tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44882270012606923262024-02-07T21:04:35.256-06:00austindogandcat.comFor Austinites who love their pets like familyDebi Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09010511468063772895noreply@blogger.comBlogger710125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488227001260692326.post-76254650830394627432016-05-06T12:18:00.000-05:002016-05-06T12:18:18.657-05:00Update on vet who shot cat with an arrow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9BYYMvgd1jXIT0q8y5TaxugnKaSvlzGSfsDchOJSDmQBlcuxBXyI2o6Gu-vtPmz-cHecXnqbD0ulm3XnZcTyWYO0hQwxKBLjWAjpInWQxrYcIghfeigNj1E-9-TL9mkI69jQ4COhid_IP/s1600/1024x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9BYYMvgd1jXIT0q8y5TaxugnKaSvlzGSfsDchOJSDmQBlcuxBXyI2o6Gu-vtPmz-cHecXnqbD0ulm3XnZcTyWYO0hQwxKBLjWAjpInWQxrYcIghfeigNj1E-9-TL9mkI69jQ4COhid_IP/s400/1024x1024.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<h1 class="headline entry-title" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: AdelleBasic-Bold, serif; font-size: 34px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 40px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: RobotoRegular, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; padding: 0px 0px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;">
from:<a href="http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/texas/article/Decision-likely-months-away-on-license-of-vet-who-7388143.php#photo-9932462" target="_blank"> chron.com</a></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: RobotoRegular, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; padding: 0px 0px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Following a two-day hearing in Austin, the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners is still probably at least five months away from making a decision on disciplining a Brenham practitioner who boasted about killing a cat with a bow and arrow.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: RobotoRegular, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; padding: 0px 0px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Dr. Kristen Lindsey, a licensed veterinarian since 2012, caused a storm of controversy in June when she shot an orange tabby with a bow and arrow and posted a photo on Facebook.</div>
<div class="hdnce-e hdnce-item-47758" style="color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px;">
</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: RobotoRegular, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; padding: 0px 0px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Following an uproar from animal welfare advocates, the veterinary board filed a formal complaint in October to revoke Lindsey's license.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: RobotoRegular, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; padding: 0px 0px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;">
For more info read <a href="http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/texas/article/Decision-likely-months-away-on-license-of-vet-who-7388143.php#photo-9932462" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
<br /><div style="border: 0px; font-family: RobotoRegular, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; padding: 0px 0px 24px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
</h1>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">austindogandcat.blogspot.com</div>Debi Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09010511468063772895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488227001260692326.post-9797840970107737072016-05-05T20:04:00.003-05:002016-05-05T20:04:49.272-05:00City Dog Austin: 'Happy Cinco de Mayo' <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkr3xZ_DfO-xc9DqvY2G6bB4MeAGkLpM88D8shtv__Wxa6FAo8YWjjHz0K5L_FtMniKeL2feAvvOW6yXf2cU_yynD1HqX7JqUy2BM8T3jfCUjjrjjchirYRF9x_43g6x-mtOOzwU5cL_E/s1600/13178786_851127988326698_6564027827889463824_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkr3xZ_DfO-xc9DqvY2G6bB4MeAGkLpM88D8shtv__Wxa6FAo8YWjjHz0K5L_FtMniKeL2feAvvOW6yXf2cU_yynD1HqX7JqUy2BM8T3jfCUjjrjjchirYRF9x_43g6x-mtOOzwU5cL_E/s320/13178786_851127988326698_6564027827889463824_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
See <a href="https://www.facebook.com/citydogaustin/photos/a.563610960411737.1073741827.558403510932482/851127988326698/?type=3&theater" target="_blank">City Dog's Facebook</a> page</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">austindogandcat.blogspot.com</div>Debi Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09010511468063772895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488227001260692326.post-76936099699888211742016-05-05T18:15:00.003-05:002016-05-05T18:15:28.573-05:00 iPet Companion to offer extra playtime for their rescued cats and for internet users<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20o8F7TqVxLmegW-zTEd_wHyr9QWR7Qznsg_8_bFA1HHPdil5BzqPUZD7lTnHPYQmfJ5uUrBwaIG2C4QN1iIe2X9uX8XwLgIdzETlejkS1tbzCWowuq5Y48BxRX7_udwf_zYr394D-TRE/s1600/rgz-uberkittens-07.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20o8F7TqVxLmegW-zTEd_wHyr9QWR7Qznsg_8_bFA1HHPdil5BzqPUZD7lTnHPYQmfJ5uUrBwaIG2C4QN1iIe2X9uX8XwLgIdzETlejkS1tbzCWowuq5Y48BxRX7_udwf_zYr394D-TRE/s320/rgz-uberkittens-07.webp" width="288" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px;">
from<a href="http://buzzworthy.blog.austin360.com/2016/04/23/play-with-kittens-from-shelters-around-the-u-s-by-using-your-computer/" target="_blank">: austin360.com</a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px;">
27 shelters partner with <a href="http://ipetcompanion.com/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #9d9d9d; text-decoration: none;">iPet Companion</a> to offer extra playtime for their rescued cats and for internet users.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px;">
While this service isn’t new, it has grown from two shelters to 27 <a href="http://www.gizmag.com/ipet-companion-links-people-with-cats-by-internet/18292/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #9d9d9d; text-decoration: none;">over the past five years</a>. iPet Companion first tested its product at Idaho Humane Society in 2011, and expanded its reach across the United States. Only one shelter in Texas participates: you can play with the kittens at Central Texas SPCA in Leander, Texas.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px;">
Navigating the camera feels a little weird at first, but soon you’ll get the hang of it. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px;">
To check it out, click <a href="http://Navigating%20the%20camera%20feels%20a%20little%20weird%20at%20first,%20but%20soon%20you%E2%80%99ll%20get%20the%20hang%20of%20it./" target="_blank">here</a>. </div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">austindogandcat.blogspot.com</div>Debi Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09010511468063772895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488227001260692326.post-86306805307091408182016-05-05T13:44:00.000-05:002016-05-05T13:45:52.475-05:00Inaugural May 7 Best in Show Fest will celebrate five years of no-kill in Austin <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWFFBtgN6cFD2oI-uzsQs1cjmKO3wWnP2ODxUvBp5FKmNe8xJ3TIiLwNnvvoFiVSqkTxX8potB8WobCRP5bWXiZhlbTX4Mcc02KdDnRZgtrf4Eau4Qm0wSnd5MOimp6n1rkyGOzToZTO5/s1600/static1.squarespace.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWFFBtgN6cFD2oI-uzsQs1cjmKO3wWnP2ODxUvBp5FKmNe8xJ3TIiLwNnvvoFiVSqkTxX8potB8WobCRP5bWXiZhlbTX4Mcc02KdDnRZgtrf4Eau4Qm0wSnd5MOimp6n1rkyGOzToZTO5/s320/static1.squarespace.png" width="320" /></a></div>
from: <a href="https://www.austintexas.gov/news/best-show-fest-celebrating-five-years-no-kill-austin">austintexas.gov</a><br />
<div class="grid-12" style="background-color: white; display: inline; float: left; font-size: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; position: relative; width: 700px;">
<div class="panel-panel panel-col alpha grid-12" id="panel-maincontent" style="display: inline; float: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 5px; position: relative; width: 700px;">
<div class="panel-pane pane-views-panes pane-extra-page-blocks-panel-pane-19" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<div class="pane-content">
<div class="view view-extra-page-blocks view-id-extra_page_blocks view-display-id-panel_pane_19 nolink clearfix view-dom-id-178d72849d4ef229b082743e69a4032b">
<div class="view-content">
<div class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first views-row-last">
<div about="/news/best-show-fest-celebrating-five-years-no-kill-austin" class="node node-news-release clearfix" id="node-41289" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" typeof="sioc:Item foaf:Document">
<div class="content">
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded">
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.2em;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">As one of the largest animal lifesaving communities in the nation, </span></div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.2em;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Austin animal welfare organizations have worked tirelessly to save </span></div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.2em;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">pets across the city. The Best in Show Fest will raise funds and </span></div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.2em;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">increase awareness for the local animal welfare community and </span></div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.2em;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">the services it provides. The Fest will benefit Emancipet, </span></div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.2em;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Austin Humane Society, Austin Pets Alive!, and Friends of Austin </span></div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.2em;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Animal Center. In addition, the Austin Community Foundation will </span></div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.2em;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">help further the mission of the participating animal welfare </span></div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.2em;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">organizations by matching a portion of the donations raised </span></div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.2em;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">during the April online fundraising competition.</span></div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.2em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.2em;">
“We’re always looking for creative ways to give back to the community and with this</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.2em;">
being Austin’s fifth year as a No Kill city it was a no-brainer,” said Hayley Swindell, </div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.2em;">
Community Advocate at BuildASign.com. “Austin has always been a pet-friendly </div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.2em;">
city and we’re excited to support local animal welfare organizations and the </div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.2em;">
services they provide to the pets and pet parents across Austin.”</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.2em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.2em;">
“Five years ago the City of Austin made a historic decision to stop ending the lives </div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.2em;">
of shelter pets for space and convenience and thanks to city leadership, community </div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.2em;">
animal welfare partners, compassionate volunteers, dedicated staff and the community </div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.2em;">
at large, we’ve been saving more than 90% ever since,” said Chief Animal </div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.2em;">
Services Officer, Tawny Hammond. “We are so excited to be throwing the doors </div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.2em;">
open on May 7 and celebrating this historic No Kill anniversary!”</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.2em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.2em;">
On May 7th, Best in Show will host a celebratory festival at Austin Animal Center </div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.2em;">
that is free and open to the public. The family and pet-friendly festival will feature a </div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.2em;">
dog show competition where the top online fundraisers can further compete with </div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.2em;">
their dogs for titles like “Parent-Pup Look-A-Like” and “Best Trick”. In addition, </div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.2em;">
the festival will also include live entertainment, vendors, activity stations and </div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.2em;">
chances to get involved with animal welfare nonprofits from around the city. </div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.2em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.2em;">
For more information on Best in Show or to register to fundraise, visit </div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.2em;">
bestinshowfest.org</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.2em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.2em;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">austindogandcat.blogspot.com</div>Debi Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09010511468063772895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488227001260692326.post-36466999817967344162016-01-01T19:35:00.001-06:002016-01-01T19:36:34.296-06:00Astounding article on Austin cat man<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<h1 class="title" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #322e2a; font-family: BebasNeue; font-stretch: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 54px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;">HOW TO RAISE A 165-YEAR-OLD CAT</span></h1>
<br />
from:<a href="http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/how-to-raise-a-165-year-old-cat" target="_blank">atlasobscura.com</a><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #fbfaf6; color: #686460; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 15px; line-height: 15px; text-transform: uppercase;">BY </span><strong style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #686460; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.atlasobscura.com/users/couchcs?view=articles" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #668f9e; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 300; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">CHRISTINA COUCH</a></strong><span style="background-color: #fbfaf6; color: #686460; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 15px; line-height: 15px; text-transform: uppercase;"> </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL7bCCi-41q1uzd7E_67pwSGrnCHiPDRCitNT6fPU1DulxeTrGCLUh2xfrrIwZp_SxWAd1pSBZgdaX2pgF8WCTp1JXLkfEdetnT8pQ16t-GiZwA-CMLQFeWehf3gXzWIWLR1RctBydYDzs/s1600/image-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL7bCCi-41q1uzd7E_67pwSGrnCHiPDRCitNT6fPU1DulxeTrGCLUh2xfrrIwZp_SxWAd1pSBZgdaX2pgF8WCTp1JXLkfEdetnT8pQ16t-GiZwA-CMLQFeWehf3gXzWIWLR1RctBydYDzs/s320/image-1.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fbfaf6; color: #686460; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 15px; line-height: 15px; text-transform: uppercase;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fbfaf6; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Jake Perry. (All Photos: </span><a href="http://www.philklinephoto.com/" style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #668f9e; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Phil Kline</a><span style="background-color: #fbfaf6; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fbfaf6; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0.75em 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Jake Perry is a cat man. Standing about 5-foot-7 and often clad in workman’s clothes, the 85-year-old Austin, Texas, plumber is also a father and husband. But anyone who’s met Perry will tell you—first and foremost, he’s a cat man.</div>
<div style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0.75em 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Perry’s cats broke the<a href="http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/oldest-cat-living" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #668f9e; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Guinness World Record for oldest cat</a>. Twice, actually: The first record, from 1998, was for a part Sphynx, part Devon Rex named Granpa Rexs Allen who made it to age 34; the second, from 2005, is for a mixed tabby named Creme Puff who lived to age 38. Since the 1980s, Perry has adopted and re-homed hundreds of cats, at his peak raising four dozen at once, showcasing the best and brightest in cat shows. According to Perry, it’s not just Granpa and Creme Puff who had unusually long lives: About a third of his cats, he says, lived to be at least 30 years old—about twice the average feline life span.</div>
<div id="video-body-ad" style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; height: 1px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="ad-wrapper" id="div-gpt-ad-1438011102027-9" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div id="google_ads_iframe_/9729793/1x1_video_btf_0__container__" style="border: 0pt none; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe frameborder="0" height="1" id="google_ads_iframe_/9729793/1x1_video_btf_0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="google_ads_iframe_/9729793/1x1_video_btf_0" scrolling="no" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; width: 610px;" width="1"></iframe></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0.75em 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Over the years, Perry has been equally celebrated and psychologically analyzed for his extreme dedication to his pets. Now, toward the end of his own life, he believes he’s discovered the secret to feline longevity. </div>
<div style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0.75em 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I first met Perry On a hot summer day in July 2012, when he showed up at my apartment to fix a leaky bathtub. He was strangely magnetic, with a slow Texas drawl, compulsive politeness, and a face that lit up when he saw the apartment’s resident pet—this was not your typical plumber. That day, Perry told me about his own cats, and what he believed were the keys to their unbelievably long lives.</div>
<div style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0.75em 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
First, there was their daily diet: on top of dry commercial cat food, a home-cooked breakfast of eggs, turkey bacon, broccoli, coffee with cream, and—every two days—about an eyedropper full of red wine to “circulate the arteries.” Then there was his effort to ensure the cats were sufficiently stimulated: a garage he’d converted into a home movie theater, with a working reel-to-reel projector and actual movie theater seats, where Perry screens nature documentaries exclusively for the cats (with previews, he added). Last, and perhaps most important, he swore that love and close, personal relationships helped his cats live longer. Perry adored his cats so much, he remembered each of their birthdays. (Bill Clinton was invited to Granpa’s 34th; the president sent a card with his regrets.)</div>
<div style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0.75em 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I had a hard time believing him. A plumber who searches for the feline fountain of youth when he’s not unclogging the drains of Austin sounded more like a third-tier superhero than a real person. But the more I thought about it, I couldn’t imagine why someone would lie about having an absurd number of cats or a uniquely close relationship with them. As the days passed, my questions about Perry mounted. If he’s adopted hundreds of pets over the years, how does that affect his neighbors? Who’s the veterinarian who treats Perry’s ancient cats?</div>
<div style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0.75em 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I found myself googling when I should have been sleeping. News articles about Perry’s two world records were easy to find, but it wasn’t until I stumbled upon a student documentary with footage of the cat movie theater that the details of his story seemed plausible. I called for an interview. He agreed—on five separate occasions—but then didn’t return my calls for months. The man who may have accidentally discovered feline semi-immortality had vanished.</div>
<div style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0.75em 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Which is the short version of how I found myself in Texas, crawling through a thicket of bamboo in a neighbor’s yard, craning my neck to get a glimpse of the cat graveyard next door and trying to unlock the secret for myself.</div>
<hr style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b98303; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 19px; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 1.3em; line-height: 28px; text-align: center;" />
<div style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0.75em 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">“It's not what they taught us in school, you know?” The owner of South Congress Veterinary Clinic, Bruce Hardesty, shrugs when asked about the Perry cats’ diets. The longest-living of them celebrate their birthdays in Hardesty’s clinic with a barrage of media attention, and special tuna and broccoli birthday cakes. Framed photos of those who made it to age 34 hang on Hardesty’s office wall, along with official Guinness World Record certificates.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0.75em 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Now in his late 50s, Hardesty has been Perry’s vet for the last 15 years—he’s seen 40 to 50 of Perry’s cats. Hardesty believes at least six of them reached age 30, with several more making it to 25. For many, however, it’s impossible to know their precise ages. “It’s not like you can cut them open and count the rings,” he says.</div>
<div style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0.75em 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
“It's not what they taught us in school, you know?” The owner of South Congress Veterinary Clinic, Bruce Hardesty, shrugs when asked about the Perry cats’ diets. The longest-living of them celebrate their birthdays in Hardesty’s clinic with a barrage of media attention, and special tuna and broccoli birthday cakes. Framed photos of those who made it to age 34 hang on Hardesty’s office wall, along with official Guinness World Record certificates.</div>
<div style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0.75em 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Now in his late 50s, Hardesty has been Perry’s vet for the last 15 years—he’s seen 40 to 50 of Perry’s cats. Hardesty believes at least six of them reached age 30, with several more making it to 25. For many, however, it’s impossible to know their precise ages. “It’s not like you can cut them open and count the rings,” he says.</div>
<div style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0.75em 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
All he’ll concede—or speculate—is that there could be something to the cats’ coffee. “The kidneys are one of the weaker systems in the cat,” he says. “If you gave them a little bit of diuretic, which caffeine [is], maybe that would help?”</div>
<div style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0.75em 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Which is to say: The science behind Perry’s longevity formula is shaky at best. <a href="https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/people-foods-avoid-feeding-your-pets" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #668f9e; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals regards caffeine</a> as toxic to cats. Jennifer Larsen, an associate professor of clinical nutrition at the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, agrees. “Caffeine and alcohol are not advisable and can be harmful,” she writes over email. She also says that her school recommends cats not consume more than 10 percent of their daily calories in treats or “human food.”</div>
<div style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0.75em 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
But there is one major quantifiable factor that contributes to cat longevity: All of Perry’s cats are sterilized. The process eliminates certain infectious disease risks, says Sandi Lefebvre, a vet and assistant editor, publications division for the American Veterinary Medical Association. It also reduces cats’ desire to roam, making them “less likely to be at risk for things that cause death,” she says.</div>
<div style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0.75em 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The average life expectancy of pet cats in general increased from 11 years in 2002 to 12 years in 2012, according to records from Banfield Pet Hospital, a chain of more than 900 veterinary hospitals. Some of that change is associated with more people getting their pets spayed and neutered, says Lefebvre.</div>
<div style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0.75em 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The benefits of sterilization could be more than just behavioral. Jessica Hoffman, a postdoctoral scholar in biology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, thinks the hormone changes that come with neutering could help extend overall life span in multiple species. While she was a PhD candidate at the University of Georgia, she analyzed death records for about 70,500 dogs, and found that sterilized females lived about two years longer (and males about one year longer) than their genitally intact counterparts.</div>
<div style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0.75em 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
To explain why sterilization might boost longevity, Hoffman mentions an evolutionary theory: Increases in testosterone can actually weaken the immune system. “A lot of the intact dogs, which would have higher levels of testosterone, also are more likely to die of infectious diseases,” she says. “That might explain some of the [life span] differences”—but, she adds, this is just a hypothesis. “We don’t know the actual reason neutering increases life span. It may be something completely unrelated to hormones.”</div>
<div style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0.75em 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Neutering and the lowered testosterone levels that result from it have also been linked to increased life span in some species of birds, and even humans. (Some scientists believe that lower testosterone levels are the key reason women live longer than men.)</div>
<div style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0.75em 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Of course, neutering can only increase cat longevity by so much. More than nine out of every 10 house cats in the United States are neutered, reports the ASPCA, and only a small portion of cats make it anywhere close to age 30. Using a human life span equivalency formula on the Cornell Feline Health Center’s website, 30 cat years translates to about 133 human years. By those measures, if 34-year-old Granpa were an actual human grandpa, he would have passed away at 149. Creme Puff, for the record, kept chugging until human-age 165. Surely, there must be something else at work here. </div>
<div style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0.75em 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
It’s been about six weeks and 15 phone calls, but I still haven’t managed to get ahold of Jake Perry himself. So I’ve been interviewing his neighbors. One lets me peep over her backyard fence, and from there I can see Perry’s DIY pet cemetery, along with a screened-in pen he’s added so the cats can go outside and watch actual nature (when they’re not watching nature documentaries).</div>
<div style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0.75em 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Diane Bennett, a former next-door neighbor of Perry who worked on the student documentary that profiled him in 2003, described the inside of Perry’s home then as a “virtual jungle gym/cat playground.” Bennett tells me that “he had built tracks along the walls so that the cats could transit the house like hamsters in tubes.” Perry’s dedication to his cats is clearly a central focus of his life. Even those who have known Perry for years know little about his wife and children, but know everything about the cats.</div>
<div style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0.75em 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
“He’s the nicest of guys. All he does is talk about his cats, you know, or the plumbing,” says Bill Malone, a home remodeling contractor who’s worked with Perry for the past five years. “There’s no in-between.”</div>
<div style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0.75em 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
And yet, the cats aren’t simply one man’s obsession; they’re something of an Austin legend. Betsy Williams, a vet tech at South Congress, remembers the calendars of Granpa passed out to local businesses, and the personalized T-shirts that were printed when the cat turned 34. Local and national news media attended some of the older cats’ birthday parties. In 2011, The Austin Chronicle included Perry in their Best of Austin issue, naming him the “Best Retired Plumber With Some Claims to Fame,” and stating that “unlike his cousin [former Texas governor Rick Perry—yes, really] … Perry is well-known and well-liked around Austin.” When Granpa finally passed away, donations from domestic and international fans flooded in, enough to purchase the headstone that marks the cat’s final resting place in Perry’s backyard.</div>
<div style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0.75em 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Even postmortem, Perry’s cats have an enviable fan base, but after interviewing 10 current and former neighbors, three students who made the documentary (it’s called South Paws), a coworker, and two members of the cats’ vet care team, the man himself remains a mystery. Just when I’m convinced I’ll never find out what drives a person to take his cats to PetSmart up to seven times a week, or remodel his home to better serve his pets, Jake Perry calls back.</div>
<div style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0.75em 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The Cat Man starts with a gentlemanly apology. Much has changed since the bathtub fix of 2012. A battle with pancreatic cancer (from which he has since emerged victorious) has mired him in a flurry of doctors’ appointments and medical jargon. But he’s happy to share more about his cat-rearing techniques—which turn out to be more wonderfully weird than I’d realized. In addition to nature documentaries, his homemade movie theater screens 3-D films that require cat viewers to wear plastic red-and-blue glasses. Perry’s cats always celebrated Easter with baskets and eggs filled with treats, Thanksgiving with turkey and long naps, and New Year’s Eve with tiny cat hats and Champagne—a beverage Granpa liked so much, “I had to keep a little bottle for him.” Every Christmas, Perry and Granpa headed to PetSmart so Granpa could pick out gifts for the cat clan. Back at home, Perry assembled an electric train that ran around the house, sometimes carrying feline freight-hoppers as it passed. But what motivates him to go to such lengths? Perry answers without hesitation. “I love them,” he says. “And another thing: When I go to the shelter, the old heart starts ticking. [I see them and think] I want you.”</div>
<div style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0.75em 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
At 85 human years, Perry is finally focusing on himself. He’s staring down his own mortality and thinking about how he wants to spend his remaining days. “I’m hoping if my condition works out, I might sell this place and move to the country,” he says. “My little dream [is] to open up a pet cemetery.”</div>
<div style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0.75em 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The cats would come too, even the dead ones. The corpses of 47 of Perry’s cats are sealed in fiberglass baby caskets and buried in his backyard. Granpa’s donation-funded headstone marks the somber spot, as does a nearly 3-foot-tall Virgin Mary statue that looms over the grave. The burial is an important part of finding peace when a beloved pet passes, Perry adds, as is honoring their lives with a viewing and memorial service open to friends and family.</div>
<div style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0.75em 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
“I’ve still got a video somewhere from when Granpa died,” says Betsy Williams, the vet tech. “The cats would walk up [to the casket] and kind of sniff at him and walk past. It was like a human funeral service.”</div>
<div style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0.75em 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
But Perry is hardly ready to give up on the living. He has one cat left, and therefore, hope for one more world record. This would be Jean Claude Van Damme, also known as Cowboy. Clocking in at 19 years—a whipper-snapping 89 people years—Jean Claude is the last to indulge in the homemade breakfasts, the jungle gym, the film screenings. He’s also among the wealthiest cats in Texas. In 1998, Perry says he won around $50,000 playing Granpa’s birthday numbers on a lucky Cash Five lottery ticket. He tells me that the winnings, combined with several smaller jackpots won through the years, were invested in a trust for the cats to be used either for their care upon Perry’s passing, or Perry’s own care in the case of a medical emergency.</div>
<div style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0.75em 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Bruce Hardesty is keeping an eye on both Perry and his cat. He’s watching Jean Claude Van Damme’s health and noting when Perry is due in next. “If every once in a while we don’t see him, we’re afraid something … might have happened to him,” Hardesty says, “ ’Cause I’ll tell you, the world’s going to be a lesser place when Jake Perry’s not in it.” While Perry thinks it’s his methodology—the diet, the mental stimulation, the sterilization—keeping his cats alive, Hardesty believes the formula could be as simple as plain old love.</div>
<div style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0.75em 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Should Perry get his wish of opening a pet cemetery, he’ll eventually be buried there too, right beside the pets he treated as members of his more conventional family. “These are my children,” he says with that unmistakable Texas drawl. “I looked after them until they passed on. That’s the way I was raised up.”</div>
<div style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0.75em 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
In the meantime, “If a sick cat comes here in the yard, you know what I’m going to do?” he says. “I’m gonna take ’em to the vet.”</div>
<div style="background-color: #fbfaf6; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #322e2a; font-family: MuseoSans; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0.75em 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<img alt="" class="article-image" data-kind="article-image" src="http://assets.atlasobscura.com/article_images/22238/image.jpg" height="23" id="article-image-22238" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 10px 0px 0px; max-width: 610px !important; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="132" /> <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This story was co-produced with </em><a href="http://mentalfloss.com/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #668f9e; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">mental_floss</em></a><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> magazine and appeared in the Jan/Feb 2016 issue. </em><a href="https://subscribe.mentalfloss.com/wes/servlet/OrderPageCreator" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #668f9e; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Click here</em></a><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> to subscribe.</em> </div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">austindogandcat.blogspot.com</div>Debi Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09010511468063772895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488227001260692326.post-8321381025053482852016-01-01T18:35:00.001-06:002016-01-01T18:35:18.777-06:00Who won 'Best Dog Beard'? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2kRJeoirtkP46XPHU97kU-w_Ao8mFDqImZSMv0x0Rojdb_lhw8TXe6uXs1-DTCcqfQmdt5BnLruqZOWIBd6a58xG0HzL5cijv9SAKo2xQiu12sQMbiiL7nWTAAzmWxYs-tP1bWwN9-ZY1/s1600/123454681018587251516527174437161798251311n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2kRJeoirtkP46XPHU97kU-w_Ao8mFDqImZSMv0x0Rojdb_lhw8TXe6uXs1-DTCcqfQmdt5BnLruqZOWIBd6a58xG0HzL5cijv9SAKo2xQiu12sQMbiiL7nWTAAzmWxYs-tP1bWwN9-ZY1/s320/123454681018587251516527174437161798251311n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<dt class="label-primary" data-automation="listing-info-language" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Benton Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;"><br /></dt>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">austindogandcat.blogspot.com</div>Debi Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09010511468063772895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488227001260692326.post-80985572750195872282016-01-01T18:29:00.002-06:002016-01-01T18:29:57.595-06:00Local vets say 'Don't panic' about dog flu strain that's hit Texas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl2Zx12od7s-0P55ky0O8rngYZcjE_9pMC_ryaAyVe7wOnYFpC_kuSxEVaVmB6ti1_jjSLdK_fN5mLD__-ZG-viki9UknPTIOMIwsiKBLFEkKhsZx1Z-T72jjIoIjvfGf0dvMJoDe6FNUU/s1600/AP_933246654608-800x450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl2Zx12od7s-0P55ky0O8rngYZcjE_9pMC_ryaAyVe7wOnYFpC_kuSxEVaVmB6ti1_jjSLdK_fN5mLD__-ZG-viki9UknPTIOMIwsiKBLFEkKhsZx1Z-T72jjIoIjvfGf0dvMJoDe6FNUU/s400/AP_933246654608-800x450.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Sentinel SSm 4r', 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 14px;">(AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Sentinel SSm 4r', 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Sentinel SSm 4r', 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 14px;">from: <a href="http://www.texasmonthly.com/the-daily-post/what-you-should-know-about-h3n2-the-dog-flu-strain-that-hit-texas/" target="_blank">texasmonthly.com</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Sentinel SSm 4r', 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 14px;">December 22, 2015</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Sentinel SSm 4r', 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span class="by" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Sentinel SSm 4r', 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">By</span><span style="font-family: 'Sentinel SSm 4r', 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 14px;"> </span><a class="url fn" href="http://www.texasmonthly.com/author/dan-solomon-cap/" rel="author" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: 'Sentinel SSm 4r', 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Posts by Dan Solomon">Dan Solomon</a></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Sentinel SSm 4r', 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">
With three days until Christmas, people’s travel plans are mostly set, and that includes what they’ll do with their dogs. But there’s an unexpected wrinkle for Texans who are looking for a safe place to keep their pup this week: H3N2, the highly contagious strain of dog flu that’s been going around Chicago this year, has made its way to Texas.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Sentinel SSm 4r', 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">
As canine flus go, H3N2 is worse than most. It spread fast in Chicago—there were more than a thousand cases in that area by March. A coughing dog who has the virus can spread it twenty feet away, and onto clothes or a person’s hands. It incubates quickly—two to five days—and the infection can last up to six weeks (the first three of which the dog is contagious). The mortality rate for H3N2 is thankfully low, but that doesn’t mean it’s pleasant: dogs with the virus develop a heavy cough, run a fever, experience a loss of appetite, and have low energy. Dr. Mac Todd of the Arlington Humane Society told NBC DFW that <a href="http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/New-Dog-Flu-Strain-Moves-Into-Texas-362879381.html" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">“it’s something in the magnitude of a hundred times more transmissible than previous strains of flu.”</a></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Sentinel SSm 4r', 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">
The good news is that there’s a vaccine, which the Department of Agriculture licensed for manufacture in November, and those supplies are making their way to Texas now. The vaccine takes two doses, and there’s a two to four week wait between them—but at the moment, the only confirmed H3N2 cases in Texas are in an Austin kennel, so getting started sooner rather than later is a good idea.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Sentinel SSm 4r', 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="http://kxan.com/2015/12/18/new-strain-of-highly-contagious-dog-flu-in-central-texas/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">KXAN in Austin talked to Dr. Amber Breclaw</a>, a veterinarian in Round Rock, who explained that her clinic is having personnel wear gowns when treating dogs with a cough to avoid the possibility of spreading the virus to others, and asking patients to notify the desk if their dog has been coughing as a precaution.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Sentinel SSm 4r', 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">
This isn’t the first time that H3N2 came to Texas—back in May,<a href="http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/health/H3N2-Dog-Flu-Found-in-Texas-303550511.html" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"> a dog in the Houston area tested positive for the virus</a> after its owners moved from Chicago. But Christmas is poor timing for a new outbreak. A lot of people are boarding their dogs over the holiday, and that means that a lot of healthy dogs will be in close proximity with one another, which is prime condition for a virus to spread. Additionally, plenty of dogs will be traveling with their families to other parts of the state (and the country), and pooches that live in single-pet households most of the time may find themselves spending more time around other dogs than usual.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Sentinel SSm 4r', 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">
Dogs that aren’t going to be traveling or boarding are relatively low-risk for the virus—just don’t take them to a dog park or have them spend much time around other people’s dogs unless they’ve been effectively vaccinated or until the strain has run its course. Those going into kennels are at higher risk, but owners shouldn’t panic. The consequences are roughly the same as what a human faces when it comes to the flu—a miserable couple of weeks, not death—and the virus doesn’t transfer to humans. So though it could be worse, if it’s possible to avoid those risks in the days and weeks to come (whether by vaccination or keeping your dog at home), it’s probably worth doing.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Sentinel SSm 4r', 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="line-height: 14px;">- See more at: http://www.texasmonthly.com/the-daily-post/what-you-should-know-about-h3n2-the-dog-flu-strain-that-hit-texas/#sthash.PQMXng3D.dpuf</span></div>
<div class="inline-ad inline-ad-1" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Sentinel SSm 4r', 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="module module-ad" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 30px; min-width: 300px; padding: 0.625rem 0px; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="ad-tag-Inline-1" id="acm-ad-tag-div-gpt-inline-1" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div id="acm-ad-tag-div-gpt-inline-1_ad_container" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">austindogandcat.blogspot.com</div>Debi Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09010511468063772895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488227001260692326.post-43887493635697110222016-01-01T18:20:00.003-06:002016-01-01T18:21:26.878-06:00Bless you Austin volunteer Brunie Drumond <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM8HWE3mOPhtTublQdPbpm_jXsLQbFsNEB1SOekPzTsv4zch5efT91K9_rWYg114HutvCcbYO5w9q8aNl-ayh8j77J6wAg9tftrH1fty4ymCJgsNeD13y2lNWV-S8F7lV2AG8qVbKN5Nrk/s1600/HT_blackie_with_brunie_drummond_jt_151231_12x5_1600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM8HWE3mOPhtTublQdPbpm_jXsLQbFsNEB1SOekPzTsv4zch5efT91K9_rWYg114HutvCcbYO5w9q8aNl-ayh8j77J6wAg9tftrH1fty4ymCJgsNeD13y2lNWV-S8F7lV2AG8qVbKN5Nrk/s400/HT_blackie_with_brunie_drummond_jt_151231_12x5_1600.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #f5f8fd; color: #333333; font-family: Proxima-Nova, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14px; white-space: nowrap;">Blackie is pictured in his new home with foster parent Brunie Drummond.</span></div>
<br />
from: <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/elderly-dog-abandoned-shelter-spends-year-home/story?id=36032252" target="_blank">abcnews.com</a><br />
<br />
<div itemprop="articleBody" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Proxima-Nova, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Blackie, a 14-year-old blind dog, was days away from death when an Austin, Texas, animal shelter volunteer took him home.</div>
<div itemprop="articleBody" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Proxima-Nova, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
His previous owners had brought him to the shelter when "they could no longer take care of him. Blackie had been an outdoor dog his entire life and he had never seen a vet," Kristen Auerbach, deputy chief animal services officer at Austin Animal Services, told ABC News. "The owners brought him in anticipating we would perform end-of-life euthanasia."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KMDxDJxgecnluojoClzio2uPuvCZQ-YOsGPG9sI2JcfnOQN_YRTHXsqXb1SZEsDKAHAJCzXshSzvuk9QXGMo8mdVUUvOydNnb06CwfSZnb28628_iJZXof0PWxGC75J3W9bZAo2tLcvX/s1600/HT_blackie_celebrates_new_year_jt_151231_v4x3_4x3_992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KMDxDJxgecnluojoClzio2uPuvCZQ-YOsGPG9sI2JcfnOQN_YRTHXsqXb1SZEsDKAHAJCzXshSzvuk9QXGMo8mdVUUvOydNnb06CwfSZnb28628_iJZXof0PWxGC75J3W9bZAo2tLcvX/s320/HT_blackie_celebrates_new_year_jt_151231_v4x3_4x3_992.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div itemprop="articleBody" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Proxima-Nova, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div itemprop="articleBody" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Proxima-Nova, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div itemprop="articleBody" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Proxima-Nova, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 20px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<br />
<div itemprop="articleBody" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Proxima-Nova, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 20px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
Blackie arrived with various health problems, including blindness from untreated <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/topics/lifestyle/health/glaucoma.htm" id="ramplink_Glaucoma_" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5d90ce; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px !important; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Glaucoma</a>and <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/topics/lifestyle/health/vision-loss.htm" id="ramplink_cataracts_" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5d90ce; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px !important; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">cataracts</a>. He also had a large lump, presumably a tumor, on his chest.</div>
<div itemprop="articleBody" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Proxima-Nova, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Euthanasia was considered for Blackie but then "a holiday miracle occurred," said Auerbach.</div>
<div itemprop="articleBody" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Proxima-Nova, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Volunteer Brunie Drumond heard Blackie's story and decided to take him in to live out his final days. Drumond is also a volunteer at Austin Pets Alive! where she took Blackie for medical evaluation.</div>
<div itemprop="articleBody" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Proxima-Nova, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
And then something interesting happened to Blackie. Though blind, he began following Drumond around by the sound of her voice, when previously he had struggled to walk.</div>
<div itemprop="articleBody" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Proxima-Nova, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div itemprop="articleBody" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<br />
<figure class="e_image e_full" id="e_image_36034334" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: black; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: relative;"></figure><br /><br />
<div itemprop="articleBody" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Proxima-Nova, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 20px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
"He seemed to take on a new life, loving every second of being a pet dog, surrounded by people and animals who loved him," said Auerbach.</div>
<div itemprop="articleBody" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Proxima-Nova, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 20px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Blackie celebrated his first Christmas in a home and even got a few Christmas presents. He'll ring in the new year cuddled up with Drumond on the couch -- his favorite place -- and the two will watch the ball drop together.</span></div>
<div itemprop="articleBody" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Proxima-Nova, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
"In every animal shelter around the nation, there are senior and special needs pets waiting for a special family to come and save their life," Dr. Ellen Jefferson, the executive director of Austin Pets Alive!, told ABC News.</div>
<div itemprop="articleBody" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Proxima-Nova, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
"Fostering or adopting a pet nearing the end of its life is one of the most rewarding experiences you will ever have. You will never come across a more grateful creature to be saved than a grey-muzzled cat or dog," she said.</div>
<div itemprop="articleBody" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Proxima-Nova, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
"We don't know how long Blackie has to live, but we do know that he will never spend another night outdoors, cold and alone," Auerbach wrote in a Facebook post. "We know he'll get only the best love and care from Brunie while he is with us and most importantly, we know when Blackie passes away, he will be surrounded by people and animals who love him and who, at the very end, showed him what it's like to be a part of a family."</div>
<div itemprop="articleBody" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Proxima-Nova, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 20px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div itemprop="articleBody" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Proxima-Nova, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">austindogandcat.blogspot.com</div>Debi Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09010511468063772895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488227001260692326.post-5916213039284850992015-10-23T18:06:00.001-05:002015-10-23T18:06:26.374-05:00 New Pet Memorial Center Coming to Austin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sgNSE8PQ22nwc0pQuWSoXSyS78ZVxCgcAGW5BopijZVcIBHamLf_3iL4xgJC6vJrmGT1r7mpITlB1xDEfNhrsts_ixfiDKVrWQqcXvS-ZDje_wDF-wUdFqHjAZJKzfIwSmW7T7fVhbop/s1600/why_us.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sgNSE8PQ22nwc0pQuWSoXSyS78ZVxCgcAGW5BopijZVcIBHamLf_3iL4xgJC6vJrmGT1r7mpITlB1xDEfNhrsts_ixfiDKVrWQqcXvS-ZDje_wDF-wUdFqHjAZJKzfIwSmW7T7fVhbop/s320/why_us.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
from: thepetlosscenter.com </div>
<br />
from: <a href="http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151020006088/en/Silicon-Valley-Alum-Pet-Loss-Pioneer-Launch" target="_blank">businesswire.com</a><br />
<br />
<i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 21px; text-align: center;">The Pet Loss Center serves mourning pet parents and veterinary clinics</i><br />
<i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 21px; text-align: center;"><br /></i>
<span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">AUSTIN, Texas--(</span><span itemid="http://www.businesswire.com" itemprop="provider publisher copyrightHolder" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/Organization" style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><span itemprop="name"><a href="http://www.businesswire.com/" itemprop="url" rel="nofollow" style="color: #79a2bd; text-decoration: none;">BUSINESS WIRE</a></span></span><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">)--</span><a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpetlosscenter.com%2F&esheet=51204904&newsitemid=20151020006088&lan=en-US&anchor=The+Pet+Loss+Center&index=1&md5=c5b840f2d8d7fea918cd0ed72bfdd484" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #79a2bd; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Pet Loss Center</a><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">, a pet memorial services company, announced its Texas launch today with the opening of two Dallas-area locations and one Austin location also serving the San Antonio and San Marcos markets. The Pet Loss Center offers pet owners and veterinary clinics final arrangement services including cremation, memorialization, ritual options and pet-loss grief support. Whether through a keepsake necklace, a Journey Urn that celebrates the chapter between pet and pet owner, or a memorial service in one of the viewing rooms, The Pet Loss Center offers a variety of options for pet owners to choose from.</span><br />
<div style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">
Business partners Nick Padlo and Coleen Ellis, a nationally recognized pet loss expert, joined forces to bring The Pet Loss Center to Texas with plans to scale beyond.</div>
<div style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">
“We saw a lack of consistent quality in the pet loss industry,” said Padlo, co-founder and CEO of The Pet Loss Center. “Coleen and I founded The Pet Loss Center on the principle of providing a seamless experience for pet parents and vets during a very emotional and difficult time. We want them to know they can trust us to respect their pets with the same dignity that is given to someone’s family member, because to us, our pets are our family.”</div>
<div>
<div style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">
The Pet Loss Center developed Trusted Journey, a software system that tracks pets from their initial pickup from a veterinary clinic or pet parent’s home to their final goodbye. The Trusted Journey software system ensures pets are well taken care of along every step of the journey, giving pet owners and vets peace of mind knowing exactly where their pet is in the process.</div>
<div style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">
“Honoring a pet after death is a natural way to mourn loss,” said Ellis. “We give pet parents the permission to mourn and memorialize their pet. We provide ways to celebrate the life of a pet while offering emotional guidance for pet parents and their families, including their children and other pets who are experiencing the loss of their beloved friend.”</div>
<div style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">
Ellis, often referred to as the “Pet Loss Pioneer,” has extensive experience in the pet loss industry as an award-winning industry leader, author and founder of the first-ever stand-alone pet funeral home.</div>
<div style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">
“I partnered with Nick because he brings so many unique aspects to the table that really help bring my vision to life,” said Ellis. “He is a decorated Army vet, a Stanford MBA grad, a millennial with a Silicon Valley background but, ultimately, he’s also a pet parent who is genuinely invested in seeing this industry become more sophisticated, better developed and more considerate to those affected by a pet’s death.”</div>
<div style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">
The Pet Loss Center also equips vets with the training to address pet loss within their facility by providing Pet Loss and Grief Companioning classes as well as certification for grief counseling and tools for handling these difficult in-office experiences for their clients. The Pet Loss Center also offers personal counseling for vets and animal shelter employees as they often experience many losses over the course of their careers, which can result in “caregiver burnout.”</div>
<div style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">
Mario Catalfamo, general manager of The Pet Loss Center in Austin, has more than nine years' experience in the customer service, healthcare and human service fields. Most recently, Catalfamo served as the hospital manager for BEEVET Animal Hospital where he and his team worked to ensure each client received top-quality care while being personable, sensitive and discreet – skills essential when aiding pet parents and veterinary clinics alike. Catalfamo graduated with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Social Work from Rhode Island College.</div>
<div style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">
“Austin loves its pets. We have everything from dog-treat bakeries and doggy yoga classes to pet parades. If it’s pet-friendly, we likely have it here,” said Catalfamo. “We want to give our pets the best life imaginable because we appreciate the value they bring into our own lives. It made sense to expand The Pet Loss Center into Austin, so we can provide dignity to our pets both in life and in death.”</div>
<div style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">
To bring honor to K-9 officer dogs and other service dogs, The Pet Loss Center offers services free-of-charge for dogs that have died in service.</div>
<div style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">
The Pet Loss Center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. For 24/7 emergency services, pet parents and veterinary clinics can call the Austin urgent line at (512) 836-7297 or the Dallas urgent line at (817) 283-7297. To learn more about The Pet Loss Center visit <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2FThePetLossCenter.com&esheet=51204904&newsitemid=20151020006088&lan=en-US&anchor=ThePetLossCenter.com&index=2&md5=67895179378e8c088c65e8a826bb05cc" rel="nofollow" style="color: #79a2bd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">ThePetLossCenter.com</a>.</div>
<div style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">
<b>About The Pet Loss Center</b></div>
<div style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">
Founded in 2015, The Pet Loss Center offers pet memorial services including cremation, memorialization, ritual options and pet grief support to pet parents and veterinary clinics at their locations in Dallas and Austin, Texas. The Pet Loss Center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The Pet Loss Center also owns Pet Heaven, a pet memorial services company, in Miami, Florida. To learn more, visit <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2FThePetLossCenter.com&esheet=51204904&newsitemid=20151020006088&lan=en-US&anchor=ThePetLossCenter.com&index=3&md5=4ff37fb61b716355b6dcec95f16873e1" rel="nofollow" style="color: #79a2bd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">ThePetLossCenter.com</a>.</div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">austindogandcat.blogspot.com</div>Debi Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09010511468063772895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488227001260692326.post-87432095982901076012015-10-23T17:58:00.003-05:002015-10-23T17:59:10.214-05:00Emancipet, Animal Trustees of Austin explore mergerfrom: <a href="http://emancipet.org/blog/2015/10/emancipet-animal-trustees-of-austin-explore-merger/" target="_blank">emancipet.org</a><br />
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Emancipet and Animal Trustees of Austin are formally exploring a merger that will serve their complementary missions and ultimately serve more pets and the people who love them.</div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="http://emancipet.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Epet-ATA.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #26cbd6; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Epet+ATA" class="size-medium wp-image-2696 aligncenter" src="http://emancipet.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Epet-ATA-300x101.png" height="101" style="background: transparent; border: none; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto 12px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="300" /></a>The boards of directors of Emancipet and Animal Trustees of Austin have signed letters of intent to merge, and are beginning due diligence to explore the feasibility of a full merger, which could be completed by the end of December.</div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
To read more click <a href="https://www.blogger.com/Amy%20Mills%20will%20serve%20as%20CEO%20of%20the%20merged%20organization%20(which%20will%20retain%20the%20Emancipet%20name).%20Missy%20McCullough,%20the%20founder%20and%20executive%20director%20of%20Animal%20Trustees%20of%20Austin,%20will%20join%20the%20staff%20of%20Emancipet%20as%20a%20key%20member%20of%20the%20senior%20leadership%20and%20fundraising%20team.%20%20IMG_0015Emancipet%20and%20ATA%20have%20been%20close%20collaborators%20for%20many%20years,%20and%20Amy%20and%20Missy%20have%20a%20close%20professional%20relationship%20and%20friendship.%20The%20two%20leaders%20are%20excited%20to%20explore%20this%20opportunity%20to%20serve%20more%20animals%20in%20more%20communities,%20with%20more%20comprehensive%20veterinary%20care.%20%20%E2%80%9CI%20have%20been%20a%20personal%20supporter%20of%20Animal%20Trustees%20of%20Austin%20for%20many%20years%20because%20I%20believe%20so%20deeply%20in%20their%20mission,%E2%80%9D%20Mills%20says.%20%E2%80%9CThey%20are%20often%20a%20last%20resort%20for%20people%20whose%20pets%20have%20serious%20injuries,%20and%20their%20work%20saves%20lives%20and%20keeps%20families%20together.%20I%20am%20so%20excited%20to%20explore%20this%20merger.%20Adding%20additional%20services%20to%20our%20Emancipet%20clinics%20would%20be%20a%20game-changer%20for%20the%20people%20and%20pets%20we%20serve.%E2%80%9D%20%20bottle%20feeding%20catA%20major%20benefit%20of%20the%20potential%20merger%20is%20that%20Emancipet%20operates%20a%20large%20and%20growing%20network%20of%20clinics,%20while%20ATA%20offers%20more%20types%20of%20veterinary%20services.%20After%20a%20merger,%20all%20Emancipet%20clinics%E2%80%94which%20includes%20five%20clinics%20in%20Texas%20with%20a%20clinic%20in%20development%20in%20Philadelphia%E2%80%94will%20be%20able%20to%20offer%20pet%20owners%20a%20wider%20range%20of%20preventive%20and%20life-saving%20veterinary%20procedures.%20%20One%20of%20Emancipet%E2%80%99s%20key%20national%20supporters,%20ASPCA%20CEO%20Matt%20Bershadker,%20says:%20%E2%80%9CLack%20of%20access%20to%20affordable%20veterinary%20care%20can%20sometimes%20be%20the%20difference%20between%20safety%20and%20suffering%20%E2%80%93%20and%20life%20and%20death%20%E2%80%93%20for%20pets%20in%20crisis.%E2%80%9D%20%20%E2%80%9CThis%20merger%20will%20allow%20Emancipet%20to%20extend%20a%20wider%20array%20of%20life-saving%20veterinary%20services%20to%20the%20communities%20they%20cover,%20as%20well%20as%20expand%20their%20reach%20to%20even%20more%20pets%20and%20owners%20in%20need,%E2%80%9D%20he%20says.%20%E2%80%9CAs%20a%20strong%20Emancipet%20supporter%20and%20funder%20for%20many%20years,%20we%20look%20forward%20to%20the%20enormous%20impact%20this%20alliance%20will%20have%20on%20underserved%20communities%20and%20vulnerable%20animals%20who%20rely%20on%20their%20expertise%20and%20compassion,%20%E2%80%9D%20Bershadker%20says.EmancipetQuick_36(1)%20%20%E2%80%9CIt%20has%20always%20been%20my%20dream%20to%20replicate%20what%20Animal%20Trustees%20of%20Austin%20does%20all%20across%20the%20country,%20and%20with%20this%20potential%20merger%20my%20dream%20will%20begin%20to%20come%20true%20in%20my%20lifetime,%E2%80%9D%20McCullough%20says.%20%20CATEGORY%20ADVOCACY%20ANIMAL%20WELFARE%20AUSTIN%20CLINIC%20EVENTS%20EXPANSION%20KILLEEN%20CLINIC%20OPENINGS%20PFLUGERVILLE%20SPAY/NEUTER%20TRAINING%20UNCATEGORIZED%20ARCHIVE%20OCTOBER%202015%20AUGUST%202015%20JANUARY%202015%20OCTOBER%202014%20AUGUST%202014%20MAY%202014%20FEBRUARY%202014%20NOVEMBER%202013%20OCTOBER%202013%20MAY%202013%20SEARCH%20BLOG" target="_blank">here</a>. </div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="wrap" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #0c3e42; display: block; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px auto; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; width: 940px; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="column-4 last" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; display: block; float: left; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 220px;">
<div id="pageSideBar" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; display: block; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 12px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="page-sidebar-item" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; display: block; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div id="blogFilters" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; display: block; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="categories" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; display: block; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="prox cGray fw700 tUpper mb5 fs12" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #a5b0b1; display: block; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px 0px 5px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="archives" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; display: block; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<ul class="mb25 ml0 pl0" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; display: block; font-size: 15px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 25px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">austindogandcat.blogspot.com</div>Debi Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09010511468063772895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488227001260692326.post-8063673656383554672015-10-01T10:28:00.000-05:002015-10-01T10:28:55.801-05:00Apartment restrictions send adopted dog back to shelter <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuE9vkXmBnPEUqb2mf6Ahpe4P6V-3KpwgdjsOtxUjceaKAzB1B-5VsNI2qaKHvFR2VpS0BRZxyn4uOxjNWalWP0P-ubxzEDgIvenjOL1FQTlJLFOgQQNnHcwk8eWiN-0xYADTEzmb0Ql8l/s1600/635792931822495548-12042811-819906971455177-2227185544025851611-n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuE9vkXmBnPEUqb2mf6Ahpe4P6V-3KpwgdjsOtxUjceaKAzB1B-5VsNI2qaKHvFR2VpS0BRZxyn4uOxjNWalWP0P-ubxzEDgIvenjOL1FQTlJLFOgQQNnHcwk8eWiN-0xYADTEzmb0Ql8l/s320/635792931822495548-12042811-819906971455177-2227185544025851611-n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Elijah looking for a new home</div>
<br />
from: <a href="http://www.kvue.com/story/life/pets/2015/09/30/apartment-restrictions-send-dog-back-shelter/73115756/" target="_blank">kvue.com</a><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">
AUSTIN – Eleven-year-old Elijah headed to a new home recently only to have to return to the Austin Animal Center he had previously called home. The reason behind his return highlights a problem many apartment renters face.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">
St. Edward’s University students Caitlin and Viviana returned their dog Elijah on Tuesday and said they were devastated.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">
"I was crying a lot yesterday," Caitlin said.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">
To read more click<a href="http://AUSTIN%20%E2%80%93%20Eleven-year-old%20Elijah%20headed%20to%20a%20new%20home%20recently%20only%20to%20have%20to%20return%20to%20the%20Austin%20Animal%20Center%20he%20had%20previously%20called%20home.%20The%20reason%20behind%20his%20return%20highlights%20a%20problem%20many%20apartment%20renters%20face.%20%20St.%20Edward%E2%80%99s%20University%20students%20Caitlin%20and%20Viviana%20returned%20their%20dog%20Elijah%20on%20Tuesday%20and%20said%20they%20were%20devastated.%20%20"I%20was%20crying%20a%20lot%20yesterday,"%20Caitlin%20said./" target="_blank"> here</a>. </div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">austindogandcat.blogspot.com</div>Debi Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09010511468063772895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488227001260692326.post-21437012588201133542015-09-12T09:48:00.001-05:002015-09-12T09:49:25.244-05:00Best of 9/11 stories: Last living Ground Zero Search Dog is a Texanfrom: <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/living-9-11-ground-zero-search-dog-returns-site-article-1.1936151" target="_blank">nydailynews.com</a><br />
<br />
Bretagne the golden retriever was just 2 years old when she traveled with her handler to New York after the World Trade Center attacks. Today, the 15-year-old pooch is officially retired from rescue duties, but she still works as a service dog in elementary schools, helping special needs students learn to read.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="color: #111111; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;">BY</span><span style="color: #111111; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;"> </span><a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/authors?author=Meg-Wagner" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" rel="author" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #015fb6; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; text-transform: uppercase; transition: color 300ms ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline;">MEG WAGNER </a><br />
A heroic dog is heading back to the site where she earned her superpup status.<br />
<div>
<div style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 21px; margin-left: 135px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Bretagne the golden retriever is the last surviving rescue dog who searched Ground Zero after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.</div>
<div style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 21px; margin-left: 135px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
This week, the 15-year-old pooch returned to the Manhattan site for the first time since 2001, her fur now more white than golden. At her side was Denise Corliss, her longtime handler and owner.</div>
<div style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 21px; margin-left: 135px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
"Seeing this kind of took my breath away a bit, similar to how the pile was the first time I saw it," <a href="http://www.today.com/pets/last-known-9-11-ground-zero-search-dog-still-lends-1D80137575" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #015fb6; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: color 300ms ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Corliss, told the Today show. </a>"It's so calm and peaceful now, unlike the chaos of before."</div>
<div style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 21px; margin-left: 135px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Bretagne and Corliss arrived in New York City about a week after the attack on the World Trade Center. The Texas-based duo was part of a group brought in to relieve the first wave of first responders from duty.</div>
<div class="a-module" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: left; color: #111111; float: left; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 21px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; z-index: 10;">
<div class="a-images split2 captioned" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br />
<figure class="a-image" itemid="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1936397!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_307/article-bretagne-3-0911.jpg" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; margin: 0px; min-height: 40px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 307px;"><ins style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; display: block; height: 366px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1936397.1410456763!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_307/article-bretagne-3-0911.jpg" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 307px;" /></ins><span class="a-credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #333333; display: block; font-size: 9px; line-height: 10px; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 0px; position: relative; text-align: right; text-transform: uppercase; transition: color 300ms ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline; width: 307px; z-index: 900;">COURTESY DENISE CORLISS</span><a class="a-enlarge" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/living-9-11-ground-zero-search-dog-returns-site-article-1.1936151#" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: url(http://multimedia.nydailynews.com/css/article/icon/enlarge.png) 99% 1% no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; color: #015fb6; display: block; height: 381px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.6; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; right: auto; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -9999px; top: 0px; transition: opacity 300ms ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline; width: 307px; z-index: 10;">Enlarge</a></figure><figure class="a-image" itemid="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1936149!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_307/bretagne12n-3-web.jpg" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; margin: 0px 0px 0px 20px; min-height: 40px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 307px;"><ins style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; display: block; height: 366px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Bretagne was just 2 years old when she traveled to New York City to search Ground Zero after the 9/11 terrorist attacks." src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1936149.1410448375!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_307/bretagne12n-3-web.jpg" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 307px;" /></ins><span class="a-credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #333333; display: block; font-size: 9px; line-height: 10px; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 0px; position: relative; text-align: right; text-transform: uppercase; transition: color 300ms ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline; width: 307px; z-index: 900;">ANDREA BOOHER/FEMA</span><a class="a-enlarge" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/living-9-11-ground-zero-search-dog-returns-site-article-1.1936151#" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: url(http://multimedia.nydailynews.com/css/article/icon/enlarge.png) 99% 1% no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; color: #e8172d; display: block; height: 381px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; right: auto; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -9999px; top: 0px; transition: opacity 300ms ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline; width: 307px; z-index: 10;">Enlarge</a></figure></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; display: inline-block; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; display: inline-block; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; display: inline-block; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; display: inline-block; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; display: inline-block; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; display: inline-block; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; display: inline-block; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">
<div style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 21px; margin-left: 135px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">austindogandcat.blogspot.com</div>Debi Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09010511468063772895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488227001260692326.post-85695554398544304932015-09-03T19:23:00.002-05:002015-09-03T19:25:59.739-05:00Update: Texas vet who boasted about killing cat with bow and arrow found in violation by the Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-lVyJWkjfWVrexEAsS3uex2A6vT6GTYA4O09nwAoECUV9kbdR1OWHUozET7XlsHXAweqxHGfEnBQRsOboW7zgOSQ4BClpfvXRTSNwYZX4HrIIE0Tx1PBisOTdJg3HcV7W1WnaKKTqs95V/s1600/deadcat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-lVyJWkjfWVrexEAsS3uex2A6vT6GTYA4O09nwAoECUV9kbdR1OWHUozET7XlsHXAweqxHGfEnBQRsOboW7zgOSQ4BClpfvXRTSNwYZX4HrIIE0Tx1PBisOTdJg3HcV7W1WnaKKTqs95V/s400/deadcat.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; line-height: 15.7143px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; line-height: 15.7143px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; line-height: 15.7143px;">Dr. Kristen Lindsey lost her job as a veterinarian after killing a cat with a bow and arrow, then posing with the dead cat (covered up in the photo) in a Facebook post. (Photo: </span><a href="http://www.kbtx.com/home/headlines/Veterinarian-Brags-About-Killing-Cat-with-Bow-and-Arrow--300293461.html" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; color: #9d9d9d; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; line-height: 15.7143px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">KBTX.com</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; line-height: 15.7143px;"> video) </span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.statesman.com/news/news/national/board-finds-violation-case-veterinarian-who-killed/nnTTq/" target="_blank">from: statesman.com</a><br />
<br />
<div class="p1">
<b>AUSTIN —</b> Kristen Lindsey, the Texas veterinarian who outraged many for boasting about killing a cat with a bow and arrow, has been found in violation by the Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<a href="http://www.statesman.com/news/news/national/veterinarian-brags-about-killing-cat-bow-and-arrow/nkxb9/">>>Read the original report</a></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><a href="http://kxan.com/2015/08/28/vet-board-finds-violation-after-cats-bow-and-arrow-death/">KXAN</a></span> reports that what the violation is was not revealed at the meeting. More details, and punishment, if any, is expected to be announced in October.</div>
<div class="p1">
Animal rights advocates were outraged when Lindsey posted a photo on Facebook of herself, smiling, while holding a dead cat with an arrow through its head. The caption on the since-deleted post read, “My first bow kill, LOL. The only good feral tomcat is one with an arrow through its head! Vet of the Year Award…gladly accepted.”</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
At the time of the controversial Facebook post, she was working at the Washington Animal Clinic in Brenham. She was fired in April.</div>
<div class="p1">
In June, a grand jury declined to indict Lindsey on animal cruelty charges.</div>
<div class="p1">
According to KXAN, Lindsey believed the cat was a stray and had rabies. She claimed she shot the cat to protect her own animals. Local residents say the cat, named Tiger, was not a stray, but belonged to an older couple in the neighborhood.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="p3">
<b>A </b><a href="https://www.change.org/p/petition-revoke-dr-kristen-lindsey-s-veterinary-license"><span class="s3"><b>Change.org petition</b></span></a><b> demanding that her veterinary license be revoked has over 28,000 signatures.</b></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">austindogandcat.blogspot.com</div>Debi Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09010511468063772895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488227001260692326.post-33817525980779213352015-09-03T19:19:00.003-05:002015-09-03T19:19:25.265-05:00Austin: Capital of Cat Lovers too! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHAO0ZSnk50MBgrMLDKl91R8a2qrUgp7_RDLMP9d2S7dxAAUCQv7M5VonBZU7OSdbqQz5CihaO_GemKy5n53TKdqRWoP_4aSdQIzuQcnyIzFXLY3NypHTwi0boPSR2ktbtgP-FKCv5LDa/s1600/Cat_In_Apartment_Window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHAO0ZSnk50MBgrMLDKl91R8a2qrUgp7_RDLMP9d2S7dxAAUCQv7M5VonBZU7OSdbqQz5CihaO_GemKy5n53TKdqRWoP_4aSdQIzuQcnyIzFXLY3NypHTwi0boPSR2ktbtgP-FKCv5LDa/s400/Cat_In_Apartment_Window.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="p1">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="p1">
<b>from: <a href="http://pets.blog.austin360.com/2015/08/30/austin-other-texas-cities-score-high-among-cat-friendly-places-to-rent/" target="_blank">austin360.com</a></b></div>
<div class="p1">
by: <a class="cm-not-modal-content" href="http://pets.blog.austin360.com/author/catherinecalvarado/" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: right; text-decoration: none;">Catherine Alvarado</a></div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
In Austin, we love our dogs, but we also have room in our hearts (and our homes) for cats.</div>
<div class="p1">
According to <a href="https://www.apartmentlist.com/rentonomics/top-cities-for-cat-lovers/"><span class="s1">a recent study</span></a> by <a href="https://www.apartmentlist.com/"><span class="s1">Apartment List</span></a>, renting an apartment with a cat is no problem in Austin, or Texas. The apartment indexing website used their data to calculate which pads would allow you to bring a feline friend along, based on each place’s listing details.</div>
<div class="p1">
Out of 200 cities, Austin came in at No. 74, with half of the Texas capital’s apartments allowing cats to room with their humans.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
According to Apartment List’s numbers, only 40 percent of apartments in the U.S. allow cats. Despite that low number, Texas came out on top in terms of feline friendliness.</div>
<div class="p1">
Ten Texas cities made it into the list’s top 25 spots, including Houston, where 64 percent of apartments allowed cats, and Irving, where 74 percent of apartments welcomed them.</div>
<div class="p1">
The coveted No. 1 spot went to the Woodlands, where one hundred percent off apartment complexes allowed cats.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="p1">
Soon Austinites will have one more cat-friendly place in town – the feline-loving (and <a href="http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/local/cat-cafe-will-open-at-site-of-demolished-east-aust/nnFCs/?icmp=statesman_internallink_invitationbox_apr2013_statesmanstubtomystatesmanpremium#f51ccdf5.3980917.735840"><span class="s1">somewhat controversial</span></a>)<a href="http://www.thebluecatcafe.squarespace.com/about/"><span class="s1">Blue Cat Cafe</span></a> will be opening soon in East Austin.</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">austindogandcat.blogspot.com</div>Debi Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09010511468063772895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488227001260692326.post-73632582443964342882015-09-03T19:10:00.001-05:002015-09-03T19:13:25.284-05:00Makes me sick and not just because it's behind the Statesman paywall: Neighbors report cat mutilations in South Austin <h3 style="text-align: left;">
from:<a href="http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/neighbors-report-cat-mutilations-in-south-austin/nnSCr/" target="_blank"> statesman.com</a></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<div class="p1">
<b>STORY HIGHLIGHTS</b></div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
A small number of cats have reportedly been found mutilated in recent weeks.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
A forensic veterinarian says coyotes are almost always to blame — but a human predator can’t be ruled out.</div>
</h3>
<div>
<h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 20px; margin: 5px 10px 0px 17px; text-transform: uppercase;">
<span style="background-color: white;">T</span></h3>
</div>
<div>
<div class="cm-story-content" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<div class="cm-column-835 cm-tablet-column-675 cm-column-no-pad cm-column-no-margin" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 835px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<div class="cm-column-590 cm-tablet-column-615 cm-column-no-pad cm-column-centered-row" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left; width: 590px;">
<div class="cm-story-body cm-story-nophoto" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;">
<span class="cm-story-dateline" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<div class="cm-story-highlight" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-family: arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 15px; width: 188px; word-wrap: break-word;">
</div>
<span class="cm-story-dateline" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">austindogandcat.blogspot.com</div>Debi Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09010511468063772895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488227001260692326.post-57908387499903186222015-09-03T18:48:00.000-05:002015-09-03T19:02:37.285-05:00Newsworthy: Because 'going under' just to clean teeth is a risk <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Austin Tomlinson pet stores offering anesthesia-free teeth cleaning</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfghnLyYabqUFHkTs-QHU5s1dDNq6zIijkJCRGx39x_Ql1Je0QXNZA_0G5Uwl9TgZH12G_eMZpDZCPF1cRIOVuJ00q1XQ9EPOrgGzmZCfS-MqfMNU6QsyRTWKhB1GJzD248wLqJeHpiNg/s1600/smilingdog-1024x845.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfghnLyYabqUFHkTs-QHU5s1dDNq6zIijkJCRGx39x_Ql1Je0QXNZA_0G5Uwl9TgZH12G_eMZpDZCPF1cRIOVuJ00q1XQ9EPOrgGzmZCfS-MqfMNU6QsyRTWKhB1GJzD248wLqJeHpiNg/s320/smilingdog-1024x845.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<h4 style="background-color: white; color: #33308b; font-family: itc_lubalin_graph_std_mediuBd; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 35px; margin: 29px 0px 11px; overflow: hidden; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; text-transform: uppercase; word-wrap: break-word;">
from:<a href="http://www.tomlinsons.com/anesthesia-free-teeth-cleaning/" target="_blank"> tomlinsons.com</a></h4>
<div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #463933; font-family: 'Lubalin Medium' !important; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 9.5px; text-align: left;">
These cleanings are:</div>
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #463933; font-family: itc_lubalin_graph_stdmedium; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px 0px 9.5px 25px; padding: 0px;">
<li><span style="font-family: 'Lubalin Bold';">Quick, easy, and pain-free</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Lubalin Bold';">Completely free of drugs</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Lubalin Bold';">Excellent for routine maintenance</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Lubalin Bold';">Provided by the licensed vets and oral care specialists at Canine Dental Services</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #463933; font-family: 'Lubalin Medium' !important; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 9.5px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Lubalin Bold';"> </span>Performed by Scott Blanchard and his team of licensed vets at <a href="http://www.caninedentalservice.com/" style="color: #313089; font-family: itc_lubalin_graph_stdmedium; outline: none; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Anesthesia-Free Teeth Cleaning for Dogs">Canine Dental Services</a>, these drug-free cleanings are done using hand tools only. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #463933; font-family: 'Lubalin Medium' !important; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 9.5px;">
Scott holds the dog or cat in his lap while talking to him in a soothing, reassuring manner. His technique is gentle, thorough and completely drug-free. The cleaning itself takes about 20 minutes.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #463933; font-family: 'Lubalin Medium' !important; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 9.5px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Lubalin Bold'; font-size: 12pt;">Please note that anesthesia-free dental cleanings are intended as a routine surface cleaning only and are not a substitute for extensive dental procedures. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #463933; font-family: 'Lubalin Medium' !important; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 9.5px;">
Your dog or cat will first have a brief wellness exam by a licensed veterinarian, and if more extensive oral care is needed such as extractions or treatment for gum disease, you will be referred to your vet for further treatment.</div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; color: #33308b; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 15px 0px 9.5px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; text-transform: uppercase;">
WHY SHOULD I HAVE MY PET’S TEETH CLEANED, PERIOD?</h2>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #463933; font-family: 'Lubalin Medium' !important; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 9.5px;">
Why do you have your own teeth cleaned? <span style="font-family: 'Lubalin Bold';">To scrape off plaque before it hardens to tartar, and before either spread to cause more serious dental issues like cavities. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #463933; font-family: 'Lubalin Medium' !important; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 9.5px;">
Routine, thorough cleanings of your pet’s pearly whites will help prevent dental diseases like cavities, gum disease, and tooth loss so your pet can enjoy his favorite foods and a high quality of life into his golden years.</div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; color: #33308b; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 15px 0px 9.5px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; text-transform: uppercase;">
IS MY PET ELIGIBLE?</h2>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #463933; font-family: 'Lubalin Medium' !important; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 9.5px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Lubalin Bold';">Dogs: <span style="font-family: 'Lubalin Medium';">All hand-friendly dogs that aren’t aggressive or overly fearful are welcome.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #463933; font-family: 'Lubalin Medium' !important; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 9.5px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Lubalin Bold';">Cats: <span style="font-family: 'Lubalin Medium';">If your cat is less than four years old or has had a teeth cleaning in the past two years, is easy to handle and not likely to bite or scratch, and can be in their carrier while waiting, they can be treated.</span></span></div>
<h1 style="background-color: white; color: white; font-family: Asap; font-size: 30px; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 35px; margin: 9.5px 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; text-transform: uppercase;">
<span style="color: #463933; font-family: 'Lubalin Medium'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> </span><span style="color: #33308b; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 22px;">HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?</span></h1>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #463933; font-family: 'Lubalin Medium' !important; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 9.5px;">
The total cost is $165. We’ll take a $30 deposit to hold your spot, and you’ll pay the remainder at your appointment.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #463933; font-family: 'Lubalin Medium' !important; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 9.5px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #463933; font-family: 'Lubalin Medium' !important; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 9.5px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: 8pt;">.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">austindogandcat.blogspot.com</div>Debi Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09010511468063772895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488227001260692326.post-5410936681757711012015-08-27T11:26:00.000-05:002015-08-27T11:26:13.383-05:00Greyhounds rejoice: Last dog racing track in Texas to close <div class="video-medium" style="background-color: white; font-family: Publico, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; width: 427px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_9F-X8_-TavZvkHbqF_T96e218J3cTCls6MELe0pNRffiAUQ5wt1AWILGOyfOI-_-rfglfO8dmoNRcoXea-CbFOWCHpfuHMBhfkNHYyt1TZNg3bKiFMiokMj_8QWIaXfozjLBUbCMXK8/s1600/greyhound-racing-faq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_9F-X8_-TavZvkHbqF_T96e218J3cTCls6MELe0pNRffiAUQ5wt1AWILGOyfOI-_-rfglfO8dmoNRcoXea-CbFOWCHpfuHMBhfkNHYyt1TZNg3bKiFMiokMj_8QWIaXfozjLBUbCMXK8/s400/greyhound-racing-faq.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="video-medium" style="background-color: white; font-family: Publico, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 22px; text-align: center; width: 427px;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo: ASPCA</span></div>
<div class="video-medium" style="background-color: white; font-family: Publico, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; width: 427px;">
from: <a href="http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/curtain-to-close-on-dog-racing-in-texas/nnRkM/#5c43072a.3554830.735836" target="_blank">mystatesman.com</a></div>
<div class="video-medium" style="background-color: white; font-family: Publico, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; width: 427px;">
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">By </span><a href="http://www.mystatesman.com/staff/tim-eaton/" style="color: #585858; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;">Tim Eaton</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"> - American-Statesman Staff</span><div class="ndn_embed ndn_embedding ndn_embedContainer ndn-widget-embed-1 ndn_embedded" data-config-distributor-id="90105" id="ndn-video-player-1" style="width: 427px;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="article-content" style="background-color: white; display: inline; font-family: Publico, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 10px;">
Gulf Greyhound Park in La Marque will end live dog racing, the last track in Texas to run greyhound races, officials confirmed Wednesday.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 10px;">
The dog track, which opened in 1992 near Houston and Galveston to great fanfare, has been struggling along with horse tracks across the state. Wagering is down 85 percent since its first full year in 1992, according to figures from the Texas Racing Commission.</div>
<div id="story_premium_fill">
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 10px;">
The track will cease live racing effective Jan. 1, Gulf Greyhound Park General Manager Sally Briggs said in a statement provided first to the American-Statesman.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 10px;">
“We are unable to successfully compete with racetracks in surrounding states who offer expanded gambling opportunities,” she said, adding that the Texas Lottery, Internet gambling and the proliferation of illegal slot machine-like “8-liners” also have led to the track’s demise.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 10px;">
Further, she blamed “the continually rising cost of regulation in the face of a declining and much smaller industry.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 10px;">
Nick James, executive director of the Texas Greyhound Association, said track officials tried without success to reduce the fees they pay to the commission.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 10px;">
“Their prudent monetary decision is to close,” James said.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 10px;">
Between 250 and 300 jobs at the track likely will be lost, plus 11 nearby kennels will suffer due to the closing, James said.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 10px;">
“It’s a big impact on the kennel owners, too,” he said. “It’s huge deal, and it’s going to be felt across the country.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 10px;">
Briggs said that the dogs housed at the track will be sent to other states or go to adoption programs.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 10px;">
It’s unclear if Greyhound Racing Park still will offer simulcast betting, like the two other greyhound tracks in Texas that have already ended live racing.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 10px;">
The news came a day after the racing commission voted to defy state Senate leaders to keep in place a rule to allow historical racing. Racing industry representatives say the new form of gambling — which allows betting on already-run races with identifying markers stripped from horses — could revive the state’s seven racetracks. State Republican leaders call the move an illegal expansion of gambling.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 10px;">
The greyhound track’s tax payments likewise have plummeted. In 1993, the track paid the state $7.7 million in pari-mutuel tax, not counting real estate, admission, sales, liquor and other taxes. By 2004, the pari-mutuel tax fell to $436,000. Last year, the state collected $254,000 in pari-mutuel tax from Greyhound Racing Park, according to racing commission figures.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 10px;">
Before the track opened, several groups jockeyed for ownership, but Paul Bryant Jr. — the son of late University of Alabama football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant — ultimately led the winning bid to own the track.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 10px;">
At the time, dog racing was witnessing two decades of growth, and investors had estimated that the Galveston County track would generate handles — the amount bet on races — as high as $300 million annually.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 10px;">
Last year, the total handle amounted to $40.2 million, most of which came from live racing, off 57 percent from a decade earlier.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 10px;">
Christine Dorchak, president of the GREY2K USA animal advocacy group, called the news of the closing “a victory for everyone in the state who cares about dogs.” The group objects to the confinement and treatment of the race dogs, some of which have suffered serious injuries.</div>
<div style="display: inline; margin-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 10px;">
<span style="font-weight: 700;">Total wagering at Gulf Greyhound</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 10px;">
<span style="font-weight: 700;">1993</span>: $268.4 million</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 10px;">
<span style="font-weight: 700;">2000</span>: $138.2 million</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 10px;">
<span style="font-weight: 700;">2004</span>: $91.9 million</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 10px;">
<span style="font-weight: 700;">2010</span>: $55.5 million</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 10px;">
<span style="font-weight: 700;">2014</span>: $40.2 million</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 10px;">
Source: Texas Racing Commission</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">austindogandcat.blogspot.com</div>Debi Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09010511468063772895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488227001260692326.post-62896905772967533802015-08-27T11:10:00.003-05:002015-08-27T11:10:47.143-05:00Exclusive report: Yesterday was National Dog Day and Austin cats didn't notice<h3 style="text-align: center;">
It's the day after and Austin cats still don't care</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIe0EpcHzOoqiZSwaQuXWw4u3_eSPbo2_LTrp4HEvCuTGunBHD9hmjhxGmpHmtei4vXhKjumGvqUCx7RQuzfaAi3Hl0av3A_VDN7E-25A7_7JslZKr2KW7zNqsTXoIOGXMhRIQYyF0TbDt/s1600/snooty-cat.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIe0EpcHzOoqiZSwaQuXWw4u3_eSPbo2_LTrp4HEvCuTGunBHD9hmjhxGmpHmtei4vXhKjumGvqUCx7RQuzfaAi3Hl0av3A_VDN7E-25A7_7JslZKr2KW7zNqsTXoIOGXMhRIQYyF0TbDt/s320/snooty-cat.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">austindogandcat.blogspot.com</div>Debi Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09010511468063772895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488227001260692326.post-78723335372736509302015-08-14T11:48:00.001-05:002015-08-14T11:50:52.503-05:00From across 'the pond' <div class="fb-video" data-allowfullscreen="1" data-href="/C5News/videos/vb.567036616654154/1004653712892440/?type=1">
<div class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore">
<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/C5News/videos/1004653712892440/">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/C5News/videos/1004653712892440/">Dogs sniff out medical breakthrough</a>Meet the dogs hoping to sniff out a medical breakthrough - it's claimed they could be MORE reliable than current medical methods at detecting cancer Milton Keynes Hospital NHS Foundation Trust</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/C5News">Channel 5 News</a> on Tuesday, August 11, 2015</span></span></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
</span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">austindogandcat.blogspot.com</div>Debi Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09010511468063772895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488227001260692326.post-6637277986030616362015-08-14T11:44:00.002-05:002015-08-14T11:44:20.877-05:00Chron obit on a very good dog <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5AsQKtUID3A_JJpCU-7RJaZ_HsgQGwnP0h6uvHu3rds8n-BkdwsI0-l4A1Z4avaPfEyYOGDg71y-qK0RwL6BtgBIUIEOsF3IB36izK4x3iCxVfZSKV1FAQIJN9SOiRPrdQyrJh7tE0L7L/s1600/10983251_10153064134992894_6562170571725862511_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5AsQKtUID3A_JJpCU-7RJaZ_HsgQGwnP0h6uvHu3rds8n-BkdwsI0-l4A1Z4avaPfEyYOGDg71y-qK0RwL6BtgBIUIEOsF3IB36izK4x3iCxVfZSKV1FAQIJN9SOiRPrdQyrJh7tE0L7L/s320/10983251_10153064134992894_6562170571725862511_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
from: <a href="http://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/arts/2015-08-12/in-memoriam-robin-goodfellow/" target="_blank">austinchronicle.com</a><br />
<h3 style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Archer A', 'Archer B'; font-size: 24px; line-height: 28px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
In Memoriam: Robin Goodfellow<br />Singular Austin improviser has taken his final bow (wow wow)</h3>
<h4 class="byline" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: 12px; margin: 8px 0px 10px; text-transform: uppercase;">
BY <a href="http://www.austinchronicle.com/authors/robert-faires-2/" style="color: #444444; text-decoration: none;" title="more by Robert Faires">ROBERT FAIRES</a>, <nobr>6:36PM, WED. AUG. 12, 2015</nobr></h4>
<div>
<nobr><article style="background-color: white; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal;"><div class="copy" style="float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; margin-top: 6px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;">
As the rest of the world mourns the loss of <b><a href="http://variety.com/2015/film/news/uggie-the-dog-dead-dies-the-artist-1201568595/" style="color: #444444;" target="_blank">Uggie</a></b>, that furry scene-stealer from <i>The Artist</i>, Austin is still grieving for the loss of its own canine superstar.<b>Robin Goodfellow</b>, one-half of the improv duo<b>Buddy Daddy</b>, passed away July 30, at the age of 10.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;">
As noted by Buddy Daddy's human half, <b>Arthur Simone</b>, in an obituary on Facebook, Robin was "half beagle and half dachshund, and a preeminent member of the Austin Improv Collective since 2005."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;">
"I got Robin from the SPCA about a month after Hurricane Katrina," Simone told the <i>Chronicle</i>'s Wayne Alan Brenner in <a href="http://www.austinchronicle.com/arts/2007-07-27/507393/" style="color: #444444; font-weight: bold;">a 2007 interview</a>. "I sought out a supermellow critter, and I sure got it. If he weren't so pliant, I doubt I could ever do a show with him." A dare from fellow improviser and New Orleans expat <b>Chris Trew</b> prompted Simone to take the stage with his canine pal at the Hideout Theatre in 2006. What might have been a one-off stunt became an improv staple, thanks to Simone's skill, as Brenner put it, "at conjuring characters from thin air and bringing their personalities to vivid, often humorous life" while responding to the actions – or lack thereof – of his canine collaborator.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;">
"Goodfellow’s aloof and laconic characters over the years have included restless housewives, rocks and rock stars, the Phantom of the Opera, a submarine-with-periscope, spies, aliens, Hitler, a loaf of bread, tigers, and the new kid at school to name a few," noted Simone in his obit. "Unscripted performances with Simone as the comedy duo were usually accompanied by snacks, most notably cheese cubes."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;">
Buddy Daddy performed most often in Austin, appearing regularly at the <b>Out of Bounds Comedy Festival</b>, but the duo also toured with the comedy group <b>ColdTowne</b> to Arizona and Washington, D.C.; headlined the Twin Cities Improv Festival in 2011; and headlined a fundraiser in Shreveport, La., for rescue animals, for whom Robin had a special fondness, being a rescue pup himself. Robin's onstage success and appeal also led to work beyond Buddy Daddy: Buddy Mommy, with esteemed improviser <b>Jill Bernard</b>; a guest stint with local sketch troupe <b>Hoover's Blanket</b>; screen appearances on <i>America’s Got Talent</i> and at the Alamo Drafthouse playing Babe the Pig; and <b>Dystheatre</b>’s production of <i>Robin Goodfellow’s Hamlet</i>, in which he played the Ghost, "eating plenty of ham along the way," according to Simone.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;">
The response from the improv community was widespread and loving, with many improvisers recalling shows in which they watched or performed with Robin. "Magic" was a term used in more than one condolence. <b>Dave Buckman</b> called Robin "a Renaissance Dog," and <b>John Ratliff</b> said of him, "His emotional intelligence was acute, and he could read a room better than most people can." Those wishing to see some of Robin's work may do so on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6SXx95mMQSqz0ri6t8f4vw" style="color: #444444; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Simone's YouTube channel</a>.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;">
In addition to his partner and friend Simone, Robin Goodfellow is survived by his friends <b>Meg Holle</b> and the black lab <b>Mudcat</b>, who ask that those wishing to honor their pal make memorial donations to the<a href="https://www.spca.org/memorialgiving" style="color: #444444; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">SPCA</a>.</div>
</div>
</article><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="comments" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal;"></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal;"></span><div class="clear top-line" style="background-color: white; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; clear: both; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; height: 1px; margin: 25px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal; width: 660px;">
</div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal;"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" id="post" name="post" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal;"></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal;"></span></nobr></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">austindogandcat.blogspot.com</div>Debi Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09010511468063772895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488227001260692326.post-89302981649616754462015-08-10T13:28:00.002-05:002015-08-10T13:31:37.642-05:00I think I love this: Austin Animal Center's new Thinking Walkfrom: <a href="http://www.dogsoutloud.org/2015/08/animal-farm-foundation-enrichment-grant-at-austin-animal-center/" target="_blank">dogsoutloud.com</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIb56HKmLaVR0TaYrYMKjBXepxMz4x5ewN4irckTV-EG6lXL8F0Lvoi1pTUGr9c6ZdZYLNjQ3IlIiqS3qbNQf-ioPD8Es2Oio-cIn_AFMNVmHwrlYJ016igvinMoH1EbLma3WkcKoW9crJ/s1600/AFF17-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIb56HKmLaVR0TaYrYMKjBXepxMz4x5ewN4irckTV-EG6lXL8F0Lvoi1pTUGr9c6ZdZYLNjQ3IlIiqS3qbNQf-ioPD8Es2Oio-cIn_AFMNVmHwrlYJ016igvinMoH1EbLma3WkcKoW9crJ/s1600/AFF17-300x300.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<header class="entry-header" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="post-meta" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #918c84; font-family: sommet-rounded, sans-serif; font-size: 0.88235em; margin-top: 2px;">
<div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " style="box-sizing: border-box; height: 80px; padding-top: 20px; width: 620px;">
</div>
</div>
</header><br />
<div class="entry-content" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<div style="background-color: snow; box-sizing: border-box; color: #331a0b; font-family: chaparral-pro, times, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28.0000801086426px; margin-bottom: 1.55556em; padding: 0px;">
Dogs Out Loud was awarded an enrichment grant from <a href="http://www.animalfarmfoundation.org/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #00a5b9; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Animal Farm Foundation</a> that we chose to use to support the dogs at our city shelter, <a href="http://www.austintexas.gov/department/animal-services" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #00a5b9; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Austin Animal Center</a>. After working for several months to coordinate the project with the city, the components were installed at the shelter yesterday afternoon!</div>
<div style="background-color: snow; box-sizing: border-box; color: #331a0b; font-family: chaparral-pro, times, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28.0000801086426px; margin-bottom: 1.55556em; padding: 0px;">
We managed to complete the project and have our set-up day fall just as August and its heat advisories have arrived in Austin, but we think the, um, “tans” we worked on yesterday will be worth it!</div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: snow; color: #331a0b; font-family: chaparral-pro, times, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28.0000801086426px;">The Thinking Walk consists of 10 simple activity stations designed to make training and enrichment easy and accessible to all dogs, volunteers, and staff. It is set-up along the front courtyard loop of Austin Animal Center, a frequently traveled path for canine bathroom breaks and walks. Volunteers and staff can sneak in a little training during a potty break and not only help work the dogs’ minds, but give them skills to make them more adoptable!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: snow; color: #331a0b; font-family: chaparral-pro, times, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28.0000801086426px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: snow; color: #331a0b; font-family: chaparral-pro, times, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28.0000801086426px;">You can </span><a href="http://www.dogsoutloud.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/thinking-walking-signs-final.pdf" style="background-color: snow; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00a5b9; cursor: pointer; font-family: chaparral-pro, times, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28.0000801086426px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Thinking Walk Printable PDF">view and print the full .pdf of the Thinking Walk here (183KB)</a>.</div>
<h3 style="background-color: snow; box-sizing: border-box; color: #d3a265; font-family: sommet-rounded, sans-serif; font-size: 0.94444em; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0.04em; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px 0px 0.58333em; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">
</h3>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">austindogandcat.blogspot.com</div>Debi Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09010511468063772895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488227001260692326.post-28634880961293635662015-08-10T10:39:00.000-05:002015-08-10T10:39:44.671-05:00Purina backs Beneful dog food as lawsuit expandsfrom: <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/purina-backs-beneful-lawsuit-expands-allegations-n375101" target="_blank">nbc.com</a><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.125em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
Pet food giant Purina launched a national campaign in support of its Beneful brand last week — just<a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/lawsuit-claims-purinas-beneful-poisoning-killing-dogs-n312176" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4372b8; text-decoration: none;"> as an ongoing lawsuit against the brand</a> expanded its allegations that the popular feed is making dogs sick.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.125em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
The amended complaint against Nestlé Purina PetCare Company's Beneful dry kibble dog food was filed on June 8 in California federal court, adding 26 additional pet owners from states spanning coast to coast.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.125em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
The lawsuit now alleges that Beneful contains toxins and that Purina has been offering cash settlements in exchange for silence from those who voice complaints about the brand.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.125em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
The amendments to the suit come on the heels of a national campaign launched by Purina last week defending its products. The "I Stand Behind Beneful" campaign features a full-page advertisement in the New York Times<a href="https://youtu.be/OnPoLgqEIjM" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4372b8; text-decoration: none;"> and a TV commercial</a> showing workers who both make Beneful and feed it to their own pets, the company said.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.125em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
"This really boils down to the fact that we're really proud of the Beneful product and there are no issues with the quality," Keith Schopp, vice president of corporate relations for Purina, told NBC News. "We thought one of the best ways to show that pride would be actually through the men and women who make Beneful and feed it to their own pets."</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.125em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
The company featured a second full-page in the New York Times on Sunday after the initial launch this week.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.125em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
Plaintiff and pet owner Frank Lucido, who claims one of his dogs died and two others became ill after eating Beneful, initiated the original lawsuit against Purina in early February of this year.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.125em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
Jeffrey B. Cereghino, the lawyer spearheading the case against Purina, said he and the law firms participating in the suit have been contacted by thousands of people who believe Beneful may have poisoned their dogs.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.125em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
"The immediacy of folks willing to participate was really quite extraordinary," he said.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.125em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
The amended suit includes 26 additional plaintiffs <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/dog-owners-alarmed-beneful-lawsuit-purina-denies-claims-n316856%20" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4372b8; text-decoration: none;">with similar stories</a>and claims that Purina failed to disclose that the brand contains substances toxic to animals — including Industrial Grade Glycols (IGG), lead, arsenic and mycotoxins. The suit is seeking class-action status and $5,000,000 in damages.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.125em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
Purina has continued to deny the allegations in the suit, <a href="http://newscenter.purina.com/statements" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4372b8; text-decoration: none;">publishing an extensive statement </a>on its website on June 9 in response to the amended complaint.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.125em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
"We're really disturbed by the ongoing false and unsubstantiated allegations," Schopp told NBC News.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.125em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
The company said in the statement that Beneful is not formulated with IGG, but rather "high-quality human food-grade levels" of propylene glycol.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.125em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
While Industrial Grade Glycols are not approved for use in food by the FDA, food-grade propylene glycol is approved as safe for use in human and dog food. The original lawsuit listed propylene glycol in its complaint, instead of IGG.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.125em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
The Purina statement also says the company tests "for well over 150 substances," including mycotoxins, lead and arsenic as part of its food safety and ingredient surveillance programs.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.125em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
Dr. Kurt Venator, director of veterinary strategy and programs at Purina, said the strict testing standards extend to their ingredient suppliers as well.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.125em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
Purina products "meet or exceed food quality and safety standards," he said.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.125em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
The pets listed in the lawsuit vary in age and in length of time consuming Beneful before becoming ill, but the consistent symptoms, according to the suit, include: vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, liver or kidney malfunction and failure, seizures, and even death.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.125em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
Plaintiff Rob Benham, of Versailles, Indiana, told NBC News he and his family believe Beneful is responsible for the death of Sadie, a 7-year-old Miniature Fox terrier, and the ailing health of their 5-year-old Shih Tzu Willie.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.125em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
Benham, 47, began feeding his dogs Beneful in June 2013, partially for financial reasons, he said.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.125em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
"Purina is a household word, we felt very safe in doing that," he said.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.125em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
Within a month, Sadie began losing weight dramatically, Benham said. When they took her to their veterinarian, they were informed Sadie had developed problems with her liver and would need medication. But the vet was unable to find the cause of the problem.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.125em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
"He was baffled," Benham said. "He could think of no reason for it."</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.125em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
The symptoms only got worse.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.125em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
"She started having trouble with her vision and was staggering everywhere," he said. "She had always been very healthy."</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.125em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
"On October 19 of 2013, we lost her," Benham said through tears.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.125em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
Cereghino said there was a disconnect between the company's new campaign and how Purina has treated concerned customers.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.125em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
The amended suit claims that Purina has been contacting consumers who post negative experiences with Beneful to social media, denying liability while offering them cash settlements in exchange for restrictive confidentiality agreements. The lawsuit claims to include a copy of a non-disclosure agreement for a complaint involving Beneful.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.125em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
Schopp, the Purina spokesman, said any customer service agreements and compensation were "good-will gestures" by the company and a common practice in many industries.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.125em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
"Anytime consumers have questions they can contact us, whether validated or not we have at times responded to them and offered compensation as a good-will gesture," he said. "The notion that this is something we just started or there is some sort of a negative motive here is nonsense."</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.125em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
The dry kibble variations named in the suit include Purina Beneful Healthy Weight, Purina Beneful Original, Purina Beneful Incredibites, and Purina Beneful Healthy Growth For Puppies, Purina Beneful Healthy Smile, Purina Beneful Healthy Fiesta, Purina Beneful Healthy Radiance, and Purina Beneful Playful Life. </div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">austindogandcat.blogspot.com</div>Debi Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09010511468063772895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488227001260692326.post-69277936588559269262015-08-08T10:52:00.003-05:002015-08-08T10:52:42.243-05:00Rare plug: The Wizard of Dogz! starring rescued dogs and a macaw at the Dougherty<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HArCwCXeWq4AzK0cFOr1JYJ8QVjMN88MVSNG7ldUXpS1YMeuokBlmeSgbW9S2pKhdv59_-fzMSCNjfJRiOvmOkSujziLI-9aMeIe96fnbNL4E_vLGUvg3U9AQQjAnZadsu3VXxIXZxOD/s1600/2015-Wizard_Of_Dogz-4x6postcard_Front-1024x696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HArCwCXeWq4AzK0cFOr1JYJ8QVjMN88MVSNG7ldUXpS1YMeuokBlmeSgbW9S2pKhdv59_-fzMSCNjfJRiOvmOkSujziLI-9aMeIe96fnbNL4E_vLGUvg3U9AQQjAnZadsu3VXxIXZxOD/s400/2015-Wizard_Of_Dogz-4x6postcard_Front-1024x696.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
for more info:<a href="http://chickendog.net/" target="_blank"> chickendog.net</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">austindogandcat.blogspot.com</div>Debi Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09010511468063772895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488227001260692326.post-2817697363814506052015-08-07T12:02:00.000-05:002015-08-07T12:02:08.810-05:00In case you were wondering: Pampered Pet care at the Driskill Hotel <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJfjS8jU_aEGU0d9M-r4D9EHa5vY4E1xzkQuhbwldjNieXSPunL3gn3ineDneHfsRQkisxhuouv417ct6tzS22vQBP_s3ri9LzYV_gltlLKTenA9UCOgnnCNkcfAchfZH7CLtKOocxQ_kc/s1600/pet-friendly-masthead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJfjS8jU_aEGU0d9M-r4D9EHa5vY4E1xzkQuhbwldjNieXSPunL3gn3ineDneHfsRQkisxhuouv417ct6tzS22vQBP_s3ri9LzYV_gltlLKTenA9UCOgnnCNkcfAchfZH7CLtKOocxQ_kc/s400/pet-friendly-masthead.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<h2 style="background-color: #ece1cb; color: #563511; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 35px; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; height: 35px; line-height: 35px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; width: 620px;">
Accommodations & Amenities</h2>
<h3 style="background-color: #ece1cb; color: #c7a148; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; font-size: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">
</h3>
<img alt="Assorted Dog Treats" class="inset" src="http://driskill.esitedemos.com/images/inset/dog-food.jpg" style="background-color: #ece1cb; clear: right; color: #563511; display: inline; float: right; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; font-size: 10px; margin: 0px 0px 15px 15px; padding: 0px;" title="" /><div style="background-color: #ece1cb; color: #563511; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 1.4em; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
When traveling to Austin, don’t worry about boarding your pet or looking for a sitter. Recognized as one of the nation's most pet-friendly hotels, The Legendary Driskill welcomes you and your four-legged friends to experience true Texas hospitality.</div>
<div style="background-color: #ece1cb; color: #563511; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 1.4em; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
The Driskill's Pampered Pet Program includes:</div>
<ul style="background-color: #ece1cb; color: #563511; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 1.4em; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.7em; list-style-image: url(http://www.driskillhotel.com/images/star.gif); margin: 0px 0px 20px 40px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Custom Driskill Pet Bed</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Designer Dishes and Mat</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Bottled Spring Water</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Gourmet Pet Treats from 1886 Café & Bakery</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Supply of Driskill Doggie Business Bags</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Map of Austin with designated pet-friendly areas</li>
</ul>
<div style="background-color: #ece1cb; color: #563511; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 1.4em; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: #ece1cb; color: #563511; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 1.4em; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
We encourage guests to be respectful of the environment by scooping your pet’s waste. We provide you with bags, made from recycled plastic and have poop scoops available for use.</div>
<div style="background-color: #ece1cb; color: #563511; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 1.4em; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
Please note the following pet policy. </div>
<ul style="background-color: #ece1cb; color: #563511; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 1.4em; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.7em; list-style-image: url(http://www.driskillhotel.com/images/star.gif); margin: 0px 0px 20px 40px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
A $100 one-time non-refundable fee is charged for each "Pet Guest."</div>
</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
The maximum pet weight allowed is 75 pounds. Domesticated dogs (non-aggressive) only.</div>
</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
All pets must have received Bordotella and rabies vaccinations within the past 12 months. In addition, pet's name, weight, and breed must be provided for identification purposes during the reservation process.</div>
</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
Pets may not be left alone in the guest room at any time. Please contact our Concierge (512-391-7013) in advance if you need assistance in scheduling pet sitting services.</div>
</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
Please prevent your pet from barking or otherwise disturbing other guests. In the event that the Driskill Hotel incurs any loss of business or compensation is required for another guest due to noise complaints, those charges will be billed accordingly to your guest account. All dogs must be on a leash at all times while on the hotel premises.</div>
</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
Please clean up after your pet. Complimentary waste pick-up bags will be provided for you in the guest room. Please contact Guest Reception should you need more bags.</div>
</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
A Pet Map of downtown Austin will be provided for you. Please note the nearest park locations for your walking needs.</div>
</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
Pets are not permitted in the hotel restaurants or other public areas, with the exception of arriving and departing through the main lobby.</div>
</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
Although we welcome your pet, please respect our hospitality. Do not permit your pet to get on the bed coverings or the furniture. If additional cleaning is needed for bedding, carpeting or furniture, or if any damages are incurred due to your pet, all related charges will be billed to your credit card on file with the front desk.</div>
</li>
</ul>
<a href="http://www.driskillhotel.com/pdf/FF50_042.pdf" style="background-color: #ece1cb; border: 0px; color: #d09a1c; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; font-size: 10px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><img class="center" src="http://www.driskillhotel.com/images/fido_small.gif" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 200px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">austindogandcat.blogspot.com</div>Debi Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09010511468063772895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488227001260692326.post-53855327638110377872015-08-07T11:00:00.000-05:002015-08-07T11:01:13.028-05:00When two visions of the 'Austin' life collide: City Council's compromise over music festival's use of leash-free dog park area on Vic Mathias/Auditorium Shores<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnZRXJmOAbUhUkfPRdNL-WZrUyqqfL2xg-hVB6AGWkXC8pVv8edONcE0m2hDXKLml8BSUKz_dEY9sFeU1B03TZJm0K_TZOIYmmChJSbkkTLZIKVd7lvScQ-RSPcpoGR85MHhn09FqP91S/s1600/dog_parks.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnZRXJmOAbUhUkfPRdNL-WZrUyqqfL2xg-hVB6AGWkXC8pVv8edONcE0m2hDXKLml8BSUKz_dEY9sFeU1B03TZJm0K_TZOIYmmChJSbkkTLZIKVd7lvScQ-RSPcpoGR85MHhn09FqP91S/s320/dog_parks.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0e1f2b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">from: </span><a href="http://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2015/08/council-reaches-fun-fun-fun-fest-compromise/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" target="_blank">austinmonitor.com</a><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0e1f2b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><b>by Tyler Whitson</b></span><br />
<div class="post-22317 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-entertainment-events tag-austin-city-council tag-city-of-austin-parks-and-recreation-department tag-transmission-events" id="post-22317" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(189, 202, 211); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #0e1f2b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px;">
<div class="wrapper" style="padding: 0px 12px 20px;">
<div class="entry-summary">
<div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 25px;">
Amid concerns that Fun Fun Fun Fest would not take place this November at Vic Mathias Shores, City Council has intervened in negotiations between festival organizers and the city’s Parks and Recreation Department to ensure that it goes forward as planned.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 25px;">
Council unanimously passed a resolution Thursday directing Parks and Recreation Department staff to allow organizer Transmission Events to use up to 1 acre of a newly renovated off-leash dog park to accommodate the event, which will take place Nov. 6-8.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 25px;">
The resolution also ensures that the rest of the 3.5-acre dog park will remain open for public use during the festival. It is adjacent to the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail and west of the event space and an additional multipurpose “flex” space that the festival will be using.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 25px;">
The <i>Austin Monitor</i> <a href="http://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2015/06/fun-fun-fun-fest-fights-space/" style="color: #306c97; text-decoration: none;">first reported in June</a> concerns over the use of the off-leash dog park by the annual festival.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 25px;">
Council Member Greg Casar, who sponsored the resolution, made it abundantly clear that the directive applies only to this specific situation and is not a long-term solution.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 25px;">
“The present resolution is about helping to fix the short-term issues faced by all these events, the trail users and the neighborhood,” Casar said.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 25px;">
The events that Casar was referring to are the 40th annual Settlement Home for Children Charity Garage and Estate Sale, which will take place Nov. 5-8 at the Palmer Events Center, and the Austin Opera rendition of Verdi’s <em>Aida</em>, which will take place Nov. 7 at the Long Center for the Performing Arts.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 25px;">
Representatives from both events raised concerns over the past few weeks that the festival, if not properly set up and reigned in, would negatively impact their events by creating noise, odor, congestion and parking issues.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 25px;">
Marilyn Wilson, development director for the settlement home, and Jon Nash, president of the Austin Opera board of trustees, publicly expressed support for the resolution as a temporary fix, however, as it gives festival organizers more flexibility to move their equipment farther away from the other venues and sets other requirements for the event to follow.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 25px;">
These requirements include limiting street closures during the festival so that they don’t interfere with the other events.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 25px;">
“We need a short-term solution, which is why we are here in support of the efforts of Council Member Casar,” Wilson said. “I have to say, if we had it our way, the resolution would address the need for a long-term solution in which multiple events occurring in the same space, using the same facilities, would have been addressed.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 25px;">
Though the resolution itself is not a long-term solution, it does direct city staff to begin reviewing the way that the Parks department, the Long Center and the Palmer Events Center coordinate their annual event schedules. “The Council desires that procedures involve early planning and communication among various stakeholders to best avoid conflicts between major events,” it reads.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 25px;">
These stakeholders include event organizers, neighborhood groups and others.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 25px;">
Proposing solutions for this specific issue next year and other issues related to large events on city parkland will be the responsibility of the city’s new Parkland Events Task Force, which will meet for the first time on Aug. 25.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 25px;">
In the meantime, Council Member Sheri Gallo said that Parks staff should not make any decisions about next year’s Fun Fun Fun Fest without consulting Council.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 25px;">
Transmission Events General Manager Bobby Garza told the <i>Monitor</i> that he has not yet begun to work out the venue details for next year’s festival.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 25px;">
Bouldin Creek Neighborhood Association spokesperson Catie Mohin explained in an email to the <i>Monitor</i> on Thursday that her group is looking forward to a long-term solution.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 25px;">
“We know this is viewed as a one time fix given that the new Parkland (Events) Task Force will meet soon,” Mohin wrote. “Regardless, our focus is on setting clear guidelines so that this sort of issue is dealt with by clear rules in the future.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<em>Rendering of Vic Mathias Shores courtesy of the Parks and Recreation Department.</em></div>
<div class="return-home" style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<a href="http://www.austinmonitor.com/" style="color: #306c97; text-decoration: none;">‹ Return to Today's Headlines</a></div>
<div class="return-home" style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<a href="http://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/whispers/" style="color: #306c97; text-decoration: none;">Read latest Whispers ›</a></div>
</div>
<div class="sharing">
<span class="st_facebook_hcount" displaytext="Facebook" st_processed="yes"><span class="stButton" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><span class="stMainServices st-facebook-counter" style="background-image: url(http://w.sharethis.com/images/facebook_counter.png); background-repeat: no-repeat; display: inline-block; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; height: 16px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-top: 3px; position: relative; white-space: nowrap; width: 60px;"> </span><span class="stArrow" style="background: url(http://w.sharethis.com/share4x/images/Facebook_bubble_arrow.png) 3px 8px no-repeat; display: inline-block; height: 14px; margin-left: -1px; padding-left: 3px;"><span class="stButton_gradient stHBubble" style="background: rgb(236, 238, 245); border-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid rgb(202, 212, 231); display: inline-block; filter: none; font-family: serif; height: 16px; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px; padding: 2px; position: relative; z-index: -1;"><span class="stBubble_hcount" style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; height: 16px; padding-left: 2px; padding-right: 2px; white-space: nowrap;">27</span></span></span></span></span> <span class="st_twitter_hcount" displaytext="Tweet" st_processed="yes"><span class="stButton" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><span class="stMainServices st-twitter-counter" style="background-image: url(http://w.sharethis.com/images/twitter_counter.png); background-repeat: no-repeat; display: inline-block; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; height: 16px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-top: 3px; position: relative; white-space: nowrap; width: 60px;"> </span><span class="stArrow" style="background: url(http://w.sharethis.com/share4x/images/Twitter_bubble_arrow.png) 3px 8px no-repeat; display: inline-block; height: 14px; margin-left: -1px; padding-left: 3px;"><span class="stButton_gradient stHBubble" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 227, 243); display: inline-block; filter: none; font-family: serif; height: 16px; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px; padding: 2px; position: relative; z-index: -1;"><span class="stBubble_hcount" style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; height: 16px; padding-left: 2px; padding-right: 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1</span></span></span></span></span> <span class="st_sharethis_hcount" displaytext="ShareThis" st_processed="yes"><span class="stButton" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><span class="stMainServices st-sharethis-counter" style="background-image: url(http://w.sharethis.com/images/sharethis_counter.png); background-repeat: no-repeat; display: inline-block; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; height: 16px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-top: 3px; position: relative; white-space: nowrap; width: 86px;"> </span><span class="stArrow" style="background: url(http://w.sharethis.com/share4x/images/bubble_arrow.png) 3px 8px no-repeat; display: inline-block; height: 14px; margin-left: -1px; padding-left: 3px;"><span class="stButton_gradient stHBubble" style="background: -webkit-gradient(linear, 0% 0%, 0% 100%, from(rgb(213, 213, 213)), color-stop(0.48, rgb(239, 239, 239)), color-stop(0.94, rgb(255, 255, 255))); border-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid rgb(191, 191, 191); display: inline-block; font-family: serif; height: 16px; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px; padding: 2px; position: relative; z-index: -1;"><span class="stBubble_hcount" style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; height: 16px; padding-left: 2px; padding-right: 2px; white-space: nowrap;">163</span></span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="key-topics" style="background: rgb(211, 226, 240); border-bottom-color: rgb(189, 202, 211); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #0e1f2b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 5px; padding: 8px 12px;">
<h3 style="color: inherit; font-family: brandon-grotesque, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; text-transform: uppercase;">
KEY PLAYERS & TOPICS IN THIS ARTICLE</h3>
<div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 8px;">
<b><a href="http://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/tag/austin-city-council/" style="color: #306c97; text-decoration: none;">Austin City Council</a></b>: The Austin City Council is the body with legislative purview over the City of Austin. It offers policy direction, while the office of the City Manager implements administrative actions based on those policies. Until 2012, the body contained seven members, including the city's Mayor, all elected at-large. In 2012, City of Austin residents voted to change that system and now 10 members of the Council are elected based on geographic districts. The Mayor continues to be elected at-large.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 8px;">
<b><a href="http://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/tag/city-of-austin-parks-and-recreation-department/" style="color: #306c97; text-decoration: none;">City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department</a></b>: The city department responsible for the city's park system, rec centers, and associated infrastructure.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 8px;">
<b><a href="http://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/tag/transmission-events/" style="color: #306c97; text-decoration: none;">Transmission Events</a></b>: The organization behind Fun Fun Fun Fest and bookings for Mohawk, among other things.</div>
</div>
<div class="related-posts" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(189, 202, 211); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #0e1f2b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 5px;">
<div class="wrapper" style="padding: 12px 12px 20px;">
<h3 style="color: inherit; font-family: brandon-grotesque, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; text-transform: uppercase;">
</h3>
</div>
</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0e1f2b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">- See more at: http://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2015/08/council-reaches-fun-fun-fun-fest-compromise/#sthash.smmiJuFc.dpuf</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">austindogandcat.blogspot.com</div>Debi Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09010511468063772895noreply@blogger.com0