Dr. Deborah Wilson eNewsDr. Deborah Wilson
www.DrWilsonOBGYN.com



We hope you enjoy our latest enewsletter. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas. Please feel free to forward this issue to your family and friends.

E-mail List Registration
Dr. Wilson is involved with animal rights, environmental, and health issues. She will be sending e-mails out on a weekly basis to those who are interested. The subject of these e-mails will be:

  • News about women's health issues
  • Current animal issues
  • Animal and environmental legislation - opportunities to contact legislators about current bills
  • Animals for adoption
  • VegetarianismKeyboard

If you would like to be included in this weekly e-mail, just click here. You are welcome to forward these e-mails to anyone who might be interested, and you can add names of interested friends even though they might not be a patient of Dr. Wilson's. You can also visit Dr. Wilson's new web site, www.HelpingAllAnimals.org, for current issues in the animal protection community.

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E-mail Registration

Late-Breaking News

EMR System

Katrina Heroes

Ultrasound

Aesthetic Services

Talk About Milk

What About PMS

The Seal Hunt

Hysterectomy vs. Medical Treatment

Cost of Inactivity

Fostering Dogs/Cats

Sleep and Reducing Weight Gain

Arizona Ballot

Upcoming Events

Looking for a Home





Late-Breaking News

Dr. Wilson was asked to be the national spokesperson for Gynecare, (a division of Johnson & Johnson). They are starting a campaign to make laparoscopic hysterectomy the standard of care rather than the exception, and Dr. Wilson will be interviewed for magazines, newspapers, etc. on this subject.

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Electronic Medical Records


In April, our office embarked on a transition from paper charts to Electronic Medical Records (EMR). We always like to stay on the cutting edge, and Electronic Medical Records are recognized as safer for the patient, more efficient, and more accurate. President Bush and Governor Janet Napolitano have both mandated that all medical records eventually be electronic.

What this means to you is that when you come in for a visit, you will be asked to fill out a lengthy form detailing your medical history. If you have been a patient before, we do have your history, but we are finding that many facts have changed over the years and in some cases we are unaware of the changes. For instance, if you have been a patient for 15 years, your family history has changed and we may never have updated that portion of your record. We are using this as an opportunity to bring everyone's chart up to date.

While you are meeting with your practitioner, she will be typing your information into the computer. We have found that entering data into the computer as we are speaking with the patient greatly increases the detailed accuracy of the record. We also enter the findings on physical exam and our assessment at the time of the visit. If you need a prescription, we can fax the prescription to your pharmacy immediately. We can enter alerts so that we are able to remind you of your next pap smear or other needed testing.

We attempt to deliver most lab, ultrasound, and bone density results by e-mail. It is very important that we have an accurate e-mail address for you, or this system fails. Alternatively, we use med-voice to deliver results. Eventually, we would like to handle most communication by e-mail, however. Your physician or practitioner will review your lab tests, write a comment and a recommendation, and this will be e-mailed to you. This avoids frustrating phone tag interchanges, and for the most part, you will receive your results a few days after your test or study was performed.

Eventually, we will institute a system called patient portal, which will allow you to check your own lab results and access our recommendations yourself. You may even be able to schedule your own appointments. You will have a user name and a password assigned to you, which will allow only you to access your records. This system is being developed now, and we will let you know when it is available.

During the transition to EMR, there were times when are system did not work perfectly, and we apologize for that. A major change in how an office processes information is always a bit rocky, but at this point, things seem to be running smoothly. If you do become frustrated with the phones, please try e-mail. It is more direct and efficient. Please remember that if you are having trouble getting your question answered, you always have the option of pushing option on the phone rotary, which will get you directly to our patient representative, Sandy Steinke.

In the end, EMR makes your vital information much more accessible, organized, and mistake-proof. Your medical history is easy to read and labs, ultrasounds, and other documents are easy to locate. We have secure firewalls and the system is backed up regularly, so you need not worry about anyone but our office personnel having access to your medical information. There is a reason that the government wants us all to use electronic medical records; in the end it is safer for you.

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Katrina Heroes


The Humane SocietySusy Hopkins, one of our ultrasound technicians, along with many other individuals from Phoenix, traveled to New Orleans to rescue animals after Hurricane Katrina. Susy actually made two trips. She heroically climbed over fences, broke into homes with a crowbar, and rescued as many animals as she could. She slept on a cot under a tent, went with no showers or other comforts, and did not complain. She came back with a tiny, starving puppy that she found behind a toilet near death. His mother and most of his siblings had starved. His name is Mason, and he is now a healthy active dog.

We are proud of Susy and of all of the people who so unselfishly gave up their time and placed themselves in a very difficult and uncomfortable situation just because it was the right thing to do. This is the best of being human.

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Guy with Dog




Ultrasound


What Do You Mean When You Say That My Uterine Lining Is Thick?

When we do an ultrasound, we are looking for a number of things. We measure the uterus in order to detect enlargement, which is usually caused by fibroids or adenomyosis. We look at the ovaries to see if they have signs of benign or malignant tumors. We also measure the thickness of the uterine lining. In doing this, we are primarily looking for signs of uterine cancer or pre-cancer, which would increase the thickness of the uterine lining. We are also looking for polyps or fibroids that may be growing inside the uterine cavity and causing abnormal bleeding.

Standards are set for the thickness of the uterine lining. Generally speaking, in a post-menopausal woman, the uterine lining should not be thicker than .5 cm. A premenopausal woman can have a much thicker uterine lining, depending on where she is in her cycle.

If we do see that a uterine lining is thick, we will generally recommend an endometrial biopsy, which is a quick and relatively painless office procedure. An endometrial biopsy samples the loose cells lining the uterus and allows us to evaluate them for possible malignancy or pre-malignancy. The procedure involves passing a flexible, blunt, tiny catheter into the uterus and withdrawing cells using suction.

We may also recommend an office hysteroscopy, which is again a quick procedure involving minimal pain. A tiny flexible scope is fed through the cervix into the uterus. We are able to move the scope in a circle in order to view the lining of the uterus. We can see polyps, fibroids, or other abnormalities which may cause abnormal bleeding.

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Aesthetic Services


Look your best with our Aesthetic Services!

We offer Photo Rejuvenation and Microdermabrasion to improve your skin appearance, i.e. fine lines, pores and age spots. Laser hair removal and electrolysis for that unwanted hair and laser vein removal for those spider veins. Contact Linda Esposito LPN, CLT for your complimentary consult at 480-860-9383.

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Let's Talk About Milk


A recent study published in the International Journal of Cancer reveals that milk and lactose intake may increase ovarian cancer risk. This effect may be due to direct toxic effects of milk proteins on ovarian tissue as well as an increase in sex hormones in women in ingest dairy products regularly.

How can this be? Milk has always been thought of as healthy food! Drinking milk is American as apple pie! Think again.

In the last edition of his "Baby and Child Care" Bible, Dr. Benjamin Spock made it clear that cow's milk is for baby cows, not for human children. He wrote that it is "too rich in the saturated fats and causes artery blockages" and that it "slows down iron absorption." He suggested that it may cause ear and/or respiratory problems, and may be linked to childhood onset diabetes. He stressed that infants should have only breast milk and older children should try soy and rice milk products.

The problems with milk are multiple and serious. The following article from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine highlights some of the most serious issues:

What's Wrong with Dairy Products?

Many Americans, including some vegetarians, still consume large amounts of dairy products. Here are eight great reasons to eliminate dairy products from your diet.

1. Osteoporosis
Milk is touted for preventing osteoporosis, yet clinical research shows otherwise. The Harvard Nurses' Health Study,1 which followed more than 75,000 women for 12 years, showed no protective effect of increased milk consumption on fracture risk. In fact, increased intake of calcium from dairy products was associated with a higher fracture risk. An Australian study2 showed the same results. Additionally, other studies3,4 have also found no protective effect of dairy calcium on bone. You can decrease your risk of osteoporosis by reducing sodium and animal protein intake in the diet,5-7 increasing intake of fruits and vegetables,8 exercising,9 and ensuring adequate calcium intake from plant foods such as leafy green vegetables and beans, as well as calcium-fortified products such as breakfast cereals and juices.

2. Cardiovascular Disease
Dairy products—including cheese, ice cream, milk, butter, and yogurt—contribute significant amounts of cholesterol and fat to the diet.10 Diets high in fat and saturated fat can increase the risk of several chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease. A low-fat vegetarian diet that eliminates dairy products, in combination with exercise, smoking cessation, and stress management, can not only prevent heart disease, but may also reverse it.11 Non-fat dairy products are available; however, they pose other health risks as noted below.

3. Cancer
Several cancers, such as ovarian cancer, have been linked to the consumption of dairy products. The milk sugar lactose is broken down in the body into another sugar, galactose. In turn, galactose is broken down further by enzymes. According to a study by Daniel Cramer, M.D., and his colleagues at Harvard,12 when dairy product consumption exceeds the enzymes' capacity to break down galactose, it can build up in the blood and may affect a woman's ovaries. Some women have particularly low levels of these enzymes, and when they consume dairy products on a regular basis, their risk of ovarian cancer can be triple that of other women.

Breast and prostate cancers have also been linked to consumption of dairy products, presumably related, at least in part, to increases in a compound called insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I).13-15 IGF-I is found in cow's milk and has been shown to occur in increased levels in the blood by individuals consuming dairy products on a regular basis.16 Other nutrients that increase IGF-I are also found in cow's milk. A recent study showed that men who had the highest levels of IGF-I had more than four times the risk of prostate cancer compared with those who had the lowest levels.14

4. Diabetes
Insulin-dependent diabetes (Type I or childhood-onset) is linked to consumption of dairy products. Epidemiological studies of various countries show a strong correlation between the use of dairy products and the incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes.17,18 Researchers in 199218 found that a specific dairy protein sparks an auto-immune reaction, which is believed to be what destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas.

5. Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance is common among many populations, affecting approximately 95 percent of Asian Americans, 74 percent of Native Americans, 70 percent of African Americans, 53 percent of Mexican Americans, and 15 percent of Caucasians.19 Symptoms, which include gastrointestinal distress, diarrhea, and flatulence, occur because these individuals do not have the enzymes that digest the milk sugar lactose. Additionally, along with unwanted symptoms, milk-drinkers are also putting themselves at risk for development of other chronic diseases and ailments.

6. Vitamin D Toxicity
Consumption of milk may not provide a consistent and reliable source of vitamin D in the diet. Samplings of milk have found significant variation in vitamin D content, with some samplings having had as much as 500 times the indicated level, while others had little or none at all.20,21 Too much vitamin D can be toxic and may result in excess calcium levels in the blood and urine, increased aluminum absorption in the body, and calcium deposits in soft tissue.

7. Contaminants
Synthetic hormones such as recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) are commonly used in dairy cows to increase the production of milk.13 Because the cows are producing quantities of milk nature never intended, the end result is mastitis, or inflammation of the mammary glands. The treatment requires the use of antibiotics, and traces of these and hormones have been found in samples of milk and other dairy products. Pesticides and other drugs are also frequent contaminants of dairy products.

8. Health Concerns of Infants and Children
Milk proteins, milk sugar, fat, and saturated fat in dairy products may pose health risks for children and lead to the development of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and formation of athersclerotic plaques that can lead to heart disease.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants below one year of age not be given whole cow's milk, as iron deficiency is more likely on a dairy-rich diet. Cow's milk products are very low in iron. If they become a major part of one's diet, iron deficiency is more likely.10 Colic is an additional concern with milk consumption. One out of every five babies suffers from colic. Pediatricians learned long ago that cows' milk was often the reason. We now know that breast-feeding mothers can have colicky babies if the mothers are consuming cow's milk. The cows' antibodies can pass through the mother's bloodstream into her breast milk and to the baby.22 Additionally, food allergies appear to be common results of milk consumption, particularly in children. A recent study23 also linked cow's milk consumption to chronic constipation in children. Researchers suggest that milk consumption resulted in perianal sores and severe pain on defecation, leading to constipation.

Milk and dairy products are not necessary in the diet and can, in fact, be harmful to your health. Consume a healthful diet of grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and fortified foods including cereals and juices. These nutrient-dense foods can help you meet your calcium, potassium, riboflavin, and vitamin D requirements with ease—and without the health risks.

For a complete list of references for this article, visit http://www.pcrm.org/health/veginfo/dairy.html.

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Milk






What About PMS


It is estimated that 40% of women experience symptoms of "PMS" before their periods start. For 10-15% of women, the symptoms are severe. Typical symptoms include depression, anxiety, menstrual migraines, cramping, breast tenderness, cravings, and weight gain.

Women are often suspicious that their hormones are "off", and this is what is causing the PMS symptoms. The truth is quite the contrary. Women with PMS have perfectly normal hormones, they are simply reacting to the shifts in hormones that naturally take place. These shifts are more marked as a woman ages, and consequently women in their 40's tend to suffer more with PMS symptoms.

Because PMS is not a disease or even a disorder, the symptoms are difficult to treat. If the symptoms are not severe, regular aerobic exercise has been shown to decrease the symptoms. Increasing complex carbohydrate intake during the time before the period reduces the severity of the symptoms. Complex carbohydrates are whole grains, non-sugary whole grain cereals, and vegetables. Sugary products can make the symptoms worse. Caffeine and alcohol seem to increase the severity of symptoms.

Calcium and magnesium supplementation has been studied and can reduce the severity of symptoms by almost 50%. St. John's wort is an herbal supplement that has been found to have beneficial effects. Chaste berry fruit, or Vitex, has also been shown to be effective.

Oral contraceptive agents can reduce the physical symptoms such as cramps, breast tenderness, and appetite changes. The newer oral contraceptive agents such as Yasmin seem to be the most effective.

When PMS is severe and disruptive, we recommend prescription drugs. The most effective drugs are the antidepressants, such as Prozac, Zoloft, and Lexapro. Fifty to sixty percent of women taking antidepressants reported beneficial results. Antidepressants may be started 2 weeks before the period is expected, the first day of symptoms, or taken continuously throughout the month. Intermittent therapy seems to be as effective as continuous therapy, and low-dose therapy is usually adequate. Sometimes we find that one anti-depressant is not effective but another is, so don't give up if the first prescription is not helpful. Anti-depressant therapy improves the physical symptoms of PMS, not just the mood.

Anti-anxiety medications are also effective, and some women prefer them. Buspar or Xanax are the most commonly used . We recommend that they be taken on symptomatic days only.

If a woman has few emotional symptoms but suffers with breast tenderness, weight gain, and bloating, diuretics are helpful. Oral contraceptives have also been shown to reduce the physical symptoms. Non-steriodal anti-inflammatory agents (ibuprofen, etc.) are also quite helpful.

If a patient does not respond to any of the above therapies, suppression of ovulation using Depo-Provera or continuous oral progesterone can be helpful. Continuous oral contraceptive agents can be effective as well.

If all else fails, hysterectomy with removal of both ovaries will invariably work. This eliminates the cyclic pattern of hormones secreted by the ovaries and allows us to treat with the same dose of hormone every day. This consistency will eliminate PMS symptoms.

All of these therapies have their pros and cons, so we encourage you to discuss the options with your health care provider.

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Lady with Headache




The Seal Hunt Continues!


Following this year's Canadian seal hunt, the official kill count stood at 317,672 seals, a number that solidifies the hunt's reputation as the largest commercial slaughter of marine mammals on the planet. Of the dead, 98.5% were seals three months or younger.

Appalled by our on-ice reports, people worldwide are clamoring for an end to the hunt, and many have already joined our boycott of Canadian seafood. Now we're turning our attention to companies and restaurants to get them to join the boycott. Some already have, but the world's largest seafood chain, Red Lobster, has so far refused our pleas. Help convince Red Lobster to change its mind by signing the online petition. Or, click here for a ready-to-send letter to Red Lobster.

Click here to sign the petition to stop seal hunting. Visit www.protectseals.org for more info.

(Photo and info from Humane Society of the United States.)

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Seal




Hysterectomy vs. Medical Treatment


On Health-Related Quality of Life and Sexual Functioning

In a recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association, a researcher in San Francisco followed 63 premenopausal women who had been complaining of abnormal uterine bleeding . Patients were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups; hysterectomy or hormonal (medical) management. Quality of life was evaluated after 2 years, and hysterectomy was shown to be the superior method of treatment. In fact, half of the women assigned to the medical management group eventually elected to undergo hysterectomy.

I was glad to see this article, because this supports what I see in this practice. I see many women who come for consultation after being frustrated with their treatment elsewhere. They can never predict when they will be bleeding or spotting and often have episodes of heavy bleeding, sometimes resulting in embarrassing, uncomfortable situations. Vacations are ruined, clothing is stained, and marriages are stressed. Many miss work due to the pain they experience during the period. These women just want it all to stop, and often they are told that a hysterectomy is not warranted until they try months or years of pills, biopsies, ultrasounds, and D&C's.

The truth is that these days, for 95% of women, a hysterectomy is not the awful, painful, debilitating procedure it used to be. The vast majority of hysterectomies can be performed either laparoscopically or vaginally. The recovery from these procedures is swift (7-10 days), and relatively painless. At least 50% of our patients never take their narcotic pain pills. Most patients are walking the halls the night of the procedure. Ninety-nine percent of patients go home in less than 24 hours.

If you are suffering with unpredictable or heavy bleeding, come for a consult to discuss your options. The solution may not be as frightening as you think.

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The Cost of Inactivity


In a recent article in Nutrition Action Newsletter, a chilling article on the medical consequences of inactivity caught my eye. In short, if we are not active, we compromise our health significantly. Please read the entire article on www.cspinet.org.

Here are 10 ways inactivity can take a toll on your body:

  1. Diabetes
  2. Cancer
  3. Compromised brain function
  4. Compromised heart function
  5. Increased risk of stroke
  6. Muscle atrophy
  7. Osteoporosis
  8. Depression
  9. Obesity
  10. Compromised immune system

Even if it means climbing stairs instead of riding the elevator, walking a few blocks instead of parking close by your destination, we need to MOVE to stay healthy.

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Woman Running






Fostering Dogs and Cats, A Gift That Saves A Life


A Gift That Saves A Life

Did you know that EVERY DAY up to 100 dogs and cats are euthanized at Maricopa County Animal Care and Control? Did you know that many of these animals are wonderful, friendly, housebroken, non-aggressive animals who could easily be someone's cherished pet? All these animals are lacking is opportunity, exposure, and time. Many of the animals euthanized at ACC are euthanized ONLY because there is no space to keep them.

In Maricopa County there are many organizations willing to rescue these animals off of the euthanasia list. Unfortunately, we are limited by the number of foster homes available. We can and do take animals off of the list and place them in kennels, but this is expensive and doesn't give the dog or cat a chance to live in a normal environment. Dogs and cats confined in kennels often behave neurotically (wouldn't you?) and therefore are less appealing to an adopter.

These dogs and cats, if placed in a foster home, are often adopted out rapidly. Many people want to adopt a rescue dog or cat, but it is emotionally difficult for them to visit a shelter. It is also difficult for them to accurately evaluate the personality of a dog in a shelter, but not difficult in a home or backyard.

My family has been taking in foster animals for years. We have NEVER had a foster animal for more than a few weeks unless we chose to delay adoption for a health reason. It has truly been one of the most satisfying experiences I have had. Often, the animals go to friends or patients. The best part is that some people who didn't think they were looking to adopt end up adopting just because they meet a dog and fall in love. I figure that is a bonus!

Surprisingly, I have had almost no problem with aggression (and I have had up to 5 foster dogs at a time), and the worst disease I have had to deal with is kennel cough. You can protect your other animals from kennel cough by opting for the bordatella vaccine next time you take your pets for their shots.

A few of my employees have begun fostering and find it to be one of the most satisfying parts of their lives. Some of my friends have begun fostering as well. If you are interested in opening your home to a foster animal, contact Dr. Wilson directly at dwilson180@pol.net.

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Yellow Dog





Getting Sufficient Sleep
News Author: Laurie Barclay, MD

Dec. 7, 2004—Sleep deprivation alters hormones and increases appetite, according to the results of a brief randomized study published in the Dec. 7 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine. The editorialists suggest that getting enough sleep may help reduce weight gain.

"Total sleep deprivation in rodents and in humans has been associated with hyperphagia," write Karine Spiegel, PhD, from the University of Chicago in Illinois, and colleagues. "Over the past 40 years, self-reported sleep duration in the United States has decreased by almost two hours."

In this two-period, two-condition crossover clinical study, 12 healthy men were randomized to two days of sleep restriction (four hours per night) and two days of sleep extension under controlled conditions of energy intake and physical activity. Mean age was 22 ± 2 years, and mean body mass index (BMI) was 23.6 ± 2.0 kg/m2. Outcomes were daytime profiles of plasma leptin and ghrelin levels and subjective ratings of hunger and appetite.

During sleep restriction, there was an 18% decrease in the anorexigenic hormone leptin (P = .04), 28% increase in the orexigenic factor ghrelin (P < 0.40), 24% increase in hunger (P < .01), and 23% increase in appetite (P = .01), especially for energy-dense foods with high carbohydrate content (increase, 33% to 45%; P = .02).

Study limitations were small sample size, lack of generalizability, and lack of measurement of energy expenditure.

"Short sleep duration in young, healthy men is associated with decreased leptin levels, increased ghrelin levels, and increased hunger and appetite," the authors write. "Additional studies should examine the possible role of chronic sleep curtailment as a previously unrecognized risk factor for obesity."

The National Institutes of Health, the University of Chicago, the European Sleep Research Society, and the Belgian Fonde de la Recherche Scientifique Medicale supported this study. The authors report no potential financial conflicts of interest.

In an accompanying editorial, Jeffrey S. Flier, MD, and Joel K. Elmquist, DVM, PhD, from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts, wonder if controlled studies should be designed to measure the effect of sleep-promoting interventions on appetite and body weight. However, they note that this study does not prove a cause-effect relationship between the hormone levels and hunger and dietary intake. Other factors, such as cortisol or orexin, may affect sleep and body weight regulation.

"If the findings prove to be reproducible and generalizable, and the hormonal changes of leptin and ghrelin due to sleep curtailment cause changes in food intake over time, we might add sleep duration to the environmental factors that are prevalent in our society and that contribute to weight gain and obesity," the authors write. "Although recommendations to get both a better night's sleep and more exercise might superficially seem to be at odds with each other from the perspective of energy expenditure and energy balance, these simple goals may well become a part of our future approach to combating obesity."

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Landmark Arizona Ballot


To Ban Abusive Factory Farming Practices - Signature Gatherers URGENTLY Needed.

Go to www.yesforhumanefarms.org

A groundbreaking ballot initiative is now underway in Arizona to outlaw the cruel and intensive confinement of pregnant pigs and veal calves on industrialized factory farms. Volunteers must gather 200,000 signatures to place a measure on the 2006 November ballot. Your help is needed!

Experts agree! According to Dr. Temple Grandin, Department of Animal Science, Colorado State University we should give "single-housed animals enough room not only to lie fully relaxed without head or nose touching the feeder but also to turn around freely." http://www.awionline.org/pubs/cq02/Cq-pigs.html

For decades, Arizona's farmers raised animals in a humane manner—allowing them access to the outdoors and the ability to engage in their natural behavior. Today, many family farmers have been displaced by corporate farming interests, and it's common for the corporate farmers to discard common sense animal husbandry standards and instead to raise some animals in intensive confinement—so severe that the animals cannot even turn around in their cages or crates. The extreme overcrowded conditions cause suffering for the animals while polluting the air, contaminating groundwater and threatening human health. This ballot initiative will restore Arizona's tradition of humane farming and protect animals, the environment and human health.

The veal crate is well known as one of the most cruel and deplorable animal husbandry techniques used today. Young calves are kept in tiny stalls, purposely confined so intensely that they are not even able to turn around or extend their limbs. Because they are so tightly confined, research has shown that these calves exhibit abnormal coping behaviors associated with stress and fear. These behaviors include head tossing, head shaking, kicking, scratching and stereotypical chewing. After 16-20 weeks, these weak animals are sent to slaughter for veal.

Perhaps less known, but equally cruel and inhumane is the way female breeding pigs are treated on factory farms. Breeding sows are confined in barren metal cages for almost their entire lives. During their pregnancies, the sows are severely restricted in individual "gestation crates" measuring just two feet wide. Like the veal calves, they are unable to exercise, turn around or even extend their limbs. After giving birth to an average of five or six litters of piglets in 4 years, the sows are sent to slaughter as well.

Both veal and gestation crates are so cruel that they have been outlawed in several other countries. And, in fact, the gestation crate was outlawed through a precedent setting citizen initiative in Florida in 2002. Concerned Arizonans now have a crucial opportunity to outlaw both the veal and gestation crate in their state by placing a measure on the ballot for the 2006 election.

Hundreds of volunteer petitioners are needed immediately to collect the 200,000 signatures needed to make this initiative a reality in Arizona! We urgently need your participation to make this vital effort a success for animals. If you would like to volunteer to collect signatures, please contact: Arizonans for Humane Farms at 480.449.7644 or info@yesforhumanefarms.org.

Visit www.yesforhumanefarms.org for more info.

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Pigs

Veal

Upcoming Events
Please click here to join the weekly e-mail alert list to stay informed on these and other upcoming activities.

Humane Farms Volunteer Parties! Office help needed—there will be volunteer parties at the Arizonans for Humane Farms campaign office in Tempe every Thursday night at 7 pm. Contact the office at 480-449-7644 or info@yesforhumanefarms.org for more information.

Wayne Pacelle, President of the Humane Society of the United States, is coming to Phoenix!

And, not just once, but twice! We are very fortunate to have these opportunities to host Mr. Pacelle and show our support for the amazing work that the HSUS does.

  • January 31st—Join us for a huge Humane Farms Campaign Party to kick off the second half of the campaign. Contact kari@yesforhumanefarms.org for more info.

  • February 23rd—Join Mr. Pacelle for an elegant fundraiser party at Dr. Wilson's home. If you are interested in attending, contact Dr. Wilson directly at dwilson180@pol.net.

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Wayne Pacelle

Looking for a Good Home!

The following animals are looking for a safe, loving forever home. If you think you might be able to adopt one of these sweet animals, please contact Phoenix Dalmatian Station at 480-540-1433 or PhxDalStation@aol.com.

Buttercup
Yellow Labrador Retriever
Claire
Dalmatian, Labrador Retriever Mix
Buttercup Claire
Ernie
Treeing Walker Coonhound, Hound Mix
Freida
Shar Pei, Labrador Retriever Mix
Ernie Freida
Herman
Doberman Pinscher
Kirby
Black Labrador Retriever, Hound Mix
Herman Kirby
Lance
Black Labrador Retriever, Pit Bull Terrier Mix
Lucky
Black Labrador Retriever Mix
Lance Lucky
Reilly
Shar Pei, Labrador Retriever Mix
Silver
Greyhound, Labrador Retriever Mix
Reilly Silver
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For all other questions, please e-mail us at DrDWilsonOBGYN@aol.com
Address: 8997 E. Desert Cove, 1st Floor, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Phone: 480.860.4791



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