The Health Benefits of Pets in our Lives

Nov 16, 2009 -   Many of the benefits of pets — companionship, affection and so on — have been well known for centuries — even numerous ancient Egyptians cherished their companion animals. However, data gathered during only the last few years have shown just how significantly our health is improved if we share our lives with animals.   A study undertaken in 2002 by the Waltham Center for Pet Nutrition and United States Food and Drug Administration revealed that the heart rates and blood pressures of pet owners increased less when the individuals were presented with math problems to solve if their companion animals were present. - 18 Comments

Cat catches swine flu

Nov 04, 2009 - Does the swine flu pandemic pose a threat to your pet? Yes, according to a report out today from the American Veterinary Medical Association. A cat in Iowa has tested positive for the H1N1 virus, state officials confirmed this morning, "marking the first time a cat has been diagnosed with this strain of influenza," the association said in a statement. - 5 Comments

Baby Cured in Medical First

Nov 05, 2009 - Doctor cures 'Baby Z' of molybdenum cofactor deficiency in medical world first By Grant McArthurHerald SunNovember 05, 2009 07:14am Baby's brain starts dissolving; 'no hope' Drug administered; Baby Z wakes up A MELBOURNE baby given no chance of survival has amazed doctors after being saved with one of the biggest long shots in medical history. "Baby Z's" brain started virtually dissolving soon after she was born 18 months ago because she had too much toxic sulphite in her system. But her parents and doctors refused to give in to the one-in-a-million genetic condition and stumbled on a highly experimental drug. - 8 Comments

Glenn Beck's Bizarre Outburst Against Meatless Mondays and Vegetarians

Oct 30, 2009 - This goes along with the story that I posted in 4.0 about Meatless Mondays in Baltimore schools Jon Stewart ended an interview with climate-change contrarian and Super Freakonomics co-author Steven Levitt on Monday night by noting, "I've apparently frightened our audience by suggesting that conservation isn't the only way out of any of the problems of the world. I sincerely apologize." He added, "And I do also believe that we should just eat vegetables." - 13 Comments

Popular animal shelter shut down after inspection

Oct 05, 2009 - The Marin Humane Society shut down an animal rescue group's San Rafael operations and seized 19 animals for treatment after uncovering "shocking conditions" at the center. The Milo Foundation was forced to close its adoption center and animal holding site at 2060 Fourth St. on Friday, one day after an unannounced early-morning inspection by the Marin Humane Society. - 13 Comments

"If she can't have me, then she can't have the fish."

Oct 14, 2009 - Portland man gets probation after stabbing ex-girlfriend's pet fish By Aimee Green, The Oregonian October 13, 2009, 1:18PM   A 27-year-old Southeast Portland man who beat his ex-girlfriend and then stabbed her pet fish and left it impaled in her apartment has been sentenced to two years of probation and a psychological evaluation. An attorney for Donald Earl Fite III said he didn’t want to talk about the details of the assault, but that stabbing the fish was “a very low point” in his client’s life."He is absolutely mortified and ashamed about what he did to the fish," said attorney Tom MacNair today in Multnomah County Circuit Court. Fite had no criminal history and declined to comment, saying only that his attorney had said it all. According to an affidavit filed with the court, Sarah Harris had broken up with Fite, but returned to her East Burnside Street apartment in Portland last July 25 to find Fite lying on her bed. Fite wanted to get back together, but Harris didn't. When she told him she had plans that evening, Harris refused to let her leave the room she was in, the bathroom, according to the affidavit. - 12 Comments

Will You Get Breast Cancer?

Oct 05, 2009 - Considering this is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I though this would be a good post. There's no part of our bodies that we obsess about more than our breasts. Even those of us not prone to health anxiety wonder which, if any, of our everyday habits are upping our odds of getting breast cancer. - 17 Comments

Max Blumenthal on Fresh Air

Sep 14, 2009 - I know this is long and a little weird because its in interview format, but I thought this was great when I heard it the other day. This is FRESH AIR. I'm Terry Gross. - 4 Comments