Oreo's Law Needs Your Help In New York

[Woogie Man]

I received this Today from the No Kill Advocacy Center. They need everyone's help in ensuring the passage of Oreo's Law...a law designed to make it illegal for a shelter to kill an animal if a qualified rescue group is willing to save that animal's life. Oreo's law is named after an abused dog the ASPCA killed despite a rescue alternative.

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On Tuesday, Oreo’s Law will be voted on by the New York State (NYS) Assembly Agriculture Committee. But it is not likely to pass without a large showing of community support between now and then. That is because the Committee Chairman is recommending a “hold,” the equivalent of being tabled, which would mean Oreo’s Law would die in committee, despite the fact that it has legislative cosponsors across the state and supporters outnumber the opposition.

If Oreo's Law is defeated, thousands upon thousands of cats, kittens, dogs, puppies, rabbits, and other animals will continue to be needlessly killed in NYS shelters every year—animals Oreo’s Law has the power to save.

A statewide survey of NYS rescue groups found that over 70% were being turned away because the shelters were hostile to rescue groups, and then those shelters turned around and killed the very animals the rescuers were willing to save. The law would make it illegal for a shelter to kill an animal if a qualified rescue group is willing to save that animal’s life.

Oreo’s Law is central to the fight for a No Kill nation. For No Kill success to be widespread and long lasting, we must remove the discretion which allows shelter directors the ability to ignore what is in the best interests of animals and kill them needlessly. We need to regulate shelters in the same way we regulate hospitals and other agencies which hold the power over life and death. Oreo’s Law helps do just that.

Today, shelter directors across New York State are arbitrarily turning away qualified rescue groups because they are hostile to rescue and arbitrarily refuse to work with them. Today, animals across New York State are being killed even though those rescue groups have offered to save animals otherwise facing certain death. Today, those animals are ending up in landfills, when they should be going to rescue groups where they will be cared for at no cost to taxpayers until a permanent and loving home can be found. Oreo’s Law would give NYS shelter animals that future—a future the ASPCA is intent on denying them in order to save face and maintain power and control (Oreo’s Law is named after an abused dog the ASPCA killed despite a rescue alternative).

According to a legislative insider, despite the fact that supporters outnumber the opposition, the opposition is strong, but the supporters are not. They do not have enough connections. And they certainly don't have the money, millions of dollars given by unsuspecting donors who erroneously think these organizations speak for the animals, instead of their own ambition.

Meanwhile, the other large, wealthy, national groups who claim they do speak for the animals, who claim they do support No Kill, who claim they are the leading voices for ending pet homelessness or supporting TNR are not supporting Oreo's Law because they are afraid to stand up to the ASPCA, because the ASPCA gives them money, or because of personal and professional loyalties with the ASPCA they value more than the lives of the animals Oreo’s Law would save.

So the animals need you. They need the voice of the people, every day animal lovers and rescuers to speak for them. They need you to call committee members and urge them to vote "Yes." Because they don’t have anyone else and only an overwhelming show of support can save Oreo’s Law from defeat and the animals from certain death.

Tragically, right doesn’t always defeat might. Sometimes the animals don't win. Sometimes they continue to get killed despite a readily available lifesaving and rescue alternative. Sometimes a feral kitten who a rescue group is willing to socialize and place in a loving home will instead get injected with poison from a bottle marked “fatal plus” and then dumped in a landfill. Sometimes a puppy who can go to rescue and be guaranteed a home will be killed instead. Sometimes a person who kills an abused dog a rescue group was willing to save gets away with it. For their sake, please do not let this be one of those times....

Please call and e-mail the NYS Assembly Agriculture Committee members today. Because without you, the animals don't stand a chance.

Nathan J. Winograd
Director, No Kill Advocacy Center

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Here's a link that will give you the info to let your voice be heard in this matter.

Oreo, Yes on Oreo's Law What You Can Do

[livingdustmops]

[livingdustmops]

I might add - I would like to see the breed of dogs that are being put down when a rescue wants them. In this case it was a pitbull and many people agree with Breed Specific Legislation.

[Woogie Man]

Cindy, Oreo's story is senseless and tragic. The ASPCA treated her injuries and then killed her. Below is Oreo's story.

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In New York City, a one-year old dog named Oreo was intentionally thrown off a sixth floor Brooklyn roof top by her abuser. Oreo sustained two broken legs and a fractured rib. Oreo also appears to have been beaten in the past—several of the neighbors in the building where Oreo lived reported hearing the sounds of the dog being hit. The ASPCA nursed her back to health and arrested the perpetrator. They also dubbed her the “miracle dog.”

The miracle was short-lived. According to the ASPCA, when Oreo recovered from her injuries, she started to show aggression. After a series of temperament tests, the ASPCA made the decision to kill her. The New York Times reported the story the day before Oreo’s scheduled execution. A sanctuary in New York offered to take Oreo, explaining that they had experience rehabilitating dogs deemed aggressive and offering her lifetime care, including plenty of socialization and walks if the rehabilitation was not successful.

They were ignored, hung up on and lied to. And the ASPCA chose to kill the dog instead. That afternoon, Oreo laid dead, the victim not of her former abuser, but of an overdose of poison from a bottle marked “Fatal-Plus,” at the hands of a shelter bureaucrat.

Following the furor that erupted over Oreo’s killing, New York State legislators introduced a bill to prevent animals from being killed by shelters when there is a lifesaving alternative offered by rescue groups. “As a dog owner and a foster parent for an animal rescue group, I was heartbroken to learn that Oreo was [killed]. When a humane organization volunteers their expertise in difficult cases, a shelter should work with them to the fullest extent possible,” said one of the sponsors. “I am hopeful that Oreo’s Law will ensure that no animal is ever put to death if there is a responsible alternative.” (A few weeks later Ed Sayres, Oreo’s killer, did it again, killing a dog named Max a rescue group had offered to save.)

Oreo and Max are not isolated incidents. Nor is Oreo's Law about pit bulls. It is about saving all animals. In fact, NYS shelters routinely turn away rescue groups and then turn around and kill the kittens and cats, puppies, dog, rabbits and other animals those rescue groups are willing to save. A statewide survey of rescue groups found that 72% of rescue groups reported being denied animals, and 71% reported shelters turned around and killed those animals. The statewide survey also found that 43% of rescue groups that have expressed concerns about inhumane conditions which they have witnessed in NYS sheters have been the subject of retaliation, while over half (52%) who have witnessed cruelty and neglect at the shelter did not express concerns because they were afraid they would no longer be allowed to rescue, thus allowing those inhumane conditions to continue. Oreo's Law would stop unnecessary killing and unnecessary neglect rampant in NYS shelters.

From this link.....

Oreo, Yes on Oreo's Law Home

[lovmyyorkie]

I could not finish reading this story

[TLC]

Thanks, I sent my letter

[lovmyyorkie]

bump so all to see!

[roseslevi]

Sent my letter

[Woogie Man]

I sent a letter, too. It's a sad day when we need a law to prevent this sort of thing. In many ways this is an ultimate cruelty.......saving a dog and nursing it back to health, only to kill it while others that are qualified and willing to care for her are forced to helplessly watch.....powerless to prevent this senseless killing. Sounds more than a little sadistic....

[Sookie]

It seems like Oreo never had one single happy moment in her entire life. That is so heartbreaking...and they wonder why she was aggressive. Sad.

[Woogie Man]

Here's Oreo, shown shortly before being killed by the ASPCA for showing aggression.

*** Reportedly taken right before they killed her, this photograph shows that Oreo was not the mean, vicious dog she was made out to be. The ASPCA has refused to release the videotapes of Oreo's temperament testing. ***

[Woogie Man]

Update on Oreo's Law....

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Update: June 15, 2010: The Assembly Agriculture Committee voted to hold the bill, meaning it is tabled for this year. The animals lost. Thousands will continue losing their lives, thanks to the deception of Ed Sayres of the ASPCA, Jane Hoffman of the Mayor's Alliance, and their puppet Laura Allen of the so-called Animal Law Coalition (a coalition of one). The kittens and puppies and other animals killed despite a rescue alternative will be the cost for their thirst for power and ego. This will not be allowed to stand. And they, and the groups who were too cowardly to come forward, will be called to account.

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When I sent my letter in support of Oreo's Law, I received 5 automated replies from Senators. Today I did receive a personalized response but it was after the fact of the law being tabled . Here's the text of the e-mail.
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"Dear James:

Thank you for contacting me with regard to Senate Bill S6412-C. I appreciate your initiative in writing me with your concerns.

Senate Bill S.6412-C would require in most cases the release of a shelter animal to a rescue group upon request of the rescue group prior to euthanasia of the animal. I believe that animals should always be treated in the most humane and respectful manner. This legislation provides an alternative to euthanasia and could also provide a savings to taxpayers. I will certainly keep your comments in mind as I consider this legislation.

Again, thank you for contacting me. Please do not hesitate to call or write me should you have any further questions or comments. Also, I invite you to visit my website, ranzenhofer.nysenate.gov, and to sign up for my email updates.

Sincerely,

MICHAEL RANZENHOFER

State Senator


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This instance is so much like the felony animal cruelty bill that died in committee here in Mississippi. The same legislative mechanism was used in both cases.

Though this bill is dead for the year, I urge everyone to use the link I provided earlier and let the New York Senate know of your outrage at letting this bill die in committee and that you will be a firm supporter of this bill in the next session. Continued pressure is the only way to get through to these people.

[Wylie's Mom]

I wish they would've contacted Best Friends Society - they are incredible w/ rehabbing even the worst cases (they rehabbed Michael Vick's fighting dogs).