PETA Calls on FDA Head to Resign Over Botched Pet Food Recall

This morning, PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk fired off a letter to Andrew von Eschenbach, calling on him to step down as commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Newkirk’s letter comes after the FDA refused to name the maker of a dry pet food believed to have received a contaminated ingredient suspected in the deaths of an unknown number of cats and dogs. Now, two independent laboratories are claiming that the FDA was wrong when it determined that the agent causing kidney failure in cats and dogs was wheat gluten contaminated with a chemical called melamine found in plastic. The FDA has yet to recall dry food that is reportedly killing dogs and cats.

Although the FDA says that melamine was found in pet food and that it may have been the ingredient making animals sick, PETA points out that at the FDA news conference on March 30, the agency did not report the fact that the New York Department of Agriculture and a top Canadian agricultural laboratory — Animal Health Laboratory at the University of Guelph — both dispute the FDA’s finding. Furthermore, PETA points out that the FDA has gone even further by deceiving the public and media, both about the nature of the recall and about the FDA’s oversight of the pet-food industry. Dr. Stephen Sundlof, director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, has claimed to the media, “There are really no differences in the regulation of animal food and the regulation of human food. The same people that inspect human food plants also inspect pet food plants.” However, the FDA’s own Web site verifies that the agency has left “regulation” of the pet-food industry to the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), a nongovernmental body with no power.

“A house-cleaning of the FDA is overdue,” writes Newkirk. “Cherished animals are dying horrible deaths because of a fat, callous industry, and you have forfeited the public trust by siding with it to the detriment of the public.”Source: K9 magazine

Man jailed for attack on pet dog

The RSPCA is looking for a new home for Madison
A man has been jailed for three months for punching, kicking and stamping on his pet dog in a "shocking, wanton act of cruelty".

RSPCA officials said the injuries on the 18-month old Staffordshire bull terrier-type dog, Madison, were among the worst they had seen.

John Martell, 40, attacked the dog after it urinated in the lift near his home in Mulberry Court, Salford.

At Salford Magistrates Court Martell admitted causing unnecessary suffering.

The court heard Martell kicked Madison four times, punched him three times and stamped on his back five times.

The ordeal was witnessed by a security guard who recorded it on CCTV.

'Sustained attack'

The court was told Martell had been suffering from alcohol problems and had argued with his girlfriend moments before the attack in April.

Madison was treated for swollen, puffy eyes, and will need lifelong vet treatment.

Sentencing Martell to jail and banning him from keeping all animals for life, the chairman of the Bench John Connor said: "This was a deliberate and sustained attack against a defenceless animal."

RSPCA chief inspector Cathy Hyde said: "This was one of the worst attacks on an animal that I've ever seen.

"There's no excusing what this man did. It was a shocking, wanton act of cruelty carried out without provocation.

"The sentence reflects the callous and cruel nature of this case."

K9-News

Police Officers Kick Pet Dogs

Two police officers have been told they face possible jail sentences for causing suffering and "mental terror" to their two pet dogs.

Magistrates in Denbigh heard how Anja Mason, 29 and Craig Macleod, 34, who lived together in Prestatyn, now also face losing their jobs.

A neighbour filmed them hitting and kicking the pets and called the RSPCA.

Both admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a collie pup called Tess and Macleod to a rottweiler, Snoopy.

Both officers, who will be sentenced on 25 November, have been removed from frontline duties until the end of the case, said North Wales Police.

The court was told a neighbour had been concerned about the ill-treatment of dogs at the property and had called the RSPCA on several occasions.


There were several incidents of deliberate ill-treatment and frightening of the dogs

Wendy Gibbs, chair of magistrates

However, when an RSPCA inspector found no evidence of cruelty, the neighbour bought camera equipment and positioned it overlooking the couple's yard.

Prosecuting, Glenn Murphy said: "To her credit this lady purchased a camera and she took many hours of video footage."

A DVD, about 15-20 minutes in length, was played to the court.

In one scene Mason was filmed hitting the pup's head and kicking her.

Later the dog was seen pulling washing from a line before Macleod emerged from the house and chased it to a corner of the yard. Out of shot of the camera the dog could then be heard yelping.

'Intentionally caused pain'

In other scenes, Macleod sprayed the dogs with water and Mason is seen chasing the puppy with what appears to be a stick.

The rottweiler can also be heard yelping as it is apparently abused by Macleod off camera.

The court heard how Macleod had been concerned that the rottweiler was "over-zealous" with his eight-year-old daughter when she visited and he had been advised by a dog handler to spray water as a deterrent.

Magistrates chairwoman Wendy Gibbs told the defendants: "There were several incidents of deliberate ill-treatment and frightening of the dogs."

She said the magistrates had found no mitigating factors.

She added: "You intentionally caused pain and suffering to both dogs and mental terror to both dogs."

"You risked injury to both dogs by kicking them."

She said all sentencing options would remain open, including custody.


Magistrates found no mitigating factors for the actions of Macleod and Mason

Both defendants had faced six charges relating to alleged offences between March and April 2008.

However the majority of the charges were withdrawn when no evidence was offered against them.

The court heard the DVD had been viewed by a vet who concluded "the actions were not those of a reasonably competent and humane carer".

Joanne Stephens, defending, said neither Mason nor Macleod had intended to cause the animals pain.

The court heard both dogs were signed over to the RSPCA by their owners and are now doing well.

Miss Stephens said: "The defendants stand to lose their jobs as a result of having a criminal conviction which would affect their livelihoods."

Speaking after the case, RSPCA spokesman Gethin Russell-Jones said it was one of the most unusual cases he had been involved in because it hinged on the DVD evidence.

"There was no other evidence, and this neighbour had constructed this camera and concealed it and over the course of about a month...had captured these scenes," he said.

"Yes, that was crucial, and I'm sure as far as the court was concerned it was fairly striking evidence."

Asked about the fact the defendants are police officers, he said: "We prosecute without discrimination, and always fairly, so their occupation is irrelevant as far as we're concerned.

"If we find that animals have been treated unfairly, cruelly, or there's been unnecessary suffering, then the whole weight of the law comes down on them. The magistrate did say that, and it was a very harsh summing up."

A North Wales Police spokeswoman said: "Following today's appearance, both officers have been removed from front line duties and placed in non-operational roles pending the result of the case.

"As matters have not yet been finalised in court, it would be wholly inappropriate to make further comment at present." Source: Dog News

Olympic gold medalist says "Don't wear Fur

U.S. swimmer Amanda Beard unveiled a demure nude photograph of herself urging women "Don't wear fur" on Wednesday, hours after Chinese authorities had prevented her from her staging a news conference for "safety" reasons.
The Athens 2004 Olympic gold medalist said she was determined to carry on even after plainclothes police banned her scheduled news conference at a Beijing hotel "for our safety."
Beard, 26, declined to say if she believed that was the real motive for the ban.
She went ahead with her campaign, only at a different location. Instead of the hotel, she appeared in front of reporters and TV cameras outside the heavily fenced Olympic athletes' village.
"What happens with animals when their skin is ripped from their bodies when they are still alive, it's heartbreaking for me," she said. The Olympics provided a great platform for making those views known, she added.
Chinese Olympic security guards watched the media scrum from the South Gate of the village but did not intervene. The German Olympic cycling team, heading out for training in hot, muggy weather, stopped for a look.
PETA spokesman Jason Baker said eight Chinese security officials in plain clothes showed up at the group's hotel late on Tuesday to announce the planned press conference would not be permitted. They cited safety concerns, he said.
"I think they just didn't understand what we had planned," he told Reuters. "We are not protesting against China. We just want to promote compassion for animals.
"We know they don't like talking about animal rights. I guess they didn't want to take any chances right ahead of the opening of the Olympics," Baker added.
But there would be no protest, he said. "Five years ago we wouldn't even have considered doing this here."
Source: Web News

DogCents

Why is it that my heart is so touched whenever I meet a dog lost in our noisy streets? Why do I feel such anguished pity when I see one of these creatures coming and going, sniffing everyone, frightened, despairing of even finding its master? I have a great dog. She's half lab, half pit bull and good combination. Sure, she might bite off my leg, but she'll bring it back. Dogs are lousy poker players. When they get a good hand they wag their tails.

Don't Let Your Dog Suffer From Fleas or Ticks This Summer

Parasitology experts Bayer Animal Health is issuing a reminder message to all dog owners as the spring 'tick season' nears. During spring, blood-sucking ticks can be amongst the most common problems for the family dog. Bayer Animal Health urges pet owners to consider an anti-parasite treatment to prevent their dogs from being bitten by ticks during their daily walk.

"The recent mild winters have allowed a huge increase in tick numbers, which continues consistently throughout the year - although it is fair to say that the only time we stop seeing ticks is after a few days of frost."

"Ticks are a problem in certain areas and dogs should be checked for ticks after every walk, particularly after walking through vegetation such as rough grasses, bracken, gorse and heather areas that are particularly capable of harbouring ticks."

Not only can tick bites cause skin irritation for both dog and owner but ticks can also transmit dangerous diseases via their saliva. Lyme Disease for example can cause fever, acute lameness, joint swelling and renal failure in dogs as well as arthritis and skin problems in humans.

"We are seeing more and more cases of Canine Vector-Borne Disease (CVBD) transmitted by ticks and we have had several dogs die from tick-borne disease despite prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment."

The best protection against ticks is to treat your dog with a product which not only kills ticks but also acts as a repellent to block ticks from attaching to your dog in the first place. By using a preventative treatment, which is available from veterinary surgeons, owners can confidently protect their dogs."

It is thought that current official statistics for tick-borne diseases are underestimated of the real picture. The likely reason for this is because carriers of tick-borne diseases either do not receive treatment or remain undiagnosed.

Vet News

Pet tips- Flea Problems, Bad Breath, Shedding, Worms

Here's a few quick tips for common problems. A lot of dogs develop a flea problem. try rubbing on garlic power - no more fleas. If Fido seem to have a severe itching problem try using a little apple cider vinegar on the affected spot. Diarrhea? Try a teaspoon full of carob powder mixed with his food. Worms? Garlic again. In fact, most dogs love the taste of garlic, and if you look at the label of many manufacturers pet foods you'll find it listed in ingredients! Bad Breath? Give your pouch a sprig or two of parsley mixed in his food. When you give your dog a bath, add a few tablespoons of baking soda to both the bath and rinse water to give a shiny bright coat. If you have a long-haired dog that's shedding, rub a little olive oil a couple of times a week. A cat's litter box will smell fresh if you add a box of baking soda. Fur balls pass easier if your pet has roughage. Can't get him to eat dry cat food? Try mixing a little liquid from a can of tuna fish.

IRS to Send Reminders About giving you money

I posted this here because I thought it would be of interest to all dog owners and everyone else who is filing income tax returns.. IRS to Send Reminders About Rebates
By MARTIN CRUTSINGER (AP Economics Writer)
From Associated Press
February 28, 2008 1:26 PM EST
WASHINGTON - Don't be alarmed. More than 130 million households will get letters from the Internal Revenue Service beginning next week and it's good news, not bad.

The letters are part of an extensive outreach effort to make sure people don't miss out if they are eligible to receive a tax rebate check under the recently passed $168 billion economic stimulus plan.

The IRS letters will remind people to file a 2007 tax return so they will receive the stimulus payment.

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said Treasury and the IRS would work hard to get the word out. "For the majority of Americans, all they will need to do is file a tax return," Paulson said in a statement.

He said that the IRS would also be working with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Social Security Administration and private groups such as AARP to "reach those who do not normally file a return and ensure they know how to get their stimulus payment this year."

The IRS mailing will be titled "Economic Stimulus Payment Notice" and it will alert people that they may be eligible for a one-time stimulus payment of up to $600 for individuals or $1,200 for a married couple filing jointly.

The stimulus package that Congress passed earlier this month in an effort to give the weak economy a jump-start also includes a $300 per child payment for qualifying children younger than 17.

The IRS notices are informational and do not seek any financial information. The mailings will go to taxpayers who filed a tax return last year.

The notice states that to receive a

Blind man shopping

"If she falls its my ass

" Here is a joke I heard and thought it cute and I wanted to share it with all of my friends on the web I do hope you get a laugh out of it..... Blind Man Shopping
A blind man walks in to a department store with his seeing eye dog on a leash. As usual the store manager behind the customer service counter looks up, notices the customer is blind, and not wanting to stare quickly looks away again.
Out of the corner of his eye the manager sees the blind man start swinging the dog around over his head with its leash. Shocked, the manager runs over and says "Mister is there a problem - is there anything I can help you with?"
The blind man calmly replies "No thanks - I'm just looking around."

Foods that are harmful to your Pets

Why are grapes harmful?

As far as grapes and raisins go, no one is sure why they're harmful. It's been confirmed that even grapes grown without fertilizers or pesticides can be toxic to dogs. But not to every dog, and not every time. It's also not known whether small amounts eaten over a long time period could have a cumulative effect.

What we do know is that the end result in nearly all reported cases of grape or raisin toxicity is acute kidney failure. (The term "acute" means that the condition is severe and comes on quickly.) The dog ultimately can't produce urine, which means they can't filter toxins out of their systems -- a process essential to life.

During the twelve-month period in which the effects of grapes were studied, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center handled 140 cases involving one or more dogs. Over a third of the dogs developed symptoms ranging from vomiting to kidney failure, and seven dogs died. The ASPCA based their study on reported cases, so naturally there may be cases where a dogs health is entirely unaffected by eating grapes. But until they know all the facts, the Society advises against feeding pets grapes or raisins in any amount.

An ounce of prevention

So, your dog just scored himself a big box of raisins. What's a pet owner to do?

The first line of defense, if the grapes or raisins were eaten recently, is to induce vomiting and administer activated charcoal (it absorbs toxins in the GI tract). Vomiting is also the first sign that your dog is in trouble, so skip right to the activated charcoal if vomiting has already occurred. (In a pinch you can make your own activated charcoal by charring a piece of toast until it's blackened and crumbles easily.) Then call your vet right away.

Can't reach the vet? Call ASPCA Poison Control: 888-426-4435

The vet will keep your dog on intravenous fluids for at least 48 hours and monitor blood chemistry daily. Normal blood work after 3 days usually means your dog is in the clear.

Keeping a watchful eye out, of course, is the best way to keep your pet out of trouble. Like children, dogs (and other pets) have a knack for getting into mischief when we're not looking.

It's Not Just the Grapes...

There are other foods your dog should be kept away from, and some of them may surprise you.

Here are some other foods that can put a dogs health in harms way:

Chocolate

Who can resist chocolate? Like it your not, your dog. Chocolate is made with cocoa beans and cocoa beans contain a chemical called Theobromine, which is toxic to dogs. So on Valentine's Day, you're actually being kind to your best buddy if you eat all the chocolates yourself! Read my special report on chocolate at http://www.great-dog-gift.com/chocolate to learn more, and see how different types of chocolate have varying effects on dogs health.

Cocoa Mulch

Cocoa bean shells are a by-product of chocolate production (which is how mulch made it into the "foods" category) and are popular as mulch for landscaping. Homeowners like the attractive color and scent, and the fact that the mulch breaks down into an organic fertilizer. However, some dogs like to eat it and it contains Theobromine.

Fatty foods

Fatty foods are hard for a dog to digest and can can overtax the pancreas, leading to pancreatitis. This can threaten your dogs health and is potentially fatal.

Nuts

Macadamia nuts should be avoided. In fact most nuts are not good for a dogs health since their high phosporus content is said to lead to bladder stones.

Mulch

Mulch isn't food, but there's one type tempting enough for dogs to eat. Some dogs are attracted to cocoa mulch, and will eat it in varying quantities. The coca bean shells can contain from 0.2% to 3% theobromine (the toxin ) as compaired to 1-4% in unprocessed beans.

Onions

Onions, especially raw onions, have been shown to trigger hemolytic anemia in dogs. (Stephen J Ettinger, D.V.M and Edward C. Fieldman, D.V.M. 's book: Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine vol. 2 pg 1884.) Stay away from onion powder too.

Potatoes

Potato poisonings among people and dogs are rare but have occurred. The toxin, solanine, is poorly absorbed and is only found in green sprouts (these occur in tubers exposed to sunlight) and green potato skins. This explains why incidents seldom occur. Note that cooked, mashed potatoes are fine for a dogs health, actually quite nutritious and digestible.

Artificial Sweeteners

Xylitol is used as a sweetener in many products, especially sugarless gum and candies. Ingesting large amounts of products sweetened with xylitol may cause a sudden drop in blood sugar in dogs, resulting depression, loss of coordination, and seizures. According to Dr. Eric K. Dunayer, a consulting veterinarian in clinical toxicology for the poison control center, "These signs can develop quite rapidly, at times less than 30 minutes after ingestion of the product" states Dr. Dunayer, "...therefore, it is important that pet owners seek veterinary treatment immediately."

Turkey

Turkey skin is currently thought to cause acute pancreatis in dogs, partly due to it's high fat content.

Other foods listed by the ASPCA as harmful:


Alcoholic beverages


Avocado (the only "fatty" member of the vegetable All the foods on this list your dog should avoid because it will cause serious harm.. Lilyruth >If you like this post buy me a beer

Youn Chimp Beats College Students

Dec 3, 2007
NEW YORK - Never mind that TV show that asks if you're smarter than a fifth-grader. Is your memory better than a young chimp's? Maybe not. Japanese researchers pitted young chimps against human adults in two tests of short-term memory, and overall, the chimps won.

That challenges the belief of many people, including many scientists, that "humans are superior to chimpanzees in all cognitive functions," said researcher Tetsuro Matsuzawa of Kyoto University.

"No one can imagine that chimpanzees - young chimpanzees at the age of 5 - have a better performance in a memory task than humans," he said in a statement.

Matsuzawa, a pioneer in studying the mental abilities of chimps, said even he was surprised. He and colleague Sana Inoue report the results in Tuesday's issue of the journal Current Biology.

One memory test included three 5-year-old chimps who'd been taught the order of Arabic numerals 1 through 9, and a dozen human volunteers.

They saw nine numbers displayed on a computer screen. When they touched the first number, the other eight turned into white squares. The test was to touch all these squares in the order of the numbers that used to be there.

Results showed that the chimps, while no more accurate than the people, could do this faster.

One chimp, Ayumu, did the best. Researchers included him and nine college students in a second test.

This time, five numbers flashed on the screen only briefly before they were replaced by white squares. The challenge, again, was to touch these squares in the proper sequence.

When the numbers were displayed for about seven-tenths of a second, Ayumu and the college students were both able to do this correctly about 80 percent of the time.

But when the numbers were displayed for just four-tenths or two-tenths of a second, the chimp was the champ. The briefer of those times is too short to allow a look around the screen, and in those tests Ayumu still scored about 80 percent, while humans plunged to 40 percent.

That indicates Ayumu was better at taking in the whole pattern of numbers at a glance, the researchers wrote.

"It's amazing what this chimpanzee is able to do," said Elizabeth Lonsdorf, director of the Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. The center studies the mental abilities of apes, but Lonsdorf didn't participate in the new study.

She admired Ayumu's performance when the numbers flashed only briefly on the screen.

"I just watched the video of that and I can tell you right now, there's no way I can do it," she said. "It's unbelievable. I can't even get the first two (squares)."

What's going on here? Even with six months of training, three students failed to catch up to the three young chimps, Matsuzawa said in an e-mail.

He thinks two factors gave his chimps the edge. For one thing, he believes human ancestors gave up much of this skill over evolutionary time to make room in the brain for gaining language abilities.

The other factor is the youth of Ayumu and his peers. The memory for images that's needed for the tests resembles a skill found in children, but which dissipates with age. In fact, the young chimps performed better than older chimps in the new study. (Ayumu's mom did even worse than the college students).

So the next logical step, Lonsdorf said, is to fix up Ayumu with some real competition on these tests: little kids.
---On the Net:

Kyoto University: http://www.pri.kyoto

Surgery for underwear-loving dog

Taffy has since made a full recovery after the operation
A dog has had to undergo emergency surgery after swallowing his 40th pair of pants.
Taffy, the 18-month-old springer spaniel, has also eaten 300 socks, 15 pairs of shoes and a key fob to a car.
However, his owners Sharon and Eubie Saayman, of Tamworth, Staffordshire, noticed Taffy was in pain after eating something he should not have.
Mr Saayman, a vet, performed the two-hour operation to remove a pair of his three-year-old son's pants.
Mrs Saayman said Taffy and their son Liam were best friends, and Taffy would follow Liam around while he was potty-training.
'Passed through naturally'
She said: "Taffy would just find the pants that were left behind everywhere all the time.
"But apart from that, he's a lovely dog and eating these things is his only fault."
Whenever he picks things up we tell him off and hopefully he drops it before he swallows it
The couple said they did what they could to hide the items from Taffy, but he would still find them.
Mr Saayman said all the other items Taffy had found had "passed through naturally", but in the last case the pants had become tangled in the dog's guts.
Taffy has since made a full recovery.
Mr Saayman said: "We make jokes about it but it's actually very serious.
"If a dog gets an obstruction it can be life-threatening, so we try to keep things away from him.
"Whenever he picks things up we tell him off and hopefully he drops it before he swallows it." NEWS

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Abseiler saves pet dog from gorge

Abseiler saves pet dog from gorge

Crown had fallen down the gorge while walking with his owner
An abseiler who went 50ft into a ravine to save an injured dog trapped in a rising river for more than 18 hours has been hailed a hero.
Craig Tinney, 28, from Acharn, near Kenmore, was one of 22 villagers involved in the search for the six-year-old Labrador Crown.

Crown plunged into the gorge during a walk with owner Tony May on Monday.

Despite efforts by villagers, the dog was not rescued until Mr Tinney descended into the ravine on Tuesday.

Carol May, owner of the family pet, paid tribute to Mr Tinney's bravery and said he had managed to reach Crown in the nick of time.

She said: "The vet confirmed that Crown could not possibly have spent another night in the water.

"What everybody did for us, particularly Craig, is just wonderful."

Cliff face

Mrs May first became aware of the dog's disappearance on Monday evening.

She said: "My husband Tony was out walking our two black labs at the Falls of Acharn, as he always does.

"It was about 6pm and pitch black when he noticed Crown was missing. Tony immediately sensed he had gone off the cliff face."

I don't know how he did it but my family will be eternally grateful

Carol May

Friends and neighbours of the family turned out to help look for the dog but after four hours of trying the search was called off for the night.

On Tuesday morning, Mr Tinney who is an experienced abseiler and gorge walker, decided to lower himself into the ravine to find Crown.

He spotted the injured dog in the water and lowered himself down.

Eventually, after calming the animal and checking his injuries, he was able to lift the dog out.

Mrs May said: "By some super-human effort Craig managed to climb back up the cliff while he was holding onto Crown.

"I don't know how he did it but my family will be eternally grateful."

Crown was immediately taken to a local vet, who confirmed he had dislocated a hip.

He is expected to make a full recovery.

Winterize Pets? Better bring 'em in

'Provide your outdoor dog with high-quality living arrangements, the next best thing to your own house. Doghouses should be only slightly larger than the dog. A snug fit will keep him cozy. Too much space and frigid winds will permeate his shelter. Insulate.... Give your indoor companion animals a warm bed away from drafts, a blanket and a pillow, or just snuggle a little bit closer... (Even our chow chow has a warm, quilted coat: he wears it gratefully when we go out for walks; he doesn't like the cold at all. If your dog has arthritis, keep it indoors and throw a soft cloth over it when it snuggles down for the night; the dog's own body heat will keep him more comfortable; our dog loves this... )Like this story ? Vote for my blog at http://bloginterviewer.com/animals/dogcents-ruth

Puppies found dead in dumped rubbish

Two puppies have died after being found among a litter of four dumped with rubbish fly-tipped in West Sussex.
The black cross breed dogs were found in a cardboard box containing wood shavings at Lee Farm Lane, Patching.
The puppies were described as being in a very poor condition and were taken to a veterinary surgeon in Worthing for medical attention.
Police said they were found on 29 October, and have urged anyone with any information to contact them. Source: news

Tests to Find Out If its The CHUPACABRA?

Coyotes, or prairie wolves, normally have a coat of hair
US scientists say an animal found in Texas is not the chupacabra - or goat-sucker - of American myth, but a coyote with a hair loss problem.
DNA tests on the carcass found at a ranch south-east of San Antonio yielded a virtually identical match to coyote DNA, biologist Mike Forstner said.

The coyote was one of three found dead by rancher Phylis Canion this summer.

Central American myth has long spoken of a vampire-like creature that slays livestock by sucking out their blood.

The chupacabra is said to attack its victims at night, leaving a trail of carcasses with their throats torn out.

Mr Forstner said that he himself had assumed the creature brought in for testing at Texas State University was a domestic dog but "the DNA sequence is a virtually identical match to DNA from the coyote".

Ms Canion and some of her neighbours discovered the 40-pound (18-kg) carcasses of three of the animals over four days in July outside her ranch in Cuero, 90 miles (145km) south-east of San Antonio.

She said she had saved the head of one of them to get it properly tested.

Additional hide samples have been taken to try to determine the cause of the animal's hair loss, Mr Forstner said.
Here are Comments from people who read this news article: If you have any comments about this be sure to leave them here Speak whats on your mind...


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comments:

Yep seen lots of them... They even have a den at the golf course. Funniest encounter was when my playing partner had hit a great shot onto the green only to have his ball taken off the green and into the bushes by one of the younger members of the pack. They are very adaptable creatures and excellent urban hunters.
William Parkyn, Calgary. Canada


I've seen plenty of coyotes, even around my city's downtown area at night, but never any bald ones. I'm not sure if the chupacabra exists, but I know people who claimed to have seen it before.
Michael, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA


Obviously Mr. Russell has never been to the San Joaquin Valley, you see a lot of road kill coyotes up and down the valley... and I have even had one pace my car on the pavement during a valley dust storm... at night. The animal in the chupacabra photo does not look like a coyote though. The ears are too small, and the fangs protrude too much. Perhaps that can be explained away as dessication from the sun... but the jaws and musculature look more like a dog than a canis latrans.
beatrice, bakersfield, ca


I was raised on a sheep & cattleranch in Southeast Idaho. We had about 1,500 sheep. During the summer they were pastured in the forested mountains. One summer in the mid 1960's during one particular night, coyotes attacked our sheep, killing 120 that one night (the older coyotes were obviously teaching the young ones how to kill, because hardly none of the carcasses had had any meat eaten from them). The very next year the same thing happened, killing 80. I therefore grew up with no love for coyotes.
carlin, gilbert, arizona, usa

My dog brought home a bald coyote and I had a heck of a time getting it away from him. Eventually we got it before he could eat much. He came down with mange after so I presume this to be the cause of the baldness. I frequently see coyotes with hairless tails, this is what loses fur first. The rest of their coats are poor. Other coyotes chase these weak ones away from food in the winter and I expect most die. Some fights I have seen suggest they get killed and eaten as well. Luckily for them, as the animal rights folks tell us: 'they feel no pain if they die in the wild only if people kill them' This must be of considerable comfort to them. Yeah right.
Warren Clayton, near Calgary Alberta

In the coastal mountain range of the peninsula south of San Francisco, I have seen many coyotes. One was very scraggly with patches of hair, it looked malnourished and probably had mange. My neighbours dog had mange recently, so I am wondering if dogs can pick up mange from coyotes living nearby that nestle in leaves that domestic dogs may also lay down in.. And in Sacramento I saw 2 adorable coyote pups this past summer, grooming each other with their tongues, with ears as large as a lamppost! Baby Coyotes are now my favourite animal...
Lisa Bryant, Los Altos, CA USA


The chupacabra myth probably came from a rabid coyote or dog which attacked farm animals at night. Coyotes are increasingly common in the US and it's believed that their populations bred with wolves in Canada some years ago and then spread east and then south back into the United States. The result is a slightly bigger, braver animal than the coyote of the old west which were unknown in the eastern US until a few decades ago. They're wily, tough and farmers will tell you they're omnivorous... They're known to go after cats and small dogs to eat. Adults are human-shy but the young ones have been known to get nearer to people when exploring. When I was in the army in the American desert southwest, a soldier sleeping in camp was awakened one morning by a coyote pup licking his hand.
Jeremy Mason, Houston, Texas

I live in a semi-rural area of Southern Arizona. Coyotes are a common occurrence. I have often seen coyotes virtually hairless, gross and sick-looking. The pictures of "chupacabras" I have seen look just like the horribly mangy coyotes that are seen during seemingly cyclical periods. You may see quite a few afflicted animals during a short period of time, then not see any for a couple of years.
BT, Tucson, Az


I grew up in Apple Valley California, and lived in the desert for most of my life. I've seen coyotes up close, this is either the ugliest coyote on record, or they're not being truthful. Coyotes are shy and wouldn't have been caught and killed like this one, they're way too smart for that. You never see them run over in the highway! (Skunks, that's another story) and they have much more delicate and petite features...
Roger Russell, United States

Source: k9news

Give me Your Votes- I need over 300 votes to win Vote Ev ery Month

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Paris Hilton to Resurrect her Dogs

Paris Hilton has revealed that she intends to have her two dogs cryogenically frozen upon their deaths, in order to resurrect them "in the future."

The hotel heiress explained that it would be "cool" to meet up with her dogs in the future, she also intends to be cryogenically frozen upon death, to be brought back to life when the technology becomes available.

Hilton has expressed excitement that her own life can be extended by thousands of years. Source news

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