Arsenic in Rice. Diet Pet Food? Pet's Exposure To Chemicals. Horse Soring. CSI Cats! Human Leashed. Meerkat Mutterings. Lady Liberty.

 

For "Mammal Monday":

Arsenic in Rice May Also Affect Dog Food

"The recent discovery by the FDA of high levels of arsenic in rice makes it likely we’ll soon be hearing more about excessive levels of the same potentially hazardous substance in dog food, too.

And for good reason.  Arsenic is a toxic chemical found naturally in the environment — in soil and groundwater.

In humans, arsenic is known to cause:

• Bladder cancer
• Lung cancer
• Skin cancer
• Liver cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Prostate cancer

Arsenic is listed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as one of over 100 substances classified as Group 1 carcinogens.  In medicine, a carcinogen is any cancer-causing compound.

How Arsenic Gets Into Rice

Arsenic can be found naturally in the environment. Yet it can also be found in higher concentrations in some plants — like rice — as the result of years of human agricultural activity.

There are many ways the chemical can find its way into the public food supply.  For example, until the 1980s, arsenic-based pesticides were commonly used by cotton farmers to help control boll weevils and other insects.

However, since then, many of these same cotton fields have been flooded with water to grow rice. So, some of the arsenic found in the soil is steadily absorbed by the growing rice plants.

Yet this situation may soon be about to change.

Since the FDA has recently discovered arsenic in many rice-based infant formulas, it’s quite likely the Agency will soon set limits for many human food products.

However, if the government does not set a limit for arsenic in pet food, the potential problem could get worse for dogs.

That’s because it’s a good bet much of that tainted rice banned for use in human food will somehow — like so many other rejected ingredients — end up in commercial pet food."  More at: http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/red-flag-ingredients/arsenic-rice-dog-food/     by MIKE SAGMAN

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Pets Eat More and Still Shed Pounds - A Brilliant Plan with a MAJOR Problem

"There’s a new “prescription” weight loss diet available for dogs and cats that at first glance seems to be the answer to the epidemic of pet obesity. In a two-month feeding trial of over 300 dogs and cats, a majority of animals lost weight and had an average reduction in body fat of 28 percent. Pretty impressive sounding, isn’t it?"There’s a new “prescription” weight loss diet available for dogs and cats that at first glance seems to be the answer to the epidemic of pet obesity. In a two-month feeding trial of over 300 dogs and cats, a majority of animals lost weight and had an average reduction in body fat of 28 percent. Pretty impressive sounding, isn’t it?

Upon closer inspection, however, it would seem that the manufacturer has simply supplemented its plant-based formulas with essential amino acids found in animal meat.

Since most dogs and cats get fat to begin with from overfeeding of processed pet foods, we recommend a healthier solution than switching to yet another processed pet food."     Complete article at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/10/18/new-prescription-pet-food.aspx

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Dogs and cats may be the proverbial canaries in the coal mine

"High levels of industrial chemicals are showing up in American pets.  A fairly recent study performed by the Environmental Working Group (http://www.ewg.org/reports/pets) has documented that pets were positive for 48 of the 70 chemicals tested.  On average, dogs had 40% higher and cats had 96% higher levels of these chemicals than were found in people.  These chemicals are known carcinogens or toxic to the reproductive, endocrine, or neurologic systems.

This study documents that dogs and cats are exposed to a complex mixture of industrial chemicals.  Since pets breathe in, ingest or absorb the same chemicals that are in our environment, exposures that pose risks for pets pose risks for human health as well.  This is a wake-up call that stronger safety standards for industrial chemicals are needed to protect ALL members of American families.

Help decrease your pet's exposure to chemicals:"  More at: http://www.halopets.com/pet-education/pet-articles/pets_chemical_exposure.html

and:

PBDE: Are You Exposing Your Pet to This Thyroid Ravager?  "Avoid Exposure to Flame Retardant Chemicals!"   More at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/10/25/pbde-exposure.aspx

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Let's End This Horse Abuse Now

"Congress can end this cruelty today by passing The Prevent All Soring Tactics Act (H.R. 1518/S. 1406)"

Please sign: https://secure.humanesociety.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=6013

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Felines Fighting Crime With Fur

"A recent case counting on the analysis of cat hairs has landed a murderer behind bars in the U.K.

When the remains of victim, David Guy, were found on a British beach in July 2012, Hampshire police were lucky enough to find cat hairs on his body. The hairs belonged to the cat of the suspect and supposed friend, David Hilder.

Many crimes are solved by tapping into the human DNA database. Organic fiber has genetic material, called mitochondrial DNA, which can be used to help link a suspect to a crime. At the time of Guy’s murder, however, a cat DNA database was not in existence in the UK.

To help Hampshire police solve the case, Dr. Jon Wetton offered his experience in creating a DNA.  Over six weeks, they were able to gather mitochondrial DNA samples from 152 cats across England."  More at: http://theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/clickToGive/ars/article/Felines-Fighting-Crime-With-Fur567

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“Walking Your Human”

"For cats' eyes only!   Kitties, listen up!  Kodi lets you know how to keep your human under control.  Keep your human healthy, happy and obedient with this 7-step guide to walking your human, instructed by Kodi the Kitten."

Music is Peach Cobber from iMovie 11

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DECODING PRAIRIE DOG LANGUAGE MAY LET US TALK TO ANIMALS

"This program discusses Prairie Dog Language -- the most sophisticated animal language decoded so far."

More at: http://therainforestsite.greatergood.com/clickToGive/trs/article/Decoding-Prairie-Dog-Language-May-Let-Us-Talk-To-Animals201?origin=ERR_100613_Video_S

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On This Day:

Grover Cleveland dedicates Statue of Liberty, Oct 28, 1886:

"On this day in 1886, President Grover Cleveland dedicates the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor.  The statue’s full name was Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World. It had been a gift from French citizens to their American friends in recognition of the two countries’ commitment to liberty and democracy and their alliance during the American Revolutionary War, which had begun 110 years earlier.

The 151-foot copper statue was built in France and shipped to New York in 350 separate parts. It arrived in the city on June 17, 1886, and over the next several months was reassembled while electricians worked to wire the torch to light up at night.

The statue quickly became a symbol of America’s humanitarianism and willingness to take in the world’s "tired, poor and huddled masses." 

"Lady Liberty" was originally intended to work as a functional lighthouse and, from 1886 to 1901, the statue was operated by the United States Lighthouse Board. In 1901, the War Department took over its operation and maintenance.  The statue and the island on which it stands, now known as Liberty Island, were together proclaimed a national monument by President Calvin Coolidge on October 15, 1924, and, in 1933, the National Park Service assumed oversight of the monument."

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Yesterday:

It was pouring down rain when Misty first wanted to go out, but in her waterproof barn coat, she weathered the storm.  She wouldn't have gone out without it. A little while later it cleared up.

Ray and Jay were supposed to be here, but neither showed up.  So I spent the time getting food ready and studying the Bible for The Feast of Tabernacles in Trinity, TX.   I am hoping to make the trip there, as it is the last day today.