Articles published in this Newsletter do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editor. Nothing may be copied unless the Editor grants permission. 

Dates & News:

ZimDog News, can be accessed from: www.vanerp.net.

Zimbabwe Kennel Club:

The Zimbabwe Kennel Club office will now only be open on a Tuesday and Friday each week, 14.00-16.00 CAT.

Also they will come to Kennel Club every LAST SUNDAY of each month

A dog wags its tail with its heart [martin buxbaum]

Single Black Female

[This has to be one of the best singles ads ever printed.  It is reported to have been listed in the Johannesburg Times.]

SINGLE BLACK FEMALE seeks male companionship, ethnicity unimportant.  I'm a very good girl who LOVES to play.  I love long walks in the woods, riding in your bakkie, hunting, camping and fishing trips, cozy winter nights lying by the fire.  Candlelight dinners will have me eating out of your hand.  I'll be at the front door when you get home from work, wearing only what nature gave me... 

Call (011)885-6420 and ask for Annie, I'll be waiting.....

Over 150 men found themselves talking to the SPCA 

Some more pictures of the Christmas fun show at Kennel Club

	Top four pictures shows you how the owners had to dress up first and then run to the tables with clothes for their dogs. The back to the finish line!! Top right the cleaner woman Left the Christmas fairy

Hi jan cashel,

Are there unknown dangers lurking in your back yard? For many - there are.

Dog poop is a problem we deal with on a daily basis. But is it dangerous? How much do you know? Is pet waste a health hazard? I did some research to get you some real facts and give you a little quiz. (hey, it's Saturday - why not kick the weekend off right?)You might even consider yourself somewhat of an "expert" on the subject. 

Answer these "True" or "False" questions and find out how much you know about dog waste and the real scoop on poop.

True or False?

1. Dog poop makes good fertilizer.

2. Dog waste is just as dangerous to the environment as toxic chemicals and oil spills.

3. If you don't live near a waterway, dog poop in your yard does not pollute the water.

4. Unscooped dog poop can infect anyone who comes into contact with the soil it touches ... even years later.

5. Dog poop causes E. Coli in humans.

6. Dog poop can cause blindness in humans. Now, let's see how you did.

Answers:

1. False. Dog poop is NOT good fertilizer. It's toxic to your lawn! The high nutrient concentration in dog poop will burn and discolour the grass, creating "hot spots".

2. True. Nearly two decades ago, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classified pet waste as a dangerous pollutant in the same category as toxic chemicals and oil.

3. False. You may not live near water, but unscooped poop from your yard is carried by overland water flow or is washed into storm drains, ending up in far away streams, rivers and ground water.

4. True. The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirms pet waste can spread parasites including hookworms, ringworms, tapeworms and Salmonella. When infected dog poop comes into contact with your lawn, the poop will eventually "disappear", but the parasite eggs can linger for years! When a human or animal comes into contact with that soil through everyday activities like walking barefoot, gardening or playing, they risk infection from those eggs ... even years after the poop is gone.

5. True. Pet waste is teaming with E. Coli and other harmful bacteria including faecal coliform bacteria, which causes serious kidney disorders, intestinal illness, cramps and diarrhoea in humans. (There are 23 million faecal coliform bacteria in a single gram of pet waste!)

6. True. Dog poop often contains roundworm larvae, which cause blindness. If a human ingests a roundworm larva, it can migrate through the body causing disease to the brain, lungs, kidneys, liver, heart or eyes. So when people (especially children) touch soil, dog toys or anything that has been in contact with dog faeces and then touch their mouths, they can become infected. So, how did you do? Did you have any idea dog poop could be this dangerous? Dog poop doesn't just "wash away" or disappear. So if you're not disposing of your dog's waste, you're putting yourself, your family, your dog and your water supply at risk. So make a New Year's resolution. Always scoop your dog's poop.One last thing - I found a safe and simple way to clean up your yard. It's an ingenious little invention called the Doggie Doo Drain. What a great idea! It lets you put your dog's waste directly into your sewer line, where it can do no harm. It's simple to use. Check it out. Go to: www.petproductadvisor.com/DoggieDooDrain

Until next time, Dr. Jon

'Gorilla Glue’

Hi jan cashel,

Today - I want to talk to you about a very serious emergency that is becoming more and more common. It is caused by what we call expandable water-activated glues. One common brand is called 'Gorilla Glue". This is a great product - works really well for gluing but is a disaster when ingested by dogs. This is a dog laying on his side - and that big round mass object (arrows) is the stomach full of glue. When the glue is ingested - it is activated and expands when in contact with water. It becomes a rock hard mass that cannot be digested - vomited or passed on. The only option is surgical removal. Some of the other common toxins and dangers to dogs include: antifreeze, grapes and raisins, food and gum sweetened with xylitol and human medications of all types - to name a few. Please be aware of your environment and protect your precious dog from unexpected emergencies. I hope this helps to keep your dog safe!

Until next time, Dr. Jon

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