Operation Houston #StrayDogCity Using American Strays Canine Survey from WA2S to Quantify Houston Stray Dogs & Create Educational Initiative!

WA2S Creates Operation Houston: #StrayDogCity and Initiates the American Strays Canine Survey to Quantify Houston's Stray Dog Population in March 2015

​FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Houston, Texas, February 18, 2015 – A project to count Houston's high number of homeless animals is planned for March, 2015. Operation Houston: #StrayDogCity is an effort by the World Animal Awareness Society (WA2S) to train and utilize volunteers to go into the field and count the animals. Much of the project’s focus will be on Houston neighborhoods hard hit by animal overpopulation; previous estimates suggest there are over one million dogs and cats on the city’s streets.*

WA2S was instrumental in bringing national attention to Detroit’s animal overpopulation in 2013 and 2014** and organizers hope to have the same results here. Operation Houston: #StrayDogCity follows an open forum held last month in Houston with Tom McPhee, WA2S' executive director. The open forum drew a large audience with representatives from more than 30 animal welfare organizations in attendance. At the forum, McPhee provided details about the Houston project to an enthusiastic audience who endorsed the idea of the survey as well as the educational components that accompany the project. 

Volunteer training and field surveys will take place the 3rd and 4th weeks in March, after which McPhee and the WA2S team will return to Michigan to compile and analyze the data collected. McPhee plans to return to Houston early May 2015 to present the survey results to the supporting organizations, the media, and city officials. 

"The Houston homeless animal population has exploded to an estimated 1.2 million,” said Angela Madeksho, founder of A.D.O.R.E Houston and Unity for a Solution member. “The observed result is rampant abuse and neglect not only of these animals but currently and previously owned animals that we see dumped and left to die. Whether this is due to lack of resources or awareness, Operation Houston: #StrayDogcity is an effort to unite the community to work towards a solution." 

"The research the WA2S has conducted through their American Strays 2030 Project in Detroit brought much-needed attention to that city,” added Gloria Medina Zenteno of Barrio Dogs, Inc. and Unity. "However, Detroit is an economically depressed, bankrupt city. In contrast, Houston is a wealthy city with a strong economy; there is absolutely no excuse for having an estimated one million plus homeless animals suffering on our streets. We hope that the national attention Operation Houston: #StrayDogCity brings to this crisis will result in a commitment of resources by the city and others to finally and meaningfully address it.”

WA2S' Tom McPhee added, "After spending the last week of 2014 filming stray dogs on the streets of Houston with Unity for a Solution partners, I believe it is safe to say that Houston has earned the distinction of Stray Dog City U.S.A. for 2015!"  Videos from December 2014 and January 2015 can be found below in this blog.

The World Animal Awareness Society – WA2S.org is a media non profit focusing a lens on contemporary human – animal interaction. WA2S Films is the award-winning creative department within WA2S that has collaborated on the production of animal related subjects for PBS, NATGEO, Animal Planet, and broadcasters around the world. WA2S films' latest collaboration is the upcoming NATGEO Wild mini series, “Is Your Dog A Genius?” which airs during sweeps in mid May 2015 and is hosted by Dognition.com's Dr. Brian hare. For more about the World Animal Awareness Society click here: http://www.WA2S.org

* BARC statistic reported by KHOU 11 News, khou.com/news/local/Residents-complain-about-citys-response-to-roaming-stray-dogs-216842061.html

** Detroit Grapples with Stray Dog Epidemic, August 29, 2013  www.cnn.com/2013/08/29/us/michigan-detroit-stray-dogs

 #StrayDogCity #OperationHouston #AmericanStrays

Field Producer

$60.00

Field Producer

To be listed as a Field Producer on every episode of every series produced by WA2S Films and the World Animal Awareness Society, you will have purchased this gift.  It is the equivalent of pledging $5 per month for 12 months.  The listing will appear in the text component of every video posting.  The listing will not appear in the actual video.

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Line Producer

$120.00

Line Producer

To be listed as a Line Producer on every episode of every series produced by WA2S Films and the World Animal Awareness Society, you will have purchased this gift.  It is the equivalent of pledging $10 per month for 12 months.   The listing will appear in the text component of every video posting.  The listing will not appear in the actual video.

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