October 29, 2015
3D-printed device helping injured cat stay on all fours
Scottish designer Fergus Fullarton Pegg created a 3D-printed orthosis for his cat Sprocket, who suffered front left leg nerve damage from being attacked by a dog. Although the long-term outlook for the animal is not clear, the orthosis provides temporary stabilization, allowing him to walk. Mashable (10/27
October 30, 2015
<http://wivb.com/2015/10/29/on-demand-kittens-delivered-by-uber-in-nashville-thursday/>
On-demand kittens delivered by Uber in Nashville Thursday
Stephanie Langston, WKRN Published: October 29, 2015, 10:06 pm
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – Ride-sharing service Uber delivered kittens to workplaces in over 50 cities across America Thursday, including Nashville.
Uber delivered kittens locally from the Williamson County Animal Control and Adoption Center between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
“The demand for kittens is very high and we are looking to spread as much joy and kitten love as possible,” explained Luke Marklin, Uber Nashville GM.
The service cost $30 for a 15 minute visit with a kitten that is ready to be adopted. The fee benefits the Williamson County Animal Control and Adoption Center.
“I hope that it brings general awareness about adoption,” Williamson County Animal Center Director Laura Chavarria said. “We do have tons of dogs, cats, kittens, puppies, horses, donkeys – everything up for adoption and I hope that people come to shelters to adopt rather than shopping.”
No word on if Uber will do a similar service for dogs in need of homes.
October 27, 2015
Dog ownership down, cat ownership up in Japan
The number of pet dogs in Japan declined by 13% from 2010 to 2014, while the number of pet cats increased by 4% during the same period, according to a survey by the Japan Pet Food Association. Some respondents indicated dogs were not permitted in their condominiums, while others cited fears that a pet would outlive them. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (10/26)
October 27, 2015
Study: Trained dogs can detect hypoglycemia by their owner’s sweat
A study in Diabetes Therapy revealed that diabetes alert dogs had an 87.5% accuracy rate in detecting hypoglycemia sweat samples. Researchers tested six trained dogs that were made to sniff sweat samples taken from patients during a hypoglycemic episode and during times of steady blood glucose levels. They note that the study shows dogs can use smell alone, without behavioral clues, to detect hypoglycemia. Diabetes.co.uk (U.K.) (10/26)
October 21, 2015
Shelter struggles with animal intake volume amid Texas wildfire
KVUE-TV (Austin, Texas) (10/15)
October 21, 2015
http://grandlakenews.com/commentary/article_d9d456c1-73d6-5477-82b5-010bf0c8b30d.html
Posted: Tuesday, October 20, 2015 2:33 pm State Rep. Brian Renegar
A few weeks ago on a Sunday, after church, I was called on an emergency to assist a sow (mother pig) having difficulty delivering her babies. After assessing the situation, the owner and I decided that a caesarean surgery was in order. This sow and the one next to her were in farrowing crates.
As I waited for the anesthetic to take effect, I observed the adjacent sow, which had already delivered her pigs. She was lying down, letting her pigs nurse, and occasionally she would get up to drink or eat, then lie back down and go back to sleep and continue to nurse her pigs. I thought this was a sow at complete comfort, and because the sow was crated, the pigs were saved from being accidently smothered by their mother.
I wondered: Why would anyone be opposed to farrowing crates? Yet animal rights groups are trying to ban such crates. These groups are funding their political agendas on state and national media by showing heart-wrenching pictures of starving and neglected dogs and cats, using money received from an unsuspecting public on many things besides the care of abused animals.
This type of public appeal by such groups has spurred me to initiate a bill I will file in the upcoming legislative session to remedy this problem in Oklahoma. Rep. John Enns, R-Waukomis, a wheat farmer and rancher, will co-author this legislation. Our bill will require any animal rights group that raises money from Oklahomans to spend that money in Oklahoma on animals as advertised. These groups would not be allowed to use that money for political purposes.
Oklahomans will see this very event occurring in 2016 as we vote on State Question 777, also called “right to farm.” Animal rights groups will spend large amounts of money next year trying to defeat this measure. As a veterinarian, I support this bill because I don’t want some out-of-state group telling me how to practice veterinary medicine when it comes to farm animals.
October 20, 2015
also in tucson: http://desertwildlifeservices.com/feralcatcontrol.htm
http://desertwildlifeservices.com/feralcatcontrol.htm Desert Wildlife
Services traps, removes and controls problem cats.
We focus on the removal of feral or wild cats. These felines would be best
described as cats that have lost, or never received proper socialization. In
essence, they have become, or were born, wild.
Some proponents of feral cat colonies wonder why feral cats should be
removed and controlled. Our customers know why: ……If you need feral cats
removed in a professional manner, we are here for you.
http://www.nokillpimacounty.org/get-help/trap-neuter-return/
http://www.nokillpimacounty.org/get-help/trap-neuter-return/ — specifies
Under the project, the Best Friends staff trap free-roaming community cats,
get them spayed or neutered, then vaccinated and ear-tipped. The cats are
then returned to their outdoor homes. When too many requests to trap cats
come in for the three-person staff to handle, the staff provides traps on
loan or referrals for traps to community members. Additionally, they offer
training in trapping, and give community members spay/neuter vouchers so
residents can trap the cats, take them for sterilization and then return the
cats to the community themselves. (fee for neuter same as for pets)
and
http://www.aaanimalcontrol.com/professional-trapper/county/AZ-Pima-County-An
imal-Services.htm
http://www.aaanimalcontrol.com/professional-trapper/county/AZ-Pima-County-An
imal-Services.htm
Last week, Drummond removed 50 feral cats from neighborhoods, back yards
and streets at customer’s requests.
Most of the felines he captures are euthanized at the client’s request,
although a few each month are trapped, neutered and returned. ”
== if the TNR program is doing so swimingly, one wonders why there are
commercial business for trap and REMOVAL and why “best friends” has a quasi
commercial operation ongoing in addition to the government run one.
October 20, 2015
October 20, 2015
Special-needs children enjoy animals at Fort Worth Zoo
Children with special needs recently spent a day visiting animals at the Fort Worth Zoo. Daniel Zachary Jones, 6, who is waiting for a heart transplant, said crocodiles are his favorite. He and other children got to wander the zoo, dip their hands into a marine tank, enjoy a special meal and more at an event hosted by Pediatric Home Healthcare. Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Texas) (10/12)
October 20, 2015
Note helps mistreated kitten find a better life
A Kirkland, Wash., woman walking her dog found a young kitten in a box with a note scrawled in a child’s handwriting saying the kitten had been abused. The woman took the cat to a veterinarian for care and later to a local rescue. The kitten is doing well in foster care, but questions remain about the safety of the child. KCPQ-TV (Seattle) (10/16)
