Every week TJO is able to return lost pets to their thankful owners due to the information we are able to get off their microchips. We have had alot of questions reagarding how the process works and how safe the technology is for your pets. The following article was taken from the www.HomeAgain.com

 Dog and cat microchipping is a simple procedure. A veterinarian simply injects a microchip for pets, about the size of a grain of rice (12mm), beneath the surface of your pets skin between the shoulder blades. The process is similar to a routine shot, takes only a few seconds, and your pet will not react any more than he would to a vaccination. No anesthetic is required.

A HomeAgain microchip is permanent pet ID. The microchip itself has no internal energy source, so it will last the life of your pet. It is read by passing a microchip scanner over the pets shoulder blades. The scanner emits a low radio frequency that provides the power necessary to transmit the microchips unique cat or dog ID code and positively identify the pet.

HomeAgain is the only dog & cat microchipping product on the market today that has the Bio-Bond patented anti-migration feature to help ensure that the microchip will stay in place so that it may be easily located and scanned. If your pet gets lost and is taken to an animal shelter or veterinarian, they will scan the microchip to read its unique dog or cat ID code. This is the number used by HomeAgain to identify the pet and retrieve your contact information, which is used to contact you and reunite you with your pet.

 

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• All of us at TJO would like to thank the countless animal lovers in our community that continually come through for the animals in our care time and time again!  You never let us or the animals down.  No matter what our needs are, all we have to do is ask and there you are.  You bring comfortable bedding, canned cat and dog food, bleach, laundry soap, toys, rawhide, paper towels and so much more.  For every wish list item you donate, it frees up money for us to spend on spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchips and other needs critical to the animals’ well being. 

It is amazing to come to the shelter each day and be met with donated bags of bedding, jars of peanut butter, gallons of bleach, bags of rawhide and more.  Many of you come before or after hours to support us and we often never learn your name or have an opportunity to thank you in person.  I hope you experience the same warm fuzzy feelings that our staff does when we see all the goodies coming in for the animals.  Thank you from the bottoms of our hearts for helping to make the animals’ temporary stay at TJO feel like their home away from home as much as possible.  We simply could not do it without you. 

With deepest appreciation,
The Staff at TJO

 

 

An Act to Update the Animal Control Laws of Massachusetts
Senate Bill H. 4956 (formerly S. 2172/S. 406/S. 2120/S. 2151)

Many of the laws that govern animal control date back to the 1800s.  Currently, there are numerous problems with the outdated statutes that impact the animal control programs in our 351 cities and towns, leaving both the public and animals unprotected in many ways.  It has passed the Senate and is now in House Steering and Policy.

About the bill:

This bill would improve the mandatory spay/neuter law for shelters and animal control facilities, strengthen the dangerous dog ordinance (while preventing breed-specific policies), create a spay/neuter fund and update kennel definitions.

Summary of the bill:

• Improves the dangerous dog law to prevent dog bites and possible attacks (without breed-specific legislation)
• Updates many irrelevant or outdated portions of the statutes.
• Raises funds through a voluntary tax check off to train animal control officers and fund low-cost spay/neuter surgery.  Reduces the number of animals they impound, house, care for and euthanize by standardizing (in most cases, reducing) the holding period for stray animals and through improved licensing compliance resulting from trained, professional animal control officers.
• It doesn’t raise fees, but updates some outdates fines for those who violate dangerous dog laws, etc.

Why are these changes needed?
Many of the laws that govern animal control date back to the 1800s.  Quite simply, the laws do not address the current state of animal control in our municipalities, which are no longer based on the county system.   The fines and fees are outdated, as is the term “dog officer”; “animal control officer” more accurately describes the role fulfilled.  These proposed changes are made to Chapter 140, sections 136A through 174D to update and make the animal control laws more efficient, current and effective.  They will also save cities and towns money. At the beginning of every legislative session, many bills are filed to address a section or issue relating to animal control.  For years, organizations, individuals, and legislators have been seeking a more comprehensive revision; S. 4956 is the result of stakeholder meetings to rework the sections in chapter 140 relating to animals. 

What specifically would this bill do? 

• Provide funding through a voluntary tax check off for animal control officers to receive training. 
• Create a statewide spay/neuter program through a voluntary tax check off and improve the mandatory spay/neuter law for shelters and animal control facilities. 
• Add enforcement provisions to section 139A (the spay/neuter deposit law for animals adopted from shelters and animal control facilities). 
• Update language relating to fines and fees
• Improve the dangerous dog law (while preventing ineffective breed-specific ordinances)
• Create categories for kennel licensing
• Add ferrets to 145B (the rabies vaccination requirement; ferrets were made legal in Massachusetts in 1996. 
• Create consistency in the holding time for stray dogs
• Prohibit certain inhumane methods of euthanasia for dogs and cats
• Provide other meaningful updates to the state's antiquated animal control laws 

H. 4956 would not cost money, it will actually minimize costs to municipalities by reducing the number of homeless animals and the associated cost to house and take care of them.  Cities and towns could also likely save money from standardizing (reducing in most instances) the mandatory holding period for stray dogs.  In addition, ensuring that animal control officers are trained and improving the dangerous dog law to protect public safety would provide indirect cost savings.  The programs fund themselves through the voluntary tax check off. 

The Animal Control Officers Association of Massachusetts (ACOAM), the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA), the Animal Rescue League of Boston, the state’s Bureau of Animal Health within the Department of Agricultural Resources and the Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA) have worked together to draft these changes. 

Sponsor:  Senator Jehlen

• Read mspca's testimony
• Sign up your organization as a supporter of this bill
• Read a more detailed summary of this bill
• Read the text of this bill
• Read a red line version of this bill
  Find out more about members at www.mass.gov/legis
• Find out who represents you at:
  http://www.wheredoivotema.com/

Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Control & Adoption Center, 627 Cottage Street, Springfield, MA 01104
phone:413.781.1484   Email:info@tjoconnoradoptioncenter.com