Meanwhile, federal testing of recalled pet foods turned up a chemical used to make plastics but failed to confirm the presence of a cancer drug also used as rat poison. The recall expanded Friday to include the first dry pet food.
The Food and Drug Administration said Friday it found melamine in samples of the Menu Foods pet food involved in the original recall and in imported wheat gluten used as an ingredient in the company's wet-style products. Cornell University scientists also found melamine in the urine of sick cats, as well as in the kidney of one cat that died after eating some of the recalled food.
FDA was working to rule out the possibility that the contaminated wheat gluten could have made it into any human food. However, melamine is toxic only in high doses, experts said, leaving its role in the pet deaths unclear.

Click here for more details.

Source: Associated Press

Debbie Parkhurst's 2-year old Golden Retriever Toby earned a few extra belly rubs last Friday when he saved her from choking on a piece of apple in her Maryland home.

According to Debbie, when she started choking on the apple, she tried to give herself the heimlich manuever. When that wasn't working, she began to beat on her own chest.

Toby, who Debbie and her husband rescued from a garbage can two years ago, saw the commotion, knocked Debbie over and began to jump up and down on her chest. So much, in fact, that Debbie said she was left with "paw-print shaped bruises on my chest."

Debbie is doing fine and is happy that her four-legged friend was there to help. Toby is just enjoying all of the attention.

See a picture of Debbie and Toby and read more about their story here.

I called Dr. Christie Cornelius at The Cat Veterinary Clinic to ask her some questions about the recall. She said they have been receiving quite a few calls, mostly just asking questions and getting her opinion on what is happening.

This is what Dr. Cornelius recommends: If you're cat was on any of the recalled food, schedule an appointment for bloodwork and a urinalysis. If they can catch some of the effects early on, the treatment process will be much better!

In addition to the symptoms that I've told you about in previous blogs (increased urination, lethargic behavior, loss of appetite), Dr. Cornelius says to also watch for urination outside of their cat box, vocalization, and any basic signs of illness.

Since the recall seems to be confined to "chunks and gravy" diets, what should you feed your cat who eats wet meals? The Cat Vet Clinic carries a line of cat foods called "Wellness" that is all-natural, has no by-products, and is human grade. They also offer other food options, none of which are on the recalled list.

If your cat is showing signs or symptoms of kidney problems, Dr. Cornelius recommends one of their kidney diets to help treat these problems.

Remember, the sooner the better when it comes to catching any problems from these foods. You can contact Dr. Cornelius at The Cat Vet Clinic at 713-523-5171 or visit their website at http://www.catvetclinic.com

Also, continue to be very careful about what you feed your animals! I have seen numerous small convenience stores that still have affected food on their shelves. When I mentioned the recall at one store, the owner hadn't even heard about it. Spread the word that just because it's on the shelves doesn't mean it is safe for your pets!

Click here for answers to your: frequently asked questions

Recalled cat foods and recalled dog foods.

The toxin was identified as aminopterin, which is used to kill rats in some countries, state Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker said.
Aminopterin is not registered for killing rodents in the United States, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, though it is used as a cancer drug. State officials wouldn’t speculate on how the toxin got into Menu Foods’ now-recalled pet food but said no criminal investigations had been launched.
Scientists at the New York State Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell and at the New York State Food Laboratory tested three cat food samples provided by Menu Foods and found Aminopterin in two of them. Hooker said they would be testing individual components of the pet food, as well.
“Any amount of this product is too much in food,” he said.
Aminopterin, also used as a cancer drug, is highly toxic in high
doses. It inhibits the growth of malignant cells and suppresses the immune system. In dogs and cats, it can cause kidney failure, according to Donald Smith, dean of Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
The Food and Drug Administration has said the investigation in the pet deaths was focusing on wheat gluten in the pet food. Wheat gluten itself would not cause kidney failure, but the common ingredient could have been contaminated, the FDA said.
The pet deaths led to a recall of 60 million cans and pouches of pet food produced by Menu Foods and sold throughout North America under 95 brand names. There have been several reports of kidney failure in pets that ate the recalled brands, and the company has confirmed the deaths of 15 cats and one dog.
Menu Foods last week recalled “cuts and gravy” style dog and cat food. The recall sparked concern among pet owners across North America. It includes food sold under store brands carried by Wal-Mart, Kroger, Safeway and other large retailers, as well as private labels such as Iams, Nutro and Eukanuba.
The company’s chief executive and president said Menu Foods delayed announcing the recall until it could confirm that the animals had eaten its product before dying. Two earlier complaints from consumers whose cats had died involved animals that lived outside or had access to a garage, which left open the possibility they had been poisoned by something other than contaminated food, he said.
Menu Foods planned a media teleconference for later Friday, a spokesman said. The company is majority owned by Menu Foods Income Fund of Streetsville. The company also makes foods for zoo cats, but those products are unaffected by the recall.
A spokesman for New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said he was not aware of any criminal investigation involving the tainted food. FBI spokesman Paul Holstein in Albany said Friday he was not aware of any FBI involvement in the case.
“I don’t know where we’ll go from here,” he said.
A complete list of the recalled products along with product
codes, descriptions and production dates was posted online by Menu Foods and is available at http://tinyurl.com/2pn6mm. The company also designated two phone numbers that pet owners could call for information: (866) 463-6738 and (866) 895-2708.
New York State is home to two laboratories that are part of federal emergency lab networks, created after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to keep the nation’s animals and food supply safe.
The New York State Food Laboratory is part of the Federal Food
Emergency Response Network and is capable of running a number of
toxin tests on food, including the test that identified aminopterin.

Source: Associated Press

First of all, go to http://www.menufoods.com/recall to see if your pet's food is listed. The manufacturer's site offers a detailed list of both dog and cat foods affected.

Second, watch to see if your animal is experiencing any symptoms including excessive thirst, vomiting, lethargic behavior, and/or loss of appetite. Call your vet if you see any of these signs.

Obviously, if you have any of the recalled foods in your house, do not feed it to your pets! But you might want to hang on the it for the time being. The manufacturer may be offering a refund for affected foods. We'll let you know if we hear anything more about this.

The love that we have for our animals makes this recall all the more frightening. As members of our families, we strive to give our pets the best that we can. We will keep you updated on any new information that we may get.

A major pet food recall affects both dog and cat food across North America.
"The vet told us to buy her her favorite food, but I’m going to call the vet right now," Grzybowski said.

Menu Foods, the Ontario, Canada-based company that produced the pet food, said Saturday it was recalling dog food sold throughout North America under 48 brands and cat food sold under 40 brands including Iams, Nutro and Eukanuba. The food was distributed by major retailers such as Wal-Mart, Kroger and Safeway.

An unknown number of cats and dogs had suffered kidney failure and about 10 died after eating the affected pet food, the company said.

Two other companies -- Nestle Purina PetCare Co. and Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc. -- said Saturday that as a precaution they were voluntarily recalling some products made by Menu Foods.

For more details and a complete list of recalled products: Click here.

The Houston SPCA is now offering Behavior Short Courses. These one hour sessions help pet owners combat those lingering issues you may be facing. The upcoming classes are focused on dogs, but they've had classes for cats in the past and are sure to have more.

The next class is "Leash Manners for your Dog" on March 24th. If your dog can heal like a champ, then you may want to check out "Teaching Your Dog to Come" on April 7th or "FETCH!" on April 14th.

Go to www.spcahouston.org for all the details. Each class is only $10 and will be taught by one of the SPCA's Behavior Consultants.

Sign up today and let us know how it goes!

An unknown number of cats and dogs suffered kidney failure and about 10 died after eating the affected pet food, Menu Foods said in announcing the North American recall. Product testing has not revealed a link explaining the reported cases of illness and death, the company said.
“At this juncture, we’re not 100 percent sure what’s happened,” said Paul Henderson, the company’s president and chief executive officer. However, the recalled products were made using wheat gluten purchased from a new supplier, since dropped for another source, spokeswoman Sarah Tuite said. Wheat gluten is a source of protein.
The recall covers the company’s “cuts and gravy” style food, which consists of chunks of meat in gravy, sold in cans and small foil pouches between Dec. 3 and March 6 throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
The pet food was sold by stores operated by the Kroger Company, Safeway Inc., Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and PetSmart Inc., among others, Henderson said.
Menu Foods did not immediately provide a full list of brand names and lot numbers covered by the recall, saying they would be posted on its Web site early Saturday. Consumers with questions can call (866) 463-6738.
The company said it manufacturers for 17 of the top 20 North American retailers. It is also a contract manufacturer for the top branded pet food companies. Its three U.S. and one Canadian factory produce more than 1 billion containers of wet pet food a year. The recall covers pet food made at company plants in Emporia, Kan., and Pennsauken, N.J., Henderson said.
Henderson said the company received an undisclosed number of owner complaints of vomiting and kidney failure in dogs and cats after they had been fed its products. It has tested its products but not found a cause for the sickness.
“To date, the tests have not indicated any problems with the product,” Henderson said.
The company alerted the Food and Drug Administration, which already has inspectors in one of the two plants, Henderson said. The FDA was working to nail down brand names covered by the recall, agency spokesman Mike Herndon said.
Menu Foods is majority owned by the Menu Foods Income Fund, based in Ontario, Canada.
Henderson said the recall would cost the company the Canadian equivalent of $26 million to $34 million.

Click here for more information

Source: Associated Press

Not wanting our seniors to feel the need to make this choice, we began our newest program aniMeals on Wheels.

aniMeals on Wheels is a free service provided by Meals on Wheels for Greater Houston. Its goal is simple - to provide donated pet food for the cats and dogs of hundreds of homebound seniors who cannot get out to buy food for their pet companions.

This enables seniors to keep their companion animals and saves their pets from an uncertain fate.

Twenty volunteers came out last month to deliver pet food for the first time.

Because of their efforts, over 100 seniors received food for their pet companions which totaled 116 dogs and 57 cats. We expect these numbers to grow over the next year as we identify all of the seniors in Meals on Wheels for Greater Houston who need this service.

This new service is entirely volunteer driven. We are looking for 2 or 3 energetic individuals who love seniors and have a passion for animals to be coordinators for aniMeals on Wheels.

As we develop this service, we are exploring a partnership with our local SPCA which will mean sustained supplies of pet food, as well as access to other much needed pet services such as spay/neuter and veterinary care.

To learn more how you can help, please email Tiffany Harris, IM’s Volunteer and Events Coordinator, at: tharris@imgh.org.

I am inspired by aniMeals - because it’s just one more example of IM’s commitment -not only to seeing that seniors remain independent- but also to improving the quality of their lives. Pets play a critical role in giving our clients hope and love. Many thanks to our initial core of volunteers and to IM’s wonderful staff who make a real difference every day.

Click here for more information

"These cats have had a horrible life, and they deserve a chance to live in a good home," said Kim Schoolcraft, Galveston County's animal services manager.

The cats, along with more than 80 dogs and 10 Australian marsupials called sugar gliders, were seized on Valentine's Day after animal-control officers investigating an anonymous tip said they found animals in deplorable conditions.

"Puppy mill" is a derisive term to describe a high-volume dog-breeding facility in which the animals are often confined in small cages and bred constantly until they can no longer do so. At that point, the adult animals are often killed, left to die or given to animal-rescue groups.

Schoolcraft said none of the animals were in danger of being euthanized, as she considered all of them to be adoptable.

"Two of the cats are a little hissy," she said. "One, in particular, will need someone with a lot of patience, but I'm not giving up on them."

One of the seized dogs also remained at the shelter, a Brussels Griffon that was suffering from a variety of ailments. Schoolcraft said the dog was recovering, however.

"She's eating, drinking and hoping for a new home," she said.

Another ended up back at the shelter. Schoolcraft said one adopter returned a dog, an adult with heartworms. Schoolcraft said she hoped to find a permanent home for that dog once it recovered.

The shelter also has new arrivals from the same spot as the original seizure. Last week, animal-control officers seized another five puppies from the Algoa property. One has since died of Parvo, a viral illness, officials said.

Schoolcraft said the other four pups were not yet up for adoption, as all four were receiving treatment for Parvo.

How To Help:
To make a donation or learn about adopting an animal, visit the Galveston County Animal Shelter, at 3412 North Loop 197 in Texas City.

Veterinarians at the Katy Freeway Animal Emergency Hospital are looking for the owners of a lucky cat.
Good Samaritans brought the cat into the hospital on March 9 after she survived a fall from a 5th story parking garage at 3505 Sage at Richmond.
Since then, she has been abandoned at the clinic.
She suffered fractured rear feet and an abrasion on her face, but is otherwise in good health.
She is a gray domestic short hair with green eyes and was brought in wearing a pink collar with no tags.
The staff at the hospital are trying to find her original owners in hopes of returning her.
If you recognize this kitty or would like to help, please contact Rhonda Dixon, DVM at 713-932-9589.

The Humane Society of the United States will ask the Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday to fine high-end retailers and designers of clothing that contains mislabeled fur from dogs, wolves and raccoon dogs. The group also would like inventories seized and perhaps charges filed.
“Consumers have a right to know what they are purchasing,” said Michael Markarian, the executive vice president of the Humane Society. “If they are truly getting a type of dog fur, they should be outraged.”

Read Brad Woodard's 11 News report on fur scandal

The documents filed with the FTC name designers Andrew Marc and Michael Kors, among others. Many major department stores, including Barneys New York, Macy’s, Dillard’s, J.C. Penney, and Neiman Marcus also were cited.
The petition stems from a Humane Society investigation that turned up products that were made with fur from dogs, wolves or raccoon dogs, a species found mainly in Asia, that were sold as either fake fur or other types of fur in violation of the Federal Fur Products Labeling Act.
Raccoon dogs look like oversize, fluffy raccoons and aren’t kept as pets. Importing their fur is not illegal, but activists argue they are still a type of dog.
Mislabeling fur is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $5,000 fine or a year in prison. Fur valued at less than $150 doesn’t have to be labeled.
Jim Sluzewski, a spokesman for Macy’s parent, Federated Department Stores Inc., said his company opposes selling dog fur but takes its vendors on faith that they comply with company policy.
“It is our vendors that label product, and we expect them to do so accurately,” he said in an e-mail. “We take immediate action whenever we find a violation of policy.”
Late last year, Macy’s immediately pulled from its shelves coats with raccoon dog fur but labeled as raccoon and advertised as rabbit after the Humane Society raised the issue with the chain.
“Macy’s hasn’t done enough as far as we’re concerned,” Markarian said Monday, claiming that it is still selling other products with raccoon dog fur.
The Humane Society said in its petition that Barneys sold fur-trimmed jackets with tags claiming they used coyote fur when they really used fur from wolves. Barneys did not return a call for comment.
Josh Chapman, a spokesman for the manufacturer of the jacket, I. Spiewak and Sons Inc., said his company inspects the facilities where they purchase coyote fur. “We certainly know that everything is coyote, nothing could be anything else,” Chapman insisted.
Design company Michael Kors (USA) Inc. said it is conducting its own internal investigation on the sources of fur products it sold through Dillard’s stores.
“We certainly expect the companies to be discussing these issues internally, but they’ve had plenty of time to do that,” Markarian said.
Dillard’s did not respond to a requests for comment. J.C. Penney said it had no comment.
Neiman Marcus Group Inc. spokeswoman Ginger Reeder said her company removed all products with fur trim from their Web sites after the Humane Society investigation.
“Further investigation assured us that these vendors were also in compliance with this act and they have provided us with proof that the merchandise is properly labeled,” Reeder said.
Charles Jayson, chief executive of Andrew Marc, disputed the Humane Society and insisted in a statement that all fur on his coats labeled as raccoon contains “only farm-bred raccoon fur from Finland, and our items labeled ‘faux fur’ are a 100 percent synthetic fabric.”
The results of the Humane Society investigations set some retailers scrambling to pull the coats from shelves, take them off Web sites and offer refunds to consumers. They include Nordstrom, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger and Burlington Coat Factory. None of them was named in the Humane Society’s complaint to the FTC.
“We believe that many of the companies were just as shocked as we were,” Markarian said about various responses to the investigations. “Some companies have been leading the way. ... The other companies, by comparison, have done nothing.”

"He's saying, 'I'm so mad,'" explained Wendy Barwell, a Galveston County animal control officer.

She said the attack on the bowl is a case of displaced aggression.

"If it got off the chain, I'm pretty definite it would be us instead of the bowl," said Bardwell.

But the days of living at the end of a chain are numbered in Texas City. Whatever the dog's breed, whatever the reason.

Starting in 60 days, chaining dogs like Max will be illegal.

Texas City is among the first to pass an ordinance barring residents from chaining their dogs to stationary objects like trees, or even houses. Officials cited studies by the Humane Society.

Poll: Do you support the decision to ban chaining dogs? | Results

"When you chain or tie an animal down and just leave it, it causes it to be more aggressive," said George Fuller, Community Service Director. "It also gives it the fight or flight syndrome. So anytime it gets off that chain, it's going to attack something."

"You have to put them somewhere," complained Kelly Slovak. "You have to put them on a chain if you keep them inside the fence."

What you have to do is build a fence that will keep them inside, while also providing 150 square feet of space. That or keep them inside your home. Dogs, after all, are social creatures.

"They need to be part of the family, not just chained to the tree," said Kil Schoolcraft, the animal control director.

Because there's more to responsible ownership, than simply providing food and water.

A home surveillance system caught the two robbers as they took the dogs from a home in Los Angeles.

It all started when the dog breeders put an ad in the paper to sell the purebred Yorkies for $2,500 each.

The men showed up, posing as buyers.

They took the puppies and the family's pet Yorkie that they'd had for three years.

One suspect turned himself in, thanks to his father.

“My personal feeling is I think he realized he did something stupid and, to his credit, his father was able to convince him to turn himself in,” LAPD Det. Luis Corona.

A second suspect is still at large.

Police think the robbers were not going to sell the dogs, but rather give them away as gifts.

Raw video: Dognappers steal Yorkies

The firefighter walked out on the ice to try and coax the dog out, but he ended up falling through it as well.

He was eventually able to reach the dog by crawling on his stomach.

The two were then pulled by a rope back to shore.

Click to watch raw video

Angus, an 11-year-old Schnauzer, was his traveling buddy, lap pillow and best friend.

They drove to Washington state twice and to Oklahoma countless times. When Angus heard the car start, he knew it was time for a trip.

"He went everywhere I went," Strickler said. "“He loved to ride. He'd lay in the car all day and sleep in the hotel at night."

But two years ago, Strickler and his wife, Maureen, were shocked to find Angus missing from the backyard of their home.

Click to watch raw video, interview

They didn't know if he escaped or if someone stole him, but for almost two months they placed ads in the paper and signs on every street corner.

Slowly, the Stricklers came to realize Angus wasn't coming home.

Just last month, Strickler threw away the folder with Angus' pedigree information.

But when his wife was cleaning the house Friday night, with the door wide open, an unexpected guest walked right in.

He was a little thinner and had a collar that was different than the one he left with, but it was Angus.

"We've been praying for that dog," his wife said. "It's just incredible."

They're not sure where he's been, but they know someone owned him recently. He's been groomed and had the new collar.

But now that he’s back home, he's fallen right back in his old habits.

He still plays roughly with the couple's bigger dog and rushes to sleep next to Strickler when it's time for bed.

"I thought it was another dog and I didn't believe it," Strickler said. "I finally got up out of bed. He still had the same look. He knew it was me. He hasn't left my shadow since."

It's especially comforting for Strickler in the state he's in.

Soon after Angus left, Strickler was diagnosed with throat cancer.

Now in its late stages, Strickler is bed-ridden and finds it difficult to speak.

But the comfort of his old friend cuddled up to him means more than words can say.

"I'm just happy," he said. "I'm thanking God."

Strickler isn't planning on any long trips like the two used to go on.

But he's hoping that he can gather his strength to go by the grocery store with Angus riding shotgun.

"He came back for one more get-together," he said.

The theft was caught on a home surveillance camera.

the men knocked on the family's door posing as buyers for pure-bred Yorkshire terrier puppies the family had for sale.

Once in the house, the men pulled guns and stole the four animals.

The puppies are worth $2500 each.

The family says they're most worried about the terrier that had been their pet for three years.

Click to watch video

They saw a 6-month-old playing basketball!

The youngster stands nearly four feet tall and weighs almost 700 pounds.

The fun and games were all part of Mac the elephant’s half-year birthday celebration.

Mac was the elephant that the public got to name.

Click to watch video