Sign petition for humane treatment of poultry. I did!

Since the 1950s, federal law has required that all livestock be rendered "insensible to pain" before slaughter. Seems like such a modest requirement reflecting our society's belief that animals should not suffer unnecessarily, right? Yet this most basic requirement does not extend to more than 95 percent of the farm animals slaughtered for food in this country - 9 billion a year - simply because the law does not explicitly mention poultry (chickens, turkeys, ducks, and other birds).

Poultry deserve the same basic protections that cows, pigs, lambs, and other livestock have. Join thousands of Americans in urging Congress to amend the law by signing the petition here.

Click here for more information.

Feline Enrichment: How to entertain your cats Part 1

Enrichment research has shown that toys that are removed and then returned after several weeks regain much of their novelty; extend your enrichment budget by rotating your cat's toys regularly.

Provide different toys, different days of the week.

• paper bags
• used pens with ink removed (just the outer part of the pen, remove everything inside and the lid)
  
• plastic milk caps
• film canisters (empty or put bells, pennies, rice, etc inside to make noise)
  
• ping pong balls (put them in the bathtub for enclosed fun!)
  
• treat balls (can use whiffle balls)
  
• flashing balls
• cork?
• tissue paper (supervised play!)
  
• tunnels
  
• paper towel rolls (rip the roll a little to give it more appeal)
  
• child's sock filled with catnip and sewn closed
• tie shoestrings to cage bars
• put pipe cleaners on cage bars, or twist around finger to make a spiral and put on the floor
• spools with thread removed
• any box, even one that seems too small for your cat. Cats are notorious for attempting to fit into small boxes
  

Put squirrel/bird feeders/bird baths outside each window.
Provide places in the sun to sleep.
Provide cat grass or other types of greens. Catnip, Thyme, Sage, Mint and Parsley are good alternatives.

Take your cats out for a walk (seriously)!
Click here to be directed to my website where I describe the process of teaching your cat to walk on a harness.

People are so stupid.

Last night, Jack, one of my foster cats did something weird. It is not life threatening or even something warranting a visit to the vet. I typed in my question into google and came up with many results.

There are numerous questions online from stupid people with actual emergencies with their pets who are just posting the question online and...I guess...waiting for the "internet" to answer them.

What are these people thinking!?! Take your animals to the freaking vet!

For example, someone asked about their dog vomiting white foam, one said their cat had thrown up six times that day, one that hasn't peed for two days...all of these are potentially life threatening and cannot wait. If your cat, especially a male cat, has not peed in two days, it could die the next day.

Why are people so ignorant? Even if I was not educated about the health of cats and did not have experience with them, I would consider all of these incidents life threatening. I would not post the question online and wait for an answer. I would be in the car on the way to the vet.

People might say that they can't afford it. Well, if your child was throwing up six times, would you not take them to the hospital? No, of course not. You would get them the medical care they needed and figure out how to pay later.

Responsible pet parents would do that. Not having the money is not an excuse. Your pets depend on you to take care of them.

Peta offering $1 Million for "test tube" chicken.

While I disagree with much of Peta's tactics and actions, I am with them on this one.

The details:

PETA is offering a $1 million prize to the contest participant able to make the first in vitro chicken meat and sell it to the public by June 30, 2012. The contestant must do both of the following:

• Produce an in vitro chicken-meat product that has a taste and texture indistinguishable from real chicken flesh to non-meat-eaters and meat-eaters alike.
• Manufacture the approved product in large enough quantities to be sold commercially, and successfully sell it at a competitive price in at least 10 states.

Judging of taste and texture will be performed by a panel of 10 PETA judges, who will sample the in vitro chicken prepared using a fried "chicken" recipe from VegCooking.com. The in vitro chicken must get a score of at least 80 when evaluated in order to win the prize.

According to Peta.org, In vitro meat production would use animal stem cells that would be placed in a medium to grow and reproduce. The result would mimic flesh and could be cooked and eaten.

I am a vegetarian. I am 27 and have not eaten chicken for nearly 4 years and all other meat since I was 12 or 13. I am not sure if I would eat this new meat but I am sure meat eaters would. This would help our world so much if someone could make this.

Some facts about the effects of eating meat on the environment:

• According to the Sierra Club, producing one pound of grain-fed beef requires about 16 pounds of wheat and - as staggering as it sounds - 2,500 gallons of water. Furthermore, millions of acres of forest have been cleared worldwide to make room for the large areas of land needed for cattle grazing. In the United States, more than 260 million acres of forest have been cleared to grow crops to feed animals raised for meat. An acre of trees disappears every eight seconds.
• Livestock is fed more than 80 percent of the corn and 95 percent of the oats grown by American farmers. The world' s cattle alone consume a quantity of food equal to the caloric needs of 8.7 billion people - more than the entire human population on Earth. Link to Article
  
• A recent report prepared for the Senate Agricultural Committee concluded that animal waste is the largest contributor to pollution in 60 percent of the rivers and streams classified as " impaired" by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The report states that food animals produce waste at a rate of roughly 68,000 pounds per second. Link to Article
• Harvard nutritionist Jean Mayer estimates that a 10-percent reduction in U.S. meat consumption would free up enough grain to feed 60 million people. Some 40 percent of the world' s grain harvest is fed to livestock, while nearly a billion people go hungry each day. Link to Article
• According to CNN.com,90 percent of all large fishes have disappeared from the world's oceans in the past half century, the devastating result of industrial fishing.

Learn more:

Article-Why Eating Meat isn't Natural.

Summary of Article

• Human anatomy is much more similar to herbivores than carnivores.
• Meat consumption unquestionably promotes heart disease, cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, and every other major degenerative disease -- the opposite of plant-based diets.
• Physical performance is superior on all-plant diets.
• Making one contrary point does not magically invalidate all the other evidence as soon as it's made.

YouTube Video from the Humane Society of the United States on Factory Farming.

Photos/Videos of Factory Farming from the Humane Farming Association

Environmental Impact of Factory Farming

Take Action for World Week for Animals in Laboratories

Many people find this hard to believe, but the U.S. government continues to sink millions of dollars each year into funding cruel and outdated experiments on animals to test the effects of nicotine and tobacco. Please join IDA during this week's observance of World Week for Animals in Laboratories (WWAIL) to call attention to this outrage and speak out in opposition.

Click here to find events in your area!

Imagine how powerful we could be if everyone reading this would just take a few minutes to engage in even one action for animals in labs.

IDA's Up in Smoke campaign highlights the futility and inhumanity of nicotine experiments on newborn and pregnant animals. These are some examples:

- Since 1992, Elliot Spindel at Oregon Health and Science University delivers steady doses of nicotine to pregnant monkeys through pumps implanted into their backs. The babies are cut out of their mothers' wombs in order to dissect their lungs.

- At Texas A&M University, Ursula Winzer-Serhan forces baby rats to consume nicotine mixed with baby formula at the equivalent of three packs of cigarettes a day. After about a week of being fed nicotine, the babies' heads are cut off and their brains are dissected.

- Researcher Kent Pinkerton at University of California, Davis, subjects pregnant rhesus monkeys to smoking chambers where they are forced to inhale cigarette smoke for six hours each day, five days a week. When the infants are ten weeks old, they are killed by lethal injection and their lungs are dissected for analysis.

Over the past five years, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has given at least $16.5 million to this category of research. This appalling figure does not reflect the total cost of all nicotine research on animals, only that which focuses on nicotine's effect on fetal and newborn development.

Animal researchers staunchly defend these experiments as necessary for improving maternal and newborn health. But answers don't come from animal studies. After decades of animal studies, we still have not solved the problem of smoking during pregnancy. Only education, public health outreach, and prevention programs can address the human behaviors that lead to smoking.

Please call and/or email the following individuals today to politely urge the NIH to stop funding nicotine experiments on animals and instead redirect funds towards prevention, education and smoking cessation programs. Then follow up with a letter, fax and/or personal email:

Elias Zerhouni, M.D.
Director, National Institutes of Health
Building 1, Shannon Bldg RM 126
1 Center Drive, MSC 0148
Bethesda, MD 20892-0148
Email: ez26y@nih.gov
Tel: (301) 496-2433
Fax: (301) 402-2700

Norka Ruiz Bravo, Ph.D.
Deputy Director: Office of Extramural Research
1 Center Drive, MSC 0152 (Room 144)
Bethesda, MD 20892-0152
Email: ruizbran@od.nih.gov
Tel: (301) 496-1096
Fax: (301) 402-3469

Illinois: Let Animal Rescuers Do Their Jobs Without Fear

IL HB 5076—Good Samaritan Bill
Sponsor(s): Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, Senator John Cullerton
ASPCA Position: Support
Action Needed: Please email the letter below to your senator in the Illinois State General Assembly.

Update, 4/03/08—Good news: the Good Samaritan Bill has passed the Illinois House unanimously! It now moves to the Senate for consideration, so please use the letter below to email your state senator.

Update, 3/06/08—HB 5076 has made it out of committee and now goes to the House Floor for a vote. Please don't wait—email your representative today!

Illinois House Bill 5076 contains “Good Samaritan” provisions for individuals who rescue or provide care for injured animals in emergencies or disasters. The bill also clarifies the statute of limitations for violations of the Humane Care for Animals Act.

The need for legislation like HB 5076 was seen in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and 18 states already have Good Samaritan provisions that protect individuals who rescue or help animals during emergencies or disasters. The Land of Lincoln should encourage these generous actions by protecting animal rescuers from lawsuits.

Please personalize and send the email below to your senator, requesting a favorable vote on HB 5076.

Click here to be taken to the ASPCA site to send your email.

Missouri, Say Yes to Senate Crackdown on Dog Fighting

Missouri, Say Yes to Senate Crackdown on Dog Fighting

SB 819—Increases Penalties for Dog Fighting
Sponsor(s): Senator Scott Rupp
ASPCA Position: Support
Action Needed: Call your Missouri state senator TODAY to urge support for this bill.

SB 819 would give the Show Me State stiffer laws against dog fighting. The bill would add dog fighting to the list of offenses that are subject to the Criminal Activity Forfeiture Act. It would increase the penalty for being a spectator at a dog fighting event, and allow law enforcement officers making a lawful seizure to take possession of dogs and property used in the violation.

The bill has passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee and has been placed on the Senate calendar. Although there is strong bipartisan support for this bill in both chambers of the Missouri General Assembly, a group called the Missouri Federation of Animal Owners has been actively working to defeat the bill.

Time is running out to pass this important piece of animal welfare legislation. Please call your state senator as soon as you can to urge support for SB 819. You can look up your senator’s phone number here (make sure you call your state senator in the Missouri General Assembly, not your federal senator in the U.S. Congress). When you call, please remember to thank your legislator for taking your views into consideration.

In addition, please take a moment to add your comments to the following letter of support and submit it to your state senator. It is very important that you personalize the letter so it will stand out.

(Sponsor) Senator Scott Rupp
State Capitol Building
Room 426
Jefferson City, Missouri 65101
(573) 751-1282
FAX: (573) 526-4766

Click here to be taken to the ASPCA site to send your email.

The Lower Rung of Society and "Cat Ladies"

I received a lot of comments in response to my quote in USA Today. Most of them I deleted because they were inappropriate, rude and filled with obscenities. It is amazing to me how many rude people we have in our society. They can say whatever they want, it doesn't bother me too much because I know that I am a good person. What their comments told me, besides that they were immature and annoying, was that people automatically believe you are a "nutcase" or "crazy cat lady" if they find out you help cats.

Why is that? Caring for the less fortunate makes you a kind person, not anything negative. I have 6 cats here. The people who left comments assumed that I was a hoarder, that lived in a filthy house and that I had no friends. When did rescuing unwanted cats from death become a bad thing? I am just continually surprised at the ignorance of people.

deadspin.com and ridiculous comments

It seems to be the end of the work day and the comments are coming in. I posted a link to my quote on USA Today. It seems that deadspin.com has picked this up and ran with it.

The nuts (from deadspin.com) have come out in droves! There have been many people leaving rude and obnoxious comments about my opinion. It would be nice to actually get some productive comments, rather than these childish insults and observations.

Just think if these people could put such effort into something constructive.

My opinion was quoted in USA Today...

I was quoted in USA Today for my opinion on Michael Vick. To read the article, click here.

Problems with comments

I am having a problem with my comments appearing. I installed Intense Debate a week or two ago and it is not working correctly. Because I installed that, my default Blogger comment system is not working either. I have comments that I would like to post but they will not show up. I am working on this problem and hope to have it solved by the end of the day.

Michael Vick...and my reasons for that post.

Update:
I have had many people email me about my reaction to this, saying they are surprised that I would be against this. I am NEVER against promoting awareness of animal abuse. I am also NEVER against donating to animal shelters. What I am against is using Michael Vick's name to do it. I think they are making a joke of it in a way because they are all dressing up in prison clothes. I think it is inappropriate to do that and to use Michael Vick's name. I did read the entire article and I still stand by my previous opinion.

Would people be "welcoming" a child molester to the "neighborhood" if he were sent to the Leavenworth Penitentiary to speak out against child rape?

I think Michael Vick's name should be left out of it as well as the prison clothes. I think it is distasteful. I don't think they should be focusing on Michael Vick going to prison as it clouds the real issue. I understand that they are trying to tie the two together-participate in dog fighting...go to prison. They should educate the public about what dog fighting is and focus on the inhumane treatment of the dogs. They are completely skipping over that by using Michael Vick's name and a "welcome to the neighborhood" theme. It is just sick and twisted in my opinion.

I have not and am not saying I disagree with creating awareness of animal abuse and donating to shelters. I don't know why anyone would even think I was against that.

What I disagree with is the use of Michael Vick's name and the prison clothing. If they wanted to use his "celebrity" to get attention they should have said it was for the dogs that he KILLED and MAIMED--not to "welcome" him to the neighborhood.

T-Bones, Kansas City Minor League Team to host "prison themed", MICHAEL VICK night!

<----Remember, this is what the "guest", Michael Vick did!!!

In an effort to raise awareness about animal abuse and pet adoption the Kansas City T-Bones have partnered with several animal safe havens to help put a stop to animal abuse on Michael Vick “Welcome to the Neighborhood” (Vick is in the United States Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas ) night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark Wednesday, May 28. The promotion headlines the 2008 T-Bones promotional lineup that fans have come to expect at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

This is a disgrace! This is an insult to the dogs that died and the ones still alive. This is a slap in the face to our fight against dog fighting and animal abuse. Michael Vick is someone who deserves to be in jail...not to be the "guest" for speaking out against animal abuse and dog fighting. He has been convicted of both. Please write the T-Bones and let them know your feelings on this. They are "welcoming" him to our area because he is in PRISON!?

During the game both teams will be dressed the part, the T-Bones will be wearing black and white striped jerseys while the visiting Gary SouthShore RailCats will wear bright orange jumpsuit replica jerseys. The jerseys will be auctioned off following the game with the proceeds benefiting the participating pet organizations. The park will be appropriately decorated for the prison themed night.

They are completely making a joke out of the fact that he is in PRISON for what he has done. This is completely inappropriate!


Here is the link.

Animal Tip #2

Grow your cat some grass for a tasty treat.

I buy SmartyKat Brand seeds and grow them in old butter containers, or any other small container. I also use organic potting soil. It takes a few days for them to grow and then you can set it out for your cat to enjoy! My cat, Gaby, loves cat grass. My other cat doesn't really care about it.

One thing you might see after putting out cat grass is vomit. Yuck! Cats eat grass when they have a stomachache and for some reason, the grass helps them vomit. You might also see some grass in the litter box. Both are completely normal and are no cause for worry.

Animal Testing and America...

The Washington Post tells a very interesting story about the "evolution" of animal testing in America. It states that a federal panel put together from 15 different federal agencies have only approved 4 alternatives to animal testing in 10 years. Out of 185 alternatives reviewed, only 4 passed. That is only .02%!

One researcher, when talking about American animal testing said, "Some animal tests haven't changed in 60 years," said Thomas Hartung, head of the European group. "The tests are frozen in time. This is not science. Science is always moving ahead."

Many Americans would be shocked to know what their tax dollars are used for.

I disagree with animal testing that is outdated and/or for superficial things. All of my household cleaners, my shampoo and conditioner, laundry soap, etc are not tested on animals. There are many brands that don't test on animals, for a list click here. (Note: The site I am linking to is a PeTA site. I do not support PeTA but have found their list to be the most comprehensive. Don't fall for their gimmicks!)

Some people who are very ill, such as with AIDS or some other serious illness are so desperate to survive that they are willing to be tested on. I definitely think the person should be of sound mind and understand what they are agreeing to. Why should we test on animals when their bodies don't always work like ours? Aren't we already testing things on ourselves anyway? We are still taking a risk if we begin a medication deemed safe in animals, whose bodies are genetically different. That doesn't mean they are safe for humans.

Now, I don't think we should go out on the street and pick up homeless people to test on. I don't think we should test people in prison or anything. Around Kansas City, there are quite a few companies who compensate people who participate in testing all kinds of medications.

Why don't we do that? It would be more cost effective. It would be tested on those who will or would be using it. We wouldn't waste years testing something on animals only to kill humans right after it is deemed safe. For example, Opren was tested on monkeys and other animals for 9 years and had no adverse side effects. It was recalled in 1982 after 3,500 harmful reactions and 61 human deaths. What a waste of time!

What do you think?

Read the Washington Post article here.

Very interesting facts about animal testing.

Breeders kill shelter animals!

I somehow found my way to this site, usfreeads.com, and found nearly 6000 ads for puppies. There are 6000 ads trying to sell litters of puppies. So, just say there are 5 to a litter...thats 30,000 lives created to make money. On nextdaypets.com, there are over 20,000 ads! On terrificpets.com, they have nearly 2,000 ads, some advertising one puppy others advertising entire litters.

Doing a google search for "puppies for sale", I get 3,230,000 results.
For kittens, I get just 659,00 results.

This is very irresponsible considering the amount of animals that are euthanized each year. I do not buy the argument that people are trying to save a breed. According to the Humane Society of the United States, purebreds account for about 25 to 30 percent of a shelter's dog population. Animal shelters care for between 6–8 million dogs and cats every year in the United States, of whom approximately 3–4 million are euthanized. If we use the highest estimated numbers (30% of 8 million) possible we come up with 2.4 million purebred animals in shelters nationwide. There is no reason to "keep the breed(s) alive", it is alive and well.

I do not see how breeders can defend their actions. Even if the breeders are giving the cats and dogs a good life, they still created a life that takes a home away from a shelter animal. How can they call themselves animal lovers if they are deliberately creating a new life in an already overwhelming population of cats and dogs who are euthanized every single day?

Money.

I think breeders do it for the money. I saw a Yorkie online going for $3,000! That is outrageous!

The site that I linked to above has this on their site: A replacement puppy (male or female of your choice) will be given at no charge, once the original puppy is returned to us at buyer's expense. The puppy must not be spayed or neutered.
They don't spay or neuter their puppies they adopt out?!

It is a tragedy that this is happening. Maybe if there weren't breeders and puppy mills out there, the innocent cats and dogs that were killed today might still be here. Because of human action, those cats and dogs are in dumpsters. Shame on you-irresponsible breeders!!

Your actions are helping to kill cats and dogs all over the country!

DON'T BREED OF BUY WHILE SHELTER ANIMALS DIE!

New: Animal Tip of the Day #1

Each day, I will provide you helpful tips regarding all animals, especially cats and dogs.

Tip #1 Periodically check your cat's or dog's ears. If they look dirty, it might be ear mites. Get him or her to a vet.

Ear mites are tiny crab like parasites, if left untreated, can cause a bacterial and yeast infections and, in extreme cases, rupture of the ear drum leading to seizures and deafness. Ear mites (Otodectes cynotis) are the most common cause of outer-ear inflammation in cats - especially kittens and young cats. Frequent ear scratching and head shaking are the most often seen symptoms. Source: Petshealth.com

18 year old gets one year probation, $300 fine for putting a Jack Russell Terrier in a washer and killing it after luring it with a dead squirrel.

Here is another case of a clueless judge giving a "slap on the wrist" punishment.

Klynn M. Cvejkus, 18, of the 200 block of Fourth Street, was fined $300, plus administrative fees, by Judge Gerard Long for killing a dog.

Her probation is under the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program, which will allow her to clear her criminal record if she doesn’t get into trouble during the year.

A dead squirrel was found in the clothes dryer, the chief said. Because squirrels are difficult to catch, authorities suspect it may have been found dead and used to lure the dog into the house’s basement.

Pavic said dog feces found in the dryer indicate the canine may have been placed there first.

Police said Cvejkus, the Conemaugh Valley High School student, entered the house last month and put the small terrier into the washer. The dog died of a broken neck, authorities said. It didn't drown because water to the house had not been turned on.

Police said the dog was alive when it was put inside the washer, but they said Cvejkus allegedly told friends she found the animal dead along a road.

The home's owner, Jean Bopp, told the district judge on Monday she found the dead terrier in March when she was preparing to move back into the house.

I want to know why this judge is so lax about a punishment. She lured the dog there to KILL it. That is sick.

Please write or call this judge and let him know what you think about this sentence.

Judge Gerard Long
Cambria County Courthouse
200 South Center Street
Ebensburg, PA 15931
(814) 472-5440 Ext. 401

If calling, you can say something as short as "Judge Long, I am contacting you in regards to the case of Klynn M. Cvejkus (I do not know how to pronounce this person's name). If you do not feel comfortable trying to pronounce it you can say, "Judge Long, I am contacting you in regards to the case of the 18 year old teenager from East Conemaugh who put a dog in a washer and turned it on. Then, state your opinion on the sentence. For example, this is (basically) what I said: I believe this sentence is an injustice to the dog and other pets and pet owners. Police believe she lured the dog there to kill it. She picked up a dead squirrel, lured the dog to the house, placed him in the dryer where the squirrel was also found, then put him in the washer and turned it on. She knowingly and calously killed the dog. Probation is not nearly enough to punish her. According to Robert K. Ressler, who developed profiles of serial killers for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), “Murderers … very often start out by killing and torturing animals as kids,” I hope you understand the severity of animal cruelty and the repercussions for our society the next time you have a case in your court room. Thank You.

Cats being shot with BB gun in Kansas City!

I have posted this on two feral cat groups I belong to and only one person replied. That is disappointing.

I volunteer with a woman who told me that someone she works with has seen cats being shot with a BB gun as a means to control the population.

1. That does not work
2. That is inhumane!

The man who lives there has told either the maintenance man or the manager that he does not believe that is the right thing to do. The woman who told me about this couldn't remember which one he said was shooting them.

BB guns maim cats-not kill them. So, they will live awhile. They will be walking around, wounded and in pain and die a slow, agonizing death.

I am not sure what to do besides call the apartment complex and let someone there know that I know what is happening and I am a feral cat rescuer. I want to put some pressure on them. This is their problem but people will be watching how they handle it.

Anyone have any ideas on what I could do? Has anyone dealt with this type of situation before?

Annie Update

In the picture below, Annie is looking out the window. She loves to look outside but I think she is still nervous up there. She only stays for a minute then quickly goes back into hiding.




I have been working with her to get more comfortable with being picked up and held. She just seems very scared whenever I try to pick her up but she is getting much more comfortable with being sat on my lap. A few days ago, she actually laid down (instead of me holding her down) and rubbed her cheek on my leg when I sat her on my lap.

50 dead animals found in cages in abandoned home

The rotting remains of about 50 dogs, cats, guinea pigs, hamsters and ferrets were discovered in a Barnegat house today, officials said.

A locksmith sent by the bank that had foreclosed on the house found the decaying remains when he arrived to change the locks and immediately contacted the police.

"They were piles of bones and fur," said Matt Stanton, a spokesman for the state Society for the Prevention of Cruelty for Animals. "The dogs just disintegrated."

Most of the remains were found in locked cages throughout the one-story home, which officials described as fully furnished, with garbage and fecal matter strewn throughout.

Read more here...

UPDATE
A South Jersey husband and wife were released on $25,000 bail each yesterday after they were arrested and charged in the deaths of dozens of house pets found at the Jersey Shore.

Matthew R. and Amanda Teymant own the unoccupied townhouse on Potomac Circle in Barnegat, N.J., where police found the skeletal remains of 64 animals Monday.

"The only things alive in that house were the flies and the maggots," Stanton said.

Read more here...

Lost pets on PetConnection.com

A fellow volunteer at the Animal Shelter sent out an email saying her cat is lost. She sent a link to her posting on PetConnection.com's lost and found cat page. I decided to take a look, even though she lives in Kansas and I live in Missouri. We live close to the border.

When I went to the site, there were probably 100 cats listed just in this area. I just cringe when I hear that a cat or dog is missing. I had a terrible time about 5 years ago when my cat, Gaby, was missing. She was actually stolen, but I didn't know that then. For more on that, click here to be directed to my website to read Gaby's story.

I have seen a lot of cats, kittens and even a puppy dead on the side of the road. I have probably seen 10 or so in the last month. Please keep your pets indoors! I know that occasionally, a pet will run out of the door or somehow escape your sights. As a general rule, it is essential to always be able to see your pet. Don't tie them up outside unattended. (I see this all the time!)
Don't let them out in the backyard, even with a fence. Sit outside with them and enjoy the air.

My cats are never, ever outside without me. I cannot risk it. Gaby was nearly killed and I won't let that happen again.

Ideas for names?

This is the kitty I trapped and had fixed through No More Homeless Pets Kansas City. I have had her for a week today and I still have not named her. Any suggestions? I think she is just gorgeous! She is very sweet and loving.

Dog owner arrested for filing dog’s teeth down and beating dog for chewing wire fencing

Chris Barnett of McMinnville, Tennesee has been arrested and charged with felony charges of aggravated animal cruelty. He filed his dog's teeth down, to the gumline. A witness to the beatings, called the police and Barnett was arrested.

"He had 16 uppers and 14 lowers that have been ground all the way down. The root and nerve are exposed and bleeding," Warren County Humane Society President Andy Anderson said.

Last week, Anderson said she received a call from a man who said he saw Lucas' owner, Chris Barnett, beating the dog.
Anderson said Lucas' eyes were blood shot, and x-rays showed that he suffered a fracture to his face.

"This bone that goes around his eye is fractured," Anderson said.

Anyone who would like to help can send donations to:
Sparta Road Veterinary Clinic
4021 Sparta Hwy.
McMinnville, TN 37110

Donators are asked to specify that they want their donations to be used for Lucas' medical expenses.

Dog chews own leg off to escape

A purebred Saint Bernard chewed his own leg off to escape being on the end of a chain.

Panda was rescued by animal control after being notified by a concerned neighbor. The dog is being cared for by a local Saint Bernard rescue.

Read more

Teenagers in Clearlake, California Microwave Hamster

Two teenage girls who police say microwaved a hamster face felony animal cruelty charges.

Officials say the girls, ages 14 and 15, twice put their hamster, named Bugsy, in a microwave. Police say they also stuck Bugsy in the freezer.

Officer Carl Miller says the girls told authorities they just wanted to see the hamster go around on the microwave's plate. The girls told authorities that they didn't think the animal would be hurt because it was only in there about five seconds.

Animal Control officers say the hamster survived, but chewed off three of its feet that were burned and blackened.

The girls, whose identities have not been released because of their ages, are being held in Juvenile Hall.

Today is National (Pet) Tag Day

The American Humane Organization calls attention to the dangers of not having appropriate identification on your animal by calling April 5 National Tag Day.

Without identification, your pet's chances of reuniting with you are very slim. There are 3 types of identification. Microchips, tattoos and id tags on collars.

Microchips are becoming more and more common and are responsible for many happy endings. A microchip is a rice sized capsule that has a identification number linked to your information. Animal control and most animal shelters have scanners to retrieve this information. There is an online database where your pet's number is entered, which leads to your contact information.

Tattoos are less common than microchipping and probably less effective as not many people realize to look for them. There have been cases where the tattoo had become illegible.

Collars and ID Tags are by far the most common and most effective. People immediately know that the animal is a pet and can feel more comfortable knowing they are most likely vaccinated. There are collars on the market that actually embroider or somehow print vital information onto the collar.

There are many types of ID tags available as well. There are the traditional tags, made of metal with your contact information engraved into it. There are small vials that hold a small piece of paper (similar to a "note in a bottle") and even flash drives that can be put into someone's computer to get your contact information.

The best way to ensure the safe return of your beloved pet is to get them a collar and id tag and microchip them. If they have a collar on, people will definitely know the animal belongs to someone. If the collar somehow gets loose from the animal, animal control can scan the animal and you can still be reunited.

Show your pet you love them--ID them!

Adoptions at PetSmart today...

I helped with adoptions today at PetSmart. I am amazed sometimes by the ignorance of people. We were there from 11 to 3. We had many people come through who said, "No, I can't have anymore cats--my cat just had kittens." Where will those kittens go? They will probably be given to other irresponsible people who will say the same thing to us when they come through the store in 6 months or so. (btw, cats can have kittens as early as 6 months of age.)

We came in with 3 grey kittens and 3 adult cats. Which ones were adopted? The kittens were gone before 2:00. The adult cats, who are much less work, were still sitting there when 3:00 rolled around.

Nearly everyone who walked by commented on Avery, a short hair tabby. Nobody adopted him. He does have a cleft palate, which causes a deformity on his nose. He is spunky and playful, yet nobody wanted him. Murphy, a beautiful long haired orange cat was there and nobody wanted him. Orion, a sweet lap cat, was looked over also. I felt like I was one of those annoying car salesmen, or woman in this case. I really pushed to get those cats adopted. They deserve happy homes.

Why is our society so superficial? These kittens that were adopted today might be returned to the shelter once they are no longer "cute". Then they are destined to fight for a coveted spot in someone's house. What message are we sending to our children and these poor cats?

Adopting a cat or dog is for LIFE. I have two cats of my own. I adopted Gaby at 8 months (she was going to be euthanized for being black). My cat Ashtyn was a year and a half when I adopted her. I will have them until they pass away. I never thought any different. They are mine until the end. Period.

Please educate others whenever you get a chance. Let everyone know that you are a responsible pet owner and you will have your pet until the end. There is really no reason not to.



Murphy

Avery

Orion

After the show: Oprah on Puppy Mills

I just finished watching the Oprah Winfrey Show on Puppy Mills.

After years of hoping throughout the animal welfare community, Oprah has made a show about puppy mills. She has saved more dogs than we can ever know. Her celebrity status allows her to reach more people than we can and I think she did a great job of speaking out about animal welfare. I am very satisfied with the show; I think she provided a very complete view of how puppy mills contribute to the pet overpopulation problem.

This show documented, through undercover video, the terrible lives of dogs in puppy mills. They explained that the lives of the mothers are the most deplorable. The mothers are bred repeatedly with little or no break between litters and are killed after they can no longer can reproduce.

Oprah spoke with Wayne Pacelle, CEO of the Humane Society of the United States. Although I generally mistrust HSUS, I was pleased with the information he provided. He said that "as a nation, we are better than this" (this is not an actual quote, I cannot remember exactly what he said). I believe this was an excellent thing to say to really reach Americans.

I believe we are better than this.

A very emotional part of the show was when they showed a dog being euthanized. I am still not sure what I think about it but it was difficult for me to watch. It was not gory or violent--but still difficult to see. The dog appeared to be sleeping and the animal control officer of Fort Worth, Texas who allowed the cameras inside, stated that the dog was unconscious. They showed the dogs and how the animal control officers make the decision about which dogs will be euthanized the next day.

They also showed dogs in trash bags being thrown into a dumpster with a forklift. That image will stay with me for a long time. It was incredibly sad.

Overall, this show was excellent and very informative. The only thing I would have added to the show is that the same things can happen to cats. I wish that they would have focused on the fact that more cats are euthanized than dogs and can also be bred by irresponsible breeders--though much less. Despite that, the show was excellent and I am excited to see if anything positive happens because of it.



Click here to be taken to Oprah's Website.

HSUS MySpace Page | Stop Puppy Mills Website

Oprah Winfrey show to feature undercover investigation of Puppy Mills 4.4.08

This Friday's Oprah Winfrey Show will feature an undercover investigation of the hidden world of puppy mills.

Using a hidden camera, Lisa Ling will show the world where their puppies really come from. See the startling treatment of companion animals in this country.

Oprah Winfrey plans to dedicate the show investigating abuses at puppy mills to her cocker spaniel, Sophie, who died last month from kidney failure.

"Sophie gave me 13 years of unconditional love. She was a true love in my life," Winfrey says on the broadcast scheduled to air Friday. (Advance remarks from the show were released Tuesday by Harpo Productions.)

The show features special correspondent Lisa Ling investigating puppy mills, which Ling calls "horrific" and "haunting."

Winfrey says the show is "for anybody anywhere who loves a dog, has ever loved a dog, or just cares about their basic right to humane treatment."

While Sophie was not a product of a puppy mill, and Winfrey's three current dogs were adopted from breeders, Winfrey says in the future she would look to adopt from an animal shelter.

"I would never, ever adopt another pet now without going to a shelter to do it. I am a changed woman after seeing this show," she says.

Click here to find where and when to tune in to Oprah's show.

Please click here to email Oprah.

Learn more about puppy mills:
prisonersofgreed.org
stoppuppymills.org/
hsus.org

My "feral" cat dilemma part 3

This cat is definitely not feral. She has let me pet her twice today. She is eating and drinking but has not used the litter box yet.

I am going to find her a home. I don't think it is ethical to put her back outside knowing she is not feral. She would crave human companionship which she could not really get if she lived outside.

Update on "feral" cat

In the middle of the night, the feral cat was meowing and moving around. She had not really moved since I brought her home.

She looks a lot better. She ate last night and drank some water.