A Chastity belt for dogs? What the Heck?

Ok, a friend sent me the link on this article.



There is a man who has developed a Chastity Belt for dogs. The female wears it while in heat, much like a maxi pad that leaks for dogs and prevents pregnancy in the process. UH.... HELLO!!!??? This defeats the purpose of spaying and neutering and give people just one more excuse to not do the right thing and spay or neuter their pets. He claims as posted below, that he is all for spaying ad neutering however.....

"I'm all for neutering and spaying," says Dexter Blanch. "But in some cases, it is a health risk for the dog. In other cases, the pet owner is squeamish about putting the dog through surgery. And then there are people who plan one day to breed their pet."

""The Pet Anti Breeding System – or PABS, as he calls it – a polypropylene belt with an eight-buckle locking system and a washable mesh pad for female dogs.
The device allows the pooch to do all its natural bodily functions, except one, of course.
The PABS slogan: "When the heat is on, lock it, and stop it."
"The dogs can urinate and defecate," Blanch says. "But they can't copulate or impregnate."
Amorous canines won't get hurt trying to penetrate the PABS sheathing, Blanch claims. "

This gives people just one more out as far as I am concerned. He talks about the fact that it would have to be washed out regulary as it is made of a mesh material that allows bodily functions to happen just fine, like urination etc. But it doesn't say it will keep the blood spotting off of your floors or furniture. And as a dog is usually in heat up to 21 days at a time, twice a year, washing this thing out daily so it doesn't smell, and hopefully for the fabric to last some is simply just, well, YUCK! Why would I want to wash my dog and her "underthings" everyday?

Ok, enough of the YUCK factor. Now to the part that counts..... Being in season is very very stressful for the female and the male. They will try to mate regardless of what is there in the way, and they are so focused on the heat cycle, they will attempt it over and over and it puts way too much stress on the heart and body systems. Male dogs become agressive and will fight, females get no rest, etc. This not only causes veterinary bills, but you are in fact shortening your pet's lifespan. Trust me, the truly are much happier and healthier fixed than not.  Spaying and Neutering your pet does give them a longer and happier life.

Now, did anyone find his idea ludicrous?  I only hope someone doesn't come up with this idea for cats! Cats barely tolerate one either dressing them or doing much of anything to them. Can you just imagine the amount of pain involved with trying to put this device on a cat? I forsee sutures in one's future who attempts this. (just picturing it has me rolling on the floor laughing!)

Don't think you should spay or neuter? Think again....

Once again the issue of spaying and neutering is a hot topic on another networking group I belong to. It started by a friend posting her experiences working in a shelter, and just how many healthy, happy puppies, adult dogs, adult cats, and kittens are euthanized on a daily basis because there aren't enough homes for them. Not evening defining "good" homes, just homes for them. And the kicker as she so eloquently put it was this, "every person that allows more dogs to be born into this already overpopulated dog world, should first have to assist in the euthanasia of healthy, homeless dogs for a month. If, after a month of euthanizing wo/man’s best friend over and over and over, you can still, without regret, allow more puppies to join us -- then I guess I don’t have much more of an argument. Hold those dogs in your arms as they take their last breaths – for no good reason except that there aren’t enough homes. NO MORE PUPPIES!!!" She went on to post about the one dog, whose death will always stay with her, "I'll NEVER forget one specific dog that was euthanized. He was 'average' looking, sweet, sensible, maybe 3-4 years old. Didn't get anyone's attention I guess because he was 'average.' When it was his turn to be euthanized, the drugs would not kill him. His heart wouldn't stop beating. The staff vet had to be called in. I was holding the dog and sobbing and said "Why won't he die?" and I'LL NEVER FORGET THIS -- the vet said to me "Because he's so healthy." They eventually had to give him a massive dose of whatever. To this day I wish I had added that little "average" dog to my pack before he was picked to go to 'the room.' If I'd only known."


We also perpetrate all these euthanasias by buying purebred animals from breeders who will indiscriminately kill pups or kittens that don't meet their standards, or are slightly deformed. And mill breeders will kill undesireable animals any way they can, look at how Michael Vick killed his, by electrocution.

Then I was reminded by another friend the 10 reasons people consistently come up with for "NOT" altering their pets:

THE TEN WORST REASONS NOT TO SPAY OR NEUTER YOUR PET:


1. Just one litter and we’ll have Fluffy spayed.
Studies show that nearly the entire pet overpopulation stems from the "Just one litter" mentality

2. My dog doesn’t run loose, so he/she doesn’t need to be fixed.
Murphy’s law says otherwise

3. We always find a home for the kittens/puppies
And that means that an equal number of kittens/puppies with be euthanised at your local pound.

4. I want my children to witness the miracle of birth.
RENT A VIDEO!!!

5. My dog/cat is so cute and unique, there should be more of him.
The shelters are full of cute and unique dogs and cats with only a few days left to live!

6. It’s just not natural.
There hasn’t been anything "natural" about dogs or cats since we began to develop breeds thousands of years ago

7. I just couldn’t look my dog in the eyes if I had him castrated
GET A LIFE !!!

8. A female dog/cat should have at least one litter for health reasons
Medically, factually and ethically INDEFENSIBLE.

9. Neutering my dog/cat will make them fat and lazy
Too much food and not enough exercise make your pet fat and lazy

10. Fixing my pet will change his/her personality
The primary influence on an animal’s personality is the kindness and care with which it is treated.

And then if you can read all this above and still say oh, but this would never happen to my "Fluffy's" offspring, think again. Then look at this poster from the Humane Society and rethink it all. This poster says it all:



So.... think again, and I would ask you how you can justify allowing your pet to breed indiscriminately or how can you justify paying money for a "purebred" animal, and allow so many other souls to die?

Please! Help the animals at the Las Vegas, NM Shelter!

This is a cross post from an animal networking group in New Mexico. This woman has worked tirelessly to help the animals that go through the City of Las Vegas, New Mexico's animal shelter. What all this sounds like is that the Mayor and City manager are entrenched in their thinking and as a result are allowing cruelty to exist. Anyhow, here is her (edited to remove some names) post. If you can help, please do so. Even if it is to write the mayor and city manager or help get these animals out and into foster care. This lady is with the Animal Welfare Coalition.

"Since late August, there has been one attack after another. Everything we achieved and planned for welfare of shelter animals has been blocked or distorted. I could go through whole sequence but I am very tired. Simply, the Director of City Shelter would rather all dogs and cats were euthanized than any effort put forward to care for, adopt or transfer them. His name is Elmer Martinez. He heads several departments within the city. The shelter is the lowest on his list. He has been the motivating force behind the shelter supervisors' (past and present) obsession with killing and neglect. He is one of the most manipulating and deceitful individuals I have ever come upon. ( And I fought for the freedom of Black and Puerto Rican boys with the NYC courts.) I have seen hate and prejudice but never the amount of cruelty and corruption that I have witnessed here in Las Vegas. A simple request such as "Please shut the kennel doors on freezing cold nights" is answered by Elmer Martinez and Tim Dodge, City Manager, claiming that I and all of the Animal Welfare Coalition members are"undermining" the interim supervisor, Robert, whose decision it was and is to leave doors open. No, I just didn't want the dogs to get sick. AWC was not involved at all. The dogs are sick. The doors are still open. There seems to be no recourse as this a patron system and Martinez is supported by the higher ups in city government, the Major and the City Manager. I have given the best battle of my life. (NYC prejudiced judges seem like kindness and light after this.) In order to protect my own animals ( poisoning is accepted practice here, as is shooting ) and myself, I am leaving. Hopefully by March 1st. My heart breaks with the plight of the animals in this town. The pitiful irony is, there is no reason to slaughter the shelter animals. With very little to no help, I moved over 1000 dogs from shelter to rescues and good homes in the past year and half. With help, we could have researched many more rescues in the West and moved many more dogs and cats. With financial help, we could have had medical care and a van and gas to transfer. And on and on. We were getting there, then Elmer and Kelly forbid all volunteers. No dog walking, no cat petting, and no exercise pen, still. Now, no adoptions, "a chain of command" to report with any action to free an animal. I have been thrown out of the shelter and then told to come back and then told I was not allowed to be there so many times that I am dizzy. I have no idea what my status is right now. When I go in to photograph animals or help with animals, I have been told to leave by City Manager. At other times, I am called in to look at a dog that needs to get out. God knows. Again, tired of fighting. And the city has never paid me a cent or a "Thank You" for getting dogs out. Odd, very odd.
Somehow, I still have hope. Just can't hold it all up without real help. Time for relief to arrive.  Elmer is threatening to start the 3 day kill ordinance, which is unfortunately legal, in city ordinances. Oh yes, the City Council voted the shelter and Animal Control over to Public Safety, read Police Department , two months ago. It has not been taken over yet supposedly any day. Finally, the intelligent and very kind Animal Control officer has been so badly treated by Elmer that she has requested a transfer to Water Control. She loves the animals and cares for them beautifully. She could plan and build a humane shelter. "

Here is one proposal and reply from another member:

"My proposal: a massive letter writing campaign to the city of Las Vegas, telling them that we WILL NOT be bringing our company to visit Las Vegas until they right this situation. What I need from you is a 'bullet list' of issues to cite in our letters or phone calls. In other words, what are the 3 biggest issues there? Inhumane treatment? Facilities? Please let us know what exactly we should highlight in our letters and phone calls. We need to spread the word to the animal community to inundate the mayor's office.
Mayor Tony Marquez
City of Las Vegas
1700 North Grand Ave
Las Vegas, NM 87701
(505) 454-1401
The mayor's email address (no guarantee that he'll get this, so hard-copy letters or phone calls are better): mayormarquez@yahoo.com
Maybe it will help, maybe not, but at least we've done SOMEthing.
Also, letters to the editor of the local paper would also bring attention to the situation. Email letters for the Las Vegas Optic to: tmcdonald@lasvegasoptic.com"

I felt also that perhaps getting word out to the communities and other area major newspapers and news agencies  would help bring the spotlight on. I also would like to turn this over to the ASPCA as they try their best to monitor these types of things and can shut down shelters if needed.

Anyhow, please help get the word out and help the animals in Las Vegas. Thank you!

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and our pets

First, a definition of a Genetically Modified Organism:  From Wikipedia: A genetically modified organism (GMO) or genetically engineered organism (GEO) is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques.

  Finally a study on the effects of some GMOs (genetically modified organisms) on animals! This is a hot topic for me and the effects of GMOs on us too.

This past year, the International Journal of Biological Sciences published an article on A Comparison of the Effects of Three GM Corn Varieties on Mammalian Health They performed studies of several varieties of GM corn on rats with deletorious results. The article is lengthy, but worth reading.

Another article on some effects of GMOs on animals from Natural News titled: Genetically Modified Organisms are Unfit for Consumption  points out: In the animal studies that have been conducted, some noteworthy findings have been discovered about GMOs:
Female rats fed genetically modified soy saw most of their babies die within three weeks compared to the 10% death rate experienced by rats fed natural soy. The babies that survived in the genetically modified-fed control group were also born smaller and had problems getting pregnant later on.
Male rats fed genetically modified soy experienced a change in testicular color from pink to dark blue, as well as altered young sperm and significant changes in their DNA.
Indian buffalo that consumed genetically modified cottonseed experienced various birthing complications including infertility, abortions, premature delivery, and prolapsed uteruses. Many of the calves that survived birth died shortly thereafter.
In the United States, about 24 farmers reported that their pigs became sterile after consuming genetically modified corn.
Genetically modified corn and cotton, purposely engineered to create their own built-in pesticide called Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis), have been indicted in several studies to provoke intense allergic and immune reactions and death. Since the levels of Bt produced in the plant represent thousands of times more a concentration of Bt than natural Bt spray, the effects are greatly amplified. Shepherds whose sheep grazed on Bt cotton after harvest witnessed thousands of their sheep die. Post mortem examinations revealed severe irritation and black patches in the intestines and liver, as well as enlarged bile ducts. All sheep fed the Bt cotton eventually died within 30 days while those that grazed on natural cotton remained healthy.
Bt corn was also responsible for the deaths of cows, horses, water buffaloes, and chicken in both Germany and the Philippines.
Genetically modified tomatoes fed to rats were shown to cause bleeding stomachs and eventually killed many of the rats.

These are just a few examples of the many catastrophic effects of using genetically modified organisms as food. And another article on WebMd it notes that if animals are given a choice they won't eat GM feeds on their own. What do they know that we don't?

Yet one more thing to point to from SafeAge.org :

How does genetic engineering affect animal welfare?

Cows injected with a genetically engineered Bovine growth hormone to increase milk production live shorter lives and suffer higher incidence of lameness, mastitis and reproductive health problems. Cloned and genetically engineered animals have staggering failure rates, a euphemism that hides a greater than 99 percent mortality. Dolly was one success out of 245. GE fish have become deformed, their flesh has turned green and many other health problems have occurred. There is a very strong lobby pushing for GE fish and these may be the first GE animals to arrive on your table. Yay mom, green wartery fish tonight.

Should animals be patented?

Monsanto applied for a patent for a pig bred in 160 countries. The patent is for specific parts of the genetic amterial of the pigs which Monsanto's researchers have decoded. If this patent is granted, pig breeding would be possible only with the approval of Monsanto. See the movie: Patent for a Pig?

I don't know about you, but all this is and has been very disturbing to me for some time now. I continue to do my best to avoid using mainstream products in my house and in my foods for myself or my pets. The three major grains (now owned by Monsanto) that are very much in all our commercially produced foods are Corn, Soy and Wheat.  Based on the description, and knowing that usually biotoxins or fish genes into vegetables are used to splice into a genetic sequence to promote the organism to be more immune to frost or pests, why would I want to eat it? Animals usually are much smarter than we are about foods. Ok, that sounds about as clear as mud. Let me put it to you from this viewpoint, our bodies, our genes recognize specific genetic sequences in our original foodstuffs as nutrtion and therefore to be used to nourish our bodies and help with bodily processes. When that original genetic sequence is no longer what it is meant to be, our body throws up a red flag that this is not considered nutrition and therefore needs to be considered a toxin, thereby stimulating our immune response. When we continue to ignore our body's response to the toxin, and keep feeding the toxin to ourselves, the body becomes overwhelmed and we start developing cancers, autoimmune diseases and immunodeficiency problems. We wonder why we see an increase in these things not only in ourselves but our pets as well. We are seeing an increase of diseases, such as thyroid disorders, diabetes, neurological problems, depression, celiac's disease, food allergies and intolerances, and the list goes on. These increases have begun in the early to mid 90's. Ok, so this makes sense to me as this is about the time that GMOs became more mainstream into our food supply and they were fully approved for animal feed.

I don't know about you, but for me it is so worth it for my health and that of my beloved pets to do my best to ensure that we consume as little of these that we can. Buying locally grown and raised products that are organic help. That and helping the push to pass into law the labeling of GMOs within our foods.

 

 

Is the media and our culture to blame?

Reading the headlines and news articles this morning is depressing. The article that caught my eye was an AP article about the massive amounts of Chihuahuas being abandoned in shelters in California. As we humans are a morbid bunch, I read the article, knowing it wasn't a very happy article.



The article cites that the shelters in California are up by over 30% for intakes of chihuahuas and small dogs. Many blame our media and culture on the initial popularity of the breed, celebs like Paris Hilton and movies like Beverly Hill Chihuahua. Then as soon as the "new" wears off, they are being dumped by the hundreds.

Despite it's size a small dog can be just as expensive for care as a large dog. And if you have small children, you quickly find that small dogs are not suited well to a household with small children. For one, a small dog is much more breakable than a larger or stockier breed. And small dogs tend to be more timid and can nip or bite quicker when they feel threatened. Small dogs prefer to bond with one or two people.



However, chihuahuas aren't the only small victims of our media and culture, Guinea pigs are also being abandoned by the hundreds. Our shelter alone has quite a few guinea pigs and other small rodents for adoption.



Other animals like ferrets and  rabbits are also left looking for care and homes. And species or breed specific rescue organizations are filled to capacity too.

My heart breaks for all these homeless animals, being bred by the thousands, bought as presents or because they are the "animal d'jour"  or the latest fashion trend. Then they are being disposed of, abandoned by the thousands by uncaring people or people who find themselves financially incapable of caring for them anymore, or because their kid lost interest, or being left to starve in the foreclosed house. And with the economy still in the tank, there just isn't anywhere for them to go anymore. Millions of animals are being put to sleep (euthanized) daily because they are overbred and there is simply no home for them.

And yes, I do blame the media for alot of this predicament. Animals have really become a "fashion statement" or a statement of how well off a person is. Many people feel the need to show to the world how affluent they are by owning only a purebred, etc. And when the poor animal becomes a nuisance or out of fashion, it is disposed of without a care for it.  Less and less is seen about the truth of the over population of pets, and what happens to them. Even less is seen in the media about responsible pet ownership or spaying and neutering so animals like these don't have to die for our vanity. Even if you read today's article on the overpopulation of chihuhuas in the CA shelters, you won't see the mention of spaying or neutering your pets at all. Just a mention that these little dogs most likely come from puppy mills. And a great majority of puppy mill dogs sold in pet stores have many inherent health problems.

Yes, for those of us who do care, we need to help spread the word, educate friends and family about not buying purebreds, many great purebreds and dogs period come from adoption from shelters. We also need to help educate for spaying and neutering. If you must give a pet for the holidays, give the recipient a leash and collar and perhaps a gift certificate from the local shelter, or take them there to pick out their pet, and pay for the adoption. Let's all promise for the new year to help reduce the overpopulation of pets and help to decrease the numbers from the shelters by vowing that your next pet will be from the shelter.

Declawing cats and other regularly practiced forms of cruelty

I have to give kudos to some California cities recently. Back in 2003, West Hollywood California outlawed declawing cats noting that it is in an of itself a form of animal cruelty. More recently several other California cities have followed suit. I am very happy to hear this. And yes, it has always been in the back of my mind that this practice was barbaric and extremely cruel.



Wikipedia gives this description of declawing:

Onychectomy is an operation to surgically remove the claws and part of the toes, most often of a household cat, though occasionally of other animals such as circus lions or dancing bears. This process involves amputating all or part of the distal phalanx, or end bone, of the animal's toes, and is popularly known as declawing.

Although common in North America, declawing is rarely practiced outside North America and is considered an act of animal cruelty in certain other regions (see "Declawing practices" below).

Apparently other regions in the country have outlawed it also.

Back in the 70's I worked for a veterinarian in Florida. I cried the first time I watched him "de-claw" a young cat. At that time all he did was anesthetize the cat, and using regular toenail (scissor type) clippers, lopped off the nail and last joint at the "knuckle". Imagine taking those selfsame clippers and removing your fingernail permanently at the first knuckle. But the poor kitties, coming out of anesthesia and you could see the pain in their eyes, you could see that it hurt to stand on the bandaged feet. My grandmother had her last two cats declawed, and they were forever tender on their feet, and were terrified to have them touched at all. The same type thing was done for removing puppy dew claws. Except curved scissors were used then to stop the bleeding a styptic powder or q-tip used on the wound. No anesthesia, and it was done within days of birth.

Docking tails on puppies wasn't much better as they were done so young and there was no anesthesia done on puppies. And Docking was done with a pair of sharp surgical scissors, and then a couple stitches put in. At least pups who were to have their ears cut, got the benefit of anesthesia. But it was after ear cutting that they had problems. In order to get the ears to "stand" tongue depressors with, hopefully cotton taped to the bottom, would be inserted in the ears, then the ear tips taped to the depressor to train the ear to stand straight up. This was done mostly on breeds like Dobermans, Pit  Bulls, Great Danes, and Schnauzers. Either way, it was still a painful and traumatic experience for the animals.

Other animals suffer tail docking also. Sheep are docked, mostly using very tight rubber bands to cause the circulation to stop and the end of the tail to drop off. Many horse breeds still have their tails docked as foals either for "fashion" or because they still believe that without docking working horses' tails that they become entangled in harnesses, or will cause other problems or are difficult to deal with.

Any of these for any animals is unacceptable anymore. It is mutilation, plain and simple. Fine if we make a conscious decision to mutilate ourselves, but why should we purposely mutilate our animals?

Why would you declaw? People who are very vain about their furniture will cite they don't want the cat to scratch the furniture, or them. Well then, provide plenty of scratching posts sprayed or rubbed with catnip to attract them to their "furniture" rather than yours. And yes you can train a cat, it's easier than you think.

Why dock tails? Vanity? On horses, how do they swat flies then? Flyspray is really ineffective, flies happen period. Their tails are the best defense. On dogs? Why? Is it because you are afraid the tail will sweep off your coffee table? Is it the style? No need for the style anymore.

Some old timers think animals don't feel  the pain, they are just an animal. Uh excuse me? What makes them think this? Do they know personally that young animals, babies included here, don't feel pain at losing an appendage? Do you think an infant wouldn't feel it if you cut off his finger at the first knuckle? No different than declawing or docking. All the same actually, you are cutting off an appendage at a joint.

Ear cropping or docking, hoo boy, talk about a fashion gone way out of acceptance and style. Every so often I read about people cutting off their pit puppy's ears with common scissors and getting busted for it and charged with animal cruelty. They used to cut of pit's ears to give less purchase or one less appendage to be torn to shreds by the dog it is fighting. It's awful, ears provide protection to the inner ear of the dog. So stupid.

And my last gripe of the day is this, Spay and neuter your pets! Even "responsible" breeders are only adding to and compounding the over population problem. Majority of the litter your un-altered animal gives birth too is probably going to be euthanized because it cannot find a home.

While I don't agree with PETA most of the time. I mean their topics are not bad ones, they just get a little over exuberant on their efforts, this poster is probably one of the best ones I've see in support of spay and neuter.

A plea please, help stop this!

This morning I read an article I would very much like to share with you from the Humane Society of the US  about pets and animals being used in experiments in medical research and such. Please consider writing your senators and encouraging the end of this barbaric practice. We have the technology now that we don't have to torture animals for research anymore.

Read on....... (Copied from HSUS)

The Humane Society of the United States is urging 50 research institutions to stop purchasing dogs and cats from "Class B" dealers. The dealers are licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to round up dogs and cats from animal shelters, individuals and other "random sources" and then sell them for experimentation. The HSUS released a study identifying the institutions that still purchase from these dealers and support this dying industry.

A National Academy of Sciences report issued earlier this year concluded that Class B dealers are problematic and no longer necessary for supplying dogs and cats. In the wake of this report, The HSUS gathered information that identified 57 research institutions that purchased random source dogs or cats from Class B dealers within the past four years.

The information came from HSUS surveys of the institutions and Freedom of Information Act requests submitted to the institutions and state agriculture departments. (In some cases these records were unavailable or prohibitively expensive, so there may be other research institutions that still purchase random source dogs and cats from Class B dealers.) The HSUS then contacted each of the institutions.

The survey suggests that research facilities are re-evaluating their use of Class B dealers. Officials from seven institutions indicated that they no longer purchase random source dogs or cats from Class B dealers. Five facilities reported they still do (or reserve the right to) purchase these animals, and the remaining 45 institutions did not provide any new information, raising the possibility that they still buy animals from the dealers but do not want to admit the practice.

"The Humane Society of the United States applauds those research facilities that have switched to more reputable sources and stopped purchasing random source dogs or cats from Class B dealers," said Martin Stephens, Ph.D., HSUS vice president for animal research issues. "We urge facilities that still patronize these dealers for random source dogs and cats to abandon this practice immediately, to make sure stolen pets and fraudulently obtained animals don't end up in the pipeline."

The following institutions indicated that they still purchase random source dogs and cats from Class B dealers: Aurora Sinai Medical Center (Milwaukee); Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine (Maywood, Ill.); Masonic Medical Research Laboratory (Utica, N.Y.); Medical College of Georgia (Augusta, Ga.); and University of Georgia (Athens, Ga.). The HSUS appreciates their honesty and urges them to discontinue this practice.

The HSUS applauded the institutions that have recently discontinued the practice, according to the survey, include the Carolinas Medical Center (Charlotte, N.C.); Cleveland Clinic (Cleveland); Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital (Hines, Ill.); Baylor College of Dentistry (Dallas); University of Florida (Gainesville, Fla.), University of Illinois at Chicago and The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (Oklahoma City).

The institutions that purchased from Class B dealers in the past but declined to respond to the HSUS survey are listed here, along with the institutions that indicated they still buy from Class B dealers.

The Class B dealer system is rife with abuse of dogs and cats. USDA inspectors and undercover investigators from animal protection organizations have documented a long history of illegal and inhumane activity by dealers of random source animals, including buying animals from "bunchers" (unlicensed dealers) who steal pets and deceptively respond to "free to a good home" ads, as well as mistreating animals at their own holding facilities before transporting them to laboratories.

Most research institutions are already operating successfully without buying Class B dealer dogs and cats. These institutions recognize the long-standing animal welfare concerns associated with the B dealer pipeline, the public ill-will generated by continued business dealings with these middlemen and the inherent problems with conducting research on random-source animals. They choose instead to procure animals purposely bred for research, rather than from random sources.

Facts

• More than 1,400 research institutions are registered with the USDA to conduct research on dog, cats and other regulated animals.


• About 500 research institutions use dogs and cats, including animals obtained from Class B dealers.


• 94,724 dogs and cats were used in research during FY 2007.


• From November 2007 – November 2008, Class B dealers sold about 3,000 random source dogs and cats to research facilities.


• Only 11 dealers of random source dogs and cats remain in business. Of these, seven are currently under investigation by the USDA for apparent violations of the AWA, and one dealer's license has been suspended for 5 years.


• Because of the problems with Class B dealers, the USDA spends a disproportionate amount of time and resources trying to track their activities, but the agency's oversight system is inherently incapable of ensuring compliance.

Timeline

• October 2009: U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, and U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Pa., introduce the Pet Safety and Protection Act to put an end to the practice of animal dealers rounding up dogs and cats and selling them for experimentation.


• May 2009: The National Academy of Sciences releases report, "Scientific and Humane Issues in the Use of Random Source Dogs and Cats in Research," finding that Class B dealers are not necessary for research institutions to obtain random source dogs and cats and that "testimony provided to the Committee by USDA officials made it clear that despite new enforcement guidelines and intensified inspection efforts, not all origins of animals are or can be traced. The USDA simply cannot assure that stolen or lost pets will not enter research laboratories via the Class B dealer system."


• 2007: An HSUS and Animal Welfare Institute survey of about 1,200 USDA-registered research institutions indicates that 96 percent of the 192 respondents do not purchase random source dogs and cats from Class B dealers. According to a survey by the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges, at least 19 of the nation's 28 veterinary schools do not use live, random source dogs and cats from Class B dealers.

Breed Discrimination and Dog Fighting

I thought perhaps I would broach the subject of Pit Bull Terriers, and the discrimination of the breed and misuse of them. This issue is becoming more and more in the spotlight on the news wires.

Some facts, Pits weren't ever bred to be "killers". They were meant to be protectors and were bred for vermin control. They are fiercely loyal dogs and absolutely want to please their human companions. Their predatory hunting instincts have been turned into the "fight" for survival instinct by greedy unconscionable persons. And they are just about one of the top abused and discriminated breeds today.

Back in July, multiple animal rescue organizations (like HSUS, ASPCA, and UAN) along with law enforcement did a multi-state raid on dog fighting rings, over 400 dogs were rescued. Many with life long injuries and scars or loss of body parts. Like the picture of one of the rescues here:



Poor girl has no lips anymore and only half a nose, and she is just one of the survivors. After the rescue, several of the females gave birth in the shelter set up in Missouri bringing the count of dogs needing care, rehabilitation and finding their forever homes to over 500.  Many people gave less than 1/4 of the dogs any optimism of being adoptable or socialized. Recently  UAN  posted aYouTube video of the dogs and how many are finding their forever homes. Today the owners of the fighting rings are in custody and have admitted to breeding dogs for fighting and killing dogs who weren't agressive enough or fought well enough. And the manner in which they disposed of them is awful. Remember the publicity spawned by the Michael Vick case?

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/jHeO3Lu-CsA" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

If you wish to provide help or a possible home for these dogs, you can read more and contact the Missouri Humane Society

On breed discrimination..... This breed is much maligned and many cases of untruths surround them. They are the current objects of the breed "witch hunt" as it were. Because so many people do not understand them, and because they have been so linked in the media for their fighting aggressiveness, people are frightened anytime anyone says the word pit bull. This brings back memories for me of the terror the media spread on dobermans in the late 60's and early 70's and then it was German Shepherds, then Rottweilers. FACT!!!! Man always fears what he does not understand, and the MEDIA feeds this fear. And now any time you hear about a dog attack or of someone being bitten, the dog is always labeled Pit cross or Pit Bull, even if they have no trace whatsoever in them.

Yes, Pits have an extremely strong bite, Yes they can hold that bite. HOWEVER, they are not bite first type of dogs. They ONLY bite IF they feel they or their family or territory  are being threatened, or they feel that their survival is at stake. They will always bark and growl to warn first. We are the stupid ones to not heed the warnings. And yes they are muscular, and active, so they require someone who can play with them, run with them, and stay active with them.  I'll let you in on a tidbit here, Poodles will bite you faster than most any other breed. And small dogs because of their size are quicker biters than pits are because they are fearful of being stepped on or injured by us.

I love the breed, I have had several share my life with me. One was such a beautiful momma dog, that she wanted to mother everything. And the cats care was her personal job. The cats adored her. Her pups (not planned by a high jumping neighbor's shepherd) all went to wonderful homes with kids and they were life long companions to the family and kids. She was also so very loyal and protective of her territory and family. She did her job with love, loyalty and perfection. Even went through a screened window to chase off a burglar who was trying to break in. Good dog!

Fact is, they truly are wonderful dogs, and like any dog of any breed, their traits can be used against them by greedy people. And currently they are the hunted by the witch hunters.  Any dog, can be used to fight if you instill their survival instincts enough.  Perhaps it's time to help educate people on the breed? And vote against breed banning in any state?

A Dog's top ten peeves they have about us humans

I thought I would share this as I receivd it from a friend.

 

'1'  Blaming your farts on me..... not funny... not funny at all !!! l ---------------------------------------------- '2'  Yelling at me for barking. I'M A FRIGGIN' DOG -------------------------------------------------- '3'  Taking me for a walk, then not letting me check stuff out. Exactly whose walk is this anyway? -------------------------------------------------- '4'  Any trick that involves balancing food on my nose. Stop it! -------------------------------------------------- '5'  Any haircut that involves bows or ribbons. Now you know why we chew your stuff up when you're not home. -------------------------------------------------- '6'  The slight of hand, fake fetch throw. You fooled a dog! Whooooooo Hoooooooo - what a proud moment for the top of the food chain. -------------------------------------------------- '7'  Taking me to the vet for 'the big snip', then acting surprised when I freak out every time we go back! -------------------------------------------------- '8'  Getting upset when I sniff the crotches of your guests. Sorry, but I haven't quite mastered that handshake thing yet. -------------------------------------------------- '9'  Dog sweaters. Hellooooo ??? Haven't you noticed the fur? -------------------------------------------------- '10'  How you act disgusted when I lick myself. Look, we both know the truth. You're just jealous. -------------------------------------------------- Now lay off me on some of these things. We both know who's boss here! You don't see me picking up your poop do you? EVERY DOG HAS HIS DAY. A DOG ALWAYS OFFERS UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. CATS HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT!

Re-establishment of River Otters in New Mexico and other ponderings.

Recently last month several river otters from Washington state were reintroduced and released in northern New Mexico. This was an effort to return the sleek mammals to their historic range in the state.  It has been more than 50 years since the last river otters were spotted in this state. State officials feel that trapping and loss of habitat contributed to their disappearance from our state.



This is the second release of river otters in NM in the last two years. Nearly two dozen states, including neighboring Arizona, Colorado and Utah, have successfully reintroduced river otters, which biologists say play an important role in keeping semi-aquatic ecosystems healthy and diverse.

So while cheering on the otter, we probably should think on other species that we have tried to re-establish into their natural territories. These efforts have been greeted with emotions and feelings from jubilant to fear to outright anger. Take the Wolves, from the Mexican Grays, to the ones trying to re-establish in Yellowstone. Wolves are an apex predator. When we eradicated them from their native ranges due to misunderstandings and ignorance, we upset the balance of other species. Now we have problems with the "prey" animals who are now nuisances, and spreading disease among our cattle etc. There is much ignorance even today where they are concerned and many myths. Most wolves would prefer to hunt their own native foods, however, if that balance is severly upset, or the pack is starving, yes they might kill cattle, but it's our fault for being so arrogant to think the land and control of the land and it's animals is all ours. Hello! You're just providing a simpler meal for these predators. It's not the wolves, or bears, or mountain lions' faults, and they shouldn't be hunted for it either. I can understand the rancher's plight, but find a better medium please? Too long has the policy been to kill and eradicate a species rather than find a happy medium.

Ah but I digress.....  I am estatic that we, as a part of a whole, are trying to restore balances in our natural surroundings. I just wish perhaps that some people would be a bit more open minded to learn the parts those animals play in the balance of things and how our role in things has thrown it way out of whack. And that we could learn to live with our wild neighbors better. As they have been trying to adapt and live with us encroaching on their habitat more and more everyday, shouldn't we try to do the same? Shouldn't we try to make exceptions and adapt to live with them?

Pet food and product warnings and recalls

It seems that the pet food companies still cannot get their quality control fixed and stop killing or endangering our pets. Didn't they learn anything from the massive recalls in 2007 from Menu Foods? Didn't we learn anything from those same recalls? I know I did, and I certainly try not to use or feed any brand that was part of that recall. I just don't think it's worth the risk to my beloved pets.

Here are some recent ones:

Nutro is still on the hot seat with numerous consumer complaints on their dog and cat foods, here are two links to read more on the Nutro problems, especially about the puppy food that may contain plastic.

Consumer Complaints on Nutro

Article on Nutro pulls some puppy food

Nutro Cat food and zinc poisoning

If you read these articles above, you will find links other links on the pages for other pet food product problems.

Also Diamond pet food products has recalled the following date codes of Premium Edge Finicky Adult Cat and Premium Edge Hairball Cat with codes of RAF0501A22X (18-lb. bag), RAF0501A2X (6-lb. bag), RAH0501A22X (18-lb. bag) and RAH0501A2X (6-lb. bag).

The petfood in question is low in thiamine, which can cause neurological symptoms and brain damage. More than a dozen cases have been confirmed.

It is recommended that pet owners whose cats have eaten the food specified below contact their veterinarian. Diamond is also asking consumers to return the potentially tainted food.The calls from pet owners or veterinarians regarding this issue! have been centered in the Rochester, NY area. Diamond says t! hat all retail outlets shipped the above lots were contacted, asking them to pull the product from the store shelves; and to contact their customers to have them to check the date code of the food. If you or anyone you know has these date codes of Premium Edge cat food, Diamond is asking you to return them to the retailer (presumably for a refund).

And now one of the scary problems found with Advantage spot on flea product. Seems it's gluing itself and the pet to anything plastic. Read the article HERE .

The Humane Society is a good resource for recalls and product warnings.

It seems that anywhere you go these days, we still have problems and companies who aren't fully disclosing those problems. While I can understand the pet owner's plight to make some care products simpler or more convenient, not all of these wonderful gadgets or foods are good for our furkids. If you really do love and care for your pet, please research and learn about their needs and what truly is best for them before you purchase. And in my humble opinion, while we rely on our veterinarians to provide us trustworthy information and to know what's best, not all of them do. Many believe the sales pitch of the sales rep from the companies they buy their presecription diets or other products through. In many veterinary schools nutrtion is taught by someone from the pet food industry, not someone who knows the digestive system, or endocrine systems in our pets. Take the time to be an informed pet owner, be an advocate for your pet, learn about proper nutrition and such for them. Once you do and then compare labels with the prescription diets in your vet's office. You'll be surprised actually that even some foods off the store shelves are better made than the Rx diets, and are cheaper too.

I know this is one of my favorite rants, but if we were more informed, fed our pets better and proper foods, they would be healthier, live longer and happier lives, and the vet bills would be a whole lot less expensive. And..... when you feed correctly, there is less poo to pick up because your pet is using all of his food as intended and so there is less waste. If you're feeding your pet a food with lots of grain fillers in it, lots of by products, etc., then you will have A LOT of poop to clean up. When you have A LOT of poop, it means that your pet is actually getting very little nutrition from their food and you are feeding more than you would with a proper food. It just makes sense!

Why adopt? Why Spay and Neuter?

I am sure I have covered this topic once before, however, it is one that bears repeating. And I wish to add this disclaimer, I am not an expert on this, and the numbers may be old, but they will give you a general picture and the message is still the same.

First a few statistics on euthanasia and the shelters:

1. 
   

   Every day approximately 70,000 puppies and kittens are born in this country while only 10,000 people are born. 

   
   


2. 
   

   Every year over 6 million animals are euthanized in shelters for lack of available homes.  If the number were "only" 7 million, that would mean 135,000 PER WEEK, or 20,000 pets euthanized EVERY 24 HOURS.  365 DAYS A YEAR!

   
   


3. 
   

   An animal is euthanized in the U.S. every 2 seconds.

   
   


4. 
   

   On average, 64% of all animals taken into shelters nationwide have to be euthanized for the simple reason that there is no room for them or no home.

   
   


5. 
   

   The animals at animal control shelters are not "problem" animals. The animals available for adoption have been picked up as strays or taken from the owner for abuse, or neglect. They are truly in need of a loving home and are greatly appreciative for a second chance at life.  

   
   


6. 
   

   At least 50% of the overpopulation problem is non-neutered males.  Females can't do it alone.

   
   


7. 
   

   Purebreds account for 30% off all the animals in shelters.  "Papers" don't mean an animal should be bred.

   
   


8. 
   

   For every home you find for an animal that you have bred, a home is lost for a shelter animal.

   
   


9. 
   

   Breeding to "see the miracle of birth" demands that you also "see the tragic results".  Visit a shelter and watch a puppy being euthanized for every puppy your "miracle of birth" delivered.

   
   


10. 
    

    Animal overpopulation has reached a crisis point in this country

    
    

Now, some myths about spaying and neutering

 Most of these myths have been passed along for many years without any basis in fact. People still believe false statements like: "It will calm her down to have a litter" and "He needs to sow his oats," or "It will make her/him more protective." These are all inaccurate viewpoints and flat nonsense; and you have probably heard them all! Let’s look at a few more.

"My dog is a purebred so it's ok if I breed"  The fact is that 25% of all animals found in a shelter are AKC or UKC purebreds. There is no guarantee of quality. In fact, most times purebred animals have some serious medical and behavioral problems, due to inbreeding.

"My pet is a male; I won’t have any litters"  These animals are a very big part of the pet overpopulation problem since they escape and breed with females in heat. They roam more, are more aggressive and sire hoards of litters for someone else to raise, or destroy because they are unadoptable.

"It cost too much"  It will cost you a lot more to care for the puppies created by the dog!  And there are many, many low cost to free spay and neuter clinics. It is affordable!

"My children should see the miracle of birth"  School programming, virtual computers or films can convey the same information in a more caring way.

"She needs to have at least one litter"  Does a woman need to have at least one child? Having a litter does not in any way improve or change a pet's disposition.

"Spaying & neutering is painful for the pet."  How painful is giving birth? Surgery is performed under anesthesia and animals are usually back on their feet into normal activities within 24 to 72 hours. This slight discomfort is not harmful and prevents the suffering and death of hundreds of unwanted animals that could be born if you do not spay or neuter your pet.

"If I neuter him, he won't be as protective."  Instinct is not affected by hormones.  In fact, most pets when neutered will actually be more protective and loyal to their owners and will have reduced desires to wander, mark territory and fight with other animals.

"They'll get fat and lazy".  Not true! Pets get fat because of improper feeding and or exercise. They like us, if fed too much and too little exercise will get fat.

"A litter will calm my animal and having a litter will be better for her" Veterinary medical evidence says otherwise. This is just not true.

"Only females need to be fixed, it's not my responsibility"Not true, it takes two to make a litter. This is a chauvinistic idea that pregnancy is all the woman's fault. It is everyone's responsibility.

"My pet is special"  Every animal is special. Most will never be duplicated. Think of all those special animals that are killed daily. Adoptees are very special animals.

If this section still has not convinced you to neuter your animal, go visit a shelter. I challenge you to spend some time there. Ask when they euthanize animals & witness how the animals cringe, defecate in fear, and act when they are taken out to be killed. Look them in the eyes and explain why you do not want to neuter your pet.

Now..... all this being said, please spay and neuter your pet! And please promise to adopt from your shelter for your next pet(s), or if you can, offer to foster pets from the shelter so they may have more room to help other pets in need. If we are proactive about spaying and neutering, helping shut down puppy mills, eventually someday I would like to hope that there will be less animals, who deserve a life just as much as we do, lose theirs before they can experience it.

A rant on Animal Cruelty and abuse.....

Everyday we see some article either online, in the paper, or on television about animal abuse, neglect, hoarding, or puppy mills. The list goes on.

I found myself wondering today (after watching the latest puppy mill video from the Humane Society on a raid on a Border Collie mill rescue operation), when it became socially acceptable to stop caring, stop being responsible for other lives, and when it became ok to be cruel to another soul. Another sentient soul includes not only humans, but all life forms. All animals feel pain, love, happiness, and compassion.



Most of society prefers to turn a blind eye to the uglier side of our working relationships with animals.

On the mill issues; several people I know would rather have the status symbol of a "purebred" pet, they wouldn't stoop so low as to rescue an animal in need, or a purebred pet that has been abused, or abandoned. It's sad actually. Animals have become another commodity and get mass produced without a thought for their care.  They are kept in squalid conditions, in filth, bred constantly, no interaction with people or sunlight most times, no toys, never hear a gentle or loving voice, and the list goes on again.

On raising animals for medical products; female hormone replacement therapy drugs are made mostly from pregnant mare's urine. Premarin, prempro, etc. The mares are bred constantly to keep them pregnant to harvest their urine for the production of these drugs. The colts are sold from birth most times for slaughter for leather products etc. They don't even stand a chance of life. The mares who can no longer produce, or put out the amount of urine expected, are slaughtered. If you want to learn more about it, go to: United Animal Nations and  check the page on the Premarin mares and their work to raise awareness on this issue and how to adopt a rescued horse from the program.

We read about animal hoarders, it is a mental condition in these people, but once again, most of society doesn't want to be involved or help stop this.

We read about dog fighting and the sensationalism with Michael Vick and the way he abused or killed the dogs that lost or weren't worthy to fight anymore. We read about a teenager who went around capturing people's cats in Florida and torturing them and dissecting them alive. Or about the teenagers who baked a puppy alive. Or how about groups taking shelter animals slated for euthanasia and using them alive on a hook for shark bait! I kid you not, it happens and when I found out about it I had nightmares and woke up crying for weeks over that one.

The list will always go on until the majority of us really stand up and say enough!  We need to step forward, educate people of the myths of gender and spaying and neutering, educate them about proper care, support the non-profit organizations in legislation against animal abuse and their capability to help those who might not have the means to supply care for their animals. We need to take the steps necessary to put breeding mills out of business, visit the ASPCA's site for 10 Ways You Can Help Fight Puppy Mills. Take a stand and promise to adopt your next pet, whether from the shelter or a breed specific rescue organization. Teach your children to truly respect all life and it's role in the world and your lives. Teach them that it is wrong to purposely hurt, injure, or kill another being. Be willing to learn and share what you learn about animal care and responsibility. Be a responsible pet owner/caretaker. Stop pretending it doesn't happen!

A gripe on people's insensitivities and ignorant remarks...

First off: I am not a certified expert on everything I may post here. I am sharing my experiences, and learning, and insights, most times I have backing on what I post and will post links for that backing with my post. You have the right to disagree with me, but please if you must say something to disagree, be polite. And please do not accuse me of being a spammer, it is not my intention. My intention is to share information and insights with you.

On my post the other night about foods to not feed your pets, someone took issues with it that I was fully of hooey. I am sorry, but I don't think so, I don't post stuff like that unless I have a way to back what I say from a reputable group like the AVMA or ASPCA or such. I gathered they didn't really read my post, because they said I contradicted myself about bones, I said don't feed cooked bones because of the splintering factor, and from experience, Lil'Shit had to have surgery many years ago to save him because of a blockage of bone splinters in his intestine, they removed that part of the intestine. And yes, while raw food has bones, it's raw bones, and raw bones crush and break up differently and have all the nutrients in them that cooked bones don't. The eggs is more about salmonella than anything else, and this person blah blah'd about how she/he feeds all this stuff and mushrooms just fine to their pet. I almost wept for their pet. At least another backed me about the fact that it's better to be safe than sorry. My intention only was to perhaps make some pet owner a bit more aware of things that could harm their pet and perhaps save a loved animal companion.

I have had many a discussion with a dear friend whose cat is diabetic. When our kitties were diagnosed with diabetes, we went on the fast track to learning about everything for our pet that could affect their possibility to go into remission and how could we support them and give the best care for them. We know better on some things, like foods, and insulin, etc because we live(d) it. We saw first hand the effects of the wrong foods etc. My kitty Scooter developed heinz body anemia, during her short life with diabetes (she's passed on), and the first thing the vet wanted to know was if I fed onions or garlic to her and gave me a veterinary article on it. I hadn't fed her any of that, but had given a "natural" supplement, Alpha Lipoic Acid, which helps people with diabetes. The vet took the time to do the research on all of it and found the link to this "natural" supplement and heinz body anemia in cats.  And my friend and I (along with many others) have learned that vets in veterinary school, initially learn their nutritional stances from the pet food companies? We got wiser.
Since then I have learned so much about nutrition in general, and genetically modified foods, etc. even for people, as I go through my own issues with food intolerances and auto-immune disorders. And I worked to help educate my mother with her diabetes and food issues. We know that what might be ok for us isn't ok for our fur kids, I know that while we are all mammals we all aren't quite the same. For example, while we might have enzymes that allow us to digest and use garlic, our pets lack that enzyme. So, in my thinking it is better to NOT take the risk and don't feed it to them. And didn't the recalls on pet foods over 3 years ago teach anyone anything? Didn't the people really read the articles from veterinarians who perhaps did know nutrition because they took the time to learn it and the endocrine systems of animals?

I love my animals in my care with all of my heart, those beautiful souls who have chosen to share their life with me. They look to me to care for them to the best I possibly can, to have a healthy, happy, and loving life. Why should I be ignorant and selfish by feeding them stuff blindly that shortens that life, just so I can have a "pet" in my life?

A little clue here people, I don't make statements here or anywhere, unless I have something to back it with and I have learned as much as possible on it. I work with people who know anatomy and physiology, microbiology, animal sciences, nursing, pharmacology, etc. inside and out because they have been studying and teaching it for a very, very long time. And I can tell you that some things I have learned throughout my years, have taught them new things also. And I am NOT the only person like this out there, I can point you in the direction of a whole group of people.

So think a bit before you make an uninformed or hurtful remark to me. I grant you have the right to disagree, but don't call me a liar or a spammer because you CHOOSE to be uninformed on a topic.  And I will state, I don't know it all, but I do CHOOSE to take the time to learn and be informed as much as possible not only on my own health and foods, but those for my animal companions also.

For cat owners... Indoors or Outside?

This post pertains to cats.

If you are thinking of letting your cat go outside on their own, here’s a few facts: the average lifespan of a cat is 15 to 18 yrs of age. For most cats allowed outside their average life is only about 2-5 years. There are so many dangers outside that can kill or maim your kitty.


If your kitty is an outside kitty, or you are considering letting them be outside, please consider these items (and ask yourself honestly if you could completely prevent any or every one of these things from happening to your kitty).

• Injury from fighting with another cat or fighting to get away from another animal. Most bite wounds aren’t visible until they are abscesses.


• Picking up diseases from other cats, feline leukemia, rabies, etc. All of which will shorten his or her lifespan.


• Injury or death by a motor vehicle or even a bicyclist, or being hit and left to suffer in pain.


• Injury or death from a stationary vehicle, like some cats will seek warmth in the winter under a car hood, fan belts are an awful way to kill.


• Antifreeze poisoning, just walking through a leak then washing their paws is enough to kill them by causing kidney failure. Death can happen within days sometimes a week at most and it is a very painful way to die.


• Dog attacks, kitty may not only die from the injuries but also from the extreme fear they’ve experienced.


• Stolen and sold for lab research or dissection, or to be used as bait for dog fighting or in rituals. People are paid to catch live cats and sell them to biological supply companies for dissection.


• Stolen to be killed and eaten by people. Some cultures this is normal behavior.


• Abused by young people or children of any age, by beating, shot, stabbed, dissected alive, etc.


• Encounters with a poisonous animal, rattlesnakes etc.


• Predators; besides people, there are a lot of other animals that would kill or hurt a cat. Depending on where you live they could be: Alligators, Hawks, Eagles, Owls, Coyotes, Foxes, Raccoons, Skunks, Mountain Lions, Bobcats.


• Traps and snares.


• Impoundment by animal control, an annoyed neighbor, or local cat hater.


• Parasites, fleas, ticks, heartworms (yes,cats get heartworms, and they are more deadly to a cat as there is no cure for cats with heartworms), etc.


• Light colored cats can get skin cancer from too much sunlight exposure.


• Hanging and choking from a non-safety collar, or a malfunctioning safety collar.


• Accidental poisoning from eating a poisoned rodent or bird, or walking through herbicides, fertilizers, pesticides, etc.


• Intentional poisoning from animal haters, etc.


• Exposure to weather without access to shelter.


• Being accidentally trapped in a garage or someone’s car.

 Face it, as a human you simply do not have the means or capability to protect your kitty in time or stop everything that could possibly happen to them. However, there are safe alternatives to just simply opening the door and letting them out. You can build a fully enclosed kitty run or area off of a room of the house where they can be outside but still be fully protected. Even taking them out on a leash is not fully protecting them, you are not as fast as they are or as fast a predator. Coyotes are losing their fear of humans, and if they are hungry enough, will snatch your kitty from right next to you. 

 While it's your choice, it's your cat's life, so I will make the plea to please think twice before letting your kitty be an outside kitty. And for those of you with livestock and barns, you have provided shelter and some protection from predators. And as always, please spay or neuter your pets. They'll be much happier without all the hormones and live a longer and healthier life.

One of my peeves....

I live in the Southwest. They call it the "high" desert here. It's still desert here whether or not we're high is debatable. However, living in the desert has dangers to pets and the mountains can add to those dangers. Add in ignorant and angry drivers and it's just downright dangerous for any pet or animal to be loose and running around. Oh, and then there's young people who are bored and will torment an animal that is outdoors or running loose.

My peeve is this, PLEASE if you are a caring and responsible pet owner, DO NOT allow your cats to run loose, or your dogs. Everyday I see animals running loose, or dead by the side of the road, it's plain heartbreaking.

Cats can not only be hit by cars, shot by an irate neighbor or a neighbor who just doesn't like cats, they are snacks and yummy to coyotes and dog packs, they are shot with blow darts by bored kids, they are used as bait animals for training fighting dogs, and the list goes on. Dogs, if running loose will pack with other dogs, kill livestock, get shot at, hit by cars, eaten by cougars and even coyotes, tormented by kids if left in a yard that isn't protected, and this list goes on also.

Nothing, I repeat, NOTHING breaks my heart more than to have seen a beloved pet, dead on the road, and leave me hoping that it was quick and they didn't suffer. I cry for every one of them I see. It is far, far crueler to let them run loose than to keep them safely confined. Personally I don't believe cats that are pets shouldn't be allowed outside. They truly are much happier inside. And believe me, nothing is more shocking or heartbreaking than seeing a coyote chase and grab a cat and eat them alive. And don't for a minute be fooled that coyotes are only out in the countryside, they come right into towns, we even have cougars and bears downtown quite often.

Dogs should be either kept safely indoors or in a safe yard, or run. Where kids cannot torment them, where they cannot be hit and left to die slowly, or even stolen and sold to animal research facilities, or medical schools, like a story in South America this week. And if they aren't loose and in a pack, they are not a menace to other pets or small children. Dog packs and the pack mentality is dangerous.

Don't assume that everyone on the planet is a pet lover or animal lover. I have seen people driving aim for a animal to run it over. Or how about someone who deliberately poisons an animal and lets it suffer a long agonizing death.

And please spay and neuter, because roaming pets that are not altered create more unwanted pets that usually end up being euthanized. Spaying or neutering will not take anything away from your pet. He'll still be a male, and won't become a wuss, your girl will be just fine without having to have a litter.  And you'll be increasing their life overall.

Ok, gripe over for now. Please be responsible for your pet. Even the Humane Society, and ASPCA will all tell you that pets are happier when inside and in safe surroundings.