Cat's paw-preferences, five-legged puppy gets surgery

The Discovery News site features a story where researchers have found that when it comes to cats, females tend to be right-pawed, while males are more often lefties.

Check out the full story and accompanying video here.

In other news, Lily, the five-legged puppy that has been at the center of an ownership dispute has undergone a successful operation to have the fifth limb removed. The six-week old puppy is reported to be recovering well. Read the complete story here.

Call now to support licensing program

At this week's Animal Control Commission meeting, Supervisor Don Maben stated that he will make a recommendation to the Kern County Board of Supervisors to support funding of the Public Education and Enforcement Team (PEET) Program. This is the licensing program that recently reported collecting just over $10,000 in revenue during the first five months of this year, for a net revenue gain of over $5,400 --- money that can be used to expand services such as a low-cost spay/neuter option.

It is time for all of us who support making positive changes on behalf of animals in Kern County to call, write and attend this meeting in support of this program. To see how effective a properly ran licensing program can be, one need look no further than the presentation given by Bill Bruce in June. Read Lois Henry's comments on the presentation here and here, as well as my take on the presentation here.

Let's let our supervisors know that money spent on the PEET Program is money well invested in the future of Kern County.

To contact your Supervisor:

Jon McQuiston - district1@co.kern.ca.us (661) 868-3650
Don Maben - district2@co.kern.ca.us (661) 868-3660
Mike Maggard - district3@co.kern.ca.us (661) 868-3670
Ray Watson - district4@co.kern.ca.us (661) 868-3680
Michael Rubio - district5@co.kern.ca.us (661) 868-3690

Kern County Board of Supervisors Meeting
Monday, July 20
7 p.m.
1115 Truxtun Ave., Bakersfield

Spliced gene makes low-down dogs

According to this Reuters article, scientists have discovered an altered gene that appears in our shorter four-legged pups. Pretty interesting stuff.

It never ceases to amaze me how the smallest of changes can bring about such huge alterations in the evolution of our canine and feline friends.

Cats control their owners through cuteness

In what may be the biggest piece of non-news to cat owners, a new study reveals that cats control their owners through vocalizations. Read the LiveScience article and see how we've been enslaved.

Would a commercial like this work in Bakersfield?

In reading the latest issue of Animal Sheltering, I came across a story about efforts to increase the spaying and neutering of pets in the Gulf Coast area. One marketing idea that had a great response was a new approach to reaching residents about the importance of spay/neuter. After doing some research, the HSUS found that many of the commercials they thought were impactful were not. Below is the commercial that came out of their research. Do you think a commercial like this, filmed with local animal control workers, would reach this community?