Itchmo: News For Dogs & Cats

Meet Tillie (her full name is Tillamook Cheddar… yum…cheese…). She is an artist but not any kind of artist — she is a four-legged artist. Tillie is a 7-year-old Jack Russell terrier from Brooklyn, NY (pictured here in front of one of her pieces of art) and an abstract expressionist. She uses her paws and her mouth and scratches and chews to produce her masterpieces. Tillie has had 14 solo exhibitions in the US and Europe. She even has a book out, and Tillie has sold more than 100 of her paintings (some selling as high as $2,200). Congrats on the success, Tillie.

A 72-year-old man and his springer spaniel were fishing on their boat. When the man was throwing back a fish that he had caught, Bucky, the dog, put his paws on the edge of the boat causing the boat to flip it over. The man started swimming to shore but realized that he couldn’t make it, so he clung to the boat for dear life. Being the smart dog that he is (and making up for the fact that he did flip over the boat), Bucky swam to shore and barked for help while running home. The man’s wife heard Bucky barking and a neighbor called 9-1-1. The man and Bucky are both fine — but I don’t think either of them will be fishing anytime soon.

Here’s the latest in recall news.

Be in on the ground floor. It’s brand new, and probably overdue, but we have added a discussion board for you to talk about the recall, pet nutrition, safety and more. (If you see a security warning, ignore it.)

Senate Pet Food Safety Hearing is scheduled to be shown live here (under Webcasts) on Thursday 2pm Eastern, Thursday, April 12. They are also checking into a C-SPAN broadcast.

Senate hearing witnesses released. Lack of industry “outsiders” is disappointing. Of the 2 witnesses who are not working for the industry, both worked for Hills, but one is now an advocate for cat health — Dr. Hodgkins. The other, well, you can Google for yourself: Dr. Claudia Kirk. We just called Sen. Durbin’s office, and it looks like this is the final list. They will focus on the FDA’s actions, not so much on the pet food industry itself. (Thanks Howl911) Post edited.

Vet network confirms deaths in thousands: Pet Connection has a story on the Veterinary Information Network’s estimates on the number of potential deaths and a financial toll up to $20 million.

Itchmo Exclusive: FDA’s vets were focused on salmonella risk before recall — a very low risk for pets.

New Jersey is blazing the trail on making pet food makers pay for their mistakes.

Another pet site investigates dry food death reports — this time Purina’s Beneful.

USA Today Op-Ed: A national centralized system is needed and treating pets as property won’t change the industry.

More and more people and groups question pet food ingredients.

Pet food is in short supply in some shelters. (Seattle) Please donate any non-recalled food you can spare.

Forbes takes a look at the bumbling of customer relations by the major recalled food manufacturers.

(Thanks to many readers for your tips.)

April is Animal Cruelty Prevention Month (apparently Menu Foods didn’t get that memo). To highlight this great month, ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) will be celebrating ASPCA Day on Tuesday, April 10 and are encouraging pet owners to “Go Orange For Animals”. Buildings and landmarks in several cities like New York, Chicago, LA, Austin, Washington, DC , Tampa and Philadelphia will be lit up orange in support of the day.

If you live in New York, come to the ASPCA Day Festival in Union Square on April 10 from 4-8pm. There will be music, pet tips, food, photos with your pet and much more.

How can you celebrate? Light up your house orange. Wear and hand out orange glow sticks (it will remind you of all those raves you went to). Tie orange bows on trees, doors or even on your dog. You and your dog can wear orange — get out all of that orange clothing that you thought was cool when you first bought it but haven’t worn it since. Don’t worry, people won’t make fun of you because it’s for a good cause.

For many shelter dogs, their only aspiration is to be adopted by a family that will love and care for them. For others, their dream is to be on a Broadway stage and that’s what happened to Chico, a chihuahua, a rescue from a New Jersey shelter. He is making his Broadway debut as Bruiser, the lead’s dog, in the musical “Legally Blonde”. Chico’s dad, a Broadway animal trainer, always adopts his performing pets from animal shelters. Can we have an autograph Chico? Enjoy the bright lights and the big city!