See Top Pet Stories 2009
Here are my top twenty pet stories for 2009! It was a wild year....
In this gallery
Uga VII, the beloved University of Georgie mascot Bulldog was only four-years old when he passed away in November.
Marjean Ballner's YouTube video on cat massage went viral, currently with over 700,000 hits. David Letterman's staff heard about the cat massage expert, and invited her on the Late Show. Perhaps, it's that Dave needed the rubdown.
In July, Gidget the Taco Bell dog died at age 15. Chihuahua's and unwanted Chihuahuas skyrocketed in numbers! 
If you had five dogs in Chicago - if the proposed limit law passed, you may have had to let one go! Can you believe it? Happily the limit law didn't happen as some Aldermen were hoping. Where would all the dogs go who had to be given up? And by closing down Foster and Rescue programs (who were not included in the proposed ordinance), animal care and control could be overflowing. I was among those who testified. The proposal never made it out of committee.
In an effort to educate Chicagoans about dog licensing, Chicago City Clerk Miquel Del Valle held a party for dogs (and their people). The event, Dog Day on the Green, was held just beyond Soldier Field. Clerk Del Valle announced he'll do it again in 2010! 
Actor Mickey Rourke thanked his dogs when accepting the Golden Globe Award. Rourke held his Chihuahua Loki as he accepted the Award for 'The Wrestler.' Loki passed away shortly after, he was 18. Rourke, who told one reporter, his dogs have meant more than even his mother. "Sometimes when a man's alone, that's all you got is your dog." 
Comedian Chris Rock's rant on the "Jay Leno Show" cost him the lead in the upcoming biopic on Richard Pryor's life. Rock told Jay, "What the hell did Vick do? Pit Bulls aren't even real dogs! Dogs have never been good to black people." Jennifer Pryor (Richard's widow) was outraged at Rock's comments. She said his words encourage dogfighting. She pointed out Richard was a dog lover - and even he wouldn't have gone that far for a laugh. 
Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) could have chosen any intiative for his first effort as a U.S. Senator. Impressed by seeing how a service dog changed the life of an injured veteran, he then discovered how difficult and expensive it is to procure a service dog. So, Franken successfully sponsored a bill to make these dogs far easier and less expensive to come by for veterans. 
Senator's Ted Kennedy's final legacy, a dog named Bo. The First Family's Portuguese Water Dog was a gift from "Teddy." From all accounts, the pup has fit into the White House well - arguably he's better behaved and certainly better looking than some of the Presidents aids. 
Convicted dog fighter Michael Vick enjoyed quite the banner year. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he could play football if he shows remorse, and if a team picks him up. That took around two seconds - the Philadelphia Eagles snatched him in no time. Another NFL mandate was for Vick to reach out to the community and provide education about dogfighting. Vick with Wayne Pacelle, president/CEO of the Humane Society of the United States made a few well-orchestrated appearances. Who knows, maybe Vick did sneak into at risk neighborhoods without fanfare. But by all accounts, he really hasn't done a thing to help support humane activity. Vick landed a gig to produce his own reality TV show on BET. And in December, he was awarded the Ed Block Courage Award, which is presented annually to an Eagles player who explemplfies committment to the principals of sportsmanship and courage. Vick's response, "I've had a lot to overcome, more probably than one individual can bear."
While dogs don't appear to be susceptible to H1N1, and we know they can't get seasonal human flu strains, it turns out dog have their own species specific influenza. A vaccine was approved for the dog flu in 2009. The vaccine is suggested for socal dogs who are boarded, visit the dog park or even socialize with other dogs on walks (ask your veterinarian for details). 
Of course, H1N1 was on most lists for top 2009 news stories, but how did it make a pet list? Sicentists were surprised when cats (lilke Buddy Lou pictured here) came down with the H1N1 virus. While the number of cats with H1N1 will never be known, it did happen - though very rarely. Most cats recovered. For ferrets H1N1 might have proved even more deadly since ferrets seem susceptible to many influenzas of animals of other species. 
They tried and tried, but the Chicago City Council (and the general public) rebuked mandatory spay/neuter efforts pushed by the Humane Society of the United States and one shelter here. Most members of the Chicago Animal Shelter Allliance and both the Illinois State and Chicago Veterinary Medicial Associations oppossed. The first effort was a circus with Bob Barker as the ring-leader at City Hall. The measure to mandate all Chicago pets be spay/neutered still failed. Then,a second try was all about $$$$ - lobbyists big time (hmmm...imagine the pets that could have been spay/neutered for that money). It went nowhere. I testified twice, and was personally attacked by proponents in ways which I have not related publicly. The American Veterinary Medical Association and ASPCA are among a LONG list of organizations for spay/neuter (of course), but oppossed to the mandate because it not only doesn't work, but it also causes a bevy of unintended consequences. Because the measure failed in Chicago, other cities that might have tried decided not to waste their time or money. 
Many renowned researchers around the world are now working to 'Sock it to FIP." That's feline infectious peritonitis, a fatal disease that mostly affects kitens. Dr. Al Legendre, professor of small animal clinical sciences at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medcine, Knoxville is encouraged by a drug he's working on (Polyprenyl Immunostimulant), which he says is especially promising for cats with the dry form of FIP. 
I'm proud to have been involved in so many of these stories myself. This is a shot of my cat being microchipped in 2008. Cats need identification too, and they're so often overlooked. In 2008, with Home Again's Pet Recovery Service we promoted microchipping cats, and set some sort of record. In 2009, despite the economy, we smashed that mark and microchipped 59,000 cats over the summer. For each cat with a microchip, HomeAgain donated $1 to the Winn Feline Foundation, a non-profit with the sole mission of funding cat health research. Not only does microchipping save lives, but the research being funded will too. I'm also on the Board of the Winn Feline Foundation.
In January, '09 the Department of the Army announced a new policy for families living on military bases: Pit Bulls (including all Bull Terrier breeds, such as American Staffordshire Terriers or Staffordshire Bull Terriers, or any dog that resembles a Pit Bull), Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, Chow Chows and wolf hybrids are banned, even those who may be model citizens. The decision was made by the Residential Communities Initiative Consortium (six private companies that mandage on base housing). Michelle Obama and Jill Biden say they advocate for military families. What about families being forced to give up their canine family members for no good reason?
Chicago leads the nation in paying attention to the issue, holding a Summit in 2009, sponsored by the University of Illinois, and held at the Anti Cruelty Society. Fact is, when people lose their homes, pets do too. Having nowhere to move with pets, families are being forced to give up their animals. The lucky ones go to relatives or friends. Others land in a shelter. Still more are dumped to the streets (particularly cats). In some places animal control reports more stray dogs than they've seen in decades. According to experts foreclosures and evictions will increase in 2010. If that's the case, so will the scope of the problem.
Over 300 dogs were confiscated in the grandest dog fighting best ever, ecompassing eight states. Over 300 dogs were confiscated and it took state, Federal and local officials to make about 30 arrests. Locally, Sheriff Tom Dart (seen here) continues to lead the nation, taking dogfighting seriously. His efforts included a dog fighting bust at a day care center. And due to my suggestion on my WLS radio show, Dart is expected to push for a law for a harsher penelty in Illinois (already a felony for dogfighting) if there is proof dogfighting has taken place near a school, day care center or children's play lot. 
Proof not all news stories are bad news. Iams Home 4 For the Holidays celebrated a decade of adoptions, the most successful pet adoption drive ever finding homes for over a million pets in 2009 (including this pup, Brownie); another milllion in '08, not to mention another million since the program's inception. Home 4 the Holidays founder Mike Arms of the Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe, CA maintains, "We've only just begun."
#20 Death of a Mascot
Uga VII, the beloved University of Georgie mascot Bulldog was only four-years old when he passed away in November.
More from around the web
4 Comments
MMS said:
Great stories, Steve! Didn't know about Chris Rock, but good for Jennifer Pryor for her stance! And boy, does Bob Barker look overcooked, or maybe pickled? Definitely jaundiced!
kra said:
I agree MMS.... spray tan ala California style.
I am thrilled to see Dr Rubin in one of the pictures with Steve and Steve's Cat. BTW Happy retirement Dr Rubin, and please keep fighting for our right to own our animals and our right to decide what is the correct way of caring for each one. Your words are well respected...as are yours Steve. I cannot thank each of you enough.
Angela said:
Wow, Steve, it was quite the year for animal news. Of course, anything about Michael Vick makes my blood boil. Chris Rock - what an idiot for his comments. Glad mandatory s/n bit the dust - s/n ABSOLUTELY but this mandatory action would have made things worse not better. RIP Uga and Taco Bell pup. I can't wait to see what 2010 brings. Hopefully more good than bad. I would love to see the end to BSL everywhere and more focus on the irresponsible dog owners and at the top of my wish list is the end to dog fighting. Thank you for all that you've done, Steve, to champion animals over the years.
Steve Dale said:
This is supposed to be about me - but thank you all for your kind words...spread the word about the blog....and most of all, hug your furry ones.
Leave a Comment?
What your comment will look like:
said: