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Animal Welfare Fight Not Over Yet

posted March 15th, 2011 by
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BY RUTH STEINBERGER

Throughout The Last three months  we have seen media reports of “puppy mill  closures,” with some breeders claiming that  the recently drafted regulations for Oklahoma  kennels will cause them to close their doors.

Some Legislators are beginning to act on  behalf of breeders and their unsubstantiated  fears.  

In December, a network of Tulsa area  shelters and rescue organizations, along  with Dr. Chet Thomas of City Veterinary  Hospital, worked to provide temporary care  and housing for 197 adult dogs and puppies  released by breeders shutting down.

And while some breeders blame potential  regulations for their closing, it should be  noted that closing a business prior to public  hearing or approval of new regulations  indicates:

• These breeders would have closed,  regardless of the regulations.
• Growing awareness of puppy mills has  prompted a downturn in puppy sales.
• The slowing economy has impacted “impulse” sales that comprise  pet store puppy purchases in the  Northeast, the primary site of puppy  retail sales.
• Thousands of dogs have lost their  homes to foreclosures and job losses,  reducing the number of homes  available to dogs from any sources,  including puppy mills.
• Blaming forthcoming regulations for  breeders is a convenient excuse for  closure.

For any one or all of these reasons, some  breeders decided that it was not worth  continuing in this industry no matter what the  regulations may be.

Oklahoma residents, including readers of  Tulsa Pets Magazine, are asking what they  can do to help insure the welfare of dogs,  considering breeder closures and efforts  of breeders to dilute  or kill regulations  requiring basic  improvements for the  health and welfare  of dogs in breeder  facilities.

First and most  important, the  animals need your  voice; efforts at the  state Capitol aimed  at helping animals  will be aided by a  grass roots voice in  every community.   Contacting your  Legislator is the most  important step for the  animals. Puppy mill  operators are making  their voices heard loud  and clear.

Use e-mail, snail mail  and phone calls to let  your Legislators know  that, as a constituent,  you support the  proposed rules of  the Oklahoma State Board of Commercial  Pet Breeders specifically and animal welfare  efforts generally.

Currently, puppy producers are claiming  that last year’s passage of breeder  regulations “will shut us down” and their  position as victims has been heard by a few  Legislators. At least three bills are before the Legislature aimed at repealing or amending  Senate Bill 1712, the statute creating the  Board of Commercial Pet Breeders, or to  repeal or diminish the regulations proposed  by the board.

Breeders have overwhelmed the board  and Legislators and any extra measures  on behalf of welfare of the dogs were  eliminated during the comment period,  which led to continuing to allow small cage  sizes and no mandatory rest period between  mother dogs’ breeding cycles.

Let your Legislators know that breeding  facilities not complying should be closed.   The rules proposed by the Commercial Pet  Breeders Board ensure basic necessities  such as food, water, living conditions  and veterinary care. The proposed new  regulations were changed following lobbying  of breeders. You can view the rules in their  entirety at http://www.ok.gov/petbreeders/ documents/Rules%20Adopted%2012-22 2010.pdf.

Second, puppy mills are a consumerdriven industry and retail puppy sales are  declining. You can help promote that trend. Pet stores and Internet sites are the main  sales venues for puppies. As consumers  become more aware of the conditions  in puppy mills and the congenital health  problems of the puppies, the more people  turn elsewhere for a dog.

Increasing numbers of educated and  caring people are adopting a pet from an  animal shelter or rescue organization instead  of purchasing from a retail store or from  the Internet. According to the Pet Food  Industries Council, 24 percent of dogs are  now acquired from shelters, compared to 17  percent a few years ago.

You can support this trend by helping  raise awareness of the benefits of shelter  adoptions, while deterring people from  buying a puppy from the for-profit breeder  industry.   Volunteering at a shelter, promoting  adoptions, and generally working on behalf  of homeless pets all help to indirectly  diminish the consumer base that drives  this industry. A letter to the editor, a guest  column and sharing info with friends helps in  this effort.

A recent Tulsa World poll showed  that at least 70 percent of Oklahomans  support regulation of puppy mills. However,  regulations designed to limit the number  of dogs in a breeding facility have been  blocked for years by an underground  industry, which is regulated or even banned  in many areas of the U.S.

Breeders are successful in getting what  they want written into the regulations or  fighting to eliminate any new regulation. It is time to put this indulgence behind  us. Breeders claim to be serious players  in Oklahoma agriculture, but they are not.   Hiding behind the fear of regulations does  not serve our state well.

It is time to support the new agency  created through the passage of SB 1712,  ask the Legislature to move forward to  address other issues facing Oklahoma, and  allow last year’s widely-supported bill to do  its job.

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Posted in All Past Articles, Animal Advocacy, General Interest, March 2011 | No Comments »

Little Black Bundle Mends Hearts

posted March 15th, 2011 by
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By. Camille Hulen

Background:

Paul is a WWII veteran and holds the Silver Star, three Bronze Stars, and two Purple Hearts. His wife Gurney is a cancer survivor. They have endured the death of their only son, followed by the death of one of their daughters.

Living alone, their dog Fritzy was a special comfort to them. During Fritzy’s golden years, he received special care, eventually dying in his sleep. That left only a pet turtle which the couple nurtured for 27 years.

Paul and Gurney had some good friends who visited regularly. Marcia and Philip entertained with stories of the stray cats and kittens who visited their yard.

Unfortunately, Marcia and Philip also had some sad stories to tell of their neighbor who did not look so kindly upon the strays. This neighbor routinely trapped cats who invaded his yard and took them to the pound to face certain death.

To him, kittens were nothing more than “rabies infested vermin to do away with!” When Gurney learned of the trapping, she wanted to save at least one of them. Although she knew that the kitten would be wild, she was confident she could tame it.

Our Story Begins:

One day the neighbor trapped a little black kitten. Although Marcia told him that she had a home for it, he loaded the terrified kitten into his truck and took it to the city shelter. Marcia sprang into action and went to the shelter to retrieve the kitten.

Although there were several black kittens there, she was confident that she could identify the right one, because it had a short tail. After paying the fees and waiting the required time, she brought it home to begin the domestication.

Marcia had done this before, so she knew that it would take time to gain the trust of this little creature. She covered his carrier with a “security blanket” and took it from room to room with her so that he would become familiar with her voice.

Finally, he became more curious than sad, and began to trill like a small bird and even purred slightly. Although it would mean another change for him, he was ready to go to his permanent home.

And Paul and Gurney were more than ready for him! Nothing was too good for this baby. They set up a large cage in the room where they spent most of their time, and from Marcia’s description, it was like a luxury motel complete with padded bed. Instead of mints on his pillow, this kitty received a new toy every day. They named the kitten Precious Angel.

Precious Angel responded quickly to their love and within a week he was ready to be picked up and held. Perhaps it was the songs that Paul sang to him. Although Paul admits that he cannot carry a tune and sometimes forgets the words, he likes to sing hymns to Precious Angel. Precious Angel sleeps in his arms as he sings, and routinely put his paws on Paul’s hands as he says his prayers.

About a year later, Marcia’s neighbor trapped another kitten. This time he called Marcia, because he had seen a picture of Precious Angel sleeping in Paul’s lap, and began to realize that stray cats are not so evil after all. (And, of course, you know where this kitten would go.)

Precious Angel got a sister to play with. Paul and Gurney took this baby and set up Fritz’s old cage for her right next to Precious Angel’s. She adapted quickly, and now the kitties run and wrestle, providing constant entertainment as only young ones can do, instilling new vitality to this senior household.

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These Little Piggies Stay Home

posted March 15th, 2011 by
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BY LOU ANNE EPPERLEY, DVM

• Feed potbellied pig feed to potbellied pigs (NOT dog food or commercial hog ration). Pigs enjoy fruit, vegetables, melon and hard  corn-on-the-cob. Don’t over-feed! Obese pigs are prone to joint, foot  and heart problems.
• Pigs enjoy grazing, so house pets should have regular outdoor time. Don’t allow pigs to eat grass that has been treated with weed killer or  insecticide.
• In summer heat, outdoor pigs need access to a wading pool or mud,  and shade.
• Never leave a pig unattended in the presence of dogs. Even a friendly  dog can pose a threat. I’ve surgically treated many pigs for severe  dog-bite injuries.
• In cold weather, an outdoor pig needs an insulated, draft-free shelter  with straw or several blankets. Pigs instinctively root and wrap up in  blankets. Unzipped human sleeping bags work great.
• Most pigs’ hooves need trimming once to twice annually. Males generally also need their tusks trimmed at that time.
• Check for ticks regularly. Frontline® flea and tick prevention is safe  for pet pigs, if needed. Pigs also are susceptible to sarcoptic mange,  an itchy skin disease that can be diagnosed and treated by your  veterinarian.
• Potbellied pigs’ skin becomes increasingly dry as they age. Some  have found that Avon Skin-so-Soft® helps soften the skin. An  Omega-3 fatty acid food supplement might be helpful. Most pigs  shed their hair coat annually in summer and re-grow it.

Miniature Pet Pigs

A handful of reputable U.S. breeders of miniature pet pigs have been  in the business for at least 20 years.  Hundreds of rejected pet pigs,  however, end up in animal shelters annually because the owners did not  think-through their purchase and do their homework. Whether buying a  pig or adopting a rescue pig, first find out whether pigs are legal in your  municipality. Then read up on how to care for one. A great resource is  Potbellied Pig Parenting, a manual by long-time breeder Nancy Shepherd  of Rocheport, Mo.

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Pig Pals

posted March 15th, 2011 by
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STORY AND PHOTOS BY PAT ATKINSON

It All Began With Marshall, a 150 pound black potbellied lump of love. Lou Anne  Epperley  was a 36-year-old successful newspaper reporter in Oklahoma City  when she attended an exotic livestock auction  at El Reno’s stockyards and locked eyes with  a five-week-old potbellied piglet on the block.

She raised her hand, the gavel went down  on her $85 bid, and her life journey took a big  turn as she drove home with  piglet Marshall,  who did indeed say, “wee, wee, wee” all the  way.

That was 15 years ago. Marshall grew into  a portly porcine while Lou Anne attended college science night classes in preparation for  applying to Oklahoma State University’s veterinary school. 

“Marshall inspired me to go to veterinary  school and I loved it,” she recalls. The 40-yearold journalist left her career and Oklahoma  City home and moved with Marshall, her cats  and dogs to a mobile home in the country near  Stillwater.

With pigs in  her heart and for  love of Marshall,  she dug out as  much learning as  possible about  swine medicine,  then took a job  for six months  at a 2,500 commercial sow  farm to gain  swine production experience, cleaning up after  mother pigs who gave birth, caring for dozens  of tiny pink squealing piglets, separating and  counting barrows and gilts (male and female  pigs) on weaning days.

“Who knew a former sorority girl whose  early career included a stint working in the  U.S. Senate in Washington, D.C., shopping at  Saks and lunching at the Monocle, would be  happiest on Green Acres?” she says.

And at the pig farm, she sometimes stood  happily in a room filled with sows as far as she  could see, singing inspirational songs and giving them pep talks as the Mama pigs quietly  settled, listening to her lullabies.  

DVM Epperley moved to the Tulsa area  working as a small animal practitioner, but pig  friend Marshall was aging, his joints becoming increasingly painful. When the best that  veterinary medicine could offer no longer  helped him, Lou Anne’s heart ached as she  rocked her pig, sang his favorite songs, and  a trusted colleague helped escort Marshall to  the Rainbow Bridge.

That was not the end of her pig love affairs  and Marshall’s legacy lives on. Youngster  Clyde Barrow came along and other pet pigs  in need of homes and veterinary care “just seem to find me,” she says. She continues  building a veterinary practice for pigs and  works closely with Tracy McDaniel, who owns  Hamalot, a Sand Springs pig sanctuary, home  to dozens of  rescues.

And, as you might imagine, it was a passion  for pigs that brought together Steve Epperley  and Lou Anne, a first marriage for both, who  are pet parents to one cat, six dogs, and six  pigs – all rescues and all living in pet pig  paradise.

Steve, warehouse manager for about a  decade for Southern Agriculture, and Lou  Anne, veterinarian at Southern Ag, connected  over a shared passion for pigs. (What else?)   Steve’s rural childhood included pigs and their  fondness for pigs sparked the relationship.

Their pig family at their acreage south of  Bixby includes Clyde Barrow, who at 10  weeks old came from a potbellied pig expert  friend and mentor in Missouri at  Pig O’ My Heart  Potbellies; Meegan,  a retired Momma  sow; Gladys, an  adopted orphan;  Truman and Pearl,  who came together  from a client no  longer able to care  for them, and Elmer  Pudge, a three-legged  pig whose badly  injured leg was amputated due to an attack  by a dog.

Pigs are good pet  pals, but Epperley  encourages all potential pig parents  to do lots of  homework  before falling  for the idea  of a pig in  the house. She advises  becoming  familiar with  their special needs and first checking  zoning laws.

Be aware that pigs should be spayed or  neutered, have their hooves and tusks trimmed  regularly which often requires anesthetic, be  fed mini-pig rations not other pet food, provided plenty of bedding and barn warmth in  winter and, because they do not sweat, they  need a wading pool, mud wallow and shade  in summer. They like  being with other  pig friends, are OK  living with cats,  but commonly  injured by dogs.

“Pigs are smart, clean, not noisy,  can learn tricks like sitting up, love for their  tummies to be rubbed, but are not lovey-dovey  like dogs,” she says. And, those cute little  pink potbellied piglets grow up to about 150  pounds, bigger than most big dogs.

So, move over Mastiffs. Make room at the  hearth for the pigs

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Training 411

posted March 15th, 2011 by
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Q&A by Mary Green

Q.

My dog Henry is a 35lb fox Hound  mix that can make a running leap  to the top of our 6 ft high privacy fence,  which is made of 3″ cedar boards.  from  the top he jumps to the other side and  roams the neighborhood for about 30  minutes and then jumps back into the  backyard. I am afraid he may get hit by  a car or picked up by animal control on  one of these sojourns. Do you have any  training methods to break this habit? I don’t like the idea of using an electric  fence wire to detour him.

A.

  You’re absolutely right; Henry could  be very much endangered because  of this behavior.  The electric fence (hot wire) is a pretty harsh deterrent, so I am happy to  suggest some less aversive ideas.

It would help to know why Henry is leaving the  yard.  Initially, I would ask you if he is neutered.   If he is intact, he may be leaving the yard to  go looking for love. Next, I would ask if he has  enough to do in the yard. If he is spending a  lot of time outside alone, he may be rather  bored.  Are you doing any sort of enrichment for  him? You can create an interesting backyard  environment by using some of the food delivery toys.  A trip to the pet supply store will give you  some ideas of things such as Buster Cube,  Kibble Nibble, Kong toys, etc. If he can hunt in  his own yard, which provides some nice activity,  he may be less likely to wander. Are you taking  Henry for walks in his neighborhood?  He may  need the exercise and mental stimulation that a  walk can provide.  

There is a product called Coyote Roller, which  is a fence topper that rolls so an animal cannot  get a grip and propel himself over the fence.   Check their website at www.coyoteroller.com.  I  suspect you could fashion a similar design out  of PVC pipe!

There are some  anti-jumping  harnesses on the market.  My experience has been that a pet  owner will put the harness on the dog, and  still leave him unattended in the yard. He then  proceeds to chew the harness up!

How about providing Henry a window to the  neighborhood?  Cut out a small section of your  fence, place screen or other wire in it, and make  a frame around it.  Having a small place to look  through is much more comforting than looking  between the slats of the privacy fence!

Q.

My little dog, Zula has decided  that if she doesn’t want to go  outside she will play hide behind the  couch. She also will not come when called  from outside (unless it’s freezing).  I know  that I have spoiled her and it’s my fault for  always having a cookie when I call her. She will only come if she thinks I have  food now. I was thinking about leaving  the leash on her and giving it a pop if she  doesn’t come. Do you have any ideas?  I’m  afraid to do more harm than good!

A.

You’re right – a pop on the leash does  not generally inspire the dog to come  when you call her. Punishment like that can  make a dog very wary of coming to an angry  owner. Our approach would be to play some  games to get her to come when you call her. At K9 Manners & More, we call this one “Catch & Release”.  Pick a time to practice when Zula  does not need to go out, or come in.  Have some  treats in your pocket, or otherwise hidden from  the dog. Call Zula, and as soon as she looks  toward you – toss her a treat! If she comes all  the way to you, she gets the treat. You praise  her, pet her, and let her go about her business.

When she gets interested in  something else, call her again. If she  doesn’t come all the way to you, toss the treat – gradually getting it close enough for you to  touch her.  Don’t require the dog to sit or do  any other behavior – just a treat for coming. Practice multiple times/day. Catch – release. After about 3 days, do the same thing in the  yard. Periodically go ahead and send Zula  outside when you call her, but only about one  third of the time.  

We also play “Hide and Seek.”  It’s pretty simple – you hide and then call your dog.   She has to  find you to get the treat. If her stay is solid, you  can put her on a stay while you go hide.  If not,  ask a family member to distract or restrain the  dog while you hide. If you can, practice inside  and outside – if you are out of sight, the dog  becomes curious about where you are and will  find you!

Another strategy is to leave the leash on Zula  inside and outside. If she hides, ducks away, or  darts, you can snag her with the leash. If you  have a plain old slip leash from the vet, these  work well. Just loop it through her collar.  You  need to be carefully supervising, though, so  she cannot become snagged on something or  entangled and injured!

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Cancer in Pets Similar to Human Disease

posted March 15th, 2011 by
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BY DERINDA D. BLAKENEY

KIMBERLY REEDS, DvM, recently joined Oklahoma State University’s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences as an assistant professor of oncology. She works at the Boren Veterinary Medical Hospital treating dogs and cats with cancer.

“Dogs and cats get cancers comparable to the ones humans get,” explains Reeds. “The types of cancer are very similar to those diagnosed in humans and similar cancers appear in both small animal species such as lymphoma and skin tumors. The most common cancers we treat are lymphoma and mast cell tumors in dogs.”

While attending OSU’s veterinary college, Reeds’ interest in oncology was sparked one summer working on a research project.

Dr. Kimberly Reeds examines Sahara as registered veterinary technician, Lisa Gallery, holds the dog.

“I liked being able to offer help to people who didn’t think any help was available for their pet,” she says. “Cancer is a devastating diagnosis. I want people to understand that usually there is something we can do to extend the patient’s life or at least make it better. A cancer diagnosis is no longer a death sentence. In most cases there is still hope.”

She recommends a veterinary examination when pet owners notice sudden changes in behavior or appetite, vomiting and diarrhea, the presence of a mass or a swelling that doesn’t go away or persistent pain. However, not all of these symptoms lead to a cancer diagnosis.

In animals, the protocol for cancer treatment differs from humans.

“The first option in general for animals is surgery to remove the cancer followed by chemotherapy and/or radiation, except for lymphoma. There is usually no surgical option for lymphoma so it’s straight to chemotherapy treatment, which varies in length of time for treatment.”

Depending on the diagnosis, chemotherapy may last 3-6 months or some longer-term chemo treatments may be for an indefinite time, with the owner giving the pet a pill daily.

“The side effects vary depending on the drug itself, the drug dose and the intensity of the drug protocol. Some animals experience gastro intestinal upset, but in general, dogs and cats actually handle chemotherapy pretty well.

They don’t experience the expectation that it will cure them. Animals also do not lose their hair during treatment like most people do. It’s a rare occurrence when that happens.”

OSU’s veterinary hospital offers surgical and medical oncology services.

“We are approved to use the new melanoma vaccine, which is not available in many private practices. We maintain an inventory of most of the common chemotherapy drugs as well as the new anti-cancer drug, Palladia, which is used to treat mast cell tumors in dogs.”

She notes that access to a wide variety of specialists provides for consulting regarding “each other’s cases often as a team of doctors to try to come up with the best plan to obtain the best possible outcome for our patients.”

“Our focus is on extending the patient’s life while maintaining a good quality of life.” Reeds recalls a dog she treated during her oncology residency.

“I treated a chocolate female lab owned by the nicest older gentleman. The dog had a thyroid tumor in her neck. Whenever he brought her in for treatments as he would see me walk toward them, he would lean down and say to the dog, ‘Look, here comes your BFF (Best Friend Forever), Dr. Reeds.’ I smile whenever I think of that and know I made a difference in her life and her owner’s life. I gave them quality time and hope for one more good day and that is priceless.”

Following graduation from OSU’s veterinary college, she practiced for a year in Texas, then returned to OSU for advanced study of tumors. She completed a one-year Radiation Therapy Internship at Purdue University and a three-year Residency in Oncology at Kansas State University before joining OSU’s faculty. She is currently completing an M.S. degree in Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Kansas State University and the requirements for board certification as a veterinary oncologist.

For Information:
Dr. Kimberly Reeds – (405) 744-7000

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