It seems to me there are a couple of issues here. I don't think a shelter wants just any JoeBloe walking in one day to say "hey I'd like to help by walking your dogs". The shelter needs to know something about its volunteers though a criminal check might be a bit much. If someone has been volunteering at a shelter for some time so the staff knows them and now new policies are being put into effect, then the shelter should have some sort of informational meeting/handout for all its volunteers so they know what and why. And even when volunteers have been accepted, some mini-training should be included for handling dogs. Many shelter dogs have been abused so I wouldn't want a volunteer who grew up under the "old" system of training with spanking and collar yerking now handling a special needs dog. Actual certification for dog walkers - no - the government intrudes enough.
Kid's toys are not for doggies
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http://bowwowhausvancouverblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/kids-toys-are-not-for-doggies.html
thanks for the info..I'm constantly rescuing stuffed elmo's away from Sonny that my nephew leaves around. my first thought is always to save elmo so we don't have a crying toddler…never thought of the possible danger to sonny. and boy does he have a thing for elmo
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Wow, and we think that stuff made for children is ultra safe! Thanks for posting this.
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Thank you for posting this, Mr. Nobarkus. Excellent information.
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I shared it on FB, because like Kipawa said, we usually think stuff made for kids is free of dangerous edibles…but of course, most kids don't chew and digest a whole teddy bear!...there really should be a warning on the thing that tells what is inside though...dust mites have to be safer than anti-flammable gel???
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Very good info..thanks Dan
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What a horrible sad story. I originally came on the forum to post something I saw on Overstock.com. I was trying to find the correct section to post it in. At first I thought I'd make a funny comment like "a stuffless" toy animal for a B, how cruel. Ripping the stuffing out, and trying to spit it off their tongue is cute to watch; my boy used to LOVE destuffing. Never ever gave it a thought. He never ate the stuffing and I watched him when he''d get the squeaker out then I'd take it away so he wouldn't choke.
Then I read this story. Wow. Here's the link to overstock for the toys. Skinneeez Stuffingless Dog Toys[URL="http://http://www.overstock.com/Gifts-Flowers/Skinneeez-Stuffingless-Dog-Toys/4420132/product.html?rcmndsrc=2"
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I can only say, I don't have kids of the human kind and the stuffed animals, old and sentimetal, that I have are far out of this pup's reach. Just common sense. My B-boy will de-stuff anything but he only has access to 'dog' toys. I still have a couple of de-stuffed ones laying around that he has fun making sure!
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This story has some elements of urban myth in it - see http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/stuffedtoys.asp
As they point out its not only stuffed toys that are treated with anti fungals/bacterials - fillings of duvets/doonas/quilts/comforters/ pillows/cushions/pet beds are all potentially treated with the same chemicals.
Also there is no details that if you wash toy/quilt whether the chemical is removed/reduced.
I would also be very surprised if there were any standards imposed on what is deemed appropriate or safe for pet toys - there seems to be little or no regulation as to what can be fed/added to pet food around the world.
That is not to say that there are very good manufacturers of pet food/toys who take the research upon themselves. However if I went along to my local craft store and bought a commercially available filling, how would I know whether it had been treated or not?
