“Don’t Take the Bait” Campaign Calls for Ban on Dangerous Rodent Poisons
The San Francisco Department of the Environment is asking City retailers and consumers to avoid buying or selling certain kinds of common rat & mouse baits, which the US Environmental Protection Agency has determined pose an “unreasonable risk” to children, pets, and the environment. They have specifically named the following companies’ products as not complying with the EPA’s safety regulations: Reckitt Benckiser Inc.(makers of D-Con, Fleeject, & Mimas brand products), Spectrum Group (makers of Hot Shot brand products) and Liphatech Inc. (makers of Generation, Maki, & Rozol brand products). Stores across San Francisco are pledging to discontinue carrying these brands and outreach workers will be visiting businesses to warn them of the risks. As an alternative to using the potentially harmful products, the Department of the Environment recommends using old-fashioned snap traps, as well as sealing holes in buildings to prevent entry by rodents and keeping areas clean and free of food sources. For more information about the city’s campaign, visit www.sfenvironment.org/ipm
Veterans’ Dog Training Therapy Bill Makes Its Way through Capitol Hill
After passing the House in October the bill, which helps pair vets with pets, has now been introduced in the Senate by Senator Max Baucus, a Montana Democrat. The legislation creates a pilot program for training dogs as a form of therapy to help treat veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental and physical health conditions. The plan would allow the trained service dogs to be given to physically disabled veterans and encourages the use of shelter dogs where appropriate. We all know how good pets can be for our emotional & physical health & well-being. For wounded and disabled veterans training their own service dogs or participating in the program can help them re-enter society and abate stress and depression. For wounded warriors and disabled veterans, caring for a pet can help them re-enter society and minimize stress and depression.
Does Your Dog Need a Flu Shot?
After canine flu outbreaks in New York and San Antonio, the American Veterinary Medical Association recommends that dogs be vaccinated against canine influenza. The virus, known as H3N8, was identified in 2004 and dogs in at least 38 states have become sick. Like the human version, it is highly contagious and spreads rapidly. Dogs most at risk are those who travel to areas of the country where the virus is endemic (NY, NJ, PA & CO are at the top of the list) and those who board or go to day care. The symptoms of this illness in dogs are cough, runny nose and fever but it is very rarely fatal. The vaccine has proved highly effective at keeping the virus at bay. Ask your vet about this shot for your pet.
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Main article photo by: Dogumentarian.com
