Pet Food

Tri-State area veterinary hospitals, pet food stores, animal shelters and pet owners have been busy keeping tabs on developments in a recall of pet food suspected of causing kidney failure that killed at least 16 dogs and cats across the United States. The Associated Press reported Friday that rat poison turned up in tests of the pet food that is suspected of causing kidney failure in the dogs and cats. Longmeadow Animal Hospital has two cases "we suspect may be related, but at this point, we really don't know how to prove it," practice director Kirsten Wallinger said.

Tri-State area veterinary hospitals, pet food stores, animal shelters and pet owners have been busy keeping tabs on developments in a recall of pet food suspected of causing kidney failure that killed at least 16 dogs and cats across the United States. The Associated Press reported Friday that rat poison turned up in tests of the pet food that is suspected of causing kidney failure in the dogs and cats. Longmeadow Animal Hospital has two cases "we suspect may be related, but at this point, we really don't know how to prove it," practice director Kirsten Wallinger said.

Two Tri-State-area businesses recently made donations to the Humane Society of Washington County. o Gold's Gym, at 562 Northern Ave. in Hagerstown, donated pet food, cell phones, blankets and toys collected at the gym's "Spring Into Gold's" member appreciation event. The event, which was held April 3, included a fitness challenge, group classes, food and the opportunity for friends of members to participate in classes at no charge. o State Farm Insurance, at 1 State Farm Drive in Frederick, Md., donated pet food collected by employees through State Farm's Community Volunteer Committee.

The Humane Society of Washington County has been selected as a runner-up in the Super Shelter Story Contest, sponsored by The Humane Society of the United States. The Humane Society of the United States holds the contest each year to bring attention to ways that animal shelters help people and animals. More than 400 entries were submitted this year. Washington County's entry featured the work of its pet food bank, which distributes more than nine tons of pet food and supplies each week to individuals and other animal welfare organizations.

Susquehanna Bank is supporting furry friends in Washington County in Maryland and Berkeley County in West Virginia this month by taking part in a pet supply fund drive. Pet food and treats, cleaning supplies (paper towels, laundry detergent, trash bags), kitty litter, pet toys and bedding/blankets are among the needed items. Supplies can be dropped off at any local Susquehanna Bank branch through March 25. For more information, call Susquehanna at 301-791-0000.

As part of Pet Appreciation Week, Tractor Supply Co. will award two customers at each store a $200 gift card or a $100 vet services rebate from Hills Science Diet.  Also, one online grand prize winner will be the owner of a new Ford F-150 King Ranch pickup truck and a one-year supply of Purina pet food from Nestle-Purina.  The promotion is going on through Sunday, with the main event in stores Saturday.  For more information, go to ...

marlob@herald-mail.com WASHINGTON COUNTY - Layoffs, illness and all manner of financial crises can have wide-ranging impact on individuals and families. But there also can be serious side effects for pets whose owners find themselves in a bind. That's where Star Silva comes in. As public assistance coordinator for the Humane Society of Washington County, Silva tries to meet the needs of pet owners who have fallen on hard times. "We have a pet food bank where people can come and get what they need to fill the needs of their pets," Silva said.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a health alert that warns consumers not to use pig ears and beef hooves pet treats manufactured by Pet Carousel because the products might be contaminated with salmonella. The products were sold nationwide in pet food and retail chain stores. Although no illnesses associated with these products have been reported, the FDA is advising consumers in possession of these products to not handle or feed them to their pets. The affected pig ear products were packaged under the brand names Doggie Delight and Pet Carousel.

janeth@herald-mail.com A gift of birdseed last year by the Humane Society of Washington County led to a collection of pet supplies that filled nine shopping carts and two flatbed carts. The birdseed came from the pet food bank at the Humane Society that provides food for pet owners who qualify - either in a government social service program or in temporary financial crisis. It was requested by Phyllis Gorman, a Potomac Towers resident, for the bird feeders in front of the housing complex on Baltimore Street in Hagerstown.

Veterinarian's open house gets tails wagging By KERRY LYNN FRALEY Staff Writer FUNKSTOWN - Hagerstown resident JoAnn Gruber would have liked to bring her dog, Lassie, along to the open house at Animal Health Clinic of Funkstown on Sunday. The black Labrador retriever/rottweiler mix gets excited about going to see veterinarian Virginia Scrivener, who has been treating her since she was a puppy, Gruber said. Scrivener invited her animal patients to join their human families at the open house, intended to show off the clinic's recent expansion.

It takes a special kind of patience to sit on a bench in a Santa Claus suit for an afternoon as pets climb all over your lap for photographs. An Antietam Humane Society worker filled that role Sunday as the shelter hosted its annual open house. Many people brought the dogs and cats they adopted from the shelter to the open house for a visit. “Our primary purpose is to thank the community for their support,” said Andrea Haugh, executive director of the Antietam Humane Society.

As part of Pet Appreciation Week, Tractor Supply Co. will award two customers at each store a $200 gift card or a $100 vet services rebate from Hills Science Diet.  Also, one online grand prize winner will be the owner of a new Ford F-150 King Ranch pickup truck and a one-year supply of Purina pet food from Nestle-Purina.  The promotion is going on through Sunday, with the main event in stores Saturday.  For more information, go to ...

A seminar about pet food myth busters will be at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 24, at Animal Health Clinic of Funkstown, 26 E. Baltimore St., Funkstown. Topics covered will include the difference between a nutrient and ingredient; and what "all natural" really means. For more information, contact Erin Mills at 301-733-7579 or erin@funkstownvet.com.

Susquehanna Bank is supporting furry friends in Washington County in Maryland and Berkeley County in West Virginia this month by taking part in a pet supply fund drive. Pet food and treats, cleaning supplies (paper towels, laundry detergent, trash bags), kitty litter, pet toys and bedding/blankets are among the needed items. Supplies can be dropped off at any local Susquehanna Bank branch through March 25. For more information, call Susquehanna at 301-791-0000.

HEDGESVILLE, W.Va. -- The family swimming pool was too inviting to pass up for one of two black bears that wandered into a residential subdivision in Berkeley County on Tuesday afternoon. Anke Linton and her daughter, Emily, were taken by surprise when two bears came into their yard at Crossings on the Potomac, a subdivision off W.Va. 901 near Hedgesville. Anke Linton said she had opened the garage door to put a bike on the rack and left the door open. Soon after, she heard a noise in the garage from the kitchen, but thought the noise was her husband, she said.

HARPERS FERRY, W.VA. -- This bear didn't go over the mountain, but it did try to cross U.S. 340 several times. That explains the big lighted sign on U.S. 340 near Bakerton Road that warns drivers to "Use Caution ... Bear Crossing. " Bear-crossing signs are common in places like Yellowstone National Park, but this one, flashing outside Harpers Ferry, is an attention grabber. It's supposed to be, said Ken White, Jefferson County law enforcement officer for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.

Two Tri-State-area businesses recently made donations to the Humane Society of Washington County. o Gold's Gym, at 562 Northern Ave. in Hagerstown, donated pet food, cell phones, blankets and toys collected at the gym's "Spring Into Gold's" member appreciation event. The event, which was held April 3, included a fitness challenge, group classes, food and the opportunity for friends of members to participate in classes at no charge. o State Farm Insurance, at 1 State Farm Drive in Frederick, Md., donated pet food collected by employees through State Farm's Community Volunteer Committee.

Apple Valley Waste KEARNEYSVILLE, W.Va. - Apple Valley Waste has announced the recent expansion of its services in Washington County to include recycling. Apple Valley Waste will offer once-a-week pickup of recycled items for $6 per month. The rate includes a recycling bin. Items that will be accepted include paper, newspaper, cardboard, glass, aluminum and steel cans, and plastics. The service is being offered to the area around Hagerstown, but is not offered within the city limits.

The Humane Society of Washington County is warning pet owners to be aware of pet food recalls. A recent press release from the Food and Drug Administration indicated Diamond Pet Foods issued a voluntary recall of cat food. On Sept. 23, Diamond Pet Foods recalled Premium Edge Finicky Adult Cat and Premium Edge Hairball cat food due to the potential to produce thiamine deficiency. Thiamine is essential for cats. Symptoms of deficiency displayed by an affected cat can be gastrointestinal or neurological.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a health alert that warns consumers not to use pig ears and beef hooves pet treats manufactured by Pet Carousel because the products might be contaminated with salmonella. The products were sold nationwide in pet food and retail chain stores. Although no illnesses associated with these products have been reported, the FDA is advising consumers in possession of these products to not handle or feed them to their pets. The affected pig ear products were packaged under the brand names Doggie Delight and Pet Carousel.