Proposed Bills Aim to Improve Lives of Dogs in Puppy Mills

A former Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps, Gary Garbrandt has spent the past six years as a conductor with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. The owner of two rescue dogs, Gary Garbrandt regularly donates to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

As a leading advocacy organization for the well-being of animals, the ASPCA received positive news in December as United States Representatives Charlie Crist and Brian Fitzpatrick introduced a pair of bills aimed to improving the lives of dogs owned by federally-licensed commercial breeders. The Welfare of Our Friends Act, which aptly spells out the acronym WOOF, would prevent breeders with suspended or revoked licenses from operating through another license acquired by another individual at the same address. As it stands today, breeders with suspended licenses can evade enforcement by pushing family members to apply for a license. 

The second proposed bill, the Puppy Protection Act, would demonstrably upgrade the United States Department of Agriculture's care standards, most notably by mandating that all dogs have sufficient access to nutritious food, adequate exercise, and veterinary care, among other standards.

How to Read Three-Light Railroad Signals

A former first sergeant with the US Marine Corps, Gary Garbrandt now works as a conductor for the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. In this capacity, he helps train crews connect cars, promotes the safety of bystanders and passengers, and inspects train equipment. Gary Garbrandt is also responsible for ensuring trains comply with railroad signals.

Railroad signals are often seen with three colored lights showing red, green, or yellow. When looking at these signals, each light governs a specific route. In most cases, the top light is the high-speed route that allows trains to travel at speeds above 45 miles per hour. High-speed routes are often straight ahead and do not require trains to go through any switches.

Meanwhile, the middle light governs the medium-speed route, which allows speeds of around 30 miles per hour, and the bottom light governs the slow-speed route. This latter route only allows speeds of up to 15 miles per hour.

When on a three-light signal, green means trains can proceed as normal because the tracks are clear for at least two blocks past the signal. Yellow means trains should proceed with caution because the track is only clear for one block beyond the signal; after the next signal, the route cannot be passed. Finally, red means a route is impassable.

Depending on the color and the location of the light, trains can see how they are supposed to move. For example, a green light on top, a red light in the middle, and a yellow light on bottom means that the high-speed route is clear for two blocks, the medium-speed route is impassable, and the slow-speed route is clear for one block.

ASPCA Works to Address Animal Hoarding

A conductor for the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company, Gary Garbrandt previously served 20 years in the US Marine Corps, where he held titles such as production supervisor, first sergeant, and detachment commander. The owner of a pair of rescue dogs, Gary Garbrandt sends monthly donations to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). 

The ASPCA works to prevent animal cruelty of all forms, including the complex issue of animal hoarding, in which individuals keep more pets than they are able to care for. In extreme cases, animal hoarding can lead to starvation, illness, or death, despite the fact the owners believe they are doing the right thing. According to the ASPCA, over 250,000 animals are victims of animal hoarding each year. Many begin collecting pets following the traumatic loss of a loved one, while others view themselves as rescuers and go out of their way to find space in their home for homeless animals. 

If you believe someone is hoarding animals, contact your local animal welfare organization or police department. Additionally, you can contact local service groups and mental health agencies to assess and help the individual engaged in hoarding. However, you also should alert the person of your intentions and assure them that their animals will receive the urgent care they need. Finally, you can help by volunteering with local shelters that might be impacted by taking in animals from a hoarding situation.

ASPCA Hosts First-Annual After Dark Event for Young Professionals

After spending more than 20 years in the Marine Corps, Gary Garbrandt has worked as a conductor for the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad based out of Minot, North Dakota. In his downtime, Gary Garbrandt supports the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and has adopted two rescue dogs.

As the first humane society formed in North America, the ASPCA began in 1866 as a result of the efforts of Henry Bergh. He sought to prevent animal cruelty throughout the United States. Today, the nonprofit fulfills this mission thanks in part to more than 2 million supporters nationwide.

Since it is a nonprofit, the ASPCA relies on financial contributions and special events to raise funds. On April 20, 2017, at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, the organization held its first-annual ASPCA After Dark event. The event occurred in conjunction with the annual Bergh Ball. The After Dark cocktail party featured young professional supporters of the ASPCA. It was hosted by actress Lucy Hale with music by The Misshapes. Attendees also had the opportunity to bid on silent auction items, including Seth Meyers tickets and a Hamptons getaway.