VIDEO LINK – http://bcove.me/si0k67jm

The D.A. is considering whether to press charges of animal cruelty.

And some say it’s time to ban trapping altogether.

Contact 13 Chief Investigator Darcy Spears takes an in-depth look at an industry with lots of problems and little accountability.

For some, those images illustrate their legal right to trap and kill.

For others… “It’s cruel, barbaric, outdated and it just needs to stop.”

So says Gina Greisen with Nevada Voters for Animals.  Greisen became a vocal opponent of trapping after the bobcat vs. dog video hit YouTube.

The trapper, whose hand you see in the video and who’s voice you hear encouraging his dog, “Get him boy!”… is Tracy Truman, a member of Clark County’s Wildlife Advisory Board.

When we first caught up with Truman in January, he wasn’t happy to see us and told Action News to “Leave me alone!”

But he did explain his actions saying, “The context was that it was a video that I showed other people what I wanted a dog to do.  That is, not make contact with an animal — to do two things, locate it, and bark at it.”

But that didn’t sit well with County Commissioners, who appoint the Wildlife Board members.

Chris Giunchigliani has been studying trapping in Nevada since this video surfaced.

“I just wish we would have the conversation about whether or not really is it necessary any longer?”

Giunchigliani is concerned for people and their pets because of how close traps can be to trails.

She also worries about the wildlife.

“Do I still think it’s a disgusting practice?  Yes.  Do I still think the animals are treated in a humane way?  No!  Because they’re there for days!”

State law allows trappers to leave their traps unchecked for up to four days.

“And then you think about where’s their food?” Giunchigliani wonders.  “How are they put down?  Are they put down in a humane way?”

A photo was taken several years ago at an archaeological site called Evergreen Flats in Lincoln County shows a bobcat near a petroglyph site with its leg caught in a trap.

“For three days that bobcat sat in that trap and it eventually died on the third day,” explains Gina Greisen.

The law says you can’t help a trapped animal or tamper with a trap.

Only the trappers themselves can.

But according to the Nevada Division of Wildlife, they often fail to do that in the required four-day time frame. It’s listed on NDOW’s website as a common violation. And that’s not all.

“We’ve had many instances where people that have been trapping have done so illegally, either by using bait, which they’re not allowed to do, or trapping in areas that they clearly shouldn’t be,” says Mike McBeath, chairman of the Nevada Wildlife Commission.

Contact 13 set out with a guide on a Sunday hike in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, about 13 miles up Lee Canyon road.

The first trap we came across held a baby striped skunk, bloodied from its struggle to free itself.

The skunk had died either from its injuries, starvation or dehydration.

We’ve spoken to the Nevada Wildlife Commission and an environmental law expert from University of Nevada, Las Vegas and all agree that the area is off limits to trappers.

We called the Bureau of Land Management who sent out a ranger to remove the traps, fearing they were set illegally.

In cases where they are illegally set, it’s nearly impossible to hold the trapper accountable.

The law was changed some years ago so trappers no longer have to identify their traps.

“It’s voluntary at this point,” says McBeath.  “And I don’t know of anybody who’s actually doing it.”

The County boards who advise our lawmakers on wildlife management are primarily made up of hunters, trappers and anglers, many of whom have a financial interest in what the laws allow.

Bobcat pelts go for anywhere from $400 to $1,000 per piece.

Nevada trappers made more than a million dollars last year.

“Absolutely I believe there’s a huge conflict of interest in that,” Gina says.

She also believes there’s a conflict with regulation and law enforcement.

Through fees for things like licenses, permits and tags, sportsmen provide the vast majority of funding for the government agencies that regulate them.

“There’s that saying ‘don’t bite the hand that feeds you.’ I guess my question is, will you cite the hand that feeds you?”

Whether the law changes to be more restrictive on trapping or the practice ends up being banned altogether remains to be seen.

But it’s clear the debate over this controversial issue is far from over.

The Nevada Wildlife Commission is currently working to revise regulations to further restrict how close traps can be to residential areas.

As for Tracy Truman, the County Commission’s discussion on whether to keep him on the Wildlife Advisory Board is on hold pending the District Attorney’s decision on cruelty charges.

Clark County, NV (KTNV)    http://www.ktnv.com/news/local/139750033.html

What is enrichment?

It is an animal husbandry principle that can help improve the quality of life of captive animals. Enrichment may help increase stimulus of the animal to improve its physiological and psychological well-being.  There are several types of enrichment; social, occupational, physical and sensory.  Groups or pairs of animals living together provide social enrichment for each other.  Habitat size and complexity provides physical enrichment along with adding new accessories such as perches, caves and pools.  Sensory enrichment involves the senses such as visual, auditory and olfactory.  Perfumes or other scents can activate an animal’s need to scent mark while things like vocalizations from different animals or people can invoke an animal’s defense or offense behavior. If an animal hears a bird, they will likely try to find that bird and stalk it, but if they hear the roar of a lion, they might feel the need to hide.  And lastly, occupational enrichment can be provided to stimulate the animal’s mind.  Puzzle feeders, hiding food or an item that provides exercise are all considered occupational.

What is the goal of enrichment?

Enrichment is developed with a certain goal in mind; what species specific behavior will this enrichment item encourage from the animal.  For example, an African serval can leap several feet in the air to catch their prey.  In order to bring out this behavior in a captive animal, the enrichment item would have to mimic a prey item.  A toy or food treat can be suspended in the air by a cable going across their habitat thus creating a reason for the animal to exhibit the species specific behavior of leaping into the air to catch their prey.  Some of the natural behaviors enrichment can encourage are play, hunting, foraging and scent marking.

Other goals achieved by enrichment include an increase in behavioral diversity and stimulation, increase in the ability to cope with challenges, increase the positive use of the environment and reduce the frequency of abnormal behavior.  Each individual animal and their behavior is taken into account when creating and delivering enrichment.  They give us clues to what sort of enrichment they would like.  A timid animal for example may want an enrichment item they can investigate during the night with no people around.  Other more active animals will search out new enrichment and quickly discover what the keepers have given them.

What are some of the enrichment items?

Some of the enrichment items may not seem natural but they inspire natural behaviors.  The Wildcat Sanctuary offers each resident a variety of enrichment items a minimum of three times a week.  It is important to change the type of enrichment given so the animals do not become desensitized to the enrichment item.  This is one of the reasons we give out holiday themed enrichment.  Each holiday has its own theme and we can therefore create new items each time.  Although giving out paper hearts for Valentine’s Day and wrapped presents for Christmas doesn’t seem natural and may not portray the animals in their natural environment, they do stimulate natural behaviors such as play, scent marking and even hunting as they tend to stalk the item before pouncing on it and destroying it.

In addition to making enrichment items, we also use purchase toys such as jolly balls.  Many of the animals like to chase and stalk these balls like they would their prey.  Carlo, the cougar, spends every waking minute batting his ball around and will vehemently defend it when others approach him.  We also hide food within the habitats to encourage a natural foraging behavior.  This increases the positive use of their environment and stimulates their minds.  Other things such as perches, hammocks, pools and caves provides a variety of places to climb on, hide under, cool off and relax.  Sometimes the simplest enrichment invokes the biggest response such as moving a log or rock to a new place.  Not only do they investigate the item that was moved but also the place it was moved from.  Companionship from other animals is another important form of enrichment.  We find that many of our residents enjoy living with others.  We also know which of our residents will not tolerate living with another animal and therefore can live alone peacefully.  Every resident receives individualized care and we take their natural behaviors and personalities into account for every type of enrichment offered.   You can watch our residents have fun with their enrichment in our youtube videos, just click here.

Twelve years ago, Dr. Noemi Plantz first heard about The Wildcat Sanctuary.  Back then, she was helping out in the kennel at Cedar Pet Clinic in Minneapolis when some of the Sanctuary’s residents would be brought in for treatment.  She got to participate in vet days at the Sanctuary’s original location in Isanti County.  Even then, she could tell this was a growing sanctuary with a passionate director and it would be “something great.”

Years later, Dr. Plantz is now in practice as one of three veterinarians at Cedar Pet Clinic Lake Elmo.  She treats about 60 “domestic” patients a week but still finds time to serve as one of the Sanctuary’s primary veterinarians, too.  Though she didn’t have any specific training for wild cats, she has had a great deal of “on the job” training while working alongside Dr. Baillie, the medical director of the Sanctuary and of Cedar Pet Clinic Lake Elmo.

Many of her former veterinary classmates are jealous that she is able to treat exotic animals, since they had a big interest in exotic animal medicine and zoo medicine.  But, since those jobs were very difficult to find, they ended up choosing other careers.  Now, when Dr. Plantz speaks with upcoming veterinary students and shares her experiences, she sees a definite shift in their attitudes toward exotic pet ownership.  Many realize that it’s simply not ethical to keep wild animals as pets.

Dr. Plantz has developed a particular interest in veterinary dentistry. Most of the wild cats have had poor diets and little to no veterinary care, before coming to the Sanctuary.  Dental disease is very common for them. It’s been rewarding for her to see the Peter Emily International Veterinary Dental Foundation perform root canals and tooth extractions for many of the cats to relieve their pain.

Caring for wild cats isn’t an easy specialty.  Just like domestic animals, it’s difficult to have patients who can’t tell you what’s wrong.   Dr. Plantz focuses a great deal on preventative care for the wild cats, scheduling routine vet days around normal clinic hours.  This way, she and Dr. Baillie are able to find small fixable problems before they become emergencies.  She credits the care takers at the sanctuary as being excellent, knowing when something is off with a cat, enabling her and Dr. Baillie to catch problems early on.

Wild cats are physically challenging, too.  Helping Dr. Baillie spay the large cats takes incredible strength.  Breaking down the ligaments of the ovaries and being able to close the abdominal wall of a 500+ pound cat is something most veterinary students don’t think about when considering this field.

Dr. Plantz has been in love with tigers her entire life.  She, like everyone else, gets attached to the wild cats and emotionally invested in their happiness and well-being.  The hardest case she’s dealt with is when Tsavo, the lioness, died after complications from her spay surgery.  Though Tsavo was new to the Sanctuary, everyone had quickly become very attached to her.  Her complications and death were hard, both emotionally and medically.

It’s the happy endings that drive Dr. Plantz.  Sabrina, an emaciated, abandoned tigress, arrived from Texas so damaged emotionally that Dr. Plantz didn’t hold much hope for her ability to enjoy life.  Seeing Sabrina’s personality change and seeing her trust humans again taught Dr. Plantz the ability of an animal’s soul to heal and forgive – an amazing lesson to witness.

Just as the Sanctuary’s family is growing, so too is Dr. Plantz’s family at home.  Besides Reno, her black lab mix, and Lucie, her tortoise shell cat, she and her husband are expecting their first child this summer.  Even though her personal life will see changes, as Dr. Plantz says, she “hopes to continue helping with the veterinary care at TWS for many years to come.  I enjoy working with the cats and with Tammy, Trista and Alicia.  The work I have been able to help with has been some of the most rewarding veterinary work I have ever done.  I also think the message that TWS is spreading about keeping the wild in your hearts and not your home is important and I want to help spread that message to everyone.”

We couldn’t ask for a better messenger, or a better veterinarian to help care for our wild cats.  Dr. Plantz has definitely got what it takes!  Our residents are better for having her as part of TWS.

The Wildcat Sanctuary wants to make sure this isn’t the case for a local graduating senior in Sandstone, MN. As part of our NO MORE WILD PETS campaign, the Sanctuary is offering a $1500 scholarship to a graduating senior from East Central Secondary School or Crossroads Learning Center.

In order to qualify for the TWS NO MORE WILD PETS $1500 SCHOLARSHIP:

• the senior must be a local resident from East Central Secondary School or Crossroads Learning Cen ter
• GPA of 2.0 or higher
• Students must apply between March 1 – April 6, 2012
• Applicants will be required to write a 750-1000 word essay, that they will be judged on, addressing this top ic: “The captive wildlife crisis is an increasing problem in the United States. Explain why this crisis exists and the solutions you would recommend to solve it.”

READ THE FULL GUIDELINES

 CHECK BACK HERE ON MARCH 1st to apply!

After high school graduation,this scholarship can be used toward further education at a college, university, vocational or trade school.

Supporting the local community and the success of local students is a priority for The Wildcat Sanctuary. By promoting interest in natural science and wildlife conservation, the hope is that more and more graduates will be excited to pursue careers in these important areas.

The search is on to find a cat lost in the ceiling at Rocky Mountain Regional Airport in Broomfield.Achilles, an exotic Bengal cat, flies with its owners, who are both pilots.The couple flew into RMRA and were relaxing in the pilot’s lounge with the cat when it suddenly disappeared into a hole in the ceiling.

“You can hear the cat in the ceiling, but people can’t get into the ceiling because of how it is constructed,” said Trish Reynolds, Achilles’ owner’s sister.Reynolds said the ceiling is divided into different areas.

Achilles’ owners flew back home to Maryland, but the Reynolds live in Colorado. Reynolds’ husband is at the airport trying to coax the cat out.He’s using food, bells and other items to try to get the cat, Reynolds told 7NEWS.

February 16, 2012   BROOMFIELD, Colo.   http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/30457964/detail.html

You can join a dedicated and hardworking team of people to help wild cats in need.  We are looking for passionate people who are self starters with special skills. Sanctuary work is not easy, but it is very rewarding.

Keeper Position

The Keepers will observe assigned animals on a daily basis, reporting any abnormalities; perform routine husbandry and environmental maintenance; feed prescribed diets; perform assigned and approved animal enrichment activities and trainings; assist in the restraint and treatment of animals; participate in non-routine animal transports, build habitats, pools and perches, along with being prepared to respond to emergency situations. Keepers will also work collaboratively with volunteers, staff and interns. You can find the full listing at the link, which also includes how to apply and deadline for application:
http://aazk.org/job-listings/job/1596/

Development Associate

Responsible for supporting the Executive Director by managing database, processing and maintaining records on contributions and pledges received to ensure accurate tracking of all donation and general inquiries. Responsibilities include data mining current house list to extrapolate trends and donor giving patterns, executes and mail acknowledgements for all gifts and/or manages volunteers and interns to do so. Responds to donor inquiries, files correspondence and other records, and assists with other clerical and administrative work.  You can find the full listing at the link, which also includes how to apply and deadline for application:http://www.minnesotanonprofits.org/job-details?id=51747

Date: WEDNESDAY February 29, 2012

Time: 7:00 – 10:00  PM

Place: Honey, 205 East Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55414

Order your tickets today!  Must be 21 and have a valid ID.

PRODUCT: Alison Scott Benefit Concert — $40.00
[Add to Cart] [View Cart]

7:00 – 7:30 pm Registration

7:00 – 10:00 pm Food & Drink

7:30 – 8:00 pm Presentation

8:00 – 9:00 pm Music

9:00 – 10:00 pm Meet & Greet the Artists

Join us for a special evening with Alison Scott to benefit The Wildcat Sanctuary!  Enjoy some yummy food supplied by Honey/Gingerhop and wonderful music. TWS merchandise will be for sale as well as various pieces of The Wildcat Sanctuary inspired art.  There will be a short TWS Presentation at 7:30 pm including some fun enrichment videos showcasing the Sanctuary’s residents. After the performance you can stick around and meet Alison and Kevin. This will be an evening of fun and entertainment for the cats!

Do you feel lucky? Make sure to bring an extra $10 and take your chance with a Wildcat Grab Bag. You may get a “white elephant” item, or you may get lucky with a bag that contains TWS merchandise, a bottle of wine, restaurant gift card, or Twins tickets!

Alison Scott is the strongest new voice to come out of the Minneapolis music scene in years; her soulful organic sound has cut through the din of indie rock to build a large and loyal following throughout the Midwest.

Working with multi-platinum guitarist/producer Kevin Bowe (Paul Westerberg, Etta James, Jonny Lang), drummer Peter Anderson (Polara, Honeydogs), bassist Steve Price (Rex Daisy) and James Tyler O’Neill (keys), Alison has sold out the prestigious Dakota Jazz Club for over a dozen shows in a row. They are also performing at benefits, corporate functions, and festivals; opening for national artists like: Bon Jovi, Chris Isaak, Marc Cohn, Boz Scaggs, John Hiatt, and Nanci Griffith.

After signing with a national agency, the band has started touring in earnest. Alison’s CDs have sold almost 10,000 units; the newest release, “Chinese Whispers” has just been picked up for national distribution and was named one of the year’s 10 best by the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Kevin Bowe will be joining Alison to perform her songs with her on this special evening!

Kevin Bowe is a guitarist/writer/producer whose songs have led to three platinum records and two Grammy-winning albums working with such artists as Jonny Lang, Paul Westerberg, Etta James, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Leo Kottke, Robben Ford, Lynyrd Skynyrd,Dan Wilson, Richie Sambora, Chuck Prophet, Tommy Castro, John Mayall, Shannon Curfman, Three Dog Night, Delbert McClinton, and Freedy Johnston.

Kevin was first discovered by producer David Z in the early ’90′s and wound up signing with publishing legends Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. A top 5 single (“Breakin’ Me” with Jonny Lang), songs placed in over 50 films and TV shows including The Sopranos, The Tonight Show, Letterman, production/mixing work for everyone from ESPN to the Meat Puppets, and national tours with artists like Paul Westerberg.

If you haven’t seen Alison and Kevin perform, you need to. If you have seen them, you need to see them again!

Tickets are $40 in advance, $45 at the door. (Must be 21 or older.)

Order your tickets today! Must be 21 and have a valid ID.

PRODUCT: Alison Scott Benefit Concert — $40.00
[Add to Cart] [View Cart]

An email confirmation will be sent to you.  Please keep this for your records.  You can check in under the last name of the purchaser at the door.

Tickets include food and drinks from 7:00 – 10:00pm Honey/Gingerhop will provide will provide some of their delicious entrees and appetizers.

Tap beers, wine and rail liquor drinks provided (Shelf liquor drinks available at additional cost.) Gratuity is not included, therefore please make sure to tip your bartenders.

Please drink responsibly.

On February 12 Tammy Thies called in to speak with KatieK9. You can catch the show here: http://www.mytalk1071.com/shows/katiek9

The interview is at the start of hour two.

The Wildcat Sanctuary

Christine Dietsche, Program Coordinator of The Wildcat Sanctuary (TWS) in Sandstone, Minnesota, relates, “I remember sighting a pair of blue herons flying overhead, and then noticing that Titan the Tiger had spotted them as well, and was calmly watching their flight. This simple moment underlines how interconnected we are with nature and other living things.”

TWS is not a zoo, nor is it open to the public. It is a nonprofit, no-kill refuge where rescued wildcats—native cats that cannot be returned to the wild—live out their lives in peace. TWS does not buy, breed, trade, or sell animals.

“Cats” includes big—lions, tigers, and leopards; medium—bobcats, servals, and Siberian and Canadian lynx; and small—Jungle cats, Geoffreys cats, and hybrid Bengals/Savannahs/Chaussies.

TWS’s mission—“keep the wild in your heart, and not your home”—applies not only to big cats, but also to these wild/domestic crosses. Briefly, hybrids—Bengal, for example is an Asian Leopard Cat /domestic cross—are touted as having the wild look but the personality of a domestic. Unfortunately genetics isn’t this neat. These cats, which have inbred, debilitating physical problems, cannot be litter-box-trained reliably. The TWS website offers heart-breaking testimonials from ex-owners.

TWS Director Tammy Thies points out, “We’re a 100-animal facility, always at capacity. We turn away about 300 cats per year, given budget/facility limitations. That’s why we spend a lot of time on education and advocacy to end the private breeding and exhibiting of these animals. About 60 percent were privately owned by individuals who got in over their head; 30 percent come from seizures due to cruelty and neglect; 10 percent are native, nonreleasable wildlife.”

Asking people to support an organization not open to the public is difficult, but TWS has a strong-rooted belief that animals should not be used for commercial, entertainment, or amusement purposes.

At TWS, all cats have spacious enclosures with room to run and play, as well as perches, pools, and toys for stimulation. They are fed fresh meat on a daily basis. They are vaccinated annually, and have onsite veterinary care.

Building an enclosure runs $7,000 to $25,000; temperature-controlled dens cost $520; and the winter monthly electricity bill exceeds $1,000.
Rachelle Wood, TWS Volunteer and Board Member—who lives with, in her words, “five kitties and one beautiful partner”—remarks, “We come to the sanctuary for one purpose: to help the cats have a better life. It doesn’t matter if you’re gay or straight. Animals don’t care who you are or how you live your life. They see your soul.”

For more information, visit www.wildcatsanctuary.org.

Paws on Grand

Jaimee Hendrickson, Program Director of the Grand Avenue Business Association, shares, “I bring my yellow lab, Max. He loves Grand Avenue, especially during Paws on Grand, when he gets to fill up on treats, and check out all the other animals. He’s a fan of the doggie pool at Grand and Victoria, where he can splash around and cool off!”

According to Hendrickson, Paws on Grand, which takes place August 1, Noon-4PM, began five years ago in partnership with the Humane Society for Companion Animals (now the Animal Humane Society) as a day to shop, dine, and enjoy Grand Avenue with one’s pets, while creating awareness about pet adoption, rescue, education/outreach, and services. In all, 12 local rescue groups are involved.

The event’s pet food collection partners with The Pet Project, a local nonprofit that assists owners struggling keep their pets by providing pet food, basic supplies, connections to veterinary care, and information on pet-friendly housing. Many businesses are supporting the effort by collecting unopened bags (aiming for 5,000 pounds) of pet food slated for area food shelves. Participants can “shop for a cause” at several businesses, with funds going to The Pet Project for veterinary bills, or they can drop off unopened food July 19-August 1.

Pet adoptions will be available at Frattallone’s Ace Hardware, 1676 Grand Avenue, St. Paul. Rescue groups will offer information about adoption and fostering.

Hendrickson adds, “We also have a new Pet Picks Contest presented by Minneapolis Picks, where owners can enter a photo of their pet to become the Paws on Grand 2011 Poster Pet.”
For more information, visit www.grandave.com.

Now Boarding Pets

So, you’ve got to be in Atlanta tomorrow–what about Beauregard, your Irish Wolfhound?

Fortunately, Beauregard’s immunization papers are in order, and a call to Now Boarding Pets books him into one of 96 private dog suites. While you toil in the boardroom, he will enjoy pool time, playtime, and Frosty Paws ice cream treats.

Now Boarding also offers 34 cat condos, a cat atrium, and a critter room.

General Manager Lisa Hinickle notes, “The critter room is the area of our facility where we can board 15 small animals: birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, etc. It is temperature-controlled, so that we can provide additional warmth and plenty of natural sunlight.”

Hinickle adds, “We’ll accept any companion pet, as long as our staff have the expertise to care for it—even Phaedron, a Monitor lizard. These animals take some extra and different types of care, but we have a knowledgeable staff, and are able to accept these pets, too.”

Problem: your pup’s hyperactive.
Solution: doggy day care.

Hinickle explains, “We offer this activity seven days a week, or as an added activity to a boarding stay. Dogs have access to a 4,000-square-feet outside area covered in an artificial K9 grass, with pools and water spritzers.”
Sweltering in Atlanta, you’ll envy Beauregard.

Profits from Now Boarding support any and all programs of the Animal Humane Society.
Now Boarding, 6002 28th Avenue South, St. Paul, is adjacent to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
For more information, visit www.nowboardingpets.com.
Pins for Pets

Chuck & Don’s Pet Food Outlet is sponsoring its third annual Pins for Pets on August 15. Lavender spoke with Dana Andresen, Director of Operations, about the event, which funds spaying and neutering of pets.

Your motto is “Bowl for the Fix.” How did Chuck & Don’s become involved?
Through our animal welfare ties, we had sponsored a bowling event facilitated by the Humane Society for Companion Animals [HSCA]. When that was discontinued, we decided to try our hand at an annual event that would help to fund spay and neuter initiatives in Minnesota. Our goal this year is to fill Flaherty’s Arden Bowl with 216 bowlers, and to surpass $50,000 in donations. With the current funds raised this year, Minnesota Spay Neuter Assistance Program [MN SNAP] will be able to sterilize approximately 511 owned pets.

Exactly how do you help folks get their pets neutered?
Due to the laws in Minnesota, it is difficult to find low-cost spay and neuter services. Through these types of fundraisers, people having difficulty affording these surgeries have access to low-cost or completely subsidized spay and neuter surgery.

Are people becoming aware and concerned about the issue of pet sterilization?
You hit on a very important component to reducing pet overpopulation: education. We don’t advocate that every pet owner sterilize their pet. What we advocate is responsible pet ownership. This fundraiser is one of the avenues to fund spay and neuter services to the underserved pet-owner communities in Minnesota.

Bowling sounds convivial!
The atmosphere is excitement! It is an opportunity to meet “The Chuck Anderson” of Chuck & Don’s, to see Katie K-9 broadcast live, and to meet Ian Punnett of MyTalk 107.1FM. The participants have a fabulous time—winning door prizes, having a late lunch, visiting with other pet lovers, and just having fun!
For more information, visit www.pinsforpets.org.

College of Veterinary Medicine

Clinical veterinary work first began at the University of Minnesota in 1888 with the appointment of the institution’s first veterinarian, Michael Treacy. For the next 60 years, veterinary medicine was taught and practiced as part of the School of Agriculture curriculum, until, in 1947, the School of Veterinary Medicine was established, later reorganized into the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM).

Especially important today are CVM’s research programs, involving many of its nationally and internationally recognized faculty. Areas of particular research strength include infectious disease, genomics, comparative medicine, public health, and epidemiology—plus dairy, swine, and avian medicine—also carried out in the St. Paul Raptor Center and Leatherdale Equine Center.

CVM Chief Development Officer Bill Venne says that in addition to maintaining working relations with both the Minnesota Zoo and Como Zoo, “We have treated all types of animals, including production animals—pigs, cows, chickens; domestic animals—cats and dogs; and zoo animals, including giraffes and raptors, through our Raptor Center.”

Venne, who adds that animal research is aimed toward improving the health and well-being of both animals and humans, notes, “Research with dogs is an important area of CVM’s cancer studies.”

A case in point was Batman, a Belgian shepherd mix diagnosed with a fatal brain tumor, that was brought to the attention of John Ohlfest, PhD, and Elizabeth Pluhar, CVM surgeon, both members of the University’s Masonic Cancer Center. They merged her surgeon’s skills and his knowledge of molecular biology and immunology necessary to administer gene and immune therapy. Outcome? Batman is back home—tumor-free since last August—and the doctors gained valuable insights on transferring their findings to human patients.
Venne stresses that one of the most rewarding things at CVM “is the tie we have with our animal friends—whether it is helping our own pets to become healthier, or the wildlife such as eagles and owls that are treated at the Raptor Center. We share this planet with them, and we need to keep them healthy. Also, it is very rewarding to see how much joy animals give people.”

Research continually is progressing, according to CVM Communication Director Brian Graves Sr.: “We recently were awarded part of a $185 million USAID grant as part of a multidisciplinary team that will include Tufts University [Medford/Somerville, Massachusetts]. The project, called RESPOND, is one of five that will work together to preempt or combat the first stages of emerging zoonotic pandemics—diseases that can spread between animals and humans.”

For more information, visit www.cvm.umn.edu.
http://www.lavendermagazine.com/our-lives/five-resources-help-metro-pet-owners/

By Lavender Magazine Fri., Jul. 16, 2011
Categories: Our Lives, Pets
Tags: Issue 395

Thanks to generous supporters Peggy Fisher, Sue & Dan Schmitt,  Jennifer & John Simons, and Karen Berg you can make double the difference for wild cats in need!

Last year you helped raise over $132,000 for the cats!  Please help us do it again to help the cats at The Wildcat Sanctuary!

DONATE NOW!

$25  [Add to Cart]
$50  [Add to Cart]
$100  [Add to Cart]
$250  [Add to Cart]
$500  [Add to Cart]
$1,000 [Add to Cart]

Donate any amount using PayPal or GiveMN

Please contact us at cat@wildcatsanctuary.org if you would like to contribute over $1,000.

What does your match do?

• With just $50, TWS can provide food for a month to Andre, a cougar who arrived with a metabolic bone disease. Now he runs and plays with 4 other cougar friends in a 20,000 square-foot habitat.
• $75 will feed one of our larger cats for a month, like Asha, the lioness who arrived at TWS with 6 other cats after the closure of an animal park.
• Aztec t, an F1 Bengal hybrid, has hyper tension and needs daily medication. Today, with the right medicine, she’s doing amazingly well. $100 helps us provide her and others with veterinary attention they desperately need.
• $250 enables TWS to respond immediately to animal emergency calls – providing life-saving assistance – such as in the case of the 10 cats rescued from Texas in 2010.
• Much of the funds will be used to hire another animal keeper so the cats at The Sanctuary continue to receive the best of  care.
• Remaining funds will be used towards completion of Wild Woodlands.

A Day in the Life at The Wildcat Sanctuary
Spend a day at the Sanctuary and see your matching gift working for the animals.

We’ve seen how the power of love can turn life around.  Whether it’s a big cat or a little cat, love is one of the most important things that makes them happy, healthy, and confident again.  So, for us, Valentine’s Day is just another opportunity to show how much we care.  We spend weeks preparing special treats for each of our cats filled with scents and goodies we know they’ll enjoy.

This year, Lilly and Titan exchanged extra special Valentines.

Of course, Titan being Titan, he proceeded to eat them up as fast as he could. And, as usual, Lilly had just as much fun watching her lover boy enjoying himself.  When he was through, she sauntered over, in her ladylike way, to check out what all the fuss was about.

Morocco, the serval, opened his Valentine’s Day card way too early this year. He just couldn’t wait for the big day to arrive.  He had already checked out his special card before any of the other cats had a chance to see it.

Ekaterina and Sierra haven’t celebrated Valentine’s Day very much in their lives. Seeing them slowly creep over to check out what all this excitement is about really warms out hearts.  They’ve both come so far since they arrived here at the Sanctuary.  They enjoy everything given to them, especially the new habitat built especially for them.

Shazam is a champion stalker so he loves stalking the love showered on him for Valentine’s Day. He had a ball batting and rubbing the special hearts dangling from the air, scented just the way he likes them.  Watching him play with such gusto….well, it doesn’t get much better than this!

Diablo Guapo, who thinks he’s the most handsome cat around (who can argue), was expecting a lot of love for Valentine’s Day. So, that’s what we gave him. A box filled to the brim with “candy heart” treats. He took care of opening his package pretty quickly, in true Guapo fashion.

Athena, like every girl, is just wowed by a bouquet of flowers. The more fragrant, the better to roll around in and play with for hours.

Even our little Bengal cat  Indie appreciates the gestures that show how much we love her.

Henry and Haley, the two rambunctious orphaned bobcats who have grown up here, are always more than willing to show the love.  Haley made an extra special card for Henry.  As soon as she delivered it, they both had fun “reading” and ripping.

Perhaps the funniest Valentine’s treat of all was watching Kita, the tigress, when she discovered the special teddy bear someone made just for her for Valentine’s Day this year.  The expression on her face was priceless!

We’ve learned that showing your love, this day and every day, is the greatest gift of all.

From all of us and all of our cats here at The Wildcat Sanctuary, we hope you have a Valentine’s Day filled with love, too.