Everyone in the community is welcome to attend this adoption event and block party, hosted at Northpointe Animal Hospital.  Visitors can meet adoptable kittens, puppies, cats and dogs from local shelters and rescues.  Local businesses including Fred Meyer, Starbucks and Great Clips and pet vendors will also be supporting the event by providing free food, raffles, prizes and more.

Experienced shelter staff, Licensed Veterinary Technicians and Veterinarians will be on hand to help people find the right pet for their family.  The shelter staff especially has great insight into the behavior and temperament of each pet.  All animals available for adoption at the event are spayed or neutered and all adopted pets will receive a free office visit courtesy of Northpointe Animal Hospital, Main Street Animal Hospital in Mill Creek and Snohomish Station Animal Hospital in Snohomish.   Find out more at the Second Chance Rescue site.

Dr. Valerie Shearer and Preston

By Christie Lagally

(c) Pacific Publishing Company

Originally published in the Queen Anne and Magnolia News and City Living Seattle

April 5, 2013

[Update: Preston (left) has been adopted since the writing of this article.]

Every rescue group has a creation story, but this one is unique. It begins in the hearts of Dr. Steven Weinrauch and licensed veterinary technician Michelle St. Mary, as well as the many volunteers who rose to the call to provide top-notch veterinary care to shelter and homeless pets.

Weinrauch, a local veterinarian working at the time for a national, corporate-run veterinary hospital, saw a great need. The Gold Bar puppy mill had been raided, and a lot of those dogs needed medical care. So together with his future business partner, St. Mary, Weinrauch’s wife, Kathryn (a fellow veterinarian), and many other willing veterinarians in the Puget Sound region, Weinrauch attempted to open his hospital and give the dogs the care they needed.

But not everyone was on board: Weinrauch’s employer did not approve. Use of company hospitals and resources to help non-paying clients — let alone dogs without owners — was not allowed. Weinrauch and St. Mary, of course, took care of the dogs anyway.

That was four years ago. Since then, Weinrauch and St. Mary have expanded their initial ambition to care for homeless pets into a successful veterinary practice that carefully integrates their philanthropic values into every aspect of the business.

Both Drs. Kathryn and Steven Weinrauch and St. Mary now operate Second Chance Rescue, with a network of veterinary hospitals, including three they created from the ground-up: Northpointe Animal Hospital in Lynnwood, Main Street Animal Hospital in Mill Creek and Snohomish Station Animal Hospital in Snohomish.

Preston napping in his foster home

A philanthropic mission
When you walk into the Northpointe Animal Hospital, it is obvious that the facility was built to suit a practice offering quality veterinary care and the ability to accommodate the needs of all patient needs — including those animals coming from shelters into the care of Second Chance Rescue.

This model, a synergistic combination of nonprofit and business, is not just about sharing space. Every part of Weinrauch and St. Mary’s practice has a philanthropic arm. Drug suppliers are asked to donate medicine for rescue patients when the company makes an order for antibiotics or arthritis medication meant for regular patients. Suppliers of vet-prescribed products, like prescription dog or cat foods, are asked to donate bags of food for the Second Chance dogs and cats.

Even in the construction of the new Northpointe hospital, St. Mary and Weinrauch asked contractors to donate a certain amount of their time to support the rescue.

The result is a fine example of socially conscience entrepreneurship that serves animal clients with or without human owners.

But because of its specialty services, animals taken into the rescue are referred by groups like PAWS, not directly from the public. Kay Joubert, PAWS director for Companion Animal Services, explained that Second Chance is one of its Placement Partners, a trusted organization with which they transfer animals to ensure proper care and the best chance for the right adoptive home.

Second Chance came with a glowing recommendation from the Everett Animal Shelter, which rescued the Gold Bar puppy mill dogs. Joubert said that the decision to transfer a dog to Second Chance depends on the needs of that animal and whether Second Chance has the right foster home to give an animal long-term care.

Preston at the park

Currently at Second Chance, 7-year-old Preston is up for adoption. True to its mission, Preston is under the care of Second Chance because of his epilepsy. This gentle soul needed special attention to control seizures and receives that from Northpointe veterinarian Dr. Valerie Shearer.

In fact, every person who works for St. Mary and Weinrauch’s hospitals also gives their time to the rescue of dogs and cats. Shearer also serves as Preston’s foster family until the right home is found.

A new solution
Second Chance Rescue appears to have done more than create a new rescue group: It created a new solution to help homeless pets.

“We have a wonderful collaboration with Second Chance,” Joubert said, adding that PAWS also consults with Weinrauch on medical cases within its shelter system.

The advantages of having an animal-rescue focus on specialty veterinary care are clear. Dogs and cats become homeless for a variety of reasons and come to shelters and rescue groups with many complex needs. Some need a trainer, some need a breed-specific rescue and some, like Preston, need a generous dose of expert veterinary care from the dedicated volunteers at Second Chance Rescue.

For more information about Second Chance Rescue, visit www.2ndchancerescue.org. Information on PAWS can be found at paws.org.

CHRISTIE LAGALLY is host of Living Humane on KKNW 1150 AM (livinghumane.com) and writes a blog called “Sniffing Out Home: A Search for Animal Welfare Solutions” at http://www.sniffingouthome.org. To comment on this story, write to QAMagNews@nwlink.com.

Lamb Chop as a baby sheep

By Christie Lagally

(c) Pacific Publishing Company

January 10, 2013

Originally published in the Queen Anne News and City Living Seattle

The grunts and oinks from Bentley and Oscar started up immediately as we walked into their stall at Pasado’s Safe Haven. Stacie Martin, the sanctuary director of operations, was giving us a tour, and she kept saying we should come meet the pigs. But clearly, we were there for the pigs to meet us.

Stacie Martin and Bentley

Bentley a stout, pink Potbelly pig had a lot to say — particularly where to scratch on his back and grunts of hello to my husband, who joined me on the tour.

Pasado’s is a unique place as a sanctuary for all types of animals, but also for their work changing law. In its nearly 15-year history, the organization has pressed through anti-cruelty laws that made many types of animal abuse toward companion and farm animals a felony in Washington state.

The sanctuary is named for the loss of a loved one: a beloved donkey named Pasado, who was brutally beaten and killed by teenagers. In the wake of his death, the founders of Pasado’s Safe Haven made it their mission to require stiff penalties for animal cruelty and to see that justice is served.

In that fine tradition, today, Pasado’s employs three animal-cruelty investigators and, this year alone, has re-homed or provided sanctuary to more than 700 animals in need. Many of the sanctuary animals are rescues from cruelty investigations.

Chickens at roosting hour

A better life

A chicken barn full of white to red, big to small chickens, roosters and even a rogue turkey was our next stop. Martin explained that 50 of the white birds had come from a factory farm in Turlock, Calif., where 50,000 hens were left to starve to death earlier this year. Local animal-control agencies found 17,000 hens dead on arrival.

Animal Place, a farm-animal sanctuary in California, took more than 4,000 of the hens, and other organizations like Farm Sanctuary and Pasado’s took hens as well.

Now, with the freedom to walk around and to act like a chicken, these hens — unlike their pig neighbors — had little concern for our presence at the twilight roosting hour.

But the difference between the conditions shown in a photo of battery-caged chickens on the barn wall and the busy, nesting white hens before me was not just visual — it was palpable. These animals had been rescued from horrible conditions, and they intended to live their lives uninterrupted from now on.

Goat turned in for the night

Our tour continued to meet some goats tucked into piles of wood chips for the night. Whoopi Goatberg came to the stall door to observe and say hello to Martin.

“We have a bunch of animals named for celebrities,” Martin explained, rattling off a list that included Michelle O’Llama, Ellen Deheneras and George Plummy.

‘Guests of honor,’ not meals

Pasado’s is built on 85 acres of rocky, steep, forested land just east of Seattle. Generous donors have enabled continuous building and rebuilding to accommodate all types of animals, from goats to cats.

Dali Llama protecting his barn

With the exception of the abusive pasts that so many of these animals suffered, this sanctuary is farm life as it should be: safe, comfortable, clean and honest. By its very existence, it is advocacy against the modern factory farm.

As we entered a central hillside barn, we met Dali Llama, the protector of his herd. Nonviolent and clear in his convictions, as his name suggests, Dali watched over a donkey, two ponies, three little pigs and three sheep: Lady Baa Baa, Bo Peep and Lamb Chop.

“We give some of the animals names that reminds people of the food they eat.” Martin explained. The intention is to bring awareness to the fact that precious lives are lost for meat consumption, and Lamp Chop was certainly precious.

Roaming the barn with sheep and pigs, you cannot help but be reminded that these are the lucky ones, because modern agriculture has turned barns into factories where animals are caged and crated indefinitely and where antibiotics must be used to prevent sickness in atrocious and unhealthy conditions.

Lamb Chop all grown up

So this Thanksgiving at Pasado’s, human guests ate a gourmet vegan meal prepared by chef Bridget McNasser, and an honorary meal was served to the resident turkeys as reminder of the new role that animals can play during the holidays: “where turkeys are the guest of honor and not the main course.” The event was a fund-raiser for the sanctuary and a reminder that the holidays need not be about meat.

Our tour with Martin was completed with a walk past some tail-wagging dogs and feral cats.

Eric saying goodnight to Bentley and Oscar

New things to consider

As my husband and I drove home, we reflected on each of the sweet faces and unique personalities we had met in such a short evening at the sanctuary.

While thinking of Lamp Chop’s serene presence to Bentley’s informative oinks, my husband asked, “Shall we have Tofurky or the vegan Field Roast for Christmas dinner?” I’m still deciding, but delighted to know I have lots of options for a humane holiday meal.

For more information on Pasado’s Safe Haven, visit http://www.pasadosafehaven.org. 

CHRISTIE LAGALLY is host of “Living Humane” on KKNW 1150 AM and writes a blog called “Sniffing Out Home: A Search for Animal Welfare Solutions” at  HYPERLINK “http://www.sniffingouthome.org” http://www.sniffingouthome.org. To comment on this story, write to CityLivingEditor@nwlink.com.

Note that Chimp Haven is in need to donation to help release and house more chimps.

Author and Chef Miyoko Schinner

VEG FEST 2103 SEATTLE, March 24 — First, hats off to Amanda Strombom and Stewart Rose and their 1000+ volunteers for putting on the best Veg Fest ever this year!  Second, hats off to the Seattle Times and reporter Carol Ostrom for her VegFest experience article here!

My husband and I had an awesome time at Veg Fest 2013!  Thanks to an understanding boss who allowed me to fly home from a work week in Japan, a whole lot of Advil to get over a cold, and my dedicated husband who not only volunteered to set up for Veg Fest, but got me there to the even to enjoy every minute!

Coreena at Veg Fest

Without a doubt, the vegan cheese presentation with Miyoko Schinner was top-notch!  Her presentation on her personal journey discovering cheese and learning about the dangers of dairy consumption was so well presented that she should have her own show!  Oh wait, we found out that she now does!  Miyoko will be hosting Delicious TV’s Vegan Mashup that airs on KCTS beginning in April on our favorite local PBS station, KCTS!

Folks from Harbor Creek Farms

Eric and I ran into a bunch of friends at Veg Fest who also volunteered.  Our musician friend Coreena, who recently made an appearance on Living Humane Radio, volunteered to help out at the Viana booth.  Apparently this is my first experience with Viana, since it was a new taste, and loved it!

Another fun surprise was the food from Harbor Creek Farm who make a vegan mushroom strudel that will rival any pastry from the boulangerie.    Then we stopped by the Field Roast booth to stock up on hot dogs that we already knew we loved, and made our way to a booth with vegan chili sauce that was knock-your-sock-off good.

Grama’s Sweet Chili Sauce

Bar-coded man

We also met a gentleman from Small Planet Organics with a bar code on his head.   We didn’t have one of those phones that could read his forehead, but I guess it took us to this website.

Folks from Chimp Sanctuary NW

Luckily our friends from NARN, Fur Bearer Defenders, HSUS, and  Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest were there to remind us of one of the many reasons we choose to be vegan — the animals! But my favorite part of the whole day was just being at Veg Fest with my husband Eric.

Eric at Veg Fest 2013

Lamp Chop as a baby sheep

Pasado’s Safe Haven is a special place, and I encourage you to check out this story about the wonderful animals at the Sanctuary and the service that the organization provides our community.

City Living Seattle

Queen Anne News

http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/CITES_Revoke_Zimbabwe_Elephant_Permits/?favCRdb

Here is what is at stake:

We request CITES, the world trade body responsible for issuing Trade Permits of endangered species to: 1) Immediately halt the transfer of any more elephants from Zimbabwe to China. 2) Revoke any permits issued for trade of live caught elephants to Zoos. 3) Cease all trade of wild caught elephants to ALL zoos pending a full discussion at CITES CoP16 March 2013. 4) Investigate how CITES granted permits to Zimbabwe to sell live specimens to Chinese Zoos. 5) Cease all trade of any species that are listed on Appendix I in any range-states to all Zoos; except for bone-fide conservation programmes. 6) Facilitate a suitable NGO to investigate immediate access to a suitable sanctuary environment for the three elephants in China to be housed together and a solution found in regards their health and rehabilitation. 7) Immediately facilitate the captive elephants held in Zimbabwe awaiting transportation to undergo suitable rehabilitation and eventual release back to the wild in Zimbabwe.

Annie at the Chimp Sanctuary NW

I was behind opening my email this week and one email was from Diana Goodrich of the Chimpanzee Sanctuary NW.  Her news was a Christmas gift to me.

Perhaps you’ve already heard the news, but in the last few days the NIH announced that all 110 chimpanzees used for research at the New Iberia Research Center will be moved to the Chimp Haven, a national chimpanzee sanctuary.

After decades of abuse and experimentation in a laboratory, the NIH made plans in September to move just 10 of the 110 to Sanctuary, while the rest would be sent to other laboratories.  But obviously this is not acceptable, and various groups like CSNW, PETA and the HSUS among others petitioned NIH to make the right decision for all the chimps.

Here is the announcement from Diana Goodrich.  Merry Christmas to all creatures!

Dec. 19, 2012:

The NIH announced that they will be retiring all 110 chimpanzees to Chimp Haven in Louisiana, and will not be sending them to the biomedical laboratory in Texas.

Thank you for making this victory possible by supporting this petition and by supporting chimpanzee sanctuaries like Chimp Haven and Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest.

Diana Goodrich
Director of Outreach
Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
ChimpsNW.org

Significant fundraising will be needed to house the additional chimps, so please consider making a year-end donation to Chimp Haven.

Elephants as they should be…

In the last month, Michael Berens, reporter for the Seattle Times and the Seattle Times editorial board have taken bold steps to tell the truth about elephants in a city zoos and in captivity in general.

But now action is being taken by the Seattle City Council to consider the alternatives for the Elephants in Woodland Park Zoo.  See Beren’s follow-up article here.

Note, that according to this article, the City of Seattle covers 1/3 of the zoo’s $30 million budget annually.  Yet I don’t want my money spent to hold elephants in zoos. In a city that is always looking for more ways to cut costs or raise taxes, the logical solution is to give the elephants peace in a sanctuary, and save the city perhaps millions of dollars per year.

I was very disturbed when I read Beren’s article on the conditions for elephants in Woodland Park Zoo and the behavior of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.   The Seattle Times generously printed my letter to the editor and to our local leaders about my mistrust of leaders who don’t act on basic animal welfare questions, especially when they save the city  money.

A message from Equine Aid Rescue:

There will be a public hearing in Snohomish County Washington (location of Florence Packing) on a proposed ordinance to ban the slaughter of horses and other equines. This is a pre-emptive move to prevent a horse slaughter plant from opening (or re-opening) in Snohomish County.

The Details:
December 19, 2012; 10:30 a.m. Public Hearing
Public Hearing of the Snohomish County Council
Ordinance No. 12-106, prohibiting the slaughter of horses and other equine for human consumption and adding a new chapter to SCC Title10.

Location
Council Public Meetings and Public Hearings are generally held in the Henry M. Jackson Board Room, 8th Floor, Robert J. Drewel Building (Administration Building East), 3000 Rockefeller, Everett.

Contact information:
Council office: 425-388
e-mail: contact.council@co.snohomish.wa.us

This is a huge opportunity to make your voice heard on this issue. Presence at a public meeting has an enormous impact on the passage of these types of ordinances. We must show that people care about this issue. Anyone may attend, and packing the chambers with people is very important. Even if you don’t live in Snohomish County, just being in the audience makes a difference.

Those who are residents of Snohomish County are even more important. For those folks, signing up to speak on the issue is highly encouraged. You get two minutes. Making clear points while also providing personal aspects is most powerful. We can brainstorm talking points in this thread.

If you are unable to attend, please consider writing a letter to the County Council expressing your views. It may be sent to the email above, or mailed.

I would expect that the livestock lobby will be present, and the one thing I would hate to see happen is for them to organize and be there in numbers opposing the ordinance and the horse community be absent or poorly represented. Please consider attending this event.

Note:  More information about this issue can be found in an article The Herald.