Humane Society

The Marston farmers who were acquitted last year in the county's largest animal-cruelty case have filed a $700,000 libel and defamation suit against the Humane Society of Carroll County Inc. and two sheriff's deputies.Carroll Lynn Schisler and his brother, August Frederick Schisler, claim in the suit that the Humane Society, its director and its chief animal-control officer "maliciously, negligently and inexcusably exposed" the Schislers to "public hatred, contempt and ridicule."Also on Thursday, the Schislers requested zoning permission to re-open a small-scale slaughterhouse on their 112-acre farm.

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.

A Humane Society program responsible for neutering and spaying thousands of city pets has been canceled because of budget shortfalls. For four years, the Neuter Scooter traveled the city, making the surgeries available for free to dog and cat owners. Now the brightly painted, 36-foot bus sits in the parking lot of the Maryland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. "No one wanted to cut Neuter Scooter, but we just couldn't afford not to anymore," said Randy Brinton, president of the society's board of directors.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The Humane Society of the United States, the largest animal protection organization in the country, with approximately 2 million members and an estimated annual budget of $24 million, is launching a drive for federal legislation to improve interstate shipment of horses bound for the slaughterhouse."

M. Elizabeth MacGill, a retired English teacher and former president of the Humane Society of Carroll County Inc., died Saturday of a stroke at Westminster Nursing and Convalescent Center, where she had lived since March 1994. She was 91.Miss MacGill taught English at Garrison and Pimlico junior high schools and other Baltimore area schools. She retired in the late 1960s. Before she moved to the nursing home, Miss MacGill lived in a Westminster farm house. Miss MacGill had blue eyes and a passion for that color.

Bet you've never quite seen a party guest list like this one: Harlequin Great Dane, English sheepdog, golden retrievers, Pembroke Welsh corgi, Rottweilers, bulldog, Petit Brussels Griffon Vendeen, standard poodles, toy poodle and cairn terrier. And those were just some of the 40 to 50 canine guests at the "Black Tie and Tails" gala that celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Humane Society of Baltimore County. The Humane Society's Diane Kesler says the pooches joined some 200 human guests at the Sheraton North Hotel in Towson for the formal affair.

Tranquillity is an abundant commodity at the cemetery in Reisterstown where Penny, Posey and Max have been laid to rest.Underneath stately oaks, paper flowers have been placed over gray stone markers, many of them carved with loving tributes like those to Penny ("My Best Friend"), Posey ("Thank You for Loving Me") and Max ("You Will Always Sing in Our Hearts").The peaceful pet cemetery at the entrance to the Humane Society of Baltimore County is evidence of the passion people feel for their pets and the dedication of Elsie Seeger Barton, an animal lover sufficiently moved by the plight of strays that she left her 325-acre estate along with a $6 million endowment to the society when she died in May 1983.

Stephen Lynch's show starts tonight at 8:30 at the Rams Head Tavern in Annapolis, but people will be lining up around the block long before the doors open. Not only is the show sold out, but the Humane Society of Baltimore County has organized a protest against Lynch's song "Kill a Kitten." The Michigan-born, New York-based folk singer/comedian released the satirical song on his first album, A Little Bit Special. He is currently touring to promote his sophomore effort, Superhero, released in January on the What Are Records?

If you're considering adopting a dog or cat from the local shelter, prepare to be scrutinized.The Humane Society of Harford County boasts one of the strictest adoption procedures in the area, and its volunteers follow up with phone calls and even visits to try to ensure the animal has a good home.If you ever kicked your old dog in front of your friends, they'll get a chance to tell about the humane society about it. The society also demands that dog owners have fenced yards and that cat owners keep them indoors.

Casey, a 2-year-old German shepherd, waited in a kennel at the Humane Society of Carroll County as an employee prepared to take her to visit with a potential adoptive family. Casey scampered out of the kennel and followed the employee to another room, passing sheets of plastic hanging on the other side of the hall that block the wing where half of the dog kennels are being renovated. She is one of several dogs - along with a large white goose - inhabiting a limited number of kennels during the renovation project.