Animal Corner

Link: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm348786.htm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 19, 2013 - Natura Pet Products is voluntarily expanding its March 29, 2013 recall of dry pet foods because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The expanded recall now includes all dry pet food products and treats with expiration dates prior to and including March 24, 2014. Please see the table below for details of affected products.

Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

Sampling conducted by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and the Georgia Department of Agriculture confirmed the presence of Salmonella in additional dry pet food and a cat pet treat. In an abundance of caution, Natura is also recalling product made in the surrounding timeframe. This action affects dry pet foods and treats only; no canned wet food or biscuits are affected by this announcement.

The affected products are sold through veterinary clinics and select pet specialty retailers nationwide and in Canada, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and Costa Rica, as well as online.

Consumers who have purchased these pet foods should discard them. For additional information, consumers may visit www.naturapet.com. For a product replacement or refund call Natura toll-free at 800-224-6123. (Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM CST).

No canned wet food or biscuits are affected by this announcement.

About Natura Pet Products
Natura Pet Products is recognized as a trusted name behind natural and holistic pet foods and treats. Founded more than 20 years ago by John and Ann Rademakers and Peter Atkins, Natura is dedicated to providing the best natural nutrition. Natura is committed to making premium pet foods and treats based on nutritional science and high-quality ingredients, combined with trusted manufacturing processes, for complete pet health. Lines include: Innova®, California Natural®, EVO®, HealthWise®, Mother Nature® and Karma®. To learn more about Natura Pet Products visit www.NaturaPet.com

###

Animal Corner

The Happy Wrangler's 4-H Club is hosting a fundraiser. A New & Used Horse Tack Auction will be held on Saturday April 27th starting at noon at the Loyal Order of Moose #260 at 1200 N. Indiana Avenue in Crown Point, IN. Admission is free. There will be saddles, lots of horse tack, a silent auction, and more. Food will be available for purchase. Anyone is welcome to bring used tack to be auctioned off with 15% of the proceeds going to the Happy Wranglers 4-H Club. For more information or to donate to this worthwhile event contact Barb DeWell at 219-988-4984 or 219-789-0255.

###

Green Zone

Porter County – The Valparaiso compost site, 2150 W. Lincolnway, and the Boone Grove site, 400 West 550 South, will open for the season April 1, to give Porter County residents the opportunity to drop off yard waste from their spring cleanups.

Regular hours for the Valparaiso compost site will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Currently, the Valparaiso compost site is open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. through March 30. Regular hours for the Boone Grove site will be from noon to 5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Currently the site is closed.

Materials accepted at either site include organic yard waste, leaves, garden clippings, household plants, brush, limbs, logs and firewood. Treated wood or lumber is not accepted at either site. Grass is not accepted at the Valparaiso site. Compost and mulch will be available at both locations for residents to take, while supplies last.

Other materials accepted at the compost sites for proper disposal include old or unusable electronics (anything with an electrical cord or powered by batteries); cell phones; compact and tube fluorescent light bulbs; household batteries; toner cartridges; and old media, such as cassette and VCR tapes, CDs, etc.

These large scale municipal composting operations allow the Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County and select municipalities to manage organic material, composting yard waste and grinding organic wood waste to create large amounts of finished compost and mulch. The resulting compost and mulch are also available for public use.

The Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County is an agency dedicated to improving the environment and quality of life for Porter County residents by providing convenient, voluntary waste reduction services.

For more information about public compost sites in Porter County, visit the District’s website, www.ItMeansTheWorld.org, or call 465-3694.

###

Animal Corner

Last Chance Rescue, based in Schererville, is in desperate need of dog and cat food, preferably without artificial colors and dyes. If you can donate food, please call us! 219-677-2961.

###

Laura's Blog

[Photo provided Humane Society Calumet Area]

From Humane Society Calumet Area: The Munster High School FIRST Robotics Team have been lending a helping hand to a 6-month old kitten named Tapas at the Humane Society Calumet Area. Tapas was brought in a garbage can to the shelter, when he was 3-months old. It was then discovered that he had very limited mobility in his back legs which prevents him from walking. Upon researching and brainstorming countless ideas of how to help out this kitten’s mobility, Liz Popovich, Humane Society Calumet Area’s Lab Technician, came across blueprints on the Internet of a cat wheel-cart. Popovich then decided to contact the Munster High School FIRST Robotics Team to ask for assistance in building this cart. The Robotics Team happily took on the task and built two different models of the wheel-cart for Tapas. The team discovered that the second cart was better suited for Tapas’ needs. As of right now, Tapas is learning how to get around in his new cart. “I completely adore Tapas. He is a little fighter, who does not let his condition bring him down.” said Popovich, who works with him daily. Shown in picture, Tapas in his cart along with some members of the Munster Robotics Team and Nicole Arwood, Lab Technician at the Humane Society Calumet Area.

###