Every year thousands of dogs are destroy simply because no one wants them. These animals come into the possession of the “American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (ASPCA)” through various efforts and programs, such as the “National Shelter Outreach” program, the requirements of “Government Affairs and Public Policy”, or as a ward under the “Humane Law Enforcement”. These friends of man should not have to be terminated: the can be saved for life by those will to adopt one. It is common knowledge that most people will not adopt a grown dog, but even puppies are put to sleep, all for want of a compassionate human heart. Adopt a puppy, if you have one. Save these adorable friends of man.
You do not have to adopt one right away to save them. The ASPCA allows puppies to have foster owners. One humane man fostered a puppy for a year and subsequently decided to adopt a puppy he had come to love. Another, a woman, had been a volunteer caretaker at her local ASPCA when a box of five wire-haired fox terriers were brought in, two puppies full of vigor and smiles, three much older. At first she decided to adopt a puppy, but which one she wasn’t sure. The smallest was the most darling of all, but the other one funny. She, too, fostered the littlest for a year, and eventually adopted her. This a volunteer, she would give a little more attention to her adopted terrier’s brother, who had become obviously depressed since his brother had left. When the two older terriers were finally but to death and he was scheduled to go a month later, she opened up her heart and decided to adopt a puppy whose brother have already given her so much joy.
Most people who adopt a puppy have long wanted a dog and have decided to save one who might be resident at the ASPCA. Some will shop for just the right mutt, returning often to the ASPCA until the one they have been wanting shows his or her face. To adopt a puppy, at present, the ASPCA will want to know if you are able to care for the animal before they release it to you. Homeowners are preferred over renters, and a renter may have to bring in some documentation showing their landlord permits dogs. A small fee is collected and the adoption papers finalize. When they bring out your new found friend, you’ll think how, in same cases like this, joy is next to free.
You may also find that there are a shortage of healthy puppies. Everyone, you might think, wants to adopt a puppy only if it is healthy and whole, but this is not the case. One woman discovered a big eyed spaniel that had been taken into the ASPCA when it had mysteriously fallen from a four-story roof. All four of her legs had been broken in multiple places, and she had a wound on her stomach. She had been seized by an HLE agent. The eyes certainly had something to do with adopting a puppy for this lady, but it was her sorrow for what man had done to another creature that really inspired her.
The next time you think, “I want a puppy”, think of adopting one from the ASPCA.
Filed under pets in the news by on Jun 18th, 2010. Comment. 
The AP Press and the Houston Chronicle reported that the Humane Society and the Montague County Sheriff’s Department served search warrants at Maggic Pets/Heddins Kennel at which time they confiscated nearly 500 dogs. They served the search warrant after receiving complaints that the dogs were not being cared for properly.
Authorities found dogs in crates double-stacked in outbuildings, as well as in outdoor kennels and pens. Some had skin conditions and open wounds. The dogs in the worst condition were discovered at the back of the property which was off limits to the customers where they also found several dead animals.
The kennel is owned by Carol Heddins, who was taken to the hospital by ambulance due to a heart condition when the officers had arrived. Her husband, Cloyce, told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that the dogs have received proper care and authorities were given bad information. The kennel offers on it’s Web Site breeds that include Pugs, Schnauzers, toy Beagles, Akitas, and Shi Tzus.
Cloyce Heddings told the newspaper “We’ve been in this business a long time. If you raise dogs, you’ve got to get them veterinary care, especially if you’re trying to make a living of it.”
The dogs were taken to a Fort Worth warehouse donated to temporarily house them. The Montague County Justice of the Peace will make a ruling whether to return the animals to the kennel or grant custody to the humane society.
The full story can be read at http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6518661.html
Filed under pets in the news by on Jul 10th, 2009. Comment.
Almost every day, a story about a dog bite victim is seen on the evening news. City and state governments struggle with how to enforce aggressive dog laws. Wouldn’t it be easier if we could learn to avoid dog bites altogether?
According to the Centers for Disease Control, almost 5 million dog bites are reported every year and more than 800,000 of those bites require medical attention. Estimates from insurance companies and hospitals range as high as $250 million dollars spent annually on the treatment of dog bites. Given that the majority of dogs are euthanized due to behavior issues, this is an issue that not only affects humans, but can, quite obviously, affect dogs in an extremely negative way.
If you read through the Bureau of Labor Statistics website, you might be inclined to believe that working with pets is also a very dangerous proposition. During a six year study, more than 18,000 injuries or illnesses were reported involving dogs or cats and 8 of those occurrences were fatal. An amazing fact though is veterinarians and veterinary staff accounted for less than 5% of the total, despite their obvious closeness with their patients. What secrets can this profession teach us about avoiding these injuries and the associated costs?
According to Dr. Kersti Seksel, a noted animal behaviorist and veterinarian from Australia, dogs will often provide numerous warning signs before attempting to bite. “It is important to look at the whole dog, its body language as well as its facial expression,” says Dr. Seksel. “A dog may growl, bark menacingly, lift its lips and grimace. The body is often tense, the hackles along the back and neck may be raised indicating a heightened state of arousal, and the tail may be slowly wagging.”
Due to the large numbers of dogs seen on a daily basis, veterinary staff members have learned to monitor a dog’s body language, preparing for any potential aggressive movement. And while this is important information to learn, Dr. Seksel cautions everyone to remember that many of these signs can be subtle and there are occasions when a dog may not give the usual signs. A pertinent example might be the dog who has been previously punished for growling. As Pavlov and other behaviorists have shown, dogs will learn avoidance if negative stimuli are applied after certain behaviors. Thus, a dog owner who reprimands his dog for growling may be unknowingly removing the dog’s only outward expression of emotion or displeasure.
Veterinary experts recommend that all puppies undergo an initial “puppy training class” and socialization exercises. Just like kids, some puppies will immediately take to their new friends and some will take a little longer to overcome their shyness. Unless the dog is going to be used for police or military work, no puppy should receive positive reinforcement for any sort of aggressive behavior. Owners should seek veterinary advice when contemplating buying a breed of dog they are unfamiliar with or if the description of the breed discusses “extreme loyalty”, “intolerant of children”, or “prefers single owner household”.
Finally, an important part of avoiding dog bites is the education of our children. The vast majority of dog bites occur in children 4-9 years of age and a larger percentage occurs in young boys. Teaching your children some of the following guidelines could help to avoid a painful lesson and potentially even save his or her life. When faced with an unknown dog, or a dog whose behavior seems to be odd, Dr. Seksel recommends the following:
Children should be taught to never run up on a dog, especially one who is eating and that not every dog may be as friendly as their own pet. Teaching a child to ask the dog owner if it is OK to approach the dog and then if it is OK to pet him can help to avoid many of the common mistakes made by dog bite victims.
As dog owners, we love our pets and want the very best for them. Animal shelters and humane societies would like to see the number of dogs euthanized for behavior issues decrease and our society, as a whole, has a strong desire to see a lessening in the number of dog bites each year. Following the recommendations of veterinary behaviorists and other animal experts can be the first great step to achieving these goals.
If you are having difficulty with your dog and aggression, please see your veterinarian immediately.
Filed under pets in the news by on Jun 26th, 2009. Comment.
Our hearts go out to Oprah Winfrey who recently adopted a puppy from a local Chicago Shelter that had been exposed to parvo virus while at the shelter. Her other puppy is clinging to life at a local animal hospital. Please be sure your puppy is vaccinated and de wormed regularly to prevent this tragic disease. Also make sure that your puppy has been vaccinated before you adopt them and make check the shelter for any other sick puppies they may have been exposed too. (see the whole story here and here)
Parvo is a devastating virus that attacks young puppies causing severe vomiting, diarrhea and sometimes even toxic shock. Here is some more information concerning parvo virus
1) Canine Parvovirus arrived in the US in the late 1970s causing great concern among dog breeders, dog showers, veterinarians and all pet owners. Fortunately, development of effective vaccines helped check the spread of parvo.
2) Today, parvo is still a concern among specific breeds of dogs (Rottweilers, Dobermans, pit bulls), any young dogs, and any dogs who don’t receive routine veterinary care (unvaccinated pets).
3) The original strain of parvo virus that arrived in the 1970s is known as CPV-2b. Recently, Internet rumors have started circulating describing a new strain of parvo known as CPV-2c.
4) New strains of most viruses occur regularly due to mutations in the genetic code. It is not surprising that a new strain of canine parvovirus has been found.
5) Many Internet sites, chat rooms, and pet blogs have been buzzing with this knowledge, claiming that the new strain is deadlier than the older strain.
6) All research to date shows that dogs who have been vaccinated with current vaccines are still protected against this newer strain of parvo.
7) Furthermore, there is no evidence that the new strain (2c) is more virulent, harder to kill (more resistant to disinfectants) or more difficult to diagnose. Variant strain 2c will show a positive reaction on commercially available test kits at your veterinarian’s office.
Filed under pets in the news by on Mar 19th, 2009. Comment.
News from AKC came to me today that affects all dog owners in Texas and dog owners in the rest of the country should watch out for
Excerpt from AKC news release:
Two mandatory spay/neuter bills have been filed in the Texas Legislature. House Bill 4277, sponsored by Representative Jose Menendez of San Antonio, and Senate Bill 1845, sponsored by Senator Leticia Van de Putte also of San Antonio, will require that all dogs over six months of age be sterilized. The American Kennel Club (AKC) and its Texas federation of owners, the Responsible Pet Owners Alliance (RPOA), believe that any attempt at restricting the rights and liberties of responsible breeders–especially via mandatory spay/neuter laws–must be defeated. If adopted, these bills will have a profound negative impact not only on responsible dog breeders in Texas, but also on all current and prospective dog owners. Therefore, it is vital that all responsible dog breeders and all concerned dog owners in Texas, as well as anyone worried about such radical policy, contact their elected state legislatives as well as the bills’ sponsors and respectfully let them know that these draconian measures are unreasonable, unenforceable, and unacceptable.
The American Kennel Club opposes the concepts of breeding permits, breeding bans, or the mandatory spay/neuter of purebred dogs. Instead, AKC supports reasonable and enforceable laws that protect the welfare and health of purebred dogs and do not restrict the rights of breeders and owners who take their responsibilities seriously. Additionally, we strongly support and actively promote a wide range of programs to educate the public about responsible breeding practices and the responsibilities of dog ownership.
As currently written, HB 4277 and SB 1845 would:
- Require every person who owns a dog or cat at least six months of age to have the animal spayed or neutered.
- Provide few exceptions, including one for owners of a dog or cat who purchase an intact animal permit at a cost of $300 per intact animal.
- Make each violation of this law a class C misdemeanor, liable for fines up to $500 per violation.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
All concerned responsible dog breeders and owners in Texas, as well as all other concerned Texas residents, are strongly encouraged to write their elected state legislators as well as the bills’ sponsors. Let them know that mandatory spay/neuter bills are radical and unacceptable and will have a profound negative impact upon the state of Texas.
To find out who represents you in the Texas House of Representatives, click here. For a customizable sample letter to send to your representative, click here.
To find out who represents you in the Texas State Senate, click here. For a customizable sample letter to send to your senator, click here.
House Bill 4277 Sponsor Representative Jose Menendez
Capitol Office: EXT E2.204
Capitol Address:
P.O. Box 2910
Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78768
Although I do routinely recommend spaying or neutering your dog, I am against making mandatory legislation for such. Besides being against your civil liberties, this would be un-enforceable, and if you mandate automatic sterilization, then the state should have to pay for it. I do not believe the state is ready to either enforce such a bill, nor pay for it. Nor do I think citizens will readily accept such a bill. So get on your phone, your computer and your desk and call, write or email against such legislation.
Sincerely,
Debra Garrison, DVM
Filed under pets in the news by on Mar 16th, 2009. Comment.
