During the month of January Orange County Animal Services will be reducing adoption fees to $20.12 in celebration of the New Year. This promotion aims to encourage citizens to start off 2012 by saving a homeless pet’s life. One of Animal Services New Year’s resolutions is to find loving, forever homes for 400 animals during the month of January. The promotional adoption rate is limited to one pet per person. Each adoption includes spay/neuter, initial vaccinations, microchip identification, deworming, heartworm test (dogs) or FLV/FIV test (cats), rabies vaccination, 5-lb. bag of Science Diet food and Adoption Welcome Kit. Orange County Animal Services is located at 2769 Conroy Road in Orlando near the Mall at Millenia. The facility is open for adoptions Monday–Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, please call (407) 254-9140 or visit www.ocnetpets.com.

FDA Issues Dog Treats Warning

November 18, 2011 — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued an important bulletin warning consumers that chicken jerky products (also marketed as chicken tenders, strips or treats) may be associated with serious illness in dogs.

Over the past 12 months, the FDA has observed an increase in the number of complaints regarding canine illnesses associated with consumption of chicken jerky products imported from China.

These complaints have been reported to the government by both dog owners and veterinarians.

FDA had previously issued a cautionary warning regarding chicken jerky products in September 2007 and a Preliminary Animal Health Notification later on in December of 2008.

Unfortunately, so far, scientists have not been able to determine a definitive cause for the reported illnesses. The FDA continues to conduct extensive chemical and microbial testing but has this far not identified a contaminant.

Stem cell treatment offered to pets | by Steve Gehibach Fox 35 News

Some pet owners will do anything to make their furry friends feel better and live longer lives. Now a therapy still too new or too controversial for use on humans, is helping pets.

Val-U-Vet is offering stem cell treatments for animals at its six Central Florida locations in Seminole and Volusia counties. In the last few months, they've treated 22 dogs but they can also use stem cells to help other pets like cats and large animals like horses.

"Amey" is an 8-year-old Shih Tzu that had severe arthritis and would have to drag her hind legs on the ground. "She was hurting. You could tell she was in pain just trying to move around," owner Lila Najar said.

Blind high school cross county runner does it with the help of a guide dog | Wayne Joseph's Blog

Running cross country in high school is difficult enough.  Young people training to race 3 miles in all types of weather conditions, including the infamous Hawaii Prep hill.

Those of you high school runners that think you have it tough should read about a young teenager from Ohio named Sami Stoner.

Stoner is running proof that adversity doesn’t have to keep you from the finish line.

A legally blind 16 year old runner, Sami is traversing cross-country courses this season with her new guide dog, Chloe, and is believed to be the first high school athlete in her home state of Ohio to compete with an animal.

“I don’t run for time or place or anything, I just run because I love it, and I’m glad I can share my love of running with Chloe now,” says Sami, a junior at Lexington High School who’s on the junior varsity cross country team. “I love having Chloe. She’s helped me so much.”