One State Is Over Whelmed With Dogs

The state of Arkansas has become so over whelmed with abandoned dogs that they have been sending them to Michigan and Missouri hoping that they will be adopted.

This has become really sad when there are so many dogs that even the locals can’t keep up with the supply and demand. One of the reasons that adopting a dog in the state of Arkansas is that the cost of spay/neutering a dog cost a lot with only a few low cost clinics being available to those who are in need.

The Pulaski County Humane Society director Kay Simpson said: There will be thousands and thousands of puppies just like this euthanized because there's no place for them to go. There are no spay/neuter clinics for 99% of Arkansas.

Read the article by Wendy Suares here.

This Dog Sure Has A Nose

Photo by belfasttelegraph.co.uk


What a sense of smell this dog called Theo has, who is a springer spaniel cross breed dog.Together Theo and L/Cpl Liam Tasker have achieved in just five months has broken the record for the most IEDs (improvised explosive devices) and weapons caches found.

L/Cpl Tasker said:I love my job and working together with Theo. He has a great character and never tires. He can't wait to get out and do his job and will stop at nothing.

It all began with the training that Theo had received before going to help save fellow soldiers lives.

Read the article here.

The Only Animals At This Sanctuary Were Either Dead Or Sick

Photo by Brett Roseman / Sun-Tim


You call yourself a sanctuary for animals and when the Cook County Sheriff’s came to your place they found dead animals and many of them under feed. What kind of place were you running Dawn Hamill to call it a sanctuary?

Hopefully the Hamill’s Dazzle Painted Pasture Animal Rescue/Sanctuary in Tinley Park, IL will never open again. Now Dawn Hamill has been charged with multiple counts of neglect and cruel treatment of the animals.

The bad part of the story is that eight of the puppies that were recovered had a contagious disease called Parvo. Let alone the dogs that had skin conditions and the cats that had respiratory conditions.

Read the article here.

119 Dog Seized From Smelly Home In Southern Medina County

Can you even imagine that many dogs living in a home and it smelled nice? Well when a humane officer with the Medina County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals named Mary Jo Johnson went up to the front door she smelled the odor coming from inside the house.

Mary Jo Johnson said: From the outside you could smell the conditions, all you saw were dogs. There were dogs on the countertops, dogs on top of cabinets, feces and garbage about twenty four inches deep on the first level.

Now if this doesn’t make you mad, they haven’t even charged this women and her daughter as of today. Hopefully the dogs will not be returned to them and they will find new homes for these poor dogs.

Read the article here.

Are You Thinking Of Sending Your Pet By Air

Airline Pet Deaths Increase in 2010

US domestic airlines reported 39 pet deaths, 12 injuries, and 5 lost pets during 2010.

The number of pet deaths reported by domestic US airline carriers in 2010 increased to 39, rising from 23 in 2009. The vast majority of the deaths (70%) involved brachycephalic, or short-nosed dogs such as Bulldogs and Pugs.

In addition to the 39 pets deaths in 2010, there were 12 reports of injuries and 5 pets that were lost. Most of the injuries were caused by pets trying to escape their kennels.

The biggest step travelers can take to help ensure their pet arrives safely is to makes sure the kennel is solid and to secure the doors and frame with zip ties. Several of the deaths in 2010 happened after pets escaped their kennels and were later hit by cars.

For more information and details on all the pet related airline travel incidents visit http://www.petflight.com.

A summary of all pet incidents for 2010 can be found at http://www.petflight.com/pet_travel_incident_summaries/2010.

British Veterinary Association President Worried About The Veterinary Student Fees And The Welfare Of Dogs

Vets Tackle Defra Secretary On Budget Cuts And Dangerous Dogs At Annual Dinner, UK

The President of the British Veterinary Association (BVA) used his annual London dinner speech last night to call on the Government to take action on veterinary student fees and the welfare of dogs and to respond to the consultation on dangerous dogs.

The Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP, Secretary of State for Defra, also addressed the guests, including parliamentarians, veterinary surgeons, and representatives from the agri-food industry, pet industry, welfare charities, research and veterinary education.

BVA President Harvey Locke began by raising concerns over cuts to animal health and welfare and disease surveillance budgets. He said:

"In the Comprehensive Spending Review Defra took one of the biggest hits. The profession remains deeply concerned that cuts in research and development and disease surveillance could have catastrophic consequences...

"We understand the immense downward pressure being exerted on Departmental budgets and competing priorities, but we would also caution against the unintended consequences of cuts that will have to be paid for in the future...

"Right now the UK enjoys some of the highest animal health and welfare standards in the world and so it is in all of our interests to ensure the viability of the farming sector amidst massive competition from abroad, where those standards may not always be as high."

On veterinary student fees, Mr Locke outlined the 'double whammy' of a long course and compulsory Extra Mural Studies in the holidays. He said:

"Our role as the guardians of animal health and welfare faces an uncertain future following the announcement that the cap on tuition fees will be raised to between 6 and 9 thousand pounds a year. We fear this could have a huge impact on the decisions of A-level students, with fewer and fewer opting for an expensive veterinary science degree.

"The BVA has been campaigning for many years to improve the financial situation for veterinary students who suffer the double whammy of an unsubsidised long course and additional financial burden of compulsory Extra Mural Studies (or EMS).

"Although the plans are not yet finalised we are bracing ourselves for veterinary degrees, which are costly to run, to be priced at the top of the scale, meaning veterinary students of the future will graduate with at least £45,000 of debt in tuition fees alone.

"Faced with these levels of debt, our concern is that those who do make it to graduation won't opt for the food animal practice and public health roles that attract smaller pay packages. We need to think carefully about how we can secure the future provision of large animal practitioners."

On companion animal issues Mr Locke asked Defra not to defer all decisions on dog welfare to the newly-formed Dog Advisory Council. He said:

"While the BVA fully supports the Advisory Council, we would urge the Government not to use it to delay decisions that might improve the health and welfare of dogs now.

"At a recent meeting of the Associate Parliamentary Group on Animal Welfare (APGAW) ...there was overwhelming support for provision for healthy breeding to be brought into Defra's welfare codes.

"We have long maintained that to ignore breeding in the dog welfare code is a serious oversight by Defra. In England we already have regulations that protect our farmed animals from breeding procedures that cause suffering or injury, but not for our pets.

"This contradictory approach makes little sense. Updating the welfare codes to include breeding would send a clear message that the Government is committed to improving the health and welfare of man's best friend."

On dangerous dogs Mr Locke renewed the BVA's call for the Government to respond to the Defra consultation, which found 77% in favour of scrapping breed-specific legislation. He said:

"Despite this overwhelming call from the public, the Government has kept its powder dry, repeatedly promising to announce its response soon...

"Secretary of State I would like to assure you that the BVA is prepared to work with all of the other organisations with an interest in dog welfare and public safety to find an effective solution.

"We all want to see people protected on private property; legislation that targets irresponsible owners and not just the way a dog looks; and tools that allow the police and other enforcement agencies to act swiftly to protect the public.

"And, crucially, we all want to work with you to achieve these aims."

Source:
British Veterinary Association

Orange Dog Inc. To The Rescue

Orange Dog Inc. Rescues Sixty California Pups Destined For Euthanasia And Transports Them On Its Freedom Flight, To Homes In Canada


On Friday, February 11th, The Orange Dog Inc. is proud to make it possible for 60 small breed dogs to be transferred from the LA SPCA and the Mary S. Roberts Shelter to the Edmonton Humane Society on a private Gulfstream III jet. This Friday will mark the fifth Freedom Flight that The Orange Dog Inc. has been able to provide transportation in saving these little dogs from certain death as a partner in the Edmonton Humane Society’s extremely popular animal transfer program, “California Canine Cuties”. “Love will be in the air” during life-saving animal transfer to Edmonton.

This Valentine’s Day weekend, while we are all surrounded by flowers, chocolates and shades of red and pink, a love story with real heart is going Orange.

On Friday, February 11th, The Orange Dog Inc. is proud to make it possible for 60 small breed dogs to be transferred from the LA SPCA and the Mary S. Roberts Shelter to the Edmonton Human Society on a private Gulfstream III jet. This Friday will mark the fifth Freedom Flight that The Orange Dog Inc. has been able to provide transportation in saving these little dogs from living months on end in a shelter, with the chance of eventually being euthanized, as a partner in the Edmonton Humane Society’s extremely popular animal transfer program, “California Canine Cuties”.

The Orange Dog Inc. is the brainchild of Edmonton businesswoman and philanthropist, Jan Folk. As a friend and generous donor to the EHS, Jan leapt at the opportunity to help in this life-saving initiative in the spring of 2009, but still she wished she could do more. The Orange Dog Inc. was born.

The Orange Dog Inc. believes that the most powerful solutions to the plight of the powerless are in the hands of those who demonstrate the commitment, courage and imagination to take one-on-one action. Folk explains, “The Orange Dog Inc. was created as an online retailer of quality, sustainably made products for dogs and their owners alike, where 100% of profits are donated back to the Freedom Flight Program, and has evolved into something much greater. Committed people are doing amazing things, and we want to say thanks. My hope is that when you read the stories about the Freedom Flight Program, you’ll be inspired to donate.”

With the “Love is in the air” flight leaving from Airflite, Long Beach, Folk will have the opportunity to personally thank the dedicated volunteers in that area for their unbelievable hard work in ensuring that each dog be spayed or neutered, receive all necessary vaccinations, and have medical exams and testing before their trip. “It will be very emotional as these hard working volunteers say goodbye to the dogs that they have come to love,” says Folk. “But I can’t wait to meet them and hear their amazing stories.”

Departure: 8:00 am PST on February 11, 2011 from 3250 Airflite Way, Long Beach, CA 90807
*Media please arrive no later than 7:00am PST for departure

Arrival: 12:00pm MST on February 11, 2011 at Executive Flight Centre – 1020–8th Ave, Edmonton, AB, T6J 2T2
*Media please arrive no later than 11:30am MST for arrival

The animal transfer program was first launched to encourage people to turn to the EHS first when looking to bring one of the extremely popular small-breed dogs into their family. Staff at the shelters in California and in the area continuously deal with large volumes of admitted and stray animals each day, and feel that if they were not transferred it would result in these helpless dogs living for months in the shelters, whilst hundreds of other pups live stray, in the streets .

The Society finds that more people are willing to wait for the Orange dogs because they know that many of those sold in newspaper or on-line ads, or in pet stores may come from puppy mills or brokers where they often live in horrible conditions; and are often bred without considering the dogs’ welfare.

For more information:
The Orange Dog Founder, Jan Folk - Canada: 780-499-1295 USA: 714-913-7250 jfolk(at)orangedog(dot)ca

Orange Dog Marketing Manager, Ruhee Merali – 780-224-6408 rmerali(at)orangedog(dot)ca

Edmonton Humane Society Media Relations, Shawna Randolph - 780-720-0143