My buddy Say Uncle has the details about a proposed bill in N.J.
Here's one from Dancing Rain Girl's neck of the woods...
During their emotional reunion earlier this month at Honolulu International Airport, Ramey swept her black chow off its feet before being flooded with sloppy, wet kisses."I was so happy I thought I was going to pass out," she said.
A little more than a year ago, that scene would have taken place at the state's quarantine facility at Halawa. But this week marks the one year anniversary since Hawaii eased its strict rabies quarantine regulations, allowing most pets to be released to their owners shortly after they arrive in Hawaii — in five days or less — instead of quarantining them for up to four months.
In the year since Gov. Linda Lingle signed the new rules, pet owners have flocked to Hawaii, with a record 6,600 cats and dogs admitted in the fiscal year ending Wednesday — up from 4,681 in the previous year.
Hawaii's original quarantine law, imposed in 1912 to keep rabies off the islands, required all animals entering Hawaii to be kept at the state quarantine facility for four months. The rules were revised in 1997 to cut that stay to 30 days for animals with the required shots. Hawaii remains the only rabies-free state in the nation.
The new regulations for shots, bloodwork and paperwork are complex, and pet owners must plan ahead. The process that allows them to take pets home from the airport must begin at least four months before they arrive.
Pets that were vaccinated, have electronic microchip identification and a blood test showing a rabies vaccination response can bypass quarantine.
Folks in Toronto are looking for a hero dog that probably prevented a mass shooting spree. From Reuters:
Police say a Canadian man, whose car was packed with 6,000 rounds of ammunition, rifles and a machete, planned to kill as many people as possible in a tony east end Toronto neighborhood on Wednesday. They say the man's intention was to make sure he was sent to prison and never let out.But he changed his mind at the last minute, and later gave himself up to police after a friendly dog came up to play with him in a park and melted his heart.
"I think it's wonderful, (the dog) was like an angel," said Barbara Wilson, manager of Three Dog Bakery which is located near the park.
"We're still trying to find the dog because our bakery would like to present the dog with a basket of goodies to say thank you and I think the dog deserves a lot more than that."
The betting is on Elvis Presley, a black border collie who was on the front page of the National Post on Friday and featured prominently in other papers.
Elvis and his owner were in the east-end park at the right time and reports that he was carrying a Frisbee in his mouth fits his description.
How could anyone NOT love dogs? And Mickey's Musings has the latest Carnival Of The Dogs up for your pleasure. Links to all sorts of great stuff from dog lovers just like YOU! Head over there NOW. And while you're at it, give your own dog a big smooch and play with him/her this nice Sunday afternoon...
I'm sorry, but even my teeny-tiny town offers a yearly "rabies shots" clinic every single Winter. You just bring your dog or cat and pay something minor such as $9 bucks and your beloved pet is protected for a couple of years. What is so damn hard about that? Aren't they worth it? Couldn't you skip the beer or cigarettes for a couple days and insure your pet's health? From Albany TV9:
A Rensselaer County cat has tested positive for rabies -- and health officials are worried there may be more.Rensselaer County officials are looking for four kittens adopted from a private home in Pittstown on or around June 5 or 6.
Officials said the kittens may or may not have the disease. However, they are asking anyone who thinks they may have the kittens to contact the health department at...
Would you deny your own children their easily obtainable mumps, chickenpox, etc., shots? Protect your loved pets as well. And in a side-note, get them spayed or neutered as well. I do stay away from the feline-leukemia shots but I do also get them their distemper shots. It's so simple and easy and inexpensive. Don't they deserve it?
Thinking about that last story (just below) I wonder what SOME people think when they can't find their pet. I go crazy! And I don't allow my cats outdoors anymore. But I'll come home from work and if I don't see all three cats lounging about, greeting me, etc., I go nuts. I call out, search all over, issue APB's until I find them.
Crispy is the best and worst. Huh? Usually (being rather like a Golden Retriever) usually sits on the stairs to greet me (or anyone else entering the apartment.) But sometimes he goes off by himself. He is -- truly -- the smartest cat I've ever had. He can open doors and drawers. I had to put "child-guard" latches on all the cabinet doors because he would hideout in them. He would open drawers in the kitchen and sleep in them, usually finally breaking the drawer bottom. He turns on the sink faucet (it's one of those single-stem types that you push up and over to get water out.)
He easily prys open the refrigerator door and sprawls out on the empty bottom shelf. I've searched for and finally found him three times there. And when I do open the refrigerator door and the light goes on, he shows absolutely (in true cat fashion) NO interest in leaving. I suppose that being a long-haired cat helps...
Why do we put up with these nut-case cats? And here's another question for you: It's easy to defend loving dogs since they're smart, protective, loyal, wonderful, etc. I think cats are -- well, sort-of -- too. But when you tell friends you have cats and you get that look, how do you defend yourself (and your cats)? Talk amongst yourselves...
It's a sorry story, but at least there's a good ending. From the Washington Times:
GLASGOW, Scotland, Jun. 25 (UPI) -- A cat survived for almost two months trapped under a garden deck in Scotland.John and Anne McMillan of Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, heard Bubbles meowing eight weeks after they unknowingly built a deck over her. The cat belongs to their next-door neighbor, 7-year-old Emma Deane, who had been searching for Bubbles and had almost given up hope.
Sara Deane, Emma's mother, told the Daily Record, "The vet said it was a miracle and we can't think of any other way to describe this."
Bubbles was within a few hours of death when she was rescued, Deane added. The vet believes the cat survived by eating insects.
Bubbles was starving, dirty, thin and had sore legs, but Emma says she will give her "everything she needs to get better."
Sara Deane speculated the McMillans did not hear the cat because of hearing problems.
I love animals, especially our pets. Our dogs, cats, hamsters, parrots, I love them all. I wouldn't have started this blog if I didn't. There are so many folks out there who have pets -- and my first reaction is, "good for you" -- but they don't take care of them or protect them or hug them or, yeah it's important, get them spayed or neutered.
I know that I'm preaching to the choir here but in case someone else accidentally stumbles by...
SACRAMENTO – Saying he made a mistake months ago that would have made it easier for shelters to kill stray dogs and cats, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Friday he has reinstated the state's six-day waiting period before lost animals could be killed.As part of his budget proposal that was first drafted in December, the governor had asked the Legislature to repeal a 1998 law that requires the shelters to hold animals up to six days before destroying them. The governor wanted to save money bu cutting the waiting period in half.
But after a nationwide storm of protest, the governor hastily organized a press conference outside his Capitol office and told reporters of his error.
Many of the dogs running loose that are picked up are actually someone's pet. They got away, got picked-up by the "dog-catcher" and their uncaring owners don't give a rat's-butt. And they (the poor dogs) will be killed quickly by the state.
But some of them simply "slipped away" and got lost. It can take time for the owner to locate them. Six days simply isn't enough to allow for the owner to call a state animal shelter. Well, it should be, but it isn't.
We would never treat humans this way. I'm thankful that Arnold finally backed down from his "quick-kill" policy.
But this brings up OUR -- as in us pet owners -- responsibility: We need to, firstly, get our good dog friends fixed, as it were, and secondly, take some control over their movements. They shouldn't be running around loose in the streets where some animal control officer will scoop them up and take them to the death-house.
If you don't care what happens to your dog then you shouldn't be allowed to adopt one. If you don't care that these poor strays are being put to death at the rate of 400,000 thousand each year just in California, then you shouldn't even be allowed to pet one.
You wouldn't allow your kids to run free, would you? Aren't your dear dogs (and cats) worthy and deserving of the same attention?
Damnit! I don't mean to rant here on my "nice blog" but I get so frustrated by all the un-cared for dogs and cats running around. If folks would just get them "fixed" that would eliminate most of the problem. If they would just give a crap about their health and well-being and especially their where-abouts, that would eliminate the rest...
Truth in blogging: Years ago, I let my cats out on a very busy street. I'm thankful, now that I know better, that they all survived. Now, even in "rural Vermont" I don't let them out of the house. I just couldn't stand the thought of coming home and finding one laying dead at the side of the road. I just can't do it and all of my cats have adjusted to this. Except for Rainbow, who used to roam free about (Ghod, can you believe it!) 20 years ago as a kitten, none of them even try to leave our little NEST.
Again, I'm sure that any of you visiting this "pet friendly blog" agree with me but please implore your friends and neighbors to somehow follow the same precautions. You LOVE the way your cats wind their way around your ankles and rug their forheads against yours. You love your loyal dog riding with you, and when you park your truck to run into the store, your good dog hops into your driver's seat and waits so patiently for you to return.
Don't allow them (your pet friends) to wander around and get "caught" by animal-control officers. They could wind up sitting in a cold-cage, alone and scared, and then put to death because after only six days, they were (apparently) un-wanted.
Lastly, it's the weekend and I think you should all stop doing your busy weekend things and just give a big hug and smooch to your dear pets. Just spend some time with them today and Sunday and just play with them and stroke them and let them know that they are the most important , wonderful beings in your private universe... Kiss them, talk to them, PLAY with them. Let them know that you consider them equal members of your family and you love them and you promise to take care of them and protect them for all of their lives. Trust me, you'll feel really good about it afterwards. And if they jump up on your bed tonight, don't push them off. Wrap your arm around them and give a small prayer of thanks to God that he provided us with these loving, wonderful friends.
Readers here already know how good dogs are at protecting and (of course) loving us. For those of us who bear the burden of epilepsy, they can help there, too... From ABC news:
A dog may be man's best friend. But for 2 million Americans with epilepsy, that canine companion could also be a lifesaver.That's what a new study suggests, after documenting incidents in which the pets anticipated children's epileptic fits up to five hours before the seizure occurs. The research, published this week in the journal Neurology, found dogs demonstrated protective behaviors such as face licking, whining to alert others, and moving a child away from harm when suffering seizures near stair landings or furniture.
My apartment building as been owned by many. One previous owner had a dog, Brandy, who was left outside virtually all year long. None of them (me being the exception) paid her any notice or spent time with her. This owner was evil and wrong and hopefully will pay for it in hell.
Many folks leave their dogs chained-up outside all the time. In the cold, or more likely, the brutal heat we get here during July. I want to see a big-ass water dish right next to these nearly (not really but that's how I think of it) abandoned dogs.
Dehydration due to exercise and high temperature can lead to heat-related disorders, ranging from simple heat cramps to life-threatening heat stroke and even death. Canine athletes in the field, such as pheasant hunting, need to be encouraged to consume a carbohydrate-electrolyte drink during and after a hunt. Performance is impaired when canine athletes are dehydrated. The clinical staff at the K9-Quencher headquarters understands a dog's physical needs, and has formulated a dog drink suited specifically for them.
This story of an elderly, handi-capped woman living in a condo association in Florida has received a lot of press down there. Here's a summary from the Sun-Sentinel:
A doctor prescribed Cha Cha for Bernadette Casale and the 85-year-old isn't about to give up the Chihuahua just because she lives in a no-pet community, her lawyer said.
Faced with an effort by her condo association to evict her 21/2-pound pet, Casale filed a lawsuit Friday arguing federal and county fair-housing laws protect her right to keep the dog. In the suit, she claims she's a victim of housing discrimination and asks for more than $15,000 in damages.
Association president Chris Termini has quit his post, saying his life was threatened by outraged Casale supporters.
Of course, I would never move to a community that didn't allow pets, and some would say, she shouldn't have either and shouldn't be complaining. But I'll side with her and her dog. You knew that...
From the department of stupid ideas comes this AP story:
LINCOLN, Neb. - If city officials get their way, cats roaming the streets here freely may be a thing of the past. Attorneys are drafting a cat-at-large law aimed at eliminating strays by requiring that cats be on leashes when not on their owners' property. Officials have cited both health and annoyance concerns.No cases of rabies in cats has been reported in Lancaster County this year, but rabies in cats have been reported elsewhere in the state.
Cats are one of the most common, domestic transmitters of the deadly disease nationwide, said Jim Weverka, director of Animal Control.
A British company has entered the Arthritis treatment market for dogs with a new product. From ShareCast:
Phytopharm has launched a treatment for arthritis in dogs, its second new canine product this year.Zanthofen, the name of the new treatment, follows the launch of its eczema treatment in March. Phytopharm says arthritis is a serious problem for dogs as they get older, with 20% of animals over a year old affected. It claims the market in the UK alone is worth more than £10m with potential US sales over £40m.
It is beyond me how some people can be so cruel. From NBC5 TV (Dallas-Ft Worth):
Mary Anne Rider thought she heard a baby crying at an empty house. When she went with another neighbor to investigate, she found two dogs that were abandoned by the family who moved out of the house.The dogs were left outside with no food or water. One dog was locked in a cage, and the other tied up. Rider discovered the dogs two weeks ago. The family moved out about one month ago.
Dogs in the German state of Bavaria can now blend in with the local Alpine scenery wearing the same traditional attire worn by their owners -- lederhosen.Dogwear designer Hildegard Bergbauer, who also makes Tyrolean mountain hats and rainwear for canines, said the leather outfits were best suited for dachshunds and other small dogs but also looked good on poodles, spaniels and boxers.
"There are lederhosen for the dogs and Dirndls for the bitches," she said on Wednesday.
My thanks to all who submitted photos of their loved ones. We have a couple of returning camera "hogs" with new snaps. Click the image for a full-size version.
I'm not sure why, but her leg seems to be slowly healing. She's walking much better then she was. 20-years-old and she just won't quit!
I still have only a handfull of pictures for the June Pet Pourri. I'll be putting it together this Sunday so consider this a last call for you to send me a snap of your best friends...
I thought most dog owners already knew their dogs understood what they were saying... From My Way News:
As many a dog owner will attest, our furry friends are listening. Now, for the doubters, there is scientific proof they understand much of what they hear.German researchers have found a border collie named Rico who understands more than 200 words and can learn new ones as quickly as many children.
Patti Strand, an American Kennel Club board member, called the report "good news for those of us who talk to our dogs."
"Like parents of toddlers, we learned long ago the importance of spelling key words like bath, pill or vet when speaking in front of our dogs," Strand said. "Thanks to the researchers who've proven that people who talk to their dogs are cutting-edge communicators, not just a bunch of eccentrics."
The researchers found that Rico knows the names of dozens of play toys and can find the one called for by his owner. That is a vocabulary size about the same as apes, dolphins and parrots trained to understand words, the researchers say.
The New York Times has a story about dogs trained and used in prisons to socialize inmates spending a weekend a month with outside families that don't have time for a full-time dog. From the story, here's a quote:
But Ms. Stoga realized that the dogs needed to experience life beyond prison walls. There are no small children in prison, no traffic, no gourmet-store cheese displays within a tongue's lash."Just going home to a person's apartment is different," she explains. "Having rugs. Having sofas and chairs. Dishwashers, doorbells, coffee grinders. Everyday noises that aren't heard in prison."
Hmmm, thought Ms. Stoga, a Manhattan resident. Hmmm.
If only she knew of a large city where busy people might be willing to take a well-trained dog for a weekend - say, every month or so.
So began the prison puppy shuttle. Now, every Saturday morning, vans leave one or two correctional facilities - this week might be Bedford Hills in Westchester, next week might be Edna Mahan in Clinton, N.J. - and drive to Midtown, where trained volunteers wait to entertain dogs on furlough.
Over at Mickey's Musings, it's Carnival of the Dogs -- Week 5.
And here's the latest Carnival of the Cats.
Plenty of links to follow for your fill of writing about dogs and cats.
Nice little entry over at my friend Indigo's site on what you could learn from dogs. Just scroll down, or read it all since everything she writes is gold...
Remember that Far Side cartoon where the dog talk translator shows that all dog's barks simply mean, "heh!"? Anyway, supposedly there's software out there for your PC that translates what you're dog is saying to you. From a company called Prime Focus:
SmartDog is a PC-based application that enables you and the family to translate hundreds of different barks into English. Unlike other translators, SmartDog doesn't just randomly select a phrase that may not truly match what your dog is trying to say. With your help, SmartDog's ITS systematically learns to recognize your dog's specific vocals, making this a powerful, fun and entertaining tool. Via the included microphone, SmartDog allows you to easily capture and build your dog's vocabulary over time. Once a bark has been translated, the lip-sync dog speaks the English statement and is ready to match it the next time a dog utters that particular bark. It's your love and knowledge that helps SmartDog to truly recognize and understand your dog.SmartDog runs in the background on your PC, so as you're visiting with friends and family, surfing the web, or working on the computer, SmartDog recognizes when a specific bark occurs again. The lip-sync dog then tells you what your pooch is saying. For example, "There's a stranger at the door!" Anyone listening will know instantly what your dog is trying to say, helping to improve your pet's relationship with family, friends, and even strangers.
The New York Times has a nice story about the Canine Campanions for Independence graduation ceremony. Also, some stories about people who use these wonderful animals. Here's a quote:
J. P. LadyHawk Freeman, 53, a former lieutenant colonel in the Air Force, was medically retired in 1994 after learning she had multiple sclerosis. As her condition worsened, she applied for a dog and was teamed with Scarlett in February.The two lead an active life in Colorado Springs, dividing time among Ms. Freeman's duties as a substitute teacher, a Red Cross volunteer and a Congressional lobbyist and board member for the Paralyzed Veterans of America: Mountain States.
Though Scarlett performs essential tasks like turning on lights, picking up objects and handing a credit card to a cashier, Ms. Freeman says, she will also lay across her legs when they begin to spasm, shortening the intensity and duration of the attack. "She has not been trained to do that, she does it instinctively."
"When you have a challenge," Ms. Freeman said, "people look literally right across the top of you. Suddenly, with Scarlett, those who used to look across the across the top of me now see a live human being and a beautiful dog."
Apparently there is a boycott spreading against the Iams Pet Food Company. Let me start with this dBusiness News story:
Atlanta, Ga. --- Iams is looking for a new place to sell its products now that Atlanta-based Park Pet Supply has cleared its shelves of Iams pet food in protest of the company’s cruel—sometimes deadly—"nutritional" tests on dogs and cats. The shop has joined a growing number of pet-supply stores around the country in refusing to sell Iams products after learning from PETA about abhorrent conditions inside the company’s contract laboratories.
A PETA undercover investigation at one such laboratory revealed that at least 27 dogs were killed, while others died of untreated illnesses, despite Iams’ assurances to consumers that no animal in any Iams test would ever be deliberately killed. PETA’s investigator also found the following:* Dogs and cats confined to small, barren cages, some for up to six years
* Dogs whose vocal cords had been surgically cut out so that they couldn’t bark
* Dogs with untreated ear infections and rotten teeth, as well as injured paws from having to balance on metal-slatted floors and lie on cold concrete
* Workers’ reports of a live kitten who was washed down a drain
* Terrified, unsocialized animals cowering in their cages
* Kennels that were stifling in summer and near-freezing during winter
* Dogs force-fed vegetable oil through tubes inserted down their throats
If they would "pick their battles" and relate them in a calm, accurate manner, they would probably enjoy ten times the support they have now.
For nearly 10 months in 2002 and early 2003, a PETA investigator went undercover at an Iams contract testing laboratory and discovered a dark and sordid secret beneath the wholesome image of the dog- and cat-food manufacturer: dogs gone crazy from intense confinement to barren steel cages and cement cells, dogs left piled on a filthy paint-chipped floor after having chunks of muscle hacked from their thighs; dogs surgically debarked; horribly sick dogs and cats languishing in their cages, neglected and left to suffer with no veterinary care.
Early in 2003, an activist group initiated a sensational and misleading campaign to forcefully persuade Iams not to conduct nutritional studies. The Iams Company and its employees are passionate about cats and dogs with a deep commitment to their health and welfare, so we understand how important this issue is to you......
Nutritional Studies Enhance Pet Well-BeingEarly in 2003, an activist group initiated a sensational and misleading campaign to forcefully persuade Iams not to conduct nutritional studies. The Iams Company and its employees are passionate about cats and dogs with a deep commitment to their health and welfare, so we understand how important this issue is to you. We pledge complete openness on this subject so you can feel good about feeding your pets a proven product that is compassionately studied to help dogs and cats live longer and healthier lives.
The Iams mission is to enhance the well-being of dogs and cats by providing world class nutrition and pet care products. To accomplish this mission for our customers, we have to know dogs and cats better than anyone. We put that knowledge into Eukanuba and Iams products that feed an estimated 30 million pets throughout the world every day, and that's a responsibility we take very seriously.
We work with dogs and cats to prove that our pet foods provide true nutritional healthcare. One great example of this is the addition of our Iams Daily Dental Care to all Iams Dog Food formulas. By studying pets using this product, we were able to prove that it helps reduce tartar by up to 50 percent, a development that helps address a serious health problem among more than 85 percent of the world's dogs. These types of feeding studies are the same kind that a human would volunteer to join, and they are only conducted within the strict guidelines of a detailed, industry-leading research policy that we have urged the rest of the industry to adopt. At the same time, cats and dogs on the Iams team get plenty of exercise and socialization that includes interaction with other cats and dogs as well as people.
In addition, we continue to enhance our practices with the help of an independent seven-member International Animal Care Advisory Board that includes some of the world's leading experts on animal care, welfare and ethics. Executives from the ASPCA and the Humane Society of the United States are just two examples of the respected individuals who have full access to review any facility where Iams is working with pets. They will continue to provide us with valued outside advice. We believe there is no other qualified authority that can better judge how we care for the dogs and cats in our feeding studies.
Does anyone have thoughts on this?
It was an adoption party for dogs and cat in Arizona. From the Tucson Citizen:
A total of 156 dogs and cats were adopted during Midnight Muttness, a Pima Animal Care Center adoption party Friday, according to Michele Romero, enforcement support supervisor at the center."This sets a record for the largest number of animals adopted in the state of Arizona in one day," said the Web site for the county facility at 4000 N. Silverbell Road.
Here's one from the Corvallis Gazette-Times:
Dogs are man's best friend, though this week they're searchers' best relief.Tikva, a 4-year-old keeshond, has been trained to notice sad or depressed people and immediately run to their sides to offer some comfort. Tikva doesn't know 19-year-old Brooke Wilberger, but she knows her job description.
Frank, a 2-year-old wirehaired pointing griffon, and Pepper, also 2, are still training to respond to crisis situations, but they can see human emotions well enough to make a difference.
"These dogs have a sense that they're here for people," said Cindy Ehlers, Tikva's handler and a certified pet dog consultant.
Wilberger was last seen about 10 a.m. May 24 outside a southwest Corvallis apartment complex. Police believe her disappearance is an abduction.
As of Wednesday, more than 1,300 phone calls had been received on the tip line. Areas west and east of Corvallis were the focuses of searches Wednesday, with still nothing found that can be linked to the disappearance.
Several years ago, Ehlers organized People and Animals Who Serve, a Eugene-based organization that provides emotional support with specially trained animal/handler teams. Ehlers and Tikva helped people in New York following the Sept. 11 attacks. Ehlers took another dog to the Thurston High School shooting scene in Springfield in1998.
Dogs must have a good personality and temperament to be selected to be therapy dogs, as they're called. Many breeds meet those requirements. To move forward with crisis intervention training, dogs must be even more special, Ehlers said.
Peggy Peirson, Benton County's emergency services coordinator and a search organizer, said she felt first-hand the relief of being around the dogs. Benton County Search and Rescue has several additional dogs who work with its human searchers.
"That was about the best feeling I had all week," Peirson said her interaction. "It's a marvelous thing. If you see it from a distance, people are immediately drawn to them.
"They're wonderful, loving creatures who are wonderful to pet and talk to."
Hey, for you folks who live near western Maine or eastern N.H., tomorrow (Saturday, June 5th) there's an ice cream social just for your dogs in North Conway, N.H. From the Conway Daily Sun:
On Saturday, June 5, Four Your Paws Only in North Conway is hosting its second annual Doggie Ice cream Social.Last year, over 50 dogs and puppies of all shapes and sizes visited Four Your Paws Only to enjoy a complimentary ice cream made just for dogs. The ice cream itself is a safe, non-dairy product.
The party runs noon to 2 p.m. Each dog visiting receives free ice cream, free cookies, a free doggie bandana and a free nail trim. They must be on a leash and up to date on their vaccinations. For more information, call Four Your Paws Only at 356-PAWS or visit their web site.
So there you go, the weather is supposed to be quite nice, and here's a fun outing for your dog and you.
It's June, and I want to put up a Pet Pourrie. I only have three submissions. I'll wait until the weekend so the rest of you slackers can email in your pictures of your beloved pets. Get Crackin'.
I haven't been nearly active enough here the past few days but fortunately there are others who have...
Les Jones has his Friday Dog Pics up and they look like a nice bunch of fella's.
Say Uncle has advice on picking a puppy that you should read.
I've got a couple of days off (finally) and I'll be back tomorrow with much more good stuff for you nice people (I consider pet owners to be the nicest people in the world, aside from their pets of course...)