Read this Article on Houston's Animal Overpopulation

Below is a post that appeared on Unity for a Solution's facebook page today. We think it's great that people outside of the animal advocacy groups are demanding that Houston's animal overpopulation problem needs to be addressed. 

Tell your city officials how you feel about the issue- links to contact info included at the end of the story.

 

Check out today’s Houston Chronicle article “Dump an animal, get caught” By Ingrid Lobet. It’s only available to digital subscribers but here is a link where you can see the whole article: http://muckrack.com/link/wMWy/dump-an-animal-get-c...aught

We want to highlight this portion of the article near its end: “Chris Newport, a spokesman for Houston's Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care, said the dumping is part of something deeper, not fully separable from the larger issue of strays. He says Houston needs a conversation with itself about pets, one that addresses people's reluctance to spay and neuter them, a service that is free in the city via a mobile clinic to those who cannot afford to pay. ‘A conservative figure is there are 750,000 strays on the streets of Houston,’ Newport said.”

We agree with Newport that Houston needs a conversation with itself about pets but let’s get the facts straight first:

1. BARC told Fox news reporter Natalie Bomke in a story that aired 9/21/12 that there are 1.2 million strays in Houston.
2. The spay neuter service mentioned in the article is provided by one (1) SNAP mobile clinic, which can spay or neuter up to 25 animals per visit. Even if the SNAP clinic operated every day of the year (including holidays), that totals a maximum of 9125 animals fixed per year. How does that compare with 1.2 million strays and countless owned animals that are not fixed?
3. One deterrent to using SNAP is that they require proof of government assistance which is a problem in several communities around the city.

Some of us have been out in the community signing up residents for free spay and neuter for their pets. Our experience was that many people want to spay or neuter their animals but they cannot afford to! While there are some out there who will refuse, there are many, many others who will gladly spay neuter their pets if they can do it at a reduced cost or free of charge.

Let the mayor and your city council member know how you feel about Houston’s animal overpopulation and what the city is doing to address it. If you do contact them, let us know their response. Thank you!

 

Links to contact City of Houston's Mayor and Council Members:

 

http://www.houstontx.gov/mayor/index.html
http://www.houstontx.gov/council/index.html

Uniting Houston's Animal Advocacy Groups

Barrio Dogs’ main emphasis continues to be education and outreach to residents to improve animal welfare in our East End Houston community. We are always looking for new ways to get to the root of the cause behind animals suffering in our neighborhood. Nevertheless, we have observed that despite our best efforts, the situation continues to worsen in our community and in others areas around Houston.

As a result, we have decided to join forces with other established and independent Houston animal welfare groups to bring more supporters and attention to our cause. Unity for a Solution is a new initiative by Barrio Dogs, Corridor Rescue and Forgotten Dogs of the Fifth Ward to address animal overpopulation and improve conditions for homeless and unwanted animals in Houston.

One of Unity for a Solution’s first priorities is to work with the city of Houston and Houston elected officials to develop a plan to bring more low cost or free spay and neuter for pets and other animals in areas of Houston that are hardest hit by animal overpopulation. The group will also work to raise public awareness in the communities we serve about the importance of spay and neuter and proper animal care, something that Barrio Dogs has already begun to do with our FixIt Spay Neuter Project. The decision to unite forces grew from our 2012 “Music for Mutts” collaboration and from the realization that together, we have a better chance of improving the lives of the many homeless and unwanted animals suffering in Houston.

You can help us by “liking” our new Facebook and writing to your elected officials on our behalf; addresses and a template for a letter are on the current Facebook site. We will be providing updates, information and Calls to Action on Facebook so please check our page from time to time. We thank you!

Website: unityforasolution.org/
Facebook: facebook.com/UnityForASolution

KIPP Intrepid Visited by Barrio Dogs

Barrio Dogs' core mission is to educate, empower and transform communities in the Greater East End. One of our most impactful programs is our Youth and Paws program (YAP), in which we feature educational presentations, bilingual literature, guest speaker discussions, and an occasional visit by a rescued and rehabilitated dog.  Below is a summary of our Education Team’s most recent visit to KIPP Intrepid.

 
Barrio Dogs had a wonderful opportunity to share a humane education presentation at KIPP Intrepid Tuesday, November 20--our first visit to the campus this semester. Team Jennifer Washam and Rescue Education Ambassador Dog (R*E*A*D*) Chloe presented the story "Buddy Unchained" to 2 groups of 50 fifth grade students. This story provided the youth a chance to learn about how Buddy felt "unsafe and unhappy" in his first environment where he was chained with little food and clean water, to being rescued, cared for and then adopted by his forever family that provided him with a safe and healthy environment.

 
They were then given a creative writing activity where participating students chose a picture card of a Barrio Dog rescue and asked to tell the story of the canine's background and the forever home they are looking for. The students were provided the Thanksgiving weekend to complete this activity, after which the assignment will be picked up and shared with our Barrio Dogs community. At the presentation's end, each student had the opportunity to meet Chloe and have their picture taken. And it was "pajama day" at the campus, so all the students were in a very "lighhearted" mood. It was a great experience for Jennifer, Chloe and the school, and we look forward to more opportunities in the future on their campus. 

 

Be sure to check back soon for some of the creative writing activities from the 5^th graders at KIPP Intrepid.

If you are interested in having our Education Team visit your school as part of the YAP program, please contact Jennifer@barriodogs.org. 

Making Progress on FixIt

We're having success with FixIt, both in raising money and getting animals in to the vet for the free spay and neuter. We still need everyone's support to make this work; the problem in our community and many others around us is immense!

We Need a Plan

City of Houston officials, what is the plan for addressing animal overpopulation in our communities? If there is a plan, it isn’t working. If there isn't a plan, we need one.  Over 6,900 animals were euthanized in Houston from January to June 2012 and another 1.2 million homeless animals live on Houston streets.   

Barrio Dogs is uniting with other groups to ask city officials what Houston plans to do to address animal overpopulation. Join us in asking them that question!  Use the links below to contact the mayor and our city council members. 

Contact Mayor Annise Parker:  http://www.houstontx.gov/mayor/index.html

Contact our City Council Members:  http://www.houstontx.gov/council/index.html

 

Outreach in Settegast Park

Barrio Dogs has been getting emails about increasing numbers of homeless and unwanted dogs in Settegast Park in the East End (2nd Ward). There are concerned neighbors in the area who do not want the conditions in other parts of the East End to spread to their neighborhood. To help them, we had an awareness event in Settegast Park on Saturday, July 21, 2012 to help bring attention to this growing concern. 

PetOberfest

Halloween weekend was busy for us. One great event was PetOberfest, sponsored by the Northside Management District and GO Neighborhoods. The event featured free spay/neutering for dogs and cats, reduced-cost vaccinations and educational materials about pet care.

Many thanks to our volunteer Grace, shown here with the coloring contest winners

Also present was rescue dog Henry. Can you believe this beautiful boy was found homeless in Greater Northside with no microchip, no tags and a heavily matted coat? After Sophie’s Doggie Spa got a hold of him, he looks beautiful  and loves everyone including cats, dogs and children. He is well-behaved and low key, a perfect ambassador for rescue dogs.

Fundraiser for Bettter Communities

Update: Barrio Dogs for Better Communities

Our adopted family the Ortega's made huge progress with the ownership of their new family pet, Cookie. Our support team, Gurukarta Khalsa and Jennifer Washam, spent time educating them on proper nutrition, the importance of flea and heart worm preventive, kennel training, leash walking and the need to have Cookie spayed.

Cookie had the luxury of staying at the wonderful Meadowlake Pet Resort while she recovered from her spay day. Cookie is now completely vetted and happy and settled in with her family who has completed the Barrio Dogs for Better Communities program.

There are many families that can benefit from this support. We would love to educate more families but it takes donations and resources. We encourage you to find a family in your community that can benefit from this program and to donate to help us provide the support. For more information on how you can help, contact us at info@barriodogs.org.

Help the Barrio Dogs' Program at Fletcher Mission

Barrio Dogs of Houston is teaming up with Sophie’s Doggie Spa to educate the youth in their community on animal welfare.  The downtown Fletcher Mission is inviting us for a Barrio Dogs Youth Education Day.  The Fletcher Mission helps the youth in this community where animal abuse and neglect is in abundance. 

Our first event is to provide an educational presentation to approximately 50 children.  Our goal is to make a change and stop the cycle of animal neglect in this community and many more.

In order to make this event a success we are asking for your support.  Below is our “Wish List” items.  Would be helpful to have before or on the day of the event, Wednesday, September 28th.  You can also make donations to Barrio Dogs of Houston via PayPal/Google, here. All donations are tax deductible.

 

"WISH LIST"

We have several books on our list, one is (Shelter Dogs: Amazing Stories of Adopted Strays).  This one and several others can be purchased online, here.

Gift Cards to Hobby Lobby or Michaels to purchase gift bags and educational items.
Gift Cards to Sam’s Club to help with providing snacks and drinks.

Sincerely,

Gloria Zenteno – Founder of Barrio Dogs of Houston

Anna Bermudez – Owner of Sophie’s Doggie Spa

For more information, contact info@barriodogs.org

Barrio Dogs for Better Communities - update

The Ortegas, our adopted family, are making huge progress incorporating their new pet, Cookie, into their home. Our support team, Gurukarta Khalsa and Jennifer Washam, has been spending time educating the family on proper nutrition, the importance of flea and heart worm preventive, kennel training, leash walking and more. They also have a good understanding of the importance of getting Cookie spayed. 

There are many families who can benefit from support like this. We would love to work with more families like the Ortegas but it takes resources. We encourage you to find a family in your community that can benefit from this program and to support them. For more information, contact us at info@barriodogs.org.

Barrio Dogs for Better Communities

Barrio Dogs for Better Communities is dedicated to creating possibilities and providing opportunities for a better quality of life for animals and their families. We feel that many times there is love for these animals but people may not have the necessary resources for proper animal care or education.

Meet our first adopted family of 2011. We plan to work with the Ortega family and their rescue Cookie.  We hope that one-on-one education sessions with the parents and children will end up with a family that does not give up on their family pet.  

We want to help more families like the Ortega’s. For more information on how you can help, email us at info@barriodogs.org.