Duke has lost his latest appeal to reargue his case, according to his attorney, Amy Chaitoff of Smithtown.

For those of you who don't remember, Duke is a 5-year-old pit bull who was ordered to be euthanized in February 2004.

He was deemed a dangerous dog in November 2003 when his owner, Denise Menendez of Hauppauge (pictured here with Duke), failed to attend a hearing about a neighbor's accusations that Duke and her female pit bull had attacked his dogs and horse. (Menendez said her husband went to the wrong court house.)

Menendez did not follow the court's order to keep the dogs penned when outside, and a month later, the neighbor alleged the pit bulls attacked his American bulldog.

Duke has lived at the local munipal shelter -- where all the workers stress how friendly and  well-behaved he is -- for more than three years while the legal battle dragged on. His last appeal was recently denied.

In the very near future, those newfound friends might be the ones ordered to put him down.

"Our only other course of action is to go to the Appellate division," says Chaitoff, who will do that Monday morning.

Duke's friends and supporters have not given up the fight; stay tuned for more details on how you can help.

FDA officials announced today that they had found traces of melamine, a chemical used to produce plastics, in the tainted Menu Foods products recalled earlier this month.

But the real shocker was the revelation that a batch of the toxic wheat gluten had been shipped to a manufacturer of dry pet food, though federal officials did not yet know if it has been used in dog food.

Though they are in contact with the company, they declined to disclose its name.

On Thursday, the FDA warned Iams that some of its diet pet foods contained chromium tripicolinate, which is not an approved food supplement. The prescription brands, which are not being recalled, are Eukanuba Veterinary Diets Optimum Weight Control/Canine dry, Optimum Weight Control/Feline dry, Restricted-Calorie/Canine dry and canned, and Restricted-Calorie/Feline dry and canned.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review  is reporting this morning that the FDA has found a different chemical responsible for the hundreds, likely thousands of deaths from this month's Menu Foods recall of more than 90 dog- and cat-food brands.

The substance, melamine, is used in plastics and is not an ingredient of rat poison.

Earlier tests by the New York State laboratory claimed that aminopterin, a powerful chemotherapy drug used for rat control in some Asian countries, accounted for the deaths.

The FDA will make a formal announcement later this morning.

Among dog folk, the Canadian province of Ontario has the dubious distinction of having passed a draconian law outlawing pitbull terriers.

Last week, a superior court judge struck down portions of the law --  specifically, the definition of a pitbull and a provision that allows vets to prove that a dog is a pitbull --  calling them unconstitutional.

Indeed, deciding just what is a pitbull makes an interesting parlor game.

Still, the bulk of the law still stands, and pit bulls are still to be leashed and muzzled while in public, and cannot be sold, bred or imported into the province.

Penalties for breaking the law include a $10,000 fine, six months imprisonment, financial compensation to any victims, and/or impoundment or euthanasia of the dog.

Bill Ross photo for Newsday

Instead of sniping at each other, perhaps bloggers want to channel their considerable energies into helping find other missing animals.

Case in point: Hope, a 3-year-old Shetland sheepdog who got spooked during the week-long Tar Heel Circuit Dog Show at the State Fairgrounds near Raleigh, N.C., on Friday.

A blogger from Triangle Sheltie Rescue is documenting Hope sightings and search efforts to trap her.

Skidboot, the Texas ranch dog whose charming tricks and infectious personality landed him on David Letterman and Oprah Winfrey, was euthanized Sunday.

An obit in the Dallas Morning News reported that the 14-year-old blue-heeler mix was buried under an oak tree in Quinlan, Texas.

Skidboot had been in a downward spiral for several years after he was kicked in the head by a horse and blinded in one eye.

His immortality is assured, however, on the Internet, including on his official web site and videos of his performances at the Texas State Fair.

The ASPCA announced today that it is not convinced that the clinical signs reported in cats affected by the contaminated foods point definitively and solely to the ingestion of rat poison containing aminopterin (pronounced am-in-OP-tah-rin), a chemotherapy drug.

“We’ve seen reports coming in from all around the country that animals that were eating the contaminated foods are definitely suffering from renal failure,” said Dr. Steven Hansen, veterinary toxicologist and senior vice president with the ASPCA, who manages the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center. “But the data that we’ve been collecting do not conclusively prove this connection, which is why we strongly recommend that those involved in the investigation continue to search for additional contaminants.”

Hansen noted that while renal failure is a symptom of aminopterin exposure, certain other symptoms -- such as severe intestinal damage, as well as bone marrow suppression, including "leukopenia," which is a serious reduction in white blood cells -- have not materialized.

He encouraged veterinarians to report their findings to the Food & Drug Administration (FDA).

The ASPCA noted that though manufacturer Menu Foods reported this week that aminopterin was at the "root" of the recall, the FDA has not formally corroborated this.

Appetite -- if you'll pardon the pun -- for information on the Menu Foods recall continues unabated.

The Los Angeles Times reports today that the FDA is lowballing its running count of fatalities from rodenticide-laced cat and dog food, which currently stands at an official 16. (Fifteen cats and one lone dog.) According to the story, VIN, the Veterinary Information Network, which is where most vets go to get their news of the moment, reported 471 cases of kidney failure within 10 days of the recall.

Meanwhile, dog writers are duking it out over these allegations of underreporting, with Gina Spadafori, executive editor of Pet Connection (which has logged close to 2,000 self-reported -- albeit unsubstantiated deaths) being tossed off the Dogwriters-L list for her impassioned posts on the subject. Who says dog writers don't eat their own?

Now word that at least one human has reportedly gotten sick from eating some of the pet food when she tried to lure her terrier into trying it. (Clearly, he knew something she didn't.) The telltale sign? Foaming at the mouth.

If you're looking to switch to a different food, PetSit.com is continually compiling and updating a list of brands that do not use ingredients from Menu Foods.

And, because there is a Yahoo Group for almost everything (from Harry Potter to crock-pot cuisine ), concerned owners and victims of the recall are congregating at the http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/MenuFoodsClassAction/.

So just how many cats and dogs have died as a result of the Menu Foods recall? Depends on who you ask.

The Food and Drug Administration's  official tally of fatalities stands at 16 (15 cats and one d0g). But some suggest that the figure is off by at least two decimel points.

Since the story about the rat-poison-laced cat and dog food broke almost two weeks ago, Pet Connection has been tabulating fatalities. Granted, the entries are self-reported, and no one can tell how many of the more than 1,700 deaths listed are legit.

But even if the truth is somewhere in between, that's a heck of a lot of dead animals.

File under "One more thing to worry about": Experts say that if your dog or cat survives the kidney failure caused by the tainted foods, then bone marrow suppression is the next thing to obsess over.

BY DENISE FLAIM
denise.flaim@newsday.com

If your cat or dog ate any of the pet foods recalled last week by Ontario-based Menu Foods and isn’t showing any dramatic symptoms of kidney failure — including vomiting, refusal to eat, lethargy or increased drinking or urination — that doesn’t necessarily mean you are out of the woods, veterinarians warn.

“There are two categories of kidney failure — acute and chronic,” said Neil Shaw, chief medical officer for NYC Veterinary Specialists & Cancer Treatment Center in Manhattan. “Initially there was an outburst of acute cases, but now we are beginning to see more chronic cases as well.”

Acute kidney failure is a sudden, major loss of kidney function that the body cannot adjust to, resulting in a very sick animal in a very short period of time. But with chronic kidney failure, “the damage to the kidneys happened over time, and the body has had a chance to get used to it,” oftentimes over the course of weeks, he said.

Cathy Langston, of the Manhattan-based Animal Medical Center’s renal-medicine service, said that some cats or dogs may have been mildly affected by the tainted food, but have not acted sick enough for owners to bring them into the vet. “Seventy-five percent of patients we have seen have been drinking and urinating excessively,” she said. “But that means that 25 percent of owners did not perceive a change.”

Indeed, in chronic cases, symptoms can be subtle, Langston noted. “The cat might go to the food bowl, but may not consume as much. The weight loss might be very gradual, so you don’t notice it on a day to day basis. And vomiting may be only occasional, and attributed to hair balls.”

Both types of kidney failure are serious, Shaw said. “With acute kidney failure, there is a danger of death from the initial episode,” which is typically treated with hospitalization and fluids. “With chronic kidney failure, it is typically not an immediate danger,” but lost kidney function cannot be regained, and the goal of treatment is to stop any more damage.

Veterinarians can use a urine test to screen for kidney failure, and might follow it up with bloodwork or an ultrasound.

For information on the recall, go to menufoods.com/recall.

GIVE-A-DOG-A-BONE MEATLOAF

From "The Good Food Cookbook for Dogs" by Donna Twichell Roberts (Quarry Books)

3/4 cup water

1 carrot, peeled and diced

1 celery stalk, diced

1 3/4 pounds meatloaf mix*

1 cup old-fashioned oatmeal

1 egg, slightly beaten

1 tablespoon ketchup

*A combination of ground beef, ground pork, and ground veal (or chicken or turkey).

1.Bring water to boil in a small skillet. Add carrot and celery. Reduce heat to medium and cook 5 minutes. Drain and let cool slightly.

2.Place all ingredients in a large bowl and mix thoroughly to combine.

3.Place meatloaf on foil-lined baking sheet. Form into a bone shape measuring approximately 9 inches long by 5 inches wide by 1 1/2 inches high. Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven about 1 hour.

4. Remove from oven and let cool about 10 minutes. If desired, spread additional ketchup or mild barbecue sauce on top of meatloaf, pipe mashed potatoes around the lower edge, and garnish with a cheese slice cutout. Makes 1 meatloaf.

SALMON SNACKS FOR CATS

Salmon snacks provide your cats with the essential fatty acids found in fish. This recipe is from "Whole Health for Happy Cats" by Sandy Arora (Quarry Books)

Note: Due to content, it is best to refrigerate salmon snacks. Place small bags in the freezer for future use.

1 eight-ounce can of salmon or mackerel with juice and bones

4 tablespoons finely chopped fresh catnip, basil oregano, parsley, or wheatgrass

1 finely ground eggshell

3 whole eggs, beaten well

4 tablespoons unsalted ground pumpkin or sesame seeds

2 1/2 cups rice, amaranth or quinoa flour

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

2. Rinse eggshells and save the yolks and whites. Let the shells dry on a cookie sheet in the oven overnight, or bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes. 3. Mix all ingredients together using your hands or a food processor until the dough is the right consistency for rolling.

4. Roll out the dough to about 1/4" to 1/2" thick.

5. Use 1/2" by 1-inch cookie cutters to cut in fun shapes.

6. Bake cookies at 375 degrees for 20 minutes; baking for five extra minutes will make the cookies crunchier. Makes 120 treats

Copyright 2007 Newsday Inc.

Tips on feeding your pet

Denise Flaim
Animal House

Panic.

That's been the reaction of many owners to the recalls last week of 95 pet-food brands manufactured by Ontario-based Menu Foods.

At least a dozen cats and one dog have died of kidney failure from ingesting the food; the company suspects tainted wheat gluten, which had been purchased from a new overseas supplier.

Even if their animals haven't ingested any of the 60 million cans and packages of moist food that have been yanked off store shelves -- roughly 1 percent of the nation's pet-food inventory -- owners are panicking anew at this question:

What will I feed now?

Christie Shaver of Manhattan's Healthy Pet Gourmet (thpg.com), which makes custom fresh-food meals for dogs, has been deluged with calls from people who now are ready to fire up their stoves for Fido.

While the Menu Foods crisis was a powerful catalyst, she thinks common sense should prompt many to reconsider commercial foods, whether they are on the recall list or not.

"It's all about knowledge," says Shaver, who began home-cooking after her cat was diagnosed with severe diabetes and her now-former vet pushed for euthanasia; after a decade of home-cooking, Scout is still here and insulin-free.

Label-reading is a must. For example, "If you're feeding a product that has meal in it -- whether it's poultry or meat or fish meal -- that's a rendered product," she explains. "What happens in rendering is all the garbage from other food industries, as well as euthanized dogs and cats, are thrown together and melted down.

"Anything deemed unfit for people to eat, and unfit for food animals to eat, that's what goes into pet food," she concludes. "It's legal, no one is breaking the law -- but that doesn't mean it's acceptable to me."

A self-styled "pet nutritionist" who has a degree in holistic care for companion animals, Shaver notes that there is a persistent fear associated with feeding home-prepared meals to companion animals.

"You'll even see commercials where people say, 'Don't feed the dog people food!'" she says. "The truth of it is animals all over the planet eat what we call people food. It's common sense, and I think most people know that deep down. When you have a bag of food that can sit open for six months and not deteriorate, there's something unnatural about that."

Shaver says people often overthink homemade diets, concluding they must involve intricate calculations and complicated chemistry.

"If you make a meal for your child, you don't feel the need to count it out and make sure have the exact number of calories," she says. "It's going to be OK -- it's food."

For a typical dog meal, she suggests cooking some chicken and adding vegetables such as carrots, green beans, peas and a bit of tomato, rice or a cooked potato, and sardines -- they're stinky, but they're a good source of vitamin B12, essential fatty acids and ever-important calcium. (Alternately, for a calcium source, Shaver recommends ground eggshells, calcium carbonate or a kelp-derived natural supplement.)

For those who want a detailed primer, Shaver suggests "Home-Prepared Dog & Cat Diets: the Healthful Alternative" by veterinarian Donald R. Strombeck (Iowa State Press, $42.99).

As for portions, "if your dog is pooping a lot, you know they're eating too much," she says. "And if they haven't gone in a while, and are ravenous, then you're not feeding enough."

The most important component of home-feeding is to make sure that you are giving your animal a good vitamin and mineral supplement to avoid any nutritional imbalances. But be careful about quality: A recent review of supplements by Westchester-based ConsumerLab.com found that popular pet supplement Pet-Tabs was contaminated with 1.4 micrograms of lead per tablet. ("In general, we found pet supplements to be of lower quality than of those for people," notes ConsumerLab's president, Tod Cooperman.)

When clients ask for recommendations, Shaver point them to Anitra's Vita-Mineral Mix (from halopets.com) as well as Animal Essentials Multi-Vitamin Herbal Supplement (available from onlynaturalpet.com, which also carries the brand's seaweed-based calcium supplement, which also her thumbs-up, too).

So, with apologies to Marie Antoinette, let them eat turkey -- or chicken or lamb or beef or macaroni or rice. After all, Shaver says, owners should wonder what's so great about any brand of food that tastes so vile they wouldn't sample it themselves.

"It's food," says Shaver, who's been known to nibble at the meals she turns out for Hunter, her 2-year-old Havanese. "It shouldn't be dangerous or scary."

Copyright 2007 Newsday Inc.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Chicago woman sued Menu Foods on Tuesday, alleging the pet food manufacturer delayed announcing a recall of 60 million containers of dog and cat food despite knowing its products were contaminated and potentially deadly.

Dawn Majerczyk, 43, said her orange tabby, Phoenix, fell sick last week just two days after he ate a single package of Special Kitty. It is one of 95 cat and dog food brands recalled by Menu Foods of Canada. Friday’s recall came two weeks after nine cats died during routine company taste tests of its products, the Food and Drug Administration said.

Majerczyk said she took the 9-year-old cat to its first-ever veterinarian visit the day of the recall. The cat had lost six pounds in four days and was lethargic, dehydrated and nearly blind. She returned over the weekend to have him put down after his organs began to fail. Her suit, filed by Chicago attorney Jay Edelson, seeks class-action status.

“I want my vet bills and I want some compensation for what they did to my kids — and for the company’s neglect,” Majerczyk, a medical assistant in a dermatology office.

The company said it had not seen the suit and had no comment.

The FDA had no comment on the company’s delay in announcing the recall.

The FDA so far has confirmed the deaths of 13 cats and one dog that had reportedly eaten the company’s “cuts and gravy” style pet food. The wet food was sold throughout North America under store brands carried by Wal-Mart, Kroger, Safeway and other large retailers, as well as private labels like Iams, Nutro and Eukanuba.

The recall, which amounts to about 1 percent of the pet food sold in the U.S., will cost Menu Foods $25.5 million, the company said.

FDA has sent inspectors to company plants in New Jersey and Kansas. Most complaints stem from products made at the latter factory, though both received shipments of wheat gluten, identified as a likely source of contamination, from the same supplier, said Stephen F. Sundlof, the FDA’s chief veterinarian. The ingredient is a protein source used to thicken the pet food gravy. The FDA is screening pet food samples for substances known to be toxic to the kidneys, like toxins produced by molds.

A complete list of the recalled products along with product codes, descriptions and production dates was available from the Menu Foods Web site, www.menufoods.com/recall . The
company also designated two phone numbers that pet owners could call for information: (866)
463-6738 and (866) 895-2708.

FDA inspectors had never before visited the Kansas plant. The FDA warned the company following a 2004 inspection of its New Jersey factory after it failed to flag food made for zoo cats of the risk of mad cow disease if the product were fed to cattle.

On the Net: FDA pet food recall information: www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html 

Doesn't the latest news on dog- and cat-food recalls make you want to BARF?

I think it should.

BARF is the rather graphic acronym for "Bones and Raw Food" (or "Biologically Appropriate Raw Food), a natural-feeding movement among dog (and to a lesser extent, cat) owners that argues that our animals should be fed diets that more closely mimic the way their ancestors ate in the wild.

Those who feed BARF -- and I'm among them -- believe that commercial foods, especially kibble, are overprocessed and contain less-than-optimal meat sources.

BARF, by contrast, puts an emphasis on whole, human-grade meats along with raw (never cooked) bones, pulverized vegetables and supplements such as fish-body oil.

Carbohydrates, which make up a good percentage of commercial dog foods, are not a staple in the BARF diet. How much access do you think wolves have to corn meal?

I have raised three adult dogs and weaned more than 30 puppies on either a BARF or homecooked diet. The results are sparking teeth, shiny coats, lean silhouettes, minimal "doggie odor" and (everyone's favorite), reduced feces output. The biggest complaint? "She's not drinking water!" That's because raw-fed puppies are well-hydrated, unlike their kibble-fed cousins, whose food has minimal moisture content.

To me, it comes down to common sense: Would you feed your child a processed diet day in and day out? Then why would you do the same to your dog or cat?

Consumer fear of switching foods and creating digestive distress is used very successfully by pet-food companies to lock you into brand loyalty. When you feed a raw diet, variety is the whole point: Bison, turkey, chicken, beef, lamb, and the occasional dollop of Chinese food -- my dogs eat it all, without a blip of discomfort or diarrhea.

For the squeamish, several companies sell prepared raw diets for animals, including Steve's Real Food and Bravo. On Long Island, Armellino's on North Melville Road in Huntington Station sells preground BARF poultry that are certified organic and comparable in price to good-quality kibble. (Sorry, he doesn't ship.)

Are there some caveats to feeding BARF? Yes, absolutely. They include:

- Do not feed BARF until you have done in-depth research. Recommended reading: "Give Your Dog a Bone" by Ian Billinghurst and "The Ultimate Diet" (addresses cats as well) by Kymythy Schultze. You can find both at dogwise.com.

- Never feed a raw diet without an appropriate calcium source. (This is why raw bones are so important.) Feeding just plain hamburger meat will end in certain disaster: Deprived of a nutritional calcium source, dogs' bodies will leach calcium from their bones, creating severe orthopedic problems.

For cat diets, a source of taurine (found in beef heart) is especially important.

- Eating raw (never cooked) bones results in sparkling teeth and clean breath. But dogs can and do choke on whole raw bones if they do not chew them properly. Impactions and performations are also concerns. Many raw feeders choose to grind the bones into the meat to eliminate these risks.

- A BARF diet may not be appropriate for very elderly, chronically ill or immunocompromised dogs. Check with a holistic vet about the advisability of feeding such dogs raw, or consider the next best alternative, home-cooking.

- Households with very young children, or very elderly or immunocompromised residents (such as someone living with HIV/AIDS) might reconsider raw-feeding. Bacteria found in raw meat, such as salmonella and e-coli, are easily handled by the digestive system of a normal, healthy dog, but exposure to these bacteria by at-risk humans is always a consideration.

For more information on BARF, visit:

- www.barfworld.com - Run by Australian vet Dr. Ian Billinghurst, who coined the term "BARF"

- www.njboxers.com/faqs.htm - BARF for Beginners, an indispensible FAQ

- http://www.auntjeni.com/barf.htm - BARF pictorial -- up close and personal

Recalled Dog Product Information

NEW YORK, March 18 (Reuters) - Pet food producer Menu Foods Income Fund has recalled a portion of the dog and cat food it manufactured between Dec. 3, 2006, and March 6, 2007.

The recall is limited to “cuts and gravy” style pet food in cans and pouches manufactured at two of the fund’s U.S. facilities. The products are manufactured and sold under private-label and are contract-manufactured for some national brands.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, UNION, N.J. (AP) — Silviene Grzybowski became worried when her local pet store pulled the food she normally feeds her cat and posted an announcement saying it, and many other popular pet foods, had been recalled. Her cat, Smokey, hadn’t been eating for days.

“The vet told us to buy her her favorite food, but I’m going to call the vet right now,” Grzybowski said.

Menu Foods, the Ontario, Canada-based company that produced the pet food, said Saturday it was recalling dog food sold throughout North America under 48 brands and cat food sold under 40 brands, including Iams, Nutro and Eukanuba. The food was distributed by major retailers such as Wal-Mart, Kroger and Safeway.

An unknown number of cats and dogs had suffered kidney failure and about 10 died after eating the affected pet food, the company said.

Two other companies — Nestle Purina PetCare Co. and Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc. — said Saturday that as a precaution they were voluntarily recalling some products made by Menu Foods.

Many stores that sold the affected brands frantically pulled packages off shelves.

Ron Finegold of Boynton Beach, Fla., said he noticed about a week or so ago that his family’s 3-year-old cat — who was regularly fed a variety of Iams cat food — had stopped eating and did not appear well. He quickly took the animal to the veterinarian, who determined she was in renal failure.

He said he heard about the recall on the radio Friday night. He checked his trash, and found out he had given the cat some of the affected food.

“That’s when I realized (the illness) had to be related,” Finegold said. “She won’t be eating that stuff anymore.” A complete list of the recalled products along with product codes, descriptions and production dates was available from the Menu Foods Web site, www.menufoods.com/recall. The company also designated two phone numbers that pet owners could call for information — (866) 463-6738 and (866) 895-2708 — but callers kept the
lines busy for much of Saturday.

Menu Foods’ chief executive and president Paul Henderson told the Associated Press on Friday that the company was still trying to figure out what happened.

He said that the company had received an undisclosed number of owner complaints that dogs and cats were vomiting and suffering kidney failure after eating its products. He estimated that the recall would cost the company, which is mostly owned by the Menu Foods Income Fund, an
estimated $26 million to $34 million.

Sarah Tuite, a company spokeswoman, has said the recalled products were made using wheat gluten purchased from a new supplier, which has since been dropped for another source. Wheat gluten is a source of protein.

Food and Drug Administration spokeswoman Julie Zawisza said it is still too early to determine what could have affected the food.

Zawisza added that even if wheat gluten is the source “it doesn’t necessarily mean the wheat gluten per se. It could be another substance associated with the wheat gluten.” The recall covers the company’s “cuts and gravy” style food, which consists of chunks of meat in gravy, sold in cans and small foil pouches from Dec. 3 to March 6.

In Omaha, Neb., Susan Balvanz said she sometimes feeds her five cats packets of sliced meat and gravy sold by Nutro Products, one of the brands affected.

“I’ve done so much research on pet food. It didn’t surprise me but it scared me all the same,” said Balvanz.

She said her 9-year-old cat, Boots, was especially fond of the food but seemed to have lost its appetite in the last few days.

At the Missouri Valley Veterinary Clinic in Bismarck, N.D., veterinarian Jacob Carlson has been referring worried pet owners to the Menu Foods web site.

“We’ve had a lot of calls,” Carlson said, although none of his patients were sick.

The company said it makes pet food for 17 of the top 20 North American retailers. It is also a contract manufacturer for the top branded pet food companies, including Procter & Gamble Co.

(c) 2007, The Associated Press

Araki Fabulous Willy, a Tibetan terrier, poses with his handler Larry Cornelius after being awarded the coveted "Best in Show" award at the end of Crufts International Dog Show at the National Exhibition Centre on March 11 in Birmingham, England. During this four-day competition, more than 22,000 dogs representing 182 breeds vied for this top spot at what is the world's largest and arguably most prestigious dog show. (Photo by Bruno Vincent/Getty Images)

A marker sits atop a
dog's grave at the Paradise Pet Ranch, an overgrown pet cemetery in West Palm Beach, Fla. Created in the 1950s, the cemetery contains an estimated 200 pets, and the lot on which it sits is slated to be developed into condos. The new owner of the property is inviting people that may have buried their pets on the lot to come and dig them up before construction begins. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

From today's email:

<<My name is Linda Bauer. My sister Donna was involved in a serious car accident Sunday night, March 11, between exits 41 and 42 on the Southern State Parkway. She had her two dogs with her. One ran away.

My sister was driving on the westbound side. She was cut off by another car, lost control, flipped three times and ended up on the eastbound side of the Southern State. She suffered multiple broken bones, surgery and amazingly will be OK.

According to witnesses, her Maltese ran across to the westbound side. Family and friends have been to the site looking for her and have posted signs in the neighborhoods on both the west and east sides of the Southern State. The ASPCA, local vets, etc., have been notified.

The dog's name is Chloe. She’s two years old, the tip of one of her ears was amputated, and she’s all white and does not have a chip or identification on her collar. She has letter charms on her collar that spell out her name.

If you should find her or have seen her please call Linda Bauer. Thank you for your help.

Home #516 796-6863

Work #516 365-4240 (9-3)>>

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina a year and a half ago, Paula Duming was separated from her dog Pablo when she was airlifted from the roof of her flooded Chalmette, La., home.

Pablo was subsequently adopted by Wendy Shieh and Dustin Jones, a San Diego couple who refused to return the 2-year-old Chihuahua-terrier mix they call Boots, claiming he was not the same dog.

After a day of testimony that became so emotional a journalist had to leave the courtroom to compose himself, a Mesa., Ariz., judge ruled Tuesday that Duming is Pablo's rightful owner.

Emergency personnel who rescued Duming from the second story of her home in September 2005 would not allow her to bring Pablo along in the helicopter. She left him with a supply of food and water.

Later that month, Pablo was rescued by Utah-based Best Friends Animal Society, which in turn flew him to the Animals Benefit Club of Arizona, which in December arranged to have him fostered by Jones and Shieh. The couple formally adopted him the next month.

"I paid $20 for the dog," Duming told a television station in Arizona, where his adoptive family lived formerly. "He's a mutt, but he's my mutt."

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals fielded more than 116,000 calls to its Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) hotline in 2006. Inexplicably, consumption was found to be on the rise in all ten of these top-10 animal hazards:

• Human Medications: The biggest hazard documented by the ASPCA hotline for several years now, with 78,000 calls last year alone. Keep painkillers, cold medications, antidepressants and dietary supplements above the counter and away from companion animals, just as you would children. "Just one extra-strength acetaminophen can be deadly to a cat, and just four regular-strength ibuprofen can lead to serious kidney problems in a 10-pound dog,” says Dr. Steven Hansen, veterinary toxicologist and senior vice president with the ASPCA.

• Insecticides: The APCC handled more than 27,000 cases involving products used to kill fleas, ticks and other insects in 2006, up more than 28 percent from 2005. Never use a product intended for one species on another; dog products, for example, can be severely toxic to cats, which have a decidedly different metabolism.

• Veterinary Medications: Just because your vet prescribes it doesn't mean there aren't potential side effects. Last year the APCC managed more than 12,000 cases involving animal-related preparations such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, heartworm preventatives, de-wormers, antibiotics, vaccines and nutritional supplements—a 93 percent increase.

• Plants: The number of cases involving plants more than doubled in 2006, to more than 9,300. Among the sulprits: Lilies, azalea, rhododendron, sago palm, kalanchoe and schefflera. ”Just one or two sago palm nuts can cause vomiting, diarrhea, depression, seizures and even liver failure,” says Dr. Hansen. “Also, lilies are highly toxic to cats—even in small amounts they can produce life-threatening kidney failure.”

• Rodenticides: Last year, approximately 8,800 calls about rat and mouse poisons were received by the APCC, representing an increase of more than 27 percent over 2005.  Depending on the type of rodenticide, ingestions can lead to potentially life-threatening problems for pets including bleeding, seizures or even damage to the kidneys or other vital organs. 

• Household Cleaners: In 2006, approximately 7,200 calls pertaining to cleaning agents such as bleaches, detergents and disinfectants were received—up 38 percent from the year before.

• Chocolate: Always a common food-related call, more than 4,800 chocolate calls were received by the APCC last year, an 85 percent increase from 2005.  Depending on the variety, chocolate can contain large amounts of caffeine-like substances called methylxanthines, which, if ingested in significant amounts, can cause vomiting, diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity. In severe cases, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors and seizures and even death have been noted. “Typically, the darker the chocolate, the greater the potential for poisoning,” says Hansen. “Baking chocolate contains the highest amount of methylxanthines, and just two ounces could cause serious problems for a 10-pound dog.”

• Chemical Hazards: A newcomer to the top 10 category, this includes such harmful items as volatile petroleum-based products, alcohols, acids, and gases.  In 2006, the APCC received more than 4,100 calls related to chemical hazards—an astronomical increase of more than 300 percent. Commonly-used chemicals that pose a threat include ethylene glycol antifreeze, paint thinner, drain cleaners and pool/spa chemicals.

• Physical Hazards: While not necessarily all toxic, items in this group consists of objects that could pose a choking hazard, risk for intestinal obstruction, or other physical injury. In 2006, the number of physical hazard calls grew a staggering 460 percent to over 3,800, involving everything from collars and adhensive tape to bones and paper products.

• Home Improvement Products: The APCC fielded about 2,100 cases involving paint, solvents, expanding glues and other products commonly used in construction. While the majority of water-based paints are low in toxic potential, they can still cause stomach upset, and artist paints sometimes contain heavy metals that can be poisonous if consumed in large quantities. In addition, solvents can be very irritating to the gastrointestinal tract, eyes and skin, and could also produce central nervous system depression if ingested, or pneumonia if inhaled.

With Saint Patrick's Day approaching, the American Kennel Club sends on this recap of breeds originating on the Emerald Isle:

Glen of Imaal Terrier—Glen of Imaal, which is a valley in the Wicklow mountains, is the region in Ireland after which this hardy breed is named.  Longer than tall and sporting a double coat of medium length, the “Glen” possesses great strength and conveys the impression of a dog of good substance.  This is a working terrier, which must have the agility, freedom of movement and endurance to do the work for which it was developed.  Like its Irish counterparts, the Glen is also courageous, and always ready to give chase.  When working it is active, agile, silent and intent upon its game. Otherwise, the Glen can be docile and a companion for families with older children. Recognized by the AKC in 2004, the Glen of Imaal is one of the newest AKC breeds. 

• For more information visit the Glen of Imaal Terrier Club of America at:  www.glens.org 

Irish Setter— Green may be the color of the Irish, but deep mahogany is the color of this four-legged beauty.  The Irish Setter was recognized by the AKC in 1878 and is part of the Sporting Group.  Irish Setters have rollicking personalities and require a good amount of exercise to fulfill their breed instincts; they are tough and tireless field retrievers. They are also loving companion dogs who enjoy the company of children. It takes about three years for this breed to fully mature into adulthood, so if you’re considering bringing an Irish Setter into your home, you should be prepared for an active, fun-loving dog. 

• For more information visit the Irish Setter Club of America at: www.irishsetterclub.org 

Irish Terrier—This breed will be featured in the upcoming movie “Firehouse Dog,” where it has been cast as a canine hero. Not surprising, considering that Irish Terriers were used to transport messages between troops on the front lines in World War I. Their bravery and spirit make them incomparable pals, and they possess great tenacity. Loyal and friendly, Irish Terriers hardily adapt to any situation, and they are deeply committed to their owners. Irish Terriers served as longtime mascots for the Notre Dame Football team, providing halftime entertainment for adoring crowds. The Irish Terrier was first recognized by the AKC in 1885.

• For more information visit the Irish Terrier Club of America at: www.itca.info

Irish Water Spaniel—This breed has been referred to as the “Shannon Spaniel,” the “Whip-Tail Spaniel,” and the “Rat-Tail Spaniel.” Distinguishing characteristics are a topknot of long, loose curls, a body covered with a dense, crisply curled liver colored coat, contrasted by a smooth face and a smooth "rat" tail. First recognized in 1878 by the AKC, this ancient breed is a natural water dog. Irish Water Spaniels are devoted to their family and cautious around strangers. They are impressive dogs and possess an endurance quality which makes them equally agile in the water and in the field.

• For more information visit the Irish Water Spaniel Club of America at:  clubs.akc.org/iwsc/

Irish Wolfhound—While Irish literature refers to this ancient breed in many ways, including “Big Dogs of Ireland,” Irish Wolfhounds were documented in Rome in the year 391 A.D., where they were presented to the Roman Counsel as gifts, which “all Rome viewed with wonder.” No wonder-- they are the largest and tallest of the galloping hounds.  Males should be a minimum of 32” tall and weigh 120 pounds; females should be a minimum of 30” tall and weigh 105 pounds. This is a swift breed which hunts by sight, and needs an ample, fenced in yard to accommodate its full gallop.  As in early times, Irish Wolfhounds possess an extraordinary social temperament, as well as the intelligence to separate friend, family and foe.  The Irish Wolfhound is featured on the cover of the current Irish-themed issue of the AKC Gazette. To read the Gazette story of the Irish Wolfhound entitled “Comrade to Chieftains,” visit: www.akc.org/pubs/monthlyfeaturedarticle/

• For more information visit the Irish Wolfhound Club of America at:  www.iwclubofamerica.org

Kerry Blue Terrier—The “Kerry Blue” hails from the Irish county of the same name; he had been pure-bred in that section of Ireland for more than a hundred years.   Known for his superior working and hunting skills, the Kerry Blue is used for hunting small game and birds, and for retrieving from land as well as water.  Size doesn’t matter, for he is an unsurpassed watch dog and herder of flock.  In some instances in England, he has even been used for police work.  The breed was first recognized by the AKC in 1922, and came into the national spotlight when CH. Torums Scarf Michael won best in show at the 2002 AKC/Eukanuba National Championship.

• For more information visit the United States Kerry Blue Terrier Club at: www.uskbtc.com

Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier—A truly Irish breed, the “Wheaten” has a special connection to St. Patrick’s Day, having first appeared in the show ring at the Irish Kennel Club Championship on March 17, 1937.  The name of this breed describes the characteristics of the coat—soft, silky, with a gentle wave, and of warm wheaten color. Underneath is a formidable dog that enjoys plenty of exercise every day.   Most Wheatens are natural greeters towards people, and extremely alert in their surroundings.  They are quick learners and love to travel with their owners.  The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier was first recognized by the AKC in 1973.

• For more information visit the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club of America at:  www.scwtca.org

Irish Red & White Setter--An up and coming Irish breed in America is the Irish Red & White Setter, which is currently listed in the AKC’s Foundation Stock Service (FSS). The FSS records the pedigrees of dogs applying for AKC recognition.  This breed is thought to have emerged at the end of the 17^th Century in Ireland, and is red and white in color, as opposed to the solid red Irish Setter.

• For more information visit the Irish Red & White Setter Association at: http://www.irishredwhitesetterassociation.com/

Sick cats don't always say ouch

By Denise Flaim/Newsday

Cats are subtle.

This, of course, is the whole point, say their fawning humans. Disdainful of the panting, pawing, woofing neediness of that other species with which they often share domiciles, cats are the proverbial still streams.
But when they are sick, these consummate stoics also can lead lives of quiet desperation that go unnoticed by all but the most attentive human.

"Cats are like snowflakes - they're all similar, but different," says veterinarian James R. Richards, director of the Cornell Feline Health Center at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in Ithaca. The one thing they do share is an all-too-deft ability to hide illness and pain. "If people would become cat watchers - an act that I find joyful, because they're such a hoot to observe - we might discover really significant illness that may not have manifested yet."

The key, says Richards, is learning to recognize what is normal behavior for your particular cat, so that deviations from it become readily apparent. In addition, schedule twice-a-year wellness checks, instead of annual ones, to pick up any physical or metabolic changes.

Being the reserved, majestic creatures that they are, cats have a relatively limited repertoire of ways to communicate that there is something wrong, Richards says. Among the signs that might get you dialing the vet:

Changes in behavior. Cats are creatures of habit, so watch for a break in routine, however subtle - such as not greeting you when you arrive home, or hiding more than usual under furniture.

Another warning sign might be a cat that routinely sleeps on top of the counter but now has abandoned that post for a different one, or is sleeping for more hours, or during different hours.

"They're not the kind of jab-you-in-the-rib changes that sometimes we'll see with dogs," Richard says, but they might be cause for concern.

Increased activity isn't always a good thing, either. "If your cat's acting like he's had five cups of Starbucks, don't just dismiss it as 'My old cat's feeling frisky,'" he warns. It could be something more serious, such as hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid).

Inappropriate elimination. Litterbox woes are a common theme among cat owners. Often they are caused by emotional turbulence in a cat's environment - the arrival of a new animal, a change in human residents, an impending divorce or other life events.

A change to the litterbox itself also can disrupt potty patterns: A new lid on the box or a switch in brands of litter is sometimes all it takes for a kitty to go AWOL.

But a physical problem may be the culprit. If urinating causes pain, a cat may associate it with the box and so might avoid it. Some intestinal problems or diabetes can cause increased eliminations and more "misses."

"Sometimes you have to be a detective to figure out what's going on," says Richards, who suggests scrutinizing the litterbox to see if there is any change in the volume or consistency of stool, or the wetness of the litter itself.

Changes in appetite. In multi-cat households where cats are free-fed, monitoring eating patterns can be a challenge. Loss of appetite is an obvious red flag, but overeating can point to an underlying physical problem, too.

Changes in odor. In cats, bad breath is more than just a turn-off; it can be a sign of periodontal disease. Oral cancers also can go unnoticed - when was the last time your cat willingly opened wide, or let you peek under its tongue?

Changes in grooming. If you're feeling under the weather, the last thing you want to do is get all dolled up. So look more closely at that cat with an unkempt coat. Watch for bare spots or a difference in fur texture.

"Grooming behavior takes up a good part of a cat's day," says Richard. "Cats may stop if they don't feel well, or if it's painful to groom - if they have severe arthritis, maybe it's hard to get their tongue to certain parts of their body."

Also, "because cats are basically covered in dry cat spit," Richards says, a "yucky" coat can point to mouth problems.

Changes in vocalization. As much as you may relish the silence, pay attention to the talkative cat who now is quiet as a church mouse.

Conversely, pumping up the volume is a typical sign of hyperthyroidism, as well as cognitive dysfunction, or senility.

Write to Denise Flaim, c/o Newsday, 235 Pinelawn Rd., Melville, NY 11747-4250; or e-mail denise.flaim@ newsday.com. Visit her blog at newsday.com/animalhouse.

Email: denise.flaim@newsday.com

From search coordinator Bonnie Folz:

<<Sorry to say, there is no new information to report in the search for Vivi.

The Vivi Team and Out-Of-Town volunteers continue to post, mail, e-mail and send faxes that Vivi is still missing. Even though there have not been many updates, volunteers are still out there. There’s just nothing to report on. Feeding stations and cameras have been set up since the last “sighting” in Forest Park over a month ago, but the photos show only a small pack of dogs (from the nearby cemetery that we got on camera during the summer), as well as resident cats, raccoons, possum, rats, squirrels and birds. Thanks to Sophia and Angelo, f