Among the most tragic victims of this wretched economy are pets. As I was driving home yesterday I heard a gut-wrenching news report on the radio that had me so teary-eyed that I nearly rear-ended the guy in front of me.  In these tough financial times, pets are being surrendered to pounds, shelters and rescue organizations in record numbers as people can no longer afford to take care of them. As the number of dogs and cats being surrendered rapidly increases, and the number of people who can adopt them rapidly decreases, these organizations can no longer afford to care for them for as long as they have in the past. They fear that soon, unable to house so many animals, they will be forced to euthanize them sooner than ever before. This concept had never crossed my mind. I've been unable to stop thinking about it ever since, and have decided that one way we can all help is to spread the word to others who may not be aware of this dire predicament. Sadly, the reporter stated that pit bulls are the first to be euthanized because so many people are afraid of "taking a risk." A risk? With a pit? My god, I'd sooner roll around on the floor with a pit bull than I would with most human beings. (Check out Bad Rap, by the way -- I'd roll around with any of those cuties in a heartbeat!)

I've been emailing all my friends who have at one time or another said to me, "I've been thinking about adopting another cat?" or, "I want a dog so badly." I have one friend whose cat passed away a year ago. He's recently been talking about wanting to adopt another companion for his dog, so I sent him an email with links to more than a few rescue organizations here in the Bay Area. The subject line of my email said, quite simply, "Now is the Time."

I?ve always heard that clay litter wasn?t good for the environment, but never really knew why, I decided to investigate and learn more. The more I learned, the more I?m glad that my cat, Furball, has never used clay litter. If you?ve been sitting on the fence about switching to an environmentally friendly cat litter, here are some good reasons to switch litters.

Health Concerns

Have you ever wondered what makes the cat litter clump together after your cat has urinated in it? I?ll be quite honest that this question had never crossed my mind before either. Well, today I learned that sodium bentonite is the key ingredient. It?s described benignly as a ?natural clay? by many litter manufacturers.

A quick search on wikipedia reveals that sodium bentonite is a type of bentonite or clay that expands to several times its size when wet. It?s commonly used when drilling mud for oil and gas wells and for sealing things such as buried nuclear waste.

The health issues concern the ingestion and inhalation of sodium bentonite by your cat. When cats dig around in the litter, very fine particles may be inhaled. When they lick their paws, they may also ingest the clay.

There are claims that the litter causes asthma and lung issues and can block intestinal tracts. However, a visit to the Scoop Away® litter site reveals this: ?Scoop Away® litter is not known to cause harm to animals, including kittens, when ingested in small quantities. However, if a pet eats a large amount of any litter (i.e. a bowlful), we recommend that you contact your vet.? I?m sure this statement is 100% true in that there is no known study that proves that this particular litter causes harm to animals when ingested in small quantities.

It?s up to you to decide whether this reassurance is good enough for you and your cat. Myself, I just think that sodium bentonite expands when wet. If the litter is dry outside of the cat, it will most certainly be wet once inside Kitty.

About.com has a very balanced article on the clumping clay controversy at http://cats.about.com/cs/litterbox/a/clumpingclay.htm.

Environmental Concerns

Sodium bentonite is mined. The Wyoming Mining Association (not singling anyone out, they just came up first in the Yahoo search) mined 5.2 million tons and milled 4.6 million tons of bentonite in 2005. In their own words, ?Currently, Bentonite deposits in Wyoming make up 70 percent of the world?s known supply. It is economical to mine Bentonite as deep as 50 feet.?

It would not be a stretch to say that mining 50 feet deep has an impact on the environment. The US Bureau of Mines estimated that in 1994, approximately 1.5 million metric tons of clay were mined to make absorbent cat litter.

Worldwise, a company that makes sustainable pet products writes that, ?Each year over 2 million tons of cat litter, or approximately 100,000 truckloads, ends up in landfills in the U. S. alone.?

So based on what I learned about the health concerns of clay litter and the environmental impact of mining cat litter, it seems like the better choice for the planet to switch to an environmentally friendly cat litter.

This blogpost was written by Holly Tse, author of Make Your Own Cat Toys [www.MakeYourOwnCatToys.com] and writer for GreenLittleCat.com, the only blog dedicated exclusively to greener living ideas for cats and cat lovers.

There is so much controversy over the dangers of over-vaccination these days. What I've learned is this: there are two essential vaccines for cats, and two for dogs. Most others, you?ll just need to use your and your vet?s judgment on.

The rabies vaccination is a must-must-MUST for both dogs and cats. It is typically administered once every 3 years. Rabies is a viral, neuroinvasive disease that causes acute inflammation of the brain in warm-blooded animals. Because it tends to enter through periferal nerves and the central nervous system, it manages to avoid the bloodstream, bypassing the fighting spirit of the immune system. In the beginning stages of rabies the symptoms include malaise and fever. The next stage is typically acute pain, violent movements, uncontrolled excitement, depression, and the inability to swallow water. The final stage inflicts mania, lethargy, coma, and sometimes, death, which is caused by respiratory problems. Rabies is most commonly transmitted by a bite from an infected animal, and is fatal if left untreated.

Thank goodness for FVRCP shots for cats. This vaccine is an effective preventive agent against the very worst contagious diseases. Outdoor, shelter and kenneled cats are most at risk for these diseases; so are kittens, older cats and cats with weakened immune systems.  "FVR" stands for Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, an upper respiratory infection caused by a feline herpes virus. Cats with this chronic infection exhibit signs of lethargy, and incessant coughing and sneezing. They often have a high temperature and a discharge from the nostrils and the eyes. They stop eating and drinking because their nostrils are plugged and their throats sore, bringing on dehydration and unhealthy weight loss.  "C" stands for strains of Calcivirus, also harbingers of upper respiratory infections. Early signs are loss of appetite, elevated temperature and lethargy. Later, sneezing, oral ulcers and discharge from the eyes are seen. The more violent strains can cause rapid death.  "P" is for Panleukopenia (also known as feline distemper and infectious feline enteritis), a highly contagious disease characterized by a short course and high mortality rate. The disease is caused by a parvovirus similar to the parvovirus seen in dogs. Early signs are vomiting, diarrhea and a low white blood cell count. This disease can be deadly.

For dogs, DHPP vaccines should be kept current. The "D" is for Distemper, which is an often fatal viral disease that causes respiratory, gastrointestinal and neurologic problems. "H" is for Hepatitis, a virus that can wreak havoc on your pet?s liver. One "P" is for Parainfluenza, which is contagious and leads to respiratory infections, and the last "P" is for Parvovirus, the most common infectious disorder in dogs in the U.S. Parvo causes severe gastrointestinal problems, fever, and, in serious cases, death.  

Some circumstances may call for extra protection. For instance, kennel-cough vaccine is a good precaution for dogs who spend a good amount of time in close quarters with other dogs; for instance, dogs that are kenneled, in doggie daycare or attend dog shows. Unless you live in an area where heartworm and lyme disease run rampant, vaccines for these can probably be skipped. My vet is not keen on unnecessarily vaccinating, and neither am I. What both of us are keen on is bringing them in for annual checkups, making sure to have blood work done, and monitoring them for any liver, kidney and metabolic issues that might be lurking.

We hear it again and again? owning a pet keeps us healthier and happier in myriad ways. A wealth of studies have proven that companion pets can lower our blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, they can help us live stronger and longer after a heart attack, boost our spirits and moods, and provide invaluable service and comfort to disabled individuals. I'm not quite sure which I enjoy more, their love and loyalty to me, or mine to them.  The latter, I think. Let's keep spreading the word:  "ADOPT A PET TODAY!"

As I've switched my own diet to a plant-based diet, I've been thinking a lot about nutrition. My own Opal, Dixie and Nini are fortunate enough to have home-cooked meals prepared by Yours Truly. My recipes are wholesome and balanced, and loaded with dark, leafy greens, carotene-rich foods and other good stuff. Now, although there is a great deal of healthy 'people food' that is equally healthy for pets, there are certain foods that are toxic and often deadly.

Below are some of the foods that animal-lovers should know are toxic to animals.

There are many more, so rather than sneak your pet a healthy food or treats for people assuming that they must also be healthy for animals, think twice. You may want to visit the American Animal Hospital Association website for a more exhaustive list of dangerous foods:

• Alcoholic beverages
• Apple seeds
• Apricot pits
• Avocados?toxic to birds, mice, rabbits, horses, cattle and dairy goats
• Cherry pits
• Candy (particularly chocolate, which is toxic to dogs, cats and ferrets, and any candy containing the sweetener Xylitol)
• Coffee (grounds, beans, chocolate covered espresso beans)
• Grapes
• Hops (used in home beer brewing)
• Macadamia nuts
• Moldy foods
• Mushroom plants
• Mustard seeds
• Onions and onion powder
• Peach pits
• Potato leaves and stems (green parts)
• Raisins
• Rhubarb leaves
• Salt
• Tea (caffeine)
• Tomato leaves and stems (green parts)
• Walnuts
• Yeast dough

The following comes to us courtesy of our guest blogger, Anne-Lise Stannard, of Planet Blue Dog!

As Earth Day (April 22, 2009) approaches, many of us might consider how we can make a difference. Taking a look at how we can reduce our "Carbon Footprint" is a current topic worth taking a look at!  For those of you not familiar with this term, here is the definition:

A Carbon Footprint is "the total set of GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions caused directly and indirectly by an individual, organization, event or product" (UK Carbon Trust 2008). Once the size of a carbon footprint is known, a strategy can be devised to reduce it.

As animal lovers, we can think about ways to reduce our pet's "Carbon Paw Print". Here is a few things you can do that will make a difference:

1.) Pet waste is an environmental health hazard. It must be picked up!  When picking up pet waste, use biodegradable bags. Many people still use regular plastic grocery bags that don't break down.

2.) Avoid pet foods made from protein sources that contain growth hormones or antibiotics.

3.) Use eco-friendly pet grooming products. Avoid products that contain phosphates, sulfates and other chemicals that are harmful to the environment.

4.) Consider recycled, sustainable pet products. Most of these products are better quality, durable and some guaranteed indestructible! Look for products being made from non toxic, recycled water bottles. Over 198 tons of plastic water bottles have been diverted from landfills and turned into these pet products. These are designed to be recyclable and to create almost no waste during the manufacturing process. Now, that is planet friendly!

We can ALL make an impact on our pet's "Carbon Paw Print".

Happy Earth Day from the Planet Blue Dog team!

This is my favorite ?get rid of cat pee? site.  Cat pee serves two purposes: to offend and destroy. Nini succeeds on both counts. Nini?s pee, packaged, would be an effective biological warfare weapon. It could wipe out an entire nation in moments. Mr. Ronning?s tips do remove the carpet pee smell as well as can be expected, but I've still had to take to surrounding Nini?s litter box with Depends.

Having just read of the upcoming August 2009 release of an American remake of the 1987 Japanese film, Hachiko monogatari, I wanted to recount this beautiful, touching tale of a dog's loyalty to its owner. The original film was the recipient of the prestigious Genesis award in 1988. Genesis Awards categories span television, film, print, radio, music, and the arts. The awards committee includes people from all walks of life who all share a genuine, demonstrated commitment to animals.  But, I digress. Really, having been reminded of the bittersweet story of Hachiko, I just wanted to share it with you.

A year after his birth on November 10, 1923 in Odate (in the Akita province of Japan), Professor Eizaburo Ueno, an agriculture professor at the University of Tokyo brought his dog, Hachi (later renamed Hachiko) to Tokyo. Hachiko followed Professor Ueno everywhere. One day, he accompanied Ueno to the Shibuya train station as he headed off to work. This became their daily morning routine. Hachiko would then return to the train station every afternoon and wait for Ueno to come home. But, one day in May 1925, Professor Ueno didn't come home; he'd suffered a fatal stroke at work. Upon his death, Mrs. Ueno gave the dog away to some of the professor's relatives, but the loyal and devoted Hachiko kept escaping, and for 11 years, until his own death on March 8, 1935, every afternoon at precisely the time that Ueno's train was due, he would return to the train station to await the professor.

In April of 1934, with Hachiko present, a bronze statue in his likeness was erected at Shibuya station. An identical statue of Hachiko would later be erected at the train station in Hachiko's hometown of Odate, and, in 2004, a statue of him was put in front of Odate's Akita Dog Museum. Hachiko's stuffed and mounted remains reside at the National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo.