January 2008 Archives

AnimalScan, the first Lehigh Valley-based MRI scanning facility for pets, has opened at 2026 Lehigh St., Easton, PA. The facility enables veterinarians to quickly and easily diagnose pets using advanced MRI imaging technology.

Diagnostic MRI centers for pets are a recent and growing trend in the United States. Rather than invasive surgery that requires a significant recovery time, pet owners can utilize MRI to help veterinarians quickly and painlessly diagnose specific conditions and treat them accordingly.

MRI, which uses high-power magnets to produce internal images of soft tissue, can be used to diagnose cancer, brain and spine problems, joint issues, and other conditions. AnimalScan uses the same state-of-the-art MRI equipment found in hospitals and healthcare facilities nationwide. Pets require a general anesthetic to complete the procedure. Depending on the condition, a single scan can last from 30 to 90 minutes.

A staff of trained veterinarians and certified radiologists oversee each scan and work directly with outside veterinarians to interpret the MRI image and arrive at a diagnosis.

For more information, visit AnimalScan.org or call 877-VET-MRIS (877-838-6747).

From Kathleen Rauhauser, York:

This is to update my letter. The commission has decided to NOT proceed with banning Nanday birds. But this is just one small victory.

I learned the Game Commission is paid for by the hunters, not taxpayers. Also someone who testified Sunday pointed out that banning a domesticated pet bird is NOT the role of the Game Commission but that of the Agricultural Commission.

What distressed me the most was to learn that animal rights people have been working to destroy instead of rehabilitate injured animals and the prediction of pets in the home will some day become extinct.

If you are a pet owner, or just someone who does not want the government in more of your life, then this is a topic you may want to watch with vigliance.

Editor's note: For more information on this subject, visit BirdChannel.com and Bird Board

From Kathleen Rauhauser, York:

Do you have an exotic pet bird? How would you feel if the Commonwealth of PA told you it had to be destroyed? Well, that could very well happen in the near future.

The PA Game Commission is considering a proposal to ban in Pennsylvania ALL Nanday Conures without "grandfathering in existing Nandays" which means if they were "grandfathered in," Nandays that are currently in PA could be exempt from the ban. So if this regulation is passed and you have a Nanday Conure, your beloved pet Nanday will have to be killed or escape to one of the 48 states where it is safe to be a Nanday Conure. As would Nandays in pet shops, living with people moving into PA, and ones in shelters.

When I first heard about this, I thought Nandays must be huge, dangerous birds that are attacking people and swooping down to carry away small children. But, upon looking into the matter, that is definitely NOT the case. What I learned was that Nandays are beautiful, intelligent little birds about the size of a large parakeet that can be taught to speak. They are the most popular type of conure kept as pets.

Why then do some want them exterminated? As far as I have been able to determine, the Game Commission is not giving any valid reason for the proposed ban.

Puppy Tails-Jorvik, 292 Dew Drop Road, York Township, is continuing “Harley’s Friends,” a benefit for the York County SPCA.

Those donating $5 at Puppy Tails for the SPCA will receive $5 off a $25 purchase. Some exceptions apply.

Puppy Tails will continue to be a drop-off location for donations to the SPCA.

Country Road Photography, 16 N. Main St., Shrewsbury, PA, is hosting "Penny for Your Thoughts," a photo contest to benefit Animal Rescue Inc. of New Freedom, PA, and Baltimore, MD.

To participate, send your favorite pet photos, along with $5 per photo, to Country Road Photography, 16 N. Main St., Shrewsbury, PA. You may also drop photos off at the photography shop. Make check payable to Country Road Photography.

Photos must be 4x6 prints; professional photos will not be accepted. Deadline for photo submissions is Feb. 29. Submitted photos may be picked up within 30 days after the event.

The photos will be displayed in March at Country Road Photography, where members of the community can vote for their favorite photos by dropping penny in the corresponding jars. Animal Rescue Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit, no-kill organization that provides shelter for life for stray and abaondoned animals, offers spay/neuter programs and operates a crisis intervention program that provides assistance to the elderly, sick and disabled.

For details on Animal Rescue, visit www.animalrescueinc.org.

For details on the photo contest, visit www.countryroadphotography.ifp3.com.

Progressive auto insurance now offers injury coverage for dogs or cats riding in the car.

The pet injury coverage comes complimentary with your collision coverage; there's no extra charge. If your dog or cat is injured in an accident while riding with you, Progressive will pay up to $500 to help you with veterinary bills and medicine.

Currently, Pet Injury coverage is not available in North Carolina, New Hampshire and New York.

As an added bonus for being a Progressive auto insurance customer, you can also receive a 5 percent discount on a pet insurance policy from Embrace and Pets Best pet insurance companies.

Find out more...

We call them the Vicktory Dogs -- 22 pit bulls seized from ex-NFL star Michael Vick and placed in special care at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.

Visit www.bestfriends.org/vickdogs to follow their progress as they start new lives at the nation's largest refuge for abused and abandoned animals.

Watch the video

BAD RAP is working with 10 of the dogs taken from Michael Vick's home last spring. All 47 dogs were held in shelters at first, but later were released to sanctuaries and rescue groups across the country.

For details, visit http://www.badrap.org/rescue/vick/index.cfm

See videos of some of the dogs, with comments from their foster caregivers:

Overview

Jonny Justice

Hector

Ernie

Uba

From Yahoo News:

CHICAGO -- Forget about the lost furnishings and finances, the most pitiful victims of the subprime mortgage crisis rocking the United States are the family pets.

Shelters across the country have seen sharp upticks in the number of people giving up their pets in recent months because they have been forced out of their homes.

And -- more tragically -- neighbors, police and foreclosure agents are finding increasing numbers of pets left to fend for themselves in abandoned homes.

"We're finding too many animals who have starved to death," said Stephanie Shain, director of outreach for the Human Society of the United States.

While some people dump their pets on the street, others go so far as to lock the animal in a closet where their cries for help are harder to hear, she said.

It can take weeks for an animal to starve to death and desperate scratch and bite marks are usually found on doors and windows.

Read the rest of the story

In recognition of National Adopt-A-Pet Month, U-Stor-It Self-Storage will donate $5 for every new storage rental during the month of February to the Heavenly Paws Animal Shelter in North Codorus Township.

Founded in 2004, Heavenly Paws is dedicated to helping disabled and homeless animals. Owner Angeline Behrendt is continuing to work toward her dreeam of providing a full-service facility to help control the stray cat population and provide a safe home for animals seeking adoption.

U-Stor-It is supporting Behrendt’s effort to help increase community awareness through her education and referral services.

For details, call U-Stor-It North at (717) 840-9369 or U-Stor-It South at (717) 741-2202, or visit www.heavenlypaws.wordpress.com.

If you think dogs can’t count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then giving Fido only two of them.

-- Phil Pastoret

Worried about what ingredients are in the dog food you buy? Now there is an alternative.

Crider's Canine Cafe makes homemade dog food with balanced protein, fat, and carbohydrates for your dog, using human grade ingredients. Made wtih ground beef, turkey or chicken, the chow is available by phone or e-mail order only, and is delivered frozen in 32, 48, or 64 ounce sizes.

Animal rescue organizations and foster-care givers get a 20 percent discount. Call (717) 214-7230 or e-mail clcrider@comcast.net for a price list.

After the hell of Michael Vick's fighting ring, some of his dogs were rescued by an Oakland, Calif.-based group, Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pit bulls, and placed with foster families with the hope that they would eventually be placed in adoptive homes.

View the slide show

From Reuters.com:

MIAMI -- A cat survived a plane trip halfway across the United States after accidentally ending up in a suitcase, a newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Seth Levy's suitcase, in which 10-month-old tabby Gracie Mae stowed away, was mistakenly picked up by the wrong person after a 2½-hour plane trip from Fort Lauderdale in Florida to Dallas-Fort Worth airport in Texas.

But the man who took the suitcase called the kitten's Florida home and spoke to Levy's wife, Kelly, of Palm Beach Gardens, and agreed to hold the cat until her husband could pick it up, the Sun-Sentinel newspaper said.

"Hi, you're not going to believe this, but I am calling from Fort Worth, Texas. And I accidentally picked up your husband's luggage, and when I opened the luggage a cat jumped out," Levy recalled the man telling her on the phone.

Watch the video

Dog breeder Elvin High has been found guilty of six summary counts of animal cruelty and one misdemeanor count. Now he is awaiting sentencing, and we need you to ask the judge to take his history of cruelty and kennel violations under consideration. Sally Jane Needs Your Help On January 19th, a Lancaster County jury found dog breeder Elvin High guilty of six summary counts of animal cruelty and one misdemeanor count. He is now awaiting sentencing.

Elvin High has a prior 2002 conviction of animal cruelty and, in May, the state Bureau of Dog Law revoked his kennel license for unsanitary conditions and poor maintenance.

Judge Louis J. Farina is expected to sentence High within the next 90 days. The sentencing investigation is likely to bring to light High's past history of neglect and abuse, and Assistant District Attorney Christine Wilson has requested that High be fined $1,000 and be prohibited from owning dogs for 3½ years, as allowed under the Pennsylvania Consolidated Cruelty Statutes.

Please contact Judge Farina and urge him to impose the maximum sentence for Elvin High's cruelty conviction, and request that he be prohibited from owning dogs for 3½ years. In addition, urge Judge Farina to issue forfeiture of the dogs held by the Humane League of Lancaster County.

Sally Jane, the French Bulldog whose charges were not upheld against High, has finally recuperated from the debilitating skin infection and overall poor condition which caused her removal from High's care. She has learned about sleeping on the sofa, begging for treats and cuddling with her doggie friends in her foster home.

Sally Jane deserves better than to be returned to the conditions in which she was found. Ask Judge Farina for her forfeiture to the Humane League of Lancaster County, so she can start her new life in a loving home.

Tell Judge Farina that Lancaster County takes animal cruelty charges seriously, and ask him to send a message to all of the breeders who think that animal cruelty and neglect are part of doing business.

Contact:
Hon. Louis J. Farina
President Judge
Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas
50 North Duke Street
Lancaster, PA 17603

From Reuters.com:

MINSK -- Border guards in Belarus said on Wednesday they had foiled an attempt to smuggle 277 parrots into the ex-Soviet state -- aboard a bicycle.

Spokesman Alexander Tishchenko said the smuggler abandoned his bicycle and cargo -- contained in six cages -- and fled back over the border into Ukraine when confronted late on Tuesday at the crossing point of Dubki.

"The cages were fixed to an ordinary bicycle. The parrots were stuffed inside like sardines, 40 to 50 to a cage," he said. "You can imagine what it was like. This was sheer barbarism. Those poor birds."

Two birds had died. The rest were kept overnight at the border post, then handed over to veterinary inspectors with the eventual aim of offering them to pet shops in the country.

From ASPCA:

With winter arriving full force in many parts of the country, your four-legged companions may be feeling the chill. The ASPCA offers some tips to help keep them safe and sound until warmer weather returns.

Keep your cat inside. Outdoors, felines can freeze, become lost or be stolen, injured or killed. Cats who are allowed to stray are exposed to infectious diseases, including rabies, from other cats, dogs and wildlife.

During the winter, outdoor cats sometimes sleep under the hoods of cars. When the motor is started, the cat can be injured or killed by the fan belt. If there are outdoor cats in your area, bang loudly on the car hood before starting the engine to give the cat a chance to escape.

Never let your dog off the leash on snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm—dogs can lose their scent and easily become lost. More dogs are lost during the winter than during any other season, so make sure yours always wears ID tags.

Thoroughly wipe off your dog's legs and stomach when he comes in out of the sleet, snow or ice. He can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking his paws, and his paw pads may also bleed from snow or encrusted ice.

Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. When you bathe your dog in the colder months, be sure to completely dry him before taking him out for a walk. Own a short-haired breed? Consider getting him a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly. For many dogs, this is regulation winter wear.

Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death.

Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs, and may be difficult to housebreak during the winter. If your puppy appears to be sensitive to the weather, you may opt to paper-train him inside. If your dog is sensitive to the cold due to age, illness or breed type, take him outdoors only to relieve himself.

Does your dog spend a lot of time engaged in outdoor activities? Increase his supply of food, particularly protein, to keep him — and his fur — in tip-top shape.

Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle, and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol. Visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center more information.

Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.

The Humane Society of Harford County in Fallston, MD, needs the following supplies:

For the dogs and puppies:

Toys & kongs (durable/washable)

Rawhides/pig ears/bones

Sweaters & bandanas

Exercise pens

The Humane Society of Harford County in Fallston, Md., has joined Hill's Pet Nutrition's Shelter Nutrition Partnership Program. Through this program, Hill's supplies HSHC with unlimited amounts of its Hill's Science Diet pet foods and only charges HSHC for shipping costs. HSHC will be standardizing its animals' diets by feeding only Hill's Science Diet brand wet and dry food.

The Shelter Nutrition Partnership helps shelter pets stay in their best health so they can be adopted quickly. Precisely balanced nutrition can make a dramatic difference for cats and dogs waiting to be adopted. Because the animals receive one brand of food, not only do they receive superior nutrition, but it also helps prevent intestinal problems and upset stomachs that occur from being fed many different donated brands.

Donations of food from the public must be from Hill's Pet Nutrition's product line; however, donations of cat and dog treats, dog biscuits, rawhides, chews, etc., can come from other brands. Any donations of food that are not Hill's brand will become part of HSHC's new food pantry to help families that are in need and having difficulty providing for a beloved pet.

Three Chihuahua puppies, born without front legs due to a genetic defect, now have what the North Shore Animal League calls “front-wheel drive.”

Venus, Carmen and Pablo, rescued by North Shore from a Virginia shelter, were equipped with two-wheeled carts that give them mobility.

The carts are fastened to the dogs with Velcro-held polar fleece padding for comfortable body support, and have lightweight foam wheels.

The carts were made by Eddie's Wheels, a company in the Berkshire Mountains village of Shelburne Falls, in western Massachusetts. The company designed the carts to be used for 10 minutes at a stretch. They eliminate some of the stress on their lower spines from walking on their hind legs and from the lack of proper posture, the animal welfare agency said.

Normal in every other way, the pups seem unaware of their disability and have accepted the challenge of their new carts much as they did the challenge to learn to balance themselves on their back legs, the League said.

The three now have a permanent home. They were adopted together by a North Shore Animal League veterinary technician.

Check out this extremely clever video from Alliance for Humane Action (make sure to turn the sound on).

Petside.com recently launched a "Pets with Disabilities" series. Check it out -- it contains helpful info on blind pets, deaf pets, and pets with other handicaps, as well as a video on pet rehabilitation, named "Road to Recovery."

The site also has lots of other videos, photos, blogs and news. The home page is at www.petside.com.

The Central PA Animal Alliance seeks help from the community to humanely reduce populations of free-roaming cats throughout our area. CPAA member organizations -- including Furry Friends Network, PAWS, Please Don’t Litter and Kitz and Katz Foundation -- need dedicated individuals to humanely trap cats, temporarily care for them before and after their spay/neuter appointments, and transport them to and from veterinarians or multi-cat clinics.

Most free-roaming domestic felines, commonly called “ferals,” are not truly wild but are instead strays, discarded pets or socialized neighborhood or barn cats. Through TNR, any free-roaming cat is spayed or neutered and returned to its original surroundings.

The average free-roaming unaltered female cat can produce up to three litters of four kittens each year. Cats processed through TNR programs cannot reproduce, leading to a decline in their population locally and regionally. In addition to preventing suffering and death among free-roaming and owned cats, TNR programs reduce stress on local animal shelters, lower taxpayer costs for animal control, and decrease wildlife predation.

Through TNR, cats are spayed or neutered, vaccinated for rabies, and ear-tipped or ear–punched to identify their status as humanely managed free-roaming cats. In some cases, other services are provided, such as parasite treatments, distemper vaccines and testing for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus.

In addition to volunteers, CPAA member organizations engaged in TNR need funding to increase the number of surgeries performed, caretakers with private property able to accept the occasional relocated animal, and a wide range of supplies such as humane traps, paper towels, and gasoline gift cards.

For details, call (717) 348-0395 or e-mail christine@cpaa.info. CPAA is a 501(c)(3)charitable organization committed to ending the killing of cats and dogs as the means of animal population control. For more information please visit www.cpaa.info.

On Dec.18, ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement Special Agent Adam Gankiewicz arrested New Yorker Sarah Favorite on charges of aggravated animal cruelty, a felony. If convicted, Favorite faces up to two years in jail and a $2,000 fine.

Favorite, a 25-year-old AIDS counselor, was arrested for beating her boyfriend’s cat at his East 86th Street apartment. The 17-year-old male Siamese, Yoda, suffered fractures, three broken legs and severe trauma from being beaten, throttled and slammed to the floor over a two-day period. Yoda was taken by his owner to a local animal hospital, where he was euthanized.

"Sadly, it is not at all unusual for pets to be used as pawns in domestic disputes,” said the ASPCA’s Joseph Pentangelo, Assistant Director, Humane Law Enforcement. “People will often harm a pet in order to intimidate or lash out at someone, because they know how much the pet is loved. This type of behavior is not restricted to specific classes or economic zones—it crosses all boundaries."

The ASPCA works with legislators across the country to enact state laws authorizing judges to issue protection orders for pets.

To learn how to report animal cruelty, visit the ASPCA's Report Cruelty section.

From the ASPCA:

Pennsylvania has long been known for allowing live pigeon shoots, events in which dazed pigeons are launched from boxes to be shot by contestants for prizes. Last year, one sportsmen’s club took this cruel concept even further—they tied tame turkeys by their feet to bales of hay and allowed people to shoot them with arrows from only a few yards away.

These events do not constitute hunting, and amount to no more than the mindless slaughter of restrained or trap-released animals for entertainment. Please help us put a stop to them in your home state by encouraging your representatives to vote in favor of Senate Bill 1150 and House Bill 2130, legislation that will ban the killing of animals launched from box traps or tied in place.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Click here to visit the ASPCA Advocacy Center to email a letter to your state representative and senator that asks for their support for SB 1150 and HB 2130.

Calling your legislators about these bills will send quite a powerful message. If you are not sure who represents you, click here to find contact info.

From Feedstuffs.com

(Jan. 7) -- The Food & Drug Administration announced in today's Federal Register its intention to schedule and hold a public meeting early in 2008 to obtain input from stakeholder groups, including but not limited to the Association of American Feed Control Officials, veterinary medical associations, animal health organizations and pet food manufacturers for the development of ingredient, processing and labeling standards to ensure the safety of pet food.

These standards were mandated by the FDA Amendments Act of 2007 (FDAAA). The date, time and location for the 2008 public meeting will be announced in a subsequent Federal Register notice at a later date.

A docket has been opened at FDA to receive any comments in advance of the public meeting. Submit written comments to the Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), FDA, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, Md. 20852. Submit electronic comments to either www.fda.gov/dockets/ecomments or www.regulations.gov.

For further information, contact Walter Osborne, Center for Veterinary Medicine (HFV-6), FDA, 7519 Standish Pl., Rockville, MD 20855, phone (240) 276-9024, fax (240)276-9101 or e-mail walter.osborne@fda.hhs.gov.

Celie needs transport to her New England Brittany Rescue-approved and screened foster home in North Sandwich, NH, from her temp foster in Kingsport, TN.

The local legs of the transport include one leg from Hagerstown, MD, to Mechanicsburg, PA (66 miles, 3:35 to 5:00 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12), and one from Mechanicsburg, PA, to Reading, PA (65 miles, 5:10 to 6:20 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12).

Celie is a 4-year-old spayed female. She is up-to-date on all shots, heartworm-negative, parasite-free and on preventative.

She is friendy with people and other dogs and will be traveling with health certificates, vet papers, leash and collar. She requires control at all times, as she has lots of Brittany energy.

Rescue responsible for Celie is New England Brittany Rescue, www.nebrittanyrescue.org.

10 minutes have been allowed between legs for transfer and potty breaks.

If you can help Celie get to safety, please e-mail jjcarol@wildblue.net. or call (218) 262-6304.

The National Geographic Channel’s new TV series, “Dogtown,” which features the work Best Friends Animal Society does for abused, neglected and abandoned dogs at the sanctuary in southern Utah, began Friday, Jan. 4.

In addition to meeting – and falling in love with – the dogs who’ve persevered through the worst that life can throw at them, viewers will get to know members of Best Friends’ dedicated Dogtown staff and witness the miracles they perform every day.

Episodes feature multiple story lines, with individual staff members helping each dog to face his or her own unique challenges.

National Geographic has produced three episodes, to air at 9 p.m. Fridays, Eastern time. If the series proves successful, additional episodes will be produced and broadcast.

Check your cable or satellite guide to find the National Geographic Channel.

Best Friends has also launched a Dogtown at Best Friends web page with fun features such as videos of your favorite Dogtown dogs and introductions to some of the staff members highlighted in the TV series. You can also download wallpaper for your desktop and send e-cards to your friends. Visit www.bestfriends.org/dogtown for details.

Tomorrow (Jan. 5) is National Bird Day. To help raise awareness about responsible bird caretaking, the ASPCA is offering the following poison prevention tips to keep your companion avian in the “sing” of things:

Birds are highly sensitive to inhalant fumes, so please avoid exposing your pet to fumes from self-cleaning ovens and overheated cookware, automobile exhaust, tobacco smoke, glues and paints, insecticidal fumigants, perfume and hair spray.

Keep all prescription and over-the-counter drugs out of beak's reach, preferably in closed cabinets. Pain killers, cold medicines, anticancer drugs, vitamins and diet pills are all examples of human medications that can be lethal to birds, even in small amounts.

Never allow your bird access to areas in which cleaning agents are being used or stored. Should your pet ingest them, he could suffer from a range of symptoms, depending on the substance, from mild stomach upset to severe burns of the tongue, mouth and crop.

Foods and beverages that could be dangerous to birds include:

-- avocados
-- chocolate in any form
-- coffee and tea
-- moldy or spoiled foods
-- onions and garlic
-- tomato leaves and stems
-- yeast dough

Visit the ASPCA'a bird care page to find out more.

For more information about National Bird Day, visit www.nationalbirdday.org.>[?

Editor's note: Melody is scheduled to compete this Saturday (Jan. 5) in the Arctic Air Games, at Bella Vista’s Indoor Training Center, 730 Mount Airy Road, Lewisberry, PA. The games begin at 11 a.m. Snow make-up date is Jan. 13. To view Melody’s schedule, awards and more photos, visit teammelody.com.

When Jeff and Tracy Love brought a puppy home from a West Manchester Mall pet shop a few years ago, they had no idea that their little black and white mixed boxer-Labrador pooch would become a superstar in a sport they’d never heard of.

But, as Jeff Love said when he looked back on it all, “you never know what life will bring.”

Since March, 2006, they have had to find room in their West Manchester Township home for about 70 awards from some 28 disc dog competitions their dog, Melody, has entered.

These events involve a dog catching thrown discs and returning them. Some competitions involve long 30- to 40-yard throws and catches; others use a series of shorter throws from different angles, often done as a set routine to musical accompaniment.