2007 Top Animal News Stories

Food Recall – The 2007 pet food recall made huge head lines last year. Several dogs and cats became ill and some died shortly after eating the recalled food. The food recall prompted many veterinarians to encourage blood work on patients that may have eaten the food in question. Many brands of food were affected including some of the premium brands. The food recall also led many owners to start making their own pet food.

Michael Vick – Dog lovers everywhere will not soon forget the name Michael Vick. The professional football player pleaded guilty to charges relating to the dog fighting ring he bankrolled in Virginia. Vick also admitted to executing some of the dogs that did not perform well. Michael Vick, and his partners in the dog fighting ring, still have animal cruelty charges to face and will be back in court in April 2008. Vick is currently in a drug treatment facility in a Kansas prison. (GELINEAU, Associated Press).

Bob Barker Retires – Bob Barker, host of The Price Is Right game show, retired in June 2007. Bob Barker has been a friend to animals for many years, promoting animal rights on the air and asking that prizes that harm animals not be offered. Barker also ended each show with the statement “Help control the pet population; have your pet spayed or neutered.” (Wikipedia, Bob Barker)

Leona Helmsley – Leona Helmsley and husband Harry were hotel and real estate moguls. Harry passed away in 1997 leaving his wife over 5 billion dollars. Helmsley had numerous legal problems and eventually served a prison term for tax evasion. During her legal woes she became known as the “Queen of Mean”. Helmsley died in August of 2007 and left 12 million dollars to her dog Trouble. When Trouble passes he will be laid to rest next to her and Harry in the Helmsley mausoleum. Her brother was named to care for Trouble. (Associated Press, August 2007)

Ellen DeGeneres – 2007 was an exciting year for celebrities and pets. Ellen DeGeneres got the most headlines when she adopted a dog from a local rescue. DeGeneres broke the contract by giving the dog to a friend. The rescue confiscated the dog and adopted the pet to a new family. DeGeneres pleaded on her popular talk show for the rescue to give the dog back.

Sources:

Vick Finishing 23 Month Term In Kansas, Kristin Gelineau, Associated Press, January 2008

Helmsley's Dog Gets $12 Million in Will, Washington Post.com, August 29th, 2007

Ellen DeGeneres' Plea Falls on Deaf Ears, Inside Edition, October 17, 2007

Foster Dog

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