"What is Animal Cruelty?": A Crime Stoppers Safe Community Seminar

Barrio Dogs was honored to participate in an excellent Crime Stoppers Safe Community Seminar "What is Animal Cruelty" on September 16, 2014. Representatives from the Harris Country District Attorney's Office as well as the Houston Humane Society were there along with Barrio Dogs.

Saw some good friends and learned more about the issue. Thank you Sonia Soto and Crime Stoppers for inviting Barrio Dogs to participate! To learn more about the Safe Community program, go to http://www.crime-stoppers.org/programming/safe-community-programs/.

Don't do this to your dog!

We'll occasionally see dogs in the community with heavy chains around their necks. We don't understand the purpose of this other than to make the animal suffer. In response, we created this poster.

A Great Before & After Poster

We wanted to publish something happy and encouraging. Here is a before and after poster of some of our Barrio Dogs. Although Barrio Dogs' mission is not rescue, we do rescue dogs in bad shape from time to time. Watching these sad dogs transform into happy, beautiful animals is wonderful and helps us keep doing what we're doing. We've learned that most dogs can become healthy, adoptable pets; all they usually need is medical treatment, regular vetting, TLC, time and a lot of love!

Texas' No Dumping Law

Too often, people who can't take care of their dog get rid of it by dumping it. Not only is this cruel but it's also illegal and constitutes animal cruelty. If you see someone dumping a dog, get their license plate number and a picture if possible and report the crime to the police. Also, let others know about this law and encourage them to report dumping if they see it.  By working together to enforce the laws, we can hopefully reduce and eventually eliminate this cruel practice!

Please don't crop or dock

Animals are perfect the way they are. Please don't crop your dogs' ears or dock their tails unless medically necessary. Don't try to improve on what is already perfect.

Did you know. . .

that it's illegal to sell animals on Houston's street, parking lots, roadways, and flea markets? It is! Report sellers to BARC by calling 311.

If it's hot outside, it's very hot inside your car! Don't leave your pets in your car!

Come on people, fix your pit bulls!

Pit bulls and pit bull mixes are the most euthanized breed at Houston's BARC animal shelter and at shelters around the state and country. Yet we still encounter residents who want to breed their pit bull because of the mistaken belief they will be able to sell the puppies. It's much more likely the puppies will be euthanized or end up on the streets, not sold to others.

Please help us educate others that breeding and selling puppies is a bad idea. It contributes to overpopulation and unless you are a licensed breeder, it is illegal and will be reported to the authorities.

Barrio Watchdog "Violation" Door Hanger

We use these English & Spanish door hangers in the community when we spot violations of certain laws involving animals. We leave the door hanger with the resident, sometimes on the door or fence. While we have no authority to enforce these laws, we hope that by informing the owners, they will do the right thing and correct their actions.

Welcome to Houston!

Interesting Look at Animal Cruelty and Overpopulation in Mexico from Outside Magazine Online

Outside Magazine Online recently published an article painting an in-depth picture of the treatment of stray dogs in Mexico and the work that a few people with big hearts are doing to try to make a difference.  Even in Mexico, there is a big push for the sterilization of animals in order to get to the root cause of their animal overpopulation.  The same groups are also calling for increased animal cruelty legislation and enforcement.

Read the full article here:  Outside Magazine, "Mom, There's a Dog Stapled to That Tree"

Be Your Own Hero

Educate, Empower, Transform.  The Barrio Dogs slogan consists of our 3 part mission to change the reality for many animals in the East End.  Our "Be Your Own Hero" initiative empowers community members to stop asking why someone doesn't do something about the problem and realize that they are someone who can make a difference. 

Last week, KHOU released a story about a woman who took a stand for a dog who had been shot.  The Needville resident had the dog vetted and nursed him back to health and eventually found the dog a forever home.  See the whole story here:  Inspiring Storyon KHOU

Many shelters and rescue groups are over capacity at this time of year as pets are abandoned while their owners go away for the holidays and many more pets who were given as gifts are dumped after the excitement of their arrival wears off.  In these cold, rainy months consider being the biggest hero to a stray animal by rescuing, adopting, fostering or donating.  If you find a lost or stray dog, the information here is a great resource on how to Be Your Own Hero.

Found a lost or stray dog? This information may help.

This information is formatted for 8 1/2 x 11 paper so feel free to print. If you would like a pdf of this image, send an email to lynn@barriodogs.org.

This is not acceptable

No Chains in our Community!

We've updated our poster and encourage everyone to distribute it as needed; please feel free to print; it's printable on 8 1/2 x 11 paper.

Sick, Abused Dogs Left For Dead at Melrose Park

Although Barrio Dogs’ primary focus is in the East End, this story from Melrose Park (off of Hardy Toll Rd & Little York) shows that the problem is city wide. 

 8 rescued dogs need foster families

 

Author: Nefertiti Jaquez, Reporter, njaquez@kprc.com
Link to this article
Published On: Sep 03 2012 10:03:51 PM CDT  Updated On: Sep 03 2012 11:40:21 PM CDT 

HOUSTON -  While many were celebrating this holiday weekend with their families, Melissa McMillan spent the weekend picking up dead and sick dogs from a public park.

"The German shepherd was eating the remains of a dead dog that was dumped in a bag along the fence," said McMillan, founder of Peaceful Pit Bull Humane Society.

 McMillan said she was called to Melrose Park by a concerned resident after the woman spotted a dead dog in a trash bag.

 "I didn't expect it to be this bad, especially in front of a Harris County shelter," said McMillan.

 McMillan said the part that upsets her the most is that the abused dogs are being dumped right across the street from a county animal shelter.

 She told Local 2 that the county told her they can't do anything about it, because the park falls under the city of Houston.

 So, it'll be up to the city shelter, BARC, to rescue these animals.

 Our cameras where there when the volunteer found another dumped dog. This one was shaking, severely dehydrated, and could barely breath.

 The worst part, the roughly five-pound dog had a harness, which means at one point it had an owner.

 That owner ditched it with a ten-foot metal chain attached to its collar, making it hard for the dog to even move.

 "I think it's pretty inhumane. How could they go in and out of work everyday looking at this? How could you do that? Have a heart!"

 Local 2 tried contacting both the city and county shelters, but never heard back.

 Meantime, McMillan is looking for donations for foster families for the eight dogs she has rescued so far.

 Donations can be made directly to Peaceful Pit Bull HS Texas via PayPal to Peacefulpitbulltx@gmail.com.

Grace

Grace was a homeless and sick German shepherd that was rescued June19, 2012 from the 8300 block of Navigation near Hidalgo Park and the Ship Channel. Grace died a few hours after she was rescued; her body was too sick and emaciated to survive.

News about Grace spread quickly via the internet and Barrio Dogs was overwhelmed with inquiries and offers to donate to her care from throughout the country as well as from Canada, England and Australia. Many people expressed shock that animals lived in such conditions in a city as wealthy as Houston. Grace is a reminder of the urgent need to raise awareness about proper animal care in our community and to place greater emphasis on spay and neutering.

Grace may have lost her battle but her legacy and influence will live on. In honor of Grace, we have made her the mascot for our FixIt! East End Spay Neuter project. Grace’s ashes were blessed by Father Salvatore DeGeorge at Barrio Dogs’ Freedom for All community march in Hidalgo Park on July 4, 2012.

Grace was living near the Houston Ship Channel

Father Sal blessing Grace's remains with Gina Damian Moreno and Mike Moreno; when Gina and her husband Mike saw Grace, they immediately helped her and made arrangements to rescue her

The Dogs of Hidalgo Park

We are working hard to raise awareness in and about the Hidalgo Park area of the East End. The park is situated in a low income area of Houston. It was dedicated in 1934 and even has an historic structure. Sadly, it is also home to many homeless and unwanted dogs. Because of the severe nature of the problem in the Hidalgo Park area, it was the site of Barrio Dog's Freedom for All march on July 4, 2012. The march was a big step in raising awareness of the big problems that exist in this community. We saw many homeless, chained and unneutered and unspayed dogs and cats as we marched through the area. We plan to go back to provide information and resources for local residents.

Via Houston Chronicle

Via Houston Chronicle

 

 

Barrio Dogs to Work with Crime Stoppers

We recently met Ryan Sullivan, Director of Communications for Crime Stoppers. They are interested in partnering with Barrio Watch Dog and want to help us with reporting animal abuse and especially any information leading to dog fighting.We welcome their help and are glad to work with them!

Ryan Sullivan and Gloria Medina Zenteno

New "No Chains" Poster