Tell your friends about ASI:
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The holiday season is a special time to express our heartfelt thanks
to those whose support we cherish. ASI would like to wish you and
your family a wonderful holiday and a prosperous New Year.
With Gratitude,
ASI Board and Staff
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ASI Welcomes Gala Argent as New Human-Animal Studies Program Director
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We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Gala Argent has joined ASI as our new Director of the Human-Animal Studies program, where she will be responsible for communications, and managing existing and developing new ASI programs. Dr. Argent comes to ASI as a lifelong equestrienne and interdisciplinary scholar whose academic work concerns human-nonhuman animal intersections.
Dr. Argent holds a PhD in Archaeology, MA and BA degrees in Communication Studies, and currently teaches or has taught in higher education within departments of Art, Communication Studies, Cultural Anthropology, and Animal Studies. Her research and publishing focus on the interpersonal, intersocial and intercultural relationships between humans and other animals, and on the ways these can be seen to co-create and replicate mutually interdependent selves, identities and practices within various societies, past and present.
Dr. Argent brings experience and a proven track record of success in the policy and communications arenas, which will be invaluable in meeting ASI’s goals and objectives. In another realm of her life, she runs a legal publishing and conference corporation focusing on environmental, natural resources and climate change law and policy. Additionally, she has served as a consultant on policy and strategic planning for clients such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the International Desalination Association, and the California State Lands Commission.
Gala and her husband share their social world with two small parrots, Paulie and Okota, two dogs, Boris and Orion, and three horses, Bud, Shen and Della.
The ASI staff and Board are delighted to have Dr. Argent join ASI and we wish her a great start!
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Emerging Animal Shelter Trends
A Reflection From HAP Director, Lisa Lunghofer, PhD
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Though much work remains, we have seen a decrease in the number of animals euthanized in shelters over the past 8 years. This year, about 1.5 million shelter animals will be euthanized compared 2.6 million in 2011 (ASPCA).
A variety of innovative practices—some adapted from human services—are helping keep animals out of shelters and in homes.
Emerging trends include:
Adoption Ambassadors—Fosters families find adopters for the animals they foster. Not only do they provide a safe, temporary home, fosters also promote the animal and act as adoption counselors.
Community Outreach—By going into underserved communities and offering preventive care, we can keep animals healthy and at home. Mobile clinics offer routine care, such as vaccines and microchipping, and spay/neuter surgeries.
Empowering Pet Parents
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Motivational interviewing, an evidence-based approach to behavior change used for years in the mental health field, is being used to help people thinking about surrendering their pet to address underlying issues. Working on small, achievable goals to change undesirable behavior is a win-win for pets and people
Who Doesn’t Like a Sleepover?—Just one or two nights out of the shelter in a foster home has been found to reduce dogs’ stress levels (Gunter, 2019).
Rethinking Free Cats—Reducing or eliminating fees to adopt cats works! The Dubuque Regional Humane Society decreased euthanasia rates of cats by 80%, increased adoptions by 20% AND saved $130,000 in yearly expenses by permanently decreasing cat adoption fees. Research has shown that people who adopt cats for free are no less attached to them.
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ASI Shows Support for the PAW and FIN Conservation Act
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Last month, ASI signed onto a congressional letter along with other environmental, conservation and animal welfare organizations to support S.2491/H.R. 4348 also knows as the Protect America's Wildlife and Fish in Need of Conservation Act (PAW and FIN Conservation Act). This important legislation would restore the critical protections to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) that the Trump administration's new regulations weakened.
As many of you know the United Nations recently reported that there are one million species at risk of extinction. The ESA is our most effective tool for protecting these species. Animals like polar bears, orangutans, and gray wolves will not survive with weakened regulations. We must protect wildlife and wild spaces now and for future generations.
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Starting in January 2020, ASI will turn the spotlight on members to highlight how their work helps to create safer and more compassionate communities for all and how they have benefited from their ASI membership.
Are you a member and would like to share your new manuscript, scholarly article, project or program? If so, we'd love to share your story! To be featured in ASI's monthly e-newsletter, email your story to Ivy Collier at ivy.collier@animalsandsociety.org
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SUPPORT ASI THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
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We know you have many options when it comes to your end-of-year giving. Why not give to ASI? Your gift, no matter how big or how small is life-saving and life-changing. When you give to ASI, you are choosing to create safer and more compassionate communities for both animals and people.
Click here to donate today!
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