The FDA Issued a Warning Letter to a Purina Pet Food Canning Facility Finding 'Significant Deviations' from Pet Food Regulations

The FDA issued a Warning Letter to a Purina Pet Food canning facility finding 'significant deviations' from pet food regulations. Though no recalls have been issued, FDA had serious concerns about this pet food plant.

The FDA Warning Letter stated their inspection lasted for two weeks – from September 15, 2014 through October 1, 2014. Inspection revealed “that your facility has significant deviations from the LACF (low-acid can food) regulations.”

The inspection found that this Purina plant deviated from the required processing of the pet food – and further did not document the deviation (as required by law). The FDA Warning Letter stated “your firm did not provide documentation associated with the evaluation of the entire lot of product affected by the process deviation and did not provide documentation and/or the specifics of your corrective action plan in order to ensure that your firm will prevent these occurrences in the future.”

FDA also found temperature drop concerns with the pet food manufactured at this plant. Law requires canned pet food to be heated to specific temperatures and any variations of these required temperatures are required to be noted in a log. This Purina plant did not document the drop in temperatures.

FDA “observed” that the conveyor system in this plant did “not have adequate protection in place to prevent an unprocessed can” from ultimately reaching the consumer. An ‘unprocessed can’ of pet food would be an uncooked can of pet food – uncooked can of feed grade ingredients that could be full of dangerous bacteria. Purina responded to FDA they are in the process of correcting this issue, however FDA stated “We do not consider this response acceptable because you did not provide specifics of your corrective action plan in order to INSURE that your firm will prevent these occurrences in the future.”

The public FDA Warning Letter to Purina  – posted on the FDA website – does not provide lot numbers of products involved. The only information consumers have is product names – listed below. All of these products are canned/moist foods.

Alpo PRIME Cuts with Beef
Alpo Chop House Originals Filet Mignon
Alpo Chop House Originals roasted Chicken
Friskies Mariner’s Catch
Friskies Mixed Grill
Friskies Gravy Sensations with Turkey and Giblets
Friskies Supreme Supper
Friskies Indoor Chicken
Friskies Salmon Dinner
Mighty Dog Chicken Egg & Bacon Country Platter
Mighty Dog Chop House Originals Filet Mignon
Mighty Dog Lamb and Rice
ProPlan Senior Beef and Rice Entrée

If you are feeding your pet one of these products – please pay close attention to your pet’s health. Should any illness occur, notify your veterinarian first, the FDA second.

You can report a pet illness to the FDA here: http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/SafetyHealth/ReportaProblem/ucm182403.htm

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Have You Heard About The Worlds First Airport Terminal for Animals?

Air travel can be such a nightmare, but one airport is determined to improve the experience… for animals, that is.

John F. Kennedy Airport is set to open the first privately-owned animal terminal in the world. It will be called, naturally, The Ark.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has signed a 30-year lease deal with Ark Development, an affiliate of the real estate company Racebrook Capital, to design and build a 178,000-square-foot animal cargo facility at the Queens, New York-based airport.

The $48m project will create 180 jobs and generate $108m in revenues over its 30-year span, the organizers said.

“For the animals who [will] pass through The Ark, as well as the people who own them, air travel can be stressful and confusing,” said Cliff Bollmann, an architect at Gensler, one of the firms designing the facility. “Aligning the needs of quarantine with kennelling and elevating the experience for animals and their owners, our design team sought to create a comfortable, healthy environment for them all.”

The Ark, which is scheduled to open in the early months of 2016, will include a departure lounge with comfortable places to sit, eat and drink (Costa Coffee for critters?), individual climate-controlled bedrooms for horses and cattle, a vet, an aviary and a Paradise 4 Paws for cats and dogs.

JFK is one of the busiest airports in the world, with some 50m people a year landing and taking off from its runways.

John J. Cuticelli, Jr, the chairman of Racebrook Capital, said the concept tackles “unmet needs” of travelling companion, sporting and agricultural animals. The terminal “will set new international airport standards for comprehensive veterinary, kennelling and quarantine services.”

If only someone would think of a way to make the flying experience that pleasant for humans.

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A Volunteer Firefighter in Peru Tied a Stray Dog to the Back of his Vehicle and Dragged it Through the Streets to Teach Him a Lesson

A volunteer firefighter in Peru tied a stray dog to the back of his vehicle and dragged it through the streets to teach him a lesson for allegedly biting his son.  

Fortunately, locals were outraged and barricaded his car and got the dog to a veterinarian.

Five-year-old Paco suffered four broken legs and lost all the pads on his feet as he struggled to keep up with the SUV he was tied to as it sped through the streets of Salamanca de Monterrico in Peru.  He had also been kicked several times before being tethered to the car.

Jose Percy Chiroque Chacon told the questioning police that he was punishing the dog for biting his son.  He said he grabbed the dog and tied it up before heading off around town.

Residents saw the tormented dog and blocked off Chacon’s vehicle, forcing him to stop.  They detached Paco and took him to an animal hospital.  Vets said all his pads were scraped off and he lost several claws.

Locals are outraged and say that Paco is a beloved member of the community and has never bitten anyone.

“Everybody around here knows Paco,” one neighbor explained.  “He is really friendly and that’s why he gets fed a lot and hangs around.  Nobody has ever heard of him biting anybody and we very much doubt he bit the man’s son.”

An animal protection law was passed in Peru in 2000, but it is unclear if charges are being brought against Chacon.  However, General Commander Gonzalo Lostaunau Silva of the Volunteer Fire Department of Peru said the man’s actions do not represent the oath their firefighters take and go against the values for which they stand.  He will no longer be working for them.

Hopefully Paco will be well-cared for a recover.

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Food Allergies Could Cause Your Dog to Scratch Excessively

There is an ever raging debate of what dogs should and shouldn't eat. Dogs are scavengers by nature and most dogs will munch down on almost anything, but that doesn't mean everything that gets in their way is good for them. Food allergies are fairly common amongst dogs, and a pet can develop an allergy at any age.

The most common allergy in dogs is flea bites. The second most common is created by inhaling allergens, such as molds and pollen. Food allergies come in on third place.

Allergies happen when the immune system overreacts to something that's not really a threat; the immune system believes something is foreign and should be eradicated. This is normally an important defense mechanism that protects the body, but when it comes to an allergy the immune system reacts to something that wouldn't otherwise be a problem.

Dogs are most often allergic to beef, dairy products, chicken, eggs, corn, soy, and wheat. To develop a food allergy, a dog must be exposed to the same ingredient for at least a couple of years.

Symptoms include excessive scratching, paw licking, paw chewing, repeated ear infections, rashes, and stomach problems. Some dogs with food allergies scratch until they lose all hair in an area.

If your dog develops a food allergy, he or she needs to stay away from that specific ingredient. In order to find out what causes the problem, you will need to feed the dog something completely different from what they've eaten in the past.

The dog should eat the new food for two to three months. During this time there can be no treats or tastes of human food. Once the dog is free of symptoms, add back one ingredient at a time to see if and when the immune system reacts.

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What To Do When Your Dog Is Afraid Of Thunderstorms

Some dogs demonstrate radical behavior in response to storm or noise phobias. Some researchers believe it is more than simply the noise of the thunder that triggers their fear. Studies have shown that dogs may hear distant thunder claps of approaching storms long before we do, and they also may be able to smell the moisture of coming rain, maybe even sense static electricity generated by electrical storms, and feel changes in barometric pressure.

To read more on this story, click here: What To Do When Your Dog Is Afraid Of Thunderstorms FOLLOW US!

Watch: Hippo Charges at Boat Full of Tourists (Video)

The tourists definitely did not see that coming.

In a video posted to YouTube on Jan. 11, folks experience a hippo charging at a Pangolin Photo Safari boat in Kasana, Botswana.

The hippo dashed at the boat on the Chobe River, which runs along the northeast border of the Chobe National Park in Africa.

YouTube user David Jackson said in the comments section that the video was taken by his son Craig Clive Jackson while the pair were on a safari.

To read more on this story, click here: Watch: Hippo Charges at Boat Full of Tourists FOLLOW US!

Why This Stray Cat Is Being Hailed a Hero

While some cats don't have the sweetest of reputations, Masha, a stray cat from western Russia, is being called a lifesaver. The long-haired cat stumbled upon an abandoned baby boy in a box on the street. With frigid temperatures, the baby ran the risk of freezing or worse. Before that could happen, Masha jumped into the box to keep the baby warm.

To read more on this story, click here: Why This Stray Cat Is Being Hailed a Hero FOLLOW US!

How to Handle a Seizure Emergency in Dogs

Seizures are extremely frightening, especially when they occur out of the blue and your dog has no history of seizures.  Seizures in dogs can be caused my many health issues or trauma so during your initial response to your dog’s seizure, it is important to look for any signs of trauma or incidence of poisoning.

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Los Angeles Woman Has Her 8 Foot Alligator Pet Seized by Cops After Claims She Was Feeding it Feral Cats After the Creature Was Found Surrounded by Kitten Carcasses

California animal control discovered an eight-foot alligator surrounded by the bodies of two cats at a suburban Los Angeles home on Monday.

The female crocodile named Jaxson was found in a box with a lid at the home of Laura Mattson, who had been caring for the reptile for years, possibly decades.

'It was found under foliage and debris. You had to be looking for it to locate it,' said Mark Salazar, of field operations director for Los Angeles Animal Services, who said experts estimate Jaxson is 40 years old.

To read more on this story, click here: Los Angeles Woman Has Her 8 Foot Alligator Pet Seized by Cops After Claims She Was Feeding it Feral Cats FOLLOW US!

9 Totally Fascinating Facts About Cats (Video)

Cats have a reputation for being a bit mysterious, but devoted owners often come to love their kitten's quirks and personality. However, as the folks at Buzzfeed discovered, there's still much to learn about the everyday feline. Watch this fun video to find out why your cat purrs, whether its right-pawed or left-pawed (yep, they're just like us!), and more.

To see video, click here: 9 Totally Fascinating Facts About Cats  FOLLOW US!

Meet Miracle Mike the Colorado Chicken Who Lived for 18 Months Without His Head

Mike meet everyone, everyone meet Mike. No, no, don’t wave. He can’t see, you’re just making this awkward.

Also known as Miracle Mike, Mike the Headless Chicken was a plump, five-year-old cockerel when he was unceremoniously beheaded on 10 September 1945. Farmer Lloyd Olsen of Fruita in Colorado did the deed because his wife Clara was having her mother over for dinner that night, and Olsen knew she’d always enjoyed a bit of roast chicken neck. With that in mind, Olsen tried to save most of Mike’s neck as he lopped his head off, but in doing so, he accidentally made his axe miss Mike’s jugular vein, plus one ear and most of his brain stem, and to his surprise, Mike didn't die.

To read more on this story, click here: Meet Miracle Mike the Colorado Chicken Who Lived for 18 Months Without His Head FOLLOW US!

Northwest Boxer Rescue: The Importance of Collar-Less Dog Play

Sharing from my friends at, Northwest Boxer Rescue

A few years ago I was pretty shaken by a phenomenon I had never heard about: the intense, chaotic, life-or-death struggle that ensues when one dog gets his jaw stuck in another dog’s collar.

It happened to two dogs that live a few houses down from my home office. I was working at my computer when I heard a dog’s horrifying screaming. I leaped up from my desk and ran outside toward the screaming.

It was a young Malamute and a Lab-mix in the back yard of a house down the street. One had grabbed his friend’s collar and then mostly likely rolled over, twisting his lower jaw in the collar. His tooth had somehow gotten stuck under the collar; he was the one making all the noise.

His buddy was not screaming; he was fighting for his life, and being choked to death by his own collar. Both dogs were thrashing in pain and fear. The owners were not home but thankfully a neighbor and I were able to help.

I grabbed one dog by the scruff; he grabbed the other. The neighbor quickly found the collar with a quick release buckle and it released.

These dogs survived the experience. A couple days ago a dedicated NWBR volunteer encountered a similar situation and her dog wasn’t so lucky. We share this story so you can be aware of this risk and take preventative measures when your dog is playing with other dogs.

Here are five things you can do to keep your dog safe when he’s playing with other dogs.

1. Play Naked! Remove your dog’s collar or harness.

2. Use a Collar With a Quick-Release Buckle. If you’re nervous about having your dog naked (and without ID), get your dog chipped or use a collar with a buckle that can be released even under tension. Another option is a safety breakaway collar (but do not use when walking your dog).

3. Don’t Allow Your Dog to Play With Dogs Who Are Wearing Gear. At times, this may mean your dog won’t be able to play at a dog park, because it’s nearly impossible to get everyone to comply with sensible rules at a dog park.

4. Spread The Word. Share this story so others can consider this potential hazard they can prevent a tragedy happening to their dogs.

5. Keep Something Sharp Handy. This is quite a long shot – and yet, this may be your only option to help a dog quickly.

Like them Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NorthwestBoxerRescue?fref=photo
Visit their website at: http://www.nwboxerrescue.org/

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Pet Lovers, Win a Beautiful Pewter Peace, Love and Paws Bracelet and Book Prize Pack from Auction4PetSupplies

We’ve got a fun price pack from Auction4PetSupplies, a site that lets you sell or shop for new and gently used pet supplies by auction. (The site does NOT permit selling of animals on the site, only pet supplies!) Not only can you find some great pet products at a discount or make some money selling gently-used pet supplies, but a portion of the proceeds goes to help rescue organizations!

The winner will receive a prize pack of two great prizes, starting with a silver-plated charm bracelet. The bracelet features a pewter Peace Love Paws Charm donated by Auction4PetSupplies.

Ready to enter, click here: Auction4PetSupplies

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'She's The Daughter I Never Had': Meet Bella Mia The Trust Fund Dog Who Has A $100,000 A Year Allowance for Paw-dicures And Designer Shopping Sprees

Forget give the dog a bone, this pampered pooch would likely dine on filet mignon and lobster given half the chance.

Bella Mia, a three-year-old full-breed Maltese from Great Neck, New York, is said to be one of the richest dogs in the world with a six-figure trust fund under her collar.

Last year, her owner Rose Ann Bolasny gave her a $100,000-a-year allowance to play with towards weekly paw-dicures, haircuts and designer shopping sprees.

The 60-year-old accountant, who has two adult sons, says Bella Mia is the 'daughter she never had' and likes to refer to her as a child instead of an animal.

To read more on this story, click here: 'She's The Daughter I Never Had': Meet Bella Mia The Trust Fund Dog

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