For those of you wondering ... "what happened?", "why no response to emails and/or voice-mails?", "why no witty blog posts, or fun tweets?", "why are there only *cricket sounds* on Facebook for the past two weeks?", "where are you?!" ... well ... we had a medical emergency here at AGC.

Sure, it was very unexpected and scary, but "all is well that ends well", right? We will not bore y'all with all of the long 24-letter word medical details, we just wanted to let you know what happened, and that all is (almost) back to *normal* now.

We would also like to apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our clients, and appreciated so very much your patience and understanding during this time.

Lastly, words can not express our gratitude for all of your kind words, concerns, and prayers. Thank you so much ... they meant a lot and helped in a speedy recovery. ♥

*Hugs*
~Pamela~

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• Plan to keep all young, old and short-haired pets inside. These types of pets are more vulnerable to cold weather and should not be left outside for long and without supervision.

• Provide shelter for any pets that are left outside. Add straw for additional insulation from the cold and provide a snug, warm bed that does not sit directly on the ground.

• Be sure to leave extra food and water in plastic bowls for any pets that are left outside.

• Learn the signs and symptoms of frostbite and hypothermia. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your pet is suffering from either of these conditions.

• Clip the long hair on the bottom of your dog’s feet before the snow and ice fall. This will prevent the build up of ice balls which can be painful and difficult to remove.

• Plan to trim your pet’s nails regularly during the winter. Pets may have a difficult time trying to maintain solid footing in icy conditions with long nails.

• Find a warm place for your pets to sleep. All pets, including small caged pets, need to be kept warm and away from drafts.

• Place pet-safe wipes by the door. Ice-melting chemicals and salt can irritate and burn the pads of your pet’s paws. Thoroughly wipe off your pet’s paws when they come inside.

• Use antifreeze and other household chemicals that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol, which is extremely poisonous to pets. Avoid/Beware of all products with ethylene glycol.

• Get in the habit of banging on the hood of your car before starting the engine. Cats and wildlife seek warmth and may climb into the engine during the cold, winter months.

• Should winter travel plans keep you away from home and your pets, make sure to book the services of a professional pet sitter, like All God's Creatures Pet Services, in advance to ensure your pets are safe and happy while you’re away. ♥

Important video on BLOAT in dogs.  A MUST watch for all dog owners ... 95% of dogs die from bloat (stomach filling with air), due to not being brought to the Vet in time.

If you wait too long, the air-filled stomach can flip (torse) and cut off the blood supply ... resulting in damage to the stomach wall, liver, spleen and heart muscle. It will then require very expensive surgery, and even if your dog survives the surgery, they may not survive the aftermath when the toxins from the dying tissue are released, causing heart arrhythmia and sepsis

We can write articles about bloat, and talk about bloat all day long, but until you actually experience it , it is very difficult to recognize.  They say a picture is worth a thousand words ... hopefully this video will help someone save their dog's life.


~ What Are The Symptoms?

• Restlessness - Your dog will act anxious, agitated, uncomfortable, and unable to rest.
• Loss of appetite - Your dog may not be interested in food and water.
• Vomiting - Your dog may vomit once or twice followed by nonproductive retching and gagging (dry heaves).
• Whining, crying, heavy panting, and salivation.
• Swelling - An enlarged stomach will cause the body wall to protrude prominently, especially on the dog's left side. The swelling will be very firm and obvious enough to see across the room. Occasionally, this distention is not very apparent. This occurs in dogs which have a large portion of the stomach up under the rib cage. In most cases, however, the owner is able to detect the distention.
• Depression - A dog which experiences significant pain will be very depressed. Your dog may lie in what is commonly called a "praying position" with the front legs drawn fully forward.

If you see your dog exhibit any or all of the symptoms listed above, even if there is no swelling apparent yet, (sometimes there is no obvious swelling in the early stages; your dog just looks "fatter") ... PLEASE CALL YOUR VET AT ONCE FOR INSTRUCTIONS AND BE PREPARED TO TRANSPORT YOUR DOG IMMEDIATELY.


They can take an x-ray to determine if your dog is in the early stages and treat him immediately. If the vet refuses to take an x-ray, INSIST upon it. This is YOUR dog. YOU know him very well and if the vet still refuses to take an x-ray, go elsewhere. The earlier it is caught, the better your dog's chances of living.



Death loss due to GDV (aka Bloat/Torsion) is very high.


Also, find out if there's an emergency animal clinic near you - one that's open during the time your regular veterinarian isn't available. If there isn't an emergency clinic near you, discuss your options with your regular vet. PLEASE, don't assume your regular vet can and will treat your dog if torsion has occurred!!! Ask him or her if they're familiar with GDV and ask how many times they've performed the surgery that may be needed to save your dog's life!! If you're not comfortable with the response, find a veterinarian that IS qualified to treat your dog!!




~ What Can Be Done As Prevention?

To avoid surgery after an occurrence of bloat, the following steps should be taken to minimize the risk factors for bloat:

• Feed a high quality wholesome diet with appropriate supplements.
• Feed several smaller meals rather than one large one.
• If you have more than one dog make sure that they are calm (to minimize swallowing air) during meals. You may have to feed them separately.
• DO NOT use a raised food bowl. Many studies, including one by Purdue University (http://www.vet.purdue.edu/epi/update2.htm), have found that using a raised food bowl INCREASES the risk of bloat by 110%.
• If your dog is a fast eater and quickly gulps down their kibble, we would also recommend using a "Brake-Fast or Eat-Slow" type bowl or place a large (too big to swallow ... i.e. softball size) stone in their feed bowl. Having to eat around the large stone will help slow them down a bit.
• DO NOT feed your dogs 1 hour before, or after, vigorous play/exercise/activity ... and avoid lots of twisting or rolling play, particularly shortly after feeding. (Walking is okay because it helps stimulate normal gastrointestinal function.)
• Ensure water is always available, but limit the amount immediately after feeding.
• Avoid sudden diet changes. Make any major dietary changes gradually over 7-10 days.
• Prevent obesity.
• Watch for any actions or behavior that may signal abdominal discomfort (abdominal fullness, pacing, salivating, whining, getting up and lying down, stretching, looking at abdomen, anxiety and unsuccessful attempts to vomit, etc.)

Also, studies suggest that "dogs having a first degree relative with a history of GDV (Bloat) should not be bred".






Call your veterinarian or emergency clinic if you have any questions.


FYI - "This dog, Roscoe, was saved. He had just arrived in a new home ... Neither the person who brought the dog to this foster home, nor the foster home, had ever seen bloat and had no idea of what they were seeing. As soon as they realized something was wrong, he was rushed to the emergency vet ... The person filming this very kindly allowed it's use as an educational tool so other people can learn to recognize what is happening when a dog bloats. A voice-over was done to point out the various symptoms of bloat to those who may not recognize or understand what they are seeing. This dog bloated, but did not have gastric torsion. His stomach filled with air, but luckily for him, he made it to the vet in enough time that he had not torsed [flipped]. They were able to deflate him and he is now home and doing well." 


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Remember "Where's Waldo"?  Well, this is "Where's the CAT"?

Once you find the Cat, PLEASE do NOT spoil it by saying WHERE it is.  You can say that you found it, and how long it took you though ... just NO hints, please ... it really is there ... plain-as-day, once you see it ... LOL ♥

 To enlarge the photo even more ... hold the "Ctrl" key while you scroll OR while you press the "+" key.


Have Fun! :o)

*** Gratuitous plug (plea?) ... when you are done searching for the kitty, we would REALLY appreciate it if you "Liked" our Facebook page (click HERE), "Followed" us on Twitter (click HERE), and/or became our "Friend" on Google (see "Join this Site" link on bottom-right-column). Thanks so much ... we REALLY appreciate your support ... and hope you had fun searching! Tell'um the CAT sent ya! ;-) ♥
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Just a friendly reminder ... 

If you are an urban/suburban "farmer" looking for someone to collect eggs and care for your backyard Chickens while you are out-of-town (vacation, work, visiting family, etc.), please give us a holler ... we care for ALL God's Creatures - INCLUDING Chickens! ♥

Thanks!

 

 

*** Photo credit >>> We just LOVE this photo from Stems 'N Roots (great Facebook page too!). 

Very sad day, in the horse world today (11-06-11) >>>

Reigning Olympic champion showjumper Hickstead, ridden by Canada’s Eric Lamaze, collapsed & died today in the show ring in Verona, Italy during a  televised FEI World Cup round ... AFTER completing his round.

“We finished our round, I circled and was leaving the ring, and he collapsed and died of an apparent heart attack,” said an emotional Lamaze. “It is the most tragic thing that has ever happened. We had him until he was 15, and we had a great time together. He was the best horse in the world. We are all devastated.”

At this time, the reason for his death is unknown.

Today's competition was stopped at the request of the riders.

Hickstead, from Torry Pines Stable,  was 15 years old. He was a Dutch Warmblood stallion by Hamlet, out of the mare Jomara.

Hickstead, you will be greatly missed ...

UPDATE 11-09-11:

Preliminary findings from the post-mortem on Hickstead, have confirmed an acute aortic rupture, resulting in heart failure.

Further tests are to be conducted to establish the cause of the rupture, but these tests will take a number of weeks to complete and may prove inconclusive.
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Akiko Fujimura, the owner of Nippon SPCA has LOCATED ONE OF THE “STAY TOGETHER” TSUNAMI DOGS.  It has been 7 months.  7 long months of a lot of questions surrounding these dogs, and here is the update.

藤村晃子さんは “STAY TOGETHER” TSUNAMI DOGS  で知られているNippon SPCAの責任者の一人です。この長い７ヶ月間たくさんありました質問などのアップデートです。

Akiko Fujimura was asked to rescue a Dachshund in Fukushima by the owner. While on her mission to rescue the pet, she met the owner, of the famous “stay together” dogs.  The brown Brittany spaniel is named Mei chan and is two years old, the white English Setter is named Lee chan and is eight years old.  They are in fact siblings and come from the same owner.   The owner of the dogs told, their story:

藤 村晃子さんは福島のダックスフン ドの津波犬の飼い主に頼まれました。レスキューに向かう途中藤村晃子さんはあの一緒に居た犬のご主人に逢いました。ブリトニースパニョールのメイちゃん二 歳とイングリシュシッターのリーちゃん８歳です。彼らは姉妹で、同じ飼い主から来ました。飼い主さんによると：

As some of you can remember, these two dogs were caught on video by the FUJI camera crew that’s sparked international awareness for the animals of Fukushima.  The film crew captured the beautiful loyalty of these two dogs, and their protective nature, as siblings frequently demonstrate.  The owner of the dog searched for her pets after the tsunami, she found the brown Brittany Spaniel waiting by the same school that is featured in the background of the video.  The dogs, are used to the school and its surroundings as they accompanied the owner there multiple times.  It was one of the only buildings not destroyed in the area.  A familiar site amongst so much destruction.  The brown Brittany Spaniel, Mei chan, was found waiting for his humans at the same site of the video, by the school.  The owner frantically looked for Lee chan, but sadly, she was nowhere to be found.  To this day, the owner is still looking for her desperately.  Akiko assured the owner, that Nippon SPCA will assist her, and look for Lee chan as well.

ご存知のと うりこの二匹は FUJI cameraのクルーの映像に写り世界中に有名になりました。そのクルーの映像は見事に姉妹の愛情の深さをとらえました。津波のあと飼い主さんは茶色のブ リトニースパニョールのほうを映像にも映っていた学校で見つけました。この学校にはこの犬達にとってなじみの場所であり、時々飼い主さんといっしょに来て いました。そしてこの場所は他の場所とは違ってあまり壊れてはなく、そのままでした。 茶色のブリトニースパニョールのメイちゃんはそこで飼い主さんの来るのを待っていました。けれど、リーちゃんの方は未だに見つかってはおりません。飼い主 さんは未だに探し続けています。晃子さんも、あきらめず、リーちゃんを探し続けています。

This was a very busy time for all rescue groups and shelters, animals needed rescue and assistance, shelters were at capacity, during this chaos, Akiko started getting emails and phone calls, people informing her that Nippon SPCA was being insulted by a man who owned a dog food company.  She was flabbergasted, but didn’t have the real time to look into it as her own shelter had many incoming rescues and she was still on the field.  But when she did have the time, what she found was most disturbing.

今は 動物救助団体、シェルターにとって忙しい時期です。どの動物達も即の救助が必要でどのシェルターも一杯です。そんな中、晃子さんの所に彼女の知り合いの方 から、電話やメールなどが届きました。ある人が 津波犬に関してNippon SPCAのことを中傷しているということでした。そのとき晃子さんはとても忙しくその確認をする時間などありませんでした。その事実を確信した時それは驚 くべきことでした。

A man named Kenn Sakurai, President of Butch Foods, was insulting many animal welfare organizations via social media, and Nippon SPCA was one of them.  She didn’t know who he was or why he was doing this at the time, but she found out he was claiming to be directly involved in the rescue of the “stay together dogs”.  Claiming that HE coordinated THEIR rescue.  There is an incredible issue, considering that Akiko had already met the owner, and already knew that one dog, the 8 year old setter named Lee chan remains missing.  She decided to reach out to Kenn Sakurai and question why he is insulting an organization that he has never had anything to do with (hers) and why he is claiming to have been involved with a rescue that he again had nothing to do with.  She called Kenn who didn’t answer her questions on both insulting her organization and the details surrounding the “rescue”.  She therefore decided to approach this via the written word, and she wrote to him.  She wanted to limit it to a few clear and concise questions, they are:

彼 の名前は桜井けん。かれは Butch Foods会社の社長でソーシャルメディアを使い数々の動物救助団体を非難、 Nippon SPCA もそのうちの一つでした。晃子さんはどうして彼がそのような事をするのか当時わかりませんでしたが、後に彼が“STAY TOGETHER” TSUNAMI DOGS のレスキューと直接関わりそしてその指揮をとったと名乗っている事を知りました。これは驚くべきことで、晃子さんは飼い主さんと直接逢い、一匹のいぬと直 接逢い、そしてもう一匹の８歳のリーちゃんが居ない事を知っています。晃子さんは 桜井けんさんと直接逢いなぜかれがソーシャルメディアを使い数々の動物救助団体を非難しているのか、そして彼がなぜ逢った事もないレスキューのことを彼が したと主張しているのか聞こうとしました。晃子さんはけんさんに電話しましたが彼にもそして彼の会社にものらりくらりと返事をくれる様子はありませんでし た。晃子さんは、FAXを使って書面で、情報開示をの要請を彼のもとに行いました。その質問は下記に記してあります。

Question 1: Where were you when the disaster hit?

Question 2: Where exactly were these dogs when they were rescued?

Question 3: Where is the vet clinic that you stated the dogs are staying at? 

Question 4: Which police department did you do go?

Question 5:  What was the condition of the dogs when they were rescued?

質問１あなたが震災時に立ち寄ったとする場所はどこか?

質問２保護をしたと主張される場所はどこか?

質問３犬を託したと主張する動物病院と病院スタッフの名前は?

質問４警察に委ねたとする警察の所轄、警察官の名前は?

質問５保護したときの状況は?

Akiko then received a response by Kenn’s attorney.  Kenn’s attorney outlined he cannot reveal the name of the pet’s owner, cannot agree or disagree, as the microchip information is deemed privileged information.  If that was so.  Kenn wouldn’t have the information either. 

晃子さんはけんさんの弁護士から返事をもらいました。その返事にはけんさんの助けた犬の体内にマイクロチップが挿入されており、その飼い主の情報によれば、当該犬は、（津波犬の飼い主）では

ございませんでした。情報を公開する義務もないので、情報開示を差し控えさせて頂きたいとのことです。

The difference is, Akiko knows the owner, has a picture of the found spaniel, Mei chan, and is still working with the owner to find Lee chan, the missing white English setter.

違うのは晃子さんは茶色のスパニョールのメイちゃんと飼い主さんを知っており、未だに行方不明の白のイングリシュシッターのリーちゃんを捜しているという事です。

We support Nippon SPCA in her quest to reunite the entire family and sincerely thank her for her statement, her photos, and her honesty. 

私たちは晃子さんそして Nippon SPCA のこの家族をいっしょにしてあげたいという志を支援しそして彼女の忠実なことばに感謝いたします。

Please find an update photo of Mei chan, the beautiful Brittany spaniel that protected her sister.  We have been granted permission to publish Mei chan’s photo.  Due to Akiko’s limited English, please convey any English speaking questions to The Hachiko Coalition and it will be answered in an orderly fashion through translators.  Thank you.

こ の美しいお姉さんを守ろうと した茶色のスパニョールのメイちゃんの写真を見てください。メイちゃんの写真を公表する権利を私たちは頂いております。藤村晃子さんは英語はしゃべれませ ん。もし英語での晃子さんへの質問がおありでしたら、どうぞ The Hachiko Coalitionのほうへお送りください。翻訳ののち送らせて頂きます。宜しくお願い致します。

Should you wish to support the Nippon SPCA, please visit their website:  http://www.nipponspca.com/en/

- Written By Guest Blogger: Susan Thixton


The Obama Administration has initiated a petition program titled 'We the People, Your voice in our government'.  They asked, I've submitted the petition representing pet owners.  If we reach 25,000 signatures, we are promised an 'official response' from the White House.  Now it's up to us!

On the Whitehouse.gov website, you'll find a link to the new petition program.  The site states "This tool provides you with a new way to petition the Obama Administration to take action on a range of important issues facing our country. If a petition gets enough support, White House staff will review it, ensure it’s sent to the appropriate policy experts, and issue an official response."

An 'official response' regarding FDA allowing waste ingredients into pet food!  Now wouldn't that be interesting!  Here's our chance.

We need 25,000 signatures for that official response.  Please, please, please sign this petition and ask every pet owner you know to do the same.

The petition itself had to be brief; only 800 characters were allowed (including spaces).  That was tough, but here it is...

We believe the Obama Administration should require the FDA to enforce the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (The Act) - as it is written - with pet foods.  The Act clearly defines 'food' as that for humans and animals.  Yet currently, the FDA allows materials from diseased animals, euthanized animals, downer animals, rodent feces and insect infested foods to be processed into pet foods/animal foods.  Consumers are not warned their pet food purchases could contain illegal ingredients and often pay premium prices for such.

We request the FDA to be required to abide by The Act or request the FDA to require all pet foods that do not provide certification of compliance of The Act to be clearly labeled with a warning to the consumer.  To learn more visit http://tinyurl.com/3spmd22
Here is the link to the petition:  http://wh.gov/b1b


Not within the petition (just not enough room!), but significant for all who sign is the evidence supporting our petition...

The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (The Act) defines food as: "The term ‘food’ means (1) articles used for food or drink for man or other animals, (2) chewing gum, and (3) articles used for components of any such article."  Section 201 (f)

Clearly, pet food/animal food should be protected by Federal law.

The Act defines adulterated (prohibited) food as: "A food shall be deemed to be adulterated – (a) Poisonous, insanitary, or deleterious ingredients.” (a)(5) “if it is, in whole or in part, the product of a diseased animal or of an animal which has died otherwise than by slaughter." Section 402

Clearly, pet foods/animal foods that contain insanitary ingredients or ingredients sourced from diseased or euthanized animals would be prohibited to sell.  But...

Despite Federal law, the FDA provides the pet food/animal food industry with loopholes to violate The Act; these loopholes are known officially as Compliance Policies.

As evidence:
FDA Compliance Policy CPG Sec. 690.300
"Pet food consisting of material from diseased animals or animals which have died otherwise than by slaughter, which is in violation of 402(a)(5) will not ordinarily be actionable, if it is not otherwise in violation of the law. It will be considered fit for animal consumption."
FDA Compliance Policy CPG Sec. 675.400
"POLICY:  No regulatory action will be considered for animal feed ingredients resulting from the ordinary rendering process of industry, including those using animals which have died otherwise than by slaughter, provided they are not otherwise in violation of the law."

FDA Compliance Policy CPG Sec. 675.100
"FDA does not object to the diversion to animal feed of human food adulterated with rodent, roach, or bird excreta."

FDA Compliance Policy 675.200
"The *Center* will consider the requests for diversion of food considered adulterated for human use in all situations where the diverted food will be acceptable for its intended animal food use. Such situations may include:
a. Pesticide contamination in excess of the permitted tolerance or action level.
b. Pesticide contamination where the pesticide involved is unapproved for use on a food or feed commodity.
c. Contamination by industrial chemicals.
d. Contamination by natural toxicants.
e. Contamination by filth.
f. Microbiological contamination.
g. Over tolerance or unpermitted drug residues."

It is crystal clear; these FDA Compliance Policies allow pet foods/animal foods to violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.  No Government Agency should have the authority to tell industry they can avoid the law.

We ask the Obama Administration for one of the following...

1)  FDA to immediately remove all Compliance Policies that allow pet foods and animal foods to violate The Act; immediately enforce The Act as it is written; or
2) FDA to immediately require all pet foods and animal foods that may include an ingredient which violates The Act to be clearly marked with a warning on the label.  Only pet foods that certify compliance of The Act would be excused from the warning requirement.  We suggest the following label warning on all other pet foods and treats:  Warning This Pet Product could contain illegal ingredients and could put your pets health at risk.

So now it is up to us.  We need 25,000 signatures before December 1, 2011.  Here is the link to the petition:  http://wh.gov/b1b  Please forward this petition to every pet owner you know and ask them to do the same.

We have been given a rare opportunity to finally bring illegal pet food ingredients into the forefront of those that can force change!   Aren't you a little curious as to how this subject will be responded to?  The ONLY way that can happen is if we reach our 25,000 signatures goal.  Please sign and forward!

Visit the Facebook Page for this effort - We the Pet People.  Please Like the page and ask others to do the same.

Good Luck to all of us!  Here's hoping we get 25,000 + signatures.  I REALLY want to see the 'official response' to this!


Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,


Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate


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No Scaredy Cats This Halloween: Top 10 Safety Tips for Pet Parents

Attention, animal lovers, it's almost the spookiest night of the year! The ASPCA recommends taking some common sense precautions this Halloween to keep you and your pet saying "trick or treat!" all the way to November 1.

1. No tricks, no treats: That bowl of candy is for trick-or-treaters, not for Scruffy and Fluffy. Chocolate in all forms—especially dark or baking chocolate—can be very dangerous for dogs and cats. Candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can also cause problems [remember this post?  :-O]. If you do suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

2. Popular Halloween plants such as pumpkins and decorative corn are considered to be relatively nontoxic, but they can produce stomach upset in pets who nibble on them.

3. Wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations should be kept out of reach of your pets. If chewed, your pet might suffer cuts or burns, or receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock.

4. A carved pumpkin certainly is festive, but do exercise caution if you choose to add a candle. Pets can easily knock a lit pumpkin over and cause a fire. Curious kittens especially run the risk of getting burned or singed by candle flames.

5. Dress-up can be a big mess-up for some pets. Please don't put your dog or cat in a costume UNLESS you know he or she loves it (yup, a few pets are real hams!). For pets who prefer their “birthday suits,” however, wearing a costume may cause undue stress.

6. If you do dress up your pet, make sure the costume isn't annoying or unsafe. It should not constrict the animal's movement or hearing, or impede his ability to breathe, bark or meow. Also, be sure to try on costumes before the big night. If your pet seems distressed, allergic or shows abnormal behavior, consider letting him go au naturale or donning a festive bandana.

7. Take a closer look at your pet’s costume and make sure it does not have small, dangling or easily chewed-off pieces that he could choke on. Also, ill-fitting outfits can get twisted on external objects or your pet, leading to injury.

8. All but the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room away from the front door during peak trick-or-treating hours. Too many strangers can be scary and stressful for pets.

9. When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that your cat or dog doesn't dart outside.

10. IDs, please! Always make sure your dog or cat has proper identification. If for any reason your pet escapes and becomes lost, a collar and tags and/or a microchip [or tattoo!] can be a lifesaver, increaing the chances that he or she will be returned to you.

* Article compliments of the ASPCA.

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Latest UPDATE on Buster the Boxer (10-28-11) >>>

Buster the Boxer is still struggling to breathe.

When he was stabbed, he suffered an internal tear in his throat, that caused swelling in his throat ... "He blew up like a balloon" said his owner. Buster had to be taken back to the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center for a second surgery.

Poor boy ... our thoughts & prayers are with Buster & his family. ♥ ♥ ♥

By-the-way ...For those of you with big hearts, and can spare a few dollars ... the cashier's # at the U of M Vet Hospital is 612-626-8387.

I do not know how many of you have heard about the 9-year-old Boxer that was knifed yesterday, while protecting his Saint Paul, MN home from intruders/burglars. Just in case you have not heard, see the story below for details & some pictures.


What an amazing dog ... vet said another 20 minutes and he would have died. The video posted below shows him coming home from the U of MN Vet Hospital (compliments of Fox9News).


There is a fund set-up at Wells Fargo to help pay for his medical bills. Those of you who are interested in helping out can donate via the link in the story below, or if you prefer, the Twin Cities Boxer Club is also collecting donations to donate to Buster's Fund.

To donate via the  Twin Cities Boxer Club go to PayPal.com  ... click on SEND MONEY (located below the picture of the kissing teenagers ... lol) ... check "Friends & Family" ... enter twincitiesboxerclub@gmail.com as the email address ... and put "Buster" in the description.


Boxers are so awesome!


Hug your doggies,
~Pamela~

Buster, a fawn boxer, nearly dies protecting his St. Paul home

Article by: ROCHELLE OLSON , Star Tribune - October 25, 2011 - 10:39 AM



Nine-year-old Buster fought so hard to protect his home that he shattered several teeth as he chomped on his attacker's hunting knife. He also suffered gashes to his throat, shoulder and jowls.

"Every room of my house was filled with blood. It was like a murder scene," said Larry Wagaman, who returned home to the crime scene about 10:20 a.m. Thursday at his east St. Paul house.

Buster, a fawn boxer who survived his latest surgery on Monday, was home alone while Wagaman went on a 20-minute run to buy supplies for a weekend bow-hunting trip.

Wagaman, an Anoka County corrections officer, returned to find Buster slumped in his basement kennel in a puddle of blood and gasping for air through a sucking neck wound.

A thief (or thieves) broke in by smashing two windows of the house on the 1800 block of E. Maryland Avenue. Cash, computers, a hunting bow, three rifles and Wagaman's corrections uniforms were stolen. The invader turned Wagaman's own 6-inch hunting knife on Buster, then left the bloody weapon on the kitchen table.

Wagaman wasn't surprised Buster fought so hard to protect the house he's lived in since he was a puppy.

"He's a dog that comes around every 100 years. He's just awesome," Wagaman said. Buster "fought him off every room they were in."

The dog spent Thursday night at the University of Minnesota veterinary hospital and spent the weekend at home, where Wagaman fed him soft food, kept him warm and medicated with painkillers.

Buster's Monday surgery was to repair his face wounds and to extract broken teeth.

The dog's care exceeded $3,000 -- before the latest surgery. "That's a lot of money, but I don't care. He's a hero," Wagaman said.

Employees in the St. Paul emergency communications center, who heard the initial emergency call, have already raised $500 to help. A fund has been set up for Buster's care in his name at any Wells Fargo branch. The "Buster Fund" is account No. 642-89-22-071.

Still whiny and sore, Buster's getting TLC at home from 16-year-old Brandie Wagaman, who is sharing a sleeping bag with Buster on the living room floor.


Although he's been moving slowly, Buster has resumed his post as watch commander at the house. Wagaman said: "Even with all the wounds, he wants to sit up and look out the window."

St. Paul police spokesman Howie Padilla said the case is being investigated but police don't yet know if there were multiple intruders. "We have limited suspect information," he said.

He noted, however, that burglaries of residences have been up this year and that police already have sent out warnings about being vigilant, keeping homes maintained and garage doors locked. Padilla asked anyone with information on this case to call 651-266-5616.

* Photos compliments of  Kare11.com




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We have "Adopt-A-Less-Adoptable-Pet-Week" , "Deaf Dog Awareness Week", and "National Dog Week" ... all occurring this week!

Adopt-A-Less-Adoptable-Pet-Week brings attention to the many blind, senior, deaf or black (yes, BLACK!) doggies whom often get overlooked when folks are looking to add a doggie to their homes. Folks often think they are just bringing home "a problem" if they adopt a special needs dog, but what they are really doing is missing out on the huge blessing these pets can add to your life.  Check-out Petfinder for a special listing of dogs near you!







Deaf Dog Awareness Week is seeking to bring attention to the thousands of deaf doggies that share our homes & lives.  We know many deaf doggies (white Boxers sometimes struggle with deafness), and they are no different than hearing dogs. They are just as smart, fun, loyal and loving as any other doggie. Do not pass-up a doggie, just because it has a hearing loss ... you may be passing-up a GREAT companion & friend!






National Dog Week was established in 1928 by dog-enthusiast William Lewis Judy to encourage responsible pet ownership among America’s growing population of dog owners and to honor our dogs for all the good they do. A whole week! Who knew? What will YOU be doing this week to show your doggies how special they are?  A new toy? A bath? A care ride? A new companion (puppy)? Or maybe a nice long walk? No time for a walk, well you can always give us a call, and we will take him out for a special walk! =o)


I feel so special!
~ Zena



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In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that they take it easy and look forward to the weekend. What a neat idea, huh?!

Sooooo ... In honor of Aloha Friday a special blog hop has been set-up!

The way it works is you post a short question on your blog, and link up each week at An Island Life (the hostess of this event),  so others can come and visit your blog and answer your question.

So, here goes ... Our question for you today is:

Cougar's prowl from Midwest to Connecticut astonishes scientists

By Dave Orrick
dorrick@pioneerpress.com

Updated: 09/07/2011 06:46:49 PM CDT

Video from the St. Paul Pioneer Press | TwinCities.com.

A mountain lion killed last month on a busy Connecticut highway outside of New York City was not, as officials initially had concluded, a captive animal that had escaped.

Nor was it, as they had speculated, the victim of illegal exotic pet trade.

No, this was an American beauty, a native cougar born and bred in the wild and whose demise marked the end of a cross-continental journey that included the Twin Cities and Wisconsin, and has amazed scientists, officials said Tuesday.

Genetic testing of the animal in a Montana laboratory matched samples of what became known as the "St. Croix Cougar," a young male that passed through Champlin en route through central and northern Wisconsin during the winter of 2009-10.

"It's one of those amazing animal stories," said Adrian Wydeven, a conservation biologist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, who helped track the cat when it passed through here.

"This probably represents one of the longest movements ever recorded for a terrestrial mammal," Wydeven said.

Scientists from several states pieced together the trek of perhaps 1,600 miles, based on DNA evidence collected from the animal's corpse, as well as scat and blood collected at various sites over the years.

Automated trail cameras and paw print evidence added less-certain locations of where the animal traveled, but there are still massive gaps, leading researchers to speculate as to how a cat might find its way past the Great Lakes, across wide rivers and through mountains on its eastward journey.

"I wish it were here to interview so we can find out," said Susan Frechette, deputy commissioner for the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection.

If cats could talk, this young male no doubt would have had a memorable tale to tell as it emerged from its likely birthplace in the Black Hills of South Dakota and crossed a nation that had nearly hunted its kind into oblivion, before finally arriving on the doorstep of New York City, where no mountain lion had been confirmed for more than a century and where federal officials had formally declared it extinct just this year.

(Courtesy of Wisconsin DNR)

"It's a strong symbol of what we had all hoped for: that conservation can work and be effective," said Daniel Esty, Connecticut's commissioner of environmental protection, who also sought Tuesday to squelch rumors that any breeding population of mountain lions still calls the Northeast home.

Several conservation experts suggested the St. Croix Cougar was a harbinger of the comeback of large mammals, including bear, deer, wolves and coyotes, across the Midwest and Northeast.

Among large mammals, it's always the young males that strike out, either from hunger, wanderlust or lust. Mountain lions are no different. Because there are no known breeding grounds east of the western Dakotas and because DNA evidence tied the cougar to the Black Hills, scientists suspect it was born there.

Exactly why this young male at perhaps around age 1 decided to head east is unknown.


Though its journey sounds daunting to a human, this large cat would have found a land not inhospitable, with highways providing possible travel corridors and, most important - and unlike the landscape it might have found 50 years ago - an abundance of prey.

"The deer probably don't have a lot of experience with predators, and there's no competition for them," Wydeven said.

In early December 2009, it was spotted in Champlin, then Vadnais Heights and later Stillwater, where it likely crossed the St. Croix River, by swimming, walking across the ice or perhaps taking the Stillwater Lift Bridge. Scat collected in St. Croix County, Wis., later that month led to its moniker.

It feasted on deer.

A landowner's video camera in southern Dunn County recorded it munching on a buck fawn it had dragged into his cornfield, covering the animal with husks and stalks and returning several times to feed.

"Without a mate, it would have kept moving," Wydeven said.

It might have fed on roadkill. It definitely dined on porcupine. Scientists found parts of quills embedded in its skin.

At the time, wildlife officials from Minnesota and Wisconsin worked together to collect biological samples to be tested by the U.S. Forest Service's Wildlife Genetics Laboratory at the Rocky Mountain Research Station in Missoula, Mont. That they were able to match so many local sightings to the same animal was considered a testament to the power of DNA forensics, said Mike Schwartz, the lab's conservation genetics team leader.


"It was remarkable that we kept getting the same match because that hadn't really happened before," Schwartz said. "We thought that was the end of the story."

But the cat kept roaming.

Tracks were found near Cable, Wis., a few miles from the Birkebeiner cross country ski trail Feb. 27, 2010, the day of the race. Trail cameras from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan suggest it headed north of Lake Michigan, but no Midwest sightings are known after that.

Wydeven speculated it might have crossed into Canada at Sault Ste. Marie, traveled east across Ontario and crossed the St. Lawrence River back into the United States by island hopping the river's Thousand Islands area.

"The truth is, we really don't know," he said.

The animal made news this May when it was sighted around the New York suburb of Greenwich, Conn.

In early June, it emerged from woods at the exclusive Brunswick School, and scientists collected a scat sample.

Early June 11, it strode onto the Wilbur Cross Parkway near Milford, and was struck and killed by a car.


Wydeven heard about the incident and suggested to a Connecticut official - a former graduate student he had overseen - that samples be sent to Missoula for comparison with the lab's database of known mountain lion samples.

"Not because we thought we'd find a match but because maybe they could establish it was related," Wydeven said.

Last week, the lab called with the results: an exact match. "I could hardly believe it," he said.

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