What About the Pets?

There is so much tragic human news as we get set to honor our veterans on Memorial Day that brings out the compassion in all of us.  But what about the pets?  One of several groups working with veterans today is PACT for Animals.  The group is helping by caring for and then reuniting soldiers with their pets through its foster care program.

The horrific Oklahoma tornado is certainly foremost on our minds, as it should be.  The good news if any is the amount of human kindness shown to those in need.  For the pets, the story is still unfolding.  Tragically, according to dvm360, it appears many pets and animals have died in the terrible storm.   There are some heroic tales as well, including one about a hero dog guarding the body of its owner.  The American Humane Association is sending much needed support and will continue to update us via their social media platforms.

What about the pets in other areas looking for forever homes? Maddie’s Pet Adoption Days, the first free New York City wide Adoption Event, takes place next weekend — June 1 and June 2 in New York City.  Check out the blog post from Debra Horwitz, DVM, DACVB on the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals web site.  The Keep the L.O.V.E. Alive Behavior Express Tour bus will also be at June 1-2 events in New York City.

In other news, as pet owners travel the country with pets this summer,  The Center for Pet Safety is set to test travel products this summer.

What about the pets?  It looks like there are plenty of people and organizations that care.  Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Be Kind: American Humane Study Shows We’ve Got Work To Do

Today is the last day of Be Kind to Animals Week which coincides with National Pet Week this year.  But thankfully, it’s not the last chance to take a look at how we treat our pets — and solve the problems that lead to giving them up.  American Humane Association (AHA) released a study funded by a grant from PetSmart Charities on Wednesday, May 8 that indicates hundreds of thousands of adopted pets are given up, lost or die each year.

Interestingly, there was a significant difference in retention rates associated with veterinary visits.  Although the AHA cautioned a deeper dive into the reasons why, the retention rate among pets that had had a veterinary visit was 93.3 percent compared to 53.3 percent of dogs and 79.4 percent of cats respectively.

According to Dr. Patricia Olson, chief veterinary advisor for AHA and head of its Animal Welfare Institute, the study explores three of the greatest issues facing dogs and cats today: the lack of willing adopters, the reasons so many pets leave their homes and the need to create strategies to help Americans retain their pets.

Animal health companies and veterinary groups are also trying to address these alarming problems. For example, behavioral issues is one of the concerns that can cause pet owners to give up their pet.  As Ceva Animal Health and the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists again tour this year with the Keep the L.O.V.E. Alive Behavior Express Tour bus, pet owners will be provided with some solutions to behavioral problems, and encouraged to see their veterinarian.  For a complete tour schedule, click here.

Kudos to the American Humane Association on the study, but AHA knows we still have work to do.  The American Humane Association is seeking funding to complete the project and prospective supporters can contact AHA at 866-242-1877 or reneg@americanhumane.org. The complete study can be found at americanhumane.org/petsmart.

There’s A Whole Lot of Love Going On…

“Love Your Pet, See Your Vet” is this year’s theme for National Pet Week May 5-11.  The American Veterinary Medical Association is reminding pet owners that the best way to show your pet you truly care is to give them the gift of good health.  According to Dr. Douglas Aspros, president of the AVMA, “Regular veterinary visits are important because many times pets will hide symptoms of illness, so you need your veterinarian’s skill and expertise to keep your pets healthy.”

“Spreading the Love Around” is Goodnewsforpets.com.  We’ve relaunched our contest section and celebrating National Pet Week with a chance to win a gift card from Petsmart and a matched donation to Petsmart Charities.

Ceva Animal Health together with the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists  is on the road again with the “Keep the L.O.V.E. Alive Behavior Express Tour” bus this year.  The L.O.V.E. stands for “lean on veterinary expertise” and given that it’s National Pet Week, it’s a great time to remind pet owners of the tour’s message: thousands of pets die needlessly due to untreated behavior problems.  According to spokesperson Debra Horwitz, DVM, DACVB, “Pet owners can keep that love alive by seeing their veterinarian to help solve those pet behavior problems before it’s too late.”

Finally, news about a “beloved” trade show. The legendary H.H. Backer pet trade show in Chicago has a new format and will now be called “Backer’s Total Pet Expo” and be held September 20-22, 2013.  The show has a new website at www.totalpetexpo.com.

Whether it’s “love” or “L.O.V.E.” or “Beloved” that’s a whole lot of love going on with pets front and center. That’s good news for pets, for sure.

Ticks, Fleas….Ewww

Mention ticks and fleas and yes,  most people, including myself, do go “ewww.”  We don’t want these nuisances crawling or jumping on us, and we certainly don’t want them on our pets. The Centers for Disease Control Division of Vector-Borne Diseases urges people to protect both themselves and their pets from vector-borne diseases from these pests. Veterinary expert Dr. Michael Dryden recommends year-round parasite control and last year on goodnewsforpets, Dr. Byron Blagburn shared some additional observations that are worth repeating. This year, we also bring you Dr. Paula Harvatine of West Salem Veterinary Clinic, West Salem, Wisconsin who backs up the experts with some practical advice.

It’s great this advice and a product like Vectra3D exists. When I was a kid growing up on Long Island, my family boated on South Oyster Bay and my brothers and I played among the sand dunes at Robert Moses State Park, Tobay Beach and in countless other coves.  The biggest concern was staying away from the poison ivy. As far as “bugs” go, ticks were a nuisance, mosquitoes and green flies buzzed us, but bug bites were deemed harmless albeit itchy!  When we camped in the woods, the same rules applied. But once Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever outbreaks emerged on Long Island and Lyme Disease became prominent in the news, the ever-increasing tick population took on an ominous importance that continues on Long Island to this day.  The concern about vector-borne diseases isn’t just limited to Long Island –it’s nationwide. Admittedly I’ve never experienced a flea outbreak, and thank goodness.  Preventing ticks and fleas with a good parasite prevention program is the reason. Ticks and fleas…ewww.  I’d rather keep my distance — for me and my pets.

What A Guy: Dr. Pidgeon Retires from WVC

Say it isn’t so! Beloved, respected and universally admired veterinary leader, Guy Pidgeon, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), is leaving his latest post as chief executive officer of the Western Veterinary Conference. Pidgeon was named chief executive officer emeritus and officially retires in June 2013 as David Little transitions into his new role as chief executive officer.

While I am thrilled for David as he embarks on this new role, I look forward to seeing what is next for Guy. So spectacular in everything he touches, yet so modest you can hear a pin drop when he gives his opinion (not like this New Yorker, for sure), I can’t miss an opportunity to applaud how much Guy has done for every aspect of the profession.

My first encounter with Guy came as Hill’s Pet Nutrition launched Prescription Diet canine t/d, a dental diet for dogs.  Guy was my “go to” when we created and helped launch “Pets Need Dental Care, Too!” on behalf of Hill’s Pet Nutrition, the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Veterinary Dental Society.  Patient, considerate and always willing to help guide us through the nuances of organized veterinary medicine, Guy and his stellar research counterpart, Dan Richardson, DVM, DACVS, are two of the first veterinarians I met and how I came to embrace working with the veterinary profession.  How lucky could I get!

Prior to accepting the position on the WVC’s executive Staff, Guy was CEO of the Animal Medical Center in New York City and was elected President of the Center’s Board of Trustees. During this period he also served on the AVMA Executive Board. He joined Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. as Associate Director of Veterinary Affairs and was later promoted to Director of that department. His career has also included a 12-year term on the faculty at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine.

He has also served as chair of the Board of Regents of the American Veterinary College of Internal Medicine.  Recipient of multiple awards for teaching and previously recognized as Veterinarian of the Year by the New York City Veterinary Medical Society, Guy also received the inaugural Spirit of Excellence Award from Veterinary Specialists in Private Practice (VSIPP).

In addition to these big announced awards, Guy has received many silent accolades from admirers throughout the veterinary profession.

Guy, on behalf of all those silent and now singing admirers, we so look forward to your next hurrah. Whatever it is, it will be spectacular in your own way.  Well done.

From Don to Sensation & Then Some: What Makes Westminster So Special

The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in and of itself is a treasured institution to New Yorkers and Dog Lovers all over the world.  Established in 1877, it’s the second longest continuously held sporting event in the U.S., just one year behind the Kentucky Derby.   Being that old doesn’t make it stodgy.  No, Westminster’s been on its game since the very beginning.  It seems even the emblem of the show, a Pointer from England named “Don” became “Sensation” upon being imported to the United States. 

And, the showmanship continues!  Every year there is something new to talk about…and then some. David Frei is the public spokesperson for the Westminster Kennel Club and has been the television voice of Westminster since 1990.  It’s always exciting to get the latest news from him and his team. This year, we’ve highlighted the record number of entries and the two new breeds to compete and how they were selected.  Plus, an extraordinary poster capturing the elegant competition.

To me, Westminster also holds a special place not because of the dogs, which are of course a sight to behold, but because of the dog world people I’ve come to know.   From meeting Mordecai Siegal in the Westminster press room in 2000 to the excitement of finding out who of the writers won at the Dog Writer’s Association of America Banquet to the electric atmosphere of today’s Westminster Press Room, I’ve always come away with new friends, new contacts, and a feeling that it just doesn’t get any better in the dog world than this.  Now on with The Show….

Breaking A Leg & Soldiering On

This past October we faced Hurricane Sandy’s  wrath with flashlights at the ready, a generator on standby and a boat tethered to the dock (too late to pull it out of the Hudson). We survived relatively unscathed. Yes my husband had to scavenger for gas for the generator, but at least we had one — and an undamaged home. The boat on the Hudson miraculously continued to float tethered to a pylon — missing floating away by a foot. 

Three days later “our Sandy moment” hit as I broke my tibial plateau “walking” our two labradors. We took an unfamiliar route as our regular path was blocked by trees and downed power lines. I will save the details for another post, but suffice to say it happened, the leg is on the mend and we are indeed soldiering on. Despite the mishap, I and so many others consider ourselves fortunate to largely escape this deadly storm. 

Other New Yorkers are not so lucky. That’s why I’m proud to be the 2013 president of PRSA-NY. This December, our chapter stepped up under the guidance of Henry Feintuch, 2013 President-Elect and 2012 VP of Programming to host a holiday event to benefit the children of Coney Island. We’ve raised funds to help replace baseball equipment for Our Lady of Solace Baseball League and provided gifts for the Friends of Kaiser Park. We hope to continue to help not only these organizations but more in 2013 through the PRSA-NY 2013 Community Outreach program. There are many worthy animal health organizations that goodnewsforpets.com will continue to help. Breaking a leg isn’t so bad when it brings into focus those less fortunate. Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for 2013!