Dog Hair & the Gulf Oil Spill

Here’s a great way for dog owners and their dog hair to give back and assist in the clean up of the Gulf oil spill. Who’d a thought, right? Thanks to the Los Angeles Times for this article.

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Gulf Oil Spill: Hair of Dogs to Tackle Oil

Nearly 1,000 grooming salons in Petco stores began shipping donations of pet fur Friday to aid in creating booms to soak up oil from the Gulf of Mexico.

The company said it expects to ship up to a ton of donated fur daily. Already, 450,000 pounds have been shipped to the gulf area, where Coast Guard officials say they have not yet used the material.

Petco joins a growing cohort of salons, pet groomers and farmers shipping hair to the Gulf of Mexico. They are all part of a network created by Matter of Trust, a nonprofit environmental group. The group first garnered attention when it helped with the 2007 San Francisco oil spill.

It’s hard to say who first thought of using hair to sop up an oil spill, but Matter of Trust attributes it to hairdresser Phil McCrory, who first experimented with hair and oil after the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill. The story is laid out in a YouTube video.

Richard Ambrose, a UCLA professor of environmental health science, said he’s never heard of hair being used to clean up oil.

“As long as it’s cost effective and it works well, then it seems great,” he said.

Petco hopes to reach 5 tons of donations through Mother’s Day weekend.

–Nicole Santa Cruz

Photo: Brenda Mendez grooms a poodle in her Racine, Wis., shop on Tuesday. She is donating pet hair to an ecological charity that intends to use it to help sop up the oil spill. Credit: Scott Anderson/Associated Press

You Know You’re Addicted To Your Dog When…

I loved this post from the FIDO blog! I think most of us are a little addicted to our dogs…Lord knows I am! I’m definitely guilty of #3- “You sign Fido’s name along with yours on all birthday and holiday cards”

Written by: Carol Bryant for Fido

They love us no matter what we look like in the morning. They hear our deepest most intimate conversations and tell no one. The tail wags when our day has been less than stellar. And we, as their human guardians, companions, caretakers, and parents love them for being simply stated, our best friends.

You Know You’re Addicted to Your Dog When…..

1 You reach into your coat pocket and doggie snack remnants fall out in addition to your keys, some loose change, and tissues.

2 You wake up in a crouched yoga-like position so Fido could have the comfy spot on the bed.

3 You sign Fido’s name along with yours on all birthday and holiday cards.

4 You ask a hotel if dogs are allowed before booking a vacation.

5 Your haircuts cost less than your dog’s.

6 You’ve got more pictures strewn about the house of Fido than you do of the human variety.

7 You smooch the dog at the end of the day and pat your significant other on the head.

8 You find yourself out in the pouring rain at 4 a.m. if Fido needs to really “go potty.”

9 Fido has a better healthcare plan and a lower deductible on his/her rider than you do.

10 When your pooch barks, you know what the different tones of bark actually “mean.”

Feel free to add to this list! I would add that you know you’re addicted to your dog when:

• They have a much more updated wardrobe than you do.
• Your dogs get stockings at Christmas
• It’s weird when you don’t have dog hair on your clothing
• The first thing you think about in designing your home is whether it’s “dog-friendly”
• You won’t let anyone watch your dogs except for trusted family members/friends… (because kennels are for real dogs and my dogs don’t know they’re actually dogs!)
• You’d rather skip the movie theater so that you can enjoy a flick at home while engaging in some serious dog cuddling.
• Dog kisses are completely acceptable…even if your dog has an affinity for occasional poop eating (hey…we brush their teeth!)
• You purchase a vehicle based on whether it will have room for the dogs to sit comfortably in their own seats.

Grief over the loss of a pet can take many forms. I applaud people who take that grief and use it for something positive.

Woman starts pantry to help those who can’t afford food for animals
By Mike Blackerby

PHOTO BY WADE PAYNE

Rio Hays walks 3-year-old Harley, a Poshie, and 4-month-old Rama at Victor Ashe Park on Friday. Hays started the Knoxville Pet Food Pantry, which helps those who can’t afford to provide food for their pets.
Rio Hays turned the grief of losing her beloved dog into a mission of procuring pet food for financially strapped Knoxvillians who can’t provide for their animals.

Hays, a 26-year-old student and Web designer, began the Knoxville Pet Food Pantry about two years ago after the death of her Sadie, an Australian cattle dog.

“She had a freak allergic reaction to anesthesia and passed away,” Hays said. “I was put aside by the grief I had for her and then saw a news report about dogs being euthanized because their owners couldn’t feed them. I saw that these people were feeling the same sadness and grief that I was.”

At that point, Hays, never one to sit on the sidelines, went into action.

“My sister and I were raised in a situation where we always participated in philanthropy and did things like work for food pantries,” she said. “When Sadie passed, the grief was so intense that the only thing I could do was funnel it to try and help other people so that they didn’t have to go through the same thing I did because they couldn’t feed their pets.”

Once she became engrossed in the cause, Hays, a North Knoxvillian, said she was surprised by the acute need for a local pet food pantry.

“I saw a study where the No. 3 reason owners gave for surrendering their pets was because they couldn’t afford to feed them anymore,” she said. “A lot of animals are euthanized because their owners can’t afford to feed them. To me, that’s horrific.”

Hays initially advertised her desire to help pet owners online, and her cause quickly spread by word-of-mouth.

In addition to the obvious need for dog and cat food, Hays said she has had other surprising requests: “I had requests for horse feed, bird feed and even a request for fresh vegetables for reptiles.”

Hays said the flood of requests has been overwhelming.

“For the longest time, I’ve personally gone and bought food and given it to people,” she said. “It started to get really expensive, and I thought, ‘This is the kind of thing I could get help with.’ “

Hays said she is in the process of applying for 501(c)(3) nonprofit status for the Knoxville Pet Food Pantry – http://knoxpetpantry.weebly.com/ – and is hoping to partner with local nonprofit agencies to distribute pet food.

Hays, who may also be contacted at 865-755-1079 for those who wish to donate pet food, said one of her top priorities is assisting Knoxville’s elderly pet lovers.

“A big concern of mine is the elderly population,” Hays said. “A lot of them are on fixed incomes or homebound. I’ve heard a lot of stories like, ‘My mother, or a friend, had to surrender their animals because they couldn’t afford food.’

“For some people, these are pets they’ve had for 10 years. That’s much more than a dog to them, that’s their companion. That’s heartbreaking to me.”

Mike Blackerby is a freelance contributor to the News Sentinel.

Why Should You Spay/Neuter?

Here’s a great fact sheet from the ASPCA via Petfinder on why you should spay or neuter your pet. This is such an important step in reducing the number of homeless pets.

Peace of Mind

Did you know that a spayed or neutered (sterilized) animal is better behaved?

Males:
Neutered cats and dogs focus their attention on their human families. On the other hand, unsterilized, unsupervised males roam in search of a mate, risking injury in traffic and in fights with other males. They mark territory by spraying strong-smelling urine on surfaces. Indoors, male dogs may embarrass you by mounting furniture and human legs when stimulated. Dont confuse aggressiveness with protectiveness; a neutered dog protects his home and family just as well as an unneutered dog, and many aggression problems can be avoided by early neutering.

Females:
While their cycles vary greatly, most female cats exhibit the following signs when in heat. For four or five days, every three weeks during breeding season, they yowl and urinate more frequently sometimes all over the houseadvertising for mates. Often, they attract unneutered males who spray urine around the females homes. Female dogs also attract males from great distances. Female dogs generally have a bloody discharge for about a week, and can conceive for another week or so.

Good Medicine
Did you know that a spayed or neutered animal will live a longer, healthier life?
Spaying a female (removing the ovaries and uterus) or neutering a male (removing the testicles) are veterinary procedures performed under general anesthesia. Both surgeries usually require minimal hospitalization. The ASPCA strongly recommends spaying or neutering your pet as early as possible. Besides preventing unwanted breeding, neutering a male cat or dog before six months of age prevents testicular cancer and prostate disease. Spaying a female cat or dog helps prevent pyometra (a pus-filled uterus) and breast cancer; having this done before the first heat offers the best protection from these diseases. Treatment of pyometra requires hospitalization, intravenous (IV) fluids, antibiotics and spaying. Breast cancer can be fatal in about 50 percent of female dogs and 90 percent of female cats. For an older, seriously ill animal, anesthesia and surgery are complicated and costly.

Responsible Care
Did you know that you can help prevent the suffering and death of millions of animals?
Almost everyone loves puppies and kittens, but some people lose interest when these animals grow up. As a result, millions of cats and dogs of all ages and breeds are euthanized annually or suffer as strays. Many of these are the result of unwanted, unplanned litters that could have been prevented by spaying or neutering. Rarely surviving for more than a few years on their own, strays die painfully by starvation, disease, freezing or being hit by cars.

Just the Facts, Please

Myth: A female cat or dog should have a litter before she is spayed.
Fact: The sooner you spay your female, the better her health will be in the future. As long as a kitten or puppy weighs more than 2 pounds and is 2 months old, he or she can be neutered or spayed. Many veterinarians practice perfectly safe early sterilization. The longer a female goes unspayed, the greater the likelihood of developing mammary tumors or uterine infections. In fact, a female spayed before her first heat (6 to 9 months of age) has one-seventh the risk of developing mammary cancer as an intact female.

Myth: Spaying or neutering (sterilization) will alter my pets personality.
Fact: Any slight changes will be positive. Regardless of the age when spayed or neutered, your pet will remain a caring, loving and protective companion. Neutering will reduce the need to breed, and that has a calming effect on many animals. Both neutered male canines and felines tend to stop roaming and fighting, and they also lose the desire to mark their territory with urine.

Myth: Companion animals will become fat and lazy if they are neutered.
Fact: Absolutely not! Lack of exercise and overfeeding make pets fat and lazynot neutering. Your pet will not gain weight if you provide exercise and monitor food intake. Neutering is good for your pet, since sterilized pets tend to live an average of two to three years longer than unsterilized pets.

Myth: Sterilization is a dangerous and painful surgery for my pet.
Fact: Spaying and neutering are the most common surgeries performed on animals. With a minimal amount of home care, your pet will resume normal behavior in a couple of days.

Myth: Children should witness the miracle of birth.
Fact: Countless books and videos are available to teach your children about birth in a responsible manner. Letting your pet produce offspring that you have no intention of keeping is teaching your children irresponsibility. Anyone who has seen an animal euthanized in a shelter for lack of a home knows the truth behind this dangerous myth.

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*Many states and counties have established low-cost spay/neuter programs that make the surgery affordable. Many cities also offer reduced licensing fees for owners of spayed and neutered pets. To find a low-cost program near you, call your local humane society or shelter, or call toll-free (800) 248-SPAY. If there is no low-cost program in your area and you would like to see one established, contact The ASPCA Government Affairs & Public Policy department at (212) 876-7700, ext. 4550.

Foster

Mollie is excited to announce that her and her Mommy just got approved to Foster via New Rattitude Rat Terrier Rescue. Mollie and her Mommy already volunteer as Adoption Coordinator and TN State Coordinator with New Rattitude. We decided we needed to get even more involved to help save even more wonderful companions like Mollie from euthanasia and here is a wonderful way we can help. We are opening our home and hearts to all.

If you would like to "Lend A Paw" with New Rattitude please go to http://www.newrattitude.org/support.htm to see how you can help.

Birthday Bash!

It's going to be a Birthday Bash at Two Little Cavaliers! Check out their blog for a preview of Birthday Giveaways. How exciting!!!

Two Little Cavaliers: Review & Giveaway Teaser: Davinia's Birthday Bash

I love easy ways to give back to shelter pets that incorporate things we have to get anyway. So quick…at the bottom of this post is information on where you can pre-order these stamps. Stock up!
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Because Shelter Pets Deserve a First-Class Meal
In celebration of the new Animal Rescue: Adopt a Shelter Pet stamps, the Postal Service™, together with Ellen DeGeneres and Halo: Purely for Pets, is giving shelter pets around the country a First-Class Meal.
During the launch of the stamps, Halo will be donating a million meals to animal shelters around the country.
The Goal
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We want more Americans to know about the millions of shelter pets that need good homes. Nearly half of the animals that enter animal shelters are euthanized. Many of these cats and dogs would have made a wonderful pet…if only given the chance. You can make a difference. Adopt a pet, volunteer at a shelter, or just get the word out by buying these stamps.
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The Stamps
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This campaign continues the Postal Service’s 50+ year tradition of raising awareness of serious social issues with special commemorative stamps. The 44-cent stamps feature photos of five cats and five dogs who were all adopted from shelters.
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Animal Rescue stamps go on sale at post offices nationwide on April 30, but they can be pre-ordered beginning today at usps.com/shop, stampstotherescue.com, or by calling 1.800.STAMP.24 (1.800.782.6724).