Pesky Parasites Are Not Just a Pooch Problem

Every dog owner knows that canines are susceptible to parasitic infestation, especially worms such as heartworms, hookworms, roundworms, and tapeworms.

As it turns out, cats are as much at risk of contracting common parasites as Fido and pals. In fact, according to a recent survey by the American Pet Product Manufacturers Association (APPMA) more than a third of the 90 million cats in the U.S. have not seen a vet in the past year.

Spring, in particular, brings an increased risk of worms and other parasites that can be contracted from mosquitoes, sandboxes, dirt, and standing water. Even indoor cats are at risk of contracting the same parasites, which come inside via shoes, open doors and windows, and other pets.

In response to the consumer need for increased awareness of the risks of feline parasites, Bayer Animal Health has added new information to its Web site about the risks posed by worms and tips to protect cats. The Web site, http://www.petparents.com/, includes an interactive section that allows cat owners to uncover parasites in their own homes and backyards from a cat’s point-of-view.

Now is a good time to get educated on pet parasite prevention - do your pet a favor!

Doggie Dining in Dallas

In early 2007, the Dallas City Council passed a variance to state law allowing restaurants to obtain permits to let them welcome dogs onto their outdoor patios. But restaurateurs have complained that the policy is too restrictive, so this week the council voted to ammend to the city ordinance in hopes of making the law friendlier to both restaurants wanting to welcome pooches to their patios, and the people who choose to bring their pets.

Currently, the measure states that Dallas restaurants must:

• Provide a separate entrance to the outside of the restaurant to the outdoor patio.
• Post a "dog-friendly restaurant" sign at the front entrance.
• Install "air curtains" to separate the patio from the restaurant's interior.
• Prohibit food preparation, including mixing drinks or serving ice, in the patio area.
• Clean the patio every 30 minutes with animal-friendly chemicals whenever a dog is present.
• Prevent wait staff or other food handlers from petting or otherwise making contact with dogs.
• Ensure that dogs are wearing collars with current rabies tags and remain on a leash.
• Bar dogs from sitting or standing on restaurant seats, tables or countertops, or from having contact with dishes or utensils.

This week, the council admitted the requirements were flawed and amended the ordinance to require restaurants to:

• Install a "self-closing device" on each door that provides access to the patio.
• Keep dogs at least 7 feet from any door accessing the restaurant, except when entering or exiting the patio.
• Maintain a "patio free of visible dog hair, dander and related waste and debris."
• Hose or mop the patio with animal-friendly chemicals every six hours, or before each shift, when a dog has been present.
• Prohibit the feeding of dogs.

Source: Dave Levinthal, Dallas City Hall Blog

A cat music video with a catchy tune!

Thanks to Alliance for Humane Action for the great video!

How to Prevent Dog Bites

This week is National Dog Bite prevention week -

Did you know that there are approximately 74.8 million dogs in the USA and that according to the ASPCA's web page on dog bite prevention, roughly HALF of all children in the United States will be bitten by a dog before their 12th birthday? In fact, a survey by the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta ("CDC") concluded that dogs bite nearly 2% of the U.S. population - more than 4.7 million people annually, and almost 800,000 bites a year are severe enough to require medical treatment.

In addition to the trauma and medical costs, dog bites often result in law suits and even, in some cases, with the dog having to be put down.

These are scary facts but there are things that people can do to reduce the risk of dog bites.

Most children are bitten by a dog known to them - a family pet or friend's dog is implicated in about 77% of cases - and the bite is often as result of the child not understanding appropriate ways to behave around dogs.

How kids should behave around dogs to reduce risk of being bitten -

The ASPCA advises parents to do an activity with their child where they pledge the following:

• I will not stare into a dog's eyes.
• I will not tease dogs behind fences.
• I will not go near dogs chained up in yards.
• I will not touch a dog I see loose (off-leash) outside.
• If I see a loose dog, I will tell an adult immediately.
• I will not run and scream if a loose dog comes near me.
• I will stand very still (like a tree), and will be very quiet if a dog comes near me.
• I will not touch or play with a dog while he or she is eating.
• I will not touch a dog when he or she is sleeping.
• I will only pet a dog if I have received permission from the dog's owner.
• Then I will ask permission of the dog by letting him sniff my closed hand.

Download this handy activity sheet to walk through with your child to help them understand the difference between safe and potentially dangerous interactions with dogs.

What pet owners can do to reduce the risk of their dogs biting others -

Doglaw.Hugpug.com is a handy online dog law info center that has the following advice to reduce potential liability resulting from dog bites:

• Train and socialize your dog. Exposure to lots of people and situations at a young age is crucial. For some good tips, contact the Humane Society of the United States at www.hsus.org or the American Dog Trainers Network at www.canine.org.
• Never let a dog run at large. In some states, you're automatically liable for any injury your dog causes while at large.
• Watch your dog around children. Young children, who may unknowingly provoke a dog, are especially likely to be bitten - even by dogs they're familiar with. Never leave a dog alone with a toddler or infant. Make sure the gate to your yard is child-proof.
• Keep your dog's vaccinations current. If your dog bites someone the authorities, not to mention the victim, will view it a lot more seriously if the dog doesn't have a current rabies vaccination.
• Keep the dog out of strangers' paths. Lots of people - mail carriers, salespeople, poll-takers, Girl Scouts - routinely come to your front door; keep the dog away from it. A fenced front yard isn't good enough; most people will open a gate and walk on up to the door.
• Post warning signs. If you have any reason to think that your dog might injure someone coming onto your property, post "Beware of Dog" or "Dog in Yard" signs prominently. Stay away from creative variations on the traditional signs; someone could reasonably assume that a cartoon-like "Trespassers Will Be Eaten" sign is a joke, not a serious warning.

Dog owners can read more on dog-specific law in this book called Every Dog's Legal Guide, a must-have book for your owner.

A little education and responsibility can go a long way to preventing dog bites and reducing trauma all round - we wish you a dog-bite free future!

The Little Pony Who Could

Thanks to readers KC in California and SM in Texas, we have an inspiring story of courage and hope for our Friday post!

Meet Molly - a 15 year old Appaloosa pony who survived Hurricane Katrina but was abandoned by her owners. She spent weeks on her own before finally being rescued and given a home with Pony Paradise.

Unfortunately her trials were not over - while at Pony Paradise, she was attacked by a traumatized pit bull terrier who gnawed her right front leg. Molly's vet approached Louisiana State University vet services but they were overwhelmed and Molly nearly died from the infected injury.

But Molly wasn't your ordinary pony. When surgeon Rustin Moore met Molly, he saw that she was a smart pony with a serious survival ethic. Molly was careful to lie down on different sides so she didn't seem to get sores, and she graciously allowed people to handle her. She protected her injured leg, shifting her weigh constantly but without overloading her good leg.

Moore agreed to remove her leg below the knee and a temporary artificial limb was built. Molly happened to be a one-in-a-million patient - tough as nails, but sweet, and willing to cope with pain. She made it obvious she understood she was in trouble. The other important factor, according to Moore, is having a truly committed and compliant owner who is dedicated to providing the daily care required over Molly's lifetime.

Like the population of post-Katrina Louisiana, Molly went about rebuilding her existence. She gained weight and her mane felt a comb. A human prosthesis designer built her a leg which has given Molly a whole new life, Allison Barca DVM, Molly's regular vet, reports. "And she asks for it! She will put her little limb out, and come to you and let you know that she wants you to put it on. Sometimes she wants you to take it off too." Sometimes, Molly even gets away from Barca. 'It can be pretty bad when you can't catch a three-legged horse", she laughs.

And now Molly has a job. Kay, the owner of Pony Pariadise, started taking Molly to places where people needed hope - shelters, hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers. Wherever Molly goes, she inspires people with her pluck, and she appears to have a good time doing it.

'It's obvious to me that Molly had a bigger role to play in life", Moore said, "She survived the hurricane, she survived a horrible injury, and now she is giving hope to others."

"She's not back to normal," Barca concluded, 'but she's going to be better. To me, she could be a symbol for New Orleans itself."

This is Molly's most recent prosthesis. The bottom photo shows the ground surface that she stands on, which has a smiley face embossed in it. Wherever Molly goes, she leaves a smiley hoof print behind!

This story appeared on Horsesinthesouth.com

Humane Society Says...

Correct grammar is beside the point. The point is: snipping saves lives!

Picture courtesy of http://icanhascheezburger.com

Support Spay/Neuter Measures in Dallas!

What's the problem?
Last year, 26,979 dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens were put down in City of Dallas shelters last year - another 13,000+ were found dead on the streets. It's clear that Dallas has a pet overpopulation crisis - there are too many unwanted pets crowding under resourced shelters, and not enough of them are finding homes.

What can be done about it?
We mentioned in a previous post that many cities across the nation have found that requiring people to spay or neuter their pets has lead to a drop in the number of animals being euthanized at taxpayer expense, and also lead to increased adoption rates in shelters.

There are many benefits to spaying or neutering your pet, besides helping to alleviate the pet overpopulation issue - to learn more, download a fact sheet by the ASPCA on spaying and neutering from the Companions for Life website in English or Spanish.

Learn what Companions for Life is doing about this crisis:
Companions for Life has recently teamed up with Metroplex Animal Coalition in support of mandatory spay/neuter ordinances in the city of Dallas - you can read more about this, including an executive summary of the changes being requested at the Dallas Animal Advocates site.

Do something!
If you'd like to add your support to our proposal, please sign our petition encouraging the Dallas Mayor and City Council to adopt these new measures. We are aiming to get 10,000 signatures, so every signature counts!

People of Dallas - don't stand by and let your tax dollars be used to kill unwanted animals! Sign here to tell your City Council you want change!

Say it (safely) with Flowers!

Birthdays, get well wishes, anniversaries - there are multiple opportunities in the year to give flowers, but how do you know if the bouquet you give that special someone is safe for their pets?

Never fear! The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center experts have some suggestions for pet-friendly selections at 1-800-FLOWERS.com. Click here to see some beautiful violets, orchids and Gerber daisies recommended by the ASPCA that are non-toxic to pets. Roses are also non-toxic, but remember to remove those pesky thorns that can prick or scratch a pet's nose!

And because we all like to do good without trying, when you use promotion code ASPCA when ordering, 1-800-FLOWERS.com will donate 10 percent of the net proceeds from your purchase to the ASPCA.

Puppy Love: a story of understanding

A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising the 4 pups and set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard. As he was driving the last nail into the post, he felt a tug on his overalls. He looked down into the eyes of little boy.

'Mister,' he said, 'I want to buy one of your puppies.''Well,' said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck, 'These puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money.'

The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer. 'I've got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?' 'Sure,' said the farmer. And with that he let out a whistle. 'Here, Dolly!' he called. Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur. The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence. His eyes danced with delight.

As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse. Slowly another little ball appeared, this one noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid. Then in a somewhat awkward manner, the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up.

'I want that one,' the little boy said, pointing to the runt. The farmer knelt down at the boy's side and said, 'Son, you don't want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs would.'

With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers. In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made shoe. Looking back up at the farmer, he said, 'You see sir, I don't run too well myself, and he will need someone who understands.'

With tears in his eyes, the farmer reached down and picked up the little pup. Holding it carefully he handed it to the little boy. 'How much?' asked the little boy. 'No charge,' answered the farmer, 'There's no charge for love.'

With thanks to KC for sending this in...

Teach Your Kids to Be Kind To Animals

May 4-10 is Be Kind to Animals Week - an initiative founded in 1915 by the American Humane Association to celebrate the unique bond between animals and humans. Click here for some simple suggestions on being kind to animals from the American Humane Association.

Be Kind to Animals Week is a particularly good opportunity to teach kids compassion and respect for animals – have a talk to your child about why it’s important to look out for our animal companions, or find stories, projects, games and more at sites like Kind News Online, and ARF Rescue Patrol.

The National PTA Conference in 1933 asserted that “humane education is key to solving the enormous pet overpopulation problem in our country…” and notes that “Children trained to extend justice, kindness, and mercy to animals become more just, kind, and considerate in their relations to each other…” We can all do with more justice, kindness and mercy in our society – today more than ever.

Because of this, Companions for Life offers Humane Education resources and programs to teach children respect and responsibility for pets, animal safety, compassion, caring, and the importance of spay/neuter and adoption. The goal is to ultimately help build a more compassionate society that places great value on the role of companion animals.

Parents and teachers, check out programs and information offered by Companions for Life to help you teach kids to make every week Be Kind to Animals Week:

• Visit our Just for Teachers page for a whole range of helpful resources and lesson plans designed specifically for the classroom!
• Companions for Life also provides humane education programs to children and adults in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. We can send trained humane educators to conduct fun, interactive on-site lessons for groups of children, using professionally-developed humane education workbooks and materials. These programs can be custom tailored for youth groups, day care centers, summer camps, special events, and private schools and designed for kids of all ages.

No More Disposable Pets!

We’ve mentioned before that 3-4 million animals are euthanized every year across the country because shelters can’t keep up with the influx of abandoned, stray, unsuitable or otherwise unwanted pets.

We’ve talked about the issue of shelter overcrowding and how responsible pet ownership actions like spaying/neutering, microchipping and adopting can reduce the number of strays and unwanted pets adding to the problem.

What we haven’t told you is the sordid reality animal shelters have to live with – the story of what happens to those 3-4 million animals who die every year because of human indifference, and the story of the shelter workers who bear the burden of those deaths.

It’s hard to know – because once you do, you can’t un-know and then you have to do something. So we’re going to tell you – because if just one person reads this blog and decides they’re going to do even just one thing to address the problem, a life has been saved.

Steve Blows of The Dallas Morning News ran this piece on Thursday telling the story of what happens to animals that aren’t adopted – they’re “dealt with – needle stick after needle stick, 80 to 100 times a day” by shelter workers afraid to give their names because people would turn on them for “taking up the slack.. because someone has been irresponsible.”

It’s heart rending to read about a trusting and happy dog – “a black-and-tan mutt with eager eyes and a wagging tail” - brought into the sterile back room of an animal shelter, only to be efficiently dispatched in the ultimate betrayal he will suffer at the hands of humans. It’s appalling to think of the psychological cost to shelter workers, many of them who do the job because they love animals, having to steel themselves to take one innocent life after another.

And it’s shameful to know that because there are so many of them, these thousands of unwanted pets will not even achieve dignity in death. They will be bagged and carried in twice-daily ignominy “to the landfill to be buried with the rest of the city's trash”.

How many of you would be OK with this happening to a family member? Because that’s what our pets are – they’re family – dependent on us for their very lives.

If you’re not OK with it, then we challenge you to do your bit! Adopt a pet from a shelter or humane association. Have your pets spayed or neutered. Microchip and tag them. Keep them safe so they can’t get lost. Educate your friends, family and colleagues.

Pets are family – they’re not landfill.