Fwd: What's cuter than a shelter kitten?

[Guest guest]

 

Eddie, Pets for the Environment <eddie

cyndikrall

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 7:09 am

What's cuter than a shelter kitten?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Safe and natural my

furry behind!

[Photo: joeltelling]

 

A new study links autism in humans with insecticides called pyrethrins, which I've heard described in "safe, natural flea and tick treatments." Baroo?

My search turns up pages of flea treatments that include pyrethrins, and its synthetic cousin, permethrin, which is even more dangerous to cats. Furry buyers beware!

 

Dear fellow pet crusaders,

Whatta Friday! First I ransacked the EWG office, then I got to hang with shelter kittens, then I finally met the folks at FDA CVM--whew!

What's cuter than a shelter kitten?*

June is national Adopt a Shelter Cat Month, so to honor Cleo and her kitty brethren, I pulled together a cat-iful donation for a local no-kill shelter.

Washington Animal Rescue League is not just the temporary home for some lucky fluffballs; it's also one of the greenest shelters in the country. The water used in the facility is recycled and used to dampen noise in the dog area, there's tons of natural light, and the air is filtered. You won't see any sad puppydog eyes there!

You can read more about my WARL adventure (and our generous friends who donated the kitty toys and more) on my blog.

*Nothing, trick question. Don't believe me?

Mission Poo Bag accomplished If the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine wouldn't stick around at their public meeting to hear us say, "We're sick of the crap in our pet food," I resolved that we'd come to them!

So last Friday, come to them I did, right up to the--well, right up to the front door, since they don't actually allow dogs into the building. (Irony much?) Outside, in the shade, 3 FDA staffers met me and my EWG human-translation crew.

I presented 70 poo bags, all with the message that we're tired of eating pet food that's not clearly labeled and could be contaminated with dog knows what. They didn't really say too much--no solutions or counterpoints. Watch the video to see their reaction.

We've taken the first step by speaking out. Now we just have to keep on barking and cawing and squeaking and meowing until we know they've heard us. We're not done yet!

How do you fight fleas?

I'm curious--what do you use to keep fleas from bugging you? (I hope it's not pyrethrins or permethrin!) Click the link below that best describes your flea and tick tactics.

 

Click here if you use prescription flea treatements such as Advantage, Frontline, Frontline Plus, Advantix, Program, or Sentinel.

Click here if you use off-the-shelf shampoos or dips.

Click here if you use flea collars.

Click here if you use herbs like rosemary, or diligent brushing and frequent vacuuming.

Click here if you don't use anything to control fleas and ticks.

I think I'm in love I knew I wasn't the only furry green crusader out there, but I had no idea that one had written a book. Or could look so fetching in a green cape.

The title "Doggone Green: A call to action to save our earth" says it all, and the author, Cedar, teaches other dogs and cats about the ways they're already impacting the environment, and how they can step with a lighter pawprint--and teach their humans to do the same.

Read my review of Cedar's book and see why she says pet poop isn't the kind you want to use in your garden.

Dry food pummels wet

"Don't want any chemicals to ruin this milk mustache!" --Pippen

 

My last click poll shows that 48% of you guys eat only dry food. Runner-up was a dry and wet combo diet (41%), and surprisingly, more pets don't eat store-bought food at all (7%) than wet food only (4%). Way to go, home diet eaters!

Why do I care? Because we're testing pet food, and I have to make sure we send the right kinds of samples to the lab. Thanks to all who made our research stronger by participating in the poll!

My blog needs you!

I'm looking for some copilots to share their pet stories, green tips, and good humor on my blog. If you're a pet or pet-person interested in writing a post or two, please email me!

Agent 00-Eddie signing off

That's it for this update--until we meet again at the water bowl, behind the backyard fence, or at the bottom of the muddiest ditch we can find.

Your furry crusader,

Eddie

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Pets for the Environment is a project of the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit, non-partisan research organization dedicated to using the power of information to protect health and the environment.

Environmental Working Group / 1436 U Street NW, #100 / Washington, DC 20009

www.petsfortheenvironment.org / www.ewg.org

 

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