Friday, October 3, 2008

Dog Bites and Kids, Childrens Safety

This is a concern that many of us have...either as a parent or a dog owner that has neighboring children or little relatives that come to visit. Whatever the case may be the next two posts, are extremely informative and enlightening.

Please visit the author's blog at : http://thespiritdog.wordpress.com

http://thespiritdog.wordpress.com/2008/07/21/choosing-a-dog-should-be-based-on-the-age-of-your-children/

Dog Bites and Kids, Childrens Safety

Why are Millions of Kids Bitten by Dogs Each Year

There are a number of reasons why adults and children are often the victims of dog bites. We’re only going to focus on dog bites relating to children. And yes, friendly dogs bite kids everyday in the form of playing.

Why Our Children Get Bit

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist, to figure this one out. That the majority of kids love dogs and because of this love they will act like animals with our dogs and sometimes, well a lot of times our dogs will try and teach them doggy rules the only way they know how to, by using their mouth. When a dog uses his mouth on a child sometimes it’s done while attempting to play with the child, and not in any disciplinary or aggressive way.

Sadly when our child comes running and screaming ” Mommy ! Michele bit me” after checking the wound, the last thing we will be thinking about is that the bite was done while playing. For older teenagers or adults that like to roughhouse with their dogs, that type of play is fine. Odds are they have been playing with the dog like that since it was a puppy and by doing so has accomplished teaching the dog how to use their mouth appropriately while playing.

Children Are Often Excited

I don’t have to tell you how excited our kids can get while playing. Your puppy, adolescent or young dogs energy levels are equaled if not surpassed only by the energy levels of our kids. This is one of the two main reasons why so many children get bitten by dogs every year. A child that is running around or just plain playing by himself, will often fall down and go boom. They don’t need anybody else around to get hurt, they do just fine in that department all by themselves.

Now add into the equation a fifty, sixty pound puppy or a ten pound puppy for that matter, and you can see how you may have just increased the odds for your child to sustain inadvertent injuries from your dog.

Kids Don’t Know When To Leave Well Enough Alone

This is the other main reason why kids get bit so frequently, and unfortunately it’s usually in the face. A child will often lay on top of or hug a dog while having his face close to the dogs face, that is the primary reason kids get bit in the face. At times a child will just not leave your dog alone, quite often it’s while the dog is laying down trying to rest. How long a dog will calmly tolerate this type of annoyance and intrusion by a child varies greatly on the personality, behavior and training of that individual dog.

Some dogs will give a child plenty of warning that a disciplinary bite is coming, ( Not that the child will understand the dogs body language, anyway ). Some dogs will give a moderate amount of warning, and some dogs will snap relatively quickly. Now, a minute percentage of dogs will let kids do absolutely anything they want to them. But don’t count on your dog being one of them, and please don’t let your child do that. It’s just not nice for your dog, and you may be putting your child at an unnecessary risk.

After a dog has warned the child in the only way he knows how to, it’s then and only then that the child will get bit. And because of the child’s face being in such close proximity to the dogs mouth, that’s usually where the location of the bite will occur. Again, I must reiterate this type of bite is the result of a disciplinary action by the dog, and not out of aggression.

Post Script

Unfortunately there are many of us that do not have the experience nor the abilities to correctly read dog body language or distinguish whether or not our dog has the propensity to eventually bite a child. Every year millions of dog owners will say ” the bite came out of nowhere”. While all along the dog has been giving us the signs that a bite may becoming, and we didn’t understand those body languages.

End Part 1

THE SPIRIT DOG

choosing-a-dog-should-be-based-on-the-age-of-your-children/

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Bloat, Part Two: Signs of bloat, what to do

Bloat, Part Two: Signs of bloat, what to do

Bloat is ALWAYS a medical emergency.  I cannot stress this enough! If you notice any of these signs in your dog, don't wait - load her up and head to the vet.  Maybe it will be a wasted trip, but the outcome of untreated bloat will almost always be death, so don't hesitate.
Bloat can come on at any time, and it generally comes on quickly.  Some of the signs are:
  • Restlessness, pacing, just not acting "quite right" in a way you may not be able to put your finger on.
  • Salivating
  • Unproductive retching as if to vomit, vomiting small amounts of foam, foam around the mouth
  • Hard or distended abdomen, frequently described as feeling "drum-like"
  • Lying in a "sphinx-like" position, with head up, instead of stretching out on her side, or curling into a little ball.
  • Turning to look at abdomen
  • Get down on the floor and listen to your dog's stomach.  Normally you hear gurgles and grumbles, normal gut noises.  In bloat, you will not hear these sounds
  • Panting
  • Mucus membranes may be bright red at the onset of bloat (due to the increased heart rate and higher blood oxygen content due to panting) but will become paler as the bloat and its' associated shock continues
  • Rapid heart rate
If your dog is showing any of these symptoms, it's time for a trip to the vet.  NOW.  Don't wait around to see if she improves.
  • Call your clinic (or the emergency clinic, since most bloats seem to occur at night) and tell them you are bringing in a possible bloat.  This allows them to get ready before you arrive, since time is of the essence. Stay calm and be prepared to tell them your dog's age, breed, and approximate weight. When you arrive, depending on your dog's condition, they may start an IV containing a steroid.  Antibiotics and anti-arrythmics to prevent heart damage may be given.  X-rays or an ECG may be done, as well as blood counts and chemistries. Giving them proper information before you arrive will save time in the long run.
  • If possible, have someone else drive, while you stay with your dog helping them maintain balance and stay comfortable on the ride to the clinic.
  • Remember that your dog is far more adept at reading you than you are at reading her.  She will pick up on your panic, so do your best to take a deep breath and assure her that everything is OK.
  • Once you arrive at the clinic, your vet may tube your dog (inserting a tube down the esophagus and into the stomach to remove gas and accumulated fluid) or "tap" the stomach, which involves inserting a trocar (a large bore needle) through the abdominal wall and into the stomach.  If caught before the stomach twists, this may be sufficient.  If the stomach has already twisted, your dog will need immediate surgery.
Be proactive. Get to know your dog in a healthy state.  Get down on the floor and listen to her normal stomach noises (she won't care, it'll just make her feel loved), lift her lip and look at her gums.  Put your hand on her chest and feel her heart beat so you know what is normal. Feel her abdominal area before and after a meal so you know how it should feel.
I always keep simethicone tablets (Gas-X or Phazyme are two common brands) on hand, since I have dogs who are at risk for bloat. It helps break down large gas bubbles in the stomach and can sometimes prevent a bloat if given early enough.  It has a very wide margin of safety, meaning you can give your dog a large amount without causing problems.  Talk to your vet about its usage and keep it on hand.
Many people with bloat prone dogs keep a "tubing kit" on hand.  This is a block of wood with a hole drilled through the middle, tubes of a couple different sizes, and tape.  The block of wood is placed in the dog's mouth and held in place with tape, the tube is passed through the hole in the block of wood and into the dog's stomach.  I feel that in most cases you will waste valuable time trying to tube your dog yourself.  Your dog can die from bloat in under an hour.  Your vet can give you more information and the necessary training if you live far away from the closest clinic and have a breed susceptible to bloat. Otherwise it's best to just load up and go.
Hopefully you and your dog will never have to go through this traumatic experience.  But forewarned is forearmed.  Knowing the signs and being prepared are the best ways to keep your dog safe from this horrific killer.

Bloat, Part One: What it is, how you prevent it...

Bloat, Part One: What it is, how you prevent it...

http://www.naughtydogcafe.com/2008/09/what-is-bloat.html
Bailey was one of my favorite cocker's.  A black and white parti-color, she was a gem of a dog.  She belonged to our tenants, who lived in our upstairs apartment, and I would talk to her from the yard as she stood watching me from a window, wiggling her little nub of a tail with great energy. In the morning, she would sit on the front porch steps with me, soaking up the sun and "helping" me read the newspaper.  Her owner's took her running, fed her excellent food.  Made sure she was groomed and played with every day.  They even picked up her poop when they walked her.  Bailey led a fabulous life. Right up until the morning her owner's awoke to find their beloved girl dead at the foot of their stairs.  She had died a horrible death while they were sleeping. A necropsy gave the results.  She had been killed by GDV - Gastric Dilatation - Volvulus. Commonly known as bloat.
Bloat is one of those unexpected killers, a train wreck in your dog's gut.  Bloat occurs when food, fluid, air, and/or foam accumulate in the dog's stomach, stretching it far beyond its' normal size.  For reasons not fully understood, this may cause the stomach to rotate and twist, cutting off both the blood supply and any possible "exits" for gas or food.  It is incredibly painful, and is always a medical emergency.
The following uncontrollable factors contribute to an increased risk of bloat:
  • Large, deep-chested breeds (greyhounds, great danes, etc), although ANY dog of any breed can bloat.
  • If the dog has a close family relative who has bloated (mother, father, sibling, or offspring).
  • Older dogs - those 7-12 or older.
  • Anxious dogs
The following bloat increasing factors are controllable. Check to make sure you are not inadvertently increasing the chances that your best friend will suffer this horrible affliction:
  • "Gulpers" - does your dog seemingly inhale her food?  Take measures to slow her down:  place several fist sized rocks in her bowl (you may need to get a bigger bowl), eating around them will slow her down.  Distribute the food among the cups in a muffin tin.  Use a buster cube or other food releasing toy and really make her work for her meal. Try a brake-fast or dogpause bowl.
  • Grab your dog food bag and check the ingredients, if one of the first four ingredients is citric acid, it's increasing your dog's risk of bloating.  If it includes fat among the first four ingredients, it's increasing your dog's risk of bloating by 170%
  • Moistening of food caused no increase in bloat risk, unless the food contained citric acid.  Moistening these foods increased the risk of bloat by an amazing 320%!
  • If one of the first 4 ingredients is rendered meat meal with bone - congratulations - you've just reduced your dog's risk of bloating by 53%
  • Feeding your dog from a raised bowl increases the risk of bloat by 110%.  Feed your dog from a bowl on the ground, unless he suffers from mega-esophagus or some other disease where raised bowl feeding is a must.
  • "Gastric Indiscretion" - the medical term used by veterinarian's after your dog has found a food source and "pigged out".  Every owner deals with the issue of their dog stealing a loaf of bread (or some other delicious-ness) and inhaling the entire thing at some point.  Do your best to keep anything that your dog will find irresistible out of her reach.
These days, when there is a wealth of high quality kibbles on the market, there is no need to feed one which will actually increase the chances that your dog will suffer an extremely painful and possibly fatal medical emergency.  So check your food, and, if necessary, change brands.  Don't feed your dog from a raised dish unless medically necessary.  And read Bloat, part 2, to learn what the signs of bloat are, and what you should do if you think your dog might possibly be bloating, because no matter how diligent your are, there is always the chance that your dog will suffer this problem.

Monday, September 29, 2008

Taste of the Wild -Review

Original article from http://www.fidosplace.wordpress.com Since the time of the recall I, like many other pet owners found myself on a quest for the perfect food. The closest thing I could find in a commercial kibble was a brand named 'Natures Way' or was it 'Natural Way' one of those :) Their product was actually endorsed by Lassie (which one I am not certain, I believe there were a few of them) Anyhoo, I had decided to go 'Raw' and used 'Nature's Whatever' as a base. The food was decent with much better ingredients than anything else on the shelves and I am including all of the TOP brand names in my comparison. I, much to the great dismay of Proctor and Gamble and all their evil competitors have learned to read, as well as decipher packaging labels!! Although I had done considerable research I was not entirely convinced that my dog was getting all the necessay vitamins and proteins etc. It seems there is an ongoing debate between scientists and experts as to feeding raw and the nutritional value of vegetables and the necessity or lack there of, of wheats,grains,barley etc..in a canine diet. Okay, getting to the point I was on a shopping trip to my local feed store (the best place to shop for pets!!) and as usual I was scanning all the top brand name dog foods for changes in their food ingredients. (Science, Eukanuba, Diamond, Purina O.N.E. etc) Personally i think these pet food companies think that enough of the population is completely oblivious, idiotic and apparently illiterate that they do not need to change their ingredients. I find this rather insulting on behalf of the American public!! Sorry I went off rambling again!! The owner of the store approached me when she heard me discussing the food ingredients with my fiance. They had just got in a brand new food that neither her or I had heard of. 'Taste of the wild' is grain free and the 1st listed ingredient is meat (actually 'Bison' in the formula I purchased- the high prairie formula) the second ingredient is meat (Venison-again -high prairie formula) the 3rd ingredient is lamb meal,the 4th is chicken meal. If you know anything about reading labels then you know where I am going with this. I had to try it. We are finishing up our first bag -the 30lb size. My pitbull's coat is shiny, shiny, and she is muscling up. We have seen no more signs of what I thought was mange it has completely cleared up. Her constant itching has left as well. I liked the results and I grabbed some consumer ratings from a site for you to see. Again I am not making anything off this (but hey if you guys at 'Taste of the wild' want to sponsor my site ....I am game :)) Five Stars *****so far I will keep you posted as we get through bag two. p.s.They also have cat food P.P.S Please excuse any typo's and grammar/spelling mistakes it is after 1:00a.m. and I am too sleepy to care!! Addendum: I had to add this as an afterthought...I feel I need to mention that a company can legally claim that they do not use rendered animals in their foods if they in fact 'purchase' their 'meal product' from another company...technically. But it is still in their product they just do not have to 'legally' state it. Ethically...there are no ethics here...it's all about MONEY!!!! Reviews for Taste of the Wild REVIEWER RATING & REVIEW HARLEYMIKE (0) 06/24/2008 FEED IT TO MY 3 BOSTON TERRIERS. THEY SEEM TO LIKE THE POULTRY MORE THAN THE VENISON AND BUFFALO.SO FAR SO GOOD ,HEALTHY DOGS & SMALL PILES. KIND OF EXPENSIVE THOUGH. (0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) 0 comment(s) - Email to a Friend kellybelly2007 (0) 06/13/2008 My dog pug is very happy with this food (high prairie formula) I used to fed her with purina puppy chow and she puked. I changed it into beneful and but she is shedding so bad,had a very bad breath, her eyes always got greenish liquid, she excreted rancid smelling liquid that came out from her butt, and she got severe ear infection that we spent a lot of money sending her to the vet ....it costs us $89.00 every visit plus the ear ointment and ear liqid cleaner that costs us $60.00. So i read a lot of stuff about dogs diet in the internet and changed her dogfood to taste of the wild and she really loves this new dogfood.After a week feeding her with taste of the wild all the health prolems she had are all gone. And she is now a happy and energetic pug. I recommended TOTW to my mother in law's chihuahua too. My mother in law was very worried because her chihuahua would just sleep and do nothing..she dont even play fetch anymore and she dont even guard her mama at night which she usually do before.....from science diet to TOTW after a few days she bacame the active dog and every night she would guard her mama like a tough cookie :) (1 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) 0 comment(s) - shopgirl1 (0) 06/12/2008 The GMO comment below caught my attention because when I checked the bag, it did not say anything about genetically modified ingredients. I called the customer service line for Taste of the Wild and they assured me that NONE of their ingredients are genetically modified in any way, and that they firmly stand by the quality of all ingredients. If you have any further concerns, give them a call 800-977-8797. They are quite helpful! (1 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) 0 comment(s) - Khaki (0) 06/02/2008 this food is great tasting, but is filled with GMO ingredients. I had to throw away a greatly loved food because GMO engineered foods aren't going to ruin our lives if I can help it. (0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) 2 comment(s) - mcn1197 (0) 05/31/2008 My Rottweiler liked this food, but, then again, he likes anything. Mainly, I fed him the High Plains formula, but his system never seemed to agree with him much. His body and coat prospered while he was eating TOTW, but his digestive system had trouble completely digesting it. He had a ton of gas, meaning that his stomach and small intestine were passing undigested components of the food to his colon. His stools were often very runny and inconsistent, as well.Overall, for the most part, the ingredients in TOTW are very good, but my Rottie didn't do well on it. So, we made a switch. For the money that we were paying for our Rottie to eat TOTW, it definitely didn't work for us. (0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) 0 comment(s) - bulldog07 (0) 05/05/2008 Seems to be a descent food, seems to be heavy on veggies. Also, it seems to have a lot of different kinds of meat in it, and if your dog develops a protein allergy, that will make it very difficult to find a protein the dog has not been exposed to. (1 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) 0 comment(s) - kpusa78 (3) 05/03/2008 Ingredients are great and my girl loves the flavors...not the fish as much, but she'll still "wolf it down". : )She does great on this, her fur is super soft, her feces are smaller, and the shedding seems to have subsided a great deal. I love the concept of no grain, but some of the other brands just had too much protein and she didn't do so great digestively with those. She is thriving on this. This will be a new, permanent addition to her rotation. (1 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) 0 comment(s) - dakotabarbay (2) 04/28/2008 This food has been amazing for my 11 month old German Shorthaired Pointer. She has been on it for about 6 weeks now. It was difficult to find a food that could support her through training, and hunting. She lost weight on Innova Puppy, but has been able to maintain good muscle mass, as well as has much less gas on the Taste of the Wild (Wetlands). She has always been a picky eater, but she gobbles this food down as soon as it hits the bowl. Her coat is beautiful also. I would recommend this food to anyone who has a high energy dog. (2 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) 0 comment(s) - Cathleen2u (0) 04/28/2008 Before we bought our Chihuahua puppy, we researched the internet for over three weeks (20+ hours) on the health and well being of our new-to-be adopted family member. We wanted to make certain she had the best food with a high protein base as dogs are carnivores with meat eating teeth and intestinal tracts with no grains as they do not have the intestinal systems to break down these types of food. This diet would enable our new puppy to have a good foundation in life with regard to her bones, teeth, organs, skin and temperament. In addition, we wanted to try to keep vet visits to a minimum. After a truly exhaustive study and the blessing of meeting an amazing man at a Women's Show in Seattle whom happens to be a biology major (and can hold a candle to any Naturopathic Vet or Doctor) with an emphasis in nutrition and almost twenty years in the pet food industry, we made the decision to let our puppy test our top three choices in three bowls side by side: Taste of the Wild (Roasted Bison and Venison Blend), Innova EVO (chicken blend) and Innova Puppy Formula. She absolutely loves the Taste of the Wild and EVO close second. I believe she may like the type of meat better in the Taste of the Wild, so we will try the red meat blend of the EVO as the gentleman stated above raved about the human grade quality of meat in the EVO food and the fact that his dogs are on it. BTW, Wellness is a take off of this product, but not as high of quality meat or protein. She was weaned on Pedigree and when we tried to give her a sample a week later she wouldn't even go near it!!!Our puppy's health and disposition are amazing with her coat looking better and better each day and her droppings having less odor! We hope her breeder reads this website and makes a healthy change for their Moms and Pops, as well as their pups. I highly recommend both Taste of the Wild and EVO for the health and longevity of your pet - give your dog the test and your fears a rest!!! P.S. It is well worth the extra money to invest in a high quality pet food for your pet(s) and it may even save you money in vet bills and possibly the life of your pet. I have found that the local feed stores that appreciate and stock high quality pet foods are the most reasonably priced (ie. Issaquah Feed Store, Issaquah, WA. Best of luck!!! (0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) 0 comment(s) - susieesposito (0) 04/15/2008 I have 3 German lined working German Shepherd dogs,which they need the protein because of their working drives, my male has had an overly sensitive belly for his whole life he is now 1 year old...I have spent so much money on all types of foods trying to find one that was good for him and after 4 days of using the Bison/venison formula his bowel movements started to actually form which is something that NEVER happened. This food is great!!!! I am totally sold on it and the dogs Love it so much. They poop alot less too! Which is a good thing...because this means they are getting more protein and less junk. It is the cheapest non grain food I have found and used also. Do not hesitate on trying this food. 30 pounds for $47.00 ... and it is healthy and an excellent food....the dogs think it tastes great too. I go through a bag a week....with a 1 year old, 7 month old and a 12 week old GSD. (0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) 0 comment(s) - SusanH (0) 04/12/2008 My Lab had chronic diarrhea for 2-1/2 months - I tried all sorts of high end hollistic foods - e.g., Solid Gold Barking at the Moon, Natura EVO, Innova, Healthwise, California Natural, Eagle Pack Hollistic Select, Natural Balance Potato & Duck - plus all sorts of medications from the Vet and none of these helped. I finally tried TOTW Wetlands Foul and his stools ae totally normal! I am elated. All dogs are different and you have to find the right food for each individual dog. BTW, I am feeding TOTW with a top dressing of Natures Variety raw meat. (1 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) 0 comment(s) - snowangelz (0) 04/06/2008 I just bought my first bag of totw The Bison and Venison formula. I don't know yet how well my 2 shepard/chow mix dogs will do yet but I do know they both wolfed the first bowls down and wanted more and I haven't seen that reaction to any food I've given them in a very long time. I have tried alot of the holistic and organic formulas and they will rather go hungry than eat them. I am excited to see them eat this food they way they do. I pray they do well on it. I will let you know how they are doing in a week or two. (0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) 0 comment(s) - JMZMSD (0) 03/27/2008 Leafy - check out this website for the meat content. http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/showproduct.php?product=1286&cat=allMy dogs absolutely love this food, and my GSDs coat has begun to improve in as little as a few weeks. (3 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) 0 comment(s) - petanarchist (8) 03/13/2008 I am really nervous about using this food in any heavy rotation. I have some trial bags and the 'kids' seem to like it just fine, but to be honest, I do not have a comfort level with this manufacturer. Leafy (below) made a couple of interesting observations.I'd love to think I could get a great bag of food at a great price - but my experience has taught me you 'don't get what you don't pay for.' I'm staying cautious and will keep reading reviews to see what mid-term results brings... (1 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 2 agree) 3 comment(s) - PETMAN (0) 03/12/2008 Best Grain Free on the Market!!!! The price is very affordable too!!! (2 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 1 agree) 0 comment(s) - ahorse33 (0) 03/09/2008 I have tried High Prairie and Wetlands Canine and my dog loves both of them. Just from looking at the indgredients on the back it looks like a pretty decent dog food. I think it is the best dog food available compared to some of the dog foods offered at the local pet stores in the community. Some of these other dog foods that are rated a little higher than this one are very hard to find and I have looked through many different stores. (0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 1 agree) 0 comment(s) - deb371 (0) 03/02/2008 I feed 9 Bostons, 2 Yorkies and 3 Westies TOTW. I rotate with Evo, Wellness Core and Orijen. Rotated with the other grain free foods it give my dogs beautiful coats, good stools and energy. While it does have some fillers, it is an ok food. Not all dogs do good on grain free foods, but most do. When it comes to food for all my dogs, the price does not matter. But the quailty does. In my opinion a breeder should use the best food, no matter what it costs. Just this breeders opinion :) Update: TOTW did well with my dogs, but I did however notice their stools were huge for a grain free food. Changed to Natura. (2 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 1 agree) 0 comment(s) - Leafy (0) 02/28/2008 Does not disclose their meat content. A lot of pet food companies jumping on the 'grain free' bandwagon but the food doesn't mean anything if its more potatoes/tapicoca/etc than the meat itself. They're merely replacing the grains with poatoes. I emailed Diamond and all the vet could offer me when I asked about their meat content is 'proprietary information' ??? (3 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) 0 comment(s) - sharnor (0) 02/27/2008 I have retired racing greyhounds and a pit bull--I tried "taste of the wild" and the dogs devoured it. I like to give them a plain kibble small meal morning and night and this is it--they beg for it. (0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) 0 comment(s) - snarfal (0) 02/26/2008 My dog loves the Pacific Stream/Salmon TOTW -- really loves it. He used to be on Timberwolf Ocean Blue and loved that too (he loves fish!). I will say that on Timberwolf his coat was shinier and softer... but his bowels movements are normal on TOTW, something only the Ocean Blue offered before. He has plenty of energy too. My only reservations are A) not organic and B) made by Diamond. However the price is right and there don't seem to have been any truly negative reports... I just bought my 2nd 30-lb bag. (1 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) 0 comment(s) - <

Animal Rights Activists Nazi's

Animal rights activists are seeking to drastically change the way the world eats, dresses, farms, and works, all to suit their own personal views. They are against the breeding and all other uses of animals and animal products by humans. They manipulate the media by constantly referring to the national animal rights organizations (primarily the Humne Society of the United States - HSUS) as the final authority on issues having to do with animals. Newspapers and other media outlets routinely use press releases from these organizations as news reports without ever investigating whether the information they provide is true or false. The article below is a response to a Roanoke Times piece by Dan Radmacher, editorial page editor, lamenting the lack of trust in the media. Media mistrust based on experience http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/commentary/wb/170045 Walt Hutchens Sunday, July 20, 2008 Editorial page editor Dan Radmacher complains that many people close their minds to anything appearing in the media ("Don't discount all news sources," June 29 column). He misses the point: Our distrust comes from our experience. Most of us are experts on something. And most of us have seen such soft-headed coverage of the area we know about that we don't trust any of what we see or read. Laws about the keeping and breeding of pets -- my area -- are an example. Not only do the media generally get these stories wrong, but they show an utter lack of curiosity about the truth. Remember the "Virginia is for puppy mills" campaign last year by the Humane Society of the U.S.? The Roanoke Times' lead story was taken almost entirely from the Humane Society's press release and an interview with a society staff member. Would you publish a story about black America based mainly on a KKK press release and quoting the Imperial Wizard? If the KKK were politically correct, you bet you would. Here's the first sentence of your editorial, "Protect puppies and people": "The Humane Society of the United States suspects that more than 900 commercial puppy dealers are operating in Virginia, yet fewer than 20 are licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture." That leaves the impression that most breeders are violating the law, doesn't it? That incorrect impression was the Humane Society's intent. Are we unreasonable to expect that you'd get and print the facts? There are probably about 900 breeder Web sites indicating a Virginia location. Many, however, are hobbyists who only occasionally have puppies available and who lose money on most litters. Most of the rest sell only directly to the public. Neither of these groups is required to be federally licensed and, since USDA regulations are written for breeding farms (for example they don't allow puppies in your home), complying with them in order to become licensed would require a lowering of standards for most. All Virginia commercial breeders are subject to inspection by animal control and the state veterinarian. All must comply with zoning regulations that may make additional requirements. Localities also have the power to license anyone who sells pets as a business. All breeders must comply with the laws that cover all animal owners and even hobbyists may be inspected if a warrant is obtained. Where does the Humane Society -- a charitable corporation with no official status -- get the power to bust breeders as it did in the case of Horton's Pups? How is it that nearly all dogs taken from what are claimed to be horribly abusive situations are in good enough condition to be sold days afterward? Was it truly impossible for you to lay bare the real story -- that many statements by the Humane Society (and other animal rights organizations) are not backed up by the facts? That these are people who make a great deal of money by leading Americans to believe that our donations help animals, rather than the truth: Almost all the money goes to campaigns to pass laws against accepted animal uses and husbandry practices? Garbage in, garbage out: Your editorial led the society-organized chorus calling for more regulation. House Bill 538 -- the claimed fix -- barely passed. I haven't seen anything in The Times to the effect that the new law isn't regulation, but an effective ban on breeding dogs at any more than a part-time scale. Neither has there been an impact piece: How will the 100 to 200 Virginia farmers who will shortly be out of business cope? What will happen to perhaps 10,000 breeding stock dogs that are no longer needed? Where will Virginians go for the puppies that won't be legally bred here? Eliminating pets is only one facet of the no-animal-use movement. Production of meat, milk and eggs, hunting and fishing, even circuses are all being made steadily more expensive and difficult. Medical research that uses animals is slowing down as security precautions become tighter and more costly. The number of researchers willing to live with abuse and threats of violence against themselves and their families is falling. Is this really of so little significance that coverage based on society press releases is good enough? The wounds of which editorial page editor Radmacher complains are self-inflicted. If you want us to trust you on subjects for which we lack direct knowledge, then you need to do competent work on those we know about. http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/commentary/wb/170045

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