More pets in American workplaces

 

A new survey has revealed that an increasing number of Americans would like to see pets allowed in the workplace, and it’s not only the employees who are happy to see doggies roaming about their offices; one in five companies already approve of having pets at work.

 

Thousands of working Americans took part in the national poll conducted by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA). 17% are already allowed to bring pets to their workplace, and the majority of respondents believe that having pets at work relieves stress and makes people happier. Here are some of the results:

 

·         75 million Americans believe having pets in the workplace makes people happier

 

·         70 million Americans believe having pets in the workplace reduces stress

 

·         47 million Americans believe having pets in the workplace leads to a more creative environment

 

·         37 million believe having pets in the workplace decreases absenteeism

 

·         41 million believe having pets in the workplace helps co-workers get along better

 

·         46 million believe having pets in the workplace creates a more productive work environment

 

·         23 million believe having pets in the workplace decreases smoking in the workplace

 

·         34 million people who bring their pets to the workplace work longer hours

 

According to the APPMA, dogs are the most common pet to be taken to work at 76%, while 24% bring a small animal and 15% take their cat.

 

“This survey indicates that more people are realising the importance of pets in the workplace. Pets are becoming more of a welcome addition and proving to be beneficial to employee well-being and office culture,” said APPMA President Bob Vetere.

 

Source: APPMA, June 2008

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Pets reflect growing obesity rates in Australia

 

According to the RSPCA, obesity isn’t just a problem for humans. Pet obesity is on the rise in Australia, with 33 percent of our country’s cats and 41 percent of dogs either overweight or obese.

 

“With 41.2 percent of Australian adults over the age of 25 suffering from obesity caused by poor diet and lack of exercise, these statistics suggest that unhealthy human lifestyles are having a detrimental effect on our pets, with pets fast following their owner’s footsteps,” professional animal trainer Steve Austin said.

 

Not unlike humans, obesity in animals can lead to a number of medical problems including osteoarthritis, cardiovascular disease, liver disease and heart disease.

 

Cats in particular are vulnerable to arthritis and diabetes if they become overweight.  

 

“Cats are no longer roaming and hunting as in the past, but are often contained indoors, so it is easy for them to gain weight. A fat cat is also susceptible to injury as it cannot move gracefully,” said Mr Austin.

 

As for dogs, he recommended frequent activities with the help of the owner.

 

“Just like humans, dogs need regular aerobic exercise to stay fit and healthy. Dog owners need to be willing to adapt their daily routine to include regular walks,” he said.

 

Source: Coastal Views, APN Newspapers Pty Ltd, June 2008

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Missing limbs aren't a problem for pets at NCSU

 

Engineers and veterinary surgeons at North Carolina State University are fine tuning prosthetics in order to improve the lives of dogs and cats. Their cutting edge custom-designed metal implants attach directly to an animal’s own bones, which could turn makeshift limbs and carts into a thing of the past.

 

“We’re getting much better and we can develop new types of implants much, much faster than we did in the past,” says Ola Harryson, a biomedical engineer at North Carolina State University.

 

In order to make the limbs, the engineers and veterinary surgeons use a machine which converts CAT scan images into replicas of an animal’s bones. These replicas are then used to aid design and customise the implant, which is inserted into the end of the remaining bone during surgery. After a while, new bone grows around the metal and once it is strong enough a new prosthetic foot is attached.

 

“I think it could work very well in a number of species,” says Dr. Denis Macellin-Little, a veterinary surgeon at North Carolina State University.

 

The North Carolina team has already received a number of requests for the hi-tech implants, including China, where a panda is in need of a paw.

 

Source: Kare 11, NBC, June 2008

 

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Wild-domestic cat hybrids a big no-no, say RSPCA

 

The RSPCA and the Invasive Animals Co-operative Research Centre believe we should be concerned about the breeding and possible importation of the savannah cat; a hybrid between domestic cats and the wild serval.

 

The savannah cat has been bred to behave like a regular domestic cat while retaining the features of its wild ancestor. As they are much larger than a domestic cat and have honed hunting instincts, animal welfare groups and wildlife conservationists fear that they will reap a lot more damage to Australian wildlife than feral cats already do.

 

“Any animal that is bought on the basis of its looks rather than its behaviour is likely to add to the unwanted animal problem in Australia,” said RSPCA Australia Chief Scientist, Dr Bidda Jones.

 

“These hybrids would also be at risk of becoming stray and establishing themselves as an invasive pest animal. Australia already has a major problem in dealing with invasive predators – we cannot afford to make this worse.”

 

Under the existing live imports list, hybrid breeds are classified as ‘domesticated’ if they are five generations removed from their wild ancestors.

“This means that they are regarded as no different from your ordinary pet moggie,” said Dr Jones. “The animal welfare consequences of their importation or the potential impact they may have on Australian wildlife is not being assessed.”

 

The first lot of savannah cats are still in quarantine but are expected to arrive in Australia later this year.  Among those anticipating their arrival is Chris Winchester, a breeder waiting for the first batch of 15 to enter the country. He has already had requests for future kittens, which will cost $5,000 each.

 

“They are not going to attack any more than other cats, but obviously no cat should be left to run around outside,” he said.

 

The RSPCA believes the federal Government should prohibit wild-domestic hybrids from being imported into the country in the first place. Tony Peacock, of the Invasive Co-operative Research Centre agrees: “There are no koala predators out there at the moment, but this guy could potentially take them on.”

 

Source: Elle Halliwell, The Sunday Telegraph & RSPCA, June 2008

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