D.I.N.E.'s mission is to: 1) provide information to the public about issues pertaining to homeless dogs, 2) provide information about shelters, rescues & animal welfare organizations in upstate NY, and 3) provide information related to animal welfare in New York State. Through these efforts, we hope to create community awareness, help increase adoption and effect positive change for companion animals.

The Evolution of D.I.N.E.

"I have been worrying about animal suffering for as long as I can remember. I became consumed with my worries to the point of doing nothing. I wanted to go to shelters to bring treats to dogs but I couldn't bear seeing heartbroken animals living in cages... so I did nothing. I was sickened by the idea of someone taking pleasure in forcing innocent dogs to fight, but the task of trying to do something about it was too overwhelming... so I did nothing. When I thought about volunteering for an animal organization, I worried that I would get pulled into organizational politics... so I did nothing. When I donated money to animal organizations, I worried that it would not be spent in the way I had intended... so I stopped. I've seen starving, sick, abused, neglected, and homeless dogs and I've helped a few along the way. But it wasn't in a big enough way. I finally realized that if I could put as much energy into helping dogs as I put into worrying about them, I could make a difference in the lives of many. This is the goal of D.I.N.E."  --Kathleen Collar

Spring/Summer 2013

NYS "Puppy Mill Bill"

Please take action by May 31, 2013
Contact your NYS Senator & ask him/her to support S.3753!
Contact your NYS Assembly Member & ask him/her to support A.740!

This bill allows municipalities to regulate pet dealers. It would ultimately permit communities to decide whether or not to allow pet stores to sell puppies from puppy mills

There are currently 161 pet stores in NYS that sell puppies

And only 15 people to regulate them
(NYS Dept. of Agriculture & Markets)

99% of these puppies come from puppy mills
(HBO documentary Madonna of the Mills)

Support S.3753 (Sponsor: Grisanti)
Support A.740: (Sponsor: Rosenthal)

Thank you!

Please click to see our presentation on puppy mills.

Local Rescues In Need of Fostering!!

If you have ever thought of fostering a dog or cat, maybe it's time!! Fostering requires a short-term commitment and you will be rewarded with loads of love from a very appreciative furry friend. You may be required to fill out an application and go through an interview, which is the rescue's way of protecting the animals in their care. Most rescues pay for food and all rescues pay for veterinary care. You may be asked to bring your foster pet to adoption clinics but each rescue is different. Finding one that fits your family's needs won't be hard! There are currently puppies, adolescent dogs, senior dogs, and special needs dogs... in all shapes and sizes... in need of foster care.

You may feel that you can't foster because you will become too attached and will want to keep the animals. Don't worry--rescues will be thrilled if you become a "foster failure" and choose to adopt the pet instead!

The Goal of Foster Care

To care for a dog in one's home until such time that it can be adopted. This can be anywhere from a few days to a few months.

How Does Fostering Help?

• Fostering provides comfort and safety to dogs that have endured hardship, while they are waiting for their "forever" homes.
• Fostering allows an organization to match dogs with potential individuals and families that are looking to adopt.
• Fostering can help shelters that don't have enough space, staff or resources to care for the animals.
• Fostering prevents the euthanization of adoptable dogs.
• Fostering provides lessons in compassion and generosity to children.

Please click here for a List of Rescues in the Capital Region of NYS!

End Cruel Devocalization of Dogs & Cats in NY State NOW!

Read. Act. Post to FB. Tweet.
And Forward to Animal Lovers in NY State.
Porter's Vocal Cords Were Cut to Stifle His Voice.
This Cruelty is Happening Everywhere.
You Can Help End it in New York State...
in Just 5 Minutes, Without Spending a Dime.

Hear Porter: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JguboCnDILo

Legislation is now pending to prohibit canine/feline devocalization in New York State. Massachusetts took that humane step in 2010. And cutting vocal cords to stifle a dog's or cat's voice—a repugnant act of animal cruelty performed for convenience or profit—has long been illegal throughout most of Europe.

Powerful lobbies that profit from devocalization are working to kill this humane legislation or riddle it with loopholes, such as by allowing pet owners to have their dogs and cats devocalized! That does NOT benefit animals; devocalized animals are abandoned like any other. All it does is sanction and promote an act of animal cruelty for human convenience and profit.

If pro-devocalization lobbies and their surprising allies win, helpless animals lose. Please don't let that happen.

LIVE IN NY STATE? YOU'VE GOT THE POWER!

Click on this link or copy/paste it into your browser to learn how you can help in just 5 minutes—without spending a dime. http://nyagainstdevocalization.weebly.com/act-now-to-ban-devocalization-in-ny.html

WHETHER YOU LIVE IN NY OR NOT, PLEASE DO THIS:

FORWARD THIS EMAIL to animal lovers throughout New York State.

POST THIS TO YOUR FB WALL OR WEBSITE:
Devocalization, cutting vocal cords to stifle a dog's or cat's voice, is illegal in Mass. and most of Europe. Act NOW to ban it in NY State and protect animals from lifelong suffering or agonizing death - common outcomes no matter how skilled the vet or how the tissue is cut.
Learn: http://nyagainstdevocalization.weebly.com/about-devocalization.html
Help: http://nyagainstdevocalization.weebly.com/act-now-to-ban-devocalization-in-ny.html

TWEET THIS:
Act NOW to end cruel dog/cat devocalization in NY State! Get info & share: http://nyagainstdevocalization.weebly.com
LEARN ABOUT DEVOCALIZATION.
Just click on the following links or copy/paste them into your browser.

• How is devocalization done? What are the risks? http://nyagainstdevocalization.weebly.com/about-devocalization.html
• What would the proposed NY State law do? What loopholes are pro-devocalization lobbies pushing? http://nyagainstdevocalization.weebly.com/pending-new-york-devocalization-ban.html

READ WHAT CONCERNED VETS AND ANIMAL RESCUERS SAY about how devocalization endangers dogs' and cats' lives without any benefit for them, not even a secure home. http://nyagainstdevocalization.weebly.com/expert-perspectives.html

URGE YOUR VET TO TAKE A HUMANE STAND TOO... No vet should perform OR sanction surgery whose sole purpose is to mask an animal's behavior. Devocalization is mutilation, not rescue.

Please Act NOW.
Without Your Voice,
Animals Will Have None.
Literally.

Sponsors of This Humane Legislation
Coalition to Protect and Rescue Pets
League of Humane Voters

Endorsers
American Humane Association
Animal Law Coalition
Best Friends Animal Society
Humane Society of the United States
Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association
New York City Bar
New York State Humane Association
Social Workers Advancing the Human-Animal Bond

Joined By
Concerned veterinarians, animal shelters and rescue organizations, and animal behavior experts throughout New York State

D.I.N.E. HAS TRANSITIONED TO AN "INFORMATION ONLY WEBSITE."
WE ARE NOT ACCEPTING DONATIONS AT THIS TIME.

D.I.N.E.'s Mission has always been to provide essential items to dogs in the care of shelters and rescues in the NY State Capital Region and offer community education to students. Since 2005, we have been purchasing, assembling & delivering Kuranda beds to shelter & rescue dogs, donating Kong toys, new collars & leashes, crates, food and other items that have directly benefited these animals. We have been going to schools to educate kids about rescues and shelters in our community and working on projects with them that have ultimately helped many homeless dogs. Please click here for some of our accomplishments. This has been a true labor of love but unfortunately we are currently not able to do the amount of fundraising necessary to continue making the purchases that we would like. However, we will continue to post a printable version of the rescue/shelter list, feature dogs in need of extra exposure, post lost dogs, and we will post information about animal welfare issues, especially as it relates to homeless dogs.

We still had so me funds available and recently ordered beds, Kong toys, Galileo bones & food for animals in the care of Columbia Greene Animal Shelter, Animal Protective Foundation, Rottie Mountain Rescue, Out of the Pits, Greyhounds As Companions & Good Shepherd K9 Rescue.

Thank you to everyone who has donated time and money to D.I.N.E. over the past several years. You have helped improve the lives of countless numbers of homeless animals. Special thanks to Bensons Pet Center (www.bensonspet.com) for their caring & commitment to our endeavors and to animals in need.