Contact: Consumer: (360) 757-4225 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — August 10, 2015 — Burlington, WA — Northwest Farm Food Cooperative of Burlington, WA, is voluntarily recalling frozen raw Cat Food with the code Jul12015B due to their potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products. Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some, or all, of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers. Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected, but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian. No pet or consumer illnesses from this product have been reported to date. However, because of their commitment to safety and quality, Northwest Farm Food Cooperative is conducting a voluntary recall of this product. The potentially affected lots of frozen raw Cat Food were sold from our facility 1370 S. Anacortes Street Burlington, WA 98233. The affected products are sold in 50 pound blocks and cases of six 10 pound chubs; packaged in a white plastic bag labeled Cat Food. The products affected by this recall have the production code Jul12015B and have no UPC code. The production code can be found on the outside of the case (box). The recall was the result of a sampling done by the Food and Drug Administration which revealed that the finished product contained the bacteria. The company has ceased the production and distribution of the product as FDA and the company continues their investigation as to what caused the problem. This recall is being made with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Consumers who have purchased the above lots of frozen raw Cat Food are urged to stop feeding them and return product to place of purchase for a full refund or dispose of them immediately. For further information about the recall please call (360) 757-4225 Monday through Friday from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm PST. A Peaceful Farewell provides compassionate at home pet euthanasia to fellow pet owners in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale, and most of the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
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When times are financially difficult, it's not just family members who suffer. The economic hardship can affect family pets as well. That's why Josie Gonzalez opened Ben's Pet Pantry in the Lower Valley on July 11. The pantry provides pet food and veterinary services, such as spaying and neutering when funds are available, for people experiencing financial hardship. It is named for her dog. Gonzalez said she started the nonprofit organization about four years ago when she volunteered at the Humane Society of El Paso and would see a lot of puppies and kittens brought in. "I asked them one day why they kept coming in, and (Humane Society staff) said it was basically because people couldn't afford to keep them and feed them. Around that time, the economy crashed and a lot of people had lost their jobs and they had closed a lot of companies," she said. Gonzalez said she initially started small, with her and her husband purchasing pet food in bulk and distributing it in small plastic bags. Eventually, she had volunteers help distribute the food and donations also started coming in. Wal-Mart in Northeast El Paso donates food on a regular basis. And Gonzalez has applied for grants for funds to help provide spaying and neutering. "I thought as long as they get some food, they won't turn them into rescues or abandon them in the desert," she said. Now, with its own storefront, the pantry, which costs about $500 to $600 a month to run, will be open Tuesday through Thursday and the first and third Saturday of the month. People are asked to fill out an assistance application with financial documentation. Gonzalez said she has a steady stream of clients. She said she helps an average of 200 to 300 families monthly. "I had one lady tell me she didn't buy her medicines one month so she could buy dog food," she said. Barbara Renteria, a Clint resident, said she appreciates the extra hand she's gotten from the pantry for the past year. She has three dogs, the most recent a stray she saved from the street, and a cat. "I moved to another house and have a bit more rent and bills to pay. And my dad passed away ... so they have been a great help," she said. She added, "I love dogs and I know I would be stressing out if they did not have food." María Cortés González may be reached at 546-6150. What: Ben's Pet Pantry When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. the first and third Saturday of the month Where: 550 N. Yarbrough Suite 208 Details: The pantry provides pet food for qualifying applicants, as well as other pet-related items when available. Donations of food, money or other pet related items also accepted Information: 401-6515 Source: El Paso Times / María Cortés González A Peaceful Farewell provides compassionate at home pet euthanasia to fellow pet owners in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale, and most of the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
Score one for our furry friends: A federal judge says a Phoenix law limiting pet sales is constitutional. This fits right in with a movement toward more humane treatment of animals. Our state does not allow dog fighting or cockfighting. You don’t see roadside animal carnivals, anymore. Arizona law prohibits steel-jaw traps on public land and bans confining pregnant sows in gestation crates. Those advances ruffled a few feathers. They required people whose trade involved animals to change how they do business. But they represent an awareness that our humanity is enhanced by treating animals with kindness. Phoenix was at the forefront in December 2013, when the City Council passed an ordinance banning pet stores from selling animals from commercial breeders. It was an important step in shutting off the market for animals produced in wretched conditions. Even though some of these places are licensed by the federal government, rules are lax. The Humane Society of the United States says the federal regulation “allows dogs to be kept in cramped, wire-floored cages for their entire lives, churning out litter after litter of puppies for the commercial pet trade.” A 2010 U.S. Department of Agriculture Inspector General report found dogs kept by USDA-licensed breeders were “walking on injured legs, suffering from tick-infestations, eating contaminated food, and living in unsanitary conditions,” according to the court ruling in this case. USDA says it has been working to improve enforcement. The fewer outlets for puppies bred in such facilities, the better. There is a strong public interest in this. Taxpayers fund Maricopa County Animal Care and Control, which housed 32,014 dogs and 4,033 cats in the fiscal year that ended June 30. More than 7,400 dogs and 900 cats were euthanized. The Phoenix ordinance allows dogs and cats obtained from shelters to be sold at pet stores. This can help homeless animals as well as taxpayers. But it requires a new way of doing business. Some pet stores get it. PetSmart and Petco work with shelters and rescue groups to make dogs and cats available in their stores. But one local firm cried foul. Phoenix’s ordinance was challenged in court by Puppies ‘N Love pet store, the only pet store in Phoenix that sells commercially bred dogs. Store owners Frank and Vicki Mineo sued the city, saying the ordinance would force them to close their store at Paradise Valley Mall. U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell said the Mineos did an exemplary job of assuring they dealt only with caring breeders. But Campbell also said the Phoenix ordinance did not violate the U.S. or Arizona constitutions. Cities across the nation have enacted bans on the sale of commercially bred puppies. Federal courts in Florida, Illinois and Rhode Island have upheld ordinances similar to Phoenix’s. Even the publishers of a newly released Dr. Seuss book recognize that times have changed. Called “What Pet Should I Get?” the story is believed to have been written in the late 1950s or early 1960s when people didn’t think much about where that doggie in the window came from. But Random House included a “Note from the Publisher” that encourages children to adopt a pet from a shelter or rescue organization instead of a pet store. Like the Phoenix ordinance, this advice is right for the times. Source: AZCentral.com / Photo: Charlie Leight - The Republic A Peaceful Farewell provides compassionate at home pet euthanasia to fellow pet owners in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale, and most of the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
Rocky the Boxer is the latest inductee in the Lassie Come Home Hall of Fame. But unlike the classic Eric Knight tale, it wasn’t a mysterious canine instinct that brought the 5-year-old dog back to his people. This reunion happened thanks to a microchip and a crew of kind-hearted drivers from Highway Heroes Rescue Transport. In 2013, Rocky bolted out the door of his home in Mesa, Arizona, and vanished. As months wore on, owner Brittany Romero lost hope that she and her son, Aden Wasil, 12, would ever see their pet again.Romero was stunned when she received a phone call in late July from an animal clinic telling her that Rocky had been found and was alive and well. A family noticed him wandering stray and took him in. He had been living there for a while before they asked a vet to check for a microchip. The clinic called Romero and gave her the good news. The bad news was that he was 1,800 miles away in Elkhart, Indiana. Enter Highway Heroes Rescue Transport. The group’s motto is, “No pet is to far to save.” Over three days and 26 separate legs, Rocky was passed, like the baton in a relay race, from one volunteer driver to the next. Finally, on Sunday morning, July 26, he was back in the arms of his ecstatic family. In Knight’s story, Lassie’s trip from England to Scotland was a mystery to her people. But only the first part of Rocky’s journey is unknown. His return was chronicled in detail on a charming Facebook page, “Rocky’s Journey: One dog, Many people, 1,800 Miles.” The page shows images of Rocky’s relay team and the Boxer having the time of his life on each new part of the trip. There are a lot of smiling faces, hugs, and Boxer kisses. Best of all, the page serves as a great way to thank the kind people who made it possible for Rocky to come home. Source: akc.org / Mara Bovsun A Peaceful Farewell provides compassionate at home pet euthanasia to fellow pet owners in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale, and most of the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
Walter J. Palmer, the Minnesota dentist at the center of a controversy over killing Cecil the lion, is facing public outrage and protests outside his practice, but the chances of him facing any legal repercussions in either Zimbabwe or the U.S. may be slim. "It would take a motivated prosecutor either in Zimbabwe or the U.S. for him to face any charges,'' NBC legal analyst Lisa Bloom told Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie on TODAY Thursday. "If the Zimbabwean officials go after him, then they would have to get him extradited from the U.S. This would be very complicated." Palmer sparked a wave of vitriol online and a protest that caused him to shutter his dental clinic after he was accused of killing Cecil, one of the oldest and most famous lions in Zimbabwe, without a permit. Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force chairman Johnny Rodrigues told reporters that Palmer paid a Zimbabwean hunter, Theo Bronkhorst, and a private game park owner, Honest Ndlovu, to lure Cecil, a 13-year-old lion that was found beheaded and skinned on the outskirts of Hwange National Park on July 1. Whether Palmer could face charges in the U.S. remains unclear. "That's a tough one,'' Bloom said. "I know that authorities are looking into it. If he brought any part of the lion back, and the lion was obtained illegally, that could be a crime. If any of the $50,000 he paid in Zimbabwe went to pay a government official to do something illegal, that could be a problem for him, but there's no evidence of that at this point." Protesters in front of Palmer's dental practice on Wednesday forced him to close the office and go into hiding. The Yelp page for his practice has been bombarded with negative comments. He also sent his patients a letter of apology. Ndlovu and Bronkhorst potentially face up to 10 years in prison on poaching charges. Both of them were released on $1,000 bail on Wednesday in a Zimbabwe court and said through their attorneys that they are innocent. Palmer, who paid at least $50,000 for the hunt, claims he relied on them to make sure the hunt was legal. "Again, I deeply regret that my pursuit of an activity I love and practice responsibly and legally resulted in the taking of this lion,'' Palmer said in part of a statement to NBC News on Tuesday. "Ignorance of the law is not an excuse here in the U.S.,'' Bloom said. "It's generally not acceptable. Any American who goes overseas, you have to obey the laws of that country, and it's generally not sufficient to say, 'Well, I just relied on the locals.''' Palmer previously had been fined $3,000 after pleading guilty of the illegal killing of a black bear in Wisconsin in 2006, according to court documents. Source: Today.com A Peaceful Farewell provides compassionate at home pet euthanasia to fellow pet owners in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale, and most of the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
Siberian Husky puppy worth $2,850 was stolen Saturday evening from Dallas Petland. Police arrested a suspect and returned the pup to the store early Sunday. (Photos provided by Dallas Petland) Dallas police returned a stolen puppy to a North Dallas pet store on Sunday, a day after a man walked out with the $2,850 Siberian Husky. Cody Golden, office manager of Dallas Petland, said the thief was caught after an employee recognized him from surveillance video. Police couldn’t confirm an arrest. The bearded suspect is seen on video walking out with the 10-week-old puppy in his arms around 7 p.m. Saturday at the store at 11909 Preston Road. He walked until he reached the parking lot, when he started running, the video shows. An employee chased the suspect and provided police with the license plate of his getaway car, which was driven by a woman, Golden said. The employee who recognized the suspect from the video told police the man’s identity, Golden said. By midnight, police had recovered the puppy. “I didn’t think we would get him back that quickly,” Golden said. “I’m shocked and relieved.” It wasn’t the first time Petland suffered a puppy theft. A few years ago, Golden said, thieves broke the store’s front glass door overnight during Christmas season and stole nine puppies. Source: The Dallas Morning News A Peaceful Farewell provides compassionate at home pet euthanasia to fellow pet owners in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale, and most of the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
It’s official. At 6-foot-4, Blosom is the world’s tallest cow ever. That’s the determination made by Guinness World Records, which had previously named the female Holstein the world’s tallest living cow. The new record was announced on June 25. Blosom lived on a farm in Orangeville, Illinois. Her owner, Patty Meads-Hanson, got Blosom when the cow was just eight weeks old. Blosom was 13 years old when she died on May 26. During her life, she was the official "greeter" for Memory Lane Crafting Retreat, a retreat situated on the farm. ABC News couldn’t reach Meads-Hanson for comment on Thursday evening, but a post on Blosom’s Facebook page said the cow “was called to graze in a more glorious pasture.” Blosom died after suffering a leg injury. Meads-Hanson found the cow down in a pasture, her left leg in “a position that wasn’t normal,” according to a post on the Facebook page. Two veterinarians worked in the pouring rain to try to lift the cow but they were ultimately unsuccessful. “Her injury appeared to happen when she laid down, slipping in the mud, and damaging a ligament in her hip, and would never be able to stand. I had to make that hard decision - I wouldn't let her suffer. It's the last act of kindness you can do for an animal you love, but it sure is hard,” Meads-Hanson wrote on Facebook. Source: ABC News / Guinness World Records A Peaceful Farewell provides compassionate at home pet euthanasia to fellow pet owners in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale, and most of the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
We’ve all heard that it’s important to read to your baby for his or her development, but could it help your dog or cat be a calmer, happier pet? The Arizona Animal Welfare League & Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is using reading as a tool to help animals in their shelter become happier, more socialized pets. Volunteers spend time reading to dogs and cats awaiting adoption at the state’s oldest and largest no-kill shelter. “Reading is an important socialization activity for dogs and cats,” said Whitney Fletcher, director of Volunteers & Special Events at AAWL & SPCA. “It helps fearful dogs and cats become more comfortable with people without forcing interaction. “As you read out loud, you are focusing on something other than the animal,” she explains. “In turn, the animal grows accustomed to your presence and voice, which is calming.” It really doesn’t matter what the volunteer reads, she notes, adding that college students volunteering at the shelter often read their text books to the animals. “Dogs and cats find the rhythmic sound of a voice very comforting and soothing.” AAWL & SPCA volunteers can either bring their own books or borrow one from the shelter’s free Little Library. The reading program is one of the socialization techniques the organization uses to help dogs and cats become better pets. Other programs include night walks with shelter dogs at local parks and “Doggie Coffee Dates,” in which volunteers take pups with them to local coffee shops each Saturday. These programs help the dogs learn to interact with strangers and become accustomed to new situations. For more information about AAWL & SPCA, go to www.aawl.org or call 602-273-6852. The Arizona Animal Welfare League is located at 25 N. 40th St., Phoenix. Source: Ahwatukee Foothills News A Peaceful Farewell provides compassionate at home pet euthanasia to fellow pet owners in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale, and most of the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
Did you know that 1/3 of domestic violence victims delay leaving an abusive relationship due to concern for their pets? Data also shows that 25% of victims return to an abusive relationship to protect the pets retained by the abusive partner. I feel extremely naïve to have only recently learned that pet ownership or abuse of a pet could be effectively used by one individual to continue a harmful or abusive relationship with another individual. An article in the latest Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association discusses some of the problems faced by victims and pets of abuse and highlights federal legislation that might help abuse victims. The depth of the suffering form abusive situations is not over even if a victim escapes it. This is summed up by the article’s quote from Maya Carless, the executive director of Animals and Society Institute. “I have personally worked with hundreds of victims who escaped abusive situations with little more than the clothes on their backs and their pets in their arms. Not only were they struggling to find safety for their pets, the abusers’ control over their finances left them unable to afford necessary veterinary care for their pets who have been harmed by the abuse.” Legislation for Victims of Abuse “No one should have to make the choice between leaving an abusive situation and ensuring their pet’s safety” says Rep. Katherine Clark of Maryland, co-author of House of Representative Bill 1258. With Rep Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida, the two congresswomen have drafted the Pet and Women Safety Act or PAWS. The provisions of the legislation will aid both female and male victims of abusive relationships. The specifics of the bill include:
Ms. Carless adds about the legislation: “While many kindhearted veterinarians help greatly by discounting their services, the PAWS Act would provide financial restitution for the costs of veterinary care in these situations, lifting the burden from the veterinary profession and greatly increasing treatment for animal victims of domestic violence.” This is in part why the American Veterinary Medical Association is backing PAWS with its lobby support. As a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, I generally do not support AVMA lobbying efforts because they largely promote economic advantage for the veterinary profession. In this case, I favor their efforts. The article cites the other reasons that the AVMA feels compelled to support the legislation: "The AVMA Steering Committee on Human-Animal Interactions, together with the AVMA Animal Welfare Committee, recommend that the Association support H.R. 1258 because it is consistent with the veterinary efforts to protect the welfare of animals and promote responsible human-animal relationships, including the philosophy in the AVMA Animal Welfare Principles and its resource publication ‘Practical Guidance for the Effective Response by Veterinarians to Suspected Animal Cruelty, Abuse and Neglect.’” This law will certainly not do much to end domestic violence and abuse, but hopefully it provides a back-up plan to encourage victims of these relationships to leave before there is serious injury or emotional trauma. Source: Pet MD / Dr. Tudor A Peaceful Farewell provides compassionate at home pet euthanasia to fellow pet owners in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale, and most of the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
RECALL: Ainsworth Pet Nutrition is recalling five varieties of Rachael Ray™ Nutrish® wet cat food6/5/2015 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June 4, 2015 – Ainsworth Pet Nutrition of Meadville, PA is voluntarily recalling five varieties of Rachael Ray™ Nutrish® wet cat food, including Ocean Fish-a-licious, Lip Smackin’ Sardine & Mackerel, Ocean Fish & Chicken Catch-iatore, Tuna Purrfection, and certain lot codes of Paw Lickin’ Chicken & Liver due to potentially elevated levels of vitamin D. Symptoms of excessive vitamin D consumption usually develop within 12-36 hours after ingestion and may include vomiting or diarrhea, increased thirst and urination, and muscle tremors or seizures. Any cat experiencing these symptoms should be taken to a veterinarian immediately. Two variety packs that contain some of these recalled products (the Chicken Lovers Variety Pack, and the Ocean Lovers Variety Pack) will also be recalled. The recalled products are distributed nationwide. No other Rachael Ray™ Nutrish® products are affected by this recall. The UPC code can be found on the bottom of the cup. The Best By code can be found on the side of the cup. To date, there have been 11 reports of illness associated with these products. After conducting a number of product tests, Ainsworth confirmed that the affected products have elevated levels of vitamin D. The high levels result from the natural levels of vitamin D that are found in some of the fish ingredients that were used in these specific formulas. "At Ainsworth Pet Nutrition and Rachael Ray™ Nutrish®, the safety and quality of our products is our top priority," says Jeff Watters, CEO. "For the time being, we recommend disposing of any of the affected wet cat varieties. Rest assured we have implemented additional operating procedures to prevent an issue like this from occurring in the future. We sincerely apologize to our loyal consumers everywhere." Ainsworth is working to ensure the removal of all affected products from store shelves. Retailers with affected products are asked to contact 888-943-4218 for additional information. Consumers with questions about the recall are encouraged to contact Ainsworth’s Consumer Care Team at 877-650-3486 or visit www.nutrishforpets.com/news. Representatives will be available from 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. ET Monday thru Friday and 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET Saturday and Sunday. Vitamin D is important in regulating calcium and phosphorus in a cat’s body. But, when ingested at very high levels, it can lead to serious health issues. Production of the affected varieties has been suspended and will resume after reformulation. A Peaceful Farewell provides compassionate at home pet euthanasia to fellow pet owners in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale, and most of the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
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