A n i m a l   W r i t e s © sm
                                   
The official ANIMAL RIGHTS ONLINE newsletter

 
Publisher   ~ EnglandGal@aol.com                                     Issue # 12/19/01
      Editor    ~ JJswans@aol.com
  Journalists ~ Park StRanger@aol.com
                   ~ MichelleRivera1@aol.com
                   ~
sbest1@elp.rr.com


  THE SIX ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE ARE:

  1  ~ Holiday Safety Tips
  2  ~
Report Cruel Nativity Scenes
  3  ~
Info Needed From Puppy Purchasers
  4  ~
You Know You Are Owned by Pets When
  5  ~
A Rescue Animal's Christmas Poem
  6  ~
Memorable Quote
  

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~1~
Holiday Safety Tips
By MollyMcGee@webtv.net

Follow these holiday tips to help your companion animal enjoy the holidays without illness:
  
1. Secure garbage in bins with dog-proof lids or behind locked doors.  Dogs may chew up holiday throwaways such as meat scraps, bones, paper, foil or plastic flavored with food, and even gift wrapping and ribbon, which can absorb food flavors. Ingesting these items can result in vomiting, diarrhea or intestinal perforation or obstruction. Meat-soaked strings from rump roasts are also enticing. Ingestion can cause a surgical emergency called a "linear string foreign body" in the intestines. Rich, fatty foods, like gravy or grease, can cause problems ranging from stomach upsets to pancreatitis, which is an inflammation of the pancreas resulting in pain, vomiting, and dehydration. Animals with this serious condition often require hospitalization for treatment.

2. Chocolate, coffee, and tea all contain dangerous components called xanthines, which cause nervous system or urinary system damage and heart muscle stimulation. Chocolate, with theobromine, is especially a problem because pets love its flavor. Problems from ingestion range from diarrhea to seizures and death. Unsweetened baking chocolate and dark chocolate are the worst culprits, but all chocolate, fudge and other candy should be placed out of your companion animal's reach.

3. Keep alcohol away from your companion animals. Alcohol even in small amounts can be toxic. An ounce of 20- to-40- proof alcohol can put your dog in a coma.

4. Keep all poinsettias, holly and mistletoe out of reach of your pets.  Eating the leaves and berries of mistletoe could cause a drop in blood pressure. Hibiscus causes diarrhea. Ivy can cause diarrhea, convulsions, and in some cases even death when eaten in large quantities. Holly, poinsettias and other poisonous plants are best kept away from inquisitive companion animals.

5. When decorating for the holidays place lights and ornaments in safe places. Avoid glass ornaments, and be aware that your companion animal may eat tinsel or other decorations. Consider a smaller living or cut tree that can be positioned on a tabletop, making it harder for your dog to reach decorations. Secure larger trees to a wall to prevent tipping, and use a screen around the base to block access to electrical cords and gifts. Tinsel and gift-wrap may look like fun toys but they can cause choking, upset stomach or even more serious problems.

6. Do not use edible decorations. Decorating trees with food is asking for problems. Candy canes and gingerbread people can be enticing to your pet. A diabetic dog can have some problems with regulating it's disease if she is stealing candy canes off of the tree. Popcorn, raisin, or cranberry garlands are beautiful, but can cause an obstruction when eaten, requiring surgery.

7. Anticipate guests arriving at your home and confine your dog to prevent him from escaping out an open door and running away.

8. Reduce your dog's stress around this busy time by maintaining your dog's feeding and exercise schedule. Set aside a special place where your dog can get away from the excitement and have a quiet time.

9. Food is the NO. 1 holiday hazard for dogs. So, be sure you do NOT feed chicken or turkey bones. They splinter easily and can cause choking. Ask guests not to give your dog treats from the dinner table.

10. Put away children's toys after they open them. Small toys and rubber balls are common causes of choking and intestinal blockage in dogs.

11. Do not leave paper, ribbons and yarn out after you've wrapped presents. A bored or curious pet may choke on them.

12. Display candles on high shelves, and use fireplace screens to avoid  singed whiskers and painful burns.

13. Tuck or tape cords out of reach. Bored dogs and teething pups often get electrocuted when they chew them.

14. Christmas Trees. Pine needles can get lodged in an animal's esophagus, making it painfully prickly for your pet to swallow. Even drinking the water from the Christmas tree base is enough to cause diarrhea, mouth sores, vomiting and loss of appetite. Cover your tree stand tightly with skirting and distract your companion animal from tree temptations with holiday toys and treats.

15. Read labels on products such as tree water preservatives and artificial snow, and buy only non-toxic products.

16. Animals, especially very young and older animals, can suffer stress, frostbite and hypothermia when their body temperature drops just a few degrees below normal. The tips of the ears, feet and tail are common areas to be affected. Watch for the formation of ice balls between your companion animal's toes and regularly trim the long hair between the footpads to avoid frostbitten feet. If you suspect frostbite, do not rub the area but simply apply warm moist packs and contact your veterinarian.

17. Be aware that if you wrap a food product for a gift and put it under your tree that your dog can very easily get to the item, unwrap it and eat it.

18. Perfumes and after-shaves contain ethanol (alcohol) and perfume also contains essential oils which can be very toxic to animals.

19. Batteries for toys or other gifts can be toxic and cause intestinal obstruction. Keep in a safe place until they are ready to be inserted in the gift.

20. Cleaning products such as disinfectants get a lot of use during the holidays as we spiff up our homes for visitors. Remember, many of these products can be toxic.

21. If traveling with your companion animal, be sure all vaccinations are current and carry your rabies certificate with you (this is the law in many states).

22. New companion animals are not  the best holiday gifts. Don't consider giving an animal as a gift unless you are sure the person wants one. It may be better to give a gift certificate so the person can choose his or her own companion animal after the holidays. Similarly, if thinking about getting a new companion animal for yourself, remember they need routine and a time to bond with you. With its noise, commotion and special hazards, the holiday season is anything but routine.

Think about getting your new companion animal after the holidays.

Why not make the holidays more enjoyable for homeless animals? Contact your local animal shelter to see if you can donate food, kitty litter, toys or time.

23. When choosing a holiday gift for your special friend, be sure it's safe - no small pieces that could come off and be swallowed. Choose healthy holiday treats for your companion animal and give them in moderation.

24. Keep items such as tablecloths, table runners, etc. from hanging too low to the ground, and tempting happy dogs running by to grab an end and pull!

25. Potpourri contains oils that can be toxic to animals if eaten. We may not think of eating it, but some curious animals may.

26. Adhesives and glues can be toxic and are often attractive to animals, especially cats.

Remember the best present you can give your companion animals this holiday season is good health and some extra loving attention.

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~2~
Report Cruel Nativity Scenes
From ISPEAKInc@aol.com

Please notify I-SPEAK, International Society for the Protection of Exotic Animal Kind and Livestock, Inc. of any nativity display with live animals that does not have proper shelter, good animal weight, food or water.

Signs to look for are

* Shelter - ALL animals should be able to get under roof at same time and stay dry.  Often there is shelter but not enough room for all animals that SPCA officers overlook if called.

* Animals should have good body weight.  Donkeys are often seen that need hoofs cut.  Look for obvious cracks and if hoof is actually curling up, an obvious sign of problems.

* At closing time there should be enough food and water left.

USDA does not inspect if no exotic animals are owned by exhibitor.  SPCA's may not be familiar with livestock.  Check your town zoning codes and request town to handle if it is a violation.

Contact us for any further information or assistance.  I-SPEAK investigators can usually check at this time of year in NY, NJ, Conn. Penn. if it appears bad enough.  Pictures sent to us will help.

Humanely Yours,
I-SPEAK
International Society for the Protection
of Exotic Animal Kind and Livestock, Inc.
998-C Old Country Road, # 142
Plainview, NY  11803
(516) 935-4607 

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~3~
Info Needed from Puppy Purchasers
From Snugglezzz@aol.com

The past year has seen many battles in the war against the puppymills. Many of these battles have been won, mills have been closed and hundreds of dogs are safe and enjoying their freedom.  There are many battles still raging and there are many to come before the war is finally won and all the dogs are safe and free.  We are in the process of formulating the battle plan for the next year and we need your help.  We need information from anyone who has ever purchased a dog from a petstore.  We need to know the name of the store and then we need a copy of all the paperwork - the AKC or CKC papers, the bill of sale, and anything that came with the puppy.  There is no limitation on the dates of the information - any time period is helpful.

The information can be emailed to Lee Wheeler at dogshelter@aol.com or mailed to HUA Box 565 Westtown, PA  19395.  This information is critical to the formulation of our next steps.  Please forward this email to every person and email list or group who may be able to help.

Thank you for caring about the dogs.
Lee Wheeler
Hearts United for Animals
http://www.hua.org
http://www.ihelppets.com the only store where all the profits go to shut down puppymills

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~4~
You Know You Are Owned by Pets When......
Copyright Jim Willis 2001
tiergarten@onebox.com
http://jimwillis0.tripod.com/tiergarten/

... You spend eleven months of the year preaching an appreciation and understanding of canine behavior and the nature of the dog, then you stick fake reindeer antlers on the dog and photograph him for your Christmas Card.

... People are still talking about your spay-neuter holiday greeting from last year, "Deck the Halls with Balls of Collies."

... Not only do family and friends think you go overboard with doggie holiday decorations, they've never seen a nativity scene where the holy family is depicted by Boxers.

... You have a mental list of people you'd like to spay or neuter.

... You stopped at a house with a "Free Puppies" sign in the yard to have an Educational "Chat," . . .and your kids had to post your bail.

... Running out of paper towels is a household crisis.

... You not only know all the characteristics of a good "stool," ... you discuss them at dinner.

... Your checks have messages on them like "Subtract Two Testicles For Every Four Feet."

... You consider "The Culture Clash" your bible and believe the chairman of Disney Corp. is the antichrist. [especially if your breed is Dalmatians]

... You have a bumper sticker that reads "My Basset Hound Is Smarter Than Your Graduate Student."

... You can compare and contrast the finer elements of different kitty litter brands the way some people talk about wine.

... You secretly wonder about such things as how animals can manage without wiping.

... You pray they will someday manufacture Teflon furniture.

... You have phone calls forwarded to PetsMart.

... When your animal projectile vomits, you compare the speed and trajectory with previous incidents, and if the statistics fall short, you worry if the animal is okay.

... You absentmindedly pat people on the head or scratch them behind their ears.

... Given the choice of having your teeth cleaned or their teeth cleaned, they get their teeth cleaned.

... You not only allow pets on the couch, guests have to sit on the floor because the dog has "territorial issues."

... Your spouse missed the final game of the World Series because the cat wanted to watch his favorite video, "Birds of North America."

... Anytime the animal appears lethargic, you go on-line and investigate vetmed websites, pose questions to your address book and on e-lists, and by the time you digest all the information and field the correspondence, the animal has torn out the window screens, masticated a couch cushion and left something disgusting in your favorite pair of shoes.

... You have a special uniform you wear for "flame wars" on e-lists and know that being told to "get a life" means you have pushed all the right buttons.

... Your chatroom handle is "Queen of Spayeds."

... You and your vet are on a first name basis and he genuflects when you enter the waiting room. His daughter at Harvard refers to you as "Auntie."

... You needed a prescription to recover from "Old Yeller."

... You've forwarded more warnings about the dangers of chocolate, onions and mistletoe than the National Center for Disease Control has issued about anthrax and smallpox.

... You wear white year 'round, not because you are flaunting a fashion law or belong to a religious sect, but because you have a Dalmatian, Great Pyrenees, Samoyed or white Persian at home.

... The world would never guess from your "dog or kittyspeak" posts to e-lists - that in reality you are chairman of the IBM corporation.

... Vacuum cleaners in your household don't just die, they go out with more smoke and noise than the Taliban.

... By the time you investigate different flea control products, their advantages and potential risks, natural versus chemical methods, and study the life cycle of the flea, any fleas have died of old age.

... You tell your children to "heel!" in a grocery store.

... For relaxation, you went mall hopping with your girlfriends. Your eyes glazed over when you saw a sign in front of a pet shop, "20% Off All Puppies & Kittens," and you slapped three security guards before they got you safely contained in the manager's office.

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~5~
   A Rescue Animal's Christmas Poem  

'Tis the night before Christmas and all through the town,
every shelter is full - we are lost but not found,
Our numbers are hung on our kennels so bare,
we hope every minute that someone will care,
They'll come to adopt us and give us the call,
"Come here, Max and Sparkle - come fetch your new ball !!"
But now we sit here and think of the days
we were treated so fondly - we had cute, baby ways.
Once we were little, then we grew and we grew,
now we're no longer young and we're no longer new.

So out the back door we were thrown like the trash,
they reacted so quickly - why were they so rash?
We jump on the children, don't come when they call,
we bark when they leave us, climb over the wall.
We should have been neutered, we should have been spayed,
now we suffer the consequences of errors THEY made.
If only they'd trained us, if only we knew,
we'd have done what they asked us and worshipped them too.
We were left in the backyard, or worse - left to roam,
now we're tired and lonely and out of a home.
They dropped us off here and they kissed us good-bye,
"Maybe someone else will give you a try."

So now here we are, all confused and alone,
in a shelter with others who long for a home.
The kind workers come through with a meal and a pat,
with so many to care for, they can't stay to chat,
They move to the next kennel, giving each of us cheer,
we know that they wonder how long we'll be here.
We lay down to sleep and sweet dreams fill our heads,
of a home filled with love and our own cozy beds.
Then we wake to see sad eyes, brimming with tears,
our friends filled with emptiness, worry, and fear.

If you can't adopt us and there's no room at the Inn,
could you help with the bills and fill our food bin?
We count on your kindness each day of the year,
can you give more than hope to everyone here?
Please make a donation to pay for the heat
and help get us something special to eat.
The shelter that cares for us wants us to live,
and more of us will, if more people will give.

~~ Author Unknown

[Editor's Note:  Please remember that shelters were pretty much last on the list to receive donations this year after the 911 tragedy.  Some have had to close due to lack of support.  The need is still there, no matter what else is happening in our country.]

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~6~
Memorable Quote

"It takes no more time to be a vegetarian than to eat animal flesh..... When non-vegetarians say 'human problems come first' I cannot help wondering what exactly it is that they are doing for humans that compels them to continue to support the wasteful ruthless, exploitation of farm animals. 

                                            ~~ Peter Singer
                                                 "Animal Liberation"

«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»
Susan Roghair - EnglandGal@aol.com
Animal Rights Online
P O Box 7053
  Tampa, Fl 33673-7053
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/1395/

 
-=Animal Rights Online=- 
&
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not-for-profit publisher of The Animals' Agenda Magazine
http://www.animalsagenda.org/
The Animals' Agenda Magazine: WebEdition
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