Four Paws manufacturing company of Hauppauge, New York has halted shipment on its line of Rough & Rugged® Pimple Balls with Bells after a number of dogs suffered severe injuries and even death from using the toy.

Attention was called to the situation by a blog that chronciled the near death injuries suffered by a Lab mix named Chai, that led to the amputation of the dog’s tongue.

According to his owner Daniel R. of New York City, “While chewing on the toy, a vacuum was created and it effectively sucked his tongue into the hole in the ball. From speaking with my vet, this likely occurred because there is not a second hole in the ball preventing the vacuum effect from happening.”

After three days of emergency veterinary care, Chai’s swollen tongue was unable to be saved from the injuries and needed to be amputated. Post operation, Chai was on a feeding tube for a number of days and was in horrible pain. Chai needed to relearn how to eat, drink and learn to live life without his tongue.

Chai needs to be hand fed, though he has relearned to drink again on his own. You can follow Chai’s story in depth here. Chai’s owner attempted to contact Four Paws regarding the incident to save other dogs from suffering like Chai.

Initially, there was no response from the company. While posting on his blog and fighting Four Paws, Chai’s owner became aware of a similar incident regarding the same toy that resulted in the death of another dog. He continued to fight for the products to be recalled and is now aware of 13 dogs that suffered injury and worse as a result of this poorly designed toy.

Chai’s owner wants to be clear, “I want them to change the design. This is a design flaw…it’s not a manufacturing defect. What I really want is to make this doesn’t happen to another dog again.”

Note that Four Paws is not formally recalling this product, merely stopping shipment on currently manufactured toys, altering the design for future production. Four Paws is changing the packaging of its Pimple Balls with Bells to make it easier to inspect them for potential defects and they plan to individually inspect each one of the toys in inventory in order to identify any defects.

If you have purchased any products from the Four Paws line, please click here to ensure that the toy was not on the list defective toys.

Remember to always supervise your dog while he is playing with his toys! No toys are completely safe and dogs must be under careful observation to ensure their safety.

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On August 23, 2008, a large puppy mill breeding facility was discovered deep in the woods of West Virginia. Best Friends Animal Society is on site working with Wood County law enforcement officials, the Humane Society of Parkersburg and the Humane Society of the United States. The organizations have teamed up to rescue the dogs from Whispering Oaks Kennels. Authorities were alerted to the kennel due to complaints that the property owner was creating excessive pollution.

Authorities convinced the kennel’s owner to relinquish all of the dogs and sign a document that bars her from ever owning and operating another breeding facility. Hopefully, further legal action will be taken against the operator of the facility.

“Right now, we are concentrating on removing the newborns, the pregnant mothers, and any dogs who need immediate medical attention,” said Rich Crook, rapid response manager for Best Friends Animal Society. “The dogs, most of them dachshunds, Chihuahuas, poodles and other small breed dogs, were confined sometimes four or five to a cage measuring just two feet by three feet,” Crook said. “Many cages had feces in them. All had poor ventilation. The sheer number of animals was overwhelming, and the odor of urine in 90-plus degree heat was stifling.”

By Saturday evening at least 200 dogs had been removed from the site and transported to an emergency kennel set up by the Humane Society of Parkersburg. This organization is accepting monetary donations to help cover the costs of this emergency rescue effort. In addition, they are in need of clean towels and rolled newspapers.

Whispering Oaks Kennels has been operating for nearly two decades, keeping these empathetic and soulful creatures in squalor and depriving them of socialization and proper care. The kennel bred Dachshunds, Yorkshire Terriers, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Poodles and Jack Russel Terriers and other small breeds.

Puppy mills are commercial mass breeding operations that keep their dogs in unbearably inhumane conditions and supply pet stores and internet sites with irresponsibly bred puppies for sale to the public. It is estimated that puppy mills produce four million dogs per year, contributing to the massive pet overpopulation problem. The estimated number of euthanized homeless cats and dogs totals around 6 million.

Although many of us consider dogs dear family members, these commercial breeding facilities view our companions as profit making business, turning dogs into baby making machines that never leave their putrid cages or know the loving touch that a human can give.

By continuing to flush out such awful facilities, we give these pooches a chance to start fresh and begin a new life, without sadness, neglect and cruelty. All of the aforementioned organizations, Humane Society of Parkersburg, Best Friends Animal Society and the Humane Society of the United States are working together to get these animals ready for adoption as soon as possible.

Please take a moment to visit these sites and contribute assistance to these precious animals in any way you can. Their new chapter is in our hands.

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This month, the newly launched WebVet unveiled itself online, touting itself as an interactive pet platform where pet owners can do ’symptom searches,’ read articles written about common pet ailments by veterinarians and get pet related news.

Like the human version, WebMD, WebVet does not directly provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, but for those pet owners who tend to sit around Googling symptoms on their laptops, the site provides a nice comprehensive look at issues that affect pets and their owners.

The site addresses the “whole pet” and there are articles that give information on holistic care as well as conventional treatments, tips for living with you pet to ensure Fluffy has a carefree existance.

In order to ensure accuracy, WebVet has formed the WebVet Veterinary Advisory Council (WVAC), who ensures that quality and accuracy of the content. The board of reviewers are veterinarians and veterinary technicians who must review, at a minimum of once annually, all content featuring medical advice and information. After the content is approved, the article will include the WebVet Seal of Approval.

It is important to note that some of the council members are from Pfizer Animal Health, manufacturers of animal pharmaceuticals, such as the controversial weight loss drug Slentrol. Since the content managers are not unbiased, and some stand to see a profit (or loss) based on the information provided on the site, it is important to continue to work with a holistic vet that you trust for your pet’s health.

While a site like WebVet can provide a nice overview of animal health, it is still vital to find unbiased sources of information, not tainted by pharmaceutical corporations who make their fortune via unsuspecting pet owners! The WebVet Veterinary Advisory Council (WVAC) is not an official government approved council, rather an board of members selected by the sites founders to lend authenticity to their site.

Still, the site has some good, informative and useful articles and unlike many other pet sites, WebVet addresses health issues in cats, birds and small companion animals (i.e. hamsters, rabbits, ferrets and more).

Image sources: Bark Street Journal, Veterinary Advisory Council Approved

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Detroit, MI

In another dogfight raid, this time in Detroit, Michigan, over 50 people were arrested and $27,000 in cash was seized. Two dozen authorities, including DEA agents and Michigan Humane Society officers were acting on a tip when they busted a dogfight that was being held in a garage on 12:30 AM, Monday. Three handguns, cocaine and marijuana were also confiscated at the crime scene.

Authorities stormed in just as two pit bulls had started to fight and they were able to stop the match between the dogs. Most of the patrons were arrested as well as the fight promoters. Attendees of these events, along with the fight’s ring leaders face felony animal fighting charges. These charges carry up to four years in prison if convicted. Those identified as organizers and promoters will face additional charges and fines.

One of the dogs being used for the fight is having is injuries treated by the Humane Society. As Cup of Dog previously reported, breaking up these dogfighting rings is notoriously difficult as the parties involved operate in complete secrecy. This highly successful raid on the part of Detroit’s Wayne County Sheriff’s office is especially significant because it is the first successful dogfighting raid in five years.

Spectators are privately invited to the fights, which are often run like boxing matches, complete with weigh-ins, wagers and cover charges. Treated as an accepted form of entertainment, the dogs, whom are bred and trained to fight are placed in a pit or arena where they are unleashed against one another until one dog dies or is unable to continue fighting.

We must put a stop to these grotesque actions. If you suspect a dog fighting organization, immediately contact your local Humane Society or ASPCA office. Anonymous tips are vital to bringing this practice to an end and saving innocent animals. For more information on dog fighting and what you can do to help, please click here.

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Dog fighting is one of the most gruesome examples of animal abuse in our country. In the wake of the high profile Michael Vick dog fighting bust, the public is becoming increasingly aware of the inhumane treatment that dogs used for the purpose of fighting are subjected too.

It is also becoming known that dog fighting is more common then one may have previously thought. The stakes are high and tens of thousands of dollars are often on the line in these horrendous arranged dog fights. Illegal in all 50 states, and a felony offense in almost every state, dog fighting results in the severe injury, trauma and often death of those dogs that are abused in this manner.

In May, Georgia passed new legislation to strengthen the state’s dog fighting laws. Now it is a felony to own, possess, train, transport or sell a dog for the purpose of fighting. These new laws assist authorities in catching and prosecuting those who are involved in this treacherous activity.

The ASPCA and Humane Society teamed up last week to take down a dogfighting ring in Georgia - and their success in the raid of Shake Down Kennels, an alleged dog fighting kennel resulted in the kennel’s owner being charged with eight counts of felony dog fighting, one count for each of the 7 pit bulls rescued and an additional count for possession of dog fighting paraphernalia.

The ASPCA’s Mobile Animal Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Unit, was on-site to allow the ASPCA’s Senior Director of Veterinary Forensics, Dr. Melinda Merck to examine and care for any victims immediately, as well as gather and process all of the forensic evidence right at the scene.

This is the first dog fighting bust in Georgia since the strengthened legislation passed and the kennel owner faces up to $5,000 in fines and a prison sentence of 1-5 years for each of the counts filed against him. Dr. Merck believes that Georgia’s new laws will enable authorities to continue to crackdown successfully on this gruesome practice.

“Dog fighting cases are very complex, and it sometimes takes multiple resources in order to effectively bring them down. Now that Georgia’s animal fighting law really has some teeth, we should expect a serious crackdown on dog fighters in this great state in the months and years to come,” said Dr. Merck.

If you suspect a dog fighting organization, immediately contact your local Humane Society or ASPCA office. Anonymous tips are vital to bringing this practice to an end and saving innocent animals. For more information on dog fighting and what you can do to help, please click here.

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Paris Hilton has denied an earlier story that has her shopping for a new furry friend at a Los Angeles pet shop - and getting rejected.

According to Hilton, “I wasn’t looking for a new pet. I wasn’t even at a photo shoot that day. Puppies are not accessories or toys and I love my own pets dearly. I treat them as if they were my children. It is sad that someone felt the need to invent a story about me throwing a fit for a dog that would ‘go with my outfit.’ ”

Hey, gossip is gossip…and for now its Paris’ word against the pet shop. Regardless, Cup of Dog is glad Paris doesn’t have a new pet shop pooch and that she made a statement declaring her love for her pack of puppies. It wouldn’t have hurt if she included a statement on pet shops, puppy mills and puppy brokers…but I’ll keep on dreaming.

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Tori Spelling’s faithful companion, pug Mimi LaRue passed away on Tuesday at age 11.  She died at home, surrounded by her family, of natural causes.

The pug was famous in her own right, a red carpet regular, magazine cover model and star of the television shows So noTORIous and Tori & Dean: Inn Love.

Tori Spelling said, “She was not just a dog but a fashion icon and legend amongst Hollywood dogs. She received fan e-mail on a regular basis, and I often joked she got sent more designer clothes than me!”

Our deepest condolences to the entire Spelling family on their loss.

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Heartworm strikes fear into loving pet owners hearts as soon as the temperatures start rising. Most pet owners use a monthly heartworm preventative to avoid the risk of the parasitic disease. Now, beyond fearing heartworms, we need to pay close attention to the drugs we use to prevent it for fear that those medications may cause illness themselves.
In 2001, a new heartworm preventative, marketed under the name ProHeart 6 was released. Unlike once monthly preventatives, ProHeart 6 was to be administered every six months by injection at the vet’s office. The drug became extremely popular, due to its convenience (one shot could protect for an entire heartworm season). The drug was distributed by Fort Dodge Animal Health, a division of the drug giant Wyeth Pharmaceutical Company.

Unfortunately, the drug directly caused the deaths of between 500-600 dogs and adverse reactions such as seizures, extreme lethargy and uncontrolled bleeding affected between 5,500 - 6,000. The FDA pressured ProHeart 6’s manufacturer to pull the drug from the market in 2004.

According to an article in today’s USA Today, ProHeart 6 market, released under an (moxdectin) is back on the FDA required risk minimization plan that requires veterinarians who want to purchase the drug to register with the company and participate in an e-training program before they can obtain the drug. These types of programs are reserved for a small number of human drugs…this is the first animal drug to be marketed under such a program.

Watch out for veterinary offers of ProHeart 6 and please make sure to do your research before switching to a new heartworm preventative.

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Rumor has it that Paris Hilton was rejected by a Pet Shop on Melrose Avenue in LA, this past weekend. Apparently, Ms. P stopped in on the way to a photo shoot and wanted a new Yorkie pup - a salesperson refused to sell the pooch to the heiress/entrepreneur, saying it was obviously an impulse buy.

Paris, none to happy about being refused got pretty angry…

What I want to know is, whatever happened to Tinkerbell? Tink was the whole reason to watch the Simple Life and I haven’t seen a photo of her for quite some time!

Source

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Special thanks to our pals Stanislaw (Ella Bean’s gentleman caller) and Big Pupi for alerting us to this breaking news.

Canine Influenza has been confirmed in Illinois. The dog flu is extremly contagious and presents symptoms similar to kennel cough such as coughing, lethargy, watery eyes and runny nose. Canine flu can progress to bacterial pneumonia, which has the potential to be fatal to puppies, sick and older dogs. The initial discovery of the infection was four years ago, when it was found in Florida in race greyhounds.

If you can, avoid doggie daycare, dog parks, other dogs boarding and grooming facilities as the highly contagious flu is usually spread by being in close proximity to infected individuals.

Illinois is the 27th state to have confirmed the presence of the dog flu. Please pay extra attention to your dog and if anything out of the ordinary occurs, take your friend to the vet. Early treatment and care is vital for a positive outcome.

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