From seattlepi.com…

Students leaving Pullman often drop off their pets with the Whitman County Humane Society.

The society says 30 percent of the animals it takes in all year arrive after the Washington State University graduation.

The Humane Society president, Greg Wust, says the staff tries to find homes for unwanted pets, but the departing owners leave a burden for staff and city of Pullman.

The thought of kids having their fun pets during their college years and then just tossing them aside really bothers me. I know going to college doesn’t always make a person smarter than others, and this certainly proves it!

And then there are stories like this…about people who have pets and wish they could take on more, which by the way, is the place I find myself in.

In my career as a visual journalist, I’ve seen some sad occasions through the lens of my camera. I’ve photographed grieving families at funerals and court proceedings, trying to distance myself as I fought off tears. Last week, I took a trip to the Connecticut Humane Society to tell another difficult story.

[…]

At the Humane Society, I was there to document animals who had been surrendered by their owners for financial reasons. The hardest part for me was knowing that I could help out one of these animals by adopting it.

I know I’m not alone in viewing my dogs as members of my family, so I can’t imagine what the owners of these animals went through in making the decision to surrender their pets. It must be bad enough to be facing eviction or foreclosure, and the uncertainty of whether you’ll have a roof over your head tonight. Having to make the choice to give up a beloved member of your family because you can no longer afford to care for him or her must be heartbreaking.

Here’s the rest.

Technorati Tags: pets, WSU

VPI polled more than 3,000 of its policyholders to find that 42 percent involved a pet or plan to involve a pet in their wedding ceremony. Eleven percent did not include a pet in their wedding ceremony but had been to a wedding in which pets played a part, and the remaining 47 percent indicated that only humans participated in their wedding ceremony.

Tonya Guy-Williams, a VPI Pet Insurance policyholder from Clements, Md., chose to include her husky mix, Klondike, in her wedding. Klondike served as the ring-bearer and best man. Under the guidance of Tonya’s mother Linda, Klondike performed his duties without a hitch.

“He did fine with all of the people, and he never barked until the very end when we think the sun started to get to him,” said Tonya. “He is our baby. No one who knows us was surprised that we would want him in our wedding. They were more surprised that we found a tuxedo that fit.”

Here’s the rest.

I’ve never been married, so I’m not sure what I’d decide as far as my pets are concerned. I know Tequila wouldn’t be interested in walking down the aisle with me but I’m sure the dogs would live the attention. One thing I can say for sure though is that I tend to listen to what my dogs have to say about the men I date.

Years ago, my dog Lucy wasn’t all that crazy about a couple guys I dated and I didn’t listen. My mistake! I learned to rely on her what she had to say and in fact, made it a rule that any guy I date, had to meet her early on. If she didn’t like them - they were out, and I’m sure she saved me from more than one disaster!

Lucy’s no longer with me, so these days Lydia is my most reliable man-barometer. If she doesn’t like a guy, he’s doomed to join the list of rejects - sorry guys, but that’s just how it is around here. The Lydia stamp of approval is definitely a requirement, and although it may not be fool proof all the time, I will admit that sometimes her judgment is better than mine.

Archie and Tequila give me some cues too, but Archie tends to be a bit of a spaz at times. And since Tequila’s a cat there’s no telling what mood she’s in when she meets someone new.

So, anyway…who knows what the walk down the aisle might be for me but I can say that Archie, Lydia, and Tequila are part of the family so it’s a “love me, love my pets” kinda thing!

Technorati Tags: pets and weddings, pets, cats, dogs

A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising the 4 pups. And set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard. As he was driving the last nail into the post, he felt a tug on his overalls. He looked down into the eyes of little boy.

“Mister, he said, I want to buy one of your puppies.”

“Well, said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck, “These puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money.

The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer.

“’I've got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?’

“Sure,” said the farmer. And with that he let out a whistle.

“Here, Dolly!” he called.

Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur. The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence. His eyes danced with delight. As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse.

Slowly another little ball appeared; this one notice ably smaller. Down the ramp it slid. Then in a somewhat awkward manner, the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up….

“I want that one,” the little boy said, pointing to the runt. The farmer knelt down at the boy’s side and said, “Son, you don’t want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs would.”

With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers. In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both ides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made shoe.

Looking back up at the farmer, he said, ”You see sir, I don’t run too well myself, And he will need someone who understands.”

With tears in his eyes, the farmer reached down and picked up the little pup. Holding it carefully he handed it to the little boy…

“How much?” asked the little boy.

“No charge,” answered the farmer, “There’s no charge for love.”

Technorati Tags: pets, cats, dogs

I’m not much of a reptile person, but I really like lizards. They’re cute, they change colors, and they eat bugs (I’m not fond of bugs!). And the look on their faces always puts a smile on mine. They dart from here to there and seem to be thinking something like…

“Ok, where am I gonna go next? I gotta go somewhere, but which way? Over there? Over here? Maybe over there and then over here? I dunno, but I know I gotta go somewhere, and I gotta go fast” look on their face.

A couple of the little green hyperactive creatures that live on my back porch. I enjoy watching them and so does Archie. Being the border collie that he is, he is obsessed with them and when he sees a lizard, he’s mesmerized for as long as the lizard is around. At times, I get such a kick out of watching them watch each other.

As much as I enjoy the little guys, though…the thing is, they poop too much. Yea, I know what you’re thinking…”how much poop could a lizard poop?” Enough that I have to get out my little lizard pooper scooper out every other day or so. They chase each other all over the place and leave little droppings on the outside wall of the house…on the walls of the enclosed area…even on the screens! They simply have no shame!

I’m not looking to get rid of them, but I sure would like to have a poop free porch.

Hmmm….I wonder if doggie pooper scoopers scoop lizard poop…

Technorati Tags: lizards, wildlife

Here’s the info from Purina…

Land O’Lakes Purina Feed LLC has implemented a voluntary product retrieval of certain feeds manufactured between November 3, 2007 and February 8, 2008 at our Statesville, N.C., feed plant; between January 1, 2008 and February 8, 2008 at our Harrisburg, Penn., feed plant; and between January 1, 2008 and March 10, 2008 at our Guilderland, N.Y. plant.

This voluntary retrieval was initiated due to the possible presence of aflatoxin contamination above acceptable levels.

To date, we have received no confirmed aflatoxin-related animal health complaints involving any of the retrieved products. Nevertheless, we have taken such precautionary action as our utmost priority continues to be our customers and the well-being of their animals.

All dealers who purchased any of the retrieved products directly from Land O’Lakes Purina Feed LLC have been notified. These dealers are located in the following states: Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia.

Our investigation and product testing identified one ingredient of concern, which originated from a single supplier. We have discontinued purchasing from this supplier. Other feed companies that purchased from this supplier are facing a similar situation.

For more information about specific products included in the retrieval, contact the Statesville, N.C., Feed Plant at 704-924-5100 or the Harrisburg, Penn., Feed Plant at 717-737-4581.

The Horse has some information about this as well..

Aflatoxins are a form of mycotoxin, and are secondary metabolites produced by Aspergillus spp. fungi. According to Gary Osweiler, DVM, PhD, professor of veterinary toxicology at Iowa State University, effects of aflatoxins can be progressive as well as cumulative. At levels greater than 50 ppb (parts per billion), aflatoxins can cause signs such as feed refusal, fever, weight loss, sluggishness, liver damage, jaundice, bloody diarrhea, kidney damage, birth defects, tumors, and suppressed immune function.

[…]

The recall is voluntary and precautionary, Botham stressed.

Dealers were notified of the recall in March. Botham said the aflatoxin was discovered through routine product testing performed by a state regulatory agency, with results confirmed by company testing.

Read more here.

Technorati Tags: horse feed recall, horses, equine, Purina recall

From Philly.com…

HARRISBURG - Talk about a lobbyist with clout.

Oprah Winfrey - the woman with the power to send authors to the top of the New York Times best-seller list - is planning to appeal to viewers tomorrow to back a crackdown on puppy mills in Pennsylvania.

Winfrey is expected to read excerpts from a letter Gov. Rendell sent to her last month seeking support for legislation to overhaul the state’s dog law, according to participants in a Monday conference call with producers of The Oprah Show.

A spokesman for the show declined through e-mail to comment on the program for the live show.

Tomorrow’s show follows an investigation by the show highlighting abuses in Lancaster County commercial kennels. The video showed sick dogs, dogs crammed into small cages, and dogs being mishandled by owners.

It generated one of the largest e-mail responses in the show’s history, a spokesman said.

Two years ago, Rendell vowed to improve conditions in Pennsylvania’s commercial breeding kennels. He wrote Winfrey after the show aired seeking help to counter “strong opponents in the breeding industry.”

No doubt about it - Oprah is a powerful woman - and if she can keep puppy mills in the public eye, hopefully some things will change. It’s time puppy mills are shut down!

Technorati Tags: puppy mills, dogs, Oprah

It’s time for another giveaway everybody - and these are some pretty high tech gadgets for you to enjoy with your pets!

The WaterDog is an automatic watering fountain that you can attach to an outdoor water spigot. When your dog gets within a certain range, a stream of water flows so he can get some clean, fresh water (or simply play in the water!) Read the WaterDog review.

The ChatterBowl is a fun little gadget that allows you to record a message for your pet, so that everytime he comes near the bowl, your message plays.

Visit our contest page to find out how to enter!

And, finally…

Congrats to our latest contest winners!

Our last contest was for a Brush Buddy, and our winners are…

• Angela, who entered for the founder of a local rescue group.
• Dale, from Pekin, IL who is sure his dog Bootsy (that’s him below) is going to really enjoy the Brush Buddy!

Technorati Tags: contest, pets, WaterDog, ChatterBowl, dogs, cats

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is seeking the suspension of Eight Belles’ jockey after the filly had to be euthanized following her second-place finish in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.

Gabriel Saez was riding Eight Belles when she broke both front ankles while galloping out a quarter of a mile past the wire. She was euthanized on the track.

PETA faxed a letter Sunday to Kentucky’s racing authority claiming the filly was “doubtlessly injured before the finish” and asked that Saez be suspended while Eight Belles’ death is investigated.

“What we really want to know, did he feel anything along the way?” PETA spokeswoman Kathy Guillermo said. “If he didn’t then we can probably blame the fact that they’re allowed to whip the horses mercilessly.”

Eight Belles trainer Larry Jones said the filly was clearly happy when she crossed the finish line.

Read the rest.

With Barbaro still fresh on many people’s minds, yesterday’s tragedy has many asking questions…

Just hours before the Kentucky Derby, trainer Larry Jones got up early with his filly Eight Belles and took her to the track for a ride before the big race.

This was supposed to be a day of tempting history for Jones and Eight Belles.

They were taking on 19 colts and trying to make Eight Belles the fourth filly, and the first since Winning Colors in 1988, to win the “Run for the Roses.”

[…]

Perhaps if the wounds of losing Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro were not so fresh there would not be this feeling of “Here we go again.” Perhaps the shock would not have been so severe.

Eerily, Barbaro’s trainer, Michael Matz, saw another one of his horses, Chelokee, injured Friday at Churchill Downs with the same injury as Barbaro, a broken lower leg.

Just when the industry needed good news, officials will have to explain why this happened again.

There will be questions with few answers.

•Should horses run this young?

•Is a 20-horse field too filled with danger?

•Should fillies be running against males?

•Does medication play any role in this?

•Are dirt surfaces, such as those at each Triple Crown track, more dangerous than grass or the new synthetic surfaces?

•Has breeding caused a weakening of the talent pool?

Read more from USA Today.

Technorati Tags: Eight Belles, Kentucky Derby, horse, race