Kasey’s Cure

 Snowball & Old Rusty

Many of you know that I am a huge horse lover and a big fan of thoroughbred racing (some would argue that the two do not go hand in hand), but the death of the filly Eight Belles at the Kentucky Derby last month may have changed my mind.  What is going on out there?  How big of a problem is this?  What is happening to our horses?

According to the AP, thoroughbred racetracks in the U.S. reported more than three horse deaths a day last year and 5,000 since 2003, and the vast majority were put down after suffering devastating injuries on the track.

When a horse breaks a leg - let alone two, as Eight Belles did - often the only choice is to euthanize the animal. A thoroughbred’s bones are thinner than most breeds. Usually it’s not possible for the horse to lie down for long periods because that could disrupt the blood flow to the arteries in the lower limb, causing an extremely painful hoof infection called laminitis.

Questions about breeding, medication, synthetic surfaces versus dirt and other safety issues have dogged the industry for some time.  Have we over breed to the point where these horses are competing on legs as delicate as Champaign flutes?

With all of the terrible flooding in the Mid-West, the ASPCA has updated their tips on emergency preparedness for our pets.  Many of them are obvious but with the hurricane season just starting it is a quick reminder to make sure that both our family and our pets are save.  Here are just a few:

• If you receive storm warnings, bring your pets inside and make sure they have plenty of food and water;
   
• Arrange a safe haven for your pets in the event of evacuation—do NOT leave your pets behind. Many disaster shelters cannot accept pets because of health and safety regulations, so it is vital to determine where your pets can stay ahead of time;
   
• Keep emergency pet supplies, an ASPCA “Pet Grab ’N Go Bag” (one for each pet), and travel kits handy and make sure everyone in the family knows where they are kept;
   
• Get a “Rescue Alert” sticker, which is visible to rescue workers and includes vital information about your pets and veterinarian;
   
• Choose a designated caregiver who can take care of your pet in the event you are unable.

For a detailed list of emergency and evacuation preparedness suggestions, please visit www.aspca.org/pets_emergency.

I nearly flipped out! 

I was in town this afternoon and I noticed the car next to me had a small poodle-ish dog inside with the doors locked and not a window cracked.  Come on people.  Doesn’t everyone know by now that dogs can die from heatstroke in a matter of minutes in a sweltering car? They can’t perspire so to cool themselves they have to pant. If the air that they are taking in is too hot (as it is in a parked car in hot weather), then panting has little cooling effect and the dog quickly overheats.

Needless to say, I patiently waited for the owners return and politely as possible told her how dangerous this was for her puppy.  I thought she was going to slap me, but I think I got my point across.

It sounded like heaven on earth for homeless dogs and cats: The Freedom Animal Rescue Ranch, in Victorville, California.   In fact, it was more like hell: 230 dogs and 40 cats crammed into a small area that was licensed for no more than 50.  When the animals were discovered in 2003, several dogs began a new life at Best Friends, and animal welfare groups in Victorville, California who urgently looked for good homes and shelters that could help out.

The syndrome, known as animal hoarding, is now recognized by the medical profession as a psychiatric disease that’s closely related to obsessive compulsive disorder. The trouble is, animal hoarders usually masquerade as “rescuers,” describing their homes as “shelters.” And in most states, there are no clear laws and penalties to control them.

 If you are interested in adopting one of these cats or dogs, please email me and I will direct you to folks in California who can send more information as well as adoption papers.

10 Ways You Can Help Fight Puppy Mills

1. Do Not Buy Your Puppy From a Pet Store
That puppy who charmed you through the pet shop window has most likely come from a large-scale, substandard commercial breeding facility, commonly known as a puppy mill. In these facilities, parent dogs are caged and bred as often as possible, and give birth to puppies who could have costly medical problems you might not become aware of until after you bring your new pet home.

2. Make Adoption Your First Option
If you’re looking to make a puppy part of your family, check your local shelters first. Not only will you be saving a life, but you will ensure that your money is not going to support a puppy mill. There are many dogs waiting for homes in shelters all across the country―and an estimated one in four is a purebred! Your second option is breed rescue. If your heart is set on a specific breed you haven’t been able to find in a shelter, you can do an Internet search for a breed-specific rescue organization.

3. Know How to Recognize a Responsible Breeder
If you’ve exhausted your options for adopting and are choosing to buy from a breeder, remember that responsible breeders have their dogs’ interests in mind. They are not simply interested in making a sale, but in placing their pups in good homes. A responsible breeder should screen you as thoroughly as you screen them!

4. See Where Your Puppy Was Born and Bred
One sign that you are speaking to an unscrupulous breeder is that they will not let you see the facility in which your puppy was born. Always ask to see the breeding premises and to meet both parents (or at least the mother) of the puppy you want to take home. You should also ask for an adoption contract that explains―in terms you understand―the breeder’s responsibilities, health guarantee and return policy.

5. Internet Buyers, Beware!
Buying a puppy from the Internet is as risky as buying from a pet store. If you buy a puppy based on a picture and a phone call, you have no way of seeing the puppy’s breeding premises or meeting his parents. And those who sell animals on the Internet are not held to the Animal Welfare Act regulations―and so are not inspected by the USDA.

6. Share Your Puppy Mill Story
If you have—or think you have—purchased a puppy-mill puppy, please tell us your story. Every bit of evidence gives us more power to get legislation passed that will ban puppy mills.

7. Speak Out!
Inform your state and federal legislators that you are disturbed by the inhumane treatment of dogs in puppy mills, and would like to see legislation passed that ensures that all animals bred to be pets are raised in healthy conditions.

8. Tell Your Friends
If someone you know is planning on buying a puppy, let them know that there are perfectly healthy dogs in shelters waiting to be adopted.

9. Think Globally
Have a webpage, a MySpace page or a blog? Use these powerful tools to inform people about puppy mill cruelty.

10. Act Locally!
When people are looking to buy or adopt a pet, they will often ask the advice of their veterinarian, groomer or pet supply store. Download and print our flyers and ask to leave them in the offices of your local practitioners.

Thanks to the Virginia legislature’s strong stance against animal fighting, the Commonwealth is in the process of establishing one of the nation’s most effective laws to eradicate cockfighting and dogfighting.

H.B. 656 was introduced by House Majority Leader H. Morgan Griffith (R-Salem) and passed today by a vote of 93 to 2. A companion bill, S.B. 592, was introduced by Sen. Tommy Norment (R-Williamsburg) and passed unanimously last week.

The legislation will toughen Virginia’s animal fighting penalties by making organized cockfighting a Class 6 felony, attendance at an animal fight a Class 1 misdemeanor, and allowing a minor to attend or participate in an animal fight a Class 1 misdemeanor.

The House of Delegates took a powerful stance against animal fighting and made it clear that Virginia will no longer be a haven for dogfighters and cockfighters.

You hear something on the news almost every day about dog attacks. The news is usually horrifying, the injuries unthinkable and the result inevitable – putting the dog who attacked down.

I understand the reaction – I myself am not a huge pit bull fan, but is there a better answer? Is it passing new laws? Enforcing new breeding standards? What can be done?

About 120 cities nationwide have passed breed-specific legislation targeting certain dogs like pit bulls or Rottweilers.

Most people who have heard of these laws assume they only apply to pit-bull types of dogs. But in some states, the law includes German shepherds and other guard dog breeds.

In fact, 26 different breeds, including golden retrievers, chow chows, shar-peis are now banned or subject to special restrictions somewhere in the U.S. These laws require anything from simple spay/neuter to outright confiscation and execution.

Have these laws gone too far in reaction to dog attacks? Is this the answer? Are we once again not holding the owner to a certain level of responsibility here?

Do you know someone who wants to buy a puppy for Christmas? Do them a favor and have them read this post before they head to the pet store or read through the classified ads.

Winter is a difficult time to house train a puppy and with all of the commotion around the holidays not the best time to bring a new member of the family home. Puppies are a lot of work — they need constant care. They pee, they poop, they chew, break things, throw up and cry — just like babies do.

Animal shelters report a sharp increase in unwanted pets just after Christmas. This is because the owners underestimated the time and energy it takes to train a puppy. They fall in love with the idea of a sweet bundle of fur wearing a big red bow, but are unprepared for the constant care and supervision that a puppy requires.

Bringing a puppy home for Christmas is a major decision that should involve the entire family making sure that everyone understands the long term commitment involved.

If hearing this still does not dissuade you and you are certain you are up to the challenge, then consider adopting from a shelter rather than through a breeder or pet shop. For every puppy bought at the store, there is another one just like him at the pound, just months older – potty trained and ready to be adopted.

Some pet owners want a certain breed and cannot find that dog at the shelter. I totally understand — personally I am crazy about Westies. No problem — www.petfinder.com can help you find even the rarest of breeds. The website tells individual stories about the pets, like where they came from and why they ended up in foster homes or at a shelter. Foster care-givers know the personality of the animal and how he interacts with others, including children. You can even go and meet the dog with your other pets or your children to see how they all get along.

So this holiday season, if you just cannot wait until the Spring to bring a puppy home then I hope you will consider visiting you local animal shelter or going online to petfinder.com and a bring a rescued dog or cat home.

An adopted pet is a gift that keeps on giving, with gratitude, loyalty and love for years to come.

Happy Holidays!

Do you have room in your home and heart to adopt sweet George? He is a gentle gray, tabby kitten found on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. We have had him neutered and he has had all of his shots.

If you or someone you know is interested in adopting George, please email me. kl