A JACK Russell terrier who was mauled to death while saving five New Zealand children from an attack by two pit bulls is being honoured with a posthumous bravery medal.

The medal from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) comes after US Vietnam veteran Jerrell Hudman said he was sending his Purple Heart medal to George’s owner after hearing of the nine-year-old dog’s bravery.

George, who had a heart problem, won fame after defending five children from the pit bulls in the small North Island town of Manaia a week and a half ago.

The two pit bulls rushed at the five children on the street, prompting George to charge the much larger dogs as the children escaped.

The Jack Russell was badly mauled by the two pit bulls and later had to be put down because of his extensive injuries. The two pit bulls were also put down.

The SPCA medal is usually awarded to people for their bravery in defending animals.

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service.

Let us also remember on this day all the wonderful dogs who have died in the line of duty and have served this country.

SINGAPORE (Reuters Life!)
www.in.today.reuters.com

Acupuncture for a limping elephant? Herbal tea for a constipated orangutan? The Singapore Zoo has tried it all, and it works.

Around 200 animals, including giraffes, elephants, horses, pythons and sea lions, have successfully been treated with acupuncture and traditional herb-based Chinese medicine in the past decade, although Western medicine remains the first line of treatment in the zoo.

“The Western medicine did not always work, so we had to find other solutions,” Oh Soon Hock, a senior veterinarian at the zoo told Reuters on Friday.

Earlier this week the zoo received a S$30,000 ($19,700) grant for further research into traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for animals from a Singapore-based firm that produces TCM.

Oh — who was trained in Western veterinarian medicine but also studied Chinese medicine — said this sort of healing is typically used after Western medicine fails to produce results.

He said an orangutan who had received modern medication for constipation for more than a year recovered after drinking an ancient Chinese brew of herbs, ground and dissolved in its honey drink, for just one week.

The zoo has also used acupuncture to reduce the swelling around the fractured leg of a sedated cheetah.

Treating an elephant with acupuncture requires some industrial-size needles to pierce its 2.5 centimetre (one inch) thick hide and sometimes through 15 centimetres of muscles.

The custom-made stainless steel needles are 15 to 20 cm long and 0.6 mm (0.024 inch) thick, Oh said.

“We use stainless steel needles because they bend but won’t break,” Oh said, adding that the needles need to pierce through the hide and muscles to get close to the bones for the treatment to be most effective.

Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese treatment, stimulates blood circulation by sticking needles at specific points of the body through which the body’s energy flows.

According to Chinese medicine, the blood carries “qi”, or body energy, that flows along pathways through the body. Acupuncture stimulates the blood by stimulating the “qi”.

Unfortunately the list of pet food recalls continues to grow. To keep updated on the latest foods that have been recalled visit the FDA’s website. www.acessdata.FDA.gov/scripts/petfoodrecall

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — May 17, 2007 — Chenango Valley Pet Foods previously recalled dry pet foods manufactured with a shipment of rice protein concentrate supplied by Wilbur-Ellis that possibly contained melamine contamination. Chenango Valley Pet Foods is now expanding the recall action to include those pet foods that do not contain rice protein concentrate but were manufactured during periods when rice protein concentrate formulas were processed. The recall of these products is precautionary due to the possibility of cross-contamination.

The following dry pet foods are involved in this recall action:

• DOCTORS FOSTER & SMITH LAMB & BROWN RICE FORMULA ADULT DOG FOOD, NET WT. 6 LBS. (UPC 25141 28244), 15 LBS. (25141 30074), and 30 LBS. (UPC 25141 06043); Date Codes: Best By Feb 09 09 and Best By Feb 26 09;
• SHOP RITE REDI-MIXT DOG FOOD FOR DOGS, NET WT. 25 LB. (UPC 41190 00555), Date Code: Code C7107;
• LICK YOUR CHOPS KITTEN & CAT FOOD, NET WEIGHT 4 LBS. (UPC 32976 25915), and 18 LBS. (UPC 32976 25925); Date Code: Best Used By April 29 08;
• SHEP chunk style dog food, NET WT. 20 LBS. (UPC 41498 14142); Date Code: Best By March 14 08;
• 8 in 1 Ferret ULTRA-BLEND ADVANCED NUTRITION DIET, NET WT. 20 LBS, UPC 26851 00413, Code: C7072;
• Bulk Lamb & Brown Rice Formula Dog Food, Date Code: Feb 09, 08, sold to one consignee SmartPak.
• Health Diet Cat Food Chicken & Rice Dinner NET WT. 1.81 kg/4 LB (UPC 78198 01594), 4 kg/8.8 LB (UPC 78198 01599), and 8 kg/17.6 LB (UPC 78198 01585); Code C7072;
• EVOLVE KITTEN FORMULA, NET WT. 3 LBS. (UPC 73657 00250) and 7 LBS. (UPC 73657 00251); Date Code: Best Used By Sept 13 08. Evolve has recovered 99.5% of the product from its distributors and is working with dealers to recover the remaining inventory.

No illnesses or injuries related to these products have been reported to date.

Pet owners who have purchased the pet foods listed above should immediately discontinue using the products and return them to the place of purchase for full refund. Pet owners should consult with a veterinarian if they have any health concerns with their pet. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-610-821-0608.

Jeanie Marie Kraft, Lic.Ac. is keeping tails wagging on the North Shore of MA with K9 acupuncture house-calls. Jeanie is also treating dogs with acupuncture at the DoggieDay Play Center in Boston.Visit FourPawsAcupuncture.com for more information.

PAULA RHODEN
The Daily Courier
May. 16, 2007 12:08 PM
PRESCOTT, Ariz. (AP) - Amber climbed up on the treatment table and barely reacted as the doctor inserted acupuncture needles into her body.

Amber is a 7-year-old Leonberger and one of a growing number of dogs and cats treated with a combination of conventional and alternative veterinary medicine.

Shawn Cardinal doesn’t mind taking Amber to a holistic veterinarian since holistic medicine works for her.

Veterinarian Dr. Todd Metcalf said using holistic medicine to treat dogs and cats comes from his “own use of natural health care. I extended it into my work. I am constantly learning new remedies not available in conventional veterinarian medicine. It astounds me.”

Animal psychologist Dr. Mari Mastrocola uses her background in family counseling and her love of dogs to help people find a solution to their dog’s behavior problems.

Mastrocola said that frequently people have to change their habits and behaviors before they see any improvement in their dogs’ behavior. She said the biggest mistakes people make are lack of consistency, lack of structure and lack of respect for the animal.

At Harmony Veterinary Care, Metcalf uses acupuncture, herbs and osteopathic manipulation to treat a variety of veterinary illnesses. He said the holistic approach works well for lameness, back problems, skin disorders and digestive cancers. To read more of this article visit www.azcentral.com

Jeanie Marie Kraft, Lic.Ac. is keeping tails wagging on the North Shore of MA with K9 acupuncture house-calls. Jeanie is also treating dogs with acupuncture at the DoggieDay Play Center in Boston.Visit FourPawsAcupuncture.com for more information.

This is from the North Shore Animal League Newsletter:

North Shore Animal League America understands the devastation that surrounds a pet’s death. We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to those who have lost their beloved companions to this terrible epidemic and to those whose pets are suffering. You are forever in our hearts.

Please carefully review the list of recalled pet products and keep your pets safe from harm today and everyday.

Visit adopt.animalleague.org/recall

Jeanie Marie Kraft, Lic.Ac. is keeping tails wagging on the North Shore of MA with K9 acupuncture house-calls. Jeanie is also treating dogs with acupuncture at the DoggieDay Play Center in Boston.Visit FourPawsAcupuncture.com for more information.

IMPORTANT!!!! There has been some new additions to the pet food recall and, unless you
are preparing your pet’s meals at home or feeding them Solid Gold, it would be wise to check the list every few days.

Companies included in the recent updates include Blue Buffalo and Kirkland food, as well
as some others

For an up to date list on the pet foods that have been recalled please visit the official FDA site at www.fda.gov

Jeanie Marie Kraft, Lic.Ac. is keeping tails wagging on the North Shore of MA with K9 acupuncture house-calls. Jeanie is also treating dogs with acupuncture at the DoggieDay Play Center in Boston.Visit FourPawsAcupuncture.com for more information.