There is a ton of controversy surrounding the popular topical flea and tick preventatives.  Research claims that some pets' deaths can be attributed to the medications.  Are they safe?  The manufacturers claim that if the meds are properly applied that they are perfectly safe, and that the reported deaths may have been as a result of over-applying the meds.  But I get nervous when applying the liquid down my dog's spine and all kinds of danger warnings are posted on the box that I shouldn't get it on my hands.  If it's that dangerous for me, then what's it going to do to my dog!

But what are the alternatives?  Without tick preventative, pets are susceptible to Lyme disease which can kill, and I've know several dogs who have indeed died from Lyme disease.  The same thing goes for the Lyme vaccine.  I told my veterinarian that it makes me nervous but she is steadfast that the potential risks of the vaccine are less worrisome than Lyme disease.

I've tried "natural remedies" to prevent fleas and ticks with no success. And just the flea and tick collars don't seem to be effective alone.  So I guess I take my chances and continue with the topical prevention.  Any thoughts, anyone?

In our 2009 Spring/Summer newsletter, we reported on The Plight of the Horses.  If you recall, the article mentioned thoroughbred breeder, Ernie Paragallo, from New York State. Paragallo had 170+ horses in varying stages of abuse on his property, and he was cited with 34 counts of animal cruelty.  This case has a local connection.  Another Chance 4 Horses, Inc. (AC4H) located in Berks County was instrumental in making the abuse public and bringing the man to justice, in addition to taking 4 of the lice-infected and flea-ridden horses into their care.  Christy Sheidy of AC4H went to New York and testified at his trial on March 2. On March 11, AC4H received the word – Paragallo was found guilty of 33 of the 34 charges, which included the 4 horses taken by AC4H.

Today is sentencing day for Paragallo. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that he gets what’s coming to him to make a precedent for others who neglect and abuse animals.

Great job, Christy!  Thanks for letting us know, and for helping the animals!

Have you read Saving Gracie yet?  It is an outstanding book by Carol Bradley, tracing the life of a dog who was used as a breeder in a puppy mill in Chester County.  Gracie, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and her adopter, Linda Jackson, will be on the show. And Carol will be calling into the show to talk about her experiences with writing the book.  The Animal Rescue League is featured prominently in the book, as Gracie spent several months at the shelter recovering from her ordeal in the puppy mill and waiting to be adopted.  Pam Bair, responsible for the ARL’s boarding kennel and the person who spent the most time with Gracie during her stay, will be on the show with her foster Cavalier, Malcolm who also came from the same puppy mill.

This is the very first TV appearance of the now-famous Gracie – a local celebrity!  Be sure to watch.

For those of you who follow the efforts to shut down puppy mills in Pennsylvania, the letter below is from Jessie Smith, Special Deputy Secretary for Dog Law Enforcement.  This letter was published in today's Gant Daily, a newspaper in the Clearfield, Philipsburg and Dubois areas of PA.

PA Tough on Puppy Mills

Over the last three years, Pennsylvania has worked hard to shed its reputation as the "Puppy Mill Capital of the East." As a result, we now have one of the strongest laws in the nation for protecting "man's best friend" and are enforcing those laws so dogs in commercial kennels are treated humanely.

That's incredibly important when you remember that those dogs will one day be members of a family, so ensuring they're treated properly is vital to raising a friendly, well-behaved pet.

After new commercial kennel requirements took effect in October, the Department of Agriculture immediately began an aggressive enforcement effort. Before the end of the year, each of the state's commercial kennels had been inspected and, as a result, 125 kennels that did not meet the new requirements closed--either voluntarily or because of the bureau's actions. Other kennels that were not already in compliance have acted responsibly and built new facilities or made the appropriate renovations.

In the last three years, department has revoked the licenses of 54 kennels that were cited for poor conditions and closed 16 others; it cited more than 150 illegal unlicensed kennels; and it even went so far as to obtain court injunctions to remove dogs from unsafe conditions.

This work has enabled the bureau to save thousands of suffering dogs from substandard kennels, which has given them a chance at a better life. A prime example is the Almost Heaven kennel in Lehigh County. In its largest enforcement action to date, the bureau and its partners raided Almost Heaven in June 2009 and saved 218 dogs from deplorable conditions. Earlier that year, the department refused to renew owner Derbe "Skip" Eckhart's license, yet the June raid uncovered dogs that were being hidden in his home illegally.

That action was only made possible because of the new dog law. The rescued dogs were placed in shelters around the region and quickly adopted. 

Pennsylvanians can rest assured that our dog wardens and kennel specialists, many of whom have prior law enforcement experience, will continue to crack down on bad actors such as Almost Heaven thanks to Governor Rendell, the General Assembly, as well as national, state and local advocates who care about our canine companions. Their work to enact a new dog law has allowed commercial kennel dogs to benefit from required veterinary care, more space in which to live and exercise, protection from the cold, and access to water at all times. Additionally, the new law prohibits wire flooring, which can destroy a dog's feet, and stacked cages that are unsafe and unsanitary.

To be clear, the bureau is not out to close down good kennels. Pennsylvania has reputable dog breeders--in fact, many of the nation's best show, sport and boarding kennels are located here--and more than 250 shelters and rescues that give stray and surrendered dogs a second chance. Remember that if you're looking to purchase a dog from a kennel or shelter, you can view its inspection report first by visiting www.agriculture.state.pa.us and clicking on "Dog Kennel Inspections" under "E-Services."

Our good, law-abiding kennels are a valuable asset to Pennsylvania. That's important when you consider the trust a family places in their practices. When you welcome a new dog into your home, you expect that it to be well-tempered and loving. Pennsylvania's new dog law is making sure that's the case by ensuring those dogs are raised properly and with care.

Jessie L. Smith

Special Deputy Secretary for Dog Law Enforcement

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

I personally do not know of any rescues or shelters who have received dogs from Haiti, but maybe some shelters in the South are getting them and they may eventually work their way up here.  It’s been discovered that many Haitian dogs are carriers of screwworms, a nasty parasite that not only harms dogs but can infest humans too.  Screwworms were eradicated in the U.S. in the 1980’s.  The screwworm is a grey-blue fly with orange eyes, and it lays its eggs in open wounds and the maggots eat the flesh of its host.  Typically, about 400 eggs are laid at a time, and as they hatch and become maggots, the host animal can die within 2 weeks if untreated.  Screwworms were a major problem for the cattle industry before they were eliminated.

Screwworms are deceptive and not always easy to detect.  When the eggs are laid in a wound and the wound closes up, it can be difficult to detect their presence.  USDA veterinarians are supposed to be inspecting animals coming into the U.S. from other countries, but the screwworms can be overlooked if the wounds have healed over.  The maggots are still underneath the skin, eating their way out and slowly killing the animal.

If you know anyone who is involved with Haitian dog rescue, please alert them to this problem.