Voices Carry For Animals Podcast #548 - Watchdog Mary aka Mary Schwager

Produced & Hosted by Debbie Dahmer aka "Mama Bear" Guest: Mary Schwager aka ”Watchdog Mary” - Award-winning investigation journalist writing about animals. Mary is a 17-Time Emmy Award-Winning Journalist. Storytelling about consumers, animals, and the environment. Topic: States that euthanize the highest numbers of dogs and what you can do about it? How to Investigate Your Local Shelter and Why You Should Do you know what goes on in your community's animal shelter? Do you know how many dogs and cats are adopted each year? Returned to their owners? Euthanized? Do you know what the conditions are like? It's vital to find out because if you don't inquire and don't visit, you may have no idea there could be animals who need your help. Here's how you can be a pet detective: Document Make Public Records Requests: How many pets are euthanized? How many animals are adopted or rescued? Make public records requests to find out. Sometimes city or county officials make this sound scary, like you need to be an attorney or journalist to do it. You don't. Anyone can make a public records request. Each state has different laws, but essentially you type a relatively simple request and email, mail, or fax it to the city, town, or county agency in charge of the shelter. This guide gives examples of different request letters. If you run into trouble after you submit the request, or it seems like the agency is stonewalling you, email Watchdog Mary ; she will help point you in the right direction. What to Request: Request the number of animals taken in each year and each animal's outcome. How many were adopted? Transferred to rescue groups? Sent to a foster program? Returned to their owner? How many were euthanized? And of the ones that were euthanized, why? See if you can find out the reasons. Check Online: Does the shelter have a Facebook or social media page to post about animals in need? Do they have a website? Do they use sites like Petfinder or Adopt a Pet to post animals who need homes? How do they market and inform the public of animals in their facility? If you can't find any advertising, that might signal a problem. If no one knows a dog or cat exists, how can they be rescued or adopted? Watchdog Mary - Pets In Need https://www.watchdogmary.com/pets-in-need Watchdog Mary Website https://www.watchdogmary.com/ Watchdog Mary FB Page https://www.facebook.com/WatchdogMary ***************************************************** With Our VOICES The Animals Will Be HEARD..With Our ACTIONS The Animals Will Seek *J*U*S*T*I*C*E* Thank you ALL For Tuning In!~ Be A Subscriber [FREE] Voices Carry For Animals Podcast on Riverside - Podcast Archives https://voicescarryforanimalspodcast.riverside.com/