Mary Cummins Animal Advocates Los Angeles California Wildlife Rehabilitation Real Estate

Mary Cummins Animal Advocates Los Angeles California Wildlife Rehabilitation Real Estate
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Showing posts with label power. Show all posts
Showing posts with label power. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Why the USDA does not enforce the Animal Welfare Act regulations? Because they have no enforcement power - Animal Advocates

usda, awa, animal welfare act, enforce, violations, regulations

I'm a licensed wildlife rehabilitator and have a small wildlife sanctuary of unreleasable wildlife. I must have a USDA permit to keep these animals. The USDA inspectors told me they have no regulations on size of enclosures, enrichment, type of food...for raccoons, skunks, opossums or squirrels. They only state they must be "sufficient." That said California Fish & Wildlife does have specific regulations for each animal. Our enclosures, treatment are always superior to these minimum standards.

People have asked why the USDA does not go after people who violate AWA regulations. I asked my USDA inspectors who are all licensed veterinarians the same question. They have pets and love animals. They told me they have no enforcement power. If someone is a repeat violator, they will cancel their USDA permit. That is all they can do. They don't have the power to seize the animals, arrest the people or bring charges. They said if they take away the permit, the person will just operate without one with no oversight at all.

Now the California Department of Fish & Wildlife does have enforcement power in regard to wildlife. They can take away someone's permit. If they continue to operate without it, they've committed multiple felonies. They can seize all the animals, arrest the person and file charges against them.

That said someone should write, propose legislation to give the USDA enforcement power just like the Dept of Fish & Wildlife. All that said even with enforcement power the departments don't have the resources to seize and hold all those animals. They have to keep them as evidence until the case is settled or the owner agrees to give them the animals. These cases are long and drawn out.

The only time I've seen Fish & Wildlife take action is when a non-profit rescue has offered to care for the animals during litigation and agrees to take them if the owner or court allows it. That was the only way Fish & Wildlife went after Tiger Rescue. Fund for Animals took care of the tigers and eventually placed them all after the owner signed them over. This is the reason why Fish & Wildlife won't go after the Waystation who has been in violation for years and years.

The only success I've seen is the HSUS Humane Officers who can enforce animal control, animal cruelty, wildlife, regular police...regulations. They only go after cases where they have the resources to care for the animals. They just don't have the resources to help with all the cases.

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.


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Friday, January 2, 2015

How to keep yourself and animals warm when power goes out - Mary Cummins, Animal Advocates

Our power went out again last night. I woke up freezing when the house was 32 degrees. I had to get creative to keep myself and the animals warm. I now have a few tips. Feel free to add more in the comments.

1. Instantly put on a couple of layers of warm clothes including two pairs of socks, hat, neck warmer, gloves, long johns, pants, shirt, sweat shirt, jacket.

2. Instantly put a few blankets, comforter on the bed. Layers are good.

3. If you have a fireplace, keep it ready with wood, kindling, newspaper, matches, lighter to get it going. You should have enough clean, dry wood to replenish it for a day. Candles also provide some heat.

4. If you have a gas water heater, you will still have hot water. You can make hot water bottles, jars covered with a sock to stay warm.

5. You can put a big pot of water on the stove to boil to help heat up the room.

6. You can go into your car and turn on the heater. Be sure to start the car up so you don't lose the battery.

7. If you have car seat heaters, turn them on so you can sit on them or put animals on them. I had to bring our incubators into our car. Thank god the car is big enough.

8. Some cars have AC outlets so you can plus in a converter to run heating pads.

9. Have a head lamp, flash lights with new batteries handy.

10. Use a portable solar charger if the power is out for a while.

11. 7/11 are 24 hours and have microwaves. You can reheat heat gel pads, heating pads/socks with beans inside which will stay warm for an hour or so.

12. There are kerosene, oil, propane heaters, lights. Make sure they are safe for indoor use. Do not bring a fire pit, BBQ into the house as you can die from carbon monoxide poisoning.

13. If you have a gas stove or oven, you can turn it on five minutes every hour. Don't leave it on longer as it can cause carbon monoxide gas buildup.

14. You can stay in one room in the house to conserve heat. Close off the other rooms and vents.

15. Store bought hand warmers. Have them handy.

16. Exercise to keep warm.

17. Cook a warm meal or hot drink on the gas stove.

18. Snuggle with your loved ones and pets.

19. If it gets bad and you're not snowed in, leave the house. Go somewhere where they have power. This is when your cell phone comes in handy as long as cell tower has also lost power then you don't get reception. Call a local Starbucks. They generally have generators. Also public libraries, schools...or emergency centers have heat.

20. When the sun rises and hits the window, open the blinds, drapes to let the sun in. Keep the windows closed.

21. Get a backup generator with or without auto switch to the power box. Have it installed by a professional. There are also portable gas generators with plug outlets that can run some appliances with extension cords.

If you have any more tips, please, post them in the comments.

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.


Google+ Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, wildlife, wild, animal, rescue, wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife rehabilitator, fish, game, los angeles, california, united states, squirrel, raccoon, fox, skunk, opossum, coyote, bobcat, manual, instructor, speaker, humane, nuisance, control, pest, trap, exclude, deter, green, non-profit, nonprofit, non, profit, ill, injured, orphaned, exhibit, exhibitor, usda, united states department of agriculture, hsus, humane society, peta, ndart, humane academy, humane officer, animal legal defense fund, animal cruelty, investigation, peace officer, animal, cruelty, abuse, neglect #marycummins #animaladvocates #losangeles #california #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #realestate #realestateappraiser #realestateappraisal #lawsuit
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