The toys that Piper had were the Hartz Chew & Clean brand.

These are similar to other chew toys on the market that are of

nylon/polyurethane blend. If your dog enjoys these, just make

sure that there are no broken pieces, and as soon as it starts to

show wear, throw it away. If any of the pieces are ingested, it can

pose serious problems.

Our puppy Piper has been at the vet for 6 days now, and is currently

in very bad condition. She became ill about 4am last Wednesday and

couldn’t eat, and threw up a lot. She spent Thursday at the vet getting

fluids and medication for her nausea because x-rays showed there was

something stuck in her stomach and intestines. Friday afternoon she

underwent surgery and the vet removed some material (which we think

she ate in an attempt to throw up) and pieces of a nylon chew toy. The

chew toy was similar to the Nylabones, with nubs on it. I will be posting

the exact brand as soon as I verify it. There were a couple of large shards

as well as multiple smaller pieces. Today, she took a turn for the worse

and had to have a second surgery, and is now in critical condition. The

reason I am posting this is because after a little investigation, there seems

to be a problem with these types of chew toys, and many dogs have become

ill and some have died because chunks of the nylon/plastic material cuts

up their intestines. The packaging on the toys claims that they are safe, but

I caution against using them. I never would have given them to my dog if I

thought they were unsafe. I am not sure what to do next, but the public

needs to be aware that these toys are not safe.

 If someone really needs to feel the adrenaline rush of

gnashing teeth, blood, and possible death, then I propose he or she start

a bar fight with a bunch of drunk men who live meaningless lives and jump

on any opportunity to display their manliness with violence.

Dogfighting is cruel. Given that animals cannot speak for themselves, it is

up to humans to provide for them, and keep them safe. Even if the dog has

a propensity to attack, it does not mean that greedy people should exploit

that trait and let these dogs live lives of pain and suffering.

Dogfighting is big business. I was shocked to find out how prevalent it really

is, and how much money is made in this morbid source of entertainment. I

say..get a damn life and leave the puppies alone.

Dogfighting gives pit bulls a bad name. I own a pit bull, and she is a goofy,

lovable dog. She wasn’t born trying to gnaw off someone’s leg. She does not

attack my other two dogs. She is loved, and trained how to behave, and she

responds just like any normal dog. Contrary to popular belief, they are not

monsters. They are just animals. If they turn in to monsters it is because

some misguided owner has supported that behavior. Yes, I agree that there

are dogs who become aggressive through no fault of their owner. Just like in

humans, there are dogs who may suffer from neurological disorders or genetic

deficiencies. This happens with every breed of dog, and in my experience, a

few cats as well. It comes down to owner responsibility.

I suggest doing some background on animal breeds before making snap decisions

about them. I am not ignorant to instincts and breeding. I understand the argument.

I was once almost attacked by a poodle.

I love my dogs. They add so much to my life. The puppy is 10 months

old and she is full of puppy energy. This includes chewing baseboards

and table legs, and digging up Tiger Lilies in the back yard. She has a

great personality and is funny as hell. Middle girl is 3 years old. She is

aloof and distant. The best part is that she looks like she is smiling

all the time. It’s pretty great. I thought she was retarded for awhile, but

now I am convinced that she is in on some great life secret and refuses

to tell. Boy dog is the oldest. He is going to be 8 yrs. old in April, and he

was our first dog. He is loyal and extremely sweet. His patience

is never ending, and he has always been kind to other animals big and

small. Boy dog is sick. It breaks my heart. He has a horrible skin problem

that makes him lifeless and sad-looking. The vet can only offer prednisone

which is toxic, and every food change I have tried has not worked. After

hours of research, I am convinced that his skin problems have everything

to do with being over-vaccinated, and not getting proper nutrients from

the food he ate as a young dog.

Our state requires yearly rabies shots, which recent studies have shown to be

unnecessary and harmful to the dog, (Vaccinations are not good for humans either,

but that is another post) and there are a bunch of other shots they have to have to

be boarded, or just to be treated in some cases. I took him regularly and also

doused him with noxious flea and tick killer, and gave him his monthly toxic

cube to keep the heartworms away.

I fed him “good” dry dog food when he was younger. I never skimped, and

bought the stuff that claimed it was superior to most other dog foods. I read

labels, and from my estimates, it was good stuff. Then, one day he broke out

in a strange rash and it has been downhill ever since. He has had to endure

this for 3 years now, and I know he has to be miserable. One look into

his brown eyes will tell you he just does not feel good. So. I started educating

myself on dogs and their needs. And what they don’t need. The results were

mind-blowing.

The stuff that these companies put in dog food is ridiculous.

Some of the ingredients are not even foodstuff. It is disgusting. Needless to

say, I started cooking their food and using whole ingredients. Unfortunately,

I think his immune system has already been so compromised, that there will

not ever be a full recovery. He is better, and without medications, but has flare-ups that

cannot be easily controlled.

I know now that if he hadn’t of been given approximately 18 shots of toxic

soups such as: distemper, parvovirus, corona virus, hepatitis, giardia

parainfluenza, leptospirosis …his immune system would

be functioning properly. Dogs are resistant to many things, and all

of these shots are worthless, money-making gimmicks that humans

have been convinced are necessary. Bullshit. Many studies have shown

that a rabies shot in a dog is effective for 3 years, possibly longer. Why

then do most states require annual rabies shots? Money. They pay

about 90 cents per shot. We pay $18. Good profit.

Anyway. Like other things I will talk, whine, bitch, or scream about- I

only mean to provoke thought. I do what is best for me, you do what

is best for you. But do it with both eyes open, and armed with the facts.