Re: PetLine - my e-mail to Animal Planet

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Posted by Carrie on September 08, 1999 at 19:04:02:

In Reply to: PetLine posted by Carrie on September 08, 1999 at 17:52:01:

OK, so I sent Animal Planet an e-mail. Argiope, I hope you don't mind, I mentioned that you would probably be happy to hear from them if they should have any questions about NIAD. I just figured who best to answer them? Anyway, here's the e-mail I sent:

> Hello,
> I am an animal lover and an Animal Planet viewer from Massachusetts and I just want to start by
saying that I love this new Animal Planet channel. My remote has only a few "favorites"
programmed into it and Animal Planet is one of them.

> I do however, have a few concerns. I worry a lot when I see and hear misinformation on some of
the shows. These shows are being broadcast to millions of people, some of whom have no prior
experience with many animals. There have been a few instances, for example where I have heard
such outdated information from Dr. Bernie, that I would have laughed at it, had I not been thinking
about how many people would just assume that was the 'the word' and never question it.

> Today, I was watching a re-run of Pet Line, in which the woman who was showing off new products
told the viewing audience that iguanas are omnivores and need meat as well as vegetables in their
diet. Now, I know there are still vets giving out this information, and many pet stores are, out of
ignorance, doing the same. However, there has been much research proving to the contrary, that
green iguanas are herbivores and should not be fed any type of animal protein. Such husbandry
practices could indeed, be fatal within very few years when the iguana falls victim to kidney/renal
failure. In fact, my iguana has recently passed away due to misinformation and a lack of knowledge
of some very important factors in keeping iguanas as pets, such as the importance of proper
hydration and supplementation.

> There is a non-profit group in the U.S. (and world-wide) called National Iguana Awareness Day.
This group of iguana keepers and researchers tries to spread the word on how to properly care for
captive green iguanas. I realize that new information is constantly being discovered and there can be
conflicting opinions on certain things regarding iguana care, but I feel that this group does a great job
in trying to help educate people with the most up-to-date information available. There are also a few
well known "iguana care gurus" that support this group in their efforts. I was wondering if the good
people at Animal Planet would perhaps be interested in learning more about NIAD and captive
green iguana care. If you are, I have enclosed a link to the national web site
(http://www.niad.org/national/index.html). I am sure that the National NIAD Coordinator would be
very happy to hear from you.

> Thank you for your time,
> Carrie Stadalski

I feel better now. : )

Follow Ups:

Re: PetLine - my e-mail to Animal Planet Gina 9/08/99 (5)
- Re: PetLine - my e-mail to Animal Planet Gina 9/08/99 (4)
  - Re: dog walking business sheree mcreynolds 01/15/00 (0)
  - Re: PetLine - my e-mail to Animal Planet Argiope 9/08/99 (2)
    - I have been talking Animal Planet for awhile now.:-) James 9/09/99 (0)
    - Re: Thanks Argiope! Carrie 9/09/99 (0)

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: OK, so I sent Animal Planet an e-mail. Argiope, I hope you don't mind, I mentioned that you would probably be happy to hear from them if they should have any questions about NIAD. I just figured who best to answer them? Anyway, here's the e-mail I sent: : > Hello, : > I am an animal lover and an Animal Planet viewer from Massachusetts and I just want to start by : saying that I love this new Animal Planet channel. My remote has only a few "favorites" : programmed into it and Animal Planet is one of them. : > I do however, have a few concerns. I worry a lot when I see and hear misinformation on some of : the shows. These shows are being broadcast to millions of people, some of whom have no prior : experience with many animals. There have been a few instances, for example where I have heard : such outdated information from Dr. Bernie, that I would have laughed at it, had I not been thinking : about how many people would just assume that was the 'the word' and never question it. : > Today, I was watching a re-run of Pet Line, in which the woman who was showing off new products : told the viewing audience that iguanas are omnivores and need meat as well as vegetables in their : diet. Now, I know there are still vets giving out this information, and many pet stores are, out of : ignorance, doing the same. However, there has been much research proving to the contrary, that : green iguanas are herbivores and should not be fed any type of animal protein. Such husbandry : practices could indeed, be fatal within very few years when the iguana falls victim to kidney/renal : failure. In fact, my iguana has recently passed away due to misinformation and a lack of knowledge : of some very important factors in keeping iguanas as pets, such as the importance of proper : hydration and supplementation. : > There is a non-profit group in the U.S. (and world-wide) called National Iguana Awareness Day. : This group of iguana keepers and researchers tries to spread the word on how to properly care for : captive green iguanas. I realize that new information is constantly being discovered and there can be : conflicting opinions on certain things regarding iguana care, but I feel that this group does a great job : in trying to help educate people with the most up-to-date information available. There are also a few : well known "iguana care gurus" that support this group in their efforts. I was wondering if the good : people at Animal Planet would perhaps be interested in learning more about NIAD and captive : green iguana care. If you are, I have enclosed a link to the national web site : (http://www.niad.org/national/index.html). I am sure that the National NIAD Coordinator would be : very happy to hear from you. : > Thank you for your time, : > Carrie Stadalski : I feel better now. : )

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