Cayr Ariel Wulff's Blog, page 8

Everybody Needs a Little Help Sometimes

Recently, the PetPlace blog had an article entitled “Who Deserves a Pet? The Irreverent Vet Speaks Out“. It was about the controversial subject of whether or not a person should have a pet if they can’t afford to care for it properly.

The author wrote:

“My first thought is that everyone deserves to have a pet. Pets provide an unconditional source of love, companionship and loyalty that we all need in our lives.

But what if you can’t afford to properly care for the pet? Is that really fair to the pet? Pets are like our children. They need love, food, medical care and a responsible person to put that all in order. The person who owns a pet must be able to meet that pet’s needs. And the sad truth is that everyone is not equipped to do that.”

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen an animal in need in my Facebook feed and dozens of comments underneath the photo that say things like “You shouldn’t have a pet if you can’t afford to spay or neuter it”, or “That person shouldn’t have a pet if she can’t afford_____”(surgery, flea and tick meds, heartworm preventative, emergency treatment, or whatever the pet is in need of)

If only the world were that simple. While there may be a segment of the population who gets a pet without any thought as to how they will pay for maintenance care like pet food and vaccinations, there are also those who are prepared for those things when they get a pet until….

They lose a job…or their pet becomes chronically ill…or a family member becomes ill…or they have an emergency auto repair…or some other tragedy or emergency throws their world and their finances all a-kilter.

The truth is that anyone can find themselves in need of help, but that doesn’t mean they don’t deserve to have their pet. Next time you see someone being crucified because they can’t afford something their pet needs, try to remember that there may be a circumstance that has sent things off the rails for them.

I currently have a pack of five dogs. We do pretty well with them. Everyone is UTD on vaccinations – distemper, corona, rabies, leptospirosis, lyme disease, bordatella. The ones that need professional grooming, get it. Everyone gets a yearly wellness exam. Everyone is on heartworm preventative and on flea and tick meds. Waldo, who had double ACL surgery, takes a daily joint supplement.

They have an expensive fountain water dish so their water is always fresh. Our oldest dog, Lammy Lamb, takes an antibiotic one week every month. She has trouble with her balance and footing, so we bought her shoes. She found them so helpful she has already worn them out and we had to order her a new pair. Rocket Boy has a serious rawhide addiction that requires ridiculous quantities of rawhide for his monthly fix (to lick, not chew)…and of course, we feed them a healthy wholesome, not exactly cheap, food. Combined, this requires quite a substantial sum of money per year.�� Honestly, if you ever looked at my monthly budget, you’d see all this stuff there…but what you wouldn’t see is an entry for entertainment, or clothing, or even food. So, even though we’re taking good care of our dogs, we’ve had to make certain sacrifices in order to do it. (No, we haven’t stopped eating, but it’s not something we can budget…what’s left over buys food)

I won’t even discuss the expense of what’s needed to care for the hermit crabs.

Well, we’ve finally hit an expense or two in dog care that has tipped the balance and is wreaking a bit of havoc on the budget. Lammy Lamb, now 17-1/2, requires certain things to get her (and me) through the day. One of these is diapers, and the other is increased feedings.�� We’ve had to switch her to soft food for her teeth and digestion. It’s way more expensive than kibble – especially since she is eating 4 times a day. And the diapers…well, she’s not so much incontinent as she is forgetful – so managing the messes is preferable to following her around with a dustpan and mop. I know, these sound like ridiculously simple things, but it’s been a hardship. 17 is a�� nice long life for a dog, and some of you may be wondering why we haven’t put her down. Well, she doesn’t have any serious health concerns. She has a good, strong heart; her kidneys are functioning just fine, she has a great appetite, and she still enjoys and seeks out human interaction. She’s forgetful, but what grandma isn’t?�� That’s not a dog you put down.

So, I’ve been looking for paying projects and ways to earn the extra cash needed for her care. Here are my skills:

Graphic Design (flyers, menus, book covers, bookmarks, packaging, etc.)
Book formatting for print and kindle
Proofreading
Writing

If you have a project in one of those categories that you need help with, please email me.

If you’ve been meaning to read one of my books for awhile, how about now? There are links where they can be purchased in the margin to the right.

If you’ve been knocking around the idea of purchasing the 2nd (enhanced) edition of Born Without a Tail, you can buy it here for�� 1/3 off the cover price.

Or if you just want to be a benefactor to Lammy Lamb…

Wish List:

Diapers: size 2 or 3.

Diaper coupons.

Rachael Ray Nutrish coupons. (wet & dry)

Paper towels.

Pinesol / Lysol

Giveaway! “Born Without a Tail; The Making of an Animal Advocate”

I seldom write about my books here Up on the Woof. Images of the book covers just kind of lurk in the right margin of my blog, reminding you that they exist, and giving you a link where they can be purchased.

As you might have guessed, I mostly write about dogs.

Dillon the “silver dog”. Told me to quit complaining about his bark, because it didn’t intimidate anyone.

It was eight years ago today when I published my firsts book, Born Without a Tail.�� It was a labor of love. My heart dog, Dillon, was about to turn seventeen, and it made me think about my time with him and with all the other pets in my life. I self-published that book because even though there were interested publishers, none of them were moving fast enough, and I was determined to see it in print before Dillon died.

As it turned out, I didn’t need to be in such a hurry, because he still had 3 good�� years in him. My subsequent books were all published by micro-publisher Barking Planet Productions, and it’s been a great partnership. This year, we decided to make Born Without a Tail a Barking Planet book, too.

The 2007 & and 2015 editions.

Yesterday, the second edition hit print and is available on amazon, B&N, and other online retailers. It looks a little different from the first printing,and it contains some new material, too. The new edition has a foreword by Bob Tarte, the author of Enslaved by Ducks, Fowl Weather, Kitty Cornered, and a new book he is shopping around to publishers right now. I recommend Bob’s books to all animal lovers and rescuers, because they are a lot of fun, and he’s an excellent writer. The new edition also has a prologue about my journey into advocacy, and it also contains some photos that the first printing didn’t have.

Here’s what some readers have said about it:



“I can’t say too much about this book, it’s more than a ‘dog book’ it’s a people, animals, life book. I was hooked from the first page and read it straight through, and have re read it since, enjoying it just as much the second time around.�� Anyone who’s ever had a heart dog, a misfit cat, ever been touched by the love of an animal should enjoy this book. It’s a keeper. “

“A collection of funny and heartwarming tales that shaped the life of a young animal advocate. Inspiring and written from the heart.“

“I was touched by this account of love, friendship, responsibility and true selflessness. If you love animals you will not be able to put this book down.“

.

In celebration of the 8th anniversary of the book and the publication of the new edition this month, I’m giving away some copies. All you have to do to enter is to “like” my Facebook author page , find the image below and comment on it, and you will be automatically entered into the drawing. Winners will be randomly selected on April 3. Good luck, and please, tell your friends!

DOGS. Because People Suck

I thought last winter was tough, but the blast after blast of arctic air this winter gave a new meaning to “cold”. One day in February, it was -16F here, and other places in the state were even colder, -26F, -39F.

Winter night time.

We live in a log cabin in the National Forest, and we heat with a wood stove. Mornings can be pretty nippy, when the embers have burned down to nothing. If we can keep the cabin in the 60’s, we are doing well. Sometimes I feel the cold deep down inside me, like my ribs have ice cubes packed around them, and I just can’t get warm.

My normal day usually includes three, 1 mile walks with Waldo, our boxer/golden mix. When it gets down below zero though, we don’t walk. We barely let him peek his nose outdoors. For a dog that loves to be outside playing in the snow, this is very hard for him.

That -16 day here, I slathered the pads of his feet with Bag Balm, and I let him run up into the meadow to do his morning business. After only a couple of minutes, he was in distress. He had to do more than just pee, but it was too cold. He picked up one foot, then the other, and I could see how his legs were frosted with the crystalline snow. I called him, and he limped to me. When I brought him in and dried him off, there was blood on the towel after I’d wiped one of his feet. Only three minutes outdoors and his foot was bleeding…and that was after I had covered his pads with a protective coating!

Waldo was very upset. Not about his bleeding foot, but because it had been so uncomfor- table outside. Because it had been too cold for him to do the pacing and circling he needs to do before he poops. He buried his head in my lap asking for sympathy. After I had coddled him, I put a clean pee pad on the floor and instructed our little dogs to use it. Their tiny paws would have frozen before they were even off the front porch, so I would not subject them to even a minute outside.

Other dogs are not so lucky.

Chained in the snow in Warren Twp., Ohio.

The month of February, I worked for the group Dogs Deserve Better. I fielded complaints about chained dogs around the country. I reported the cases to officials in the communities where those dogs were being forced to endure arctic temperatures outdoors, on chains,�� without proper shelter.

I loved the job. Taking action made me feel like I was doing something to help those dogs.�� Case after case, officials told me they checked on the dogs and that they were “fine”. I wondered how that could be possible; how a dog could survive an entire night outdoors in the cold, when my dog was clearly distressed, suffering, and hurt after just a few minutes.

It’s not possible. Those officials must have a really messed up idea of what “fine” is. And the owners of those dogs…well, there just aren’t enough profane words in the world to express how I feel about them.

Dogs Deserve Better CEO, Tamira Thayne, blogged about more than a decade of struggle with this same issue: I Care, and It Hurts. That Dogs are Dying Outside RIGHT NOW..�� DDB is a great group, and deserves your support. Like any 501c3, they are always in need of donations. You can even commit to a small monthly donation to sponsor one of the dogs at the center.

Stephen Wells from the Animal Legal Defense Fund says that

“The fundamental problem for animals is that the law considers them things.”

But it’s not just the laws…because the people breaking them have that same mindset. Take my sister-in-law’s husband, Glen, (please!) who thinks he knows how you should treat dogs

NO CESAR!

because he watches Cesar Millan. Since my sister-in-law’s death three years ago, it’s fallen to Glen to take care of her dog, Chloe. Chloe is a rat terrier, who was very attached to her human mama. Chloe spent 9 out of every ten hours on her mama’s lap…but since she’s been gone, Chloe hardly gets any attention at all, and she spends way too many hours outdoors, alone. To Glen, a dog is “just an animal”.�� The only reason Chloe stays vetted, is because I take her in and pay for her shots myself.

When Glen texted me to see how we were holding out in the brutal weather, I responded, then added that I hoped Chloe wasn’t spending any time outdoors. He texted back that she’d been out for an hour, and had another hour to go. This prompted a flurry of feverish texts, wherein I stated some facts, expressed my opinion, and asked if I should come and get her.�� After the texts, I decided that I would be calling the local humane society to go out and check on her, just the way I had spent the past week calling officials in other states for other dogs – dogs I didn’t know. And along with that decision came the realization that deep down at the core of things, I didn’t care if calling the authorities would destroy my relationship with Glen. I’m not about to give a pass to somebody just because I know them.

My partner, D,�� convinced me to call and talk to Glen before I called the police or HS, so I did; and he was angry – angry that I hadn’t known that he was just messing with me.

I need an entire wardrobe of these tshirts.

As if it isn’t obvious to everyone, even people I barely know, how seriously I take this stuff.

I’m not sure that even I was aware of how passionate I am about dogs, until I realized that I cared more about Chloe’s life and safety than I cared about maintaining a human relationship.

 

 

 

A Dog Lady Walking the Thin Line of Crazy

Four years ago, my partner���s eldest nephew began calling me a ���Crazy Dog Lady���. It wasn���t meant teasingly, but derisively, as a judgement… an insult. It was accompanied by the complaint that ���all I ever talk about is dogs, and all I post about on social media is dogs���.

������You may ask yourself, How did I get here?

I am the author of five books about dogs. (see the margin at right). When you write a book, you don���t just write it and expect that people will discover it. You have to promote it. When you promote something, it involves building a certain reputation. I write a pet column for the Examiner and I have this blog, which is devoted to dogs, and I���ve written articles about animal welfare for animalsvote.org and pet pardons news. My yelodoggie artwork is all about funny dogs…and I founded the Lost & Found Ohio Pets service to help reunite lost pets with their families.

You may ask yourself, where does that highway lead to?

Sure, that means that among all the ���normal��� stuff on my Facebook feed, like comments about my day, or movies or what���s happening in the world, my feed is often peppered with links to my articles, or calls to action against animal abuse, or information about pet food recalls, or pet health issues, or just pictures of my dogs. This does not a ���Crazy Dog Lady��� make.

And anyway…isn���t my phone number the one he calls any time he has a pet care question?

Same as it ever was.

I was so offended by his comment that I took him off our Christmas card list. Why should we send him a copy of our annual hand-drawn card featuring our pets celebrating the holiday, when he clearly can���t appreciate it?

Letting the days go by…

������ I���ve been accused of treating my dogs like children, but I honestly see that as more of a badge of honor than a criticism. After all, the more science learns about dogs, the more apparent it is that they are like children. They are as bright as any toddler, and because they are completely dependent on us, it means they stay babies all their lives. That means it���s our responsibility as pet parents to make sure their physical (food, water, shelter, safety, hygiene, play, medical) and emotional (love, encouragement, comfort) needs are met. It means teaching them, and seeing that their lives are enriched and that they are intellectually stimulated.

If that means moving to a cabin in the woods so we���re not violating any quantity or noise ordinances…

You may find yourself living in a shotgun shack…

If it means driving a vehicle that���s larger than I prefer so there is room to cart all five dogs around…

You may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile…

���������� If it means keeping our oldest dog dressed in onesies – because she is ancient and thin and often shivering: in traction socks – because the bare floors have become a challenge in her old age: and in diapers – because I���m not always attentive to the frequent potty calls, and sometimes she can���t really remember where they are supposed to happen – then that���s what it means.

After the money���s gone…

If it means denying ourselves the extras, like new clothes or evenings out, so we can care for them properly – then that���s what it means. I���d do the same for a child, if I had one.

�������� You may ask yourself, “Am I right? Am I wrong?”

All of it qualifies me as Dog Mom, but I don���t think any of it qualifies me as ���crazy���.���� Just where is that line though?

Last weekend, our critical nephew came for a visit with his wife and toddlers. Dogs, wife, and toddlers all managed to interact and coexist. Indeed, the only one who had a problem, was the nephew.

At one point, I snapped leashes on two of our dogs to take them out, and the children began to follow me out the door. That���s when I turned, and without a second thought, held up my hand and told the kids to ���STAY���.

You may say to yourself, “My God! What have I done?”

That was when I saw my foot firmly planted over the line to ���Crazy Dog Lady���. But is that really such a bad thing?

Once in a lifetime?

Lyrics to Once in a Lifetime: Writer(s): Mike Curb, Tina Weymouth, Phoebe Esprit, Jerry Harrison, Chris Frantz, Brian Eno, Jerry H. Styner, Guy Hemric, David Byrne

Copyright: Index Music Inc., E.G. Music Ltd., MCA Music Ltd., Warner-tamerlane Publishing Corp., WB Music Corp.

A Cautionary Tale: When Caution Impedes the Mission

One night last year, my friend, Bobbie was sitting on her porch with her little Shih Tzu, Rosie. They were sitting quietly, enjoying the mild night when the neighbor’s dog came over. The much larger, stronger dog attacked Rosie. Bobbie shouted and struck at the attacking dog, and got his attention just long enough for Rosie to run off. Once the neighbor had his dog back under control, Bobbie enlisted the help of friends and went out looking for Rosie. They looked and called for her all around the neighborhood well into the early hours of the morning, but couldn’t find her. Dejected, Bobbie went home. After sunrise, Bobbie went out looking again, and found Rosie sitting on the back steps. Apparently, she had been so frightened by the attack that she had run off and hunkered down until daylight. Bobbie brought her in and Rosie drank some water and went to sleep. But she never woke up. She had suffered internal injuries in the attack, and although she looked all right, and was acting normal, she bled out in her sleep. Bobbie was devastated.

In rescue and advocacy, our message is “Adopt, Don’t Shop”.

It took months before Bobbie felt emotionally ready to get another dog. When she started talking about the type she wanted, I made all the usual noises that animal advocates make: “Don’t buy from a pet store.” “Don’t buy from a backyard breeder.” “Rescues have all types of breeds, check the rescues in your area.” Bobbie listened, and today she has a beautiful little longhaired Chihuahua. I met him this past weekend. But he didn’t come from a rescue, and Bobbie was sure to tell me.

“I tried to adopt a dog from three different rescues and they all turned me down.”

I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt, that whichever those rescues were, they made a mistake. If any of them would’ve let Bobbie adopt one of their dogs, that dog would have been adored and very well taken care of. I asked why they had refused her, and she said that one said she couldn’t keep a dog safe, because of what had happened to Rosie. Another said that her disability would keep her from being able to run after the dog if it got loose (Bobbie has chronic pain and walks with a pronounced limp). Another said that she didn’t have a fenced in yard.

This brought back memories of when my partner and I wanted to adopt a dog from a local rescue. We’ve had dozens of animals and taken very good care of all of them. All but two have lived into the 16-20 year range. But our application was denied because when they had called our vet for a reference and asked about heartworm preventative, our vet said we didn’t buy it from them. So the rescue wanted to know where we got it. Well, we didn’t have our dogs on heartworm preventative, because they were 19 and 20 years old and we felt like the fewer chemicals they ingested at that age, the better. I assured the rescue that we would put the new dog on heartworm preventative, but the representative told me that “wouldn’t be fair to our other dogs”.

Any rescue can make up their own guidelines and requirements when adopting one of their dogs out, but more and more, I’m seeing cases where the caution they are exercising is impeding their mission. The whole point of rescue is to save a dog from death or abuse, and place the animal in a loving, permanent home. Yet too many potential adopters are discounted because the cautionary requirements of the rescue are too stringent.

Nobody, but nobody, is a perfect pet guardian. We all do the best we can do, and we all make mistakes, even those of us who work in advocacy and rescue. The search for a “perfect home” is a dubious quest at best.

How many other potential adopters have those rescues turned down? How many animals

But only if you jump through enough hoops and meet every requirement.

could have been placed — leaving openings to rescue more pets in danger? What do these experiences do to the message we spread of how important it is to “adopt, not shop” from shelters and rescues?

Bobbie got another dog. She bought him from someone whose dog had a litter. Based on her experience, I doubt she’ll ever try to adopt a rescue dog again.

In rescue and advocacy, our actions and requirements shouldn’t be at odds with our message. It would serve most rescues well to regularly evaluate whether any of their adoption requirements are keeping their animals from loving homes.

 

Rescue 1:1, Forget the Lip Service.

This post if probably going to be offensive to some people…but there’s something that’s been bothering me for a while now, when advocating for animals via social media.

It’s that person. The one that sees the photo of the dog just hours away from euthanization, or the photo of the dog that’s lost, or the photo of the dog that’s been so terribly abused that she needs medical help immediately– and writes in the comments “Praying for this baby”.

I’m not really sure what that means. Does it mean “praying” as in “hoping”? Or is the person really petitioning a spiritual deity to intercede on the dog’s behalf? Because, if it’s the first type of praying, that’s useless; and if it’s the second type of praying, it’s unnecessary.

The dogs who are in danger and in need of help don’t need a spiritual being to intercede on their behalf. They need PEOPLE to intercede on their behalf.

In less time than it takes to type “Praying for this baby”, that person could do something really useful and click the share button, or donate a few dollars to the rescue.

There are no divine miracles in rescue — just the practical miracles that result from hard work. People willing to do whatever they can do, no matter how big or how small. People who will step up and take action to achieve a goal.

So, a note to you pray-ers: If you want to pray, then pray. But praying doesn’t preclude taking practical action, does it? There’s more than one means to an end. Some of the most powerful stories in the bible are about people stepping outside of their comfort zone and taking action. The story of the Good Samaritan is one of them.

Luke 10:29

29  But wanting to prove himself righteous,+ the man said to Jesus: “Who really is my neighbor?” 30  In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jer′i·cho and fell victim to robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went off, leaving him half-dead. 31  Now by coincidence a priest was going down on that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. 32  Likewise, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the opposite side. 33  But a certain Sa·mar′i·tan+ traveling the road came upon him, and at seeing him, he was moved with pity. 34  So he approached him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. Then he mounted him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35  The next day he took out two de·nar′i·i,* gave them to the innkeeper, and said: ‘Take care of him, and whatever you spend besides this, I will repay you when I return.’ 36  Who of these three seems to you to have made himself neighbor+ to the man who fell victim to the robbers?” 37  He said: “The one who acted mercifully toward him.”+ Jesus then said to him: “Go and do the same yourself.”+

I suppose it’s possible that the priest and the Levite both prayed for the unfortunate man, but the Samaritan took action.

So, forget the lip service and get those fingers clicking!

National Dog Day is Something to Howl About

I celebrate dogs every day. I can’t help it. I live with five of them and they are (mostly) a joy. Many of my rescue friends celebrate dogs every day as well…but it’s nice to see the rest of the country catch up — even if it’s only for one day each year.

August 26 is the 10th annual National Dog Day. Founded in 2004 by pet lifestyle expert and author Colleen Paige, National Dog Day was created to celebrate dogs of all types, from the mutts to the purebreds, the companion animals to working dogs.. It is hoped that the day will encourage dog ownership of all breeds and embrace the opportunity for all dogs to live a happy, safe and “abuse-free life.”

Some of the tenets of National Dog Day are: opposing BSL — dogs should not have to lose their lives because of the atrocities they have been forced to endure at the hands of man; Adopt, don’t Shop —  reminding us to adopt from rescues or shelters where millions of dogs are euthanized each year because they are unwanted. And if you must buy, instead of buying from pet stores, backyard breeders, the internet, newspaper ads and puppy mills, buy only from a verified reputable breeder.

People who are not dog owners are encouraged to donate $5 to their local shelter on National Dog Day. Not sure how to do that? Drop me a note and I’ll be happy to recommend a rescue that would be happy to get your donation.

In celebration of this wonderful recognition of dogs and what they mean to us in our lives, you can get the following books about dogs FREE for KINDLE  for one day only, on August 26, National Dog Day. The links for downloading the books are underneath each cover image.

Planet of the Dogs ………. Castle in the Mist ………. Born Without a Tail

Parade of Misfits ………. Circling the Waggins ………. Unchain My Heart

Scream Like Banshee ………. Capitol Chains ………. Puddles on the Floor

Leashed ……………….. Deadly Ties ……………………………..

Please note that there are only limited quantities of the two books below. Click the links to email the authors and ask for a copy.

The Deadly Dog Show ……….Karma’s a Bitch

Love, Kindness, and Creativity = Shelter Solutions

All too often my newsfeed is heavy with stories of animal abuse from around the world. But last week, in amongst the sadness and horror, was a ray of sunshine. The following photos were shared to me on Facebook. The surprising text that accompanied it, was “Nebraska Humane Society”.

Reading to shelter dogs at Camp Kindness

I am very familiar with therapy reading programs. The publisher I work with, Barking Planet Productions, promotes such programs on their blog. Up until now, every therapy reading program I’ve heard about has been at a library or school. This is the first program that I have ever heard of that is happening at an animal control facility.

I called NEHS to find out more. Pam Wiese, the shelter representative that I spoke to today, was quick to tell me that there is at least one other shelter that has a therapy reading program, but I was unable to find them through Google. The program that NEHS has in place should be a model for change for other shelters around the country.

NEHS is contracted by the city of Omaha to perform their animal control. The city funds AC through the usual avenues: dog registrations and city budgeting, and then NEHS receives those funds to pick up strays, spay/neuter, and provide adoptable animals to the public. Approximately 18,000 animals are funneled through NEHS every year. In addition to performing AC for the Omaha metropolitan area, NEHS is an open entry shelter. “Open-entry” means they also accept owner-surrendered companion animals, quarantine animals who are aggressive or who have bitten, and provide a safe place for victims of cruelty and neglect. They also offer low cost spay and neuter, (helping elderly residents by delivering free pet food once a month to any senior with a licensed companion animal, who qualifies for Meals on Wheels), and free temporary shelter for animals in domestic abuse situations when women or children are housed in safe shelters. These programs cost money, and in addition to general fundraising, NEHS has found a unique way to offset costs.   It’s called , and it’s part of their education program.

Camp Kindness is a summer camp for kids ages 6-12. (junior campers, ages 6-9, and senior campers, ages 10-12) Each session is one week long: participants choose a “kennel buddy” from the adoptable animals at the shelter and as part of their camp experience, they create posters to help their buddy find a forever home. The children also have multiple educational opportunities about pet care and learning to be kind to animals. Camp Kindness was started at NEHS about ten years ago, but just this past year they have added the therapy reading program, where the children can read to their kennel buddy or other dogs in the shelter. The photos tell the story. The program is not just helpful to improving the skills of young readers, but to the animals who find themselves in this loud and strange environment. A camper’s story helps them feel calm, noticed, and less lonely; giving them some loving companionship. Wiese says that any shelter can offer therapy reading to their animals for next to nothing. All that is needed are some 5 gallon buckets (turned upside-down for seats) and a box of books. Children don’t need to come into physical contact with the animals, (and therefore avoid any potential risks) but can sit outside the kennel cages, still providing focus and comfort to the animals.

The program has also offered a small boost to adoptions. About 500 children pass through the program each year, which runs June and July. At $160 per camper (less than the cost of a week of childcare), the shelter could gain as much as  $80,000 per summer to put toward their programs. It’s a win/win for everyone.

It takes a love of animals, creativity, and fortitude to run a shelter like NEHS, which truly serves their community. The attitude and resolution to put plans into action is what makes all the difference between a shelter that works, and a shelter that doesn’t.

 

 

 

Here’s what parents are saying about Camp Kindness:

Jennie Wright Our son is doing this and he is loving it! He loves animals but dislikes reading! Best way to get him to read! Thank you for offering this program!

Shari Stone OMGOSH! My daughter gets to do Camp Kindness next week and she is going to SO love this! Can’t wait…now I want to come to Camp Kindness…can I be a kid again? PLEASE!?

Carrie Jean What I like about this program is if you have a child that has a difficult time reading, dogs are the best listeners and don’t judge! Programs like this really help both the dog and child … The dogs have company and get to hear a great story and the child is becoming a stronger reader, helping a dog and being shown how to be gentle with animals! GREAT PROGRAM….keep up the good work

Karen Kappert What a wonderful way to get the kids to read during the summer, entertain the animals, and teach the value of volunteering.

Major Developments in Chicken Jerky Treat Debacle

[ History: This is the Fourteenth installment in an ongoing report - you can catch up on the story with the links in my previous blog post. This article first appeared on AnimalsVote.org on June 4, 2014. My commentary on these developments follows at the bottom. For those of you who have already read the article, you may just want to skip down. ]

There have been three recent major developments regarding the ongoing investigation of Chicken Jerky Treats made in China, including FDA updates, retailer news, and a settlement agreement from Nestle Purina.

The FDA updated their website with additional information, including updated statistics about the victims: 5,600 dogs sickened… 1,000 dogs have died… 24 cats and 3 people have all become sick from chicken jerky treats. Approximately 1,800 cases have been reported in just the past 6 months.
Big box retailers Petco and PetSmart have both announced that they will no longer sell pet treats made in China. Petco is making this policy effective by the end of the year, but PetSmart will not make the change until March of 2015 probably due to contractual obligations.
The lawsuit consumers brought against Nestle Purina was settled on May 30.

From early on, pet advocates have been petitioning the FDA for a better system for warning consumers about possible dangers in pet foods or treats. When the FDA failed to require a mandatory recall, advocates took matters into their own hands and stickered store shelves and products with warning labels. They spoke to store managers and corporate offices, trying to get stores to pull the products off of shelves to protect the pets of people who were still unaware of the dangers. Their pleas fell on deaf ears. But, the numbers don’t lie. Nestle Purina and Del Monte may have voluntarily recalled China made Chicken Jerky 14 months ago, but the number of new cases reported by the FDA in just the past 6 months indicate that some pet owners are still unaware of the danger lurking in those bags. Clearly, there is a communication failure between the FDA and consumers.
Petco and PetSmart finally decided to take a proactive stand and stop selling treats made in China, but it’s curious that 1,000 pets had to die, and three human cases had to be reported before that decision was reached. Although their new resolve is in the right direction, it remains somewhat incomplete, as it does not include products whose ingredients are sourced in China.
The settlement between the defendants (Nestle Purina PetCare) and consumers was reached just two weeks after the FDA released their updated files. The settlement creates a fund of $6.5 million dollars, and establishes procedures that would permit consumers to submit claims for monetary relief. The agreement also requires Nestle Purina to undertake enhanced quality assurance measures and modify certain language on its packaging. The settlement is now waiting for the judge’s approval.
In light of the number of reported cases, 6.5 million doesn’t seem sufficient to compensate consumers, but the case has never been about the money, but about keeping other pets safe. The things that consumers fought for, they have won: there was an investigation, a recall, changes made in the manufacturing process and packaging of the treats, and there is legislation pending that will change the way the FDA notifies consumers when a product poses a health risk.
The group ‘Animal Parents Against Pet Treats Made in China’ showed just how much a group of like-minded individuals can accomplish via social networking, and is responsible for these hard-won victories.
APAPTMIC has just drafted an open letter to the CEOs of Petco and PetSmart, issuing a challenge to take their resolve one step further. You can view the letter HERE.
CALL TO ACTION: The FDA has an open comment period regarding implementing the Food and Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Section 211, which outlines new procedures for notifying consumers of products that pose a health risk. Section 211 requires that consumers be notified, at a POINT OF SALE level, if a product they are buying is under FDA alert, warning or recall. Please take a moment to comment on the importance of warnings being visible at the point of sale.
PLEASE WEIGH IN BEFORE THE JUNE 9 DEADLINE.

 

So here’s my take on that…

I’ve been following and reporting on this story for a long time. I’ve had articles appear in examiner.com, on Pet Pardons news, here Up on the Woof, and most recently, on AnimalsVote.org. I’ve walked up to complete strangers in the grocery store aisles and taken CJT’s out of their hands and told them of the danger. I’ve left printed warnings on store shelves and I’ve stickered store product with warnings. I have no stake in this case, except that I wanted what APAPTMIC wanted: to get the word out — to warn other pet owners and prevent more dogs from dying. But what we were doing, the FDA should have been doing.

APAPTMIC has fought long and hard, and it’s true that the lawsuit was never about the money. For one thing, the folks who brought this case were too smart for that. The law sees pets as property, and nobody had any illusions that the law would assign more value to their pets than a lawn mower. What the lawsuit sought to do, it has done via two avenues: this settlement, and section 211 of the FSMA. Because these pet parents made the noise they did, Nestle Purina and Del Monte (though Del Monte’s lawsuit is separate and not a part of this settlement) have both changed things in the manufacturing process of CJT. For one thing, they have both gone to a single meat supplier in China, which should afford them better control of quality. Both companies have also released treats that they say are made in the USA. If the meat for these USA made treats is sourced in China, I’m fairly certain that the settlement requires them to change the packaging to reflect that.

If section 211 of the FSMA passes, warnings about products under investigation will be posted publicly at point of sale, not buried in the back pages of the FDA website.

But, I am still conflicted about the settlement. I understand why it was accepted by those involved…and when you consider the paltry sum of 6.5M, it’s clear that the most important part of the settlement is in the stipulations, not the payout. But what isn’t mentioned in this article is that Nestle Purina does not take any blame. The wording regarding this in the settlement is:

“WHEREAS, Defendants deny any wrongdoing or liability, or that Plaintiffs’ claims have merit, but have concluded that they will enter into this Agreement, among other reasons, in order to avoid the further expense, inconvenience, burden, distractions, uncertainty, and risk of litigation and any other present or future litigation arising out of the facts that gave rise to the litigation in the Actions;”,

…And…. that doesn’t sit well with me. Logically, a corporation the size of Nestle Purina is not deterred by lengthy lawsuits. They have a team of lawyers and they certainly have the budget for it. The pet parents who brought the suit against them have far more to fear from a drawn out process than they do. That NP is willing to settle suggests that they *know* they are to blame, but they fall short of announcing that publicly, and I think that stinks. It feels like ‘shut-up-and-go-away-now’ money to me. NP wants this over with, so they can get on with the business of making money.

As for Petco and Petsmart, kudos to them, even if it’s going to take them into 2015 before they are able to rid their shelves of all the treats made in China. Some people are huffing and puffing that it’s not happening immediately, but you have to remember that they have contractual agreements with the companies who supply them, and it could very well take them a little longer than we’d like in order to do things legally.

But they are only 2 stores…and we’ve got to get rid of this garbage everywhere…so I don’t expect any of the advocates who have been involved thus far are going to sit on their laurels. This train still has a lot of stops until we reach that destination: Walmart, Costco, BJs, Sam’s Club, Giant Eagle, Pet Supplies Plus…

I don’t think it’s any coincidence that the FDA’s reveal of the 3 human cases and the Petco announcement and the settlement all came on each other’s heels. I had to chuckle though, when I read there were human cases, because I have often tasted my dogs’ “all natural” treats when they claim to be all that and a bag of chips. Apparently, I am not alone.

New Lab Results Bolster Claims of Pet Poisonings

[ History: This article first appeared on the AnimalsVote.org News website March 2, 2014. This is the Thirteenth installment in an ongoing report - you can catch up on the story with the earlier posts linked below ]

Part one: FDA Warns Pets Being Poisoned by Treats: Manufacturers Refusing Recall
Part two: FDA Requiring Pet Owners To Pay For Results Of Tainted Treat Testing
Part three: Reports of Pet illnesses to FDA Increase, Hundreds More Dogs Fall ill
Part four: Document Leaked to Consumers Outlines FDA Tests on CJT
Part five: FDA Denies Reports That Chicken Jerky Toxin has been Pin-pointed
Part six: Chinese Officials Strongarm FDA
Part seven: Tainted Dog Treats Spur Senator To Propose Consumer Notification Reform
Part eight: FDA’s Count of Jerky Treat Casualties Reaches 2,200
Part nine: Nestle Purina and Del Monte Voluntarily Recall Jerky Treats
Part ten: Recalling the Chicken Jerky Recall.
Part eleven: The Best Christmas Gift for Your Dog This Year
Part twelve: Chicken Jerky Makes a Comeback – What Does That Mean for Your Pet?
Pet owners fighting Nestle Purina, Del Monte, and other Chicken Jerky Treat suppliers over the poisoning of their pets received new evidence in February to bolster their claims.

Chopin & Wazoo both lost their lives after eating chicken treats for cats. Their owner received positive results of sulfa drugs in the Catswell treats, though Dogswell/Catswell has denied culpability

WHEN PETS FIRST started dying as a result of eating Chicken Jerky treats and the FDA began looking for a cause, some pet owners took matters into their own hands. Many of them saved the remainder of the treats they believed had killed their pets as evidence. Those with veterinary records documenting their pet’s sickness and death eventually submitted samples to Kendal Harr, DVM, who managed to get the samples tested at the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSDAM).

This month, a year after the samples were submitted, the lab began mailing out the results of those tests. So far, every sample sent in for independent testing has come back positive for more than one of the six sulfon-amide-containing illegal antibiotics the FDA identified last February (Enrofloxacin, Sulfaclozine, Sulfamethoxazole, Sulfquinoxaline, Tilmicosin, and Trimethoprim), after scores of tests that looked at everything from melamine to gelatin. The FDA discovery of the illegal antibiotics prompted a voluntary recall of the treats by manufacturers.

Sarge is one of the dogs who lost his life after eating Waggin Train treats. TN

None of the pet owners are surprised by the results,because they’ve known right along that whatever killed their pets would turn up in the samples…once scientists knew what they were looking for.

The sulfa drugs are thought to have contaminated the meat during farming, when they were included in chicken feed. Trimethoprim, tilmicosin, enrofloxacin, sulfaclozine, and sulfamethoxazole are not allowed in chicken at any level but the FDA had found them in levels as high as 2800 ng/g (ppb). Sulfaquinoxaline was found in chicken jerky treats as high as 800 ng/g, which is well above the U.S.FDA tolerance of 100 ng/g.

So far, the independently tested dog treats have all tested positive for varying amounts of Sulfaclozine, Sulfaquinoxaline, Enrofloxacin, Sulfamethoxazole, Trimethoprim: the independently tested cat treats have tested positive for Enrofloxacin and Tilmicosin. The results bear out the veracity of pet owner’s claims.

Although the FDA still has fallen short of stating that these illegal antibiotics are what sickened thousands of pets, it has become increasingly hard to ignore the facts:

The Chicken Jerky Treats (CJT) were recalled because they were proven to be tainted by illegal antibiotics.
The levels were reported as trace (therefore not harmful) but the levels were much higher than reported, as evidenced in the FOIA request.
CJT are “linked” (per the FDA wording) to Fanconi-like illness and death in dogs.
Dogs with a sulfa antibiotic sensitivity react to high levels with Fanconi-like symptoms.
The adulterant antibiotics are those fed in farming, so the drugs were in the chickens– not a result of the processing. Therefore, each individual piece would have varying levels, accounting for the inconsistencies in testing and the differences in the way pets were affected.
Sulfa-drugs are illegal in animal feed in the US because of the high instance of hyper sensitivity, but all of the questionable chicken jerky had been produced in China. After the B-lactams antibiotics, (penicillins and cephalosporins), sulfon-amide-containing antibiotics are among the most frequent causes of drug reactions.

Sampson lost his life after eating Waggin Train treats. OH

Pet safety has been compromised long enough, reliant on the actions of pet treat manufacturers who are concerned only with profits. Instead of considering consumer complaints might be an indication of something gone wrong, they have continued to deny culpability and were excruciatingly slow to recall. Because no warnings were posted in stores while the FDA investigated, many more pets died because owners were uninformed.

There are still pet owners every day finding out the hard way, as their pets fall ill.

Dr. Harr is the vet behind the AMVA resolution asking that the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) adopt the following position on Jerky Pet Treats:

Jerky pet treats are not necessary for adequate nutrition. Adulterants have been found in jerky pet treats, and to mitigate the risk that the pet may become sick and potentially die from ingesting them, the AVMA discourages the feeding of jerky pet treats until further information on their safety is available. Veterinarians are encouraged to report suspected jerky pet treat-related illnesses to the FDA, and to prominently utilize a display and notification summary similar to the requirements reflected in Section 211 of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act.

Ginger continues to receive treatment after becoming ill from eating Waggin Train/Beefeater treats. NY

CALL TO ACTION: Please share the following link with your vet and ask your vet to sign the AVMA resolution. https://www.facebook.com/groups/342467355771185/permalink/730576086960308/