Right now in Mexico, thousands and thousands of dogs and cats roam the streets seeking food and shelter, most dealing with serious disease, starvation, heat exhaustion and eventually, death. In the past in San Felipe, if strays were caught they were electrocuted. Now, because of ZAPP, if caught strays are euthanized, it must be by sedation.

To further address the issue, ZAPP has officially opened a new facility in Mexico that has an open door policy. Officials that used to take strays straight to their death, now drop the animals at the ZAPP door where they receive treatment and more.

SAN FELIPE, BAJA, MEXICO – JULY 15, 2010 – ZAPP (Zero Additional Pup-ulation Project), an organization dedicated to saving the lives of homeless animals in Mexico, announces the official opening of the ZAPP Animal Care Center and Sanctuary. The new facility is the first of its kind in Mexico that has an open door policy for any and all dogs, cats, puppies and kittens, or any other animals that need care and safety because of injury or abandonment.

Very few people understand the severity and challenges faced for animals right across the Mexico border. Thousands and thousands of dogs and cats roam the deserts and streets seeking food and shelter, most dealing with serious disease, starvation, heat exhaustion and eventually, death. Mexican officials performs “roundups” at random times in an attempt to address the issue – throwing hundreds and thousands of stray dogs and cats into trucks and taking them to a place where they are killed. Not long ago in San Felipe, these strays were electrocuted, but because of ZAPP, San Felipe dogs are now euthanized by sedation. Hopeless, there was no way to overcome this atrocity, until now.

“The new ZAPP Animal Care Center serves as the central no-kill drop-off location for roundups by San Felipe and Mexicali officials,” said Steven Forman, founder and head dogman at ZAPP Animal Care Center and Sanctuary. “Instead of taking these dogs and cats to their death, they now take them to the ZAPP Animal Care Center where they are treated for any conditions, provided food, water and shelter, socialized and then hopefully adopted into loving families in the US; but because of the economy and the home foreclosure situation, sister shelters and rescues that once took our dogs are now full and unable to accommodate our needs. So, at least for now, these dogs and cats remain safe and secure in our no-kill sanctuary.”

The ZAPP Animal Care Center and Sanctuary:

• Houses over 360 dogs and cats right now that were rescued off the streets of San Felipe;
• Has 48 kennels and runs that keep the ZAPP dogs and cats shaded from the hot sun;
• Contains 42 swimming pools for the animals to cool off; and
• Has a clinic and surgery room where dogs and cats get spayed and/or neutered, and where vets can handle emergencies, treatments and procedures.

ZAPP is a Mexican Civil Association with US non-profit status and donations keep the facility up and running. To effectively run the ZAPP Animal Care Center and Sanctuary, donations are needed for food, water, vet bills and facility maintenance. To donate, please visit www.sfzapp.com. Your donation will help save the lives of hundreds of animals that were rescued off the streets of Mexico and now need loving homes.

ABOUT ZAPP Animal Care Center:
The Center is a rehabilitation and adoption facility for puppies, kittens, and special needs animals. ZAPP’s mission is to remove all at-risk animals from jeopardy, and provide a safe, loving environment that improves their quality of life. In addition to being a shelter and rescue, ZAPP also runs a shoe store that raises funds on eBAY, and does lots of events, shows, terrific raffles, and has a monthly subscription program called “Financial Friends of ZAPP.”

by Tina Shipley

As humans we long to find out where we have evolved from and why we behave in a certain way. Tracing our ancestors can be a fascinating and inspiring activity. However is it essential to do the same for our pets? Some would say this is a ridiculous idea but for others it may actually be a worthwhile procedure.

A DNA testing kit has now been made available for all dog owners and it is a simple test that can be carried out at home. The testing kit costs £55 and it is very simple to use. A swab of canine saliva needs to be collected and placed in a secure envelope provided. This is then sent straight to the labs for testing and your results are returned within one week.

If you are the owner of a boxer dog, then it is more than likely that you suffer from re-occurring issues. Boxer dogs are prone to suffering from skin irritations, allergies and generally have weak immune systems. It has always been the disadvantage of a boxer owner as it can take endless amounts of testing to work out what is actually affecting the dog and what treatment essentially prevents any underlying issues.

Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy is an adult dog heart muscle disease that is inherited. The disease can lead to sudden death or ongoing heart problems in many dogs. Some dogs will develop a very mild form of the disease and will live quite comfortably, but others may need treatment and it is best to catch the disease during the early stages. Once carriers of a particular disease gene have been detected the disease can almost be eliminated through appropriate breeding. However the only way you would discover the gene is through DNA testing.

By simply carrying out a test you could manage to capture any early stages of this disease and actually save your boxer dog from a severe illness which could drastically lead to fatality. This demonstrates that the dog DNA tests could actually be worthwhile. However if you are simply wanting to track your dogs family tree this may work out to be a very costly activity.

Tina Shipley- Pet health and pet insurance advisor in the UK.

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The World’s Richest Pets … and How to Ensure Your Privileged Pooch is Always Properly Pampered

A cat with a $200,000 trust fund … and how to make sure your pet is well-provided for by avoiding any of THE 101 BIGGEST ESTATE PLANNING MISTAKES in estate attorney Herbert E. Nass’s all-new volume found at www.101estatemistakes.com.
by Herbert E. Nass, Esquire

This is a story about a cat with a $200,000 trust fund named Ming.

You see, Ming’s owner had passed away, and it was Attorney Herbert E. Nass’s job to make sure all of Ming’s pet food, medical care, and catnip were provided for during Ming’s lifetime.

When Ming finally went to kitty heaven at age 10, the trust dictated that the remaining funds would go to Ming’s caretaker, a doorman in Ming’s building.

However, because Attorney Nass needed to make sure Ming’s death was not the result of foul play, he arranged for an autopsy which confirmed Ming had indeed passed away from natural causes.

With the coroner’s report in hand, Attorney Nass was able to deliver the substantial balance of funds to the doorman and his family.

In this case, everything went according to plan. However, unless you know all the possible pitfalls of estate law, things can go wrong.

Really wrong.

Take Hotel Queen, Leona Helmsley, who left $12,000,000 to her dog named Trouble. Unfortunately, for the pooch, the Queen of Mean made a myopic miscalculation that resulted in her Maltese getting a $10,000,000 haircut from the probate judge.

That’s why Attorney Nass has recently written a new book titled THE 101 BIGGEST ESTATE PLANNING MISTAKES where he assembles every bone-headed blunder … foolhardy foul-up … and chowder-headed mistake he has seen in his renowned, 25-year career as an estate attorney for the rich and famous.

Inside these remarkable pages you’ll learn how to make sure that your estate will guarantee:

• Your privileged parrot will always get the premium cashew-filled bird seed he deserves.
• Your well-heeled Weimaraner will remain in group therapy because her stock portfolio has plummeted.
• Your affluent iguana will never be wanting for mixed salad greens and a warm rock.

In short, if you can read this — there’s still time!
There’s still time to ensure your pets are properly cared for — before you keel over. Still time to turn to www.101estatemistakes.com for vital, pet-saving information.

by Connie Janzen

What if it’s too hard to let it go?
That was my first thought before I decided to become a Foster Parent for the Humane Society. I’m so glad I put my concerns aside and set out on one of the most rewarding experiences ever.

Fosters Needed
I wanted to be an active supporter in my community and considered various avenues. Then I found out that fosters were needed for my local Humane Society. After being approved through their foster parent application process I was put on the list and waited for the call.

My First Fosters
Fostering needs vary depending on the demand. My first charges were two beagle/dachshund cross 8-week old puppies who had just been brought into the shelter. They were given their first set of shots and needed a foster home for two weeks. After that time they would be ready to go back, put into the shelter and ready to be adopted.

The Humane Society supplied the crate, blanket, a few toys, their collars and tags, and all of the food they would need for the time I would have them. If needed, they would also supply any necessary medicine. Pee pads were my expense.

They were wonderful little loves. Cute as could be, but no one told me how much work they would be. Loving, playing, and training were the easy things.

As with any other babies they never slept through the night, tore up the pee pads, got into everything and anything, and if I didn’t take them out fast enough – well, you can guess what happened.

I already had a fenced-in backyard and dog door for my dog, Annabelle, and her cousin, Chloe, but I made sure it was completely puppy proofed. On the inside of my house, I thought that a gate separating the kitchen from the rest of the house would be enough. Boy was I wrong. My first pups chewed off the bottom of my cupboards, and the tiles off my floor!

The Second Time Wiser
When I fostered my second set up of pups I knew what to expect and was better prepared. I got smart and built a 4 foot by 6 foot box with 18 inch high walls. It was large enough for their crate, pee pad, a few toys and they had room to stretch out, play and were kept safe and out of trouble. I was able to get the materials from scraps at a local builder’s store and used laminate, sealing all the joints, so that I could easily clean it and keep it sanitized.

My first pups were healthy but socially undeveloped. They were scared of everything and were extremely shy. Their main need was love and attention. In the short time I had them, through lots of TLC, they became warm and friendly, were pretty much potty trained, and had mastered both stairs and coming and going through the doggy door.

My second set of pups were pretty much the same. Rescues from a puppy mill, but these pups were sick and took a lot more work. Thankfully we finally got the right medicine for them and they started to gain weight and were well on their way to being wonderful pets for some new family.

After two weeks of getting up every night, cleaning up mess after mess, I had had the time of my life snuggling and playing with these small treasures but I was ready for them to go back to the shelter and to their new homes. Everyone told me that, being the dog lover that I am, I wouldn’t be able to give them up when the time came. They were wrong.

I know that puppies don’t stay puppies. Also, I don’t know if it’s just my local Humane Society or all of them, but it’s not an option for me to adopt my fosters. I’m not sure exactly why, but if every foster adopted the dogs they bring into their homes there would be no fosters available for the new dogs that come in and need a safe place to live for a time.

These fosters, and the ones I’ve had since, have all been puppies but that’s not all that are needing homes. Older dogs, dogs that aren’t adjusting to the shelter, cats, kittens, sometimes momma cats with their litters, and so on are all frequently on the list. So what you accept into your home you can choose to fit you and your household.

The Greatest Reward
I encourage all you pet lovers to sign up today and become a foster too. The Humane Society is always in need of more loving homes.

Not only will you be rewarded by unconditional love in return, but you’ll also have the satisfaction of knowing that the ones you’ve loved will go on to be wonderful pets in someone else’s life.

Connie Janzen is a bonafide animal lover, a foster parent for the Humane Society, and the proud owner of Barkley Paws Pet Boutique – your “everything for your dog” place to shop online, from pet strollers to dog collars. Great prices, personalized service, and fast shipping! Check it out today. If you can’t find what you’re wanting let her know and she’ll do her best to find it for you.

With a nick-nack, paddywack,
Give a dog a bone;
This old man came rolling home.
~Old English nursery rhyme

Not to belabor the obvious, but dogs do love bones. They don’t much care what kind of creature the bone came from, nor are most dogs terribly picayunish about the relative freshness and state of hygiene. It’s a BONE. Whether it’s a fresh, raw, meaty one (RMB) or a properly aged specimen stealthily buried and then unearthed – either by the dog that originally stashed it or by a lucky (or observant) treasure robbing rover – it’s a precious commodity to most any canine; something worth fighting over. Stolen bones appear to carry the most value.

And yet we hear so much conflicting opinion presented as hard and fast fact, often vehemently, by well-meaning dog lovers.
“Dogs must have bones in their diet or their teeth will rot.” “Dogs must never have bones because the bones will cause obstructions in the bowels/splinter and puncture internal organs/cause internal bleeding.”

There are two keys to the dilemma: one, ONLY raw bones, never boiled, baked, roasted, broiled, smoked or otherwise cooked; and, two, use common sense, watch your dog gnawing bones and be familiar with whether your dog safely chews them or if he breaks off pieces and bolts them down. Part of common sense is also presenting bones of appropriate size and density to your dog. You wouldn’t want to give a Bullmastiff bones so small he would be prone to wolfing them down without chewing and conversely you wouldn’t give a Yorkie a bovine joint – “never eat anything bigger than your head” is a good rule of thumb for small dogs.

Common advice has been to warn dog owners of ever allowing their friends to partake of poultry skeletons, and that is partially true. Never, ever, ever should your pet have access to that leftover chicken, turkey, duck, goose, Cornish game hen, quail, squab – you get the idea – COOKED carcass. Poultry bones can be a valuable part of a dog’s diet, if common sense is followed rather than common advice. Raw, bone-in cuts of poultry are beneficial to most dogs, not only are the bones rich in nutrients just like any other type of bones, especially the marrow; the connective cartilage is a raw source of glucosamine, an amine found to be beneficial to the support of healthy joints.

Another guideline to use is to present your dog with bones from non-weight bearing parts of a carcass. Weigh bearing bones, especially in large animals, are much denser and can conceivably cause chipped teeth, particularly if given to smaller dogs or older dogs whose teeth are beginning to age. As you familiarize yourself with your dog’s bone chewing habits you will be able to fine tune your choices.

People often avoid pork RMBs, usually for reasons that have no application to the canine diet. Pork can be a valuable addition to a dog’s nutritional spectrum and most dogs do enjoy it immensely. Like anything else, common sense is the key. It is a good idea to freeze any raw meat before giving it to your pet. Freezing kills parasites and other nasty little surprises that might be lurking without changing the basic structure of the bone and making it dangerously brittle and prone to splintering like heat
does.

Oh, and back to the nursery rhyme . . . “Nick” is British slang for jail, and back in the day, the term “paddywack” was a derogatory reference to an angry, unruly person – specifically a “brawny Irishman.” The term “Paddy” (from Padraic/Patrick) was commonly applied by the British to the Irish and found its way into common usage, even following Irish immigrants across the ocean to America in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries where it stuck in commonly used slang like “paddywagon,” the vehicle used to cart criminals off to jail. Now, whether paddywagons were referred to as such because so many Irish immigrants became policemen or because so many paddywacks found themselves being hauled off to the nick in the back of one . . . I leave that to the reader.

In the meantime, next time you come rolling home from the grocery or butcher (or from a successful hunt), give that dog a bone!

Provided by Josh Mackin of Pet-Super-Store.com: Where you can find great deals on Dog Crates and Dog Beds!

When vet bills are too expensive…

If you are reading this, I already know that you love and want the best for your pet. Whether it be your running companion golden retriever or your lazy, yet fluffy, Persian cat, I know that you would do anything for the happiness, healthiness, and well-being of your pet. At the same time, I know that veterinary care can be very expensive. With stressful economic times and veterinary rates rising by almost 9 percent each year, finding the money for vet bills may become increasingly difficult or even impossible. Well, I am here to offer a solution that will combine your love for your pet with your love for technology without breaking your bank account.

What else would it be, but an iPhone app?

This new iPhone application, created by experts in pet first aid, offers tips and home remedies for pet owners. Entitled “Pet First Aid,” this app not only has written instructions, but several videos, diagrams, and pictures to guide pet owners through helping their animals.  This application not only teaches pet owners how to react to potentially dangerous situations, but also how to prevent emergencies and perform certain routine tasks.  

“Pet First Aid” contains several categories.  The first major section, called “Emergency Situations” includes subcategories of bleeding, choking, drowning, and shock, which encompasses things like allergic reactions.  In each of these subcategories, pet owners can find an introduction, which explains the emergency and gives some scientific information.  Pet owners can also research symptoms and how to perform first aid should certain symptoms become apparent or an emergency occur.   To assist users with these tasks, the app provides videos and illustrations that clearly depict the necessary remedies and motions to make helping their pets as easy as possible.  Lastly, pet owners are taught how to avoid emergency situations with a prevention section.  

In addition to preparing pet owners for emergency situations, “Pet First Aid” provides information about how to react to minor situations and mishaps and the correct ways to go about everyday or wellness activities with your pet. Minor occurrences include bites and stings (animal bites, bee stings, snake bites, spider bites, and tick bites), bloat and torsion, burns, fractures and sprains, head and spinal injuries, heat and cold injuries, wounds (cuts, abrasions, and impalements), poisoning (phone numbers, hazardous substances, signs of poisoning, and first aid), and  illnesses that affect the eyes, ears, and nose.  Each of these categories is broken down into subcategories to more clearly educate pet owners.  In addition to providing the above information, “Pet First Aid” also teaches pet owners how to protect themselves, create a first aid kit, give medicines, recognize illnesses, muzzle, restrain, and transport their animals. 

As if this iPhone application did not provide enough information as it is, “Pet First Aid” also allows users to create profiles for their pets.  All the necessary information, like veterinary phone numbers, names and measurements, vaccinations, health records, and more can be recorded and stored right to your iPhone.  You will never have to worry about forgetting files when on your way to the vet or groomer.  

Try it for yourself!

With the average cost of a non-emergency veterinary visit around $200, it is definitely worth having “Pet First Aid” available to you at all times.  Certain situations can not only be prevented, but treated as well, without ever setting foot in a vet’s office.  With this app, your pet, your wallet, and you will be happier and healthier than ever! 

The content for the application was developed by PetTech , experts in Pet First Aid and Pet Emergency Preparedness Training. The application was developed by Jive Media. Learn more about the app here: www.jive.me/petfirstaid/ or read the official Press Release.