Punish the people, not the breed

Despite months of strong opposition from countless responsible California dog owners and a host of animal organizations including the American Kennel Club, the Sacramento Council of Dog Clubs and The Animal Council, Governor Schwarzenegger signed SB861 into law on Friday, October 7th. The legislation takes effect January 1st, and several municipalities have already indicated their intent to move forward with mandatory spay/neuter requirements for certain breeds. We encourage all dog owners to remain vigilant for these types of proposals and to begin preparing grassroots opposition campaigns now. Preparation should include development of reasonable dangerous dog legislation as that can be offered as an alternative to breed-specific ordinances. Should a discriminatory measure be introduced in your community, please contact the AKC's Canine Legislation department (doglaw@akc.org) for assistance. This was enacted Monday, October 10, 2005, and since then, more and more states have introduced and passed legislation aimed at controlling or ending pit bull ownership.  Editors Note:  It is our belief that it is the owners who abuse and train these dogs to fight who should be legislated against.  Not the dog.  Humans are deliberately mean.  Dogs are not.  Isn't that sad?

Menu Foods Issues Recall of Specific Can and Small Foil Pouch Wet Pet Foods

Contact:
Sarah Tuite
(416) 848-1703

Emporia, KS -- March 16, 2007 -- Menu Foods, Emporia, Kansas, is initiating a North American recall of dog and cat food manufactured in its "cuts and gravy" format between December 3, 2006 and March 6, 2007. There has been a small number of reported instances of cats and dogs in the United States (none in Canada) becoming sick from kidney failure after eating the affected products. There have been approximately ten deaths reported.

Consumers who have product which is being recalled should stop using it and return it to Menu Foods in accordance with the procedure found at www.menufoods.com/recall. This procedure will be available from 6 a.m. Saturday March 17, 2007. If your dog or cat is showing any signs of kidney failure, consult your veterinarian.

The recall includes an extensive list of brand names and lot numbers. In order to determine whether cat and dog food is subject to recall, consumers should refer to the comprehensive list of products at www.menufoods.com/recall. This list of products will be available from 6 a.m. Saturday March 17, 2007.

Menu Foods voluntarily recalled the products after learning of complaints of vomiting and renal failure in dogs and cats following their consumption of product produced between December 3, 2006 and March 6, 2007. FDA has been apprised of this action.

Following feedings of the product, some cats and dogs refused further feedings, while others exhibited signs of renal failure (signs of renal failure include loss of appetite, lethargy and vomiting) and others died from renal failure. Menu Foods has undertaken extensive testing of the products in question, employing both internal and external resources, but to date has been unable to confirm any causal relationship to our product. Specifically, tests of some affected products have not revealed the cause of sickness, and testing will continue until a better understanding of the facts has been achieved.

Menu's products are distributed to supermarkets, pet specialty stores and mass merchandisers across the United States. It can best be identified by reference to the list of products found at www.menufoods.com/recall. This list of products will be available from 6 a.m. Saturday March 17, 2007.

Menu Foods is notifying its customers by telephone and mail and is arranging for the return of all recalled products. The products were distributed throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.

While the number of complaints has been relatively small, Menu Foods is taking this proactive step out of an abundance of caution, because the health and well-being of pets is paramount to Menu Foods.

Consumers with questions may contact Menu Foods at 1-800-551-7392.

Recalled Cat Product Information Recall Information 1-866-895-2708 Variety or Multi-Packs: If you are in possession of a variety or multi-pack, please be sure to check the individual can or pouch rather than relying solely on the date coding on the side of the carton. Americas Choice, Preferred Pets Authority Best Choice Companion Compliments Demoulas Market Basket Eukanuba Fine Feline Cat Food Lion Foodtown Giant Companion Hannaford Hill Country Fare Hy-Vee Iams Laura Lynn Li'l Red Loving Meals Meijer's Main Choice Nutriplan Nutro Max Gourmet Classics Nutro Natural Choice Paws Pet Pride Presidents Choice Price Chopper Priority US Save-A-Lot Special Blend Schnucks Science Diet Feline Savory Cuts Cans Sophistacat Special Kitty Canada Special Kitty US Springfield Prize Sprout Stop & Shop Companion Tops Companion Wegmans Weis Total Pet Western Family US White Rose Winn Dixie Other product recalls may be found at this link: http://www.recalls.gov/recent.html Other companies recalling pet foods: http://www.recalls.gov/

Recalled Dog Product Information Recall Information 1-866-895-2708 Variety or Multi-Packs: If you are in possession of a variety or multi-pack, please be sure to check the individual can or pouch rather than relying solely on the date coding on the side of the carton. Americas Choice, Preferred Pets Authority Award Best Choice Big Bet Big Red Bloom Cadillac Companion Demoulas Market Basket Eukanuba Food Lion Giant Companion Great Choice Hannaford Hill Country Fare Hy-Vee Iams Laura Lynn Loving Meals Meijers Main Choice Mighty Dog Pouch Mixables Nutriplan Nutro Max Nutro Natural Choice Nutro Ultra Nutro Ol'Roy Canada Ol'Roy US Paws Pet Essentials Pet Pride - Good n Meaty Presidents Choice Price Chopper Priority Canada Priority US Publix Roche Brothers Save-A-Lot Choice Morsels Schnucks Shep Dog Springsfield Prize Sprout Stater Brothers Stop & Shop Companion Tops Companion Wegmans Bruiser Weis Total Pet Western Family US White Rose Winn Dixie Your Pet

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How old is your dog or cat in human years?THE ANSWER FROM PURINA: Read more... CRUELTY TO ANIMALS:A SIGN OF FUTURE CRIMINAL?

Linking Animal Cruelty to Human Violence The FBI and Scotland Yard recognize that violence towards animals is one of five key indicators of a person who will commit violent acts against people. A past history of violence is a predictor of future aggression. U.S. states have felony offenses for animal cruelty, with prison sentences up to 10 years. U.S. public opinion polls show that 81% of the surveyed respondents supported strengthening animal cruelty laws. 71% were in favour of upgrading cruelty offences from misdemeanors to felonies. 87% said cruelty to animals offences should protect wild animals as well as pets. 89% said social agencies, educators, law enforcers and animal welfare organizations should share information about animal abusers as a means of reducing child abuse. Animal abusers often suffer from low self-esteem, a history of family abuse, frustration and an inability to manage anger. Childhood cruelty may provide a child with a sense of power and mastery over animals. Typical factors are revenge, retaliation, intimidation, deviant arousal or peer pressure.

• In one American study, 118 out of 135 criminals, including robbers and rapists, admitted that when they were children, they had burned, hanged and stabbed domestic animals.
• 78% of 63 people charged with animal cruelty had also been charged with violence or threats of violence against people (Jim McIsaac, Winnipeg Police Services).
• 152 criminal subjects reported 373 acts involving undue harm to animals. 60% reported at least one or more acts of childhood cruelty toward animals. 41% reported 1 - 2 cruelties, 11% admitted 3 - 4 cruel acts towards animals and 8% indicated 5 or more animal cruelties during childhood. 25% of aggressive criminals reported 5 or more childhood cruelties compared to less than 6% of moderate and nonaggressive criminals. 3/4 of all aggressive criminal subjects reported excessive and repeated child abuse. (Kellert and Felthous "Childhood Cruelty Toward Animals Among Criminals and Non-Criminals", Human Relations Volume 38, No. 12, PP. 1113 - 1129).
• 61% of 39 women who had been abused by their partners and were living in women's shelters in Hamilton and Owen Sound said their pets had either been abused or killed by their partners. 48% said concern for the safety of their pets prevented them from leaving their abusive home sooner.
• Three surveys of women's shelters in Wisconsin and Utah showed an average of 74% of women with pets reported that their animals had been threatened, injured or killed by their abuser.
• 83% of families in Britain with a history of animal abuse were identified by social service agencies as at risk for child abuse or neglect (Royal SPCA, Britain, 1981).
• 58% of sexual homicide perpetrators who were sexually abused as children recounted childhood animal cruelty (Dr. Patricia Schene "One By One Is Not the Only Way" Advocate Fall/Winter 1993).

Read more from this source...