Ellen DeGeneres developing a Vegan Dog Food: while it’s great for humans dogs and cats neeeeeeeed proteins from meat. This link says it best: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/01/19/vegetarianism-for-pets.aspx

Petrus, Arrow, Advanced, Iams … recalled: go to http://dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-recalls. None are carried at Sirius Cooks, please tell friends.

These are voluntary, as the FDA usually waits to do a real, serious (to them) recall.

If you don’t know what Aflatoxin is (the mold) please check our Dr. Karen Becker (who has great links available) at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/01/10/pet-food-with-toxic-corn.aspx

Need a trainer that doesn’t use the fear-inducing methods? You know the faster training ones, the dog listens only because of the fear of getting hurt?

Here are some of our local Midwestern trainers that we recommend (I’m sure we’re missing some great ones!): Patricia McConnell at: http://patriciamcconnell.com; Tamar Geller at http://tamargeller.com AND Animal Sense at http://animalsense.com

We’re cooking two stews today. The people who ordered are getting the Jenna’s 2-fish stew, and the Holiday’s Special (chicken without sweet potatos). We cook to order, fresh everyday, but we may have some extra.

The snow is finally happening in Chicago and we have the pet/kid/tree friendly ice melter. Does not contain salt so burn their paws, hands or roots. Don’t settle for imitations sold at “big box” stores.

You can read more about it at: http://www.safepaw.com/

This is the new Siriusblog for your mobile phone. Please bear with us as we fine-tune this information.

A reminder on Illinois legislation: The law, as proposed by Rep. John Bradley, wants to ADD breed specific legislation. It’s now set for a March 8th vote. Hey, this is beyond outlawing Pitbulls, Rotties, Dobermans … name a breed. Phone the chair, Lisa Dugan at (217) 782-5981 or FAX her at (217) 558-4553. Keep it short and simple: NO to HB1080 “The deed and NOT the breed.”

**** NOT carried in Sirius Cooks **** Please notify your friends.

“Last week the Proctor & Gamble Company (P&G) announced the recall of specific lots of its Iams Veterinary Formulas Feline Renal dry cat food due to possible salmonella contamination.

This week, P&G have decided to expand their voluntary pet food recall to include more of their brands; specifically Iams & Eukanuba dry pet food.

The recalled brands include:

• Iams Veterinary Dry Formulas
• Eukanuba Naturally Wild dry food
• Eukanuba Pure dry food
• Eukanuba Custom Care Sensitive Skin dry food

Since the FDA conducted an analysis of Iams Veterinary Formulas Feline Renal dry cat food and found some lots of it to test positive for salmonella, P&G has decided to extend their recall to include the above-mentioned pet food as these brands and formulas were all manufactured in the same facility.

This expanded recall is applicable to every size and variety of the affected pet food products that have ‘Best Buy’ date stamps of between 1 July 2010 and 1 December 2010.

P&G has vehemently stated that none of its canned or wet pet food, treats, biscuits or supplements are affected by this recall.

The pet foods listed above are purchasable with a prescription from a veterinarian through veterinary clinics, such as Willow Creek Veterinary Center in Cottonwood Heights, or at specialty pet retailers, such as Ma & Paws. This recall expands the entire USA and Canada.

Although there have been no reported cases of either pets or humans becoming ill after coming into contact with either of these pet food products, salmonella can cause serious health risks for pets who have consumed the pet food as well as to humans who have handled the dry pet food. Pets can also be carriers of salmonella with no outwards signs of the contamination. But those pets who have been infected may have signs of lethargy, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, vomiting, lack of appetite and abdominal pain. Seek medical attention immediately if you or your pet are sick.

This is merely a precautionary measure by P&G, but if you have purchased any of these dry pet food products you are advised to immediately discontinue using it and dispose of it properly. You should also telephone P&G to request a refund and to ask any questions.”

Bear found us at the local Animal Care League shelter.

We were fostering him after a fire at the shelter. We fell in love with him. Indy (one of our other dogs who passed on a year ago) felt like a long-lost brother was found. Bear made his home with us. Gentle, part-Golden, part-Chow, he usually refuses to have his picture taken. This time he humored us.

Bear taught us that he loved everybody, anything and everything. He was amazing for his gentleness, appetite and cast-iron stomach.

Bear passed on July 15, 2010 from Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA). An extremely fast illness. Please see this link for more info.

We thank the vets who helped us during this time. Unexpected … caught flat-footed, caught in the headlights, surprise. you’re-losing-one-of-your-own … Bear was a fast-passing. To our trusted and loved-ones vets: Dr. Michelle Sherman and Dr. Barbara Royal! Thank you to Dr. Jean Dodds for setting up “HemoPet” … a way for dogs to get blood transfusions. We also thank all our family, friends and customers who are helping us through Bear’s run to the Rainbow Bridge!

An email we just received:
Even if you don’t have a dog, please forward this to as
many people as you can to get the word spread

At least 3 local vet offices (Northlake, River Grove, & Oak Park) are
verbally warning customers as well as posting signs to beware of a
new threat level of dog fighting. If you tend to leave your dog
unattended in the yard for long periods of time, please, PLEASE at
least check on the dog every 5-10 minutes to make sure there is no
suspicious activity going on in your backyard. There have been at
least 8 reports just at the Northlake Animal Hospital in since May
1st of dogs being forcibly taken from their yards by dog fighting
trainers to use the dogs as “training” for the larger dogs (usually
pitbulls). This is especially happening with younger dogs, such as
terriers, chihuahuas, or daschunds, but when desperate, even dogs as
large as German Shepherds have been marked as “desired training.”

This is just a precautionary e-mail to watch your dogs. Even if you
think your yard is secluded or that your dog will bark to warn you,
dogs are sometimes quietly bribed with dog treats to keep quiet.

If you have ANY suspicions of dog fighting in your area or witness
anything that sets off any type of warning, PLEASE, in the event of
an emergency (such as witnessing the forcible removal of a dog), call
911

If you wish to report dog fighting, please call 311 with as much
information as you can and as close to the experience of suspicious
events as possible.

Dog fighting is one of the most despicable and inhumane “sports”
around. Let’s try to stop it!