Tag: michigan

Lead testing in Flint, Michigan

This video appears to be a veterinary student drawing blood from the external jugular vein. Her technique is poor. She does check her landmarks to verify needle placement. The alcohol was applied but somewhat randomly. I’m not sure if the needle stick site is the same as the alcohol. She didn’t scrub the site with alcohol either. She had difficulty finding the vein too. She had to “dig” for it: It’s something frowned upon in nursing and painful to the patient.

Personally, I don’t think drawing blood from the external jugular is safe because they could puncture the carotid artery or lung especially when they’re digging around.

Dogs rescued from Michigan breeder

dogs rescued from puppy mill
Photo Pam Sordyl

Raisin Tree Farms kennel in Fowlerville was raided Wednesday. Authorities seized over 90 dogs living in overcrowded cages stack on each other. Various breeds including whoodles, standard poodles and Soft-coated Wheaten terriers were found soaked and matted in urine and feces.

Proprietor Margaret Komorny was charged with animal cruelty to 10 or more animals. 76-year-old Komorny denies the charges: “I love animals. I’m devoted to animals,” she said. Michigan has no puppy mill laws and is part of the Midwest “Puppy Mill Belt.”

Michigan cocker spaniel breeder loses lawsuit

On November 21st, a Washtenaw county jury found in favor of the Humane Society of Huron Valley in the lawsuit filed by Ralph and Melinda Hart. The lawsuit filed on June 2011 claims the humane society did not have authority to seize the Hart’s dogs. The lawsuit sought $1 million dollars in damages and the return of 13 dogs.

The Humane Society of Huron Valley speaks of the case on their Web site:

In essence, a couple forced 17 dogs, used solely for breeding and showing, to live their entire lives in cruel confinement–within a crowded garage in dirty wire bottom cages. The Cocker Spaniels had no form of comfort, minimal socialization, and a lifetime of veterinary care that never went beyond the preparation required for competition in the show ring.

Melinda Hart, President of the Detroit Cocker Spaniel Club, owns Hartline Cockers.

Reward offered after cocker mix shot in Michigan

Police in Standish, Michigan are looking for those responsible in a dog shooting case.  Haley, a seven-year-old cocker spaniel/golden retriever mix was found dead along Highway 23 on December 29th, 2011.  She had been shot in the hind leg and above the eye.  Haley’s owner, Rob Rezler, had been playing catch with her just two days before when she ran off and never returned.  He wonders why anyone would want to harm her.

The Humane Society of the United States is offering a $2,500 reward in her case.  “The citizens of Standish should be very concerned that someone in their community could callously shoot such a gentle dog. We are hopeful that this reward will bring forward anyone with information about this thoughtless crime.” Please contact the Arenac County Sheriff’s Office at 989-846-3002.