Oakland Says Aloha to Hawaii Hounds
Looking for a win-win getaway? Consider hopping Alaska Airlines to Hawaii’s Garden Island and bringing back the best souvenir ever: a homeless hound. How does it work? Through creative cooperation, of course!
When Brandy Varvel left Santa Cruz six months ago to become operations manager at the Kauai Humane Society, she discovered a sad fact: too many former hunting dogs on the island end up as strays, and too many healthy dogs end up euthanized. Varvel went to work and found willing partners at the East Bay SPCA. While many Bay Area shelters are full of Pit Bulls and Chihuahuas, the Kauai shelter is overloaded with hound mixes, and the SPCA saw an opportunity to save lives while diversifying.
Alaska Airlines, which flies nonstop from Kauai to Oakland, agreed to transport the hounds for $100 each if a human traveler (who is not obligated to adopt the dog) went along. The Kauai shelter covers costs and provides the dog crate and necessary medical papers. Volunteers on both ends handle the logistics. Since the program’s inception in December, 9 of the first 12 aloha hounds have already found new homes. To learn more and support KHS’s Shelter Pet Transfer Program, visit kauaihumane.org.
Therapy Dogs at San Jose Airport
You’ve read about therapy dogs working their calming magic everywhere from convalescent homes to court rooms to campuses. At Mineta San Jose International Airport, you can now treat your travel anxieties with a healthy dose of fur.
Eleven volunteers walk their therapy dogs up and down the terminals for several hours each week. Donations allow retired critical care nurse Kyra Hubis to run the program (with the assistance of her Golden Retriever, Henry James). The airport’s therapy dogs, who must be tested and certified to become part of the program, have to show they can remain calm among frenzied crowds, rolling wheelchairs, and screaming children.
Los Angeles International Airport is now planning to implement its own therapy dog program modeled on the successes in San Jose.
More Pet Treats Recalled
Some 500 dogs and nine cats may have died after eating chicken jerky pet treats made in China, according to updated complaints logged by federal veterinary health officials. A new tally of reports filed with the Food and Drug Administration shows the agency has received 2,674 reports of illness or death involving 3,243 dogs. The new figures came less than a week after two of the largest retailers of pet chicken jerky treats issued voluntary recalls of several popular brands.
So far, the FDA has not been able to confirm a link between the treats and the ailments, but investigations continue.
Pet treats voluntarily recalled in recent months include:
Nestle Purina PetCare Co. – Waggin’ Train and Canyon Creek Ranch brand dog treats
Del Monte Corp. – Milo’s Kitchen Chicken Jerky and Chicken Grillers home-style dog treats
IMS Pet Industries Inc. – Cadet Brand Chicken Jerky Treats
Hartz Mountain Corp. – Hartz Chicken Chews and Hartz Oinkies Pig Skin Twists wrapped with chicken
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