"Static Guard" - is a great way to prevent fur from staying on your carpet spray it down and vacuum it up and it's gone.
Urgent News!!!
Dog Food Recall
FDA Requests Seizure of Animal Food Products at PETCO Distribution Center
Today, at the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Marshals seized various animal food products stored under unsanitary conditions at the PETCO Animal Supplies Distribution Center located in Joliet, Ill., pursuant to a warrant issued by the United States District Court in Chicago.
U.S. Marshals seized all FDA-regulated animal food susceptible to rodent and pest contamination. The seized products violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act because it was alleged in a case filed by the United States Attorney that they were being held under unsanitary conditions. (The Act uses the term "insanitary" to describe such conditions). During an FDA inspection of a PETCO distribution center in April, widespread and active rodent and bird infestation was found. The FDA inspected the facility again in May and found continuing and widespread infestation."We simply will not allow a company to store foods under filthy and unsanitary conditions that occur as a direct result of the company's failure to adequately control and prevent pests in its facility," said Margaret O'K. Glavin, associate commissioner for regulatory affairs. "Consumers expect that such safeguards will be in place not only for human food, but for pet food as well." The distribution center in Joliet, Ill., provides pet food products and supplies to PETCO retail stores in 16 states including Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.FDA has no reports of pet illness or death associated with consumption of animal food distributed by PETCO, and does not have evidence that the food is unsafe for animals. However, the seized products were in permeable packages and held under conditions that could affect the food's integrity and quality. As a precaution, consumers who have handled products originating from the PETCO distribution center should thoroughly wash their hands with hot water and soap. Any surfaces that came in contact with the packages should be washed as well. Consumers are further advised as a precaution to thoroughly wash products sold in cans and glass containers from PETCO in the 16 affected states.If a pet has become ill after eating these food products, pet owners should contact their veterinarian and report illnesses to FDA state consumer complaintcoordinators
Nylabone Warning
From a Seattle news station investigation Is your dog biting off more than he can chew?The KING 5 Investigators have learned of a troubling pattern among one of the most popular dog chews on Seattle area store shelves.One of the most trusted names in dog chews is Nylabone. For 40 years they've made some of the most popular dog chews.But there is growing evidence that some of their product lines - like one made from a gummy material - could be harmful, even fatal, to your dog.At the Renton veterinary hospital she manages, Gail Scott has declared some chew toys off-limits. "I gave this one - one similar to this - to my own dog," she said, holding up a Nylabone. Now added to her list is the Nylabone "plaque attacker," the kind that she gave to her Doberman Sting."He had broken the whole end off and it was going down this throat. But I retrieved it quickly and of course took it away from him," Scott said. "Had it been swallowed, probably within days, this could have been lodged somewhere in the intestinal tract and probably had to be retrieved surgically."But even surgery couldn't save Timber. It was only after the champion Alaskan malamute died in Virginia that a vet discovered a chunk of plaque attacker lodged in his stomach.In Texas, the same fate was in store for Rambo, a little poodle.The vet retrieved two pieces of what appeared to be Nylabone products, after Rambo's agonizing death. "What really got me is when the vet told me he screamed, and then died," said Harvey Hannah, Rambo's owner. Virginia attorney Debra Corcoran said she's uncovered more than a hundred cases where dogs may have been injured or killed after swallowing Nylabone products.She blames the company's line of flexible chew toys. They're marketed under names like Gumma-Bone and Plaque Attacker.Some vets say they're made of an indigestible material, and plaque attacker has a knobby surface that can lodge in the digestive tract."This is a gas pocket in the stomach outlined here," Rambo's vet said,pointing to an X-ray.Rambo's x-ray highlights another problem. Nylabones don't show up on X-rays, so vets, like Rambo's can't tell what's making the dog sick."When it hung up - the intestine keeps moving - so it kind of knotted up like an accordion," the vet said.The KING 5 Investigators have obtained a half dozen letters Nylabone sent to customers whose dogs were injured. The company calls the cases "...most unusual..." or an "...isolated incident..."In a letter to KING 5, Nylabone said "...the Plaque Attacker (registered trademark) is safe ... however, all polymer dog chews, regardless of
manufacturer, can present problems when they are inappropriate in size or have become old and worn."In Timber's case, Nylabone settled for an undisclosed dollar amount the day of trial.Attorney Debra Corcoran is now preparing a class-action lawsuit, but some people who've lost their pets want quicker action from Nylabone, whose products can be found in pet shops just about anywhere."Take it off the market - or at least change your packaging and put on warning labels," asked Harvey Hannah, Rambo's owner. Late this week - that's exactly what's happened. Nylabone sent KING 5 this letter saying that after ten years on store shelves it's pulling the Plaque Attacker.The company says it will replace Plaque Attacker with "...a new, improved product shortly." But it won't say how soon - or exactly what changes will be made. We'll be watching for it - and we'll let you know how it compares. The following is the text of the letter sent by Nylabone to the KING5 Investigators: Nylabone products, a division of T.F.H. Publications, announced that it is replacing its Plaque Attacker line of dental dog bones. "When used properly, the ASPCA approved Plaque Attacker Bones are a safe and effective aide in reducing problems associated with periodontal disease in dogs," said Glen Axelrod, President and C.E.O. of T.F.H. Publications. "However, all polyurethane dental dog bones, regardless of manufacturer, can present problems when they are inappropriate in size and have become old and worn."The Plaque Attacker line of dental dog bones included the four sizes of Dental Bones made from polyurethane plastic which were introduced in the early 1990's. The produce is designed to massage a dog's teeth and gums through specially designed dental tips on a traditional dog bone shape to prevent canine periodontal disease. When improperly monitored during use, the bones can become frayed and worn, with the possibility of large pieces being bitten off and becoming lodged in a dog's intestinal tract. "We are highly committed to pet safety and, while a typical small piece of the product will normally pass through a dog harmlessly, we take any amount of customer concern seriously. As such, we are discontinuing and removing all four sizes of our Bones in the Plaque Attacker line from stores and will introduce a new, improved product shortly. We will continue to work very closely with our veterinarian experts and the ASPCA to define, circulate and publish guidelines for the proper use of polyurethane dental pet products industry wide," said Axelrod. Nylabone Products, a division of T.F.H. Publications, is a leading manufacturer of premium dog chews and dental devices. Since their introduction in 1955, Nylabone dog chews have grown to be the most recognized dog chew among veterinarians, clinics and kennels. Nylabone Products carry the ASPCA seal of approval.
Husky Abuse
According to Chukchi mythology two husky's guard the gates of heaven. If you have mistreated a dog in your life, they bar your entrance
A Florida Man Shoots two Fleeing Huskies
The shootings of two Siberian huskies a week ago came under new scrutiny Friday as Orange County investigators watched a YouTube video showing an armed businessman who said he was protecting himself from "wolves" he thought were trying to kill a newborn calf. Up to 60 people saw the gunfire in a pasture near Lake Nona on May 19. The continuing debate over what happened pits pet lovers against ranchers in a city-meets-country impasse. Last week, deputy sheriffs concluded that Orlando businessman Christopher Comins acted legally after developer Daryl Carter asked him to kill dogs chasing cattle on Carter-owned land on Narcoossee Road. Both dogs survived, despite four bullets hitting Raley and three bullets hitting Hoochie, who lost an eye. "This video wasn't available to us at the time," sheriff's spokeswoman Cpl. Susan Soto said Friday in explaining the decision to reopen an investigation by the Sheriff's Office. "The outcome may be the same," Soto said. "But we want look deeper into this and possibly reinterview witnesses." Florida property owners have the right to protect livestock from wild dogs
and unleashed pets. But cries of outrage filled animal-rights Web sites and chat rooms after the videotaped shooting was posted last week on YouTube by an Irish tourist who had stopped to watch the dogs as they encircled the cows. Viewers and some witnesses said the dogs never threatened Comins."Oh, my God. Oh, my God," the tourist says on the video as a lone man walks into the pasture, draws a handgun and begins shooting the huskies. Absolutely unbelievable. That's . . . America for you. Guns!"Dog owner intervened
The shooting stopped after the dogs' owner, Christopher Butler, jumped a fence and ran to his wounded pets. Butler, who lives about a mile from the pasture, said Friday that his dogs
had run away from him an hour before the shooting and should not have been off their leashes. But to him, no explanation can justify shooting his pets as they scampered for safety, he said. "The dogs are idiots. They're beautiful, but they're just like big babies. If the cattle had chased them, they would have run a mile," said Butler, who raced to the pasture after a neighbor told him he had seen the dogs. "I mean I was there and screaming for them to come. But he just shot and shot and shot, and he knew I was there."Comins disagreed Friday, saying he stopped shooting as Butler arrived. He said he thought the dogs were wolves, as did others among the bystanders watching the scene along Narcoossee Road, according to interviews Friday. In a three-way telephone conversation with his lawyer, Comins told the Orlando Sentinel what he told deputies last week, that he shot the dogs when they turned and began to run toward him. His perception differs from that of many viewers of the video. "I'm not happy about any of what's happened and certainly wish that none of this ever happened. And had the man had control of his animals and not let
them run free, they would never have encircled those cows and tried to get at those calves," Comins said.
"I've been a dog owner all my life, and I own several right now. I wouldn't harm anything without reason."
The owner of CustomFab, a company that builds special steel-pipe products for NASA, Walt Disney World and other customers, Comins has been a property investor with Carter and Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty. All three attend the same prayer group. Carter and the owner of the cattle, Laura Rutherford, could not be reached for comment Friday evening. Both asked Comins to kill the dogs because they were harassing the cows, according to sheriff's reports. Witnesses disagree One of the witnesses reached Friday said Comins stepped in after bystanders at the edge of the pasture waited more than two hours for someone to rescue a newborn calf the dogs were trying to reach inside a circle of larger cows. "I've had to shoot cattle, unfortunately, after they've been attacked like that by dogs," said Dave Tindall of Orlando. "What happened had to end the way it did. It had to be done for a defenseless animal that had no way of
escaping those dogs. If night had fallen, they wouldn't have gone home hungry." But another witness, a nurse visiting from North Carolina, saw no reason for Comins to shoot. "The dogs were not doing anything to him. They were just facing the cows," said Patty Yang of Raleigh. "That's the bad part I think about: The dogs tried to run away. But the shooter wouldn't give up. He just continued to shoot the dogs." Witnesses captured the incident on video -- see it at OrlandoSentinelcom/onlineextras
Henry Pierson Curtis can be reached at hcurtis@orlandosent inel.com or407-420-5257.
Here is the Video
Here is the petition for the huskies
MORRISON, Tenn. - A Morrison man is accused of using a metal file to grind his dog's teeth down to the gums.Investigators believe Christopher Barnett wanted to punish his dog for chewing in the house. They said he beat his dog then ground away 30 of his teeth. Warren County Humane Society President Andy Anderson said the husky named Lucas lost most of its teeth."Apparently he chewed some wires up underneath his house and by grinding off his teeth he wanted to teach this dog that he would never chew his wires again," Anderson said. The Warren County Sheriff's Office charged Barnett with animal cruelty."It's awful what he did," Anderson said. "It's terrible and shouldn't be done to any living creature. It's a terrible thing to do."Anderson is taking care of Lucas. Though his medical bills are likely to cost thousands of dollars, the Warren County Humane Society has offered to pay for them."No matter how much it costs, he's going to get fixed because he deserves it. He's a sweet boy and he's going to get fixed up," she said.Anderson said Lucas is a trusting dog."Despite having gone through the things he went through, he's wonderful," Anderson said.Barnett will appear in a hearing in April. Animal cruelty is a misdemeanor charge that carries a maximum jail sentence of one year in jail. For information about Lucas, call 931-668-9660. The Warren County Humane Society is located at 94 Collie Drive in McMinnville
Please act on this.
Additionally, those in favor of stronger charges (Felony) against Barnett are urged to write:
The District Attorney's Office
The Honorable Lisa Zavagiannis
131 EAST MAIN ST
McMinnville, TN 37110
Phone: (931) 473-9572
Fax: (931) 473-7410
Let's send a strong message to the DA's office and to the general public that Tennesseans demand justice for Lucas!
Update:
Demand Justice for Lucas, Pure Bred Husky Horribly Abused by Owner!, on Mar 16, 2008. The petition received 2312 signatures. The petition author, Tennesseans Opposed to Animal Abuse!, has now closed the petition and posted the results: Message from the petition author, Tennesseans Opposed to Animal Abuse!:for signing the petition for Lucas the abused Husky in Tennessee! As a result of your interest and concern, the DA has upgraded the charges to a FELONY! Thank YOU for helping to make this happen! This petition will be delivered to the DA's office now.