Costco: Kirkland Canned Pet Food Recall...

Costco:
Kirkland Signature Super Premium Canned Food
Item # 38436
Best buy Dates: Aug 21, 2008 to April 15, 2009

It has been confirmed via phone, that Costco is volunarily recalling this product. Nothing further.

###

Drs. Foster and Smith Recall...

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/general.cfm?gid=568

Precautionary Rice Protein Recall:
Drs. Foster & Smith --
Adult Dry Lite Dog and Adult Dry Lite Cat Food

Rice protein concentrate has been indicated as a possible source of melamine recently found in pet food products. As a precautionary measure Wilbur-Ellis company, the supplier of rice protein concentrate, is voluntarily recalling all lots of rice protein concentrate. We received notification from the manufacturer today, April 25, 2007, suggesting we issue a precautionary recall.

Two of our products:
Adult Lite Dry Dog (Item #'s 14178, 14179, 14180, 14262, 14263)
and
Adult Lite Dry Cat foods (Item #'s 12855, 12856, 13864, 13865)
…contain rice protein concentrate.

Only the Adult Lite Dry Dog and Adult Lite Dry Cat foods contain rice protein concentrate.
Preliminary test results for melamine contamination have been negative. Final test results from the FDA are expected within two weeks. Please check the Adult Lite Dry Dog food or the Adult Lite Dry Cat food product pages on the DrsFosterSmith.com website for any updates.

If your pet has consumed either the Adult Lite Dry Dog food or the Adult Lite Dry Cat food and shows signs of illness (such as loss of appetite, lethargy and vomiting), you should consult with your veterinarian immediately.

As part of this precautionary recall Drs. Foster & Smith requests that customers discontinue feeding the following products purchased during the periods listed, until all FDA testing is complete:

Adult Lite Dry Dog food item numbers 14180, 14262, 14263
Adult Lite Dry Cat food item numbers 12855, 12856, 13864, 13865 purchased between January 22, 2007 and April 19th
Adult Lite Dry Dog food item numbers 14178 and 14179 purchased between February 2, 2007 and April 19, 2007

Only Adult Lite Dry Dog (Item #'s 14178, 14179, 14180, 14262, 14263) and Adult Dry Lite Cat foods (Item #'s 12855, 12856, 13864, 13865) are included in this precautionary recall.

The health and well being of your pet is always important to us, so as part of this precautionary recall:
Drs. Foster & Smith is contacting all customers who have purchased these items during this period.
These products are being reformulated to eliminate rice protein concentrate. The new formulation should be available by mid-May.
Please call Customer Service at 1-800-239-7121 between 9:00 am and 7:00 pm CST or email CustomerService@DrsFosterSmith.com if you have questions.
None of our other Drs. Foster & Smith foods contain the ingredients in question.

Does Your Pet Count...

My Pet Counts!
Postcard Blitz

We are calling on all pet owners, parents, guardians who have lost a pet due to contaminated pet food to join us in a post card blitz to demonstrate the full scope of this pet food recall disaster.
The FDA continues to publicize only “16 confirmed deaths.” This number has often been repeated by the media. Reliable sources report that the number of pet deaths are and will be much higher - most likely in the thousands.
If you want your pet’s death to count for something good, please join the My Pet Counts! Post Card Blitz.

Who: Anyone who has lost a pet due to contaminated pet food.
What: Post cards may have a picture of your pet, or can be blank.Purchase cards or design your own. Each set of postcards represents one pet. If you have lost multiple pets, send multiple cards to each address. Only one set of postcards per dead pet, please. Postcards ONLY, this is to ensure the mail is delivered with no security delay.
Where: No need to leave home. You can mail your postcards from your own mailbox.
When: All postcards should be mailed on Saturday, April 28th.This coincides with the national march organized by KOPS ( Keep Our Pets Safe ). If all postcards are mailed on the same day, the impact will be all the greater when received at the other end.
Why: By sticking to the “only 16 confirmed deaths” wording this disaster is being grossly minimized. The word must get out!
How: Mail a postcard to each of the addresses provided.

The message should be very short, easy to read, no anger, profanity, or rudeness of any kind. Let them see your grief. Tug at their heartstrings. Use your pet’s name. Use the words “My Pet Counts!”

Post card Mailing List:

Marcia K. Larkins, D.V.MFDA
Center for Veterinary MedicineOmbudsman
7519 Standish Place HFV-7
Rockville, MD 20855

Senator Richard Durbin
309 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Your own senator -- addresses at http://tinyurl.com/b1lm

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Anderson Cooper
c/o CNN
One CNN Center
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-2762

For more information -
http://www.petconnection.com/category/2007-food-recall/

LiveSmart WM Chicken/Brown Rice Recall...

http://www.smartpakcanine.com/PetFoodRecalls.aspx

LiveSmart Weight Management Chicken and Brown Rice Recall

On Friday, April 20, SmartPak initiated a voluntary recall of a single production run of the LiveSmart Weight Management Chicken and Brown Rice Dog Food.

The particular lot of food recalled included rice protein concentrate that was supplied by Wilbur-Ellis, the same company that supplied rice protein concentrate contaminated with Melamine to Natural Balance. This was the first time that our supplier purchased and used rice protein concentrate from Wilbur-Ellis. No previous lots were affected, nor do we use rice protein concentrate in any other formulas of LiveSmart dog or cat foods.

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

Royal Canin CANADA Recalls...

Royal Canin Canada Recalls Additional Cat and Dog Food Due to New Toxin
April 20, 2007

These differ from the products pulled from the US.

Medi-Cal/Royal Canin Canada Voluntary Product Recall:
http://www.medi-cal.ca/
April 20, 2007 -
Medi-Cal/Royal Canin Canada Voluntary Product Recall (all date codes of):

ROYAL CANIN VETERINARY DIET CANINE EARLY CARDIAC EC
ROYAL CANIN VETERINARY DIET CANINE SENSITIVITY RC (Rice and Catfish)
ROYAL CANIN VETERINARY DIET CANINE SKIN SUPPORT SS
ROYAL CANIN VETERINARY DIET FELINE HYPOALLERGENIC HP
ROYAL CANIN VETERINARY DIET FELINE SENSITIVITY RD (Rice and Duck)

Royal Canin has discovered a new contaminant in rice gluten. This contaminant is cyanuric acid, which is chemically related to, but distinct from, melamine. Consequently, we are recalling all date codes of these dry products.
We cannot express how devastated we are to notify you of this new finding, and we offer you our sincere regrets and apologies. The steps we are taking are driven by our philosophy of putting pets first.

ALSO:

Medi-Cal Feline Dissolution Formula canned diet on April 10, 2007 because one production lot (January 08 2009) contains contaminated wheat gluten. This product is produced for Royal Canin Canada by the Menu Foods Ontario plant. Medi-Cal Feline Dissolution Formula canned diet is Royal Canin’s only wheat gluten-containing canned product.

ChemNutra CEO to Testify...

Steve Miller, CEO of ChemNutra, is scheduled to testify before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on Tuesday, April 24 at 9:30 am Eastern time.
The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold a hearing titled “Diminished Capacity: Can the FDA Assure the Safety and Security of the Nation’s Food Supply?”
ChemNutra was the middleman that sold wheat gluten containing melamine to Menu Foods and other companies. Full subcommittee schedule is here: http://energycommerce.house.gov/membios/schedule.shtml

(Note: Windows Media Player is required for all Committee video and audio Web casts.)

Royal Canin Recall...

http://www.royalcanin.us/

ROYAL CANIN SENSIBLE CHOICE® (available in pet specialty stores nationwide)

- Chicken Meal & Rice Formula Senior DRY DOG FOOD
- Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Puppy DRY DOG FOOD
- Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Adult DRY DOG FOOD
- Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Senior DRY DOG FOOD
- Rice & Catfish Meal Formula Adult DRY DOG FOOD

ROYAL CANIN VETERINARY DIET™ (available only in veterinary clinics)

- Canine Early Cardiac EC 22™
- Canine Skin Support SS21™
- Feline Hypoallergenic HP23™

ALL PRODUCTS WITH AN EXPIRATION DATE OF APRIL 19TH, 2008 ARE MADE WITHOUT CHINESE SOURCED VEGETABLE PROTEINS AND ARE SAFE.

We are taking this proactive stance to voluntarily recall these products to avoid any confusion for our customers about which Royal Canin USA products are safe and which products may be affected.

Pet owners should immediately stop feeding their pets the Royal Canin USA dry pet food products listed above. Pet owners should consult with a veterinarian if they are concerned about the health of their pet. No other Royal Canin diets are affected by this recall and CONTINUE TO BE safe for pets to eat.

In addition, Royal Canin USA will no longer use any Chinese suppliers for any of our vegetable proteins.

This decision to recall some of our dry pet food products is driven by our philosophy that the “Pet Comes First”.

Blue Buffalo Spa Select Dry Formula for Kittens Recalled...

Due to the melamine found in the Wilbur-Ellis rice protein, Blue Buffalo has recalled one production run of their Spa Select Kitten dry food marked “Best Used By Mar. 07 08 B.”
Of the 4,752 bags produced in this one run, we were able to prevent the majority from ever entering retail distribution.
FDA confirms that Blue Buffalo is one of four other companies that received this supply.
http://www.bluebuffalocompany.com/

Be Aware!

FDA April 18 Updates

FDA expands pet food recall

POSTED: 12:36 p.m. EDT, April 18, 2007

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/18/pet.food/index.html?section=cnn_latest

Story Highlights:

• Recall is expanded to products containing rice protein with melamine
• Previous recalled food contained wheat gluten with melamine
• Menu Foods adds one of its Natural Life brand products to the recall

"The nationwide pet food recall was expanded Wednesday to include products containing rice protein laced with melamine, a toxic agent, the Food and Drug Administration said."

What is MELAMINE:
White or colorless crystals used in the production of synthetic resins for plastic tableware and other products.
Melamine can cause mild irritation of the eyes, skin, nose and throat in humans.
Chemical linked to bladder cancer in male rats. Female rats suffered chronic inflammation of their kidneys.
Sources: OSHA, CDC



FDA: Pet Food Recall
Updated: April 18, 2007
http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html



Update on Hill's Products:
April 18 - Update: Hill's products not affected by rice protein concentrate recall.
http://www.hillspet.com/Menu_Foods/HillsProductsNotAffectedByRiceProtein_04182007_en.htm

FDA Recalls Pets Chews

FDA Issues Health Hazard Alert for Pet Chews Due to Contamination with Salmonella...

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01600.html

American Bullie A.B. Bull Pizzle Puppy Chew and Dog Chew (made from all American beef pizzle)

Following is a list of the affected products:

A.B. Small Chew, small, 3-4 inch
A.B. Puppy Chew, 4-6 inch
A.B. Dog Chew Medium, 6 inch
A.B. Dog Chew Large, 10 inch
A.B. Dog Chew XL, 13 inch
A.B. Dog Chew Mega, 16 inch
A.B. Dog Chew Jumbo, 26 inch

WARNING: Salmonella can potentially be transferred to people handling these pet treats, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.


Be Aware!

Natural Balance Pet Food - Further Recall

http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/press_release.html

Venison and Brown Rice Treats for Dogs (New)
Venison and Brown Rice Canned Formula for Dogs (New)
Venison and Brown Rice Dry Food for Dogs
Venison and Green Pea Dry Food for Cats

The problem stems from melamine found in the rice protein concentrate (described by the company as rice gluten) used by Natural Balance. They confirmed that FDA testing has found melamine in the rice protein concentrate. The ingredient was produced by a US vendor, according to Natural Balance. Natural Balance recommends avoiding all rice protein in their products.

They have also confirmed that customers are reporting “a few cases” of kidney failures, which their original announcement described as “kidney problems”.

The items recalled are packaged (but not manufactured) by Diamond Pet Foods. The problem was discovered Friday and the FDA is testing all other ingredients and formulas. In the packaging process, the final food is run through Diamond Pet Foods machinery, but are overseen by Natural Balance quality assurance staff.

Natural Balance says it will reimburse the pet parents for medical expenses related to the melamine toxin.

Go to the link posted above & read the press release!

Menu Foods Updated Recall

Menu Foods Refines Recall List
http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Press%20Release%2004172007.htm
Menu Foods has previously recalled wet cat and dog food produced with adulterated wheat gluten supplied by ChemNutra Inc. Over the past several days, Menu Foods continued a detailed analysis of production records at its Emporia, Kansas, plant as part of the US Food and Drug Administration’s ongoing investigation of this adulterated wheat gluten. As a result of this work, Menu Foods advises the public:
> One additional item has been added to the recall list and is shown below
> Two additional production dates of eight varieties of pet food have been added to the recall list.
These eight varieties of pet food had previously been withdrawn from the market and should already be off the retailer shelves.
An updated list of the recalled products, including this addition, is available at the Menu Foods website at http://www.menufoods.com

Be Aware!

Homemade Recipes...

Something tasty for your dogs and cats:

http://www.cooksrecipes.com/category/pet-recipes.html

NEW PET FOOD ALERT April 17

http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/

"We are receiving consumer complaints regarding the Venison & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food, and Venison & Green Pea Dry Cat Foods. We do not know what is wrong with the food at this time, but we have heard that animals are vomiting and experiencing kidney problems. Although the problems seem to be focused on one particular lot, as a precautionary measure, we are pulling all dates of Venison & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food and Venison & Green Pea Dry Cat Food from the shelves.
Please discontinue feeding all Venison and Brown Rice Dry Dog Food, and Venison and Green Pea Dry Cat Food."

They will continue to update their website as more information becomes available & we'll continue to update here!

Be Aware!

Retailers Urged to Check Pet Food Again...

Associated Press article:

Go to: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/P/PET_FOOD_RECALL?SITE=NYNYP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

For all the latest headlines regarding Pet Food Recall, go to Associate Press:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/external/search.hosted.ap.org/wireCoreTool/Search?SITE=NYNYP&query=Pet%20Food%20Recall

Check this link daily!

Be Aware!

Hearing on Contaminated Pet Food

Listen to the Live Conference today:

Senate Appropriations Subcommittee -
Hearing on Contaminated Pet Food

The recent recall of contaminated pet food is the subject of a Sen. Appropriations Subcmte. hearing. Govt. officials, veterinarians and industry experts discuss the role of the Food & Drug Admin. in the inspection process and whether regulations need to be updated. Sen. Herbert Kohl (D-WI) chairs the hearing.4/12/2007: WASHINGTON, DC: 2 hr. 3 min.: C-SPAN

Go to: http://www.c-span.org/search/basic.asp?ResultStart=1&ResultCount=10&BasicQueryText=Pet+Food+REcall

Canadian Pet Food Recall...

Menu Foods voluntarily recalls additional pet food made with ChemNutra wheat gluten

TORONTO, April 10 /PRNewswire/ - Prompted by reports from the US Foodand Drug Administration as to the presence of melamine in cans of cuts andgravy pet food produced in Menu Foods' Canadian production facility, MenuFoods undertook an accounting of all recalled wheat gluten supplied byChemNutra Inc. to Menu Foods in the United States. As the result of that review, Menu Foods has identified a singleinterplant transfer of the ChemNutra supplied wheat gluten, shipped fromMenu Foods' plant in Emporia, Kansas, to its plant in Streetsville,Ontario. This wheat gluten was subsequently used in the production of petfood in December, 2006 and January, 2007, which is being recalled by MenuFoods. The new varieties in the United States and Canada have been added tothe recall list. The latest recall group is listed below, and a completelist of recalled products, including the new items can be reviewed athttp://www.menufoods.com/.

ALSO...

Three great dogs who never had a home of their own are in need...

>>> URGENT <<<

Having exhausted all of the usual channels, we -- I need to reach out to everyone on behalf of Rhett, Ruby & Rose.

They were rescued late last year. They had been living on some property owned by a pipeline company. The employees took up a collection from time to time to buy them dog food and the night watchman befriended them and tried to teach them the basics - sit, down, stay (they know sit anyway). But about the time the weather turned really cold and snowy (was it November? December?) a neighbor got annoyed with them and started shooting at them. We rescued them and managed to place them with Paws In The City. PITC has been boarding them since -which is very, very, very expensive. They're having trouble finding foster homes and every group I know is saying adoptions are slow - PITC can't afford to keep boarding them and their other options are slim. Ok, their options are none!

Do you know ANYONE who could foster one, two, or three of them? I've tried all the groups, my friends and contacts, and anyone I think might help to no avail. They are on our website (http://www.companionsforife.org/) and in our newsletter and on My Space. All they need is to learn the basics - how to walk on a leash, crate training, what toys are, etc. They love people and they love other dogs. The male is a little shy, but considering the amount of buckshot in his backside I think I can understand that! They're eager to learn, and once they do, they can be adopted out through PITC. They are SO close to being ready for permanent homes - so very, very close!! Also, they do have heartworms but I have a private donor willing to pay 100% of their heartworm treatment. Can you imagine never having had a real home? Please forward this to anyone you know who might be able to help. For more info, email info@companionsforlife.org.

"If all the beasts were gone, man would die from loneliness of spirit,

for what happens to the beast happens to the man."
--Chief Seattle

Jacksonville Humane Society Needs Help...

www.jaxhumane.org

The tragic fire started just before 2 a.m. Saturday, April 7. The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department's firefighters faced 30-foot flames in order to save animals.
It has been reported that all but two of the dogs were rescued, but many of the cats did not make it out as the roof caved in directly over the cattery. Fire investigators said it appeared the fire was accidental and began in the laundry room.

Leona Sheddon Speaks
"Knowing that animals that were here in our care died in our care in a no-kill shelter breaks our heart," executive director Leona Sheddon said. Sheddon added that about 200 animals were in the shelter when the fire broke out.
She praised the fire department for saving as many lives as they did. "We thank ever so much the extra effort the fire department made in saving all the animals they could. In fact, several firefighters suffered injuries in saving animals, and certainly they are heroes to us."

If you can help - please visit their website for the latest information www.jaxhumane.org

...Thank You

Pet Food Recall Update

ASPCA: American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals:
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=recall

ALSO: Be sure to check the following news articles...

CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/05/pet.chews/index.html

Wal Mart Pet Food Recalled:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/P/PET_FOOD_RECALL?SITE=NYNYP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

ChemNutra:
http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/chemnutra04_07.html

Homemade Pet Food?
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/H/HOMEMADE_PET_FOOD?SITE=NYNYP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Pet Food News:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17967533/

Be Aware!

Pet Food Recall Update!

RECALL OF PET FOOD INFORMATION
As of March 31, 2007

PLEASE READ!!

American Medical Veterinary Association
http://www.avma.org/aa/menufoodsrecall/default.asp

Hill’s Pet Nutrition (Science Diet – Hill’s Prescription Diet)
http://www.hillspet.com/zSkin_2/index.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474395182112&bmUID=1175394758218

Menu Foods Recall Information
http://www.menufoods.com/recall/

Menu Foods: Cat Products Recall
http://www.menufoods.com/recall/product_cat.html

Menu Foods: Dog Products Recall
http://www.menufoods.com/recall/product_dog.html

Menu Foods: FAQ re: Recall
http://www.menufoods.com/recall/FAQ_Consumer.htm

Nestlé Purina PetCare Company
http://www.purina.com/

http://www.haveaheartforpets.org

CEUs and Red Dogs

The Texas Animal Control Association is now offering CEUs to certified animal control officers attending Top Dog Speaker Series events! This is a huge step forward for our Top Dog program and is surely responsible for the long waiting list for this month's event!





Also, we have a new featured pet(s). Ruby, Rose, and Rhett have never had a home of their own. They scraped out a living on some property owned by a pipeline company until recently when Paws In The City stepped in. But PITC doesn't have any available foster homes and Ruby, Rose and Rhett are languishing in a commercial boarding facility.




All these friendly, happy, wonderful pooches need is a foster home to help teach them the basics - what it's like to be indoors, how to ride in a car, the joy of playing with toys and the peace of a place where they are loved. Please check out the Featured Pet page on our website to learn more about these three very special dogs!

Media Opportunities Abound!

Where did January go? February is nearly here and I don't know where the time went!

But January has produced some wonderful media opportunities for CFL! On Monday, January 29th, CFL spokesman Alicia Voltmer will be on Good Morning Texas discussing the extra care pets need in the winter! Catch her on Channel 8 between 9 - 10 a.m.

This month's issue of El Lider US, a free Hispanic magazine, is carrying CFL's Tips For Winterizing Your Pets! That issue is out now!

And there is a great feature article on CFL in the February issue of Urban Animal magazine - available free in restaurants and pet-friendly businesses beginning February 1!

Happy New Year!

As our first year draws to a close, we wanted to take a moment to reflect upon our accomplishments and consider how far we've come in just one year.
Together we have:

- Provided humane education workbooks for Send A Kid To Camp – a program of the City of Dallas Parks & Recreation Department that serves 1,300 low-income children in 19 under-served areas of the City

- Provided humane education videos and workbooks for the City of Dallas’ 44 after-school programs serving 3,000 elementary and middle school children in low-income areas

- Taught pregnant moms and dads how to prepare their pets for the arrival of a new baby

- Held a successful book drive to collect children’s books about animals for a planned humane education library at the City of Dallas new animal shelter scheduled to open in 2007

- Provided humane education workbooks, lesson plans and materials, as well as hundreds of brochures and promotional items for kids to the Humane Education Officer for the City of Dallas Animal Services

- Enlisted the help of a number of Metroplex businesses and individuals to provide monthly humane education messages to the public

- Created an online community where animal welfare volunteers and shelter staff can network and have access to a library of information they need

- Developed a monthly speaker series to bring experts in the field of animal welfare to speak to local rescuers and shelter staff on matters of concern to them

Thanks to all of you who have provided support and encouragement. We are changing the way our society views companion animals. There is still a lot to be done but with your continued support we will achieve our goals and elevate the role of companion animals in our society.

Amazing Pet Tributes

We're getting in some amazing photos and tributes for our Pet Tribute Trees and Starbucks.



Check out these copies of ornaments we're hanging now --

The Pet Tribute Trees Are Up!

Our Pet Tribute Trees are up and decorated and they look great! We've got a classic 9-foot tree at the Starbucks at Arapaho & Shiloh that no one can miss! It's adorned with red and white lights and Pet Tribute decorations featuring some wonderful pets - a Katrina survivor, sibling Chow mix puppies, homeless cats who now have permanent homes, long-lost but not forgotten pets, and more. Stop by and see all the wonderful tributes! And don't forget to send in your photo and tribute along with a small donation, too!

But that's not all! Thanks to the Christmas Tree Lady in Plano, we've got a bright white contemporary 6 1/2" tree at the Starbucks on Preston just south of Beltline! It's absolutey packed with glowing white and red lights, beautiful glass ornaments, and even more Pet Tribute decorations! You have to stop by and see this! The photos just don't do it justice! And while you're there, pick up an order form and add your cherished dog or cat to the Pet Tribute Tree. The trees will be on display for everyone to see all through the holiday season!



Find out more on our website at www.companionsforlife.org.

Pet Tribute Trees Debut Next Week!

This Holiday Season, Companions For Life is honoring the unconditional love and companionship our pets provide by establishing a Pet Tribute Tree in selected neighborhood Starbucks. Hundreds of twinkling red and white lights will adorn each tree.

With each $5 donation to our humane education programs, we will illuminate a white light in memory of a person or pet who has passed on, or a red light in honor of a person or pet who still graces our lives. We'll also fashion a beautiful holiday ornament using a tribute message you submit. Each ornament will be displayed on one of our Pet Tribute Trees, and you will receive an acknowledgement of your contribution.

With each $10 donation, pet lovers are invited to submit a photo of their pet along with their tribute message. A light will be lit, and your photo and Tribute Message will be used to create a unique ornament which we will hang on a Pet Tribute Tree for everyone to admire.

Tributes can also be made in honor of your own pets or pet, or as a unique holiday gift in honor of a friend or relative, or their pet. Gift tributes made in honor of others will include a personal note to the honoree letting them know of your gift in their name.

Pet Tribute Trees will be on display from the Friday after Thanksgiving through January 1, 2007 at the Preston/Beltline Starbucks in North Dallas and the Shiloh/Arapaho Starbucks in North Garland. Mail-In tribute forms can be picked up at participating Starbucks, or submit your tribute online at www.companionsforlife.org <http://www.companionsforlife.org/> . Please remember that all proceeds benefit our education and outreach programs aimed at elevating the role of companion animals in our society and creating a world where there are "no more disposable pets".

Project Hope Book Drive

Companions For Life and Animal Rescue of Texas are teaming up to fill the shelves at Dallas' soon-to-be opened animal shelter with books that encourage humane treatment of animals!

The Project Hope book drive is intended to build a children's classroom library at the shelter, which is slated to open in 2007. We're gathering donated books that hopefully will inspire compassion toward animals.

Teaching children respect, responsibility and kindness toward animals helps them become adults who practice caring and compassion toward not just animals, but also the people in their lives and society as a whole.

Donors are asked to contribute new or gently used books and are encouraged to choose books from humane education award winners listed on www.compa nionsforlife.org. Some of the well- known and beloved stories that are requested include: A Home For Nathan, A Friend Indeed, Forever Friends, Orville – A Dog Story, and Dog Blue.

The donations, which are tax deductible, can be dropped off at any Animal Rescue of Texas adoption event or Canine Commissary location.

Please consider donating! The book drive ends October 31, 2006!

Dog Bite Prevention In Frisco

This Saturday we've been invited to speak at the Toys R Us by Stonebriar Mall in Frisco. We'll teach kids and their parents how to be safe around dogs, beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Did you know that by age 14 about half of all children have been bitten by a dog? Knowledge and understanding of dog behavior can go a long way toward preventing bites! Come and join us and find out what you and your kids need to know!

Inspiration X 10!

I got this story recently from the co-worker of one of our volunteers. " My son had his 10th birthday party Saturday night and instead of getting gifts he collected donations for our local animal shelter. He collected $120 and we delivered the money yesterday. He wrote a letter to put in with the money. This is the funny part....he wrote "this money is for the dogs, please don't spend it on needles"!

Now there's a kid that understands! This is what it's all about - creating caring, compassionate human beings that understand the value of companion animals! This photo is of Joe and his dog Buddy, adopted from the shelter Joe donated his birthday money to!

Top Dog Update

Last Thursday nearly 20 local animal rescuers and shelter staff members attended our 4th Top Dog Speaker Series event. Jenny Womack, a family law attorney at Palmer & Womack, and co-chair of the Dallas Association of Young Lawyer's Animal Welfare Committee donated her time to discuss Texas' Charity Raffle Laws (not your ordinary state laws!) and recommended language for adoption contracts, foster contracts, and volunteer agreements. Afterward everyone headed home to review and update their documents and agreed to share the "best of" with others through our Rescue Resources forum!

At CFL we are very proud to be helping dedicated, compassionate, professional organizations continue to carry on the wonderful work they do - day in and day out!

Next month, Jerry Martin from the City of Dallas Office of Emergency Management will be teaching rescuers the Incident Command System - a FEMA/DHS/NIMS management system used by first responders in disasters. This training will allow experienced animal handlers and group representatives to assist in future disasters in an effort to save pets as well as people!

The Videos Have Landed!

Today we received the videos for Parks & Recreation's after-school programs and the City of Dallas health clinics! There are a total of 38 videos! Funding was provided by the Erin Wylie Fund of The Dallas Foundation and private donations. Thank you to all of you who contributed! And thanks to the ASPCA for the significant discount they were able to arrange for us!

We'll be delivering the videos in the next few weeks and will update everyone then!

-Rebecca

Promises Kept

Today we ordered 30 humane education videos from the ASPCA! All 30 - some English/some Spanish, will be donated for use in the City of Dallas' Parks & Recreation Department's after school programs. It won't be long now before we can say that 44 after-school programs (36-37 elementary schools and 9 middle schools), serving approximately 3,000 kids, now have a chance to learn respect and responsibility toward companion animals! Our thanks to the Erin Wylie Fund of the Dallas Foundation, and a myriad of individual donors for making this possible!

Programs for Kids In The Works

This past weekend we trained four new teachers who will soon be able to go out and talk to elementary age kids about pet care and behavior, compassion, respect, and responsibility. There are two programs we're working on now - "Be Bite Free", which teaches children why dogs bite, to recognize the signals that a dog might bite, and how to properly approach a dog; and "Ten Acts Of Kindness" which teaches the ten things all pets deserve - shelter, water, food, exercise, grooming, training/socialization, safety, vet care, love, and respect. We hope to begin taking these programs out into the community very soon!