CLEARLAKE, Calif. – An informal group of volunteers is organizing with the main purpose of educating the public with regard to laws governing pet ownership.

Coordinator Melinda Young said the intent of Volunteers – Promoting Animal Kindness, or V-PAK, is to help pet owners provide adequate care for their animals, not to report incidents of noncompliance.

V-PAK – which, according to Young, does not intend to seek nonprofit status – currently consists of about 10 volunteers.

“Our goal is to begin by educating children on the humane treatment of animals and help those who have limited finances provide shelter, bedding and better living conditions for animals,” she said.

School presentations that include information about what is lawfully required of pet owners and how to provide that care recently began with Pomo Elementary School Early Start.

Young said presentations are age-appropriate and in story format from the perspective of a dog describing what it is like to be chained, forgotten and often unfed.

Stories illustrate that dogs can be depressed, fearful, anxious, lonely, preyed upon, cold, hot, hurt and that they need people to provide for their needs as domestic pets.

“Beginning with our youngest population of our community, our goal is to change thinking that has been passed down from generation to generation on animal care and treatment,” Young said.

Current pet ownership laws that V-PAK is emphasizing include:

– Must provide and maintain adequate and nutritious food.
– Must provide fresh, clean water at all times.
– Yard must be free of feces daily and in good condition.
– Must not tether a dog to any object for more than three hours.
– Must not deprive an animal of shelter or protection from the weather.
– Must not keep an animal on a chain or rope that may get tangled, or cause injury or prevent the animal from getting to food, water or shelter.
– Must not keep animal in enclosed area without proper exercise.
– Must not keep an animal tethered to an object on less than 6 feet of rope unless present with the animal at all times.
– Must not intentionally hurt, torture, wound or inflict cruelty on any animal.
– Must spay/neuter and obtain dog license and rabies vaccination.

V-PAK also intends to focus on building dog houses and runners to eliminate chaining. The group aims to provide bedding, food and other supplies to dogs, as well as cats in need.

Additional volunteers are being sought.

Those who would like to contribute their time, skills or supplies to effort should contact Melinda Young at 707-995-2342.

Email Denise Rockenstein at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .