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A6 THE TIMES PETSMonday, November 11, 2013Speak up to keep your pet’s food safeBy MARGO ANN SULLIVANOver the next 90 day, the Foodnd Drug Administration is invitingomment about a new plan to protecthe pet and animal food supply. Ifou’re worried about the safety ofour pet’s food, especially in light ofhe most recent warnings abouterky pet treats, this is your chanceo speak up.The pet food importers and manuacturersare sure to weigh in, so it’smportant to make the consumers’oices heard, too.Since 2007 and the melamine petood scare, the FDA has issued aumber of warnings and announceentsabout voluntary recalls. In allut one case, the manufacturers haveooperated, according to Shellyurgess, FDA spokeswoman.“Kasel, an animal food company, ishe only instance thus far where weave used any part of the mandatoryecall authority,” she said.)But in all these cases, the contamnatedfood already had reached theonsumer by the time the governentacted.PET PATROLWouldn’t pets have fared better ifthe FDA had stepped in before anytainted products were sold?Enter the Food SafetyModernization Act, which, accordingto the FDA’s Juli Putnam, is part ofa 21st century effort to stop unsafefood — for both people and animals— from coming to market. The newrule for pet food and livestock feedis part of that act and would “requireanimal food facilities to, for the firsttime, follow proposed current goodmanufacturing practices that addressareas such as sanitation,” she said.There’s more.“The proposed rule would requiremakers of animal feed and pet foodto be sold in the U.S.to develop aformal plan and put into place proceduresto prevent foodborne illness,”she added. “The rule would alsorequire them to have plans for correctingany problems that arise.”If you’re amazed this isn’t alreadystandard practice, you can say so.Starting Nov. 21 in College Park,Md., the FDA will hold three publicmeetings about the plan, which isofficially called the Proposed Ruleto Establish Current GoodManufacturing Practice and HazardAnalysis and Risk-Based PreventiveControls for Food for Animals. Seethe fda.gov website for details.Asked how worried peopleshould be about pet food, Burgesssaid the reality is, “our food sourcesare now global.” It’s impossible toinspect all the products coming intothe country, so the food industry andthe FDA do rely on tests conductedoverseas.That said, foreign manufacturersare obligated to meet U.S. safetystandards, she indicated. Also, theFDA recently proposed two othernew rules to address imported food.These new rules should “help preventunsafe food from reaching U.S.consumers,” Burgess said, byrequiring importers to verify thefood meets U.S. domestic standardsand by setting higher standards fortests.Meanwhile, Jerky treats, manufacturedin China and implicated inthat 2007 recall, have stayed onstore shelves despite reports thousandsof animals have been poisoned.“The reports involve morethan 3,600 dogs and 10 cats andinclude more than 580 deaths,” shesaid.Asked why the government doesnot just stop the sales of these products,Burgess said many brands, infact, were recalled in January afterNew York State’s Department ofAgriculture and Markets tested thepet treats and detected traces ofunapproved antibiotics.The FDA is continuing tests butcan’t take action until investigatorsfind the specific reason Jerky treatsare making pets sick, she said.Meanwhile, the agency is warningpeople about the danger and askingveterinarians and consumers toreport suspicious cases. Details areon the fda.gov website. You willneed the product UPC code, the lotnumber and other information fromyour vet.Have a tip or a story idea? E-mail Margo Ann Sullivan atTheGabbyDog@gmail.com.Follow @The_Gabby_Dog onTwitterLOOKING FOR AFRIEND? TRY ALOCAL SHELTERThe following is a list ofanimal shelters in RhodeIsland and Massachusetts: Shelter: CumberlandAnimal ControlAddress: 44 Martin St.,CumberlandPhone: (401)-333-2745 Shelter: NorthSmithfield Animal ControlAddress: 81 QuakerHwy., North SmithfieldPhone: (401)-766-0377 Shelter: ScituateAnimal ShelterAddress: 106 GeorgeWashington Hwy, LincolnPhone: (401)-647-7200 Shelter:Woonsocket CatSanctuaryAddress: 266 MendonRoad, WoonsocketPhone: (401) 765-4174 Shelter: PawtucketAnimal ShelterAddress: 401 NewportAve., Pawtucket, 02861Phone: (401)-729-7496Mickey, Ike and Tina are some ofthe many youngsters available atWoonsocket AnimalShelter. Visit us at 105Cumberland Hill Road,Woonsocket, or call (401) 766-6571 for information.Marty McFly is a 3-year old,black, short-hair, neutered malecat available for adoption from theNorth Smithfield Animal ControlCenter. Marty McFly is up to dateon shots and has tested negativefor FIV and leukemia. Please call766-0377 for more informationand to obtain our visiting hours.Mary Esposito’s dog Pumpkin is dressed as a witch for Halloween. Shelter: BurrillvilleAnimal ShelterAddress: 131 ClearRiver Dr., HarrisvillePhone: (401)-568-9480 Shelter: AttleboroFriends of Cats IncAddress: 8 N. Main St,AttleboroPhone: (508)-431-6700 Shelter: MilfordHumane Society ShelterAddress: 289 West St.,MilfordPhone: (508)-473-7008Tara is a beautiful and sweet 5year old, tabby and white domesticshort haired female. She cameto the Rhode Island SPCA withher litter of kittens. All her kittensfound their forever homes quicklybut Tara didn't have such luck.Tara is one of the sweetest catswe have had come into the shelterand she is a staff and volunteerfavorite. She is very quiet, sweet,loving, affectionate and lazy. Formore information on Tara pleasecall or visit our shelter. The RISP-CA is located at 186 AmaralStreet, Riverside, RI. You canreach us at 401-438-8150.Hours are Monday thru Friday10am to 4:30pm and Saturday10am to 4pm.Sallie is a very petite, 1-year-old,short-haired black and white catthat is ready for adoption.She isshy, but very sweet and loves toplay. She is spayed and up todate on all of her shots. TheWoonsocket Cat Sanctuary islocated at 266 Mendon Rd inWoonsocket and you can reachus at 401-765-4174. Our hoursare Sundays & Wed 11-1, Mon,Tues, Thurs & Friday 9-11:30amand 5:30-7:30pm and Saturdays9-11:30am.Meet Crystal, Cavalier KingCharles Spaniel. Crystal is a cute10 year old girl. She is very quietand friendly. She loves to go forleash walks and be pet. For commandsshe knows sit andpaw/shake. She would do best ina home without children and weare unsure how she would be in ahome with other dogs and cats.For more information on Crystalcall or visit our shelter. The RISP-CA is located at 186 AmaralStreet, Riverside, RI. You canreach us at 401-438-8150.Hours are Monday thru Friday10am to 4:30pm and Saturday10am to 4pm.Meet Hunter, he was found in aresidents driveway frozen withfear. When they called us tocome get him, we just simplypicked him up, gave him a hugand he began to purr. BecauseHunter was so afraid while beingoutdoors, we assume that he wasat one point someone's pet whodid not love him enough to comelooking for him. He gets alonggreat with other cats and lovesevery person he has ever met.Come visit him at the SeekonkAnimal Shelter. 100 PeckStreet Seekonk, MA. 508-336-6663. Open 7 days a week 2-4pm except for Wednesday3-6pm.How to choose new cat litterBy JURA KONCIUSWashington Post.The cat litter aisle in yourfavorite pet store is gettingbigger and bigger. There aremore brands and ingredientsof cat litters continuallybeing added to the assortmentalready out there. Howdo you decide which to use?Many products on theshelves are still made of thenatural clay litter that hasbeen popular since the1940s. Today clay litters,often the most affordableoption, are available inclumping or non-clumpingvarieties.But many cat owners areswitching to a greener, moreeco-friendly brand of naturallitter, one that is perhapsmade of soybeans, potatoes,wood chips, pine or corn.Some are available in bothclumping or non-clumping.Some of these varieties maylast longer than conventionallitters do before needing tobe changed. However, someenvironmentalists say thatnone of these choices areperfect for the environmenteither.If you're thinking of transitioningto a new brand,know that there are manyissues involved with changinglitters in the middle ofyour cat's life. Cats, knownfor their finicky habits, areusually loathe to changebrands as they are used tothe smell and the texture oftheir usual litter. If youchange it, they may retaliateby doing their business outsidethe box. One way to getaround this is to start by puttingsmall amounts of thenew litter mixed in withyour old brand. Graduallyadd more of the new litter tothe box, until you've trainedyour cat to like it. Goodluck.One greener option that iseasy to adapt: usebiodegradable cat pan linersto lessen your cat's pawprint on the earth.Helpful tips for new pet parents(BPT) — Whether you'reacquiring a new puppy or kittenfor your household oradopting an adult pet from ashelter or rescue organization,the following tips willhelp you get off on the rightfoot with your newest familymember.* What's up, doc? Just asyou require regular visits toyour doctor and dentist tomake sure you stay healthy,so does your new pet. A veterinaryvisit should be aonce-a-year event, minimum,and more frequent check-upsmay be needed, dependingon your pet's age and healthstatus. Regular visits are likelyto include a thoroughexam, weigh-in, immunizationsand parasite checks (aheartworm test and fecalexam). Blood tests and dentalcleanings are also routineprocedures.* Healthy eating. Yournew pet may be eyeing yourplate with interest, but don'tgive in. Pets shouldn't eatlike people. Cats are carnivores;they need plenty ofprotein in their diets - roughlytwice the percentage thatyou do - and they need it inthe form of meat, poultry orfish. And while your dog,like you, is an omnivore, thatdoesn't mean he should shareyour meals. A food formulatedespecially for dogs ismuch better and treats shouldmake up no more than 10percent of a dog's caloricintake.* Parasite prevention.You've probably heard ofpests like heartworms, intestinalparasites, fleas and ticksbut understanding how andwhen to prevent them is adifferent matter. Dogs andcats can become infectedwith heartworms, althoughthe resulting disease differssomewhat between the twospecies. Heartworm diseasecan be deadly, or it canreduce the quality of life ofboth dogs and cats.Mosquitoes spread heartwormsand dogs and catsneed to be protected yearround,thanks to a mosquito'sability to survive in a varietyof environments. A bonus isthat many heartworm preventivesalso protect pets againstother internal parasites.* Bathing. Most of uswouldn't dream of letting aday go by without a showeror bath. But daily bathing isunnecessary for pets and candry out their skin and hair.Most dogs are fine with abath every three months,unless they get extra dirty orhave silky hair. Cats usuallykeep themselves clean withoutany help although brushinglong-haired cats on a regularbasis is advised to keep Shelter: City ofWoonsocketAddress: 105Cumberland Hill Road,WoonsocketPhone: (401)-766-6571 Shelter: Town ofSeekonk Animal Control& ShelterAddress: 100 Peck St.,SeekonkPhone: (508)-336-6663 Shelter: ProvidenceAnimal Rescue LeagueAddress: 34 Elbow St.,ProvidencePhone: (401)-421-1399AREA SHELTERS CANSUBMIT PHOTOS OFPETS AVAILABLE FORADOPTION TO PETPATROL. EMAILphotos/information to:editor@woonsocketcall.comtheir fur tangle-free and helpprevent hairballs.* Making a connection.Dogs and cats relate to theirowners in different ways. Asa pack animal, dogs expectyou to lead their pack andgive them rules to follow.Dogs make faces - in fact, it'sestimated that they have 100different facial expressions,thanks to their mobile ears.Cats attach to their people associal partners and use affectionatebehaviors, such aspurring, kneading and rubbingagainst you to showtheir affection. They're alsoquite vocally expressive andcan produce more than 100different sounds.Established 1936 • Family OwnedEast Providence North Attleboro Smithfield Warwick865 Warren Ave 40 Cumberland Ave 445 Putnam Pike 1000 Bald Hill Rd401-434-8545 508-399-5050 401-232-7122 401-828-910010% OFFANY PURCHASE OVER $10Valid through 12/31/13www.rumfordpetcenter.com