Now more than ever, you are needed to donate your old blankets, towels, and sheets to your local animal shelter. With financial cut-backs, repairs on shelters are often put off, so if it's drafty, the animals suffer. I know my shelter uses rags to stuff under doors. No kidding! Empty out those closets... this is your chance to get rid of stuff and do something useful!


Sunday, November 28, 2010

Where Do Stolen Pets Go?

It's sad but all very true.


Please do not leave your dog in the yard unattended. Two million pets a year get stolen and many meet bad ends. I am guilty of the second to last one, though I stopped doing it some time ago. I had to ask myself, what would I do if a car pulled up and grabbed my dog while I walked into a store, even if I can still see my dog and he can see me? I'd be helpless to do anything.


What You Can Do to Protect Your Pet


  • Keep your pet indoors, especially when you are not at home. Do not leave animals unattended in your yard; it only takes a minute for thieves to steal your pet. Do not let your pet roam free in the neighborhood.
  • Remember that indoor cats live longer, safer lives.
  • Keep companion animals safely inside your home when you are expecting repair personnel, meter readers, or guests.
  • Properly identify your pet with a collar and tag, microchip, and/or tattoo.
  • Know where your pet is at all times.
  • Maintain up-to-date licenses on your pets.
  • Keep recent photos and written descriptions of your companion animals on hand at all times.
  • Spay and neuter your pets. Fixed animals are less likely to stray from home.
  • Be aware of strangers in the neighborhood. Report anything unusual such as suspicious neighborhood activities or missing pets to the police and animal control.
  • Padlock your gate; outdoor dogs should be kept safely behind a locked gate.
  • Make sure that your animal is not visible from the street.
  • Keep your pet on a leash whenever you go outside.
  • Do not tie your pet outside a store to wait for you.
  • Never leave an animal unattended in a car.
Pay close attention to the section about re-homing your pet.


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Thursday, November 25, 2010

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving.



Remember those who have less, or nothing, and do something about it.

I am so thankful for the blessings in my life, not the least of which are my two little guys.

Here's a good link on what not to feed your dog this holiday season.

The most important foods to be aware of are:

• Rich, fatty foods like turkey skins, gravy, etc. can contribute to pancreatitis. This inflammation of the digestive gland is painful and can be a serious health issue, requiring emergency veterinary assistance.

• Small, soft bones (poultry especially), raw or cooked, can easily splinter and become lodged in a pet’s throat. Apart from choking, these splintered bones can cause an impaction in the intestines, which would require surgery. Larger bones may also splinter and cause internal injuries, as well as cause cracking in the teeth.

• Onions in holiday stuffing can lead to canine anemia if consumed by your dog.

• Grapes and raisin toxins can cause kidney failure in pets.

• Raw bread dough can result in vomiting, severe abdominal pain and bloating. If eaten, your pet’s body heat will make the dough rise and expand in their stomach, which can quickly turn into a life-threatening emergency, requiring surgery. Bloat is serious. Read this embedded link, please!

 
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Sunday, November 14, 2010

Spay Neuter Clinic in Yonkers, New York - Nov 21st

A good group is hosting this important event.


All stray cats, Pit Bulls and Pit Bull Mixes are FREE (woohoo!!!)

All "owned" cats are $25 and all non-pit "owned" dogs are $100

Pre-register to reserve a spot for you pet:
please call (718) 325-7162

or email spayday@verizon.net

(if you email, please put spay/neuter clinic in the subject line)





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Puppy Mill Dogs Often End Up As Laboratory Dogs

Did you know that? Of course, when they are no longer useful as volume breeders, that is.

Here is one group of little ones saved from that fate.
Thirty-eight small-breed dogs and puppies were rescued from puppy mills in Missouri, where they had been headed to an auction house where they would have been sent to laboratories or sold as "breeders."
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Saturday, November 13, 2010

Check Out The Good Work At the ASPCA

I love this group and am so grateful they exist.

Some highlights:
  • ASPCA Assists in Interstate Transfer of Puppy Mill Rescues
  • Three Finalists Announced for the ASPCA Community Engagement Award
  • Baltimore Mayor Signs Anti-Animal Abuse Advisory Commission into Law
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May The Force Be With You


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Friday, November 12, 2010

Need A Good Laugh?

Check out Steve's story about Widget The Wonder Beagle, over at Rolling Dog Ranch.

Worth the read.

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Staten Island Dog and Cat Adoption this Weekend

Saturday (Nov 13)

Dog and cat adoptions: Meet dogs and cats in the care of Pet Lovers United Together as One (P.L.U.T.O.) Rescue of Richmond County, at Petco in Charleston Shopping Center, 2752 Veterans Rd. West, noon to 3 p.m. View the animals on P.L.U.T.O.’s Web site at http://www.plutorescue.petfinder.org/.

Saturday and Sunday (Nov 13, 14)

Cat adoptions: Members of the Staten Island Council for Animal Welfare will be in the cat adoption room at Petsmart, 1520 Forest Ave., Port Richmond from 1 to 4 p.m. to help visitors get to know the cats available for adoption.

Sunday (Nov 13)

Dog adoptions: Dogs in the care of the Staten Island Council for Animal Welfare may be seen at Country Estate Kennels, 4838 Arthur Kill Rd., Charleston, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For additional information, phone Barbara at 718-356-2334. View the animals on SICAW’s Web site at http://www.sicaw.petfinder.org/.

Daily

Cat adoptions: Cats in the care of Feline Rescue of Staten Island may be seen at The Animal Pantry, 1801 Hylan Blvd. Dongan Hills, during store hours.

Cat adoptions: Cats in the care of the Staten Island Council for Animal Welfare and Animal Care and Control may be seen in the adoption room at Petsmart, 1520 Forest Ave., Port Richmond. View the animal’s on SICAW’s Web site at http://www.sicaw.petfinder.org/.

Cat adoptions: Cats in the care of Pet Lovers United Together as One (P.L.U.T.O.) Rescue of Richmond County at Merry Mutts Play-and-Stay, 90 Wakefield Ave., Travis, daily 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.



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Thursday, November 11, 2010

Honor a Veteran, Foster a Soldier's Pet

This Veteran's Day, please consider honoring a Veteran by fostering a current soldier's pet as he or she is deployed. It's a contribution that will save a life. Many soldiers end up having to leave their beloved pets at shelters -- which I cannot imagine -- due to being an upcoming deployment. Here is a great group that fosters the pets of soldiers, until they come home. 

Please contact Guardian Angels for Soldiers Pet if you can help out by fostering a beloved pet.




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Thursday, November 4, 2010

Two Losses at Rolling Dog Ranch

Earlier in the week, while scanning my favorite dog-related blogs and sites, I saw that Rolling Dog Ranch in New Hampshire (formerly of Beautiful Montana), lost one of their beloved dogs - Blind Helen.

You might know or remember that Rolling Dog Ranch takes in dogs that others have deemed disabled and are in danger of being put down due to their "handicap." Steve and Alayne are two of the biggest hearted people on this planet, and they left their corporate jobs to start the ranch ten years ago. At any one time there are some fifty dogs on the premises, as well as blind horses and some cats. They have a blog that keeps their fans up to date, and they were highlighted in the 25th anniversary issue of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary's magazine, as well as being covered in People magazine.

Today they announced that Callie, a beloved dachshund, also passed away. They and all their eaders are sad, but that saddess is somewhat tempered by the knowledge that Callie had five great years with Steve and Alayne, and all the other dogs at the ranch. On their blog, they posted the following video of Callie, which I have never seen, and which I have already played three times tonight while laughing out loud.  Dachshunds are the funniest people.

Enjoy! And if you want to laugh more than you cry, go to this site and see that these dogs are anything but handicapped.



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Wednesday, November 3, 2010

A Big Win, By A Hair

There was a question about whether this was going to pass and for a bit late last night it didn't look good. But pass it did and the many puppies and their Mothers in puppy mills now are protected by law.

For some background go here.

And please, do not buy dogs from pet stores. By and large, responsible breeders do not place their puppies in stores to be sold.  Puppy mills exist for one reason; to breed in volume. One person makes money, yet thousands deal with the aftermath of overpopulation, abuse, strays, shelters needing reform, and this doesn't even begin to deal with the degradation of the breed that is taking place when all the breeder cares about is whether the dog looks like Paris Hilton's latest fetish. Instead, go to a shelter and rescue a dog. You won't believe it took you so long. If you must have a specific breed, try a rescue, try calling around to shelters, or look on Petfinder.com. Please make contacting a private breeder your last resort.

When you read the below proposal, consider how basic some of the listed items are, and then you may recognize how terrible life is for dogs in puppy mills.

2010 Initiative Petitions Approved for Circulation in Missouri

Statutory Amendment to Chapter 273, Relating to Dog Breeders

2010-085, Version 1

THE PROPOSED STATUTE
Be it enacted by the people of the State of Missouri:

Section A. One new section is enacted, to be known as section 273.345, to read as follows:

273.345. 1. This section shall be known and may be cited as the ”Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act.”

2. The purpose of this Act is to prohibit the cruel and inhumane treatment of dogs in puppy mills by requiring large-scale dog breeding operations to provide each dog under their care with basic food and water, adequate shelter from the elements, necessary veterinary care, adequate space to turn around and stretch his or her limbs, and regular exercise.

3. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any person having custody or ownership of more than ten female covered dogs for the purpose of breeding those animals and selling any offspring for use as a pet shall provide each covered dog:

(1) Sufficient food and clean water;
(2) Necessary veterinary care;
(3) Sufficient housing, including protection from the elements;
(4) Sufficient space to turn and stretch freely, lie down, and fully extend his or her limbs;
(5) Regular exercise; and
(6) Adequate rest between breeding cycles.

4. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person may have custody of more than fifty covered dogs for the purpose of breeding those animals and selling any offspring for use as a pet.

5. For purposes of this section, and notwithstanding the provisions of section 273.325, the following terms have the following meanings:

(1) ”Covered dog” means any individual of the species of the domestic dog, Canis lupus familiaris, or resultant hybrids, that is over the age of six months and has intact sexual organs.
(2) ”Sufficient food and clean water” means access to appropriate nutritious food at least once a day sufficient to maintain good health; and continuous access to potable water that is not frozen, and is free of debris, feces, algae, and other contaminants.
(3) ”Necessary veterinary care” means, at minimum, examination at least once yearly by a licensed veterinarian; prompt treatment of any illness or injury by a licensed veterinarian; and, where needed, humane euthanasia by a licensed veterinarian using lawful techniques deemed “Acceptable” by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
(4) ”Sufficient housing, including protection from the elements” means constant and unfettered access to an indoor enclosure that has a solid floor; is not stacked or otherwise placed on top of or below another animal’s enclosure; is cleaned of waste at least once a day while the dog is outside the enclosure; and does not fall below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, or rise above 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
(5) ”Sufficient space to turn and stretch freely, lie down, and fully extend his or her limbs” means having:
(1) sufficient indoor space for each dog to turn in a complete circle without any impediment (including a tether);
(2) enough indoor space for each dog to lie down and fully extend his or her limbs and stretch freely without touching the side of an enclosure or another dog;
(3) at least one foot of headroom above the head of the tallest dog in the enclosure; and
(4) at least 12 square feet of indoor floor space per each dog up to 25 inches long; at least 20 square feet of indoor floor space per each dog between 25 and 35 inches long; and at least 30 square feet of indoor floor space per each dog for dogs 35 inches and longer (with the length of the dog measured from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail).
(6) ”Regular exercise” means constant and unfettered access to an outdoor exercise area that is composed of a solid, ground level surface with adequate drainage; provides some protection against sun, wind, rain, and snow; and provides each dog at least twice the square footage of the indoor floor space provided to that dog.
(7) ”Adequate rest between breeding cycles” means, at minimum, ensuring that dogs are not bred to produce more than two litters in any 18 month period.
(8) ”Person” means any individual, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, limited liability company, corporation, estate, trust, receiver, or syndicate.
(9) ”Pet” means any domesticated animal normally maintained in or near the household of the owner thereof.
(10) ”Retail pet store” means a person or retail establishment open to the public where dogs are bought, sold, exchanged, or offered for retail sale directly to the public to be kept as pets, but that does not engage in any breeding of dogs for the purpose of selling any offspring for use as a pet.

6. A person is guilty of the crime of puppy mill cruelty when he or she knowingly violates any provision of this section. The crime of puppy mill cruelty is a class C misdemeanor, unless the defendant has previously pled guilty to or been found guilty of a violation of this section, in which case each such violation is a class A misdemeanor. Each violation of this section shall constitute a separate offense. If any violation of this section meets the definition of animal abuse in section 578.012, the defendant may be charged and penalized under that section instead.

7. The provisions of this section are in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other state and federal laws protecting animal welfare. This section shall not be construed to limit any state law or regulation protecting the welfare of animals, nor shall anything in this section prevent a local governing body from adopting and enforcing its own animal welfare laws and regulations in addition to this section. This section shall not be construed to place any numerical limits on the number of dogs a person may own or control when such dogs are not used for breeding those animals and selling any offspring for use as a pet. This section shall not apply to a dog during examination, testing, operation, recuperation, or other individual treatment for veterinary purposes; during lawful scientific research; during transportation; during cleaning of a dog’s enclosure; during supervised outdoor exercise; or during any emergency that places a dog’s life in imminent danger. This section shall not apply to any retail pet store; animal shelter as defined in section 273.325; hobby or show breeders who have custody of no more than ten female covered dogs for the purpose of breeding those dogs and selling any offspring for use as a pet; or dog trainer who does not breed and sell any dogs for use as a pet. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit hunting or the ability to breed, raise, or sell hunting dogs.

8. If any provision of this section, or the application thereof to any person or circumstances, is held invalid or unconstitutional, that invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not affect other provisions or applications of this section that can be given effect without the invalid or unconstitutional provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this section are severable.

9. The provisions herewith shall become operative one year after passage of this Act.





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