Not sure how many of y’all already have pet insurance, but I want to give you an insight into how it helps me. Just yesterday my dog Neola had to get a mast cell removed from her leg, her vet bill for the day was $827.90 and my out of pocket cost was only $123.29. Trupanion will cover the rest, and they consistently cover 90% of vet bills WITH NO LIMIT or per-illness/injury payout ceiling for the lifetime of the pet. They are the real deal.

To the contrary, I used to have VPI when I had Sway, and they would constantly shortchange me and ding me with “yearly limits” and this was unfortunately little use because Sway had a blood disease that was treated year around. Had I known about Trupanion then it would have made both of our lives easier. That makes me sad but all of our dogs are now under Trupanion and it truly is one of those things that I’d most highly recommend. For my 2 girls I pay $38/month for each and to have a certain level of peace of mind it is definitely worth it.

This is my referral link and for transparent reasons I’d get a $10 reward for each new person that signed up, but I’m not here plugging something in a selfish fashion. Use the link, don’t use it, but just consider Trupanion if it’s something that you can fit in your monthly budget. I’ve had it for the last 5 years and couldn’t be more happy with it. It truly is a lifesaver.

The Amanda Foundation gives an incredible spay and neuter presentation at the Los Angeles Animal Services Commission meeting on 4/22/2014. It is truly free. No zip codes, no vouchers, no hoops to jump.

It’s my guess that the mass majority of people who have animals have no idea about what I’m about to type. I didn’t know either, until I started getting curious and looking into it myself. I never would have even thought to ponder this issue if it weren’t for being exposed to the many microchip-related mishaps that can happen at the kill shelters.

Look at your dog. Pull his or her microchip number up and I want you to do an exercise with me, as I’ve already done with my own dog’s microchips.

Here are the databases that I want you to actually search, using your own dog’s unique number. Each is considered to be a “universal” database that covers any number of different microchips…

Pet Microchip Lookup
Free Pet Chip Registry
Petlink
RFID-USA Microchip Registry or here
Petkey
EIDAP
InfoPET
PETMAXX

Now I don’t know about you, but the only database that my 2 dogs came up in was the first one (Pet Microchip Lookup)… And this was only because I took the extra step of manually entering them into the FoundAnimals free database awhile back. So even though both of my dogs have registered chips with Avid, they didn’t come up in this database through Avid, and they didn’t come up in any of the other ones at all. Regarding the 1 that did list them, they came up linked to the secondary FoundAnimals database instead. So had I not taken the initiative to do that, my registered dogs would have went 0 for 8 in these databases masquerading publicly as “universal” databases. Most people aren’t told to cross-register your pets like this, so they never even think to. The only reason that I did it was because it was free. After researching I found that the 2nd database is free as well. I’ve since signed up for that one too.

The other 6 actually charge you to list your animals… Petlink charges you a 1-time fee of $19.99 per pet. RFID-USA charges you a 1-time fee of $19.95 per pet. Petkey charges you a yearly fee of $14.99 per pet. EIDAP charges you a 1-time fee of $11.00 per pet. InfoPET charges you a 1-time fee of $25.00 and an additional $10.00 per added pet. PETMAXX links with Petlink, so if they aren’t listed in Petlink they have no chance of showing in PETMAXX.

Is all of this not totally ridiculous? Why isn’t there a truly universal database that umbrellas over every single one of these poser databases? If you pay once with a microchip manufacturer then the information should be shared with every other database, should it not? And why so many damn databases to begin with? The majority of which also operate exclusively from all the others. So it begs the question: Does this industry care about returning lost animals to their owners or only about charging numerous fees at the further expense of thoroughly confusing people?

Unfortunately these organizations are not required to speak to each other. That means that they are not sharing owner information. Making matters worse, the available online databases rarely catalog tangible results. Instead of working together for the intended advertised purpose, this whole idea really shows itself to be a diluted mess.

These are some of the most well known microchip manufacturers, many who then have their own databases…

24PetWatch, 1-866-597-2424, uses their own database.
AKC, 1-800-252-7894, uses their own database.
Avid, 1-800-336-2843, uses their own database.
Datamars, 1-877-738-5465, uses the Petlink database.
FoundAnimals, uses their own database.
HomeAgain, 1-888-466-3242, uses their own database.
resQ, 1-877-738-5465, uses the Petlink database.
*resQ was created by Bayer and I can’t tell if it’s now in some way affiliated with Datamars. This and this should be required reading for everyone.

Then you get into which scanners actually read which chips… The word “universal” is again readily thrown around, yet many scanners claiming to be universal only read certain microchips. Sometimes this is done on purpose. Avid chips read out at 9 digits. HomeAgain, AKC and other chips read out at 10 digits. FoundAnimals, Datamars and resQ are ISO chips and read out at 15 digits. Some HomeAgain and AKC chips are now ISO and 15 digits. ISO microchips are what most of the non-U.S. world are currently using. It has been said that many of the scanners being used in the United States seldom successfully scan for ISO microchips. Who knows, but pretty worrisome regardless. The 3 different types of chips run on 3 different frequencies: 125 kHz, 128 kHz, and 134.2 kHz. So unless your microchip scanner picks up all 3 frequencies it is NOT universal.

Some shelters and vets assume that if their scanner picks up three different brands of microchips, it is universal. However some brands are on the same chip frequency, and some make several different types of microchip. So unless the scanner picks up all three frequencies (the 125, 128, and 134.2), it is NOT universal. And unfortunately, many organizations are unknowingly still using non-universal scanners, which means they are missing chips and therefore unable to reunite lost pets with their families.

A couple different scenarios for you… Let’s assume that the scanner actually finds a chip on a stray dog. What if a staff member from a vet’s office or a shelter opted to pull up one of these database websites instead of calling a specific manufacturer directly? What if they tried to call, got put on a lengthy hold, and since they’re busy themselves opted to hang up and use one of these websites instead? Yikes. The mere existence of all of these different databases is troubling, because a single search bringing back no results basically implies that the pet has no owner. I’m not saying that this happens a lot, but if it happens at all then it’s a total shame. The absence of a result in any of these random databases could potentially cause an owned animal to die. That’s real. Best case, they wouldn’t be found but eventually saved and adopted out to someone else. No one knows how careful or thorough people are. Just as many vets and shelters likely have detailed protocol in order to deal with this, many probably don’t. That’s scary.

Please be aware of these missteps and take matters into your own hands to make sure that your pet’s microchip is best represented. If you’ve ever adopted a pet from the shelter it is imperative that you personally register your microchip with the microchip manufacturer. You may assume that the shelter does this for you. They do not. I’d also advise registering your pet’s microchip with the free secondary backup websites, FoundAnimals Microchip Registry and Free Pet Chip Registry. Going further, next time you are at your vet I’d have them scan for a microchip just to see if they get a worthwhile result. Lastly, I’d challenge animal shelters to setup test scenarios with dogs known to have specific chips, just to see if their owned scanners are truly up to snuff. Because I have no doubt that many aren’t, and that basically means more dead dogs.

For today only, 6/21, Spreadshirt is offering free shipping for all of my designed t-shirts. This one is one of many. Just click the image to be taken to the store. The coupon code will be TDAY2013 and you will have to provide it at checkout.

During the month of December I’m going to try and do a rather large online fundraiser for this cause, for giving these shelter animals a more constant presence, for expanding what I’m personally capable of, for providing better everything. I need help, and after 2 years I’m going to be asking for it… Not for a dog, not for a specific “rescue,” but for me personally. It’s easier for a big rescue to do something like this, or a 501c3, because they are essential organizations that do wonderful things. But I’ve purposefully opted not to become a 501c3 so that my opinion can be totally unchained, not beholden to anyone or anything.

There’s so much that I want SwayLove.org to do, and so much more that I know SwayLove.org can do for Pit Bulls, for shelter dogs. I’ve thought a lot about it. While recognizing all of this in my own head, I’m finding it hard to go to the next level because I just lack both time and money. Everything I’ve ever given is my own time and my own money, much of which has been debt.

I want to do this MORE. I want to do this BETTER. SwayLove.org can be way better, more hardcore, more expansive in media and more consistently on the ground at more shelters. I want this, want it bad. If the fundraiser turns out not to work out, it won’t change anything. My heart is in this for a reason, and I will continue giving all that I can, all that I have going forward. But it doesn’t hurt to ask, to map out goals and try to obtain them, to get creative with putting the shelters on blast. This site has thankfully obtained an awesome and engaged and powerful group of people. What I do doesn’t go anywhere without people to hear it, people to see it, people to share it, people to be effected by it. I’ve thankfully got so many wonderful people that support this website. It’s awesome. I’m sorry that I have to lean on you a little bit. Hopefully you’ll agree with me. Here is my hope, followed by my many ideas for 2013…

I’d love to raise $10,000 over the next month. As I type this I have 8,894 people that have “liked” my Facebook page. Just for comparisons sake: That means that if everyone who has liked my page donated $1.12 we’d get to that amount. Now obviously the majority of people that make up the 8,894 will probably never even see this post, so that’s certainly a pie in the sky way of getting to $10,000. But I think it’s attainable with the generosity of so many great people, and I’d hope that after reading my many ideas for the $, that you’d consider it a worthy way of giving a donation.

1) The requesting of very thorough public records requests from every major shelter in southern California… L.A. County (Agoura, Baldwin Park, Carson, Castaic, Downey, Lancaster), L.A. City (North Central, South L.A., East Valley, West Valley, West L.A., Harbor), Santa Monica, Hawthorne, Long Beach, Orange County, Devore, San Bernardino City, Redlands, Pasadena, Rancho Cucamonga, Riverside, Blythe, Coachella Valley, San Jacinto, Animal Friends of the Valleys, Corona. I’d want 5 year results and I’ll be smarter in approach than I was with my first go-around with Carson. This will likely be very costly (although it shouldn’t), as each location request will be a separate attempt. Not to mention the time and tedious effort it will take for me to go through the responses and re-organize them, breaking them down into new documents. I mention it “shouldn’t” be costly, being that it’s certainly within our legal rights to see these documents, but alas, these shelters like to jerk you around and it ended up costing me $48 for 1 lousy sheet of paper regarding the Carson shelter records that I requested from earlier this year.

2) The purchasing of domain names (.com addresses) which will house separate websites: The 1st to specifically target L.A. County directer, Marcia Mayeda’s track record. The 2nd to specifically target the Carson shelter, which will consistently make public their kill numbers and since I have most of my experiences at this facility. And the 3rd to be a multimedia publishing-hub that’s used to show the kill numbers (as well as all other performance categories) for every southern California shelter, based from the public records requests that I am aiming to obtain from each shelter. Why websites? The internet is by far and away the best tool that exists. These will be simple and to the point websites that will have a cleanly designed layout that is heavy on informational access. The website names will be catchy and blunt, easily picked up by Google and all other search engines, and a way to forever attach the amount of death with the people and places who are presiding over it.

3) The looking into doing 1 major newspaper advertisement centered around the bringing of awareness to the routine shelter killings that are happening in Los Angeles, or multiple advertisements with the same goal put out in smaller publications. The major newspapers can be extremely expensive when trying to place a decent-sized ad within, but there also may be a hookup out there to be found. I don’t know.

4) The creation of a Pit Bull-specific informational multi-page zine that will include facts, stats, myths, questions and resources within. It will be designed by me, purposely printed in black and white and able to be copied on any copy machine with little loss of quality. I’d shoot to get at least 1,000 of these physically printed and out into circulation around the area, plus I’d make it downloadable from my website for others to do the same.

5) The creation of a few large SwayLove.org vinyl banners for booth publicity if I’m ever to branch out and start attending a few community events, which I’d actually like to…

6) The purchasing of much needed equipment:
Panasonic HC-V100 HD handheld camera, $300.
GoPro Hero2, $300.
Zoom H2 table microphone, $280.
Azden WMS-Pro wireless microphone system, $200.
Possibly a new lens for my SLR camera.
This will help me tremendously in being able to continue striving to create interesting, high quality pieces of media (photographs, video) for both the networking of shelter dogs and for Pit Bull education and commentary.

7) The focusing on creating numerous high quality educational videos, online short-docs centered on discrimination, media sensationalism, use of force by police, true kill shelter realities, true bite statistics, odds of dying, mentality of fear in society, exposés of hatemongers, examination of Breed-discriminatory legislation, as well as showing the true nature of the Pit Bull, promoting common sense, individual basis reaction vs. group punishment reaction, a shelter photography how-to, promotional videos with audience (and dog) participation, those kinds of things… Not to mention that I want to meet and interview many awesome people for these pieces and for others.

8) The ordering of some wholesale bumper stickers, business cards, the designing of further shirts, the creating of a selling mechanism that allows some of my shelter prints to be ordered online.

9) Help with covering any potential travel I may consider doing to do aforementioned interviews, possibly attend another big conference, maybe visit an out of state shelter or two (I’d love to visit Austin, TX or one of the high-kill shelters in New York City).

These are just some of the ideas that I have right now for the upcoming year. I’m also planning on revamping and very much expanding my website, writing more, as well as possibly creating a video podcasting channel where people could Skype in and communicate about whatever they choose to. But the main and overriding plus for me is that this would give me more time and financial flexibility to do what I genuinely love to do. It would be a drastic help, which would in turn be (I’d hope) a drastic help to some dogs as well. I honestly can’t overstate how helpful it would be for me. I’m just a regular person who pays everything from a $5 dog collar to a $500 camera lens out of my own pocket. When I visit a shelter and shoot photographs of their Pit Bulls, well, I’m usually then up for the next 12 hours or so editing the pictures. I honestly don’t want to be pulled away from this kind of stuff for another job. Instead, I’d ideally want to make this more and more of my “job” going forward. I really want more time to dedicate to making these things a genuine reality. With appropriated money not only comes more options, but more time. Some slight flexibility goes a long way. Thank you so much for reading, and for potentially helping.

Josh

You can see some of my photography here, and here, and here, and here, and here. You can see some of my videos here.

Okay. I am asking for courage now. I know that this is a difficult situation, but the bottom line is, we know that everything isn’t always on the “up and up” with the many different sheltering systems. I want to know what you know. I am reaching out. Attn: Shelter staff, volunteers, rescuers, animal control officers, knowledgeable advocates… Please consider what I have to say. I intend to begin doing video exposés centered around some of the horrific things that many of us hear, and that many more of us have no clue about. If YOU, on the inside, see something that you cannot live with then please consider sending your claims (and preferably whatever will document your claims) to whistleblowers@swaylove.org.

Depending on the response I’ll either just start putting together a list of the worst monthly claims and publishing them in a straight forward fashion, or if I receive enough corresponding documentation, will create media serving to reveal whatever it is that’s potentially happening. Long term, many of these things may be used and/or discussed in future video projects put out by me. I’ll likely not publish everything, so don’t feel as though you’re getting ignored if there’s no response from the actual email address. It’s just acting as a dumping station for complaints, and the most awful will be put out there. Preferably I’m looking for documentation or first person accounts regarding treatment of animals, processes, breed discrimination, body rendering information, staff moral, etc.

I absolutely, positively WILL NOT divulge who you are to anyone publicly, unless of course you note that you don’t give a damn. In that case, I salute you harder. But just to address the elephant in the room… I fully understand the dynamics behind why many of you feel as though you cannot speak out. I see the vindictiveness of many of the shelter bosses, or many on the staff, and these realities handcuff good people who genuinely love animals and have immense compassion. If you are a staff member, well, you’re likely in fear of your job. If you are a volunteer, well, you’re likely in fear of your access to the dogs that you love. If you are a rescuer, well, you’re likely in fear of your pull rights being taken away. This list goes on and on. Some of these shelters will aim to do massive harm in order to not have their practices examined by a public who is, for the most part, unaware. Let’s change that together.

Will you consider liking this page? They are a great company which provides Home, Condo, Liability, Landlord and Renters insurance which INCLUDES (and specializes in) coverage for your Pit Bull (or any other discriminated against breed). So very important to become familiar with them.

They have been kind enough to offer me a promotion, so for every “Like” that they receive within the next 24 hours, they will donate $0.50 to SwayLove.org! Also, if at any time you do choose to use their wonderful services, mention “SwayLove” and they will donate $20 per policy towards my efforts and cause for continued Pit Bull advocacy. Thank you for reading, and thank you to Einhorn Insurance Agency for the opportunity to cross-promote.

To contact Einhorn…
Email: agent@einhorninsurance.com
Phone: 858-336-4644
Website: EinhornInsurance.com

Prior reading: LA County passes draconian “dangerous” dog law amendments

Downtown Dog Rescue in partnership with AngelDogs Foundation are offering a FREE AKC-certified “Canine Good Citizenship” Test given during the Coliseum dog class happening on Sunday 7/24. There is no charge for the test and ALL breeds are welcome to partake. There is also no penalty for not passing and it would serve as a great way to find out what you would need to practice on with your dog in order to pass.

Downtown’s goal is to certify as many Pit Bull-type dogs as possible and to give back to the surrounding communities that often lack the information and access to the Canine Good Citizenship Certification Program.

Also: CGC Certification is a VERY important asset for anyone who rents and also owns a Pit Bull-type dog. Passing CGC could mean that your dog may be the exception to any draconian “No Pit Bull” rules that are often levied out against renters in apartment or condo complexes. This whole discriminatory reality is an awful problem in and of itself, but taking this step would only give you more justification for going up against a landlord hellbent on stereotyping your dog.

If you have a friendly dog and are interested in taking advantage of this free service, please RSVP to: Lori@Modernica.net

Class begins at 9:30AM in front of the entrance to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum off MLK Blvd. (Park at the Hoover lot)
Coliseum address = 3939 S. Figueroa St.