Animal Hoarder Arrested In Cleveland, NC, Michael Vicks Ex Business Partner Gets Raided

What appears is the neighbors of an animal hoarder named Carolyn Grayson Owens had finally had enough when they report the smell and the noise that was coming from Carolyn home on which see had around eighty five dogs and cats living in her home.

. I only wonder why it took so long for anyone to finally make the call to report her. Now the Cleveland County Animal Shelter in NC will have to make the hard chose on which animals will have to be put down. This is just so sad because this animal abuser who has been charged with animal cruelty for what she did to these animals only wanted to have a real place to call home.

A neighbor named Angela Seal said: The dogs were barking so loud, my kids were trying to sleep. And another neighbor named Geneva Gimsonl said: At night when it's really hot, you have to hold your nose and your mouth just to walk past the road. It will make you sick to your stomach.

So why didn’t the two of you report this animal abuser to the authorities sooner.

Read the article here.


Michael Vicks Ex Business Partner Dog Business Gets Raided

A dog breeding business that is owned by ART Washington called Henry County dog boarding and breeding is facing charges for running a deplorable business that even had a dead dog that was found during the raid.

So let’s see what the prosecutor is going to charged this animal abuser with for running a dog business from hell.

Read the article here.

The International Fund For Animal Welfare Hits A Milestone

IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) Marks $1 Million in Donations From Partner The Animal Rescue Site

This month, IFAW, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, marks a milestone: $1 million in grants received from GreaterGood.org to help animals in crisis around the world.

GreaterGood.org distributes donations received from the GreaterGood Network's collection of websites, including The Animal Rescue Site, which enable people to support charities and causes they care about. IFAW has been beneficiary of initiatives on The Animal Rescue Site and GreaterGood.org's grants since 2008.

"The Animal Rescue Site makes it so easy for people to act upon their natural generosity and compassion. When so many individuals are willing to give just a little bit each, we can make a massive difference for animals," said IFAW President and CEO Fred O'Regan.

Grants from GreaterGood.org have enabled IFAW to help animals around the world, including:

Treating more than 50,000 animals after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti
Rescuing and caring for koalas, kangaroos, and other wildlife in Australia after the 2011 cyclone Yasi and the 2008 bushfires
After the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan, developing protocols to help animals in potential nuclear radiation zones
Caring for orphan bears in Russia and elephants, rhinos, clouded leopards and other animals in India, until they can be returned to the wild
Providing veterinary care to more than 40,000 dogs and cats in impoverished communities around Johannesburg over the last two years
Care of dogs and cats in the wake of United States hurricanes and floods
Protecting African wildlife from poachers
Rescuing stranded marine mammals on Cape Cod, United States


"Our community knows they can count on us to find the best charities to help animals in disasters, protect wildlife, and to help orphaned and injured animals," said Lisa Halstead, Board President of GreaterGood.org. "The International Fund for Animal Welfare has a thoughtful and ethical approach, rescuing individual animals that would perish without help, but also addressing the root causes of problems so that over the long-term we can reduce animal suffering."

IFAW has benefited from three different funding sources through The Animal Rescue Site. The first is The Animal Rescue Site's "Click Here to Give" campaign, where as a "Click Partner," IFAW receives a donation each time a visitor clicks the purple button at the top of the website's homepage. Anyone can click and every click is free for visitors: the donations are paid by The Animal Rescue Site's sponsoring advertisers.

The second source of funding is The Animal Rescue Site store, where a percentage of each purchase is set aside for charity. And finally, the Gifts that Give More[tm] program gives donors a quick, easy way to help, including regional disaster relief efforts, through tax-deductible monetary contributions.

"In addition to the generous financial contributions we have received, The Animal Rescue Site's petition functionality has been a powerful tool for IFAW's advocacy work, mobilizing people to speak out to authorities whose decisions are affecting animal welfare. We look forward to many more years of effective partnership with The Animal Rescue Site community," said O'Regan.

About IFAW
Founded in 1969, IFAW (the International Fund for Animal Welfare) saves animals in crisis around the world. With projects in more than 40 countries, IFAW rescues individual animals, works to prevent cruelty to animals, and advocates for the protection of wildlife and habitats. For more information, visit www.ifaw.org. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Photos and video available at www.ifawimages.com.

About The GreaterGood Network, The Animal Rescue Site, and GreaterGood.org
The Greater Good Network, a collection of websites dedicated to helping worth causes, began in 1999. Literally millions of people from around the world participate in its "Click Here To Give" program.

The Animal Rescue Site was added to the GreaterGood Network in 2002. The primary beneficiaries of its "Click Here To Give" button and The Animal Rescue Site store are International Fund for Animal Welfare, Pefinder.com Foundation, Fund for Animals, Rescue Bank, and Northshore Animal League America. Additional animal charities are beneficiaries of the Gifts That Give More [tm] program.

GreaterGood.org, an independent 501c3 nonprofit based in Seattle, distributes all donations received through The GreaterGood Network of websites including The Hunger Site, The Breast Cancer Site, The Animal Rescue Site, The Veterans Site, The Autism Site, The Child Health Site, The Literacy Site, and The Rainforest Site.

SOURCE International Fund for Animal Welfare

Sign The Petition To Save The Dogs In Iran

Destroying stray dogs in Iran
(This petition will be submitted to the Iranian government)

Despite the teachings of Islam and the kindness that the Prophet of Islam (PBUH) showed towards animals - including dogs, the Iranian government have imposed various bans and penalties on dog ownership and handling, and, more drastically, a large campaign has been underway to destroy all stray dogs. The members of the general public in Iran have also been encouraged to undertake killings of dogs, and are even being rewarded for it. Many such inhumane attempts result in prolonged suffering for the hapless victims.

Many of us understand and respect the Islamic views on dogs and their cleanliness. However, as citizens with no affiliations other than to our conscience, we also value life bestowed by God, and consider sinful acts that inflict suffering upon animals. Therefore, we ask the Iranian government to stop any unnecessary taking of dogs’ lives, and refrain from causing needless suffering for these animals. We feel that the issue of lack of cleanliness of stray dogs and their presence in and around towns and cities should be viewed in the light of a larger picture of hygiene in the Iranian society, where not enough attention has been paid to other health-related matters such as general food safety, disposal of clinical and hospital waste, road safety, air pollution, contamination of rivers and reservoirs that feed into waters that are used for public consumption, etc.

We believe that the decision to destroy stray dogs in Iran has been taken as an easy choice and without any proper assessment of other possible options. In view of the gravity of the matter, we therefore urge the Iranian government to review their course of action, and show the merci that was shown to them by the Prophet of Islam (PBUH). Their on-going actions do very little for their image both within and outside Iranian borders. We sincerely urge the Iranian government to undertake consultations with animal welfare groups and societies both within and outside Iran to find better and more humane ways of tackling the problem of stray dogs in Iran.


در حدیث آمده است که در راه پیشروی برای فتح مکه، لشگر پیامبر (ص) به سگی‌ که چند توله داشت رسید. پیامبر (ص) نه تنها دستور دادند که کسی‌ به آن سگ و توله‌هایش آسیبی‌ نرساند، بلکه شخصی‌ را کنار سگ گماردند تا از این امر اطمینان حاصل کنند.

در اسلام بر مهربانی به حیوانات و ظلم نکردن به آنها تاکید شده است. ولی‌ به رغم تعالیم اسلامی و مهربانی و لطفی‌ که پیامبر (ص) به حیوانات و حتی سگ‌ها نشان میدادند، دولت ایران ممنوعیت‌ها و مجازاتهای را برای داشتن سگ و در رابطه با رسیدگی به نقل و انتقال آنان تعیین کرده است. از این بدتر آنکه فعالیت وسیعی برای از بین بردن تمام سگ‌های بی‌ پناه در جریان است. مردم ایران نیز در کشتن سگ‌ها و حتی با پاداش‌هایی‌ برای این کار تشویق شده‌اند. بسیاری از این تلاش‌های بیرحمانه توسط شهر‌داریها و مردم چیزی جز زجر و شکنجه طولانی قبل از مرگ برای این حیوانات بی‌ پناه و گرسنه به همراه ندارد.

دیدگاه‌های اسلام برای ما قابل درک و محترم میباشند. ولی‌ برای ما جان مخلوقات بیزبان خداوند نیز ارزشمند است و کشتار و رساندن آسیب و درد به آنان گناه محسوب میشود. ما به عنوان شهروندانی بدون هیچ ارتباطی‌ جز با وجدان خود از دولت ایران تقاضا داریم که از کشتن غیر ضروری حیوانات و به ویژه سگ‌ها دوری نماید و حتی با آن مقابله کند. ما از دولت ایران خواهشمنیدم که ناپاکی سگ‌های بی‌ سرپناهی که اطراف شهرها دیده میشوند را از منظر بزرگتری در جامعهٔ ایرانی مورد بررسی قرار دهد، جامعه‌ای که در آن مسائل بهداشتی نظیر سلامت و بهداشت مواد خوراکی، انهدام زباله‌های آلودهٔ بیمارستانی، ایمنی‌ جاده‌ها، ناپاکی هوا، آلودگی رودخانه‌ها و مخازن زمینی‌ که آب مصرفی مردم را تامین میکنند، و .... مورد توجه کافی‌ قرار نگرفته‌اند.

ما بر این باوریم که تصمیم نابود سازی سگ‌‌ها به عنوان آسانترین راه و بدون در نظر گرفتن سایر راه‌های ممکن برای حل مشکل اتخاذ شده است. با نظر به سنگینی‌ و وخامت موضوع، ما خواستار آن هستیم که دولت ایران و دست اندر کاران کشتار سگ‌‌های بی‌ سرپناه را متوقف سازند، و همان مهربانی و شفقتی را نسبت به آنها داشته باشند که پیامبر اسلام (ص) نسبت به آنها نشان میدادند و توصیه می‌‌کردند. این عملیات تاثیر خوبی‌ در داخل یا خارج از مرزهای ایران به جا نمی‌‌گذارند و تصویر ناهنجاری در اذهان ایجاد می‌‌کنند. ما از روی دلسوزی صمیمانه از دولت ایران درخواست می‌‌کنیم که با انجمن‌های حمایت از حیوانات چه در داخل و چه در خارج از کشور مشورت نموده و راهی انسانیتر و مناسبتر برای حل مشکل سگ‌‌های بی‌ سرپناه ایران پیدا کند.

Sign the Petition here.

This Year’s 2011 Wiener Dog Race Championship Winner Is & Who Left The 2 Pit Bulls To Die

The winner of the 2011 Wiener Dog Race championship race in Batavia, NY is the three time winner Jake Arnold who is owned by Jane Smart. It looked like it was one fun day for the thousands who watched sixty three dogs trying to figure out on which way to go in the beginning before the dogs got off to the finish line.

See the photo’s and read the article by Howard Owens here.


Texas locals in the Millican area are looking for the people who are responsible for the two dogs named Vonn & Esperanza that were used in dog fighting. The two dogs were found on the side of the road left for dead when they were found. Now the local pet lovers are out for justice and hoping that they can put a stop to these dog fights.

Gwendolyn Inocencio, an animal activist said: We will find the people who did that to the two dogs who are sitting in our clinic. If they are watching this, I want them to know that. We can start piecing together patterns, and we can start piecing together locations, and we can create a web of networking to where we can give the sheriffs the information they need to do something about it. Just random disconnected information doesn't do much.
 Another animal activist named Jaimie Morrisroe said: It's just absolutely disgusting and it makes my stomach turn. I just can't stand it. I don't have a lot of money, but I have some spare time and connections and I will do whatever I can to help out.

So far the Humane Society is offering a five grand reward, with ten grand raised to help care for these two dogs. It won’t be long before these animal abusers are caught with a community working together they are bound to find them.

Check out their blog @ http://www.mylongwayhome.org/blog/

Read the article by Rashi Vats here.

These Dogs Wouldn’t Even Know That A Storm Was Going On

With the lick off of the two day event of the Animalia Pet Expo under way down at the Miami Beach Convention Center which included all kinds of programs like pet first aid classes, a Canine Couture Runway Show by Designer Kiki Hamann, dog birthday parties and micro chipping. While helping to raise money for the Humane Society of Greater Miami there will even be a silent auction.

All in all it sounds like it’s going to be one day afternoon for all these pets and their owners. You can even see some of the photos by the Miami-based designer Kiki Hamann here.


Then up in Montana you have the fourth annual Woofstock going on to help support the local animal shelter called Heart of the Valley. With all kind of great things going on for the pets and family.


And to top it all off the Humane Society of Weld County, Colorado are celebrating their fifty years of service providing care and services to stray and homeless animals.

So Congratulations from the Dogman2 on fifty years… Woof … Woof…

American Humane Association And The ASPCA To Deploy During Hurricane Irene

American Humane Association Mobilizes to Help Animals in Path of Hurricane Irene

Charity Offers Tips to Help Keep Children and Pets Safe

Following storm tracking on their mobile command center within the 82-foot rescue truck that houses 12 specially trained staff and volunteers, American Humane Association is driving its famed Red Star™ Animal Emergency Services team into position to be ready to help animals that may need rescue or shelter from Hurricane Irene.

Red Star has a nearly century-long legacy of animal relief, beginning with a Federal request to help wounded horses on WWI European battlefronts, now a theme in Broadway's "War Horse." Today, Red Star first-responder teams provide on-the-ground rescue and support services to State and local agencies and shelters by official invitation. The largest truck in the Red Star convoy carries rescue boats, a hoist, food and medical supplies, snap-together kennels for extending or creating animal shelters, food bowls and other items to keep animals safe and cared for. These animals may range from family pets in need of temporary shelter if their families must evacuate their homes to animals rescued from dangerous conditions.

Just recently, Red Star teams have served animal needs in Joplin, MO after its tornado, and animals in the flooded cities of Memphis, TN, and in Minot, North Dakota.

Even as the Red Star 82-foot truck drives toward North Carolina from its Denver home base, American Humane Association President Dr. Robin R. Ganzert waits out the hurricane on her North Carolina farm. "It's very important that families, and especially children, know that we will help keep their animals safe and sound should there be a need to evacuate homes," she says. "Before, during, and after a storm, it's important to know what to do to keep children and pets safe."

To that end, American Humane Association has prepared these tips:

.Before the storm
•Tie down or anchor outside objects that might fly about and injure someone.
•Bring children and pets inside; bring outdoor animals inside with a carrier ready large enough to turn around and lie down comfortably.
•Review your evacuation plan and double-check emergency supplies, bowls, water, food.
•Have a carrier at the ready.
•If your family must evacuate, take your pets with you.


During the storm ... if you cannot evacuate
•Choose a safe room for riding out the storm—an interior room without windows – and take your entire family there, including your pets.
•Stay with pets. If crated, they depend on you for food and water.
•Keep your emergency kit in that room with you (food, water, litter, meds).
•Know your pet's hiding places. That's where they may run; keep them with you.
•Secure exits and cat doors so pets can't escape into the storm.
•Do not tranquilize your pets. They'll need their survival instincts should the storm require that.


After the storm
•Make sure the storm has fully passed before going outside and assessing damages before allowing children or animals out.
•Keep dogs on a leash and cats in a carrier, and children close at hand. Displaced objects and fallen trees can disorient pets and sharp debris could harm them.
•Give pets time to become re-oriented. Familiar scents and landmarks may be altered and cause a pet to become confused or lost.
•Keep kids and animals away from downed power lines and water that may be contaminated.
•Keep an eye on children's emotional reaction to the crisis. Talk to children – and just as important – listen to them. Reassure them frequently that you, local officials, and their communities are all working to keep them safe and return life back to normal. Watch for symptoms of stress, including clinginess, stomachaches, headaches, nightmares, trouble eating or sleeping, or changes in behavior. If you are concerned about the way your children are responding long after the crisis is over, consult your doctor, school counselor or local mental health professional.
•Uncertainty and change in the environment affect animals, too, presenting new stresses and dangers. Your pet's behavior may change after a crisis, becoming more aggressive or self-protective. Be sensitive to these changes and keep more room between them, other animals, children or strangers. Animals need comforting, too. Comfort your pet with kind words and lots of pats or hugs. If possible, provide a safe and quiet environment, even if it is not their home.


"Our hearts go out to the thousands of people and animals in the path of this developing disaster," says Dr. Ganzert. "This year has held some of the most devastating weather on record. To those in need we will bring a century of experience and all of our resources in animal rescue. Help is on the way."

For more news about the Red Star team's emergency work during these disasters, please go to www.americanhumane.org

Where the American Humane Association Red Star™ team will be:
•Friday to Sunday: Staging at 1025 Blue Ridge Blvd, Fairgrounds, Raleigh, NC
•Sunday: Moving to Bob Martin Eastern Agricultural Center, Williamston, NC


About American Humane Association
Since 1877 American Humane Association has spearheaded major advances in protecting children, pets and farm animals. Today we're also leading the way in understanding the human-animal bond and its role in creating a more compassionate world. American Humane Association's science-based research and services span a wide network of organizations, government policies, and professionals in child or animal welfare. You can help make a difference, too. Visit American Humane Association at www.americanhumane.org today.


SOURCE American Humane Association




NYC Animal Welfare Agencies Deploy Responders in Preparation for Hurricane Irene

Pet owners urged to develop emergency plan

New York City animal welfare agencies, at the request of the New York City Office of Emergency Management (OEM), are mobilizing resources within the OEM's Animal Planning Task Force to aid in the emergency rescue and sheltering of animals in anticipation of Hurricane Irene.

The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®), NYC Animal Care & Control (AC&C), the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals, Bideawee, and NYC Veterinary Emergency Response Team (VERT) are urging pet owners to develop an emergency plan in advance to keep their families and pets safe. These agencies have also committed resources that include animal sheltering, veterinary support, search and rescue, supplies, staff, volunteers, and transport to provide aid in the days ahead.

"Disasters threaten the safety of people and animals alike, and it's often too late to create a plan for your pets when you're in the middle of a crisis," says Tim Rickey, senior director of the ASPCA's Field Investigations and Response team. "Why risk not being prepared for an emergency when all it takes is following some very simple steps?"

The Animal Planning Task Force offers the following tips on emergency preparedness:
•Always bring pets indoors at the first sign or warning of a storm or disaster.
•Make sure all pets wear collars and ID tags with up-to-date identification. Micro-chip your pet as a more permanent form of identification.
•Keep a pet emergency kit and supplies handy with items such as medical records, water, pet food and medications, and pet first aid supplies. Take this with you if you evacuate.
•Arrange a safe haven for your pets in the event of evacuation. Do not leave your pets behind.
•Choose a designated caregiver who can take care of your pet in the event you are unable.


For families who must evacuate, the City's evacuation centers, as well as its emergency shelters, will be pet friendly, and people are encouraged to evacuate with their pets. Low-lying areas of the city that are most at risk for flooding and other damage and are designated as "Zone A" low-lying areas in the Coastal Storm Plan include Coney Island and Manhattan Beach in Brooklyn, Far Rockaway and Broad Channel in Queens, South Beach, Midland Beach, and other low-lying areas on Staten Island, and Battery Park City in Manhattan. For details and updates, please visit the OEM's website at www.NYC.gov/oem, or call 311 to find an evacuation center.

New York City's Office of Emergency Management created the Animal Planning Task Force to develop plans for disasters — both natural and otherwise. The task force includes representatives from the ASPCA, the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals, Animal Care and Control of NYC, NYC Veterinary Emergency Response Team, the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), NYC Department of Parks & Recreation, American Red Cross in Greater New York, Bideawee, Humane Society of the United States, Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and Veterinary Medical Assistance Team One (VMAT-1).

For more information on disaster preparedness and safety tips from the ASPCA, please visit www.aspca.org/pet-care/disaster-preparedness/. For updates on the impact of Hurricane Irene on the animals in New York City, please visit www.aspca.org.

About the ASPCA®
Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is the first humane organization established in the Americas and serves as the nation's leading voice for animal welfare. One million supporters strong, the ASPCA's mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. The ASPCA, which is headquartered in New York City, offers a wide range of programs, including a mobile clinic outreach initiative, its own humane law enforcement team, and a groundbreaking veterinary forensics team and mobile animal CSI unit. For more information, please visit www.aspca.org. To become a fan of the ASPCA on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/aspca. To follow the ASPCA on Twitter, go to http://www.twitter.com/aspca.

About Animal Care & Control
Animal Care & Control of New York City (AC&C) is the largest pet organization in the North East, with nearly 40,000 animals rescued each year. As a non-profit organization since 1995, AC&C has been responsible for New York City's municipal shelter system; rescuing, caring for and finding loving homes for homeless and abandoned animals in New York City. AC&C facilities operate in all five boroughs to service all NYC communities.

About the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals®
The Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals, Inc., founded in 2002 and powered by Maddie's Fund®, The Pet Rescue Foundation, with support from the ASPCA, is a coalition of more than 150 animal rescue groups and shelters working with Animal Care & Control of New York City (AC&C) to end the killing of healthy and treatable cats and dogs at AC&C shelters. To achieve that goal, the Alliance, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, helps its Alliance Participating Organizations (APOs) work to their highest potential to increase pet adoptions and spay/neuter rates, with the goal of transforming New York City into a no-kill community by 2015. www.AnimalAllianceNYC.org.

About New York City Veterinary Emergency Response Team
New York City Veterinary Emergency Response Team is a volunteer group of veterinarians and animal health professionals dedicated to the support of New York City's working and companion animals in times of disaster.

About Bideawee
Bideawee, which means "stay awhile," in Scottish, is one of the country's oldest and most respected animal welfare and pet adoption organizations. Founded in 1903 by Mrs. Flora Kibbe, Bideawee has been providing shelter, care and compassion to homeless animals in helping them to find their forever homes for over 100 years.

Bideawee is a not-for-profit 501(c) 3 humane animal organization and 100% of Bideawee's funding comes from private sources. For more information visit: www.bideawee.org.


SOURCE ASPCA

Separating A Puppy Too Early Causes What

Puppies Prematurely Separated From Their Litters Can Develop Behavioral Problems In Adulthood

According to a study published online in the Veterinary Record, puppies who are separated from their litters too soon are considerably more likely to develop possible problematic behaviors as adults in comparison to those who stay with the litter for a minimum of two months.

The Italian researchers say this is crucial as behavioral problems may affect relationships with owners and the risk of subsequent abandonment.

The discoveries were based on 140 adult dogs, half taken from their litter and adopted between the ages of 30-40 days, and the other half taken from the litter at 60 days.

All the owners of the dogs, who were clients of many veterinary clinics in Naples, Italy, were asked to complete a telephone survey regarding their dogs, such as their provenance, breed, and a range of potentially problematic behaviors.

These included destructiveness, excessive barking, possessiveness around food and/or toys, attention seeking, aggressiveness, play biting, fearfulness on walks, and reactivity to noises.

At the time of the investigation the dogs were aged between 18 months and seven years. Half of the dogs came from a pet shop, while one in three came from a relative or friend, the rest were obtained from a breed. None of the dogs in the study had come from a shelter or had been obviously traumatized.

The most frequently reported behaviors were attention seeks and reactivity to noises. Dogs that were younger than 36 months were much more likely to be destructive and to tail chase the older animals.

With the exception of pica eating, aggression towards the owner, paw licking and shadow staring, all behaviors regardless of their breed, neuter status or size, were significantly more likely among dogs who had been separated from their litter before 60 days.

Likewise, some behaviors were more common in dogs from pet shops who had been taken early from their litters than pet shop dogs who were taken at 60 days.

The authors write, it is usually accepted that dogs experience a sensitive period, the socialization period, during which the social experiences and stimuli have a larger effect on their development of their temperament and behavior than if they occur in later life.

The evidence increasingly points to a mix of early genetic, environmental and experiential factors that may permanently reconfigure the DNA, so leaving lasting effects, the authors say.

They continue, early separation from the dam and litter, especially when mixed with housing in a pet shop may affect the capacity of the puppy to adjust to new environmental settings and social relationships in later life.

Behavioral intervention can address the development of problem behaviors and enhance the dog's relationship with the owners, eventually reducing the number of dogs that are relinquished or abandoned, they conclude.

Written by Grace Rattue

Original Authors of this study were:
L. Pierantoni, DVM,
M. Albertini, DVM, PhD
F. Pirrone, DVM, PhD

CAN (Comportamento Animale Napoli), Naples, Italy
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy

Who’s The Waggin Train® Tail Semi- Finalist Your Vote Counts

DOG OWNERS SING THEIR WAY TO THE SEMI-FINALS IN THE

WAGGIN’ TRAIN® TAIL WAGGIN’ JINGLE CONTEST


Five Finalists to Perform for Country Music Star Trace Adkins

It’s true – life with our four-legged friends is so full of tail waggin’ good fun that it makes us want to sing out loud! And now, 20 such dog owners from across the country are vying for a trip to Nashville for a chance to perform in front of Country Music star, Trace Adkins, as part of the Waggin’ Train® Tail Waggin’ Jingle Contest.

Designed to celebrate the special relationships we have with our dogs, the Waggin’ Train® Tail Waggin’ Jingle Contest asked dog owners to create an original jingle with lyrics describing how they enjoy a “tail waggin’ good time” with their four-legged friend. From now through Sept. 2, 2011, consumers are invited to visit www.waggintrainbrand.com and vote for their favorite jingle. In addition to the public vote, Trace Adkins will judge the semi-finalist entries to pick the five finalists. His judging counts for 80 percent of the final score and the consumer votes count for 20 percent of the final score to select the finalists.

“I actually wasn’t surprised to see so much musical talent among the dog owners who entered the contest and am looking forward to judging the semi-finalist entries,” said country music star Trace Adkins. “I hope all the dog lovers out there rally together and vote to help their favorite semi-finalist get to the next round.”

Adkins will judge the semi-finalist entries using the following criteria: jingle describes the good times enjoyed by the entrant and his/her dog (50%); musical performance reinforces the Waggin’ Train brand’s wholesome fun personality (25%); and overall creativity/originality (25%).

Five finalists will be flown to Nashville, TN, during CMA Awards week in November 2011 to perform their jingle at a private event in front of Trace Adkins. The Grand Prize winner, selected by Adkins, will get the opportunity of a lifetime, to perform their jingle in a recording session produced by the country music star.

“We created this contest to celebrate the fun, carefree times we share with our dogs and were truly impressed by the quality of the entries we received from dog owners across the U.S.,” said Sean Boland, Waggin’ Train® Brand Director. “Now that the semi-finalists have been selected, we want to invite dog lovers nationwide to visit www.waggintrainbrand.com to vote for their favorite jingle."

Waggin’ Train offers a full line of wholesome snacks made from natural ingredients that dogs love, including jerky treats, chews, dental bones and wellness products. The brand’s Tail Waggin’ Jingle Contest kicked off on June 9 at the 2011 CMA Fest in Nashville, TN, and culminates at a special event during CMA Awards Week (http://www.cmaawards.com/) in November 2011. For more information on the contest and to get the official rules, go to www.waggintrainbrand.com.



About Nestlé Purina PetCare Company

The North American headquarters for Nestlé Purina PetCare Company is located at Checkerboard Square in St. Louis, Missouri, where Ralston Purina was founded more than a century ago. Nestlé Purina PetCare promotes responsible pet care, humane education, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. One of the leading global players in the pet food industry, Nestlé Purina PetCare is part of the Swiss-based Nestlé S.A. – the world’s largest food company.

Owners Dog Eats 10 Grand Worth Of Diamonds

The owner of John Ross Jewelers in Albany, GA named Chuck Roberts has learned a valuable lesson to never leave his dog Honey Bun around his diamonds.



The whole mishap started when Chuck Roberts said: A customer came in and I jumped up out of my chair and came out here to wait on him. And, I left the chair where you could jump up on my chair and jump up on my desk. I looked all over and there weren't no diamonds, so immediately, I knew he'd eaten them.

I had to laugh when I first read that Chucks dog Honey Bun ate the diamonds thinking that it was a female. You know that females just love diamonds…LOL… but his dog was a male? Anyway he was able to get the diamonds back that’s all that counts.

Read the article here.

Do You Really Know About Ticks

PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY: The Truth About Ticks...Myth vs. Fact

Disease-carrying ticks pose health risks to dogs and people, no matter where they live. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that ticks in every U.S. state carry diseases, and the number of tick-borne diseases is increasing.

Since signs of tick-borne diseases are difficult to recognize in both pets and humans, simple preventive measures and understanding as much as possible about these creepy crawlers are the best ways to keep everyone safe. Here, a leading authority on the subject – www.DogsAndTicks.com – debunks some of the most commonly believed myths about ticks.

MYTH:

The best ways to remove a tick are with a lit match, fingernail polish or petroleum jelly.


FACT:

None of these methods cause the tick to "back out," and all of them may actually result in the tick depositing more disease-carrying saliva into the wound, increasing the risk of infection.


Experts say the best way to remove a tick is to grasp it as close to the skin as possible with tweezers and pull the tick's body out with a steady motion. Wear rubber gloves, and clean the skin with soap and water after removal. Dispose of the tick by placing it in alcohol or flushing it down the toilet.


MYTH:

Lyme disease is the only illness that ticks can transmit to dogs and humans.


FACT:


Lyme is the most widely-known and common tick disease, but there are many others that ticks carry and can transmit to dogs and people. These include Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis (sometimes known as "dog fever"), ehrlichiosis and some emerging diseases with potentially devastating effects.


MYTH:

If I find a tick on myself or someone in my family, Lyme and other tick diseases can be ruled out immediately with a blood test.


FACT:

According to the CDC, laboratory results for tick-borne illness in people are often negative on the first sample and require a second test 2 to 3 weeks later to confirm infection. Further, children are more susceptible to infections due to their immature immune systems.


Signs of Lyme are flu-like symptoms such as fever and malaise with or without a bulls-eye rash, but many people (and dogs) with tick-borne illness don't experience any symptoms – especially in the early stages of the disease.


MYTH:

Ticks aren't a problem in the winter, when it's too cold for them to live outside.


FACT:

In most areas of the country, high season for ticks runs from April to November. Experts recommend year-round preventives, however, as infection can occur at any time of the year. In the winter, for example, some tick species move indoors and are in even closer contact with pets and people, while others make a type of antifreeze to survive during the winter months.


MYTH:

Ticks live in trees, so as long as I don't live near or visit a wooded area, I don't have to worry about them.


FACT:

Ticks live on the ground no matter the locale, be it an urban park or a rural area. They typically crawl up from grass blades onto a host and migrate upwards, which is why they're often found on the scalp.


MYTH:

Ticks are insects.


FACT:

Ticks are a species of parasites called arachnids that belong to the same family as mites.


To learn more about how to keep your pets and families safe, visit www.DogsAndTicks.com.

SOURCE DogsAndTicks.com

Celebrity’s Cindy Crawford, Brooke Shields, Maksim Chmerkovskiy And Joanna Krupa Help Support Much Love Animal Rescue

Propel® Zero Supports Much Love Animal Rescue on National Dog Day

Celebrity autographed doghouse signed by Propel® Zero Spokesperson Cindy Crawford, Actress Brooke Shields, Dancing with the Stars' Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Model Joanna Krupa Hits eBay

Photo by John Sciulli

Propel® Zero is donating a doghouse signed by spokesperson Cindy Crawford and her celebrity friends which will be auctioned on eBay, beginning on National Dog Day, August 26, 2011. All proceeds earned from the auction will benefit Much Love Animal Rescue, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the well-being of animals. The auction begins Friday, August 26 and concludes on Friday, September 2.

The auction marks the second donation from Propel Zero to Much Love, which garnered $20,000 for its organization during the "Propel Zero to 1000" launch in April. The event, which raised awareness for the benefits of an active lifestyle, included a celebrity dog walk led by Cindy Crawford and hundreds of Los Angeles-based dog lovers. During the event, the navy and clear acrylic doghouse was signed by actress Brooke Shields, Dancing with the Stars' Maksim Chmerkovskiy and model Joanna Krupa.

"Propel Zero is the only hydration beverage to energize active, inspired men and women, replenish them after their activity and protect them on the go," said Esperanza Teasdale, Propel Zero Senior Director of Marketing. "We're thrilled to be raising funds for Much Love and honoring our furry friends who inspire us to get moving and stay true to the Zero to 1000 pledge."

Research(1) shows that dog companionship leads to increased physical activity, along with better weight management and overall mood. Best of all, dogs inspire us all to meet the "Zero to 1000" pledge: that's 1,000 more minutes of moving – per month, per season, or throughout the year, depending on the level of challenge you're inspired to tackle.

Much Love Animal Rescue is a nonprofit organization run entirely by dedicated volunteers. Much Love relies on donations to help nurture abandoned dogs and cats back to health and provide a better living environment until they find stable and loving homes.

"Much Love Animal Rescue is so grateful for the partnership with Propel Zero and their generous donation to our organization," said Stacy Bodell, member of the Much Love Board of Directors. "Their donation has allowed us to rescue twice the number of animals from shelters than we usually could in the summer months."

To learn more about the auction or take the Propel Zero "Zero to 1000' pledge, please visit facebook.com/propel.

About Propel® Zero

Propel® Zero is the zero-calorie, nutrient-enhanced water that replenishes (with Vitamins C, E), energizes (with B Vitamins) and protects (with antioxidants). Propel® Zero comes in seven ready-to-drink flavors: berry, grape, black cherry, lemon, blueberry pomegranate, kiwi-strawberry and peach. It is also available in powder form with eight flavorful ways to enhance your water on-the-go. For more information about new Propel® Zero, visit Propel® Zero.com.

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo offers the world's largest portfolio of billion-dollar food and beverage brands, including 19 different product lines that generate more than $1 billion in annual retail sales each. Our main businesses -- Quaker, Tropicana, Gatorade, Frito-Lay, and Pepsi Cola -- also make hundreds of other enjoyable and wholesome foods and beverages that are respected household names throughout the world. With net revenues of approximately $60 billion, PepsiCo's people are united by our unique commitment to sustainable growth by investing in a healthier future for people and our planet, which we believe also means a more successful future for PepsiCo. We call this commitment Performance with Purpose: PepsiCo's promise to provide a wide range of foods and beverages for local tastes; to find innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment, including by conserving energy and water usage, and reducing packaging volume; to provide a great workplace for our associates; and to respect, support, and invest in the local communities where we operate. For more information, please visit www.pepsico.com.

About National Dog Day

National Dog Day was founded in 2005 by Pet Lifestyle expert, Colleen Paige, and has helped to save over 1000,000 homeless dogs to date.

(1) National Institutes of Health, March 2008

Michigan State University Study, March 2011

SOURCE Propel(R) Zero

HBO Special Called MADONNA OF THE MILLS

This Wednesday, August 24th at 8pm HBO2 presents MADONNA OF THE MILLS

America has a nasty secret. Nearly all of those cute puppies that are sold in pet stores come from “puppy mills” in rural areas across the U.S. – factories that exploit dogs for profit under inhumane conditions, and export puppies riddled with parasites and a litany of longterm health problems. It’s little wonder; the mothers of these puppies spend their entire lives in tiny, unsanitary cages, never walked, never petted, never doing anything but making puppies. When these dogs can no longer produce litters or money for their owners, they are put to death – stoned, shot, drowned or starved.

MADONNA OF THE MILLS tells the story of Laura, a dental office manager from Staten Island who stumbled on this secret five years ago, and vowed to save as many of these breeding dogs, both male and female, as she possibly could. To date, Laura has rescued over 2,000 dogs from Amish and Mennonite farmers in Pennsylvania.



This looks like it will be a great film that will open some peoples eyes on haw bad the puppy mill industry really is. Don't forget the tissues, because you will probably be crying by the end.

Will Landlords Stop Allowing Dogs After Court Ruling

You have to wonder if landlords across the country will think twice about the liability of being hit with a lawsuit after the Supreme Court in South Carolina have ruled with the Circuit Court.

So now with the Supreme Court’s verdict with finds that the landlord can be held liable if a dog bits someone in the common area of their building.

Photo by: unknown

So with this decision all dog owner who are renters will now have to worry if they will be evicted for having a dog living with them. So what’s a dog suppose to do now?

Read the article by Tony Santaella here.

Navajo Nation Over Whelmed With Wild Dog

When dogs are left to roam or are abandoned in the wild they form as groups of wild pack dogs, so out it the Navajo Nation things have really gotten out of hand with these dogs.

Kevin Gleason who is the Wildlife and Animal Control Manage said there are as many as four hundred and forty five thousand dogs on the reservation. Kevin also said: They kill everything, Cats, dogs, cattle, sheep and horses. We’ve also had people severely injured by them. We’ve had people with horrendous bites. We just had a case where a man lost thirty seven sheep to a pack of dogs. We have that going on all the time. Our officers respond to more than twenty five bite cases a month, and twenty five livestock damage cases a month.

Virginia Ravndal who started the Lakota Animal Care Project said: We don’t have a big problem with attacks on people, although we do occasionally have dogs that are hungry and will pack up and kill young livestock. Probably a bigger issue for us is disease, starvation and freezing. Mange is a huge problem. And going into South Dakota winters without hair, a lot of dogs don’t make it.

The article goes on to say how many of the tribes people are too poor to afford the proper vet care or even to be able to feed the dogs, which has become a serious concern with all these dogs roaming around and attacking their live stock.

So have the wild dogs taken over the reservation ?

Read the article by Jeri Clausing here.

Arthritis in Pets Tips

Tips for Reducing the Signs of Arthritis in Pets

NationalPetPharmacy.com provides recommendations for nutritional management of joint disease in pets

According to the Arthritis Foundation, arthritis affects one in every five adult dogs in the United States and is one of the most common sources of chronic pain that veterinarians treat. Pet owners can easily be overwhelmed by the variety of treatment options available to help alleviate their pet's symptoms. NationalPetPharmacy.com provides the following nutritional recommendations for managing joint disease in pets.

"Unfortunately, there is no single magic cure for arthritis and joint pain in pets," states Alex Molldrem, DVM. "The most effective treatment plan typically involves a combination of weight management, nutritional supplements, dietary changes, and prescription medications."

When pets are diagnosed with arthritis, there are several nutritional changes that can be made to help alleviate the symptoms. First and foremost is the pet's weight. Approximately 25 to 40 percent of adult dogs are overweight(1). With each and every step, the excess weight pets carry around is extra impact on their joints. This persistent impact steadily erodes away any remaining joint cartilage. Slow and steady non-impact exercise, such as swimming or walking, is ideal to burn off the extra calories without further degrading joint health. Exercise not only helps maintain heart, lung, and digestive health, but it also increases blood flow and oxygenation to the joints, ultimately helping to maintain joint health and lubrication. Low calorie vet diets can also help pets shed the extra pounds.

"Joint supplements and anti-inflammatory pet meds have also proven effective in helping to protect joints and alleviate the symptoms of arthritis in pets," states Molldrem. "The most common joint supplements are glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and the long chain Omega-3 fatty acids, known as EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)."

Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are known as disease-modifying agents. These help to improve cartilage health by providing the necessary building blocks needed to maintain and repair damaged cartilage. Both of these agents work synergistically to improve the production of glycosaminoglycans (the matrix of articular cartilage) and to reduce proteolytic activity (the catabolic breakdown of articular cartilage). These agents can be supplied via dietary supplements or injection, and several veterinarians recommend starting pets on joint supplements earlier in life, prior to the onset of arthritis, as a preventative measure.

Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to help control joint inflammation and reduce the activity of destructive joint enzymes. These essential fatty acids have been shown to compete with arachidonic acid in the body, which is a precursor to inflammatory enzyme activity. With Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation, these fatty acids will out-compete arachidonic acid, thereby reducing the amount of destructive joint inflammation. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in high concentrations in fish oils and flaxseed.

In addition to pet supplements, anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications are commonly prescribed to maintain the comfort of an arthritic pet. These medications reduce the degree of joint swelling, which ultimately helps relieve joint pain. Owners should consult with their veterinarian to identify the right anti-inflammatory medication for their pet.

"While nutritional management of joint issues has proven very effective, others have seen great success with methods such as physical therapy, massage, acupuncture, and laser therapy to help manage their pets' arthritic symptoms," states Molldrem. "The bottom line is that you no longer need to feel helpless against your pet's struggle with arthritis and joint pain."

20 Years In Jail If Your Dog Kills Someone?

That’s just what they might be doing in Australia if the government has their way after a four year old girl named Ayen Chol was mauled to death by a pit bull.

It’s always very sad when you read about a dog attacking someone and especially a child. Pete Walsh who is the Nationals deputy leader said: These types of dogs have lost their right to exist in Victoria. Those dogs in future will be able to be seized by local government and destroyed because they will be unregistered.

So with the states list of dogs that meet the restricted dog list it will come down to owner be where because your dog might get you twenty years in jail.

Read the article here.

Dogs Abandonment, Trojan Dog Androids And The So Called Cat Sanctuary

It’s so sad when you read about someone just abandoning their dog when they move out, so when I read out an animal abuser named Treysa R. Sylvester who had left her three dogs with no food or water it makes me upset.

The question goes over and over why would anyone do something like this that caused two of the dogs to die while trapped in their cages and miraculously one of the dogs survived. Now Treysa R. Sylvester has been charged with three counts of abandonment and two counts of animal cruelty.

Read the article here.


Then you have PETA who is striking back at those who have downloaded Dog Wars Android app to their cell phones. There is a Trojan that is in their version that will embarrass anyone who has used this app. Because it will send out to all of your contacts on your cell phone a message saying: I take pleasure in hurting small animals, just thought you should know that. And you will start receiving text messages from PETA.

Either way game or no game animal abuse is just wrong.

Read the article by Tony Bradley here.


Then you have the update on the so called Haven Acres Cat Sanctuary in High Springs, Fl which was anything of a place to be called a Sanctuary. The state Prosecutors has up the charges against the owners Pennie and Steve Lefkowitz when they had six hundred and ninety seven cats removed from their place to forty seven counts of third degree felonies.

The real sad part is that these cats were suffering from diseases and parasites and over sixty cats had to be killed.

Read the article by Cindy Swirko here.

Don’t Lose Your Dog With This GPS Tracking Technology

Locate and Track Your Pet Anytime With Tagg—The Pet Tracker

GPS Tracking System Merges Technology, Functionality and Design, Bringing Peace of Mind to Pet Parents

Pet parents no longer have to worry about losing their beloved companions with the arrival of Tagg—The Pet Tracker™, an advanced pet tracking system equipped with GPS and wireless capabilities that enables pets to stay in touch with their owners. Tagg—The Pet Tracker is the first product from Snaptracs Inc., a newly formed, wholly owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM), the world leader in mobile technologies. The Tagg pet tracking system uses advanced GPS technology to enable pet owners to know where their pets are and be notified if they wander off. Tagg provides peace of mind for any pet parent by providing them access to their pet's whereabouts via a mobile phone, mobile device or computer.

Hundreds of thousands of pets go missing every year, and according to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy, only 15 to 20 percent of lost dogs and only two percent of lost cats are ever returned to their owners. Tagg—The Pet Tracker is a purpose-built solution that uses a sophisticated combination of GPS and wireless technology to monitor a pet's location and quickly notify the owner via email and/or text if the pet leaves its Tagg zone, the area where it spends most of its time—typically the home, yard and adjacent areas.

The Tagg tracker is designed for dogs and cats over 10 lbs. and is a small, lightweight and durable device that attaches securely to an existing collar. Built to withstand all the running, digging and jumping of a pet's busy day, the tracker is meant to be worn at all times, even while swimming. The long-lasting battery can last up to 30 days, but actual battery life will vary based on usage patterns. Convenient features have been built into the compact, stylish and comfortable tracker, including battery recharge notifications and a trip button, which allows pet and owner to take walks, car rides or travel without sending an alert.

"We created Tagg because we understand that pets are an important part of today's family. As pet owners ourselves, we were inspired to design a purpose-built solution that provides owners the peace of mind that their pet is where it is supposed to be," said Dave Vigil, president of Snaptracs. "A lost pet is something no owner wants to experience, and we are proud to have developed a simple-to-use and affordable tracking system that will help reunite pet and owner quickly if the pet wanders off."

Tagg—The Pet Tracker service is provided on the Verizon Wireless network, giving pet parents reliable access to tracking information via its nationwide coverage. The Tagg Master Kit, which includes all hardware and one full year of service, is $199.99 and has an anticipated September ship date. Individual trackers for additional pets in the same family are also available.

For more information about Tagg—The Pet Tracker, visit www.tagg.com or follow the brand on Twitter @TaggTracker and Facebook at www.facebook.com/TaggThePetTracker.

About Tagg—The Pet Tracker

Tagg—The Pet Tracker is the first product from Snaptracs Inc., a newly formed, wholly owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM), the world leader in mobile technologies. Our mission is to make people's lives easier and safer. Tagg—The Pet Tracker was born out of our love for our pets and our system uses advanced GPS and cellular technology to help people find their lost pets.

Tagg—The Pet Tracker is a trademark of Snaptracs Inc. Qualcomm is a registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.


Snaptracs Contact:
Danielle Jackson
Phone: 1-858-651-9575
Email: danijack@qualcomm.com


SOURCE Snaptracs Inc.

If Your Dog Gets Heartworm You Better Pray Because Supplies Are Gone

Immiticide supplies run dry

The only heartworm adulticide approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in canines is temporarily unavailable, with no known re-release date.

News of the Immiticide (melarsomine dihydrochloride) shortage surfaced last week with an open letter to practitioners from drugmaker Merial that warns of an outage expected to “last several weeks to months.” The letter, dated Aug. 4, asked practitioners to help conserve Merial's dwindling Immiticide supplies by ordering product only to treat dogs with severe heartworm infestation. However, the notice of the shortage caused a run on remaining stock. The company's technical services department confirmed today that Merial is "officially out" of the drug.

“After mailing the Dear Doctor letter we experienced an unprecedented surge in Immiticide orders and depleted inventory much more rapidly than anticipated,” explains Natasha Mahanes, a Merial spokeswoman.

Immiticide availability has been shaky since early last year, when Merial, the animal health arm of Sanofi, reported that its U.S. supplier could no longer obtain the product’s active ingredient, and the FDA was hesitant to allow Merial’s overseas supplier to fill American orders. As a result, Merial stopped allowing veterinarians to simply order and stock the drug in an effort to conserve U.S. supplies and implemented a “restricted distribution program.” Translation: Veterinarians treating only severe cases of heartworm disease could access the drug on a case-by-case basis with approval from the company.

In an email exchange with the VIN News Service, Mahanes noted that Merial’s latest Immiticide supply problems are not tied to the troubles of 2010. Rather, it is “a new and separate manufacturing challenge," she writes.

“This situation is related to technical issues providing finished product to us. The finished product is made by a manufacturing company in the U.S.," she explains. "… We are working diligently to mitigate this situation, and there is a possibility that an alternate source of supply may be identified."

That’s encouraging news for veterinarians such as Dr. Skip Fix, a practitioner in Houston. With two boxes of Immiticide left in his clinic, Fix is pondering how best to ration it.

“At this moment I have a 50-pound dog that I’m going to treat,” he says. “There are five bottles to a box, and he’s going to need two-and-a half of them. We’re trying to find out from the shelter near us if they need the remainder for a small dog so we can use every last drop of this.

“This shortage could take a month, it could take forever,” Fix adds. “I usually have a couple heartworm cases going every week, so it is a concern."

Once his in-house supply runs dry, Fix plans on turning to a heartworm preventative and doxycyline to manage infestation — a protocol supported by the American Heartworm Society, slated soon to release updated guidance for practitioners on treating heartworm-positive dogs without Immiticide.

Dr. Tom Nelson, a past president of the American Heartworm Society and a practitioner at the Animal Medical Center in Anniston, Ala., notes that the use of doxycyline in combination with heartworm preventive has been shown to reduce pathology, the number of adult worms and the infective potential of microfilaria in canine patients.

"The shortage of Immiticide is unfortunate, but we're going to have to deal with it," he says.

Treating heartworm is tricky business. An infected dog, for example, must not vigorously exercise because an increase in heart rate raises the risk that fragments of dead worms in its blood vessels could cause thromboembolism — the formation of an embolism, in this case of dead worms — to the lungs, which usually presents as acute dyspnea. The condition is treatable with steroids but may prove fatal. Nelson notes that Immiticide quickly kills worms, thereby shortening the time that a dog's exercise must be restricted.

Slow-kill therapies, such as the use of heartworm preventatives, potentially allow for greater opportunity in which worms might block blood vessels, leading to worsened pulmonary pathology.

"Exercise should be restricted during the duration of the treatment. We're normally talking about 12 to 18 months," Nelson says.

Read the article by Jennifer Fiala here.

Dallas Police Are Looking For Two That Stole A Dog From Petland

While the employee was busy a woman and a guy working together were able to walk out of a Petland store in Dallas, TX that was worth thirty six hundred dollars.

$3,600 Puppy Theft Caught on Tape: MyFoxDFW.com

Looking at the video you can clearly see the two who stole the eight week old English Bulldog from the store. I wonder why they just didn’t go to an animal shelter and rescue a dog or where they looking to sell the dog for the money.

Read the article by Peter Daut here.

Thailand Authorities Save Dogs From Becoming Vietnamese Mealbr>

Thanks to the Thailand Authorities one thousand and eleven dogs have been saved from becoming a meal in Vietnam when they were rescued from traffickers.

The article stated that the police had intercepted four trucks that were carrying the dogs and arrested two men from Thailand and one man from Vietnam. So hopefully they will be able to find new homes for these dogs.

Read the article here.

What Happens When You Give A Dog A Lime

130 Pets Were Rescued From A Home In Ohio

Just reading the article about one of the neighbors who said that he hasn’t even opened his windows for the last two years is enough to know that the home owner named Mark Madsen who operated an animal rescue called Circle of Love was way out of hand.

Now the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center has rescued forty five dogs and eighty five cats from the so called rescue which was ran out of Mark Madsen’s home.

One neighbor named Jim Berkshire said: I believe the people had a general interest in taking care of the animals, but they just had too many animals. It wasn't fair to the animals and it wasn't fair to the neighbors living around them.

I have to agree with Jim on his comment, but how did it even get to be like this. Well with all these puppy mills pumping out these dogs just so that they can make a buck or two and then you have the dog owners who just dump their poor dog when it becomes an easier way out for them to dump their pets off.

Over and over again : why did you buy or adopt your pet in the first place. The worst of them all are the ones who abandon their dogs in their homes when they move and the one who physically abuse their pets. I'm not even going to say what I think about puppy mills. These are the worst of them all. The owner of Circle of Love Mark Madsen was probably like most animal lovers who started out by hopping that he could help change the life of these pets but after a while he became over consumed with all these pets it became unjust.

Read the article here.

Texas Passed HB 1451 Puppy Mill Bill

Texas Takes First Steps to Comply with Puppy Mill Bill


The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) is taking the first steps to bring dog and cat breeders into compliance with the newly passed HB 1451, also known as the Puppy Mill Bill. TDLR announced that a Licensed Breeders Advisory Committee (Committee) is now in the process of being formed to determine the rules and standards for large scale commercial dog and cat breeders as directed by the passage of HB 1451.


The Committee will be composed of nine members: two licensed breeders; two veterinarians; two members who represent Texas animal welfare organizations; two members of the public; and one animal control officer. Committee applications will be accepted through September 15, 2011.


Governor Perry signed HB 1451, the Large Scale Commercial Dog and Cat Breeder Bill, popularly known as the Puppy Mill Bill, into law on June 17, 2011. HB 1451 is a regulation and licensing measure for breeders and will provide basic protection for dogs and cats raised in breeding operations by providing humane housing standards , veterinary care, and inspections.


HB 1451 was championed by two highly respected legislators from Houston – Rep. Senfronia Thompson and Sen. John Whitmire. Their commitment and persistence will provide protection for hundreds of thousands of dogs and cats in Texas puppy mills. "We're very happy Texas has joined the many other states in regulation of commercial breeders, and we look forward to working with TDLR in developing and implementing humane standards for dogs and cats living in these facilities," says Cile Holloway, THLN President.


TDLR will promulgate regulations by March 31, 2012. Those breeders meeting the thresholds in HB 1451 will have until September 1, 2012 to come into compliance with the provisions of the bill and subsequent regulations and to obtain the license.
To learn more about Puppy Mills in Texas, click here. To watch the THLN puppy mill video, please click here.


About Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN): Established in 1975, THLN is a grassroots, 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization that fights for the enactment and enforcement of laws to protect animals from neglect and abuse. THLN is the political arm and voice for every animal and animal welfare organization in Texas. For more information, please visit www.THLN.org.


SOURCE Texas Humane Legislation Network

Doggie Wishbone Pet Treat Recalled Due To Possibility Of Salmonella

Merrick Pet Care Recalls
Doggie Wishbone (Item # 29050, Lot 11031 Best By 30 Jan 2013)
Because of Possible Salmonella Health Risk

Merrick Pet Care, Inc. of Amarillo, Texas is recalling a single lot of its Doggie Wishbone pet treat (ITEM # 29050, UPC # 2280829050, Lot 11031 Best By 30 Jan 2013) because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Merrick Pet Care has made the decision to recall the Doggie Wishbone pet treats in the abundance of caution. 248 cases of this lot were manufactured and shipped to distributors in 10 states. Those distributors have been notified. Only one lot of Doggie Wishbone is affected by this recall. No additional Merrick Pet Care products are involved in this recall. No other Merrick brand products are involved.

Salmonella can affect animals and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products. People handling the treats can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the chews or any surfaces exposed to these products. Consumers should dispose of these products in a safe manner by securing them in a covered trash receptacle.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers immediately.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian immediately.

The Doggie Wishbone was shipped to distributors and retailers throughout the US. These individuals have been notified and have activated their recall procedures.

No illnesses have been reported to date and there have been no consumer complaints for this product. This issue was identified through routine sampling by the Food and Drug Administration.

At Merrick Pet Care, the safety and efficacy of our products are our top priority. We apologize for any inconvenience due to this recall. Consumers who have purchased the Doggie Wishbone with the lot code 11031 are urged to return the unused portion to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-800-664-7387 M-F 8:00am – 5:00pm CST.

If This Is What Your School Teaches, I’m Glad My Kids Don’t Go There

Could you imagine an assistant principal trying to explain to her kids in school why she tried to strangle her dog.

Well this assistant principal named Vernita Colman from Jacksonville, Fl was caught be her neighbor choking her dog with a cable in her back yard. Now she has been changed with animal cruelty for what see did to her poor dog.

Vernita Colman neighbor Dallas Cook said: She had a cable around the dog and she was snatching it and choking it...Very vigorously. Why? I don't know. I don't know what the dog did. It didn't do anything to deserve that, that's for sure.

I don’t know about you but I sure wouldn’t what this animal abuser teaching my kids.

Read the article by Nikesha Leeper here.

Bark for Your Park Winner Is

Huntington, W. Va., Wins $100,000 in PetSafe 'Bark for Your Park' Contest

Huntington, W. Va., became the "top dog" in the national PetSafe "Bark for Your Park" contest today, winning $100,000 for a local dog park.

PetSafe announced today that Huntington, a town located along the Ohio River with a population of about 50,000 citizens, received the most votes out of the 15 finalist cities in the "Bark for Your Park" contest. PetSafe, a leading innovator in pet behavior and lifestyle products, launched the contest this year to award one U.S. community with $100,000 to build a dog park.

"Congratulations to Huntington," said Randy Boyd, president and CEO of PetSafe. "You barked for your park and rallied to make this achievement possible for your town. PetSafe is thrilled to present you with $100,000 to make your dog park dreams a reality, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact a dog park makes on Huntington."

Huntington received 87,854 votes – the most for any of the finalist cities out of over 329,000 votes cast in the final stage of the contest. The city plans to break ground this fall on the park, which will be constructed in the Lions Den area of Ritter Park.

"Thank you to all the city supporters in the contest for your participation and enthusiasm," said Boyd. "We hope you'll continue to work for pet-friendly initiatives and 'bark' for your local dog park. Plus, we're giving you another opportunity to win."

Thrilled with the positive impact "Bark for Your Park" had both on the local level for participating communities and the pet community as a whole, PetSafe is excited to bark about the contest returning next year. Based on participant feedback, PetSafe is working on plans for "Bark for Your Park 2012" to provide even easier participation in the contest and – best of all – more prizes and winners. The company will announce details about the contest at a later date.

For more information about "Bark for Your Park," visit www.barkforyourpark.com. For more information about PetSafe and its innovative pet products, visit www.petsafe.net or check out the PetSafe Facebook page.

About PetSafe®

Headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, PetSafe leads the industry in the development of innovative pet behavior, containment, lifestyle product solutions and services. Visit: www.petsafe.net.

SOURCE PetSafe

Are You Really Getting What’s Suppose To Be In Your Can Of Dog Food

After reading this article I had to post this.

The FDA have been questioning the contents in the dog food that is being sold by a company called Evangers Dog & Cat Food Co. Inc. when they came across some of the cans of dog food stating that there was Lamb meat in the can or the one stating it had duck meat in it, when the FDA found that there wasn’t any lamb meat but bovine material in it instead and no duck in the duck labeled can.

The owners of Evangers Dog & Cat Food Co. Inc. Joel and Holly Sher put out a statement on their web page saying that there was duck/ goose in one of their products being questioned. But they haven’t replied to the cans with lamb.

So after reading this and all the dog food recalls, I’m glad I home cook my dogs meals myself. This might have been just an over look or not but I’m not the one to decide.

Read the article by Pat Krochmal here.

Dog Survives 8 Days In A Mine Shaft

A little Jack Russell named Sammie had survived eight days trapped in an old mine shaft in Ely, NV before being rescued by the Ely Fire Department.

The dog’s owner named Mike Carlgren said: It was eight days, at least. She ran off from me. We were going to go up on the mountain, I thought she was chasing something a deer, a rabbit whatever.

I bet that little Sammie is grateful to be back home after those eight days down in that shaft. And a Big Thanks to all of those who help in the rescue.

Read the article by John Plestina here.

China Cancels Dog Killing

Chinese Government Cancels Dog Cull Yielding to Public Pressure

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW-www.ifaw.org) congratulates the caring citizens of China whose fervent concern and outrage pressured Jiangmen city officials to withdraw a dog ban and cancel a planned cull. This action preemptively saved the lives of thousands of innocent animals.

Officials issued a notice that they would ban dogs in three districts of Jiangmen and confiscate and kill all dogs in those areas beginning on August 26. The reason for the notice was to prevent rabies for human safety and to establish a civilized city.

"Civilized cities don't ban the ownership of man's best friend. Killing dogs rightfully owned is an outright violation of basic citizens' rights," said Grace Ge Gabriel, IFAW Asia Regional Director, who is from China. "Banning and killing dogs are ineffective solutions to preventing rabies, which has been successfully controlled in many parts of the world with education, vaccination and sterilization. We are pleased to see Jiangmen city officials back down from their knee-jerk decision yielding to public outcry."

Lacking national animal welfare legislation and rabies prevention mechanisms in China, local governments routinely resort to mass dog culls in an effort to "prevent rabies" or to "clean up a city." Jiangmen government's controversial decision enraged the Chinese public, so much so that millions of messages of condemnation, concern and plea flooded the online forums, blogs and social networking sites in China.

"I am tremendously happy and proud to see that public uproar from within China stopped this unethical killing. In the past we were only able to stop some of the dog culls with international pressure," added Gabriel. "IFAW stands firm with the millions of animal caring people in China who desperately want to see the country to promulgate animal welfare legislation--the most effective way to ban the culling of companion animals, once and for all."

About the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)
Founded in 1969, IFAW (the International Fund for Animal Welfare) saves animals in crisis around the world. With projects in more than 40 countries, IFAW rescues individual animals, works to prevent cruelty to animals, and advocates for the protection of wildlife and habitats. For more information, visit www.ifaw.org. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Photos and video available at www.ifawimages.com.

SOURCE International Fund for Animal Welfare

Where Do Pet Owners Go To Find Out About Pet Health Information

petMD.com is Now the #1 Destination for Pet Health Information
With over 769,000 unique visits from pet owners in the month of July - up 100% in the last 90 days - petMD.com has become the leading pet health information portal in the U.S.

petMD.com, the leading online resource for pet health information, has experienced a 100% increase in traffic in the last 90 days, growing from 385,000 unique visitors in April to more than 769,000 unique visitors in July (1). Monthly page views have also increased 240% from just over 1 million to more than 3.6 million in the same time period (2). The increases in traffic and site engagement coincide with the recent launch of pet parent resources such as the "Puppy Center," "Living Green With Cats" and the "Pet Insurance Center."

"U.S. traffic to petMD has surpassed that of every other online resource dedicated to pet health information," said Nicolas Chereque, founder of petMD. "Pet parents have been incredibly responsive to our new content centers, blogs, and our ever expanding library of pet health and wellness articles. We're set to see continued growth in the coming months as we add more exciting features to the site!"

petMD.com was recently redesigned to provide a more intuitive way for readers to search petMD's 5,000+ veterinarian written or approved pet health articles. Consumers are now spending more time on the site, visiting more pages and coming back more frequently to access the information they need. By partnering with veterinarians to offer pet care information beyond the vet office, petMD is an extremely valuable resource to pet owners.

"Our pet health library is the most comprehensive collection of consumer oriented pet health content on the web," said Chereque. "Whether investigating what to do about hot spots on dogs or trying to determine if pet insurance is right for you, dog and cat owners can depend on us to provide the most accurate, up-to-date information about pet symptoms and pet diseases."

Pet owners are one of the most sought after U.S. audiences for advertisers based on their recession-proof spending habits and the anticipated $50 billion they will spend on their pets this year (3). According to "Pet Market Outlook 2011-2012" from market research publisher Packaged Facts, the veterinary services category will experience a 9% compound annual growth rate for 2011-2015 compared to 6.3% for the overall pet market (4). As the population of senior pets continues to increase and advancements to technologies and medications are made, veterinary services will continue to drive the growth of the pet industry.

About petMD

petMD is the largest global source of pet health information in the world today. As part of a global network of veterinary professionals, petMD offers 5,000+ veterinarian written or approved pet health articles. All petMD content is created to provide pet owners access to valuable information beyond the vet office.

North Shore Animal League America Launches World Mutt-i-grees® Rescue Day Today

North Shore Animal League America Launches World Mutt-i-grees® Rescue Day With PSA Featuring Spokesperson and Adopter Beth Stern(Tweet this) on Monday, August 1st

Social Networkers and Animal Lovers are Encouraged to Raise Awareness of the Plight of Homeless Animals Beginning MONDAY, AUGUST 1st – Helping to End the Senseless Destruction of Shelter Pets

North Shore Animal League America – the world’s largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization – will debut its Public Service Announcement featuring animal advocate and adopter Beth Stern, on Monday, August 1, 2011 for “World Mutt-i-grees® Rescue Day”.

A live webcast of the Animal League press conference at 12:00 NOON EST will be available at: World Mutt-i-grees Rescue Day. This includes a special celebrity guest appearance by actress, adopter and Mutt-i-grees spokesperson Kathryn Erbe.

An estimated 8-10 million animals enter shelters each year – most are healthy, affectionate and beautiful. Tragically, more than half of those animals are euthanized, as they are victims of overpopulated shelters. World Mutt-i-grees® Rescue Day recognizes that shelters nationwide have many wonderful animals and we can save lives by adopting(Tweet this) – not shopping. “Individuals who purchase puppies online or from pet stores need to be educated on the facts that most of these providers are supplied by the cruel puppy mill trade,” said Beth Stern.

Broadcasters and Social Networkers are encouraged to air and/or post the PSA*(Tweet this) beginning Monday, August 1st – World Mutt-i-grees® Rescue Day. In both the 30 and 60 second PSA’s, Stern asks animal lovers to help save lives by adopting a pet from a shelter and to join the Mutt-i-grees® Movement – a movement that rallies millions of animal lovers to help end animal cruelty.(Tweet this) Mutt-i-grees® represent shelter pets and their unique qualities, whether they are purebreds or mixed-breeds; puppies, kittens, dogs or cats; large or small; energetic or laid back. While their individuality makes each one of these Mutt-i-grees® special, they all share a common need, and that is to find a permanent loving home.(Tweet this)

Beth, who adopted cats Walter and Apple from the Animal League with husband Howard Stern, urges broadcasters, social networkers and animal lovers to participate in this life-saving effort by airing or posting the PSA on World Mutt-i-grees® Rescue Day. “Spreading the word and raising awareness can help change the way cat and dog-loving Americans perceive shelter pets – ultimately saving the precious lives of countless animals. I encourage all animal lovers looking to add to the family to visit a shelter today.”
ANIMAL LOVERS CAN HELP SHARE THE Mutt-i-grees® MESSAGE IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS:

Download PSA in high resolution media, MPEG. Flash and/or MP3 files
“Like” us on Facebook and “Share” our Mutt-i-grees® message at www.facebook.com/theanimalleague
Dedicate your Facebook profile image or “Status” to our Mutt-i-grees® message for a day, week, or any length of time – using the following status update on your page:

“I changed my profile image to help promote the Animal League’s “World Mutt-i-grees® Rescue Day” and to spread awareness of rescuing and adopting shelter pets. Learn more at www.animalleague.org. Pass it on!”

“Follow” us on Twitter and tweet our Mutt-i-grees® message at
http://twitter.com/animalleague
Link to our Mutt-i-grees® page www.animalleague.org/muttigrees on your own website
Promote the Mutt-i-grees® message through email, blogs, and other social networking sites

“Pet lovers are incredibly proud of their Mutt-i-grees®, and now they can join together communicating, sharing ideas and celebrating(Tweet this) their choices,” said John Stevenson, President of NSALA. He added, “While NSALA practices a no-kill philosophy, many other shelters are forced to euthanize due to lack of space and resources, resulting in approximately 4 million shelter pets unnecessarily dying each year, which makes shelter adoption the responsible choice.”

Adopters of shelter pets are also asked to join World Mutt-i-grees® Rescue Day by signing up with the National Mutt-i-grees® Registry.(Tweet this) All registrants will receive an Official National Mutt-i-grees® Registry Certificate.

The Mutt-i-grees® Initiative was created in 2009 by The Pet Savers Foundation, the development arm of NSALA, to give a voice to the over 50 million mixed-breed dogs in the United States. Now, recognizing all shelter pets, the Initiative has grown into the Mutt-i-grees® Movement. This includes an educational component that has been rolled out in over 900 schools nationwide called the Mutt-i-grees® Curriculum– created in partnership with Yale University’s School of the 21 Century, and graciously funded by the Millan Foundation, as well as Mutt-i-grees® ACTIVities.

For more information on cat or dog adoption, or to find a local shelter, visit www.AnimalLeague.org.(Tweet this) For more information on the Mutt-i-grees® Movement, visit www.animalLeague.org/muttigrees.(Tweet this)
ABOUT NORTH SHORE ANIMAL LEAGUE AMERICA

The Animal League has saved almost 1,000,000 lives. As the world’s largest no-kill rescue and adoption organization, we understand that a rescue isn’t complete until each animal is placed into a loving home. Our innovative programs provide education to reduce animal cruelty, and advance standards in animal welfare. Our staff and volunteers work tirelessly in the pursuit of our vision of a world where all companion animals find permanent homes to end euthanasia. For more information, visit www.animalleague.org.
ABOUT THE MUTT-I-GREES® MOVEMENT

The Mutt-i-grees® Movement generates awareness of the plight of shelter animals, elevates their status and reduces animal cruelty through education and innovative programs. An estimated 8,000,000-10,000,000 dogs, cats, puppies and kittens enter U.S. shelters annually, and tragically, over 4,000,000 of these wonderful animals are destroyed to control pet overpopulation. Millions of lives could be saved when potential pet parents make the simple choice to adopt a pet from a shelter or rescue group, instead of purchasing a pet from a pet store. You can find any type of healthy, vibrant and wonderful dog, cat, puppy or kitten at a shelter near you. Become part of the Mutt-i-grees® Movement by adopting a pet today. When you adopt a pet – you save a life and help reduce animal cruelty. Learn more at www.animalleague.org/muttigrees.