Photo courtesy of Humane Society, So. Ariz.

from the press release by the Humane Society of So. Az.

In anticipation of another busy litter season, the Humane Society of Southern Arizona (HSSA) will host a puppy and kitten baby shower Sat. March 26 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at HSSA’s Companions for Life Center, located at 3465 N. Kleindale Road.

As temperatures climb higher, they bring a barrage of unwanted, orphaned, and abandoned animals. “It happens every spring and summer and the sheer number of incoming animals can be overwhelming,” explains Foster Care Administrator, Liz Johnson. “Luckily, foster parents are there to save the day!” Foster parents are greatly needed, since puppies and kittens must reach eight weeks of age before being spayed or neutered and placed for adoption. Foster parents allow otherwise vulnerable youngsters to grow in loving, nurturing homes before returning to the shelter where they can be happily united with a permanent family.

Last year, the Humane Society of Southern Arizona received over 2,700 animals who required foster care – over 25% of the animals HSSA received! This litter season will likely be just as busy and the HSSA wants to start preparing now with new foster homes, supplies, and heightened community awareness of the importance of spaying and neutering.

To commence litter season on a prepared and positive note, the HSSA will host a fun-filled shower, complete with games, entertainment, food, refreshments and, of course – cute and cuddly guests! Bring all of your human family members, learn more about fostering opportunities, and help pitch in by donating some much-needed supplies.

In addition to monetary donations, the HSSA foster care program always welcomes canned puppy and kitten food, pet beds, X pens, bedding, formula, pet bottles, clay cat litter, puppy pads, toys, cleaning supplies, crates, and new or used blankets and towels. For easy shopping, the HSSA has a baby gift registry at both Target and Walmart under “Humane Society.” So please consider picking up a few supplies the next time you’re running errands to help out the homeless puppies and kittens who will find their way to the Humane Society this summer.

Enjoy a fun, free, family-friendly event and help the HSSA collect supplies to gear up for litter season!

Butter lives at Casa de los Gatos

Cat food recall: Wellpet canned cat food, thiamine levels

from the company press release distributed by the FDA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 28, 2011 – WellPet LLC announced today it has voluntarily recalled certain lots of Wellness® canned cat food.

While recent laboratory testing found that most lots of Wellness canned cat food that were tested contain sufficient amounts of thiamine (also known as Vitamin B1), some of the lots listed below might contain less than adequate levels of thiamine. However, out of an abundance of caution, WellPet has decided to recall all of the lots listed below.

Cats fed only the affected lots for several weeks may be at risk for developing a thiamine deficiency. Thiamine is essential for cats. Symptoms of deficiency displayed by an affected cat can be gastrointestinal or neurological in nature. Early signs of thiamine deficiency may include decreased appetite, salivation, vomiting, and weight loss. In advanced cases, neurologic signs can develop, which may include ventriflexion (bending towards the floor) of the neck, wobbly walking, circling, falling, and seizures. If your cat has consumed the recalled lots and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian. If treated promptly, thiamine deficiency is typically reversible.

The lots involved in this voluntary recall are:

Wellness Canned Cat Food (all flavors and sizes) with best by dates from 14APR 13 through 30SEP13;

Wellness Canned Cat Food Chicken & Herring (all sizes) with 10NOV13 or 17NOV13 best buy dates.

Consumers who still have cans of cat food from these lots should stop feeding them to their cats and call us at (877) 227-9587 Monday through Friday, 9:00 am – 7:00 pm Eastern Time. Consumers with further questions should visit our website or call us at this same number.

WellPet discovered the lower thiamine levels during independent testing conducted together with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in response to a single, isolated consumer complaint received by the FDA. Although WellPet has received no other reports concerning thiamine in its products, WellPet has taken additional steps with the manufacturer to ensure that this does not happen again.

“As a pet parent myself, I’m concerned for the health and welfare of all pets, and as a company we are committed to delivering the most nutritious natural pet food,” said Tim Callahan, chief executive officer of WellPet, the maker of Wellness products. “Even though the chance of a cat developing a thiamine deficiency is extremely remote, we are voluntarily recalling all of these lots of our canned cat food as an extra precaution.”

(Photo is courtesy of Susan Miller. Butters lives at the Feline Leukemia House at Casa de los Gatos in Tucson.)

If you are an adopter or rescue, please send your pet photos to tucson.tails@yahoo.com. Provide the pet’s name, rescue group, your name and photograph’s name, and one sentence about the pet. Thanks