The Rescue of River

Posted on May 28, 2011 by Elizabeth Chestney-Hanson

Social networking saves lives. And I know this because I was there. Well, kind of—I was there virtually and very much in spirit.

This is River’s story. It’s a good story. It’s also a story about a network—a global network of animal advocates, lovers, and rescuers that stretches from North Carolina to Canada to New England and Istanbul. It’s enabler: Facebook.

Duke in NC

Duke

River’s story begins with Duke. I found Duke on Facebook. Topaz, Dolly, and Brooke brought me to Duke (these are other happy stories) and the Nash County Animal Shelter in North Carolina. Duke was surrendered to the shelter because his owner died. This made Duke high risk… not only because Nash shelter is high-kill, but owner-surrenders are typically top of the list. Some get heartbreakingly put to sleep as soon as they are dropped off. Duke at least had a chance, but to make his situation more critical, he needed a vet’s immediate attention—he had an open sore on his back and an eye infection.

Duke’s time was up. Friday May 27 at 4pm was his 11th hour. At 8 a.m. I was frantically re-posting his link and profile to lab rescues and pages on Facebook in the hopes that he would catch someone’s kind eye. One of those sites included Save A Lab, a fantastic network plugged into thousands of lab fans—a captive audience for Duke.

River

River

Duke was one of 6 dogs due to be put down that day (at least). Animals are put down every day at Nash Center—a small shelter—to make room for the continual incoming onslaught of drop-offs (how can there be so many, I wonder—but that’s another very important story). River, a very loving young mix was also due to be put down.  I was posting and sharing his profile as well.

While I was doing this, there were already discussions happening between those working “on the ground” locally in Nashville, NC. Most of the updates happened in seconds on the Nash County Animal Friends (NCAF; a site started by Carol to try to help the animals in Nashville, N.C. I urge you to check out this group). There was a flurry of activity and a real sense of urgency for the animals. They were identified and their status updated every few minutes. A couple of woman, Christy being one, had agreed to take some animals temporarily if they had a potential offer from a rescue.

While I was reading these posts, I got a message from Viktor from Let’s Adopt Global (LA Global) about Duke’s posting on their page. This group is absolutely mind-blowing. They focus on rescuing, fostering, rehabilitating, transporting (many times across the ocean) and homing handicapped or injured animals (their site needs a “Love” button; you can’t just “Like” this group!). Viktor was interested in Duke. While I was reading his message, Save a Lab posted on Duke’s thread contact information for a woman whose friend was willing to ADOPT Duke!!

There was a lot of talk about Duke on the NCAF site: A woman named Susan posted that Chris was on her way to pick him up.  I messaged the post from Save a Lab to Susan, to pass on to Chris. Her response: “I just called Kimberly and she has a perm home for Duke!!! Chris will be so happy!!!” If it sounds convoluted, that’s because it was! And all of these women, these saviours, were virtual strangers to me.

Figuring that Duke was safe, I returned to my thread with Victor and pitched River’s profile and picture. River was running out of time—and options.

Because he was a healthy male, River was not the perfect candidate for LA Global, as they focus on helping injured and handicapped animals. But they have big hearts at LA Global. And a large, very efficient global network. But Viktor needed 48 hours to coordinate a foster for River. River suddenly had a chance but he needed more time. The shelter would not hold him. I switched back to the NCAF site where conversations were happening at lightning speed. That’s when I saw the post from Chris’ mobile.

“I have Duke.” There it was, at the top of the page. He was out of the shelter.

Duke was safe, but what about River? I jumped into a discussion and asked Christy if she could take River because he could be rescued with more time. She said yes. I switched back into my conversation with Viktor—during which time he had already secured a foster! He gave me a name: Raciel had stepped up and would take care of everything if we could hold River. When I followed up with Christy seconds later, a friend of hers was already on their way to get him.

River was safe!!

Next post on NCAF: Who was left? We focused on these dogs now and managed to get Brandy and Shania out (with help from Alison of The Paws to Care rescue). One of the pups was adopted (Suzy is still there). As far as I know (and it’s hard to get all the facts being up here in Canada), all of the dogs due to be put down on May 27 were rescued.

It’s too overwhelming to put into words how I felt with all these people coming together to save these animals.

A Happy Boy

A Happy Boy!

From Viktor, to Carol, to Christy, to Alison, to Chris, to Raciel (and I have honestly missed a few)—none of these people know each other. Without ever having met River, these people acted together in record time to save his life.

As I write, River is flying to his new foster with LA Global footing the bill for his travel and vetting costs. He’ll be fixed and cleaned up, and then he’ll be up for adoption. I spoke to Christy last night and she told me, in her charming North Carolina drawl, that River was a very happy pup who loved other dogs. While we were talking, he was running in her yard, playing with her dogs, unaware of the fact that he had been given a new beginning. He will make somebody a great pet.

When I think about River running and playing with her dogs, it makes me smile a very big smile.

There will be more on River: Let’s Adopt Global puts together videos of all their rescues, from tenuous start to heartwarming finish. I, for one, can’t wait for his video.

Kendi

Kendi

Ellie Mae

RIP Ellie Mae

This post is dedicated to Kendi and Ellie Mae, and all the other dogs, around the world, that are euthanized every day.

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Pet owners rally for improvements to Canada’s animal cruelty laws

Posted on April 4, 2011 by Elizabeth Chestney-Hanson

Rally for Animal Welfare; photo by Ian SpenceBetween 130 and 150 animal lovers and 60 dogs signed the “paw-tition” to shed light on animal cruelty.

After the culling of sled dogs in B.C., local citizens demand updates to Bill C-229

From the March 23 Issue of the Cord magazine, by Alanna Wallace

When news spread that 100 sled dogs used by Outdoor Adventure Whistler were culled in British Columbia after a dip in tourism following the closing of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, Elizabeth Chestney got involved with the issue of animal rights laws in Canada; these events soon led her to hold the Mar. 18 rally in Uptown Waterloo.

Along with about 40 rallies across the country, between 130 and 150 animal lovers and 60 of their canine companions gathered in Waterloo Park and walked to the Uptown Square where Member of Parliament for Ajax-Pickering Mark Holland made a speech to the crowd regarding his efforts to improve Bill C-229 which would update Canada’s animal cruelty laws.

“Right now only about one quarter of one per cent of animal abuse complaints result in a conviction,” explained Holland. “Our laws are so out of date that they simply can’t be used by police to go after people who commit horrific things against animals.”

Holland touched on the importance of updating Canada’s animal cruelty laws, as violence against animals is so often a precursor to violence against human beings.

“We see so often when [Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals] SPCA officers go into homes and there’s violence against an animal, later on we see family violence, violence against a child, violence against a spouse, and it’s so important to catch that early,” said Holland.

The rally’s overall theme surrounded the change to the legislation and its increasing importance, as echoed by Chestney in her reasoning for why she organized the event. “I just wanted to do my part,” she said. “It really is time now for Canadians to speak out and say let’s update our laws that haven’t really been effectively updated in the century.”

Chestney also cited a World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) survey that discovered that 95 per cent of Canadians oppose animal cruelty and suffering as an indication that Canada’s legislation needs to be improved.

“Case and point our laws don’t reflect Canadian sentiments,” said Chestney. “They’re out of step with the way we feel about our animals whether they’re working animals or pets, wildlife, strays, everything.”

Organizing both the event, a petition as well as a “paw-tition” for pets to sign with their paw prints, Chestney said that after a successful event she was prepared to send approximately 500 signatures for Holland to bring before parliament. With a federal election looming, Chestney said she hopes animal cruelty might become a ballot issue.

“These are sentient beings that deserve protection, it’s not the same as your kitchen table and right now our laws protect animals only the same way that they protect something like a kitchen table and that’s wrong,” concluded Holland.

The online article: http://www.thecord.ca/articles/44737

Pet owners rally for improvements to Canada’s animal cruelty laws

Ian Spence

Between 130 and 150 animal lovers and 60 dogs signed the “paw-tition” to shed light on animal cruelty.

After the culling of sled dogs in B.C., local citizens demand updates to Bill C-229

Alanna Wallace
March 23, 2011 2:09 AM
When news spread that 100 sled dogs used by Outdoor Adventure Whistler were culled in British Columbia after a dip in tourism following the closing of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, Elizabeth Chestney got involved with the issue of animal rights laws in Canada; these events soon led her to hold the Mar. 18 rally in Uptown Waterloo.

Along with about 40 rallies across the country, between 130 and 150 animal lovers and 60 of their canine companions gathered in Waterloo Park and walked to the Uptown Square where Member of Parliament for Ajax-Pickering Mark Holland made a speech to the crowd regarding his efforts to improve Bill C-229 which would update Canada’s animal cruelty laws.

“Right now only about one quarter of one per cent of animal abuse complaints result in a conviction,” explained Holland. “Our laws are so out of date that they simply can’t be used by police to go after people who commit horrific things against animals.”

Holland touched on the importance of updating Canada’s animal cruelty laws, as violence against animals is so often a precursor to violence against human beings.

“We see so often when [Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals] SPCA officers go into homes and there’s violence against an animal, later on we see family violence, violence against a child, violence against a spouse, and it’s so important to catch that early,” said Holland.

The rally’s overall theme surrounded the change to the legislation and its increasing importance, as echoed by Chestney in her reasoning for why she organized the event. “I just wanted to do my part,” she said. “It really is time now for Canadians to speak out and say let’s update our laws that haven’t really been effectively updated in the century.”

Chestney also cited a World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) survey that discovered that 95 per cent of Canadians oppose animal cruelty and suffering as an indication that Canada’s legislation needs to be improved.
“Case and point our laws don’t reflect Canadian sentiments,” said Chestney. “They’re out of step with the way we feel about our animals whether they’re working animals or pets, wildlife, strays, everything.”

Organizing both the event, a petition as well as a “paw-tition” for pets to sign with their paw prints, Chestney said that after a successful event she was prepared to send approximately 500 signatures for Holland to bring before parliament. With a federal election looming, Chestney said she hopes animal cruelty might become a ballot issue.

“These are sentient beings that deserve protection, it’s not the same as your kitchen table and right now our laws protect animals only the same way that they protect something like a kitchen table and that’s wrong,” concluded Holland.

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Rally for Tougher Animal Cruelty Laws

Posted on March 28, 2011 by Elizabeth Chestney-Hanson
Rally for Animal WelfareBy GREG MACDONALD, Waterloo Chronicle Staff
Mar 22, 2011

Dozens of dog lovers and their pets rallied at Waterloo Park last Friday, calling for tougher animal cruelty laws. More than 60 people attended the rally, which started at Waterloo Park and continued to the public square in uptown.

Protestors signed a petition to update cruelty laws and their pets signed a petition with their paws.

Waterloo resident Liz Chestney organized the event in response to 100 sled dogs being killed in Whistler, B.C.

The dogs were culled last April. The story touched a nerve with many people in Canada because of the way the dogs were treated.

“It was heinous,” Chestney said. “ (The walk) is really is for those dogs, who were shot, stabbed and thrown into a mass grave.” The event opened her eyes to the way animals are treated in Canada, she added.

“It was a real passage from innocence to experience for me,” Chestney said. “Usually you don’t want to watch those humane society ads, but we should. We’re in denial.” Ajax-Pickering Liberal MP Mark Holland, who has a private members’ bill that proposes tougher animal cruelty laws, spoke at the event. His bill looks for harsher penalties for people who abuse animals, he said.

“We need to finally modernize our legislation.

It has not changed since 1897,” Holland said.

“I think it was the straw that broke the camel’s back. People have had enough.” Melissa Clarke is one of those people. The Kitchener resident and her dog, Abby, showed up to make a statement.

“I want to make a stand to make sure people know that they can do s o m e t h i n g about the animal abuse,” Clarke said.

Article posted here: http://www.waterloochronicle.ca/news/article/231868

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“Time for change is now!” – Waterloo rallies for animal cruelty law reform

Posted on March 20, 2011 by Elizabeth Chestney-Hanson

Paws for the Cause - Against Animal CrueltyPosted on March 19, 2011, from the Office of Liberal MP, Mark Holland.

WATERLOO, Ont. – Local animal welfare group “Paws for the Cause” held a public rally in support of Liberal M.P. Mark Holland’s bill C-229, which Holland attended. Between 150 and 200 local residents, many of whom brought their pets, gathered peacefully in Waterloo Public Square, last night at 6pm, to demand that the federal government reform and update Canada’s weak animal cruelty laws.

“Time for change is now!” said Holland, addressing the crowd gathered, “The vast majority of Canadians, like you, want the loopholes in our laws closed so that known animal abusers face justice after committing egregious acts of cruelty – the government needs to act now.”

Rally organizer Elizabeth Chestney planned the event after hearing about the brutal slaughter of 100 sled dogs near Whistler, B.C. Her event is one of dozens that have taken place nationwide since news of the tragedy was made public this past January.

“I am outraged by recent accounts of animal abusers escaping with a mere slap on the wrist or no penalty at all in Canada,” explained Chestney. “After hearing about the brutal slaughter of the 100 sled dogs in B.C., I wanted to rally the community together to demand reforms like those in Mark Holland’s bill – and I am very happy that Mark could come out to take part.”

Two former Liberal M.P.s who represented local federal ridings joined the event to show their support for Holland’s bill, which they both consistently supported since the time that C-229 was a Liberal government justice bill a decade ago.

“Having represented Kitchener-Waterloo from 1993 to 2008, I know how strongly constituents here care about strengthening animal cruelty laws,” said Andrew Telegdi, the former M.P. and current Liberal candidate for Kitchener-Waterloo.

Karen Redman, former M.P. and current Liberal candidate for Kitchener-Centre, agreed, saying, “Unfortunately, the Conservative M.P.s representing our communities today refuse to deviate from the Harper line and are ignoring the will of the people who want reasonable reforms to animal cruelty laws – that’s not right!”

Hundreds signed petitions circulated at the event in support of Holland’s bill C-229. Special petitions for pets were also circulated, which organizer Elizabeth Chestney called “paw-titions”, in memory of the 100 Whistler sled dogs.

BACKGROUNDER:

Holland has sponsored his animal cruelty bill since 2006. Over the past five years, he has tried to get the Harper Conservative government to take up the bill, which was formerly a justice bill under the previous Chrétien and Martin Liberal governments; but, the government, and every Harper Conservative M.P., has flatly ignored all requests every time.

Harper government M.P.s unanimously supported Senate bill S-203/213 in 2008, a bill which government officials claim modernizes and strengthens animal cruelty laws. These claims are false, however, as the reforms in the Senate bill only addressed penalties, without addressing convictions, which is the main underlying problem. Statistics show that less than one percent of all cases of animal cruelty see a conviction – an abysmally low rate.

For more information about the history of animal cruelty law reform efforts of the last decade, please go to the dedicated webpage on Mark Holland’s website: http://markholland.liberal.ca/cruelty-to-animals/

A recent landmark poll and study commissioned by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and conducted by Harris Decima show that 95% of Canadians care about animal welfare. Furthermore, the report found that the vast majority of Canadians, irrespective of where they live and their livelihoods, including hunters and fishers, support strengthening Canada’s animal cruelty laws. To view the report, go to: http://www.wspa.ca/latestnews/2011/will_canadians_vote_with_their_hearts.aspx#

Read the release on Mark Holland’s website.

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KW Record: Dog walking event to rally for animal cruelty law reform

Posted on March 20, 2011 by Elizabeth Chestney-Hanson

Paws for the Cause - Against Animal CrueltyFrom the Saturday March 12 Kitchener-Waterloo Record, by By Johanna Weidner, Record staff

WATERLOO — When Liz Chestney-Hanson walks her dog Zoe next week, she hopes hundreds of people will join her with their four-footed friends in a rally for tougher animal cruelty laws in Canada.

“It’s up to the Canadian public to demand a change,” said Chestney-Hanson, who is organizing the Paws for the Cause event.

The three-kilometre walk next Friday starts at 5:30 p.m. in Waterloo Park, at the Seagram Drive entrance, and winds its way to Waterloo Public Square.

Mark Holland, the Liberal MP for Ajax-Pickering, who has introduced a private member’s bill to amend and strengthen the criminal code section on animal cruelty crimes, will speak at the end of the walk and a petition will be circulated.

The local event is among a number of walks being held across Canada and around the world in response to the slaughter of 100 sled dogs in Whistler, B.C., last spring that came to light earlier this year.

“It was so heinous,” Chestney-Hanson said. “You can’t deny the fact these 100 dogs were killed.”

The March 18 walk will also be a memorial to the slain sled dogs, she said, with the hope that their deaths are a catalyst to update Canadian animal cruelty laws.

“The bigger picture is to protect animals long-term,” the Kitchener woman said.

The dogs were culled by a former sled dog operator after bookings apparently dried up following the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

This country’s animal cruelty laws have not been substantially updated since they were first introduced in 1892, other than minor changes passed in 2008. Canada ranks last behind many other nations in animal cruelty legislation, according to a recent report by the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

“Ninety-nine per cent of perpetrators get off. Those who are charged get six months,” Chestney-Hanson said.

She said the current laws do not fit with Canadian views about the value of animals, and not just pets but also stray and wild creatures.

“The time is now,” she said. “Let’s update our laws to reflect how we feel.”

Read the article online.

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Mark Holland Speaking in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario

Posted on March 9, 2011 by Elizabeth Chestney-Hanson

Paws for the Cause - Against Animal CrueltyWell, there’s something to be said for staying power. Over a month ago, I reached out to Mark Holland by telephone, email, and you guessed it, Facebook. And where did I hear back from him (right again, if you guessed Facebook!)? We are thrilled to announce that just this week, Mark confirmed participation in our peaceful walk and rally.

Here are more details about the event, Paws for the Cause

When: March 18th, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.
What: a peaceful rally in Kitchener-Waterloo calling for tougher cruelty animal laws in Canada.
Who: Residents, dog-lovers, pet-owners from the tri-city area, Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge, and beyond to Guelph, Sarnia, Winsdor, Toronto.
Where: The 3km walk will begin at 5:30 PM in Waterloo Park at the kiosk by the bottom corner of the animal zoo at the parking lot at the Seagram Drive entrance, and will wind its way along Caroline St to Park, Union, and finally along King, ending at Waterloo Public Square.
Why: To raise awareness for animal cruelty law reform and Mark Holland’s Bill C-229. Because current animal abuse legislation is woefully out of date and ineffectual. And the placebo Bill S-203 does not define what an animal is; does not protect stray, wild, farm and domestic animals; does not punish or deter dog-fighting; and focuses mostly on sentencing, letting perpetrators slip through the cracks before they’re even charged. Oh, and current laws have not been effectively updated for over a century. A century Canada; I mean come on!
How: Just show up for the walk and bring your pups. Signs and placards are welcome. Sign up for the Facebook event and share the event with 10 of your dog-loving friends.

This is fantastic news that Mark Holland is coming to town. If you haven’t seen Mark speak in parliament about Bill C-229, I highly recommend you watch the video posted in my last blog.

So far we have secured two sponsors at the event: Twin City Dwyer Printing, who have generously printed posters and flyers for us and Bark & Fitz on Willis Way,  who will have treats for the dogs, hot drinks for the walkers and a raffle at the end of the event.

Stay tuned more information to come. And please, tell two friends about this, so they can tell two friends .. and so on, and so on.

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Animal Cruelty Law Reform: What You Can Do

Posted on February 25, 2011 by Elizabeth Chestney-Hanson

Paws for the Cause - Against Animal CrueltyIn my previous post, I discussed how Canada’s laws against animal abuse are both archaic and ineffectual.

Based on the recent publicity and outrage behind the Whistler 100 sled dogs that were killed last year, animal cruelty has become a hot media topic and if you want to see the laws change, now is a good time for us to unite in one voice and declare that, as Canadians and pet-owners, we are not going to tolerate animal abuse any longer.

There is a lot you can do and it is up to Canadian citizens to potentially elevate this to a ballot issue. There are a lot of facts about animal abuse here in Canada and a lot of work has already been done to update laws with stiffer penalties and higher fines for offenders.

The first thing you can do is educate yourself. Arm yourself with knowledge so you can make informed decisions for real change.

Here’s what you can do to get educated:

1. Read the report by IFAW that shows that Canada has the worst animal cruelty laws among the 14 countries surveyed.

2. The WSPCA site has great information and even a form letter that you can send to MPs, the Prime Minister and Justice Minister Rob Nicholson. It’s better to send hardcopy letters as well as emails, but more on that in my next post.

3. Visit liberal MP Mark Holland’s site; he’s lobbying to introduce new legislation by updating the antiquated Bill C-373 with his new Bill C-229. He has posted a letter as recently as Feb 15 about animal cruelty. In 2008, the Conservatives passed Bill S-203, which falls short of protecting our stray, wild and domestic animals. Mark Holland’s site compares the new Bill S-203 to Bill C-229 to show how S-203 is inadequate.

4. There’s a lot of information on animal cruelty legislation in Canada all over the Internet

That’s the first step. The next one (after anger, but don’t lose the passion) is action. Write to your MPs, organize a walk, or circulate a petition.

In my next post, I’ll share with you the letter I sent to MLA’s in BC, my local MPs, Harper and Justice Minister Nicholson, and other steps you can take to make a change.

On an important side note: A group of us are working with Mark Holland’s office to see if he will participate in a peaceful rally/dog walk, “Paws for the Cause” (see banner at top) in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario for some time in March. More on that in upcoming posts. Stay tuned…

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A Call for Animal Cruelty Law Reform

Posted on February 22, 2011 by Elizabeth Chestney-Hanson

Paws for the Cause - Against Animal CrueltyAre we ready for animal cruelty law reform? Hell, yes, but first we have to move beyond our state of national denial. The 12 steps to recovery are applicable here; the first thing we have to do is admit we have a problem.


Did you know that…

  • The average number dogs that are abused each year is 912,500. And that’s JUST dogs.
  • Our animal abuse laws haven’t been updated since legislation was first established in 1892.
  • Canada ranks last in animal cruelty legislation when compared to Austria, Croatia, Great Britain, Germany, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Switzerland and Ukraine.
  • Abusers walk free in 99.075% of cases because of flaws in outdated legislation
  • Bill S-203 falls short of adequately updating legislation; it contains no legal definition of what an animal is, and animal neglect has to be proven to be predetermined or willful in order to be prosecuted.

There are a lot of facts and they are all heartbreaking. The pictures and videos are even more shocking.

So the first thing you can do is educate yourself. Arm yourself with knowledge so you can make informed decisions for real change.

Prepare yourself: This will mean a passage from innocence to experience. The stories are heinous (from 100 dogs being killed execution-style over two days; to a cat being skinned alive and this video-taped; to another cat being soaked in gasoline, lit and launched from a driving car; to a puppy having its head bashed in with a hammer; to a black bear being shot more than 30 times by the police – the cases are endless), but we need to take the blinders off. It’s time.

Where can you start? In my next blog.. how you can make a difference.

On an important side note: A group of us are working with Mark Holland’s office to see if he will participate in a peaceful rally/dog walk, “Paws for the Cause” (see banner at top) in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario for some time in March. More on that in upcoming posts. Stay tuned…

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Mobilizing Change Through Social Media

Posted on February 21, 2011 by Elizabeth Chestney-Hanson

I can’t believe the news today. I can’t close my eyes and make it go away.

It’s funny how art imitates life (or does life imitate art?). This line from a U2 song perfectly reflects how I felt when I heard about the slaughter of 100 healthy sled dogs near Whistler B.C. that took place almost a year ago today.

When the story broke, it spread across the internet like wildfire and outraged the world. CBC.ca posted an article and a heated discussion broke that involved almost 1,000 comments—more comments on any article running at that time.

The BC SPCA online petition surpassed its intended goal of 7500 in weeks, garnering over 100,000 signatures from all over the world—including signatures from Italy, the U.K., the Netherlands, Brazil and Japan.

Advocates Against Outdoor Whistler AdventuresA Facebook group, Advocates Against Outdoor Adventures Whistler (AAOAW; also referring to themselves as Advocates Against Outdated Animal Welfare Laws) grew to 50,000 members/likes in just two weeks. Other social sites have become popular: Prosecute those responsible for the Canadian Sled Dog Massacre, A Vigil for the lost lives of 100 Sled Dogs on April 23 and Stop animal cruelty in Canada with effective legislation!

Clearly, animal abuse ignites passion all over the world. People are using the Internet and social media to connect, discuss, plan peaceful protests, raise awareness, and just plain vent. Peaceful protests were organized online through the AAOAW as far away Italy and the Netherlands and at least 14 have been planned or taken place in Canada, with many more being added over the next month.

In the context of people mobilizing for massive change in Cairo, back here in Canada social media is being used as a unifying and mobilizing force for change. Many questions are being asked and we’ll have to wait until the Inquiry ends on March 18 to get answers about the sled dog tragedy out West. There is a bigger picture, of course. And that is that are laws around animal cruelty in Canada need to change.

The time for this change is now. The sled dog massacre should serve as catalyst here and many are working to make this heinous negative a positive for our stray, wild and domestic animals in Canada.

We can’t close our eyes and make it go away because it won’t. In the news and all over the Internet, there is evidence of animal abuse happening every day.

Back home, here in Kitchener-Waterloo, a group of us are organizing a peaceful dog walk and rally for change and we’re hoping that Mark Holland will be able to attend to help us raise awareness and petition to change animal cruelty laws in Canada.

More on this and what you can do in my next blog.

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Powering Teams with Social Media

Posted on February 19, 2011 by Elizabeth Chestney-Hanson

Whether you use social media applications or not, the growing trend today is toward a new virtual world of team work.

Within an organization, social media tools connect expertise, teams and content across geographies, time zones and hierarchical boundaries. This can lead to tremendous corporate capacity, problem solving, productivity and innovation.

Social media changes the manner, speed and options by which information is exchanged between team members. Teams can be quickly and easy organized to focus around a specific goal, delivery results and develop best practices along the way.

What follows are some very basic tips on how to use social software to help you build and lead high performance teams.

  1. Make your team’s expertise transparent. This gives your team the ability to network based on shared experience and interests and the opportunity to contact one another to resolve issues, get fast answers to questions and remove bottlenecks.
  2. Establish high levels of communication. Output is the result of shared dependencies and establishing trust is based on open communications. Social media tools present a loaded arsenal of bi-directional communications that can be much more effective at engaging people than email. This includes blogs, comments, discussion forums, rating, commenting and sharing.
  3. Embrace the cultural shift away from traditional organizational models. Focus on cooperative models for team performance. An online community is a great place to facilitate this.
  4. Clearly define roles on your team. Success depends on everyone knowing what they need to do, when they need to do it. Build a sense of partnership between everyone. Make individual contributions accessible to the team, where respect can be earned and key contributors recognized and rewarded, to keep your team involved and motivated.
  5. Encourage leadership. Advocacy within your organization is critical for building a culture of cooperation and trust.  Lead by example. Social media delivers great tools for disseminating information at a conversational level to both inform and encourage engagement.
  6. Record and share your best practices. Use social media tools to establish, store and share best practices. This will reduce the occurrence of duplicated efforts. Tools like wikis and blogs can be used to save and publish information around standard operating procedures. They’ll also encourage participatory refinement via comments.
  7. Provide consistent resources and support. Make sure that everyone on your team has access to the information and the tools they need to perform.

Business is based on relationships. Social media tools can be used to form and deepen relationships with customers, partners and colleagues. As alternatives to email and other forms of working together, social media provides the tools that people need to work together as part of a high performance team.

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