Hay, FOB's...

just a quick "Good Morning"...

pray for me as I go back into the corporate world...it will not be for long, but I will need all my strength to "be in the world but not of it". I already know when I'll be moving on...

Healing, Love, Peace
ONS, OMPH
Padme

CELEBRATE!!!
Please join in as the FOBs recognize Barbaro's buddy!
It's Birthday Time!
Thanks!
jan

Hiya, FsOB! Brent got such a kick out of watching the racing at Delmar shown on ESPN last night. So many beautiful fillies in that one race.... Wishing each of you a bright new week. Peace, RMH

#### To Barb in AZ: Thanks very much for your kind wishes!
To Angel Dee M.: How great that you share a birthday on 08/30 with Dr. Dean Richardson!
To Donna: My sympathies to you upon the passing of Johnny. He must've been a wonderful horse and quite beautiful, too.
To Sandra: Love those stories about Chief! Nice to know that the plumbers know his antics and love him for them! ####

Morning skritches to the BBH, Sir JH, Gorgeous George, Belle, KeyKey, Genny, Sky and the rest of the lovely gang in Equine Heaven.

STRATEGY FOR WEEK OF AUGUST 25

Although Congress has now recessed until September 8, Legislative Aides are still there to take your calls. Until further notice, the strategy will be to continue to gain co-sponsors for HR6598 and the plan is to start with those co-sponsors of HR503. A list is on the DB and the wiki with their names and we are asking that they are only called by constituents. Please do not call the names in red because they are already on board. If your Representative is already a co-sponsor of HR6598, the best way to help is to reach out and find constituents in other districts.

As well as calling DC, time is running out to call your Representative's local office for an August appointment. You can also check to see if your Rep is scheduled to be at an event near you. It is a perfect opportunity to get their attention and have a few words. Below is a Fact Sheet for you to hand out if you do get the chance to see them.

http://www.hsus.org/web-files/PDF/legislation/110_equinecruelty_hr6598.pdf

Remember, this list will be friends of the anti slaughter legislation and there is no reason to go into detail. We’ve been asked to make sure they know that HR6598 , the Conyers-Burton Prevention of Equity Cruelty Act of 2008 is taking the Title 18 approach to end horse slaughter and has been introduced by Representative John Conyers, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. It is not necessary to answer complicated questions or try to explain the bill. Sometimes "less is more"!!

Although the paperwork cannot be done to co-sponsor while they are not in session, we will update this list periodically as commitments are received by the proper people in DC. When their name goes red, there is no reason to call again.

You have really set the groundwork and it seems that we’re off to the right start. We have been advised that our grassroots efforts have made a tremendous impact and YOU ALL are the reason. It is important that we now follow directions and stay focused on what has been requested of us.

Our mission is to GO RED!!!!

We are BARBARO’S VOICE…..let it be heard!!!!

Thanks,

Shelley and Deb

AMERICANS AGAINST HORSE SLAUGHTER

Posted by: ShelleyA at August 24, 2008 11:48 PM

Cheers,
Friar Tuck

Just a quick "Good Morning" from me too. Time to start off a new week.

Janice
A forever devoted to Kaiser FOB

Have a great Monday everyone

Oy
a morning without the Olympic theme:::::get out the Vet Wrap.
Much running around to do this morning and that's all good.
Hope all are well--or getting better--safe trips to all who set hooves on the tracks. The loss of one--like Sky Diamond--just kills my spirit. I wish I could shake those off faster. But I just can't.

We just have to get this bill passed HR6598. Keep pushing. The Leetle Aides are not terribly busy, IMHO, so you'll have LOTS of time to talk to them about horses being killed even as we chat on the phone...

They need to GET IT>

Ach: xxoo:j
COURAGE (especially to Johnny's mom....)

********** THE FINAL DAYS !!! ********

Tomorrow is the final day to contribute to Dr. Richardson's birthday basket. The folks at Kennett Florist are putting this together and, as usual, it will be stupendous.

Get in the saddle and get on the phone. 610-444-6040 No amount is too small.

August 28th is the final day to donate to the Laminitis Fund for the "check" to be presented to Dr. Richardson. Please take time to give to this most worthy fund.

Cherokee Belle any news on her?

RIP Sky Diamond.Very sad indeed.

Joe at TB Friends

WE GET IT HAY DRIVE

The drawing for the first prize will take place at the end of September.

The second prize will be awarded on Sunday, August 31.

Ro & Brady

Good Morning Beautiful Bay, Barbaro

We love you, we miss you...you are always in our hearts, Barbaro....and we are here speaking for your brothers and sisters....

Good Morning Family/Fans of Barbaro

PLEASE CALL, FAX, EMAIL....PLEASE.....

Maybe we should march at the republican and democrat convention....about horse slaughter and passing our bill, etc.

Please remember and help our rescues, there are so many that need us...please.

They forecast by the Farmers Almanac,....this winter is going to be very, very harsh.....this is a warning for us to get prepared and help the rescues to get prepared...please.

Our Fallen Angels, the ones suffering human or animal, our wildlife and always our loving, compassion family.

Prayers to all who need them....whether it is bad health, a loss, or just because....you are all family.

Have a nice day.

####
Good Morning Alex.
Good Morning Tim and Fair Hill.
Our precious Fallen Angels...we are here.

JOE: KB'S SEND THEIR KIDS TO COLLEGE ON THE BODIES OF OUR SLAUGHTERED HORSES. this makes me sick. their frakkin children should be made to watch the white mare video so they know who is paying for their damned WESTERN ART 101. God WHAT A WORLD.)
****************************************************
Monday, August 25th...

Horse killer Wade Giles has a gelding who just raced at Cal Expo in Sacramento. The gelding has an injured ankle and is priced at 60 cents a pound. I tell horse killer Wade Giles you must be kidding. Normal prices are 35 or 40 cents a pound. Horse killer Wade Giles says times are hard, and he has a daughter who is a senior in high school. His daughter goes to college next year, so he needs to earn more money.

Words cannot describe how this annoys me. Exploiting the lives of horses so your kid can go to college. Why not try a real job?

So over the phone I blasted horse killer Wade Giles, and now he refuses to return my calls. I might have blown it for the gelding from Cal Expo.

You would think 60 cents a pound is no big deal, compared to 40 cents a pound. But the difference can be more than $200.00. And as horse killers continue to suck us dry, $200.00 is a mountain of money.

My old friend Gaylen Strong would always tell me, kiss their butts and never air their dirty laundry. Only then will you be successful with horse killers.

And so I kiss their butts and polish their egos and listen in fake amazement as horse killer Manny Phelps tells me about his third new house he is building. This one will have a 12 seat movie room, and a large outdoor heated pool. All from money earned by killing horses.

I have spent years sucking up. Just so I could visit their feed lots and buy doomed horses.

In the last month I have now lost contact with two major horse killers in Northern California. Brent Sanchez and Wade Giles. If you fail to treat horse killers like they matter most in this world, they will drop you.

No big deal if I never see them again. A huge big deal if I am not allowed to buy their horses.

Tbfriends recently purchased a large group of doomed horses from a horse killer who is not legal in our country, and he was taking these horses to slaughter in Mexico.

An ugly way of life this horse slaughter thing. If you have been to a recent auction in Northern California you can actually reach out and grab a handful of gloom. Which is why I try to concentrate on the goodness of others, adoptions, and girls who love their horses.

But 60 cents a pound. Priced high because they raced. Exploiting beautiful horses.

I will drive to Wilton this afternoon, hoping to buy the gelding from Cal Expo. I will bring Wade Giles iced vanilla latte he likes from Starbucks. Extra whip cream. Nod in astonishment as he brags about his son who plays football. I am the ultimate suck up. Two Tylenol please. At least there is an A&W Root Beer stand on the way. Jewels my dog likes the soft serve vanilla cones.

Joe

My Kodak program will be fixed soon. Today you get to look at pictures sent to us.

Top Left: This is Kelli with the love of her life, Mercury.

Top Right: Jessa adopted Lit Royale, and she loves him like crazy.

Bottom Left: Kristen adopted the beautiful filly Dare Thee Power, and this is Power playing at her new home.

Bottom Right: I love this picture of Ariel and Squirty.

Jen's blog is so sad. so sad. that horse was an eyelash from safety--st least that's what Top Bunk was working on. People squeezing pennies out of a great horse like Sky Diamond in a cheesy claimer. I am so mad.

Yes, I just called my Congressman. Yes, I am in queue to talk to him in Syracuse this month--I'd better be--and Yes, I know his phone number by heart...

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

18 wheeler accident KY horses

Sending All, All All My Love........Prayers.....
....Rainbows.......To Angel Barbaro........Our
Angel Horses........Barbaro's Famblee Of So, So
So Beautiful Angels.......Angels Alex And Wendy
.......Angel Dr. Dean Richardson "The Wizard Of
Oz" The Wizard Of Love........The Most So Beautiful Birthday Cake........All The Colors
Of The Rainbow.........And Roses.........Angel
Barbaro With You.........

I Love All Of You So A Lot So.

You Are In My Heart So A Lot So.

Your Angelic Hearts Of Love.

Your Glowing Wings Of Love.

All, All All My Love........Angelic Beautiful
Glowing Rainbows.........To Angel Lou Ann,
Angel Equine Heaven "God's Messenger Of Love",
Angel Jonna And Angel Robyn. You Are In My Heart
So A Lot So.

Angel Sky Diamond And Angel Johnny With Barbaro
On The Rainbow Of Love. God's Ray Of Light Glowing So, So So Beautifully.

Angel Kaiser Divine Communicator Of Love.

The Wings Of Prayer........
The Wings Of Love.........

Angel Jan, Angel Den, Angel Donna, Angel Padme
God's Love For You.........
God's Blessings For You.......
Divinely........

Chief.......God's Rainbow Hearts........

Our Sacred Journey In Rainbows.........
With Each Other.........
Traveling On The Golden Road Of The Rainbow......
..
Angels All Around.........
In Love.........

8.........Angel Barbaro.......
The Spirit Of Love.........

In Halos..........
Glowing..........

Affirmed

(((((((((LynGilbert)))))))))))

Dear Lord watchover our dear fren today and always as she goes forward in the corporate world.May she be forever an example of your goodness and love.In your name and for your glory we ask Lord. Amen

Take care my dear fren...you're always in our prayers.You are a blessing to ALL.

####
Donna
Fren are you OK???? Thank you for telling us about your special Johnny.I wish I had been fortunate enough to meet him.I can only imagine how beautiful he must have been.Hold that thought in your heart forever and your Johnny will never be far away. We are ALL here for you ALWAYS and FOREVER...you can count on US!!! God bless you both...

###
Joe at TBFrens
You are THE BEST!!! I agree with everything you just said!! KB's should get a real job and that is disgusting ....our horses being brutally slaughtered for their kids college!!! SPARE ME!!! That is disgusting stuff....YUCK!! THROW UP!!!!!!

On that note I guess I'll go for now as my computers acting up this morning!!

HUGS and love

Sorry the horse are not KY, but Missouri! The SUV was from KY. My mad;(

I thought the horses were near Jacksonville Mississippi that is the news station that reported the accident...Attala County where is that???

It said that the 18-wheeler was coming from the sale in Carthagem. The only Carthagem I could find was is MO. But Attala County is in MS.

I thought it said the sale was in Carthage which is in Leake County Mississippi and the man was taken to hospital in West Natchez which is in Mississippi.Their is a Livestock Auction in Carthage its called Lowdermans I think???

Make that patient taken to Montfort Jones Hosp in Kosciusko Mississippi.....officers were called to south Natchez???

Confusing! Hope to hear more news.

Anyone have any news on Midnight Lute, who came out of the Pat O'Brien with a gash on his leg?

Deirdre in California

JASPER NEEDS TRANSPORT

Dear Jasper has a home waiting for him in Crescent Oklahoma but he NEEDS A RIDE TO GET THERE !!! Jasper is in Montrose Colorado and needs a transport to Crescent Oklahoma.PLEASE check the DB it's under horse rescue ....

PRAY for dear JASPER...we have all worked so hard to find a place for this lovely horse and now he needs transport.

PLEASE FOB this is what WE ARE ALL ABOUT !!
WE ARE JASPERS SALVATION !!!
WE CAN HELP!!

LET'S HELP JASPER FIND HAPPINESS IN OKLAHOMA !!!

I love you ALL and I know together WE can HELP make this happen for JASPER !!!

upset about Sky Diamond. He deserved a happy retirement. Makes me so mad I can spit. ###Hey, killer buyers (alias slime) think I worked my way through college doing anything I could-even chopped cotton one summer. There wasnt any student loans in those days. I drove a car that both back doors hadto be tied with a rope or else they would come open whenI turned a corner, for 3 years I didnt have a heater or defroster. Drivers door was brokenso I crawled in and out of the window (was thinner back then. Ha). The hood had to be tied down. Bet I appreciated my education a lot more than your kids who will owe their education to thousands of saughtered beautiful horses.

####
PLEASE....HELP JASPER COME HOME....PLEASE....

####
Sandra...I understand....I rather dig ditches, etc...then stood as low as a killer buyer...may he/she rot in h...

Hay, Maribel, Chief say to tell you he doesnt sleep under trees but with half his 90 pound body inside the doggy door and the other half outside. He is having a bad ear day. He looks like shepard but his mix did not give him the ears that stand up. They are flap ears. sometimes one is down and the other straight up and sometimes one is up and the other is stuck out from the side of is head. Iknow, yole, Chiefs ears are not very interesting but all that is on is the dem convention which I care nothing about. I thought the olympic closing was beautiful last night.

For some reason cant get on the D.B. Can we hire someone that transports animals to get Jasper home. If anyone knows maybe we can raise the money. Never underestimate the power of the FOBs.

####
ABSOLUTELY....CORRECT....THE FOBS CAN DO ANYTHING.

WE BELIEVE IN MIRACLES
WE BELIEVE IN BARBARO
AND WE BELIEVE IN THE FOBS...OUR FAMILY...

Hello FOBS,

A dear FOB from Canada, Donna, had to say "good by" to their dog, Regen. Regen went downhill very quickly. She was 11. Donna and her husband are heartbroken. Please remember them in your prayers and kind thoughts.

Janice
A forever devoted to Kaiser FOB

Evening Attire to run at Saratoga! (wiki site)


The Old Man just entered to race at Saratoga this Thursday, Race 5. It's a 1 1/16 turf race so they may be hoping for rain (now that would be different, this summer : ) to go to the dirt.

He just worked out on the main track at Saratoga this morning, a bullet! He looked fantastic. 5 furlongs at 1:00:45! Overheard, "The Old Man still has what it takes."

Go Evening Attire, always dressed for the winner's circle!!!

Kentucky racing regulators vote to ban steroids
2 hours, 14 minutes ago

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP)—Kentucky horse racing regulators have approved a major ban on anabolic steroids that could outlaw the drugs for next year’s Kentucky Derby and other races in the state.

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission approved the measure unanimously Monday. Gov. Steve Beshear has said he’ll support an emergency order to enact the ban in time for next year’s Derby.

The new rules would prohibit horses from racing with any steroid in their system. Three naturally occurring steroids would still be allowed for therapeutic purposes, but even those must be out of the horse’s system by 60 days before a race.

Among the steroids banned is the drug Big Brown had in his system before winning this year’s Derby.

IN RESPONSE TO SKY DIAMOND.... YOU NEED TO CHANGE THE VETS, THE TRACT AND SLOW DOWN THOSE HORSES, QUIT PUSHING THEM TO THE LIMIT... LOOK HOW MANY HAVE GOTTEN HURT AND EUTHANIZED.. NO HORSE SHOULD BE SUBJECTED TO HARM... WAKE UP AMERICA AND THE WORLD AND STOP THIS... ...... I USED TO ENJOY HORSE RACING, BUT KNOW I DON'T.... THEY NEED TO CLEAN UP THE SPORT .. IT'S SOO SOO SAD FOR ALL OF THOSE POOR HORSES THAT SUFFER ALL FOR THE DOLLAR.. THIS IS TURNING IN TO A BUNCH OF GREED..... AND AFTER READING WHAT JEN HAD TO SAY.. ABOUT TRAINERS THEY SHOULD ROT IN HELL FOR WHAT THEY DO.... DIANE

P.S. R I P SKY DIAMOND..

Had to go to the vet and pick up Lucky's med refill this morning. I instigated an hour long conversation about the 'state of things'. The doc and his wife were receptive. I got them to copy down ABR's address and read all about it. He also has a 3 year old roan, Macaroni. I suggested Macaroni might need a companion and that we know where there are plenty of babies looking for homes. I saw the gears turning. Maybe we can give another a forever home. Maybe.

Any crack I find I'm squeezing into it.

God help the horses and all animals at risk.

####((((Donna in Canada))))))So very sorry to hear of your loss. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your husband.

Judy

There were 3 towns in the running for the one racing license left here in New Mexico: Santa Fe, Tucumcari, and Raton. The Racing Commission approved Raton today for the $50 million track and casino. It will be finished in May 2010. It will attract people from 5 states. It is close to me, in the northeastern part of the state. It will create jobs for 300 people.

Rest in peace, REGAN, and may light perpetual shine upon you as you begin your new life in the light of eternity.

Donna, you have my deepest sympathies...it is NEVER easy to lose one of our beloved furkids!

Hay, FOB's!

###
Maribel, thank you for your prayers...

I cried all the way home. I haven't felt this trapped in 20 years. 20 years. I haven't cried this hard in my life...

ever.

Right now I'm listening to Ram Dass for some sanity...some way to make sense of this situation.

My heart is nearly broken being away from horses...

Do I follow my heart or my head??? That is what I'm wrestling with right now...

the old way of "living" just doesn't cut it for me anymore.

I need to be around horses.

That's the only truth I know right now.

Healing, Love, Peace
ONS,OMPH
Padme

###
Padme - I'm sorry for your feelings of being trapped in corporate America. At least you can see the end in sight. The cool thing about horses is that they will wait. But perhaps you can't so might there be a "sick" day in your future? ;-)

Prayers for all who are in need this evening.

(I'm still smiling about Visionaire's incredible run on Saturday!)

Marg
Proud Fan of Barbaro forever

### Lyn,listen to your head now and your heart when you have a nice nest egg...it will all work out, the horses understand this..you will be with them every moment you can and someday soon, all the time..we do what we have to inorder for our dreams to come true..

Does anyone ever hear from Linnie? Working on Dr. Richardson's birthday reminded me of Linnie and her dedication to seeing that laminitis is eradicated. She instituted the "$29 on the 29th" drive and this year Dr. R's celebration just so happens to fall on the 29th.

Linnie, if you are out there, hello dear friend.

Debbie

### MargieinNM,

I am 17 miles north of Raton.

Hiya, FsOB. Dreadful news about that accident with the horse trailer in Missouri. May all of those horses be saved. I am really exhausted and almost fell asleep driving home tonight, which is not a good thing for a Monday. ACN for us all!

#### To Margie in NM: What great public education you did at the vet's office today! Isn't it awful about this country's "dirty little secret"? I swear that until I joined the FsOB back in 2006, I had no idea about the slaughterhouses, the violent demise of any of these poor souls, or even what happened to Ferdinand.
To Sandra: My Andrei's ears used to stand up rather cock-eyed. He was such a cutie, but had a polka-dotted mask, the funny ears, and sort of resembled the junk yard dog. But what a sweet, loving little Husky he was. Please give Chief a Nilla Wafer for me, OK?
To Donna in Canada: Thinking of you as you mourn Regen's passing. Please know that you are among friends who understand, Donna. ####

I am pretty sure that accident wasnt in MO. I think it was in MIssissippi. Jen

Good Evening Everyone,
I hope your weekend was good and you had some kind of fun.

Padme my long time friend, I know how you are feeling, I dreed getting another job because of the horses and my love Hans. He stretched his neck to me last night and literally kissed me with his precious nose twice. My heart went crazy, I just wanted to bring him home in my pocket, he touched my heart so deepely he even looked at me in a special way like he was saying thank you mom for caring and loving me. I want him in my life so badly, I am trying to figure out how to do it. I truly understand what you are going through. Horses are peaceful and have so much insight into us and what we are going through. They just know, their eyes tell us. Look at the horses and be close to them they will guide you as you protect and love them it comes back so strong. I just had an expierence I had never had in my life. I love him so dearly, he is my big boy.

Hi my sweet Barbaro, I thought I saw you at the barn this weekend, it was Teddy, but I swear I was looking at you and you looked back through his eyes and heart. I love you, sweet dreams hunny.

This really shook me up, this horse looks just like our boy and has his sweet gentle eyes.

I had to come on and see my famblee, the horses stole me this weekend for them. They say Hay FOB famblee and frenz.

This is from the ASPCA and very scary. I pray every night for the FOB's the horses and the Rescues who work so very hard for the horses we love so much.I can understand it I am in it.

"We are getting more calls and emails than ever from people who cannot afford to feed their horses..."

Horse sanctuaries and rescues around the country are in crisis over the soaring cost of hay!

Today's struggling economy isn't just affecting people at the gas pump; the horse industry is also plagued by the escalating cost of hay. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's market report, hay costs have risen from $160 per ton in 2006 to $235 per ton last week.

Faced with these rising costs and ongoing drought conditions many horses are left to starve on arid land. Equine rescues are being flooded with calls from caring horse owners to relinquish their beloved pets simply because they can no longer afford to purchase hay. As a result, horse sanctuaries have become crowded with horses for which they too are struggling to care, and are reporting a sharp increase in the number of emaciated horses being surrendered to them. The situation has become even more dire in areas where wildfires, drought, or flooding have affected hay crops causing wild horse sanctuaries to cut back on their services as a result of the staggering costs.

In order to address this crisis, the ASPCA has created an Emergency Hay Fund; this Fund will provide much needed financial assistance to ho rse sa nctuaries to help reduce the burden of escalating hay costs. Every dollar we receive will be used exclusively to provide Emergency Hay Relief grants to struggling horse sanctuaries and rescue organizations. Please, help us make a difference in the lives of horses by supporting this important Fund; every dollar will truly make a difference!

Thank you for your support!

Some Pedigree-brand dog food is recalled
Published: Aug. 18, 2008 at 12:04 PM
Order reprints | Print Story | Email to a Friend | Post a Comment
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Mars Petcare U.S. is recalling some Pedigree-brand dog food due to possible contamination.

The FDA said the recall of Pedigree Complete Nutrition Small Crunchy Bites was limited to bags sold in Albertsons stores in Southern California and the Las Vegas areas. The recalled pet food might be contaminated with Salmonella and should not be fed to pets.
The 20-pound bags of recalled dog food carried UPC 23100 14719, lot code 830BFCAT02 and had "Best Buy Date: 07/2009" printed on the back of the bag.
Pet owners can return the bags to the place of purchase for a refund or contact the company at 877-568-4463 for further information.
Salmonella Now in Pet Food, Recall Issued
Date Published: Monday, August 11th, 2008

In the midst of a rash of nationwide Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria outbreaks in human foods, Salmonella has now turned up in pet food. Mars Petcare US has recalled 100 of its 20-pound bags of PEDIGREE Complete Nutrition Small Crunchy Bites sold at some Albertsons in Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Although Mars also makes Nutro pet food—which consumers nationwide are blaming for a recent rash of illnesses, and some deaths, in dogs and cats—Nutro products are not included in the Mars recall.
Mars said a “component” that tested positive for Salmonella was inadvertently shipped to its Tracy, California, plant and used in the production of 100 bags of PEDIGREE pet food. The affected bags indicate “best by” dates of July 7, 2009. “Our primary concern is the safety and welfare of our pet owners and heir pets,” the company said in a statement. “Although the finished product tested negative and we have received no reports of illness of pets or their owners, out of an abundance of caution we are issuing a voluntary recall of the limited number of bags of Pedigree Complete Nutrition Small Crunchy Bites containing the component in question.” Consumers who bought the food should return it to Albertsons for a full refund.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says that Salmonella can cause infections in dogs and cats and can also be transferred from pets to people who ingest or handle contaminated products. Children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems are most at risk.
The FDA offers some suggestions on how to safely handle pet food:
· Only purchase products in good condition, without signs of damage to the packaging such as dents or tears.
· Before and after handling pet foods and treats, wash hands for 20 seconds with hot water and soap.
· Wash pet food bowls, dishes, and scooping utensils with soap and hot water after every use.
· Never use the pet’s feeding bowl as a scooping utensil; always use a clean, dedicated scoop or spoon.
· Dispose of old or spoiled pet food products in a safe manner, such as in a securely tied plastic bag within a covered trash receptacle.
· Refrigerate the food promptly or discard any unused, leftover wet pet food. Refrigerators should be set at 40º F.
· Dry products should be stored in a cool, dry place in temperatures under 80º F.
· If possible, store dry pet food in its original bag inside a clean, dedicated plastic container with a lid, keeping the top of the bag folded closed.
· Keep pets away from food storage and preparation areas.
· Keep pets away from garbage and household trash.
The FDA does not advocate a raw meat, poultry, or seafood diet for pets; however, because the FDA understands that a growing number of people prefer to raw food diets to their pets, it is increasing its efforts to minimize the risk such foods pose to animal and human health.
This entry was posted on Monday, August 11th, 2008 at 12:02 pm and is filed under Legal News, Food Poisoning, Salmonella.

Promises on safety not kept
08/18/2008
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PROTECTING a nation from tainted food and unsafe drugs in the age of globalization is a daunting and complex job. But it's not impossible, and Americans have a right to expect that it be done right and done now.
It hasn't been. We've had poisonous peppers and tainted tomatoes, adulterated anti-clotting drugs and, just more recently, the second major recall in less than a month involving the same beef processing plant in Omaha.

All that in 2008 alone.

Dr. Andrew C. von Eschenbach, who heads the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, met with state health and agricultural officials from around the nation. The topic was food safety and the crucial role state agencies play in protecting the nation.

Part of his mission was to manage expectations. The FDA's annual budget is nearly $2 billion. It recently received an infusion of another $150 million, with $275 million more promised for next year. But its responsibilities more than match that jumbo bottom line.

THE FDA is supposed to safeguard the safety of all food except meat and poultry, a task that's become exponentially more difficult now that 60 percent of what Americans eat — including 80 percent of all seafood — comes from sources abroad.

Those responsibilities are in addition to the agency's role overseeing prescription and over-the-counter drugs; labeling of cosmetics and ensuring the safety of medical devices and biologics such as vaccines, blood and human tissue used in surgery.

Von Eschenbach was named acting head of the FDA in 2005, when the agency was losing staff because of low salaries, budget cuts and political interference in regulatory decision-making. It had been chronically underfunded for at least two decades. Respected former FDA Commissioner David Kessler told Congress last year that the nation's food safety program "is broken."

Given the sheer scale of the agency's responsibilities and the severe limits of its resources, Von Eschenbach said that recent headlines about food-borne illness such as the salmonella Saintpaul outbreak linked to tainted peppers and tomatoes this summer actually reveal how well the system works.

He pointed to organizational and structural changes designed to prevent future outbreaks by identifying and inspecting high-risk products and producers.

CLEARLY, there is some validity to his points. But they provide no comfort to consumers who have seen one regulatory failure after another in recent years — from lead-tainted toys to poisoned pet food and dangerously unsafe drugs.

The agency does not have the authority to order recalls of tainted products; it must rely, instead, on the cooperation of food processors. Such cooperation has not always come quickly or completely.

Nor is the FDA empowered to mandate a system to track products "from farm to fork." The salmonella outbreak illustrates why that's needed.

Meanwhile, the entire system relies on state and local public health agencies to spot and investigate outbreaks quickly, but states and cities are tightening their belts. Public health agencies always are an easy target for budget cutters, even in relatively good times.

When is it fair for consumers to expect the FDA's long-promised protections to be in place? "In three to five years," Von Eschenbach said. "I like to think of it as a linear process. Tomorrow will be better than yesterday."

Yesterday is not nearly soon enough.

— St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Good Night Precious FOB's, God Bless every one of you. Sweet dreams.

#### Deborah Anderson - Howdy neighbor. You are about 90 minutes from me. As of a few years ago, there wasn't much in Raton except for the Whittington Center, which I frequented for target shooting. I'll have to get up that way again soon. It's very rough there in the winter. I-25 is closed a lot during the winter months.

May God Bless the animals and all of the good people here.

Dear FOBs

Thank you so much for the kind and caring emails about my beautiful boy Johnny. Last night was carried out in such a compassionate and dignified manner. Most of the barn people showed up to my surprise and when Johnny and I walked out to the spot in the pasture the people lined up as we walked past. Then they all came out to the pasture. He was loved my more people than just me. The vet was wonderful too and he's buried near his good friend. It had rained cats and dogs but then it cleared and the sky turned blue for Johnny's time. He hated being rained on. I was so glad it had stopped. He was surrounded by his fans and he wasn't scared at the end.

Now I feel raw and like a piece of me has been ripped out. I'm getting married in October to a wonderful man (who was present last night). I don't know how it will be to live without Johnny. What else smells like a horse? When the world is full of a certain amount of BS that we all live around where will I go to get away from that? There is no BS with horses.

He was my big sweet boy.

I haven't slept in two nights.

Thanks you FOBs.

(((Donna)))

### MargieinNM,

Neighbor is right ! I know about the winters and I-25. Many people drive over the pass from Raton to work here and at least several days during the winter they can't make it.

We went to Raton for the July 4th fireworks this year. They were amazing !! I'm sure the future racetrack will draw many people from Colorado, especially with slots.

#### Donna,

We have all felt the despair that losing a beloved companion brings. Know that all of the FOBs are here for you and talk about Johnny as much as you want. We will listen.

Somewhere, one day, another horse will find you. Congratulations on finding a wonderful man and on your upcoming marriage.

Johnny is running with Barbaro.

### Sky Diamond is joining Brave Miner--two horses that had people watching out for them and who, sadly, were unable to insure that both these boys had happy long lives in retirement with all the goodies they could possibly want and love given freely and regularly.

###Re the pet food recall. I think it's the food that I paid good money for that was tainted and that killed my three beautiful big dogs. Between the tainted food and the "overkill" (pun intended) of too frequent boosters--shots given when they really aren't needed, our animals are in jeopardy.

Killing them with kindness. And with checkbook in hand. I hate it.

###Donna, your big boy has taught you well how to love and appreciate horses. Do not let all his good lessons go to waste. Get another horse to care for--find one that needs a home and someone to love--and heal your heart.

Speaking from experience here.