Happy Birthday Libra Dogs (September 24- October 23)

Zodiac Dogs Astrology for Our Canine Friends by Helen Hope. "Being seen with you, its special owner, is something your star hound loves. Strolling along beside you---and in your dog's estimation, both of you looking wonderful---as you shop or just get some air, and turning quite a few heads, creates the champagne of your dog's lifestyle. Running along the beach together is another variant on that. " Get your copy and learn more about your Libra dog.

Alert: Another Pet Food Recall

Mars Petcare, a major manufacturer of dog food has announced a widespread recall of several of their brands of dog food, including PEDIGREE, Ol Roy and other national brands. The food is believed to be contaminated with Salmonella serotypeSchwarzengrund.
Salmonella can cause serious infections in dogs and cats, and in humans - especially children, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea, fever, and vomiting while some pets will only experience decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. If your pet is experiencing any of these symptoms, please contact your vet immediately.

Also note that animals can be carriers with no visible symptoms and can potentially infect other animals or humans, according to the announcement from the FDA.

Pet owners who have questions about the recall should call 1-877-568-4463 or visit http://www.petcare.mars.com/.

Check out their website, monitor your pet's health and look for the following information on your food bags:

For PEDIGREE® brand:

Consumers should look for "PAE" on the bottom line - the sixth, seventh and eighth digits. Sample:
PEDIGREE ® Small Crunchy Bites
Best Before 02/2009
808G1PAE01 12:00

For all other brands:

Consumers should look for "17" as the first two digits of the second line. Sample:
Best By Feb 18 09
17 1445 1

Book Review: Eco Dog

Healthy Living For Your Pet + Grooming + Food + Toys + Home This guide provides information to help you to provide healthy, nontoxic dog care. You can have a dog and be good to your pet and the planet. Included in this book are projects that guide you through the process of making your own flea powder, lemon flea tonic, dry shampoo for your dog, quick dog treats, homemade jerky, breath treats pet travel kit, personalized dog towel and so much more. This is another book you will want to have on your bookshelf.

Book Review: Holistic Aromatherapy for Animals

This is a wonderfully comprehensive book on aromatherapy for companion animals. The information contained in this book can improve the quality of both pets and their human companions. This is a must have resource guide for your library.

Alert: IFAW On Standby As Hurricane Ike Threatens Upper Texas Coast

Snipet from an email from

IFAW has been designated as the animal water rescue team for Calcasieu Parish, which was hit hard three years ago, during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Members of IFAW’s Emergency Relief team are already in the area with our Rescue Trailer, fully equipped to rescue animal victims on land and in the water. They plan to wait out the storm and then immediately begin assessing the damage and undertaking whatever response is needed. Having just returned from responding to Hurricane Gustav, IFAW’s Shelter team is also on standby, ready to care for the rescued animals.

Please visit IFAW’s Animal Rescue blog and keep an eye on your e-mail inbox in the coming days for updates on IFAW’s response and details on how you can help.

And please keep in your thoughts and prayers the people and animals in the path of this dangerous storm.

Event: National Pet Memorial Day - Sept 14, 2008

The International Association of Pet Cemeteries has designated the second Sunday of September as National Pet Memorial Day. This provides an "official" yearly opportunity to reflect on your late pet and the impact it had on your life. Celebrating this day in a healthy way can help during the grieving process.

Some links:
http://www.squidoo.com/national-pet-memorial-day
http://www.ehow.com/how_2154525_celebrate-national-pet-memorial-day.html

Event: A New Leash on Life Benefit - Huntsville, AL

Presented by The Chef's Table and Ingenium Wines
On Sunday, September 21, 2008
From 5:00 to 8:00PM

at Chef's Table Restaurant
2030 Cecil Ashburn Dr.
Huntsville, AL

Tickets available at Valley Animal Hospital (Daily), and Petsmart (Saturdays) for a $20 donation.

Come help us raise funds and awareness for this cause to reduce the number of homeless animals.

A New Leash on Life, Inc. strives to (From their website (http://anewleash.org/)):

• Reduce the number of homeless pets, by spaying and neutering ALL pets in our program, as well as others.
• Make a difference in the life of each animal we come in contact with.
• Provide medical assistance and foster care for abandoned, injured, or unwanted animals all over north Alabama.
• Educate the public on the importance of spaying and neutering to put an end to pet overpopulation and euthanasia.
• Promote humane animal treatment in our community and elsewhere.
  

A New Leash on Life, Inc. is a non-profit, 501(c)3 animal rescue organization that was incorporated in 2004. We have an all-volunteer staff and rely solely on donations from the public and local businesses to cover our expenses.

Our adoptable pets come from several different places: kill shelters, owner surrender, on busy roads, in abandoned houses, and pretty much everywhere else you can imagine.

We house our adoptable pets in approved foster homes where each pet is evaluated in a home setting. We believe this allows us to better match our pets with suitable families and homes, so that they will not ever be homeless again.

Palin's Record On Aerial Wolf Hunts

Have you ever heard of aerial hunting? It's a brutal practice. Wolves are shot from low-flying aircraft or chased to exhaustion, then killed at point-blank range.

Governor Sarah Palin, the Republican nominee for Vice President, promotes this barbaric practice, exploiting a loophole in the Federal Airborne Hunting Act to allow private wolf killers to shoot down wolves using aircraft. We have to get the word out about this!

Please watch this powerful video by Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund, and then share it with every wildlife lover you know:

http://actionfund.defenders.org/palinvideo