Canine Cruelty Prevention .

The Missouri Department of Agriculture worked with Attorney General Chris Koster to obtain a temporary restraining order against the owner, Linda Brisco, for violations of the Animal Care Facilities Act and the newly enacted Canine Cruelty Prevention Act.

According to inspections by the Missouri Department of Agriculture, the facility:

• failed to provide adequate veterinary care to animals in obvious medical distress;

• failed to clean and sanitize the facility, allowing excrement in food receptacles and dirty, muddy drinking water;

• failed to keep sick, aged, or young animals in indoor or sheltered housing facilities;

• failed to equip housing facilities with disposal and drainage systems in order to keep animal waste and water eliminated so the animals stayed dry;

• failed to provide shade for the dogs;

• failed to collect and remove animal waste – in some places feces had accumulated to the point that it was indistinguishable from the flooring; and

• failed to provide housing that protected the animals from injury.

In addition, the owner routinely used a gunshot as a means of euthanasia, also in violation of the law.

In an agreement approved and enforceable under the circuit court, the owner will surrender all animals to the Humane Society of Missouri, surrender her Missouri Department of Agriculture commercial breeder license and will not operate a dog breeding facility for at least the next 6 years.

"It is our goal that Missouri will gain the reputation as the state with the best and most humane breeders in the country," Koster said.

"Since 2009, we have increased inspections, dramatically stepped up enforcement and number of citations and sent a profound message to learn to do the dog business right or get out of the business for good. This cooperation between our animal care program, the Humane Society of Missouri and Attorney General Koster will help us increase rescues and prosecutions and continue to strengthen the breeding industry in Missouri," said Dr. Jon Hagler, Director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture. "Through the work of Operation Bark Alert, Missouri now has over 500 fewer commercial breeders. There is more work to be done – and now more resources to help."

The rescued animals will arrive this at the Humane Society of Missouri’s Headquarters on Macklind Avenue in St. Louis, Mo. They will immediately receive individual veterinary examinations and treatment. As soon as they are healthy, as many of the dogs as possible will be made available.

Jasper County Jail Count

196 July 17, 2011

Total Including Placed out of County

Folks often complain about how long it takes ta get things done when dealin’ with the government. Red tape, bureaucrats, and the like. The fact is, our form a government was intentionally structured so as ta make things hard ta change.

In fact in a lot a cases, it’s more frustratin’ for elected officials to change things than it is for the rest of us.

The longer it takes ta get somethin’ done, the more likely it is that all the information involved will rise to the top.

Although it’s easy to understand wantin’ to hurry up the process, even the appearance of public officials tryin’ to bypass the normal procedure typically results in the erosion of public confidence.

Cards can be played close to the vest, but even in a friendly game, it’s best ta keep your hands above the table, .

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

.

Weekly Column

To Your Good Health

By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I read all the time about the risks of having a heart attack. I never see anything said about the risks for having a stroke. What are they? I fear a stroke more than I do a heart attack. -- P.S.

ANSWER: The risks for both are similar. They include uncontrolled high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, too little exercise, a large waist, excessive alcohol consumption and a high ratio of Apo B to Apo A-1. This last item needs an explanation. Apo B is similar to LDL cholesterol -- the bad kind of cholesterol, the kind that clogs arteries. Apo A-1 is more like HDL cholesterol -- good cholesterol, the kind that keeps arteries clean. I have to admit that these tests are not usually ordered.

This subject is complicated by the fact that there are two different kinds of stroke. The more-common variety comes from obstruction of blood flow to a part of the brain from a plugged artery, like the plugged heart artery of a heart attack. The less-common variety comes from the breaking of a brain artery, something called a hemorrhagic stroke.

The two require different treatments and different approaches to prevention.

P.S. is like most people who live in greater fear of a stroke than a heart attack. The booklet on strokes explains the kinds of strokes and what can be done to prevent and treat them. Readers can obtain a copy by writing: Dr. Donohue -- No. 902W, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Canada with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Recently I had what the hospital doctors called a panic attack. I would like to know what causes them and if there is a cure. Would lack of sleep or medication have anything to do with it? -- W.B.

ANSWER: A panic attack is a period of extreme fear in a situation that doesn’t warrant such fear. It comes on suddenly, reaches a peak in 10 or fewer minutes and makes the person want to flee from the situation he or she finds him- or herself in -- shopping for groceries, driving a car or walking down a street.