Market umbrella sale

New York City Animal Care and Control, a nonprofit group that runs the city's animal shelter system, will have $434,000 whacked from its city contract next year, Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden said.
Local animal advocates are worried the cuts will make life tougher at the overwhelmed shelters, which take in thousands of stray and unwanted animals every year.
'Because of the bad economy, more pets are being turned in and fewer are being adopted,' said Jane Hoffman of the Mayors Alliance for NYC's Animals, an umbrella organization of rescue groups.
'The budget is already insufficient. This is a service New York City residents desperately need.'
Animal Care and Control receives about $8.6 million from a city contract to run three shelters, two intake centers and a contingent of officers in the field.
Unlike other animal shelters, which can turn away unwanted pets if they are full, AC&C shelters are required to handle all animals brought in by cops, owners and animal control officers.
AC&C officials said they don't know what kind of impact the budget cuts will have on services.
In previous years, cuts have forced shelters to scale back their hours and reduce the numbers of animal control officers in the field

Work-ex placement Zac picks up Midlands award after ten-week slot
Nov 12 2008 by Harriet Alexander, Birmingham Post
TWO potential stars of the Birmingham business community have been praised for their work experience at regional firms.
Zac Dixon, 27, won a Midlands regional award for social science work experience after impressing business chiefs during a ten-week placement at Be Birmingham.
The Phd student worked to improve cooperation between business, community, faith and public sectors and Be Birmingham - an umbrella organisation which aims to bring together those working for a better quality of life in the city.
Zac said: 'Working at Be Birmingham allowed me to gain practical experience as well as make fantastic contacts, especially in the City and within the field of public partnerships.
'It was great to be able to apply my ideas in a business setting and I loved the challenge of it all.'
After completing an undergraduate degree in sociology at Birmingham University, Zac continued his studies with a Phd and became increasingly interested in social policy. The Kendal-born student applied for an internship through the Social Science Workplace Experience Programme, which placed him at Be Birmingham over the summer.
He said: 'I applied for this placement programme as I thought it would provide me with guidance for the future, and allow me to develop my skills.
'I have been able to work on my own initiatives, learn about project management, and improve my communication skills - and all this will be useful in my future career.'
And the young entrepreneur certainly made an impact during his placement

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