Gone To The Dogs....

Petland Uses Puppy Mills

2008-11-21T03:59:00.001-08:00

The Humane Society released a report yesterday detailing their lengthy investigation into puppy mills. They've discovered that Petland Incorporated is the nation's largest retail supporter of puppy mills. Watch the following video and let your voice be heard.

Stop Puppy Mills

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Wordless Wednesday...

2008-11-12T11:58:00.001-08:00

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Election Victories!

2008-11-07T10:10:00.000-08:00

There were two landmark victories for animals in Election 2008. Massachusetts put an end to commercial dog racing and that's reason to celebrate! Read more below...

Victories For Animals

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2008-10-29T09:34:00.001-07:00

Ridley At Sundown...

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Top 10 Medications Dangerous To Pets

2008-10-17T06:34:00.000-07:00

You might want to check out this list from the ASPCA which tells of human medications that can be very dangerous to our beloved pets.

Top 10 Dangerous Medications

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Spread The Word About Rescue Chihuahuas

2008-10-15T06:34:00.000-07:00

The movie Beverly Hills Chihuahua opened on October 3rd. We all know what happens when a new “dog movie” comes out....lots of people decide they must have a dog just like the one in the movie. But what people might not realize is that shelters and groups across the country have plenty of Chihuahuas, for ADOPTION. In fact, Chihuahuas are the 5th most-posted breed of dog for adoption on Petfinder (after Labs, Shepherds, Pit bulls and mixes of those breeds). Please watch this video and encourage others to adopt a shelter/rescue dog!

Beverly Hills Chihuahua

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Wordless Wednesday...

2008-10-01T11:09:00.000-07:00

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Latest Pet Food Recall

2008-09-26T06:35:00.000-07:00

Source: ASPCA

The ASPCA is advising pet parents to discontinue the use of certain dog and cat foods manufactured by Mars Petcare US. On September 12, the company issued a nationwide recall of certain foods due to potential contamination with a Salmonella serotype called Schwarzengrund. The recall includes several widely distributed brands of dry pet food, including Pedigree, Special Kitty, Paws & Claws, Natural Dog Food, Red Flannel, Country Acres, Buju & Ziggie, Member's Mark, Natural Cat Food, Retriever, Bruiser, Doggy Bag, PMI Nutrition and Pet Pride.

“Pet parents should wash their hands after handling any potentially contaminated pet food,” says Dr. Steven Hansen, the ASPCA’s Senior Vice President of Animal Health Services, “and immediately consult with a veterinarian if any signs or symptoms are noticed in their pets.”

For more information on the recall and affected brands, please visit our website. If you suspect your pet has eaten contaminated food, please call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center’s 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435.

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Follow-Up On Animal Cruelty Case

2008-09-17T06:52:00.000-07:00

Some of you may remember the story I brought you about Panda, the Saint Bernard, who ended up chewing off her own leg to escape entanglement. The case was finally heard by a grand jury and I have to say I'm not pleased with the outcome. This was a horrifying case of animal neglect which occurred in my county and it caught nationwide attention. Since it was such a high profile case, I thought surely appropriate punishment would be meted out. I was wrong...I feel this man merely got a slap on the wrist. I'm also appalled by the fact that he is to have no animals while on probation...how about no animals EVER? I absolutely see red when things like this happen. What do you all think? Did the punishment fit the crime?

Published: 12:53 PM, 09/16/2008

Author: Staff Report
Source: The Monroe County Advocate

A Madisonville man pleaded guilty to cruelty to animals after his dog chewed off its leg to escape entanglement in a lead line.

Adolfo Lopez, Hoyt Sutton Road, was charged after the Monroe County Animal Shelter received a tip about the dog’s condition in March.

At a hearing in May, a neighbor testified he saw the Saint Bernard “Panda” “hobbling around on just three legs with what looked like the bone sticking out.”

Shelter director Vicki Morgan, the shelter’s animal cruelty investigator, Dr. Nancy McIntee, and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, went to Lopez’s home. Morgan testified the dog was “hobbling” and added the dog had a foul “rotting meat” smell. She said the stump of Panda’s leg was covered in maggots, which she estimated were at least three days old.

Morgan and McIntee took photos of Panda’s living conditions, which included an empty water bowl, an empty automatic feeder and a bowl of wet, molded dog food.

Dr. Erica Murphy, the veterinarian who treated Panda and eventually amputated the dog’s right hind leg testified Panda appeared to be in mild shock, was a little dehydrated and not at the ideal level of nutritional condition.

She estimated Panda’s leg had been chewed off for five to seven days before it was reported. She said she could not estimate the amount of time the leg had been entangled. But she did say the entanglement cut the circulation off, which allowed the leg to lose feeling. The loss of feeling made Panda see it as a foreign object and enabled her to chew it off in order to free herself.

In Criminal Court Monday, Lopez received an 11-month, 29-day suspended sentence and will be on probation. He is not to own any animals during that time period. He was also ordered to serve 100 hours community service, pay a $100 fine and pay restitution of $535.33 to the Monroe County Animal Hospital.

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Interested In Pet Astrology?

2008-09-10T04:04:00.000-07:00

The Animal Planet website now has a new feature..... Dog Horoscopes! You'll find both weekly and monthly "dogscopes". I think this is a sweet, entertaining feature.

Check Out Your Dog's Horoscope Today

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Wordless Wednesday...

2008-09-03T00:15:00.000-07:00

My photogenic babies :)

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Don't Miss Animal Planet Sunday, 8/24

2008-08-23T20:37:00.000-07:00

Don't miss Animal Planet's important special Animal Witness: the Michael Vick Case premiering Sunday, August 24, and featuring experts from the ASPCA.

"The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) today announced that its experts will be featured in the August 24 premiere episode of a new program on Animal Planet called Animal Witness: the Michael Vick Case.

The hour-long special which will feature interviews with Dr. Melinda Merck, senior director of Veterinary Forensics for the ASPCA and Annemarie Lucas, Supervisory Special Investigator for the ASPCA’s Humane Law Enforcement team will focus on one of the most talked-about stories of 2007 the Michael Vick case."

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First-of-Its-Kind Animal Abandonment Law Passed!

2008-08-17T18:11:00.000-07:00

Source: www.aspca.org

The subprime mortgage crisis that has devastated homeowners and the economy has brought with it a troubling trend: pets abandoned after home foreclosures. Those who assess deserted homes are often directed to leave property—including pets—untouched until the foreclosure process is completed. As a result, many pets have been left to die.

The ASPCA would like to congratulate the California Legislature for addressing this issue with the swift passage of Assembly Bill 2949, which amends California’s Civil Code to require property owners—including banks or other corporate entities—to immediately notify animal control officials when animals are abandoned at foreclosed properties.

AB 2949 was born out of California State Assemblyman Mark DeSaulnier’s annual “There Ought to Be a Law” contest. Contest winner Sheri Kuticka recognized this tragic consequence of the housing market downturn, and suggested that something be done to help abandoned animals. She, along with the ASPCA and the California Animal Association, cosponsored the legislation, which was signed into law by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on August 4.

“While pets are mere ‘property’ in the eyes of the law, the difference between a cat and a stereo is self-evident,” says Californian Jill Buckley, ASPCA Senior Director of Government Relations. “Before this law, a lot of well-meaning people’s hands were tied when they found pets in empty homes. Of course, the most important thing is for folks not to abandon their pets in the first place—but at least now, these unlucky animals will have a chance to get the life-saving care they need.”

If you might be facing foreclosure, please plan ahead to find suitable solutions for your pets. And if you live in California, visit the ASPCA Advocacy Center to send Governor Schwarzenegger an email thanking him for approving AB 2949 so quickly.

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Wordless Wednesday...

2008-08-06T01:00:00.000-07:00

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Let's Put A Shelter Dog In The White House!

2008-07-23T06:30:00.000-07:00

Barack Obama has said that his family plans on getting a dog once the election is over, win or lose. Best Friends has started a petition to urge Senator Obama to consider getting a shelter dog versus a pure bred dog from a breeder. Please take a moment to sign this petition.

Let's Send A Shelter Dog To The White House!

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Wordless Wednesday...

2008-07-02T12:00:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite puppy pictures of Ridley :)

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Cassie & Her DogPause Bowl

2008-06-29T12:00:00.000-07:00

Cassie received her DogPause bowl that I won over at the The Chocolate Dog Blog ! I'm quite pleased with it. I think this bowl does slow her down a bit more than the Brake-Fast Bowl since it has four separate compartments. Cassie is just too funny...I've found that she'll eat a bit from once section...and then just move around the bowl. I'm thankful that products like this exist as my girl eats insanely fast and I worry about bloat....and weimaraners are well known for developing bloat.

P.S. That's a little bit of cottage cheese mixed in her food if you're wondering what the white stuff is!

We're sold on the The DogPause Bowl!

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June 20th Is Take Your Dog To Work Day!

2008-06-19T05:26:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, 6/20, is "Take Your Dog To Work Day"!
Here, then, are some etiquette tips if you're planning to do so....

Taking Your Dog To Work?

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Have You Heard Of The DogPause Bowl?

2008-06-15T21:25:00.000-07:00

I recently blogged about the Brake-Fast Bowl and what a great product it is if your dog eats too fast....it has really helped Cassie Jo slow down and not inhale her food.

I was happy to learn today that I won a contest over at The Chocolate Dog Blog and will be receiving a DogPause bowl, a similar product designed to slow down fast eaters. Don't you just love when you win something?! I'll be posting a review on the DogPause bowl as soon as Cassie gives it a try. In the meantime, you can read up on this great new product!

The DogPause Bowl

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Please Vote For Cassie!

2008-06-02T19:57:00.000-07:00

You may recall that I joined a website called Animal Attraction a while back and it's a great social network site for animal lovers. They have a pet photo contest each month and this month I entered my weimaraner, Cassie. I would really appreciate you all rating her picture. If I win, $250 in prize money will go to Best Friends Animal Society...my favorite animal charity :)

Vote For Cassie!

I encourage you all to join Animal Attraction. When I joined Animal Attraction, they made a $1 donation to Best Friends Animal Society, and they will donate another $1 to Best Friends Animal Society for every one of my friends who joins too....another .01 will be donated to Best Friends every time you log into Animal Attraction. How cool is that?

If you join, please feel free to add me to your pet pals list at Animal Attraction. My ID there is: julie1366

Demand Spikes At Pet Food Banks

2008-06-02T18:57:00.000-07:00

I had noticed that the price of Purina One, which I feed to my dogs, went up several weeks ago and remembered thinking at the time "oh please, not this too." I can handle the additional expense, but I know a growing number of people cannot...and the animals pay the price. Then, of course, I read this today....

Demand Spikes At Pet Food Banks

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Update On Animal Neglect Case

2008-05-30T06:01:00.000-07:00

We had a very sad animal neglect case right here in Tennessee a couple of months ago...right here in my own county. I've been following this situation because this case was particularly horrifying. I'm sick and tired of those guilty of such cruelty getting a slap on the wrist. The case recently was heard in court and will be going in front of a grand jury. You can read all the details right HERE

Here's a video featuring Panda shortly after her rescue: Panda's Journey

The good news is that Panda, the Saint Bernard, is doing great right now in her new home! Here's a picture of Panda today with her new owner.

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Animal Cruelty Is A Serious Crime....

2008-05-21T20:49:00.000-07:00

I sign quite a few online petitions concerning animal rights and environmental issues on a regular basis. I received the following petition this evening urging animal lovers to make their voices heard in ensuring that animal cruelty is treated as the serious crime that it is. This petition is generated at the Care2 Petitionsite. This petition's goal is to lend support to the Tracking Animal Cruelty Crimes Act of 2007, which would require the FBI to add animal cruelty as a separate category in its National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS).

Please click on the following link to learn more and to sign the petition. Simply fill in your name, etc. and the Petitionsite will send the form letter on the site to your respective senator.... it's so simple and will only take a moment of your time :)

Sign The Petition!

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Georgia Gets Tough On Dog Fighting

2008-05-14T20:09:00.000-07:00

Saying that dog fighting is “an activity we will not tolerate here in Georgia,” Gov. Sonny Perdue signed into law a bill Best Friends helped engineer that provides tougher penalties for individuals involved in dog fighting, including spectators.
State Sen. Chip Rogers, who had pushed for the legislation since 2004, was at the signing ceremony on May 6.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Best Friends Animal Society for all their work behind the scenes when we were first crafting this legislation,” Rogers said. “Without the help of Best Friends, our task of taking this legislation from a bill to the governor’s desk would have been much more difficult.”

Georgia’s previous dog-fighting law was among the worst in the country.

“It is a big win for the dogs in Georgia and a good day for any of us who are working for a kinder, more civil society,” said Paul Berry, Best Friends’ chief executive. “The old law was very vague and was of little help to local law enforcement agencies working to stop dog fighting in Georgia. This new law gives law enforcement better tools to prosecute people who fight dogs, as well as those who participate as spectators of this cruel, violent enterprise.”

The new law makes it a felony to train, transport, sell or own a fighting dog, or to advertise, promote or bet on fights. Attending a dogfight will be a high and aggravated misdemeanor on the first offense, a felony on subsequent ones.

Perdue, a veterinarian, called dog fighting a "repulsive, senseless organized crime.”

“Over the past year there has been a bright spotlight shining on a sad situation ... the bloody, brutal world of dog fighting,” he said, referring in part to the conviction and imprisonment of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick for dog fighting. “It’s not a sport, it’s really barbarism.”

Berry praised Rogers for his years of work on the legislation.

“Long before dog fighting became the hot issue of the day, Sen. Rogers was working hard behind the scenes on behalf of the animals. Best Friends salutes his major contribution to this new law.”

In addition to the governor and Rogers, others at the signing ceremony were State Rep. Bobby Reese, who sponsored the bill in the House, State Rep. David Knight, State Rep. Rich Golick, K-9 law enforcement teams and representatives from animal welfare groups such as the Georgia Canine Coalition and outdoors groups such as the Georgia Wildlife Federation.

“This is a big step in closing a legal loophole in Georgia, and I hope this deters future violence against dogs,” Reese said.

Rogers said the new law “sends a loud message to those who would torture man’s best friend for their own sick enjoyment.”

“Dog fighting will be prosecuted and those taking part in this heinous act can expect to go to jail,” he said. “No longer will Georgia be a haven for these depraved dog fighters.”

Written by Michael Rinker

How Tough Is Your State's Animal Cruelty Laws?

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Best Friends' New Puppy Care Center!

2008-04-29T10:31:00.000-07:00

Regular readers here already know what a huge fan I am of Best Friends Animal Society in Utah. I received news today that they will be building a NEW Puppy Care Center. Best Friends has fought hard to end puppy mills nationwide and the effort is paying off. With the crackdown on puppy mills comes the new challenge of finding a respite for the mothers and their puppies. The Puppy Care Center will be an amazing resource for those animals rescued from puppy mills.

The eBay Foundation has pledged $330,000 to Best Friends to build the Puppy Care Center...and eBay challenges all of us to raise even more money to make the Puppy Care Center a reality.

I've posted a "Community Gives" widget below my posts so you all can monitor the success of this fundraising effort. I encourage all of you to learn more about Best Friends and all of their heroic efforts (on a daily basis!) to save ALL animals. Please give if you can :)