Lost Dog in Streamwood, IL

This pup got out of his owner’s backyard June 28 at about 3 p.m. in Streamwood, IL. Both he and his brother got out, but his brother was found right away.  He is a large shepherd mix, about 85#., brown, tan, and black.  He is 5 years old.  Unfortunately, he doesn’t have a tag or collar on, but he is microchipped.  Please contact either Appi at 630-699-3538 or his owner at 630-540-2987 or 630-400-5576.  Thanks!

This Weekend!

4th of July Safety Tips: Fireworks Are Not a Dog’s Best Friend

As the country dons its red, white and blue to celebrate Independence Day, nothing says patriotism like a good old-fashioned barbecue with a side of fireworks. But what’s fun for people can often be a downright drag for our furry friends. The ASPCA offers some advice to help you keep your pets singing, “Oh Say Can You See,” all the way to the Fifth.

- Keep your pets on the wagon. Alcohol is potentially poisonous to pets, so place your wine, beer and spirits out of their reach.

- Avoid scraps from the grill. Any change in your pet’s diet can result in stomach upset. Plus, certain foods like onions, avocado, grapes and raisins can be toxic.

- Bugs biting? Avoid lathering your pet with any insect repellent or sunscreen not intended for the four-legged kind.

- Don’t let Spot start the fire. Keep your pet away from matches and lighter fluid, which, if ingested, can be extremely irritating to the stomach, lungs and central nervous system.

As the sun sets on the Fourth, remember that fireworks are not a dog’s best friend. Dr. Pamela Reid, Vice President, ASPCA Animal Behavior Center, recommends that you keep your dog at home, instead of taking him to your neighborhood display. “He’ll be much happier at home listening to classical music,” says Dr. Reid. “Also, be sure to keep him inside, instead of in the backyard, since even the most timid dog can leap a six-foot fence if he’s scared enough.”

If your dog suddenly shows signs of distress from outside noise, “relocate to the basement or another quiet part of the house,” suggests Dr. Reid. “Or try giving him a Kong toy stuffed with peanut butter. The persistent licking should calm his nerves.”

If you anticipate that your pet will be scared on the Fourth, talk to your vet. He may prescribe a mild sedative, which should be administered one hour before the festivities begin. Please read our other holiday tips, and have a safe and saucy Fourth of July!

-From the ASPCA

See this and more pictures of animals and the floods at Nationalgeographic.com.

June 25, 2008–Three pigs are stranded on a roof on June 20 after floodwaters from the Mississippi and Iowa Rivers inundated the town of Oakville, Iowa.

In the same low-lying town, a farmer was forced to leave some 800 hogs to drown as levees broke, the Chicago Tribune reported.

In recent days heavy rains and failed levees have fueled the worst Midwest flooding in 15 years, killing 24 people and claiming an unknown number of pets, livestock, and wildlife.

More Flood Dogs in Desperate Need

Transport to the Chicagoland area is available! Anissa writes:

These two where found running stray over the weekend in Hancock County, IL. The tri colored one is a male, short, stubby and maybe 2 years old. He is good with other dogs and maybe 20 pounds. The tan and white one is a female, about 20 pounds, seems to be an “alpha” girl but will tolerate other dogs. Not sure about cats or housetrained. She is a little older too, maybe 4-5 years. She might be his “mother”??? If you can help rescue them, please contact me at westhancockk9@mchsi.com. Transport to Chicago is available.

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I have had no offers to help rescue this boy. He is located at the Hancock County dog pound in Carthage, IL. We are right on the Mississippi River. This boy was picked up stray and so far, no one has come looking for him. He is about 25 pounds, under knee high, I am not sure but it was pointed out to me he resembles a schipperke and I agree! He is fine with other dogs, sits on command and is a funny boy!! He is younger, maybe just at a year old, cats and housebroke is unknown. If you can help sponsor towards his vetting or rescue him, please contact me at westhancockk9@mchsi.com. Transport to Chicago is available.

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This boy was left in the drop off pen at the Hancock county dog pound in Carthage, IL. Yes we are still underwater here and I am not sure if that is why he was dumped. He is about 60 pounds, fine with other dogs, unknown about cats or housebroke. He is younger, maybe 1-2 years old. His release date is Friday and can be release or euthanized after that. If you can help sponsor (donate towards his vetting) or rescue him, please contact me at westhancockk9@mchsi.com. Transport to Chicago is available.

Help for Flood Victims With Animals

From Adams County Animal Control:

I have the National American Humane Society and IFAL coming in to Quincy tomorrow night. We will set up a command post just South of the Adams County Fairgrounds. We will house, feed and exercise, domestic animals, livestock and any misplaced young wild animals. We will even come to their home and load them in trailers for them at no cost to the owner. Any one affected by the flood in Adams County or surrounding Counties can use our services, if they need help we will be there for them. They can call me at the number below. Could you please spread the word far and wide…..And thank you all very much.
 
Adams County Animal Warden
Jenny Benjamin
521 Vermont
Quincy IL 62301
jbenjamin@co.adams.il.us
Office (217) 277-2145

Beaten-down dog from Vick case has his day

Pit bull rescued from famous dogfighting ring now helps cancer patients

NBC News and MSNBC

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. - It’s a dog’s life. And for Leo it couldn’t be better.

Leo — rescued from heavy chains that confined him as one of the pit bulls in former NFL quarterback Michael Vick’s dogfighting ring — is a lover, not a fighter. He now happily frolics in a clown collar as he makes the rounds at the Camino Infusion Center, where he brings comfort to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Despite his training as a killer, Leo is a sweetheart as he visits his friends on the ward.

“He is wonderful, and all the patients love Leo,” said Paula Reed, the facility’s oncology director. “They really love his eyes and gentleness.”

Six months ago, Leo should have been dead.

When officers raided Vick’s Bad Newz Kennels in Smithfield, Va., last year, they found dogs, some injured and scarred, chained to buried car axles. Forensic experts discovered remains of dogs that had been shot with a .22-caliber pistol, electrocuted, drowned, hanged or slammed to the ground for lacking a desire to fight.

Vick, an All-Pro quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, was suspended indefinitely and is serving 23 months in federal prison after pleading guilty in August to bankrolling the dogfighting operation and helping to kill as many as eight dogs. Three co-defendants also pleaded guilty and were sentenced to prison.

About 50 dogs were rescued.

Animal advocates are divided over whether fighting dogs can be trusted to have new lives as pets or working dogs. One of the dogs seized at Bad Newz was put down as too aggressive, but the others were dispersed to sanctuaries and training facilities across the country.

An ‘incredible’ difference with patients

One of them was Leo, who ended up in the care of Marthina McClay, a certified trainer and counselor in Los Gatos, near San Francisco. McClay is president of Our Pack, an advocacy group for pit bulls.

“He was a little like a caveman at a tea party,” McClay said. “He didn’t have a lot of training.”

But after five weeks of intense instruction and supervision, and more weeks of acclimation, Leo is now — with all due respect —a pussy cat. He loves putting his head on a patient’s lap and batting his big brown eyes.

“The difference that he’s had with our patients has been incredible — the smiles on their faces, the joy when they see him,” said Reed of the cancer center.

“Leo is a survivor and our patients are survivors, and I think they can relate to each other,” she said.

Leo also touches young people on probation at the Alternative Placement Academy in San Jose, where the young men seem to identify with the former tough guy.

“I think they saw this dog’s awful background, and it communicates to the kids that you can end up being what you want to be,” McClay said.

It’s the age-old story of second chances. By living his, Leo helps tear down entrenched stereotypes that pit bulls are irredeemable killers.

“Leo is definitely an ambassador to the breed,” McClay said. “The staff at various facilities will say, ‘I will never see pit bulls the same again.’”

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25214356/from/ET/

Helping Flood Victims

Here are some ways to help out animals in the current flood zones.

Best Friends Network’s Rapid Response Team has also been deployed. Here’s the latest and the ways you can help:

http://network.bestfriends.org/rapidresponse/news/26396.html

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The Humane Society is rescuing and sheltering diplaced pets. Some have been reunited, but there are more than 500 others in their emergency shelter.

http://hsus.org/hsus_field/hsus_disaster_center/

They are also taking donations.

https://secure.hsus.org/01/disaster_relief_fund_2008?qp_source=gabfa4&source=gabfa4

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People needing to shelter their animals during the flood events can deliver their animals to any of the shelters listed below where they will be housed, fed and exercised. I’m sure they could use some help!

http://www.iowaagriculture.gov/press/pdfs/PetShelterInfo2008.pdf

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American Humane issued grants to help animal sheltering agencies. They and their stories are here:

http://www.americanhumane.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pa_disaster_relief

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The Animal Rescue Site is taking donations.

https://shop.theanimalrescuesite.com/store/item.do?siteId=310&itemId=32999&origin=11851

Filed under Animals | Comment (0)

FDA Requests Seizure of Animal Food Products at PETCO Distribution Center

http://www.fda. gov/bbs/topics/ NEWS/2008/ NEW01854. html

FDA News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 19, 2008
Media Inquiries:
Kimberly Rawlings, 301-827-6242
Consumer Inquiries:
888-INFO-FDA

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
complaint coordinators.

Jitters Needs Help

From Anne:

I would like to take her to Dr. Paul the orthopedic surgeon to get this fixed properly!!!
Please contact ausiersq@dstream.net if anyone can take her into or make donations to the vet clinic for her surgery!!
Anne
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Jitters, approx 1yr, unaltered female, Jack Russell Terrier mix, escaped out her front door yesterday and came home with an apparent broken front leg and abrasions–probably hit by a car. Her owner called PAW PALS because she could not afford to take her to a vet. X-rays show fractures of both bones of front leg and the vet has made these recommendations: 1. amputate for $400, 2. Pins for $700-$800, or ideally, plating for probably over $1000. He does not do plates so she would have to be sent elsewhere for that. The other option is all others fail, is to euthanize her. She is currently at Katherine Road vet clinic awaiting my decision–her owner signed her over to me today because she could not afford any of her care. Do you think any rescue group would help with her? She is very sweet, good with kids, loves stuffed toys, and slept with her owner, but is not potty trained.