January 8, 2009

The good and bad, ugly and pretty all rose to the surface in pet related news that broke during 2008. Before diving into 2009, Pet Pulse decided to pause for a moment, and reflect on notable stories of past 12 months. (Pet Pulse Photo Illustration b

NEW YORK -- After 365 days of news, 2008 has drawn to a close. To mark the passing of another year, Pet Pulse decided to highlight the most notable animal-related stories, from gross abuses to incredible marvels, that occurred within the past 12 months.

Many highs and lows came with 2008, but none more devastating than the financial crisis, which was sparked by consumer mortgages and later compounded by the collapse of major investment firms.

Pets Caught In Wake Of Recession

"When you pick up the phone 20 times a day, chances are about 15 to 17 of those calls are going to be ' I'm moving,' or ' My home is being foreclosed,' or ' I'm being evicted,' " said Chelsea Manscot of MaxFund Animal Shelter.

The Denver shelter was like many facilities across the nation that saw a double-digit increase of "intakes" as the economy left many pet owners cash-strapped and unable to care for their animals.

"I remember a man coming in from the mountains with two dogs ... and crying, and very sad he just could not afford them anymore," said Geri Schmidt of MaxFund Animal Shelter

Schmidt's recollection only speaks to the dire circumstances that many pets and American households are facing.

"It's very sad, and it gets sadder and sadder," Manscot said of the increased rate of pet abandonments and surrenders.

Original Story: www.zootoo.com" title="Pet Recession">Pets Caught in Wake of Recession

China Quake Displaces Thousands Of Pets

Yet, worries about rising gas prices and possible layoffs collectively paused on May 12, when a 7.8-magnitude earthquake nearly leveled the Sichuan Province in China. Categorized as the worst quake in decades, it left roughly 87,000 missing or dead.

Organizations like Animals Asia Foundation rushed to the devastated region to help the millions of homeless Chinese pet owners, who tried to protect their animals from potentially life threatening government policies.

"Owners said, 'After the earthquake, I know the government had a policy to kill dogs. So I had to hide him in the very dangerous house.' The house already damaged by the earthquake," said Christia Yang of Animals Asia Foundation.

The Hong Kong based nonprofit provided shelter to hundreds of pets, while owners sought stable housing.

"I really believe what we are doing is very meaningful," Yang said in May. "Not just helping animals, it also helps people."

Original Story: www.zootoo.com" title="China Quake">Pets Struggle for Housing after China's Quake

In the United States this past year, pets also faced their own dangers, but in the least likely of places: on the shelves of pet supply and food stores. Amidst recurrent recalls of pet food and toys, owners were left wondering which companies -- and products -- were safe to trust.

Dog Loses Tongue

The case of Chai, a 10-year-old Labrador, highlighted the alarming reality of what can happen when pets get caught in the gap of industry standards.

"To watch something that gives you unconditional love just suffer and there is nothing you can do to take the suffering away," said dog owner Daniel Rechelbacher of Chai, who was the victim of a now-recalled toy ball.

In June, Chai lost his tongue when playing with the "Pimple Ball with a Bell" manufactured by Four Paws.

While Four Paws has addressed the manufacturing defect, it will only partially pay for Chai's medical expenses.

"Right now, the law is irresponsible and quite blind, in my opinion, in the way it treats pets," said Derek Smith, Chai and Rechelbacher's attorney.

With no safety standards regulating the pet toy industry, Rechelbacher and Smith hope this case is the catalyst for change.

Original Story: www.zootoo.com" title="Dog Loses Tongue">Dog Recovers After Losing Tongue to Toy Ball

Tragedies by mishap and mistake are startling, but stories of intentional abuse and cruelty can break the very notion of humanity's decency.

Marine Throws Puppy Off Cliff

"Oh, so cute, so cute little puppy ..." is the opening line of a battlefield video that surfaced on YouTube March 4.

International outrage instantly followed the images of a U.S. Marine in Iraq throwing a puppy into a ravine.

The Marine Corps immediately responded to the video's release.

"The Marine Corps does not condone this kind of behavior and will take appropriate action," said Capt. Blanca Binstock, U.S. Marine Corps, Division of Public Affairs.

Then on June 18, Lance Cpl. David Motari, who allegedly threw the puppy, was processed for separation from the Marine Corps, while the marine who reportedly videotaped the incident received a non-judicial punishment.

Original Story: www.zootoo.com" title="Marine Throws Puppy">U.S. Marine Throws a Puppy Down an Iraq Hillside

Foam Covered Kittens

July brought another extreme act of cruelty, when nine kittens were discovered covered in foam and entombed at a Las Vegas apartment complex.

"It wasn't a case where their feet were in foam and they could run around with foam on their feet," said volunteer Ginger Mundry of Happy Home Animal Sanctuary. "It was a case of the cats literally stuck in foam and the foam was stuck to the ground."

After three days of being sealed inside a beautification retaining wall, Happy Home Animal Sanctuary received a tip that prompted the rescue of all but one of the kittens, which was completely covered in foam.

Northpointe Apartment complex alleged maintenance worker Richard Carter perpetrated the crime.

"I know he did it on purpose," said Sidney Oliveira, Northpointe Apartment's manager. "I know for a fact that he's been complaining about those cats forever."

Carter was arrested in July, charged with five counts of animal cruelty. He is now waiting for a court date to be set.

Original Story: www.zootoo.com" title="Foam Covered Kittens">Foam Covered Kittens Survive Entombment

Dog Fighting In Car Trunk

Isolated incidents of animal cruelty brought shocking moments in 2008, but patterns of societal crime against animals and pets continued with animal fighting -- a covert gambling operation that runs the underground streets of America, and rarely comes to see the light.

"It's just that taboo," said Tio Hardiman, a dog fighting consultant to the Humane Society of the United States.

Hardiman is referencing a kind of dog fighting that's called trunking, and it's a crime officials know all about.

"Two dogs will be thrown into the trunk of a car like this," said Capt. Steve Shatkin of NJSPCA. "And it's a technique the amateur, urban dog fighters will use as a way to thwart law enforcement."

Remaining under the radar, while maintaining an unsuspecting public demeanor, is key to operators of this crime.

"If your music is blasting, you can actually be driving around," said Hardiman, a Chicago resident. "So it's like a thrill."

Although law enforcement across the nation is aware of this re-emerging tactic to build "street creds," and the public is calling in tips now more than ever, the brutality continues.

"I don't think we're going to just be able to put the brakes on it," Shatkin said. "We just have to persevere, and we have to continue our efforts in law enforcement."

Original Story: www.zootoo.com" title="Trunking">'Trunking' is Dog Fighting's Ugly Secret

Bringing hope and warming our hearts, pets livened the journey of 2008 with their remarkable spirit to survive, inspire and protect.

Cutting Edge Prosthetic For Saluki

Sally, a 2-year-old Saluki, made medical history in May when she became the first dog to receive an experimental prosthesis. Protecting Animal Welfare Society found the injured dog in a Kuwaiti desert a year ago.

The organization brought the three-legged dog back to Fort Collins, Colo., where the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Colorado State University outfitted her with an implant made of titanium.

Unlike other strap-on implants, which can cause skin abrasions and sores, Sally's unique fixture is actually a part of her bone.

"The stem is the important part, and would go up into the bone. That bone is secured in place with these screws that are placed from the inside out through the bone. Those hold the implant in place while the bone grows into it," explained the dog's surgeon and owner, Erick Egger, DVM.

Sally continues to heal nicely from the procedure.

"She's quite happy to swing around and jump on this and use it," Egger said of the implant which is being surrounded by new bone growth.

The technology used to create Sally's new leg drew from medical research on human hip transplants; the work that went into Sally's procedure could stand to further scientific research and development on human prosthetics, as well.

"Ultimately, when we're helping the dog, we're helping people," Egger said.

Original Story: www.zootoo.com" title="Sally Saluki">Pup's Implant Gives Leg Up to Cutting Edge Surgery

Parrot Saves Toddler

Although humans came to Sally's rescue and gave her a running start at a new life, animals often leave their own mark on people's lives.

It isn't often, however, that a Quaker parakeet saves the life of a choking toddler.

Willie, a pet bird who lives in Denver, did just that on Nov. 7, when his persistent calls alerted the family's babysitter that trouble was imminent.

Two-year-old Hannah Kuusk was unable to swallow a piece of a Pop Tart, and her face was turning blue.

"I started hearing Willie go wild," the babysitter, Megan Howard, recalled. "He started screaming and flapping his wings. There was serious panic in his voice, like I've never heard before.

"I heard Willie say, 'momma baby, momma baby.' I knew something was wrong."

It was the first time the chatty parrot had ever uttered the word "'baby" and Willie has not said it since the incident.

Thanks to Willie's vocal chops, Hannah survived the ordeal.

"This is by far the most amazing thing I've witnessed," said Samantha Kuusk, Hannah's mother. "I don't want to think about what may have happened had Willie not been here."

Original Story: www.zootoo.com" title="Talking Parrot">Talking Parrot Saves Choking Toddler's Life

Obama Bird

While Willie spoke up to save baby Hannah, an African Grey parrot got caught up in the fever of the presidential politics in October, and used his gift of speech to stomp for Presidential-elect Barack Obama.

Smokey took note of his owners' political allegiance, as well as the enthusiasm Obama riled from Americans along the campaign trail.

"We were watching something, showing some speech, whatever, and when he hears it he gets like, 'Yes, yes, yes!' And, 'Obama! Obama! Yes, we can, yes, we can, yes!' Like that, really emphatic," his owner Doug Dilg of Calabasas, Calif., said.

Arizona Sen. John McCain, Obama's Republican contender, just didn't seem to cut it with Smokey in the same way.

"If you listen to McCain's stuff with him, it doesn't seem like there is the same level of excitement and there is certainly no response," Dilg said of Smokey's political leanings, which are turbo-charged when Democratic events hit the airways. "There is a certain background noise to those rallies and those events. It's the bare sound of the excitement that gets him going."

Others spellbound by Obamamania flocked to see -- and hear -- this bird of a similar feather on YouTube. By Election Day, Smokey's video had been viewed nearly 200,000 times.

Original Story: www.zootoo.com" title="Obama Bird">Bird Says 'Yes, We Can' to Obama

Forget the idea that pets are just furry, feathered or finned friends of ours. 2008 proved that some pets are also true trend setters.

Pets In College

At a handful of American colleges, parents helped more than just their kids move into dorms this fall. Family pets also adopted college campuses as their new home.

"We have a lot of students who come from the Northeast, the Midwest, out in the West," said Mike Robilotto, residential life director for Eckerd College, located in St. Petersburg, Fla. "They've come a long distance and we want them to feel like they're at home."

Located in the Sunshine State, Eckerd College has three dorms set aside for pet owners of dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets and even snakes.

"It makes such a difference, you get more responsible," said Kerry O'Gorman, an Eckerd College junior. "You actually go to class, you get up early because you got to get up and walk the dog, and feed the dog before you go to class."

That impact is being noted by other academic institutions, such as MIT, which has cat designated dorms, as well as the State University of New York at Canton, where two floors of a dorm set aside as the "pet wing."

Original Story: www.zootoo.com" title="College Pets">Pets in College

Pet Weddings

As traditional institutions make accommodations for pets, some traditional ceremonies are being held for pets, such as weddings.

"I now pronounce you furry friends forever, you may now sniff your mate," came the "puptials" decree on a sunny September afternoon in Lancaster County, Pa.

"I couldn't have picked a better mate for him myself," said Don Mast, the "grandfather" of a canine groom.

In typical wedding fanfare, in-laws greeted the newlyweds.

"Welcome to the family, Stella," cried one pet parent to her pup's new wife at the casual outdoor doggie park ceremony and reception.

But the trend of dog weddings is growing everywhere, from fund raising events to lavish private nuptials, and it means nothing but good things for pets.

"It shows how much you really do care about your dog and that they are a huge part of your life and they are not just objects," said volunteer Angie Mast of the Humane League of Lancaster County.

Seeing pets and animals as their own beings rather than property is a trend that bares repeating in 2009.

Original Story: www.zootoo.com" title="Pet Weddings">Doggies Say 'I Do' in Pet Wedding Trend

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