Stop Chaining in Your Community!
August 23, 2008 by Gyvel Young ©2008
Filed under Chained for Life
Great Pyrenees Kept in Chains for over 3 Years!
Kept in chains for over three years this Great Pyrenees wears the expression of resignation often displayed by neglected animals. His only human contact is when people walk by with their dogs (no one speaks to him or looks at him) and when the owner puts his food out for him, refills his water bucket, or yells at him for barking.
This story comes straight from my heart, this beautiful Great Pyrenees has been bound in chains 24/7 for over 3 years. I discovered him back in June 2008 when I was doing a pet sit in this area. He hardly has shelter from the elements, if he strains at his chain he can barely fit under this carport. He sleeps in this tiny little spot of the carport, right in front of the owner’s truck.
After some research and speaking with neighbors about the dog, I called the local Hays County (Texas) Sheriff’s office and reported this incident. It appears to be a violation of the Texas Legislature HB 1411 passed in September of 2007. (The portion I am referring to prohibits a dog from being chained between the hours of 10 PM and 6 AM.) In addition, the collar appears to be a choke collar and the law clearly states this is prohibited.
When the officers arrived at the location I happened to be across the street walking my little charges. The deputies did not inspect the collar, they did not inspect the condition of the dog and they did not check if the animal was infested with fleas or had up-to-date rabies shots. Instead, they knocked on the door and began a lively and very friendly discussion with the owner. The owner, a sixtyish man, yucked it all up and soon the two deputies were joining him in the chuckles. All the while this poor animal was ignored. His condition not noted. And the owner getting away with it.
When I later spoke with this deputy, whose name is Yoeman, of the Hays County Sheriff’s office he informed me that the owner loves his dog, provides food and water for the dog, and that the dog is a watch dog. He also proceeded to inform me that these types of dogs are always outside and do not need shelter. I immediately informed him that the law does not exclude a Great Pyrenees from this type of torture. Deputy Yoeman then turned me over to another deputy who then informed me that three conditions have to be met before this becomes a violation. I was shocked the Sheriff’s Department was so ill informed about Texas laws, the very laws they are supposed to be enforcing.
I then proceeded to call the Hays County Animal Control officer, named Hall, with the same type of results. Total indifference and a complete lack of understanding about what the actual law states. The good ol’ boy network here in Texas is difficult to crack. These guys have no qualms about keeping a backyard “dawg” chained up for its entire life.
My only hope for this poor animal is the Texas Federation of Animal Care Services .
I will keep you posted. In the meantime please read this page about the plight of this poor dog and all others like him.
Please be their voice, if you witness this type of cruelty in your community do not sit by silently and do nothing. Help make positive changes in the laws by taking action.
Here is are some great web sites for more information:
http://www.unchainyourdog.org/index.html
http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/home.html
Nutro Food Update
August 23, 2008 by Gyvel Young ©2008
Filed under CONSUMER REPORTS, Pet Food Recalls, Unsafe Pet Food
Zinc Toxicity Suspected in Recent Nutro Food Complaints
A comment posted on this blog alerted me to a recent update on Nutro dry dog food. Complaints about Nutro food were first reported by Consumer Affairs in June of 2008. As previously stated in the SecurePet blog Nutro has maintained their pet food is 100% safe. In response to these complaints the Pet Food Products Safety Alliance (Pfpsa.org) conducted their own tests on Natural Choice Chicken Meal, Rice, and Oatmeal Formula and Nutro Max Puppy. Samples of these products were sent of to the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab to be tested for e-coli, salmonella, and listeria, which all tested non-detected. The samples were then forwarded to the Analytical Sciences Laboratory, University of Idaho, to be tested for aflatoxin and a variety of minerals and metals. Aflatoxin was non-detected on both samples at 100 ppb.
However, the samples did reveal a number of substances with higher levels than AAFCO recommendations. The two samples scored 2 and 3 times higher than AAFCO recommendations for copper and zinc. And there are certain breeds of dogs who are highly sensitive to copper.
According to the Pet Food Safety Alliance:
The samples believed to be Nutro dry dog food tested positive for zinc at levels of 260 ppm (ug/g) and 400 ppm as fed. Assuming 10% moisture content as fed, vs. dry matter as calculated by AAFCO, the 400 ppm sample is over 4 times the recommended amount, and at half the maximum amount allowed. This would come to on the order of 40 times the amount of zinc recommended for human dietary requirements.
The symptoms of canine zinc toxicosis described in this report by the College of Veterinary Medicine is consistent with the symptoms associated with feeding Nutro dry dog food.
My recommendation? Remove Nutro products from your pet food list!
Please, keep up-to-date with the latest pet food findings by visiting the Pet Food Tracker , the Pet Food Recall Facts, and the Pet Food Products Safety Alliance as often as you can. I will keep also be happy to keep you updated on my own findings.
Keep in mind that an informed consumer is a powerful consumer. Pets rely on us for their lives and health.
Four Paws Pimple Ball Poses Dangers to Pets!
August 23, 2008 by Gyvel Young ©2008
Filed under CONSUMER REPORTS, Dangerous Pet Products, Pet Product Recalls
This Should Never Have Happened!
I received this message from Gail Simmons posted to all members of Dogsville on the ASPCA Online Community. She provided me with a link to this story, http://www.thechaistory.blogspot.com
On Sunday, June 22, 2008 my 10-year old lab mix, Chai, sustained a severe injury from a product that the company Four Paws Inc, produces. The toy I’m referencing is the pimple ball with bell. (Item #20227-001, UPC Code 0 4566320227 9)
While chewing on the toy, a vacuum was created and it effectively sucked his tongue into the hole in the ball. From speaking with my vet, this likely occurred because there is not a second hole in the ball preventing the vacuum effect from happening. I became aware of this when Chai approached a friend at my home whimpering with the ball in his mouth. She tried unsuccessfully to remove the ball but the tongue had swollen and could not be released.
Chai was taken to the Animal Medical Center (an emergency care facility in New York City) and was treated by Dr. Nicole Spurlock to have the ball removed. Because the size of the opening on the ball was so small, all circulation to his tongue was cut off. The doctors had to sedate him in order to remove it. Once the ball was removed, his tongue swelled to the point that he could no longer put it in his mouth. Chai was sent home with care instructions and to be observed overnight for any changes.
By the following morning Chai’s tongue had swollen even more. He was taken to his regular vet, Dr. Timnah Lee, for treatment. He was admitted and kept sedated for a period of three days during which time they were treating his wounds and waiting to determine how much of his tongue could be saved. On June 26, 2008 Chai had his tongue amputated.
He was kept in after-care for an additional three days. On Sunday June 29th I brought Chai home from the vet with a barrage of home care instructions, to last for an additional 7 days. His next visit was to have his mouth re-examined and have the feeding tube in his neck removed.
On the way home from the vet we stopped at Petland Discount where I purchased their product to speak to the manager on duty. Upon meeting Chai and seeing his condition, he removed all of the balls in question from the shelves. He also gave me the customer service number to their corporate headquarters to request that they refuse to continue purchasing all Four Paws products, but I have not called them as of yet.
To date, my veterinary bills total over $5000.00 and I will have regular follow up appointments for some time. Additionally, Chai now requires a much more expensive form of food because of this injury, averaging approximately $200 per month.
Also - I am Chai’s sole caretaker and the regime required to care for him following his surgery has forced me to lose a great deal of business. I am a hair stylist and my salon is in my home. Given that Chai needs constant attention, and given that he has been wailing in pain, I have not been able to see clients.
Additionally, I now have to re-teach my dog to eat, drink and adjust to life without his tongue. Just walking him requires about 30min twice a day and we only make it three blocks. Feeding him takes me about 90 minutes twice a day and for at least this first week he is not to be unattended for more than 20 minutes at time.
The following is a link to an animal treatment clinic that has also documented the same injury to a Shepard mix.
www.logcabinanimalhospital.com/index.php/toy-ball-stuck-on-dogs-tongue/
[SecurePet says please note that this link is not working, I have contacted the animal hospital to find out why they have removed this story from their web site]
I sent this information along with the reference to Petunia the french bulldog to Four Paws Inc, and it is their position that there just aren’t enough instances to do anything about this. I told their Insurance company’s case manager that was not a good enough excuse, It was inferred that my dogs value wasn’t much and that his pain and suffering don’t count as he is just a piece of property.
This should never happen to another animal again!
For an update on this story please visit:
