Monday, March 14, 2011

Baby Chick and Duckling Safety Tips


Salmonella bacteria are a common cause of foodborne illness, but can also be spread to people by direct contact with animals that carry the bacteria, such as reptiles and birds. Children can be at particular risk from these birds, since they are less likely to wash their hands and have more frequent hand-to-mouth contact than adults. Outbreaks of Salmonella infections have been linked to exposure to baby chicks and ducklings, and many of these outbreaks have occurred in the spring, around Easter.
Here are some important tips for parents and child care providers to reduce the exposure of young children to Salmonella from chicks and ducklings.
· Do not let children younger than five years of age handle baby chicks, other young birds, or items contaminated by the poultry.
· Wash your hands thoroughly after handling poultry or their droppings. Pacifiers, toys, bottles or other objects should not touch the baby birds or their cages. If these objects become contaminated, wash them with warm soapy water.
· Do not eat or drink around poultry or their living areas.
· Keep the bird area separate from areas where food and drink are prepared or consumed. Do not allow chicks or ducklings on table surfaces or places where food will be prepared or eaten. Do not wash the birds’ food and water dishes in the kitchen sink.
For more information, visit http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/easter_chicks.htm
Taken from Iowa Department of Public Health - EPI Update

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Pet of the Month - March 2011 - Whiskey Dunakey

Whiskey  was found while Barb Dunakey was scrolling through PetFinder, looking at pictures and descriptions of Shelties available for adoption, when I came across a photo of a little guy listed with a rescue in the Minneapolis area. His story and his picture captured my heart, within a few days we were approved to adopt, and we headed up to visit 'Tate' to see if he was the one for us.
We'd found out that 'Tate' was a dog originally from Iowa, saved by an individual rescue person at a Midwest Auction - more than likely a puppymill dog - and relocated to a caring organization in the suburbs of Minneapolis. They told us 'he was the most disengaged dog from human interaction' they'd ever taken in to their rescue. For the first month he wouldn't even look at them, and it was apparent he hadn't been given any love or affection in his nearly 2 years of life.
When we went to visit, he'd been with them for over 2 months and we were the FIRST potential adopters he even allowed to approach. Anyone else who had come to see him hadn't been able to get close to him as he would run in fear from corner to corner trying to get away. He allowed my husband to approach him in the corner, and his rescurer was amazed that my husband was able to pet him and talk to him. Shortly thereafter, he allowed me to approach and talk softly to him while I petted him as well. It was apparent this little guy had led a traumatic life. Encouraged by the fact that he appeared to like us as much as he was capable, we happily adopted him and brought him home to be a part of our family.
From his arrival home on 8/21/10 until Thanksgiving weekend, he never made a single peep - not even a sigh or a yawn, let alone a bark; however, he did bark playfully at our Granddogs when they were here to visit during the holidays. He has made progress with tiny baby steps towards becoming a more normal, happy dog in the 5 1/2 months we've had him, but he has a long ways to go yet. His past life has left him highly stressed, and he appears to suffer a bit from OCD tendancies as well, but he's learning to trust and is coming out of his shell little by little.
Our little Whiskey is a beautiful Color-headed White/ Blue Merle purebred Sheltie with one blue eye and one brown, and weighs just under 15 pounds. We love him to death and can hardly wait for the time when he feels safe and secure with us! When that finally happens, we know he'll be a happy, content boy in his furrever home and we'll spoil him as much as he'll let us!!