We are sad to report the death on June 19, 2004, of Helen Redlus. In 1994, she found her true calling when she launched Golden Retrievers in Cyberspace, a non-profit organization whose mission is helping senior and special needs Golden Retrievers who might otherwise be euthanized due to age or health.

The New York Times "Escapes" section ran a feature on the County Fair in Fort Benton, Montana (Friday, July 16, 2004) describing the various events at the fair, including ". . . the heart of the fair," which is ". . .the 4-H livestock show." We were appalled to read about an episode in which an 11-year-old girl, in tears, tried to save the life of a beloved lamb her family had raised. The reporter writes, ". . . the real drama was in the lamb barn, where Christina Butler, 11, tried to persuade her father to let her take her brother's lamb, Famous Amos, for a stroll. Her plan was to walk him all the way home to Highwood, 18 miles away, and save him from the chopping block."

Christina's father noted that Amos was a ". . . family member who we've grown to love, (and) we're taking him off to slaughter." Of course, permission for Christina to save the lamb was denied.

Although the 4-H club maintains that it aims to teach ". . . the importance of sacrifice," we think of an incident like this as a form of cruelty. Just as it's not right to kill the family dog, it is not right to kill the family lamb. In answer to the argument that a dog is a pet and a lamb is meant to be eaten, we provide the reminder that people in southeast Asian countries believe that dogs are meant to be eaten. If you love a creature, you do not send him off to be slaughtered. And you certainly don't do it when there is a child involved whose mental and emotional development can be seriously harmed.

We say Baaaaaaa!! to the 4-H Club.

As you may know, 4-H is the youth education branch of the Cooperative Extension Service, a program of the United States Department of Agriculture. So, keep in mind that these are your tax dollars at work to trample on and distort the inherently compassionate natures of our children.

One of the reasons frequently given when people surrender their pets to a shelter is their inability to find rental housing that will accept pets. A website provides guidance and resources to help renters find pet-friendly dwellings and to help property owners meet the challenges of maintaining pet-friendly housing. It is at: www.rentwithpets.org The sponsor of the site, The Humane Society of the United States, also publishes a booklet for renters: 13 Steps to Finding Rental Housing That Accepts Pets and one for property owners: Profiting from Pets: A Guide for Rental Managers and Property Owners. To order, send $1.00* to: Rent with Pets, The HSUS, 2100 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037. Bulk rates are available. (*Please add applicable sales tax -- in CA 7.25%, CT 6%, DC 5.75%, FL 6%, MD 5%, OH 5%.)

Coco, a beautiful, ten-year-old Chocolate Lab mix, died in July, shortly after she was given Rimadyl for pain associated with an ear infection. According to Coco's guardian, no client information sheet was ever offered to her and the veterinarian assured her Rimadyl would help her dog.

She says, "I would never have given this drug to my dog had I seen the information on Labrador Retriever responses to it." She writes further, "I feel she died too young due to incompetent care. I still believe that what was ailing her could have been dealt with because she had been peppy, happy, and mostly in good health. I believe the symptoms that led to her collapse implicate Rimadyl as the cause of her death and of the distressing quality of her life in her last three days. . . . Even though everyone tells me I should stop feeling guilt that I killed my dog, I still can't help but blame myself for not looking up the drug. And then I wonder if she might have survived once she got past the toxicity, but I don't think we could have watched her suffer anymore. All I know is there seem to be so many empty spaces in my home, places where she was always beside me. I have decided to channel my grief and anger by informing everyone I know about this assault on all of our animals' dignity and quality of life. Would these vets prescribe a drug to their family members if there were even the slightest possibility that it could kill them? I doubt it. . . . Let's all decide to do at least one thing a day to honor our beloved companions. If it's telling one other person, or posting information somewhere or filing complaints with any and every state and federal agency, we can change the world -- one message at a time. But in between this let us all take the time to remember our companions for the happiness we shared and how much they gave us. For Coco."

"I have never used Rimadyl in my practice. I never buy drugs the first year they come out. I wait to see the number of reactions reported to the FDA.  Unfortunately, most vets get all their information from the sales people. I have asked a Senator in Texas to introduce a bill to prohibit the approval of Continuing Education Credits for a seminar where the speaker is a paid employee of a drug company or where a conflict of interest exists. Speakers should reveal all financial ties to any products discussed. I feel this is central to the problem with Rimadyl and many other drugs. To follow is the handout I give to all clients to warn them about side effects of all NSAIDs. All the information came from Dr Dawn Boothe, pharmacology professor at Auburn." 

Bob Rogers, DVM, Critter Fixer Pet Hospital, Spring, TX

ProHeart 6, the injectable heartworm medication meant to protect dogs against heartworm for six months, is being investigated by the Food and Drug Administration following increasing numbers of reports of adverse reactions and deaths. The safety of the drug is being called into question, and, as a result, some veterinarians are electing not to use it for their clients' dogs. According to a report on news4colorado.com, "Jean Brudd said all three of her dogs -- Nicki, Tasha and Casey -- got shots of ProHeart 6. . . Two died and one remains on medication. " The report also notes, "More than 5,000 veterinarians and dog owners have filed complaints about ProHeart 6 with the FDA. Nearly 500 dogs have died after receiving an injection."

Fort Dodge issued a recall of batches of ProHeart 6 in April 2004, when those batches failed to meet FDA specifications for sterility. The recall was still ongoing as of June 2004.

Metacam (meloxicam) in the form of 1.5 mg/mL Oral Suspension, manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc., MO, was recalled because a kilogram dosing syringe was packaged with the product rather than a dosing syringe calibrated in pounds. The recall was still ongoing as of June 2004.

Fort Dodge to Comply with FDA's Request to Recall ProHeart 6 Injectable Heartworm Product from the Market Due to Serious Health Concerns

Fort Dodge Animal Health, of Overland Park, Kansas, at FDA's request, has agreed to immediately cease production and recall its heartworm medication ProHeart®6 from the market until the FDA's concerns about adverse reaction reports associated with the product can be resolved. FDA is requesting that the firm continue to conduct research to determine the cause of related adverse reactions and develop a strategy to help prevent such problems in the future before the product is marketed again. The FDA will convene an independent scientific advisory committee to thoroughly evaluate all available data. Read more......

Jean Townsend of John's Island, SC, has been instrumental in organizing the consumer awareness campaign known as "B.A.R.K.S." -- "Be Aware of Rimadyl's Known Side-effects." She can be counted on to speak out whenever necessary to alert others about making wise choices when administering medication to their dogs. When she saw an article in Just Labs magazine recommending the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication for a dog's minor tail problem, she wrote to the magazine:

"I am writing you because of an article in your July/August issue -- specifically the one entitled 'The Tail of the Lost Wag.' Why in the world would anyone want to administer either Rimadyl or Deramaxx to a dog with a condition that rest would take care of? Are we such a society of 'want fast results' that we would endanger the lives of our companion animals by using such potent medications?"

Jean's point is well taken. Rest is certainly a safer and more intelligent choice for a minor malady that can be addressed with time and rest.

Instead of using rodenticides, investigate other possible remedies: Can you better proof your home against entry? Have you tried sonic deterrents? Have you investigated humane traps, allowing you to catch the rodent and release him in an environment where he might be more appropriate and not considered a pest?

If you think your animal has eaten poison or a poisoned rodent, call your vet and/or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: 1.888.426.4435. Have on hand any information you can obtain on the type of poison ingested.

In August 2004, Susan Schroedel wrote with the sad news that Maizie had died. She added, "I am comforted a little bit just in the knowledge that Maizie had the absolute best possible life with the best food, medical care and most of all the best of us. We are both retired and neither Granny nor Maizie ever spent a day alone. Some who do not understand the special love that only an older dog brings to one's life would query why we might continue to adopt seniors....over and over again....only to say goodbye way too soon. Surely for some the draw of a chubby puppy is much more desirable. We look, instead, for the cloudy eyes and greying muzzles of older dogs who deserve -- more than any others -- committment and love for the remainder of their lives. To us, providing that commitment and love is the most rewarding. To feel that each day you gave the best you had to a dog whom someone threw away like yesterday's trash is what will keep us watching for the arthritic joints, the grey muzzles and the tender gentle eyes of those most in need."

Read a beautiful tribute to Maizie....

"I just wanted to send yet another wondeful happy ending! Buddy, the 7-year-old Yellow-white male Lab has been adopted! He found his forever home with a young family that was looking for a well-mannered Lab who would teach their children to love and respect animals -- not be afraid of them. Getting a senior Lab was the best choice for them as Buddy is so patient and loving. They will grow up with respect and love for dogs, rather than fear of one attacking or jumping all over them. Thank you so much again! I appreciate the work you all do for these wonderful seniors!!!!"

Sincerely,
Barbi Carroll
Utah Lab Rescue

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!