Humane Society

On June 14, 2007, DOROTHY A. (nee Wagner), beloved wife of the late Alfred B. Merendino, loving daughter of the late Robert and Jeannette Schwar, devoted aunt of Ben and Dan Mroz, precious sister of Jeannette Mroz. A Christian Wake Service will be held at the E.F. Lassahn Funeral Home, P.A., 11750 Belair Rd (Kingsville) on Sunday at 8pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Marks Church (Fallston) on Monday at 10am. Interment Holly Hill Memorial Gardens. Friends may call on Sunday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Humane Society of Harford County.

On July 25, 2007, WILLIAM EVERETT HUDDLESON "BILL" beloved husband of Doris Huddleson, loving father of Weldon Huddleson and his wife Kathy and Lois Huddleson, beloved grandfather of Wesley and Jessica Huddleson and Cory Miller; also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, family and friends. He was preceded in death by his daughter Denise Thurner. Family will receive friends on Wednesday, August 1 from 6-8 P.M., at WITZKE FUNERAL HOME, INC., 5555 Twin Knolls Road, Columbia, MD. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, August 2 at 11 A.M., at Linden-Linthicum United Methodist Church, 12101 Linden-Linthicum Road, Clarksville, MD, with interment to follow at George Washington Cemetery in Adelphi, MD. Contributions may be made in his memory to the Humane Society of Howard County, 8556 Davis Road, Columbia, MD, 21045.

In Baltimore CountyHumane Society offers $500 reward targeting dogfightingTOWSON -- Responding to the recent arrests of nine men on charges of being involved with dogfighting, the county Humane Society is offering $500 to anyone who provides information leading to an arrest and indictment on charges of dogfighting or watching a dogfight.Anyone with information about dogfighting should call 911 immediately, society officials say. Information: 410-833-2387.May Day celebration set for Cromwell Valley ParkTOWSON -- May Day will be celebrated in Cromwell Valley Park from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. May 1 at Sherwood Farm, 2002 Cromwell Bridge Road.

In Baltimore CountyCircuit judge refuses to stop auction today of Merryland FarmFORK -- A county Circuit Court judge refused to stop today's auction of the Merryland horse farm, saying he had to abide by the law, not emotion.Judge John F. Fader II ruled yesterday that Merryland Farm's deed did not preclude the sale of the farm, and that the plaintiffs -- the Long Green Valley Association; its president, Charlotte Pine; and Merryland tenants Nicholaus and Anna Zurkan -- had no right to stop the auction.

ROCKVILLE -- Police dogs, already armed to the teeth, have been given more protection for patrolling the mean streets of Montgomery County: bulletproof vests.Montgomery is the first large jurisdiction in Maryland to wrap its K-9 dogs in bullet-stopping Kevlar.The 21 vests, sleek and black, sport big white block letters on the flanks that spell POLICE. (The nameplates are removable, perhaps for undercover work.)They were modeled yesterday in the unforgiving noon sun by members of the K-9 units from the county police, Montgomery County Park Police and Takoma Park Police.

Humane Society urges crackdown on dog fightingThe Humane Society of Baltimore County is concerned about the tragic problem of dogfighting.We urge the State's Attorney's office to prosecute those arrested for dog fighting to the fullest extent of the law and push for maximum sentences, including jail time. We call on judges to impose stiff sentences for anyone convicted of dog fighting or even of being a spectator at a dogfight.Dog fighters obtain dogs and cats from "free to a good home" ads or they simply steal beloved family pets.

A Baltimore County developer has donated nearly 14 acres of marsh and woodland on Back River Neck to the Humane Society of the United States for the animal protection group's first wildlife sanctuary in Maryland -- a gift preservationists hope will inspire others to protect their land.John F. Owings Jr. of Reisterstown gave the land straddling Wildwood Beach Road to provide a habitat for animals and birds, especially ospreys, herons, ducks and shore birds."I thought it would help pay back what developers have done to the land," said Owings, a commercial and residential land developer.

BURLINGTON, N.J. -- Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corp., the biggest U.S. coat seller, stung by reports that it was selling parkas trimmed with dog fur, said it will donate $100,000 to the Humane Society.Burlington said it would work with the Humane Society to push for federal legislation requiring labeling of all fur products and banning imports of dog and cat fur. The company said it would have petitions addressed to the U.S. Congress in all its stores for customers to sign.Burlington said Tuesday it pulled about 340 fur-trimmed parkas off its shelves and offered to take back 140 parkas already sold, after the Washington-based Humane Society told the company the clothing was trimmed with dog fur from China.

DUNDALK -- A 19-year-old Baltimore County man was killed and four others were injured yesterday evening when the car they were in crashed into a brick wall in Dundalk.Baltimore County police said the 19-year-old victim, whose identity was being withheld pending notification of relatives, was thrown from the car when it crashed shortly after 5 p.m. in the 1900 block of Snyder Ave. He was pronounced dead at thescene, police said.Four others, ages 16 to 19, also were thrown from the car, police said.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Here in the land of legendary tolerance, where few things are believed to be beyond salvation, even some pit bulls get a second chance.So do many feral cats, geriatric dogs and homeless newborn kittens infested with ringworm.It is the rare stray that will not find respite at the nation's best-known "no-kill" shelter, in what some hope will become America's first "no-kill" city.But you needn't go far from the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals -- where a $15 million abandoned-pet shelter is under construction -- for controversy to begin.

The NFL season has begun, and I know who I am rooting for. Michael Vick. Once the highest-paid and perhaps most dynamic player in professional football, Mr. Vick has paid the highest price in the history of animal cruelty. And he is still paying. Now working as a gadget guy and back-up quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, Mr. Vick has a target on his back and a price on his head - a Philadelphia animal rescue group will make a donation every time Mr. Vick is tackled. Nice. I guess animal loving doesn't extend to human beings.

A new program that redistributes shelter animals has left the Humane Society of Baltimore County atypically flush with yipping, yapping and springing small dogs and puppies. This weekend, 31 pups arrived at the Reisterstown shelter from rural Tennessee. Because that shelter was overflowing with animals and was prepared to euthanize them, the Humane Society agreed to take in the dogs. According to Heather Hart, the Humane Society's animal center director, the swap is a new initiative aimed to bring dogs from crowded Southern shelters to the North, where they're more in demand.

Peter John Wilkinson A Memorial Service is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. Saturday June 13 at the Rachel Carson Conservation Park, 22201 Zion Road, Brookeville, MD 20833. In lieu of flowers the family requests that Memorial contributions be made in his name to Maryland Border Collie Rescue, The Humane Society, or Operation Family Fund.

Ex-church deacon arrested in molestation case A 48-year-old former church deacon was arrested Wednesday and charged with sexually molesting a boy who had been a member of his church, according to city police. Curtis Allen, 48, of the 5200 block of Cuthbert Ave. faces 13 charges of sexual abuse of a minor, rape and sexual assault. Allen is a former deacon at Beth-El Temple Church of Christ, in the 3900 block of W. Rogers Ave. Police began investigating the case after the 16-year-old contacted the department last year, a spokesman for the department said.

President Barack Obama fulfilled a campaign promise to his daughters with their new puppy, but the decision to forgo a shelter dog is sure to leave some animal activists growling. Bo, a 6-month-old Portuguese water dog, will make his public debut at the White House on Tuesday after months of intense speculation about his arrival. The first pooch is a gift from Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat who owns three Porties and wanted the Obamas to follow suit. The housebroken puppy, which has been undergoing extensive training in recent weeks, was named Charlie by his original owners, but first daughters Malia and Sasha rechristened him Bo in honor of their cousin's cat of the same name.

On Wednesday, March 4, 2009, Milton E. Triplett, Sr. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2009 at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens beginning at 10:00 A.M. In edition to flowers, friends are encouraged to make donations in Milton's name to: The Humane Society of Harford County, Inc., 2208 Connolly Road, Fallston, Maryland 21047.

On December 16, 2008, Thelma M. Donhauser Peddicord Friends may call at the family owned Ruck Towson Funeral Home, Inc., 1050 York Road (beltway exit 26), on Saturday from 11 AM until 12 PM, at which time a Funeral Service will be held. Interment Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens. In lieu of Flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her name to The Humane Society of Harford County, Inc., 2208 Connolly Road, Fallston, MD 21047.

Bel Air marks Fire Prevention Month The Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company will celebrate Fire Prevention Month with an open house from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. today at the main station at 109 S. Hickory Ave., and the Forest Hill substation at 27 E. Jarrettsville Road. The main station will offer tours of the facility, a car safety seat inspection by Maryland State Police, a booth on the county's 911 center, combat challenges between firefighters, and simulated fire drills. The auxiliary will sell pit beef and sodas.

Social workers still very much underpaid Daphne McClellan and Elizabeth Clark's column "It's time for the givers to receive" (Commentary, Aug. 19) did an excellent job pointing out the need for Congress to support the Social Work Reinvestment Act. As a human resource professional in the field of mental health and social services, I can attest to the large discrepancy between the compensation for professional social workers (and other human services professionals)...

Had all the animals in America gotten together to vote on their spokeshuman, they might have given the paws-up to somebody like Wayne Pacelle. The chief executive officer of the Humane Society of the United States is articulate and savvy, the result of more than a decade of dealing with press and politicians. He's well-educated. And he's passionate about animals. Under Pacelle, who took over as chief executive officer in 2004, the Humane Society has seen its coffers swell, its membership grow and its style shift from that of gentlemanly pugilist to one more resembling a street fighter.