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2010′s first roundup requires protective eyewear
By David S. Greene
January 4, 2010
Welcome to a whole new year of news you can use!
No Kill done right in Detroit: Hard on the heels of Christie’s recent pondering of what no-kill means, we have a perfectly timed story from Detroit. An Oakland County shelter’s getting it done, the right way. I’ve gotta tell you, the following quote from Larry Obrecht, the head of the county’s Animal Control Division since 2003, just makes me smile.
“We’re there on dogs, and we’re almost there on cats,” Obrecht said. “The only dogs that are euthanized here are dangerous, really sick or critically injured.”Obrecht, 68, of Lake Orion said reducing the euthanasia rate for strays and other animals that come into the county’s Animal Care Center in Auburn Hills requires the right attitude, an aggressive adoption program and constant efforts to spay and neuter animals.
Sweet Georgia clay: Hey cat-lovers! Did you know that the evolution of kitty litter technology is creating problems in the once-booming Georgia clay industry.
“[A] dizzying variety of new litter has entered the market in the last decade and threatened Georgia’s position as the leading litter producer.
At least two large factories have closed as cat owners shift to clays that form clumps when wet, allowing easy removal with a slotted scoop. Pine, wheat and other natural products have also gained in popularity.”
Canned pumpkin shortage alert: Thank you to Mary Mary for giving us a heads up on this. There’s a canned pumpkin shortage in some parts of the country, and it appears to have been problematic since at least November. It’s worse in some areas than others, and you do have alternatives, of course. You could steam fresh pumpkins (we still have lots here in New England), check with other markets (I found no shortage here in the Boston area, calling around) or, perhaps, use substitutes such as canned winter squash. Canned pumpkin, with all that wonderful fiber, is great stuff that keeps things moving on through, if you take my drift. Not to mention … pie.
Another reason I’m not a tarantula owner: Gina sent me something on New Year’s Day morning which briefly made me consider changing my e-mail address so she couldn’t send me anything more like it. I wouldn’t think you’d need an excessive number of reasons to consider not owning a pet tarantula, but just in case, the LA Times has one more: The little monsters can (and do) shoot tiny, barbed hairs into your eyeballs. That’s right, eyeballs. Indiana Jones didn’t like snakes, and for the record I’m pretty seriously anti-spider. There’s a lovely, sharp picture in the article that I opted not to include here in the post. You’re welcome. (Oh, and here’s another version of the same story by ABC News which I could not bear to look at, sorry, but which I’m told features the expert advice of Cindy Steinle, one of our pals at PetHobbyist.com.)
What will we be talking about over the next 12 months? Pete the Vet offers a pointer to predictions of issues we may face in 2010 . Would you believe the spider story gets a mention in the article’s preamble? How many times am I going to be squicked out in one day?
A loving legacy from a grateful client: Vets get to make wish lists for Santa, too. For Sydenham Veterinary Services in Kingston, Ontario, Santa (in the guise of a longtime client’s family) came through in a big way.
Not sure of what the dollar amount might be, the veterinarians at the clinic came up with items that ranged from $50 to $20,000. From the list, the family picked the surgical table.
They wanted something that would be a lasting testament to Mrs. Gemmell, said Mrs. McRobert. They also donated money to various charities in her memory, “but we wanted something that was a little more tangible.”
They are also donating a digital picture frame that can hold thousands of photos. One of the photos that they have already loaded is of Barbara Gemmell.
The stainless steel surgical table, about two feet by four feet, can be raised, lowered or tilted in any direction so it can be positioned just right for whatever procedure happens to be going on, said Chubaty.
As always, if you’ve run across a non spider-related story, please either give a shout in the comments, or send it directly to me.
Photo credit: Larry Obrecht: Patricia Beck/DFP. Libby canned pumpkin: NYT.
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There seem to be plenty of winter squash in the produce ailes and some farmers may still have them. It’s easier to used canned pumpkin, but there’s no real difference if you bake your own butternut squash, Hubbard, buttercup, Delictia or one of the Japanese-named ones, puree it in the food processer and add it to the pet’s food. Lindsey has been on butternut squash since November and he’s doing fine.
Comment by Dorene — January 4, 2010 @ 7:25 am
David,
Thanks for including the pumpkin alert! I have two rabbits with very bad teeth (I have to puree their food) and I feed them pumpkin every day. I use 3-4 cans per week. Aieeh!
I just ordered a case through my local Whole Foods but it is going to cost a lot more than I’m used to paying. I wrote to Libby’s this weekend.
I spend more time preparing my rabbits’ food than my own.
Comment by Mary Mary — January 4, 2010 @ 7:26 am
Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you, David, for not including any spider pictures. I am seriously phobic about them. And I wondered why it had been difficult to find pumpkin in the store lately, especially considering the season.
Comment by Kim Thornton — January 4, 2010 @ 7:37 am
Kim,
The midwest fields were too flooded for the farmers to harvest.
Comment by Mary Mary — January 4, 2010 @ 7:40 am
You and me both, Kim, on the spider issue. Unless something very unusual happens, that’s going to be the last spider story you’ll read with my name attached to it in any way in the foreseeable future…..I hadn’t realized there was an issue with canned pumpkin because here in New England, we’re in good shape. Winter squash seems to be in good supply, though, so there is at least an available workaround. And thanks for the pointer, Mary! You all make my life so much easier.
Comment by David S. Greene — January 4, 2010 @ 8:01 am
Mary Mary, I had no trouble getting store brand pumpkin at the Bi-Lo in Zelienople.
But the stock clerk told me that they could not get the Libby’s for love nor money.
Bi-Lo store brand has to be a lot cheaper than Whole Paycheck.
I’ll check whether they are still stocked later today or tomorrow. Must come out of hibernation, out of milk.
Comment by H. Houlahan — January 4, 2010 @ 9:38 am
No wonder the closest Kroger store to me was out. Here I thought all these people had baked pumpkin pies for Christmas and the store hadn’t restocked.
Comment by VJ — January 4, 2010 @ 10:09 am
I heard about the canned pumpkin shortage before Thanksgiving and bought up a few cans. My sister said she can’t find any pumpkin in the stores near her - the great Northwest. Every time I go to the store I expect to not find pumpkin but so far I still see in on the shelves - maybe not for long.
Comment by Snoopys Friend — January 4, 2010 @ 10:10 am
A family dog saves 11 year old from Cougar attack - http://current.com/items/91825.....attack.htm
Comment by Snoopys Friend — January 4, 2010 @ 10:26 am
Heather, thanks. Yours is the closest Bi-Lo to me … if I get desperate I’ll have to drive up thataways.
I’m going to call some of the locally-based supermarkets and see if they have some store brand in stock.
I usually do buy store brand — the rabbits don’t mind at all.
I read that organic pumpkin, grown out west, is plentiful. Which is why Whole Foods will have a ca$e for me.
I called Trader Joe’s and they told me they will have no canned pumpkin until next fall!
If they could chew hay like normal bunnies this wouldn’t be an issue. They are ALWAYS hungry and always running at me when I go into the kitchen.
Comment by Mary Mary — January 4, 2010 @ 10:27 am
Thanks for the link, S.F.!
Comment by David S. Greene — January 4, 2010 @ 10:44 am
Tarantulas need love too. I’ve had one for several years now and never experienced an incident like the one described in those articles, although we have had various adventures and misadventures. I was aware of the urticating hair issue (that’s what those flingable, irritating hairs are called—some caterpillars have them too but can’t fling them) before I got Esmeralda. It’s something that they do in self-defense. In my opinion, they are the sort of pet that one primarily observes, and handling should be kept to a minimum to avoid stressing and upsetting the spider. There is a really terrific book from Barron’s—‘The Tarantula Keeper’s Guide’ by Stanley and Marguerite Schultz, which I highly recommend to any one interested in learning more about tarantulas, even if you swear you would never want one in your house. It is a very readable overview of their fascinating biology which might actually help with a spider phobia. The authors’ enthusiasm for all creatures eight-legged is contagious.
Comment by Valerie — January 4, 2010 @ 1:23 pm
The dog that saved the little boy from the cougar, the dog named Angel, had been an apartment dog and was adopted by this family - the father was unsure about getting a dog - the dog suffered injuries, torn eyelid, puncture wounds etc. and is going to the vets today. The family lives in a remote area. So glad the dog was there and is doing well.
Comment by Snoopys Friend — January 4, 2010 @ 4:03 pm
I’ve found that sweet potato also works. I zap it in the microwave and use it over several days.
Comment by Susan — January 4, 2010 @ 4:14 pm
Thanks for mentioning something good happening for animals in the Detroit area. We don’t hear enough about that, but lots about the bad stuff.
Comment by catmom5 — January 4, 2010 @ 5:26 pm
Catmom, that was precisely the reason I chose to made that one the lead. A notably *good* story out of Detroit on pretty much anything, well, it’s a big deal (other than when we’re talking about Mayor Bing, of whom I’ve always been a big fan, as a fellow Syracuse alum).
Comment by David S. Greene — January 4, 2010 @ 7:37 pm
I must also stick up for tarantulas and all other spiders. Okay, so you can’t play with them and petting isn’t good for them or you, but then you can’t do those things with fish, either. Spiders are quiet and way less work than a fish tank. And those hairs are only going to get in your eye if you stick your giant human head right next to them and scare them half to death. (Okay, you could transfer hairs from your hand into your eye, too, but that’s also your fault.) The challenge of making a great habitat for a tarantula is greater than just a tank with a lid, but the neat thing is they aren’t expensive to keep and they can live 5 to 15 years, and they will learn to respond to their keeper if managed nicely.
Also, thanks for the Detroit story. It would be so wonderful if the Toledo shelter not so far away, would learn something from Detroit’s success.
Comment by KateH — January 5, 2010 @ 11:40 am