News

What is The Greyhound Protection Act?

• The Greyhound Protection Act is a proposed ballot question to phase out commercial dog racing in Massachusetts by 2010. There are currently two commercial dog tracks in Massachusetts: Wonderland Greyhound Park in Revere and Raynham Park in Raynham.
• This humane law is supported by the oldest and most respected animal protection groups in the state, including the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty.

Dogs Are Seriously Injured While Racing

• Since 2002, there have been 728 reported greyhound injuries in Massachusetts.
• Nearly 80% of all reported injuries were broken bones. Other injuries include dislocations, lacerations, head trauma, instant death, cardiac arrest, paralysis and seizures.

Dogs Endure Lives of Nearly Endless Confinement

• Wonderland Greyhound Park and Raynham Park both require a population of over 1,000 dogs in order to function as a gambling business.
• At these tracks, dogs live in small cages barely large enough for them to stand up or turn around for 20 or more hours per day.

Other Issues

• In the Spring of 2005 nineteen dogs at Wonderland Greyhound Park died from a mysterious illness that was later proven to be a form of horse flu that had never before jumped species.
• To reduce costs, dogs are fed meat that has been deemed unfit for human consumption. Because this meat is fed to dogs raw, it can cause dogs to be exposed to serious pathogens such as Salmonella.
• In late 2003 and early 2004, a dog tested positive for cocaine twice at Wonderland Greyhound Park.
• Dog racing is a dying industry in Massachusetts. Between 2002 and 2006, the total amount gambled at Wonderland Greyhound Park and Raynham Park declined by 57% and 35%, respectively.

Please Join this Important Campaign

Sometimes, we have pets at the Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society who get overlooked.

Maybe they're shy wallflowers. Maybe they're adult cats, when everybody's cooing over the kittens. Maybe they're special pets in search of a special family, who will be understanding of their individual personalities.

Some have had very difficult lives before coming to the Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society. They may have been abused, neglected, or abandoned.

They aren't usually the kind of pet who runs up to visitors and demands to be taken home - they're more likely to be the quiet one, resting quietly. Waiting for their chance with a new family, a new life.

If you are the kind of person who, above all, wants to help those in need - take a look at our Lonely Hearts Club members. They may not be the pet that everyone else is looking for; but perhaps they will be the love of YOUR life.

Adopt a Lonely Heart, and get 50% off our regular adoption fee. And, just maybe, you'll find your new love.

What is a microchip?
A microchip is a form of permanent identification. A radio transmitter about the size of a grain of rice, it is injected under the skin over the pet's shoulder area.

Why does DPVHS microchip animals?
Many of the animals that come to the DPVHS are stray. Without any identification, they are unlikely to ever be reunited with their family. Nationally, only 2% of cats who are admitted to an animal shelter without ID tags are reunited with their family; odds for dogs are poor, too. Since animals frequently lose their collars/tags, a microchip ensures that you can be reunited with your pet should he become lost.

How does it work?
Each microchip is encoded with a unique number and can only be read with a specially designed scanner. The scanner must be in contact with the pet to read the chip; unfortunately, the microchips do not work like LoJack—they cannot be used to track the location of your missing animal. Your pet must be physically scanned to find the chip. When a veterinary hospital, animal control officer, or animal shelter scans a stray animal and discovers a microchip, they call a toll-free number, which is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The hotline operator gives the finder your name and contact information.

Who has microchip scanners?
Animal shelters, veterinarians, and some animal control officers. The Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society, MSPCA, and Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control Center scan all incoming animals to check for microchips.

What if someone finds my pet, but doesn't bring him/her to a shelter?
That's why all pets should wear ID tags at all times. This includes indoor-only cats since if they get outside, they have no idea where they are or how to find home again (they usually make at least one "great escape", frequently because they have been frightened by a repair person or worker coming in & out of the home, party, etc.). Having YOUR phone number on your pet allows anyone who finds your pet to call you right away, day or night, weekend or holiday. Your pet's microchip comes with a tag that includes the microchip number, as well as the hotline phone number. This allows anyone who finds your pet to call the hotline and find you, without having to scan the pet to find the microchip. Consider getting an engraved ID tag that says "Reward if found" on the tag; sometimes people will see pets with tags but not know that the pet is lost. For indoor-only cats, and dogs who don't run loose (and no dog should), having this on your pet's tag is good insurance. It may save you a lot of trouble should your pet become lost.

Do microchips really work?
YES! In December, the DPVHS scanned a cat that was brought in as a stray. She had a microchip (implanted by the MSPCA) and was reunited with her person after being missing for over 5 months! We recently found a micropchip in a cat who had been missing for more than 2 years! The original chip had been implanted by a humane society in New Hampshire. There are frequent news stories about pets reunited with their families after absences of months or even years. One Pomeranian, missing from Florida, was found in Illinois. On average, for each 25 microchips implanted, one pet will be reunited with their family.

I found a stray pet - how can I find out if he has a microchip?
You can either call your veterinarian's office and ask to have the pet scanned or call DPVHS and we will be glad to scan it for you.

I adopted a pet from the Dakin Animal Shelter or the Pioneer Valley Humane Society before you were microchipping, how can I protect my shelter graduate from loss?
For any animal adopted from the Dakin Animal Shelter or the Pioneer Valley Humane Society (or the Greenfield Area Animal Shelter), you may call the DPVHS Rescue & Rehab Center in Greenfield for a microchip appointment. We will provide microchipping and registration for a fee of $20. For any pets NOT adopted from the DPVHS (or one of its older incarnations), please contact your veterinarian—most veterinarians offer microchipping to their clients.