Spring is such a lovely time of year. I enjoyed the nice weather we had at the beginning of the week – even if it was spent at the side of I-5 for a few hours – and I love seeing all of the flowering trees throughout the neighborhood.  The thing I don’t like about spring is the beautiful displays of Easter Lilies in all of the grocery stores. All I can see is kitty toxin! I want to pass out warning flyers that read DO NOT BUY IF YOU HAVE CATS.

Easter Lilies are toxic to cats (although the toxic principle is unknown) and  all parts of the plant are toxic. The horrible thing about Easter Lilies is that cats love when new plants come into the home, they are curious and are apt to take a taste.  Ingestion of Easter Lilies by cats can cause vomiting, inappetence,  lethargy, kidney failure and even death. Dogs and horses are not affected by these decorative plants.

Please enjoy the displays in the grocery store or at church but don’t bring these dangerous decorations into your home if you have cats. And if you don’t have cats but are thinking of purchasing one for a friend, please be sure they don’t have cats too!

 

 

 

HB2470-9 Update! The House is voting on the bill on Tuesday! If you haven't had a chance yet please take the time to contact your representative and urge them to vote YES! on HB 2470-9. To find out who your representative is please click here. I appreciate you helping the puppies and keeping puppy mills out of Oregon!

   

I went down to Salem last Monday to testify again in front of the House Committee on the Anti-Puppy Mill Bill and was headed down there again today until my car overheated and I was left stranded at the side of I-5 hanging out in the nice weather. No matter - turns out the Committee voted on the bill and in a vote of 7-3 decided to send the Bill on to the House for a vote! They recommended the dash 9 amendment which included the 50 dog cap. 

Inside the Capitol Building in Salem

Today they were deciding on which amendment to vote on ( dash 9 - with the 50 dog cap or dash 10 - without the cap). So it's a good day for puppies in Oregon. The dash 9 amendment is going to the house floor! So now it's your turn. What can you do to end puppy mills in Oregon? You can contact your state representative and let them know your thoughts on HB 2470.  To find out your Oregon state representative and their contact information click here. From what I understand, a written, signed letter is the best but calling or emailing can also help. Please be sure to put "vote yes on HB 2470" in the subject line.  

 

Stop Puppy Mills

Testifying in front of the committee has been an amazing experience. Sitting in the overflow room watching the hearing on the big screen tv in a room full of people both for and against was so interesting. You'd hear the murmurs on both sides as the person said something agreeable (or disagreeable) and I kept wondering if things were going to get out of hand. I could only relate it to a room full of school kids with no monitor or teacher present. We were all adult and friendly - no fights, no spitballs and comments were kept to the issue at hand - never personal. The other thing I realized is that politics are...well, politics and this arena is not for the faint at heart or the fair minded. There is a lot of posturing and adamant stances on both sides and for me that was difficult. I guess I'm a pragmatist - all sides are against puppy mills so why can't we get together and make a bill that makes them illegal in Oregon? Why does this become a contest of posturing and trying to place the bill in a light that will get it defeated so the opposition no longer has to deal with it?  

Anti Puppy Mill rally on the steps

I am so grateful to everyone that has commented on my previous blog about HB 2470 - including points of view in opposition. I still contend that the responsible breeders in Oregon already meet the standards outlined in the bill and with the 50 intact breeding age (2 year old) dog cap they will not be adversely affected by the bill. I long for the day when no puppies have to suffer for a profit.  

My original sticker from testifying against Puppy Mills

 

 

 

 

Check out the Nightline Video on Puppy Mills

 

 

On Monday I headed down to Salem to testify in favor of House Bill 2470 - a piece of proposed legisltation to shut down Puppy Mills in Oregon and give some guidelines for consumers who purchase puppies that are ill.

Me and my puppy mill rescue DeeDee

I arrived early for the hearing and after finding parking and paying my meter in the pouring rain I headed to the Capitol Building. Immediately inside I met Glen Kolb, the executive director of the OVMA also there to testify. The OVMA originally was taking an opposed stance on the bill due to language but was willing to come in Neutral with the chance to work on the bill. 

The crowd waits to get into the hearing room

I saw the crowd waiting outside of the hearing room. Groups of people gathered on both sides of the issue and there was tension in the air as people were passionately discussing their sides of the argument with friends. When they finally opened the door to the hearing room only 1/2 of the people were let in. The rest of us filtered in next door to watch on the big screen. Again people were clustered in groups and in such close quarters. Everyone was pretty respectful but without being in the Committee Hearing Room, I felt a little like we were in an 8th grade classroom with no teacher present. With each passionate testimonial the growd gently edged to get out of hand - but it never did. I sat with Glenn and another veterinarian there to testify - Larry Peet. 

Scott Beckman testifies in support of HB 2470

Chair Holvey opened up the hearing by explained that he drafted this legislation and has a great interest in the bill. He also generously added that he wanted to hear all sides to make this bill a good one and looked forward to the testimony. The first to speak was Scott Beckman with the Humane Society of the United States who did an excellent job outlining why the bill was needed and put to rest some of the rumors out there that the HSUS was ultimately trying to eliminate pet ownership. The HSUS is an organization that is made up of very reasonable, proactive people working hard on animal welfare issues (that's why I am a member of the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association.) After Scott, Sharon Harmon spoke for the Oregon Humane Society and gave an empassioned speak about the horrors of puppy mills and echoed my feeling that the bill doesn't go far enough. She repeated over and over that the minimum standards set out in the bill was that the cage has to be big enough for the dog to lie down, stand up and turn around.

Sharon Harmon with OHS makes an empassioned speech

There were many other testimonies from both sides of the aisle. Most of the breeders and the National Animal Interest Alliance were concerned with the wording of the bill, the fear that good breeders would be affected by this bill, that Oregon Welfare laws already apply and that it is an unfunded mandate. Other breeders supported the bill and believed that everyone should be against the horror of puppy mills. 

Finally it was my turn. Right before I went up we were asked to keep the testimony to 1 minute instead of the 3 we originally were granted. I read the most important parts of my testimony including the difficulties I have seen when puppies from questionable sources are purchased and become deathly ill. I was so honored to be on the panel with the other 3 veterinarians including Dr. Ingrid, Dr. Larry Peet, and another doctor from Tillamook who all did such an excellent job - speaking to the Committee with their heartfelt testimony. 

The plan for the bill now is for it to enter a Working Group to revise the bill and get it to the floor for a vote. Please take the time to read the bill. Once you have read it I encourage you to contact your state senator and representative and encourage them to vote yes on HB 2470.  You can also find a form for the anti puppy mill legislation on the HSUS website along with information about the bill and issues with Puppy Mills.

 

    

I love peanut butter. Mojo and DeeDee love peanut butter too! In fact the Peanut Butter and Blueberry STAM treats are a favorite of theirs and many of our patients. And I am very relieved to inform you that STAM is NOT affected by the recent news that peanut butter and peanut butter products are being recalled due to possible Salmonella contamination. STAM Treats uses Adams All-Natural Peanut Butter  which is not affected by the recent recall. 

STAM peanut butter treats are safe and delicious

Other pet related products have not faired as well. PetSmart Inc, the largest U.S. pet-products and services retailer, recalled seven of its Great Choice Dog Biscuit products as a precaution against possible salmonella contamination because the peanut paste they use was produced by the Peanut Corp of America (PCA). Also on January 28th more treats were recalled - Happy Tails Multiflavored Biscuits sold through Albertson's (UPC#: 41163-42406 and UPC#: 41163-42403) and peanut butter hooves, beef shanks and rawhides made by Carolina Prime Pet (lots 081508 and 010909).

DeeDee loves peanut butter in her Kong

Many of you use peanut butter as a treat, Kong stuffing or even as a way to give medication to your pets. Although major brands of jarred of peanut butter appear to be exempt from the recall at this time, please monitor the FDA website for any new infomation and use caution when considering peanut butter as a treat. Of course, as we receive updates we will be sure to keep you informed.

If your pet develops vomiting and/or diarrhea (with or without blood) and has been consuming peanut butter treats please seek medical attention for them right away. Pets, just like people, can get very ill from Salmonella poisoning. Aside from vomiting and diarrhea some pets may only show symptoms of lethargy, fever and abdominal pain. Humans can get ill with Salmonella from thier pets or from handling contaminated pet treats. Our own public health veterinarian, Dr. Emilio DeBess is monitoring the outbreak in Oregon (8 human cases and 4 pending confirmation) and is encouraging reporting and testing of any pet cases meeting the description above.  

I will update recalled treats in the comments section below as new information arises.