42 states still allow pet leasing — meaning Fido could get repossessed just like your house or car

 This story is astonishing.  I had no idea this was even legal.  If you miss a payment does your dog get repossessed?  What if your pooch passes away before the term of the lease is over?  Are you still on the hook for payments?

This is from Business Insider and written by Jason Lalljee.

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Hold on to that leash. 

Whether or not you're aware, you may be a pet leaser, rather than a pet owner — and, if you live in the 42 states where pet leasing is still legal, a collection agency could seize the four-legged member of your family if you're unable to pay your bills. 

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced this week that California-based Monterey Financial Services, LLC has agreed to provide more than $930,000 in debt relief and restitution to resolve accusations that it was illegally leasing dogs in Massachusetts. In addition to waiving outstanding debt held by customers, the settlement includes transferring full ownership of hundreds of dogs back to Massachusetts residents. 

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Rainbow Bridge - Toby

Toby

April 8, 2009 - April 1, 2022

Toby with his warm brown eyes and loving gaze left us. He was a gentle soul who enjoyed running to show off but didn’t need to compete. He was such a happy fellow, always patient with Annie and close to me.

- Cuyla Shelton

April Greyhound Walk

 

April Greyhound Walk

When: April 24th, Sunday, @ 1:30 PM Where: The Willamette Park and Natural Area, Corvallis Join us Sunday, April 24th for a walk along the Willamette River in the Willamette Park and Natural Area in Corvallis. We will meet at 1:30 at the east end of SE Goodnight Ave in south Corvallis (off of Highway 99W). See you there!

April Birthday

Hudson
Born April 1, 2017
5 Years Old

FDA Stops Sale of Pet Food Due to “Grossly Insanitary Conditions”

 

March 28, 2022 — Bravo Packing of Carney’s Point, N.J., has been ordered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to stop selling, manufacturing and distributing pet food due to (among other violations) “grossly insanitary conditions“.

A Federal judge has “entered a consent decree against” Bravo Packing due to violations of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act).

Historic Legal Action

This legal ruling marks the first permanent injunction against an animal food manufacturer for violating modern public safety standards in history.

What Caused This Action?

According to Dr. Steven Solomon, director of FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine:

“The FDA has taken this action to protect public health because, despite multiple inspections, notifications of violations, and recalls, this firm continued to operate under insanitary conditions and produce pet food contaminated with harmful bacteria. We will not tolerate firms that put people or animals at risk and will take enforcement actions when needed.”

FDA Warnings and Inspections

The FDA conducted inspections in 2019 and 2021 and issued a warning letter to the facility in 2020.

During these inspections, the FDA found evidence of significant food safety violations including grossly insanitary conditions and the failure to follow good manufacturing practices regulations for animal food.

Multiple samples of finished raw pet food products collected during the inspections tested positive for Salmonella.

Pet food that is contaminated with Salmonella can lead to illness in both the pets consuming the food, as well as humans, who handle the food and care for the pets.

Some of these finished samples as well as environmental samples from the two inspections also tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes.”

Separation Anxiety in Dogs

 

From The Whole Dog Journal:

What the mainstream media (and your Instagram feed) gets wrong about separation anxiety in dogs.

The advent of the pandemic in 2020 caused many of us to begin spending most of our time at home with our dogs. Many people used the opportunity of having more time at home to add a new dog to their families. 

Then, seemingly overnight, there were reports everywhere in the mainstream press and on TV discussing the huge, catastrophic,  impending wave that’s supposedly about to strike our nation: a wave of canine separation anxiety – the common expression for dogs who experience distress when left home alone. On every media (and social media), journalists are worrying about how our canine family members will adjust to being alone once our families return to school and work outside of the home. 

The good news? All that buzz created has more awareness than ever about separation anxiety in dogs. And that awareness means that people are clamoring for information. 

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Greyhound Walk: Sunday, March 27th

When: March 27th, Sunday, @ 1:30 PM

Where: Thurston Hills Natural Area

7575 McKenzie Highway (Main St.)

Springfield, OR

Let's see if spring has sprung and meet at

the Thurston Hills Natural Area.

Expect to do some gentle climbing on this trail.

There is a parking lot, restrooms, and water available.

Close to 75th St. & Main St.

See you there!