PET PRESS
The Alameda Sun reports in their FUR, FINS & FEATHERS section, 5/14/09, that Giardia is suspected in the dog parks of Alameda. Because of the unsanitary conditions at the parks, it's best to avoid them. Also, when boarding a pet at a kennel, be sure to investigate their efforts to sanitize cages, food bowls, common areas and runs between residents. Canine flu, heart worms and kennel cough are several illnesses that can be contracted. Another reason to use homecare and a qualified petsitter. Keep them home where they're happy and SAFE! Texas dog home after 8 years, answering new name May 6, 9:00 PM (ET) AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - A puppy that scampered away from her Texas home is all grown up now and mysteriously back after eight years. Owner Alison Murphy of Austin isn't sure where Dancer has been but says obedience school is the next stop for her newly recovered pet. KVUE-TV reports that the brown and white terrier mix was left last week at the Humane Society in New Braunfels, about 45 miles away. A musician found the dog in his neighborhood and after a few days took the animal to the Humane Society to see if she had a microchip implant. Dancer did. Murphy says Dancer's teeth "are in great shape" and the dog is "still the same old girl." Except the dog no longer recognizes her name. She instead responds to the name Fern. What's ugly, smells, kills dogs? Blue-green algae Sep 27, 1:15 PM (ET) WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) - Waterways across the upper Midwest are increasingly plagued with ugly, smelly blue-green algae that's killed dozens of dogs and sickened people. The algae is blooming in response to drought and fertilizer runoffs from farm fields. Aquatic biologists say it's a problem that now falls somewhere between a human health concern and a nuisance, but eventually it will lead to more human poisoning. While no one has died from the algae's toxins yet, many have been sickened. Experts say at least six lakes in western Wisconsin have been hit particularly hard. Blue-green algae is the No. 1 water quality issue in Oregon. The scum also has killed dozens of dogs - including at least four in Oregon, three in Wisconsin and one in Minnesota this summer. Cat in Ohio survives 26 days under fire debris Sep 10, 3:17 PM (ET) FRANKLIN, Ohio (AP) - A woman's pet cat has been found alive, buried beneath debris 26 days after an Ohio fire. Sandy LaPierre says she assumed 1-year-old Smoka had died from the Aug. 10 fire in Franklin, about 30 miles north of Cincinnati. The blaze broke out in a building housing a flower shop and LaPierre's second-floor apartment. A demolition company moved in to tear down what was left of the building the day after the fire. A crew from Stark Wrecking Co. came back Sept. 4 to clear away the rubble and found Smoka's head sticking out from under 16 feet of debris. LaPierre says her female cat lost a lot of weight and has been gobbling down food to make up for it. She says Smoka has some difficulty walking but otherwise seems OK. Australian dog found 9 years on, 1,200 miles away Jul 30, 4:32 PM (ET) By KRISTEN GELINEAU SYDNEY (AP) - Nine years after vanishing from outside her Australian family's home, Muffy the dog was found alive and well this month in another backyard - 1,200 miles away - officials said Thursday. Inspectors with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals were investigating a possible animal cruelty case at a home in the southern city of Melbourne two weeks ago when they found the fluffy white mutt sleeping outside on a scrap of cardboard, Victoria state RSPCA spokesman Tim Pilgrim said. A microchip in Muffy's neck identified her owners, and, after a few days of searching for a current phone number, officials tracked down Natalie Lampard, who hadn't seen Muffy since the pooch disappeared from her backyard in the eastern city of Brisbane nine years ago. "When the RSPCA described her, I told them her name; I knew immediately it was our Muffy," Lampard said. "It was totally out of the blue - after nine years, I thought she was long gone." The owners of the Melbourne house where Muffy was discovered said they found the dog about a year ago wandering along a street, Pilgrim said. But where had Muffy spent the previous eight years? And how did she get all the way to Melbourne - about 1,200 miles (2,000 kilometers) from Brisbane? "Nobody knows," Pilgrim said. "The mystery continues for old Muffy." Muffy was suffering from a severe allergic reaction to fleas and has been under treatment since the RSPCA removed her from the Melbourne home, Pilgrim said. The dog, which the Lampards originally adopted from an RSPCA shelter near Brisbane, is recovering well and should be in good enough shape to fly back home on Tuesday, Pilgrim said. Lampard got Muffy as a gift for her now 17-year-old daughter Chloe, and the two had been inseparable, Lampard said. "After the RSPCA called, I rang my daughter and asked her if she was sitting down, then told her they'd found Muffy," Lampard said. "She's over the moon and there'll be a few tears shed when they see each other again. But just how she got down to Melbourne I guess is a mystery that will never be answered." Australian Cat strays 2,400 miles, returns home Sep 16, 3:17 PM (ET) HOBART, Australia (AP) - A cat named Clyde was reunited with his owner on Wednesday after a mysterious three-year odyssey in which the long-haired Himalayan strayed 2,400 miles into the Australian Outback. Ashleigh Sullivan, 19, said she had given up hope of ever finding Clyde after he vanished when he was about one year old from her family home near Hobart city in Australia's island state of Tasmania. "I'm positive he remembers. He's not acting like he's suddenly appeared somewhere and is frantic," Sullivan said as she tearfully held her contented cat. A nurse found Clyde wandering at a hospital in the remote Queensland state town of Cloncurry and cared for him for four months before taking him to a local vet as she was leaving town and could not take the cat with her. The vet, Donna Weber, traced Clyde's owner from an identification microchip that was imbedded under the cat's skin. But no one has a clue how Clyde managed the 185-mile sea journey across the Bass Strait from Tasmania off mainland Australia's southeast coast, and then about more than 2,000 miles overland to Cloncurry, deep in the arid interior of the Outback. An animal transport company returned the cat to Hobart for free - flying most of the way. "It's pretty special to have him back." Sullivan said. "I'm overwhelmed." Man Saves Dog By Sucking Snake Venom From It's Nose, Then Pays Through The Nose CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - A man said he saved his dog's life after sucking venom from a rattlesnake bite out of the animal's nose. Bobby Jenkins said he began feeling ill after getting his dog Tank, to a veterinarian. He went to the hospital and received a dose of antivenin. In all, Jenkins needed four vials of antivenin at a cost of $3,500 per vial. Meanwhile, Jenkins said his dog's head swelled up to three times its normal size. Tank had been bitten after running under some equipment on the family ranch. The dog also received antivenin and both Jenkins and his dog have recovered. Oregon woman obsessed with rabbits arrested again Jun 17, 3:08 PM (ET) TIGARD, Ore. (AP) - Authorities said a woman obsessed with rabbits is in trouble again: In violation of probation terms, she was found holed up in a hotel room with more than a dozen rabbits. Officers said they had to break into the room Tuesday and found eight adults and half a dozen baby rabbits, one dead. The police say some were caged, some roaming. They arrested 47-year-old Miriam Sakewitz. She was arrested in 2007 with more than 250 rabbits in squalid conditions. In a plea deal, she was forbidden to have animals for five years. Before her conviction, police said, she broke into a holding area to retrieve her rabbits. Four months after the plea deal, she was sent to jail for three days for having a rabbit. Overboard dog comes home after 4 months on island Apr 7, 9:34 PM (ET) SYDNEY (AP) - A pet dog swept off a sailboat in choppy seas off Australia was found alive four months later on a remote island - and returned to her family, who'd thought she was dead. The 4-year-old blue-heeler, named Sophie Tucker, was captured by rangers last week on St. Bees Island in northern Queensland state, nearly 6 miles from where she was washed off the sailboat in November, owner Jan Griffith said. Rangers initially thought they'd captured a wild dog, but friends who heard about the canine contacted Griffith and suggested it might be Sophie. Last Tuesday, Griffith and her husband met the rangers' boat as it arrived back on the mainland and were shocked to find their long-lost pet on board. "We called the dog and she started whimpering and banging the cage and they let her out and she just about flattened us," Griffith told Monday's Daily Mercury newspaper. "She wriggled around like a mad thing." The dog had been spotted by several people on both St. Bees and nearby Keswick Island, leading Griffith to believe she swam back and forth between the two, which are separated by a narrow channel. Queensland wildlife official Steve Fisher said three rangers trapped Sophie in a cage, using dog food as bait. "The day Sophie was trapped she was nervous because she'd been separated from human contact," Fisher said. "But after a while she settled down." Sophie appeared to have survived by eating goats, as rangers found several baby goat carcasses around the island, Griffith said. This week, the plucky pup was back to her usual diet of ground meat and dog biscuits. Two East Bay Women Work Hard At Giving Homeless Cats New Homes And New Hope http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/video?id=6574353 Glass water bowl and sun start fire at Wash. home May 19, 9:00 PM (ET) BELLEVUE, Wash. (AP) - Fire officials in Washington state said a sunny day and a dog's glass water bowl combined to cause a blaze that charred the back of a home. Bellevue Fire Department Lt. Eric Keenan said investigators determined the glass bowl of water focused sunlight enough to act like a magnifying glass and start the fire on the home's wood deck Sunday. Investigators said there was no electrical wiring or other possible cause. The homeowners were away, but neighbors noticed the smoke and flames. The family dog was rescued. Damage is estimated at $215,000. Small dogs scare off cougar in Oregon
PHILOMATH, Ore. (AP) - A big cat picked the wrong little dogs for a fight. Chiquita the Chihuahua and Rosie the border terrier chased off a cougar that strayed into this small town near the Oregon State University campus. The dogs' owner, Loren Wingert, said Chiquita and Rosie are tough, but lucky. The cougar pinned down Rosie, who squealed, but Chiquita convinced the big cat to flee by barking ferociously. Wingert lives in a cul-de-sac atop a hill that backs up to a wooded area with deer trails. Warning signs about cougars are posted on the trails. Wingert said the dogs are fine. Michael Schaffer: America's Going To The Dogs (copy the Listen Now link and email to yourself for later)Listen Now [37 min 39 sec] add to playlist  Ryan Donnell Author Michael Schaffer owns a St. Bernard named Murphy (pictured here) and a cat named Amelia.Henry Holt And Company Fresh Air from WHYY, April 1, 2009 ·"Pet fashion shows, Chihuahua social networking, veterinary antidepressants [and] ambulance-chasing animal lawyers" are just the tip of what Philadelphia-based journalist Michael Schaffer says is a kind of pet-obsession iceberg in the lives of the American middle class. In his new book One Nation Under Dog, Schaffer takes a close look at the $43 billion industry that's grown to help enable that obsession, explaining how that booming market reflects our evolving ideas of consumerism, family, politics and domesticity. But One Nation Under Dog is no dry industry analysis: It's a book, as Schaffer explains on his Web site, that's meant "to say as much about how contemporary humans live as it does about the modern lives of dogs and cats." Schaffer has worked as a writer and an editor at the Washington City Paper, U.S. News and World Report and The Philadelphia Inquirer. Study: Dog Food Tastes Just Like PâtéHigh-End Dog Food, Suitably Blended, Isn't Much Different From Pork Liver Pâté, Working Paper SuggestsMay 1, 2009 | by Declan McCullagh(CBS) If the recession gets worse, we may be eating dog food for dinner. Don't laugh. It's apparently tastier than you'd expect. In the last few years, organic dog food made with human-grade free range meat and fresh vegetables has spiked in popularity among health-conscious shoppers. Some companies even claim, for instance, that "humans actually taste our foods, as part of our QC process!" What's surprising is that some of the new organic dog foods taste as good as (or as bad as) similar human foods, like liverwurst and duck liver mousse, according to a working paper circulated on Friday by the American Association of Wine Economists. The paper is titled "Can People Distinguish Pâté from Dog Food?" and it concluded that, well, they can't. These enterprising researchers separately put organic Canned Turkey & Chicken Formula for Puppies/Active Dogs, duck liver mousse, pork liver pâté, liverwurst, and spam in a food processor. The resulting confection was ladled into five different bowls and garnished with parsley. The volunteers in this culinary experiment didn't exactly prefer the dog food, but they couldn't identify it either. "Only 3 of 18 subjects correctly identified sample C as the dog food," the paper says. The authors conclude that: "Although human beings do not enjoy eating dog food, they are also not able to distinguish its flavor profile from other meat-based products that are intended for human consumption." The lesson? Presentation matters. Expectations matter. And, perhaps, that organic dog food is better than you think. Which is why blind taste tests are so useful; Trader Joe's $2-or-$3-a-bottle Chardonnay won a blind test in California against formidable competition. Another working paper published by the wine economists' group found that, as you might expect, people give higher ratings to wine if they're told it's more expensive. Dogs May Look Guilty When Caught, But Feel No Remorse Experiment Shows The look of "guilt" many dog owners say their pet gets after disobeying or committing other transgressions is entirely due to their owner's behavior and has nothing to do with any feelings of remorse on the part of the animal, a researcher says. Alexandra Horowitz of Barnard College's psychology department set up an experiment in which owners were asked to leave the room after ordering their dog not not to eat a tasty treat. During the master's absence, the treat was either removed or given to the dog to eat. In some of the tests, the owner was misinformed and told his pet had disobeyed when the treat had actually been removed. Horowitz found that the "guilty look" of dipping the head and slinking away occurred whether or not they actually disobeyed, and was entirely due to the scolding. Some dogs who had not eaten the treat actually looked "more guilty" than the animals that disobeyed, Horowitz writes in the journal Behavioral Processes. Provided by Earth Environment Service, Universal press Syndicate. By Declan McCullagh Pets Responsible For Thousands of In-home Accidents Each Year Pets cause an average of 86,000 accidents every year by getting underfoot or behind and tripping their owners. Pet toys are also a big tripping hazard and owners are warned to keep toys picked up and put away. It is suggested that owners train their dogs and cats to stay from being underfoot if possible. If you have an elderly parent or friends with pets, remind them to be very cautious when walking around the house and especially the kitchen area to avoid being tripped by an eager begger who thinks that it's feeding time. Nightime, when the lights are out can make that trip to the bathroom especially dangerous. NC woman hopes to cash in after dog's deposit Mar 18, 9:40 PM (ET) APEX, N.C. (AP) - A North Carolina family's dog didn't eat the children's homework, he ate mom's money. Kelley Davis said she had an extra $400 in cash to deposit after working extra hours as a physical therapist. She told the News & Observer of Raleigh that on Friday she planned to deposit the money, but it wasn't in her pocket. She remembered leaving it in the bedroom and it occurred to her that the family's 2-year-old greater Swiss mountain dog, Augie, might have eaten it. Davis, 42, said when she took Augie for a walk Saturday, she found parts of three $100 bills and five $20s in his leavings. She washed them with a garden hose and hopes to find enough pieces to exchange them for cash. A professor at the North Carolina State University Veterinary School said the money shouldn't hurt the dog. 9 lives per gallon? Cat stuck in SUV engine is OK Oct 20, 3:27 PM (ET) NEW YORK (AP) - A cat who rode two miles through New York City while stuck in the engine compartment of an SUV has lived to meow about it. Wilfred Rodriguez heard rattling while he was driving Monday in the Bronx. After he parked, he spotted a bushy tail and a paw sticking out of the SUV's front end. His initial reaction: "Oh my God! I killed a cat." He was relieved when the paw moved. Detectives with the New York Police Department's Emergency Service Unit freed the grease-covered kitty by removing the SUV's battery and other vehicle parts. Richard Gentles of New York City Animal Care & Control says the tan-and-white stray appears to be in good physical shape. Rescued black labrador retriever pays it forward WENATCHEE, Wash. (AP) - Blewett the black Labrador retriever knows what it's like to need a little help. For nearly a week last March, the lost dog barked for attention on Washington's Blewett Pass, capturing the hearts of dozens of travelers who fed him and tried unsuccessfully to catch him. After he was finally captured, Jay and Janie Smith of Plain, Wash., gave him a home. Jay Smith said his wife were walking Blewett on a trail above the Wenatchee River on Monday when the dog started barking and raced down the steep bank to sniff an animal near the river's edge. Janie Smith thought it was a dead bear, but it was an old, arthritic black dog - and it was alive. The dog's tags showed it to be Pepper, an 11-year-old dog lost since Saturday. Carol Hurt, who lives nearby, had been baby-sitting Pepper for the weekend. She thinks the old dog was swept away by the river while taking a drink. She calls the rescue "pretty heartwarming."
Parrot Awarded For Yelling About Choking Baby DENVER (AP) - A parrot that alerted his owner about a baby who was choking was recognized as a hero by the Red Cross. Willie the parrot was given the Animal Lifesaver Award during the "Breakfast of Champions" event attended by Gov. Bill Ritter and Mayor John Hickenlooper. Willie received the award Friday for his actions in November, when he and owner Megan Howard were baby-sitting a toddler. Willie repeatedly yelled "Mama, baby" when Howard went to the bathroom and the toddler started to choke on her breakfast. Howard saved the baby by performing the Heimlich maneuver but she said Willie "is the real hero. Dangers outside, boredom inside/Can we do better for our cats?By Christie Keith, Special to SF Gate Tuesday, March 17, 2009 (SF Gate) It's dangerous to let cats go outside. They risk being hit by cars and attacked by dogs. They can pick up fleasand infectious diseases, or eat something toxic. And they can be targeted by neighbors who don't like their vegetable gardens being turned intolitter boxes or bird lovers who object to cats using their bird-friendly backyards as a hunting ground. Those dangers are so undeniable that virtually all cat experts recommendcats be kept indoors at all times. But can a life spent in the house really be as healthy and happy as one spent playing in the fresh air andsunshine? Whatever the experts say, most cat owners would answer no. After all, they know how they'd feel if they never went outdoors. How could they getenough social and mental engagement, or enough exercise? What about just plain old fresh air? Children are encouraged to spend time outdoors playing. Dogs go to the park and the beach. Why, they ask, would it be any different for cats? It's an uncomfortable question for indoor cat advocates, because there's no truthful response other than, "It's not." No matter how rich an environment might be from a human point of view, most homes and apartments are deadly boring to cats. Humans live on one level, the floor, but cats need to climb, perch, leap and play on multiple levels. And since pet cats have high rates of obesity and related diseases like diabetes, anything that encourages overeating and a sedentary lifestyle is clearly a problem. But modern housecats have little to do all day, especially when the active kitten years are over, except sleep and eat. The sterility of indoor life leaves many loving cat owners conflicted over what's best for their pets. They doubt that a life spent indoors is healthy, and when faced with a pet who wants to go outside or seems bored and inactive, they wonder if safety is really as important as keeping the cat active, healthy and happy. This is where the dialogue between cat expert and cat owner breaks down. No matter how many ways you restate the safety argument, until you find some way to deal with the argument about health and happiness you're not going to address the real reason many caring cat owners finally open the door. But here's my question: Can our cats have it all? Is there a way we can keep them safe and our neighbors -- and birds -- happy, while still giving our cats the benefits of going outside? The answer is a qualified yes. Qualified because one of the reasons cats are such popular pets is that most people see them as effortless. Unlike dogs, the majority of cats fit into our homes with little or no training. Someone who has cats precisely because they're easy may not be willing to make the necessary accommodations to keep cats both healthy and safe. But if you already keep your cats indoors and want to give them the benefits of fresh air, sunshine and outdoor exercise, or you'd love to keep your cat safely in the house but think you're depriving her of something valuable by doing so, yes, you really can have it all -- as long as you're willing to work at it. Cat enclosures and fences There's probably no better way to give your cats safe exposure to the outdoors than building the feline equivalent of an aviary. I've had enclosures for my cats at three different houses now, and my last one was a three-story dream structure that included a tunnel under my deck leading out to a rambling, hilly enclosure overlooking a stream. Not only did they get plenty of sunshine and exercise, but they were able to indulge their lifelong interest in ornithology without endangering themselves or the birds. Enclosures don't have to be elaborate, though. They can be as simple as a wood and wire box attached to a sunny window or a shed-sized structure built off a window or door on the rear of a home. Because cats are agile, even city dwellers can usually build some kind of outdoor enclosure for them. Plant some grass and a little catnip, put a couple of cat trees out there, hang a bird-feeder in a nearby tree, and you've just improved the quality of your cat's life more than anything since the invention of catnip. Enclosures can be custom-built, like mine, or purchased as kits sold through many pet product catalogues and at home improvement and pet supply stores. If you want your cats to have even more room, consider a fencing system specifically designed to confine them in your yard or to a portion of your property. These systems are designed so that cats can't climb out of the yard, and some come with attachments that stop cats from climbing trees, too. Redwood City certified cat behavior consultant Marilyn Krieger is a big fan of the Purrfect Fence, used to create the outdoor "Catio" at the Oakland Animal Shelter. Friends of mine and some of Krieger's clients have also kept their cats safely in their yards with the Cat Fence-In system and the Affordable Cat Fence. Leash walking a cat If you're among the most ambitious of cat owners, you might want to train your cat to walk on a leash. Jean Miller, who co-authored "Walk Your Cat: The Complete Guide," says it's not as difficult as most people think -- and a lot more fun. "Most people who want to walk their cats are interested in giving them a more natural lifestyle, but don't want them to roam," she told me. "Walks on a leash are the next step in the feline-human relationship as we move into more crowded and dangerous environments with our cats. However, Krieger cautioned that leash walking isn't appropriate for most cats. "Cats are easily startled," she said. "Dogs bark, cars backfire. You can't always control the environment." She said that one cat she was fostering was taken out for a leash walk by a volunteer, and spooked when a dog barked. The cat jumped on and bit the person walking her, and then slipped her harness. Miller said that areas with loose dogs and lots of loud noises aren't good choices for leash walking; quiet parklands, the grounds of your apartment complex, or even your own property, are. "You also need to be alert when walking your cat, and ready to react appropriately if the cat is scared by a loud noise or anything else she perceives as a threat," she said. "Above all, be patient and pay attention to your cat's body language," Miller said. "And remember that leash walking is supposed to be fun for both you and the cat." Making the switch If you've decided to try -- or try again -- to keep your cats indoors, it's best to have a plan for making life indoors as pleasant as possible. It's easiest, of course, to start with a kitten that has never been outdoors. But cats that are used to going outdoors can become happy indoor cats, especially if you make the transition during the winter months, Krieger said. "The trick any time of year is to make the inside more fun and interesting than the outside," she told me. "Make sure you have plenty of things the cat can climb on and hide, like cat trees, tunnels and bags. And yes, you can use regular grocery bags, as long as you cut the handles off first."She suggests you can play with your cats in ways that imitate the hunt, like using fishing pole-style "cat dancer" toys. "You should also give them treat balls, little toys you fill with kibble or treats that they have to knock around to get to the food," she said. And because cats love running water, she suggests cat owners check out one of the many faucet and fountain systems designed for indoor cats."If you're starting with a kitten, make sure you're ready for the kitten's energy," Krieger warned. "Sometimes it's better to get a buddy for a cat,so if you're adopting a kitten, consider adopting two." Christie Keith is a contributing editor for Universal Press Syndicate's Pet Connection and past director of the Pet Care Forum on America Online. She lives in San Francisco. Man Puts Cat In Pot Bong To Calm It Down Mar 3, 7:23 PM (ET) By ERIC OLSON OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - A Nebraska man who stuffed his girlfriend's cat into a makeshift bong and filled it with marijuana smoke says he had done it previously and that it calmed the cat down. Acea Schomaker of Lincoln said Tuesday that he never intended to hurt the cat, Shadow. He says the cat would bite and scratch him and his girlfriend but he didn't want to discipline it by swatting or squirting water at it. Schomaker says he put the cat in the bong three times over the last week and it made the cat "act like a stoned person." He says he knows now that what he did was wrong. The unemployed 20-year-old and his girlfriend each were ticketed for misdemeanor animal cruelty. Cat Saves Elderly Owner From Smokey Fire Mar 3, 4:11 PM (ET) BREMERTON, Wash. (AP) - A Bremerton Fire Department official said an elderly woman has her cat to thank for saving her life in a smoky house fire. The woman's smoke alarm was going off as smoke billowed through the vents from her home heater but she slept through it. Her cat jumped up on the bed and pawed at her face until she woke up. Says Fire Lt. Charlie Rinard, "If the cat hadn't woken her up, I'm pretty sure she wouldn't have made it." Rinard said the woman showed signs of smoke inhalation after the fire early Saturday but both she and her cat are OK. The fire was contained inside the heater and firefighters cleared the smoke from the home. Pet store expects fish shipment, but gets corpse Mar 10, 6:07 PM (ET) PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Employees of a Philadelphia pet store expecting to get a shipment of tropical fish and salt water by air cargo ended up getting a human body instead. Mark Arabia owns the Pets Plus store in Northeast Philadelphia where the mix-up was discovered Tuesday. He said he eventually learned that the body he got was that of a 65-year-old San Diego-area man who died of early onset Alzheimer's Disease. The body was supposed to go to a laboratory in Allentown so samples could be taken for medical research. US Airways released a statement saying the problem was caused by a "verbal miscommunication between a delivery driver and the cargo representative." The airline said it's deeply sorry. Arabia said he believes the fish died as a result. Overweight Pet Problem http://wcco.com/video?id=56235@wcco.dayport.com
Furry Companions Healthy For Body And Mind Reporting- D. Douda Among researchers' findings: Gazing at a collection of birds or into a fish tank lowers blood pressure; children and adults respond better to virtually all forms of physical and behavioral therapy with dogs present. Want to make fewer trips to the doctor? Get a pet. Want your infant to grow up with fewer allergies and a lower risk of asthma? Get a pet. Want to ease stress? You guessed it. There is a wealth of research showing how our furry friends are good medicine. It is no mystery to pet lovers. "They know you're having a bad day and just sit next to you and it really just creates a calmness," said Nancy Eickoff, owner of an 11-year-old cat named Nala. While pets can bring a healthier state of mind, science has proven they contribute to a healthier body, as well. "It's the human-animal bond," said Veterinarian R.K. Anderson, who helped to found CENSHARE at the University of Minnesota more than 30 years ago. CENSHARE (Center to Study Human Animal Relationships and Environments) is a center dedicated to supporting and collecting research on the many positive effects pets have on people. Anderson believes "It's [how animals are] non-judgmental and always being there for you." Anderson is also a founding member of the Delta Society. That organization partners with volunteers to take therapy dogs into the community. Among researchers' findings: Gazing at a collection of birds or into a fish tank lowers blood pressure; children and adults respond better to virtually all forms of physical and behavioral therapy with dogs present. Researchers also found that people who own pets reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease. One possible reason, according to fellow researcher and veterinarian Margaret Ducksberry, is a pet's ability to make us feel connected. "Loneliness, by itself, would be a stress. Stress, we know, interferes with the immune system," said Ducksberry. "We know stress is a risk factor for cardiac disease." Having scientific proof that having pets do make people healthier has lead to some changes in the law. One change has allowed pets to live at and to visit nursing homes and senior centers. Research shows the presence of a dog also increases social interaction among two-legged creatures. "I think they are very much a catalyst for human-human interactions," said Ducksberry.
When your dog says "Woof," you hear an eager, "Let's take a walk." And your cat has a certain entitled meow that you know means, "Put more food in my bowl - now!" You are not alone. Sixty-seven percent of pet owners say they understand their animals' barks, purrs and other sounds, according to an Associated Press-Petside.com poll released Wednesday. In a finding many parents of teenagers might envy, 62 percent ofowners say that when they speak, their pets get the message. "I speak to her on limited subjects, and she does the same with me," said Stephen King, 63, a retired chemist from Kempner, Texas, who says he understands his dog Dagny's repertoire of barks signaling anger, eagerness, contentment and other feelings. "Common sense works 98 percent of the time." King is among the one-fifth of owners who said in the poll that they and their pets understand each other's sounds completely. The survey, conducted by GfK, shows that owners' affection for their pets goes well beyond speaking their language. Even as a recession forces millions of families to curtail their budgets, just 1 in 7 owners said they've been forced to trim spending on their pets in the past year. And more than 4 in 10 said they still plan to buy holiday gifts for their animals - about the same as last year. "They look to me for food and shelter just like my children do," said Charlotte Phillips, 40, of Abingdon, Va., a mother of two whose family is cutting spending overall but not for its two dogs and five cats. "They can't fend for themselves." Even so, these tough economic times are taking a toll. Of the 15 percent of owners who say they're having to spend less on their pets, about a quarter say they've contemplated giving up the animal. Half or more say they've seriously considered cheaper food, fewer toys and delaying routine veterinary visits. "It would have killed me," said Krystal Kantala, 27, of Bonneau, S.C., who contemplated giving away one of her two cats when her husband lost his job. They kept it after they took out a loan and he found a new job. More than 7 in 10 women but fewer than 6 in 10 men say they and their pets understand each other's efforts at communication. Older and lower-income people are especially likely to say they and their pets get the message. On the flip side, men are twice as likely as women to say they and their pets are clueless about what each is saying to the other. All told, those folks include fewer than 1 in 10 pet owners. Dog owners prevail over cat people when it comes to claims of successfully speaking to their animals: Three in 10 dog owners think their pets are baffled when they speak to them, compared with nearly half of catowners who say the same. When it comes to communicating in the other direction, cat owners do better. Twenty-five percent say they completely understand those meows, compared with 16 percent of dog owners who claim to be totally fluent in barks. Jane Starring, 48, of Barrington, R.I., says she and her family are confounded by their 8-year-old cat, Flannel, who often chases people about the house meowing. "We're not sure we're making much progress understanding him," said Starring. "I don't know what his point is." William Miller, a professor of veterinary medicine and medical director of Cornell University's Companion Animal Hospital, says it's not unusual for many owners and pets to understand some of each other's speech. He said animals and people learn to communicate over time by associating certain sounds with actions, such as a particular bark when a dog wants to go outside or the soothing tone many people use when petting their cats. "It's not like you'll sit down and have a U.N. conversation with them" spoken in different languages, Miller said. The AP-Petside.com poll was conducted by GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media from Dec. 3-8 and involved landline and cell phone interviews with 1,129 randomly chosen pet owners. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.
When new parents start hating their pets By Christie Keith, Special to SF Gate Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Like millions of children over many thousands of years, my brothers and I were raised with pets. Even though we didn't have a full-time maid, pooper scooper service or on-staff feline behaviorist, I can't remember a single time either of my parents expressed hatred for our family pets or found the problems of juggling kids and animals too much to endure. So what's up with this epidemic of new parents deciding they can't stand their pets anymore? I don't just mean deciding they're too much work or aren't good with kids; I mean hating them. As in this excerpt from an article in Time Magazine: "(T)he moment my child entered my world, there was no more room in it for my dog ... this is the hate that dare not speak its name." Or this, from an online column entitled "Take my Pets, Please": "We had been warned that the pets would get the shaft once the baby became the focal point of our existence. What I was not prepared for was the depth of my hatred for beings I once claimed to love, and how quickly the switch happened." Dog lovers don't exactly respond with sympathy to parents who not only want to give the boot to the family pets in favor of their new baby, but profess to hate them. New moms and dads get lectures on animal cruelty, dog training and responsible pet ownership, all of which can be summed up as some form of "suck it up." Your dog's driving you crazy? Is that his fault? Of course not, they say; it's yours, for failing to plan or to train or whatever magic preventive or curative approach a particular dog lover favors. But I think both sides are missing the point. When I wrote about similarly stressed-out families who had to give up their pets because they were losing their homes to a foreclosure, no one I interviewed expressed any kind of blame, resentment or anger toward their dogs and cats. People give up their pets for a variety of reasons good and bad, but turning it into a huge hate-filled psychodrama seems to be a phenomenon exclusive to new parents. Something else is going on, and I think it's this: a lot of people today don't have simple animal sense. They don't know what's natural and normal for a cat or dog, and they don't have an innate awareness of what constitutes healthy, appropriate behavior between humans and companion animals. Lacking that innate sense, many new dog owners turn their pets into "substitute children" or "practice babies" instead of letting them be what they are: dogs. I'm not saying that they "love them too much," or even that they spoil them. I'm saying that the picture they have in their minds of who and what their dogs are is wrong, and that's the real cause of both their dogs' behavior problems and the cycle of resentment, anger, and blame that leads to all these hysterical "I hate my dog" screeds. Now, I've had pets my entire life, but I've never had kids of my own. I'm also neither a human psychologist nor a dog behaviorist. So I asked Penny Scott-Fox, a British-born single mom, dog trainer and canine behavior expert with a long list of credentials what she thought was behind all this vitriol aimed at dogs by new parents. "I think that people mollycoddle their dogs too much," she said bluntly. "That's why when the baby comes, things go wrong." Appalled at the growing number of new parents giving up their pets unnecessarily, Scott-Fox wrote a book about it: "And Baby Makes Four: A Trimester-by-Trimester Guide to a Baby-Friendly Dog" (TFH, 2007). At first glance it's simply a highly practical guide for expectant parents on training the family dog to behave appropriately around the new baby. But as every dog trainer knows, it's easy to teach a dog to heel, come or sit; teaching a person who lacks animal sense how to appropriately shape his dog's behavior is quite a bit more challenging. "Baby Makes Four" might look like a dog training book for new parents, and it is, but it's also an exercise in re-programming how the humans in the family see and interact with their animals. "I didn't want to let the cat out of the bag and say, 'I'm just manipulating you to do this so that you don't have a meltdown and throw your dog out of the house,' but actually that's what I'm trying to do," Scott-Fox admitted. The problem, she says, goes far beyond a simple training issue. In fact, many of these nervous new "pet parents" are obsessive consumers of dog training services and advice. If anything, their puppy was over-scheduled for canine enrichment activities and didn't get to spend enough time just hanging out and being a family dog. And therein lies both her diagnosis and prescription: new parents need to let their dogs be dogs. Many parents react to perfectly normal, harmless canine behavior -- even simple curiosity about the new baby -- as a dangerous sign of aggression. In her work as an adoption and behavior counselor at the Pasadena Humane Society as well as in her private practice, Scott-Fox has seen it happen again and again. "I had a case like that just this morning," she told me. "And quite frankly, they simply need to decide to manage it and then it will be fine. The dog doesn't need to go. The dog doesn't need to be euthanized. It's not the end of the world." Other parents come completely unhinged when their pets expect or even demand the very things they've been trained by their owners to expect, like constant attention or immediate response to a desire for food, play or a walk. In "And Baby Makes Four," Scott-Fox recommends simple steps to change the dog's expectations and behavior, but she also thinks human expectations need to change. "As long as there's no serious safety issue, we need to realize no dog is going to be perfect, she said. Perhaps the most valuable thing Scott-Fox gives new parents in her book is permission to say no to their dogs. "Someone will call me and say the dogs are constantly in their face while they're trying to nurse or deal with the baby, and they don't know what to do," she said. "I tell them, they don't have to be with you 24/7; why don't you just put them in the kitchen or a crate, and both of you take a little break? There has to be some time when you just take time to look after your baby and not worry about the dogs." Scott-Fox even advises parents not to let the dogs sleep in the bedroom, not because she's against the practice in general -- her dogs sleep in her bedroom -- but because it prevents a whole lot of drama. "When I was pregnant, I was highly emotional and slightly weird," she said. "I found that it's easier to take the dogs out the bedroom, so that if you're having an emotional breakdown that you're not going to affect your relationship with your dog." Of course prevention is the best cure, and if you find yourself turning your dog into a "practice baby," take a step back. Is this a healthy relationship? Is it sustainable? If it's too late for prevention and there's a new baby on the way, pick up Scott-Fox's book and change how you live with your dog. Learn to see him as just that -- a dog -- and to set the kind of boundaries that will make life better for you both. Don't get trapped in the guilt-resentment-hatred cycle that ends up with the dog in the garage or the shelter and the parents on the Internet explaining that they had no choice. Resources: "And Baby Makes Four: A Trimester-by-Trimester Guide to a Baby-Friendly Dog" by Penny Scott-Fox, DPDT. THF Publications, 2007. Dogs and Storks, a program that prepares families with dogs for life with a baby. "Living with Kids and Dogs É Without Losing Your Mind: A Parent's Guide to Controlling the Chaos" by Colleen Pelar, DPDT. C&R Publishing, 2005. "Child-Proofing Your Dog: A Complete Guide to Preparing Your Dog for the Children in your Life" by Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson. Warner Books, 1994. Christie Keith is a contributing editor for Universal Press Syndicate's Pet Connection and past director of the Pet Care Forum on America Online. She lives in San Francisco. Poll: Pet owners willing to go mouth-to-muzzle Oct 21, 4:53 PM (ET) By SUE MANNING LOS ANGELES - Most pet owners would leap into action for an injured pet, even if it meant risking dog breath by going mouth-to-snout. Fifty-eight percent of pet owners - 63 percent of dog owners and 53 percent of cat owners - would be at least somewhat likely to perform CPR on their pet in the event of a medical emergency, according to an Associated Press-Petside.com poll. Tammy Parks, 52, of Amherst, Mass., has taken a pet first aid class and wouldn't hesitate to help her 15-year-old mixed breed terriers, Lucy and Julia, or her white fronted Amazon parrot Koko. "It's not rocket science. The mechanics are the same as humans," said Parks, who was an American Red Cross first aid trainer. "Size is the biggest difference." In general, though, the poll found few pet owners are prepared to handle pet emergencies. Just 20 percent of pet owners have a pet first aid kit with medical supplies like bandages and ointment in their home, and 54 percent do not have a fire evacuation plan for their pets. And the survey revealed frequent reporting of dangerous practices that can lead to accidents and injuries. For example, a quarter of pet owners, including 30 percent of dog owners and 22 percent of cat owners, give their pets bones from table scraps, at least sometimes. Sixty-two percent of dog owners and a third of cat owners let their pets ride in their cars unrestrained, rather than placing them in a special pet carrier. And 11 percent of pet owners sometimes leave their pets unattended in a car or truck. Still, most pet owners said they would go the extra mile to rescue their pets. Women were more likely to say they would perform CPR on their pets than men, 65 percent to 50 percent, the poll showed. Nearly every decision made at the Parks house is made with the safety of the animals in mind. "We don't use pesticide on the lawn. We don't buy food with pesticide on it. No sugar, no salt, just natural nuts and fruits. No Teflon in the house, no smoking, no air fresheners, no aerosol products," she said, explaining that any one of those things could kill their 7-year-old bird. Barbara Klingman of Houma, La., said she changed things after her Chihuahua, Honeychild, ate something that forced an emergency trip to the vet. "I make sure she doesn't have anything she shouldn't have," Klingman said of the 7-pound, 4-year-old dog. The poll showed 7 percent of those polled have pets who have eaten something poisonous and 16 percent have pets who have had allergic reactions to something. There were also threats from pets themselves: 17 percent reported having a pet bitten or attacked by another animal, 9 percent said a pet had bitten or attacked another animal and 5 percent said a pet had bitten or attacked another person. The poll revealed that 41 percent have experienced at least one pet safety emergency that required an emergency trip to a vet and 11 percent have had a pet hit by a car. Edwin Griffin Jr., 61, of Plano, Texas, remembers all too well 25 years ago when his white German shepherd ran in front of a car. The dog broke both hips and his jaw, lost an eye and was in intensive care at an animal hospital for two weeks. "I had just lost my wife the month before. My children were 1 and 3. I mortgaged the car to save my dog because of the impact it would have had on the children," he said. The dog lived six more years. Now Buddy, Griffin's 3-year-old golden retriever, has a first aid kit, a carbon monoxide alarm in the room where he sleeps and several designated escape routes for emergencies. But it's Buddy who's come to the rescue of humans in his home, especially Griffin's father-in-law, who is in the final stages of pancreatic cancer. "My wife's father gets a great deal of relief from being able to touch and rub Buddy. Buddy just stands beside him. He knows that is his role," Griffin said. Pet safety and CPR training is offered by the American Red Cross and many private companies. "Vets are the experts but they are rarely on scene when something happens to our pets," said Denise Fleck, who runs Sunny-Dog Ink in Burbank and has written pet safety textbooks, appeared on a number of TV shows and taught classes throughout Southern California. Disaster plans are important, too, especially in areas like Southern California that are at the mercy of earthquakes and fires. "If people value their pets like a family member, they should know how to do CPR, just like they would for their kids. In disasters, pets get hurt and run into debris and all kinds of things," said Mark Solnick, director of emergency preparedness and response for the Red Cross of Santa Monica. Laurie Sullivan, 47, of Littlerock, Calif., has three dogs (Elsa Ann, Hope and Schotzie), an Arabian horse (Cary) and 19 cats. She has tended to a wide variety of emergencies over the years. Lucky for her menagerie, she was a certified emergency medical technician and a hospital worker. She was there to help when one of her dogs choked on a small bone, when one of her cats had a hard time delivering eight kittens, when a neighbor lost the tip of her finger to a horse and for countless everyday cuts, scrapes and bruises. She has never had to use CPR on an animal, but she knows how to. However, "it would really be hard to give CPR to a horse," she laughed. This poll was conducted Oct. 1-5, 2009, by GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media. It involved telephone interviews on landline and cell phones with 1,166 pet owners nationwide, and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points for all pet owners. Holiday Safety Tips for Pet OwnersThe holiday season is often the most joyous time of the year. However, joy can turn to tragedy if simple precautions are not taken to ensure the safety of your pets. “Pets are curious by nature,” said Dr. Steve Hansen, a board-certified veterinary toxicologist and senior vice president of The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Hansen, whose department also includes the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center, asks pet parents to be mindful of their pets this holiday season. “Thinking about your home from your pet’s point of view will help ensure everyone has happy and safe holidays,” Hansen said. “Pets have the ability to get into everything, especially during the holidays when there is more to see and do.” Simple holiday traditions, such as trimming the tree and decorating the house, can pose potential problems to pets if not monitored carefully. Dr. Leon Robbins, doctor of veterinary medicine at Grandview Animal Hospital near Winston-Salem, NC, warned that much like toddlers, pets are attracted to bright lights, shining ornaments and dangling tinsel. “Many holiday decorations are hazardous to pets,” said Robbins. “Try to use big, pet-friendly ornaments and keep the ornaments, as well as the lights, out of a pet’s reach.” The most common pet-related emergency that occurs over the holidays is the consumption of human pharmaceuticals. Dr. Hansen said that many people keep their medications in daily pill minders, their luggage or even leave it lying out when staying with family or friends. “All prescription and non-prescription drugs should be safely stored,” Hansen said. “Even in small doses, human medications can be potentially lethal to pets.” Food is the culprit for the second most common holiday pet emergency. According to Dr. Robbins, pets should be kept on a normal diet, as it will alleviate digestive problems. “If there is food left over, don’t give it to your pet as a holiday treat,” said Robbins. “Instead give baby carrots, green beans or broccoli as treats.” To ensure a happy and safe holiday season for you and your pets, Cat Daddy recommends that pet owners be cautious of the following: Dark and baker’s chocolate: While milk chocolate is not poisonous, it will cause your pet to have an upset stomach. On the other hand, dark chocolate and baker’s chocolate contain high levels of theobromine and caffeine. Animals are extremely sensitive to both and ingesting either type of chocolate could be fatal. Xylitol: This sugar substitute causes a dog’s blood sugar to drop quickly. This poisoning can be treated, but causes liver failure if not treated properly. Macadamia nuts: Dogs experience severe weakness in their back legs, appearing paralyzed, after ingesting macadamia nuts. Dogs usually recover from this condition within three days. Avocados: Avocados pose a serious threat to birds. Avocados cause respiratory distress in birds, causing fluid to build up in their lungs. Bread Dough: When bread dough is ingested it continues to rise, causing an intestinal blockage. If your pet ingests any potentially harmful product, call your vet or a local emergency animal hospital immediately. Dogs Understand Fairness, Get Jealous, Study Finds by Nell Greenfieldboyce - 12/9/08 Dogs have an intuitive understanding of fair play and become resentful if they feel that another dog is getting a better deal, a new study has found. The study, in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, looked at how dogs react when a buddy is rewarded for the same trick in an unequal way. Friederike Range, a researcher at the University of Vienna in Austria, and her colleagues did a series of experiments with dogs who knew how to respond to the command "give the paw," or shake. The dogs were normally happy to repeatedly give the paw, whether they got a reward or not. But that changed if they saw that another dog was being rewarded with a piece of food, while they received nothing. "We found that the dogs hesitated significantly longer when obeying the command to give the paw," the researchers write. The unrewarded dogs eventually stopped cooperating. Scientists have long known that humans pay close attention to inequity. Even little children are quick to yell "Not fair!" But researchers always assumed that animals didn't share this trait. "The argument was that this is a uniquely human phenomenon," says Frans de Waal, a professor of psychology at Emory University in Atlanta and a researcher at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center. That changed in 2003 when he and a colleague named Sarah Brosnan did a study on monkeys. Monkeys had to hand a small rock to researchers to get a piece of food in return. Monkeys were happy to do this to get a piece of cucumber. But the monkeys would suddenly act insulted to be offered cucumber if they saw that another monkey was getting a more delicious reward, a grape, for doing the same job. "The one who got cucumber became very agitated, threw out the food, threw out the rock that we exchanged with them, and at some point just stopped performing," says de Waal. In that experiment, the monkeys considered the fairness of two different types of payment. But when Range and her colleagues did a similar study with their trained dogs, testing to see if dogs would become upset if they only got dark bread when other dogs received sausage, they found that dogs did not make that kind of subtle distinction. As long as the dogs got some kind of food payment, even if it wasn't the yummiest kind, the animals would play along. Dogs, like monkeys, live in cooperative societies, so de Waal was not surprised that they would have also some sense of fairness. He expects other animals do as well. For example, he says, lions hunt cooperatively, and he "would predict that lions would be sensitive to who has done what and what do they get for it." CATS NEED PROTEIN, NOT CARBS In the revelatory new book by Elizabeth Hodgkins, D.V.M., Esq.,breeder and researcher, she has uncovered disturbing evidence that we are slowly killing our cats with diets of dry cat foods. Her research started while trying to find the best diet for her beloved cat, Punkin, who was diabetic and needed insulin injections. She decided to research what both small and large cats eat in the wild and found that they all eat high protein diets and are obligatory carnivores, unlike dogs that are omnivores, having been domesticated for so long. Cats must eat meat to survive and thrive. Cats in the wild only eat 0 to 2% carbohydrates in their diet, primarily from carcasses of their kills. Our modern house cats are still considered wild animals and have the same nutritional needs. When Dr. Hodgkins switched her cat to an all meat diet, she was shocked that Punkin’s insulin needs dropped after just two days. After a few more weeks, insulin was no longer needed at all. Punkin also started loosing weight and developed a new sheen to her fur. In later research on many other diabetic cats, she found that this was true over 90% of the time. Skin problems also disappeared, as did incidents of kidney disease, the main killer of cats. Corn and grain-based foods, like those used to fatten cattle, were the nutritional villains in the feline diet. Cats by nature don’t drink much water, and carbs dehydrate them more than they can compensate for. In her book, Your Cat: Simple New Secrets To A Longer, Stronger Life, she details other discoveries that she’s made in her research. While we expect our furry companions to have a lifespan of twelve to eighteen years, especially if kept inside, she claims that, if fed a high protein diet, could live twenty to thirty years. She says that the semi-moist foods are the worst, being the equivalent of junk food for cats. Also, to be wary of, are company claims for foods for different life-stages of your pet. A kitten’s dietary needs are no different than that of a mature animal. And, contrary to common belief, bites from our dinner plates are not taboo for kittens and cats, just as long as they aren’t high in carbs. The doctor now cooks all of her own food for her cats. In the book, she teaches you how to read labels, what to look for and what to avoid in canned foods. Dr. Hodgkins, also an attorney, worked for years in the legal department for Hills, one of the largest pet food manufacturer’s, and was privy to the actuarial files on the health of millions of American pets. Because there is no FDA oversight on animal foods, the companies can make any claims that they want regarding their formulations, and, they have a strong lobbying group and financial muscle to keep it that way. This book, recently released in paperback, is a must read for all cat lovers.
Barry Wolfe Owner, Cat Daddy Pet Sitting Service Alameda Special to the Alameda Sun 11/20/08 Are Dog Shows Hurting Dogs? By Christie Keith, Special to SF Gate Dog shows and purebred dogs in general haven't had the best press in the last year or so. It began in August with the airing of the BBC documentary "Pedigree Dogs Exposed," which contended that purebred dogs are prone to being sickly, weak and riddled with genetic diseases, mostly because of the tyranny of the show ring, and breeders are selecting their dogs for specific and often freakish traits that win at dog shows but leave them unfit for living the life of a normal dog. If that allegation sounds extreme, consider that the Pekingese dog who won top honors in 2003 at Crufts, Britain's most prestigious dog show, had to be photographed afterwards while lying on an icepack because he couldn't breathe well enough to efficiently cool his own over-heated body. In response to the BBC documentary, Britain's Kennel Club undertook some aggressive housekeeping, warning breed clubs that the most extreme traits wouldn't be tolerated any more. It was too little, too late, however; the BBC decided they were going to stop airing Crufts, and the show lost the support of its longtime pet food sponsor as well. That was chum in the water for the sharks at PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), who demanded that the USA Network stop airing the Westminster Kennel Club, the counterpart of Crufts here in the United States. The animal rights group was rebuffed, however, and the show will go on as usual. It airs Monday and Tuesday, February 9-10, from 8-11 p.m. But should it? Are purebred dogs really in that much trouble? And if so, are dog shows behind the genetic and other health problems that plague our pets? Unfortunately, yes, purebred dogs really are in a lot of trouble. By restricting breeding pools, which is how you create and maintain "pure" breeds in the first place, you limit genetic diversity. Selecting dogs for a single set of characteristics that help them win at dog shows instead of, for instance, how healthy, happy and long-lived they are, limits it even further. This in turn can lead to a population that's weaker, less fertile and in poorer health. Given that many breeds have high rates of certain types of cancer, joint deformities, heart and eye problems, aggression, nervousness and other conditions known to have a strong genetic component, the evidence that's happening now is clear. But limiting criticism of purebred dog breeding to show dogs misses the bulk of the problem. Hundreds of thousands of purebred dogs are born every year that never step into a show ring. In fact, only the tiniest fraction of purebred dogs are produced by show breeders. Even if the impact of dog shows on purebred dogs were entirely negative, eliminating them would do virtually nothing to reduce genetic problems in purebred dogs. That's because churning out puppies for profit leads to bad breeding decisions, too, because most genetic conditions don't manifest themselves until adulthood, long after the commercial breeders that produced those puppies have forgotten they existed. In addition, most litters registered with the American Kennel Club come from people who never breed another dog. Some of them certainly make their breeding decisions carefully, but it's likely that many do so without a clear understanding of the genetics of the dogs whose genes they are uniting. The predominant cultural norm among show breeders is quite different. The best among them do genetic testing on their dogs, sell them with contracts guaranteeing against certain health problems and provide a lifelong safety net if the buyer is unable to keep the dog in the future. David Frei, the Westminster Kennel Club spokesman known to the show's millions of television viewers as the "voice of Westminster," recently told me: "I always used to say to people, 'When you buy one of my dogs from me, you're buying me, too. I'm going to be there for the lifetime of your dog.'" Not all show breeders live up to that ideal, but almost no one dares to oppose it publicly. True, some show breeders are scum, but, depending on the breed they're interested in, if I'm advising a friend about where to find a nice purebred puppy, I usually tell them to start with a show breeder. An improved chance of finding a conscientious breeder who is knowledgeable about the genetics of the dogs he's producing and who provides lifelong support to his puppy buyers, isn't the only reason I recommend show breeders. Show dogs don't just need to be "pretty" to win at dog shows; they usually have to at least appear to be healthy and fairly adaptable temperamentally. While trotting around a show ring isn't physically stressful, being out and about among all the other dogs and people is a fairly good laboratory for finding out if your dog's glued together well or not. After all, if a dog is a bundle of nerves, starts fights with other dogs, bites his handler and has diarrhea every time you give him unfamiliar water, he's not likely to be a successful show dog. That's why good show breeders try to select for everything at once -- health, vigor, steady nerves and the physical characteristics that win ribbons. With that in mind, let's look at another big winning show dog, one at the opposite end of the spectrum from that over-heated little Pekingese who won Crufts: Uno, the champion Beagle who went Best in Show at Westminster last year. Uno doesn't need to sleep on a cooling pad. He can catch 40 winks just about anywhere, including airport waiting areas or even in front of reporters' flashing lights and cameras. He likes kids, howling on cue and parades. In short, he gives all appearances of being exactly what supporters of purebred dogs strive for: happy, healthy and a good example of his breed. And clearly, he wins in the show ring. Frei has spent a year traveling the country with Uno. He told me the little dog has thrown out the pitch at baseball games (okay, chased the pitch), met with the President of the United States and the Mayor of New York City and visited children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases as part of the Westminster Kennel Club's "Angel on a Leash" therapy dog program. "He's been a great ambassador for dogs in general," Frei said. "And he never misses a beat; he's the same every day. He's happy, the tail's wagging É " If the same dog show system resulting in animals that can't even regulate their body temperature after taking a short turn around the show ring also produces an unflappable, cheerful little dog like Uno, it's not the system that's at fault. It's that the system is in need of reform. And I would like to see that reform. In fact, despite my overall positive feelings about the dog show world, I'd like to see revolutionary change come to it. I want to abandon the concept of "purebred dogs" and return to the day when we bred dogs for their function and type, not their "looks" and ability to win in the show ring, and certainly not based on a piece of paper that indicates both parents are of the same "breed." Hunting dogs should be able to hunt, herding dogs should be able to herd and companion dogs should be temperamentally sound and happy. That's not to say that such dogs can't still have a certain look that is readily identifiable as the kind of dog we love. But an emphasis on the most detailed points of physical conformation, the idea that "breed type" requires tails be set "just so" or eyes have some precise shape, is incompatible with the health and well-being of dogs. I think any breed where the majority of the members cannot give birth to puppies or mate naturally, where the dogs can't run around the yard without collapsing in exhaustion or where the physical conformation of the dog leads to pain, suffering and a short lifespan is in the worst trouble of all, and those who purport to love that breed need to pull their craniums out of their posteriors and change that tomorrow. That said, I don't want to eliminate dog breeds or dog shows, and I think the world would be poorer without them. They're part of our heritage, and just because we might want to reform them doesn't mean we want to eradicate them. I want to live in a world that continues to have Scottish Deerhounds in it. I want to keep watching Westminster on television every year. I want to see things like the WKC's "Angel on a Leash" therapy dog program and the AKC's Companion Animal Recovery Disaster Relief Fund continue. I want purebred dog clubs to continue to be the major donors to canine health research. Some of the kindest and most compassionate people I've ever known are dog show people; I don't want to see any of that end. But I'm not willing to pay for any of that with the suffering of purebred dogs. If we truly believe we can have them both, it's up to those of us who love dogs to make that happen. Note: My mother and I used to show and, very rarely, breed Scottish Deerhounds. We have not bred a litter in over 10 years, and no longer even own intact dogs. I can't recall the last time I was in the show ring, but it was years ago. I still maintain my membership in the Scottish Deerhound Club of America and I served two terms on its Board of Directors, where my primary contribution was to advocate on behalf of genetic health research in the breed. My complete interview with David Frei of the Westminster Kennel Club can be read at www.petconnection.com/blog/david-frei. Christie Keith is a contributing editor for Universal Press Syndicate's Pet Connection and past director of the Pet Care Forum on America Online. She lives in San Francisco. Litter Reunion's Of Little Moment To Mutts Justin Berton, Chronicle Staff Writer One evening after work, I greeted our dog, a beagle-mutt named Dobre, by patting her on the head and asking her, just for the heck of it, "How was your day?" "She got some e-mail," my wife said. "Her sisters want to get together." We'd purchased Dobre a little more than two years ago from the Milo Foundation, a no-kill rescue center in Berkeley. We'd considered a pure-breed with all the papers, but the high costs and headaches that came with selecting a breeder finally got too ridiculous. Dobre (pronounced dough-bree, Czech for "good") was labeled "Girly #1," one of five females in a litter that had been abandoned. One of the Girly owners, who now lives in Palo Alto, recently contacted the Milo Foundation and asked to be put in touch with the other owners. Would we attend a dog reunion? Like family reunions, dog reunions bring together kin and can be lavish affairs - hats, music, photo albums - or more casual meetings in urban dog parks. Yet in all cases, it's the humans who clear their schedules and drive the dogs to said meet-ups. My wife was sold. "It'll be so cute," she said. I got suspicious. Living in the Bay Area, we're somewhat conscious of becoming "crazy dog people." We love our dog - Dobre sleeps in a small basket in our bedroom, an allowance viewed by some family members as mildly obscene - but a reunion had the whiff of taking the first step into the dark side, albeit the fur-padded dark side. Pretty soon, if we weren't careful, we'd think a "pawdicure" was a cute idea, too. I muttered something like, "Eh, what's done is done. Let's all just move on." But a date at a dog park in the Oakland hills had already been set, and four of the five owners wound up agreeing to meet. During the planning, we learned the cruel fate of the fifth sibling: After her owners gave up on training her, the puppy had been sold on Craigslist for 10 bucks. The Milo people tried to reclaim her, but "Girly #5" was long gone, forever separated from her litter mates. Upon hearing this news, which felt like a human-trafficking report, we felt even more compelled to introduce Dobre to her surviving siblings. At the San Francisco SPCA, where an estimated 1,100 dogs were adopted last year, only a few owner-instigated reunions occur each year, spokeswoman Christine Rosenblat said. In 2005, the association held its only reunion for all adoptees, and 40 owners showed up; Rosenblat said the affair was a success with owners, whose lingering curiosity about their dog's kin was finally satisfied. But the meeting was also challenging and time-consuming for organizers, so they've since left it to owners to plan their own. The SPCA doesn't issue private information to other owners, but if a curious adopter wants to connect siblings, the agency will act as the liaison. Rosenblat recently attended a reunion for a litter of 1-year-old shepherds at Fort Funston, where the owners brought gift bags filled with bones and treats for the other dogs. "The dogs got on really well," she recalled. "It was a lovely event." As our reunion neared, I contacted dog behaviorists to learn if the meeting would have any emotional impact on Dobre, who hadn't sniffed her sisters' backsides since October 2006. (If you're going to take a step into the dark side, might as well take the full stride.) Would Dobre instantly remember her siblings? Would she, possibly, prefer to roll with her original pack mates? Not so much. Shirley Donovan, a trainer who has taught puppy training classes at the SPCA for 11 years (and attended a few reunions over that span), said that after a long separation period, it was unlikely the dogs would recognize one another. "I'm not sure if you can tell if they know each other or not," Donovan said. Sometimes litter mates who've been separated only a few weeks show signs of familiarity by instantly playing the same games they engaged in before the separation. Two years seemed too long. "I think," Donovan added of the reunion, "it's more for the people than the dogs." Mary Giuffrida, a trainer in the East Bay, said it was best if owners tempered their expectations of what would make a successful reunion. "It's not like they're going to greet each other like long-lost friends," she cautioned. We arrived early at the dog park (sans gift bags) and found our anxiety increasing each time a small dog approached the entrance gate. When Molly trotted into the park, we knew we'd just spotted Dobre's long-lost sibling. Dobre immediately approached Molly, nose to nose. But just as quickly as the sisters greeted, Dobre sped off, distracted by a pack of dogs rumbling by. Despite the warning about high expectations, we were crestfallen: no slobbering embrace, no tearful hug. No exchange of phone numbers. Like my wife and me, Molly's owners were taken aback by the four-legged doppelgangers; we each thought our dog was unique, only to learn that a carbon copy exists. We circled above the two dogs in amazement, admiring their similarities and investigating their differences. Molly was a few pounds chubbier than Dobre; Dobre's tail was an inch or two shorter than Molly's. After Ginger arrived, a thinner and blonder version of her sisters, it felt as if we were occupying a strange dog park reserved for look-alikes. (The fourth owner canceled at the last minute.) The dogs were mostly indifferent toward one another, and we all seemed to wish for more interaction. I began to wonder why Dobre was being rude and stand-offish; reunions can be stressful, I figured. At one point, Dobre and Molly playfully tackled a passing dog to the ground - and before I could announce that they were ganging up, just like family! - the interloping dog had bolted and the two sisters had moved on. And much like young parents, we owners commiserated: Remember that hellish chewing phase that victimized a year's worth of flip-flops and slippers? What's with the peculiar fear of water? And can anyone approach the house without being greeted by a psychotic bark? When the digital cameras came out and we all held the three sisters close, one of Molly's owners noted, "It almost looks like we're in control." I had to agree. We said our goodbyes with an open-ended invitation to do it again. On the drive home, Dobre seemed as pleased as after any other day at the park, and my wife and I agreed that the next time we should meet in a private location so the dogs wouldn't be so distracted by non-family members. Crazy Dog People, we soon realized, are always the last to know.
ASK THE BUG MAN Richard Fagerlund
Q: My son's dog was poisoned by Corry's Snail Bait, and the veterinarian's bill came to $8,000 and still counting. The vet said it was a very common occurrence. Why does the EPA allow poison laced with sweeteners to be packaged in a flimsy cardboard box instead of a childproof container? Quaker Oats is packaged in a more substantial container than Corry's Snail Bait. Small children, animals and birds cannot read the ineffective warning labels. A: As I have said in other columns, the Environmental Protection Agency is in the pocket of pesticide special-interest groups. And as I said, hopefully that will change now. Corry's Snail Bait contains metaldehyde, a material that is deadly to dogs. There are attractants in the baits that appeal to pets, so they ingest the bait when they find it on the ground. Other brands that contain varying amounts of metaldehyde are Corry's Slug & Snail Death, Deadline and SlugTox. Avoid these products if you have pets in the yard. These products are sold as granules, sprays, dusts, pelleted grain or bait. They are usually applied to the ground around plants to attract and kill slugs and snails. Metaldehyde is classified by the EPA as a "slightly toxic compound that may be fatal to dogs or other pets if eaten." Many vets have experience with dogs ingesting metaldehyde baits. According to the "Field Guide to the Slug" (Sasquatch Books), ingested metaldehyde can lead to nervous system damage or death in humans and other animals: "The threshold for tolerance is related to size, making birds and small mammals especially vulnerable." I would recommend using safe snail baits such as Escar-Go Slug Control and Sluggo. They use iron phosphate, which is a naturally occurring compound found in the soil. Manufacturers of iron phosphate baits say they are nontoxic around children and pets and much safer to use than those baits containing metaldehyde.
Richard Fagerlund is a pest management specialist who promotes nontoxic methods of pest control. For information or to contact him, go to |
Canine flu is a new disease that is affecting dogs. It is caused by the canine influenza virus, a relatively new virus that affects dogs. It was first identified in racing greyhounds in 2004 and appears to have been involved with significant respiratory problems on the dog tracks throughout the U.S. since then.
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