Cat Declawing Ban Spreads Through Calif.
Beverly Hills and Santa Monica Join Berkeley and L.A. in Outlawing of Practice
Nov. 18, 2009 Link to full article below
(AP) Two Southern California cities have voted to ban the declawing of cats, joining San Francisco and Santa Monica in outlawing the practice.
The Beverly Hills City Council voted 5-0 Tuesday night to approve a declawing ban, except in cases of medical necessity.
The Los Angeles City Council also approved a similar ordinance Tuesday. Berkeley approved the ban last week.
To read the full article: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/18/national/main5695478.shtml?tag=cbsnewsSectionContent.2
Showing posts with label animals: cats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label animals: cats. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Save the planet: Get rid of your cat
Save the planet: Get rid of your cat
Evidence is mounting that having a cat isn't very green: Along with humans, they are having a devastating impact on birds and marine life.
By Knute Berger
April 02, 2009
http://crosscut.com/2009/04/02/mossback/18925/
http://crosscut.com/2009/04/02/mossback/18925/print/
We're willing to tax plastic bags to save the planet, but are we willing to give up our pets? There's increasing evidence that our love of cats and dogs is having an adverse impact on the earth. Sure, pet owners experience joy and even the release of endorphins when they cuddle with Fluffy, but benign Fluffy is not.
A new report on the state of bird populations in the United States paints a grim picturefor the future diversity of bird species. The State of Birds survey indicates that fully one third of U.S. species are in decline. There are many pressures, most of them human, including habitat destruction. But the second biggest reason for the decline of birds: non-native species predation, which includes invasive critters, domestic animals, and house pets. Among pets, cats are the major threat. There are an estimated 77 million pet cats (pdf) in the U.S. (that doesn't count feral or stray populations which could more than double that number). Numbers vary but experts believe pet cats kill millions of birds in this country each year.
Urban cats are part of the problem in part because habitat fragmentation turns your yard from part of the larger wild system into an ecological island. Visiting birds are more isolated and vulnerable and can be more easily picked off by hunting cats who have the place staked out.
To read the full article: http://crosscut.com/2009/04/02/mossback/18925/
Evidence is mounting that having a cat isn't very green: Along with humans, they are having a devastating impact on birds and marine life.
By Knute Berger
April 02, 2009
http://crosscut.com/2009/04/02/mossback/18925/
http://crosscut.com/2009/04/02/mossback/18925/print/
We're willing to tax plastic bags to save the planet, but are we willing to give up our pets? There's increasing evidence that our love of cats and dogs is having an adverse impact on the earth. Sure, pet owners experience joy and even the release of endorphins when they cuddle with Fluffy, but benign Fluffy is not.
A new report on the state of bird populations in the United States paints a grim picturefor the future diversity of bird species. The State of Birds survey indicates that fully one third of U.S. species are in decline. There are many pressures, most of them human, including habitat destruction. But the second biggest reason for the decline of birds: non-native species predation, which includes invasive critters, domestic animals, and house pets. Among pets, cats are the major threat. There are an estimated 77 million pet cats (pdf) in the U.S. (that doesn't count feral or stray populations which could more than double that number). Numbers vary but experts believe pet cats kill millions of birds in this country each year.
Urban cats are part of the problem in part because habitat fragmentation turns your yard from part of the larger wild system into an ecological island. Visiting birds are more isolated and vulnerable and can be more easily picked off by hunting cats who have the place staked out.
To read the full article: http://crosscut.com/2009/04/02/mossback/18925/
Friday, October 10, 2008
dogs/cats contaminated with toxic synthetic chemicals, just like humans
by David Gutierrez
Source: Dogs and Cats Contaminated with Toxic Synthetic Chemicals, Just Like Humans
(NaturalNews) High levels of 48 different industrial chemicals were found in household pets in a study conducted by the Environmental Working Group (EWG).
The group tested 20 dogs and 37 cats from a Virginia veterinary clinic, and found high levels of chemicals from mercury to fire-retardants and stain-proof coatings. According to the group, pets are particularly at risk of exposure to toxic household chemicals because they are commonly on the ground or their feet. Infants and toddlers are at similar risk, EWG said.
"We need a better system of regulating toxic chemicals in this country," said Bill Walker, EWG's vice president of West Coast operations. "We need to test the chemicals before they are allowed on the market. Our animals are trying to tell us something here."
Oakland, Calif. veterinarian Gary Richter said that the incidence of diseases linked to these chemicals has been increasing in household pets.
"There's been an increase in cancer in dogs and cats and hyperthyroidism in cats," he said. "Household toxins are concerning."
Arlene Blum, a visiting chemist at the University of California-Berkeley, echoed Richter's call for more regulation.
"Right now, it's regulation by lawsuit," she said. "We need to test chemicals before they enter the environment. And companies have no incentive to do that."
Blum believes that her cat Midnight contracted hyperthyroidism from fire retardants used in her home, and that children are at similar risk.
Due to hyperthyroidism, Midnight lost 50 percent of his weight in only six months and his kidneys failed. Blum tested Midnight, her furniture and the dust in her home and found high levels of flame retardants in all three.
"In lab animals, fire retardant was shown to cause hyperthyroidism, and quite likely that is the cause of Midnight's problems - the fire retardant in the furniture," Blum said. "What goes into our furniture goes into our dust, cats and our children. These unnecessary toxic chemicals were banned in children's clothes, but not furniture."
Sources for this story include: origin.mercurynews.com.
Source: Dogs and Cats Contaminated with Toxic Synthetic Chemicals, Just Like Humans
(NaturalNews) High levels of 48 different industrial chemicals were found in household pets in a study conducted by the Environmental Working Group (EWG).
The group tested 20 dogs and 37 cats from a Virginia veterinary clinic, and found high levels of chemicals from mercury to fire-retardants and stain-proof coatings. According to the group, pets are particularly at risk of exposure to toxic household chemicals because they are commonly on the ground or their feet. Infants and toddlers are at similar risk, EWG said.
"We need a better system of regulating toxic chemicals in this country," said Bill Walker, EWG's vice president of West Coast operations. "We need to test the chemicals before they are allowed on the market. Our animals are trying to tell us something here."
Oakland, Calif. veterinarian Gary Richter said that the incidence of diseases linked to these chemicals has been increasing in household pets.
"There's been an increase in cancer in dogs and cats and hyperthyroidism in cats," he said. "Household toxins are concerning."
Arlene Blum, a visiting chemist at the University of California-Berkeley, echoed Richter's call for more regulation.
"Right now, it's regulation by lawsuit," she said. "We need to test chemicals before they enter the environment. And companies have no incentive to do that."
Blum believes that her cat Midnight contracted hyperthyroidism from fire retardants used in her home, and that children are at similar risk.
Due to hyperthyroidism, Midnight lost 50 percent of his weight in only six months and his kidneys failed. Blum tested Midnight, her furniture and the dust in her home and found high levels of flame retardants in all three.
"In lab animals, fire retardant was shown to cause hyperthyroidism, and quite likely that is the cause of Midnight's problems - the fire retardant in the furniture," Blum said. "What goes into our furniture goes into our dust, cats and our children. These unnecessary toxic chemicals were banned in children's clothes, but not furniture."
Sources for this story include: origin.mercurynews.com.
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