Botox is a drug (manufactured by Allergan) that was originally developed for therapeutic use. It was subsequently approved for cosmetic use because it has the effect of reducing the appearance of facial lines. FDA regulations require testing of Botox to ensure its safety, and currently, to meet this requirement, Allergan

". . . whether for therapeutic or cosmetic application, each batch of Botox must be tested before Allergan releases it to doctors and dermatologists; to determine the right potency of Botox -- the key ingredient of which is botulinum toxin, the most poisonous substance known to mankind -- Allergan uses a highly questionable test known as LD50, whose sole purpose is to find the dose that kills 50% of the animals used in the test. You read that right: The end point of the LD50 test is death to 50% of the animals used. The test's full name is Lethal Dose 50 Percent. The Humane Society of the United States believes this must end, and we want your assistance. We're urging consumers who use Botox purely for cosmetic purposes to avoid the product until Allergan stops testing it on animals. Period. We're also asking all animal lovers to write Allergan to convince the company that animals should not die in the name of beauty. Finally, we're asking readers to contact the Food and Drug Administration to demand that the agency fund, research and approve alternatives to LD50 tests, so that the test can be retired permanently.

" 'The HSUS acknowledges that Botox has several medical uses that are beneficial to humans, and those uses should continue,' said Dr. Martin Stephens, vice president for The HSUS's Animal Research Issues. 'But we are also aware that nearly half of the drug is for beauty enhancement. Consumers need to know that animals are suffering and enduring horrible deaths for the sole satisfaction of human vanity. This has simply got to stop.' "

"Meshka had thrombocytopenia which I think is and all the vets agree was caused by Ditrim, which the Vet was using to treat her urinary tract infection. We took her into the vet's office last Tuesday when we noticed her gums and nose were bleeding. I originally thought that she might have eaten rat poison, as so many neighbors and I have heard there were rat problems in some homes. But it was then determined by blood tests Tuesday night that it was not poison but thrombocytopenia, which had been caused by the antibiotics she was taking. We monitored her red blood cell count by keeping her at an emergency vet clinic overnight for four days and at our regular vet's office during the days. Her PCV or red blood count had dropped so far below normal that we gave her a whole blood transfusion. This brought her count back up to 20, which was safe, and we continued to have her monitored and looked after. Friday, when her count began to drop again, the doctor gave her a transfusion of concentrated platelets to stop the bleeding. This did not help, and the vet determined that basically she was bleeding to death. So we made the decision to have her put to sleep. I am so upset that I was never told this could happen when she was put on this medicine -- but here it is -- a very rare occurrence." Meshka was two-and-a-half years old.

"Sugar-free candy and gum may be sweet enough for you. . . but they can possibly be toxic to your animal companions. According to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC), xylitol--a sweetener found in certain sugar-free chewing gum, candies and other products--can potentially cause serious, even life-threatening problems for pets. Based on data collected from the 40-plus related cases the center has managed since last July, canines who have ingested significant amounts of gum or candy solely or largely containing xylitol may develop a sudden drop in blood sugar, resulting in depression, loss of coordination and seizures. "These signs can develop quite rapidly, at times less than 30 minutes after ingestion," says Dr. Eric Dunayer, consulting veterinarian for the APCC. "Therefore, it is important that pet owners seek veterinary treatment immediately." The APCC advises pet owners to be especially diligent about keeping candy, gum or other foods containing xylitol out of their animals' reach."

"I love so much my senior puppy that I got from the shelter two years ago, She's 16 now, and I've just found out that she's a French Brittany Spaniel.

Although the Internet is firmly established as a critical force in animal rescue and adoption, the classified advertising section of a city's newspaper can also be a valuable resource. Michelle Parris, the founder of Grateful Dogs Rescue in the San Francisco Bay Area, noted that Stephanie Peters, a representative for the San Francisco Chronicle classified ads, suggested to her supervisors that a separate "pet rescue" section, placed just above the regular pets classified section, would be a valuable service to the community. Her supervisors agreed and now the newspaper offers both the separate section and special rates for advertising rescued dogs. You can see the online "pet rescue" section by clicking on the "Classified" link above.

So many good dogs who are over the age of five are euthanized simply because of their age and the bias most people have toward adopting puppies. Our flyer explains why adopting an older dog is such a good idea. We can e-mail a copy of the flyer to you (request Word or PDF format, and you can print it out from your computer). Just send an e-mail to: flyer @ srdogs.com (remove spaces in the address before sending) with the word "Flyer Word" or "Flyer PDF" in the subject line. We've heard from supporters that they've posted the flyer in supermarkets, shelters, churches, veterinary offices, doggie daycare centers, dog trainers' offices, parks where people walk their dogs, and community bulletin boards. So, if you have time and opportunity, we'd appreciate your printing out a copy and posting it. Thank you!

You can also print out directly from the site our list of the "Top Ten Reasons to Adopt a Senior Dog." Just click here.

In the past few weeks, we attended some family and public events that involved quite a few dinners. We were asked repeatedly why we weren't eating the regular meal that consisted of meat, chicken, or fish and had ordered the vegetarian/vegan alternative instead. We began to talk about the numerous reasons for our choice, and, as we did, we found our listeners growing uncomfortable. Perhaps the dinner table is not the best place to open such a discussion, we realized.

Pamela Rice, of the VivaVegie Society, Inc., has written a pamphlet entitled "101 Reasons Why I'm a Vegetarian." We've listed just three of the reasons here. If you'd like to read all of them (at your leisure and preferably not over any non-vegetarian meals), the pamphlet is available for purchase online via the VivaVegie.org site. Here is a preview of some of the reasons:

#88 Just as smokestack emissions result in acid rain, toxic fumes from decomposing livestock waste on factory farms become poisonous to fish when they are returned to the Earth via rainfall. The errant ammonia also ravages terrestrial ecosystems because plants that thrive on nitrogen are favored over species that don't. Fallout can degrade environments as far away as 300 miles.

#99 Every day 600 people in the U.S. die so suddenly from cardiac arrest that they don't even make it to the hospital. Of the victims, 90 percent have two or more arteries narrowed by atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), a disease inexorably liked to a meat-based diet.

And something to keep in mind if you need a reason not to bake a ham for Christmas dinner:

#81 Food animals are transported in all weather. When it is cold, animals may freeze right to the sides of trucks or become frozen in the urine and feces that build up on truck floors. In hot weather, heat stress kills many. Losses, however, are figured into the cost of doing business. According to swine specialist Kenneth B. Kephart, "Even with a zero death rate that might be associated with providing more space on a truck, the hogs that we save would not be enough to pay for the increased transportation costs of hauling fewer hogs on a load."

I have an extremely precious older dog (14ish -- I've had him for 12 years). The other day I was looking for dog health care information specific to aged dogs on the Internet. A search returned your site, and I have been back countless times!! Your information was helpful and timely, and the website is downright fun and inspirational. I love the dog-with-the-tennis-ball image in your page banner. Only a doggie mom who truly loves and adores her older dog can appreciate that image the way I do. Too cute.

Right now I'm a one 'senior' dog home -- but your site has inspired me to adopt or perhaps foster older dogs when I am able to do so. You are doing noble work, and as the adoring (and doting) mom of an elder pup, it is fun just to see a website that lingers on the virtues of a mature dog.

Keep up the good work!! I will spread word of your website to friends and family. What a great resource you must be for shelters with older pups.

Best regards,
Sandy

+++++++++++++++++

I just wanted to write to thank you for your wonderful website. We share our home with three seniors dogs, all mixed breed and rescued. Two were adopted while relatively young (1.5 years and 4 years), but Buddy came to us as a senior. He's retired from life as a Paws-With-A-Cause assistance dog -- he helped our friend for 10 years but now has a hard time keeping up with the motorized wheel chair. So he's spending his golden years with his canine friends and a great fenced backyard :) All three dogs show some signs of arthritis. The information on your site was helpful and helped us to seek the best way to lessen the symptoms. So many other sites just seem to say use Rimadyl and all your problems will be solved! Hum, I'm not so sure about that...Anyway, thanks much and keep up the good work. We'd adopt a senior dog all over again.

--Sonya