Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Shelter asks Obama to adopt a poi dog

A local pet shelter is lobbying President-elect Barack Obama to adopt a pooch from Hawaii when he visits the Islands in December.

In a letter to Obama, the Hawaii Island Humane Society penned a message from a dog looking for a home.

"I am a pound puppy, a pretty pooch, a poi dog extraordinaire.

"So maybe when you're in Hawaii in December, you could come by and visit me?" said the letter from a dog named Makana.

April Erenberg, the owner of a dog rescue program called Pug Rescue of Hawaii, said pugs are loyal and protective.

"Call me," she said. "I have a million."

— Robert Shikina
source: starbulletin.com

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Dog racing: Is it cruel?


Among the central arguments made by the group opposing dog racing has been that greyhound racing is “cruel and inhumane,” even though, according to state animal-cruelty laws, it isn’t.

Massachusetts Voters Weigh Ban On Dog Racing
Voters in Massachusetts are considering a ban on greyhound racing that would shut down the state's two tracks. Supporters of the ban say the industry abuses dogs.

These are some of the comments:-

"While racing greyhounds incur a different daily routine than most people's pets, such doesn't mean they are being mistreated."

"Dog racing is a dying sport. Stop and think why it is ILLEGAL in 34 states."

"Animal Rights activists continue to distort the facts in a shameless appeal to people's emotion. The irony is that the Animal Rights folks are the heartless ones. Trainers care for their dogs and treat them well, while Animal Rights activists have nothing but utter contempt for their fellow human beings. The Animal Rights crowd is made up of arrogant, cold individuals (many of whom appear to be highly medicated). They profess to love dogs, which in and of itself is questionable."

What is your opinion?

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Citizens cry over high dog population

The District Environmental Health Officer for Tain, Mr. R.E. Appiah Sam, has raised concerns over the growing number of dogs at Nsawkaw, the district capital, describing it as a threat to good environmental sanitation.

In an interview with The Mirror at Nsawkaw, Mr Appiah-Sam expressed concern about how these dogs defecate on the streets, thereby causing an unhealthy scene for the inhabitants.

"Our staff who sweep the streets every morning suffer so much because the dogs always defecate at clean and dry places," he stated.

He, therefore, appealed to the Tain District Assembly to enact bye-laws to limit the number of dogs expected to be kept per household.

When contacted, the District Veterinary Officer, Mr. Alfred Dery also shared similar sentiments and called for legislation against the control of the population of dogs in the district.

Mr. Dery expressed concern about the reluctance of dog owners to avail their dogs for anti-rabbis vaccination.

“Out of over 200 dogs at Nsawkaw, only 30 have been brought for vaccination," he lamented.

When The Mirror tried to find out why people kept large numbers of dogs at Nsawkaw and the Banda areas, it was revealed that various households kept them for economic reasons.

Apart from offering security, dogs kept in the district are highly demanded during the dry season for hunting purposes.

Similarly, the growing number of settlers from northern Ghana in the district has also accounted for the demand for dog meat.

The Source: The Mirror

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Campaign opposing eating dog meat by South Koreans


A South Korean animal rights activist and a dog perform in a caldron during a campaign opposing eating dog meat by South Koreans near a Dog Meat market in Seongnam, south of Seoul, Sunday, July 27, 2008. Traditionally, July 29 is a day for some South Koreans to eat healthy foods to survive summer heat. Dog meat is considered one of the healthy foods for those South Koreans

Sunday, August 17, 2008

315-animal rescue sets agency record

By Leah Thorsen ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

A massive animal rescue Tuesday in Polk County is the largest in the history of the Humane Society of Missouri, the group said.

The group removed 315 animals from an 80-acre property near the southwest Missouri town of Pleasant Hope, where the animals lived in filthy conditions without adequate food, water and shelter, according to the Humane Society.

Most were underweight and suffered from various skin or coat conditions. Several dead animals were found.

The rescued animals include more than 70 dogs and three dozen cats, 51 rabbits, 40 exotic birds and 60 fish, along with horses, ducks, chickens, donkeys, goats and mice.

The property owner's name was not released, and it wasn't known whether charges will be filed.

The horses and farm animals are being treated at the Humane Society's Longfellow Rescue Ranch near Union. The exotic fish, mostly large koi and goldfish that were kept in above-ground swimming pools, are being cared for by a fish hatchery, said Jeane Jae, a Humane Society spokeswoman.

Most of the animals will be cared for at the Humane Society in St. Louis, where the first group arrived early Tuesday evening. About 110 animals came in two vans, including a trembling Chihuahua so thin his bones showed through his dirty coat.

A crew of at least 30 was ready to help.

"Oh, he's a nice one," said Cyndi Nason, the adoption center director, as she took the Chihuahua from his carrier.

He got his picture taken with his green medical card. He suffered from fleas, muscle loss and dental disease, said Claire Beckmeyer, a fourth-year veterinary student.

The dog had trouble standing on his own while she gently examined him.

He endured vaccination shots, a needle that drew blood for a heartworm test, a dose of dewormer, and a round of medicine for his fleas and ticks. He squirmed when his nails were clipped. The ear-cleaning didn't please him either.

But the Chihuahua finished his day in a kennel filled with blankets and toys, and plenty of food and water. He and the other animals will not be available for adoption for several weeks.

Staff writer Heather Ratcliffe and The Associated Press contributed to this
report.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Government urged to give animal ambulances road priority

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The government should allow animal ambulances to install flashing yellow warning lights and enjoy road priority to facilitate their work saving injured animals, Taipei city councilors and an animal protection group said yesterday.

In response, Hsu Hsiu-lung, a section chief of the city's Motor Vehicles Office, said the Taipei city government had already discussed the matter with the Council of Agriculture and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications last week.

The council will formulate related measures within one month and send them to the ministry for approval, Hsu said, predicting that the measures will take effect by the end of this year.

As an advanced city, the Taipei city government should take the lead in awarding priority road rights to animal-saving vehicles, Taipei City Councilor Lee Ching-feng said at a press conference outside the council hall. ......more click here

Source: The China Post



Friday, July 11, 2008

Dog meat suspended from Beijing menus for Olympics

The city of Beijing has called on its restaurants and hotels to stop serving dog meat during the Olympic Games next month.

The move is part of a broad drive by the Chinese capital to show itself in the best possible light as senior officials are concerned that dog meat on menus could offend visitors from western countries.

In a low-profile order issued recently in the name of the municipal food safety office, Beijing’s catering industry association was told to “advocate” to its members that they “suspend use of dog meat dishes during the Olympic period”.

Beijing is not the first Olympic host to introduce a ban on dog meat. South Korea banned it during the 1988 Seoul Olympics by invoking a law prohibiting the sale of “foods deemed unsightly”.

For Full Article click here
Source: CatererSearch

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Goldston: 'Ugliest dog' contest has freak-show feel this year

HONOR DISABLED DOG FOR COURAGE INSTEAD
By Linda Goldston
Mercury News


I had a terrible reaction to the World's Ugliest Dog Contest this year, an annual event at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma.

Like many people, I smiled at the photos of past winners, usually hairless Chinese crested dogs. One of those dogs won the Mercury News' first Dog-Person Look-A-Like Contest.

But when I heard about the ugly dog winner this year, I knew the contest had gone too far. There's something wrong with naming a disabled dog - in this case, a dog named Gus from Florida - as the winner of such a competition.

Gus is a Chinese crested who has no hair. One of his legs was amputated because of cancer and he lost an eye in a fight with a tomcat. His owners brought him all the way from Florida for the contest and took home the top prize of $500.

The little guy apparently was rescued from a bad home and his current owners are devoted to him, but I think there are better ways of showing it.

We humans came up with freak shows years ago to display people who looked different through no fault of their own. We stopped having those and maybe it's time to take disabilities out of the equation for winners of ugly dog contests. I know the owners love their dogs; I'm not as sure of the crowd on hand when they're judged.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Getting Your Newly Adopted Dog off on the Right Paw



Dogs constantly try new behaviors to see what will pay off for them. This is how they learn to fit in with their new family. Dogs carefully note the results of their behavior, and re­peat what works to their benefit. That’s why it’s essential to control their first weeks in your home, and teach them to behave on your terms.

If you feed scraps from the table, you will have a dog that begs. If you allow him to roam free through the house, you will have a dog that is not housebro­ken. First, supervise your new dog. You can prevent a mistake, and not have to punish it: thus creating a more loving bond. Do not let your new dog roam freely.

Watch him, and let him know what’s okay and what’s not. Let him know where he can relieve him­ self (by giving praise for going outside), and cor­rection for an error (if he lifts his leg, say “no” firmly, and walk him outside). If you can’t watch your dog, limit his area to a small bathroom or laundryroom, placing a potty area on one end, and a comfy bed and toys and chewies on the other end. It’s easier to teach good behaviors than to correct bad ones. Never hit your dog. Teach him that your hands are never a threat. Yes, it’s work to supervise your new dog, but the effort you make will pay off with a lifetime of good behavior.

Friday, April 18, 2008

Donate Your Fur To Wildlife


If you have old fur coat stored away in your closet or attic, why not donate them to wildlife. In that way you will be able to get rid of your fur coat, clear a space in your closet/attic and at the same time you are helping the wildlife.

How Do the Furs Help Wildlife?

The furs are cut into an appropriate size for the animal, whether it be a bobcat, fox, raccoon, squirrel, or rabbit, and placed inside the animal's enclosure. The furry blanket becomes a surrogate mother to orphaned animals, reducing stress and giving comfort. One rehabilitator related a story about a restless orphaned river otter who chirped constantly. Once she was given a fur blanket, she settled right down. Turning the sleeve of a fur coat inside out, a rehabilitator can also create a warm nest for a burrowing animal such as an opossum. Some animals adopt a piece of fur as a playmate, jumping on it and wrestling with it.

More info read here: http://www.hsus.org/furfree/campaigns/c4c/

How Do I Donate?

Donating is easy: Place your fur in a sturdy box (a large padded envelope is fine for small items) and mail it to The HSUS at the following address:

The Humane Society of the United States
2100 L St., NW
Washington, D.C. 20037
Attn: Coats for Cubs