A Dog's Life has been rehomed to Mainetoday's new pet seciton.
As you can imagine this is a big task, and there are many steps involved.
While we work on getting out all the new beta begs, you may not receive emails letting you know when the blog has been updated. We apologize and want you all to know that we are working in it!
Please visit the blog at it's new home page and thank you for your patience!
Click here to be taken to our new home page.

Reports are coming in from many reliable sources that one or more individuals at Willard Beach have hit, kicked,and picked up and thrown dogs, and puppies.
Dog owners in each of the incidents have reported similarities.

The violence has been against woman and their dogs. There were no men present besides the offender. The dogs walked close to the individual (s?).

These violent acts have served to intimidate many dog owners and in effect many woman have stopped going to Willard Beach which appears to be the agenda of the individual(s?). One person is known to the the city council as someone who frequently complains and opposes dog access to the beach.

If you value open spaces for your dog, consider joining South Portland Dog Owners.

Sopo Dog has been an active voice for people and their dogs for the last 10 years.

If you encounter bullies at the beach you are urged to call the
The Animal control officer immediately.
The number is general dispatch from the South Portland Police Department.
SPPD's # 799-5511 or dial 911.
I just added this number to the speed dial of my cell phone, and I urge you to do the same if you walk your dogs at Willard.

Bullies at the beach and other open space issues will be addressed at the South Portland Dog Owners meeting tonight (Tuesday) 2/12/08, 6-8 p.m. at the Main Branch of the South Portland Library in the community room-downstairs.

Dog owners who do not want their open spaces to disappear are urged to attend.

Sopo Dog President Cyrstal Goodrich had this to add:

"Each individual needs to come forward and complain. This is very important if we want to show how frequent these harassing episodes are and to put a name to the problem.
Signing your name to these letters about harassment is very important
as well. City Officials will have an identity to go with the incident,
and that creates validity. We cannot be silent about these events. I
believe this is part of the reason they have continued, and in some
cases have escalated into abusive and harassing situations. If you
know who the person is who harassed you, you need to let the police
know. If you aren't sure who it was you still need to tell the
police. That way a paper trail can indicate a pattern of behavior and
lead to stopping the problem more quickly".

12 Groomers sought for a new Animal Planet Tv show/contest.

Description:

CASTING 12 COMPETITIVE DOG STYLISTS WHO HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN!
ARE YOUR DOGGIE STYLING SKILLS BETTER THAN OTHERS & YOU KNOW IT?
DO YOU HAVE THAT CREATIVE FLARE WITH A PERSONALITY TO MATCH YOUR SKILLS?

Read the rest here.

Jose Franco photo

A huge and very hearty congratulations goes out Buxton Maine's own Anne Andrle for earning a spot on the World Agility Team with her Border Collie Ski The competition will take place in Belgium in the spring.

South Portland Association of Dog Owners is an active community force. President Crystal Goodrich has been working very hard to keep South Portland's green spaces clean, accessible and enjoyable for all people with and without dogs.

SoPodogs sent out questionnaires to all four candidates seeking the Councilor at Large seats in today's election.
Click here to read all four candidates answers.

Be sure to check out the SoPodog.com updated web site, which includes places to take your dogs both on and off leash, and many local community clean up events.

Heads up to all you dog lovers out there who have enjoyed the huge field at Bowdoin College in Brunswick. The unofficial "dog park" is now a construction site for the new Bowdoin ice skating rink. I am sure there is still plenty of field still left, but it sure won't be the same.

Tarameg's Angel Bymyside "Logan"

To those of you in the local Portland doggie community, Suzan Morris and Logan are a familiar sight. I met Suzan well before her pup was even born, manning booths, raising awareness, and fundraising for My Wonderful Dog. Suzan raised the money herself for a service dog to help with her Multiple Sclerosis.

Last year's successful fund raising freestyle training clinic with Carolyn Scott, was all Suzan's doing, and I don't think I could count how many times I have seen her working tirelessly to support My Wonderful Dog. Suzan is always quick to chime in with encouraging words both in person and on this blog, and honestly she is one of the loveliest people I know. Logan is sugar and spice and everything nice with brains and beauty to boot.
Seeing the two of them working as partners at the Dog Days event last weekend, made my heart swell.

Join My Wonderful Dog this Sunday September 30th from 1-3 and see Suzan Morris and Logan graduate! There will be service demo's, food and fun.

The final pairing of a service dog with their human partner is a culmination of 2 years of hard work. As it says on the website. BYOK-bring your own Kleenex.

Suzan knows that I am sorry that I can't attend due to a scheduling conflict with Camp Buster this weekend, but that if I could I would have brought a whole box of tissues to share.

Visit Logan's blog, web site and fundraising page. They are still a few hundred dollars short of their $5,000 goal.

A judge ruled that the 259 dog seized from the raid on J'Aime Kennel in Buxton are property of the state after John and Heidi Frasca were no shows in court yesterday. They have three weeks to appeal.

Click here to read the entire Portland Press Herald Story, to include new details of the dog's health at the time when they were seized.

Photo by camper Robyn from Camp Buster 06

Due to some last minute medical and personal challenges, there are several spaces suddenly available for Camp Buster this weekend. Located at Camp Susan Curtis, money raised by the dogs, helps to send underprivileged kids to camp for no fee.

Can't wait for Friday when I will return for my fourth year as staff along with Charlee and Finney, and once again get to resume my job as Barks 'n Crafts Director, teach Canine Musical Freestyle, and offer CGC testing.

Camp Buster is located in Stoneham Maine, just 1 1/2 hours from Portland.

Brenda, you better have your famous baked blueberry french toast on the menu again or else.

"Carry a Big Stick," by Karen Pettengill

"DOG DAY"
CELEBRATE DOG!
Fun for Dogs and their People
Saturday, September 22, 10-3,
Skyline Farm and Carriage Museum

On Sept. 22, join fellow dog enthusiasts at lovely Skyline Farm, 95
The Lane, North Yarmouth, Maine for a special "Dog Day" from 10-3.
Handlers and their canines strut their stuff in a variety of dog
hobbies, including agility, fly-ball, doggie dancing ("freestyle")
and service dog work. There will be numerous "clinics" where you and
your dog will have a chance to learn cool new stuff, including
a "Walkin' Clinic" where you can learn how to teach your dog to walk
nicely on leash, an "Attention! Clinic" where you can learn how to
get your dog's attention more easily, a "Targeting Clinic" so you
can gain better control over your dog and do really amazing things,
among others. Attending dogs will be invited to try their paws out
with the agility equipment and learn how we teach our dogs to love
it through the use of positive-reinforcement training. You can also
visit the "Trainer is In" table for professional advice!

PRESENTERS
Service dog Demos by My Wonderful Dog
Flyball with Paula O'Brien of Goodog Pet Care and Training.
Canine Muscial Freestyle with Nancy Freedman-Smith of Gooddogz Training
and Jenny Yasi of Whole Dog Camp .
Agilty with Sherry Dietrich and her team of 4-Hers.
Draft Dog Carting with Debbie King of the Collie Club of Maine and The American Working Collie Association.

Diana Logan CPDT of Pet Connection Dog Training and
Mallory Hattie CPDT of Raising Canine, Buxton, organizers of this
event, will be on hand to educate the public about the power of
positive-reinforcement training. This modern, dog-friendly approach to training will be displayed throughout the day through demos and participatory activities.

A few other activities will include:

HUMAN AGILITY TEAMS

Pairs of human 'dog-handler' teams will thrill spectators with their
creative choreography in negotiating some of the agility obstacles
(jumps and weaves). Freestyle and obedience moves are encouraged
during each team's 1 minute-only fiasco. Or, rather, "fiesta."

DUNKIN' FOR DOGS

How fast can YOUR dog find and gobble up 5 pieces of hotdog in a
puppy (a.k.a. "kiddie") pool? You may discover that your dog has
some special skills... or not... Maximum time allowed is 2 minutes.

BRING YOUR OWN DOG!

BYOD! The public is welcome to bring well-behaved dogs to this
event - it's all about celebrating dog with other dog-lovers!
Attending dogs must be well-socialized and on-leash. Please leave
reactive and aggressive dogs at home.

DOG SAFETY. Respect the personal space of dogs and keep your own dog
close to you and on-leash. If you want to pet someone's dog, ask
first! Be safe and refrain from allowing your dog to interact with
strange dogs; leashed dogs will often display aggression towards
dogs who enter their space - it's always best to meet off-leash, but
Dog Day isn't the appropriate venue.
No flexie leashes!

Return to Skyline another day to explore the fields and trails with
your well-behaved dog off-leash (beware that horses, both ridden and
driven, frequent Skyline Farm).

BRINGING YOUR DOG? DON'T FORGET THE TREATS!

Events like this can present a very distracting environment for your
dog, so bring lots of high value treats and patience - there's so
much to learn!

EVENT SCHEDULE

The event starts at 10:00 with an introduction of Skyline Farm
followed by agility, flyball at 10:30, more agility, general
activities, canine musical freestyle at 12:30, service dog demos in
the museum at 1:30, and yet more agility! At 2:30 there will be a
demonstration of Skyline's Wheelchair-Accessible Cart, driven by
Donna Thurston of Winterberry Farm in North Yarmouth. If your dog
has never seen a horse pulling a cart, be ready for a reaction!
Lunch will be available midday for purchase. Clinics and agility
demonstrations will be scattered throughout the day.

THERE'S LOTS TO SEE AT SKYLINE!
Skyline Farm's Carriage Museum will be open from 12-3 and its second
annual national art exhibit, "A Dog and Pony Show," will be on
display among the horse-drawn vehicles.
Click this link to read more about the Dog and Pony Show art exhibition.

ADMISSION

Admission will be $5 per car, proceeds to benefit Skyline Farm, a
non-profit organization.

NEED MORE INFO?

For more information, please contact Diana Logan CPDT, 207-829-3187 or
write dogday@petconnectionmaine.com

Last week in Buxton we had the largest animal seizure in Maine's history. These animals need your help.
In addition to donating money, bedding, and toys, directly to either the Animal Refuge League, or Animal Welfare Society there are other things you can do to help.

Have you ever thought about giving your time? Once this blows out of the media, there will still over 250 animals that will need to be fed, watered, cleaned, walked, played with and trained. Please consider donating your precious time. These dogs may be in the state's care for a year!

Two local business have joined the efforts. Planet Dog has donated $5,000 and a carload of dog toys to be split between the two shleters invovled. Planet Dog has pledged to donate 5% of all sales until the end of September. They are also actively looking for businesses to join them in a donation match funding program.

Starting Monday, August 27th, Happy Tails on 130 St John Street is liquidating it's entire inventory of collars, leashes, dog outdoor gear, toys, bowls, treats, etc. for DONATIONS ONLY.

You decide what you want to pay and 100% of donations will be sent to the Planet Dog Foundation to pay for the care of the rescued animals from J'Aime Kennel.

Make a donation and take as many goods as you want!

See you there!

Checks can be mailed to: Animal Refuge League, P.O. Box 336, Westbrook 04098
www.arlgp.org and/or Animal Welfare Society, P.O. Box 43, West Kennebunk, ME 04094, www.animalwelfaresociety.org.

You can earmark your donation direct to the Buxton Breeding Kennel dog expenses.

Bringing up from the comments (thanks Bill)
Ocean Omega Fish Oil is also donating 5% of sales through the month of September. www.oceanomega.com

Ok Bill, you talked to me it.
I will also donate 5 % through the end of September!

By now many of you have seen the report of the kennel that was shut down in Buxton. Yesterday I fielded lots of inquires from well wishers all asking me what was going on and what kind of help was needed to care for the dogs.

The answer is plenty! This is the largest dog seizure in Maine history and over 250 dogs are invovled.

Sue Britt, director of the Animal Refuge League in Westbrook had the following to say to me.

"Right now, we are in the process of getting dogs inventoried and medical care. This case will be long, with no dogs for adoption for possibly up to a year. Shelters desperately need money to care for these dogs and the huge expenses of such an operation. We also need bedding and stuffed toys that can be thrown away or washed – no bones or marrowbones please. We will likely be getting large shipments of food from some of the animal welfare charities and we are going to try to keep diets the same. Funding is most critical, as this is the largest seizure in Maine history.

More info as it becomes available".

Stop by Animal Refuge League, 449 Stroudwater Street Westbrook, Maine to leave toy and bedding donations.

Checks can be mailed to: Animal Refuge League, P.O. Box 336, Westbrook 04098
www.arlgp.org and/or Animal Welfare Society, P.O. Box 43, West Kennebunk, ME 04094, www.animalwelfaresociety.org.

You can earmark your donation direct to the Buxton Breeding Kennel dog expenses.

Update-story in the Portland Press Herald

Have you seen Sunny and Pepper?

Both cats were last seen when the owners went to Florida to adopt their new baby. Mom (training client of mine for her two dogs) broke my heart with her emails of how hard she is looking for her cats and how bad she feels that she didn't board them or close the pet door.

From Nicole:
"... the cats I have had and loved for 11 years have disappeared. They were my babies before I even met Mark, they mean everything to me.The baby is amazing. We were chosen by the birthmother 7 months ago, we were in the delivery room and cut the cord. She is an angel, 7 pounds 1 ounce, 19 ½ inches, and perfect. We are so in love. With the cats, I think I’ve fallen into the deepest depression I’ve ever had. I can not get over the guilt of leaving them. And the guilt that the dogs were shuffled around. .....This should be a happy time in my life, we finally have our baby, but I can’t stop thinking about my other babies".

The 2 cats have been missing since about 8/5, near Lakehouse Road, Naples. Shy but nice cats, collars with contact info. One orange/white cat and one tortoise shell cat. Probably roaming the woods. Please email sunnypepper22@yahoo.com or add a comment to the comment section with any leads.

Reward offered for their safe return.

They have a humane trap with tuna near the house.

The Down East News wants you to send them your dog related license plate for their web site. All states and countries welcome.
I just sent in mine!

You can up load your photo and view the license plates already submitted at the Down East Dog News on line here. Great idea Holly!

Way back in the early days of this blog, I blogged Clean Runs page of agility plates along with Agility Barbie. Both are must sees! Click here to fetch them.

A real quick doggie weekend update.
Today, tomorrow, and Sunday there is a big AKC dog show over at the Cumberland Fair grounds. I am on my way over to watch agility right now. There are also obedience and Rally trials.
This afternoon the Eastland Hotel is sponsoring a Take your Dog to Work Day event.
Saturday and Sunday the yearly Planet Dog sale has moved to the store,
and I will be on Peaks Island for the Common Hound Fair which is part of Peaks Fest.

(sorry no time for links!)

As many of you know, on April 28th Portland joined the KOPS, Keep Our Pets Safe National March, in response to the massive pet food recalls. With less than 2 weeks before the event I contacted the city planners to see what we needed to do to join the march.

A big thank you goes out to the City of Portland for being so accommodating at the very last moment.

While the turnout was not as large as I had hoped, we did mange to raise $60. for the Animal Refugee League to help to replace much needed pet food and I know a lot of you were there with us in spirit.

You can view event pictures from several cities including Portland, on the Pets Need a Voice too site here.

A big thank you to Kate for all her help and photo skills.

Made the T-shirt's myself at HP.com
So simple even I can do it.

Reason 5 million and one, why I love Portland.
I can take my dog to a baseball game!

Three cheers for the Planet Dog Foundation for putting on a fundraiser at Hadlock Field when the Porltand Sea Dogs play the Connectticut Defenders on June 3rd. Dogs and their families are invited to enjoy an afternoon of baseball while raising valuable funds for Porland's area animal shelter, The Animal Refuge League.
Now I ask you...how cool is that?

Before you all get too excited, please remember that not all dogs would enjoy a baseball game. This event is intended for well behaved dogs who will enjoy the crowds, noise and commotion.
Finney, me and the kids are picking up our tickets today, but
Charlee will remain quietly at home where she will be happiest.

Aside from the total coolness factor that I can take my "family" to a ball game,
the event will feature, dogs for adoption from the ARL, a grassy relief area, wading pool, canine watering station, dog treats and games for pups and their families. Doggy valets will also be on hand to care for pets if people need to use the concessions. People without pets are also welcome to come and visit the doggie section. Planet Dog Foundation is giving all dogs in attendance a free commemorative Orbee baseball. Dogs get to run the bases with Slugger before the start of the game. My kids are already fighting over who gets to hold Finney's leash and run the bases with him.

Tickets are $6. for adults and $3 for children under age 16. Your dog will need their own ticket at the cost of $6.

Buy tickets at the the Planet Dog Company Store - 211 Marginal Way, Portland and at the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland,
449 Stroudwater Street, Westbrook.

Pooch bleacher seats are limited, so get yours early!

This mere blogger doesn't even know where to begin.

The story has crossed big time into main stream media. Reports that hogs were fed feed with tainted melamine that may have trickled into the human food chain is rampant this morning. As many of us have been saying since this story first broke, this is NOT just a pet food story. This story has major and very serious global implications about the safety of the food chain.

*****Researchers have identified 3 other toxins in pet food.
Karen Roebuck'seport in the Pittsburgh Times-Review is well worth reading in it's entirety.

*****The Washington Post has a good summary of current events here.

*****By now you all may have read that the melamine may have been added on purpose to spike the protein level for a higher profit. Sure seems plausible to me. You can read more about that here in the LA Times.

*****Royal Canin has recalled DRY food due to RICE protein concentrate contaminated with melamine. That makes 3 out of five off the companies identified. Stay tuned for the next two. (Natural Balance, Blue Buffalo and Royal Canin)

Can you imagine if the FDA issued a press release that they were investigating 5 brands of baby food that may contain poison and then told us they were still conducting tests and would get back to us in a week or so?
Why is this delay in information ok for pet food?

Latest on the recall list:
ROYAL CANIN SENSIBLE CHOICE (available in pet specialty stores nationwide)

Dry Dog Food
- Chicken Meal & Rice Formula Senior
- Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Puppy
- Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Adult
- Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Senior
- Rice & Catfish Meal Formula Adult

ROYAL CANIN VETERINARY DIET (available only in veterinary clinics)

Dry Dog Food
- Canine Early Cardiac EC 22™
- Canine Skin Support SS21™

Dry Cat Food
- Feline Hypoallergenic HP23™

What you can do-

Contact Senator Durbin's office with your concerns and suggestions @
David_Lazarus@durbin.senate.gov

It is more important than ever to join the Nationwide pet walk in Portland
Walk to Keep our Pets Safe (KOPS)
Saturday April 28th @ 12:00 noon on the Back cove.
Meet across from Hannafords.

. You can view and print the flyer here.
Please help to spread the word by distributing flyers in your area.

Update, 4/19: 4,346 pets have been reported as deceased into the Pet Connection database.

If your head is starting to spin in regards to pet food and pet food recalls--- join the club. Mine is to.

Here is a very brief overview of the current situation.

The FDA is testing 5 companies' food for tainted RICE protein concentrate contaminated with melamine that has been traced to the San Francisco company Wilbur-Ellis who imported it from China. Wilbur Ellis has voluntarily recalled all their products using the rice protein concentrate , but no companies have come forward to do so (yet) and we the buying public have no way to find out who they sold it to.
Go now and check your pet food (again) for rice protein concentrate.

Nutro says it ain't them in this press release.

CORN gluten contaminated with melamine has been recalled in South Africa after 29 pets report renal failure.

As we have come to expect, Pet Connection, Itchmo.com and Howl911.com are all on top this breaking story. Be sure to check them all for the latest and for more in depth information.

Thanks to Silvia, who tipped me off that Everlasting Treat Balls seen here, list wheat gluten as the # 1 ingredient. A Premier toy, the Bouncy Bone, that I highly recommended not too long ago also lists wheat gluten as an ingredient for it's nawhide. Pill Pickets do to.
Of course not all wheat gluten is contaminated, however, at this time, it is advisable to store items with wheat gluten until we get to the route of the problem of our contaminated food source.

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It is more important than ever to join the Nationwide pet walk in Portland
Walk to Keep our Pets Safe (KOPS)
Saturday April 28th @ 12:00 noon on the Back cove.
Meet across from Hannafords.

You can view and print the flyer here.
Please help to spread the word by distributing flyers in your area.

Update 9:00 pm-Blue Buffalo recalled a cat formula
That's one company--- 3 more to go.

Christie Keith live blogged the FDA news conference on Pet Connection, where we learned that melamine may have been fed to hogs which in turn may have been eaten by humans.

The massive pet food recall has lots of people scrambling for healthy alternatives to store bought pet food for their dogs. People are even more nervous now that Natural Balance has recalled food due to a problem with rice protein.
The Sacramento Bee is reporting that:

Local veterinarians who’ve been tracking kidney ailments nationwide also have tentatively identified five more foods, not at this point under any recall, that they plan to have tested as soon as possible.

This months free online version of Housepet Magazine has several recipes and ideas to help to get you started.

The chicken soup recipe listed below is from their latest issue, available on line.

Click here to view the latest House Magazine. It's free!

Chicken Soup For Me and My Dog

Makes 8 servings


1 (4-pund) package chicken pieces OR 1 WHOLE CHICKEN
1 TABLESPOON CRUMBLED DRIED SEAWEED, SEAKELP, or SEA VEGETABLE (find in natural food stores, in the ASIAN products aisle or where condiments are sold)

6 CLOVES GARLIC, PEELED AND SMASHED
KOSHER SALT ABD FRESHLY GROUND BLACK PEPPER TO TASTE
1 (16 ounce) CAN CHICKEN BROTH (LOW SODIUM)

3 RIBS CELERY, CHOPPED
3 CARROTS, SCRAPED AND CUT INTO ROUNDS
1 CUP BROWN RICE OR WHEAT PASTA OR BARLEY


Season the chicken with the seaweed, garlic, and salt and pepper to taste. Place it in the Crock-pot, and add the broth and enough water to cover. Cook on high until tender, about 5 hours. Add the celery, carrots, and rice (or other leftover veggies) and cook for 45 minutes more. remove bones from the chicken. Adjust the seasoning and serve.

I have been hesitant to post any recipes because I do not want people to take only a little nutritional information and run with it in the wrong direction. These recipes do not stand alone, and there is quite a bit to learn you will need to learn before you can meet your dog's nutritional needs. You will need to purchase a book to learn how to meet your dog nutritional needs correctly.

Dog cook books have been flying off the shelf and a great place to start is

Dr. Pitcairn's New Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats.
If you plan to prepare your dogs diet, I urge you to buy this book.

If you have recommendations for other home prepared dog food books, you can post them in the comment section.
Bone appetite!

Don't forget Portland is walking to KEEP OUR PETS SAFE on April 28th, 12 noon on the Back cove.
I am looking for help in organizing this event.

You can view and print the flyer here.

Email me! march@goodogztraing.com if you would like to get invovled.

Natural Balance has recalled the following:

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

You can read the rest here on Itchmo.com, and here on Usa Today.

Brown ribbons with or without tags of deceased pets will be displayed by participants

Update 4/16: 4,211 pets have been reported as deceased into the Pet Connection database.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead

After nearly a month of non stop blogging about the recent pet food recalls, deaths and disasters, I have decided to do something about it! Portland Maine has joined KOPS- Keep Our Pets Safe Nationwide March on April 28th on the Back Cove at 12:00 Noon I am the one holding the permit to march!

From the web site:

We are marching in memory of our pets that have lost their lives, we are marching in memory of those pets that are fighting for their lives, we march as pet owners, dog lovers, cat lovers and average citizens that are tired of the lowered safety standards for goods coming in to this country.

The march is the brain child of Jen Hoeflein of Bastrop Texas who lost her cat Timber to poisoned cat food. She has channeled her grief and anger into something positive that I am proud to be part of.

What you can do.

Because I have never organized anything this large before, and because the date is just 12 days away- I need your help!

* Help spread the word!!

* Here is the link to a PDF file. Please download and distribute widely to your vets, parks, groomers, your work place, and pet stores or anywhere you think pet people will read it.

* If you would like to help, be a part of the planning , join the walk, or memorial service, I have set up a separate email address to handle the inquiries. Please email me at this address march@gooddogztraining.com

A special thank you goes out to the City of Portland Parks Department for accommodating us on such short notice.

I snapped this photo with my crap cam (as Dave Barry would call it!) while I was in Pet Quarters in Scarborough this morning. The store is collecting food donations for the Animal Refuge League, and the staff told me that people have been "ultra" generous. Customers are coming in to buy food for their own pets and then purchasing a second bag or can of food for the shelter.

Shelters have been hard hit by the recall and have lost a huge inventory of food supplies. Donate to your local animal shelters! Do it!

Senate hearings were held in Washington today. From Christie Keith on Pet Connection:

Sen. Durbin opened with remarks that bloggers and Web sites – the volunteer efforts of pet owners — are spreading more information, and better information, than our government. If sites like VIN and petconnection.com can do this, he said, so can the government.

Here is a link to a "live" blog transcript from Itchmo.

And I am home blogging tonight because for the second Thursday night in a row, I have had to cancel class in Freeport due to snow! In April!

Snow... hail...slush...sleet....freezing rain.....cold....ice.....

Finally! A media outlet has picked up on the bigger picture-unsafe imported food for humans.
"China's food safety woes expand overseas" A must read here on Yahoo.

4/13 update-From Senator Durbin

Update-Pet Connection - 4,069 deaths reported on their web site.

Brady at his graduation

The disturbing story linked below has been circulating on all my doggie group lists all week to very heated discussions. It is a fairly biased account of the charges against Ami Moore, the self proclaimed Chicago Dog Whisperer. Amy is charged with cruelty by excessive force - applying shock collars to the neck and groin area of her canine clients.

I have decided to post it here, not as a "presumed guilty" but as an eye opener to the consumer that all dog trainers are not created equal, and that dog training is a buyer beware industry.

We (trainers) are currently a self regulated industry, and just about anyone can say they are a dog trainer.

If your trainer is doing something to your dog that makes you uncomfortable. Speak up! If you are paying for your dog to be trained in your absence, you had better be very sure about the trainer's methods.

Click here to read the article from the Chicago Reader, "Who should you trust to train your dog"...

If you are looking for a dog trainer who uses only positive methods try the Truly Friendly dog trainers list for a trainer in your area. Those of us on this list have pledged to train force free. Also on this page are links to wonderful articles on force free training. Check them out!

The American Humane Association and Suzanne Hetts, PhD offer the following recommendations and precautions for owners to take in choosing a dog trainer.

7. Shun cruel collars. Stay away from trainers who insist you use a choke chain or prong collar. There are now many humane alternatives such as head halters. Shock collars should be avoided. If, during training, you have any doubts about the way your pet is being treated, tell the trainer to stop.

*Chicken Cacciatore, UPC 79105352055
*California Chicken Supreme, UPC 79105300117
*Lamb & Turkey Cutlets, UPC 79105300148
Three 3-ounce varieties of Nutra Max Cat Gourmet Classics tested positive for melamine by UC Davis

For the third time in less than a week, I received an email recall alert from Itchmo about more tainted pet food.

You can read the story here in the Marin Journal, a first hand account from a pet owner here on Itchmo, and on of course great coverage also on
Pet Connection.

And it looks like executives at Menu Foods will be in more trouble than just the tainted food. Check out it this article about insider trading and stocks sold just before the press release. Interesting to note that a reader of A Dog's Life posted the same thing on this blog two weeks ago. Money and greed airs it's ugly head yet again. Anyone surprised?

Sunshine Mills has recalled treats made with wheat gluten, and Menu Foods has pushed their recall date back to November 8th.

To view products from Sunshine Mills, click here to be taken to their web site.. Due to heavy usage, that site may be down. Itchmo.com also has pictures of the treats on their blog. Ol'Roy Biscuits are included in this recall.

More info as it becomes available.

UPDATE- 5:35pm
product code info on the FDA site here.
Sunshine Mill Biscuit brands: Nurture Chicken & Rice, Nurture Lamb & Rice, Pet Life Large, Pet Life Extra Large, Pet Life Large Variety, Pet Life Large Peanut Butter, Lassie Lamb and Rice, and Pet Life People Pleasers Dog Treats

Private label: Companion’s Best Multi Flavor Biscuit, Stater Brothers Large Biscuit, Ol’Roy Peanut Butter Biscuit, Ol’Roy 4 Flavor Large Biscuit, Ol’Roy Puppy Biscuit, Champion Breed Peanut Butter Biscuit, Champion Breed Large Biscuit, Perfect Pals Large Biscuit, Stater Brothers Large Biscuit

More news via Anderson Cooper 360 from China tonight @ 10.

Click here to see CNN video report from China earlier today.

Kudos to CNN and to everyone who has worked hard to kept this story in the news.
It is far from over.

update-4/5
CNN has an update here

For those ofyou who missed Anderson Cooper 360 with Pet Connection's Christie Keith last night click here for a transcript and scroll way down.

Christie Keith has written a wonderful article for the San Francisco Gate that pretty much sums up the whole tainted pet food mess. Says Christie:

Because kidney failure causes nausea, it's often hard to get recovering pets to eat. So a lot of these owners got down on their hands and knees and coaxed and begged and eventually hand-fed their pets the very same food that had made them sick. Those animals ended up right back in the hospital and died, because their loving owners didn't know that the food was tainted.

To many pet owners, the pet food recall story is a personal tragedy about the potentially avoidable loss of a beloved dog or cat. Others have a hard time seeing the story as anything more than that -- with implications beyond the feelings of those grieving pet owners. Which brings us to the bigger picture, and questions -- not about what happened but about the system.

How did this problem, now involving almost every large pet food company in the United States, including some of the most trusted -- and expensive -- brands, get so out of hand? How come pet owners weren't informed more rapidly about the contaminated pet food? Why is it so hard to get accurate numbers of affected animals? Why didn't veterinarians get any notification? Where did the system break down?

The issue may not be that the system broke down, but that there isn't really a system.

Read the rest here.

Just prior to the whole pet food story breaking, she wrote a wonderful piece on home prepared dog food.

And just after that, she wrote a story called The Cost of Miracles. Very moving-must read.

Chem Nutra recalls wheat gluten. Press release here. Just about a month too late, don't ya think?

UPDATE!
CNN goes to China research the Wheat gluten source. Video here

"Snark" of the day award goes to Itchmo (furbaby for itch me more!) in Seattle for their cheeky online replies to the Pet Food Institute's latest press release spin.

At this time I would like to share my favorite line.

Them: …pet food industry and FDA regulators are doing everything humanly possible to ensure that it doesn't happen again.

Us: For real? You serious? Please do tell us what you are doing other than writing stuff like this.

Please read the rest here.

Ok, now let's get real.

Below is a list compiled by Pet Connection of the basic demands for action and change in the pet food industry.

Complete Congressional investigation into how this event was handled, followed by a full and fully public report. ...

-New labeling requirements:

Product labels should be required to list not only the company that’s marketing the food, but also the company that made it. With full addresses and 800 numbers.
Product labels should be required to list the country of origin of the ingredients. It’s clear now that this information is every bit as important to a consumer trying to make an intelligent decision as the ingredients and nutritional analysis on those labels now.
- A true, national system for getting information to veterinarians and collecting information from veterinarians. This is important not only for our animals, but for ourselves. It’s quite possible a problem in animals can signify a developing threat for humans. (Ever hear of bird flu?) Veterinarians are an essential link in our national security and public-health systems...

The above list can be found here on Pet Connection.

Please remember that the FDA number of 16 pets reported dead is impossible and insulting.

Can someone please explain to me why pet food stock is up?

NEW YORK (AP) -- Shares of pet food makers and sellers rose Tuesday morning, although an investigation into a contamination that killed pets continued and one company recalled some of its dog treats.

....

Del Monte stock rose 14 cents to $11.42 on the New York Stock Exchange.

Procter & Gamble shares gained 24 cents, to $63.26 on the Big Board.

Colgate-Palmolive Co., which makes Hills Science Diet, rose 16 cents to $66.22 on the NYSE.

PetSmart Inc., which makes the recalled Authority, Award and Sophisticats brands, climbed 38 cents to $33.26 on the Nasdaq Stock Market. Earlier, shares traded at a 52-week high of $33.34, above a previous peak of $33.

Store brands from Kroger Co., Safeway Inc., and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. were involved in the recall, and all three stocks were up in morning NYSE trading Tuesday. Kroger hit a seven-year high after a Citigroup analyst initiated coverage with a "Buy" rating. Shares added 57 cents, or 2 percent, to $29.12, after earlier trading as high as $29.37. Kroger's previous 52-week high of $28.71 was set March 26.

Safeway shares advanced 23 cents to $37.20 and Wal-Mart shares added 75 cents to $48.15, both on the NYSE.

update-
Anderson Cooper is covering the story tonight on CNN @ 10:00PM

Thanks to P. Burns, AKA Terrierman for posting in the comment section pointing A Dog's Life readers to his blog about Wheat Gluten and PETA. I have been reading his blog for some time and I especially like his articles about breeding and what we have done to working dog breeds in the name of dog shows.

From the blog:

The poor quality of the reporting on this dog food story is amazing. For example, in all of the writing, no one has taken the time to ask a basic question: What the hell is wheat gluten, and why is it in our dog food?

Here's the answer: Wheat gluten is synthetic meat made from processed wheat.

In vegetarian cuisine, this stuff is called Seiten, and if PETA had its way, not only would your dogs and cats be eating nothing else, but so would you.

The picture at the top of this post is a Taiwanese can of "mock duck" made from 100 percent wheat gluten.

Kind of makes you wonder even a more about the human food supply doesn't it?

Update 4/2 (7:35 a.m. PT): More than 2,900 pets have been reported as deceased to the self reported PetConnection database.

oh brother!

Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Company Ltd. was named in a notice issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as the source of wheat gluten containing a chemical found in plastics and pesticides.

Geng Xiujuan, Xuzhou Anying’s sales manager, said the company was aware of the notice and was looking into the accusation that large concentrations of melamine had been found in its wheat gluten, a protein source used as an ingredient in the pet food.

However, Geng said the company based in the eastern province of Jiangsu had not manufactured the gluten but had instead bought it from companies in neighbouring provinces. She said Xuzhou Anying sold it onward to another Jiangsu company, Suzhou Textile Import and Export Co.

“There are many other exporters and I don’t see why they would just blame us,” Geng said.The rest of the story is here.

Read about it in the Huffington Post and here at USA Today.

Delmonte recalls products.
This is no longer just about wet food!

This is getting very confusing. For a list of current recalls, and general information, please check Pet Connections info page here.

The latest from their self reported data base.
(3/31 8:45 p.m. PT): 2,797 deceased pets
1,546 cats and 1,251 dogs

update 4/6 Delmonte has expanded code dates since info below was posted. Check here

Jerky Treats Beef Flavor Code: TP7C05 TP7B07 TP7B08 TP7B09 TP6B10
Dog Snacks Best By: Aug 05 Aug 07 Aug 08 Aug 09 Aug 10
08 08 08 08 08
Code: TP7B15 TP7C05 TP7C06
Best By: Aug 15 Sep 02 Sep 03
08 08 08

Gravy Train Beef Sticks Code: TP7B19 TP7B20 TP7B21
Dog Snacks Best By: Aug 19 Aug 20 Aug 21
08 08 08

Pounce Meaty Morsels Code: TP7C07 TP7C12
Moist
Chicken Flavor Cat Treats Best By: Sep 04 Sep 09
08 08

PRIVATE LABEL
————————-
Ol’ Roy Beef Flavor Jerky Code: TP7B06 TP7B07 TP7C05 TP7C06 TP7C07
Strips
Dog Treats Best By: Aug 06 Aug 07 Sep 02 Sep 03 Sep 04
08 08 08 08 08

Code: TP7C08
Best By: Sep 05
08

Ol’ Roy Beef Flavor Snack Code: TP7B19 TP7B20 TP7B21 TP7C08 TP7C09
Sticks Dog Treats Best By: Aug 19 Aug 20 Aug 21 Sep 05 Sep 06
08 08 08 08 08

Ol’ Roy Bark’n Bac’n Beef Code: TP7C14
&
Bacon Flavor Dog Treats Best By: Sep 11
08

Ol’ Roy with Beef Hearty Code: BC6M21
Cuts
in Gravy Dog Food Best By: Dec 21
09

Ol’ Roy with Beef Hearty Code: BC7A19
Strips
in Gravy Dog Food Best By: Jan 19
10

Ol’ Roy Country Stew Code: BC6M15
Hearty
Cuts in Gravy Dog Food Best By: Dec 15
09

Dollar General Beef Code: TP7C06
Flavored
Jerky Strips Dog Treats Best By: Sep 03
08

Dollar General Beef Code: TP7B20 TP7B21
Flavored
Beef Sticks Dog Treats Best By: Aug 20 Aug 21
08 08

Happy Tails Beef Flavor Code: TPY7B08 TP7B09
Jerky Strips Best By: Aug 08 Aug 09
08 08

Happy Tails Meaty Cuts Code: BC7A29
with Beef
in Gravy Dog Food Best By: Jan 29
10

Hill's adds Prescription Diet™ m/d™ Feline Dry Food

As of midnight last night, Purina recalled ALPO(R) Brand Prime Cuts in Gravy Canned Dog.

As always Pet Connection is the source for current information. Last nights self reported numbers fom the PetConnection database (5:30 p.m. PT):
2,603 deceased pets
1,449 cats and 1154 dogs.

For the last week since the news that our pets have been made sick by Rat Poison found in Menu Foods, the Internet has been a hot bed of debate. During this on going investigation, Vets have gone on record saying that what they were seeing was not consistent with the rat poison Aminopterin. Remember this is an ongoing investigation and you all should still be exercising much caution in your choice of pet foods. The source has yet to be found.

The FDA announced they found the chemical melamine and no trace of rat poison in the samples of food they tested.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration testing found a chemical commonly used in plastics, but no rat poison, in the recalled pet food that has killed and sickened cats and dogs nationwide, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review learned Thursday.

Testing by the FDA and at least one lab independent of the agency found melamine, a chemical used in plastics and household textiles, in samples of the recalled pet food and in one of its ingredients -- wheat gluten -- said an FDA official and another source close to the investigation. Neither wanted to be identified prior to the FDA's formal announcement this morning.

You can read the rest here. There is a FDA press conference scheduled for 10 AM this morning. As always, check Pet Connection for the latest news.

Now that the media has finally started to get real about the seriousness of the Menu Foods recall, I can get back to fluff blogging.
After all the tragic news of the last week, I think we all need a little brain candy and a picture of

Onion in her space suit to help to clear all our minds.

Or better yet, check Coopers Dogster page

and be sure to click the clip of him rescuing stranded jelly fish.
Really need a pick up, then there is nothing quite like

stuff on cat.

Sister site Stuff on my mutt.com launched today!

They are taking submissions now.

I am not even sure how legal it is to do this, but I have cut and pasted Gina's Spadafori's entire blog from last night to be certain that Maine Today's readers were kept current on the Menu Foods Recall.

Sorry if I broke any copy laws Gina. Keep up the superior job you and your co-workers are doing over on Pet Connection.

Pet-food recall: Again, the numbers
Gina Spadafori

If you are just coming to the site, we have prepared a page of basic information. Click here to get there.
The Associated Press continues to report 16 dead pets, without even mentioning the possibility that there are hundreds if not thousands more. So does Newsweek, in this otherwise excellent piece on how to feed pets, featuring the esteemed Dr. Tony Buffington of the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine.
So far, both the Animal Medical Center (the “Mayo Clinic” of veterinary hospitals) and Banfield The Pet Hospital, with more than 600 locations all connected by a central database, have both gone on the record saying there could be thousands of pets sickened or killed by recalled food.

So what’s up, AP?

This afternoon, we got an e-mail from a person in the news department of a radio station, who pointed out to his boss that other media — such as USA Today and ABC News — have been reporting a potentially much higher death rate, and asked to change the AP’s “rip-and-read” radio copy. He was told he could not, and until the AP decides to do more than parrot the FDA line, the story will remain largely under-reported. That means it will soon die.

From tomorrow’s edition of USA Today, now up on its Web site:

The Food and Drug Administration has received more than 4,400 calls from pet owners about the recalled, contaminated dog and cat food that has reportedly sickened and injured animals across the USA.

But the agency has yet to follow up on the calls, so it doesn’t know how many represent sick animals or simply concerned owners, says Stephen Sundlof, director of FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine.

Many pet owners are questioning the reported number of animals that have died from consuming contaminated pet food found in some of the more than 60 million recalled cans and pouches.

Menu Foods, which produced the food, has listed 16 deaths: 15 cats and one dog. The FDA is listing only 14 confirmed dead.

[…]

There are still questions about how many animals have died. With no national reporting system for animal injury or death, official numbers are impossible to come by.

However, data from the nation’s largest chain of pet hospitals, Banfield, suggest it is as high as hundreds a week during the three months the food was on the market.

During that time, the more than 600 Banfield hospitals in 43 states saw 200 to 250 cases of kidney failure in cats above the usual number that would have been expected, says Hugh Lewis, president of Data Savant, Banfield’s data collection arm.

During that period, Banfield vets saw 100,000 cats. Extrapolating to the entire cat population of the USA, that could mean “we’re probably talking several hundred cats a week across the country being affected,” Lewis says.

Our self-reported database, by the way, is now reporting 1,716 dead pets as of 9 p.m. PT.I honestly have to wonder: Would the Associated Press accept only official government information if the deaths were people? Is this because these are “just pets”?

As long as the AP continues to report only 15 dead pets, the story will not be taken seriously. And that means there will be little interest in changes.

Report your pet’s loss to the FDA. Also, ask your veterinarian to report your pet’s loss to the state veterinarian for reporting to the FDA. Additionally, if your pet has eaten one of the recalled foods and become sick, add your pet to our database.

And yes, Menu Foods has now recalled all of its previously recalled labels, regardless of manufacturing date. Here’s a longer explanation of why, from the American Veterinary Medical Association. The AVMA says it’s not because foods beyond the recall range are suspected of being tainted, but because it’s easier to pull entire brands off the shelves instead of checking each can or pouch. In any case: Don’t buy or feed these brands, regardless of manufacture date.
Bottom line: We want your pet to be counted, everywhere. And we want your pet’s death to count for something, in hopes that in realizing the true scope of the problem changes will be made so something like this is less likely to happen again.

A must read.

By now you all know about the rat poison from China found in pet food from Menu foods.

In yesterday's news conference, the President of Menu Foods had the following to say:

"We have the support of our customers, we have the support of our employees," Henderson said. "We're confident in the future and we remain confident we can put this behind us."

Mr Henderson and I obviously do not travel in the same circles. Pet owners I know have no brand loyalty to brands that kill pets in the name of making a few bucks. Pet owners I know have no brand loyalty to companies who wait until not one but two Friday afternoons to try to bury a story in a press release. Pet owners I know have no brand loyalty to companies who very possibly have no idea what actually goes on with or into their own product. Pet owners that I know do not take kindly to a story as big as this one, being dribbled into our news media at a snails pace when in fact many lives could have been saved long ago if we only got the truth in the first place.

.
Nutro has added ALL wet food to the recall list.

I have had numerous requests from folks wanting to know what is safe to feed our pets.
Here is a list from Petsits of foods NOT made at Menu Foods.
This is an FYI.
I am not personally recommending any food on the list.

As always Pet Conneciton is the place to go for up to the minute information.

I can not express my gratitude to my friends at Pet Connection.com, for putting together a data base logging people's sick and dead animals caused by eating poisoned food produced at Menu Foods. The exact cause still unknown. Last night I am sickened to say, Pet Connection passed a grim milestone,and reached the thousand death mark. While the information is self reported, and not confirmed by the FDA, most of the people reporting have included lot numbers and Vet information.
Think about it. One in 7 test animals died at the factory. 1 in 7. The official count of 14 is expected to climb into the thousands reports ABC.
People I spoke to yesterday had not even heard of the Pet Connection Data base. I urge you all to tell every pet owner you know and help to spread the word. This is citizen advocacy at it's best.
Here again is the link to the data base on Pet Connection. Pass it on.

To quote Gina Spadafori, award winning syndicated Pet Columnist;

They (Menu Foods) dropped their news release late on a Friday, the day when smart businesses and politicians always report bad news, in hopes that by Monday, the impact is lessened, or the story even forgotten. Further, they put their news release out to the business press, in hopes that the recall would be seen as a business story, like the recall of an MP3 player with a bad battery.

Due to their diligence, sweeping change will surely follow in the pet industry. Big media outlets are (now) following their lead in predicting unprecedented numbers of sick and dead animals. Many people, myself included, were shocked to learn that several higher end pet foods were made in the same plant as the cheapest of the cheap. There is currently nothing on the packages to inform consumers of this and surely this will be part of the sweeping change. Stricter pet food regulations will be coming and there are several petitions going already to get that ball rolling.

For up to the minute coverage on this tragedy, keep reading Pet Connection. FMI try the following blogs who are all following this situation very closely-

Itchmo and Howl911 , Vetcetera,
and of course this blog.

I have been trying to stop myself from obsessing about the horrific Menu Foods story of hundreds of sick and dead pets.

But I just can't.

While the self reporting data base over on Pet Connection is anecdotal, over 500 deaths have been reported by owners. Clearly not all posters claims will ever be able to be substantiated. Many never will able to prove foul due to time elapsed, and lack of physical evidence; bodies and food already disposed of. No doubt after reading the heart wrenching comments on the site, that the official death toll of 16 is insulting to all of us with brains in our heads. Clearly we have not heard a realistic number from the FDA.
Perhaps we never will.

Over on Icthmo they have done a rudimentary math analysis of the situation. Check it out, it is very interesting.
Do a goggle search for Menu Pets and click on any of the local media outlets covering their local Vet hospitals with sick and dying pets and law suits. The enormity will blow your mind as it has mine.

I am sickened that the official number is 16, with most of those being from the companies own test lab. We will be reading about this story for a long long time.

Thursday pet Connection update-

Cats, deceased: 500
Dogs, deceased: 345

Over on Pet Connection, the wonderful pet writers have been busy analyzing data that people have been reporting to their web log data base. They URGE people whose pets have been made sick or have died by the recalled food to do the following.

Contact the manufacturer.
Contact the FDA and
PLEASE take a minute to fill out the information on their data base.
As of last night the total reported directly to them was well over 200 with more cats than dogs invovled. Keep in mind the original number reported in the press release was from the companies own test lab.
A study of this kind is very self limiting, and far from perfect, but it is a start, and Pet Connection should be commended for taking on such a huge undertaking.
For a great read on a Vet's take on all this check Dr Patty over on her blog Dolittler. Did you know that Vets got no heads up?

Direct from Dr Patty---

"This kitty probably won’t make it, though her kidney values are moving in the right direction. Treatment on Thursday might well have made all the difference in this case. Her owner is heartbroken. And the internist is beside herself with guilt. If only…

…they had told us sooner. Just one day. Even one day could have saved lives".

Where mad as hell and we are not going to take it any more!

Update-Link to the the press release

Leave it to Gina, ace syndicated pet columnist to get to the bottom of the "Beneful is killing dogs with moldy dog food purchased at Walmart" rumor that has been flying around the Internet. Several days ago the Net started buzzing with such claims, and then many of you started asking me why I hadn't blogged it yet. I didn't blog it because it was all rumor, and could not be substantiated. On Pet Connection yesterday, Gina linked to the Texas article that started it all. Apparently a few dogs have died under very similar circumstances after eating the product. You can read the article here.

For questions or concerns, call the company direct at:
(888) BENEFUL (236-3385)

Me and the kids spent way too much time watching the Puppy Bowl 3 on Fox last night. I found myself calling for the Referee to separate a few of the rowdier pups more than a few times. Can't take the trainer out of the puppy bowl I guess. Those were the cutest Samoyed puppies that I have ever seen. Must have made for some pretty fun auditions prior to game day.

No , I didn't watch the Superbowl, but I did check out the commercials this morning. Loved Budweiser's Dalmatian commercial . Fetch it here.

From the NY times. Well worth the read

"MMI Genomics, a subsidiary of the life science group MetaMorphix, Inc., announced today the launch of the first commercial, DNA-based, diagnostic test that can genetically determine the breed composition of dogs".

Click here to fetch the rest.

Spinoni

What is going on?
Yesterday my inbox, and yahoo lists were filled with postings for 3 different lost dogs. One of the dogs has been found after being hit by a car and I am waiting for an update of how Cheyenne, an Italtian Greyhound mix rescue is doing at the ER.

Stetson, a 1 year old Beagle was lost in the woods in New Gloucester over the weekend.
You can view Stetson's lost poster by downloading the PDF file here.
Download file
Please call 207-657-6058. He was wearing an orange collar with tags.

A 6 month old Spinone was lost Friday night after she and her Champion Mom bolted in a storm. The mother was shot and killed by a hunter. Here is an edited email I received . All lost dog stories are heartbreaking, but this one really got to me.

Missing Spinone in the Standish, ME, area. Her name is Nova and she's
been missing since Friday. She is orange and white and is just 6
months old.
It's with a heavy heart that I let you all know my wonderful Fendi
( CH Risky Business Fender Bender) was shot by a hunter yesterday... .
Unfortunately she and her pup Nova escaped Friday morning while I had
them outside....a new cat next door caught Fendi's attention and off
they ran. The weather was terrible, rainy and high winds and I knew
as I ran after them they wouldn't hear me. I called the local
authorities and shelters to report them missing and passed out
fliers. The game warders called me yesterday... I knew they didn't
have good news....The hunter has been charged as he obviously did not
identify his target and...well.. ..it's charges they are pursing.
Still in all this we have NOT found the pup. Again we will search
today and hand out more pictures and info in hopes someone will find
her. I'm not familiar with the territory so trekking far into the
woods is a bit scary. At least I feel a bit more safe in the woods
today as it's Sunday. Please, just think
positive thoughts we find Nova. Fendi was such a good dog, so
loving...such a big , funny Spinone. I miss her terribly..
Please call:
(260)637-7037 Home or (260)437-6755 Cell.

There was huge news in my inbox last Monday morning from Kris Chistine and I have been sitting on my hands in anticipation of when I can finally post my biggest story ever. You all remember Kris, she is the person from Alna Maine who challenged Maine's two year out dated rabies law and had it changed to three, after her dog Meadow became ill from a rabies shot. Kris didn't stop there and she was instrumental in starting the Rabies Challenge Fund study.
While many pet owners and even some Veterinarians felt that the rabies vaccine given even every three years was not necessary, previously there was no way to verify, as it takes a lot of money to scientifically prove something. In adding even more years inbetween rabies vaccines, there will even less money to be made by drug companies, the ones who usually funds such studies.

This year for the holidays I will not be posting any gift guides or ideas. Instead, I am listing the challenge study and the challenge study only. It is truly the gift of health and a gift that keeps on giving not only to your current pets but to future ones as well.

So what's the big news already? The big news is that the University of Wisconsin and Dr. Schultz a veterinary vaccine research scientist, is conducting concurrent 5 and 7 year challenge studies to determine if the vaccine protects for 5, then 7 years. They have agree to conduct the study and have waived the usual 48 % overhead fee. Many people had voiced concerns to me that they were all for the study, but that they wanted to know where the money was being spent. Now you know-the money is going directly to the study itself!

Below is the press release.

NOW GO AND GET YOUR WALLET!!!

I am sending my twenty bucks, and that is roughly what I would have spent on my two dogs presents. Don't worry about them, they do not want for anything and will of course still get a little extra something for the holidays.

World-Famous Scientists Donate Services to

The Rabies Challenge Fund Charitable Trust

Two world-renowned giants of veterinary vaccine research -- Dr. W. Jean Dodds of Hemopet and Co-Trustee of The Rabies Challenge Fund and Dr. Ronald Schultz of the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine -- have volunteered their time to ensure that critical 5 and 7 year rabies challenge studies are conducted in the United States. The studies are to be financed by The Rabies Challenge Fund Charitable Trust, a tax-exemption organization founded by pet vaccine disclosure advocate Kris L. Christine of Maine in 2005, and will be performed by Dr. Schultz at the University of Wisconsin. The University has waived its usual 48% overhead fee for these studies.

The concurrent challenge studies will determine the duration of immunity conveyed by the canine rabies vaccine, with the goal of extending the state-mandated interval for boosters to 5, and then to 7 years. According to Dr. Dodds, “This is one of the most important projects in veterinary medicine. It will benefit all dogs by providing evidence that protection from rabies vaccination lasts at least 5 years, thereby avoiding unnecessary revaccination with its attendant risk of debilitating adverse reactions. "

Scientific data indicate that vaccinating dogs against rabies every three years, as most states require, is unnecessary. Studies have shown the duration of protective immunity as measured by serum antibody titers against rabies virus to persist for seven years post-vaccination, and results of a 1992 French challenge study led by Michel Aubert demonstrated dogs were immune to rabies five years after vaccination. Researchers believe the rabies vaccine causes the most and worst adverse reactions in animals and concur that it should not be given more often than is necessary to maintain immunity. Adverse reactions to rabies vaccination can include autoimmune diseases affecting the thyroid, joints, blood, eyes, skin, kidney, liver, bowel and central nervous system; anaphylactic shock; aggression; seizures; epilepsy; and fibrosarcomas at injection sites.

Dr. Schultz states that “[s]howing that a vaccine for rabies can provide 5 or preferably 7 years of immunity would have great significance not only in controlling rabies but more importantly in reducing the adverse vaccine reactions that can occur in dogs and cats after vaccination."

More information on The Rabies Challenge Fund and the concurrent 5 and 7 year challenge studies it will finance can be found at the fund’s newly established website designed by volunteer Andrea Brin at: www.rabieschallengefund.org.

People can get really creative this time of year, and the pet stores really make it worth your while to go all out and dress up your pet. Last Saturday I spent the afternoon at the Scarborough Pet Quarters Halloween party. Despite the foul weather, a great time was had by all.

This years costume winners go once again to the Pugs,
Puppy and Sissy, who are already working on next years costume I am sure.
Both outfits were all hand stitched.

Check out the detail!

And a big cheer for Henry the golden puppy who just last month underwent expenisve hip surgery after his hip came completely out of it's socket. His human Kate hand made Henry into a piggy bank, with her a Maine Quarter, to represent the money she put into him. This costume earned Henry free Nutro dog food for a year. Not bad huh?

Henry found it a rather comfy dog bed.

Update-Can't get enough of dogs in costume?
Then click here for thousands more dogs dressed up on the
Dogster Halloween Stroll.

Sports Illustrated has some great shots from NYC

Have you ever heard or read that one intact female cat can produce 420,000 offspring? Leave it to Gina to not only question this number, but put the Wall Street Journal's number guy on the task of coming up with a more realistic figure.
It is a very interesting read even if you are not a numbers person. The Humane Society has since taken this number off their web site, and replaced it with more likely statistics.

Check out this snipet.

"To get to 420,000 would require two litters a year from each cat, every year, and that 1.4 kittens survive each litter to live healthy (and productive) lives. (Dog owners, take note: A similar calculation for canines finds one female dog could, theoretically, produce 67,000 dogs in six years; this stat is also popular among animal advocates.)

The earliest reference I could find to the cat-reproduction figure was a 1988 article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (citing the Humane Society). If you take a mythical cat beginning in that year, and let her and her offspring reproduce at the theoretical rate over the 18 years since, you'd have a cat population of nearly 50 trillion. That would mean the U.S. produces far more cats than coal: If each cat weighed, on average, five pounds, this catastrophically huge feline colony would weigh 120 billion tons -- or about 100 times the amount of coal produced in the U.S. last year.

Click here to fetch the rest.

Just becuse the numbers didn't add up, does not make the homeless pet situation any less serious.
Our Maine shelters are over run with cats!
Spay and neuter your pets!!!

Charlee gives safety hints to the kids...did you guess never touch a dog that is sleeping?

Paws in the Park, the Animal Refuge League's annual fund raiser and dog walk at Deering Oaks Park, is this Sunday and it is not too late register.

Look for Charlee and I on the stage before the start of the walk at 10:15 doing our brief Safe Kids/Safe Dogs Demonstration. This is a fun interactive program aimed at helping children learn how to be safe around dogs. Charlee I are available to visit schools and qualifying groups at no charge for this very important service.

Saturday and Sunday stop by Riverton School in Portland to watch AKC sanctioned Obedience and Rally trials.

Charlee with paint still on her paws post Barks And Crafts

Camp Buster's final planning stages are in the works!
Translation- Brenda bought me a huge breakfast at Denny's and we schemed and planned.

I am returning for my third year as Barks and Crafts Director. This year we are customizing bait bags and making paw print tiles, some of which will remain permanently on the wall along side the human camper's hand prints.
Translation-We don't take ourselves very seriously and it is a lot of fun, plus you get great souvenirs and prizes.

We have more training plans in the works and have added some new trainers.
Translation- Freestyle, Agility, Rally and CGC, with a slightly more serious edge than before for those who are interested.

Some people have balked at the price, but not only does $250 for the weekend include all dog activities it includes incredibly delicious gourmet camp meals and a wee bit of wine. Plus your fee helps to send a disadvantaged Maine child to Camp Susan Curtis!

Translation- What are you waiting for, there are only a few spaces left?

Charlee, Finney and I have already started to work on our act for the camp show. Shouldn't be too hard to beat our last year's performance of bowling for ketchup bottles.
Translation-Goofy is good!

Only one more month and my yearly fix of Brenda's baked blueberry french toast will be fulfilled.
Translation-none required

A four year old German Sheperd State Police dog named Cit (pronounced Seat) is missing. The dog bolted from a boarding kennel, and he was last seen Monday on River Road near the Gorham/ Windham town line.

Anyone who sees the dog is asked to call state police in Gray at 1-800-482-0730 or 911 on a cellular telephone.
A trained canine handler will be sent to the area.
UPdATE-Dog has been found!

Please forgive the double blogging if you have already read about The Animal House 2nd Annual Pet Fair on Aaron's blog, but I felt it was double blog worthy.

A good time for a good cause.

The Animal House, with locations in Newcastle and Warren, specializes
in healthy foods and holistic supplies for pets. For more information,
please call: (207) 563-5595, email: info@theanimalhouse.net or visit:
www.theanimalhouse.net.

People often tell me that they love the happy ending feel good heart warming dog stories that I often post and they prefer to go elsewhere for depressing news. Sorry this is not one of those stories, and if you want to keep it warm and fuzzy, do not click this CBS link.