Pop Art Pet Unleashed

Did you know that on April 10th 2007, the ASPCA will be celebrating ‘ASPCA Day’ ? They are encouraging animal lovers nationwide to ‘Go Orange for Animals’ and there’s just enough time for you to get in on the action…

In their hometown of New York City, many Big Apple buildings will be lighting up in orange—the official ASPCA color—on the ASPCA’s birthday, April 10th. Other big cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles, Austin and Philadelphia, will be going orange, too.

But let’s not forget the most important participants of all. Without the support of animal lovers nation-wide, The ASPCA wouldn’t still be the oldest humane organization in the Western Hemisphere. Please join them in celebrating the work that they do and the animals that are served by ‘Going Orange for Animals’ on April 10th.

To get you started, they’ve provided a long list of ideas on how you can ‘Go Orange’ in your city, town, classroom or community for animals on April 10. Whether you organize a pet parade in your community, petition to get your town hall to light up orange, or decorate your office door with an orange bow, your help is appreciated.

GO ORANGE! GLOW ORANGE! SHOW ORANGE FOR ANIMALS!

For more information about ASPCA Day, please email melissat@aspca.org.

Toby, a 2-year-old golden retriever, saw his owner choking on a piece of fruit and began jumping up and down on the woman’s chest. The dog’s owner believes the dog was trying to perform the Heimlich maneuver and saved her life.

Debbie Parkhurst, 45, of Calvert, Maryland told local reporters she was eating an apple at her home Friday when a piece lodged in her throat. She attempted to perform the Heimlich maneuver on herself but it didn’t work. After she began beating on her chest, she said Toby noticed and got involved.

“The next thing I know, Toby’s up on his hind feet and he’s got his front paws on my shoulders,” she recalled. “He pushed me to the ground, and once I was on my back, he began jumping up and down on my chest.”

That’s when the apple dislodged and Toby started licking her face to keep her from passing out, she said.

“I literally have pawprint-shaped bruises on my chest. I’m still a little hoarse, but otherwise, I’m OK,” Parkhurst said.

“The doctor said I probably wouldnt be here without Toby,” said Parkhurst, a jewelry artist. “I keep looking at him and saying ‘Youre amazing’.”

Source: Yahoo News

The very first Original Sock Dog was handcrafted in July 2005 by Stacey Hsu for “Art Unleashed” an annual art auction to benefit the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City where she is a regular volunteer.

Stacey, artist and animal lover, got her start sewing as an intern at Disneyworld, sewing names on hundreds of mouse ears! Now she has created a pound-full of plush pups, and she has donated a portion of each and every Sock Dog sale to the Humane Society and other no-kill animal shelters.

You can get one of sockdogs.com’s adorable, available adoptees, that you can see in the Sock Dogs shop. Or for a little more you can do what we did, send Stacey a few pics of your pup and have a custom creation - a Sock Dog that looks like YOUR dog!

Check out the newest addition to the Kylie collection:

And talk about attention to detail.. the Kylie Jr.’s have a tag with her name on it and even some of the same spots! They also came with a tag telling her story (click the image below to see a larger version and read for yourself).

Stacey was great to work with, and I would recommend her services to anyone. And she does so much to help homeless pets! Please visit her blog, where she constantly posts stories and information to raise awareness about animals in need. We encourage you to support her in her efforts and adopt an Original Sock Dog today!

PS: In case you were wondering… Yes, there are also Sock Cats!

Rat poison was found in the pet food suspected of causing kidney failure that killed at least 16 cats and dogs, but scientists still don’t know how it got there, state officials said Friday. The toxin was identified as aminopterin, which is used to kill rats in some countries, state Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker said.

Aminopterin is not registered for killing rodents in the United States, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, though it is used as a cancer drug. State officials wouldn’t speculate on how the toxin got into Menu Foods’ now-recalled pet food but said no criminal investigations had been launched.

Scientists at the New York State Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell and at the New York State Food Laboratory tested three cat food samples provided by Menu Foods and found Aminopterin in two of them. Hooker said they would be testing individual components of the pet food, as well. “Any amount of this product is too much in food,” he said.

Aminopterin, also used as a cancer drug, is highly toxic in high doses. It inhibits the growth of malignant cells and suppresses the immune system. In dogs and cats, it can cause kidney failure, according to Donald Smith, dean of Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

The Food and Drug Administration has said the investigation in the pet deaths was focusing on wheat gluten in the pet food. Wheat gluten itself would not cause kidney failure, but the common ingredient could have been contaminated, the FDA said.

The pet deaths led to a recall of 60 million cans and pouches of pet food produced by Menu Foods and sold throughout North America under 95 brand names. There have been several reports of kidney failure in pets that ate the recalled brands, and the company has confirmed the deaths of 15 cats and one dog.

Menu Foods last week recalled “cuts and gravy” style dog and cat food. The recall sparked concern among pet owners across North America. It includes food sold under store brands carried by Wal-Mart, Kroger, Safeway and other large retailers, as well as private labels such as Iams, Nutro and Eukanuba.

The company’s chief executive and president said Menu Foods delayed announcing the recall until it could confirm that the animals had eaten its product before dying. Two earlier complaints from consumers whose cats had died involved animals that lived outside or had access to a garage, which left open the possibility they had been poisoned by something other than contaminated food, he said.

Menu Foods planned a media teleconference for later Friday, a spokesman said. The company is majority owned by Menu Foods Income Fund of Streetsville. The company also makes foods for zoo cats, but those products are unaffected by the recall.

A spokesman for New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said he was not aware of any criminal investigation involving the tainted food. FBI spokesman Paul Holstein in Albany said Friday he was not aware of any FBI involvement in the case.

Source: Associated Press

The Dog Behavior Answer Book

It happens all the time. Just when Max’s owner thinks she has him figured out, he exhibits a bewildering fear of the neighbor’s skateboard. Or, despite endless corrections, Bailey still refuses to understand that she doesn’t belong on the leather armchair.

To situations like these and a hundred more, dog expert, Arden Moore, provides answers that clearly explain canine actions and reactions, and then helps readers with suggestions for modifying unacceptable behavior.

The Dog Behavior Answer Book will solve the mysteries of canine shoe theft, food guarding, and grass eating for puzzled humans everywhere.

It’s Okay to Miss the Bed on the First Jump

This charming and hilarious book is more than a mere celebration of man’s best friend. In this lighthearted and reflective exploration of how and why dogs have served as some of our most valuable and enlightened teachers, well-known and well- loved actor/show host John O’Hurley (Seinfeld, Dancing with the Stars) shares lessons learned from his life with canine companions, including: Every 15 Minutes Is a New Day; Never Miss a Nap; When One Person Stops Petting You, Move On; A Cold Can of Meat Is Still a Feast; and You’re Only as Big as You Think You Are, to name a few.
“Dogs, after all, have pure hearts, trusting natures, a zest for living, noble characters, and an ability to take things in stride,” writes O’Hurley in the book’s introduction. “They can be counted on, and are pleasant companions. They know what’s important, always. How many humans do you know about which you could say the same?” At once poignantly moving and laugh-out-loud funny, It’s Okay to Miss the Bed on the First Jump is a book for the dog lover on everyone’s shopping list.

Tails of Devotion: A look at the bond between people and their pets

Fifty-eight families write love letters to their pets, including dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, parrots, and even snakes. This beautiful coffee-table book offers touching and humorous stories accompanied by over 200 black and white photographs. The most remarkable part of this wonderful book is that 100% of the proceeds are going to five animal welfare nonprofit organizations in San Francisco.

Shelter Dogs

Photographer Traer Scott’s endearing portraits of dogs living in American shelters are irresistible and heart-rending – and make a passionate appeal to dog lovers everywhere. Some of the dogs subsequently found good homes; others were never adopted. The portraits reveal the strikingly intense emotion, dignity and, sometimes, humor and whimsy that Scott saw in each face despite the dog’s circumstances. By documenting the undeniable expressions of emotion in the dogs encountered in her volunteer work, Scott raises awareness of animal rescue causes, and especially the need for more adoptive homes for abandoned dogs. This book of true portraits of fifty beautiful shelter dogs is a poignant and loving tribute to all dogs.

Is it best to leave a dog in a crate or give it the run of the house if you leave it alone during the day? According to the Humane Society, you should never leave your dog alone all day.

“Social interaction is vital to your dog’s well-being,” says Michael Helmstetter, development director of the Longmont Humane Society, “and leaving your dog alone all day creates social isolation and denies your dog of one of its most basic needs.” However, if you must leave your dog alone, here are some recommendations:

• Make sure your dog has access to fresh water at all times.

• Install a doggy door so your dog can relieve itself outdoors, or hire someone to stop by every four hours to let it out.

• Give your dog safe toys to relieve stress and to keep the animal occupied. These include a hard rubber Kong or a Buster Cube, which can be filled with treats.

• Hire a dog walker to visit your pet two times a day for social interaction, exercise and play sessions.

• Take your dog to doggy day care at least twice a week for social encounters and to alleviate isolation.

• Include your dog in family activities on weekends.

People used to think a fenced yard was all a dog needed. It provided a comfortable place to play and rest, freedom to move about, and a secure environment.

Now we know dogs are pack animals that require social interaction to lead a happy life. Leaving them alone all day outdoors or indoors is detrimental to their social development and can lead to aggression and separation anxiety.

Source: We borrowed this article from Boulder County Home and Garden because we were happy to find that they borrowed a picture of Kylie to include in this feature in their Winter 06 issue.

Hopefully, if you have pets you are already aware of this, but Menu Foods, the Ontario, Canada-based company, announced Saturday it was recalling dog food sold throughout North America under 48 brands and cat food sold under 40 brands including Iams, Nutro and Eukanuba. The food was distributed by major retailers such as Wal-Mart, Kroger and Safeway.

An unknown number of cats and dogs had suffered kidney failure and about 10 died after eating the affected pet food, the company said.

Two other companies — Nestle Purina PetCare Co. and Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc. — said Saturday that as a precaution they were voluntarily recalling some products made by Menu Foods.

Many stores that sold the affected brands frantically pulled packages off shelves.

A complete list of the recalled products along with product codes, descriptions and production dates is available from the Menu Foods Web site, http://www.menufoods.com/recall. The company also designated two phone numbers that pet owners could call for information — (866) 463-6738 and (866) 895-2708 — but callers kept the lines busy for much of Saturday.

Menu Foods’ chief executive and president Paul Henderson said that the company had received an undisclosed number of owner complaints that dogs and cats were vomiting and suffering kidney failure after eating its products. He told the Associated Press on Friday that the company was still trying to figure out what happened.

We are posting this, hoping it will help spread the word about an urgent need at the Livingston County Humane Society in Chillicothe, MO. There are 10 days left to help save the lives of the dogs and cats there. Here are the details, courtesy of Best Friends Animal Society. If there are any ways in which you can help, please contact Carolyn (info below).

Shelter in Chillicothe
March 16, 2007 : 12:00 AM
To All Friends of the Animals,

We are beyond desperate for help. We put out the word Sunday night that the shelter in Chillicothe would no longer be able to house animals indefinitely, that the city was mandating that we only keep the dogs 14 days then they are to be euthanized.

Further, they have let Lesley the shelter manager know that we have to have ALL of the dogs cleared out or spoken for by the 26th of March. I know you guys have all cross-posted your butts off for us, but we need you to get it moving again.

We have had response and have already had some move THANKS DEBBIE WITH FFAL, so far those are the only dogs who have left the shelter. We do have transports going over the next few weekends thanks to my bestest bud and partner in crime Susan, but… she can’t do them all.

We just simply can’t get enough drivers, vehicles etc to move them out. So, we need fairly local rescues who would be willing to drive in and pick up dogs like Debbie did or maybe are close enough that I personally could drive animals to them during the week. I am booked with all these transports on the weekends. We could use more transport help, more coordinator help, would be wonderful if someone had a super large van or bus that they could come to the shelter and move animals for us. etc etc.

We really need the local rescues to step up in order to save these lives. We are transporting to Chicago area Sat, Tulsa Sunday, Chicago and NY and IN next weekend, NM the weekend after. But we are running out of time.. March 26th is only days away. Please, I am begging everyone to help. I know that we have had lots of rescues long distance who can help but it’s the transport that is the problem.

We only have 2 drivers to transport out of Chillicothe Me and Melvin who works there… Also, we are desperate for monetary donation too, we need help with transport costs and with sponsoring dogs to help defray all the vet costs to the shelter. So if anyone can donate financially that will help a great deal.

You can paypal it using lchs @ cmuonline.net (remove spaces) email address as our paypal account or you can mail a check, but it will have to come in quickly as we only have 11 more days. Please Kansas City & St. Louis area rescues, if anyone has room or can make room, please help, those are doable transports for me during the week.

Please cross-post etc etc..

Thanks,
Carolyn
LCHS Volunteer

Did you know that second hand smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, many are known to cause cancer in pets and humans? Did you know your pet can develop respiratory infections, lung inflammation or asthma when breathing in second hand smoke?

FluffyQuits.com encourages smoking pet owners to give up cigarettes for the sake of their pets’ and to make a pledge:

I believe in the health and well being of my pet(s). I understand that quitting smoking will reduce the likelihood that my pet(s) will develop tobacco-related respiratory infections, lung inflammation or asthma. I pledge to be a Smoke-Free pet owner so as to keep my pet(s) living healthier and longer. I am a proud supporter of FluffyQuits.com!

They also ask other non-smokers to help spread the message. If you own or manage a pet related store or vet office you can sign up to receive a kit with signs and literature to encourage pet owners to keep their homes and vehicles smoke-free.

It’s an important message, one that most people never consider but could save pets lives.

If a dog is man’s best friend, a disabled U.S. Air Force veteran showed the feeling is mutual by saving his drowning pet with mouth-to-snout resuscitation and CPR.

Lucy, a 10-month-old English bulldog, chased ducks into a partly frozen lake near Randy Gurchin’s home in Papillion, Nebraska, but quickly became paralyzed in the icy water and briefly went under. The 50-pound dog was unresponsive and had a blue face and bloody foam around its muzzle when Gurchin, who flew combat missions over Iraq and Afghanistan, edged onto the ice.

“The ice started to crack under me. I just picked her up,” he said. “I thought she was dead.” But Gurchin, 51, put his military first-aid training to use. He closed Lucy’s mouth, put his mouth over her nose and started forcing air into her lungs and pushing on her chest. Within minutes, the dog began breathing shallowly and was rushed to a nearby veterinarian. Doctors soaked Lucy in warm water, injected steroids and muscle relaxants and put her in an oxygen chamber. She has since made a full recovery.

“Our little Lucy is back,” said Gurchin’s wife Kelley. Her husband, who retired from the military with a back injury in 2005 and walks with a cane, has vowed not to let the dog out of his sight, she said. “He would never say he loved her until this rescue mission,” she said.

Source: Reuters