April 21, 2007

Victoria Jackson, Saturday Night Live
Victoria started out supporting herself as a cigarette girl and a typist at the American Cancer Society while performing stand up comedy. Her big break came when Johnny Carson put her act (which consisted of her doing a handstand while reciting poetry) on national TV. Following her 22 appearances with Johnny, she starred in many movies and TV shows, most notably Saturday Night Live. Victoria currently lives in Florida with her husband and two daughters, as well as her three dogs, Buddy, Daisy and Peanut.

Victoria states that every time she wanted to get pregnant, she got a puppy instead. She currently has three dogs and has been trying to convince them, although so far she has been unsuccessful, that she is the Alpha Dog.

Victoria still tours the country doing stand up. Catch her next at The Grove in Anaheim, California on August 26th.
http://www.victoriajackson.com

Watch out for Poisonous Plants When Gardening!
Rebecca Kolls, Rebecca's Garden, HGTV
Now that summer's here, green thumbs of all ages are whipping their gardens into shape and dogs are spending more nd more time outdoors. According to the Nat'l Gardening Association, two out of three American households will partake in some form of the outdoor activity, be it planting flowers, pulling weeds, raking or mowing the lawn. With all of these activities come risks that you may not realize, including injuries from lawn and garden tools and reactions to poisonous plants. Be careful: According to a recent Cornell University study, global warming has created a climate where weedy vines like poison ivy flourish! However, with a little bit of smarts and the right gardening essentials, the garden can be a great place for you and your dog!

Master Gardener Rebecca Kolls hosts the nationally syndicated Home & Garden Television Network (HGTV) series "Rebecca's Garden" and has served as the gardening and lifestyle contributor for ABC's "Good Morning America" since 1999. Her show has spawned several spin-off entities including the new gardening and lifestyle magazine "Seasons" and the book "Rebecca's Garden: Four Seasons to Grow On."
http://www.RebeccasGarden.com

Joan Van Ark
Hollywood Party for the Animals
Joan Van Ark is best known for her role as Valene Ewing beginning on "Dallas" and then the spin-off series, "Knots Landings." Joan grew up in Boulder, Colorado surrounded by animals. Joan tells us the story of 6 piglets that the Farm Sanctuary rescued.

The Farm Sanctuary recently rescued six new piglets who had been used as "teaching tools" at a university veterinary hospital. After undergoing "practice" surgeries, their time at the school was up. No longer useful to the university, the piglets were scheduled to go to auction, and eventually to slaughter. But due to a kind vet student who asked that their lives be spared, the piglets were eventually sent to the Farm Sanctuary. When the piglets arrived at the Farm Sanctuary, they still had fresh surgical wounds on their bellies. They were originally identified only by numbers, but have now been given all new names. One of the piglets has been named "Joan Van Ark" and she couldn't be prouder. She even has a picture of her piglet in her kitchen.

The Farm Sanctuary's Hollywood Party will be held on Saturday, August 26th in Hollywood, California. The attire is outdoor cocktail and the event will be held in a lawn and patio area.

Special Guests: David Boreanaz, Thora Birch, Kelly Bishop, Rebecca De Mornay, Lisa Edelstein, Dennis Erdman, Corey Feldman, John Feldmann, Dave Foley, Kevin Nealon, Cassandra Peterson, James Reynolds, Matthew Scully, Darren Star, Loretta Swit, Steve Valentine, Joan van Ark, Persia White, Kelli Williams, Debra Wilson Skelton, Gretchen Wyler, Bob Zmuda

Tickets are $50 per person. To purchase your tickets or for more information about sponsorship opportunities, please contact: 607-583-2225 ext. 221 or register online at
http://www.FarmSanctuary.org

Woman Run Over By Police Dog
Britt Savage
Mary Stone, of Ogden, Utah, was hit by a police truck, but it was not driven by a police officer, it was being driven by a police dog.

It seems the officer was responding to a domestic violence call and left Ranger, the police dog, in the truck. The officer also left the truck running so that Ranger would have use of the air conditioner. All of a sudden, Ranger managed to shift the truck into gear causing it to move and hit the woman.

Mary Stone was warned by the police to get out of the way, but she remained in place, thinking she could push the truck back. Consequently she suffered several broken bone in her pelvis.

Spending on Pets Expected to Soar
Dr. Jim Humphries, Veterinary News Network
Fluffy, Fido and Spot tug at their guardians' hearts, and in many cases, at their wallets. About 63% of all US households, or 69 million homes, have at least one pet according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association. Experts expect the growth of two demographic groups, children younger than 18 years of age and empty nesters to drive that number higher over the next few years. The pet products experts point to research showing that having a pet can provide benefits ranging from helping to lower blood pressure to assisting in fighting depression, that or just that many pet owners view their pets as family, helps drive them to providing the animals with the best of everything. Pet industry expenditures were 36 billion dollars in 2005 and are expected to grow by 5.8% to about 38 billion dollars in 2006.
http://www.VetNewsNet.com

The Jumping Bean Queen
Soledad Hindi, Mexican Jumping Beans
This amazing little, live bean, the size of your fingernail, has been entertaining and fascinating both young and old alike for more than 50 years, proof enough that they are harmless, yet entertaining natural wonders. It is a member of the TORTRICADAE family. This family is somewhat of a curiosity. A moth, of the Genus and Species Larva, TINEOIDEA/ LASPEYRESIA SALTITANS lays its egg in the flower tree called EUPHORBIACEAE SEBASTIANA PAVONIANA, found only in Mexico. The flower then forms a seedpod around the moth egg. This seedpod serves as a temporary home for "JUMPING BEANDITO". When the early May rains start, the seedpod matures, splits into three parts and falls to the ground. The egg turns into a caterpillar which then consumes the seed inside.

The jumping movements are the caterpillar's movements to get to the edible seed. Eventually, the caterpillar will spin a silk cocoon which causes more jumping. It will then go dormant for a short time. It is not dead. Instead, it is going through metamorphosis. It will turn into a tiny, harmless moth that does not pose any danger to either clothes, plants or humans. You can actually watch the small moth emerge. If you should be so lucky as to see a moth hatch, do not worry. It will not harm a thing and it hates the taste of clothes. The moth does not require food. Point it South and let it go, PLEASE!!!! A happy bean prefers to rest in a cool, dark place when it is not jumping. They also love to travel, so take them along in your shirt pocket. The warmth of your heart will make them bounce. Occasionally, they do like a little drink. So be kind and give them a light mist once a week. They are ideal pets since they don't need to be walked, fed or brushed. PS - THEY JUMP BEST TO MUSIC!
http://www.Jbean.com

Salute to the Eagle Steven Colbert, Jr. (Comedy Central)
Jan Sluizer, Special Correspondent
The San Francisco Zoo has named one of its eagle chicks after Steven Colbert, of "The Colbert Report" which airs on Comedy Central. Colbert is a fan of American iconography and his show prominently features a computer rendition of an eagle in the opening introduction. The idea to name a chick after Colbert was the brainchild of the staff and volunteers at the Avian Conservation Center.

The Avian Conservation Center staff has successfully hatched their 100th bald eagle chick for reintroduction into the wild. Their grand total is now 103 chicks hatched since the program began 15 years ago.
http://www.SFZoo.org

Cats & Heartworm
Dr. Anne Norton, DVM
While it is not as common for cats to get heartworm as dogs, they do get it, and unfortunately, there is no heartworm treatment for cats. Therefore, prevention is most important.

Heartworm symptoms in cats tend to differ from those of a dog. In a cat, the symptoms seem to be more immune-related than heart failure related. In fact, in cats you may see more of a lung disease along with respiratory problems, such as coughing and/or vomiting. Many times heartworm in cats has been misdiagnosed as feline asthma.

For cats, the heartworm may die. But because their hearts are much smaller than those of a dog, passage of the worm may become difficult, and it may actually cause a blockage. And in the worst cases, sudden death may occur.

Fortunately, there are many products on the market today, most in a monthly pill, that can help prevent heartworm. Please check with your vet to see what is best for your pet depending upon the area you live in.

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