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COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ –
Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care Urges Ohio Congressional Delegation to Consider 3 Year Phase-in of New Federal Regulation to Protect Ohio Seniors’ Care, Preserve Ohio Caregiver Jobs

Reacting to new news reports today from Gannett News Service that 2800 jobs have been lost in 333 nursing homes throughout Ohio due to a growing Medicaid and Medicare funding squeeze, a key national long term and post acute care advocacy group said additional job losses and a growing threat to seniors’ care can be significantly alleviated if a damaging 11.1 percent Medicare funding reduction that went into effect on October 1, 2011 is, instead, phased-in over a three year period. The reporting is based on a survey of facilities by the Ohio Health Care Association (OHCA) and the Academy of Senior Health Sciences.

The new federal regulation reduced Ohio Medicare funding by $275.1 million for FY 2012, according to a recent Avalere Health analysis – the sixth highest reduction on a national basis.

“Combined with state Medicaid funding reductions in Columbus, recent reductions from Washington in federal Medicare payments for nursing homes took too much out of the funding system too fast,” stated Alan G. Rosenbloom, President of the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care, a coalition of 12 leading post-acute and long term care organizations providing SNF care in approximately 1,400 facilities in 44 states nationwide, including Ohio. “States such as Ohio and Florida – where state Medicaid funding for nursing homes has already been reduced – are clearly experiencing significant facility instability to the detriment of patient care and local jobs. We are especially alarmed by the fact approximately 80 percent of the dismissed workers provided direct care to residents’ according to the news reports.”

Continued Rosenbloom: “A gradual phase-in of the federal regulation – which has been done in the past for other provider sectors – can help alleviate what clearly appears to be a worsening problem. We respectfully urge the Ohio congressional delegation to pursue this phase-in of the 11.1 percent Medicare funding reduction, and would be pleased to work with lawmakers to help achieve this logical, fair and responsible policy recourse before Congress adjourns for the year.”

A separate large-scale Avalere Health national survey of facilities finds the federal regulation — to ostensibly correct a Medicare payment error — actually went above and beyond the correction. The result of the 11.1 percent Medicare funding reduction was new Medicare cuts at a time patients, staff and facilities in Ohio and others states are already battling a wide array of federal and state funding pressures, and this is the rationale for a phase-in.

SOURCE Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care

Copyright (C) 2011 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

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Owning an exotic or nonnative pet at first can be fun and exciting, but as the animal grows, it can become expensive and dangerous.

Unable to care for their pets, some owners illegally release them into the wild, creating competition for food and habitats with native species said Tony Pernas, of the National Park Service.

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NATASHA BEZUIDENHOUT

and BRONWYNNE JOOSTE

Staff Reporters

ANIMAL Rescue Groups are urging pet owners who lost their four-legged friends during the new year weekend to come forward and claim them.

Over the new year weekend 193 calls were made to the Cape of Good Hope SPCA emergency number, a staggering 101 more calls than during the same period in 2010.

Lamees Martin, spokeswoman for the SPCA, said that apart from the 43 stray animals rescued they also responded to 13 reports of abandoned animals.

SPCA inspectors responded to calls in southern, central and northern suburbs from New Year’s Eve and worked through the night.

The SPCA’s hospital admitted about 14 animals with injuries believed to be related to fireworks.

Fireworks should be banned due to the terrifying effects and devastating consequences it has on animals.

According to veterinarian Dr Robyn McCann, a female Jack Russell was admitted to the SPCA hospital after it jumped a fence to escape the sound of fireworks.

She suffered a punctured chest. Her prognosis is very guarded at present, but we will be monitoring her closely.

Tina, the Jack Russell, has a puncture wound going through her rib cage and is on a drip at the SPCA animal hospital in Grassy Park.

Liz Casey of the Domestic Animal Rescue Group (Darg) said the group was still receiving calls from people asking about their lost pets.

So far we have six lost animals in the Hout Bay area and it excludes people who walked in with animals they found.

It puts a huge pressure on us because we don’t have the space, said Casey.

She added that they received several e-mails from the Petfinder website, with worried pet owners trying to find their lost dogs or cats.

Close to 200 people have registered on the city’s Petfinder website since its December launch.

More than 130 pet owners have posted details of their lost pets, while there are 99 pets listed in the found category.

Four pets have been reunited with their owners since the site went live.

JP Smith, the city’s mayoral committee member for safety and security, said it was still quite early, but it appeared the site was being well received.

The reaction has been positive, but we realise it will take a while for the idea to catch on. We provide a resource for the non-governmental organisations and animal welfare organisations.

The 21 registered animal organisations in Cape Town have access to the system.

Smith said 195 people had registered on the site and 132 owners had posted lost animals.

He explained that not all organisations had space to keep found animals handed to them. In this case, these small organisations would hand the animal to one of the organisations with kennels.

Smith said just a few days after the site went live, one of the welfare organisations reported reuniting four pets with their owners after the lost animals were spotted on the site.

These were all within a day of the pet being reported lost. Which is far quicker than the usual hit-and-miss search of all of the organisations in Cape Town.

Smith said this quick turn-around time led to less trauma for the animal and owner, and the risk of euthanasia was reduced.

natasha.bezuidenhout@inl.co.za

bronwynne.jooste@inl.co.za

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The question popped into my head while I dangled a toy for Sweeney to play with: Does Richard Simmons make workout videos for cats?

I pictured her, our adorable but just-a-wee-bit-chubby tiger cat, wearing a headband and pumping tiny weights. Sweatin to the 80s dancing to Eye of the Tiger and Stray Cat Strut. Lets keep Hungry Like the Wolf off the playlist.

Our New Years resolutions usually involve losing weight or getting in shape. So, I wondered, couldnt our pets also benefit from a little attention to their waistlines?

Sweeney always has tended toward the squishy, and our veterinarian, Dr. Steven Stake of Capitol Area Animal Medical Center in Susquehanna Township, has never sounded any alarms.

Lately, though, she seems a little rounder, and my husband can only let her sleep on his lap for so long before his legs fall asleep.

I called Dr. Stake to ask whether pets need New Years weight-loss resolutions, too. The answer: Yes.

More than a significant percent of the pet population is overweight, he said. It impacts our pets in the same way as humans. It can affect longevity, diabetes, mobility. Its something we take very seriously.

The solution? No surprise here. Eat less, exercise more. Its not enough to let the dog out in the morning, when you get home from work, and before bedtime, he said. Large dogs, especially, need room to run twice a day. Some dogs even develop behavioral problems because theyre not allowed to vent much.

Work out your cats with toys and dangling things, but keep them away from strings and yarn.

I cant tell you how many cats Ive opened up because a string got tangled up inside, Stake said.

In our household, customer reviews from Sweeney and Bubba give two paws up to those white plastic wrapping thingies that come on packages. Nicely springy, without any dangerous string element. And the best part from their perspective: Mommy has to stand there like an obedient servant and dangle it for their amusement. Bubba would play for hours if we could.

Its true what they say. Dogs have owners; cats have staff. Ive yet to find the toy that amuses a cat every day, day after day, beyond the first burst of enthusiasm.

Dr. Stake recommends rotating the toy supply as part of whats called environmental enrichment. Surround the precious dears with distractions such as toys and perches for healthier living.

The food part of pet weight loss can be harder to solve, especially with multiple pets. Dr. Stake admits that one of his five cats we love him because he just loves kitties weighs in at 19 pounds.

Far be it from me to throw the first stone, he said.

Some people put extra food on higher levels where the less agile cats cant get it. For pudgy dogs, serve less food or differ the offerings say, one cup of dog food and one cup of green beans.

Green beans? Yes, even pets have to suffer for beauty. But as Dr. Stake said, the benefits go beyond looks. Fewer medical conditions, less strain on joints, longer lives.

As we start this year, Ive been Sweeneys personal trainer. Get out the tiny headband, pump up the Ted Nugent, dangle the springy thing through the stair rails and shell soon be displaying her svelte new shape from her perch in the front window.

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Senoia business owner and Fayette County resident Wendy Maguire has long been concerned about the over-population of dogs and cats. And recently the animal lover in her decided to put her effort where her heart is. Maguire established Pedal for Pets and is conducting fundraising events to help supply funds for spay and neutering in conjunction with the multi-county Georgia Heartland Humane Society and the HELP Spay/Neuter Clinic in Newnan.

For Maguire, the idea that pet over-population is a preventable issue and a compassionate mission goes without saying. That concern is what led Wendy and her son Robbie to make the first Pedal for Pets bike ride fundraiser in August to Savannah to help raise money and awareness for the need to have pets spayed or neutered.

Maguire, in making the point that pet over-population is not only epidemic and the need for spaying or neutering worthwhile and humane, said each day in the US more than 70,000 puppies and kittens are born, each day more than 19,000 enter an animal shelter and each day more than 11,000 are euthanized.

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HOUSTON – It is important to remember that a pet’s age, breed or illness may affect how they tolerate the cold winter months. The Houston SPCA advises that it is best that all pets live indoors due these unpredictable weather conditions.

o Housing: Provide proper shelter for pets whether they live indoors or outdoors. Indoor pets should have their beds or crates placed in safe and warm places away from drafts. Outdoor pets should have a well-insulated house that is wind and waterproof resistant and elevated off the ground so wind and moisture cannot seep inside. Install a door flap to protect against drafts and gusts of wind. Extra blankets and straw will also help to increase a pet’s warmth. Room and floor heaters should be kept away from a pet as they are an obvious fire hazard and can cause serious injuries as well.

o Food Water: Make sure to provide fresh, clean water for a pet every day. Outdoor pets need to consume 25 to 50 percent more calories than usual because the cold weather tends to deplete their energy. Make sure to talk to a veterinarian to make sure what is right for a pet.

o Cars are Refrigerators: A car can act as refrigerator in the winter. Never leave a dog or cat alone in a car during the winter months as he or she will freeze to death.

o Cats and Cars: Keep cats indoors during the winter. Not only can outdoor cats freeze, they sometimes sleep under the hoods of cars to stay warm. When the motor is started, the cat can be injured or killed by the fan belt. Give an outdoor cat a chance to escape by banging loudly on the car hood before starting your car.

o Warmth: Anyone with a short-haired breed of dog should consider getting him or her a sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly to keep them warm. Never shave a dog down to the skin in the winter months as a longer coat will provide more warmth.

o Antifreeze: Dogs and cats are attracted to the sweet smell and taste of antifreeze which contains ethylene glycol. A tiny lick can kill a dog or cat so make sure to check the car for leaks on the driveway or gutter. Keep containers tightly closed and clean up spills immediately. Check the local retailer for “pet safe” antifreeze.

o Rodenticides: Rat and mouse poisons are commonly used during the winter months. Place them out of reach as they can cause fatal bleeding or kidney failure in a pet.

The Houston SPCA encourages you to be especially mindful of pets this winter and to keep telephone numbers for the veterinarian and a local emergency veterinary service in a convenient location.

On the Web:

Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals –  http://hspca.convio.net/site/PageNavigator/homepage_new

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Seven in 10 pet owners say they believe animal shelters should be allowed to euthanize animals only when they are too sick to be treated or too aggressive to be adopted.

Only a quarter of the people who took part in a recent AP-Petside.com poll said animal shelters should sometimes be allowed to put animals down as a population control measure.

Gisela Aguila, 51, of Miramar, Fla., believes shelter animals should only be euthanized when there is no chance theyll be adopted – for example, if they are extremely ill or aggressive. I dont think shelters should be euthanizing animals to control the population, she said.

Shed like to see an end to shelters destroying animals when they run out of room, saying, We are way too civilized of a society to allow this.

But Leslie Surprenant, 53, of Saugerties, NY, believes shelters should be allowed to control populations. She says no-kill shelters that only accept animals with good prospects for adoption or that turn away animals once the shelter reaches capacity do not solve the problem.

That doesnt truly mean no-kill shelters. It means there are more animals out on the streets being hit by cars and starving and living in Dumpsters, said Surprenant, who has two dogs and a cat. It does not mean the general population is lower; it just means that theyve opted not to kill.

Surprenant believes spaying and neutering is the way to go. In fact, higher rates of spaying and neutering in recent decades have cut the number of abandoned puppies and kittens, which in turn has cut euthanasia rates. Before 1970, about 20 million animals were euthanized each year in this country. In 2011, fewer than 4 million abandoned animals were euthanized.

Younger pet owners are most likely to favor no-kill policies, with 79 percent of those under 30 saying shelters should only euthanize animals that are untreatable or too aggressive, compared with 67 percent of those age 50 or over saying that.

The poll results are encouraging to leaders of the nations no-kill movement, whod like to see the US become a no-kill nation with homes for every adoptable pet, and euthanasia reserved only for extremely ill or aggressive animals.

Any plan will take teamwork between shelters with government contracts that must accept every animal and the no-kill shelters that often only take animals they can help, said Ed Sayres, president and CEO of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Rich Avanzino, president of Alameda-based Maddies Fund, pioneered no-kill in San Francisco in the early 90s through a pact between the open-admission city shelter and the local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

We are just a breath away from doing what is right for the animals, Avanzino said.

He believes the country can achieve no-kill status by 2015, partly due to corporate giving to animal causes, which totaled about $30 million in 2010 and is expected to reach $70 million by 2015. That money can help with spaying, neutering and outreach, he said.

Public attitudes are also changing, with more people saying its unacceptable for pets to languish or die in an animal shelter, Avanzino said.

Avanzino pioneered the no-kill concept in San Francisco. Sayres succeeded him and nurtured it, then went to New York and implemented it there in a much bigger way. The model is the same, but instead of two partner agencies like in San Francisco, New York has 155, Sayres said.

About 44,000 animals enter New York City shelters each year. Since Sayres has been there, the euthanasia rate has dropped from 74 percent to 27 percent.

The ASPCA has also teamed up with 11 communities from Tampa, Fla., to Spokane, Wash., in no-kill efforts, Sayres said.

He believes he will see a no-kill nation, at least for dogs, in his lifetime. Cats may take a little longer because of the large feral population, he said.

The euthanasia issue attracted some attention this week when it was reported that a stray cat being held at a West Valley City, Utah, animal shelter survived two trips to the shelters gas chamber. The shelter has stopped trying to kill the cat, named Andrea, and she has been adopted. Shelter officials are investigating why the gassing failed.

Best Friends Animal Society operates the countrys largest no-kill sanctuary for abandoned and abused animals. The Kanab, Utah, preserve is home to 1,700 dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, horses and wildlife undergoing rehabilitation, said Best Friends director Gregory Castle.

More than 800 grass-roots rescue organizations belong to Best Friends No More Homeless Pets Network and are working to make their communities no-kill, Castle said. Attendance at an annual conference for network members has grown from 250 in 2001 to 1,300 last year.

The sanctuarys newest venture is a groundbreaking effort involving what Castle believes is the largest public-private partnership ever forged in the no-kill movement.

Best Friends is going to operate a shelter for the Department of Animal Services in Los Angeles as an adoption and spay and neuter center, he said. All animals will come from six open-admission Los Angeles city shelters.

The coalitions initial goal is 3,000 adoptions and 6,000 sterilization procedures, Castle said.

Differences in the varying no-kill campaigns are mostly a matter of nuance, Castle said, and how you define sick and aggressive.

Nathan Winograd, director of the Oakland-based No Kill Advocacy Center, believes 95 percent of all animals entering shelters can be adopted or treated. And even though the other 5 percent might be hopelessly injured, ill or vicious, he said they should not all be doomed.

Some, if not most of them, can be cared for in hospice centers or sanctuaries, he said. As for pit bulls and other dogs with aggressive reputations, he said shelters need to do a better job of trying to find them homes.

The AP-Petside.com Poll was conducted Oct. 13-17, 2011, by GfK Roper Public Affairs and Corporate Communications. It involved landline and cellphone interviews with 1,118 pet owners. Results among pet owners have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.

___

AP Global Director of Polling Trevor Tompson, Deputy Director of Polling Jennifer Agiesta and News Survey Specialist Dennis Junius contributed to this report.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 5, 2012 — NASHVILLE, Tenn., Jan.#xA0;5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — The GREENIES#xAE; Brand team has announced the winners of its Show Us Your Pets Healthy Smile contest, an initiative to celebrate the joy that dogs and cats bring to their owners lives while raising awareness about the importance of a healthy mouth for pets.

(Photo:#xA0; http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120105/CL30533-a )

(Photo:#xA0; http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120105/CL30533-b )

(Logo:#xA0; http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110719/CL37418LOGO )

This year, pet parents uploaded 9,958 photos of their smiling dogs and cats to smile.greenies.com for a chance to win a feature in The Bark magazine and a years supply of free GREENIES#xAE; dental chews and treats. GREENIES#xAE; dental chews and treats are the #1 veterinary-recommended dental chews and treats sold in pet specialty stores**.

Finalists were selected via popular vote, and a team of three expert judges, Cameron Woo, editor of The Bark magazine, Dr. Jan Bellows, a veterinary dental expert and Dorian Wagner of YourDailyCute.com, selected the winners based on the combination of a healthy mouth and a great smile.

Finnegan received almost 2,500 votes and was selected as this years dog winner. His healthy smile will grace the cover of the January issue of The Bark magazine, and he will receive a years supply of GREENIES#xAE; Canine Dental Chews.

Finnegans favorite thing is nature. Hes happiest outdoors fetching tennis balls, chasing squirrels and getting the neighborhoods daily news through his nose, say his parents, Kristen Byrne and Stewart Pelto. He gets plenty of exercise, just the right amount of natural food and a whole bunch of quality time with parents. Hes also crazy for his daily bedtime treat#x2014;that special green chewy toothbrush!

Monet, a shelter-adopted male, was selected as this years cat winner and will be featured in a special feline-themed insert in The Bark magazine. Monet will also receive a years supply of FELINE GREENIES#xAE; Dental Treats in a variety of flavors.

Monet is crazy about treats#x2014;if I gave into his begs every time, Id have one chubby kitty! says Karen Warren, Monets mom.

Both Finnegan and Monets owners understand the importance of a healthy mouth, but, notes Dr. Bellows, While most pet owners understand the importance of a healthy mouth for themselves, they often overlook that a healthy mouth is just as important for their pets. Many veterinary dental specialists believe that a clean, healthy mouth can actually prolong a pets life. And what pet owner doesnt want to have more time to spend with their pet?

To learn more about how to#xA0;maintain your pets oral health and overall wellness, visit greenies.com.

About The Nutro Company

The Nutro Company is a leading manufacturer of natural* pet food products sold exclusively at pet specialty stores. The company has been making The Worlds Best Pet Food for more than 80 years and is dedicated to quality, excellence and innovation in dog and cat nutrition offering healthful formulas for every pets life stage, activity level and size. The Nutro Companys family of brands includes MAX^#xAE;, NATURAL CHOICE^#xAE; and ULTRA#x2122; pet food brands in addition to the GREENIES^#xAE; brands, which include the #1 vet-recommended pet specialty dental chews**, PILL POCKETS^#xAE; treats and JointCare treats. For more information, please visit www.nutro.com and www.greenies.com.

#xAE;/#x2122; Trademarks #xA9; The Nutro Company 2012.#xA0; US Pat. Nos. D578,727 and D587,428.

*Natural with added vitamins, minerals and other trace nutrients.

**Among veterinarians that recommend dental chews for at-home oral care.

SOURCE The GREENIES#xAE; Brand

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(RTTNews) – Thousands took to the streets in Moscow on Monday to protest against the conduct of the parliamentary elections, which international observers found flawed in favor of the ruling United Russia party.

Chanting slogans against Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his United Russia party, the protesters staged a demonstration in central Moscow, leading to clashes with riot police. Reports say at least 300 people were arrested in the Russian capital city alone.

Similar demonstration protesting the disputed poll was also staged in St. Petersburg, the country’s second largest city. Media reports quoting officials and protesters said at least 100 people were detained there.

Earlier on Monday, international observers had concluded that Russian voters had taken advantage of their right to express their choice despite the lack of a level playing field during Sunday’s elections to the State Duma (Lower House of Parliament).

In a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions issued on Monday, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) said preparations for the elections were technically well-administered across a vast territory, but were marked by a convergence of the State and the governing party which effectively limited political competition and a lack of fairness.

“The contest was also slanted in favor of the ruling party, the election administration lacked independence, most media were partial and State authorities interfered unduly at different levels,” according to Petros Efthymiou, the head of the observer mission.

Earlier, all of Russia’s major political parties, barring the ruling United Russia, had complained of serious violations of electoral laws during the polling process. Also, Golos, Russia’s only monitoring group funded mainly by the U.S. and the EU, confirmed that it has received nearly 5,300 complaints alleging violations of electoral laws.

Despite President Dmitry Medvedev claiming that the elections were fair and democratic, the United States has expressed “serious concerns” over conduct of the polls. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told reporters in the German city of Bonn on Monday that Russian voters “deserve a full investigation of all credible reports of electoral fraud and ma­nipu­la­tion.”

According to the results announced by Electoral Commission chief Vladimir Churov after the ballot counting was almost completed, United Russia appeared to be heading for a slim majority in the Duma.

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Anyone with information on dog fighting in Cleveland is asked to call the city kennel, 216-664-3069, or police, 216-621-1234. The Humane Society of the United States offers $5,000 rewards for information on animal fighting; call your local police or sheriffs office and the Ohio attorney generals office at 1-877-244-6446 (1-877-AG4OHIO). If the animal fighter is convicted, ask the law enforcement agency involved to write a letter to the Humane Society stating that your tip helped lead to a conviction. Send it to Reward Program, HSUS, 2100 L St. NW, Washington, DC, 20037, or fax 301-721-6414.

Geauga pets
Adoption fees are reduced this month at the Geauga Humane Society, 15463 Chillicothe Road, Russell Township. Cats are $10 each. Kittens and dogs are $50 each. See photographs at geaugahumane.org or call 440-338-4819. And the PetFix mobile clinic is visiting the shelter this month to offer low-cost sterilization of pets to low-income families; 440-338-4819, ext. 10, or email programs@geaugahumane.org. Prices range from $30 to $70.

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