What Your Dog Wants You To Know . . .

 

You're Gonna LOVE This Heartwarming Story!

The Philadelphia Zoo is pleased to welcome a new addition to the family: a western lowland gorilla born to Kira, the Zoo’s 17-year-old female and 32-year old Motuba on Friday, June 2. This is the first birth for Kira and third offspring for Motuba, who is also father to baby Amani born at the Zoo last August. The newborn can be seen with the rest of the gorilla troop in PECO Primate Reserve.

Mother and baby appear healthy, but will be monitored carefully by Zoo staff in the coming weeks and months. Like a newborn human, a baby gorilla is essentially helpless, relying completely on its mother for care. “We are very excited to welcome Kira’s new baby,” says Dr. Andy Baker, Philadelphia Zoo’s Chief Operating Officer. “This important birth is an opportunity to engage the world in caring about the future of gorillas in the wild.”

On Thursday, June 1 keeper staff noticed signs that Kira had begun labor, but as of Friday morning she had not delivered. She appeared to tire and behaved as if she were feeling worse over the course of the morning and there were no signs of the labor progressing. Typically, gorilla labor is quick and the mother does appear tired, distressed, or show symptoms of feeling poorly. Concerned about the health of both Kira and her baby, Philadelphia Zoo’s veterinary staff contacted a pre-determined team of consultants who were prepared to assist if there were any problems with the pregnancy or delivery. 

The team of professionals, from the veterinary and human medical field, included an ob-gyn, surgeons, anesthesiologists and others, from leading area institutions such as University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Presbyterian Hospital and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. A similar team was in place for a gorilla birth at the Zoo last year, but the emergency response was not needed. Once onsite, the medical team examined Kira after she had been placed under anesthesia and determined that she was fully dilated and that the baby was in position for a vaginal delivery.

After 1.5 hours the team delivered a healthy 5lb, 0 oz baby boy, the process requiring many of the same tools and techniques used for human deliveries, including forceps and episiotomy. While there have been several successful C-section deliveries for gorillas over the past few years, the most recent case of an assisted vaginal delivery the Zoo is aware of occurred in 2000.

Because mom Kira was recovering from anesthesia, vet staff provided the newborn with initial neonatal care, holding and feeding him through the night. By the next morning, Kira was fully recovered and was quickly reunited with her new baby, and has been continuously cradling and nursing him since.

“Our veterinary team had an advance plan in place that had us prepared for scenarios like this – and in this case that plan, and the skill of our keeper team, enabled a safe delivery for both Kira and her baby,” says Dr. Andy Baker. “We often take advantage of the expertise in Philadelphia to optimize health care for our animals, and working with valued partners such as U of P Health System, Penn Vet, and Jefferson, we were able to intervene and save both lives. It was an anxious and dramatic day at the Zoo, but in the end a tremendously rewarding one,” said Baker.

“Though Kira is a first time mom, we’re not surprised she’s acting like an expert already. She was a great older sister to younger siblings and has been very attentive while our other female gorilla Honi has raised baby Amani,” says Baker. “Everybody is excited about these two future playmates .”

Western lowland gorillas are listed as Critically Endangered in the wild by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with threats including habitat destruction due to palm oil and timber plantations as global demand for palm oil and paper continues to rise. The Zoo works with the Species Survival Plan® (SSP) program of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), whose goal is to protect and sustain populations of endangered and other species across AZA zoos.

The newborn currently lives in PECO Primate Reserve with mom Kira, dad Motuba and other troop mates Honi and her baby Amani. Viewing times may vary - visitors can see the family inside PECO Primate Reserve, in their outdoor habitat or hanging out in the Zoo360 trails, or when mom wants quiet time she might retire to her back-of-house space with the newborn. 

The Zoo plans to work again with the Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Center (GRACE) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to choose a name for the infant.

It's About Time SOMEBODY Said It -- Bravo!

With planned Senate action on yet another bill that would further bolster the state’s already extensive animal cruelty statutes, New Jersey State Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-26) again blasted the Legislature’s continued inaction on legislation that would protect unborn children from the cruel and excruciating pain caused by abortion.

Sen. Joe Pennacchio speaking at a New Jersey State House press conference on S-2026, the NJ Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, on December 5, 2016. (SenateNJ.com)

“Preventing animal cruelty is important, but so is preventing the cruel treatment of unborn children,” said Pennacchio. “The Legislature’s continued inaction on S-2026 sends the message that we care more about animals than people. It’s time to re-balance our priorities, and we can start by passing the NJ Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.”

Senator Pennacchio (R-Essex, Morris, Passaic) is the sponsor of the NJ Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which would prohibit abortion after 20 weeks gestation. S-2026 includes exceptions for rape, incest and when the life of the mother is at risk. Medical studies have shown unborn children can feel pain in the womb at least by 20 weeks, if not before.

“As someone who sat in the NJ courtrooms during the NJ Partial Birth Abortion trial, the two administrative law proceedings against NJ Steven Brigham, and the Philadelphia Kermit Gosnell trial, I heard first-hand testimony from the abortionists themselves the gruesome and barbaric methods used to kill babies,” Marie Tasy, Executive Director of New Jersey Right to Life said. “In listening to the testimony and their descriptions, it was very clear that these babies felt excruciating pain during these truly horrific acts which violently and cruelly took their lives and shattered their dignity.”

“We’ve passed countless bills to prevent household pets from the pain of being abused, mistreated or hurt, but we haven’t done a single thing to protect unborn children who are also capable of feeling pain and suffering,” added Pennacchio. “We hear lots of talk about ‘compassion’ from the other side of the aisle when it comes to protecting circus elephants or banning the declawing of cats, and today we are addressing the tethering of dogs. Is the pain felt by a dog or cat more important than that felt by a child in his mother’s womb during these late term abortions?”

Vivid Video: Now The Grandcubs Inspire Hope!

On a recent early morning game in Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe, Graham Simmonds filmed these tiny lion cubs that were being moved by their mothers down a road. This new life, we're told, is a symbol of the good that has stemmed from the tragic death of their grandfather, Cecil.
Cecil was killed by US dentist Walter Palmer one year ago. Cecil reportedly has 13 surviving sons and daughters and 15 known grandcubs so far. They have survived their own brushes with death.

One Christmas Present You Ned To Think About!

O'Toole Bill Will Help Service Animals

The New Jersey State Senate Economic Growth Committee has advanced a bill sponsored by Senator Kevin O’Toole to provide much-needed support for individuals or groups temporarily caring for dogs who are training to be service animals. S-2281 exempts that these dedicated caregivers and “foster parents” from applying for and procuring a license and registration tag for the dog, while the service-animal-in-training is placed in a foster home.

“Seeing-eye dogs and service animals are vital to the health and welfare of our state’s most vulnerable residents,” Senator O’Toole said.  “At this very moment, hundreds of thousands of service dogs are assisting disabled individuals in every corner of America.  The volunteers and foster parents who care for service dogs provide extremely specialized and time-consuming training – often at a great cost.

“By passing this bill, we are offering vital support by allowing caregivers to spend more time training a dog to be a life-saving companion, without having to worry about procuring a license or registration tag. It is my hope that removing this red tape will encourage more New Jerseyans to take on the responsibility of training dogs to be loyal and loving service animals,” Senator O’Toole added.

Under current law, a dog’s owner or foster parent must apply and procure a dog license and registration tag for any dog age seven months or older. This includes dogs training to be seeing eye, hearing ear, and service animals for blind, deaf, and developmentally disabled individuals.

An identical version of Senator O’Toole’s S-2281 passed unanimously in the Assembly and now heads to the Senate floor for a vote. If signed into law, the legislation would take effect immediately.

Ringling Circus To Eliminate Elephants By 2018

The Feld Family, owners of Feld Entertainment, Inc., the parent company of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey®, announced plans today to remove Asian elephants from their traveling circus performances. Under the plan, 13 elephants currently traveling with the three Ringling Bros. circus units will be relocated to the Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant for Conservation® in Florida by 2018. There they will join the rest of the Ringling Bros. herd of more than 40 elephants.

The Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation is already home to the largest herd of Asian elephants and the most successful breeding program for this endangered species in the Western Hemisphere. The circus will continue to feature other extraordinary animal performers, including tigers, lions, horses, dogs and camels.

This unprecedented change in the 145-year old Greatest Show On Earth®will allow the company to focus on its Asian elephant conservation programs, both here in North America and through its partnership with the island nation of Sri Lanka. The company will also continue to collaborate with other conservation organizations working to preserve this magnificent species for future generations. For example, the company has placed elephants at eight zoos, either on loan or through donations, and will continue to support the Smithsonian Institution’s research lab working to find a cure for diseases that impact juvenile elephants.

“This is the most significant change we have made since we founded the Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation in 1995. When we did so, we knew we would play a critical role in saving the endangered Asian elephant for future generations, given how few Asian elephants are left in the wild,” said Kenneth Feld, Chairman and CEO of Feld Entertainment. “Since then, we have had 26 elephant births. No other institution has done or is doing more to save this species from extinction, and that is something of which I and my family are extremely proud. This decision was not easy, but it is in the best interest of our company, our elephants and our customers,” he added.

“Our family has been the proud steward of the American institution that is Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, and our elephants, for 45 years. It is a legacy that we hold near and dear to our hearts, and as producers of The Greatest Show On Earth, we feel we have a responsibility to preserve the esteemed traditions that everyone expects from a Ringling Bros. performance while striving to keep the show fresh and contemporary for today’s families,” said Nicole Feld and Alana Feld, Ringling Bros. producers and Executive Vice Presidents with Feld Entertainment. “As the circus evolves, we can maintain our focus on elephant conservation while allowing our business to continue to meet shifting consumer preferences,” they added.

Additional information on Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and the Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation can be found online at www.ringling.com and www.elephantcenter.com.

About Feld Entertainment
Feld Entertainment is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting live touring family entertainment experiences that lift the human spirit and create indelible memories, with 30 million people in attendance at its shows each year. Feld Entertainment's productions have appeared in more than 75 countries and on six continents to date and include Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey®, Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, Nuclear Cowboyz®, AMSOIL Arenacross, Disney On Ice Presented by StonyfieldYoKids Organic Yogurt, Disney Live! Presented by StonyfieldYoKids Organic Yogurt and Marvel Universe LIVE! More information about Feld Entertainment is available online at www.feldentertainment.com.

Pet Lovers: A Telling Tale, Important Message

Are you a pet-lover?
Well, who isn't?
Bill Whiting and Philadelphia Animal Advocates for Lynne Abraham for Mayor have produced this remarkable video with a special message for all of us.
Our friend, Lynne Abraham is not only a pet-lover but she's fearlessly defended animals all her life. Remember this before you vote!

Save Dogs And Cats From Euthanasia: Here's How!

In New Jersey, State Senators Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth) and Mike Doherty (R-Hunterdon, Somerset, Warren) introduced legislation to save cats and dogs no longer used for educational, research or scientific purposes from euthanization.

The Senators’ bill, S-2344, would require institutions of higher education and research facilities to offer cats and dogs to animal rescue organizations for adoption prior to euthanizing the animals.

“All cats and dogs should have every possible opportunity to be a part of a loving home, and rescued animals make for the best family members and companions,” Beck said. “Cats and dogs shouldn’t be sentenced to death at the end of an experiment or project. Their lives should be respected and cherished from beginning to end.”

“Adoption, not euthanasia, should be the first choice for healthy cats and dogs whose roles have concluded in research studies,” added Doherty. “They deserve a chance.”

S-2344 is inspired by a nationwide initiative to save animals. It would not apply to cats and dogs that are required to be euthanized for health or safety reasons.

New Jersey's 16 Senate Republicans serve to make New Jersey the place to live, grow, work, vacation and retire. Caucus solutions to lower costs, create jobs, enhance education and empower people will help generations of families stay together and improve our state. Follow Senate Republicans on Social Media.

Shop4Charity Is Headed To The Dogs!

Shop4Charity, a Mercerville, NJ-based craft show and vendor fair, allows local residents to browse the wares of over 45 crafters, direct sales businesses, and exhibitors for a day filled with shopping and savings. But the individuals truly benefiting from this annual event are of the four-legged, furry variety.

Net proceeds generated from Shop4Charity’s craft show and vendor fair, held on Sunday, March 10 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Conference Center at RWJ Hamilton Center for Health and Wellness, 3100 Quakerbridge Road, Mercerville, will benefit Lilo’s Promise Animal Rescue in Voorhees, NJ, a group of dedicated volunteers who provide love, socialization, veterinary care and safe housing for homeless American Pit Bulls Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, related breeds and mixes thereof.   

“Many of us already know the special gift you receive when you adopt a rescued animal and make them a member of your family,” explains Stephanie Huston, co-founder of Shop4Charity. “Through this event, we’re supporting the people who make an amazing commitment to make sure these rescued dogs find the perfect home.”

 
Shop4Charity is free to the public.

South Jersey Animal Shelter in Dire Straits

In addition to the occasional homage to Moose, the world's cutest dog, we love animals here at DanCirucci.com. That's why when we read Kevin Riordan's article on the Almost Home Animal Shelter hitting tough times it broke our heart.

We've found out that if help doesn't come by Friday, this shelter for dogs, cats and other pets may have to close its doors. This puts a lot of great animals, who just need a loving family, in jeopardy.

During the Advent Season and Christmas Holiday, a lot of focus is placed on family. As the owner of a loving and loyal shelter dog who is more family member than pet, we should also help our four-legged friends.

You can find out how you can help by reaching out to Director Nancy Welsh. You can access the shelter's Facebook Page here.