Warm Weather Pet Care

Below is a list of safety tips to keep your pet safe and cool this summer

1. Always provide plenty of fresh water and make sure that if the water bowl is outside it is safely secured so it doesn’t get tipped over and is in the shade.

2. Pets can get sunburned, especially if they are white, so make sure they have plenty of shade outside.

3. Apply a mix of equal parts of SPF 15 sun block and petroleum jelly to pets with pink noses before they go outside. You can also purchase sunscreen for your pet that is apporved for use on your animlas.

4. Dogs’ pads burn easily so avoid hot surfaces like blacktop during the hottest part of the day.

5. Before starting your walk, give the sidewalk a test with the palm of your hand. If it is too hot to touch then it can burn your dog’s footpads, so avoid that surface.

6. To avoid overheating exercise your pets either early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Avoid exercising your pets between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. because this is the hottest time of the day.

7. Fleas, mosquitoes and ticks love the summer so make sure to protect your pet from these summer pests

8. Watch for signs of heatstroke such as excessive panting, red gums, dry to the touch gums, or disorientation. If you suspect heatstroke, take your pet to the veterinarian immediately.

9. To cool down a pet that Is over heating, apply cool water [not ice cold, which can cause shock] to their coat and pads and take them to the Vet right away.

10. Avoid taking your pet in the car during the summer months and NEVER leave a pet in a parked car. Even with the windows down, it only takes a few minutes for the temperatures to rise in excess of 150 degrees, which can cause stroke, brain damage or death.



When: July 21, Saturday
Where: San Bernardino Sheriff's Academy, 18640 Verdemont Ranch Road
Contact: sbsdsearchdogs@sbsar.org, you will be assigned a time slot
Price: $70.00 (50% of cost goes directly to support SBSD Search Dog Team)

Payment due on day of event. CASH ONLY
(Multi-Dog discount: $5.00 off for each additional dog)

Sponsored by: San Bernardino Sheriff's Search Dog Team
Training is provided by High on Kennels

Missing Dogs!!

MISSING DOGS FROM REDDING, CA

Let's help this family find their missing dogs (Buddy and Shadow). I understand that the dogs were taken from their yard. Pass this wide and pass it far. Let's find these dogs. You in? Share the picture!

Horse Murdered!!

On the evening of May 5 2012, J & S stables lost a family member to sensless hate & violence. BO, a paint horse & trusted mount of the Shepard family for years was shot in the gut by a high powered rifle and made to flail and suffer in agony, fear and pain while his pasturemate watched until he bled out and ultimatly died. He was doing nothing more than grazing peacefully in his... roadside pasture on the corner of Old Folkstone Road and Country Club Road in the community of Sneads Ferry NC on a nice spring evening. Hunting is not allowed in the area and the Shepards are kind people who have no enemies. Bo was murdered for no other reason than "just because". Please share this horrible incident with whomever you think will care to read it. Someone knows who did it, and we want them brought to justice. If not only for justice for Bo and the Shepards, if they are not sorry enough to murder an innocent animal for fun, then they are capabale of doing the same to a human.

If you have ANY info, please call ONSLOW CO SHERIFFS DEPT @ 910 455 3113. There is a combined reward of $4500 between the Shepards and Crimestoppers available at this time to anyone with info leading to a conviction.

What would you do if this happened to you or your pets? Please pass the word.

Community Events

American Cancer Society
BARK FOR LIFE
A Canine Event To Fight Cancer

SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2012
PIKES PEAK PARK, NORCO
12:00 pm- 3:00 pm

Join us for the biggest dog party in the Inland Empire, and help "take a Bite out of Cancer"!

$20.00 per dog, including a FREE commemorative Bark For Life doggie bandana. All dogs must be on a leash (max 6'), licensed, and shots current.
Register online now! Prizes for the top fundraising dogs!
www.relayforlife.org/barknorcoca

The American Cancer Society Bark For Life is a noncompetitive walk event for dogs and their owners to raise funds and awareness for the American Cancer Society's fight against cancer.

By supporting Bark For Life, you help the American Cancer Society save lives, and that helps us move closer to our ultimate goal of a world with less cancer and more birthdays.

So bring your best canine friend and join us for a fun-filled day starting with a walk, and then continuing with demonstrations, contests, and games.

Put your pup in one of the contests:
Best Trick
Biggest Dog
Smallest Dog
Best Costume
Best Creative Grooming
Owner/Dog Look-a-Like
Top Fundraising Dog

Entertainment will be provided by:
Gary Rogers & Denim County Agility - Agility Exhibition
Disc Dog Empire - Frisbee Dogs
Pamela Johnson of Pam's Dog Academy -
Canine Freestyle Dance
T-Bone and DJTek - Music
Filippi's Pizza Grotto will be selling food and drinks, donating 15% of their profits to our event.
So come hungry!
Jamba Juice will be selling ice cold smoothies!

Homeward Bound Mega Pet Adoption Event

The County of San Bernardino in conjunction with the Humane Society of San Bernardino Valley, Yucaipa Animal Placement Society, and Animals aRe First Fund are sponsoring the First Annual Homeward Bound Mega Pet Adoption Event.

Saturday, June 16th, 2012
Sunday, June 17th,... 2012
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Jerry Lewis Soccer Complex (Yucaipa)

Yucaipa, CA

This is a collaborative effort between public and private agencies to raise awarenes of the many available and adoptable pets throughout the county.

Services that will be available:

Low Cost Vaccinations:
* Rabies - $6.00
* Combination - $10.00

Low Cost Micro Chipping
* Includes Registration - $20.00

Bernardino County jurisdiction

Free health screening for all adopted animals

Activities going on both days

* Extensive number of animals for adoption
* Music
* Giant Slide
* Face Painting
* Rock Wall
* Food and drinks available at nominal cost
* A variety of animal-related products for purchase

FDA releases report on Diamond Pet Foods

The FDA has issued a list of observations made during an April 20, 2012 inspection of the Diamond Pet Foods plant in Gaston, SC. The sloppiness of how the plant is maintained provides for numerous ways for the food they manufacture to become contaminated. Here’s the bulk of the report:

OBSERVATION 1
All reasonable precautions are not taken to ensure that production procedures do not contribute contamination from any source.
Specifically, no microbiological analysis is conducted or there is no assurance that incoming animal fat will not introduce pathogens into their production and cause contamination of finished product. Also, the firm’s current sampling procedure for animal digest does preclude potential for adulteration after sampling and during storage in warehouse. On 4/13/12, an employee was observed touching in-line filter oil with bare hands.
OBSERVATION 2
Failure to provide hand washing and sanitizing facilities at each location in the plant where needed.
Specifically, there are no facilities for hand washing or hand sanitizing in the production areas where there is direct contact with exposed finished feed/food.
OBSERVATION 3
Failure to maintain equipment, containers and utensils used to convey, hold, and store food in a manner that protects against contamination.
Specifically, paddles conveyor (South or Middle conveyor leading to the screeners going to packaging) were observed to have gouges and cuts, which exhibited feed residues. The damage to the paddles may allow for harborage areas for microorganisms and are difficult to clean and sanitize.
OBSERVATION 4
Failure to maintain equipment so as facilitate cleaning of the equipment.
Specifically, firm utilizes cardboard, duct tape, and other non cleanable surfaces on equipment. These materials were observed to have residues adhering. The foam gaskets around access doors to the bucket elevators were observed in deteriorating condition exhibited an accumulation of feed residues and dust.

Despite Diamond’s touted 151 Quality Checks, according to the report, the Diamond plant is a total mess. And obviously, the things mentioned in the report don’t just happen overnight – deteriorating gaskets, duct tape, lack of cleanliness, etc. With a manufacturing plant in that condition, it only makes sense that this has been an ongoing problem. So, how many people and pets have become ill over the past – who knows how long – as a result of contaminated food manufactured by Diamond?
My guess is that all of the Diamonds plants are a total mess. They still have openings in all three of of them for Quality Control Technicians. But it seems to me they’re going to need a heck of a lot more than a few new technicians to clean things up. They need to overhaul their entire company and learn to walk the talk they display so proudly on their website:

All of us take pride in our work, our departments and our company as a whole. Pride that manifests itself in uncompromising product quality and unsurpassed customer service. Pride that helps our company overcome any short-term obstacles and achieve long-term success.

If the observations made by the FDA inspectors represent Diamond’s “uncompromising product quality,” Diamond needs to take a serious look at how they’re doing things. From what’s in the report, it sounds like there’s plenty of room for improvement. And, I suppose the people and pets who have become sick due to their sloppiness are simply a “short-term obstacle.”

More Information on Diamond Pet Food Recall

Diamond Pet Foods has voluntarily recalled some brands of dry dog and cat food that it manufactured in its Gaston, S.C. facility between December 9, 2011 and April 7, 2012 due to potential Salmonella contamination.

The brands that were recalled on May 4 have not tested positive for Salmonella. The company is recalling certain batches of these brands, however, as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety and well-being of customers and their pets. Consumers should check this website for the production codes and best-before dates on the bags of recalled food, and discontinue feeding it. To learn whether or not the brand of dog or cat food you use is included in the recall, please select it from the list below.

Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Country Value Diamond Diamond Naturals Premium Edge Professional 4Health Taste of the Wild

Apex Kirkland Signature/Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain Canidae

Information about the May 18, 2012 expanded recall of Diamond Naturals Small Breed Adult Dog Lamb & Rice Formula Dry Food