Let's hear it for the MICROCHIP!!

Astro comes home after 9 years

PORT ST. LUCIE — A lot has happened to the Geary family since their German shepherd, Astro, went missing from their Port St. Lucie home nine years ago. They moved three times and ended up in Louisville, Ky.

The family members were amazed when they got a call from an animal control officer about three weeks ago in Tennessee telling them they’d found Astro.

“It’s still a real shock that he is actually here,” said Linda Geary about having their dog back. “We are getting use to the fact that we don’t know where he has been or who had him, but he’s our dog and has always been our dog.”

About nine years earlier, Linda’s husband Dennis and his stepdaughter went to the Treasure Coast Humane Society in Palm City to adopt a dog, Dennis Geary said.

That day, they left with Astro – a black and off-white German shepherd that weighed about 80 pounds.

A month later, Astro was missing. The Geary family posted signs and called shelters but never found the dog. After a year, they adopted a new dog.

Then, on Jan. 29, an animal control officer in Montgomery County, Tenn., picked up Astro after complaints of a German shepherd running loose in a neighborhood in St. Bethlehem, Tenn.

Animal control officers tracked down Dennis Geary through a microchip implanted when he adopted the dog from the Treasure Coast Humane Society. Officers went online to locate Dennis Geary and found two names with Florida connections to call, one at the Louisville address and the other a Tennessee farmer who said the dog wasn’t his.

The officers left a message on the Gearys’ answering machine the first week in February.

Once Dennis Geary called animal control back and hung up the phone, he looked at his wife, picked up the phone, called animal control back and said, “I’m going to bring him (Astro) home.”

That following weekend, Dennis Geary and his stepson made the three-hour drive to Tennessee.

“I didn’t know what to think,” he said. “I was still in shock. I was excited but apprehensive because I didn’t think he was going to remember me and I didn’t know how he was going to respond.”

When the two members of the Geary family arrived at the shelter and staff brought out Astro, the reunion was sweet and wet.

“They brought him out and he just sat down and licked both me and my oldest stepson,” he said. “He was like, where have you been?”

It has been three weeks now since the Gearys have had Astro home.

“It’s just amazing,” Linda Geary said.

Throughout the nine years Dennis Geary said he never forgot Astro. He still has the dog’s picture in his wallet from when he first adopted him nine years ago in Port St. Lucie.

WOW. Not only can you not take it with you...

Apparently you can't choose how to leave your money behind either...

If the last wishes of the "Queen of Mean" are not respected by the courts what hope do the "little people" have??

By STEPHANIE STROM

The judge overseeing the probate of the hotelier Leona Helmsley’s will has ruled that, contrary to her wishes, the billions of dollars that will flow into the charitable trust she created do not have to be spent solely for the care and welfare of dogs.

The judge, Troy K. Webber of Surrogate’s Court in Manhattan, said that the trustees who control the trust may distribute the money as they see fit. “The court finds that the trustees may apply trust funds for such charitable purposes and in such amounts as they may, in their sole discretion, determine,” Judge Webber wrote in a ruling dated last Thursday.

Experts in trusts and estates had warned that Mrs. Helmsley’s order that her fortune be spent promoting canine well-being may not have been legally binding. The two-page “mission statement” that contained her instructions also gave the trustees discretion in spending the money, and it was never incorporated into her will or the trust documents.

theRest

Wow. Check in to this place!

looks like the Chinese are doing it up for the dogs on a pretty grand scale.



























Mr. C. C. Cheung
in-house Obedience
and Correctional Training
expert














check out Dogotel!















http://www.dogotel.com/index2.htm

The Bordetella racket - too many vaccines?

Are we over-vaccinating our pets?
I hope to start a discussion about this - comments welcome!



I must admit to having become quite a skeptic when it comes to doctors, dentists and, why not, vets? They stand to take lots of money from us under normal circumstances - why should we be surprised if they are tempted
to become part of the no-conscience greed machine that has run away with so many honorable professions these days?
I owe it to my "kids" to at least do some research before I risk their health any more than I already have.
I've never boarded my dogs but recently, I was required to vaccinate Sasha against Bordetella so that she could enjoy the benefits of a dog park that we were about to visit.
We were advised in favor of the intranasal vaccine.
Within a day she began to cough so we returned to the vet who unequivocally denied that this could possibly be a side effect of the vaccine! After plunking down another $130 and starting my dog on a 3 week dose of antibiotics I started digging a little deeper.

a little of what I found:
Precautions,warnings and concerns need to be observed pertaining to these vaccines.
•Some dogs will develop mild signs similar to tracheobronchitis when given this vaccine.
•Dogs that are vaccinated can "shed" the virus and cause other dogs to become mildly infected and show mild signs.
•Not unlike the "flu shot" for people, a vaccine is developed each year based on which strain(s) may be most prevalent. Be aware that your dog can still contract kennel cough even after having the vaccine(intranasal or injection).
• an annual vaccine is recommended against Bordetella even though most vets admit it may only be effective for 3-4 months.
• It may take up to 4 days after vaccination for dogs to develop protection.
•It is recommended that a dog not be given intranasal vaccine within 72 hours of coming into contact with other susceptible dogs.
•Dogs that have had this vaccine, when put in a boarding situation, may develop kennel cough if stressed.
•In rare cases the intranasal vaccine can lead to permanent post nasal drip, upper respiratory damage - and for dogs with heart problems this vaccine can be fatal.

In general:

Vaccines for rabies and three other major canine diseases — distemper, canine adenovirus-2 and canine parvovirus — should be given no more often than once every three years, said Ronald Schultz, a veterinary immunologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

"Unfortunately, most veterinarians recommend annual revaccinations for these core diseases," said Schultz, "and many of them are using the procedures as what I call 'practice management tools' — to keep clients coming in on an annual basis."

Looking very "dognified"

on Valentine's day...

we love you very much, Sasha.

stella approved

many thanks again to Golden Retriever Rescue of New Jersey
for bringing us together with our girl
http://www.grrinj.org

Stumping for Stump!

A little victory for old dogs everywhere!














This 10 year old Sussex Spaniel won Best In Show out of nearly 2500 dogs.

Stump left the show ring in 2004 and later nearly died from a mysterious medical condition. What a comeback!

Never before had a dog from this breed won the show.

The previous oldest winner was an 8-year-old Papillon in 1999.

in the final line-up was a giant schnauzer that was the nation’s top show dog,

a favored Brussels griffon,

a Scottish deerhound named Tiger Woods,

a standard poodle with 94 best in show wins,

a Scottish terrier and a Puli.

Congratulations, Stump!

for dogs and humans alike:

Salix, LLC Recalls 6" Peanut Butter Filled Shank Bone Because Of Possible Salmonella Health Risk

Contact:
Adda Serrano
954-425-0001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- January 30, 2009 -- Salix LLC of Deerfield Beach, FL a manufacturer of rawhide dog chew products, is voluntarily recalling its Healthy Hide 6” Peanut Butter Filled Shank Bone because it contains peanut butter made by Peanut Corporation of America (PCA). PCA is the focus of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigation into potential salmonella contamination of peanut butter and paste. This product therefore has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. While the risk of animals contracting salmonellosis is minimal, there is risk to humans from handling these products. People handling dry pet food and/or treats can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the chews or any surfaces exposed to these products.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

The voluntarily recalled peanut butter-filled shank bone was sold through National Retailers in the U.S.

The product comes in a clear plastic bag with attached header card and the name Healthy Hide is on the front. The package is a 1-count 6” Peanut Butter Filled Shank Bone and the Universal Product Code is 0-91093-33479-0. All packages are marked with one of the following lot codes: between CP 20081508 and CP 20012209. This code can be found on the backside of the package.

Salix is not aware of any reported cases of illness related to this or any other products.
Customers who purchased the recalled dog treats should discontinue use immediately and can return the product to the retail store where it was purchased for a complete refund or exchange. Customers can contact individual retailers with questions.

No other products or flavors are included in this recall.