http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/category/pets.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://english.people.com.cn/90001/6440346.html http://tobacco.org/news/268085.html Ai Ai was imported from Japan with a male gorilla in 1982. The male gorilla died in 1989. Ai Ai then became restless and irritable, refusing food, instead chewing on cigarette butts left on the ground by zoo visitors. "We did not pay attention to her at first," said zookeeper Wang Aiying. "But gradually the gorilla got a craving for tobacco and needed at least 20 cigarettes a day." "If we refused to give her cigarettes, she would knock the door very hard, yelling and screaming, and sometimes she would go on a hunger strike," the zookeeper said. People's Daily China Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/news/2008/media/bat_donation.php?PHPSESSID=s9bc9l5jm9krbalcrc3sjj3u53 http://tobacco.org/news/267683.html The Kruger National Park’s Managing Executive Dr Bandile Mkhize accepted a donation of 195 MaxiBin cigarette disposal bins today (Monday June 23, 2008) from British American Tobacco (BAT) South Africa. “I would like to be first in line to thank and congratulate BAT South Africa for this marvellous initiative,” said Dr Mkhize during the hand over function at Skukuza. Cigarette butts are a constant problem, not only because they are repulsive and can perhaps be ingested by animals, but also because of the obvious fire risk. . . . On hearing about the challenge faced by the KNP, BAT South Africa stepped forward immediately, especially in light of its awareness about the environmental impact that its products can have if consumers do not adopt considerate smoking behaviour. South African National Parks South Africa Mon, 23 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.fox11az.com/news/topstories/stories/KMSB_20080623_dc_jh_condo.32849750.html http://tobacco.org/news/267522.html A Tucson man is homeless after an accidental fire destroyed his east side condo, killing his dog and bird on Monday, June 23. The owner wasn't home when the fire started, but firefighters say a guest who was asleep inside is lucky to be alive. . . . investigators found that the fire was caused by a carelessly discarded cigarette. The cigarette was discarded on the porch. "If you smoke, make sure you discard your cigarettes in a big ash tray or an area where it's not going to be combustible," said Tracy. KMSB Fox 11 Mon, 23 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20080613/NEWS/10678454/0/FRONTPAGE http://tobacco.org/news/266933.html ASPEN -- A cigarette left in potting soil caused Tuesday's fire that destroyed 10 units in the Castle Ridge Apartments, according to Aspen fire officials. No one was injured in the blaze, but 17 people were displaced. "They'd left a cigarette," said Aspen Fire Marshal Ed Van Walraven. "And the cigarette wasn't quite out enough." The two men renting unit 107, where investigators said the fire started, could not be reached for comment. Van Walraven said the pair apparently left the apartment after smoking on the balcony . . . All 17 residents escaped -- one cat died of asphyxiation -- but the building was a loss, officials said. Aspen Times cagar@aspentimes.com (Charles Agar The Aspen Times Aspen, CO Colorado June 13, 2008) Fri, 13 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_yorkshire/7422276.stm http://tobacco.org/news/265989.html Dozens of firefighters tackled two moorland blazes spending hours at the sites on the Lancashire-West Yorkshire border over the bank holiday. One of the fires - thought to have been started by a discarded cigarette - engulfed 300 acres of Marsden Moor, the National Trust said. . . . The Marsden Moor fire at Scammonden, near Huddersfield, caused widespread damage to the land and endangered the lives of nesting birds and other wildlife in the area, the National Trust said. BBC Online yourpics@bbc.co.uk UK Tue, 27 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/dorset/7413096.stm http://tobacco.org/news/265770.html A cigarette thrown from a car has been identified as the likely cause of a heathland fire in Dorset which killed hundreds of rare lizards and birds. The National Trust said it was probably thrown from a car in Ferry Road and destroyed 2.5 hectares (6.2 acres) on the Studland peninsula. Up to 120 firefighters battled the blaze on Tuesday afternoon at the Site of Special Scientific Interest. National Trust experts believe at least 500 reptiles are likely to have died. It is one of the few places in Britain where six native reptile species can be found. . . . It is expected to take up to 20 years for the area to be fully recolonised. . . . David Hodd, the National Trust head warden for Purbeck, said: "Almost everything in the area has been killed by the flames and smoke. "It could not have come at a worse time for the wildlife on the heath because it is the breeding season." BBC Online UK Wed, 21 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/story/343891.html http://tobacco.org/news/264167.html A resident of an RV resort in Oceano lost her home and was injured Saturday afternoon when her trailer caught fire because she was smoking a cigarette while changing an oxygen tank, authorities said. Velma Selnik, 55, who had lived at the Pacific Dunes Ranch for about eight years, suffered second-and third-degree burns to 9 percent of her body, according to County/Cal Fire Investigator Andy Andersen. She had been smoking while changing an oxygen cylinder used to treat her asthma San Luis Obispo Tribune mlazier@thetribunenews.com (Leslie Parrilla) Sun, 27 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080424/CSUZONE01/804240363/1002/CUSTOMERSERVICE02 http://tobacco.org/news/264126.html Phoenix watched other dogs bark, jump and play at the sixth annual Stomp, Romp & Wag festival at Colorado State University. The festival raises awareness of the dangers that secondhand smoke poses to pets, including increased rates of lung and oral cancers, allergies and skin ailments. The college-age population has the highest rate of smoking, according to health officials. "Secondhand smoke is a horrible thing," said CSU junior Reed Nelson, as he walked Phoenix away from the free doggie massage tent. "It's depressing that people would subject their pet to it." Last year's fair drew about 1,000 people and about 250 dogs, and this year's event looked like it was proving even more popular, organizers said. The event is organized by CSU's Hartshorn Health Service through a smoking-prevention grant. Fort Colliins Coloradoan TrevorHughes@coloradoan.com (TREVOR HUGHES) Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/topstories/display.var.2220677.0.cigarette_may_have_been_to_blame_for_fatal_fire.php http://tobacco.org/news/263971.html A FIRE which killed a woman in her first floor flat may have been started by a lit cigarette. Yesterday, police named the victim of the fire in Darlington on Tuesday evening as 49-year-old Pauline Nixon. . . . Ms Nixon, who had one daughter, lived alone, except for two parakeets and a miniature Yorkshire Terrier. The birds were found dead in the flat. Northern Echo david.roberts@nne.co.uk (David Roberts) UK Wed, 23 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/04/northampton_fire_blamed_on_cig.html http://tobacco.org/news/263966.html A fire in a two-family home on Wright Avenue yesterday afternoon was started by improper disposal of a cigarette, acting Deputy Fire Chief Christopher W. Norris said today. It appears a resident of the building threw a cigarette off the back deck of 3-5 Wright Ave., a side street between Pleasant and Conz streets not far from downtown, and it ignited a pile of bark mulch and wood chips which spread quickly to the two-story deck and into the house, Norris said. "This goes hand and hand with us issuing a press release on Monday about the dry conditions and not to have any open burning," Norris said. "Improperly disposing of a cigarette like that is the same thing." Two cats were apparently killed in the fire and the building is expected to be torn down. Springfield Union-News and Sunday Republican ngonter@repub.com (NANCY H. GONTER) Wed, 23 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.mississauganews.com/article/12891 http://tobacco.org/news/263706.html Fire officials believe careless smoking caused a Port Credit high-rise blaze that killed two cats on Monday morning. The fire broke out at about 11:30 a.m., at an apartment complex at 55 Park St. E. . . . Fire inspectors believe a cigarette left burning in a plastic tray, while the tenants of the apartment went out, caused the blaze. Mississauga News lrosella@mississauga.net Canada Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/apr/17/smoking-bed-caused-house-fire-where-dog-died/ http://tobacco.org/news/263657.html NEW PORT RICHEY - The fire that destroyed a couple's home, sent the husband to a Tampa hospital and killed the family dog Monday was caused by someone smoking in bed, Pasco County Fire Marshal Larry Whitten said. Tampa Tribune ldavis@tampatrib.com (LISA A. DAVIS * The Tampa Tribune) Sat, 19 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.kansascity.com/679/story/548641.html http://tobacco.org/news/262083.html Overland Park fire officials said today that careless smoking caused a fatal duplex fire that killed a woman and her dog on Easter Sunday. Officials said Bonnie J. Franz, 58, and her pet died in a blaze that broke out about 4:30a.m. at her residence at 9014 W. 78th Circle. Franz and another person, both smokers, lived at the residence but she was the only one home at the time of the fire, said Overland Park fire spokesman Jason Rhodes. Kansas City Star bwilliams@kcstar.com ( Benita Y. Williams, bwilliams@kcstar.com) Thu, 27 Mar 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-03/27/content_7870216.htm http://tobacco.org/news/262049.html A tortoise who enjoys a good smoke has been discovered in northeast China's Jilin Province, a local newspaper reported. The smoking tortoise is the pet of a Chinese man surnamed Yun from Yongji County. He has kept the animal as a pet for nearly four years, according to the City Evening News. Yun, himself a smoker, one day teased the tortoise by putting a cigarette butt into its mouth. To his surprise, it smoked, the paper said. From then on, he often shared his cigarettes with his pet. Xinhua Newswire China Thu, 27 Mar 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5h4VLYE-wpsBznAVy6NR4ChE-C77g http://tobacco.org/news/262045.html tortoise that smokes and appears to be addicted to nicotine has been discovered in China's northeastern province of Jilin, state media reported on Thursday. The animal is the pet of a man, identified by his surname Yun, who is himself a smoker, Xinhua news agency said, quoting a local newspaper. Agence France Presse China Thu, 27 Mar 2008 04:00:00 GMT