I have been wondering lately if the world wide economic downturn has caused the news media to do less stories on pets. If I had an extra 10 pennies I would bet that this is the case. What I’m seeing as I look at dozens and dozens of news sources around the world is less coverage of the animal world. Anyone have a thought about this?

I stumbled over a new product that I want to share with everyone. I don’t know anything about this and make I’m not making an endorsement of any kind. The new product is called Powerloo, on their website they say. “Green Dog presents an innovative outdoor, maintenance-free, flushable toilet for proper and sanitary disposal of pet waste.  This unique in-ground toilet installs easily in your yard and connects directly to your home sewer line.” They also have an informational video on the site that you might want to check out. I’d love to hear what people think of this, so please lets get the comment churning on this subject.

I was checking out a story on Montcalm Michigan’s Animal Care and Control(ACC) regarding the cruel and, I’m hoping, unusual practice of selling homeless pets to research facilities as a way to defray costs, when breaking news came across the feed.  WOOD NBC 8, the station responsible for bringing this problem to light, reported that a new director, Patty Lentz,  has been appointed to Montcalm’s ACC. Lentz announced that not only will methods of “euthanasia”  change to the more humane practice of lethal injection(less stressful to the animal), but a new Board being seated in January stated they are willing to “look at” severing the relationship with research facilities.  The Board has been signing 5-year contracts, reportedly to avoid pressures of public opinion.  The contract is up this year.

Since Lentz acknowledged the widespread sentiment against selling pets for research purposes, and this change is not yet a sure thing, here is information to take further action should you wish to add your voice to help protect the voiceless.  If you scroll a little past half-way down the page, you will find contact names, numbers, and emails. Local animal welfare groups ask people to please email today, January 12.

Hmmm, I wonder how widespread this practice is or may become given the budget slashing required by city’s increasingly empty coffers.