Thank you so much to all who entered the November dog photo contest. I had a heck of a time trying to pick out winners and if I had enough prizes, everyone would win something! Unfortunately, I got so many entries I had to narrow it down to 9 winners. And here they are:

From reader Aidee Carachure, she did not specify this dog’s name or breed:

From reader Amy Weitzel, this is Willie:

From reader Cary Cook, this is Duffy:

From reader Michael Grostig, this is Shasta:

From reader Linda Davidson, this is Cosby the Goldendoodle:

From reader George Banasky, he did not specify name or breed:

From reader Debra Jo Chiapuzio, this is Emma the Lab/Great Dane mix:

From reader Angela Schuch, this is Laney:

From reader Shannon Wallace, this is Macy Calvin, who loves leaves(!):

Thank you again to everyone who entered. Due to the popularity of this contest, we will be having another dog photo contest in January 2009 so come back for details. And congratulations to all the cute pups who won! Your toys will be in the mail late next week.

I’ve gotten some fabulous entries in for the November dog photo contest so far. I wanted to share some more of them with all of you. Some are funny, all are cute, all are adorable, and they will will make you smile real big! The contest ends tomorrow and winners will be pulled in the afternoon so please get your photos in today if you still want to enter!

First up we have Lois Lane “Laney” from reader Angela Schuch. Laney has her own blog at TheSuperPup so we will be visting her there from now on…

Next up we have Nunu, a 7-year-old female mutt owned by reader Lizette Arroyo…this funny dog picture had me in stitches!

Now it’s time for ThoughtsFurPaws reader Lexi Freed’s “gentle giant,” Scrappy. This picture is dear to me because (I’m pretty sure) it’s a pit bull and I LOVE pit bulls, and they really are gentle giants.

Now let me introduce you to reader Debra Jo’s Lab/Great Dane mix, Emma. She’s a 17-month old female therapy dog and a former shelter dog. This picture looks totally professional and is totally adorable!

Finally we have some entries from Amy at Multiple Breed Rescue/Jack Russell Rescue in Elyria, Ohio. Here are three of her cute dog pictures:

Stay tuned tomorrow to see all the winners in the November cute dog pictures contest!

I’ve gotten quite a response to this month’s poll question about giving your dog Thanksgiving fixin’s. When asked what you give your dog for Thanksgiving dinner, 52% of you said just a little bit of turkey in his regular chow. Surprisingly, 29% said they give their dog turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and whatever else they want. So regarding that, I thought I should post this little tidbit from the ASPCA about Thanksgiving dinner and your pets. Thanks to the ASPCA newsletter for this article, just in time for the holidays.
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Friends, family and feasts—the main ingredients for holiday fun can actually result in distress for pets. Not only can too many table scraps set furry tummies a-rumble, but many animals get anxious at the change in household routine. Says the ASPCA’s Dr. Steven Hansen, Senior Vice President, Animal Health Services, which includes the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center in Urbana, IL, “As you begin to prepare for a festive season, remember to be wary of activities that can be potentially dangerous to pets.”

The following safety tips will help to ensure a safe and fulfilling Thanksgiving for you and your pets:

Talkin’ Turkey: Giving your pets a little nibble of turkey is okay, just be sure that it’s boneless and fully cooked. Raw or undercooked turkey may contain salmonella bacteria, and dogs can choke on bones, which splinter easily.

A Feast Fit for a Kong: While the humans are chowing down, give your cat and dog their own little feast. Stuff their usual dinner—with a few added bits of turkey, dribbles of gravy or vegetables like sweet potato and green beans—inside a Kong toy. They’ll be happily occupied trying to get their meal out, and way too busy to come begging for table scraps.


Sage Advice: This peppery herb makes stuffing taste delish, but sage also contains essential oils and resins that can cause pets to suffer stomach upset and possible depression of the central nervous system.

Battery Power: The holiday season means lots of cameras, radios and other battery-operated electronics. Please don’t leave batteries lying around. If swallowed, they can cause choking or obstruction; if punctured, the chemicals in alkaline batteries can cause burns to the mouth and esophagus.

To learn more, read our complete list of holiday safety tips and special Thanksgiving safety advice straight from our experts.

If you suspect your pet has ingested a harmful substance, on Thanksgiving or at any time, please call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Have a safe Thanksgiving with your pets everyone!

Jaime, Theodore, Sasha, Benson and Gibson

Thanks to an American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) press release for this information:

There’s nothing better than gathering with friends and family for the holidays; eating, drinking, and putting up festive decorations. While enjoying this time of year, the ASPCA wants pet parents to be aware of potential hazards that certain goodies and decor can pose to our furry friends.

“Many of our winter habits and holiday traditions could pose a potential threat to our companion animals,” says Dr. Steven Hansen, a board-certified veterinary toxicologist and senior vice president of the ASPCA’s Animal Health Services, which includes the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center in Urbana, Ill. “As you begin to prepare for a pfestive season, remember to be wary of activities that can be potentially dangerous to pets.”

To keep pets happy and healthy during the holiday season, the ASPCA offers pet owners the following helpful hints:

-Avoid a sour stomach. ‘Tis the season for overeating, but remember to keep your pets on a normal diet. Any change of diet, even for one meal, can give your dog or cat severe indigestion and diarrhea. “Please don’t give pets holiday leftovers, and do keep them out of the garbage.” advises Dr. Louise Murray, director of medicine at the ASPCA’s Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital in NYC. Poultry bones can splinter and cause blockages, while greasy, spicy and fatty foods can cause stomach upset.

-Use caution with cocktails. If your plans include adult holiday beverages, be sure to place unattended alcoholic drinks where pets cannot reach them. If ingested, the animal could become very sick and weak and may go into a coma, possibly resulting in death from respiratory failure.

- Skip the sweets. Several popular holiday treats are toxic to pets. Candies containing the sweetener xylitol can be poisonous to dogs. Even small amounts of xylitol can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, which leads to depression, lack of coordination, seizures and even liver failure in certain cases. “Chocolate, especially baker’s and dark chocolate, can also be potentially poisonous to animals, especially dogs,” advises Dr. Hansen. Symptoms of significant chocolate ingestion may include vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity and increased thirst and urination, as well as abnormal heart rate/rhythm and even seizures. Cats also love to play with candy wrappers, but ingesting aluminum foil or cellophanes can pose a choking hazard or cause intestinal blockage.

- Floral arrangements should be given forethought. Be careful with holiday floral arrangements and Christmas tree decorations. Lilies are commonly used this time of year and all varieties, including Tiger, Asian, Japanese Show, Stargazer and Casa Blanca can cause kidney failure in cats. In addition, common Yuletide plants such as mistletoe and holly berries can be potentially toxic to pets. Should a cat or dog eat mistletoe, they could possibly sugger gastrointestinal upset and in rare cases, cardiovascular problems. Holly can cause vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy if ingested.

- Cover the Christmas tree water. Christmas tree water may contain fertilizers which, if ingested, could cause stomach upset. Stagnant tree water can also act as a breeding ground for bacteria, and if ingested a pet could end up with abdominal discomfort, vomiting and diarrhea.

-Decorations can be dangerous. Consider decorating your tree with ornaments that are relatively less enticing to pets, such as dried non-toxic flowers, wood, fabric or pinecones. Traditional decorations such as ribbons or tinsel, if ingested, can become lodged in the intestines and cause intestinal obstruction. This is a very common problem, particularly with cats. Also take care to prevent your pets from having access to glass ornaments, wires and cords from holiday decorations. If chewed, such ornaments can damage your pet’s mouth from shards of glass or plastic, while a wire can deliver a potentially lethal electric shock.

- Careful with candles. Ensure any candle decorations are kept well out of your pets’ reach. Animals can easily knock over holiday candles and start a fire, and curious kittens are particularly at risk of getting burned by candle flames.

In recognition of my company, American Greetings, I’d like to show you all some adorable pet holiday eCards. If your plans this holiday season include sending eCards, then a cute way to go is with these pet eCards.

There are dozens to choose from at AmericanGreetings.com but here’s a handful of some of the cutest ones.

” A Friend Like You:” This pet holiday eCard makes me want to snuggle up with these sweet puppies. This is the perfect eCard for your pet-loving friends.

“Sweet Talker” This eCard allows you to record your voice for the recipient, then the adorable puppy repeats your personal message!

“Christmas Dreams:” Perfect for friends, family and other loved ones, this pet holiday eCard has a warm holiday message inside…

“Fleas Navidad:” This cute dog eCard has a funny Christmas message inside…

“Kitty Unwrapped:” This is another talking pet eCard that allows you to record a personal message for the kitty to repeat to the recipient!

There are lots more pet holiday eCards to choose from at AmericanGreetings.com. Happy Holidays everyone!

This is HUGE news, GREAT news!

From a press release from the office of Rep. Brian G. Williams:

COLUMBUS – The Ohio House of Representatives today approved a bill sponsored by State Representative Brian G. Williams (D-Akron) designed to protect animals from abuse and stop abusers from continuing their violent ways.

“Current penalties in Ohio for animal cruelty are weak and do little to prevent future acts of violence,” Rep. Williams said. “House Bill 418 is a first step in correcting that glaring discrepancy in our criminal statutes.”

The legislation features several provisions aimed at preventing animal abuse:

• Requires evaluation by professional counselor for any minor convicted of animal cruelty

• If the evaluation recommends counseling, the judge, at his/her discretion, can order such counseling to take place

• Increases the penalty for animal cruelty for a second or subsequent violation from a second-degree misdemeanor (the same penalty for a first violation) to a first-degree misdemeanor

• Enhances penalties for torturing a companion animal (probation in addition to the fifth-degree felony charge for each subsequent conviction)

• Allows court to include companion animals in a petitioner’s residence when issuing civil protection orders

“Research shows that minors who abuse or torture animals not only are more likely to continue that behavior as adults, but will often turn their aggression to humans,” Rep. Williams said. “This bill is a way of ensuring the safety of animals and people alike.”

HB 418, which received unanimous support from the House Criminal Justice Committee, passed the full House today by a vote of 92-1. It now goes to the Ohio Senate for its consideration.

Please read the below update from Darrin and Josy at MyCutePetPics about the work the three of us have been doing to fight the gas chamber being built in Taylorsville, UT.

From MyCutePetPics: “We just wanted to make a few announcements and explain why we haven’t updated the blog in the last few days.  We have been so busy working with our good friend Jaime, from ThoughtFurPaws, plus many other animal organizations & animal activists.  We have been doing everything we can to stop a shelter in Utah from building a gas chamber to perform euthanasia on all their unwanted pets. This method, as you all know, is barbaric and considered to be cruel by every other animal organization and true animal lover.”

We have spoken with the mayor and one of their council members several times over the last few days, trying our best to put a stop to this.  Tomorrow we have two phone calls to make that will hopefully join all the animal organizations, activists and animal lovers that are involved in this fight.  We will keep you posted on the progress.  For everyone who has written to them to voice your opinion on the matter, we applaud you and thank you so very much.  In case anyone else wishes to help make a difference we will provide the mayors e-mail below as well as the council members’.  If you write an e-mail to one you can just copy and paste it to each one, if you wish.

The mayor Russ Wall seems to be a caring man who really wants whats best for these animals. The only problem is that the shelter’s director, Kelly Davis, is doing everything she can to prove her point, that using gas chambers as a form of euthanasia is painless and good for the pets. (**Kelly Davis has replied to our emails with canned responses, referring us to the city’s website for more information. Darrin, Josy and I have all argued every false claim she has made with facts from the AVMA, HSUS, ASPCA and many other animal organizations.  The problem is we are not there and she is doing everything she can to mislead the mayor and council members.)

Darrin and Josy go on to say that she or someone made the mayor witness 7 acts of euthanasia to prove her/their point. The huge problem is that that person did it by intentionally performing lethal injection euthanasia, against AVMA’s recommended methods. The shelter out there made the Mayor watch one gas chamber euthanasia that apparently went well and quickly.  Experts that Darrin and Josy spoke to (after they have seen all the facts and e-mails) all agreed that she or whomever was responsible may have used a very high dose of the gas to ensure no complications — which no shelter could afford to do all the time when nobody is watching.  Then the shelter performed 6 euthanasias by lethal injections and half or more of them by way of abdominal injections (which is a whole different beast).

What kind of fair argument is this shelter trying to prove by comparing one method with one example compared to 6 examples using the other method? What this shelter did to these poor dogs & cats on purpose to try and prove their point should be considered severe cruelty. They intentionally made those poor animals suffer more so they can continue to build a gas chamber.

Shelters worldwide are known to favor gas chambers because only one staff member is needed for this type of torture, compared to two employees needed for lethal injections. This is an outrage and we cannot allow them to get away with this!

This is the Mayor’s last statement to Darrin and Josy after he viewed what a shelter (we do not know which one at this time) wanted and ill intentionally caused him to see:

“Bottom line for me is that after two days of observation, and after reading much information (and disinformation), and after much discussion with the people who have to deal with this regularly, I believe that most euthanasia procedures could and perhaps should be done by lethal injection. But there are many times when that form of euthanasia causes much more stress on animals (and human handlers) than a 15-30 second procedure in a CO chamber. I know many people may disagree but I saw what I saw and pray to God that I never have to do see any form of euthanasia again.”

**So at least he agrees that lethal injection is the best way, but for God’s sake, this is about the animals being comfortable as they’re on their death beds, NOT the humans being stressed. C’mon. And he still gave way to the other side at the end of his statement by saying there are times when that form causes more stress. So I don’t consider him to be 100% convinced.**

Just for the record the AVMA states that some pets have been known to take as long as 14 minutes to pass away in the gas chamber.  On top of that it is also a known fact that some pets survive all that suffering and then must be put down by other methods.  Include all that, the added pain and risks to health staff and you have to wonder why any shelter that is supposed to love animals more than anyone, would want to partake in such cruelty.

Please voice your opinion on this shelter’s plan and this form of euthanasia.

To voice any strong oppositions and to tell the shelter’s Operations Director, Kelly Davis, how barbaric her plans are for planning on using this form of euthanasia, here is her contact info.

Kelly Davis
Operations Director, Animal Services
West Valley City
4063 South 7200 West
West Valley City, UT. 84044
(801) 963-3364 Office
(801) 252-7541 FAX
kdavis@wvc-ut.gov

To contact the mayor (who is a very nice man) directly to voice your opinion, here is his contact information.

Mayor Russ Wall – rwall@taylorsvilleut.gov  1-(801)963-5400

The nicest person we spoke to thus far is Councilman Corey Rushton, but the more opposition to this shelter’s plan, the better it is for those poor animals. Here is his info:

Council Member Corey Rushton – Corey.Rushton@wvc-ut.gov

Their local news station aired a story but I have to warn you – the images are disturbing.  If you still wish to watch the video, Click Here.

Thank you all so much and any help, suggestions or media contacts, would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much to Mary O’Connor Shaver at Columbus Top Dogs and Kelli Ohrtman at the Best Friends Animal Society for this article.

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Many have heard of the USDA (it’s stamped on organic food labels, meat labels, and other everyday grocery store items), and many have heard of puppy mills. But the fact that puppy mills are regulated by the USDA is a little-known fact to most people.

The US Department of Agriculture seems like a strange entity to be in charge of regulating the puppy industry, but that’s how it works. To be clearer, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) is the arm of the USDA in charge of regulating puppy mills under the Animal Welfare Act. There are currently 5,913 dog breeders and brokers with USDA licenses. People often wonder whether there is a list of all the puppy mills in the country. Well, the USDA is the first place to look.

In April, Oprah Winfrey aired an hour-long show about puppy mills, and the same day, the USDA published a FAQ on animal dealers. Note the paragraph below on the left—the first frequently asked question: “who regulates puppy mills?” Answer: the USDA.
**Note that the USDA has since changed the language to read Who regulates commercial dog breeders?

For a list of USDA licensed commercial dog breeders (or puppy mills—call them what you like), click here.

What many people also don’t realize is that under the Freedom of Information Act, we are all entitled to view not just a breeder’s name and address, but their inspection reports are included as well. Curious about a breeder? Order their inspection reports. You can do it online by clicking here.

What’s NOT inspected by the USDA?
-Retail pet stores. The USDA only regulates the supply end—the breeders.
-Puppy sales on the Internet, classified ads, flea markets. NO regulation
-Small-scale breeders who have three or fewer breeding female dogs. NO regulation

70 inspectors for 10,000 facilities
In addition to inspecting and watching over commercial dog kennels, APHIS inspectors are also in charge of inspecting research facilities, zoos and circuses, airport terminals—they are in charge of inspecting the care, handling and housing of everything from dogs to dolphins. This document, published on APHIS’ website, has this to say about the inspectors themselves:

“[Animal Care] inspectors receive special training in the proper care of marine mammals, exotic animals, and animals used in research. Inspectors also receive extensive training in how to conduct inspections at airport terminals, zoos, and commercial animal breeding facilities, among others. APHIS currently has more than 70 AC inspectors in the United States, who are strategically placed where regulated facilities are located.”

The total number of active licensed facilities listed on the APHIS website is 9,883. At first glance, seventy inspectors for nearly 10,000 facilities sounds like a miniscule number of people doing a colossal job but if you do the math, it adds up to about one facility per day per inspector.

What compliance means with the AWA
It’s important to note exactly what inspectors are looking for when they arrive at a USDA licensed kennel. Their job is to make sure breeders are adhering to the minimum standards set forth by the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). They can look at a facility with hundreds of dogs in small cages, desperate for human attention, and note no violations.

That’s because the AWA does nothing to ensure dogs are happy, or live a quality life. It’s not written into the regulations, and therefore is not something the USDA enforces. Here are some quick facts about the minimum standards set forth by the USDA:

-Inspections are “Risk-based,” meaning that facilities that meet a certain criteria are inspected “as seldom as once every 2 to 3 years.” (source)
-Cage size: must be 6 inches larger than the size of the dog, on all sides
-Up to 12 dogs can be housed in one cage
-Dogs never have to be let out of their cages. Breeders only need to have an exercise plan
-There is no limit to the number dogs a breeder can have—many have over 1,000
-There is no age limit for breeding dogs. If a dog is able to produce puppies for ten years, that’s how long they could be in the facility
For the full text of the federal Animal Welfare Regulations, click here.

Bad Kennels Stay in Business
One of the most common complaints about the USDA from animal advocates is that breeders can have repeated and long-standing violations, but continue to sell hundreds of puppies to pet stores. Below are several reports of large, USDA-licensed Minnesota kennels that have multiple USDA violations and dozens of reports of sick puppies sold in stores. Click the links below to see the reports, courtesy of Pet Shop Puppies Inc.

Note that some have even been investigated by local news stations and have been charged with animal cruelty by the state. (**Note, the top of the report includes puppies the breeder has sold, and the bottom includes USDA inspection violations, news exposés and other investigations, if any.)

Wanda McDuffee

Angie & Gerry Wensmann

Kathy Bauck

What all this means, and what you can do:

1.) Support new legislation that will amend the Animal Welfare Act. The Puppy Uniform Protection Act (PUPS) is on the docket for the 2008-2009 session. Click here for more information (**For one example of a notorious kennel that currently does not need a USDA license under the AWA, visit this case on the CAPS website.)

2.) Watch and share the Best Friends Podcast about the USDA and puppy mills: Click here to view. You can also subscribe to the podcast for regular video updates.

3.) USDA-licensed kennels supply pet stores. If you disagree with the way the USDA regulates these kennels, never, ever buy a puppy from a pet store. Share this article and the podcast with others who might not know about the pet store/puppy mill connection.

4.) Test your knowledge of the USDA’s regulation of puppy mills with this online quiz from www.PetShopPuppies.org.

5.) If you know people who don’t understand or believe where pet store puppies come from, print this article and have them take it to a pet store and ask whether the puppies in the store come from USDA-licensed kennels. (The answer—legally—is yes.)

6.) For nine things you can do to help stop puppy mills, visit the Resources section of the Best Friends campaign website.

As you all probably know, I am running a dog photo contest for November right now. Some of the entries I’ve been getting are just too cute to not share. So I’m going to show you a handful today and some more later on this week.

This first sweet pup is Lily, a Beagle-Corgi mix.

Lily

The next one is Duffy, a Red Merle Border Collie. Duffy’s human made a comment about how beautiful and special Duffy’s eyes are, and I can see why…

Duffy

Next up we have Bear, an Aussie/Sheltie mix. How pretty is this dog!?

Bear

And finally, we have two pictures from Sundancer Labs. The first is of the “big dogs,” the second is of the Sundancer Lab puppies. Both so sweet.

Sundancer Labs

Sundancer Lab Puppies

How in the world am I going to choose who wins what with all these great dog pictures to choose from? This is going to be a tough call.

If you would like to enter your dog in the November dog photo contest, email me your best pictures at thoughtsfurpaws@gmail.com. There will be 8 winners pulled after Thanksgiving.

We have all heard of the famous Banfield, The Pet Hospital, right? Well I bet you haven’t heard about Banfield’s Season Of Suppers®,. “A Pet Food Drive For Pets In Need,” it aims to help more seniors and their pets fight hunger.

For a third year, Banfield hospitals across the nation have teamed up with the Meals on Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) for a national pet food drive. They are collecting pet food at their locations and donating it to their local MOWAA program to feed pets of senior citizens who receive meals.

Banfield, The Pet Hospital is a private veterinary practice with hospitals located in many communities across the country. Central to their mission is a commitment to providing quality, loving and wise care to pets and their owners.

From a Banfield press release, “We know that many seniors in our community are compromising their own nutrition by sharing their meals with their pets,” says Phil Shippers, director of the Visiting Nurse Meals On Wheels program of Rochester, N.Y.

“Awareness and action are key to preventing this from happening” says Shippers, who began a pet feeding program in September through partial funding from a $1,000 grant from the Season of Suppers campaign. “In the short period of time since we started a pet feeding program, we have seen great interest and support from not only our meal recipients but the greater community as well; we strongly believe this support will continue to grow and help us enhance the lives of seniors.”

Last year, Banfield’s Season of Suppers campaign raised more than $51,000 to help 50 senior meal programs start or augment pet feeding programs across the country, according to the press release.

“Since the first Season of Suppers campaign over 100 Meals On Wheels programs have started pet feeding programs, “says Enid Borden, President and CEO of MOWAA. “While companion pets are the direct beneficiaries of this campaign, homebound seniors are helped as well – and that’s MOWAA’s primary concern. Before the Season of Suppers campaign, many of these seniors lacked access to pet food and were sharing their own meals with their pets. Now, both seniors and their pets are getting proper nutrition. It’s a win-win.”

With Thanksgiving and Christmas rapidly approaching, this is the perfect time to get into the holiday spirit of giving, and help out some needy pets and people. Go to your local Banfield from now until December 31 to make your monetary or pet food donation to Season of Suppers. You can find your local Banfield here: http://www.banfield.net/hospital-locator.