Memphis Animal Shelter Raided After Three Dogs Die
Source: WREG.com, Oct 27, 2009
The City of Memphis Animal Shelter was the scene of a early morning raid by Shelby County deputies Tuesday morning.
Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons and Shelby County Sheriff Mark Luttrell say deputies with the Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the shelter located at 3456 Tchulahoma Road and temporarily secured the facility as part of an investigation into alleged animal abuse and cruelty.
District Attorney Gibbons requested the Sheriff’s Office investigation of the City of Memphis Animal Shelter earlier this month after receiving a tip from a citizen on the conditions at the shelter.
Sheriff Mark Luttrell told us, “We are finding that some of the allegations that we have heard are true. That will just take a more through investigation to determine just how bad the situation is but on its face, we can definitely see that there are some problems here.”
According to the search warrant, “detectives have learned that some animals have been deprived of food and water while at the Memphis Animal Shelter…” and while in the shelter’s care, “some dogs have been starved to the point of requiring euthanasia.”
According to the search warrant, some of the dogs “are involved in court cases involving dog fighting and have been marked ‘Hold for Court.’”
Additionally, the warrant says that shelter employees keep “…dogs that are to be quarantined for rabies with dogs that are not required to be quarantined in the same kennel.”
“The information we received about the conditions of the Memphis Animal Shelter clearly warranted a criminal investigation, and it is very possible that one or more individuals could face criminal charges based on the outcome of the investigation,” said District Attorney Gibbons.
Janet Hooks, Director of The Division Of Public Services and Neighborhoods, suspended 12 employees to allow investigators unfettered access to the shelter and the animals. No one has been charged.
While deputies are executing the search warrant, the facility will not be open to the public, and deputies will supervise limited employees inside the shelter. Animals brought to the facility during this time will be transferred to another shelter in Shelby County.
Trained investigators with ASPCA and emergency responders with the American Humane Association are at the shelter assisting the deputies.
Domesticated dog is nursing zoo’s 9 painted dog pups, PA
Source: PittsburgPostGazzette.com, Nov 3, 2009
A domesticated mutt is acting as the surrogate mom for nine newborn African painted dog pups at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, a ground-breaking arrangement for the rearing of the wild dogs, whose mother died shortly after they were born.
Honey, a mixed-breed dog from the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society’s North Side shelter, is nursing the black and white puppies that were born at the zoo Oct. 25, and zoo officials say all are gaining weight and doing well.
It’s the first time such a domestic surrogate has been used to mother and feed new-born painted dogs. The pups’ natural mother, 10-year-old Vega, died of a ruptured uterus.
The mortality rate for African painted dog pups, even with a healthy mother, is 50 percent in the first 30 days, in the wild or in captivity.
Local Vet Starts up Dog Blood Donation Program in Eastern Idaho
Source: LocalNews8.com, Nov 1, 2009
It’s a well known fact that blood transfusions can save lives. But what happens when Fido needs blood? It’s not so easy. But one local veterinarian is changing all that.
A few weeks ago, a 100-pound rottweiler in Blackfoot was saved because of a new canine blood donation program.
Dr Adam Petersen is bringing Hemolife to eastern Idaho.
He said he’s tired of animals suffering because they can’t get the blood they need.
“The dog was in very bad shape at the time. Two days later, I called the veterinarian and the dog was doing great,” said Petersen.
Right now, there are only a handful of dogs in the program.
“We are both civic minded people so we decided it was something we wanted to become involved with,” said Michael Crapo, who signed up his two dogs, Jasmine and Grizzly Bear to participate in the program.
“It just is warm and fuzzy. I think it’s great. I think that it is needed. I know that blood can be a problem in this area,” said Jo Knopf, who signed up her dog Brom.
Not just any dog can donate. They must be happy, healthy and weigh more than 50 pounds. Your dog must be between one and seven years old and able to stay still for ten minutes.
But those who do pass the test, Hemolife pays $50 per donation.
If you would like to help, a small blood sample must be taken to determine blood type.
Blood tests for potential donors are taking place on Thursday at the Animal Health Clinic in Blackfoot and Skyline Animal Clinic in Idaho Falls.
Wysong recalls more dry dog food exposed to moisture
Source: DVM News Magainze, October 30, 2009
Natural pet-food manufacturer Wysong Corp. recalled more batches of dry dog food because of moisture contamination that led to mold in other batches.
Wysong notified distributors and retailers to stop selling food with three more lot numbers: Maintenance 090817, Senior 090811 and Synorgon 090629. Those three lots join five others recalled earlier in the month: Maintenance 090617, 090624, 090706, and 090720 and Senior 090623.
Previously, online commenters on animal-focused blogs and Web sites complained that Wysong informed retailers and distributors weeks before announcing the recall nationally to consumers on the Web. Wysong then directly answered Web-site visitors’ questions about the issue.
“When we determined a recall was necessary, we put our focus into alerting those that actually received the products, not those who had no reasonable chance of acquiring the affected products,” says the notice in response to the selectively publicized recall notice.
Wysong believes the mold likely was caused by a faulty moisture-checking device and high heat and humidity during manufacturing in June, July and August.
Reward offered in dog-slaying case, PA
Source: Pottstownmercury.com, October 29, 2009
The Chester County SPCA is now offering a substantial reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the slayings of two young dogs, Luna and Emma.
SPCA spokesman Richard Britton said Wednesday that the reward increased from $500 to $11,000. The reward fund consists of $2,500 from the Humane Society of the United States, $500 from John DeBella of WMGK radio and the remaining from private citizens.
The necropsy confirmed that the dogs — a German shorthaired pointer purebred and a German shorthaired pointer mix — died of gunshots to their heads. The necropsy was performed at The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine’s New Bolton Center in Kennett Square.
The dogs were found dead near railroad tracks near Brinton’s Bridge Road in Pennsbury about 1 p.m. Sunday. The two dogs were reportedly shot between their eyes and then placed tail-to-tail by the railroad tracks.
JoAnne Durfee spotted the dead dogs while she was walking her own dog on Sunday. Durfee said she walks the route by the railroad tracks every day.
“I was horrified because they were posed in a way that made them look like mirror images of each other,” said Durfee on Wednesday. “I was very upset and I’m glad the public is outraged.”
Earlier Sunday, the SPCA received a report from a man who said his dogs were missing from his farm on Wawaset Road in Pocopson. The dogs found at the railroad tracks reportedly matched the description the owner provided to authorities.
The owner last saw his dogs at about 3 p.m. Saturday. The dogs were on the porch and did not have leashes on, according to Britton.
“They had free run of the 100-acre farm,” he said.
Britton said the penalty for this crime, which is considered a misdemeanor of animal cruelty, is up to two years in prison and/or a $1,000 fine.
The SPCA received a report of a suspicious vehicle near Brinton’s Bridge Road on Sunday. The vehicle was described as a maroon Ford F-150 pickup with a cap.
State police at the Avondale Barracks have been contacted for assistance, according to Britton.
Investigators ask anyone with information about this incident to contact the SPCA by calling 610-692-6113, ext. 213 or by e-mailing aps@ccspca.org.
4-legged movie stars vie for ‘canine Oscars’
Source:: Associated Press, October 30, 2009
Four-legged screen stars are vying for the Fido Film Awards, billed as the canine equivalent of the Oscars.
Nominees announced Friday include the animated dog stars of “Bolt” and “Up,” the titular mutt in “Marley and Me” and — in a rare non-canine choice — the dapper, George Clooney-voiced “Fantastic Mr. Fox.”
They are competing for prizes in categories including historical hound, rom-com rover and comedy canine.
Award organizer Toby Rose said the past year had scene “an unprecedented run of dog successes at the international box office.”
The Fidos call themselves the world’s first international awards for canine screen stars. The winners will be chosen by a panel of British film critics and announced at a Nov. 22 ceremony in London.
Dog Fighting Suspected in Orange County, NY, Reward offered
Source: ShawangunkJournal.com, October 29, 2009
BULLVILLE – The shocking October 7 discovery of four dead pit bulls, tossed in a dumpster at Ron’s Auto Electric on Route 17k, was the first indication of an unpleasant probability.
Now, with the autopsies conducted on the animals by Cornell University College of Veterinarian Medicine in Ithaca, early suspicions have been confirmed. The four dogs, two female and two male, were fighting dogs. Lieutenant Dominick Blasko of the Town of Crawford police had said that, “The tearing of flesh, the bite marks, could only be caused by dog fighting.”
The autopsies concluded that the pit bulls died of blood loss from their wounds.
“I expect that these were the losing animals,” said Kristin DeJournett of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
As for the callous way their bodies were disposed of, she said, “This is how we commonly see these animals dumped.”
Lieutenant Blasko said the dogs had been dead for a few days by the time they were found. Since they were found on a Wednesday, that suggests the dog fights took place on the previous weekend, October 3 and 4.
“Four bodies like this is indicative of more than a backyard fight,” said DeJournett. “This would be a larger, more organized fighting ring.”
Worse yet, it could well be that the fights are being staged in Bullville.
“Dogfighters are very underground,” said DeJournett. “They pick remote locations, the more remote, the more desirable. People will drive from other cities, even from other states, transporting dogs for dogfights.”
In that case, what would people look for?
“If you see a lot of cars show up on a weekend night at a place where that is really unusual, and you also hear dogs barking where there usually isn’t barking, that’s a good tip off.”
DeJournett warned that, “There may well be drug running and weapon exchanges going on, because those activities are commonly found in the dog fighting world.”
She also noted that more and more people are reporting instances of dog fighting. “The Michael Vick case was important that way,” she said, referring to the infamous case from a few years ago when former professional football player Michael Vick was convicted and sentenced to prison for dog fighting crimes. “Before that case, most people thought dog fighting had died out. Now they know better.”
She also explained that prosecutions for dog fighting are difficult to obtain, because in many states and jurisdictions, police must actually witness the fights. However, prosecutions for owning wounded animals and fighting paraphernalia are more common.
“It can happen anywhere,” said DeJournett, “from the richest neighborhood to the poorest ghettos.”
PETA is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in dog fighting; call 757 622 PETA.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Blasko asks that anyone with any information about this investigation, please contact the Town of Crawford Police at 744-3300.
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