Over the years, I've written five articles on quitting smoking and the hazards of smoking (including this one), and in this piece, I'll give the reader the various links to my other articles on the dangers of smoking.  These articles (I hope) may encourage the reader to quit the nasty and dangerous habit of smoking!  The first article is entitled, Smoking Sucks: How I Quit Smoking;
http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewarticle.asp?id=42888

From: The American Legacy Foundation: (This organization helps teens quit smoking);  Tobacco is toxic for Fido and Felix, too!  Did you know, that secondhand smoke, has been linked with nasal cancer and lung cancer in dogs and lymphoma in cats?  The American Legacy Foundation is urging pet owners to quit smoking for their pets, during April 2009, which kicks off Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month.  A growing body of research, shows that there are no safe levels of exposure to secondhand smoke.  Visit: http://www.americanlegacy.org to learn more.

My Two-Cents: (comments and opinions)
Over the years, scientists and doctors told us one thing...and we did something else...including my stupidity and ignorance when I smoked!  One of my friends died from smoking, and she was only 38 years old and left a 14 year old and a new husband behind!  The article is entitled; Have You Ever Kissed an Ashtray? (pucker up) 
http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewarticle.asp?id=44660

"On CBS radio, the news of Edward R. Murrow's death, reportedly from lung cancer, was followed by a cigarette commercial."  Alexander Kendrick

From: Smoke Free Society.org:
Of all the compelling reasons to quit smoking, this one should make pet lovers, sit up and take notice!  There's ample scientific evidence, to suggest that secondhand smoke can cause cancer in companion animals, etc. 

And, your fury friends don't just inhale smoke...the smoke particles are trapped in their fur, and injested which they groom themselves with their tongues, etc.  A study published in the American Journal of Epidermiology found that dogs in a smoking household, had 60% higher risk of lung cancer.  A different study in the same Journal, showed that long-nosed dogs such as collies or greyhounds, were twice as likely to develop nasal cancer if they live with smokers!  And, yet in another study...vets from Tufts University, said that cats, whose owners smoked, were three times as likely to get lymphoma, the most common feline cancer! 

My TWO-CENTS: (comments/opinions):
Pets don't have a choice...they do what their owners want them to do...and this includes living with a nasty smoker of cigarettes, pipes and cigars...they're all the same!  If the animals could talk...they would probably be disgusted with the pet owners for smoking, just like other humans are disgusted at a smoker!

After 19 years of marriage, I couldn't get my wife to quit smoking...she wouldn't even try!  The fighting and arguing continued for years, and the issue of smoking, was not the only issue that brought us apart...but it was one of the reasons that we parted.  I will never be with another woman who smokes...period!   

"The Public Health authorities never mention the main reason many Americans have for smoking heavily...is that smoking is a fairly sure and honorable form of suicide!"  Kurt Vonnegut

From: Live Science.com: (Article entitled: Secondhand Smoke Causes Cancer in Pets; written by Andrea Thompson)  Secondhand smoke isn't just a health threat to people.  It can also hurt dogs and cats, veteranians say.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 126 million, who don't smoke are exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes; vehicles; work places; and public places, etc. 

This exposure, causes thousands of lung cancer and heart disease deaths among non-smokers every year, according to the California Environmental Protection Agency.  Making the leap, from the effects of secondhand smoke on humans...to their efforts on pets isn't a big one, says veteranian Carolyn MacAllister of Oklahoma State University. 

"There have been a number of scientific papers recently, that have reported the significant health of what secondhand smoke poses to cats."   MacCallister said.  "Secondhand smoke has been assiciated with oral cancer and lymphoma in cats, and nasal cancer in dogs, as well as lung cancer in birds, etc."

Mouth cancer in cats:
McCallister cited a study done by the Tufts College of Veteranary Medicine, that showed that the number of cats living with mouth cancer (also known as squarnous cell carcinoma) was higher for those living in homes with smokers, than those who lived in smoke-free environments. 

"One reason why cats are so supseptible to secondhand smoke, is because of their grooming habits."  MacCallister said.  Cats consistantly lick themselves, while grooming, therefore they lick up the cancer-causing carcinogens that accomulate on their fur.  This grooming behavior exposes the mucous membranes of their mouth to the cancer-causing carcinogens. 

Cats living with smokers, are also twice as likely to develop milignant lymphoma, a cancer that develops in the lymph nodes, and that is fatal to three out of four cats within 12 months after developing it. 

Lung and nose cancer in dogs: Studies have also shown that dogs living in a smoking household, are susceptible to cancers of the nose and sinus area, especially if thay are long-nose breed such as a collie or a greyhound, etc.  That is, because their noses have a greater surface that is exposed to carcinogens and a greater area for them to accukmulate.  Dogs affected with nasal cancer normally don't survive more than one year! 

"Short and medium-nosed dogs are more suseptible to lung cancer, because their shorter nasal passages aren't effective at accumlating the inhaled secondhand smoke carcinogens."  MacCallister said.  "The results are more carcinogens reaching the lungs!" 

Birds are also at risk for cancer and pnemonia as well, because their resporitory systems are hyper-sensitive to any type of air pollutant.    To help prevant animals from being adversly affected by smoking, pet owners who smoke, should have a designated smoking area that is separated from the home...OR stop smoking altogether, MacCallister said.

My Two-Cents;  Some smokers, are the most inconsiderate people in the world...throwing their cigarette butts wherever they please...causing danger to others and even causing fires,etc.  Somebody has to clean up after these inconsiderate people!  Cigarettes butts are the number ONE litter problem in the world, and I wrote a piece entitled, The Number ONE Litter Problem in the World.  Learn more;
http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewarticle.asp?id=39680

"A cigarette is a pipe with fire on one end...and a FOOL on the other end!"  Author unknown

From: Indian Express.com: (Article written by Teena Thacker entitled; Smoking Bad for Pets?  Many More Ready to Quit!)  Love for pets may motivate smokers to quit.  This is what an unusual survey in the U.S. has discovered.  One of three smokers is willing to quit smoking, when they were told it was harmful to their pets.  For health reasons, one in ten, said they would ask their partner to quit smoking

Earlier research, has established that secondhand smoke, can be dangerous for pets...the way it is for human passive smoking.  In cats and dogs, it has been known to cause cancers of the lymp glands; nose; lung; allergies; eye; skin diseases as well as respirtory problems, etc.  For the study, the researchers, carried on a web-based survey of 3,293 adult pet owners. 

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Smokers who know the dangers and the risks of passive smoking for their pets...and continue to smoke around them...are SELFISH people!  I know of better words to describe the smoker...but those words are not printable...so SELFISH has to suffice! 

"I'd rather kiss a mad cow on the muzzle...than a smoker on the mouth!"  Paul Carvel

And finally...for all the years me and my wife were together, we always had a pet...a cat or a dog...or both!  They were exposed to all that smoke, too,  just like I was.  After 19 years with my ex-wife, and having been exposed to all that smoke for that time...I'm amazed that I'm still alive in the year 2009! 

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