Crazy for Critters

Lab Work for Pets -- from a local company

November 2^nd 2009

 

PetLabsMD.com Launches the First National Consumer-Direct Pet Lab Testing Company

 

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. - PetLabsMD.com ("Pet-Labs") announced today our launch of the first national consumer-direct pet laboratory testing company.  PetLabsMD.com offers health, wellness and specialized pet laboratory testing as described at www.PetLabsMD.com.  PetLabMD.com is the first of its kind in the pet industry; it will enable pet owners to purchase affordable testing services directly at 40% to 60% reduced cost and savings for their pets.

 

"We are very proud of our innovative business. In 2006 according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, nearly half of pet owners considered their pets to be family members. There are more than 72 million pet dogs in the U.S. and nearly 82 million pet cats. The average annual veterinary expenditure per household for all pets was $366.  Pet-Labs will revolutionize the pet laboratory industry in the same manner that 800-Pet-Meds fundamentally changed the pet pharmaceutical industry.  At PetLabsMD.com we believe that early detection of potential ailments or disease through wellness screening ensures a long healthy life for your pets." said Ed Estriplet, Jr., CEO of PetLabsMD.com.

 

"PetLabsMD.com takes seriously our motto: 'Did you know a simple and inexpensive lab test could save your pet?'  Our professional staff will help educate pet owners on which laboratory tests or profiles will most benefit their pets without wasting money on un-needed tests." said Dr. Matthew J. Toia, D.VM., Chief Veterinary Officer of PetLabsMD.com. 

 

"Dr. Toia is widely known as an innovator in veterinary medicine.  He created the first mobile spay/neuter clinic for pets in 1971.  In 1984 he introduced the first Pet HMO in New England.  Dr. Toia has published several articles in national and state veterinary journals, and in 2008 published his first book "You Want Me To Declaw What?" a series of short stories about some of his more unusual adventures in practice.  The revolutionary concept of an internet based direct-to-consumer pet laboratory was a natural move for this innovator.  We are proud and excited to have him as our Chief Veterinary Officer." said Estriplet.

 

PetLabsMD.com will enable pet owners to have blood tests done for their pets conveniently at their own home.  PetLabsMD.com is a national direct to consumer animal health, wellness, and specialized testing laboratory staffed by licensed veterinarians and veterinary technicians. Our outstanding, caring staff guides our clients through the process of selecting the appropriate tests, purchasing, and understanding your pet's results.

 

Pet-Labs clients will be able to order tests online at with confidence!  PetLabsMD.com maintains the highest level of privacy and security.  Pet owners will be able to call us at 866-9-PET-LAB to speak with a member or our staff or an animal health technician.

 

PetLabsMD.com offers hundreds of screening tests, from preventive profiles to cancer, infectious diseases, diabetes, nutritional deficiencies, and much more.  All of PetLabsMD.com's laboratories are certified at both the federal and state level, and perform to the same or better standards as tests that are offered through your own veterinarian's office.

 

PetLabsMD.com's nationwide network of Animal Service Agents are actually veterinarians or veterinary technicians, experts in drawing blood from animals, who will come to your home to draw the necessary samples, saving you a trip and your pet from the undue stress of travel.

 

PetLabsMD.com welcomes associations with veterinarian's, veterinary technicians, pet service providers and other strategic partners nationally.

 

For More Information & Interested Parties:

 

Ed Estriplet, Jr., Chief Executive Officer, can be reached directly at 866-634-9966 or e-mail ed@PetLabsMD.com   

 

Dr. Matthew J. Toia, D.VM., Chief Veterinary Officer, can be reached directly at 866-9-PET-LAB or e-mail info@PetLabsMD.com   

 

PetLabsMD.com can be reached at 866-9-PET-LAB or visit the company's website at www.PetLabsMD.com  or email info@PetLabsMD.com    

Food for Thought

Desiree Deatherage, who feeds feral cats in Miami, was recently on local news explaining her frustration with pets stores that throw hundreds of pounds of food a week into the Dumpster because it's expired, rather than give it to rescuers. I initiated a series of e-mails with a PR person for Petco, Cecily Fuller, at the Sacramento office of Fleischman Hillard.

Here's the back-and-forth.

Petco: "At PETCO we make every effort to ensure our adoption partners have the items necessary to function and maintain the health and well being of the animals in their care. This includes the donation of consumable products, such as food and treats. We do not provide shelters with expired, returned or damaged consumables, as it can present potential health risks to the animals; however, we do provide food direct from our distribution centers to shelters if it is within sixty days of expiring. There are also instances when our vendors approve consumables currently on our shelves to be donated if newer products are on the way to our stores for stocking."

Me: Thanks, Cecily, it does clear things up as the policy applies to shelters, but the case in point is a rescue group that feeds feral cat colonies on the street. Liability really isn't an issue because these cats don't belong to anyone. The rescuers are more than willing to take the very small risk that discarded food might cause illness. To them, it makes no sense that products that could keep wild cats alive ends up in the dumpster. Do you think someone can address that side of it?

Petco: "You bring up a good question.  Unfortunately, we have to stay consistent with our approach on this. If we provide expired food to feral cats we are saying that it’s okay to risk their lives and not others and it sends an inconsistent message to those in the field.''

This is Me speaking to readers: I'm sticking with my point that street rescuers care more about getting the animals fed than the small risk that they'd be giving out bad food. Am I wrong?

 

Little Guy Needs Someone With Big Heart

MALE Chihuahua, less than 1 year old. Contact: " mdproducts@bellsouth.net

Never Underestimate the Power of a Nose

THE NEW YORK TIMES

Good Dog, Smart Dog

BY SARAH KERSHAW

Published: October 31, 2009

Life as a Labradoodle may sound free and easy, but if you’re Jet, who lives in New Jersey, there is a lot of work to be done.

Ross Macdonald

He is both a seizure alert dog and a psychiatric service dog whose owner has epilepsy, severe anxiety,   depression, various phobias and hypoglycemia. Jet has been trained to anticipate seizures, panic attacks, plunging blood sugar and will alert his owner to these things by staring intently at her until she does something about the problem. He will drop a toy in her lap to snap her out of a dissociative state. If she has a seizure, he will position himself so that his body is under her head to cushion a fall.

Jet seems like a genius, but is he really so smart? In fact, is any of it in his brain, or is it mostly in his sniff?

The matter of what exactly goes on in the mind of a dog is a tricky one, and until recently much of the research on canine intelligence has been met with large doses of skepticism. But over the last several years a growing body of evidence, culled from small scientific studies of dogs’ abilities to do things like detect cancer or seizures, solve complex problems (complex for a dog, anyway), and learn language suggests that they may know more than we thought they did.

Their apparent ability to tune in to the needs of psychiatric patients, turning on lights for trauma victims afraid of the dark, reminding their owners to take medication and interrupting behaviors like suicide attempts and self-mutilation, for example, has lately attracted the attention of researchers.

In September, the Army announced that it would spend $300,000 to study the impact of pairing psychiatric service dogs like Jet with soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with post-traumatic stress disorder. Both the House and Senate have recently passed bills that would finance the training and placement of these dogs with veterans.

Hungarian researchers reported in a study last year that a guide dog for a blind and epileptic person became anxious before its master suffered a seizure and was taught to bark and lick the owner’s face and upper arm when it detected an onset, three to five minutes before the seizure. It is still somewhat mysterious how exactly dogs detect seizures, whether it’s by picking up on behavioral changes or smelling something awry, but several small studies have shown that a powerful sense of smell can detect lung and other types of cancer, as the dogs sniff out odors emitted by the disease.

Beyond these perceptual abilities, in which trainers can use the dogs’ natural instincts, some research has examined dogs’ actual cognitive ability, and found not just good doggie, but smart doggie.

“I believe that so much research has come out lately suggesting that we may have underestimated certain aspects of the mental ability of dogs that even the most hardened cynic has to think twice before rejecting the possibilities,” said Stanley Coren, a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia and an author of several books on dogs.

Dr. Coren’s work on intelligence, along with other research suggesting that the canine brain processes information something like the way people do, has drawn criticism. And there is good reason. For most of the last century the specter of a horse named Clever Hans hung over anyone who tried to prove that dogs were acting in thoughtful ways — not merely mimicking or manipulating people into believing that they in fact grasped human concepts.

Clever Hans was said to be able to count, make change and tell time by tapping his hoof, until investigators in the early 1900s learned that Hans was merely responding to his trainer’s body language, tapping when the trainer nodded his head. This provided an enduring example for those who believed thought was the exclusive domain of humans.

But in 2004, German researchers reported that a border collie named Rico could learn the name of an object in one try, had 200 objects in his repertoire and remembered them all a month later, all very human. Even skeptical animal behavior researchers found the Rico results impressive and sound. Is it possible that Rico turned the tide on the Clever Hans problem, even though there is debate about how we can reliably measure what dogs know?

By giving dogs language learning and other tests devised for infants and toddlers, Dr. Coren has come up with an intelligence ranking of 100 breeds, with border collies at No. 1. He says the most intelligent breeds (poodles, retrievers, Labradors and shepherds) can learn as many as 250 words, signs and signals, while the others can learn 165. The average dog is about as intellectually advanced as a 2- to 2-and-a-half-year-old child, he has concluded, with an ability to understand some abstract concepts. For example, the animal can get “the idea of being a dog” by differentiating photographs with dogs in them from photographs without dogs.

But Clive D. L. Wynne, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Florida who specializes in canine cognition and has himself said he met a border collie who knew 1,500 words, takes issue with efforts to compare human and canine brains.

He argues that it is dogs’ deep sensitivity to the humans around them, their obedience under rigorous training, and their desire to please that can explain most of these capabilities. They may be deft at reading human cues — and teachable — but that doesn’t mean they are thinking like people, he says. A dog’s entire world revolves around its primary owner, and it will respond to that person to get what it wants, usually food, treats or affection.

“I take the view that dogs have their own unique way of thinking,” Dr. Wynne said. “It’s a happy accident that doggie thinking and human thinking overlap enough that we can have these relationships with dogs, but we shouldn’t kid ourselves that dogs are viewing the world the way we do.”

Help ASD Win $$$$

Please vote for Miami-Dade Animal Services and help ASD win $10,000 to save more lives: http://www.care2.com/animalsheltercontest/74696

 

Voting ends Wednesday, December 16th, and begins NOW!

 

Contest prizes:

Care2 will donate a total of $25,000 to animal shelters and rescue groups:

 

Help the shelter pets at Miami-Dade Animal Services.

 

The 10 groups with the most votes at the end of the contest will win prizes

 

o Grand prize: $10,000

 

o Second place: $5,000

 

o Third place: $3,000

 

o Fourth place: $2,000

 

o Fifth place: $1,000

 

o The groups that place 6th through 10th will each win $500.

 

The 20 contest participants who recruit the most friends to vote for their favorite shelter will receive a $50 gift certificate for pet products as special thank-you gifts for them and their beloved companions.

 

 

The animals count on YOU!

Wait!!

This video blows my mind. It would sooooo never happen at my house......

Beautiful Yellow Lab Needs a Home

HUNTER'S the name.

I am a 6 month old bundle of puppy energy who loves dogs and anyone else who will play with me. I have the softest fox red coat and everyone tells me how cute I am. I've almost got housebreaking down and I'm getting really good at walking nicely on a leash...for the most part. I am a very polite walker. I've already learned to sit and am working on learning other fun stuff too. I currently weigh 45 lbs but am still a growing boy. A few months ago I broke my leg and my previous owners didn't want to pay for surgery to fix it so they gave me to a very nice vet who did the surgery and now I'm fully recovered and ready to find a new home (hopefully with some playmates. My foster mom keeps lots of toys and bones around for me to chew on so I don't get into the wrong things as I'm going through the teething phase. Did I mention I love to play?  If you are ready for a lifetime of fun email the Lab Rescue and tell them Hunter sent you!

 

 

If you are interested in meeting or adopting HUNTER or one of our other labs contact Labrador Retriever Rescue of Florida by visiting our website www.labradorrescue.net  or call 1-866-464-LABS. LRROF has all our Labs microchipped, spayed or neutered, up to date on shots and each adoption comes with a 30 day pre-paid pet health insurance plan. All applicants will have a home inspection and vet reference (if applicable)

HSUS Chief Speaking Locally on an Important SoFla Topic

Humane Society of United States President Wayne Pacelle Speaks in Boca Raton on Thursday, November 12

 

Exotic Pets and Invasive Species Among Topics Discussed by Head of Nation’s Largest Animal Protection Organization

 

WHO:        Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO, The Humane Society of the United States

WHAT:      Pacelle will discuss the organization’s key priorities in the Sunshine State and across the country.  He’ll focus on how The HSUS is working to make high-impact changes for animals in Florida, in the nation, and around the world.

 WHEN:      Thursday, November 12, 2009

7:30-9 p.m.  

 WHERE:    Florida Atlantic University
                        Live Oak Pavilion (Student Union)
                        777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, Fla. 33431 

 

WHY:        Mr. Pacelle is embarking on a whistle-stop tour of the nation to meet and speak with HSUS members, with his twelfth stop in Boca Raton. Previous Town Halls have been held in Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, D.C., Las Vegas, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Columbus, Cincinnati and Cleveland. He’ll be discussing The HSUS' programs, activities, and will engage the audience’s questions and thoughts on the work of the nation’s largest animal protection organization. 

Editor’s Note: These events are open only to HSUS members and media, who are asked to please RSVP. For members of the public wishing to attend, memberships will be accepted at the door, for a minimum contribution of $10.

 

New Hours at ASD

NEW HOURS FOR ANIMAL SERVICES

CUSTOMER SERVICE EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 30^TH, 2009

 

(MIAMI, November 4^th, 2009) Effective Monday, November 30^th, 2009, the Miami-Dade Animal Services Customer Service hours of operation will be Monday to Friday 10 am to 7 pm.  Weekend hours will not be affected and will remain 8 am to 5 pm.

The Citation Office for inquiries/resolution of violations will be 10 am to 7 pm, Monday through Friday and closed on the weekends.  For citation payments only, customer service staff will assist on weekends from 8 am to 5 pm.

Adoption, lost & found, and rabies & microchip clinic hours have not changed.

 

Address: 7401 NW 74 Street  Miami, Florida 33166 Telephone:  Dial 311

Adoption & Lost and Found Hours Monday - Friday 10:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Saturday/Sunday 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Rabies and Microchip Clinic Hours* Monday - Friday 10:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Saturday/Sunday 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Facility Hours Monday - Friday 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Saturday/Sunday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Closed all major holidays

Citation Hours Monday - Friday 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Closed all major holidays

 

 

Pet overpopulation is something we can control, but we need the community to make a difference.  Be part of the solution spay/neuter your pets, don't be part of the problem.

 Miami-Dade Animal Services is responsible for enforcing Chapter V, as well as Florida Statutes 828, which deals primarily with animal cruelty issues.  Unlike private shelters that have limitations on the number of pets they accept, Animal Services accepts all dogs and cats. Last year, the shelter impounded more than 37,000 pets.  The goal at Animal Services is to reunite lost pets with their families or find life-long homes for as many animals as possible.  Related links: www.miamidade.gov/animals  or call 311.

Dog Saved!

MDFR CREW SAVES DOG FROM DROWNING

 

At vet's office, paramedic is reunited with dog she saved 10 years ago.

 

(MIAMI, November 3, 2009) - At approximately 12:20 p.m., Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) responded to a request for assistance by Indian Creek police to help rescue two dogs that were struggling to stay afloat in the water. The incident occurred in a residential area on the 1300 block of NE 100 Street.

The Miami Shores rescue unit arrived and noticed that though one of the dogs was safe and out of the water, the other dog was nearly drowning. Just then, an Indian Creek police officer snatched the dog out of the water and handed him to the paramedics. An examination the American Staffordshire Terrier revealed that he sustained injuries to all his paws resulting from his frantic efforts to climb a seawall to safety. The rescue crew administered oxygen to the dog via a specially designed pet oxygen mask and did all they could to stabilize the canine.

 Though the dog was unconscious when pulled out of the water, he was awake by the time he arrived at Adam's Veterinary Clinic.  According to Dr. Fusco, the next two days will determine Shorty's outcome. Shorty was the temporary name given by the rescue crew since he was rescued near shore.

 Coincidentally, as the crew transferred Shorty to the clinic staff, a German Shepherd arrived for his shots. But this was no ordinary German Shepherd; One of the paramedics, Captain Bruder, treated him from traumatic injuries 10 years ago and had brought him to the same clinic.

Captain Bruder was overjoyed to see the dog she treated so long ago was doing so well.