I just got this newsletter from Dogs and Ticks.com and the timing was coincidental. Just this week a friend of mine had their dog to the vet and Shiloh was diagnosed with Anaplasmosis. Definitely thought this would be some great information to pass along!

Take a moment to sign up for Dogs and Ticks newsletter. They only send updates on important info.

Finally! A judge who takes animal cruelty to heart and shows that he mean business. Now why can we have more judges like this? It is so past time for the law to get serious about animal abuse!

An incredulous judge sentenced a man to three years in prison for tossing a 10-week-old puppy off an apartment balcony during an argument with his girlfriend.

The puppy was in a soft-sided container, suffered head injuries and had to be put to death.

Javon Patrick Morris, 22, apologized for throwing the puppy off the balcony last March and pleaded guilty to animal cruelty.

“You mean he threw a helpless animal off three floors because he was mad at someone?” Circuit Judge Edward Cottingham asked a prosecutor before sentencing Thursday.

Read more »

I found this letter in the Billings Gazette and it just hit home, really hard! The abuses that people inflict upon innocent animals never ceases to stun me and make me angry. It’s bad enough that too many people think that dogs and pets are disposable and dump them off at shelters without a thought, but to just dump them along the side of a road to a completely unknown and often beyond cruel fate is just something I cannot fathom!

I’ve heard stories about people “dumping” their dogs out in the country, which have always made me sad. Yet I quickly moved on because I couldn’t visualize such cruelty. There was no face. And, after all, it was just a story.

Today I actually saw someone dump their dog. They let their white shaggy dog out of their car and drove away. By the time I arrived at the “crime scene,” the car was gone and the dog was running east along the railroad tracks. Terrified, he wouldn’t stop as I yelled at him to come. I jumped in the car to try and head him off, but he disappeared. I spent an hour looking for him, but I never saw him again.

Read more »

From Sunbear Squad, Inc. a non-profit humane organization that prepares you to proactively WATCH and LISTEN for evidence of animal cruelty, neglect, and abuse, and to immediately CALL your authorities for expert assistance. Please visit their website - learn, be proactive!

Be a Good Samaritan

Keep animal welfare in mind. Adopt a “watch and listen” mindset, so you can “call” the authorities sooner. Use your eyes and ears and call the authorities immediately if you suspect an animal welfare problem. Let them decide what to do, unless an immediate threat to life requires you to take action.

At this very moment animals are kept in cruel, neglectful environments in neighborhoods and rural areas across America. Often they are within sight or hearing range of neighbors. Yet they perish every day, because no one called the authorities, or worse, because authorities would not or could not act. Gene Fields, Sunbear’s defender and animal control officer, said that is the most frustrating part of his job: finding suffering pets near neighbors who didn’t call or take action. Read Gene’s action guidelines. Read more »

UPDATE - Paula still needs a home and only has one day!

Maxine and Paula have adoptions pending.

There are three ONE dogs listed below that have only until 10/31/07 to live!

Please Help Get the Word Out!! Post and Repost!!

AVAILABLE TO RESCUE ONLY. OUR COUNTY DOES NOT ALLOW US TO ADOPT OUT PITS/PIT MIXES DIRECTLY TO ADOPTERS. If you are an out-of-the-area adopter, please contact a rescue near you to ask if they will take this dog into their rescue program so you can apply to adopt him/her.

PAULA

Breed: Pit Bull Terrier (mix breed)
Age: Adult
Gender: Female
Size: Medium
altered, hasShots,

Brought in by dog warden. female; medium energy jumps on people. shorthaired; mostly white, not spayed. still young; 9 months-1 year, underweight. Boxer/Dalmatian/Pit mix.

Paula is in a kill shelter. Mandatory euth point is 50 dogs or 36 cats, so she can be killed when the shelter population reaches euth point. Due to her breed, she is considered “less adoptable” and will be high on the euth list when the shelter fills up.

Our county commissioners do not allow local adoptions for pits/bully mixes. Their only hope is rescue. Additionally, we cannot release pits/bullies to OH rescues due to the recent supreme court ruling in OH allowing discrimination against pitbulls simply because of their breed irregardless of temperament. Paula is sponsored and will be getting vetted soon. Rescues, once she is vetted, she can go to rescue at no charge.

Visit our Petfinder site: http://masoncounty.petfinder.com

********************************************

Read more »

Yup, I admit it, I’m one of those horrible people who love the breed! I acknowledge that they can be scary, horrible and vicious dogs… but then so can any breed that is mis-trained, poorly bred and not socialized.

Pit bulls have gotten a bad rap and horrible reputation because of people who think having ‘mean’ dogs is ‘cool’ and ‘macho’ so they train these dogs, who can be the sweetest and most loving of any, to be mean and vicious. They take out their aggression on people and other animals.

I’m not going to go into all the statistics, I just wanted to take the time to show you what too many people never see regarding the pit bull breed. The media plays up the ‘bad’ because it make for great ratings and circulation. I’d love to see them play up images like this!

In case you still don’t see it and get it….

(make sure you have your sound turned on and you can hear this)

As a nation of proclaimed animal and dog lovers, many of us take our dog with us on trips or even when we are just our running errands and summer time is definitely peak travel time. Most places now have laws to protect people from driving without vehicle restraints for our safety but what about the safety of our furred companions?

A dog loose in a car is a distraction not only for the driver and passengers and also for other drivers. They are also a serious hazard in the case of an accident. They can be propelled around the vehicle and cause serious injury to persons in the vehicle and to themselves. It’s not something we often think about but we need to!

Read more »

I’ve read this before and still, every time I read it, I cry…..

Do I Go Home Today?

My family brought me home cradled in their arms.
They cuddled me and smiled at me and said I was full of charm.
They played with me and laughed with me and showered me with toys.
I sure do love my family, especially the girls and boys.
The children loved to feed me, they gave me special treats.
They even let me sleep with them - all snuggled in the sheets.
I used to go for walks, often several times a day.
They even fought to hold the leash, I’m very proud to say.
These are the things I’ll not forget - a cherished memory.
I now live in the shelter-without my family.
They used to laugh and praise me when I played with that old shoe.
But I didn’t know the difference between the old ones and the new.
The kids and I would grab a rag, for hours we would tug.
So I thought I did the right thing when I chew the bedroom rug.
They said that I was out of control, and would have to live outside.
This I did not understand, although I tried and tried.
The walks stopped, one by one; they said they hadn’t time.
I wish that I could change things, I wish I knew my crime.
My life became so lonely, in the backyard, on a chain.
I barked and barked all day long to keep from going insane.
So they brought me to the shelter but were embarrassed to say why,
They said I caused an allergy, and then they each kissed me goodbye.
If I’d only had some classes, as a little pup.
I wouldn’t have been so hard to handle when I was all grown up.
“You only have one day left.” I heard the worker say.
Does that mean I have a second chance?
Do I go Home today?

(Author Unknown)

Homemade Dog Treat Recipes

Do you like to spoil and pamper your pooch?? I know I do and I love to make them homemade treats cuz there’s never a question of what is actually going into them and it’s always more special when you give your pampered pooch something you made for them yourself!

So here’s a couple of Jezzie & Bruti tested and approved homemade treat recipes….

Baby Beef Dog Treats
This recipe is flavored using beef (or other flavored) baby food.

I N G R E D I E N T S
2 3/4 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup powdered milk
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 egg
6 tablespoons vegetable oil
8-10 tablespoons water
2 small jars strained baby food (beef, chicken, lamb, or liver)

I N S T R U C T I O N S
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl and knead for about 3 minutes. Roll out to 1/2 inch thick. Cut with bone-shaped cookie cutter and place biscuits on an ungreased baking sheet.

Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 min.

Makes approximately 2 dozen doggie biscuits.

Read more »

Excerpts from a Dog’s Daily Diary8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!

10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!

12:00 PM - Lunch! My favorite thing!

1:00 PM - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!

3:00 PM - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!

5:00 PM - Milk bones! My favorite thing!

7:00 PM - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!

8:00 PM - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!

11:00 PM - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

Excerpts from a Cat’s Daily Diary

Day 983 of my captivity.

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.

They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed
hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the
rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to
keep up my strength.

The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt
to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet.
I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly
demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made
condescending comments about what a “good little hunter” I am.

Bastards.

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was
placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event.
However,I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my
confinement was due to the power of “allergies.” I must learn what this
means, and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my
tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this
again tomorrow — but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches.
The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released -and seems
to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded. The bird
has got to be an informant. I observe him communicate with the guards
regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have
arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe.

For now…

People need to be made aware of the horrible truth behind petstores and many other places that sell those cute little puppies. They come from ‘puppy mills’.

Puppy mills are nothing new. These mass dog-breeding operations have been around for decades, but they continue to be a problem because unsuspecting consumers keep buying those adorable puppies in the pet store window. Or on some slick Internet site. Or even through an ad in the trusted local newspaper.
But behind the friendly facade of these pet shops, web sites, and newspaper ads, there often lies a puppy mill. These canine breeding facilities frequently house dogs in shockingly poor conditions, particularly for “breeding stock” animals who are caged and continually bred for years, without human companionship and with little hope of ever becoming part of a family. After their fertility wanes, breeding animals are commonly killed, abandoned or sold to another mill. The annual result of all this breeding is hundreds of thousands of puppies, many with behavior and/or health problems. Read more »

This is for any of you dog owners who have prolific backyard diggers!

Now Jezzie and Bruti love to dig and given the chance they would probably dig their way straight to China… LOL. I have a nice large yard surrounded by a 6′ privacy fence with a securely locked gate so my babies are pretty safe in the yard. They have unlimited access via a small doggie dog so on occasion they are not always completely ‘under eye’ when they are in the yard and one of their favorite things to do is to just ‘dig in’!

Now, I’ve found a solution to keep them from re-digging out a hole that I’ve filled in. This won’t stop them from digging new ones but will keep them from coming back to the same stop again and again and so far it has worked 100% for me. Whenever I find a hole, I fill it it most of the way then deposit some of their waste (ok, dog poop!) into the hole then finish the fill-in. I’ve never yet had them go back to a spot where I’ve done that, they have quite an aversion to their own waste products and it also makes for a great disposal area.

Everyone who has tried this so far has had great success. If you try it, let me know how it works for you!