Workers rescue animals from Nashville flood
ASPCA workers help rescue a chicken saved from flooding in Nashville, Tenn.
As Nashville residents bail out of a massive flood, volunteers and animal workers are trying to help save the animals that were also affected. Here’s information the ASPCA sent out about their work:
The ASPCA ® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ® ), under the authority and request of the Dyersburg-Dyer County Humane Society in Dyersburg, Tenn., has dispatched its field investigations and response team to assist in the recovery and sheltering of animals displaced by recent flooding.
ASPCA responders arrived Tuesday afternoon and are helping care for more than 70 companion animals, including dogs, cats and various birds that were rescued from floodwaters, trees, rooftops and abandoned homes in the Dyersburg city limits, approximately 80 miles north of Memphis. The ASPCA has established a temporary shelter behind the humane society to handle the overflow of animals, and set up a decontamination station where animals affected by the flooding are washed and cleaned. In addition, the ASPCA provided extra cages, bowls, food industrial fans, and other necessary supplies to help care for animals.
“Our city has been declared a disaster area and many neighborhoods have been evacuated,” said Dr. Carol Feather, president and co-founder of the Dyersburg-Dyer County Humane Society, which services all of Dyer County, Dyersburg and Newbern. “We’re grateful for the ASPCA’s assistance, and to our own staff and volunteers, all of whom have been working non-stop to help animals that are abandoned or lost. We want to save all the animals we can–that’s our job.”
The Dyersburg-Dyer County Humane Society’s animal control officers have been navigating some areas in a small motor boat to access abandoned pets. Most of the 70-plus pets received so far are owned and were removed from homes at the request of owners who were forced to evacuate. They will be housed at the humane society until they are claimed, according to Dr. Feather. Residents wishing to contact the humane society may call (731) 285-4889 or visit in person at 1120 E. Court Street, Dyersburg, 38024. Volunteers high school age and over who are interested in caring for animals at the shelter may also contact the humane society.
Allison Cardona, the ASPCA’s Director of Disaster Response, said the temporary shelter has “helped ease the strain on the already full humane society.” She added, “The Dyersburg-Dyer County Humane Society and its staff and volunteers have been extremely dedicated toward the pets in their community during this life-threatening event. The ASPCA will continue to provide supplies, support and manage the temporary shelter and decontamination area, an important component in this operation, as long as we’re needed.”
According to Dr. Feather, all incoming animals are given a physical exam, and if veterinary records cannot be located, they are being vaccinated as a precaution. “A few pets have already been claimed, but the rest we will be holding onto until their families get situated,” she said. “In most instances, even if they have identification, we’re not yet able to reach their owners because they’ve had to evacuate.” Dr. Feather added that the Humane Society is not charging owners for boarding or vaccinations.
In addition to the ASPCA, local businesses assisting Dyersburg-Dyer County Humane Society include Hollywood Feed, which provided cages, and Pet Stop, which relieved the organization of some of its adoptable pets so room could be made for incoming animals.
“We are making sure that the animals’ immediate needs are being met, and that they receive appropriate care,” said the ASPCA’s Cardona. “The ASPCA is glad to be in a position to provide relief.”
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – birds
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- Pet fund measure advances. (state capitol)
- Nature center plans bird-themed activities. (Norman)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Be nice! It’s Be Kind to Animals Week!
As if you weren’t already super nice to your pets, there’s an extra incentive. This is Be Kind to Animals Week. Here’s some information from the American Humane Society:
Be Kind to Animals Week, May 2-8, 2010, is American Humane’s annual event celebrating the unique bond between people and animals, and encouraging the humane treatment of all animals. But why limit kindness to one special week? Here are five ways to be kind to animals every day:
- Adopt a pet from a shelter or breed-specific rescue. Shelter pets make loving lifetime companions, and many shelters offer pet-matching services and follow-up training and advice to help you and your new best friend form a beautiful bond.
- Report animal abuse. Violence against animals is terrible enough, but it could also be a sign that other violent behavior, like domestic abuse, is happening.
- Spay or neuter your pets. An estimated 3.7 million animals are euthanized in America’s shelters every year due to a lack of homes. Help stop pet overpopulation and euthanasia of adoptable animals by making sure your own pets are spayed or neutered.
- Live humanely with wildlife. Learn how to peacefully coexist with deer, bats, skunks, squirrels, raccoons and rabbits.
- Get active in local animal welfare policies and legislation. Sign up with us to receive action alerts about issues affecting animals.
As part of Be Kind to Animals Week, American Humane is sponsoring Lemonade for Shelter Aid, a contest that encourages children to set up lemonade stands to raise money for their local animal shelters. The contest runs until May 10, 2010, and is open to children and teens (ages 6-14). One grand-prize winner/team will be randomly selected to receive three Nintendo DS Lite game systems. Learn more and enter!
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – cocks on guard
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- Breeders’ bill advances. (state capitol)
- Police find dog, fowl on guard near drugs. (Lawton)
- Animal magnetism: Actor Brendan Fraser takes a beating in new family comedy “Furry Vengeance.” (nationwide)
- Critters, kid-safe plot fuel “Furry Vengeance.” (nationwide)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – breeder bill goes to gov
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- Pet breeder licensing bill heads to Henry. (state capitol)
- Bill updates: Hunting and fishing. (state capitol)
- Kentucky Derby: Owner Jenny Craig seeks sweet treat. (Kentucky)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – we have it all!
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman since Saturday -
- Oklahoma City police officer shot by another aiming at charging dog. (Oklahoma City)
- Pet Tales: Comfy, cozy kitty. (Oklahoma City)
- Hatchery might close. (Oklahoma City)
- Opinion: Passage of breeder bill encouraging. (state capitol)
- Bill update: Pet breeders, equine dentistry. (state capitol)
- Wildlife event set. (Freedom)
- Mortality at zoo often beats expectancy. (Tulsa)
- Small stallion could claim record. (New Hampshire, video below)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – no bones for pups
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- House approves bill to license pet breeders. (state capitol)
- Bill updates: Taxidermy. (state capitol)
- Knick-knack paddy-wack, don’t give a dog a bone. (nationwide)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – puppy mill bill fails
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- Anglers find dead alligator. (Broken Bow)
- Senate rejects puppy mill measure. (state capitol)
- PBS special touts Canine Assistants. (nationwide)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Another reason to quit
Secondhand smoke is bad for the lungs, whether it’s human lungs or animal lungs. (Can you believe cartoon characters used to smoke? No wonder kids started smoking!) Here’s some information the Oklahoma City-County Health Department sent out today:
While the effects of secondhand smoke on human health are well known, there’s also evidence that smoke-filled rooms can cause serious health problems for pets. “Most pet owners probably don’t realize that if they smoke they’re putting their pets at risk of debilitating and deadly diseases,” says Mary Pointer of the Tobacco Use Prevention Coalition.
The Oklahoma County Tobacco Use Prevention Coalition will host a booth at the Dachshund Dash this Sunday to provide information for pet owners about the dangers to pets from secondhand smoke.
Research over the past twenty years has found that dogs and cats living in households with smokers may be at significantly higher risk from a variety of cancers. “Secondhand smoke can cause oral and nasal cancers, as well as malignant lymphoma in animals,” says Oklahoma City veterinarian Dr. Richard Mauldin.
According to a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, dogs with long noses are the most vulnerable to developing nasal cancers associated with secondhand smoke. “That’s one of the reasons we are reaching out to dachshund owners,” Pointer says. “All pets may suffer health consequences from tobacco smoke exposure, but dachshunds and other long-nosed dogs appear to have a higher risk of nasal and sinus cavity cancers.”
Short-nosed dogs are at greater risk of lung cancer from tobacco smoke. “In short-nosed dogs…less filtration of cigarette smoke occurs in the nasal cavity than in long-nosed breeds,” says University of Massachusetts School of Public Health professor Elizabeth Bertone-Johnson, who conducted several studies on the effects of smoke on dogs and cats. That’s why collies, greyhounds and Dobermans are more likely to get nasal cancers, whereas pugs, boxers and bulldogs are more susceptible to lung cancer.
Other research shows that cats may also be at much higher risk from oral cancers related to household tobacco smoke. That’s partly because cats spend a lot of time grooming. When cigarette smoke settles out of the air, it can leave behind deposits of cancer-causing chemicals on floors, walls, furniture, bedding and cat fur. Scientists have identified more than 40 distinct mutagens and carcinogens in secondhand tobacco smoke.
To help celebrate “Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month,” the Oklahoma County Tobacco Use Prevention Coalition is making a special effort to help make the public aware of the dangers of secondhand smoke for pets.
“The best way to protect your pets from tobacco related diseases is to avoid smoking around them,” Pointer says. “And of course it would be even better to avoid smoking altogether- to protect your own health as well as the health of your pets.”
For more information on the coalition or secondhand smoke, please call (405) 419-4247. For free help with your effort to quit tobacco use, please call the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline at 1-800 QUIT NOW.
And moments later, this showed up in my inbox from the American Legacy Foundation and the ASPCA:
If you are a smoker and love your dog, there is one VERY important thing you can do to save Toto’s life and yours too: quit smoking. A growing body of research – including the Surgeon General’s Report – shows there are no safe levels of exposure to secondhand smoke – for humans and for animals.
An estimated 50,000 Americans lose their lives to secondhand smoke (“SHS”) annually and 4 million youth (16 percent) are exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes. A number of studies have indicated that animals, too, face health risks when exposed to the toxins in secondhand smoke, from respiratory problems to allergies and even cancer.
Toxins in secondhand smoke can cause lung and nasal cancer in dogs and malignant lymphoma in cats, along with allergy and respiratory problems in other pets. One recent study shows that nearly 30 percent of pet owners live with at least one smoker – a number far too high given the consequences of exposure to SHS.
In honor of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month this April, Legacy and the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) are challenging pet owners to quit smoking for their pets’ health. They are asking smokers with pets to “take it outside” or even better, kick the habit altogether.
“While most Americans have been educated about the dangers of smoking to their own bodies and their children’s, it is equally important that pet owners take action to protect their beloved companion animals from the dangers of secondhand smoke,” said Dr. Cheryl G. Healton, DrPH, President and CEO of the Legacy, the national independent public health foundation dedicated to keeping young people from smoking and providing resources to smokers who want to quit.
The ASPCA, one of the oldest and largest animal welfare organizations in the world, lists tobacco smoke as a toxin that is dangerous to pets. “Tobacco smoke has been shown to contain numerous cancer-causing compounds, making it hazardous for animals as well as humans,” said Mindy Bough, Vice President of ASPCA Animal Poison Control. “Exposure to secondhand smoke can cause many of the same harmful inflammatory changes in the airways and lungs of dogs as their human counterparts.”
“Nicotine—found in cigarettes and other tobacco products—is also highly toxic to animals if ingested,” said Bough. “A dog that accidentally eats tobacco may develop weakness, decreased breathing rate, and could possibly die. The ASPCA strongly recommends keeping your pet away from tobacco as well as secondhand smoke.”
Legacy and the ASPCA are optimistic that pet owners who smoke will be motivated to quit once they learn about the dangers of SHS to their pets. At the very least, smoke outside and preserve the lungs of your two- and four-legged family members.
Legacy provides resources and information to smokers who want to quit for good through a national campaign called EX® – as in EX-smoker. EX encourages smokers to approach quitting smoking as “re-learning life without cigarettes,” which may include putting that cigarette out the next time you take Toto for a walk! For more information visit www.becomeanex.org. To join or view the community of smokers who are quitting for their pets, visit: http://community.becomeanex.org/pg/groups/27185/quitting-for-our-pets/.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – beekeepers buzzing
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- Beekeepers abuzz about state meet. (Guthrie)
- Pet Tales: Real estate agent gets fixer-upper. (Holdenville)
- Mr. Monkey remains on lam, gains fame. (Florida)
- Tech Tidbits: Pet’s Eye View camera.
- Dear Abby: Older often is better when adopting a pet.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
