The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : December 2015 The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : December 2015

Thursday, December 31, 2015

The Prison Pets Program at the Medium-Security Maryland Correctional Training Center Has Been Suspended After a Prison Worker and an Inmate Were Bitten by Dogs


Hagerstown, Maryland  — Maryland's prison agency said Wednesday it has suspended one facility's program allowing inmates to prepare rescued pets for adoption after a prison worker and an inmate were bitten by dogs in separate incidents in recent months.

The civilian worker required stitches for a bite in the face, and the inmate suffered a puncture wound to his hand, a spokesman said.

The suspension of the Prison Pets program at the medium-security Maryland Correctional Training Center near Hagerstown does not affect animal-centered programs at nine other Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services institutions, including two programs similar to Prison Pets, spokesman Robert Thomas said. Most of the other programs involve inmates training service dogs.

Thomas said the Prison Pets program was launched at the 180-bed prison with good intentions but without higher approval of any guidelines or agreements with the animal shelters that supplied the dogs and cats, which otherwise would have been euthanized.

"We think the program has merit. It needs to be implemented in the correct way," Thomas said. He said agency officials hope to make a decision about the program's future by the end of January.

The Herald-Mail first reported the suspension Tuesday. In an earlier story in July, Warden Phil Morgan told the newspaper that the program, then a year old, had had "a total calming effect" on the prison's inmate population.

Thomas told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the warden or his representative should have made sure the program was properly approved. He said the warden sent authorization paperwork to an assistant Division of Correction commissioner last fall, but the assistant commissioner retired in November, apparently without taking action on the proposal.

The program adopted out 100 dogs and 30 cats, Thomas said. He said he expects the 26 animals remaining in the program to be adopted by Jan. 8.


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Singer, Patti Page Rewrites Her Iconic Song To Find Out If People See That Doggie In The Shelter


Most of us are familiar with Patti Page’s classic song “(How Much Is) That Doggie In The Window?” Written in 1952, it tells the sweet tale of buying a puppy — the one with the waggly tail  — from the local pet store.

But most of us probably aren’t familiar with the fact that Page changed her tune in 2009 — literally. Together with The Humane Society, Page recorded a new version of the song, entitled “Do You See That Doggie In The Shelter?” with the goal that it would become, as Page put it, “an anthem for homeless pets and animal shelters.”

Page was hopeful that shifting the famous song’s focus would not only bring awareness to rescue shelters, but would also educate others about the plight of pet store puppies, who often come from harsh puppy mills. In Patti’s words,

“The original song asks the question: ‘How much is that doggie in the window?’ Today, the answer is ‘too much.’ And I don’t just mean the price tag on the puppies in pet stores. The real cost is in the suffering of the mother dogs back at the puppy mill. That’s where most pet store puppies come from. And that kind of cruelty is too high a price to pay.” – Patti Page

Although Page passed away in 2013, her powerful message lives on through the work of the SPCA Singapore, which is working hard to ensure that the new song becomes as well-known — if not moreso — than the original. The group also put together a companion book, “Do You See That Doggie in the Window?” which has been distributed in over 20 libraries and will (hopefully) become part of the curriculum in many schools throughout the country.

Help spread some rescue shelter ruv by listening to and sharing the new version of the song — which is just as catchy as the old one.

Video:






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Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Rare Sighting: Giant Squid Spotted Close to the Surface of Toyama Bay in Central Japan


It isn't every day that a mystery from the deep swims into plain sight. But on Christmas Eve, spectators on a pier in Toyama Bay in central Japan were treated to a rare sighting of a giant squid.

The creature swam under fishing boats and close to the surface of Toyama Bay, better known for its firefly squid, and reportedly hung around the bay for several hours before it was ushered back to open water.

It was captured on video by a submersible camera, and even joined by a diver, Akinobu Kimura, owner of Diving Shop Kaiyu, who swam in close proximity to the red-and-white real-life sea monster.

"My curiosity was way bigger than fear, so I jumped into the water and go close to it," he told CNN.

"This squid was not damaged and looked lively, spurting ink and trying to entangle his tentacles around me. I guided the squid toward to the ocean, several hundred meters from the area it was found in, and it disappeared into the deep sea."

Yuki Ikushi, the curator of Uozu Aquarium in Uozu, Toyama, told CNN that there were 16 reports of Architeuthis squid trapped by fishing nets last season, and this one is the first sighting this season, which runs from November to March.

"We might see more in this season, but it's very rare for them to be found swimming around (the fishing boats') moorings."

The Toyama squid is a fairly small example of the species, estimated at around 3.7 meters (12.1 feet) long, and may be a juvenile. Giant squid are thought to grow as large as 13 meters (43 feet) long. They typically inhabit deep waters, and it is unclear why this one wandered into the bay.




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Pedals, the Walking Bear Spotted in West Milford, New Jersey on December 21


New Jersey wildlife officials say there's been a sighting of a bear that walks upright on its two hind legs, and has become a social media darling.

Fans of the bipedal bear nicknamed Pedals had grown concerned when the animal had not been seen for several weeks.

Pedals apparently has an injured leg or paw that doesn't allow it to walk comfortably on all fours, experts say.

But officials tell NJ.com a resident saw Pedals in West Milford on Dec. 21 and said the bear appeared to be in good health. The caller estimated Pedals weighs roughly 350 pounds.

The bear first gained fame after it was spotted last year ambling around neighborhoods and was caught on videos that were posted on social media and played on national television. Since then, animal activists voiced concern that the bear's health has declined and they fear it might not survive a harsh winter. They also doubt the bear can run, climb or defend itself, or even eat properly.

Supporters hope Pedals can be moved to a sanctuary in New York State, but New Jersey officials have said they won't allow the bear to be transported out of state. They have said they want to examine the bear before making any decisions about it, and they don't plan to try to capture the animal.

"As we've been saying all along, the bear seems to be doing fine on its own," Department of Environmental Protection spokesman Larry Hajna said. "This is really good news for the bear and all the people following his travels.

"This sighting is really encouraging," Hajna added. "By virtue of the fact that the bear hasn't been seen for some time indicates to us that he has been out in the woods foraging. There are plenty of tree nuts available. We now have a basis to determine the bear is OK. He may be heading into his denning period now."








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URGENT: Sixteen Puppies and Dogs Were Transported to the Maryland SPCA Today from Another Shelter, and They Need Our Help Now!


Sharing from: Maryland SPCA

Just in...Urgent: Sixteen (16) puppies and dogs were transported to the Maryland SPCA today from another shelter, and they need our help now! (See their heart-warming little faces in video below.)

Our adoption center is closed, but our expert vet staff is here staying late to examine each of the 16 pets and address their immediate medical needs. This includes finding foster care for a young dog and her five, two-week-old puppies.

A generous friend of the MD SPCA heard about how much it will cost to care for these special pets, and he's offered to match, dollar-for-dollar, any donations raised now through 11:59 p.m. tomorrow, up to $5,000!

Please help these pets by making a donation of any amount, and your gift will go twice as far to help provide medical care, warm shelter and nutritious meals to these 16 pets who desperately need saving! Even a small gift can make a huge difference!






Website: MD SPCA


Take a look at these adorable animals!










Please Share!


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Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Washington, DC – Washington Humane Society: We're Extending Our Whisker Wonderland Adoption Promotion! Through January 3


It sure hasn't felt like winter these past few weeks, so we're extending our Whisker Wonderland adoption promotion! Through January 3, you can start the New Year off with a new best friend for just $20.16*! www.washhumane.org/adopt

*Standard adoption procedures apply







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Washington, DC - Meet Adorable Raven, a One-Year-Old Tripod Looking for Her Forever Home: Adopt Her Today for $20.16 – Washington Humane Society


If you adopt one-year-old Raven TODAY, her adoption fee is just $20.16*! Be sure to get here before we close at 5 p.m. to take this absolute gem home!

Less is more when it comes to Raven! She may be a tripod, but she is the nicest, happiest, and smartest dog you will meet! She's already getting good at walking and we are sure she'll be running soon! If you're a looking for a constant friend and great girl, look no further. Meet her at our New York Avenue Adoption Center today! *Standard adoption procedures apply. (Photo by Christina Gephardt) ‪#‎AdoptDC ‪#‎AdoptWHS

From Raven:
         
Hi! My name is Raven! Despite losing my leg, I'm just about the nicest, happiest dog you could ever hope to meet. I'm already getting really good at walking on just three legs, and pretty soon I bet I'll even be running! My favorite things are sitting on the couch and getting lots of attention and treats. I like doing anything if it means I can do it with you! I'm really smart and great at learning, and I already know how to sit. If you're looking for a constant friend and generally great girl, then look no further! Come meet me today!

Animal ID: 30318803
Species: Dog
Age: 1 year 5 months 26 days
Sex: Female
Color: Black/White
Declawed: No
Site: WHS Georgia Ave


To learn more about Raven, click here: RAVEN






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Fishermen Help Pregnant Stingray Give Birth Inside Their Boat


WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT

The incredible moment a stingray gave birth on a boat after being caught by a group of fisherman was caught on camera.

Javier Capello shared a 39-second long video to YouTube Saturday of the pregnant stingray giving birth on his boat.

The video starts with a man placing his hand on the stingray's belly, gently prodding the creature.

Moments later, one tiny baby ray popped out and started to wriggle around the boat.

The man continues to press on the stingray's belly, as more tiny stingrays pop out back to back.

He pauses for a few seconds, and then presses the cartilaginous fish's belly again, causing more small stingrays to be born.

The video shows at least 12 stingrays being born on the boat thanks to the help from the unknown man.

Capello, who also shared the video to Reddit, explained that they caught the pregnant stingray with 'just the basic: Line, hook, living bait' and 'used a little morena' as bait.

“We didn't really know what to do, she was having problems letting the littles (sic) out so we gave her some help,” Capello wrote.

“We thought she was dying at first because we cut her tail off before realizing she was pregnant.”

In the end, Capello wrote that they “felt guilty and threw them all back,” including the mother and that “luckily they survived.”

It's unclear exactly where or when the video was filmed.

Rays are ovoviviparous, meaning they carry litters of young inside them numbering up to 13 which feed on individual yolk sacks.

Female rays are capable of storing a male ray's sperm inside their bodies without getting pregnant for years before impregnating themselves at a later date.







The incredible moment a stingray gave birth on a boat after being caught by a group of fisherman was caught on camera. Javier Capello shared a 39-second long video to YouTube Saturday of the pregnant stingray giving birth on his boat.


The video starts with a man placing his hand on the stingray's belly, gently prodding the creature. Moments later, one tiny baby ray popped out and started to wriggle around the boat.



The man continues to press on the stingray's belly, as more tiny stingrays pop out back to back. He pauses for a few seconds, and then presses the cartilaginous fish's belly again, causing more small stingrays to be born.



The video shows at least 12 stingrays being born on the boat thanks to the help from the unknown man.



In the end, Capello wrote that they “felt guilty and threw them all back,” including the mother and that “luckily they survived”.

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Woman Climbs Down in Manhole and Stays Until Authorities Come to Rescue Her Pet Pig


Latoria Middleton of Atlanta has raised and loved her pet pig since he was just a week old. From just a tiny, bottle-fed piglet to a full-grown hog that loves Reese’s Pieces, Rick Ross has lived with her happily inside her home.

But last week, the curious pig got loose. Middleton was heartbroken, and frantically set out to look for her pet. Luckily, her dog was able to lead her to a manhole, in which her pig was a little shaken up, but otherwise unharmed. Middleton then called authorities for help hoisting the 200-pound piggy out from this deep hole.

To her surprise… no one would come to her rescue. She says that the fire department essentially told her that there was nothing to be done for her pet pig, and that poor Rick Ross’ last days were to be lived down that dark hole.

Totally shocked and appalled by the community’s unwillingness to help out, she climbed down into the hole with her pig and alerted the media to this ridiculous situation. If it were a dog or a cat stuck down there, there’s no chance that the fire department would have left him down there. So why let a pig suffer?

While the fire department claims that they responded right away, it’s clear that there was some sort of injustice to sort out. Whether it was a miscommunication or not, Middleton is just happy that her attention-grabbing stunt finally got her baby to safety.








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URGENT! Foster Homes Needed in Washington, DC Metro Area for Group of Adorable Abandoned Dogs


Sharing from: Caring Hearts Rescue

Caring Hearts Rescue has just been asked to help a group of 15 Shih Tzus whose owner fled and abandoned them in a rented house. Although the dogs are being fed temporarily by the landlord, they are in urgent need of being rescued. The group includes a mama who recently had puppies so it's even more urgent that they be rescued as soon as possible. Caring Hearts will take as many of the dogs as we can but the number will depend on how many fosters we have who are willing to take one or more of these pups. The dogs will be arriving on Sunday, December 27 and will be ready to go to their foster homes some time in the evening after they have been bathed, groomed, and have received medical attention. If you can help foster, please email us at fosterchr@caringheartsrescue.org. If you can't foster but want to help, we desperately need donations to pay for their medical care. To donate towards their care, please go to http://www.caringheartsrescue.org/#!money-donations/c1iuw

Thank you in advance for helping us help these poor pups!

  
UPDATE
OPERATION HOLIDAY ANGELS UPDATE: So many of you have asked for an update. Thank you so much for caring and sharing!

We have 11 males and three females. They have all been cleaned up (with multiple baths to remove the stench), shaved down, and named, and we are now in the process of vetting. This is Angel Liam in one of our volunteer's arms waiting for the vet. Probably the FIRST TIME EVER being hugged and loved by a human. Liam is about 1 1/2 years old and was probably used to breed. This is likely also his first time to a vet. Liam did very well and received all the necessary vaccines and shots, and we are now awaiting results of medical tests.
Please click here to donate for these angels: http://www.caringheartsrescue.org/#!money-donations/c1iuw


For Updates, please follow Caring Hearts Rescue on Facebook

Please share, and remember no donation is too small. Thanking you in advance from Caring Hearts Rescue, and The Pet Tree House.
















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