INTERVIEW: Linda Townsend - Innovation Showcase Scholarship Applicant

Linda and Charlie

Linda Townsend was inspired to start Muddy Paws Adventures after seeing the effects of hiking on her own dog, Charlie. Along with improved fitness, the more time her otherwise timid rescue dog spent on the trails, the more he turned into a confident, trusting canine. Using her passion for the outdoors, nature and all things four-legged, Linda created a dog hiking service that feeds the souls of her clients and provides peace of mind for their humans.

InfoStream (IS): Your passion for dogs is evident; tell us about how this came to be.  

Linda Townsend (LT): I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t passionate about dogs or any animal for that matter.  I didn’t come from parents who were animal lovers and I had to beg to  have a hamster when I was a kid.  Growing up, I spent a lot of time at my grandparents who had a German Shepherd named Reika. He wasn’t overly friendly or trustworthy with most people, but I was bound and determined to make him my best friend despite the several warnings he gave me.  I started walking him everyday after school and eventually his indifference turned to the loyalty one would expect from a German Shepherd.  It wasn’t until 15 years later that I finally was able to get my own dog - a German Shepherd named Rudy that looked just like Reika.

IS: What in your history has taken you to where you are now?  

LT: For close to 20 years,  I worked for a  great company that provided me all the opportunities in the world, but with it came two hours of commuting every day and the guilt of leaving my dog home alone for a 10 hour stretch.   I wanted a lifestyle that would energize me, not one that left me feeling so drained that I couldn’t entertain the thought of  taking my dog for a much deserved walk.  Deciding to leave behind the security of my career meant taking a major leap outside of my comfort zone creating a whole new world of doubt and fears.  I spent many hours hiking with my dog Charlie contemplating what my new life would look like if I wasn’t heading into the office every day.  Every time the fears and doubts about my decision starting creeping in, I would throw on my boots, call Charlie and head for the trails behind our property. After an hour or so of connecting with nature and watching Charlie live his life to the fullest, I returned home reconnected to my commitment to find more balance in my own life. While I was getting my own life sorted out on the trails, I noticed Charlie making his own transformation.  Along with improved fitness,  my otherwise timid beagle/lab cross was turning into a confident, trusting canine.  As he got better at sniffing out squirrels and manoeuvring at high speeds through brush and fallen trees, his nervous accidents disappeared and he began greeting strangers with a wagging tail. Obviously all of this hiking had mind-body-spirit benefits for the both of us and  understanding all too well the pet owner’s guilt of not having the energy or time to take your dog for a walk, I decided to create  Muddy Paws Adventures.

IS: What is the main focus of the Muddy Paws Adventures?

LT: Muddy Paws Adventures has two objectives - to feed the souls of our canine clients and to provide peace of mind for their humans.  If you could ask any dog what is better than being off the grid free to explore with a pack of other well socialized dogs, they would tell you nothing! As for my clients, they are all  middle class folks who work hard for their money and love their dogs.  I consider it a huge responsibility to be entrusted with their dogs’ well being and always make sure they get their money’s worth.

IS: What is most rewarding about Muddy Paws Adventures; what makes it all worthwhile?

LT: There are a few things…

1. The excitement of the dogs when I pick them up for their hike.  It’s like they’ve won the lottery every time.  
2. Equally rewarding is the social enterprise I’ve been able to create through Muddy Paws adventures - Trails N’ Tail.  Last year, our charity hike raised $2000 for animal rescue and Paws Fur Thought  (see question 8 for more info).

The connections and partnerships I’ve made with people in my community and beyond.

IS: What feedback have you received regarding hike pictures on Facebook?  

LT: It’s amazing the number of people who are not even clients that look forward to seeing those photos posted. There is something therapeutic about looking at photos of a pack of happy dogs running through a field, swimming in a river or jumping over a fallen tree in the woods.  Imagine how therapeutic it is when you get to be with them on the hike!

IS: Are owners ever able to join their dog(s) on hikes?

LT: Yes!  I welcome all humans on our hikes with a donation to one of our favourite canine related charities.  The only prerequisite is that you love dogs, have some good hiking footwear and have enough energy to keep up with a pack of high energy dogs for 90 minutes.   

IS: To maximize success, what requirements do you have for dogs before they begin hiking?

LT: A Muddy Paws dog must be good off leash, have fairly good recall and be social with other dogs.  It’s also best if the dogs are in fairly good shape to prevent injury.  

IS: Tell us about your hikes to support Paws Fur Thought. What other fundraising does Muddy Paws Adventures do?  

LT: I’ve included my blog below with all the details on our Trails N’ Tails  Charity Hike.  

A Walk In The Park For Those Whose Life Isn’t

Last September, over 50 dogs and almost twice as many humans rubbed noses at the inaugural Trails N’     Tails charity hike raising over $2000 for canine rescue and veterans living with PTSD in need of service dogs.

This year, tails are wagging as Muddy Paws Adventures teams up with the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia to raise funds for their First Responder PTSD Service Dog Initiative.

The Foundation, in partnership with military veteran and PTSD service dog advocate Medric Cousineau (Paws Fur Thought), launched the initiative in November 2014  and has since raised enough funds to match 32 service dogs with first responders in need.

This year’s Trails N’ Tails charity hike takes place on Saturday September 19th. The 60 minute nature hike will weave through some of Hants County’s most picturesque trails in Uniacke Estate Museum Park, a perfect place to enjoy the great outdoors with your favourite canine. Participants have the option to make a donation or collect pledges.   In addition to helping first responders, proceeds from the on-site BBQ, draws and games will  go towards local animal rescue.

Along with raising funds for our favourite canine related causes, Trails N’ Tails is designed to expose the mental health benefits of spending time in nature and the therapeutic advantages of dogs.

More information may be found here.

IS: Is there anything else you would like us to know?  

LT: Just a little shout out to my Inspiration behind Muddy Paws Adventures, Charlie Dog -  2004-2015.

Interview with Kelsey Birtch - Emerging Leader Scholarship Nominee

Do you believe that dreams come true?

Kelsey was born in New Westminster, British Columbia in 1986. Animals formed a big part of her life until she graduated from New Westminster High School in 2004. Around this time, she volunteered with the New Westminster Police Department in their Crime Prevention Unit and started working at a doggie daycare in Burnaby where she was responsible for upwards of 40 dogs a day. Concurrently, she attended Simon Fraser University from 2004-2010 and received her Bachelors of Arts Degree in Criminology. From there she moved onto the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals as an Auxiliary Animal Care Attendant for the City of Vancouver and Maple Ridge respectively. In October 2014, Kelsey was recruited by the City of Vancouver as the first full-time Animal Services Licensing Liaison in British Columbia. Kelsey’s nomination may be found here.

InfoStream (IS): Your passion for animals is evident; tell us about how this came to be.

Kelsey Birtch (KB): I realized my passion for animals at the age of 11, when my mom gave me a Maltipoo/Shih-Tzu cross puppy for my birthday. Since then, I have continuously had at least 1 dog in the house and persistently begged my parents for more. I dreamed of owning a large piece of land where I could rescue surrendered, lost and neglected dogs. I used to tell my parents that I needed one dog of each breed and would always list out all my favorites. Dogs get my attention, I am the type of person who will stop their car and ask a complete stranger if I can pet their dog.  

IS: What in your history has taken you to where you are now?

KB: I became aware of animal welfare issues and the role the SPCA had in protecting vulnerable animals in high school. It was at that time that I combined my passion for animals with legal studies, believing I could make a difference. Through my past work and current Licensing Liaison position, many of my career goals have been fulfilled with more opportunities developing every day. I have been recognized by my manager as an emerging leader. Through his mentorship, I have been offered challenging assignments that continue to offer developmental opportunities. I believe the Jerry Aschenbrenner Scholarship would offer more opportunities to network and collaborate with industry leaders, which will further advance my career goals and skill-set. For the first time in my career, I am proud of the work I’m accomplishing and looking forward to the future.

IS: Can you tell us about your position as a Licensing Liaison?

KB: There are estimated to be over 150,000 dogs in Vancouver; however, the City only has 20,000 dogs licensed. The Licensing Liaison position is a new role with endless opportunities to leverage these licensing numbers. I am given the opportunity to be creative on finding ways to encourage licensing, and make it more accessible to the public. I assist with social media, marketing and community engagement. I am responsible for maintaining the data entry system to be sure all licensing records are accurate and in good standing.

IS: What is the current public perception of Vancouver Animal Services?

KB: Animal Services is mindful of the conflicting views on the management of animals within the City of Vancouver. With polarized views on the level of enforcement needed, we are attempting to accommodate both pet owners and everyone else in the city.  Animal Services is creating an Animal Management Strategy that will encompass specific guidelines and protocols to balance the needs of pet owners and non-pet owners in Vancouver. The goal is to promote responsible pet ownership and create public awareness of what the City of Vancouver’s Animal Services role and future priorities entail, including education, enforcement and rebranding. The goal of Animal Services is to break down the barriers associated with a “dog pound” and focus on the benefits of licensing and the ways in which we can ameliorate the public perception of what services we offer.

IS: What are the most critical barriers to dog licensing in Vancouver?

KB: Animal Services is in the process of creating a Citizen Survey to determine what citizens see as barriers to compliance. Currently, the most common response for not wanting to comply is that the public believes that licensing is a “pet tax”. Unfortunately, the main barrier for the City is a lack of education on how licenses are being allocated (including the shelter animals, educational programs and community engagement). If the City could increase our licensing numbers, then we can in turn generate more funds to provide these and many more programs. Dog owners want to see tangible benefits, and until the licensing numbers increase and more programs are created, this will be a hard feat to accomplish. Many dog owners just wait until they are approached by an Animal Control Officer before licensing their pet, unaware that if they are lost and unlicensed it makes it much more difficult to track down the owner.  If licensed, we could pick them up and deliver them straight to their front door for free.  97% of licensed dogs are returned quickly to their home.

IS: What is most rewarding about your job; what makes it all worthwhile?

KB: Every day is a different experience. It’s amazing to see the tears of joy when a lost dog is reunited with their worried owner or to see a shelter dog adopted out to their forever home. I have been given the opportunity to work alongside some amazing people in the industry; including my manager who is my mentor and allowing me every opportunity to increase my skill-set. I have been given a chance to create some powerful relationships to enhance the way in which we manage pets.

IS: What are your short and long term goals in changing the dog licensing landscape?

KB: My goal is to have the City of Vancouver dog licensing numbers and public response to our services be something other cities strive for, we want to be industry leaders in animal management. We want dog owners to get a licence because they know the benefits for them, their dog, and other dog owners. Once we have a social media page we will have a greater opportunity to reach out to the public as social media is a vital aspect when it comes to rehoming animals. Reaching out to property and strata managers to build a rapport is another goal of mine to start incorporating licensing into the high-rises in the downtown Vancouver area. Ultimately I would like to have licensing included in the owner and renter agreements so we can better track animals in buildings as this is where we believe licensing is lacking.

From the education aspect, we are looking at approaching the local community colleges and getting involved with the school board to start educating children on responsible pet ownership; we are looking at teaming up with other animal service groups to teach children how to choose the right pet, how to be a responsible pet owner and the commitments of owning a pet.

IS: What methods have you used to promote dog licensing?

KB:

• Social Media via the City of Vancouver Facebook page
• Updates to the Vancouver.ca/pets website to be more user-friendly
• Bus poster advertisements
• Updating brochures and handouts to be more educational than enforcement based
• Building relationships with building/strata/property managers to licence and manage pets in buildings
• Creating relationships with the canine facilities including the doggie daycares, groomers, dog walkers, dog trainers, rescue groups and veterinarians
• Collaborate with Park Rangers to better manage the needs of off-leash dog parks
• Collaborate with Recreation Centre Leaders to set up community engagement events to hand out promotional items such as leashes and waste bag dispensers that reward positive behavior

IS: You are involved in “re-branding” Vancouver’s Animal Services; how are you doing this and what is the goal?

KB: We are in the process of rebranding from Animal “Control” to Animal “Services” and hoping that by educating and rewarding good behavior rather than punishing we can encourage compliance. Our goal is to increase our licensing compliance rate through education and any other opportunity to spread the word of what animal services offers to the public to ameliorate the public perception that we are a service and information provider. We have already changed our brochures, website, and approach to focus and move forward providing education above all else prior to enforcement to give the public the benefit the doubt.

IS: Is there anything else we should know?

KB: Keep an eye out for a Vancouver Animal Services Facebook page as we are hoping to have one this year with lots of adorable adoptable dogs and small animals.

Interview with Sarah Hylton-Foster, Digital Journalist Scholarship Nominee

Sarah Hylton-Foster has always had a love for and a special connection with animals. Thankfully, she was able to turn that passion into a rewarding career. Sarah was raised with cats, and hoped every year that Santa would bring her a puppy, which sadly never happened. She began working at the Coquitlam Animal Shelter in 2003 after a year of volunteering. Sarah currently shares her life with two cats, Reese and Winston, and her foster cat of three years, Miso. Foster success? Sarah started a website, Wrong Side of the Rainbow, that focuses on compassion fatigue experienced by animal care personnel. Not only does her website educate about compassion fatigue, there are many resources provided for self care.

InfoStream (IS): What is your current occupation and what attracted you to it?

Sarah Hylton-Foster (SHF): I am an Animal Care Attendant with the City of Coquitlam Animal Shelter. I was a volunteer when the shelter first opened and was lucky enough to become a regular employee about a year later and haven’t looked back! I have had many foster cats and a few dogs over the years and can’t imagine not sharing my life with some sort of critter!

IS: Please tell us about your website, Wrong Side of the Rainbow. What made you realize the necessity and importance of such a resource? What is the history behind it?

SHF: The true inspiration came from my beloved cat Quinn who had passed nearly a year before. She was my heart and soul and I lost her suddenly from a blood clot, at the age of five. I was destroyed and spent many months going through the motions of living.  Society doesn’t accept that we can grieve in the same way we do a family member. But in some cases, the loss of a pet is more painful, yet harder to explain. Having the support of a community of like minded people has helped other people through their own grieving process. They are more than “just” animals and we have every right to grieve for them as deeply as we would a human family member or friend. After being involved in a discussion around Compassion Fatigue I saw that there wasn’t a lot of resources out there for people who work in the animal care industry. It was a topic that was just starting to gain momentum in our industry and I wanted to ensure the conversation continued.

I was lucky enough to reconnect with an old therapist, Laurel Horn, who specializes in Compassion Fatigue and Pet Loss and has hosted seminars in shelters and vet clinics. After many hours spent online I managed to collect enough to start a website. Because social media is the best way to connect with people on a large scale, I then created a Facebook page which is now at just over 800 Likes and has connect with people all over North America and even farther!

IS: What do you hope to accomplish with Wrong Side of the Rainbow; what is/are your long-term goal(s) for it?

SHF: The biggest struggle we face is being heard. The stigma around mental health keeps so many silent as they suffer. Compassion Fatigue is still a relatively new concept in the animal care industry, even though it has been widely accepting in other care giving roles. Sadly only with the passing of well known members of the community, like Dr Sophia Yin, is the conversation really starting.

Wrong Side of the Rainbow has a simple goal. Education, support and bringing our community together. Together we can help and heal, not only the animals we care for but ourselves as well.

IS: What do you see as the greatest risk for those affected by compassion fatigue and/or pet loss?

SHF: I think the greatest risk is that so many people involved in animal care work burnout. So many people suffer from depression, develop destructive habits, and sadly when it gets to be too much, take their own lives. It’s very  hard to explain to people outside of our industry what we deal with on a daily basis, and we often keep things inside. People assume because we work with animals our days are filled with kittens and puppies and don’t recognize the horrors and sadness of our jobs. Like any mental illness conversation, stigma keeps many from reaching out for help.

IS: How do you think we can best support those affected by compassion fatigue?

SHF: Offering safe spaces either online or with therapy (group or one on one) for people in our industry to connect with people who can truly understand their struggles is key. It can be extremely frustrating to try and explain your feelings to people outside of the industry who see animals as “just pets”, especially after the loss of a loved companion. Connecting with like minded people in the same field as you will validate feelings and make you realize you aren’t alone.

IS: How are you using media to share important information?

SHF: Facebook is probably the easiest and most successful way to share information.  One post can reach hundreds of people in a matter of hours, I recently had one post shared over 1000 times! I was so excited to see an article that was specific to compassion fatigue in animal care workers was so well received and that the message is actually getting out there to people who may not have heard of it before. I hope that more articles are written because people are obviously interested and want to share with their friends, families and coworkers.

Follow-Up Interview with Brad Tanner about Sea of Green Campaign

In Brad Tanner’s first interview he told us about the Sea of Green campaign. Now he is able to share more information about his passion and communicate his message with others.

InfoStream (IS): Your passion about this subject is evident; how did you find the strength to speak out and start the Sea of Green?

Brad Tanner (BT): It is my natural tendency to try to find solutions to a problem. I didn’t know any other way. Coming home every night and looking at my kids sad eyes and all of us wondering where he was, and knowing that other families are going through it for no reason. That’s unacceptable. We have the opportunity and the ability to prevent other families having to experience this.  

I felt it was my responsibility to fix this issue. I've identified it and now its up to me. Like an action item on an Incident Investigation, It is an area to be lacking or non-existent and improvements are required to keep the worker safe. Similarly, when a worker identifies a hazard, that worker now owns that hazard and has the responsibility to fix it, even if is simply finding the person who can fix the problem. That’s what we are doing here. Identifying the problem, providing a solution, and ensuring that solution is then implemented.

Put that together with kids asking, “what are you doing about it dad?”

The answer ‘I took some time off work and went looking for him’ was not a good enough answer.  I was able to say to them, “Today I talked to the mayor, today I was on the news, today I spoke with an agency in the United States, I talked to this guy, that guy, I was actively working to find the answers, because if I don’t I'm no better than the guys not filling in the gaps right now. That is the decent thing to do. That is the right thing to do. You can be part of the solution or part of the problem and I choose to be part of the solution. I’m not going to turn a blind eye and walk away. I will never ever quit, under any circumstances, ever.

Every day you see on the news, radio, social media, all this negativity and it seems like the world going downhill. That's the world I can’t change, but if I  can change things in my own world, to help others, that is my responsibility as a person. To bring back a sense of community and doing something for the good….for most people it requires low cost and low time commitment. It doesn’t take much to pay it forward.

IS: Why is it so important for pet owners to share this information with other pet owners?

BT: Because it works far better than anything else. It is effective and we’ve proven it to be effective here. It works quickly, and the results speak for themselves.

The Sea of Green Program aims to help pet owners feel supported and empowered. It allows them to do something, rather than remain stuck and feel helpless. Now pet owners are actively working the issue with a completely committed team. They are not alone. They are supported whether their pet has been lost or stolen. It provides the ability to be actively involved, and gives some sense of control over the problem you are facing. I had no control and was forced to rely upon the people and organizations who couldn’t do anything for me. It was all up to me, but now it’s up to us and that is huge!!

IS: If there is one thing you could share with fellow pet owners, what would it be?

BT: We have found something that works. We don't have to live with the uncertainty. We have the power, and it is us. We are the answer, its not in industry, we aren’t going to find it there. We need to bring it to them. It’s only us that care about our pets the way they need to be cared for. The many sectors such as the Humane Societies, the Animal Control Officers, the veterinarians, the RCMP, are often battling compassion fatigue. They may want to care, but they don’t have it left in them, they are exhausted.

As pet owners we have the power to protect and keep our pets safe and the ability and responsibility to support the aforementioned agencies. Too many people rely on the hope that it will never happen to them or that the system, that doesn’t exist, will work.

Is there anything else you would like us to know?

BT: If your community is interested in being proactive before you have a problem, then step up and be that leader, be the champion. The Sea of Green Program will effectively work its way across Canada. How quickly is up to them. We are going to find those communities who are reacting to an incident and we will find those communities who want to take a proactive and preventative approach.

Within 4 weeks of implementing these concepts and tools in Fort St. John, the thefts and attempted thefts have practically ceased based on the postings gathered on the Facebook page Stolen Dogs 911, originally created to find my dog Chocco.

The RCMP have been supportive of the initiative and have unofficially stated that there is a noticeable decrease in the number of calls they are receiving about theft attempts and missing dogs in the Fort St. John area.

Interview with Brad Tanner - Innovation Showcase Scholarship Nominee

On Saturday February 21, 2015, worried owners went door to door searching for their pets. As they searched they encountered details suggesting their much loved companions were brazenly stolen. In early March Chocco was found dead. The difficulties Brad Tanner experienced inspired him to start the Sea of Green campaign. 

Infostream (IS): What prompted you to begin this campaign?

Brad Tanner (BT): The first answer is because of my dog, Chocco. The second answer is finding out the hard way that there was nowhere to turn when your dog goes missing, and you’re left all alone. Anyone that should care either can’t help or doesn’t care. The only ones that did care were the pet owners, who rallied to my aid and showed empathy and support. That is when I realized we had an opportunity to make things better and provide coverage for the multiple gaps in the systems.

IS: Tell us about the gaps in the systems.

BT: In the case of the BC SPCA, the issue is not being able to reach out to them because they have such limited hours and don’t have any after-hours services. The BC SPCA couldn’t check voicemail until the afternoon of the next day to find out if anybody may have found my dog. I found it difficult to contact city bylaw, it was hard to get the number and hard to get in touch with someone that could help me. They couldn’t do anything for me because I'm a rural resident and live outside their jurisdiction or municipality limits. My only other avenue was the RCMP but at first, they shrugged me off.

I began reaching out and contacting the media to get exposure. After the first media exposure the mayor got in touch with me and was concerned about the situation. She reached out to some of her contacts, which brought me to the Return-to-Owner program of PetLynx, called HomeSafe.

I had searched all kinds of websites, lost pet sites, rescues, and collected phone numbers for rescues across Canada, looking for my dog. I went through it all and it was difficult and very time consuming.

Once I learned about the HomeSafe system and how that would have been helpful, I was wishing I would have known about it earlier. It was by far the best system I found, but there was still room for improvement. To make it even better, it needed that something extra, the community aspect…. that Sea of Green.

Part of what I have learned is that the pet industry is very fragmented. It seems that part of the industry is mostly interested in selling the pet owner products. The other side of the industry is so bedraggled and tired, suffering from compassion fatigue and lack of funds that it is hard for them to do any more than they already are. All across the industry I have not been able to find something that actually works to keep you and your pet together. There is nothing out there that keeps the pets with the family. Nothing that prevents loss. It is all reactive. The Sea of Green is a proactive program rather than a reactive approach.

The identification tools available such as tattoos, microchips, smart tags, etc. may aid in returning your pet, but do not prevent your pet from leaving. The systems available are slow, confusing, cumbersome and difficult to access for a pet owner who is not familiar with the industry. These systems require a great deal of time, communication, and efforts from many different agencies…How do you do it? How do you reach out and know you have covered all the avenues? You’ve got this group, that group, all the other groups, how do you know you got them all? Do you need to stroll through the yellow pages or every online site? Do you need to wear out your phone by dialling 60 numbers and explaining your story over and over? No.  

It only took me 3 days to realize we had a hell of a problem, a very real and serious issue going on up here and when I first spoke to the mayor she was a non-believer. She wasn’t aware there was an issue. As she became aware of the magnitude of the issue at hand, it opened my eyes further to learn that this municipality, as well as many or all others, are themselves suffering from a lack of resources due to fluctuating economy and various political factors. The municipalities are doing the best they can to provide the coverage required with the resources they have. But I can see where they need our help.

IS: Please tell us about the Sea of Green campaign.

BT: It’s a program for the pet owners, by the pet owners. The gaps have been identified and the solution is for us to unite as pet owners to help protect and recover each others’ four legged family members. To show the industry what it is that we are wanting and needing. In turn, we will relieve the burden on all these other organizations that aren't able to cope and handle the extreme demand that is ravaging across this nation.

The ‘Sea of Green’ has two main components: A dedicated network of pet lovers and a single centralised pet registry (PetLynx) and one social media point. The goal is to integrate community and technology together enabling each and every household to monitor and locate their beloved pet with merely a few touches of a button.

IS: How will the campaign be launched and word spread?

BT: So far it’s been spreading by word of mouth and social media.  It is going to be launched by finding those people that unfortunately ran into the same problems and roadblocks I did. By finding those community champions and pet lovers that care and are motivated.

It is launched with a community event, where all concerned pet owners can gather in the same room, feel supported, and discuss how to best implement a community plan. I tell my story and describe why and how the ‘Sea of Green’ concept works to combat pet theft and expedite pet recovery.

This first meeting also serves to identify the champions of the community who will be able to lead the initiative and bring back the face to face community interaction. Building relationships with others in your town, your neighbourhood, and connecting with someone you never met before is the key component of this program. It is about being united and speaking to the industry with a common voice.  It’s about supporting your fellow pet owners.

Our tools are media, social media and mainstream media, that we will use to spread this. The success of this program is getting people excited and they are spreading the word enthusiastically. With every social event, with every dog lost, stolen or found, the word will spread more and more. We will get to that point where there will be complete coverage. The people will believe in it because they are part of it and have a hand in it’s success.

We’ve proven it to be a success and the results are reaching other communities, who are now asking us how we did it. Nobody else has been able to do this, it may not be the end all and be all, but it is a good place to start. It fills the gaps for now and it is a system that can continue to evolve and become more powerful with every community we touch.

Pet loss will always happen, pets wander off. The HomeSafe program and The Sea of Green program helps to recover them, even if it’s only to provide closure. Dog theft, for whatever reason they are being taken, is a very lucrative and low risk activity. Its easy money but our efforts are now pushing it into a high risk activity.  It is not so easy for them when the Sea of Green is in your town. Through our efforts, it will eventually lead to changes in the legal system. Not any day soon, but eventually.

If someone gets caught stealing a dog here in Fort St John, I believe the thief will be hit with the full extent of the law, even though it is limited at best, the penalties and charges will be greater here because the RCMP are involved as well. The information that the Sea of Green members collect and pass onto the RCMP include notes on times, places, witnesses, vehicles, photos and video footage.  We can prove with more certainty that, ‘yes, this dog was stolen, and yes, stolen by this individual'.

Interview with Dawn Rault PhD(c) - Research Poster Scholarship Nominee

Dawn Rault was one of the Research Poster Scholarship Nominees at the Western Adjudication Event. Rault’s Research Poster is entitled “A province-wide qualitative study of animal bylaws: Promoting population health and equity by redressing and preventing pet related nuisances in urbanized environments”. Read more about Rault’s research here.

InfoStream (IS): Tell us about an important pet experience that helped bring you to where you are now.

Dawn Rault (DR): It’s hard to choose one. I think the acquisition of your own pet is a good place to start. Growing up we couldn’t have anything other than fish because my brother, sister, and dad all had allergies to cats and dogs. I always wanted a pet and it wasn’t until I was an adult with a house of my own that I was able to get a pet and I was so excited to get one. My husband and I went to the humane society with the intention to get one cat but there were two from a litter that were left. They were 4-5 months old and bonded so we went home with two cats. It’s amazing to finally have some furry friends.

IS: Tell us about what prompted this study and how it developed?

DR: The study has a bit of a history behind it. When I was interested in starting my PhD I was introduced to my supervisor, Dr. Melanie Rock. Dr. Rock studies the benefits and challenges of pets in urban areas. When I was an undergraduate student I worked for four summers in a joint program between Bylaw and Calgary Police and became familiar with the work that bylaw officers do. Because of my background in Criminology and working with Bylaw it was a serendipitous fit with Dr. Rock and her focus. There was an opportunity to explore the legal aspects of animal bylaws and the work of Bylaw Officers.  Dr. Rock was able to get funding for the researh from the Canadian Institues of Health Research. We’re looking at a very understudied population, that being Bylaw Officers

IS: While you’ve partially answered this question, what in your history has taken you to where you are now?

DR: I did my Undergrad in Criminology and my Masters in Human Security and Peacebuilding. For my PhD I spent quite a bit of time looking at different programs to see what would fit and marry my interest in criminology and public health. What also interested me in studying this area was that I also work at Mount Royal University as an instructor in the Department of Justice Studies and we place third or fourth year students in an intensive practicum placement. Some of these students are placed in bylaw positions and it was really interesting to hear about their experiences in bylaw and I felt bylaw positions were also really undervalued and underappreciated. They’re really multifaceted and quite important for animal bylaws, noise complaints, etc. They serve a really important role in urban environments.

IS: Your research seems to be geared towards reducing pet-related nuisances; are you hoping to change how pets are viewed in communities?

DR: It’s hard to answer that question. Personally, living in Calgary, I think that people have healthy attitudes towards pets and pet ownership. This is reflected in the high licensing rate of pets. The Calgary model can be seen as the gold standard of responsible pet ownership bylaws. It’s not that I’m attempting to change peoples’ attitudes. What I do think is that each municipality is unique in terms of how they approach their bylaws because they each have their own challenges and environments. I’m hoping to facilitate dialogues and lessons learned and to bring to light some of the amazing and progressive work that these municipalities are doing in reference to pets.

IS: Your research also requires ride-alongs with bylaw offices. Can you tell us about those?

DR: I’ve done ride-alongs in four municipalities. Some municipalities I’ve done interviews with. Over the summer I’m planning to do more ride-alongs. It’s been a really amazing experience because I think it’s important to see the work of Bylaw Officers and the work they do with animals in context with their other responsibilities. Working with animals is only part of their responsibilities so I think it’s important to understand the full spectrum of their work.

IS: What are your ultimate research goals?

DR: With qualitative research, sometimes you start with some goals in mind and sometimes the research takes you in a different direction. The good thing about qualitative research is that you can take it where it needs to go. For example, when we first submitted our proposal for funding some of our goals were interagency collaboration, to gather best practices, lessons learned, and have some case studies. As the research progresses those goals could change based on what the agencies need. One agency has asked for staff training sessions (communication skills around challenging animal-based complaints). I’m hoping to marry my teaching experience witht the needs of the different municipalities.  

IS: Many people are familiar with quantitative research, can you tell us more about qualitative research?

DR: I think a traditional lab experiment where you go in with a hypothesis, have a control group and an experimental group makes more linear sense to people. What method you choose depends on what you’re studying. This study has an exploratory quality to it. There’s very little literature on the work of Peace Officers. There’s some information on smoking and other infractions but there’s nothing about the work of Bylaw Officers pertaining to animals, which leads to exploratory research. I went in with an open mind and the flexibility to ‘go with the flow’. When I go into my ride-alongs I don’t have much structure, I anticipate that the officers, their work, and their responses will direct the flow of conversation. I think when there’s so little known about people’s work and you’re exploring what they’re doing then having that flexibility and using a qualitative design is really advantageous. It gives you the ability to ask the questions you need to ask depending on the context.

IS: What draws you to the work of bylaw officers in regards to animals?

DR: I think the work of Bylaw Officers is really misunderstood and in my opinion underappreciated. I don’t think that people have really recognized how important Bylaw Officers can be in terms of mediating conflicts people may have with pets, and in regards to public health concerns. I really want to validate the work of Bylaw Officers and how important they are and how they can really be an effective actor in mediating concerns that we have with animals. Animals are lovely and important but they can also cause problems and Bylaw Officers are critical to that equation.

IS: Is there anything else you would like us to know?

DR: Sometimes this topic seems a bit foreign, why would one study Bylaw Officers when you’re in a Public Health program? I think especially with the number of people that have pets, sometimes upwards of 50% that it’s very important to look at some of these issues. We know that the human-animal bond is very important but on the other side there are some really negative things that can happen. In the media we hear about high profile cases such as dog bites and we really need to look at mediating some of the conflict between people and within communities.