cruelty | Pet Show Blog

OSU helps save 80 dogs

Posted by petblog

on October 3, 2009 at 12:04 am

Check out this heart-warming story out of Stillwater from folks at OSU:

When the Payne County Sheriff’s office called the Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences on Thursday, Sept. 17, and asked if they could help with approximately 80 dogs and cats rescued from a rural home, faculty, staff and students stepped up to help.

“The Sheriff’s Department alerted us that the animals were coming,” stated Dr. Michael Lorenz, professor and dean of the veterinary center. “We called in veterinary technicians, students and eight veterinarians who were not on call. The animals arrived in the late evening.”

“I was on the phone with one of the ICU technicians and when I heard what was going on, I came in to help,” said Dianne Hudson, RVT, VTS (Anesthesia).

Because the animals are the subject of legal action and serve as evidence, the intake process included identifying and photographing each animal. Detailed records were maintained for medical and legal purposes.

“We had eight teams each comprised of students/veterinary technicians and one faculty veterinarian,” added Hudson.

“The animals were abused, neglected and poorly nourished,” said Dr. Mark Neer, director of the veterinary center’s Boren Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. “While they can’t be adopted until legally released, the plan was to put them in foster care.”

All animals were treated for internal and external parasites including sarcoptic mange, which is a type of mange caused by mites burrowing in the skin especially of the head and face. All adult dogs received Rabies vaccinations and puppies were vaccinated for distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus and parainfluenza.

“It was absolutely amazing to see everyone swing into action,” stated Dr. Jill Brunker, Small Animal Internal Medicine. “People were assigned to a station and we rotated the animals through receiving, triage and treatment. Interns, residents, technicians and fourth year veterinary students worked with one common goal—help these mistreated animals.”

“We were able to do something on a large scale to help the animals and the community,” said Dr. Todd Yeagley, Small Animal Internal Medicine and Surgery Intern. “It was sad to see so many dogs that had suffered such horrible abuse.”
According to Hudson within two hours 80 animals had been examined.

“We were careful to do everything right so that the Sheriff’s Department would have what they needed. Even after all the dogs had been processed, the students recognized that the dogs needed to be bathed to help make them more comfortable and then we still needed to clean up to get ready for the next day, so they stayed,” continued Hudson.

“The students and staff worked until the wee hours of the morning,” added Lorenz. “Oklahomans can be extremely proud of the veterinary team. Despite the horrific scene, the group performed at a high professional level. I am very proud of their dedication and competence.”

“Dr. Neer and everyone at the veterinary hospital could not have been any kinder to the animals or been more hospitable to the people who came to foster them,” stated Garry McKinnis, Payne County Undersheriff. “I have 18 of them at my house. My wife and I took four female Dachshunds and their puppies. We wanted to be sure they received the right care until they are able to be adopted.”

Some of the dogs had to be soaked to loosen the debris matted in their hair and eventually were clipped. According to Brunker, a single dose of medicine usually cures the sarcoptic mange. The parasites should be gone in a few weeks followed by treatments at regular intervals.

“I have seen dogs like that before but one at a time,” said Brandy Kastl, fourth year veterinary student from Sapulpa, Okla. “Never so many at once—it was overwhelming.”

“It was pretty sad, especially the high number of dogs involved,” continued Matt Stone of Springfield, Ill., also a fourth year veterinary student. “We were happy to help the animals.”

“That’s what we do,” added Kastl.

Authorities at the veterinary center report that all dogs and cats involved in the rescue have been placed in foster care as of Tuesday evening, Sept. 22, 2009.

Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll

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Commentary about Michael Vick’s return

Posted by petblog

on September 29, 2009 at 1:54 pm

My husband and I watched bits and pieces of the Philadelphia Eagles game Sunday to see if Michael Vick would play. He did, of course, and had a luke-warm performance. Two years in prison will do that to you.

But what was so interesting to me was the post-game interview with the TV guys. They asked him if it was a great day in his life to be back on the field. He said it was one of the top three days of his life – second to the day he was drafted. What is the third best day?

I’d bet it was the day he was released from federal prison for his hand in a dogfighting ring. But the TV commentators didn’t really bring that up. That wasn’t the point of his comeback, right? That stuff is in the past. No need to address it. Better to go ahead and pretend he was gone for 1,001 days for no reason at all – a mysterious gap in time that doesn’t need to be explained.

I thought the reporters took the easy way out. Yes, asked Vick about the REASON he was allowed to have this magnificent second chance would have been uncomfortable. But I think returning a cruel dog fighter to a position of fame and power is sort of an uncomfortable topic. Address it. Don’t ignore it.

A Baltimore Sun columnist hits the nail on the head with his commentary about interviews with Michael Vick. Check out his column here.

Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll

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Doggie Snuggies are for mean owners

Posted by petblog

on September 28, 2009 at 4:39 pm

Snuggie for dogs OK, I have to draw the line, pet owners. Dogs do not – I repeat DO NOT – need a Snuggie.

I’d heard rumors about the Snuggie for dogs, but I didn’t believe them. I thought friends were just pulling my leg because I’m a dog person and I think the Snuggie is merely a bathroom worn backwards. But they were telling the truth. You can buy a Snuggie for your puppy.

For about $23 plus tax you get two Snuggies for dogs. They come in pink or blue. Be sure to pick the right color because your dog would be TOTALLY mortified if it was wearing the wrong colored Snuggie, which in this case looks like some kind of French cape from the early 1900s. I mean look at this dogs in this promotional photo. Imagine how upset they’d be if they had on the wrong color Snuggie. Their doggie family portrait would have been RUINED. (As a side note, the one in the pink looks like an Ewok that’s really suspicious of the photographer.)

While I’m not totally opposed to dog fashion – my dogs both have Halloween costumes this year – I do think it’s silly for most dogs to have outerwear. They come with outerwear – fur. They are genetically designed to have their own Snuggies. (Iggies and Chihuahuas – you are excused, you poor, shivering cuties.)

If there’s anything redeeming about the Snuggie for dogs, it’s that they made a commercial: