Today, Saturday February 2, is a great newspaper day for dogs! The rehabilitation of the Vick dogs is on the front page of the New York Times, and the Los Angeles Times announces, "Law to Require Altered Pets."

The front page New York Times story, by Juliet Macur, is headed, "Given Reprieve, N.F.L. Star's Dogs Find Kindness."

It looks at some of the 22 Vick dogs who made it to the Best Friends sanctuary in Utah. Just in case anybody managed not to learn about the Vick dogs last year, the story reminds us:

"Mr. Vick, once the highest-paid player in the N.F.L., is serving a 23-month sentence in a federal prison in Leavenworth, Kan., for bankrolling his Bad Newz Kennels dogfighting operation and helping execute dogs that were not good fighters. Dogs were electrocuted, hanged, drowned, shot or slammed to the ground, according to court records. Two mass graves with the remains of eight pit bulls were found on Mr. Vick's property in rural Virginia."

We are told that fighting dogs are usual put down, but:
"The government agreed to give them a second chance after Mr. Vick agreed to pay $928,073 for evaluation and care of all the dogs. They were seen by animal experts, who named the dogs, and were eventually dispersed to eight rescue organizations for adoption, rehabilitation or lifetime care in sanctuaries, where they have been neutered. Only one of the Vick dogs was euthanized for aggression against people.

"Best Friends, which is caring for more dogs than any other organization, received about $389,000. Many of their dogs are expected to be adopted after they are rehabilitated and matched with the right families. Vick's 25 other dogs are in foster care all over the country."

The article describes many of the dogs, such as friendly but neurotic little Georgia, who has no teeth. We read, "all 42 of them were pried from her mouth, most likely to make certain she could not harm male dogs during forced breeding." And we read, "Having those teeth extracted, Dr. McMillan and other vets said, must have been excruciating. Even with medication, dogs are in pain after losing one tooth, which may take more than an hour of digging, prying and leveling to pull."

And there is Little Red, "a tiny rust-colored female whose teeth were filed, most likely because she was bait for the Bad Newz fighters."

Only one of the dogs has been labeled human aggressive, never to be adopted out.
About the others we read, "In initial evaluations last September, many lay flat and looked frightened. Now, many respond to caregivers by wagging their tails and giving sloppy kisses."

It is a long article, taking up all of page A7 on which it continues after the front page. And it is truly touching.
So are the accompanying pictures of the dogs with their Best Friends handlers. You'll find both on line at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/02/sports/football/02vickdogs.html

The Los Angeles Times article, by Carla Hall, is headed, "Law to require altered pets;
L.A. council gives initial OK to mandating sterilization of dogs and cats at 4 months or older." (Pg B3)

It opens:

"The Los Angeles City Council voted 10 to 1 Friday to approve mandatory sterilization of most dogs and cats at the age of 4 months or older, and city officials pledged low-key enforcement driven by complaints. The ordinance must get a second reading in a week, but it is expected to pass.

"The measure, initiated by Councilman Richard Alarcon, offers exemptions for animals of licensed breeders, show animals and service animals.

"Veterinarians who believe that sterilizing certain dogs and cats is too risky, or that 4 months is too young an age, can provide a letter to get the animals exempted."

We are told that "only Councilman Bill Rosendahl voted against the measure" and that,
"Rosendahl said the Los Angeles Animal Services department should focus first on licensing more dogs. (At most, 20% of the city's dogs are estimated to be licensed.)"

The article doesn't explain Rosendahl's point, that Los Angeles already has strong spay-neuter laws: there is a yearly registration fee of $100 for unaltered dogs compared to $10 for altered dogs. So indeed, a crack-down on licensing might have had the same effect as passing more legislation. But now the city has an extra weapon in its arsenal against the pet overpopulation crisis, and every bit helps. Importantly, the vote tells us that Los Angeles legislators are taking the issue seriously.

Not so serious is Jinky's blog on the issue, as dictated by him to his human, activist Carole Davis. Jinky's blog is always terrific, and this edition, full of lots of references to safe humping, is a fun read. Check out
http://www.hollywooddog.blogspot.com/

The full Los Angeles Times article is on line at
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-spay2feb02,1,5148512.story

The stories cited above both present opportunities for letters to the editor about human society's treatment of animals. Let's take this opportunity to write on their behalf.
The New York Times takes letters at letters@nytimes.com
The Los Angeles Times takes letters at letters@latimes.com

And please keep an eye out for these issues in your local media and send a letter to your editor when you are given the opportunity.

Always include your full name, address, and daytime phone number when sending a letter to the editor. Remember that shorter letters are more likely to be published.

Yours and the animals',
Karen Dawn

(DawnWatch is an animal advocacy media watch that looks at animal issues in the media and facilitates one-click responses to the relevant media outlets. You can learn more about it, and sign up for alerts at http://www.DawnWatch.com. You may forward or reprint DawnWatch alerts if you do so unedited -- leave DawnWatch in the title and include this parenthesized tag line. If somebody forwards DawnWatch alerts to you, which you enjoy, please help the list grow by signing up. It is free.)

Please go to www.ThankingtheMonkey.com to read advance reviews of Karen Dawn's new book, "Thanking the Monkey: Rethinking the Way we Treat Animals" and watch the fun celebrity studded promo video.