spay/neuter info...
Because friends don't let friends have litters!
    
Do your part ~ help put an end to the misery of puppy mill dogs...

the problem with companion animal limit laws...

all about greyhounds...
Want to adopt? snips has greyhounds and greyhound crosses looking for new homes.

     
stories...
Think you like your cat or dog more than you like most men? Read:  
"The Men in My Life Have Fleas."

quotes...
If an animal does something, we call it instinct; if we do the same thing for the same reason, we call it intelligence.
~Will Cuppy

Knowing all truth is less than doing a little bit of good.
~ Albert Schweitzer, The Thoughts of Albert Schweitzer

Properly trained, a [hu]man can become a dog's best friend.
~ Corey Ford

dog letters to God...
When we get to Heaven, can we sit on your couch? Or is it the same old story?

Until there
are none,
adopt one!

The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them. That's the essence of inhumanity.
~ George Bernard Shaw

happily ever afters...
Dogs & Cats we've helped find new homes

loving each other from different places...
Stories About Love and Loss
After Death Experiences

Any cat will tell you,
"Spay that dog!!"

Visitors since August 2000

visit our adoptable dogs at...

if only everyone saw us like our dogs do...
does vacuuming kill fleas?
vaccination information...
the Declaration of the
No Kill Movement...

got a mutt? curious about his/her doggy daddy (and mommy)?...
MetaMorphix has a DNA test that will reveal what very special mix of dogs it took to produce your unique canine companion.

links...
An eclectic sampling of animal related sites

Want to get in touch?
Here's how - drop us a line

A Tale of Two Puppies...
What can happen when all the sudden they're not puppies anymore.

our adoptable dogs...
Meet and hear the stories of the great dogs we have up for adoption.

Any dog will tell you,
"Neuter the darn cat!"

snips mission...

The Spay/Neuter Incentive Project and Sanctuary,
or snips @ Pawsitive Energy, is an organization dedicated to improving
the quality of the human/companion animal relationship.

Working toward the No Kill ideal,
snips is dedicated to providing resources to the local rescue community.

We offer dogs for adoption, short term fostering for dogs between temporary
or permanent homes; work with dogs to solve behavioral or health issues
and make them more adoptable; and provide a large and innovative play
and exercise area where other organizations can bring dogs in
their care for a variety of mentally and physically
challenging experiences and activities.

snips strives to educate animal guardians about some of the
common issues they may face with their animal companions,
everything from safety to holistic wellness to training,
through its website, seminars and demonstrations.
This education is designed to reduce the number of animals
who are abused, neglected and abandoned,
as well as to increase the number of animals who
are spayed/neutered.

Finally, after many years of working in rescue,
snips is now a permanent home to more than 60 animals,
almost all of whom have come to us from shelters, as strays,
or as "second hand" dogs, cats, birds and horses.
We are especially dedicated to providing permanent sanctuary
for dogs unable to be adopted due to health or behavioral issues,
offering them happy, healthy, rich and rewarding lives here at our farm.

snips's ultimate goal is for every companion animal
to enjoy a long, happy, healthy life by his human companion's side,
and for every human companion to know that special
loving bond an animal can bring to her life.

snips is an advocate for the rights of all sentient beings.

Until one has loved an animal,
a part of one's soul remains unawakened.
Anatole France

Does a Breed Ban (BSL) really work?
From the Best Friends Web Site

According to the Center For Disease Control (CDC)

A few excerpts:

~ "Breed-specific legislation does not address the fact that a dog
of any breed can become dangerous when bred or trained to be aggressive."

~ "An alternative to breed-specific legislation is to regulate

individual dogs and owners on the basis of their

behavior. Although, it is not systematically reported, our

reading of the fatal bite reports indicates that problem

behaviors (of dogs and owners) have preceded attacks in

a great many cases and should be sufficient evidence for

preemptive action. Approaches to decreasing dangerous

dog and owner behaviors are numerous."

~ "Generic non–breed-specific, dangerous dog laws

can be enacted that place primary responsibility for a

dog's behavior on the owner, regardless of the dog's breed."

~ "teaching owners about the importance of socialization

and training may decrease their likelihood of owning a

dog that will eventually bite."

Some people feel that if dogs such as Pit Bulls are banned, this will alleviate the majority of the problem. This only affects law abiding and responsible dog owners, however; because those with malicious intentions will still acquire them in spite of a ban.

Best Friends Animal Society has proved numerous times that breed bans just do not work; here is just one example:

http://network.bestfriends.org/stopbsl/news/19432.html

It appears that the answer is clear; if Florida considered incentives for owners to spay/neuter their dogs, plus various programs to help owners in socialization and training, and focused on creating (as well as enforcing) stronger laws which held the owner responsible for the acts of their dog, the state of Florida could be a safe place for all concerned.

To learn more about BSL, and how it affects communities:

http://network.bestfriends.org/animallawcoalition/news/14060.html

http://network.bestfriends.org/animallawcoalition/news/14095.html

http://network.bestfriends.org/colorado/news/8795.html

http://network.bestfriends.org/colorado/news/8809.html

http://network.bestfriends.org/colorado/news/8841.html

Canine Rabies Challenge Studies Begin!

One of the most important vaccine research studies in veterinary medicine is underway
at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine in Madison. Dr. Ronald
Schultz, a leading authority on veterinary vaccines and Chair of the Department of
Pathobiological Sciences, has begun concurrent 5 and 7 year challenge studies to
determine the long-term duration of immunity of the canine rabies vaccine, with the
goal of extending the state-mandated interval for boosters. These will be the first long-
term challenge studies on the canine rabies vaccine to be published in the United
States.

Dr. Schultz comments that: "We are all very excited to start this study that will hopefully
demonstrate that rabies vaccines can provide a minimum of 7 years of immunity."

This research is being financed by The Rabies Challenge Fund, a charitable trust founded by
pet vaccine disclosure advocate Kris L. Christine of Maine, who serves as Co-Trustee with
world-renowned veterinary research scientist and practicing clinician, Dr. W. Jean Dodds of
Hemopet in California.

The Rabies Challenge Fund recently met its goal of $177,000 to fund the studies' first year
budget with contributions from dog owners, canine groups, trainers, veterinarians, and small
businesses. Annual budget goals of $150,000 for the studies must be met in the future.

Dr. Jean Dodds, DVM states: "This is the first time in my 43 years of involvement in veterinary
issues that what started as a grass-roots effort to change an outmoded regulation affecting
animals will be addressed scientifically by an acknowledged expert to benefit all canines in
the future."

Scientific data published in 1992 by Michel Aubert and his research team demonstrated that
dogs were immune to a rabies challenge 5 years after vaccination, while Dr. Schultz's
serological studies documented antibody titer counts at levels known to confer immunity to
rabies 7 years post-vaccination. This data strongly suggests that state laws requiring annual
or triennial rabies boosters for dogs are redundant. Because the rabies vaccine is the most
potent of the veterinary vaccines and associated with significant adverse reactions, it should
not be given more often than is necessary to maintain immunity. Adverse reactions such
autoimmune diseases affecting the thyroid, joints, blood, eyes, skin, kidney, liver, bowel and
central nervous system; anaphylactic shock; aggression; seizures; epilepsy; and
fibrosarcomas at injection sites are linked to rabies vaccinations.

Study co-trustee Kris Christine adds: "Because the USDA does not require vaccine
manufacturers to provide long-term duration of immunity studies documenting maximum
effectiveness when licensing their products, concerned dog owners have contributed the
money to fund this research themselves. We want to ensure that rabies immunization laws
are based upon independent, long-term scientific data."

More information and regular updates on The Rabies Challenge Fund and the concurrent 5
and 7 year challenge studies it is financing can be found at the fund's website designed by
volunteer Andrea Brin at:

www.RabiesChallengeFund.org