Happy Friday! And Happy Fourth.

You hopefully aren't at work today, so you don't need something that can deliver some serious procrastination time. Instead, take a quick break from blowing things up, pump up the volume and watch kitties morph to the beat.

From PhotoAnimationGuy.

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The Brevard County judge has set Wednesday, July 9, as the next hearing for Christine Abrams, the central Florida woman accused of starving her dog, Ella, to death. Abrams left Ella behind, locked in her crate without food or water, when she moved out of her home, as her new roommate did not want pets.

Abrams and Ella

Andrew Stine of West Palm Beach, Abrams' attorney, tried to get critical evidence thrown out at the last hearing, saying police did not have a search warrant and therefore could not legally enter Abrams' vacated house. Neighbors had called police after they noticed a foul odor and, looking in the window, saw the dead dog still in her crate.

The case gained the attention of animal lovers around the world. There have been protests outside the courthouse in Viera, with people calling for a maximum sentence for Abrams. I'm sure there will be more on Wednesday and we'll keep you posted.

Click here for a previous post that includes instructions on how to make your views known to the court.

Thanks for the heads up, Lynn.

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The media spotlight this past week was on dogs that were brought to Broward County after being rescued from a deplorable Tennessee breeding operation. But it turns out we may have had a puppy mill in our own backyard.

Local10.com, the Web site for WPLG-TV in Miami, is reporting that an alleged puppy mill was discovered in the Florida Keys last weekend. Linda Gottwaldof, of the Marathon Animal Shelter, said 46 dogs were found locked in a windowless warehouse. Many were malnourished and so matted they had to be shaved.

Most of the pups have been adopted, but some adult dogs still need homes. Call the Marathon Humane Society at 305-743-3253.

Click here for the story from Local10.

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The Fourth of July may be one of your favorite summer holidays. But it might not be so fabulous for your four-legged friends.

Noise is the hallmark of Independence Day celebrations, but the "bombs bursting in air" can be highly stressful to some dogs and cats. Common reactions may be: Shaking and trembling, drooling, barking or howling, trying to hide, refusal to eat. Some may even lose bladder or bowel control. Does this sound like a good time to you?

So if you are heading out to a park or large public fireworks display -- consider leaving your pets at home. They'll be grateful.

Keep reading for some more advice from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Broward County Animal Care and Regulation Division on how you AND your pet can have a happy holiday:

Continue reading "A pet survival guide for the Fabulous Fourth." »

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Eastern equine encephalitis cases are on the rise in Florida, with four times as many infections in the first six months of this year as for the same time period last year.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is advising all horse owners to get their animals vaccinated – and for people to take steps to reduce the mosquito population, as the insects transmit the virus.

There have been 45 confirmed cases of equine encephalitis so far this year. One last month involved a Palm Beach County horse that had to be euthanized. The disease is 90 percent fatal to horses. Symptoms include fever, listlessness, stumbling and circling.
There also has been one confirmed case of West Nile virus, which also is transmitted by mosquitoes, in a Madison County horse.

While vaccines aren’t foolproof, they are critical in fighting mosquito-borne viruses. State officials say owners should check with their vets to make sure their horses’ vaccinations and boosters are current

Click here for a fact sheet on Eastern Equine Encephalitis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Equine encephalitis also can be contracted by people, especially in rural areas, and can be deadly. Keep reading for what you can do to protect yourself and keep down the mosquito population.

Continue reading "Equine encephalitis cases quadrupled this year: Vaccinate your horses." »

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It’s hard to miss the pet news of the day. It’s at the top of our Sun-Sentinel Web site, with video and all:

“Lines out the door for puppy mill adoptions.”

Hundreds are lining up at the Humane Society of Broward County, in Dania Beach, eager to adopt one of the 130 dogs rescued from a Tennessee puppy mill. (You can click here for today’s story). In some cases, there were as many as six people wanting the same dog.

“Oh, I guess I’m going to cry,” said Alison Lindy, of Pembroke Pines, when she learned there were four families ahead of her for her top choice.

Don’t cry, Alison.
Go see Sami and Danni.

I met these sweet sisters, Sheltie-spaniel mixes, at the Tri-County Humane Society shelter in Boca Raton. They ended up there through no fault of their own. Their family left them behind, with a note and their vet records, saying they had lost their house in foreclosure and could not take them. A real estate broker found the dogs in the back yard.

Here is their picture. It was taken when I went to see them at the shelter in April, as part of a story I was doing on the growing number of companion animals being surrendered by their owners as the housing crisis gets worse. Sami watched me carefully but Danni, determined to make a good impression, immediately rushed forward and licked my hand through the kennel’s chain link gate.

“Hey,” her eyes said. “What the heck are me and my sister doing here? Get us out of here!”

That was three months ago. They are still there.

Jeannette Christos, Tri-County’s executive director, thinks it may be because the shelter is insisting the two sisters, who are litter mates, be adopted together. Or maybe it’s because they are 7 years old, “although most dogs have many years of life left after 7,” Christos said. The dogs are well-behaved and in good health, and many people have come to look at them, Christos said – have looked into their hopeful, dark eyes.

But no one has opened their heart and taken them home.

There are thousands of stories like this in our animal shelters, and with our rescue groups, right now. There probably will be more, as the number of South Florida foreclosures is predicted to grow. And it isn’t just here. A recent New York Times story talked about how shelters around the country are seeing record numbers of surrenders.

There could be any number of reasons that people are coming out of the woodwork to adopt the puppy mill dogs imported from Tennessee, if you read the comments piling up on our message boards.

They just want a purebred at a discount price, some say.
They just are responding to the publicity deliberately generated by the Humane Society (And we need to bring more dogs here when we are euthanizing hundreds daily?), wrote others.
And: Why don’t they spend their time and money helping people instead of pets, say others.

I guess we could debate these points. Me, I think anything that sheds light on the horror of puppy mills, and that finds good homes for neglected animals, is a good thing.

But I hope when the news cameras shut off, people will remember that dogs and cats are suffering in this bad economy, too – and some will pay with their lives.
If you, like Alison, are disappointed that you didn’t get one of the puppy mill rescues, go see Sami and Danni. Or the thousands like them. You’ll have plenty of good choices.

All of our animal companions, not just the ones in the spotlight, deserve a forever home.

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As suspected, the next hearing for Christine Abrams, accused of leaving her dog Ella in her crate without food or water after she moved, is NOT this Friday, as previously reported. Friday is the Fourth of July holiday.

Brevard County Judge Kelly Jo McKibben sent out a note earlier this week, saying the hearing was postponed but giving no date, according to Animal Crazy, the Orlando Sentinel’s animal blog.

Animal Crazy’s Ann Hellmuth also mentioned a story in her newspaper about Holly Gann, a 21-year-old Melbourne woman who has been a leader in organizing the protests against animal cruelty and calling for a maximum sentence for Abrams. Gann and her fiance are behind the Voices For Ella buttons being sold on CafePress that we blogged about here earlier.

Click here for story about Gann.

Click here to buy Voices For Ella buttons from CafePress.

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Dog gone: Miami ranks number two among cities nationwide where dogs are lost, according to Dog Detective, an online network of owners who have lost and found pets. And the Magic City is number three when it comes to pup abductions.

Labs number one MIA

Labradors are the most common breed lost, according to Dog Detectives records as of the end of June. And pit bulls are the breed most likely to be stolen.

Here are the rankings:

Top three breeds lost: 1.) Labrador retriever; 2.) Chihuahau; and 3.) pit bull
Top three breeds stolen: 1.) Pit bull; 2.) Labrador retriever; and 3.) Chihuahau

Top three cities where dogs are lost: 1.) Houston; 2.) Miami; and 3.) Phoenix
Top three cities where dogs are stolen: 1.) Houston; 2.) Los Angeles; and 3.) Miami.

This is kind of like those rankings that show the most commonly stolen cars.
So: Does this make you, say, less likely to buy a Lab or more likely to buy a Yorkie if you live in Miami?

And I must say: It sure seems like it would be a lot easier to pocket a Chihuahau than a pit bull, but apparently not.

All kidding aside, take precautions to keep your dog (or cat) from being lost or stolen. Some owners have reported animals being taken from their own homes or backyards. Microchip your pets. Keep a current photo of your animal and start posting fliers as soon as he or she goes missing. Be wary of leaving your dog unattended outside, be it in or out of your yard.

(photo from Just Labradors)

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On deadline for another piece, so I gotta make this fast...
Our "Sun-Sentinel" Web site just posted a story on the Humane Society of Broward County taking in 130 animals rescued in raid on a Tennessee puppy mill over the weekend by the Humane Society of the United States. This is said to be the largest emergency action against a puppy mill in history.

Click here for the South Florida story:

Here is the first video about the raid:

Click here to read more details about the rescue from the US Humane Society, and see some of the follow-up videos. Some of the puppies and their mothers died in these stacked bare wire cages without food and water, covered with feces that dripped down from the dogs above them. Heartbreaking.

Remember: If you are buying dogs over the Internet, or from a pet store that won't show you real documents as to where their animals come from, you could be contributing to this horror. Don't support puppy mills.

In fact, these refugees from Tennessee will need good homes. Instead of buying a dog, why not adopt one of them?

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Winner TJ, hanging 20

Surf Dogs Rule, Show Dogs Drool!

That was the motto of the third annual Loews Coronado Bay Resort Surf Dog Competition, held on Saturday near San Diego. About 60 canine kahunas (okay, I stole that line from the "San Diego Union-Tribune" reporter) rode the waves either on their own or with human support.

Winners in their respective categories included Spaniel mix TJ, black Lab Stoli (who had an edge, given he's a water dog), and Zoey, a Jack Russell.

Click here to see the winners, the excitement and doggie beach fashions at Coronado Bay.

And click here for yesterday's story from the Union-Tribune.

(TJ photo by Laura Embry, Union-Tribune)

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There was no ruling Friday on defense attorney Andrew Stine's motion to throw out the evidence against Christine Abrams, the central Florida woman facing two animal cruelty charges. Abrams is accused of letting her dog, Ella, starve to death after she moved out and left the animal locked in her crate without food or water.

Neighbors called police two months after Abrams was gone and they noticed a foul odor; looking through the windows, they saw Ella dead in her crate, a bag of dog food nearby. Abrams, who was living about five miles away, said she did not take the dog because her new roommate did not want pets. Stine has argued that police had no right to break into the house without a warrant.

Abrams and Ella

The case has stirred outrage literally around the world, with animal lovers calling for the judge to levy the maximum penalty against Abrams.

The "Orlando Sentinel" story below says the trial will resume July 4 -- not sure how that is possible, given its a federal holiday. Will post more later.
Below is the rest of Orlando's coverage from Friday.

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Brevard County Judge Kelly Jo McKibben did not rule Friday on defense attorney Andrew Stine’s motion to toss out the evidence against Christine Abrams. The judge will hear arguments from both sides on Friday, July 4 before deciding. A trial date has not has been set.

Earlier today, reporter Laurin Sellers wrote from the courtroom -- The hearing could last for a few more hours. Right now a police sergeant that responded to Christine Abrams' Cocoa home on March 12 is testifying about what he saw that day and why officers entered the house.

They said there was a foul odor and flies and that seeing the dead dog in the crate through an open window only heightened their concern about Abrams' safety. They said they went inside to search for her. But her attorney, Andrew Stine, said they should have obtained a search warrant before entering the house on Peachtree Street.

Stine has spent much of the day grilling the neighbor that called police to the home and the officers that responded.

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Here are live updates from the hearing of Christine Abrams, who is accused of starving her dog to death by looking her in a crate without food or water when she moved out of her central Florida home. These are being posted on the Orlando Sentinel’s “Animal Crazy” blog. We will keep you posted as the hearing goes on.

(From Orlando Sentinel reporter Laurin Seller, blogging live from the Brevard County Courthouse. Filed at 1:30 pm today)

VIERA - A hearing in the case of accused animal abuser Christine Abrams is underway before a packed crowd at the Brevard County courthouse in Viera. Abrams' attorney is trying to have all of the evidence tossed out, saying police were illegally searching her home March 12 when they found her dog, Ella, dead in a crate without food or water.

For nearly an hour, the attorney, Andrew Stine of West Palm Beach, has been grilling Abrams' neighbor about what he did and saw that day when he called police about a foul odor and flies at the Cocoa home. Abrams, 30, was arrested after police peered through a window and saw the white, three-legged German shepherd dead in the crate, a bag of unopened dog food just a few feet away.

Police said they broke into the home because they feared for Abrams' safety. She was found about five hours later and six miles away at her new roommate's home. She told investigators she had moved out two months earlier and left Ella in the locked crate because her roommate didn't like dogs, according to arrest reports.

She is facing two misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty. Each carries a maximum penalty of one year in the county jail and a $5,000 fine. The case has drawn outrage from animal lovers worldwide.

(More from Laurin Sellers, posting at about 3:10 pm today)
The hearing could last for a few more hours. Right now a police sergeant that responded to Christine Abrams' Cocoa home on March 12 is testifying about what he saw that day and why officers entered the house.

They said there was a foul odor and flies and that seeing the dead dog in the crate through an open window only heightened their concern about Abrams' safety. They said they went inside to search for her. But her attorney, Andrew Stine, said they should have obtained a search warrant before entering the house on Peachtree Street.

Stine has spent much of the day grilling the neighbor that called police to the home and the officers that responded.

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Happy Friday!

Here's why every dog needs a yard -- with a swimming pool. What your dog does when you're not home.
Thanks, TJ.

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So Josper Sanon, convicted of animal cruelty charges in 2005 after he threw his son's Labrador puppy off the family's fifth-floor balcony, is out of jail after serving about half of his three-year sentence. Turns out there were legal glitches in the case that overturned the conviction.

Click here to read today's Sun-Sentinel story on Sanon's release.

Question: What now?
Does Sanon remain a danger to other animals -- or people?
Should he have been required to do community service with an animal welfare organization -- although I don't know if the court could order that, given the conviction was overturned.

Thoughts? Opinions?

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Update on yesterday's video from the Humane Society of the United State's investigative video, released yesterday, of animal abuse in a New Mexico stockyard.

SSS! reader KCK asked about laws or standards that presumably would prohibit this treatment. The United States Department of Agriculture is the one responsible for enforcing humane handling standards. But obviously, this isn't being done. The Humane Society also opposes a loophole that allows some "downed" cows to be used as beef. As the video shows, these dairy cows can spend the last days of their lives in agony.

Click here to see how you can tell your elected federal representatives that this practice is wrong and must be stopped -- and that the USDA needs to do its job.

Below is a repeat of my original post from yesterday -- plus a link to the video that actually works.

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Although we have focused this blog on companion animal issues, vs. wildlife and livestock, I think this is worth publicizing.

The American Veterinary Medical Association, the main professional organization for vets, has just issued a statement condemning the cruel practices of the cattle industry and calling for stricter compliance with animal handling guidelines. (Click here to see it).

The organization is responding to the latest video, also released today, in an ongoing investigation by the Humane Society of the United States of cattle auctions and the treatment of "downed" animals, or those that cannot walk. The latest installment, filed undercover at the Portales Livestock Auction in New Mexico, shows downed cows repeatedly being shocked with electric prods to get them to stand, as livestock that cannot are not supposed to be sold for food.

Some of the animals have gruesome eye injuries, or try to drag themselves on their knees across the ground. A calf is kicked repeatedly in the head. I honestly wept, as I watched the suffering of these creatures. How can we, if we say we love our animal companions, turn our back on other species?

I love steak, but I honestly think this is it for me. I haven't eaten veal for 20 years, due to how veal calves are raised. Now I may add all beef to the list.
How do the rest of you juggle the reality of meat and poultry production with animal welfare issues?

Here is the Humane Society video.

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These product tips came from someone at RG PetComm. It's an online company that sells the SmartWalk Manager, a system that allows you to walk multiple dogs and holds your stuff.

Here are the suggestions. And thanks, RG PetComm!

Going green home remedy for pets not found in your pet supplies store.

For natural flea control – groom your pet daily. Use a fine toothed flea comb. Bathe your pet a natural pet shampoo that has flea repellent herbs. During summer wash your pet’s bedding in hot soapy water weekly and dry in hot dryer.

Flea killer: Pennyroyal aromatherapy oil is supposed to be good to get rid of the pesky bugs.

Try lavender on smelly dogs

Dog odor: When your dog comes in from the rain or outdoors, wipe him down with lavendar essential oils or other aromatherapy oils, that will make him smell good!

Dog odor on the carpet: Sprinkle baking soda and wait 15 minutes then vacuum it up, it is safe for the pets and will smell nice again.

Stickers - Use a stainless steel comb with wide teeth to pull out stickers from the fur before matting begins. Or else you can use your fingers to pull them out. If you find the sticker deep inside the ear making it difficult to remove, put some warm vegetable or mineral oil in the ear to soften it and take your pet to the vet.

"Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot about puppies." !!

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Nothing beats a trial run when it comes to new pet products. So it's great when you SSS! readers write in about stuff that you have tried and your pet has loved -- or hated.

Matt is raving about the Rapid Bath, available at local PetSmart stores and on their Web site. (Click here). The claim is that you can bathe your dog in three minutes or less with this gadget -- and Matt swears its true. Suggested retail: $69.99.

Below is his review.

Want to take the hassle out of dog bathing? I bought one of those RapidBath systems at PetSmart this weekend. I've been bathing every dog in the neighborhood! I could not believe how easily I could bathe my two labs (both mixes). If you follow the instructions, which I didn't at first, it really does allow you to bathe your dog in under 3 minutes. This thing is amazing. And that's my tip of the day.

Have a new toy, bed or gadget that your pet loves -- or ignores? Speak! Send your reviews to me at dlade@sun-sentinel.com.

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Is Nutro pet food making animals sick?

A story yesterday in the daily briefing that I get from ConsumerAffairs.com (I'm a consumer writer in my regular gig) says that at least six dogs have died in the past two months, and scores more have been made ill, from eating Nutro-brand foods. The findings are based on complaints filed on the ConsumerAffairs Web site and interviews with pet owners.

The piece, by Lisa Wade McCormick, also reports that at least one unnamed Nutro employee resigned because she was disgusted by the company's lack of responsibility. It also suggests Nutro is attempting a stealth recall by removing the contaminated food from circulation.

Anna and Anja: Nutro victims?

In the meantime, the US Food and Drug Administration has found no toxins in the samples it tested, and Nutro insists the food is fine. There has been no official recall.

Click here to read the entire story from The Daily Consumer and draw your own conclusions. A lot of questions, no easy answers.

Anyone here had a bad or good experience with Nutro?

(photo from ConsumerAffairs.com)

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Ya coulda been a cat-tender!

But unfortunately for all us feline fans, the auditions for the new Meow Mix Think Like A Cat Game Show were last weekend in New York City. So we'll have to be content with parking ourselves in front of the telly on Nov. 15, when the show premiers on the Game Show Network, and playing along from home.

While the producers are keeping their new baby bundled up tight, they have revealed the show willl be a cross between "The Newlywed Game" and "Jeopardy" -- and that the winner can take home a cool million. Now that will buy some serious catnip.

Big Pussy and cat-testant

The judges at the audition included celeb vet Dr. Steve Dale (who is everywhere these days) and actor Vincent Pastore, whose character on "The Sopranos" was nicknamed -- what else? -- Big Pussy.

Click here to read the complete Daily News story and see a fun video (which I seem unable to embed) from the auditions.

Thanks for sharing, TJ.

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Yes, we know our pals at the Sun-Sentinel's new FloriDUH blog broke the news earlier today that the new holder of the coveted World's Ugliest Dog title is a Floridian! From St. Petersburg. Aren't we proud. The contest, held yearly at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, CA. always draws more photo coverage than a Paris Hilton night on the town.

But what we'll also tell you here at SSS!: Not only is Gus, a 9-year-old Chinese Crested, ugly. He is one-eyed, three- legged ugly. The eye went in a fight with a cat and the leg was amputed due to skin cancer. Gus' owners told the judges they would put their dog's $1,600 in prize money toward radiation treatments.

Here is a video clip of Gus doing the traditional Ugly Dog contest celebrity spot on the "Today Show." The contest was on Saturday.

And if you can't get enough of all things Gus...

Click here for a complete photo gallery from our friends at Animal Crazy, the Orlando Sentinel's pet blog.

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