Frozen waffles from Whole Foods join Canadian recall list over listeria concerns
Whole Foods Market is joining the growing list of brands whose frozen waffles have been recalled in Canada this week because of possible listeria contamination.
In past autumns, when Jocelyn Rutgers tried to enjoy the extra hour of sleep offered by the end of daylight time, her cat would hold firm to his daily regimen and demand to be fed as usual.
"My cat in particular is extremely routine-based and likes to be fed at his preferred times," said Rutgers, a registered veterinary technician based at the Ontario SPCA Midland Animal Centre.
"He tends to get quite loud and meow at me when he knows it's breakfast or dinner time. Any changes from those times and he lets me know about it."
While seasonal time changes have been associated with health complications like headaches and heart problems for humans, Rutgers says many owners of finicky pets may find them extra ornery when daylight time ends in the wee hours of Sunday morning.
That's because, like us, pets have natural circadian rhythms and internal biological clocks tuned to cycles of light and dark. But their feeding, exercise and medication schedules are also closely linked to their owners' daily routines, she said.
From the animals' perspective, everything in their routine will be delivered an hour later than usual when clocks fall back an hour, said Toronto-based veterinary behaviourist Karen Van Haaften.
"If you get up and walk your dog every day at 7 a.m., then that dog is behaviourally and physiologically ready to walk at 7. They're going to be excited, their bladder is going to be full, they expect to go outside at that time," said Van Haaften.
"If you think you can sleep in an hour later that day, they might not have the same opinion."
Standard time rolls back at 2 a.m. local time Sunday for most provinces and territories, and lasts until March 10. Yukon and most of Saskatchewan keep their clocks the same year-round.
The change means darkness will arrive earlier in the evening and daylight starts earlier in the morning, prompting cities like Mississauga, Ont., to remind drivers, pedestrians and cyclists to be alert on the roads during and after the fewer daylight hours.
Not all pets will notice the difference, but for those on strict schedules, Van Haaften recommends making small incremental changes of 10 or 15 minutes in the week or days leading up to the change to help them gradually transition.
If you haven't prepared in advance, the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society recommend feeding your animal 30 minutes later than usual the day of the time change. Alternatively, you can ignore the time change and gradually change scheduled activities by 15-minute intervals in the days following the switch.
It also helps to pay attention to your own routine and circadian rhythm, Van Haaften added, because your pet will notice if you're feeling off.
Rutgers, of the SPCA, said smaller animals like birds, amphibians and those that are nocturnal aren't as strict with their routines as cats and dogs, and may have an easier time transitioning.
She also recommended using the switch as an opportunity the check that smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are working properly, and to update or create a household emergency preparedness kit that includes pets.
"A lot of people don't think to have one for their pets," she said of prepping an emergency bag in the event of an order to evacuate or shelter in place.
The SPCA's website says a pet emergency survival kit could contain three days' worth of food and water including bowls, medications, medical records and a pet first aid kit.
"For most cats, dogs and people, the time change isn't a huge deal," Rutgers said.
"The key is to have a routine and stick to it."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 3, 2023.
Whole Foods Market is joining the growing list of brands whose frozen waffles have been recalled in Canada this week because of possible listeria contamination.
Angela Salvatore had been away from her father's hospital bedside for just over an hour when she says she got a frantic call from a nurse, pleading with her to calm him down.
Many of Donald Trump鈥檚 supporters left a Michigan rally before he arrived after the former U.S. president kept them waiting for three hours to tape a popular podcast interview.
Canadian Ryan James Wedding finished in 24th place in the parallel giant slalom at the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, but the snowboarder wouldn鈥檛 go on to improve his results in Torino four years later.
The mystery of a 100-year-old letter sent from Manitoba to Ireland is slowly unraveling thanks to the work of one amateur sleuth.
As months, become weeks, become days left before this U.S. election cycle comes to an end, here's a look at what each outcome might mean for Canadian politics.
In early 2018, Amanda and Sunil started chatting, messaging back and forth on Instagram, introducing themselves and talking a little about their lives. Fast forward to August 2018, the couple got engaged on vacation in Thailand and a year later, after Amanda moved to India, got married.
Based on initial appearances, there are signs indicating the automobile industry is in healthy shape 鈥 for now.
Former New Brunswick Liberal premier Frank McKenna says if he were in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau鈥檚 shoes, at this point in the government鈥檚 mandate, he would step down.
A new resident at a Manitoba animal rescue has waddled her way into people's hearts.
Hundreds of people ran to the music of German composer and pianist Beethoven Wednesday night in a unique race in Halifax.
He is a familiar face to residents of a neighbourhood just west of Roncesvalles Avenue.
A meteor lit up our region's sky last night 鈥 with a large fireball shooting across the horizon over Lake Erie at around 7:00 p.m.
Residents of Ottawa's Rideauview neighbourhood say an aggressive wild turkey has become a problem.
A man who lost his life while trying to rescue people from floodwaters, and a 13-year-old boy who saved his family from a dog attack, are among the Nova Scotians who received a medal for bravery Tuesday.
A newly minted Winnipegger is hoping a world record attempt will help bring awareness for the need for more pump track facilities in the city.
A Springfield, Ont. man is being hailed a 'hero' after running into his burning home to save his two infant children.
Hortense Anglin was the oldest graduate to make her way across the platform at York University's Fall Convocation ceremony this week. At the age of 87, she graduated with an Honours degree in Religious Studies.