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Home Again

Tundra Spirits is pleased to report that the husky found in North Greenbush on 3/20/08 has been returned home. It was inspiring to to see so many kind hearted people reach out to insure this reunion took place. It really showed how a little effort, a little thought and a lot of care can do wonderful things. The list of those involved included a good samaritan on her way to work that choose to do the kind decent thing, rather than look the other way. A caring Veterinarian that went the extra mile. A rescue group who's members did what they do best. An area shelter that was kind enough to assist.

To all involved Thank You your efforts make
"everyday heroes"
of you all

Health News

World Update

China has slaughtered over 50,000 dogs in a government-ordered crackdown after three people died of rabies. Only 3 percent of dogs are vaccinated against rabies in China, and more that 2000 people die of the disease each year. Only police and military dogs were spared in the five-day slaughter which took place in Mouding county in Yunnan province. Dogs being walked by their owners were seized and beaten to death on the spot by killing teams. Those teams also entered villages at night creating noise to get dogs barking, then beat the animals to death. Owners were offered 63 cents per animal to kill their own dogs prior to arrival of the teams. Road blocks prevented animal owners from fleeing the area with their dogs. Many owners chose to hang their dogs rather then have them be beaten by the teams. Officials are now eyeing another metropolitan city in the province with an estimated population of 500,000 dogs. In response to an outcry from animal rights activists around the world, Chinese officials stated that dogs serve three purposes in China; as guard dogs, fur production, and food. Ownership of dogs as companion animals is banned or highly restricted in many areas of that country.
The Humane Society of the United States announced on 8/9/06 that it will give China $100,000 to vaccinate dogs against rabies if it promises to immediately stop the slaughter.

(Tundra note: You might care to check the label on the next dog toy, bowl or accessory you plan to purchase on your next visit to the big box store. Your purchase of these products of origin from China only supports such archaic barbarism. You might also want to ask yourself why a US based animal welfare group is offering funds to a foreign country when the future of neglected, unwanted and abused animals remains so bleak here in the United States.)

Digital Angel Corp.

Has received a patent for it’s Bio-Thermo implantable RFI microchip. That device would allow the body temperature of the host animal to be
monitored remotely.

Cyntegra

A biotechnology company based in SanDiego has launched the world’s first diagnostic test for cats and dogs that detects both the avian H5N1 and canine H3N8 strains of influenza A. Viogenix Duo, which uses technology similar to that used to detect influenza and SARS in humans, detects dog flu within 12 hours of infection.

Rabies Vaccine Recall

Posted on Sat, Jun. 10, 2006
Vaccine maker recalls rabies doses
*Veterinarians to notify pet owners about shots*

*STELLA M. HOPKINS*

*shopkins@charlotte observer. com *

A leading rabies vaccine manufacturer has voluntarily recalled about 330,000 doses sold nationwide after a vaccinated dog contracted the deadly disease.
"They don't know why ... the animal contracted rabies," said Kelly Goss, a spokeswoman for Fort Dodge Animal Health, based in Overland Park, Kan., and a division of health care giant Wyeth. "In the best interest of pet owners and animals, we madea decision to voluntarily recall that product."
The company mailed notices to veterinarians on May 25, and will reimburse them for revaccination, Goss said. Doctors are notifying pet owners to bring in animals for free shots.
Fort Dodge began selling the recalled batch in January 2005. Goss didn't know how many vets bought the problem lot. Fort Dodge tested batches of vaccine with serial numbers issued around that of the affected lot and found no problems, she said.
Animals at greatest risk are outdoor pets and those such as puppies and kittens, who received the recalled medication as their first and only vaccination, said Dr. Steve Marks of the N.C. State University College of Veterinary Medicine in Raleigh. "If that initial vaccination did not work, then they're ... at risk for rabies," he said. Notified pet owners should act quickly to have their animal revaccinated, Marks said, but he cautioned against panic. "Just call your veterinarian if you're in doubt," he said.
*What This Means to Pet Owners*
Fort Dodge Animal Health recalled rabies vaccine Rabvac 3 TF, serial number 873113A. Your vet should notify you if your pet was vaccinated with the problem batch. You can also check the rabies certificate that you should have received, which lists the manufacturer and serial number.
*Stella Hopkins: (704) 358-5173*

http://www.charlott e.com/mld/ charlotte/ business/ 14786163. htm

Canine Influenza

The canine influenza was first identified in racing greyhounds in January 2004. It is an emerging disease with symptoms that mimic kennel cough. Those symptoms are coughing that persistsfor 10 to 21 days, a runny nose and a low-grade fever. About 10% of the cases may experience potentially fatal complications such as pneumonia. The virus spreads by sneezes, coughs contaminated inanimate objects and people moving back and forth between infected and uninfected dogs. The most recent fatality rate is between 5 and 8 percent.

Medical Advances

A growing number of veterinarians are being trained to provide specialized medical services, ranging from canine dialysis, to teeth correction with braces to canine prescription lenses. Human health technology, such as ultrasound and CAT scans, is used to diagnose ailing pets. Nutritional supplements and medications for pets are widely used.

Just What the Doctor Ordered

Owning a pet will:

> Reduce stress levels without drugs or classes.

> Lower blood pressure.

> Ward off silent killers such as high cholesterol and depression.

> Increase your chances of survival after a serious illness by 74 to 94 percent.

Owning a pet can even help you save money on you health insurance. Owning a pet often tips the scales in favor of older clients looking for life insurance or long-term insurance.

State Issues

New York

Ear Cropping and Tail Docking. Assembly Bill 11242, would prohibit those practices in this state. Violators would be guilty of a misdemeanor with a sentence
of up to one year in jail and/or fined up to $1000. The Bill would also allow any dog owner or animal rights group to sue anyone who violates the provision. The Bill is in the Assemble Agriculture Committee.

Florida

Manatee County , FL has adopted a law that levies fines of $300 for leaving a pet in a car unattended. $200 for letting cats and dogs roam freely, and $100 each for letting a dog bark more than 10 minutes during any 2-hour stretch and for owning a dog that is not wearing a license tag.

California

Los Angeles County has adopted a mandatory spay/neuter ordinance for dog owners in that county. The law also requires owners to microchip their pets. exceptions are made for law enforcement, service and competition dogs. Owners of those dogs are required to purchase a $60 permit for each dog.
Customs agents at a border checkpoint near San Diego found 28 puppies in a van driven by a Los Angeles man trying to enter the US from Mexico. He was cited for animal cruelty

Ohio

A bill in the Legislature targets puppy mills, where dogs are kept in cramped, unsanitary cages, and auctioned off. The bill would toughen care standards at kennels and establish a random kennel inspection program.

Kansas

Leavenworth city officials have passed an ordinance limiting the amount of time a dog can be tethered outside. Dogs cannot be tied outside for more than a total of six hours a day, or more than two hours at a time.

McHenry County, Illinois

Officials here want a website so police can list the name, address, owners and photo of every dog declared dangerous within the county located in the Chicago suburbs. They may need a new state law to do it, though. A county sheriff’s official said residents could use the site to find whether dangerous dogs live nearby. “In some ways this kind of information is just as important as knowing whether a sex offender lives nearby”.

A new state law requires that counties charge a fee that is $10 higher for unspayed/unneutered animals. Residents must also purchase a rabies registration for a pet. A one-year permit is $8; while a three-year permit is $20 for a neutered pet. Owners whose pets are not spayed or neutered now pay $25 for a year, and $50 for a three-year permit.

Virginia

A bill named for an 82-year old woman killed by three pit bulls last March, that would make fatal dog attacks a felony in that state is gaining support . The legislation would also create a dangerous-dog registry and provide regulations for owners of dogs classified as dangerous.

Another bill would require veterinarians in the state to report unlicensed dogs to local governments. Once the owner receives a vaccination notice from the vet, a city or county treasurer could then bill the owner for a license. The bill also provides government with a comprehensive database to ensure that animal rabies vaccinations are kept current. The Virginia Veterinarian Medical Assn. has endorsed the bill.

Memphis, Tenn.

The city is considering a law that would declare a dog “dangerous or vicious” if it attacks another animal. Declaring an animal dangerous is a first step that could lead to the destruction
of the animal by the city.

Pet First Aid

Tundra Spirits will be presenting our four hour pet care class. Please see our events page for further information

Tundra Spirits Made Official ASHI Training Agency

Tundra Spirits is now an official ASHI Training Agency !! The American Safety & Health Institute has made Tundra Spirits an official training organization, Tundra Spirits is now able to offer ASHI's comprehensive Pet First Aid Program. The ASHI program will be taught by our own trained ASHI Pet First Aid instructors.