General Discussions

FDA issues health alert for pig ear and beef hooves pet treats

Always-The-Boss — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:01:56 GMT

November 05, 2009 On November 5 the FDA issued a health alert for pig ears and beef hooves made by Pet Carousel because routine product testing revealed Salmonella contamination. A follow-up inspection of the facility revealed Salmonella in the treats and the manufacturing facility. According to the FDA press release, the affected products are as follows: Pig ear pet treats: Doggie Delight and Pet Carousel Beef hooves pet treats: Choo Hooves, Dentley�s, Doggie Delight, and Pet ...

Ferrets with H1N1 virus

Always-The-Boss — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:00:02 GMT

The State Public Health Veterinarian for Oregon has confirmed three more H1N1-infected ferrets. According to the statement: "In late October 2009, a client presented to a veterinarian in the Roseburg area with 3 of 9 ferrets who had become ill with an influenza-like illness. The family had human patients with influenza-like illness about a week prior to the illness onset on the ferrets. Two of the 3 ferrets presented with fevers (temp >103F), sneezing , coughing and had nasal discharge. ...

Foxes, skunks spreading bat rabies variant in Arizona

Always-The-Boss — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:58:59 GMT

Foxes and skunks in northern Arizona are spreading an adapted version of a rabies virus variant associated with bats. The state is also enduring a second consecutive record year for rabies cases in animals. More than 200 animals in the state tested positive for rabies in the first nine months of 2009, including dozens of foxes and skunks that were infected with a bat virus variant that has adapted and spread among those terrestrial mammals. By contrast, only 176 rabid animals were discovered ...

San Diego Great Dane named world's tallest dog

Always-The-Boss — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:51:19 GMT

Only one animal got credit for a record Thursday, the same day Norway registered the world's largest gingerbread man; the most people hugging in one minute were in the U.K.; Italy set the mark for the fastest consumption of a bowl of pasta; Finland had the most nationalities in a single sauna; and a team from Mexico assembled the world's longest paper clip chain. In the midst of it all, Guinness World Records officially named Titan, an ailing 4-year-old white Great Dane from San Diego, ...

Dozens of Pit Bulls Collected in Massive Dogfighting Sting Find Homes

Always-The-Boss — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:29:43 GMT

Dozens of American pit bull terriers netted in the largest dogfighting raid in U.S. history are finding homes despite some who predicted aggression or trauma would make them unsuitable as pets. More than 120 of the animals have been placed in foster homes or are headed there this week through the efforts of pit bull rescue groups throughout the U.S. An additional 117, like the scarred but smiling Tulip, await their turn. "They are not a vicious animal. They are the victims of abuse," ...

Accused animal hoarder allegedly Tasers trooper

Always-The-Boss — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 19:46:29 GMT

A 65-year-old Maine woman was jailed for allegedly assaulting a state trooper with a stun gun during an investigation into whether she was hoarding animals at her house. The woman pleaded not guilty to multiple charges Thursday in Superior Court in Farmington. The woman was under a court order barring her from keeping animals after nearly 70 animals were found at her home in 2004 and she was convicted of animal cruelty. According to an affidavit, the woman used the stun gun on Trooper Aaron ...

Los Angeles moves to ban declawing of cats

Always-The-Boss — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:55:13 GMT

The Los Angeles City Council has given preliminary approval to an ordinance that would ban the declawing of cats. The unanimous vote Friday follows a similar action by the Beverly Hills City Council a day earlier. A final vote in both cities is expected Nov. 17. Council members described the procedure as unnecessary and abject animal cruelty. City Council President Eric Garcetti added an urgency clause to the ordinance so it can take effect before New Year's Day 2010, when the ...

Missing Puppy Papers: Seller Says it's a Courtesy to Provide Them

Always-The-Boss — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 03:30:23 GMT

Her first mistake was buying from a pet store.... Janet When Sharon Schulz bought Remmi, a chocolate labrador, she says she was told he is AKC registered. "He said no problem, we never had a problem getting papers before we always get them," says Schulz. Schulz bought Remmi from the Puppy Village in April for $400. She says she's made several attempts to get the properly filled out AKC dog registration application form from the store. "They've just ...

Nevada man to jail for killing neighbor's puppy

Always-The-Boss — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 02:59:47 GMT

A Nevada man has been sentenced to up to 2 1/2 years in jail for killing his neighbor's puppy. Daniel Thomas Wells earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of ``killing an animal of another'' in the beating death of the 6-month-old chihuahua in May. Washoe County Deputy District Attorney Derek Dreiling says the case was elevated to felony status because there was evidence of malice. He says Wells had been drinking, had a bad day at work and ended up acting inappropriately when the neighbor's ...

Pit bull burglar makes big mess at home

Always-The-Boss — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 17:36:57 GMT

HOUSTON, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- A pit bull broke into a house in Houston and spent an hour getting friendly with the homeowner's dogs while destroying the furnishings. Rosie Sanchez, alerted by a neighbor to the burglary in progress Wednesday, got home in time to see the culprit being led away by an animal-control officer, KHOU-TV, Houston, reported. She found rifled dog food, a puddle of urine underneath her dining room table and a stereo knocked over. "It's just a mess," she said. Her ...

4 Arrested in Dogfighting Ring at Child Day Care

Admin — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 02:01:14 GMT

CHICAGO RIDGE, Ill. � A home day care also was the site of a dogfighting ring, authorities said Wednesday, and investigators who raided the house found a blood-spattered garage floor and battered and malnourished dogs not far from where the children played. Police said four people were arrested, and felony dogfighting charges are pending against several of them, including the day care operator's husband. Authorities did not immediately release their names. Nine battered dogs � four ...

77 cats seized from Calif. couple's home

Always-The-Boss — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 03:07:12 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - California animal control officials say they've taken 77 cats from a home in one of the worst animal hoarding cases they've seen in Sacramento County. SWAT team members on Wednesday found cat cages stacked floor to ceiling, animals roaming everywhere and feces caked around the home of Paul and Kathy Franco. Officials say it's a case of animal hoarding. The homeowners say they were taking good care of the cats. The house in Sacramento has been condemned, and ...

Stinky blue-green algae blamed for dog deaths

Always-The-Boss — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 19:21:14 GMT

WAUSAU, Wis. - Waterways across the upper Midwest are increasingly plagued with ugly, smelly and potentially deadly blue-green algae, bloomed by drought and fertilizer runoffs from farm fields, that's killed dozens of dogs and sickened many people. Aquatic biologists say it's a problem that falls somewhere between a human health concern and a nuisance, but will eventually lead to more human poisoning. State officials are telling people who live on algae-covered lakes to close their windows, ...

Are you sick of PETA yet?

Janet — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:24:51 GMT

PETA Asks Pike Place Fishmongers To Not Throw Fish SEATTLE -- PETA is urging the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) to cancel a fish-throwing demonstration by Pike Place Fish Market fishmongers at an upcoming Seattle convention. In a letter sent to the AVMA, PETA says if the demonstration is to be held then they will provide rubber fish in place of the real fish. PETA says that "fish are intelligent, sensitive animals who deserve better than to be torn from their ...

3 guilty pleas expected in Mo. in dogfighting case

Always-The-Boss — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 02:56:31 GMT

At least three eastern Missouri men arrested in a multistate federal crackdown on illegal dogfighting are expected to plead guilty next week in federal court. Documents filed in the case and interviews with the men's attorneys confirmed that Robert Hackman, 55, of Foley; Teddy Kiriakidis, 50, of Leasburg; and Ronald Creach, 34, of Leslie will plead guilty Monday in U.S. District Court in St. Louis. Co-defendant Michael Morgan, 38, of Hannibal is set for trial Monday in the same court. ...

Yellow Labrador mix survives being shot 4 times

Always-The-Boss — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:01:47 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - A 2-year-old yellow Labrador mix is recovering at a Kansas City shelter after being shot four times. And workers at Wayside Waifs have dubbed him Bullet. Waifs spokeswoman Ashlee Parker said Bullet was found several weeks ago in Caldwell County, shot once in the head, once in each front shoulder and once in the neck. The Kansas City Star reported that the Cameron-based rescue group Safe Haven took in the dog, paid for his treatments and nursed him mostly back to ...

What you should know about external parasites

Always-The-Boss — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 19:44:41 GMT

At some point in their lives, many pets experience discomfort caused by external parasites such as fleas, ticks, or mites on their skin or in their ears. These parasites can be extremely irritating to pets and can cause serious skin problems or even carry disease. Although this brochure provides basic information about the most common external parasites, your veterinarian is your best source of advice regarding your pet's needs. Modern medicines make treatment, control, and prevention of many ...

Hunters and zoonotic risks

Always-The-Boss — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 19:42:52 GMT

There is an increasing awareness among hunters that there are medical risks associated with handling wildlife, and certain safety precautions should be taken. Hunters can be exposed to infectious diseases not only from infected animals, but also via insect vectors and contaminated soil and water. Diseases that are transmitted from animals to humans, either through direct contact with the animal or a contaminated surface or water, through ingestion of animal products (e.g., meat and milk) or through ...

Veterinary services legislation

Always-The-Boss — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 19:41:02 GMT

New legislation addressing the nation's veterinary services needs is under consideration in the House of Representatives. The AVMA played a key role in crafting the Veterinarian Services Investment Act (H.R. 3519), which was introduced July 31 by Republican Adrian Smith of Nebraska and Democrat Leonard Boswell of Iowa and had 17 co-sponsors as of mid-August. The bipartisan VSIA would establish a grant program designed to relieve veterinary shortages while supporting a broad range of ...

Va. SPCA exec's dog dies after 4 hours in hot car

Always-The-Boss — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:07:51 GMT

An executive for an anti-animal cruelty group says her 16-year-old blind and deaf dog died after she accidentally left him in her hot car for four hours.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/08/26/national/a093025D10.DTL&tsp=1#ixzz0PJVpijPR

Michael Jackson

klcabe — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:47:27 GMT

Permission granted to crosspost.

On Sleep and Michael Jackson: Anyone who has been heavily on sleeping pills, tranquilizers, sedatives or even alcohol will tell you that the more you take of these substances, the less you sleep. These poisons can numb a person at first, but in the long run they damage the nervous system to the point where sleep ...

Dog Breeder Allegedly Made Fake Vaccination Papers

Janet — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 04:33:04 GMT

Okay I have an argument on this one...first yes, she broke the law by faking the vaccination lists, but most new pet owners take the dogs to vets and they do get shots...this is another blown out of proportion push for "rabies" shot again....if the owners took the dogs to a vet, then within the proper time they most likely got the shots or boosters....now how do they know that the new owners never got the shots? Janet VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. -- A Volusia County dog breeder is ...

Donation Request

klcabe — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:22:01 GMT

I haven't posted recently on Canine Cottage; it's been very hectic. I have decided to request donations for Hunny, one of the rescue shepherds I recently took in. She has a congenital heart defect, and goes to the vet on Wednesday 8/19/09 for an X-ray of her heart and for a complete blood panel. He (the vet) recommended an ECG last year to her previous owners, but they never had one done. She may need surgery to repair her heart, and the cost could be a couple of thousand dollars. ...

Aussie researchers probe canine smarts

Janet — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 02:39:50 GMT

Researchers at an Australian university said they are starting a study designed to determine whether a dog can recognize itself in the mirror. The Monash University Anthrozoology Research Group in Melbourne said it is beginning two canine-focused studies Monday, one designed to test whether a canine knows its own reflection and the second to test whether dogs are able to pick up on human feelings and attempt to comfort sad owners, the New Zealand Herald Sun reported Friday. The team ...

Boy's Poodle 'Fried to Death' at Ohio Dog Groomer

Always-The-Boss — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:00:47 GMT

Young Josh Jones was excited for his best friend Miles, a toy poodle, to receive a new haircut at the groomer. In a horrible turn of events, though, the dog never came home. When Jones� cousin arrived to pick up the dog Friday afternoon at Pet�s Choice in Parma, Ohio, groomers nervously told her the dog was dead, according to MyFOXNational. The dog had �fried to death� in the blow-dryer. �The groomer left the dog in the drying cage and left� didn�t tell anybody,� Pet�s Choice owner ...

80 dogs seized in Indiana raids linked to fighting

Always-The-Boss — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 16:50:25 GMT

PAOLI, Ind. � Authorities have seized about 80 pit bulls during raids at two southern Indiana sites suspected of breeding and training dogs for illegal fighting. State police say dog carcasses and dog fighting paraphernalia were also seized when the Indiana Gaming Commission and other agencies executed search warrants Tuesday in Orange County. Adam Parascandola of the Humane Society of the United States says many dogs had scars and marks consistent with fighting. Thirty-nine-year-old ...

People bitten by rabies

Janet — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:12:43 GMT

Note, this was wild animals that had the rabies, not dogs or cats... Janet Fox Bites Woman Waxing Car "I was waxing my car and all of the sudden he bit me. I'm trying to shake this fox off my butt and I call my son who 13 to come out to help," said Jeannie Kenney who was bit on the buttocks by the fox. Kenney needed a series of rabies shots as a precaution. "The shots were worse than the bite," Kenny laughed as she related the story. A man who was ...

Veterinarians using stem cells to treat animals

Grace053 — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 20:24:15 GMT

MIAMI - Five-year-old Lucy the Labradoodle's back limbs have been rendered unusable by rheumatoid arthritis, and she must scoot along the ground with her front paws to grab a bone. Her owners believe that a costly stem-cell treatment is the reason she's even lived as long as she has. In fact, they say, she seems to be improving. She no longer yelps or whimpers in pain, and she needs far less medicine than before. Lucy's owners credit the stem cell treatment, despite what experts say is a ...

THIS is why I pull dogs from Gaston County A/C

klcabe — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 19:25:45 GMT

WARNING: This video is somewhat graphic and will bring tears to your eyes and spark intense feelings of sadness!!!!! Having your sound turned on will make these feelings worse! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fl6wYn7tQo8 This is not THE shelter I get my dogs from. I have not dealt with this shelter, personally, but this is how the Gaston County shelter euthanizes their dogs as well. This is why I do rescue.

Local Dog Deaths Blamed On Parvo

Admin — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:40:26 GMT

DETROIT -- An outbreak of parvo is being blamed for killing hundreds of dogs in metro Detroit, and animal care workers and pet owners said they are very concerned. He started throwing up, you know, and he wouldn't eat," said pet owner Kyarnol Branner, clutching his dog's old collar. "He would just lay there. He would barely move, he was real sick. He just walked around real slow." The collar is all Branner has left after his 8-week-old Rotweiller Black. The puppy was ...

Dog Trial: Case Of Mistaken Identity?

Janet — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:11:09 GMT

MIAMI -- A 3-year-old Miami-Dade dog that goes by the name Baby Girl was at the center of a Friday afternoon ordinance hearing at the South Dade Justice Center. In June, Miami-Dade Animal Services handed owner Carlos McLiberty a citation stating Baby Girl is a pit bull and needed to be relocated. It has been against county law to own the breed since 1989. McLiberty, with the help of a lawyer, set out to prove Baby Girl is not a pit bull but a completely different breed. According ...

Ohio Firefighter Who Killed Dogs Loses Job

Always-The-Boss — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 01:52:58 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio � An Ohio firefighter sentenced to 90 days in jail for killing his dogs has now lost his fire department job. Columbus Public Safety Director Mitchell Brown said Thursday that he has decided to terminate 43-year-old David Santuomo on the recommendation of the fire chief. The firefighter pleaded guilty last month to three misdemeanors, including two animal cruelty counts. Prosecutors say Santuomo tied his two mixed-breed dogs to a pipe in his basement and shot them ...

Missing Dog 'Muffy' Returns Home to Family After Nine Years

Always-The-Boss — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:03:47 GMT

A flea-bitten dog rescued from a squalid Melbourne, Australia, backyard is to be reunited with her ecstatic owner nine years after she disappeared. And 17-year-old Chloe Rushby, who was only eight when her furry friend disappeared, can't wait to have Muffy back in her arms. Chloe and her family screamed with joy when the RSPCA called to say Muffy was alive - much older, very scruffy and 1,250 miles away in Melbourne. "It would be fair to say that they were extremely ...

Police: Woman tried to free pit bull from shelter

Always-The-Boss — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:40:04 GMT

CASPER, Wyo. - Police in Wyoming say they arrested a woman who they believe tried to bust her pit bull out of the doggie slammer. Casper police allege the woman smashed a window at the Metro Animal Control shelter last weekend, triggering an alarm. Officers say they found the dog running outside the building and arrested 26-year-old Jessica Johnson after a foot chase. She was booked on suspicion of burglary and conspiracy. An arrest warrant affidavit says a man told officers he ...

Bird fighting ring

Janet — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:55:10 GMT

Yesterday it was 100 canaries confiscated and 19 arrested over bird fighting now today, it's reported finches were involved too... Janet SHELTON, Conn. (AP) - Connecticut authorities say they arrested 19 people and seized more than 100 birds in a house raid on an alleged bird-fighting operation. Wayne Kasacek, of the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, and Shelton police Sgt. Robert Kozlowsky say most of the 150 confiscated birds were saffron finches and that a few were canaries. ...

FDA OKs First Cancer Drug For Dogs

Janet — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:55:12 GMT

NewsCenter 5�s Liz Brunner reported Monday that local veterinarians and dog owners are optimistic about Palladia, the first FDA-approved cancer fighting drug designed to treat canine mast cell tumors, which account for one in five cases of canine skin tumors. Dog owner Kim Waite and her pit bull mix Angel have been together nine years. They�re now in their third bout of canine cancer. �It was hard information to grasp at first it was overwhelming,� said Waite. �She's my baby. It's pretty ...

Cops taser dog for barking

Janet — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:50:41 GMT

LAKEWOOD, OH (WOIO) - Neighbors are furious with local police after they used their taser gun on a dog who neighbors say wasn't being vicious. Two women heard a dog barking Saturday morning around 8:30 a.m. and looked out their apartment window only to see a dog surrounded by several police officers. The officers tasered the dog "like he was a grizzly bear" says witness Christina MacDonald. MacDonald also said that "the dog was backing up defensively, as if he was ...

More Than 90 Dogs, Mostly Chihuahuas, Removed From Detroit Home

Janet — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 02:40:21 GMT

DEARBORN, Michigan � A man kept more than 90 dogs � mostly Chihuahuas � in a suburban Detroit home was filled with feces and trash, authorities said Thursday. Neighbors in the past had complained of an odor, but this week was the first time officials got inside. On Wednesday and Thursday, crews wearing masks to help them breathe carried dogs from the two-story home. "There's trash from floor to ceiling," said Nick Siroskey, director of residential services for the city. "There's ...

Advice on the safe use of flea and tick products in pets

Always-The-Boss — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 03:50:21 GMT

In a July 20, 2009 advisory, the FDA, in conjunction with the EPA, listed tips for using flea and tick products on pets. The EPA advises pet owners to talk to your veterinarian about responsible and effective use of flea and tick products, carefully follow label directions, and monitor your pets for any signs of a bad reaction after application, particularly when using these products for the first time. Keep the product package after use in case side effects occur. You will want to have ...

Puppy's fifth leg removed via surgery

Always-The-Boss — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 03:52:40 GMT

Caren sent me the breaking news story yesterday of the fifth leg, so here's an update... Janet CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 24 (UPI) -- A North Carolina woman who outbid a New York freak show for custody of a five-legged puppy said the dog's extra appendage has been removed. Allyson Siegel, who paid $4,000 for the puppy, Lilly, said the canine underwent a 90-minute surgery Thursday to have the extra leg, which hung limp between her hind legs, removed, the Charlotte Observer reported ...

Dogs rescued from deplorable conditions

Janet — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 20:46:29 GMT

CANTON, Ga., July 23 (UPI) -- Police in Cherokee County, Ga., say nearly 20 dogs were rescued from a home where they had been living in deplorable conditions. Chief Marshal Ray Waters said police officers found the dogs living in an abandoned home and van in Canton, Ga., that had no ventilation and were filled with dog waste, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution said Thursday. "When you opened the door that ammonia smell just hit you," Waters said. Waters said to safely free ...

Allegations against Bay Area pet docs

Always-The-Boss — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:37:31 GMT

In a report about pet vets gone wrong, NBC Bay Area's Diane Dwyer found that a Pacifica veterinarian treated cats with radiation; those cats then allegedly exposed humans and a site at UC Davis to "dangerously high levels" of radiation. The case of the irradiated kitties is among the more than 2,000 complaints that have been filed to the California Veterinary Medical Board over the last three years. Checking out only Bay Area incidents, Dwyer discovered the aforementioned vet in Pacifica ...

400 animals removed from Hawaiian 'haven'

Always-The-Boss — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:20:40 GMT

Investigators say they found more than 400 animals, including dogs, cats and birds, living in miserable conditions on a 3-acre property in Hawaii. The animals had been cared for by Norman Pang since the death of his wife, Bonnie, KITV, Honolulu, reported. He said he did not want to turn to the Hawaiian Humane Society for assistance because they had harassed his wife. Bonnie Pang, who ran what she called an "animal haven," was investigated 14 years ago for animal cruelty. The ...

Newborn Baby Hospitalized After Family Dog Drags Him From Crib

Always-The-Boss — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:09:16 GMT

What's wrong with those parents? Why weren't they watching? Janet A newborn baby was hospitalized in critical condition after being taken from his crib and carried outside his central Kentucky home by a family dog, authorities said Tuesday. The infant, Alexander James Smith, is just a few days old and had been put in his crib for a nap Monday afternoon. When his parents looked outside later, they saw their pet, a 4-year-old mixed breed called a Native American Indian dog, holding ...

Woman who had 150 cats in NJ mansion fined $35,000

Janet — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:03:20 GMT

CHESTER TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) - A woman accused of keeping 150 cats in her New Jersey mansion has been ordered to pay more than $35,000 in fines and restitution. Wanda Oughton pleaded guilty Thursday to two counts of animal cruelty for failing to provide adequate shelter. The judge in Chester Township Municipal Court also told the 62-year-old she's not allowed to own more than six cats over the next three years. Authorities in March found the cats living in urine- and feces-covered rooms ...

Who is killing the cats in Saluda Gardens?

Beth — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 02:18:17 GMT

WEST COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - Neighbors in West Columbia's Saluda Gardens area are complaining of mysterious cat deaths. Jim Baxter said he owned a cat named Sara since she was a kitten. Two weeks ago, the Baxters left town on a family vacation. While they were away, Sara was found dead in their neighbor's front yard. "It was a penetrating wound," said Jim. "The cat was possibly shot." And then it got more bizarre. On three different nights, Jim says clumps ...

Church opens doors to

Grace053 — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:13:22 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) - City Community Church is a place where everyone is welcome at Sunday service, including four-legged friends. The church meets at the La Zona Rosa bar on Fourth Street in Downtown Austin every Sunday morning. It is a heavenly haven for people and their pets. "That's part of our philosophy," said Robby Forsythe, City Community Church Pastor. "We want to be a blessing. Everyone is welcome. We decided people can bring their dogs too." The Canine ...

The perks (and pains) of pet ownership

Janet — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 03:29:32 GMT

Even under the best and brightest of circumstances, hunting for an affordable apartment that feels like home can be a challenge. But when you have one (or more) four-legged cohabitants in tow, the process can feel down right daunting. Add difficult economic times to the mix and pet abandonment rates begin to skyrocket. But The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) cautions that forfeiting our furry friends can add up to a double-dose of bad news, both for pets and families. Ironically, ...

Happy or hungry? Cat purrs send different messages

Always-The-Boss — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 03:22:18 GMT

A cat's purr normally says, "I'm happy." But a new study suggests some purrs send cat owners a much different message: "Feed me!" Researchers found that purrs of hungry cats included a higher-pitched sound, somewhat like a cry or meow. They played recordings of these purrs from 10 cats to 50 human volunteers. Even people who'd never owned a cat found them to be more urgent and less pleasant than contented purrs from the same animals. These food-seeking purrs may ...

Dogs Put Down At Shelter Due To Virus

Jill-K — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 18:51:17 GMT

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- A place that tries to avoid euthanizing stray and unwanted animals put down 30 dogs this week. A widespread distemper outbreak has hit Orange County Animal Services. It's heartbreaking for those who showed up Friday looking to adopt a new animal. For the first time in recent memory, the normally packed Orange County Animal Services shelter has some empty cages and it's not from adoptions, but a deadly disease. These animals are coming in with the disease from ...