Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Pets in Hot Cars



You steps out of your car into a hot parking lot. In da car next to yours is a big happy goggie. 'Cept he lookin really sad cuz it ~~hot~~ in dat car. What do you do?

Hoomans, we has to tell you every year. Please don't leave pets or children in the car on a summer day. "But I cracked the window," you say. IT NOT GOOD ENOUGH. "But I was only in the store for a few minutes," you say. IT NOT GOOD ENOUGH. "But I parked in the shade," you say. NOT EFFING GOOD ENOUGH!!

Purrr Here some information for pet staff and parents of hooman children.

AVMA tips on helping pets survive a heat wave

“Signs of heat stroke include hard panting, staggering gate, rapid heartbeat, listlessness, restlessness, dark red or purple gums and tongue, and vomiting. If you suspect your pet has heat stroke, put a cold towel around their neck, get them into an air conditioned car and get them to the veterinarian as quickly as possible.”


Heatstroke | In and Around The Car | Keeping Kids Safe | Parents Central
"Even cool temperatures in the 60s can cause the temperature to rise well above 110° Fahrenheit inside your car. The inside temperature can rise almost 20 degrees within the first 10 minutes."

Rear-facing Car Seats May Increase Risk of Hot Car Death
"According to the Free Press, a 1990s campaign to get more kids in rear-facing seats was accompanied by a spike in hot car deaths."


Wednesday, July 11, 2012

#RIPLennox #EndBSL @BelfastCC

Whenever I hear the name Belfast
I remember Lennox.





Purrrr I bin heering bout dis breed specific legislation (BSL).

Poor Lennox was kept in isolation for over TWO years in deplorable conditions because the United Kingdom has decided that the phrase "dangerous dog" refers not only to certain behaviors, but even to certain breeds. Read a list of Dogs that are banned in the UK. To make it worse, dogs only have to vaguely resemble banned breeds to be subject to seizure and destruction.

Lennox's family exhausted all legal recourse. The case went to the high court and the judge said to kill the dog. Euthanization - likely by the same individuals who have been neglecting Lennox for the last two years - occurred this morning. His body likely shows the neglect and abuse. Don't count on the Barnes family getting to bury their baby.

Two major dog trainers, Cesar Millan and Victoria Stilwell, offered to take Lennox completely out of the UK and rehome him. The Belfast City Council wouldn't cooperate - they just wanted to kill Lennox. The BCC has an axe to grind, that's for sure, but for the life of me I don't know what it is. I can only HOPE they aren't taking a stand against service animals for children.

The Millan Foundation Joins Fight to Save Lennox
Lennox’s Last Chance By Victoria Stilwell

Who's next?

Beloved Petey the Pup
of The Little Rascals and Our Gang comedies,
UKC registered in 1936 as a Staffordshire Terrier.

Fatal attacks represent a small proportion of dog bite injuries to humans and,therefore, should not be the primary factor driving public policy concerning dangerous dogs. Many practical alternatives to breed-specific ordinances exist and hold promise for prevention of dog bites. (J Am VetMed Assoc2000;217:836–840)
The Centers for Disease Control,
Breeds of dogs involved in fatal human attacks in the United States between 1979 and 1998

BSL MUST be replaced with intelligent laws pertaining to obedience training, to behavioral interventions, and to prosecuting irresponsible owners.

Update:
Dog trainer and celebrity Victoria Stilwell has taken a stand against Breed Specific Legislation. Let's give her our support.
I will not rest until the Dangerous Dogs Act is changed. It is a highly flawed piece of legislation doomed to fail right from the start and targets innocent dogs and families. It does not protect the public from dangerous dogs. I and thousands like me are going to work hard to get the law changed. I have helped shape the recently passed Responsible Dog Owner Law in the State of Georgia, USA. The new law puts the emphasis on owner irresponsibility rather than targeting any particular dog. Hold owners accountable and enforce tough laws on those who abuse them. We can do the same in Britain and other American states. This will make people a lot safer from all dangerous dogs regardless of breed than the DDA and will only prosecute the guilty while protecting the innocent.

Another Update:
Victoria has posted an audio file to her site.
Victoria Rebukes BCC Representative on the Radio



Thanks to TVAcres.com for the picture of Petey.
Pet Clothing