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My
boyfriend came home with a fifteen dollar bag of designer dog biscuits.
He said, "You think he's gonna like them?" I said, "I don't know, he's
out in the backyard eating doody, lemme go ask him".
Elayne Boosler
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Dear Readers, I was the lucky recipient of two incredible books in the Dear Elayne mailbox! Freckles “Freckles, The Mystery of the Little White Dog in the Desert”, by Paul M. Howey, is an instant classic. It's a true story written for children but perfect for everyone. It tells the story of Freckles, who is abandoned to die in the Arizona desert, gives birth to six puppies, keeps them alive, is rescued by a deputy and kept in a jail cell where they are cared for by inmates. And that's just the beginning of Freckles' amazing journey. This is a great story and a perfect book for teaching children a deep appreciation for animals and each other. It contains teaching aids, additional information about adopting pets and about animal assisted therapy. It should be on everyone's holiday gift list, as 20% of the proceeds go into the Freckles Fund, to benefit animal rescue and animal assisted therapy organizations. ( www.aztexts.com )
The Man Who Talks to Dogs “The Man Who Talks to Dogs”, by Melinda Roth, is the gripping, inspiring true story of one of the country's leading dog saviors, Randy Grim. Abandoned areas in urban settings are literally crawling with wild dogs leading short brutal lives, by- products of the human destitution around them. These are the dogs that animal rescue can't catch, that shelters don't want, that Randy Grim can't ignore. This powerful book narrates Randy's dramatic, inspiring efforts. He is the founder of Stray Rescue of St. Louis, which should be a model for every city. But you'd need a Randy Grim in each city too, a man born to rescue, the hero of America 's wild street dogs. According to Randy, “You have to pay attention to your own life puzzle, and make sure that what isn't missing is compassion”. I couldn't put it down. ( www.stmartins.com )
Dear
Elayne,
I just read an article in The New Yorker magazine saying people are spending a billion dollars a year on their pets. The writer wondered how many Head Start programs for children could be funded “if people could be cured of their love affair with cats and dogs”. How many? Dean F., Manhattan Dear Dean A billion dollars a year to care for and feed sentient, living beings who bring us love, joy, health and happiness. Let's see. Americans spend $182 billion a year on prescription drugs (petting a dog lowers your blood pressure), $158 billion to purchase cars (wanna go for a walk!!), $89 billion for gas (dogs come free with that), $20 billion for car insurance (you can't count on them), $6 billion in auto registration fees (and no discount even if they're fixed). The pentagon is spending $5 billion a MONTH in Iraq and Afghanistan (without squeaky toys). For perspective, Americans spend $800 million a year on peanut butter. Head Start should indeed be funded, but it seems to me that writer is barking up the wrong tree.
Dear P.M., Well, sounds like you'll have to organize a parade since your
pug won't be marching in the St. Patrick's Day parade in New York
any time soon. Here's where the importance of voting comes in.
If we had a truly compassionate electorate, your pug could indeed
marry your boxer and they could live happily together. But nooooo!
Does your pug enjoy watching Queer Tail for the Alpha Male? How
big a parade would this be? With those little legs, I'm guessing
the whole thing will be maybe a block, a block and a half. Hopefully
the defenders of the Marriage Act will come out and picket us,
with signs saying “Marriage is a Union Between a Male and Female
Poodle!” I don't have a big pug following as I do a pretty heterosexual
act, but you can count me in. Dear Elayne, I am having a hell of a time keeping owls from killing my pets. They hang out on the fence in the middle of the night and wait for my daughters kittens to venture out. Lost two last night. I have also lost a Redbone Coonhound puppy to these owls. Great Horned they are. Keeping an owl, even a wounded one is pretty damn stupid. Obviously, you think that animals appreciate your 'help'. But you are wrong. I love owls, and think they are pretty damn cool. I am an avid hunter, and see them all the time. But I will tell you this, I have a solution for MY owl problem. Its a 1 oz. load of #6 shot. Brooke J. Dear Brooke, You are obviously responding to the “Unmuzzled” Column we ran, written by someone who saved some baby owls who fell out of the nest. Well Miss Smarty Pants, YOU are wrong. Those owls sent that man a beautiful thank you note, a subscription to Playboy, and a lovely set of napkin rings. They appreciated it VERY much, so there! Nobody I know “keeps owls”, but there are Wildlife Rescue Centers in many cities who do help them, whether the animals tip or not. They fix them up and help them return to the wild. While we all know about the food chain, it's hard when your pets are the special of the day. Knowing the owls were out there, I wouldn't let kittens, or puppies, venture out alone for one thing. And in the middle of the night, no less. I'm glad you are an “avid” hunter. It would be such a shame to be shooting and killing animals in a laissez-faire sort of way. Yup, you wanna be avid when you're hunting. Maybe instead of a 1 oz. load of #6 shot, you ought to try a 2 oz. load of #7 shot, as you don't seem to be doing too well with those owls right outside your door. From your letter it sounds like Owls, 3, Avid Hunter, 0. We have two owls in a giant pine that have been here for a year
and so far no losses, although I haven't counted the gopher population
lately. My neighbor's little dog was eaten by coyotes in the backyard,
and it's a heartbreak losing the puppy, yet knowing that all this
development is closing off the wildlife corridors and these wild
animals are starving to death. It's the problem of man encroaching
on wild territory to build, and I haven't heard a good solution
yet, although keeping the corridors open would be a start. Dear Elayne, I have a wonderful 5yr. old doxie named Lili. She is the joy of my life and is truly a family member. We live in the country with lots of room for exercise and exploring. My problem is that Lili has decided that when I call her to come to me, she ignores my call. This is a new behavior. It would not be a big deal except for the fact that there are other wild creatures that share our space, so it is a safety issue for all of our wonderful critters. What's up with Lili??? Please Help. Mary Dear Mary, Have you tried a 1 oz. load of #6 shot? Well, if this is a new behavior, she's just testing the bounds as they all do every once in a while. They sometimes need to be reminded that you're the boss, for their own safety. What if she were in the path of a car and you called and she was still in the habit of ignoring you? That is why you need to remind her that she must listen, and come when you call, every time. This cannot be a form of play. A good way to establish yourself as the law is to take control of her food. Put her dinner down, then make her sit. If she goes to eat it, pick the bowl up and say No. Sit. Do that with every meal until she understands that you control the food and when she is allowed to eat it. I couldn't bear doing this to my boy at first, I thought it was so mean. Ah, get over it. He sits down, he looks at me, he waits as long as I say, and when I say, Okay, suppy!!!!! he looks at me like I'm nuts, I mean, he eats. The same with the bed or couch. Not sure if little guys can get up, but if she does, don't let her decide. She can come up only when you invite her up. Whatever she takes, a toy, a bone, take it away and say Sit. Make her wait. Then say Good Girl and give it back. Take control of everything until she realizes that she has to take her cues from you. Don't let her precede you in doorways. If she runs ahead, call her back in the room and make her sit as you go out first, then call her. You must lead the pack and determine the pecking order. This alone should get her to come when you call, but if she needs more prodding, put her on an expandable leash and say Come, then reel her in a little, make her sit, say it again, reel her in a little, make her sit, and keep repeating. Do this every day for a week. I'd love to just let my dogs go running all day, I don't have any need to dominate them. But the truth is you need to in order to keep them safe. There are people with 1 oz. loads of #6 shot out there! FOLLOWUP FROM MARY: Dear Elayne, Thank you so very much for the help. I will start the new training right away. I feel that I need to explain some of the reasons for my concern. We live smack dab in the middle of the Six Rivers National Forest in northern California . We share our space with wonderful wild forest creatures that seem to know that my place is safe if they need help. Two years ago after a devastating fire nearby (2miles) there were many displaced needy animals that wandered up to my doorstep for help. One particular rescue that I am sooooo proud of was a yearling bear that was so malnourished he could get onto my deck by climbing through a six inch (really) hole. He couldn't walk on his feet but walked on his forearms. I thought he had been burned because his fur had fallen off or was so thin you could hardly see it. Others in the community had seen him and reported him to CA. Fish and Game. They were looking to shoot him as they told me that he was too far gone and they don't rehabilitate bears. Well I made sure that I left food for him everyday. He would come and eat but I knew that I needed more help. I called my friendly country Vet and told him that I knew it was against the law but I couldn't let them shoot the little guy without giving him a chance. We made a plan that on the next day when the bear came to feed that he would come and take a look and see if he could help. When Smokey jr. came so did the wonderful Vet. He darted the little guy and after a quick exam, agreed to try and save him. If he were caught he could have lost his license. It took six long months, lots of medication, and then feeding him nothing but natural (in the wild ) food for two months, but it worked. We were able to take him to the Trinity Alps Wilderness area and turn him loose. We stayed nearby to make sure that he was able to survive on his own. He did great! Thank goodness for people willing to go the extra mile for needy animals. This is the reason that Lili really needs to be obedient. We never know what kind of creature may visit our country paradise. I don't want to have to leash her at all times because I have lots of land and space for her to be with me outside. You notice I said with me. I never let her roam unless I am with her. We have deer, raccoons (now with babies), bear, fox, and many
quail and wild birds on our land and nearby. We live in peace and
harmony with our forest friends. I want to keep her and the other
animals safe from harming each other. As I am typing this Rainbow
raccoon and her four babies are drinking out of my swimming pool.
They are so very cute. Dear Readers, That bear bought Mary a 46 inch flat screen tv, and sent the vet to Hawaii with his wife. Dear Elayne, Just out of curiosity, do you feel that there should be a limit law on responsible purebred breeders and licensing your cats, microchipping dog/cat, and rabies? Thank you Curious! Dear Curious!, Wow, I think Liza! in Vegas was the last person to actually have
an exclamation point in her name. I'm not quite sure of your questions,
but that never stops me from talking anyway! RESPONSIBLE breeders
are the key words here. Since we kill about a gazillion dogs and
cats in America every year, I think there should be a two year
moratorium on breeding any dog or cat. That won't happen. So, to
me a responsible breeder uses condoms! Okay, that won't happen
either. To me, a responsible breeder has no more than one litter
a year, and has homes all lined up beforehand. If the puppies are
sold through the newspaper, the breeder should do a home check.
The breeder should sign a sales contract saying that he/she will
take the puppy back at any time for any reason. A responsible breeder
doesn't inbreed family members for looks, (look what happened to
the Hilton sisters). Puppy mills are the scourge of America , and
I am surprised that “responsible breeders” and the AKC, aren't
doing more to fight their proliferation. As for licensing, yes,
every pet guardian should buy a license. It is the main source
of support for shelters and animal control in every city, places
shamefully underfunded by city governments. Dear Elayne,
Dear Brittany, You're only five and you can type already? You are a very special
girl! Listen, I think I know who shot your friend Xena. Did she
happen to look a little like an owl? I am so sorry for the loss
of your friend. I hope she is in Pigeon heaven, which would probably
be any statue of a politician. As for having almost no teeth and
chasing and nipping at people, well, that's how Anna Nicole's husband
got her! Dear Readers, If you check the most current No Bones column in our archives, we have a long piece about Iams cruelty testing on animals. Here is a response from the company. Dear Madam, On behalf of The Iams Company, thank you for sharing your thoughts. I'm glad you wrote to us so that we can update you on the events that inspired your message. On March 25, we learned that nutritional studies being conducted for us at an independent facility in the U.S. may have violated our company's strict research policy. On March 26, we completed an unannounced visit of the facility to review procedures and ensure the well-being of dogs and cats at the site. On March 27, we concluded that the facility did not meet our strict standards regarding air temperature, ventilation, resting beds, and socialization (even though the facility recently passed U.S. government inspections). We made the decision to end all research at the facility. In addition, we worked with the facility to relocate Fifi, Maisy, Mickey, and the 16 other dogs to an Iams animal care center. We have an established program for socialization and employee adoption that will give these dogs the opportunity for a successful transition to a family. On April 10, we met with PETA to look over the facts and to share our plan for the review of our contract research facilities. We have now completed comprehensive reviews of all external facilities involved in dog and cat nutritional studies for Iams. This was a major effort which included Iams researchers, P&G veterinarians, non-technical Iams employees who served as the "eyes and ears" of our consumers, and where possible, independent animal welfare experts. All of the facilities reviewed comply with government regulations, and the health of the dogs and cats is not at risk. However, we've decided to consolidate our nutritional studies at fewer contract facilities, and we will focus more on the implementation of our high standards for dog and cat care. Also, we are establishing an Independent Animal Care Advisory Board which will be in place and active by July 15. Its role will be to: 1. Actively review external facility compliance with the Iams
research policy. If you would like to read about our research policy in more detail, it is posted on our website at www.iams.com/en_US/jhtmls/faq/sw_Faq_detail.jhtml?questionid=167&brandcode=I&localeid=en_US&pagetypeid=FQ (or go to www.iamsco.com and access this document through the horizontal navigation bar by clicking onto News/Stories.) We want to advance scientific understanding of how nutrition can help dogs and cats to live long, healthy lives. We only conduct research with dogs and cats that is equivalent to nutritional or medical studies acceptable on people. We are deeply committed to dog and cat well being, and our research policy reflects that commitment. Thank you again for contacting us with your feedback, and for giving us the opportunity to respond. Sincerely,
Here is PETA's followup to Ms. Achor's letter. Since PETA did the original investigation and got IAMS to respond, I thought their follow-up was important. Keep the Pressure on IamsAs a result of public outrage over what we found at an Iams testing lab, including barren cages and veterinary neglect, Iams is scrambling to improve its image. In April, Iams and parent company Procter & Gamble execs met with PETA and announced that all contract laboratories were being inspected by an internal review committee and that an external review board would conduct surprise follow-up visits. They also cut ties with the lab that PETA investigated and placed 19 of the dogs up for adoption. However, the company still refuses to let us tour its Dayton facility or its Alabama-based “retirement village” where older dogs are apparently kept until they die. PETA has asked Iams to take a bold step and be the first big dog and cat food manufacturer to stop all testing on animals. Buy only from companies that don't test on animals. For a complete list, visit PETA.org. And here is a great link to a list of other companies that do unnecessary testing on animals, so you can be an informed consumer. http://www.peta.org/mall/cc/cctest.html
Dear Elayne, Dear Leah, As pointed out above, here again is a good source for cruelty free shopping. Also, contact information is provided on the list so you can make your voice heard at these companies. The only way to get change is with your pocketbook. Buy only from companies that don't test on animals. For a complete list, visit PETA.org. And here is a great link to a list of other companies that do unnecessary testing on animals, so you can avoid buying their products. http://www.peta.org/mall/cc/cctest.html
Dear Elayne, About trying to get rid of skunks, I had the same problem as one of your readers. I got my solution from a guy who grew up on a farm, and had to deal with skunks a lot. First thing you need to do is find ALL the entry holes. Take some old rags, and soak them with ammonia (really douse them) then put them in a plastic bag tied up tight. Then poke holes all over the bag, then stick that into another loosely tied bag and shove one of these into each entry hole. They hate the smell and will be gone almost instantaneously. The only problem is that it only lasts about a month before they come back. And they always do... it's a scent thing. But in the meantime, maybe you could find a way to block their entry holes. Good luck! Chickydee Dear Chickydee, I passed out after the first bag. Was there any mail for me? Dear Elayne, This isn't really a question but I hope you will use it anyway. I was going through the archives of No Bones and read something I have heard over and over and want to address. "Aren't rescues damaged?" Let me see if I can enlighten a bit, using one of my rescues as an example. Reggie, my border collie, came here unable to walk for two days. He had been badly beaten, even had some teeth knocked out. He was frightened and my cat Ross (another "damaged" rescue) saw him laying on the floor and walked over to him, curled his head against Reggies chest, put his paw around Reggies neck and held him for over an hour. Reggie has gone on to be one of the most compassionate dogs you would ever meet. After my mom had triple bypass surgery he walked with her everywhere she went. He was so attentive he actually got on her nerves. He now helps with numerous rescues, always the first to cuddle and kiss them. Nursing rescues back to health is very rewarding. It is a highly emotional job. I am friends with other rescuers, we need each other to get through sometimes. We know more love than the average person because of the animals but we also cry more than the average person...and anger...well I won't even go there...So are rescues damaged? NO!!!!!!!!...but I sure wish we could euthanize idiots who think so! Sincerely, Ruthie A. http://www.selawardtv.com Official Sela Ward Fan Club Dear Ruthie, Well, now we'll be able to euthanize a lot less idiots thanks to your letter.
OKAY EVERYBODY, TIME TO GO TO THE PARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Back To No Bones Archive Copyright Brooklyn Productions, Inc. 2003-2006 |
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