“Group teaches new tricks for dog safety - Valdosta Daily Times” plus 3 more |
- Group teaches new tricks for dog safety - Valdosta Daily Times
- Dozens of dogs missing from Ferris shelter - WFAA
- Are Flea Treatments Dangerous For Your Pets ... - AlterNet
- Protect your pets from winter weather - Regina Leader-Post
| Group teaches new tricks for dog safety - Valdosta Daily Times Posted: 14 Apr 2010 07:40 PM PDT April 14, 2010 Group teaches new tricks for dog safetyVALDOSTA — A local group of pet enthusiasts is dedicating its time to educating the public. In October 2009, Pet Education Teams or PETs, was founded to provide classes on pet education. Kathy Gaddis, PETs president, saw the need for an educational organization while volunteering with the local humane society. She noticed that some people, especially children, were afraid of dogs and did not know how to act around animals. Gaddis began discussing the idea of holding classes to talk to people and children about how to prevent dog bites, how to interact with unfamiliar dogs, how to prevent animal abuse, animal care and obedience. Today the not-for-profit organization has nine members, who along with their four-legged furry friends, are ready to educate the community. "The goal of this is to encourage respect and compassion for all living things," Angela Kufrovich, PETs vice-president, said. "Animals can hurt just like humans." Teaching children to treat animals with respect and compassion are feelings that can stay with them into adulthood, she said. "It affects all areas, not just animals but in relationships with people, too," Kufrovich said. The members hope to begin teaching classes at day-care facilities, schools, public events and even churches. They have already participated in a local church's fall festival and set up a booth at the Azalea Festival. They will participate this weekend with Bark4Life. Bark4Life will be run similar to Relay4Life and promotes the healing affects an animal can have on a person undergoing cancer treatment or recovering, Saleigh Cook, PETs member, said. PETs classes are free, but the organization does take donations, which can be monetary or items for animals, Gaddis said. "Donations are always welcome but not mandatory," Cook said. Most of the PETs dogs are trained therapy dogs, Gaddis said. A person does not have to have a therapy dog to be a part of PETs but it is recommended, Cook said. The dogs are used in the classes to showcase how to best interact with an animal, plus it keeps kids involved in the class, Cook said. "Instead of just having us preaching to the kids," she added. Each member specializes in different areas of animal care, obedience and safety, Gaddis said. Though PETs' main focus is on dogs, PETs presentations pertain to any common domestic pet found in a household. Kay Pierce is a part of PETs because she wants to dispel the myth that all big dogs and supposedly aggressive dogs, like the Rottweiler, are dangerous. "It's how they are raised," Pierce said. She and her Rottweiler, Harley, are members of PETs. If a Chihuahua personality was in the body of a Rottweiler, that would be dangerous, Pierce said. "We would have to annihilate the whole breed," she said. Aggressive behavior comes down to the environment a dog is exposed to and how they are trained, Pierce said. Some of the things PETs member teach include how to approach a dog and basic grooming and care, Kufrovich said. People may not realize they are promoting cruelty to animals by buying pets from puppy mills or not reporting dog fighting in the area, but people must realize that there is a better way to interact with humanity's four-legged counterparts, Kufrovich said. "All living things deserve respect," Kufrovich said. To become a PETs member or to schedule a class, visit the PETs Web site www.4Paws4Learning.com. Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
| Dozens of dogs missing from Ferris shelter - WFAA Posted: 14 Apr 2010 09:13 PM PDT  Credit: WFAA-TV Dozens of dogs are missing from the municipal animal shelter in Ferris. Posted on April 14, 2010 at 11:14 PM Updated today at 11:19 PM
FERRIS — Animal advocates say more than 80 dogs disappeared from the crowded no-kill animal shelter in Ferris last month. The shelter's operator said the pets have been taken to an American Indian reservation, but won't say where. The city-owned shelter has been run by Domestic Animal Rescue Emergency Shelter Services since November. Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
| Are Flea Treatments Dangerous For Your Pets ... - AlterNet Posted: 14 Apr 2010 05:24 PM PDT Warning that the powerful poisons can endanger dogs and cats, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will require new instructions and labeling for on-spot flea products. The products, including the popular Frontline and Advantage brands, are small vials of liquid pesticides that pet owners apply monthly to the backs of dogs or cats to kill fleas and ticks. The EPA began investigating the products after discovering a sharp rise in the number of pets reported to be sick after they were treated. The yearlong investigation, conducted by a team of veterinarians assembled by the federal agency, concluded that certain pets – small dogs between 10 and 20 pounds – are most susceptible to the problems, which include rashes, vomiting, diarrhea and seizures. EPA Assistant Administrator Steve Owens said Wednesday that no products are being banned at this point, but "we're going to be watching the situation very closely." New instructions and warnings are expected on product labels within the next several months. If these steps don't reduce the problems, "we will take more significant action. We will remove products from the market if we have to," Owens said. Fleas and ticks can cause discomfort and diseases for many dogs and cats around the country. As a result, the on-spot treatments are commonly recommended by veterinarians. Many pet owners who use the treatments think they are applying medication to their pet, but they actually are treating them with potent pesticides, including permethrin, which also is used to kill pests on crops and yards. "These are poisons that we are applying to our pets," said Owens, who said it is a personal as well as a professional issue for him because he owns two dogs and three cats. "Pet owners should exercise caution." Incidents reported by consumers who used the products on their pets rose from 28,895 in 2007 to 44,263 in 2008, an increase of 53 percent in one year. Most of the problems were minor, such as skin rashes, but about 600 dogs and cats died in the incidents reported in 2008, EPA records show. Chihuahuas, shih tzus, miniature poodles, Pomeranians and dachshunds had the most reported incidents, according to the EPA report released Wednesday. For products containing cyphenothrin, those breeds accounted for 33 percent of the reported problems. For products containing permethrin, shih tzus, bichon frise, chihuahuas, yorkshire terriers and maltese were involved in more than 25 percent of the incidents. K-9 Advantix for Dogs contains permethrin and some Sergeant's products and Sentry's Pro XFC contain cyphenothrin. "Small breed dogs were more commonly affected with the number of incidents out of proportion to their popularity," the EPA report says. The problem might be the dose. The agency is telling manufacturers to narrow the range of weights identified for their products. "We will make clear that certain products cannot be used on smaller animals," Owens said. Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
| Protect your pets from winter weather - Regina Leader-Post Posted: 14 Apr 2010 03:51 PM PDT Fido pauses at the door, reluctant to go outside. Fluffy stares longingly at the window, or spends hours grooming, furiously biting at the fur on her belly. Whether it's combating cabin fever or protecting pets against the elements, our four-legged friends require special care during winter. While it's true dogs and cats descend from wild animals, domesticated pets exist in a very different environment. Even a breed of dog that generally performs well in low temperatures, like a husky, will not have the same resistance to the snow and cold as sled dogs in Nunavut, which tend to live outdoors. Pet-industry experts say breed often determines whether you need to dress your dog for the elements. "It really depends on what kind of activity you're doing with your dog," says animal behaviour consultant Jessica O'Neill (www.foreverfriendsdogtraining.ca). Walking on sidewalks may be the worst, she says, as salt causes soreness around the dog's pads. A warm, moist pad can freeze on contact with very cold surfaces. Veterinarian Dr. Ed Beltran adds that the hair between the pads can trap snow and combine with body heat to form balls of ice. "Walking around on that can be very uncomfortable." If Fido lifts his feet, or seems less enthusiastic about going outside, he would probably benefit from bundling up. O'Neill says dog shoes, known as booties, are a good solution. "There are a number of different companies that make them, so it's important to try to find a good fit," she says. "But it is a difficult area to fit." Ginette Wilson of Ottawa's Critter Jungle agrees. "It's like buying a bra. They have to come in and try them on." Critter Jungle sells reusable rubber booties made by Pawz ($15), Ruff Wear boots for hiking and off-leash running ($65 to $80), and Muttluks ($45 to $60), which are best for street walking. However, finding the right product is only half the battle. O'Neill says most dogs resist wearing shoes, and suggests a gradual approach: Put on one bootie, wait a minute, and reward the dog with treats and praise. Work up to four booties, but if your pet whines or seems uncomfortable, stop and return to the task another day. There are options, however, to store-bought booties. Beltran says cutting the pad hair back can prevent the problem; coating the area with Vaseline before heading outside also provides protection. Though paws present the biggest problem, Beltran says older dogs, and those with health problems, benefit from some extra insulation around the abdomen. "It's classically in the winter months when kidney problems come up," Beltran says. When it comes to cats, most pet experts agree that they're generally smart enough to stay inside when it's very cold. However, bladder problems often appear during the winter, so owners should be on the lookout for sandy deposits in the urine of their feline friends. Cats are also prone to depression, Beltran says, particularly if they are used to spending a lot of time outdoors. Watch for excessive grooming, and be ready to play a bit more with Fluffy. Indeed, making sure pets get enough stimulation in winter is a task in itself. For people who tend to stay inside during winter, O'Neill suggests taking an obedience class; for a fun alternative, try the new freestyle classes offered by O'Neill and other area trainers. It's a mix of agility and obedience, set to music. While winter brings new challenges for pet owners, it's not all bad. Beltran notes that the cold weather kills many parasites -- making it a great time for a fecal exam -- and the snow helps owners to identify urine discoloration. He also encourages a bit of overfeeding in the winter --for both dogs and their masters. Ottawa Citizen Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
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