Beef treat recall

Another pet food recall affects beef-flavored dog treats.

Merrick Pet Care, Inc. announced the recall of all lots of 10-ounce “Beef Filet Squares” for dogs and “Texas Hold’ems” pet treats because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

Read the recall notice from the company here.

According to consumeraffairs.com, this is the third time in recent weeks the Amarillo, Texas, based company has issued a recall for certain lot numbers of treats.

The food was distributed nationwide.

In July, Merrick pulled 86 cases of its beef filet squares off the market after a sample analyzed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tested positive for salmonella. Earlier this month, the company pulled another 83 cases of those treats -- and the Texas Hold’Ems treats -- off store shelves. On Monday, Merrick recalled all lots of the treats sold in 10 ounce plastic bags because of ongoing concerns about salmonella contamination.

Merrick said it has not received any reports of illnesses linked to the recalled treats.

People can become infected with salmonella by not thoroughly washing their hands after touching contaminated products or any surface exposed to them.

Consumers who purchased the recalled treats can return them to the store for a full refund, the company said. For more information about this action, contact Merrick at 1-800-664-7387.

On this date

In 1977, on this date, comedian Groucho Marx died at the age of 86.

One of his funniest lines, to me, was the following:

"Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read."

Cats once abandoned, now being adopted

Ninety cats living in an abandoned Albany apartment have been rescued and are now up for adoption.

Read the story and see the video and pictures from WRGB TV Channel 6.

The effort started with a simple plea from Diane Metz of Albany: "Please help the Orange Street Cats." Lara DeLaMater was one of several dozen area residents who responded and learned that the long-abandoned apartment at 198 Orange Street was housing 90 severely neglected cats and two dogs.

The animal lovers entered the condemned apartment July 29 and took the animals.

In a previous email to CBS 6, DeLaMater said, "I personally walked through the house... there were cats in rafters trying to seek safety from the inches of feces on the floor. Thousands of flies swirled around and the stench was suffocating, even with a mask."

So far, without spaying or neutering, medical costs for each animal has been between $150 and $250, Metz said.

They have a Facebook page and a website if you'd like to help or donate. The group is looking for foster care providers.

Can somebody help here?

Here's a video showing that animals help each other.

It involves two turtles, one of which is in an awkward position.

Watch here.

An odd couple

This will make you smile, I guarantee.

Here is a video of a dog and a deer who play together.

Watch.

Dog goes above and beyond the call of duty

This has been around for a while but I just came across it.

Normally, when you see a dog grabbing a kitten, it doesn't bode well for the kitten.

But read this story from CBS News and watch the video for a real surprise about an Iowa shelter dog who takes care of a litter of kittens.

It really is remarkable, don't you think.

Stay out of my food bowl

File this under gross.

Your pet's food bowl could be making your children sick.

Here's an article in USA Today.

Dry pet food and cross-contamination after feeding a pet in the kitchen is responsible for salmonellosis outbreak in 21 eastern U.S. states between 2006 and 2008. The outbreak sickened 79 people, with almost 48 percent of the cases occurring among children under age 2, according to Casey Barton Behravesh, CDC veterinary epidemiologist and study's coauthor.

"This investigation resulted in identification of the first documented outbreak of human salmonellosis linked to the use of dry dog and cat food," Behravesh wrote.

The story also has links to the recall of several pet foods last week as well as what to look for if you suspect contamination.

Who are you calling dumb?

How do dogs and cats measure up?

An article on msnbc.com by John Roach makes comparisons of dogs to toddlers, the hunting prowess of cats and well educated cat owners are versus dog owners.

If the debate over cat vs. dog intelligence seems better articulated by cat owners, there's a reason: Cat owners are more likely to have university degrees than dog owners, according to researchers at the University of Bristol.

They blame it on work ethics, meaning better edumacated people work longer hours so they have less time for pet care.

Specious argument, I think.

The article also says cats hunt less efficiently than dogs, even though cats are able to sneak up on their prey.

The biomechanics of the dog gait, for example, enables them to reduce muscular effort required to move forward by 70 percent. The cat gait efficiency gains max out at 37 percent and drops precipitously in a stalking posture.

Interesting article. Too bad I'm not educated enough to understand it.

Bad economy bad for pets

A stagnant economy is affecting pets, too.

It's not a new story. The economy falters, companies downsize. Employees lose their jobs, can't pay bills and are forced to move out of their homes.

That can be difficult enough. But for some victims of the economy who find themselves in tight financial situations, there's another difficult issue to tackle:

What do I do with my pet?

Read the entire article by Abbey Roy in the Newark (Ohio) Advocate.

Increasing cases of animal abandonment and shelter overcrowding indicate that pets aren't immune from the economy's toll on the nation. As pet owners continue to tighten their budgets to make ends meet, many are turning to shelters or abandoning their animals simply because they can't afford to keep them.

The Licking County Humane Society works with people who feel they have to give up their pets, asking if they are doing so because they can't afford to feed them.

If that is the case, there are places where food can be obtained such as a pet food pantry in Newark.

People are also cutting back on preventive care, such as heartworm prevention and fecal checks.

Sad to say, I am sure people are cutting back on their own care as well.

Walkway event promotes pet safety

My colleague John Barry covered Hounds Over the Hudson — hosted by the Dutchess County SPCA — Saturday on the Walkway Over the Hudson.

Here is his story in today's Poughkeepsie Journal.

I stopped by to check things out and took a few pictures. It was a gorgeous day to be on the Walkway. The views were spectacular.