Monthly Archives: July 2021

Sukie, a year-old rescue pup from North Macedonia, faces euthanasia if she does not receive a life-saving hip replacement which will cost 7,000.

Kelly Bell, Sukies foster parent, said: You wouldnt have thought there was anything wrong with her, its shocking how shes managing but she doesnt know any different to the pain shes in.

[Euthanasia] would be the worst option and I dont want that to happen. With me having her this long, just seeing the energy she has and the character, shes not ready for that. Theres help we can do.

Sukie is Kellys fifth rescue dog and was brought over from North Macedonia due to limited veterinary care in the country as part of the animal rescue organisation Viktors Pawprints, where Kelly volunteers.

The organisation was founded by Viktor Maznev in Veles, North Macedonia where he has been rescuing dogs since he was 14-years-old and was studying to be a vet before the rescue operation "took over".

Rebecca Russell, a volunteer fundraiser at the organisation said that dogs are classed as vermin in the country and are often poisoned or knocked down in the street.

She said: Were going to do all that we can but we cant leave Sukie as she is because obviously shes in pain."

It is believed that Sukie was hit by a car and fractured her pelvis, and now requires a full hip replacement as recent X-rays have shown the back of her hind leg is sitting above the femur head, meaning it is not in the hip socket.

To raise funds for Sukies surgery Kelly is doing a sponsored skydive on July 23.

She said: Im very nervous! But Im very excited because its for a very good cause because my passion is animals.

So far, almost 1,400 has been raised towards the surgery, to donate visit GoFundMe.

Read the original here:

Scarborough woman left with 7,000 vet bill as rescue puppy she fostered needs life-saving surgery or faces euthanasia - The Scarborough News

Senator Zed Seselja has hit back at Labor Senator Katy Gallagher, whose petition this week accused him of undemocratically blocking a bill to let Territories legislate on euthanasia.

Senator Gallagher is playing politics with an issue of life and death where there are differing views within the community, Senator Seselja said.

Senator Gallagher had claimed Senator Seselja stood in the way of restoring the ACT Legislative Assemblys right to make laws for its own citizens.

Northern Territory Liberal Senator Dr Sam McMahon has not included the ACT in her private members bill because, she said, Senator Seselja wasnt keen. If Zeds not interested and not going to support it, I dont think it would be worth doing. Id be better off just doing it for the NT.

Senator Gallagher had said Senator Seselja was only in politics for himself, and put his conservative personal views ahead of the democratic rights of Canberrans.

Senator Seselja retorted: She is lying when she claims that I have stood in the way of any Senator putting forward a bill which includes the ACT. I have simply been consistent in the position I have taken to every election I have contested.

The Liberal Senator has been an outspoken opponent of euthanasia for years, arguing that assisted dying was an ethical threshold that should not be crossed.

He is concerned that vulnerable people would be pressured into suicide (as they have in the USA); and that children with incurable diseases, alcoholics and drug addicts, people with dementia, the mentally ill and the disabled could all be killed with the approval of the State (as they have in some European countries). He worries that governments might find it easier and cheaper to euthanise people considered a burden on society rather than to properly fund palliative care, which would offer a dignified death.

If Senator Gallagher is as committed to legalising euthanasia as she claims, there is nothing preventing her from introducing a bill to the Senate, as all senators are entitled to do.

Senator Seselja has said that he considers euthanasia a matter for a conscience vote, which he maintains the Senate and Parliament have already considered and rejected. However, he might be willing to discuss or consider giving the ACT broader territory rights, if euthanasia were part of a package of legislation and not the principal issue.

Meanwhile, Senator Gallaghers petition to restore Territory rights had received nearly 1,600 votes by Friday afternoon.

For more news:

See the article here:

'Playing politics with life and death': Seselja responds to Gallagher - Canberra Weekly

Warning: This story deals with the topic of suicide.

No-one will ever know when Neil Vaughan decided to take his life by jumping from a cruise ship off the east coast of New Zealand.

It could have been anytime in the preceding 11 years as Parkinsons disease took its inexorable and excruciating toll.

It could have been in the moments before he leapt, on the evening of December 29, 2019, as he writhed and screamed in pain as his wife of 39 years, Nina, went to get them dinner. Or it could have been earlier that day when he surprised Nina by overcoming his pain sufficiently to spend the day looking around Napier.

Bill Kearns/Stuff

Vaughan jumped from the ship about six nautical miles off the coast of Mahia, pictured. (File photo)

READ MORE:* Rainy day savings part of Cullen legacy* Man who admitted attempting to kill his ill wife in apparent suicide pact sentenced* Let dementia sufferers decide their death before their mind fails

Vaughan was 62. He and Nina lived in Warragul, 100 kilometres southeast of Melbourne.

The father of two was in the advanced stages of Parkinsons and was in great pain, physically and psychologically. His mind and body had long ceased operating the way he wanted.

He and Nina had discussed euthanasia.

Both had filled in forms with their doctor stating that if they were terminally ill they were not to be revived. Both agreed they wanted quality of life ahead of quantity of life.

Coroner Bruce Hesketh has issued his findings on Vaughans death.

Reporting restrictions that usually apply to suicides were lifted in Vaughans case following an application by Stuff to Chief Coroner Judge Deborah Marshall.

Marshall said it was in the public interest to allow publication of the details of Vaughans death given the debate surrounding euthanasia and the upcoming implementation of the End of Life Choice Act 2019.

Stuffs application was supported by Vaughans wife Nina, who said she and her husband both considered the policies around euthanasia were outdated and did not take into account the needs and wishes of the person who was ill.

Supplied

Marinetraffic.com plotted the track of the Norwegian Jewel after Vaughan went overboard.

Vaughans condition had deteriorated greatly since being diagnosed in 2008, and was compounded by dementia. He had been in the advanced stages of the disease in his last three years. A visit to a neurologist a month before the cruise confirmed cognitive impairment as well as psychological and behaviour problems.

The Parkinsons was causing significant tremors in his limbs. He was embarrassed of the shaking and would get upset when people noticed or tried to help him.

He had become forgetful, anxious, was on a raft of medications, and was essentially confined to his house. Nina still worked and carers looked after him during the day.

The couple enjoyed cruising and on December 22, 2019, they boarded the Norwegian Jewel in Sydney for a Christmas and New Year cruise around New Zealand.

Vaughan got tired quickly and would usually sleep following breakfast and lunch. But on the morning of December 29, when the ship berthed at Napier, he surprised Nina by saying he was keen to go on a local tour.

Abigail Dougherty

The Norwegian Jewel cruise ship arrived in Auckland, on December 31, two days day after Vaughan went overboard. The ship had been bound for Tauranga, but sailed to Auckland after the incident occurred. The vessel could carry 2376 guests and 1069 crew members. (File photo)

They spent the morning in the city, taking in a one-hour vintage tour, before returning to the ship around 1.30pm

That afternoon Vaughan was trembling badly and crying in pain. At around 5.30pm Nina went to get dinner to bring back to the cabin. She was gone for about 10 minutes.

When she returned Vaughan was not in the cabin. She thought he must have fallen asleep, woken, and gone to find her. So she went looking for him. She could be seen on CCTV walking up and down the dining room and asking staff if they had seen him.

Returning to the cabin she noticed his key card lying on the table and his shoes on a shelf. She also noticed a deck chair on the deck had been moved up against the balcony glass. It was then that she feared Vaughan had gone overboard.

Ricky Wilson/Stuff

Chief coroner Judge Deborah Marshall granted an exemption from restrictions on making details of a suicide public following an application by Stuff. (File photo)

The ship turned and began searching for Vaughan. Fishing vessels, private yachts and the Hawkes Bay rescue helicopter were also asked to search.

No trace of Vaughan was ever found.

Nina told the coroner of the couples discussions about euthanasia, which had taken place in 2017, and said Vaughan had discarded his firearms after getting his Parkinsons diagnosis. Hed told her he didnt want to ever be tempted to use them on himself as she would be the one most likely to find him afterwards.

Nina told the coroner a good friend of Vaughans told her of a conversation he had had with Vaughan about two years earlier about ways to commit suicide.

Coroner Hesketh found Vaughans death to be a suicide. He said Vaughan was dressed in light clothing and would have drowned quickly in the sea about six nautical miles off the Mahia coast.

In June 2019, Victoria became the first state in Australia where euthanasia was legal. There are strict conditions. A person must have an advanced disease causing them unacceptable suffering and likely to die within six months, or 12 months for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinsons disease.

South Australia and Tasmania have since adopted similar laws, with other states in the process. New Zealands End of Life Act makes euthanasia legal for certain people from November 7.

It is unknown if Vaughan would have met the criteria. The coroners report does not state whether he had been assessed.

Nina could not be reached for comment.

A memorial service was held for Vaughan in late January 2020.

Such a gentleman. Parkinsons got the better of him but in pain no more my darling. We all loved you and miss you terribly, Nina wrote in his death notice.

KEVIN STENT/STUFF

Euthanasia advocate Bobbie Carroll says she is elated at the preliminary referendum result for the euthanasia referendum.

In the first 18 months since the Act came into force in Victoria, 328 people who were granted permits for assisted dying had died. A third of those died before taking the medication, or did not take the medication.

Of those 328 people granted permits, 47 had neurodegenerative diseases (such as Parkinsons, multiple sclerosis, Huntingtons etc).

Dying With Dignity Victoria president Hugh Sarjeant said someone suffering from Parkinsons would need a GP and a specialist in the disease saying yes, your condition is expected to cause your death within 12 months.

Theres no clear-cut way of doing it. Also, remember its a 6-month prognosis for most conditions, and 12 months for neurodegenerative conditions, he said.

We still find a lot of people dont know the ins and outs of the legislation, so they could assume theyre eligible when theyre not, or assume the other way, Sarjeant said.

The other thing that has been a sticking point is that you have to have been a Victorian resident for at least twelve months, and an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

Weve got a lot of people in Australia who came from England or elsewhere decades ago and never took out citizenship, who cannot access voluntary dying. These people cannot access VAD (voluntary assisted dying) because permanent resident in the Act has been interpreted as meaning they have been granted permanent residency. It is not sufficient that a person permanently lives here, Sarjeant said.

The Victorian government had adopted those requirements as it wanted to stop suicide tourism.

It made sense in the legislation, but they werent thinking of these other people. The law gets reviewed after five years and could be changed then, he said.

Where to get help

1737, Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 to talk to a trained counsellor.

Anxiety New Zealand 0800 ANXIETY (0800 269 4389)

Depression.org.nz 0800 111 757 or text 4202

Kidsline 0800 54 37 54 for people up to 18 years old. Open 24/7.

Lifeline 0800 543 354

Mental Health Foundation 09 623 4812, click here to access its free resource and information service.

Rural Support Trust 0800 787 254

Samaritans 0800 726 666

Suicide Crisis Helpline 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)

Supporting Families in Mental Illness 0800 732 825

thelowdown.co.nz Web chat, email chat or free text 5626

Excerpt from:

The tragic reason that led to a man jumping to his death from a cruise ship off the coast of New Zealand - Stuff.co.nz

Best Friends Animal Society,a leading animal welfare organization, has released its sixth annual pet lifesaving dataset,whichgives a national overview of the number of dogs and cats that enterand exitshelters each year.

It also includesa state-by-state no-kill priority rankingin whichFloridaisfourth.

Best Friends measures shelter lifesaving with a metric calledsave rate.

A 90% save rate is the nationally recognized benchmark to be considered no-kill, factoring that approximately 10 percent of pets who enter shelters have medical or behavioral circumstances that warrant humane euthanasia rather than killing for other reasons, such as lack of space.

In 2020,283,942 dogs and cats enteredFloridashelters and234,681were saved, giving the state an aggregate save rate of82.65%.

In the same year, an estimated55.92% of state shelters measured above the 90% benchmark. Those that were below it needed to save an estimated24,289more healthyor treatableanimals to makeFloridano-kill. A stateis considered to beno-kill when every brick-and-mortar shelter in the state has a save rate of 90% or higher.

Florida has many animal sheltering agencies doing tremendous work within theirlocalcommunities, saidTiffany Deaton, strategist for the Best Friends Animal Society East Region. They have implemented best practices to save the animals in their care and keeppets out of shelters andwith their families when possible.If we can take what we have learned from thesemodel agencies and share that knowledge and those resources with other communities and sheltersin Florida,we canmake the Sunshine State a safe place for animals in shelters.

By comparison, in 2019,361,478animals entered state shelters and282,021were saved for an aggregate save rate of78%. At the time, an estimated53.29%of shelters were no-kill and those that were below it needed to save an estimated45,503more animals.

This was a monumental year for cats and dogs in Americas shelters, said Julie Castle, CEO of Best Friends Animal Society. We saw communities, shelters and individuals step up for animals in ways we couldnt have imagined, and now we are closer than ever before to achieving our goal of no-kill by 2025.

The organization has identified the top six states where it says pets need to be saved: Texas, California, North Carolina, Florida, Alabama and Louisiana, which make up 50 percent of the dogs and cats still being killed in the nation. Although they continue to represent the largest lifesaving gaps, these states have seen significant progress in lifesaving over the past year.

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted this years data, as many shelters or services had to partially close or reduce services. Communities and individuals filled that gap through volunteering, fostering and adopting. As a result, fewer pets entered shelters and more animals lives were saved.

This years progress has been exceptional, from what we have seen with community support and involvement and the lifesaving numbers as a result. It is crucial that we build on this momentum to keep pets out of shelters and in loving homes where they belong. This is how we will get to no-kill, Castle said.

Nationally, about 347,000 cats and dogs were killed in Americas shelters in 2020, down from 625,000 in 2019. This is the largest yearly reduction in dogs and cats killed in the nations shelters (44.5%) to date, putting the nation at an 83 percent save rate.

"Since we announced our no-kill goal the number of cats and dogs killed in shelters has decreased by 76%, down from about 1.5 million in 2016, said Castle. This is incredible progress, but we must never lose sight that there are stillover 950 cats and dogs killed every day just because they do not have a safe place to call home.

For the past six years, Best Friends has spearheaded a one-of-a-kind extensive data collection process that involved coordinated outreach to every shelter in America followed by additional research, data analysis, and technology development.

Original post:

Florida saved 6000 more dogs and cats in 2020 than Previous Year - Ponte Vedra Recorder

Invasive species expert tells why we should care about the battle between the species

Destruction from the invasive, leaf-eating gypsy moth caterpillar is plain to see. Yet many more invasive species, though not as prominent, are also on the prowl.

Julie Sherwood, MPNnow

Last week, a football-sized goldfishfound in a Minnesotalake shocked the internet with its size and breadth. In a widely shared Facebook post, the city of Burnsville warned residents not to release their pet fish into public waters, saying "they grow bigger than you think."

But these massive beasts aren't just inMinnesota. Indiana has them, too.

Yes, Indiana has giant goldfish. They're 100% real and not the result of some lab experiment.

But these gargantuan goldfish pose problems beyond their size, as they are an invasive species when found in ponds, lakes or reservoirs.

Large goldfish result from people dumping their fish into bodies of waterand survive when there are not a lot of native fish to prey on them, said Eric Fischer, aquatic invasive species coordinator for the Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife.However, these huge fish don't pop up very often.

"It's not uncommon, they pop up from time to time, but for the most part, we use them asa good example of why people shouldn't dump aquarium species because of the example of how ... in rare cases, of how they can thrive in Indiana waters," Fischer said.

Don't do it:Why Indiana DNR is reminding people not to dump goldfish in ponds or lakes

Several years ago, at J. Edward Roush Lake in Huntington, officials found 31 goldfish ranging from 6-11 inches.This was likely because "Roush has a problem with not enough native predators," Fischer said.

"In the right conditions, if you stock goldfish into a pond and there's not enough native predators and there's too many undesirable or problematic species like shad or other common carp, those sorts of things, then they can become abundant,"Fischer said."They can reproduce;they can stir up the sediment. They can even cause the native fish to be crowded out. So you have less productivity, and your water quality can diminish."

Goldfish have the capability to grow alongside their environment. If you put a goldfish in a bigger tank, it could grow bigger than what many people consider itstypical size to be.

"They have the capability of getting well up into several pounds. I think I've even seen a goldfish up to about 16inches," Fischer said.

While goldfish are often eaten by native fish, because they're gold, they can pose a threat and become an invasive specieswhen there aren't enough predators to take them down.

But the threat of giant goldfish is just one of an array of problems that can come with dumping out an aquarium into a public body of water, Fischer said.

"When people dump aquariums, they can introduce diseases, they can introduce aquarium plants that can thrive and change the habitat of the lake they're put in, or other fish," Fischer said.

If you can't take care of your fish anymore, there are options for humane fish euthanasia, Fischer said.There are also resources available to fish owners looking to give their fish away.

"A lot of aquarium clubs and mom-and-pop type pet storeswill even take back a lot of fish species and pets ... And they can either rehome them or make sure that they don't get dumped into public waters."

So, what's the moral of the story? Don't dump your goldfish in the lake, lest they become massive and an invasive species.

"What I want people to know is they shouldn't be dumping aquariums and they shouldn't be introducing things because they can introduce species that can become invasive," Fischer said.

Contact IndyStar Pulliam Fellow Claire Rafford at crafford@gannett.com or on Twitter @clairerafford

More:

Yes, Indiana has had giant goldfish and they can be harmful - IndyStar