We all know that our pets love to eat human food whenever they get the chance, and while certain foods are actually good for their health, like blueberries and cantaloupe, some can make them very sick or even put their lives in danger. But why are there foods that we can eat that our four-legged friends can’t?
As Dr. Whitney Miller, chief veterinarian at Petco, says, humans evolved differently than cats and dogs, which means we developed different diets and ways of processing food. “From our gastrointestinal makeup to our teeth, we are designed to be omnivores with a rich and complex diet,” she says. “Additionally, our bodies can flush out many toxins that other animals do not have the capability to process.”
To discover some of the foods you likely have at home right now that aren’t safe for your pets, read through this helpful list.
Apparently, an Orange County ordinance passed in 2021 banning puppy mills didn’t send a strong enough message. A proposed “commercial kennel” in Orlando has raised suspicions among neighbors that the facility might house a dog breeding and puppy selling operation, if built.
The proposal is set for a public hearing on May 4 in the Orange County Board of Zoning Adjustment. The kennel’s location is in northeast Orlando near the border of — no joke — the town of Taintsville. Looking at the cover letter description written by the property owner, listed as Juan David Valencia, people in the area have reason to be wary of the project.
At first glance, some of its details seem admirable. The owner wants to build a “state-of-the-art commercial kennel” with 44 dog runs and a 1,250-square-foot indoor playground. Note, in this case, that we’re not talking about a traditional kennel where people bring their dogs. The facility will only include dogs owned by Valencia. And much less appealing in the kennel’s description is the “nursery room with 10 dog runs (8’ x 3’) [and] a puppy room with 5 runs (8’ x 3’)”. Valencia says he keeps about 80 dogs at a time but wants to build this kennel to host up to 100 dogs. Hoist the red flags.
My years of volunteer work as a foster for special needs rescue dogs gives me a unique insight to this travesty. There have been many a time where a breeder has taken dogs to near death and called our rescue to announce, “come and get them or they will die”. Ironically, my wife and I are fostering a little chihuahua named corona. Corona was part of an owner surrender after a man died who was running a breeding operation out of this house. The surviving wife called us and surrendered 4 dogs that were in terrible shape.
Here is sweet little Qorona who sadly had to spend 6 days and nights in an oxygen tank while our rescue held our collective breath to see if she would even survive.
Thankfully, after a stint at the vet, she is doing well. Unfortunately, our rescue is saddled with a vet bill that is quite large.
If only for modern medicine, Qorona survived and is living in the lap of luxury at the Lilley Pad. The word of the day is recovery comfort and lots of love. Here are a few pics a few days after we brought her home…
Back in 1981, legendary actor James “Jimmy” Stewart, the star of “It’s a Wonderful Life” and too many other classics to list here, went on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson” to share his hobby: poetry. The piece that Stewart read was titled “I’ll Never Forget a Dog Named Beau” about his golden retriever.
At first, the poem made Johnny and the audience laugh, but it had a very different effect in the end. Describing it can’t do it justice; it’s something you have to see — and feel — for yourself, so check out the video and read the text below.
Almost every commercial pet store in Orange County will no longer be allowed to sell dogs, cats and rabbits, starting Wednesday.
An ordinance that passed with a 4-3 vote last summer is now in effect.
The health services department said the ordinance was drafted due to dogs and cats in large-scale pet stores having their health and welfare disregarded in order to maximize profits.
Supporters said it will stop puppy mills that commonly breed thousands of often sick puppies and sell them to stores nationwide.
People in the county will still be able to foster and rescue pets from local animal shelters and animal rescues. Pet stores will also be allowed to provide space and shelter for local rescues and animal shelters.
Three Orlando-area stores challenged the rule, saying it would bankrupt their businesses, but a judge allowed the ban to stay.
Only one store in Ocoee is exempt from the rule after city commissioners voted to opt out.
A Rhode Island dog whose inspiring story of going from shelter dog to lifesaving police K-9 became the subject of a recent Netflix movie has been euthanized.
State Police said Sunday K-9 Ruby was put down Friday following a “sudden, acute, and untreatable illness.” She was 11 years old.
Col. Darnell Weaver, superintendent of the state police, expressed gratitude for K-9 Ruby’s years of service.
“K-9 Ruby dedicated her life to serve the citizens of Rhode Island and make a positive impact on every person she ever interacted with,” he said in a statement. “She became a symbol of hope for all shelter dogs, showing the world what a shelter dog can do when just given love and the chance to shine.”
A long fight to end the practice of retail puppy sales in Orange County might be moot if the state legislature passes a new law.
A “pet protection” act under consideration in Tallahassee would overturn local bans on the sale of puppies and kittens while putting in place a framework for inspections and regulation of the sellers. The ban was passed in Orange County last year after the horrible conditions at several local Petland stores were made public. The Humane Society points toward the chain as the push behind the bill.
“Petland has 15 locations in Florida, a state with over 80 puppy-selling pet stores, and the company has almost certainly concluded that stripping local governments of their ability to regulate puppy sales will prove unpopular, especially at a time when many locally funded shelters across Florida are at capacity,” they wrote. “That’s why this legislation is crafted to appear to regulate the very industry it is designed to protect. It includes 20 pages of weak and unenforceable language that would do little but maintain the status quo for stores like Petland while harming shelters by pumping more puppy mill puppies into Florida communities.”
“The puppy mill to pet store pipeline would flourish under this Trojan horse proposal, and so would the practices we’ve exposed and campaigned against—the sale of sick puppies, the deception of consumers and exorbitant financing rates and hidden fees,” Humane Society CEO Kitty Block shared in a statement.
The bill is part of a continued push by the supposed party of small government to supercede local authority. Florida Republicans have consistently trounced on their commitment to “small government” throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, undoing local emergency orders and pushing for legislation that would allow business owners to overturn the votes of local authorities.
Polka Dogz Pet Rescue has many highly adoptable dogs and I love each and every one of them. My wife and I have fostered a owner surrender that needs tender loving care as a senior with several health issues. This tiny fur baby is only 5 lbs and 15 years old and has no teeth. We took Elena as a foster because the low probability that she would be adopted and the rescue facility must be a tough place to live for a dog in her condition.
My wife and I are committed to giving her peace, love and comfort for as long as she is with us. If interested in taking on a senior dog, please apply at polkadogz.org. My wife and I are sponsoring her adoption fee.
After three hours of debate, Ocoee opted Tuesday night to delay a decision on an ordinance regulating retail pet sales.
City commissioners were poised to override an Orange County rule forbidding pet stores throughout the county from selling puppies, kittens and bunnies — and essentially grant a monopoly without any local oversight to Chews A Puppy, the only pet shop in the city that sells puppies.
But the board fretted about how to police the family-owned store, which has been tagged with an F-rating by the Better Business Bureau.
