Summer 2000 Newsletter

Volume XI Issue #2

PET ADOPTION LEAGUE
Anna Drummond, President
Post Office Box 3303
Grass Valley CA 95945
530/273-7958		 PAL THRIFT STORE
Open Monday - Saturday, 10 AM - 4 PM
10067 Joerschke Drive
Grass Valley CA 95945
530/272-2PAL - 530/272-2725
WEBSITE:  www.pal.nccn.net

Table of Contents

Doctor Recommends Pets

Dr. Andrew Weil always had pets in the house when he was growing up and highly recommends them for others. He says his current dogs often make him laugh and always take him out of himself, not to mention taking him out of the house every day for a walk. He will frequently talk to his dogs, who, he says, listen intently to his troubles or other thoughts on things. 

He mentions the body of research about pets' effects on people's health, from promoting recovery from serious illness to lowering blood pressure. One study that he cites states that the company of a pet can actually be more calming than a human friend. Another study found that people who lived with a pet were better able to attend to the activities of daily life than those without pets. 

Pet owners state that their pets help them get through periods of crisis. Elderly people stay more active, feel less isolated, and therefore have better health. 

Dr. Weil highly recommends getting a pet, especially if you're lonely, feeling disconnected, or simply too self-absorbed. He also recommends adoptions from shelters. He says that if you can't adopt, you can "borrow" a pet from a friend to take to nursing homes, hospitals, or other institutional settings. This helps you, the residents of these places, and the dogs have a fun outing!

 Dr. Weil is a household name these days. If you aren't familiar with him, his books, newsletters, etc., you can find out more about him at www.pathfinder.com/drweil/sitemap or call 800/523-3296.

Deadly Vaccines

"The links are invisible and, so far, unproven. Even to suggest they exist is to be heaped with scorn from the U. S. medical establishment. Yet a growing number of holistic and now even conventional veterinarians are convinced, from sad experience, that vaccines as they're administered in this country to pets are doing more harm than good. I myself think that's a conservative view. I think that vaccines, justly credited as the tamers of disease epidemics, are nevertheless the leading killers of dogs and cats in American today.

Martin Goldstein, DVM
The Nature of Animal Healing

Rimadyl Can Kill

Rimadyl can cause severe liver toxicity, causing potential symptoms like wobbling instead of walking, then not walking at all, vomiting, seizures, and finally death.

It's a drug frequently prescribed by veterinarians for arthritic dogs. Due to some deaths caused by this drug, you will no longer see the slick ads on TV promoting it. You probably remember the ads: once-lame dogs jumping and playing like two-year-olds.

Since Rimadyl came on the market for use in pets, the FDA has received reports of about 1,000 dogs that died or were put to sleep and 7,000 more who had bad reactions after taking the drug. The FDA says such events are
significantly underreported. Pfizer, the drug's manufacturer, says adverse events involve less than one percent of dogs treated.

The drug will continue to be on the market, but the FDA advises veterinarians to take proper precautions, such as advising clients what reactions to expect and to periodically do liver-function or other lab tests. No doubt your own vet already knows this information and will advise you accordingly.

For a copy of the entire article, call us (530/273-7958) and we'll send it to you.
Wall Street Journal March 13, 2000. 

Why Do Pets Need Vitamins?

Robert Goldstein, DVM says that animals' bodies need the right fuel to function properly. If pets are fed table scraps, they get "real food." Pet food from supermarkets, however, is made mostly from grain grown in depleted soil and loaded with preservatives and sugar. And, more and more animals are bred for their looks, rather than hardiness. As a result, animals are getting weaker. Even newborns don't start life 100% healthy.

On top of all this, pets are bombarded with environmental and household pollutants and chemicals. This assault makes heavy demands on the immune system, requiring unusually
high amounts of vitamins, minerals, and truly healthy food just to stay healthy. The body wasn't designed to keep up with this demand, so degeneration can begin at a very young age. 

The solution, he says, is to feed high quality food and add a good vitamin and mineral supplement. He recommends Dr. Goodpet's Maximum Protection Formula (800/222-9932)
and Wysong C-Biotic (800/748-0233) as well as his own Daily Health Nuggets (800/711-2292). Goldstein also markets a product called Internal Flea Powder which boosts
pets' immunity and makes their bodies distasteful to fleas and ticks. [Two vitamins that we at PAL also like are Vita Dreams from Halo and NuCat.]

You can subscribe to Goldstein's Love of Animals newsletter by calling 800/711-2292. They would be happy to send you a complimentary copy before you decide, or we at PAL can provide you with one. It's very informative and well worth the money ($34.99 for one year or $55.96 for a two-year subscription). We get it and we're learning things all the time that make our pets healthier and happier!

Don't Throw It Out!

If you get newsletters, magazines and other information from different animal welfare organizations, please give them to us when you're finished if you are going to throw them
out. We will put them in our lobby so other animal lovers/customers can get the information. Thanks!

Going Bonkers!

Bonkers! is the name of a magazine that's been around for a few years and topics have usually centered around self-help, healing, that sort of thing. The magazine is excellent and we read it cover to cover because everything seems to be so worthwhile.

In recent months, Bonkers has started including more and more articles about animals. Perhaps
they realize the importance of animals in our lives and their worth as individuals in the greater scheme of things. We're just guessing, of course. We don't know exactly why they have started to do this, but we're very happy they have! If you'd like to subscribe, call 800/777-1999 or e-mail them at bonkers@goingbonkers.com. If, after you get the first issue, you decide you don't want more issues, just let them know.

Tasty Treats for Dogs

If you find yourself in Old Sacramento and want to treat your dog to something delicious, consider stopping at My Best Friend's Bakery at 1050 Front Street. They're open Tuesday - Sunday, 10 am - 6 pm.

Or if you are headed to Sutter Creek, stop by Three Dog Barkery at 16 Eureka Street where you'll find things such as yappitizers and puptarts.

Your dog will appreciate it and maybe you can get them to include cat treats, too!

Every cat's nose pad, or nose leather, has unique characteristics. Just as no two humans have the same fingerprints, no two feline noseprints are ever alike.

No! to Live Animal Experiments

Students at the University of Illinois successfully campaigned to suspend lab experiments that kill animals. Last fall, 26 first-year veterinary students signed a petition saying they would not participate in spring labs. Professors use more than 100 dogs, pigs, rats, and rabbits annually for physiology experiments in which students learn to inject drugs to alter dogs' heartbeats or breathing. Students and members of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) suggested such alternatives as videotapes and computer programs. 

In response, officials adopted a written policy stating that professors must offer alternative assignments to students who object to these experiments. Also, the Courses and Curriculum Committee, comprised of six faculty members and four students, will now review existing and new animal use protocols to ensure that animals are handled properly during experiments. 
Veterinary Economics, April 2000

Two Success Stories

Annie

As many of you know, most of our cats and dogs come from one of the two local shelters. That's how we came to have Annie. A nice, sweet cat, but someone no longer wanted her. Well, we did.  And so did Pat Schrader of Grass Valley. Now Annie lives a very happy life with a great person and other wonderful cats and a dog. She is very loved and well cared for. Who knows why she was abandoned, but she's a happy girl now!

 

Max

Max was adopted from us ten years ago! Dawn and Bob Bateman of Grass Valley took him home and there he stayed until recently. Max died on February 24, 2000.

We think of this as one of the great success stories because someone had taken this great dog to the pound, yet someone else (Dawn and Bob) gave him a new and wonderful life. While so many pets are continually given up, abandoned, moved from home to home, and sometimes even put to death, Max was able to live 10 happy years with one family.

Dawn and Bob said recently that Max had a mind of his own, and was even a bit difficult at times, but they "loved him to pieces." This is really what it's all about. When you take in an animal, he or she is now part of your family.

Whatever the personality, things can be worked out. And when you love someone, you would never desert that someone. Dawn and Bob remember Max for his "very sweet disposition" and "the cutest Teddy Bear face." We'll always remember how they took in a homeless dog and gave him such a good life!

Success Stories WANTED

In our next newsletter, which appears in September, we will do our usual two pages of Success Stories. If you have adopted cats or dogs from Pet Adoption League and would like to see them featured in the next newsletter, send good quality, clear photos of the pets and we'll put them in. If you'd like to write something about them, that would be great! It doesn't matter how long ago
you adopted. We love to hear how well they are doing.  And the two-pager seems to be a big hit! Send photos and bios to 

PAL
ATTN: Anna
Box 3303
Grass Valley, CA 95945

Who Will Care for My Pets if
Something Happens to Me?

If you are concerned about the welfare of your pets should something happen to you, United Animal Nations suggests the following:

Select a caregiver you trust to provide short-term care if you're hospitalized or become incapacitated.

Carry a note in your wallet or purse that there are animals at your home, with the caregiver's name and phone number.

Leave written instructions for your animals' care at a prearranged place in your home. Make sure your designated caregiver has a key and make arrangements for payment of expenses for the caring of your pets.

Your will should have instructions for short-term pet care during probate and for a designated person to adopt or find new homes for your pets. You may want to set aside a sum of money in your will for your pets' care or consider creating a trust for their benefit.

Many Websites to Console You

To lose a beloved friend is one of the hardest things many of us have had to cope with. Luckily we have friends to turn to if we need to talk. There are books that help. And there are also lots of websites where you may be able to find comfort, such as:

These are just a few sites. You can also search for "pet," "loss," or "grief" and you'll find many many more sites.

Pet Grief Counseling

The University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine provides a hot line for people grieving the loss of
their pet(s). Pets significantly impact our lives and are truly members of the family, so it's no wonder that we suffer deeply when they pass on. If you or someone your know needs to talk
about the pain, the number to call at the Pet Grieving Hotline is 530/752-4200 Monday through Friday 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm (pacific time). It's a free service. Of course you can always call us, too (530/273-7958). We're happy to lend a sympathetic ear.

Pet First Aid

We've mentioned the Pet First Aid classes in past newsletters. If you missed them and would still like to attend one, they will be held at the Western Nevada County
Chapter Office of the American Red Cross at 144 Hughes Road, Suite E, Grass Valley, CA on:

  • Saturday, July 15 9 am - 12 pm
  • Wednesday, August 30 6 pm - 9 pm
  • Thursday, November 9 6 pm - 9 pm

If you attend, you'll receive advice and information to help you be prepared in a pet emergency, you'll have a chance to practice first aid skills for common emergencies and problems requiring immediate attention, and you'll learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for your pets. Class Fee: $30. Pre-registration required. Call 272-3265.

Allergy Relief

There are several allergy preparations that have helped some of us at PAL. If you are coping with allergies, yet don't want to give up your beloved pets, try these bioAllers
brand remedies that target specific allergens:

  • Pollen/Hayfever
  • Mold/Yeast/Dust
  • Trees
  • Grasses
  • Animal Hair/Dander
  • Dairy
  • Grains

bioAllers also offers a Sinus and Allergy Nasal Spray. All of these products are clinically tested and work like a charm. Most health food stores carry them. Call ahead to see if they have the one(s) you need in stock.

Help for IBS

Shanna Keefe told us that her cat suffers from Irritable Bowel Syndrome but she has been able to keep it under control with a special diet she prepares herself. She makes
a large supply, freezes it and uses it as needed. If you want to try it, it's simple and according to her cat, delicious!

2 pounds raw ground turkey
1-1/2 cups cooked millet
6 cups pure (not chlorinated) water
2 tbsp bonemeal (human grade)
3 tbsp olive oil (good quality, without benzene)

Optional: cooked carrots or any veggie, or canned pumpkin Optional: good quality vitamins and supplements such as Dreamcoat, Vita Dreams, NuCat, Dr. Goodpet, etc. 

Cook 1-1/2 cups millet in 6 cups of water. Bring to a boil then simmer till the water is gone (about 10-20 minutes). Mix turkey and millet. Add bonemeal and olive oil.

Freeze in smaller bags. Keep some in the refrigerator to feed during the week. When you're ready to serve, add a teaspoon of veggies or pumpkin and vitamins and supple-ments. (To preserve the integrity of the bonemeal and olive oil, you could add these when serving, also, instead of at the beginning.)

You can substitute oats or rice for the millet. Shanna uses millet because it's a complete protein. She has tried to reintroduce other foods, but he doesn't tolerate them. He's been on the diet for three years now, is in great health, and has a silky, shiny coat. Sometimes she sprinkles the food with nutritional yeasts or parmesan cheese. You can use lamb instead or turkey. Be creative! Come to think of it, this would sound delicious to any cat or dog. 

If you'd like to talk to Shanna further about this, call her at 530/292-3229.

Some New Breeds!

  • Collie + Lhasa Apso = Collapso, a dog that folds up for easy transport
  • Spitz + Chow Chow = Spitz-Chow, a dog that throws up a lot
  • Pointer + Setter = Poinsetter, a traditional Christmas pet
  • Great Pyrenees + Dachshund = Pyradachs, a puzzling breed
  • Pekingese + Lhasa Apso = Peekasso, an abstract dog
  • Irish Water Spaniel + English Springer Spaniel = Irish Springer, fresh and clean as a whistle.
  • Labrador Retriever + Curly Coated Retriever = Lab Coat Retriever, a dog nine out of ten doctors prefer
  • Newfoundland + Basset Hound = Newfound Asset Hound, a dog for CPAs
  • Terrier + Bulldog = Terribull, a dog that makes awful mistakes
  • Bloodhound + Labrador = Blabador, a dog that barks incessantly
  • Malamute + Pointer = Moot Point, owned by . . . oh it doesn't matter
  • Collie + Malamute = Commute, a dog that travels to work
  • Deerhound + Terrier = Derriere, a dog that's true to the end
  • Bull Terrier + Shitzu = use your imagination . . .

A Holistic Approach To Flea Control

According to an article in the May 2000 issue of Better Nutrition, fleas and other parasites feed on weakened animals. In other words, what you feed your pets may
determine whether or not they get fleas. The healthier the pets, the less likely they are to get fleas because good quality food helps them stay strong while poor food keeps their immune system weak. 

It could also be that your pets' digestion isn't up to par. Poor digestion is a common problem in dogs and cats and is often attributed to low-quality food ingredients that don't break down quickly and completely in the digestive tract.  This can lead to malnutrition as well as allergies, arthritis, excessive hair loss and other problems linked with the body's inability to eliminate waste. Be wary of products that contain "meat by-products" or "meat meal." "By-products" or "meat meal" ingredients can
include diseased animals that were rejected in the slaughter house from use as human food, or even road-killed animals and euthanized pets. 

Preservatives in the food can be dangerously carcinogenic. Avoid products with ethoxyquin, BHA and BHT. Put your pets on premium-quality natural pet food. The
Obedient Dog carries many good quality products and health food stores usually carry high quality food. Consider adding essential fatty acids or digestive enzymes
as well as vitamins and suplements to your pets' food. For a copy of the entire article, call us at 530/273-7958.

Web Donation

Jane Apgar Sommers is donating five percent of sales
from her website and from various shows and fairs she goes to, to the Pet Adoption League.

You can learn more about Jane, what she does, and see her paintings, etchings, portraits, and prints at her website: www.magichorsegraphics.com. You can also e-mail her at jsommers@rancholv.com. 

You can see her work at Gallery II, 419 Broad Street, Nevada City, CA. 

She will be at the Draft Horse Classic at the Nevada
County Fair Grounds in Grass Valley September 22-24, 2000. For other dates, times, and locations, see her website.

Thank you, Jane, for thinking of us! We and the animals who benefit from your generosity really appreciate it!

Farm Sanctuary Vacation

The Farm Sanctuary is a nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing and protecting farm animals as well as ending abusive animal agricultural practices. 

Now you can spend time at their Bed & Breakfast in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. The cabins are spacious and overlook the sanctuary. There are gorges, waterfalls, wineries, hiking trails, lakes, and, of course, farm animal friends to visit.

Maybe after spending time with and getting to know some of the cows, pigs, and other farm animals, you may walk away thinking of them more as friends rather than as dinner. Prices vary from $65 to $75 depending on the number in your party. This includes a vegan breakfast. 

If you're interested, call 607/583-2225, ext. 30 for reservations. Or e-mail them at office@farmsanctuary.org. If you're interested in a tour of their California 300-acre farm sanctuary near Orland (by Chico), call 530/865-4617. The sanctuary website is www.farmsanctuary.org.

Help for Kidney Disease

"Natural strategies to protect your kitty's kidneys" by Nancy Scanlon, DVM, ran in the February 2000 issue of Better Nutrition. The kidneys, says Scanlon, are exposed to more toxins than most other organs because toxins concentrate in the kidneys so they can be excreted. Some of the most notable chemicals that can damage the kidneys are pesticides, herbicides, solvents, and bee venom. Using natural products around the house will help decrease your cat's exposure to these toxins.

Shock, heart problems, trauma and prolonged anesthesia can also harm the kidneys. Other risk factors can be dehydration, high fever, hypotension, acidosis, electrolyte
imbalance, antibiotics, insecticides, chemotherapy, and over-vaccination.

Scanlon recommends feeding high quality food and supplements. If your cat develops kidney disease, she suggests these strategies:

  • Vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol) - 50 I.U. daily
  • Vitamin C (sodium ascorbate powder tastes less sour than ascorbic acid and is easier to hide in food) - 250 mg twice a day
  • Coenzyme Q-10 - 10 mg once or twice daily
  • Omega-3 fatty acids may help improve kidney function. Be sure to supplement with fish oil, NOT flaxseed oil. Pop a hole in a fish-oil capsule and give your cat about 2 drops daily.
  • Supplement with glandular kidney tissue - 1/4 capsule of desiccated kidney tissue twice daily.
  • Acupuncture helps appetite and improves blood flow to the kidneys.
  • B-complex vitamins - 1/4 of a B-50 tablet, twice daily. 
  • Calcium carbonate may help gastrointestinal problems, acidosis and calcium imbalance - 100 mg twice daily. 

Possible symptoms of kidney disease:

  • thirst
  • excessive urination
  • loss of appetite and weight
  • vomiting

If you notice any of these symptoms, take your cat to the veterinarian right away. Older cats should be routinely checked for kidney disease, says Scanlon. For a copy of the article, just give us a call: 530/273-7958.

Spaying Saves a Life

A few years ago, we at the Pet Adoption League got a call from a woman who wanted to find another home for her cat. She said the cat was very mean, hard to live with, and, in a
word, impossible! We told her to have the cat spayed -- perhaps that would mellow her out. It certainly helps male animals when they get neutered and perhaps the same would be true of a female pet.

The woman took our advice, had her spayed, and, believe it or not, the cat became one of the most affectionate cats she has ever had!

We love a happy ending!

PLEASE remember, if you or anyone you know needs financial assistance for spaying or neutering, PAL provides help all year round. Just call!

Summertime, and The Giving is Easy

We so appreciate your continued support. Because of it, we have been able to help so many animals (and their people) in our community. Many of the programs we provide are due to your generosity. Here are a few ways you can give if you don't want to write a check every time.

  • You can have your monthly (or other) donation automatically deducted from your bank account to go automatically into PAL's account.
  • You can put your donation on your credit card. This can happen automatically monthly or as you specify.
  • Many businesses offer Matching Gift programs that can double or triple the amount of your gift to Pet Adoption League. Just check with your Personnel or Community
    Affairs department.
  • Or, if you prefer to simply write a check each time, that's OK with us. We can provide you with envelopes. Just let us know if you need any.

Any questions on the above or anything else, just call us
at 530/273-7958.

In Memory of:

      Bear, the Police Officer, from Maryalyce Hansen
      Maurice Baltake, from Susan & Joe Baltake
      Sweet Scarlett Baltich, from Barbara Baltich
      Max Bateman, from Bob & Dawn Bateman 
      Max Bateman, from Jay & Bub Warner
      Ed Burtt, from Caroline Burtt
      Katie Dreifuss, from Mike & Anna Drummond
      Yukon Feakes, from June & Richard McKenzie
      Ben & Poddy Foss, from Peter Foss
      Dottie Gale, from Sally McEwen Cosgrove
      Dottie Gale, from Erin Hay
      Chuck Graydon, from Shirley Slavonic
      Benji Hargens, from Lola Hargens
      Denise Larsen, from Maryjane Petersen
      Denise Larsen, from Mary Jane Rothe
      Casey McDepp, from Mike & Anna Drummond
      Bonnie Nelson, from Mike & Anna Drummond
      Maynard "Smiley" Nelson, from Doris & Jim Nelson
      Amy Parks, from Jim & Marge Folger
      Ming Toy Patten, from Laura Craighead
      Zeke Perry, from Anne Wright
      Pudgy Quackenbush, from Betty McClain
      Chippy Rosen, from Bernice & Hy Rosen
      Misty Rumble, from Thomas Rumble
      Peggy Stuart, from Mary & Charles Brock
      Sophie Teeling, from Jon & Julie Teeling
      Robert T. Walker, from Debbie Hamblen

In Honor of:

      Harriet Baque "on her 18th birthday," from Phyllis Baque
      Mike Drummond, "Happy Birthday!" from Carol Schmitz
      Misty Egger, from Diane Egger
      Pipi, Pepe, Amii, Snupes, Tummies & Suzi Irish, 
      from Patricia Irish
      Shirley Nibbelin "Happy Birthday!", from Joyce Haire
      Faith Thompson, from Jan Green 

A Prayer for Animals

Hear our humble prayer, O God, for
our friends the animals, especially
for animals who are suffering, for
any that are hunted or lost, deserted
or frightened or hungry, for all that
must be put to death.
We entreat for them all thy mercy and
pity, and for those who deal with them
we ask a heart of compassion and
gentle hands and kindly words.
Make us, ourselves to be true friends
to animals and so to share the
blessings of the merciful.

Albert Schweitzer
Pet Adoption League, Inc. is an independent, nonprofit animal welfare organization dedicated to helping local animals.