Post Office Honors Working Dogs
[May 14, 2012] The U.S. Post Office has brought out a series of four beautiful 65-cent stamps devoted to
working dogs. According
to the USPS website, "This set of four Dogs at Work stamps depicts four hard-working canines: a guide dog assisting a woman who is blind, a tracking dog on the trail of a scent, a therapy dog
visiting an elderly woman in her home, and a search and rescue dog standing in a field, ready to tackle the next assignment."
Elephant Butte Finds Wrong Answer to Problem
[May 11, 2012] Despite overwhelming evidence that breed-specific legislation (BSL) doesn't work, Elephant Butte enacted just that: an ill-advised animal ordinance targeting Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, and their mixes. As the
ASPCA notes, There is no evidence that breed-specific laws--which are costly
and difficult to enforce--make communities safer for people or companion animals. The problem is not the dogs; it is irresponsible, abusive, and neglectful owners; weak animal control laws; and lack of enforcement of existing
laws. The American Humane Association lists many easier and
cheaper alternatives, including the obvious spaying/neutering of companion animals. (Listen to the conversation on KUNM's recent call-in show, "Are Pit
Bulls the Problem?")
Evidently, Elephant Butte has been feeling the pressure, and produced a defense of this ordinance, in
which they claim that no Elephant Butte resident has complained. But what about all the visitors that will avoid Elephant Butte? It's illegal to transport a "dangerous" dog anywhere but to a vet or boarding (Section VI, (I) (3) (e)).
Would you take the chance of going there with your dog? We certainly won't!
To protest this bit of myopic legislation, write a letter to the editor, sign the change.org petition, and contact the mayor and city council
of Elephant Butte to tell them that BSL is NOT the answer:
mayor@cityofelephantbutte.com,
kim.skinner@cityofelephantbutte.com,
gerald.lafont@cityofelephantbutte.com,
sarah.stagner@cityofelephantbutte.com,
citymanager@cityofelephantbutte.com,
dee.rogers@cityofelephantbutte.com.
Long Leash on Life Donates Pet Oxygen Masks to Fire Department
[May 1, 2012] Those wonderful folks at Long Leash on Life have donated fourteen pet oxygen recovery mask kits to the Bernalillo County and Albuquerque
Fire Departments. Each kit contains different-sized cone-shaped masks suitable for dogs and cats, so that animals suffering from smoke inhalation or any emergency requiring resuscitation will have better access to oxygen. Big
kudos to Long Leash on Life, a great store in case you haven't been.
Santa Fe Vet Sets out Rat Poison to Kill Coyote
UPDATE [March 30, 2012] In a stunning non-decision, the NM Board of Veterinary Medicine dismissed the complaint (pdf) against this killer vet, saying there was "no violation of [the] Veterinary
Practice Act." But Section 61-14-13 of that very Act (pdf) states that the Board can "deny, suspend, or revoke a license" of any licensee guilty of cruelty to animals. Evidently, the Board doesn't enforce its
own rules, since, according to NMBVM director Frances Sowers in a Santa Fe New Mexican article, only one in four complaints is determined to be a violation. For a more complete list of her violations,
check out the Scoop investigation. That this woman is still allowed to
practice medicine is shameful, that she has any clients willing to trust their animals to her, baffling.
[July 1, 2011] According to a story in the Santa Fe New Mexican, and confirmed by ABQDog, Santa Fe veterinarian Dr. Joan
Moreau, owner of the Animal Wellness Center on St. Francis Drive, set out rat poison to kill a coyote she believed killed her barn cat, Nina.
It's hard to believe a vet would attempt to murder an innocent animal -- in its natural habitat -- who probably did nothing to her cat (coyotes eat their prey, not leave it "traumatized"). But she then went on to brag about it on Facebook:
“The coyote that killed [Nina] will die I think in 5-7 days after it ate the beef broth basted rat poison I put out on the game trail I found. It will die minus the trauma I found on my cat ...”. A death from poisoning is agonizing,
and to inflict it on a coyote she "believed" killed her cat is unconscionable. Not to mention that she jeopardized any animal -- companion, wild, or endangered -- and human that might stumble onto her planted DDT.
Contacting the NM Board of Veterinary Medicine, we learned that complaints had been made and Dr. Moreau had responded, but that the NMVBM has two years to investigate a complaint,
although the representative tried to soften this inadequate performance by repeating that they "usually finish in six to nine months." Trying to determine if anyone was doing anything about this, we were passed from one Santa Fe department
to another -- none of which knew about the case -- and finally reached a wonderful Santa Fe Police sargeant, who reported that no less than six parties, from the USDA to federal wildlife agencies to the NM Livestock Board, are investigating
this egregious act, and that Dr. Moreau has been cited by at least one of them and forced to remove the poison.
This is not just a story about someone trying to protect her cat, but about a woman who carelessly sought irrational revenge on an innocent animal doing nothing more than responding to hunger and instinct. We expect more from the people
who care for our animals. We'll keep you posted on this sad and disturbing story.
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Recall: Diamond Naturals Lamb Meal & Rice
[April 6, 2012] A story in today's New York Times announces that
Diamond Pet Foods is voluntarily recalling their Diamond Naturals Lamb Meal & Rice dry dog food because of its possible salmonella contamination.
According to the company's
website, "No illnesses have been reported and no other Diamond-manufactured products are affected." Handling the dry food can infect individuals with salmonella.
Symptoms in humans include: nauseau, vomiting, diarrhea, cramping and fever; contact your doctor if you believe you've been infected. Salmonella symptoms in dog include: decreased appetite, fever, and abdominal pain; even
healthy, but exposed, animals may be able to spread this to other animals or humans. If your dog has consumed this food, and has exhibited these symptoms, contact your veterinarian.
Tainted Chicken Jerky from China Still Killing Dogs
[February 27, 2012] Retailers are still selling deadly chicken jerky products from China, so protect your dogs by only feeding them products made in the U.S.A. Read our full
story here.
NM Dogs in Danger
[February 29, 2012] First there were a rash of dog shootings in Socorro, then poor Fender
was shot and killed in his own Rio Rancho yard, and finally poor six-month-old Petie (left) had his ears cut off and was left to die on a highway in La Cienega. (For info on these last two cases, see Animal Protection of NM's stories.) What kind of people shoot and mutilate dogs? Cowards! Thankfully, APNM is offering rewards for information
in all of these cases, so please contact them if you know anything about these cruel and senseless attacks. And help support them in their efforts to find these heartless perpetrators by
donating generously.
UPDATE [March 23, 2012] Petie has healed wonderfully and found a perfect forever home. All thanks to the loving ministrations
of the folks at the Santa Fe Animal Shelter and Humane Society. Thanks for taking good care of Petie!
Deadly Parvo Outbreak at Los Altos Dog Park
[November 6, 2011] According to KOAT News, there has been a Parvo outbreak at Los Altos Dog Park (Eubank & Lomas). Parvo is a
highly contagious and painful disease, which can be transmitted by dogs and humans. It can be FATAL and is expensive to treat once contracted.
Parvo vaccinations begin on puppies at six to eight weeks, continuing until the puppy is sixteen weeks old, at which time it is protected. According to the fabulous Dr. Shirley Russman at VCA
Montgomery, "unvaccinated dogs and puppies under sixteen weeks should not go to the dog park." She added that "Pit Bulls, Doberman Pinschers and Rottweilers are particularly susceptible to the disease."
If you don't know whether your dog has been vaccinated against this deadly disease, call your vet. When in doubt, vaccinate your pooch!
NM Game Commission Unanimously Wrong on Trapping
[September 20, 2011] Despite huge public outcry for extending the ban on trapping on public lands, the NM Game Commission held its meeting on this in
tiny Clayton, NM, near the Texas border and far from any population centers that might support the ban. Thus unencumbered from public input, these seven wise men
voted unanimously to repeal the ban
and, in fact, actually expanded this barbaric practice, without even allowing exceptions for endangered species. Not only does this endanger all wildlife, but also humans and animals who happen to be out on public lands.
Why would anyone, much less every one of the commissioners decide to allow this cruelty? We couldn't imagine, so asked them for a comment, but not one of them had the courage to explain why they voted to torture
animals. We're contacting their boss, Governor Susana Martinez, to see if she has an answer. We'll keep you posted.
City Budget Show Reverses Animal Welfare Cuts
[May 22, 2011] UPDATE: City Councilor Dan Lewis introduced a floor amendment to Mayor Berry's budget rescinding his proposed funding cuts to Animal Welfare; this passed on a 5-4 vote. While we're grateful to Councilor Lewis, it's
pretty obvious that this was a well-orchestrated move by the Berry administration to make animal advocates relieved to keep their current, unsatisfactory level of funding, while the rest of the city enjoys a 1.6% increase. The savings from lack of
kennel, veterinary, and front office staff will go towards building sports complexes and bike trails. A very poor trade-off indeed.
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