Over the years here, I have seen many staff members come and go.  Everyone that has come here and touched the animals, have also made an impact on all of us humans that work here as well.  I truly see our shelter staff as an extended family.  We love, laugh, teach, learn, fight, and support one another though all of the trials and tribulations of this unique world that we work in.  Our passion unites us.

As with everywhere in the world, things change and people move on.  Today we said farewell to a valued member of our shelter family, Stephanie Orien our Coordinator of Volunteer Services. 

She has appeared as a guest blogger before, and I knew that her departure was very bittersweet for her, so I offered her the opportunity to share with you some of her parting thoughts on her time here.  Her response was “I’ve already written it.”

She worked right up until the last minute.  And even as she was saying goodbye in my office, she noticed that a certain volunteer needed reminding about one of the rules.

Stephanie, just so you know, I talked to Joel for you tonight.  It was an honour to work with you and I wish you great success in your future…

I have been in the animal sheltering world for close to five years now; and every single day spent in this field has changed me.  When I started in this world, animals became not only my job but my life, my passion and my saviors.  When I look back on the time I have spent here at the Edmonton Humane Society, I remember incredible joy, profound sadness and an overwhelming sense of accomplishment.  I went home every day knowing that what I was doing was important.

Animal sheltering is not like any other job.  It doesn’t matter if you are the CEO, receptionist, kennel attendant, medical staff or volunteer coordinator; it is a job like no other.  This is not a clock in at 9 am and out at 5 pm kind of job.  This is place where everyone works towards a common goal, no matter the time of the day.

I can remember days when I started at 7:30am and didn’t leave until 8:30pm, but when I walked out of the shelter, I knew that what I had done that day whether it be cleaning kennels, organizing an event, coordinating volunteers or doing data entry that my contribution to the EHS was noticed and mattered.

I never knew what to expect when I walked into the doors at the shelter each morning.  Maybe I would be working a typical day in my office or perhaps I would end up knee deep in puppies from an animal seizure or I might even be called on to care for 300 animals while a team of animal shelter workers saves the lives of animals in a fire ravaged town.

These things are why I came to work every day; because there is always a new adventure around every corner.  For nearly 2.5 years I have dedicated myself and my family to this amazing shelter here in Edmonton and I don’t regret a single moment of it.

When I welcomed new volunteers to the shelter, I always told them that they were not just giving to us, but it was more of a two way street; we all get something out of the experience.  I have found that to be true with my job as well.

It wasn’t just me giving of my time for the last few years.  I was learning, growing and experiencing unparalleled joy every day.  What the animals, volunteers and staff have given back to me has been amazing, and for that all I have to say is thank you! Thank you for this experience and the opportunity to be part of this family.

I recently ran across a quote that said “Saving one animal will not change the world, but to that one animal the world is changed forever”, well I cannot tell you how many animals lives I have changed, but if I made just one life better, then I have done something amazing with my time as an animal shelter worker.

Regards,
Stephanie Orien
Volunteer Department

Several of my dogs are entering their senior years and they can no longer make it through the night or the days without heeding the call of nature. In order to take this stress off of them, we installed a dog door. This provides them the freedom to come and go and enjoy the fresh air at will.

This free roaming backyard access has worked very well for us for several years. That is until last week when I got a huge wake up call. Let me tell you the story…

We were having a rare evening out with friends when my cell phone rang. It was Holly from the downtown Edmonton Veterinarians’ Emergency Clinic (EVEC) calling. She told me that they had found one of my pups. Then immediately reassured me that the pup was ok. Talk about a 10 second range of emotions from concern to relief. My first and immediate thought was that one of the shelter’s foster dogs had gotten away from one of the foster homes and because they all have microchips they simply called to notify me of the case. It simply didn’t occur to me that it could be something else.

Holly told me the location where the dog was picked up from and that the dog’s microchip information said the dog’s name was Angel. Still thinking that this was a foster animal even with the street address provided, I thanked her for the information and told her I would arrange for someone to pick up the dog tomorrow if that was ok with them. She seemed a bit confused but said “okay”.

Five seconds after hanging up I thought to myself, OMG is she talking about my own personal dog, not the foster I had assumed? I quickly hit redial and spoke with Holly to clarify if she was talking about my dog. She indicated to me that yes indeed she was looking at my dog Angel. Holly had thought it quite strange and out of character that I was not going to come till the following day to pick her up. Then she realized when I called back that I misunderstood her.

I felt fear wash over me, and my heart sank. I numbly thought to myself, that Angel was safe, but if she had gotten out of the yard, what about the other dogs. My heart hit the bottom of my stomach as my brain screamed at me that not only was I responsible for my own dogs this weekend, but I was dog-sitting for my friend as well. Angel was only one of five dogs in my care that weekend.

What had happened and how did they get out of the yard? I was sure that the yard was secure. As in any stressful situation, my mind went to the worst case scenario. One of my friend’s dogs, Seamus was a particular cause for concern. Seamus is incredibly fearful and his first instinct in unfamiliar situations is to bolt and run for miles given the right circumstances. How was I ever going to get him back? I was just sick.

I called our next door neighbour asked him to check whether the gate was open. He ran over and confirmed my worst fear, the gate was wide open and the yard was empty. He did not see the dogs running in the neighbourhood either, so I really had no idea as to the status of the other four dogs.

The 10 minute drive to my home felt like hours. My heart was pounding and I was totally afraid that I would not find any of the dogs at home, then what? I felt total loss of control and fear and a bit of anger, how in the world did my gate get opened?

I became even angrier, only this time it was at myself, as I realized that none of my dogs or my friend’s dogs had their tags on the collars. The tags make too much noise around the house, so I typically only attach them when I take the dogs out. Note to self: find a way to at least have one tag on the collars at all times.

After a nail-biting drive, we pulled up to our home. My heart was in my throat as we walked up to the front door. To my infinite surprise and relief, as we walked in the door, there were four wagging tails and happy dog grins. They were all safe and sound and happy to see us as usual. I just started laughing from sheer relief. Here I had been so concerned for their safety and all along they were safe in the house sleeping and really not noticing that anything was amiss. How lucky we were that no one was missing, or worse, hit by a car and laying hurt somewhere.

After securing the gate, off we went to EVEC to pick up Angel, she was of course happy to see us, totally oblivious of the stress she caused us. Holly let me know that the phone number linked to Angels’ microchip was my home phone and didn’t have my cell phone. I am very grateful that Holly, who is a former shelter Operations Supervisor, was resourceful and found a facebook contact who provided her my cell phone number. Note to self: update the microchip information and add my cell phone number.

When we arrived at home one of our neighbours came over to tell us about her adventure that night in finding a few dogs running around the neighbourhood. Contrary to my first assumption, the dogs had been roaming the neighbourhood and I realized then that we were doubly lucky that they had found their way back home and into their beds instead of into traffic.

Our neighbour told us that she had called the police as she was worried about the dogs. She lived only two houses away from us and she said she never knew that we had dogs. Wow, I guess our dog barking issue is not as bad as I thought it was. Note to self: meet and talk with neighbours about our pets in the event this happens again.

We inspected the gate and found that the latch was intact and not loose; we could only conclude that someone had opened it. We felt that we had a secure gate but I guess if someone wants to play a prank then they could simply open it and walk away. Note to self: change the gate locking system.

That night our gate latch was changed with several bolts making it difficult for anyone to simply just open unless they carry around a tool kit.

In the end, my wake up call was a pretty comprehensive one with several lessons learned. Even if you think you have the bases covered, stuff happens outside of your control. Ensure that you prepare for the worst case to protect your animals. Make friends with your neighbours, ensure your immediate phone number is updated on your pets’ microchips and that your pet has identification on at all times. Finally ensure your yard is pet and human proof.

As I said, I consider myself a responsible pet owner, but even so, I found myself in this completely terrifying situation, fearing the worst for my beloved dogs. It’s my job to keep them safe, and a few changes and adjustments will help to do just that.

Today my guest blogger a new graduate of the

I am a real critter lover. Always have been. Growing up when we went to the pool I would spend more time rescuing half drowned dragonflies than actually swimming. At Christmas I would ignore my expensive new toys (much to my parents’ displeasure) and play with “Sushi” our family’s dog. I try to avoid being “cheesy” but I guess some times we must risk clichés because they are most accurate: dog training is truly “my calling”.

Before starting my journey to become a dog trainer I didn’t have any experience with the breeds considered “Pit Bulls”. My family never owned one. I never even knew anyone who had one. I suppose you could say that I was a Pit Bull blank slate. My mother, father, and boyfriend on the other hand, were not what you would call Pit Bull fans. When I asked them to explain why they felt this way they all mentioned seeing lots of stories on TV about Pit Bulls attacking people.

My boyfriend also told me about how his aunt inherited a Pit Bull with some behaviour problems when he was a boy. The dog would growl and bark menacingly at him. So suffice it to say, my family was a little apprehensive when I told them that I would be covering the Bully Breed class while the regular instructor Bilinda was away. But they knew how excited I was about it, they knew I wanted a career with dogs and Bilinda encouraged me and told me that I was ready to train on my own. I guess my family really didn’t have a choice!

Even though I had learned about Pit Bulls in the EHS Dog Behaviour and Training Methodology course, had watched over 8 months of classes and worked with some at Katrina and Friends Dog Day care, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect. I met my class for the first time on February 28. There were six dogs in the class, five Pit Bulls and a very sweet little English Bulldog. The Humane Society welcomes all “Bully Breeds” in our Bully Breed Basics class, but for the most part, class is usually made up of Pit Bulls.

My very first impression was amazement at the diversity of body shapes and colours. I had everything from a tiny little 8 month Staffordshire Bull Terrier to a massive American Staffordshire cross. The variety of colour was beautiful, we had a blue and white, a red brindle, a black and white, a dark brown brindle, and even a Piebald. When I first went around the room to meet each of my students I was careful to observe all of the rules of doggy etiquette (I didn’t stare, lean over them or pat them on the head…). I knelt beside each dog and waited to see how they felt about me. Every dog in the class approached me for cuddles with tails wagging and bodies wiggling. I was surprised that they were all so comfortable and friendly with a complete stranger. Their human friendly nature is now my favourite Pit Bull characteristic. I was also amazed at how quickly this powerful breed settled down to focus for their owners on the first day regardless of the fact that they were in a room with a bunch of strange dogs, people and new smells. A couple of face-washes later, it was time to start teaching the curriculum.

A major part of the Bully Breed class is teaching people how to train their dogs to focus on them in a high distraction environment. This breed has terrier in them so getting excited and vocalizing is something all their owners need to pay attention to. Although this was the greatest challenge for my Pit Bulls, they did amazing! Every week I saw improvements. I came home every night raving about how wonderful “my pittys” were and how much they were learning! My students’ favourite activity was working over and around obstacles (agility), which is perfect because it’s a great way to use a Pit Bull’s energy, drive and focus. Hopefully some of my students will go on to take our regular agility classes!

When Bilinda returned, she asked me how the classes were going. I told her how much I was enjoying them and how that surprised me. Then she asked “So, what is your overall impression of pit bulls?” Without hesitation, I smiled and responded that I would absolutely own one.

I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to teach Bully Breed Basics and to learn more about this misinterpreted breed. Education and timing is the key to working with dogs and understanding what motivates them, regardless of the breed. I thank my first class for working hard and starting their journey to create yet more advocates for the breed.

And, as for my family, since hearing all the wonderful things about Pit Bulls non-stop for 6 weeks they feel completely different about them! Now…if I could only convince them that we need a second dog…

This however is not the greatest news for us at the shelter. It happens every year and sometimes several times a year with the kittens. Litter upon litter of unwanted or orphaned puppies and kittens start coming through our door.

This influx stretches our resources. The kennels fill up for weeks and weeks as there is not enough foster families to help.

Almost every adult female cat is pregnant that is admitted. Year after year.

The young ones are the first to get adopted and placed into loving homes. But what about the moms or simply the  older animals? Many have to wait until the baby season is over before they are chosen.

There is a way to prevent this seasonal event and it is simple. Spay or neuter your pets and help us bring more awareness to this very simple solution to saving more lives.

EHS is here to help but cannot tackle the pet over population problem alone. 

Every cat, dog, rabbit and ferret owner needs to do the responsible thing and spay or neuter their pets.

		What happens in Spring?! Babies!!! VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Well, my answer was, “It is, and it isn’t.” I expect most of us don’t give it much thought as typically it is just about going from point A to point B. But walking really does take many forms.

During the winter season, which lasts 8 months, or so it seems, our steps are brisk and our heads are down while we walk with purpose to get out of the cold winds. We hardly take notice of the world, people and activities around us.

With spring arriving, I have noticed that people have slowed down and walks on our shelter grounds have become less brisk, more like a stroll. Many volunteers take an extra lap around the pond giving the dogs extra walking time. The dogs are high-stepping with enthusiasm, with their tongues lolling out as they bounce next to their human companion. It really seems as though the dogs are smiling just as much as the people at this time of year.

Sometimes the walks turn to runs for the dogs, especially in our playgroups in the back pen. The pups just race around, getting soaked to the skin and muddy, having more fun than they’ve had in months. Staff have to remember never to wear white at this time of year, unless of course they wish to be covered in muddy paw prints. And while this may be fashionable around here, it’s not the best look for a meeting.

Spring is not just walking time for the dogs at the shelter. The outside doors in our cat chalets are opened in the warmer weather, giving the kitties access to the great outdoors, but keeping them safely enclosed. I just love watching the first few tentative steps as the cats explore the patios. The cats wander, rather than walk, and they are so appreciative of the fresh air and love being the first to welcome our visitors.

There are walks and then there are walks… My personal favourite walk is with my dogs at the off-leash. Here at our busy campus, Central Bark, our membership off-leash dog park, has seen a lot of increased activity with the time change and nice weather. It’s not just walking in here; dogs are frolicking, running, jumping, getting muddy and just having a blast. Owners are standing, laughing and enjoying their pets’ interaction.

Each member seems to holding a Tim’s coffee and when I see this, oh how I wish we had a Tim’s franchise in our parking lot. With, of course the proceeds all going back to our furry friends; I’m sure that if that were possible, we would never have to worry again about money. And wouldn’t that just be a wonderful thing?

So, next time you are out for a walk, just take a moment to think about it. And no matter what form your walk might take, enjoy the beautiful weather outside!

For the purposes of this blog, we’ll call this former co-worker Hans. Hans and I were not particularly close and we never shared an “office”, and by that I mean the ambulance, of course. I was a bit surprised to see him darken my door here at the shelter.

Hans looked worn out and defeated. I looked into his eyes and was struck by how flat they seemed. He was surrounded by a dark cloud of profound sadness. This was completely unlike the Hans I had known, and I knew that something was really wrong. He just looked broken.

Hans shared with me that he was having a tough go of it. He is suffering with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and has been put on the side lines for a while.

This once healthy, vibrant individual who dedicated his life to saving people has now paid a hefty personal price for caring for others.

From my experience most people don’t know the challenging world that EMS workers are faced with. Every day they see stuff that most of the world does not want to see. They respond with professional integrity and compassion. They are among the first to put their hands up to help in disasters and run towards situations that many people are running away from.

Most of these people live for the next call to action and respond with vigor and integrity. I spent 23 years in that world, and it never really goes away. I still put my hand up when disasters happen. It’s what we train for and live for; it is in the blood.

And I know first-hand that saving human lives can sometimes result in a medic sacrificing their own quality of life in helping others.

So, what was Hans looking for by dropping on me? I could tell that he wanted more than simply to share his story with someone who understood his world. Although, I’m sure that was helpful for him too. Hans’s doctors had suggested that animal therapy might help him heal, and this thought had been echoed by another former colleague of ours, who suggested to Hans “Go see Stephanie. Get a dog.”

With many things in this life, I believe we are all interconnected and our paths and our own journeys in life are for a purpose. When Hans shared his troubles, it was a seamless understanding for me.

Because I know both worlds so well, without a doubt I knew this was perhaps a key to life for this dedicated individual. What I didn’t know what that that key would come so quickly in the form of four legs and the biggest wiggle-bum in our shelter.

During Hans’s first visit, he was just planning to talk with me, and see what I thought of the idea that a dog might help him. My answer was of course, an unequivocal “yes”. We just needed to find the perfect match.

After talking for awhile, he left my office. Hans said he was just going to take a stroll through the gallery and take a look at the dogs. He had told me earlier that his place wasn’t ready for a dog yet, but after our talk, he was going to go home and prepare for one. I warned him as he walked away, “You might not want to walk through there, if you don’t think you’re ready… You’ll see those eyes, and that will be it.” He scoffed at me and walked out, just to have a look.

Half an hour later he was back at my office door. He had found “the one”. A beautiful pitty called Chloe, who had already worked her magic on us at the shelter turned her charm on Hans.

Isn’t that how love works, just when you least expect it?

Hans had to have Chloe. He went home that night and did some research about the breed and felt that she was a good fit. He even told me that he dreamed of her that night and also brought a family member back to meet her.

Hans arrived shortly after we opened yesterday to finalize her adoption. In just one short 24 hour period, I saw a small transformation in his eyes, from dull to a bright sparkle and even a few smiles. He said to me,”She will motivate me, and now I have a reason to get off the couch”.

He listened intently to our behavior staff while they coached him on how to ensure that his bond with Chloe would be built over time and end up strong, healthy and positive. Hans had even stopped at the store and purchased a special pink collar for Chloe.

We don’t know the end of this story yet, since it was just yesterday that they began their new life together. What I do know is this, without question Chloe will heal his heart and his mind and become his best friend, she will listen, she will motivate him and she will walk beside him on his road to recovery.

I had no idea what world I was stepping into – the adventures I would experience, the challenges I would face; best of all, the things I would learn. Everything from the best way to scrape hardened puppy poo out of a kennel to how to build a leading animal shelter.

So, today I thought, given the timeliness of the topic, I would share some of what I’ve learned about the “pit bull” breed.

First, I have found this breed of dog and the debate surrounding it, to be one of the most contentious, passionate, and emotional topics I have experienced, researched and read about.

When I started in this field in 2001, I am fairly certain I did not even know what this dog was. All I knew was what the media portrayed. These were dangerous killers, weapons of destruction. In fact I don’t think there were even rescue groups dedicated to this breed back then. There probably were, but I either don’t remember, or just didn’t know about them.

I remember very well my first encounter with a pit bull at the shelter. I was interested to meet my first killer dog. I walked down the row of kennels, expecting to hear growling and snarling as I approached.

Well, what greeted me as I arrived at this pup’s kennel was a fawn coloured, smooth coated dog with the blockiest head I’d ever seen. His pink tongue lolled out of the side of his mouth as he grinned a huge doggy smile at me.

His eyes danced with joy as his bum wiggled from side to side. He was almost crawling out of his skin with friendliness. And I have to say, this has become a trademark for pit bulls as far as I’ve seen. Their wiggle-bums know no bounds when they’re meeting a new friend.

At no time did it occur to me that this bowl of jelly was a danger to me or the other dogs in the shelter. I just had to explore a bit further so I entered his kennel. I was wrong about one thing regarding this pup.

I truly thought he couldn’t possibly wiggle any more than he had been when I was standing outside his kennel. But I walked in and he was beside himself with wanting to be my new best friend. He was jumping up, filled with boundless energy, all joy filled. I remember thinking to myself, “Really? THIS is what we call dangerous? I must have the wrong breed then.”

My next full exposure to the breed was when we went down to New Orleans to assist with animal rescue efforts after Hurricane Katrina. We saw row after row of these powerful dogs. Multitudes of them. And this was my first true exposure to fighting pit bulls. Scars, wounds, cropped ears, broken teeth. Wonderful with people, and yet, completely frightening with other dogs.

In Edmonton, we’re lucky not to have much known activity in our community on the fighting side. We have not seen too many of these dogs in the shelter. We suspect it’s around, but our Animal Protection Officers have yet to identify a ring and our Admission staff certainly have not seen scarred dogs admitted.

In the aftermath of Katrina, one of our team members, Bilinda, fell in puppy-love. Six-month old “Katrina” the brindle pit bull puppy had stolen Bilinda’s heart with her wiggle-bum. Bilinda begged, pleaded and negotiated relentlessly for us to bring this pup home to Edmonton.

I said “no”. Multiple times. What prospects for adoption did this sweet girl have, living in a city that does not allow them to live like a dog should be allowed to live?

Well, next thing I knew, we were boarding the plane and Bilinda’s little wiggle-bum Katrina was on board. To Bilinda’s credit, she dove into scads of material, learning as much as she could about this dog that has such a bad reputation.

A couple of years later, in 2007, a very special dog named Bingo became part of our shelter family. We never found out much about Bingo’s past but we knew from the beginning, he was something special.

Bingo was the whole package; smart, a little goofy, eager to love and be loved. When he arrived at the shelter in July, he quickly became part of the EHS family; endearing himself to all of us with his zest for life and the simple joy he received from a stroll around the block. Staff and volunteers alike waited for months for Bingo to find a forever home. Potential home after potential home overlooked this beautiful boy, many of them simply because of his breed.

Little did we know, Bingo had already found his forever home, with us at the shelter. After months of waiting for a family, we noticed something very wrong with Bingo, and did some tests. We found that Bingo had advanced bone cancer and had sustained fractures due to his condition, and there was nothing more that we could do. This loving dog ended his days in the loving arms of his EHS family.

Bingo touched so many staff and volunteers here that we named the shelter’s store in our new facility after him – “Bingo’s Pet Shop”. And I smile every time I see the sign.

I don’t think any of us thought of him as this dangerous breed. Or if we did, we sure changed our minds fast. Bingo didn’t have a dangerous bone in his body.

Because of dogs like Katrina and Bingo, Bilinda has developed pit bull classes dedicated to owners that wanted to provide their dogs the best possible foundation and enjoy a class without the stigma of “keep that dog away from my dog”.

Change is in the air, folks. We need the laws here to change. I remember at Pets in the Park year before last, I walked with our Mayor, Stephen Mandel, who migrated towards every pit bull in the park – telling the owners that he just loves this breed and has one in his home all the time. If our own Mayor knows that these dogs should not have these restrictions placed on them, the change is very much overdue.

We are hoping that come March 19^th, City Council will see that breed specific legislation is not the way to go. Just recently on the CBC news, Ontario politicians stated that their pit bull law was unreasonable, unworkable and unfair. Movement has been made to remove this provincial law.

Of course, the element of responsible pet ownership should still be present in our City’s bylaws. By lifting the restrictions placed on owning these dogs in our City, we hope that the families that own them will have the opportunity for education and training classes, prejudice free, as they were meant to be, so that they can live in our community harmoniously.

The EHS pledges to continue to provide those opportunities. We need responsible pet ownership to be a priority in our community so that our pets, regardless of breed or species, can continue to freely share our lives.

Late last year, Edmonton City Council announced that they were considering amending the breed specific legislation (BSL) that places severe additional regulations for owners of pure or part-bred dogs of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier or American Staffordshire Terrier breeds that are not registered by the Canadian Kennel Club. These dogs are commonly known as pit bulls, or pit bull crosses.

The Edmonton Humane Society was asked to provide input to the report that City Council requested from city administration. I was delighted to hear that Council is reconsidering this legislation, and we’ve received word that the report goes before Council on March 19^th.

Knowing that this issue sparked some debate and emotional responses from the community in the past, I thought it was important to connect with some of my peers in the animal welfare world that have extensive expertise on the topic.

Donna Reynolds of BAD RAP in Oakland, California was at the top of my list. She was thrilled to hear that Edmonton is revisiting BSL and graciously agreed to blog some of her thoughts about this change…

News that Edmonton is reviewing its bylaws that target "pit bulls" travels fast and has been causing an exciting stir in animal welfare circles. Our non-profit, which focuses on pit bull issues and pit bull ownership, first learned of the discussions while at a professional conference of animal welfare leaders in CA this fall. Needless to say, my ears perked up.

The bylaws have been on the books since 2003 and place heavy restrictions on select dogs based solely on appearance. For example, a dog with a blocky head and short fur is currently regarded as a potential threat the moment he’s born, even if he’s been born into the best of circumstances and remains a model citizen his entire life.

"Pit bulls" aren’t the only dogs caught up in the restrictions. Because so many different breeds have blocky heads, any dog can be treated as a canine criminal in Edmonton regardless of genetic make up. This stereotyping was first designed to keep the community safe from troubled dogs, however the approach is notoriously flawed and tends to create more problems than it solves.

When dog owners feel stigmatized for the pets they own, it alienates them from the very people who can influence humane care. They’re more likely to hide their dogs away and less likely to seek out the kinds of resources that will help them do a better job as stewards.

Those resources can include proper vet care, spay/neuter surgeries, dog training classes, safe exercise outlets and even the important process of properly socializing their dog through positive exposure to the larger world. BSL ends up backfiring on its community. By marginalizing these dog owners and forcing them underground, their pets can develop the very behavior problems that law makers were seeking to avoid in the first place.

Landlords and insurance companies are universally restrictive on dogs that live under the shadow of BSL, which forces law abiding families into heartbreaking surrender decisions when its time to move, filling shelters with rejected family dogs.

The restrictions also discourage responsible homes from adopting pit bull type dogs from shelter adoption programs — After all, who wants to open their home to a dog that wears a scarlet letter? Animal shelters bear the burden of this trend, as kennels stay full of owner relinquished dogs and the costs to house and euthanize them choke dwindling budgets.

You’d think all this pressure would prevent new pit bull types from being born back into an unfriendly environment, but just the opposite. These popular dogs continue to find their way to homes that may or may not be willing to comply with bylaws.

It’s hard to tell a dog lover not to pick up a stray, take on a dying relative’s dog or accept a beautiful puppy from a street corner giveaway. Human nature dictates. Pit bulls are incredibly popular with all kinds of owners – good and bad – regardless of BSL.

So how can a community address troubled dogs and reckless dog owners without sweeping responsible owners and well kept dogs into the net? Recognizing the shortcomings of BSL has lead many to seek new solutions to age-old problems.

Rather than judge dogs by appearance, effective animal control strategies need to focus on behavior – both the behavior of the owner as well as his dog. Ironing out definitions that would qualify as dog a "dangerous" and/or "vicious" is an important start. Most animal control agencies can use better tools for seizing and holding dogs who fit those definitions regardless of breed.

As BSL obstacles are removed, residents that would have typically avoided a relationship with animal care professionals can "come out of hiding" and get the information they need embrace responsible dog owner practices as well as affordable resources like spay/neuter surgeries. It’s the age-old honey over vinegar approach to creating positive change — it’s the accepted trend in dog training circles and it works with the owners too.

Edmonton would be in good company if its BSL was struck down. The State of Ohio recently dismantled a 25 year old dog control law that once defined "dogs commonly known as pit bulls" as "dangerous and vicious" at birth. Law makers recognized that this approach was doing more harm than good and approved a new and much improved law that regards dogs based on their behavior rather than appearance.

New definitions outline specific behaviors and give Ohio dog wardens the ability to finally do their jobs: maintain public safety while opening a door so dogs of every breed can receive compassion, training and proper care. The trend continues! Miami/Dade County in Florida and Ontario, Canada are also headed towards removing their own BSL.

Changes in the air are more than exciting. Dogs have enhanced the human experience for eons and they continue to prod us towards finding better ways to build safe, humane communities that include them. They forgive us when we make mistakes, remind us to accept responsibility for our actions, and faithfully teach us how to be better human beings. We owe them our best efforts to get this right.

The social media boards have lit up with comments on whose fault these incidents are. Media outlets have buzzed with information and speculation. New bites have quickly been reported that would not normally make the mainstream media outlets, and the questions continue. Just who is at fault when dogs bite?

Being an open admission shelter, every day we hear about dog bites that have occurred in a variety of situations – dogs biting strangers, visitors to their homes, and even family members. These bites can range from teeth grazing skin, to the severe wounds requiring stitches or worse, resulting in a fatality. Dog bites happen every day across the world and studies show that most involve children between the ages of 5-9.

Dogs are not all the same. A situation that drives one dog to bite, may not even cause a reaction in another. Some individuals and groups believe that all dogs can be rehabilitated and put pressure on shelters to never euthanize an animal for aggression, especially following a publicized event like these ones. Is that a realistic and responsible course of action for us as a shelter?

When we hear these stories at the shelter, we feel sadness and empathy for the family and for the dog. We try not to think in terms of fault or lay blame on either party; we do use these situations as opportunities for learning. Learning how to co-exist with our canine companions.

The bottom line is this: dogs are dogs and the potential for a bite is always looming, regardless of how nice or happy a dog is. Or whether or not it’s bitten or shown any signs of aggression before.

We, as humans, are the ones who try and figure out who is at fault. At the end of the day, there are two underlying factors at work here. #1 – Why is your dog feeling the need to bite? Is it anxious, afraid, excited, aroused? #2 – Why did you get bitten? Did you let your guard down? Did you misread or misunderstand your dog’s warning signals? Are you in denial that your dog is aggressive?

The first of these factors is out of your control. I will say it again: dogs are dogs, and dogs bite. For lots of reasons. The second factor is something that you can influence. Learn your risk factors, learn what triggers your dog, learn your dog’s language.

For the most part, we don’t know the history of the dogs that are admitted to the shelter. We are experts at reading dog’s signals, we are careful and we take steps to keep ourselves safe. Even with knowing and taking safe measures, our staff members get bitten.

In fact two of my favorite dogs that were admitted to the shelter managed to bite me. I am experienced at reading dogs can anticipate and understand when a dog is anxious. Yet, it still happened to me!

Imagine what might happen if you didn’t know how to read a dog telling you that it was afraid, anxious or excited! Imagine a small child with no understanding of what her dog is telling her when he is growling, licking his lips and staring at her? Dogs bite. It’s up to us to learn their language and how to live with them safely. Growling can be a fairly obvious sign that a bite is coming, depending on the situation. There are lots of less obvious signs; how many can you think of? Does your child know and understand them all?

So knowing that dogs bite; does that mean you should not have a dog in your family with children? Of course not, that is simply silly. It’s like saying, well, being in a car is dangerous, so I just won’t get in a car anymore.

With a few careful, thoughtful assessments and possibly changes in your routine, you and your family can live a long life together without incident. In order for your family to live in harmony with a dog you have to be prepared for the work that comes with responsible pet ownership.

Most are simple steps but necessary, just as changing the oil in your car and giving it gas. Now don’t get your knickers in a knot, I am not saying that dogs are like cars. I am just saying that you cannot just bring a dog or even a cat home and expect to not have to work to do.

These are fantastic animals that share their lives with us. They are not human, no matter how much we humanize them. They are dogs. Do your part to train, teach, learn and grow in communication with your pets. Create structure and rules for both your family and your pet. It will help lead to a long, wonderful and safe life together. It is a life long journey, because when your life and environment change, so will your dogs.

So, in the end, it’s not about who is to blame when a dog bites. There isn’t anyone to blame. Dogs bite, it’s a fact of life, and part of who and what they are. But the good news is that there are things that we can do to recognize and minimize the risks of dogs biting.

Note: We have a special seminar “When Dogs Bite” coming up this Monday night from 7-8 at EHS. We hope to launch you on your journey of expanding your knowledge and understanding of how our canine friends talk to you. Please join us for this free seminar lead by our Canine Enrichment Centre Training Academy Manager, Bilinda Wagner. Kids will enjoy an interactive session with our Coordinator of Humane Education Services, Kristen McKenna.

Most of us really don’t know or care how this day came to be what it is today, but we do know the social pressures that have been created by all the ads. A day of LOVE as told by the establishment…

For those of you that don’t have that special two legged one, it does not necessarily mean that it becomes a non-day for you. I would bet since you are reading my blog that you have a four legged furry friend, or have shared a part of your life with one.

I encourage you to look over at your couch, your Valentine may just be sitting in his or her favourite spot, just looking for you to come over and give them a hug.

I believe I know what pure love looks like, I just need to look deep into the dark eyes of my beloved pets. This sounds so corny but looking deep into their eyes creates a bond like no other. There are no limits, no expectations, no conditions, and best of all, no worries about the silent treatment when you forget about Valentine’s Day.

There is a special bond that a pet has with their family. Researchers are fascinated by this dynamic relationship between humans and animals. We know that sharing your daily life with pets not only allows you to come home to an energized home filled with joyous barks or meows of welcome, but also provides you some therapeutic value, such as decreasing your blood pressure, increasing your well being and for some a less lonely life.

Some scientists even go as far to say that “people who are in the presence of animals are often perceived to be more happy and healthy.” The connections that people make with their pets can often be the longest, strongest relationship they will ever have in their life. Animals teach us compassion and this compassion can translate to a more compassionate world.

If I had a dollar for every person that told me that their pets are their soul-mates, their best friends or their surrogate children, I’d be able to build another shelter.

While I am not sure if I seem more happy on the outside but I can say for a fact that my pets do make me more happy. A day without a puppy hug is simply not a day to me. Loving a pet is so easy, easier in fact than caring for people. My pets for example have no complications around happiness, they just are. There is something deeply fulfilling knowing that for my furry friends I’ve managed to create some bliss and love.

So even though today is Valentine’s Day, every day with my pet is a love day uncomplicated, unconditional and joyful. Tonight, I will go home talk to each of them, hug them and yes, their joy will be on their faces. I will not feel alone in this world as my pets provide me the best joy that this world has to give. They make me laugh, they are loyal, they need me, and they simply just love me. This relationship is giving and receiving, but for the most part, my pets give me more.

This is the meaning of life with pets. L.O.V.E.