Humane Society Silicon Valley set to unveil state-of-the-art animal shelter, CA March 26, 2009

Source: Mercury News, March 26, 2009

Humane Society Silicon Valley will debut its new, state-of-the-art animal shelter in Milpitas at an all-day open house on Saturday.

The $25 million facility, funded through donations, will serve as a regional animal community center. It features a low-cost spay/neuter medical center, a community dog park and training center, doggy day care, boarding and grooming, a veterinary hospital with a public viewing room, an education center, a pet store and a pet-friendly cafe.

Christine Benninger, president of the Humane Society chapter, said the center’s many new features will help change the way people think about an animal shelter. No longer will it be a warehouse full of cages of unwanted pets, she said.

This new shelter features cageless animal habitats to simulate home environments and will be able to handle up to 10,000 animal adoptions a year.

Saturday’s open house will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 901 Ames Ave. near Milpitas Boulevard and Montague Expressway.

The event will feature a performance by Raggs, the singing canine from the Raggs Kids Club Band, as well as animal balloon making, coloring, a scavenger hunt, face painting and other arts and crafts for children. Tim Jeffreys from KUFX 98.5 (“KFOX”) is scheduled to be there from noon to 2 p.m.

And you’ll have a chance to make a video statement, pledging to help animals in your community in the shelter’s Community Room. Humane Society staff members will edit the video and post it on the society’s Web site and on YouTube.Staff will also be available with information for those wishing to volunteer at the new shelter.

Animal adoptions, however, will continue to be done at the Humane Society’s shelter in Santa Clara for the next two to three weeks. That building has been sold.

Laura Fulda, Humane Society spokeswoman, said the new facility is California’s first regional animal community center and is one of the first environmentally certified “green” centers of its kind in the United States.

The center has an extensive on-site solar system that is expected to generate 40 percent of the facility’s energy needs from renewable sources, a kennel cleansing system that reduces water use while ensuring proper disinfecting, and artificial turf and native plants in the dog park areas intended to reduce the need for irrigation water.

Located on nearly five acres of land, the 48,000-square-foot center has homelike habitats for dogs, cats and rabbits.

As of February, Humane Society Silicon Valley had raised $20.4 million for the new center. It hopes to raise the rest soon. Donors can make payments on the shelter’s Web site at www.hssv.org or get more information at (408) 727-3383, ext. 878.

Researchers report wolves in dogs’ clothing February 5, 2009

Source: Associated Press, Feb 5, 2008

By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID – 1 hour ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — Today’s dogs are descendants of ancient wolves. Now, it turns out, at least some of today’s wolves inherited traits from ancient dogs.

Gray wolves have that name because of their color, but in North America many of them have dark or black coats instead of the standard gray.

The genetic mutation producing dark coats appears to have occurred in dogs, and then spread from them to wolves when the species mated, according to researchers led by Gregory S. Barsh of Stanford University.

The dark-coated wolves are almost exclusive to North America and are much more common in forested areas where they make up 62 percent of the wolf population, compared with 7 percent in open tundra, the researchers noted.

But wildlife biologists don’t think wolves rely much on camouflage, Barsh said. “It’s possible there is something else going on here.”

“It’s sort of intuitively appealing, when you see animals that sort of blend in with their environment, to say … that explains natural selection, that somehow they are better camouflaged either as predator or prey,” Barsh said in a broadcast interview made available by the journal Science, which published his research in Friday’s edition.

But wolves don’t have a lot of predators, and there’s no evidence to suggest that a black coat color leads to any increase in a wolf’s ability to capture its prey, he said.

Also, Barsh added, black wolves, like humans, turn gray with age, “so you would think that if the black coat-color mutation was being selected because it caused the black coat color, you wouldn’t get these older gray wolves, they would stay black.”

The same protein responsible for coat color differences in dogs and wolves is associated with fighting inflammation and infection in humans. Thus, it “might give black animals an advantage that is distinct from its effect on pigmentation,” Barsh said in a statement.

Co-author Tovi M. Anderson noted that the mutation for black coats has been cultivated by humans in the domestic dog for thousands of years. “Now we see that it not only entered the wild population, but also is benefiting them,” she said.

Genetic tests indicate the mutation was introduced into wolves by dogs sometime in the last 10,000 to 15,000 years, Anderson said. That’s about the same time the first people crossed the Bering land bridge, probably accompanied by dogs.

“We usually think of domestication as something that is carried out to benefit humans,” Barsh said. “So we were really surprised to find that domestic animals can serve as a genetic reservoir that can benefit the natural populations from which they were derived.”

“Although it happened by accident, black wolves are the first example of wolves being genetically engineered by people,” added co-author Marco Musiani of the University of Calgary in Canada. “It is somewhat ironic that a trait that was created by humans may now prove to be beneficial for wolves as they deal with human-caused changes to their habitat.”

Yale University researcher Mark Gerstein, who was not part of the research team, called the report “exciting.”

“Positive selection is an important driving force in mammalian evolution. However, there are not many concrete and dramatic examples of it in action. This paper demonstrates such an example using coat color in wolves — an easy to recognize and relate to characteristic,” he said in an interview via e-mail.

“Furthermore, it shows how the diversity in the gene pool can be maintained and developed in non-obvious ways — e.g. through the interbreeding of domesticated animals and wolves,” Gerstein said.

He also praised the research for developing a clear, evolutionary history of the genes that determine color in wolves.

The research was funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation and Swedish Research Council.

Natura Dedicated to Quality and Safety at All Costs February 5, 2009

Source: PRNewsWire.com, Feb 5, 2009

FREMONT, Neb., Feb. 5 /PRNewswire/ — Despite the higher costs of quality ingredients, Natura Pet Products, makers of Innova, EVO, California Natural, HealthWise, Karma and Mother Nature, remains resolute in producing the highest quality, natural pet food on the market for the good health and safety of companion animals. The company is reiterating this commitment in response to questions posed by consumers and some media members about the plummeting cost of commodities, and why Natura product prices are higher than some of their competitors.

Natura foods do not contain commodity grains, such as corn. Rather than use lower-grade, cheaper ingredients, Natura is dedicated to only using the highest-quality, domestically-produced ingredients whenever possible.

“The price of Natura products reflects the quality of the ingredients, and the nutritional and manufacturing processing required to produce the safest and healthiest pet food,” said Don Scott, President of Natura. “We exercise the strictest control measures in the industry, employ a full-time team of nutritionists, which is not done by many pet food manufacturers, and continue to use fresh fruits and vegetables and the finest USDA-inspected meats.”

Natura owns and operates two dry food manufacturing facilities in Nebraska and California where superior manufacturing processes and strict quality control programs set it apart from all other pet food companies. In addition to becoming the first pet food company to guarantee its products are 100% safe from melamine and cyanuric acid, Natura was the first to guarantee that none of the ingredients it uses are sourced from China. Natura’s Quality Control Program has helped the company achieve many certifications, most recently including ISO 22000:2005 Food Safety Management compliance. The only pet food manufacturer in the United States to receive this superior distinction, Natura ensures its products meet strict standards for food safety starting with raw ingredients and ending with finished products on store shelves.

All of this is backed by a team of highly-trained professionals and board-certified veterinary nutritionists. With less than 40 board-certified small animal veterinary nutritionists in the world, Natura employs the largest number in the pet food industry. These dedicated nutritionists take the lead in enhancing our existing products and developing new healthful foods. “My nutritionist colleagues at Natura and I feel very fortunate to work at company completely dedicated to creating the most healthful pet foods in the world,” said Sean Delaney, DVM, MS, Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition, Chief Nutrition Officer at Natura.

Continued Scott, “Since Natura is a family-owned business dedicated to our loyal customers and independent retailers rather than outside shareholders, we are able to implement the most minimal price increases we can to continue this standard of quality without sacrificing our industry-leading philosophies. This intense focus on safety and quality consistency is because we choose not to take a cheaper route that would be less healthful. Our products are for pet owners who share this belief.”

For more information about Natura Pet Products please visit www.naturapet.com.

About Natura Pet Products

Founded in 1989 by John and Ann Rademakers and Peter Atkins, Natura is recognized as the most trusted name behind the healthiest dog and cat food products in the world. Natura’s products are formulated, manufactured, and prepared to the highest standards of quality in the industry. Lines include: Innova, California Natural, EVO, HealthWise, Mother Nature, and Karma. For more information visit www.naturapet.com or call (800) 532-7261.

Website: http://www.naturapet.com/

Animal Wellness Magazine Awards Dog-Wa Liquid Pet Supplement ‘Seal of Approval,’ Naming Healthy Concentrate as ‘Product Pick’ January 22, 2009

Source: PRWeb.com, Jan 17, 2009

Dog-Wa, a liquid concentrate that provides dogs with essential vitamins and nutrients from leafy greens needed to create a well-balanced diet, has been awarded the prestigious “Animal Wellness Seal of Approval” and named a “Product Pick” by the number one natural pet magazine in North America. With annual readership of over 1 million, and an average of 3 million web hits per month, the leader in pet health and lifestyle magazines recommends Dog-Wa as a wise health care choice for pets.

(PRWEB) January 17, 2009 — Dog-Wa, a liquid concentrate that provides dogs with essential vitamins and nutrients from leafy greens needed to create a well-balanced diet, has been awarded the prestigious “Animal Wellness Seal of Approval” and named a “Product Pick” by the number one natural pet magazine in North America. With annual readership of over 1 million, and an average of 3 million web hits per month, the leader in pet health and lifestyle magazines recommends Dog-Wa as a wise health care choice for pets.

“We are thrilled that Animal Wellness Magazine has recognized our commitment to offering safe, healthy alternatives for our customers,” said Matt Israel, Dog-Wa founder and co-owner. “As a manufacturer, we encourage concerned pet owners to be proactive and educated about providing their animals with the healthiest diet possible.”

According to a study by Packaged Facts, a division of MarketResearch.com, pet supplement sales reached $1.2 billion in 2007 and are expected to increase 40 percent in the next five years. After all the pet food recalls in recent years, concerned pet owners are becoming more discerning about finding products with fresh real food.

According to Dr. Jane Leon, distinguished Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine graduate, Dog-Wa columnist and brand spokesperson, “Many veterinarians are paying greater attention to pet nutrition. They recognize that it is important to feed pets healthy diets consisting of fresh foods versus foods manufactured with fillers and/or synthetic vitamin and mineral supplements.” She added, “Simultaneously, an increasing number of forward thinking pet food companies are offering healthier alternatives.”

Dog-Wa, a liquid concentrate of pesticide-free fresh peppermint and parsley, is a revolutionary solution for providing dogs with essential vitamins and nutrients gained by adding leafy greens. The fresh herbs aid digestion, soothe the stomach, freshen breath, and discourage gas. Nutrients in the herbs have been known to promote a shinier coat, stronger bones and teeth, healthier gums, and overall well-being. Adding Dog-Wa to water or mixing it into food every day offers the latest and most effective solution to maintaining a dog’s optimum health. The cold-pressed, pesticide-free parsley and peppermint are holistically balanced and rich in Vitamins A and C, phytonutrients, chlorophyll, and antioxidants.

Dog-Wa is a human-food-grade product, and all ingredients are grown and made exclusively in the USA. There are stringent controls on all phases of the manufacturing process and extensive testing, guaranteeing the very highest standards of safety, quality and purity. Dog-Wa’s ingredients are all Generally Recognized As Safe and approved for use in all human and pet foods in regulations of the FDA. Dog-Wa has no synthetic vitamin or mineral supplements, no ethoxyquin, BHT, or BHA, no alcohol, artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners.

Dog-Wa is available through specialty pet suppliers and select web-based retailers such as www.inthecompanyofdogs.com and www.healthypets.com. To learn more, please visit: http://www.dog-wa.com.

Animal Wellness Magazine May 16, 2008