“A group hoping to improve the fate of stray and abandoned dogs in the Nisqually Valley appeared before the Yelm City Council Tuesday.

Yelm Animal Alliance is comprised of residents of Yelm, Rainier, Roy, McKenna and Tenino.

Alliance representative Lynn Brewer introduced the group, and explained its mission and goals for future Yelm animal care.

I understand that there have been some concerns regarding animal control, Brewer said. We see this as an alliance of community members.

What we want to do is find out how we can help.

While the group has several long-term goals, members said their immediate goal is public outreach so the community knows where they can go to find a lost dog.

Currently, the City of Yelm offers animal control and houses stray dogs that were picked up in a shelter at the Public Works Department on Rhoton Road.

A book with pictures of the dogs being held at the shelter is available for viewing at Yelm City Hall.

Brewer said the group would like to see directional signs to the shelter similar to the signs directing the public to the police department or city hall.

Ultimately, group members said they want to form a no-kill shelter in the community, but first would like to see the alliance work with the city to find homes for dogs that are not claimed.

Currently, the adoption fee is $55 per animal.

Dogs are held by the city for at least three days to see if the owner comes to claim them, plus two days for adoption.

However, the city usually keeps a dog for closer to 10 days, Mayor Ron Harding said,” quoting the NVN.

Oprah devoted her show Thursday, May 28 the world of animals many of us never see:
“Lisa Ling Investigates the Hidden World of Puppy Mills”
Just like with the Yelm Animal Alliance bringing up the local issue of animal treatment, Oprah was petitioned to do a show on animal treatment with a Chicago billboard:
“Just before Sophie (Oprah’s beloved cocker spaniel Sophie died on March 10, 2008) passed away, Oprahand thousands of driverssaw a billboard just off the Kennedy Expressway in Chicago that read, “Oprah: Do a show on puppy mills. The dogs need you.”…
“The billboard certainly worked. ‘It is my belief that when you actually see this, America, with your own eyes,’ Oprah says, ‘that you are not going stand for it.'”