Dog Bite Fact Sheet

-The Centers For Disease Control reports about 4.5 million dog bites each year. Only 1 in 5 bitten requires medical attention. In 2008, only 23 dog bites were fatal.

- The rate of dog-related injuries among children is decreasing according to research by the Centers For Disease Control.

-The American Veterinary Medical Association says that children between the ages of 5 and 9 are at greater risk of being bitten by a dog and also of being severely injured by that bite.

-The Humane Society of the United States cites a number of common factors in fatal attacks by dogs:

1. The animals are intact – not spayed or neutered – usually males
2. The animals are not well cared for (chained)
3. The animals are not pets, but animals used as guard dogs, in dog fights, etc.

-The CDC recommends the following steps to prevent dog bites in the home:

1. Spay or neuter your dog
2. Don’t play aggressive games with your dog (wrestling)
3. Properly socialize and train your dog
4. Never leave infants or young children along with a dog
5. Seek professional advice from a trainer or behaviorist if the dog develops aggressive or unwanted behaviors.

-In Fiscal year 2007-2008, Dallas Animal Services impounded and quarantined 1,947 dogs who had reportedly bitten someone. Of those, 106 (5%) were purebred pit bulls and only 281 (14%) were pit bull mixes. Compare that to the total number of dogs impounded – 36,500 – of which only 6% were purebred pit bulls and 19% were pit bull mixes.

-The AVMA warns that dog bites can result in criminal and civil liability for pet owners. Over the past 15 years, more than half the states have passed laws with stiff penalties for owners of dogs who cause serious injury or death. There is no such thing as a bad breed of dog. All dogs can bite if provoked. Responsible dog ownership is key.

Learn more: Visit the AVMA website at www.avma.org, the Centers For Disease Control at www.cdc.org, or the Humane Society of the United States at www.hsus.org. For information on dangerous dogs in the City of Dallas, visit www.dallasanimalservices.org. Find out more about Companions For Life at www.companionsforlife.org.

Humane education at Paws in the City fundraiser picnic last month

Late last month Paws in the City, a local rescue group, had a silent auction fundraiser picnic. Companions for Life were excited to join in the fun and here are some photos of the day.

We taught approximately 30 to 40 children how to make cat toys, puppets, and pipe cleaner animals. We talked to them about dog bite prevention and responsible pet ownership. We also handed out coloring books on pet care.

 

We are always interested in participating in shelter and rescue events, as well as community youth events, to help teach children about how to interact safely and responsibly with animals.

If you’d like to have us at one of your events, please send email to info @ companionsforlife.org (no spaces) to discuss details.

Pet food RECALL: Nutro Cat Food

http://www.nutroproducts.com/

Franklin, Tennessee (May 21, 2009) --  Nutro Products announced a voluntary recall of select varieties of NUTRO® NATURAL CHOICE® COMPLETE CARE® Dry Cat Foods and NUTRO® MAX® Cat Dry Foods with “Best If Used By Dates” between May 12, 2010 and August 22, 2010. The cat food is being voluntarily recalled in the United States and ten additional countries. This recall is due to incorrect levels of zinc and potassium in our finished product resulting from a production error by a US-based premix supplier.

Two mineral premixes were affected. One premix contained excessive levels of zinc and under-supplemented potassium. The second premix under-supplemented potassium. Both zinc and potassium are essential nutrients for cats and are added as nutritional supplements to NUTRO® dry cat food.

This issue was identified during an audit of our documentation from the supplier. An extensive review confirmed that only these two premixes were affected. This recall does not affect any NUTRO® dog food products, wet dog or cat food, or dog and cat treats.

Mixed Feelings about Michael Vick/HSUS partnership

Wouldn’t it be nice if Michael Vick were to acknowledge and abhor the brutality of his previous actions and use his tremendous media appeal and influence to advocate against dog fighting and animal cruelty in general?

What a redemption story! A controversial, photogenic, sporting celebrity with a rough past and uber street cred uses his powers for good instead of evil”. It seems like a GREAT idea, right? After all, who better to influence impressionable youth than someone who’s been in the belly of the beast, so to speak?

Sounds lovely, doesn’t it? Like a Hollywood screenplay – and who doesn’t love a good redemption story?

As part of a concerted PR campaign, Michael Vick has been looking for a while for a partnership with an animal welfare group to help convince the public he’s a changed man.

In December, PETA walked away from a deal with Vick, believing that he fits an established profile for anti-social personality disorder, or APD (a nice way to say he’s a raving psychopath).

Now he’s in talks with the HSUS, who think he can be an asset in their anti dog fighting campaign and that they can use him to spread the message that dog fighting is a crime that can cost you everything.

On the HSUS blog, the HSUS President Wayne Pacelle wrote that Mr. Vick "asked for an opportunity to help. I want to give him that opportunity. If he makes the most of it, and demonstrates a sincere, long-term commitment to the task, then it may prove to be a tipping point in our campaign to eradicate dog fighting."

Kudos has to go to the HSUS for giving this a try. We have mixed feelings about the idea though. 

From a humane education standpoint, there’s clear value in having a high profile name like Vick in your corner.  You can't argue that he appeals to the demographic that is most at risk of getting involved in dog fighting.

But are we really expected to believe that Michael Vick has had a change of heart, is truly repentant and is now simply wanting to restore Karmic balance? The same Michael Vick who didn’t just participate in but willfully instigated the most vicious acts of animal cruelty, someone who allegedly laughed while throwing family pets in the training ring as bait?? Even accepting that such a remarkable moral reversal is possible, let’s consider what Vick stands to gain if this particular PR exercise is successful: international fame, a well-paid career back in the public eye – and let’s not forget those lucrative endorsements and licensing deals. The story alone is worth millions.

And doesn't that send a different message? That you don’t REALLY lose everything and the consequences of your felonious brutality aren’t permanent – do the crime, do some time, make nice with the animal welfare people and it’s like nothing happened.

We hope for the animals’ sakes that the Humane Society’s instincts are right on this one.

What do you think?

• Read the HSUS statement by Wayne Pacelle, then take the poll in an Examiner article by our President, Rebecca Poling.
• Do you feel that Michael Vick should be permanently banned from the NFL? If so, sign this petition.

Further reading/Listening:

• Advertising Age - Michael Vick's Image Rehab to Include Humane Society
• The NPR interview with the HSUS’s Wayne Pacelle about Michael Vick 
• Wayne Pacelle’s HSUS blog post on the Vick talks
• A previous blog post on the Michael Vick story
• March 2009 Sports Illustrated Article
• December 2008 Sports Illustrated article 
• A Timeline of Michael Vick dogfighting case - The Associated Press

Technorati Tags: Michael Vick,dog fighting,HSUS,NFL

Vaccinate your pets – it’s the law in Texas!

Today is the anniversary of the 1796 discovery by Edward Jenner of the smallpox vaccine. Did you know that smallpox is the only human infectious disease to ever have been completely eradicated? That is an enormous medical accomplishment and makes a case for the value of vaccinations.

Vaccinating your pets is also important – particularly against Rabies, a disease that can be fatally cross-communicated to humans.

In fact, because Rabies has such a high fatality rate in humans, State law requires that all cats and dogs in Texas be vaccinated against rabies using either a one-year or three-year vaccine.

We know that in this economic climate many otherwise responsible pet owners are putting off maintenance costs (like dental check-ups, vaccinating pets and getting the car serviced). But did you know that there are some rescue groups and shelters who offer low-cost pet vaccinations to help people in this situation.

For more info:

• Which vaccinations do the AVMA recommend for your dog, or for your cat. 
• Which local rescue groups and shelters offer low-cost pet vaccinations.

Rescue Dogs – You’re Doing It Right, Actually

Rescued Dogs turn Rescue Dogs in an amazing story of a successful search and rescue mission.

A 3-year old Missouri boy had been missing for over 50 hours when a volunteer searcher was alerted to his whereabouts by two adopted rescue dogs yesterday, enabling them to find the little boy safe and sound.

 

Watch the video of the dogs, Bear and Little Bill, their owner, and the little boy’s very grateful grandmother at KSKD.com.

Why not find your own rescue dog by visiting Paws In The City online to meet any of the other wonderful dogs available for adoption!

Lone Star Pet Adopt-A-Thon This Saturday, May 9 at The Ballpark in Arlington

Join us this Saturday for some fun in the sun and (hopefully) meet your next furry family member!

This Saturday - May 9, Companions For Life and hundreds of organizations across the state will be participating in the Lone Star Pet Adopt-A-Thon Weekend, sponsored by the Texas Animal Shelter Coalition. The weekend adoption event is designed to promote animal organizations as “the place” to adopt dogs and cats.

Headlining the weekend will be a huge Adopt-A-Thon on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Ballpark in Arlington, Parking Lot E, at the corner of Ballpark Way and Six Flags Road. 

More than 35 animal shelters, rescue groups and vendors will have hundreds of adorable, adoptable dogs and cats available for adoption and all in one location.

Please come out and join us!  Even if you aren't ready to adopt, we'll have lots of great information available to help you prepare your pet for an emergency, free pet thermometers, paw print purses, stop puppy mill bracelets, and games and coloring books for the kids!

For more info:

• Find out why it is so important to adopt, not buy
• Visit Companions For Life on the web
• Check out the Texas Animal Shelter Coalition website.

This week is National Be Kind to Animals Week

American Humane Association’s first Be Kind to Animals Week in 1915 marked a new commitment to humane education in the United States. Since then, animal shelters, schools, libraries and community
groups have celebrated the role of animals in our lives with special Be Kind to Animals Week activities each year during the first full week in May.

For educators, May 3-9, 2009, is the perfect time to encourage kindness and compassion in children.

This is a great week to engage kids in animal-related activities to help them learn compassion and recognize the special value our animal companions bring.

American Humane has a great list of thought-provoking and skill-building projects for children of all ages from kindergarten through high school – whether you’re a parent, teacher or otherwise involved with children we’d like to encourage you to work with your kids on one of the projects listed on the site this week – click here for project ideas!

Be Kind to Animals Week isn’t just for kids though – Why not use this week to take some action on behalf of animals in Texas?

When we all pulled together, we were able to change the Dallas City animal ordinances, which goes to show what passionate citizens can do. There are a number of bills currently being considered by the State Legislature that could make Texas a kinder State for animals and your call or letter could make a real difference.

Need some help? The HSUS has a comprehensive guide to citizen lobbying while the ASPCA even has a model letter format that makes it even easier to draft a letter to your representative!

Here are some of the bills pending that you could help pass with your action:

• Pet Theft bill would allow for a penalty for theft of a pet.
  • Bill Number: TX H.B. 435
  • Who to contact - Bill Sponsor(s): Rep. Eddie Lucio III (D, 38)
    
• Pet Protection Order proposes to include pets in protection orders in cases of domestic abuse.
  • Bill Number: TX H.B. 853 & S.B. 1840
  • Who to contact -  Bill Sponsor(s): Rep. Jodie Laubenberg (D. 89) & Sen. Carlos Uresti (D, 19)
    
• Puppy Mill bill proposes reasonable licensing and regulation of commercial dog and cat breeders and the regulation of dog and cat dealers.
• Bill Number: TX H.B. 3180 & S.B. 1910
• Who to contact - Bill Sponsor(s): Rep. Senfronia Thompson (41) & Sen. John Whitmire (15)
• *Easy action* Use the HSUS action center to send a form letter or email on this issue!
  
• Tethering bill would prohibit cruel tethering of a dog (we helped successfully implement anti tethering ordinances in Dallas City, why not across the State?!)
  • Bill Number: TX S.B. 634
  • Who to contact - Bill Sponsor(s): Sen. Kel Seliger (R, 31)

This week, please be a role model for compassion and help our kids learn the value of being kind to animals. Happy Be Kind To Animals Week!

Hope and Justice killers charged with Felony, to be tried as adults

The concepts of Hope and Justice were revived late last week when the two teens arrested for [allegedly] setting fire to, and fatally wounding, two pit bulls last week (named Hope and Justice) were arrested.

The teens, 17-year-old Lefferreio Sudds and 17-year-old Jucorey Davis, have been charged with a State Jail felony, which carries a maximum punishment of two years in prison. They will be tried as adults.

We hope justice will be done in this case. Animal cruelty is a felony in Texas and although a maximum penalty of two years in jail is a mere slap on the wrist, we believe that the full extent of the law needs to be applied in this case.

In case you’re wondering about Texas law as it relates to animal cruelty, here are a couple of points from a quick primer by the SPCA of Texas:

• House Bill 653 and Senate Bill 1724, commonly known as “Loco’s Law,” went into effect September 1, 2001, making animal cruelty a felony and punishable by a $10,000 fine and up to two years in jail.
• If prosecuted in a criminal case, a person may face penalties including fines, jail or both. Those under the age of 18 are also required to undergo counseling if convicted of animal cruelty.

People who perpetrate felonies like this need to be held accountable for their behavior – even if they never develop the compassion they are so sorely lacking, at least perhaps they can understand the concept of consequence. Perhaps a multi-pronged approach involving jail time, community service and an intensive counseling and rehabilitation program might turn these two miscreants around. It’s not likely that they will be dealt with in such a comprehensive manner, but we can hope – and in the meantime we’ll keep up our efforts to drive humane education into the community!