I know I have been slacker lately, but a new development has me outraged enough to bring me out of blogger retirement.

By now you have probably heard about the dog fighting app developed by a company called Kage Games LLC. The Dog Wars “game” (an insulting term, given the subject matter) is available at Google’s android market, and we animal lovers have been working tirelessly all weekend to send Google the clear message that this app should be removed immediately. (Kudos to XDA Developers, who DID ban this app from their site.)

According to the Google android market policies page, “Android Market should not be used for unlawful purposes or for promotion of dangerous and illegal activities. If found engaging in such activity, we may deny access to Android Market, terminate your account, notify law enforcement authorities, or take other appropriate action.”

In the “game,” the controller has the opportunity to train a dog to fight other dogs, win virtual cash (like a business) and inject the dog with steroids. The logo features a Pit Bull with cropped ears, yellow eyes, and a blood-stained muzzle.

Yet the developer claims that they do not violate the terms. I really wonder how that can be, especially considering not only the keywords the developer inserted into the app (specifically “train to dogfight”):

…but also these two seemingly contradictory messages tweeted by the developer, @dogwarsapp:

Really??  Just like in real life?? So then, the developer has experience in the illegal activity of dog fighting? Shocking!!

So who is this developer? Has the developer ever been investigated for dog fighting? I can only hope that authorities in the area where Kage Games LLC is based figure out a way to, because obviously animals were harmed in the inspiration of this app.

To join in asking Google to remove this app from the android market:

1. Leave a Feature Request/Suggestion at the android market support forum.
2. Sign the petition at change.org. The petition gained 5,000 signatures on its first day.
3. Email press@google.com to express your concern.
4. Tweet your disgust directly the developer at @dogwarsapp and email at pitboss@kagegames.com
5. Report the app as inappropriate.

I’m a big fan of xylitol in my toothpaste and sugar-free gum. It’s actually good for your teeth. So my ears perked up years ago when I heard that just like chocolate, xylitol is toxic to dogs and cats, and I should never leave my gum or toothpaste lying around where my pets could get at them. Not a problem.

Then why on earth is Virbac Animal Health, a so-called “industry leader in the scientific research, development and manufacture of quality, proven pet pharmaceutical products” for OVER TWO DECADES, selling a product for dogs and cats that lists xylitol as the 3rd ingredient after water and glycerine!?  I am shocked.

The product is called CET AquaDent, and it’s a drinking water additive for dogs and cats. It’s supposed to help keep their breath fresh in conjunction with brushing.

The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center sees over 100 cases of xylitol toxicity annually. According to the center, dogs ingesting significant amounts of items sweetened with xylitol could develop a fairly sudden drop in blood sugar, resulting in depression, loss of coordination and seizures.”

With smaller concentrations of xylitol, the onset of clinical signs could be delayed as much as 12 hours after ingestion,” according to a 2006 press release from the center.

That was four years ago, Virbac. Shame on you.

In September, we’ll be giving away a pet oral health kit from Naturally Green Tropiclean, including a similar water additive and teeth cleaning gel, neither of which contains xylitol. Stay tuned!

It’s difficult to feel helpless in situations like the huge offshore oil spill, especially when you love animals and you know that they are now suffering.

Here’s something we all can do to help: Donate our pet’s loose fur, horse hair, and our own locks to help soak up the oil!  Hair soaks up oil (which is why we have to wash it), and can be made into mats and poured into nylon tubes to help soak up the oil.

To learn more about how to donate, talk to your local hair salon and groomer, and visit Excess Access.

As usual, the first announcement of a recall is usually not the last. The Nature’s Variety raw dog and cat food recall I announced earlier has been expanded to all bags of raw chicken and organic chicken with Best By dates of 2/5/11 or earlier. My dog has just finished an entire bag of the chicken diet–his first time eating the raw food–and has showed no adverse reactions.

Unopened bags and empty opened bags may be returned for a full refund or replacement. Members of the Nature’s Variety e-mail list also received coupons for $3 off any bag of raw diet, $3 off any kibble, and $1 off any two cans.

In positive news regarding this recall, Nature’s Variety is, as of late 2009, using a High Pressure Pasteurization on all raw frozen diets. This unique process kills pathogenic bacteria through high-pressure, water based technology. Recalling the foods that were made prior to this process went into effect will ensure that all Nature’s Variety products on the shelves will have been manufactured with this safe, new process.

Visit Nature Variety’s web site to read the entire press release, posted today.

In what strange world does a convicted animal abuser get hoisted up above his non-criminal peers and heralded as a hero? Ours…where tv executives at networks like BET latch onto train wrecks like Michael Vick to use for ratings, and where money can buy you a “production company” and PR team with which you can film yourself acting like a human being and deliver the glorious footage into unsuspecting homes via tv and the internet.

Michael Vick Nominated for Courage Award

Not a football fan and unable to name a single Philadelphia Eagles player besides Vick, I initiated research of the team members only to find out that the players themselves nominated Vick for the 2009 Ed Block Courage Award. Why? Because they understand the nuisance he’s had to deal with as the pesky press, animal lovers and rights organizations call him out on his crimes; because they are teammates and they want to rally around the moral runt of the pack. Poor Vick!

But I wonder: do they really relate more to Vick the famous but hounded football player, and not to the villain who would think nothing of torturing any one of his teammates’ beloved hounds?

Vick and 31 others from the 32 NFL teams will be “honored” at the annual award banquet on March 9, 2010 in Baltimore. There’s one award with such low standards, I’m glad I cannot be nominated. According to their web site, “The Ed Block Courage Award Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of neglected children and ending the cycle of abuse.” Luckily for the organization’s renown distinction, Vick spares innocent children and opts for innocent puppies to maim and abuse.

BET’s “The Michael Vick Project”

Great news for dog kickers and criminals! BET’s docu-series on Michael Vick premieres Feb. 2, 2010. The eight episodes will follow Michael as he rebuilds his life and blah blah blah. I won’t go into it here, but you can read more about it from a horribly written release on BET.com. It talks a lot about the “mistakes” and “choices” he made. I find it interesting that they “chose” those words. Is it really a CHOICE or a MISTAKE to become so involved in force breeding (raping), starving, drugging, and fighting dogs that you invest time and money in your operation? Did he say “oops” every time he disposed of the duds by killing them via electrocution, drowning, hanging and shooting them?

No. These awful actions were easy for him to do because he is cruel and void of compassion. And the fact that anyone wants me to believe that stripping him of his football career and throwing him in jail suddenly packed him with a conscience and some regret is insulting. People don’t turn from evil to good that fast. You either respect animals or you don’t. You either empathize with an innocent creature or you don’t get it at all.

Smoke & Mirrors

When Michael Vick was released from prison, not only did he get his big, important, overpaid NFL career back, but he also launched a campaign to clean up his image. I don’t know–and I doubt–if that was due to true remorse. What I do know is that he had money set aside to hire a PR team to help him look good (better?) in the public eye.

“Several months ago, Mr. Vick’s PR representatives approached the ASPCA to help educate America about the heinous act of dog fighting following his release from prison. We were the first animal welfare organization given the opportunity to work with Mr. Vick but immediately turned him down…” wrote Ed Sayres on the ASPCA web site in August of 2009.

So, they tried again with the Humane Society of the United States and scored a touchdown! Any support from me to the HSUS was severed that day, when they announced that they would be working with Vick on their anti-dog fighting campaigns.

Stand Up

Want to complain? Along with BET, the companies behind this slap-in-the-face show are DuBose Entertainment and Category 5 Entertainment (whose Director, Mitch Jacobson, has a dog of his own. I wonder if he left the dog at home while he filmed Vick.). The other company, MV7 Productions, is Michael Vick’s own production company.

As for the Courage award, there is an online petition you can sign, but it may be too late to renounce Vick as a winner.

We are pleased to announce that GoFetchGifts.com, our online gift shop for dogs, cats, and pet lovers, will be taking part at the Humane Society of Greater Akron’s annual Bark in the Park!

Leigh, owner of GoFetchGifts.com, attended Bark in the Park a few years ago when she was employed by the shelter as Assistant to the Directors. She moved out of the Akron area for a couple years, but now that Leigh is back in Summit County, she is looking forward to again being part of this wonderful, no time limit shelter.

Bark in the Park is a pledge walk of one mile for you and your pet. Singles or teams can collect tax-deductible pledges to benefit the pets at PAWSibilities. These animals are victims of abuse, neglect, foreclosure abandonment and untreated illness prior to being rescued by the caring humane officers who work for the shelter.

The event will feature adoptable pets from the shelter and other local animal rescues, fun vendors like GoFetchGifts.com, food and prizes! See you there!

There once was a dog named Striker. Actually, there still is a dog named Striker. He’s an Airedale, but not just any Airedale. Striker is a champion purebred and the 2006 #2 Airedale in the USA. He attended the 2006 televised AKC/Eukanuba National Championships and the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, and won invitations to the 2006 and 2007 Crufts Dog Show in England.

Recently, Striker had a litter of a dozen puppies with Kadie, and their breeders held a contest to find the litter’s theme. I’m proud to say they chose my entry, and the litter is now called Woodcrest’s Starry Night.

Said Rose Atwood of DoggedDogdom.com, “your litter theme idea was perfect and included everything we were looking for.”

I’m even happier for my dog, Mr. Blue, though, because due to the win he’ll be getting three pounds of all-natural dog treats from The Baker’s Dog! His face will even be on the bag because they create custom packaging for their customers! I can’t wait to show you all how much he enjoys them.

Here’s a cute video of one of Woodcrest’s Starry Night pups at two weeks old:

Isn’t it interesting how when two terrible crimes happen at once, one can completely overshadow the other?

Akron, Ohio resident Paulette Hixenbaugh doesn’t mind so much that burglers ransacked her home and stole her computer and truck. What matters most is that the lowlifes who did it purposefully hurt her 5-pound dog in the process.

Upon returning home this Monday to find her home had been burglarized, her first thought was of her dog, Suzi, whom she called out to. She found Suzi by the couch, blood dripping from her mouth. She had been beaten, kicked, and thrown against the wall. The wall above her was damaged, and paint from that wall was stuck in her fur.

Suzi is in the hospital at this time, and things don’t look good. Hixenbaugh is offering a $5,000 reward to anyone who can tell her who did this. She is asking that if anyone wants to help, please donate to the humane society or to the hospital that is treating Suzi, Sigler Animal Hospital in Akron.

Ironically, one can understand the thought process behind stealing. Lowlife is poor. Lowlife needs cash to support drug addiction. Lowlife steals to get cash. But who can understand the thought process behind hurting a tiny, defenseless creature? A Shih Tzu is hardly anything to be frightened of. My guess is that karma will get these particular lowlifes much harder for the beating than for the burglery.

Sigler Animal Hospital: 295 E Waterloo Rd, Akron, OH 44319 – (330) 724-9019
Tips: Akron Police – (330) 375-2490 or http://ci.akron.oh.us/ASP/tip.html

Update: Suzi was euthanized so that she could rest after she continued to suffer from her beating. The reward has been raised to $10,000 thanks to an unrelated Ohio resident.

I read a heartbreaking story in my local news today about a woman who lost her Shih Tzu and found him a week later at the pound – with an “Adopted” sign on his cage!

The shelter felt terrible. They called the adoptor to explain, and said she understood and agreed to return ownership of the dog back to its original owner.  But then minutes later, called back saying she’d changed her mind!  She’d already paid the adoption fee and signed the papers, so legally the dog was hers. Despite offers of refunds and free replacement by the shelter, and money from the original owner, she will not give the dog back. She claims that since the dog was lost in the first place, it will be better off with her.

As someone who got my dog when he was full grown–from someone who found him wandering the streets–I wonder all the time about his life before me. I have so many questions about so many of his quirks. Sometimes I wonder if I even really know him. If there is someone out there who knows all the deep, dark, joyous events that ever happened to him. If there is a wonderful trick I’ve never seen him do because I’ve never known the magic command. If he’s unhappy because we don’t share the same bond as he did with his past owner.

I try to make myself feel better with the words of Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer: “dogs live in the moment.” But humans do not. I feel terrible that this woman can’t see how a few weeks or months down the line, especially after she really forms a bond with this Shih Tzu, she might realize the love she took away from his previous owner and feel remorse. I can’t imagine how she can look the young girl in the eye (although they’ve probably only spoken by phone) and not understand the love that grows between humans and their dogs…or understand it and not submit to it. She has no history with Gizmo and could find herself another dog, one who is truly unwanted, and create a wonderful, new bond of lasting love.

Click here to read the full news article. I sincerely hope the adoptor changes her mind, and so do most of those who posted comments there.

Please consider adopting a shelter dog or cat.

January 24, 2009 has been deemed National ”Change a Pet’s Life” day. At participating shelters, the first ten adoptions of the day will be free (up to 3,000 across the country). You can find participating shelters here.

Shelters will be using their normal screening processes to help parter pets in need with only qualified adoptors, so the emphasis will still be on quality over quantity.

Finding 3,000 pets a home in one day won’t reverse our current shelter crowding, but it will achieve great strides and hopefully draw out adoptors to shelters who might have gone to a store. This effort is Go Fetch Approved!