Pets in the paper – an ocelot it was not
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- State dog among contest’s final 10. (Sallisaw)
- Pet Tales: Setter becomes a “sitter.” (Konawa)
- “Ocelot” was an error, store says. (Texas)
- Web watchers get whale of a ride. (California)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pet Show Podcast
Listen to Pet Show today! Cohosts Dawn Marks and Bryan Dean talk with Janice Bailey with Lab Rescue of OK about Purina’s Rally to Rescue, Doing More for Pets Contest. One of the labs the organization rescued, Pearce, has a chance to win the national contest.
Pets in the paper – horses saved
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- Horses’ health deemed poor. (Pauls Valley)
- Court denies fishing rights. (Ohio)
- 29 species may need federal protection. (nationwide)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – Michael Vick gets a deal
Check out these animal stories in The Okahoman today -
- Vick signs deal with Eagles. (Pennsylvania)
- Michael Vick doesn’t belong in Philadelphia. (Pennsylvania)
- Exxon Mobil will pay thousands for deaths of 85 migratory birds. (page 2d, Washington, D.C.)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – squirrels are sneaky
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- Event to help more dogs. (Oklahoma City)
- Pet Tales: Sneaky squirrel jars couple with tit for tat. (Oklahoma City)
- Chihuahua serves as fire alarm for two men. (The Village)
- Dungy says Vick’s choices limited. (Indiana)
- Eighty pit bulls seized in raid. (Indiana)
- Wolf release raises questions. (New Mexico)
- Rachel Ray planning pet charity contest. (California)
- Help available for storm-phobic dogs. (nationwide)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Your dog would love to live here
This weekend, several Tap Architecture employees and other volunteers got together to build some pretty incredible dog houses for the My Life as a Dog Challenge. (And if you haven’t heard about this contest yet, it’s AWESOME!)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Animal cruelty investigated at chain pet store
Authorities have filed cruelty charges against an Akron pet store employee after she allegedly posted photos of herself on her Facebook page smiling while holding two rabbits she drowned in the store’s back room. (Warning: link contains photo which could be disturbing to some viewers.)
Elizabeth Carlisle was fired from her job at a Petland store in Akron, Ohio, after People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals found photos posted on her Facebook page showing Carlisle holding two dead, wet bunnies by the scruff of the neck.
According to PETA, Carlisle commented that a store manager took the photo after Carlisle drowned the bunnies while swearing at them to “hurry up and die.”
Carlisle’s other comments indicate the rabbits were killed to end their suffering, caused primarily by their care at the store. The rabbits were apparently allowed to “attack” and “eat” each other and suffered deep wounds. One had an eye missing, according to comments posted with the photo.
After the photos surfaced, Petland revoked the store owner’s franchise and removed all its animals from the store, which was located inside an Akron mall. Police are still investigating the incident but Carlisle has been charged and will appear in court Aug. 17.
As I’ve mentioned in this blog before, my girlfriend has a small pet business. She sells parakeets, cockatiels, a few other birds, snakes and other reptiles, hamsters, bunnies and whatever other small animals she is into at the moment.
Most of the animals live in a spare bedroom in our home, including the rabbits. They can be a lot to handle. Proper care requires you don’t overcrowd them. With a large number of bunnies, you have to clean the cages daily. It can be a lot of work, but it’s not optional. One of the things my girlfriend and I have discussed is the responsibility that comes with keeping pets. Having as many animals as we do brings with it the work that goes into caring for them.
As anyone who keeps pets must learn at some point, animals don’t live forever. A house bunny typically lives 8 or 9 years if properly cared for, and some can live as long as 13 or 14 years. When you are dealing with large numbers of pets, some won’t make it that long. It’s only natural. But there is no excuse for the kinds of conditions described in this case.
Drowning or otherwise killing animals because you don’t want to do the work that comes with keeping them is cruel and inhumane. If anyone should understand this, it should be those who work with animals on a daily basis. I can only hope justice is truly served in this case.
- Staff Writer Bryan Dean
Pets in the paper – saying goodbye to Boz
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- Therapy dog goes on his final round. (Oklahoma City)
- Pelican collision getting new look. (Oklahoma City)
- Police arrest 19 in canary fighting. (Connecticut)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Vick’s comeback could help in fight against cruelty
Now it’s up to Michael Vick.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell reinstated the just one week after he completed his federal sentence for dogfighting. He’s allowed to practice and participate in team activities, and Goodell will consider in mid-October whether to allow him to play in games. But that’s only if a team picks him up.
“Needless to say, your margin for error is extremely limited,” Goodell said in a letter to Vick, according to reports from the Associated Press. “I urge you to take full advantage of the resources available to support you and to dedicate yourself to rebuilding your life and your career. If you do this, the NFL will support you.”
This causes a strong reaction from those of us who love dogs – disappointment, anger, frustration. The NFL has a reputation for allowing players convicted of crimes to continue without reparation. This decision to allow Vick to return continues down that path of indifference.
But there’s potential for some real good to come out of this. Yes, really.
Michael Vick has expressed remorse about his involvement with Bad Newz Kennels, the dogfighting operation he financed. He’s promised the world he has changed. It’s hard to believe that’s true. Can someone who so callously allowed animals to be torn to shreds and abused ever really become human again? Vick has a chance to show us if it’s possible.
After Goodell makes his decision about whether Vick can play in games, he’ll be off the hook for good. He’ll have wrapped up his prison sentence and been allowed to return to a salary that most of us can only dream about.
So that’s when he’ll have his chance.
He doesn’t have to put on a front. He doesn’t have to play to the cameras. He doesn’t have to tell everyone in sight that he’s sorry because he’ll have nothing to gain. Right now it’s debatable whether he’s really sorry. Come October, we can find out if he really is.
Come October, Vick could be a real force for change in the world of dogfighting.
He’ll be in the limelight because of his career, and therefore he’ll be a natural role model for children and adults alike. He’ll have the chance to continue his work against animal cruelty for no other benefit than doing the right thing. He can show that people can change and that dogfighting is wrong. He can become a powerful voice against animal cruelty. If he chooses.
For those of us who have been angry at the former football star and his ruthlessness, this is a chance for him to prove us all wrong. I hope he does.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – a dog that tucks children in bed
Holy moly! I was out of town, so there’s lots of catching up to do. Here are the animal stories in The Oklahoma today, yesterday, Saturday and Friday -
- For kids in therapy, a new best friend. (Oklahoma City, video below)
- Funding issues hamper animal rescue’s efforts. (Harrah)
- Two men hurt in attack by pit bulls. (Midwest City)
- Car show benefits pets. (Oklahoma City)
- Horse show to draw top trainers. (Ardmore)
- Rescue calls charges in cruelty case “sad.” (Sayre)
- More arrests expected in illegal horse racing. (Guymon)
- Report: Goodell decides on Vick. (New Jersey)
- Owens says NFL unfair in handling Vick’s status. (New York)
- Film may put critters in false light. (California)
- Meat packer suspended. (Kansas)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
