EFFECTIVE ADVOCACY WORKS!In September 2014, several women saw the need to bridge the gap in the county shelter system and decided to embark on a mission that no one has ever undertaken before. Fort Bend Pets Alive! (FBPA!) was incorporated as a 501(c)3 in October 2014 and was initially tasked
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Reforming Animal Control in Your Community through Effective Political Advocacy
Guest Blog by Ryan Clinton “It is a story as old as our movement. The shelter in your community is killing large numbers of animals, the quality of care in the shelter is low, and the bureaucracy that oversees the shelter appears indifferent. A group of advocates wants the shelter
HOW TO SAVE YOUR BEST FRIENDS WHEN THEY DO NOT HAVE LEGAL RIGHTS?
May 1st, 2020 Never sign a form or document voluntarily surrendering your dog to animal control. The only rights that our pets have are the rights that are granted to their owners. In forty-nine US states, pets are considered ‘property’, and no one can advocate for the life of your
A Mandatory Spay/Neuter Law is not the Answer to Houston’s Animal Issues by Mia Bendixen.
The recent poll results by KHOU showing that a majority of Houstonians support mandatory spay-neuter laws points to the growing concern and awareness Houston’s citizens have regarding Houston’s pet overpopulation issue. It is likely that most every Houstonian who voted “yes” on that poll has encountered a stray dog or
Effective Advocacy Works! (Part II) by Claudine Vass
The blog “Effective Advocacy Works” (Part I) was published during city elections in April because the community finally saw the change that they had been hoping to see. It took a while but it happened. Advocacy is definitely long and arduous. It has also been proven to have an intangible
The Problem with Breed Discrimination by Mara Hartsell
Breed-specific discrimination and the restrictive laws inspired by it profoundly impact innocent dogs and responsible pet guardians. Simply because of a dog’s appearance, he may be labeled as aggressive and dangerous by an apartment complex, a local neighborhood, or even an entire city. His caretaker is then met with a
Let Compassion Rule to Unmask Status Quo By Claudine Vass
While our community was getting ready for fireworks, special food and festivities to celebrate freedom and the birthday of our great nation, an act at the base of all core values was retaliated in a mall in Katy, Texas. A responsible and level headed teenage employee at a famous
Virginia Mayor Sets Example for All Municipal Shelters by Mara Hartsell
Levar Stoney, Richmond’s youngest mayor, actively transforms the potential many see in government animal shelters, elevating them from simple “animal control” agencies to effective animal adoption facilities. In 2016, Stoney’s leadership enabled Richmond Animal Care and Control in Richmond, Virginia to reach an 89 percent save rate, up from its
“The Bond We Share” by Sarah Travis
“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened” Anatole France. The bond we share with our pets is hard to describe. I was lucky enough to discover this secret joy at a young age with Cocoa, our family’s black Labrador. She celebrated my childhood delights
You Can Do It! by Claudine Vass
Two years following its inception, Fort Bend Pets Alive! has received an invitation to be a guest on a radio show for the first time. Considering the increased attention from our community, public officials, and media friends in the recent months, I, Claudine, was nicely surprised to have the opportunity