Loyola’s medical school mistreated animals, reports show

Dog, rabbit deaths reported at med school

By Jodi S. Cohen, Chicago Tribune reporter
12:49 AM CDT, July 22, 2008

(NOTE: Picture is not from the Chicago Tribune or Loyola labs - they are general animal experiment pictures.)

U.S. Department of Agriculture inspections of Loyola University’s medical school found numerous violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act, including improper procedures that resulted in the deaths of rabbits and dogs.

Three inspection reports of Loyola’s biomedical research from 2006 and 2007 obtained by an animal rights group under the Freedom of Information Act revealed poor veterinary care, inadequately trained personnel and sloppy record keeping. Rabbits died from bacterial infections, and dogs died when they were not sufficiently monitored after surgery, the agency found.

In an October procedure, a rabbit suffered a fracture during a bone marrow transplant and died the following day, according to the reports. In another case, a rabbit was observed as not doing well on Oct. 3, but laboratory records failed to indicate it was given any treatment or considered for euthanasia before it died Oct. 9.

Loyola laboratory employees did not provide adequate post-operative care of dogs when it left them unmonitored overnight, according to an inspection report. During those hours, complications occurred in five of the animals and all of them died by the following day.

“We would call them the worst laboratory in the state of Illinois and possibly one of the worst in the nation,” said Michael Budkie, executive director of Stop Animal Exploitation Now.

His Ohio-based group obtained inspection reports for about 40 Illinois labs, including the three for Loyola’s Stritch School of Medicine, he said.

The government’s most recent inspection of Loyola’s medical school in May found no violations, according to USDA spokeswoman Karen Eggert.

“They have corrected their issues,” Eggert said.

The USDA did not fine or discipline the school.

Research studies “in which animal health or welfare was at risk” have been discontinued, Loyola spokesman Jim Ritter said.

Budkie sent a letter earlier this week to Rev. Michael Garanzini, Loyola’s president, asking to be allowed to inspect the labs.

A Victory for Wolves!

From Defenders of Wildlife:

A federal judge has restored endangered species protections for wolves in Greater Yellowstone and the Northern Rockies.

The ruling by a district court judge in Montana could save the lives of hundreds of wolves by stopping this fall’s planned wolf sport hunting seasons in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.

It’s a huge win that couldn’t have happened without the thousands of Defenders activists and donors who have worked to support our efforts here in the Northern Rockies by contributing money to our Wolf Legal Defense Fund, supporting our on-the-ground work and much more.

But we still have a long fight ahead of us.

Idaho Governor C.L. Butch Otter — who said last year that he wanted to be one of the first in the state to shoot a wolf — immediately criticized the judge’s ruling to restore protections for wolves. Wyoming’s Governor has vowed that his state will fight the ruling.

Idaho Anti-Wolf Coalition leader Ron Gillette was even more direct, telling a local reporter that “[i]t is going to be all-out war.”

________________

Stay tuned…

Dog Lovers Line Up to Adopt 1,100 Rescued Pups in Wisconsin

Associated Press

MILWAUKEE - The Wisconsin Humane Society says it had a near-record number of adoptions Sunday as dog lovers lined up for puppies rescued from one of the nation’s largest dog breeding facilities.

The Wisconsin Humane Society announced Friday it was buying and closing Puppy Haven Kennel in Markesan and would find homes for the 1,100 dogs there.

Humane Society spokeswoman Angela Speed says more than 67 puppies from the kennel were adopted Sunday.

She says people lined up shortly after 7 a.m. even though the society doesn’t open until 10 a.m. Others dropped off checks to help pay for the rescue.

A spokesman for the Humane Society of the United States has said this may be the first time a local humane society has bought a so-called puppy mill to rescue animals there.

Diamond in the Rough

Another story that could have ended bad but will now be in the Happy Endings! This German Shepherd was rescued by an animal control officer who saw her as a “diamond in the rough,” thereby naming her…Diamond.

According to Cause 4 Paws, who took her into their rescue, she had a horrible life, living most of it in a cage too small for her to stand in. She spent so much time in it that she often tried to chew her way out, damaging her front teeth. Her legs also suffered greatly from being in a cage too small and are slightly unstable and deformed. She was also very thin. She is now in foster care and is doing fantastic. Anyone who wants to read more about her can see her story on our site at www.MyCause4Paws.petfinder.com.

Update on Gibson!

Remember Gibson, the emaciated Golden Retriever found as a stray? Well, Cause 4 Paws reports he found a fantastic home with 3 other Goldens and 2 fantastic humans named Mike and Kelly. Many thanks to them for stepping up for a dog that had a very rough start in life.

Bloat

I go to the dog park frequently, and always in the back of my mind worry about my German Shepherd and bloat. I had heard that too much water during exercise could cause this very serious condition. However, I didn’t realize how prevalent it is until a fellow rescuer told me she’s lost 2 dogs in 2 years from it; a Doberman and a Golden Retriever. It also came to my attention that a number of people don’t even know about bloat.

I did a little research and found one site with a nice summary of what you need to know, and links to more. I am including some of it below, but there is much more at http://www.globalspan.net/bloat.htm.

It is said that bloat (or Gastric Dilataion-Volvulus) is the second leading cause of death in dogs after cancer. It’s found predominantly in large, deep-chested dogs. In studies done at Purdue University, they found the top five breeds at risk are:

1. Great Dane
2. Weimaraner
3. Saint Bernard
4. Gordon Setter
5. Irish Setter

Other breeds at higher-than average risk include the Bloodhound, Irish Wolfhound, Akita, Standard Poodle, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Malamute, Doberman Pinscher, Labrador Retriever and Boxer.

Bloating occurs when there’s an abnormal accumulation of air or fluid in the stomach and causes gastric dilation. More often than not, volvulus follows, which is when the stomach rotates and twists, trapping air, food, and water. Eventually the pressure obstructs veins in the abdomen leading to shock and damaged organs. This can quickly kill a dog.

The disease progresses in minutes or, at most, hours, according to Raid The Wind Kennels. The only treatment is emergency medical attention. In its two advanced forms, the only treatment is surgery.

The scary part is the symptoms are so general, many people don’t know it’s bloat until it’s too late. For example, the woman I mentioned above said they thought her Doberman was just overheated. They turned on the air and he seemed to be resting. They went to get food, came back and he was a wreck. By the time they got him to the vet it was too late.

SYMPTOMS of BLOAT may include:

• excessive salivation/drooling
• extreme restlessness/pacing
• unproductive attempts to vomit/defecate
• evidence of abdominal pain (whining and tenderness in the stomach area)
• abdominal distension
• rapid breathing/panting
• cold/pale mouth membranes
• collapse

CAUSES

I was really surprised to read about the elevated food bowls being a potential contributor. Researchers don’t know “why” this is, but studies found that 20-50% of the large dogs who suffered from bloat had elevated food bowls.

A definite cause is speed eaters. According to Raid the Wind, if a dog is a “greedy” eater and weighs between 49 and 100 pounds, then steps should be taken to slow down how fast the dog eats. When a dog gulps food, the dog ingests air with the food. Air ingestion causes gas that may, in turn, cause the dog to bloat. It is also suggested that dogs be fed twice per day instead of once to counter this tendency.

Heredity (especially having a first-degree relative with a history of bloat)

Build & Physical Characteristics - Having a deep and narrow chest compared to other dogs of the same breed

Size and Age - the larger and older the dog, the more at risk he/she is

Eating habits

• Elevated food bowls
• Rapid eating
• Drinking too much water too quickly (can cause gulping of air)
• Dilution of gastric juices necessary for complete digestion by drinking too much water before or after eating
• Eating dry foods that contain citric acid as a preservative (the risk is even worse if the owner moistens the food)
• Eating dry foods that contain fat among the first four ingredients – this was proven in one of the largest studies done
• Insufficient Trypsin (a pancreatic enzyme present in meat)
• Eating gas-producing foods (especially soybean products, brewer’s yeast, and alfalfa)

Stress

Exercise before and especially after eating

PREVENTION

Suggestions from Petplace.com
There is much to still be learned about the causes and the best methods to prevent bloat. The following are current thoughts on the best methods for prevention:

• Divide meals into 2 or 3 meals per day rather than one large meal. Feed a mixture of canned food and dry food. Avoid elevated feeders. Any diet changes should be made gradually over a period of 3 – 5 days. Feed susceptible dogs individually and if possible, in a quiet location.
• In breeds that are at high risk, discuss the pros and cons of having a preventative gastropexy with your regular veterinarian. This surgery is commonly performed at the time of neutering.
• You may want to consider avoiding foods in which oil or fat is listed as the first four ingredients. This was associated with a higher risk of bloat, however, it is not clear whether a diet low in oil or fat content is protective.
• When buying a dog, ask about family history of bloat and stay away from breed lines with a prominent history.
• Make sure the dog sitter or kennel pays special attention for breeds at risk. Make sure they understand signs of bloat and have your permission to take them to an emergency center for treatment if signs occur. Consider having a house sitter rather than a kennel or whatever is least stressful to an older deep-chested dog at high risk for bloat.
• Although this was not identified as a risk factor in the mentioned study, most veterinarians still recommend that water is available to dogs at all times, but do limit the amount immediately after eating if the dog appears to over-consume. Many also recommend that you avoid vigorous exercise, excitement, and stress one hour before meals and two hours after meals. Slow walks are permissible, as it may help stimulate normal gastrointestinal function.

Is your dog at risk for bloat? http://www.petplace.com/dogs/is-your-dog-at-risk-for-bloat/page1.aspx

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Chicago Canine Rescue Takes in Puppy Mill Dogs

From CCRF:

Last week, we were able to admit a number of new dogs including eight dogs from the Humane Society of the United States Puppy Mill bust in Tennessee. The investigators on the scene said that the conditions were horrible with dogs living in rabbit hutches, dead animal in cages, and animals with medical problems every where. So, we know it’s extra important to make sure that our new little charges get the tender loving care that they have been missing all their lives. Please stop on by the shelter to meet these pint-size critters.

CCRF is located at 2227 W. Belmont Ave. Chicago.

Below are a few of the pups.

Polly

Pansy

Peony

Queenie

Top 10 Animal-Friendly Superheroes

From The Peta Files

Greetings! If you’re like me, your batarang is all up in a bunch this summer with all the amazing comic-book movies coming out. Between Iron Man, The Hulk, and now The Dark Knight (which opens today), it’s like we’ve died and gone to nerd heaven. So in the spirit of the superhero season, check out PETA’s official list of the Top 10 Animal-Friendly Superheroes of all time!

10. Aquaman—The King of Atlantis, Aquaman can commune with sea creatures, whom he considers citizens of his ocean realm, and routinely protects them from being abused or exploited by the surface-dwellers.

9. Black Panther—As the leader of the African nation of Wakanda, the Black Panther has banned the evil White Gorilla Cult from his country. Members of the cult seek to gain power by killing one of Wakanda’s rare white gorillas, bathing in their blood, and eating their flesh (um, gross). The villain known as Man-Ape gained his superpowers by doing exactly that—incurring the wrath of the Black Panther and becoming one of his greatest foes.

8. Superman—In a one-shot “PSA comic” entitled “Superman: For the Animals,” Supes rescues a kitten from being thrown off a bridge by a group of kids named (seriously) Ballser, Charlie, Donuts, and Eightball and, in the process, teaches everyone a valuable lesson about not picking on anyone weaker than you—including animals.

7. Captain Planet—He just wants to save the planet from the evil Captain Pollution! And that, of course, includes all our wildlife friends who live there. Point of fact, though: “Heart”? NOT an element.

6. Thor—In the Ultimate Avengers animated movie, we find Thor out at sea with a group of activists protesting whale slaughter. If only his fellow Norwegians in the real world got the picture that whaling is a thing of the past!

5. Batman—Think of the Caped Crusader, and the first thing that comes to mind is his cape, of course. Animal lovers reveled when they learned that Batman’s cape was made of cruelty-free pleather—not leather. This superhero batvocate made pleather cool again, and PETA loves him for it.

4. Beast Boy—Everyone’s favorite Teen Titan also happens to be vegan (and not just because he’s been hanging out on peta2.com like pretty much every other teenager). You would be, too, if you had the metamorphic ability to turn into any animal and therefore had a little compassion for the ones that get eaten.

3. Animal Man—This lesser-known DC hero can mimic the abilities of animals and is an ardent advocate for animal rights. He’s a vegetarian, and in Animal Man #15, Animal Man saves a group of dolphins from cruel fishers and drops the villains in the ocean to drown—only to be saved by one of the very dolphins he was trying to kill.

2. Wolverine and Jean Gray—In X-Men Unlimited #44, Wolverine catches three neighborhood boys in the act of torturing and killing animals for kicks—and offers to return the favor on behalf of his furry friends. Using her psychic powers, Jean Gray instead makes the boys experience in their minds the pain and suffering that they caused to their innocent victims.

1. Wonder Man—In Civil War: Frontline #5, part of Marvel’s epic Civil War story arc, Wonder Man is interrupted on his way to an important function by two S.H.I.E.L.D. agents looking for answers about a mysterious aquarium store bombing (read the book). The important function? A PETA banquet. ‘Nuff said.

Wolves still being slaughtered

According to the NRDC Action Fund, 106 wolves have been gunned down in the Northern Rockies since the Bush Administration stripped them of endangered species protection on March 28. Hundreds more could die. Take action now!

A testament to microchips

Dog lost for 5 years reunited with suburban family

Pet found about 75 miles away from home

By Vikki Ortiz |Chicago Tribune reporter

Cheryl Moeller hugs her son, Brent, as they’re reunited with Bo the collie in Arlington Heights on Tuesday. (Tribune photo by Terry Harris / July 15, 2008)