News
Latest News Items:
IMPORTANT: H1N1 Influenza -- Wednesday November 4th, 2009
IMPORTANT: H1N1 Influenza Virus Confirmed in Iowa Cat Hi Roy Crockett, I just received a press release from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) confirming the first reported case of the H1N1 flu virus in pets and I wanted you to know about it immediately. The AVMA just released the following information: "A 13-year-old cat in Iowa developed signs of a respiratory infection after several people in the household were ill. Preliminary testing was positive for 2009 H1N1 on October 29, and the results were confirmed on November 2. This is the first report of a cat infected with H1N1. The cat has recovered from its illness. To date, this is the first cat confirmed infected with the 2009 H1N1 virus." To read the full press release - go to: H1N1 Flu Confirmed in Iowa cat Here are some tips to help keep you and your pet healthy: If you are sick, see your doctor. If your pet is showing a problem, see your veterinarian. It is a good idea to wash your hands before and after handling your pets. This is just good common sense. Do not expose your pets to other sick pets. Cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough, and toss your soiled tissues in a covered waste bin. Good preventative measures can help keep you and your pets healthy. That's good advice any time of year, but especially during flu season.
Can Pets Get H1N1?
-- Friday October 30th, 2009
See THIS and THAT
http://tinyurl.com/ycmyh4b
Top Right...
Military Foster Care -- Sunday October 25th, 2009
Military Foster Care Previous military deployments have often been accompanied by increased levels of animals being taken to animal shelters but a call to duty doesn't have to mean giving up your pet. Many soldiers have chosen the option of foster care for their animals. Oftentimes a family member or friend is able to foster for a time, but in the event that no one is available, check out this website for organizations specializing in placing military pets into foster care:
www.netpets.org
For more info, more help:
http://web.me.com/ricjr/MilitaryFosterCare/
For clickable URL, see Home, top left.
Help spread the word!
2010 Entertainment Books -- Sunday October 25th, 2009
Please Help!
2010 Entertainment books for sale - all proceeds will go towards the construction of the new animal shelter. Books are $20 and I can deliver, gift wrap, whatever it takes!
Coupons are valid now until November 1, 2010. Frances Germanos
fgermanos@verizon.net
JOIN BANDANNA OTM Club -- Sunday October 25th, 2009
JOIN OUR BANDANNA OF THE MONTH CLUB
A NEW BANDANNA WILL BE MAILED TO YOUR PET EACH MONTH FOR ONE YEAR FOR THE SUM OF $25.00 ALL PROCEEDS GO TO HELP THE ANIMALS AT VIRGINIA BEACH ANIMAL CONTROL
Download/print the order form by clicking on one of the following:
The form in Word format:
See Order Bandannas LEFT Column
Sample form:
Friends of Virginia Beach Animal Control
Bandanna Order
Date________________
Name________________________________
Address______________________________
City________________________State____
Zip Code_______Phone__________(optional)
Dog/CatName________________________
Size
Small_____Medium_____Large_____
Payment can be made by check or money order made out to Friends of Virginia Beach Animal Control and can be sent to:
Friends of Virginia Beach Animal Control
c/o Joan Beavers
3212 Gallahad Drive
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23456
Phone: 757-301-6633
Email Joanbobcat@cox.net
You may either get 12 at once or one a month - your preference.
PetSmart - Cat Adoption -- Sunday October 25th, 2009
Petsmart Cat Adoption Center at Hilltop (Virginia Beach)
501 Hilltop Plaza
(757) 428-0721
If you'd like to volunteer to make this a success for Portsmouth Humane and VBAC, please contact Jimmy Frost 757-343-6768 or Jimmy Frost jcfrost2240@yahoo.com
Dehydration -- Monday August 24th, 2009
Dehydration is common in pets, and it can lead to serious problems. If your dog doesn't feel well, if he has quit eating, if he has been exposed to excessive amounts of heat without water, or if he is vomiting and not keeping water down, chances are he's dehydrated.
Pet owners commonly ask how they can tell if their dog is dehydrated.
If a dog is not eating or drinking, or if he is having vomiting or diarrhea, the safest thing is to do is to assume is that the dog is dehydrated. This may not always be the case but assuming that it is dehydration is the safest approach.
Here are some signs of dehydration that you should be aware of:
- Loss of skin elasticity
- Lethargy
- Depression
- Sunken eyes
- Dry gums
- Increased heart rate
- Slow capillary refill time
You will often see veterinarians lift up the loose skin over the back and watch for its mobility. A slow return to normal can be a sign of dehydration. Some dogs will also have sunken eyes, an increased heart rate and slow capillary refill times.
If you think your dog is dehydrated - see your veterinarian immediately.
Next to oxygen, water is the most important nutrient in your dog's body. Dogs can go for days without food. They can lose up to 40 percent of their body weight and still survive. But when a dog loses just 10 percent of his body's water, bodily functions shut down causing serious illness. A 15 percent water loss will kill him. Most dogs don't drink enough water. That's' why it's so important to help keep your dog hydrated.
Pets & Hot Cars
-- Friday June 26th, 2009
Warning: Keep pets out of hot cars!
Officers at San Francisco Animal Care & Control (ACC) are responding to numerous calls and complaints of dogs being left in parked cars during this hot weather spell. Many spent the weekend saving canines from the heat — including several unhappy pooches left behind in cars while their owners enjoyed the San Francisco Giant's game at the ballpark.
Parked cars can heat up to temperatures that can be deadly to pets. Even in the shade with windows left partly open, a parked car can reach dangerous temperatures within just 10 minutes — and can heat up to 120 degrees within 30 minutes. This can result in heat exhaustion, heat stroke or even death to the animals trapped inside.
"It's amazing how many people never get the message," says SFACC spokesperson Deb Campbell. "We pulled some pretty sad dogs out of practically melting cars yesterday. But were people thankful that we saved their dogs' lives? No — they were angry that we took 'em out." Because both dogs and cats cool themselves by panting and by releasing heat through their paws, the hot air and upholstery in a parked vehicle make it impossible for a pet to maintain a healthy body temperature. Animals suffering from heat exhaustion or heat stroke require immediate veterinary care to save their lives.
Do your animals a favor: on hot days, leave them at home in a cool, comfortable place with plenty of fresh drinking water.
If you observe an animal that has been left in a hot car, please call Animal Care & Control Emergency Dispatch at 415-554-9400 or dial 911. Your immediate action could help save a life.
New, Fast-Evolving Rabies -- Monday May 4th, 2009
New, Fast-Evolving Rabies Virus Found -- And Spreading
Anne Minard for National Geographic News
May 4, 2009
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/pf/11401623.html
Evolving faster than any other new rabies virus on record, a northern-Arizona rabies strain has mutated to become contagious among skunks and now foxes, experts believe.
The strain looks to be spreading fast, commanding attention from disease researchers across the United States (U.S. map).
It's not so unusual for rabid animals to attack people on hiking trails and in driveways, or even in a bar—as happened March 27, when an addled bobcat chased pool players around the billiards table at the Chaparral in Cottonwood.
Nor is it odd that rabid skunks and foxes are testing positive for a contagious rabies strain commonly associated with big brown bats.
What is unusual is that the strain appears to have mutated so that foxes and skunks are now able to pass the virus on to their kin—not just through biting and scratching but through simple socializing, as humans might spread a flu.
Usually the secondary species—in this case, a skunk or fox bitten by a bat—is a dead-end host. The infected animal may become disoriented and even die but is usually unable to spread the virus, except through violent attacks.
Skunks have already been proven to be passively transmitting the strain to each other, as documented in a 2006 study in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Genetic studies suggest foxes are also spreading the new strain to each other, though the results have not yet been peer reviewed.
Unprecedented Evolution
When a skunk in Flagstaff, Arizona, died of rabies in 2001, wildlife specialists thought it was a "freak accident"—due to a one-off, run-of-the-mill bat bite—said Barbara Worgess, director of the Coconino County Health Department.
Lab tests later showed that the virus had adapted to the skunk physiology and become contagious within the species.
"It shouldn't have been able to pass from skunk to skunk," Worgess said.
Rabies has continued to crop up in skunks for eight years now, despite periodic vaccination campaigns. And so far this year, county officials have documented 14 rabid foxes in the Flagstaff area.
Now laboratory studies at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta appear to confirm that the fox and skunk rabies viruses are mutated forms of the bat strain.
"We can see degrees of relatedness and patterns in their genetic codes," said Charles Rupprecht, chief of the rabies program for the CDC.
This sort of rapid evolution is exactly what worries public health officials when it comes to all manner of viruses. Virologists haven't seen such fast adaptation to a new species in rabies before.
"That's why Flagstaff is such an interesting story worldwide," said David Bergman, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's state director for Arizona.
"We're watching evolution in action on the ground."
Could Rabies Become Contagious in Humans?
The Arizona rabies situation is risky, because the infected species live so close to people.
Flagstaff's sprawl in recent decades has created a perfect opportunity for rabies to mutate into species-hopping forms, the CDC's Rupprecht said.
New-home construction, often in wooded areas, has actually increased habitat and food sources for bats, skunks, and foxes. Skunks live under houses, for example, and as diggers, make themselves at home on golf courses. Bats, meanwhile, are adept at living in attics and under loose shingles.
As more rabies-susceptible animals congregate in the region, more infections can take place. And each infection is an opportunity for the virus to mutate into a more virulent form—literally upping the odds of a new strain developing.
"That's a pattern that we see all over the United States," Rupprecht said. Similar suburban development in the eastern U.S. in the late 1970s, he noted, led to the spread of raccoon rabies from the Canadian border to the Deep South.
The risk of such a virulent strain jumping to people "should be a major concern," said Hinh Ly, a molecular virologist at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, who is not involved in studies of the Arizona outbreak.
But no one is expecting the rabies strain to become a contagious, swine flu-like epidemic among humans.
Flu viruses, for one thing, tend to infect people fast, so "vaccination after exposure would be too late to prevent infection," said Elisabeth Lawaczeck, the Arizona Department of Health Services' public health veterinarian.
Rabies takes its time before going from incubation to infection, so post-exposure rabies vaccinations tend to be effective at stopping the virus. If untreated, though, rabies, which attacks the central nervous system, is often fatal in humans.
What Next?
Rabies cases among animals are expected to increase as the spring and summer mating seasons bring potential pairs and rivals together. (Related: "Bat Rabies Threat Rises With Summer Temperatures.")
Already, Flagstaff has declared a 90-day pet quarantine—all dogs on leashes and all cats indoors—which began in April.
A wildlife vaccination plan could stem the virus's spread.
Local and state officials enacted vaccination programs in northern Arizona in 2001 and 2005 but discontinued each effort after two years without rabies reports—the World Health Organization's standard for declaring an area rabies-free.
Now state vaccination funds have been reallocated, the USDA's Bergman said, and emergency funds are increasingly rare due to the recession.
Adding to the worries, Lawaczeck, the Arizona veterinary official, said she and other public heath officials were "very unsettled" when the first rabid fox reports came in from Flagstaff this year—and not just because of the evolutionary implications for rabies.
"This means a much wider spread of rabies," she said, "because [foxes] travel so much farther."
Can Pets Catch Swine Flu? -- Monday April 27th, 2009
Facts about cats and dogs
April 27, 2009
With the total confirmed cases of swine flu in the U.S. reaching 20, the federal government had just declared a public health emergency. So far there have been cases reported in California (7), Kansas (2), New York City (8), Ohio (1) and Texas (2), according to the Centers for Disease Control. There's no doubt that, as a nation as a whole, we're on full alert when it comes to staying healthy and avoiding coming in contact with those who are ill or sick, but what about our pets? Can pets catch swine flu? The question is one that has a "so far" answer. So far, it appears that dogs and cats cannot catch swine flu. So far, no known cases of pets being affected by swine flu have been reported, and doctors are fairly certain that swine flu is not able to be spread to our beloved pets. The scientific reasoning for why experts believe animals can't catch swine flu: Our genetics are different, and a flu virus that "fits" our human system likely won't fit within your dog or cat's. It is not typical for an animal flu to infect humans, however, this particular strain -- the swine influenza A -- has mutated in such a way that humans are susceptible, and can pass it to each other. To this date, there appears to be no information that says that pets can contract swine flu. For more info: For information on swine flu, visit www.cdc.gov/swineflu.
Black Dogs
-- Saturday April 18th, 2009
Is it true no one loves black dogs? Well...it isn't "no one" that loves black dogs, but there does seem to be an issue with the adoptability of black dogs. According to Susan Smith of the Franklin County Dog Shelter, black dogs are less adoptable. Ms. Smith says, "If you have two similar dogs - one black, one light colored side-by-side with similar temperaments, both well behaved, both house broken and friendly, the light-colored dog will be adopted before the black dog".
Why are black dogs less adoptable?
It is hard to know for sure. For one, dark hair is a dominant trait. There are more brunettes than any other hair color. In fact, in people, they estimate that 100 years from now, there will be no red-headed people in the country. Is the same true in dogs? It is hard to know for sure but that seems to be the case on a smaller scale. There may be more black dogs to choose from.
In addition, many shelters are in older facilities. The lighting is often suboptimal. Most people that go to shelters to adopt will find a dog by making a connection with a dog. That usually starts with eye contact. Dark dogs in dark cages are harder to see. It is possible because they are hard to see that eye contact is not as obvious and frequent.
Regardless of the cause - we love black dogs. We think they deserve every chance at a good home as any other dog.
So...if you are looking to adopt - don't overlook the black dogs. If you can't see them well, ask the helper to take the dog out of the cage so that you can see him or her better and interact.
Adopt a Pet, Don't Shop -- Saturday April 11th, 2009
Adopt a pet, don't shop for one Did you know that nearly every puppy sold in a pet store comes from a Puppy Mill?
What goes on at a Puppy Mill? “The myriad documented problems of puppy mills include: overbreeding, inbreeding, minimal veterinary care, poor quality of food and shelter, lack of human socialization, overcrowded cages and the killing of unwanted animals.” - The Humane Society of The United States
Unfortunately, most people do not realize that the cute little doggie in the window came from a horrific breeding factory, and by buying it they are helping the Puppy Mill Industry. There are thousands of shelter dogs and cats waiting to be rescued everyday; yet people are still choosing to buy from a pet store. Why not get an adorable dog or cat from the shelter? They have all kinds of breeds, sizes and ages and are starving for your attention! Not only is adopting cheaper, but it’s helping put an end to Puppy Mills.
Here are some Puppy Mill Statistics, taken from The Humane Society of The United States-
Puppy Mill Statistics:
· Number of cats and dogs entering shelters each year:
6-8 million (HSUS estimate)
· Number of cats and dogs euthanized by shelters each year:
3-4 million (HSUS estimate)
· Percentage of dogs in shelters who are purebred:
25 percent (HSUS estimate)
· Number of dogs bred in puppy mills every year:
4 million
· Number of USDA-licensed commercial kennels in the U.S.:
Nearly 6,000
New Shelter Possible -- Tuesday July 8th, 2008
Politicians, pet lovers and police agree an adoption-friendly animal shelter is the best way to spare more Fidos and felines from sad endings. They agree on little else. Council members are weighing a recommendation from police Chief Jake Jacocks to build a new shelter, hire a director and, possibly, move the building away from the public compound at the end of Leroy Road. The plan, which could cost more than $3.5 million, would be funded by higher pet license fees - money that isn't coming in as quickly as hoped. The issue is complicated by ill will between the Police Department and the Virginia Beach Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. "Everybody needs to come together for the benefit of the animals," said Pat Wise, cofounder of Friends of Virginia Beach Animal Control. "We just want to see all adoptable animals find forever homes." The city raised pet license fees last year to create a funding stream to rebuild the animal control shelter. This spring, the council decided to make the facility "adoption-friendly," which means putting more impounded animals in homes and reducing the number euthanized. It's a common theme nationally, as animal control shelters adopt "no-kill" strategies. Shelters in Norfolk and Portsmouth have considered increasing adoption rates to ease overcrowding. Jacocks recommended adoption-rate goals of 85 percent for dogs and 40 percent for cats. In 2007, animal control statistics show 62 percent of dogs were adopted and 23 percent of cats. "I think we're moving closer to our goals, even though it feels like tiny steps," Mayor Meyera Oberndorf said. "You have to learn to crawl before you can walk." A modern shelter with a director dedicated to animal care - not enforcement of animal laws - is a first step, said City Manager Jim Spore. The next question is where. Dave Hansen, deputy city manager, said a public meeting will be held by this fall to discuss potential locations. One option raised by Jacocks, but not recommended, was to put the shelter near the SPCA office on Holland Road. Wise said a more accessible site would help publicize the adoption program but the SPCA hasn't endorsed a location. "The quality of the facility is more important than the location," Councilman Jim Wood said. "No matter where you put it, it's going to be inconvenient for somebody." Money to build the facility also is in doubt. Hansen said higher pet fees could raise $1.8 million a year, if enough residents comply with the law. He said it's a "cultural commitment" to get more people to license their pets. Once that happens, the city will have a funding stream to build, staff and operate a new shelter. The city can't say how much the new fees have generated, but Hansen is preparing a report. "I know we haven't done well," he added. "Part of the initiative going forward is to enlist the support of our public." Sharon Adams, executive director of the Virginia Beach SPCA, called an adoption-friendly center a noble goal. But her agency has been squabbling with the police over what she calls a "cruelty-tolerant community." Adams has criticized animal control as lax to issue summonses and recently said criminal cases were dropped in retaliation against an officer who spoke out against the department. City officials denied that. "Our job is to make sure the reality matches the rhetoric," Adams said. "What is said is far less important to us than what is done." Jacocks, in a presentation to the council last week, said animal control officers do their job well. "Nobody out there enjoys having to put an animal down," Jacocks said. "Sometimes, it is necessary." Richard Quinn, (757) 222-5119, richard.quinn@pilotonline.com
A rescue success!! -- Saturday May 17th, 2008
K E M P SV I L L E G R E E N S~
Goose-control dog gets its feet wet in new job
By John Streit
The Virginian-Pilot
KEMPSVILLE
Golfers aren't the only ones getting mulligans at Kempsville Greens. Honey, a year-old Australian pinscher and Labrador mix, got a second shot at life as a goose-control dog at the golf course last December. Her goal at this point is just to stir them up, said Stephen Cotter, Honey's handler at Kempsville Greens. If you aggravate them enough, they'll eventually go away. Honey was once a stray dog left for dead at Virginia Beach Animal Control. He underwent an unlikely transformation, thanks to Cindy Fleisch of the Friends of Virginia Beach Animal Control. The nonprofit organization encourages prospective pet owners to adopt from the city instead of buying dogs and cats. In October, Fleisch said, she learned that the city spent $3,500 for the purchase and training of Chip, the border collie that chases ducks and geese from Red Wing Golf Course. "I had a fit," said Fleisch, who lives in Kempsville. Even though it's a great concept, why would they spend that kind of money when they have the pick of the entire Animal Control? Fleisch contacted Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation golf administrator Dick Nutter about using an adopted dog from Animal Control as an option for future goose control. After cutting through a bit of red tape to authorize an adoption, the city assembled the team of Fleisch, Virginia Beach police officer and canine obedience specialist Maynard Pease of Cavalier K9 and his student Lisa Rapacki to select candidates for Kempsville Greens dog. They determined the dog must have a strong preydrive, take a liking to water, be friendly and sociable, be The desired dog must have a strong preydrive, take a liking to water, be friendly and sociable, be of medium size, and have the physical endurance and muscularity to work all day. Obedience specialist Maynard Pease said he immediately knew that, with some training, Honey had the potential to fit the traits. of medium size, and have the physical endurance and muscularity to work all day. Pease said he immediately knew that, with some training, Honey had the potential to fit the traits. He and Rapacki gave Honey some real-world training at waterfowl hot spots such as Mount Trashmore Park. After showing an initial hesitation to get wet, Honey warmed up to the chilly water, giving Pease and Rapacki confidence the dog was ready. The main thing was building the prey drive, said Rapacki, a Norfolk resident who housed Honey for three weeks during her training. We'd tell her softly to get the duck, in her ear while holding her back. We'd let her chase, but we want to leave that drive unfulfilled so it would continue to build. Honey now lives with Cotter, who drives the dog to Kempsville Greens daily from his home in Portsmouth.
John Streit, 639-4805 or Send an email
Don't Buy a Puppy -- Thursday May 1st, 2008
While the Friends of Virginia Beach Animal Control respects the rights or private business owners to sell any product that is allowed under state law, we strongly condemn the retail sale of animals especially when so many wonderful dogs and cats are available for adoption from local animal shelters such as the Virginia Beach Animal Control Shelter as well as the Virginia Beach SPCA. The owner of Puppyville, Mr. Bob Hames stated in a recent news report that "we're not responsible for what people do", but as the owner of Animal Jungle, Mr. Hames knows full well the plight of companion animals in our local shelters that need new homes and yet he is importing more animals into our area for the sake of making money. If you are interested in a new pet for your family, please visit a local animal shelter and give one of these wonderful pets a chance to be your new best friend. All we are asking is that you visit a shelter first. You will save hundreds of dollars and save an animal's life. If you are looking for a specific breed, then please look to a well-respected, local pet breeder that will allow you to see the home in which the animal was raised, meet the animals parents and then decide. The best source to ask is a local veterinarian who knows, has worked with responsible breeders and cared for the animals parents. For more information, please visit AdoptDontShop.com