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Another person who should never own a dog

The following was forwarded to me; the original email was sent from Samantha Miller to a pit rescue group and the very thoughtful and intelligent response was sent back to Ms. Miller.


From: "samantha miller"
To: simmonsUS@aol.com
CC: jozz_bug@hotmail.com
Subject: pits
Date: Thu, 20 Jul 2006 01:02:51 -0500

I have a pit who is almost four years old and sorry to say he will not see that birthday. I have to put him down. I love pits they are nice dogs, I am looking to get another one. A person I know will be selling some in oct. I just dont want to wait that long and I think it would be neat to get a dog who needs a home. I have raised my dog and since he was a puppy, but as time went on he changed for the worse. I never used a leash on him until this past year. I had a baby and ever since she came around he is mean. I can not trust him with strangers and other dogs or nothing. I need to get a puppy to grow up with her. She is a year now so I dont have to spend all my time with her any more and I want a dog that can grow with her. So I really hope you can help me out. I would like a dog who is friendly and good with kids. So please e-mail me back or give me a call when you can my number is 920-924-0626. Thank you for your time and I hope I can talk to you soon.

Samantha Miller
__,_._,___
Date: Sat, 22 Jul 2006 07:01:15 -0400
From: Beth Yale

Hello Samantha.

My name is Beth Yale. I am very involved in dog rescue, with my primary angle being Pit Bulls.

I know the breed very well, and your story is a sad but familiar one. A sad story because the dog is being put to sleep without ever being known for the wonderful animal he is, and a familiar story because so many people like yourself want a pit bull, but know absolutely nothing about the breed. Trust me, you are not alone. I only hope you will listen to me before another animal must be euthanized.

Many points in your email trouble me, and I must firmly suggest you set your sights elsewhere for a family dog, the pit bull is most certainly not for you. If you know a "person selling some in Oct." then there is a 99.9% chance that individual is a back yard breeder, and you will have absolutely no idea what kind of "pit bull" you are getting. You will more than likely be investing in yet another ill bred hybrid of some kind, nothing like the true American Pit Bull Terrier, whose impeccable bloodlines produce level headed, human loving working dogs. If you admire, respect and truly know the breed, they may also make wonderful in-home companions- for the right person.

Why on earth would you never use a leash on a pit bull?!

Pit Bulls are naturally dog aggressive, not "mean". ANY pit bull or pit mix must ALWAYS be on a leash, in a home, in a privacy fenced yard, or in a carrier. No exceptions. You are responsible for your dog's behavior. If he attacks someone else's dog because he wasn't properly contained, then you hold the blame all by yourself. You simply cannot shift the blame to the dog and say he's turned "mean". You were the one raising him. There is ALWAYS the chance your pit bull will be aggressive with other animals. It's in their nature.

Another point to your email I found worrisome: you want a dog for your child to "grow up with". This is a myth. There is no guarantee ANY breed of dog with be right for your child to "grow up with", dogs are not creatures at our disposal- to put to sleep whenever they don't follow along with our fantasies of the "perfect house dog". Puppies are no good with inexperienced dog handlers with little children. Puppies are rambunctious and toothy, and they do not know how to control their puppy antics, nor should they be expected to. Likewise, kids will be kids, and a one year old cannot be expected to understand how to be careful around a puppy. Only a very experienced dog person should bring home a puppy to a toddler.

Your dog has issues, but what have you done to socialize him? Is he in your home or chained in your yard? Is he neutered? How much time do you spend with him? I feel your poor pit bull deserves more credit than you have given him, and I certainly don't feel you should jeopardize the life of another animal without educating yourself a lot more in the matter. Have you had him temperament tested? Do you even care about this poor dog? Send me pictures of him and all of his information. He deserves a chance at a life with someone who knows and understands the breed. There are people out there a lot more qualified to make the decision whether or not to destroy him. You finding a new dog is a distant second to the primary issue at hand. What is your Pit Bull's name? He at least deserves to be called by his name by his "master" who plans to destroy him. I will help place your dog you currently have, but I absolutely cannot assist you in obtaining another pit bull. If you choose not to listen to anything else I have said- please please know this for sure: The Pit Bull is not the dog for you. You will do this wonderful breed of animal no justice, but only contribute to more cases of "mean pit bulls" being destroyed in shelters. Please contact me. Do not throw your dog away like a piece of trash.

Beth Yale

Animal Rescuer

Pit Bull Advocate

Letter from a grateful pet owner and Katrina evacuee

this letter was sent to Denise - the totally dedicated, awesome cat coordinatro for No Animal Left Behind; she has worked tirelessly with hundreds of residents of New Orleans who had to evacuate without their cats. She has searched for and found many cats and faciliated many reunions. This is being posted here with the permission of Yvette. Photo is of Mikko on the car ride home.

Dear Friends, Strangers, and Caring Pet Community Members,

After 9 months, 3 weeks, and 2 days, I am wonderfully happy to announce that we found our cat, Mikko. On Friday, June 23^rd, we drove from Houston, Texas to Atlanta, GA, stopping in New Orleans for the night. On more than five occasions I had been back to our home in the Gentilly area of New Orleans to salvage memorabilia and to look for our missing cat. We had two cats prior to Hurricane Katrina. Many of you know that on my first visit back to the city in October 2005, one of our cats, Gus, came running to the front lawn when I called his name. He was scared and jittery but he recognized my voice and came running for rescue. I called and called for Mikko, but he did not come. I went back several times that visit and even left an item of clothing like the Humane Society suggested, but he did not return at my bidding. I visited in November, December, and finally in January – no Mikko. Many champions for pet’s rights surfaced throughout that time, tirelessly searching any lead that would help us find our missing cat. A wonderful lady found a picture on pet finder’s - BFC 1978 and we were almost certain it was him. Sadly for us, the owners of BFC 1978 (who was found nearly 30 miles from our home – Mikko probability was slim) had claimed him. The search continued. I never gave up hope and never allowed my daughter to give up hope. I told her that he had probably been trapped by rescuers and adopted by a nice family somewhere across the country. I refused to giveaway his cloth cat carrier salvaged from the garage ruins. It sat on our back porch waiting.

As we drove into the outskirts of New Orleans, nostalgia rose like the tide at sunset. I had the strongest urge to visit our home – now gutted and overrun with grass. I drove to the exit and approached stealthily; it was 10:30 p.m. The main thoroughfare of Elysian Fields once bustling was now quiet and bleak. My daughter and I circled the block slowly as we talked about the neighborhood. Dim lights peered out from FEMA trailers on the neighboring streets. The Baptist church on the opposite corner had been razed. The starch contrast of newly refurbished dwellings, a bare frame blackened by fire and smoke, and vacant homes still marked with scarlet colored spray paint, decorated the scene before us. As we spoke in hushed tones and surveyed the new beginnings my eyes darted to a small figure frozen in anticipation on the neighboring lawn as our vehicle approached. I halted my daughter in mid sentence with one ghastly phrase, “Epiphany, that’s Mikko.” She screamed, “Where, Momma? Where?” I stopped the car and rolled the window down. I began calling his name. The queerest look came over his face. I’ll never forget it. It was as if he was searching through his memory for a time when he didn’t have to scrounge through a deserted, hurricane ravaged neighborhood for food and water; fend off predators, disease and harsh elements; and a lady and a girl loved him, gave him a home and called him Mikko. He began to meow. Epiphany jumped out of the car and walked to him. He was skittish and untrusting but she kept calling his name. He threw himself onto the ground and began squirming the way he would when he wanted someone to pet and scratch him. I sat in the car in total shock. It took us a while, but we got him into the car, calmed him down, drove 15 miles to get a cat carrier from my cousin, purchased cat food and a litter box from the only store open at 11:30 p.m. (Walgreens on Airline Hwy), and settled at a pet-friendly W Hotel located downtown. Whew! Thank God for Starwood points. The veterinarian gave him a clean bill of health the next morning, updated his vaccinations, and boarded him for us until we got back from Atlanta three days later. We drove Mikko back to Houston. He is adjusting well. He has been pretty jumpy, but I remember Gus reacted the same way when I rescued him after the storm. Oh yeah, Gus. Ummm… I think Gus had gotten adjusted to our house being a one-cat-home again. We adopted Gus one year before Mikko. He had always viewed Mikko as a disgusting little brother who followed him around and mimicked his every move. Mikko weighs about 9 lbs. At 17 lbs., Gus is almost double his size. It’s been challenging to re-introduce them. But I believe Gus now realizes that Mikko is here to stay. Mikko has staked new territory – on a rug underneath my bed. He has also taken to prancing around on rooftops of houses in Houston – a feat that makes my daughter quite nervous, but one I’m sure he acquired during his tenure in post-hurricane New Orleans.

Those of you reading this may or may not understand exactly what happened with pet-owners prior to Katrina. Many of them were not able to transport or evacuate their pets. I was one such pet owner. I am an event manager. I had traveled to Miami on business the Wednesday before the storm. My daughter attends middle school in Orlando, Florida and had transitioned to her father’s house at the beginning of August. Neither she, nor I were in New Orleans and our cats’ care had been entrusted to my father and my friend. I was only to be gone away on business one week. Hurricane Katrina hit the coast of Miami on Thursday afternoon. I was there. It was accompanied by strong winds and rain. On Friday, as I sat at my computer and perused the Weather Channel, I saw that Hurricane Katrina had re-entered the Gulf of Mexico on a northwestward path. I remember thinking nonchalantly, “That doesn’t look good.” I closed my computer to head out the door for a busy weekend of preparing for award show after parties. I heard of the residential panic in New Orleans through a casual call to a friend to rave about the celebrity presence in Miami. The news sent me into a tailspin. I began calling family and friends to gather information on their evacuation plan. I am the youngest of five children. My mother is deceased. I was told that my brother would pick up my father, and my sister would follow them in the vehicle with my sister-in-law and their kids. My sister and brother-in-law who have five kids were evacuating to Dallas. My brother who is a New Orleans Police Officer would stay behind to serve, protect and defend. His wife and kids had already evacuated to a small town 120 miles west of New Orleans. Everyone was busy preparing to leave. No one would take my cats.

I am grateful that my brother evacuated my father, a task that in my absence would have probably gone undone had it not been for his generosity. I am grateful that at my request he pulled open the staircase to the attic in my house. He also gathered my photos, memorabilia and computer hard drive and transported them in a plastic bag out of the city that would soon be submerged. I am, however, most grateful for my friend, Wendy, who stopped at my house, placed all my cat food and a huge pot filled with fresh water in the attic. She led the cats to the stairs to peak their curiosity thereby laying out the hurricane escape route the veterinarian would later quote, “That probably saved their lives.” She and her family took initial refuge in the Federal Reserve Bank where her husband is employed. I am most grateful for Debbie, the animal control officer from Dallas who volunteered to rescue pets in New Orleans. I met her while searching for my cats at the pet shelter in Gonzales, Louisiana two and a half weeks after the disaster. She took my card. She went to my house. She climbed over the debris left from 5 feet of water to get to the aforementioned staircase, ascend and give me the news that my cats were not dead in the attic. Debbie called for my cats but they would not come at her calling. She also marked my house as an SPCA feeding post, and left a pail of fresh water and a large bag of cat food under the carport. I am grateful for each person who went to my house and called out my cats’ names in an effort to rescue them for me. I am grateful for my neighbors, whoever they are, wherever they are, who continue to feed stray cats and dogs, separated from their loved ones by this horrific tragedy.

And, I am most grateful for you who are reading this letter; you who sent my missing cat messages to everyone in your email list; you, who forwarded pictures, initiated rescue efforts, searched Pet Finders listings and reports, reunited families and pets, fostered pets, facilitated adoptions and you, who prayed for the safe return, rescue, or care of the animals/pets affected by the disaster in the Gulf Coast region. May God bless you and keep you.

Yvette, Epiphany, Gus & Mikko

Five Leading Animal Welfare Organizations Give $3.2 Million Boost to Spay/Neuter Efforts in Gulf Coast Communities

ST. BERNARD PARISH, Lousiana (July 11, 2006) -- Today in St. Bernard Parish, La., the Big Fix Rig -- a traveling spay/neuter clinic for cats -- opened for business at its first stop in the state to help reduce pet overpopulation in the hurricane-ravaged region. The rig will provide low-cost services to area residents. St. Bernard Parish was one of the areas hardest hit in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina, a storm that exposed on a national level the need for vigorous population control efforts in the region.

The Big Fix Rig is part of a $3.2 million effort funded by the ASPCA, The Humane Society of the United States, PetSmart Charities, International Fund for Animal Welfare, and United Animal Nations to increase the number of affordable and accessible spay/neuter programs in the hurricane-affected areas of Louisiana and Mississippi. Local organizations Spay/Louisiana, Mississippi Spay Neuter (SPAN) and Humane Society of South Mississippi are coordinating the initiatives with the help of other local animal agencies throughout the region. The rig will go to Mississippi after its Louisiana tour.

The problem of animal overpopulation in the Gulf Coast region, where nearly 80 percent of all pets are unaltered, has long preceded Hurricane Katrina. Animal control agencies euthanize tens of thousands of healthy animals each year for lack of homes. Animal welfare groups believe this focused spay/neuter initiative will help improve the overall health and adoption prospects for all companion animals in the region.

In addition to the Big Fix Rig, the initiative provides funding for high-volume spay/neuter clinics in New Orleans and Gulfport, Miss. and for voucher programs in both states. The latter two programs will serve both cats and dogs. All told, the initiative has the capacity to fund up to 20,000 spay/neuter surgeries in the first year.

About the Big Fix Rig

• A one-of-a-kind, 53-foot semi-trailer retro-fitted as a mobile spay/neuter clinic for cats.
• Can accommodate 120 cat sterilizations per day.
• Can be converted into an emergency transportation vehicle capable of housing up to 160 cats.
• Will spend six months in Louisiana then six months in Mississippi.
• Managed by staff from Humane Alliance, a successful and self-sustaining high-volume spay/neuter clinic in North Carolina.

About the High-volume Spay/Neuter Clinics

• At a new 5,000-square-foot facility in Gulfport, the Humane Society of South Mississippi has the capacity to perform 6,000 spay/neuter surgeries in the first year and 16,800 in the second year of the initiative.
• By early 2007, Spay/Louisiana will open a regional clinic in New Orleans with the capacity to perform 8,400 surgeries in the first year and 16,800 in the second year.
• The Spay/Louisiana clinic will serve up to 25 parishes with a combined population of 2.58 million and an estimated cat and dog population of more than 1.66 million -- an estimated 221,000 of which live in households that fall below the federal poverty threshold.

About the Voucher Programs

• Spay/Louisiana will subsidize spay/neuter surgeries performed by a designated network of veterinary hospitals and clinics. Participating veterinarians will accept a reduction in their usual fees, thereby encouraging more surgeries for pets of low-income owners.
• Mississippi SPAN, working with the Humane Society of South Mississippi and other partners, will double the size of its existing statewide voucher program to 7,600 vouchers a year.

“They have absolutely no right to keep the dog” says law professor

Dear Houston Beagle & Hound Rescue

I'm writing to you in response to a dog you have available for adoption named Ladybird. This is how you describe her (highlighting is mine):

This VERY SWEET senior beagle girl was rescued from New Orleans (running around in the area of the Convention center) 22 days after Hurricane Katrina struck! She was muddy, dehydrated, nearly starved to death and exhausted. She literally was staggering. Her rescuers immediately connected Ladybird up to IV fluids, then bathed her and gave her a good meal! They were not even sure if she would pull through. She eventually was brought to Houston and our beagle rescue group was contacted to help her find a home when no owner surfaced.

This girl is a survivor! . She had not been well-cared-for in her past so she has required numerous veterinary procedures to restore her to good health, yet she is perky and happy, never blaming humans for her misfortune.

How can you rescue an elderly dog that was forced to be left behind at an evacuation site (Convention Center), survived on her own for 22 days and then claim that she was not cared for in her past?

Here's one of the many things I've learned over the past 10+ months: that dog was probably well cared for, much loved and has been deeply missed by her people ever since they were forced to put her off the bus. They were among the thousands forced to go to the Superdome or Convention Center and among the hundreds who took their pets along. It's ironic that when the buses (finally) arrived, most went to Texas, and most of them to Houston. This poor old dog who was forced to be left on the ground, outside the bus in the garbage dump surrounding the Convention Center is now in Texas - probably in the same city where her owner was taken last September.

And what in the world do you mean by the comment when no owner surfaced? Do you think that those people who were forced to separate from their pets after three days of hell at the Convention Center - protecting them and finding food & water for them - were in any position to search for them when they arrived in Texas. At the...Astrodome?? Many of those people were separated from human family members for a long time and didn't even know how to find them; let alone their pets.

What did YOU do to try to locate this dog's owner? Did you contact Stealth Volunteers? Did you post a Found report on the AERN database of Petfinder with her photo and complete description? Or did you make the assumption that her owner doesn't deserve her back?

Ladybird probably watched the bus pull away with her people on it, and stayed in the area for 22 days, hoping they would return - they who lost everything in the world. Why not at least make a real effort to give them their dog back?

I lost a Piece of my Heart: A lesson From Al

He was a survivor. He had scars all over his face. You could look at him and read what pain and suffering he endured to survive the floodwaters and devastation. He was a victim of hurricane Katrina. The first time I saw him I was drawn like a moth to the flame. Even though he was hurt and in pain there was a strength and gentleness about him that you couldn’t miss. I knew he had pulled out all his last reserve of strength to make it this far and when he buried his face in my arms and allowed me and the other rescue volunteers to take care of him I knew he still had trust and faith in mankind that we would do right by him and take care of him. We tried.

He was a “scar face” pitbull that we named Al Pacino. He wasn’t the handsomest guy I ever met but there was something about him that touched me on so many different levels. I was immediately smitten. The entire time we were in New Orleans I couldn’t stop thinking about him and made it a point to find out where he was. He had been transported to Mississippi. On our way north we tracked him down and brought him home with us to heal physically and mentally. He was a small guy but there was a strength about him…a survivors instinct…that you couldn’t miss. He took a piece of my heart from our first meeting and after we got to know each other better that piece of my heart was his and his alone. I was blessed to have him with me for 7 months. I watched him get strong and healthy and I watched him become joyful. He slept in my bed. He fell in love (with Emily Rose). He ran around the yard with a smile on his face and a glint in his eye. He saw snow…not something you get to see in Louisiana and found out it could be fun. He loved life…he was a fighter and survivor and enjoyed every minute and the least little kindness someone would give him. He taught me to be thankful for the little things. He taught me to enjoy what we have now.

He died today….Independence Day. What is independence? Freedom! Yes he is free from want, pain and suffering but he leaves behind many broken hearts. His life was too brief and filled with much pain and loss but he touched so many people. He taught all of us a lesson. He took every moment and grabbed it and wrestled it to the ground and enjoyed it. I lost a piece of my heart today when he died. I was angry that he was gone. After all he had been through….to make it this far….how could this happen? He deserved better. He deserved more. When I thought about his life with me I realized that he took every minute that he was with me and made it count. Every romp in the yard, every treat, every kindness he relished and appreciated. He was like a sponge that soaked up everything and reveled in it. He lived a lifetime and enjoyed it for 7 months. Seven wonderful months. I hope that I can approach life with the zest and joy that he did. I hope I have the survivor’s spirit that he had. If I can look at each day as a gift like he did I know my life will be the better for it. Thanks Al for trying to teach us all that important lesson. I love you and I always will. I guess I didn’t lose part of my heart today. It was already his….he just took it with him.

I wrote to Al's human mom to say how much his story touched me and to ask how he died. This is what she wrote back: He died from a disease called myasthenia gravis. The neurologist thought it probably was a congenital disease. His muscles stopped working and when his diaphragm muscles stopped working he stopped breathing. I was on my way to the vets to see him and he died shortly before I got there. That broke my heart that I wasn't with him at the very end.

Please click on the top link or here to visit Eleventh Hour Rescue in NJ.

Attention Evacuees Still Searching for Pets

There are still many cats and dogs roaming around New Orleans who are surviving thanks to the food and water stations maintained by ARNO (Animal Rescue New Orleans). These ARNO volunteers and others continue to take photos of these roaming animals in the hope that they will be recognized by their owners. Some have been trapped but many continue to resist being trapped. If you recognize your cat or dog in one of the photos - GO IMMEDIATELY and try to get it yourself, or send someone who is known to your pet. Even if someone else succeeds in trapping it, they may not know how, or be willing to track you down - and your pet will likely be adopted to a new family. Shelters in and around New Orleans have been overflowing past capacity since the Hurricane and rescue groups around the country are having animals transported out.

Some of the roaming animals are Katrina grand-puppies and grand-kittens. Not cool. Katrina was 10+ months ago, and a new set of unwritten and mostly unspoken "rules" now apply. Most volunteers are not taking on brand new cases now. If a pet is trapped and adopted out before anyone recognizes it, there won't be any way or anyone to advocate for that pet to be sent back to its pre-Katrina owner. See Lost Katrina Pets for pets still "lost in the system".

Any animal that has survived on its own for 10+ months and has someone willing to give it a loving home, deserves that.

Here are two of the links to Roaming Pets:
Pets in New Orleans
Pets in the 9th Ward

Please check back here or LeAnne's site for photos of pets roaming in Chalmette, Lakeview and East New Orleans.

Disaster Response: Top 10 Ways to Make a Real Impact

The article above is very good and worth reading even though the target audience is large-animal veterinarians.
This is the 'Cliff Notes' version of the 10 ways to make a real impact that apply to all rescuers and other responders:

1. Understand the big picture
2. Prepare and educate yourself first
3. Don't add to the problem
4. Rethink the term hero
5. Be a good leader, be a great follower
6. Soul search your motives
7. Build on your skills and interests
8. Plug yourself into the existing plan
9. Understand your limitations
10. Start with your own community

The story of A DIFFERENT Doylestown dog that gets to go home

This is the way it's supposed to be!

Bring Bandit Home

Photo of Mr. Cavalier with his grandson and Bandit in earlier years.

Bandit is the small poodle belonging to 86 year old Malvin Cavalier, a Katrina evacuee and widower. Bandit was rescued, brought to PA, and then "adopted" by a woman who has refused to return him to Malvin. A lawyer has been hired to get Bandit back, and legal contributions to the Bandit Legal Fund are welcome. Donations can be made to the special PayPal account designated as banditlegal@yahoo.com

The link at the top will take you to Bandit's page on the Lost Katrina Pets site where there are links to newspaper articles and a story on the Best Friends website.

Long, boring but important news on vaccinations

All 27 veterinary schools in North America are in the process of changing their protocols for vaccinating dogs and cats. Some of this information will present an ethical and economic challenge to vets, and there will be skeptics. Some organizations have come up with a political compromise suggesting vaccinations every 3 years to appease those who fear loss of income vs. those concerned about potential side effects. Politics, traditions, or the doctor's economic well being should not be a factor in medical decision.

NEW PRINCIPLES OF IMMUNOLOGY:
"Dogs and cats immune systems mature fully at 6 months. If a modified live virus vaccine is given after 6 months of age, it produces an immunity which is good for the life of the pet (ie: canine distemper, parvo, feline distemper). If another MLV vaccine is given a year later, the antibodies from the first vaccine neutralize the antigens of the second vaccine and there is little or no effect. The titer is not "boosted" nor are more memory cells induced." Not only are annual boosters for parvo and distemper unnecessary, they subject the pet to potential risks of allergic reactions and immune-mediated hemolytic anemia. "There is no scientific documentation to back up label claims for annual administration of MLV vaccines." Puppies receive antibodies through their mothers milk. This natural protection can last 8-14 weeks. Puppies & kittens should NOT be vaccinated at LESS than 8 weeks. Maternal immunity will neutralize the vaccine and little protection (0-38%) will be produced. Vaccination at 6 weeks will, however, delay the timing of the first highly effective vaccine. Vaccinations given 2 weeks apart suppress rather than stimulate the immune system. A series of
vaccinations is given starting at 8 weeks and given 3-4 weeks apart up to 16 weeks of age. Another vaccination given sometime after 6 months of age (usually at 1 year 4 mo) will provide lifetime immunity.

CURRENT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DOGS:

Distemper & Parvo -- "According to Dr. Schultz, AVMA, 8-15-95, when a vaccinations series given at 2, 3 & 4 months and again at 1 year with a MLV, puppies and kitten program memory cells that survive for life,
providing lifelong immunity." Dr. Carmichael at Cornell and Dr. Schultz have studies showing immunity against challenge at 2-10 years for canine distemper & 4 years for parvovirus. Studies for longer duration are pending. "There are no new strains of parvovirus as one mfg. would like to suggest. Parvovirus vaccination provides cross immunity for all types." Hepatitis (Adenovirus) is one of the agents known to be a cause of kennel cough. Only vaccines with CAV-2 should be used as CAV-1 vaccines carry the risk of "hepatitis blue-eye" reactions & kidney damage.
Bordetella Parainfluenza -- Commonly called "Kennel cough." Recommended only for those dogs boarded, groomed, taken to dog shows, or for any reason housed where exposed to a lot of dogs. The intranasal vaccine provides more complete and more rapid onset of immunity with less chance of reaction. Immunity requires 72 hours and does not protect from every cause of kennel cough. Immunity is of short duration (~ 6 months).
Rabies -- It is a killed vaccine and must be given every year.
Lyme Disease -- is a tick born disease which can cause lameness, kidney failure and heart disease in dogs. Ticks can also transmit the disease to humans. The original Ft. Dodge killed bacteria has proven to be the most
effective vaccine. Lyme disease prevention should emphasize early removal of ticks. Amitraz collars are more effective than Top Spot, as Amitraz paralyzes the tick's mouth parts preventing transmission of disease .

VACCINATIONS NOT RECOMMENDED:
Multiple components in vaccines compete with each other for the immune system and result in lesser immunity for each individual disease as well as increasing the risk of a reaction.

Canine Corona Virus is only a disease of puppies. It is rare, self limiting (dogs get well in 3 days without treatment). Cornell &Texas A&M have only diagnosed one case each in the last 7 years. Corona virus does not cause disease in adult dogs.

Leptospirosis vaccine is a common cause of adverse reactions in dogs. Most of the clinical cases of lepto reported in dogs in the US are caused by serovaars (or types) grippotyphosa and bratsilvia. The vaccines contain different serovaars eanicola and ictohemorrhagica. Cross protection is not provided and protection is short lived. Lepto vaccine is immuno-supressive to puppies less than 16 weeks.

NEW RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CATS:

Feline vaccine related Fibrosarcoma is a type of terminal cancer related in inflammation caused by rabies & leukemia vaccines. This cancer is thought to affect 1 in 10,000 cats vaccinated. Vaccines with aluminum adjuvant, an ingredient included to stimulate the immune system, have been implicated as a higher risk. We now recommend a non-adjuvanted rabies vaccine for cats. Testing by Dr. Macy, Colorado State, has shown this vaccine to have the lowest tissue reaction and although there is no guarantee that a vaccine induced sarcoma will not develop, the risk will be much lower than with other vaccines.

Program injectable 6 mo. flea prevention for cats has been shown to be very tissue reactive & therefore has the potential of inducing an injection site fiborsarcoma. If your cats develops a lump at the site of a vaccination, we recommend that it be removed ASAP, within 3-12 weeks.

Feline Leukemia Virus Vaccine
This virus is the leading viral killer of cats. The individuals most at risk of infection are young outdoor cats, indoor/outdoor cats and cats exposed to such individuals. Indoor only cats with no exposure to potentially infected cats are unlikely to become infected. All cats should be tested prior to vaccination. Cats over one year of age are naturally immune to Fel.V whether they are vaccinated or not, so annual vaccination of adult cats is NOT necessary. The incubation period of Feline leukemia can be over 3 years, so if your cat is in the incubation state of the disease prior to vaccination, the vaccine will not prevent the disease.

Feline Panleukopenia Virus Vaccine
Also called feline distemper is a highly contagious and deadly viral disease of kittens. It's extremely hardy and is resistant to extremes in temperature and to most available disinfectants. Although an effective treatment protocol is available, it is expensive to treat because of the serious nature of the disease and the continued presence of virus in the environment, vaccination is highly recommended for all kittens. Cats vaccinated at 6 months or older with either killed or MLV vaccine will produce an immunity good for life. Adult cats do NOT need this vaccine.

Feline Calicivirus/Herpesvirus Vaccine
Responsible for 80-90% of infectious feline upper respiratory tract diseases. The currently available injectable vaccines will minimize the severity of upper respiratory infections, although none will prevent disease in all situations. Intranasal vaccines are more effective at preventing the disease entirely. Don't worry about normal sneezing for a couple of days. Because intranasal vaccines produce an immunity of shorter durations, annual
vaccination is recommended.

VACCINES NOT RECOMMENDED:
Chlamydia or pneumonitis -- The vaccine produces on a short (2 month) duration of immunity and accounts for less than 5% of upper respiratory infections in cats. The risks outweigh the benefits.

Feline Infectious Peritonitis -- A controversial vaccine. Most kittens that contract FIP become infected during the first 3 months of life. The vaccine is labeled for use at 16 weeks. All 27 vet schools do not recommend the
vaccine.

Bordetella -- A new vaccine for feline bordetella has been introduced. Dr. Wolfe of Texas A&M says that bordetella is a normal flora and does not cause disease in adult cats. Dr. Lappin of Colorado State says that a review of Colorado State medical records reveals not one case diagnosed in 10 years.

NEW DEVELOPMENTS:
Giardia is the most common intestinal parasite of humans in North America, 30% or more of all dogs & cats are infected with giardia. It has now been demonstrated that humans can transmit giardia to dogs and cats and
vice-versa. Heartworm preventative must be given year round in Houston.

VACCINES BADLY NEEDED:
New vaccines in development include: Feline Immunodeficiency Virus and cat scratch fever vaccine for cats and Ehrlichia [one of the other tick diseases, much worse than Lymes] for dogs.

THE VIEW FROM THE TRENCHES; BUSINESS ASPECTS:
Most vets recommend annual boosters and most kennel operators require them. For years the pricing structure of vets has misled clients into thinking that the inherent value of an annual office visit was in the "shots" they
failed to emphasize the importance of a physical exam for early detection of treatable diseases. It is my hope that you will continue to require rabies & Kennel cough and emphasize the importance of a recent vet exam. I also hope you will accept the new protocols and honor these pets as currently vaccinated. Those in the boarding business who will honor the new vaccine protocols can gain new customers who were turned away from vet owned boarding facilities reluctant to change.

CONCLUSION:
Dogs and cats no longer need to be vaccinated against distemper, parvo, & feline leukemia every year. Once the initial series of puppy or kitten vaccinations and first annual vaccinations are completed, immunity from MLV vaccines persists for life. It has been shown that cats over 1 year of age are immune to Feline Leukemia whether they have been vaccinated or not. Imagine the money you will save, not to mention fewer risks from side effects. PCR rabies vaccine, because it is not adjuvanted, will mean less risk of mediated hemolytic anemia and allergic reactions are reduced by less frequent use of vaccines as well as by avoiding unnecessary vaccines such as K-9 Corona virus and chlamydia for cats, as well as ineffective vaccines such as Leptospirosis and FIP. Intranasal vaccine for Rhiotracheitis and Calici virus, two upper respiratory viruses of cats provide more complete protection than injectable vaccines with less risk of serious reactions. The AAHA and all 27 veterinary schools of North America are our biggest endorsement for these new protocols.

Dr. Bob Rogers, DVM, Pharm.D.,
Provost, Texas A&M School of Vet. Medicine

Video: Debate over Return of Katrina Dog

Dark Water Rising: the Truth About Hurricane Katrina Animal Rescues

A few nights ago I watched the newly released film called Dark Water Rising: the Truth About Hurricane Katrina Animal Rescues. Those of us who have been involved with the Katrina animal disaster cannot watch this unbiased. For me, there was not much surprising in the film except the images inside one of the schools in St. Bernard Parish where animals had been murdered. That scene was difficult to watch, especially recognizing a few of the dogs. I thought the film was well-done and, for the most part, told it like it was. It is impossible for any one film or book to cover all aspects of this unprecedented disaster; this DVD has a specific focus and does not try to be the final word on the Katrina animal disaster.

The film focuses almost entirely on the rescue and sheltering efforts of HSUS/Lamar Dixon and the in-your-face dog rescues and commentary by two men from Winn Dixie. It does not mention rescue and sheltering efforts by the other groups. Whatever people's opinion of Best Friends, they were not mentioned or shown, although they played a large role in all of this. Also absent from the film was the Humane Society of Louisiana in Tylertown, Noah's Wish which ran the rescue and sheltering operation in St. Tammany Parish, Pasados, Muttshack, UAN/EARS in Monroe, LA, and Alley Cat Allies. There was no mention of the formation of ARNO when HSUS pulled out in October and the LaSPCA called off rescue operations.

The film portrayed a stark contrast between HSUS/Lamar Dixon and Winn Dixie, making it look as if Wayne Pacelle was there the entire time, fully in charge of the operation. Some of the Winn Dixie rescuers came off looking like juvenile delinquents. Both of these portrayals are exaggerations of what really happened.

Larry Roberts and Aaron Minjares are the two men from Winn Dixie that the film crew followed around. They are pierced, tattooed, with cigarettes hanging out of their mouths, and very vocal in their opinions that the owners do not deserve to get back their dogs. In one disturbing scene, Larry is shown removing the collar with tags from a dog just rescued from inside a house and throwing the collar back into the house, muttering something stupid about what the owner can do with the collar. There is an interesting scene where another volunteer leads the camera crew through the Winn Dixie store at night, asking what kind of liquor everyone wants. She explains that's what they do every night and apologizes that they've "already cleaned out the pharmacy." Mark, the co-founder of Winn Dixie appears in the film only briefly, drunk and slurring whatever it is he was trying to say. The Lamar Dixon volunteers, by contrast to Winn Dixie, came off looking clean-cut, professional and well-organized **

There are many shots of dead and decomposing cats and dogs in addition to the scene inside the school, but the scene that was the hardest for me to watch - and I fast forwarded through it - was a pit-bull fight (film clip was courtesy of HSUS).

I take some issue with the sub-title of the film: The Truth about Hurricane Katrina Animal Rescues. I know that there are many versions of the truth and not an absolute truth to this or any other story. No single film or book or person's experience will capture and convey the truth, other than their subjective experience of it. The core of my truth is that no one expected the levees to break and the city to flood when owners left behind their beloved pets for what would / should have been 24-48 hours.

I think that it's an important film that should be seen by people who have no idea of what went on down there. I hope to organize a screening of it here in conjunction with local rescue events and encourage others to do the same. When possible the film should be followed by discussions and Q & A.

I also want audiences to know what has been happening since the rescues with pets being sent all over the county and the difficulty finding them and reuniting with owners. I want to dispel the idea that these were bad people/bad pet owners who don't deserve their pets back. Personally, I would not have given over the last ten months of my life to help these people get their pets rescued, located and reunited if I didn't believe that they absolutely deserve them back.

We - the hundreds of volunteers who have been helping with this for almost a year now - don't know, assist or work with the bad pet owners. They don't look for their pets and they don't contact us for help. Sadly, they just go out and get replacement pets (to be used as guard dogs, huntin' dogs, chained dogs). The hundreds of pet owners we have had the pleasure and privilege to know and assist are not getting replacement pets because their cats and dogs were members of their families and are irreplaceable.

** My comments are about the portrayal of people and groups, not about the people and groups themselves.

This is Maggie, my new God-Beagle

This is Maggie. Actually, at the time this picture was taken two weeks ago she wasn't yet Maggie, but just another dog dumped at a shelter, soon-to-be-euthanized. This young little beagle was terrified, shaking, withdrawn and living on a concrete floor. My friend Caroline saw her on Petfinder and within two days pulled her from Roicy, a high-kill municipal shelter in Lafayette, LA. and brought her home.

This is Maggie at home yesterday.

Run Maggie Run.... she remembers what it's like to be a dog again,
or maybe is getting to be a dog for the first time in her young life.

Road trip to Doylestown

Lest anyone think that Laura's and my day in Doylestown was all work and no play, we stopped "on the way" at the New Bolton Center of the U of Penn Vet School to see if we could have a peak at Barbaro. We both knew that we wouldn't be able to, but the security guard who is now posted at the entrance was really nice, and did get us permission to go inside the building. The fences at the entrance to the New Bolton Center were covered with Get Well cards and greetings for the beloved horse from kids from all over. Inside were many giant cards sent from Churchill Downs and other tracks. I walked around reading all the cards and notes and cried. This is one amazing horse. Continue to pray for him.

Rocket/Doylestown PA ...again

Above link is to today's story in the Philadelphia Daily News.

(Comments about and corrections to the article to be posted soon)

Here are a few of the posts from around the web about Lynne Welsh; feel free to email me links to other forums, blogs or stories that you would like to have posted here. Feel free to post your own comments as well. After all, this is a blog and this is the internet.

"Hey, Lynne? How about acting like you're a human being?"

Lynne Welsh described as "Dumbass Bitch of the Day"

Lynne Welsh described as the "Asshole of the Day"

Another Katrina dog in PA wants to go home

The link the the original article from June 28th is no longer active, so it is reprinted below.
The link above is to one of the many other papers or websites that picked it up the next day.

Dogfight escalates over Katrina pet

A family from the New Orleans area wants its dog, Rocket, back. A Doylestown family says it’s going to keep him.

By Patrick Lester

The Intelligencer

A New Orleans dog left homeless and without his family after Hurricane Katrina last year is in the middle of a custody battle between the animal’s original owner and the Doylestown family that adopted him after the disaster.

Sheila Combs, a New Orleans woman who lost virtually everything she owned in the hurricane, said she wants nothing more than to have Rocket, her 10-year-old son’s chow-Finnish spitz mix, returned home.

Lynne Welsh, the Doylestown woman who took in the now 2-year-old dog from a local shelter last November and said she went to great lengths to find the dog’s owner last year, plans to keep Rocket and she’s hired an attorney to represent her. She claims she’s the target of a harassment campaign orchestrated by volunteers helping hurricane victims find their pets.

It’s the type of animal tug-of-war that’s being played out across the country as pet owners from the Gulf Coast try to relocate and recoup pets they lost during and after evacuations.

A number of cases have already ended up in courtrooms across the country, and this particular case appears headed to a judge as well.

Welsh said late last week that she was willing to return the dog to Combs as long as she was willing to come to this area to get him. Welsh made the decision after consulting with “The Dog Whisperer,’ an animal psychologist, and after two women working on behalf of Combs came to the area asking for a police escort to Welsh’s house. By the weekend, Welsh changed her mind and decided to keep Rocket.

Richard Elliott, Welsh’s attorney, said that Welsh and her husband, Joseph, feel that they are “legally and emotionally entitled” to the canine. He said Combs, whose first contact with Welsh was June 6, has “refused to have any kind of meaningful reunification with the dog that would not result in further trauma to this animal.

“This animal has spent the last eight or nine months, after a two-week period of serious suffering, in a new home with a new family. Being suddenly and without any kind of re-introduction (to Combs and her son) traveling on a plane in a baggage compartment … would certainly not do this animal any good.”

Combs said Welsh is “stonewalling and has been doing that from the beginning” and that she is willing to have someone pay a visit to Doylestown to retrieve the dog. She said it’s “unreasonable” for Welsh to expect her to fly to Pennsylvania considering that she is a single, working mother and that she’s in the midst of trying to rebuild her house in New Orleans.

“Emotionally, I’m so frustrated with this whole situation,” said Combs. “I don’t have a choice right now but to get an attorney. I will not give up. I am just as determined to get the dog back (as Welsh is to keep it).”

Welsh’s attorney said his client believes she is doing what’s best for Rocket.

“I think (Welsh) recognizes that taking such a position may be somewhat controversial in the eyes of some of your readership,” Elliott said. “But given what I have learned about the whole situation, I think her position is perfectly appropriate.”

In New Jersey, a judge earlier this year ruled that a Louisiana family that lost its dog after the hurricane — not the New Jersey family that adopted the animal — should keep the dog. An 86-year-old hurricane victim recently filed a lawsuit in an attempt to get his poodle back from a woman in the Pittsburgh area, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. A similar lawsuit is expected to be filed in Montgomery County Court this week on behalf of another hurricane victim trying to get his dog back.

The ongoing animal searches and legal battles have spawned the creation of a number of volunteer groups helping hurricane victims find their animals.

Last week, it appeared Rocket — the Welshes renamed him Rusty — was headed back to New Orleans for a reunion. Welsh last week said she decided to return the dog after consulting with the person she said is the authority on dogs — Cesar Millan, better known as “The Dog Whisperer,” who has his own cable television show. Welsh said she spoke to one of Millan’s assistants.

“The Dog Whisperer is a world expert on dog behavior and feelings,” Welsh said last week. “I wasn’t sure what to do. The dog was with us for so long. (The Dog Whisperer) said the dog should go back and would not be re-traumatized. My hope is that other families who have adopted pets (from hurricane-ravaged areas) give them back.”

Welsh, who this week referred questions to her attorney, contacted the Dog Whisperer after women from Delaware and California paid a visit to Bucks County looking for the dog. Two weeks ago, Anita Wollison and Laura Bergerol of California visited the borough’s police station asking for a police escort to Welsh’s home. Police Chief James Donnelly said his officers didn’t get involved because it’s a civil matter. “There are two sides,” Donnelly said. “We’re not going to decide which is right.”

Wollison, a Delaware woman and member of a network of people across the country helping Katrina victims find their lost pets, called Welsh’s decision to keep the dog “ridiculous.”

Elliott said his client made “heroic efforts” to contact Rocket’s owner once she brought the dog home, calling the phone number on his dog tag, sending letters and putting information about Rocket on Internet sites.

Combs said she didn’t have access to e-mail nor her home phone, having moved temporarily to Baton Rouge while trying to rebuild her New Orleans home. “For someone who has lost everything … I was trying to make sure we had stable housing and have our immediate needs met.”

Wollison said Rocket was picked up with thousands of other animals after the hurricane. Rocket was first sent a few hours from New Orleans to a shelter set up by the Humane Society of the United States after the hurricane. From there, he was taken by plane to this area by the American Boarding and Kennel Association. Rocket was likely flown to Philadelphia Airport and taken to a Lansdale kennel before being delivered to a shelter in Doylestown. The Welshes brought Rocket home on the day before Thanksgiving last year.

Wollison, who after seeing television images of dogs left behind with their families after the hurricane decided to help families find their pets, said she’s worked on hundreds of similar cases since the hurricane.

“Many of them for the longest time did not have Internet access,” said Wollison, whose group is called No Animal Left Behind. “Many people didn’t know petfinder.com (an Internet pet searching tool) existed. … One of the biggest obstacles we’ve been fighting is complete ignorance of why so many of these animals were left behind.”

Patrick Lester can be reached at (215) 345-3079 or plester@phillyBurbs.com.

UPDATE: sucky sucky people Part I

First, the article in Sunday's Pittsburgh's Post-Gazette

Second, from the burgh blog (reprinted here because it is so good)

Oh my God, you sucky sucky people named Ms. Fox and Voices for Animals, would you give the old, poor, having a shitty year and just wants to go home, man his dog back?!

“We are attempting settlement negotiations and I think there’s a good chance we will settle this amicably,” she said.

She declined to say whether Bandit was still in the Pittsburgh area.

Negotiations? “Declined to say”? Is this dog shitting diamonds or something?

I don’t care if the man is old, and I don’t care if he abandoned the dog … he had no choice. There aren’t many groups of people going through crappier times than those of the 9th Ward in New Orleans … just ask Woy.

If Bandit could talk, he’d probably tell you to kiss his furry ass, that he hates the Burgh weather, and to please put him on the first plane to Houston so he can see his best friend.

Give the man his dog back … and for good measure … ,you sucky sucky people.

I’m having weird Elian Gonzalez flashbacks suddenly. Where’s Janet Reno when you need her to storm in and take things that don’t belong to people?

Oh, and anyone attempting to keep Bandit from returning to his owner, you have dethroned Dom Costa as Annoying Burgher. Your crowns are in the mail … and by “crowns” I mean flaming bags of poo.

Two Lost Souls by Shelly Guidotti

"Did you hear that?" the old dog shouted. They all ran to the front of their kennel doors to see if someone was coming to "pick them."

"Sorry," he said to the other dogs as his ears fell down from their perked position. "I could have sworn I heard voices saying, 'Isn't he cute? Can't we take him home with us?'"

"You must have been dreaming again old man," said the dog in the cage next to him. "Anyway, what's the big deal about getting picked ? We've all been through that routine and look where it got us." The word "home" meant little to these shelter dogs.

"Just once, I'd like to feel the warmth of a hand stroking my head," said the old dog. "I'd like to be the one who kisses the tears off a sad face. I'd like to curl up next to a fire instead of this cold concrete. It hurts my bones." He curled up and sighed as the others said, "The only place you're going to find that is in your dreams old man."

* * *
Hank's wife had only been gone a year but the pain was as fresh as if time had stood still. He was an old man now, alone and longed for the comfort that he knew no other person would ever be able to give to him again. What would his life become without her by his side? Hank's cupboards were close to bare now and, although he didn't want to go out, he knew he should at least pick up the basics.

He drove slowly down the side streets for freeway driving had become too challenging. Suddenly, the car started chugging and sputtering until finally the engine quit altogether. One of the basic needs he forgot was fuel for the car! So he coasted over next to the curb, spotting a building within walking distance. Hopefully, they'd let him use their phone.

He walked into an office area and rang the bell for service but no one came. He spotted another door going outside, failing to notice the sign posted "Employees Only". As Hank walked out, he was overwhelmed by yaps, barks and insane jumping from dogs all sizes and shapes.

He then realized he had unintentionally gone to the dog shelter. Slowly he walked down the concrete aisle looking for an attendant.

Three kennels down on the right, the old dog calmly sat there. Why should the old dog get excited? No one would want him. But, he sensed a need and couldn't resist offering a kind look and a gentle wag of the tail. As Hank neared the old dog's cage, he laced his fingers through the chain link to steady his gait and the first feeling of comfort he'd remembered in over a year came from a wet nose and lick across his arthritic fingers.

Just then a voice of authority sounded, and Hank jumped. "I'm sorry sir, you aren't supposed to be in this area!" she said. Luckily Hank didn't know he had walked into the "final area" where unclaimed dogs were scheduled to be put down. There went the nudge and lick thing again. Hank looked down to the most pleading eyes he'd ever seen.

Ignoring the attendants order to leave, Hank asked if could he see the dog closer? Her demeanor changed completely and her sternness melted away. She had forced herself to be this way so she could do the part of her job she despised. She brought the old dog out and instantly the two souls -- once so lost -- found reason to hope.

Hank's cupboards were now filled, a warm fire crackled and the old dog smiled inside as he remembered "only in your dreams." Closing his eyes he felt Hank's hand stroking his head whispering "sleep in heavenly peace".