Legacy Kennels Michigan

24/03/2025

17/03/2025

☺️🐾

15/03/2025

A beautiful spring walk with our Gracie. 🖤🐾

06/03/2025

😂

23/02/2025

This ….

TLDNR: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza- I have searched high and low and as far as I can tell at this time there is a theoretical risk to dogs, but no actual risk. I have not changed how I feed my dogs...if I had a litter on the ground I might be more conservative.
*******
Longer answer, despite recent attention-grabbing headlines, I cannot find any current reported cases of dogs dying or getting seriously ill from H5. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/mammals

There are two dogs in the entire world who have been reported to die from avian flu. One in Canada 2 years ago and one in Thailand 21 years ago.

If you consider the nearly one BILLION dogs in the entire world, I would say that these two dogs were much more likely to have died from something else and they happened to be serovar positive.

Indeed, one study of hunting dogs found a significant number of them were serovar positive (so they had been exposed and developed an immune response) but none of them had any visible symptoms. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/30/6/23-1459_article. So probably a significant segment of dogs worldwide would test serovar positive for avian flu.

My current assessment of the risk?

Two dogs over the course of 21 years have died (reportedly) from avian flu, with the most recent being two years ago.

If this were going to spread to the dog population we would be seeing an increasing funnel of dogs dying from this. In the course of 21 years, you would have heard of more than two cases. So, the current risk is statistically zero. There could be mutations and changes, but that is the current risk.

I mean, yes, theoretically, it’s always a risk that some new virus can mutate into something deadly. Look at COVID, essentially a cold virus that killed millions of people. But that is a constant risk, always, not something new because of bird flu.

It’s statistically riskier to feed processed pet food. Thousands of dogs have died of tainted dog food in the past 21 years.

The reporting on this feels like just another excuse to tell people not to feed raw food, which I am past being annoyed about because it’s such a standard trope.

What annoys me is that I actually do want to know when there is an actual threat to my dogs from the food supply and I’m being forced to dig down and find the evidence for myself. I am not a “ denier,” there is a time and a place when alarm is justified. Everyone, from the CDC to the raw food haters are crying wolf on this one. It’s irresponsible and wrong.

There was a case of a number of zoo animals but there may have been other extenuating circumstances.

Cats appear to be much more susceptible than dogs. Animals in the weasel family also appear to be vulnerable. So if I had a cat or a ferret I would have different evidence to weigh.

So my answer is that I respect this virus and I'm watching it, but the reality at this time is that there does not appear to be any actual risk to dogs, although there is a theoretical risk. There is always the chance that the virus could mutate, so we can't discount the danger, but, again, the danger currently is theoretical.

I think it's important to source your raw from a source that tests their flocks and uses only human grade meats. So no dead, diseased, or dying dairy animals or birds.

I also would be more likely to use caged eggs rather than free range because the vector for H5 is wild birds. Birds that never go outside are probably more safe from the virus.

If I had puppies on the ground, I would probably eliminate poultry from their food rotation, which is not a big deal since I don't normally introduce poultry until later in the weaning process. I would for sure make certain that all raw food was from meat for human consumption.

When I fed puppies raw egg yolks I would consider dropping eggs in boiling water for one minute before cracking them to eliminate the possibility of contamination from the shells.

Again, I respect the disease, I don't discount any future possibilities, but honestly the CDC will tell you never to eat a sunny side up egg under any circumstances. So I'm not a denier, but I see no reason to switch food models at this time.

07/02/2025

shared from another page:
I just dialed their number and the call said call cannot be completed. (855) 777-2447

If your dog or cat has a microchip number that starts with 991 or 900164 then it could be a “Save This Life” microchip. Save This Life suddenly closed.

05/01/2025

If you have ever chatted with me, you will know that I absolutely hate showing my dogs in conformation, but not for the reasons haters would like to hear.

A purebred dog should be “reviewed” by a non biased, objective individual who is very familiar with the breed standard. This is nearly impossible in our breed within AKC at this time.

It is also possible to have your dog evaluated by an experienced judge, but be ready for a real critique. There are experienced UKC judges that can do this.

Accidentally dug up my only two wins while decluttering, which made me think about posting. Went in the ring twice in one day and didn’t do too bad with a pup, but the people competing…. Yikes 😳

27/12/2024

Santa brought our daughter a blanket hoodie and our crew thinks she’s their own personal dog bed 🤎🖤🐾

19/12/2024

🎉🎉☺️

14/12/2024

12 degrees here tonight and my Lark is snuggled up between us. 🤍🖤🤎🧡

22/11/2024

I held back my last litter unless I was 1,000% sure of the home.

10/11/2024

Never stop learning….

10/11/2024

Today we picked up our usual order of chicken necks and steamed mussels. VERY happy and howling crew tonight 🖤🤎🐾

04/11/2024

When you help someone move, checking out doorbell needs, and you get to enjoy these hooligans 🤎🤎🤎

03/11/2024

Happy 2years Elvis and Truffles!! We love you 🤎🖤

03/11/2024

Weekends are for the SS, Spitz Stampede! They love running into our bedroom and jumping all over us. I confess, I look forward to it too!