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
Pets in the paper – run for your lives, hoggies
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- Get along, little doggy. (Slaughterville, page 11a)
- Legislation updates: feral hogs. (state capitol)
- Award honors portrait book on rural life. (Oklahoma City)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Military tested armor on pigs
Odds are if you’re reading this blog, you probably aren’t a fan of hurting animals. (Hence all the discuss about Michael Vick.) So when this story came to my inbox, I was surprised and saddened, and I figured other Pet Show fans would want to know about it.
The military spent 11 months testing body armor on pigs. How? By putting them in Humvees and blowing them up.
Long story short, the military discovered that body armor is, you know, important. Officials discovered that pigs with body armor lived and pigs without body armor died.
Thank goodness we did lots of testing to figure that out.
The Humane Society of the United State is upset, as expected. They say blowing up pigs isn’t necessary. The Pentagon says that the pigs were treated humanely. Except for the part where they, you know, blew them up.
While the cause is noble and our soldiers must be protected from harm, maybe the military should figure out a better way to do that than blowing up animals.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – Ants in Norman’s pants
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- Two museum events will focus on ants. (Norman)
- Dog events have foes howling in Oklahoma. (Ardmore)
- Youth Expo winners take top honors. (statewide)
- Animal plan wins support. (Oklahoma House of Representatives)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper
Check out these animal stories from The Oklahoman today, yesterday and Saturday:
- Make your pet a video star in NewsOK.com contest.
- Bug Fest has creepy-crawlie stars. (Norman)
- Mailed jailed in doe shooting. (Vermont)
- Equine dentist law has teeth. (statewide)
- State park just made horse sense. (Wagoner)
- Zoo welcomes baby elephant. (California)
- Condor suffers from gunshot. (California)
- Oil soaks pelican, Australian beach. (Saturday, page 7a)
- Don’t make impulse bunny buy. (statewide)
- Oklahoma City Zoo exhibit revives dinosaurs.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
