IHN, IPN and ISA are reportable diseases in Canada. These diseases are contagious and can cause disease and mortality in salmon. IHN is known to exist in certain species and populations of wild finfish in B.C. IPN and ISA have not been confirmed in the province.

In 2012, 4175 wild salmon samples were collected directly from B.C. waters, processing plants and enhancement hatcheries as part of a surveillance initiative in B.C. All of these samples were tested for the ISA virus. The samples were also tested for either IHN or IPN depending on the age of the fish. A variety of salmon species were tested, including those that could carry infection without showing signs of disease. In 2013, this surveillance program is expected to test approximately 5,000 samples.

Executive Summary: Status Update on the Surveillance of Wild Anadromous Salmonids in British Columbia (http://www.inspection.gc.ca/animals/aquatic-animals/diseases/reportable/isa/wild-anadromous-salmonids/eng/1370960326837/1370960742286)

This surveillance initiative is led by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in partnership with many organizations, including the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Province of British Columbia, First Nations groups, the aquaculture industry and the fishing and processing industry.

All sampling, testing and response activities associated with this surveillance initiative are based on internationally recognized science. They are also consistent with international guidelines and national aquatic animal health requirements.

The CFIA is also finalizing an evaluation of on-going farmed salmon testing activities in B.C. Next steps for on-farm surveillance will be communicated in the fall of 2013.

For more information on this surveillance initiative and CFIA National Aquatic Animal Health Program, visit www.inspection.gc.ca/aquatic, or sign up for the aquatic and terrestrial monthly reportable disease reports.

— WebWireID175943 —

Washington, DC - Oceana announces the start of its fifth annual Ocean Hero Awards, a summertime contest celebrating individuals who go above and beyond to protect America's oceans.

The program honors one youth and one adult who make a unique impact in ocean conservation. Past winners and finalists have worked on a variety of issues that include protecting marine animals, advocating for strong ocean policy and cleaning up ocean pollution. The nominees have come from all over the United States.

2013 Nominations for both the adult and junior division will be open to the public at the official Ocean Hero Facebook page, which can be accessed here ­­until June 28, 2013.

After the nominations period is closed, an expert team of Oceana staff will select adult and junior finalists. The public will choose this year's winners by voting for their favorite finalist between July 16th and July 26th. The finalists with the most votes will become the 2013 Adult and Junior Ocean Heroes. Winners will be announced on July 31st.

Last year, thousands of participants voted and selected adult winner Captain Don Voss, owner of the Marine Cleanup Initiative Inc., a debris collection organization that cleans up Florida's waterways. The winner of the junior award in 2012 was James Hemphill of Virginia Beach, VA. James was the president of Project Green Teens, a student-run environmental group that promotes conservation in Virginia Beach.

In addition to being recognized on Oceana.org, both junior and adult winners of the Ocean Hero Award will receive a grand prize that includes a personalized apparel package from Nautica, inclusion in an Oceana-produced TV spot that will run on Outside Television, a two-night hotel stay at the JW Marriott in either Orlando, FL, or San Francisco, CA, complete with dinner with the hotel's executive chef, and eyewear from Revo Sunglasses.

###

Oceana is the largest international advocacy group working solely to protect the world's oceans. Oceana wins policy victories for the oceans using science-based campaigns. Since 2001, we have protected over 1.2 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea turtles, sharks, dolphins and other sea creatures. More than 600,000 supporters have already joined Oceana. Global in scope, Oceana has offices in North, South and Central America and Europe. To learn more, please visit www.oceana.org.

Nautica was founded in 1983, Nautica® is a leading global lifestyle brand ranging from men's, women's and children's apparel and accessories to a complete home collection. Nautica products are refined casual classics inspired and energized by the water that are always crisp, clean and distinct. Today Nautica is available in more than 75 countries with 256 Nautica branded stores worldwide. In 2003, the Company was acquired by VF Corporation, a global leader in branded lifestyle apparel with more than 30 brands, including Wrangler, The North Face, Lee, Vans, Nautica, 7 For All Mankind, Eagle Creek, Eastpak, Ella Moss, JanSport, lucy, Kipling, Majestic, Napapijri, Red Kap, Reef, Riders, Splendid, Smartwool and Timberland. For additional information, please go to www.nautica.com and www.vfc.com.

Outside Television is the leading network for those passionate about the active lifestyle. From surfing to climbing, skiing to cycling, sailing to running – our programs are about the real people, places, sports and adventures that make the outside world an experience like no other.

JW Marriott is part of Marriott International's luxury portfolio and consists of beautiful properties in gateway cities and distinctive resort locations around the world. These elegant hotels cater to today's sophisticated, self-assured travelers, offering them the quiet luxury they seek in a warmly authentic, relaxed atmosphere lacking in pretense. JW Marriott properties artfully provide highly crafted, anticipatory experiences that are reflective of their locale so that their guests have the time to focus on what is most important to them. Currently, there are 59 JW Marriott hotels in 24 countries; by 2015 the portfolio is expected to encompass 79 properties in 28 countries. Visit us online, jwmarriott.com, @jwmarriott and facebook.com/JWMarriott

Revo In 1985, Revo began as a small sunglass brand with a big idea: technology used by NASA was just as suited for sunglasses as it was for satellites. Today, Revo continues to build on a rich tradition of technology and innovation by creating the clearest and most advanced high contrast polarized sunglasses available. Conscious of the world's social and ecological challenges, Revo strives to act responsibly. Revo's Eco Collection features eyewear made from Revo Re-Use™, a frame material made from 100 percent recycled pre-consumer polymer resins, and Revo Eco-Use™, a sustainable take on traditional plastic made from the seed of the castor bean plant in place of widely used petroleum-based nylons. Designed for the active sport and lifestyle consumer, the 100 percent polarized eyewear collection is available at authorized Revo retail locations nationwide. Revo is held by the Luxottica Group (NYSE: LUX ; MTA: LUX), a Milan, Italy-based global leader in premium fashion, luxury and sports eyewear. Additional information is available at www.revo.com.

— WebWireID175935 —

A large driver in this unfortunate decline of household pets has been the economic downturn coupled with a corresponding shift in demographics as fewer Americans live in family households.  Igor Purlantov notes that studies have consistently shown that household pets tend to be more prevalent in families with two parents and children while singletons, couples without children and the elderly tend to be less likely to have pets at home. 

According to Igor Purlantov, this is the first such decline in cat or dog households since 1991 when there were 57 million cats and 52.5 million dogs in U.S. households.  Although current estimates are that there are 74.1 million cats in 30.4% of U.S. homes and 69.9 million dogs in 36.5% of U.S. homes, the numbers are down from 80.7 million cats and 79.9 million dogs in 2006.

This current decline in household pets is of great concern especially since the percentage of households with a pet is now down 2.4% which translates to more than 2.8 million households.  This recent decline from 2006-2011 also worryingly bucks the trend of the increase of household pets of various types that has been happening since 1986 says Igor Purlantov.

This unprecedented decline in household pets comes at a time when the U.S. is seeing a convergence of a stagnant economy and changing demographics that has led to fewer pets being adopted by first time pet guardians as well as fewer adoptions by people that have lost a pet.  Despite this decline in household pets, there are fortunately more animal rescue groups and shelters across the U.S. that embrace a no-kill policy according to Igor Purlantov. 

This increase in no-kill shelters also comes at a time when more people are becoming informed and educated about the benefits of spaying and neutering their pets to help control the population says Igor Purlantov.  Ultimately, experts are hopeful that this current decline in household pets is only temporarily and will soon reverse so that more animals can find a loving home.

— WebWireID175694 —

Fort Wainwright, Alaska -- Fort Wainwright could soon be the home of a national star. That's because 20-year-old infantry soldier Alexander Contreras has beaten out hundreds of entrants from across the country to be named one of 10 male finalists vying for the title of Cutest Vegan Alive in a contest sponsored by peta2—PETA's youth division. Because of the fast-growing number of young people ditching eggs and dairy products, in addition to meat, this is the first time in the contest's eight-year history that it was limited to vegans, rather than also allowing vegetarian entrants. All finalists will receive a certificate, and the two winners—one male and one female—will also win a professional photo shoot and star in their own peta2 ad.

"Alexander is a perfect example of a young person who's determined to make the world a kinder place," says peta2 Director Marta Holmberg. "Young people who go vegan show respect for animals, the environment, and their own bodies, and that makes all of them cute in our book."

After watching the films Earthlings and Finding Nemo, Alexander stopped eating meat and went vegan a month later. Now, he shares his vegan dinners with his buddies, and a few of them are considering going vegetarian, too. In his spare time, Alexander creates videos and paintings to raise awareness about animal suffering, and he makes sure to hold back enough money to donate to animal rights causes every month.

In addition to the health benefits, every vegan saves the lives of more than 100 animals every year. Raising animals for food is also a leading cause of water pollution, land degradation, and greenhouse-gas emissions.

Voters chose five males and five females as finalists, and peta2 chose another five boys and five girls based on enthusiasm (and cuteness, of course!). peta2 will select the two winners based on several factors, including vote count. See full contest details here (http://features.peta2.com/cutest-vegan-alive/Contest.aspx?utm_campaign=0613%20CVA%20SAF%20Finalist%20Round%20Release&utm_source=peta2%20Pitch&utm_medium=Media). To view photos and read bios of all the finalists, please click here (http://features.peta2.com/cutest-vegan-alive/Finalists.aspx?utm_campaign=0613%20CVA%20SAF%20Finalist%20Round%20Release&utm_source=peta2%20Pitch&utm_medium=Media). For more information, please visit peta2.com.

— WebWireID175699 —

This free photo book for kids is also something adults will enjoy because it features interesting facts about whales most people may not know:

• Whales talk to each other by singing.
• Not all whales have dorsal fins.
• The blue whale is the largest animal on the planet. It's larger than a dinosaur.
• Blue whales can grow to 100 feet, which is bigger than a thousand adults combined or 3-0 elephants.
• A small child can fit inside a blue whale's major artery.
• Gray whales are very friendly and curious.
• Gray whales carry around as much as 400 lbs. of sea lice and barnacles on their skin.

'I handpicked each photo in the book. What is strange is that the closer and more vivid the picture of whales is, the more mysterious they seem,' explains the author.
'I included photos that capture the majesty of their raw power, such as one of a humpback whale crashing to the surface of the ocean. And I included photos that capture their innocence and fragility, such as one of a baby grey whale nuzzling up to a dingy.'

People's understanding of whales could be limited to the things they see in some movies and television shows. Most text books offer inadequate information that can paint a clearer picture on whales' existence. They somewhat elusive since they live so far down. With this book, one will be able to take a peek in their lives.

'Whales are perhaps the most mysterious animal on the planet. They spend their lives hidden in the depths of the ocean. The grey whale, for example, circumnavigates the globe, from frigid icecap waters to the warmth of the Mexican Peninsula.'

Furthermore, this free photo book isn't just for entertainment. Author Mayrose aims to help raise awareness for whales and for the appreciation for life. Whales are among the threatened animals on the planet and by getting children to know them they may develop a strong sense of gratitude for these huge marine animals.

'Whales have withstood harsh poaching over the centuries by humans. But today humans are trying to nurse threatened populations back to health. I discuss this so children can develop an appreciation for the sanctity of life,' he says.
 

About James Mayrose
 
James Mayrose is a husband, father, and writer whose goal is to create books that both children and parents can enjoy and learn from. Learn more about him and his other book on Sharks and Butterflies.
 
Contact
James Mayrose
james@mayrosebooks.com
 

— WebWireID175597 —

WASHINGTON- Today, Oceana filed a lawsuit against the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for its failure to require adequate observer coverage for the New England groundfish fishery for cod, haddock and flounder. NMFS has a duty to set quotas to prevent overfishing and ensure that those quotas are not exceeded. That process depends upon data NMFS receives from trained and independent scientists, known as observers, who work onboard fishing vessels to monitor how many fish are caught, including fish thrown back overboard, called discards. This information is also used to estimate the amount of catch in the entire fishery. The law requires that enough fishing vessels have observers onboard to make the precise, accurate and timely catch estimates needed to guide fishery management decision-making. In the lawsuit, Oceana alleges the federal government set monitoring at extraordinary low levels, using an unlawful interpretation of the legal minimum requirement for observers.

'In order to restore New England's groundfish populations to healthy levels, we need enough monitoring to enforce scientifically based catch limits,' said Gib Brogan, Northeast representative for Oceana. 'Impartial observers on fishing vessels are crucial in getting accurate data on how many fish are being taken out of the ocean, which helps to make sure fishing stays within limits so populations can rebuild in the future.'

In 2010, the historic New England groundfish fishery transitioned to a new management program that divided the fishery into 'sectors.' In order for the sector program to work properly, more observers are needed on fishing boats to ensure each sector stops fishing when the number of fish landed and discarded reaches its assigned quota, known as the Annual Catch Entitlement.

Oceana challenged some of the methods used to set these monitoring levels in 2010, and again in 2012, when it became clear that discards from the fishery would not be adequately monitored. According to the terms of a January settlement agreement with Oceana, the federal government was required to publish an analysis of the groundfish fishery's monitoring needs for the upcoming fishing year, however Oceana's lawsuit alleges that NMFS did not adequately consider what level of observer coverage was needed.

NMFS' decision to set observer coverage at these low levels comes on the heels of sharp quota reductions for Atlantic cod and other stocks set by the New England Fisheries Management Council earlier this year to prevent overfishing of these extremely depleted and vulnerable fish populations.

'By filing this lawsuit, we hope to compel NMFS to take seriously its task of determining the level of observer coverage needed and to get those observers out on the water, instead of allowing overfishing to further harm New England's fisheries,' said Oceana assistant general counsel Eric Bilsky. 'Without observers reviewing fishing activity, the reduced quotas will be impossible to monitor and enforce, threatening the fishery's overall future.'

----
Oceana is the largest international advocacy group working solely to protect the world's oceans. Oceana wins policy victories for the oceans using science-based campaigns. Since 2001, we have protected over 1.2 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea turtles, sharks, dolphins and other sea creatures. More than 550,000 supporters have already joined Oceana. Global in scope, Oceana has offices in North, South and Central America and Europe. To learn more, please visit www.oceana.org.

— WebWireID175291 —

— WebWireID175248 —

Washington, DC – Camera traps in China have captured images and video footage of giant pandas and other species that are often difficult to see in the wild. The photographs and video are some of the most amazing images ever of pandas, red pandas, Milne-edwards' Macaques, leopard cats, and other species in their remote habitat, which were caught on film as part of long-term wildlife monitoring projects set up in panda nature reserves by the Chinese government and World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Video footage: http://www.wwfchina.org/a/0522-biodiversity-video-EN.zip

Photographs: https://photos.panda.org/gpn/external?albumId=4416

'These photos offer a fascinating glimpse into the lives of giant pandas, as well as other animals, which are difficult to see in the wild,' says Dr. Sybille Klenzendorf, managing director of WWF's species program. 'They demonstrate that by saving the iconic giant panda, we secure a vibrant future for other incredible wildlife, wild places and people – it's the best kind of win-win proposition.'

'The multimedia materials were obtained under circumstances where there was little external disturbance and therefore they truly reflect the conditions of those species in the wild,' said Jiang Zeyin, species programme officer at WWF-China.

The materials were captured in 2011 and 2012 by more than 100 infra-red camera traps set up in six nature reserves by WWF and its partners from the local forestry authority as part of the monitoring effort under the giant panda conservation program.

From the footage, WWF conservation officers have gained a better understanding of the impact of human activities on the species and management of nature reserves, according to Jiang Zeyin.

China is considered one of the 12 globally recognized 'mega-biodiversity' countries, with more than 6,500 species of vertebrates representing 14 percent of the global total. However, the population of some of the most charismatic and integral species in China, including the Amur tiger, musk deer and the Yangtze finless porpoise, have undergone a marked decline that was particularly severe between the 1960s and 1980s.

WWF was the first conservation group invited into China to study the giant panda. It is estimated that only 1,600 giant pandas remain.

MATERIALS FOR DOWNLOAD

Video footage*: http://www.wwfchina.org/a/0522-biodiversity-video-EN.zip

Photographs: https://photos.panda.org/gpn/external?albumId=4416

*Please note the files take a moment to download

— WebWireID175121 —

Available in Amazon for free, Mayrose's new photo book features very interesting facts about sharks that will surprise most readers. Parents who read the book to their kids are likely to go 'really?' Among them are the following:

• Some sharks are vegetarians
• Certain types of sharks eat by allowing water to pass through their mouths and filtering plankton and small bits of food
• Ancient sharks grew to 60 feet long
• Sharks can't stop swimming because if they do, they won't be able to breathe!
• Some sharks give birth to baby sharks while some lay eggs
• Shark skin doesn't have scales because scales collect barnacles easily and hinder their movement in the water
• Not all sharks are dangerous to humans. For example, the leopard shark is harmless, and even cute!
• Only 20 out of the 450 types of sharks are known to attack humans

This free children's book can be very helpful introducing kids to the world of sharks. These sea creatures are mostly portrayed in a negative light in movies and television shows and reading this would change many people's (not just children's) perspective on sharks.

Often seen as the hunter, sharks, are suffering their own problems at the hands of humans. Many are being killed each year and unless we do something to change our opinions about them and stop hunting these animals, many species could become threatened.

Hopefully, this book can help people look at sharks differently.

After getting to know sharks with the help of this free photo book for kids, they will have the proper respect and fear for the raw power and even danger of sharks. But they will also have an understanding of their instincts, unique capabilities, and quirks.

About James Mayrose

James Mayrose is a husband, father, and writer whose goal is to create books that both children and parents can enjoy and learn from. Learn more about him and his books at his Amazon author page.

CONTACT

James Mayrose
james@mayrosebooks.com
Amazon Author page
 

— WebWireID175070 —

Created through an association between Travelodge, National Geographic and The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the Travelodge ZOOcation promotion runs through September 30, 2013 and is only available at Travelodge.com. Free children's tickets are awarded in the form of a voucher and are redeemable when combined with the purchase of an equal number of adult admissions at a participating AZA-accredited zoo.

'Travelodge wants to keep guests close to adventure and what better way to do that than to help them get out and visit their favorite zoo,' said Kevin McCabe, senior director of marketing for Travelodge. 'Plus, with 350 hotels throughout the U.S., average rates starting at less than $70 a night and free extras like breakfast and Wi-Fi, having a great adventure isn't dependent on traveling far or spending a lot of money.'

Among the zoos where families may redeem their vouchers are the San Diego Zoo in San Diego, Calif.; the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Columbus, Ohio and the Bronx Zoo in New York. A full list of participating zoos is available at www.aza.org/zoocation.

As an added bonus, guests who are members of Wyndham Rewards®, the free-to-join guest loyalty program of Travelodge hotels and parent company Wyndham Hotel Group, will earn valuable points during their stay. Points may be redeemed for a wide variety of reward options including free hotel stays, air travel, gift cards for leading retailers and restaurants and more. Information is available at www.wyndhamrewards.com.

To take advantage of this offer, visit www.travelodge.com or call 1-800-525-4055 and request special promotional rate code SFA. Vouchers will be mailed approximately two weeks after reservations are made and blackout dates for redemption may apply. The promotion is available for booking through September 30, 2013 or while supplies last. Vouchers are good through November 30, 2013. Full terms and conditions are available at www.travelodge.com.

About Travelodge
Part of Wyndham Hotel Group, the Travelodge® brand is a chain of more than 440 economy hotels located throughout the U.S. and Canada designed to keep guests close to adventure at an affordable price, no matter where their travels take them. Standard amenities include free Wi-Fi and complimentary 'Bear Bites' continental breakfast. Many hotels also offer fitness centers, swimming pools and the opportunity to earn and redeem points through Wyndham Rewards®, the brand's guest loyalty program.

Each Travelodge hotel is independently owned and operated under franchise agreements with Travelodge Hotels Inc., a subsidiary of Wyndham Hotel Group and parent company Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN). Reservations and information are available by calling 1-800-525-4055 or by visiting www.travelodge.com.

Wyndham Hotel Group is the world's largest hotel company with approximately 7,380 hotels and over 631,800 rooms in 66 countries under 15 hotel brands. Additional information is available at www.wyndhamworldwide.com. For more information about hotel franchising opportunities visit www.whgdevelopment.com.

About Wyndham Rewards
Wyndham Rewards, the free-to-join guest loyalty program of Wyndham Hotel Group, is the world's largest lodging loyalty program as measured by number of participating hotels and the only hotel loyalty program to offer members guaranteed rewards after just one stay.

With nearly 7,000 participating hotels throughout more than 50 countries, the program offers nearly seven million active members the opportunity to earn valuable points for their stays. Those points may be redeemed for hundreds of rewards options including free hotel stays, airline travel, gift cards for leading retailers and restaurants and more. Free stays start as low as 5,500 points, while other reward options start as low as 50 points. Members may also choose to earn airline or rail miles with over 20 leading carriers.

In addition to the above benefits, frequent travelers will appreciate the program's newly introduced Gold Status tier, which provides the program's most loyal members with an additional free night after every 20 qualified stays. For more information or to join, visit www.wyndhamrewards.com.

EDITORS: Photos and logos can be downloaded from the Wyndham Worldwide Media Center, available here. For more information about Wyndham Worldwide Corporation and its businesses, go to www.wyndhamworldwide.com.

— WebWireID175015 —

Indoor and outdoor allergies often produce nearly identical symptoms. These may include sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, itchy eyes, scratchy throat, fatigue and headaches. There are however, differences in where and when the allergies occur. To complicate matters further, many people are allergic to more than one allergen so they could in fact have triggers to both indoor and outdoor allergens.

Indoor allergies are often more common during the winter and summer seasons when people are indoors more frequently. Some of the most common indoor allergens include mold, dust mites, pet dander and exposure to cockroaches and rodents.

'For people who suffer from indoor allergies, it's important to know what allergens are present that may be triggering their condition so they can take steps to eliminate or minimize exposure to it,' reported Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing's Garden Grove facility. 'LA Testing offers sampling supplies and indoor allergen analysis so that people can determine if these allergens are present in their homes, schools or places of business.'

LA Testing has sponsored an educational video about indoor and outdoor allergies. It can be seen at: http://youtu.be/p4MxDqXCwO0 

To learn more about indoor allergen testing services or other environmental and indoor air quality (IAQ) issues, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794. 

About LA Testing and EMSL Analytical, Inc.
LA Testing and EMSL Analytical are providers of environmental testing services and products to professionals and the general public. The companies have an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies. LA Testing has laboratories throughout California to service commercial clients and government agencies as well as the general public.

— WebWireID174996 —

Washington State Governor Jay Inslee today signed into law House Bill (HB) 1200, which begins to tackle seafood fraud in the state. Oceana commends Governor Inslee as our recent seafood fraud testing found not only that 18 percent of fish sampled and sold in Seattle was mislabeled, but that seafood fraud is rampant across the nation.

"Washington state continues to lead the way on seafood consumer protection issues," said Whit Sheard, Pacific Counsel and Senior Advisor with Oceana. "This bill is a win for seafood processors, fishermen, consumers, and, ultimately, healthy and productive oceans."

Seafood fraud occurs when consumers get something different than what they intended to purchase, and is unjust to consumers, the environment, and fishermen who utilize responsible fishing practices. Today, more than 90 percent of the seafood consumed in the U.S. is imported, but less than 1 percent of it is inspected by the government specifically for fraud.

HB 1200 begins to tackle seafood mislabeling in several ways. First, the bill requires that any fresh, frozen, or processed fish and shellfish be labeled by the common name so buyers can make an informed purchasing decision. The common names of fish are defined by the Director of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. If a species' common name is not already defined by the Director, then the market name becomes the acceptable common name as provided in the Food and Drug Administration's guidelines.

Second, the bill specifically addresses halibut mislabeling by requiring that only the species Hippoglossus hippoglossus (Atlantic halibut) or Hippoglossus stenolepsis (Pacific halibut) can be labeled as halibut. Many lower value species of flatfish are often labeled as 'halibut,' so while consumers may order 'halibut' at a local restaurant, there is a chance they are being served species such as blueline tilefish.

Finally, the legislation requires that salmon species be labeled by their scientific or accepted common name, which is especially important in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, where consumers face the possibility of farmed Atlantic salmon being substituted for species of wild caught Pacific salmon.

Sheard added that "Americans deserve to know more about the seafood they purchase and HB 1200 will begin to fill the gap in public awareness on this critical economic, environmental, and health issue."

HB 1200 passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate unanimously. Seafood fraud testing results conducted by Oceana in Washington State in addition to 20 other states nationwide can be accessed at http://oceana.org/en/news-media/publications/reports/oceana-study-reveals-seafood-fraudnationwide.

— WebWireID174963 —

Denver -- Colorado just raised the bar for helping our four-legged friends. That's because, on May 13, Gov. John Hickenlooper signed into law a bill that establishes dogs and cats adopted from animal shelters as the official "state pet"—or pets, in this case. The idea was proposed by students from the Peakview School in Walsenburg and Rooney Ranch Elementary School in Lakewood. Colorado is the first state to designate animals adopted from shelters as the official state pets. For conceiving of the measure and seeing it through to a successful conclusion, the young "lobbyists" at both schools will receive PETA's Compassionate Kids Award from PETA Kids, PETA's children's division. The bill's primary sponsors, state Sen. Andy Kerr and Rep. Brittany Pettersen, and Hickenlooper—whose rescued dog Sky accompanied him to the signing ceremony—will each receive a box of delicious vegan chocolates.

"The way that schoolchildren, legislators, and Colorado's chief executive teamed up to focus attention on the crisis of animal homelessness should be emulated by states across the country," says PETA Director of Youth Outreach and Campaigns Marta Holmberg. "Many animal shelters perform heroic work, and everyone who adopts an animal in need of a loving home is a hero, too."

Every year, 6 to 8 million animals end up in U.S. shelters, and approximately half of them have to be euthanized because there simply aren't enough good homes for them. Countless more are abandoned on the streets, where they are often subjected to injuries, starvation, exposure, disease, and cruelty. That's why PETA encourages families always to spay and neuter their dogs and cats and to adopt from animal shelters rather than buying from breeders or pet stores, which contribute to the homeless-animal crisis.

Gov. Hickenlooper also signed into law another bill that requires police officers to undergo training in dog behavior. The bill was introduced following several incidents in which police officers shot dogs under questionable circumstances.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

— WebWireID174961 —

This free photo book for children aims to teach children various things about snakes in a light and entertaining manner. It contains catchy, clear, and crisp images of different types of snakes in their natural habitats.

Most people would prefer to stay away from these reptiles for very good reasons. There are lots of venomous snakes in the country and without proper knowledge on how to deal with them, an encounter can be deadly. However, these reptiles are not all bad. People will discover, upon reading this picture book, that snakes are very interesting creatures. 

• They don't blink
• They have some sort of permanent contact lens that protects their eyes
• They can only see black and white
• Snakes use their tongue to smell
• Not all animals can be killed by snake venom
• Snakes have built-in infrared sensors
• King cobras only eat snakes

Furthermore, snakes offer medical benefits. Everyone knows that snakes' venom is used to create anti-venom. Aside from that, a certain medical study is being performed to use copperhead venom as a possible treatment for breast cancer. Similarly, another group of experts are studying the effects of the Asian sand viper's venom on making the human body fight melanoma cells.

Snake venom can also be used to help patients with angina and heart problems by being transformed into a coagulant. Venom from a certain type of Brazilian viper is also believed to help people with high blood pressure.

Amazing how something feared by most people turns out to have huge significance to people, isn't it? Learning about how they can help provide cures for diseases that affect millions of people today as well as their quirks and other interesting qualities should make one look at these slithering reptiles in a different way.

Mayrose's latest free photo book for kids will also help enlighten a lot of parents and children about snakes. This is a fun book to read and learn from. 

About James Mayrose

James Mayrose is a husband, father, and writer whose goal is to create books that both children and parents can enjoy and learn from. Learn from about him and his books at his Amazon author page.

CONTACT

James Mayrose
james@mayrosebooks.com
James' Amazon author page

— WebWireID174871 —