Showing 9 posts from November 2008
I'm sure you know of Banfield, The Pet Hospital, they are a private veterinary practice with hospitals located in many communities across the country.
Along with medical care for pets, they are also committed to providing quality, loving and wise care to Pets and their owners. Since you visit this blog and it's all about pets, I thought you might be interested in hearing about a great program Banfield is currently offering.
I use and recommend Flint River Ranch a natural healthy dog food.
Along with medical care for pets, they are also committed to providing quality, loving and wise care to Pets and their owners. Since you visit this blog and it's all about pets, I thought you might be interested in hearing about a great program Banfield is currently offering.
Banfield has teamed up with the Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) for a national Pet food drive called Season of Suppers. Banfield hospitals across the nation are collecting Pet food at their locations and donating it to their local MOWAA program to feed Pets of senior citizens that receive meals. Isn't that great?!
Go to your local Banfield from now until December 31 to make your donation! Find your local Banfield here: Find Banfield.
With Thanksgiving coming up soon, I wanted to share this information with you so that we can help to make someone’s holiday extra special.
More info here: Banfield pet food drive
I use and recommend Flint River Ranch a natural healthy dog food.
Closing Down A Large Puppy Mill - Reports MN based Star Tribune
The barking is frantic and constant. The noise plus the smell, the chaos and the frantic desperation on every dog’s face are things I’ll never forget about Whispering Oaks Kennel.
By Kelli Ohrtman, Star Tribune Sales and Marketing
Last update: November 13, 2008 - 10:18 AM
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah (www.bestfriends.org) received an inquiry about Whispering Oaks earlier this summer, one of the many we get each year about various animal issues. Whispering Oaks has been breeding dogs for longer than I’ve been alive. Over the past 46 years, it has sold thousands of puppies. When we stepped onto the property in late August, all I could think was, this life is finally over for every single one of these dogs.
Cruelty charges and environmental violations
After checking every cage, the Deputy Sheriff had told the breeder what animal cruelty charges she would face, plus let her know about some serious Environmental Protection Agency violations. A creek near the kennel tested at a total coliform bacteria level of more than 80,000 per 100 milliliters. The allowable maximum in West Virginia is 200 per 100 milliliters. Faced with these charges, the breeder surrendered all her dogs and signed an agreement that she would never operate a breeding business again.
With that, we were given the go-ahead to remove the 900-plus breeding dogs from the property. We were told we had until 6:00 pm the following day to do it. Less than 24 hours.
The buildings were scattered across the top of a steep hill, behind a privacy fence posted with several “NO TRESPASSING” signs. The sound of dogs barking came from every direction. Whenever someone bought a puppy from Whispering Oaks, this was the part they never saw because the dogs from this kennel were sold over the internet, at a pet store or through a classified ad.
The isolation building
I entered the isolation building alone — a ramshackle old shed with the word “isolation” scrawled on the front door. Inside, it was oddly silent, and even hotter than it was outside. Mouse poop covered every surface, and the sink and counter were littered with bottles, cleaners and syringes, all dirty and in disarray. In a dim back room, empty rusted wire cages were stacked four high. A caramel-colored Pekingese sat in a cage by himself. He ran back and forth, dragging his back end. He was paralyzed. I knew the Sheriff had already tagged him. He’d be one of the first ones out.
Rows of chain link kennels
Down a steep embankment were rows of chain link kennels with cement floors. Dirty cocker spaniels ran in circles and threw themselves at the fence line or hid behind their water buckets. About fifty dogs lived in a series of free standing rabbit hutch-type cages patched together with sheet metal, bits of wire, graying wood scraps and plywood made slimy with urine and feces. Tiny yorkies, dachshunds, shih tzus and poodles had most likely been living in those wire-floored, outdoor hutches for years.
There were six large, long buildings that housed about a hundred dogs each. There were always at least three dogs to a cage — sometimes as many as five. It was mind-numbing to go from one building the next. To see the sheer number of dogs living out their lives in cages. No one should be allowed to have almost a thousand dogs for breeding purposes. But there is no law in West Virginia that disallows places like Whispering Oaks.
The nursery
The “nursery” was the worst building. It was where the mother dogs were moved when they were ready to give birth and nurse their puppies until they were 6-8 weeks old. Inside, there were rows of wire boxes. Some dogs nursed day-old puppies on dirty carpet squares.
The Whispering Oaks Kennel ad, found all over the internet before it was shut down, always stated that its puppies were, “Pre-spoiled. Ready to go!” I guess people have different ideas of what “spoiled” is. To me, it’s not living the first weeks of life in a wire-floored cage in a stinky dark building.
Finally free
By 6:00 the next evening, we had all 973 dogs and puppies out of Whispering Oaks and to a warehouse nearby. About 50 people cared for the dogs (a job previously done by two people at Whispering Oaks). Ten days later, rescue groups had taken all the dogs, including the Pekingese — now named Mr. Happy. The dogs have learned about grass under their feet instead of wire. They now live in homes instead of cages. And most importantly, their new families see them as beloved pets, not as furry little moneymakers. They are finally free.
Kelli Ohrtman is a freelance writer from Minneapolis who works at Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah. www.kelliohrtman.com
I use and recommend Flint River Ranch a natural healthy dog food.
The barking is frantic and constant. The noise plus the smell, the chaos and the frantic desperation on every dog’s face are things I’ll never forget about Whispering Oaks Kennel.
By Kelli Ohrtman, Star Tribune Sales and Marketing
Last update: November 13, 2008 - 10:18 AM
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah (www.bestfriends.org) received an inquiry about Whispering Oaks earlier this summer, one of the many we get each year about various animal issues. Whispering Oaks has been breeding dogs for longer than I’ve been alive. Over the past 46 years, it has sold thousands of puppies. When we stepped onto the property in late August, all I could think was, this life is finally over for every single one of these dogs.
Cruelty charges and environmental violations
After checking every cage, the Deputy Sheriff had told the breeder what animal cruelty charges she would face, plus let her know about some serious Environmental Protection Agency violations. A creek near the kennel tested at a total coliform bacteria level of more than 80,000 per 100 milliliters. The allowable maximum in West Virginia is 200 per 100 milliliters. Faced with these charges, the breeder surrendered all her dogs and signed an agreement that she would never operate a breeding business again.
With that, we were given the go-ahead to remove the 900-plus breeding dogs from the property. We were told we had until 6:00 pm the following day to do it. Less than 24 hours.
The buildings were scattered across the top of a steep hill, behind a privacy fence posted with several “NO TRESPASSING” signs. The sound of dogs barking came from every direction. Whenever someone bought a puppy from Whispering Oaks, this was the part they never saw because the dogs from this kennel were sold over the internet, at a pet store or through a classified ad.
The isolation building
I entered the isolation building alone — a ramshackle old shed with the word “isolation” scrawled on the front door. Inside, it was oddly silent, and even hotter than it was outside. Mouse poop covered every surface, and the sink and counter were littered with bottles, cleaners and syringes, all dirty and in disarray. In a dim back room, empty rusted wire cages were stacked four high. A caramel-colored Pekingese sat in a cage by himself. He ran back and forth, dragging his back end. He was paralyzed. I knew the Sheriff had already tagged him. He’d be one of the first ones out.
Rows of chain link kennels
Down a steep embankment were rows of chain link kennels with cement floors. Dirty cocker spaniels ran in circles and threw themselves at the fence line or hid behind their water buckets. About fifty dogs lived in a series of free standing rabbit hutch-type cages patched together with sheet metal, bits of wire, graying wood scraps and plywood made slimy with urine and feces. Tiny yorkies, dachshunds, shih tzus and poodles had most likely been living in those wire-floored, outdoor hutches for years.
There were six large, long buildings that housed about a hundred dogs each. There were always at least three dogs to a cage — sometimes as many as five. It was mind-numbing to go from one building the next. To see the sheer number of dogs living out their lives in cages. No one should be allowed to have almost a thousand dogs for breeding purposes. But there is no law in West Virginia that disallows places like Whispering Oaks.
The nursery
The “nursery” was the worst building. It was where the mother dogs were moved when they were ready to give birth and nurse their puppies until they were 6-8 weeks old. Inside, there were rows of wire boxes. Some dogs nursed day-old puppies on dirty carpet squares.
The Whispering Oaks Kennel ad, found all over the internet before it was shut down, always stated that its puppies were, “Pre-spoiled. Ready to go!” I guess people have different ideas of what “spoiled” is. To me, it’s not living the first weeks of life in a wire-floored cage in a stinky dark building.
Finally free
By 6:00 the next evening, we had all 973 dogs and puppies out of Whispering Oaks and to a warehouse nearby. About 50 people cared for the dogs (a job previously done by two people at Whispering Oaks). Ten days later, rescue groups had taken all the dogs, including the Pekingese — now named Mr. Happy. The dogs have learned about grass under their feet instead of wire. They now live in homes instead of cages. And most importantly, their new families see them as beloved pets, not as furry little moneymakers. They are finally free.
Kelli Ohrtman is a freelance writer from Minneapolis who works at Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah. www.kelliohrtman.com
I use and recommend Flint River Ranch a natural healthy dog food.
(Boston, MA) – Since 1997, the Companion Animal Protection Society has been investigating Kathy Bauck the owner and operator of Pick of the Litter in Minnesota, one of the largest national USDA licensed dog brokers that has sent thousands of dogs to pet shops all over the country. After a six week undercover video shot by a CAPS investigator, prosecutors brought nine counts of cruelty and four felony counts, against Ms. Bauck.
Boston’s ABC affiliate Sean Kelly reported Sunday November 9th 2008 that because of the undercover video shot by an investigator for the Companion Animal Protection Society, the owner of the puppy mill is now facing charges.
The undercover video shot by a CAPS investigator shows dogs that are sick, wounded and emaciated.
A spokesperson for the USDA said the agency found no violations at Bauck's farm during its last inspection in July 2008. However the agency is now reviewing all of the undercover video taken by the CAPS investigator and will determine whether or not further action is warranted.
If convicted for a trial set for January 2009, Kathy Bauck will lose her USDA license. For more information please visit www.caps-web.org.
About CAPS:
The Companion Animal Protection Society is the only national nonprofit dedicated exclusively to protecting companion animals, CAPS' foremost concern is the abuse and suffering of pet shop and puppy mill dogs. Founded in 1992, CAPS actively addresses this issue through investigations, education, media relations, legislative involvement, puppy mill dog rescues, consumer assistance, and pet shop employee relations. For more information please visit www.caps-web.org.
I use and recommend Flint River Ranch a natural healthy dog food.
Brrrr…it’s cold outside! At least it's getting cold here in Minnesota.
The following guidelines will help you protect your companion animals when the mercury dips.
1. Keep your cat inside. Outdoors, felines can freeze, become lost or be stolen, injured or killed.
2. 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.
3. 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 and has been Micro chipped.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
Source ASPCA
Dogs see in the dark a lot better than we do, says Paul Miller, clinical professor of comparative ophthalmology at University of Wisconsin-Madison.
“Dogs have evolved to see well in both bright and dim light, whereas humans do best in bright light. No one is quite sure how much better a dog sees in dim light, but I would suspect that dogs are not quite as good as cats,” which can see in light that’s six times dimmer than our lower limit. Dogs, he says, “can probably see in light five times dimmer than a human can see in.”
Dogs have many adaptations for low-light vision, Miller says. A larger pupil lets in more light. The center of the retina has more of the light-sensitive cells (rods), which work better in dim light than the color-detecting cones. The light-sensitive compounds in the retina respond to lower light levels. And the lens is located closer to the retina, making the image on the retina brighter.
But the canine’s biggest advantage is called the tapetum. This mirror-like structure in the back of the eye reflects light, giving the retina a second chance to register light that has entered the eye. “Although the tapetum improves vision in dim light, it also scatters some light, degrading the dog’s vision from the 20:20 that you and I normally see to about 20:80,” Miller says.
The tapetum also causes dog eyes to glow at night.
Source
I use and recommend Flint River Ranch a natural healthy dog food.
