For those of you who don’t know the story it bares repeating.  It is a story of friendship, commitment, love, and loss. Anyone who has ever doubted an animal’s ability to feel and express emotion need to look no further than this odd couple in Tennessee.

Tarra is a female elephant from Myanmar (Burma). A member of the endangered Asian elephant family, Tarra was one of the last elephants to be imported to the U.S. legally.

Tarra retired to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee after 21 years in show business. There she was to live out the remaining decades of her life exploring the expansive refuge.

Then one day Bella showed up and the two became constant companions. They ate together, slept together, played and explored the grounds of the sanctuary often going for swims and basking in the sun.

Their inspiring, “odd couple” story was featured on CBS News and in “Bark” magazine when Bella suffered a spinal injury and Tarra waited patiently outside the sanctuary office while she recuperated.

Sadly Bella was attacked by coyotes this past October and passed away. Today, Tarra continues to heal and grieve with the help of her elephant and human friends bur their story will always be remembered.

For more information about the Elephant Sanctuary, please visit http://www.elephants.com

Canine Chatter. That is what I call the constant noise that surrounds me during the day. I shouldn’t expect anything less than lots of noise since we chose to have four rescues than run, play and are very active every minute of the day. Andy loves his own antics and today he is up to them again! I was trying to record a video this afternoon for a new webinar I’m holding next week and Andy constantly jumped in front of the camera, on the camera and on me!

Andy is all puppy and he plays all day. Finally calming down around his dinner time I thought I would finally be able to sit back and relax without having the ever present tennis ball in hand.

Then I started wondering why he was so quiet. Nothing, not a sound. Very unusual indeed. So off I go looking for the quite and this is what I found!

Just got this notice from Labs4Rescue and thought I would pass it along. They have an Adoption Event this weekend at PETCO in Clinton, CT.  If you happen to be a local reader stop by and show your support! All events held at PETCO in Clinton coincide with their National Adoption Weekends so hopefully they will get a great turnout. Go on down and meet some wonderful labs, talk with volunteers, and learn more about Labs4Rescue.

This is also a fun family event as well.  The dogs pick up on everybody’s energy and they know something special is going on! There is excitement in the air – and let’s face it -there is something contagious about the giggles of small children when they are being “loved with kisses” by a labbie!

Go on, head on down. Fun is guaranteed and who knows you may meet meet your next best friend!

Here are the details of this Dog Adoption Day:

• Date: Sunday, June 12, 2011
• Location: PETCO, 7 Glenwood Road, Clinton, CT
• DrivingDirections: The Clinton PETCO is located off of I-95 exit 63 (across from the Clinton Crossing Outlet Center and Ethan Allen)
• Time: 11:00 am to 3:00 pm

For more info you can contact the Event Coordinator: Wendi Parson, wap0828@gmail.com or visit the store website for more information PETCO ADOPTION EVENT DETAILS

For those of you that don’t know Blu, Milly and Pach found their way to us through this wonderful group. You can read there story here The Dogs of Canine Chatter

Three Companies Issue Recall on their Pig Ear Dog Treats

Your Dog’s Health is important to us here at Natural Dog Food’s Canine Chatter and we routinely check for Recall notices that may affect the wellbeing of your dog. Three such notices recently came to our attention. The threat of salmonella contamination also affects the humans in your family because it can be transferred to us when we handle the product.  First lets start with the symptoms:

Salmonella Symptoms in Dogs include fever and vomiting, bloody diarrhea as well as decreased appetite and energy. If your dog has eaten the recalled product and is showing any of these symptoms please contact your veterinarian.

Salmonella Symptoms in Humans include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. If you suspect exposure contact your healthcare provider immediately.

The Companies That Recently Issued Pig Ear Chews Recalls Due to Salmonella Risk Are:

• May 31, 2011 – Bravo! of Vernon CT

Vernon-based Bravo! issued a press release announcing the recall May 31, 2011 and involves their 50 – count Oven-Roasted Pig Ears. Only those with Product Code: 75-121 Lot # 12-06-10 have been potentially contaminated. This lot was shipped to distributors and retailers between Jan. 1 and Feb. 28 on the East and West coasts. Bravo! initiated the voluntary recall after a routine sampling by the Washington State Department of Agriculture discovered the bacteria.

Bravo! is urging anyone who has purchased the ed to return the affected products for a refund. More details are available on its website www.bravorawdiet.com or at its toll-free number 1-866-922-9222.

• May 17, 2011 – Blackman Industries, Inc. of Kansas City, KS

Blackman Industries recalled all of their PrimeTime brand Premium Pig Ears (2 ct. and 5 ct.) and all of their KC Beefhide brand Premium Pig Ears (20 ct.)

Distributed between Jan. 4, 2011 and April 29, 2011. The KC Beefhide product is packaged in a red mesh nylon bag with a green and white header that says KC Beefhide and has the following UPC code 7-48976-09065-5.  PrimeTime products are in translucent plastic packages with yellow printed headers and are marked with the following UPC codes 7-48976-18316-6 on a 2 ct. package with a $3.49 retail price, 7-48976-09040-2, on a 5 ct. package with a $5.99 retail price and 7-48976-19040-9 on a 5 ct. package with a $6.99 retail price.

Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-913-342-5010 Monday through Thursday between the hours of 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM. and are encouraged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

• May 17, 2011 – Boss Pet Products, Inc.

Diggers Natural Treat Pig Ear pet treats are recalled in an announcement by Boss Pet Products because the products have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

The recalled Diggers Natural Chews Pig Ears were sold in the following package sizes:

• • Bulk Pig Ears in boxes of 100 (UPC #0-72929-00038-6)
  • Bulk Pig Ears Shrink Wrapped in boxes of 50 (UPC #0-72929-99120-2)
  • 2-Pack Bags shipped in cases of 12 bags (UPC #0-72929-99504-0)
  • 4-Pack Bags shipped in cases of 12 bags (UPC #0-72929-00227-4)
  • 8-Pack Bags shipped in cases of 12 bags (UPC #0-72929-99584-2)

These products have been distributed via truck to distributors in the following states:  OK, KS, OH, MT, CA, WA, TN, NY, MO, IL, IN, TX, MS, AL, MN, UT, IA, OR and LA.

Consumers with questions may contact Boss Pet at 1-800-445-6347 during normal business hours (9:00 AM – 5:00PM ET) or on our website at www.bosspet.com. and are encouraged to return the product to their place of purchase for a full refund.

Your Dog’s Health is important to us here at Natural Dog Food’s Canine Chatter and we will continue to review recall notices and inform you about them!

Are You Eddies Forever Home?

This is an important recall for anyone who has one or more dogs in the household.  The risk of handling the pig ears and allowing them to be in the house is not only to the pet dog(s) but also to the people in the family, because these pig ears will inevitably be handled by adults and children who may handle them without protective gloves or with inadequate hand washing.  Alert friends and family about this risk. and take appropriate precaution.

Jones Natural Chews Recall Due to  Possible Salmonella Health Risk

—–Original Message—–
From: U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) <fda@service.govdelivery.com>
Subject: Jones Natural Chews Co Recalls Pig Ear Dog Chews Because Of Possible Salmonella Health Risk

Jones Natural Chews Co of Rockford, IL is recalling 2705 boxes of Pig Ears because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can affect animals and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products.

Please consider volunteering at our events and fundraisers. We always need help with transporting/escorting dogs and giving the public information about the adoption process. Contact the event coordinator to sign up. For more details visit: www.labs4rescue.com/events Hope to see you there!

ADOPTION EVENTS:
SUNDAY, May 1
Pooch Palooza – Peekskill Armory, 955 Washington St., Peekskill, NY, 1-4 p

FUNDRAISERS:
SATURDAY, April 23
Paws Pet Resort/Spa, 312 E. Johnson Ave., Cheshire, CT, 10a-2p
Pet photo portraits, portion of fee will go to Labs4rescue

SATURDAY, April 30
Your Healthy Pet, 224 S. Main Street, Newton, CT, 11a-3p

INFO TABLE: SATURDAY, May 14
Barnegat’s 6th Annual Pet Day, 550 East Bay Ave., Barnegat NJ, 10a-2p

This US Postal Service Has a Beautiful Soul Working For Them

A friend of mine from the Madison Lions Club sent me this and I had to post it.

This is one of the kindest things you may ever see. A letter was posted without an address and it landed in the dead letter office of the US Postal Service. No one knows who took the time to answer the letter written by a little girl who was heart broken over the loss of her best friend Abbey. The words below are those actually spoken by Meredith and transcribed by her mom. If only we knew the name of the kind spirit who responded to her.

Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:

“Dear God,
Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.

I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her You will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.

Love, Meredith”

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, ‘To Meredith’ in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, ‘When a Pet Dies.’ Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith,

Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away. Abbey isn’t sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don’t need our bodies in heaven, I don’t have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.

Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you.  I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I’m easy to find, I am wherever there is love.

Love, God”

Check out cheryl campbell-dogs

Presented By http://www.josephs.com

We had a really fun photo shoot the other day when we tried to get the perfect shot to use for our website and holiday cards. We were rained out 3 separate times before and didn’t know what to expect since  the sky was dark and gloomy.

Have you ever tried to get four dogs and two humans to sit still long enough to get a good photo? For the first half of the session we concentrated on getting Blu, Milly, Peach and Andy to sit still and by our side long enough to take a decent shot. Of course they did not want to sit still and when they finally did they refused to look toward the camera and stared at us instead. Believe me when I say it was comical how Joseph, our photographer made gestures and sounds I have never seen or heard before just to grab their attention!

We finally had some descent shots to work with for the official website picture but we weren’t done yet.  Ian our 19 year old wanted nothing to do with the web shot but did agree to be in the Christmas Card picture. We figured the pups had about enough of the posing thing so Joe was going to get a decent shot of the three of us and then “Copy and Past” the dogs into it. Of course now that we didn’t want the dogs in the shot they were all over us and refused to leave our side!

The hour was filled with a lot of laughter and luck was definitely on our side. Joe got some great shots and the first drops of rain didn’t begin to fall until he was waiving goodbye. Hope you enjoy the photos as much as we enjoyed taking them!

It was September 2001. I had never been around dogs. I had three pure bred cats and a horse. An animal control officer mentioned, in passing, that she had one dog, a yellow lab, to place after the horrific attack.

In passing, I recounted this to my husband. Peter had wanted to do something concrete in the wake of 9.11. When I returned upstairs hours later, Peter said with tears in his eyes, “I want to get the dog”.
It took several calls to coordinate the pick up at the ASPCA on 91st Street. Who knew there would be 12 dogs named Charli in residence there?

“I knew nothing of the enormity of animal rescue.”

I will never forget that moment, that spot in the driveway, when Charli got out of the car calmly, then stopped and looked. “Who are all of you and what do you think of me?” Those were the thoughts I read.

Once in the house, the reality of a large 70lb dog with big feet and big teeth set in. I sat on the floor, and Charli responded by charging and humping me. He scared me further by not wanting to sleep on the floor, but throwing himself up and onto the bed.

The dog trainer came the next day. We found the lesson rote and annoying since it was directed at us, rather than Charli. Plus, Charli listened to everything the trainer said, even though he kept calling him Sam.
On the third day, as I made the turn towards the door with Charli on his leash, his big head looked up and back at me. “I need you to lead,” were the thoughts I read.

Charli our first rescue dog will always be remembered

On the fourth day, the news replayed the Towers imploding. I cried for Charli and his loss and every time I saw it after that, I mourned for him and for his owner, who, I was told had little, lost everything and gave me, who had so much , this gift I did not know existed.

Never one for displays of public emotion, my smile was broad every time I walked Charli. In a town full of dogs children flocked to his large block lab/coonhound head. Adults stopped and smiled.

Charli passed suddenly in January 2006. Now, it was my turn to implode.

But, I had to stay strong because, before his passing, he inspired me to rescue Diego, Camden , Bro D, Trooper and his first sibling, Molly. Each has a sad story, each have or had behavior issues, but each have given a gift and pushed us deeper into the world of dog rescue.. Just like Charles.

Charli is buried along side the spot where he first stepped out to meet us and change our lives forever. We have had as many as 9 dogs at one time, rescued several cats and three horses.

All this because of an ordinary, everyday dog.

Editors Note: Charli passed because he developed Bloat and Joan will be writing more about this in future posts. She will also share some stories about her other rescue dogs. -Cheryl