April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month; which states fall short in their protections?

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Where does your state rank in terms of legal protections for animals? If you live in Iowa, Wyoming, Utah, North Dakota or Kentucky, you might be dismayed to learn that those states have the weakest protections for animal welfare, with Kentucky in last place for the 11th consecutive year. That’s based on annual review of state laws by the Animal Legal Defense Fund, which recently published its 12th annual rankings report.

States with low rankings may have passive flaws, such as outdated language or not keeping up with changing attitudes toward companion animals, livestock and wildlife, but others prohibit actions that could help animals. In Kentucky, for instance, it’s illegal for veterinarians to report abuse and neglect without a court order, subpoena or client waiver. Utah, Wyoming and Iowa don’t prohibit veterinary reporting of cruelty, but they also don’t mandate it.

“Veterinary reporting is a really important part of any animal cruelty investigation,” says Lora Dunn, director of ALDF’s criminal justice program. “Veterinarians are sometimes the only humans besides the perpetrator who actually witness the abuse or neglect.”

Poor definitions of care, weak or nonexistent penalties, and limited or no restrictions on ownership for people convicted of cruelty can also put states at the bottom of the pack.

Defining standards of care, such as the terms “adequate food,” “potable water” and “living space,” helps law enforcement officials determine whether a crime has been committed. When those criteria are not spelled out, neglect and cruelty become a matter of opinion.

States with low rankings often label cruelty, neglect and abandonment as misdemeanors, not felonies. In the bottom five states, humane officers lack broad law enforcement authority.

To determine its rankings, the organization looks at 15 categories of animal protection: general prohibitions; penalties; exemptions; mental health evaluations and counseling; protective orders; cost mitigation and recovery; seizure/impound; forfeiture and post-conviction possession; non-animal agency reporting of suspected animal cruelty; veterinarian reporting of suspected animal cruelty; law enforcement policies; sexual assault; fighting; offender registration; and “ag-gag” legislation, which are laws that punish whistleblowers revealing abuse on factory farms.

Top dogs in animal protection laws are Illinois, which has held first place for the past 10 years, plus Oregon, California, Maine and Rhode Island. Illinois ranks highest for such provisions as felony penalties for cruelty, neglect, fighting, abandonment and sexual assault. The top five states have a full range of statutory protections, require mental health evaluations or counseling for offenders, and restrict ownership of animals after a conviction. With the exception of Rhode Island, those states permit animals to be included in domestic violence protective orders.

In the past five years, more than half of all states have made improvements in their laws, Dunn says. Last year, Pennsylvania made the biggest leap, from 44th to 24th place. Improvements there included a new felony provision for first-time offenders of aggravated animal cruelty, including torture, and granting civil immunity to veterinarians who report suspected animal abuse.

One nationwide trend is “hot cars” laws addressing “reckless endangerment” of pets. In more than 25 states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Indiana, Massachusetts, Nevada and Oregon, it’s now illegal to leave an animal in a vehicle in certain conditions and temperatures. The laws may also offer civil or criminal immunity to people who remove animals from vehicles, if they meet criteria such as seeking the owner or calling law enforcement before doing so.

“The majority of states have updated and improved their animal protection laws over the past 12 years, and that is a direct reflection of the public's demand for change and for better protection of animals and animal victims,” Dunn says.

Q&A

How to help

shelter cats shine

Q: I work in a shelter, and we want to help the cats in our care feel more comfortable and safe so they’ll be more adoptable. Do you have any handling tips?

A: In a shelter environment, normally friendly cats are often afraid, so much so that they may appear to be unsocialized or even feral. Hiding and hissing isn’t going to help them find a great home, so it’s important to support them so they can step up and show their true personality. You are so right that one way to do that is through expert handling.

We talked to cat expert Joan Miller, who says that cats never like anything new at first, but a little bit of nonthreatening adversity each day helps them build confidence quickly. They need to have gradual exposure to anything they’re not too sure about, especially if it involves handling by strangers, whether they are shelter employees or potential adopters.

Handling cats correctly from the beginning is one way to bring out positive behavior from them. Whenever possible, transport them in top-loading carriers so they can be lifted out. Never try to pull a cat out of a carrier or hiding space head first or by the front feet. Instead, support them with two hands beneath their front and rear legs, bringing them out hind end first. Then place them immediately on a table or other solid surface with some height. Simply being lifted in a comfortable manner and set down immediately gives them a feeling of control. And don’t clutch cats tightly. They hate feeling restrained.

Finally, good grooming is essential for cats to look and feel their best and to attract people to them. Once they become accustomed to handling, cats take to the attention like a socialite to spa treatments. -- Mikkel Becker and Kim Campbell Thornton

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Labs top pop

charts -- again!

-- The Labrador retriever maintains his top-dog status as the most popular breed registered by the American Kennel Club -- for 27 years in a row. It’s no surprise: Labs are smart, athletic and versatile, excelling at just about any dog sport, therapy visits, tirelessly playing with the kids, and just hanging out on the sofa with you when his busy day is done. Other breeds that make up the Top 10 are the German shepherd, golden retriever, French bulldog, bulldog, beagle, poodle (all three varieties), Rottweiler, Yorkshire terrier and German shorthaired pointer.

-- Even if your cat isn’t a teenager, she can still get acne: little blackheads or pimples that usually appear on the chin. You may notice it more readily if your cat has a white or light-colored coat. Causes include allergies, stress and food bowls that aren’t cleaned daily. Some cats react to plastic food bowls. Before you run out for a tube of Clearasil, take your cat to the veterinarian to determine the type and cause of acne and get a prescription for medication or advice on clearing it up, such as switching to stainless steel or ceramic food and water bowls.

-- Dogs help to detect plant pests, and can learn to sniff out disease or health conditions such as low blood sugar. Now they are being trained to shut down sources of funds for terrorists -- not at the bank, but by identifying the smell of smuggled artifacts, antiquities looted from archaeological sites in Syria and Iraq to be sold on the black market by terrorist organizations. Four Labrador retrievers and a German shepherd are in training to recognize recently excavated pottery artifacts at the University of Pennsylvania’s Penn Vet Working Dog Center. The canine cultural crime fighters may one day work at airports, seaports and cargo facilities. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and are the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

Coyotes are a fact of urban life. Here's how to keep pets safe

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Charlotte Zappala was walking her Australian shepherd, Roxie, one morning when a coyote enticed the dog to come play. Roxie, who was off-leash, ran off, right into an ambush. Lucky for her, she escaped with only bites around the eye and on her paw.

Coyotes are no longer a symbol of rural living. They live in America's largest cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago and New York, where they make a fine living off garbage, pet food left outdoors, rodents and, yes, dogs and cats.

Coyote attacks on pets, like the one Zappala experienced, usually occur during the wild dogs' courting, mating and pupping season: late fall, winter and early spring. Mating season begins as early as November, with pups on the ground typically between April and June.

Often, an individual's or community's first response to the presence of coyotes is to want to trap and relocate or kill them. While that might be satisfying in the short term to people who fear the animals, it's not a viable or desirable solution, says coyote biologist Jacqueline Frair, Ph.D., of State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse. Coyotes have a suite of biological mechanisms that kick in to rapidly grow their populations when they are under threat from hunting or other reduction efforts.

"Studies have shown that when coyote numbers are reduced, a higher proportion of females become pregnant, litter sizes become larger and the offspring of those litters have higher survival rates," Frair says.

What should you do if you are walking your dog and encounter a coyote? A good offense is the best defense, as the saying goes.

If you live in an area where you know there are coyotes, stay alert when walking your dog on- or off-leash.

Carry a walking stick, mace or bear spray that you can use to ward off a coyote that seems menacing. If you use mace or bear spray, be aware of the wind's direction so you don't suffer blowback.

If you don't have any of those items with you, throw rocks or yell at the coyote, and wave your arms or a hat at it. Most coyotes are shy and fearful and will run at any sign of aggression from you.

Stand your ground. Running away will only incite the coyote to chase you and your dog, which is not the reaction you want.

Even if you and your dog don't mean any harm, a coyote will be extra-protective if you and your dog unknowingly come near a den with pups. Be watchful during pupping season.

Other strategies to keep coyotes at bay and pets from becoming prey:

-- Secure garbage cans so that coyotes can't knock them over or knock the lid off.

-- Feed pets indoors or take up food as soon as the animal is finished eating outdoors.

-- Empty outdoor water dishes in the evening.

-- Never offer food to coyotes.

-- Cover or remove other sources of food that could attract coyotes, such as compost heaps, fallen fruit and birdseed spilled from feeders.

-- Install motion-sensitive lighting to startle coyotes that enter the yard.

-- Put up a solid, well-maintained fence at least 6 feet tall. A high fence with a roll bar on top is even better.

-- Even in a fenced yard, accompany small or medium-size dogs outdoors if it's very early in the morning or after dark.

-- Trim shrubbery so it offers little cover.

-- If you see a coyote lurking near your yard, shoo it away.

"Coyotes simply shouldn't learn to get comfortable around us," Frair says.

Q&A

Dogs benefit from

elbow surgery

Q: My Lab was chasing a tennis ball and jumped up to get it. When he landed, he cried out and appeared to be in a lot of pain. The vet says his elbow is really arthritic. What can be done for him? -- via Facebook

A: The elbow is a complex joint, and the canine elbow gets quite a workout because a dog's front legs bear about 60 percent of his body weight. A number of dog breeds, including Labs, can develop elbow dysplasia, an assortment of conditions that can occur when the elbow joint is deformed or doesn't mature properly. Whatever type of elbow dysplasia a dog has, the eventual result is painful and often crippling osteoarthritis. Common signs include limping, tiring quickly from play or reluctance to play.

Depending on the condition that's diagnosed, your dog has a couple of options. He may benefit from arthroscopic surgery if he has osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) or fragmented medial coronoid process (FMCP). It's minimally invasive and involves removing a broken fragment of bone or damaged cartilage. It can improve the condition for a time, but may not be a permanent fix.

A new technique is elbow replacement surgery. The surgery takes two to three hours to complete, and it requires careful attention to detail. A slick new mechanical joint replaces the damaged one. Afterward, the dog may spend five days in the hospital before going home, and require five to six months for complete recovery. The cost is approximately $6,000.

If your dog is not a candidate for surgery, medical management techniques may help reduce pain. They include weight loss, limiting activity, providing pain relief with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and giving nutraceuticals such as glucosamine and chondroitin to protect and build up cartilage. Your dog may also benefit from rehab, such as workouts on an underwater treadmill. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Online scams target

animal lovers

-- Looking online for a pet? Be wary of sellers who ask you to wire money in advance to pay for vaccinations, shipping costs, insurance and taxes. After the money is received, the pet may never arrive. Sellers may claim to be from your area, with a local phone number. If that's truly the case, ask to meet the pet in person before handing over any money. Reputable breeders or legitimate sellers won't balk at a request to visit their home or kennel. It's always best to see a potential pet's environment first or to buy a pet from someone referred to you by a trusted individual.

-- Dog showers are in demand in new homes and remodels, according to an article by Hayley Krischer in the March 8 issue of The New York Times. Luxury homebuilder Toll Brothers offers a dog shower option in many home models, and GreenRose Fine Homes and Design in New Jersey will include a canine sudsing station in all future $800,000-and-up home designs, according to the article. Ken Malian, a GreenRose owner, estimates the cost of adding a dog shower to an existing mudroom at $5,000. Powder rooms, laundry rooms and garages are also common areas for dog shower placement.

-- The Havanese is a fun-loving, cheerful and good-humored dog with a bit of a naughty side. He's mischievous and sometimes difficult to house-train. The small dogs with silky, longhaired coats belong to the bichon family, making them cousins to bichons frise, Maltese, Cotons de Tulear and Bolognese. Unlike those breeds, Havanese may be any color or combination of colors. Be prepared to provide daily brushing and weekly baths if you keep a Havanese in full coat. Purchase a puppy from a breeder who provides certification that both parents have passed a brain stem auditory evoked response (BAER) test for hearing and have eye, hip and patella (knee) clearances from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. -- Kim Campbell Thornton

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and are the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

A flight attendant’s carelessness causes a puppy’s death. How to avoid a similar situation

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Pet lovers across the country were horrified and angry last month after a United Airlines flight attendant placed a carrier containing a French bulldog puppy named Kokito into the overhead storage bin -- over the owner’s protests. By the end of the three-hour flight, Kokito was dead from lack of oxygen.

In this case, a language barrier complicated the situation, with the flight attendant not hearing, misunderstanding or ignoring the owner’s statement that a pet was in the bag.

United has taken responsibility for the dog’s death and refunded the passengers’ ticket costs -- including the hefty pet fee. Starting this month, it will place bright yellow tags on pet carriers to alert flight attendants to four-legged occupants.

It’s not yet known if the owners will seek additional damages, if the flight attendant will be fired or if criminal charges will be filed. In the aftermath, Sens. John Kennedy of Louisiana and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada introduced the Welfare of Our Furry Friends Act, or WOOFF, to create regulations to protect future air-traveling pets from improper stowage.

But as all pet lovers know, no amount of compensation, punishment of the perpetrator or legislation can make up for the loss of a dog’s life, especially under circumstances that should never have happened in the first place. It’s unlikely that this exact scenario will ever be repeated, but there may be other instances in which a pet’s life is put at risk during travel. What can a dog or cat owner traveling by air do to either avoid or deal with a similar situation?

-- Be prepared. Know what size pet carrier is permitted on board. Measure yours to make sure it meets the requirements, and bring a copy of the airline’s rules with you in case of a dispute.

-- When choosing seats, some people prefer the aisle because it’s easier to get in and out of the seat with the carrier, but there is also more risk that the service cart will run into it or people walking by will accidentally kick it. A CNBC news story reported that Kokito’s carrier was slightly protruding into the aisle, prompting the flight attendant’s demand that it be placed in the overhead space. It may be safer, more comfortable and less stressful for your pet if you are in a middle or window seat.

-- Remain calm and polite, but advocate for your pet if a flight attendant asks you to do something that you feel endangers your animal. The Federal Aviation Administration says passengers must follow flight attendant instructions regarding proper stowage of pet carriers. Pet carriers go beneath the seat in front of you, never in the overhead compartment. Ask to speak to the purser or chief flight attendant if there is disagreement.

-- If you see something, say something, even if it’s not your pet. It’s OK to express concern to authority when you witness something that appears unsafe. Again, ask to speak to the purser if you aren’t satisfied with the response.

Whether you are an onlooker or the owner, record the incident on your smartphone or ask someone else to do so.

-- For your pet’s safety and comfort, as well as for that of other passengers, keep him inside the carrier. This prevents accidental escapes or negative interactions with other passengers or flight attendants.

-- Finally, some people have criticized Kokito's owner for complying. That is wrong. We have all seen news stories of people removed, sometimes forcibly, from flights when they refused to comply with a flight attendant’s direction. Flight attendants have full authority on flights, and questioning one can be intimidating, especially if English is not a passenger’s first language.

Q&A

Batteries plus dog equal

negative wallet charge

Q: Help! My 8-month-old Lab puppy chewed up a toy that contained batteries and swallowed them. What now?

A: We know you have already taken your puppy to the veterinarian for care, but for all the other owners of Lab puppies and other dogs who love to chew, here’s the skinny on swallowing batteries and other potentially dangerous objects.

It’s no surprise that a Lab puppy ate a battery-operated toy. As a veterinarian, I never cease to be amazed by the variety of things dogs will pick up, put in their mouths and send down the hatch. Beyond batteries and internal squeakers, things dogs ingest include dish towels, socks, knives, rocks, wooden skewers and more. Labs, especially, have a reputation for downing anything that looks interesting, but any puppy or dog has the potential to do so. Many dogs outgrow this habit, but I heard just recently about a 10-year-old golden, normally well-behaved, who ate a plastic measuring cup.

Once we confirm that there is indeed something in the belly, we may induce vomiting depending on the type of object. If the item is something sharp or that might otherwise cause damage coming up, veterinarians may take a wait-and-see attitude. A lot of foreign objects will pass without causing an obstruction or other injury.

A high-fiber food and some canned pumpkin will often encase a foreign body and move it out in as little as six to eight hours, but it can take up to three days. If it still hasn’t made an appearance in your dog’s poop and your dog is showing signs of obstruction such as vomiting, regurgitating or just not feeling well (the veterinary term is ADR, or “ain’t doin’ right), then he may have an obstruction that calls for surgical removal. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Winn advances

cat health care

-- Winn Feline Foundation celebrates 50 years of promoting cat health and welfare. Founded in 1968, the nonprofit organization supports studies that have improved the lives of millions of cats. Some programs raise money for research in specific areas, such as the Bria Fund for FIP research and the Ricky Fund to study hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Over the years, Winn-supported researchers discovered that more taurine was needed in cat food to prevent development of dilated cardiomyopathy, a type of heart disease that was killing cats; the importance of measuring a cat’s blood pressure; feline blood typing; and tests to detect genetic defects in certain breeds.

-- A 6-year-old wire fox terrier from Belgium took Best in Show at the 2018 Beverly Hills Dog Show, which aired last night on the USA Network. GCH King Arthur Van Foliny, handled by Gabriel Rangel, beat out more than 1,200 dogs of 175 breeds at the red-carpet show, adding to his list of wins, including Best in Show at the National Terrier Show in the United Kingdom in 2016, three-time Best in Show winner at the Wire Fox Association in England, and Best in Show at the 2014 and 2015 European Dog Show. Check your local listings for repeat airings of the Beverly Hills Dog Show.

-- Pet lovers have a lot to celebrate in April. It’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month; Pet First Aid Awareness Month; Prevention of Lyme Disease in Dogs Month; and National Heartworm Awareness Month. National Dog Bite Prevention Week is April 8-14; and National Pet ID Week is April 15-21. National Pet Day is April 11 (we thought that was every day); International Guide Dog Day is April 25; National Kids and Pets Day, April 26; Hairball Awareness Day, April 27; World Veterinary Day, April 28; and National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day, April 30. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and are the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.