Rat poison trap box container. Image by richard johnsonOPINION – Contrary to popular belief, rodents do not carry more parasites than other animals. It is worth noting however, that rats exposed to anticoagulants have significantly higher loads of Leptospira spp. infections – which can spillover to humans operating antagonistically against public health.
Sen. Janet Nguyen, Sen. Josh Newman, Sen. Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, and Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva. Photo by Senate Republicans. A trio of bills aimed at improving care for animals at shelters cleared the Senate Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development on Monday. The trio of bills collectively aim at reducing shelter overcrowding and improving record keeping around animal care while requiring more shelters to publicly report data on a variety of care issues, including the number of animals euthanized.
Image by Iryna Imago via ShutterstockAssembly Bill 1399 expands the use of televets by abolishing California’s Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) minimum standard requiring a veterinarian to physically examine an animal prior to recommending treatments and prescribing medications.
Letter California annually imports some two million non-native American bullfrogs and 300,000 freshwater turtles for human consumption. All are diseased and/or parasitized, though it is illegal to sell such products. Released into local waters, the exotics prey upon and displace our native species.