Wednesday, March 05, 2008 , lunch time

MyPetVideos.TV: SPAMMERS!

I’m sorry it’s come to this, but I have no other choice.  For about the past six months, a website called MyPetVideos.tv has been spamming three of my email addresses.  They claim that I signed up to receive their weekly newsletter, but I certainly didn’t sign up with the email address I use to receive Wee Paws donations.  In fact, the three email addresses they spam are ones that I don’t use for subscriptions, so they must have trawled the web and scooped up addresses from pet-themed websites.  For a while, they didn’t even have “remove” instructions in their emails, but now they finally do.  The problem is that they ignore removal requests!  I’ve asked for all three of my email addresses to be removed three times, over the past three weeks, and it hasn’t been done.  My removal requests aren’t even acknowledged.  So, I’m calling them out as the spammers they are.  I don’t know what they’re up to, but I’m sure they didn’t sign me up three times because they thought they were doing me a favour.  Perhaps there’s some sort of spyware or malware in the videos on their website (which would then be downloaded to your computer if you view the videos), or maybe they’ve filled their pages with advertising… I just don’t know.  I refuse to go anywhere near their site because there’s something strange going on.  Normally, I’d report them to their ISP for spamming, but they decided to get hosting in South America so they can’t be touched.  That’s another hint that they’re up to no good… what big corporation decides to set up a legitimate website and then host it in Costa Rica?

So, pass the message along that MyPetVideos.tv is a malicious website and you should not download their videos or even load their site in your browser.  Legitimate websites ask your permission to put you on their mailing list.  Legitimate websites honor removal requests.  Legitimate websites answer your questions and concerns when you write to them and ask for proof that you signed up to receive their weekly emails.  This company is bad news and they’re taking advantage of pet lovers.  Please pass the word along, and please scan your computer for malware, spyware, viruses, etc. if you’ve been to their website.  If you haven’t been to their site, I think you should stay away.

Posted by Leigh-Ann on 03/05 at 01:51 PM
The Litterbox • (3) Comments • Permalink

Guest post!

My name is Susan Daffron and I’m the founder of the National Association of Pet Rescue Professionals (http://www.naprp.com) and the author of books on caring for adopted dogs and cats called Happy Hound (http://www.happyhoundbook.com) and Happy Tabby (http://www.happytabbybook.com).

Spay Day is February 26, this year and I thought I’d share a list of reasons why it’s so important to “fix” your pets because so many myths continue to exist when it comes to spaying and neutering. Here are three facts:

1.  Spayed or neutered animals are healthier. Female cats and dogs can’t get uterine or ovarian cancer and the possibility that the animal will get breast cancer is greatly reduced. Neutering reduces roaming and fighting and most animals lose the desire to constantly mark their territory.

2. Spayed or neutered animals live longer. Statistically, animals that have been spayed or neutered live an average of two to three years longer than unsterilized pets.

3. Spaying or neutering saves money. Spaying is a one-time cost that is tiny when compared to the cost of providing care for a mother and a litter (or litters!) of puppies or kittens.

It’s a myth that it’s good to let a pet have “just one litter” of puppies or kittens before you get her spayed. The bottom line is that by letting your pet have that “just one litter” you contribute to the problem of pet overpopulation. Even if you find homes for the puppies or kittens, those critters produce more critters and the problem grows exponentially and quickly. One cat or dog who has babies and whose babies have babies can be responsible for the birth of 50 to 200 kittens or puppies in just one year. The reproductive rate of dogs is 15 times that of humans and the reproductive rate of cats is 30 times that of humans.

Virtually every pet rescue requires that adopted pets be spayed or neutered. These people work tirelessly to save animals every day, so do your part to help them help the animals. Spay and neuter your pets!

Posted by Leigh-Ann on 03/05 at 12:00 PM
The Litterbox • (0) Comments • Permalink
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