Jackie Kyles ABR, CNE, RLI

I wanted everyone to know that the Humane Society of the United States does have a reward program which is below. You can order a free reward action pack! Includes posters, postcards, brochures and stickers with information about their reward. Put them up around your neighborhood and help stop dogfighting. I am not sure if this is an issue in other states but I know it is a BIG problem in SC, and it is particularly bad in Chester County. If you live in Chester or York County and would like to help put an end this this fight business let me know, I really need help in Chester, this is my new mission.

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) offers a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in dogfighting or cockfighting.

If you have information about illegal animal fighting, you are eligible for this reward. Here are the steps to take.

1. Call your local police department or animal control agency. Give them as many details as you can about the suspected animal fighting situation.
   
   You do not need to give your name to law enforcement to report illegal animal fighting.
   
   Tell the law enforcement agency about The HSUS's reward program.
   
   
2. Get a letter from law enforcement.If the suspected animal fighter is convicted, ask the law enforcement agency involved in the case to write a letter to The HSUS.
   
   The letter should state that your tip helped lead to the arrest and prosecution of the convicted animal fighter. The letter should be mailed or faxed to:
   

   Animal Fighting Reward Program
   c/o Ann Chynoweth
   The Humane Society of the United States
   2100 L St. NW
   Washington, DC 20037
   FAX: 301-721-6414

I went to the York County SC, County Council Meeting on Monday, August 18, 2008. There was a full house and then some, people on both sides of this issue were represented. I think everyone knows where I stand on this issue! My husband and I have 5 dogs...not little dogs either. We have 1 rescued greyhound, 1alaskan malamute, 2 australian shepards and 1 Louisiana catahoula leopard dog. I have not nor will I ever chain one of my pets!!! We have about 1/3 of an acre fenced for the dogs to run and do what they want when we are not home, but they can also come in the house through the doggie door. I keep my home neat and clean...okay it's sometimes messy but messy is not dirty. My dogs are happy and healthy and I spend a lot of time with them to make them that way!

The Herald, the local newspaper talked to people on both sides of this issue and one comment was that this person was on a limited income and had to chain her dog. I know this sounds harsh but as Americans a lot of people think that they should have everything that their hearts desire, but guess what, you should practice some restraint on your wants until you can truly afford them. It's not fun to want something that you cannot have but I have had to restrain as a lot of other people do at some point in their lives. And, I am not talking about people that have fallen on hard times, I know somethings cannot be avoided. I am talking about the people that get things that they do not give any thought to before making a life altering decision. Most of those people that I am talking about, if they were reading this they would think I am talking about them personally...no, I am talking about the life altering of the poor animal that they condemn to a life of misery. I know there are a few people that truly take care of their dogs that they have to tether, I am not talking about them.

There was a comment in The Herald about the person's alleged involvement in hog-dogging, an illegal form of animal fighting that pits wild hogs against pit bull dogs. This is a whole other subject in itself but they brought it up, not me. This guy said the events are field trials for evaluating the skill of hunting dogs. Come on now, you are not only putting your dog in harms way but you are torturing the hog.

The council collected the information from both sides and will go over everything to decide how this should be handled. Those on the no tether side wants the council to put in some guidelines on the law that is in place which is an animal must have food, water and shelter. They are calling for the council to add some details to the current law. A few of which would include a better description on what is meant by shelter, food and water, like shelter should includes that pets should have shade and protection from extreme weather. A dog may have a dog house but can he fit in that house or does that house have some shade from the direct sun, can the dog reach his water, common sense stuff. Also if the animal is outside what type of confinement is appropriate. If you would like to see the article in The Herald here is the link: http://www.heraldonline.com/109/story/757080.html

I do not want to offend anyone but I am very passionate about animal welfare and I am trying to help make things better for those that cannot speak out for themselves.

Proverbs 12:10 A righteous man has regard for the life of his animal, but even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.

Please do not forget to come out and support other animal lovers in the fight to end chaining dogs outside in York County. Most dogs that are chained out are forgotten about and neglected, left to survive in extreme weather without proper care or affection. Dogs are pack animals and MUST have their people interacting with them daily. If you are planning on adopting a dog or any pet, think long and hard at the commitment that you are making. Dogs and cats can easily live 12 to 14 years, can you afford proper care? Why get a dog when you know you will lose interest and that family member is demoted to living on a chain outside. Yes, they do grow, so if you need to be around a pet to meet some type of need you think you may have, try volunteering at animal control or one of the many shelters that are in York County. Those animals would love for you to come and visit them, spend time with them and loving on them and it prepares that pet for adoption because they will have some idea how to interact with people. Not to mention most of the shelters are desperate for help!

The meeting is the County Managers Meeting on 08/18/08 at 6 pm at the York County Agricultural Building , 6 S. Congress Street , York , SC.

Proverbs 12:10 A righteous man cares for the needs of his animals...

I had blogged last week about fun day trip close to Rock Hill SC, one of which was the National Whitewater Park. Well, my husband our nephew Evan and myself went whitewater rafting yesterday for the first at this park. Wow, this was so much fun!!!

We got there about 30 minutes before our trip and the guide went over all of the safety instructions with the group. After our safety class we were put in our PFD (personal floatation devise), helmets and armed with a paddle. By the way, I went a rafting trip 2 years ago down the Lower Gauley in W. Virginia. The paddle I mentioned was more like a weapon on that trip. For those that have never heard of the Gauley, it's the mack daddy of whitewater rafting, we are talking class 3,4 & 5 rapids. I had a friend in the front position of the raft and I was behind him, long story short, we hit a massive rapid and he fell back on...my face! I was sporting a black eye and busted lip and nightmares of dying because he pulled me out of the boat with him.

Back to the whitewater park, there are no rocks to get hung on, there are people spotting for those that have a hard time staying in the raft at all rapids just in case you do fall out. If you are really accident prone as I am, I promise you will be hard pressed to get hurt and the only way you will get hurt is if you do what they tell you NOT to do. Like stand up after falling out of the raft.

I highly recommend a trip to the park, we had a blast!! They also have rock wall climbing, bike trails, zip cord jumps and a place to get a bite to eat after you're finished. Of course you miss the beautiful scenery of the forest when on a real river but this place is great.

The Herald newspaper had a great article Sunday on people chaining their dogs outside and how cruel this is. The editor explained all of the bad things that can happen when a dog is left alone all the time to suffer the elements and that dogs are pack animals to start with so leaving them alone is torture by itself. Thank you to that editor for taking a stand against dog chaining!!! Hopefully we will have a lot of York County, SC residents show up for the county council meeting on August 18, 2008 at 6pm. If we do not take a stand and stand together these people will keep torturing their pets. Why would you have a dog if all you are going to do is chain it outside forever? A dog cannot guard anything when it is chained if someone wants to give that explanation.