Orange County Low Cost Rabies Vaccination Clinic

 

Low-Cost Rabies Vaccination Clinics

 Saturday, Sep 29 10:00a

Orange County Animal Services Center, Chapel Hill

Orange County’s Animal Services Department is offering two low cost rabies vaccination clinics on Saturday 29th September from 10:00 am to 12:00 PM celebration of the 6th annual World Rabies Day.

Walk for Animal Protection in Mebane NC

Walk for Animal Protection (7th Annual)

Saturday, Oct 6 10:00a to 2:00p

 at Paws4Ever, Mebane, NC

 Bring the family--including the dogs! Join us for the 7th Annual Walk for Animal Protection at the Village Green in Southern Village to raise money for Paws4ever and the animals waiting to find their forever homes.

 10:00 am--2 pm

Activities, demonstrations, music, vendors and much more

Noon

2-mile fun walk led by a surprise Grand Marshall

Person County Raid in NC

 

 

ROUGEMONT, N.C (WTVD) -- More than 100 animals were seized from a Person County farm by the Humane Society of the United States and Person County Animal Control Tuesday.

The Person County Sheriff's Office served a search and seizure warrant on the property and found 39 horses and nearly 70 small-breed dogs, cats and birds being housed in unsanitary conditions.

Officials became concerned about the facility after receiving complaints from the community. The horses at the farm were described as being very thin. Some were suffering from medical issues that required immediate attention.

Many of the dogs and cats suffered from eye infections, skin infections and other signs of severe neglect.

"The Humane Society of the United States is glad to help Person County Animal Control with this very sad case of neglect," said Kim Alboum, North Carolina state director for The HSUS. "The conditions in this home are egregious and these animals desperately needed rescue. Now they are on the path to much better lives."

"The situation here deteriorated so badly that we knew it was time to act," said Ron Shaw, director of Person County Animal Control. "I'm incredibly grateful that we did, because the conditions for the small animals living inside were deplorable."

The owner surrendered the animals, and they will all be taken to area shelters for immediate evaluation and treatment by veterinarians.
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Update on HeartWorms Meds from Novartis

                                     
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
LATEST UPDATE AS OF August 28, 2012:
Various stages of pre-production and production have begun for some Novartis Animal Health brands. Production, packaging and shipping of the 5mg strength of Clomicalm® (clomipramine hydrochloride) is now ongoing at the Lincoln plant, and shipments of that stock keeping unit (SKU) began in mid-June. We also have initiated validation batch production of Sentinel® (milbemycin oxime / lufenuron) Flavor Tabs® at the plant, a critical phase of process testing that is required before full scale production can begin. As we validate, technical issues do arise. Due to the evolving situation at the plant, we cannot give exact dates when product will be shipping.
We have invested significant resources to achieve the swiftest possible resolution of this issue, and our robust team of staff and consultants is working hard to ensure that normal production resumes as soon as is practically possible. We realize that the temporary interruption in product availability has created challenges for pet owners who rely on Novartis Animal Health products, and we deeply regret the inconvenience this has caused you. Once a definitive production schedule is available, it will be communicated.

BACKGROUND
A decision was made in December 2011 by Novartis Animal Health to temporarily suspend production at its Lincoln, NE processing plant, which is responsible for manufacturing several Novartis Animal Health brands including Interceptor® (milbemycin oxime) Flavor Tabs®, Sentinel® (milbemycin oxime / lufenuron) Flavor Tabs®, Program® (lufenuron) Flavor Tabs®, Program® (lufenuron) Suspension, Milbemite® (0.1% milbemycin oxime), Deramaxx® (deracoxib) and Clomicalm® (clomipramine hydrochloride).
We assure you that all Novartis Animal Health brands remain safe and effective when used according to the product label. There were no veterinary product recalls as part of the temporary plant shut down. Veterinarians can continue to prescribe - and pet owners can continue to administer - these trusted brands with full confidence.
The decision to temporarily suspend production was done with great consideration after several quality and regulatory reviews determined that system upgrades and other improvements were needed to enhance the facility's processes and functions so that it could better meet the needs of our customers in the future. We understand the challenges this might pose, and we deeply regret the inconvenience this may have caused our customers. Your continued support during this temporary period is appreciated, and we will continue to keep you informed about when we expect to resume full production and shipment of new product.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. Why are Sentinel® Flavor Tabs® and Interceptor® Flavor Tabs® not available at my veterinary clinic?
In December 2011, Novartis made the voluntary decision to temporarily shut down its Lincoln, NE manufacturing plant, which manufacturers many Novartis Animal Health products, to focus on system and process upgrades. The decision to temporarily suspend production was driven by the company's ongoing commitment to the highest standards.
Novartis teams have been working hard to resume regular production schedules for our veterinary products. We have been making good progress. However, definitive production timelines are not available at this time. Once this information is available, it will be communicated.
2. What products were affected by this temporary shutdown?
Novartis Animal Health brands produced in Lincoln, NE for the U.S. market include Interceptor® Flavor Tabs®, Sentinel® Flavor Tabs®, Program® Flavor Tabs®, Program® Suspension, Milbemite®, Deramaxx® and Clomicalm®. Products produced in Lincoln for Canada include Interceptor® Flavor Tabs®, Sentinel® Flavor Tabs® and Program® Flavor Tabs®, which are affected by the temporary shutdown at Lincoln.
3. Are the products safe?
Yes, all of the brands remain safe and effective when used according to the product label. There were no veterinary product recalls as part of the temporary plant shut down. Veterinarians can continue to prescribe them, and pet owners can continue to administer these trusted brands with confidence.
4. If my veterinarian has products in stock, are there any dangers in using these products? Are there any product issues?
Novartis Animal Health has not received any reports of another brand being mixed in with one of its products, although we did learn of a single Clomicalm® bottle containing an isolated Clomicalm® tablet of a lesser strength. (Ongoing progress at the manufacturing site should have this issue fixed shortly). For precaution, we recommend that all Clomicalm® tablets be examined prior to administration to ensure they are the correct size, shape and color, and any perceived abnormality should be reported to Novartis Animal Health.5. My dog can only use Novartis heartworm products, what should I do?
We realize that the temporary interruption in product availability has created challenges for pet owners who rely on Novartis Animal Health products and we deeply regret the inconvenience this has caused you.
We recommend that you work closely with your veterinarian to determine the best health care needs of your dog during this temporary situation.
6. In a Novartis news release dated February 2, it was stated that already-manufactured product was being shipped out to veterinarians, so why doesn't my veterinarian have product?
Already-manufactured products did begin shipping in early February. However, the temporary voluntary stoppage of production and distribution of the products affected has created a back-order situation for many of our veterinary customers and we have not been able to meet all of the demand.
7. I buy Sentinel® Flavor Tabs® (or Interceptor® Flavor Tabs®) online through a retailer. Why do they not have product and where can I get it if they don't have it?
Since Novartis Animal Health does not sell directly to online retailers, we are not able to tell you where retailers purchase their product supply. Novartis supports the veterinary-client relationship and only sells its products directly to licensed veterinarians.We recommend that you check with a veterinarian in your area for assistance and product availability. To find a veterinarian in your area, go to www.sentinelpet.com and click on the Veterinary Finder link.
8. What will Novartis do to make up this inconvenience to pet owners and veterinarians?
We would like to tell veterinarians and pet owners throughout the US and Canada just how much we regret the temporary supply disruption and the issues it may have caused for them. Novartis Animal Health is committed to the highest standards of quality and care for pets. We are making every possible effort to ensure that we get back to normal production schedules as soon as possible - so that we can continue to provide trusted products that protect the health of our beloved pets. Our ultimate commitment to our valued customers is having the best sustainable solutions in place for them for the long term.
9. The lack of product availability may cause current users of Novartis products to switch to other products to fulfill their pet's health needs in the short term. How will you address this with veterinary practices/pet owners?
Our department of Technical Product Services and Pharmacovigilance (1-800-637-0281) offers help to veterinarians with questions about patient care. And when production resumes, Novartis intends to do its very best to see that our brands reach as many clinics, and their patients, as soon as possible.10. How are you keeping pet owners and veterinarians informed of progress?
Please refer back to this website for updates.
11. How can veterinarians and pet owners get more information about this issue?
If you have additional questions about product availability, please call Customer Service at 1-800-332-2761. For technical questions about use of our veterinary products, or to report an adverse event, please call Technical Product Services and Pharmacovigilance at 1-800-637-0281.

More Puppy Mills Busts in NC

Large dogs seized from Wilson breeding operation

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Twenty-eight Great Danes, Mastiffs and Dobermans were seized from a breeding operation in Wilson on Aug. 23, 2012.

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• Dozens of dogs seized in sting at alleged puppy mill

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Wilson, N.C. — A Wilson couple was charged Thursday with animal cruelty after more than two dozen large-breed dogs were seized from a breeding operation, authorities said.
The raid at a property on Evansdale Road is the second time this month that law enforcement officers and animal welfare advocates have seized dogs and puppies from a breeding operation in eastern North Carolina.
Wilson County deputies removed 28 Great Danes, Mastiffs and Dobermans from outdoor kennels behind a mobile home, with the assistance of the Humane Society of the U.S., the SPCA of Wake County and the Great Dane Rescue Alliance.
"What led to this was just years of complaints from consumers who were getting sick puppies," said Kim Alboum, state director of the Humane Society.
Alboum said state law doesn’t require inspections of breeding operations, and complaints weren’t enough for authorities to step in until animal cruelty could be demonstrated.
"What we saw in this particular facility were a lot of dogs with old and new wounds," she said. "We saw a lot of infection – staph, mange – but many of the dogs were just so, they just seemed broken."
Breeders Cyndi and Joe Williams were each charged with one count of animal cruelty, and authorities said more charges are possible. Their court date was set for Oct. 8.

Local rescue groups have taken in many of the breeding dogs the breeders have gotten rid of over the years, Alboum said.
"(One) dog's mother was surrendered four weeks ago, and she was in absolutely horrendous condition," she said. "When she was surrendered, (her puppy) was only 10 days old."
Veterinarians checked the dogs before 16 of the animals were sent to the SPCA of Wake County and the other 12 to the Great Dane Rescue Alliance for further care and housing.
Because the dogs were seized, their future could be tied up in court. None of the dogs will be put up for adoption until the legal issues are resolved, officials said.

• Reporter: Laura Leslie
• Photographer: Tom Normanly
• Web Editor: Matthew Burns

Copyright 2012 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Puppy mill owners found guilty of animal cruelty

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Raleigh, N.C. — A Wilmington couple arrested this month on animal cruelty charges pleaded guilty Friday to dozens of charges, the Brunswick County District Attorney's Office.

Amelia and Andrew Millis pleaded guilty to 24 counts each of Class I cruelty to animal charges and were placed on probation for 36 months.

In addition, they are banned for life from possessing any animal. Both will be subject to frequent warrantless searches for compliance, the district attorney's office said.

On Aug. 3, Brunswick County sheriff's deputies and animal rights advocates rescued more than 150 dogs, more than two dozen birds and one cat from a double-wide trailer with no electricity in Leland.

Most of the remaining dogs were sent to SPCAs in Guilford and Mecklenburg counties, but the SPCA of Wake County is expected to put 39 of the dogs taken from the puppy mill up for adoption.
Anyone interested in adopting an animal should contact the group directly.

WRAL  http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/11441455/

NC might just have the right man in Legislation, GO Jason Saine

Raleigh, N.C. — A North Carolina state lawmaker says he plans to introduce a bill next year that would regulate puppy mills.

More Info
Focal Point: 'Puppies and Politics'

First-term Rep. Jason Saine, R-Lincoln, said Monday that he and Rep. Craig Horn, R-Union, have been discussing the matter for the past couple of weeks but that a bust Friday at an alleged puppy mill in Leland prompted him to speak publicly about it.

Brunswick County sheriff's deputies and animal rights advocates rescued 160 dogs, 26 birds and one cat in the raid of the breeding operation inside a doublewide trailer without electricity.
Many of the dogs were matted, caked in filth, covered in fleas, and in need of veterinary care. Some have broken jaws from severe tooth decay.

"No animal should be treated that way," Saine said. "We're in a place in society now where I think, certainly, we can have some reasonable regulation that prevents instances like that happening."
According to the Humane Society of the United States, about half of all states have some type of regulation on commercial breeders.

Animal rights advocates have been trying for years – most recently in 2010 – to get similar regulations in North Carolina, but they have gotten nowhere.

Kim Alboum, director of the Humane Society's state chapter, says that there are regulations for breeders who sell to pet stores or to research laboratories but there is no oversight regarding sales to the general public.

Ninety percent of breeders, she says, sell to the general public through newspaper advertisements and the Internet.

"There are no state standards for breeders. They don't even have to register. Federal laws don't cover most of them, either," she said. "We have to wait until these animals are literally suffering and dying before we can go in. We could avoid so much pain for the animals if we just had minimum standards for them."

Over the past year, there have been nine puppy mill busts in the state – more than any other state in the country, according to Melanie Kahn, national director of the Humane Society's campaign to stop puppy mills.

"Almost every product sold in this country is subject to some sort of regulation, but somehow dog breeding is not," she said.

But dog breeders and groups that represent their interests say that puppy mill regulations could have unintended consequences for legitimate and responsible dog breeders.

The North Carolina Federation of Dog Clubs recently opposed proposed federal regulations on Internet dog sales. Many of its arguments are similar to their reasons for opposing puppy mill regulations.

For example, the federation says, regulations could create unreasonable financial hardships for home-based hobby breeders, who don't generate the same level of income as commercial breeders.
"It would threaten the future of a vast number of small, responsible dog owners and breeders, as well as have long-term implications on our agriculture industry," NCFDC President Peter Lunding said.
Larry Sorenson, of Clayton, has bred and shown dachshunds for 35 years and has been recognized by the American Kennel Club as a breeder of merit. He also says that a poorly written law could end up hurting good breeders.

"We're not opposed to reasonable, enforceable laws," he said. "The problem is in the drafting of the laws – definitions. What's the definition of a puppy mill situation? Is it a number? Is it a procedure?"
A clearer definition of what constitutes a puppy mill, he said, would make him more comfortable with regulations.

He adds that recent busts prove that the state's current animal cruelty laws are strong enough.
"We have had a number of convictions now that people are finding these out, and they are being brought to the light and being eliminated," he said.

But Kahn disagrees.
"We know the current laws aren't working, because we've had so many raids in North Carolina," she said. "All of those raids have been because the situation has risen to the level of animal cruelty. That's why authorities have been able to go in."

In Friday's Brunswick County case, the dogs' owners, Andrew and Amelia Millis, of Wilmington, were arrested on charges of animal neglect and animal cruelty. Both were in the Brunswick County jail Monday afternoon under $1.5 million bonds.

The SPCA of Wake County has taken in 39 of the dogs and puppies seized from the Millises.
Spokeswoman Mondy Lamb said Monday that some of the dogs are facing serious health problems but that others should be ready for adoption in about two to three weeks.
Anyone interested in adopting a dog should contact the SPCA.

• Reporter: Laura Leslie
• Photographer: Keith Baker
• Web Editor: Kelly Gardner

Copyright 2012 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.