Rescuer's Forum

Rescuer's Forum

and Lunch

January 31, 2009

The University of Memphis School of Law

12-2pm

The short video below produced by

Memphis Law Animal Advocacy

provides information

on where it will be held.

MLAA Holds Vigil at Memphis Animal Shelter -- Saturday November 15

On Saturday, November 15, Memphis Law Animal Advocacy invites all citizens to a candle light vigil to memorialize, remember, and pay tribute to the massive number of animals that have been euthanized for lack of a home. Gathering is at 6:45, with the vigil from 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. The vigil will take place on public property adjoining the Memphis Animal Shelter, for which a city permit has been issued. 

Candles will be provided. The location is 3456 Tchulahoma Road. 

MLAA President visits with Judge and Former Senator Curtis Person

MLAA thanks Judge Curtis Person for a wonderful visit in his chambers. Judge Person and Kathryn DeRossitt talked about his years in the legislature and senate and he shared invaluable information about how citizens can share their concerns with their elected representatives. When asked for his advice when people question initiatives for animals when there are so people that also need help, his reply was simple: "They are also God's creatures, too, and as such they deserve protection from cruelty and abuse." 

Thanks to Judge Person for his guidance -- and for all of his success in the short time he has been the Juvenile Court Judge. In this role, he has established a position for an attorney to serve as an advocate and an adviser for non-custodial parents. A fair and compassionate judge, with a former career as a stellar legislator, the new plaza at the University of Memphis Law School downtown is named in his honor. 

MLAA members visit Mark Luttrell Correctional Facility's Dog Training Program

Click on pictures for larger image. 

MLAA members: kneeling, second from left, Erin Kubisiak (vp), third from left, Lauren Armstrong, fourth from left, Michele Johnson Spears (sec), third from right, Sharon Fortner (vp)

The dogs love this guard and greeted him when he walked through the breezeway. 

Above: Michele Johnson Spears
Above: The "Sitting Pretty" command

 

Above: the "sitting modestly" command
Above: Erin Kubisiak 

Four of our members – Sharon Fortner, Erin Kubisiak, Lauren Armstrong and Michele Johnson-Spears – had the pleasure of visiting the Mark Lutrell Women’s Correctional Center in Memphis, TN. It was here that we met with eight women inmates and their four beautiful dogs – Abby, Onyx, Shakira and Cheyenne. These dogs are selected from the Collierville Animal Shelter and will live in the prison for six to eight weeks while they are taught such skills as sit, stay, shake, high five, sit pretty, play dead and how to behave on a leash.

As we watched the dogs play and show off their acquired talents, we were also fortunate enough to get to talk to the eight women who work with the dogs 24 hours a day. The women told us that in order to qualify for the PPAWS program, the inmate had to have been sentenced to at least a ten year prison sentence. In addition, the women are required to apply and be interviewed just like any other employment opportunity. The women trainers are hand selected by the prison warden as the best candidates for the job.

As we spoke to the women and got to know them, they told us that they too benefit from the PPAWS program just as much as the dogs do. The women spoke of how they learn patience through the constant nurturing of these dogs that they continuously provide for day in and day out. These dogs serve as loving companions who these women devote their hearts and souls to teaching basic skills. In addition, another benefit the women receive is the valuable life skill of dog trainer which they can be certified for and then have a skill that they can take with them when they are released from prison and get a job following release.

In training the dogs, the women are assisted by a nationally certified dog trainer, Elta Windliff. Mrs. Windliff meets with the women and dogs once a week to work on their new skills. I spoke to Mrs. Windliff by telephone and she was able to provide insight into the PPAWS program and the women who participate in the program. Mrs. Windliff emphasized that the dogs are trained in a positive manner, whereby the dogs are rewarded for good behavior with small treats as reinforcement and the bad behavior is ignored. Mrs. Windliff embraces the strong belief that the dogs are as beneficial to the women as the women are to the dogs. In order to stay in the program, the women must stay out of trouble within the prison. On the other side, the dogs also provide the women with a responsibility where the focus is on the dogs so that the women have something to look forward to every day.

Photos and article by Sharon Fortner, VP

Memphis Animal Advocacy to do Radio Interview with WRVR

On Tuesday, October 28, Memphis Law Animal Advocacy will be interviewed by radio personality Mandy Morgan of WRVR about our law student group. An upcoming event on November 15 could be announced, discussed, and broadcast. This event will soon be announced on this website! MLAA is looking forward to this interview and WRVR's commitment to the community that will allow us to broadcast our message while also giving us some invaluable practice as student advocates improving our message. We cannot wait to share our mission of advocating for animal welfare while also advocating for those taking action for animal welfare.  

The interview will be in their studio on that Tuesday and the finished product will be 20-40 minutes long. The air date is Sunday November 2 at the following times:

WRVR, 104.5 FM (at 6:00 AM)
WSNA, 94.1 FM (at 5:00 AM)
AM 680 (at 9:30 AM)
WMFS, 93X (at 6:20 AM) 

Excerpt From Letter from Debbie Rankin on behalf of Senator Black

Dog food manufacturers blocked the passage of bill in the TN Legislature in 2006 that would have required more stringent standards on puppy breeders, known as "puppy mills." 

One website quoted the dog food lobby as being as wealthy and "powerful" as tobacco and alcohol lobbyists. 

Is it counter-intuitive that dog food manufacturers blocked a bill aimed at welfare of animals? 

MLAA will be looking into this and providing the results of the dog food companies - the specific ones- who blocked this legislation. 

Exerpt from e-mail from Debbie Rankin: 

"The bill to which you refer was filed during another general assembly as an update to the puppy mill bill. There was much opposition to the bill from the pet food manufacturers because the funding mechanism was a proposed increase of one cent on the cost of a ten pound bag of dog or cat food. While this amount was negligible, the manufacturers felt it set a precedent that was unacceptable." 

Memphis Law Animal Advocacy to visit former Senator, Judge Curtis Person

On Wednesday, October 29th, members of Memphis Law Animal Advocacy will meet with Judge Curtis Person in his office downtown. 

Judge Person has been a long-term friend to animals as a member of the Tennessee Legislature where he served as a representative for two years and as a senator for 38 years. Senator Person is responsible, along with now Congressman Steve Cohen, for Bill 2929 during the 102nd General Assembly. It is now Public Charter 774. This bill was the first of its kind in this state, and requires the licensure of dog and cat dealers who exceed a number of pet sales, permits confiscation of endangered animals, and authorizes inspection of vehicles to transport animals.

Memphis Law Animal Advocacy is indebted to Judge Person for sharing his time with us.

Coming Soon

2L Roger Scruggs will publish a report here on one of his interests, slaughterhouse conditions and abuse. As a busy second year law student, no exact date for publishing is set, but it will be soon. 

Improving pets' lives in Memphis

Are the following possible in Memphis? 

1) A hospice for pets. Sue Marino of Angel's Gate owns and operates a hospice for pets in their final days and has received national attention and donations for this valuable, selfless work she does. Is a similar hospice possible in Memphis?

2) An animal abuse hotline. And a hotline for frustrated pet owners who are close to the breaking point with behavioral issues. This could help prevent dumping, feelings of frustration among pet owners that leads to drastic measures, and pet abuse. Is such a thing possible? Could an animal agency in Memphis provide a full time staff behavioralist who makes house calls to help pet owners? 

3) A cat trapping program. In other cities, there are amazing people who organize locations of and retrieve traps that have feral cats inside. They are humane traps; the volunteers take the cats to be spayed or neutered and released back into the "wild." This is NOT for the faint hearted who spook at the awful sounds feral cats can make when trapped and then handled by veterinary staff; it also requires organization and is such a valuable service. This prevents over-population of cats in cities. I've looked for a group like this in Memphis; other cities have them. Does anyone know if Memphis has this kind of volunteers? 

The Troubling Result of Well-Meaning Legislation

Laws banning horse slaughter in the two states that had horse slaugtherhouses had unintentional effects. It led to even more inhumane treatment of horses. How could this happen? It happened because the unfortunate reality is that banning horse slaughter did not end the need to euthanize horses; the reason this needs to be done is not an issue I am familiar with. What is apparent as a result of these laws is that horse slaughter has been exported to Mexico -- and has increased 312% since the laws were enacted. The tragic irony is that the very inhumanity the laws sought to cease has worsened - United State's euthanasia methods are required by law to be far more humane than Mexico's. The end result being, if ending cruelty to horses was the goal, it has not been achieved. The United States has not only exported the problem, it has delivered horses to an even worse death. See this article from the American Association of Veterinary Medicine. 

Ten Rescue Groups - and counting!

Memphis Law Animal Advocacy is looking for rescue groups in Memphis - and so far, we've found and contacted 10! 

By October 15, we hope to have located the majority of rescue groups in Memphis. If you know of any. . . forward this to them and give them our contact information: rescuersforum@yahoo.com! 

MLAA Rescuer's Forum to be held January 31st in Rose Theater

MLAA Rescuer's Forum to be held January 31st in Rose Theater

On January 31st, 2009, MLAA will hold a Rescuer's Forum in the Rose Theater from 12-3pm.
At this forum, MLAA will host all Memphis area groups and individuals involved in animal rescue. Animal Rescue entails all those who spend their time, money, and resources to care for abandoned, hurt, or homeless animals that otherwise would not have people speaking on or acting in their behalf.
The forum is still in the planning stages. For all those who are able to attend, please email: rescuersforum@yahoo.com. The forum aims to provide a lunch, program, and ceremony honoring those committed to this cause. As animal advocates, our mission is not only dedicated to animal welfare, but those who engage in it as well.

2008-2009 National Animal Advocacy Moot Court Competition

Lewis and Clark's Center for Animal Law has given us the dates of the National Animal Advocacy Moot Court Competition. 

This competition will take place from February 6-9, 2009, at Harvard Law School. 

This is the current competition website for 2009.

If you are interested in participating, please contact Kathryn DeRossitt at kdersstt@memphis.edu. 

September 2008/ First Meeting

On Thursday September 4, 2008, Memphis Law Animal Advocacy will meet in Room 317 at 12:20. If you are interested in joining and are not a current member, you are invited to stop by and join this quick meeting which will adjourn at 12:50. A member and new member survey will be distributed, the 2008-2009 agenda will be discussed, and officers will be introduced. 

Chris Richardson Helps Lay Foundation for Animal Advocacy

On April 17, Chris Richardson spoke with Memphis Law Animal Advocacy about lobbying a bill. Prior to law school, Chris gained experience as a lobbyist at a Nashville firm. Animal Advocacy Secretary Amber Sauber took notes of Chris's talk which will be published shortly. Chris provided an introduction to lobbying, the basic approach to communicating support of a bill, and the environment of lobbying. Here are some photos of his visit and the first group photo of Memphis Law Animal Advocacy.

In Photo:

From Left to Right

Kathryn DeRossitt, President

Monica Rejaei, Treasurer

Michelle Johnson Spears

Courtney Copeland Black

Carson Carlisle

Amanda Ray

Amber Sauber, Secretary

Sharon Fornter, Vice President

Matt Gulotta

Lauren Armstrong

Erin Kubisiak, Vice President

Roger Scruggs

Not Pictured: Michelle Bliss, Jera Bradshaw, Caroline Caldwell, Anne Besh Davis, Sarah Hill, Sarah Turner, Amanda Waters 

Congratulations to Chris Richardson on an excellent year as Moot Court Chief Justice and on your graduation. Congratulations also to graduating 3L and Animal Advocacy Secretary Amber Sauber on your upcoming graduation and you will be missed as our secretary next year. We were glad to have you while we did. Congratulations to ALL the 1L members for being near the finish of your first year! Congratulations to the following members who were elected to leadership positions in other organizations for the '08-'09 year! Amanda Ray was elected to Vice President of UM's chapter of the Black Law Student Association. Courtney Copeland Black was elected as president of UM's chapter of the Association of Women Attorneys and Michelle Johnson Spears was elected secretary of this same group. Jera Bradshaw was appointed to the Editorial Board of Law Review and Michelle Bliss was elected to the Moot Court Board and chosen president of Outlaw.

3L Chris Richardson to Speak to Group

At noon on April 17, in the Faculty Conference Room 244, 3L and Moot Court Chief Justice Chris Richardson will speak to the members of Memphis Law Animal Advocacy about his experience as a lobbyist and provide the group with pointers on advocating a bill to legislators.

This will be valuable for members of MLAA because next year a bill will be introduced to restrict puppy mills in the state of Tennessee. Richardson's talk will introduce concepts of best lobbying practices and help the group formulate its strategy for publicly supporting this bill and communicating this support to Nashville.

Lunch from Garibaldi's has been donated.

To Join Memphis Law Animal Advocacy

To join this group, please send an email to memphisadvocacy@gmail.com. The officers are listed below. Feel free to contact any of them for questions about the group.

Next Member Meeting

Memphis Law Animal Advocacy's next meeting is Tuesday April 8th at noon in room 257.

I'm excited about this meeting because I have been thinking of alot of ideas, alot of possible directions, alot of possible ways of formatting our group and I want our officers' and members' opinions on them. I am excited to hear your feedback and any ideas you have for animal advocacy.

OPRAH is covering puppy mills on Friday April 4! I am very curious to see what effect, if any, this show has on public perception and ultimately legislation!

Also, the Memphis Animal Shelter has a new Director! Will anything change?

Posts will improve and change soon. But first, I want to get the input from the group on some questions I have about the website. As president, you will learn from me that I am always looking for input and best ways to accomplish things - TELL ME.

Can't wait till the next meeting. When I see the officers just in passing, they make comments that show their eagerness to work on this. I'm looking forward to working with them!

New Officers of Memphis Law Animal Advocacy

The officers of the inaugural Memphis Law Animal Advocacy are:

President: Kathryn DeRossitt, 2L

Vice President: Sharon Fornter, 1L and Erin Kubisiak, 1L

Secretary: Amber Sauber, 3L

Treasurer: Monica Rejaei, 1L

Welcome to new officers and members. The animals of this community need assistance and advocacy. Please call to our attention at any time your opinions and news stories about how to better advocate for the welfare of our animals.

Memphis Law Animal Advocacy Needs a Logo - and a Writer

Your logo will be used for all our activities. Please email it to memphisadvocacy@gmail.com.

Also, we need a webmaster (or webmasters) who will be given privileges, along with the officers (and members who request it), to be in charge of content on this website. If reading and researching the news is of interest to you, and you would like to be behind the scenes crafting our message and providing animal issues related content that will both develop and advertise our mission, please join. It will not be just for anyone on the outside looking at the site, but for members to check and see current stories on animal advocacy issues or animal cruelty cases.

Harvard Law School Hosts National Animal Advocacy Moot Court Competition, February 2009

February 2008 Competition Website