The Dog Park is closed for installation of irrigation lines. A temporary, smaller dog park, for dogs of all sizes, is scheduled to reopen March 22nd. The newly restored, expanded Dog Park is tentatively scheduled to open on July 15!
Piedmont Park is a haven for dogs and humans alike! While a City of Atlanta ordinance requires all dogs in public areas to be leashed, Piedmont Dog Park is one of the few locations in metro Atlanta where dogs may run free. This special off-leash area, open since 2002, is one of the most popular features of Piedmont Park.
LINCOLN, Neb., March 8 /PRNewswire/ — Nature’s Variety has expanded its voluntary recall of Chicken Formula Raw Frozen Diets for dogs and cats to include the “Best If Used By” dates of 10/29/10 and 11/9/10 because these products may be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can affect animals and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products. People handling pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the product or any surfaces exposed to these products.
Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.
Pets with Salmonella infections may become lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, or vomiting. Some pets may experience only a decreased appetite, fever, or abdominal pain. If your pet has consumed any of the affected products and is experiencing any of these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.
The recall includes the following products with a “Best If Used By” date of 10/29/10 or 11/9/10:
- UPC#7 69949 60131 9 – Chicken Formula 0.75 lb trial sized medallions
- UPC#7 69949 60130 2 – Chicken Formula 3 lb medallions
- UPC#7 69949 60120 3 – Chicken Formula 6 lb patties
- UPC#7 69949 60121 0 – Chicken Formula 2 lb single chubs
In an abundance of caution, Nature’s Variety has also chosen to expand this voluntary recall to include all Chicken Formula and Organic Chicken Formula Raw Frozen Diets for dogs and cats with any “Best If Used By” date on or before 2/5/11. Nature’s Variety has elected to clear the market of raw frozen chicken diets as it implements a state-of-the-art new food safety process called High Pressure Pasteurization for use on all Nature’s Variety Raw Frozen Diets.
The products included in the expanded recall are any Chicken Formula or Organic Chicken Formula Raw Frozen Diet with a “Best If Used By” date on or before 2/5/11, including:
- UPC#7 69949 60131 9 – Chicken Formula 0.75 lb trial sized medallions
- UPC#7 69949 60130 2 – Chicken Formula 3 lb medallions
- UPC#7 69949 60120 3 – Chicken Formula 6 lb patties
- UPC#7 69949 60121 0 – Chicken Formula 2 lb single chubs
- UPC#7 69949 50121 3 – Chicken Formula 12 lb case of chubs
- UPC#7 69949 60137 1 – Organic Chicken Formula 3 lb medallions
- UPC#7 69949 60127 2 – Organic Chicken Formula 6 lb patties
The “Best If Used By” date is located on the back of the package above the safe handling instructions. The affected product was distributed through retail stores and internet sales in the United States and Canada.
No other Raw Frozen Diets are involved in this expansion other than chicken, and no other Nature’s Variety products are involved.
Nature’s Variety now uses High Pressure Pasteurization on their Raw Frozen Diets as a unique process to kill pathogenic bacteria through high-pressure, water-based technology. Having incorporated this state-of-the-art technology on a portion of their raw product offerings in late 2009, Nature’s Variety was able to confidently implement the process universally on all Raw Frozen Diets after the 2/11/10 recall in order to enhance food safety. Nature’s Variety also utilizes a test and hold protocol to ensure that all High Pressure Pasteurized Raw Frozen Diets test negative for harmful bacteria before being released for sale.
“Nature’s Variety believes replacing all raw frozen chicken products on the market with new raw frozen chicken products that use High Pressure Pasteurization is an important and responsible step in order to reinforce consumer confidence and trust,” stated Reed Howlett, CEO of Nature’s Variety. ”By recalling all raw frozen chicken products with ‘Best If Used By’ dates on or before 2/5/11, we can provide our pet parents with new raw frozen chicken products that have been processed through High Pressure Pasteurization. Adopting High Pressure Pasteurization is an important step to ensure that our products meet the strictest quality and food safety standards.”
Howlett stated, “Our commitment to consumers in the future is the same as it’s been in the past – to offer Raw Frozen Diets made from the highest quality ingredients, made in our own plant in the Midwest, by people who care deeply about pet nutrition, health, and happiness.”
If you are a consumer and have purchased one of these products, please return the unopened product to your retailer for a full refund or replacement. If your package has been opened, please dispose of the raw food in a safe manner by securing it in a covered trash receptacle. Then, bring your receipt (or the empty package in a sealed bag) to your local retailer for a full refund or replacement.
Consumers with additional questions can call the Nature’s Variety dedicated Customer Care line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 800-374-3142. For additional resources about High Pressure Pasteurization or other Nature’s Variety food safety protocols, visit www.naturesvariety.com.
About Nature’s Variety
Nature’s Variety specializes in natural, holistic dog and cat food. The line of premium products was developed by families who have been practicing sustainable agriculture for more than 140 years, raising quality livestock and growing crops in America’s heartland. Nature’s Variety offers the purest forms of pet nutrition – including a wide variety of protein choices in every pet food form (raw frozen diets, dry kibble diets, canned diets, and treats). For more information about Nature’s Variety, visit www.naturesvariety.com.
SOURCE Nature’s Variety
RELATED LINKS
http://www.naturesvariety.com
By Jennifer Viegas
If your veterinarian were to ask you to take your cat’s temperature at home, would you know what to do? This often-necessary task might seem simple, but it requires preparation and practice. Dr. Jodi Korich, a veterinarian and the director of Partners in Animal Health at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, explains what you should do both now and when the moment of need arises.
Cat First-aid Kit
It helps to create mini “sub-kits” within your cat’s basic first-aid kit, with each containing items required for specific tasks. For the temperature-taking portion of the kit, you’ll need:
- Thermometer While you can use a standard glass thermometer, Korich believes a digital one is safer. “If you accidentally drop the thermometer, which can happen when trying to control a squirming cat, it won’t then break and shatter,” she explains. “A digital thermometer is also flexible and will move with your cat.”
- Lubricant It facilitates insertion of the thermometer. Korich suggests three choices that work equally well: mineral oil, KY Jelly and petroleum jelly.
- Alcohol You should have this in your kit anyway, for treating certain wounds. In this case, it will be used to clean off the thermometer.
- Paper towel This is useful during cleanup.
Taking Your Cat’s Temperature
Even before your cat is ill, it’s important that you perform a few practice temperature-taking runs. These instructions assume that you are using a digital thermometer. To begin, lightly coat the tip of the thermometer with lubricant. Have all the other required items within reach.
If possible, “Try to find a friend or family member who can help out,” advises Dr. Korich. One individual can then serve as the “cat holder,” securing the cat with both hands between the feline’s neck and shoulders. If the cat might bite or scratch, have this second individual wear gloves and use a towel to hold the feline patient.
If you’re working alone, hold your cat against your side. Wrap an arm around the front of your cat so it cannot break free. If possible, place your cat on a raised surface, such as a table.
Lift your cat’s tail, but be gentle. If you pull too hard, you can hurt your cat, which might then bolt. Insert the thermometer into your cat’s anus. “There will be some initial resistance, due to contraction of the anal muscles,” warns Korich. Hold the thermometer until it beeps, signifying that a temperature has been taken.
When finished, “It’s important that you don’t forget the treat,” says Korich. This will help to ease your cat’s tension and reinforce that the temperature-taking process is rewarding and not threatening.
Korich says temperatures falling between 100.4 F to 102 F “are considered to be normal for cats.” If your cat is emotionally stressed, however, its temperature could go up to around 103 F.
When to Take Your Cat’s Temperature
According to the Hale Veterinary Group of Wiltshire, England, “pyrogens,” or substances that change the level at which the body temperature is maintained, cause fever. Pyrogens include “bacteria, viruses, toxins, some drugs and natural substances released by the body in response to inflammation.” Cat temperatures tend to hold steady, so rises and falls strongly indicate that something is wrong.
Korich says your veterinarian might ask that you take your cat’s temperature after it has undergone a surgical procedure or has been diagnosed with an illness. “Visits to the hospital can be tremendously stressful for cats, so home monitoring under a veterinarian’s supervision can allow the cat to recover quicker,” she explains.
“Cats are notoriously secretive about illness,” says Korich. Temperature is one key indicator of sickness that your clever feline cannot fake or hide.
About the Author
Jennifer Viegas is the managing editor of The Daily Cat. She is a reporter for Discovery News, the news service for the Discovery Channel, and has written more than 20 books on animal, health and science topics.
Below is an article regarding new laws in Piedmont Park. Dog owners beware!
Freeing your dog may put you behind bars!
Negligent Dog Owners Could Be In Deep Doodoo – Atlanta News Story – WGCL Atlanta.
Dine Out at Agave Restaurant
If you’re looking for an easy, delicious way to raise money for Atlanta Humane Society, Agave Restaurant has provided the perfect opportunity! On February 23, Agave will donate 20% of all sales to the homeless animals at AHS! Agave has been named the Best Southwestern Restaurant in Atlanta and is well-known for its award-winning margaritas. Grab some friends and join AHS staff and volunteers at Agave to raise money for our Society pets! Agave is open from 5pm-10pm, and reservations are recommended. To check out the menu or to make reservations, please visit http://www.agaverestaurant.com/
| Tuesday |
February 23 |
5pm – 10pm |
Agave Restaurant
242 Boulevard SE, Atlanta
404.588.0006 |
| Located in Historic Cabbagetown / Grant Park / Inman Park |
Jesse James Finds His Dog CinnaBun!.
James — best known as the owner of custom motorcycle shop West Coast Choppers, sometime reality-show star, and husband of actress Sandra Bullock — has launched an all-out plea for help in finding his lost pit-bull puppy. “CinnaBun our shop dog & pet has been missing since 2pm yesterday. If you find her plz call 562-983-6666,” James tweeted last Tuesday, Jan. 26. See more…
via Paw Nation - Jesse James Searching for Lost Pit Bull.
New Survey Concludes Pets’ Emotional Support and
Nonjudgmental Attitude Key to Surviving Tough Times
ROCHESTER, NY (February 1, 2010) – Pet owners don’t believe their money woes matter to their pets, and that’s beneficial to the owner, according to a new study of 400 Americans fielded by independent digital direct agency, Catalyst Direct. Of respondents polled, a majority stated that their pet’s emotional support and nonjudgmental attitude are key to helping them survive these challenging times.
Read more on Money Woes and Tough Economic Times Don’t Matter to Your Pet…
Information from Catalyst Direct:
Catalyst Direct, Inc. (http://www.catalystdirect.com/)
Valentine’s Day can be as much fun for pets as it is for humans if dangerous foods, flora and other items are kept out of paws’ reach. Each year our poison control experts see a rise in cases around February 14, many involving chocolate and lilies, a flower that’s potentially fatal to cats. So please heed our experts’ advice—don’t leave the goodies lying around on Lover’s Day.
Pet-Safe Bouquets
Many pet owners are still unaware that all species of lily are potentially fatal to cats. When sending a floral arrangement, specify that it contain no lilies if the recipient has a cat—and when receiving an arrangement, sift through and remove all dangerous flora. If your pet is suffering from symptoms such as stomach upset, vomiting or diarrhea, he may have ingested an offending flower or plant. Use our online toxic and nontoxic plant libraries as visual guides of what and what not should be in your bouquets.
Forbidden Chocolate
Seasoned pet lovers know the potentially life-threatening dangers of chocolate, including baker’s, semi sweet, milk and dark. In darker chocolates, methylxanthines—caffeine-like stimulants that affect gastrointestinal, neurologic and cardiac function—can cause vomiting/diarrhea, hyperactivity, seizures and an abnormally elevated heart rate. The high-fat content in lighter chocolates can potentially lead to a life-threatening inflammation of the pancreas. Go ahead and indulge, but don’t leave chocolate out for chowhounds to find.
Careful with Cocktails
Spilled wine, half a glass of champagne, some leftover liquor are nothing to cry over until a curious pet laps them up. Because animals are smaller than humans, a little bit of alcohol can do a lot of harm, causing vomiting, diarrhea, lack of coordination, central nervous system depression, tremors, difficulty breathing, metabolic disturbances and even coma. Potentially fatal respiratory failure can also occur if a large enough amount is ingested.
Life Is Sweet
So don’t let pets near treats sweetened with xylitol. If ingested, gum, candy and other treats that include this sweetener can result in a sudden drop in blood sugar known as hypoglycemia. This can cause your pet to suffer depression, loss of coordination and seizures.
Every Rose Has Its Thorn
Don’t let pets near roses or other thorny stemmed flowers. Biting, stepping on or swallowing their sharp, woody spines can cause serious infection if a puncture occurs. “It’s all too easy for pets to step on thorns that fall to the ground as a flower arrangement is being created,” says Dr. Louise Murray, Director of Medicine for the ASPCA’s Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital. De-thorn your roses far away from pets.
Playing with Fire
It’s nice to set your evening a-glow with candlelight, but put out the fire when you leave the room. Pawing kittens and nosy pooches can burn themselves or cause a fire by knocking over unattended candles.
Wrap it Up
Gather up tape, ribbons, bows, wrapping paper, cellophane and balloons after presents have been opened—if swallowed, these long, stringy and “fun-to-chew” items can get lodged in your pet’s throat or digestive tract, causing her to choke or vomit.
The Furry Gift of Life?
Giving a cuddly puppy or kitten may seem a fitting Valentine’s Day gift—however, returning a pet you hadn’t planned on is anything but romantic. Companion animals bring with them a lifelong commitment, and choosing a pet for someone else doesn’t always turn out right. Those living in the Manhattan area can let their loved one choose their own cat with a gift certificate to adopt from the ASPCA. If you’re not from New York, check your local animal care facility or take a romantic trip to the shelter together.
Please visit http://www.aspca.org/ for more information on The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®
