Animals

South Bend's Animal Care and Control is headed in a new direction, including a change in leadership. The director, Gary Libby, was fired earlier this week after 17 years with the department. The city's communication director wouldn't say why Libby was fired because it's a personnel issue. Libby said the city never indicated to him they wanted fewer animals put-down. But in a press release from the mayor's office, administrators say their goals include increasing the adoption rate - and lowering the euthanasia rate, which city councilwoman Valerie Schey says is too high.

ELKHART --  Of course, this kind of heat is dangerous for anyone spending a lot of time outside.  That includes your pets, but animal control officers are on the lookout. In Elkhart County, Animal Control Officer Don Ely is on the lookout for any animals suffering from this heat. "When it gets over 80 degrees we can almost be guaranteed we'll get heat-related calls," Ely said. Through the past few days, he says those calls have been pouring into the Elkhart County Humane Society.

With apologies to www.viralviralvideos.com for not previously referencing them as a source for this material.  

South Bend euthanized more than 60 percent of the animals it took in last year. A South Bend Common Council member has a plan to drastically lower that number, and she says it wouldn't cost taxpayer dollars. In 2011, South Bend Animal Care and Control took in 3,820 animals, with 2,456 getting euthanized. While city leaders say the numbers this year are down because the new Animal Care and Control building has allowed for more room to hold animals, Valerie Schey says that is not good enough.  Schey is the 3rd District councilwoman for South Bend's Common Council.

LAPORTE COUNTY - This heat wave came just in time for the LaPorte County 4-H Fair, and it's causing problems for people and animals. People showing animals at the fair are doing all they can to make sure their animals stay cool. "They could die if you don't keep them cool," said 12-year-old Bailey Cummings, who shows cattle.  "We run fans, blow them off, and wash them and stuff with cold water. " All of the animals at the fair are at risk in the heat. Jacky Masterson and her son lost two chickens because of the warm weather on Sunday.

As many of us dig out the winter wardrobe for another season, some of our furry friends need a little extra help when it comes to surviving the next few months. WSBT took a behind-the-scenes tour with officials at the Potawatami Zoo as they prepare for the winter season. As the seasons change from fall to winter, so does the landscape at the Potawatami Zoo.   Director Terry DeRosa says the zoo houses 400 animals and 90 percent of them need a place to keep warm during the winter.

SOUTH BEND - Everyone needs to be careful during this heat wave, drinking plenty of water and staying cool. But they also need to keep a close eye on their pets. Animals can get sick from this heat too. Just like a person, animals can get heat exhaustion and heat stroke.  This time of year, South Bend Animal Control is paying close attention to this issue. So what should you do to keep your animals safe? Animal control officers say you should make sure they have plenty of water and shade.  They also say to make sure they have enough ventilation if they are locked up.  It's also a good idea to hose them down if they seem to be getting too warm.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) - A self-professed animal lover, Michelle Spear of Mulberry, is the proud owner of two dogs and a cat. But if she ever had to surrender one of her beloved pets, she would take only it to a no-kill animal shelter. "With no kill we might look at a behavior issue and work on it, or if it's sick we'll treat it," said Spear, who also volunteers at a no-kill shelter. "That's why I prefer no-kill shelters. " Spear believes animals should be euthanized only "if there was absolutely no hope and they were suffering," she said.

Adriana Perez's 2-year-old daughter had some trouble remembering those blue eyes and furry face, but this story is hard to forget.  Aspen, the Alaskan husky, is back home … nearly two months after he was stolen from his pen. "Going back to the time that he was gone … a lot of people said you're going to get him back. You'll get him back,” said Perez. "I was skeptical. "  It's a happy ending to a bizarre story WSBT News first brought you in June. We showed you how her family posted signs in their front yard …"Bring back my dog you stole.

HOLLY, Mich. (AP) — It's not the "dark and edgy" sound that has heavy metal musician Steven Banch Jr.'s Holly neighbors incensed. It's the condition of livestock on his Oakland County farm. The Oakland Press of Pontiac reports Wednesday the 39-year-old member of Spyder Baby faces a June 3 court hearing on charges that include failure to bury a dead cow. That's a misdemeanor. Banch also is accused of allowing animals to roam free and having unlicensed dogs.

A new city committee meeting for the first time to review and rewrite South Bend's codes governing Animal Care and Control has their work cut out for them. Thursday night they looked at an updated version of Ft. Wayne's codes to see how it might apply here.  They started by looking at how key terms used in the code are defined.  They tackled it alphabetically and by the end of the meeting they hadn't made it past the letter "c. " A Notre Dame law student who has studied other animal control laws throughout the U.S. has found many cities have been unsuccessful in defending those ordinances in court challenges.

Indiana Department of Natural Resources issued the following release on Friday morning:   Every spring, kind-hearted Hoosiers “rescue” an injured or seemingly abandoned baby wild animal and try to care for it. The DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife has one thing to say: Don't do it. “Most baby animals are not abandoned,” said Michelle Cain, wildlife information specialist with the division. “Many animals leave their young alone when searching for food and come back to them throughout the day. They also use this as a way to deter predators, as a predator may follow the mother back to its young.” Picking up a baby animal that is not orphaned or abandoned can harm the animal and take it out of its natural environment where it is meant to be. It's also illegal.

WALES TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) - Matt Falk hasn't given up hope the death of his beloved husky, Logan, will be remembered. There are many laws to protect people, Falk said, but he is working with lawmakers to make the memory of his dog Logan something that will help raise awareness of animal abusers and track those convicted of the crime. A pair of bills known as "Logan's Law" were recently introduced in the Michigan House of Representatives. Sponsored by Reps. Paul Muxlow, R-Brown City, and Harvey Santana, D-Detroit, the bills would establish a registry of animal abusers and block convicted abusers from adopting animals.

South Bend's Animal Care and Control is headed in a new direction, including a change in leadership. The director, Gary Libby, was fired earlier this week after 17 years with the department. The city's communication director wouldn't say why Libby was fired because it's a personnel issue. Libby said the city never indicated to him they wanted fewer animals put-down. But in a press release from the mayor's office, administrators say their goals include increasing the adoption rate - and lowering the euthanasia rate, which city councilwoman Valerie Schey says is too high.

SOUTH BEND - The Potawatomi Zoo opened during the off-season Saturday for what's known as “Winter Days.” But it didn't feel very much like winter, and that may be why so many people showed up. Big crowds turned out, the biggest so far by the zoo's Winter Days standards. WSBT photojournalist Jade Birch spoke with zoo-goers about the animals and the weather.

SOUTH BEND - A South Bend man accused of mutilating an animal is expected back in court next month after turning himself in. The St. Joseph County prosecutor says 38-year-old Joseph Perry turned himself in Sunday and has since posted bond. Police say they found three dead puppies on Perry's South Bend property in August. According to the vet who examined the bodies, the puppies were badly beaten. One was decapitated. When WSBT spoke with Perry, he told us someone else was caring for the dogs while he was away.

SOUTH BEND - South Bend's new animal care and control center is now officially open for business! A grand opening ceremony was held on Wednesday. WSBT gave you a tour of the new place in August. The project cost $2 million and was paid for by the people of South Bend. It's in Kennedy Park. The new building can hold more animals and is 3 times the size of the old one, which was more than 100-years-old. Tax increment financing, or TIF funds, paid for the new shelter.

South Bend euthanized more than 60 percent of the animals it took in last year. A South Bend Common Council member has a plan to drastically lower that number, and she says it wouldn't cost taxpayer dollars. In 2011, South Bend Animal Care and Control took in 3,820 animals, with 2,456 getting euthanized. While city leaders say the numbers this year are down because the new Animal Care and Control building has allowed for more room to hold animals, Valerie Schey says that is not good enough.  Schey is the 3rd District councilwoman for South Bend's Common Council.

ELKHART - Students at an Elkhart elementary school got to see a not-so-typical show-and-tell on Tuesday. The students at Woodland School had an up-close and personal introduction to a number of animals that live in tropical rain forests. It was part of a presentation put on by Understanding Wildlife's "Live On Stage, The Rainforest Show.” Youngsters learned about conservation and efforts aimed at saving the rain forest, so these animals don't become extinct.

With apologies to www.viralviralvideos.com for not previously referencing them as a source for this material.