Unregistered Shelters, Street Dogs, and the Healthy Dog Importation Act
NAIA Official Blog | Animal Welfare
by NAIA
8M ago
The Tijuana Sun reports that Tijuana’s numerous unregistered animal shelters – many of which are shipping dogs north to U.S. consumers – are creating a nightmare for local animal control, animal welfare activists, and especially dogs. Cases of overcrowding, cruelty, filth, and illness abound, but unfortunately, very few of the city’s shelters are registered or even identified by officials. This makes it incredibly difficult to monitor and improve shelters so they meet health and welfare standards. Exacerbating this already daunting task is the fact that there is a lot of money to be ..read more
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Animals That Have Learned to Cope With, or Even Feed Off of Wildfires
NAIA Official Blog | Animal Welfare
by NAIA
8M ago
Data on wildfire frequency, size, and damage has been documented in the United States since 1983. This is some valuable, if occasionally depressing, information. While the frequency of wildfires hasn’t changed much – they are a predictable event, especially during times when the weather remains hot and dry – the scope of wildfires and the damage they cause has increased dramatically, especially in recent years (the top 10 largest burns have all been since 2004). For those of us who have lost homes, been forced to evacuate, or who live in areas that often suffocate under a blanket of ..read more
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That Bites! Locally Acquired Cases of Malaria in Texas and Florida.
NAIA Official Blog | Animal Welfare
by NAIA
8M ago
Following the success of numerous programs aimed at reducing the spread of malaria in the United States, the National Malaria Eradication Program was launched in 1947. And this program really lived up to its name. It did so well, in fact, that malaria was essentially eliminated in the United States by 1951. This is a remarkable achievement: just consider that only 18 years prior to its elimination, this debilitating, sometimes fatal infection affected 30 percent of the residents in the Tennessee Valley. But the 1950s are long gone, and Texas and Florida have recently seen the first locally acq ..read more
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A “Pest” by Any Other Name…
NAIA Official Blog | Animal Welfare
by NAIA
8M ago
Animals like rodents, ants, or mosquitoes are viewed as pests – at least if they’re in the wrong place at the wrong time. They get into our food, climb all over our counters, suck our blood, provide the occasional scare, and sometimes even spread nasty diseases. But this “pest” label evolves and changes over time, and is, frankly, more of a reflection of ourselves than the animals. For example, it took a mere century for pigeons to go from adored avian friends – couriers, pets, providers of fertilizer and meat – to the current “rats with wings” status they hold with many people. And if you thi ..read more
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Discovery of 158 Dead Dogs Highlights Need to Inspect, License Rescues
NAIA Official Blog | Animal Welfare
by NAIA
8M ago
A welfare check on Barbara Wible, a rescue co-founder, discovered the woman confused and laying on the floor of her home. Along with her were 36 dogs – 12 of them dead, and two in such bad shape they required euthanization. As if this weren’t a horrific enough discovery, the welfare check led to an animal cruelty investigation at another property owned by the woman, where an additional 146 dead dogs were found. The 22 surviving dogs are being rehabilitated and will hopefully recover, but there is no silver lining to this story. To have a rescue that was once glowingly featured as a “hometown h ..read more
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Survey: Social Support Network Strongest Factor in Dog Longevity
NAIA Official Blog | Animal Welfare
by NAIA
8M ago
In a massive survey of over 21,000 dogs by the Dog Aging Project, owners revealed numerous factors in their living environments. To the surprise of no one, several of these factors correlated with their dogs’ health and longevity. Many responses reinforced common sense assumptions and mirror the human experience. For example, dogs living with families suffering from financial and/or housing adversity generally reported poorer health. This finding is not only predictable, but a harsh reality that many people can relate to, as well. Some of the other findings might raise an eyebrow at first blus ..read more
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USDA to Revise Guidelines for Labels Like “Free-Range” and “Grass-Fed”
NAIA Official Blog | Animal Welfare
by NAIA
8M ago
On Wednesday, the USDA announced it was “implementing a multi-step effort” to help substantiate labeling claims on meat and poultry products regarding how the animals were raised. The idea behind this is that labels used in marketing, such as “grass-fed” or “free-range,” which are currently voluntary, need to be verified by the Food Safety and Inspection Service so that consumers can have more trust in what they are buying – as well as in the USDA approval on the packaging. Cattle labeled as “raised without antibiotics” will be assessed to check for antibiotic residue, and whether verification ..read more
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Two Facts to Remember in the Pet Store Celeb and PeTA Puppy Row
NAIA Official Blog | Animal Welfare
by NAIA
8M ago
We’re sure you’ve seen this movie before. A celebrity wears the wrong clothes, serves the wrong meal, goes hunting, or *gasp* buys a pet, rather than adopting, and before you can blink, PeTA has inserted themselves into the conversation, loudly denigrating the celeb’s choices with the organization’s distinctive brand of shaming and snark. It’s a fairly well-worn routine now, and a great way for PeTA, who are proud, self-described “press sluts,” to stay in the headlines. The most recent row involves comedian Pete Davidson, who was so inflamed at being publicly shamed and (metaphorical ..read more
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Shelter Volunteer Awarded $6.8 Million After Mauling
NAIA Official Blog | Animal Welfare
by NAIA
8M ago
A Los Angeles Animal Services volunteer was awarded $6.8 million on Tuesday after suffering through a gruesome dog attack. She spent more than a month in intensive care, endured multiple surgeries and skin grafts, and was expected to lose her hand. Fortunately, her hand was saved, though she is not expected to regain full use of it. The city was found guilty of gross negligence, and it’s easy to see why. The unfortunate volunteer was left alone with a 100-pound dog that had known aggression issues. It had attacked its previous owner and was described as a “threat.” Meanwhile, staff chose to us ..read more
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Feeling “Disgusted” Helps Some Animals Avoid Disease
NAIA Official Blog | Animal Welfare
by NAIA
8M ago
We are taught to be polite and open-minded about things that might seem extremely different or even “disgusting,” but in the animal world, disgust can provide significant advantages. Researchers are discovering that many social animals have a “disgust” reaction to adverse situations regarding food, negative environmental stimuli, and behaviors that helps them avoid disease. When you think about it, it makes sense: typically associated with aversion towards potentially harmful or contaminated substances, disgust serves as a protective mechanism to avoid ingestion of toxic or spoiled food. Eww ..read more
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