PHIS GUIDE TO TRAVELING WITH YOUR PETS

To help make traveling with pets more enjoyable, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service outlines several pet travel requirements and tips to make Americans that travel with their pets informed and happy travelers.

Under the Animal Welfare Act, APHIS regulates the air transport of dogs and cats. The AWA provides regulatory guidelines to assure humane travel standards for pets. Travelers need to know the following criteria before traveling with an airline:

• Dogs and cats must be at least 8 weeks old and weaned;
• Kennels must meet minimum standards for size, strength, sanitation and ventilation;
• Kennels must be enclosed and allow room for the animal to stand, sit, breathe and rest comfortably;
• Kennels must have a solid, leak-proof floor covered with litter or absorbent lining;
• Kennels must have ventilated openings making up 14 percent of total wall space;
• Kennels must have grips or handles for lifting to facilitate handling by cargo workers;
• Each species must have its own kennel with the exception of compatible personal pets of similar size. Maximum numbers include two puppies or kittens less than 6 months old;
• Airlines require attached instructions to the kennel for feeding, watering and administering medication for any animal when traveling time is over 24 hours.
• Airlines and state health officials generally require health certificates for all animals transported by air. A licensed veterinarian who examined the animal within 10 days of transport must issue health certificates.

In addition, APHIS believes the following are helpful hints to make traveling with a pet more enjoyable.

• Whenever possible, book a direct, nonstop flight and avoid holiday or weekend travel.
• Arrive at the airport with plenty of time to insure proper check-in of your pet.
• Carry a leash to walk your pet before check-in and after arrival.
• Do not take your pet out of its kennel inside the airport.
• Clearly mark the kennel with the pet’s name.
• Provide a telephone number of someone at your destination the airline may contact regarding your pet.
• Call the airline for its specific travel requirements.

Pets taken out of the United States are subject, upon return, to the same regulations for those entering for the first time. Pet cats and dogs are subject to inspection at points of entry for
evidence of infectious diseases transmittable to humans. Dogs must have an unexpired certificate showing vaccination against rabies at least 30 days prior to entry into the United States. Pet cats do not require a rabies vaccination. All pet cats and dogs arriving in Hawaii and the territory of Guam are subject to quarantine requirements. Travelers taking pet cats and dogs to the United Kingdom must obtain from an APHIS accredited veterinarian a Pet Travel Scheme Entry or Re-entry Certificate from the USDA office in his or her state.

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ASPCA Awarads $12,000 for Flood Victims

The ASPCA^® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®) announced it will award a $12,000 grant to the Morgan County Animal Shelter in Martinsville, Ind., following the recent and devastating floods in the state.

“This grant will assist with the care and medical treatment of more than 250 dogs and cats from the surrounding community whose owners have been displaced as a result of flooding in the area,” said ASPCA President & CEO, Ed Sayres. “It is important to us, as a national animal welfare organization, to be able to support efforts on a local level, especially in times of disaster and need. It is heartwarming that so many local shelters and humane societies are stepping up to the plate, and we are honored to support their efforts.”

According to the ASPCA’s Disaster Readiness Manager Tiffany Mahaffey, the Morgan County Animal shelter has transferred all of its adoptable animals to other parts of the country, via PetSmart Charities Rescue Waggin’, in order to house the community’s animals within the community. With the help of the ASPCA and C-Specialties, an Indiana-based animal supply company, the Morgan County Animal Shelter has been able to provide low-cost vaccines and medications to the local animals in its care.

“In addition to helping animals whose owners have been displaced,” Mahaffey said, “the ASPCA grant will help the Morgan County Animal Shelter continue to supply pet food to local Red Cross and FEMA shelters for those people who evacuated and were able to take their animals with them.”

Earlier this month, Morgan County received exceptional amounts of rain, which resulted in devastating flash floods. On June 8, National Guard troops were dispatched to Morgan County to help residents evacuate. The extensive flood damage led President Bush to declare Morgan County a federal disaster area.

Other states in the Midwest, including Iowa, Missouri and Kansas, have also been ravaged by extensive flooding, severe rain, and in some areas, tornadoes. “The ASPCA is in the process of determining how it can support other shelters as well, including the Iowa City Humane Society, and will be assisting them through the disbursement of grants,” Mahaffey said. “The ASPCA has also been donating other pet supplies, as needed, to both the Iowa City Humane Society and the Morgan County Animal Shelter.”

For more information about the ASPCA’s disaster readiness programs, please visit http://www.aspca.org/disaster

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Humane Society: Massive puppy mill raid

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Wimbledon Marksmen Shooting Pigeons

yahoo buzz photo

PETA is Mad!
Wimbledon came under fire from animal activists on for using marksmen to shoot down dive-bombing pigeons.

The tournament employs two hawks to scare away pigeons who had become a pest swooping down on Centre Court and distracting players in the middle of tennis matches.
When the hawks failed to keep the pigeons away from the players' lawn and the open-air media restaurant so marksmen were called in.

"The hawks are our first line of deterrent, and by and large they do the job," Wimbledon spokesman Johnny Perkins said.

"But unfortunately there were one or two areas where the hawks didn't deter the pigeons, so it was deemed necessary to take a harder approach," he explained.

The marksmen were summoned by Wimbledon as pigeon droppings on the restaurant tables were thought to be a health hazard.

The decision to call in the marksmen was condemned as "cruel and illegal behavior" by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which complained to the tournament organizers and the police.

"Since the use of marksmen to kill pigeons appears to have been carried out as a first, rather than a last, resort and not out of a concern for public health but rather because the animals were deemed inconvenient by players, you appear to be in clear violation of the law," PETA vice president Bruce Friedrich said.

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Pet Phobias- Noise

Many pets 'freak out' when there is a loud noise or a thunderstorm.
It is a common problem in dogs, but less so in cats.
In the case of thunderstorms, pets may also be fearful of storm-associated events such as a change in barometric pressure, lightning, electrostatic disturbances, and even smells associated with the storms. Noise phobias can include fear of thunderstorms, firecrackers, gunshots, and even the sound of birds.

Studies have found that dogs who had separation anxiety were more likely to also have noise and thunderstorm phobias. A noise phobia may be traced to a particular bad experience of a noise, but often, no triggering event can be ascertained. In almost all instances, the fear of noises and storms escalates, worsening with each exposure. Soon the pet may become fearful of similar sounds or events associated with the noise.

What are the signs of noise phobia?

• Pet under the bed
• FrequentUrinating
• Frequent Defecating
• Chewing more than normal
  
• Panting
• Pacing
• Trying to escape by digging, jumping through windows or going through walls, running away
  
• Drooling
• Seeking the owner or human for comfort
  
• Not eating
• Not listening to commands
• Trembling or shaking
• Dilated pupils
• Vocalizing by barking or meowing
  

Consult with a veterinarian experienced in animal behavior problems, and/or an animal behaviorist if your pet is showing signs of noise phobia. They can help develop a treatment plan for your pet.

You should refrain from giving rewards or punishment. Petting, consoling, or even saying, may be interpreted by the pet as a reward for the fearful response. In the event of comforting a dog during a storm, for example, it may signal to the pet that the storm really is something he should be afraid of. Similarly, the pet should not be punished for showing fear. This will only increase his anxiety level. Usually treatment includes three other facets: medications, changing the environment, and behavior modification.

Consult with your vet about medications. They may help calm your pet if you know there is a precipitating event such as the 4th of July approaching.

Change environment: By changing the environment of the animal during the storm or noise, the anxiety level can be reduced. Changing the environment may reduce the volume level of the sound or help make the pet less aware of it.

Block the noise level by running a fan or air conditioner place foam earplugs or cotton balls in their pets' ears.

Project a calm attitude. If you are worried or nervous, this will add to the pet's fear.

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Dogman robs stores to feed pets in Japan

Osaka prefectural Police (OPP)

Takaharu Kawata claims to be an animal-lover on welfare.
Apparently, he went to extreme measures to feed his pets by robbing convenience stores while wearing the mask of a dog.
"The Dogman" -- was caught on a surveillance camera wearing an oversized black-and-white canine mask while brandishing a knife. He allegedly stole a total of 587,000 yen (5,470 dollars) in cash, a police spokesman said.

Despite receiving monthly benefits , Kawata said he did not have enough money to cover the basic necessities for him and his pets.

What happened to the mask? His beagle -- which he apparently bought with stolen cash -- had ripped it up.

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Stuff to Blog About: The Ugliest Dog in the World

The Ugliest Dog in the World

photo courtesy of ktvu.com

Gus -- a one-eyed, three-legged Chinese Crested from St. Petersburg, Fla. -- has won the annual World’s Ugliest Dog Contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair.

Gus, a Chinese-Crested, was named 2008's ugliest dog . He competed against 11 other dogs from all over the U.S., winning in the pedigree-class category and then going on to win in the overall competition.

Gus took home two trophies and $1,600 in prize money, which his owners are going to put toward his radiation treatments. Gus has skin cancer, which led to the amputation of one leg.His missing eye was the result of a fight with a tomcat, fair officials said

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