Nice pig plate
A friend of mine is traveling in Italy this week, and he spotted this gem he knew I’d love.
This fantastic silver pig platter can be purchased in Venice, for any of you who are able to afford a nice trip like that in this economy. Word is there’s no price tag on it. That’s means you probably can’t afford it unless people refer to you as “your highness.”
Missing price tag aside, it’s is an outstanding piece of pig art.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Cheeseburgers help cats
You know you’re already thinking about lunch and maybe even dinner. What should you eat? Anything from Johnnie’s Charcoal Broiler.
If you stop by any of the metro locations today, mention Hands Helping Paws. The organization will receive a portion of the proceeds. What is Hands Helping Paws?
Hands Helping Paws, Inc. (HHP)is cat welfare organization in Norman. The organization assists the community with Trap, Neuter and Return (TNR) of feral cats, rescues from local high-kill animal shelters, and promotes spay & neuter education to the community. You may see our adoptable cats and kittens at Petfinder.com and search for Hands Helping Paws.
There are seven Johnnie’s Express and Charcoal Broiler locations in the metro area participating in the Hands Helping Paws benefit:
- Norman: 1230 W Main
- Edmond: 620 W Danforth and 33 E 33rd St
- Oklahoma City: 13900 N May Ave, 2652 W Britton Road, 6629 NW Expressway and 421 SW 74
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pet Show – the flying disc guru
Listen to Pet Show! Our guest today is Lee Fairchild of OK Paws K-9 Sports Club and Friends for Folks. Lee talked to us about the Spring Fling, the disc dog competition beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday at Washington High School. The contest is open to everyone from complete novices to advanced pros. (As a side note, Lee is quite the accomplished disc dog athlete. He’s head for the world championship. Read about it and watch videos here.)
Here are the news and tips we talked about on this week’s show:
- New Zealand hosts penguin sports tournament.
- Swine flu doesn’t really affect pets except for, well, you know, swine.
- Parrots join humans on the dance floor. (video below)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – horses find homes
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- Flu outbreak alarms hog farmers. (statewide)
- Alligators, hunger threaten Brazilians. (Brazil)
- Unbridled enthusiasm greets wild-horse sale. (Kellyville)
And check out these story now at NewsOK.com -
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Afghan pig locked up in solitary confinement
Today’s not a good day to be a pig in Afghanistan.
Actually, probably no day is a good day to be a pig in Afghanistan because you’re the only pig in the entire country. But today must be especially bad because fears of the swine flu.
The nation’s only pig has been moved off exhibit at the Kabul Zoo because people are afraid the porker could give them swine flu. Officials there built him his own room to live in for now until the swine flu hubbub dies out.
The sole Afghan pig was originally a gift from China. Pigs are considered illegal in the Muslim nation, where the animals are considered irreligious.
With his new habitat, the Afghan pig is probably even more lonely than he already was.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – future of horse home unclear
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- Horse rescue rides into cloudy future. (Ada)
- Changes brooding for state breeders. (statewide)
- Bill updates: Feral hogs. (state capitol)
- “Bug lady” has love-hate relationship with museum insects. (Norman)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets and pig flu? No need to worry.
The drama over swine flu - or as some folks perfer to call it, the N1H1 virus - contiues, and some pet owners are worried it could affect their furry friends. Experts say there’s no need to worry, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
“Currently there’s no data demonstrating any risk of dogs and cats contracting this strain of the virus,” says Dr. Louise Murray, director of medicine at the ASPCA’s Bergh Memorial Hospital in New York City. “However, owners of pet pigs, as well as farmers, should monitor their animals’ health more closely and take steps to limit transmission from humans to pigs and vice versa.”
The American Veterinary Medical Association also reminded the public they can still hang out with pigs all they want. But it’s probably a good idea to get your porker the flu shot anyway. It’s part of their normal care, according to the ASPCA.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
PETA asks governor to close pig farms
In light of the swine flu craze, PETA has asked Gov. Brad Henry to shut down pig farms in Oklahoma. Big farms are the source of lots of deadly diseases, such as swine flu, according to PETA. Here’s their letter:
Dear Governor Henry:
I’m writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and our more than 2 million members and supporters worldwide regarding the swine influenza outbreak.
The number one question on people’s minds is, “How can we prevent swine flu?” Epidemiologists are unanimous in their assessment of the true Ground Zero: filthy factory farms, which might as well be called “flu farms.” Considering that Oklahoma is one of the top producers of pig flesh in the country, I urge you to prohibit the construction of any new factory farms in your state and get existing farms to clean up their acts immediately. Taking decisive action now could prevent Oklahoma from becoming the next epicenter of a deadly outbreak.
Your state’s filthy factory farms are breeding grounds for disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 30 to 50 percent of pigs raised for food in the U.S. have been infected with some strain of swine flu. Top independent public-health experts have been issuing warnings for years that the meat industry’s greedy and cruel practices—including forcing tens of thousands of animals to live their entire lives in cramped and filthy crates, pens, or sheds in which the animals’ urine and feces collect beneath them or is fed into stinking outdoor waste lakes—leads to devastating human illnesses. As animals on factory farms in the U.S. produce about 250,000 pounds of excrement per second, flies can also become a significant problem, spreading bacteria from one area to another.
Factory farms are bad neighbors. When factory farms move into communities, the pollution that comes with them often results in increased rates of neurological disorders, respiratory diseases, miscarriages, bacterial infections, diarrhea, and stomach ailments; sometimes, the contamination leaves people permanently disabled or even dead.
Factory farming is bad for Oklahoma. Please consider the following:
· In March and May 2001, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sampled drinking-water supply wells and found nitrate concentrations as high as 15.7 mg per liter (the acceptable level is 10 mg per liter). Nitrates from nearby pig factory farms had contaminated an underground source of drinking water for four nearby households.
· When a man drowned in a 6-acre, 25-foot-deep manure lagoon at Murphy Farms in Ellis County, Okla., it took 18 days for his body to be recovered.
In light of these facts, will you please safeguard your citizens’ health by instructing Oklahoma factory farms to clean up their facilities immediately and by banning the construction of any new factory farms? Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Tracy Reiman
Executive Vice President
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pass the pork, please
Despite all the swine flu hubbub, you can still be friends with pigs. That is, if you liked pigs to begin with.
The American Veterinary Medical Association, the nation’s largest vet organization, says being around pigs is OK.
“This disease is transmitted from human to human and, as far as we know right now, it does not involve pigs, livestock or pets,” said Dr. Ron DeHaven, chief executive officer of the AVMA. “That said, the association advises people to follow proper cooking guidelines for all meat products including pork to avoid food borne illnesses such as salmonella.”
The new virus isn’t even found in pigs, according to the AVMA. It’s being spread among humans. But pig farmers and owners are keeping an eye out for it, according to the American Association of Swine Veterinarians.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – and this little piggy went to the doctor
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- State pork producers are on alert. (statewide)
- An exhibit of animal paintings opening. (Oklahoma City)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
