In the news!

1. Historic Federal Animal Cruelty Protection Signed Into Law

November 26, 2019

After passing Congress with very little opposition, the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act was signed into law yesterday. This historic measure, championed by Reps. Ted Deutch (D-FL) and Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Sens. Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), will allow for the federal prosecution of the most vicious acts of animal cruelty.

The Animal Crush Video Prohibition Act (signed into law in 2010) prohibits the sale and distribution of crush videos. These gruesome videos record the intentional torture (crushing, burning, suffocating or other cruelty) and killing of live animals for the sick gratification of the viewer. While the distribution of these appalling videos is illegal under federal law, without the PACT Act, the violent acts recorded in them are not.

Although all 50 states have felony penalties for animal cruelty, prior to the PACT Act’s passage, there was no federal law that protected animals when abuse occurs in places where the federal government has jurisdiction. The PACT Act bridges this gap to allow, for the first time, federal prosecution of animal torture in instances where local and state law enforcement cannot reach. More importantly, passage of the PACT Act sends a message that protecting animals from cruelty remains an issue of federal importance.

The ASPCA commends Congress for passing the PACT Act to prevent animals from being brutally tortured and killed. 
Source: ASPCA 

Thanksgiving and your pets

Source: ASPCA
Thanksgiving is a time for friends, family and holiday feasts—but also a time for possible distress for our animal companions. Pets won’t be so thankful if they munch on undercooked turkey or a pet-unfriendly floral arrangement, or if they stumble upon an unattended alcoholic drink.

Check out the following tips for a fulfilling Thanksgiving that your pets can enjoy, too:

• Talkin’ Turkey: If you decide to feed your pet a small bite of turkey, make sure it’s boneless and well-cooked. Don't offer her raw or undercooked turkey, which may contain salmonella bacteria. Do not give your pet the left over carcass–the bones can be problematic for the digestive tract.
• No Bread Dough: Don't spoil your pet’s holiday by giving him access to raw yeast bread dough. When a dog or cat ingests raw bread dough, the yeast continues to convert the sugars in the dough to carbon dioxide gas and alcohol. This can result in bloated drunken pets, which could become a life-threatening emergency, requiring hospitalization.
• Don't Let Them Eat Cake: If you plan to bake Thanksgiving desserts, be sure your pets keep their noses out of the batter, especially if it includes raw eggs—they could contain salmonella bacteria that may lead to food poisoning.
• A Feast Fit for a King: While your family enjoys a special meal, give your cat and dog a small feast of their own. Offer them made-for-pets chew bones. Or stuff their usual dinner—perhaps with a few added tidbits of turkey, vegetables (try sweet potato or green beans) and dribbles of gravy—inside a food puzzle toy. They’ll be happily occupied for awhile, working hard to extract their dinner from the toy.

A few small boneless pieces of cooked turkey, a taste of mashed potato or even a lick of pumpkin pie shouldn’t pose a problem. However, don't allow your pets to overindulge, as they could wind up with a case of stomach upset, diarrhea or even worse—an inflammatory condition of the pancreas known as pancreatitis. In fact, it’s best keep pets on their regular diets during the holidays. Please visit our People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Petspage for more information.

Source: aspca

HOLIDAY SAFETY

Remember to "pet-proof" your house for the holidays. The following guidelines are recommended for protecting man's best friend:

• Food--certain food--can be fatal. Alcoholic beverages and coffee are exceptionally dangerous, as are onions, salt, yeast, fatty foods, macadamia nuts, and chocolate.  Keep Fido out of the trashcan, too--spoiled and moldy foods can also cause digestive problems.
• Keep poisonous plants out of reach or in areas where pets aren't free to wander. These include lilies, which can cause kidney failure in cats; poinsettias and holly, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea; and mistletoe, which can cause cardiovascular problems and gastrointestinal upset.
• Keep the water in your Christmas tree stand covered. Tree water is often infested with fertilized, bacteria, and other harmful elements.
• Christmas trees themselves can be hazardous--kittens can become entangled in tinsel 
  and ribbon, and broken ornaments can be hazardous to delicate paws.
• Keep electrical cords--a chewing temptation--away from Fido and Fluffy.
• Plastic gift bags can suffocate--keep them out of animals' reach.
• Make sure candles and other unprotected flames are not within your pets' reach. Spilled 
  wax can cause burns if a curious cat or dog bumps into some and a flickering flame begs 
  to be sniffed, pawed at and knocked over.
• Human medications, often used more during the holidays, should be stored out of pets' reach.  Just one regular-strength ibuprofen tablet can cause stomach ulcers in a ten-pound dog.
• Fumes from wrapping paper burned in the fireplace can cause toxic fumes to birds.
• Place telephone numbers for your veterinarian, an emergency vet service, the SPCA, and 
  ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-ANI-HELP) in a convenient location.

Texas Winter Weather Tips

WINTER WEATHER TIPS FOR YOUR PET

Oh, the weather outside is frightful, so bring your pets inside by nightfall! Now that winter weather is finally here, please remember these important cold weather safety tips for your furry family members.

• During times of extreme low temperatures, all pets should be brought inside. A good rule of thumb is that if you're cold outside, your pet will be, too. Wet and cold weather can lead to hypothermia or pneumonia in animals. Be especially cautious with very young or very old animals, because they are more susceptible to suffering medical issues due to the cold.
• The SPCA of Texas never recommends leaving pets outside full time; however, if pets must stay outside for extended periods of time, always weatherproof their living quarters. A dog's house should be dry, well insulated and retain heat. It should also be made up of three sides, a roof and a floor. The house should be elevated and the entrance pointed away from wind.
• Pet owners often innocently assume their pets can withstand the cold weather with the aid of their thick coats; however, this is not always the case. Indoor dogs shed their undercoats and should never be made to stay outside for extended periods of time. Never shave your pets down to the skin in the winter; leave their coats long for more warmth. And when you bathe your pets, completely dry their coats before letting them go outdoors.
• Monitor the time your pets spend outdoors and be sure they always have fresh water to drink. Outdoor dogs need more calories in the winter to produce body heat, so increase the amount you feed your pets if they stay outdoors for long periods of time.
• Salt, antifreeze and other chemicals could hurt your pets if they ingest them while licking their paws, so be sure to wipe your pets' paws and legs clean with a wet cloth after an outing. Chemicals used to melt snow and ice can irritate paws and could potentially lead to frostbite, cuts or cracks.
• Before starting your car, check to make sure there are no animals hiding in the exhaust pipe or under your tires. Cats and small animals may seek shelter near or under your car so be sure to look carefully and honk the horn before turning on the engine.
• Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold, and the animal could freeze to death.
• Keep your pets happy and healthy all year 'round by having them spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped, and keep a collar with updated tags on them at all times. 
• Source: https://www.spca.org/winterweather

Unconditional Love

Anyone who has ever owned a pet knows they have the capacity for the kind of unconditional love that is seen otherwise only between a human and its offspring.

The gentle nudge of a wet nose or a lick on the hand comes unbidden when we’re upset or feeling down. The bounding dash to the door to greet us is also a demonstrable sign of the strength of the human–canine bond, in particular.

A subtle change in our demeanour can be picked up and registered by our dogs or cats. Cats, although fiercely independent by nature, do possess a similar capacity for love and nurture, as my cat-owning friends can-owning friend can testify.

Studies have also shown that looking a dog in the eyes can boost levels of oxytocin (a hormone involved in social bonding), in both the person and the dog. It’s not just “cupboard love” triggered by a hungry belly. There is in fact nothing artificial that could ever replace that sheer authenticity of feeling. Dogs are the only species that, like a human child, runs to its human when it is frightened, anxious or just pleased to see us.

It is also the only animal, aside from other humans, that actively seeks out eye contact with people, and truly wants to be with us. Cats too come to us when we are down and will show they are pleased to see us with a lick on the hand or a gentle purr to express their own feelings of contentment.

Pets give people so much in terms of love and emotional support. Simply stroking a dog, cat, rabbit or even horse can lead to lower blood pressure and can combat stress. The feelings are reciprocated, as our touch can have therapeutic effects for our pets, particularly if they are feeling out of sorts.

Companion animals can provide support and friendship to society’s lonely, sick or elderly. They can be friends to those who do not easily understand the world around them. Autistic children for instance can be guided gently from their closed, confusing and isolated worlds by a patient and loving dog or cat. Anxiety disorders and depression also can be eased by the loving presence of a pet.

Sophie and Nell, my Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, instinctively know when I am under pressure or upset about something. They know what a “hug” and a “stroke” mean, and offer both eagerly. 

Source: independent