Anti-AFL Facebook Group & Puppy Education

Facebook Group:

ANIMAL FRIENDS LEAGUE IS A RIP-OFF THEY MURDER INNOCENT ANIMALS!!

Ufffffffaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

I came across this group doing a search for the Animal Friends League's group. The only reason I joined this group (against AFL) is so that I could post on their wall. There are a lot of big names as members on this Facebook group - and I hope that they are there for the same reason I was - either to see what is going on, or to comment about it. The group's wall posts contain lots of angry finger-pointing and negativity - where the same people could be using their powers for good. Further, I urge anyone with money and/or land and a love for animals to put their money where their mouth (fingers) is. Build and donate a shelter or sanctuary and/or land. Hey - plant trees on it!

The group (AFLiaROTMIA) makes an issue about the fact that someone hasn't seen a bunch of puppies that they dropped off - assuming that they have been "brutally killed". If you have ever been to the AFL founders' home, you will see a managerie of animals; They also have animals at the shelter. They could have been at one place or the other.

When I dropped off Rocky last night, I inquired more about euthanasia at the shelter. Their policy is similar to many shelters in the US. AFL does not euthanize animals unless they have been evaluated by a behavioral specialist (on staff) and determined to be potentially harmful to adopters; or if they are too sick to save; or sick enough (as in cases of parvo) where they will infect other animals. LENGTH OF STAY at the shelter is not a factor in AFL's decision to euthanize animals; they have animals have been there for over a year (many Western shelter do euthanize animals after 30 days or more). AFL also tries to send longer length of stay animal residents to the US to be adopted. (When you drop off an animal, you can request that "Should the decision be made to euthanize this animal, I would like AFL to return it to me." Which is what I did with Rocky.)

Having said that, it is important to note that dogs do not do well in kennel situations from the age of 6 months and upwards. They get kennel stress and develop mental problems. Shelters are not sactuaries; they don't have the facilities. AFL is a shelter, not a sanctuary. They count on both staff and volunteers to play with the animals and provide socialization. This is what really concerns me about Rocky because he's such a playful guy and I didn't like to see him alone in a cell.

AFL will euthanize animals in cases of sickness: Parvo is VERY prevalent in Kuwait. Parvo is an extremely contageous disease spread between animals. Dogs must be vaccinated when they are puppies - early on - so they don't get the disease. My own dog gets her booster shots for Parvo (and other diseases) EVERY year. Owning an animal is a responsibility! If the puppies mentioned on this anti-AFL group had Parvo, it would have been necessary to put them to sleep (euthanize them). Most shelters in the US have a quarantine section for new arrivals to ensure that they don't have Parvo.

Distemper is also very common in Kuwait. Pets will come down with neurological problems and the shakes. Animals with distemper must be humanely euthanized. They can not function (and neither could you) with brain damage. Well, I take that back... I've seen a lot of folks around here lately that appear to be brain-damaged....

Puppy care is extremely important. Strays are just that - stray; no one has provided medical assistance for them at an early stage. No one knows their history; what they could have gotten into, eaten, etc. Most puppies need to be immediately de-wormed. (I have heard cases in Kuwait where people have quite literally thrown their very-expensive and/or rare puppies on the street because they had worms!).

You don't just get a cat or dog and then BAM! He's part of the furniture. Nooooooo. For example:

Stages of Puppy Care

1) Nutrition!
Puppies must have puppy food (proper vitamins) and milk.
Not adult dog food. Not a mixture of table scraps!
You wouldn't feed your baby chicken and rice at 2 months - why would you think that a baby puppy could eat it and grow up free of health problems? Without milk, for example, a puppy's bones will not form normally and he may not be able to walk correctly.

2) De-worming
Usually done through a week-long course of pills.

3) Shots (Vaccinations)
Shots against disease start the week after the de-worming pills are complete. They are a series of 2 or 3 shots given over a period of several weeks. Shots should include: Parvo, distemper, rabies. Humans can get - and die from rabies. Have your pet vaccinated!

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