With every natural disaster, there are also animal victims.
Please follow this link to view the YouTube video of a dog in the aftermath of the tsunami in Japan. The dog refuses to leave his injured friend.
(Both dogs are now reported to be in the care of animal welfare authorities.)
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand
Posted in animal welfare, Dogs, special dogs and awards
The surface water bodies around Christchurch are receiving untreated sewerage because of the many broken sewer pipes around the city. This means you need to keep your family (and dogs) away from water until further notice.
Don’t forget that your dogs require their water to be boiled as well. (Even if you have mains water supply, the Council wants you to boil water until further notice.) It is recommended that you boil water for 3 minutes, allow it to settle and cool, and then re-boil for another 3 minutes.
Take care out there.
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand
Posted in animal welfare, dog care, Dogs
Tagged Christchurch, dogs, earthquake, water quality
I’m here in Christchurch, New Zealand after our major earthquake on Tuesday (22nd February 2011). On Tuesday afternoon, a neighbour found a dog in his yard with no collar or tags. We took him in, because our house is secure and our fences are still in place.
He was a lovely boy and because I didn’t know his name, I called him Shake. He slept in our bed on Tuesday evening to ride out the aftershocks and a little Rescue Remedy helped. He was glued to my side all day Wednesday.
On Thursday I was able to get him to a local vet to have his microchip scanned. A few more calls and I made contact with his grateful family who came to pick him up within the hour. As it turns out, his name was Trick and he had a bath on Monday evening. His family didn’t have time to replace his collar. Otherwise, he would have been tagged with clear ID.
Trick relaxing in our lounge
Microchipping is now mandatory in New Zealand but if you are in a place where it is voluntary – please have it done. You never know the circumstances that would see your dog lost and you needing to find one another again.
Best wishes to all and thanks for your kind words. We are without basic services like sewerage but are coping with power and some limited water supply.
Trick temporarily took over Daisy’s bed
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand
Newspapers are reporting that Annabell Quor, the owner of the pomeranian who died in a car parked at The Palms shopping centre in December, has entered a plea of not guilty to a charge of reckless ill-treatment of an animal.
Ms Quor appeared in the Christchurch District Court this week; the charge was brought by SPCA Canterbury inspectors. Ms Quor maintains that the dog’s death was an accident, that she forgot to remove the dog’s muzzle, and that she had left windows open with a bowl of water for the dog to drink.
The case will continue on April 21 in a post committal conference. The charge Ms Quor is facing carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison, a fine not to exceed $75,000, or both.
Posted in animal welfare, Dogs, ethics and pet rights
Tagged Annabell Quor, court, SPCA Canterbury
Heartwarming news out of the UK for anyone who has lost a dog.
Archie is a toy poodle who went missing in Essex and turned up 160 km away in Oxford – after 549 days! Dog wardens were able to trace his owner thanks to his microchip. Although scruffy and dirty when found, he was not malnourished and so it is thought that Archie was looked after by someone during the time he was away.
Owner Julia Moran was reunited with Archie on her 47th birthday and said “It is the best birthday present I could ever have.”
Archie with his owner, Julia Moran. (Source: INS)
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand
Posted in animal welfare, dog ownership, lost dogs
Tagged Essex, Julia Moran, lost dog, Oxford, Scruffy Archie
The Winter Olympics in Vancouver officially were closed on 28 February 2010. Less than a year later, news has broken that 100 healthy sled dogs were brutally murdered because tourism had dropped off post-Olympics.
More shocking is that the murders have only come to light after the worker who shot and, in some cases slashed the throats of the dogs, filed a worker’s compensation claim for post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.
Attorney Corey Steinberg told Vancouver radio station CNKW “It wasn’t always a clean, one-shot kill. Inevitably, (the employee) ended up seeing and having to put the end to some horrific scenes.”
The SPCA is investigating.
Read more here.
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand
Posted in animal welfare, dog care, ethics and pet rights
Tagged sled dogs, Vancouver Olympics
Today brings another water quality warning to Canterbury dog owners. This time, it is Lake Ellesmere.
| MEDIA RELEASE | ||
| TO: | News Room | |
| FROM: | Media Liaison | |
| DATE: | February 3, 2011 | |
| SUBJECT: | Health Warning – Algal Bloom in Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere
|
|
The Community and Public Health division of Canterbury District Health Board has issued a health warning because of increased concentrations of blue-green algae (planktonic cyanobacteria) being found in Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere
People should stay out of the water at this lake until the health warnings have been lifted. Algae are particularly dangerous for dogs, so they should be kept away from the water.
Canterbury Medical Officer of Health Dr Alistair Humphrey says although the algal bloom does not contain the acutely toxic species there is still the increased probability of respiratory, irritation and allergy symptoms from exposure to the very high density of the cyanobacterial material present.
“If you experience any of these symptoms visit your doctor immediately and please let your doctor know if you have had contact with the lake water,” Dr Humphrey says
“No one should drink the water from the lake at any time. Boiling the water does not remove the toxin.”
Animals should be taken to a vet immediately if they display any unusual symptoms after coming into contact with the algal bloom.
Eating fish should be avoided because the toxins can concentrate in their bodies. If fish are eaten, remove the gut and liver and wash in clean water.
Environment Canterbury monitors the lake weekly during summer and the public will be advised of any changes in water quality that are of public health significance.
Facts about cyanobacteria:
For further information visit http://ecan.govt.nz/services/online-services/monitoring/swimming-water-quality/Pages/lake-warnings.aspx
Or contact Community and Public Health on (03) 364 1777.
Posted in animal welfare, dog care
Tagged algal blooms, Canterbury District Health Board, Lake Ellesmere, water quality
Great news out today…SPCA Canterbury has laid a charge of reckless ill-treatment of an animal under New Zealand’s Animal Welfare Act against the woman responsible for leaving a Pomeranian to die in a hot car during the Christmas shopping season last month.
On 18 December, the dog was found dead in a parked car at the rooftop car park at The Palms Shopping Centre. It was harnessed to its seat and muzzled on a day when temperatures reached 33.4 degrees C.
The court date has been set for 17 February. Well done to the SPCA Canterbury for following through on this case.
Posted in animal welfare, ethics and pet rights, Uncategorized
Tagged Animal Welfare Act, pomeranian, SPCA Canterbury
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