Wednesday, July 31, 2013

From USA TODAY: Dog-human link is similar to that of parent-child

Dog-human link is similar to that of parent-child

A very interesting article, but then, momma is momma. daddy is daddy....so Zay moykhl, vos iz es faran neyes? {excuse me what's new???}

And I want both momma and daddy with me, with us always, without fail... like I said...Zay moykhl, vos iz es faran neyes?
Gimme a lap, that's where I belong!


Like we say, an empty lap is the saddest thing to see.

'vie

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

The MIA FOUNDATION, where miracles happen





http://www.themiafoundation.com/


http://www.myfoxphilly.com/story/22959426/dog-with-birth-defect?clienttype=generic&smartdevicecgbypass



Our friend Rocky is a contributing reporter at large. He submitted this story and asked if it was worth a post.
Oh Rocky, YES it is. And if momma's eyes stop leaking long enough to actually let her see the video, we might even be able to get it published.

Everybody deserves a chance.



What value has compassion that does not
take its object in its arms?
Antoine de Saint-Exupery

http://www.themiafoundation.com/How-you-can-help.html

Thank you Rocky
'vie

doing Oyster Point Town Center


This is one of our favorite hang outs. City Center at Oyster Point. Pretty place, loads of sniffables and tons of petters. LOVE IT.

Yes, Ms Wendy loves walking about and sniffing flowers.


JD and I are more into checking out the full scene.

The GIRLS BEHIND BARS series. {Yea they do love the movie Chicago!}The Wendy and I love doing Chicago! The movie is full of our favorite lines!


"Ask any of the chickies in my pen. They'll tell you I'm the biggest mother hen. I love them all and all of them love me, because the system works . . . the system called reciprocity. "

"If you want my gravy, pepper my Ragu, spice it up for Mamma, she'll get hot for you. (full quote)"
{Did someone say ragout? With pappardelle??? My fav... mhhhhh}


"You see, I was a butterfly, drawn to the flame, a moth, crushed by the, by the...so I guess you want to know why I shot the bastard."

"You know how people have those little habbits that get you down? Like Bernie. He liked to chew gum. No! Not chew. Po...P. So I come home this one day and I am feeling kinda irritated and want some sympathy and there Bernie is laying on the couch drinking a beer and chewing. NO! Not chewing Popping! So I told him and I said...if you pop that gum one more time.....and.... he did. So I took a shot gun off the wall and fired two warning shots. Into ...his....HEAD! (full quote)"



"Roxie: I'm a star... and the audience loves me! and I love them! And they love me for loving them and I love them for loving me... and we love each other. And that's cause none of us got enough love in our childhood. And that's showbiz... kid. (full quote)"

"You can like the life you live in, You can live the lif you like. You can even marry Harry, but mess around with Ike. And that's good, isn't it grand. (full quote)"

"My sister and I had an act that couldn't flop. My sister and I were headed straight for the top. My sister and I made a thou a week at least, but my sister is now unfortunately deceased. Oh, it's sad, I know, but fact is still a fact and now all that remains is the remains of a perfect double act. (full quote)"
JD "cellophane, mister cellophane, should i bend my name? mister cellopane, cause you can look right through me, walk right by me, and never know i'm there. (full quote)"




Show time is ovah.  It is too dang hot.
Back to AC  and mhhhh Rita's Ice????  I am in for raspberry!
T'sgo!


'vie

Please repost, let this reunion happen!


From CNN:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/27/us/washington-soldier-dog/


Soldier returns from Afghanistan to learn his beloved dog is gone

By Greg Botelho, CNN
updated 2:46 AM EDT, Sat July 27, 2013
1st Lt. Brandon Harker says he returned from deployment in Afghanistan to find the friend he'd left his dog, Oakley, with had given away the dog.
1st Lt. Brandon Harker says he returned from deployment in Afghanistan to find the friend he'd left his dog, Oakley, with had given away the dog.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • 1st Lt. Brandon Harker left last year for Afghanistan, leaving his dog with a "good friend"
  • The dog was gone when he returned; he doesn't know if it was sold or given away
  • Harker uses Craigslist to ask for help: "I'd just like him back, safe and sound"
  • The yellow lab, Oakley, loves to play and snuggle with whomever, whenever
(CNN) -- A purebred yellow Labrador retriever, Oakley likes to run, swim and get into most everything -- "whether it's trouble or not," his owner 1st Lt. Brandon Harker affectionately says.
And as much as anything, Oakley enjoys cuddling wherever, with whomever. That's just what Harker wanted to do with him this month, when he got back from a 9-month deployment to Afghanistan.
Except Oakley was gone. The friend with whom Harker had left Oakley said he'd gotten rid of the dog.
"I'd just like to get him back, safe and sound," Harker said Friday night. "That's about it."
About a year after joining the Army, Harker got the playful lab over Memorial Day weekend in 2011, while he was at Fort Benning in western Georgia.
Describing him sweetly as "a very big baby," Harker said Oakley loved to snuggle.
"It doesn't matter who it was, he'd try to crawl up on your lap."
Whenever Harker was in the United States, Oakley would go with him. And whenever he deployed, his beloved dog would be left with a friend.
That's what happened last year, when the lieutenant left Oakley with someone he described as a "good friend" before he headed off to Afghanistan.
"Every time, while I was gone, I asked about him," Harker said, recalling how his friend would insist Oakley was "doing good (and) acting like his regular self. "I'd ask for a picture every now and then. But I never got any pictures sent to me."
Harker learned the truth as he was flying back to Joint Base Lewis-McCord in Washington.
"What do you mean you got rid of my dog?" he told his friend.
In the few days since coming back, Harker has been on a mission. He posted a plea to find Oakley on Craigslist, noting that he didn't know if the dog had been sold or given away -- something he'd been told happened in May, though Harker isn't so sure.
That online item describes Oakley as being "good with kids and other dogs," with darker yellow spots on his face and going down his sides and legs. He is registered to Harker and has a microchip identifying device, and is a few days shy of being 2 years, 4 months old.
Writes the soldier: "If anyone has any information on this and can help me, please do."

Monday, July 29, 2013

CVM Offices Instructional Videos

CVM Offices Instructional Videos

Instructional Videos

The following videotaped presentations support the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine’s (CVM's) mission to protect U.S. human and animal health by assuring the safety, efficacy, and quality of animal drugs, including drugs intended for food-producing animals, and the safety of animal feeds and pet foods. They explain our programs for approving products and for monitoring products after they have been placed on the market. These videos also describe how CVM supports continuing efforts to reduce trade barriers and promote harmonization of international standards and guidelines.
We recommend that you begin viewing the series with the introductory statements by our Center Director, Dr. Bernadette Dunham, who further explains our Mission and Goals. In addition to Dr. Dunham’s overview of CVM, several of our experts offer their welcome to you in their native languages.
If you would like to contact us, please do so by emailing CVMIPT@fda.hhs.gov.
 
-

Overview of CVM

mischievous Monday- How to start off the week on the right paw.








What??? Momma we were just playing, you know, having fun. It's Monday!!!!!


The Wendy and I like to star off the week having FUN...  Momma, relax!  Jeez, hoomans.


'vie

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Recall- Dogswell treats : Breathies, Happy Heart, Happy Hips, Mellow Mut, Shape Up, Veggie Life, Vitality, and Vitakitty -

From Dogswell:[Highlight added]

" QUALITY ASSURANCE            
Dogswell and Catswell Voluntary Market Withdrawal

A Letter from Company Spokesperson, Brad Armistead

Dear Fellow Pet Parent: At Dogswell, our number one priority is the safety of our products and the health of our canine and feline customers. We strive to make and sell only the highest quality treats and food with added vitamins that provide great taste and functional benefits such as improved hip health, skin and coat health, and other benefits.
During routine testing of our products, the New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets (NYSDAM) discovered that a sample of our Dogswell Happy Hips Chicken Breast Jerky contained trace amounts of an antibiotic residue that has not been approved for use in the United States. It is important to note that this antibiotic is accepted for use in other countries (including the European Union), and there is no evidence that products containing trace amounts of this antibiotic pose a health risk for pets or humans.
Since we were notified by the NYSDAM the week of July 22nd, we have made the decision to voluntarily withdraw Chicken Breast and Duck Breast jerky under the Breathies, Happy Heart, Happy Hips, Mellow Mut, Shape Up, Veggie Life, Vitality, and Vitakitty brands that are labeled with a “Best Before” date of January 28th, 2015 or any earlier date.
The vast majority of these products were distributed before March 1st of this year.
No other products are affected. Since January, we have been using state-of-the-art testing procedures to ensure that our chicken and duck products do not contain these or other unapproved antibiotics. All chicken and duck breast jerky products with a “Best Before” date of January 29, 2015 and later have been fully tested for and do not contain these antibiotics. It is important that you know that all Dogswell and Catswell products remaining on the market are safe to feed as directed.
We have issued a press release to make our consumers like you aware of the situation. We also identified the stores that received the product, and contacted them to destroy any affected products in their possession (if any). We are doing everything we can to resolve this situation quickly and ensure that our consumers like you can feel confident feeding Dogswell and Catswell products to their companions, as we do here. To learn more about the affected product, we invite you to read our “frequently asked questions” below. If you would like to speak with someone live, you can call us at 1-888-559-8833 or email us at info@dogswell.com. If we are unable to get to your call or it is after hours, please leave us a message and we will get back to you as quickly as possible. We thank you, our valued customers, for your understanding, and we hope to be able to regain your trust.
Yours, Brad Armistead


Frequently Asked Questions

What products are being withdrawn by Dogswell and Catswell?
Dogswell and Catswell are voluntarily withdrawing Dogswell and Catswell brand jerky treats made with chicken or duck with a ”Best Before” date of January 28th, 2015 or any earlier date.

Why are Dogswell and Catswell withdrawing these treats?
We were recently notified by the New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets (NYSDAM) that a batch of our Happy Hips Chicken Jerky treats contained trace amounts of an antibiotic residue that has not been approved for use in the United States. Therefore, the company decided to withdraw any chicken or duck jerky treats that have not been tested for this antibiotic

 Have there been any reports of pets getting sick from eating treats that contain this antibiotic? There is no evidence that products containing trace amounts of this antibiotic pose a health risk for pets.

How can I tell if I have a product that is affected by the withdrawal?
First, you should check the name of the front of the package. If it says anything other than Chicken Breast or Duck Breast, it is not a part of this withdrawal. If your package does say Chicken Breast or Duck Breast, you should turn the package over. In the bottom right hand corner of the package printed in black ink on the seam, you should find the words “Best Before”. After “Best Before” is a series of eight numbers, such as: 07262015 or 07/26/2015 This number would be translated to the date July 26, 2015 (07 for July, 26 for the day of the month, and 2015 for the year). The products affected by this withdrawal are for “Best Before” dates of January 28th, 2015 or any earlier date (which would read as 01282015 or 01/28/2015). Any product with a “Best Before” date after that time has been tested for unapproved antibiotics and has been cleared. If you find that you have a product that is affected, please call us for a full refund at 1-888-559-8833. If you are having trouble determining if you have the product that was affected, or if you would like to speak with us directly about a full refund, please contact us directly at 1-888-559-8833 or email us at info@dogswell.com. I just went to the store and saw your products there.

Why is there so much Dogswell product on the shelf there if it has been withdrawn?
As of January, we have been using state-of-the-art testing on each batch of chicken and duck jerky to ensure that they do not contain these unapproved antibiotics. All of the products that you see on the shelf have passed testing and were approved to be sold.   Call us directly if you have any concerns or questions about DOGSWELL® products. We're here until 5:00 PM PST Mon-Fri  888-559-8833.

What does DOGSWELL do to make sure its products are safe? Our manufacturing facilities are designed to prevent cross-contamination and all of our products are manufactured under strict sanitary conditions. We closely monitor these facilities, and also regularly visit them to ensure the quality and safety of our products. Our co-packing plants operate under HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points), a system for managing food safety. Also, U.S. - based Third Party Food Safety Auditors make announced and unannounced visits to the audit all food safety and quality systems in which our facilities have always received high scores.

Where are your products manufactured?
Most DOGSWELL products are manufactured in the US. Some of our treats are manufactured in China, but we hold these facilities to the same stringent quality standards we maintain at our US facilities. DOGSWELL sources its ingredients based upon where we find top quality ingredients and a high quality supplier whose facilities and practices meet our safety testing standards. Why are the jerky treats made in China? China is a country where dark meat is more popular due to its inherent fat and flavor. DOGSWELL believes it is less wasteful to obtain our white meat in China where it is abundant, rather than sourcing it domestically, where white meat is less available and held at a premium. Not only do we care about your pet's health by sourcing only the healthiest meat available, we also practice sustainability by reducing as much waste as possible. How do you test your products? Every batch of DOGSWELL product is tested for melamine, bacteria and other contaminants.  All of our ingredients are carefully chosen and we conduct regular testing in U.S. facilities using APPA-approved methodology. Quality assurance is critically important and has been part of our standard operating procedure, and an integral part of our company, since day one. Please see below for a link to our test results. How do you prevent salmonella from contaminating your jerky products? The DOGSWELL® facility is specifically designed to prevent any cross contamination. Salmonella is one of the easiest contaminants to prevent. Salmonella is killed after 23 seconds at 160 degrees. We ensure that that all of our poultry jerky products are cooked at 160 degrees for ten hours. While some manufacturers choose a quicker “flash cooking process” to irradiate their products, DOGSWELL® has chosen the slow-cooking method to provide a clean, safe treat.

What is the Cage-Free Difference? Cage-free chickens are kept in barns where they can roam, scratch and perch as they please. Our chickens eat a natural diet, have plenty of room to roam, and live and grow free of stress. To view our Quality Assurance Brochure, please click here To view our test results please click on the desired product below HAPPY HIPS Lamb & Rice Treats HAPPY HIPS Sweet Potato Treats HAPPY HIPS Chicken & Sweet Potato Treats HAPPY HIPS Chicken & Apples HAPPY HIPS Chicken & Banana To view Ethylene Glycol and Diethylene Glycol test results for our HAPPY HIPS Chicken Treats, please click here HAPPY HIPS Chicken Treats VITALITY Duck Treats VITALITY Chicken Treats SHAPE UP Chicken Treats BREATHIES Chicken Treats  BREATHIES Duck Treats MELLOW MUT Chicken Treats VITAKITTY Salmon Treats VITAKITTY Tilapia Treats VITALITY Chicken & Oats HAPPY HIPS Chicken & Oats NUTRISCA Chicken & Chickpea NUTRISCA Salmon & Chickpea NUTRISCA Lamb & Chickpea    ©2013 Dogswell. All Rights Reserved."



OK, MY question to Dogswell is:

Edward Wong's well written article in the NY Times details  all of the problems with China and food safety issues.
WHY on earth would you even consider doing any business and importing anything from China?
This is a country that failed to maintain safety for their own human infants, and Dogswell is trying to justify importing chicken for our canines?

I don't, and you shouldn't either.

'vie


The market

Where did we hang out last night?

  1. HERE!  Of course!

    The Town Center Of Virginia Beach: Events 

    www.vabeachtowncenter.com/events/

    [Mosaic Steel Drum Orchestra Thumbnail] ... FRI. JULY 26TH, 2013, 8:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.. Comedian Josh Blue ... The Original Super Band. 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 ...

Mosaic Steel Drum Orchestra

Category:Music
When:
Location:Fountain Plaza at Town Center
Central Park Avenue
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
Website


Map dat





Took the Blue limo, but did lots of walking.
Temps were perfect and the crowd was into petting us big time. The music was great, so was the temp, not hot, breezy, easy and fun.




The Wendy and I have no idea what that think on top of the fountain is, but hoomans were taking pictures of it. Personally I think they should get a statue of a beautiful Bichon. I could pose.  I could.  I would even.



Yea , yea , yea what else is new... JD picking himself up a little girl. DUH that is all his does.  That and picking up young women.

No matter- He still comes home with us.

All that being said, you all think I did not notice that we did not get gelato? I did notice.  Not kewl momma, not kewl.  It would have made the night, just like the "rug made the room". Besides, we worked our paws off being good ambassadors of rescue. We elevate the image of rescue.  We should be paid. I am just saying. Equity? Do you know how many smiles we generated on hoomans???  Do you have any idea??? One little gelato, would have put a smile on my face, but nooooo..... Sigh.

Oh, yea Auntie Robin we ran into a bunch of two leggeds who worked with you 20 yrs ago [how can that even be possible???] They said hi. You know way too many people.  You need to stick to Bichons.

'vie