Animal Radio® News

Pets And The H1N1 Virus

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:29:30 PST

You may have heard recent news that a cat has been diagnosed with the H1N1 virus. Cat and dog owners may be worried that this could happen to their pet.

While the H1N1 flu is currently circulating it can jump easily from person to person, it does not travel well from humans to animals or animals to humans, except in a few rare instances.

Many veterinarians have been telling clients that transmission from humans to cats and dogs or vice versa is beyond unlikely. To protect your pets, experts suggest taking the same precautions you would to prevent spreading the flu to other people.

PetSmart Expands Recall on Pet Carousel, Inc. Products

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:19:20 PST

PetSmart (NASDAQ: PETM) is extending a voluntary recall on beef hoof products to include a total of 14 products. These items were manufactured by Pet Carousel, Inc. in Sanger, Calif., and include beef hoof chews as well as certain rope toys with hoof or bone components. The date range for purchasing affected products has been expanded to include products purchased from Sept. 1, 2009 to November 6, 2009.

PetSmart announced it was voluntarily recalling two Dentley's beef hoof products on November 3, 2009, after learning they may have been contaminated with Salmonella during the manufacturing process (Dentley's Bulk Cattle Hooves and Dentley's Choobles 10-Pack Beef Hooves). Twelve additional products have since been added to the voluntary recall.

The complete list of recalled products includes the following items:

Description SKU UPC
----------- -----------
DENTLEY'S BULK CATTLE HOOF 1611247 73725703323
----------- -----------
DENTLEY’S CHOOBLES 10-PACK BEEF HOOVES 5019015 73725736055
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CHOO-HOOVES STUFFED WITH CHEESE-BACON 1611993 3465190058
----------- -----------
CHOO-HOOVES STUFFED WITH PEANUT BUTTER 1611994 3465190056
----------- -----------
FLOSSY CHEWS CHOO-HOOVE ROPER TWO-HOOVES 1813131 3465117005
----------- -----------
FLOSSY CHEWS ROPER BONE BUDDY 1815505 3465190002
----------- -----------
FLOSSY CHEWS BEEF BONES WITH ROPE TOY 5080721 3465117055
----------- -----------
FLOSSY CHEWS WHITE BONE ROPE 5147942 3465117065
----------- -----------
KNUCLE STEAKS 2-PACK 5084141 3465190046
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CHOO-HOOVES DOG CHEWS 3-PACK 1611410 3465184103
----------- -----------
3-PACK SMOKED HOOVES 5042279 3465114003
34651140037
----------- -----------
5-LB COW HOOVES 5042275 34651150609
3465115060
----------- -----------
5-LB. SMOKIES - HOOVES 5042277 34651140556
3465114055
----------- -----------
60-PIECES SMOKED HOOVES 5042278 3465112122
----------- -----------

Customers who purchased the recalled products should discontinue use immediately and return the product to any PetSmart store for a complete refund or exchange. Customers who have concerns about their health or their pet's health should consult a medical professional. For additional information about the recall, customers can visit www.petsmartfacts.com, www.petsmart.com, www.fda.gov or contact PetSmart Customer Service at 1-888-839-9638.

Salmonellosis is an infection with bacteria called Salmonella. Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts four to seven days, and most persons recover without treatment. However, in some individuals, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized.

Many dogs do not show clinical signs of Salmonella. However, when they do, they often have diarrhea or other signs of systemic infections.

Woman in pet cruelty case loses custody of kids

(By CARL MACGOWAN) A Selden woman charged last week with animal cruelty lost custody of six of her children Tuesday.

In the first of two Suffolk court appearances Tuesday in Central Islip, Sharon McDonough, 43, listened quietly as a Family Court judge ordered the children removed from her home.

Two of the children will live with an older brother.

>>VIDEO: Click here to see Michelle Curtin of Second Chance Wildlife Rescue speak about the animals

After leaving Family Court, McDonough was then ushered to Criminal Court, followed by about a dozen journalists.

Suffolk authorities last week seized five dogs and a cat from McDonough's Awixa Place home and accused her of torturing the animals.

The Suffolk Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said 20 dead animals were dug up from McDonough's yard last week.

Her son, Doug McDonough, 21, told reporters on Saturday his mother forced her daughters to torture the animals.

Sharon McDonough pleaded not guilty Sunday to misdemeanor animal cruelty charges.
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>>VIDEO: Click here to see SPCA Chief Roy Gross explain how officers responded to reports of pet abuse

A Family Court judge Tuesday sought a psychiatric evaluation of McDonough and ordered her back to court on Nov. 23.

Four of McDonough's six daughters, the youngest of whom is 18 months old, were placed in the custody of family friends and foster families.

Doug McDonough took custody of the other two sisters.

In Criminal Court, Sharon McDonough answered, "Of course," when asked by Judge Paul Hensley whether she could assist in her defense.

Hensley released her and ordered her back in court Dec. 7.

McDonough remained silent as she walked past reporters outside the court.

"She stands by her not guilty plea," her attorney, James D'Angelo of Huntington, said.

>>VIDEO: Click here to see Tony Panz from 'Rescue Ink' give his point of view on the animal abuse case.

Bill collectors keep hounding basset rescue owner

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:32:43 PST

(By SUE MANNING) AP LOS ANGELES — The basset hounds at Daphneyland aren't the only ones with long, sad faces.

Donations to the nation's largest basset hound rescue have never been so low, bills so overdue, the need so crucial or the help so thin, said Dawn Smith, Daphneyland's president and founder.

Every day, she looks at 100 basset hounds and wonders how she will feed them, heal them, bathe them, keep them warm or even give them a drink of water.

"We are bringing in $5,200 a month in donations and we need $10,000 to survive," Smith said.

Animal rescues and shelters have suffered during the recession, particularly in states like California, Florida, Nevada and Arizona where the real estate boom busted the loudest, said Stephen L. Zawistowski, executive vice president for national programs and science adviser for The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Based on real estate industry numbers and pet ownership figures, the ASPCA estimates 1 million to 2 million pets have been abandoned since the recession began in December 2007.

Rescues are no-kill organizations that rely on adoptions, donations, grants and volunteers to house animals, while shelters — kill and no-kill — depend on city or county budgets to pay employees and operate their facilities.

As the economy worsened, governments cut back on funding for shelters and charitable donations for rescues dried up. At Daphneyland, donations are down 40 percent, the rescue is full, volunteers have had to quit to take a second or third job or move out of the area to find work and bills keep going up.

"At pet food banks, they are seeing people who used to be donors now showing up asking if they can get a bag of dog food," Zawistowski said.

Conditions will only get worse during the holidays, Smith said.

People who got dogs during the summer want to go home for the holidays and can't afford to board their pets or take them along, so they dump them. And it's the worst time of year for adoptions because the failure rate is so high. People adopt puppies because they are so cute, but Christmas and cuteness pass.

At Daphneyland (named after the hound Smith had when the rescue was founded in 2002), Smith said the mortgage is only a month-and-a-half behind so they are not facing foreclosure. The food and vet bills are always the first to be paid.

The electric bill at Daphneyland in Acton, about 50 miles north of Los Angeles, is $1,500 a month. Because it takes electricity to run the well, when the power goes out, so does the water.

On Nov. 3, Smith's bill was $7,500 past due and the utility turned off the power. It took $3,000, a payment schedule and more than two hours on the phone to get it restored, Smith said.

Unless adoptions pick up, donations increase dramatically or grants become more readily available, Smith doesn't know how her rescue or those like hers are going to survive.

The ASPCA doesn't know how many rescues there are around the nation. But it says the country has between 3,000 and 5,000 shelters, which by definition means they receive at least 100 animals a year.

Zawistowski said between 5 percent and 7 percent of pets in a community end up at a shelter each year.

Nationally, between 6 million and 8 million animals go into shelters every year and about half, between 3 million and 4 million, are euthanized. Those numbers are about half dogs, half cats, Zawistowski said, because there are still a lot of shelters that don't take cats. Of those that do, two-thirds to three-quarters of the animals in the shelters are cats.

Despite the numbers, Zawistowski pointed to unparalleled progress over the last 20 years. In the 1980s, between 20 million and 22 million animals were being euthanized each year, he said.

"No single social welfare group has made a greater impact on a problem than the people working in animal shelters," he said, adding it has 100 percent to do with spaying and neutering.

There have been other recessions and recoveries, Zawistowski said. So he assumes there will be recovery again, but not without a lot of suffering because pets follow the fate of their people.

New Leash on Life in Newhall, about 20 miles from Daphneyland, announced last month that it was closing after 12 years and 5,000 placements.

A flurry of donations will keep the rescue open for another month while its board of directors works to extend its life and the owners work to find permanent homes for the last 13 dogs at the ranch. A last ditch "Black Friday Auction" is scheduled the day after Thanksgiving, but success depends on items that are donated, according to a letter put out by owners Bobby and Kelly Dorafshar.

Smith, a fourth-generation basset hound owner, is always honest about the dogs.

"They drool, they shed, they snore and they try your patience every day," she said. The low slung, heavy boned dogs are prone to health problems, especially around their ears and bellies.

"They are stubborn, obstinate, but couldn't be more loving. They are fabulous if you can handle a 65-pound lapdog."

Iams pet food business to shrink again in Dayton region

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:27:50 PST

(By John Nolan) Lewisburg’s loss is Mason’s gain.

Procter & Gamble Co.’s desire to move its research and development operations closer to the businesses they serve will cost Lewisburg most of its Iams and Eukanuba pet foods jobs, as the company moves them to Mason, Cincinnati and other states.

The changes, involving almost 190 Lewisburg jobs, will begin in 2010 and end by June 2012. They were among a larger group of relocations that P&G announced Monday, Nov. 9, involving nearly 700 employees in Ohio, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Lewisburg is in northeast Preble County. Mason is in southern Warren County.

P&G employees in Lewisburg were summoned to meetings Monday and informed of the upcoming changes, a spokesman said.

Already this year, P&G has closed its Iams-Eukanuba pet food office headquarters in Vandalia, moving its 240 jobs to Mason and selling the Vandalia property.

P&G ultimately may consider selling its pet food business entirely in order to focus on product categories where it sees greater potential to increase sales, industry analysts said last week.

Bought a sick pet? A new state law is looking out for you

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:18:03 PST

Meet Gladys, the $2,200 cat.

She's not a champion show cat, and isn't even a purebred. She's a domestic shorthair, the feline equivalent of a mutt.

Bill Plummer, of Egg Harbor Township, said he was always a dog person.

But when he and his wife, Debra, went window shopping at an Atlantic County pet store in mid-July, a 5-month-old kitten peered out of the cage begging them to take her home. So he relented and bought his wife the cat for $60. The kitten came with a health certificate showing she had been examined by a veterinarian.

A few days later, the kitten, Gladys, started sneezing, the Plummers said. On the night of July 25, they found her hiding behind the television set.

"She was having problems breathing, and when she turned to look at me, her nose was covered with (mucus)," and her breathing was labored, Debra Plummer said.

The Plummers rushed Gladys to the emergency veterinary clinic in Linwood, where she was diagnosed with panleukopenia, or feline distemper, they said. The hospital nursed Gladys back to health - to the tune of $2,103. The Plummers spent another $107 at a follow-up visit with a local veterinarian. The Linwood animal hospital certified that the cat was not fit for sale.

The Plummers tried unsuccessfully to get the store to reimburse them for their expenses but said their phone calls were not returned. They have since filed a complaint with the state Division of Consumer Affairs.

Consumer protections

Animal welfare advocates say animals bought in pet stores are more likely to have health problems than those obtained from shelters and independent breeders.

Nancy Beall, president of the Atlantic County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said she hears dozens of complaints every year about pet stores selling sick animals, and "I'm sure there are tons of it that I don't even know about."

Americans spent $2.1 billion last year on purchases of live animals, according to the American Pet Products Association. The Humane Society of the United States estimates that 2 million to 4 million puppies are sold each year in pet stores and over the Internet.

New Jersey has one of the most stringent "puppy lemon" laws in the country. But despite the law, pet owners such as the Plummers can spend thousands of dollars in veterinary bills on animals that seemed perfectly healthy in the pet-shop cage.

The New Jersey Pet Protection Act of 2000 stipulates that if an animal becomes sick or dies within 14 days of purchase and a veterinarian certifies the animal was unfit for sale, the customer has three options: Return the animal for another pet, return the animal for a refund or keep the animal and be reimbursed for expenses. Compensation is limited to double the purchase price.

Last year, the state Division of Consumer Affairs received about 50 complaints from people who bought sick animals, spokesman Jeff Lamm said.

Sick puppy

Tricia Kalita, of Egg Harbor Township, had no idea what she was in for when she bought an 11-week-old dachshund from a different Atlantic County pet shop in February.

Kalita had four dogs and was not looking for another. But while on a shopping trip, her small daughter met the puppy and played well with him, so Kalita bought him for $1,230.

Kalita said she called her veterinarian to examine the puppy, named Kingston, and the next available appointment was 11 days away. The vet found the puppy had kennel cough and ordered a test for parasites because he was underweight. When the results came back five days later, they confirmed Kingston had a highly contagious parasite.

"This little puppy sounded like an old man," Kalita said. "He had this hoarse, deep cough."

Kalita called the pet store to return the puppy, but they refused to take him back because the 14-day period allowed by state law had elapsed, she said. After a while, the store manager would not take her calls.

She spent $414 to treat Kingston and another $304 for preventive medications for her other dogs, Kalita said. She had to go to small-claims court to recover her veterinary bills.

In researching her dog's background, Kalita said she got the name of a breeder in Oklahoma.

But Kingston's health problems - and the expenses - were not over.

In August, Kalita learned that the dog has hip dysplasia - a degenerative joint disease - arthritis and loose ligaments, she said. Kingston's condition may require surgery at the University of Pennsylvania veterinary school, which would set her back nearly $10,000.

"If he doesn't get surgery, the back end of him won't work in a year or so," and he may have to be put down, Kalita said.

Puppy mills

Animal-welfare advocates say people would do better to get their pets from a responsible breeder or local animal shelter.

Most dogs sold in pet stores are bred in puppy mills, often in the Midwest, said Stephanie Shain, senior director of the puppy mill campaign for the Humane Society of the United States. The HSUS gets several calls per day about sick puppies bought at pet stores or over the Internet.

"We have yet to talk to somebody who goes into a pet store and understands they are buying a puppy who came out of a massive puppy-breeding situation," Shain said. "These dogs are treated like an agricultural crop."

A license from the U.S. Department of Agriculture is no indicator that the puppies are bred and raised in good conditions, Shain said.

There are few kitty mills, as the demand for purebred cats is not as great as it is for dogs, Shain said. Most kittens sold in pet stores are from "mistake" litters that people bring in to unload.

You can't judge an animal's health by seeing it in the store, Shain said. Purebred dogs can have genetic problems, with symptoms that do not surface for six months or longer.

Animals adopted from a shelter or bought from a breeder can have health issues, too, Shain said. But shelters are more concerned about finding a good home for the animal than in making a sale.

Pets Plus, a pet-store chain with a shop in Hamilton Township, tries to make sure it is selling healthy animals, kennel manager Donna Getz said.

Puppies are examined by a veterinarian and have their shots before Pets Plus receives them, and the company veterinarian checks them again after they arrive, Getz said. The puppies remain at the facility for five days before they are shipped to the individual stores, where another vet examines them.

If the local veterinarian thinks the dog needs medical care, the store manager calls Getz, and she arranges to take it to an animal hospital, she said. In New Jersey, Pets Plus works with the Red Bank Animal Hospital.

Pets Plus deals only with licensed dog breeders, although people may have differing opinions about their quality, Getz said.

While there are some bad apples in the business, "I really do think this company goes beyond what they're supposed to do," Getz said. "My feeling is for the animals, and to me they are small children with furry coats on."

Household Pet Protection Inc., of Auroro, Colo., provides a warranty for animals sold at 175 to 220 pet stores throughout the United States and Canada, including Pets Plus, President Ted Hellen said. The pet stores pay $5 to $8 for each animal they sell, and his company determines who is responsible for the veterinary bills in the event of a customer claim.

A pet store has to meet certain standards of animal care before Hellen's company will warranty them, he said. Most contracts are modeled after the laws of the state where the store is located, but some go beyond the legal requirement.

Household Pet Protection has issued about 1 million warranties over the past 25 years, Hellen said. About 10 percent of sales result in a claim, but claims can run as high as 30 percent of sales in some years or seasons.

Heller admitted some pet shops do not properly care for the animals they sell, but "the situation is getting better as the light is getting shined on them," he said.

Buyer beware

Of course, there is no guarantee a new pet will be healthy, whether you buy it from a pet store or a breeder, adopt it from a shelter or get it from a friend, said Bev Greco, director of the Cumberland County SPCA.

"Any time you get an animal, it's like sending a kid to day care," Greco said. "You're going to get what the next one has."

New pet owners should have a veterinarian examine the animal within a few days and make sure it has all its shots, Greco said.

People who want a new pet should research the breeder, pet store or shelter before they hand over any money, said Dr. Zareen Mistry, a veterinarian with the Red Bank Animal Hospital, which runs South Jersey Veterinary Emergency Services.

Mistry said she has not noticed more problems in animals that were bought at pet stores. Adult dogs and cats adopted from shelters are more likely to have behavioral issues, but because few are purebreds, they seldom have the congenital problems that affect specific breeds.

"It's one of those buyer bewares. You have to know what you're getting into," Mistry said.

Calling Dr. Debbie - Vet provides pet advice on show

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:37:21 PST

(By JACK BULAVSKY)

Dr. Debbie is a man's best friend's best friend.

She's what?

Dr. Debbie is Debbie White, a doctor of veterinary medicine at Lone Mountain Animal Hospital, 6688 W. Cheyenne Ave. But on weekends, she becomes Dr. Debbie, one of several personalities on Animal Radio, a two-hour show on XM Satellite Radio Channel 158. It is broadcast from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday and repeated from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Each show has a variety of callers asking questions that are as varied as a menagerie, White said.

"Most calls are about dogs and cats," she said, "but I have received questions about wild birds, rabbits, ferrets, potbelly pigs, trout, and even received a call from a lady who saw a turkey fall out of a truck and wanted to keep it as a pet. I'm familiar with exotic animals, but if I can't answer every question, I give the caller some direction on how to get an answer."

White became Dr. Debbie when she was referred by a fellow veterinarian to give a second opinion on a cat.

She met with the cat's owners and gave her opinion. It just so happened that the owners were the producers of Animal Radio. They were so impressed with White that they asked her to be on the show.

Thus was born Dr. Debbie, who joins other experts such as pet trainers, animal communicators, nutritionists and pet behaviorists.

She said the purpose of the show is to present listeners with sufficient education so pets can live healthy and happier lives.

For instance, footpad burns and other heat-related problems are more frequent in the Southwest. But more serious flea and tick problems are prevalent in parts of the country where there is more rain and humidity.

Hal Abrams, vice president of programming for Animal Radio Network, said White brings credibility to the show because of her education and knowledge about so many animals.

"Among our listener surveys, Dr. Debbie has the greatest name recognition," he said. "She has never been stumped by any question, and she doesn't just answer the question, but gives callers an education about their particular pet problem by explaining what it is and what to do about it. We know she is respected because we have repeat callers who have called in about one of their pets and then call again to ask about their other pet. This tells us the initial information they received was correct."

The show also presents pet news from communities around the country, and Dr. Debbie is hearing how the current economic slump is having an impact on pets and their owners.

"I'm getting calls from people who want to confirm their own general feelings about their pet, or want a second opinion to what they heard from their own veterinarian," she explained. "That's because pet owners, like everyone else, are watching their budget and being careful before spending any money. But there are times after listening to the caller that my immediate response is that the pet needs to be taken to the doctor right away."

Most callers are dedicated owners who actually dote upon their animals more than is necessary, such as feeding them too much human food or allowing the pet to sleep in bed with them, which can lead to obedience problems, White said.

She said she believes dog owners are looking for a companion to the point of treating it like a human, while cat owners are more likely to respect the independent nature of the feline.

Because the show is on satellite radio, many callers are truck drivers.

"We get lots of calls from truckers, both male and female," White said. "These are very dedicated pet owners because their pets are traveling with them wherever they go. One man called to ask about his parrots. He had retrofitted his cab to install perch spots for each of his three parrots. He traveled everywhere with them. So calls like this demand that I present ideas or recommendations that are different from someone who is calling from his or her home."

Animal Radio emanates from California, but Dr. Debbie takes all calls in her office using broadcast-quality radio remote equipment.

Her questions are taped in advance, and she accepts calls during the week at (866) 405-8405.

Those who are interested in listening to past shows can access them via the World Wide Web at www.animalradio.com.

Three more ferrets diagnosed with pandemic influenza H1N1

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:13:02 PST

(SCHAUMBURG, Ill.) November 10, 2009 – Three more ferrets in Oregon have tested positive for the 2009 pandemic influenza H1N1 virus, state officials confirmed this afternoon, bringing the total number of cases affecting ferrets in the state to four.

Dr. Emilio DeBess, the Oregon state public health veterinarian, says the ferrets that tested positive for the H1N1 virus are among a group of nine ferrets that live with a family in the Roseburg, Ore., area. All nine ferrets, DeBess said, exhibited flu-like symptoms, but only three were taken to the veterinarian. Those three tested positive.

DeBess says members of the family that owns the ferrets were sick with flu-like symptoms the week prior to the animals becoming ill. He adds that there are no indications that the ferrets passed the virus on to people or any other species of animal.

The first ferret in Oregon confirmed with the 2009 pandemic influenza H1N1 virus was diagnosed in early October. All of the sick ferrets have recovered.

DeBess reminds pet owners that they should contact their veterinarian if their pets show any signs of illness, and that they should take precautions to help reduce the spread of influenza between themselves and their pets.

“The key message is to protect your animals much like you protect your family,” he says. “Wash your hands, cover your cough and your sneeze, and do your best to prevent contaminating objects your pet may come into contact with.”

The AVMA is monitoring reports of pandemic influenza H1N1 in animals and posting updates to its Web site at www.avma.org/public_health/influenza/new_virus. The Oregon Veterinary Medical Association is also providing information at http://oregonvma.org/news/h1n1.

H1N1 flu confirmed in Iowa cat

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:38:58 PST

(SCHAUMBURG, Ill.) November 4, 2009—A cat in Iowa has tested positive for the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus, state officials confirmed this morning, marking the first time a cat has been diagnosed with this strain of influenza. The cat, which has recovered, is believed to have caught the virus from someone in the household who was sick with H1N1. There are no indications that the cat passed the virus on to any other animals or people. Prior to this diagnosis, the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus had been found in humans, pigs, birds and ferrets. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) are reminding pet owners that some viruses can pass between people and animals, so this was not an altogether unexpected event. Pet owners should monitor their pets’ health very closely, no matter what type of animal, and visit a veterinarian if there are any signs of illness. The AVMA is actively tracking all instances of H1N1 in animals and posting updates on our Web site at www.avma.org/public_health/influenza/new_virus. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Man Stuck Ferret Down Pants - Attempted Theft Has Police, Residents Laughing

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:38:58 PST

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Investigators said Rodney Bolton went into the Pet Supermarket store in Jacksonville Beach Tuesday afternoon and stuck a ferret down the front of his pants before walking out, reported WJXT-TV in Jacksonville. It's an incident so unusual that even police had a hard time keeping a straight face. "Stuffing a ferret down your pants in order to steal it is not only stupid, but it's a little dangerous," Sgt. Thom Bingham said. A 17-year-old shopper told police he saw Bolton abduct the ferret, and the shopper tried to rescue the animal. "They fought over the ferret and he squeezed the ferret until it was angry and agitated, and it bit the victim in the ear," Bingham said. The teen wasn't seriously injured, and now Bolton, who is homeless, is charged with shoplifting and battery. The ferret involved in the incident is recovering from the trauma. "It would be an interesting little thing to steal a ferret because they are so bouncy and kind of bitey, I kind of feel bad for the person that put it down their pants leg," pet store owner Stephen Brezil said. "I'm not sure if he'd be the same person after all." Police said Bolton tried to tell the officers later that somebody gave him the ferret while he was standing outside the pet store. Police aren't buying his story, and they said Bolton won't say why he wanted a ferret. Police said the ferret was safely returned to the store. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

H1N1 in pets and service animals- fluke or not

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:38:58 PST

Iowa just had it's first confirmed H1N1 in a cat. A Time article written today called, "A cat comes down down with H1N1", confirmed a senior cat tested positive for H1N1. One may wonder how is this possible? Consider this...the H1N1 novel virus consists of swine and avian flu markers. When you think about it, due to such markers, the possibility of transfer to your pets or service animals is really greater than some may think. The Time's article stated the case may be a possible fluke because of the age of the cat and its immune system being weaker. But really what is the truth in all this? After all, there may be more cases of such transfer from people to pets and service animals than one may think. In calling the Minnesota Department of health (CDC) on some concerns a few weeks ago when our family fell ill, with our youngest tesing possitive for type A influenza, some interesting facts were found out. You see, usually I have to call MDH to notify of issues due to wildlife concerns to people, such as a few years ago when I sent in the first confirmed West Nile Virus cases on dry ice, that was found in two Blue Jays in our area. After our family recovered I noticed both of my service dogs were coming down with flu-like illness. Severe sneezing, snorking and slight runny nose, although no fever was present. Confirming with MDH they didn't know of any cases of human to animal transmission of H1N1 then and thought maybe its a good probable case of dog flu. Although I did tell them it just seems extremely odd for this to happen. I also told them to be diligent for any ferret cases due to this species catching flu and colds easily from humans as well. Both dogs recovered with a variety of natural therapies. As soon as the eldest service dog, Hunter, was recovering better (he was affected more being almost 9 years), my cat started in with symptoms as well as three ferrets. All were treated accordingly with natural therapies, watched for any signs of complications and are fully recovering. Thus, as a precaution because of such a lack of information on how this new virus is going to truly function and spread, we all need to be diligent to protect all family members. Watch your anxiety levels when dealing with viruses but be alert to any illness signs, including our priceless life saving service animals and furry to feathered pets. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Gone to the dogs: LA church starts pet service

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:38:58 PST

(By GILLIAN FLACCUS) LOS ANGELES — When the Rev. Tom Eggebeen took over as interim pastor at Covenant Presbyterian Church three years ago, he looked around and knew it needed a jump start. Most of his worshippers, though devoted, were in their 60s, attendance had bottomed out and the once-vibrant church was fading as a community touchstone in its bustling neighborhood. So Eggebeen came up with a hair-raising idea: He would turn God's house into a doghouse by offering a 30-minute service complete with individual doggie beds, canine prayers and an offering of dog treats. He hopes it will reinvigorate the church's connection with the community, provide solace to elderly members and, possibly, attract new worshippers who are as crazy about God as they are about their four-legged friends. Before the first Canines at Covenant service last Sunday, Eggebeen said many Christians love their pets as much as human family members and grieve just as deeply when they suffer — but churches have been slow to recognize that love as the work of God. "The Bible says of God only two things in terms of an 'is': That God is light and God is love. And wherever there's love, there's God in some fashion," said Eggebeen, himself a dog lover. "And when we love a dog and a dog loves us, that's a part of God and God is a part of that. So we honor that." The weekly dog service at Covenant Presbyterian is part of a growing trend among churches nationwide to address the spirituality of pets and the deeply felt bonds that owners form with their animals. Traditionally, conventional Christians believe that only humans have redeemable souls, said Laura Hobgood-Oster, a religion professor at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. But a growing number of congregations from Massachusetts to Texas to California are challenging that assertion with regular pet blessings and, increasingly, pet-centric services, said Hobgood-Oster, who studies the role of animals in Christian tradition. She recently did a survey that found more than 500 blessings for animals at churches nationwide and has heard of a half-dozen congregations holding worship services like Eggebeen's, including one in a Boston suburb called Woof 'n Worship. "It's the changing family structure, where pets are really central and religious communities are starting to recognize that people need various kinds of rituals that include their pets," she said. "More and more people in mainline Christianity are considering them to have some kind of soul." The pooches who showed up at Covenant Presbyterian on Sunday didn't seem very interested in dogma. Animals big and small, from pit bulls to miniature Dachshunds to bichon frises, piled into the church's chapel to worship in an area specially outfitted for canine comfort with doggie beds, water bowls and a pile of irresistible biscuits in an offering bowl. There were a lot of humans too — about 30 — and three-quarters of them were new faces. The service started amid a riot of tail-sniffing, barking, whining and playful roughhousing. But as Eggebeen stepped to the front and the piano struck up the hymn "GoD and DoG," one by one the pooches lay down, chins on paws, and listened. Eggebeen took prayer requests for Mr. Boobie (healing of the knees) and Hunter (had a stroke) and then called out the names of beloved pets past and present (Quiche, Tiger, Timmy, Baby Angel and Spunky) before launching into the Lord's Prayer. At the offering, ushers stepped over tangled leashes and yawning canines to collect donations and hand out doggie treats shaped like miniature bones in a rainbow of colors. Donna Lee Merz, a Presbyterian pastor at another Southern California church, stopped in with Gracie, her 14-month-old long-haired miniature Dachshund. The puppy with ears soft as silk was overcome by the other dogs and wriggled across the floor on her belly, quivering with excitement. She finally calmed down when Merz held her in her lap. "She knew it was a safe place and a good place to be, a place to be loved," Merz said, gently petting Gracie after the service. "I'll be back." Emma Sczesniak came to Covenant for the first time, lured by the promise that she could worship with her black Lab, Midnight, and her wire-haired Dachshund-terrier mix, Marley. Marley sat on her lap during the service, while Midnight checked out the other big dogs and sat patiently waiting for his biscuit. Sczesniak said the dog-friendly service came at the perfect time for her: she's been thinking about getting back to church, but wasn't sure how or where to go. "I don't have any kids, so my pets have always been my children, so it does mean a lot," she said of the dog-inclusive service. "I haven't been to church in a long time and this may push me into it. I'm getting older and I've been thinking about those things again." But Midnight, Marley, Gracie and the other pups probably had something more important on their minds as Eggebeen intoned his benediction and the service drew to a close: Just where could they find more of those delicious treats? For Eggebeen, the night was a spiritual success — and the rest is out of his hands. "It's important for a church like us just to do good things. The results, we'll just have to see," he said. "Ultimately, that belongs to God." (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Petco uses e-mail effort to promote organic pet food

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:38:58 PST

Petco has added monthly e-mail- and insert media-focused messages about its products and services to its marketing mix. The initiative is a result of the company's work with e-mail marketing agency e-Dialog, which it hired earlier this year. The company's November 1 distribution featured information about organic pet food and included coupons for $3 off the products. The e-mails were segmented by pet, meaning that dog owners received dog-themed content and cat owners get cat-themed messages. Petco will supplement the effort by hosting November 7 in-store nutrition seminars in all of its stores to educate customers on the benefits of an organic pet diet. The events were promoted in the e-mails. “Natural and organic is one of the faster growing categories in the pet space where consumers are more focused on the health of their pet and trying to help them live longer,” said John Lazarchic, VP of e-commerce at Petco. Petco has worked with e-mail marketing firm e-Dialog since January. The agency has run all of the company's e-mail programs since June. Petco sends an e-mail tied to its insert media once a month. In addition, it also send a monthly newsletter segmented by pet, as well as marketing messages tied to a vendor special, an in-store offer or an e-commerce offering. In total, Petco sends 26 types of triggered e-mails, including messages for pet adopters and for those whose pet has an upcoming birthday. Customers who have recently purchased an item receive an e-mail soliciting them to write a review of it. Petco also includes user reviews in its e-mail marketing messages. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

NAD Reviews Advertising For Summit Vetpharm’s Vectra, Vectra 3d, Following Bayer Challenge - NAD Finds Advertiser Can Support Certain Non-Comparative Claims; Recommends Advertiser Modify, Discontinue Certain Claims; Advertiser to Appeal

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:38:58 PDT

New York, New York – Oct. 21, 2009 – The National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus has recommended that Summit VetPharm LLC modify or discontinue certain advertising claims for its Vectra and Vectra 3D flea protection products for dogs and cats. The company will appeal certain NAD findings to the National Advertising Review Board. NAD, the advertising industry’s self-regulatory forum, examined the claims at issue following a challenge by Bayer HealthCare LLC, maker of the competing K9 Advantix and Advantage products. Claims at issue included: * Vectra kills 57.5% of fleas in 2 hours, 97.1% of fleas in 6 hours and 98.6% of fleas in 24 hours. * Vectra kills 72.7% of fleas in 2 hours (cats less than 9 lbs), 38.5% of fleas in 2 hours (cats greater than 9 lbs), 99% of adult fleas within 6 hours, 100% within 12 hours * Vectra kills 34.1% of fleas within 2 hours, 98.7% within 6 hours, and 99.7% within 12 hours. * Vectra 3D kills 57.1% of fleas in 2 hours whereas challenger’s K9 Advantix kills only 14.2% in 2 hours NAD examined claims made in a chart that state Vectra 3D is more effective than K9 Advantix at killing fleas within 6 hours, as well as the implied claim presented in a detailer for the Summit VetPharm Ectoparasitology Symposium: * Vectra 3D kills 98-100% of fleas within 6 hours, suggesting that a head-to-head study was conducted and found Advantage takes 12 hours to achieve similar efficacy. NAD noted in its decision that it is aware that efficacy and speed-to-kill claims are particularly important claims to both consumers and veterinarians and appreciates “how important it is for advertisers to be able to distinguish their products from their competitors by touting any distinctive product attributes which provide benefits to consumers.” Although noting that the degree of sophistication of the target audience is a factor in determining the reasonable message conveyed by the advertising, NAD stated that, even a sophisticated audience such as veterinarians is entitled to truthful and accurate messages with respect to the products they may recommend to their patients. NAD noted that, “claims that expressly or implicitly disparage a competing product can damage that product’s market share and, therefore, NAD carefully scrutinizes such claims to ensure they are truthful, accurate, and narrowly drawn.” NAD concluded that the Vectra Studies submitted by the advertiser were insufficiently reliable to support the advertiser’s establishment claims of comparative superior efficacy and speed to kill as compared to the challenger’s product and recommended that they be discontinued NAD concluded that the Vectra Studies submitted by the advertiser provided reasonable basis for its non-comparative efficacy and speed-to-kill claims for its Vectra product in various charts directed to veterinary professionals – but only where the results are statistically significant. NAD recommended that the advertiser discontinue claims based on results that are not statistically significant. With respect to the advertiser’s claims: (1) Vectra 3D kills 57.1% of the fleas in two hours whereas K9 Advantix kills only 14.2% in two hours; and Vectra kills 97.2% of fleas compared to 94.6% for K9 Advantix at six hours, NAD noted that the results of the studies upon which these claims are based were not statistically significant at the two or six hour mark. Given the absence of any statistical or meaningful difference between the parties’ speed of kill performance, NAD recommended that these claims be discontinued. Finally, NAD recommended that the Ectoparasitology Symposium detailer chart conveying the unsupported message that Vectra 3D kills 98-100% of fleas within six hours as compared to twelve hours for Advantage, be discontinued. Summit in its advertiser’s statement, said that while it appreciates NAD’s finding in regard to certain claims, NAD’s adverse findings “do not appropriately account for the sophistication of the target audience of veterinarians, and Summit will appeal these findings to the NARB.” (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

New Rules Would Crack Down On Puppy Mills - Task Force Considers Tougher Requirements For Dog Breeders

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:38:58 PDT

DENVER -- A task force is changing the rules for dog breeders in Colorado in an effort to crack down on so-called puppy mills without changing the law. Puppy mills are substandard mass breeding operations where animal rights activists have said disease and overcrowding run rampant. "The animals are kept like cash crops; they're not treated as pets," said Holly Tarry, the Colorado state director of the Humane Society of the United States. The HSUS has been fighting for tougher anti-puppy mill laws in Colorado, but a bill that would have limited the size of breeding facilities was shot down in a House committee this year, after breeders said it would put them out of business. The debate accomplished something, though, supporters said. Breeders later agreed to an increased licensing fee to pay for another investigator and it opened the door for the task force doing the rule review. The task force is made up of state regulators, breeders and animal rights activists, and it is revising rules for dog breeders line by line. "Through the rules, we can make pretty significant changes in how those facilities operate and how they care for the animals," said Dr. Kate Anderson, the administrator of the Pet Animal Care Facility Act. Dog breeders were at the table, as well, as task force members discussed how large cages should be, how long dogs should be left in them and how often the dogs should be exercised. "The dog breeders play a big role in that. We want what's best for the dogs," said Carmen Rebord, a licensed dog breeder. The members also considered making the rules for cleaning, sanitation and tethering stricter. This is the task force's third meeting on the rules, and while the HSUS said some issues can be addressed through rule changes, others will have to be done through the law. "I think we are making some improvements and finding common ground -- there's still a lot of work to do," said Tarry. Task force members hope to finish revising the rules by the end of the year so they would go into effect next year. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Pet owners willing to go mouth-to-muzzle

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:38:58 PDT

(By SUE MANNING) LOS ANGELES — Most pet owners would leap into action for an injured pet, even if it meant risking dog breath by going mouth-to-snout. Fifty-eight percent of pet owners — 63 percent of dog owners and 53 percent of cat owners — would be at least somewhat likely to perform CPR on their pet in the event of a medical emergency, according to an Associated Press-Petside.com poll. Tammy Parks, 52, of Amherst, Mass., has taken a pet first aid class and wouldn't hesitate to help her 15-year-old mixed breed terriers, Lucy and Julia, or her white fronted Amazon parrot Koko. "It's not rocket science. The mechanics are the same as humans," said Parks, who was an American Red Cross first aid trainer. "Size is the biggest difference." In general, though, the poll found few pet owners are prepared to handle pet emergencies. Just 20 percent of pet owners have a pet first aid kit in their home, and 54 percent do not have a fire evacuation plan for their pets. And the survey revealed frequent reporting of dangerous practices that can lead to accidents and injuries. For example, a quarter of pet owners, including 30 percent of dog owners and 22 percent of cat owners, give their pets bones from table scraps, at least sometimes. Sixty-two percent of dog owners and a third of cat owners let their pets ride in their cars unrestrained, rather than placing them in a special pet carrier. And 11 percent of pet owners sometimes leave their pets unattended in a car or truck. Still, most pet owners said they would go the extra mile to rescue their pets. Women were more likely to say they would perform CPR on their pets than men, 65 percent to 50 percent, the poll showed. Nearly every decision made at the Parks house is made with the safety of the animals in mind. "We don't use pesticide on the lawn. We don't buy food with pesticide on it. No sugar, no salt, just natural nuts and fruits. No Teflon in the house, no smoking, no air fresheners, no aerosol products," she said, explaining that any one of those things could kill their 7-year-old bird. Barbara Klingman of Houma, La., said she changed things after her Chihuahua, Honeychild, ate something that forced an emergency trip to the vet. "I make sure she doesn't have anything she shouldn't have," Klingman said of the 7-pound, 4-year-old dog. The poll showed 7 percent of those polled have pets who have eaten something poisonous and 16 percent have pets who have had allergic reactions to something. There were also threats from pets themselves: 17 percent reported having a pet bitten or attacked by another animal, 9 percent said a pet had bitten or attacked another animal and 5 percent said a pet had bitten or attacked another person. The poll revealed that 41 percent have experienced at least one pet safety emergency that required an emergency trip to a vet and 11 percent have had a pet hit by a car. Edwin Griffin Jr., 61, of Plano, Texas, remembers all too well 25 years ago when his white German shepherd ran in front of a car. The dog broke both hips and his jaw, lost an eye and was in intensive care at an animal hospital for two weeks. "I had just lost my wife the month before. My children were 1 and 3. I mortgaged the car to save my dog because of the impact it would have had on the children," he said. The dog lived six more years. Now Buddy, Griffin's 3-year-old golden retriever, has a first aid kit, a carbon monoxide alarm in the room where he sleeps and several designated escape routes for emergencies. But it's Buddy who's come to the rescue of humans in his home, especially Griffin's father-in-law, who is in the final stages of pancreatic cancer. "My wife's father gets a great deal of relief from being able to touch and rub Buddy. Buddy just stands beside him. He knows that is his role," Griffin said. Pet safety and CPR training is offered by the American Red Cross and many private companies. "Vets are the experts but they are rarely on scene when something happens to our pets," said Denise Fleck, who runs Sunny-Dog Ink in Burbank and has written pet safety textbooks, appeared on a number of TV shows and taught classes throughout Southern California. Disaster plans are important, too, especially in areas like Southern California that are at the mercy of earthquakes and fires. "If people value their pets like a family member, they should know how to do CPR, just like they would for their kids. In disasters, pets get hurt and run into debris and all kinds of things," said Mark Solnick, director of emergency preparedness and response for the Red Cross of Santa Monica. Laurie Sullivan, 47, of Littlerock, Calif., has three dogs (Elsa Ann, Hope and Schotzie), an Arabian horse (Cary) and 19 cats. She has tended to a wide variety of emergencies over the years. Lucky for her menagerie, she was a certified emergency medical technician and a hospital worker. She was there to help when one of her dogs choked on a small bone, when one of her cats had a hard time delivering eight kittens, when a neighbor lost the tip of her finger to a horse and for countless everyday cuts, scrapes and bruises. She has never had to use CPR on an animal, but she knows how to. However, "it would really be hard to give CPR to a horse," she laughed. The AP-Petside.com poll was conducted Oct. 1-5, 2009, by GfK Roper Public Affairs and Media. It involved telephone interviews on landline and cell phones with 1,166 pet owners nationwide, and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points for all pet owners (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Paunchy pets at greater risk for diabetes

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:38:58 PDT

Diabetes isn't just a people disease, pets can get it too, according to petdiabetesmonth.com, a new website launched this month (by drugmaker Schering-Plough) to raise awareness of the disease in animals. According to the site, it's estimated that anywhere from 1 in 100 to 1 in 500 cats and dogs may suffer from diabetes, which occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin. Diabetes can lead to vision, nerve and other health problems if left undetected and untreated in pets. Symptoms of diabetes in cats and dogs can include: * lethargy * excessive thirst * excessive urination * excessive hunger combined with weight loss * cloudy-looking eyes * doesn't groom (in cats) * thin, dry or dull hair Pets more prone to diabetes: * middle-age or older dogs * obese pets * certain breeds, including Cocker Spaniels, Dachshunds, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Pomeranians, Terriers, Toy Poodles (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

It's Time to Celebrate the Holiday Season With Best Friends as EA Launches LITTLEST PET SHOP Friends on the Wii and Nintendo DS

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:38:58 PDT

LITTLEST PET SHOP Video Games Deliver Big Fun Featuring Extensive Customization, New Pets With Unique Personalities, Adventures, and Mini-Games REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(Business Wire)-- The Play Label of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) got the party started today and announced the release of LITTLEST PET SHOP Friends for the Wii and Nintendo DS, the latest lineup of games for girls based on Hasbro's (NYSE:HAS) globally popular LITTLEST PET SHOP toy brand. Made for girls 6-10, LITTLEST PET SHOP Friends gameplay centers around party preparations as girls and their pets get ready to throw the biggest LITTLEST PET SHOP celebration of the year. "EA has a dedicated team focused on creating quality games for girls and these new LITTLEST PET SHOP experiences are designed to appeal to that group by keeping their likes and playing habits top-of-mind," said Chip Lange, General Manager of EA's Hasbro Division. "LITTLEST PET SHOP Friends is about celebrating what's important to little girls, like their best friend and fun parties, and because of this, we think these games will be at the top of every girls' holiday wish list." LITTLEST PET SHOP Friends for the Wii features co-op play so girls can share the fun alongside their real-life best friends. Girls begin their adventureby choosing from 16 new and adorable pets packed with personality such as a Great Dane, Peacock, Beaver, and the Messy Cat. Girls then put their distinctive mark on pets through extensive customization options, such as a multitude of combinations for customizable accessories, or by creating their own exclusive designs. With pets styled and ready to go, exciting adventures, activities around party preparations and gameplay unfold in a variety of environments including the Beach, Country, and City where players guide their pets through an array of LITTLEST PET SHOP-style fun. Framed by a rich storyline and high-quality in-game cinematics, girls embark on a journey filled with activities such as delivering party invitations and serving up cake and ice cream, to completing more than a dozen special tasks on their way to arriving at the big celebration. For the Nintendo DS player, EA has released three new versions -- LITTLEST PET SHOPCity Friends, LITTLEST PET SHOP Beach Friends, and LITTLEST PET SHOPCountry Friends. Each game includes a unique storyline and six exclusive pets such as a Collie, Ladybug and Tiger, as well as a pet best friend who helps players complete a variety of activities and games on their way to the gala event where a special mystery guest awaits their arrival. The pets also have their own house where girls can send party items such as gifts, baked goods, and decorations. Additionally, customization options include a vast assortment of accessories, including the ability to design your own. Plus, enhanced Wi-Fi multiplayer gameplay allows girls to expand the LITTLEST PET SHOP Friends experience to include their best friends. "EA has delivered yet another strong slate of video games for girls based on Hasbro's powerhouse LITTLEST PET SHOP brand," said Mark Blecher, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Digital Media and Gaming at Hasbro. "LITTLEST PET SHOP Friends enables girls to further expand their growing pet collections into new environments filled with exciting adventure and gameplay." LITTLEST PET SHOP Friends for the Wii is priced at a MSRP of $39.99. LITTLEST PET SHOP Friends for the Nintendo DS each carry a MSRP of $29.99. All games are rated "E" for Everyone and available at major retailers. For more information on the games, visit www.littlestpetshop.ea.com. For assets, visit http://eapressbox.ea.com/eaplay/index.html. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Philadelphia Eagles kick in $50,000 toward Reading shelter's mobile animal clinic - Humane Society of Berks County benefits

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:38:58 PDT

(By Erin Negley) Pet owners in the Reading area may soon be able to have their animals vaccinated and checked by a veterinarian at a new mobile clinic, thanks to a $50,000 grant from the Philadelphia Eagles to the Humane Society of Berks County Inc. The NFL team on Monday announced the grant as part of its new Treating Animals With Kindness initiative. The community outreach program aims to reduce animal abuse, promote responsible adoption, encourage pet spaying and neutering and put an end to dogfighting through increased public education and awareness through $500,000 in grants to animal welfare organizations, according to the team. The first three matching $50,000 grants were awarded to the local Humane Society's mobile veterinary clinic as well as to the national Humane Society's End Dogfighting program and to the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society's low-cost spay and neuter facility. The initiative is a response by the Eagles to public criticism for signing quarterback Michael Vick, who served 18 months in federal prison for running a dogfighting ring. The initiative doesn't make up for what Vick did, but it offered a chance for the Eagles to do something positive for animals, Humane Society Executive Director Karel I. Minor said. "As disgusting as what Michael Vick did, many, many animals' lives will be improved and saved," he said. The local mobile vet unit will travel to pet owners who can't go to clinics because of mobility or transportation problems. It also will be available for emergencies or natural disasters, Minor said. Getting general wellness and emergency veterinary care to the animals will keep them happy, healthy, in their homes and prevent them from ending up at a shelter, he said. "What we want to do is stop problems before they become big ones," Minor said. The mobile clinic might have regular routes, like a bookmobile, and start by operating one or two days each week, he said. Costs for pet owners will vary. The clinic is expected to cost $200,000 to $250,000. Once the remaining money is raised, the clinic could be operating in three to six months, Minor said. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Portland man gets probation after stabbing ex-girlfriend's pet fish

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:38:58 PDT

(By Aimee Green) A 27-year-old Southeast Portland man who beat his ex-girlfriend and then stabbed her pet fish and left it impaled in her apartment has been sentenced to two years of probation and a psychological evaluation. An attorney for Donald Earl Fite III said he didn’t want to talk about the details of the assault, but that stabbing the fish was “a very low point” in his client’s life. "He is absolutely mortified and ashamed about what he did to the fish," said attorney Tom MacNair today in Multnomah County Circuit Court. Fite had no criminal history and declined to comment, saying only that his attorney had said it all. According to an affidavit filed with the court, Sarah Harris had broken up with Fite, but returned to her East Burnside Street apartment in Portland last July 25 to find Fite lying on her bed. Fite wanted to get back together, but Harris didn't. When she told him she had plans that evening, Harris refused to let her leave the room she was in, the bathroom, according to the affidavit. She tried to push past him. He threw her against a wall. She again tried to leave, punching him in the nose to get by. He grabbed her by the hair and threw her against the bathtub – ripping out her hair extensions and causing her to hit her head. She escaped and called 9-1-1 from a pay phone. When she returned with an officer, she discovered her fish, a brilliant purple betta named DeLorean, had been impaled on her wood floor. It still had a knife sticking through it. "I started crying hysterically," said Harris, who didn't attend the hearing but spoke with The Oregonian by phone. "Donald bought the fish for me, and I'm sure he knew how much I cared for it." Fite admitted to police that he killed the betta, saying, "If she can't have me, then she can't have the fish." Fite pleaded guilty to first-degree animal abuse and fourth-degree domestic-violence assault. In addition to probation and a mental-health evaluation, he must work 80 hours of community service, pay $617 in fines and fees and stay away from Harris. Deputy district attorney Eric Zimmerman told Judge Eric Bergstrom that the victim had requested restitution for an unusual reason – she wanted Fite to pay for a memorial tattoo she plans to get of the fish. The judge declined to order Fite to pay for the tattoo. The judge also decided against banning Fite from having contact with fish, saying the stabbing was probably a one-time incident. Fite misinterpreted what the judge had said, and appeared upset. "What? I'm not allowed to walk into a pet store?" The judge repeated himself, to Fite's relief. "I'm not imposing that condition," Bergstrom said. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Dogs aid in advancing human cancer therapy

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:38:58 PDT

Studying pet dogs with cancer could yield valuable information on how to diagnose and treat human cancers, according to scientists at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The team of scientists , led by Chand Khanna, believes that studying these new therapies in clinical trials with dogs may yield insights into how to improve care for human patients. Naturally occurring tumors in dogs have clinical and biological similarities to the human disease. Khanna and colleagues say that a pet owner's decision to pursue an experimental therapy is influenced by a number of factors, especially the possible risks and benefits of the new therapy and the reduced costs for care provided by the trial. Additionally, they say, "many pet owners are motivated by the opportunity to contribute to the advancement of cancer treatment for future human and canine patients." Estimates suggest that as many as 1 million new diagnoses of cancer occur in dogs in the United States each year. The condition is treated much like human cancer, with surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. The researchers published their article today in the PLos Medicine journal. Khanna refutes activists claims that experimentation on the dogs is wrong by saying: It's important that the trials are designed with the care of the animals as priority, and also that there's an informed consent process each time. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

PETA pounces on Paris for her pet pig

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:38:58 PDT

PETA is ready to roast animal lover/collector Paris Hilton for her latest acquisition: A pet mini-pig. PETA accuses the heiress of setting a "wretched example" by treating animals like they're "as disposable as her friends and fiances." "The Chihuahuas, ferrets, and kinkajous she's paraded through her home in the past were not accessories, and pot-bellied pigs aren't either." Paris posted pictures of this little piggy - a female of "mature weight" of 25 to 29 pounds - on Twitter, telling her fans that she plans to call it Miss Pigelette. It arrives in the next few weeks. "So excited for my new piglette to come home to me," she tweeted. "I just picked out the cutest piggy from Patty at Royaldandie.com." But not everyone shared her excitement. Commented one Twitter follower (and suspected PETA member) named funbrunette: No offense, but don't you have enough pets?!? Those aren't dolls :-( (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Poll shows only 8 per cent of owners put their pets in Halloween costumes

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:38:58 PDT

(By Sue Manning) LOS ANGELES — There's an Arabian horse in Idaho who may go as Mickey Mouse and a black cat in Minnesota who will turn into a skunk or a witch, but the majority of pets in America will be bare this Halloween. Stephanie Bennett, who lives in Meridian, Idaho, and her horse Arija are going on a "Hallowed Weenies" trek, an annual two-day endurance ride of 40 to 80 kilometres where both dress up. In past years, the trip has attracted a pumpkin and a patch, Lady Godiva and her steed and the grim reaper on horseback. Bennett was still deciding on her own costume but leaning toward Minnie Mouse for herself and mouse ears for Arija. Superheroes like Batman and Superman are popular, she said, but "capes are an interesting thing on a horse. They can spook at things like that so you have to be careful." Dave Heuer of Roseville, Minn., has two cats - one who's easy to dress and one who won't tolerate it. "Black Cat deals with humiliation very well," he said of the 10-year-old, 20-pound feline that has been a ball player and a lion in years past. "Haley won't be anything," Heuer said of his other cat. "She doesn't like anything on her or near her. We tried to put a Christmas hat on her once, but no dice." Black Cat doesn't go out or help hand out candy. Dressing up is just for fun, said Heuer, who has had him since he was a kitten. "We started with clothespins to see how many we could put on him. He tolerated 14 on his skin and fur. It would have been more, but we ran out of clothespins." Bennett and Heuer are in the minority. An Associated Press-Petside.com poll showed that only eight per cent of pet owners plan to dress their animals for Halloween. A whopping 91 per cent said there would be no duds on their dogs, cats or other pets. Jim Wilson of Belton, Mo., has an easy-going, eight-year-old cat named Tigger, who would no doubt wear a costume well, but "It's just not something we would do." Jilles Hoffman of LaPorte, Ind., agreed. "I don't do it myself, so I don't do it for them." His two Yorkshire terriers wouldn't mind the clothes, but "we don't even have any kids who come down our street. "I think it's cruel to dress up any cat," said Joan Matthews of Northbrook, Ill. "I have a cat and there is no way she would deal with that." The cat is named JulieTabby Tabitha Stripes Williams, the First, Matthews said, because it was the family's first pet and everyone wanted to get involved. The two-year-old cat is a lot like the one described by the Egyptologist in the movie "Catwoman" because she doesn't come when you call her, she lets you know how she feels and she has no respect for authority, Matthews said. Bill Mc Nutt of Scottsdale, Ariz., has two chocolate Labradors, Coco and Hershey, two Shih Tzus named Ching Li and Yogi, and two Ocicats, Roxy and Ginger. The cats belong to his son, who is in Iraq, "but they are all part of the family." Mc Nutt's wife of 47 years, Lee, would like to dress up the animals "but she does not because she knows I would not like it. I think it's demeaning to an animal." But that doesn't mean the Mc Nutts won't dress up as animals and go all out for Halloween. She's often Sylvester the cat and he's Tweety Bird. They always hand out candy and toothbrushes (they have a son who is a dentist). A few years back, his persistent wife bought some animal antlers around Christmastime. "She convinced me to put them on the dogs and take a picture. I said OK. Did the dogs mind? Of course they did," he said. The antlers have not come back. Robert Porter of Livonia, Mich., said his rescue cat, Emma, doesn't like to get dressed up. In her case, it's a good thing. Emma has severe allergies and her food costs a pricey $38 a bag. That only lasts four or five weeks, Porter said. So, no costumes, no presents for birthdays or Christmas. Just food, he said. The AP-Petside.com poll was conducted by GfK Roper Public Affairs and Media from Oct. 1 to 5. It is based on landline and cellular telephone interviews with a random sample of 1,166 pet owners. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.9 percentage points. Associated Press polling director Trevor Tompson contributed to this report. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Dogs edge out cats, meow, for best pet

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:38:58 PDT

Dog and cat aficionados gathering in New York City this week helped kick off the celebration in the financial district Wednesday. Meet the Breeds is Saturday and Sunday at the Javits Center in NYC. It is the world's largest showcase of cats and dogs. The event offers cat and dog lovers the opportunity to meet nearly 200 breeds and interact with dogs, cats, puppies and kittens. Meet the Breeds chairperson Gina DiNardo rang the NASDAQ opening bell on behalf of leading toymaker and NASDAQ Member Company, JAKKS Pacific. JAKKS is a sponsor of the upcoming Meet the Breeds event being staged by the American Kennel Club and Cat Fanciers' Association. In the lead up to the weekend's festivities, the organizers held a contest for eight weeks to determine who is the most beloved pet of all -- dogs or cats. Dogs got the top spot. More than 9,000 pet lovers cast their ballot over the eight-week debate. While cat owners outnumber dogs by nearly 13 million among the pet-owning public, dogs fetched 65% of the vote while cats caught 35% of the poll. Dogs led the pack by the widest margin in Chicago (69%), Seattle (69%) and Detroit (69%) while cat-lovers' got their biggest support in Baltimore (45%), Philadelphia (41%) and Houston (41%). (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Deer Attacks Colo. Woman After She Tried To Pet It

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:38:58 PDT

FLORISSANT, Colo. (AP) ― Colorado Wildlife officials say a 63-year-old woman was attacked by a buck mule deer when she tried to pet the animal. Division of Wildlife spokesman Michael Seraphin says Joan Nutt suffered lacerations after she was struck by the deer's hooves and antlers Monday evening outside her sister's home in Florissant, about 105 southwest of Denver. Nutt says she had called the deer over so she could pet it. Seraphin says the deer lowered its head and charged the woman once it got close. A driver who witnessed the attack called for help and scared away the deer. Wildlife officials have euthanized the animal because they say it had become a threat to people. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Wal-Mart employees build dog houses for needy pet owners

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:38:58 PDT

(By Jay Meisel) ST. LUCIE COUNTY - Fort Pierce resident Willie Bell Juste loves dogs. She loves them so much that at one point, she had 11 dogs on her property. But unable to afford having her property fenced, she's had dogs outside tethered, with makeshift doghouses for some of the animals. Last week, employees at the Wal-Mart distribution center and United for Animals, a nonprofit group, stepped in to help. They delivered a dog house, and it didn't take long for Lucy, one of Ms. Bell's five dogs, to go inside it. "It's wonderful," Ms. Juste said, adding that she's used chairs and tables to provide some shelter for the dogs. Pam Stephenson, head of United for Animals, a St. Lucie County-based organization, said 20 Wal-Mart employees, on their own time, built 33 dog houses. Wal-Mart and East Coast Lumber donated the materials. Wal-Mart also donated $250 per employee who volunteered to United for Animals. Among other things, United for Animals helps people who cannot afford veterinary bills for their pets. The organization also lobbied successfully for ordinances in Fort Pierce and St. Lucie County requiring pet registration with a higher fee for animals that weren't spayed or neutered, Ms. Stephenson said. Barbara BJ Gasparre, a Fort Pierce animal control officer, originally came up with the idea for the dog house project, Ms. Stephenson said. She supplied a list of names of needy dog owners, Ms. Stephenson said. June Herzog, a Wal-Mart Distribution Center manager, said United for Animals approached her about the project and she thought it was "a fantastic cause." Employees were anxious to help, she said. In the future, United for Animals hopes to provide more dog houses and also help people, such as Ms. Juste, with fencing, said Susan Parry, a member. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Diamond Pet Foods Announces Cat Food Recall - Deficient Products Linked to Veterinary Emergencies

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:38:58 PDT

Diamond Pet Foods announced that it was voluntarily recalling Premium Edge Finicky Adult Cat Food and Premium Edge Hairball Cat Food. The recalled bags are coded: RAF0501A22X, RAF0501A2X, RAH0501A22X, and RAH0501A2X. The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is asking all pet parents to ensure that they are not feeding these recalled products to their cats, and to immediately return any recalled food to the place of purchase. The recalled cat food is lacking Thiamine, also known as vitamin B1. Thiamine is an essential vitamin for cats, meaning they cannot manufacture it themselves and must acquire the vitamin from food. Thiamine supports the Central Nervous System, and a deficiency can lead to neurological problems ranging from mild loss of balance to life threatening seizures. Other symptoms of Thiamine deficiency include lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting, mental dullness, dilated pupils, increased respiratory rate, and low body temperature. Any cat that has ingested Diamond Pet Foods’ recalled food should be immediately examined by a veterinarian. Anti-seizure medication, thiamine supplementation, and supportive care can lead to a quick recovery, if the problem is addressed quickly enough. To date, the problem seems to be centered in the Rochester, New York area. There have been 14 confirmed cases of Thiamine deficiency linked to the recalled Diamond Pet Foods products, and all 14 cats were able to recover with medication, Thiamine supplements, and supportive care. The ASPCA® strongly encourages all pet parents, regardless of location, to ensure that their cat food has not been recalled and to immediately seek veterinary care for any symptoms of Thiamine deficiency. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

How about a $3,500 tax deduction for pet care?

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:38:58 PDT

Are you interested in a tax deduction of up to $3,500 for pet care? We're just catching up with the proposed bill, called the Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (HAPPY) Act, but thought you'd like to know. A Michigan Republican, Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, has introduced a bill that would allow the deduction of up to $3,500 on federal taxes for "qualified pets." It defines "qualified pet" as "legally owned, domesticated, and live animals" and says qualified care would include vet care. The bill justifies the proposed deduction by noting that the human-animal bond "has been shown to have positive effects upon people's emotions and physical well-being." Fll bill at: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.3501: (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

HILTON BUYS PET PIGLET

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:38:58 PDT

Socialite PARIS HILTON is set to become a mum to a little piggy - she's ordered a pot belly from a pig breeder in Oregon. The hotel heiress is known for her love of miniature dogs and is always pictured with her favourite pet, Tinkerbell. But the pups will have to make way for a new addition to the family - Hilton's placed an order for a $4,500 (£3,000) Royal Dandie pig, who will be delivered by hand next month (Nov09). The black, white and pink newborn will be nine weeks old when it is introduced to Hilton, and the socialite cannot wait to hold the baby she has christened Princess Pigelette (sic). Her representative tells TMZ.com, "Paris is thrilled! She is a major animal lover and is excited for the arrival of her new piglette (sic)." (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Whispering to Rottweilers, and to C.E.O.’s

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:38:58 PDT

IT’S a miracle. That’s what the humans believe, more often than not, after watching this compact, 40-year-old C.E.O. do his work. He enters a room purposefully, his chest thrust forward and a smile on his face. “How can I help?” is his standard introduction, and the way he says it — calmly, assertively — indicates that your problems are about to be solved. It’s unbelievable. That’s what the humans say when they see what Cesar Millan, the “Dog Whisperer,” can do. And the dogs? To a pooch, they appear to be thinking: “Thank God, help has finally arrived.” To prompt a visit from Mr. Millan, these dogs have exhibited seemingly irrational fears (of motorbikes, toasters, linoleum floors) and strange obsessions (biting rocks, ankles, tractor tires). Their owners, meanwhile, have told poignant, if at times ludicrous, stories. One couple sought out Mr. Millan after their two pit bulls, hell-bent on killing each other, forced them to live apart. Another hadn’t slept in the same bed for months because their Yorkies wouldn’t allow it. If you have a television, you may know Mr. Millan from “Dog Whisperer With Cesar Millan,” whose sixth-season premiere was on Friday on the National Geographic Channel, a cable network piped into about 70 million homes. Nearly 11 million Americans tune in each week. You may have stumbled upon his new glossy magazine, Cesar’s Way, or his four books, the latest of which, “How to Raise the Perfect Dog,” went on sale last week. His first three books, all New York Times best sellers, have cumulatively sold two million copies in the United States and are available in 14 other countries. Partly because he is based in Los Angeles, the epicenter of the entertainment industry, Mr. Millan has become something of a cultural icon, a Latino man who commands respect wherever he goes. He has helped scores of movie stars and moguls — among them alpha dogs like Oprah Winfrey, the actor Will Smith, the former Disney chief Michael D. Eisner and the director Ridley Scott — become pack leaders in the one place they fail to rule: their homes. No wonder Mr. Millan’s reputation as a fixer — he says he rehabilitates dogs, but trains people — has been immortalized in pop culture. “What is the ‘Dog Whisperer’?” has been a winning answer on “Jeopardy.” An episode of “South Park” featured the mom of Eric Cartman, the spoiled, foul-mouthed brat, hiring Mr. Millan to discipline him. A New Yorker article by Malcolm Gladwell quoted scientists and dance experts analyzing how Mr. Millan’s bearing instills confidence. The conclusion: his fluid movement communicates authenticity better than words could. Not bad for a once-poor native of Culiacán, Mexico, who crossed the border illegally 19 years ago with nothing in his pockets. (He became a United States citizen this year.) When he talks about transformation, in other words, he’s living proof that it’s possible. With his wife, Ilusion, he runs Cesar Millan Inc., the center of a constellation of businesses that coordinates all things Cesar beyond the show, including speaking engagements; executive leadership seminars; a line of organic dog food, fortified water, shampoos and toys that sells at Petco; and the charitable foundation financed by an undisclosed percentage of the company’s revenue. His Web site, cesarmillaninc.com, grosses annual sales in the mid-seven figures, according to a company spokesman, chiefly from DVDs, books and merchandise like the Illusion Collar, designed by his wife to help control challenging dogs. Nearly 400,000 visitors are on the site monthly. Then there’s his Dog Psychology Center, a 43-acre mecca he calls a “Disneyland for dogs.” Under construction north of here, near where he and his family live, it will be the first of many such centers nationwide, he says. According to MPH Entertainment, the production company that is Mr. Millan’s partner in all its many offshoots and co-owns the TV show with the producers who discovered him, he will be a $100 million business in a few years. And he says he’s just getting started. “Anything that is realistic, if I create it in my mind, it can become a reality,” he says, evoking one of his favorite authors, the self-help superstar Wayne W. Dyer. “That is the power of intention.” Like the dogs that he is world-famous for understanding — and, notably, unlike some of their owners — Mr. Millan doesn’t judge others. Instead, he lives in the now and maintains a sort of über-balanced mien. For without balance, or what he calls “our most important tool: calm, assertive energy,” no one can be a pack leader. And that, more than anything else, is what Cesar Millan dearly wants each of us to be — for our animals, sure, but also for ourselves and the well-being of the planet. “World transformation begins with self-transformation,” he advises. To achieve that, he says, you need a co-pilot: “My suggestion is you have somebody next to you that is willing at any time to transform the moment. That is called dog.” THERE are 65 million dogs in the United States, where pet care is close to a $40 billion industry. By one estimate, dog owners spend an average of $11,000 over each pet’s lifetime. And even during a recession, such spending shows no signs of flagging. Simply put, Americans are nuts about their pets. Or maybe we’re just nuts. Which is pretty much the underlying message of “Dog Whisperer.” Did you see the episode about Genoa, the golden retriever who was afraid of the garage? Mr. Millan quickly sussed out that the woman of the house had strong feelings about the garage, too — namely, she resented it because her husband spent more time puttering there than he did cuddling with her. Problem solved. How about the one about Li’l Miss Kisses, the Maltese whose owner was obsessed with pink? The woman’s apartment, her outfit, everything was pink. Including the dog. Can you blame Kisses for urinating on the floor? Then there’s the episode in which Mr. Millan sat down with Kathy Griffin, the comedian, and Pom Pom, her Labrador mix. “What is she saying to you with her body language?” Ms. Griffin demanded. Mr. Millan didn’t hesitate: “That you are kind of crazy.” Ms. Griffin yelled, “Cut!” That Mr. Millan keeps a straight face in these situations says less about his manners and more about where his focus lies: with the hounds. Over the years, he has learned that in a country where pet lovers treat their animals like coddled children (making them unhappy, he believes), he must delve into the human realm to put things right. He’s the first to say, however, that communicating with humans didn’t come naturally. He grew up on a farm in Mexico, where from an early age he was known as El Perrero, or “the dog man.” Dogs made sense to him. They telegraphed their anxieties in predictable ways. They loved to be led. “They accept you as who you are — one leg, two legs, no eyes, no problem,” he says. “But they won’t be around unstable energy. That’s how much integrity they have.” Not so with humans. “One of Cesar’s favorite sayings,” says Jim Milio, a partner in MPH, which produces the show out of a mini-mall in Burbank, Calif., “is that humans are the only animals who will follow unstable pack leaders.” It would take years before Mr. Millan realized that to achieve his goal of being the world’s best dog trainer, he would need to understand not just pets, but also pet owners. His wife, Ilusion, a Mexican-American whom he met at an ice rink and married when she was 18 and he was 24, recalls the moment he began to “get” his own species. After the birth of their first son (they have two), they’d hit a rough patch and separated. Cesar was too macho and too bossy, she felt, and ignored her feelings. At her insistence, they went to counseling, where the therapist told her to express her needs. “I said: ‘You know, Cesar, I really want you to listen. I want you to be there in our household. I want to hear you say that you love me. I don’t want to be treated like I’m just a piece of property. I want to be acknowledged,’ ” Ilusion says, recalling how her husband looked at the counselor and exclaimed, “She’s just like dogs!” Ilusion is wry about this “light-bulb moment,” which she says initially made her angry. But then she realized that for her husband, all knowledge walks on four legs. His mantra of “exercise, discipline and affection” — the essential trio that he says keeps dogs (and apparently wives and anyone else) happy and healthy — was born that day. Now, Mr. and Mrs. Millan are a team. “We’re what I call Mr. Talent and Mrs. Brains,” says Ilusion. “You can’t have one without the other.” Cesar agrees: “My wife rehabilitated me.” BACK in 1991, Mr. Millan’s English was poor, which made him reluctant to charge much for his door-to-door training services. “My goods were good, but my delivery wasn’t,” he says, recalling that his initial rate per session was $10. “We couldn’t even afford Pampers.” But his reputation was spreading. One of his first clients was Jada Pinkett, then 20 and starring in a television sitcom. As he helped Ms. Pinkett, just 5 feet tall, become pack leader to four huge Rottweilers, they became friends. When Mr. Millan told her he wanted to be on TV, she leveled with him: he wasn’t ready. Then, she hired him a tutor in English. He studied for a year. For all Mr. Millan learned during that period, the actress says he taught her even more. “When Cesar came into my life, I was a young starlet,” she says. “I had all this energy and all this power at my fingertips, but I didn’t know necessarily what to do with it.” She credits him with helping her have good relationships with both canines and humans. (She married Will Smith in 1997.) “We want to have our own self-fulfillment, and we’re not paying attention to what the dog needs,” says the actress, now Jada Pinkett Smith. “Then we’re throwing the dog into complete imbalance and wondering, What is the problem? That was a crazy discovery: Oh, my goodness, I wonder if I’m doing that in other relationships.” The Smiths started recommending Mr. Millan to friends. The director Michael Bay needed help controlling his 230-pound mastiff, Mason. Later, he sought out Mr. Millan for help with another mastiff, Bonecrusher (a nod to the Transformers villain of the same name). Bones, as he is called, liked to attack small dogs. Mr. Millan brought a tiny dog to Mr. Bay’s house, as well as his sidekick, Daddy, a gentle pit bull that “Dog Whisperer” fans will recognize from his frequent appearances on the show. For $60 a day, Mr. Millan and Daddy shaped Bones right up. “It was the oddest experience in the world,” says Mr. Bay. “He doesn’t say hello. He doesn’t say, ‘Here, doggie.’ He doesn’t pet the dog. It’s like this animalistic thing between him and the dogs. They immediately respected him.” In 2002, after a newspaper article about Mr. Millan drew dozens of producers to his door, he teamed up with two of them, Sheila Emery and Kay Sumner, whom he picked because the dogs in his pack liked them best. That pair teamed with MPH, which had made its name with other successful reality-based cable shows. The National Geographic Channel, which had started in the United States only in 2001, was interested but didn’t want to bankroll the entire production. It ordered 26 half-hours with the caveat that MPH provide deficit financing to get the show on the air — what Mr. Milio said eventually amounted to “a low seven-figure investment.” The upside was that MPH and Emery/Sumner retained copyrights to the show. The channel, a joint venture of the National Geographic Society and Fox Cable Networks, controls television distribution in the United States and Canada. MPH and Emery/Sumner control worldwide home video and foreign sales and share that revenue with the channel. Mr. Millan takes a big slice of that same pie. “His profit definition is the same as our profit definition,” Mr. Milio says. “We’re not doing the studio thing where we’re taking off 25 percent overhead and then interest on the money and all that stuff. He’s got a really great deal.” Mr. Millan calls the deal, which he agreed to on instinct, a blessing. “The goal that God and I have together is the whole world transformed through a dog. God was my lawyer,” he says. “And so he’s going to bring you great people, and those great people are going to give you your fair share without you asking.” Mr. Milio also gives the National Geographic Channel credit for taking the initial plunge. “TV runs on fear,” he says. “No one gets fired for saying no and having it become a hit two years down the road someplace else. They get fired when they say yes and it tanks.” The show premiered in 2004, and its audience grew slowly, by word of mouth. That first season, it wasn’t in prime time and the channel did little to market it. But Mr. Millan was magnetic. “I’ve been in the business 30-some years,” says Mr. Milio, “and I’ve met three people who had that kind of magic. One was Jacques Cousteau. One was Jim Henson. And the third is Cesar.” In Season 2, the show expanded to an hour and moved into prime time. That’s when things started to take off. NOT everyone agrees with Mr. Millan’s methods. “Positivist” trainers like Ian Dunbar reject the idea that a submissive dog is a happy dog. Mr. Dunbar advocates treating dogs as companions, not followers. While Mr. Millan uses his hand like a mother dog uses her mouth — to nudge dogs to behave — Mr. Dunbar shuns physical corrections and relies instead on treats and rewards. To each his own, says Mr. Millan, whose favored “tsst!” sound is a correction heard around the world. “It’s just that I think I know something you might not know,” he says. “An open-minded human can learn from anybody.” Soon, more humans will be able to learn from him. This summer, after a special 100th episode (and a third Emmy nomination for Mr. Millan), the National Geographic Channel struck a deal with Fox to syndicate “Dog Whisperer” next fall. That means 50 million or so of the nation’s 120 million households that might not know him will get their chance to meet El Perrero. “Here in America, the dogs take over,” says Mr. Millan, and he doesn’t have to look far for evidence. Ms. Winfrey did an episode of her show with Mr. Millan in which she outed herself for loving her dog Sophie “like I gave birth myself.” She called her dogs “little people with fur,” until Mr. Millan told her this might be “good therapy for the mankind, but not for the dog kind.” Mr. Millan says Mr. Eisner, whose home he visited for a private consultation, told him there was no way his German shepherd would get on a treadmill. “I said, ‘Well, sir, that’s your opinion.’ In less than three minutes, the dog was on the treadmill,” he recalls. Mr. Eisner was unavailable to comment, but Mr. Millan said that once the dog was on the treadmill, all the business titan could say was “amazing.” Then he just walked away. “Because you know, he can’t be wrong,” says Mr. Millan. On another occasion, Mr. Millan spent eight Sundays in a row eating breakfast with Mr. Scott, the movie director, and his two Jack Russell terriers, Scottie and Matilda. “When you can actually direct 2,000 people in a movie called ‘Gladiator,’ that makes you a very powerful man,” says Mr. Millan. “But two Jack Russells controlled this man.” So how did the Dog Whisperer help? Mr. Millan attributes his success with the terriers to “patience, and sitting down and enjoying his cigar habit and waiting until he is in a zone,” he adds of Mr. Scott, who declined to comment. (A representative confirmed Mr. Millan’s account but says the director does not smoke cigars.) “They get into zones, all these powerful people,” Mr. Millan said. “And they give you 10 minutes to listen to you.” Of course, by this point, he was charging handsomely for his time — $10,000 to $100,000 for a private consultation, which he usually donates to his foundation. “What I learned about wealthy, wealthy, wealthy people is money talks. So you charge them a lot of money; you speak their language,” he says. “I don’t mind. I’m very happy with $100,000. Really. They really pay attention.” ON a recent hot September day, Mr. Millan is standing outside his trailer in a San Fernando Valley suburb. On a break before shooting an episode about Spike, a year-old husky with a penchant for eating pool furniture, Mr. Millan speaks gratefully about the opportunities America has given him, and how he is determined to give back. But when it’s suggested that Mr. Millan — trim in a white T-shirt, black track pants with red racing stripes and a big diamond in his left ear — now has more money and material things than he could ever have imagined growing up, he calmly, assertively objects. “No, I want a plane,” he corrects. “Because people want to meet my 10 dogs, and I don’t want to put them in cargo. I just want them to ride comfortably, temperature adjusted, water when they need it. It’s not a luxury. It’s a necessity, you know, from a dog perspective.” Despite his success, he says he never forgets that being a true pack leader means taking care of others, not just yourself. “Sacrifice is a must in any relationship. Animals are not selfish,” he says. He and his wife finance numerous efforts to promote animal health. Their Shelter Stars program provides educational materials to people who adopt pets; they also sponsor a spay-and-neuter campaign and have teamed up with Yale to develop “Mutt-i-grees,” a curriculum based on Mr. Millan’s teachings. The goal is to foster empathy in young children. And, if he has his way, someday every state will have a taxpayer-supported dog rehabilitation center. Mr. Milio recalls how, at the end of the show’s first season, he teased Mr. Millan at the wrap party about his growing stardom. “If you get famous, you can’t, you know, ask for a bigger trailer and become this difficult guy and throw stuff,” Mr. Milio said. Mr. Millan nodded, looking, as usual, utterly unworried. “The dogs won’t let me be unstable,” he replied. “If I’m unstable, they won’t follow me. And then, I’m in big trouble.” (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Florida Man Kills Pet Rat After Fight Over Last Cigarette

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:38:58 PDT

DELAND, Fla. — Authorities say a Florida man became angry and strangled a pet rat after accusing his wife of taking the last cigarette. The Volusia County Sheriff's Office reports that 22-year-old Darren Daniels grabbed his wife during a confrontation early Thursday morning. The 20-year-old woman told deputies that she eventually ran away and hid outside for about an hour. Before that, Daniels reportedly grabbed a white rat from a tank in their apartment, smashed its head and then strangled it. Authorities say Daniels drove away recklessly and refused to pull over for deputies. Stop sticks were used to flatten his tires. Daniels was charged with battery and fleeing and eluding. Authorities weren't sure if he'd be charged with animal cruelty. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Jennifer Aniston feels pet pain

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:38:58 PDT

The 40-year-old actress hates seeing pet pooch Norman in pain, and walks away if he ever has a shot. A source told the National Enquirer magazine: "Whenever a vet technician arrives at her home to slip Norman an injection, Jennifer breaks down and flees the room until the deed is done." Jennifer rushes back into the room as soon as Norman's treatment is over to comfort him. Norman, a Corgi-Terrier mix, is growing old and suffers from a series of health complaints including arthritis. To ease his pain, Jennifer splashes out $250 a week on massage, Reiki and acupuncture treatments. A source explained: "Norman has been Jennifer's constant companion during all her emotional upheavals, but he suffers from aching joints and stiffness. Jennifer doesn't want to put him on medication just yet, so she has opted for doggy spa treatments from a licensed vet technician." Jennifer - who has had a string of failed romances following her divorce from Brad Pitt - has previously spoken of her love for Norman. She said: "It wouldn't be bad if, when a man comes home, he'd run to his woman with his tail wagging. This sort of excitement is something I've always missed in a man to be honest." (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Ban sale of pets at flea markets - Opinion

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:38:58 PDT

What gets me up every morning is nursing a sweet and timid dog we named Daisy back to health. Six months ago, someone tied her to the front of an animal clinic in Longview. An English bulldog, doctors guess she is 5 years old and was likely a puppy-mill dog, born purely to breed and probably kenneled her entire life. Daisy was undernourished, overbred and covered in open, bloodied sores. Whoever abandoned her had no use for her anymore, and she was probably more work than she was worth. When Daisy came home to us, she was a mess. In the world of animal rescues, Daisy's story is one of thousands. Dogs and cats are brought into shelters every day, many abused, neglected or simply abandoned by their owners. Some are adopted. Others are not and are euthanized to make space for more animals. In Daisy's case, a local English bulldog rescue group picked her up, even though veterinarians were not sure at the time she would survive, given her condition. Even though it's against the law to abuse and neglect animals, enforcement of Texas' animal cruelty statutes is a dubious proposition. A major reason is manpower. At the SPCA, there are only nine investigators to handle its nearly 12,000 cases each year. Head to BARC, Houston's animal pound, and you'll find further evidence of shortages. The shelter is grossly overcrowded and perpetually understaffed. The dogs and cats kenneled on any given day far outnumber the people who come forward to adopt. The recent seizure of more than 1,000 animals living in cramped, filthy conditions at a northwest Harris County property shed light on another problem, and that's the sale of pets at flea markets. In this case, the commodities were mostly birds, ducks and chickens. Even though such sales are illegal in Houston, get out of the city limits and flea-market pets are big business. Anyone who has been to flea markets like Traders Village in West Harris County has seen the rows of cute puppies waiting to be sold. What you don't see is what animal investigators suspect are the puppy mills where these dogs originate. Reputable breeders don't sell their animals at flea markets. This is an easy fix for Harris County commissioners. Ban animal sales at flea markets. This would cut down on the irresponsible profiting off pets and reduce the proliferation of puppy mills. Hats off to city leaders for finally moving forward with renovations at BARC. Adding kennels and cat facilities are long overdue. Adding staffing must come next. Houston City Council Member Jolanda Jones recently described BARC as a place that “emanates death and morbidity.” Perhaps people who mistreat animals should also be required to take a tour of the facility, as Jones did. Finally, state lawmakers can deliver a stern message to those who violate animal cruelty laws by increasing fines and punishments, which are currently up to $10,000 and two years jail time. If animal cruelty convictions can be considered a felony, then shouldn't the punishment fit the crime? As for Daisy, with each day comes improvement. I have to feed her a handful of medications and apply ointment to her wounds every day, but the love and attention she's getting seems to be lifting her spirits. Her limp has turned into a skip, especially when it's time for her daily walk. I think for the first time, Daisy is getting a shot at being a real family dog. I wonder what her former owners would say if they saw her now. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

The United States Marine Corps is looking for a few good dogs!

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:38:58 PDT

(Animal Radio's Bobbie HIll) The Marines are moving towards banning aggressive breed dogs from their bases after the fatal mauling by a pit bull of a 3 year old boy at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The Corps will no longer allow pit bulls, Rottweilers or wolf hybrids in the family housing of any base in the U.S. Families currently living with those breeds on base housing will have until September 30, 2012 to certify their dogs aren’t aggressive. Dogs will be allowed to remain with a “good-dog” waiver after passing a test by the ASPCA. At three Marine bases in South Carolina all but two dogs qualified for the waiver. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Marines Enlist Help of ASPCA Animal Behavior Experts - Team of Experts to Assess Behavior of Dogs in Danger of Breed Ban

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:38:58 PDT

NEW YORK— Several Animal Behavior Experts from the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) will be in Parris Island, S.C. from October 6-8 to conduct behavior assessments of over 100 dogs living with their pet parents who could potentially be subject to a breed ban in the Tri-Command housing units of the Marines Corp Recruit Depot. The assessment, known as ASPCA SAFER (Safety Assessment For Evaluation Rehoming), is a seven-item research-based assessment to help identify the likelihood for aggression in individual dogs. SAFER identifies a dog's comfort level with certain interactions like restraint, touch, reaction to new experiences including movement, sound stimuli, bite inhibition, behavior around food and toys, and arousal level toward novel objects and other dogs. "Our main goal in this program is to make sure safe dogs and their families are able to stay together," said Dr. Emily Weiss, Senior Director of Shelter Research and Development for the ASPCA. "There is no 'pass' or 'fail' with the SAFER assessment, instead, we are simply aiming to identify behavior issues such as certain types of aggression, which often times can be modified or managed." Talk of instituting a breed ban began after several incidents involving dog attacks on the base, including one incident in 2008 in which a 3 year-old boy was accidentally killed by a pit bull visiting a family living on base. The Marine Corps previously conducted tests such as the Canine Good Citizen Test and Delta Society Test, which actually evaluate a dog's obedience and manners and do not correlate with aggression. When looking for a behavior assessment that could specifically identify potentially aggressive behavior in dogs, the Marines enlisted the help of the ASPCA. By using the SAFER assessment, safe dogs will be given the opportunity for a waiver so they can remain on the base until 2012. The ASPCA is opposed to breed bans – laws that ban specific breeds of dogs or unfairly discriminate against responsible dog guardians based solely on their choice of breed. Such laws also fail to achieve the desired goal of stopping illegal activities such as dog fighting, and breeding and/or training dogs to be aggressive. The ASPCA believes that strict enforcement of laws that ban animal fighting, and breeding and/or training animals to fight, is the proper means to address the problem. "We're very excited about the ASPCA coming to Parris Island," said Army Capt. Jenifer Gustafson, the Officer in Charge of the veterinary clinic on Parris Island. "There was a chance that some pet parents would be forced to give up their dogs or leave housing on the base, so this is a great alternative solution." (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Hospice will help care for pets, too

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:38:58 PDT

(By LARRY GIERER) Columbus Hospice serves more than 300 patients, and for many of them, Terri Roberts says, "their pet is all the family they have." That's why Roberts, the organization's director of volunteer services, is excited about the new program that the hospice, in Columbus, Ga., will begin in January. It's called Pet Peace of Mind and is being financed by a $5,000 grant from Banfield Charitable Trust, a public charity that focuses on pets. The program will help make sure pets are properly fed, groomed and taken to the veterinarian. "We are one of only three hospices in the country chosen. The others are in California and North Carolina," said Roberts, who wrote the grant requesting the funds. The idea for the program came from Delana Taylor McNac, a former vet who began a similar program at the Green Country Hospice in Tulsa, Okla., where she is the chaplain. "I know one of our patients has a cat, and it's everything to him," Roberts said. "With this program we can make sure the pets are cleaned, groomed, get their shots, are well fed and any medical problems can be taken care of." She added that many patients are physically or economically unable to take proper care of the animals. Roberts said the Humane Society will help, a local veterinarian will discount fees and a pet groomer will donate services. Volunteers will transport pets to a veterinarian or groomer and deliver pet food and cat litter to homes. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Nintendo's 'Wii Fit Plus' adds pet support

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:38:58 PDT

(By DERRIK J. LANG) LOS ANGELES — Pet owners can weigh themselves with their furry friends on "Wii Fit Plus," the follow-up to the top-selling Nintendo workout game. The updated title lets players create avatars of their dogs and cats, enter information such as their pet's birthday, and use the scalelike Wii Balance Board controller to weigh themselves and their pets. The game will then continue to monitor the pet's weight alongside its owner. "It's so fun to have a motivator when you're working out," said Katie Cray, Nintendo entertainment and trend marketing manager. "Obviously, if you have a dog, you're probably out there walking your dog and playing with it, and that's exercise in and of itself, so it's nice to have the ability to track the progress of both your dog and yourself." "Wii Fit Plus," which launches Sunday, doesn't have any training exercises for pets. It does have several new features for users, including three strength training exercises, three yoga activities and 15 balance games. Players can customize their routines, allowing them to focus on working out specific parts of their bodies. Nintendo invited the media and celebrities including Rachael Leigh Cook, Nick Cannon and Brooke Burke — and their pooches — to preview the game Wednesday at the "Wii Fit Plus" Fitness Club, a Beverly Hills space transformed for one day into a posh health club, led by trainer Tracy Anderson, whose celebrity clientele includes Madonna. "I will definitely prescribe it to people who are at a level where they lack a mind-body connection or they lack motivation or also people like Gwyneth Paltrow, who I train all the time," Anderson said. "Sometimes we're in trailers on movie sets, and we don't have a lot of room, but it doesn't take much room to set up 'Wii Fit Plus' and customize a program." (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Jacques Chirac banishes pet dog Sumo after latest attack

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:38:58 PDT

In a dog-loving nation like France, every president knows the value of man's best friend. Francois Mitterrand prized his black labrador and Nicolas Sarkozy once had a chihuahua named Big. But for ex-presidential pets, life after the Elysée can be a bitch. Jacques Chirac's miniature white maltese, Sumo, has been banished by the former president after becoming so depressed about leaving the presidential palace that he began routinely savaging his master. Although the Chiracs now live in a vast Paris apartment courtesy of the family of the former Lebanese prime minister, Rafik Hariri, Sumo has been on antidepressants to deal with the loss of the presidential garden, where he once roamed freely with a golden retriever named Scott. Sumo had been treated for mental health problems after biting the 76-year-old ex-president on the leg earlier this year. But the maulings have worsened in recent days, forcing the couple to part with the pet that once proudly appeared in their holiday snaps. Chirac's wife, Bernadette, today came clean to the press, admitting that she had been advised to banish Sumo to a farm in the countryside after the latest attack. "It was after dinner, I was reading and Sumo was lying on the floor," she said. "My husband came in and the dog jumped up very high in the air and bit him on the stomach. I was extremely frightened by all the blood. It's awful, those little teeth. The dog was raging! He wanted to jump back up and bite him again." She said Sumo "couldn't bare the departure from the Elysée" and had been "down in the dumps". But after his departure to a farm away from his master, Sumo hadn't bitten again. Sarkozy, who throughout his political career has made a point of showing off his pets, recently interrupted an interview being conducted by his wife Carla Bruni to introduce his new dogs to a panel of readers from a women's magazine: Clara, a labrador who he flew over from Quebec, and a black and white puppy named Dumbledore, after the Harry Potter character. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

How swine flu can affect pets

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:38:58 PDT

(By ALEXANDER WOLF HOSKING) It is a common misconception that swine flu can affect our pets. The current strain can be transmitted human to human or swine to human. Flu strains tend to be species specific and must mutate in order to infect a new species of animal. Unless you have a pet pig, your pets, at the present time and barring further mutation of the virus, are safe from the swine flu. Swine influenza is a disease that only affects pigs, the virus currently afflicting humans is actually a separate strain that is being referred to as swine flu. Swine influenza does not usually affect humans, however the strain has mutated meaning transition from human to human is now occurring. Unless the virus mutates again all non-swine animals will not become affected. There are certain groups of people who are more at risk that others. People with: chronic lung, liver and kidney disease; chronic neurological diseases such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis or Parkinson's; suppressed immune systems or those who have had treatments for asthma in the last three years; diabetes, pregnant women, children under five years of age, or the elderly over 65. The symptoms of swine flu are similar to ordinary seasonal influenza symptoms. They include a raised temperature, fatigue, lack of appetite, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, nausea and vomiting. Swine flu spreads the same way as ordinary colds and flu. If someone coughs or sneezes and they do not cover his mouth, these droplets can spread easily. The virus can also survive for a few hours on hands and hard surfaces, so make sure to follow good hand hygiene and clean hard surfaces frequently. The vast majority of cases reported so far have been mild and similar to ordinary seasonal flu. Only a small number of cases have resulted in serious health problems and an even smaller number of cases resulted in death. Anti viral medications are available, and the government are stockpiling doses, however experts believe mass vaccination is unnecessary and can even be detrimental, as the virus could adapt to the treatment and mutate again into a strain resilient to the drugs. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Gretchen Whitted attacked by 5 raccoons

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:38:58 PDT

Gretchen Whitted, 74 was attacked by 5 raccoons Saturday evening in Florida. She watched them in her back yard then move to her front yard, and then they hovered around her front door. Whitted opened the door to try to get them away, and they turned on her, biting and scratching her legs. She was taken to the hospital with extensive injuries, and she is having rabies treatment, according to UPI. Neighbors told CNN that there was blood everywhere, and she had cuts and bruises all over her legs. Whitted told the police that she wasn't sure if she fell over her own feet or the raccoons. She also said that she thought the mother was protecting her young. The local police said that they have never seen a raccoon attack a human. They will search for the animals to see if they have rabies and they may be destroyed. Many people in Utah keep raccoons as pets, but they are not demosticaed animals, and they have about 80% chance of carrying rabies, according to Utah State University. Adult raccoons typically weigh between 10-30 pounds, and adult males may occupy territories of 3-20 miles. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Exploring the Health Benefits of Pets

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:38:58 PDT

(By CARLA BARANAUCKAS) When Chad, a yellow Labrador retriever, moved in with Claire Vaccaro's family in Manhattan last spring, he already had an important role. As an autism service dog, he was joining the family to help protect Ms. Vaccaro's 11-year-old son, Milo — especially in public, where he often had tantrums or tried to run away. Like many companion animals, whether service dogs or pets, Chad had an immediate effect — the kind of effect that is noticeable but has yet to be fully understood through scientific study. And it went beyond the tether that connects dog and boy in public. "Within, I would say, a week, I noticed enormous changes," Ms. Vaccaro said of Milo, whose autism impairs his ability to communicate and form social bonds. "More and more changes have happened over the months as their bond has grown. He's much calmer. He can concentrate for much longer periods of time. It's almost like a cloud has lifted." Dr. Melissa A. Nishawala, clinical director of the autism-spectrum service at the Child Study Center at New York University, said she saw "a prominent and noticeable change" in Milo, even though the dog just sat quietly in the room. "He started to give me narratives in a way he never did," she said, adding that most of them were about the dog. The changes have been so profound that Ms. Vaccaro and Dr. Nishawala are starting to talk about weaning Milo from some of his medication. Anecdotes abound on the benefits of companion animals — whether service and therapy animals or family pets — on human health. But in-depth studies have been rare. Now the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, part of the National Institutes of Health, is embarking on an effort to study whether these animals can have a tangible effect on children's well-being. In partnership with the Waltham Center for Pet Nutrition in England (part of the Mars candy and pet food company), the child health institute is seeking proposals that "focus on the interaction between humans and animals." In particular, it is looking for studies on how these interactions affect typical development and health, and whether they have therapeutic and public-health benefits. It also invites applications for studies that "address why relationships with pets are more important to some children than to others" and that "explore the quality of child-pet relationships, noting variability of human-animal relationships within a family." The national institutes' interest in this type of research goes back at least two decades. Valerie Maholmes, who directs research on child development and behavior at the children's health institute, said that at a broad-ranging meeting in 1987 on the health benefits of pets, the N.I.H. "concluded that there needed to be much more research," especially on child development. Other sessions confirmed the need for research, but most studies focused on negative interactions, like the ways pets could spread disease, said James A. Griffin, the institute's deputy chief of child development and behavior. Meanwhile, the Waltham Center was expanding its own research to do some small studies about human-animal interaction, said Catherine E. Woteki, global director of scientific affairs for Mars Inc. "We are a pet food company and pet care company," Dr. Woteki said, "and we're interested in seeing that that relationship stays a strong one." Reviews of the Waltham research program indicated that larger studies over longer terms with appropriate control groups were needed. When Mars became aware of the institutes' interest in this type of research, a public-private partnership was established, with the company committing more than $2 million. The National Institute of Nursing is also providing money. Peggy McCardle, chief of the institutes' child development and behavior branch, said the money from Mars helped jump-start the efforts. Dr. McCardle added that the N.I.H. had established protocols for public-private partnerships and that all proposals got two levels of review before being approved. People working with animals expect the research to back up their observations. At Children's Hospital of Orange County in Southern California, for instance, dozens of volunteers regularly take their dogs to visit patients. Children being treated for serious illnesses often have the blues, anxiety or depression. "The dogs brighten them up," said Emily Grankowski, who oversees the pet therapy program at the hospital. Some patients who have refused to speak will talk to the dogs, she said, and others who have refused to move often reach for the dogs so they can pet them. So the animals become part of the therapeutic program, especially in the areas involving speech and movement. "The human-animal bond bypasses the intellect and goes straight to the heart and emotions and nurtures us in ways that nothing else can," said Karin Winegar, whose book "Saved: Rescued Animals and the Lives They Transform" (Da Capo, 2008) chronicles human-animal interactions. "We've seen this from coast to coast, whether it's disabled children at a riding center in California or a nursing home in Minnesota, where a woman with Alzheimer's could not recognize her husband but she could recognize their beloved dog." Such observations are not new at Autism Service Dogs of America, which brought Milo and Chad together. "Many children with autism can't relate to a human," said its director, Pris Taylor, "but they can relate to a dog." (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Pets on Twitter raise funds for needy animals

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:38:58 PDT

Dougal and Romeo live in different countries and have never met in person. One's a dog, one's a cat. But they're quite the party animals. The two pets -- OK, their owners -- host "pawpawties" on Twitter to raise money for animal causes. Every month, a date and cause are chosen. Through social networking, word spreads, the countdown begins and anticipation builds until the pawpawty and donation pledges begin. It all started in February when Caroline Golon in Charlotte, N.C., opened a Twitter account for her rescue cat, Romeo, to make a co-worker laugh. She then turned the account into a fundraising program she calls Furpower, offering to donate a nickel to the Humane Society of the United States for every new follower. "I realized that the pet community online was quite remarkable. I started raising money on Twitter right away," she said. "My number of followers exploded." Golon launched a blog, Romeothecat.com, and people started telling her about other animal charities that needed help. Money came through donors who found her on Twitter, Facebook and the blog. She started selling magnets that said "Rescue Mom" and "Rescue Dad." Corporate sponsors started pitching in. The real party started when Lynn Haigh of Stamford, England, came up with the idea of a Twitter party for pets. The former project manager in technology and banking turned to freelancing two years ago and wanted a "pet project" to keep her busy between contracts. That's when she and her 14-year-old cairn terrier, Dougal, found Golon and Romeo. The women and their animals joined forces and their first pawpawty was held on March 17 -- St. Patrick's Day. They drew a crowd of dogs, cats, bunnies, even stuffed critters who toasted one another with barkeritas, meowmosas and money. The mini-message marathons last a full day so pawtiers can check in at their convenience. Trivia contests and scavenger hunts with prizes have been added. "People take on the personalities of their animals and get to say and do things that they probably would not do at a real party. I love to just watch the conversation or Twitter stream unfold," Haigh said in an e-mail. Romeo the cat The women use the Web sites firstgiving.com and justgiving.com to take care of collecting tweeted pledges and providing tax receipts to donors. There is a small fee but the women would be overwhelmed if they had to handle the money and the paperwork, Golon said. Money from the first pawpawty went to Animals in Distress in Harrisburg, Pa., and the second to Kitten Rescue in Los Angeles. Most charities get about $1,000. Furpower usually doubles that because of corporate sponsors. Ben Lehrer, the president of Kitten Rescue, said the donation came at the beginning of kitten season. "It enabled us to rescue more. We are limited by our financial ability to care for the animals we rescue. So it quite literally saved lives," he said. Haigh wanted to expand outside the United States, so she took over planning and they started alternating charities in and out of the United States. Golon, who has another rescue cat named Pugsley, said her involvement started as an "experiment in social media," but it quickly became more. "If it weren't for the organizations that are in the trenches every day, many of us would not have the wonderful animals we have to love today." Contest prize donors help too, Haigh said. Each month there are 50 or 60. "We have everything from a doggie life jacket to some tasty kitty treats and books by famous 'anipal' authors. It is heartwarming to see how generous people are with their time and money." Golon is working on a free e-book that will help animal rescue groups use social media for fundraising, followed by a series of Webcasts. "This is a great creative outlet for people. You can be silly and mingle with your Twitter community," she said. "What the Twitter founders had in mind is crystalized in pawpawties, a community coming together for a common purpose. They can make things happen." (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Britney Spears buys pet parakeet

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:38:58 PDT

Britney Spears has bought a pet parakeet. The Circus star had popped into the California Pet Centre near Calabasas to buy dog food for her pooches Bit Bit and London, People reports, when she spotted the bird and made an impulse buy. A source said: "She settled on a yellow parakeet and bought a big, white cage and several toys for the bird." (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Marley and Me's John Grogan Guests on Animal Radio® this week

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:38:58 PDT

Best-selling author John Grogan (Marley and Me) is back on Animal Radio® to share his latest Marley book for children. He also talks about Owen Wilson playing him in the movie adaptation of Marley and Me. Also this week, Animal Planet's Zak George hosts 'Superfetch' - training any dog to do anything! And gather your pets around the radio for Animal Radio's annual Blessing of the Animals! Check our listings for your local AM-FM station or listen every Saturday at noon on XM Satellite Radio ch 158 - rebroadcast Sundays at 5pm EST. You may also download a podcast of this special broadcast at http://AnimalRadio.com.

Just how healthy is that puppy in the pet shop window?

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:38:58 PDT

(By Patty Khuly) Ever planned on buying a perfect, purebred pup from a pet shop? Or maybe you felt sorry for that little fluffy kitten you glimpsed in the window. If so, you've got company. Hundreds of thousands of pets are bought and sold from retail establishments every year. I should know … I see my fair share. And I'm sick of them. Now, before you rush to condemn my insensitivity, let me explain: There's almost nothing I like less than the obfuscations, corruption and abuse that underlies much of this industry. There may be animal-selling retail establishments in the U.S. that don't deal in smoke and mirrors, but I don't know about them. In case you've never had cause to consider these outfits —— much less complain about them —— you deserve to be informed before you suddenly get an urge to "rescue" a pup or buy a "purebred" on impulse. Here are the basics: None of these dog- and cat-selling places is federally regulated, not even by the Animal Welfare Act, from which retail pet shops are specifically exempt. Meanwhile, only about half our states regulate this industry in any way. Of these, even fewer mandate humane standards of treatment that might reasonably include items such as access to water and veterinary care, according to the Humane Society of the U.S. Yet even in my pet-shop-regulated state of Florida, the notoriously lax oversight offered by the Florida Department of Agriculture is geared toward protecting consumers from predatory business practices, not the health and welfare of the wares themselves. PET RESCUE: Thousand animals from Houston home DOLITTLER-PLUS: Previous columns, Pet Talk That's why abhorrent conditions are common. Animals are more often sick and congenitally diseased than not. Puppy mill origins are the norm. And still there's a seemingly bottomless font of willing buyers prepared to pay up for the right to buy what very well might be a purebred disaster sourced from a disreputable establishment where abusive farming practices are the norm. Every retail pet shop I've ever visited (and I've made it a point to visit a great many) has always disputed all the above points. In the face of sniffles and severe congenital ailments alike, pet shops have patently denied the defects, pointed to certificates, cited "championship bloodlines" and —— most egregiously —— often ignored my requests that they water their "widgets." Don't believe me? Check one out for yourself. And beware the following tall tales many pet stores will tell when selling you on their products: 1. "Puppy mills? No way! Our pups come from responsible breeders." I've never met a pet shop that copped to the truth of the matter. Because puppy mills are breeders, this particular untruth is a sin of omission — until you factor in the word "responsible." 2. "Our pets are sourced from USDA licensed breeders." This is another obfuscation — not quite a lie. That's because the pets often do come from USDA-certified breeders. But that means just about nothing, given the spotty enforcement of the certification's provisions. In fact, USDA is usually industry code for "puppy mill." After all, who goes out of their way to certify their pet-friendly establishment as an agriculture-based endeavor? 3. "Your pet comes with a certificate of good health." Most states require that each puppy sold be accompanied by an Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (OCVI). But most veterinarians will tell you this paperwork has nothing to do with health, per se. It's just about vaccines, drugs and intestinal parasite exams, no more. For example, freedom from congenital deformities and other obvious diseases are not required for OCVI "health certification." 4. "You should use our veterinarian because she's the best!" Veterinarians who work with pet stores are often rewarded for overlooking major abnormalities. That's usually how they get the job to begin with. Many are willing to examine 40 pups an hour and issue "health certificates" for all. They'll also work happily with pet stores because they know the first "free" exam they offer buyers means another new client. 5. "If your pet gets sick in the first X number of days, you have to see our vet or we can't reimburse you." Pet stores want you to use their preferred vets during this period because these professionals will charge far less if they know their pet store partners are on the hook for the bill. It usually means said vets are less likely to treat your new pet aggressively and/or appropriately. It's also the case that most pet stores won't willingly disclose the presence of "lemon laws" in states where these consumer protections have been legislated. These laws will often require that pet stores reimburse consumers for reasonable veterinary expenses and always allow independent veterinarians access. In case you're wondering where a veterinarian gets her legal spunk, I have my expert sources. I ran these five "lies" by Florida-based animal lawyer, professor of animal law and pet store prosecutor Marcy LaHart. She agreed with my assessment. So now you're armed for a pet store visit, should you choose to see for yourself. As for me, I've seen enough. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

New Branded Pet Program Guarantees Boarding for Pets

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:38:58 PDT

Eight U.S. airlines have announced the Guaranteed On-Board Program (GOB), which guarantees members full reimbursement of the ticket price and the pet travel fee if they are denied boarding due to pet carrier restrictions. American Airlines, Midwest Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Alaska Airlines partnered with pet-carrier manufacturer The Sherpa Pet Group to develop the program. But will the new program really help travelers with pets? To participate, travelers can fill out a form, available on FlyGOB.com, including flight information, the pet's height and weight and … which Sherpa-brand carrier you're using. That's right, no other brand of pet carrier is eligible for this program. If a pet is denied cabin boarding because of the carrier, Sherpa Pet Group will reimburse travelers for the cost of their ticket and the airline pet fee (usually $100 to $150 each way). Although pet carriers may be marked "airline approved," there is little standardization among domestic carriers, which has left some passengers stranded at the gate when their pet is denied boarding because the carrier is deemed unacceptable or unsafe by the airline. A general rule of thumb for pet travel is that the kennel must be sturdy, with a lockable door, properly ventilated, and large enough for the animal to stand, lie down, and turn around. Some requirements may vary based on whether the pet is traveling in the cabin or under the plane as cargo. The specific size of the kennel varies by pet and route. American Airlines and Delta Air Lines have actually put their logos on Sherpa-brand bags, which are guaranteed to be accepted on the respective airlines, but travelers aren't required to use airline-branded carriers. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Tax deductible cats and dogs: Bill would let pet owners deduct cost of care

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:38:58 PDT

(By TRACY X. MIGUEL) NAPLES — Pets could soon pay for themselves if a bill that allows owners to deduct the cost of caring for their animal's passes. If approved, the Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (HAPPY) Act would amend the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax deduction of up to $3,500 per year for pet care expenses, including veterinary care, according the House Resolution 3501. "I think it's great," said Stacey Huber a veterinarian at Animal Oasis Veterinary Hospital. Huber, who learned about the bill through a reporter, said veterinary care has gotten expensive for people and, many times, pet insurance doesn't cover some of the expenses. If approved, Huber said this tax deduction could help pet owners who have pets that have illnesses and diseases and need long-term treatment. The tax deduction could be nearly as much as a deduction for a child. Last year, a taxpayer could claim a qualified child, who is 19 or under 24 and a full-time student, as a dependant for $3,500. In 2009, the deduction will climb to $3,650, according to IRS spokesman Mike Dobzinski of Plantation. "I don't think most Americans spend as much on pet care as on child care," Huber said. As people are trimming their expenses now, Huber said the bill could allow people to do preventative care for their pets more often, such as dental cleaning or blood work. A typical flea prevention and heartworm medication supply for a year costs about $200. Pet owners would be allowed to deduct all their pet care expenses for all of their qualified pets, according to the bill. Qualified pets would have to be legally owned, domesticated and alive, according to the bill. Exceptions include any animal used for research or owned or used in conjunction with a trade or business, according to the bill. U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, R-Mich, introduced the bill on July 31. It was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. McCotter could not be reached for comment. Neither could Rep. Connie Mack, R-Fort Myers or Rep Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami. Pet owners know how expensive medical care can be. Naples resident Nancy White supports the bill because it could possibly offset costs for her domestic American shorthaired 16-year-old cat named Happy. "I think it's a good idea, as long as people don't abuse it," White, 63 said. On average, if Happy doesn't get sick, White spends about $300 a year for his check-ups. But, when he does get sick, the bills increase. "In today's economy, I think that people have to make a choice between their pet and themselves," she said. After hearing about the bill, several pet owners at the Rover Run Dog Park at Veteran's Park on Immokalee Road said they would support it. "It would be nice," Michaela Henning, 32, said. The East Naples resident said she doesn't know if she spends $3,500 a year on her 14-month-old Jack Russell terrier named Vito but she said expenses quickly add up. Henning estimated spending about $2,000 a year on food and veterinary expenses. Henning added that instead of a tax deduction, she would prefer to have another dog park in Collier County. Marc Carestia, 22, said a tax deduction could be a good thing but he could see it being abused. The East Naples resident has three dogs, an 11-month-old Boston Terrier named Skittles; a 3-year-old Catahoula mix named Candy and Rocko, a 2 1/2 year old Doberman mix. He estimated spending an average of $1,500 to $2,000 on his pets, if they remain healthy without needing additional medical visits. Alan Grosshart, a veterinarian at Petsmart in Naples, said he has seen many pets being left behind and euthanized because of the current economy and would support the bill if it could prevent that from happening. "What I would like to see is more affordable pet insurance for pets," Grosshart said. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Flood Takes Toll on Animals

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:38:58 PDT

ATLANTA - The historic flood of 2009 has affected many people. Not only have some lost businesses and homes, but family pets have also been displaced. For some pets that means a new, temporary home. The Cobb Animal Shelter has about 50 animals it is keeping for people whose homes were damaged or destroyed by the massive flood. Animal control officials were out in canoes Monday - going house to house looking for animals. Sgt. Tom Flynn of Cobb County Animal Control said they rescued 21 pets Monday and in the evening another 24. Rescued animals were cleaned, fed and vaccinated as they wait for their owners to claim them. Officials said if the owner of the animal is known they will keep the animal at the shelter until the owners get back on their feet. Some of the rescued animals were strays and will be kept for seven days, at which time the animal will have to go up for adoption. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Army for the Animals on Animal Radio® this weekend

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:38:58 PDT

National Geographic Channel is launching what promises to be a hit series called 'Rescue Ink.' Eight scary looking guys sporting tattoos and Harley's are not only rescuing animals but enforcing their own set of laws that favor our furry friends. 'Big Ant' is 320 lbs. and guests this weekend on Animal Radio®. Joining him is the ever-hilarious Animal Planet 'Groomer of the Year' Artist Knox. Hilarity ensues and the fur flies! Check out this special broadcast on XM Satellite Radio channel 158 Saturday at noon and rebroadcast Sunday at 5pm EST. You may also listen on any one of the 90+ AM-FM radio stations that carry Animal Radio® including KOST 103.5 Los Angeles. And of course, you can also download the podcast or listen on your mobile phone. All the listening options are available at http://AnimalRadio.com

Top three pet claims released by national insurance company - Pet injured while walking/playing/running most common, costly accident

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:38:58 PDT

KING, NC, September 18, 2009 — Business Insurers of the Carolinas, a Chapel Hill, NC, based insurance company that services the pet-care industry, has released its top three categories of insurance claims received from professional pet sitters during 2008. David Pearsall, director of sales and marketing for Business Insurers of the Carolinas, said that his company, who underwrites the bonding and insurance policies for a majority of pet-sitter businesses in the United States, has received a wide variety of claims over the last year, but most are the result of pets behaving like pets. The top claims from professional pet sitters fall into these three categories: 1. Walking/Playing/Running – This broad category includes injuries such as pets being bitten by snakes while on hikes, torn anterior cruciate ligaments while playing Frisbee® and slipping on ice while walking. Most payouts for these incidents ranged from $1,000 to $5,000. 2. Swallowing or ingesting objects – These claims cover dogs swallowing toys, eating rocks, inhaling fox tails and everything in between. The average payout was $1,865. 3. Getting in and out of a vehicle °©- These claims include torn ligaments, broken paws and other injuries of pets who landed awkwardly while getting in and out of vehicles. The pet sitter's insurance covered medical expenses that ranged from $4,921 to more than $14,000. Dr. Louise Murray, DVM and director of medicine at Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital in New York City, has seen many instances of two of Pearsall's findings: pets swallowing objects and injuries resulting from walking/playing/running. "Many pet owners just don't realize that pets will eat and swallow just about anything," Murray said. "I've removed everything from coins and knives to eye glasses and baby bottle nipples." Murray warns that if an animal can pick up an object, it can and will swallow it. "This really should inspire every pet owner to be a good housekeeper and keep objects picked up and out of a pet's reach," she said. Murray has also seen many cases of ruptured anterior cruciate ligaments in pets that resulted from walking, playing and running. "While some animals have a predisposition for weak anterior cruciate ligaments, the best way to avoid this type of injury is to keep your pet at the proper weight," she said. Murray also advises to condition pets slowly and avoid the weekend warrior syndrome. "Make sure pets engage in moderate daily exercise instead of taking it easy all week and then accompanying their owner on a 10-mile hike during the weekend," she said. "Also, be sure to help your pets avoid high twisting and jumping motions, especially in muddy, slippery and wet conditions." (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Animal friends: 20,000 rabbits and one filmmaker

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:38:58 PDT

(By Linda Goldston) With a rabbit? Yep, just as we've seen with cats and dogs, thousands of people vie every year to win the title at the American Rabbit Breeders Association National Convention. The behind-the-scenes action in the show rabbit world apparently is just as intense and colorful as other shows, and a young Fremont filmmaker has captured it all in a documentary called "Rabbit Fever." Amy Do, a graduate of the University of Southern California's prestigious film school, was able to follow a group of competitors — young and old — who strive to win Best in Show for their prized rabbits (for the adults) and the title of Rabbit King and Queen, for the teens, aged 15 to 18. "When I went to the national rabbit convention, there were more than 20,000 rabbits," said Amy, who had a pet rabbit named Thumper when she was a child. "That's about the largest assemblage of rabbits in the world." She was drawn to the teenagers who care for as many as 200 rabbits each and dream of taking home the Rabbit King or Queen title. "It's not like a pageant," Amy said. "They have to study really hard to win this crown." In addition to being able to identify 47 breeds of rabbits, the young competitors also have to be able to say which variety of a breed a certain rabbit is and take a written test that is "a lot like taking a college biology exam." I never knew there was an entire show circuit for rabbits, ending at a national convention, but I must have been one of the few not to know. There are about 30,000 members of the American Rabbit Breeders Association. Amy swears these are not the type of rabbits sold in pet stores, the kind parents are likely to buy on a whim around Easter time — the type usually dumped a few months later in parks and on school fields when the parents realize rabbits can be more demanding than stuffed animals. As a proud rabbit owner shared in this column recently, rabbits have different personalities, can be litter-trained and do best as pets if they are spayed and neutered. "Lots of people say, 'Oh, I want a rabbit now' but I tell them it's a huge commitment," said Amy, who will be on hand when "Rabbit Fever, A Work in Progress" premieres in San Francisco at 7 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Roxie Cinema. She'll place a trailer from the film on her Web site at www.rabbitfever.com soon and already has posted historical and recent photos from the show rabbit world. Before starting her film, Amy had worked at Lucasfilm shooting documentary footage of George Lucas over at Skywalker Ranch. That's quite a transition, moving from working with the creator of "Star Wars" to a huge room filled with thousands of rabbits. Amy recalled: "When you walk in, you see rows and rows of caged rabbits everywhere. You can't let the 20,000 rabbits there loose or there would be 40,000 rabbits by the end of the show," she joked, since these high-priced rabbits are used to carry on their lines. There are rabbits that look like little dogs, Lionhead rabbits that look like ... well, like rabbits with a lion's head, white rabbits with black eyes and Angora rabbits. And many others. And cliques of people form around the various breeds, just like in the dog world. And there's a coming-of-age story in the film that Amy shot over a seven-year period. "Through them you get to see what the show rabbit world is like," she said. "Many of them were born into this and then took it up as a hobby. They're really well-rounded kids and the film shows how having responsibility for and caring for these rabbits helps them mature." (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

American Kennel Club® and Aol's Pawnation.Com - Ask America To Sniff Out The Top 125 Dogs In Pop Culture

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:38:58 PDT

New York, NY – Underscoring America's love affair with dogs and celebrating its 125th Anniversary of the American Kennel Club (AKC) on September 17, 2009, the organization has collaborated with AOL's PawNation.com to compile a list of the Top 125 Dogs in Popular Culture. The list brings together canines from diverse backgrounds for a candid look at how dogs have been woven into the fabric of America. Consumers can go to the site and vote for the top dog. Starting September 15, PawNation.com will host a series of polls that will allow America to vote for their favorite dogs in more than eleven pop culture categories. From movies and music, mascots and literature, to cartoons and TV characters, each week a new poll will allow Americans to review the list, debate it with their friends and colleagues, and pick their favorites. The first poll will be Cartoon Canines. Visit http://www.pawnation.com/category/akc-top-125-dogs to vote for your favorite animated dogs. The AKC will tabulate results and unveil the final list of America's Top 125 Dogs in Pop Culture on November 17, 2009. "There is no question that America loves dogs," said AKC Spokesperson Lisa Peterson. "One look at popular culture proves, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that dogs have always had a profound influence on our daily lives. The collaboration between the AKC and Pawnation.com, in celebration of the AKC's 125 anniversary, will allow the nation to choose the dogs that have made the biggest impact on pop culture and how dogs are viewed in our society." Movies like Lassie and Marley and Me have traditionally scored large audiences and stories like Old Yeller and Where the Red Fern Grows are considered timeless classics. Many grew up with Snoopy and Pluto, Elvis immortalized the "Hound Dog," and what would the University of Georgia be without its Bulldog "Uga" or RCA without "Nipper". But which dog is the most famous of them all? Dog lovers can return each week to vote and have a final say to end the doggie debate and find who it the top dog. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Undercover pets - Students talk about having their pets where pets are forbidden.

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:38:58 PDT

(Kaitlin Ring) College life can get lonely. Even when you have roommates or friends over constantly, sometimes there's still a void that only "man's best friend" can fill. For this reason, after a year or so of learning how to take care of themselves, many college students decide to gain some companionship by adopting a pet. After a long day of classes, finding Fido waiting at the door for you with a look of loyalty in his eyes can wipe the stress of the day away. This is oftentimes the first opportunity for students to have the responsibility of caring for another living creature. Although it's fun and sometimes a large part of a student's well-being to have a pet companion, it's often off-limits in most student housing. Living in the dorms and in University Place, students are only allowed to have a fish tank with their roommate's consent. That tank has to be under 20 gallons unless they are given written consent from the Housing Office. In most other on and off-campus apartments, students are allowed to have cats and most caged pets, but dogs aren't allowed unless the tenant has a written doctor's notice. But, to be honest, that really doesn't mean much to most students. If they want a pet, they're going to find a way to have one. Students have gotten extremely creative when finding loopholes in contracts and ways to conceal a forbidden pet in an apartment or dorm room. If your bed is lofted, the extra "room for activities" underneath can be put to good use for storing your fugitive pet's cage. Just make sure your bed isn't directly across from the window, where nosy passersby can see in and rat you out. A source who wishes to remain anonymous describes her experience harboring her pet in university housing. She had a small animal that was kept in a cage, but eventually had to put it up for sale because of the stress of trying to keep it under wraps. With authority figures and maintenance people constantly in the hallways and even in and out of her personal space, it became too difficult to keep her pet hidden. "You can put a blanket over the cage, or put it in a dark place [like a closet], but then they get sad," she said. No one wants to come home to the guilty feeling in the pit of her stomach seeing her sad pet stuck in their room. For the most part, a generally silent pet like a hamster or even a cat can be pretty easily hidden. Still, there's always the issue of transportation as far as getting the pet and its supplies into and out of the building. Blankets or black trash bags are a quick fix to conceal pet paraphernalia. And there's always the possibility of random knocks on the door from an RA or CA. "In dire emergencies, hide them in the shower with the bathroom door closed," says the anonymous pet-lover. Like the anonymous source ended up doing, you could always work out an agreement with a friend to harbor a fugitive pet in his or her off-campus apartment until you can find a better home for it. You could even see if that friend would be willing to keep the pet at their place for you to come over daily and take care of. (However that tends to be an unpopular option with the tenant of the apartment, since it's easy for the pet's owner to slough the care duties off on them.) If you're having troubles being a pet owner, you might consider getting a doctor's permission slip, providing legitimate ways to have a pet and still be a student. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Vets warn about creepy, crawly bug that could hide under your pet's skin

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:38:58 PDT

GRANGER — Nillie O'Nair visited Kryder Veterinary clinic for her scheduled check-up and vaccination boost Tuesday morning. The 14-month-old Great Dane is lactose intolerant, but otherwise healthy. But Nillie's vet says there's another thing her owners should watch out for this time of year. "Usually what you're going to see is a little hole with stuff oozing out of it," explained Dr. Donn Kryder, owner of Kryder Veterinary Clinic in Granger. He's talking about cuterebra — fly larvae that attach to your pet's body, then go through an opening like the mouth and migrate underneath the skin. "They get very large," said Kryder. "They're like pretty big fly bots." If not removed, the larvae will eventually hatch and fall out, Kryder said. He also told WSBT cuterebra isn't usually dangerous for pets. "It's more ugly and gross because it's like an abscess and you get drainage," he explained. "And you see this little fly larva picking, pushing its mouth out of the hole underneath the skin [because that's how it breathes]." This YouTube Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hG5F0jbyB7M) shows a larva being removed from a pet — something most vets say you shouldn't try by yourself. "You have to be careful when you remove them because if it ruptures, some animals will have an [allergic] reaction and die from it," Kryder said. Kryder said the most common place dogs and cats get cuterebra is around their head and neck because they usually are sniffing around a rabbit burrow, which is where flies often lay their eggs. It most commonly happens in the fall. Kryder said his clinic will likely see it in 15 to 20 cats and dogs this year. Even though it's generally not life threatening, "it's just disgusting," he laughed. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Oh Deer! Fawn Kept as Pet Confiscated from SoCal Home

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:38:58 PDT

GLEN AVON -- A deer who was seized by the Riverside County Department of Animal Services has been transferred to an exotic animal sanctuary. Officials believe the deer was being kept as a pet by a homeowner in Glen Avon. Officers were conducting a routine check of the property in the 2600 block of Mears Avenue when they discovered the deer that had been obviously domesticated, according to John Welsh, spokesman for the Riverside Animals Services. It's believed the deer may have been kept at the home for several months. Officer Will Luna informed the man he was in violation of the law. He released the deer to the officer who then contacted officials with the state Department of Fish and Game. Animal control officers say the deer would not be able to survive in the wild on its own. It was taken to "Forever Wild" in Phelan but may be transferred to another refuge. The homeowner was not cited because he fully cooperated with authorities, officials said. The deer, which is described as a mule deer, is very friendly. The deer quickly became the star attraction at the Riverside Shelter Tuesday afternoon. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

People food that can kill your pet

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:38:58 PDT

(Reported by: Cary Williams) It happens to a lot of pet owners. You're at the dinner table, or maybe sitting on the sofa watching TV. You look over and there are those big sad eyes that say, "Please feed me. I'm really starving! Seriously!" While it's okay to feed Fido a little steak or bread, there are certain people foods that can cause your pet to suffer greatly. In some cases, it can lead to death. PHOTOS: Click here to see 36 cute puppies Dr. Sonja Olson, DVM is acutely aware of the dangers of feeding people food to pets. She's a Senior Emergency Clinician at Florida Veterinary Specialists and works the overnight shift. "On a nightly basis we usually see an animal," Dr. Olson said, referring to pets that have suffered bad reactions to people food. So what's one of the worst things you can feed your pet? "Chocolate is a biggie," Dr. Olson said. Chocolate contains theobromine, an alkaloid from the cacao plant. If eaten in large quantities, it can kill your pet. Dark and unsweetened chocolates contain high quantities of theobromine, and can be especially lethal. Candy in general is bad for pets. Sugar free candy and gum can be downright deadly. According to Dr. Olson, sugar free candy can be "especially dangerous" for dogs because it contains xylitol. While completely safe for humans, it can cause a dog's blood sugar level to plummet, which can lead to seizures and even death. Too much xylitol also can cause liver damage. According to one recent article, two sticks of sugar free gum can kill a 20-pound dog. The dangers aren't just limited to candies. There are other people foods that can harm your pet: Nuts – Walnuts and macadamia nuts can be particularly lethal. Avocados – This fruit has a high fatty content and element in avacados called persin, which can cause tissue damage. Onions – Onions can be toxic to pets, damaging red blood cells leading to anemia and breathing problems. Grapes and raisins – Dr. Olson said the problem with grapes and raisins is not fully understood. The Web site PetEducation.com suggests it may have to do with the "fleshy" part of the grape. Symptoms can include vomiting and lethargy with an end result of kidney damage. Medicine – It's not uncommon for pet owners to give their pets people medicine to ease an ache or pain. But some drugs, especially acetaminophen and ibuprofen, can cause liver damage, ulcers, kidney failure and death. Bones - In particular, this applies to chicken and pork bones. Not only can they get stuck in your pet's throat, marrow inside the bones is not a good thing. "The marrow inside the bone is very rich and can cause them to have inflammation of the pancreas and cause them to become quite ill," said Dr. Olson. Not all people food is bad for your pet. According to Dr. Olson, whole grains, barley and pasta won't do any harm. The same goes for carrots, beans, melons and berries. Bread is okay too, just watch out for the sugar content. Take it easy on the meat, lean is best. "Talk to your vet about what's best," she said. With Halloween fast approaching, Dr. Olson said to take special care not to leave candy lying around. If you think something is wrong with your pet The common signs of poisoning can include reddening of the skin, eyes and ears, seizures, tremors, vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, bleeding and swelling. In the case of people food, the effects may not be immediately obvious. Dr. Olson said some owners aren't even aware their pet ate the wrong kind of people food when they arrive at the emergency room. "It's just not on their radar screen," she said. It can sometimes take several days for the effects of people food poisoning to become apparent, and can take some back-tracking in time to come up with the culprit. If you see your pet eating something you think is potentially poisonous, get help immediately, even if your pet appears to be fine. Try to stay calm. Keep emergency phone numbers handy. A pet in distress can cause an owner to panic. The American Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has a direct line to its Poison Control Center - (888) 426-4435 - and offers valuable information on its Web site. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Shocking! Jessica Simpson pet dog Daisy taken by California predator stalking the celebrity home

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:38:58 PDT

Actress and Singer Jessica Simpson's dog Daisy -- a darling Maltepoo (Maltese - Poodle mix) that was a gift from her ex-husband Nick Lachey -- was snatched before her eyes by a predator stalker her celebrity home. Who did it? The answer is not a who -- it's a what. The celebrity dog was captured by a coyote, a predatory animal common in the hills habitats of California. Simpson used Twitter to give her own celebrity interview about the breaking news, writing, "My heart is broken because a coyote took my precious Daisy right in front of our eyes. HORROR! We are searching. Hoping. Please help!" Expecting the worst but hoping for the best, she's posted the following rewards note on her TWITTER account as a status update: My heart is broken because a coyote took my precious Daisy ri... on Twitpic The famous pup was at home with her mommy and outside at night on a routine supervised potty outing in her California yard when the predator came down from the hills and drug her off. Simpson, obviously, is devastated. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Tennis balls for pets get bad marks from watchdog group

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:38:58 PDT

HealthyStuff.org debuted a database today on more than 5,000 products, including pet products, my colleague Liz Szabo reports. According to the nonprofit environment research organization, half of the tennis balls tested had detectable levels of lead, and tennis balls intended for pets were much more likely to contain lead. Sports tennis balls contained no lead. That's important consumer info because we know how much dogs love tennis balls. See ratings for balls here. Another popular item, catnip toys, got better rankings. Pet beds can also be full of contaminants. One-quarter of all pet products had detectable levels of lead, including 7% with levels higher than 300 ppm -- the current Consumer Product Safety Commission standard for lead in children's products. For tips on reducing and managing lead exposure in pets, visit American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Palm Beach Woman Fights To Keep Pet Pig - Owner Challenges Town Code Prohibiting Pigs On Island

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:38:58 PDT

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- A Palm Beach woman Thursday said she would fight to keep her pet pig at home. Kim Kelley-Flynn said that the city's law on animals is vague and that she plans to challenge a Palm Beach code that prohibits horses, cows and pigs. She said her pot-bellied pig, Piggy Pie, is a domesticated animal and so meets the town code. Piggy Pie sleeps in the bed with her, is potty-trained and takes walks with her and her 7-year-old daughter, Ashley, on Worth Avenue. "His toenails are painted pink for my daughter," Kelley-Flynn said. "He's just the cutest little pet in the world." She recently went before the Palm Beach code enforcement board to argue her case but was told that the law is clear and Piggy Pie must go by Sept. 21. Members of the board suggested that she go before the town council and try to get a variance to the ordinance to allow pot-bellied pigs.

Jaycee Dugard to be reunited with her pets - Cats, dogs, cockatiels are among animals removed from Garrido's house

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:38:58 PDT

aycee Dugard and her daughters are preparing for another happy homecoming: with their animals. Pets removed from Phillip Garrido's house after his Aug. 26 arrest on kidnapping and rape charges include five cats, two dogs, three cockatiels, a pigeon, white mice and a parakeet. Animal control officials say that only one of the mice is still alive — but other than that, the pets remain in good health, and Jaycee, 29, Starlit, 15, and Angel, 11, are anxious to get them back. "We've been going the extra mile, socializing with the cats and taking the dogs for walks. They are all very friendly animals, and you can tell they were well-cared for and never tormented," says Lt. Nancy Anderson of the Contra Costa County animal shelter. "There was never a question of them going up for adoption unless (Jaycee) indicated she didn't want them back. But that's not the case. I think there's going to be another happy reunion for the family." One of the dogs is a Rottweiler mix and the other is a Labrador mix, Anderson said. The cats are described only as basic, shorthaired and very sweet housecats. The pigeon and mouse were caged. Anderson says a liaison for Dugard has made it clear she and the girls want the pets back soon, but it was unclear exactly when the reunion would happen. Dugard, her daughters, and her mother are with counselors in an undisclosed location in El Dorado County, which is prosecuting the Garridos.

Celebrity Judges Skyler Samuels and Tyler James Williams Choose Winners of American Humane's 2009 Pets and Pals Photo Contest(TM)

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:38:58 PDT

DENVER, Sept. 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The highly anticipated results of American Humane's 2009 Pets and Pals Photo Contest(TM) were announced, following the decision of a panel of judges that featured actors Skyler Samuels of That's So Raven -- currently starring in Furry Vengeance, which is presently in production -- and Tyler James Williams of Everybody Hates Chris. The Grand Prize winners, chosen from more than a thousand entries, were Mark Rogers of San Francisco, Calif., for "Give Me Paw" and Linda Wilsey of Pacific Grove, Calif., for "Gizmo: 'Adopt Me!'" Both will receive $1,000. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070521/LAM095LOGO ) American Humane's annual Pets and Pals Photo Contest highlights the important role animals play in people's lives and celebrates the bond between people and their animal companions. In addition to the two Grand Prize winners, the celebrity judges also voted for the most outstanding submission in each contest category: Pets, People and Pets, Down on the Farm and Shelter Life. Category winners will each receive $500. Category Winner - Pets: Debbie Hall, Escondido, Calif., "Lucy in Repose" Category Winner - People and Pets: Jan Rieger, San Diego, Calif., "Pure Joy at Ocean Beach" Category Winner - Down on the Farm: Andrea Miller, Celina, Texas, "Barney the 'Foster Dad'" Category Winner - Shelter Life: Sumner Fowler, Novato, Calif., "Big Shoulders" To view the winning photographs and other finalists, please go to www.americanhumane.org/petsandpals.

Definition of 'Service Animal' a Hot Issue in Pet-Friendly Portland, Ore.

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:38:58 PDT

By Martha Neil It may seem like a no-brainer that dogs don't belong in a supermarket. But in pet-friendly Portland, Ore., the question is controversial enough to require state officials to weigh in with a new campaign intended to educate the public about what is and is not a service animal, reports the New York Times. The legal issue is important, because although pets are not permitted in supermarkets under the federal Food Code, service animals, such as guide dogs for the blind, are exempt from the restriction. The problem is, there is no absolutely clear-cut definition of service animal or registration procedure. That has prompted a number of pet owners to claim that ordinary companion animals qualify to accompany them on their grocery-shopping trips, according to the newspaper. Reacting to some 600 complaints over the past year about animals in food stores, the Oregon Agriculture Department has mounted an educational campaign about the service dog rules, distributing posters and brochures to 4,500 retail outlets, the Times reports. But enforcement can be difficult, both because of resistance from some pet owners and because stores can can get into legal trouble if they violate the Americans with Disabilities Act by making it difficult for legitimate service animals to accompany their owners. While it should be easy to identify a guide dog for the blind, legitimate service animals also assist some individuals whose handicaps may not be immediately apparent. A written policy of the Maine Attorney General's office on service animals in the workplace, for instance, includes animals approved by a psychologist to assist individuals with a mental disability. "Some people are kind of grossed out by it, but it's a comfort thing for a lot of people, to have their dog with them. Who am I to judge someone else's needs?" says Carl Anderson, who works at a Whole Foods Market in Portland, Ore. "Unless they're jumping up and eating out of the salad bar," he tells the Times, "we try to roll with it the best we can." (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Hilary Swank wants to find homes for 1.5 million pets

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:38:58 PDT

Two-time Academy Award-winning actress, Hilary Swank is the new ambassador for the largest annual pet adoption drive and she is encouraging every animal rescue organization and shelter to get involved. Swank agreed to be the spokesperson for the 11th Annual Iams Home 4 the Holidays Pet Adoption Campaign which will run from October 1, 2009 through January 4, 2010. Her mission is to help Iams find homes for the 1.5 million orphaned pets, languishing in animal shelters. The special emphasis for this year's event will be finding adoptable homes for older pets. Swank says older animals have just as much love as younger ones and have "already gone through a lot of the training that can be challenging for people." Swank also wants the public to know that purebred pets are available for adoption from a shelter, if people have their heart set on a specific breed. Swank said, "I'm proud to be the 2009 ambassador for this amazing pet adoption drive, and this year we hope to find loving homes for 1.5 million orphaned pets! I've adopted and rescued many pets throughout my life, including my dogs Karoo and Rumi." Home 4 The Holidays is currently registering animal welfare groups and animal shelters that want to participate in this year's campaign. This is a wonderful opportunity, especially when many shelters are seeing a decline in adoptions and an increase in orphaned animals. Here are the results from Iams' last adoption drive. MORE THAN 1.2-MILLION ORPHANED PETS WERE ADOPTED DURING 10TH ANNUAL "IAMS HOME 4 THE HOLIDAYS" DRIVE Their website reports, "More than 3,550 animal shelters and pet rescue groups in 17 countries worldwide 'joined paws' during the three month campaign to increase adoptions, save lives, and take business away from puppy mills and backyard breeders during their most lucrative time of year. The 1,202,751 adoptions far surpassed the goal of placing 1-million pets in their new homes during the holiday season. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

SB 250 "Pet Responsibility Act" (Restricting Ownership Of Unsterilized Dogs and Cats) Heads For Final Showdown Vote On Assembly Floor

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:38:58 PDT

California Senate Bill 250 is before the full Assembly for a vote this week. I had not followed the history of this bill, but apparently it is a hotly debated item in the Senate with passionate supporters on either side. The bill states, in part, that animals who are unlicensed and not yet spayed or neutered, if impounded, will be fixed. Those who oppose the bill (including the American Kennel Club) have sent out emails stating "You Will Never Own An Intact Dog Again!" This peaked my curiosity because although my dog is fixed, I don't think of her as "not intact" particularly. Basically, those who oppose the bill state that this legislation will not improve the lives of cats and dogs, will negatively impact responsible owners and breeders, and by placing additional burdens on owners of intact animals, and may lead to an increase of animals in shelters. Further, they state that the bill would prohibit an owner who has had an intact dog license revoked from owning an intact dog, thereby punishing the owner for future animal ownership of intact animals. The American Kennel Club objects to forced sterilization of dogs for minor animal control violations - they do not oppose the concept of sterilization itself. On the other side of the coin, there are the Yes on SB 250 supporters who look at this law in a vastly different light than the opposition. They state that this does not outlaw unaltered animals, and if your dog is currently licensed and following animal laws, SB250 has no effect on these dogs. In fact, if your cat doesn't go outside, it can remain unaltered whether licensed or not. Supporters go on to explain that SB 250 does not cost the state any money and does not implement new fines or fees. They also state, in fact, that this will increase the licensing of pets and will decrease shelter intact and euthanasia. Similar laws have resulted in increased licensing of pets, and decreased shelter intake and euthanasia. It is not a mandatory spay and neuter and still allows owners to have unaltered animals. As you can see, this is an important bill for animal owners, no matter which side you are on. This bill is currently on the Assembly floor and will likely be voted on in the next few days. What can you do? Contact your local Assemblymember and Senator and share your thoughts! Make your voice heard! (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Senior shut-ins get pet aid from Animal Guardians

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:38:58 PDT

Heart-wrenching stories of senior citizens choosing between buying prescription medicine or groceries are common. For those senior citizens with pets, often their only companions, there are more tough decisions to make. Deming Animal Guardians began a program on Wednesday that aims to help homebound senior citizens keep their pets. The Bob Beckett Senior Center's meal delivery program will act as the feet on the ground to deliver cat and dog food to seniors and their pets in need. "We realized how important pets are to senior citizens and that many are having a hard time feeding their animals as well as taking care of their own needs," Pat Danser, DAG President, said. The animal guardians have distributed over 11,000 pounds of dog and cat food to needy families since 2008. The latest effort kicked off with 648 pounds of dog food and 90 pounds of cat food for pets of local seniors. "All of our volunteers get immense personal satisfaction from knowing that people who love their animals will be able to keep them during these economic times," Danser said. "We always have difficult economic times in Deming, it's always a struggle. There are so many needy people."She said the program will not be able to continue without monetary donations or donations of pet food. Grants help fill the gap, but can't cover the needs of all local pets. The PETCO Foundation has supplied the DAG with a $2,500 grant and the Humane Society of the United States has supplied $1,000. The Humane Society grant goes toward pet food distribution at the Helping Hand commodity center. "We never know if these will be renewed," Danser said of grants. Pet food is planned to be dropped off at the senior center on a monthly basis. "Some people will feed their animals before they feed themselves because those dogs and cats are so important to them," she said. "They're family members."The main war cry for the DAG is spaying and neutering animals. Some assistance is offered to low income families seeking help with medical costs. "When they get the dog food, they are encouraged to spay and neuter," Kathleen Hollis, one of seven volunteers with this program, said. For more information or to donate, contact Danser at (575) 544-2209. Tax-deductible donations can be mailed as a check to P.O. Box 1275, Deming, N.M. 88030. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Good Housekeeping Reports: How to slash your pet-care costs

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:38:58 PDT

If you're like most pet owners, you treat your furry friend as well as -- if not better than -- you treat yourself. A recent poll of shoppers found that only 29 percent would change their brand of pet food to save money. But giving your pets the best doesn't mean you have to sit back and watch your bills escalate. Instead, try these smart tips for spending less. Lower food costs » More than 40 percent of dogs and 57 percent of cats in America are overweight, the 2008 National Pet Obesity Awareness Study found. If you can't see or easily feel your pet's ribs, he could probably stand to shed a few pounds. Go to petobesityprevention.com to learn your critter's true caloric needs. Also, think twice before you toss your leftovers, but don't treat your pet like a garbage disposal with a tail. Rather, feed her as if she were your 90-year-old grandmother. "No spices, no dairy; be careful with fat; most lean meats and fish are good, as well as vegetables," said Babette Gladstein, a veterinarian at Bglad Veterinary Services in New York City. Some human foods are toxic to animals. See the list at goodhousekeeping.com/pet. It also helps to buy in bulk. At Costco, Good Housekeeping found a case of 24 22-ounce cans of Pedigree Chunky Beef dog food for $24.99, versus $33.36 at a local supermarket. Taper treats » "Break treats into tiny pieces," said vet Amy Attas of webvet.com. "Pets don't measure the size of the treat; they only know they're getting one." Offer apples, bananas and baby carrots. Never give grapes or raisins, though -- they're toxic to many pets. And you can go to goodhousekeeping.com/pet for recipes you can make on your own. Save on medical care » Most municipally run animal shelters offer some type of free or low-cost spay/neuter program, vaccinations and more. Which vaccines are necessary depends on local ordinances and the animal's lifestyle, age and exposure to risk. Similarly, strictly "indoor-only" cats may not require the feline leukemia vaccine, saving you about $25, said Timnah Lee of Tribeca Soho Animal Hospital in New York City. If your animal needs medication right away, get it from your vet -- but only perhaps a week's worth, and ask to take a prescription with you to order the rest online. Some Web sites to try are 1800petmeds.com, drsfostersmith.com and kvvetsupply.com. Or see if your vet will match the online price. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Many businesses embracing creature comforts

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:38:58 PDT

(By GINGER CHRIST) There's a secret benefit to owning a business that area animal lovers have known for years: the freedom to bring pets to work. Several area business owners embrace the idea of opening the office to their four-legged friends, creating environments in which work and play are not warring concepts but instead are the daily norm. Annette Statzer, owner of Annette's Victorian Garden, traces pets in businesses to the days gone by of "the English cobbler with a cat in his shop." "I've just always loved a cat in the shop. It's just an old-fashioned thing," Statzer said. As customers enter the shop, the florist's cat, Sugar, greets them, tail held high, before guiding them through the rooms of the business. Sugar first took residence at the Center Street shop four years ago. He was a kitten, taken from Statzer's farm in Butler to be the Victorian Garden's "special cat." She raised Sugar in the flower shop, allowing him to become more than her cat, but also the pet of her employees. "Sugar adds a lot of life to this place," Statzer said. "It'd be sad without him." Like Statzer, other local business owners said their pets make the workplace more welcoming and often form relationships with customers. Armstrong Accounting Customers feel more at ease when they are greeted by Buddy and Mollie, Armstrong Accounting's part-time canine employees, owner Lisa Armstrong said. The dogs help break the ice, helping steer conversation to the clients' pets. "Animals are really relaxing to a lot of people," Armstrong said. "It's a good way to kind of warm up to each other." While most customers appreciate the dogs' presence, Armstrong always asks new clients if they have problems with dogs. She said she monitors the dogs and is aware some people don't like dogs. "So many times we have clients that come just to see the dogs. They think they're here all the time," Armstrong said. Challenge Fasteners Challenge Fasteners, which manufacturers a full line of nuts, bolts and screws for original equipment manufacturers and maintenance repair companies, operates a small office, used mainly to communicate with buyers via telephone. The intimate office setting is conducive to pets, said owner Mark Dodson, who has permitted employees to bring animals to work for years. "People are attached to their animals. Let's face it, it makes for a pretty good work environment for them," Dodson said. "It's just an added thing for the workplace." Challenge Fastener, once a regular spot for Dodson's mastiff, now is the roaming ground for 5-year-old Chloe, a golden retriever owned by office manager Sarah Varnes. Floral Garden Florist Two cats and a dog can be found amid the rows of flowers at Floral Garden Florist. A tortoiseshell long-haired cat named Maui and her orange and white short-hair brother, Tyler -- Ty for short -- make their home in the shop. A basset hound, Chloe, often accompanies her owner to work. "A lot of kids come in and just enjoy coming in to see the animals," long-time employee Kim Carter said. "They greet most of our customers." Good Shepherd The Good Shepherd staff embraces the idea of pet therapy. Volunteers often bring pets in to visit residents, which is a "heart-warming experience," said Samantha Loy of development and marketing for Good Shepherd. "A lot of the residents who had pets at home just like seeing the pets come. It brings back memories from their own pet," Loy said. "It's very therapeutic." One cat, Munch, lives at the facility and many dogs visit, including Marley, who frequently comes in to provide therapy. Mauer Photography Fourteen-year-old Tootsie first arrived at John Mauer's studio as a result of a cat fight. Mauer had two cats at home and Tootsie couldn't handle sharing her turf. "I couldn't bear the thought of getting rid of her," Mauer said. Since Tootsie moved in to the Second Street business in 1998, she has starred in many customers' photographs and has become an ideal cat, greeting customers in her younger days and now mildly acknowledging them in her later years. "She's definitely been a nice addition to the studio. I wouldn't trade her in for anything," Mauer said. Opus II Dance Studio Opus II founder Hellie Schussler didn't intend to have pets in her dance studio. But, after finding Pansy and Matilda -- known as Tillie -- starving in Fowler's Woods, the decision was made for her. "They just fit right in. We love them here. It didn't take long before they were at home," Schussler said. Schussler said the cats keep her calm and are a benefit to the many children who frequent the studio. "I think that it really satisfies the need for a pet for some children who don't have a pet at home," Schussler said. Jenny Wade Bed and Breakfast Owner Ken Hammontree calls the three dogs who live at the BandB the mascots of the business. Because guests are the staple of the business, the dogs, which do not shed, only are permitted in certain areas of the house. "We have had customers that do not like dogs, but the majority of our customers that stay at the Jenny Wade love dogs or cats and have no problem," Hammontree said. Some guests even request the dogs spend the night in their room. Mechling Computers Samantha Mechling's cat, Hairy, has lived at the East Main Street computer store for three years. "She makes life a little more exciting," Mechling said. "Everybody just adores her." Morris Motors Toni and Jack Morris, the owners of Morris Motors, take their dogs Cubbi, a schipperke, and Maddi, a bichon frisé, to work every day. The dogs and three cats that live at the business have become local fixtures and Mohican area campers even stop in to say good-bye to the animals before they leave for the season. "It's a joy. I even seek out places in other towns that have animals," Toni Morris said. "It's just nice to bring them to work with you." (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Central Garden and Pet names chief financial officer

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:38:58 PDT

Central Garden and Pet Co., which makes lawn and pet supplies, announced Tuesday the appointment of Jeffrey A. Blade as chief financial officer. He will report to William E. Brown, Central Garden's chairman and CEO. Before joining Central Garden, Blade served as interim president of The Steak 'N Shake Co., as well as its chief financial and administrative officer. Blade has also worked at Cott Beverages, Kraft Foods and Price Waterhouse, Central Garden said in a release. Shares fell 57 cents, or 4.7 percent, to close earlier at $11.57. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Ted Kennedy Remembered as Animal Activist

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 09:38:58 PDT

The nation mourns the loss today of Sen. Edward Kennedy—but in a different way than his three older brothers, all of whom were cut down in youth or midlife and long before they completed their work on Earth. Ted Kennedy had to deal with a degree of trauma and loss that few of us can ever know, and with the abrupt and unexpected deaths of three of his closest family members, he was thrust into the role of patriarch of his famous and large but shrunken family. Yet the tragedy and the responsibility did not debilitate him, but somehow infused him with an added measure of commitment to public service and the common good. He triumphed in the face of adversity and lived a full and complete life, leaving a mark over the last 50 years that few public servants can ever hope to achieve. He was not only a champion of many important social and economic causes, but a brilliant legislator who leaves in his wake a raft of laws that embody the values that he held so dear and that gave meaning and purpose to his life and the lives of others. Though animal welfare was not one of his signature concerns, he was always there for the cause, and he had all the right instincts on the subject. It was personal for Sen. Kennedy. He loved his dogs, and he could often be seen at the Capitol with his furry companions at his side. His beloved Splash "narrated" his wonderful book introducing young readers to the Congress and the legislative process. His compassion extended far beyond his own family's pets. He was a stalwart ally over the years on a wide range of legislation to protect companion animals, farm animals, animals in research, and wildlife. Measures he cosponsored and voted for included those to crack down on dogfighting and cockfighting, ban horse slaughter, curb abuses at puppy mills, end the slaughter of "downed" animals (those too sick or injured to stand and walk), limit federal subsidies for very large factory farms, condemn Canada's commercial seal hunt, halt poaching of bears for their viscera, block oil and gas development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and restrict taxpayer funding for use of steel-jaw leghold traps on national wildlife refuges. Sen. Kennedy also consistently joined calls, beginning in 2001, for increased funding to ensure viable oversight and enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act, Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, and other key laws. For eight years, he led the Senate on legislation to phase out the non-therapeutic use of antibiotics on factory farms—a reckless practice used to keep animals in inhumane, overcrowded and highly stressful conditions, which hastens the development of antibiotic resistance and threatens the availability of effective medicines to treat sick people and animals. Sen. Kennedy also championed the first-ever legislation calling for development of alternatives to animal testing—as part of the NIH (National Institutes of Health) Revitalization Act of 1993—and he was the lead Democratic sponsor of a bill enacted in 2000 that strengthened and made permanent the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods, to encourage the use of non-animal or less invasive tests that are more humane and can be more accurate and cost-effective than antiquated animal tests used for products such as cosmetics and cleaning supplies. As chairman of the committee with jurisdiction over the NIH, he played a key role in enactment of a bill in 2000 to establish a national sanctuary system for chimpanzees no longer used in medical research but warehoused in small, barren, and expensive cages in federally funded laboratories. In addition to his work on all of these specific issues, Sen. Kennedy had an extraordinary talent for inspiring people to become involved in public service and social change. He helped inspire many activists to pursue their passions, including animal protection. He participated in the Humane Society Legislative Fund's Party Animals program about three years ago when he joined on a call with thousands of activists across the country to help energize their work on behalf of legislation to protect animals in disasters, which led to the passage of the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act. "I wouldn't leave the house without Sunny and Splash," Sen. Kennedy said on the nationwide conference call. "It's no surprise that so many people in New Orleans flat-out refused to be rescued if they couldn't take their pets with them." The PETS Act, he said, "is not just about saving animals; it's about saving people, too." I spoke with him on a good number of occasions, including this year's Inauguration Day, and never did he exhibit anything less than enormous comity and kindness, even though his illness was severe and had confined him to a wheelchair. He always had a wonderful word to say about Mimi Brody, The HSUS's director of federal legislation, who had worked on Sen. Kennedy's staff for nearly a decade prior to joining our organization. Mimi's own remarkable and highly focused work on animal issues with us since 1999 put an exclamation point on the oft-expressed testimonial from Capitol Hill mavens that Sen. Kennedy maintained the smartest and hardest working staff on Capitol Hill. He was passionate about the issues he advanced in the Senate, but he counted among his closest friends many Republican senators whom he had policy disagreements with. He often spoke about wanting to create a "Canine Caucus," and said it would be one of the truly bipartisan groups on Capitol Hill, because he shared his love of dogs with Republican senators like Mike Enzi, Kit Bond, and Elizabeth Dole. His warmth and kindness on Capitol Hill were legendary and should provide a lesson on model conduct for elected officials and any of the rest of us who deal with contentious issues on a regular basis. Our condolences go to his wife Vicki, his son, Congressman Patrick Kennedy, and the rest of the Kennedy family. His demise from brain cancer is a moment of profound loss for the country, to be sure. But his record of service is a testament to the ideals of tenacity, compassion, and grace, and in the work that he did, he provides inspiration to the living. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Tax deductions on your pet care up to $3500

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 09:38:58 PDT

Introduced on July 31, HR 3501, commonly referred to as the Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years or HAPPY Act, would amend the IRS code to allow an individual to deduct up to $3500 in a taxable year for qualified pet care expenses. The bill defines qualified as "amounts paid in connection with providing care (including veterinary care) for a qualified pet expense other than any expense in connection with the acquisition of the qualified pet." The bill further defines a qualified pet as a "legally owned, domesticated, live animal" and does not include animals used for research or owned or used in conjunction with trade or business. "This bill will provide pet owners the opportunity to deduct pet care expenses ensuring adequate veterinary care for their pets," said NAPPS President Monica Leighton, owner of Professional Pet Sitting in Venice, Fla. "During these hard economic times, this legislation is essential because it encourages responsible pet ownership and will potentially reduce the number of pets that are abandoned due to the lack of resources. We encourage all animal lovers to contact their members of Congress and voice their support for HR 3501." The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. You can view all the details of HR 3501 here. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Gerard Butler in dog fight over pet bite

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 09:38:58 PDT

(By Courtney Hazlett) Michael Vick he's not, but Gerard Butler is embroiled in a canine scandal of his own after his pug, Lolita, got into an altercation with a greyhound, Mayfly, in New York. Butler's dog was allegedly unleashed and approached the greyhound, owned by Fred Varecka, who told Radar Online that "this pug approached us from the right and we pulled our dogs back and we had full control of them. Mayfly got a little closer but he and the pug never came into actual contact and the next thing we knew was Gerard Butler came over shouting: 'That dog should be put down!'" Varecka went on to say that Butler "smacks Mayfly on the head without any warning and my dog crashed into a fence before yelping in pain." Radar reports that the actor's manager, Alan Siegel, claims that Butler's pug was on a leash and that Mayfly bit her twice and that the actor then had to take his dog to an Upper East side vet for treatment of her injuries. Butler's publicist did not comment by press time to clarify what happened, or whether he'll be smoothing things over with Varecka, who's obviously happy to keep the press informed about pug-gate. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Survey Offers Some Surprises on Pet Ownership

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 09:38:58 PDT

(Steve Dale) Despite the economic downturn, America's pet population continues to rise, according to the just released 2009-2010 American Pet Products Association (APPA) National Pet Owners Survey. The number of dogs increased to 77.5 million (from 75 million when the survey was taken two years ago). Cat numbers exceeded 90 million for the first time at over 93 million (from 89 million in 2007-2008). Without a doubt, Americans love their pets; twice as many families have a pet compared to the number of families with at least one child under 18 (according to the U.S. Census Bureau): 62.4 percent to 31 percent. Still, it's interesting that while the number of pets has increased, the number of homes with pets has not risen. Many owners are simply adding more pets. For example, the number of dog-owning households hit an all-time high of 45.6 million. The number of homes with cats remained about the same. Overall, the number of households with pets remained unchanged over the past two years. Is this a hint that the pet population might be approaching its maximum after decades of growth? "That's a good question, and the truth is that we don't know," says Bob Vetere, president and CEO of the APPA. "In my opinion, growth will continue as long as baby boomers continue 'replacing' their kids with grandpets. And right now, when the kids go off to college, they might be 'replaced' with a pet. But after a few more years, I'm not sure. I know, according to the data, that pets really haven't permeated the Hispanic or African-American communities as much as they have elsewhere, so I think there remains room to grow." The survey also breaks down spending and provides lots of other information. For example, nearly half of all dogs (46 percent) at least sometimes sleep in the owners' or a child's bed. Cats fared even better, at 79 percent sleeping with their people if they felt in the mood. However, cats didn't always fare as well as dogs in other ways. Among dogs, 66 percent receive flea and/or tick preventatives, but only 41 percent of cats. When it comes to treats, 68 percent of cats get them regularly, where 88 percent of dogs enjoy special yummies. Vetere notes that these numbers were about equal or up from two years ago, and overall, the economy has played little role in pet care. However, it seems veterinary visits have been impacted by the downturn, and cat visits to the vet pale in comparison to dog visits. According to the survey, 10 percent of dogs never saw a vet in the past year (up from 8 percent); 29 percent saw the veterinarian once (the same as two years ago); 25 percent visited the vet twice (down from 30 percent in the past survey); and 33 percent returned to the vet three times or more (up from 30 percent). Astoundingly, the survey reveals that over a quarter of all cats (27 percent) never saw a vet in the past year; 38 percent visited a veterinarian once; 16 percent were toted to the vet twice, and 17 percent three times or more. These numbers are all about the same as two years ago. "Our numbers represent owner answers, so there may be some fudge factor going on -- people who feel they should answer a certain way," Vetere concedes. Still, this is the only comprehensive pet owner survey of its kind. For whatever reason, ownership of other small mammal pets declined 29 percent from two years ago. The number of pot-bellied pigs (defined in the survey as "small" mammals, though an argument could be made about that!) declined by more than half. Mouse, rat and rabbit numbers also went down. However, there have been increases in ferrets and hamsters. After a two-decade year-by-year increase in households owning reptiles, that trend seems to have leveled off. Iguanas continue to fall in popularity, now representing only 9 percent of owned reptiles (from their 2002 mark of 17 percent). The most popular reptile pets remain turtles/tortoises at 59 percent, followed by various snakes at 18 percent. Among pet birds, parakeets (budgies) fell some in popularity (32 percent of pet birds), allowing cockatiels to soar into first place (35 percent), followed by a three-way tie for African Grey Parrots, conures (various species) and lovebirds, all standing at 8 percent. "Overall, as people have been forced to cut back in many areas, it seems they're rather not cut back on what they give to their pets," says Vetere. "That's probably because of what their pets give them every day. Pets don't critique you or ride your back about not making enough money. Even if you've lost your job, your pets will love you." (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Abandoned pets are getting loose on airport runways near new animal shelter - Proximity to old Castle air base causing problems for employees.

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 09:38:58 PDT

"With Merced County's new animal shelter open at Castle Commerce Center, shelter employees are dealing with a problem they haven't seen before. Abandoned dogs ending up on the runways of the former Air Force base are endangering airplanes, causing big problems for the shelter. "If dogs get on the runway, we have to get them off one way or another," said Kristi Caseri, animal services supervisor for the shelter. That means if shelter employees can't catch or trap the dogs, the animals end up having to be shot. Dogs running on the runway a couple of weeks ago were caught by shelter employees, but it could have been a mess, Caseri said. "The end result of dumping animals out here is not good," she said. Rick Blackwell, animal services manager for the shelter, said people who have animals that need to be relinquished shouldn't wait until the last minute. "If they give us a couple of weeks, we can work to get the animals out to rescue without them ever coming to the shelter," Blackwell said. That also saves animal owners money. An owner-released animal will cost the owner $75, but getting the animal out to rescue not only saves the animal's life, but costs the owner nothing. Caseri said that dogs have been left tied up out in front of the new shelter, and cats have been left in carriers. "We have seen an increase in owner surrender, some of it due to all the foreclosures," Caseri said. But, she added, people know weeks in advance that they are being foreclosed on and shouldn't wait until the last minute to find a home for their animals. "It's easier for us if people come in early in the process," Caseri said. Because the new animal shelter houses more animals than the old shelter did, more animals are being euthanized, Caseri said. But the adoption rate is still high, because of rescues getting animals out of the shelter and into new homes. Caseri said that all cats at the shelter are up for adoption for only $15 until the end of September, to help try to find homes for the many cats that are at the facility. "We don't want people to dump animals," Caseri said. "If they bring them here, they get fed and a warm place to sleep." Blackwell said that turning an animal loose to fend for itself is never good. "It's unfortunate for the animal," Blackwell said. "They have no food, no water and no one to take care of them." And they sometimes stray onto runways. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Pilots N Paws Coming Up in September

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 09:38:58 PDT

World's Largest Airlift of Homeless Pets Scheduled Pilots N Paws to transport 5,000 U.S. shelter animals in September -Pilots N Paws, an online forum that connects animal rescue groups and volunteer pilots, is launching the Pilots N Paws 5000, the largest pet airlift ever. From September 12 to 20, Pilots N Paws volunteers will attempt something that's never been done — transport 5,000 homeless animals in a single week. "The goal of the Pilots N Paws 5000 is to increase awareness about different ways people can help animals in need, whether it's by providing air transportation, becoming a foster home or general volunteering," says Jon Wehrenberg, co-founder of Pilots N Paws. "It's a unique way for people to donate their time and talent to a very worthy cause." According to the National Council on Pet Population, 9.6 million shelter animals are needlessly euthanized each year. The aim of Pilots N Paws is to decrease this number by connecting shelters and rescue groups with pilots willing to transport animals to safe homes. With the help of the Pilots N Paws website, rescuers and foster homes in high kill areas are able to locate their counterparts in areas of the country where high kill rates are not the rule. These no-kill shelters will then make space for the animals being rescued. The sending and receiving pair will team up with a volunteer pilot, who will provide transportation during this special rescue week. To make this life-saving, heart-warming event a success, many more volunteers are needed. Opportunities include: - Pilots – Register online to fly pets from shelters to their foster or forever homes. - Short- and long-term foster homes – Take care of pets, ranging from overnight stays en route to extended periods, while adopters are found. - General volunteers – Local shelters always need help walking dogs, cleaning cages and filing paperwork. In addition to volunteer roles, there are other ways to help: - Spread the word – Tell your local animal shelter about Pilots N Paws. If there's a small airport nearby, ask the manager to let its pilots know about the event. - Donate – Pilots N Paws, rescue groups and shelter donations are usually tax-deductible. - Adopt – Consider taking one of the rescued pets into your own home. "I'm afraid thousands of pets will die if we don't get them to new homes," says Wehrenberg. "I'm hoping we'll get the help to make this event a tremendous success." Pilots N Paws is a 501(c)(3) organization, so pilots' expenses relating to transport flights are tax-deductible. Pilots N Paws is an excellent example of the critical role general aviation plays in our everyday lives. For more information, or to help out with the Pilots N Paws 5000, visit www.pilotsnpaws.org. And to learn more about other ways general aviation affects everyday life, visit www.gaservesamerica.com. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Alyssa Milano Among Stars Tweeting for Shelter Animals

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 09:38:58 PDT

Even if you can't adopt a pet, anyone can twitter a critter. Adopt-a-Pet.com, a nationwide database of needy animals, recently launched a new social media campaign that uses Twitter to spread the word about adoptable pets in shelters. Pet lovers can go to www.TwitterACritter.com and select one of 130,000 animals listed on Adopt-a-Pet.com and tweet a link to that pet's information. Among the critters listed include dogs, cats, horses, reptiles, bunnies, gerbils, horses, amphibians, and farm animals. All of the animals are available from over 8,000 shelters and rescue groups, including many from NYC Animal Care and Control shelter. "Homeless pets are powerless to promote themselves to potential adopters, so it's up to those of us who love animals to lend a hand, and a set of thumbs, and tweet about them," says Abbie Moore, executive director of Adopt-a-Pet.com. Among the celebs that have tweeted for the sake of the animals include newlywed Alyssa Milano, funnyman Kevin Nealon, and reality star Denise Richards. And when Milano tweets, many of her 160,000 followers listen. For example, a recent RT (return tweet) Milano recently sent out to on the Twittersphere helped raise money for a chocolate lab that was rescued after collapsing in front of a home in Culebra, Puerto Rico. To learn more about TwitterACritter visit Twitteracritter.com. You can follow the campaign at www.twitter.com/tweetacritter. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Couple arrested after pet python kills daughter

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 09:38:58 PDT

OXFORD, Florida - Authorities say the mother of a Florida girl suffocated by a pet python last month has been charged in the child's death. The Sumter County Sheriff's Office says 19-year-old Jaren Ashley Hare and her boyfriend, 32-year-old Charles Jason Darnell, were each charged with manslaughter, third-degree murder and child abuse. Two-year-old Shaianna Hare died July 1. Authorities say Darnell found the 8-foot python wrapped around her that morning. He stabbed it several times and it eventually released her. A medical examiner determined the girl died from asphyxiation. Hare and Darnell were each being held on $35,000 bond. Court documents that would list attorneys for them have not yet been processed. Shaunnia Hare was already dead when paramedics arrived at about 10 a.m., Lt. Bobby Caruthers of the Sumter County Sheriff's Office said. Authorities removed the snake from the home. Once outside the small, tan home, bordered by cow pastures, the snake was placed in a bag then inside a dog crate. The snake was still alive. Darnell did not have a permit for the snake, which would be a second-degree misdemeanour, said Joy Hill, a spokeswoman with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The Humane Society of the United States said including Hare's death, at least 12 people have been killed in the US by pet pythons since 1980, including five children. Burmese pythons are not native to Florida, but they easily survive in the state and can reach a length of 26 feet and weigh more than 200 pounds. Some owners have freed pythons into the wild and a population of them has taken hold in the Everglades. One killed an alligator and then burst when it tried to eat it. Scientists also speculate a bevy of Burmese pythons escaped in 1992 from pet shops battered by Hurricane Andrew and have been reproducing since. "It's becoming more and more of a problem, perhaps no fault of the animal, more a fault of the human," said Jorge Pino, a state wildlife commission spokesman. "People purchase these animals when they're small. When they grow, they either can't control them or release them." George Van Horn, owner of Reptile World Serpentarium in St. Cloud, said the strangulation could have occurred because the snake felt threatened or because it thought the child was food. "They are always operating on instinct," he said. "Even the largest person can become overpowered by a python." Oxford is about 50 miles northwest of Orlando. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

220 citations for pet owner

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 09:38:58 PDT

A man who lived in what has become known as the "animal house" with 102 pets — both alive and dead — has been cited for 220 animal infractions by the city and booked into jail. Greeley Police Sgt. Joe Tymkowych said Timothy Erin Olofson, 38, was issued municipal summonses Wednesday, charging him with 74 counts of failure to provide humane treatment of animals, 68 counts of having no license for pets, and 68 counts of failure to inoculate pets. Each of the counts is a misdemeanor or petty offense, and each carries a penalty of up to a $1,000 fine and a year in jail. Olofson remains in the Weld County Jail on $5,000 bond. He hired an attorney last weekend after police raided his house and removed all the pets, including the living animals — 52 cats, two rabbits, eight rats, 10 dogs and two guinea pigs. There also were 28 dead cats, guinea pigs and rats found in the kitchen freezer. A woman was living with Olofson in the house at 403 26th Ave. Court, but she hasn't been found, Tymkowych said. It's unknown if she will also receive summonses in the case. Police are still conducting an internal review to determine why the house wasn't investigated earlier. A Greeley real estate agent said she notified animal control in the first week of July, but nothing was done until last week when police entered the house to rescue the animals. Because of the large amount of animal feces inside the house, it has been declared unfit for human occupation by the city Building Inspection Office. On July 26, the Animal Control Office was contacted by a real estate appraiser who went to the house for an evaluation. In the arrest affidavit for Olofson issued on Thursday, the appraiser "described the house as being filthy and saturated with animal urine and fecal matter. He was only able to stay inside the residence for a period of five minutes before physically succumbing to the obnoxious odor." Although Olofson was not home when police used a search warrant to remove the animals, he talked to the police on the phone. According to the affidavit, he told police his animals were "fine and adequately cared for." On that day, Olofson said he would meet with police about 45 minutes after the phone call, but never showed up. When police called back, Olofson said he wouldn't return to the house because he was afraid of being arrested. Humane response After 102 animals were taken from a Greeley home last week, the Humane Society of Weld County asked for help with cat and dog food and litter. The response was "tremendous," according to Sarah Reed, the humane society's director of operations. "We've had all kinds of people bringing in food and litter, and it's been wonderful," Reed said. She added that other items are needed now, which involve the cleanup of the pets and facilities. "If people want to donate, we badly need paper towels, non-latex gloves, dish liquid and laundry soap," she said. The pets that were taken in past week have not been adopted out yet, although the humane society has received many inquiries. Reed said they want to get all the dogs and cats cleaned up and healthy before adoptions. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Tax Deductions For Pets? The HAPPY Bill

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 09:38:58 PDT

Congressman Thaddeus McCotter of Michigan has introduced a bill that would change the U.S. Tax Code by allowing a new itemized deduction: pet care. The HAPPY Bill, House Resolution 3501, is the Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years Act. If would allow "qualified pet care expenses" for a "qualified pet" up to $3500 a year. A qualified pet is defined by the bill as "a legally owned, domesticated, live animal." The exceptions would be those owned in connection with a trade or business as well as those used for research. Qualified pet care expenses would include 'amounts paid in connection with providing care (including veterinary care)..." The bill excludes money spent in acquiring the pet, but does not further specify what is meant by "care." Is it "health care," or care that includes feeding, clothing, bedding, and toys for the pet? A personal itemized deduction for pet care would be limited to $3500 per year. For persons to be eligible to deduct their own health care expenses, they first would need to be eligible to itemize total expenses and second, they could only deduct the amount of out-of-pocket health care expenses that are more than 7.5 percent of their adjusted gross income. See bill at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.3501.IH: (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Pet shop thief shoves turtle in his pants

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 09:38:58 PDT

(By Kevin Reece) SPRING, Texas -- A thief who targeted a pet store in Spring can be easily identified by surveillance video of his face and by the suspicious bulge in the left pocket of his jeans. "We've been here twenty years and I've never had a customer shove a turtle in his pants," said Sherry Stack, Pet City owner. On Wednesday morning, a would-be customer lingered in the reptile area of the store that featured everything from turtles to snakes and bearded dragons in locked glass display cases. He then used a piece of metal to pry open one of the cabinets, removed the fist-sized Indian Star Tortoise and shoved it into the left pocket of his jeans. Unfortunately for the thief, Pet City is equipped with 27 surveillance cameras recording every movement inside and outside the store on a computer hard drive. This is something the thief might not have known as the camera at the front door captured a crystal clear picture of his face while he flashed it a peace sign. It also captured the curious turtle bulge that was very visible in his left pocket. "The way he was so blatant giving us a peace sign on the way out on the video camera, it looked like he was doing it just for the fun of it," said store owner Paul Stack. Security cameras outside show the man getting into a white Nissan Frontier pickup truck with temporary tags. The store had two Indian Star tortoises, but only one was in the display cabinet targeted by the thief. They are priced at $600 and can go for as much as $2,000 when fully grown to about 10 inches. "We just want our tortoise home," Sherry Stack said in an appeal to the thief. "We just want him back at our store." (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Scientists turn to pets in fight against cancer - Comparative oncology studies dogs to help refine treatments for people

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 09:38:58 PDT

Last December, Luisa Bozano's dog Einstein was diagnosed with brain cancer. The large tumor took up most of the 8-year-old boxer's left brain lobe. With few options, the owner settled on surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible, along with half of Einstein's skull, which was replaced with a polymer-based cement. Things were going well until midyear, when the tumor came back. Now, it had tentacles, like an octopus weaving its arms through the vital organ's neural cells. The only treatment option left that might thwart the tumor's progress was an experimental therapy that involved injecting a virus into the dog's brain. The virus would theoretically infect only the rapidly-dividing cancer cells, and later, an anti-viral treatment would be administered to kill the virus along with the infected tumor cells. The scientists plan to someday use the therapy in humans. But Einstein would become the first being to test it out. "He's very bad, and this is his only shot," Bozano said. Einstein is one of about 6 million dogs diagnosed with cancer in the United States each year. From this large group, a new research field is growing, known as comparative oncology, which uses companion animals (mostly dogs) as models for human cancer. Cases like Einstein's provide a unique opportunity for scientists to test out novel cancer therapies on naturally arising tumors, as opposed to the artificial tumors typically induced in lab animals. Researchers hope the knowledge that stems from these therapies could help both people and their furry friends. Recent strides This isn't the first time dogs have been used as models for cancer research. They were guinea pigs for human bone marrow transplantation methods in the 1960s and 70s and limb-sparing procedures for bone cancer in the 1980s and 90s. But in recent years, scientists have realized that there is huge potential for pets to help us in the fight against cancer, and in 2003, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) founded the Comparative Oncology Program. This program aims to use pets to learn more about the biology of cancer and help test and refine novel therapies for translation to human cancer patients. "For 20 or 30 years, we've been able to say, the comparative approach has made a valuable contribution to the field of science, and most particularly, the field of understanding and treating cancer," said Dr. Melissa Paoloni, a veterinary oncologist and NCI researcher. "However, in the last four or five years, the strides have been much more significant." The complete sequencing of the canine genome in 2005 advanced the field even further, as scientists can now study the genetics of dog cancer and apply that knowledge to human cancers. Why Fido? Why use pets? For one, cancers in companion animals arise spontaneously, like cancers in humans. "The disease of cancer in our pet animals is much more complex and sophisticated than what we can replicate in the laboratory," Paoloni said. "All of the problems with cancer that human patients have are mirrored in our pet population." Like human cancers, pet cancers can become resistant to chemotherapy, can reoccur after treatment and can metastasize, or spread to other areas of the body, which can be "a terminal diagnosis for all cancer patients, regardless if they have fur or not," Paoloni said. Another big advantage is that scientists can evaluate new treatments on pets fairly early on in the cancer's progression, whereas, with people, they might have to use the new therapy as a last resort when the cancer is significantly advanced. "We may be essentially disadvantaging therapeutic strategies that might work in an upfront setting by choosing the worst population of [human] patients to test," said Dr. Barbara Kitchell, director of the Center for Comparative Oncology at Michigan State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. But in pets, scientists can use experimental treatments right away since there are no set standards of care for animal cancers, and they are able to have a better understanding of what the outcome might be if the tumor is treated early. Humans and their pets also usually share a similar environment. That means dogs are exposed to some of the same cancer-causing agents as their owners, and may develop similar cancers from these environmental factors. Since dogs generally have a shorter lifespan than people, their cancers will progress more rapidly than human cancers, allowing scientists to see the disease outcome in a shorter timeframe. "If you had a treatment and you're waiting to see the five- or 10-year survival follow-up be in a person, that timeline is really compressed in the dog," Kitchell said. A 'different spectrum' of cancer When dogs and people have the same type of cancer, the biology of the disease can be quite similar, Kitchell said. But the frequency of the different cancer types varies between the species. "[Dogs] have a different spectrum of disease," she said. Some cancers that are common in people, such as breast and prostate cancer, are rarely seen in dogs because they are spayed and neutered. Also, dogs don't get lung cancer as often, because they don't smoke; and their high-fiber diets protect against colon cancer. But cancer research in dogs can still inform cancer research in humans, even if the cancers are not the same. That's because two different cancers may be very similar at the molecular level — the cellular process that leads to skin cancer in dogs could resemble the process that leads to breast cancer in women, for example. Scientists can take advantage of this similarity to use dog models to develop a human therapy targeting that cellular pathway. Additionally, some rare cancers, so-called "orphan diseases" in people, are not so rare in dogs. For example, dogs, especially large breeds, are much more likely than humans to get bone cancer, a disease that primarily affects children. Scientists can take advantage of these high rates of rare cancers and use dogs to study "orphan diseases" on a larger scale than they would perhaps be able to in humans. "It's very hard to get enough human beings together to model [a rare cancer], but we can do that in the dog very easily," Kitchell said. Guiding drug development: Researchers and pharmaceutical companies have been able to use dog models to help them design human clinical trials and develop new cancer drugs. For example, from 2003 to 2006, Dr. Phil Bergman of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York used dogs to develop a vaccine for melanoma, or skin cancer. The vaccine was approved for use in dogs in 2007, but the research results have aided scientists that are working on a similar vaccine for humans. "Data generated in trials in pet dogs can be used to help guide the design of human clinical trials," Paoloni said. These trials can help scientists learn how to use the new drugs at an optimal schedule, understand what drug levels to aim for, and examine adverse events or toxicities that might be associated with the therapies, she said. Testing out new therapies in dogs and other pets does have a down side. Therapies might be so tailored to work in animals that they do not translate across species. Also, pharmaceutical companies worry that drugs that may be perfectly safe to use in people could have bad side effects in dogs, Kitchell said. "What if they encounter a side effect in a dog trial that puts in jeopardy a lead compound that the company is testing for FDA approval, and now they have to explain why dogs have this toxicity, but people would never experience the same thing," she said, referring to the Food and Drug Administration. Even so, pharmaceutical companies welcome the opportunity to have new models that might aid them in the very costly and usually unsuccessful process of drug development. A new oncology drug costs about $1 billion to develop, and only about 5 percent of all oncology drugs ever make it to the market, Paoloni said. "That amount of attrition and loss in the process, and the expense of that loss really has also made the drug development community more interested in finding new models," she said. Personalized medicine: In the future, doctors hope to be able to tailor cancer therapies to an individual's tumors. Called "personalized medicine," such therapies involve taking a sample of a tumor, analyzing its genetics, and coming up with a prescription that is designed to treat that particular cancer. But before the era of personalized medicine arrives, Paolini said comparative oncology is the best model for scientists to truly study this type of individualized therapeutics. "I see the development of personalized medicine strategies as being one of the most unique and interesting contributions of the comparative approach that we're going to see come to fruition over the next few years," she said. For dog owners such as Bozano, taking part in a clinical trial for a novel therapy offers a final chance to take action that may keep her dog alive. "That was to us the last hope, the last thing to try," she said. And in Paoloni's experience, owners want to enroll their pets in these clinical trials, not only to help other animals, but also to help people. "Knowing that studies used via the comparative approach will also be used to help human patients, I think that's been a very valuable teaching point and motivation for the client-owning pet community." Paoloni said (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

ASPCA President and Ceo Issues Statement Following Philadelphia Eagles' Signing Of Michael Vick To 2-Year Contract

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 09:38:58 PDT

NEW YORK (August 13, 2009) — Ed Sayres, President and CEO of The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) issued the following statement today following the announcement that Michael Vick has signed a two-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles: "Commissioner Roger Goodell and the Philadelphia Eagles have granted Michael Vick a second chance, and the ASPCA expects Mr. Vick to express remorse for his actions, as well as display more compassion and sound judgment this time around than he did during his previous tenure with the NFL. We hope that Mr. Vick uses his stature for the betterment of the community and the advancement of the issue of animal cruelty." (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Pet Project - We love our animal companions, but does that really justify thousands of dollars in care and an entire airline devoted to our furry friends?

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 09:38:58 PDT

(Jesse Ellison) I am not insane in general. Nor am I usually selfish. I am, however, both of those things in spades when it comes to my dog. In the three months I've had him, I've spent $1,452.50 of my very modest salary on vet bills and doggy day care. I go only to restaurants and bars that are dog-friendly, which is not only challenging, but irritating for whoever's with me. Also irritating? My expectation that friends and co-workers are just as interested in George's bowel movements, eating habits, and adorable eccentricities as I am. I never thought I'd get so carried away, but here I am, spending most of my money and time on a nine-pound creature who likes to eat garbage, lick himself at inappropriate times, and sully the most heavily trafficked part of the sidewalk he can find. How did I get here? For starters, George was a rescue, and his story is so pathetic—someone left him tied to a tree in a park, and he had what was later diagnosed as "raging hepatitis"—that there's a certain tragic quality that got me. But it's bigger than that. If I had to pinpoint the moment when I dived off the deep end, it would be June 16, when I e-mailed George's vet asking for a prescription for Prozac. Yes, Prozac. Or, rather, Reconcile, identical to the antidepressant given to humans but for the fact that it's meat-flavored. Also, it's $50 a month. And George is not covered by NEWSWEEK's otherwise quite generous health plan. In my defense, I am not alone. Far from it. Pharmaceuticals for "companion animals" are a $49 billion industry. There are drugs for doggy anxiety, doggy cognitive dysfunction, even doggy obesity. Pet products are the fastest-growing retail segment in the United States after consumer electronics. So given what we're all willing to spend, and given the lengths we'll go to for our dogs, that there would also be an airline for them makes perfect sense. Welcome to Pet Airways, a new airline that serves pets only, or "pawsengers," to use the preferred terminology. Quantcast Last month I visited the Pet Airways terminal on Long Island, where a dog named Poppy was on her way from Afghanistan to California, to be reunited with a Marine who had adopted her during his tour. Poppy was exhausted. She had gone from Afghanistan to Istanbul to Karachi to New York. She had been quarantined for weeks along the way. She was painfully skinny, and about to catch yet another flight, one that would take her to D.C., then Chicago, Denver, and, finally, L.A. There is something incredibly sweet about this story. But watching poor Poppy attempt to squeeze in a nap on the gravel in Long Island, I also couldn't help but think: Is this really for her sake? Is it really better for Poppy to go through months of quarantine and a multiday plane ride? Is it really worth the hours of work, the perhaps dozens of various volunteers, and the likely hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars that it took to make all this happen? I don't really think so. This isn't for her, it's for the Marine. I would put money on the fact that Poppy doesn't even really know whether she's in Afghanistan or Los Angeles. And George doesn't care whether his Prozac tastes like meat. I have to wrap it in cheese to get him to eat it anyway. We project ourselves onto our pets. They're going to love us just the same whether we send them to expensive day-care facilities or leave them tied to a tree in the park. They are beautifully simple that way. And ultimately, we're doing all of this to make ourselves feel good, not them. Maybe having a dog is a fundamentally selfish act. Who cares if it is? What difference does it make? The world is hard. Life, especially these days, isn't easy (and, in fact, I share custody of George with my very recent ex). My nine-pound pup spazzes out with excitement when I come to pick him up at the end of the day. And it makes me really, really happy. I'm doing it for me, and I'm fine with that. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Pet Supplements Caught Lying

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:38:58 PDT

ConsumerLab.com tested various pet glucosamine and chondroitin supplements. They caught them lying; ConsumerLab.com test results found many supplements contained far less glucosamine and chondroitin than was advertised, leaving pets lacking for mobility support. When your pet needs some assistance climbing stairs, many pet owners turn to 'over the counter' glucosamine supplements. The problem however, as testing by ConsumerLab.com proves, many supplements do not provide the promised glucosamine and/or chondroitin to benefit your pet. ConsumerLab.com tested 13 dog and/or cat mobility supplements. Four of the thirteen failed to meet the stated amount of glucosamine and/or chondroitin. As example, Dogswell Happy Hips Chicken Breast with Glucosamine and Chondroitin tested to contain only 6% of the claimed amount of glucosamine and 15.9% of the claimed condroitin. Cosequin DS, on the other hand, tested to meet the stated amounts of glucosamine and condroitin. ConsumerLab.com stated "Dogswell Happy Hips Chicken Breast with Glucosamine and Chondroitin, which is a treat made of dried chicken strips, contained only 6% of its claimed glucosamine and only 15.9% of it claimed chondroitin. As a result, and considering that the promised amounts were low to begin with, each treat (weighing about 7 grams) provided only about one milligram (mg) of each of these two ingredients – insignificant amounts compared to several hundred milligrams in most other products." ConsumerLab provided the following answers as to why there are so many chondroitin/glucosamine products with quality problems: "Some manufacturers may rely on non-specific tests, such as the "CPC (cetyl pyridinium chloride) titration method" or "size-exclusion chromatography method" when evaluating chondroitin. These tests can easily be tricked by other compounds that are not chondroitin. Real chondroitin is relatively expensive. An ingredient supplier might sell lower priced "chondroitin" to which compounds have been added to fool these tests. A manufacturer looking to cut corners might buy lower cost material "certified" with a non-specific test and, as a result, end up making products with no or little real chondroitin. ConsumerLab.com evaluated chondroitin products using a more specific, validated method known as the "enzymatic HPLC method". For each product that failed to contain its listed chondroitin, re-testing was performed in a second independent laboratory for confirmation." Pet owners are far too often taken advantage of; pet foods that are allowed to make 'unqualified claims' and pet supplements that fall well short of label claims. While the FDA stumbles around Federal law ignoring blatant facts, and while Congress continues to dance around the truth, pets are becoming ill and dying and pet owners are being financially and emotionally abused. Please read the labels and ingredient lists of every product you provide your dog or cat. If your pet takes a mobility supplement, you might wish to consider a subscription to ConsumerLab.com to see the full list of supplements ratings. A BIG thank you to ConsumerLab.com for testing pet supplements! (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

HUD sues senior complex over service pets policy

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:38:58 PDT

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said Monday it had charged Sunrise Villas, a Lindenhurst senior complex, with discrimination, saying its limited pets policy discriminates against some disabled people who need service animals. The charges came after Long Island Housing Services, which promotes fair housing under a HUD initiative, investigated a complaint about bathroom grab bars at the complex. The Bohemia group sent out testers, who discovered the pets policy restricts which disabled residents can have service animals. The Long Island Housing Services tests were conducted in 2007 and 2008. They revealed that the complex on Leonard Court, where residents 55 and older live, allowed service animals for certain residents such as the visually impaired, said Michelle Sanantonio, the housing group's executive director. However, it denied accommodations to others, including quadriplegics and people with emotional problems. Sunrise Villas officials did not return telephone calls seeking comment. The Fair Housing Act states that it is illegal to deny "reasonable" accommodations to the disabled. "The law doesn't only require equal treatment," Sanantonio said. "The law requires more than that, as they must provide accommodations for the disabled." Sanantonio said a resident at the complex who needed grab bars installed in his unit prompted the tests. The resident, the director said, believed the walls were not stable enough to support the bars, so he called the housing group. No charges were filed in that case, but it led the organization to send testers out to investigate whether the complex was in compliance on other matters. That's when the limited pets policy was discovered. Long Island Housing Services hopes this case will make disabled housing residents more aware of their rights. "We wanted to educate people about their housing rights," Sanantonio said. "We also want to teach people what the law requires for fair housing." Adam Glantz, a HUD spokesman, said the agency's goal is to change the policy at the complex. "We're not asking them to remove the . . . pets policy," he said Monday. "We just want revisions and the consideration that service animals are not pets." A U.S. administrative law judge will hear the case unless the parties reach a settlement or decide to have the case heard in federal court, HUD said. If an administrative law judge finds discrimination, he could award damages to complainants. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

New trial set to begin in landmark pet custody case

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:38:58 PDT

(By JAN HEFLER) Doreen Houseman is happy that her battle to gain custody of Dexter the pug has won the support of pet lovers across the country. But that's not what's important to her. Her case has set legal precedent in New Jersey, but that doesn't impress her much, either. Houseman just wants her dog back. On Wednesday, a second trial on the custody of the nearly 6-year-old brown pooch is set to begin. The Williamstown, N.J., woman plans to testify again that her ex-fiance broke an oral agreement to let her have the dog after she moved out of their house. In March, a three-judge appeals panel ordered a new trial, saying Superior Court Judge John Tomasello should not have treated Dexter as just another piece of furniture during the first trial, in Gloucester County, in 2007. The new trial will be heard in Salem County, where Tomasello is now assigned. Gina Calogero, Houseman's attorney, said the appeals panel had issued a "landmark decision" on pet custody, which she called an "emerging field and cutting-edge law." Calogero, who specializes in animal rights cases, says many judges are now being asked to decide who gets the pet when there is a breakup. "Ten years ago, I never heard of any such case," said Calogero. Now, she said, more than a handful of scattered cases have been decided and published - in Florida, California, Pennsylvania and other places - but with no real consensus. Before the ruling was issued in New Jersey, Houseman, a 35-year-old customer service manager, went on the TV circuit, appearing on "Today" and elsewhere to discuss her love of Dexter and how the courts behave when it comes to pets. In an interview last week, Houseman said that having her pet taken from her was "like dealing with a death." She felt she had been wronged. Tomasello had ruled Dexter was simply property and should go to the person possessing it. "Dogs are chairs; they're furniture; they're automobiles, they're pensions. They're not kids," he said, declining to consider Dexter's sentimental value as he divided the couple's assets. Eric Dare, a Williamstown police officer, would keep the dog and would compensate Houseman $1,500 - the pedigree dog's purchase price - the judge said. "Canine affection" is irrelevant, Tomasello said. Houseman decided to fight the ruling. Both the Animal Legal Defense Fund and Lawyers in Defense of Animals joined the appeal. They suggested the judge should also weigh what was best for the dog. That had been done, they said, with the dogs that belonged to former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, after he was involved in a dog-fighting ring. Dare's attorney, James M. Carter, scoffed at the notion that courts should get bogged down in animal "custody battles." He said nasty litigation over dogs will wreak havoc in Family Court if judges must now add that detail to their responsibilities. "As far as the legal community goes, many attorneys realize this would be the first step down a slippery slope. A ridiculous amount of time would be spent on these issues," Carter said. But the appeals panel said that Dexter was like "heirlooms, family treasures and works of art" whose "special subjective value" should be factored in by the court. Money damages were not adequate compensation. However, the panel stopped short of saying the dog's best interests should also be considered. That might prove too difficult for judges. Houseman and Dare began dating in 1993, bought a house in 1999 and were engaged in 2000. Then, in 2003, they purchased Dexter. When they separated in 2006, Houseman said her main concern was that she get Dexter, who had been pampered with birthday parties and boasted a large wardrobe. She said Dare promised he would not keep the dog from her. Dare did not dispute these facts, according to court records. He could not be reached for comment. Houseman, who now lives with her parents, said Dare had allowed her to take the dog when she moved out on July 4, 2006. She let Dare have the pooch on selected weekends and also when she was away on vacation. But the arrangement soured nine months later, Houseman said, when she began dating. She dropped Dexter off at Dare's house in February 2007 before leaving on a trip, but when she returned in March, she said Dare refused to give the dog back. She said he told her, "You'll never see him again." "I was blindsided," she said. The next day, she contacted a lawyer. Houseman says she is happy she won another chance to prove she should be reunited with her dog. "I hope he remembers me. I keep hearing that a dog never forgets your scent and your voice," she said, with a nervous laugh. Dare's attorney says Houseman is not telling the whole truth. Dare is the rightful owner, who paid for the dog and the veterinary bills, Carter said. Dare initially allowed Houseman to visit with the dog twice a week, but never agreed to surrender the animal to her. After a few months, "things weren't working out" and Dare wanted to end the visitations, said Carter. The attorney said he hoped the appeals ruling did not open the floodgates to other couples who break up and disagree over who should get their pet. "If you tell family judges they have to treat every pet as a child to determine which 'parent' keeps the pet, or how to divide parenting time, this will add a heavy burden on an already heavy caseload," Carter said. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Chihuahua owner sought to keep '3 dogs' in bankruptcy

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:38:58 PDT

(David Josar) Dearborn -- Three years ago, Kenneth Lang Jr., the 56-year-old man whose home contained 110 living Chihuahuas and more than 150 dead dogs stored in freezers, was flat broke. In 2006, he filed for bankruptcy protection. And there, listed among his $73,663 in debts, nearly all from credit cards, was one asset he didn't want liquidated: "three dogs," which he valued at $25. He also disclosed $25 a month for "pet expenses" under the category "regular expenses from operation of business, profession, or farm." On Sunday, work crews continued to clean the house where Dearborn Animal Shelter workers had found the canines roaming aimlessly across piles of trash and feces. By Friday, the bodies of 151 dead dogs were found inside multiple freezers. As the city works on the house, shelter workers are continuing to screen animals that can be adopted and those that need additional medical help. As for the frozen dogs, "that is probably the most normal thing about this situation," said James Schmier, Lang's attorney. Lang had an extremely limited income that came from Social Security, Schmier said, and it is probably illegal to bury the dead animals. He said it was too expensive for Lang to have the pets cremated. Schmier said from what he has heard about his client, "he had all the symptoms of OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder)." The attorney said that Lang had four immaculate vintage cars and as a child was known for washing his hands for 15 minutes and then using a tissue or handkerchief to turn doorknobs. Lang is estranged from his parents, both of whom are elderly and live in Florida, and a falling out with his sister, who also lives in Florida, Schmier said. "They didn't agree on the way he was living his life," Schmier said. "He was a bit of a loner. "But he was liked in the neighborhood. The outside of his house was immaculate, and he would do odd jobs and was a good neighbor." This is not a case for criminal charges, Schmier said. He has had discussions with city attorneys and not prosecutors. "This is a person with mental illness. Hopefully he can get the treatment he needs," Schmier said. Criminal charges would be a waste of resources, Schmier said. "That would be us treating humans worse than we treat animals," he said. Lang's attorney said his client painted around his neighborhood, and the bankruptcy records give more detail about man who is at an undisclosed treatment facility for mental health issues. According to the filing, Lang has received Social Security disability income since at least 2003. Lang was given the house by his mother and father in 1978. He had never taken out a mortgage and is current on his taxes. His monthly income, at least in 2006, was $664 from unemployment benefits and $860 from Social Security disability payments, which his attorney says is related to his mental health. Still, he had assets of just $6,578, although the home, which Dearborn officials believe may present such a health hazard that it will have to be demolished, was not listed in that category. On Sunday, neighbor Al Burday said the "hoopla" about the many dogs, both living and dead, clouded the "decent guy" Lang is. "He wouldn't hurt a fly. He cared about people and animals," said Burday. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Tech For Your Pet- Gadgets and other technologies for our furry friends abound.

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:38:58 PDT

(Amanda Tsao) When billionaire Leona Helmsley passed away in 2007, she shocked many by willing $12 million to her Maltese dog, Trouble. While it seems none have surpassed Helmsley in the amount bestowed on a pet, the average pet owner in the U.S. is not afraid to splurge on their Mr. Fluffles. According to the American Pet Products Association, total pet spending has nearly doubled in the past 10 years. In 2008, sales topped $43 billion, up from $41 billion in 2007; sales for 2009 are expected to reach $45 billion. The association says every pet sales category is growing, including gadgets and other technologies. While sales figures aren't widely available for pet tech products, Amazon.com says this category has become quite popular on its site. "Amazon customers are showing considerable interest in pet-based technology. We are seeing strong sales in 2009," says Chris Nielsen, Amazon's home and garden store vice president. "The most significant year-over-year growth is technology applied to pet training and behavior." Nielsen declined to provide Amazon's pet tech sales. In Pictures: Tech For Your Pet Experts say high-tech novelty items tend to be top sellers. One popular product has been the Takara Bowlingual/Meowlingual pet translation device. The company claims that the device can translate a pet's barks and purrs into intelligible sentences, such as, "I can't stand it." Other popular novelties include the Pet's Eye View Camera, a digital camera that attaches to your cat or dog's collar and takes photos at timed intervals. When you come home, you can view photos of what your pet has been up to that day. But not all novelty items are designed with frivolous, fun intent. At first glance, the Zen Dog, a kit that provides therapy and relaxation for your pooch through calming music and massage, seems like a luxury but experts say it has practical uses. "This is great for dogs who have been through puppy mills, bad homes or traumatic experiences," Pet Enthusiast editor Dawn Pieke says. "For some dogs, it's really something to be able to reach the point of being touched again." After novelty products, Amazon says practical gadgets that help owners care for their pets are the next best sellers. One example is the HydroSurge Rapid Bath Dog Bathing System, an "all-in-one" wet, wash and rinse device that resembles a garden hose with a spray-nozzle comb head. The product's patented InjectAir technology draws shampoo and oxygen into massaging shower jets to simultaneously create a sudsing action and eliminate long, messy baths. GoDogGo, a fetch machine for dogs that automatically shoots out tennis balls at timed intervals, is another practical product that has been successful. Sales reached $200,000 in 2008. Creator Ron Thompson expects sales to double this year, due to a recent factory and distribution reorganization. "We've always sold consistently," Thompson says. "We started 10 years ago, and there are some pet gadgets that haven't stood the test of time, but ours is basic. It achieves what it is intended for: to provide exercise for your dog." Thompson also said he has received testimonies from owners who had been paralyzed or were in need of service dogs, and rely on GoDogGo to help keep their dog healthy. Animal safety products also rank high with pet owners. Products such as the Komfort Pets climate-controlled pet carrier fit the bill. It's ideal for times you need to leave Chuckles in the car when you're running errands. The carrier automatically keeps pets cool when the temperature is hot and warms them when it's too cold. If your pet is more exotic than a dog or cat, there are tech gadgets for these creatures too. The ReptiPro 5000 is a small incubator for reptile and bird eggs that allows you to watch your pets being hatched at home. ReptiPro 's creator, Chris Baker, says egg incubators had existed before, but they were made of unreliable Styrofoam or too large and cost thousands of dollars. "I had used Styrofoam incubators before, but they usually fall apart in about a year or so," Baker says. "When I tested out this thermal incubator, my hatch rates went up 25%. The difference is that this incubator both heats and cools, and it only costs $250." If you're allergic to animals or can't have one where you live, check out The Haptic Creature, a robot designed to recreate the touch-based communication between pet and owner. The creature resembles a small rabbit with long "ears" and fur. When petted, it responds with breathing, ear movements and purring vibrations. Although the Haptic Creature is not available for purchase, creator Steven Yohanan says he is interested in marketing the product. Still, there are those in the pet industry who believe the old-fashioned, low-tech way of doing things is always best. Sal Peretz, the owner of Groom-O-Rama, a pet store in New York City, is one such advocate. "The GoDogGo is a fun toy as long it doesn't replace having daily time spent with your dog," Peretz says. "I've been in this business for 19 years, and the products that sell best have been on the market for a long time. We have to remember that pets don't ask for much." (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Problems with pets adopted from Center for Animal Health and Welfare

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:38:58 PDT

(By COLIN MCEVOY) WILLIAMS TWP. | Officials from the Center for Animal Health and Welfare insist the shelter's animals are safe, but some residents who have adopted pets there have voiced concerns. Scott Searle, of Lopatcong Township, adopted a West Highland terrier from the center last month, but subsequent veterinarian visits found the dog to be riddled with health problems. After $800 worth of veterinarian visits, the dog was diagnosed with the parasite giardia, the bacterial disease leptospirosis, an eye ulcer and a urinary tract infection, Searle said. The veterinarian also said the dog was between 8 and 10 years old, Searle said, not 4 years old, as the center had indicated. Director of Business Services John Spurlock said the center's adoption process states the animal's health is the responsibility of the pet owner after the adoption takes place. "We are not a veterinary facility," Spurlock said. "We provide a high standard of care and we try to do the best we can, but at the end of the day, we're not a veterinary facility." Searle said he understood the contract but still felt the center should bear some responsibility. The center eventually agreed to reimburse him for his adoption fees. "My argument was, if they're going to call themselves the Center for Animal Health and Welfare, they really need to stress that health part a little better," Searle said. Nazareth resident Becky Butz adopted a cat for her granddaughter in December 2008 but had to take the cat to a vet after it was spayed at the center. Nazareth-based veterinarian John Yaswinski wrote a letter to then-Executive Director Barbara Loch claiming the cat's health problem resulted from the abdominal incision after the spaying. "If a situation occurred at my hospital, I would feel obligated to absorb any cost associated with repair of the surgical site," Yaswinski said in the letter. " Act accordingly, and let your conscience guide you." The matter is still under consideration at the center, said center board member Raymond Ash. Butz said the veterinarian bills exceeded $320. Yaswinski did not respond to a call for comment. Spurlock said the problems Searle and Butz faced were isolated incidents. "Given the fact that over a year to six months there have been two issues and we adopt out animals every single day, obviously those were anomalies," Spurlock said. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Hillsborough judge stars in Tru TV's new series Pet Court

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:38:58 PDT

(By Eric Deggans) Hillsborough County Judge Nick Nazaretian seems an unassuming, middle-aged jurist with a friendly knack for cutting through the nonsense in his courtroom. Until he gets a whiff of injustice toward animals. Then, his questions grow pointed and impatient. And heaven help a defendant who can't come up with the right answers. It's that reflex that helps him sort through cases on Hillsborough County's animal court, where about twice monthly Nazaretian adjudicates citations handed out by animal control officers on issues ranging from dog bites to noise complaints. It's also the attitude that earned Nazaretian a starring role in Pet Court, a quickie series airing this week on the Tru TV cable channel (once known as CourtTV), outlining the most interesting cases producers observed over months of filming at his Tampa courtroom. "There's no bad animals, only bad owners," said Nazaretian, 48, who normally handles domestic violence cases, except for the few days each month he supervises the animal court. "I have a passion for animals, and to me, there's a lot of neglect going on." Nazaretian made headlines in June when he lashed out at a 19-year-old who left her dog locked in an overheated car at Tampa's Ikea furniture store. The well-publicized case brought the young woman a $400 fine and a barbed speech from the judge, who asked, "What piece of furniture is worth your dog's life?" But on Pet Court, Nazaretian usually comes across as sincere and supportive, asking probing questions in an easy manner to suss out each situation as quickly as possible (with up to 40 trials a day on the schedule, fast resolutions are important). One moment, he'll warmly encourage a nervous child to speak up; the next, he'll laugh while encouraging a witness to mimic the sounds made by a barking dog early in the morning. But when he learns that one witness had been shooting rocks at a chicken with a slingshot, the fiery side of Nazaretian emerges — just the kind of emotionalism and charm that led Tru TV to build its show around his court in the first place. The show's formula is simple, featuring footage from Nazaretian's hearings, then snippets from interviews with the judge and the people involved in the cases. Often the actual issues at hand are simple — dogs barking too loud or pets biting a bystander. But the emotions can be intense, as owners fear hefty fines or the loss of their pets. The proceedings can feel a bit like an animalized version of Judge Judy, with Nazaretian veering between helpful authority and harsh interrogation. Tru TV will air the show only this week, broadcasting two half-hour episodes a day at 3 p.m., as it judges whether audience interest warrants an additional season. "Hopefully, the show will educate people about how to be more responsible with their pets," said the judge. "These may seem like minor problems, but when they're happening to you, they're a big deal. . If you watch Pet Court The show airs at 3 p.m. today and Friday on Tru TV. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Taco Bell Dog Dies and Other Famous Departed Pitch Pets

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:38:58 PDT

"Yo Quiero Taco Bell!" We all remember that line made famous by an ad for a fast food Mexican place, featuring a cute little Chihuahua. It is with sad news that we report that Gidget, the dog who starred in those commercials, has passed away at age 15. Best known for her Taco Bell ads she had a very successful acting career. Gidget played the mother of Bruiser the Chihuahua in the sequel to Reese Witherspoon's Legally Blonde. In 2002, she appeared in a Geico insurance commercial before settling down. Gidget enjoyed a quiet retirement until the recent stroke that took her life. In honor of Gidget and her contribution to Hollywood, here is a list of other famous TV pets that are no longer with us: Morris the Cat: Perhaps the most famous of TV Pitch Pets, Morris has been played by many different cats. The original Morris was found at the Humane Society of Hinsdale, Illinois. Since then it is a rule that all cats playing Morris must be rescued pets. The first Morris is buried in a flower bed of the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Mr. Ed: The famous talking horse from the 1960's black and white TV show was also a Pitch Pet. Along with his owner Wilbur he helped sell Studebaker cars. Spuds MacKenzie: Bud Light's original party animal was a Bull Terrier that left us 16 years ago. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

'G-Force' likely to put guinea pigs atop pet list

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:38:58 PDT

By SUE MANNING (AP) – LOS ANGELES — The Disney movie "G-Force" shows a squad of specially trained, computer-generated guinea pig spies coming to the world's rescue. After the movie comes out, though, animal activists say it will be real life guinea pigs who need rescuing. Some guinea pig rescue groups have already posted pleas to those who might rush out to buy the furry little rodents. "I can tell you, every single rescue in the United States and abroad took a look at that movie trailer and said, 'Oh God, here we go,'" said Whitney Potsus, vice president of The Critter Connection, Inc., in Durham, Conn. The Orange County Cavy (aka guinea pig) Haven in Costa Mesa has already posted urgent Internet pleas to parents asking them to say no when their children beg for guinea pigs, because the animals are too fragile for young children. It's happened before. Some call it "101 Dalmations syndrome," after the live-action Disney movie that sent thousands rushing to buy the black-and-white spotted pups. When the dogs failed to act like those in the movie, families gave them up, breeders said. The popularity of Chihuahuas soared after the movies "Legally Blonde" and "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" and when Taco Bell featured a talking one in an ad campaign. Ferrets were the animal of choice after "Along Came Polly" and guinea pigs were in demand after "Bedtime Stories." In "G-Force," which opens Friday, Agents Juarez, Darwin and Blaster drive cars, parachute, use blowtorches, swim, talk, walk on two legs, live in tanks with mice and rats and use hamster balls, Lyn Zantow, a volunteer for the Orange County group, warns on her Web site. In real life, guinea pigs are noisy, eat and poop all the time, require big and clean cages, don't swim and can be expensive to care for if they get sick, she said, adding that they should be kept out of the hands of young children. "We can only hope ... parents will all do their research before bringing any critters home. Otherwise, when the novelty wears off, rescues everywhere are going to have their hands full with surrenders," Potsus said. A guinea pig can scare or startle easily and if a child doesn't have a good hold, it will run off. "Guinea pigs can't jump," said Fenella Fpeece, president of Wee Companions Small Animal Adoption Inc. in San Diego. A fall, even from a sofa, will paralyze them, break their backs and then "they are probably as good as dead." She is worried about the big plastic balls used in the movie and sold in pet stores. They are made for hamsters and mice, she said. "Guinea pigs don't have flexible backs and they don't go in wheels." They also have delicate digestive systems. "Kids get distracted. If you forget to feed it, it's done. Its little life is over," Fpeece said. She has already been asked if she has a guinea pig that looks like one of the agents. And ads on Craigslist are offering "'G-Force' type guinea pigs. I am really worried," she said. Activists say there are several waves of worry ahead: when the movie debuts in theaters, when it comes out on DVD and when the novelty wears off. About 795,000 homes have guinea pigs as pets, according to the American Pet Products Association, based in Greenwich, Conn. Volunteers from most guinea pig rescue groups will beef up opening weekend public education programs in an effort to prevent impulse buys, said Susan Lee, director and CEO of the Costa Mesa group. Jan Davidson, founder of Deerbrook Guinea Pig and Rabbit Haven in Oakhurst, said other rescue workers have been asking her what to do. One said she was afraid to post new adoption notices because "it is hard enough to find good homes for them as it is." Disney is aware of the power of the movies and works to promote a strong pet responsibility message, a studio spokeswoman said. For "Beverly Hills Chihuahua," Disney made sure most of the animals in the movie came from shelters and each was adopted when the movie was over. For "G-Force," a statement will be posted on the movie's Web site and on other promotional materials, advising viewers to be responsible and research any pet "to make sure that it is suitable for your particular situation" and consider adopting from a shelter. Potsus, who has four guinea pigs, hopes parents will fudge a little to protect the animals. "We hope parents will use money or time as an excuse," she said. "We like to think the bad economy would cut down on some impulsive decisions." Instead of delicate animals who can't talk, shoot or travel through space, Davidson suggested an alternative for children who want to re-enact stunts with the movie's stars: guinea pigs of the stuffed or plastic variety. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Allegations against Bay Area pet docs

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:38:58 PDT

In a report about pet vets gone wrong, NBC Bay Area's Diane Dwyer found that a Pacifica veterinarian treated cats with radiation; those cats then allegedly exposed humans and a site at UC Davis to "dangerously high levels" of radiation. The case of the irradiated kitties is among the more than 2,000 complaints that have been filed to the California Veterinary Medical Board over the last three years. Checking out only Bay Area incidents, Dwyer discovered the aforementioned vet in Pacifica and others practicing in Fairfield, Walnut Creek and Fremont were deemed negligent for things like botched surgeries. The state also recommended that their licenses be revoked. Unfortunately, that process could take a few years. Until then, these vets are still licensed to treat pets. For some reason, the NBC report above doesn't mention names of the accused vets. You can check VMB's web site for veterinarians who face citations or pending disciplinary hearings. But the information is limited. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Sleeping Disorders in Animals

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:38:58 PDT

Maybe you've seen the comical home video on 'YouTube' titled "sleepwalking fail"? It is a short clip of a sleeping dog that starts to "run" horizontally in his sleep, then suddenly jumps up and slams into a wall! Although the video is seriously funny, there is nothing funny about what might be wrong with this animal. This dog could be dreaming, although it unknown for certain if animals dream according to Dr. M.A. Crist, Clinical Assistant Professor at Texas A and M College of Veterinary Medicine. Most likely, this animal is displaying signs of a sleep disorder. Sleeping disorders are not healthy, and as with humans, we see disturbed sleep patterns as a sign of old age, disease or life-altering illness. The two sleeping disorders that are most dangerous to an animal's health are narcolepsy and cataplexy. If your pet has one of these disorders and is left alone, or unattended near water, they could possibly drown. "Narcolepsy is the occurrence of uncontrollable Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep phase characterized by the presence of rapid eye movements and fast phase activity," said Crist. "Cataplexy is the sudden development of rapid duration voluntary muscle weakness, flaccidity, or paralysis of all muscles except extraocular and respiratory muscles. These two sleep disorders are usually a congenital and inherited condition that can be brought on by excitement such as playing, eating, drinking, or greeting owners and can last seconds to minutes, many times a day, or infrequently." Warning signs of one or both of these disorders are the pet may suddenly collapse into lateral or sterna recumbancy with no movements. With narcolepsy the animal appears asleep, and with cataplexy the animal is alert but can't follow motion with eye movements. The pet can be aroused with petting, external stimuli, and loud noises. These disorders are not curable. Older cats may also experience behavior changes in sleep cycles or waking in the night, restlessness and pacing. This is either related to senility or a disease called Hyperthyroidism. "Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland produces an excess amount of thyroid hormone which can lead to cardiac disease and high blood pressure," said Crist. "A specific thyroid blood test can be checked to verify this abnormality and treatment can be initiated. Melatonin, an internal hormone secreted by the pineal gland during darkness, can also be given as an oral supplement usually with minimal side effects as a potential treatment for sleep disorders." Of course, there are several things that pet owners can do for their pets before their sleeping disorders become too severe. "If owners notice their pet having a change in their sleeping pattern they want to take them to their veterinarian for a complete physical examination and laboratory analysis," said Crist. "Medical problems may contribute to these disturbances and some medicines may need to be prescribed by a veterinarian to help combat their sleep disturbance." "While melatonin has been useful for treating sleep disorders that arise from hypothyroidism, senility, or cognitive dysfunction," said Crist, "it is not regulated by the FDA, so ask a veterinarian the correct dose for your pet. Acupuncture and herbal medications are other modalities that might be used to treat sleep disorders in pets." Placing your pet on certain diets can also aid in their sleeping troubles. "Omega 3 fatty acids and diets that are enriched with antioxidants are good for dogs with cognitive dysfunction and sleep issues," said Crist. "Therapeutic diets supplemented with antioxidants such as vitamin C, mixed tocopherols, beta-carotene, flavenoids, carotenoids, and omega-3 fatty acids had dogs show improvement on the performance of cognitive tasks than dogs on a non-supplemented diet." It will always be a true mystery whether or not pets dream. "In mammals and birds, studies have shown that long episodes of nondreaming sleep referred to as "slow-wave" or SW sleep is followed by short episodes of dreaming sleep referred to as "rapid-eye-movement" or REM sleep," said Crist. "If a disturbance in this pattern occurs then sleeping problems can begin. However, we will never really know if pets dream because we cannot talk to them. However, we do know that dogs have the REM sleep phase and this is the dream activity period in people. Dogs do have leg movements, facial twitching, vocalizations, and tail movements. Therefore, it might be likely they are having a dream." Crist mentioned that it is important to know some sleep disorders require a lengthy behavioral consultation and examination by a veterinarian. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants should be prescribed for these dogs and cats who have diagnosed obsessive-compulsive behavior disorders that are disturbing their sleeping patterns. She also reminded that by always taking our pets to the veterinarian for their regular check-up, many potential problems can be caught before they seriously affect your pet's health. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Secondhand smoke is a danger to pets

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:38:58 PDT

If you are trying to convince a smoker you know to quit, it may help to tell them they're harming their pet's health. A study published in the journal Tobacco Control shows a significant percentage of pet owners who smoke would make an attempt to quit if they were told that secondhand smoke was a danger to their pets. Researchers from the Henry Ford Health System's Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention asked some 3,293 adult pet owners to fill out a survey on the internet. 21 percent of those who took part in the survey said they were currently smoking and another 27 percent lived with at least one smoker. 40 percent of both smoking and non-smoking pet owners who took the survey said that if they were told about the dangers of secondhand smoke to pets, they would either try to quit smoking themselves or they would ask the smoker they live with to quit or to smoke outdoors. Secondhand smoke is indeed dangerous for pets. A study in the American Journal of Epidemiology found dogs who live in a house with a smoker have a 60 percent greater risk of lung cancer. Long-nosed dogs like collies and greyhounds are twice as likely to develop nasal cancer when they live with a smoker. And a study by veterinarians at Tufts University found cats who live with a smoking owner are three times as likely to develop lymphoma. Pets face risks from tobacco not only by breathing it in, but also by ingesting particles lodged in their fur as they groom. Tobacco smoke can cause allergic reactions in dogs and skin and respiratory problems in birds. And pets who find and eat discarded cigarette butts can be poisoned by the tobacco. Veterinarians recommend pet owners who smoke do so outside. Use air filters inside to help keep the air free of tobacco smoke. Regular house cleaning and bathing of your pet can help remove toxic tobacco particles from the places where your pet sleeps and plays and from their fur. And be sure to discard your cigarette butts in receptacles your furry friends can't ingest them. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

'Teacher's Pet' program changes destiny of kids, dogs

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:38:58 PDT

(By Sharon L. Peters) When teens are troubled, when they tread more often than not on the wrong side of doing the right thing, when they can't seem to dredge up any interest in school or parental advice, or preparing to be contributing members of society, it's easy to conclude that nothing can reach them. They're heart-of-stone kids, we figure, with mile-high barriers erected to protect whatever small measure of softness, empathy or willingness to connect might exist deep within them. And that settles that. End of story. Except Amy Johnson was certain that simply isn't the case. She knows something about reaching kids, since she has a teaching background. And then there's that little something else about her background — a few years working with the Michigan Humane Society as well as training as a dog trainer — that convinced her that combining her two specialties could make a difference. She did some research. Got her thoughts together. Approached some Michigan school superintendents, proposing a program in which some of the kids who were floundering badly and were at high risk of dropping out would train dogs for a few weeks. Maybe helping a dog that needed it could turn those kids around, she thought. Maybe that would give kids the kind of success they needed to feel better about themselves and everything else. The superintendent in Waterford bit. In the three years since then, her non-profit Teacher's Pet: Dogs and Kids Learning Together program has linked 42 destined-for-euthanasia dogs with 42 students from Kingsley Montgomery School, a day treatment center/alternative school for junior high and high school youth with emotional and/or cognitive issues. And it turns out her suspicions were correct. The program seems to have helped kids and canines in almost equal measure. All of the rescued dogs plucked from shelters and trained through the program have been adopted into new homes; most of the emotionally impaired kids who have rehabilitated them have new attitudes, new leases on life. "The dogs come with behavior problems, and these kids can instantly relate to them," says Johnson, who has a full-time job as marketing coordinator at Oakland University and does this Teacher's Pet program as a part-time sideline without pay. Almost immediately the kids chosen for the program have developed tight bonds with the animals. "Something warm and fuzzy reached these kids who no one else could get to." In each of the 10-week cycles of teens training dogs that have been conducted at the school so far, "the teachers and social workers noticed a change in the kids almost immediately," Johnson says. "One of the kids last fall would tell everybody, 'This program changed my life.' He graduated. He believes now that he really does have things he can contribute." The kids and dogs work together two times a week, two hours per session. Johnson does Dog 101 instruction, then advances to talking about how dogs deal with stress, how people can read dogs' body language, and how dealing with the animal in a positive rather than a negative way builds its confidence, removes its defensiveness and nurtures a willingness to learn and bloom. "I never say, 'All this is to make you a better person,' but they figure it out," Johnson says. "They know they've messed up. One girl actually said, 'I get that we're like the dogs.' " This being real life, not all of the kids in the program have experienced a storybook ending. They have a few hours a week with the dogs "and then some go home to their questionable environments," Johnson says. "But most have done well. They've improved relationships, learned patience. Many have transitioned back to their home school." There's enough belief in the little program that's changing lives that Planet Dog and Banfield Charitable Trust have sent some much-needed funding to support it, and three lock-up facilities for teens have had Johnson launch her program there (40 kids and about 30 rescued dogs have participated so far). She also is running a summer camp, called Kamp K9 for Kids, for nearly 40 sixth- to ninth-graders so they can learn many of the same dog-handling-related facts of life. Johnson, of course, has dreams … dreams of "more people to help more kids and dogs." Her goals, she acknowledges, are "lofty," and the means of achieving them, at this point, are "somewhat vague." But then again, four years ago there was no program, no non-profit, no board and limited interest in what she was proposing. Things have moved forward, she believes, for a simple reason: "If you learn to communicate with a dog, you're well on the way to being able to communicate with everyone." (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Actor, Funny-Man Jay Thomas Guests on Animal Radio - Twenty-year furry-reunion for radio hosts.

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:38:58 PDT

Jay Thomas (Cheers, Mr. Holland's Opus) reunites with Animal Radio host Hal "9000" Abrams for this weekend's AM/FM and XM Satellite Radio broadcast of Animal Radio (July 25th). The familiar-faced actor and radio host has tips for the husbands of cat lovers. "My wife loves to sleep with the cat. All the animals sleep with us. It's any wonder why I've had three kids," says Thomas. An Animal Radio listener called in for advice with a pet that seems to always ruin intimate moments with his wife. Jay retorts, "be careful, I had to send my cat to therapy!" Animal Radio host Hal Abrams produced Jay Thomas' Los Angeles morning show from its inception to 1990. While the two have had brief phone conversations, this was the first time they've been back on-the-air together since 1990. "He hasn't missed a beat...although, he has lost a lot of hair," said Abrams, "he says what we're all thinking about PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)." Catch this special broadcast on any one of the 90+ AM or FM radio affiliates, or catch Animal Radio live on XM Satellite Radio ch. 158 (America's Talk) Saturdays at noon EST and Sundays at 5pm EST. For additional listening options and times, visit http://AnimalRadio.com.

Filmmaker reveals tug-of-war over Katrina pets - 'Mine' shines light on struggle to find and reclaim pets lost in hurricane

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:38:58 PDT

Four years ago when filmmaker Geralyn Pezanoski, 38, adopted lost Katrina dog Nola, a pointer-boxer mix, little did she know it would be a precursor to a documentary that chronicled several of the 15,000 animals and their owners made homeless by the devastating hurricane. "Eight weeks after the hurricane, hundreds of animals were hanging on for their lives," says Pezanoski. "People felt the call." "Mine" — which won an Audience Award and was deemed the "best movie" by Entertainment Weekly at the 2009 South by Southwest Film Festival — was more of an intuitive project than a well-planned documentary. "I had been to New Orleans to do a PSA for the Humane Society, and I had also fostered a dog when the original owners did not come forward," says Pezanoski. "I was wrapping up this PSA when I saw more photos of the animals and how terrible the conditions were." Pezanoski didn't have a concrete plan when she returned to the city, but her story unfolded as more drama unfurled — and there was plenty of it. Long after the people had been saved, thousands of animals remained prisoners in their homes, hiding in plain sight on roofs, nestled in attics and sequestered in bathrooms by their owners, with scant water and food. A group of dedicated volunteers descended on the ravaged city to save these pets. Animal lovers stepped forward to adopt unclaimed pets, and in all, some 15,000 were rescued and sent out of state to people from all parts of the country, says Pezanoski. "[For] as much heartbreak that came out of Katrina," she says, "what stood out for me was the compassion I saw from people, starting with the rescuers. The government failed them, and then you saw all these individuals answer the call. Compassion moved people to go in and make a difference." But soon a third act emerged. As the weeks passed, residents returned to their neighborhoods and destroyed homes and sought out their pets. "In times of total loss, pets become this thing people want to hold onto," says Pezanoski. While about 3,000 original owners were reunited with their pets, for others, tensions rose between them and the people who had fostered the abandoned animals — resulting in an enduring piece of journalism chronicled by Pezanoski and her camera. One of her subjects, Jessie Pullins, was just reunited with his dog in June. "He stuck with it," she says. "Hundreds of families were looking. It's [been] four years; most have given up and moved on. I know of a handful of cases of people still looking." Pezanoski says she wasn't an animal person prior to doing the film and feels the documentary, to be shown again this month at a theater in Martha's Vineyard and at the Mill Valley Film Festival in October, has a broader message. "It's such a moving story about humanity, not just about pets," she says. "Animal lovers love the film, but its not limited to them." She even gained something from the experience herself. As a foster parent of a Katrina pet, she could empathize with those who gave up their foster animals so they could be reunited with their New Orleans owners. "You go into it thinking there's a good guy and a villain, and I realized there isn't one or the other. They were all trying to do the right thing," she says. "They all loved animals." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6pSbRXIjGI (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Freebies for pets

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:38:58 PDT

To encourage the consumer, in this case pet owners, to try their products, many companies will offer coupons for a free trial of their product or for a rebate with purcahse. Here are some freebies, directly from the manufaturers, that pet owners can use. As always, it is best to trust coupons from the manufacturer or a trusted pet supplier. Bayer, makers of Advantage Flea Preventative and K9 Advantix flea, tick and mosquito preventative, has two offers. One coupon gives you one month free with the purchase of a 4 pack or two months free with the purchase of a 6 pack, meaning you get 5 for the price of 4 or 8 for the price of 6. This offer is good on Advantage, K9 Advantix, or Advantage Multi, flea, heartworm, and intestinal worm preventative. Bayer also has an offer for free Advantage for Cats with purchase. As a side note, Petparents from Bayer has some excellent information on being a dog parent. Merial, makers of Frontline and Heartgard, has a promotion going as well. For Heartgard, dog owners can print a coupon for $5 rebate with the purchase of 12 doses (2 packs of 6). Summit VetPharm, makers of the new Vectra 3D flea, tick, mosquito, lice, mites, and sand flies preventative, has a special deal. Purchase 6 doses, through your veterinarian, and receive a $10 credit towards the next purchase. Purchase 12 doses and receive a $25 credit for the next purchase. Summit VetPharm only distributes to licensed veterinarians and the credits can only be redeemed at the veterinarian of initial purchase. Novartis, makers of Sentinel heartworm, intestinal worms, and flea preventative, has a $10 mail in rebate with the purchase of 12 doses. Note, Sentinel does not kill adult fleas, only prevents flea eggs from hatching. Kong Pet Toys has a drawing to win a basket of Kong products, worth $100, and to receive the free Kong newsletter. Twenty baskets will be given away during the course of the promotion for each quarterly newsletter. The newsletter contains information on new Kong toys and recipes for Kong stuffings. Register for NYLA, the Nylabone pet owner club to receive coupons by mail and information on products. Many dog food companies will have periodic coupons and promotions so be sure to check their websites frequently. Canidae, Halo, Innova, Evo, California Natural, and Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul all have registrations for pet owners to receive special offers by mail. Halo has a special intro deal that contains dry and canned food along with treats for a special price. Halo also sells it's "short dated" food at half price. This means the food must be used within 1-2 months so it's still good but can't sit on the shelves for a long period. Purchase and use right away. Blue Buffalo will send you a $5 coupon to try their food. Sign up for the Wellness club and receive special offers and the monthly chance to win a bag of treats. Any time you'd like to try a new product, check the manufacturer's website for special offers. As always, if the product is medically related (flea prevention, heartworm prevention), discuss the change with your trusted veterinarian. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Prison program changes lives of inmates, animals

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:38:58 PDT

(By BRANDI WATTERS) PENDLETON, Ind. - Robin Schlusser still has four years left on his 15-year sentence for voluntary manslaughter, but if all goes as planned, the 46-year-old Muncie man will spend his time caring for cats while incarcerated. Schlusser is one of six inmates taking part in the Pendleton Correctional Industrial Facility's new program that partners well-behaved offenders with homeless cats in an attempt to enrich the lives of both groups. Schlusser and his fellow offenders work in eight-hour shifts caring for 59 cats who entered the facility on June 22. Maleah Stringer, director of Animal Care and Control in Anderson, is in charge of the prison pet program and said all 59 cats were up for adoption. It's up to Schlusser and other inmates to care for the animals and socialize with them so that the animals are ready to be taken into permanent homes. On the other end of the correctional facility, 16 dogs live alongside their incarcerated handlers as part of the FIDO program. Like the cat program, FIDO brings homeless dogs into the facility to be trained and socialized by inmates until adopted. FIDO stands for Friendship + Dogs + Inmates Opportunity. The program began in September and has been a big success, according to Tim Horan of the correctional facility. The behavior of inmates has changed, and it's given dogs a second chance at life. The unit, which contains the 16 dogs, is also home to "Big-headed Bob," the unit's mascot. The American bulldog mix was about to be euthanized when he was selected to come to the prison, Horan said. Now he's the pet of the dozens of inmates in the unit, and one inmate painted a portrait of the dog that now hangs in a hallway at the facility. Prison officials are hoping the success of the FIDO program will be mirrored in its latest efforts with homeless cats. Schlusser keeps a chalkboard catalog of each cat and has already learned all of the 59 names of the felines. "Every one of them has a number and a name, just like we've got," he said. Schlusser is covered in tattoos and has spent much of his adult life behind bars, but in the cat rooms, he transforms into a caregiver, and boasts that other inmates are jealous of his job. "It's fun. It's more freedom ... and I get to play." So far, two cats in the program have been adopted by staff at the correctional industrial facility. CIF Superintendent Tom Hanlon said he approved the cat program based on the success of the FIDO program. "It's popular with the inmates," Hanlon said. "It's popular with the staff. Everyone has invested themselves in it mightily." This is not the first time cats have been allowed into prisons. Horan said Michigan City's prison has a program that actually allows inmates to adopt cats and keep them in their cells. There is talk about allowing some homeless pets into the cells of offenders caring for them, he said, but the facility first wants to make sure the pilot program is a success. "I would have never ever have conceived of a program like this or FIDO," Hanlon admitted. Although the program has helped to ease space issues at the city shelter, Stringer said she and her staff are fighting an uphill battle. "We are receiving 20 to 50 animals a day." For every animal adopted from the prison pet program, another is taken from the shelter and put into its place, she said. "It saves two lives at once." (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Pfizer, Merck Acquisitions Put Animal-Drug Products Into Play

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:38:58 PDT

(By Shannon Pettypiece) July 13 (Bloomberg) -- Four of the world's biggest drugmakers are likely to compete for Pfizer Inc. and Merck and Co. animal-health products as revenue for flea medicine, canine cancer treatments, and cattle vaccines outpaces human drugs. Novartis AG, Eli Lilly and Co., Bayer AG and Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH may seek to buy animal-health businesses from Merck and Schering-Plough Corp. with a combined $4.27 billion in sales last year, said Bill Kridel, managing director for New York-based Ferghana Partners Group, which advises companies on mergers and acquisitions. Pfizer's animal products with as much as $400 million in sales will also draw interest, he said. The assets are being sold because Pfizer, the purchaser of Wyeth, and Merck, the buyer of Schering-Plough, have been told by regulators the acquisitions may make them too dominant in the animal-health market. Human-drug sales grew 1.3 percent to $291 billion last year, according to IMS Health Inc. That compares with 7.2 percent to $19.2 billion for animal medicines, according to Vetnosis Ltd., a U.K.-based research company. "Animal health is a much steadier business than the human pharmaceuticals business these days," said David Moskowitz, an analyst with Caris and Co. in Washington, in a telephone interview. "Animal products tend to have very nice margins, there's much lower threat of generic competition, and there's a lot of brand loyalty." Drugmakers are looking to add animal drugs as a way to broaden their business as generic competition threatens $139 billion in annual sales of human medicines by 2012. 'Exploring Options' Merck, of Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, is "exploring the options" on its animal-health businesses, considering whether it would prefer to divest the Intervet unit owned by Schering-Plough, based in Kenilworth, New Jersey, or the Merial division it co-owns with Paris-based Sanofi-Aventis SA, a Merck spokeswoman, Amy Rose, said in an e-mailed statement. Intervet had $2.97 billion in 2008 sales, while Merial generated $2.6 billion, 50% of which is shared with Sanofi. The most attractive of the three assets would be Intervet, because the buyer would get an entire business, said Ferghana's Kridel. Lilly, Novartis, Bayer and Boehringer, all of which have existing animal-health businesses, would be candidates to buy Intervet and could finance such a purchase, which may cost $9 billion, Kridel said. Lilly and Novartis's animal-health units each had $1.1 billion in revenue last year, while Bayer's generated about $1.3 billion and Boehringer brought in $655 million. Growing the Business Mark Taylor, a spokesman for Indianapolis-based Lilly, declined to comment on whether the U.S. drugmaker will bid for the Pfizer or Merck assets. He said his company does have plans to grow its animal business, and sees that market as a way to diversify beyond human medicines. "We like animal health," said Lilly Chief Executive Officer John Lechleiter at an investor meeting last month. "We would look for opportunities to grow that business if there are those opportunities. That would also help diversify us." Lechleiter said Lilly is open to acquisitions worth as much as $5 billion to $15 billion. Lilly will lose patent protection in 2011 for its antipsychotic medicine Zyprexa, the company's top product, with $4.7 billion in sales last year. "Eli Lilly has a mid-sized animal health business that really needs to bulk up," said Caris and Co.'s Moskowitz. "Any of the animal health assets that are up for sale would be a perfect fit, and Eli Lilly is a willing buyer." Chris Viehbacher, chief of Sanofi, said on March 13 that his company also would like to raise its animal health profile. Sanofi has the right to buy Merck's share of Merial if they can match a rival bid. 'Extremely Interesting' In an interview with Bloomberg News, Viehbacher called Merial an "extremely interesting company." Merial employs 5,400 people and sells products including Frontline, a flea product for dogs and cats, and Ivomec, which eliminates parasites in large animals. A Sanofi spokeswoman, Elizabeth Baxter, declined to comment on a possible deal in a telephone interview. The Financial Times Deutschland reported on July 7 that Bayer is interested in buying an animal health unit, citing people close to the deal. The story didn't identify the target. Guenter Forneck, a Bayer spokesman in Leverkusen, Germany, declined to comment about a possible deal, as did Eric Althoff, a spokesman for Novartis in Basel, Switzerland, and Judith von Gordon, a spokeswoman for Boehringer Ingelheim in Ingelheim, Germany. Boehringer Partnership Boehringer has a partnership in the U.S. with Merial and this week sold $1.26 billion in promissory notes to raise capital. Medicines added to animal feed, vaccines to prevent livestock disease and treatments for parasites make up the bulk of animal-health products. Sales are benefiting from demand for meat, milk and eggs, which is estimated to rise 50 percent by 2020 as populations grow and people in emerging economies become wealthier, according to the International Federation of Animal Health, based in Brussels. Drugmakers like the animal-health business because it has a lower "risk profile" than human medicines, said Ferghana's Kridel. The cost of developing treatments for animals is cheaper than for humans, he said. "A lot of the discovery comes from human pharmaceuticals, and the testing period, clinical development and regulatory approach are more reasonable," Kridel said. "The margins are lower, but the risks are lower." $4 Billion in Revenue When Pfizer, based in New York, completes its purchase of Madison, New Jersey-based Wyeth, set to close by the end of the year, it will have the world's biggest animal business, with about $4 billion in annual revenue. A Pfizer spokeswoman, Joan Campion, said the drugmaker may have to divest some of its animal assets to complete the Wyeth transaction. She declined to comment on the bidding process. Drugmakers are also expanding into medicines for household pets that go beyond the realm of rabies shots and flea powders. In 2007, Pfizer, the world's biggest drugmaker, started selling an obesity treatment for dogs and Lilly began marketing a version of its antidepressant Prozac for dogs to quell panic attacks and bad behavior from separation anxiety. There are about 75 million dogs and 88 million cats owned in the U.S., according to the Humane Society of the United States. Dog owners spend about $219 a year on their pets' vet visits and vaccination and cat owners spend $175. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

Headlines: 5 legged puppy follow-up, Dog-friendly Cities, Canoodling Turtles, Dog Fighting, Drunk Badger

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:38:58 PDT

(Animal Radio® News Director Bobbie Hill) ---Remember seeing the story of the five legged puppy born in North Carolina a few weeks back? The chihuahua mix named Precious was being shown off by her owner Calvin Owensby of Gastonia who decided to sell the puppy to a Coney Island freak show for three grand. Thankfully good Samaritan Allyson Siegel did the smart thing - she offered Owensby more money and saved the puppy! Siegel told the Gaston Gazette the puppy will definitely have the surgery she needs to remove the extra leg and may be offered for adoption through the Animal League of Gaston County. ---It's no secret American's love their canine counterparts but which city is the Dog Friendliest? According to Dog Fancy magazine readers it's not one but three cities along the west coast. The winners of this year's "Dogtown USA" contest are San Diego - Huntington Beach and Carmel-by-the-Sea. Criteria include dog parks in nominated cities as well as events celebrating pooches, high veterinarian to dog ratio and lots of municipal laws that protect all pets. ---Canoodling turtles are being blamed for an hour and a half in flight delays at New York's JFK International Airport. A pilot reported seeing two fairly large turtles "boinking" on one of JFK's runways causing flights to be delayed while Port Authority workers relocated the amorous turtles. The New York Daily News reported the pair of diamondback terrapins about 10 inches long weighing close to 3 pounds, probably came out of nearby Jamaica Bay looking for a place to schtupp. They were returned to the bay by workers in about half an hour. But the damage was already done on the flight schedule of JFK. ---On Wednesday, July 8, the ASPCA assisted federal and state agencies in what is believed to be the largest crackdown on dog fighting in U.S. history. The operation spans eight states so far—Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Nebraska and Mississippi. Arrests have been made in all eight states. The ASPCA—along with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of the Inspector General, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service and the U.S. Attorney—is providing support and veterinary care for the rescued animals, and will eventually assist in behavior evaluations of the dogs. Nearly 400 dogs, some of whom are pregnant, were safely transported to a secure facility under the direction of the Humane Society of Missouri's (HSMO) Animal Cruelty Task Force, where they will be cared for until final disposition is determined by the U.S. District Court. Dog fighting is banned throughout the United States and is a felony in all 50 states. If convicted on animal fighting charges, those arrested each face up to five years in prison. ---Following up on the "cat lady in New Jersey story" we brought you in March - authorities found 150 cats inside the mansion of Wanda Oughton. The Associate Press reports Oughton entered a plea of guilty in Chester Township Municipal Court last week to two counts of animal cruelty for failing to provide adequate shelter. Oughton's attorney said the problem was caused by his clients love of animals. When authorities entered the home once valued at one million dollars they found rooms covered in filth and urine. Oughton has also been ordered to pay 35-thousand dollars in fines and restitution and the judge told the 62 year old defendant she was not allowed to own more than 6 cats over the next three years ---It's not unusual to find dead animals on highways - one of the hazards of civilization, but police in Germany got a surprise when they responded to reports of a dead badger. Police near the town of Goslar found the badger in the road but it wasn't dead - it was drunk. The badger had feasted on some fermented berries then staggered into the roadway and refused to budge. Police couldn't scare it away.....they eventually chased the poor inebriated creature out of the road with a broom. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)

World Society for the Protection of Animals' Survey and Database Help Consumers Make informed Decisions about Humane Foods. - New survey indicates that U.S. consumers want more animal-friendly foods

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:38:58 PDT

BOSTON -- The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), the world's largest alliance of animal welfare organizations, today released the results of a Humane Food Survey ranking the top 25 U.S. supermarket chains by annual sales. This is the second year WSPA conducted a survey of 200 stores in 34 states. A comparison of results from 2008 to 2009 shows an impressive 23 percent increase in humane food offerings in stores. According to Dena Jones, U.S. programs director for WSPA, "The survey results indicate that people are becoming more sensitive to the cruel and unsustainable methods used to raise farm animals and are seeking humane alternatives when they shop, regardless of cost. Consumer demand influences what stores offer and it is encouraging to see grocers responding by increasing humane food options even in a recession." The majority of U.S. animals raised for meat, eggs and dairy spend their lives confined in factory-style farms. Generally animals raised under humane food programs are given access to sunlight, fresh air, and freedom of movement. Levels of animal welfare can be identified by a variety of labels on food packaging, which are often misleading to consumers. WSPA rates food labels such as "free range," "USDA organic" and "cage free" in terms of the way the animals raised for food are treated and aims to educate consumers about what food labels to choose and what ones to avoid. The 2009 survey recorded products in four categories: dairy, eggs, unprocessed meat and poultry, and processed meat and poultry (bacon, ham, hot dogs). Stores were ranked using a point system based on the quality and variety of the food products available on the shelves. Whole Foods scored the highest by far, offering twice as many humanely labeled products per store as the two companies tied for second -- Shaw's Supermarkets and Publix Super Markets. Wal-Mart Stores, the world's largest food retailer, scored near the bottom. The lowest in the survey was Save-A-Lot Food Stores with no humanely labeled products found in its stores. For complete store rankings and survey results visit www.EatHumane.org. In conjunction with the survey WSPA launched the first searchable database for humane foods at the top 25 U.S. grocery stores. The database is available at www.EatHumane.org. Consumers can search their local store to find humane food products and see how their store compares to others. Jones explains, "Everyday we have the opportunity to impact the quality of animal's lives with our food choices, and this database provides the facts people need to make ethical decisions and find humanely raised products." Through partnership with more than 1,000 organizations worldwide, WSPA strives to create a world where animal welfare matters and animal cruelty ends. WSPA is working with organizations throughout the world to phase out intensive farming and to promote more humane food alternatives among retailers and consumers. Visit WSPA USA's blog at www.wspa.typepad.com/compassionateplanet/food. About Food Label Claims Good - These claims cover one aspect of animal care and a third party does not verify compliance with the standards: "Cage free" (eggs); "Free range" (eggs, chicken, duck, goose, turkey); "Grass fed" (dairy, beef, lamb). Better - These feature a higher level of animal welfare, but standards are either not verified by a third party or cover only a limited aspect of animal care: "Free range" (beef, bison, lamb, pork); "Pasture raised" (dairy, eggs, chicken, turkey, beef, bison, lamb, pork); "USDA organic" (dairy, eggs, chicken, turkey, beef, bison, lamb, pork). Best - These cover multiple aspects of animal care and an independent third party verifies compliance with the standards: "American Humane Certified" (dairy, eggs, chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, pork); "Animal Welfare Approved" (dairy, eggs, chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, pork); "Certified Humane" (dairy, eggs, chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, pork). Buyer Beware "No antibiotics used"/"No hormones administered" - The government does not conduct testing to verify these claims. Hormones are prohibited in the raising of pigs and poultry, so this claim is meaningless for pork, chicken and turkey. "No antibiotics used" suggests animals were not raised on a factory farm, but by itself does not indicate high animal welfare. "Natural" - This has no relevance to animal welfare. It merely indicates that the product was minimally processed and contains no dyes or preservatives. "Naturally raised" - The USDA has established a voluntary definition for this. It indicates that the animal was raised without the use of antibiotics and hormones and had been given only vegetarian feed. It does not require freedom of movement and access to fresh air and sunlight for the animal. (Get Animal Radio Breaking News LIVE 24/7 at http://AnimalRadio.com - Get this news via e-mail...sign up at AnimalRadio.com)