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I thought I knew most of the foods that might make my wonderful dogs sick. How silly of me! So, I have decided to mention potentially dangerous foods to you so that you may prevent a rushed trip to the animal emergency hospital or vets.
I knew that chocolate (and the plastic/foil covering the candy) was bad. Everyone knows that, right? And, I figured that alcoholic beverages couldn't be good for them. Who would be there to make sure they have a designated driver, right?
Anyway, here is a list of goods that should be stored away from pets at all times:
Avocados Chocolate Coffee Onions & onion powder
Garlic Grapes Raisins Macadamia nuts
Alcohol Moldy/spoiled foods (yum-m-m to fur kids, right?)
Salt Fatty foods Tea leaves Raw yeast dough
Gum, candies or other foods sweetened with xylitol
I'm sure there are others, and I'm sure that you do a great job of protecting your pets already, but I never knew about garlic or grapes. Hopefully this will raise your awareness and you'll never have a need to wish you had known about something after it's too late!
I am very upset about a so called "sport" that I learned about on Wednesday's news. It is the sport of Penning.
In North Carolina, foxes and coyotes are being trapped in the wild and then sold to fenced pens where participants use the animals as "live bait" for their dogs in competitions. Fortunately, the North Carolina legislature is currently considering a bill (S.B. 515) to prohibit the placing of live foxes or coyotes in enclosed areas for field trials.
Scored trials sometimes last for days with hundreds of dogs released into the enclosure and then judged for how they pursue the wildlife. The captive animals are often torn apart by the dogs.
I get the idea of hunting although I could never do it and am happy that it is not part of my own culture. I became a vegetarian 20 years ago so that I would not cause the suffering or death of any creature. My family is not vegetarian. I am not critical of them and believe that each person has the right to make up his own mind about lifestyle. This is different, though! This is not hunting to eat. It is blood sport. It causes terror and suffering for God's creatures. I don't mean to offend anyone when I say this, but I hope that you might find it in your heart to read the article about Wildlife Abuse and then follow your heart in this matter.
I am a sucker for a happy ending (or beginning). The story about how a Pet Food Bank came to be in Charlotte is a wonderful outcome created through the goodness of people who love animals and want to help people who are experiencing financial difficulties. It seems to me that this could happen anywhere, too. Maybe all you have to do is talk to your local shelters and Animal Control Officers.
Anyway, here's the story:
NewsChannel36 of CHARLOTTE,
N.C. reported in December that the economic hardships caused more owners to give up pets. Animal control wanted to help families whose hearts were breaking because they could no longer no longer afford to take care of their furry family members.
One solution examined was a doggy food bank.It became a reality back in December and on Tuesday, March 24th was kickoff day. NewsChannel 36 of Charlotte had been promoting the pet food bank project for weeks and viewers responded with 10,000 pounds of dog food for the opening! Food is being distributed through Second Harvest Food Bank to area pantries. To read the rest of the story (and related links) go to the article Pet food bank off to successful start. If you have some extra money, buy a bag of food and take it to your local shelter. It might not get out to local families, but it will give your shelter a bit more time to find a forever home for some little guy!
An EzineArticle written by Debbie Foster, the owner of Pet Beds Unlimited and an avid animal lover has a wonderful take on the subject. Here is the full Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Debbie_Foster The gist of it is that most senior citizens who have pets treat the pets like they are
their children. Pets give us unconditional love, provide health benefits, and help us live longer lives. In economic times like these, caring properly for pets can become expensive, and there may be some hurdles to overcome that affect Seniors more readily than others. In her article, Debbie Foster cites how vets and city governments are helping out with this situation. I know for a fact that we love coming home - or just coming back from checking the mail or getting something from outside - and being greeted as though we are the best thing that has ever happened EVER! That is how our dogs greet us every time we walk in the house. There is nothing like the love given to you by your pet. That feeling doesn't go away as people get older. I think it even increases as our communities shrink. I hope to always have my fur children no matter how old I am.
Many of us think that the descriptor, "Senior Citizen" is years off. Believe me when I say it arrives for each one of us when we least expect it and much sooner than one ever thinks! I realize that how one views life contributes to how one lives life. My meager experience is that having someone else to keep company with keeps me feeling younger, gives me a purpose in life, and keeps me healthier, too.
I just don't get it! I know that sometimes things happen that are so far beyond our control that we just can't fix things or keep on going the way things are. I get that!
But, what I don't get is that a person gets a pet but then finds out that whatever the situation, it isn't what they thought it would be. So, they abdicate all responsibility for this living and loving creature and drop him off in a rural area and drive off.
Believe me, I try not to hear about these happenings. I try to look the other way whenever the headlines scream, "You won't like this! Don't read it!" I couldn't ignore the article in Saturday's News & Observer, though. And, I'm glad I didn't ignore the article.
Diane Pettus, a twelve year Chatham County resident talked about the "epidemic of abandoned dogs" and how discouraged she is about it. Thank heavens, though, for her and people like her. She has helped these abandoned animals whenever she can. I, also, learned that John Sauls, Chatham's animal control director, wants everyone to know they don't have to dump their dogs -- the Chatham County shelter will take dogs, no questions asked. Chatham has its share of abandoned animals, with plenty of dogs showing up at people's homes, Sauls said. He assured Triangle Troubleshooter that the shelter's adoption rate is fairly stable. Its dogs are put on www.petfinder.com, and they also let rescue groups take dogs.
I am continually thankful for organizations like the shelters and rescue groups who work so hard to help animals when the need is there. My mother always said that it is a gift to help those who can not help themselves. I understand what she meant. I really get it!
There is still time to participate in the March 21st Canine Holistic Health event that takes place at Paws4Ever, 6311 Nicks Road, Mebane, NC. This workshop is ideal for every dog owner that wants
to keep his pet healthy and learn to make sense of all of the nutrition,
vaccination, and therapeutic options that are available to them. Saturday will be
an all day lecture(9:00-5:00) that will cover:
- Prudent vaccination guidelines
- Nutrition
- What is homeopathy and how you can use homeopathic
remedies to help your pet
- How to use herbs and which ones to avoid
- Pet massage
I recently received the following email urging me to contact my representative and senator in North Carolina. It is my hope that you, too, might take the time to write your reps and help out in the fight for humane treatment of animals.
"Rep. Cary Allred has introduced House Bill 424 -- a groundbreaking bill that complements the bill American Humane is spearheading (HB 6, or “Davie’s Law”) to end the use of gas chambers to euthanize animals in shelters.
HB 424 and its senate companion bill, SB 473 (sponsored by Sen. David F. Weinstein), would allow trained animal shelter technicians to directly obtain and administer drugs necessary for humane euthanasia by injection. Without such a law, known as “direct licensing,” it is more difficult for shelters to perform euthanasia by injection as soon as it is necessary to alleviate pain and suffering of a shelter animal.
To ensure the safe handling of controlled substances, HB 424/SB 473 would authorize the Department of Health and Human Services to register qualified euthanasia technicians and oversee that the substances are properly acquired, stored and administered.
HB 424/SB 473 is a significant step toward improving animal welfare in North Carolina.
Please ask your representative and senator to support this important bill."
Please follow up on this opportunity and know that you are making a difference.
I guess I was just born that way, you know. What I mean is that I've always been a sucker for animals of all kinds: feathers, fur, or scales; two legs, four legs, or whatever number; wild or domesticated. It didn't matter. The downside of all of this, though, is that my heart breaks sometimes. Many of you who are reading this probably feel the same way that I do. I debated whether or not to write about the plight that wolves are going to face in the very near future. Because of my love for all animals and an admitted love for wolves, I decided that I must alert you to this upcoming and devastating threat.
The wolves of Yellowstone and the Northern Rockies have been rebounding thanks to the Endangered Species Act. That act was significantly weakened when the Bush administration eliminated 35-year-old regulations in the Endangered Species Act that required an independent scientific review of proposed federal projects to determine whether they imperil protected plants and animals. Now, agencies undertaking projects like oil and gas drilling or road and power plant construction will make their own assessments and such projects could be accelerated.
Another issue which plays into this is the "License to Kill" rule put in place that would allow states to step up the slaughter of wolves - even though they are protected as an endangered species. Many organizations are working hard to fight against this issue. One that I encountered is the National Resources Defense Council. You can access more information on their website at http://www.savebiogems.org/wolves/.
Unfortunately, Interior Secretary Salazar affirmed the decision to remove gray wolves
from the list of threatened and endangered species in the western Great Lakes and the northern Rocky Mountain states of
Idaho and Montana and parts of Washington,
Oregon and Utah. Wolves will
remain a protected species in Wyoming. It isn't too late to protest
this decision, and perhaps your help can reverse this tragic change.
Canine Holistic Health Weekend with
Dr. Doug Knueven
*SPACE AVAILABLE*
Sat March 21st 9:00-5:00pm $80
*SPACE AVAILABLE*
You're not too late to register for Dr. Knueven's workshop.
This workshop is ideal for every dog owner who wants
to keep his pet healthy
and learn to make sense of all of the nutrition,
vaccination, and therapeutic options that are available to him. Saturday will be
an all day lecture (9:00-5:00) that will cover:
- Prudent vaccination guidelines
- Nutrition
- What is homeopathy and how you can use homeopathic
remedies to help your pet
- How to use herbs and which ones to avoid
- Pet massage
For more information or to register go to Paws4Ever.
I lost my wonderful 11 year old Sable a year and a half ago. For a big dog, that is a good long life, but it still wasn't enough for us. I didn't really know that she was even sick until 2 and a half weeks before we lost her. I had vague feelings that things weren't as good as they had been, but I wasn't overly worried about her until she seemed to be in pain one day. We took her to the vet who examined her thoroughly and found nothing alarming. We decided to watch her closely instead of doing x-rays, etc. Then a week later we saw her belly was very bloated so were advised by our wonderful vets to rush her in. Thirty minutes later she was in surgery after discovering a very large mass in her. Her tumor had ruptured and the prognosis was very bad so we made what I think of as a last gift to our loved pets. We let her go because we knew that her quality of life would no longer be pain free and recovery was unlikely.
I wish I had known signs. That being said, Sable really didn't show any outward signs. It just was a look in her eye sometimes. In my heart I feared all wasn't well, but couldn't put my finger on anything other than "getting old" and a little sore upon rising. Dogs, who are pack animals, do not want to show pain for fear of being separated from the pack. I wish I'd considered that, too. Maybe if I'd known that she was showing only a small part of what she must be feeling, I'd have been much more aggressive.
Since then, I've learned that dogs commonly get cancer. Cancer is a
disease that is characterized by a group of cells that grow to invade
and destroy adjacent tissues. It may also spread to distant areas
through a process called metastasis.
Cancer can occur in the
skin, under the skin and affect just about any location or organ in the
body. There are also several types of cancer that is possible at each
location. The signs of cancer vary with the location and type of
cancer. The aggressiveness of the cancer will depend on the type of
cancer, the location and the individual pet.
Some common warning signs of cancer may include:
Weight loss
It is hard to think that your home may have areas in it that are dangerous. It is easy to underestimate the possible problems when you see them every day, so I thought I'd send out a reminder of potential threats right in your home. Keep your loved ones safe by thinking about a few simple things.
Balconies: High areas without safety railings, or railings spaced too far apart can lead to a dangerous fall. I worry every time my dog gets up on the bench surrounding my deck which is a second story height.
Bath tubs or sinks: Small pets can fall in and drown in full tubs or sinks.
Doors and windows: Dogs and cats can be gone in a flash through a slightly opened door or a window that has a loose screen. Be aware when you open the doors and check your window screens now that spring is near.
Electrical cords: If pets bite or chew cords they can be electrocuted if the cord is plugged in.
Fireplace: Not only can a pet be burned, but eating the ashes in a fireplace can make your pet sick.
Toilets: Toilet water is not healthy for pets to drink so close the lid. There is ,also, another potential problem that one of my dogs faced many years ago.
My mom had trained Jiggs to hop up on the toilet seat after a walk to be "tidied up". One day as they returned from the walk, the phone rang. After about 10 minutes, my mom remembered that Jiggs had gone ahead of her into the bathroom for his primping. She rushed in to find the poor pup stuck in the toilet bowl and totally humiliated with his situation. I never leave the toilet seat up when a puppy is around! I can just picture my sweet little guy looking around wondering where his "mom" was. No joke!
Washer and Dryer: Pets can crawl into a washer or dryer without your knowledge; close the doors to these appliances when you're not using them.
I hope you never encounter any situation where your pet has become injured, but just in case be sure to post emergency phone numbers near your phone in case you need help in a hurry.
Sometimes the easiest way to help out animals in your area is to open up your checkbook and send off a donation to your favorite animal organization. I do that as often as I can. But, sometimes there are other ways which allow you to connect with people who share the same compassion and love of animals that you have. Local events in the Triangle area happen frequently and give you a chance to make a difference.
So, what's happening in the near future in the Chapel Hill/Durham/Raleigh area? Lots!
Coming up we have the 2nd Annual Lance Memorial Canines for the Cure NADAC Agility Trial on March 14 and 15. Last year almost $13,000 was raised at Pet Behavior Help, 5314 Farrington Rd in Chapel Hill.
Pig Pals of NC, a nonprofit rescue and adoption program for miniature pigs, is searching for a kind heart to donate or sell used fencing. The pigs would love either hog/cattle panels or 4-foot field fencing with 2-by-4-inch squares to keep them safe. Contact Penny Shumaker Jeffrey, executive director of Pig Pals of NC, at pigpalsnc@yahoo.com or 219-7762. www.pigpals.com.
Young people, ages 9-18, can attend a day of equine education and activities on March 14, too. This is sponsored by the Student Chapter of the American Association of Equine Practitioners at the North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine.
Then, there are art events like the Spring Fling at Emily Weinstein's Gallery on March 15 from 2-6 p.m. which supports nine of the area's non-profits, or the Annual Black Tie and Tails Ball on March 21 from 7-11 p.m. at the Washington Duke Inn. These are just a few of the events coming up over the next couple of weeks. For more information, go to "What's shakin' " in The Chapel Hill News and see a much expanded list of wonderful activities that support animals in our area which was compiled by Deborah R. Meyer.
So, whether it's dogs, cats, horses, wildlife, pigs, training to volunteer, attending a spay/neuter clinic or attending workshops, have a GREAT time learning new skills and helping animals.
Please help! The hearing continues Wednesday, March 11 at noon. You can read about Davie's Law, H.B. 6, which would end the use of gas
chambers on shelter animals and ban heartstick and mandate safe lethal
injection for euthanasia of dogs and cats.
Here is the updated information about this law and information about how to help. Please link to http://www.animallawcoalition.com/gas-chambers/article/572 to learn more.
Did you realize that spring flowers can be hazardous to your pet's health? And, these flowers are found in many people's homes. Since I have a puppy who wants to put everything in her mouth at least once, I thought some of you might want to see a list of potential dangers that might be lurking near your pet, too.
So, here are some toxic plants (found in my house) that surprised me:
aloe, asparagus fern, azalea, cyclamen, daffodil, day-lily, Easter Lily, lilies, iris, and tulip. They are just a few of a longer list.
Here is a toll free number for you to call in case you think your pet has been exposed to a poisonous substance: 1-888-426-4435. If you wish to see a longer list of common household plants that are poisonous, you can connect with the ASPCA Poison Control Center.
Have you ever thought about what might happen if you became unable to care for your pets or if something happen to you that would leave them orphans? Well, I have. I have an agreement with my daughter to care for my dogs in the case of this unthinkable circumstance. Over time, though, I have come to realize that my two dogs and her dogs will not be a manageable crowd for her. So, that leaves me with lots of work to do until I can feel satisfied and relaxed in case the unthinkable
were to happen.
I found this article on Petfinder that gives me some ideas about how to proceed and thought that some of you might wish to have information about planning for this kind of problem. I have always believed that proactive planning is better than hoping for the best!
