khou.com | News for Houston, Texas

November 30, 2005

Neat article about the animal rescuers still in New Orleans

This is from the San Francisco Chronicle:

New Orleans -- It was 10:30 p.m. and in this part of town, as in so many others, electricity had not yet been restored. The only light in the abandoned neighborhood came from the headlights of a car and from the single thing that hadn't changed in this devastated landscape, the moon.
Here in the Ninth Ward, where old paper bags and empty cans blew down the middle of the street like tumbleweeds in the desert, it looked as though nuclear winter had set in. The streets were bleak and eerie, devoid of any sign of human habitation. In the distance: the sound of barking dogs.

Susan Kay -- a good friend of this reporter for more than two years -- had come from a comfortable home in Ross, shared with her son, Jeffrey, and their two dogs, in response to an emergency e-mail she had received from Jane Garrison, founder of AnimalRescueNewOrleans.com (ARNO). There was a crisis going on still, the e-mail said, but this one possessed none of the drama of a levee crashing down or looters in the streets, and those most affected weren't giving interviews. They were animals.

Read the rest of the article here.

November 30, 2005

Stowaway cat to return home

APPLETON, Wis. - A wandering cat that wound up traveling across the Atlantic Ocean to France as a stowaway in a cargo container is coming back home.

The cat, whose name is Emily, will leave France Thursday and arrive home Friday, said owner Lesley McElhiney. After hearing the wayward cat's tale, Continental Airlines offered to fly her home once she cleared quarantine.

"I think they are going to do a countdown in my kindergartner's classroom," McElhiney said.

Emily vanished from her Appleton home in late September. She apparently wandered into a paper company's distribution center near her home and crawled into a container of paper bales.

The container went by truck to Chicago and by ship to Belgium before the cat was found Oct. 24 at Raflatac, a laminating company in Nancy, France. Emily, who turned 1 year old that very day, was thin and thirsty but still alive.

Workers at Raflatac used her tags to phone her veterinarian in Wisconsin, and the vet called the McElhineys.

November 30, 2005

This Shar-Pei's going home!

She has a face with more wrinkles than most people I know. I also think it looks a bit like a football - then again, most Shar-Peis have football faces - but this Shar-Pei is special! Read on about China's rescue story - and her planned reunion.

Watch the video here

Thousands of people and their pets were caught in Hurricane Katrina’s rising waters, and some owners and their pets were separated.

One lucky Shar-Pei in Houston, however, is going to be reunited with her owners.

Debby Smith has been fostering China, a Shar-Pei, since local rescuers brought her to Houston after the hurricane.

The aging dog, 14 years old, had clearly been cared for.

It's not work, but a labor of love for Smith. She is part of a Shar-Pei rescue group.

"We knew someone had to be looking for her, loving her and grieving," Smith said.

A literal wall of water, destroyed her owners home, forcing them and their pets to evacuate.

Later Mario Frazzella and his wife were heartbroken, unable to find their pet.

"They said, 'No animals are allowed on the truck; you're going to have to leave all your animals here,'" Frazzella said.

Frazzella and his wife were heartbroken when they had been unable to find their pet.

They thought they had lost their beloved dog in addition to their house.

"We heard that there was shooting dogs down in St. Bernard," Frazzella said.

They had just started looking for a new dog when a New Orleans animal rescue volunteer contacted Smith.

A few phone calls and Internet clicks later, they spoke.

Monday night, the Frazzellas described their dog to a tee.

"The benign growths that she had, the scar on her face, everything about her," Smith said. "And as I'm hearing this, of course the tears are just coming cause I’m knowing it's her."

Moved by the story, Southwest airlines will make an exception to its no pet policy and fly China and Smith to New Orleans this week.

"Once I hold that dog in my arms, it’s gonna be heaven," Frazzella said.

November 29, 2005

Roscoe needs a home!

From the Zeke Fund - its "Dog of the Week"

These are pictures of Roscoe - he is a wonderful older boy. He is St. Bernard and was rescued from a yard where he had been held captive at the end of a chain for many years. One of our wonderful fosters finally talked the owners into letting our group have him to help give him a better life! He is a very good baby sitter, and has lots of patience for other dogs. He is also very protective of his family and his yard. He needs a permanent home, though - preferably one with another dog to keep him company or a puppy to care for. Contact the Zeke Fund at its website for information on how to adopt Roscoe.

November 29, 2005

Rita Aussie needs a home ASAP

Just got this in from Erescue Houston:

There is another Aussie mix at the Laporte pound that was turned in over the holiday. Apparently she has been wandering the neighborhood since hurricane Rita - obviously a displaced dog. The people that were feeding her finally turned her in. (We've been told) she is super, super sweet and very calm.....and young, about a year and a half old. They are in love with her already!!! Laporte is so full- she needs out ASAP.

If you are interested in her or can pull her for rescue, please call Laporte at 281-471-3811, press 1, then 739. Laporte is located about 20 miles southeast of Houston.

November 29, 2005

Angel Trees for pets - how you can donate!

This is from the Best Friends Pet Care of the Houston area:

Animal lovers who want to share the holiday spirit of giving are invited to donate food, toys and treats for dogs and cats at animal shelters this month through a special program organized by Best Friends Pet Care.
Best Friends Veterinary Hospital, at 26947 I-45 in Spring, Best Friends Pet Resort at 26839 I-45 South in Spring, and Best Friends Pet Hotel at 5602 Royalton in Houston, have set up Angel Trees with cards providing information about needy dogs and cats at the Humane Society of Montgomery County and Greyhound Pets of America.

"The holiday season can be a difficult time for animal shelters," explains Brandy Waggoner, manager of Best Friends in Houston. "Donations of food and funds decline at this time of year. What's more, few animals find homes during the holidays, so many shelters are at capacity and need donations more than ever."

Pet lovers can support the program by visiting any Best Friends and selecting a homeless animal from the Angel Tree. "Each shelter has specific needs at this time of year, so we've included items from their wish list on our Angel Tree cards," adds Leslie Wisdom of Best Friends in Spring. Best Friends stocks the gifts, treats and supplies on each shelter's wish list.

Donations will be accepted through the end of December. Only new items still in the package will be accepted. To donate by phone, call (281) 298-6500, or (713) 664-6111.

Best Friends Angel Tree Program is in its fifth year. For more information or directions, visit the Best Friends website at www.bestfriendspetcare.com.

November 29, 2005

Anyone heading to Colorado for the holidays?

We have a two Doberman rescues from Hurrican Rita who need to go to their foster home in the "Centennial state." Here's the information from Julia West-Boyd:

I am a Regional Coordinator for the Doberman Pinscher Club of America's Disaster Relief Team (DPCA DRT). This group, a 501c3 non-profit, was formed immediately after Hurricane Katrina to provide assistance to Doberman Pinschers and their families in time of need. We currently are assisting 144 Doberman victims of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma on 100% donated funds, food, and medical supplies. We have 82 dogs in foster homes that specialize in Dobermans in 12 states.

I currently have 8 Dobermans in a boarding facility in Northwest Houston, two of which have foster placements with the Colorado Doberman Rescue chaired by Chuck Valle. My current need is to have these two Dobermans named "Sis" and "Fancy" transported from Houston, TX to Englewood, CO. Sis and Fancy are Hurricane Rita survivors for Lake Charles, LA. Foster homes, which are at a premium in Houston, are still needed for the remaining 6 Dobermans.

I am looking for an individual with time to make the trip to Englewood, or a family that may be spending Christmas vacation in the beautiful Colorado snow. Both Dobermans are very sweet girls, approximately 3 years old, and will ship crated. They are also up-to-date on all vaccinations.

This journey will mark a new beginning for both girls. Most of their history is unknown except what shows up physically and in their behavior. One of the Dobermans was used strictly for breeding because of her special genetics (she's an Albino). The second girl has lived in a backyard for her entire life. They have loving foster homes waiting that will ensure the girls never have to live alone outside and certainly never bear another puppy for human profit.

Anyone who wishes to volunteer for this trip can email me at: julia@doberman911.org or relief@doberman911.org
Call: 281-914-1247 or 866-648-2643
Our website for additional information is: www.doberman911.org

November 29, 2005

Tai Shan gets ready for his debut

Click here to watch the video

Tai Shan, the National Zoo's giant panda cub, pranced about in his den and mugged for hordes of camera crews in this city that's a veritable fishbowl for celebrities. The panda cub makes its public debut next week. More than 100 reporters and camera crews from around the world got their first look at the fuzzy creature as they filed past his indoor enclosure in five different shifts, and the 4 1/2-month-old cub did not disappoint.

He chased his zoo keeper around, trying to nibble at the hems of her jeans. He pulled himself over the ledge of the habitat's rocky centerpiece. He tumbled onto his back, and he gummed at the bamboo stalks that will someday form his diet.

Cameras snapped wildly every time he did something especially cute.

"He's just a fantastic little bear," said Lisa Stevens, the zoo's assistant curator for pandas. "He's climbing all over his cage."

The news preview followed special viewing sessions for members of the zoo's support organization, Friends of the National Zoo, and other financial backers.

The cub gets his first visitors from the general public Dec. 8, when those who nabbed tickets during the zoo's online ticket giveaway are permitted in the panda house. Those 13,000 tickets were exhausted about two hours after they became available last week.

Zoo officials announced that people could only use the tickets that they can prove they reserved themselves after the tickets started showing up on eBay for hundreds of dollars apiece.

The visits aren't just planned to satisfy the public's demand to see the panda, officials said. They also give the cub a chance to get used to having people around.

Tai Shan (pronounced tie-SHON) means "peaceful mountain." The name, one of five proposed for the cub, received 44 percent of an estimated 200,000 votes cast on the zoo’s Web site.

Tai Shan now weighs 21 pounds, two pounds more than he did just one week ago. He won't be weaned off mother Mei Xiang's milk for another year or so.

Check out the National Zoo's panda page here.

November 29, 2005

Update from Noah's Wish in Slidell

Be sure to check out the latest updates and photos here.

November 29, 2005

Feral cats in Houston

What's the story on the feral cat population in Houston?

Click to watch video

Clyde Brown feeds the cluster of cats almost nightly and has had many of them spayed and neutered.

According to Harris County, 2,640 cats were trapped by residents in 2004. The SPCA said it had 15,000 calls about cats and of those, 1,500 were about feral cats.

When the sun sets, critters of all kinds start showing up, but mostly they are cats.

"[There are] a lot of cats around here. How many? There are 30 of 40," said city worker Pastor Jimenez.

They are waiting for a cat lover to start the feline feeding frenzy.

Clyde Brown cares for three wild, or feral, cat colonies along I-10. He comes most nights, and spends about $200 a month on food. He's been doing it for about five years.

Experts say Houston has a particular feral cat problem. They say because our weather is so warm, the cats think its spring or summer all year 'round, and they can can be in heat all year round.

In fact, according to Harris County, 2,640 cats were trapped by residents in 2004. The SPCA said it had 15,000 calls about cats and of those, 1,500 were about feral cats.

Literally next door to the cluster of cats is a veterinarian's office. They have trapped and fixed some of the animals.

"As soon as we get one done, there's four or five more that show up," said vet Dr. Sam Miller.

Dr. Miller says feeding the cats only makes things worse he's not alone.

"That's probably true. Yeah, I really wish that we wouldn't have ever done this," said Brown.

When Brown began, there was just one cat. To his credit, he has spayed and neutered many of the kittens.

"Probably 35 altogether," he said.

No matter what, it's a tough problem for Houston cats and the people who are concerned about them.

November 28, 2005

Help needed in Abbeville, Louisiana

This report was sent in to update me on the animal situation in Abbeville, Louisiana, about 20 miles south of Lafayette:

The destruction is total in many areas, and the land is contaminated with salt water and chemicals. They desperately need donations since they have seen nothing from the Humane Society of the US in either Vermilion or Cameron Parishes. Donations of cash or gift cards can be sent to Animal Aid which is a 501c3 organization. Their address is 1101 West POrt Street, Abbeville, LA 79510 ATT: Joelle Rupert. Also if you know of anyone else who would donate it would be wonderful. This parish's story can be found at http://vermillionanimalaid.blogspot.com. I am working with our church right now to get thec ongregation to adopt Vermillion Parish for the holidays, as the human need there is also great, and they have had no recent sign of Red Cross, FEMA. I'm encouraging everyone I know to approach their churches, civic and work groups to adopt either Vermillion or Cameron Parish for both animal aid and human aid. The human aid location for donations is CASH or Shoping CARDS - Harvest Time Tabernacle, 901 Wildcat Drive Abbeville, LA 70510 for Supply Donations United Methodist Church c/o Cheryl Choate 26411 Front Ridge Road, Kaplan, LA 70548. Everything is needed except for clothes which they had a supply of because they took in the Katrina refugees.

November 28, 2005

More penguins at Moody Gardens

Moody Gardens is giving thanks for its newest additions: two Gentoo penguin chicks. Their eggs were due to hatch Thanksgiving weekend. One waited until Sunday evening to make its big debut. The second of the two chicks arrived stylishly late on Monday morning.

This is the second successful Gentoo penguin breeding at Moody Gardens. The first pair hatched in early November. The adult Gentoo penguins have been on display at the aquarium for about a year. They joined King and Rockhopper penguins also on display. Now that they have adjusted to their environment - enough to lay eggs! - the staff have stepped back to let mom and dad rear the chicks. The parents of the first Gentoo chicks to hatch there have been parenting their offspring quite well.

"The parents obviously know what they’re doing," said Diane Olsen, assistant curator at the Moody Gardens Aquarium Pyramid. The staff is hopeful that the second penguin pair will follow in their footsteps. "It should be a busy time for us," Olsen said. "We also have four King penguin eggs on exhibit as well, so we might have lots of little babies coming up soon."

Penguin parents take equal care of their chicks and feed them a steady diet of regurgitated fish. Aquarium staff will remove the chicks regularly to check their weight. After a few weeks and once it is established that the penguin chicks are thriving, the weigh-ins will happen less often.

November 27, 2005

An open letter to my pets

This arrived in my email this morning. I thought it was a hoot.

An Open Letter to My Pets

Dear Dogs and Cats,

The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years --canine or feline attendance is not mandatory.

The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt. I cannot stress this enough!

To pacify you, my dear pets, I have posted the following message on our front door:
All Non-Pet Owners Who Visit & Like to Complain About Our Pets
1. They live here. You don't.
2. If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. (That's why they call it "fur"niture.)
3. I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
4. To you, it's an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly.

Remember: Dogs and cats are better than kids because they:
1. Eat less
2. Don't ask for money all the time
3. Are easier to train
4. Usually come when called
5. Never drive your car
6. Don't hang out with drug-using friends
7. Don't smoke or drink
8. Don't worry about having to buy the latest fashions
9. Don't wear your clothes
10. Don't need a gazillion dollars for college, and
11. If they get pregnant, you can sell their children

November 24, 2005

Thankful for volunteers at Best Friends in Tylertown

Here's a wonderfl account of the still thriving pet rescue center run by Best Friends in Tylertown, Mississippi. I was also forwarded this link from Best Friends for a petition, urging humane groups across the country to continue supporting pet rescue efforts in the hurricane-affected Gulf region.

November 23, 2005

Cat with a penthouse view..

Watch the video here

Firefighters near Miami, Florida, were called out to save a feline in a fix, but the rescue didn't quite turn out as planned.

Beatriz the cat had been squatting atop a power pole for the three days in a Miami area neighborhood.

Several concerned neighbors noticed the cat was spending a lot of time on its high perch, so they called for help.

The firefighters discussed the possibilities of rescuing the cat, but as they started up their ladders Beatriz decided to come down on her own.

November 22, 2005

Dog sweaters needed in Tylertown

Via email:

Tylertown SPCA dogs are cold: Please donate sweaters ________________________________
These animals are outside, and are so thin that they feel the cold even more so. A donation of 50 dog sweaters in size medium would be greatly appreciated. If you can help, please send to:

HSLA
115 Obed Magee Rd.
Tylertown, MS 39667

November 22, 2005

Are those Greenies Meanies?

This story has been brought up a few times over the years, and this time my boss (and some readers) sent me this link about the latest "Greenie" bone allegations: that big chunks of the Greenies can sometimes get lodged in a dog's digestive system, causing a potentially fatal blockage. Read (and watch the video link) to judge for yourself.

One tip: an employee at Urban Tails suggested freezing the Greenie bones. That way, the dogs won't be able to bite off huge chunks and wolf them down. You can also find more advice from the PetPlace veterinarians here.

November 22, 2005

Galveston police seek missing bloodhound

From the Galveston County Daily News:

LEAGUE CITY — If a person was reported missing, the Galveston Police Department had bloodhound Tracker Jack to pick up the trail.
However, Tracker Jack is missing.

Eric Cox, handler and human partner of the 5-year-old bloodhound, last saw Tracker on Saturday afternoon playing in the officer’s fenced yard.

Read the rest of the story here.

November 22, 2005

World's "Ugliest Dog" passes away in California

Sam, the holder of the "World's Ugliest Dog" title, died this past week. He was 15 years old. The Chinese Crested certainly wasn't pretty, with a face only his mother, Susie, could love, but he won the hearts of animal friends around the world.

You can read more about his final days and tributes at his blog. You can also check out some pictures here, and watch a CNN video of Sam shot a few months ago here.

November 21, 2005

Your pet as an early terrorism detection system?

That gentle Lab sleeping blissfully at your feet, those two tabbies grooming each other on the sofa: They could be unlikely recruits to the war on terrorism. Under a new surveillance system developed at Purdue University, pets may provide early warning of an impending epidemic of dangerous diseases such as SARS or avian flu — or even alert us to a bioterror threat.

That's the intent, at least, of the Purdue program, which uses the computerized database of a nationwide chain of veterinary hospitals to spot disease outbreaks. The rationale: Dogs and cats share a home environment with their owners and are exposed to the same germs. But the pets have a faster metabolism, so they will exhibit disease symptoms sooner than humans. This makes them excellent sentinels for certain so-called zoonotic illnesses — ones that can spread from animals to humans.

The Los Angeles Times has the rest of the article here.

November 21, 2005

Panda-monium on Washington, DC

He's just too cute and fans are lining up to see him. Tai Shan, the new panda cub at the National Zoo in Washington, DC, will be on public display on December 8th, and tickets are going through the roof. Here's that story. You can also see Tai Shan updates and panda cams here.

November 21, 2005

Austin and a proposed spay/neuter ordinance

The Animal Advisory Council of Austin has been pushing for passage of a spay/neuter pet ordinance, which basically says pet owners must have their pets sterilized, or pay for expensive licenses. The city council's been dancing around this issue since May, and it's pitted many spay/neuter advocates against purebred breeders. The Austin Chronicle has a comprehensive article on the issue here. You can also read EmanciPET's (EmanciPET is very similar to Houston's SNAP/Spay-Neuter Assistance Program) position here.

November 21, 2005

Noah's Wish leaves Slidell... and has some rumor control..

Noah's Wish, the disaster animal organization, is just now closing its temporary animal rescue facility in Slidell. The group has cared for nearly 2000 animals during its time after Katrina, and unfortunately has been the subject of some pretty nasty rumors about turning over the remaining animals for "instant euthanasia." You can read the Noah's Wish disaster update page here; be sure to scroll down for the November 20th update..

November 21, 2005

Vote for your favorite cover girl (or boy!)

Golden Beginnings of Houston is hosting a contest on its website, looking for a cover dog to grace its holiday newsletter. Want to help them pick out the cutest dog? Head to the Golden rescue's website to cast your vote. The "polls" are open until Wednesday, November 30th, at 10PM.

November 21, 2005

Cross-country cat

Video here

A green-eyed tabby named Austin may need to be renamed "Lucky" after this weekend. Austin is one lucky cat.

After being missing for five months, the feline turned up alive and well in Iowa, 15-hundred miles from his home in Phoenix. Not only that, but he was found when he jumped through the car window while a woman was making a drive-through bank deposit. That woman, it so happens, works at a cat hospital and Austin ended up there. It was then discovered that Austin has a microchip embedded in his skin, which led to Austin's owner in Phoenix, Megan Rowley.

The lucky streak doesn't end there. Austin once again got a break as one of the animal hospital workers already had planned to travel to Arizona for Thanksgiving. So, Austin was flown to Phoenix with her and will be reunited with Rowley Saturday.

Nobody has any idea how Austin made it all the way from Phoenix to Des Moines.

November 21, 2005

New video out of New Orleans of continuing animal rescues

Eric from Eric's blogspot has updated his blog with some videos of his trip to New Orleans and the continuing rescue progress there. Scroll down the page for the video links. Some of them, when clicked on, will take you straight to the video clips. Others you'll have to actually copy then paste into your web browsers.

November 18, 2005

Dachshund born with no eyes!

Watch the video here

OK. This is one of the strangest stories I've ever seen: a pure bred Miniature Dachshund in Detroit, Michigan was born without eyes. Veterinarians say this particular birth defect has about a one in a million chance of happening. Ben is 8 weeks old. His owner, who breeds Miniature Dachshunds, says other than that, he's a normal puppy and his able to get around by using his other senses.

November 18, 2005

Pet-friendly oxygen masks can be lifesavers

Trying on a
mask for size

Watch the video here

Area firefighters are carrying a new tool: Oxygen masks for pets.

"Animals need help, too. With this we can do it," says Chief John Webb with the South Montgomery County Volunteer Fire Dept.

Until now, firefighters have had to use human oxygen masks to resuscitate pets found in burning homes. But human masks don't fit very well so beloved pets haven't always survived. With the new custom masks, animals have a better chance.

If you're interested in helping your local fire department get a set, call Best Friends Pet Care at 281-298-6000 and ask for Helen or Kim.

November 17, 2005

More tough talk from Eric Rice in Louisiana..

Eric's Blogspot has been updated.. He is a one-man rescue effor tin New Orleans. Read his blog here..

November 17, 2005

50 Cats Rescued from Bulldozer

From Animal Rescue New Orleans:

Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO) and Alley Cat Allies (ACA) rescued 50 cats today from a trailer park in Kenner (near the New Orleans airport). FEMA plans to bulldoze the park in order to put up trailers for displaced Katrina victims. People, many of whom are disabled, are still living at the trailer park, and now face being displaced themselves. They have to be out by Saturday, November 19. The 50 cats rescued today were tame and able to be put in carriers. A total of approximately 100 animals including dogs, bunnies and many more cats are still in need of rescue there. Please contact FEMA at FEMAOPA@dhs.gov, (202) 566-1600, and Governor Blanco's office at (866) 366-1121, Fax: (225) 342-7099, and insist that they rescue and provide care for the people and animals currently living at this trailer park. Alley Cat Allies needs cat caregivers at the base camp in Bogalusa. Please email Bonney Brown if you can help at bbrown@alleycat.org.

November 17, 2005

Plea for help for big cats

This came in from a reader:

Can you put this link on your blog? It is a story about a gutless, heartless "hunter" (and I use the term losely) who killed a momma cougar and took her babies as trophies, but when they became too much of a hassle, he tossed them away :( Big Cat Rescue needs signatures on their petition and the voices of those babies to be heard.

Here's the link

November 16, 2005

Dogs lower anxiety among heart patients in study

DALLAS (AP) -- Charles Denson's face brightens as a speckled Australian shepherd named Bart cuddles next to him while he rests in his hospital bed.

"You've got a pretty coat," the 51-year-old heart patient says while stroking Bart's soft fur.

New research indicates that hospitals that use such pet therapy sessions aren't barking up the wrong tree.

The novel study, presented Tuesday at an American Heart Association meeting, is one of the first to use scientific measurements to document that therapeutic dogs lower anxiety, stress and heart and lung pressure among heart failure patients.

"You can see it on their face, first you see a smile and then you see the worries of the world roll off their shoulders," said Kathie Cole, a nurse at the University of California Los Angeles Medical Center who led the study.

Leslie Kern, director of cardiac research for the heart institute at Memorial Medical Center in Long Beach, Calif., said such visits help make patients' lives more normal.

"I'm not surprised at all that something that makes people feel good also makes them feel less anxious, has measurable physiological effects," said Dr. Marc Gillinov, a cardiac surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic who was not involved in the study.

Cole and her colleagues studied 76 heart failure patients -- average age 57 -- who got either a visit from a volunteer, a volunteer plus a dog, or no visit.

The scientists meticulously measured patients' physiological
responses before, during and after the visits.

Anxiety as measured by a standard rating scale dropped 24 percent for those visited by the dog and volunteer team, but only by 10 percent for those visited by just a volunteer. The scores for the group with no visit remained the same.

Levels of epinephrine, a hormone the body makes when under stress, dropped about 17 percent in patients visited by a person and a dog, and 2 percent in those visited just by a person. But levels rose about 7 percent in the group that didn't get visitors.

Heart pressure dropped 10 percent after the visit by the volunteer and dog. It increased 3 percent for those visited by a volunteer and 5 percent for those who got no visit. Lung pressure declined 5 percent for those visited by a dog and a volunteer. It rose in the other two groups.

Gillinov said the study was especially impressive because of the
hard data it provided.

"It helps to legitimize that the intervention is more than something nice and something extra to do for the patient, that it has physiologic benefit," said Janet Parkosewich, a cardiac nurse at Yale New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Conn., who attended the study presentation at the American Heart Association meeting Tuesday.

Cole said she hopes the study, funded by the Pet Care Trust Foundation, a nonprofit that promotes the value of animals in society, helps show that pet therapy is a credible addition to patient care, not just a nicety.

In Dallas, Linda Marler's animal assisted therapy program for the Baylor Healthcare System has grown from one dog in 1985 to 84 dogs today.

"It makes the hospital seem less like a hospital and it lowers
people's blood pressure," said Marler, who also works for the Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation.

The dogs used in the study -- which ranged from a poodle to a golden retriever to a miniature schnauzer -- were carefully screened at UCLA and had to pass a behavior test and checkup by a veterinarian, Cole said. Patients were also asked if they liked dogs and wanted to be part of the study.

Dr. George Dennish, a cardiologist at Scripps Memorial Hospital
in La Jolla, Calif., where dogs are occasionally used, said patients feel calmer and more satisfied. But he said more long-term studies with more people need to be done.

For bypass patient Danny Smith, being visited by a furry friend was a highlight of his stay at Scripps Memorial.

"It was very relieving because all they want to do was give you
love," said Smith, 57, of Oceanside, Calif.

Back at Baylor University Medical Center, Bart, the Australian
shepherd, left Denson and padded into another heart patient's room.
The predictable smile emerged as 68-year-old John Coleman began
reminiscing: "Last dog I had was a Dachshund."

November 16, 2005

Saving Animals Across Borders partners with BARC

From the Saving Animals Across Borders website:

Saving Animals is excited to announce a new endeavor to end the tragic destruction of healthy, adoptable animals at the City of Houston’s Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care (BARC) and to greatly improve Houston’s dog and cat overpopulation crisis. Until now, BARC has been the last stop on a miserable journey for many of Houston’s homeless animals. Currently, as many as 90% of the animals admitted to BARC are destroyed—a heart wrenching statistic indeed. Saving Animals has developed new dog and cat sterilization and adoption programs to increase the placement of animals from BARC into permanent, loving homes. Additionally, we will provide dog and cat sterilization and wellness services for animals belonging to the public, greatly diminishing the number of homeless animals on the streets of Houston overall.

You can read the rest of the story here. Saving Animals is also hosting an online auction to raise funds for the clinic. Check out what's up for bid on eBay here.

November 16, 2005

Rejected baby whale showing progress at Sea World

A Sea World killer whale whose mother rejected her at birth may be just fine without mom after all.

Instead of her mother, the five-week-old killer whale known as K-Calf has been fed by nearly 50 specialists and appears to be moving closer to independence, her trainers said Wednesday.

"We’re happy with the progress," said Dudley Wigdahl, Sea World’s vice president of zoological operations. "Physically she looks healthy. Certainly the staff has taken this matter close to heart."

It’s taken a lot of work, too.

K-Calf has been nursed 12 times daily since her Oct. 9 birth at Shamu Stadium, fed through a tube inserted in her mouth that contains formula and her mother’s pumped milk. She has gained about 100 pounds and now checks in at 7 feet long and 366 pounds.

Daily weighing and weekly blood samples are taken to monitor the calf’s health, especially her immune system. Trainers are watching closely for infection, the biggest hurdle toward her development, Wigdahl said.

To help provide a nurturing environment, trainers have a female bottlenose dolphin swimming in the calf’s pool where sounds of other killer whales are broadcast. Because she is teething, trainers are preparing to feed her fish soon.

The goal is to reintroduce her in a few months to Shamu Stadium and take part—along with the park’s seven other killer whales— in entertainment and educational events. Later she could also be part of the breeding colony.

Of the 20 whales born in the Sea World system, this is the only one abandoned by her mother. Until now, such specialized rearing has involved baby dolphins, manatees, sea lions and walruses.

Watch the video HERE.

November 16, 2005

Update on AnimalRescueNewOrleans...

They're still asking for help trapping animals to take to Mississippi and the Best Friends shelter. Here is the latest update.

November 16, 2005

It's almost a happy ending for some hard luck dogs!

From this..

To this!!

I am so happy to bring you this update. About six weeks ago, I posted this story about two dogs who'd been found, in terrible condition, off White Oak Bayou by a Heights-area animal friend. Jess Santillian has rescued several animals and needed some help nursing these particular dogs back to health. He did, and and sent us this update.

They have come a long way in a very short time with lots love and hard work. They both have been spayed and neutered with shots, and now I'm house training them. Both have wonderful behavior and are ready for adoption. Please let me know if anyone is interested. They both are very health and happy compared to two months ago. Thanks!

You can get in touch with Jess at Texasjes@aol.com

November 16, 2005

Help a channel 11 photographer, please!

I'm throwing this one out to all of you for some guidance. I have already emailed the folks with Rat Terrier Rescue, but we need some help ASAP. Here's the deal:

Ted Maynard, a true animal friend and one of our photographers here at Channel 11, has taken over care of a little rat terrier from his parents who can't look after her anymore. "Bonnie Sue" is is 9 ½-10 years old and blind, but otherwise healthy and current on vaccinations. The problem is, she needs stability, and ted's crazy televsion hours don't allow him to give her the care she deserves. He doesn't have a yard for her to play in, or time to give her regularly scheduled exercise.

As I said, I have reached out to Rat Terrier Rescue. Is there anyone else out there that can help Ted? You can email me at lforonda@khou.com or Ted at tmaynard11@aol.com.

November 14, 2005

Do you think we're over-vaccinating our pets?

Someone forwarded this to me: it's about the pet owner-funded Rabies Challenge Fund. It's being spearheaded by pet owners who have serious questions about the laws that require routine rabies vaccinations for dogs and cats. Here's the law in Harris County, pulled straight from Harris County Animal Control's website:

(An animal that is over three months old must be licensed, and currently vaccinated against rabies. This is defined as) an animal that has either (1) been vaccinated for rabies within the last 12 months; or, (2) received 2 rabies vaccinations within 12 months of each other and the latter of these 2 rabies vaccinations having been with a 3-year vaccine.

But, should dogs be vaccinated so much? A vocal group of opponents thinks so many shots is endangering our dogs. You can read about their push to fund a new study about adverse rabies vaccination effects here. You can also get their view on the controversy about pets and rabies vaccinations here.

November 14, 2005

HSUS extends date to reunite lost Katrina pets with families

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) announced today that it will continue to accept new requests for reunion assistance to its help line for families separated from their pets due to Hurricane Katrina until November 23. To aid in the reunions of as many pets and families as possible, The HSUS will continue working until December 16 on any cases received by November 23. To date, our call center has facilitated nearly 600 reunions.

Families looking for their rescued animals may call The HSUS reunion help line at 1-800-HUMANE-1 until November 23. Families should also visit www.petfinder.com and www.petharbor.com on a regular basis. These websites are updated frequently with information on rescued pets and their whereabouts.

In response to Hurricane Katrina, The HSUS rescued and set up temporary shelter for thousands of displaced animals in Gonzales, La. and Hattiesburg, Miss. Once a population limit was reached or the temporary shelters closed, rescued animals were sent to humane societies and shelters across the country for longer term care. The state of Louisiana asked animals to be held until October 15, but the HSUS and other animal protection organizations asked all animal shelters, breed rescue groups and others sheltering animal victims from Louisiana or Mississippi to voluntarily extend the hold period of rescued animals until December 15, allowing more time for reunification.

Some 7,400 companion animals were rescued from the Gulf region and brought to the temporary holding facilities in Gonzales, La. and Hattiesburg, Miss. Though these facilities have since closed, the HSUS continues to provide extensive help to the Louisiana SPCA and other local groups still conducting rescue, relief and sheltering operations on the ground in Louisiana. To date, over 1,200 animals have been reunited with their families.

In September, The HSUS and ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) launched a multi-million dollar reconstruction fund to rebuild animal welfare organizations damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

November 14, 2005

Update on Mig the dog

Remember this little boy? I blogged about him last week. He had a very painful back condition that required some expensive treatment. With the help of some generous donors, Mig had his surgery and he is doing well!

ADDED 11/16: Thank you as well to Dr. Carley Abramson and the staff at Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists..

November 13, 2005

Flying Free Equitherapy

I just received a nice email from Donna Lindsley, the Director of Education for Flying Free Equitherapy. You've likely heard of therapeutic riding, in which horses are used to help the disabled build self confidence, skills, balance, and coordination while riding and caring for the horses. According to its website, Flying Free is the only North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) operating center in Galveston County. It's located in Santa Fe, and after three years of operation, it's holding its first official public fundraiser: a sunset cruise on the Spirit of Texas Paddlewheeler out of Kemah. You can find more details about the cruise here.

November 13, 2005

Louisiana says NO VETS can come in to help...

and this has animal rescue groups still working in the area up in arms:

"Louisiana has announced that the Hurricane Katrinar escue phase is over. Out-of-state veterinarians are banned from volunteering their services on behalf of the animals of greater New Orleans. Rescuers have been threatened with arrest if they attempt to give food and water to animals in Orleans Parish. Outside rescue groups are told they should turn all operations over to local authorities and leave the state."

Alley Cat Allies and AnimalrescueNewOrleans.com are pleading for help to resolve this issue.

November 13, 2005

Update from Best Friends

This entry is dated November 11th.. Sorry I didn't get it up sooner! The updates: more than 375 dogs and cats at their hurricane rescue center, conflicting reports on the numbers of animals left behind, and the controversy over Louisiana no longer allowing out of state vets to come in to volunteer to help.

November 11, 2005

Katrina donations pour in to animal charities

From the Houston Chronicle's Cynthia Garza:

The images left an indelible mark on the American conscience: man's best friend wandering the abandoned streets of New Orleans or stranded atop the city's flooded houses.

But the plight of pets in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina did more than just soften the hearts of the nation's animal lovers — it opened their wallets.

You can read the rest of the story here.

November 11, 2005

Send us your pet pictures!

We get some of the cutest pictures sent in by KHOU Channel 11 viewers:

Not Everything in Texas Is Big!
Murphy, owned by Nancy Gonzales of Spring, Texas

Not the Brush AGAIN!
Vinny (10 weeks) doesn't FEEL like primping for photos today

You can see more of Houston's pets here, or send in your pet pictures by clicking here!

November 11, 2005

Lose a leg.. save a life?

Malcom will likely become what I like to call a "tripod dog." This little boy has a nasty form of cancer - a synovial sarcoma tumor behind his knee. Malcom's foster mom (who admits she will most likely become his permanent mom!) tells us her vet says amputating that leg will give him a 50/50 chance of survival, and without it, he'll die.

Malcom was rescued by Cocker Kids and the good folks there are hoping so round up $700 for his surgery. If you're interested in helping, email Alyson Clark at AClark@HeardMedackpc.com.

November 11, 2005

"Free to a good home" in an ad? I'm told it's a BAD IDEA

I don't usually post "these animals need a home" requests, but I made an exception last night, and posted this entry as a favor to a friend. Someone who is taking care of some dumped puppies up in Northeast Texas is offering them "free to a good home."

That sent up some red flags with another reader, who says those five words could lead to problems. She - and other rescue sites - says FREE PETS are often considered DISPOSABLE PETS. This website and this one both argue AGAINST the "free to a good home" advertisement.

November 11, 2005

The "Cat of the Year" was a dog.... Remembering Ginny

This will probably be the first time a dog's memorial service is attended by 300 cats.

A schnauzer-Siberian husky mix named Ginny will be eulogized Nov. 19 at the Westchester Cat Show, where she was named Cat of the Year in 1998 for her uncanny skill and bravery in finding and rescuing endangered felines. She died in August at age 17.

Ginny once threw herself against a vertical pipe at a construction site to topple it and reveal the kittens trapped inside. Another time she ignored the cuts on her paws as she dug through a box of broken glass to find an injured cat inside.

Her owner, Philip Gonzalez of Long Beach, said Thursday that he has tried to train other dogs to rescue cats like Ginny, but "They just didn't have it."

"I didn't train her," he said. "Ginny was just magical in a way. I adopted her from a shelter, and they said she's never been with cats before. But she just had this knack of knowing when a cat was in trouble."

As he used to do with Ginny, Gonzalez still goes out every night to feed stray cats in the area. The cats seem to miss Ginny too, he said.

"They want nothing to do with my other dogs," he said. "They used to come up to Ginny and rub against her, even if I was putting food out."

November 10, 2005

Reports from the front lines in Tylertown

We may all be forgetting, but the volunteers working with the Katrina animals can't. Here's another story from the front lines, of a man who vows to stay until the bitter end..

November 10, 2005

Puppies who need a home

Somebody has dumped off 6 little puppies that look about 8 wks old out
by our house, and you know me - I took them in....... We really need to find them a home and we believe they are golden retrievers.

So if you know anybody that would like one for free (hopefully someone
you know who will love them and take good care of them) please give them my number..903-464-0971.

If we can't find them a home soon I will have to call the shelter and that would just break my heart... They are very good little dogs and they all are light tan with some white on them. Thank you. Kim 903-464-0971

November 9, 2005

Truckers helping truckers.. and pets..

Looks like America's long haulers are also hauling some pretty precious cargo. Check out Operation Roger: it's a message board for commercial truck drivers and animal friends to coordinate hurricane pet transportation across the country.

November 9, 2005

Eric's Dog Blog

Another blogsite from Ground Zero in New Orleans: Eric's Dog Blog holds nothing back..

November 9, 2005

The Vampire Dog Lestat

Here's a website forwarded on to me with more tales (tails?) from Katrina. This page details the story of Lestat the dog..

November 9, 2005

Here comes the panda bride....

Officials at a Thai zoo held a wedding party for two of their most celebrated attractions on Wednesday - the county's only resident pair of giant pandas.

As Chuang Chuang and his female partner, Lin Hui, have become adults and can begin to mate, Thai officials decided it was time for the couple to make it official.

Thais, dressed in panda and other animal costumes, marched and played music in a traditional Thai wedding procession to northern Thailand's Chiang Mai Zoo, where the pandas live.

Guests witnessed a Chinese tea ceremony and a feast of cake - a four-layer ice sculpture filled with fruits that pandas typically eat.

The pandas' living quarters were decorated with a large, festive red ribbon and a carved dragon decoration.

Thailand rented Chuang Chuang and Lin Hui from China for 250,000 US dollars in October 2003 for 10 years.

November 9, 2005

Want some Wasabe with that?

A golden retriever pup born to an Alhambra, California dog breeder is mystifying everyone that sees him. There's nothing wrong with the little guy, he's just green.

The little green fella was one of four puppies born five-days ago. The dog's owner says he's mystified about the color.

Veterinarians say it's possible for a newborn pup's fur to be green because the placenta rubs off at birth. However, that stuff is dark green. Some skeptics are saying it could be a dye job.

The owner already has a name picked out for his pup: Wasabi, the name of that spicy green paste you put on sushi.

November 8, 2005

Heartworm help for Katrina evaucees

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), Humane Society, ASPCA and the Humane Society of Greater Miami are teaming up to help offset the costs to treat heartworm positive hurricane pets. The AAHA says up to 80 percent of the rescued animals in shelters are heartworm positive, and its Helping Pets Fund is offering up to $500 per heartworm treatment. Treatment is available to the shelters on this list, which includes several from the Houston area.

November 8, 2005

New Orleans UPDATE

New Orleans animal rescuers are still looking for help. You'll find the latest update from http://www.AnimalRescueNewOrleans.com here.

November 7, 2005

A pain in the back could use your help!

He's a cutie, isn't he? His name's Mig, and this little Shih Tzu has some serious back problems. A long time reader emailed to let me know about his plight, and asked me to post the information. Mig has problems with the discs in his spinal column. One is pinching his spinal cord and he's in a lot of pain. You can read Mig's story here.

November 7, 2005

Goofy dogs

November 6, 2005

Ever heard of ROLDA? Why you should...

Even though the stray and abandoned animal situation in the United States leaves a lot to be desired, it is a lot worse in other countries: a lot worse. In Galati, Romania, about 120 miles northeast of the capital, Bucharest, stray dogs are rounded up and allowed to starve to death.

Enter ROLDA, a group of animal friends in Galati, working hard to change perceptions and laws of how dogs are treated there. ROLDA is fighting an uphill battle and is reaching out for international help. It's already working with Romania Animal Rescue out of California, founded by an American (Nancy Janes - read her story here) who visited Romania and was moved to do something about what she saw. Nancy's also been heralded for the international connection she's made between the her group and ROLDA.

I know we're all experiencing charity fatigue. But, I hope you keep ROLDA in your thoughts for when you're ready to help out again. Those Romanian dogs could certainly use it.

November 4, 2005

Update on Renee and her dogs..

Renee Borne was a Katrina evacuee who literally packed up her mini "zoo" of animals to bring them to safety in advance of the storm. Good Samaritans in Houston helped her set up a temporary home off 290 near the Loop. You can read the post about her "camp" here.

November 4, 2005

Zeke Fund needs foster homes.. PRONTO

A special group in town needs your help – actually, the animals in their care do. Check out this cocument from the Zeke Fund. These dogs need to be fostered - or better yet - permanent homes.

Here's the situation: At the Zeke Fund’s last visit to the vet, they found that they have approximately 23 animals there plus several kittens. Unfortunately, they were also informed that they MUST get their numbers there down dramatically, so the vet can prepare for its regular holiday boarders. The Zeke Fund’s animals pretty much take up 90% of the vet’s space. The Zeke Fund has to find fosters or permanent homes NOW. In the past couple of months, the Zeke Fund has paid over $8,000 toward boarding fees!

November 3, 2005