Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Cute, curious and oh-so captivating kittens!
Every spring and summer, millions of abandoned kittens overwhelm animal shelters across the country. It's estimated that approximately 70 percent of healthy and adoptable shelter kittens and cats are euthanized simply due to lack of space and resources.
laughparty.com
Not coincidentally, June 1 marks the start of national Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat Month to help raise awareness about the importance of making pet adoption your first option, especially considering the countless cats waiting for new, happy homes — maybe even yours!
Share pictures of your fluffy felines in our new kitten gallery.
(If your kitten has a certain "je ne sais quoi" or is just a complete ham, consider submitting photos to Jill Fraser for possible inclusion in the new Maddie's Fund ad campaign.)
To help shine the spotlight on adoptable cats everywhere, Petfinder.com has launched "The Whiskers" photo contest where shelters can submit pics of their most photogenic cats. From June 1 to June 21, cat lovers like you can vote on the best kitty images in a variety of cinematic-sounding CAT-egories. Betsy Saul, the co-founder of Petfinder.com credits the more than 125,000 homeless cats on Petfinder.com right as inspiration for the contest.
"CATegories" for The Whiskers contest include:
- Best Newcomer: While few will admit that there is any kitten in this world who isn't absolutely amazing, this CATegory is for the most adorable, itty-bitty feline around.
- Best On-Screen Duo: Some adoptable cats and kittens are inseparable from their favorite brother or sister. This CATegory is for these precious pairs.
- Best Picture: This CATegory is for the cats and kittens who are a paw above the rest and have mastered the art of the pose.
- Cattyist: Perhaps you know an adoptable cat or kitten who has diva tendencies. For them, this CATegory is the cat's meow.
- Best Comedic Performance: To celebrate outstanding purr-sonality, Petfinder.com has formed a special partnership with the popular website, ICanHasCheezburger.com to find the most hilarious shelter kitten or cat in the land.
Petfinder.com will announce the winners on June 30.
For an extra dose of cuteness, check out KittenWar.com or watch the adorable video below:
| May 26 at 11:29 AM
Still time to enter the Pet-Look-Alike photo contest!
Perhaps you and your poodle dye your hair the same rainbow colors or share a hankering for pink toenails. Maybe your Maine Coon's mannerisms mimic your own? Or, better yet, you've discovered that you and your favorite rat share a passion for foods with holes in the middle (see below).
If this sounds like you, you're in luck! We've extended the deadline for the People-Pet-Look-Alike contest until this Saturday, May 29 at 8 p.m. Submit your photos to our gallery and win some fabulously pampering prizes, including a facial from Nicole Burke Skincare and a massage from Mochi Massage, plus a hefty gift certificate to Pet Food Express for your furry, finned or feathered doppelganger. (Read the complete contest rules here.)
Here's my favorite entry so far:
George the pet rat, by davr
"My pet rat George is a male chocolate-colored dumbo rat. He loves his cheerios."
Whatever obvious — or not so obvious — characteristics you share with your pet, here's your chance to show them off. Don't be shy!
| May 26 at 08:18 AM
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
San Francisco SPCA announces new leadership
The San Francisco SPCA Board of Directors announced today several new appointments that it hopes will "strengthen the organization's ability to save and protect animals."
Effective immediately, Jennifer Scarlett, DVM, and Jason Walthall will serve as interim co-presidents as the board continues its search for a permanent president. Dr. Scarlett who has served as director of shelter medical services for the SFSPCA for the past three years will be responsible for all shelter medical and adoption services. Co-President Walthall, will head up financial and operational matters. He has served as chief financial officer of SFSPCA since 2009.
According to the SF/SPCA press release issued today, in addition to their internal roles, both Walthall and Dr. Scarlett will also be responsible for "building and strengthening relationships with the local animal welfare community."
Jennifer Chung is the newly appointed board chair and joins the SF/SPCA from Genentech, Inc., where she served for five years in product management and marketing. Catherine Brown, the outgoing board chair, will assume the role of co-vice chair. Additionally, three Bay Area executives have joined the board: Ken Fulk of Ken Fulk Design, inc., Jill Nash of Levi Strauss and Russ Nelson of Salesforce.com.
| May 25 at 02:27 PM
Tougher animal protection bill wins CA assembly approval
California legislators are making a clear statement about the treatment of domestic animals in the Golden State: neglecting a pet is as serious a form of abuse as intentionally hurting one.
On Monday, the California Assembly approved Assembly Bill 2012, authored by Assemblymember Ted Lieu (D-Torrance), which will increase the penalty for animal neglect from a maximum of six months to up to one year of incarceration.
AB 2012 will also instigate a possible fine of up to $20,000 for animal cruelty and animal neglect offenses.
"It's not okay to deprive an animal of basic needs such as food, water or veterinary care," said Jill Buckley, senior director of government relations for the ASPCA, a cosponsor of AB 2012. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) also supports the bill, which will now move to the Senate.
Read additional posts about pet policy:
Still hope for "extreme animal cruelty" law
Fur-labeling legislation passes assembly judiciary committee
Should animal abusers be registered like sex offenders?
| May 25 at 01:38 PM
Friday, May 21, 2010
Breed of the week: the formidable Fila
During a layover in Chicago, I sat next to a smartly dressed New Yorker I'll call Cynthia who was elevating a bandaged toe on her designer handbag. As someone who once flew to Europe right after tearing a tendon in my foot, I was sympathetic and quickly struck up a conversation.
"So what happened?" I inquired, expecting the standard stubbed-toe tale.
"I was run over by a dog," she answered.
bundaberg.qld.gov.au
The formidable Fila.
She explained that her brother's home had been broken into last year and some of his family members had been held at gunpoint. Not one to "mess around" with issues of security, her brother quickly acquired TWO Fila Brasileiros. Apparently these courageous dogs are the ultimate guarding machine aside from stationing a hired gun in your front yard. Although they are extremely loyal to the people and other pets that they are socialized with at a young age, they can be downright scary in the company of strangers.
Filas are one, if not the only, breed that was selected for centuries to deeply dislike people. The breed standard prescribes that, even at dog shows, Filas should not "allow the judge to touch it. And if it attacks the judge, such a reaction must not be considered a fault, but only a confirmation of its temperament."
Although Cynthia had met her brother's dogs when they were puppies, she hadn't seen them in more than 7 months and admitted that she was more than a little nervous about the reintroduction. Happily they recognized her after just a few sniffs, but one of them got so excited that he knocked her off her feet and sent her flying into a wall, breaking her toe.
"At least they remembered me," she joked. "It could have been a lot worse."
Post pictures of your fierce and faithful Filas here in our gallery.
The ancestors of the Fila Brasileiro were brought to the new world from Brazil by the Conquistadors and crossed with the Mastiff, Bloodhound and Bulldog. Today's breed combines a terrific sniffer with power and fearless tenacity. This made the Fila particularly suited to defending plantations, ranches and cattle against intruders and wild animals.
The word "Fila" is derived from a Portugese word meaning 'to hold' or 'to secure'. Filas were frequently favored to track and attack prey during hunts and at one time were also employed to capture runaway slaves.
Some Fila fans halt all socialization at 4 months, effectively helping to mold their temperament into an anti-social dog that is "ojeriza," or distrustful of strangers. Many owners, however, continue to socialize their Filas throughout their lives. Although this will not necessarily make the dog more amenable to strangers, it can teach a Fila that not everything is a threat. This ultimately helps make him more confident and stable in the world around him.
gotpetsonline.com
Don't be fooled by this face; Filas dislike strangers.
Described as a typical "molosser" breed, Filas are squarely built, strong-boned and have massive sculls. They have a droopy, sad look when at rest, and tend to have loose, wrinkly skin. These dogs have a unique ambling gait, created by moving both legs on the same side of the body at the same time, instead of diagonally like other dog breeds. They also possess loose joints in the legs and spine enabling them to quickly change directions, even at high speeds.
Extremely dedicated to their owners, Filas will protect them and their families without hesitation. Guarding is hardwired into their nature. Filas make great family pets and are gentle, loving and very tolerant with children. Proper socialization and a detailed understanding of this breed's instincts are crucial to raising a well-trained and well-adjusted dog.
A dog with the massive size and strength of the Fila that believes he is alpha to humans can be extremely dangerous. For this reason, this breed is NOT recommended for the average pet owner. If friends and relatives frequently visit, or if you do not have the time or patience to train such a large, powerful dog, it's best to consider another breed.
Filas need plenty of exercise and do best with a securely fenced-in yard with room to run. They are NOT city apartment dogs. As with other large dogs, they are prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, bloat and gastric torsion. Their typical life expectancy is 9-11 years.
For more information about this impressive (and intimidating) breed, check out the Fila Brasileiro Foundation website.
Send your suggestions for future breed posts to pets@sfgate.com.
| May 21 at 01:47 PM
Thursday, May 20, 2010
More proof that pets are good for our health
If you've been on the fence about adopting an animal, here's some news that might finally push you over the edge: a recent study that analyzed the brain waves of dog owners found that proximity to their pups made them feel calmer and significantly reduced their levels of cortisol, a stress hormone.
barbaraling.com
The cuddle cure.
Dr. Sandra Barker (yep, that's her real name) a professor of psychiatry and director of the School of Medicine Center for Human-Animal Interaction at Virginia Commonwealth University, studies what happens inside our bodies when we interact with dogs and is the creator of the brain wave study.
Says Barker, "We're trying to find out what's really physically going on...No one's ever looked at the brain waves before with human-animal interaction."
According to the study, after Barker's subjects interacted with a dog, they showed an increase in both theta and alpha brain frequencies — the frequency bands associated with relaxation. And regardless if the dog was familiar to them or not, people showed the same measurable response — a preliminary finding that could prove useful to health experts that employ animal assisted therapy.
Over the years, numerous other studies have pointed to the many heath-giving benefits of pets, including lowering blood pressure, keeping depression at bay and even increasing longevity. In the face of all of this glowing evidence, the National Institutes of Health recently announced that it's sinking $2 million into new research on the subject.
Barker agrees that larger-scale studies are needed to find out more about how animals — and especially therapy dogs — can make an impact in a clinical setting. But once the financial challenge is met, there are also a few technical hurdles to overcome. Unlike most other medical trials, you can't give a subject a placebo pill when you're studying the effects of pets on people. "It's really tough to blind somebody to a dog," says Barker.
How do your pets help keep you healthy?
| May 20 at 01:23 PM
Paw Prints fundraiser dog walk this Sunday in Mill Valley!
Put on your sneakers and grab your pooch for the Marin Human Society's Paw Prints fundraiser dog walk in Mill Valley this Sunday. The one-mile stroll begins at 9 a.m. (check in is at 8:30 a.m.) at scenic BayFront Dog Park, located at the end of Sycamore Avenue off Camino Alto. The event fee is $25 for each registered dog.
The Marin Humane Society will donate a portion of proceeds to their friends across the Bay at the Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society after a fire early this morning killed 12 adoption cats and destroyed the shelter's cat adoption area.
Register online at MarinHumaneSociety.org. For more information, call 415.506.6208.
MarinHumaneSociety.org
| May 20 at 12:37 PM
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Pets around the world (new series)
Late last night, I returned from a whirlwind tour of Turkey. Not unlike my trip to Nicaragua over the holidays, I was dismayed by the number of stray animals I saw — in the big cities as well as roaming the countryside. But while Nicaragua is overflowing with packs of homeless hounds, Turkey's streets are almost exclusively ruled by feral felines.
Despite being collarless and without "permanent" homes filled with toys and overstuffed pet furniture, many of Turkey's strays are clearly well looked after. (This is not the case in Nicaragua where the majority of dogs are scruffy and very fearful of people.) Turkish shopkeepers, restaurant staff and residents make sure that the animals that adopt them (yes, not the other way around) have plenty of food and water, and even medical treatment when they need it — although spay and neuter programs (including education on the subject) appear to be in short supply. In one instance, a shopkeeper who was helping me with a purchase asked me if I wouldn't mind waiting a few minutes so she could feed her "pet" cat who, she explained, had just returned after a lengthy absence.
Using these encounters as inspiration, I am launching a new series about pets around the world and how they are treated in other countries, beginning with today's post.
Although the star of the brief video below would make an unlikely pet, the rare interaction captured between man and beast is a beautiful thing. A tiny penguin who is about to be lunch for a pod of killer whales is observed by a boat full of tourists... and just watch what the little guy does:
A friend recently shared this video on her Facebook page and received many comments. But, at least for me, one in particular stood out:
If the boat had been filled with Americans, they probably would have either tossed the penguin back in the water to save themselves, or else picked it up, petted it and posed for photos. Glad to see there are still some sensible people around.
Do you agree that Americans would be less likely to stay calm and grant refuge to the penguin? Share your thoughts here.
| May 19 at 03:09 PM
Monday, May 17, 2010
Preventing dog bites
One summer during a visit to Upstate New York, I took a wrong turn on a hike and wound up accidentally trespassing on someone's property. While I was trying to retrace my steps, I rounded a thicket of raspberry bushes and found myself standing just a few feet away from a sleeping dog.
Before I could decide what to do, the dog opened one eye and began to growl and bare his teeth. I made like a statue and attempted to reason with the dog, saying things in a preternaturally calm voice like, "Hey little doggie. I'm sorry I woke you up. Everything's gonna be okay." And: "I'm lost. But I'm still a good person. I like doggies." But eventually he charged straight at me. For a second I thought it was all over, but my blood-curdling scream miraculously froze him mid-jump (I guess he was as surprised as I was) and he fell backwards, giving me just enough time to make a run for the road. Thankfully the dog's owner was home and called off his perturbed pooch before he could take a chunk out of my calf.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 2 percent of the U.S. population is bitten by man's best friend each year. About 800,000 individuals, half of them children, seek medical treatment for dog bites, and between 15 and 20 of these annual bites turn out to be fatal.
While our chances of being bitten by a dog are relatively slim, it's still a good idea to know how to protect ourselves, just in case. In recognition of National Dog Bite Prevention Week (May 16-22), here are a few sound safety tips from the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the Humane Society (two quick hints: you aren't supposed to scream or run):
- Dogs are territorial creatures and value their own space. Never approach an unfamiliar dog, especially one who's tied or confined behind a fence or in a car. Always assume that a dog who doesn't know you may see you as an intruder or a threat.
- Don't disturb a dog while she's sleeping, eating, chewing on a toy or caring for her puppies.
- Always ask a dog's owner for permission before petting any dog. Approach the dog slowly and let him sniff your hand. If all goes well, gently pet him under the chin, not on the top of the head.
- If you encounter a stray dog, do not run away from him. A dog's natural instinct will be to chase and catch you. Be still at first, then back away slowly.
- Should an unfriendly dog run toward you, stand still with your arms crossed in front of your body. Do not make eye contact with the dog as they may interpret this as a challenge.
- If you encounter a pack of unfamiliar dogs, throw a small object away from you to distract them, and then slowly walk away.
- Keep in mind that it's the deed, not the breed. Always judge a dog by his actions rather than his looks.
If you are approached by a dog who you fear may attack you, follow these steps:
- Resist the impulse to scream and run away.
- Remain motionless with your hands at your sides and avoid eye contact with the dog.
- Slowly back away until the dog is out of sight.
- If the dog runs towards you, "feed" him your jacket, purse, bicycle or anything that you can put between yourself and the dog.
- If you fall or are knocked to the ground, curl into a ball with your hands over your ears and remain motionless. Try not to scream or roll around.
If you are bitten or attacked by a dog:
- Don't panic.
- Immediately wash the wound with soap and warm water.
- Contact your physician for additional care and advice.
- Report the bite to your local animal care and control agency.
Have you ever had a close call with a dog? What did you do to protect yourself?
| May 17 at 03:36 PM
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Elephant events in the East Bay!
The Oakland Zoo is hosting two enticing events that celebrate elephants on May 13 and May 15.
oaklandzoo.org
Celebrating Elephants Lecture, Thursday May 13: This evening presentation will feature Douglas J. Long, Ph.D., chief curator of natural sciences at the Oakland Museum and an associate researcher at California Academy of Science, who will discuss the evolution and extinction of America's elephants. A donation of $20 per person is requested. All proceeds will support Amboseli Trust for Elephants. The event begins at 6 p.m. with a reception and silent auction, followed by the presentation at 7 p.m.
Celebrating Elephants Day, Saturday May 15: From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. guests will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of elephant-oriented activities, including touching elephant bones, holding an 11-pound elephant tooth, stepping into an elephant footprint and observing and recording elephants' behaviors in a mock research camp. Plus, get a tour of the elephant barn and see these magnificent creatures ($5.00). In the Wayne and Gladys Valley Children's Zoo, visitors can watch the animal-free Circus Finelli perform.
For more information, please visit the Oakland Zoo website.
| May 11 at 01:49 PM
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