Post-holiday Thoughts
The Grinch who causes our dogs gastrointestinal distress is once again rearing its melamine head! This time melamine has been discovered in biscuits made by Wonderfarm, which is part of the Interfood Shareholding Co. No information on what other brand names the biscuits may be sold under or who is part of Interfood Shareholding. But, doesn’t Wonderfarm remind one of the brand name “Wonder Bread”? Also, there have been reports of death from potpourri. This seems to be a new danger and it is fatal. And, there is an ongoing concern about chicken jerky. Most of the jerky in question seems to be sold at WalMart. Two names that fill me with caution lately are Hartz and WalMart. Hope your veterinary hospital has posted a warning about both dangers?
Sometimes I wonder if we appreciate how unique the Central Pennsylvania area is in the history of animal caring. It is with pride that we point to Dennis Wolff, Millville, the Commonwealth Secretary of Agriculture, who along with Governor Rendell helped to change the title of Pennsylvania as the “Puppy Mill Capitol”. If he does succeed in his effort to become our next U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, our small animals, our companion animals, will have a voice equal to that of livestock on the national scene. Also in the spirit of animal rescue and evacuation during disasters we must look at such practicing veterinarians as Dr. Larry Smith, Orangeville, who leads the Columbia/Montour Animal Response Team. Smith took on this new organization after post-Katrina rescuers would not allow a little white dog to join evacuating owners on a bus. His relentless efforts have truly made the local team one of the top responders in the state. The local CART began giving out pet alert wallet cards so no pets need be left behind and now county aging agencies are using them to help elderly pet owners too. Two men to be proud of.
It is said that each valley in Pennsylvania has its own climate. If this is true then ours is a climate of compassion toward all living things. Let us hope it will be part of the change in Washington.
For football fans the most famous sculpture is of course the Heisman. Now all pet owners have a statue to commemorate the greatness of the connection between owners and their companion animals. Titled “Connections”, the work marks the response of evacuation and rescue that came about after Katrina. It depicts a woman offering water to a thirsty cat and dog. The sculpture took Kentucky sculptor Meg White three years to complete and stands in the Garden of Serenity on the campus of Louisiana State University. It rivals in importance the sculptures of the DOGS9/11 in New York city honoring those dogs who worked after the towers disaster. “Connections” also marks feline companionship. Sometimes we forget that cats, too, cross the Rainbow Bridge and wait for their owners.
Jan 11, 2009 | | Uncategorized