Deadly Dog Virus In Colorado Springs

Dog owners, make sure you keep your pets safe.

A deadly dog virus may be making its rounds in Colorado Springs.

A KRDO Newschannel 13 viewer said her puppy got Parvovirus and she wants other dog owners to be aware.

Warnings of the virus are also popping up at local dog parks.

“Just last week, I noticed a sign. It said ‘watch out, make sure your dogs are vaccinated' ", said one dog owner.

Dr. Gwen Hall of Banfield Pet Hospital said Parvovirus attacks the lining of a dog’s digestive system. Puppies under 6 months old are most susceptible to the virus.

“The most common symptoms that people will first notice is pets not feeling well, more lethargic, not wanting to eat,” said Hall. In bad cases, dogs will vomit and have diarrhea, and become very dehydrated. “Without treatment, unfortunately it results in the death of a pet.”

Hall recommends puppies start receiving the distemper vaccination for the virus at 6 weeks of age, and then get a vaccination every three to four weeks until the puppy is 18 weeks old.

“The first three to four months of life are very important for preventative care,” said Hall.

Hall said during the vaccination time period, it’s important to avoid high-risk situations, including dog parks and socializing with dogs whose vaccination status is unknown.

“There’s nothing sadder than someone with a new puppy and you have to break the news that the puppy has a disease that could take them away,” said Hall.
According to Hall, Parvovirus is also extremely contagious. Dogs can get it by sniffing feces and touching noses. Even humans can carry the virus and pass it along to their pets.

Parvo can live outside for months, or even longer, so it’s important to disinfect. To help prevent the spread of parvo, vets recommend keeping infected dogs isolated for at least a month and to disinfect your dog's bedding and food and water bowls.

Read more http://www.krdo.com/health/29512042/detail.html 

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MEDIA BUZZ: 'Extreme Makeover' family visits Springs–Show Premieres Today!

Glad the Springs got to show off what it’s got!

Don’t you often feel like Colorado Springs’ national image could use an extreme makeover?

Well, here’s a step in the right direction:

At 7 p.m. Friday on ABC,  “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” will kick off its new season with a big fat wet kiss to The Broadmoor and Colorado Springs.

The episode will focus on the Keefer family, which gets a blow-out dream vacation at The Broadmoor while their home in Etters, Pa., gets a rebuild.

The show focuses primarily on Brian Keefer, a young athlete paralyzed in a 2008 gymnastic accident. This remodel will turn the Keefer’s family home into one of the most handicapped accessible houses ever made, with a separate entrance and space for Brian.

Expect a tearjerker. Expect Colorado Springs to look prettier than you’ve ever seen it. And expect The Broadmoor to dazzle — even though The Broadmoor folks had to put this together on the fly.

Turns out, the original dream vacation venue didn’t pan out.

“We received a call on Thursday late afternoon from the producer,” said Broadmoor spokeswoman Allison Scott. “From Thursday night to their arrival late Saturday night,  we had to obtain rooms that could accommodate Brian and his family with the appropriate access, find rooms for the crew, get a special hospital bed, a lift and figure out all locations and transportation.”

But those are only some of the moving parts involved in getting an instant vacation for the Keefer family. For the trip up and down Pikes Peak, a tour of the area via helicopter, a bowling jaunt to Mr. Bigg’s Family Fun Center and the rest, it took coordination with the Broadmoor staff, the TV crew, the Colorado Springs Film Commission and many others.

“This really showed the best of the Springs and how truly wonderful our community is when we’re pressed into action for a great cause,” Scott said.

The show airs on ABC Friday, October 21, in a two hour special.

Also, check out this video of Scott and Adam Keefer teasing each other while describing the trip and what it has meant to them and their family: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFquxKdvRlk

Source: http://www.gazette.com/articles/media-12487-colsprings-springs-buzz.html#ixzz1bQXobf4F

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Top 10 Things To Do In Colorado Springs

 

It's easy to live in a city and never really take advantage of everything it has to offer. You think to yourself, "Oh, I live here so I'll always have a chance to do it later!" But that's no way to live. You never know what might not be available later on.   

Below is a list of some of the best things to do and places to visit in and around the Springs. Which ones have you done? Which ones are you planning to do?

“1. CHEYENNE MT. ZOO

One of the best zoos, if somewhat unknown, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo sits on the side of a mountain at 6,800 feet above sea level. The zoo boasts more than 500 types of animal, many of which live in environments specifically built for them. The zoo is home, as well, to 30 endangered species including the Siberian tiger.

Probably the most "famous" of the animals at this zoo are the giraffes, which are the most prolific captive herd in the world. There's an antique carousel, built in the same year that the zoo was founded. Some of the more popular exhibits include Primate World which brings you up close and personal with an amazing variety of monkeys and apes, Wolf Woods with it's endangered wolves in their mountainside habitat, Asian Highlands featuring Siberian tigers, Amur leopards and other cats in their natural habitats.

All of this comes with a fabulous view of the city below. If you're not up to the hiking, there's a

tram that you can ride all day for only $1.00. Ride up and walk down if you like.

2. AIR FORCE ACADEMY

A trip to the Springs wouldn't be complete without a trip to the Academy, which just celebrated it's 50th anniversary.

See the fabulous Cadet Chapel with it's 17 sparkling spires that rise 150 feet into the air. The chapel is open Monday through Saturday for most of the year. It's closed for a few days around graduation when many of the graduating officers have weddings there. See Arnold Hall and the Honor Court as well as Falcon Stadium.

3. GARDEN OF THE GODS

Spectacular - that's the only way to describe the Garden of the Gods. It's really the site you most see in advertisement for the Springs. (As a matter of fact, I saw a Colorado Spring travel poster featuring this rock garden when walking down the Champs Elysees in Paris.)

The garden is made up of giant red sandstone formations worn smooth over millions of years by the elements. The park has a wide variety of nice, easy hiking trails. Or take a horseback ride through the park. (Some fools get married there)

The beautiful, new visitor center offers maps and exhibits on the area as well as a cafeteria. Don't miss the 12 minute theater presentation How Did Those Red Rocks Get There? ($2 adults, $1 children 5-12, free for children under 5). Technical rock climbing is allowed in some areas but climbers are required to register at the visitor center.

4. PIKES PEAK

Pikes Peak towers over the city from it's 14,110 foot height. This famous landmark is perhaps best known as the spot which inspired Katherine Lee Bates to write America the Beautiful. From the summit, one can indeed see spacious skies and off in the vast distance, amber waves of grain.

There are two options for reaching the summit: the Pikes Peak highway or the Cog Railway. If you've driven from the plains, you may want to reconsider taking your car up the highway. Your carburetor will be set for a much lower altitude and your car may not like the trip. This trip is not for those with an extreme fear of heights and ESPECIALLY for those with heart or breathing problems. Even those in great shape may feel lightheaded - don't hesitate to get help if that is the case. They keep plenty of oxygen handy for just that eventuality.

The highway is paved for the first 7 miles then gravel from there to the top. There are 156 curves and, if you drive, you'll come to appreciate those intrepid racers that speed up the mountain every July.

The other alternative is the cog railway. From this very nice train, you can relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery, especially once you break out of the forest at timberline - 11,500 feet. Watch for the bighorn sheep and the marmots. The marmots, while cute, are a major pain to hikers and climbers alike. The 9-mile route takes 75 minutes. You'll have 40 minutes at the top to enjoy the view, the restaurant and the gift shop. Then it's down again in the Swiss built rail car.

Remember, it's likely to be cold and windy at the summit, even on the hottest summer days.”

Read more http://www.essortment.com/top-10-things-colorado-springs-32074.html 

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Utilities signs $73.5 million contract to clean power plant emissions

New contract for environmentally-friendly technology means cleaner emissions, savings for ratepayers, and new jobs for residents!

“Colorado Springs Utilities signed a $73.5 million contract Tuesday with a local company to install environmentally-friendly technology in the Martin Drake Power Plant’s smoke stacks, intended to lower the plant’s sulfur dioxide emissions to almost zero.

In anticipation of new emissions regulations handed down by the federal and state governments, Utilities began working with Colorado Springs-based Neumann Systems Group Inc. in 2008 to develop new processes for cleaning the output from the tons of coal it burns every day.

Earlier this year, Neumann won a $7.2 million contract from the federal Department of Energy to further develop its emissions-scrubbing technology, and now the company can boast a system that removes 97 percent of the sulfur dioxide in Drake’s emissions, said Neumann Vice President of Operations Suzanne Kladder.

The total cost of the installation at Drake will be roughly $113 million, said Utilities Chief Energy Services Officer Bruce McCormick, because they’ll also have to hire a contractor to do the labor. Neumann will design and manufacture the mechanism, and also purchase equipment and oversee the project. A contractor has not yet been hired for the job.

The contract also includes financial incentives for Neumann — if the project is completed on time and if the system exceeds expectations, the company may get up to a 5 percent bonus, or $3.6 million.

The system, called Neustream, will also save ratepayers money, said McCormick, by helping drive down operating costs for Utilities in the long run. Competing systems are more expensive to operate and maintain, and also use more expensive chemicals, said McCormick. Though $113 million may sound like a steep price, he said, other systems run up to $150 million.

“It’s going to have lower operating and maintenance costs, and that’s what carries on forever through the life of the plant. So there are savings in multiple ways in this technology,” said McCormick.

Neustream works by rerouting emissions gas through a liquid composite that absorbs sulfur dioxide, or SO2. The liquid is pumped out of the stack, processed, and then sent back into circulation, to absorb more SO2. Work on the project will start this year and be completed by 2014.

McCormick said Utilities will hire at least 15 full-time employees to run the Neustream system after it’s completed.

Regulations for the Ray Nixon Power Plant have also been written by the state, but those haven’t yet been addressed. Utilities spokeswoman Natalie Eckhart said in an email that Neumann might also be hired to install Neustream at Nixon, but nothing has been finalized.”

Read more: http://www.gazette.com/articles/plant-126184-power-contract.html#ixzz1a129b1DV

Photo from: http://www.csu.org/residential/about/newsroom/photos/item2430.jpg

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