Online retail giant Amazon recently launched its own private label pet food line, but the deployment wasn’t without a few hiccups.
According to Petfood Industry, Amazon’s Wag line of dog foods, initially launched in May, has run into issues with both the quality and marketing of its product. A number of customers who ordered Wag’s Salmon & Lentil variety reported that their food seemed to have been pulverized in transit. Other varieties in the Wag line did not appear to have the same problem.
Customers also appeared to take issue with Wag’s claim of containing “ingredients from around the world” without specifying the specific sources.
For more information on Wag and Amazon’s first major foray into the pet food market, read the full story.
https://petleadershipcouncil.org/resources/uploads/pet-leadership-council-logo-sm.png00Jamie Branthttps://petleadershipcouncil.org/resources/uploads/pet-leadership-council-logo-sm.pngJamie Brant2018-08-07 09:15:272018-08-10 02:17:06Amazon's Dog Food Roll-Out Not Without Problems
VCA Animal Hospitals have announced that they will be offering free boarding services to pets that have been displaced due to the recent California wildfires.
The free boarding program is available through participating Northern California VCA Animal Hospitals and contingent on availability. To participate, pets should have received the appropriate vaccinations; however, pets that are not current on their vaccinations are eligible for free vaccinations provided by VCA veterinarians.
“Following the initial days of this devastating situation, our teams from all three local hospitals are proud to have cared for over 300 displaced pets and will continue to welcome more as long as space is available. All of us are concerned for the welfare of families and their pets across Northern California and are ready to help those in need.”
— Art Antin, Chief Operating Officer, VCA Animal Hospitals
Among the VCA Animal Hospitals in the affected area, two located near the evacuation zone of the Carr Fire have remained open to tend to animals in need of treatment or boarding.
For more information on how to participate in the free boarding program, contact your nearest VCA Animal Hospital.
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) reports that a number of veterinary clinics are in need of assistance as wildfires continue to rage in California.
As residents evacuate areas affected by fire, many veterinarians have been overwhelmed by pets that have been boarded or simply left behind. Veterinarians are also dealing with higher than normal emergency cases as well as the threat of being displaced themselves as the fires grow.
The AVMA’s American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) offers grants to assist veterinarians with the costs of emergency medical care for animal victims as well as grants to provide aid to veterinarians and veterinary students who have been displaced due to disasters. Those interested in making a contribution to the AVMF to support veterinarians and animals in need can visit avmf.org/donate.
For more information about the effects of wildfires on veterinarians and animals as well as more information about what you can do to help, read the full story here.
https://petleadershipcouncil.org/resources/uploads/pet-leadership-council-logo-sm.png00Jamie Branthttps://petleadershipcouncil.org/resources/uploads/pet-leadership-council-logo-sm.pngJamie Brant2018-08-05 10:07:362018-08-09 20:07:20California Veterinarians and Pets Struggling to Keep Up with Fires
A recent study provides additional evidence that dogs are aware of our different emotional states.
The study, conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, placed participant dogs in an environment with researcher confederates. From behind closed doors, the confederates made either distressed cries for help or would sing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. The dogs’ stress levels as well as their reactions to the different emotionally charged sounds were recorded and analyzed.
Dogs who heard the singing approached the door out of curiosity. Dogs who heard distressed cries for help had stress level spikes and approached the door an average of three times more quickly and many attempted to help open the door. Some of the dogs in this condition were so overwhelmed by the stress of hearing the confederate’s cries for help that they effectively froze in place, unable to determine how to help.
“It’s really cool for us to know that dogs are so sensitive to human emotional states. It is interesting to think that all these anecdotes of dogs rescuing humans, they could be grounded in truth, and this study is a step toward understanding how those kinds of mechanisms work.”
— Emily Sanford, Researcher, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University
For additional information about the study and its results, read the full article published in Learning & Behavior.
https://petleadershipcouncil.org/resources/uploads/pet-leadership-council-logo-sm.png00Jamie Branthttps://petleadershipcouncil.org/resources/uploads/pet-leadership-council-logo-sm.pngJamie Brant2018-08-01 11:53:242018-08-10 01:53:31Dogs Able to Interpret Human Emotional States
A recent survey conducted by Pets in the Classroom suggests that the program has had a positive impact on multiple areas of students’ lives, both in and out of the classroom.
The survey, issued to teachers who have participated in the Pets in the Classroom program in the past two years, highlighted some of the ways the program has affected students:
70% of participating teachers used their classroom pet one to two times per week.
Almost half of participating teachers used their classroom pet every day.
60% of participating teachers observed improvements in students’ academic performance after incorporating a pet into the curriculum
59% of participating teachers reported an improvement in classroom attendance after incorporating a pet into the curriculum
86% of participating teachers reported a decrease in anxiety among their students after incorporating a pet into the curriculum
95% of participating teachers reported an increase in students’ empathy and compassion after incorporating a pet into the curriculum
92% of participating teachers reported an improvement in collaboration among students after incorporating a pet into the curriculum
97% of participating teachers reported an increase in student responsibility after incorporating a pet into the curriculum
“One of my students had very poor attendance from 2nd-4th grade. At open house, her mom explained to me that she has a hard time getting her daughter to come to school. That student was there every day—even when she didn’t feel well—because she didn’t want to miss seeing me and Darwin. At the end of 5th grade, this student had missed zero days! Darwin had a huge impact on this!”
— Participating teacher, Pets in the Classroom program
https://petleadershipcouncil.org/resources/uploads/pet-leadership-council-logo-sm.png00Jamie Branthttps://petleadershipcouncil.org/resources/uploads/pet-leadership-council-logo-sm.pngJamie Brant2018-08-01 10:37:452018-08-09 20:37:30Pets in the Classroom Shown to Improve Student Performance
The DC Cat Count is an attempt to count every cat in Washington, D.C., including feral and shelter cats as well as indoor and outdoor pet cats. The effort is expected to take three years to complete at a cost of $1.5 million. Using a network of cameras, infrared sensors, and citizen science reporting via a smartphone app, the joint effort is being undertaken to better understand the dynamics of the cat ecosystem and the interactions among the various type of cats in the area.
“The biggest concern is that we don’t know how many cats or what percentage of the population we’re helping, or what the true need is out there. And our goal is to help them all, even if they are owned.”
— Lauren Lipsey, Vice President, Community Programs, The Humane Rescue Alliance
The data collected from the DC Cat Count will be used by the participating organizations to develop better models of urban cat ecosystems which will, in turn, be used to develop better policies to promote the health and wellbeing of cat populations in the future.
https://petleadershipcouncil.org/resources/uploads/pet-leadership-council-logo-sm.png00Jamie Branthttps://petleadershipcouncil.org/resources/uploads/pet-leadership-council-logo-sm.pngJamie Brant2018-07-29 06:54:112018-08-09 23:55:46New Initiative Aims to Count Every Cat in the Nation's Capital
A new coalition of for-profit and not-for-profit organizations has been formed to advocate for the passage of the Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act, a bill intended to help survivors of domestic violence and their pets.
The coalition, known as the PAWS Act Coalition, is urging the passage of the PAWS Act (H.R.909 & S.322) to help keep domestic violence survivors and their pets together. Currently, 97% of domestic violence shelters in the United States do not allow pets. This poses a problem for survivors who often have to choose between leaving their beloved pets behind or staying in an environment with their abuser. The PAWS Act would ensure that survivors could stay with their pets when seeking shelter.
“I was proud to work with my colleague Senator Gary Peters and several advocacy groups to introduce the PAWS Act, bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would ensure victims are not forced to choose between their personal safety and the safety of their pet. As the fifth most bipartisan senator in the U.S. Senate, I’ll continue working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to see that domestic violence survivors in Nevada and around the country have access to critical, life-saving services and programs that meet their needs and allow them to escape abuse and find safe haven.”
— Dean Heller, Senator, Nevada
For more information on the PAWS Act, including what you can do to help urge its passing, visit Pet Partners.
https://petleadershipcouncil.org/resources/uploads/pet-leadership-council-logo-sm.png00Jamie Branthttps://petleadershipcouncil.org/resources/uploads/pet-leadership-council-logo-sm.pngJamie Brant2018-07-28 12:42:152018-08-10 00:43:06New Coalition Formed to Support Domestic Violence Survivors and Their Pets
The warning comes after the FDA received a number of reports of DCM in dogs who had been fed diets of pet foods containing the ingredients. According to the FDA, the reports are particularly unusual in that the affected dogs are of breeds not known for typically developing DCM.
The FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine and its Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network are currently investigating the association to determine if the link is causative in nature. While the dietary connection is one of the biggest leads in the investigation, laboratory reports also indicated that the affected dogs had abnormally low levels of taurine in their blood — a risk factor for DCM.
While the FDA investigates the association, pet owners and veterinarians are urged to report any suspected cases of DCM via the FDA’s Safety Reporting Portal.
https://petleadershipcouncil.org/resources/uploads/pet-leadership-council-logo-sm.png00Jamie Branthttps://petleadershipcouncil.org/resources/uploads/pet-leadership-council-logo-sm.pngJamie Brant2018-07-27 10:50:252018-07-30 22:52:07FDA Suspects Link Between Canine Heart Disease and Lentils, Peas, Potatoes
During this year’s SuperZoo, the Pet Leadership Council (PLC) named Las Vegas City Councilmembers Michele Fiore and Steve Seroka “Pets’ Best Friends.” The distinction is given to councilmembers who display a “tireless effort on behalf of companion animals and those who serve and support them.”
“Here in Las Vegas, pets and pet owners alike are lucky to have friends in councilmembers Fiore and Seroka. Almost two-thirds of American households include a pet, and 95 percent of pet owners consider their pet a part of the family. We are grateful to councilmembers Fiore and Seroka for their leadership and common-sense approach to legislation that encourages animal health, responsibility and education among pet care professionals, pet owners and the general public.”
https://petleadershipcouncil.org/resources/uploads/pet-leadership-council-logo-sm.png00Jamie Branthttps://petleadershipcouncil.org/resources/uploads/pet-leadership-council-logo-sm.pngJamie Brant2018-07-26 06:52:192018-08-10 00:51:19Pet Leadership Council Bestows Pets’ Best Friends Distinction Upon Las Vegas City Councilmembers
The Hospital’s collaboration with Mars Petcare will see the development of a fund that will be used to support a full-time facility dog and an accompanying human staff position. The effort comes as part of Mars Petcare’s Better Cities for Pets program which seeks to bring the benefits of pets to cities across the United States.
Currently, the Hospital relies on local therapy animal teams to provide animal-assisted therapies to its patients. However, demand for therapy animal teams has outpaced the availability of local teams. The hiring of a dedicated facility dog will allow the Hospital to provide animal-assisted therapies to more patients on a more consistent basis.
“While the benefits of pets have been well documented, never before have we studied the positive impact of a facility dog on the length of a patient’s hospital stay or the cost of care. That’s why we’re honored to join efforts with Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital—and their staff who work tirelessly every day to improve the lives of their patients—to bring this program to life. It’s hard to imagine a group more deserving of a dog’s love than these children and their families.”
— Mark Johnson, Regional President, Mars Petcare North America
https://petleadershipcouncil.org/resources/uploads/pet-leadership-council-logo-sm.png00Jamie Branthttps://petleadershipcouncil.org/resources/uploads/pet-leadership-council-logo-sm.pngJamie Brant2018-07-25 12:20:322018-07-27 22:20:50Mars Petcare Helps Children’s Hospital Get New Facility Dog
Amazon’s Dog Food Roll-Out Not Without Problems
Online retail giant Amazon recently launched its own private label pet food line, but the deployment wasn’t without a few hiccups.
According to Petfood Industry, Amazon’s Wag line of dog foods, initially launched in May, has run into issues with both the quality and marketing of its product. A number of customers who ordered Wag’s Salmon & Lentil variety reported that their food seemed to have been pulverized in transit. Other varieties in the Wag line did not appear to have the same problem.
Customers also appeared to take issue with Wag’s claim of containing “ingredients from around the world” without specifying the specific sources.
For more information on Wag and Amazon’s first major foray into the pet food market, read the full story.
Source: Amazon private label dog food experienced problems
VCA Animal Hospitals Offer Free Boarding to Pets Affected by Wildfires
VCA Animal Hospitals have announced that they will be offering free boarding services to pets that have been displaced due to the recent California wildfires.
The free boarding program is available through participating Northern California VCA Animal Hospitals and contingent on availability. To participate, pets should have received the appropriate vaccinations; however, pets that are not current on their vaccinations are eligible for free vaccinations provided by VCA veterinarians.
Among the VCA Animal Hospitals in the affected area, two located near the evacuation zone of the Carr Fire have remained open to tend to animals in need of treatment or boarding.
For more information on how to participate in the free boarding program, contact your nearest VCA Animal Hospital.
Source: VCA Animal Hospitals Offers Free Boarding for Pets Affected by Northern California Wildfires
California Veterinarians and Pets Struggling to Keep Up with Fires
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) reports that a number of veterinary clinics are in need of assistance as wildfires continue to rage in California.
As residents evacuate areas affected by fire, many veterinarians have been overwhelmed by pets that have been boarded or simply left behind. Veterinarians are also dealing with higher than normal emergency cases as well as the threat of being displaced themselves as the fires grow.
The AVMA’s American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) offers grants to assist veterinarians with the costs of emergency medical care for animal victims as well as grants to provide aid to veterinarians and veterinary students who have been displaced due to disasters. Those interested in making a contribution to the AVMF to support veterinarians and animals in need can visit avmf.org/donate.
For more information about the effects of wildfires on veterinarians and animals as well as more information about what you can do to help, read the full story here.
Source: Veterinarians in California urgently need your help
Dogs Able to Interpret Human Emotional States
A recent study provides additional evidence that dogs are aware of our different emotional states.
The study, conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, placed participant dogs in an environment with researcher confederates. From behind closed doors, the confederates made either distressed cries for help or would sing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. The dogs’ stress levels as well as their reactions to the different emotionally charged sounds were recorded and analyzed.
Dogs who heard the singing approached the door out of curiosity. Dogs who heard distressed cries for help had stress level spikes and approached the door an average of three times more quickly and many attempted to help open the door. Some of the dogs in this condition were so overwhelmed by the stress of hearing the confederate’s cries for help that they effectively froze in place, unable to determine how to help.
For additional information about the study and its results, read the full article published in Learning & Behavior.
Source: Dogs know when we’re sad — and rush to help
Pets in the Classroom Shown to Improve Student Performance
A recent survey conducted by Pets in the Classroom suggests that the program has had a positive impact on multiple areas of students’ lives, both in and out of the classroom.
The survey, issued to teachers who have participated in the Pets in the Classroom program in the past two years, highlighted some of the ways the program has affected students:
For more information on the Pets in the Classroom program, visit www.petsintheclassroom.org.
Source: Pets in the Classroom User Survey Shows Positive Results
New Initiative Aims to Count Every Cat in the Nation’s Capital
The Humane Rescue Alliance, the Humane Society, PetSmart Charities, and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute are teaming up to carryout a project that may prove to be as difficult as herding cats.
The DC Cat Count is an attempt to count every cat in Washington, D.C., including feral and shelter cats as well as indoor and outdoor pet cats. The effort is expected to take three years to complete at a cost of $1.5 million. Using a network of cameras, infrared sensors, and citizen science reporting via a smartphone app, the joint effort is being undertaken to better understand the dynamics of the cat ecosystem and the interactions among the various type of cats in the area.
The data collected from the DC Cat Count will be used by the participating organizations to develop better models of urban cat ecosystems which will, in turn, be used to develop better policies to promote the health and wellbeing of cat populations in the future.
Source: Why Washington is counting every cat
New Coalition Formed to Support Domestic Violence Survivors and Their Pets
A new coalition of for-profit and not-for-profit organizations has been formed to advocate for the passage of the Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act, a bill intended to help survivors of domestic violence and their pets.
The coalition, known as the PAWS Act Coalition, is urging the passage of the PAWS Act (H.R.909 & S.322) to help keep domestic violence survivors and their pets together. Currently, 97% of domestic violence shelters in the United States do not allow pets. This poses a problem for survivors who often have to choose between leaving their beloved pets behind or staying in an environment with their abuser. The PAWS Act would ensure that survivors could stay with their pets when seeking shelter.
The coalition comprises six organizations: Bayer, the Human Animal Bond Research Initiative (HABRI), Nestle Purina PetCare, Noah’s Animal House, Pet Partners, and the Urban Resource Institute.
For more information on the PAWS Act, including what you can do to help urge its passing, visit Pet Partners.
Source: Coalition Forms to Support Legislation Protecting Domestic Violence Survivors and their Pets
FDA Suspects Link Between Canine Heart Disease and Lentils, Peas, Potatoes
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently warned of a possible connection between the consumption of pet foods containing, lentils, legume seeds, peas, or potatoes as the primary ingredient and the development of Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM).
The warning comes after the FDA received a number of reports of DCM in dogs who had been fed diets of pet foods containing the ingredients. According to the FDA, the reports are particularly unusual in that the affected dogs are of breeds not known for typically developing DCM.
The FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine and its Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network are currently investigating the association to determine if the link is causative in nature. While the dietary connection is one of the biggest leads in the investigation, laboratory reports also indicated that the affected dogs had abnormally low levels of taurine in their blood — a risk factor for DCM.
While the FDA investigates the association, pet owners and veterinarians are urged to report any suspected cases of DCM via the FDA’s Safety Reporting Portal.
Source: Potatoes, peas, lentils correlated to dog heart disease
Pet Leadership Council Bestows Pets’ Best Friends Distinction Upon Las Vegas City Councilmembers
During this year’s SuperZoo, the Pet Leadership Council (PLC) named Las Vegas City Councilmembers Michele Fiore and Steve Seroka “Pets’ Best Friends.” The distinction is given to councilmembers who display a “tireless effort on behalf of companion animals and those who serve and support them.”
Source: Pet Leadership Council Names Las Vegas City Councilmembers as ‘Pets’ Best Friends’
Mars Petcare Helps Children’s Hospital Get New Facility Dog
Mars Petcare is working to help the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital get a new facility dog.
The Hospital’s collaboration with Mars Petcare will see the development of a fund that will be used to support a full-time facility dog and an accompanying human staff position. The effort comes as part of Mars Petcare’s Better Cities for Pets program which seeks to bring the benefits of pets to cities across the United States.
Currently, the Hospital relies on local therapy animal teams to provide animal-assisted therapies to its patients. However, demand for therapy animal teams has outpaced the availability of local teams. The hiring of a dedicated facility dog will allow the Hospital to provide animal-assisted therapies to more patients on a more consistent basis.
Source: Mars Petcare Works to bring Facility Dog to Tennessee Children’s Hospital