ORA's HAC-STK Blog: November 2010

Monday, November 1, 2010

Protest Interviews in TheSpec

Featuring Terry Chapman Hutchison and Leanne Tucker.

Mon Nov 01 2011, TheSpec. "Save the Kittens,"
by Carla Fragomeni.

About the “Hamilton Animal Control - Stop the Killings” Group:
Founded in 2008 by Ken Wood and Terry Chapman Hutchison, the “Hamilton Animal Control - Stop the Killings” (HAC-STK) Group is an open public forum on Facebook dedicated to saving more animal lives and working towards positive, long-term changes at the Hamilton Animal Control/Hamilton Burlington SPCA. Concerned residents, rescuers and activists are invited to gather here to connect with like minds, post relevant news, initiate action, debate shelter reform, and share advocacy ideas.

About the Hamilton Animal Control:
Hamilton Animal Control comes under the jurisdiction of the Planning and Economic Development Department of the City of Hamilton, and their division is "The Parking and By-Law Services Division.” One section of this group is the Animal Control Section which is responsible for the issuance of animal licences, lost and found animal reporting services, animal education, receipt and impounding of stray animals that have been confined, responding to service requests respecting injured or dead wildlife and when necessary, enforcement under the Dog Licensing and Control By-law and various Animal Control by-laws. Animal Control also has two private contractors that service the Flamborough and Glanbrook communities.

THE HISTORY:

ORA's HAC-STK Timeline

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THE ISSUES:

-Approximately 3000 cats and 300 dogs are killed every year at the Hamilton Animal Control
-No public adoptions offered
-Inconvenient opening hours for people to reclaim their companion animals
-Only 72 hour minimum hold time before killing
-No feral cat program
-No spay and neuter program
-No education program

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THE SOLUTIONS:

-Open up public adoptions
-Expand network of rescues
-Extend opening hours for working people to reclaim their pets
-Give rescues and individuals more than 72 hour minimum to save lives
-Stop picking up people's pets
-Respond to complaints only
-Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) program
-Low cost, high volume spay and neuter clinic or rebate program to use with existing vets
-Public education programs, and more

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HOW YOU CAN HELP:

1. Spay or neuter your pets.
2. Do not let your cats roam.
3. Adopt from a rescue or shelter.
4. Join our Facebook groups (no spam or trolling, please),
“Hamilton Animal Control - Stop the Killings" www.facebook.com/groups/StopTheKillings and
ORA Animal Rescue www.facebook.com/ORArescue
5. Write the Mayor & Councillors to demand change. Sample letter & all email addresses available on the HAC-STK Facebook site.
6. Build Awareness. Tell everyone you know what is happening at the Hamilton Animal Control.
7. Attend Protests & Rallies. Details to be found on our Facebook sites.