In more ancient times animal were brought to trial…but this donkey was brought in to testify on his own behalf! Check out the AP News article.
I’ve always tried to educate people about animal communication…like wagging tails don’t always mean the same thing. Now I find this article on tail wagging in the NY Times!
I apologize for the delay in posting. I manage numerous blogs and sometimes I don’t get to post to all of them. I have a couple of things to share with you regarding the pet food recall issue.
First, you probably are aware of the pet food recall protest march scheduled for this weekend across the nation. If not, most pet loss survivors will be marching on April 28th see more details here.
Also, if you cannot attend a march and believe you have lost a pet related to the pet foo recall please read the following:
My Pet Counts! Postcard Blitz
We are calling on all pet owners, parents, guardians who have lost a pet due to contaminated pet food to join us in a post card blitz to demonstrate the full scope of this pet food recall disaster.
The FDA continues to publicize only “16 confirmed deaths.” This number has often been repeated by the media. Reliable sources report that the number of pet deaths are and will be much higher – most likely in the thousands.
If you want your pet’s death to count for something good, please join the My Pet Counts! Post Card Blitz.
Who: Anyone who has lost a pet due to contaminated pet food.
What: Postcards may have a picture of your pet, or can be blank.
Purchase cards or design your own. Each set of postcards represents one pet. If you have lost multiple pets, send multiple cards to each address. Only one set of postcards per dead pet, please. Postcards ONLY, this is to ensure the mail is delivered with no security delay.
Where: No need to leave home. You can mail your postcards from your own mailbox.
When: All postcards should be mailed on Saturday, April 28th.
This coincides with the national march organized by KOPS (Keep Our Pets Safe). If all postcards are mailed on the same day, the impact will be all the greater when received at the other end.
Why: By sticking to the “only 16 confirmed deaths” wording this disaster is being grossly minimized. The word must get out!
How: Mail a postcard to each of the addresses provided.
The message should be very short, easy to read, no anger, profanity, or rudeness of any kind. Let them see your grief. Tug at their heartstrings. Use your pet’s name. Use the words “My Pet Counts!”
Postcard Mailing List:
Marcia K. Larkins, D.V.M
FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine
Ombudsman
7519 Standish Place HFV-7
Rockville, MD 20855
Senator Richard Durbin
309 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Write your senator (senator addresses and names) at
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Anderson Cooper
c/o CNN
One CNN Center
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-2762
My understanding is that there are three main manufacturing plants for pet food here in the United States. Statements such as “suppliers (or manufacturers) are domestic” are misleading in some cases as they do not address the problem in imported ingredients.
If you have lost a pet our condolences are with you but we also hope that you will participate in the postcard blitze or march. Don’t forget to band together with local pet businesses and contact your local media.
The cause of the deaths of additional pet deaths are still being speculated. The FDA is conducting further investigations and you might also want to check out these articles:
Food Scare Widens
Tainted Food–On Purpose?
This is not about the food recall but I found it interesting…
WatchDog Barks about Pet Drug
