Why not include the dogs in the biggest sports day of the year? Invite your friends and family to bring their dogs to your Super Bowl celebration on Sunday.
For tips on including dogs in your Super Bowl party, visit DogChannel.com.
There’s even a recipe for doggie snacks!
The Super Bowl is this Sunday. Not a big football fan? Check out Puppy Bowl VIII instead.
This year’s Puppy Bowl entertainment includes a piggy pep squad that will cheer for the pups from the sidelines. Animal advocate Jill Rappaport will provide game analysis and commentary, and Meep the Bird (a cockatiel) will be tweeting during the game so you won’t miss a minute of Puppy Bowl action.
The half-time show will feature cats performing gymnastics, and during the game viewers can enjoy Puppy Bowl favorites such as the kiss cam, puppy cam, water bowl cam, and an aerial view of the field provided by the Ice Breakers Mints blimp flown by hamster pilots.
Tune in to Animal Planet 3 to 5 p.m EST to find out who is top dog in Puppy Bowl VIII.
From Humane Society of the United States:
The Humane Society of the United States and the United Egg Producers have come to a groundbreaking decision to jointly support legislation to improve the lives of 250 million laying hens in all 50 states.
For the animal welfare community, this means space and enrichment to allow hens to perform natural behaviors, for consumers this means greater transparency, and for the industry a uniform standard for operations.
Despite all these positive outcomes, cooperation seems to be a four letter word in Washington DC and there are those who would like to see this groundbreaking legislation fail; don’t let that happen!
Please contact your Congressman Todd Platts at 202-225-5836 and as that he co-sponsor H.R. 3798.
Thank you for taking this important step to protect millions of hens.
Sincerely,
Sarah Speed
Pennsylvania State Director, State Affairs
Humane Society of the United States
From Wayne Pacelle: A Humane Nation
The HSUS went undercover again to record what’s happening at factory farms, and today we released our latest findings. We announced them this morning at a press conference in Oklahoma City, not far from the pig production facilities we examined.
For four months while pregnant, pigs are confined in gestation crates―two-foot by seven-foot metal cages. They’re moved to another crate to give birth, after which they’re impregnated again and put back into a gestation crate to repeat the cycle. This happens again and again, until the animals either die in their crates or can no longer breed at a profitable rate and are sent to slaughter. Each animal may spend up to three years locked in a crate, virtually immobilized for nearly her entire life.
Living inside a cage barely larger than your body isn’t humane and it is not right. Yet this is precisely how the majority of pigs used for breeding by the U.S. pork industry are kept.
The HSUS put a spotlight on this abuse today by releasing the details of undercover investigations we recently conducted at Oklahoma pig breeding facilities owned by two of the nation’s largest pork producers: Seaboard Foods and Prestage Farms. Seaboard is the nation’s third-largest pork company (and a supplier to Walmart), and Prestage is the nation’s fifth-largest.
Seaboard’s own animal welfare advisor―the renowned Dr. Temple Grandin―is unequivocal on this issue: “We’ve got to treat animals right, and the gestation stalls have got to go.”
In addition to documenting the chronic mental anguish suffered by pigs confined in this extreme way, our investigation also found workers hitting pigs in their genitals and pulling their hair to move them from one crate to another; injured piglets with their hind legs duct-taped to their bodies; and more.
Because our findings are in stark contrast to claims Seaboard makes about animal welfare (such as that it uses “the most humane practices”), we’ve filed legal complaints with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Federal Trade Commission urging the agencies to put an end to Seaboard’s deceptive statements.
No one in the pig industry should be surprised that there’s a growing drumbeat of opposition to extreme confinement of sows in gestation crates. After all, eight U.S. states have passed laws to phase in bans on gestation crates. And just last month, Smithfield Foods (the nation’s largest pork producer) announced that it will stop using gestation crates in its company-owned breeding facilities by 2017. Cargill is 50 percent gestation crate-free.
Unfortunately, as our investigation reveals, Seaboard and Prestage have made little progress on the issue, and they keep sows in these crates every day of the year. Please encourage both companies to develop a plan for getting gestation crates out of their operations by contacting them today, and urge the companies that buy from these suppliers to stop doing so until the companies make changes.
The cats and kittens of the Humane League of Lancaster are loving the Stretch & Scratch posts that were donated for some of their cages, and would love to get more so all the kitties can have them.
This product is a great resource for shelter cats and kittens. It provides stress relief, exercise, promotes the usage of scratching posts, and because they are hung on the cage doors or walls, floor space is not used.
Many purrs of thanks for all those who have already generously donated Stretch & Scratchposts!
If you’d like to donate Stretch & Scratch posts for the shelter kitties, visit stretchandscratch.com and place an order.
Orders can be shipped to:
Humane League of Lancaster County
2195 Lincoln Highway East
Lancaster PA 17602
A black cat was found Jan. 27 on Estate Drive in Country Manor Estates, near Stoverstown and New Salem.The cat appears to be a young female, all black except for a pinkish-brown nose. She is front declawed and very friendly; went right into the house when the homeowner opened the door.
“I don’t think she had anything to eat for a long time and she’s very skinny,” writes the homeowner.
If you know where this cat belongs, call Lori at 717-225-1901 or email dazemeow@aol.com.
Puppy Bowl is back for its eighth consecutive year with an all-star, all-adorable cast that’s ready to mix it up on the grand gridiron of Animal Planet Stadium. New this year: Meep the Bird who will tweet all the action from inside the stadium and a piggy pep squad will “ham” it up on the sidelines and squeal with delight for their favorite pups.
Tune in Sunday, Feb. 5, beginning at 3 p.m. E/P.
For details, visit animal.discovery.com/tv/puppy-bowl.
The following cats are available for adoption at the York County SPCA, 3159 Susquehanna Trail North, Manchester Township (York County, PA). For details, call 717-764-6109 or visit www.ycspca.org. You can fill out an adoption application online.
Cannoli 73807 brown tabby male
CANNOLI – BETTER THAN PASTA! Gaze into Cannoli’s beautiful expressive eyes and fall in love! Cannoli is a handsome brown tabby with a white bib and little white feet. He has been at the shelter since September and is patiently waiting for someone to take him home fur-ever! Cannoli is a very friendly boy; he likes everyone including other cats. He’s also playful and would just love to have someone to play with, human or feline. He is very sweet and would be a wonderful addition to your family.
Toot 71369 brown tabby male
YOUNG ADULT MALE KITTY LOOKING FOR A LOVING HOME! Toot is a 2-yearold who was adopted, then returned to the shelter because he was dominant with the other kitty in the house. It takes time and patience when introducing a new kitty into your household, and you must go slowly. The shelter staff can give you some great tips to make the process easier. Toot is a curious soul; he likes to know everything that is going on. He’s also a lover who comes when you call him, and jumps up with you. He’d be a great companion, once he settles in. Toot was returned in June 2011 and is still looking for his purrfect match, maybe that could be you?
Princess 70472 brown tabby female
WOULD YOU SHARE YOUR CASTLE WITH A BEAUTIFUL PRINCESS? This princess has a lovely brown tabby and cat suit with orange tones. She came to the shelter in May 2011 because her owner had health problems and could no longer care for her. Princess did nothing wrong and she doesn’t know why she had to leave her home. She is 7 years old, which is sometimes considered a senior kitty. However, she has plenty of good years ahead of her and really needs a nice fur-ever home. Princess is very friendly, she comes to you when you call her, purrs to let you know she is glad to see you, and will even give you kitty kisses! Please, please consider Princess!
Mary 69960 brown tabby female
MARY, MARY, QUITE CONTRARY — NOT!! Miss Mary is definitely not contrary at all! She is a bit timid, and submissive around other cats. However, she loves people and comes right over when you call her. Mary has an unusual cat suit, a marbled brown and orange tabby. How can you resist these mesmerizing green eyes? Mary has been at the shelter since April 2011, living in a condo with other cats. Please don’t overlook her because she’s shy… Mary would be a devoted companion. She’s waiting for just the right person to come and adopt her — perhaps it’s you?
Cappy 63070 brown tabby
FOSTERED KITTY READY FOR A PERMANENT HOME! Capone, or “Cappy,” as he has become known at the shelter, was found in May 2010 on Zion View Road in East Manchester Township when he was a tiny young kitten. He has been, and is being, lovingly fostered by the SPCA staff and is now in search of a forever home to call his own. Cappy is outgoing and playful. He gets along with other cats and would just love to join your family! Won’t you please consider Cappy?
Looking for innovative ways to find shelter for Harrisburg City strays, the Central Pennsylvania Animal Alliance (CPAA) has sent one of the dogs to prison.
Checkers, a young male pit bull mix, was recently sentenced to 8 to 12 weeks of training at the State Correctional Institution in Camp Hill through CPAA’s Hounds of Prison Education (HOPE) program.
Launched in 2005, the HOPE program matches dogs with inmate handlers who help teach the dogs basic obedience skills and socialization, prepare them for their Canine Good Citizenship test and provide some much-needed TLC.
“We are thrilled to give Checkers the opportunity at a new life, and whomever chooses to adopt him will only benefit from the training and socialization skills he will learn as a HOPE dog,” said Zella Anderson, CPAA founder and director. “We are also very grateful to prison officials for supporting our efforts to help the city strays. It is great to see the community coming together to support these dogs.”
Checkers was found abandoned on City Island in early December. He was very cold, very thin and very hungry. CPAA provided him with medical care and a safe haven until he was sent to the “big house” last week to begin his training.
Once Checkers is a paroled, he will be anxious to go to his forever home. Applications to adopt Checkers can be submitted at any time during his training process. Adoptions through the HOPE program include a free training session with a member of HOPE’s training staff, a new leash and collar, the HOPE training manual, and free training and support for the rest of the dog’s life.
To follow Checkers’ progress, visit www.hopedogs.org/checkers.html. Follow the HOPE program on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/HOPEdogs.
CPAA is an all-volunteer, nonprofit alliance of individuals and local animal rescues working together to save the lives of dogs and cats through spay/neuter programs, adoptions, and public outreach and education. To learn more about CPAA, visit www.cpaa.info or email info@cpaa.info.
The Independent Film Channel’s comedy series “Portlandia,” starring Fred Armisen (Saturday Night Live) and Carrie Brownstein (Wild Flag, Sleater-Kinney), premiered its second season a couple weeks ago. The show airs at 10 p.m. (9 p.m. Central time) Fridays.
One of the sketches featured this season takes place at a dog park, as seen in this clip.