All excerpted from "The Poodle Book" by Jeff Griffin 1968
Undoubtedly the two features, which made the Poodle different from other dogs and accounted for its extraordinary growth, were its coat and intelligence. Its wiry, almost waterproof coat was ideal protection for hunting around marshes and rivers. When someone clipped its hindquarters, supposedly to allow it more mobility in water, leaving a longhaired ruff around the chest and heart for protection and buoyancy, there lay the base for the chic haircuts and grooming procedures we have today. Where looks might have made him merely a fad, his brains and sense of humor endeared him to both royalty and the bourgeois.
The corded Poodle was an interesting 19th century variation within the breed. Whether this was merely a way of training the coats of some especially longhaired Poodles or a separate strain is open to debate. In any case, there developed around 1850 in England and on the Continent two distinct types of Poodles - curly and corded. The curly variety is what we have today, for though the coat of a Poodle looks straight from constant brushing, it will curl when left unattended or clipped about 1/2 inch long, as in the Kennel clip. The corded coat was entirely different, consisting of hundreds of coils of hair slightly smaller than a pencil and dangling from all parts of the body to the floor.
These corded Poodles were quite a fad in their time. In fact, the first Poodle to be crowned champion in England was a cord named Achilles in 1890. He became a legend in his time and was described as standing 23 inches at the shoulder with cords that hung down for 30 inches, and he carried his huge heavy coat with splendid dignity. He must have looked like a locomotive or a gigantic Yorkshire terrier.
The hair on these corded Poodles was never combed out but allowed to grow. It was continually rolled and twisted by means of Vaseline and paraffin to cause longer and longer curls or cords to form. Cords hung from the ears, tail, and body like spaghetti, and the dog's figure was almost completely hidden as a result. This fad was supposedly German in origin, and Lyris, the German-imported father of Achilles, is said to have had an ear spread of 37 inches when his ears were held out straight and measured. Some of these corded Poodles had coats which swept the ground for several inches behind them, but all this went out of style just prior to WWI because of the weight and inconvenience of such immense coats (they had to be tied up in linen bags and kept in oil outside the show ring). Also, since the coat could not be combed or washed (the result would have been a catastrophic tangle), the dog was always dirty and greasy, prone to all kinds of insects and highly malodorous.
The Kennel Club StudBook of England shows its first registry of Poodles in 1874. Shortly thereafter, Poodles from Russia, Germany and France were registered. In 1876, the Poodle Club of England was formed, and there began a war between the curly fanciers and the corded fanciers, for both types were exhibited in the same classes though they looked entirely different. It was a long and bitter battle which culminated in 1910 in the division of Corded and Non-Corded classes and the recognition of the miniatures as a separate group.
Before this time all Poodles, regardless of size, color, and coat, had been registered only as Poodles and all were shown in the same classes. Now the miniatures were a separate entity as were the cords, which soon passed out of existence because of the difficulty in maintaining them. Undoubtedly they were clipped and crossed into the curly Poodle lines, which we see today, although, this was deplored. But even now you can sometimes see the background of the old corded Poodle in certain dogs whose coat on damp day begins to roll into ringlets, and unless they are brushed out, they quickly turn into knots and mats.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Next Meeting Information and Ellies story
As some of you know we met at the beginning of March to establish a formal Maine Poodle Rescue. This is coming along very nicely with plenty of news to share, but the really big show is the second meeting which is scheduled Sunday March 29 at noon in Augusta. At this one we will have to get down to the nitty gritty, establish protocols, figure out how to raise $, establish a board, etc. Much of the legal work is being done by Jon Hull and we have some really smart minds in our network: of course! They are poodle people.
We asked the first group to network like crazy with poodle people and bring them to the second meeting: the more the better. We need to hear everyone's issues and advice. So PLEASE try and come. Bring your poodles too as the venue is going to be pretty nice for them also. After we get done with the meeting they can run around in a safe place and admire each other.
The Board room of the YMCA in Augusta is the venue. If we have more than 20 people show up we can access the library. And the Y offers us the facility gratis! Thank heavens because other organizations in the area wanted to charge us some hefty fees.
The YMCA is a brand new building next to the Augusta Police Department which is almost next to the Governor's Blaine House Mansion. If you know where the capitol building is you can find the YMCA. Don't go to the old Y as it has been torn down.
We asked the first group to network like crazy with poodle people and bring them to the second meeting: the more the better. We need to hear everyone's issues and advice. So PLEASE try and come. Bring your poodles too as the venue is going to be pretty nice for them also. After we get done with the meeting they can run around in a safe place and admire each other.
The Board room of the YMCA in Augusta is the venue. If we have more than 20 people show up we can access the library. And the Y offers us the facility gratis! Thank heavens because other organizations in the area wanted to charge us some hefty fees.
The YMCA is a brand new building next to the Augusta Police Department which is almost next to the Governor's Blaine House Mansion. If you know where the capitol building is you can find the YMCA. Don't go to the old Y as it has been torn down.
From RT 95 and the Civic Center head into Augusta following directions for the capitol. That should bring you into a traffic circle (notorious for accidents, be careful) thence to Blaine House. Go through a set of lights and take next left at the next set of lights, site of a human services building.
The meeting is at noon, Sunday March 29, 2009.
And now........................ since I never stop networking, here is a pitch for a rescue chez moi for the last 6 weeks or so. Ellie, 13.5 years old, white, small standard at 34 lbs, had surgery today to remove infected warts and something rather nasty on her shoulder. Has slight cataracts but sees fine. Teeth in good shape. Had round worms, now treated. Awaiting lab report on shoulder tumor (?) and keeping fingers crossed. Sweet disposition, a lap cuddler. When she arrived was badly matted (I removed almost 3/4 lb of mats and grime) hungry, with no muscle tone. Is now walking daily, eating very well and likes being in Maine. Originally from California. Fine with cats, humans etc. Rides well in the car. Does not need leashing when walking. Would be suitable for someone who is at home most of the time with light but consistent exercise. Ellie still has plenty of good years ahead of her. A small sweet lass.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Mindy the Standard Poodle
From Mindy's page at PetFinders: (please click on the link for all her information).
Mindy (AKA Mindy-Lou) is a very friendly, energetic, 9-year-old Standard Poodle who will be turning 10 in May. She loves adults and children, and gets along fine with cats and other dogs. She has been much loved and well cared for all of her life
Her current mom is heartbroken to have to give her up but has a serious illness and can no longer take care of Mindy. She would be very happy if Mindy's new family would allow occasional visits. Mindy walks well both on and off leash. She loves playing with toys, chasing balls, swimming, and romping in the woods. Mindy has a slight shake in her back legs (it does not slow her down!) and takes a daily glucosamine/chondroiton supplement to keep her joints healthy. She sleeps on her doggie bed on the floor and doesn't jump on furniture. Her one small flaw is that she is a counter-surfer and will get into food that is left out. Consistent training might help with this as she is very smart and wants to please. Daily walks use up her energy and prevent her from getting bored and mischievous!
Mindy (AKA Mindy-Lou) is a very friendly, energetic, 9-year-old Standard Poodle who will be turning 10 in May. She loves adults and children, and gets along fine with cats and other dogs. She has been much loved and well cared for all of her life
Her current mom is heartbroken to have to give her up but has a serious illness and can no longer take care of Mindy. She would be very happy if Mindy's new family would allow occasional visits. Mindy walks well both on and off leash. She loves playing with toys, chasing balls, swimming, and romping in the woods. Mindy has a slight shake in her back legs (it does not slow her down!) and takes a daily glucosamine/chondroiton supplement to keep her joints healthy. She sleeps on her doggie bed on the floor and doesn't jump on furniture. Her one small flaw is that she is a counter-surfer and will get into food that is left out. Consistent training might help with this as she is very smart and wants to please. Daily walks use up her energy and prevent her from getting bored and mischievous!
Mindy is a delight to be with. She is very loving and will make a wonderful companion for her lucky new family.
Update: March 1, 2009 Mindy had a good veterinary checkup this weekend where she had her lyme and rabies boosters and her annual heartworm test. Her doctor verified that the slight shake in Mindy's back legs is due to some arthritis. She also said that with weight loss (about 10 lbs.) and regular exercise it should diminish. Since being in foster care Mindy is getting walks again, which she loves! On her walk she'll stop every once in a while to get a bite of snow. What a cutie.
This pet is up to date with routine shots.
This pet is already house trained.
This pet has been altered.Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Text of testimony
Testimony to legislative committee on March 6, 2009
Good morning. Thank you for listening to my testimony.
My name is Barbara Skapa. I live in Mt Vernon and am supposed to be retired but am known to Commissioner Bradstreet and his dairy staff as Barbara of Echo Ridge Organic cows’ milk cheese; as the Dept of Ag licenses me as a cheesemaker.
I am a member of various animal protection orgs including ME Friends of Animals, Voice for Animals, the Maine Federation of Dog Clubs, on behalf of which I do NOT testify this morning; but rather on behalf of members of the recently incorporated Maine Poodle Rescue. My avocation is the rescue, rehabilitation and adopting out of standard poodles. In the last 3 years I am happy to report placing 20 of them right here in Central Maine. They are thriving.
You need to know why I am here today and where I stand in regards to budgetary allocations for State AW.
My answer is this: 4 months ago I would have stood here and applauded its work and endorsed its needs for money as unlimited as possible. But I went through an experience that took me from supporting state AW, to ambivalence, to finally denial of support for a division that in our view is not meeting its obligations to dogs in dire distress. So right now I stand in opposition to allocating precious resources to state AW, not without major reform of that dept.
This is the reason. A story that unfolds in layers.
Through the poodle grapevine I had heard of a puppy mill in Newport that was selling standard poodles at bargain basement prices: $250-$300 for a pup that sells for at least $1000 from reputable breeders. Ads in Uncle Henry’s are the primary marketing tool of puppy mill owners and that is how I located and then visited the kennel. (owned by Carol Thibault, 62 of 328 Old Bangor Rd in Newport) Our aim was to ascertain if in fact conditions at her kennel were as bad as we had heard and to see whether we could negotiate with the owner to remove some of her stock.
The first visit around Thanksgiving of 2008 was indeed worse than we had been told. Filthy conditions. No food or water available for some dozen dogs, both huskies and standard poodles, and all looking quite under-nourished and certainly under-socialized. All kept outside in chain link pens 24 hours a day, year ‘round exposed to all weather conditions. The pups were tucked into a tiny space on a ramshackle porch. The dogs smelled to high heaven from their own filth.
Outside her front door, I negotiated with the owner to sell me the unsold 5 month old pups in return for releasing adult breeders to Rescue. She agreed. Not out of sympathy but because she was exceeding the allowable limit of her kennel license and the promise of cash for the pups sealed the deal. I personally paid for the pups so that I could rescue the adult breeders. On subsequent visits we bought 5 pups (all now neutered and adopted) and took home 2 adult breeders: a male and female . The pups were sold for $200-$250 for which I paid cash = the only way puppy millers deal. Note that on the sales slips for the pups no tax was charged or rendered to the State of Maine which is required legally from licensed breeders. During this time I kept Norma Worley appraised by telephone and by FAXing my notes to her office. She informed me that her staff was well acquainted with this kennel, that numerous complaints were logged by the public, and that her staff had removed 50 dogs in 2004 and another 15 in early 2008.
In other words, I knew I was dealing with a very bad situation and that I needed to document every single step I took. I fully expected State AW to help me and to do something about the remaining dogs in the kennel. It was a very stressful period for me and others as very cold temperatures were approaching and we feared for the lives of the standard poodles that are not bred for extreme cold, have no undercoat as huskies do and have only the minimum of shelter without even protection from wind. I started to describe the kennel to supporters and poodle lovers as a concentration camp for dogs. I fully anticipated that working with the local ACO, Norma Worley and her Animal Welfare agents she would do something about the kennel. None of these state employees charged with protection of animals did anything. The local ACO had to be written off as clueless from the start. He did not even know that Maine protects whistle blowers from complaints about animal neglect. Several follow up calls to the ACO demonstrated either he did not care, was too busy with other work as a police officer for Newport, and/or approved of the conditions at the kennel, including the condition of Raven which he allowed was a "skinny" dog. I started to become ambivalent about StateAW: this ACO is still in his job after 4 years though clearly negligent of duty. He was not trained properly. Indeed State AW in Augusta did not even have his name on record.
This layer of our story now involves the saddest part: it concerns the 8yr old breeding male named Raven, now renamed by his adopters Ranger. We took him out, along with 2 pups, in mid December . Before he got into my vehicle we removed his collar: it was rusted. His coat was filthy and heavily matted. He was clearly thin and acted fearful. He smelled to high heaven. His entire 8 years were spent in a small pen. His ears were black from dirt. At the Vet clinic the following day for a complete physical exam we saw he was much worse off than initially thought. What the ACO claimed was skinniness was far worse. (The Vet, Dr. Bill Bryant of Winthrop Veterinary Clinic and Vet for all our rescues filed his report of negligence to State AW.) Raven/Ranger could not bark because his trachea were damaged by the tight collar. He was underweight because the collar hurt so much how could he eat? His teeth were rotten and his gums so infected there was no question of extracting them until the gums were treated first so that he could also eat his fill and gain weight before surgery. His coat was severely matted and filthy. His ears were filthy with one of them very badly infected. Naturally he also had worms of various kinds. And his muscle tone was non-existent. And he needed to be neutered before adopting him out. The condition of the dog was so bad that the Vet recommended we deal with immediate issues before attempting neutering: and this we did. His fosters nursed him and within 2 months the Vet was able to operate on Ranger to remove 4 teeth, and later to neuter him. No one from State AW tried to help this suffering poodle. Even though State AW Vet Christine. Fraser saw the dog several times on her visits; did she lay her hands on him to even start to determine the damage to his body? She did not. Let us not even talk about the other standard poodle breeding bitches and males that remain at the kennel today: some 6-7 of them. Their relentless constant suffering kept me and others awake at night.
Your Vet, Christine Fraser, visited the kennel both prior and after we removed Ranger and told me that though conditions were not ideal they were acceptable to her & did not meet the standard of seizing the dogs and thus to prevent a warranted seizure she advised the owner to ensure that drinking water was available to the dogs all the time as that is a legal requirement. She told her to buy some big buckets "so that the water would not freeze so fast." The day and nighttime temperatures during this period were in the 10's and 15's for high and -20F and -25F at night. Just how long would that water be drinkable? Her top concern was disease (which is warranted because the grounds are infested with whip worms which can never be eradicated; all the poodles pups and adults alike were and some still are infested).
Let us remember that according to the Bangor Daily News State AW is in debt to the tune of $600,000; due to the expose and seizure of dogs and two puppy mills during 2008. One of which mind you was finally busted not because of State AW’s dauntless efforts but because a NH Traffic Policeman stopped a car carrying dead dogs from one of the mills. State AW obviously wants to avoid more legal fees, and wants to avoid dumping dogs on humane shelters because the latter do not welcome them. We in Poodle Rescue are prepared to shelter and cure and find homes for the standard poodles if State AW which has a monopoly on issuing warrants does so.
In the meantime I asked myself just how broken is the Animal Welfare system in my state if it allows suffering to continue for years and years, despite animal protection statutes that are some of the best in the nation? Why can’t we afford to have a veterinarian, paid for by our taxes, examine dogs in a kennel that is being investigated? Just this week the we discovered that Carol Thibault can start breeding again because the ACO authorized her town to re-issue her license.
When you add this all up you can only conclude one thing: the entire system for protection of these animals is broken. From top to bottom and in between. We do the right thing by spending our own money to remove abused poodles, the Vet does the right thing by reporting neglect, I do the right thing by reporting to State AW and seeking help. The media do the right thing and publish yet another article (the 4th in a series going back several years) about the Newport puppy mill (BDN Jan 16) and now WABI Channel picks up on that and is reporting (on me, on Raven/Ranger and his adopters and on Poodle Rescue and on Animal Welfare) - I doubt that once that report is aired State AW is going to look very pretty.
The Newport Puppy mill case has galvanized standard poodle owners in Maine. On March 1st 20 of us met to structure ourselves as a legal IRS recognized 501C3 rescue organization. 3 of our members are lawyers, all of whom have standard poodles....because they are so smart......all working pro-bono to move the legal agenda forward. On March 29 we meet again, at which time we expect 100 poodle people to turn up and get involved in poodle rescue, placement and to advance an agenda with State AW. We are ready to work with State AW to shelter, rehabilitate, cure and find homes for poodles. We are also a rescue group that, unlike others, is not afraid to critique the work of State AW. Nor do we feel compelled to enter into a relationship of co-dependency with it just because "it is the only game in town."
I am here today on behalf of these people.
State AW has failed the dogs in Newport, and will continue to fail until reforms are instituted in the Division itself. And for that reason we believe that State AW should not receive further funding even in these critical times until it shows it can do the job for which it is mandated... Starting with revoking the kennel license of Carol Thibault, firing the ACO and removing the poodles and huskies from a concentration camp into the care of Rescues.
Thank you.
Barbara C. Skapa
Maine Poodle Rescue
Mt Vernon, Maine
Good morning. Thank you for listening to my testimony.
My name is Barbara Skapa. I live in Mt Vernon and am supposed to be retired but am known to Commissioner Bradstreet and his dairy staff as Barbara of Echo Ridge Organic cows’ milk cheese; as the Dept of Ag licenses me as a cheesemaker.
I am a member of various animal protection orgs including ME Friends of Animals, Voice for Animals, the Maine Federation of Dog Clubs, on behalf of which I do NOT testify this morning; but rather on behalf of members of the recently incorporated Maine Poodle Rescue. My avocation is the rescue, rehabilitation and adopting out of standard poodles. In the last 3 years I am happy to report placing 20 of them right here in Central Maine. They are thriving.
You need to know why I am here today and where I stand in regards to budgetary allocations for State AW.
My answer is this: 4 months ago I would have stood here and applauded its work and endorsed its needs for money as unlimited as possible. But I went through an experience that took me from supporting state AW, to ambivalence, to finally denial of support for a division that in our view is not meeting its obligations to dogs in dire distress. So right now I stand in opposition to allocating precious resources to state AW, not without major reform of that dept.
This is the reason. A story that unfolds in layers.
Through the poodle grapevine I had heard of a puppy mill in Newport that was selling standard poodles at bargain basement prices: $250-$300 for a pup that sells for at least $1000 from reputable breeders. Ads in Uncle Henry’s are the primary marketing tool of puppy mill owners and that is how I located and then visited the kennel. (owned by Carol Thibault, 62 of 328 Old Bangor Rd in Newport) Our aim was to ascertain if in fact conditions at her kennel were as bad as we had heard and to see whether we could negotiate with the owner to remove some of her stock.
The first visit around Thanksgiving of 2008 was indeed worse than we had been told. Filthy conditions. No food or water available for some dozen dogs, both huskies and standard poodles, and all looking quite under-nourished and certainly under-socialized. All kept outside in chain link pens 24 hours a day, year ‘round exposed to all weather conditions. The pups were tucked into a tiny space on a ramshackle porch. The dogs smelled to high heaven from their own filth.
Outside her front door, I negotiated with the owner to sell me the unsold 5 month old pups in return for releasing adult breeders to Rescue. She agreed. Not out of sympathy but because she was exceeding the allowable limit of her kennel license and the promise of cash for the pups sealed the deal. I personally paid for the pups so that I could rescue the adult breeders. On subsequent visits we bought 5 pups (all now neutered and adopted) and took home 2 adult breeders: a male and female . The pups were sold for $200-$250 for which I paid cash = the only way puppy millers deal. Note that on the sales slips for the pups no tax was charged or rendered to the State of Maine which is required legally from licensed breeders. During this time I kept Norma Worley appraised by telephone and by FAXing my notes to her office. She informed me that her staff was well acquainted with this kennel, that numerous complaints were logged by the public, and that her staff had removed 50 dogs in 2004 and another 15 in early 2008.
In other words, I knew I was dealing with a very bad situation and that I needed to document every single step I took. I fully expected State AW to help me and to do something about the remaining dogs in the kennel. It was a very stressful period for me and others as very cold temperatures were approaching and we feared for the lives of the standard poodles that are not bred for extreme cold, have no undercoat as huskies do and have only the minimum of shelter without even protection from wind. I started to describe the kennel to supporters and poodle lovers as a concentration camp for dogs. I fully anticipated that working with the local ACO, Norma Worley and her Animal Welfare agents she would do something about the kennel. None of these state employees charged with protection of animals did anything. The local ACO had to be written off as clueless from the start. He did not even know that Maine protects whistle blowers from complaints about animal neglect. Several follow up calls to the ACO demonstrated either he did not care, was too busy with other work as a police officer for Newport, and/or approved of the conditions at the kennel, including the condition of Raven which he allowed was a "skinny" dog. I started to become ambivalent about StateAW: this ACO is still in his job after 4 years though clearly negligent of duty. He was not trained properly. Indeed State AW in Augusta did not even have his name on record.
This layer of our story now involves the saddest part: it concerns the 8yr old breeding male named Raven, now renamed by his adopters Ranger. We took him out, along with 2 pups, in mid December . Before he got into my vehicle we removed his collar: it was rusted. His coat was filthy and heavily matted. He was clearly thin and acted fearful. He smelled to high heaven. His entire 8 years were spent in a small pen. His ears were black from dirt. At the Vet clinic the following day for a complete physical exam we saw he was much worse off than initially thought. What the ACO claimed was skinniness was far worse. (The Vet, Dr. Bill Bryant of Winthrop Veterinary Clinic and Vet for all our rescues filed his report of negligence to State AW.) Raven/Ranger could not bark because his trachea were damaged by the tight collar. He was underweight because the collar hurt so much how could he eat? His teeth were rotten and his gums so infected there was no question of extracting them until the gums were treated first so that he could also eat his fill and gain weight before surgery. His coat was severely matted and filthy. His ears were filthy with one of them very badly infected. Naturally he also had worms of various kinds. And his muscle tone was non-existent. And he needed to be neutered before adopting him out. The condition of the dog was so bad that the Vet recommended we deal with immediate issues before attempting neutering: and this we did. His fosters nursed him and within 2 months the Vet was able to operate on Ranger to remove 4 teeth, and later to neuter him. No one from State AW tried to help this suffering poodle. Even though State AW Vet Christine. Fraser saw the dog several times on her visits; did she lay her hands on him to even start to determine the damage to his body? She did not. Let us not even talk about the other standard poodle breeding bitches and males that remain at the kennel today: some 6-7 of them. Their relentless constant suffering kept me and others awake at night.
Your Vet, Christine Fraser, visited the kennel both prior and after we removed Ranger and told me that though conditions were not ideal they were acceptable to her & did not meet the standard of seizing the dogs and thus to prevent a warranted seizure she advised the owner to ensure that drinking water was available to the dogs all the time as that is a legal requirement. She told her to buy some big buckets "so that the water would not freeze so fast." The day and nighttime temperatures during this period were in the 10's and 15's for high and -20F and -25F at night. Just how long would that water be drinkable? Her top concern was disease (which is warranted because the grounds are infested with whip worms which can never be eradicated; all the poodles pups and adults alike were and some still are infested).
Let us remember that according to the Bangor Daily News State AW is in debt to the tune of $600,000; due to the expose and seizure of dogs and two puppy mills during 2008. One of which mind you was finally busted not because of State AW’s dauntless efforts but because a NH Traffic Policeman stopped a car carrying dead dogs from one of the mills. State AW obviously wants to avoid more legal fees, and wants to avoid dumping dogs on humane shelters because the latter do not welcome them. We in Poodle Rescue are prepared to shelter and cure and find homes for the standard poodles if State AW which has a monopoly on issuing warrants does so.
In the meantime I asked myself just how broken is the Animal Welfare system in my state if it allows suffering to continue for years and years, despite animal protection statutes that are some of the best in the nation? Why can’t we afford to have a veterinarian, paid for by our taxes, examine dogs in a kennel that is being investigated? Just this week the we discovered that Carol Thibault can start breeding again because the ACO authorized her town to re-issue her license.
When you add this all up you can only conclude one thing: the entire system for protection of these animals is broken. From top to bottom and in between. We do the right thing by spending our own money to remove abused poodles, the Vet does the right thing by reporting neglect, I do the right thing by reporting to State AW and seeking help. The media do the right thing and publish yet another article (the 4th in a series going back several years) about the Newport puppy mill (BDN Jan 16) and now WABI Channel picks up on that and is reporting (on me, on Raven/Ranger and his adopters and on Poodle Rescue and on Animal Welfare) - I doubt that once that report is aired State AW is going to look very pretty.
The Newport Puppy mill case has galvanized standard poodle owners in Maine. On March 1st 20 of us met to structure ourselves as a legal IRS recognized 501C3 rescue organization. 3 of our members are lawyers, all of whom have standard poodles....because they are so smart......all working pro-bono to move the legal agenda forward. On March 29 we meet again, at which time we expect 100 poodle people to turn up and get involved in poodle rescue, placement and to advance an agenda with State AW. We are ready to work with State AW to shelter, rehabilitate, cure and find homes for poodles. We are also a rescue group that, unlike others, is not afraid to critique the work of State AW. Nor do we feel compelled to enter into a relationship of co-dependency with it just because "it is the only game in town."
I am here today on behalf of these people.
State AW has failed the dogs in Newport, and will continue to fail until reforms are instituted in the Division itself. And for that reason we believe that State AW should not receive further funding even in these critical times until it shows it can do the job for which it is mandated... Starting with revoking the kennel license of Carol Thibault, firing the ACO and removing the poodles and huskies from a concentration camp into the care of Rescues.
Thank you.
Barbara C. Skapa
Maine Poodle Rescue
Mt Vernon, Maine
Monday, March 9, 2009
Maine Animal Welfare Program
The Animal Welfare Program (AWP) is part of the Maine Department of Agriculture and based in Augusta. The program assigns humane agents to the various districts in Maine to investigate complaints of suspected abuse, neglect and cruelty.
To report animal abuse, neglect or cruelty:
Maine Animal Welfare Program
28 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0028
Phone: 287-3846 Toll Free: 1-877-269-9200 FAX: 207-624-5043
Email: animal.welfare@maine.gov
Web site: http://www.maine.gov/agriculture/aw/index.html
For emergency after business hours, call the Orono Barracks of the Maine StatePolice at 207-866-2121.
An Animal Welfare agent will be paged.If you have a complaint about any State of Maine Humane Agent, contact the Department of Agriculture at 207-287-3871.
To report animal abuse, neglect or cruelty:
Maine Animal Welfare Program
28 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0028
Phone: 287-3846 Toll Free: 1-877-269-9200 FAX: 207-624-5043
Email: animal.welfare@maine.gov
Web site: http://www.maine.gov/agriculture/aw/index.html
For emergency after business hours, call the Orono Barracks of the Maine StatePolice at 207-866-2121.
An Animal Welfare agent will be paged.If you have a complaint about any State of Maine Humane Agent, contact the Department of Agriculture at 207-287-3871.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Maiden posting.........
for Maine Poodle Rescue. Our fledgling organization met for the first time on Sunday to set up the official organization - and to discuss what we hope to accomplish in the months and years ahead. For a first meeting, in Maine, in the winter, with repeated snowstorm threats, we had a good turnout.
The discussion centered mostly around the legalities of forming a 501(c)3 incorporation,; fund-raising; the breed and breeding kennels, as well as upcoming legislation (Friday, March 6, 2009 9:00AM - Agricultural Dept Budget Meeting).
We adjourned with the promise to meet again on March 29, 2009............and to let as many "poodle people" as possible know about the meeting so the turnout is larger. For more information about our organization, please visit our website, www.mainepoodlerescue.bravehost.com , or join our Yahoo group, Maine Poodle Rescue.
If you are interested in becoming involved, please contact me or check back here for more information on upcoming meetings.
One of our rescue dogs, Ranger - this picture was taken the day we rescued him, Dec 16, 2008
Visit our website for more Poodle Rescue stories!
The discussion centered mostly around the legalities of forming a 501(c)3 incorporation,; fund-raising; the breed and breeding kennels, as well as upcoming legislation (Friday, March 6, 2009 9:00AM - Agricultural Dept Budget Meeting).
We adjourned with the promise to meet again on March 29, 2009............and to let as many "poodle people" as possible know about the meeting so the turnout is larger. For more information about our organization, please visit our website, www.mainepoodlerescue.bravehost.com , or join our Yahoo group, Maine Poodle Rescue.
If you are interested in becoming involved, please contact me or check back here for more information on upcoming meetings.
One of our rescue dogs, Ranger - this picture was taken the day we rescued him, Dec 16, 2008
and this is Ranger now - he was adopted and is now doing great!
Visit our website for more Poodle Rescue stories!
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