A little this, a little that … more Friday wrap-up
By Gina Spadafori
June 19, 2009
Lots of little stuff I’ve been meaning to mention, completely unrelated:
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No-kill flamethrower Nathan Winograd goes through some old boxes and finds a postcard from 1994:
Mr. Winograd:
1) We do not advocate “right to life” for animals.
2) There are always exceptions.
Ingrid Newkirk
More here, on Winograd’s blog.
Winograd said the exceptions Newkirk was referring to was in reference to her point that PETA policy supported the extermination of feral cats.
You just can’t make this stuff up! Points for consistency, if nothing else, from this gang of loons who are now grousing at President Obama for killing a fly but who think it’s just fine to kill more than 90 percent of the pets that come into their care.
Why is anyone still listening to PETA?
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Yes, VPI is one of our sponsors, but I’d mention this anyway. It’s a nice move:
Due to depleted funds from the increased number of pets helped this fiscal year, the AAHA Foundation had to temporarily suspend grants from the AAHA Helping Pets Fund in April. The generous gift from VPI Pet Insurance [$25, 000] will enable the AAHA Helping Pets Fund to resume granting funds immediately.
As the benevolent arm of the AAHA Foundation, the Helping Pets Fund helps those in need access quality veterinary care for their sick or injured pets. The Foundation awards grants supporting veterinary care for pets that have been abandoned or whose owners are experiencing financial hardship.
Thanks to the generous support of AAHA members, individuals and corporate donations since its inception in 2005, the AAHA Helping Pets Fund has awarded more than $800,000 in grants to help more than 3,000 pets receive much needed veterinary care.
You can donate, too. Information here.
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Plea details revealed for Chem Nutra pair linked to pet-food recall: probation and a fine that’s less than a nice new car. VIN News, here. Also from VIN News, Evanger’s says their problem with the FDA is a matter of paperwork, and food irraditation is suspected in neurological problems in Australian cats. … Funny piece on the people you see at a dog show on Frogdog. … Houlie’s husband dishes the dirt on “Did a Cat Shit in Here?” (be sure to read the comments) … Fugly reports on wacky made-up horse registries, just like in dogs! … YesBiscuit! on pet snobbery and the poor. … The UK’s Dogs Trust launches an eZine. … Wayne Pacelle of the HSUS notes that Gourmet magazine (of all things!) is calling for changes in the food industry with regards to meat. Michael Pollan got there first, and so did Slow Food. And so, too, did I. Compassion, sustainability and support of small family farms: It’s not just for vegans anymore. … I once spent part of a day in the company of a roomful of sun conures. Honestly, I’m surprised I still have my hearing. This are really fun, lively and stunningly beautiful parrots, but I’ll stick with my relatively quiet Caique, thanks. Here’s why, funny story courtesy of Best in Flock. … Saturday addition: Pet Connection BFF Dr. Patty Khuly on how veterinarians feel about Merial using Cesar Millan as the company pitchman for Frontline. Short take: They’re not happy. … Got anything interesting? Aggravating? Head-exploding? Toss it in the comments.
In other news, Marion Nestle will be speaking at the Cat Writers conference on the pet food recalls and their implications for food safety policy.
Comment by Kim Thornton — June 19, 2009 @ 4:26 pm
Excellent!
Comment by Gina Spadafori — June 19, 2009 @ 4:35 pm
Great links Gina
Just got my Lake Co. refugee foster back from his first adulticide heartworm treatment. Jay’s comment “oh, it will be easy to keep Otis quiet”
Nope, Otis’ chronometer has been cranked back about 5-7 years to be closer to his real 5 year old age as opposed to the creaky exhausted elder he was acting like originally. Keeping him as quiet as possible while his large heartworm load resolves is going to be a PITA.
Suggestions are more than welcome! So far even the most deliciously loaded kong and about a million other toys are not holding his attention. He is, unfortunately, on the canine version of total bed rest. He has a pretty advanced case and a heavy duty heartworm load.
Comment by JenniferJ — June 19, 2009 @ 6:19 pm
My aggravating moment came when I heard Merial is partnering with Cesar Millan to give out free dvd’s to clients of vet clinics. Our rep told us it was just a simple training dvd, (teaching sit and stuff like that) nothing controversial, but last I heard he was saying he wasn’t a dog trainer. He is a “dog psycologist”. So what gives?
Oh and they can’t give us a DVD to check out for ourselves first so our clinic took a pass. We won’t promote something we can’t see first.
Comment by Marie — June 19, 2009 @ 7:24 pm
PETA vs. AVMA and Pike Place fish-throwers
In an odd dispute between animal-rights activists and — of all people — veterinarians, “It’s “gloves off,” says PETA president and co-founder Ingrid Newkirk.
Members of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals plan to protest a fish-throwing demonstration from the employees of Pike Place Fish at the opening ceremony of The American Veterinary Medical Association’s annual convention, to be held July 11-14 in Seattle.
…
http://seattletimes.nwsource.c.....eo18m.html
Comment by kb — June 19, 2009 @ 8:02 pm
I will quote an AP news item -
6/7/09 - Ontario - An eastern Oregon city with a lot of feral cats figures the best it can do [to] contain the problem is to get critters neutered and spayed.
The Ontario Budget Committee agreed to set aside $5,000.00 in the Ontario Police Department budget to trap, spay or neuter and then release the feral cats.
The program calls for community donations to match the $5,000.00.
The idea is that trapping and killing does little good because the feral cats will reproduce quickly enough to replace the euthanized animals.
Neutering male cats reduces spraying. The neutered cats get a notched ear to mark them.
End of news article -
my comment - who listens to PETA? thankfully not the people of Ontario, Oregon. Bravo Ontario! Bravo Nathan Winograd “the flamethrower” “the lightning Rod” (or whatever anyone calls him)!
Comment by francis — June 19, 2009 @ 8:27 pm
Come on, Nathan’s not a flamethrower, he merely speaks the truth:)
“I never give them hell. I just tell the truth and they think it’s hell.” Harry S Truman
Comment by Kelley — June 20, 2009 @ 12:08 am
My aggravating moment came when I heard Merial is partnering with Cesar Millan to give out free dvd’s to clients of vet clinics. Our rep told us it was just a simple training dvd, (teaching sit and stuff like that) nothing controversial, but last I heard he was saying he wasn’t a dog trainer. He is a “dog psycologist”. So what gives?
He has discovered, as he mentioned in his second book, that people want training advice from him. Basic skills training is not the service he sells, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t know how to do it; anyone who consistently watches his show will have observed him doing a lot of training when it’s necessary to address the dog’s problems. The episode with Wilshire, the fire house puppy, was almost entirely reward-based obedience and behavior training, with a dollop of “stop acting like idiots around the dog” for the firefighters.
Oh and they can’t give us a DVD to check out for ourselves first so our clinic took a pass. We won’t promote something we can’t see first.
Now, that is a reasonable objection and I totally agree. No distributing to your clients something they won’t let you check out first.
Comment by Lis — June 20, 2009 @ 6:16 am
In regards to PeTA, check out the Onion:
http://www.theonion.com/conten.....ce=infocus
Comment by Anne T — June 20, 2009 @ 12:32 pm
Good stuff here
The whole speech is on here
http://gawker.com/5298073/john.....first-nerd
Comment by JenniferJ — June 20, 2009 @ 3:14 pm
I saw it last night. Pretty funny! I got most of the geek references, too.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — June 20, 2009 @ 3:27 pm
Me too. :)
Comment by JenniferJ — June 20, 2009 @ 3:46 pm
Ref Cesar Millan doing training: The episode with the firehouse dog had an OUTSIDE trainer do clicker training with him, not training by CM himself. He even commented, “oh that’s how that works?” When he watched the trainer working with the dog.
Comment by Marie — June 20, 2009 @ 5:42 pm
MSN poll,
yeah, another one but mercifully upfront and black/white
http://www.petplace.com/polls......newsletter
Comment by JenniferJ — June 21, 2009 @ 2:40 pm
Just saw a teaser for a segment for CBS 5 tonight on SB 250.
Framed as a “why would breeders oppose something that will save animal lives?”
Of course.
If anyone has any connections there they might want to try to pass the minor fact along that MSN, COST, FAILS AND KILLS.
I left an e-mail but have little faith it will be considered.
Comment by JenniferJ — June 21, 2009 @ 5:22 pm