The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Three Bald Eagles Found Sick in a Field in Delaware: Five Other Eagles Have Died


Dagsboro, Del. - Three bald eagles are being treated by wildlife officials after they were found sick in a field in Delaware. But at least five other eagles have died.

Now investigators are trying to figure out who or what is responsible.

The eagles are being treated at The Tri-State Bird Rescue in Newark, where they are currently in stable condition.

State fish and wildlife officials say a resident reported finding one of the dead eagles on Saturday in Dagsboro, Sussex County - about two hours south of Wilmington.

Not far away, officials say a group of eight eagles was spotted acting erratically.

Sgt. John McDerby of the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife explains, "Some of them weren't able to fly, thus seemed to be kind of stumbling and disoriented."

Five of the eagles were captured in a field. Three died on the way to the rescue.

On Sunday, two more eagles were found in Dagsboro. One was dead and the other was taken to the rescue for treatment.

Lisa Smith from the Tri-State Bird Rescue tells us, "This would be unusual. We get about fifty bald eagles a year here for treatment, but we don't normally see cases like this."

Tests have been performed on the birds and the results should be back in a few days. Until then, officials say they'll be trying to figure out what's causing the illness before it affects more birds.

Sgt. McDerby says, "If there's something environmentally out there we want to make sure we can figure out what it is, narrow it down, get it cleaned up and taken care of so we don't have additional eagles that are affected."

If you see any dead or injured bald eagles, officials say to not touch or try to capture them yourself. Instead, contact the Division of Fish and Wildlife. If you have any information about the dead eagles, call the Fish and Wildlife Natural Resources 24 hour hotline at 1-800-292-3030.





                   

FOLLOW US!
/

Michael Earl Hill, The Man Who Taped Dog’s Snout: Gets Two Years in Federal Prison


Michael Earl Hill was supposed to drop a family’s dog off at a shelter, but instead, he bound his muzzle and legs with tape, and left him to die in a field.  But the dog, Justice, was rescued (thanks to two other dogs) and is now thriving.  Hill has been sentenced to two years in a federal penitentiary and is banned from even living with animals for 25 years.

Jessica Hems and Adam Esipu gave Hill the $60 surrender fee to take their seven-year-old Patterdale terrier, Nos, to the humane society because their newborn daughter was allergic to him.  But for reasons unknown, he chose to make him suffer and die slowly and painfully.

Thankfully, he was found in a field next to a Canadian Tire in Windsor, Ontario.  On December 17th, Dean Cresswell was walking his dogs when they discovered him.

“I had gone shopping at the Canadian Tire, came out and the dogs were in my vehicle, so I thought I’d give them a little walk,” said Cresswell, referring to his huskies, Bandit and Phoenix.

“For some reason they went down further than they normally do … so I went to see where they were at and I saw the little head poke up. That’s when I saw the little dog.  I don’t want to say too much because I’m going to get all upset again,” he explained to the Windsor Star.

The poor thing had electrical tape bound so tightly around his snout that the swelling almost stopped him from breathing.  Cresswell didn’t have a knife or scissors with him, so he got him to the Windsor/Essex County Humane Society, where he was renamed Justice.

It’s definitely disturbing to see it,” said Melanie Coulter, executive director of the WECHS. “This is just such incredible cruelty for absolutely no reason. This dog suffered a lot and almost didn’t survive.

”Had it been much longer before someone found him, he certainly would have died.  He appeared to have not been well cared for, as he was found to have heartworm and a growth in his mouth.  But WECHS has been working to get him the medical and behavioral treatment he needs.

After Cresswell got Justice to safety, he took to Facebook to find the dog’s abuser.  Within a few days, former owner Adam Esipu was at WECHS to turn in Hill. The man was arrested and charged with causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.  He was denied bail, and was placed in solitary confinement at South West Detention to protect him from potential retribution from other inmates.

Cresswell also started a petition, asking for Hill to be sentenced to the maximum 25 years in prison and given a lifetime ban on pet ownership.  It was presented to the court with over 65,000 signatures.

On Monday, February 1st, Hill entered a surprise guilty plea.  Ontario Court Justice, Micheline Rawlins, who owns a dog given away because of allergies, sentenced him to two years in federal prison, with an additional three years of probation.  He is not allowed to own, or even live with, animals for the next 25 years after his release.

Hill has a long record, including convictions for robberies, assault with a weapon, and domestic assault.  He was last released from jail in 2011.  A few months ago, he found work with Esipu’s father.  Co-worker Fred Doughty said he and the Esipus helped Hill settle into the area.

He had legged it out of the courtroom just moments before.  In spite of the judge’s warning to the teeming courtroom, Doughty lost control and swore at Hill.  He undoubtedly was not alone in his feelings.

“There is no other way to describe this act; it’s a despicable act of depravity,” assistant Crown attorney Craig Houle told the court. As for Justice, he is slowly recuperating.  Because of all the hubbub, hundreds of people have flocked to adopt him.
  
“The earliest would be summer,” said Coulter. “He hasn’t even started his heartworm treatment and that’s a three-month process. We’re not even taking applications at this point because we would end up with this huge list and probably half the people in four months would not be able to take him, or the home might not work.

”He doesn’t get along with cats right now, and he is not “reliably house-broken.”

“We hope that will be resolved by the time he’s ready for adoption,” Coulter said. “But if he’s not, that’s going to eliminate potential adopters. Once we’re at the point where he’s medically ready for a home, we’ll basically look at what issues he may have and what homes will be able to meet his needs.”


                          Jessica Hems and Adam Esipu exiting the courthouse.



                                  Justice in the field where he was found.



He needed treatment for the lacerations caused by the tape becoming embedded in his skin.



                Dean Cresswell outside the courthouse with Phoenix and Bandit.



“It’s a family business. We’re all family. We treated him like family. For him to do this…” Doughty said outside the courtroom, trailing off as tears of rage filled his eyed.



Hopefully some of the hundreds of people who want to adopt this survivor will adopt another dog in need.



                             Justice, anticipating a treat in his foster home.



FOLLOW US!
/

Monday, March 21, 2016

Good Samaritans Bust Dogs Out Of Hot Cars: House Bill 131 Unanimously Passed Both Florida’s House and Senate


Three woofs for Florida, which just became the second state in the country to make it legal for good samaritans to bust unattended pets out of hot cars. 

Tennessee was the first state with such a law. It went into effect last summer.

House Bill 131 unanimously passed both Florida’s House and Senate, and was signed into law by Governor Rick Scott last week.

The law, which is now in effect, makes folks who rescue pets immune from civil liability for damage the vehicle endures in the course of the rescue. (This immunity also now applies to the rescue of “vulnerable persons,” like kids and adults with mental or physical impairments.)

You can’t go around swinging a hammer willy nilly, though. To comply with the law, a would-be rescuer has to first alert the authorities, and stay with the rescued pet (or person) until law enforcement or first responders arrive. You also have to check and make sure the car isn’t unlocked before breaking windows.

We have no solid data on how many pets die every year after being left in cars. The American Veterinary Medical Association puts the figure at “hundreds” — and gives a stark warning about how quickly a car can get perilously hot:

The temperature inside your vehicle can rise almost 20º F in just 10 minutes. In 20 minutes, it can rise almost 30º F…and the longer you wait, the higher it goes. At 60 minutes, the temperature in your vehicle can be more than 40 degrees higher than the outside temperature. Even on a 70-degree day, that’s 110 degrees inside your vehicle!
Your vehicle can quickly reach a temperature that puts your pet at risk of serious illness and even death, even on a day that doesn’t seem hot to you. And cracking the windows makes no difference.

Lora Dunn, an attorney with the Animal Legal Defense Fund, tells BarkPost that she hopes other states in this pet-loving country will follow Florida and Tennessee’s lead.
“The Animal Legal Defense Fund applauds Florida for empowering citizens to help animals trapped in a hot car from this immediate danger if law enforcement has also been notified of the situation We encourage other states to follow the example of Florida and Tennessee and help save animals’ lives.”

For those outside of Tennessee or Florida: If you’re concerned about a pet — or person — you see left in a vehicle, and want to stay within the bounds of the law, call 911.

And be sure to bark loudly at your state lawmakers if you want to see a law like this one enacted in your state.

Here’s a frightening (but not graphic) video to bring those points home:





FOLLOW US!
/

Your Dog Can Read Your Mind and Knows Who You Hate


New research shows your dog can actually read your mind. 

It goes beyond them knowing it's time to eat or go on a walk before giving a verbal command. They know how you feel about others. Buzz60s Sean Dowling has details.

To read more on this story, click here: Your Dog Can Read Your Mind and Knows Who You Hate


FOLLOW US!
/

After Losing His Beloved Dog: Man Devotes His Life to Adopting Senior Dogs Who Can’t Find Forever Homes


Months kept passing after Steve Greig’s beloved dog died, but he still felt crushed. That’s when he decided he should give another dog a good life. But not just any dog. He went to his local shelter in Denver, Colorado to adopt the “least adoptable” senior dog, as these are the ones too often overlooked. Now, Greig is a super busy human dad to his 10 elder shelter dogs and his Instagram is overloaded with cuteness approved by 478k followers.

Each day Greig wakes up at 5:00 a.m. in the morning to make breakfast for his big family. Most of the dogs have different diets. His schedule is filled with walks in the park, vet appointments…and lots of love and cuddles. “Whenever I sit or lie down at a dog-friendly level, there are always at least three or four of [dogs] attached,” Greig writes on Instagram.

“They’re just wiser animals,” Greig told The Dodo. “You kind of know what you want out of life once you become a certain age. These dogs know who they are and it’s easy to develop a relationship with a person or pet who knows who they are. It’s just fulfilling knowing that these guys are happy and loved and well-taken care of. It makes my days worthwhile.”

Greig also has a pig named Bikini, as well as two ducks, pigeons, cats and a few chickens. He has no more room for pets at the moment but he intends to adopt more senior dogs in the future. Because after all, love sees no age.

FOLLOW US!
/

Sunday, March 20, 2016

Bald Eagle Update: Second Eaglet, Fully Emerged This Morning at 3:00 a.m.


The first eaglet, which fully emerged Friday morning at 8:30 a.m., took nearly 36 hours to come out of its shell.

Julia Cecere, the publicity, marketing and social media manager for the American Eagle Foundation, said they believe DC3, the initial name of the second eaglet, fully emerged at 3 a.m. Sunday. She said they were able to get some video of all four in the nest Sunday morning.

Photos on Saturday showed the second egg started the pipping process. Pipping is when the outer shell begins to crack due to activity inside the shell.

To view the eagles, click here: Bald Eagle Nest Cam

This is a wild eagle nest and anything can happen. While we hope that two healthy juvenile eagles will end up fledging from the nest this summer, things like sibling rivalry, predators, and natural disaster can affect this eagle family and may be difficult to watch.




WATCH: These might be the CUTEST siblings we have ever seen! Can you believe these little fur-balls will one day be majestic bald eagles? READ MORE ABOUT EAGLET #2 HERE --> http://bit.ly/1WAjDKQ
Posted by Fox 5 DC on Sunday, March 20, 2016

FOLLOW US!
/

Friday, March 18, 2016

Bald Eagle Update: Pictures of the First Baby Eaglet Emerging from Its Shell


Washington, DC  - We've been watching...and waiting... and today it happened! At around 7:35 a.m., the American Eagle Foundation Bald Eagle Cam at the U.S. National Arboretum showed us the first pictures of a fuzzy baby eaglet emerging from its shell!

The two bald eagles, affectionately named "Mr. President" and "The First Lady, have been nesting high up in a Tulip Poplar tree amongst the Azalea Collection at the U.S. National Arboretum since 2014.

After first seeing the eggs in the nest last month - a 'pip' or small crack was spotted developing earlier this week which let us know that one of the eaglets was on the way.

The crack turned into a hole yesterday and we could even see the eaglet's beak poking out of the shell.

Officials at the American Eagle Foundation told us that the egg would hatch within 48 hours of the ‘pipping' beginning - and they were right on time.

Still no names for the eaglets (the one who hatched or the one who hasn't yet).


At around 7:35 a.m., the American Eagle Foundation Bald Eagle Cam at the U.S. National Arboretum showed us the first pictures of a fuzzy baby eaglet emerging from its shell! (Video: © American Eagle Foundation)


You may be interested in reading:






FOLLOW US!
/

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Eagle Update: Signs of Egg Cracking – Watch Now!


Washington, DC -  High in a tree at the National Arboretum, there's a crack in a shell. We know the bald eagles as the First Lady and Mr. President. The couple is waiting to meet one of their babies.

It's not exactly the White House, but they built their home of sticks. The first lady laid the eggs in February. They are the first nesting pair of bald eagles in D.C. since 1947.

The Eagle cam showed us the cracked egg just before midnight on Wednesday, March 16, and it will soon reveal an eaglet.

"Over the next up to 12, 24, or 48 hours, the eaglet is going to be doing everything it can to force its way through that hole, make it bigger, and when it steps out, when it splits out, you're going to see a wet chick, wet eaglet, that's going to take a few days to dry off," said Dr. Richard Olsen, the director of the U.S. National Arboretum.

Unlike labor and delivery, mom and dad don't help the eaglet break free. It's the first step in the survival of the fittest.

A field trip here is like an open text book for kids.

"They are all learning about birds at school. So it's exciting for them to see, you know when they see things in the sky, that we can tell them there's an actual eagle's nest," said Jen, a mom who only wished to reveal her first name.

The public is held back 330 feet from the tree that holds the nest. We learned the eaglets will eat fish from the Anacostia River, brought back by mom and dad.




You may be interested in reading:





FOLLOW US!
/

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Resources To Turn To If You Are Having Trouble Affording Veterinary Care For Your Dog


If you have a pet there may come a time when you will need to pay for veterinary medical bills, which, depending on the medical emergency or condition, can be astronomical. Pet insurance can certainly help cover some of the costs, if you have it. But there are times when a pet's medical emergency or illness will exceed your resources. In cases such as these, pet owners may face an agonizing choice.

With this in mind, here are some financial resources and options you can look to for help.

RedRover.org

The RedRover Relief program provides financial and emotional support to Good Samaritans, animal rescuers and pet owners to help them care for animals in life-threatening situations and resources to help victims of domestic violence escape abusive environments with their pets. They also have a program that helps with disaster relief, criminal seizures and hoarding cases.

The Pet Fund

The Pet Fund is a registered 501(c) 3 nonprofit association that provides financial assistance to owners of domestic animals who need veterinary care.

The AAHA Foundation

The benevolent arm of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), the AAHA Foundation offers the AAHA Helping Pets Fund which works with AAHA-accredited veterinary practices to identify pets in need. Accredited practices may then apply for assistance from the Fund for emergency and non-elective treatment of abandoned pets and pets whose owners are facing financial hardship.




FOLLOW US!
/

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Today Could be the Day! Eagle Eggs Could Hatch – Watch Live Cam!


Washington, DC - The first of the two eagle eggs in D.C. is expected to hatch as early as today.

The American Eagle Foundation said they're "officially on egg-watch alert."

The two eggs were laid in February and it typically takes 35 days for the eggs to hatch.

The parents, named 'Mr. President' and 'First Lady,' are incubating the eggs in a nest on the grounds of the National Arboretum.

The American Eagle Foundation is encouraging people to guess the day and time that the eggs will hatch using the hashtag #dceaglecam.

  



FOLLOW US!
/

WHS/WARL to Receive 11 Dogs to Assist with HSUS Arkansas Puppy Mill Bust – Wednesday, March 16 at 2:00 p.m.


WHAT:                       
Washington Humane Society/Washington Animal Rescue League to receive 11 dogs to assist with HSUS Arkansas puppy mill bust

WHEN:                        
Wednesday, March 16
2:00 p.m.* (Exact time TBD, contact Matt Williams – 202-280-9412 for timing)

WHERE:                       
Washington Humane Society/Washington Animal Rescue League
                                    71 Oglethorpe Street, NW
                                    Washington, DC  20011

INFORMATION:          On March 3, 2016, the Humane Society of the United States rescued 295 dogs from a suspected puppy mill in Madison County, Arkansas.  On the property, animals were living in dangerous and filthy conditions. Many of the dogs were housed in tiny cages covered with feces and lacking clean water and food.  The animals were removed and transported to a temporary emergency shelter where they were thoroughly examined by teams of veterinarians and received necessary medical treatment.  The dogs were then sent to partner shelters (including WHS/WARL) for continued care and adoption.


Please Share!




FOLLOW US!
/

Authorities Discovered a Giant Pet Rabbit Living Illegally in a Caravan: Owners Told Police it Was a Long Eared Guinea Pig


Australia - Authorities are hopping mad after they discovered a giant rabbit living illegally in a caravan as the owners tried to convince officers the furry animal was just a long-eared guinea pig.

The rabbit was seized after the pet was found living in a cage inside a caravan in Queensland when Springwood police were called to the address in relation to an incident involving the owners.

When questioned about the floppy-eared animal - which are deemed as 'pests' in the state - the owners tried unsuccessfully to palm their pet rabbit off as a guinea pig.


Under the state government legislation, it is an offence to possess a rabbit in Queensland unless the owner has the proper authorization.

Queensland has been known as the no-go zone for rabbits as they pose a significant threat to the environment and agricultural industries.

The state has the toughest anti-rabbit regime in the world - and anyone found illegally keeping the furry animals could face hefty fines of up to $44,000 and six months in prison.

On Monday, Queensland Police shared a photograph of an officer cradling a giant rabbit in his arms.

“With Easter just around the corner, this bunny got some special hugs from the officers at Springwood Police Station,” the post said.

“Not wanting to upset the Easter Bunny and lose out on his yearly chocolate binge, Senior Constable Ben Sier made sure after he finished cuddling his fat furry friend that he found a good home for it.”

The rabbit is currently on its way to a rabbit rescue sanctuary in Grafton, NSW.

The name of the rabbit is unknown.

The Queensland owners tried unsuccessfully to palm their pet rabbit off as a long-eared guinea pig (left).



Queensland has been known as the no-go zone for rabbits as they pose a significant threat to the state.






FOLLOW US!
/

Monday, March 14, 2016

Why Does My Dog Take His Own Sweet Time When It Comes To Pooping?


My dog is the pickiest pooper I know. Come rain or shine or snow or sweat, he must and will trudge around to find his golden mud pile. Time does not matter.

Out of curiosity, you know, just because, I decided to figure out all the inner workings that make my dog so darn choosy about his poo spots.

Thankfully, Wired, wrote a nice long think piece on the science of dog pooping. I figured I’d gist it out for you below:

1. Informational Goldmine:
Dogs’ poo and pee serve as their social media profile, if you will. It conveys vital information to other dogs. Carlo Siracusa, director of the Small Animal Behavior Service at the veterinary hospital of the University of Pennsylvania told Wired:

“These messages can tell your dog how many other dogs are in the immediate area, the sexual status of those dogs—whether a female is in heat, for example—whether a particular dog is a friend or an enemy, what he or she had for lunch, and when they were last in the area.”

This partially explains why I can literally see that a-ha moment in my dog’s demeanor when he drops a deuce. He’s probably trying to hit on that Doxie down the street.




FOLLOW US!
/

Two Bizarre Attacks on Iditarod Front-Runners Have Occurred Along the Dog Sled Course Leaving one Dog Dead


Two bizarre attacks on Iditarod front-runners have occurred along the dog sled course as authorities say a snowmobiler intentionally charged two teams, leaving one dog dead.

It happened early Saturday, first to musher Aliy Zirkle. Near the checkpoint in the village of Nulato, she said a snowmachiner repeatedly attempted to harm her and her team.

One of her dog's received a non-life threatening injury and Aliy reported the attack to the Alaska State Troopers after reaching the checkpoint.

Soon after, four-time Iditarod champion Jeff King, who was behind Zirkle, experienced a similar incident 12-miles outside the Nulato checkpoint, according to a release from the Iditarod Trail Committee.

The snowmobile reportedly killed Nash, a three-year-old male. Crosby, another three-year-old male, and Banjo, a two-year-old male, received non-life threatening injuries.

King himself received medical attention at the checkpoint.

"I gave first aid to the dogs the best I could, loaded them in my sled and continued onto Nulato where I reported the incident," King told Alaska Public Media. "And at the point of impact, the snow machine’s cowling had flown off, the driver did not stop, and he was a distant light in an instant."

Cowling is the removable cover of the snowmobile's engine. Authorities used the cover to identify the alleged attacker as State Troopers made their way to Nulato to investigate at daybreak.

At around 11:45 a.m. local time, Alaska State Troopers arrested Arnold Demoski of Nulato. The 26-year-old was charged with r two counts of Assault in the third degree, one count of Reckless Endangerment, one count Reckless Driving and six counts of criminal Mischief in the fifth degree, according to a release.

In an interview with KTUU just prior to his arrest, Nulato admitted he'd been out drinking just before coming upon Zirkle and her team.

He said he only meant to help and not hurt her. He also said that King was his favorite musher as a boy.

While shaken and potentially knocked off their game, frontrunners Zirkle and King both intend to continue with the race and finish in Nome.

"I have a sense of loss and anger but also of gratitude that more of my dogs were not hurt," Kind said. "I’m not going to let this schmuck take any more the fun away."

The most elite race for sled dog mushers, the Iditarod takes place each March and sees teams of one musher and 16 dogs brave sub-zero temperatures and blizzard conditions to traverse 1,000 miles of brutal Alaskan terrain.











This photo provided by KTUU shows Arnold Demoski, who was charged with colliding his snowmobile with Iditarod trail sled dog race teams Saturday, March 12, 2016, near Nulato, Alaska. Demoski, 26, of Nulato was arrested on suspicion of assault, reckless endangerment, reckless driving and six counts of criminal mischief. (Kyle Hopkins/KTUU.com via AP)





FOLLOW US!
/