Rescued hiker awake, search continues for his dog Zulu
Source: ElPasoTimes.com, Dec 14, 2009
The family of Robert Sumrall, the rescued hiker, said Monday he is awake but still not talking.
They expect Sumrall will be transferred to an acute-care hospital today after 10 days of intensive care at University Medical Center.
Sumrall, 67, vanished with his dog Zulu, a black Labrador retriever mix, in the Black Range of the Gila National Forest more than two weeks ago.
After seven days in the frigid mountains of west-central New Mexico, two ranchers found Sumrall with 3-year-old Zulu on the east side of the Mimbres Valley near San Lorenzo, N.M. Sumrall was lying down semi-conscious with Zulu on top of him, but as the two people approached them, Zulu ran away and is still missing in the mountains.
Sumrall’s wife, Jan Sumrall, said it is taking him a while to recover, but she believes the frostbites on his body and feet and his body functions are looking a lot better. Jan Sumrall is a former city representative.
“Just the thought of him getting better each day keeps me going,” she said.
Jan Sumrall said doctors have not said anything about long-term effects her husband could suffer.
Because of the tracheotomy he had, Robert Sumrall cannot talk yet, said Chris Hoggard, his son-in-law.
As Robert Sumrall recovers, his family and the Animal Rescue League aren’t giving up on the search for Zulu.
“We are confident that we will get our little girl back,” Jan Sumrall said.
The disappearance of Zulu broke the hearts of many animal lovers in the area who have followed the story. She has been called a hero, a savior and the loyal friend who helped Sumrall stay warm in wintry conditions in the mountains.El Paso Times blogger Lorraine Kubala started an account to reward whoever brings back Zulu. But Cissy McAndrew, who owns the property where Sumrall was found, said that hikers are trespassing and that the search should be left to the professionals, the Animal Rescue League.
The group installed live traps and took food and clothes from Robert Sumrall to the search area last week. The efforts yielded no clues on Sunday however, said Loretta Hyde, founder of the Animal Rescue League.
Hyde went Sunday with another dog and did not find Zulu. They have also posted flyers in bed and breakfasts and gas stations around the area, but Hyde said the area where Zulu could be is large.
“It’s very discouraging because that place is so huge,” Hyde said. “It’s just wilderness. Every corner you go around it’s the same thing.”
Hyde said that it is hard to say whether Zulu is alive because of the threat wild animals pose in the forest. But doctors said Labradors can be strong enough to resist the cold and wildlife.
Colorado seizes 100 starving sled dogs
Source: AssociatedPress.com, Dec 17, 2009
About 100 starving sled dogs have been seized from a racing business in Colorado.
Colorado’s state veterinarian says an anonymous tip led authorities to Pawsatrack Racing Sled Dogs in the Park County town of Hartsel, about 70 miles southwest of Denver. The company’s phone number isn’t listed.
Authorities say they found six dead husky-type dogs and seized 30 starving dogs immediately. On Thursday, animal protection authorities took the remaining 70 dogs.
Dr. Keith Roehr (ROAR), the state vet, says the dogs were malnourished and that one dog has since died. He says the dogs were all crossbreeds of Alaskan descent used in sled racing.
Park County sheriff’s officials were investigating the dogs’ owners for possible animal neglect charges, but as of Thursday afternoon no one had been charged
Pet-Tao Introduces New Line of Nutritional Dog Food
Source: Businesswire.com, Dec 14, 2009
Veterinarians Combine Western Nutritional Science with Eastern Food Therapy
After years of treating pets and studying both Western and Eastern veterinary medicine, two Nashville veterinarians have founded Pet-Tao Pet Foods to provide dogs a diet designed to help them lead a longer, healthier life.
During their decades in private practice, veterinarians Dr. Marc Smith and Dr. Casey Damron encountered numerous clinical cases that did not respond to the treatments used in traditional veterinary medicine. They wanted to provide more for “man’s best friend” — not only in treatment options, but also in prevention strategies.
Upon completing training at the Chi Institute, the veterinarians concluded that fresh food based on sound Eastern principles is the foundation for a long, happy, and healthy life. After two years of intensive research and development, the vets have launched Pet-Tao Pet Foods, believed to be the first dog food that combines the strengths of Western Nutritional Science with the time-proven theories of Eastern Medicine, primarily Eastern Food Therapy.
In Eastern Food Therapy, food items are chosen and combined in ways to heal the body as well as keep it in balance. The focus is on the effect the food has on the body after it is eaten. Each food item is described as having energetic properties such as warming, cooling, or flavors that act on the body in certain predictable yet different ways.
Pet-Tao Pet Foods is now being sold nationally through a network of 70 partner veterinarians, select retail locations, and direct to consumers through www.pet-tao.com. Testimonials from appreciative dog owners are flooding in from across the country. For instance, Moose, a seven-year-old male castrated Yellow Lab, had numerous medical problems including obesity, skin and ear disease, and a thyroid condition. On the Pet-Tao Yin Diet for 120 days now, Moose has lost 11 lbs.; his skin disease has improved by 50 percent; and his thyroid medication has been reduced by 50 percent.
Pet-Tao Pet Foods is made from human-grade ingredients, consisting primarily of muscle and organ meat (beef, chicken, turkey and fish), vegetables and culinary herbals. It is all-natural with added vitamins and minerals and has no artificial preservatives or flavors.
For more information, visit www.pettao.com or call 615-934-3832. Also, check out Pet-Tao news on Facebook and follow Dr. Smith’s blog.
Shelter helps rescue 18 dogs from puppy mill
Source: The Daily Herald, Dec 7, 2009
A passion to rescue dogs from the hands of questionable breeders and the power of social networking combined to create one of the largest and quickest fundraising efforts in Save-A-Pet history.
More than 250 people donated nearly $8,000 to buy dogs at an auction in Missouri this past weekend.
An urgent plea for money from Save-A-Pet board President Karen Rappaport went out via e-mail and Facebook, and was quickly shared via other social sites.
“The response was phenomenal,” said shelter Director Dana Deutsch. “We got responses from Canada to New Jersey. One person saw the notice on his vegan Web site.”
The Grayslake shelter got word of a puppy farm that was going out of business. Hundreds of dogs were up for auction. The animals that weren’t purchased were to be destroyed.
Dog auctions are common, but this was the first attended by Save-A-Pet. Shelter leaders say they don’t want to contribute to what they say is a profit-driven cycle of abuse.
The breeders, though legal, typically force adult dogs to breed continuously in filthy and dangerous conditions, Deutsch explained.
Save-A-Pet leaders made an exception in this case because the breeder was going out of business. There were Pomeranians, bulldogs, boxers, Maltese and toy poodles among the 232 dogs on the block. Deutsch attended the auction and returned with 18 dogs that will be available for adoption.
Conditions at the Missouri farm were better than most, Deutsch said, but some of the dogs had missing limbs that were chewed off by other dogs in the cramped conditions. Most were dirty and dozens had lice. Attending the sale was an emotional experience.
“At one point, I was really overwhelmed and had a hard time being there,” she said. “There were three long rows of wire cages, like chicken coops, just packed with dogs. They were jumping and barking as their paws were pushing through the bottom of the wire cages. They were looking at me with that ‘Please help me,’ look. It was hard.”
Near capacity and low on funds, the intake of the dogs comes at a tough time for the shelter. Ten staff members were laid off this past October. The recession has affected donations at the same time the number of cats and dogs entering the shelter has tripled, officials said.
This weekend’s purchase couldn’t have happened without the emergency drive, Rapport said.
The dogs will be available for adoption once they receive medical care and are spayed and neutered. Those interested in adoption should call (847) 740-7788 or visit save-a-pet-il.org.
The power of the Internet continues to impress Rappaport.
“It’s just amazing how quickly this all came together,” she said. “So many people have stepped up and most of them weren’t our regular supporters.”
Pet shelter offering foster program during holidays
Source: mywebtimes.com, Dec 4, 2009
Brenda Leake wants to find a heartwarming and loving home for her “kids.”
Leake, the shelter director of Just Animals in Seneca, is partnering with Petfinder.com, hoping to foster some of its dogs this Christmas season.
“We’ve been talking about how great it would be to get our pets into homes for Christmas,” Leake told The Times. “This is the first time we’ve fostered for the holidays. We probably have about 20 dogs right now.”
The current dog population ranges in age from five months to four years.
The program runs from Wednesday, Dec. 23, through Saturday, Jan. 2. There is a $25 fostering charge to cover licensing fees, and if the family decides to adopt, there is a $195 to $250 adoption fee, but the $25 fostering charge would be deducted from that fee.
Those interested must fill out application papers as if they were going to adopt so the shelter can verify the animal is going to a good home.
Leake said people choose to foster for various reasons.
“Some of them are not allowed to have pets on a long-term basis, some people can find out a lot more about a dog by fostering,” Leake said. “It’s a great opportunity to give back. A lot of people aren’t quite sure if they’re ready for a pet and this helps them make that decision.”
Leake said the fostering process normally works well.
“It works out wonderful for people,” she said. “We try to pair up animals that will fit into the home. We have a lot of great dogs right now.”
Interest in the program has been growing.
“I have been getting calls for a few weeks,” Leake said. “People are very interested in this and are hoping to get their family interested as well.”
Leake said the shelter does get stray animals, but the hardest part has been getting animals through house foreclosures, leading to a family that cannot support the dog or cat anymore.
“It’s heartbreaking,” she said. “So many of them are great animals and it just rips your heart out. It’s very hard to see a dog with a good loving home and lose it. It’s very hard on the families and they cry along with us when they have to give up a part of their family to us.”
Pet Project, which is moving from Grand Ridge to Marseilles, is not currently offering fostering services.
“We’ve done it in the past, but it’s difficult because folks who want to foster often have other animals, and they don’t always get along,” said Sue Tonielli, president of the Pet Project board.
The Times was unable to reach Illinois Valley Animal Rescue in Peru by press time to see if they offer similar programs.
In Streator, PAWS to the Rescue, a canine rescue group, offers a foster program year-round. The group was founded in 2008 in response to a growing need for animal control assistance in La Salle County. For more information on PAWS or to donate, go online to www.pawsttr.org.
“I imagine coming in Christmas morning to do chores at the shelter and having the entire ‘Dog Room’ empty, all our ‘kids’ with a human to love, a soft place to sleep and a cuddle just for a bit,” said Leake. “Now that would be my perfect Christmas dream.”
Interested in fostering a dog or cat during the holidays?
Contact Brenda Leake, shelter director at Just Animals in Seneca.
Address: 2996 26th Road (E. Union St.)
Phone: 815-357-1223
e-mail: adopt@justanimals.org
Recalled cat food sickens 21 cats, North/Southeast US
Source: Associate Press, Dec 2, 2009
A Missouri company said Tuesday its recalled dried cat food has sickened 21 cats and the pet food was distributed in multiple states in the South and along the East Coast.
Diamond Pet Foods recalled certain bags of Premium Edge Finicky Adult Cat and Premium Edge Hairball cat food in September because they could lead to gastrointestinal or neurological problems for cats. They do not contain enough thiamine, an essential nutrient for cats.
If cats fed these foods have no other source of nutrition, they could develop thiamine deficiency. If untreated, this disorder could result in death, said the Meta, Mo., manufacturer.
The company updated information on the recall on Tuesday, saying it has confirmed 21 reports of thiamine deficiency in New York and Pennsylvania and the pet food was distributed in 18 states altogether. These states include Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
Initial symptoms of thiamine deficiency include decreased appetite, salivation, vomiting and weight loss. Later, neurological problems that could develop include bending the neck toward the floor, wobbly walking, circling, falling and seizures.
The affected cat food was pulled from store shelves on Sept. 23, according to the company. No incidents have been reported since Oct. 19.
For a full refund, consumers can return the recalled cat food to the place it was purchased. For more information, consumers can call 800-977-8797.
- Premium Edge pet food: http://www.premiumedgepetfood.com/
Humane Society launches puppy mill hotline
Source: Orange County Register, Dec 3, 2009
The Humane Society of the United States has launched a national telephone tip line to report suspected cruelty or unlawful activities involving pet breeding facilities.
The hotline, 1-877-MILL-TIP, is available to anyone with information of a possible crime involving puppy mills – but particularly welcomes information from those with “insider” knowledge, or from law enforcement officials who might be aware of such operations.
The Wilde Puppy Mill Task Force investigates puppy mills and works with law enforcement, animal shelters and other agencies to stop abuse and to ensure enforcement of existing laws.
The task force also provides guidance to local, state and federal agencies in the prosecution of animal abusers as it relates to the operation of puppy mills. Since its launch in June, the task force has assisted in the rescue of more than 1,200 dogs and puppies from abusive situations at puppy mills.
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