Rainy days and Mondays always get me down
By Gina Spadafori
April 23, 2007
Closing in on six weeks since the first recall isn’t doing much for me, either. Not to mention, one of my bunnies died yesterday. I had bought dandelion greens — her favorite — and this morning when I got them out to share (the dogs and parrot like them, too), the one who liked them most of all was no longer there.
With Annie gone, her companion bunny Velocity picked at the greens with little interest. I know how he feels.
So, I went to YouTube and found a couple of cute pet videos. Need a break? Watch these:
From readers:
Got others? Let me know.
Reminder on comments: We’ve allowed pretty much everything through from the first, with the exception of ad spam and profanity. In recent days, we’ve also deleted comments for hate speech and death threats (very, very few of either, thankfully). Keep your comments clean, civil and on point, or they will be deleted. Attacking the mental health status of another commenter, in case you were wondering, isn’t clean, civil or on point.
Hmm…..something seems to odd with the blog. am seeing this story posted 3 x, lol, and my comment went poof so am trying this again….
Gina asked:
“Got others? Let me know.”
Ask & ye shall receive. One of my all time favs:
“Talking Cats”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV6DQuEh4UQ
Comment by Ally — April 23, 2007 @ 8:44 am
The one that always gets a smile and a shiver down my spine is Adreas Helgstand and Blue Hors Matine at WEG 2006. Sorry I don’t know how to add the link here. . .
Comment by Cardima — April 23, 2007 @ 8:46 am
So sorry to hear about Annie. I love bunnies, they seem like such special creatures.
Comment by slt — April 23, 2007 @ 8:51 am
Thank-you, Gina. I have these three kittens; they think I’m their Mom since I helped feed them as babies. Now, at 8 months, they follow me around expecting me to teach them something. I’ve tried to teach them to use the mouse to surf the web and they will click it sometimes but they don’t get it; there’s no prey involved…
Well, anyway, I just wanted to say thanks for all your efforts (and everyones else’s too), thanks for trying to bring in a little cheer.
Comment by Peggy — April 23, 2007 @ 8:52 am
I’m so sorry to hear about Annie. I certainly know the pain of loss and my heart goes out to you and Velocity.
It’s a rainy Monday here too, and the six weeks mark is truly one I wish we never had to acknowledge. It’s definitely been a long, weary, road for all of us.
Thanks for the videos…that flushing cat always makes me laugh.
Comment by Therese — April 23, 2007 @ 8:55 am
Hi, Gina. I’m so sorry to hear about Annie. Hugs to you and Velocity, too. And thanks for the smiles - and for all your work here!!
Comment by Laura — April 23, 2007 @ 8:58 am
Gina - I’m so sorry about the loss of your sweet bunny and dear friend.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 23, 2007 @ 9:01 am
Sorry about you bunny, the hole they leave just keeps bleeding for a while, doesn’t it?
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 23, 2007 @ 9:03 am
In the interest of species equality, don’t forget the talking dogs. :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....s&NR=1
(Although nothing tops the singing tuxedo cat in the talking cats video you linked to above. “Oh, don piano” always makes me laugh out loud!)
Comment by Laura — April 23, 2007 @ 9:16 am
Public Service Announcement
AFP - 1 hour, 31 minutes ago
WASHINGTON (AFP) - Unwary investors should be suspicious of e-mails, cell phone text messages and faxes touting supposedly cheap Chinese stocks which promoters claim will rocket in value, US regulators said Monday.
Comment by Steve — April 23, 2007 @ 10:14 am
Oh, I’m so sorry about your bunny Annie.
Comment by Jenny — April 23, 2007 @ 10:26 am
Sorry to hear about Annie. We have a house bunny Buster who’s companions are cats Sugar and Spice. Hugs to Velocity I hope he finds a new friend.
Comment by Maureen (Lilly and Lucy's mom) — April 23, 2007 @ 10:38 am
No matter how it happens, nothing is more gut-wrenching to a pet-lover than the loss of one of their cherished pets.
Keeps remembering happy moments with Annie, Gina, while you and Velocity lend each other support.
Comment by Lynn — April 23, 2007 @ 10:53 am
Sorry to hear for your loss but this is a cute website with funny pictures of animals:
I can has cheeseburger: (I am not affiliated just love the pictures is all) http://icanhascheezburger.wordpress.com/
Bound to put a smile on your face. (I hope)
Comment by MM — April 23, 2007 @ 11:00 am
Godzilla Cats:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-lCORtj2NQ
Comment by Elderta — April 23, 2007 @ 11:24 am
Gina,I’M So Very Sorry For The Lost Of Annie
Comment by Marry Ann — April 23, 2007 @ 11:31 am
Gina, I am so sorry I missed what you wrote about your Annie. I was typing fast as I was on my way out the door. My heart goes out to you along with many hugs of comfort.
Comment by Ally — April 23, 2007 @ 11:32 am
Gina, I’m sorry to hear about the loss of Annie.
Comment by petlover — April 23, 2007 @ 11:43 am
“Reminder on comments: We’ve allowed pretty much everything through from the first, with the exception of ad spam and profanity. In recent days, we’ve also deleted comments for hate speech and death threats (very, very few of either, thankfully). Keep your comments clean, civil and on point, or they will be deleted. Attacking the mental health status of another commenter, in case you were wondering, isn’t clean, civil or on point.”
What about making accustaory statements against the pharmaceutical industry while though having made mistakes, has contributed to the ever-increasing lifespans of millions of Americans? The fact that someone is allowed to say that they are responsible for killing more Americans than terrorists without so much as having any figures or facts to back up their statement, should not be permitted and deserves a public response if not rebuke.
Comment by Don — April 23, 2007 @ 11:52 am
Don, you miss the point. Debate the topic, fine. Attack the debater, not fine.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — April 23, 2007 @ 11:55 am
Don I have an easy solution for this whole fiasco.
We book Good Morning America. We invite the Pet Food Institute folks so they can demonstrate their belief in their products safety and palatability. We put down three cans, no labels, one safe, one unknown, and one unopened contaminated recall product. Pick a can, and enjoy. Live on National television. What a way to restore Americas faith in their products.
Comment by Steve — April 23, 2007 @ 11:57 am
Sorry about your Annie, Gina.
It’s never easy.
Comment by Marcy — April 23, 2007 @ 11:58 am
Steve,
The person that could really bring us justice as well as assist with a National Pet Food Boycott - agree with him or not, is Bill O’Reilly on The Factor. I would personally love to take on the Pet Institute’s director - whatever his name was who testified at the congressional hearing.
He’s still probably spewing his belief that 16 dead pets is overstated!
I like your idea of the three can - we could call the segment The Rice is Right!
Comment by Don — April 23, 2007 @ 12:06 pm
Oh, that is terrible! Did she die or just missing? You said gone. Maybe she escaped & will return?? They are so sweet. How sad!
Comment by Kat — April 23, 2007 @ 12:13 pm
Here is Possessed Demon Cat:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyPY9SmhvQU
Comment by Kat — April 23, 2007 @ 12:16 pm
That is a cat with one bad attitude! :l
Comment by Kat — April 23, 2007 @ 12:17 pm
Comment by Don — April 23, 2007 @ 12:06 pm
I would call the segment Fear Factor Pet Food Edition.
Comment by Steve — April 23, 2007 @ 12:17 pm
Here’s a link to a flash movie I’d almost forgotten. It was shared several years ago on one of my dog email groups. It’s not a funny, but very touching. If you like the song “You’ve Got A Friend”, you should enjoy this one. It takes awhile to load, but I think it’s worth the wait.
I hope it warms your heart as much as it does mine:
You’ve Got A Friend
http://indigo.org/friends/
It also contains one of my alltime favorite animal quotes:
“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” ~ Anatole France
Comment by Ally — April 23, 2007 @ 12:18 pm
Laura, that singing Tuxedo cat that you singled out may have been in his Carnegie Hall attire, but he was getting ready to hork up a furball. I recognize the look and sound! Seriously, how could any person take one look at any of those posted videos and not realize that our fur babies are so much more than “property”.
Comment by elizabeth R — April 23, 2007 @ 12:21 pm
I have a couple of posts up on You Tube of my animules:
Here’s Maggie in “Yum! Peanut Butter!”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Px-x3oXUNc
and, here’s Phat Mack McCat in “Copy-Cat!”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJyB6QUA2os
I have a few more short, goofy videos taken with the cell phone camera on My Channel:
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=KatMcKat
Comment by Kat — April 23, 2007 @ 12:26 pm
Here is some sick, animated humor? about rendering plants:
http://www.themeatrix.com/
Comment by Kat — April 23, 2007 @ 12:30 pm
Gina,
My heart goes out to you. Bunnies are so special too, I’ve had a few loving ones myself. Some where many years ago, and when I think about them I remember what love and joy they gave me. You will always carry Annie in your heart. We lost our dear Pedro just before Christmas. It too broke our hearts. Now we also have Angel and I know she misses him. People who are not animal lovers just don’t understand those of us who treasure these dear creatures. I really prefer animals to people, mostly because they don’t judge and love unconditionally. Thank you for all that you do. I know you have helped saved the lives of my dear pets and for that I am truely grateful.
In love and peace,
FM
Comment by FMtz — April 23, 2007 @ 12:38 pm
I hope this melamine crap isn’t in ALL the FEED! I was thinking it’s probably in the chicken feed, since it’s in the hog feed. They’ve just been cranking the stuff out in China to who the heck knows where.
Comment by Kat — April 23, 2007 @ 12:51 pm
Gina,Do You Know If The FDA Hearing on Tues Will Be Live On TV?
Comment by MARRY ANN — April 23, 2007 @ 12:52 pm
on c -span there is nothing listed for the FDA Hearing on TUES.
Comment by MARRY ANN — April 23, 2007 @ 1:32 pm
I am very sorry for your loss. Every day we get to spend with them is a gift. They give us so much love, joy, and sweet bunny kisses I tell my students everyday with a pet is like Christmas!!!!!
Here is my own talking cat. A few seconds in he says MAMA.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqRCZKXNXwY
Comment by pamalajane — April 23, 2007 @ 1:36 pm
Just got my hackles up! Still concerned about the heartgard chewables. Called the number that was here on one of the posts from Merial last week. In fact, called twice. The first time got brain freeze after hearing the words “proprietary ingredients”. First gal told me beef, ground corn cobs, soy protein, tallow, citric acid. Did give me name of CEO, Jerry Belle. She wasn’t sure how he spelled his name. Second gal, didn’t know who else I could speak to when I asked if there was a nutritionist or chemist who could answer questions. She kept saying, a letter was sent to all veterinarians telling them that the product is safe. HA>HA, right! Famous last words. I determined Merial has a flanx of young gals who answer the phone to only generalized questions. Not even located in the same state probably. Just a call center.
Five ingredients are beef, ground corn cobs, soy protein, tallow, citric acid. Jerry Belle’s address is Merial, 3239 Satellite Blvd, Duluth Georgia 30096. I’ll be writing him a letter asking if he thinks this is a joke.
Comment by VJ — April 23, 2007 @ 1:51 pm
Also saw the “teaser” for Oprah’s pet show on Wed, 4-25. Betcha if she says anything at all about the recall it will be something like “We’ve received many letters from people who have written about the loss or illnesses of their pets from the recall. My heart and thoughts are with you”. End of comment. She won’t get involved beyond that.
Comment by VJ — April 23, 2007 @ 1:54 pm
Gina, so sorry to hear about Annie! My boyfriend’s mother has a lot of bunnies, and when one older one recently passed, she paired the mate with a guinea pig, which has tremendously cheered up the remaining bunny. I know it wouldn’t take the place of Annie, but maybe it would help ease the pain for Velocity.
Comment by Krystal — April 23, 2007 @ 1:58 pm
So sorry about Annie….Sue
Comment by AZSue — April 23, 2007 @ 2:38 pm
C-SPAN ,has it full schedule up for tues. they do not have the fda hearing on pet food recall
Comment by MARRY ANN — April 23, 2007 @ 2:54 pm
There is nothing on Sen. Durbin’s Web Site About FDA Hearing on Tues. Either !!!1
Comment by MARRY ANN — April 23, 2007 @ 3:11 pm
Rainydays and Mondays by The Carpenters
I will forever think of your bunny Annie whenever I hear this song again.
Dedicated to Gina and Velocity
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....mp;search=
Comment by Mike — April 23, 2007 @ 3:34 pm
The hearing tomorrow is being conducted in the House, not the Senate. Here’s information about what and when and who the witnesses are (notice there’s a vet on Panel II and ChemNutra’s Stephen Miller on Panel III). CSPAN doesn’t have it on the schedule for cable broadcast, however you can e-mail them and request that they cover it. I suspect it’s being webcast so hopefully someone that has that info will post it.
http://energycommerce.house.go.....s.List.pdf
Comment by Maureen — April 23, 2007 @ 3:41 pm
Maureen
Isn’t the House Session tomorrow at 10:30. Isn’t that scheduled to be live?
Comment by VJ — April 23, 2007 @ 3:46 pm
VJ, It’s at 9:30 a.m. ET. I suspect that the House itself will either webcast or audiocast (is that a word) this but I haven’t found a link for that yet. C-SPAN might still add it to their broadcast schedule, but they haven’t yet.
Comment by Maureen — April 23, 2007 @ 3:55 pm
i went on itchmo web page ,the hearing will be webcast
Comment by MARRY ANN — April 23, 2007 @ 4:00 pm
Yes, it’s the House. The other one was the Senate. They can’t even get together and have one hearing. Congresswoman Diane DeGette will be there. Congressman Mike Doyle will try but has another hearing at the same time. No one else I called could even tell me if they’d be there. When they found out I wasn’t a constituent they listened in silence. They’re all going to get letters telling them I’m a US citizen and their job is to take an interest in the subject of food safety for all of us. I assume the Chair and Vice Chair will be there. Dingell’s office at least took my name and showed an interest. Whitfield took my address (but I bet his interest will wane when he finds out I’m not a Rep!), and Waxman’s office was polite. Was disappointed in Schakowsky’s office. No one could tell me if she’d be there and she wrote a letter to FDA on 3/28 asking about the pet food recall. Which was as far as I got with phone calls.
Does anyone know who the first 3 people on the witness list are? Private citizens?
Gina, I’m so sorry you lost a bunny May she have lots of carrots to eat on the other side.
My condolences.
Comment by CathyA — April 23, 2007 @ 4:09 pm
Marry Ann,
I can’t find the webcast info on itchmo’s site. Could you please post it here?
Comment by Maureen — April 23, 2007 @ 4:14 pm
PROTEIN SPIKING OF FOOD IS NOT A NEW TRICK 04/23/07
Howl 911 has received a number of emails which has shed some light on the history and practice of protein spiking various food types to mask poor quality and/or to obtain higher market pricing. In some cases—that of adding urea to bovine feed—the practice is perfectly legal, albeit risky, as this University of Arizona veterinary health alert warns:
http://howl911.com/
Comment by Steve — April 23, 2007 @ 4:16 pm
Pacific Chemistry Professor and Student Discover Breakthrough Testing Method for Pet Food
http://www.spectroscopynow.com.....amp;page=1
[April 23, 2007 University of the Pacific / Rhashad Pittman]
————————————————————————————————————————
Stockton, CA. April 23, 2007.
A professor and graduate student in University of the Pacific’s chemistry department have developed a new method for determining how to identify foreign substances in pet food. The breakthrough discovery allows scientists to determine whether pet food has been contaminated in a matter of minutes.
Professor O. David Sparkman, who has made recent appearances on spectroscopyNOW’s podcasts, and graduate student Teresa Vail used a mass spectrometer with the D.A.R.T. (Direct Analysis in Real Time) interface device to determine that a can of dog food that was recently recalled contained melamine, a chemical used in plastic furniture, cookware, and fertilizers. The chemical is at the heart of the nationwide recall of contaminated pet food that has caused numerous animal deaths.
“The significance of the D.A.R.T. mass spectral technique is that results are available in minutes or seconds,” Sparkman said. “Because of enhancements we have made to the D.A.R.T. technology, our answers are definitely unambiguous.”
Mass spectrometry is used to determine the mass of and to identify molecules in substances. By using mass spectrometry, Sparkman said, they were able to determine that a sample of ALPO dog food that had been listed in the recent recall contained melamine. The sample produced an accurate mass signal that is specific to the chemical.
The D.A.R.T. device, when connected to the mass spectrometer machine, allows food substances to be analyzed without the need for any sample preparation, he said. The process takes only a few minutes.
The traditional process of determining whether a food substance has been contaminated using conventional gas chromatography/mass spectrometry or liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry techniques can take an hour or more. The new method could save federal regulators time and money when testing food imports, Sparkman said.
The idea to use the method came after Ms. Vail received word that some of the cans of ALPO she recently purchased for her own dogs were recalled due to the possibility that they contained melamine. Under Sparkman’s direction, she tested the dog food and found that only one of a dozen cans tested positive for the chemical. Vail said they were using the same testing method in other research projects in the department.
They will present their breakthrough method at an American Society of Mass Spectrometry conference in Indianapolis, Ind., in June.
Sparkman is a mass spectrometry consultant to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and manager of the chemistry department’s mass spectrometry facility.
For more information, contact Professor O. David Sparkman at +1 209 483 5740 or osparkman@pacific.edu.
Comment by Mike — April 23, 2007 @ 4:26 pm
PFI Members
Affiliate Members - suppliers of ingredients, equipment, and services to the pet food industry.
ADM Animal Health & Nutrition
Comment by Steve — April 23, 2007 @ 4:29 pm
Any peep-whimper from the Pet Food Brands?
Comment by Steve — April 23, 2007 @ 4:36 pm
Gina,
I’m so sorry to hear about Annie. Bunnies are special companions too. She will be waiting at the “bridge” eyeing those supersized carrots and tall grass to nibble on - someday you and Velocity will meet up with her again and share all those memories you hold dear in your heart.
Katie
Comment by Katie — April 23, 2007 @ 8:06 pm
Gina, for you and Annie—-
THE VELVETEEN RABBIT
by Margerie Williams
Real isn’t how you are made said the Skin Horse. It is a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become real.
Does it hurt? I asked the Rabbit.
Sometimes, said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. When you are Real you don’t mind being hurt.
Does it happen all at once, like being wound up, he asked, or bit by bit?
It doesn’t happen all at once said the Skin Horse. You become. It takes a long time. That ís why it doesn’t often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 23, 2007 @ 8:36 pm
Comment by Nadine Long — April 23, 2007 @ 8:36 pm
Oh, Nadine, thank you. I forgot how much I love that story, and how perfect it is when it comes to the pets we love.
Comment by Laura — April 23, 2007 @ 9:22 pm