Pet Safety and Protection Act needs your help today!

October 31, 2009

Support the Pet Safety and Protection Act!   Once again it has been brought to my attention that there is legislation that needs our attention, and without us it will not pass.  I beg all of you to follow these instructions and then send them to all of your contacts in your email list and ask them to do the same.  We must stand together to offer protections to the animals that have no one.  The information from the ASPCA.org is as follows:

S. 1834/H.R. 3907—Pet Safety and Protection Act: Sale of Dogs and Cats to Research Institutions
Sponsor(s): Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI); Rep. Michael Doyle (D-PA)
ASPCA Position: Support
Action Needed: Send a letter to your representative and senators urging them to support and cosponsor the Pet Safety and Protection Act, a bill to amend the Animal Welfare Act to ensure that all dogs and cats used by research facilities are obtained legally.

The U.S. Pet Safety and Protection Act (S. 1834/H.R. 3907) would provide a much-needed safety net to ensure that beloved family pets are not stolen or acquired under false pretenses for sale to research laboratories.

Recently reintroduced in Congress (notice the reintroduced, meaning it didn’t pass the first time it was introduced), the Pet Safety and Protection Act would prohibit Class B Dealers and unlicensed individuals from selling dogs and cats to research laboratories. Class B Dealers are people who make their livings by selling animals to the research industry. This is currently permitted under the Animal Welfare Act (passed in 1966), but these dealers are not held accountable for where they obtained their animals.

This is a problem, because dealers sometimes acquire animals through illegal or unethical means—such as by responding to “free to a good home” ads in newspapers, falsifying records to keep the true origins of the animals unknown, working with “bunchers” (people who collect animals from random sources to sell to Class B Dealers) and stealing pets kept outside in yards.

If the Pet Safety and Protection Act is passed, the Animal Welfare Act would be amended so that the only people who would be allowed to sell dogs and cats to research facilities would be:

1. Dealers who have bred and raised the animals.
2. Publicly owned pounds or shelters that obtained the animals from their legal owners.
3. A person donating a dog or cat whom they have bred and raised, or owned for at least one year.
(These categories of people are already allowed to sell to research. The Pet Safety and Protection Act would not change that or give them more rights than they currently have.)

People who obtained dogs and cats by any other means would not be permitted to sell those dogs and cats to research laboratories, thus ensuring that stolen pets do not end up in research facilities.

In addition to eliminating Class B Dealers, this bill would eliminate the incentive for bunchers to obtain dogs and cats through illegal or unethical means, as there would be no profit in doing so.

What You Can Do
Senator Akaka has been working on this measure for over 10 years—please show your support for his tireless efforts on behalf of our nation’s pets.

Use the email below to contact your U.S. representative and senators now and urge them to support and cosponsor S. 1834 and H.R. 3907. Because your legislators receive a lot of email, we request that you personalize your email message for greater impact. Thank you for your help!

Please Support and Cosponsor the Pet Safety and Protection Act, S. 1834/H.R. 3907

Dear [Legislator],

As a concerned constituent, I am writing to urge you to support and cosponsor the Pet Safety and Protection Act (PSPA), S. 1834/H.R. 3907. This important legislation would protect family pets by prohibiting the sale of dogs and cats to research institutions by Class B Dealers.

Class B Dealers, licensed under the federal Animal Welfare Act, collect dogs and cats from random sources and sell them to the research industry. Class B Dealers sometimes obtain their dogs through illegal or unethical means, such as responding to “free to good home” ads in the newspaper, falsifying records to keep the true origin of the animals unknown and stealing pets kept outside in yards.

Under the PSPA, the only people who would be allowed to sell dogs and cats to research facilities would be licensed dealers who have bred and raised the dog or cat, publicly owned pounds or shelters that obtained the animals from their legal owners, and persons donating a dog or cat that they have bred and raised or owned for at least 1 year. People who obtained dogs and cats by any other means would not be permitted to sell those dogs and cats to research laboratories, thus ensuring that stolen pets do not end up in research facilities. This bill would eliminate the incentive for dealers and “bunchers”–people who collect animals from random sources and sell them to Class B Dealers–to obtain dogs and cats through illegal or unethical means, as there would be no profit in doing so.

The PSPA would in no way impede research. There are many breeders who breed dogs specifically for the research industry and who will continue to fill the demand for such animals. The PSPA will, however, end the fraudulent practices of random-source dealers and the unnecessary suffering of animals in their care. Currently, over half of the Class B Dealers selling random source animals to research labs are under investigation by the USDA for allegedly failing to comply with the law. The PSPA would not only ensure that such dealers cease to operate, but would also guarantee that others do not emerge to take their place.

* Please personalize your message here

The Pet Safety and Protection Act would provide a much-needed safety net to ensure beloved pets are not stolen or acquired under false pretenses and sold to research laboratories. Therefore, I respectfully urge you to support and cosponsor S. 1834/H.R. 3907. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]

You can find a copy of the verbiage for this email on the ASPCA.org website, or you are welcome to copy it directly from here and make whatever changes you feel comfortable making to make it your own.  Just take the time to do it today.  How many times do you see an ad in the paper where someone has a dog stolen out of their yard, never to be seen again?  It is a horrific end to think of a beloved family pet ending up in a laboratory, used for God knows what.  I can’t imagine any of my animals ending up that way and I will do whatever it takes to make sure it never happens in my yard, and I hope you will join me in making sure it doesn’t happen in your yard either.  You can never forget it is only through each of us that the Randolph County Humane Society continues to save lives, one by one.

In case you missed the Randolph County Humane Society Pictures with Santa event on Nov 1st at the Movie Gallery in Sparta we’ll have another event on Nov 15th at the AFSCME Union Hall in Chester from 1-4.  You don’t even have to bring your pet to take part, and where else can you get a framed 4 X 6 family Christmas portrait for $8.

 

Leave a Comment » | Animal Lover, pets, shelter dogs | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by tailtalk

Pet CPR is as easy as 1-2-3-A-B-C

October 24, 2009

I read this week that if an emergency presented itself animal owners would perform CPR to save their pets, but I wondered how many of us knew what was involved in pet CPR that would allow us to actually do some good.  This is what I have found but I recommend you discuss this with your own vet regarding your pet, but do it ahead of time so should an emergency happen you will be prepared.  To make it easy to remember it’s broken down into instructions that associate numbers and letters with the instructions, helping you to remember during times of stress

1 – 2 – 3 – A – B — C

ONE: Check the area and make sure it is safe for you to help.  You can’t help your pet if you get hurt in the process.

TWO: Check for a response by tapping and calling your pet’s name.

THREE: Check to see if they are breathing by carefully place your hand in front of their nose and mouth, feeling for breath while insuring you do not cut off their air supply.

A is for Airway – lay your pet on their right side. Carefully pull their tongue forward out of their mouth (be cautious, even unconscious animals retain the bite instinct).  Look in their mouth and throat for any foreign objects and carefully remove them if found. If you are unable to remove the obstruction perform the Heimlich* maneuver before proceeding. Once you are sure the airway is clear, move their head to straighten their neck and open the airway.

B is for Breathing – Close your pet’s mouth with your hand and breathe into its nose until the side of their chest rises. Give a second breath. If their chest does not rise, repeat step A.

.If it still does not rise perform the Heimlich maneuver:

* Hold the animal head down with its back against your chest.

* Give 5 sharp squeezes to the abdomen in an attempt to force the object out.

* Lay the animal down and look for an object in the airway or on the ground.

* Repeat step A.

C is for Circulation – The heart is on the left side of the chest cavity behind the elbow of the left front leg.  Place one hand under the chest cavity for support. Press down on the heart with the other hand 15 times, compressing the chest 1/2 inch for tiny dogs, 1 inch for small dogs and 1 1/2 inches for larger ones. Small pets like rodents, use your thumb and forefinger to compress the chest. Pump 80-120 beats per minute for larger animals and 100-150 beats per minute for smaller pets.

Repeat steps A – B – C until your pet begins breathing.

I hope you never find yourself in the position to need these instructions but if you do you’ll have a fighting chance to save your best friend now rather than sit by helplessly and watch as they suffer.  And never forget, it is only through you that the Randolph County Humane Society continues to save lives, one by one.

Speaking of not forgetting, make this the year you have a lasting memory of you, your animals and your family by attending the Randolph County Humane Society Pictures with Santa event on Nov 1st at the Movie Gallery in Sparta from 1-4 and Nov 15th AFSCME Union Hall in Chester from 1-4.  You don’t even have to bring your pet to take part, and where else can you get a framed 4 X 6 family Christmas portrait for $8.

2 Comments | Animal Lover, pets, shelter dogs | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by tailtalk

We adopted another shelter dog, how about you?

October 17, 2009

Our family grew by one this week although it feels like two.  We brought a new bub into the fold, a beautiful white shepherd/lab mix named Zoey.  She’s a one year old terrorist that fits right in and gives Action Jackson a run for his money.  She’s half his size and has all his energy, a good fit in my book.  They haven’t stopped playing since the moment she hit the door.  Girlie Sue, our thirteen year old white shepherd tries to play in the reindeer games but her old legs just won’t let her keep up and after the first day of running with the pack she’s content to retire to the couch and give that little growl all us old gals know so well when we just want to be left alone.  Zoey’s parents did everything the right way.  When they knew their circumstances had changed and they weren’t going to be able to keep the little light of their life they called the shelter and asked what is the best way to go about getting her adopted, and they followed those instructions to the letter.  They had her spayed, vetted, heart worm checked and on preventative.  Then they waited until someone came along looking for a white German shepherd mix because something was missing in their lives.  In our case there was space because my best friend, Budward, crossed the rainbow bridge on August 13th.  While I’ll never get past missing his loving presence I knew that was no excuse not to open my heart to another love monkey that needed a home and couldn’t wait until I decided I was ready.  Who is ever ready after their heart is broken from the loss of that special love of our very best friend?  So I got over myself at the same time Zoey’s picture went up on Petfinder.com, so it must be fate.  Since she’s half Jack’s size I am confident we won’t have to worry about any aggression towards his seizures should he have any from his increased activity level, the problem we ran into when we brought Vinson into our pack.  And for those who are wondering Vinson had a very happy ending.  There was a shelter volunteer that walked Vinson every day and fell in love with him but didn’t have a fenced yard, so was not able to adopt him at the time we took him in.  While she was heartbroken not to see him she was happy to know he went to a good home.  After he was gone she had her yard fenced just in case she ever fell in love again, and just as the fence was done there was Vinson, back at the shelter.  It’s funny how life works.  He came to us while his forever home was being prepared for him, and as soon as he went back to the shelter the life he was meant to live was waiting for him.  I will never forget his stopover as part of our pack, he will always have a huge place in our heart, and I’m grateful things worked out as they did.  As I sit here looking around the room all I see are cats and dogs everywhere.  One of our barn cats, Barthalomeow, decided he wanted to be an inside cat along with Booger, and he’s made the transition like he’s been inside forever.  He’s the ultimate lap cat, a tiny thing, that purrs incessantly, always letting you know how much he appreciates everything you do for him.  Since I suffer from chronic pain I am up at night frequently and it reminds me of the giant sleepovers of my youth, except there are dogs and cats everywhere, toys strewn about, nothing in its place.  And it brings me comfort.  There is so much love in this room, for me, for my husband, for each other.  I wouldn’t give up this life for any other even if it meant all the riches in the world and all the beauty there is to see because I already have that right now.  You can have it too if you just make that call today to adopt an animal from the shelter.  And never forget, it is only through you that the Randolph County Humane Society is able to save lives, one by one.

Pictures with Santa is coming up again and will be here quickly on Nov 1st at the Movie Gallery in Sparta from 1-4 and Nov 15th AFSCME Union Hall in Chester from 1-4 so MARK YOUR CALENDARS or you’ll miss it.

Leave a Comment » | Animal Lover, pets, shelter dogs | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by tailtalk

October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month so don’t Delay

October 10, 2009

October has been designated by the ASPCA.org as Adopt a Shelter Dog month (Adopt a Shelter Cat is in June).   As one who has adopted my fair share of shelter dogs, I am here to tell you that if you want to bring unparalleled joy into your life then make a visit to the Randolph County Humane Society and pick out a dog to take home and snuggle up to on the upcoming long winter days and nights.  A little over one year ago we brought home Action Jackson, the love of my life, who came to us as a head on a stick he was so thin when we picked him up from the high kill shelter one day before his life would end if we hadn’t intervened.  You wouldn’t recognize if you saw him now.  He’s a farm dog extraordinaire.  He sleeps next to me on his bed at night, and the last thing he does before he does his twirl to settle in for a good night’s sleep is give me a big sloppy kiss just to let me know how much he loves me for taking him out of the darkness of impending death and into the light of love and appreciation only a loving family can give their rescue dog.  First thing in the morning when my husband gets dressed to go feed the farm animals Jack is ready to go and sits between my husbands legs as he tries to put his boots on, just to let him know he’s ready to help him in whatever farm chores are awaiting him that day.  He was with us during our time of sadness when my father-in-law was dying, bringing what little joy there was to be found into our lives by just being Jack.  You couldn’t help but laugh at his antics.  When we rescued shelter cats he took them under his wing like they were his own.  His capacity for love is greater than any I have ever known in people or animals, and the lessons of life I have learned from him, the lessons of compassion and acceptance have changed me, the crabby old woman that just couldn’t walk away that day from the high kill shelter when she saw the dog they advertised as a white German Shepherd that was anything but except he was white.  Oh my God what I would have missed out on if I would have been so set on my wants that I walked out that day and left him to be euthanized.  What the world would have missed out on by not hearing of Action Jackson in the musings of Tail Talk.  He has been the light of my life in so many ways over the last 14 months, and I wouldn’t give up a second of it.  Not during the car ride home from the high kill shelter when the smell of impending death was so strong that we had to ride with our heads out the window to breathe until we took him to the groomer and she brought forth the smell of new life.  Not during the horrific moments during his epileptic seizures when I was afraid for his life after they came over and over again.  Not when my husband lost his job and I wondered how we would afford to make it.  Because I had the comfort and love of my family.  Together we could overcome anything because we are together, my husband, myself and our animals.  We are a pack.  We are an island of love in a world that is filled with angst and hatred.   Together we have strength.  You can have it to if you visit the Randolph County Humane Society during October, the Adopt a Shelter Dog month.  And remember, it is only through you that the RCHS is able to continue to save lives, one by one.

Pictures with Santa is coming up again and will be here quickly on Nov 1st at the Movie Gallery in Sparta from 1-4 and Nov 15th AFSCME Union Hall in Chester from 1-4 so MARK YOUR CALENDARS or you’ll miss it.

Leave a Comment » | Animal Lover, pets, shelter dogs | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by tailtalk

Change of seasons increases hazzards for our furry friends.

October 3, 2009

Every fall during the change of seasons people get excited when the air gets crisp and change is in the air.  I’ve noticed the dogs and the cats all want to be outside playing every chance they get, but it’s time to beware because along with the weather changes our changeover to prepare for the cold increases the hazards to our furry friends.  Here are some tips to be aware of to keep yourself aware of so your pets won’t suffer:

  • As the cold sets in the mice do too, and the use rodenticides increases in our attempt to keep ahead of their destructive inhabitation.  Use them sparingly and keep them away from any place that your pets can get to and possibly ingest because the results could be fatal.  Use with extreme caution and only after seeing signs of infestation.
  • Even though back-to-school supplies are low toxicity, if your dogs are anything like mine it’s surprising the large amounts they can ingest.  During the fall band sale of those oh so delicious dollar candy bars our Brittany spaniel ate 17 of 24 chocolate bars and had to have her stomach pumped.  Had we not found the evidence it could have proved fatal.  Be sure to keep these items out of your pets reach.
  • Fall and spring and are mushroom seasons. While 99% of mushrooms have little or no toxicity, the 1% that are highly toxic can kill them.  It’s extremely difficult to distinguish the toxic from the nontoxic ones, so the best way to distinguish is to not have to make the decision in the first place and remove any from where your pets may have access to them.  However, if that isn’t possible, you can check this PDF file:  http://www.aspcapro.org/animal-poison-control/documents/zd-vetm0207f_095-100_.pdf that shows the toxic mushrooms that cause life threatening problems in pets. If you’re not sure call your vet.
  • Pets need additional food so their bodies are able to generate more body heat during the colder months.  All animals, including large animals like horses and farm animals in addition to pets, need to have ready access to open, unfrozen water during the coldest months.
  • Autumn is the season when snakes who are preparing for hibernation may be particularly “grumpy,” increasing the possibility of severe bites to those unlucky pups who find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. Pet owners should know what kinds of venomous snakes may be in their environment—and where these snakes are most likely to be found—so they can keep pets out of those areas.
  • Many people choose fall as the time to change their car’s antifreeze. Ethylene glycol-based antifreezes are highly toxic, so spills should be cleaned up immediately. Consider switching to propylene glycol-based antifreezes—though they aren’t completely nontoxic, they are much less toxic than other antifreezes.

And never forget, it is only through you that the RCHS is able to save lives, one by one.

Leave a Comment » | Animal Lover, pets, shelter dogs | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by tailtalk

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 97 other followers