Stem Cells at Work

Stem cells are making headlines in veterinary medicine but none more so than in Western Pennsylvania where a vet is attempting to use stem cells to regrow the pads on a dog's paws. The patient is a pit bull named Bernie, who suffered burns on the paws of his feet when his former owner left him on a scorching rooftop for ten hours. Police rescued the dog and took him to the Animal Rescue League in Berks county, PA near Reading.

The shelter took Bernie to Wyomissing Animal Hospital, where Dr. Boyd Wagner, owner, decided to try to regrow the pads using stem cells. "I don't think I've seen anything that bad in 25 years," the vet said. "They were severe third degree burns."

Wagner had been doing work with Celavet, a California-based bio-tech firm doing research on stem cells use in vet medicine and he decided to try the procedure, the first of its kind that required special permission from the FDA. "The stem cells increase the re-epithelization at a faster pace and a more uniform pace," he said.

The procedure was performed August 4 and it is still too soon to tell if it is working. In the meantime, Bernie seems to be recovering and is looking for a foster home. "He seems to be happy now," says Wagner. "He's a tough little guy."

Finding Fuzzybutt Four

In the market for a puppy? Well so is Luke Robinson who walked from Austin to Boston with his two Great Pyrennes, Hudson and Murphy to raise awareness for canine cancer. Unfortunately in one of life's cruelest ironies, Murphy succumbed to cancer shortly after the completion of the walk.

After much soul searching. Luke has decided to adopt (rescue) another Great Pyr to keep Hudson company and his efforts have launched his latest blog. If you are in the market for a large puppy, I think you will find it hard to resist these faces!

Lucky Dog!

That lucky dog would be Beth, a jack Russell terrier rescued by none other than Prince Charles and his wife Camilla. According to CNN, the puppy was abandoned at the Battersea Dog and Cats Home in London when it was 12 weeks old and is one of over 100 dogs that came to the shelter in July.

Camilla had actually presided over the opening of the shelter's new "cattery" and mentioned to the staff that she would love another Jack Russell to replace her much loved Freddy, who had passed away. When this puppy appeared on its doorstep, the shelter execs phoned the royal couple.

"i just couldn't resist her; she is gorgeous," Camilla told the Daily Mail after she saw photos of Beth. "It is so exciting. I can't wait for her to meet the family."

Presumably that would include one royal mother-in-law, the Queen, who has a fondness for corgis. Beth joins Charles and Camilla's other Jack Russels, Tosca and Rosie.

No word yet on whether the pup gets special meals but we imagine life will improve drastically from that in the shelter!

Diane Hendericks on Action News!

Diane Hendericks wowed the crowd on Action News last week. She popped into the ABC studios in Philly, did a live segment and then stayed around for an online chat. The topic: school lunches. As always, Diane was warm, sincere, knowledgable and always ready to plug the book!

She is one of the chefs participating in our launch party in Philly on October 20 at Square 1682 Restaurant from 6-8 PM.

Follow Chef Carmen!

Check out Chef Carmen Gonzalez's new website where you can follow her exploits and check out her new recipes. Note her home page features the SPCA!

Vegan Diets For Dogs

What do vegans feed their dogs? Usually meat since dogs are carnivores, but actress Alicia Silverstone feeds her pups a 100% plant based diet, according to Parade magazine. You can check out her vegan nutrition site at www.thekindlife.com.

She feeds her dogs whatever leftovers she has, mixed with Dr. Harvey's Canine health line. "Since I changed their diets about 10 years ago, they've had no fleas or itchy hot spots," she adds. "Their immune systems got so strong that those things don't bother them anymore."

Healthy School Lunches

Did you catch our own Chef Diane Hendericks on Philly ABC affiliate earlier this week giving tips for healthy school lunches--for people not pets!! Well here she is with some great ideas for your back to school crew! And don't forget those cold packs to keep everything fresh!

Official Book Trailer

Spread the Word!!

Elderbulls!

ELDERBULLS: The Movie (2011) from Animal Farm on Vimeo.

I don't think we have any pitbulls in the book, but this video certainly does a lot to help their reputation! It is a favorite of PACT founder Buzz Miller who adores this breed.

Monster Milers

Check out the recent issue of Urban Dog! They have a great feature on Monster Milers, based in Philadelphia. Over 250 volunteers runs shelter dogs every day, keeping everyone fit and happy!

Summer Time Dessert--People and Pet Friendly

The berries are ripe for the picking! Take advantage of nature's summer harvest with the following dessert for people and pets. You can use homemade or store bought pound cake (Sara Lee frozen ones are decadent) or even substitute angel food cake (a little lighter), or sugar cookies or even whole wheat toast.

Go easy on the sweetener in the cake and start out with one type of berries just to make sure your dog can tolerate them. It really is a variation on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, only using fresh fruit!

Dog Pound Cake

Courtesy of FidoDogTreats.com

Dog food recipe ingredients:
1 homemade pound cake
1/3 Cup Blueberries
1/3 Blackberries
1/3 Cup Raspberries
1/2 Cup Crunchy Peanut butter
Dog food recipe instructions:
Melt the peanut butter. Brush the entire cake with melted peanut butter. Arrange the berries on the top of the pound cake. Cut and serve to your favorite pooch!


Disclaimer: This recipe is not intended to meet all of your dog's nutritional needs. If you wish to cook for your dog regularly, please consult a vet or veterinary nutritionist to learn about how to feed your dog a nutritionally balanced diet.

What Goes Around Comes Around

Here's a story we especially like because human and non-human ives were saved.

Brendan Ocasio, formerly homeless, has found a new career taking care of animals at the New York City Animal Care and control shelter in Manhattan. He found this new job through the Doe Fund which helps get homeless people back on their feet. It is part of a recent partnership with the shelter.

Read all about it here and once again marvel at the healing power of pets.

Snowmass Culinary and Arts Festival

Diane Henderiks (pictured) and Carmen Gonzalez, two of our chefs, were both at the recent Snowmass Culinary and Arts Festival. They got to escape the suffocating heat and humidity that blanketed the East Coast and Diane made quite an impression on at least one food critic!

Read all about it here and note that she mentioned Diane was someone to keep your eye on! A rising star if we ever saw one and a dog lover to boot! You go girl!

Wedding Crashers

That's the top of a wedding cake showcasing the dogs of the bride and groom. By the way its from a wedding between two people, not dogs! We think it's adorable but apparently not everyone feels so inclined toward including canines in wedding parties.

Check out the "yappily ever after" tale here by the grandmother of the flower dog! Just wondering if the dogs were allowed to retrieve the bouquet.....

Chefs For Seals Event in NYC

So it's true--chefs love animals and can make a huge difference in the way we treat them. But you already knew that just by looking at some of the photos in our book.

Gotta Love It!!

True stress reliever!!!! Gotta love the sentiments behind it.