Hi there, Ciscoe. A few street tree Butterfly Magnolias growing in a planting strip next to a City Light facility are showing signs of a disease. I’m stumped as to what is causing this problem. Any ideas? Many thanks!  HEIDI

                                      Hosta

Those in B.C. and throughout Canada who often travel south of the border with their dog by land, sea or air will soon have to follow new rules set out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Starting Aug. 1, 2024, all canines, including service dogs, will have to appear healthy, be at least six months old and be microchipped when entering the U.S., according to the CDC.

In addition to the already required forms, the organization says dogs must also have a CDC Dog Import Form, which can be filled out online starting July 15.

Dr. Danny Joffe, a Calgary veterinarian and vice president of medical operations at VCA Canada Animal Hospitals, says a microchip and implanting it can cost between $100 to $150. This procedure can be done at a vet clinic or hospital.

He’s encouraging dog owners to carefully review the CDC website to ensure they have all the relevant information and requirements for their dog to travel.

The CDC says extra documentation may be needed based on where the dog has been in the last six months and whether or not it received its rabies vaccine in the U.S.

That’s because dogs arriving from countries with a high risk of dog rabies must be protected against the disease, according to the organization. Canada is not considered high risk, however, the CDC says the new rules still apply to Canadians and come in an effort to help protect the health and safety of people and pets.

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IN OTHER NEWS

A high school teacher in British Columbia had their teaching certificate cancelled and is unable to reapply for 15 years for kissing a vulnerable student in 2022.

The B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation says the contact occurred on July 4, 2022, the day of the student’s high school graduation, at the former teacher’s home.

The teacher’s adult children were having a party at the home that night, which included some university-aged attendees drinking alcohol.

The student, who the teacher had taught, was at the party and was not of legal drinking age, but had consumed alcohol at the party.

Don’t be alarmed when you receive an emergency alert on your cell phone tomorrow.  All cell phones, radios and television sets across the nation tomorrow will be receiving the test alert.  It’s a test of the national Integrated Public Alert and Warning System – known as IPAWS.  The message on your phone will read: THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.” 

FEMA – the Federal Emergency Management Agency – says the test is being done to help ensure that Wireless Emergency alerts (WEA) for cell phones and the Emergency Alert System (EAS) for radios and TVs continue to be effective ways to warn the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level.

The WEA test will be sent to all consumer cell phones. The message will display in either English or in Spanish, depending on the language settings of the wireless handset.

"All major U.S. wireless providers participate in Wireless Emergency Alerts and will transmit the national test to their subscribers," according to FEMA. "If your mobile phone is on and within range of an active cell tower from a participating wireless provider, you should receive the national test. 

Wireless providers will transmit the national test for 30 minutes, but your phone should only receive it once."

The EAS Emergency Alert System portion of the test will be sent to radios and televisions. The test is set for 11:20AM Pacific Time tomorrow.

FEMA says it’s a standard test that occurs at least once every three years.