No Doggy Kisses and Pawshakes
This is the end of the review of the pet therapy canine health guidelines published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. The Guidelines suggest you discuss with your veterinarian an appropriate flea, tick and enteric parasite program if you have a therapy dog. They believe, however, that topical pasasiticides should be applied a minimum of 24 hours and preferably at least 48 hours before a visit. Bathing with a flea shampoo is not recommended because patients may be sensitive to ingredients in the shampoo. The Guidelines also require that licking be prevented for 2 reasons–the skin of the patients and staff can be contaminated with pathogens, providing an opportunity for your dog to acquire the pathogen; and because susceptible people can become infected with pathogens found in animal saliva. The guidelines also warn against “shaking paws” because the paws can become contaminated when walking through the healthcare environment.
LOBBY DAY IN HARRISBURG IS SEPTEMBER 15 AT 10 A.M. CONTACT Pennafeddogclubs@aol.com FOR MORE INFORMATION.
MISSION ORANGE
Yes, there is a caring link between Danville and Philadelphia and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). But, just as Danville is wholly separate from Philadelphia, so the PSPCA is wholly separate from the ASPCA. MISSION ORANGE brings both organizations together through site and through purpose but they are SEPARATE.
What is MISSION ORANGE? It is a “focused effort to create a country of humane communities, one community at a time, a nation in which there is no more unnecessary euthanasia of ADOPTABLE animals simply because of a lack of resources and awareness. (Important for pet owners and especially those in our Danville branch area is their definition of “adoptable”! What is it? We do know the ASPCA saved most of the Vick fighting dogs through rehabilitation and were able to re-home them even though HSUS thought they should all be destroyed!)
The first target communities are Spokane, Washington; Austin,Texas; Philadelphia, PA; Tampa, Florida; Gulfport, LA; Biloxi, Mississippi; Charleston, South Carolina; and New York, NY. As each community becomes sustainable, another can be added to the list. Does the community of Philadelphia include the communities with branch shelters and will they then operate under MISSION ORANGE guidelines? FFI hredfern@pspca.org and ask for link to MISSION ORANGE.
Ed Sayres is the ASPCA CEO. I met him when he was at St. Hubert’s Giralda at the shelter and training facility begun by Josephine Rockefeller Dodge. He wore a pony tail then– today, his hair is closely cropped, but if you want to see him in his early years and listen to him talk about the Canine Good Citizen program (the CGC was the puppy kindergarten curriculum there) and the dog shelter, get a copy of the Animal-Vues CGC videotape produced by the Latham Foundation. He is hard not to like–a kind and humble sense of humor, a man who ate lunch with his staff and the other employees. I think his parents and Mrs Dodge would be most proud of the life work he has chosen.
Aug 17, 2008 | | Uncategorized