Wake County Shelter transfers pets elsewhere

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Wake County Animal Shelter is so crowded that it's transferring dogs and cats to rescue groups elsewhere so the animals won't be euthanized.

The shelter has taken in 550 animals in the last 12 days, or about 40 a day, officials said. The animals include strays and pets that owners are surrendering.

A sign at the shelter warns that there's an extremely high chance that animals surrendered by owners will be euthanized. To avoid that outcome for some animals, volunteers took more than 20 dogs and cats Friday to rescue groups in Charlotte, Winston-Salem and South Carolina.

"For me, it's worth it to give these animals a freedom ride and a chance at a second life and a good life," volunteer Erica Goff told WTVD in Durham. "Puppies are adorable. Kittens are adorable. They grow up. There's so many seniors being dumped here every day because they don't want to take care of the bills that come with them. They get sick just like people do."

Staffers are doing everything they can to avoid euthanizing animals for space, said shelter assistant rescue coordinator Cindy Lynch. The shelter, which doesn't usually reach capacity this early in the year, began having problem in April or May, she said.

"We are doing our absolute best not to euthanize for space," Lynch said. "That's why we're reaching out to our rescues not only out of state, but across the state."
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Online:
http://www.wakegov.com/pets/Pages/default.aspx

Chief Saunooke Bear Park in NC Shuts Down! Eleven Bears Get New Home

The International Exotic Animal Sanctuary, located in Boyd, TX, recently became home to eleven bears of various species (two Asiatic black bears or Moon bears, three grizzly bears, and six American black bears). After many years of hardship, these incredible bears found their way out of the bear pits, located at the Chief Saunooke Bear Park in Sylva, NC, when the park was finally shut down. The closing of this facility meant success and hope for numerous individuals and organizations who have dedicated countless hours to its closure and to the rescue of these amazing animals. For so long, the eleven bears had been kept in deplorable conditions, living in concrete pits below the surface of the ground. They never had the chance to step foot on grass, climb a tree, or enjoy the shade of forest brush. Having only the ability to stare straight up at the sky and the faces of those throwing bits of food at them, these bears were denied their basic instincts and the life they deserved. The conditions in which they were kept were publicized widely on the internet, and they were known as the “Cherokee bears.” After what must have seemed like eternity to them, a second chance found them. Thanks to a generous donor from California and the efforts of so many, they will live out the remainder of their lives in a large, naturalistic habitat at IEAS where they can bask in the shaded forest, lounge in the breeze in a high tree, dig in the dirt, or relax in the grass. They will now live virtually as wild bears with all the conditions ideally suited to wild bears without any fear or hunger.

IEAS was allotted 90 days to complete the approximately eight acre habitat for the new bears, but thanks to dedicated employees, contractors, and volunteers working seven days a week, the bears arrived at the Sanctuary just 78 days after the construction began. After the placement of 2.5 miles of piping and 1.5 miles of fencing, plus the use of almost 750 pounds of welding rods, the six habitats were completed. To see a video depicting the progress of habitat construction over the last three months, click here. Each habitat is over one acre in size and provides the resident bears with a natural home, complete with innumerable trees to climb, brush and thickets to venture through, and even ponds and water tubs in which to cool off. It is in these habitats that these special animals will be able to become bears for the first time and exhibit and experience all the things wild bears are meant to experience.

IEAS is truly grateful for the assistance of so many in this effort to get these amazing bears out of terrible conditions and ready to start their new lives. Thank you to Pat Craig and the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado for transporting the bears to the Sanctuary. Thank you to Scott Scherb and Affordable Fencing in Decatur, TX for helping complete the construction quickly and efficiently. Finally, thank you to all of those who restlessly fought for these bears to be given a second chance. Their new lives would never be possible without the perseverence and encouragement of their supporters. We hope that you will all support Rusty, Bettie, Sarah, Crow, Puddin, Tank, Asia, Toby, Spearmint, Aggie, and Bertha in their journey on a natural life at the International Exotic Animal Sanctuary! We, of course, need the support of the public to be able to give them the lives they deserve for the approximately 30 year life span of a bear. They deserve all the help they can receive, and those of you that have a part in their great future will feel a satisfaction that can hardly be equaled when you see them or their photos and know you had a part to play.

Read More/See Video:  http://www.bigcat.org/news/a-second-chance-for-11-bears
 

 

Fourth of July Safety Tips

           Fourth of July Safety Tips

           Credits to the ASPCA

For many people, nothing beats lounging in the backyard on the Fourth of July with good friends and family—including the four-legged members of the household. While it may seem like a great idea to reward Rover with scraps from the grill and bring him along to watch fireworks, in reality some festive foods and products can be potentially hazardous to your pets. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center offers the following tips:

·   Never leave alcoholic drinks unattended where pets can reach them. Alcoholic beverages have the potential to poison pets. If ingested, the animal could become very intoxicated and weak, severely depressed or could go into a coma. Death from respiratory failure is also a possibility in severe cases.

·   Do not apply any sunscreen or insect repellent product to your pet that is not labeled specifically for use on animals. Ingestion of sunscreen products can result in drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and lethargy. The misuse of insect repellent that contains DEET can lead to neurological problems.

·   Always keep matches and lighter fluid out of your pets’ reach. Certain types of matches contain chlorates, which could potentially damage blood cells and result in difficulty breathing—or even kidney disease in severe cases. Lighter fluid can be irritating to skin, and if ingested can produce gastrointestinal irritation and central nervous system depression. If lighter fluid is inhaled, aspiration pneumonia and breathing problems could develop.

·   Keep your pets on their normal diet. Any change, even for one meal, can give your pets severe indigestion and diarrhea. This is particularly true for older animals who have more delicate digestive systems and nutritional requirements. And keep in mind that foods such as onions, chocolate, coffee, avocado, grapes & raisins, salt and yeast dough can all be potentially toxic to companion animals.

·   Do not put glow jewelry on your pets, or allow them to play with it. While the luminescent substance contained in these products is not highly toxic, excessive drooling and gastrointestinal irritation could still result from ingestions, and intestinal blockage could occur from swallowing large pieces of the plastic containers.

·   Keep citronella candles, insect coils and oil products out of reach. Ingestions can produce stomach irritation and possibly even central nervous system depression. If inhaled, the oils could cause aspiration pneumonia in pets.

·   Never use fireworks around pets! While exposure to lit fireworks can potentially result in severe burns and/or trauma to the face and paws of curious pets, even unused fireworks can pose a danger. Many types contain potentially toxic substances, including potassium nitrate, arsenic and other heavy metals.

·   Loud, crowded fireworks displays are no fun for pets, so please resist the urge to take them to Independence Day festivities. Instead, keep your little guys safe from the noise in a quiet, sheltered and escape-proof area at home.

DCGI Ends Cosmetic Testing on Animals

Following an intense campaign by PETA India and work by MP Maneka Gandhi, Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) Dr GN Singh announced that testing cosmetics and their ingredients on animals will not be permitted in India. The landmark announcement was made during the Bureau of Indian Standards PCD 19 Cosmetics Sectional Committee meeting, on which PETA India's science policy advisor, Dr Chaitanya Koduri, has an official seat. Earlier this week, Dr Koduri had held a private meeting with Dr Singh urging him to implement this ban.

PETA India's campaign received support from high places. Congress President Smt Sonia Gandhi recently urged the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to consider PETA India's request for a ban on the testing of cosmetics and their ingredients through the National Advisory Council Office, while senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lal Krishna Advani had sought the same through his office. Santosh Chowdhury, the newly appointed Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare; Dr Mirza Mehboob, former Cabinet Minister of Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare for the government of Jammu and Kashmir; and Yashodhara Raje Scindia, former Minister for Tourism, Sports and Youth Welfare for the government of Madhya Pradesh had all sent strong appeals to the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in favour of a total ban on the testing of cosmetics and their ingredients on animals. Mehboob is also a medical practitioner who did his MBBS at Srinagar Medical College in Jammu and Kashmir. MP Maneka Gandhi has been working closely with PETA India's science policy advisor, Dr Chaitanya Koduri, to push for this ban.

Multinational companies The Body Shop and LUSH as well as Indian companies Trumount Cosmoceuticals, Future Skin, Omved Lifestyle and Shahnaz Husain and others had also written to the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in full support of a ban after hearing from PETA. The Washington DC-based Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, and officials from the Indian Council of Medical Research, the Mahatma Gandhi–Doerenkamp Center for Alternatives to Use of Animals in Life Science Education and theAnimal Welfare Board of India, a statutory advisory body, had also all expressed support for the ban.

In 2012, the cast and crew of Farah Khan's Joker, directed by Shirish Kunder and starring Akshay Kumar, Sonakshi Sinha and Chitrangda Singh, had joined PETA in urging the government to ban cosmetic testing on animals. Chitrangda posed on behalf of PETA and Joker with the aliens from the film for the campaign. The ad was shot by ace photographer Atul Kasbekar.

DCGI's announcement comes in the wake of the European Union's and Israel's bans on the testing of cosmetics products and their ingredients on animals, which includes a ban on sales of animal-tested cosmetics, regardless of where those tests were conducted. Israel has also banned the testing of household products and their ingredients on animals as well as the sale of such products if they have been tested on animals. Household products include cleaners and detergents. PETA India is also campaigning for an end to the testing of household products and their ingredients on animals in India.

Please note, however, that at present, cosmetics and personal-care products tested on animals can still be sold in India. Please do check PETA's list of companies that do not test on animals before you go shopping.

Congratulations to everyone who worked so hard on this campaign, from celebrities, politicians and compassionate businesses who lent their support to the many PETA India supporters who raised their voices and donated time and money to make this achievement possible. Celebrations are in order all around!

Posted by Erika-G

Link to PETA India: http://www.petaindia.com/b/petaokplease/archive/2013/06/28/dcgi-ends-cosmetic-testing-on-animals.aspx

 

 

Who over see's the NC County Animal Shelter System? And can I view an Inspection Report?

For more information on the NC County Animal Shelters, the NC Department of Agriculture or the Inspection reports for each county, please use this link:

http://www.ncagr.gov/vet/aws/Inspections/index.htm

Is your County Animal Shelter killing animals before the 72 hr hold time?

North Carolina General Statutes § 130A-192 Animals not wearing required rabies vaccination tags

(a)   The Animal Control Officer shall canvass the county to determine if there are any animals not wearing the required rabies vaccination tag. If an animal required to wear a tag is found not wearing one, the Animal Control Officer shall check to see if the owner's identification can be found on the animal. If the animal is wearing an owner identification tag with information enabling the owner of the animal to be contacted, or if the Animal Control Officer otherwise knows who the owner is, the Animal Control Officer shall notify the owner in writing to have the animal vaccinated against rabies and to produce the required rabies vaccination certificate to the Animal Control Officer within three days of the notification. If the animal is not wearing an owner identification tag and the Animal Control Officer does not otherwise know who the owner is, the Animal Control Officer may impound the animal. The duration of the impoundment of these animals shall be established by the county board of commissioners, but the duration shall not be less than 72 hours. During the impoundment period, the Animal Control Officer shall make a reasonable effort to locate the owner of the animal. If the Animal Control Officer has access at no cost or at a reasonable cost to a microchip scanning device, the Animal Control Officer may scan the animal and utilize any information that may be available through a microchip to locate the owner of the animal, if possible. If the animal is not reclaimed by its owner during the impoundment period, the animal shall be disposed of in one of the following manners: returned to the owner; adopted as a pet by a new owner; sold to institutions within this State registered by the United States Department of Agriculture pursuant to the Federal Animal Welfare Act, as amended; or put to death by a procedure approved by rules adopted by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services or, in the absence of such rules, by a procedure approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Humane Society of the United States or of the American Humane Association.

 

(a1) Before an animal may be sold or put to death, it shall be made available for adoption under procedures that enable members of the public to inspect the animal, except in cases in which the animal is found by the operator of the shelter to be unadoptable due to injury or defects of health or temperament. An animal that is seriously ill or injured may be euthanized if the manager of the animal shelter determines, in writing, that it is appropriate to do so. Nothing in this subsection shall supercede (i) any rules adopted by the Board of Agriculture which specify the number of animals allowed for kennel space in animal shelters, or (ii) the duration of impoundment established by the county board of commissioners, or the 72‑hour holding period, as provided in subsection (a) of this section.

 

(a2) (See note) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a person who comes to an animal shelter attempting to locate a lost pet is entitled to view every animal held at the shelter, subject to rules providing for such viewing during at least four hours a day, three days a week. If the shelter is housing animals that must be kept apart from the general public for health reasons, public safety concerns, or in order to preserve evidence for criminal proceedings, the shelter shall make reasonable arrangements that allow pet owners to determine whether their lost pets are among those animals.

 

(a3) The Animal Control Officer shall maintain a record of all animals impounded under this section which shall include the date of impoundment, the length of impoundment, the method of disposal of the animal and the name of the person or institution to whom any animal has been released.

 

(b) In addition to domesticated dogs and cats not wearing the required rabies tags, the provisions of subsection (a) of this section concerning the holding of animals for at least 72 hours and the permissible means of disposition of animals after expiration of that holding period also apply to all of the following:

(1) Dogs and cats that are wearing rabies tags but are taken into custody for violation of statutes or ordinances not related to rabies control, such as ordinances requiring the leashing or restraining of dogs and cats.

(2) Dogs and cats surrendered to an animal shelter by the owners of the animals, unless an owner provides to the shelter the following:

a. Some proof of ownership of the animal, and

b. A signed written consent to the disposition of the animal, in a manner authorized by this section, before the expiration of the 72‑hour holding period or of a longer period established by ordinance or local rule to which the shelter is subject.

(c) If an animal is not wearing tags, or other mode of identification indicating its owner, and is delivered to an animal shelter by (i) a person who has found and captured the animal, or (ii) by an approved rescue organization that received the animal from a person who found and captured the animal, then the shelter may, in writing, appoint the finder or approved rescue organization to be the agent of the shelter. For purposes of this subsection, the term "approved rescue organization" means a nonprofit corporation or association that cares for stray animals that has been favorably assessed by the operator of the animal shelter through the application of written standards.

(1) If the animal is a dog or cat, the finder or approved rescue organization shall hold the animal for the 72‑hour holding period provided for in subsection (a) of this section or such longer holding period that may be applicable to the shelter by ordinance or local rule. If the animal is not a dog or cat, then the holding period shall be by agreement between the animal shelter and the person or organization receiving the animal.

(2) After the expiration of the applicable holding period, the shelter may:

a. Transfer the animal by adoption to the person or organization that has held it as agent, or

b. Extend the period of time the finder or rescue organization holds the animal as agent of the shelter.

(3) A shelter may terminate an agency created under this subsection at any time by directing the finder or rescue organization to deliver the animal to the shelter.

(4) The city, county, or organization operating the animal shelter, as principal in the agency relationship, shall not be liable to reimburse the agent for the costs of care of the animal and shall not be liable to the owner of the animal for harm to the animal caused by the agent, absent a written contract providing otherwise.

(d) During the 72‑hour or longer holding period established under subsection (a) of this section, an animal shelter may place an animal it is holding in foster care.

(e) If an animal shelter transfers physical possession of a dog or cat under subsection (c) or (d) of this section, so that the animal is no longer on the animal shelter premises, at least one photograph which depicts the head and face of the animal shall (i) be displayed at the shelter in a conspicuous location that is available to the general public during hours of operation, and (ii) remain posted for the 72‑hour or longer holding period established under subsection (a) of this section. (1935, c. 122, s. 8; 1983, c. 891, s. 2; 2009‑304, s. 1; 2009‑327, s. 7.)

Who do I contact if a NC Animal Shelter is euthanizing animals before the 72 hr State hold or you have other potential issues?

North Carolina Department of Agriculture ( Contact is Dr. Lee Hunter) and the NC Department of Health and Human Service ( Contact is  Dr. Carl Williams). The 72 hr hold is NC DHHS.

144 geese euthanized in Gaston Co. North Carolina

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. —

The only sign that there were ever geese Gaston County's Dall Park are the hundreds of feathers we found along the bank of the lake.

Resident Rebecca Duffeck showed us where she came to visit the Canada geese nearly every day at the Dallas Park. On Wednesday, Eyewitness News couldn't spot one of the birds after the county decided to euthanize the geese.

"It was sick on my stomach I have taken care of these geese and loved these geese for so many years and it broke my heart to find out she had actually gassed them," Duffeck said.

The County Parks and Recreation director said the decision to euthanize the birds came after years of complaints and concerns over health issues. Before taking action, they applied for a federal permit and contracted through USDA'S wildlife services.

"Each goose has waste of a pound and a half a day. And when you add that up with the total geese we are dealing with that's 200 pounds of waste a day," director Cathy Hart said.

The county said the decision to euthanize the birds only came after several attempts were made to keep them away. Channel 9 could see signs posted near the lakes warning park visitors about the problem.

"We tried chemical repellents that would supposedly repel the geese with smell. We tried growing the grass tall around the lake. We tried harassing them with dogs," Hart said.

None of it worked and Hart says the birds did not migrate away from the three lakes at the park instead staying year around. Duffeck looked out Wednesday over the lake and couldn't see any wildlife. She believes that is part of the reason people come here.

"It is a park. Look at it now What is it now -- nothing. It is empty. It has no character. Parks should have animals," Duffeck said.

The director said she regrets having to make this decision but was concerned about the health and safety of the nearly 80,000 people who visit the park every year.

Carolina Waterfowl Rescue posted a message on its Facebook page saying it offered to help the county with removing the geese, but the birds were killed instead.

Link for online video: http://www.wsoctv.com/news/news/local/officials-144-geese-euthanized-gaston-co/nYWsX/

Peanut Butter and Pumpkin Dog Treats, Yummy !

 Link to this recipe and more: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/peanut-butter-and-pumpkin-dog-treats/

Interceptor has been discontinued, Sentinel takes it's place

April 13, 2013

Novartis, so far, hasn’t posted an official statement about Interceptor on their website. However, the following is an excerpt from a letter that was sent to US veterinarians earlier this month.

“…Novartis Animal Health, US, Inc. is happy to announce that Sentinel Flavor Tabs are back and at a price that is sure to please everyone.

Effective today, all sizes of Sentinel Flavor Tabs are priced at nearly half of 2011 prices, and these new low prices are here to stay. Now, even more pet owners can afford to provide year-round heart worm, intestinal parasite and flea protection to their dogs.

We’re creating a new standard of care by offering broader spectrum protection than similarly priced heart worm medications and significant savings over comparable spectrum products. Therefore, we have discontinued production of Interceptor® (milbemycin oxime) Flavor Tabs® for the U.S. market.
Thank you for your patience and commitment to Novartis Animal Health, US, Inc. and the Sentinel Flavor Tabs brand. We apologize for the disruption we have caused you, your practice and your clients. We hope to earn back your trust. To that end, we have built significant inventories to support expected demand…”

So in short if you Interceptor online for sale, maybe skip the online purchase as last production for Interceptor was in 2011 and it only had a 3 year shelf life. Also Novartis never sold this product to any other distributor other than Vet Offices. So what you might be purchasing might be a black market type of product. Save your pet from the risk, just switch and say good-bye to Interceptor.

Update May 2013

Purina buys Petfinder

 

June 05, 2013 10:00 am • By Lisa Brown lbrown@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8127

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Nestle Purina PetCare

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Nestle Purina PetCare employee Karita Wynn with her dog, Titan, at Nestle Purina PetCare's St. Louis headquarters.

 

Nestlé Purina PetCare is buying the Petfinder pet adoption website, a move expected to strengthen its role as a leading online provider of pet-related information.
The St. Louis-based maker of Purina ONE, Beneful and Beggin’ Strips pet food and snacks announced the purchase from Discovery Communications LLC on Wednesday but did not disclose financial terms.

Oversight of the website that attracts 100 million visits annually will shift to St. Louis after the acquisition closes in July, Nestlé Purina said. Petfinder has 19 employees.
It’s the first time Nestlé Purina’s parent company, Swiss-based Nestlé, has acquired a website, company executives said.

Since it launched in 1996, Petfinder.com has led to the adoption of 22 million pets in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The website provides information about local animal shelters and rescue centers with the goal of linking animals to new owners.
Nestlé Purina sees the purchase as an opportunity to broaden its support for pet welfare organizations.
“Petfinder is all about helping homeless pets find homes, and that’s a core mission of Nestlé Purina,” Steven Crimmins, chief marketing officer for Nestlé Purina, told the Post-Dispatch.
Nestlé Purina plans to add content from its nutritional experts to the site to increase the information available to pet owners.

“Over time, it can be a vehicle for us to share the vast knowledge we have about pet nutrition and pet care,” he said.

Crimmins said the broad reach of Petfinder’s audience in North America also made it an attractive purchase.

“Petfinder’s traffic is equal to Nike.com and larger than Starbucks.com, which is really remarkable,” he said.

Once the transaction closes, Petfinder.com will link to Nestlé Purina’s other websites.
“We’ll be connecting everything,” Crimmins said, so it’s “liquid and linked” and easy to navigate with other corporate sites online.

Discovery Communications, which is based in Silver Spring, Md., and which owns the Animal Planet and Discovery Channel television networks, acquired Petfinder in 2006.

Also on Wednesday, Nestlé Purina announced a new perk for its employees — $200 to assist with costs when adopting or purchasing a dog or cat. The company has about 2,000 employees in the St. Louis region and 11,000 in the United States, Canada and Latin America.

“We are excited to take this step to not only promote the joy that pets bring to people’s lives, but also to make it easier for our associates to welcome a pet into their home,” Steve Degnan, Nestlé Purina’s human resources vice president, said in a statement.