Covid-19: No Evidence of Transmission to Humans from Pets

The CDC recommendations to avoid Corona Virus include washing hands and keeping social distance. There have been stories in the news over the past months reporting people who do not understand how the virus spreads thinking they could catch it from their pets. Some have asked for euthanasia of healthy pets due to this misinformation. 

You cannot catch the Corona virus (Covid-19) from pets. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Organisation for Animal Health have issued advisories saying there is no evidence that companion animals can spread the coronavirus.

Shelters are seeing an uptick in surrendered pets, due to myths about how it spreads, but also due to those who get sick and don't have a plan for their animals. 

What can you do? 

-Educate family and friends that their pets are safe to keep with them during this pandemic.

-Have a plan for who will care for your pets if you become too ill to stay home with them. This plan should have several layers of people who can be called upon to care for your pets. Include contact information of each person.

-Have crates, food, and extra supplies on hand for movement and relocation of pets if necessary.

-Pets should have proper identification: a collar with ID tag and a microchip with current, up-to date contact information.

For more information: HSUS Blog Post 

HSUS Lobby Day info - March 12, 2019

This year's HSUS Lobby Day in TN will be held on March 12 in Nashville, TN.

As the District Leader from TN Congressional District 3, I will be attending with a small constituency from Chattanooga, along with my District Leader counterparts from all over the state.

The focus of this year's Lobby Day is to talk to our representatives about the Petland bill, H. B. 281.
This bill would take away the right of local governments to set standards for stores that sell puppies.

This bill protects Petland over other businesses, and would serve to allow them to continue their outdated business model. Similar bills have already been defeated in 2018, in every state where Petland attempted to gain favor-GA, FL, and MI.

Petland will have paid lobbyists in Nashville tomorrow.

Petland's issues are well-documented online. They sell sick puppies from well-known puppy mills. Outbreaks of Campylobacter, an antibiotic resistant infection, have occurred among people who bought puppies from Petland.

One of my primary concerns in going to speak on this issue is that while the local governments would no longer have any jurisdiction over the animals in Petland stores (read: our local animal control cannot check on these animals or respond to public complaints of neglect in the stores), it would be the burden of these same local government officials (shelters and animal control officers) to clean up the mess of their over-population, sick puppies, and potentially euthanizing excess animals.

Regulating pet stores is key in managing these issues.

The most profitable stores in the nation do not sell puppies. 

Stores selling poorly cared for puppies that originated in questionable conditions is an outdated model. Petco and Petsmart and many local, independent pet care stores hold adoption events and support their local shelters. They support rescue and offer space to help facilitate adoptions from those rescues.

Another point to consider is that responsible dog breeder clubs conclude that selling animals via stores is inhumane, and include a statement forbidding it in their own code of ethics.

Humane legislation is bipartisan. 

So, my first greeting on Lobby Day will be, "Hello, I am Mary Marr, one of your constituents, and I am here today to ask you to vote NO on the Petland bill. The number is HB 281."

If you would like to read the exact text of the entire bill: http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=HB0281

Sticky Chemical Bird Repellent is So Dangerous for Local Wildlife

We are seeing many more birds come into the wildlife rehab covered in a sticky substance that won't come off. I found out it is a repellant called polybutylene. It comes in a form that can be sprayed and it does more than repel, it's been quite deadly for the small birds who have come in contact with it.

If you have a wildlife rehab group in your area, you may want to ask them to share info about this with their followers. This stuff leads to a pretty awful death for wildlife.

I found more info on our own HSUS page about pigeons, but same goes for all birds:

NEVER use polybutylene gel. Sticky gel repellents made from polybutene can harm all birds and any animal that comes in contact with it. The HSUS strongly recommends that these dangerous repellents be avoided at all costs. The feathers of any bird who comes into contact with the dense, sticky gel will become damaged, interfering with their ability to fly and to stay water-proofed.

These gel repellents are not selective. Other birds are likely to land on the gel, get stuck, and die a slow death. The polybutene gels are particularly harmful to smaller species.

http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/pigeons/tips/solving_problems_pigeons.html#.Wy0uFDFALCc.facebook

Petland Hires Consulting Veterinarian

Only two comments so far, both negative. Their reputation for sick puppies precedes them.

https://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/petland-retail-franchise-hires-consulting-veterinarian/?en_click=1&utm_campaign=editorial&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_content=news

A friend passed this along to me, it may be of interest: There's some great opportunities coming up this spring in the form of online courses. Fees usually range from $25-35/class. I've done a bunch of these classes over the years and I always learn so much. Plus this facility is one of the best (I'm biased, of course) and has been around a long time. I remember visiting when I was 10years old. <3

https://www.facebook.com/pg/wildlifecenter/events/?ref=page_internal

Class Info:
https://www.wildlifecenter.org/wildlife-care-academy

Fashionista News on Fur-Free Fashions

Michael Kors, the luxury fashion brand and the designer, is going fur-free.

Gucci went fur-free last month. Armani and Ralph Lauren are already opting for innovation and shunning cruelty.

This is the humane economy in action.

#humaneeconomy 

Read more in Wayne's blog: https://blog.humanesociety.org/wayne/2017/12/breaking-news-fashion-icon-michael-kors-goes-fur-free.html 

Compassion Fatigue Workshop

Please share info about our upcoming event to all interested parties!

Our audience will be animal shelter control officers, animal care workers, vet staff, and rescue groups.

Hilary is a well-known and inspiring speaker!

Limited tickets available:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/compassion-fatigue-workshop-tickets-36812756947