Animal Cruelty: Break The Silence

We have enslaved the rest of the animal creation, and have treated our distant cousins in fur and feathers so badly that beyond doubt, if they were able to formulate a religion, they would depict the Devil in human form.

~William Ralph Inge, Outspoken Essays, 1922

Guam Animals In Need from John McDaniel on Vimeo.

Dog Of The Year: Macon

GAIN’s Pet of the Year contest with over thirty entries was almost a dead heat with Macon nosing out a mischievous long-haired Chihuahua named Tyke by only 134 votes, Macon was declared GAIN’s top dog with a total of 584 votes.



Fostered by Julie and Chad Grady, it didn’t take Macon long to become a permanent member of the Grady household. “Chad had a Dalmatian when he was young, so it was pretty easy to adopt Macon,” Julie stated. “We discovered that Macon was deaf, but with the help of our other dogs, he learned sign language. After being photographed with the Air Force Fire Department crew, Chad is teaching him to ‘stop, drop and roll’. He is also doing school visits as part of GAIN’s education program.”

Macon was rescued after GAIN volunteers found him in a padlocked kennel with no food, water or shade. He was suffering from severe dehydration, sarcoptic mange, grossly complicated by dermatitis, open sores and the obvious pain of extreme starvation.



Macon was only 29 pounds when found, but within just a few short weeks his skin condition improved and he almost doubled his weight. He became the ‘spokesdog’ when GAIN introduced the Macon Petition to update the animal cruelty and neglect laws on Guam. As Dog of the Year, Macon will have a professional photo shoot with Ashleo, a bag of Purina dog food, treats and toys.

CAT OF THE YEAR: Angel

GAIN’s first ever Cat of the Year contest had cat lovers happy to vote for their favorite cat.

A somewhat unlucky cat named Angel easily won the contest with over 100 votes. Dr Diaz saved Angel after her owners brought her to the clinic. Apparently, she had been caught in a car engine, was missing part of her ear and her tail was badly infected. The tail had to be amputated and the ear trimmed.



Angel was put up for adoption, but imperfect kittens are not easily placed. Eventually, Dr. Diaz’ pleas found the right family and Angel became part of Cindy Bartels home.

Other cats who vied for the coveted title were: Fred, Happy, Curious, Nellie, Vinegar and Boba. As Cat of the Year, Angel will receive a bag of kitty litter, her favorite cat food and some special cat toys.

According to Shirley Miller, contest coordinator, “It was such a last minute idea! During the year we had rescued so many animals with such a variety of problems, we thought we really should do something to recognize them.” “Our Second Chance Boonie Rescue Program allowed us to save a pup with a cleft lip, a Chihuahua paralyzed and unable to use his back legs, a three-legged dog that had been injured and lost her left eye, a Pitbull whose front leg had to be amputated, and several animals with advanced stages of mange. Of course, Macon, was one of our success stories, but each animal brought to the shelter receives the love and care they really deserve.” In 2011, we plan to start the contest earlier and hold events where the animals can be seen by the public prior to voting.

Bark In The Park

Join GAIN every second Sunday of the month at 3pm by the Ypao Amphitheater for Bark at the Park, GAIN's monthly doggie play date! The next one is coming up this Sunday 01/09

Recognizing Animal Cruelty

Physical Signs
•Collar so tight that it has caused a neck wound or has become embedded in the pet’s neck

•Open wounds, signs of multiple healed wounds or an ongoing injury or illness that isn’t being treated

•Untreated skin conditions that have caused loss of hair, scaly skin, bumps or rashes

•Extreme thinness or emaciation—bones may be visible

•Fur infested with fleas, ticks or other parasites

•Patches of bumpy, scaly skin rashes

•Signs of inadequate grooming, such as extreme matting of fur, overgrown nails and dirty coat

•Weakness, limping or the inability to stand or walk normally

•Heavy discharge from eyes or nose

•An owner striking or otherwise physically abusing an animal

•Visible signs of confusion or extreme drowsiness

Environmental Signs
•Pets are tied up alone outside for long periods of time without adequate food or water, or with food or water that is unsanitary

•Pets are kept outside in inclement weather without access to adequate shelter

•Pets are kept in an area littered with feces, garbage, broken glass or other objects that could harm them

•Animals are housed in kennels or cages (very often crowded in with other animals) that are too small to allow them to stand, turn around and make normal movements possibly with too many other animals.

This list was graciously provided by the ASPCA. If you think an animal in your neighborhood is being abused or neglected or fits any of the criteria listed above PLEASE CONTACT GAIN

Stop Animal Over Population: Sterilize your pet

GAIN is an active sponsor for low cost programs for local residents to get their pets sterilized. Get more information on this program and many others HERE

Apathy and Cruelty: The Sad Reality For Many Of Guams Animals

The legendary author Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club, Choke) has a great piece about apathy. He writes "You can kill a lifetime without feeling anything but skin". Here on Guam those words are twice as deadly for we actually kill two lifetimes...our own and that of our four legged companion animals who, are dying agonizing deaths due to the publics unwillingness to take a more provocative stand against cruelty and apathy.

Photographer John McDaniel has captured the devastating proof of our islands sickening level of apathy toward animals.

Guam Animals In Need from John McDaniel on Vimeo.

Guams Animals Deserve Better

"When we acknowledge that all of life is sacred and that each act is an act of choice and therefore sacred, then life is a sacred dance lived consciously each moment. When we live at this level, we participate in the creation of a better world." ~Scout Cloud Lee

The situation with abandoned and neglected animals on our island has never been more dire. In the past 6 years the number of pets brought to our struggling shelter has practically doubled. The agonizing toll on the lives of Guams precious pets is matched only by the tragic human face of the tragedy. Here are some sobering numbers detailing what GAIN volunteers have been forced to cope with.

In 2003 2,991 animals were brought to our shelter. Of those a mere 553 were adopted the rest...that is 2,438 had to be euthanized.

In 2008 5,105 animals were brought to our shelter. 834 were adopted and the other 4,271 had to be put down.

Guam is not alone. The Humane Society on the mainland has its own set of shocking and devastating statistics when it comes to unwanted animals.

•Of the 1,000 shelters that replied to the National Council's survey, 4.3 million animals were handled.

•In 1997, roughly 64 percent of the total number of animals that entered shelters were euthanized -- approximately 2.7 million animals in just these 1,000 shelters. These animals may have been euthanized due to overcrowding, but may also have been sick, aggressive, injured or suffering from something else.

•56 percent of dogs and 71 percent of cats that enter animal shelters are euthanized. More cats are euthanized than dogs because they are more likely to enter a shelter without any owner identification.

•Only 15 percent of dogs and 2 percent of cats that enter animal shelters are reunited with their owners.

•25 percent of dogs and 24 percent of cats that enter animal shelters are adopted.

Come on Guam you CAN do better than THIS! Nothing will ever change until every resident of our beautiful island makes a change. The first thing we MUST CHANGE is the apathy. HELP us by making sure your pets are spayed and neutered. HELP us by making a modest donation to our shelter so that we can try to find even more homes for the animals we do get. We need your help Guam.

Hachiko

In May 1994, Japan’s Culture Broadcasting Network played a recording of Hachiko barking which had been made from a broken record repaired with laser surgery. Millions of people tuned in to listen to Hachiko barking, 59 years after his death. Each April, tens of thousands visit the dog’s statue at the Shibuya train station, during a festival in which food offerings are left at the base of the dog’s statue, in hopes that his loyal spirit will visit all humans.

Hachiko is a symbol of loyalty in Japan. He is a dog.

Hidesaburo Ueno was a professor of Agriculture at the University of Tokyo in 1924. Hachiko was his akita and would meet his master every day after work at the Shibuya train station.

Mr. Ueno died at work one day in 1925, but his dog kept a loyal vigil returning to the Shibuya station every day at the appointed hour to wait for his master.

In 1932 one of Ueno's former students published an article about Hachiko's stunning faith in the return of his master and that article became a sensation.

Hachiko's singular devotion to his mission & faithfulness to his master's memory impressed the people of Japan and became a symbol of family loyalty that all should strive to achieve. Teachers and parents used Hachikō's vigil as an example for children to follow.

To this day Hachiko is a symbol of loyalty to the people of Japan. He died in 1935 and his remains have been preserved at The National Science Museum in Tokyo.

Hachiko's story was told on the big screen in a movie starring Richard Gere, who said it brought him to tears. Hachiko's astonishing tale has been told on film before in a brilliant Japanese movie called Hachiko Monogatari that came out in 1987

2011 GAIN Calendars

GAIN's 2011 calendars are now on sale.

You can purchase a calendar at one of our kind local sponsors: Marianas Vet Care, Isla Veterinary Clinic, Harper Veterinary Hospital, Animal Medical Clinic, Feathers n Fins or Opus One. Calendars also available at Yigo Animal Shelter.

If you purchase a calendar in person through one of our partners listed above they are $5.

The calendars are 10$ if you wish to purchase one on line with GAINS official PayPal, or through the mail with a check (made payable to GAIN) / PO Box 22365 / GMF GU 96921. This is to cover shipping and handling charges. The proceeds from our calendar sales will be used for our 2nd Chance Boonie Rescue Program.