PETA Killed 96% Of The Rescued Pets In Virginia

After seeing this video it will make you sick after seeing how they beg for your money that is suppose to help these animals.

Read the article by Deon Guillory here.

Read the report here.

If your going to make any donates to help support animal shelters it should be your local shelter not some corporate company thats going to spend all the money on themselves.

See The Show About Puppy Mills Called Don’t Kill Bill

"DON'T KILL BILL" AERIAL ACROBATIC STAGE SHOW EDUCATES ANIMAL LOVERS OF ALL AGES ABOUT THE DANGERS OF PUPPY MILLS

Local Artist Swings From the Ceiling to Save the Lives of Those Who Have No Voices

  

Imagine a life surrounded by walls made of wire with no human companionship and just enough food to survive. Welcome to the world of a puppy mill dog. Catering to thousands of pet stores around the country seeking cute puppies to sell, puppy mills are large scale dog breeding facilities where dogs are typically kept outdoors in chicken wire cages in deplorable conditions their whole lives. Far too many people are unaware puppy mills even exist. Kyla Duffy, founder of Happy Tails Books and the non-profit Up for Pups organization, intends to change all of that by dazzling the eyes and warming the hearts with “Don’t Kill Bill: A Celebration of Adopted Dogs,” this March in Lakewood, Colorado. Animal lovers of all ages will enjoy this informative theatre experience, which utilizes short films, live storytelling and music coupled with aerial acrobatics celebrate rescued dogs’ resilience while highlighting rescuers’ compassion.

“Our show offers children, teenagers, and adults of all ages a unique twist and spin on humane education in a fun, safe and entertaining environment,” said Kyla Duffy, show writer and producer. “Puppy mills continue to be a despicable source aiding the already challenging problem of pet homelessness, and we firmly believe education is essential.” Duffy created the show to raise awareness about puppy mills and encourage people to get involved with animal rescue organizations. Local organizations that work a multitude of breeds, from Boston Terriers to Great Danes, will be present in the lobby to answer any questions, and Up for Pups will be promoting adoptable dogs during the show.

Proceeds from the show will be used to further Up For Pups animal advocacy efforts. In addition to enjoying this wonderfully unique theater production, attendees will have the opportunity to win a gift basket full of dog products as well as a $500 donation for the dog rescue organization of his or her choice (rescue must be present in the lobby to win). Each attendee will get one free drawing ticket at the door with a chance to buy additional tickets during intermission. Drawing ticket sales benefit local rescue organizations.

“Don’t Kill Bill: A Celebration of Adopted Dogs” Event Details:

Saturday, March 10th, 7:00 p.m.

Lakewood Cultural Center

470 S. Allison Pkwy

Lakewood, CO 80226

$19 adult, $15 student/senior

Tickets are available at http://upforpups.org/events


About Up for Pups

Up For Pups is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of mistreated domestic animals by raising public awareness through creative, memorable initiatives. To learn more, please visit http://upforpups.org/.


About Kyla Duffy

Kyla Duffy is the editor-in-chief of Happy Tails Books (http://www.happytailsbooks.com/). Since May 2009, with the help of volunteers and her co-editor, Lowrey Mumford, Kyla has collected thousands of stories from people who have fostered and adopted dogs and cats, compiling them into the Lost Souls: Found! series, which uses the written word to reach out to animal lovers about rescue and rehabilitation, breed by “furrific” breed. From the age of 15 until 21, Kyla was a professional snowboarder. With sponsors like Airwalk, Nixon, 686, and Dragon, Kyla toured the world for photo shoots and competitions. Snowboarding gave Kyla many opportunities to promote her sponsors on television, radio and in newspaper/magazine articles, and she is excited to do the same for her Don’t Kill Bill sponsors today. Kyla and her husband, Dylan, live in Boulder, CO with their adopted cat, a puppy mill survivor named Bill, a backyard breeder rescue named Hillary and a perpetual stream of foster dogs from MidAmerica Boston Terrier Rescue. In their “spare” time, they transport rescued animals for Pilots and Paws via small private aircraft.



About Bill (Puppy Mill Survivor Turned Mountain Goat)

Bill, a handsome Boston Terrier, was born into slavery in 2006. Life as a breeding dog in a Missouri puppy mill took its toll on Bill, and we can only assume that he was surrendered to a rescue by the breeder at the age of two because he wouldn’t breed. In fact, when he came into foster care in 2008, this terrified dog wouldn’t even move. Bill was shipped from Missouri to Nebraska and then on to Colorado, where he met his foster parents, Kyla and Dylan. When he arrived at their home, he was as dead as a living dog could be. There was no light in his eyes, and he was completely unresponsive. He was so “gone” that he didn’t even shake. He just sat in the back of his crate staring blankly at nothing…for months. The story of Bill is actually quite long, hence the need for an hour-and-a-half show! In a nutshell, after getting lost in the woods for three weeks (that, in and of itself, is a story) and then almost being euthanized, Bill’s foster family adopted him, slowly rehabilitated him, and after two years of patient, consistent love and care, Bill has become the most popular dog in town and an ambassador for dog rescue and rehabilitation.

The NewVetScan Canine Lyme Rapid Test By Abaxis, Inc

Abaxis, Inc. Announces Launch of Canine Lyme Disease In Office Rapid Test

Abaxis, Inc. (NasdaqGS: ABAX), a medical products company manufacturing point of care instruments and consumables to the medical, research, and veterinary markets, and reference laboratory services to the veterinary and research markets, announced today the launch of the VetScan Canine Lyme Rapid Test for the detection of Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies in canine blood samples. The test was launched at the Western Veterinary Conference being held in Las Vegas, Nevada February 19-22, 2012. The Canine Lyme Rapid Test is the only single assay rapid test on the market, allowing the veterinarian to offer accurate, flexible and cost-effective Lyme testing options to their clients.

The new Canine Lyme test can be used in conjunction with the quantitative Lyme assay offered at Abaxis Veterinary Reference Laboratories in Olathe, Kansas. If Canine Heartworm testing is also indicated, the Lyme rapid test can be used alongside the VetScan Canine Heartworm Rapid Test or the Canine Wellness Profile that includes a heartworm test, processed by the VetScan VS2 analyzer.

Michael Solomon, Director of Business Development of Abaxis commented "The Abaxis VetScan Lyme Rapid Test is a very sensitive and highly specific lateral flow assay, with positive results often in a matter of minutes, and definitive negative results in only eight minutes."

"The addition of the VetScan Canine Lyme Rapid Test represents an important addition to our rapid test product line. By offering a complete line of accurate, easy to use, flexible, and cost effective products, the veterinarian is able to offer comprehensive and medically appropriate diagnostic services to their clients in clinic. Abaxis will continue to develop and provide these types of diagnostic solutions for the veterinary market." added Martin Mulroy, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for North American Animal Health of Abaxis.

About Abaxis

Abaxis develops, manufactures, markets and sells portable blood analysis systems for use in any veterinary or human patient-care setting to provide clinicians with rapid blood constituent measurements. The system consists of a compact, 5.1 kilogram (11.2 pounds), portable analyzer and a series of single-use plastic discs, called reagent discs that contain all the chemicals required to perform a panel of up to 13 tests on veterinary patients and 14 tests on human patients. The system can be operated with minimal training and performs multiple routine tests on whole blood, serum or plasma samples. The system provides test results in less than 12 minutes with the precision and accuracy equivalent to a clinical laboratory analyzer. The veterinary business also provides to the animal health and research market a line of hematology instruments for point-of-care complete blood counts (CBC), a specialty instrument to screen for and detect clotting disorders and to measure equine fibrinogen levels, a handheld instrument for the rapid assessment of certain critical care tests and rapid point-of-care tests for Heartworm infections in dogs, Parvovirus and Giardia. Abaxis, through its AVRL Division, provides routine laboratory testing as well as specialty testing for veterinarians nationwide. This state-of-the-art commercial laboratory will be the hub of the Abaxis Veterinary Reference Laboratories (AVRL).

This press release includes statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Reform Act"), including but not limited to statements related to Abaxis' cash position, financial resources and potential for future growth, market acceptance and penetration of new or planned product offerings, and future recurring revenues and results of operations. Abaxis claims the protection of the safe-harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Reform Act. These forward-looking statements are often characterized by the terms "may," "believes," "projects," "expects," "anticipates," or words of similar import, and do not reflect historical facts. Specific forward-looking statements contained in this press release or in Abaxis' conference call may be affected by risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those related to losses or system failures with respect to Abaxis' facilities or manufacturing operations, fluctuations in quarterly operating results, dependence on sole suppliers, the market acceptance of Abaxis' products and services, the continuing development of its products, required United States Food and Drug Administration clearance and other government approvals, risks associated with manufacturing and distributing its products on a commercial scale free of defects, risks related to the introduction of new instruments manufactured by third parties, risks associated with competing in the human diagnostic market, risks related to the protection of Abaxis' intellectual property or claims of infringement of intellectual property asserted by third parties, risks related to condition of the United States economy and other risks detailed under "Risk Factors" in Abaxis' Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2011 and Abaxis' other periodic reports filed from time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements were made. Abaxis does not undertake and specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.


SOURCE Abaxis, Inc.

So Where Is Your Dog Food Made

So did Waggin' Train chicken jerky treats kill another dog? It looks like the treat had caused liver failure to a dog in Connecticut last week.

Sallie Des Biens said: My daughter in law is a med student and couldn’t be home when her dog died. I feel so guilty. I don’t have any pets, and mistakenly assumed if you could buy something at any store, it must be safe.

I don’t care what you think but I will never trust another dog food that was made in China.

You can read the article by Michelle Homer here.

I personally cook all my dogs meals because of reading about so many different dog foods being bad. But for those who feed their dogs bag food Rachael Ray is giving away a sample bag of Rachael Ray Nutrish. Who knows you might like to eat some healthy dog food that was made in the USA.

Where Do You Go For Tick Info

dogsandticks.com Launches New Educational Tools for Pet Owners

The online authority on ticks and tick-borne illnesses, dogsandticks.com, is now an even greater resource for pet owners. The redesigned website includes new educational tools for pet owners, such as maps showing the incidence of tick diseases across the country, a risk assessment for dogs and information on a wide range of ticks and the diseases they carry. The refreshed site also incorporates several interactive features to engage and inform visitors about tick-borne illness.

Pet owners who visit dogsandticks.com can now monitor how common tick-borne diseases are by referencing interactive maps, which are updated weekly with data from across the United States and Canada. State-by-state and county-by-county statistics are also available.

"Ticks in every U.S. state carry disease," says Michael Dryden, DVM, PhD, a veterinary parasitologist at Kansas State University. "The maps at dogsandticks.com help us to track disease transmission and identify areas of the country where populations may be at a higher-than-expected risk."

The website provides a wealth of user-friendly information about ticks and tick-borne disease, including important prevention tips. It also clears up some related myths, such as the proper way to remove a tick.

"The revamped dogsandticks.com is a fun, interactive way for pet owners to stay informed about how best to protect their dogs from the dangers of ticks," says Melissa Beall, DVM, PhD, IDEXX Medical Affairs Manager. "We're pleased that our new site educates people about ticks and helps to raise awareness of the diseases they carry. Understanding the risks is key to preventing tick-borne illnesses."

The site also features a risk assessment for dogs based on the parasite prevention guidelines developed by the nonprofit Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC). Pet owners can fill out a simple form to determine their pets' risk of contracting multiple tick-borne illnesses. The risk assessment results generate health tips that help raise pet owners' vigilance in protecting their dogs from parasites and start related conversations with their veterinarians.

"We are proud supporters of the CAPC, because we share the common goal of partnering with veterinarians to educate pet owners about diagnostic screening and disease prevention," says Beall.

In addition to the educational elements, the new dogsandticks.com encourages visitors to interact with the site. They can play a video game, where the objective is to stay alive by avoiding attacking ticks. Pet owners may also upload photos of people or pets to be morphed onto the illustrated body of a dog for a fun experience to share with friends and coworkers.

IDEXX Laboratories created dogsandticks.com as a resource for pet owners. The veterinarians and veterinary parasitologists who support and develop content for dogsandticks.com are committed to educating pet owners about the prevalence and risks of tick-borne diseases. The website does not endorse any individual product but serves as an informational source with tools that include interactive prevalence maps for tick-borne diseases based on nationwide diagnostic screenings.


SOURCE DogsAndTicks.com

Association for Pet Obesity Prevention Survey Said That Our Pets Are Getting Fatter

Big Pets Get Bigger: Latest Survey Shows US Dog and Cat Obesity Epidemic Expanding

54 Percent of Nation's Pets Overweight According to Latest Veterinary Survey; Pet Owners in Denial

The "fat pet gap" continues to widen according to the latest nationwide survey conducted by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP). The fifth annual veterinary survey found 53 percent of adult dogs and 55 percent of cats to be classified as overweight or obese by their veterinarian. That equals 88.4 million pets that are too heavy according to veterinarians.

"The most distressing finding in this year's study was the fact that more pet owners are unaware their pet is overweight," comments APOP founder Dr. Ernie Ward. "Twenty-two percent of dog owners and 15 percent of cat owners characterized their pet as normal weight when it was actually overweight or obese. This is what I refer to as the 'fat pet gap' or the normalization of obesity by pet parents. In simplest terms, we've made fat pets the new normal."

Perhaps even worse was the finding that the number of obese pets, those at least 30 percent above normal weight or a body condition score (BCS) of 5, continues to grow despite 93.4 percent of surveyed pet owners identifying pet obesity as a problem. The study found 24.9 percent of all cats were classified as obese and 21.4 percent of all dogs were obese in 2011. That's up from 2010 when 21.6 percent of cats and 20.6 percent of dogs were found to be obese. "What this tells us is that more and more of our pets are entering into the highest danger zone for weight-related disorders," says Ward.

Some of the common weight-related conditions in dogs and cats include osteoarthritis, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, breathing problems, kidney disease, and shortened life expectancy. Orthopedic surgeon, APOP Board member and Director of Clinical Research at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine Dr. Steve Budsberg states, "The prevention of obesity needs to be at the forefront of all discussions people have about the health of their pet with their veterinarian. The body of evidence that shows the negative impact of obesity on all the body's systems is overwhelming. As an orthopedic surgeon I see, on a daily basis, the effects of obesity on dogs and cats with osteoarthritis. It is very frustrating to see how much pain and discomfort excess weight has on my patients. Veterinarians and owners have the ability to stop obesity in our pets. No animal goes to the refrigerator or the pantry and helps themselves. We enable our pets to get fat!"

Ward agrees. "Pet obesity is plainly a people problem, not a pet problem. The most important decision pet owners make each day regarding their pet's health is what they choose to feed it."

Endocrinologist and fellow APOP Board member Dr. Mark Peterson agrees. "Obesity in dogs and cats is not just the accumulation of large amounts of adipose tissue, but it is associated with important metabolic and hormonal changes in the body. For example, heavy or obese cats are up to four times more likely to develop diabetes as a complication of their obesity. Losing weight can lead to reversal of the diabetic state in some of these obese cats."

Treats continue to be a major contributor to weight gain in pets. An online poll conducted in October 2011 by APOP of 210 pet owners found 93 percent of all dog and cat owners gave treats. Ninety-five percent gave a commercial treat with 26 percent reporting they gave their pet treats three or more times a day. "Treats are the silent saboteur of slimming down," remarks Ward. "Those tiny treats often are hiding a significant amount of calories." Ward suggests offering single-ingredient rewards or fresh vegetables such as baby carrots, string beans, broccoli or other crunchy vegetables.

Veterinary nutritionist and internal medicine specialist Dr. Joe Bartges from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine and APOP Board member notes that weight gain in pets can be prevented. "Prevention of obesity is much easier than treating it. The major obstacle is to convince pet owners what 'overweight' and 'obese' mean and what it looks like. Veterinary health teams must educate the owner and work with them to prevent and treat obesity in their four-legged family members."

Fat Cats Not In the Conversation

Only 49 percent of surveyed cat owners reported their veterinarian had discussed obesity and excess weight with them compared to 72 percent of dog owners. Even worse, only 46 percent of cat owners stated their veterinarian had reviewed nutrition or food choices compared to 86 percent of those with dogs. "This is a call to action for veterinarians; we must do a better job educating cat owners on obesity and preventive care," says Dr. Ernie Ward.

Survey Notes

The survey was conducted at 41 U.S. veterinary clinics and evaluated 459 dogs and 177 cats in October 2011. Veterinarians and veterinary technicians evaluated each pet to assess current weight, medical conditions, owner assessment of weight and body condition score. Over the five years studied, these results have proven to be consistent and increasing at a gradual pace.

Additional Survey Highlights
•According to APOP's survey results based on pet statistics from the American Pet Products Association, the following are estimated numbers of overweight and obese pets in 2011.
•41.1 million dogs classified as overweight or obese (BCS 4 or 5)
•52% adult dogs classified as overweight or obese (BCS 4 or 5)
•24.4 million dogs or 31% reported as overweight (BCS 4)
•16.7 million dogs or 21% reported obese (BCS 5)
•47.4 million cats classified as overweight or obese (BCS 4 or 5)
•55% adult cats classified as overweight or obese (BCS 4 or 5)
•25.9 million cats or 31% reported as overweight (BCS 4)
•21.5 million cats or 21% reported obese (BCS 5)


•Only 8% of dog owners and 9% of cat owners classified their pet as obese in the online study. That's less than half the actual figures determined by survey veterinarians. "The fact that few pet owners admit their pet is obese leads to a lack of interest in helping their pet lose weight. They know it's a problem, just not for their pet. Unfortunately, the data doesn't agree. Chances are their pet is overweight if not obese," Dr. Ernie Ward

•Average age of the cats in the study was 6.7 years and 6.4 years for dogs.

•16.8% of pet owners reported they purchased their pet food at a veterinary clinic, 61.1% at a pet store and 22.2% at a grocery store.

•76% of surveyed pet owners reported they learned about pet nutrition from their veterinarian, 71.5% from the Internet, 22% from a pet store, 5.5% from a breeder, and 2.0% from a groomer. (multiple sources of information were allowed)

•When it came to deciding which pet food to feed, 69.4% trusted their veterinarian, 36.3% a website, 20.6% a pet store, 4.4% a breeder, and 1.3% their groomer.

•According to Dr. Ernie Ward, a 95-pound male Golden retriever is comparable to a 5'4" human female weighing 184 pounds or a 5'9" male who weighs 214 pounds.

•A 10-pound Chihuahua is comparable to a 5'4" human female weighing 242 pounds or a 5'9" male who weighs 282 pounds.

•A 15-pound domestic short-haired cat is comparable to a 5'4" human female weighing 218 pounds or a 5'9" male who weighs 254 pounds.

•A premium pig ear (231 kcals) fed to a 40-pound dog is the equivalent of an adult human drinking six 12-ounce colas (840 kcals).

•A typical dog biscuit (25 to 27 kcals) fed to a 20-pound dog is the equivalent of an average adult human eating two Keebler EL Fudge Double Stuffed Sandwich Cookies® (180 kcals).

•More weight and treat calculators can be found at www.PetObesityPrevention.org.

About APOP

Founded in 2005 by veterinarian Dr. Ernie Ward, APOP's mission is to create and promote awareness of pet obesity and to develop parallel weight loss programs designed to help pet owners lose weight alongside their pets.

The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) has launched campaigns to fight pet obesity within the veterinary medical community, veterinary schools, and state and local veterinary organizations, and has reached out to various media outlets. APOP is made up of dedicated veterinarians and veterinary healthcare personnel committed to making the lives of dogs, cats, all other animals and people healthier and more vital.

APOP is not affiliated with any veterinary industry corporation or business in any manner. This neutrality is critical to our ability to provide unbiased information and advice to veterinary healthcare providers and the pet-loving public.


Contact
www.PetObesityPrevention.org for full biographies and additional resources and information

SOURCE Association for Pet Obesity Prevention

Renember Not To Feed Your Dog Junk Food Durring The Super Bowl Game

Avoid a Pet Emergency in Overtime: Super Sunday's Parties Can Be Dangerous To Your Pet

Your big party during the big game may be dangerous to your pet. The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) offers tips to pet owners to make sure their Super Sunday party activities don't end up with an overtime veterinary emergency.

Sunday's big game now trails only Thanksgiving in terms of US food consumption. This enormous engorgement not only threatens many weight loss resolutions, it also may add unhealthy pounds and dangers to our dogs and cats. Sharing a few nibbles of healthy snacks such as celery or carrots is fine, pizza and wings are not.

"When we look at weight gain in humans and pets, big single-day caloric consumption can have life-long consequences," notes Dr. Ernie Ward, founder and president of APOP. "A pet can be fed a healthy, low-calorie diet and have their efforts erased with a huge feast."

Ward points out several foods to avoid feeding your pet on Super Sunday. "Don't feed your pet anything fried or battered, covered in creamy sauces and steer clear of salty snacks." In fact, Ward recommends limiting any super snacks to "crunchy vegetables such as broccoli, baby carrots, celery and asparagus." According to Ward, each chicken wing has about 55 calories. A 20-pound dog fed a single chicken wing is similar to an average adult eating almost seven wings. Feed a 40-pound dog one-half slice of pepperoni pizza and that's the same as an adult consuming two slices of pepperoni pizza and a 12-ounce cola.

It's not just the calories that worry Ward. "Americans will eat about 1.25 billion chicken wings during the game. That equals 1.25 billion chances for a dog or cat to ingest a bone that can cause serious complications." APOP warns pet owners not to feed their pets chicken wings due to the risk of intestinal obstruction or worse.

"An often overlooked risk of chicken wings is salt," states Ward. "One buffalo wing has almost about 160 to 200 mg of sodium. That's about the amount of sodium recommended for a 20-pound dog in a day. Feeding a dog too much salt can cause high blood pressure and can contribute to kidney and heart disease." Other foods high in salt that should not be fed to pets include pizza, hamburgers and cheeseburgers, fries, pretzels, potato chips, canned beef stew, potato salad and many sauces.

"Chicken wing bones and salt are not the only potential dangers a pet may face during the big game," adds University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine veterinary nutritionist and internal medicine specialist Dr. Joe Bartges. "Foods such as chocolate, raisins, macadamia nuts, and foods containing Xylitol may be toxic. Eating foods high in fat not only increases calorie intake, but may cause problems such as vomiting and diarrhea or life-threatening pancreatitis."

Alcohol is another potential danger for pets. Dogs and cats are extremely sensitive to alcoholic beverages and will often drink from half-empty cups and bottles and become ill. As little as a few ounces of beer or wine can prove toxic to a dog or cat. APOP recommends never leaving alcoholic beverages unattended and discard any containers as soon as you're done.

One final Sunday football danger Ward warns about – stress. "You may have friends and family over, rooting for your favorite team with lots of loud noises and high-fiving. All of this may prove especially stressful for the four-legged family members that have little interest in the big game. If you notice your dog or cat cowering or pacing, provide a quiet, safe space for them to relax away from the action. Otherwise, you may be awakened early Monday morning by unwelcome stress-related diarrhea."

Contact
Association for Pet Obesity Prevention
www.PetObesityPrevention.org
9256 Beach Drive
Calabash, NC 28467

Dr. Ernie Ward
DrErnieWard@gmail.com
910-579-5550
910-620-1295
Dr. Joe Bartges
865-974-8387
jbartges@utk.edu


SOURCE Association for Pet Obesity Prevention