We're par for the course

Kick off your 3-day Memorial Day weekend with a fun-filled way to help raise money for Golden Retrievers.

Organization:  Rescue A Golden of Arizona (RAGofAZ)
Event: Miniature Golf Tournament
Date:  Saturday, May 26, 2012
Place:  Golf N Stuff, 6503 E. Tanque Verde Rd, Tucson, 85715
Time:  Registration:  8 AM – 8:40 AM
Shot Gun Start: Promptly at 8:45 AM
Registration & details:  Check out the website
Point of Contact:  Scottie McGowan, (520) 360-4414; scottiesgems@cox.net

Here’s an event for people of all ages.

Support this Golden Retriever Rescue by taking your friends and family to a Miniature Golf Tournament in a fabulous fun-park.  Enjoy the exclusive use of two shaded and lusciously landscaped mini golf courses with refreshing water features.

Gather teams of 2 to 6 people.  If you don’t have a team, go anyway and you will be assigned to one.

Choose from THREE fun packages:

–Jake’s Golf Tournament Only:  $8.50 per golfer
1 round of 18-hole tournament golf only

–Tango’s Mini Park Pass:  $13 per golfer
1 round of 18-hole golf; 1 attraction ticket; 4 tokens good for batting cage or video games

–Holly’s Modified All Park Pass:  $22
1 round of 18-hole golf; 4 attraction tickets good for bumper boats, laser tag, go-karts; 4 tokens for batting cages or video games

Prizes for: 1st, 2nd, 3rd  place, and needs most improvement (if you can’t be good, be bad).

Additional features include:

• Complimentary donuts, orange juice and water (nice touch)
• Buy raffle tickets for a chance to win some treasures
• Hole sponsorship with 12-inch X 18-inch tee signs;  advertise your business, memorialize a pet, support/say hi from a current pet, say happy birthday or anniversary, propose to your sweetheart, etc.

Hole sponsorship prices:
Holes 1-9: $25    Holes 10-17:  $50   18th Hole: $100

Rescue A Golden of Arizona is an all-volunteer non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the rescue and rehoming of Golden Retrievers throughout Arizona.  No dogs are ever turned away because of illness or injury.  They have rescued over 3,000 dogs since inception and so far this year rescued 60+ Golden Retriever dogs.

You can help them pay the high cost vet bills by participating in miniature golf tournament event. And best of all — you can have fun while doing it too.

(Photo courtesy of Rescue a Golden of Arizona)

Fire season is here whether we Arizonans like it or not. What could be more frightening and gut-wrenching than a wildfire? Families and pets must be  prepared for safe emergency evacuations.

Whatever you do, all strategies recommend to NOT leave your pets behind.  They  will not be able to fend for  themselves.

A little preparedness goes a long way. Listen to the radio for the emergency shelter location.

Helpful links:

AZ fire info

Twitter -   #AZFire

FEMA Animal Preparedness & Rescue

Here’s a brochure with a handy emergency list of what to take for your dogs, cats, birds, rodents/fish, and horses and what to include in a first aid kit. If you have a barn, post the horse list in the barn.

Animal Disaster Services (ADS) is a volunteer group which coordinates with Emergency Management Services of Yavapai County. ADS exists to create and maintain a shelter for animals during times of natural disasters. If you would like to volunteer to help, please go directly to the shelter. Your help will be appreciated, if out of the area – call for location.

Donations may be sent to:
Animal Disaster Services  (they have a Paypal button)
c/o United Animal Friends
P.O. Box 11133
Prescott, AZ 86304
(928) 777-8736

–The Gladiator fire is in Yavapi County.

–The Sunflower fire is in an unincorporated area of Maricopa County. If homes/animals are being evacuated, please leave a comment as to where animals can be safely evacuated.

–The Elwood fire is on the San Carlos Indian Reservation in Gila County. If homes/animals are being evacuated, please leave a comment as to where animals can be safely evacuated.

–The Bull Flat fire is on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation in Navajo County. If homes/animals are being evacuated, please leave a comment as to where animals can be safely evacuated.

EVACUATION PREPAREDNESS
Prior to the “FIVE MINUTE” notice:

• Have important documents assembled and easy to retrieve:
• insurance documents, wills, trusts, passports, contracts, photos of home contents, medical records.
• Have available extra prescription containers, with a three day supply of medication (replace when refilling Rx), an extra pair of prescription
• glasses, any other health items required.
• Have packed and ready clothing, personal toiletries and shoes sufficient for three days.
• Place valuables and mementos in the car. Place vehicles in the garage, pointing out, windows rolled up.
• Home address should be large and visible from the street.
• Pets: have food, medications, water, litter, leashes, and carrying case/crate ready.
• Be sure garden hoses are attached at all exterior faucets, and attach a nozzle set on “spray.”
• Make sure family members are aware of a prearranged meeting place.
• Practice evacuation: go to bed, get up, dress, collect all listed items.
• Leave a light on in every room as well as exterior lights.Evacuate within 5 minutes. Place a white object on your front door so that  authorities know you’ve evacuated.

Courtesy United Animal Friends

Loyalty is Evie's middle name

Put your paws in the air for Paws of the Past!

Join HOPE Animal Shelter for a day of festive fun. HOPE Animal Shelter is honoring their past canine and feline adoptees so bring your dog or a picture of your adopted cat!

There is fun for all ages, both 2-legged and 4-legged friends. Enjoy:

• Contests
• Raffles
• Auction
• Music
• Food & Beverages
• Vendors for People and Pets

Special Guest: Allen (Big Al) Kath of KGUN TV!

It all happens on Saturday – May 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Brandi Fenton Park located at Alvernon Way and River Road.

HOPE is Tucson’s only no-kill shelter for dogs & cats. Located near Broadway/Campbell, volunteers are urgently needed to on Monday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to noon for 3 hours to clean out cat kennels; 520.792.9200

PHOTO: Meet Evie, a sweet girl who has been through some difficult times. Evie was tied to fence outside of the shelter during the night. When we tried to get her the next day, she slipped out of her collar and wouldn’t let anyone come near her. She waited patiently for days by the fence, trusting that her owner was coming back . Evie is a very playful, friendly, affectionate young dog. Clearly she is also a very devoted girl, as evidenced by the way she waited for whoever abandoned her. Evie needs a forever home with someone who will give her the stable, loving home she so deserves.

Evie is Spayed/Neutered • Up-to-date with routine shots • Labrador Retriever/Shepherd Mix • Medium • Young • Female

Petey D after surgery

This is a story that doesn’t happen on the dog track. The story unfolds on May 9th somewhere on Interstate 75 near Gainesville, Florida.  For us greyhound adopters, the story unfolded on Facebook and conjecture and photos fly right and left.

See updates below

The story begins with a greyhound who was found running on I-75. A good Samaritan rescued the dog from traffic; he was initially dubbed Freeway because that is where he was found. The dog was muzzled. (For non-greyhound folks, dogs are usually muzzled when being transported.) The good Samaritan called Gold Coast Greyhound Adoption (GCGA). Kendra, the Gainesville volunteer adoption coordinator, immediately took the dog to the nearest veterinarian school (University of Florida Veterinary School).  In order for the dog to be treated, Kendra needed to pony up a credit card which she did willingly.

This is what most adoption people do – the welfare of the dog is always first.

Initially the conjecture was that the dog had been out for 3 to 5 days based on the opinion from the vet school staff for how badly the wounds looked but according to the dog’s trainer, he was out less time.

The greyhound’s racing name is Petey D. He was being hauled from Sarasota Kennel Club to the Ebro Greyhound Track when he and another dog may have gotten into a fight and somehow the latch opened, and both dogs fell out. The driver pulled over and found the other dog, looked for Petey D for 1.5 hours but was unable to find him, and continued on his way.

The trainer was unaware of Petey D’s mishap and the owner was shocked. Both seemed concerned about Petey’s condition and are glad to know he’s in capable hands.

Petey D stands alone

These photos illustrate the story but mercifully Petey D continues to improve. He pees. He poops. He is thirsty and drinks water. He stands on his own. He eats a little chicken. His resilience is amazing. He will need another debridement surgery to remove the dead tissue in order for new tissue to grow.  He is far from recovered but there is hope.

Because of social media, Petey D’s story has touched the hearts of many. So far people in 30 states, three Canadian provinces and Washington D.C. have pledged money or donated using Paypal. You know who you are: AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, MI, MO, MO, NC,  NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TX, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV and  British Columbia,  Nova Scotia, and Ontario.

GCGA has six chapters. Gainesville adopts out 20-30 dogs a year; Clearwater does 30-50 dogs a year, and Orlando which shuttles dogs north, does over 300 dogs a year.

You can follow Petey D’s recovery on Facebook.

Update a/o 5/14/12: He tried to bloat overnight but I rushed him into UF CVM ICU.  He only had a lot of gas but never twisted. He is comfortable this morning and should have his second surgery to try to cleanup some more of those wounds.

Update a/o 5/15/12: Freeway/Petey is doing very well this morning. Talked to the student on his case (Maria) and she said he ate this AM, got up, walked outside to pee, and is comfortable. They will change the wet to dry bandages this afternoon on those hip wounds. He will most likely be in the hospital the rest of the week and then hopefully go to his foster home this weekend. Another week in the hospital with two surgeries is going to add up quickly.

Update a/o 5/16/12: Greyt news this morning! Petey D is doing so well he is now trying to chew off his bandages. Eating and drinking on own and now off of fluids as well. One last minor surgery tomorrow to close the hip wounds and he is being discharged on Friday morning. Thanks again for all of the support we have gotten. Please use this spirit of good will to help out your local greyhound (or other breed) rescue group. Most are all volunteer and work off of donations. THANKS AGAIN!

To make a donation via Paypal, click here OR send a check to:

Gold Coast Greyhound Adoptions Inc.
Attn: Freeway/Petey D
PO Box 6501
Clearwater, FL 33758-650

Blogger’s thoughts:
–Is there no established NGA protocol for a hauler to report a lost greyhound that falls out of a truck? Call the owner. Call adoption groups in the area. Call the NGA (National Greyhound Association). Call the local county animal control or highway patrol. Is it business as usual to just drive away and hope nobody notices?

–Some pro racing extremists have vilified Kendra saying she should’ve looked at the dog’s tattoos first and contacted the owner right away. Yeah, right; as if this dog is ever going to race again. (For non-greyhound folks, dogs are tattooed in both ears for identification purposes. If you live in Arizona, you may remember Chandler Heights 1992, when 124 dogs were found in the desert dead with their ears cut off so there would be no finger pointing as to ownership.)

–Herein lies the difference: Adoption saves dogs as do many concerned people in the racing industry, but this small posse of raging pro racing extremists, not so much.

–The dog’s owner and the NGA  should be contributing to help pay for Petey D’s medical bills. Kendra says accidents happen. Yes, they do. The entire greyhound racing community, whether you are pro or anti or neutral, should come together to give Petey D another chance which he most definitely deserves. Every ex racing greyhound deserves a second chance which is why adoption groups exist.

–Please keep Petey D in your thoughts and prayers.  And thank you to Kendra and the dedicated volunteers at GCGA for all they do for the Florida racing greyhounds. There are 13 dog tracks in Florida.

(Photos courtesy of Kendra Stauffer)

Tucson free dogs & cats

from the press release

With 150 cats and kennels near capacity, the Humane Society of Southern Arizona is encouraging families to take the leap and adopt!

This weekend the HSSA is waiving all adoption fees on cats five months and older at the shelter on Kelvin Blvd. and Pawsh at Park Place Mall and La Encantada.

Dogs over 25 pounds and five months and older are also free at the main shelter and our special events this Saturday including the adoption event at Chapman Motors and the Greater Tucson Fire Fighter Foundation Poker Run at the Tucson Convention Center Saturday from 10: 30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Cats and dogs will go home with the complete adoption package of: a microchip, up-to-date vaccinations spay or neuter surgery, a bag of food and a wellness exam with the Tucson veterinarian of your choice.

For more information visit the website or call 321-3704.

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Also my friend and I are trying to find a few FREE TO GOOD HOMES to take some the pets through no fault of their own. Their adopter can no longer care for all of them. There are two cats and one or two dogs. These pets have lived a loving life and need another home environment. Their location is central near Alvernon Way & Broadway.

dog racing program

This is the second year in a row that the two Florida millionaire owners of Tucson Greyhound Park found sponsors for the Tucson Greyhound Park decoupling bill.  Thank you to Senator Michele Reagan (R) and Representative J.D. Mesnard (R) for co-sponsoring this bill.

What SB 1273 does is allow for decoupling. That means Tucson Greyhound Park can still offer simulcast and off-track-betting of other races (horse & dog) year around but can now have live dog racing for 100 days a year, and can also agree to reduce the number of live race days to less than 100. Under the previous law, the track was forced to hold a minimum of 200 races per year. SB 1273 was presented as purely a business bill not related to anything having to do with improving the lives of greyhounds.

Tucson Tails would prefer no dog racing, no days a year, but for a state like Arizona that is not animal friendly or people friendly for that matter, 100 days of racing is an improvement.  Wouldn’t it be  wonderful if the TGP greyhounds won’t have to race this summer like they did last summer and decades before that in 100-plus-degree temperatures?

Between January 2007 and November 2009, there were nearly 1,000 greyhound injuries reported at Arizona dog tracks, including broken legs, sprains, dislocations, muscle tears & strains, lacerations, a cracked skull, broken backs, heat stroke, puncture wounds, and paralysis. You can view the Arizona report here.

Tucson Greyhound Park has a litany of offenses. Here are but a few:

• Video exposes cruelty at dog track in South Tucson
• Ticks crawling up the wall
• Dopes dogs outside South Tucson
• Kennel transcends mere filth
• More than 150 missing greyhounds

Please consider writing to Sen. Reagan and Rep. Mesnard and Governor Jan Brewer and thanking them for supporting and passing the bill.

On an unrelated note, Freeway the greyhound was found running on I-75 in Florida. He survived 3 days in the sun with his muzzle on. If you can make a small donation to help in his medical bills, please do. Thank you

The good news is Covance is closing their controversial animal testing facility in Chandler.

The bad news is they will not relinquish the animals for adoption or to sanctuaries but instead send them to other facilities for further use or they will be euthanized.

You may or may not remember the many protests from Chandler residents and animal activists when Covance announced it was coming to Chandler.

According to this document Covance has a history of deception, disease outbreak, violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act, and alleged violations of the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act that prompted an investigation by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  Covance needs to dispose of approximately 250,000 animal carcasses each year. The most feasible way to do so is to incinerate them on site. Medical waste incinerators put dioxins, lead, mercury, and other known and unknown substances into the air, substances that cause a number of human health ailments including cancer, birth defects, and brain damage. (that might explain why some of our AZ legislators act like they do).

Get serious about pet first aid

from the press release

Household hazards and emergencies affect more than just people. Dogs and cats are also at risk!

The Humane Society of Southern Arizona is holding a Pet Safety & First Aid Class May 12 from 1- 5 pm at the HSSA main campus, 3450 N. Kelvin Blvd. The four-hour class is $50.

The class offers the area’s most comprehensive training for dog and cat owners with a blend of classroom instruction and hands-on application with animal mannequins.

Owners will learn:
•    How to recognize an emergency without becoming a victim yourself
•     What information to collect to assist your veterinarian
•     How to administer cat/dog CPR and emergency first aid and the abdominal thrust
•     About disease prevention
•     How to identify poisons, environmental hazards, predators and other dangers
•    To address cruelty and neglect concerns immediately
•     How to safely handle an animal without getting bitten

“It’s imperative to know first aid and CPR for your pet,” says spokeswoman Lyndsay Bruno. “The abdominal thrust is especially important in the event your pet gets a toy or bone lodged in its throat.”

In 2010, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reported more than 140,000 calls related to pet drug exposures. An overwhelming number were related to over the counter painkillers, cold medications, prescription drugs and dietary supplements.

To register for the HSSA Pet Safety and First Aid Class visit the website or call Inge Koopman-Leyva at 520-321-3704, ext 142.

Humane Society of Southern Arizona
The Humane Society of Southern Arizona was founded in 1944. The Humane Society of Southern Arizona (HSSA) is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) charitable organization, funded solely by donations and the services they offer to the public, receiving no government funding. HSSA is not a department of federal, state, county, or city government, nor affiliated with any other charitable organization. It stands on its own and saves the lives of thousands more animals than all other agencies in southern Arizona combined. Visit the website or call 520-327-6088.