone. we both lost our jobs and our home. We lost all our savings, we lost absolutely everything,” Bespalaya said.

“But we won so much more.”

In April, they finally received the call they had been hoping for, from a Mariupol volunteer: there was a little boy without parents, could the couple take care of him?

The next morning they began the two-day road trip to Dnipro, where Ilya had taken refuge, to meet the boy who would become part of their family.

Once back in Kyiv, they went through a complex four-month process to become Ilya’s legal guardians, which involved talking to therapists, numerous doctor visits, police background checks and a search. government to ensure that the boy had no other living relatives. Various donors, including the Shakhtar Donetsk Football Club, helped provide financial support that enabled the family to find a comfortable home.

“Now we have this love, this love that makes you family. We didn’t have this baby, but our love is real,” Bespalaya said, with Ilya huddled between her and Bespalov on a field bench in game in Kyiv.

Despite their happiness as a new family unit, life is more difficult for Ilya in the evenings, when the capital suffers power outages caused by Russia’s sustained attacks on the power grid – leaving the family without electricity for hours. in a row.

“Sometimes he’s scared,” Bespalaya said. “He’s hysterical, and he’ll tell me it’s like being back in Mariupol, in the dark.”

But little Ilya learns to cope. As he played with the couple in a candlelit living room during one of the blackouts, he looked up and said, “I’m not afraid of the dark anymore. I know the light will come on again.

I am Ziggy Stardust, I’m so full of energy and sunshine that I can’t bear not to share it. Being alone is super scary for me. I will need a stable home to help me learn to be safe again. I like to play, run and hunt. I am not recommended for a home with cats or other small critters.

I am Calbert a real lover but can be shy so it may take a while for me to feel comfortable around strangers. I am a truly loyal dog and once I bond with you I will stand by your side unconditionally. I did well in the play group and I like to run. My hobbies include sunbathing and sweets. If I sound like the guy for you, come to the Cheyenne Animal Shelter to meet me.

I am Valkyrie, a sweet, shy little lady who still isn’t quite sure where I fit in with the rest of the crowd, it will take me some time to acclimate to life as a beloved dog. With the right amount of care and patience, I would make a great cuddle buddy. Come see me today and show me some love. I am currently in foster care. If you would like to meet me, please call the shelter to make an appointment. (307) 632-6655

I am Sir who is a handsome boy who is looking for a quiet home that i can call my own. My previous landlord said I didn’t share the attention, so a home without cats and maybe dogs would suit me just fine. If you are looking for a one and only that will talk all night, then please visit me today.

I am Crowley. I’m a cat lot with an attitude. I like to play but play hard. I love tracking things (ropes, toys, laser light, your feet!). And I don’t like to share! Not with dogs, and probably not with cats or children. I am a big, noisy cat with a strong personality. If you are looking for a cat to take over your house in style, I am the cat for you. Come meet me today.

I am Fred. I’m a semi-social garage cat looking for a new place to work. I will do a great job of controlling your rodent population, without being a pest. I just ask for food, water and shelter in return. Come to the shelter to see if I will work for you!

BETHEL, Connect. – A one-eared dog named Van Gogh is being honored for using his tongue to create artwork for his rescue.

Van Gogh, a 7-year-old boxer-pitbull mix, was rescued from a dogfighting ring in North Carolina, which left him with serious injuries, including a mutilated ear and multiple lacerations all over his body, said said Happily Furever After Rescue.

According to the rescue organization, located in Bethel, Connecticut, he was named after the legendary painter after his ear had to be amputated when he arrived at the shelter.

During his time, Van Gogh learned to paint with his tongue when Jaclyn Gartner, the founder of The Rescue, had the idea of ​​placing a canvas with paint in a plastic bag covered in peanut butter.

“I actually saw the idea on TikTok over two years ago and thought it was clever,” Gartner told FOX TV stations. “Dogs get special treatment and in turn create beautiful works of art. With Van Gogh’s name I thought it would make a fun idea for an event as he was unable to attend our adoption events due to dog selection.”

The center held a gallery of his pieces to see if they could find someone to adopt him. Gartner shared that she was disappointed when only two people showed up for her art gallery debut, because it was one of the “most amazing things” to happen to their little local rescue.

Van Gogh’s work on display. (Credit: Jaclyn Gartner/Happily Furever After Rescue)

Since Van Gogh’s story went viral, Gartner said there has been interest from adopters around the world.

“Van Gogh’s revelation and rescue was such a blessing!” Gartner continued. “Van Gogh is such a special dog, and he deserves all the attention he gets from people and rescue advocates around the world! I certainly didn’t expect it, but I’m so grateful for this opportunity.”

The organization hopes to have Van Gogh in its forever home this month.

RELATED: Dogs rescued from South Korean dog meat farms arrive in US for adoption

Gartner added, “Put simply, Van Gogh is a true idol. Anyone who meets him falls in love instantly. He is well mannered and has the sweetest demeanor. Despite all the trauma he endured, he still loves people. and is always in love, good humored, he wants nothing more than to snuggle up next to his person on the couch and be by your side.

You can read more about Happily Furever After Rescue here.

]]> https://christ-yoder.org/spitzer-subaru-of-dubois-gives-back-to-the-community-a-local-animal-shelter-new/ Sat, 05 Nov 2022 09:00:00 +0000 https://christ-yoder.org/spitzer-subaru-of-dubois-gives-back-to-the-community-a-local-animal-shelter-new/

DuBOIS – As part of the annual “Subaru Loves Pets” campaign, DuBois’ Spitzer Subaru donated $100 for every cat and dog adopted by the Elk County Humane Society in October, ultimately raising $3,100 for the refuge.

This is the third year the family dealership has held a fundraiser to benefit the St. Marys shelter, said June Glass, ECHS fundraising chair. The first was a donation drive, and subsequent years each had an adoption goal of 31 dogs and cats.

October is “Subaru Loves Pets Month,” dedicated to supporting pets in shelters through adoption events and volunteer activities that help find pet-loving homes, according to Steven Marshall, Head of Business Development and Social Media at Spitzer Autoworld.

Subaru also focuses on animals that need the most help, such as the older, physically handicapped “outsiders” who are often overlooked.

On Oct. 22, ECHS and Spitzer Subaru hosted a pet adoption day at the DuBois dealership to celebrate the fourth annual “National Make a Dog Day,” Marshall said.

“Our customers and staff also collected pet supplies to donate to the shelter,” Marshall said.

Spitzer Subaru sales associate Jeannie Dunworth said the dealership does its best to stay involved in the local community.

“We are so excited that Subaru is giving us the opportunity to give back,” she said. “It makes us feel good to be able to help the community.”

Spitzer Subaru and all Spitzer dealerships in DuBois, as well as the St. Marys location, also held their first-ever “Trunk or Treat” event on Friday, Oct. 28, Dunworth said, where families and children attended a fun night of costumes, candy and prizes.

“We had a lot more turnout than expected,” she said, noting that the Subaru dealership alone had 250 kids signed up.

Each location also offered a Nintendo Switch game console.

“Together our stores had over 1,000 kids who entered to win,” Marshall said. “We were very grateful to share this fun experience with our communities and we will continue this tradition next year.”

Glass noted that the ECHS also had 12 additional foster families in the month of October.

“We’ve had a wonderful, wonderful month of adopting our animals,” Glass said.

Two kittens were also adopted on the day of the pet adoption event at the dealership, she noted, one of them by an employee.

“The hospitality of Spitzer Subaru overwhelms me,” Glass said, also noting the dedication of sales manager Curtis Smith. “They are very community minded.”

For a $20 donation, anyone wishing to donate to the ECHS can currently purchase a lottery calendar by contacting the shelter, Glass added.

The refuge, which is in a 15-year-old building, is currently undergoing expensive renovations.

“The $3,100 from Subaru is going to be a big help,” Glass said. “Every gesture counts.”

The shelter is also still accepting donations such as gift cards for Tractor Supply and Walmart, kitty litter, diet treats, cat and dog food and more. The full wish list can be viewed at www.echumanesociety.org.

Additionally, through Dec. 10, Spitzer dealerships in DuBois and St. Marys are hosting “Operation We Are,” helping those in need by donating to a charity chosen by the vehicle owner. , noted Marshall, such as Toys for Tots, Project Gifts for Elk County, the Salvation Army and animal shelters in the Tri-County area.

The “Subaru Share the Love Campaign,” which takes place in December, is a partnership between Spitzer Subaru and the Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund that raises awareness and funds this foundation that helps ease the financial burden on local people battling cancer, a said Marshal. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, December 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Spitzer Subaru.

For more information on adoptable pets at ECHS or donations, visit the Facebook page, www.echumanesociety.org or call 814-834-3247.

GREENVILLE, NC (WNCT) — November is National Adoption Month. It not only celebrates families who have created healthy, supportive homes for children, but brings awareness to the many children who need forever homes.

Local adoption agencies and departments that ensure these children have a home they can thrive in are also recognized. One of their most important messages is to help these children find forever homes so they can hopefully have a sense of stability and belonging.

According to Deanna Cornett, program director for Easterseals UCP, one of the challenges when it comes to finding homes for children is their age.

“It’s always harder to find adoptive parents and adoptive homes for older kids, like kids over 12,” Cornett said. “As a private agency, we don’t take in as many infants and toddlers as the county does.”

Debbie Owen, a social worker with the Pitt County Department of Social Services Adoption Placement Unit, explains a common misconception people have about adoption.

“A big stigma is that adoption costs too much, but if they go through the Department of Social Services, adopting a child costs little or no cost,” Owen said.

According to Ta’nishia Dixon, the permanent supervisor of the Children’s Home Society of North Carolina, explains other challenges, such as patience.

“This process is one that’s going to take a lot of patience, a lot of support, a lot of heart and a lot of thought,” Dixon said. “As long as they have that, we’re definitely going to work with them, we’re going to support them, we’re going to give them the tools they need.”

So far this year, Pitt County has already found homes for six children and hopes to finalize six more before the end of the year.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Gracie works at the Pet Pal animal shelter in St. Pete. She does her daily checks, which begin in the medical ward, where dozens of dogs and cats receive care.

These are animals that could come from surrenders or come from animal services, and whether it’s heartworms or kennel cough, that’s where they improve before finding a new home.

“We put a lot of work into these animals and put a lot of love into them. And we don’t want them to go back to anything bad,” Gracie said.

Gracie oversaw operations at Pet Pals for 11 years. She’s even hosted a few rescues in her home and mostly spends time caring for foster families.

“Some of our adoptive parents don’t have animals because they dedicate and dedicate their time and their homes to welcoming us,” Gracie said.

It’s a full house at Pet Pal, just like it is at many other Bay Area shelters. Gracie insists on reducing shelter populations, which means more animals need to be neutered and neutered.

“We have to remember that, you know, there’s a mission, and if we take every animal and don’t have room for it, we’re not doing the whole thing justice,” Gracie said.

But your heart can rest easy. Everyone here is doing great, thanks to people like Gracie.

Don’t forget to share your rescue dog or cat stories on the Tully’s Tails Facebook page. We might even share it on Good Morning Tampa Bay.

Cat rescue centers in Yorkshire

By Beth Hayes

Pittsboro, NC – We have major issues in Chatham County. Rescue is my life’s work. I must start by saying that I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican. I don’t really like what either party is doing and I don’t see them making much progress within the parties or with each other.

I have watched the state of animal welfare in our county plummet over the past two years and it breaks my heart for the stray animals not receiving help at the shelter. When the shelter moved from the health department to the sheriff’s department, the new manager told us not to come back until we had an appointment. She said “all rescues want to do is take all the good stuff and leave the shit” to herself. All of you who follow rescues know that we take in dogs with serious injuries and illnesses, which costs an awful lot of money (all the money we raise ourselves, not tax dollars like the shelter) We were told that Sheriff Roberson wanted the adoptions to be the shelter and not the relief.

I started by arranging a meeting with the interim director and the manager. The meeting was attended by me (rescue director), the president of Chatham County’s other major rescue, the acting shelter director, the director, and a brand new animal control officer. The meeting was totally missed. We were told the same thing (don’t come back), not allowed to share anything we needed to discuss, cut off by the acting manager, ridiculed by the AC officer, while the manager lied about what she had told us.

I contacted the permanent director for a meeting when she was hired. At that time, the director had been fired for misconduct. The manager never answered. I contacted three other shelter staff to no avail. Our rescue now supports other shelters, all of whom appreciate our partnerships. We respect each other.

I would like to share part of the email I sent to the Chatham Chatlist in August.

“Let’s look at the EFFECTIVENESS of our county shelter. I have provided links for those of you who wish to check. This is public data collected annually from public shelters by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture.

In 2021, Chatham Shelter under the direction of our Sheriff took in 451 animals, spending $1,104,472.00. That’s $1110.02 per animal and more than all but one county in NC. Please note that Chatham County’s report to NCAgr.gov was submitted late, so their data is not included in the annual report
2021 Annual Report: LINK
Chatham Co late submission: LINK
In 2020, Chatham Shelter under the direction of our Sheriff took in 401 animals and spent $897,813.00. That’s $1024.90 per animal, the most spent by any county in NC. LINK
In 2019, under the direction of the Department of Health (Pre-Sheriff), the shelter housed 662 animals spending $807,926.00. It’s $506 per animal. LINK
And in 2018, hosted 665, spent $807,926.00. $569.76 per pet. LINK
*Please note that the shelter currently has 13 employees (shelter staff and animal control officers). Prior to the sheriff, there were 8 full-time employees and a temp (who cleaned the facility and kennels)
In summary:
– The current shelter accommodates approximately 50 to 65% fewer animals with more employees. This is due to the move from an “open admission” shelter to a “metered admission” shelter. Former shelter staff took in ALL animals in need.
-The new $5.5 million shelter uses a fraction of the available kennels.
– Citizens are told to take care of stray animals. The shelter sets up appointments to receive stray dogs up to 3 weeks later. We know this because many people contact us for help when it is not provided by the shelter.
– More and more unvaccinated stray dogs that are not spayed or neutered are roaming the county, posing an increased danger to humans and pets.
– Animal control does not help with many dangerous stray animals.
The transfer of the shelter from the Health Department to the Sheriff’s Department was a massive failure. As a citizen, taxpayer and animal rescuer, I expect more. You should too.”

Those aren’t all the battles we’ve had with the shelter. There are many more. Now I am truly blown away that so many people are considering supporting this sheriff knowing this information. These are not hearsay, these are facts provided by the shelter each year as required by law.

Animals suffer. Citizens are turned away and put in danger in the hope that they will take care of largely unvaccinated and intact stray dogs. Pets and livestock are killed by strays that Animal Control refuses to help with. Citizens are told to shoot stray animals. I myself have experienced a stray dog ​​coming onto my property (4 months ago). No help from Animal Control and was told to shoot the dog. I trapped the dog myself, then Animal Control refused to pick it up. It wasn’t until I told them I was going public that they came for the dog.

Do you care about Chatham County animals? I’m sure most of you do. Please, please, we need a change. The rescuers are tired and cannot recover the damage left by this shelter. We can’t even comment on the shelter’s Facebook page because the Sheriff has closed the page to comments, as he did with his Sheriff’s Department page. Who will help?

I voted for Sheriff Roberson in the past. I can’t support him anymore.