Hearts United for Animals is a national no-kill shelter, sanctuary and animal welfare organization dedicated to the relief of suffering. Our major areas of effort are to end overpopulation of domestic animals and the suffering of dogs in large breeding establishments. We specialize in long distance adoptions and special needs rescue across the nation. Tia’s Place is our refuge for pets of families fleeing homes of domestic violence.

HUA is a 501(c)(3) organization that exists solely on your donations. We receive no governmental funding. The administrative staff is all-volunteer. Our gratitude to the thousands and thousands of people across the continent and around the globe who support our efforts and goals is heartfelt. Together we are a powerful symbol of kindness, love and mercy.

HUA may be contacted at: P.O. Box 286, Auburn, NE 68305http://www.hua.org • Email: hua@hua.org

Over 500 Animals Rescued in 2010

One mid-afternoon in the early spring, we saw Mac, a volunteer from Auburn, speed up the shelter lane. He rushed into the central care room of the Homeward Bound building where volunteers had numerous little dogs out for social time. We listened to the story that he told. He was working in his antique shop when he received a phone call telling him that a dog was lying at the bottom of a slope going down to a creek. The dog could not move. Mac left his shop with customers there, telling them that if they found something they wanted to buy, just leave the money on the counter and try to figure the tax. Off he went to the location of the dog. It was a large black dog that had fallen down the steep incline. The dog could do no more than move its head. Mac knew that he could not get this poor animal out of there by himself. So he headed to the HUA shelter for help. Our reaction was immediate—find John, the assistant manager, and get the van. John left in the van with the dog stretcher from the spay/neuter clinic and drove to meet Mac at the creek. The dog was an elderly black Lab, very frail and emaciated. The men were worried about moving him for fear he was injured, but they edged him slowly onto the stretcher and began the climb up the bank, inch by inch, balancing the dog between them. At one point, Mac slipped and almost fell into the creek. Finally, they were able to gently ease the stretcher into the van. When the van arrived at the shelter, volunteers were waiting with fresh water and canned food. The old black Lab was surrounded by sympathetic voices and hands that tried to massage away the pain. He ate a little food and then had to rest, drank some water and had to rest again. He looked so bad that we doubted he would survive for long. We knew that a family in Auburn had lost an old black Lab when a latch to a gate had been left undone, and they were searching frantically for him. A phone call was answered on the fourth ring. The man was speechless for a moment, hoping so desperately that the dog we had found was his. Gunner, a 14-year-old Labrador, had been missing for a week. He had gotten out of the yard with their other younger dog. That dog was found, but the old guy was not with him. On the fourth day, the family had said their goodbyes to him, convinced that he must be dead, but they could not make themselves put away his dishes. The eldest son was inconsolable, unable to bear the thought of Gunner lost and alone. With heavy hearts, they continued the search for Gunner. Gunner knew before any of the rest of us that a pickup truck was driving along the shelter road. His eyes brightened, ears perked up. He knew the sound of that truck, and when it pulled into the shelter lane, he was so excited and happy that he almost pulled himself to a sitting position. When his dad got out of the truck and said,

“GUNNER!!” the whole world was right again. Everyone was in tears. It was the most heartwarming reunion. John had to pick up Gunner and put him in the passenger seat of the truck, his spot, the place where he always rode going places with his dad for so many years. He rode off toward home, looking as though he was in the prime of his life, going back to his job of caring for his family. Now Gunner is bright-eyed and almost frisky in spite of his years, and his family is so happy that he is home again. As his dad said, “We don’t know how much time he has left, but it is precious to us.” A dear old dog loves his family with all his heart, and they feel the same way about him.

Our Cover Dog

During the second week in June dogs and cats poured into the shelter. Emergencies surround us, including the Missouri River flood just a few miles to the east. Several Iowa towns were evacuated early as levees broke. Calls started coming in. Veterinarians and concerned citizens reported animals being left behind as people moved away, dogs left chained in yards with flood waters creeping closer, human shelters turning away family pets. HUA representatives have been out every day picking up animals from people who have called asking for help and searching river towns for animals that have been abandoned. When the flood starts full force it is expected to last into Fall. It will be the worst the area has seen since 1952. Grateful

animals cling to the shelter staff and volunteers while they work to set up extra temporary quarters to house them all and while their families work to rebuild their lives. The dogs and cats miss their families terribly, but all is being done to comfort and reassure them.

While the dogs and cats from the flood continued to arrive to safety, volunteers and staff picked up a vanload of dogs from a neglect case. According to news reports, the ammonia had burned the rescue workers’ eyes as they worked to remove the dogs. The reports said that urine soaked through the main floor and was dripping into the basement. Reports indicated that the floors were covered with urine and feces, and mold and feces were observed in dog bowls. An estimated sixty to seventy dogs were in the small kitchen area alone. Stained walls, unsanitary messes on the floor and piles of dead flies were shown on Omaha news reports. The sheriff ’s deputy told the news reporters that when the person in charge answered the door he could see feces on her bare feet. He stated that the noise of the dogs barking made it difficult to talk to each other and the smell caused him to vomit in his mouth. He said he had to go outside for fresh air. After their rescue the dogs were held at three local humane societies for six months pending the outcome of the case. Humane society officials reported several dogs had to be euthanized due to their medical conditions. Unaltered dogs had puppies shortly after their arrival at the humane organizations. Others suffered a variety of ailments that the spokesperson for one humane society blamed on the bad living conditions. Of the 104 animals, twenty-one of the older most frightened ones who

A Flood of Animals

were in the worst health were left unadopted after the trial ended. Knowing they would need time and had ongoing medical needs, humane officers decided that HUA would be the best place for them to go, and they were, of course, welcomed with open arms. Many of the dogs are missing eyes, some have completely deteriorated jaws, while others suffer from mammary tumors that will require extensive operations. We are happy to show them individual attention and love and provide all of the veterinary care they need. They are the lucky ones. They survived. At the end of this same week of onslaught, twenty-two dogs arrived from a Nebraska breeding facility. The breeder had Pomeranians and Chihuahuas whose puppies were not selling. Although it was a breeding operation where conditions were not ideal and dogs were not given the individual medical attention or

socialization they deserved, the breeder was a notch above most found in Nebraska. She knew that if the puppies were not selling, she should not continue to breed the parents. She wanted the dogs used for breeding to get out while they were still young, relatively healthy and had the opportunity to live in homes with people who love them. She knew that some dogs were too small to breed and that over-breeding would cause serious health problems. She did not breed dogs with genetic defects. When she pulled the dogs from their travel

crates to hand to the HUA volunteers she treated them gently, not dangling them by one arm or picking them up by the scruff of the neck as so many of the Midwest breeders do. She knew each one and had information on their health and behavior. It will require thousands of dollars to take care of their dental needs, spay/neuter, cherry eyes and other ailments, but there were few conditions noted that cannot be repaired. Their needs are extensive, but this is not the typical falling apart, nightmare of neglect situation we see

from most puppy mill dogs. It was a pleasant surprise, and the HUA volunteers thanked the breeder for allowing Hearts United for Animals to help the dogs on a path to happy, healthy lives as cherished family members. Most of all they thanked her for recognizing that it is not okay to continue to breed dogs when there is such a monstrous overpopulation problem. The over sixty new residents who arrived during this one week in June were frightened at first but are settling in well. Caregiving staff was immediately added to handle all of the new arrivals and make sure that each animal gets all of the care and attention needed. The dogs are enjoying trips to the play yards and are soaking up love from the volunteers and staff. The cats are still a bit indignant, as cats tend to be, but they will be won over soon with the help of our devoted cat and kitten loving volunteers. Trips to the vet have begun, and expenses are expected to total over $20,000. With the flooding predicted to last most of the summer, the new dogs with extensive needs, and our existing 400 plus residents there will be increased costs for quite some time. It was a large leap of faith to rescue this many dogs in such a short period of time, a huge drain on HUA resources. This leap was taken knowing that dedicated, compassionate HUA supporters would not let the animals down, that you would be there in their time of need. This summer is shaping up to be one of the toughest in the history of the shelter. Donations can be made online at www.hua.org or mailed in to Hearts United for Animals PO Box 286 Auburn, NE 68305. All donations go directly to the care of these beautiful, fragile animals.

The New Clinic Building The HUA spay/neuter clinic has moved to a glorious new building. The building is a gift from Nancy and the late Sid Brown of Batavia, Illinois. These people who have loved and cared for animals all their lives wished to give a lasting gift to the animals of this area, and what better gift than to help prevent the births of puppies and kittens born only to suffer and die. Our very low-cost clinic has operated for eight years in the main HUA building one day a week when our dedicated veterinarian, Dr. James Gigstad of Arbor Valley Animal Clinic in Nebraska City, leaves his busy practice to manage this clinic. By the end of 2010, dog and cat patients totalled 8,416. The space available for the clinic in the main building was never adequate, and patients spilled over from the recovery room into the main hall and other general purpose rooms. The new clinic building is a marvel of spaciousness

with a large reception area adequate to receive a number of animals at one time, a dog recovery room with comfortable pens and soft blankets, a large cat recovery room, and an open surgical suite with space for every procedure and preparation needed. The clinic serves areas of Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, and Missouri within driving distance. Cost to the clinic clients is $35 per animal including tests, vaccinations, and any other care that our animal welfare staff can accomplish. The fee is waived in cases of hardship. In addition, dogs and cats pour in for low-cost vaccinations and free veterinary consultation and medical supplies. The clinic is a beacon of hope in the Midwest where overpopulation of dogs and cats is a heartbreaking disaster. It is a monument to caring and working to provide the only humane solution and proves that a handful of dedicated people and one fine, animal welfare veterinarian can make it all happen. We send our heartfelt gratitude to the benefactors of the clinic. The new building is a memorial and a tribute to a very dear man who was the soul of kindness and generosity.

Cats arrive by the dozensDeuce, the first patient in the new building Lots of cleanup involved

Some cuties coming in for a checkup

By Mary LaHay, PresidentIowa Voters for Companion Animals - www.iowavca.org

Legislation has been proposed in Iowa, Florida and Minnesota that would make it illegal to obtain, possess and/or distribute any recording of images or sound at an agriculture facility without the facility-owner’s permission. The bill has been named the “Ag Gag Bill”. What the heck is this about? Well, to understand why agribusiness interests would want such a law one need only perform a search on the internet using search-terms such as undercover video pig farm or undercover video veal farm or undercover dairy farm…you get the gist. There are several extremely disturbing undercover videos that have been obtained at agriculture facilities in many states. It is in the best interest of those who profit from the rampant abuse of agriculture animals to keep us, the consumer, in the dark about this reality. And they’re right, because once enough people catch wind of what’s going on they’re not going to tolerate it. Iowa’s version of the “Ag Gag Bill” is HF 589. It was introduced by a rural Republican legislator, Rep. Annette Sweeney, who just happens to also be a livestock farmer. Surprise! As if the concept of making criminals of whistleblowers who would expose animal cruelty weren’t bad enough, the penalty for whistleblowing is actually more strict than the penalty for perpetrating animal abuse. The bill sailed through the Republican-controlled House but has stalled in the Democratic-controlled Senate. Their primary concern is that the bill would result in a law that is unconstitutional; an infringement on freedom of speech. But heck, why let our constitution interfere with profits. Many agree that IF the bill were to come up for a vote in the Senate, it would pass. Amazing what money can buy. If our legislature recesses before the bill comes up for a vote, it will be reintroduced next year. The legislators who are pushing for this bill claim that their primary concern is to protect livestock producers from “overzealous animal-rights people” who “have been known to” gain employment for the purpose of staging abuse for filming. What a crock. I’ve searched high and low for proof of this claim and have repeatedly asked for documentation to support it, but again, SURPRISE, no such documentation has been provided. Florida’s version of the bill passed their House but stalled in their Senate and was not voted upon before they recessed. Minnesota’s version is still being considered but most analyses show that it will not pass.Our group, Iowa Voters for Companion Animals (IowaVCA), has lobbied against this bill. We typically limit ourselves to promoting or opposing legislation that affects companion animals (vs. agriculture animals) but we have grave concerns about the potential for this bill to negatively impact the oversight of Iowa’s 500+ puppy mills. The fact of the matter is, most puppy mills are situated on properties where agriculture animals are also raised. Dogs really are considered just another form of livestock to the breeders. So this law, if passed, would prevent us from obtaining pictures and videos of the horrendous conditions that the dogs endure. IowaVCA worked hard in 2009 and 2010 to lobby for the passage of HF 2280, the “Puppy Mill Bill” here in Iowa. The new law provides for greater oversight of the mills. This same bill had been introduced on 3 other occasions and never came close to passage… until we started using photos and videos to support our claims. Our research showed that more than 59% of Iowa’s USDA-licensed dog breeders had been cited for violations to the Animal Welfare Act in the timeframe 2007-2009. The photos and videos gave life to the abstract data and helped ensure passage of the new bill. Passage of HF 589 would close the barn and kennel doors for good. Every state needs to keep an eye out for similar legislation. If such a law comes to pass in any state, we’ll no doubt see it elsewhere. Reviewing just one of the many videos depicting abuse of agriculture animals should convince any sensible human being that we need move oversight; not less. But, alas, money trumps sense… and compassion.

What Have They Got to Hide

From the Volunteers-Our Favorite Dogs

Pauline Balta from Lincoln, Nebraska - In December 2009, as I helped unload and get the most recent puppy mill rescues settled with food, water and blankets, one little Chihuahua caught my eye. Leandro had a spunky look about him that said, “I’m a cool boy and don’t forget me.” He makes adorable little “yaps” when he thinks he needs to be picked and held. Leandro is so special that on days I volunteer at HUA; he gets to come to “lunch” with me and has successfully learned the art of begging for little bits of people food!

Gale Hadenfeldt from Lincoln, Nebraska - Rani is what unconditional love is all about. She is a precious, sweet little girl who spent 10 years in a puppy mill, went through 2 surgeries to remove mammary tumors on both sides of her body and another surgery to remove an enlarged lymph gland, and after all that she still LOVES people!!!

Laurie Collingham from Bennet, Nebraska - All seven Eskies are special to me. Siku is special because he has come so far in forgiving the human race for what the mill did to him. He was literally immobilized by depression when he arrived here; now he is playful, adventuresome, loving, and joyous! I love him for his million-dollar smile, for his shy little kisses, and for the dreamy look he gets in his beautiful eyes when I sing him his own special “Siku Song.”

Mary Douglas from Lincoln, Nebraska - At first look, you would think that Vincent was a shy little guy.....but after spending quite a bit of time with him, I have determined he is the strong silent type. He studies the situation before jumping into his relationships. But once he has determined you mean him no harm, he bonds for life! He is so very loyal to those he has bonded with. When he sees me walk into the Homeward Bound wing where he is housed, he jumps half way up his kennel until I finally let him out.

Kay Rearick from Omaha, Nebraska - Vica really pulls at my heart-strings. All she wants to do is to please, love and be loved......a really sweet and wonderful little soul! She joyfully greets everyone that comes to visit. Her exuberance and zest for life are an inspiration.

Mary Striggow from Lincoln, Nebraska - Enchilada came in to the shelter as a very frightened mill dog. He soon learned how good people can be. He is a smart and extremely loyal friend to those humans he cares about. And we are all so proud of him for his incredible agility skills.

Jill Longshaw from Omaha, Nebraska - Ezra is my favorite because he decided that he should be. He is a happy, silly goofball who loves everyone and is a buddy to the other dogs, even the grumpy ones. When he sees me coming around the corner, he literally bounces up and down to waist level until I scoop him up for love. He has a precious, nearly silent bark when he is asking me questions, such as “May I PLEASE have some of those mashed potatoes?” or “Will you be putting that other dog down soon so I can chill in your lap?” He LOVES car rides, but he has figured out how to roll down the windows.

Ann MacDougall from Lincoln, Nebraska - My favorites are almost always the older dogs. Like Lali, most of them have SO much love to give and quickly become devoted companions. They have the enthusiasm of puppies in their new homes, but with more mature attitudes and better manners! Lali has beautiful big brown eyes that seem to concentrate intently, hanging on every word when people talk to her. She loves looking out the window and is fascinated by the television! And she cuddles like a pro!

Therese Banks drives to the shelter from Omaha almost every Saturday and Sunday of the world. She brings multitudes of little dogs out of their playpens to the central care room of the Homeward Bound building. She has caused many wonderful adoptions to happen because she teaches those little dogs what it means to be loved. In this picture Mykel, a terrified Bichon from a Nebraska puppy mill who has been here for years, all of a sudden decided to climb on her lap and cling to her. Therese is a miracle worker.

Ken Guest from Council Bluffs, Iowa - When you volunteer at HUA, you find it very difficult to select just one dog, however if you spend a few minutes with Lloyd, you can see why I chose him. I met Lloyd a few days after he arrived and he already seemed at home in Intake, introducing himself to the staff and volunteers. Once we found out he likes to play ball, he quickly became a volunteer favorite. I think almost everyone at HUA has thrown a ball to Lloyd at least once.

Jeff Banks from Omaha, Nebraska – Charlie is an awesome dog who is always good on a leash, smart and a well-mannered boy. He is always happy to see me when I show up to volunteer. He seems to be smiling all the time and eager to please. He would be a great dog for any lucky family.

Sandy Canfield from Omaha, Nebraska – Donovan is a real love bug. He comes over and wraps his front paws around you for a big hug. He is a beautiful and sweet dog with a look in his eyes that makes your heart melt. He is always ready for a good game of fetch, he loves to play ball and is so good at it. He returns the ball and gently drops it at your feet with a hopeful look that it will be picked up and thrown again.

Janet Roush from Bellevue, Nebraska – I chose Gisa as my favorite. She is quite elderly and did not have a good life at the puppy mill that she came from but despite her poor health and ailments upon arrival at HUA she was the gentlest of souls. She and I bonded right away and enjoy cuddling together.

Linda Kolter from Omaha, Nebraska - Passata came to HUA recently from a puppy mill. The first time I met her, she was playing in a room full of dogs. She greeted me warmly, and ended up sitting on my lap for over an hour. Now when I visit, I always spend time with her. She is very friendly to all visitors, and just wants a little bit of kindness and affection.

After Proposition B in Missouri On the evening of November 2, 2010, dog lovers across the nation watched the election returns in Missouri. For Proposition B, The Puppy Mill Prevention of Cruelty Act, the race was very close. Late in the evening when returns were tallied from metropolitan areas, the yes votes won by a total of 52%. In spite of ruthless propaganda of breeder organizations convincing mostly people in rural areas that Proposition B included or would lead to restrictions that had nothing to do with dogs in commercial breeding places, almost a million people in Missouri voted yes to shutting down puppy mills. It was a glorious victory. Simple, humane standards for dogs won in the state rightly termed the puppy mill capital of the nation. No longer would we have to think of dogs walking on wire strands in crowded, cramped enclosures suffering the extremes of weather. Dogs would have continuous water, not frozen, and free of contaminants. All dogs would have veterinary care, and mother dogs would have a rest between breeding cycles. No doubt the places that we know so well would go out of business because they all rely on mass production, cost cutting, and cruel neglect of animals. Victory celebrations were short-lived. Long before the bill enacted by initiative petition would have gone into effect, Missouri Senators and Representatives announced their intention to either repeal it or accomplish what they called fixing the bill. None of the reasonable, humane standards of animal care survived the onslaught of legislative activity of the 96th session of lawmaking in Missouri. It is ironic that for decades the Missouri Congress had no time to consider the inhumane treatment of thousands of dogs in their state. This year there was a superabundance of time, even in the midst of pressing economic issues that demanded attention. A total of twelve bills were introduced in their efforts to strip Proposition B. There were multiple committee hearings and a frenzy of politicking behind the scenes. A Missouri high school junior, quoted in The Kansas City Star, February 9, 2011, described the public agriculture committee hearings as disheartening to watch. Lawmakers discussing their neighbors’ breeding tales as evidence reeked of behavior that would be considered immature, unprofessional and biased in any work environment or a high school classroom. When the resultant bill that destroyed The Puppy Mill Prevention of Cruelty Act passed both houses of congress, animal advocates sent a deluge of requests to Missouri Governor Jay Nixon to veto the legislators’ bill. The Governor proposed a compromise bill, Senate Bill Number 161, signed into law on April 28, 2011, entitled The Canine Cruelty Prevention Act. The new law contains two parts with provisions somewhat contradictory to each other, but if the better portion stands, we may believe that life will be somewhat better for dogs in Missouri. Subsection 7 states that by January 1, 2012, breeder dogs shall have twice the space that they presently have under existing regulations, and by January 1, 2016, they will have three times the space. Currently, a Beagle measuring thirty inches in length could spend her life in a cage that is three feet by three feet, giving her a meager six inches on either side. The formula for determining

space is absurdly convoluted and grossly impractical to implement, but as calculated, the Beagle may have the equivalent of six feet by three feet by the first of next year and possibly around seven feet by four feet in 2016. Additionally, dogs will have constant and unfettered access to an attached outdoor run, and by January 1, 2016, wire strand flooring will be prohibited. On March 31st of this year, representatives of Hearts United for Animals drove two large vehicles to a breeding place in Missouri to receive dogs being relinquished. Over the past several years we have been to this establishment a number of times taking dogs. The breeders state their dislike of increased regulations and their intention of retiring. As puppy sales dropped, that became increasingly likely.

This location covers approximately an acre of low land, soggy underfoot if wet, covered with gerryrigged contraptions for housing dogs—concrete pads with fencing and blue barrels, sheds with exterior runs, sheds with no exterior runs, open pole sheds. Everywhere one looks there are confinements where dogs live with minimal survival provisions. No one ever appears to be working there cleaning or caring for the dogs. Some dogs are shivering in the cold. Others are in stuffy, overly warm sheds with unregulated propane heat and their hamster water bottles empty. There are dogs missing one eye and dogs coughing and hacking. The place is filthy. The dogs are filthy. It would take a staff of twenty good people to care for these dogs in these facilities. We have taken dogs with lice and giardia, dogs with ears frozen off and permanent damage to footpads from frostbite. At one time we were told there were 300 dogs living there. Now there may be around 70 left.

A total of 47 dogs were brought to the HUA shelter that day, and the task of giving them their lives began as it does in every shelter and breed rescue group working in puppy mill rescue. Repairing the damage to breeder dogs takes work and money, lots of both. Legions of people nationwide join in the effort to save the puppy mill dogs for one reason only—they are so incredibly sorry for them. Regulation of commercial dog breeding is a popular reform movement, a vastly popular one, always attacked by special interest groups. It is difficult to persuade lawmakers in the midwest to look at the larger picture of social ills caused by substandard mass breeding of domestic animals and to consider the wishes of the majority rather than protecting the breeding business and its related allies. The huge effort of the good people of Missouri trying to clean up their state is not lost. The aftermath of Proposition B brought national attention to how far some lawmakers will go to protect special interest groups and what they consider

a valuable industry of their state. Under the guise of amending an initiative bill, they annihilated it, trampled on the will of the majority, and defiled direct democracy, a basic principle of this nation. The struggle will continue in Missouri and in other states corrupted by the pet industry and lawmakers who refuse to accept their responsibility of protecting the peace and dignity of the citizens of their states. Powerful forces are at work to civilize this nation in its treatment of animals. The dedication of people who love dogs and absolutely refuse to tolerate the suffering that is perpetuated in dog breeding facilities is not going to change.

Tallica was brought to the HUA shelter when she was eight weeks old. She is a baby Boxer who was purchased from a Missouri breeder a week earlier. The father of the family who wanted this puppy contacted the breeder after searching through breeder websites. He met with the breeder and paid an exorbitant price for Tallica. The children in Tallica’s family were thrilled when she arrived. It was such fun and excitement, and she is a darling pup. But the celebration did not last long because it was obvious that the puppy was sick. She was lethargic and would barely eat or drink. She was too weak to play. The family took Tallica to a veterinarian who said that she had intestinal parasites and was four pounds underweight for her age and breed. Four pounds was almost equal to her entire body weight of 5.8 pounds. Even a healthy puppy can mean a difficult adjustment time for a family. Puppies have a lot to learn about house manners and can cause a great deal of cleanup. They often miss their mothers and their littermates and keep people awake at night. They are babies that require care. A sick puppy is much worse yet. The youngest child in the family was age three. He loved the new puppy and was so very gentle with her cuddling her while she gave him kisses on his face. The parents became very worried about

zoonotic diseases and sought advice. They were told that they could return the puppy to the breeder since the time was within thirty days. They refused to take her back to a place where her care had been so obviously negligent. The father of the family delivered Tallica to the HUA shelter at a time when the older children were in school so that they did not have to see her leave. He said he did not know how he was going to tell them when they returned home and did not find her there. We suggested that if he wished, he could say that she was being rehabilitated and that she would be back soon. If all goes well, that could happen. We hope and pray that Tallica can survive her bad beginning in life. When she arrived here, she was skin and bones with a bloated abdomen. She was malnourished, dehydrated, and infested with round worms. Special foods have been prepared to tempt her to eat, and she has been put on a regimen of medicines for intestinal problems. To ensure that she drinks enough, she is given water in a baby bottle. The entire shelter staff watches over her and worries. So the breeder walked away with his wad of cash in his pocket, and everyone else pays the price for his contemptible business practices. That is the commercial dog breeding business. It traffics in animal suffering and preys upon unknowing families. It floods the nation’s shelters with sick, sad animals. It whines to legislators for protection. It infuriates decent people.

Tallica

Letter from a Vet Dr. James Gigstad of Arbor Valley Animal Clinic in Nebraska City has been the HUA shelter veterinarian for over twelve years. During this time he has treated all the health problems of thousands of breeder dogs rescued by HUA from puppy mills. He is an authority on the health of these dogs. Since puppy mill dogs are known for having major tooth and mouth diseases, we asked him if he would write a letter on this subject. This is what he wrote:

“Carol Wheeler from the Hearts United for Animals animal shelter and I had been discussing dental disease in mill dogs. Anecdotally we both have seen very severe dental disease in mill dogs that end up in the shelter after being rescued from puppy mills. Periodontal disease and all its manifestations such as mobile teeth, exposed roots, furcation, plaque, calculus, halitosis, are the

rule. Carol would have the statistics but over the last 10 years the number of dogs rescued and provided with dental prophylaxes would be in the thousands and its not a fluke, it’s a consistent trend that we continue to see. So why do mill dogs have such bad dental health even at a young age? Part of the problem lies in the fact that puppy mills deal in cute little breeds of dogs that are over bred. And we know for a fact that periodontal disease is more prevalent in small breed dogs with crowded teeth. Selective breeding has created short muzzles but the tooth size does not shrink as fast genetically. Miniature Schnauzers, Poodles and Terriers with a lot of hair around the mouth seem to be predisposed to calculus build up. Dental disease is the most prevalent disease seen in dogs worldwide and only through diligent work on behalf of owners and veterinary teams can it be prevented and managed. This is challenging for the general public and well meaning pet owners so its not hard to see how mill dogs would have an issue since they are almost always on a minimum veterinary care schedule if on one at all. Nutrition can also play a role, Calcium and Phosphorus levels are very important dietary considerations in periodontal disease. When dietary phosphorous is too high the body mobilized calcium out of the bones, the lower jaw bone is often the first bone affected and that will cause the incisors to become mobile and fall out or need to be pulled. We know that mills operate to make money so inputs must be kept at a minimum. Along with vet care, food is a large input so its not hard to see that if they buy the cheapest food in bulk to feed their massive number of dogs they can maintain a profit margin. Its well documented that with dog food you get what you pay for so the cheapest food is not going to provide the best nutrition. Another factor that could lead to increased periodontal disease in mill dogs is general health and well being and the fact that it appears to be lacking in mill dogs. In the book Small Animal Dentistry by Colin Harvey copyright 1993 I quote from page 110 “ It generally is agreed that systemic conditions that depress metabolic activity will exacerbate periodontal disease by lessening the ability of the local tissues to defend themselves against the omnipresent bacterial population.” As a veterinarian of 18 years having worked with animal shelters as well as breeders and being personally involved in production agriculture, specifically beef production, it is my opinion that the puppy mills do not provide enough veterinary care to the animals that they are in charge of keeping. There are so many factors involved in the puppy mill debate that we cannot cover all of them in this venue. The whole business model of puppy mills and pet production is flawed. Sadly and ironically society who is generally against puppy mills, helps the mills continue every time they buy a puppy out of a pet store thinking they are doing a great service by getting the puppy out of the store and into a loving home. Public education and open communication between all involved is the only way to bring an end to the suffering of these companion animals. This letter may help to that effect. Regards, James Gigstad DVM Arbor Valley Animal Clinic”

Meet Our Office Staff

Every once in a while we find that special dog who is promoted to the elevated status of “office dog” at HUA. We have a wonderful team. They keep the human staff in line and remind them what is important in the day-to-day operation of the shelter.

Suki, a Dachshund mix, is the office manager. She practiced her management skills in other dog areas of the shelter, causing rebellions everywhere to prove that she should move to the office. She can most often be found on the computer chair, waiting for a data entry job to come her way. Suki alerts us when a storm is coming by hopping wildly around the office and pacing. Suki has found her Thundershirt to be very comforting in storms. All we have to say is “Suki – shirt” and she quits pacing, comes to sit nicely by the shelf where she knows her special shirt is stored, and waits to have her adored garment put on. This is a great help, as we then know to check

that all dogs on the property are indoors before a storm hits. Once she has her Thundershirt on, she sits calmly on the office chair again, proud of her shirt, knowing that it makes her 100% invincible to the scary weather. Suki also leads her pack in the charge to the front door when visitors arrive, barking wildly to make sure we immediately attend to the needs of our guests.

Darik is Suki’s right-hand man. He is fast behind Suki in the charge when visitors come. To make sure we don’t miss any calls, he incites a riot when the phone rings. Selflessly protecting his officemates from the dangers of obesity, he tries to eat all the food as fast as he can. His main job is new toy tester/de-stuffer. If it takes him less than 10 minutes to de-stuff he finds them of poor quality….more than 10 minutes and he grabs the catalog from the shelf and places an order for more. Darik’s running around the office in the performance of his duties serves as his physical therapy following back surgery.

Tres, aka The Love Monkey, aka Elmer Fudd, a Chihuahua/Pug mix (maybe), is the office clown. Tres was rescued from a Kansas puppy mill auction on a very cold day. It was clear that nobody wanted him. He wasn’t a good representation of any breed and has a permanently bewildered look about him. To be kind we shall just say that his IQ would not qualify him as a member of Mensa. His front legs don’t bend much when he walks, making him look like he is trying out for marching band. He loves to be loved and showers the people he knows with kisses. He is a world-class beggar for human food scraps. If he doesn’t know people, he will nip the backs of their legs. He loves summer when people are wearing shorts and follows along behind them, sniffing their calves as if they positively intoxicate him. He is our special boy.

Nibbles, a little terrier, keeps everyone on their toes. Her story is sad, but she is as happy as she can be. Rescued from the home of a Satanic cult, she is in the office to learn to trust people again. We don’t even want to imagine what has happened to her. After almost two years in the office, she will now come up to be petted, but only for brief periods and then she thrashes, nibbles at us and runs away. While she is sleeping, she will often bite wildly at the air and lunge out of her bed as if she is chasing off something that will harm her. Nibbles reminds us that everyone has his demons, but some are worse than others. She reminds us why we do what we do, and that although we cannot mend every dog completely, we can give them what they need to be as content as they can be.

Michie, a Shih-tzu, is the resident cuddlebug. He isn’t much into the office work, except to sit on laps and comfort us when we are down about all of the phone calls we get each day reporting dogs in dire need. He often dances a happy jig to remind us about all that is good in the world. Michie came to the office originally because he had to have eye drops several times a day for months. He has recovered but says he isn’t giving up his spot in the office. It has become his home.

Kids Have Compassion The outpouring of support from young people for the dogs at HUA gives great hope for the future of animal welfare. When kids hear about dogs in need, they spring to action and feel a sense of responsibility for making sure that the animals have what they need to be comfortable, recover and find happy homes. We are grateful for their efforts. Each child is so special, lovely and pure of heart, which is something they have in common with the dear animals they strive to help. Their creativity and spirit of giving are truly amazing. In March the Omaha Loveland Golden K Kiwanis Club heard about HUA’s need for shredded paper for the puppy playpens. When they told

the kids at their K Kids afterschool program at Franklin Elementary, the problem was soon solved and the puppies had mountains of shredded paper. The Kiwanis members along with Jean Bressler and Betty Heckman, longtime HUA volunteers, took shredders and paper to the afterschool club. Jean brought her HUA alumni dogs to visit as a reward for the kids’ hard work. The kids took turns shredding and playing with the dogs. Jean’s Gypsy, a puppy mill dog born with no patellas, hopped around showing her gratitude, while spunky senior citizens Freddie and Troy, also puppy mill survivors, soaked up the love. The HUA website was on a big screen so that the kids could learn about all of the dogs they were working to help. Smiles abounded as the kids felt such a sense of accomplishment in helping the animals. When Brady Nielsen from Sandy, Oregon, found the HUA website, he was inspired to help the dogs as his senior project. His idea was to get his friends to pledge money to HUA for each inch of beard that he grew. He and his friends had a great time documenting the project and in the end raised $305, enough to cover two vet visits for spay/neuter, dentals, heartworm checks and microchipping so that two more dogs can find happy homes. Brady did a lovely Power Point presentation including stories of tragedy and hope from the HUA website. He also included a Shel Silverstein poem and graphic.

When Geordi Gonzales from Omaha, Nebraska, found out about the existence of puppy mills, she decided to focus her Bat Mitzvah charitable project on helping organizations that rescue dogs from these horrible conditions. She heard that HUA was one of the leading authorities on puppy mills and animal rescue operations. She spent a day at HUA learning about the dogs, where they were rescued from, and the various medical and behavioral issues they face. She was given movies and magazines with articles featuring some of HUA’s rescues. She could have stopped there, but she was inspired to do more. With the help of her parents and grandparents, she did two daylong

newspaper drives collecting vanloads of donated items that will help the dogs to live in cleanliness and comfort. Brooke Rathbun from Omaha carries the HUA dogs in her heart every day. Her latest endeavor was to make attractive donation boxes to place at area businesses to collect blankets so that the dogs will always be comfortable and warm. After months of collection, she and her mother drove to HUA to leave all of the gorgeous soft blankets and spend the day playing with their furry friends. The dogs found the visit to be a wonderful treat and are very much enjoying their new blankets.

What is in Your Dog Food? At HUA, we place importance on feeding high-quality dog food. If you feed a commercial grade pet food, you need to be aware of what you are actually feeding your pets. Take a look at the ingredients on the back of the bag. Do you recognize the ingredients? Do you opt for the bag of dog food at the grocery store - the one in a colorful package with the smiling dog on the front? Do you opt for the cheapest bag of food or one that must be good because it’s recommended by your vet and advertised on the television? Dogs tend to eat the same thing every day for life. Their food choice is important. A low-quality food is the canine equivalent of eating at a fast food joint or eating junk food. Of course you can lead a fairly normal life on that food, but when you begin to eat more nutritious, healthful food, you often just feel better and have a better energy level. Feeding a high-quality dog food also has many benefits. These include overall better health and well-being, a healthier coat quality (which often means a softer, shinier coat with less shedding), and smaller and fewer bowel movements. This is due to the fact that high-quality food has fewer fillers in it - things your dog does not need. Also, many dogs with allergies often do better on high-quality foods due to the lack of grains that so many dogs are allergic to in low-quality foods. When looking at ingredients on the back of the bag of dog food, the first ingredient should be a protein (for example - salmon, chicken, bison, turkey, etc.). When reading the ingredients on a bag of high-quality dog food, you should be able to recognize almost every ingredient on the bag! Wouldn’t you prefer to see ingredients such as blueberries, carrots, and whole eggs rather than a host of ingredients you can’t pronounce? Low-quality foods will usually list the first few ingredients as fillers, grains and starches, or by-products (for example - corn, wheat, chicken by-product, turkey by-product, etc.). You want to stay away from dog foods with those ingredients on the label, as well as products that list artificial preservatives, food colorings, and sweeteners. Both www.dogfoodanalysis.com and www.dogfoodadvisor.com rank dog foods. On both websites, the higher the food ranks with the number of stars (with 6 stars being the highest on one website and 5 on the other), the higher the quality of food. Visit both websites to see how other foods rank! If you find a brand you’d like to try, go to that company’s website and use the store locator to find stores near you that carry that brand of food.

A reminder that no single pet food is going to be perfect for every dog. It takes time to find the right food. High-quality pet foods are more expensive, and you’ll most likely feel sticker shock when switching to a higher-quality food. However, it’s essential to remember that high-quality foods have little to no fillers, so you feed a much smaller quantity. Therefore, the price pretty much evens itself out. If you’re thinking about making the switch to a higher-quality food, remember to do so gradually to avoid stomach upset. Mix in the new food gradually with the old food before feeding solely the new food. Many people have begun to read the labels on the food they eat themselves. It’s time that we start reading the labels on the foods and treats we feed our furry companions as well.

Examples of foods that rank high on both websites include:

Acana • Fromm • Innova • MerrickOrijen • Solid Gold • Taste of the Wild • Wellness

Examples of foods that rank low on both websites include:

Alpo • Beneful • Eukanuba • IamsKibbles ‘n Bits • Pedigree • Purina • Science Diet

A new bright, shining star of ability, energy, and dedication is serving on the HUA board of directors. Tera Bruegger of North Tonawanda, New York, has joined our volunteer administrative staff. Tera is the administrator of the HUA Facebook page and the manager of long distance adoptions. Many people have already met Tera and know how efficient and considerate she is while working with them to adopt just the right pooch and arrange the transportation.

Tera and her husband Josh, also a strong advocate for the animals, have a family of adopted HUA dogs—Timmy, Sharla, and Ranger—and a young son Binyam from Ethiopia and two cats adopted from a shelter ten years ago, Angel and Jigga. All family members live very happily in the excellent care of their loving parents. Timmy, a double dapple Dachshund from a Missouri puppy mill, has severe neurological damage from faulty breeding. Recently, Timmy had to have back surgery for a ruptured disk. Although he was given only a 10% chance of recovery because of his handicap, Timmy is walking again. Sharla and Ranger, both Nebraska puppy mill Shiba Inus, are now older dogs with age-related disabilities along with the effects of their lives spent as breeder dogs. Sharla has chronic skin diseases. Ranger has a crippled leg that looks as though a wire was wrapped around

it at some time in his life leaving deep grooves and permanent bone damage. Sharla and Ranger are very devoted to each other. Ranger was debarked using the barbaric method known to puppy millers. When he needs to go outside, Sharla delivers a Shiba scream to let people know that Ranger is pacing. Tera represents HUA at numerous events, including National Puppy Mill Awareness Day in Pennsylvania and Bark Heard Around the World in New York. She has been a guest speaker at events on the subject of puppy mills. Tera says that for both her and Josh, working in rescue has made them more aware and compassionate and given them more of a purpose in life.

A New Director

A Time to Care Champion is a sweet, gentle Cocker Spaniel who lives in Coconut Creek, Florida, with people who have loved him and given him the best of care for years. This winter Champion had a serious problem. His urinary tract was completely blocked by large bladder stones. Both Champion’s mom and dad had lost their jobs because of the recession. They were doing everything possible to cover expenses—working part-time jobs, commissioned jobs. When they realized something was terribly wrong with Champion, they rushed him to a veterinary hospital on a Sunday and used funds that were needed to pay utility bills. From there they were referred to another hospital for emergency surgery, but when they took Champion there, they were turned away because they did not have enough money. Champion’s mom sent an email to HUA describing this heartbreaking experience. She said she was taking Champion to less expensive animal clinics to be catheterized to give him temporary relief. His family would hear him out in the yard moaning. Just reading this story was unbearable—to think how this dog and these people were suffering. We responded saying that we would help. Very early Tuesday morning we received telephone numbers to call, and when the doors of the animal hospital opened for business, Champion was there for his surgery. So often a dog or cat needs care immediately. There is no time for formal requests or meeting extensive stipulations. The ability to act fast is very important. Our emergency vet care program has saved many animals from suffering and death. Champion recovered well, and he is now a healthy and happy dog again. He has sent us thank you notes and the loveliest pictures. Truly, the gratitude is to you, our supporters, for the kind and generous gifts that take away the pain and give dogs like Champion back their lives.

HUA Billboards Last year, right as the holiday shopping rush began, HUA ran a series of huge digital billboards reminding people to adopt rather than shop. Digital billboards were placed strategically in high-traffic areas in Omaha. Each day during the billboard campaign, approximately 80,000 people saw these billboards. For some, it was a reminder not to shop at pet stores. For others, it was a chance to become aware of the link between puppy mills and pet stores. Breeders and pet stores push puppy sales each holiday season. They promote puppies as the perfect gift at a time when families are busy in their homes and often traveling to visit friends and family. It is a time least likely to be comfortable and happy for either the family or the puppy, and giving puppies as gifts to others is rarely ever appropriate. As we have all learned, as long as there is a demand, there will be a supply. The same holds true for pet store puppies at any time of the year. Educating people on the link between pet stores and puppy mills is crucial. Buying that cute little

puppy in the pet store will only create room for another puppy who is the offspring of two dogs kept in horrific conditions where they are breeding machines and prisoners of the vicious cycle of greed. Cute little puppies can actually be found in shelters and rescues across this country. Rescue shelters and breed rescue groups take in these puppies and work to find the perfect

match for both the adopting family and the dog. They do this by checking vet references, doing home visits, and sharing all knowledge they have on the dog’s personality, temperament, and health. They learn about families to ensure the dog would be a good match for them. They want these dogs to be safe and cared for all their lives, and they will take back a dog at any time in its life if it is relinquished. Each year, millions of animals are euthanized in shelters across this country. Please help be a voice for these dogs by sharing how amazing it is to rescue and adopt a pet!

In Memory of Rex

Hearts Unitedfor Animals

Box 286Auburn, NE 68305

NON-PROFITUS POSTAGE

PAIDOMAHA, NE

PERMIT NO. 776

About eight or ten years ago an elderly gentleman came to the HUA shelter to visit. He came back many times after that. Rex was a kind and gentle person who really loved the animals. His presence was always the highlight of the day. He liked to tour the shelter on a golf cart and meet all the dogs, and he often sat in the Sunroom for hours holding dogs on his lap. After several years had passed, Rex asked us to visit his home and meet his dogs. When we arrived, two of the cutest little Pekingese, Hey You and Who Me, came out to meet us, and we had a wonderful visit. He asked us that day if we would take his dogs if anything happened to him and gave us keys to his house in case his dogs would be locked in when he could not come home to take care of them. We agreed to that. Years passed without much thought about the agreement to take the dogs. Then one day we had a phone call from a neighbor telling us that Rex had become ill and was taken to the hospital. We hastened to get the dogs from the house

and bring them to the shelter. When we visited Rex, he seemed to be on the way to recovery, and we hoped he could soon have his dogs again, but that did not happen. Hey You and Who Me became permanent residents of the shelter. They live in the Sunroom, a place that Rex enjoyed so much, and although it is not the home they knew for many years, they love all the human attention and the little dog door out to their yard. We hope that Rex knows that they are loved and happy. They were the most important things in his life. Rex left a bequest of his life savings to the animals, and his love for them lives on after he is gone. It is a comfort to anyone who cares about animals to know that a provision has been made for them so that the work to save their lives can continue. It is a gift of life that will do so much good.