For decades, the drug-resistant germ called
MRSA was almost exclusively a concern of humans, usually in
hospitals and other health care settings.
But in recent years, the germ has become a growing problem for
veterinarians, with an increasing number of infections turning up in
birds, cats, dogs, horses, pigs, rabbits and rodents. And that,
infectious-disease experts say, is becoming a hazard to humans who own or
spend time with these animals.
“What’s happened for the first time that we’ve noticed is that you’re
getting flip back and forth,” said Scott Shaw, head of the infection
control committee at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at
Tufts University.
It is unknown how often pets play a role in human infections by
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vice versa; physicians and
veterinarians do not routinely trace such infections to their source. When
such scientific sleuthing is conducted, however — usually in the case of
multiple or recurring infections — the results suggest a strong link. ....
Pet cemetery honors K-9 military heroes « Positive LEO
By Rebecca
Lexy Ross, of Port Orange, had her hands full with Lily Lou, a
spaniel mix, Marlin, a red-nose pitbull, and Jefferson, a pomeranian with a
close-cropped hairdo. “Of course I love dogs,” she said. “I think it's great
that everyone is out ...
September 11, 2009
On the beach
Give dogs
shore time -- with cautions
Dogs are
allowed on Florida beaches in about 20 places, including Lighthouse Point
Park in Ponce Inlet and beaches along Flagler County. Some dog owners in
Volusia County want a ban on dogs on beaches in the county, in effect for
more than three decades, lifted. The county health department is opposed.
The Volusia County Beach Advisory Board isn't. Both sides have valid
arguments. The board's compromise -- a pilot program allowing dogs on some
beach areas for a year or so -- is fair for now, as long as details are
filled in should the Volusia County Council enact it.
Dogs on beaches can be disruptive, noisy and dirty. Unleashed, they can
run after other people, scare children and disrupt wildlife. Their barking
can be annoying and intimidating. Their droppings are unsanitary and leave
behind bacteria even after being cleaned up, according to the health
department. But to forbid dog-owners from enjoying their pets on almost all
beaches may be unreasonable in a county that thrives on making beach access
easy and diverse. If vehicles and all the hazards they pose can be
accommodated, perhaps dogs can, too. But with restrictions. ...
Dogs and 2-Year-Olds on Same Mental Plane Research shows canines can count, learn words By Amanda Gardner HealthDay Reporter (HealthDay
News) -- According to accumulating research, the beloved family dog is
really a toddler with a snout and tail. ....
Officers bone up on dogfighting signs
Daytona Beach News-Journal - Daytona Beach,FL,USA
Kim Texter of the animal rescue group Pawsibilities in Port Orange
said word of the class was "probably the best news I've heard all day. ...
Some more good news I found
out today for you, is that there is definitely a dog park in the works.
It will be located just north of the All Children's Park (it will share
the same parking lot/entrance on Spruce Creek Rd.). I don't know too
many details yet, but I believe Parks & Rec is estimating opening it
some time in Oct. or Nov.
Also, the estimated
re-opening date for the All Children's Park will be September 15th. I
think the new playground equipment is currently being delivered and
installed.
The renovated park will be
a fun and unique place for the kids and grandkids of Port Orange
residents to visit. (The main playpiece is designed to look like a
pirate ship!)
Lastly, the Raydon
groundbreaking that was previously scheduled for Aug. 21st at 5:30pm
has been postponed until further notice.
-Gwen
Thanks for anything you can do to help or help get the
word out about these tragic situations in Florida!
Patricia
--- On Sat, 8/22/09, Anne M <woofety@hotmail.com> wrote:
From: Anne M <woofety@hotmail.com>
Subject: FL: Please Cross Post this and do what you can with contacts
and letters
To: "adoption" <animalrescueadoption@yahoogroups.com>, "AnimalAlert-SOS-RESCUE
zpenzel" <animalalert-sos-rescue@yahoogroups.com>, "animal-angels"
<animal-angels@yahoogroups.com>, anteaterken@aol.com, "DogsNeedingHomes"
<dogsneedinghomes@yahoogroups.com>, "FL J Alice.acres" <myaliceacres@yahoo.com>,
"FL J animalrescuemovement" <animalrescuemovement@comcast.net>, "FL J
K&Cpetrescue" <scapasso00@yahoo.com>, "FL J someonecaresrescue" <someone.cares.rescue@gmail.com>,
"FL animalaidinc" <tamerac@aol.com>, "FL animalrescue" <floridaanimalrescue@yahoogroups.com>,
"FL k94urescue" <adopt@k94urescue.com>, "FloridaPets.net" <webmistress@floridapets.net>,
"FL petrescuemiami" <petrescuemiami@aol.com>, "FL petsindistress" <pidinc@aol.com>,
"FL secondchancerescue" <bpdebig@aol.com>
Date: Saturday, August 22, 2009, 6:03 PM
From: sandra_spaymart@att.net
To:
Subject: FL - Fw: Please Cross Post this and do what you can with
contacts and letters
Date: Sat, 22 Aug 2009 12:28:29 -0500
-----Original Message----- From: MIMOSADAY@aol.com [mailto:MIMOSADAY@aol.com] Sent: Saturday, August 22, 2009 8:23 AM To:
Subject: Please Cross Post
this and do what you can with contacts and letters
By intent, Sabbath Memorial Rescue Center is hard
to find -- until you're close enough to follow the noise and
soon, your nose.
About 130 dogs live there, on part of a nine-acre mamey grove
edging the Everglades. A few wander freely, minimally curious
about visitors; most occupy runs, sheds or lean-tos.
It's muddy and makeshift, but for the strays and castoffs that
otherwise might die on the street -- or at the Miami-Dade County
Animal Services shelter -- it's a sanctuary.
But not for much longer. Rescue operator Robbie Coy is being
evicted because the property is zoned agricultural/residential
-- fine for farm animals but not for more than eight dogs.
CJM Investment Group, Inc., which owns the land, rents to Coy
for $450 a month. For him to stay, principal investor Miguel
Chamah, a family doctor, would have to seek an ``unusual
classification variance.''
Chamah doesn't want to. The process is expensive and
complicated, involving public hearings, government red tape and
the loss of his agricultural tax exemption.
Instead, he has told Coy -- along with Buzzy, Teddy Bear, Cisco,
Zeus, Jewel, Duchess, Sampson, Joey and the rest -- to leave by
Aug. 31.
Coy doesn't blame his landlord, but wants an extension, which
lawyers on both side are negotiating.
CJM's attorney, Peter Abesada, said his client ``is willing to
do any reasonable thing to safeguard the welfare of the
animals.'' Still, ``we have no alternative than to proceed with
an eviction or face severe civil penalties.''
FINDING NEW HOMES
Dr. Sara Pizano, Miami-Dade Animal Services director,
supports an extension, so that Coy can place his dogs.
``We want nothing more than for the dogs at Sabbath Rescue to
fine permanent and safe homes,'' Pizano said.
`We have already reached out to our 50 rescue partners asking
them to help save the dogs from Sabbath Rescue.''
When animal lovers' passions meet government regulation, tempers
flare and accusations fly, so for some of Coy's supporters,
that's no consolation.
Sabbath's plight has caused an uproar in the South Florida
animal-welfare community, where many consider Coy saintly for
dedicating his life to placing adoptable dogs and offering the
old, sick and aggressive what the county shelter can't: a secure
place to live out their lives.
``He has put aside a life of having a nice house and car to be
able to provide food and shelter to these canines,'' supporter
Lucia Ramirez wrote in an e-mail to The Miami Herald. ``Just
because he doesn't hold a mere license does not mean this man
and helpless animals deserve to be shut down.''
The controversy began April 21 when four county police officers,
three Animal Services investigators and an Animal Planet video
crew showed up at the shelter's gate.
The Discovery Channel-owned program has spent nine months
updating its five-year-old Miami Animal Cops series. New
episodes will begin airing in December.
COMPLAINT
County officials say they were responding to an anonymous
complaint about possible dog fighting, but by their own
admission found nothing of the kind.
``They went through my place with a fine-tooth comb,'' said Coy,
48. ``Then they asked for a kennel license'' and cited him for
failing to produce one.
It costs $100 a year.
A ponytailed Long Islander, Coy named the rescue for a beloved
pet dog, Sabbath, now long gone. Over the past decade, he's had
other locations, including a Hialeah storefront where a handful
of dogs remain.
He insists that the righteousness of his mission trumps the
bureaucracy's dictates.
``I'm out there in the middle of nowhere,'' he said. ``Why would
anybody care?''
Coy's arms and legs bear the evidence of hands-on interaction
with generations of dogs: slashes, punctures, deep-purple scars.
He said he has poured $1 million of his own money -- from a
T-shirt business -- into the rescue, some $100,000 of it for
upgrades at the site he's about to vacate.
``It's not perfect,'' he admits. ``We don't have any money. But
the dogs are well fed and cared for.''
A full-time caretaker lives on the property with his own dogs.
Coy and a handful of volunteers spend their days feeding,
cleaning enclosures, treating illness and injury and fielding
calls from prospective adopters, who pay what they can to cover
neutering and other costs.
Despite food donations -- including 20,000 pounds of treats from
celebu-cook Rachael Ray -- Coy said he spends up to $10,000 a
month on animal care, and owes money to veterinarians all over
the county.
``I'm saving dogs lives!'' he declared from his mobile office:
the front seat of a beat-up 1996 Honda Passport.
And he's determined that not one dog will end up at the
county-run Animal Services.
By statute, its Medley shelter, which has the capacity for 300
cats and dogs but often houses twice as many, must accept every
one of them that comes in the door. Pizano projects 37,000 this
year.
21,000 DIED
Last year, about one-third of shelter admissions reunited
with original owners, were adopted or taken by rescue groups. It
was a record number, yet 21,000 adult mutts and purebreds, tiny
kittens and teething puppies met their demise.
The county calls it euthanasia; Coy calls it killing.
That dismays Pizano, a veterinarian.
``It's damaging to the reputation of the department to be
unfairly depicted as murderers. . .as a result of a law that
everyone must abide by, regardless of their good intentions,''
she wrote in an e-mail.
While Coy may have a laudable purpose, county officials insist
he still has to follow the rules. In an e-mail Thursday,
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez -- battling criticism for not
simply granting a zoning waiver, something he says he's not
legally empowered to do -- praised Coy for ``providing a much
needed service to our community, particularly, to the dogs
themselves.''
Then he detailed the county's involvement.
On April 16, Alvarez wrote, a police officer checking out the
fighting complaint saw ``some dogs which appeared to be in poor
condition and reported this to Animal Services.''
Investigators cited both Sabbath and CJM for failing to have a
kennel license. Five days later, Neighborhood Compliance
personnel responded to another anonymous complaint, Alvarez
said, then sent CJM a warning letter on the zoning issue.
But the letter went to the Homestead address, and Chamah didn't
know he had a problem until after he missed the deadline to
appeal.
The $265 citation ``went to collection,'' Pizano said, and began
accruing charges: $5,000 by the time CJM sought, and got, a late
appeal.
Pizano said she'll remove the accrual as soon as CJM pays the
$265 citation and brings the property into compliance -- in this
case by evicting the kennel.
HELPED OTHERS
She noted that her department has helped with other
unlicensed rescues in similar situations. Currently, a five-acre
shelter in the Redland with 100 dogs called Born Free Pet
Shelter, is working with the county to rezone and getting a
kennel license.
``The Animal Services Department strives to save as many lives
as possible and we welcome all the help that compassionate
people want to offer,'' Pizano said. ``But only the community
can solve this crisis by spaying and neutering their pets.''
August 19, 2009
Some more good news I found
out today for you, is that there is definitely a dog park in the works. It
will be located just north of the All Children's Park (it will share the
same parking lot/entrance on Spruce Creek Rd.). I don't know too many
details yet, but I believe Parks & Rec is estimating opening it some time
in Oct. or Nov.
Also, the estimated re-opening
date for the All Children's Park will be September 15th. I think the new
playground equipment is currently being delivered and installed.
The renovated park will be a
fun and unique place for the kids and grandkids of Port Orange
residents to visit. (The main playpiece is designed to look like a pirate
ship!)
Lastly, the Raydon
groundbreaking that was previously scheduled for Aug. 21st at 5:30pm has
been postponed until further notice.
-Gwen
August 17, 2009
For
immediate release
from,
Gary Davidson, Public Information Officer, Sheriff’s Office
and
Becky Wilson, Volusia County Animal Services Director
DOG BREEDER CHARGED WITH
ANIMAL HEALTH CARE FRAUD
It
started simply enough, with the theft of 13 animal tags from a veterinary
clinic near DeLand. But after authorities spent about a month untangling the
case, an Oak Hill dog breeder is facing felony charges of animal health
fraud. The charges were filed after a joint investigation by the Volusia
County Sheriff’s Office and Volusia County Animal Control revealed that the
defendant was selling dogs with stolen tags and forged vaccination
certificates. Arrest warrants were issued on Aug. 11 for 30-year-old Renee
Baker charging her with four counts of tendering an official certificate of
an animal’s veterinary inspection to another animal. The charge is a 3rd-degree
felony. Deputies who initially went looking for Baker last week to serve the
warrants were told by a family member that she was out of town. Baker turned
herself in at the Volusia County Branch Sunday afternoon.
The
scheme was initially uncovered by Animal Control staff who were
investigating complaints against Baker, who operates Rendach’s Dog Breeders.
During the investigation, officials discovered that the tags on 13 of
Baker’s dogs weren’t registered in the county’s system. The 13 tags were
assigned to the DeLand Animal Clinic, where Baker had worked as an assistant
for about 15 months. Officials at the DeLand Animal Clinic said they had no
record of the 13 missing tags being assigned to any animals. When Animal
Control staff questioned Baker about the tags, she initially refused to
cooperate with the investigation and wouldn’t allow animal control officers
on her property. But she later produced licenses for the 13 tags that turned
out to be forgeries. Baker also produced rabies vaccination certificates for
five of her dogs, Gamble, Monty, Mopsy, Stripes and Trinity. A records check
revealed that the certificates also were counterfeits.
During a
follow-up investigation by deputy Caleb King, officials discovered that
Baker had created the vaccination certificates at Val-U-Vet, where she had
worked for three months before being fired in May 2007. Deputy King also has
located records showing that Baker has shipped animals within Florida as
well as outside the state. After reviewing the findings of the
investigation, Circuit Court Judge James R. Clayton issued four arrest
warrants on Tuesday. The Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate
Baker. Anyone who has information or who bought a dog from Baker and may
have gotten phony records from her in the transaction is asked to call
Sheriff’s investigator Trever Henderson at (386) 943-7866.
August 15, 2009
Ruffff! To the beach
Not so fast, Fido, there's some messy issues
Volusia County banned dogs (and cats, horses and other
domestic animals) from most of its beaches more than 30 years ago. The dogs
aren't really the problem -- it's irresponsible owners who fail to dispose
of their pets' waste, or allow their animals to chase children and disturb
shore life.
An outright ban is the simplest solution, and the one most
coastal Florida counties opted for as their beaches become increasingly
crowded. But last week, Volusia's Beach Advisory Board asked county staff to
consider whether it might be time to give the dogs another day on the beach.
It's worth investigating, as long as the board sticks to its cautious
course.
Many local pet owners say they're tired of driving to
Flagler County, where beaches accept pets, or two Volusia County parks
adjacent to Ponce de Leon Inlet. They'd like to open more beach to dogs, and
say the move could boost same-day tourism in the area -- an argument
bolstered by the proliferation of Web sites detailing where, and how,
animals are welcome on various beaches around the country.
As county staff investigates other dog-friendly beaches,
they will find that many have the same complaints that Volusia County faced
before it banned animals. They're also likely to hear from county health
officials, who warned about the health effects from animals defecating in an
area where humans swim and play in the sand. Advocates for shore wildlife,
particularly nesting sea turtles and their hatchlings on Volusia County's
beaches, may also have objections. But staff investigators will also find
beaches where animals and humans co-exist peacefully. ...
Study: Barking Dogs Aren't Saying Much
Some pet owners refuse to believe a recent study that casts some doubt on their
canine companion's intelligence.
EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOOD
