Daniel's Big Trip

Daniel, a wounded vet in med school, is driving around the country with his wacky Boxer Rocky and blogging it.

Cool stuff! Read it, and donate. Least we can do for one of America's heroes.

Trial delayed in St. Bernard pet killings

Excerpt:

A St. Bernard Parish sheriff’s deputy and a former deputy are set to stand trial separately early next year on felony aggravated cruelty to animals charges stemming from the alleged fatal shooting of dogs on the streets of St. Bernard in the days immediately following Hurricane Katrina.

Clifford “Chip’’ Englande, a sergeant assigned to administrative duties, and Michael Minton, who is no longer working for the Sheriff’s Office, pleaded innocent in February and were scheduled to be tried together this week.

As it stands now, Minton will be tried Jan. 29 by a jury in state District Judge Robert Buckley’s courtroom and Englande will be tried Feb. 14 by the judge, a spokeswoman for state Attorney General Charles Foti said Wednesday. Link

Let's hope justice prevails.

Also see: Trial date set for [alleged] dog shooters

"Rescuer" = hoarder

WTAE-TV4, Pittsburgh:

CENTERVILLE, Pa. -- Police and humane officers raided a kennel at a home in Centerville, Washington County, and said they found dozens of dead dogs on Tuesday evening. Animal control officers said there were dogs in cages inside and outside Calico Creek Critters Rescue, and even in a nearby incinerator.

Wouldn't be the first time a so-called "rescue" was actually the sick manifestation of an animal hoarder or collector.

From the Tufts site, links about hoarding in the media.

On horses

We've been hearing scuttlebutt about some horses that may not be well maintained - possibly inadequate shelter, poor nutrition (visible ribs), etc. So here, links to the basics on what you're lookin' at and who to call to make a complaint.

The horse's body condition is scored on a scale developed by Dr. Don Henneke, called, unsurprisingly, the Henneke Scale. This is an MS Word doc that will download and open, so you can easily save it for future reference or printing. If that bugs ya, google the phrase "Henneke Scale" for a different format.

Here are some photos of horses, rated by the author of the page. Not for the faint of heart. In a nutshell, you shouldn't be seein' ribs, overgrown hooves, wounds attracting flies, or too much fat.

Who to call? We've heard that humane enforcement by Bogalusa Police Department and the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office is spotty and inconsistent.

We recommend phoning Humane Society of Louisiana, 1.888.6 HUMANE, or fill out their online form, which can be done anonymously. They were prompt and effective at getting care for the animals at Cassidy Park.

You can also contact the Louisiana Livestock Brand Commission Crimestoppers at 1.800.558.9741.

New blogs!

New to me, that is, and they're cool, so I added 'em to the blogroll.

First is The Answer Bird. Marvin the African parrot gives advice - keyboarded by his human, Steve Graham. Set down yer coffee, or lose yer monitor, lol.

Mostly Cajun blogs from southwest Louisiana. Today's post, Critters and electricity, is a hoot :-).

Bring in your pets!

It's gonna be pretty cold tonight and every night this week comin' up.

Don't make Phideaux and Fluffi suffer outdoors. Man's Best Friend and your feline both deserve a spot by the hearth.

Trial date set for [alleged] dog shooters

Arraignment of Minton and Englande was Tuesday in St. Bernard Parish.

Trial will be May 8, 9 or 10.

Full story on this page.

Special thank you to Pasado's Safe Haven animal rescue org for traveling all the way from Washington state to help and show support in this very important matter.

For those of you who didn't see my previous post on the topic, you can write a note to the judge here.

For y'all who have companion animals, or understand the love people feel for their pets, why not help Pasado by buying a T-shirt? I like "Not Without My Pets" :-).

St. Bernard dog-killers' arraignment tomorrow

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, in St. Bernard Parish, victims of flooding left their dogs at Beauregard Middle School, scrawling heartrending notes on the walls with their names, their pets' names. "Don't shoot my dog," one reads. "Very nice dog in here," says another. They left what food they could, and water.

All in vain.

Their dogs were shot and left to suffer. Shot in the stomach, the legs. Some starved to death. This, after deputies promised the owners that their beloved pets would be cared for.

This, as animal rescuers were beginning to arrive in South Louisiana to save pets' lives.

David Leeson, a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist, was driving around in St. Bernard Parish shortly after the storm, looking for the small, oil-soaked dog that he'd taken a picture of. Instead, he filmed three deputies, also driving around, shooting dogs. Showing no emotion. Not putting them out of their misery, but leaving them to whimper and cry on the ground until they died of their wounds.

Tomorrow morning, two of the perpetrators - Michael Minton and Clifford Englande - are being arraigned in the St. Bernard Parish Courthouse. They have been charged with aggravated animal cruelty. They have also been sued by the pet owners.

You may write a note to the judge here. It'll be hand delivered by the folks with Pasado Safe Haven.

Read the whole story.

Sex tours - at the zoo.

Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo calls it the "Wild at Heart" tour. At New York's Central Park Zoo, it's "Jungle Love." San Francisco offers "Woo at the Zoo," and in Boise, Idaho, it's possible to enjoy "Wild Love at the Zoo."

When Valentine's Day rolls around, zoos around the U.S. have become an unlikely locale for adult-oriented entertainment with risque tours that couple champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries and candlelight dining with impressive facts about how animals mate.[...]
Credit for the zoo sex tour concept goes to Jane Tollini, a former penguin keeper at the San Francisco Zoo. Tollini conceived the idea two decades ago while watching her penguins' courtship ritual, which culminates in what she describes as "bowling pins making love."

Read it all here.

For those who prefer visuals in the privacy of their own home, tortoise porn at Youtube. Enjoy!

Animals. Attacking.

In the past two-three weeks:

Bull kills farmer in Wisconsin.
Cow kills Ohio farmer.
Cheetahs kill woman at zoo in Belgium. This idiot entered their enclosure, as though they were pets. Sheesh.
Bull sharks sink fishing boat.

I'm sharing my steak with Fluffi tonight, stayin' on her good side ;-).

R.I.P., Barbaro

Euthanized today.

Barbaro has another setback :-(

He's in trouble again:

After Barbaro developed a deep abscess in his right hind foot, surgery was performed Saturday to insert two steel pins in a bone, one that was shattered but now healthy, to eliminate all weight bearing on the ailing foot.

The procedure is a risky one, because it transfers more weight to the leg. If the bone were to break again, chief surgeon Dr. Dean Richardson said: "I think we'll quit."

Hang in there, fella.

PS - The article has good background, if you haven't been reading the Barbaro news.

We dodged a bullet...

... though the rest of the U.S. hasn't been so lucky.

Near as I can figure, it got down to the mid-30s last night. Still, I hope y'all let Fluffi and Fideaux sleep indoors. It was mighty chilly.

Loose livestock

I was phoned by an impeccably reliable source today that there were horses loose on Spring Valley Road.

He said this has occurred several times recently. Maybe somebody could help the owner horse-proof his fence?

Man's best friend - Part II, Health

Disclaimer: I am not a veterinarian or a lawyer, follow this advice at your own risk, consult your veterinarian rather than relying on anything you read on the 'net - including this post.

Top ten dog care tips from the Humane Society of the US. Read all of their pet care information.

Spay/Neuter. It's a one-time cost that pays dividends over the life of your pet. And if you've got an unwanted litter, for G*d's sake quit dumping them here, there, everywhere. It's cruel, it's illegal, it's a public health risk and a nuisance. Just because people live in the country doesn't mean they want more critters - especially from a doofus who wouldn't spay, or keep their pet inside when in heat, and probably didn't vaccinate or worm her either.

This includes cats. They cannot "take care of themselves," contrary to popular myth. The average lifespan of a stray cat is only two years.

If you must find a new home for your pet, consult the local shelters/humane societies (that's a great place to get a pet, too). And don't offer him "free to good home" unless you want him to end up in a laboratory cage or worse. Charge something - $30-50, say. It discourages the jerks and makes people stop and realize that owning a pet costs money; that little fee is only the beginning.

Rabies vaccination is required by law. For your dog, your own health and safety, and that of the community, get 'er done! It ain't expensive.

Vaccinate against other diseases, too, at the intervals recommended by your vet. Most dog owners have heard of the dreaded parvo and distemper. They are preventable. Some owners do it themselves, but remember that those shots from the local store don't include rabies.

Feeding bones to your dog is Russian roulette. Don't.

Heartworm is a preventable killer. Your vet carries Heartgard (tm) or another prescription med for it. Here's a link about DIY prevention. The dose the author is using is one-tenth of a cc per ten pounds, of one percent injectable ivermectin, given orally once per month.

This isn't much of a money saver for a single dog, but if you've got 3+ it can be. Do not give Ivermectin to Collies/herding breeds without veterinary advice! Ivermectin can be safely given to heartworm positive dogs, according to many apparently reliable sites, but will not cure them if they're already infested.

Inexpensive DIY treatment for intestinal parasites. Worms, blech.

And here's the Beagle guy's index of health articles.

Fleas and ticks. Ick! I use either Frontline or Advantix and also treat the yard with insecticide granules. Works well for us. Your vet is a good source of flea prevention and treatment info.

Mange. There are several different types, and a lay person can confuse flea allergy with mange. Please consult your vet, and don't use motor oil. Coating a dog with motor oil is cruelty and punishable in some places. Not to mention, it doesn't work. Motor oil curing mange is an old wive's tale, folks.

Do not allow your dog to run at large - either in town or in the country. You are required by law to keep your dog under your control at all times. That includes unincorporated areas of the parish - where he can be shot dead for harassing or killing livestock. Getting shot ain't good for a dog's health. And buying your neighbor a new heifer, or a coop full of purebred chickens, is real expensive. Plus anywhere, town or country, your dog can be hit by a car. Fence, leash, train, supervise.

Some good pet sites:

Petfinder - adopt, find, place in a home

Petfinder's Resource Library of information

Doctors Foster and Smith - pet supplies online. Beware: some "discount" online pet sites sell bootleg/fake stuff. Foster and Smith get good reviews. They also have a free pet care newsletter you can sign up for.

Merck Veterinary Manual online

Man's best friend - Part I, Training and Behavior

Dogs... So many people have dogs as pets. Here are some links to help keep your buddy happy and well-behaved.

Important disclaimer: I am not a vet or professional trainer (and I don't play one on TV, heh).

Dog Play: A nice site with info on enjoyable activities, behavior and training.

Humane Society of the US has Dog Behavior Tip Sheets.

Dr. P's Dog Training: Loads of helpful articles.

Unchain Your Dog!: Fido should live in the house with his family. Read this site and find out why.

Calling all cat lovers

There's a beautiful, friendly young cat wandering at the Riverside Drive boat launch. Probably could use a loving indoor home. Walk off the parking area toward that old concrete structure and call "Kitty-kitty-kitty" and the darling will trot over and wrap around your legs.

Local humane society to receive aid

The Washington Parish Humane Society, a private charity, was badly damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Falling trees smashed most of the cat facility. They were sheltered at the home of the org's president, Jan Applewhite.

The Greg Biffle Foundation is helping:

Aid for Animals: NASCAR Nextel Cup star Greg Biffle just picked up a new fan. I'm very partial to animals in general and dogs in particular and Biffle, through his Greg Biffle Foundation, has ponied up $50,000 this past week for aid to animal shelters in the New Orleans area that have been overwhelmed as a result of the damage caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Biffle and Nicole Lunders, of The Foundation, toured the New Orleans facilities and with the help of the Humane Society of the United States, identified the shelters that need immediate assistance. St. Tammany Humane Society, Ascension Animal Advocates, Washington Parish Humane Society and Hancock County Humane Society will receive $10,000 each for supplies and repairs. [emphasis mine.]

The Humane Society of the United States also gave a grant to the Humane Society.

CORRECTION: It's the Washington Humane Society, not the Washington Parish Humane Society. I oughtta know that. Duh.

ADDENDUM: Pictures of the facility and damage at their website. Caution - loud Cajun music.