Cities Crowd the Field to Lure Lucrative Horse Shows

Oklahoma City, situated in the middle of the United States and at the confluence of three major interstate highways, long has been an inviting home to equine events, enough so that some in that industry refer to the city as the Horse Show Capital of the World.

With 15 major events scheduled at State Fair Park during the next year while buildings there undergo major renovations, the city is trying hard to live up to that title as competition for top shows increases. The Grand National and World Championship Morgan Horse Show were held at the park last week.

“That’s the state of the industry now,” said Steve Collier, the vice president for strategic event development of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce. “Everyone has to improve their facilities and product in order to stay ahead of their competitors.”

In Lexington, Ky., where the Kentucky Horse Park will play host to the 2010 World Equestrian Games, a $35 million covered arena — financed by the state — soon will be built, along with a privately developed hotel. Down Interstate 64, Louisville has the World’s Championship Horse Show, the most important event of the year for those on the saddlebred horse circuit, at Freedom Hall.




A privately developed, 4,400-seat equestrian facility at a casino in Las Vegas is luring events like the International Friesian Show Horse Association Grand Nationals, scheduled for Nov. 10-12. In 2008, Tulsa will be the host city for the United States National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show, a show that spent 30 years in Louisville.

Facilities in Albuquerque, Denver and Fort Worth, among others, also are making bids for equine events, in hopes of luring their human participants — and their money.

“Oklahoma City and the Kentucky Horse Park are probably the two out front,” said John Long, the chief executive of the United States Equestrian Federation, the national governing body of equestrian competition. “But the rest of the pack is gaining, because cities do see the economic impact these shows can bring.”

That impact is considerable because of the volume of people involved in the shows. Caroline Fauks of Edmond, Okla., — who along with her husband, Steve, serves as the Morgan Horse Show’s manager — said about 7,000 people are connected in some way with the event, which lasts eight days and is one of the largest shows that uses the fairgrounds.

The State Fair assistant general manager, Scott Munz, said a recent study indicated equine shows had an annual economic impact of $182 million on the Oklahoma City economy and were responsible for 3,600 jobs. Those numbers provided strong incentive when city and fair officials began hearing rumblings from those connected with the shows that the fair’s facilities were starting to become run down.

“Obviously we have to be looking over our shoulder,” Munz said. “It’s a very competitive marketplace.”

In 2004, voters approved an increase in Oklahoma City’s hotel-motel tax to 5.5 percent from 2 percent. The majority of the money raised by the tax increase is financing $55 million worth of bonds to pay for the upgrade of equine facilities at State Fair Park. When the upgrades are finished next year, the fair will have about 3,200 horse stalls available. Also, the recent demolition of All Sports Stadium — once the home of the city’s minor-league baseball team — has added extra parking near the fair’s equine facilities.

Those improvements, along with Oklahoma City’s location along Interstates 35, 40 and 44 and its experience playing host to equine shows, will give the city an advantage in the quest to lure more events and keep ones like the American Quarter Horse Association World Championship Show, which has been in the city for three decades and plans to stay until at least 2015.

“Facilities like this just get booked and booked and booked,” David O’Connor, the United States Equestrian Federation president, said during a visit to the Morgan Horse show. “This is the future of where horse sports are all going — public lands, available for everybody for use. It’s fun to see this much effort being put into a renovation.”

Like Oklahoma City, other cities are not standing pat.

The Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington has 1,084 permanent horse stalls and can add about 700 to 800 more for major shows, the spokeswoman Lisa Jackson said. The Horse Park holds 16 major individual shows and about 55 to 60 smaller shows each year and is the home to 29 national, regional or state equine organizations, including the equestrian federation’s office.

Because of its outdoor facilities, the Horse Park can play host to competitions that other equine-related locations cannot, including eventing and polo, Jackson said. The park’s new 6,000-seat indoor arena is being designed with input from equine organizations in hopes those organizations might be lured to hold events at the park, said John Nicholson, the park’s executive director.

The South Coast Equestrian Complex in Las Vegas has 1,200 climate-controlled horse stalls and includes 80,000 square feet of exhibit space, according to its Web site. The city already is the host to Western-themed events including the National Finals Rodeo.

“We have 40 million visitors each year, and our challenge is to find new markets to tap into and new areas for growth,” Cara Roberts, the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce spokeswoman, said. “We think the whole horse show industry has a lot of potential for growth for our city.”

Oklahoma City is fortunate that it recognized that potential long ago, Collier said, and city officials want to continue to cultivate positive relationships with the equine groups interested in staying, returning or coming for the first time.

The Morgan Horse show is under contract to stay in Oklahoma City through 2012. Guy Brown, the interim executive director of the Shelburne, Vt.-based American Morgan Horse Association, said the organization is pleased with the ongoing improvements at the fairgrounds.

“Oklahoma City got the nod because of its location in the beginning, and they’ve capitalized on it since then,” Brown said, referring to the Morgan show. “Oklahoma embraces the Morgan horses coming to town, and we love coming here. We feel wanted.”

Now, he said, “other cities are getting the message.”


Reference:nytimes

Animal Shelter Facing Closure

A Niles animal rescue is being forced to move more than 50 animals, and could face shutting down.

Jennifer Boyer and Nancy Barrows run the Twisted Oaks Animal Rescue out of their home. Right now, they have about 50 abused or neglected animals from goats, to pigs, to horses.

But their property isn't zoned to house all the animals. They have until November 7 to move them off the property to temporary housing until they can find a new farm. The rescuers say it can be devastating for the animals.





“Our biggest worry is that they will mourn or we will lose them,” Barrows told NEWS22. “We just love them -- they are in our hearts.”

The women say they aren’t giving up on their efforts. They are desperately searching for a new farm and money to make the move. They hope to bring their animal family back together again soon.

Reference:wsbt

Two Decapitated Dogs Found With Wild Animal Carcasses

Animal cruelty investigators are investigating the deaths of two dogs found bound and decapitated in Washtenaw County. They were caught in traps set for wild animals.

The dogs were discovered this month with the carcasses of wild animals.




The Humane Society says a female Rottweiler was found alongside five skinned coyotes. A second dog found this week appeared to have been dead for several weeks. A spokeswoman says children stumbled across the animals.

The Humane Society is investigating the case with the county sheriff’s department. A $5,000 reward has been offered for information.

Reference:wsbt

Bones of ancient giant camel found

DAMASCUS, Syria — The bones of a giant camel dating back 100,000 years have been unearthed in the Syrian desert, a government newspaper reported over the weekend.

The bones were discovered by a joint Syrian-Swiss archaeological team at the site of al-Hemel in the Palmyra region about 155 miles northeast of Damascus, the state-run Tishrin daily reported Saturday.

The discovery revealed that the Syrian desert "is the first origin of the camel," Bassam Jammous, director general of the Antiquities and Museum Department in Syria, told the newspaper.

He said the animal would have been some 13 feet tall _ double the size of the modern-day camel _ and "poses a revolution in the world of archaeological discoveries."

Officials with the Swiss archaeology team could not immediately be reached for comment Sunday.

The discovery of the bones was first reported in 2005.

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Dog owners warned over sugar-free items

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Keep those sugarless treats out of Fido's reach. Veterinarians warned on Friday that a commonly used sweetener might cause liver failure in dogs, and perhaps even kill them.

Their report in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association appears to strengthen the suspected link between the sugar substitute xylitol, thought to make dogs sick, and possible liver failure.

Xylitol, a naturally occurring product, is found in many sugar-free chewing gums, candies, baked goods and toothpastes.

Researchers Sharon Gwaltney-Brant and Eric Dunayer with staff at a poison unit of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Urbana, Illinois, gathered information on eight dogs treated between 2003 and 2005 after eating products containing xylitol.

Each dog became ill, and five died or had to be put down because of liver failure, possibly from ingesting xylitol.

One dog who had to be euthanized had eaten four large, chocolate-frosted muffins containing about 1 pound (0.45 kg) of xylitol.

"People don't think sugar-free gum can kill their dog. I didn't before I got into this. But this is something people should be aware of," Gwaltney-Brant, who co-authored the study with Dunayer, said in a statement.





Gwaltney-Brant said for dogs, ingesting even a small amount of xylitol can trigger significant insulin release, which drops their blood sugar and can be fatal.

"A 22-pound (10-kg) dog who consumes one gram (0.03 ounces) of xylitol should be treated," she said, adding that further studies were needed to definitely establish a cause-and-effect relationship.

Reference: Yahoo News

The Newest Member Of Shamu's Family Has Arrived

SeaWorld Orlando welcomed a new baby killer whale to the Shamu family on Monday, September 18. The calf's mother, Katina, gave birth to the 7-foot- long, 350-pound newborn at 3:23 p.m. in the park's multimillion-gallon research and breeding facility, Shamu Stadium, following a 1 1/2-hour labor.

Moments later, the baby whale instinctively swam to the surface of the water for its first breath of air. The baby began nursing within hours.

The mother, Katina, is the matriarch of the SeaWorld Orlando Shamu family and also birthed the first Baby Shamu more than 20 years ago. She is 18 feet long and weighs 5,400 pounds.





SeaWorld animal care specialists remain cautiously optimistic about the progress of the baby and its mother.

SeaWorld visitors can catch a glimpse of the park's new pride and joy during special family presentations at Shamu Stadium.

SeaWorld's killer whale breeding program is the most successful in the world. This calf is the 14th killer whale born at SeaWorld Orlando and the 22nd to be born and successfully raised throughout all of the SeaWorld parks. The sex of the calf is yet to be determined.

References:cbs4

Feng Shui Can Do a Doggy Good

Rebecca Jones - Scripps Howard News Service

Vicky Gonzalez just assumed that Sasha, her 6-year-old German shepherd, would want his bed to be in the basement of their new Englewood, Colo., home. After all, that's where the kids hang out when they're there, and Sasha associates good things with the basement.

But the dog seemed depressed and appeared to take no pleasure in his basement nest when the kids weren't there.

Enter feng shui consultant Shannon Barker, who specializes in energy work for animals. She recognized right away that Sasha was stuck in a place of poor chi and that the key to lifting the dog's spirits lay in better harmonizing his surroundings.

Feng shui is the ancient Chinese art of placement. Placing objects and colors in just the right way can enhance the chi, or energy flow, and improve the way you - or your pet - feel, Barker says.

"My feng shui teachers always thought that I was a little wacky because I was always asking, 'What about the dog that lives there?' " Barker says. "Now clients really like that I consider their animals when doing feng shui. Certainly no feng shui consultant would come into your home and ignore your child.








"Well, people's animals are like their children, and they need to be considered. It makes sense to harmonize your home for all the creatures who live there."

So Barker analyzed Sasha's situation. Unlike cats, dogs thrive on active chi. They want to be in areas where the energy flows freely.

"Sasha's not an all-over-the-house dog," Gonzalez says. "He never has been. He likes being in the basement if we're there, but if nobody's in the house, he needs to be in a vantage point where he's overseeing the house. We picked a new area for him and got him a bed in nice, warm earth tones. … It's right here in the family room, which oversees the back yard and the kitchen, and he can hear the front door if anyone is coming in. He absolutely loves it."

Cats are a whole different story. Cats bring a home a totally different form of energy from dogs, Barker says. Cats are into healing and balance.

"Cats are energy recyclers," she says. "They'll go into a place that has the worst chi in the house and use their energy to reorganize it. Cats collect in places where there are sharp angles, because energy collects there. They go there to soften it."

Cat owners may frequently find their cats loitering in seldom-used corners. "The cat will knock itself out trying to bring life to a stagnant area," Barker says.

To make a cat's life easier, try hanging a crystal or setting a mirror or a plant in that out-of-the-way cubbyhole to which the cat seems inexplicably drawn, she says. The cat will love you for it.


References:fox16

Judge dismisses suit about zoo elephants

King County Superior Court Judge Julie Spector dismissed a lawsuit Monday brought by local animal-rights activists against Woodland Park Zoo and the city of Seattle.

The Northwest Animal Rights Network (NARN) and two private citizens sued in June, accusing the zoo of violating the federal Endangered Species Act and the State Environmental Policy Act with its treatment of elephants at the zoo.






Valerie Bittner, NARN's attorney, said the zoo's oldest elephant, Bamboo, was experiencing "elephant psychological breakdown" because of improper care and lack of space in its one-acre yard. NARN sought to get Bamboo moved to an elephant sanctuary in Tennessee, where she could roam more than 2,000 acres.

Spector dismissed all the claims against the city, the zoo, its directors and staff, saying they had no merit — except for the claim filed under the Endangered Species Act, which the judge ruled belongs under the jurisdiction of federal court.

Bittner said NARN will consider pursuing its case in federal court if it can raise the funds.

In a press release, the zoo said Bamboo and its three other elephants were healthy and thriving.

References:seattletimes

Pets at risk: Grooming problems increase

LEE COUNTY: Dangerous, even deadly mistakes are on the rise at pet grooming shops across the country. Now animal advocates are calling for more regulation.

A new report says complaints to the Better Business Bureau are up 50-percent in the last five years.

Officials say they often hear heartbreaking stores of dogs burned, strangled and even mauled by other animals.

The Stackpole family pet Pekingese recently died after a trip to the groomers.

"The doctor came in and said, 'You know, I'm sorry there's nothing else we could do.' At this point, ya know, we're ... 'What are you talking about? Are you sure you got our dog? We brought it for a haircut! You can't comprehend. It is part of your family," said Brian Stackpole.

The Humane Society says there are not enough regulations, licensing or inspections for groomers. In fact here in Florida, groomers aren't inspected or regulated at all.

"So, we do have people opening up grooming shops. We have no idea if they have any training at all or any experience with animals whatsoever," said Stephanie Shain, Humane Society.

The National Dog Groomers Association of America insists most facilities are safe, but does acknowledge shops are busier than ever and problems may occur when groomers are rushed.

"I think that's probably the most dangerous aspect of grooming shops - is trying to do too much," said Nancy Han, National Dog Groomers Association of America.

The best way to protect you pet is to ask your groomer their credentials and check the facility out before ever dropping your animal off.





References:nbc-2

80 dogs seized from home

A Marrero woman already facing an animal cruelty charge was cited Friday with additional violations after parish officials seized 80 dogs from her property, including four authorities described as in critical condition.

Patsy Chism, 61, 2501 Colorado Drive, could face four counts of aggravated animal cruelty and 76 counts of simple abuse to animals, said Matthew Friedman, an attorney for Jefferson Parish.

Chism, who also is facing an unrelated charge of obstruction of justice in connection with the March murder of her boyfriend at her house, was not at home when officials issued the citation but must contact the Jefferson Parish Animal Shelter ahead of a hearing set for Sept. 12, Friedman said.


In June, authorities received a complaint from a resident who purchased a dog from Chism that died within a week, Friedman said. It was later learned that the dog had a degenerative disease at the time of sale.

That complaint led officials to inspect Chism's house Friday to investigate whether she was illegally operating a business out of her residence, Friedman said.

During the visit, the case took a grim turn as officials uncovered a filthy, feces-ridden building behind her house strewn with newspapers where sickly dogs, some stored in broken cages, had little water and food, Friedman said. Most of the dogs were Chihuahuas, and officials believe Chism was breeding them for sale.

Authorities recovered the dogs and took them to the East Jefferson animal shelter, where they were examined by a veterinarian. Three dogs in critical condition had to be euthanized, and one was dead on arrival, Friedman said.






Before being hauled to the shelter, the dogs were quickly provided water by authorities, a scene Friedman described as similar to "pigs at a trough."

Friedman said he's hoping that a judge will bar Chism from having any more dogs or will at least limit the number she can keep. Some of the dogs rescued Friday could soon be available for adoption, he said.

The Sept. 12 hearing will deal primarily with any parish code violations, while officials will direct the animal cruelty and abuse allegations to the Jefferson Parish district attorney's office.

Friedman said parish officials will push for felony charges against Chism, but the exact charges and possible punishments are still unclear.

Chism also is slated for a hearing Thursday in 24th Judicial District Court. That matter involves a separate animal cruelty misdemeanor charge stemming from a February 2005 complaint that followed the death of another dog sold by Chism that died within days, Friedman said.

Authorities have been keeping a watchful eye on her for five years and have inspected her house roughly 30 times during that period, Friedman said. In the vast majority of cases, she would abide by requirements to correct any violations within 10 days, he said.

Unrelated to the animal cruelty cases, Chism was charged in July with obstruction of justice in connection with the shooting death of her boyfriend, Darnell Williams. Chism's son, Charles Striplin, was charged with second-degree murder in the incident.

Chism is accused of removing a butcher knife from Williams' hands after the shooting as a way of refuting Striplin's contention that the killing was in self-defense. A hearing in state court has been set for Sept. 14 in that case.


References:nola

Teens Bake Puppy in Oven

ATLANTA (AP) -- Prompted by a case in which a puppy was cooked in an oven, Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard is calling for tougher animal cruelty penalties in Georgia.

In a letter sent yesterday to Governor Perdue, Howard says no animal should ever be treated in such a way and that when it happens, should be punished severely.

Two teenage brothers are accused of breaking into a community center at an apartment complex last month, bringing with them a five-month-old puppy.

The brothers, ages 17 and 18, allegedly removed two shelves from a commercial gas range, put the puppy in and turned on the gas.

Authorities say the teens, who lived at the apartment complex, also destroyed computers and defaced walls at the center.







The brothers, Justin and Joshua Moulder, have been charged with burglary, criminal damage to property and aggravated cruelty to animals.

Currently, anyone convicted of felony aggravated cruelty to animals can be sentenced to five years in prison. But Howard is calling for an increase in the penalty for the obvious torture of animals.

References:11alive

Chinese Zoo Panda Gives Birth to Twins

BEIJING — A giant panda in southwest China has given birth to a pair of twins, state media said, the latest additions in a baby boom for the endangered animals.

Ya Ya, who lives in the Chongqing Zoo, delivered the babies about an hour apart early Tuesday, China News Service said.

They were her first cubs, it said, and both mother and babies are healthy. The zoo has been closed for a week to give Ya Ya some peace, it said.





One has been taken to the Wolong Giant Panda Protection and Research Center, also in Sichuan province, because Ya Ya cannot produce enough milk for both cubs, it said.

Ya Ya was mated with 11-year-old Ling Ling from Wolong in April. The pandas watched a mating video before breeding, China News Service said.

Last month, the government announced the birth of four sets of panda twins. China has more than 180 pandas living in captivity, according to the government.


Reference:foxnews

Crocodile Hunter Dies

Steve Irwin was videotaped pulling a poisonous stingray barb from his chest just before he died, according to news reports. Irwin's manager John Stainton described the footage of his friend dying as "terrible."

Video

Discovery Communications, which produces Animal Planet, said it was considering setting up a fund that would accept donations in Irwin's name to support wildlife protection, education, conservation, Irwin's zoo and the education of his children.

A sensory garden located outside the company's Silver Springs, Maryland, headquarters will be renamed in his honor, said Annie Howell, senior vice president of communications for Discovery Communications.


Animal Planet will air a tribute to Irwin at 6 p.m. EDT Tuesday, Maureen Smith, Animal Planet's executive vice president and general manager, said. The channel will continue to run Irwin's shows.

Just Aired From Discovery Channel


References:CNN

Veterinarian: 50 Percent of Pets Need to Lose Weight

Americans are passing on the battle of the bulge to their pets.

"Fifty percent of all people and 50 percent of all pets are overweight or obese for the same reasons — eating too much and moving too little," said Dr. Marty Becker, a veterinarian who appeared on "GMA Weekend" to teach owners how to care for overweight pets.

Corpulent canines and fat cats aren't cute; they are unhealthy and in danger of an early trip to pet purgatory, Becker said.

"If you keep your pets thin, studies show they'll live 15 percent longer — that's about two extra years on the average," said Becker. "I'm not exaggerating when I say that pets almost never come to the veterinarian's office too thin."


Reasons

Becker said there are three reasons why pets get fat:

They eat the wrong food. There's only one type of food your pet should eat, and your veterinarian can help you figure that out based on your pet's breed, age, lifestyle and health risks. Vets probably will change what a pet eats five times during its life, as it ages. It is impossible for consumers to weed through the tantalizing ads and competing claims to make sound choices for their pets.

They eat too much food. Pet owners underestimate how much their pets are eating, especially as it relates to how many calories they're burning. A lap dog lying in a lap doesn't need a lot of calories — but a lap dog training for a marathon with its owner does. Sometimes, pets eat more than the owners know. Dogs can raid a cat's bowl, and all kinds of pets might get treats on the sly.

They eat too many treats. Nobody wants to stop giving their pet treats. But limit the treats to 10 percent of the pet's daily caloric intake. Try to substitute healthy treats like baby carrots, which are sweet and crunchy but have no empty calories. Also, offer "emotional milkbones" in which you tell your pet how great it is along with a smaller portion of treats.




How to Tell

Here are some signs your pet is overweight, according to Becker:

Your pet has breathing problems and pants a lot.
Your pet has difficulty jumping and climbing stairs, often from secondary joint problems.

Even with these clues, most people are in denial that their pet is overweight. Becker pointed to a body-scoring assessment you can do at home, or ask your vet to do. Here's where to look to see if your pet is to fat:

Ribs check: You should be able to easily feel your pet's ribs. They shouldn't be covered with a layer of fat.
Profile check: When your pet is standing and you're viewing it from the side, you should see a tucked abdomen, not a body that looks like a cylinder.
Overhead check: When your pet is standing and you're viewing it from above, you should see an hourglass shape with a clearly defined waist.
Tail check: You should be able to feel the base of the tail very easily.

Downsizing


Becker offered tips to downsize your pet:


Feed your pet "weight reducing" food. To get rid of the extra weight feed the food your doctor recommends — which many be a special weight-reducing food like prescription diet R/D or W/D.
Don't feed "free choice" — which means there is food available all the time and your pet eats whenever it wants. Instead, take the amount of food your doctor recommends and divide it up into two or three meals.
Limit snacks and access to other food — just like in a human diet.
Start a walking program. If your overweight pet is really out of shape, don't push it too hard. Start with one block per 10 pounds of body weight, twice a day. Early morning or evening walks are best — avoid scorching sidewalks, high heat and humidity.

References:abcnews

Veterinarian Confirms Elephants Do Run, Sort Of

When John Hutchinson, now at the Royal Veterinary College at the University of London, was in graduate school, it was still an open question whether an elephant moving at high speeds could be considered to be running.



Hutchinson's new study finds that, although they're no greyhounds or cheetahs, fast-moving elephants have a springy step that qualifies them as runners within the animal world.

"No one knew," Hutchinson said. "But as the largest land animals, elephants were a study group that we needed to know more about, in order to interpret how dinosaurs might have moved, and uncover the basic rules about how giant land animals move."

Do the locomotion

The researchers used modern motion capture video techniques, similar to those used in the "Lord of the Rings" movies and in creating video games, along with MRI and CT scans to visualize the positions of the joints of the elephant's fore and hind limbs, Hutchinson explained.

Six special cameras took 240 pictures per second, and could capture far more detail than the naked eye or conventional video could.




Click here to watch a video of an elephant moving.


They soon found that although elephants don't lift all four feet at once, a previous definition of running, they showed signs of using their legs like pogo sticks, compressing and rebounding with each step.

A pogo stick is a pole with a spring at the bottom and two footrests on which a person stands and moves by jumping.








"In the last 40 years, locomotion biomechanics has realized that this is the definitive feature of running — runners are bouncy-legged, whereas walkers are stiff-legged," Hutchinson told LiveScience.

Many animals are now known to bounce without leaving the ground — birds, insects and Icelandic ponies, for example. Even at their top speed of 15 mph, elephants keep one or two feet on the ground at all times.

Elephant knowledge

Understanding the motion of these animals can help researchers identify abnormal gait and musculoskeletal problems, which are normally difficult to recognize and treat.

"Our results will help vets and elephant keepers to identify elephant limb problems earlier," Hutchinson said.

The knowledge could also prove useful in understanding the human gait.

Humans and elephants share a lot in terms of their locomotion. Both stand and move with unusually straight legs compared to other animals, and the proportions and anatomy of our thighs, shank and feet are similar, Hutchinson said.

"Who knows, they may even reveal clues about the links between obesity and arthritis," he commented.

In robotics, elephant locomotion could be used as a model for building giant legged vehicles that move as economically as these large animals.

This research appears in the current issue of BBSRC Business, a magazine published by Britain's Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.

References:foxnews

Shelters prepared for Rita evacuees - and pets

AUSTIN – Texas has learned from the missteps of Hurricane Katrina, and one of the first examples came Wednesday as state officials invited hurricane evacuees to bring their pets along.






Steve McCraw, the state's homeland security chief, said shelters designed to hold 250,000 Gulf Coast residents fleeing Hurricane Rita have been established in Austin, San Antonio, Lufkin, Bryan-College Station and Huntsville.

"We want everyone to have the opportunity to go. That means pets, too. We don't want anyone staying because of pets," Mr. McCraw said.

Gov. Rick Perry said the most important thing for the state to do is "to save lives and take care of our citizens."

Some New Orleans residents refused to leave their pets behind in the aftermath of Katrina, and Texas officials hope taking such steps as allowing residents to bring along crated animals can save more human lives.

Mr. Perry joined local officials in urging what would be the largest evacuation in state history. An estimated 1.2 million coastal residents have been told to pick up and move inland.

The governor warned residents that it takes 33 hours to evacuate the coastal region and that those told by their mayors to leave should start packing immediately.

"Homes and businesses can be rebuilt. Lives cannot. If you're on the coast between Beaumont and Corpus Christi, now is the time to leave," he said.

State officials are scrambling to direct evacuation traffic; move hospital and nursing home patients; deploy security, aid and rescue teams; coordinate communications; and line up needed supplies.

To facilitate the aid and response, President Bush on Wednesday declared Texas a disaster area at the governor's behest.

Mr. McCraw said many evacuees would stay in hotels or with friends and family. If the need for shelter is greater, some people could be sent to cities not originally envisioned for coastal evacuations, such as Lubbock, El Paso and Amarillo, he said.

Mr. McCraw said hospitals, nursing homes, prisons and state schools were being evacuated and the people moved to other facilities around the state.

For instance, at Texas A&M University in College Station, a hospital for large animals with the veterinary medicine school was reconfigured to make room for 250 evacuated patients, including children suffering from serious burns or physical disabilities, and elderly patients with special needs.

Dr. H. Richard Adams said the hospital, built in 1992, has oxygen service, diesel generators and the space to accommodate the patients, family and their caregivers.

By Thursday afternoon, the state expected 4,000 Guardsmen, 1,000 state troopers and massive supplies of water, ice and nonperishable food to be deployed near target areas.

Of the state's 20,000 Guardsmen, about 6,300 are on active duty and unavailable to help respond to the storm. About 4,000 of those are on duty in Iraq.

Eleven helicopters have been secured for search and rescue duty, and the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and Texas State Guard are poised to move rapidly into any area that is hit.

Dr. David McIntyre, director of Texas A&M's Integrative Center for Homeland Security, said state and local officials are working well together and have long planned for mass evacuations and other scenarios.

"I think things are really moving in the right direction," he said.

Mr. Perry said Texas was one of the best-prepared states in the nation to deal with a disaster. And he said the state must prepare for the worst.

"It is quite likely that it will be a devastating storm when it reaches Texas," Mr. Perry said.


References:wvec

Rabid Fox Found in Madrid, AL

The Houston County Health Department has confirmed a 16th case of rabies this year. Health Department officials tell News 4 it involves a fox found Monday.

A homeowner saw the fox and noticed it was acting aggressively and looked sick. Testing by the Health Department confirmed rabies.






The fox isn't thought to have come into contact with any humans or other animals.

Officials say it's another reminder about why it's important to keep your pets vaccinated.

Last year there were 19 cases of rabies in Houston County.

References:wtvynews4

Florida struggles to balance public safety and protection of alligators

By BRIAN SKOLOFF
Associated Press Writer
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) It was curtains for Crusty.

The 8-foot alligator had been fed too many marshmallows, jelly beans and M&Ms, and had lost his fear of humans. Under state policy, he was deemed a nuisance, which is a virtual death sentence.

But then an anonymous donor last month paid to have the gator moved to a nearby animal exhibit.

Crusty was one of the lucky ones.

More than 7,000 gators, or about 20 a day, are killed each year under Florida's nuisance alligator criteria 4 feet or longer and a perceived threat to people or pets.

Under the policy, if the state receives a complaint about an alligator gator from a homeowner, it can send a trapper to catch and kill the reptile and sell its meat and hide. A gator can be killed just for being seen in a pond near children.

Biologists say the policy is needed to protect human life in densely populated Florida, where there is about one alligator for every nine of the state's nearly 18 million people.

Animal rights advocates agree that public safety should come first, but some wonder if the policy is too sweeping.

``There's, rightfully so, an interest on the state's part in protecting public safety, but unfortunately a lot of the response is just pulling those gators out,'' said Julie Wraithmell of Audubon of Florida.

Alligator attacks on humans in Florida are extremely rare. Just 17 fatal attacks have been reported since 1948 not counting three deaths in mid-May that are still under investigation. Some experts say the cluster was just a freak occurrence.

Nuisance gators cannot simply be picked up and moved elsewhere. Biologists say alligators are highly territorial and can find their way back to their homes even after being moved miles away. Moreover, many privately run alligator exhibits are full.

Decades of over-hunting and loss of habitat led to the listing of the alligator as an endangered species in 1967. Forty years later, gators are thriving in Florida, after sweeping conservation efforts and a crackdown on poachers.











In addition to killing nuisance gators, Florida holds a yearly alligator hunt. This year's started Tuesday and will last nearly 11 weeks. Officials sold 4,406 permits for the 2006 season; each permit allows for two alligator kills.

Also, about 46,000 alligator eggs were taken from the wild last month as part of a program that allows farmers to raise them in captivity and sell their hides and meat.

``It seems we've struck a pretty good balance,'' said Rodney Barreto, chairman of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. ``Remember, at one time the alligator was almost extinct.''

Alligator trapper Todd Hardwick and others believe the answer to Florida's nuisance-gator problem lies in public education.

``Alligator common sense is lacking in Florida,'' he said. ``You're surrounded by more than a million gators here. Behave properly and you'll be fine.''

Among other things, the commission warns people to keep their distance from alligators, since they can run up to 30 mph on land; closely supervise children when they are around fresh water; swim only during daylight hours, since gators are most active between dusk and dawn; and never feed the animals.

Complaints about nuisance gators have risen steadily over the years, in large part because of Florida's increasing human population and the spread of housing developments into wild areas.

The deadly attacks in May set off a frenzy, with complaints in one week doubling from a year earlier to 1,218 calls. Last year, the commission received about 17,000 complaint calls and about 8,000 alligators were killed. In 2000, about 6,200 alligators were killed under the policy.

``I'm horrified to see the lack of consideration that humans give alligators, considering that the reason we have this problem is because of us,'' said Mary Martin, a Jupiter resident who runs an animal rights Web site. ``It's morally and ethically outrageous to be killing them.''

Harry Dutton, the state's alligator management coordinator, said no other state has such an abundance of large predatory animals living so close to so many humans.

``We're always going to err on the side of public safety,'' Dutton said. ``But we'll never take so many alligators that we're going to jeopardize their existence.''

Related Links:http://myfwc.com/gators/






References:http://cbs3.com/

2006 Praise for Pets

Some bring us our slippers or the morning paper. Some have proven to be the best companion on a walk around the park. Others simply provide needed comfort that has a huge impact on our lives. Now it's time to honor the outstanding pets in our community for their continued devotion to all of us. Come celebrate the 2006 Praise for Pets event on October 18th.


The Colorado Veterinary Medical Foundation is accepting nominations for this year's award ceremony. Pets as well as human heroes will be honored at this special event. Award categories include Hero, Service, Human-Animal Bond, and Human Hero. This year, a special category will honor those people who worked tirelessly to save animals displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita as well as the animals they helped to find new homes here in Colorado.





Praise for Pets will also help raise money for programs like the Colorado State Animal Response Team which is one of the nation's strongest state emergency preparedness programs.

If you want to see an exceptional bird, dog, cat, horse, or other great animal recognized for their contributions, please nominate them by September 15. Click on the link to download the official nomination form or call 303-318-0447 to request a nomination packet.

2006 Praise for Pets
When: October 18
Nominations Due: September 15
Information: call 303-318-0447
colovma

References:9news

Get tough on bad dogs

The most important thing a local government can do is provide for the public's safety, and Deltona is doing just that as commissioners work to strengthen its laws on dangerous dogs.

After a resident's poodle was attacked and killed by a neighbor's pit bull, it became clear Deltona's animal-control ordinance doesn't go far enough. The dog couldn't be impounded because a broad state law requires two attacks before a dog can be deemed dangerous. Cities can make their own ordinances tougher, and it looks like Deltona will, voting unanimously Monday to allow a dog to be impounded after one attack.






The change, up for final approval on Aug. 21, is a reasoned approach because it does not ban a specific breed. Other cities, too, would do better to focus on safety rather than a breed's reputation.


References:orlandosentinel