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News
Latest News Items:
Dog Days in Carmel! -- Saturday August 21st, 2010
Come see us in Carmel, Indiana! We'll be at Clay Terrace from 11am - 3pm to celebrate their Dog Days event!
Come see us in Chicago!! -- Sunday July 25th, 2010
Come meet DJ & some of our volunteers on Sunday at the Petsmart on Canal Street from 11am - 4pm!
Come see us in Mishawaka! -- Sunday July 25th, 2010
Come meet a few of our volunteers & Mona Mona this Sunday from 11am - 4pm at the Petsmart in Mishawaka, Indiana!!
HELP US SAVE MARCO! -- Thursday July 1st, 2010
7 month old Marco was given up by his owner when they found out he needed surgery to repair a liver shunt. Without surgery, he won't survive. Help us save this precious soul! Every dollar counts so donate today!
Hungry Hound Event! -- Saturday June 12th, 2010
Come see us this weekend! We'll be at the Hungry Hound in St. John on Saturday June 12 from 10am - 3pm!!
Trash to Treasures event! -- Wednesday June 9th, 2010
Join us in Westfield, Indiana at Cool Creek Park on Saturday June 19 for a fun day with the family! Come out to visit with us and shop the community wide garage sale event!
Calie needs your help! -- Wednesday June 9th, 2010
Calie's vet bills total almost $1000! She needs your help and support! http://www.petitepaws.us/animals/detail?AnimalID=2501467
Get off the couch & adopt -- Wednesday June 9th, 2010
"The Biggest Loser" trainer Bob Harper has a new furry, four-legged friend: Karl. He's named after the designer Karl Lagerfeld and came to Harper fully housebroken from Animal Advocates Alliance in Baldwin Park. Harper said he hopes everyone will bypass "puppy mills" and go to pounds and rescue centers instead to find their own pet. Read more at The Times' fashion blog, All The Rage.
Karl probably did not recognize Harper from TV, but the black-and-white pup has hit the doggie jackpot.
Harper takes Karl everywhere, including to the set of "The Biggest Loser," because, well, Harper's one of the stars of the show and he can get away with doing that. And because Karl is small enough, he qualifies as carry-on "luggage" when Harper flies back East for his frequent guest appearances and his consulting gig on "The Dr. Oz Show."
And then there is the fact that Karl is so cute that he draws a crowd wherever he goes, as people crouch to scratch him and pat him and rub his belly. (Harper joked that no one talks to him anymore, they just come over to talk to Karl.)
In other words, this dog has it made.
Originating source: LA Times http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2010/06/biggest-loser-trainer-bob-harper-gets-the-fur-flying.html
Upcoming events -- Monday May 3rd, 2010
Make sure you chekc out our events page to see where you can see us http://www.petitepaws.us/info/events
Available for Adoption -- Monday May 3rd, 2010
GI Joey is available for adoption, come on over and check out his web page http://www.petitepaws.us/animals/detail?AnimalID=2345588
Available for Adoption -- Monday May 3rd, 2010
Bonded beautiful pair looking for their furever homeshttp://www.petitepaws.us/animals/detail?AnimalID=2393914
Upcoming events -- Monday April 19th, 2010
4/23/2010 Tour for life Adoption Event 2600 Harding Street Indpls IN 3-8pm
4/24/2010 Be kind to Animals Celebration Porter county Expo US hwy 49 Valparaiso In 10-3
4/25/2010 Petsmart Hobart, US hwy 30 Hobart 10-4pm
Available for Adoption -- Monday April 19th, 2010
Make sure you check out our available fosters
Adoption Event -- Saturday April 10th, 2010
At Petsmart in Greenwood IN on US 31 from 12-4 pm
Available for Adoption -- Wednesday March 31st, 2010
Make sure you check our our available fosters
Party Goes To The Dogs -- Thursday October 8th, 2009
Diane McCartney - McClatchy Newspapers | Posted: Saturday, September 12, 2009 12:00 am
With dogs, as with human guests, the key to a successful gathering starts with the guest list.
A birthday celebration for 1-year-old Digby attended by 20 of his friends was pretty much typical of a party for any youngster. One guest ran off with the birthday boy's new toy, another guest cried when he lost sight of his mom, and at least one guest overdid it and got sick.
"It usually gets pretty chaotic," said Digby's mom, Jennifer Hardman of Wichita, Kan., who was throwing her third birthday celebration for her dogs.
"But amazingly, everybody gets along pretty well and is pretty well behaved."
Parties for dogs -- including not only birthday bashes but puppy showers, obedience school graduation celebrations and "whine and cheese" soirees -- are becoming more popular, as more people think of their dogs as members of the family and include them in family celebrations.
Web sites like dogbirthdaysandparties.com and tailwagging.com sell party favors, decorations and treats and offer tips for hosting the perfect pet party. Guests at Digby's bash ate peanut butter-carrot birthday cake, splashed in three pools, dug through a treat-filled pinata and played games, including "musical sits."
Monica's Bundt Cake Co., which supplied the birthday cake, sells "bow wow bundts" for dogs in three flavors: peanut butter, beef jerky and chicken jerky, said employee Katie Clark.
"At least every month someone orders one," usually for a dog's birthday, Clark said. The small canine cakes cost $9.95, but larger ones can be ordered, she said.
Hardman's other two dogs, Flash and Mo, were among those wishing Digby a happy day, along with neighbors, family, friends and co-workers of Hardman, a veterinary technician at Wingert Animal Hospital, and their dogs. Breeds ranged from Pee Wee, a toy poodle brought by veterinarian Christina Richards, to Phineas, a Great Pyrenees owned by Hardman's sister, Debbie Freese, and also included French and English bulldogs, rat terriers, a pug, a mastiff and a golden retriever.
"We've got quite the variety here," said Richards, who also brought a miniature poodle and two German shepherds. "I'm surprised we haven't had more scuffles."
As with any party, the key to success starts with the guest list, Hardman said. Most of the dogs that attend her parties already know each other and are well socialized.
"I don't usually invite a dog that I know doesn't get along well with others," she said. And when it comes time for cake, she doesn't just set it down and let the guests go at it.
"Everybody gets a plate for their dog, and then we kind of spread out and feed them," she said. "Everybody needs to give the cake at the same time so we have no issues."
Dog trainer Janice Ronald offered some other tips, including making sure all dogs, especially young puppies, are properly vaccinated. "It wouldn't hurt to put on the invitation: 'Please make sure your dog is current on vaccinations,"' she said.
If a dog has issues with other animals coming to his home -- Digby certainly didn't -- it might be a good idea to have the party at a park, doggie day care or other neutral territory, Ronald said.
For guests, Ronald offers this bit of advice, which could be applied to any party: "Don't overstay." "If your dog is starting to get tired, anxious or frightened, or acting aggressive" -- a sign it might be anxious --"it's time to pick them up and go home," she said. And when it comes to birthday cake and snacks, "don't overindulge," Ronald said. "You don't want throwing up or diarrhea the next day."
Originating source of this story: http://nwitimes.com/lifestyles/pets/article_f4ec3437-b9cd-5a1d-b1b8-7803a2419d99.html
CesarMillan Magazine -- Tuesday October 6th, 2009
Cesar Millan dog-based empire adds slick magazine
SUE MANNING - Associated Press Writer | Posted: Saturday, September 26, 2009 12:00 am
In Cesar Millan's world, two groups most influence America: politicians and their dogs and Hollywood celebrities and their dogs.
"The rest of the population wants to do what they do," he said. So where does that leave Millan? Just about everywhere.
His National Geographic show "Dog Whisperer" is seen in more than 80 countries. He has three best-sellers and another book due out next month. He's a frequent guest star on talk shows. You'd think that would be enough. Not for the leader of the pack.
Millan has added a magazine, Cesar's Way, to his dog-driven empire. The first issue came out last week, with one more planned this year and six more next year. Millan dominates the cover, the stories -- even many of the ads, but the 120-page debut issue is also chock full of information.
There's food that can kill your dog, including chocolate, onions, garlic, grapes, raisins, sugarless candy, gum, raw salmon, mushrooms and turkey skin. And types of people medicine you can give your dog, and tips for traveling, eating and playing.
Future issues will include why homeless people can walk dogs off leashes and why blind people have such well-behaved dogs.
The magazine is focused on how you and your dog can grow, leaning on Millan's philosophy that incorporates instinct with emotion, the spirit and the intellect.
"I think it's quicker to achieve connection with a dog than a human because humans think too much," he said. "Balance is happiness, harmony, peace, love. There are endless opportunities to create whatever you want with whatever you have. Some people have lost that."
Photos of celebrities and their pets are featured in a section called "L.A. Paw," billed as a "K-9 court, where Cesar's dogs unleash their catty side." Four of Millan's many dogs are judges who comment in photo captions.
"That's one media-savvy teacup!" observes Daddy, Millan's 15-year-old pit bull, on a photo of Paris Hilton with Chihuahua in hand.
In a section called Tips & Whispers, the magazine offers the yappiest apps for your iPhone and debunks some dog myths like this one: A wagging tail is a sign of a happy dog. Fact: Not necessarily. A wagging tail can be a sign of affection. But it can also be a sign of competitive dominance."
There are two-page color spreads of doggie portraits, and a "True Tails" section featuring a corporate attorney turned animal talent scout and a police officer who married his dog trainer.
Jada Pinkett Smith gushes in another article about how Millan helped her -- pre-Will -- to boost her self-confidence through the training of her dogs more than a dozen years ago.
"We spent a lot of time together in the mountains," she said of her friend, in the magazine. "He helped me balance."
Millan, who offers a lengthy explanation of the pack theory, usually has 30 to 50 dogs around his Los Angeles home. At the moment, his pack is down to 15, among them the ever-present Daddy. He won't call Daddy his favorite "because it's all about the pack with me." But this man and this dog have been together for 15 years, since before stardom.
"He's pretty much helped me raise my two boys," Millan said. "He's kept me wise in my marriage." If there's a problem, Millan will ask: "What I am doing wrong Daddy?"
Pit bulls clearly hold a special place in Millan's heart -- and in his magazine with a spread on some celebs who own one -- Adam Brody, Jessica Alba, Jamie Foxx and Jessica Biel.
The last page of the debut issue is a tribute to Daddy. Millan describes making him breakfast, kneading chopped beef with fresh herbs and boiled green beans chopped into thirds.
"Daddy is an old, old man now. He can't do stairs anymore and he'll pretty much only eat his food if I prepare it," Millan wrote. "I have never had a dog like Daddy. ... I've been astounded by his intuition, consoled by his affection and awed by his silent empathy."
FYI: cesarmillaninc.com
Originating source of this story: http://nwitimes.com/lifestyles/pets/article_03c82244-e5ae-50dd-842c-6eef8fcc57b6.html
Reasons To Spay/Neuter -- Monday October 5th, 2009
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals(ASPCA) was established in New York in 1866 by Henry Bergh. This organization's jurisdiction was limited to the state of New York. While there is no national organization for the ASPCA in the United States there are around 600 similar organizations in the other states and cities.
Many independent groups have the same name as The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA); they are involved in the prevention of ill treatment to animals. These societies influence the government to pass legislation to prosecute people who mistreat animals. They also participate in investigation of cruelty cases.
SPCA inspects periodically the locations where animals live to ensure they live under humane conditions. It is ironical that they also have been entrusted with the responsibility of executing the dogs not adopted by anybody.
In order to avoid executing aimlessly a large number of puppies, the Pennsylvania SPCA made an announcement stating that they would spay male and female dogs that are sent on adoption. Since mid 1970s they have neutered thousands of female dogs; as per SPCA estimates this amounts to prevention of more than 100,000 potential litters.
Normally a female dog produces two litters a year, which may total 10 puppies. However a male dog can impregnate any amount of female dogs if it is allowed to roam freely. The SPCA has started a policy of asking for a deposit from anybody adopting a dog to take care of neutering expenses. Most refund the deposit once proof is provided from a veterinarian that the dog has been spayed or neutered.
It may be noted that not all organizations refund the adoption fee or deposit. You should check with the animal shelter to determine their policy before you adopt the dog.
Unfortunately, a large number of people do not get the dog neutered as a puppy. Many people are afraid that such an operation could cause the dog's personality to change or an increase in the pet's obesity. Normally the dog's desire to roam will decrease so this change in personality makes the dog a better per. Any increase in obesity can be countered by proper diet and exercise.
In many cases money was not a major constraint for spaying dogs although it can cost up to $500 to have a large dog spayed. In order to avoid this one SPCA in New York started a special clinic
Originating source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Reasons-to-Neuter-Your-Dog&id=3031755
Obese Dog Training -- Friday October 2nd, 2009
A dog becomes obese when the weight of the dog effects the body function or body functions. In some countries the dog obesity levels are as high as twenty five percent. Different food levels and available nutrition really play a roll in obese dogs. In most countries around the world, dogs are starving more than being obese. It seems to be to an extreme level of over feeding or the dogs just do not receive enough food.
When a dog becomes obese, pretty much the entire canine body is reflected in this. Joints have more stress on them, the teeth are usually weaker due to eating the wrong nutrition, healthy heart rates drop from lack of exercise. The list could go on for pages and pages. To put it in the most straight forward way, obese dogs live shorter lives and usually result in them being less happy in the long run.
It is said that a dog with a balanced diet will never ever become over weight. If you have a hard time finding yourself holding back on feeding the dog, than you need to realize that the dog needs much more exercise. The choice is choosing either a healthy diet or a more flexible diet with more exercise.
The most common method of getting a dog to loose weight and not be obese any more is to calculate how much food the dog actually needs to consume everyday. Weigh the dog in weekly scheduled times and speak with your veterinarian to how much food your dog actually needs. Split up the food into different levels, and pick the food that gives your dog everything he or she needs.
Obese dogs can be stopped by figuring out how to train a dog and figuring out what your dog actually needs for nutrition. The Dog Training Database is a base of dog training sources that can basically teach you everything anyone needs to know about dog training. For more Dog Training information, visit http://www.dog-training-database.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Weber
Dangerous Dog Food -- Thursday October 1st, 2009
Dangers of Commercial Food
Choosing the right food for your dog can determine whether your dog lives a long, happy life or a short, miserable one. There are many dangers of commercial dog food. I've heard too many heartbreaking stories by those who have lost a dog at a young age only to find out it could have been prevented. People beat themselves up over it until they find out the food they thought was safe is full of ingredients that lead to many illnesses (some fatal) including:
Major Organ Failure
Severe Allergic Reactions
Blindness
Leukemia
Kidney, liver, stomach and bladder cancer
Soon after learning this their grief turns to rage. How can dog food companies continue to get away with this and never be held accountable? The first reason is commercial dog food remains dangerous is because FDA regulations aren't strict. Say you buy your dog chicken flavored dog food. Is it made with chicken? Yes. Is the chicken fit for human consumption? No way. Almost every part of the chicken is made into food including the blood, bones, lungs and even feathers. This brings me to the second reason.
The wording on the label doesn't look menacing or dangerous. It's vague and that's one of the hidden dangers of commercial dog food. The "meat" that goes into most dog foods is labeled "meat by-product". Something so vague could be virtually anything (and yes, it is what I listed above). We put enough trust in people to do the right thing that we would never think they would put the life of another living thing at risk for profit. Sadly, that just isn't the case.
It seems hopeless since we are left with few choices when it comes to dog food. Most of the brands just offer the same ingredients with a different brand name by a different company. If the government is just going to let them get away with it. Staying informed is key.
For a quality food, please check out Life’s Abundance on our website.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeff_Parke
Activities For Dogs -- Wednesday September 30th, 2009
Whether you have a large or small dog it is very important for your dog to get some kind of exercise. Exercise is very beneficial to your dog for many reasons. One reason being a dog was not born to be chained up all day, kept in a kennel half the day or locked up in a home with no fresh air. Your dog needs fresh air every day, time to run, walk and have fun. Listed below are some ideas and places you can take/go with your dog to ensure your dog is a happy one!
*Take your dog for a DAILY WALK - whether it is around your neighborhood, around a school track, a walking trail nearby, a park or a conversation area; your dog will love to be out with you getting exercise!
*Take your dog for a CAR RIDE - I am sure by now you know your dog loves to be with you. If you haven't already consider taking your dog along with you on little outings, like to the bank or to get a quick bite to eat. Your dog will love the fresh air but don't forget if you end up running into a store leave the window down a bit and don't make it a long visit inside. FYI - you might take along a small towel just in case you find out your dog is car sick.
*Play BALL/FETCH - I have found my dog will enjoy running after a cheap dollar store stuffed animal rather than an expensive dog toy. Dogs love to chase and playing fetch with your dog is a great activity.
If for some reason you are limited to getting around and out to take you dog for walks, look into finding a friend or relative to daily take your dog for walks. Your dog needs the activity and exercise just like our bodies need the exercise!
Find lots of information on how to care for your dog, train your dog, names for your dog and much more at http://www.pickingadog.org
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_Porr
Dog Attack Sentencing -- Tuesday September 29th, 2009
San Francisco woman sentenced to 15 years to life in dog attack
US News
Sep 23, 2008, 5:50 GMT
San Francisco - A woman whose two dogs attacked and killed her neighbor in the hallway of their San Francisco apartment building seven years ago was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.
Superior Court Judge Charlotte Woolard said Monday that Majorie Knoller, 53, had not bothered to put a muzzle on her aggressive Presa Canario-mastiff-mixed dogs before taking them out of her apartment and did not call for help or retrieve a weapon while the animals were mauling 33-year-old Diane Whipple for at least 10 minutes, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
In 2002, a California jury found Knoller guilty of second-degree murder, but a judge reversed the decision and found her guilty of manslaughter and sentenced her to a four-year jail sentence.
She spent three years behind bars before being paroled.
Last year, the state Supreme Court ruled that the judge had used the wrong legal standard in overturning the murder verdict. Woolard reinstated the jury's murder verdict at a hearing last month.
Knoller's lawyer said he would appeal the murder conviction.
Originating source: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/usa/news/article_1432517.php/San_Francisco_woman_sentenced_t15_years_to_life_in_dog_attack_
It Is A Dog's Life -- Monday September 28th, 2009
It's a dog's life
Marni Jameson - Times Correspondent | Posted: Thursday, September 24, 2009 12:00 am | No Comments Posted
"Who did this?" I'm on my hands and knees growling as I clean a mess I didn't make. My dogs, Oliver and Theo, tuck their tails under their bellies and slink away, like teenagers caught smoking.
I know my home has gone to the dogs, but lately that's true more than ever. For some un-dog-ly reason, my pampered bichon frisés have forgotten their indoor manners and regressed in potty training.
"If I didn't love you so much," I say, as I wipe and disinfect. It's too late to scold them; besides, I never know which one did it. I tell them how I feel, though they're nowhere in sight. Like my kids, they know when to conveniently disappear, though they're listening, always listening. Call Theo and Oliver by name, and they hide behind the sofa. But run a can opener, rattle the lid to their cookie jar, or slide open the back door, and they come running like the bulls of Pamplona. Call my kids from the next room to ask them to empty the dishwasher, and they're deaf as Dalmatians, but whisper that you just bought two pints of Ben and Jerry's, and their bat-like radar draws them home from two blocks away.
"Are they mad at you?" asked Sheryl Matthys, dog expert and founder of LeashesandLovers.com, when I asked her advice.
"If they are, they sure know how to hold a grudge."
"Do they need more outside time?"
"Except after 10 p.m., when they're tucked into their custom doggie beds, they're free to flip in and out the doggie door whenever their furry feet feel like it."
My husband, Dan, did not get the dog-lover gene, and is even more fed up with the dogs' backsliding. However, he knows better than to pick this bone with me, or he'll be the one in the doghouse. He knows how dogs rate with me, in many cases higher than people, including good husbands. Dogs don't complain about your cooking or singing. They don't care if your hair's a mess, or your breath smells like old coffee and pizza, if you're fat or skinny, or if you burp when you drink soda.
According to the Humane Society, I've got lots of canine-loving company: 39 percent of U.S. households own at least one dog, and 75 million dogs are pets. Yes, many are trouble. However, I'm sure the two-legged residents of those 39 percent households would agree with me: a house is not a home without a dog or two.
Here are some suggestions from Matthys on how to cohabitate more beautifully with our fuzzy friends.
* Set the ground rules. To re-housebreak my boys, Matthys said to clean, clean, clean. One reason my dogs kept marking the same spots was because I was using ammonia-based cleaners. Urine smells like ammonia, and triggers dogs to mark.
* Duh! Best solution: One part white vinegar with three parts water. (Or buy an off-the-shelf pet deodorizer and disinfectant like Nature's Miracle or Simple Solution.) Wipe up waste. Cover the area with the solution. Let it soak in; blot. Not sure where the spot is? Shine a black light around. It makes urine glow.
* Find fur-friendly fabrics. I've written before about Crypton, a synthetic stain-bouncing fabric, available at JoAnn's fabric stores, or online at www.cryptonfabric.com . Dog Gone Smart (www.doggonesmartbed.com) uses NanoSphere technology fabrics on dog beds and crate pads. The protective finish lets you rinse off soil and dirt with water. Tyler & Friends (www.tylerandfriends.com) makes some adorable products, including wallpaper, in designer doggie prints, though the fabric is not quite as durable. Leather makes another good pet choice. It wipes easily, won't snag, and leather lubricant can usually buff out scratches.
* Think down. Choose flooring in a pet home with care. Carpet is cozy, dulls noise, and, if it's the right color, can hide fur. But it traps odors and stains. Avoid loop carpets, like Berber, because claws can catch a loop, and unravel the carpet. Hard floors are far easier to clean; wood is warmer than stone.
* Don't lie with dogs (unless you want to). I'm not promising that putting a dog bed in your room will instantly get your pooch off your bed and into his, but it's a start. Pick one the same shade as your dog's fur. Many styles are available online, and at stores like Petco, Target, Wal-Mart and PetSmart.
* Snoop around pet boutiques and you'll find elaborate dog canopy beds, dog sofas and chaises in fun, pooch-friendly fabrics. Some end tables and nightstands out today double as dog crates in disguise.
* Have canine class. Contain squeaky toys and chews in a doggie toy chest or basket that Fifi can get into herself. And don't give Spike a treat from a bag. Put treats in a stylish cookie jar (with a tight seal to lock in the smell) or a cool canine canister. Mine has a lid painted like a bichon's face, and around the neck hangs a dog-bone collar with my dogs' names on it.
Join me next week as we talk about designer doggie digs.
Marni Jameson is a humorous syndicated home-design columnist, speaker and author of "The House Always Wins" (DaCapo/Perseus), now in paperback. Reach her at marnijameson.com.
Come Join Us! -- Friday September 25th, 2009
Please be sure to come see us on Sunday September 27, 2009 from 11:00 - 4:00 at the Petsmart in Hobart located on Route 30!
The Importance of Leashes -- Wednesday September 16th, 2009
Jessica Simpson's dog tragedy a lesson for leashes
September 16, 11:17 AMSF Dogs ExaminerShelley Frost
Dog owners who let their dogs wander off leash are not only violating the law in most jurisdictions, they are also putting their own dog at terrible risk. (YOUR ADOPTED DOG)
When a high profile celebrity like Jessica Simpson suffers a tragedy such as the loss of her small dog Daisy to a coyote earlier this week, we should examine our own safety precautions we take with our dogs. Using a leash is loving your dog. Had Daisy been leashed, it is unlikely she could have been snatched by a coyote.
It seems counterintuitive, but a leash means freedom. Notice how excited your dog gets when you bring out his leash? Your dog knows the two of you are going out. He's thinking adventure, new smells, and fun with you. A leash also means you won't get a ticket for violating the leash law, and that your dog won't in a moment of passion, chase a rabbit into a ravine and disappear for hours - or worse. (YOUR ADOPTED DOG)
Lists of Leashes:
Walking leashes are usually made from leather or nylon. It is recommended that they be at least six feet in length with a loop on one end for you to hold securely.
Tab leashes are short leashes usually used during dog training exercises.
Self-retracting leashes can allow dogs up to twenty-six feet of line. If your dog is well-behaved, a retracting leash is fun for sniffing and visiting. But for dogs who need reminders of their manners, these leashes are not recommended.
The information for this article was taken from the book YOUR ADOPTED DOG: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RESCUING AND CARING FOR A BEST FRIEND IN NEED, The Lyons Press, 2007, Frost/Makris
Source: Associated Press
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