The head of the Humane Society of the United States on Tuesday accused a Westside pet store catering to celebrities of selling puppies obtained from puppy mills.Wayne Pacelle, president and chief executive of the society, a national animal advocacy organization with headquarters in Washington, D.C., made a presentation on what he called an undercover investigation of Pets of Bel Air, a pet store and grooming business tucked into the Beverly Glen Circle shopping plaza in Bel-Air. The store has attracted such high-profile customers as pop star Britney Spears and actress Denise Richards, among others.
"Our employees were on the inside of Pets of Bel Air," said Pacelle, who made his presentation at the West Los Angeles Animal Care Center, accompanied by Ed Boks, general manager of L.A. Animal Services, which runs the city's shelters."Our undercover investigators found staffers were knowingly misrepresenting how the dogs were obtained," Pacelle said.Just hours after the news conference, the pet store was shut down by L.A. Animal Services for selling pets without a proper permit from the city and for not having veterinary records available for inspection."This is largely symbolic," Boks said. "They can buy a permit and reopen."He joined Pacelle in denouncing the store's alleged practice of selling puppies from puppy mills, calling it "unconscionable."Neither operating a so-called puppy mill nor securing dogs from one is a crime. But animal welfare advocates denounce as inhumane and cruel the breeding practice of keeping dogs on a mass scale to produce puppies for sale.Pacelle said the Humane Society reviewed records of 28 breeders supplying the pet store. Undercover investigators went to five of those breeders and found them to be "large scale breeding facilities -- like factories," Pacelle said.Pacelle showed a video of people who the Humane Society contends were Pets of Bel Air employees, on which they state that they try not to refer to an animal as "sick" even if it is ill.Store owner Tom Demick said Tuesday night in a phone interview that he had not bought puppies from a puppy mill -- "not to our knowledge. I've worked with pet stores in the past. I've seen the worst. I set this store up to do the best. We pride ourselves on our animal husbandry. We're all very compassionate about how we do it."Demick, who said his store had been open since 1999, took issue with the Humane Society's videotape of employees downplaying dogs' illnesses. "That was so twisted," said Demick of the video. "They cut that segment short."He said it was an "oversight" that he had not paid for a permit. "I told the [animals services] officers I had no idea I was three years behind on this," said Demick, who added he would take care of it immediately.Tuesday afternoon, as animal services officers conferred with employees inside the shuttered Pets of Bel Air, puppies for sale tussled with each other in crib-like structures in the front windows, or napped, undisturbed by the small crowd of reporters and photographers peering in at them.Pacelle defined puppy mills as places where female dogs are bred every time they come into heat, a practice he called "incredibly stressful on the system."Pacelle said the dogs and puppies are usually not socialized and are often housed in small wire cages -- causing the animals to endlessly bark and circle, he explained. In addition, inbreeding leads to genetic problems.Pacelle said some of the Humane Society's documentation had been turned over to the county district attorney's office as possible evidence of fraud."We have on tape a number of false representations made to clients," said Pacelle, referring to footage that appears to show store employees stating that the store never sells from puppy mills.Both Pacelle and Boks urged potential dog owners to get dogs from shelters. The West L.A. shelter had some mixed breed puppies Tuesday, several of which should be available for adoption in the next couple of weeks.carla.hall@latimes.com
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Does your pet need a dietary supplement?
If you take a multivitamin every morning and perhaps a supplement or two because you care about your health, does it make sense to do the same with your dog or cat? Stephanie Pendleton of Emerald Isle, North Carolina, would say yes.
Pendleton caught on to pet supplements a few years ago when she noticed that her 13-year-old cat, Sierra, wasn't up to her usual antics.
"She was having a hard time jumping up on the counter, and she wasn't playing as much as she used to," Pendleton says. "Finally, she just spent less time up there, I think, because it was painful for her."
Pendleton researched Sierra's problem online, and learned about the joint supplements glucosamine and chondroitin. She asked her veterinarian, and they agreed to give the cat a product that combines both joint supplements.
"Sierra is jumping all over the place again," Pendleton says.
Now, Pendleton is a believer in pet supplements. She gives Sierra and her other cat, 2-year-old Serenity, a multivitamin, probiotics to help their immune systems and essential fatty acids for skin and coat health. Sierra gets seven pills, Serenity four.
Demand for supplements is on the rise. The pet supplement market has grown about 15 percent annually since 2000 and is now a $1.3 billion business, according to the National Animal Supplement Council. Simmons Market Research Bureau says approximately 17 percent of pet owners give their cats and dogs some type of supplement.
A pet supplement is a product that is intended to complement the diet and help support and maintain a normal biological function. Products range from multivitamins for overall health to targeted formulas that claim to alleviate joint problems or canine cognitive dysfunction.
Dr. Tim Montague, a veterinarian at Eads Animal Hospital in Eads, Tennessee, started using supplements in 1992. He was wary at first because he didn't learn about them in veterinary school, and there weren't many on the market. But when an old professor of his recommended a joint supplement for one of Montague's patients, he took notice. Montague's golden retriever Ayla had an arthritic shoulder, so he also tried a joint supplement on her.
"She could barely make it up and down the stairs, but within a week after the supplement she was running and catching Frisbees in the yard," Montague says. "That sold me on that product." He said his patients have had good success with joint supplements and he prescribes them all the time.
But some substances, such as St. John's wort, may not be suitable for pets, according to the Food and Drug Administration, and their safety and effectiveness is untested in animals. What's more, some supplements have been found to contain lesser amounts of an active ingredient than the manufacturer claims, or substances like lead have been detected.
Dr. Tod Cooperman is president of ConsumerLab.com, which independently tests supplements for humans and animals. In the past few years, his company has reviewed roughly a dozen multivitamins, joint supplements and fish oils for pets and found that about half of the products tested don't pass.
"We have repeatedly found the quality of supplements for pets to be worse overall than for supplements for people," Cooperman says.
With the pet supplement market burgeoning, especially online, the FDA urges pet owners to talk to their veterinarians before giving supplements to their animals, something Montague agrees with.
"People need to be careful about self-medicating," he says. "I've seen many animals harmed by people getting the wrong information over the Internet."
Dr. John Bauer, professor of clinical nutrition at Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine, offers four factors to consider when evaluating supplements:
1. Product quality How much of the functional, active ingredient is in the product? Responsible manufacturers will have 800 numbers on the package to call with technical questions about the ingredients, and your veterinarian should know what specific questions to ask.
2. Efficacy Is there any scientific basis to support the use of this supplement? If information about product testing isn't available on the company's Web site or elsewhere, call the company for details about the studies that have been performed.
3. Tolerance. Check the list of ingredients carefully before giving a supplement to your pet. For example, a supplement might include lactose, which some cats and dogs can't tolerate. It's a good idea to consult your veterinarian first to discuss how the supplements may react with any medications the pet is taking.
4. Safety. A product's safety should be proven. For example, the company might state in its literature that it was tested in high doses on mice and found to be safe, or the number of adverse events reported might be few to none.
Pendleton caught on to pet supplements a few years ago when she noticed that her 13-year-old cat, Sierra, wasn't up to her usual antics.
"She was having a hard time jumping up on the counter, and she wasn't playing as much as she used to," Pendleton says. "Finally, she just spent less time up there, I think, because it was painful for her."
Pendleton researched Sierra's problem online, and learned about the joint supplements glucosamine and chondroitin. She asked her veterinarian, and they agreed to give the cat a product that combines both joint supplements.
"Sierra is jumping all over the place again," Pendleton says.
Now, Pendleton is a believer in pet supplements. She gives Sierra and her other cat, 2-year-old Serenity, a multivitamin, probiotics to help their immune systems and essential fatty acids for skin and coat health. Sierra gets seven pills, Serenity four.
Demand for supplements is on the rise. The pet supplement market has grown about 15 percent annually since 2000 and is now a $1.3 billion business, according to the National Animal Supplement Council. Simmons Market Research Bureau says approximately 17 percent of pet owners give their cats and dogs some type of supplement.
A pet supplement is a product that is intended to complement the diet and help support and maintain a normal biological function. Products range from multivitamins for overall health to targeted formulas that claim to alleviate joint problems or canine cognitive dysfunction.
Dr. Tim Montague, a veterinarian at Eads Animal Hospital in Eads, Tennessee, started using supplements in 1992. He was wary at first because he didn't learn about them in veterinary school, and there weren't many on the market. But when an old professor of his recommended a joint supplement for one of Montague's patients, he took notice. Montague's golden retriever Ayla had an arthritic shoulder, so he also tried a joint supplement on her.
"She could barely make it up and down the stairs, but within a week after the supplement she was running and catching Frisbees in the yard," Montague says. "That sold me on that product." He said his patients have had good success with joint supplements and he prescribes them all the time.
But some substances, such as St. John's wort, may not be suitable for pets, according to the Food and Drug Administration, and their safety and effectiveness is untested in animals. What's more, some supplements have been found to contain lesser amounts of an active ingredient than the manufacturer claims, or substances like lead have been detected.
Dr. Tod Cooperman is president of ConsumerLab.com, which independently tests supplements for humans and animals. In the past few years, his company has reviewed roughly a dozen multivitamins, joint supplements and fish oils for pets and found that about half of the products tested don't pass.
"We have repeatedly found the quality of supplements for pets to be worse overall than for supplements for people," Cooperman says.
With the pet supplement market burgeoning, especially online, the FDA urges pet owners to talk to their veterinarians before giving supplements to their animals, something Montague agrees with.
"People need to be careful about self-medicating," he says. "I've seen many animals harmed by people getting the wrong information over the Internet."
Dr. John Bauer, professor of clinical nutrition at Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine, offers four factors to consider when evaluating supplements:
1. Product quality How much of the functional, active ingredient is in the product? Responsible manufacturers will have 800 numbers on the package to call with technical questions about the ingredients, and your veterinarian should know what specific questions to ask.
2. Efficacy Is there any scientific basis to support the use of this supplement? If information about product testing isn't available on the company's Web site or elsewhere, call the company for details about the studies that have been performed.
3. Tolerance. Check the list of ingredients carefully before giving a supplement to your pet. For example, a supplement might include lactose, which some cats and dogs can't tolerate. It's a good idea to consult your veterinarian first to discuss how the supplements may react with any medications the pet is taking.
4. Safety. A product's safety should be proven. For example, the company might state in its literature that it was tested in high doses on mice and found to be safe, or the number of adverse events reported might be few to none.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
lst Dog Walk Summit tackles pet owners’ responsibilities
MANILA, Philippines -- A German shepherd tied to a tree in a pet-friendly campus looks harmless as he sits calmly in the shade.
But when a child comes by and pets him, he ends up with a bite in the hand.
Bishop, a friendly Pit bull terrier, walks in a park full of people with his owner by his side. Every person he meets steers clear of his path although unknown to them, Bishop is a sweet natured dog who would never bite anyone.
However, the recent stories about dog fights, where Pit bulls are pitted against each other, have created a negative impression of the breed. As a result, instead of admiration, Bishop earns wary and fearful gazes from people in the park.
With more pet owners bringing their furry companions to public places, a safe and healthy interaction among humans and animals should always be observed, according to Joey Tiosayco, president of Lovepets.com, a pet welfare group.
Recently, the group and other dog walker clubs in Metro Manila signed a Unified Declaration on Policies toward Responsible Canine Public Exposure during the 1st Pack Leader Dog Walk Summit held in Pasig City.
The summit, organized by Lovepets.com (Love, Pets and Comradeship), was aimed at teaching pet owners to become more responsible and responsive to non-animal lovers in public places.
“In setting policies and provisions that must be adhered to by sectors involved, we can avoid accidents or untoward incidents involving humans and animals,” explained Tiosayco.
Even if pets are already allowed in some establishments in Metro Manila, “we (animal owners) must not go out of bounds,” he added.
Signs needed
So-called pet-friendly places don’t even have signs or reminders on how people should handle their animals in public, Tiosayco said.
Canine health is one of the top considerations written in the unified declaration. It states that “dogs that will be brought to public places must have rabies shots. They must be subjected to anti-tick, flea, and heart worm prevention measures.”
Owners whose bitches are in heat, show signs of sickness or have been diagnosed with infectious diseases are discouraged from taking them to enclosed spaces like restaurants and commercial areas where many people gather.
The declaration also holds humans responsible for their pets’ every act. They are encouraged to be more tolerant and understanding of people who are not dog or animal lovers.
Petting of dogs must also be done with strict supervision, especially when it involves canines who may not be feeling well or are still undergoing behavioral training.
It would be better if the dogs wear bite prevention gear or muzzles. Owners or handlers should also carry their animals’ vaccination records at all times, the declaration added.
The summit also served as a forum for government officials, veterinarians and animal welfare groups to discuss issues on human-animal coexistence.
Dr. Angel Mateo, director on animal welfare of the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Animal Industry, gave a brief talk on existing laws (Animal Welfare Act of 1998 or Republic Act No. 8485 and Rabies Law of 2007 or RA 9482). He also discussed how an act can be considered a form of animal cruelty and the responsibilities of a pet owner.
On the other hand, Animal Kingdom Foundation Inc.’s external affairs officer, Luis Buenaflor, discussed the implementation of these laws.
Dr. Rey del Napoles, a veterinarian and vice president of the Animal Welfare Coalition, reminded dog owners of the things they have to remember before taking their dog out in public, common canine diseases, as well as how to prevent transmission and proper protection and grooming.
Debunking the myth
Tiosayco was joined by Pit bull owner Mario Policarpio in debunking the myth about large breed canines. Tiosayco said that German shepherds and Pit bull terriers are the most maligned and misunderstood breeds because they are always perceived as “dangerous.”
Tiosayco explained, however, that “it is not the breed, but how the dogs are brought up by the owners.”
To prove his point, he presented Bishop and his owner, Jeff Ramos. He encouraged people to pet the dog who seemed to be enjoying the attention he was getting.
Nearby, two German shepherds, under the supervision of their owners, played with children.
As more and more people take care of dogs and cats, their responsibilities do not end with feeding and giving the animals homes. They also have to ensure the peaceful coexistence of humans and animals.
The declaration, according to Tiosayco, will be presented to the government and the owners of establishments interested in opening their premises to pets.
But when a child comes by and pets him, he ends up with a bite in the hand.
Bishop, a friendly Pit bull terrier, walks in a park full of people with his owner by his side. Every person he meets steers clear of his path although unknown to them, Bishop is a sweet natured dog who would never bite anyone.
However, the recent stories about dog fights, where Pit bulls are pitted against each other, have created a negative impression of the breed. As a result, instead of admiration, Bishop earns wary and fearful gazes from people in the park.
With more pet owners bringing their furry companions to public places, a safe and healthy interaction among humans and animals should always be observed, according to Joey Tiosayco, president of Lovepets.com, a pet welfare group.
Recently, the group and other dog walker clubs in Metro Manila signed a Unified Declaration on Policies toward Responsible Canine Public Exposure during the 1st Pack Leader Dog Walk Summit held in Pasig City.
The summit, organized by Lovepets.com (Love, Pets and Comradeship), was aimed at teaching pet owners to become more responsible and responsive to non-animal lovers in public places.
“In setting policies and provisions that must be adhered to by sectors involved, we can avoid accidents or untoward incidents involving humans and animals,” explained Tiosayco.
Even if pets are already allowed in some establishments in Metro Manila, “we (animal owners) must not go out of bounds,” he added.
Signs needed
So-called pet-friendly places don’t even have signs or reminders on how people should handle their animals in public, Tiosayco said.
Canine health is one of the top considerations written in the unified declaration. It states that “dogs that will be brought to public places must have rabies shots. They must be subjected to anti-tick, flea, and heart worm prevention measures.”
Owners whose bitches are in heat, show signs of sickness or have been diagnosed with infectious diseases are discouraged from taking them to enclosed spaces like restaurants and commercial areas where many people gather.
The declaration also holds humans responsible for their pets’ every act. They are encouraged to be more tolerant and understanding of people who are not dog or animal lovers.
Petting of dogs must also be done with strict supervision, especially when it involves canines who may not be feeling well or are still undergoing behavioral training.
It would be better if the dogs wear bite prevention gear or muzzles. Owners or handlers should also carry their animals’ vaccination records at all times, the declaration added.
The summit also served as a forum for government officials, veterinarians and animal welfare groups to discuss issues on human-animal coexistence.
Dr. Angel Mateo, director on animal welfare of the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Animal Industry, gave a brief talk on existing laws (Animal Welfare Act of 1998 or Republic Act No. 8485 and Rabies Law of 2007 or RA 9482). He also discussed how an act can be considered a form of animal cruelty and the responsibilities of a pet owner.
On the other hand, Animal Kingdom Foundation Inc.’s external affairs officer, Luis Buenaflor, discussed the implementation of these laws.
Dr. Rey del Napoles, a veterinarian and vice president of the Animal Welfare Coalition, reminded dog owners of the things they have to remember before taking their dog out in public, common canine diseases, as well as how to prevent transmission and proper protection and grooming.
Debunking the myth
Tiosayco was joined by Pit bull owner Mario Policarpio in debunking the myth about large breed canines. Tiosayco said that German shepherds and Pit bull terriers are the most maligned and misunderstood breeds because they are always perceived as “dangerous.”
Tiosayco explained, however, that “it is not the breed, but how the dogs are brought up by the owners.”
To prove his point, he presented Bishop and his owner, Jeff Ramos. He encouraged people to pet the dog who seemed to be enjoying the attention he was getting.
Nearby, two German shepherds, under the supervision of their owners, played with children.
As more and more people take care of dogs and cats, their responsibilities do not end with feeding and giving the animals homes. They also have to ensure the peaceful coexistence of humans and animals.
The declaration, according to Tiosayco, will be presented to the government and the owners of establishments interested in opening their premises to pets.
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