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Animal Crackers ~ Animal Crackers: A pet blog by Stephanie Manso

Bi-State hotline for injured or sick wildlife

January 24th, 2012, 10:33 am by

To The Telegraph via emailed press release:

We are the not for profit, Bi-State Wildlife Hotline, serving all Missouri counties and Western Illinois.
Our organization’s mission is to provide the public with live, certified Wildlife Specialists at no cost, 24 hours a day, to discuss conflicts with wildlife, injured or sick wildlife, and orphaned babies.

Many public offices, city halls, animal control officers, animal rescue groups, veterinarians and police and fire departments have received residents’ calls with wildlife related calls. Many county animal control departments will only respond to calls for domestic animals (dogs and cats) and other sources do not specialize in wildlife and the public needs somewhere to turn in order to get help.

We offer a solution for these types of calls.* The Bi-State Wildlife Hotline @ (636) 492-1610 or (800) 482-7950 is a free, volunteer based service, available 24 hours a day, 7 days per week for all wildlife related questions and concerns. Calls regarding all wildlife like squirrels, skunks, raccoons, opossums, woodchucks, chipmunks, foxes, coyotes, rabbits, mink, otter, beaver, song birds, birds of prey and deer can be referred to this hotline for assistance.

*Note: Bite reports will still be referred to local/municipality animal control departments or health departments.*

We offer licensed rehab referral information for callers when the animal in question truly needs medical care. Often, a caller’s wildlife conflicts can be resolved via telephone through education, or referral. However, when an animal is in true need of rescue, we have a network of licensed rehabilitators in Missouri & Illinois available to assist. For more information visit us online at www.wildlifehotline.com.

Alton Pet Mardi Gras Parade set for Sunday, Jan. 29

January 19th, 2012, 9:21 am by

The third annual Alton Pet Mardi Gras Parade kicks off at 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, at 3rd and Piasa, Downtown Alton.

All pets MUST be spayed/neutered and current on vaccines in order to participate.

Parade begins at 2 p.m. Entry fee for parade is $5 per family; prizes awarded for best dressed pet.

Proceeds benefit the City of Alton Dog Park.

Get Outdoors! is now Discovery Days at Watershed Nature Center

January 17th, 2012, 9:37 am by

More interesting places to go and things to see from the Watershed Nature Center, Edwardsville:

Discovery Days! Saturdays @ Watershed (formerly known as Get Outdoors!)

Topic : Backyard Birds

Date/Time: 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 28
Fee/Registration: Free and open to the public, all ages welcome.

For bird lovers of all kinds, whether you like to sit in your house and watch birds out the window or take your binoculars on a walk. Learn how to use binoculars, identify birds using field guides, watch some bird feeding habits, and find out how birds survive winter. You will also get to make eco-friendly bird feeders out of everyday household items.

The Discovery Days! series is a chance for our community to understand and appreciate nature through education, recreation, and volunteerism. Events are held at the Watershed Nature Center, 1591 Tower Avenue in Edwardsville, near Hoppe Park and N.O. Nelson School.

Contact Watershed Nature Center, 618-692-7578 or email watershed@cityofedwardsville.com .

Dog obedience classes to start Jan. 23

January 10th, 2012, 9:56 am by

Just for your information:

The Alton Parks and Recreation Department will offer a 10-week dog obedience course starting at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23, at the Muenstermann Pavilion in Gordon Moore Park.

The fee for the course is $50 for residents and $60 for non-residents.

Classes are open for all dogs. Shot certifications must be shown at time of registration.

First classes are for dog owners only for registration and orientation.

For more information call (618) 463-3580.

God had better rethink things

January 6th, 2012, 10:07 am by

Photos below right are of Grace, a dog recently taken in by Hope Rescues. Grace is from an animal neglect case in St. Clair County.


“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”
King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)

God should be having second thoughts about giving man “dominion,” no matter what your personal definition of the word might be. Humans are supposed to have an intellect or consciousness, that separates them from animals. The person responsible for Grace’s abuse had neither, nor a heart.

All MEHS is saying is give Hershey a chance

January 4th, 2012, 10:43 am by

Via email from Metro East Humane Society:

As MEHS welcomes 2012, we look to upcoming events and a chance to meet with some of our supporters!

The first is the 2012 Wine Tasting. Slated from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, this year’s wine tasting will again be held at Springer’s Creek Winery in Edwardsville. Details about the event and anonline opportunity to purchase tickets can be found on our website – www.mehs.org[http://www.mehs.org].

We encourage everyone to join us, taste a little wine,enjoy some refreshments, and socialize with animal lovers from the area! We also want to bring everyone’s attention to a special adoption case at the shelter:
His name is Hershey, a four year old chocolate Lab who deserves a second chance. Hershey came to us heartworm positive. He was an unclaimed stray who apparently wasn’t medically cared for in his life. MEHS decided to give him a second chance.

The heart worms, however, pose a problem. The nation is facing a shortage ofheartworm treatment vaccines. It is on back order everywhere. But, there is currently a ‘treatment’ that has proven successful. If the dog receives Heartguard medication monthly for a year to year and a half, research has found that the positive is reversed. So, MEHS is offering Hershey for adoption to a great home for the cost of one year’s Heartguard — $60.

We would love to see Hershey get a second chance in a home where the family understands what good care means. If you, or someone you know, would like to give Hershey that chance, visit the MEHS website and complete an online application. We will then be sure to choose the appropriate home for Hershey!

Best to avoid giving your dog chicken jerky treats

December 29th, 2011, 12:48 pm by

This is the latest publication put out this month by the FDA about chicken jerky products and illnesses in dogs:
“The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to caution consumers about a potential association between the development of illness in dogs and the consumption of chicken jerky products. The products—also called chicken tenders, strips, or treats—are imported from China. FDA continues to receive complaints of sick dogs that their owners or veterinarians associate with eating chicken jerky products. FDA issued a cautionary warning to consumers in September 2007.

Australian news organizations report that the University of Sydney is also investigating an association between illness in dogs and the consumption of chicken jerky in Australia. At least one firm in Australia has recalled their chicken jerky product and the recall notification stated the product was manufactured in China.

What is FDA Doing?
FDA, in addition to several veterinary diagnostic laboratories in the United States, is working to find out why these products are associated with illness in dogs. To date, scientists have not been able to determine a precise cause for the reported illnesses.
FDA has conducted extensive chemical and microbial testing but has not identified any contaminant.
FDA continues to actively investigate the problem. Many of the illnesses reported may be the result of causes other than eating chicken jerky.

Tips for Consumers:
Do not substitute chicken jerky products for a balanced diet. The products are intended to be used occasionally and in small quantities. Owners of small dogs must be especially careful to limit the amount of these products.
If you choose to feed your dog chicken jerky products, watch the dog closely. Stop feeding the product if your dog shows any of the following signs, which may occur within hours to days after feeding the product:
- decreased appetite, although some dogs may continue to eat the treats instead of other foods
- decreased activity
- vomiting
- diarrhea, sometimes with blood
- increased water drinking or increased urination
Call your veterinarian if signs are severe or last for more than 24 hours. Blood tests may indicate kidney failure (increased urea nitrogen and creatinine). Urine tests may indicate Fanconi syndrome (increased glucose). Although most dogs appear to recover, some reports to FDA have involved dogs that have died.
Consumers and veterinarians should report cases of animal illness associated with pet foods or treats to the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator listed for their area.
This article appears on FDA’s Consumer Health Information Web page, which features the latest on all FDA-regulated products.”

Your dog’s cough could be the flu

December 21st, 2011, 10:33 am by

Did you know that your dog can get the flu? A strain of doggie flu does exist and there are a number of cases in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticutt, Colorado, and Texas.
No word about Illinois yet.
Symptoms are roughly the same as with the human flu: runny nose, cough and fever.
The recommendation is you get your dog vaccinated for the flu (yes, Merck makes a canine flu vaccine) if he/she spends any time with other dogs in close quarters, such as a kennel or at the groomer’s, or you’re traveling to a state where incidents of the disease run higher than other states.
It doesn’t “jump the fence” to people, however, humans can be carriers on their clothes or shoes, etc.

Tippy comes home

December 15th, 2011, 4:37 pm by

The following story was submitted last year as a Holiday Memory. Some feel-good stories turn into classics. Though The Telegraph can’t reprint the story as a Holiday Memory for this year, I thought I’d throw it on my blog:

It was a nice mid-November day in 1974. A neighbor was going to Greenfield to exercise his two young beagles. Could our five-year-old beagle, Tippy, go along? The wife said, “Sure, the run will do him good.” Wrong!
Evening arrived – no neighbor and no Tippy. Late that night the neighbor arrived with bad news. Tippy had run away. A shotgun was fired and our housepet turned from beaglehound to greyhound, streaking north. The neighbor looked for him – no luck. He was sorry.
We were devastated. Poor Tippy – was he cold, hungry, hurt, afraid, or worse? Our two sons wanted their pet home immediately, if not sooner. I told the boys that daylight saving time, work and school would limit our searches to weekends. Hold on, Tippy.
The people of Greenfield and the surrounding county were great. We set up a network there with several families. Phone calls were made and signs were posted in churches, stores, etc. They made the boys feel better by putting out food and a blanket.
A gloomy Thanksgiving came and went. The search went on – no luck. The Christmas decorations went up while our Christmas spirit went down. While other dreamed of a white Christmas, we prayed for warmer weather. Tippy’s return was at the top of the kids’ Christmas list. Friends and relatives joined the search – no luck.
The Sunday before Christmas, we repeated the weekly ritual of driving, walking, and calling for Tippy. As we drove back to the main road, one of the boys said, “There’s a beagle, Dad.” I stopped and saw a dirty, skinny beagle tied to the side of a house. I was halfway to him when the bark told us we had found our pet.
The way Tippy behaved convinced the household that he was our pet. The dog had come to their house that week and made friends with their son who was our boy’s age. Tippy raced to the car and sat between the boys. He gave us a look that said, “Where have you been?” We gave the boy the reward – he was happy for the Christmas money. Truly a win-win feeling.
Tippy and the Christmas spirit were back.
(We had our pet for nine more Christmases.)
CLARENCE VAN HOY
Alton

January RV show will include demonstrations traveling with your dog

December 15th, 2011, 9:01 am by

For those after-holiday blahs, this show might be interesting:

The St. Louis RV Vacation & Travel Show will return to America’s Center in Downtown St. Louis, January 13-15. Hours will be from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.on Sunday.

Special attractions at the show this year will include demonstrations on “Traveling With Your Dog” by Shannon Mayfield.

There will also be a display of snakes, lizards and turtles by the St. Louis Herpetological Society.

Tickets will be available at the show ticket windows. Regular Admission is $8. Tickets for children ages 6 through 12 are $3.50, with children age 5 and under admitted free. A senior discount is available on Friday, with those age 60 and over admitted for $5 on that day.

More information can be obtained from the website at www.stlrv.com or by calling (314) 355-1236.

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