Modern Pets's blog

Message to National Chicken Council: "Put Welfare First!"

ASPCA, thousands of supporters urge chicken industry’s trade association to address birds’ crippling growth rates and inhumane living conditions in welfare guidelines due out this year.

NEW YORK—In an open letter delivered today to the National Chicken Council (NCC), the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®), along with a growing base of supporters, called upon the organization to improve the standards of care for the chickens that are raised for meat in the United States. The NCC’s revised welfare guidelines are expected to be released before the end of this year.

The letter, which cites various scientific studies, reads in part: "As the body that essentially sets industry standards, the NCC determines the quality of life for billions of birds. We urge you to update your guidelines with meaningful recommendations to address welfare concerns related to both growth rate and husbandry, reflecting the values and expectations of chicken consumers."

Nearly all of the more than nine billion farm animals raised for food each year in the United States are chickens. Most of these chickens are selectively bred by industry to grow so big, so fast that many can barely move and spend much of their lives lying in their own waste, often with open sores and wounds that can create gateways to infection. In addition, most live in overcrowded, ammonia-filled sheds with artificial lighting designed to promote continuous eating, and suffer from a lack of enrichment that prevents natural behaviors.

In a recent study, the University of Arkansas found that if humans grew at a similar rate to that of modern chickens, a 6.6 pound newborn baby would weigh 660 pounds after two months. Studies have also shown that the stress of the excessive growth rate and accompanying poor living conditions can contribute to lowered immunity, potentially making the chickens even more susceptible to disease. 

“Most of today’s chickens are in effect bred to suffer; these are the chickens that make their way to Americans’ plates every day,” said Suzanne McMillan, director of the ASPCA’s Farm Animal Welfare Campaign. “Not only are the industry’s current practices cruel, but these animals’ living conditions and low welfare may also have implications for food safety and human health. We urge the NCC to do right by chickens and consumers by revising its guidelines to respond to this systemic issue that has unfortunately become the norm.”

Despite the fact that more than 90 percent of farm animals raised each year for food are chickens, there are no federal laws regulating how they are treated on farms. Earlier this year, the ASPCA launched an effort called "The Truth About Chicken" to address the problems with U.S. poultry breeding and production practices. To date, more than 100,000 people have signed the campaign petition demanding slower-growing chickens raised in more humane conditions.  

Thanks to its loyal customers, Whole Life Pet is growing!  Its commitment to quality, safety, USA sourcing and small batch manufacturing of pet treats in its own Western MA facility is without compromise. Top, hand-picked USA farmers, ranchers and fisherman -- all from the human food industry -- ensure the highest quality, freshest, fanatically delicious treats ever. The company’s own state of the art freeze-drying manufacturing facility produces and packages everything in house under the supervision and care of its own pet loving staff.

To further its growth the company has just purchased a new freeze dryer and, John Gigliotti, the company’s CEO has launched a campaign on Indiegogo to support this huge project and is asking for your help. In return Whole Life treats and other great perks will be provided to its Indiegogo supporters as a show of appreciation. 

Please check out Whole Life’s new video and campaign and share this link (http://igg.me/at/wholelifepet/x/3625274) with anyone you know that loves pets and supports safe treats made in the USA.

Photo 1: Dr. Kent Hoblet, Dean of MSU-CVM poses with Bully, the mascot for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Photo 2: Dr. Eleanor M. Green, Carl B. King of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University poses with Reveille, the mascot for the Texas A&M Aggies.

COLLEGE STATION, TX – With a higher concentration of veterinary colleges than any other conference in the country, the Southeastern Conference boasts premiere college sports and a region with a strong focus on animal care.

Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine and the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences are teaming up to promote their partnership in sports and veterinary medicine. Jackie Sherrill, who coached football at both universities, has worked with faculty and administrations at both veterinary colleges and came up with the idea of having a yearly competition called the Dog Bowl: A Taste of Victory. The veterinary college of the winning football team will get to keep the Dog Bowl trophy on display for the year.

“This fun competition just seems fitting as the two colleges are so interwoven. Dean Eleanor Green at A&M was on faculty at MSU at one point, and I’ve worked at both universities,” Sherrill said. “The two schools have a lot in common and the trophy competition signifies that.”
The colleges also will host alumni tailgate events and other activities in the future to celebrate the partnership between the colleges.
“This is all in good fun and we look forward to seeing how this all evolves,” said Dr. Kent Hoblet, dean of the MSU-CVM. “Texas A&M has a great veterinary college and we’ve shared a lot academically over the years and now we get to throw football into the mix. I see this as an opportunity to collaborate even more.”

Dr. Eleanor M. Green, the Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M and a founding faculty member of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State in the 1970s, is a strong supporter of Texas A&M’s move into the Southeastern Conference.  Dean Green said, “These two universities have much in common – school colors of maroon and white, fans with undying loyalty, passion for football, Coach Jackie Sherrill as a head football coach, colleges of veterinary medicine, and even canine mascots, each of which receives superb veterinary care. The faculty, staff and students of the respective veterinary medical teaching hospitals are the preferred health care providers for Reveille and Bully. The Dog Bowl is a fitting and fun competition.”

The football teams will face-off on Nov. 9 in College Station.

 

Six Animal Non-Profits Win a Year’s Supply of Wound and Skin Care Products

RIALTO, Calif, Nov. 5, 2013 - Innovacyn, the makers of Vetericyn animal wound and skin care products, today announced the winners of the company’s third annual “Vetericyn Loves Animals” online charity contest. The six non-profit organizations who received the most votes and each won a year’s supply of Vetericyn products are: The Joplin Humane Society; Marley’s Mutts Dog Rescue; Suncoast Basset Rescue; Beauty’s Haven Farm and Equine Rescue; RVR Horse Rescue; and Central Virginia Horse Rescue.

A total of 129 groups were nominated on the Vetericyn web site, and were divided into two categories – those who primarily serve small animals (cats, dogs, exotics, etc.) and those who serve large animals (horses, mules, donkeys, etc.). Voting took place for four weeks on the Vetericyn Facebook page, with more than 32,000 votes coming in for the charities. At the end of the voting period, the three “large animal” and three “small animal” organizations with the most votes were named winners.

In addition, Vetericyn has offered to send a case of wound and skin care products to each of the 129 nominated charities. “Reading through the entries was truly inspiring - each and every one of these groups is making a difference in their community. We’re happy to provide Vetericyn products to help them improve the health and happiness of the animals they serve,” said Tabitha Cromer, marketing communications manager of Innovacyn.

About the Small Animal Winners

The Joplin Humane Society (www.joplinhumane.org) is dedicated to finding new homes for abandoned, unwanted and neglected animals from Southwest Missouri and the surrounding areas. The shelter provides a low cost spay/neuter clinic, making surgery affordable to those who could not otherwise have their pet altered. The shelter takes in between 700 and 1,100 animals every month.

Marley’s Mutts Dog Rescue (http://marleysmutts.com/) of Tehachapi, Calif., saves death-row dogs in Kern County’s high-kill animal shelters. Marley’s Mutts concentrates on dogs that have the least chance of adoption through the normal process. These dogs are rescued, rehabilitated, trained and socialized.

Suncoast Basset Rescue (http://www.suncoastbassetrescue.org/) is a not-for-profit, volunteer effort that, for the love of the breed, rescues Basset Hounds from abusive, abandoned and unwanted situations. This Gainesville, Fla.-based group has rescued more than 2,000 bassets since its efforts began in 1997.

About the Large Animal Winners

Based in Morriston, Fla., Beauty’s Haven Farm and Equine Rescue (http://www.bhfer.org) helps as many equine friends as possible when they are in need. They network with other rescue organizations and individuals, and work to educate others about horse slaughter in an effort to make it illegal -- not just in the United States but also in Canada, Mexico, and other countries.

RVR Horse Rescue (http://rvrhorserescue.org/), located in Riverview, Fla., intervenes, rescues, rehabilitates and provides sanctuary for neglected, abused, abandoned, and traumatized horses and farm animals. RVR provides medical attention, nutrition, training, and a safe haven to rehabilitate the horses and find loving homes for them.

Central Virginia Horse Rescue (http://www.centralvahorserescue.com/) of Brodnax, Va., is a small, dedicated rescue located in south central Virginia and committed to the care and rehabilitation of needy horses. The rescue serves south central, central and southside Virginia.

Click here to learn more about Vetericyn.

BURT’S BEES™ NATURAL PET CARE AVAILABLE AT PHILLIPS PET FOOD & SUPPLIES

New York, New York (October 24, 2013): Fetch…for pets! announces a new partnership with Phillips Pet Food & Supplies, a premier pet food and pet supply distributor. Phillips Pet will sell Burt’s Bees™ Natural Pet Care, a natural grooming and oral care line for dogs manufactured by Fetch…for pets!. The products will be available at the 12 Phillips Pet Food and Supplies distribution centers, which are strategically located across the United States.  Burt’s Bees™ Natural Pet Care is currently available from their distribution centers in Easton, PA and Taunton, MA with plans to fully roll out by 2014.

Fetch… for pets! will show Burt’s Bees™ Natural Pet Care products at Phillips Pet Food & Supplies New England Buying Show on October 22nd and 23rd at MGM Grand at Foxwoods in Connecticut.  The line will also appear in their Southeast Book Show.

Burt’s Bees™ Natural Pet Care was developed in a licensing partnership between Fetch…for pets! and Burt’s Bees Licensing, LLC, the leader in natural health and beauty care. Burt’s BeesTM Natural Pet Care upholds the rigorous natural standards of Burt’s Bees® products. Products are pH balanced for pets and contain no Parabens, Phthalates, Petrochemicals, Synthetic Fragrances, or Sulfates. Furthermore, the line is not tested on animals. To learn more about Burt’s Bees™ Natural Pet Care, visit burtsbeespets.com.