Safe Humane Chicago
Founded | 2008 |
---|---|
Founder | Cynthia Bathurst |
Focus | Animal protection, animal rights |
Location | |
Key people | Cynthia Bathurst, Director |
Slogan | A safe community is a humane community |
Website | safehumanechicago.org |
Safe Humane Chicago was founded in 2008, and is a nonprofit animal advocacy organization. The program, founded by animal rights advocate Cynthia Bathurst, works with the community to get out its anti-violence message to high-crime areas.
History
The nonprofit partnered with the Chicago Police Department, the local Dog Advisory Work Group, and the Alliance for Community Peace to combat dog fighting through education.[1][2] Upon its launch, WLS-TV News quoted Chicago alderman Walter Burnett as saying, "Violence breeds violence. ... When young people see violence going on, they become immune to violence, and they want to proceed to do it themselves."[3]
USA Today, in a story about educating teens, quoted Bathurst saying that making dogs fight is "not something that's a thought process at all; it's just something (the teens) do."[4]
In 2014, the group launched the program VALOR (Veterans Assisting the Lives of Rescues), which matches service members and veterans with rescued dogs, plus provides them canine training.[5]
Court Case Dog Program
The Court Case Dog Program was founded through Safe Humane Chicago in January 2010 to establish dog-friendly approaches to canines confiscated by law enforcement and entered into the court system. The program evaluates and works with dogs subjected to neglect, cruelty and abuse.
In 2011, on the program's first anniversary, the Chicago Sun-Times wrote about two abused dogs who were rehabilitated and adopted through the program. The dogs' owner was charged with abuse and neglect. In the past, because dogs used as evidence against their owners often languished in the Chicago shelter until the cases were resolved, dogs were often euthanized. Through the program, the dogs are now placed in foster homes, trained and rehabilitated for adoption.[6]
As of January 2012, more than 140 dogs have been placed. An Illinois case of illegal dog fighting involving 37 dogs several years earlier was the impetus for starting the program.[7]
The Bark magazine wrote about the work done in pairing dogs with teen boys from a local detention center: "The dogs transform into well-behaved pets, and the boys gain life lessons about compassion and caring for others."[8]
In August 2010, Chicago White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle and his wife, Jamie, did a public service announcement to support the program.[9][10]
The Berthoud Recorder in December 2010 covered two dogs who were rescued from euthanization through the program and placed with a trainer for rehab.[11]
A grassroots effort modeled after Chicago's program was started with Milwaukee's court case dogs.[12]
References
- ↑ ""Safe, Humane Chicago' Combats Dogfighting: Nonprofits, police team up against dogfighting through new educational programs," DogChannel.com".
- ↑ Good News For Pets, "Chicago Leads Nation to Unite Against Dog Fighting"
- ↑ "Safe, Humane Chicago to work to prevent animal abuse". ABC 7 News. September 6, 2007. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
- ↑ Sharon L. Peters (October 20, 2010). "A fight to save urban youth from dogfighting". USA Today. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
- ↑ "Safe Humane Chicago Reaching Out for Support".
- ↑ Celeste Busk (October 20, 2010). "Program gives court case dogs a new lease on life". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
- ↑ Cathy Scott (January 3, 2012). "Justice And A Safe Haven For Chicago's Court Case Dogs". Forbes. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
- ↑ "Saving Dog Fighting Victims: New program rescues seized pups in Chicago". The Bark. January 8, 2012. Retrieved 2012-09-18.
- ↑ ""Chicago White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle and wife Jamie lend their support Court Case Dog Program, by Ted Brewer, August 30, 2010".
- ↑ Dog Rescue, "Chicago Court Case Dogs Supported by Jamie and Mark Buehrle," January 23, 2012
- ↑ "Longmont Humane Society saves dogs after heartbreaking tragedies". Recorder Online. December 28, 2010. Retrieved 2012-09-18.
- ↑ "FOX6 News, "Chicago Court Case Dogs Program could serve as model for Milwaukee," July 11, 2012". FOX6Now.com.
External links
- Court Case Dog Program FAQs
- Court Case Dogs Facebook page
- Safe Humane Chicago on Twitter
- Chicago Now, "Why Won't Chicago Animal Care and Control Punish Irresponsible Owners?," January 19, 2012