Mosquito Spraying

It's been a particularly buggy year. Part due to an unusually mild winter and part due to once a day trash pick up. Regardless of the reason, it's difficult to go inside when in a matter of moments you're scratching. Bug bites are not only annoying, but can carry health concerns. Aggressive scratching, especially by little ones, can create an infected area and West Nile continues to be a reoccurring threat this year. There has been one West Nile death in Maryland this year and 13 cases of which one was in Anne Arundel County. The fleet of spray trucks have dwindled over the years as well as money to fund the program. This year there are 240 communities on the spray list and 200 communities who are sitting on the wait list. Selby was on the spray list many years ago, but due to a change of board members and an address mixup, we did not submit the yearly paperwork to put us back on the list. Once off the list, a community must go back and sit on the wait list. For now, get rid of any standing water and use bug sprays.

The Capital Article 4 September 2012

Kids And Too Much Salt

When it comes to health concerns, adults and children can keep each other company. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has come out with findings that kids take in as much sodium as adults. In a study done in 2003 – 08 with 6,200 8 to 18-year-olds, 15% either had high blood pressure or slightly elevated blood pressure. Risks of high blood pressure double among the kids who ate the most salt and that risk triples among those who are overweight or obese. Studies have shown that childhood elevated blood pressure can lead to high blood pressure in adulthood as well as premature heart disease.

The Capital Article 18 September 2012

Do It Yourself Tattoos

The legal age to get a tattoo without parent permission is 18. So where are teens getting them? There's been a birth of in-house tattoo parlors and their requirements are virtually null. State and county law require tattoo parlors to follow certain precautions to prevent blood-borne diseases, but those requirements aren't enforced on individual artists or those who are aspiring to be one. Staff infections, hepatitis B and C and AIDS are among the serious illnesses that those seeking tattoos are exposing themselves to. With tattoo equipment available on the Internet and in the malls, it seems anyone can be a tattoo artist. It is strongly encouraged to only patronize reputable tattoo parlors who practice clean and sterile procedures and who don gloves and take the health side of tattooing seriously.

The Capital Article 17 September 2012

Risks and Precautions of Tattoos

Pit Bulls

Maryland courts have ruled that not only are pit bulls "inherently dangerous", but landlords can now be held liable for incidents involving pit bulls. The Humane Society of United States (HSUS) has launched a helpline to help landlords and renters who own pit bulls. Maryland is the first state to enforce third-party liability for a specific dog breed. In Maryland pitbull rescue, Jasmine's House, closed it's adoptions to renters, but since the Court amended the ruling to include only purebreed pit bulls, they've opened back up to renters. The HSUS is urging pit owners to get breed documentation for their dogs as well as a behavioral assessment. Renters should also introduce their pit bulls to their landlords to establish that the dogs are not a threat. The Anne Arundel County SPCA claims about a quarter of their dogs are pit bulls or pitbull mixes and they've deemed September Pit Bull Appreciation month with all pit bulls 50% off.

650 US cities have enacted breed-specific laws. The actual term "pitbull" refers mainly to the American Pit Bull Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier as well as crosses between the two. In the 90s, the American Bully was created.

17 September 2012 Capital Article

Jasmine's House

To learn more about Pit Bulls

Anne Arundel County SPCA