For those that may have missed it, reporter Giles Brown of The Press wrote an article this week about Stig, the search dog who received a Parliamentary award in April 2010. During the year, Stig qualified as an avalanche search dog and was later diagnosed with cancer (since removed).
Read about Stig here.
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand
Dog owners in Rio de Janeiro are reaping the benefits of the city’s first dog restaurant. Lunch and dinner are served at this restaurant and owners can buy pre-made and frozen dog dinners to take home with them.
The restaurant has only been open since December 2010 and word has it that expansion plans for another branch in Sao Paulo are already underway.
The restaurant serves four dishes, each with a different protein source: beef, chicken, fish or lamb. A partial translation of the website says that the meals are 100% natural and preservative-free. “Perfect for dogs with demanding palates” (perfeita para caes com paladar exigente)
Click on the restaurant’s icon below to visit their site (if you speak Spanish).
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand
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
“With the eye upraised his master’s look to scan,
The joy, the solace, and the aid of man;
The rich man’s guardian and the poor man’s friend,
The only creature faithful to the end.”
George Crabbe, poet, 1754-1832
Posted in dog quotes, Uncategorized
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
For those of you in New Zealand, Paw Justice is an animal welfare organisation fighting for the rights of our pets. Their mission statement is:
“Listening and talking to pet owners about their problems and their pet’s concerns
And, until this day comes, Paw Justice will be seeking justice against those who hurt our animals.”
Paw Justice was successful in its attempt to gain signatures from around the country supporting tougher sentencing for offenders who abuse animals. They are now fundraising to continue the pressure on our society to treat animals properly. They operate a Facebook page and sell Paw Justice products on their website. You can also make a donation on their website.
Best of all, the folk at Paw Justice now have the Patch Up Your Pet campaign. For $10, you buy a Paw Justice tag for your pet. This has a unique identification code and you register your contact details against this number. If your pet is found with their Paw Justice tag, people can log onto the website to get your contact details and return your pet to you. When you register your pet against the number, you can also upload their photo to the Paw Justice website.
The idea is to grow the number of people supporting the movement and to keep pressure on to ensure animal abuse is stopped.
Daisy is now patched!
Show your support for Paw Justice by following this link:
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand
Posted in ethics and pet rights
Tagged ethics, humane treatment, patch up your pet, Paw Justice, pet rights
Keeping with the theme of dog-friendly accommodation… If you are in New Zealand then you should check out the Pets Can Come Too website.
This website lists holiday homes where pets are allowed. The search function on the site is easy to use. You will need to read the fine print, however. For example, some properties only accept cats and others may require that your dog is crated when indoors.
If you own a holiday home and accept pets, then please do your part to grow this community-of-interest in New Zealand by registering your property. Heather at Pets Can Come Too says:
For those of you who have subscribed to my newsletter, you know that I have had an ongoing feature to highlight accommodation options that are dog-friendly. Here’s my latest find:
The Benjamin Hotel in New York City caters to dogs of all sizes, whereas many dog-friendly hotels set size limits and only cater to the smaller breeds. So all of you large dog people – this hotel is for you!
The Dream Dog TM package includes a bathrobe for your dog, spa treatments, gourmet food, and even a visit from a pet psychic if you choose.
When booking in to stay with your dog, you get to choose the type of bed they will sleep on. For small dogs, there is a sofa bed with a removable cushion that doubles as a crate or travel mat. For medium-sized dogs, there is an orthopedic bed “designed to provide the ultimate in comfort and support – the ideal blend for a perfect night’s sleep.”
And for dogs of any size (small to large), there is the Luxury Bed which is an “ultra-plump, overstuffed round bed that completely surrounds Fido in down-like fiberfill. Deep and cushiony, with soft rhino suede and luxury gold braid, this bed will make your best friend feel safe and secure.”
The hotel also offers a dog walking service, clean up bags, a list of dog-friendly places to visit, and gourmet cakes and treats for special occasions.
It is great to see a hotel welcoming dogs of all sizes.
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand
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