Tails in the News
HSUS names Rep. Earl Blumenauer
humane legislator of the year
There are many elected officials who work on behalf of animals, but none did more for them last year than Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), according to the HSUS. It has awarded Blumenauer the title humane legislator of the year in a March ceremony. “Representative Blumenauer has been one of the best and most effective voices for animal protection policies in the U.S. Congress,” says HSUS CEO and President Wayne Pacelle. “On the major policy debates relating to animal protection, Rep. Blumenauer is in the forefront, and we are enormously grateful to him for his passion and leadership.”
Among the legislation Blumenauer championed was a bill to establish felony penalties for violating federal animal-fighting laws; the Charitable Remainder Pet Trust Act, which would enable people to set up for continued care for their pets in the event of the person’s death; and increased funding for federal animal-welfare programs, including enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act and Humane Methods of Slaughter Act. Previous humane legislators of the year include Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) in 2005 and Rep. Chris Shays (R-CT) in 2006.
Northwest Working Dogs Expo
comes to town
It’s possible your pooch can do a lot more than sit, stay, and give paw, but just doesn’t know it. Learn all about the different jobs for dogs at the second annual Northwest Working Dogs Expo, taking place on June 14 and 15 at the Columbia County Fairgrounds in St. Helens. The event will offer workshops and testing for dogs in various areas. For those looking for training in security-related areas, K-9 Pro Sports will be on hand for seminars about its canine martial arts training. In addition, the National Canine Association will offer a conformation show for all breeds.
For more information, visit NWWorkingDogs.com.
California and Oregon salmon runs s
lowing to a crawl
Conservation and economics don’t always see eye to eye, but the shared interests of the two are converging of late in the wake of the devastating collapse of wild salmon runs along California and Oregon coasts. In a dramatic effort to check depopulation of the Chinook salmon, the Pacific Fishery Management Council recently recommended a total ban on California and Oregon salmon fisheries, which would mark the most severe restriction ever placed on West Coast salmon fishing. Contrary to what some might expect, local fishermen are largely putting their support behind the ban. Waiting out the Chinook’s resurgence may hurt the pocketbook in the short term, but patience may well promote a viable industry in the long term.
Chinook, otherwise known as the king salmon, are the mainstay for California and Oregon salmon fishermen as well as many upscale restaurants across the country. Only 90,000 adult Chinook returned to the Central Valley last fall, the second lowest number on record. Projections for this coming fall would mark a record low of 58,000. In contrast, adult Chinook numbered 775,000 in the Sacramento River and its tributaries as recently as 2002.
The primary catalyst behind the rapid evaporation of Chinook remains a matter of dispute among environmentalists, fishermen, and government officials. Potential causes range from unusual weather patterns in the Pacific Ocean to an overdistribution of water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
The ban is subject to approval by the National Marine Fisheries Service on May 1. ––Melissa Wiley
For more information, visit PZCouncil.org.
Dogfighting charges dropped against
local man
A north Portland man who was arrested and charged with involvement in a dogfighting ring in August has had all charges against him related to dogfighting dropped after it was determined that he was breeding Pit Bulls, not fighting them. Ron Sheahart of north Portland was arrested in August 2007, and 11 Pit Bulls were seized, along with a pound of marijuana and a gun. When authorities confused materials related to Pit Bull breeding and competition with those associated with dogfighting, both Sheahart and his girlfriend, Cynthia Jimenez, were charged. It was only when a veterinarian, Charlotte J. Robinson, examined the pooches that it was determined that they weren’t aggressive enough to be fighting dogs.
May marks Pet Cancer Awareness Month
Cancer is now the leading cause of death among cats and dogs, and many experts are urging pet guardians to educate themselves on this disease. In order to raise awareness of cancer in pets, Connecticut-based pet-food company Blue Buffalo has sponsored Pet Cancer Awareness Month in May since 2003.
In addition to creating awareness, the company has a mission to provide information to pet guardians and to raise money for the Blue Buffalo Foundation for Cancer Research, which was established in 2003 and provides funding to universities and clinics for cancer research in pets. So far, the company has raised more than $100,000 to support research efforts at Ohio State University, the University of Tennessee, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cornell University, Colorado State University, and North Carolina State University.
Many veterinarians believe that the recent increase in cancer among pets is due to the increase in environmental toxins. Other potential causes of cancer include chemicalized foods (foods that contain additives and preservatives), over-vaccination (which can weaken pets’ immune systems), and genetics (certain breeds are more prone to cancer due to improper breeding practices).
The Veterinary Cancer Society (VCS) recommends that guardians routinely look for the following early warning signs of cancer in their pets:
• abnormal, persistent swelling
• sores that do not heal
• loss of weight
• loss of appetite
• bleeding or discharge from any body opening
• offensive odor
• difficulty eating or swallowing
• hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina
• persistent lameness or stiffness
• difficulty breathing, urinating, or defecating.
The VCS urges guardians who detect any of these symptoms in their pets to visit a veterinarian for further evaluation. For more information on Pet Cancer Awareness Month, visit PetCancerAwareness.org, where you can make a donation or purchase a “Protect Our Pets” wristband. In-store specialists from Blue Buffalo will be in pet stores nationwide all month distributing flyers and selling wristbands. Additionally, one dollar from every bag of Blue Buffalo pet food sold in May will support the Blue Buffalo Foundation for Cancer Research.—Jaime A. Hubbell
