SFDOG News

Two meetings on Light Brown Apple Moth Spraying - Thurs 5/8/08

There will be two meetings on Thursday evening, May 8, 2008, about the proposed program to eradicate the Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM),including a proposal to spray a pheromone that will disrupt the moth's mating over San Francisco and most of the Bay Area. The sprayings will be repeated every one to three months for anywhere from two to five years. The spraying is quite controversial, with many people concerned about possible effects on people's health.

1) Animal Control and Welfare Commission
Thurs, May 8, 2008
5:30 pm
Room 408, City Hall
San Francisco

The Commission will hear presentations from Bob Dowell, from the CA Dept of Food and Agriculture and the LBAM program director, in support of the spraying, and from three opponents of the spraying: Dr. Joel Parrott, Director of the Oakland Zoo, Roy Upton, and author Susan McCarthy. The Commission testimony will focus on possible effects of the aerial spraying and other proposed measures to eradicate the LBAM on animals, both domestic pets and wildlife. Testimony will also include what pet guardians should and should not do if the spraying occurs.

2) San Francisco Town Hall Meeting on LBAM
Thursday, May 8, 2008
7:00 pm
County Fair Building (Hall of Flowers) in Golden Gate Park
9th Avenue and Lincoln Way - at the Strybing Arboretum/SF Botanical Gardens

Brought to you by San Franciscans Concerned About the Spray
with Sponsors:  Senator Carole Migden, Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, Stop the Spray, CASS-SF, and Play Not Spray

For more information go to www.sfspraytownhall.org
Speakers include:

*  Dr. James Carey, UC-Davis entomologist
*  Jeff Rosendale, horticulturist and co-author with Dr. Daniel Harder of a paper on management of the LBAM
*  Nan Wishner, Albany Integrated Pest Management Task Force
*  Stacia Lansman, M.D.
*  Helge Hellberg, Executive Director, Marin Organic
*  Mike Lynberg, Silicon Valley businessman who documented the adverse health reactions of Santa Cruz and Monterey residents after those regions were sprayed.
*  John Russo, farmer and Director, Stop the Spray
*  Frank Egger, former Mayor of Fairfax and Coordinator of Stop the Spray Marin
*  State Senator Carole Midgen
*  San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi

Sewage Spill in Bay - caution at beaches

Caution with dogs in the water at the beaches for the next few days might be wise,

According to an article in the SF Chronicle on Sunday, Feb 3, there is still high levels of contamination in Marin's Richardson Bay, but that SF beaches appear to be unaffected: (http://tinyurl.com/34rlz2)

From the SF Chronicle (sfgate.com)
Swimmers warned at beaches after spill of 2.7 million gallons of Marin County sewage

Feb 1
About 2.7 million gallons of both raw and treated sewage overflowed from a Marin County treatment facility into San Francisco Bay after an alert system failed to properly notify workers at the facility, officials said today.

Signs have been posted along the Tiburon shoreline and at many popular San Francisco beaches - including Crissy Field, Baker Beach, Aquatic Park and China Beach - to discourage people from swimming in the water. However, San Francisco officials said they do not belive the spill will pose a danger to swimmers. Commercial fishing is also not expected to be affected.

Nearby cities and counties were notified of the spill starting late this morning and into the afternoon. Notifications weren't sent to the media until just before 1 p.m. - nearly 20 hours after the spill occurred Thursday evening.
...

However, Winnicker said city officials do not believe there is any threat to San Francisco beach users. He noted officials routinely post similar signs during winter months when heavy rains can lead to dangerous, bacteria-laden runoff.

"It's purely a precautionary measure ... but we feel we can't be too zealous when it comes to public health at beaches," he said.
Winnicker said the PUC would likely leave the signs up through the weekend as a precautionary measure and will look at water samples on Monday to make further decisions.
...
Water quality officials acknowledge that the environmental impacts of the spill are unknown, but said that they are much less worried than they would have been if the sewage hadn't been treated at all. Tests are being done now and results could be available as early as Saturday morning, officials said.

"It's partially treated, which is not nearly as damaging," said Lila Tang, manager of the wastewater permits unit for the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Board.

The amount of sewage spilled would cover a football field - including the end zones - in sewage 6.3 feet deep.

"It probably diluted down immediately with the tidal action in the area," added Stephen Danehy, general manager of the Sewerage Agency of Southern Marin. "It's probably negligible, barely noticeable."

For the complete story, go to:
http://tinyurl.com/2rz4k4

Oil Spill Fouls Bay Area Beaches

The Cosco Busan container ship that hit the Bay Bridge leaked at least 58,000 gallons of oil into the Bay Area. The oil is fouling nearly all the beaches in the Bay Area, and untold numbers of birds have been covered with oil.

Please stay off Bay Area beaches for at least the next few days. You don't want to compact any oil into the sand by walking over it. The oil is toxic, and you don't want to get any of it on you or your dog.

If you see an oil-covered bird or mammal, DO NOT TOUCH IT. Call 877-823-6926
That's the number for the Oiled Wildlife Care Network
http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/owcn/
You need special training to help these animals, and OWCN has that special training. Their website has info on their need for volunteers.

If you see an oiled bird or mammal, make sure your dog does not approach it. The
bird or animal will be highly stressed. Plus the oil is toxic to anything or anyone
who touches it.

To report a new oil sighting, call 985-781-0804

For general info on the oil spill and clean-up:
http://www.uscgsanfrancisco.com/go/site/823/
Info on the oil spill can be found under "Recent Updates" on the left of the website.

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From the GGNRA website http://www.nps.gov/goga/
"Due to the November 7 oil spill as a result of the ship Cosco Busan's
allision with the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, the following areas in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area are closed until further notice: Fort Point, Crissy Field Beach (the Promenade remains open), Baker Beach, China Beach, Rodeo Beach, Tennesse Valley Beach, the beach and boat ramp at Fort Baker and Kirby Cove. As of Friday morning Muir Beach is also closed. Except for the Agave Trail area Alcatraz Island remains open to public."
Note: Fort Funston beach was closed Friday, 11/9, afternoon.

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Informational Sessions on Wildlife Care
SAN FRANCISO - The Department of Fish and Games Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR), in cooperation with the Headlands Institute, the Harbor Master at Richmond Marina and the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium will be offering informational classes on Nov. 10 to the public.

The two-hour classes, "Informational Sessions on Wildlife Care", are designed to inform the public on the activities of OSPR, the Oiled Wildlife Network (OWCN) and the International Bird Rescue and Recovery Council (IBRRC) in response to wildlife impacts in the M/V Cosco Busan Incident.

Topics that will be covered in each of the three classes will be:
- What is OSPR and why was it formed
- How cleanup is conducted
- How are wildlife recovery and rehabilitation addressed
- How can the public get trained if they want to become more involved
- What areas and activities should the public avoid during the cleanup
- How can the public report wildlife impacts to trained response staff

The locations of the classes are as follows:
- Headlands Institute, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Building 1033, Sausalito, CA 94965 Tele: 415.332.5771
http://www.yni.org/hi/conference/location/index.php
Class time: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

- Harbor Master Richmond Marina, 1340 Marina Way South, Richmond, CA 94804 Tele:
510.236.1013 Class time: 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

- Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, 99 Grove Street, San Francisco, CA Tele: 415.974.4060. Class time: 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

The classes are designed not be a community forum for other questions surrounding this incident. It will only be an opportunity for the public to learn about wildlife care during an event and how the public may want to be more involved.

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The SF Surfrider Foundation is organizing some volunteer works:
http://zunasurf.wordpress.com/
They'll be at Ocean Beach on Saturday
8:00 am - Meet at great highway and Noriega.
10:00am - Meet at great highway and Taraval.
Noon - TBD
Please bring gloves and heavy duty bags if you have them.

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From the US Coast Guard website http://www.uscgsanfrancisco.com/go/site/823
"When a disaster occurs, people want to help.  Often, this is exactly what
is needed in a crisis. However, sometimes the presence of untrained people, however
well-meaning, really does not help, and it can even make things worse. This is especially true in the case of an oil spill.

A barge runs aground on a beach, a ship slams into a bridge and suddenly oil pours
into the water and on the shore. Depending on many factors like the type of oil
and the weather, many things can happen next.

If waterfowl come in contact with the heavier oils, their feathers become coated
in oil, and they cannot keep warm or stay afloat. They cannot swim, so they hide
on the shore. These vulnerable birds panic when approached by people, and their
attempts to flee can result in physical injury.

Bottom-dwelling creatures -- flounder, lobsters, clams, sea stars -- can die from
ingesting oil. They wash up onto the shore or roll out to sea with the tide. Beach
sands and tidal flats can absorb the oil, and the tiny creatures living in them
die from ingestion or lack of air.  Every human footstep further compacts the ground, forcing air out of the sediment and driving the oil deeper, harming more of the tiny creatures’ habitat.

In any case, an oil spill emergency is no place for onlookers. Everyone wants to
help, but not everyone can. Untrained people can actually harm the natural resources they want to help and may even harm themselves while trying, through exposure to the oil and its toxic fumes.

Crowds of people at a spill site divert the attention of law enforcement personnel,
adding to the drain on emergency resources and confusion at the site. Wildlife or
anything oiled may present a serious human health risk and should only be handled
by trained experts."

Micrus: Stop Killing Dogs Demonstration

Micrus, a San Jose-based medical-device company that recently killed a dog in a sales demonstration, will have representatives at a conference in San Francisco on Wednesday. Please join animal activists and dog lovers for an important protest, during which activists - accompanied by their canine companions and holding signs reading, "Micrus: Stop Killing Dogs"- will confront Micrus at the International Stroke Conference on Wednesday.

When: Wednesday, February 7, 11:45 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Where: Moscone West Convention Center, 747 Howard St., San Francisco

Groups are requesting assurance from Micrus that it will not use animals for sales-training purposes in the future and will use modern non-animal alternatives instead.

Please join us for this important protest on Wednesday! Posters and leaflets will be provided, so all we need is you, your canine friends (if they're friendly and well-socialized), and anyone else who would like to help out. If you would like to wear the dog costume, or if you have any questions about the protest, please contact local organizer Melissa Gonzalez at 415-448-0078.

YOUR WHOLE PET: Real food for dogs is easier than you think

Great article today in The San Francisco Chronicle by Chrsite Keith about feeding our dogs "real food".  Christie also has a great collection of wonderful articles about health and diet on her website here.

Enjoy!

$1,000 reward for missing dog

 

Palo Alto police announced a $1,000 reward Wednesday for the return of a missing search-and-rescue dog.

Luke, a "very shy" bloodhound owned by a Palo Alto police officer, has been the subject of a search since he went missing from his owner's Newark residence the day after Christmas, police said.

The doors of Agent Jean Bready's home and the gate were closed, so police aren't sure whether the dog was stolen or somehow got out on his own, said Agent Rich Bullerjahn, a Palo Alto Police Department spokesman.

The 3-year-old bloodhound was last seen about 7:30 p.m. Sunday outside Graham Elementary School in Newark, not far from his home, authorities said. The dog was also spotted earlier, either Thursday or Friday, near a fire station on Newark Boulevard, authorities said.

Palo Alto police recently began a part-time pilot program using Luke for tracking purposes.

The $1,000 reward is being put up by an anonymous donor. Palo Alto police ask anyone with information about the missing dog to call (650) 329-2413.

E-mail John Coté at jcote@sfchronicle.com.

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Howlistic pet care

Howlistic pet care
Pets Unlimited offers acupuncture, homeopathy and Chinese herbs in growing field of alternative veterinary medicine as cats, dogs become ever more a part of San Francisco families
- Patricia Yollin, Chronicle Staff Writer
Saturday, November 18, 2006

The rooms are a study in color and light, with bamboo floors, framed shoji screen windows, candles on every table and large black-and-white photographs on the walls. The effect is soothing and pristine.

It won't last.

On Monday, the howls and yelps will begin, punctuated by occasional spurts of bodily fluids. San Francisco's first totally holistic center for veterinary medicine will open at Pets Unlimited, a Pacific Heights nonprofit offering free tours to the public today and Sunday.

"Finally, people are ready for this," said veterinarian Cheryl Schwartz, a pioneer in the field of nontraditional care for animals.

The creatures that come to the center will receive such treatments as acupuncture, Chinese herbs and homeopathy -- either as a complement to Western medicine or as an alternative when conventional approaches haven't worked.

"In the last few years we've really seen the demand grow, especially with the aging pet population," said Joe O'Hehir, the organization's executive director.

The center, formerly a grooming and cat-boarding space, is located on the basement level of the Fillmore Street building. During the 18-month renovation, the walls of the reception area became a peach-mango shade, applied using a Venetian plaster technique more often encountered in Italian restaurants.

Continued...

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

Hotels for the canine carriage trade; Upscale kennels cater to dogs' -- or owners' -- whims, from color TVs to pools, massages

Hotels for the canine carriage trade
Upscale kennels cater to dogs' -- or owners' -- whims, from color TVs to pools, massages
- Justin Berton, Chronicle Staff Writer
Monday, November 13, 2006

At the Wag Hotel, which is scheduled to open its doors in San Francisco next month, Fido might begin his weekend stay with a dip in the swimming pool. He can follow with a stress-relieving massage or a "blueberry facial" or even treat himself to a "pawdicure." At the end of the day, he can return to his $85-a-night suite, kick up his paws on the sofa and snooze away the evening to a stream of Disney animation movies, piped in to his room on a high-definition flat-screen TV.

Such is the city dog's life, circa 2006.

When the 35,000-square-foot South of Market facility opens with 163 "rooms" and 67 art-festooned "suites," it will rank as the city's largest and swankiest kennel.

Just don't call it a kennel.

"We're working hard to expunge the K-word from our vocabulary," said Joel Leineke, co-founder and president of Wag. "We see ourselves as luxury boarding, and we're even trying to move away from that word, boarding. We're ... a luxury hotel."

Continued...

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

The Anti-Cesar Millan

The Anti-Cesar Millan
Ian Dunbar's been succeeding for 25 years with lure-reward dog training; how come he's been usurped by the flashy, aggressive TV host?
- Louise Rafkin
Sunday, October 15, 2006

It's late afternoon at Point Isabel, prime time at the Bay Area's popular off-leash dog park, and the man some call the most innovative in the field of dog training weaves unnoticed through the two- and four-legged throngs. No one recognizes the slight, snow-haired man dressed in Berkeley-esque traveler's clothes (well-pocketed shirt and cargo pants) as Dr. Ian Dunbar, the man who wrote the book -- rather, six books -- on pet dog training and the guy who developed one of the earliest puppy-training courses in the country. Dunbar is 59, and though he's been away from his native England for decades (since 1971), he carries the air of an English gentleman. Occasionally British colloquialisms slip into conversation. "I was gob-smacked!" is how he explains his recent shock over a case of dog-owner ignorance.

With an eager border collie obsessively dropping a ball at his feet, Dunbar scans the Point Isabel regulars. It's hard to imagine he's not passing judgment on particular behaviors, but mostly he smiles at the four-legged passers-by. Thirty-five years of studying dogs has not dulled him to simple joys.

"Bay Area dogs are so cool, so friendly and polite," he says. When a brown fluff ball approaches jauntily and sniffs his pant leg, he genuinely gushes. "What a cute puppy!" Then an incessant barker demands attention. "We've heard," he says firmly to the lab. "Haven't you got anything else to say?"

Continued...

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

SFDOG's Dog Days of Summer Event a SUCCESS!

SFDOG and the dog-loving public had a wonderful time at Dolores Park on Sat., August 26th!

There was a nice article in the Sunday Chronicle about the SFDOG Dog Days of August Picnic Celebration in Dolores Park on Saturday. It's in the Bay Area section, page B3, with a nice picture of a man and his greyhound. Here's a link to the story:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/08/27/BAGDLKQ6O11.DTL

-- Sally Stephens