Please Help Stop King Amendment. Pet Hazards. Avoid GMO Corn. Workout Dogs. Dog Propelled Scooters And Carts. Plastic and Paper Voyager. Recycled Paper.

 

For "Mammal Monday":

It's The Last Chance: Don't Let Them Wipe Out Animal Protection Laws

"The King Amendment is a potential disaster for laws protecting animals:

The House version of this year's Farm Bill contains a provision from Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) that could negate most state and local laws on the production or manufacture of agricultural products. The King Amendment is a radical federal overreach that aims to block state laws protecting animals. It could also overturn many state laws covering child labor, dangerous pesticides, labels on farm-raised fish, and more. Please act now.

What is the King Amendment?

The King amendment proposes to undermine state laws related to public health, safety, or welfare. Read our King Amendment fact sheet [PDF] for details.

• Under the King Amendment, dogs and puppies suffering in puppy mills could lose their protection in many states. Kathy Milani/The HSUS

The King Amendment endangers state animal welfare laws

Laws like California’s Proposition 2, which will phase out cruel confinement for farm animals, could be reversed. Compassion Over Killing.

The King amendment could undo animal welfare laws in many states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Guam, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, the Northern Mariana Island, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Rhode Island. Our fact sheet [PDF] provides specifics on the laws that could change.

The King Amendment could ax state laws on health and safety

Beside animal welfare laws, the King amendment could nullify a wide range of state and local measures regarding food safety, labeling, environmental requirements, labor standards, and other important issues. For more examples, check our fact sheet [PDF]."     More at: http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/confinement_farm/king-amendment.html

Please sign: https://secure.humanesociety.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=6297

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Can We See Our Hypocrisy to Animals?

"Today, the challenge is factory farming, which produces food exceptionally cheaply, at huge cost in animal welfare.

“There are still tens of billions of animals suffering horribly in factory farms every year, around the world.”   From: New York Times op-ed: Can we see our hypocrisy to animals?

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From Me:  More reason to buy happy, pasture-raised beef, poultry and eggs. They are more nutritious so you eat less, so it doesn't cost more.  Anyway, it is still cheaper than medical care, so what price do you put on your health?

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10 Holiday Pet Hazards

"The holidays are a joyous time, but the season does bring its own set of dangers for pets. Keep your furry family member away from these items to ensure a merry holiday for all.

If you think your pet has been harmed by or consumed one of these items, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) immediately."

Resist the urge to feed holiday table scraps to your dog or cat, and make sure your pet doesn't gain access to tables or countertops loaded with edible goodies. Rich, fatty foods can cause everything from mild indigestion to a serious case of pancreatitis in susceptible pets. Turkey bones and any cooked bones are also a no-no because they can splinter or break apart, puncturing or blocking internal organs."      More at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/12/16/10-holiday-pet-hazards.aspx

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Avoid This Aflatoxin-Infested Food Like the Plague

"Aflatoxins are deadly metabolites produced by fungi that grow on crops, in particular, corn. These mycotoxins are known to cause acute toxic illness, including cancer, in both animals and humans.

The Argentina study results conclude that glyphosate enhances the growth of aflatoxin-producing fungi on GM corn. This is important because recent estimates are that over 60 percent of corn grown in the U.S. is genetically modified, and at least half the sweet corn grown on U.S. farms is as well.

A fascinating new twist in the growing contamination problem is a recent study that shows Roundup herbicide, the primary herbicide used in GM agriculture, promotes the growth of the fungi that produce aflatoxins. This certainly further explains the alarming increase in contamination levels in U.S. corn.

If you haven’t done so already, we highly recommend you switch from any pet food containing corn or its derivatives. Learn the ingredients in the food you buy for your pet, and avoid brands containing corn or any GMO ingredient in any form.

Also avoid formulas containing cereal grains. Instead, select organic pet foods or prepare a balanced homemade diet made from organic ingredients, for you and your pet."    More at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/12/11/aflatoxin-contamination.aspx

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From me:  More reason to buy organically grown veggies, which are non GMO and do not have the pesticide Round-Up, or funguses in them. http://www.nongmoproject.org/find-non-gmo/search-participating-products/

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Turning Your Dog Into Your Workout Partner

"If you do it right, power walks, or “workout walks” with your dog may just replace your need for a gym membership. And what could be better than spending that extra time with your pet, insuring he’s getting all the physical activity he needs to be healthy?

First, though, you must reprogram any dog who has grown accustomed to checking it's 'pee mail' and 'sniff-piddle-dawdle' walks. Don’t expect to make a one-day transition from leisurely strolls to power walking. It will take several sessions for your pet to catch on.

Of course, you’ll also be taking your dog on casual walks, so you’ll need to help him learn to distinguish between the two. It could be a time of day thing – for example, you could schedule slower walks for first thing in the morning and again before bedtime, and workout walks happen at some point in between.

Alternatively, you could develop a verbal cue that tells your pet he’s about to go on a power walk. I also strongly encourage the use of a harness for exercising with your dog. A leash attached to your dog’s collar can quickly become a health hazard as you’re cruising city streets or even country roads. Many dogs learn which walk they’re going on by whether the leash gets attached to their collar (short walk) or a harness (time to get serious!)."    More at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/07/22/dog-workout-partner.aspx

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Dog Propelled Scooters

"Do you have a hard time giving your dog enough exercise?  Maybe you don’t walk as fast as the dog does or perhaps the dog pulls too hard on the leash for you to control him or her.  Here’s a new one (on me, anyways)":  dog-powered scooters and bikes.

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Dog takes owner for ride in dog cart

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Introduction into dog triking (English version)

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On This Day:

Voyager completes global flight, Dec 23, 1986:

"After nine days and four minutes in the sky, the experimental aircraft Voyager lands at Edwards Air Force Base in California, completing the first nonstop flight around the globe on one load of fuel. Piloted by Americans Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, Voyager was made mostly of plastic and stiffened paper and carried more than three times its weight in fuel when it took off from Edwards Air Force Base on December 14. By the time it returned, after flying 25,012 miles around the planet, it had just five gallons of fuel left in its remaining operational fuel tank.

Voyager was built by Burt Rutan of the Rutan Aircraft Company without government support and with minimal corporate sponsorship. Dick Rutan, Burt's brother and a decorated Vietnam War pilot, joined the project early on, as did Dick's friend Jeanna Yeager (no relation to aviator Chuck Yeager). Voyager's extremely light yet strong body was made of layers of carbon-fiber tape and paper impregnated with epoxy resin. Its wingspan was 111 feet, and it had its horizontal stabilizer wing on the plane's nose rather than its rear--a trademark of many of Rutan's aircraft designs. Essentially a flying fuel tank, every possible area was used for fuel storage and much modern aircraft technology was foregone in the effort to reduce weight.

When Voyager took off from Edwards Air Force at 8:02 a.m. PST on December 14, its wings were so heavy with fuel that their tips scraped along the ground and caused minor damage. The plane made it into the air, however, and headed west. On the second day, Voyager ran into severe turbulence caused by two tropical storms in the Pacific. Dick Rutan had been concerned about flying the aircraft at more than a 15-degree angle, but he soon found the plane could fly on its side at 90 degrees, which occurred when the wind tossed it back and forth.

Rutan and Yeager shared the controls, but Rutan, a more experienced pilot, did most of the flying owing to the long periods of turbulence encountered at various points in the journey. With weak stomachs, they ate only a fraction of the food brought along, and each lost about 10 pounds.

On December 23, when Voyager was flying north along the Baja California coast and just 450 miles short of its goal, the engine it was using went out, and the aircraft plunged from 8,500 to 5,000 feet before an alternate engine was started up.

Almost nine days to the minute after it lifted off, Voyager appeared over Edwards Air Force Base and circled as Yeager turned a primitive crank that lowered the landing gear. Then, to the cheers of 23,000 spectators, the plane landed safely with a few gallons of fuel to spare, completing the first nonstop circumnavigation of the earth by an aircraft that was not refueled in the air.

Voyager is on permanent display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C."

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Yesterday:

Not much happened yesterday, so I got around to going through the junk mail and kept the shredder busy.  Why do these companies put your name and address inside their literature, too?  Just one more step to take them out of the envelope to examine them, so all the names and addresses can be put in the shredder.  Shredded paper cannot be recycled into good new paper, so I tear the important part off and just shred it.  The rest of the literature can go in the recycling.  This time of year there seems to be so much junk mail that slips past the "Do Not Mail" list.

"The main reasons for some recycling centers not accepting shredded paper is that some paper mills cannot deal with it. It’s said that shredded paper makes weaker fibers and produces an inferior quality product. In some paper mills, the small fragments cause problems with machinery."

If you are on the road, or don't have a shredder, put the torn off names and addresses in with your used kitty litter, in doggie poop bags, or put them in with your coffee grounds.  That will make them illegible, and anyway no-one would want to retrieve them. If you don't have a pet, or drink coffee, I suppose you will have to put them in with your veggie peelings, or safely burn them.

After a few days of warmth, it has turned colder again.  One day it's tank tops, and the next it's turtlenecks and sweaters again.  That's Texas winter weather! 

Even though I had let her out late last night, Misty got me up early this morning (2.45am), and wanted to go out three times.  It was so cold that she would try to make a short trip do, and then have to go back out again in the cold.  I tried to go back to sleep, and then I'd hear her one little urgent bark again, so I am going to be dragging today.

Shutdown Hits Home. Turtles & Tortoises. Baby Lions, Tigers, and Bears. Cats Are Carnivores. Toxic Treats. Puppy Mills. Door Stops. Wake Island. "War On Terrorism".

 

For "Mammal Monday". About mammals, other critters and events:

Shutdown Hits Home for National Park Service Personnel

“When the parks reopen, I will be furloughed for at least two pay periods if the sequester cuts continue. So not only will I not be paid for the days I miss during the shutdown, but also for at least a month in the coming year.” - Estee Rivera Murdock, Community Engagement Park Ranger at Saguaro National Park

"Our national parks provide visitors with a window into America’s history, natural beauty, and cultural diversity. However, when the government shut down on October 1, all 401 national park sites closed. Overnight guests were asked to leave, visitors are being turned away at entrance gates, and more than 21,000 National Park Service employees have been furloughed indefinitely.

One of the most visible effects of this shutdown is the blocked entrance gates at national parks and monuments that are turning away an estimated 750,000 visitors a day, including frustrated veterans, heartbroken brides, and disappointed school children. Another story worth telling is the emotional and financial toll on Park Service employees, especially on the heels of a challenging sequester that deeply cut park budgets, coupled with the threat of continued cuts.

The current government shutdown has Alan O’Neill, a retired superintendent from Lake Mead National Recreation Area, reminiscing about impacts from the shutdown in 1995/1996. “It was not the National Park Service’s choice to close the parks, but Congress’,” he stated. “Unfortunately, some people were blaming the National Park Service for denying access. It wasn’t easy to ask people to leave; we wanted the people to enjoy the public lands.”  More at:  http://www.parkadvocate.org/emotional-and-financial-toll-of-government-shutdown-hits-home-for-national-park-service-personnel/  By Emily Douce, Budget and Appropriations Specialist

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If You See a Turtle in the Road

Give them a brake.  Help them find their way and remain wild.

"Have you ever been driving down the road when that tire fragment in the distance begins to move? As you get closer, you realize that the tire fragment is actually a turtle, slowly attempting to cross the highway.

Turtles often make this perilous journey to get to a good, sunny location with loose soil in which to lay eggs, and to return back to familiar territory—be it a woodland, pond or desert burrow.

It is in just this situation that so many turtles lose their status as wild animals and are consigned to an unnatural, and unnaturally short, life in a back yard. By all means, help that turtle cross the road in the direction she (or he) was heading, if you can do so safely. But then leave her in the wild where she belongs."

"Low, slow, and amazing, turtles once roamed Earth with the dinosaurs. Now many species on land and in water face extinction. If you're a turtle fan, help us protect them. One easy way: Enjoy turtles in the wild, not as pets. It's safer for both you and for these fascinating reptiles.

Turtles are often killed or taken from the wild as pets, food, or trinkets before they reproduce. For many populations of turtles, the loss of only a few adults can spell doom.

Development and pollution destroy their land and water habitats, fishing nets drown them, and cars crush them—the threats to turtles have never been greater.

Never keep wild turtles or tortoises as pets or buy them from a pet store.

Getting a turtle as a pet is risky for you, too: They carry Salmonella. That's why it's illegal to sell small turtles, though many are sold illegally."

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Threatened Gopher Tortoises Rescued from Fla. Construction Site

The 28 gopher tortoise eggs saved from a development site in Apopka, Fla., started hatching on Sept. 6. Matt Aresco

"After 47 days in the field, 227 threatened gopher tortoises have been spared an inhumane death and 28 gopher tortoise eggs have been saved from a development site in Apopka, Fla. The Humane Society of the United States, Nokuse Plantation, D.R. Horton and Bio-Tech Consulting teamed up to rescue the tortoises and eggs from the Rock Springs Ridge subdivision before relocating them to a permanent home at Nokuse Plantation, a nature preserve in Walton County. The eggs started hatching on Sept. 6."  More at: http://www.humanesociety.org/news/press_releases/2013/10/fl-threatened-gopher-tortoises-rescued-100113.html

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Baby Lions, Tigers, and Bears Are Not Stuffed Toys

"Across the country, the public can pet, feed, pose with, and play with wild animals at malls, fairs, and roadside zoos for fees ranging from $10 to $500. To facilitate such unsafe handling, baby tigers, lions, bears, and primates are pulled from the care of their protective mothers shortly after birth.

When the baby animals can no longer be used as play props, or for photographs -- sometimes after just a few months -- they are often discarded at shoddy roadside zoos, sold into the pet trade, or killed for their meat. This cycle of breeding, exploiting, and then dumping baby animals puts animals at risk and endangers the public.

In response to a legal petition from a coalition of animal protection and conservation organizations -- including The HSUS -- the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is requesting comments on whether to prohibit public contact and close encounters with big cats, bears, and primates."  More at: Please urge the USDA to prohibit this cruel and dangerous practice»

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Kitten Fed Vegan Diet by Vegan Owners Nearly Dies at Animal Hospital

"The case of a kitten near death brought to an animal hospital in North Melbourne, Australia provides another example of why it’s so important for pet owners to understand the dangers of feeding biologically inappropriate diets.

The kitten was extremely weak and collapsed when it arrived at the clinic. The kitty’s vegan owners had been feeding it a diet of potatoes, rice milk and pasta. Vet staff provided the kitten with IV fluids, a heating pad, and meat to eat. He stayed in the hospital three days, and when the owners came to pick him up, they were given meat to feed the kitten at home."   More at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/09/25/vegan-diet-dangers.aspx

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Toxic Treats

  "A U.S. magistrate judge has ruled a federal class action lawsuit against the manufacturer of toxic chicken jerky dog treats will go forward.

 

A year  ago, Del Monte and Milo’s Kitchen filed to dismiss the lawsuit brought by a pet owner who claimed Milo’s Kitchen brand chicken jerky treats made in China caused kidney failure in her dog, resulting in the need to euthanize her pet."  More at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/10/02/chicken-jerky-manufacturers.aspx

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Feds to Puppy Mills: No More Business As Usual

"September marked a historic month in the long struggle against puppy mills as the USDA finally tightened federal regulation of online retailers. For years, a glaring loophole granted unethical puppy mill profiteers unfettered access to internet sales. A lack of even minimal oversight meant deplorable conditions for the animals and deceitful marketing that conned customers into believing they were purchasing happy and healthy puppies.

New regulations promise to reign in these rogue retailers with licenses and inspections. The rules will apply to any breeder with four or more breeding females, with the protections extending to breeders of cats and rabbits as well."  More at: http://theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/clickToGive/ars/article/Feds-to-Puppy-Mills-No-More-Business-As-Usual650

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Heroic puppies fight against their natural enemies -- spring door stops.

 

 

 

 

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On This Day:

Japanese execute nearly 100 American prisoners on Wake Island, Oct 7, 1943:

"On this day in 1943, Rear Adm. Shigematsu Sakaibara, commander of the Japanese garrison on the island, orders the execution of 96 Americans POWs, claiming they were trying to make radio contact with U.S. forces.

The execution of those remaining American POWs, who were blindfolded and shot in cold blood, remains one of the more brutal episodes of the war in the Pacific."

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President Bush announces military action in Afghanistan, Oct 7, 2001:

"On this day in 2001, less than a month after al-Qaida terrorists flew commercial jets into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, President George W. Bush announces that American troops are on the offensive in Afghanistan. The goal of Operation Enduring Freedom, as the mission was dubbed, was to stamp out Afghanistan's Islamic fundamentalist Taliban regime, which had aided and abetted al-Qaida and its leader, Osama bin Laden, a Saudi national who lived in the Afghan hills and urged his followers to kill Americans.

Bush touted the multinational effort as proof that America, in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, was "supported by the collective will of the world." He also warned that the war in Afghanistan would likely be only the first front in a long struggle against terrorism. He vowed to continue to take what he called the "war on terror" to those countries that sponsored, harbored or trained terrorists."

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Yesterday:

Apart from someone who came to look at the heat/air conditioner that I have for sale, it was a quiet day at home. They measured the AC and said they would be back, but they didn't return.

That gave me time to make some almond butter and sunflower seed butter in my auger juicer. That is done by not using the juicer insert, but the blank insert instead.

I noticed that Misty is putting on a bit too much weight, even though I carefully measure what she eats.  I'll have to take her for more walks.

It is the first time since last winter that I had to run the heat today. 

Prairie Dogs. Gulf Dolphins. Don’t Shop, ADOPT! Toxic Pond Water. Neptune. Saudi Oil.

 

For “Mammal Monday”:

Prairie Dogs Rescued from Colorado Flooding

“The HSUS's Prairie Dog Coalition which is based in Boulder, Colorado has been busy rescuing prairie dogs from the disastrous Colorado flooding. In just one day, they had already rescued 45 prairie dogs from the freezing waters, and now have them recovering safe and warm—ready for a new home when conditions improve.”

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Despite BP’s Claims, Gulf Dolphins Still Struggling

BP’s chief executive Bob Dudley recently boasted in an interview, “The Gulf has bounced back really well. And I’d like to think that we played a big role.”

The more than 900 bottlenose dolphins that have died since the spill might indicate otherwise. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is still investigating the ongoing wave of dolphin deaths and the agency has explicitly stated that it is considering the oil spill as a potential cause.

The deaths are concentrated in states closest to the Deepwater Horizon. Louisiana, ground zero for spill impacts, has also seen the largest number of dead dolphins. Stranding rates in Mississippi and Alabama remain elevated, while deaths in the less-affected Florida Panhandle have returned to normal historical levels.

An in-depth study of 32 dolphins in one particularly heavily-oiled area of the Louisiana coast found the animals there were seriously ill with symptoms indicating oil exposure. Specifically, the dolphins in the study were underweight, anemic, had low blood sugar, and some had symptoms of liver and lung disease. Half the dolphins also had abnormally low levels of the hormones that help with stress response, metabolism, and immune function.

Dolphin mother and calf, Ocean Springs, MS. Three years after the oil disaster, stillborn dolphin calves are still being found at high rates. Photo: Juanma Carrillo.

Roughly a quarter of the dolphins tested appear to have died from a bacterial infection. Teri Rowles, the coordinator of NOAA’s National Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program, points out that the presence of the Brucella bacteria does not rule out the oil spill, saying, “Severe environmental stress, including from exposure to oil, could have reduced the animals’ ability to fight infection.”

Stillborn dolphin calves have been found in high numbers every spring since the oil disaster.  Infant dolphins were found dead at almost four times historical rates during the first four months of 2013.”    More at:  http://blog.nwf.org/2013/08/despite-bps-claims-gulf-dolphins-still-struggling/

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Improving Regulation and Oversight of Commercial Breeders

USDA Restores Important Check and Balance on Retail Pet Sales to Ensure Health, Humane Treatment.

“We take animal welfare seriously. But the Animal Welfare Act, which sets standards for humane treatment and care of pets for commercial sale, was written more than 40 years ago -- before the internet created new ways for breeders to sell pets sight unseen.

Until now, most online breeders were considered "retail pet stores," and exempt from regulation even though buyers never had the opportunity to view animals before they bought them like they would in a traditional pet store and as the Animal Welfare Act envisioned. Nobody was monitoring or inspecting these breeders to ensure their animals' overall health and humane treatment.

So when you petitioned us to regulate so-called puppy mills, the U.S. Department of Agriculture proposed a rule that would update that "retail pet stores" definition. After huge amounts of public input, the USDA has finalized that ruling -- and is bringing more animals under the protection of the Animal Welfare Act.

This rule restores the original intent of the Animal Welfare Act:  that a retail pet store must be a place where the seller, buyer, and animal available for sale are all in the same place -- so that no animal is bought sight unseen and the buyer can be sure it’s healthy prior to taking it home.”  More at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/2013/09/retail_pet_final_rule.shtml

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Cyanobacteria: This Stealth Poison Could Kill Your Pet (or Child) Within Hours

“A Jack Russell Terrier in New York died recently after drinking from a pond while enjoying the outdoors with his family. Testing showed the dog was full of cyanobacteria, also called blue-green algae, which he ingested when he drank the contaminated pond water.

Always Avoid Greenish-Colored Ponds and Lakes

Blue-green algae form blooms that make the water look as if someone spilled blue or green paint on the surface. The floating blooms can form thick, dense mats that collect near the shore, which is where animals and people come into contact with them.

Blue-green algae can be toxic to both animals -- including dogs, cats, horses, cows and birds -- and people. It can cause damage to the liver and nervous system, inflame the respiratory tract, and irritate the skin, eyes, nose and throat.”  More at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/09/16/cyanobacteria-blue-green-algae.aspx

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On This Day:

Eighth planet discovered, Sep 23, 1846:

“German astronomer Johann Gottfried Galle discovers the planet Neptune at the Berlin Observatory.

Neptune, generally the eighth planet from the sun, was postulated by the French astronomer Urbain-Jean-Joseph Le Verrier, who calculated the approximate location of the planet by studying gravity-induced disturbances in the motions of Uranus. On September 23, 1846, Le Verrier informed Galle of his findings, and the same night Galle and his assistant Heinrich Louis d'Arrest identified Neptune at their observatory in Berlin. Noting its movement relative to background stars over 24 hours confirmed that it was a planet.

The blue gas giant, which has a diameter four times that of Earth, was named for the Roman god of the sea. It has eight known moons, of which Triton is the largest, and a ring system containing three bright and two dim rings. It completes an orbit of the sun once every 165 years. In 1989, the U.S. planetary spacecraft Voyager 2 was the first human spacecraft to visit Neptune.”

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Standard Oil geologists arrive in Saudi Arabia, Sep 23, 1933:

“On September 23, 1933, a party of American geologists lands at the Persian Gulf port of Jubail in Saudi Arabia and begins its journey into the desert. That July, with the discovery of a massive oil field at Ghawar, Saudi King Abdel Aziz had granted the Standard Oil Company of California a concession to "explore and search for and drill and extract and manufacture and transport" petroleum and "kindred bituminous matter" in the country's vast Eastern Province; in turn, Standard Oil immediately dispatched the team of scientists to locate the most profitable spot for the company to begin its drilling.

As automobiles and other internal-combustion machines proliferated, both in the United States and around the globe, Standard Oil was eager to control as much of the market for gasoline as it could. As a result, it would do almost anything to have first dibs on Saudi oil. The partnership between Abdel Aziz's government and Standard Oil became known as the Arabian American Oil Company (Aramco). (Texaco soon joined the partnership; about a decade later, so did Standard Oil of New Jersey and Socony-Vacuum Oil.) The company promised to provide the Saudi government with a steady income, along with an outright payment of 50,0000 British pounds; in return, Aramco got exclusive rights to all the oil underneath the eastern desert. In 1938, the company's gamble (after all, while Aramco engineers knew there was oil in the region, no one knew exactly where or how much) paid off: its geologists and drillers discovered oil in "commercial quantities" at the Dammam Dome, near Dhahran. The next year, Aramco exported its first tanker-load of petroleum.

In 1950, once it had become clear how very much oil there was under that desert, Aramco agreed to split its profits with the Saudi government. In 1980, after several years of squabbling over the price and availability of the country's petroleum (Saudi Arabia was a founding member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC, whose 1973 embargo precipitated a massive fuel crisis in the United States and other parts of the industrial world), Saudis won total control of the company: It's now known as Saudi Aramco. The next year, the kingdom's oil revenues reached $118 billion.”

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Yesterday:

Because they had been diagnosed with a life-threatening disease, it seemed like I was researching medical stuff with a neighbor, for most of the day.

New Pet? Pyometra Kills. Avoid Testicular Cancer. Feral Cat Lovers. Dog Germs! Factory-Farming Abuses. Anti-Whistleblower Bill. Jack Nicklaus. Sue, T.rex.

 

For “Mammal Monday”:

Looking for a New Pet? Avoid These Breeding Tragedies

“Dr. Becker attended a recent United Kennel Club Premier show in Michigan and sat down for a fascinating discussion with Wayne Cavanaugh, president of the UKC. Thanks to the efforts of Mr. Cavanaugh, UKC shows have evolved very differently than traditional dog shows. They feature several competitive events like dock diving and lure coursing, and all dogs are welcome to participate. The show ring is the only activity reserved for purebred dogs.

Dr. Becker and Mr. Cavanaugh agree that many dog breed standards are suffering from extreme exaggeration of certain physical characteristics. The arching backs of today’s German Shepherd Dogs and the inverted muzzles of Pugs are two examples. Neither of these breeds, nor several others, have benefitted from these exaggerations. Many GSDs can barely walk, and many Pugs can barely breathe.

Registration papers, whether from the AKC, the UKC or another registry, do not guarantee the health of a dog. This is a fact too many dog owners overlook. In today’s world of puppy mills and online puppy storefronts, a “papered” dog means nothing in terms of how the animal was bred, it’s health, talents, or temperament.

Drastic narrowing of the canine gene pool has created generations of sick, debilitated purebred dogs. Golden Retrievers are a heartbreaking example. Since the inception of the breed, only a handful of sires have been bred. This in large part has contributed to the astronomical rates of cancer in this breed, who are now often referred to as “cancer retrievers,” or “golden tumor dogs.”

If people understood more about where their pet store or online puppy really came from – what conditions it was bred in – we could put a quick end to the factory farming of puppies. A good rule of thumb: if you can’t meet the parents, don’t buy the puppy. That is the best way to stop supporting the monstrous business of puppy mills.”

What Registration Papers DON'T Tell You About a Dog

We’ve reached the point where national organizations like the AKC are registering puppies bred in puppy mills or by other types of contemptible commercial breeders. People who buy these puppies assume they are getting healthy animals because they have papers, but in many cases, nothing could be further from the truth.

Wayne wants to make it clear that mixed breed shelter dogs, three-legged dogs, spayed and neutered dogs – can all compete in UKC performance events. He wants to see them there. Dogs don’t have to be perfect to compete. They don’t have to be at breed standard. These dogs can’t compete in the show ring, but there are seven other events – which will increase to nine very shortly, and more by next year – in which any dog can participate.”      Complete article at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/08/05/ukc-shows.aspx

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Pyometra: This Life-Threatening Condition Could Kill Your Dog Within 48 Hours

“Pyometra is a uterine disease that occurs most often in intact female dogs six years or older that have never been pregnant.

Pyometra is a hormonal abnormality with or without the presence of a secondary bacterial infection. An excessive amount of progesterone, or hypersensitivity of the uterus to progesterone, is what causes the condition. Left untreated, pyometra can be life-threatening.

Pyometra is triggered by a heat cycle that doesn’t end in egg fertilization. Cysts develop in the lining of the uterus and release large amounts of fluid into the uterus. The accumulated fluid can spark a secondary bacterial infection.

There are two types of pyometra, open and closed. In open pyometra, the cervix allows accumulated fluid and debris in the uterus to flow out of the body through the vagina. At some point, however, the cervix closes (closed pyometra), trapping all the excess fluid and white blood cells in the uterus. The flow of fluid into the uterus continues, causing the organ to enlarge. The uterus can eventually rupture and empty all its contents into the abdominal cavity, causing death within about 48 hours.

Treatment of the condition includes spaying. If the owner wants to breed the animal, obviously other options are available, but they present a higher risk to the dog.”  Complete article at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/07/22/pyometra.aspx

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From me:  My Misty developed Pyometra within a few weeks of my rescuing her. Her dental surgery, which she had within a week, was so time-consuming and she was under anesthetic for so long that they didn’t spay her when I first got her. I rushed her to the hospital in time, and she survived that lengthy, and expensive, surgery, too.

Spay your female dogs, and neuter your males, so they don’t get cancer.  

Male pets who are neutered eliminate their chances of getting testicular cancer, and it is thought they they have lowered rates of prostate cancer, as well. 

More reasons to spay or neuter at: http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/pet_overpopulation/facts/why_spay_neuter.html

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Dogs Bring Beneficial Bacteria Into Home

“Countless studies have shown that beneficial bacteria are key players when it comes to producing immunity from disease.  Microbes are all around us; on our skin, in our digestive tracts, on the surfaces around our homes and the people we interact with.  Any addition to the family brings new things into the home - personalities, resources, schedule changes... but it turns out that dogs bring a little extra.
A new study has shown that families with dogs have a higher bacterial diversity, both in the home and in the people.  This may sound initially off-putting, but actually, this very diversity acts like a dose of probiotic-filled yogurt, increasing beneficial bacteria populations, bolstering immunity, and decreasing the likelihood of allergies in developing children.
So the next time your kid gets a friendly lick on the face and responds like Lucy: "Yuck!  I have dog germs!"  Just remind them that Snoopy is actually doing them a favor, helping to keep the whole family healthy and happy.”    Read more at http://theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/clickToGive/ars/article/Dogs-Bring-Beneficial-Bacteria-Into-Home221#fl0CJeGxCPyvJ61z.99

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Feral cat lovers: uninformed and irresponsible

“Ziggy was a loving fun and happy cat.
He regularly walked with us to visit the neighbors. If we went inside, he did, too. He loved dogs, brazenly meeting strange dogs whose owners held the leash. He became everyone’s friend.
Ziggy was constantly making friends of any animal or human that would be his friend. There were those that wanted Ziggy’s and his two sister’s territory.
Feral, mean and wild, they attacked relentlessly. At my own back door they attacked and even challenged me, a human.

Ziggy was a big, strong cat and would defend himself, his sisters and our property. He never lost – except his life.

Ziggy recently lost weight quickly. He became lethargic and couldn’t even come to sit on a lap or his pillow on our bed. We took him to the vet office and had tests run. He had a viral form of feline leukemia.

This disease was given to him by a feral cat, fed by a well-meaning human with little understanding of the facts. It is a form for which there is neither inoculation nor cure. Ziggy was buried with his best friend Boomerang, our cattle show dog that died.”  From: http://www.tbnweekly.com/editorial/readers_poll/content_articles/070213_pol-01.txt

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From me:  This is one reason why cats should be kept indoors, or in their own enclosure outside.

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Share This Video to Help Animals

“Wayne Pacelle, President of the Humane Society of the United States, was with Ellen to discuss new and important legislation about animals that you need to hear.”

Anti-Whistleblower Bills Hide Factory-Farming Abuses from the Public

Learn more and see what you can do

Stop Agribusiness from Hiding Animal Cruelty

https://secure.humanesociety.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=6047&autologin=true&s_src=web_tx_3097459578

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On This Day:

Nicklaus sets title record, Aug 12, 1973:

“On August 12, 1973, American golfer Jack Nicklaus wins the Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) championship for his 14th major title, surpassing Bobby Jones' record of 13 major championships. Nicklaus shot a seven-under-par 277 at Canterbury Golf Club in Beachwood, Ohio, to win $45,000 and his third PGA National championship. The "Golden Bear" went on to win a total of 20 major tournaments, a record that still stands today. (Although it aptly describes his golden-colored hair and large build, Nicklaus' famous moniker is actually derived from his high school alma mater, the Upper Arlington Golden Bears.)”

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Skeleton of Tyrannosaurus rex discovered, Aug 12, 1990:

“On this day in 1990, fossil hunter Susan Hendrickson discovers three huge bones jutting out of a cliff near Faith, South Dakota. They turn out to be part of the largest-ever Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton ever discovered, a 65 million-year-old specimen dubbed Sue, after its discoverer.

Amazingly, Sue's skeleton was over 90 percent complete, and Sue's extraordinarily well-preserved bones have allowed scientists to determine many things about the life of T.rex. They have determined that the carnivorous dinosaur had an incredible sense of smell, as the olfactory bulbs were each bigger than the cerebrum, the thinking part of the brain. In addition, Sue was the first T.rex skeleton to be discovered with a wishbone, a crucial discovery that provided support for scientists’ theory that birds are a type of living dinosaur. One thing that remains unknown is Sue's actual gender; to determine this, scientists would have to compare many more T.rex skeletons than the 22 that have been found so far.”

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Yesterday:

Ray was busy, so I called around about someone to install the porch roofs.  One man was supposed to be here at 2.00 PM, but he didn’t show up! 

In the morning, as it is too far for Misty to walk now, I drove her down to the mailboxes for her exercise around the park there.  That meant more junk mail to go through, and keep the shredder busy.

Then I caught up with some household chores and cooked enough food so that some was frozen for later when I don’t have time to cook.

Also, I searched in Craigslist and eBay looking for a Park Model travel trailer that isn’t too far away.  I’ll find one that I like, some day.

Keep Pets Cool. Cute Otters. Bobcat Orphans. Happy Goats. “Heady” Trash. How Long Trash Lasts. Pastor Ran Puppy Mill. Reward Program. John Cabot. Picasso. Roswell.

 

For “Mammal Monday”:

10 Tips to Keep Your Pets Cool in the Heat

“Many people can’t wait to get their pets outside in the sunshine to take part in all kinds of fun summertime activities. But before you take your furry friend outdoors, make sure you’re prepared to keep him safe not just from the heat, but from a variety of warm weather hazards. “

Complete article with pictures: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/05/17/keeping-pet-cool.aspx

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She Can't Take the Heat

“It's that time of year again. Before we know it, in many areas of the country, temperatures will be reaching all-time highs and pets will be overheated right along with us humans.

On a warm day, the temperature in car can exceed 120 degrees in a matter of minutes-even with the windows partially open. This flyer informs the public of dangers pets face when left in alone in a parked car, from heat stress to risk of theft.

Most of us know by now to never leave our pets in cars on hot days but some people might not. Now more than ever, it's important to make sure our neighbors and clients are aware of just how dangerous it can be to leave their pet in a parked car. 

Help inform your community of the numerous dangers pets face when left alone in a parked car with our Don't Leave Your Pet in a Parked Car fliers. Share it with staff, volunteers, and the pet owners in your area.  Now through July 31st, get 50% off these fliers at Marketplace.”

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An otter plays with a rock

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Nellie the Sea Otter stacks cups at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

“Nellie is a well-trained sea otter at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington. Watch her practice a special cup stacking enrichment and demonstrate trained behaviors with her pal, Abra.”

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Stray cat adopts bobcat orphans

Bobcats: “Hey mom, why are you so small?”

Cat: “Kids have a seat, I have something to important to tell you. You are adopted!”

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BBC News - Happy goats: How animal rehab works

“British scientists measured the moods of goats at a sanctuary in Kent to determine if neglected, abused animals are able to fully recover from their pasts.

The verdict? The researchers believe they now have objective evidence that with the right care, mistreated animals can be fully rehabilitated.”

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From me:  My Misty has recovered from her former abuse.  A neighbor remarked how happily she walks now, compared to the way she moped along when I first got her.

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Wildlife Are Getting Their Heads Stuck in Our Trash

“Police free deer’s head from malicious bag of Doritos (although, I don’t think the bag had malicious intent)”    (Monroe County Sheriff’s Office / AP Photo)

 

“Florida bear rescued after getting head stuck in jar.  “Jarhead” eluded wildlife officials for 10 days before they were finally able to catch him.” (Photo from CNN)

Fox With Its Head Stuck In A Jar Approaches 2 Men For Help

 

“Minnesota woman frees deer from plastic jar stuck on its head”  (Photo by Janet Murphy / Associated Press)

Nothing New

These are just the ones that caught media attention, in one month. There are undoubtedly other similar stories. This also isn’t a new dilemma. A few years ago a squirrel got its head stuck in a yogurt cup and made the news.  Then Buzzfeed compiled a list of 27 different animals with their heads stuck. Granted some of those are pets and not in the wild, but the point remains, they’re getting their heads stuck in our trash. Consistently.

Talking Trash: How to Help

There is hope. Back in 2006, McDonald’s changed the McFlurry container lid to save hedgehogs in Britain after pressure from activists. Unfortunately, we can’t blame companies for the design of containers. Instead the focus should be on people properly disposing of their garbage and recycling. I’ll leave you with this amazing infographic to hopefully encourage us all to consider trash disposal and recycling more carefully.”

From: http://blog.nwf.org/2013/06/wildlife-are-getting-their-heads-stuck-in-our-trash/

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Mississippi Puppy Mill a Living Horror

Tylertown puppy mill busted, official: "worst I've ever seen"

“The Walthall County Sheriff's Department along with The Humane Society of the United States raided a puppy mill with approximately 80-100 dogs, living and dead, on Magee Hill Road outside of Tylertown on Monday.

The owner of the dogs is a pastor and was selling the dogs out of his church in Louisiana. Authorities were alerted to the dogs when a person who was going to buy one of the dogs saw how bad the conditions were.”

“Among the dogs many were dead, and skeletal remains are mixed with living animals in small, dark, filthy enclosures.  Lydia Satler, state director of the Humane Society, said it was the worst puppy mill she had ever seen in her career. "It's just very sad to see that they lived and died in the same cage," she said.”  More at: http://www.humanesociety.org/news/press_releases/2013/05/dogs_rescued_Tylertown_052013.html

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Honey Badger Narrates: Puppy Mills Are Evil

“Puppy mills are horrible operations. The parent dogs are inhumanely kept in cages and never cared for. All puppies in stores ARE FROM PUPPY MILLS. Never buy a puppy online, at a flea market or from a pet store. If the person at the store says they don't know enough about where the puppy came from, they are lying. They know exactly where the puppy came from. Do something-STOP BUYING FROM STORES, FLEA MARKETS OR ONLINE.”

Stop Puppy Mills—It Starts With YOU.

“Help stop this cycle of cruelty simply by choosing to adopt your next pet from a shelter or rescue, or by only purchasing a dog from a responsible breeder who will show you where your puppy was born and raised. And that's not all—you can do even more by refusing to buy pet supplies from any store or website that sells puppies. Where you spend your dollars makes a difference. Make a statement when you shop!

Watch our new video, then fill out and submit your pledge to adopt only, below.    http://bit.ly/14whuDe

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Reward program for cruelty tips

“The HSUS has established a reward program to offer up to $5,000 to anyone who provides any information leading to the arrest and conviction of a puppy mill operator for animal cruelty. Persons wishing to report a valid tip are encouraged to call 1-877-MILL-TIP and will remain anonymous.”

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On This Day:

John Cabot lands, Jun 24, 1497

“John Cabot lands in North America at Newfoundland leading the first European exploration of the region since the Vikings.  Cabot's birthplace is in Italy. In Italian he is known today as Giovanni Caboto, in English as John Cabot, in French as Jean Cabot, and in Spanish as Juan Caboto. 

He made a voyage on the ship ‘Matthew’ and claimed land in Canada—mistaking it for Asia—for King Henry VII of England.”

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Picasso exhibited in Paris, Jun 24, 1901:

“On June 24, 1901, the first major exhibition of Pablo Picasso's artwork opens at a gallery on Paris' rue Lafitte, a street known for its prestigious art galleries. The precocious 19-year-old Spaniard was at the time a relative unknown outside Barcelona, but he had already produced hundreds of paintings. The 75 works displayed at Picasso's first Paris exhibition offered moody, representational paintings by a young artist with obvious talent.

Picasso's work after World War II is less studied than his earlier creations, but he continued to work feverishly and enjoyed commercial and critical success. He produced fantastical works, experimented with ceramics, and painted variations on the works of other masters in the history of art. Known for his intense gaze and domineering personality, he had a series of intense and overlapping love affairs in his lifetime. He continued to produce art with undiminished force until his death in 1973 at the age of 91.”

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U.S. Air Force reports on Roswell, Jun 24, 1997:

“On this day in 1997, U.S. Air Force officials release a 231-page report dismissing long-standing claims of an alien spacecraft crash in Roswell, New Mexico, almost exactly 50 years earlier.

With conspiracy theories still alive and well on the Internet, Roswell continues to thrive as a tourist destination for UFO enthusiasts far and wide, hosting the annual UFO Encounter Festival each July and welcoming visitors year-round to its International UFO Museum and Research Center.”

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Yesterday:

Misty and I went to pick up Jay, and had our walk down there.  Jay’s neighbor gave me another bagful of tomatoes.

Jay cut a piece of treated 2x12 into a bottom stand for an outside table, and Ray painted it white.  Jay and I worked on the walkway fence, removing the boards, and replacing them with lattice panels.  We were working our way down to the last tall post to be removed.  Ray came to help when it was time to jack it out of the ground, and it looks better with a shorter post.  The long posts which were part of my RVport, will be used for my front porch extension.  Now, we have to make a lattice gate, but we ran out of time.

The chiropractor that I saw on Friday, didn’t put my back in. It still hurts, so it has been difficult for me to do anything over the weekend, but I worked anyway.   Hopefully, he will re-adjust it today.