tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53105017829469207892024-03-12T19:11:16.216-07:00Pets - Advice, News, Photos and Fun!WARNING: For Pet Lovers Only!!
Pet News, Pet Photos and Pet Advice for Pet Owners Everywhere. Entertaining Articles and Informative Tips on Buying, Training, Raising and Living With Your Pet.John Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569650383063644384noreply@blogger.comBlogger581125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5310501782946920789.post-69515520191693919952012-06-19T20:15:00.007-07:002012-06-22T06:33:53.349-07:00Calculating 'Dog Years'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Firefighters Rescue Dogs, </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Cats from California House Fire</span></center><center><a href="http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/21/12344594-firefighters-rescue-dogs-cats-from-california-house-fire?lite"><span style="color: #274e13;">Bruce Chambers / The Orange County Register via AP</span></a></center><br />
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<center><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5CcVDwff6ig/T-Rx_XYNTxI/AAAAAAAAQHo/pZut2F6GAGI/s1600/16-p1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5CcVDwff6ig/T-Rx_XYNTxI/AAAAAAAAQHo/pZut2F6GAGI/s400/16-p1.bmp" width="400" /></a></center><br />
<center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Held by his owner, Clyde, a pitbull, is given oxygen by Garden Grove Fire Department Captain Jeff Wilkins, right, on Thursday, June 21, 2012 in Garden Grove, Calif.</em></span></center><br />
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AP reports: Twenty firefighters from Garden Grove and Anaheim put out a house fire in Garden Grove, California on Thursday. According to Garden Grove Battalion Chief Chuck Green, the firefighters arrived to heavy smoke coming from a back bedroom. Two occupants of the home got out on their own but firefighters rescued two dogs and two cats inside the home.<br />
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<center><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-49T_geLip_I/T-Ryv2luw4I/AAAAAAAAQH0/H1bdPLtFLJ4/s1600/16-p2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-49T_geLip_I/T-Ryv2luw4I/AAAAAAAAQH0/H1bdPLtFLJ4/s400/16-p2.bmp" width="400" /></a></center><br />
<center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Bruce Chambers / The Orange County Register via AP<br />
Garden Grove Fire Department Captain Albert Acosta, left, struggles with a cat that was rescued.</em></span></center><br />
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<center><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TebIxWWdpss/T-RzaOBT_rI/AAAAAAAAQIA/ZIfkLduFfVg/s1600/16-p3.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TebIxWWdpss/T-RzaOBT_rI/AAAAAAAAQIA/ZIfkLduFfVg/s400/16-p3.bmp" width="400" /></a></center><br />
<center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Bruce Chambers / The Orange County Register via AP<br />
Garden Grove Fire Department Captain Albert Acosta checks on the welfare of a cat named Magic, as Magic's owner Norma Arbotast finishes the cat's oxygen treatment on Thursday.</em></span></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Hints From Heloise: </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">The Equation for ‘Dog Years’</span></center><center><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/hints-from-heloise-the-equation-for-dog-years/2012/05/22/gJQA4rksBV_story.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Heloise, washingtonpost.com</span></a></center><br />
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Dear Readers: Have you ever heard the old saying about “every dog year equals seven human years”? Well, it’s not that easy. While dogs do AGE DIFFERENTLY depending on their size, each of the first two years of a dog’s life equals about 12 human years. After that, each year equals only about four human years. So if your dog is 5, that equals about 36 human years. A dog 13 years old equals 68 years! Remember, this is not an exact science, but just a calculation. So keep that in mind, and take care of pets as they age. -- Heloise<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Cat Gives Birth to Kittens Inside </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Rotating Tumble Dryer </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"></span></center><center><a href="http://www.digitalspy.com/odd/news/a388117/cat-gives-birth-to-kittens-inside-rotating-tumble-dryer.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Chang Liu - digitalspy.com</span></a></center><br />
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A cat has given birth to kittens inside a rotating tumble dryer.<br />
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The cat's owner Patrick Ambrose, 44, was pleasantly surprised to discover five unexpected additions inside his dryer when he came back home from work last week.<br />
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Electrical engineer Patrick said: "It was warm and dark in there and she had made herself comfortable on a towel that was in there. Cats are said to have a sixth sense so she obviously felt at home in my house."<br />
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As they were birthed in a tumble dryer, he plans to name the five kittens Whirlpool, Bosch, Hotpoint, Zanussi and Beko - after famous tumble dryer brands. <br />
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"She's been with me for years and has gone blind, but she doesn't seem to have a problem with the new arrivals," he said. <br />
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"I am so glad I have been able to help because they would not have survived if they were left as strays. It's obvious someone previously had the mom as a pet because she had been well looked after. I hope people will take them on." <br />
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Patrick said he would continue to look after the cat mother, Yahoo! reports.<br />
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Cats Protection volunteer Shaki McFarland said: "She was huge. She looked like she had swallowed two rugby balls. It's not the safest place but luckily they were all okay. We will arrange to have the mother spayed and we'll get the kittens immunised before we try to find them a home."<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Greenville Dog Named 'Naughtiest' in Nation</span></center><center><a href="http://www.wafb.com/story/18816382/greenville-dog-is-naughtiest-in-nation"><span style="color: #274e13;">by Casey Vaughn - wafb.com</span></a></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>"Prison Break"</em></span></center><br />
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GREENVILLE, SC (FOX Carolina) - An Upstate dog may think she has some new barking rights, but her owners nicknamed her "The Destroyer" for a reason.<br />
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Lucy's owners, who live in Greenville, entered her into Camp Bow Wow's "Bad to the Bone" worst behaved dog contest and she was the lucky winner. <br />
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The national doggy daycare and dog services franchise asked people across the country to send in pictures and videos of their dogs with stories of how naughty they have been. Facebook users and professional judges voted.<br />
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An 11-month-old, 60-pound husky mix, Lucy's owners said she has bad chewing habits and has failed previous training classes.<br />
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By the time she was 6 months old, her owner Eve Memmer said she had enough with her crate. Lucy did everything possible to get out, and one time, even chewed through it. <br />
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It was the photo of Lucy looking at the crate she destroyed that Memmer posted to Facebook, and named "Prison Break." That picture and story won Lucy the "worst behaved" title. <br />
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Memmer said now that she's a little older, she's a little better, but still chews on anything soft she can find.<br />
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"We have some pillows on the sofas that we call sacrificial pillows," Memmer said. "She chewed the end of those, so it's not really the bad stuff like the wood furniture, but if she wants to destroy something, she will put her mind to it and she will destroy it."<br />
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As the winner, Lucy will receive year's worth of time to stay at an Upstate location of Camp Bow Wow along with free training.<br />
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Trainers at Camp Bow Wow said Lucy's behavior is pretty typical of energetic puppies, but there are plenty of methods to train her, or any dog that needs a little discipline. <br />
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Though Lucy was named naughtiest dog, the company said they have chosen 51 "Bad Dog" finalists who will have another chance to win training or other services.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Cats Make Friends with Baby Robin</span></center><center><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/kidspost/cats-make-friends-with-baby-robin/2012/06/19/gJQAzP7PoV_story.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">washingtonpost.com</span></a></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Associated Press - Peeps, a baby robin nursed back to health by Karin Caston, sleeps on one of the woman’s cats.</em></span></center><br />
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Cats and birds aren’t usually considered friends. Many outdoor cats make a game of chasing and scaring away wild birds that cross their paths.<br />
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But several cats in Michigan recently proved that felines can indeed make feathered friends. A baby robin spent quality time with some friendly cats in Otsego Township, Michigan.<br />
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Karin Caston’s cats accepted the bird, named Peeps, after she found it about two weeks ago in her yard. The bird lived in a cage, but it spent time nestled in the fur of two of Caston’s cats or perched on their backs. A third cat let the bird walk around it. <br />
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The robin also liked to hang out on Caston’s finger.<br />
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Caston, who released Peeps back to the wild on Monday, told the Associated Press in an e-mail that she first locked up the cats when she started caring for the bird. Peeps’s new home is Brookside Park in Otsego, Michigan.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Italians Have Just the Thing for </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Dog Days of Summer: Canine Gelato</span></center><center><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/italians-have-just-the-thing-for-dog-days-of-summer-canine-gelato/2012/06/19/gJQA7sUonV_story.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">washingtonpost.com</span></a></center><br />
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<center><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vk_o_iXWs3I/T-DsL7ZUOBI/AAAAAAAAQCw/Tc8BWfNwFn0/s1600/15-p1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vk_o_iXWs3I/T-DsL7ZUOBI/AAAAAAAAQCw/Tc8BWfNwFn0/s400/15-p1.bmp" width="400" /></a></center><br />
<center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>(Andrew Medichini/ Associated Press ) - Rosaria, left, serves Lara ice cream as Kiyoko looks on in a pet shop in Rome, Monday, June 18, 2012. Gelato for dogs contains no milk products harmful to canines. With temperatures in Rome topping 36 degrees Celsius (97 degrees Fahrenheit), dogs are lapping up the icey treat at a pet supply store on the outskirts of the capital.</em></span></center><br />
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ROME — Leave it to Italians to come up with just the thing to survive the dog days of summer: canine gelato.<br />
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This Italian ice cream for dogs contains no milk, eggs or sugar, which are harmful to canines. With temperatures in Rome topping 36 degrees Celsius (97 degrees Fahrenheit) this week, dogs are lapping up the icy treat at a pet supply store on the outskirts of the capital.<br />
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Dog-owner Anna Bordoni couldn’t resist a taste from her mutt Elsa’s cup and declared it “fantastic.”<br />
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Rome vetrinarian Marialivia Palmieri says water remains the best cool-down treat for dogs. But she said the special canine gelato does dogs no harm — and can be gratifying for pet and owner.<br />
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Flavors come in vanilla, rice and yogurt and a serving costs €2 ($2.50).<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">New 'Beer' Has Dogs Barking for Brews </span></center><center><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Business/seattle-company-brews-dog-friendly-beer/story?id=16596042"><span style="color: #274e13;">By ALON HARISH - abcnews.com</span></a></center><br />
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What's the legal drinking age in dog years? <br />
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That's what you might be asking yourself if you come across a bottle of Bowser Beer, a new brew crafted for a canine clientele. But you need not worry: this dog-friendly beer is non-alcoholic. Eschewing hops, which are toxic to dogs, Bowser Beer is a non-carbonated mixture of meat-broth and malt barley, with glucosamine added for joint health. <br />
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Creator Jenny Brown said she got the idea at a holiday farmer's market in 2007 for which she made spicy pretzels and, at the urging of customers, a peanut-butter alternative for their dogs. Thinking to herself, "What goes better with pretzels than beer?" Brown devised four beer recipes for her three dogs to taste-test. One recipe was the clear winner, and Bowser Beer was born. <br />
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"People have an incredible emotional bond with their dogs, so it's just natural for people to want to include them and say, 'My dog can have a beer too,'" Brown said. <br />
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Brown was looking for a job when she took Beefy Brown Ale, Bowser Beer's first flavor, to a pet expo in Virginia later that year. But the more she looked into it, she said, the more it started to dawn on her that she had a business opportunity on her hands. <br />
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Since then, she has shipped batches of beer nationwide, and dog-oriented businesses in 42 states have begun selling Bowser Beer, which now comes in a chicken-flavored variety, Cock-a-Doodle-Brew. The beer has taken off internationally, too, with a special edition selling in the pet section of London's Harrods department store. <br />
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At Diane Ludwig's Barkery Bistro, a dog boutique in Greenville, S.C., Bowser Beer has been on the shelves for the past three years. Ludwig said sales spike on Fridays, when customers stock up for weekend parties. <br />
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"Whether it's a football game or people are just having their friends over, they say, 'I gotta get a bottle for my four-legged,'" Ludwig said. <br />
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In Vienna, Va., Carol Fleming said customers at her grooming business, Vienna Pet Spaw, often buy Bowser Beer as a gift when a wine bottle feels too conventional. <br />
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"Even when they don't buy it, it's always a good conversation piece," Fleming said. "It catches your attention and gives people a good chuckle." <br />
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When customers purchase Bowser Beer through Brown's website, they can customize the bottle label with a photo of their dog and a brew name. I Don't Give a Shih-Tzu Brew and I Only Have Eyes for Brew, a batch dedicated to guide dogs for the blind, are two of Brown's favorites, she said. <br />
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Brown said she wants to grow her business "carefully," rather than rapidly adding new flavors. But the dog beer market might soon see a new Bowser flavor: seafood-, liver- and bacon-flavored beer are some of the possibilities Brown said she is researching. <br />
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Brown moved her company, 3 Busy Dogs, from Arizona to Seattle last month. Since then, she has marketed the beer to the local bar scene, betting on people's desire to bring their pooches to the pub. <br />
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"I've gotten a lot more interest here from bars that are adding it to their menus," she said. <br />
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Now available in plastic bottles to avoid broken-glass mishaps, Bowser Beer scores better with dogs when served outside of their normal drinking bowls, where they expect to find water, Brown said. Her recommendations: pour the beer over your dog's dry food, freeze it into ice cubes for your dog to lick, or let your dog simply drink straight from the bottle – human-style.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">What Causes People to Be Allergic to Cats?</span> <br />
<a href="http://kirkwood.patch.com/articles/what-causes-people-to-be-allergic-to-cats"><span style="color: #274e13;">patch.com</span></a></center><br />
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Sorry cat lovers! About 20 percent of the population has pet allergies, and cats are the worst offenders. Here are some tips to alleviate or lessen cat allergens. <br />
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Every other week, Dr. Patrick Tate, chief of the veterinary staff and a general practitioner at Webster Groves Animal Hospital, answers reader questions about pets. This week's question comes from Rebecca Daniels.<br />
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Question: What causes people to be allergic to cats, and is it more of a problem than with dogs? <br />
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Answer: Sorry cat lovers — about 20 percent of the population has pet allergies, and cats are the worst offenders. In fact, cat allergies are twice as common as dog allergies. As I explained in an Ask the Vet column a few weeks ago, there is a lot of misunderstanding and confusion about why people have allergic reactions to animals. <br />
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Allergies to cats (and other mammals) are triggered by various protein molecules, referred to as "allergens." The immune system of an allergic individual overreacts to the harmless proteins, mistaking them for dangerous substances and releasing achemical called histamine. (My apologies to allergy sufferers for this very simplistic explanation!). <br />
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Allergic reactions can manifest in skin rashes, hives, sneezing, coughing, runny nose, red and itchy eyes, asthma and more. <br />
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For many years, people thought that a cat's fur was the allergy trigger. However, as with dogs, fur is not an allergen. There are at least five cat allergens, and more have recently been discovered. But the Fel d 1 and the Fel d 4 proteins cause the majority of allergic reactions in humans. <br />
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The Fel d 1 comes mainly from the sebaceous glands under the cat’s skin, the anal glands and saliva, while the Fel d 4 is found in the cat’s saliva and urine. Cat allergens are more potent than a dog’s and can remain “active” for a long time. <br />
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When a cat grooms with his tongue, the Fel d 1 and Fel d 4 protein in the saliva covers his fur and skin. Fel d 1 secretions from the cat’s sebaceous and anal glands also land on the fur and skin. When the dead skin cells (called dander) and loose fur are released into the environment, the Fel d 1 and Fel d 4 allergens are spread. <br />
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Dogs also have allergens in their saliva that are distributed by dander, but they do not lick themselves as much as cats, and their sebaceous glands are not as active.<br />
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Cat allergen dander particles are much smaller, lighter and stickier than those from a dog. In fact, they are only one tenth the size of a dust mite particle! As a result, they can remain airborne for long periods of time and travel great distances. The invisible allergens make their way easily into the respiratory passages of humans, and can stick to any surface.<br />
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Studies have shown that male cats produce more allergenic secretions than females, and that “intact” males generate more allergens than neutered males. Some people think that light-colored cats are less allergenic than dark colored cats, but there is no research to back up the theory. <br />
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Since kittens have less allergens than adult cats, pet owners don’t always develop allergic symptoms until their cat reaches maturity.<br />
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Despite the negative statistics about cat allergens, many allergic pet owners still choose to live with their feline friends (including my wife!). An estimated 6 million Americans are allergic to cats and over one third of them continue to have cats in their homes. <br />
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Scientific studies show that steps can be taken to significantly decrease one's exposure to cat allergens. See my last Ask the Vet answer about reducing allergens on yourself, on your pet and in your house. <br />
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Here are a few additional things you can do to alleviate or lessen cat allergens:<br />
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•If possible, bathe your cat once a week with a good pet shampoo or plain water. Studies have shown that a weekly bath or a water-only rinse can significantly reduce allergens. Of course, this can sometimes be a challenging task! If you begin bathing your cat at a young age, it is much easier for them to accept it. Pet Place offers some helpful cat bathing instructions. <br />
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•Wipe your cat frequently with a cloth moistened with water or a special allergen neutralizing solution like Allerpet C. Cats that hate baths will usually tolerate a damp “wipe down.” <br />
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•Brush your cat frequently to remove loose dander and fur. A cat’s fur, no matter what the length, can trap cat allergens along with additional environmental allergens like dust mites, mold, pollen, etc. Always do the brushing outside and wear a face mask if you’re allergic. Furminator deshedding tools are invaluable aids and well-worth the price.<br />
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•Feed your cat a high-quality food, rich in skin-supporting oils with the correct balance of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. Cats with unhealthy skin shed more dander. Talk with your veterinarian about what food would be best for your cat. <br />
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•Clean your cat’s little box frequently, and avoid stirring up litter dust. Keep the litter box away from air ducts – especially intake vents. If an allergic person has to change the litter, consider a self-cleaning litter box like Scoop-Free or Litter Robot.<br />
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For more in-depth advice please consult your veterinarian and/or human allergist. The Avoid Nasal Allergies website and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology website both offer a wealth of information for those with pet allergies. <br />
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Do you have a question for Dr. Tate? Email your questions to Webster Groves Patch Editor Sheri Gassaway. Be sure to attach a photo of your pet, and we'll feature it along with your question!<br />
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About this column: Dr. Patrick Tate, chief of the veterinary staff and a general practitioner at Webster Groves Animal Hospital, answers reader questions about pets.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Some Things Just Make Your Heart Smile</span></center><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-chWrXhWTMhk/T-ECusWmrRI/AAAAAAAAQGc/ccnAsh7hMUo/s1600/15-p12.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-chWrXhWTMhk/T-ECusWmrRI/AAAAAAAAQGc/ccnAsh7hMUo/s400/15-p12.bmp" width="352" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VkcY0PPz7_o/T-ECvOU0FUI/AAAAAAAAQGo/Lmviv7Ngq6Y/s1600/15-p13.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VkcY0PPz7_o/T-ECvOU0FUI/AAAAAAAAQGo/Lmviv7Ngq6Y/s400/15-p13.bmp" width="400" /></a></center></div>John Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569650383063644384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5310501782946920789.post-83247904638080966522012-05-13T20:35:00.000-07:002012-05-13T20:35:14.921-07:00Skin Cancer and Pets<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">World's Fattest Cat Dies</span></center><center><a href="http://weeklyworldnews.com/headlines/47767/worlds-fattest-cat-dies/"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Hideaki Tailor - weeklyworldnews.com</span></a></center><br />
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The Santa Fe Animal Shelter of New Mexico said Meow, who weighed 40 pounds, died of pulmonary failure.<br />
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The two-year-old cat had been surrendered to the shelter as his 87-year-old owners could no longer take care of him.<br />
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Employees at the shelter had been working to put Meow, who weighed the equivalent of a 700 pound, on a diet so he could shed weight and be adopted.<br />
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Four different veterinarians fought to save the cat’s life to no avail, the shelter’s Mary Martin said on Facebook.<br />
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‘The shelter staff – along with all those who met Meow during his short time with us – mourn his passing,’ she said in a statement.<br />
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‘Meow had been doing so well in his foster home; walking up stairs and seeking affection – that it is so very hard to believe he is gone.’<br />
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She added: ‘We will forever be grateful for the attention Meow’s size brought to pet obesity and to animal shelters across the country. We are especially grateful to all of you who fell in love with this charming cat – as we did – and were so very interested in his progress and success.’<br />
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The shelter had previously described Meow as ‘very sweet’ but warned he faced similar health risks to those experienced by a ‘morbidly obese person’.<br />
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‘We got him a scratching post with a carpeted ring attached but he couldn’t even get his head through,’ spokesman Ben Swan said.<br />
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‘He had no interest in the super-sized toy mouse we gave him either.’<br />
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The fattest cat in history recorded by Guinness World Records is Himmy from Australia, who weighed 35 pounds.<br />
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But the category was later scrapped amid concerns it would encourage over-feeding of pets.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Doggie MRIs: What Is Your Dog Thinking?</span></center><center><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2012/05/doggie-mris-what-is-your-dog-thinking/"><span style="color: #274e13;">abcnews.com</span></a></center><br />
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Do you ever wonder what your dog is thinking, with his tail wagging, tongue out the side of his mouth? Does he really love you as much as you think?<br />
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Researchers at Emory University are one step closer to finding out. They are now conducting MRIs on dogs, looking for clues to what they’re thinking.<br />
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“We don’t really know what a dog is thinking because they can’t talk,” Greg Berns, professor of Neuroeconomics at Emory University, told ABC News. “So more often than not, we project our own feelings and thoughts on them as if they’re coming from them, but they’re not — they’re coming from us.”<br />
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Giving a dog a brain scan should not be that hard. But there was one problem: using anesthesia to sedate a dog alters its brain activity. They have to be fully conscious for an accurate scan.<br />
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Berns had a theory. If we can train dogs to skydive or rescue a drowning swimmer, why can’t we teach them to sit still for 10 minutes to conduct a successful MRI?<br />
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So he began training his dog Callie, a two-year-old Feist, or southern squirrel-hunting dog, to crawl into an MRI machine and sit still long enough for an accurate scan of her brain.<br />
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Once she was properly trained, the team did a number of scans, with fascinating results — and insights into what Callie was thinking.<br />
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“The first task was to see if we give hand signals to the dogs, can we see what parts of the brain are responding to see hand signals?” Berns said.<br />
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The answer was yes.<br />
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During the tests, researchers showed Callie hand signals she had already learned — one that meant she would get a treat and one that meant she wouldn’t.<br />
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When Callie was given the signal that she would get a treat, there was a clear difference in the scan in the area of the brain that processes feelings of reward.<br />
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“It proves they’ve transferred the meaning of the hand signal to something that’s important to them,” Berns said. “It’s really getting at the start of how a dog processes dog-to-human communication.”<br />
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And Berns said he thinks this new insight into what dogs are thinking will open many more doors in the future.<br />
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“I think this lets us see how the dogs are responding to us, and in a very practical sense, it’s going to show us better ways to communicate with them, better ways to train that are not exclusively dependent on treats and punishment.”<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">As Train Bore Down, Dog Pulled Her from the Tracks</span></center><center><span style="color: #274e13;">By Katina Caraganis - Nashoba Publishing</span></center><span style="color: #274e13;"></span><br />
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<center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>COURTESY ANGELL ANIMAL MEDICAL CLINIC Dr. Kiko Bracker checks on Lilly, Christine Spain's pit bull, at Angell Animal Medical Clinic in Boston. The dog was struck by a train while pulling Spain from the tracks in Shirley last Wednesday night.</em></span></center><br />
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SHIRLEY -- Walking home from her boyfriend's house, Christine Spain collapsed on the railroad tracks. <br />
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It was around midnight last Wednesday, and the 56-year-old Shirley woman lay there unconscious after apparently having too much to drink. <br />
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In the distance came the rumbling. A freight train. <br />
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That's when Lilly, Spain's pit bull, prevented a tragedy. The dog pulled Spain away from the tracks moments before the train went by. Lilly was unable to clear herself from the track and was struck, suffering severe injuries. <br />
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All of the muscle and skin were torn from Lilly's right paw. Her right front leg was amputated, and her pelvis was fractured in multiple places. <br />
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"I don't know if she collapsed or what happened, but she passed out," said Rob Halpin, spokesman for the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. "The engineer, the only witness, told police he saw a dog frantically pulling at a woman as he drew closer. He did everything he could. He heard a thump and thought he hit both." <br />
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The engineer immediately hit the brakes and got off the train. He found Spain unhurt. <br />
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"The dog's head was on her chest," Halpin said. "The woman was totally unharmed." <br />
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Spain, who was arrested at the scene and was arraigned in Ayer District Court on May 3 on charges of obstruction, walking/riding on a railroad track and animal cruelty, is a recovering alcoholic. Her son, Boston police Officer David Lanteigne, got her the dog as a means of therapy. <br />
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"I truly believe things happen for a reason," Lanteigne said yesterday. "We found Lilly to save her life, and she returned the favor. She almost died here." <br />
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The 8-year-old dog was rushed to an animal hospital in Acton and then transported to Angell Animal Medical Clinic in Boston, where she underwent two surgeries over the weekend. <br />
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"Lilly's doing a lot better than she was almost a week ago," Lanteigne said. "She's on her road to recovery now. It'll be quite a long ways before she's back up to speed." <br />
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He said Lilly and Spain will stay with him in Boston once Lilly is released from the animal hospital. <br />
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"My mom's not doing so well, and she's hanging in there," Lanteigne said. "She's been with me and helping out with this, getting things ready at home. She's emotionally severely scarred from this. She's hanging on. If it wasn't for her dog, I don't think my mom would be here today. This dog has kept her sober." <br />
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He wasn't surprised when he heard that Lilly had come to his mother's aid. <br />
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"This dog is truly a special dog," he said. "She's been amazing since day one. My mother has given anything and everything to this dog. For the past 3 1/2 years since she's had this dog, it's her entire life. She's been eating, sleeping and breathing this dog. The dog is everything to her. She brings her on five or six long walks a day. She spends half an hour preparing all of her meals." <br />
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Lanteigne said his mother is doing the best she can in light of the situation. <br />
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"It's pretty tough," he said. "She still has a long road to recovery. Lilly is her therapy dog. She keeps her thinking well. Every now and then, things happen. We've had some real tough, bad news in our family the past week and a half, and I think it impacted my mom tremendously. I think it caused her to have a relapse." <br />
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He said that while caring for Lilly, Spain has controlled her drinking. <br />
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"Thankfully, Lilly was there with her to save her," he added. "This has reduced her drinking, at least if not more than 90 percent. Every now and then, she has her battle with alcoholism and depression and anxiety. She has a lot of things she needs to get fixed." <br />
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Lanteigne said he hopes Lilly's heroism will change people's minds about pit bulls. <br />
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"I just want it to raise awareness on how special these dogs truly are. They are the most affectionate, loving, caring dogs that you'll ever meet." <br />
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Spain has been released on her own personal recognizance and ordered not to drink any alcohol and to submit to random alcohol tests. <br />
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Lilly's medical care will likely cost thousands of dollars.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Hero Dog Protects Monrovia Teen From Rattlesnake </span></center><center><a href="http://monrovia.patch.com/articles/hero-dog-protects-monrovia-teen-from-rattlesnake#photo-9903962"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Nathan McIntire - patch.com</span></a></center><br />
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Five-year-old "Boone," a Siberian Husky mix, got between a 14-year-old and a rattlesnake and was bitten on the snout in the process. He's expected to recover after the venom caused him to lose a large chunk of flesh. <br />
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<center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Boone being examined at Family Dog and Cat Hospital after being bitten by a rattlesnake last week. Credit David Garcia</em></span></center><br />
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Daniel Whitman never heard the rattle but his dog Boone must have seen something because he came running over anyway.<br />
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The 14-year-old Whitman was supposed to be cleaning up after Boone in the backyard of their home on Norumbega Drive last week. He was walking over to the corner where Boone likes to do his business when the dog rushed over.<br />
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"Daniel was headed in that direction and that's when I think Boone had noticed something different and darted over there and got between the two of them," said Dan Whitman, the teen's father.<br />
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That's when the younger Whitman saw the rattlesnake, and he shouted to his dad and ran inside. The dog soon followed, and he stayed with Daniel for some time afterward.<br />
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"He just stuck by Daniel's side," Dan Sr. said. "He followed Daniel all around the house. He did not leave his side."<br />
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What the family didn't know was that before Boone came back in the house, he had been bitten. They soon found out, however. Nothing was visible, but the 5-year-old Siberian Husky mix started behaving strangely about 20 minutes later.<br />
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"There didn't appear to be anything physically wrong with him," Whitman said. "He started to kind of twist his head funny and look up at the ceiling like he was in pain."<br />
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Whitman knew something was wrong. A retired Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy, he also knew that they didn't have much time to save Boone.<br />
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So Whitman called 911 and let the police know they had a rattlesnake in the backyard. Then he called Family Dog and Cat Hospital on Lime Avenue and was was eventually directed to the only local place that carries anti-venom and is open after-hours, a veterinary clinic in El Monte.<br />
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"I ran him down there real quick. Got him there within 40 minutes of the bite," Whitman said.<br />
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The anti-venom saved Boone's life, but he still sustained serious injuries. Rattlesnake venom is an anti-coagulant and it causes tissue destruction, according to David Garcia, a registered veterinary technician who has since treated Boone.<br />
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The venom killed the tissue on Boone's snout where he was bitten, and the flesh there started falling off in chunks, Whitman said. The wound has "just progessively gotten larger," he said.<br />
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And the dog's face also swelled up severely the morning after the bite.<br />
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"In the morning his face had gotten the size of a canteloupe," Whitman said.<br />
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Garcia said Boone is expected to recover, but not before the Whitmans had to shell out $500 for rattlesnake anti-venom. The dog could have been saved a lot of pain and suffering if he was vaccinated against rattlesnake venom.<br />
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Garcia recommended that every dog owner living above Hillcrest Boulevard get the vaccine after seeing four other cases of dogs with rattlesnake bites over the last month. With the vaccine, a dog's bite survival rate increases, though it would still need to be treated with anti-venom, Garcia said.<br />
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Whitman said he was going to make it his mission to raise the awareness of the need for pet owners to get their dogs vaccinated. In the meantime, he's grateful for what Boone did to protect his son.<br />
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"I'm sad that Boone took the bite but I'm thankful my son didn't," he said.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Pets Get Skin Cancer, Too</span></center><center><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/11/skin-cancer-pets_n_1509208.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">huffingtonpost.com</span></a></center><br />
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I'm always amazed at how many pet owners are shocked to learn that their pet has skin cancer. Both dogs and cats can develop skin cancer, and the common forms of skin cancers found in humans -- melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinomas -- are also seen in pets. Fortunately, basal cell carcinomas are relatively uncommon in animals, but melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma are all too common.<br />
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Normally, mast cells play a role in allergic responses -- they are responsible for the itching, swelling and redness in your skin when you contact an allergen. Although dogs and cats who suffer from allergies are not more prone to developing mast cell skin tumors, certain breeds of dogs -- including Labrador Retrievers, Boxers, Pugs and Golden Retrievers -- are predisposed to developing this type of tumor.<br />
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Owners of these dogs need to be especially vigilant about unusual skin masses, but any pet owner should be concerned about raised, hairless, pinkish-yellow masses, which could be mast cell tumors.<br />
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Mast cell tumors in cats look very similar to those in dogs. Because mast cells induce itching, swelling and redness, mast cell tumors may be red, itchy and periodically swell up and then disappear.<br />
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<b>Melanoma Of The Mouth</b><br />
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Our own doctors see every freckle as a potential melanoma. Melanoma also occurs frequently in dogs, but much less so in cats. Melanomas of the haired skin in dogs are usually benign -- the bad ones occur in the mouth, on the gums and where the nails meet the toes. And although orange cats frequently develop freckles on their lips and gums, these flat accumulations of pigment are normal and known as lentigo simplex.<br />
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<b>Sunbathing Is Also Bad For Your Pet</b><br />
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For the most part, our pets have dense fur that acts as a natural sunscreen, but white-coated dogs and cats are the exceptions to this rule. In sunny parts of the country where pets spend a lot of time outside, like California and Colorado, sun exposure takes its toll on the thinly furred skin of the ears and nose of white dogs and cats. Dogs who sunbathe on their backs are also prone to developing squamous cell carcinoma in the thinly haired region of the tummy. Solar-induced squamous cell carcinoma can be treated with surgery or radiation therapy if found early, but prevention is simple: Limit your pet's exposure to the sun.<br />
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<b>Needles That Do More Than Prick</b><br />
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A rare but important tumor that afflicts cats sometimes forms at the site of a subcutaneous injection. The injection induces inflammation that, for some unknown reason, transforms into a malignancy. Millions of cats get injections, and yet only a few develop these tumors, which are commonly known as injection site sarcomas. Why some cats do and others don't is a frustrating conundrum for cat owners and veterinarians.<br />
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About 15 years ago, a group of experts in the field developed a guideline called 3-2-1 for the management of lumps at injections sites. The guideline advises that if a lump is present three months after an injection, and it's larger than two centimeters or is growing just a month after an injection, it should be biopsied to determine if it is a benign or a malignant mass.<br />
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This quick look at skin cancer in dogs and cats is just scratching the surface of this important disease. If you find a lump or sore anywhere on your pet's skin, see your veterinarian as soon as possible.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Dog Person or Cat Person?</span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"> Does Your Personality Influence Preference?</span></center><center><a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/pets/index.ssf/2012/05/does_your_personality_influenc.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Monique Balas, OregonLive.com</span></a></center><br />
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Dogs are loyal and loving. All cats care about are, well, cats. Agree?<br />
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Dogs drool. Cats rule. Agree?<br />
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Ah, heck. I love them both.<br />
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I'm not inclined toward having either in my home.<br />
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When Selena Gwin and Jake Dontavion first met, she had always been a "cat person" and he had always been a "dog person."<br />
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But instead of fighting like cats and dogs, the two enjoy relative harmony (the dogs do tolerate an occasional nose-swipe every now and then) with their two cats and two dogs in their Southeast Portland apartment. <br />
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"There was a lot of compromising all the way around," Gwin says. "If our relationship wasn't so strong, might have caused more friction, but it ended up working out for us."<br />
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The couple, who have been together for 11 years, acquired their brood gradually. Dontavion grew up with dogs and had one when he met Gwin. They took on the cats after their former roommates could no longer care for them, and acquired another dog, Mama Pigs, together.<br />
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Many pet lovers use the terms "cat person" or "dog person" loosely to describe their preference for one or the other species. And many of us have a general concept of what we mean when we talk about these people.<br />
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While these notions are largely based on speculation, the concept of why people prefer one species over the other has garnered more academic attention over the last few years.<br />
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In a 2010 University of Texas study, researchers found those in the canine camp were more extroverted, agreeable and conscientious than cat people. Those who favor felines tend to be more neurotic but more open to art, experiences and unconventional beliefs.<br />
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A 2008 study from Ball State University revealed that most cat owners see themselves as having personalities similar to felines – in other words, more independent and less submissive - while most dog owners described themselves as friendly and dominant.<br />
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How much such studies really mean is up for debate.<br />
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"I feel like we're almost opposite of the stereotypes," Gwin says of she and her fiancé. <br />
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While she enjoys spending time with her wide circle of friends, Dontavion is more of a homebody.<br />
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"I think I use my dogs as an excuse sometimes," he admits. "But they do force me to be more sociable. I do have to take them out and about to parks, where I meet other dog people."<br />
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The fact that dogs require regular walks means their owners are more visible and could explain why we think they're more social, suggests Mary Lee Nitschke, a psychology professor at Linfield College who is also a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and dog trainer.<br />
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"We know people form their impressions from the data that's available to them," says Nitschke. <br />
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"How often do you meet a cat at the bank? Not very often," Nitschke notes. "I don't know if that means that cat people are not as social."<br />
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What it does mean is that the two difference species live and play in very different environments.<br />
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Historically, cats were typically solitary hunters whose main role for humans was either as religious figures (think Egyptians) or for hunting rodents. Dogs, meanwhile, lived in packs or were assigned jobs assisting people.<br />
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Our species preference can cut across many dimensions aside from personality alone: there's the physical reality of dealing with a dog that drools or a cat that sheds. Childhood memories also play a role, Nitschke says. Many people are simply more comfortable with a species with which they're familiar.<br />
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But sometimes people convert. Take David Boersema, who grew up around dogs and didn't begin to fancy felines until he was a young adult.<br />
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The philosophy professor at Pacific University – who bucks one stereotype just by being male – had so many positive cat encounters in college that he decided to adopt one. <br />
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Now, he is a proud "cat daddy" to Karloff, who was abused by a previous owner and walks with a limp, and Mycroft, who was shot in the eye. <br />
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Dogs typically want to please their master, he says.<br />
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"With a cat, if it approaches you, it wanted to approach you. I guess I'm a cat person because I get a lot from that."<br />
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Dogs can be loud and aggressive, he says, and that's just not the case with cats. <br />
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Felines also taught him negotiation skills he can apply to his human relationships.<br />
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"I truly believe that there's a real valuable lesson for people to learn about how to engage with another being," Boersema says, "where you come to an agreement, an understanding, by negotiating, as opposed to one of the two parties commanding."<br />
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Longtime cat owner Darka Stebivka, meanwhile, didn't discover the joys of canine companionship until her early 20s, when she began dog-sitting for friends.<br />
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"When it comes to having dogs, there's a more immediate emotional connection," says Stebivka, a Portland-based writer and musician. "You just feel this friendship, like the dog would do anything for you."<br />
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She feels such a strong connection with her 12-year-old husky-shepherd mix that sometimes she almost feels she can read the dog's mind. <br />
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"If I can read hers," she says, "then she can maybe read mine in some way." <br />
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Stebivka says she isn't inclined to believe any stereotypes about personality type based on species preference. <br />
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She speculates that the cliché of the "crazy cat lady," for instance, simply came about because caring for a cat is simply easier for an elderly woman to care for.<br />
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Stebivka hasn't changed drastically since she identified as a cat person, she says; a dog simply suits her better now.<br />
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"Frankly, I think my dog takes care of me," she says. "I would not be in the park six days a week if not for my dog."<br />
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Highlights from the University of Texas study:<br />
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The study, published in the September 2010 issue of the journal Anthrozoös, asked 4,565 participants to self-identified as a either a dog person, cat person, both, or neither. Researchers then assessed their personality based on the "Big Five" personality dimension commonly used by psychologists. <br />
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Researchers found that:<br />
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46 % of respondents identified themselves as dog people, while only 12% called themselves cat people. <br />
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Nearly 28% described themselves as both, and 15% said they were neither.<br />
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Dog people were 15% more extroverted, 13% agreeable and 11% more conscientious than their cat-loving counterparts.<br />
Feline fanatics were found to be 12% more neurotic and 11% more open than dog people.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Veterinary Q&A: Outdoor Plants and Your Pets</span></center><center><a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/tailsofseattle/2018180202_veterinary_qa_outdoor_plants_and_your_pets.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">by Neena Pellegrini - seattletimes.com</span></a></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Lilies are highly toxic to cats. It is safest to avoid all lilies -- both as cut flowers as part of a bouquet or as a garden plant.</em></span></center><br />
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Dr. Denise Petryk, an emergency medicine vet and co-owner of the Animal Emergency Clinic / Puget Sound Veterinary Referral Center in Tacoma, answers this week's question.<br />
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Question: What spring yard plants are safe -- and not safe -- for our pets?<br />
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Answer: Spring in our Pacific Northwest is so beautiful. With a little careful planning, it is very easy to create a pet-safe garden. There are two main factors to consider when putting together our spring plantings:<br />
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-- Which plants? Which mulch? Which fertilizers? Which bug and slug deterrents? <br />
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-- What is the nature of our pet or pets? Are they chewers, eaters and sniffers?<br />
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AVOID the 10 most dangerous, most toxic plants: <br />
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-- Castor bean (Ricinus communis) -- oral irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, kidney failure, convulsions, death.<br />
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-- Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), pictured right -- vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, cardiac failure, death.<br />
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-- Japanese Yew (Taxus cuspidata) -- tremors, difficulty breathing, vomiting, seizures, death.<br />
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-- Jerusalem cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum) -- vomiting, seizures, depression, trouble breathing.<br />
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-- Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) -- vomiting, heart trouble, disorientation, coma, seizures.<br />
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-- Lily (Lilium species) -- kidney failure in cats -- ALL parts of the plant, even in small amounts.<br />
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-- Morning Glory (Ipomea sp.) -- vomiting, diarrhea, agitation, tremors, disorientation, ataxia, anorexia.<br />
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-- Nightshade (Atropa belladonna) -- drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, slow heart, weakness.<br />
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-- Oleander (Nerium oleander) -- diarrhea, trouble breathing, tremors, collapse, incoordination.<br />
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-- Precatory Beans (Arbus precatorius) -- severe vomiting and diarrhea, tremors, fever, shock, death.<br />
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The 10 most common plants that can cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhea -- AND if ingested in larger amounts -- more serious health problems: <br />
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-- Hydrangea, pictured left<br />
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-- Azalea<br />
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-- Boxwood<br />
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-- Daffodil (bulbs are more toxic than leaves and flowers)<br />
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-- Tulip (bulbs are more toxic than leaves and flowers)<br />
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-- Rhododendron<br />
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-- Iris (Gladiola)<br />
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-- Elephant's ear<br />
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-- Clematis<br />
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-- English ivy<br />
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The 10 most surprising problem plants:<br />
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-- Apple (the seeds contain cyanide)<br />
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-- Plum, cherry, apricots and peaches (the pits contain cyanide)<br />
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--Onions, chives and garlic (cause anemia)<br />
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-- Potato and rhubarb plant leaves (vomiting)<br />
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There are some wonderfully safe annuals and perennials:<br />
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--Astilbe (Astilbe sp.)<br />
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--Bee Balm (Monarda sp.)<br />
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--Begonia (Begonia sp.), pictured right<br />
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--Bugbane (Cimifuga racemosa)<br />
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--Butterfly flower (Schianthus sp.)<br />
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--Calendula (Callendula sp.)<br />
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--Catmint/catnip (Nepeta sp.)<br />
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--Coleus (Coleus sp.), pictured right<br />
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--Columbine (Aquilegia sp.)<br />
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--Coneflowers (Echinacea purpura)<br />
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--Coral Bells (Heuchera sp.)<br />
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--Cosmos (Cosmos sp.)<br />
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--Goat's Beard (Aruncus dioicus)<br />
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--Impatiens (Impatiens sp.)<br />
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--Nasturtium (Tropaeolum sp.)<br />
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--New Guinea Impatiens<br />
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--Petunia (Petunia sp.)<br />
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--Phlox (Phlox sp.)<br />
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--Primrose (Primula sp.), pictured right<br />
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--Queen of the Meadow (Filipendula ulmaria)<br />
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--Roses (Rose sp.)<br />
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--Snapdragons (Antirrhinum sp.)<br />
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--Spider flower (Cleome sp.)<br />
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--Turf Lilly (Liriope sp.)<br />
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--Violet (Viola sp.)<br />
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--Yellow Corydalis (Corydalis lutea)<br />
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--Zinnia (Zinnia sp.)<br />
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The non-plant concerns in the spring include fertilizers, pesticides, slug bait, mulch, and garden tools. Talk to your local nursery about the safest options, read labels carefully and store everything safely in sealed containers or out of reach. <br />
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Try natural products like vinegar for weeds, coffee grounds, beer and salt for slugs, and soap and water as a natural pesticide. <br />
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Avoid cocoa mulch as it comes from chocolate manufacturing and can contain substances that will cause minor chocolate poisoning (vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity) as well as general irritation to the mouth, stomach and intestines. <br />
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Many of our mature dogs (and almost all of our cats) are discriminate -- they might sniff but they are not inclined to eat plants. <br />
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Grass is often the exception and in small amounts, common grasses are safe. <br />
Ornamental grasses can be very irritating to the mouth, throat, and nose so if you have a big grass eater, it is safest to avoid these plants. <br />
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Remember that puppies and kittens are always an exception. They will generally eat ANYTHING! It still makes most sense however to always pick the safest plants possible for our spring flower gardens and our deck pots.<br />
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Horticulturists employed at our favorite plant nurseries are excellent resources for pet safe plants and gardening products. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center has a fantastic guide to pet-safe gardening and a wonderful collection of plant pictures and toxicity information here . PetPlace.com also has an array of informative articles written by veterinarians about toxic plants and gardening.<br />
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The three most common spring garden problems we see in our busy Tacoma pet emergency room include dogs ingesting SLUG bait poison (metaldehyde), dogs ingesting decomposing things out of the compost pile, and Lily ingestion or sniffing by cats.<br />
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A few bites of slug bait can cause horrible tremors. Quick emergency treatment is critical. <br />
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A compost pile snack can also cause tremors or it may cause drunk-like behavior or vomiting and diarrhea. Here too, quick emergency treatment is essential for a quick recovery. <br />
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Lilies are highly toxic to cats. It is safest to avoid all lilies -- both as cut flowers as part of a bouquet or as a garden plant. Potential sniffing of the flower and inhaling the pollen can even be a problem to our cats.<br />
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Enjoy your garden but do your research first. Prevention is so much easier than sick animals and treatment. <br />
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Dr. Denise Petryk<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">How to Trim Dog Nails</span></center><center><a href="http://www.dogchannel.com/dog-grooming/how-to-trim-dog-nails.aspx"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Kathy Salzberg - dogchannel.com</span></a></center><br />
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Trimming your dog’s nails is a necessary chore and should be done every three or four weeks as part of your regular dog care routine. You can do it yourself or have a groomer or vet clip your dog's nails for you. Most groomers will be happy to show you how it’s done and it might be a good idea to do this the first time around. If your dog absolutely detests the process and it turns into a huge struggle, my advice is to let the pros do it. This unhappy scenario can be avoided by getting your dog used to having his paws handled when he’s a pup.<br />
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<b>Reasons to Clip Dog Nails</b><br />
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Whether your little buddy knows it or not, he will be much better off if his nails are trimmed regularly and not allowed to become overgrown. The results are not pretty and can contribute to health concerns:<br />
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• Dog nails that grow too long may curl around the paw and puncture the footpad, causing pain and infection.<br />
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• They can also interfere with his normal gait, resulting in deformed feet that are splayed, nail breakage, bleeding and general discomfort in the feet, legs and hips because he cannot walk properly.<br />
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• Overgrown nails will cause him to rock back on his paws, causing a strain on his joints and ligaments.<br />
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<b>Dog Nail Trimming Tools</b><br />
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There are two types of nail trimmers you can use, the pliers type and the guillotine variety. I usually recommend the pliers version because that is what I use in the salon.<br />
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<b>Cutting Your Dog's Nails</b><br />
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You can cut your dog’s nails anywhere, but for smaller dogs it’s easier to do the job with your dog on a grooming table rather than in your lap or on the floor. If you don’t have a grooming table, any table will do, but you will want to enlist the help of a friend or family member to help hold the dog. They can also help relax and calm the dog for the pedicure process. <br />
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1. With the pet on the grooming table, begin with the rear paws. Face away from the dog and hold the paw. Use your body weight to gently keep him in place.<br />
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2. Lift the paw only as far as needed, being careful not to twist the leg and cause injury. <br />
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3. “Tip” each nail, removing only the curved portion to avoid cutting the quick.<br />
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4. Trim off any additional length, still being careful to avoid the quick.<br />
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5. Moving to the front paws, stand by the dog’s front end and lift each one so that you are looking down on the upturned foot, similar to shoeing a horse.<br />
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6. “Tip” each nail and trim any excess.<br />
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7. To keep those sharp newly-cut nails from scratching your legs, file them with a large emery board or nail file to smooth them down. <br />
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8. Praise your dog lavishly once the job is done and reward him with a tasty treat!<br />
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<b>"Quick" Fact</b><br />
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The quick is the vein inside each nail that will bleed if you nick it. If the nails are dark, you cannot see it but if they are white, it will be a pink portion inside. On a dark nail, look at the cut nail, if you see a dark circle in the nail’s center, that marks the quick and you have gone far enough.<br />
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It is always a good idea to have styptic powder on hand because sometimes accidental nicks do happen. It’s not a big deal and a dab of styptic powder will stop the bleeding, but it can cause the dog to be leery of the process because it can hurt, just like it hurts you if you cut your nail too close and pinch the skin beneath.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Miley Cyrus Saves Dog Left Outside Walmart</span> <br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/03/miley-cyrus-saves-dog-left-outisde-walmart_n_1474383.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">huffingtonpost.com</span></a></center><br />
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Looks like this is one story that has a happy ending: Miley Cyrus just couldn't say no to a tiny pup abandoned outside of a building. The 19-year-old pop star picked up a small male puppy -- what she thinks is "Rottweiler-beagle mix" -- outside of a Walmart on Tuesday to join the three dogs she already keeps at home, Lila, Floyd and Ziggy.<br />
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"He was left in a box in front of Walmart .. I don't understand how people can be so cruel. That's why we named him Happy," Cyrus tweeted.<br />
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Cyrus has been photographed often recently on an intense workout regime that involves Pilates classes and jogging with her pups. The dog-lover seems smitten already: "From cardboard to Margelia," she wrote, posting a picture of her new friend.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Cats and Dogs Have an Almost </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Sixth Sense About Your Well-Being </span></center><center><a href="http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/11863662-423/cats-and-dogs-have-an-almost-sixth-sense-about-your-well-being.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">By MONICA COLLINS www.askdoglady.com - suntimes.com</span></a></center><br />
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Q. My cat Jonnie wakes me up during the night if she senses my low blood sugar. What is the cat sensing or smelling to want to wake me up?<br />
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A. You just said it yourself — low blood sugar. How do cats and dogs smell these things? Oh, changes in your breathing, your aura, your skin, your odor. Seriously, dogs have been trained to sniff cancer. A researcher in Japan says dogs can predict colon cancer with more precision than a colonoscopy. Cats have a preternatural sense of smell and timing. Enjoy the attention and be grateful for a creature that cares about you enough to wake you if she senses trouble. <br />
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Q. My 87-year-old mom wants a puppy. I suggested a grown dog from the pound, but she wants to see the dog grow up and thinks that pound dogs come with all sorts of issues. What do you think? <br />
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A. Actually, you’re seeing things clearly. Your mom has a wonderful instinct to bring a dog in her life but a puppy would probably be too taxing for her. She may be spry at 87, but house-training requires a big commitment of walking the pup. And puppy misbehavior — chewing, testing limits — is difficult to control. <br />
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Adopting an older dog from a shelter would be much more humane. Giving a second chance to a dog in need of a new home will bring out the puppy in both the dog and your mom.<br />
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Q. Our 5-year-old Chihuahua, Snickers, is afraid of drinking water. He will slink up to the dish and maybe take one lick before jumping back. I have tried all different kinds of water dishes to no avail. <br />
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A. After you call your veterinarian and make an appointment to discuss Snickers’ H2O trauma, take up the water bowl and wet down your dog’s regular grub. The food bowl might look a little soupy but at least your dog is getting hydration. The vet may tell you to do this regularly, but check with him or her first.<br />
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</div>John Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569650383063644384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5310501782946920789.post-46876683705622100222012-05-07T09:03:00.003-07:002012-05-07T09:07:04.115-07:00Don't You Just Love Dogs?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p_2Nb1iLNoM/T52DtKGeRnI/AAAAAAAAP1E/NVeb-YGGpjo/s1600/9-p1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p_2Nb1iLNoM/T52DtKGeRnI/AAAAAAAAP1E/NVeb-YGGpjo/s400/9-p1.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Thanks to Kathy in BHC, AZ</span></center>John Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569650383063644384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5310501782946920789.post-17353899351777317412012-04-15T11:12:00.000-07:002012-04-15T11:12:32.097-07:00Dog Facials?<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Women (and Dogs) First: </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Exhibit Tells Tale of Titanic's Canines</span></center><center><a href="http:///"><span style="color: #274e13;">philly.com</span></a><a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/pets/147385845.html"></a></a></center><br />
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Before 24-year-old Margaret Hays and her girlfriends fled their cabin, as the ship Titanic began its descent to the sea floor, she made sure to take one treasured possession: Lily her Pomeranian. <br />
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Standing on deck - 100 years ago on Saturday - they put on their lifejackets before boarding the lifeboats. One passenger commented, "I suppose we ought to put a life preserver on the little doggie too." <br />
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When Hays stepped into the lifeboat she held tight to her ball of fluff wrapped in a blanket. The two would both survive the most storied maritime disaster in history.<br />
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In the annals of Titanic lore, few know that 12 dogs boarded Titanic at Southampton that April day in 1912. Of those, miraculously, three would live.<br />
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The dogs of Titanic are featured in an exhibit, RMS Titanic: 100 Years, that opened this week at the Widener Art Gallery at Widener University in Chester.<br />
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"Not a whole lot is known about the dogs," said exhibit curator J. Joseph Edgette, professor emeritus of education and folklore at Widener and a Titanic scholar. "All belonged to first class passengers. When the rich and famous traveled they took their dogs with them."<br />
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Since dogs were considered cargo there was no official list of those on board. Edgette - from his extensive research into the personal papers of passengers - created his own "pet manifest" listing the dogs, their names, breeds and owners.<br />
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All of the objects in the exhibit come from Edgette's personal collection, including the photograph of the group of Titanic dogs on the deck above, that was taken by passenger Father Francis Browne, a Catholic priest. <br />
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Browne captured the few surviving images of the voyage and took the only known photographs of the ship's grand interior, Edgette said. "The Kodak company was to take pictures of Titanic's interior when it arrived in New York," he said. <br />
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There were 100 passengers from Philadelphia aboard Titanic of whom 78 survived. Among those who perished were George Widener his son Harry, and William Dulles, an attorney and horse breeder, whose fox terrier, Dog, also went down with the ship. <br />
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Among the other canine passengers was the Airedale, Kitty, who belonged to financier John Jacob Astor. Neither she nor her master survived.<br />
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Other artifacts on display include original newspapers, replicas of Titanic's silver service, a newly-issued anniversary replica of a Stieff "mourning bear," just like those given to the families who lost children. There is even a vintage embalming table to show how the victims were treated on the rescue ship, Carpathia. <br />
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There is a section on how the lost passengers were memorialized, most often, given their station in life, that meant with ornate mausoleums. (Edgette regularly gives Titanic themed cemetery tours at Laurel Hill in Philadelphia and New York's Woodlawn and Greenwood where many passengers are buried.)<br />
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Edgette says one popular Titanic dog story is not true. <br />
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Capt. Edward Smith's dog, Ben, was not on board the ship when it sank. In fact, Ben did spend the night before aboard Titanic in the captain's quarters. But because he was a recent gift of Benjamin Guggenheim to Smith's daughter, he was taken to the Smith's home in Southampton before the ship sailed.<br />
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"There is such a special bond between people and their pets. For many, they are considered to be family members,” Edgette said. “I don’t think any Titanic exhibit has examined that relationship and recognized those loyal family pets that also lost their lives on the cruise.”<br />
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The exhibit runs through May 12.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Choking Dog ‘Dials’ Police, </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Saved From Strangulation</span></center><center><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/03/290992/"><span style="color: #274e13;">abcnews.com</span></a></center><br />
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A dog that was being choked by a telephone cord unwittingly called British emergency services as he thrashed around to get free, summoning the help that saved him from strangulation.<br />
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The dog – a basset hound named George - got into trouble when he knocked the phone to the floor and the cord wrapped around his neck, The Sun newspaper reported.<br />
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In his struggles, the 2-year-old dog somehow dialed 999, the British emergency hotline.<br />
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The emergency operator could only hear sounds of heavy breathing and gasping on the line, and police were dispatched to the West Yorkshire location. As officers were preparing to break in the door, neighbor Paul Walker opened it with a spare key the animal’s owner had left him.<br />
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Walker and police searched the house frantically. It was Walker who found the distressed dog and freed him. George was “absolutely terrified,” Walker told the Sun.<br />
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“When the police came into the room and realized what had happened they burst out laughing,” he added.<br />
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George’s owner, Lydia Brown, 18, said the dog was lucky his paw hit the dial the way it did. She described the pooch as “not usually very smart.<br />
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“He’s really dopey,” she said, “and just likes to chew socks.”<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">A Polar Bear as a Pet? It Works for This Guy</span></center><center><a href="http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/04/13/a-polar-bear-as-a-pet-it-works-for-this-guy/"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Katherine Cooney - time.com</span></a></center><br />
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Doesn’t everyone just love a cute, cuddly pet…polar bear?<br />
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Horror stories of wild-animals-turned-adorable-house-pets suddenly attacking their owners doesn’t seem to phase 60-year-old Canadian Mark Dumas, who has raised the polar bear, Dawn, since she was six weeks old. The Canadian clearly shares a loving relationship with his large pet, as he affectionately accepts kisses on camera.<br />
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What are some of the duo’s favorite pastimes, you might ask? Wrestling in the backyard, swimming in the pool, and a good old game of chase and be chased.<br />
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Let’s just hope that predator instinct doesn’t kick in<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Woman Attacked by 'Pet' Wild Coati </span></center><center><a href="http://www.kingmandailyminer.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubsectionID=1&ArticleID=50105"><span style="color: #274e13;">kingmandailyminer.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FDu5PruSLaQ/T4rgreNrBlI/AAAAAAAAPys/LaZ1m-T7so4/s1600/4-p3.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="333" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FDu5PruSLaQ/T4rgreNrBlI/AAAAAAAAPys/LaZ1m-T7so4/s400/4-p3.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Coatis</em></span></center><br />
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KINGMAN - A Prescott Valley woman was bitten Monday by a coati, a member of the raccoon family, which she had been apparently keeping illegally as a pet. The animal attacked the woman, biting and slicing her finger when she tried to take something away from it. <br />
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It is illegal in Arizona to take animals out of the wild or to possess restricted wildlife without a permit. Not only had this coati been kept illegally as a pet, it had also been improperly cared for, according to Game and Fish officials. The immature coati was about the size of a large house cat. The tips of the animal's toes had been amputated at or near the last joint to intentionally de-claw it. These inappropriate alterations were performed in a failed attempt to turn a wild animal into a pet. <br />
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When the woman voluntarily surrendered the animal to Game and Fish officials, it was wearing a tight red pet harness device that had left marks from what appeared to be nearly constant wear and constriction. The coati had also been neutered. It had been living on an unnatural diet of cold cereal, human baby food, and a milk-based protein drink for domestic pets.<br />
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"Wild animals deserve to live their lives in the wild," said Jim Paxon, information branch chief for Game and Fish. "This is a basic tenet of wildlife conservation."<br />
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The injured woman readily admitted to medical personnel that the coati had never received a rabies vaccination. When the animal bit her, it broke and sliced her skin, leaving a bleeding wound that required medical treatment. Because the animal had not been vaccinated against rabies and its bite had broken the woman's skin, testing the coati for rabies was necessary. <br />
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Many animals in the wild may look tame enough to be pets, but it's important to remember that wildlife is just that - wild. <br />
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An investigation by Game and Fish is ongoing.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">'Friendly' 3-foot Pet Alligator Seized</span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"> from Iowa Home With Infant</span></center><center><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/10/tagblogsfindlawcom2012-legallyweird-idUS398616898820120410"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Stephanie Rabiner, - reiters.com</span></a></center><br />
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Police in Des Moines, Iowa are currently investigating Colby Karaidos, a man accused of housing a 3-foot long alligator. Officers found the pet -- along with a dog and infant -- after being called to his home on an unrelated matter.<br />
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Could that matter have been Karaidos' recent drug arrest? Or perhaps his occupation?<br />
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Oh yeah, he's apparently a cage fighter that goes by the name 'Tha Alligator."<br />
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Colby Karaidos told officers he has a license for his pet namesake, but was unable to produce it at the time, reports the Des Moines Register. Josh Colvin of the Animal Rescue League of Iowa told the paper that the state doesn’t give out those licenses to just anyone. Licenses are reserved for those who operate a commercial, scientific or educational enterprise.<br />
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Maybe the pet alligator was Karaidos’ mascot?<br />
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Even if Tha Alligator has a license, chances are his reptile-owning days are gone forever. Photos indicate that the gator was allowed to wander free. With an infant in the house, this was hardly the safest move.<br />
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Granted, Colby Karaidos claims alligators are "friendly pets."<br />
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But maybe, for the sake of not attracting child services, he should stick to his other pet — the dog. It may not be a pet alligator, but its name is Gator. And according to Karaidos’ Myspace page, Gator is "no joke."<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Cops: Woman Steals High-Priced Pup From Pet Store </span></center><center><a href="http://huntington.patch.com/articles/woman-steals-high-priced-pup-from-store"><span style="color: #274e13;">Patch.com</span></a></center><br />
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Police are searching for a woman who stole an expensive puppy from a pet store in Huntington Station Friday.<br />
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According to police, an unknown white female walked into Canine Corral, located at 1845 New York Ave., stole a white Bichon Frise puppy, valued at $1,300, from the open pen where the dog was kept. The woman, described by police as being 25-35 years old and heavyset, fled the store with the the puppy in her large handbag. She was wearing a hooded sweatshirt with bold stripes. <br />
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Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential, acording to police. A cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest is being offered by police.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Beyonce, A Dachshund Puppy, </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">May Be The World's Smallest Dog </span></center><center><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/28/beyonce-puppy_n_1384872.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">The Huffington Post | By Hilary Hanson</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mkiw81Gkqhk/T4sFsn-o3qI/AAAAAAAAPzQ/L41U1nHwMAA/s1600/4-p5.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mkiw81Gkqhk/T4sFsn-o3qI/AAAAAAAAPzQ/L41U1nHwMAA/s400/4-p5.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Beyonce, a contender for the title of World's Smallest Dog, can comfortably fit on an iPhone.</em></span></center><br />
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One of the world's biggest pop stars may now be sharing her name with the world's smallest puppy.<br />
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Beyonce, a dachshund mix born at the Grace Foundation animal shelter in El Dorado Hills, California on March 8, now measures less than four inches, according to the Sun. <br />
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The pipsqueak pup was so small when she was born that she could fit into a spoon.<br />
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Now, the NY Daily News reports that Beyonce is about the size of a business card, and can comfortably fit on top of an iPhone. The animal shelter has submitted an application to Guinness World Records on Beyonce's behalf for the title of smallest dog. <br />
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If Beyonce wins the title, it will be the culmination of a lucky streak for the diminutive dachshund. When her mother, Casey, was found pregnant and without an owner, Devore Animal Control scheduled the dog to be euthanized. However, they ultimately contacted the Grace Foundation, which agreed to take Casey in, according to CBS Sacramento. <br />
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When Casey finally gave birth, Beyonce, the last of five puppies to be born, had no heartbeat and was not breathing. Veterinarians performed heart compressions and mouth-to-mouth, and soon little Beyonce began breathing, the Telegraph reports. <br />
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The shelter states that Casey is now healthy and thriving. The pup and her mother and siblings will be up for adoption within the next few weeks, though none of the puppies will be available to take home prior to May 3. <br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Driving with a Dog on Your Lap: </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">As Dangerous as Texting?</span> <br />
<a href="http://theweek.com/article/index/226604/driving-with-your-dog-on-your-lap-as-dangerous-as-texting"><span style="color: #274e13;">theweek.com</span></a></center><br />
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More than 1 in 5 American drivers with a dog in tow let Fido climb into the driver's seat — and some even play fetch<br />
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Texting behind the wheel may be the new drunk driving, but it appears we have a furry front in the war on unsafe motoring, too: Keeping dogs off drivers' laps. Driving with an unrestrained pet in the front seat is apparently widespread enough, and dangerous enough, that at least two states — Rhode Island and Tennessee — are considering bans on the practice. Here, a look at the issue of driving while under a dog, and why people are trying to stop it: <br />
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<b>How widespread is this problem?</b><br />
A 2010 survey from AAA has some pretty jarring numbers: 21 percent of drivers who transported their dogs in the last year said they let the pooch ride on their lap, 7 percent said they'd fed or given water to the dog while driving, 5 percent admitted to playing with the dog while driving, and 31 percent said that the dog had distracted them, regardless of where it was in the car.<br />
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<b>And it's dangerous?</b><br />
Yes. An unrestrained 10-pound dog traveling at 50 miles per hour flies forward with 500 pounds of pressure in a crash, and an 80-pound dog at only 30 mph packs a 2,400-pound punch, says AAA spokeswoman Beth Mosher. "Imagine the devastation that can cause to your pet and anyone in the vehicle in its path."<br />
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<b>But it's legal to drive with a dog in your lap, right?</b><br />
For now, yes. No state forbids dogs, cats, or other animals from running around freely inside your vehicle. But two states are trying to change that. In Tennessee, a Republican-sponsored bill passed in the House on April 2 and is currently stalled in the Senate. In Rhode Island, a Democrat-backed bill was introduced April 9, and is working its way through the House. "There shouldn't be anything in your lap, whether it be your little pooch or your Great Dane of your wife," Rhode Island bill instigator Suzanne Arena tells WPRO Morning News. <br />
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<b>How would Rhode Island and Tennessee punish violators?</b><br />
Rhode Island dog-driving scofflaws would only get a fine: $85 for the first offense, $100 for a second ticket, and $125 for every violation after that. In Tennessee, driving with a dog in your lap or "between the driver and driver's door" would be a Class C misdemeanor, bringing a $50 fine and up to 30 days in jail. But given the risk of injury or death to the dog and driver, "it is clear logic to me that anyone would want to secure an animal in the car," Arena tells WPRO Morning News.<br />
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<b>Have other states tried this before?</b><br />
California's legislature outlawed dogs in drivers' laps in 2008, but then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed it. And South Dakota's Supreme Court sided with police who stopped a woman in 2010 with 15 cats running loose in her car, impounding the cats because they posed a risk to public safety. The woman, Patricia Edwards, didn't even see the patrol car behind her because cats were huddled in her rear window.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Finches are Fun and Easy to Keep as Pets </span></center><center><a href="http://www.salemnews.com/lifestyle/x1224380762/Finches-are-fun-and-easy-to-keep-as-pets"><span style="color: #274e13;">Gina Spadafori - The Salem News</span></a></center><br />
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Q: My 12-year-old daughter wants a pet bird. Can you recommend what kind? Something that's not too hard to care for, please.<br />
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A: Zebra and society finches are the "easy keepers" of the finch group — hardy little guys who'll bring energy and sound into your home. <br />
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They're not very expensive to acquire, set up or maintain. Unlike hookbills — budgies, cockatiels and parrots — who need and desire physical interaction, finches will be happiest if you leave them alone. That's really the only downside of having them as a children's pet, by the way: They're not the best choice for a child who wants a hands-on pet experience. <br />
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Since finches, unlike other pet birds, are generally always left in their cages, they're a good option for a multiple-pet household. (In most cases, the cage will offer protection from cats.) Still, since predatory pets can be resourceful, you should probably keep finches in a room that you can close off when you're not around to supervise. <br />
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Because finches stay in their cages, get the biggest cage you can afford, with bar spacing close enough to prevent escape. Since cage-bound birds need to fly for exercise, choose a cage that's more horizontal than vertical, to give them room to flit from side to side. A reputable bird shop will be able to set you up with everything you need, including healthy finches.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Pet Sounds: </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">What is Your Cat or Dog Thinking?</span></center><center><a href="http://mynorthwest.com/874/659609/Pet-Sounds-What-is-your-cat-or-dog-thinking"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Rachel Belle - mynorthwest.com</span></a></center><br />
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If you've ever had a pet, you've most likely wanted to know what it was thinking about or why it acts the way it does. I was lucky enough to get some of these questions answered when animal communicator Joan Ranquet came to my apartment yesterday to read my new cat Baby, who I've had for just three weeks. Joan got quiet, closed her eyes, and connected with Baby, who was hiding in the closet.<br />
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"The first thing she wanted me to tell you, over and over, is 'I'm a really good girl, I'm a really good girl.' Has she been a good girl so far? It's almost like someone didn't think she was good. There was something there that she really needed you to know that's she's a really good girl...and a very cute girl."<br />
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I think a lot of people are skeptical about the idea of an animal communicator, and I was too, but I surprised myself by getting emotional during the reading.<br />
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Joan: She said that you guys really connected right off the bat. It feels like they were very kind to her, where she was, but she almost got pretty depressed there and there was something about the way that you looked at her. She also feels like it was really good timing for you, that you needed her also.<br />
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Rachel: This is really weird! I almost feel like I'm going to cry. I'm so happy that she's here. I've only had her for 3 weeks and I totally love her, like I really love her.<br />
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Joan: She loves you too. It's going to make me start crying too. Yeah, it's really really big. <br />
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Joan has been communicating with animals for the past 18 years, but she's not a psychic.<br />
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"I do telepathy which is the transference of pictures, words and feelings. I would say that I don't have a gift, I think everybody can do this, but I've been really good at honing the skill."<br />
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All she really needs is a photo and the answers to a few simple questions.<br />
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"I like to find out how old the animal is, who else is in the household and how long they've had the animal."<br />
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She can even do readings over the phone with all kinds of animals.<br />
<br />
"I've talked to the elephants at the zoo, I take people on dolphin trips and we talk to the dolphins, a lot of horses. Up at Sarvey Wildlife Center, I go up and talk to the eagles."<br />
<br />
Joan says she's often contacted by frustrated pet owners who want to know why their cat is peeing on the rug or why their dog is biting the kids. She can help them understand why the animal is behaving that way, and tell them how to change it. But the owner has to do some work. <br />
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Joan: The owner has to also participate in rethinking their thoughts. It's good to be careful of your thoughts.<br />
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Rachel: So even thinking 'You're a bad cat.' They can read that?<br />
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Joan: Oh yeah, that's an easy one. Then they're gonna be like 'Oh boy, here we go again.' or 'Oh yeah? I'll show you bad!'<br />
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The only problem I've been having with Baby is that she wakes me up really early in the morning. She walks all over me, she purrs loudly and she wants me to pet her. Joan told me to play with her a lot before bedtime and then tell her, out loud, that we're not waking up until 8 o'clock.<br />
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"Just keep telling her that, you know, this is really fun to sleep. I'd really go to sleep with that intention. Make it all about her before you go to bed so that she's tired."<br />
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For the past 3 weeks, Baby has woken me up early every single morning. But last night, I did exactly what Joan said to do and I swear to you: for the first time, the cat did not wake me up! She wasn't even on the bed when I woke up, like she always is. Joan told me I could expect some small changes.<br />
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"She may be different. She may be more relaxed because now all this is out, how much you love her and how connected you are."<br />
<br />
Joan told me that Baby also thinks that she's very cute, that she thinks I'm funny and that she likes the 'cat voice' I use when I talk to her.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Pet Connection: </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Tips to Protect Your Dogs from Snakes</span></center><center><a href="http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/10/4401534/tips-to-protect-your-dogs-from.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Gina Spadafori - sacbee.com</span></a></center><br />
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Spring hadn't even clocked in a full week before two dogs belonging to friends of mine were bitten by rattlesnakes. Both dogs survived and will recover fully, but the pain was significant – and so was the cost of treatment. <br />
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Fortunately, most snakes aren't all that interested in biting; they prefer to hide or skedaddle when faced with a threat. If they can't escape, they'll bite. That's when dogs typically get bitten: They put their noses where they don't belong, and instead of letting a snake slither away, they bother the reptile until it strikes.<br />
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Dr. Tony Johnson, a veterinarian specializing in emergency and critical care, spent part of his career practicing in the dry, brushy foothills of Northern California – prime rattlesnake country. In his experience, terriers tended to be bitten more often than other dogs. <br />
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"It's almost always dogs and it's almost always terriers," he said. "Cats tend to be more cautious than dogs, and a terrier is more likely to put his nose where it will get him into trouble than many other dogs. And they don't learn from the experience."<br />
What can you do to protect your dog? Here are some tips:<br />
<br />
• Keep your dog on leash if at all possible. While that's not possible for working dogs such as search-and-rescue or hunting dogs, it's likely the safest strategy for all others.<br />
<br />
• Work with your dog to ensure that he comes when called, so that if you hear or see a snake, you can get your dog away and give the snake room and time to escape.<br />
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• Stay on established trails instead of hiking through areas where snakes can hide.<br />
<br />
• Don't allow your dog to burrow or otherwise try to tangle with wildlife. If he's looking for trouble, he may find it.<br />
<br />
• Consider snake-proofing. Many hunters take their dogs through clinics where professional trainers expose the animals to caged snakes and use electronic shock to establish a negative association. The clinics are controversial, however, because of the use of pain in teaching dogs to fear the reptiles. Balancing risk vs. benefit is an owner's judgment call.<br />
<br />
Signs of a bite include puncture wounds from the fangs of the snake, bruising, blood and a rapid swelling as well as severe pain. If you suspect that your dog may have been bitten, end your outing and immediately get to a veterinarian – and call ahead, if at all possible, so the veterinary team can prepare.<br />
<br />
Your pet will need emergency veterinary care to address the immediate dangerous of swelling and pain as well as the longer-term challenges, such as dead tissue and infection. Most dogs survive a bite, especially with prompt veterinary care. <br />
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"There's nothing you can do in the field to help your dog," said Johnson, "certainly not cutting the wound or sucking the venom out. Just get to the vet."<br />
<br />
It's worth asking your veterinarian about vaccines that protect dogs from the venom of some snakes. But really, if you're going to be hiking with your dog in areas that are perfect habitats for snakes, you'll need luck as well as precaution.<br />
<br />
And, as always, know where to find a veterinarian when you have to, quickly. <br />
<br />
<em>Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books. Email them at petconnection@gmail.com or visit www.petconnection.com. Back columns: www.sacbee.com/spadafori.</em><br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Dog Injured in Afghanistan </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Finds New Life in Indiana</span></center><center><a href="http://www.necn.com/03/27/12/Dog-injured-in-Afghanistan-finds-new-lif/landing_nation.html?&apID=ceb586d72f824385a137542e0e22cd14"><span style="color: #274e13;">necn.com</span></a></center><br />
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — A white, mixed-breed dog utters a warning bark at a beige SUV as it pulls up alongside a barn on Mount Gilead Road, a few miles east of Bloomington.<br />
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The van stops, and a 30-year-old man climbs out.<br />
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"Hey, buddy," the man says, extending his hand. "Remember me?"<br />
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The dog, which has an unsightly hump on its surgically repaired back, carefully studies the man. For the past five months, the two of them have been a world apart, separated by an ocean and 7,000 miles. But the dog seems to detect something familiar about the man — his voice, his mannerisms, his scent.<br />
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Suddenly, the dog flattens its ears against its head and begins wagging its tail. Then, moving with a noticeable limp, it hobbles over to the man and burrows its snout into his thigh.<br />
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"How you doing, Bub?" the man says, scratching the dog behind the ears. "It's good to see you again. You're one lucky dog."<br />
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The dog slathers the man's hands with a wet tongue, panting between licks with an open mouth that looks for all the world like a smile. The dog remembers.<br />
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In late 2010, Kyle Huttenlocker was in Kabul, Afghanistan, working for a security company hired by the U.S. State Department to protect the U.S. Embassy there.<br />
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"There was a stray dog that lived in an alley right behind our camp that we were all very fond of," said Huttenlocker, a Bloomington native who previously spent a year in Iraq as a member of the U.S. military. "We named him Darak after the neighborhood he lived in, which is called Shash Da Darak."<br />
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Darak was leading a difficult life — scrounging for food, sleeping on the hardscrabble terrain and running for his life from unfriendly people.<br />
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"Afghans don't treat dogs very well," Huttenlocker said. "They throw rocks at them and hit them with sticks. Darak figured out really quickly that we treated him a lot nicer."<br />
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Huttenlocker would often take bologna from the dining hall, place it on a white paper plate and give it to Darak — who must have thought he'd died and gone to heaven as he voraciously devoured the meat.<br />
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"Darak would hang out with us behind our camp, and bark at the Afghans whenever they walked by," he said. "We were clearly his favorites."<br />
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One day Huttenlocker got a phone call from one of the camp's guards, who told him he saw an Afghan motorist intentionally drive his vehicle over Darak. Huttenlocker and some friends rushed to the area and found the terrified dog hiding inside a pipe that ran along the base of a ditch.<br />
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"He was scared and in pain," Huttenlocker said. "But we were able to loop a leash around his neck and drag him out. We could tell he was seriously injured because he was dragging his rear legs behind him."<br />
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Huttenlocker and his friends pooled their money and gave $400 to a dog rescue kennel in Kabul, which housed Darak for three weeks and gave him some antibiotic shots, but was unable to diagnose or treat his injuries. The kennel contacted the Rescue Puppy Mission, a nonprofit organization that raises funds to help American soldiers bring their furry friends home.<br />
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The mission raised more than $4,500 to transport Darak to a veterinary clinic in Pakistan, where he got some cursory care, and then fly him to the U.S. for more extensive treatment.<br />
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Three months ago, Huttenlocker's mother, Beth Sherfield, picked up Darak at the Indianapolis International Airport while a television news crew filmed the scene.<br />
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"We got home at 1 in the morning, and I quickly realized that he was more than I could handle," said Sherfield, who already has two dogs and six cats. "Cats were probably part of his regular diet in Kabul, so he really went after them. Once I was holding him on a leash, and he pulled so hard I actually fell down."<br />
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Sherfield took Darak to a Bloomington veterinarian, who found not only that his spine had been fractured, but his abdomen contained three deeply lodged bullets. She then took him to Wayport Kennels, and hoped a Bloomington family would open their home to a 60-pound dog with a battered body but a sweet heart.<br />
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When Steve and Kathy Headley heard Darak's story from a friend, they contacted Sherfield and told her they wanted to adopt Darak.<br />
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"We needed another dog like we needed a hole in the head," said Kathy, who along with Steve already had three inside dogs and three inside cats. "But when we heard the story, we couldn't refuse. Because Kyle had gone through all that effort to bring Darak to the U.S., there was no way we weren't going to adopt him."<br />
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For the Headleys, the first order of business was paying $4,000 to an Indianapolis veterinary hospital to have Darak's broken spine repaired and the bullets removed.<br />
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"He still walks a little funny and has that hump on his back," she said. "But now he can at least use his back legs, and his back right paw is no longer curled up."<br />
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Kathy said Darak has adjusted to his new life in America. Still frisky at just one year of age, he loves to fetch plush toys in the Headleys' fenced-in backyard or luxuriate in the lush grass — taking long naps in the warm sunshine. Inside, he's always up for a game of tug-of-war using one of his soft blankets, or a nap in his downy soft doggie bed — perhaps dreaming of the rocky ground in Kabul.<br />
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Kathy said Darak gets along well with the family's other dogs, except at dinnertime.<br />
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"We have a sweet boxer, Lucy, who Darak allows to eat with him, but he goes after the other two if they get near his food," she said. "He used to go after our cats, but we have a big tomcat, Big Boy, who smacks him on the nose if he comes after him, so he's learning that's not a good idea."<br />
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Kathy said Darak is outgoing and sweet-natured, but still has a lot to learn.<br />
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"He tends to run into our sliding glass doors," she said. "He's never seen them before."<br />
<br />
Huttenlocker is gently stroking the white hair on top of Darak's head. Darak's eyes are closed contentedly and he's panting softly — his tongue hanging sideways out of his open mouth.<br />
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Huttenlocker tells Darak he has something special for him. He pulls out a package, opens it, and hands him six slices of Oscar Mayer bologna.<br />
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The dog gives the meat a brief sniff. Then it is gone.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Miley Cyrus Gives Her Dog a Facial</span></center><center><a href="http://www.peoplepets.com/people/pets/article/0,,20581890,00.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">peoplepets.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WY60_LsCXPA/T4sIqpi47lI/AAAAAAAAPzc/DsvUxNTDOKE/s1600/4-p6.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WY60_LsCXPA/T4sIqpi47lI/AAAAAAAAPzc/DsvUxNTDOKE/s400/4-p6.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Now that her dogs have started modeling, Miley Cyrus is taking extra steps to keep them camera-ready. <br />
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"Just gave Lila a blueberry facial," she Tweeted on Sunday, posting a photo of her fresh-faced pooch, who's also received a new wardrobe in recent months. "Doesn't she look purrrrttttyyyy!!!" <br />
<br />
A day earlier, the 19-year-old singer caused a stir when she stepped out sporting a serious sparkler on her left hand, prompting rumors that she and Hunger Games beau Liam Hemsworth, who are parents to English bulldog Ziggy, got engaged. <br />
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But Cyrus took to Twitter again to deny the buzz. Instead, it seems the singer's best accessory remains her furry family.<br />
John Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569650383063644384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5310501782946920789.post-4179548854653139822012-04-08T09:52:00.002-07:002012-04-08T09:57:08.962-07:00True Love in War and Peace<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">If one day you lose everything...</span></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">that day you will know how many real friends you have.</span></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Thanks to Al in BHC, AZ</span></center><br />
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</div>John Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569650383063644384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5310501782946920789.post-1174577441497674602012-03-26T13:11:00.000-07:002012-03-26T13:11:50.544-07:00Airport Dogs<br />
<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Cat Plunges 19 Stories from High-Rise, </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">and Walks Away</span></center><center><a href="http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/22/10812365-cat-plunges-19-stories-from-high-rise-and-walks-away"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Miranda Leitsinger, msnbc.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UhVBI9DbvDs/T2t3pNlEetI/AAAAAAAAPrY/RIT0mTkf-QM/s1600/16-p1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UhVBI9DbvDs/T2t3pNlEetI/AAAAAAAAPrY/RIT0mTkf-QM/s400/16-p1.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Sugar the cat, left, survived a 19-story fall from her owner's home in Boston, center. At right is the spot where she landed.</em></span></center><br />
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Sugar, a white furry cat who is deaf, plunged 19 floors from a window in a high-rise building in Boston and – aided by her fall into a tiny mulch patch and the feline’s ability to glide a la the "flying squirrel" – lived to walk another day, animal rescue officials say.<br />
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A woman in the West End building said she saw a “white streak” go by her window early Wednesday afternoon and then saw Sugar after she hit the ground, said Mike Brammer, assistant manager of the animal rescue services department at the Animal Rescue League of Boston.<br />
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“You could see the impact crater where she actually did hit the ground and she actually lost some fur in the hole, too," Brammer said.<br />
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The cat's small landing spot is surrounded by brick and concrete.<br />
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“Whether cats can sometimes aim, so if it did it itself or if it was a combination of luck or both … it managed to hit that small patch of mulch, so it was very soft ground,” he said.<br />
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After bouncing up from her fall of 150-200 feet, Sugar ran near the building, rather than out onto the nearby highway.<br />
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“Instead of, you know, being scared and just running out into traffic, she somehow hit the best spot and stayed near the building,” he added. “So it was very fortuitous on many different levels.”<br />
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Sugar, who was tended to by the building concierge before rescue officials arrived, suffered a small cut on her lip and a little bruising, including some to her lungs.<br />
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“Considering what she had been through, she was in really good shape,” he said.<br />
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The feline, about 4.5 years old, was aided in her fall by dynamics akin to the “flying squirrel” phenomenon, Brammer said.<br />
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“You notice where their legs attach to the body, they have … the extra fur right there,” he said. If they put their legs out, “they’re able to glide a little bit and control … where they are going, and then I guess supposedly they can use their tail and move their body as a rudder to kind of control where they want to go.”<br />
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And ironically, the height may have helped her, he added, noting that a rescue league veterinarian shared information about a study on cats falling from tall heights.<br />
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“What happens is that the higher up, they reach terminal velocity and so I guess the sensation isn’t that they’re still falling. It kind of levels out so they don’t feel as stressed and they relax a little bit,” he said.<br />
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The Animal Rescue League was able to track the owner through the microchip and with help from the building.<br />
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Sugar's owner, Brittney Kirk, a 32-year-old registered nurse, said at first she didn't think her cat had made it. She had left the window open due to the warm weather because she didn't want Sugar to be in a hot apartment.<br />
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"It just seemed so unreal … my thought was obviously that she didn’t make it," she said. "I was definitely relieved and kind of in disbelief … if there were a cat to fall 19 stories and to be fine, I think it would definitely be Sugar, because she’s a pretty special cat."<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">When It Comes to Easter Bunnies, </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Don't Go for an Impulse Pet</span> <br />
<a href="http://cranford.patch.com/articles/when-it-comes-to-easter-bunnies-dont-go-for-an-impulse-pet-16660010"><span style="color: #274e13;">Sara Wuillermin Moreno - patch.com</span></a></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: #cc0000;">A Rabbit can mean a 10-year commitment, and shouldn't be a hastily-decided easter gift.</span></center><br />
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With Easter quickly approaching, many families seek the perfect gift to give their loved ones and children. An appealing option always seems to be a pet rabbit—what better way to celebrate the Easter Bunny than a fluffy friend of your very own?<br />
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Unfortunately, many times the decision to purchase a rabbit is done in haste and new owners realize quickly these animals (whose lifespan is generally six to ten years) take more care and attention than most new owners are willing to give.<br />
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It is estimated that the amount of rabbits abandoned at shelters greatly increases following the Easter holiday.<br />
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This ends up leading to an influx of rabbits being neglected, improperly cared for, left at animal shelters, or, worst of all — let out into the wild, an inevitable death sentence for domestic rabbits.<br />
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Rabbits, like any other pet, need proper care and love in order to remain healthy and happy. A proper diet includes fresh water and plenty of timothy hay and greens, with pellets and carrots to only be given sparingly.<br />
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Because they are prey animals, and sensitive to changes in temperature, it is best to keep rabbits inside at all times with a cage that comfortably accommodates their size.<br />
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Rabbits can easily be litter trained and spaying and neutering has been known to deter aggressive or instinctive behavior such as digging or biting.<br />
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Instead of visiting a pet store to purchase a rabbit, consider a shelter or rabbit rescue. There are several shelters across southern New Jersey and Pennsylvania that have rabbits available for adoption (being that rabbits are the third most commonly found animals in shelters), many of which are already spayed or neutered, and are waiting to meet their new owners!<br />
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Or, if this long-term commitment is not one your family is ready to make—why not purchase a chocolate bunny instead?<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Dog Saves Girl From Sex Offender Attack </span></center><center><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/23/dog-saves-girl-sex-offender-attack-florida_n_1376566.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">The Huffington Post - By Hilary Tuttle</span></a></center><br />
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On National Puppy Day it seems all too appropriate that one Florida shelter dog is being lauded for her heroic efforts as woman's best friend.<br />
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When a 17-year-old girl left St. Petersburg's Friends of Strays animal shelter to walk a dog, she never imagined her volunteer work would lead her to be the one in need. But as Fox News reported, when she walked on a path behind the building with Mabeline, a Rhodesian Ridgeback mix, that's exactly what happened.<br />
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According to local television station WTSP, registered sexual predator Michael Bacon chased the girl, grabbing her hair and pinning her to the ground. The 38-pound dog began barking, scaring the attacker off enough that the volunteer was able to flee, People reported.<br />
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The brave puppy has since been adopted by Mary Callahan, who did not know about her new pet's valiant actions until notified by WTSP. <br />
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"I looked at my dog and I thought, 'You are a hero,'" Callahan told the broadcaster.<br />
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Bacon has been arrested, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, and hopefully Mabeline will be rewarded with her own slice of bacon.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Montana Man Charged with Getting Small Dog</span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"> So Drunk It Couldn’t Stand Up</span></center><center><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/montana-man-charged-with-getting-small-dog-so-drunk-it-couldnt-stand-up/2012/03/22/gIQAj5nkUS_story.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">washingtonpost.com</span></a></center><br />
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HELENA, Mont. — A Montana man has been charged with animal cruelty after his 20-pound dog was found so intoxicated it couldn’t stand up.<br />
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Todd Harold Schrier, 49, was charged after East Helena police responded to a report of an intoxicated dog at a bar March 1. Officers found Arly II, a Pomeranian or Pomeranian cross that couldn’t walk, the Independent Record reported Thursday.<br />
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Court records say an intoxicated person who claimed part ownership of Arly told officers that Schrier had given the dog about a “to-go cup of vodka.”<br />
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The dog drank in a vehicle outside Smith’s Bar, not inside, and customers and staff of the bar cared for the dog and called police, the bar’s owner told the newspaper.<br />
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Police took Arly II to a veterinarian, where the dog’s blood-alcohol level was found to be 0.348 percent. An alcohol level of 0.4 percent can be fatal in humans.<br />
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“I had never seen a dog with acute alcohol poisoning,” said veterinarian Michelle Richardson, who has been practicing for 20 years.<br />
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She said she was aware of cases in which dogs ate vodka-laced Jell-O shots or lapped up beer from cups at a barbecue, but had never seen a case of intentional intoxication.<br />
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“I hope it’s rare,” Richardson said.<br />
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The dog stayed at the animal hospital for days and is now at the Lewis and Clark Humane Society pending the outcome of the case.<br />
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Officers caught up with Schrier at another East Helena bar that night. Court records show he also faces a drug charge after police found a bag of hydrocodone pills on the ground outside the bar where he had been smoking.<br />
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KFBB-TV in Great Falls reports Schrier, of Helena, pleaded not guilty Thursday.<br />
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Earlier Thursday, the public defender’s office said Schrier had not yet applied for representation<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Parents Talk: How Do You Explain the Death of a Pet? </span></center><center><a href="http://ankeny.patch.com/articles/parents-talk-how-do-you-explain-the-death-of-a-pet"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Jody Gifford - patch.com</span></a></center><br />
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Last week, my brother and his family had to euthanize their beloved Dachshund, Annie. She was 18 years-old.<br />
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That dog was as much a part of their family as their two sons. In the days before they had children, Annie went everywhere with them. I have photos of her at family gatherings, barbecues and birthday parties. She was spoiled.<br />
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That's what made it a little harder to take when I got the news that they had to put her to sleep. She'd been in poor health for some time. She'd lost her eyesight, couldn't move her back legs and was just generally shutting down. The decision, according to my sister-in-law, was one of the hardest they've ever had to make.<br />
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How do you explain the death of a pet? Have you had to put a pet to sleep or explain the sudden death of an animal to your son or daughter? How did you do it? What did you say? Tell us in the comments.<br />
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After hearing the news, I wondered about my nephew. Not yet a teenager, he's always been a tough cookie, but I just knew this would come as a big blow to him. That dog was as much his as it was my brother and sister-in-law's. They were siblings. They were buddies.<br />
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All of this got me thinking, how do you explain the loss of a pet to a child? We have a cat who's 17 and it's inevitable that sometime soon, we may have to make a similar decision. I can't even begin to know where to start.<br />
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How do you explain the death of a pet? Have you had to put a pet to sleep or explain the sudden death of an animal to your son or daughter? How did you do it? <br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Airport Dog Finds Illegal Food Stowed in Luggage</span></center><center><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2012/03/26/airport-dog-finds-illegal-food-stowed-in-luggage/"><span style="color: #274e13;">foxnews.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QrcY54J_kbE/T3C9bpi_8MI/AAAAAAAAPrw/OgtcnwlT9a8/s1600/18-p1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QrcY54J_kbE/T3C9bpi_8MI/AAAAAAAAPrw/OgtcnwlT9a8/s400/18-p1.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Izzy, an agricultural detector beagle whose nose is highly sensitive to food odors, searches for illegal food stowed in luggage arriving from international flights. (AP)</em></span></center><br />
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On a recent busy afternoon at Kennedy Airport, a beagle with plaintive-looking eyes was lying on the floor of Terminal 4, oblivious to the chaos of rolling luggage and human activity teeming all around her.<br />
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There was no prying this dog off the ground — despite the best attempts of Officer Meghan Caffery, her closest companion and partner.<br />
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"Izzy," Caffery said, a note of exasperation in her voice. "You've only been here an hour."<br />
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The 6-year-old beagle, who works for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, can't be faulted for taking a break. She spends most of her time trotting briskly around the baggage carousels with Caffery in tow, searching for illegal food stowed in luggage arriving from international flights. Thousands of bags stream through this terminal every hour, and Izzy is the first line of defense against food or plants that could wreak havoc on American agriculture.<br />
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"Some flights are, you know, just apples or sandwiches that people had from the plane they forgot in their bags," said Caffery, an agriculture specialist canine handler. "Some flights are notorious for bringing in sausages or fresh fruits."<br />
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Izzy is among a small cadre of luggage-inspecting beagles who live and work at the airport, though federal officials won't disclose the exact number of canines employed. Technically called a "passive response dog," she is trained to sit whenever she smells one of several odors: fruit, meat, plant, seed or vegetable.<br />
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With just one sniff, Izzy can determine whether a bag is worth searching — a seconds-long appraisal that would take human officers hours to do, given that about 1 million travelers pass through Kennedy Airport in a single month. During her three years of employment, she's found everything from duck tongues to pigs' heads and feet. The agricultural products vary according to the time of year.<br />
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On average, about 28 pounds of food are collected every day, most of it from people who are trying to sneak in food from their native countries.<br />
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"We pulled a four-foot fig tree out of a bag one day," Caffery said. "The roots and soil and everything, like it was just dug right out of the ground."<br />
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Her nose never fails to spot a trace of food, sometimes even picking up the scent of a snack that was removed from a bag hours before. During one lap around a carousel, as they wove in and out of startled passengers, Izzy paused before a pile of bags, tail wagging.<br />
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Caffery looked around and called out: "Whose bags are these?"<br />
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The young man who claimed them acknowledged, upon further questioning, that there were indeed an apple and a banana inside. Caffery marked down the items on a blue Customs declaration form.<br />
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Izzy stayed put, waiting for a piece of food to emerge from Caffery's pocket: Her reward for a successful find.<br />
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"She'll eat just about anything," Caffery said.<br />
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Sometimes it's a bit of a struggle to keep Izzy moving after she's found something. Caffery was forced to drag her along the floor a couple of times, urging her to keep going.<br />
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"Come on, find it," she said. "Come on, you can't lay down."<br />
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Passengers often take great pains to hide their loot, stuffing it in soda bottles or coffee cans or sewing it into their coats. Some even tape food directly to their bodies. Though a piece of fruit may seem harmless enough, officials say each item is potentially dangerous.<br />
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"Something as simple as an apple could carry the larva of a Mediterranean fruit fly," said Officer James Armstrong, who supervises the agricultural searches, "which, if it got loose in our citrus crops in the United States, could cost billions of dollars."<br />
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Confiscated items are brought to the airport's grinding room, which has a long steel table piled with rotting food. That day's haul included sausages, barley, burlap, curry, beets and an assortment of fruits and vegetables, among other things. Officers send out samples to a lab for analysis and then crush the remainder through a hole in the table that acts like a garbage disposal.<br />
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"This is discovery. You know, this is neat," Armstrong said, waving a gloved hand across the table. "This is where you open it up and you find an insect or a larva or something and it kind of completes the mission, you know? That's what it's all about."<br />
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Throughout the day, Caffery and Izzy are affectionate with one another, and during a lull in flight arrivals, they can invariably be found hugging or cuddling.<br />
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"I'm with her more than I'm with my family, for the most part," Caffery said. "It's constant."<br />
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Luckily for these two, they'll never have to be separated. Izzy will continue working at the airport for several more years. After that, she gets to start a new career: as Caffery's personal pet.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">5 Healthy Habits Dogs Can Teach Us</span></center><center><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/03/23/5-healthy-habits-dogs-can-teach-us/"><span style="color: #274e13;">FoxNews.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--16BCy_X0m0/T3DGzFBAkrI/AAAAAAAAPsI/HIH1bA6qxxI/s1600/18-p3.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--16BCy_X0m0/T3DGzFBAkrI/AAAAAAAAPsI/HIH1bA6qxxI/s400/18-p3.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Believe it or not, you can learn a thing or two from your four-legged best friend.</em></span></center><br />
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Dr. Emma Raizman, a pediatrician at the Cleveland Clinic, said dogs can teach humans a few healthy habits.<br />
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Raizman said the first thing dogs can teach us is to “get out and play.”<br />
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“If you look at your dogs they want to be let out all of the time,” Raizman said. They want to run, they want to use their legs and build their muscles, build their endurance and get all of that energy out.”<br />
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Raizman added that you can learn portion control from Fido – as you typically feed him the same amount of food at every serving – you should do the same for yourself.<br />
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Pay attention to your dog’s sleeping habits. He makes sleeping a priority, so you should, too.<br />
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And you can even learn empathy from a dog, Raizman said.<br />
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Dogs are quick to forgive, and studies show that people who forgive easily have less anger and less stress.<br />
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Canines show appreciation, and humans should mirror that trait, Raizman said, adding that doing so can help your mental health and build stronger relationships.<br />
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“You know when you come home your dog is wagging their tail, they’re happy to see you, and they don’t hold it in,” Raizman said. “They just let all of their emotions show.”<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Pet Scoop: </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Dog Helps Ashley Judd Deal With The Blues, </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Ex-Marine Can Adopt Military Dog </span></center><center><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/23/pet-scoop-news_n_1367662.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">Huffingtonpost.com</span></a></center><br />
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<b>Ashley Judd Brings Her "Psychological Support" Dog On Set</b><br />
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Shug, a registered "psychological support" dog, joined actress Ashley Judd for an interview on ABC's "Nightline." Judd says that the pup has helped her to cope with depression, and Shug stays on the set with her during the filming of her new show, "Missing". According to Judd, it "just adds to quality of life." -- Read it at ABC News and watch the interview<br />
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Plus: Sharing the set with animals doesn't feel quite as natural for actress Sofia Vergara. The "Modern Family" star admits to People that she's unnerved by the French Bulldog who plays Stella on the sitcom -- but Ed O'Neill, who plays her on-screen husband, is in love with the dog. -- Read it at People Pets<br />
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<b>Bird Recordings Scare Pigeons From NYC Subway Station</b><br />
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After trying plenty of other tactics, New York's transit authority has a novel way of clearing its Roosevelt Island subway station of pigeons: A birdcall system emits predatory sounds every two to 10 minutes. A spokesman says that it seems to be working. -- Read it at The New York Times<br />
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<b>Military Dog Will Be Reunited With Former Handler</b><br />
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There's a happy ending to the story we brought you last week: Sergeant Rex -- a 10-year-old, bomb-sniffing German Shepherd -- has been found suitable for adoption, and will be reunited with former Marine Cpl. Megan Leavey. "We wish Rex all the best in his coming years of relaxation with Megan," said Capt. Barry Edwards. -- Read it at ABC News<br />
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<b>Capybara Babies Debut at British Zoo</b><br />
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Three adorable capybaras, who were born earlier this month, were out and about exploring their new habitat at Twycross Zoo in England this week. Capybaras, which are native to South America, weigh just two pounds at birth.</div><br />
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John Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569650383063644384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5310501782946920789.post-61425163442116921492012-03-18T08:39:00.000-07:002012-03-18T08:39:33.874-07:00Jogging with Your Cat??<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">World's Ugliest Mutt Dies at 15</span></center><center><a href="http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/entertainment/2012/03/16/worlds-ugliest-mutt-dies-at-15/"><span style="color: #274e13;">foxnews.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AAufDctH2ZY/T2X2QEyc81I/AAAAAAAAPqo/WV_Xj_gVTUs/s1600/15-p1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AAufDctH2ZY/T2X2QEyc81I/AAAAAAAAPqo/WV_Xj_gVTUs/s400/15-p1.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>June 24, 2011: A judge evaluates Yoda during the 2011 "World's Ugliest Dog" Contest in Petaluma, Calif. The 14-year-old Chinese Crested and Chihuahua mix took top honors winning $1000 and a plethora of pet perks at the Sonoma-Marin Fair. The 1.8-pound female Chinese crested-Chihuahua mix owned by Terry Schumacher of Hanford, died in her sleep Saturday, March 10, 2012. She was 15. (AP)</em></span></center><br />
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Beauty is certainly in the eye of the beholder, but Yoda was certainly known for lack thereof.<br />
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When a beloved pet dies, good manners usually dictate saying something nice about the departed companion.<br />
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And for Yoda, it was a compliment to say she sure was ugly.<br />
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Westminster Dog Show Welcomes Xolo, the Latest Dog Rock Star<br />
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Yoda won the 2011 “World's Ugliest Dog” contest at the Sonoma Marin Fair for her short tufts of hair, protruding tongue, and long, seemingly hairless legs.<br />
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The Chinese crested and Chihuahua mix died in her sleep Saturday. She was 15.<br />
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The 1.8-pound pooch had lived a rough life before Terry Schumacher found her abandoned behind an apartment building and mistook her for a rat.<br />
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The dog went on to bag $1,000 and a trophy 15 times her size when she won the contest held in Petaluma, Calif., last June. Yoda and Schumacher became famous, appearing on national television.<br />
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Contest producer Vicki DeArmon said Yoda will keep the title until a new ugliest dog is crowned in June.<br />
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Schumacher, of Hanford, Calif., told the Hanford Sentinel that she will miss "her funny little ways."<br />
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But Schumacher said she was "comforted knowing she will be joining my Mom and Dad, who loved her so much. Her memories will live on forever."<br />
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Another dog that made headlines recently was the The xoloitzcuintli or Xolo for it’s rare and bizarre looking features.<br />
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The Xolo was the star at the Westminster Dog Show (think Martha Stewart’s Chow Chow.)<br />
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The xoloitzcuintli, one of six new breeds welcomed at the 136th Westminster Kennel Club dog show, managed to steal the spotlight at a dog show all about frills. Mostly because of its name.<br />
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"They are exotic," said Jose Barrera a jewelry designer to the stars who is showing off another gem at the dog show: his tiny, trembling xolo called Alma Dulce.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Akron Men Steal Couple's Dog, Demand Ransom</span></center><center><a href="http://www.woio.com/story/17138208/akron-men-steal-dog-demand-ransom"><span style="color: #274e13;">woio.com</span></a></center><br />
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AKRON, OH (WOIO) - Two Akron men slapped with charges after stealing a couple's dog and demanding ransom.<br />
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Around 7PM Friday night, a resident in the 300 block of Upland Avenue reported his dog, a Dalmatian/Pit bull mix, missing. The resident stated the dog was missing from his back yard between Tuesday night and Friday night. The victim's wife put up fliers throughout the neighborhood. <br />
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On Friday night between 5PM-9PM, the victim started receiving harassing phone calls about the missing dog. The caller demanded $500 for the dog to be returned to the victim. The owners offered $40 for the dog to be returned. After the suspect refused the $40, he called the police.<br />
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A team of officers, including undercover officers, followed up on the phone calls and made arrangements to meet the suspect(s) at Emerling Park with the money. As officers were waiting in a vehicle at Emerling Park, three men approached the vehicle. Officers jumped out and arrested one man right away, then after a brief foot chase, the other two men were apprehended. <br />
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The missing dog was located in the 1400 block of Andrus Street and returned to the owners. <br />
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Officers charged two men, 18-year-old Pierre L. Cabell and 56-year-old Gilbert D. Dickson. Cabell was charged with Receiving Stolen Property, Theft and Telephone harassment. Dickson was charged with Receiving Stolen Property, Obstructing Official Business and Disorderly Conduct. They were booked into the Summit County Jail.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Cats Aren't the Best Jogging Companions</span></center><center><a href="http://www.todaysthv.com/news/article/202069/70/Cats-arent-the-best-jogging-companions"><span style="color: #274e13;">Written by Lindsey Tugman - todaysthv.com</span></a></center><br />
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LAFAYETTE, CO (CNN/KUSA) -- A teenager in Colorado is in trouble with the law after taking his cat for jog. Yep, you heard right. This teenager walks and runs with his cat. While that may be a little unusual, it's what he did when the kitty couldn't keep up that's landed him in hot water. <br />
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They say a dog is a man's best friend, but Seth Franco's willing to make an exception. He says, "Her name is Stella! With an exclamation point. I'm more of a dog person but this cat is so cool that I just took her in and take care of her. I love her." <br />
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Franco found Stella in a sad situation. He says, "She was tied up to a tree behind Boulder high school with a note that said I need a new home." <br />
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Six months later, the two are almost inseparable. He says, "I just care a lot about her. I guess more than the average person does." <br />
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Franco wanted Stella to enjoy the beautiful weather. He says, "So I thought, hmm, maybe before work I can go run the lake and the cat can come with me." <br />
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So Wednesday afternoon they went "jogging" in a loop around the lake. He says, "She ran about 45-percent of the way and then it was so hot she started panting real bad." <br />
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This is where he tethered Stella so he could keep going. He says, "Put her by a rock, under a shady tree." <br />
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Franco didn't know that kind of tethering is against Lafayette city ordinance. Someone called the police and said Stella was being attacked by birds. Franco says, "There were no birds going at her. There were crows crowing at her." <br />
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Some passing joggers scared the crows away as Franco finished up his run. He says, "And they were yelling at me. Telling me I abuse my animal. I did not intentionally abuse my animal. If anything I just take care of it." <br />
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He got a summons to appear in court on a charge of "animal cruelty." He says, "And they kind of just told me it was common sense to not tie an animal up." <br />
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Franco hopes others learn from his mistake. He says, "Don't abandon or hurt or abuse your animals. Or leave them tied up. While you go jogging. Cause you'll get in trouble." <br />
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Franco is due in court in May. <br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Sorry, Toto – Kansas Won’t Get </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">a State Dog This Year</span></center><center><a href="http://www.kansascity.com/2012/03/13/3486237/sorry-toto-kansas-wont-get-a-state.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Beccy Tanner - The Wichita Eagle</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jkyOl_19RAs/T2B4IqGaErI/AAAAAAAAPps/5-VKh6mlg2g/s1600/13-pt1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="279" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jkyOl_19RAs/T2B4IqGaErI/AAAAAAAAPps/5-VKh6mlg2g/s400/13-pt1.bmp" width="374" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Better luck next time, Toto.</em></span></center><br />
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A proposal to name the cairn terrier – the breed that played Toto in “The Wizard of Oz” – the official state dog has fizzled.<br />
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The House Standing Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources declined to hear House Bill 251, effectively killing the bill for the current session. State Rep. Ed Trimmer, D-Winfield, who introduced the bill, said he plans on re-introducing it again next year.<br />
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“That’s what we will probably do,” Trimmer said Monday.<br />
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“We had great responses from kids. And, I think this will give me a chance to go into the classrooms and visit with them, let them know this is part of the learning process and sometimes when you ask the first time, and the answer is no, you have to learn how to ask again. If it is something you want, you have to be persistent.”<br />
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He said he hopes more school children and their classes will become involved in the project. After all, it was Kansas school children who helped name the state reptile (the ornate box turtle), the state bird (the Western meadowlark), the state insect (the honeybee) and the state amphibian (the barred tiger salamander).<br />
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When the state dog proposal was first announced in late January, stories appeared in numerous newspapers including the New York Times, major blogs such as the Huffington Post, television networks and NPR.<br />
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PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, also weighed in, saying it opposed to the action, fearing it would add to Kansas’ puppy mill problems.<br />
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Brenda Moore, obedience chairwoman with the South Central Kansas Kennel Club, originally contacted Trimmer about the proposal. She said she plans to conduct a statewide campaign this summer to help raise awareness for a state dog.<br />
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“I intend to pick this up,” Moore said.<br />
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“I don’t think PETA made a dent in what we are doing. I just think it had more to do that this is an election year.”<br />
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She said she wants to create a petition drive and collect signatures from Kansans to present to state politicians; she also wants to raise awareness for existing state laws that have created stiffer penalties for puppy mill operations.<br />
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“Over the last six years, we have cleaned up a lot of the nasty people,” Moore said. “Most of the breeders are on the up and up.<br />
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“We want people to know that dog breeders are responsible people and that if we do get a state dog, we will not capitalize on it. I don’t think Kansas should be labeled a puppy mill state anymore. <br />
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“There are a lot of dog lovers out there who would like to see Kansas have a state dog.”<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Critter Corner: Teddy Bear Hamsters</span></center><center><a href="http://www.petproductnews.com/web-exclusives/teddy-bear-hamsters.aspx"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Soraya Gutierrez - petproductnews.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f_-B4EgGlRA/T2X5ed7tf2I/AAAAAAAAPq0/i3CwBKoUrNw/s1600/15-p2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f_-B4EgGlRA/T2X5ed7tf2I/AAAAAAAAPq0/i3CwBKoUrNw/s400/15-p2.bmp" width="333" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Teddy bear hamsters are naturally solitary creatures and are likely to fight cagemates if they have them. Credit: Carolyn McKeone/Courtesy of Pet Paradise, London, Ontario, Canada</em></span></center><br />
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The teddy bear hamster, a long-haired version of the classic Syrian hamster, can be an appealing pet for small-mammal enthusiasts who are looking for a low-maintenance furry friend. It’s up to retailers, however, to help customers realize that keeping this critter content involves more than a cage, food and exercise wheel.<br />
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Informing customers about the care requirements—such as a nutritious diet, adequate housing and exercise toys—offers a good starting point when it comes to making a potential match between a new owner and pet. In addition, it’s helpful to provide tips about grooming, normal behavior and keeping teddy bears in good health.<br />
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Originally found in Syria and southeastern Europe, teddy bear hamsters became sought-after pets for their similarity in appearance to toy teddy bears. Their plush coats come in different shades of golden brown.<br />
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Retailers can be prepared to answer questions from customers about the teddy bear hamster’s average size and life expectancy, as well as about sexing. These animals—also known as Angora hamsters—grow to 4 to 5 inches long, or about the size of a mouse (without the long tail).<br />
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Teddy bear hamsters are known as low-key pets because of their size and temperament. On average, they live to be about 2 to 3 years old when properly cared for.<br />
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To show a customer the difference between males and females of this hamster type, retailers can check the underside and determine the space between two visible openings found on both sexes. The openings represent the genitals and the anus, and males have a wider distance between the two. Males also have longer fur, especially around their faces, necks and backsides.<br />
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It’s necessary for retailers to differentiate correctly between males and females because of certain behavioral problems that may arise. These naturally solitary creatures prefer to dwell in their own spaces, and if they have cage mates, fights are likely to occur.<br />
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Fighting between teddy bear hamsters can result in death. Owners can prevent these altercations by keeping the adults in separate habitats, regardless of sex.<br />
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The appeal of teddy bear hamsters as pets also lies in the fact that they make for relatively economical animal companions. A new owner can expect to be entertained simply by watching these critters in their habitats as they do what they do best: play.<br />
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Part of keeping teddy bears healthy includes providing plenty of stimulating exercise toys. For example, retailers can suggest products that encourage physical activity.<br />
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Exercise wheels are staple items in many hamster habitats; however, retailers can also carry the following toys: clear hamster balls, chew toys, tunnels and playgrounds. All promote hamster health and keep them on the move.<br />
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These animals may be small; still, it’s important for retailers to display them in the largest habitats possible. This way, customers can see how much space they need to keep teddy bears as house pets.<br />
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A small cage does not provide adequate room for these hamsters to comfortably play and exercise, since these pets love to run, chew, store food in their mouths and crawl through tunnels.<br />
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These unique behavioral traits are not only to be expected, but they are also signs that a teddy bear hamster is healthy. The chewing, for example, keeps the incisor teeth from overgrowing. Retailers can suggest giving chew sticks to keep these teeth in check. This chewing option also helps prevent the animals from gnawing their cages.<br />
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Another distinct behavior—the collecting of food inside large cheek pouches—enables teddy bear hamsters to store food for later. They also tend to carry food in their cheeks and hide it around their homes.<br />
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Appropriate hamster habitats can be made out of glass, plastic or metal. It’s important to ensure enclosures prevent teddy bear hamsters from escaping and getting lost.<br />
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For ways to keep teddy bear hamsters happy in their dwellings, retailers can sell quality hamster food in prepackaged varieties, as well as advise customers to give their pets fresh vegetables, fruit, grains and clean water on a daily basis.<br />
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In addition, new buyers might want to know about bedding materials. According to Audrey Pavia in the article “Hamster Bedding and Litter” on SmallAnimalChannel.com, the best bedding is nontoxic, clean and absorbent, and it gives off little dust.<br />
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Retailers can stock their shelves with a variety of premade bedding package selections for customers to choose from.<br />
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Teddy bear hamsters’ coats get easily dirty or matted. Therefore, while bathing these pets is not necessary, owners can groom them with a clean toothbrush if needed.<br />
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Teddy bear hamsters need to be handled with care. It’s best to leave these nocturnal animals alone during the day.<br />
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These hamsters may bite people who wake or otherwise disturb them. Educating potential owners as well as pet store staff about this risk can prevent an attack.<br />
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These animals are otherwise friendly and easy to scoop up with the hands, as long as it’s late in the afternoon or evening. Letting teddy bear hamsters roam outside their habitats in secure rooms can prevent boredom and excessive weight gain. This is when hamster balls may come into play.<br />
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Teddy bear hamsters make good companions for first-time pet owners, whether they are children or adults. With daily interaction and supervision, these pets provide plenty of enjoyment. <br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Cats May Purr to Your Heart's Content</span></center><center><a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/12/2690864/cats-may-purr-to-your-hearts-content.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">By WILLIAM HAGEMAN - miamiherald.com</span></a></center><br />
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We know that pets are beneficial to our health - they can lower a person's blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and provide opportunities for exercise and socialization.<br />
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In some cases, the source of the benefits is obvious. You walk a dog for two miles, you'll be in better shape. But some of the reported benefits are baffling.<br />
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A 10-year study at the University of Minnesota Stroke Center found that cat owners were 40 percent less likely to have heart attacks than non-cat owners.<br />
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Could a cat's purr be the reason?<br />
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"Cats will purr when they're content, but also they'll purr when they're about to be euthanized. It's thought they purr to communicate with their kittens," says author and animal behavior consultant Steve Dale. "It's thought to be a calming mechanism.<br />
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"If that's the case ... maybe they calm themselves or other cats, but maybe there's a fallout and there's another mammal species, us, that's impacted."<br />
In another study, conducted at Kean University in New Jersey, subjects watched a "Lassie" movie. Their levels of cortisol - a chemical associated with stress - were checked before and after the film, and showed a decline after the movie.<br />
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This animal connection, Dale explained, "alters our neurochemistry. Not just the physiology, the blood pressure change, which is significant, but also the neurochemistry. The scientists are discovering there really is a difference here." <br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Bow Wow Wow: </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">ASI Unleashes 2012's Top Pet Gifts</span></center><center><a href="http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/13/4333693/bow-wow-wow-asi-unleashes-2012s.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">sacbee.com</span></a></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: #cc0000;">Dog hoodie, collapsible water bowl and dog biscuit mix hit annual list</span></center><br />
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Tails are wagging as the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) today released its annual list of the hottest gifts for man's best friend.<br />
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"With 62% of U.S. households now caring for a pet, catering to the growing pet market is a smart choice for pet stores, vets, kennels, pet insurance companies, dog groomers and municipal dog parks looking to advertise or reward clients," said Timothy M. Andrews, ASI president and CEO. "It's clear this market reaches far beyond pooper scoopers and water bowls." <br />
Premium treats, natural food and fashion-forward accessories helped push U.S. pet industry sales to $58 billion in 2011, with sales expected to reach $74 billion in 2015, according to research firm Packaged Facts. Sales of logoed promotional products hit $18.5 billion in 2011.<br />
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2012 Top Pet Gifts:<br />
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--Dog hoodie, from American Apparel. Zip-up fleece includes a pouch pocket for treats and a notch to attach leash to collar. Great advertising for dog walkers. <br />
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--Zippered water bowl, collapsible water bowl and waste bags, from Handy Products Line. Portable bowls include a clip for hanging from a leash, backpack or belt loop and funky trash bag container keeps bags handy. <br />
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--Dog biscuit mix, from Ingredients Corp. of America. Owners can bake cookies – and their own dog biscuits. Rewarding gift from groomers and pet stores. <br />
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--Leash, collar and ball toy, from Promopet. Kennel clubs and boarding kennels can advertise via heavy-duty leash, collar and logoed tennis ball. <br />
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--Wrapped biscuits, from A La Carte. USA-made individually wrapped treat includes all-natural ingredients, perfect as booth giveaway during pet-related trade show. <br />
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--Pet first-aid kit, from Ready 4 Kits. Includes essentials like tweezers for plucking ticks and thorns, antiseptic wipes, rubber gloves. Great thanks from vets and pet insurance companies.<br />
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--Paw balm and training treats, from Solar Advertising. Balm soothes and heals, making it a handy client gift or for municipal dog parks. Treats come in recycled, biodegradable tube. <br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Miranda Kerr Takes Her Dog Frankie </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">For a Walk in NYC</span></center><center><a href="http://www.celebuzz.com/2012-03-13/miranda-kerr-takes-her-dog-frankie-for-a-walk-in-nyc-photos/"><span style="color: #274e13;">celebuzz.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g6JbLX4mzAs/T2B7HM0MwmI/AAAAAAAAPqE/QA3O62FUQZw/s1600/13-pt3.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g6JbLX4mzAs/T2B7HM0MwmI/AAAAAAAAPqE/QA3O62FUQZw/s400/13-pt3.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Considering how handsome her husband and son are, it’s only natural that Miranda Kerr would have an equally adorable little dog.</em></span></center><br />
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The supermodel was spotted taking her little Yorkie, Frankie, out for a walk in New York City on Monday. Naturally, she looked better than ever in a printed coat, jeans and effortless straight hair. We like!<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Why Cats, Other Carnivores </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Don't Taste Sweets</span></center><center><a href="http://news.discovery.com/animals/carnivores-taste-sweet-120312.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Emily Sohn - discovery.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QgP5apKBr00/T2B-3IofOjI/AAAAAAAAPqc/TkNRwp_Tdyo/s1600/13-pt5.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QgP5apKBr00/T2B-3IofOjI/AAAAAAAAPqc/TkNRwp_Tdyo/s400/13-pt5.bmp" width="347" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Lions like the taste of flesh, but sweets? Not so much.</em></span></center><br />
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With no need for carbohydrates, many carnivorous animals have lost the ability to detect sweet flavors.<br />
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Lions and Asian otters don't care for sweets but raccoons and spectacled bears will eat almost anything. Now a new study helps explain why.<br />
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Independently and fairly recently, genetic mutations have made various carnivores unable to taste sweet foods.<br />
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Probably because these species were already subsisting off of meat-only diets that lacked sweet flavors when the mutations first occurred, they did just fine after losing their sweet receptors -- giving rise to entire species of animals that lack appreciation for cookies or fruit.<br />
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For omnivorous creatures that chew their food, on the other hand, the ability to taste carbohydrates remains a matter survival, and their sweet receptors remain intact.<br />
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Besides offering a window into the unique sensory worlds of other animals, the research adds to our understanding of the complexity of taste perception. By better understanding how the system works, this and research like it could lead to a variety of applications, including the development of better artificial sweeteners or sweet enhancers.<br />
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For decades, scientists have known that cats show no preference for sweets. Then in 2005, researchers at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia published research showing that domestic cats have a mutation rendering their taste receptors unable to bind to sweet molecules. The same was true of their wild cousins, including lions, tigers and jaguars.<br />
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"When we first published the data on cats, it got a tremendous amount of publicity and a lot of people saying, 'My cat likes sweets and you're wrong,'" said biologist Gary Beauchamp, director of the Monell Center. "But invariably they liked ice cream or cake, and sweetness was confounded with fat and other things."<br />
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"In retrospect it seems obvious," he added. "But it was to my surprise when we found out that this [loss of sweet taste] has happened repeatedly and independently in many species."<br />
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To investigate whether other animals might share the finicky cat's lack of appreciation for desserts, Beauchamp and colleagues analyzed taste receptor genes of a dozen species of carnivores. All of the animals have taste perception systems that are similar to the human system, with specific known genes that code for receptors for each of the five tastes: sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami.<br />
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Using computer algorithms, the researchers could then scan each gene in each species to see if it contained any sequences that would make it unable to produce the proteins needed to sense each taste quality.<br />
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Of the 12 animals studied, seven had mutations that made them unable to taste sweets, the researchers report today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. All seven of those eat meat and only meat, and some inhale their food without even chewing. The list included bottlenose dolphins, sea lions, spotted hyenas and fossas (a cat-like carnivore).<br />
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Dolphins and sea lions also appear unable to taste the savory flavor umami, and dolphins might also be missing the ability to detect bitter flavors.<br />
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On the other hand, sweet-sensing genes were still functional in aardwolfs (a member of the hyena family), Canadian otters, red wolves, spectacled bears, and raccoons. The last three are meat-eaters who also eat fruits and other foods.<br />
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In a follow-up experiment that used behavior to back up the genetics, Asian otters showed no particular preference for water laced with sugar or artificial sweeteners, while spectacled bears almost unanimously chose the sweetened liquid.<br />
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When the researchers looked more closely at the genes, they saw that, for the most part, different mutations independently disabled sweet receptors in different species -- suggesting that taste receptor mutations have popped relatively recently in the scheme of evolution. <br />
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And an animal's diet, it appears, determines whether a mutation will disappear or stick around.<br />
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Understanding from a genetic perspective what animals can and cannot taste could help zookeepers and other handlers design desirable diets for creatures in captivity, said Thomas Finger, a neurobiologist who studies taste and smell at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora.<br />
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On a deeper level, the study offers insights into how life on Earth is constantly evolving.<br />
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"Nature's always tossing the dice and mutating genes all over the place," Finger said. "This says that losing a taste gene in an environment where nutrition doesn't depend on it doesn't matter. That loss will persist, because there's no reason for it to be eliminated."<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">TV Star Lets Her Doggies Rub </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Their Bare Butts on Restaurant Table</span></center><center><a href="http://laist.com/2012/03/13/tv_star_lets_her_doggs_rub_bare_but.php"><span style="color: #274e13;">laist.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-24_kLmzwsdY/T2X8Zp49iBI/AAAAAAAAPrA/CKZXjkncJjM/s1600/15-p3.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-24_kLmzwsdY/T2X8Zp49iBI/AAAAAAAAPrA/CKZXjkncJjM/s400/15-p3.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>O'Day and her pooches at Toast</em></span></center><br />
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Hooray, Los Angeles County now allows restaurants to decide if they want to let dogs on their patios! Boo, one TV star recently let her puppies rubs their butts on a restaurant table and the health inspector had to come in.<br />
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The "doggy-style" incident happened last week at Toast, and involved "Celebrity Apprentice" star Aubrey O'Day and her doggies.<br />
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O'Day "let her puppies wag their naked asses all over her table at Toast for several minutes ... before finally putting the poochies on the ground," reports TMZ.<br />
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Having dogs on the table is in direct violation of the newly modified code that lets restaurants welcome pets on their patios--pets are not permitted on chairs, seats, benches, or tables. <br />
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Toast was not cited, but a rep tells TMZ the popular restaurant intends to be "extremely vigilant" about dog heinies on their dining surfaces. <br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Pets: Silenced Songbird Could Have Mites</span></center><center><a href="http://www.modbee.com/2012/03/12/2109432/silenced-songbird-could-have-mites.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Jeff Kahler - modbee.com</span></a></center><br />
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Romeo is a 2-year-old songbird whose cage hangs from a stand in an atrium in Margret's house. The echo provided by the atrium's glass walls sends his song throughout the house. <br />
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A singing canary is a wonderful gift, and I can imagine the sadness Margret felt when Romeo stopped singing. Actually, according to Margret, Romeo began to sing less frequently about two weeks ago and is to the point now where he does not sing at all. He still appears to be eating, but it is obvious to Margret that he does not have his former zest for life. <br />
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Canaries, like many types of birds, are flock animals. They live in large social groups for mostly survival reasons. A flock can forage for food with greater success than an individual bird, and a flock provides protection. When presented with a flock of birds, a predator can become confused and find difficulty in singling out any one victim. A flock can also act together in defense against a predator. As good as the flock strategy can be for survival, however, it can also be ruthless to an individual bird that might become debilitated for any reason.<br />
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When a member of a flock becomes ill or injured, it will stand out from the rest. It becomes an easier target for a predator and, indeed, attracts unwanted attention to the flock. These individuals will be forced out of the flock for these very reasons. It is this flock mentality that causes individual birds to hide their disease symptoms.<br />
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You might now ask what this has to do with Romeo. My point is that Romeo has likely been sick for a while and has instinctively hidden his symptoms to avoid being excluded from the flock. He no longer can hide his symptoms and Margret has become aware Romeo is having a problem.<br />
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There are many possible disease processes that could be causing Romeo's decreased auditory performance and generalized decrease in activity. We do not have time to cover them all, but I will share one distinct possibility based on my experience working with both breeding colonies of canaries, as well as individual companion canaries.<br />
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The key focus is that Romeo has stopped singing. This once-prolific crooner has become silent and that is likely a symptom of a respiratory problem. There are many causes for respiratory problems in canaries, including bacterial and viral infections. The most common cause I have seen is air sac mites.<br />
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Air sac mites are tiny little bugs from the arachnid group, the same group that contains ticks, spiders and various mange mites we see in dogs, cats and other mammals. These little pests get into the canary's air sacs, part of their considerably complex respiratory system, through the trachea, and multiply to the point where they become obstructive to airflow. This obviously compromises the bird's ability to breath and, as Romeo has demonstrated, results in no singing and decreased activity.<br />
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Diagnosing air sac mites in canaries can be fairly straightforward. Romeo can be examined by his avian veterinarian and with the use of a powerful pinpoint light source it is often possible to see the mites crawling inside the bird's trachea. The beauty of this disease, if that is not too much of an oxymoron, is that it is very treatable. An injection or application of a topically absorbed parasiticide will kill the little invaders and, if my diagnosis is correct, Romeo will be back on concert tour in no time.<br />
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Along with treatment, Romeo's cage environment needs to be thoroughly cleaned. He should have one or maybe two more treatments of the paraciticide to account for any new mites that may have hatched from eggs in Romeo's environment, each of these treatments should be accompanied by cage cleaning.<br />
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Hopefully, Romeo has a simple case of air sac mites and he can soon return to serenading Margret and filling her house with his beautiful gift.<br />
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Jeff Kahler is a veterinarian in Modesto. Questions can be submitted to Your Pet in care of LifeStyles, The Modesto Bee, P.O. Box 5256, Modesto 95352.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">6 Ways to Make Your Pet Famous on Facebook</span></center><center><a href="http://www.petside.com/article/6-ways-make-your-pet-famous-facebook"><span style="color: #274e13;">by Julie Seguss - petside.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FjKHJ2tMy8Y/T2B880yAuBI/AAAAAAAAPqQ/fPg-WhUZY1A/s1600/13-pt4.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FjKHJ2tMy8Y/T2B880yAuBI/AAAAAAAAPqQ/fPg-WhUZY1A/s400/13-pt4.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Your pet could be famous on Facebook. Here are tips on how to build your pet a Facebook profile!</em></span></center><br />
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You’ve probably heard of Boo, “The World’s Cutest Dog.” Maybe you’ve even oohed and ahhed during one of his national TV appearances, read his book or snuggled with his plush toy clone. Boo’s rise to fame all started with a simple just-for-fun Facebook page that went viral, and now the puff ball Pomeranian has more than 3 million likes! <br />
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Yes, Boo is pretty stinkin’ cute, but isn’t your pet equally adorable? We discovered the social media secrets behind the success of Boo and a few other top dogs of Facebook. Follow our tips to make your dog famous - or at least get him few fans.<br />
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<b>Getting Started</b><br />
Creating a Facebook fan page for your pet is easy. Go to your account settings and then click on the link for “Create a Page” at the bottom of the screen. Select “Artist, Band or Public Figure.” Then choose a category - most pet pages are listed as entertainers, public figures or comedians. You’ll also want to pick a name for your pet. You could use your pet’s real name, but you might want to get more creative. For example, Kristin Moon created a page for her four black and white French bulldogs cleverly called The Moon Pieds.<br />
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Next, add a profile picture for your pet. This is your chance to show off a cute close-up of your furball’s face, so choose wisely. You can also fill out the info page with location, birthday, awards and a description of your pet. Now it’s time for your first wall post.<br />
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<b>Be Authentic</b><br />
When you post on your pet’s page, remember that you’re writing from your furball’s perspective, not yours. Give him his own voice and personality.<br />
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“People love that Boo’s posts seem genuinely from him, with a clear voice and simple text,” says April Whitney, the Chronicle Book’s publicist for Boo: The Life of the World’s Cutest Dog.<br />
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Making Your Pet Famous on Facebook: Focus on Cuteness and Captions<br />
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Not surprisingly, most fans of pet pages respond best to wall posts that include photos and videos of your pet.<br />
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“Boo fans want cute pictures with brief captions,” says Whitney. “Those posts get vastly more Likes and Shares than product announcements, charity posts or links to outside entities.”<br />
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And while quick cell phone snaps are okay, when you use a better camera your photos will be clearer, more adorable and more powerful. As for captions – if you’re funny, go for it. Everyone likes to laugh.<br />
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<b>Post for a Cause</b><br />
Many of the most popular pups on Facebook also post for a cause. Depending on your goals, you may want to go this route.<br />
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Take Stacey Mae, a Great Swiss Mountain Dog for example. Her fan page started out slowly, but once the therapy dog started a special Teddy Bear Project, her number of likes grew dramatically. She now has over 15,000 fans and the program, which helps channel stuffed animal and blanket donations to the elderly in nursing homes and kids in hospitals, is a big success.<br />
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“Stacey's page is about being a therapy dog," says owner Maria Mandel. "People really like hearing stories about Stacey helping others and bringing joy."<br />
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If you don’t want to start your own charity project, you can promote others. Moon says fans are very sympathetic and offer up a lot of supportive comments whenever The Moon Pieds ask for healing vibes for a sick pet friend or good thoughts for one who has passed. You could also link to local dog rescue organizations or pets that need to be rescued form high-kill shelters.<br />
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<b>Add Something Unique</b><br />
The Moon Pieds, who have more than 1,000 fans, started a special daily feature called Skipper’s Sit of the Day. Moon says Skipper likes to sit in unusual positions and she frequently captures them candidly and posts one each day. Now she also features friend-submitted photos on “Skipper’s Guest Star Sit of the Day,” which got an overwhelming response. There is currently about an 8-week wait from when photos are submitted until they are featured.<br />
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<b>Build Your Fan Base</b><br />
While you can’t control whether or not your page goes viral in a big way like Boo’s did, there are a few things you can do to start building up your following. First, ask your Facebook friends to “like” it. If you participate in any other pet communities, ask friends there to follow you on Facebook. Moon also suggests reaching out to other pet pages that have large numbers of fans and tell them that you’re looking for friends, enter Facebook photo contests that will link back to your page, comment on other dogs’ pages, post on dog related pages such as magazines or favorite brands, or post videos on YouTube with a link back to your page. Good luck!<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">The 10 Biggest Dog Obedience Training Tips</span></center><center><a href="http://newsolio.com/the-10-biggest-dog-obedience-training-tips,1825"><span style="color: #274e13;">newsolio.com</span></a></center><br />
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Bringing a dog into your home is a big commitment. Committing yourself to a training plan for your new friend will ensure that your relationship with “Rover” is a rewarding one.<br />
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When making a training plan for your pet there are some fundamental rules to consider:<br />
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<b>1. Decide outright what kind of behavior you expect from your dog across the board and make a plan that reinforces those behaviors.</b> Setting out to train a dog without considering what you want them to learn before hand can lead to confusing and frustrating consequences for you both.<br />
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<b>2. Be consistent!</b> If possible, one person should be primarily responsible for the dog’s training in the beginning. Once the dog has learned the basics from one person, you can start incorporating others into the dog’s world. If, however, training must be a family affair from the beginning, make sure that every person who deals with the dog is using the same commands and gestures and has consistent expectations.<br />
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<b>3. Use a dog crate.</b> Dog crates are an important piece of training because they provide the dog with a place to go to have “down time” and keep him safe when no one is around to supervise his activities. While it may take some time for the dog to get used to the crate, in the end, he will learn to appreciate it as his own space and, over time, will go to the crate himself when he wants to rest. Dogs by nature like the feeling of a “den”, and the crate provides this for them. The dog should sleep in the crate and go into the crate whenever there is no one available to supervise him.<br />
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<b>4. Play with your dog before you start a training session.</b> Basically, what you are trying to do with this play session is get rid of any excess energy that he may have so that he is better equipped to give you his undivided attention during training.<br />
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<b>5. Training sessions should be no more than 10 minutes long.</b> Just like a child, your new dog has a short attention span and long training sessions can turn frustrating, which will create negative feelings associated with training. This is something you do not want. Training will be most effective when it is fun and rewarding for you and the dog, and the best way to ensure that is to make is short.<br />
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<b>6. Work with the dog several times a day.</b> 5-6 10-minute training sessions throughout the day will serve your goals well. You will be surprised how quickly your dog learns the basics.<br />
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<b>7. Reward your dog with healthful treats.</b> When the dog does something right, give him a small snack, and a lot of praise. Your new friend wants, more than anything, to make you happy…that along with treats.<br />
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<b>8. Be Firm!</b> When you ask the dog to perform a function, say it once and then gently force them to perform the function. For example, tell your dog to “sit” and then place him in a sitting position. Do not stand over him and ask him to sit 10 times. Once is all it should take, and if you expect that, over time he will learn.<br />
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<b>9. Repeat yourself.</b> When you ask the dog to perform a function and they do it, repeat the command along with praise. For example, you ask the dog to “sit”, they sit, and then you tell them “good sit…good sit”. This reinforces the command and helps your dog understand what you expect. Even if you have to place him is a sitting position, repeat the command once he is in the position.<br />
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<b>10. Have fun.</b> Owning a dog is a big commitment, but one that can become one of the most rewarding relationships of your life. Enjoy the time you spend training your dog. If done correctly, it will lay the foundations for a lovely friendship.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KeCwidwkPtI/T2X-0EcpTpI/AAAAAAAAPrM/vFItgmu1hXk/s1600/15-p4.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KeCwidwkPtI/T2X-0EcpTpI/AAAAAAAAPrM/vFItgmu1hXk/s400/15-p4.bmp" width="400" /></a></div></div>John Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569650383063644384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5310501782946920789.post-28673207355571958012012-03-10T22:57:00.001-08:002012-03-10T22:59:55.651-08:00Dog Art<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Marine and Dog Bonded by War, </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Divided by Red Tape</span></center><center><a href="http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/09/10626495-marine-and-dog-bonded-by-war-divided-by-red-tape"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Kari Huus, msnbc.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yry_jWZ66_s/T1vzrdrg9FI/AAAAAAAAPoM/qYNsJhozySI/s1600/8-p2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yry_jWZ66_s/T1vzrdrg9FI/AAAAAAAAPoM/qYNsJhozySI/s400/8-p2.bmp" width="277" /></a></div><br />
<center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Marine Cpl. Megan Leavey with Sgt. Rex, a dog trained to detect explosives, contraband and bombs. The photo was taken in Ramadi, Iraq, in 2006.</em></span></center><br />
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Marine Cpl. Megan Leavey gave a lot for her country, and so has her favorite comrade — Sgt. Rex.<br />
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The dog handler and the bomb-sniffing German shepherd Rex served together for more than three years and through two deployments until a roadside bomb blast in Ramadi, Iraq, in 2006 took them out of commission. Leavey, now recovered and discharged from the Marines, is battling to adopt her old canine-in-arms.<br />
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"Rex is my partner; I love him," said Leavey, 28, who lives with her father in Rockport, New York, and works as a dog handler. "We have been through so much together … I’ve spent day and night with this dog. It’s a very strong bond."<br />
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But the dog's discharge has proved more complicated than her own. Leavey first applied to adopt Sgt. Rex as she was completing her Marine Corps service in 2007. She did all the paperwork, she said, but the military determined the dog had recovered completely and was still fit for work, and has continued up to now.<br />
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Sgt. Rex has become something of a celebrity along the way, featured in a 2011 book by his first handler, Mike Dowling, called "Sgt. Rex: The Unbreakable Bond between a Marine and his Military Working Dog."<br />
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But Leavey kept tabs on her old friend, receiving regular updates and pictures from personnel working at the kennels at Camp Pendleton, Calif. About a month ago, she said, they let her know that Sgt. Rex, now 10, had developed facial palsy, which was affecting his equilibrium.<br />
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"Now he is ready to be retired," said Leavey, who quickly filed her paperwork to adopt the dog.<br />
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But that determination — like most things in the military — is subject to some procedures.<br />
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"An official request for retirement has been submitted," said Matthew Stines, press officer for the Air Force, which has jurisdiction over the Military Working Dog Program, when reached on Friday. He said that action on that request is expected to take about two weeks. <br />
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Then the dog will be evaluated for "adoptability" at Camp Pendleton. If he is approved, the final determination for his release would then be made after consideration at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. Stines said he did not know what would happen if the dog was determined to be unsuitable for adoption, nor how long these evaluations were expected to take, though he promised to look into it.<br />
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"(Rex) is just hanging out in his kennel," Leavey said. "I know the Marine Corp has other more important issues. But it’s important to me. And he deserves it."<br />
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Frustrated by the bureaucracy, Leavey has recruited a high-powered champion — Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., who wrote to Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley to urge expeditious handling.<br />
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"Marine Corporal Leavey and Rex are true American heroes who saved countless American lives uncovering roadside bombs and booby traps in Iraq," Schumer said in a statement issued Friday. "I’m strongly urging the Air Force to do the right thing, cross the T’s and dot the I’s so that Rex gets the home he deserves, and Corporal Leavey can be reunited with her faithful companion."<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Dog Reunited with Owner After 53 Days in Nevada Desert</span></center><center><a href="http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/03/06/dog-reunited-with-owner-after-53-days-in-nevada-desert/"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Erin Skarda - time.com</span></a></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>This Feb. 18, 2012 photo provided by Shannon Sustacha shows Barbara Bagley and her Shetland Sheepdog Dooley after the two were reunited, east of Battle Mountain, Nev.</em></span></center><br />
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After a devastating car accident left Barbara Bagley’s husband and one of her dogs dead, she held to hope that her other Sheltland Sheepdog, Dooley, was still out there, somehow surviving in the unforgiving Nevada desert. Fifty-three days later, Dooley was recovered — scared and skinny, but safe — just five miles from the crash scene.<br />
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The December accident happened in a remote area of Nevada, sending both Bagley and her husband, Brad Vom Baur, to the hospital with severe injuries. Their other dog, Delaney, was found dead at the scene, but 4-year-old Dooley had vanished.<br />
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While Bagley, 48, suffered a concussion, two punctured lungs, broken ribs and a broken wrist, as soon as she was able, she organized a search for her lost pup using Facebook. But before volunteers could even get started, the search was called off, after remains of a dog were found along the interstate where the accident occurred. That same day, Bagley’s husband succumbed to his injuries and passed away.<br />
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“It was a horrible day for me,” Bagley told the Associated Press. “But something inside me told me Dooley was still alive out there.”<br />
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Her instinct was right. Over the next month, a dog matching Dooley’s description was spotted in the area numerous times. While Dooley slyly evaded rescuers on a few occassions, eventually he was cornered and taken to be reunited with his long-lost companion.<br />
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Dooley survived on eating roadkill and drinking from different water sources, but besides dropping 20 pounds and needing a bird bone removed from his throat, the Sheltie was no worse for the wear. Dooley and Bagley are now recovering together.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Tornado Survivors Find Pets Through Facebook </span></center><center><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/08/tornado-survivors-pets-facebook_n_1328208.html?ref=mostpopular"><span style="color: #274e13;">The Huffington Post - Dominique Mosbergen</span></a></center><br />
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In the wake of the devastating spate of storms that swept through the South and Midwest last week, many beloved pets are missing. <br />
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Once an animal is lost, the odds of finding it are relatively low. According to the American Humane Association, only about 17 percent of dogs and 2 percent of cats find their way back from shelters to their original owners.<br />
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After last year's Joplin, Mo. tornado, for instance, over 900 pets were rescued but fewer than 300 were reunited with their families.<br />
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Fortunately, as Pet-Zet reports, technology and social media can help improve those odds.<br />
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Over the last few days, several Facebook pages have cropped up in an effort to reunite pets with their families, sharing word of both lost and found animals.<br />
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The pages are inevitably bittersweet. But each reunion brings joy and hope to recovering communities. <br />
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Sherill Metz from Huntsville, Ala., has one such happy story.<br />
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Last Wednesday, as a storm approached, Metz went to her backyard to bring in her two dogs. Her 2-year-old Chorky, Lola, was nowhere to be found.<br />
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Lola, a tiny 3-pounder who had never run away before, had escaped through a small hole in the fence.<br />
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"The first thing I did was come in and go on Facebook. I wanted friends and people in my neighborhood to know," Metz, 43, told The Huffington Post.<br />
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Her story went viral overnight. Hundreds of people contacted her on Facebook, expressing their support and cross-posting her notice on those newly-established lost and found pages. Metz said she was "very, very shocked" by the response she received. "I couldn't even keep up with all the comments I was getting," she said.<br />
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But when six tornadoes hit Huntsville on Friday and Lola remained missing through the weekend, Metz began to lose hope.<br />
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Finally, on Monday night, Metz got a call from a family who had found Lola -- mud-soaked, bedraggled and miles from home -- the week before. They found Metz's contact details through Facebook.<br />
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Reunited with her beloved dog, Metz promptly posted a photo and note on the social media site. She received hundreds of congratulatory comments.<br />
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"People all over the country were praying for me and thinking about me," she said. "It was so nice, even when I started to lose hope, I was receiving constant encouragement."<br />
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Similarly, Twitter and Facebook played vital roles last year in connecting displaced families in the aftermath of natural disasters, such as the Japan tsunami and earthquakes.<br />
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"If you've lost an animal," said Metz, when asked what advice she would give other tornado survivors, "I would get it out there on social media and keep looking. Even though I gave up hope, I'm a true believer now."<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Oshawa House Filled with Tarantulas, </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Snakes, Marsupials Probed by Investigators</span></center><center><a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1144161--exotic-pet-store-owners-in-oshawa-are-raided-and-may-face-finesoshawa-house-filled-with-tarantulas-snakes-marsupials-probed-by-investigators"><span style="color: #274e13;">Kate Allen - thestar.com</span></a></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Debbie Grills, seen holding a rescued ferret, is co-owner of D &D Exotics in Oshawa. Rick Eglinton/Toronto Star</em></span></center><br />
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A screeching Nanday Conure parrot mimics the rising indignation in Debbie Grills’ voice as she speaks from her Oshawa pet store on Friday. <br />
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“They went through all of my kitchen cupboards. They threatened to lift up the lids on our incubators. They treated us like criminals,” says Grills, co-owner of D & D Exotics along with her husband Doug. <br />
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The “they” in question are the investigators who descended on the Grills’ home Thursday to execute a search warrant.<br />
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The “us” is Grills and her husband. But it could very well extend to their menagerie of beloved, exotic — and in Oshawa, prohibited — pets: 200 baby tarantulas being raised in individual Dixie cups, a dozen sugar gliders, and Tigger, a 5.5-metre-long reticulated python, among many others. <br />
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“They found everything,” says Grills. <br />
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Thursday’s raid was the latest skirmish in a battle with deceptively dull origins. For years, the couple has been fighting Oshawa’s Responsible Pet Owner by-law.<br />
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In Toronto, non-venomous snakes like boas and pythons are allowed as pets, provided they don’t grow longer than 3 metres. Sugar gliders, a type of marsupial, are also permitted. Ajax, Pickering, and Scugog, Oshawa’s neighbours in Durham Region, have similar rules — Scugog allows some types of tarantulas, for example. <br />
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Oshawa is stricter. All pythons and boas are prohibited, no matter the length. Sugar gliders and tarantulas are both banned. <br />
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D & D Exotics, one of the largest exotic pet stores in Durham region, was operating under a council-approved exemption to the by-law. <br />
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Besides their business selling regular animals, the couple also takes in rescued snakes, spiders, and other non-dog-or-cat creatures picked up by Durham authorities. Some of those animals are prohibited in Oshawa, like the 200 baby tarantulas Doug Grills nurtured from an egg sac found on a mature spider.<br />
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“What can I say,” says Grills. “We’re fascinated (by) every aspect of it.” <br />
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In January, the Grills’ received a letter from the city saying they had violated their exemption by “purchasing, selling, trading or releasing prohibited exotics.” Debbie Grills admits they have bought prohibited animals, but she says after fighting the by-law unsuccessfully, her “hands were tied.”<br />
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“(The city is) hurting my business, because people from Oshawa are not not buying these animals,” says Grills. “They’re going outside our community to Ajax, Pickering, Toronto. . . and bringing them back.”<br />
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Jerry Conlin, Oshawa's director of Municipal Law Enforcement and Licensing Services, disagrees.<br />
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“That position – the Grills’ – is not the same position of the city,” he says. “The by-law requires compliance with the standards that are approved by council. And presently, they are not complying with them.”<br />
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In January, the Grills told media they would spirit their hundreds of prohibited animals to “safe houses.” In fact, there was only ever one safe house: their own.<br />
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Oshawa by-law officers, investigators from the Ministry of Natural Resources, and Durham Regional Police officers — present in order to “keep the peace,” says Conlin — searched the Grills’ residence Thursday morning, taking photo and video evidence.<br />
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The couple could be facing hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines and lost profits. But Debbie Grills is equally as concerned for her animals. The expert biologist who was brought in, she claims, exposed the nocturnal sugar gliders to daylight.<br />
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“Now they have diarrhea from the stress,” she says. <br />
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Conlin says investigators will be combing over the evidence captured yesterday and deciding how to proceed. <br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Spotted: Angelina Jolie's Kids Walking Their Dog</span></center><center><a href="http://www.starpulse.com/news/Noelle_Talmon/2012/03/08/spotted_angelina_jolies_kids_walking_t"><span style="color: #274e13;">By: Noelle Talmon - starpulse.com</span></a></center><br />
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Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are spending time at their home in New Orleans, and we spotted three of their children walking their bulldog Jacques yesterday.<br />
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Their oldest child, Maddox, 10, spent time talking on his cell phone while his sister Shiloh, 5, wore a trendy Ramones t-shirt and camouflage pants. Zahara, 7, looked dainty in red shorts and matching flipflops.<br />
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Meanwhile, we spotted their dad Brad zooming around town on his custom-made motorcycle.<br />
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Angelina and Brad are also parents to Pax, 8, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 3.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Abandoned Dog Gets a New Home; </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Bereft Couple Gets a New Pet</span></center><center><a href="http://www.standard.net/stories/2012/03/09/abandoned-dog-gets-new-home-bereft-couple-gets-new-pet"><span style="color: #274e13;">By JaNae Francis - Standard-Examiner</span></a></center><br />
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OGDEN — Sometimes one happy ending can resolve two sad stories at once. That was the case Thursday when Matt and Joanne Townsend adopted a 2-year-old Shih Tzu they named Buster.<br />
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The dog was in the news earlier this week when it was rescued after being abandoned and locked inside a foreclosed house in North Ogden for nearly two weeks.<br />
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Adopting the dog seemed like the perfect answer for the Townsends. The Ogden couple were saddened recently by the death of a dog they’d had for 16 years.<br />
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“He’s so good,” Joanne said of Buster after her husband brought him home. “He’s so wonderful. He follows me everywhere.”<br />
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The dog owner said she didn’t expect Buster to feel so at home so quickly. He even made quick friends with the couple’s other dog, a 6-year-old English foxhound.<br />
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“They said it would take time for him to trust us,” she said. “But he just right away loosened up. I think he’s just happy to have a home.”<br />
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Animal control officials said they believe the problem of pet owners leaving their animals behind when they move is an infrequent one, especially for dogs.<br />
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Other pet and owner issues are far more pressing matters, they said.<br />
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Jim Barker, president of the Utah Animal Control Officers Association, said neighbors calling about abandoned animals are far more common than actual abandonment cases.<br />
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“When we get calls on that, if we leave a door hanger on the door giving them 24 hours to call us, they usually call us within 12 hours,” he said. <br />
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“The majority of the time, it’s overanxious neighbors. (The dog owners) say they are moving their stuff and they want the dog there to protect it.”<br />
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And Barker said police have to have evidence an animal is being abused or abandoned before they can enter a residence to check on the animal.<br />
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Barker, a Springville police officer, said there aren’t a lot of cases in which dogs are actually abandoned.<br />
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Another longtime member of the Animal Control Association of Utah said real knowledge of how often animals are left behind would have to come from a survey of landlords.<br />
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A lot of times, he said, the landlords just take animals to a shelter without notifying officials.<br />
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Weber County Sheriff’s Lt. Chad Ferrin, who oversees Weber County Animal Control Services, said he remembers only two cases in the last year in which animals were abandoned when someone moved.<br />
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“There are rare occasions,” he said, adding that sometimes people are served with warrants and taken to jail, then they can’t get back to their animals.<br />
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“Typically, people are fairly responsible with their pets,” Ferrin said.<br />
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Barker said cats fare far worse when it comes to owner abandonment.<br />
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“It probably happens more with cats than with dogs. They are easier to replace. There are people giving them out all the time at Walmarts and everything.”<br />
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And cats probably aren’t as noticeable when left behind.<br />
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“A lot of times with cats, the owners will just turn them loose and leave them running around the neighborhood,” Barker said.<br />
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And the people who leave cats behind often are hard to track down later. He said often they are people who slip in and out of their residences quietly.<br />
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Shawn Janke, president of the Northern Wasatch Association of Realtors, said he doesn’t know of any instance when an agent has dealt with people abandoning an animal.<br />
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“It’s not really an issue,” he said. “Normally, they let the agents know. … We help them get rid of their animals.”<br />
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On occasion, Janke said, he will see an email with a picture of a dog. “It will say, ‘My seller is looking for a home for his dog.’ ”<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">NM Hiker Missing for Almost a Month </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Huddled with Cat in Sleeping Bag </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">When Temperatures Dipped</span></center><center><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/hiker-missing-for-nearly-a-month-found-alive-in-new-mexicos-gila-national-forest/2012/03/08/gIQAL8tG0R_story.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">washingtonpost.com</span></a></center><br />
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Temperatures dropped below freezing almost every night, but somehow Margaret Page and her cat survived 3 1/2 weeks in an isolated and rugged region of a southwestern New Mexico national forest.<br />
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Tucked away in a blue sleeping bag for warmth and set up near a creek for drinking water, Page and her cat named Miya lived on just a handful of supplies, rescue workers said Friday. The nearest town — tiny Dusty, N.M. — was 10 miles away.<br />
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Family members reported her missing Feb 14. But for various reasons, authorities didn’t start searching for her until this week. The 41-year-old Page, who has a history of mental illness, was found Wednesday emaciated and malnourished but well-hydrated.<br />
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“Her cat was in better shape than she was,” New Mexico State Police Search and Rescue incident commander Marc Levesque said. “Her cat was also hunting. (Page) ran out of food a while back.”<br />
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Page apparently purposefully hiked off a trail between Feb. 10 and Feb. 12. A Forest Service law enforcement agent spotted her silver Chevy passenger car on Feb. 12, but didn’t think much of it because hikers leave vehicles near trails all the time, said Lt. Robert McDonald, a spokesman for the state police.<br />
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Another Forest Service agent noticed the car on Feb. 25 but didn’t contact state police until 10 days later. Members of the Grant County Search and Rescue and other crews began the search for Page on Tuesday after her family notified state police that Page’s car had been found at a campground.<br />
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She was found the following day about a mile up the Railroad Canyon Trail in an area known as the Black Range.<br />
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The area had seen average highs reach around 60 degrees with evening lows in the 20s. It didn’t see much rain or snow, but there were some high winds.<br />
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Authorities don’t believe Page intended to stay in the forest for as long as she did when she first set up camp, and they aren’t sure what she ate after she ran out of food.<br />
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“She is an experienced backpacker,” search crew leader Dave Kuthe said. “She had adequate shoes...she just took a bag of pretzels with her.”<br />
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Also, Page’s car was towed as crews began their search mission — something Robert Matulich, a field certified member of the Dona Ana County Search and Rescue team, said was unusual. Crews sometime use vehicles to give the search dogs a scent to use, he said.<br />
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“It looks to me like somebody dropped the ball on this one,” Matulich told the Silver City Sun-News (http://bit.ly/wkSzoB). “Why’d they tow the truck? Who towed the truck?”<br />
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Levesque said by the time Page arrived at Gila Regional Medical Center she was alert and articulate, even though she had lost about 20 to 25 pounds during the ordeal.<br />
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She checked herself out late Wednesday and spent the night in a Silver City hotel. And she’s been reunited with her cat.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Dog Art Fetches High Prices</span></center><center><a href="http://www.mydesert.com/article/20120310/LIFESTYLES04/203100316/Dog-art-fetches-high-prices?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFrontpage%7Cs"><span style="color: #274e13;">Written by Sue Manning - mydesert.com</span></a></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>William Secord, president of William Secord Gallery, unpacks paintings in his New York gallery, the only one in the nation dedicated exclusively to dog art. "We have had an increase in visitors over past years, but also a substantial increase in sales compared to this time last year," said Secord, widely considered the world's foremost authority on 19th century dog paintings. / Richard Drew, The Associated Press</em></span></center><br />
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Dogs seem to be as popular on a canvas these days as they are on a leash, with paintings of dogs drawing big bucks and big crowds.<br />
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At the annual “dogs only” art auction held after the Westminster Dog Show, two price records were broken this year, said Alan Fausel, vice president and director of fine art at Bonhams, the auction house that runs the event.<br />
“Dejeuner,” a painting that shows dogs and cats eating from a large dish, set a record for the artist, William Henry Hamilton Trood (1860-1899), when it sold for $194,500, Fausel said. That record was broken an hour later when Trood's “Hounds in a Kennel,” showing a half-dozen dogs staring at a bird outside their cage, sold for $212,500.<br />
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Bonhams' Dogs in Show & Field auction is the only one in the country devoted solely to dogs. It was the best auction in years, Fausel said, adding: “The dog art market is certainly turning a corner.”<br />
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The William Secord Gallery in Manhattan is the only gallery in the nation dedicated exclusively to dog art. “We have had an increase in visitors over past years, but also a substantial increase in sales compared to this time last year,” said Secord, widely considered the world's foremost authority on 19th century dog paintings. Through March 24, the gallery is exhibiting and selling 150 dog pieces that Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge bequeathed to St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center in Madison, N.J.<br />
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Secord has written six dog art books and has collected over 2,500 works dating to 1805. He is also the founding director of the only art museum in the country dedicated to dogs, the American Kennel Club's Museum of the Dog. Secord opened his gallery because he didn't want to move when the museum relocated from New York to St. Louis.<br />
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The museum has over 700 paintings, drawings, fine porcelains and bronzes on display, and gets about 12,000 visitors a year, a number that's been increasing steadily each year, said Barbara McNab, the museum's executive director.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Parents Can Cure Their Children's </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Fear of Dogs If They Follow Experts' Advice </span></center><center><a href="http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=369952"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Diane VanDyke - Reading Eagle</span></a></center><br />
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For some children, man's best friend becomes their biggest fear. Maybe it was a bad experience with an overly excited dog, the incessant barking and growling of a protective pet or simply the size of the larger breeds, but something about these typically beloved animals instilled an intimidating fear.<br />
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If children have an extreme fear of dogs, or cynophobia, they may require some therapy or counseling, and families should seek help from their doctors in those cases.<br />
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Otherwise, children can overcome their fear of dogs in most cases, with some guidance, education and training. <br />
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The first step, according to Dr. Shawn Achtel, a veterinarian at Exeter Veterinary Hospital, Exeter Township, is for parents to recognize that their child is afraid of dogs. <br />
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Some children's fear stems from the unknown and unexpected behaviors or actions by some dogs. Sometimes fear develops because children are not taught about or exposed to dogs.<br />
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"Children should be slowly introduced to dogs," said Achtel, in an email response. "Start with stories, pictures or television/movies with dogs, progressing to watching dogs at a park from a distance, eventually allowing the children to build up confidence to meet a dog up close." <br />
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When a child develops the confidence to meet a dog, parents should try to introduce them to a mature, calm dog rather than an excitable puppy with unpredictable behavior. Although puppies may be smaller and cute, their energy might perpetuate fear, especially if they jump, lick or chew, according to Achtel.<br />
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Prior to that first child-dog meeting, parents should teach their children that dogs will sniff and lick. They should explain that licking is the way dogs give kisses. <br />
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When teaching children how to approach a dog, parents should avoid phrases like "pet the dog under his chin or he will bite," since they imply that the dog could harm the child and evoke fear.<br />
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Usually such messages or an unpleasant incident with dogs is what triggers fear, said Steven Smith, trainer at Awesome Dawgs Dog Training LLC, Rockland Township. Awesome Dawgs teaches families how to build good relationships with dogs. <br />
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Smith recommends the following tips when working with dogs:<br />
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--Parental supervision is essential to help children understand what appropriate interaction with the dog looks like.<br />
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--Use a toy when children play with dogs so their attention can be on the toy and not the child's hands, feet and clothing.<br />
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--Don't overstimulate the dog. Take frequent breaks from play. This will give the dog a chance to relax or calm down, then return to play.<br />
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--Avoid close hugging and smoothing of the dog's head and face. This often causes a dog to feel threatened and could trigger a bad reaction.<br />
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--Avoid allowing infants to crawl around the dog unsupervised. They look, smell and sound too much like play toys.<br />
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--Realize not every other dog is like your pet dog. Always ask the owner if you can pet the dog. Always pet under the chin or on their chest and not over their head.<br />
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When developing relationships with dogs, children should be taught how to respect and treat them, Smith said. They should not run up to the dog or attempt to hug or squeeze it. When playing with dogs, children should know not to pull their tails, pick them up, hit or even yell or scream around them. <br />
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They also should not try to play with or pet dogs when they are eating, going to the bathroom or even chewing on a favorite bone or toy.<br />
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"It is important to remember there are always two ends of the leash and both parts need help understanding the other end," Smith said. "The best methods of helping children get over their fear of dogs will always include 1) parental supervision, 2) education, 3) planning and 4) training."<br />
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Following this advice, parents can help their children overcome their fear of dogs and develop long-lasting friendships, like the friendship Emma Yoder of Kutztown has with her dog.<br />
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Twelve-year-old Emma has been training her 3-year old Labrador retriever Tegan at Awesome Dawgs with the goal of teaching Tegan to be a therapy dog.<br />
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"Tegan is like a sister to me," said Emma, who is the daughter of two veterinarians, Drs. Sam and Annemarie Yoder, owners of Silver Maple Veterinarian Clinic Inc., Richmond Township. "I love her so much, and we trust each other. I am training her to be a therapy dog so children and older folks can have the same relationship I have with dogs."<br />
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Through training, Emma can show other people how to be friends with Tegan and not be scared of her. She also has learned how to socialize Tegan, so she is comfortable around people and new situations.<br />
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"I have never been afraid of dogs," Emma said. "I grew up with them, and they were always my friends."<br />
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Contact Diane VanDyke: life@readingeagle.com.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">My Pet is Bigger Than Your Pet</span></center><center><a href="http://www.emckemptville.ca/20120308/news/My+pet+is+bigger+than+your+pet"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Diana Fisher</span></a></center><br />
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The Farmer bought me two beautiful Belgian horses for Valentine's Day, 2009. I have always wanted a horse of my own. <br />
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I imagined myself riding Ashley through the bush around our property, the Farmer by my side on Misty. So far, that dream has not come true. We lost Ashley, tragically, in 2010. Our busy lifestyle is not exactly conducive to horse training so our very large, very untrained horse Misty thinks she's a pet. <br />
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When Ashley, the older lead horse died, Misty was lost. She looked around and all she found was...Donkey. He is now her best friend, and she will follow him just about anywhere: through the gate that Donkey jimmied open, onto the front lawn to eat my daisies, down the road to visit the neighbours. He gets her into plenty of trouble and he is not a very good influence. Donkey taught Misty to chase my lambs and make them bleat in terror. It's one of his favourite games. I had to run down the field, a golf club in my hand, and rescue my lamb from under her huge dinner-plate hooves before she squashed it. <br />
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I'm sure she didn't mean any harm. She just heard a small animal making a very strange noise and it seemed a threat to her. From then on I kept the lambs separated from the horse until they were old enough to get away from her big feet. <br />
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Misty taps on the back window of the stable with her nose when she wants in. If no one responds, she pushes on the door. If that doesn't work, she goes back to the window and breaks a pane of glass for emphasis. Finally Donkey comes over and shows her how to lift the latch. He has also taught her to lift the freezer door and help herself to sweet feed and corn. But just because Donkey can squeeze through the gap in the barn door doesn't mean Misty can. She's twice his width. <br />
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When I enter the barnyard, Misty comes and stands still in front of me. She puts her head down and presses her nose to my chest. This is how she initiates a hug. When I put her in her stall with a load of hay and a bucket of water, she nods her massive head up and down until I fill her bowl with corn. Then she snorts a thank you at me. I do understand some of her language. We communicate a little. <br />
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Monty Roberts, the horse whisperer, says that you should not attempt to 'break' an untrained or 'green' horse as was common practice in the past. Even Monty's father believed you had to break a horse's will and tame his spirit in order to control him. Monty found his own way of communicating with the wild mustangs of Nevada, and discovered that if you invite the horse to 'join up' with you, training is a natural process. This man can actually approach a wild horse and go through a series of very patient and methodical steps to get it to trust, approach and follow him. I tried applying his steps in the barnyard with Misty. <br />
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Step one: introduce yourself by rubbing (not patting, I learned that lesson with the ram) the horse's head. Now move away and toward the hind end of the horse, keeping clear of the 'kick zone'. <br />
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Next, flick a long line (like a whip but not to be used as a whip) at the hind quarters. The horse will start moving around the pen. <br />
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When the horse retreats, you advance. Keep the pressure on. After a few rounds of the pen, try to turn the horse in the other direction by flicking the line again. Try to get the animal to canter five or six rounds one way, then in the other direction. Watch the horse. <br />
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If he tips his head down toward you, submissively, he is saying "I would like to take a break now." Turn slightly away from the horse and invite his approach. <br />
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If he does, you have won his trust. If he stands still but doesn't move, approach him slowly but indirectly, in circular, round-about movements. <br />
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I went through these steps with Misty. I didn't have her running around a pen but I walked her back and forth until she stopped and started chewing something on the ground, watching me with one eye and flicking her ear. I turned my back on her and she slowly approached, resting her chin on my shoulder. Maybe she is trainable after all.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Why Keep Gold Fish In Bowls? Misplaced Facts</span> <br />
<a href="http://www.boldsky.com/home-n-garden/pet-care/2012/gold-fish-bowl-070312.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">boldsky.com</span></a></center><br />
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You must have seen many gold fish kept in bowls in the houses of your friends and acquaintances. Please tell them that they are killing this beautiful animal and you at least do not repeat the same mistake when you are planning keep fish as pets. All fish need movement and even gold fish which is generally considered 'lazy', too needs to move around. But in a bowl do they really have the space to even turn around? <br />
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Gold fish kept in bowls or other wise are the most misunderstood fish ever. People use them more as decoration than real fish who are living beings. Here are some of the things that you probably did not know about this beautiful animal.<br />
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Gold Fish In Bowls: Misplaced Facts<br />
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1. Why In Bowls? Is there any particular reason why gold fish are kept in bowls while even smaller fish like mollies get an big aquarium just to themselves. It is just the mind set that gold fish look good in bowls. If you want to decorate your house then buy decorative show pieces. We have no right to cramp up a living breathing fish just for our entertainment.<br />
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2. Who Came First The Chicken Or The Egg? This is the eternal dilemma always haunting man kind. In fact it extends to fish kind too now. Gold fish have been termed as lazy and in active fish with no movement. Is it inactive because you have put in a bowl that does not allow it to move or have you kept it in a cramped up bowl because it doesn't move anyway? Tough one to answer.<br />
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3. They Die Too Soon: So why invest is it? If you have a problem with the longevity of the fish then why buy it all? Actually even this accusation does not stand against gold fish because they can live for very long time. It can in fact out live you if you die young! The oldest known gold fish named Trish, in the world lived for 43 fulfilling years. Your gold fish is probably dying young because it is stagnated. Fish need movement to live. If they are stagnant at one place they die.<br />
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4. Gold Fish Eat Too Much: Yes, they are greedy big mouths that is true but children are always greedy. Do you let your children overeat? The deal is that gold fish have no stomach at all. There is only temporary storage for their food in the digestive tracts. So your gold fish needs food in small amounts at regular intervals. If you overfeed it at once it will die. After all it is a big animal and needs to eat to support it's bulk, so do not starve it.<br />
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These pet care tips should be able explain why gold fish kept in bowls are leading an unhealthy life so give it some space.</div>John Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569650383063644384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5310501782946920789.post-20962959182920652242012-03-03T19:10:00.000-08:002012-03-03T19:10:49.221-08:00America's Favorite Dog Breeds for 2011<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Dogs You Can Believe In: </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Most Popular Breeds for 2011 </span></center><center><a href="http://culture.wnyc.org/articles/features/2012/mar/03/dogs-you-can-believe-most-popular-breeds-2011/"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Sarah Montague - wnyc.org</span></a></center><br />
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It’s an election year, and the popularity of the various presidential hopefuls seems to wax and wane as often as the phases of the moon. As they tune into pundits, and anxiously scan their polls, they might well envy the Labrador Retriever. The American Kennel Club released its annual ranking of the country’s most favored breeds on February 28, and the Lab has come out as “top dog” (as measured by AKC registrations) for the 21st successive year. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sGRBkbbf0Cw/T1LBb_9jSvI/AAAAAAAAPnQ/B-9rG2UQsdI/s1600/2-pt5.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sGRBkbbf0Cw/T1LBb_9jSvI/AAAAAAAAPnQ/B-9rG2UQsdI/s400/2-pt5.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Deli, a black Labrador Retriever puppy (L) and Ziva, a German Shepherd puppy are among the most popular dog breeds in the U.S. and NYC. (Gary Gershoff/Getty Images for AKC)</em></span></center><br />
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“It all comes down to their fetching ability,” said Mary Feazell, secretary of the national breed club, Labrador Retriever Club, Inc.<br />
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“Military trainers told me that they give all breeds of dogs retriever tests before any other tests because they show their ability and willingness to serve mankind, and Labradors have one of the highest retrieving instincts in all the breeds, and they will do anything for man. Plus, they have shorter coats, and are very, very patient with children,” she explained.<br />
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Labs’ loving loyalty make them ideal family companions, but their drive and focus also means they are in demand as police and service dogs — another reason for the high number of registrations.<br />
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Nationally, the second most favored breed in 2011 was the German Shepherd Dog. Shepherds took the No. 2 spot last year as well, so their popularity can’t be credited to Susan Orlean’s bestselling “Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend,” which was published last October.<br />
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Another dog with drive, the Beagle, unseated the Yorkshire Terrier as the No. 3 dog nationwide. With their Steiff plush toy-like charm and lively personalities, Beagles are becoming the pet of choice for more households, but like Labs, they also have a professional side — the breed’s extraordinary scenting ability is prized by customs and Drug Enforcement Agency agents.<br />
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Locally, the pint-sized Yorkie continues to reign supreme. It was the No. 1 dog in New York City in 2011 and 2010. <br />
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The densely-populated city followed the national trend closely, with the Labrador Retriever coming in at No. 2. Mary Feazel credits this to Labs’ adaptability. “As long as they are with their people, that’s the most important thing to them.” Also, she notes, we’re not completely without a great outdoors here: “You also have jogging trails and bridle trails and parks, where they can run off some of that energy.”<br />
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The rest of the New York City rankings seem to reflect a balance between power and portability. The engaging French Bulldog continued its climb into New Yorkers’ hearts, moving up to No. 3 from No. 5 last year,. The German Shepherd Dog came in at No. 4 and the Bull Dog, the ultimate muscle dog came in at No. 5. The highly decorative Poodle, the dainty Shih Tsu, the Golden Retriever, the Rottweiler and the Havanese rounded out the city’s Top Ten most popular breeds. <br />
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But regardless of which breeds are tops where, the rankings reflect the durability of the canine/human bond. Every American who chooses a puppy is confident that he/she will feel happier, sometimes safer, and always more loved, as a result. Something, alas, that no politician is able to deliver.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Annual Pet Spending Passes $50 Billion Mark</span></center><center><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/appa-annual-pet-spending-reaches-time-high-15835881"><span style="color: #274e13;">By SUE MANNING - Associated Press</span></a></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: #cc0000;">Americans spent $50.96 billion on their pets in 2011.</span></center><br />
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That's an all-time high and the first time in history more than $50 billion has gone to the dogs, cats, canaries, guppies and the like, the American Pet Products Association said in a report issued Thursday.<br />
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Food and vet costs accounted for about 65 percent of the spending. But it was a service category — one that includes grooming, boarding, pet hotels, pet-sitting and day care — that grew more than any other, surging 7.9 percent from $3.51 billion in 2010 to $3.79 billion in 2011.<br />
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APPA President Bob Vetere said 2012 should be another banner year for services, predicting it would grow 8.4 percent to an estimated $4.11 billion in 2012.<br />
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Owners are taking care of their pets, said Dr. Jessica Vogelsang, a San Diego veterinarian and author of pawcurious.com. "They are planning ahead. When they go on vacation, they want to make sure their pets are well cared for," she said.<br />
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Spending in 2011 was up 5.3 percent from 2010, when it totaled $48.35 billion, Vetere said. He estimated 2012 sales would total $53 billion.<br />
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In 2011, people spent $19.85 billion on food, $13.41 billion on vet care, $11.77 billion on supplies and over-the-counter medicines, $3.79 billion on other services and $2.14 billion on live animal purchases.<br />
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Americans spent $50.96 billion on their pets in 2011. That's an all-time high and the first time in history more than $50 billion has gone to the dogs and cats, canaries and guppies, the American Pet Products Association says. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, File) CloseIn 2010, they spent $18.76 billion on food, $13.01 billion on vet care, $10.94 billion on supplies and over-the-counter medicines, $3.51 billion on other services and $2.13 billion on live animal purchases.<br />
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Food sales did slow down, Vetere said, even though the 5.8 percent growth exceeded projections of 4.1 percent growth.<br />
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APPA numbers indicate that animal sales and adoptions are flattening out and the number of people who switched over to high-end food products is topping out.<br />
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Pet ownership is becoming less of an impulse decision, Vogelsang said. "I am seeing a lot of people saying, 'This isn't the time for us.' People are more interested in pets than ever before but they are taking their time, once they make the commitment, to do it right."<br />
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"I don't think this is a bad thing. I am proud of the owners," she said.<br />
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Pet insurance is another area that is expected to grow briskly, Vetere said. Included in the veterinary care category, insurance was estimated to be $450 million in 2011 and expected to grow to more than $500 million in 2012.<br />
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"Insurance makes such a difference in the health of an animal," Vogelsang said. "I can't tell you how many times I have had a pet come in and the only reason (the owners) were able to afford catastrophic care is because they had insurance. It's literally a life-saver and I'm really glad people are embracing the concept," the veterinarian said.<br />
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The pet industry is also a major attraction for entrepreneurs and investors looking for creative and innovative products, Vetere said.<br />
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Vogelsang believes the trend is toward "very specific items geared to the specific needs of pets. We are seeing a lot of puzzle feeders for dogs — not just toys but ones that are geared toward the mental needs of the animal. Then there are bionic toys for destructive chewers, a lot of very niche items," she said.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Dog Found Alive 4 Days After Montana Avalanche </span></center><center><a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2017167035_apusdogsurvivesavalanche.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">seattletimes.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P4UkBnrS5Xw/T1K8QvU4BwI/AAAAAAAAPm4/RSS2d3hqsJc/s1600/2-pt2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P4UkBnrS5Xw/T1K8QvU4BwI/AAAAAAAAPm4/RSS2d3hqsJc/s400/2-pt2.bmp" width="368" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>A Welsh corgi dog named Ole that showed up at a Cooke City motel four days after the dog and its owner were swept up in an avalanche. The dog's owner died.</em></span></center><br />
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A dog that was feared dead after he was swept away in a weekend avalanche that killed his owner showed up four days later at the Montana motel where his owners had stayed the night before going backcountry skiing.<br />
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Search and rescue team member Bill Whittle said he was "positive" that the Welsh corgi - named Ole - had been buried in Saturday's avalanche.<br />
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"The avalanche guys were up there on Monday investigating and they were looking for the dog too and never seen any signs," he said.<br />
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But on Wednesday, Ole showed up exhausted and hungry back at the motel, four miles from where the slide occurred, the Billings Gazette (http://bit.ly/zNaSeK) reported.<br />
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"When I first saw the dog, it was sitting in front of their room staring at the door," Cooke City Alpine Motel owner Robert Weinstein said in an email to The Associated Press on Thursday.<br />
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Dave Gaillard of Bozeman was skiing with his wife when the avalanche struck near Cooke City, an old mining town just outside Yellowstone National Park.<br />
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"His last words to me were, `Retreat to the trees.' I think he saw what was coming from above, that I did not see," Kerry Corcoran Gaillard told the Bozeman Daily Chronicle.<br />
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Gaillard's daughter, 11-year-old Marguerite, was putting photos of Ole on poster board as a memorial Wednesday afternoon.<br />
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"She found out when she was halfway done with that that Ole was still alive," said Gaillard's step-daughter, Silver Brelsford.<br />
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Whittle drove the dog back to the family in Bozeman.<br />
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"He was tired," Brelsford told the AP. "He's doing really well now."<br />
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Sidney resident Jody Ray Verhasselt, 46, also died Saturday in another avalanche while snowmobiling north of Cooke City. The two New Year's Eve avalanche deaths have taken a toll on the small mountain community.<br />
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"We needed this," Whittle said of Ole's survival. "It kind of cheered everyone up."<br />
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Searchers recovered Gaillard's body earlier this week. Family members were preparing for his funeral on Friday.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Pet Snakes Overwhelm House</span></center><center><a href="http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2012/mar/02/pet-snakes-overwhelm-house/"><span style="color: #274e13;">columbiatribune.com</span></a></center><br />
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ST. CHARLES (AP) — St. Charles County detectives knew by the stench as they tried to enter a home that there was something strange inside.<br />
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They were right: Authorities said the house was inhabited by 157 snakes and lizards and as many as 2,000 mice and rats to feed them.<br />
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The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Anthony Higgins Sr., 36, and his wife, Michelle Higgins, 36, were both charged yesterday with two counts of child endangerment. The couple did not have a telephone listing and did not yet have an attorney.<br />
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Their children, a 13-year-old girl and 15-year-old boy, were placed in the custody of an uncle.<br />
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Deputies were called to the split-level home on Saturday after a hotline call about possible child neglect. They found pythons, boa constrictors and milk, corn and king snakes. None of the snakes was venomous. Court documents say the deputies also found 5-gallon buckets in the kitchen that were used to grow meal worms to feed the lizards.<br />
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Deputies said the home was filthy — one deputy who went inside was so overcome by the smell he ran outside to throw up. Another borrowed an oxygen mask and tank from the fire department before going in to take evidence photos.<br />
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A deputy said the couple told authorities they knew raising their children in the environment was wrong, but they didn't want to get rid of their pets. They said the house had been that way for at least two years.<br />
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The couple cleared out the animals by Monday, St. Charles County government spokesman John Sonderegger said. The snakes were placed with a reptile rescue group, and the rodents went to a man who supplies food to pet stores. The couple were allowed to keep their dog. The home, which neighbors said the couple rented, was condemned by county officials because of the conditions.<br />
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County ordinances allow a total of four cats, dogs or ferrets but do not address snakes or reptiles. The county prohibits exotic animals, but the snakes were not considered exotic. County officials said the animals, which were caged, appeared to be in good health.<br />
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Neighbors said the family was friendly.<br />
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"I knew when they first moved in that they had a couple of reptiles," said next-door neighbor Bruce Smith, 63. "Evidently, from all the commotion over the weekend, there were a lot more." <br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Weird 'Dog-Headed Pig Monster' Terrorizes Africa </span></center><center><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46548769/ns/technology_and_science-science/"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Benjamin Radford - msnbc.com</span></a></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: #cc0000;">'This is an alien animal that the people have not seen before,' says official</span></center><br />
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Residents in northern Namibia, on the southwest coast of Africa, have reported being terrorized by a bizarre dog-pig hybrid creature. The animal is said to be mostly white and unlike anything the villagers have ever seen, with a doglike head and the broad, round, nearly hairless back and shoulders of a giant pig. The beast was spotted chasing and attacking dogs, goats and other domestic animals in this arid region not far from the Kalahari desert. <br />
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As often happens when rumors of monsters spread in rural areas around the world, some locals have taken extra safety precautions, such as traveling in groups and arming themselves with weapons. In 1995 and 1996, some Puerto Ricans armed themselves against the vampire beast el chupacabra; last year, Malaysian residents patrolled the streets searching for the mysterious orang minyak, or "oily man" creature that had recently terrorized them. <br />
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What could this monster be? One Namibian official, regional councilor Andreas Mundjindi, was quoted in Informante newspaper as saying, "This is an alien animal that the people have not seen before. We don't have a forest here, only bushes. So, this must be black magic at play."<br />
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Some people in the area trace the beast to one old man rumored to be a warlock or witch doctor, suggesting it's his pet (or, what witch-hunters hundreds of years ago would have called a "familiar"). <br />
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The assumption that the beast has magical origins is not surprising. A 2010 Gallup poll found belief in magic widespread throughout sub-Saharan Africa, with more than half of respondents saying they personally believe in witchcraft and sorcery. <br />
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This is not the first time that unusual animals have been spotted in rural areas of Namibia; several other monsters have been reported over the years, including in July 2009, when unknown creatures reportedly sucked the blood out of livestock, including nearly two dozen goats. Though no one saw the monsters, they were said to have left footprints similar to those of a dog, but much larger. Police followed the footprints, but they mysteriously stopped in an open field, as if the creature suddenly took flight or vanished. At that time, locals were also convinced that the strange beast was the product of black magic — going so far as to accuse an old man and his sister of conjuring the creature. <br />
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It's not clear whether locals believe that the current dog-headed, pig-bodied animal is the same mystery creature that terrorized the region three years ago. Whether the reports are real or rumor, hopefully belief in these creatures won't be used as an excuse for mob attacks on elderly men and women suspected of witchcraft. <br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Puppy Theft Problem: </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Brooklyn and Queens Pet Stores </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">See Doggy-Nappings </span></center><center><a href="http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/03/puppy_theft_pro.php"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Esther Zuckerman - villagevoice.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_LKaSS1_Sdk/T1K2wNwLGXI/AAAAAAAAPms/X9ASbNz2shk/s1600/2-pt1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_LKaSS1_Sdk/T1K2wNwLGXI/AAAAAAAAPms/X9ASbNz2shk/s400/2-pt1.bmp" width="311" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Don't you just want to steal that face?</em></span></center><br />
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Today both the New York Daily News and the New York Post featured stories of poor innocent puppies being taken from pet shops by illegal means. Yes, if two's a trend, it seems like we have a puppy problem on our hands. First via the Daily News we learn that two 15-year-olds were arrested yesterday and charged with grand larceny for taking a Yorkshire Terrier puppy from a Flatlands pet store. But though the perps were caught, the puppy was not, and the teens are refusing to say where it is. <br />
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Then, in the Post we hear of a February incident in which Jolanta El-Shorbagi, a 57-year-old woman, stole a "miniature teacup pinscher" from a Queens store. In both stories the dogs cost upwards of $1,000. Did the criminals steal these dogs just for the money or were their actions somehow a result of the pups' undeniable cuteness? <br />
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At the Flatlands store that saw the Yorkie disappearance, Puppy Paradise, the owner, David Dietz, is worried about the financial loss of the dog, but also expressed concern about its health: <br />
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"I want to care for the dog," he said. "We treat our puppies like our children. It's like a kidnapping."<br />
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He said that the pup must be fed six times a day or it could develop hypoglycemia, high blood pressure or become dehydrated, which leads to kidney and liver failure.<br />
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The pinscher was recovered when one of the store's employees spotted El-Shorbagi outside her home and tried to get her to fess up. The store, the Pet Palace, had video of the puppy-pilfering incident.<br />
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The woman denied taking the dog. "She said, 'I want to see this video. I don't believe it. Show me putting the dog in my bag,'" [Pet Palace owner Suzanne] Caracci said. "But I didn't say anything to the woman about her putting it in a bag; that's how she revealed herself."<br />
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It's not like New York pet stores haven't faced their share of intrusions from less-than-welcome human-folk. Just this summer West Village pet shops forbade customers from buying puppies whilst drunk to protect the puppies' well being. <br />
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Even though we are highly suspect of pet stores in general, puppies of all sorts should be protected. Protect the puppies!<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Politics Gets Dirtier: Attack Ad Goes After Cat</span></center><center><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/npr/147864973/politics-gets-dirtier-attack-ad-goes-after-cat"><span style="color: #274e13;">by Scott Simon - northcountrypublicradio.org</span></a></center><br />
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If American politicians are going to quarrel like cats and dogs, why not just elect cats and dogs? Yet even pets can't hide from the political caterwauling; attacks against the candidacy of Hank the Cat may have reached a new low.<br />
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They may scratch furniture and make an occasional mess on the floor, but look at the messes some elected officials leave.<br />
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Almost every election cycle, you see a story in which someone, somewhere, thinks it's pointed or funny to run a pet for mayor or sheriff. The person print up some buttons and has a few laughs. But the candidacy of Hank the Cat may reach a new level.<br />
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Hank is a 9-year-old Maine coon who resides in Springfield, Va., with his campaign and media managers — "owners" seems a little sterile — Matthew O' Leary and Anthony Roberts.<br />
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Last October, they declared Hank a candidate for the Senate seat in Virginia being vacated by Sen. Jim Webb. Mr. O' Leary says they wanted to "kind of let off some steam" about the "negative and vitriolic" nature of politics and opened a Facebook page to promote their feline favorite son.<br />
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And of course, they produced a video that began, "America is the greatest land of all. A land where all people can live free," showing the Statue of Liberty at sunrise, moon-lit cityscapes, school kids, cowboys and other emblematic Americans of all hues in classrooms, farms and factories. It is indistinguishable from many other political ads until the end, when you hear: "Vote Hank for U.S. Senate."<br />
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And you realize: That's a cat.<br />
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Hank's ad became popular enough online to inspire an attack ad from a superPAC calling itself Canines for a Feline Free Tomorrow. In it, a typically menacing voice-over asks, "What do you really know about Hank?"<br />
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"Hank has never released his birth certificate, his tax returns and has never responded to allegations that he used catnip. He says he's gone to the vet — but there's no record of him having served in any military branch. Would Hank force females to undergo an ultrasound before being spayed? And should a Maine coon really be running for Senate in Virginia? We need more facts and fewer fat cats in Washington."<br />
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Eight months from Election Day, and cats and dogs are already quarreling like Democrats and Republicans.<br />
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It seems to me that all this campaign and superPAC caterwauling — and that's perhaps a feline-insensitive phrase — overlooks the many hopes and dreams that American cats and dogs share and can use to nurture our democracy, from sea to shining sea.<br />
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After all, unlike lots of things in politics, cats and dogs can be fixed.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Frozen Cat Doing Well with Three Legs</span></center><center><a href="http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2012/03/03/Frozen-cat-doing-well-with-three-legs/UPI-31871330803922/"><span style="color: #274e13;">upi.com</span></a></center><br />
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CHARLOTTETOWN, Prince Edward Island -- A cat found frozen in a driveway in eastern Canada has left a veterinary hospital in Prince Edward Island minus one leg and its tail. <br />
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The cat, now named Trooper, also underwent surgery to repair his pelvis at the Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown, The Guardian of Charlottetown reported. Trooper will be in a foster home in Newfoundland while he continues its recovery. <br />
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Gwen Samms, shelter manager for the Bay St. George Society for the Care and Protection of Animals, escorted Trooper to P.E.I. She said the cat is doing well and "loves playing."<br />
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"A three-legged animal can have a great quality of life," Samms told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. "Once he gets used to three legs there'll be no slowing him down, he'll be just fine."<br />
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The cat also has problems with bladder control because of nerve damage, but Samms said that appears to be mending. <br />
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Trooper was discovered Feb. 11 frozen to the ground in a driveway in Stephenville on the southwest coast of Newfoundland. Rescuers had to use warm water to remove the cat, which had major frostbite damage to one leg and its tail. <br />
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Veterinarians say Trooper is part Maine coon cat and about a year old.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Legendary Film Dogs, </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">from Asta to Rin Tin Tin</span></center><center><a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/movies/2017571945_oscaranimals26.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Moira Macdonald - seattletimes.com</span></a></center><br />
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It's been a year of great performances by dogs: Uggie in "The Artist," Cosmo in "Beginners," Blackie in "Hugo," and others. While none of them, alas, competed for an Academy Award, they join a long tradition of famous movie dogs. Here, in the spirit of last week's nostalgia-flavored Oscars, are five barks from the past: <br />
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<b>Rin Tin Tin</b><br />
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The first great movie dog had a personal story that seemed made for the silver screen: The handsome German shepherd was one of a litter of puppies found on a battlefield in France in 1918 by a young American soldier. Brought home to California, he was filmed at a dog show for a newsreel and quickly caught the eye of Warner Bros., where he became one of the biggest stars of the 1920s in such silent films as "Where the North Begins," "Shadows of the North," "Clash of the Wolves" and "A Dog of the Regiment." In his prime, he received thousands of fan letters a week. In her book "Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend," Susan Orlean writes that Rin Tin Tin received the most votes for the Oscar for best actor in the ceremony's inaugural year, but that "the Academy, anxious to establish the new awards as serious and important, decided that giving an Oscar to a dog did not serve that end." Rin Tin Tin died in 1932, and his marker in Paris' Le Cimetière des Chiens reads "Rin Tin Tin / Le Grande Vedette Du Cinema" (The Great Film Star).<br />
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<b>Skippy (Asta)</b><br />
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Trained by the famed Hollywood animal trainer Frank Weatherwax (whose brother Rudd would later introduce a dog named Pal, renamed Lassie), Skippy was a pert wire-haired fox terrier who shot to fame as Asta, the famously scene-stealing dog belonging to Nick and Nora Charles (William Powell and Myrna Loy) in the "Thin Man" movies. Though Loy noted in her autobiography that Skippy "bit me once, so our relationship was hardly idyllic," his character was enormously popular, causing the breed's popularity to surge. Skippy — whose name was changed to Asta — appeared in the first two "Thin Man" movies; look-alike substitutes then took over the role. He later appeared as Mr. Smith in "The Awful Truth" (in which he was the subject of a custody dispute between Cary Grant and Irene Dunne) and as Katharine Hepburn's aunt's dog in "Bringing Up Baby," and retired in the late 1930s.<br />
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<b>Terry (Toto)</b><br />
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Terry, a female cairn terrier, appeared in a handful of films before being cast in surely the greatest movie-dog role ever: Toto, in 1939's 'The Wizard of Oz." She was found after a lengthy search by MGM, which was seeking a dog who looked exactly like the original drawings in L. Frank Baum's book. Though paid the princely sum of $125 a week (more, reportedly, than many of the Munchkins got), it was not an easy shoot: Terry had to be replaced by a look-alike for a few weeks after one of the Wicked Witch's soldiers accidentally stepped on her foot, spraining it. Owner/trainer Carl Spitz renamed her Toto after the film. She died in 1945, and is now memorialized by a statue erected last year at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles. The inscription on its base reads, in part, "There's no place like home."<br />
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<b>Pal (Lassie)</b><br />
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Though many generations of collies would play Lassie on film and television, the first was Pal, an elegant male trained by Rudd Weatherwax. Legend has it that Pal was not originally cast to star in 1943's "Lassie Come Home," with Roddy McDowell and Elizabeth Taylor, but was signed as a stunt dog. Pal, making his film debut, nonetheless so impressed director Fred M. Wilcox in an early stunt (crossing a raging river) that he was given the lead role. The film was a big hit, and the dog, renamed Lassie, went on to star in a series of "Lassie" films. He also performed in the first two episodes of the 1950s TV series "Lassie," before handing the role to his son, Lassie Junior. Pal died in 1958; nearly all of the many dogs who have played Lassie in decades of the TV show and subsequent movies were his descendants.<br />
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<b>Spike (Old Yeller)</b><br />
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Ask a baby boomer to name their favorite weepie, and you just might hear the title "Old Yeller," a 1957 Disney film about a farm boy (Tommy Kirk, who later went on to play a dog himself in "The Shaggy Dog") and his dog in 1860s Texas. The heroic title character was played by a Labrador retriever/mastiff mix named Spike, a former L.A. shelter pup trained by Frank Weatherwax. Like Pal, Spike didn't get the part at first; producers thought he was too friendly and playful to play a scrappy stray. Weatherwax brought him back for a second audition (after giving him, presumably, some lessons in acting tough) and he got the part. Spike later appeared in the 1959 version of "A Dog in Flanders" and several television shows.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Teach Dog to Behave When </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">a Visitor Comes Knock-Knocking</span></center><center><a href="http://www.kansas.com/2012/03/03/2239693/teach-dog-to-behave-when-a-visitor.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Lisa Moore - McClatchy Newspapers</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W5ruU4CWHIc/T1LDfkPDxfI/AAAAAAAAPno/2MgK9YVwnXE/s1600/2-pt6.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="374" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W5ruU4CWHIc/T1LDfkPDxfI/AAAAAAAAPno/2MgK9YVwnXE/s400/2-pt6.bmp" width="247" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Playing with your dog in the front yard may help to “demystify” the environment and encourage your pet to be better behaved when visitors come to your front door.</em></span></center><br />
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I work with many dog owners on a variety of door issues involving their canines: darting out the front door and running off, incessant barking when the doorbell rings, jumping on people entering through the door, etc.<br />
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Dogs usually become highly aroused with anything associated with the front door, because experience shows them that there is something — or someone — exciting on the other side, and that freedom and exploration into the world beyond the door is a possibility.<br />
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We help to create this behavior in our dogs simply by responding each time there is a knock or ring at the door, and while our attention and focus is on the person at the door, our dog’s behavior is poorly managed.<br />
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I spend a lot of time desensitizing my dogs to the various stimuli associated with the front door. I know for certain that I do not want my dogs darting out the door, and I don’t want them to bark or jump up on people entering my home. Rather than wait for these troubling habits to form, I have a few tricks that I do with my dogs to prevent these unwanted behaviors from forming in the first place.<br />
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When I have a new puppy or dog to house-train, I will very often use the front yard for elimination purposes. I always take the dog out on leash, but these frequent visits to the front yard help to “demystify” the environment.<br />
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My thought is that if my dog is consistently denied access out front, but I get to go in and out as I please, I’m creating a natural curiosity about the world beyond the front door, and my dog’s curiosity will drive him to get out that door just to see what all of the fuss is about. So instead, we frequently go out in the front yard — to eliminate, to get the mail, to watch the garbage truck come and go, etc. This way, my dog is no more excited about going into the front yard as he is about going into the back yard.<br />
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I rarely pass by my front door without knocking on it. My dogs hear the knock at the door, or the ring of the doorbell nearly every day, and do not associate either sound with the presence of a person on the other side. <br />
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Think about how many routine beeps, rings and other noises your dog hears on a daily basis, but doesn’t bark at. The reason he barks when he hears a knock or a doorbell ring is because he has associated that sound with activity at the front door. My dogs rarely even look in the direction of the door when hearing the knock or doorbell; most of their previous experiences indicate there is nobody on the other side of the door.<br />
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I teach all of my dogs to go to a specific place (usually their own bed or mat) and lie down when instructed to do so. This comes in quite handy when <br />
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I actually have a person at the front door. When someone knocks or rings my doorbell, I send each dog to its place to lie down before opening the door. This way, I can deal with the person when I open the door, perhaps even invite him or her inside, without any unwanted behavior occurring from my dogs. They can’t bolt out the open door and can’t jump on the visitor, because they are lying down on their mats.<br />
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I usually wait a few minutes before releasing my dogs from their mats when I have company. This way, my dogs can get accustomed to the new person in the house from a distance at first, so when they are allowed to come into contact with my guest, their behavior is calmer and more relaxed.<br />
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With just a few simple concepts, taught over a period of time and maintained by my frequent knocking and ringing of my own doorbell, I can enjoy the benefits each time a visitor comes to the house. I find this a much better approach than scolding my multiple dogs and having to hold onto collars while I try to let someone in the house, and having to apologize for my dogs’ rude and jumping behavior. This “peace at the front door” can be accomplished with your dogs, too, with a small investment of time, and the right instruction of a trainer focused on teaching behavior, rather than correcting mistakes.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Divorce Lawyers: </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Pet Custody Cases Increasing</span></center><center><a href="http://yourlife.usatoday.com/sex-relationships/story/2012-02-29/Divorce-lawyers-Pet-custody-cases-increasing/53301298/1"><span style="color: #274e13;">usatoday.com</span></a></center><br />
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LOS ANGELES – They still fight like cats and dogs in divorce court. But more and more they are fighting about cats and dogs.<br />
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Custody cases involving pets are on the rise across the country.<br />
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In a 2006 survey by the 1,600-member American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, a quarter of respondents said pet custody cases had increased noticeably since 2001. The academy is due for another survey, but there is no doubt such cases have grown steadily since then, said Ken Altshuler of Portland, Maine, a divorce attorney and AAML president.<br />
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If there is a child involved in a divorce, many judges will keep the pet with the child, attorneys said.<br />
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"But what do you do when the pet is the child?" Altshuler asked.<br />
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Breakups in same-sex marriages, civil unions and domestic partnerships are among reasons pet custody fights have become more common, attorneys said.<br />
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Pet custody cases have grown as much as 15 percent in his office over the last five years, said attorney David Pisarra of Santa Monica.<br />
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He is his own best example. He shares custody of 8-year-old Dudley, a longhaired standard black-and-tan dachshund, with his ex, who has remarried and introduced a step-dog to Dudley.<br />
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Pet consultant Steven May hired Pisarra six years ago to handle his divorce. Besides a daughter, May and his ex worked out custody of three dogs, two cats and Tequila the parrot.<br />
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Pisarra and May became good friends and often take their dogs for walks in Santa Monica. They also teamed up last year to write a book about co-parenting a pet with an ex titled "What About Wally?"<br />
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Pets are considered property in every state in the country. For years, they have been divvied up like furniture during divorce proceedings. But times are changing.<br />
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"Judges are viewing them more akin to children than dining room sets. They are recognizing that people have an emotional attachment to their animals," Altshuler said.<br />
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"There is a shifting consciousness," Pisarra said. "Pets are being given greater consideration under the law."<br />
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More people have pets than ever before and they consider them part of the family rather than possessions, said Silvana Raso, a family law attorney with the Englewood Cliffs, N.J., law firm of Schepisi & McLaughlin.<br />
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"People are not embarrassed to fight for custody of a pet today. In the past they might have shied away from it because society didn't really accept a pet as anything other than an accessory to your life," she said.<br />
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When Pisarra and Jay Redd (who wrote an introduction in the book) split up, they agreed to share Dudley.<br />
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"There is no law that recognizes visitation with an animal," Raso said, so couples have to work it out themselves.<br />
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Reaching a pet custody agreement without a lot of help from attorneys and judges will save money, Raso said. Divorces can cost $1,000 and be resolved quickly or cost millions and take years.<br />
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Pet decisions are often more agonizing to make than those about mortgages, credit card debt or student loans, Raso said. But if they can be resolved, the rest usually goes smoother.<br />
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After their 2006 breakup, Pisarra and Redd worked out shared custody, long-distance visitation and a new family (including a beagle) in Dudley's life, Pisarra said. Today, they live in the same city, so visitation no longer includes flight time.<br />
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The two have a plan for everyday, vacation and holiday schedules, travel arrangements, doggie daycare, boarding, food, treats, grooming, vet care, moving and end-of-life decisions. They split costs and sometimes, with things like toys, leashes and dog bowls, they buy two of each so Dudley has one at each home.<br />
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May and his wife Nina (who also wrote an introduction for the book) separated six years ago after 16 years of marriage. "Everything was fresh and raw. It was not easy."<br />
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It's taken time, but he and his ex live about two miles apart in West Los Angeles now and sharing custody of their daughter and pets is easy, he said. To make it work, "you learn the true meaning of concession," May said.<br />
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The three dogs the couple had then have died, but Winnie, his 3-year-old Cavalier King Charles spaniel, is very much like a family pet, said May, a consultant to veterinary and other pet-related companies.<br />
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Most of the time, custody battles grow out of love. But there are cases rooted in spite or retaliation.<br />
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Pisarra represented a man whose estranged wife had the family's two German shepherds euthanized. "They were his running dogs. It was really cruel and he had no recourse," he said.<br />
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In years past, pets could not be protected in domestic violence restraining orders in any state. But because abusers can use pets to threaten victims, maybe even kill the animals, the laws have changed in states like Maine, New York, California and Illinois. Other states are looking into changes. And there will be changes in other laws too, Altshuler predicted.<br />
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He believes there will one day be statutes for pets, much like there are for children, giving judges guidelines to rule by.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Minnesota Pets Lead Nation in Worst Teeth</span></center><center><a href="http://www.boston.com/community/pets/articles/2012/02/27/massachusetts_has_among_worst_pet_teeth/"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Zootoo Pet News Staff</span></a></center><br />
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As National Pet Dental Health Month continues through March, many organizations are working to promote good oral care in pets.<br />
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To root out those areas in the United States with the highest rates of pet dental disease, Banfield Pet Hospital’s internal research team, Banfield Applied Research & Knowledge (BARK), determined a list of states with the “Worst Pet Teeth in America.” Using Banfield’s patient database of over 800 hospitals, states were ranked by the percent of dogs and cats diagnosed with dental disease in Banfield Pet Hospitals in 2011.<br />
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Topping the list is Minnesota, where in 2011, Banfield diagnosed 69 percent of dogs and 73 percent of cats with dental disease.<br />
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Additionally, during the month of February, Banfield is offering an online coupon for a free office visit and dental consultation, which can be downloaded from www.banfield.com.<br />
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According to Banfield's findings, here is the list of the Worst Pet Teeth in America:<br />
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1. Minnesota<br />
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2. Utah<br />
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3. South Carolina<br />
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4. South Dakota<br />
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5. Rhode Island<br />
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6. Colorado<br />
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7. Virginia<br />
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8. Tennessee<br />
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9. Arizona<br />
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10. Illinois<br />
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11. Maryland<br />
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12. Michigan<br />
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13. Massachusetts<br />
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14. Florida<br />
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15. California<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">NO Indoor Pets!</span></center><center><a href="http://www.mccookgazette.com/story/1821375.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">by Jennifer Morgan - mccookgazette.com</span></a></center><br />
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The way my kids talk, you'd think I was the cruelest mom ever for not letting them have pets in the house, and by cracky, when they grow up and have their own house, they're gonna have as many inside pets as they want, so they tell me. In which, I respond, "Go ahead, knock yourself out, but you're not bringing them home for Christmas." <br />
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"Why, why, why?" is all I ever hear. Why can't we just have one of those adorable kittens from the FREE box? Why can't we bring home the lonely puppy at the shelter that "is SOOO cute" and licks their face? <br />
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When I remind them they, indeed, already have two pets that are starving for attention in the back yard, they try to convince me it's not the same. If my kids had their way, our house would be filled to the gills with every cute kitty and stray dog, or reptile, they ever came across. Then I'm sure our family would be featured on the next reality show about animal hoarders. <br />
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I don't know what my girls are barking about, when they were little I got them a fish. Last time I checked, a fish is an indoor pet, but apparently that didn't cut it. Or perhaps it was the fact I couldn't for the life of me keep those darn fish from floating belly up. <br />
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Last summer, their nagging was starting to make me feel a little guilty, especially for my animal-loving middle daughter, so for her birthday I was bound and determined to find the perfect indoor pet, that she would love and wouldn't be a burden on me. So, I asked around to my friends, Googled "cheap and easy house pets," and spent a few hours in meditation and prayer. Finally after much research and reflection, and a little thanks to the toy store at the mall, I decided miniature frogs was the answer. The frogs were a hit! Not just with her but her sisters too. Finally, I'd solved the indoor pet problem! <br />
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NOT! As with all pets, the initial excitement wore off. Now, guess who, checks on the frogs, cleans their habitat, feeds 'em and had to fish out the bloated, dead one who didn't fight for his food? The girls still love them, just as they do the dogs, but ol' Mom has somehow taken over responsibility of them. That is one of my main arguments about the whole indoor pet idea. It's just ONE more creature I have to take care of. <br />
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When I try to defend my stance on No Indoor Pets and present my six main reasons why it's not a good idea right now, it falls on deaf ears. The girls chime together in begging unison, insisting that I will not have to lift a finger for the new animal. They'll take full care of them on their own, take 'em on walks, clean up their messes, and even pay for their food. (With what money, I have no clue.) <br />
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However, I know for a fact, those girls are full of baloney. They said they'd do the same thing several months ago when Hubby threatened to get rid of our dogs, and now we practically have to demand they go out play with them or heaven forbid, help pick up their poop. The girls seem content to watch me out in the frozen backyard with a plastic grocery sack rubber banded over my hand picking up 217 piles of dog poo. Usually, after about 20 minutes, my oldest will pop her head out and ask, "Did you want some help? I feel bad that you're out there by yourself." Then she'll pause for a half a second and head back inside. She apparently doesn't feel THAT bad. <br />
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I don't know what's worse, though, spending over an hour collecting three full sacks of dog poo all by myself, or having my oldest daughter help me and hearing her gross out the whole time. She acts like it's the worse job ever in existence. I'm pretty sure she has physically gagged a few times. I told her three main things I do to get through it, "don't ever breathe through your nose, don't look directly at it, and leave the fresh piles for last", but she doesn't listen. Then I told her to pretend like it's an Easter egg hunt, but she just couldn't get over the stench, so that didn't work either. <br />
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I don't trust my 5-year-old to manhandle poo duty without a making a huge mess of it, and it seems my middle daughter is conveniently gone when a nice enough day comes along to tackle that job. Hence, my point -- if the girls can't even help take care of the critters that are currently with us, then how in tarnation, do they think they take care of any new ones. So, as of right now, my rule stands, NO indoor pets!<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">6 Tips to Save on Pet Medical Expenses </span></center><center><a href="http://www.moneytalksnews.com/2011/07/06/6-ways-save-pet-medical-expenses/"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Brandon Ballenger - Money Talks News</span></a></center><br />
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People love their pets like family – dogs are man’s best friend, and well, pretty much anything cute and furry is a woman’s BFF. So it’s not surprising to hear a survey report that 91 percent of pet owners in the U.S. and Europe would give up their vacations to pay for a pet’s surgery.<br />
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That’s from Grey Healthcare Group. But this, from The New York Times, is surprising: Only about 3 percent of Americans have pet insurance. As we reported just last week, that can mean more than $1,500 in out-of-pocket expenses on things like torn ligaments and medical care resulting from eating what they shouldn’t.<br />
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Pet care is a growing industry – there are the traditional offerings, like vet visits and grooming. And then there are things like pet bakeries and pet resorts. It’s getting a little crazy, and doggone expensive. But pet health is more important than pet luxury. <br />
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Dr. Anvita Bawa also says insurance is a good idea for high-maintenance animals. “Especially bulldogs, rottweilers, and Dobermans,” says Bawa. <br />
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Policies can be as cheap as $15 a month, although there are still deductibles and co-pays.<br />
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But as Stacy mentioned, many pet policies won’t cover preventative care, older animals, or breed-specific genetic conditions – read the fine print and find out if your critters will get coverage worth the price. Here are some other ways to save, insured or not:<br />
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1.Check out the local animal shelter. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has local listings for animal shelters. These places may offer discounted services and cheaper (sometimes even free) vaccinations. Plus, they work for animals, not for profit – so they may be a good source for recommendations and referrals as well. <br />
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2.Comparison shop. Just like doctors who treat two-legged patients, vets don’t all charge the same rates. Visit HealthyPet.com for local listings of vets accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association. Then call them up and get some quotes. <br />
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3.Find cheaper prescriptions. Compare the prices your vet charges with online and local stores, including warehouse stores. Ask your friends and animal shelter workers what they use. There are plenty of places to find pet medications online: Just do a search for “Pet Medications.” <br />
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4.Pet sitters. Sometimes you need someone to watch your animals while you’re out of town. Last year, we wrote about sitter scam artists who robbed houses: The same story explains how to find a trustworthy pet sitter. If your family and friends can’t do it, try PetSitters.org or Pet Sitters International, where you should be able to find a good local sitter for $15-$35 a day. <br />
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5.Take good care of your pets. This sounds straightforward, but it’s easy to miss if you have a busy lifestyle. Make sure your pets are getting a proper diet – some animals have very specific needs. (This doesn’t mean generic pet food is bad, as long as it has the right ingredients.) Make sure they get enough exercise, and that you follow all your vet’s recommendations. Don’t skimp on preventative care like vaccines. Spend enough time and money to save yourself heartache and debt later. <br />
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6.Prioritize your pet budget. Many people treat their pets like kids, and it’s natural to want to spoil them. If you have the money, that’s OK. But remember that health is more important than luxury, and animals don’t need a lot of expensive toys or high-priced food. Unlike kids, they have no sense of how much money you spent. Your time and affection are worth more than what’s in your wallet.<br />
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John Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569650383063644384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5310501782946920789.post-17055928206740026252012-02-27T20:52:00.004-08:002012-02-27T20:56:37.317-08:00Dog Swallows 3-Inch Knife<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Barking Dog Credited with Saving Family from Fire </span></center><center><a href="http://tribune-democrat.com/latestnews/x2054916752/Morning-briefing-Barking-dog-credited-with-saving-family-from-fire"><span style="color: #274e13;">tribune-democrat.com</span></a></center><br />
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SOUTH PARK – A Pittsburgh-area family is crediting their quick-thinking pooch with alerting them to a fire in time to escape the flames.<br />
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Raven, an American bulldog, noticed the flames inside her South Park home early Sunday morning and started barking.<br />
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The dog’s parking rousted the family and they were able to get out of the house safely. The home was badly damaged.<br />
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Ryan Bougher tells KDKA-TV he’s thankful Raven saved his family. He says Raven is “an amazing dog.”<br />
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Fire officials say the blaze apparently started near the home’s fireplace. The cause of the fire is under investigation.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Uggie the Dog Wears 18-Carat Gold</span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"> Bone Bowtie at Oscars!</span> <br />
<a href="http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/uggie-the-dog-2012272"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Justin Ravitz - usmagazine.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dRtLQLykGok/T0xBZMKyg0I/AAAAAAAAPmU/8Ur-O8u9IZ4/s1600/27-p4.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dRtLQLykGok/T0xBZMKyg0I/AAAAAAAAPmU/8Ur-O8u9IZ4/s400/27-p4.bmp" width="349" /></a></div><br />
<center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>What a dashing dog!</em></span></center><br />
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Uggie, the canine costar of The Artist, looked his absolute best ascending the podium to accept the Best Picture Oscar alongside director Michel Hazanavicius, stars Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo and other cast and crewmembers.<br />
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For his big moment, Uggie wore a custom-made Chopard bowtie of 18 carat gold and satin. Designed by Chopard's Co-President and Artistic Director Caroline Scheufele, the dog-boned shaped charm featured Uggie's name; now that Uggie's big night is over, the piece will be auctioned off with proceeds going to The Amanda Foundation, which helps homeless animals.<br />
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Sadly, the 10-year-old Jack Russell terrier (who is the constant companion of Dujardin's character, George Valentin, in The Artist) is retiring from film due to a mysterious neurological disorder, one he suffered through while shooting the film.<br />
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"It comes and goes," trainer Omar Von Muller told the Daily Mail recently. "It is a shame this has happened when he is getting the biggest success of his career, but we feel the best thing to do is to retire him after the Oscars."<br />
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Director Michel Hazanavicius added to Reuters that his flick would "never have been the same movie without the dog."<br />
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Sarah Clifford helped train Uggie for the film and marveled about his dramatic skills. "There was a take where Uggie actually reached out and tried to pull the gun out of his (Jean's) hand with his mouth. He put his mouth on Jean's hand and started pulling his hand. We were so stunned. He wasn't told to do that."<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Dog in Recovery After Devouring 3-Inch Knife </span></center><center><a href="http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/46480579/ns/today-today_pets_and_animals/"><span style="color: #274e13;">msnbc.com</span></a></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: #cc0000;">A bull mastiff in Massachusetts is recovering after having the cutlery surgically removed</span></center><br />
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ROSLINDALE, Mass. — A 118-pound bull mastiff from Roslindale had to have a knife removed from her stomach. <br />
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The dog, named Bean, swallowed a three-inch knife and a wedge of cheese. <br />
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"She ate a whole wheel of cheese. The plastic that it was wrapped in, she ate everything. It was about a pound of cheese," said, Sean Berte, Bean's owner. "I looked for [the knife] in the couch and underneath the couch, and underneath the rugs, but I knew she had eaten it." <br />
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Doctors at Angell Animal Medical Center had to perform surgery to remove the knife. <br />
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“When Bean was presented, we took radio graphs and confirmed that yes indeed there was a knife there,” said Dr. Michael Pavletic, director of surgery at Angell Memorial Hospital. “And based on its size we had to remove it surgically.” <br />
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This is not the first time the doctors have seen something like this. <br />
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“We see a lot of foreign bodies and some of them are seasonal, for instance during the summer, during cookouts, we see a lot of corn cobs, peach pits, even teriyaki sticks what are used for barbequing,” said Pavletic. “But we’ve removed anything from socks, undergarments, towels, parts of the rug.” <br />
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"She's eaten everything. Anything she can get her hands on she'll eat. But the knife is what kind of really put the fear in me," said Berte. <br />
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As for Bean, she is fine and at home recovering. <br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Pets Get Own Ambulance</span></center><center><a href="http://www.news-press.com/article/20120227/SS13/302270002/Pets-get-own-ambulance"><span style="color: #274e13;">news-press.com</span></a></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: #cc0000;">Operating for just a few weeks, Emergency Pet Transport has logged about a dozen calls so far.</span></center><br />
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Mike Arsenault’s idea begs for an “of course!” once you hear about it. It’s like the self-sticking envelope, the wet-wipe floor mop, the one-cup coffee maker.<br />
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And so after a bit of research, during which he found nearly no businesses of the type, just a couple of outfits in other states that had medical transport vans for pets, the medical-supply salesman found an ambulance for sale in Ohio and bought it. And before long, Arsenault and his wife, veterinary cardiologist Wendy, had a new aspect to their Bonita Springs practice.<br />
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Operating for just a few weeks, Emergency Pet Transport has logged about a dozen calls so far.<br />
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The ambulance had just 40,000 miles on it, Mike Arsenault said, and was outfitted for the medical devices needed. There was a way to hook up oxygen, to store gauze and a gurney and sharps and a defibrillator. “No muzzles,” but just about everything else, Wendy said, smiling.<br />
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The pets to whom she administers emergency care are always “patients” when she talks about them.<br />
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Which is fitting, since many people do consider their pets family members, particularly in this area with its large retired population.<br />
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“We hear very commonly ‘I don’t have children. This is my child,’” said Wendy Arsenault, who followed four years in college earning an undergraduate degree in accounting with four years of veterinary school, an internship and three years specialty training in cardiology. Southwest Florida Veterinary Specialists on Old 41 Road includes six animal doctors.<br />
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She traced her career choice back to the family’s 9-year-old English springer spaniel who had a heart condition. “That was probably my first memory of a veterinary visit. She had an EKG.”<br />
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She’s been in business in Bonita Springs for five years, the past 1½ years as a 24-hour emergency clinic.<br />
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Most of her business comes from other veterinary offices, when the problem requires specialized care. If the family’s vet calls and believes emergency transport is needed, a qualified staff member talks the caller through stabilizing the animal and being prepared for anything that might happen before the Emergency Pet Transport arrives. The service is offered all over Lee and Collier counties. It may take 15 or even 30 minutes to convey instructions, arrange payment and get the ambulance dispatched. Meanwhile, staff at Southwest Florida Veterinary Specialists is readying supplies and items for the pet’s hospital arrival. The ambulance, usually driven by Mike Arsenault, can’t put on flashing lights or ignore traffic laws.<br />
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Fancy George, a 9-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, is home now with Betsy and Ed George. But earlier this month, she had something wrong with her throat, said Ed George, and it required a call to Arsenault’s ambulance service, and then an operation.<br />
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The Georges of Bonita Springs were very relieved to know that the pet EMS service was available. “She’s one of the family,” said Ed.<br />
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Her favorite thing to do, he said, is “eat.” Thanks to the emergency service, she can indulge again.<br />
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Many owners spare no expense when it comes to treating four-legged family members.<br />
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In June 2010, an Associated Press and Petside.com survey about pet health expenses showed a majority of pet owners would pay $500, fewer than half $1,000. A full third said they would pay $2,000 or more. Willingness to spend money on pet health held true regardless of the owner’s income. Those who made $50,000 or less annually answered about the same as those earning more.<br />
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Also according to the AP and Petside.com, owners spend an average of $505 annually in veterinary bills.<br />
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Wendy Arsenault says she offers only services that the family’s regular veterinarian does not. That would include at-home euthanasia, if the regular vet doesn’t handle it.<br />
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Oxygen-dependent animals, post-operative patients who need overnight care and critically ill or injured animals benefit from this service, which can cost anywhere from $95 to “hundreds of dollars,” she said, depending on the travel time and what the pet needs.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Cat That is Rescued Becomes Rescuer: </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Saves Owner’s Life</span></center><center><a href="http://www.examiner.com/pet-news-in-national/cat-that-is-rescued-becomes-rescuer-saves-owner-s-life"><span style="color: #274e13;">Howard Portnoy - examiner.com</span></a></center><br />
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Rescuing a pet is good karma—and not just for the animal. A Wisconsin woman learned this lesson firsthand.<br />
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On February 18, Amy Jung suffered a diabetic reactive seizure that could have been life-ending were it not for Pudding, one of two cats she had adopted 10 days earlier.<br />
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According to the Green Bay Press Gazette, the 21-pound, orange-and-white cat sensed something was wrong with his owner and sprang into action:<br />
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Pudding planted his weight on her chest and, when he could not wake her, began swatting her face and biting her nose.<br />
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It worked. She woke up and the convulsions stopped long enough for her to call to her son for help. When Ethan did not respond to the calls, the cat ran to his room and jumped on his bed.<br />
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Ethan later told her that he didn't know anything was wrong until the giant cat landing on the bed woke him up.<br />
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Amy and Ethan Jung did not intend to rescue a cat when they drove to the Door County Humane Society on February 8. Their goal, rather, was to spend some quality time with the kitties.<br />
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But when Amy saw Pudding lying on a counter, she made the decision on the spot to adopt him and his pal Wimsy. Little did she suspect at the time how fortuitous a move it<br />
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The day after her episode, she spoke with her doctor about the seizure and the cat's unusual actions. The doctor told her he had heard of animals alerting their owners to health crises but had never known of anyone who had actually experienced this phenomenon.<br />
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Amy is sold on Pudding’s undeniable health benefits and has decided to register him as a therapy animal. She told reporters that Pudding will also sit at her feet and meow when her blood sugar is low.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Man Charged for Stealing His Cat </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Back from Animal Shelter</span></center><center><a href="http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20120227/NEWS/120227026/0/ENT02/?odyssey=nav%7Chead"><span style="color: #274e13;">Written by Lee Hermiston / Iowa City Press-Citizen</span></a></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>A photo of Justin Kaufman's daughter and their cat, Smokie. Kaufman was charged with fifth-degree theft for taking the cat out of the Iowa City Animal Shelter. / Photo special to the Press-Citizen</em></span></center><br />
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An Iowa City man has been charged with stealing his cat back from the animal shelter after it was impounded.<br />
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However, the man charged said the incident was “extremely ridiculous.”<br />
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“I’m going to fight it,” said 31-year-old Justin Kaufman.<br />
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According to an Iowa City Police criminal complaint, Kaufman, of 1716 Grant Wood Drive, went to the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center at 1:45 p.m. Feb. 25 to retrieve his cat. Police said Kaufman’s cat had been impounded for running at large.<br />
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Kaufman said his cat, Smokie, has gotten out a few times before. Kaufman had a chip installed in the cat after one of the escapes so animal services knew who Smokie belonged to in order to avoid future charges. The last time Smokie got out and was taken to the animal shelter, Kaufman said he didn’t have to pay any fee to retrieve him. Another time, there was no fee, but he did pay for a $10 rabies shot, Kaufman said.<br />
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This time, however, animal shelter staff advised Kaufman that he had to pay a $35 fee before he could have his cat back. Kaufman said he mentioned to the employee that he was not charged the last time his cat was picked up. When the employee went to ask a manager about the potential fee and turned her attention to another customer, Kaufman took his cat from a cage, put it in a carrier and returned home.<br />
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According to the criminal complaint, Kaufman entered a restricted area to retrieve the feline.<br />
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Kaufman said that three hours after getting Smokie back, the police showed up at his door. An officer threatened to charge him with burglary from a government institution and take him to jail.<br />
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Police said Kaufman admitted taking his cat was “not the best thing to do.” He was fined $95 for having a cat at large, plus a $35 fee from the animal shelter. Police charged him with fifth-degree theft, a simple misdemeanor.<br />
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Kaufman said he will plead not guilty to the charge.<br />
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Smokie belongs to “a loving family,” Kaufman said. However, Kaufman said the cat has been sent to live with his sister in Dubuque to avoid any further issues.<br />
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“I can’t be getting charged with bogus, trumped up charges every time he gets out,” he said.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Dog Psychic Tells All </span></center><center><a href="http://moorestown.patch.com/articles/dog-psychic-tells-all-by-marsia-mason"><span style="color: #274e13;">Marsia Mason - patch.com</span></a></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Want to know what's REALLY happening around Moorestown? Just ask Lulu!</em></span></center><br />
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While Marsia Mason is off inserting herself into other people’s columns, her dog Lulu, a famed advice columnist and psychic, will answer questions, read minds and agitate the locals. Below are some of the more interesting exchanges she’s had over the last few weeks.<br />
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Dear Miss Lulu: I am wondering what qualifies you to give advice, considering your less-than-stellar background? Love, Just Blundering<br />
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Dear Blunderbuss: Thanks for writing to a dog! The less-than-stellar background you refer to is a slight to cardboard boxes everywhere. Yes, I was thrown from a moving car, and yes, I started my life in Camden. But look where I ended up! Moorestown! If that’s not a success story, I don’t know what is. I got my "advice column" degree at Rutgers/Rowan Camden. I am "sensing" some danger in your future, due to your lack of a real name. Avoid soft pretzels, binge drinking and judgmental Jersey girls.<br />
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Dear Lulu: I’ve noticed people don’t like your owner very much. Is Marcy as vain, obnoxious and opinionated in real life? Sincerely, Town Whiner <br />
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Dear Whiny: Oh no! Marsha’s much worse. Just recently, she knocked down an old woman in the Wegman’s parking lot AND stole her groceries. She has never done a good deed in her life. She also seems to think writing a column entitles her to prate on and on about herself and her opinions. I worship her, although I wish she would get her roots touched up and give me more Milk-Bones.<br />
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Dear Lulu: The political scene in Moorestown has gotten very contentious. Have you ever considered running? <br />
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Of course I’ve considered running and DO run every afternoon on Memorial Field. Speaking of which, the drainage is so bad on the field it is carrying away my owner’s backyard. I am planning on resuscitating the snack bar there in an effort to fund my campaign in the mayoral race this fall. Surely an attractive dog like me has a shot at running this burg. My platform will be “No Plastic Fields.” I don’t know one pooch in town that likes that stuff.<br />
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Hey Lulu, it has been rumored you plan on buying one of the million-dollar liquor licenses. What kind of restaurant do you plan on opening? Love, Wiener Dog<br />
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Dear Wiener: Because the term "fine dining establishment" is open to interpretation, I am planning to open a “Doggy Diner” at the Mo’town Mall. The cuisine will appeal to both humans and canines, especially with multiple cocktails featuring amusing names like “Downward Dog” and “Dirty Water-Bowl Swill.” More and more people are treating their dogs as spoiled children, so this venture is sure to be successful and will greatly validate the widely held notion that Moorestown is "going to the dogs."<br />
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Lulu! Have you been following the GOP debates on TV? Love, Rush.<br />
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Love Rush! What a great name! That’s exactly what I get every time I watch one of the Republican debates. I don’t know about you, but I really enjoy watching the fabulously wealthy Mitt and the charmingly adulterous Newt duking it out on my very own HDTV. I love them both because of their one-syllable names, which BTW, would be perfect names for dogs. Hard for me to get behind Santorum, though. He’s a cat man.<br />
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Lu-Lu Licious! Any reading suggestions? I’m thinking us dogs need our own book group! xoxo Bark-ly.<br />
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Dearest Barkly: They don’t call me the “Book Group Whisperer” for nothing! Dog-themed books are always popular, as are books about cats dying slow and painful deaths. Bear in mind when you are drafting members, it helps to like the participants somewhat. Try not to include blowhards who think their opinions are more significant than yours and anyone with a hyphenated last name. <br />
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Dear Loo Loo: What is the future of Main Street? I love your column, although I absolutely despise you. Fondly, Where-Wazz-I?<br />
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Dear Fuzzy Wazzy: Are you off your meds this week or are you just totally obtuse? I thought so! My predictions about Main Street can be found on my website, www.Mo’townzzzzzzzz.com. Long story short? I predict someday, one of Mo’town’s elected officials will actually do something about Main Street, but not until 2021, when the new town hall is built. In Maple Shade. Next to the custard stand.<br />
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Hey you! Heard you have some insider information on the lie-berry smell. What’s it all about, doggie? Sincerely, Alfie.<br />
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It’s about famine, disease and squalor. It’s about peace in the Mideast and a pork chop in every pot. It’s about medical marijuana and the worst drug of all: the nicotine in cigarettes. Sorry! I got sidetracked for a moment. Is that a squirrel? Where was I? It is called a li-brary, not a lie-berry. And really … how would you expect a poorly maintained, leaky building to smell? Of course we would all prefer it smell like prime rib or perhaps a nice Sunday roast, but the people that use the library on a regular basis know it is a wonderful resource and pay no attention to the smell. Heck! One patron has suggested bottling the fragrance and selling it to raise money for a new facility. Oh! Sorry! That wasn’t a patron, it was a member of town council.<br />
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After standing in for Marcie this week, Lulu can be found residing in the doghouse. All further questions and comments will be considered for publication at a later date. <br />
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About this column: Marsia Mason has been writing internally for many years. She is grateful to be given a forum for her rants, opinions and recipes, although not necessarily in that order. <br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Pudgy Pets are Problematic</span></center><center><a href="http://www.sunherald.com/2012/02/27/3779714/pudgy-pets-are-problematic.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">By KATHY ANTONIOTTI - Akron Beacon Journal</span></a></center><br />
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Gabby doesn't exactly walk anymore, she sort of ambulates on her daily strolls. As she moves, her "love handles" sway from side to side.<br />
Shamefully, we have to admit that we can no longer pass her undulating fat rolls off as rippling hind-quarter muscles.<br />
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Our rescued Jack Russell terrier was a trim and svelte 16 pounds when we got her about seven years ago from a foster home near Dayton where she landed after being found running loose along a busy highway.<br />
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Today, as an elder dog, she weighs about 20 pounds. For a dog her size, each pound she gained equates to about 20 pounds on an average woman who is 5 feet, 4 inches tall. <br />
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We cheered last week when Gabby's doctor told us she had lost four ounces since her weigh-in last September, as trivial as that might seem. We were content that she hadn't gained weight.<br />
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In her defense (as well as our own), I have to say that for an 11- or 12-year-old dog, she does very well. Although she takes daily medication for a chronic illness that gives her a ravenous appetite, the added bulk doesn't seem to slow her down.<br />
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Gabby's doctors have never expressed much concern over her weight but we know we need to watch what she eats, even when she pleads for more food with those big brown eyes. <br />
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We aren't alone when it comes to overfeeding our pet. Apparently as Americans, we don't seem to understand that we are killing our pets with kindness by giving in when they want more.<br />
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Pet obesity is becoming an epidemic in America, according to a report from the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention based on the findings of its fifth annual veterinary survey. The results, issued earlier this month, noted that 94 million animals - 53 percent of adult dogs and 55 percent of cats - are classified as obese or overweight according to veterinarians. <br />
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But the fact that many people seem unaware that their pets are overweight is called the "most distressing" finding in the survey, with 22 percent of dog owners and 15 percent of cat owners saying their overweight animals are fine.<br />
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And although almost 95 percent of surveyed pet owners recognize that obesity is a problem, the number of obese pets continues to grow, according to the APOP.<br />
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"We've made fat pets the new normal," said the agency's president and founder, veterinarian Dr. Ernie Ward.<br />
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Obesity is now the leading health threat of pets, he said.<br />
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The simple truth is, being overweight has caused many of the same health problems in animals as it has in their human counterparts. Arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer and kidney disease cause pets untold misery and cost pet owners millions of dollars in medical bills each year.<br />
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"The reality 1/8is3/8 most of these cases could be avoided simply by preventing weight gain and shedding excess pounds," Ward said.<br />
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The APOP advises that an owner's best tool to fight against obesity is a measuring cup. Unfortunately, most pet owners don't use one and many don't even know how much food they should be feeding their pets, anyway. <br />
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To assist owners, the APOP has devised a weight translator to help people understand their pet's weight by comparing a human's weight gain to an animal's. To find your pet's optimum weight, go to www.petobesityprevention.com/pet-weight-translator. You will also be able to find information on the safest ways to help your pets lose excess baggage.<br />
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In the end, the advice is the same for pets and their humans: Eat less and exercise more.<br />
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Kathy Antoniotti writes about pets for the Akron Beacon Journal. She is unable to help locate, place or provide medical attention for an individual animal. If you have an idea or question about pets, write her at the Beacon Journal, P.O. Box 640, Akron, OH 44309-0640; call 330-996-3565; or send an email to kantoniotti@thebeaconjournal.com.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Senior Citizens, Older Felines </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Forming Warm Companionships</span></center><center><a href="http://republicanherald.com/news/senior-citizens-older-felines-forming-warm-companionships-1.1277716"><span style="color: #274e13;">BY AMY MARCHIANO (STAFF WRITER amarchiano@republicanherald.com</span></a></center><br />
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PINE GROVE - You could say it's the purr-fect match for senior citizens and senior pets. <br />
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The Ruth Steinert Memorial SPCA, Pine Grove, has been matching those ages 65 and older with cats five years and older since December. <br />
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Called "Seniors for Seniors," the program gives older cats a home and companion for those who otherwise might not have one or could afford one. <br />
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"It's a no-fee adoption," Jessica Bettinger, shelter manager, said Tuesday. <br />
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Cats are spayed or neutered and tested for feline leukemia. And an adoption contract is needed, which stipulates the cat is not to be left outdoors and must be returned to the shelter if it can't be cared for, along with other guidelines. <br />
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"We've placed six cats through the program," Bettinger said.<br />
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Fatty - so named because she was pregnant at the time she arrived at the shelter - is one of those cats. The 5-year-old cat found a new home with Bud Wink, 90, of New Ringgold.<br />
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Wink noticed Fatty's picture in The Republican-Herald in January and thought it would be nice to have her. <br />
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"I'll never get her," he recalled while sitting at his kitchen table with Fatty relaxing nearby.<br />
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He was surprised when he was told he could have the cat.<br />
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"I loved her right away," he said. <br />
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Donna Moyer, a neighbor, said she noticed a change in Wink after he received Fatty. Prior to getting her, Wink tended to a stray cat that had been coming around the area for months. The cat had then disappeared and Moyer said she noticed Wink was sad. <br />
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"He got so lonely. He wanted a cat so bad," she said. <br />
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Wink has a 9-year-old dog named My Girl but he said he still wanted a cat, something he's almost always had in his life. <br />
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The first thing Fatty did when she got in the house was jump on the kitchen table, he said. <br />
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"She has her own mind," Wink said. <br />
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Sleep is something Fatty does wherever she feels the urge to. My Girl has dominion over the bed and when the dog is around, Fatty keeps her distance. Both behave well together, he said. <br />
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Bettinger said cats like Fatty could stay at the SPCA for a long time since it's a no kill shelter, and the program helps both the shelter and the seniors. Fatty had been at SPCA since July 12. <br />
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"People tend to overlook them," she said of senior pets. "With the right amount of love, affection and time," they can become just like another one of the family, she said. <br />
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As of Tuesday, 15 cats were eligible for adoption, Bettinger said. <br />
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"They can come and find their match," she said.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">A New Breed of Ring Bearers Trot Down the Aisle</span></center><center><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/26/fashion/weddings/pets-accompany-couples-down-the-aisle.html?_r=1"><span style="color: #274e13;">By BETHANY KANDEL - nytimes.com</span></a></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Debbie Parsons and Brad Slayton with Major on their big day.</em></span></center><br />
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WHEN Melissa Kahn walks down the aisle at her April 15 wedding in her parents’ garden in Beverly Hills, Calif., in place of a flower bouquet she plans to be clutching a chicken, her little black frizzle cochin bantam hen that she says looks like a “fluffy pompom.” <br />
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“In theory it’s a good idea; it’s so ‘us,’ ” said Ms. Kahn, a life coach to teenage girls, who, with her fiancé, Adam Wilkenfeld, a producer for cable television, is raising six chickens at their home in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles. <br />
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“Our love of our chickens is a quirky thing we share in our life together,” she explained — “something our friends associate with us.” So much so that drawings of chickens appear on the save-the-date card and the envelope liner of the couple’s wedding invitation. <br />
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Including pets in weddings, as the singer Carrie Underwood and the hockey player Mike Fisher did in July 2010, has become just one more way for couples to personalize their weddings. (Ace, their rat terrier, scampered down the aisle in a pink, Swarovski-crystal-encrusted tuxedo.) <br />
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“We don’t want a generic wedding,” Ms. Kahn insisted. <br />
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In a 2011 study of American weddings, Brides magazine found that nearly 5 percent of brides included a pet in the wedding party, and its editors estimated that nearly double that amount had pets present during the ceremony and/or reception. <br />
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Of course, it helps if one chooses a pet-friendly location, as Debbie Parsons and Brad Slayton of Auburn, Wash., did when they married on Feb. 14 in the staging area at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York. Although Major, the 120-pound black-and-tan ball of fur that typically sleeps next to them, was the only dog in attendance, the barks, yips and growls of others served as background music during their vows. <br />
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Mr. Slayton, an instructor at a technical school, said, “He’s a part of the family, so there was never a question” that Major would be at their wedding, planned only a week before by Ms. Parsons, a fuel services executive. “I didn’t think it was very romantic, but then she said, ‘It’s Valentine’s Day.’ I couldn’t argue with that.” And to “make it a real dog day afternoon,” Mr. Slayton said, Major, a Tibetan mastiff, won best of breed at the show. <br />
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Because animals are unpredictable, the downsides to such a plan are obvious and sometimes embarrassing. <br />
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Although Ms. Kahn says her frizzle is “docile and sweet tempered,” she frets about how the chicken will react to the music, crowd and extra attention. In addition, she worries that her feathery friend could have an “accident” en route to the altar, become lunch for neighboring hawks or just be “a major distraction; after all it is our wedding.” <br />
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Steven May, a Los Angeles marketing consultant to the veterinary and pet product industry, knew that very well ahead of his own wedding, held in 2009 in Palm Springs, Calif. But nothing, he said, prepared him for the sight of his white German shepherd, an honorary maid of honor, “entering what I’ll call ‘relieving mode’ about halfway down the aisle.” He added, “When I saw her locking in to take care of business, I sort of forgot where I was, ran down from the altar, grabbed her and took her around the corner to do her thing. After we came back, everyone broke into applause.” Luckily, he said, the 5-year-old child who acted as the ring bearer didn’t get any ideas. <br />
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“For many couples, their pets are like their children or their best friends, and who wants to have a wedding without your child or best friend?” asked Colleen Paige, an animal behaviorist and the founder of the Wedding Dog, a company in Portland, Ore., that preps pets — including potbellied pigs and goats — to participate in weddings for $2,500 and up. Her own Chihuahua, Tinkerbelle, was ring bearer at her 2005 wedding to Stan Southworth at a marina in Sequim, Wash. Ms. Paige does acknowledge that “some people don’t get it and unfortunately think it’s crazy,” but that’s why she always checks with a couple that no guest is adamantly opposed to the idea, highly phobic or allergic. <br />
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It’s the little details that make incorporating a four-legged creature into a wedding a success, advised David Rousseau, a veterinarian from Essex, Mass., who spent months training his pet horse, Tré, to pull a carriage with him; his partner, Michael Carter, an interior designer in Boston; and their two dogs. <br />
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Their “family” grand entrance to the couple’s September 2010 ceremony at Castle Hill in Ipswich, Mass., went perfectly, and a designated dog wrangler escorted Tucker, an English springer spaniel, and Miss P, a pug, home afterward. But, most important, the couple remembered “to bring a lint brush to get off all the dog fur from our tuxedos before heading down the aisle,” Dr. Rousseau said. <br />
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Most pet owners take their pets’ antics in stride. Take Brandy Caldwell and Joshua Bakken, who started their wedding ceremony at the appropriately chosen Dog Beach in Coronado, Calif., on Nov. 11 at exactly 11:11 a.m. Wesley, their Weimaraner, was the best man — tuxedo and all — and Freya, their Weimaraner puppy, dressed in a flower collar, was the maid of honor. <br />
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“Despite our dogs having an extreme love for the beach and wanting desperately to run into the water, they waited patiently while we exchanged our vows,” said Mrs. Caldwell-Bakken, a veterinary technician from Phoenix. “No sooner had they pronounced us ‘man and wife,’ Wesley ducked out of his collar and ran into the waves, still wearing his tuxedo. When he came out of the water, his tux was barely hanging on, bow tie crooked, shirt open, and a look on his face, as if to say, ‘They’re married, let’s party!’ ” <br />
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The couple still managed to get some great photos, despite Freya’s attempt “to eat the roses off my bouquet,” she said. “The ceremony was as beautiful as it was a disaster, but we loved every second, and their antics had everyone laughing.” <br />
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Ms. Kahn and Mr. Wilkenfeld, meanwhile, have pledged that their chickens will play an important role in their wedding day no matter what. The brown, white and bluish-green eggs they lay will be the main ingredient in the frittatas served at the party and will be displayed in bowls as centerpieces, “Martha Stewart style,” Ms. Kahn said.</div>John Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569650383063644384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5310501782946920789.post-47480015372171653592012-01-21T02:09:00.001-08:002012-01-21T07:45:45.785-08:00Diapers for Your Pet?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">World's Smallest Working Dog Lucy </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Enjoys Her Brush with Fame </span></center><center><a href="http://gloucestertownship.patch.com/articles/tiny-lucy-enjoys-her-brush-with-fame"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Jeanne Donohue - patch.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mSaYwF-vGtw/TxRILs4Bx2I/AAAAAAAAPkc/jarFMgI8rTo/s1600/14-p2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mSaYwF-vGtw/TxRILs4Bx2I/AAAAAAAAPkc/jarFMgI8rTo/s400/14-p2.bmp" width="190" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Lucy and Sally Montufar meet Dolly Parton In the green room at the Live! With Kelly show Thursday. Photo courtesy of Sally Montufar</em></span></center><br />
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Back home in Absecon a day after hobnobbing in the Big Apple with the likes of country music diva and movie star Dolly Parton and Miranda Cosgrove, teen star of Nick's iCarly, Lucy just wanted some treats.<br />
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Clad in a pink corduroy fleece-lined coat to keep her from shivering even inside on a blustery day, the Guinness World Record-holding smallest working dog let her owner Sally Leone Montufar know her desires.<br />
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She planted her tiny haunches on the floor at Montufar's feet and made what could only be described as a persistent squeaky sneezing noise.<br />
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When you only weigh 2.5 pounds and stand 5.7 inches tall from toes to withers, this is what amounts to a bark.<br />
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Maybe you saw Lucy, a micro Yorkshire terrier who is a licensed therapy dog, in one of her many television appearances this week.<br />
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Montufar said she submitted Lucy's measurements to Guinness on a lark and got word recently she had knocked a 6.6-pound Japanese police dog out of the top spot on the list. The media went nuts for the petite perky-faced pooch with the habit of sticking out the fingernail-sized tip of her perfectly pink tongue.<br />
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Local, Philadelphia and national TV outlets carried Lucy's story and footage of her adorable little canine self doing what she does best—making people happy by visiting them in nursing homes, schools and other arenas.<br />
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Thursday's appearance on Live! With Kelly in New York City was the icing on the cake. As usual, Lucy won hearts all around, including those of host Kelly Ripa, who snuggled her under her chin onstage for a couple of minutes at the end of the show, show staffers, and Parton and Cosgrove, who cooed over her in the green room, where guests wait backstage before going on air.<br />
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Cosgrove tweeted a photo of herself with Lucy, proclaiming her awesomeness. At one point, Lucy had an entire couch to herself while humans huddled on smaller chairs admiring her, Montufar chuckled.<br />
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And why not? Lucy's really is a Cinderella story.<br />
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Montufar was working in Paw Dazzle, a Smithville pet boutique she used to own, when a lady came in with a couple of dogs she said she was taking to a shelter because she couldn't care for them anymore.<br />
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When then-11-month-old Lucy popped her head out of a designer bag, “she looked pitiful and I couldn't let her go,” said Montufar, a retired teacher from New York City.<br />
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With TLC by Montufar and her neighbor and friend Linda DeSantis, and under care of staff at Absecon Veterinarian, Lucy gained about a half pound and is the picture of health at age 3. She eats healthily, including her favorite chicken biscuits from Paw Dazzle; the vet has cautioned the Yorkie shouldn't weigh more than 3 pounds, as it would be too much heft for her mini legs to carry.<br />
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It's hard to imagine how really tiny Lucy is until you see her in person. In photos, she appears bigger because her head is rather outsized for her 6-inch-long body—bobble-head-like. Lots of guinea pigs are bigger. Even some cheesesteaks I've seen.<br />
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As she grew healthier, Montufar said she realized what a gem Lucy really is.<br />
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“She became less lethargic and much more strong, with a stellar personality,” Montufar said. “She is non-aggressive and easily trained.”<br />
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Everywhere Lucy goes, people exclaim they have never seen a smaller dog. That's how Montufar got the idea to nominate her for Guinness. It was her personality—and her size—that prompted Montufar to put her to work, so to speak.<br />
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“No search and rescue for her,” Montufar quipped. “She's not ever going to bring me the paper.”<br />
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Montufar sought out Leashes of Love, a Cherry Hill-based group that certifies therapy dogs and connects them with hospitals, special needs schools, library reading programs, correctional institutions and other places where pets can spread joy.<br />
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“She'll make someone smile who hasn't smiled in years, nurses have told me,” Montufar said. “They get out of their misery for just a few minutes.”<br />
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Lucy often leads the pack when she's around the likes of Great Danes and Siberian huskies.<br />
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“She has to hustle to move as fast as they can go in one step, but she doesn't seem to know she's the little one,” Montufar said.<br />
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Lucy's cheer is likely to be even more in demand now with her newfound fame. But, other than being busier, her life won't change much. Oh, except for the Twitter account she's likely to get soon.<br />
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When she's not visiting people, Lucy snuggles with Gabriel, Montufar's cockapoo, and acts like a normal dog, romping and playing. Like many 3-year-olds, she does not enjoy getting dressed, and has been known to run and hide under chairs, from which Montufar has to coax her out.<br />
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Lucy loves playing outside, but has to be closely watched so she's not scarfed up by hungry hawks and other predators. Cold weather, she doesn't go out at all, as her body doesn't regulate temperature well. Lucy is warm and toasty on this day, but Montufar complains the bulky coat makes her look “hippy.”<br />
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“Eighty degrees is just perfect for her; she wants it 80 degrees all the time,” Montufar said. Hey, what starlet doesn't?<br />
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Proving once again—it's a dog's world. We just live in it.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">128 Live Dogs, 1 Cat Found in U-Haul in West Tenn.</span></center><center><a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_19759472"><span style="color: #274e13;">mercurynews.com</span></a></center><br />
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MEMPHIS, Tenn.—Two women were arrested Tuesday when authorities in West Tennessee discovered 128 live dogs, one dead dog and a live cat inside a U-Haul truck and a van during a traffic stop on Interstate 40, officials said.<br />
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A West Tennessee Drug Task Force agent found the animals during a stop on I-40 in Fayette County, about 40 miles east of Memphis, said David Lytal, special agent in charge of the task force. <br />
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"He could smell the odor," Lytal said. <br />
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Lytal says the women told authorities they were taking the animals from California to Virginia, but they did not say why. The driver, Bonnie Sherman, 55, and passenger Pamela King-McCracken, 59, were booked in Fayette County jail on aggravated animal cruelty charges. <br />
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They were scheduled to have a court hearing Tuesday afternoon and had not yet secured lawyers, a jail official said. <br />
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The agent found dog kennels stacked in back of the truck. Some had overturned, allowing some dogs to get loose inside the U-Haul, Lytal said. <br />
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Some animals also were found in a van that was being towed behind the truck, Lytal said. The animals had been in the vehicles since Saturday. <br />
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Officials said the animals were to be cared for by shelters in the Memphis area.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Howling Dog Awakens Man in House Fire</span></center><center><a href="http://www.marionstar.com/article/20120113/NEWS01/201130309/Howling-dog-awakens-man-house-fire?odyssey=nav%7Chead"><span style="color: #274e13;">Written by Tabitha Clark-The Marion Star</span></a></center><br />
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MT. GILEAD - A howling dog may have saved a man's life in a house fire.<br />
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Robert Hudson, of Morrow County, told firefighters that his dog woke him up, and that's when he saw the smoke.<br />
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"He went to bed at nine. The dog apparently heard the smoke detector and was howling. He got dressed, grabbed the dog and got out. The smoke detectors and a dog howling saved his life," Chief Don Staiger of the Mount Gilead Fire Department said.<br />
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The fire call came in at 11:15 p.m. Wednesday.<br />
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When firefighters arrived at the home in the 2300 block of County Road 67 in Morrow County, the fire was in the front of the house.<br />
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"When we arrived, there was fire on the first floor. It burned through to the outside wall," Staiger said.<br />
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The front of the house was on fire, and had burned into the floor of the second story bedroom.<br />
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Hudson, the owner of the home, was not injured.<br />
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Staiger estimated the structural damage at $27,000. "There was about $12,000 to $14,000 in content damage," he said.<br />
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The fire started inside the wall above the fireplace.<br />
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Cardington and Iberia fire departments assisted the Mount Gilead Fire Department.<br />
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Morrow County EMS responded to the scene as well.<br />
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Reporter Tabitha Clark: 740-375-5155 or tlclark@marionstar.com.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Urinating Cat, Not Fire, </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Caused Smoke in Pa. Home’s Electrical Outlet</span></center><center><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/urinating-cat-not-fire-caused-smoke-in-pa-homes-electrical-outlet/2012/01/20/gIQAxY8cDQ_story.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">washingtonpost.com</span></a></center><br />
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NEW CASTLE, Pa. — One western Pennsylvania fire department learned that there’s not necessarily fire wherever there’s smoke.<br />
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New Castle’s assistant fire chief Jim Donston tells The Associated Press that firefighters were called when an electrical outlet on a floor was smoking, only to find that happened because the family’s cat urinated into the outlet.<br />
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The New Castle News (http://bit.ly/zHd1RS ) first reported the incident Friday and Donston supplied more details to the AP.<br />
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The assistant chief says a Columbia Gas worker was at the house checking for a possible leak when he noticed the smoking outlet and called the fire department Wednesday about 7:30 p.m.<br />
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Donston says firefighters “found the receptacle wet from cat urine” and shut off the electrical supply to that circuit.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Does Your Pet Have an Innie or an Outie?</span> <br />
<a href="http://blogs.webmd.com/pet-tales/2012/01/belly-buttons.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Ann Hohenhaus, DVM, DACVIM - webmd.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ShCFF-Qurk/TxmY7uiUmgI/AAAAAAAAPlM/gDcpFgVNcA8/s1600/3-pt4.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ShCFF-Qurk/TxmY7uiUmgI/AAAAAAAAPlM/gDcpFgVNcA8/s400/3-pt4.bmp" width="218" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>This is Joey, who you have met before my blog titled “The War Horse Kitten.” Not only did she have a serious esophageal problem which was corrected at The Animal Medical Center, but she also had an “outie” belly button seen at the tip of the arrow.</em></span></center><br />
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<b>What is a belly button?</b><br />
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The navel, or scientifically speaking, an umbilicus, is where the blood vessels from the placenta attach to a baby before it is born. The blood vessels are an in utero life support system providing nutrition, oxygen and waste product removal. Once a baby is born, it no longer needs the blood vessel, which then dries up and falls off. The photo of the one-day-old puppy at right shows just a scab where the blood vessel had been the day before. In an adult dog or cat, the belly button is very different than that of a human. Belly buttons are typically flat, without hair and often white like a scar. Even though pets are covered with hair, the bellybutton is easy to find since they occur at a cowlick of hair on the abdomen.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vLXQz48ERhI/TxmZHFASX3I/AAAAAAAAPlY/3ErHU_D0pTg/s1600/3-pt5.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="349" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vLXQz48ERhI/TxmZHFASX3I/AAAAAAAAPlY/3ErHU_D0pTg/s400/3-pt5.bmp" width="181" /></a></div><br />
<b>What determines an innie or an outie?</b><br />
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Outies are not very common in humans and some estimates suggest only 10% of the population has an outie. Since most births of puppies and kittens are not attended by a veterinarian, I wasn’t sure what the determining factors for the type of belly button were. I contacted a friend who is an obstetrician at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. She has delivered a lot of human babies and I thought she could shed some light on my question. My obstetrician friend says, “When a human baby is born, two clamps are put on the umbilical vessels by the obstetrician. The placenta is separated from the baby by cutting between the two clamps. When the baby is discharged from the hospital nursery, the clamp is left on the umbilical vessel, which falls off a few days later.” The clamp nearest the baby is nowhere near the belly button location and in my friend’s expert opinion, a belly button happens on its own; she has no control over whether it’s an innie or an outie.<br />
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<b>Why did Joey have an outie?</b><br />
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In some cats, dogs and people, the muscles of the abdominal wall do not close completely around the umbilical cord during development. The defect in the body wall is called a hernia and in severe cases, abdominal organs can protrude through the hole. Joey had an umbilical hernia which did not cause any medical problems but was successfully repaired at the time of her spay surgery since the umbilicus is near where the spay incision is routinely placed.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Hamster Owner Learns Lesson on Birds and Bees</span></center><center><a href="http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1396219&srvc=rss"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Katie Sampson - bostonherald.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ArUIvgFxZtg/TxQ8IWoIqJI/AAAAAAAAPkQ/-LOyKXsoxW0/s1600/14-p1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ArUIvgFxZtg/TxQ8IWoIqJI/AAAAAAAAPkQ/-LOyKXsoxW0/s400/14-p1.bmp" width="392" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>IT ONLY TAKES TWO: The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ Nevins Farm recently received 94 hamsters, including the two above, from a Lawrence owner who found himself overwhelmed after his pets quickly reproduced.</em></span></center><br />
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Once upon a time, they were his beloved furry pets. Then nature stepped in, and they were his 94 beloved furry pets.<br />
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A beleaguered Lawrence hamster enthusiast placed a desperate call last week to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.<br />
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“He said he needed help. He realized he was in a little bit over his head and sought us out,” said Heather Robertson, outreach coordinator for the MSPCA’s Nevins Farm in Methuen. “They were generally in good health, so we took a few days to prepare and sent two staff members to help.”<br />
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She said the man, who is not being identified, is not an animal hoarder. He was just a pet owner who found himself on the wrong side of biology’s arithmetic.<br />
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The nearly eight dozen hamsters, she said, were all healthy and well nourished.<br />
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“He had taken very good care of them,” Robertson said.<br />
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After collecting the rodents, staff members spent hours examining each for health problems — and separating them by gender to prevent further breeding.<br />
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Next on the agenda for the MSPCA: 94 new homes for the hamsters. Nearly half of them already have been farmed out to shelters throughout New England. Nevins Farm kept 50, many of which already have been adopted.<br />
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Adam Zimmer of North Andover, who has provided a foster home for abandoned cats from Nevins Farm for 14 years, said his son Aidan found out about the hamsters. “Then he walked around all day asking for one, so I talked to my wife that night, and we agreed we should do it.”<br />
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Zimmer took his three children to the farm yesterday. They left with three female hamsters, one for each child.<br />
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“It’s funny because one of them is a little runt, like my youngest,” Zimmer said.<br />
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Zimmer added he is happy the original owner decided to give up the animals, although it may have been difficult.<br />
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“He clearly cared for them and loved them, he just realized they were more than he could care for,” he said. “It will make a lot of families very happy.”<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Catfight Among Dog-Lovers</span></center><center><a href="http://6thfloor.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/13/catfight-among-dog-lovers/"><span style="color: #274e13;">By ARIEL KAMINER - nytimes.com</span></a></center><br />
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In this past issue’s Ethicist column, I featured two pet-related questions. And if there’s one thing that the Most E-mailed List proves, time and time again, it’s that New York Times readers ♥ pet stories. Accordingly, the column generated a bumper crop of reader comments and e-mails.<br />
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Many took up the ever-popular premise that human beings are horrible, immoral, cruel and self-serving.<br />
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In the first letter, that verdict was applied to both the aging Pomeranian-owner who contemplated euthanizing her healthy pet and the veterinarian who contemplated granting her request, as well as anyone who would consider denying that request, given the even scarier alternatives. In the second letter, that judgement was applied to the cat owner who let her pet out of the house and the neighbor whose dogs dispatched it (along with a few other neighborhood cats) and who now contemplates telling the cat owner despite her ill health. It was also applied to Peter Singer, the celebrated philosopher who, for reasons I still can’t quite figure out, agreed to weigh in on the Pomeranian’s uncertain fate. And of course it was applied to me.<br />
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But the most heartfelt comments, of course, came from those pondering the moral stature not of human beings — those pasty, warty, cranky bipeds — but of our four-legged soft-coated friends. And there the debate fell into a few armed camps:<br />
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<b>1) Dogs are precious; cat had it coming.</b><br />
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“Don’t cry on my shoulder when a dog, in his own yard, attacks your cat.” “Dog owners have absolutely no obligations to maintain a place of safety for marauding critters.” “Any cat that uses our yard as his toilet instead of it’s own deserves whatever fate it gets”<br />
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<b>2) Cats are fuzzy bewhiskered innocents; dogs are vicious killers.</b><br />
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“I do wonder about a pack of dogs that gets so jazzed up every time they see and corner a cat that they kill it. Really? Its called training and socialization.” “Think of the cats for a moment their lives should mean something to you too??” “I was upset that not much feeling was extended to the felines, and actually, was somewhat horrified that the majority of letters in response to your article did not show much concern at all for the cats, either.”<br />
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<b>3) A pox on both their houses; I like cows.</b><br />
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“Hello, I always enjoy your column and was so pleased to see you address the issue of “animal lovers” and the specifics of the animals they loved. I like cows. Cows do their business somewhere out in fields in the country, dogs leave my sidewalks a filthy, smelly wet mess of urine and uncleaned feces. I am supposed to support the A.S.P.E.A., saving dogs and donating money to help pay for the food they eat, gotten by killing other four legged creatures. … don’t get it … thanks for hoping planting a seed of thought in others. C. Diane”<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">5 Snow Safety Tips for Your Pets</span></center><center><a href="http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20120118/BLOG5204/120119813"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Lisa Steenson, N.O.A.H.- heraldnet.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xloLjsltM7k/TxmG8ArVDzI/AAAAAAAAPko/iOlfAKEPeMg/s1600/3-pt1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xloLjsltM7k/TxmG8ArVDzI/AAAAAAAAPko/iOlfAKEPeMg/s400/3-pt1.bmp" width="397" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Benton the Beagle walks through the recent snow. These five tips will help you make sure your pets stay safe in the snow. Mary Ann Macomber / Reader photo</em></span></center><br />
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It's a blizzard outside! The winter time can be a fun time to share memories with your furry friends. Here are 5 helpful tips to keep your pet safe this winter season. <br />
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1. Pets are prone to frostbite, so after your fun in the snow be sure to soak their paws in warm water (not hot) and dry them well. This ensures that no icy cold snow stays packed in the pads.<br />
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2. Keep your cat inside. Outdoors, felines can freeze. If you know of an outdoor kitty, set up an area for shelter to block the wind with blankets. Also use a hot water bottle under a blanket, they are sure to find the nice warm bed you provided for them. <br />
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3. Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death. <br />
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4. Protect your pet's paws. Salt, de-icer and other chemicals used to melt snow and ice can irritate the pads of your pet's feet. Thoroughly wipe off your pet's paws, legs and stomach with a damp, warm towel when he comes inside. Pets can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals that can also irritate their mouth when licking their paws. Safe Paws is a de-icer that is 100 percent salt-free and safe for pets to walk on. Use kitty litter or sand as an environmentally friendly alternative to salt – while it will not melt ice, it will provide better traction.Visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center more information. <br />
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5. Make sure all pets have ID tags and a microchip. A higher number of dogs are lost in winter months, as they can lose their scent in snow and ice and become unable to find their way home. Don't let your dog off the leash and make sure he wears an ID tag and has a microchip, so he can be easily returned if lost.<br />
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Your pets are part of the family, so remember to give them the cold weather care and protection they deserve! Thanks for being a pet hero.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Ask Dog Lady: Will Older Cat, </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Puppy Get Along Together?</span> <br />
<a href="http://www.cleveland.com/insideout/index.ssf/2012/01/will_older_cat_puppy_get_along.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">by Monica Collins - cleveland.com</span></a></center><br />
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Q: Although I do not have a dog yet, I read your column in The Plain Dealer quite regularly and I find it useful and interesting. <br />
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I have been thinking about getting a puppy for a while now, but cannot make up my mind because of one issue: We have an adult cat. The cat is 8 years old. Although he is not aggressive, I do not know how he will react to a new pet. <br />
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Some friends have advised me against taking a dog because they believe that the cat's life will become miserable. On the other hand, while the puppy is young, I could see that the cat may become aggressive toward it. <br />
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I would like to have peace in my house. Before I make a commitment to another animal, I would like to hear advice from a professional like you. Please let me know what realistically I can expect from having an adult cat and a puppy at the same household. How should I introduce them to each other? How to prevent/minimize aggressive behavior from one pet toward another? -- Anna <br />
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A: Here's the basic wisdom about dogs and cats living together: Better to put an old cat and a young dog together than an old dog and a young cat. <br />
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A puppy will be much more malleable and trainable around your senior feline, who knows all the tricks of the trade about how to elude the canine interloper. <br />
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There's a good chance that after a period of adjustment they will get along like ham and eggs -- smooshing on home plate when they have to. The puppy will have no reason to believe the cat is anyone but his mother; the cat, of course, will have a different opinion. <br />
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Still, as long as you give them space and time, there's every reason to believe they will get along just fine (and read the book or rent the movie "The Incredible Journey" if you need reassurance). Now, please understand Dog Lady does not have a cat. She has a senior dog who becomes catatonic at the sight of a kitty, so she might not be the best one to suggest a critter summit. You alone have the power to give peace a chance by introducing the animals happily, matter-of-factly and confidently. <br />
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I grew up with dogs but took in a rescue cat 13 years ago, my Maggie. She has been with me through thick and thin, and when my boyfriend left me, she climbed up on my lap as I cried. "Guess it's just you and me, girl!" Animals sense when something's wrong. -- Stephanie <br />
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Companion animals of all species provide implausibly simple comforts in times of stress and woe. They know far more than we can ever imagine. Thanks for sharing this magic cat story. Yes, even the felines give generously and unconditionally. <br />
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Pet perplexed? Visit askdoglady.com to ask a question or make a comment. Follow "Ask Dog Lady" on Facebook and @askdoglady on Twitter.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Diapers for My Pet? A Do or a Don’t </span></center><center><a href="http://blogs.webmd.com/pet-tales/2012/01/diapers-for-my-pet-a-do-or-a-dont.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Ann Hohenhaus, DVM, DACVIM - webmd.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u_k4snRnFNY/TxmN2FzgbRI/AAAAAAAAPk0/cc0bjusmyDg/s1600/3-pt2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u_k4snRnFNY/TxmN2FzgbRI/AAAAAAAAPk0/cc0bjusmyDg/s400/3-pt2.bmp" width="339" /></a></div><br />
I must admit, diapers for a pet seemed way over the top to me. But recently some of my patients have convinced me otherwise. Their use of diapers is only part of the medical management required to keep them active and happy members of their family. Here are their stories.<br />
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One of the obvious uses for a diaper is on a female dog in heat. If your dog comes into heat unexpectedly or if you are waiting a heat cycle before breeding her, a diaper may be a good solution. The diaper protects the furniture, rugs and floors from staining while your female dog is in heat. Don’t count on the diaper as a form of contraception, as a male dog will find a way around the diaper and you may find an unexpected litter of puppies. Always keep a female in heat away, crated or in a separate room from an unneutered male dog.<br />
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<b>Sophie</b><br />
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Sophie is another example of how helpful a doggie diaper can be. She has several medical problems which we keep in check with regular visits and a strict medication regimen. Sophie’s bladder capacity is limited since she had surgery last spring to remove a bladder tumor. Her Cushing’s disease and elevated calcium level cause her to drink more water and consequently produce more urine. This combination of problems make her use of wee-wee pads unreliable, so she wears a diaper when her owners are not home. Sophie is happy, energetic and a vital member of the family.<br />
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<b>Spenser</b><br />
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Spenser only needed a diaper for a few weeks after his bladder surgery. Surgical manipulation of the bladder made it painful for his bladder to hold much urine and it was difficult for him to wait between walks. Even though his owner walked him extra times following surgery, the diaper prevented embarrassing accidents until his bladder recovered and he could hold urine normally again.<br />
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<b>Pumpkin</b><br />
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I even have a cat patient who occasionally wears a diaper. Even though he is a neutered male cat, Pumpkin has a bad habit of spraying urine on the living room drapes. When his family wants everyone to be together in the living room, Pumpkin wears stud pants, a special form of cat diaper to prevent urine spray on the drapes. The female form of cat diapers are sometimes called queen panties since female cats are referred to as queens.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">How To Clear Cloudy Water in Fish Tanks</span></center><center><a href="http://www.allpetnews.com/how-to-clear-cloudy-water-in-fish-tanks"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Lori Thomas Dickert - allpetnews.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z9VnHeL1LMs/TxmO-yDp6iI/AAAAAAAAPlA/yU56iXiCUX4/s1600/3-pt3.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z9VnHeL1LMs/TxmO-yDp6iI/AAAAAAAAPlA/yU56iXiCUX4/s400/3-pt3.bmp" width="376" /></a></div><br />
Over time the water in your fresh water fish tank can become foggy or cloudy, making it difficult to see your colorful swimmers. There are a variety of things that cause cloudy water and once you determine the cause you can work on clearing it up.<br />
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One of the first things to consider if the water has become cloudy is the stones you are using. If you just set up your tank or just replaced the stones, they could have been dusty from the inside of the bag. If you didn’t rinse them before you put them in the tank, the water could have stirred up the dust. To find out if this is the cause, remove everything from the tank, rinse everything in hot water, then set the tank back up. Wait about an hour and if the water is still clear then the stones were the problem.<br />
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Another reason why the water could have become cloudy is insufficient bacteria growth or too much bacteria. In a new tank, it takes time for the right amount of bacteria to form so the water may appear cloudy in the meantime. The only resolution is to wait at least a few days to see if the water clears up on its own. When the water has too much bacteria it can raise the pH level and the fish will not get enough oxygen. In order to test the pH level of your water, you can purchase a tester kit in any pet store. Some pet stores will even test the water for you if you bring them a sample. Once you determine if the pH level is too high, you can purchase the conditioner.<br />
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A third cause of cloudy water could be the filter you are using. Check that your filtration system is working properly and set up according to the directions. Also make sure the pad is clean and the water is flowing freely. If you are still unsure if your filter is working properly, contact the store where you purchased it to find out more information. A working filtration system is the most important part of your fish tank.<br />
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If you are still unable to clear the cloudiness from the water, you can try removing half of the water and replacing it with fresh water. This will help to regulate some of the bacteria growth.<br />
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Most pet stores will test the water for you so if you’ve tried all of these remedies and still have cloudy water, you may need to enlist the help of the professionals!<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Morrissey: The Importance of Giving </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Your Dog Your Attention</span></center><center><a href="http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120117/NEWS/120119828/1078&ParentProfile=1055"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Louisa Morrissey - summitdaily.com</span></a></center><br />
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Last week we discussed that training a dog starts with getting their attention. This week, we will discuss how giving your dog attention can prevent several common behavior problems such as excessive barking, chewing and digging.<br />
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For domesticated dogs, humans are an important part of the family unit and we must meet their social and mental needs. This does not mean giving into jumping or pestering. In fact, removing attention by calmly and quietly walking away from a dog when they try to jump on you, even closing the door, gives a clear message that this behavior doesn't work. Once they are calm, giving them attention reinforces the correct behavior “four on the floor”. <br />
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It is also important to understand how critical attention and mental stimulation are for domesticated dogs. If these needs are not met, consequences may follow. Excessive barking is one of the biggest consequences of a dog being left alone all day. Dogs get bored, stimulated by sights or sounds, or anxious at being alone and start barking. Barking becomes a habit that is challenging to change and deserves an article of its own. However, here are a few tips to prevent barking from starting or help address a barking problem. <br />
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Make sure your dog has adequate aerobic exercise. Play games with them that engage both their bodies and their minds such as fetch, ball or nose games. These kinds of games also encourage healthy social interactions between you and your dog. Give them several chew toys that require problem solving for mental stimulation. Hire a dog walker if you are gone for long time periods. Put up visual blinds to prevent stimulation by passing people or other dogs. Additionally, new methods to address auditory stimulation called “Through a Dog's Ear” are proving effective. <br />
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Excessive chewing and digging are also symptoms of boredom, anxiety, frustration or simply not knowing what is “OK” to chew on. Catching inappropriate chewing in the act and trading out the inappropriate object for a toy, bone or something they can chew on is one of the easiest and most effective ways to teach a dog what they can and cannot chew on. Supervision of dogs when they are outside is essential to curb unwanted digging or barking. <br />
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Your company, attention and supervision are important to your dog. Addressing their social, mental and exercise requirements will prevent common unwanted behaviors and also strengthen the bond that you share.<br />
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Louisa Morrissey is a certified professional dog trainer (CPDT-KA) and owner of Skijor-n-More. She is a professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and a licensed Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog Trainer. www.skijornmore.com.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Okla. Woman, Pet Kangaroo,</span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"> Moving Out in Ongoing Feud </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">with Broken Arrow Officials</span></center><center><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57358072-504083/okla-woman-pet-kangaroo-moving-out-in-ongoing-feud-with-broken-arrow-officials/"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Barry Leibowitz - cbsnews.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hiNNGn6YNQc/Txma2M1MDrI/AAAAAAAAPlk/homF_ZFN2Ts/s1600/3-pt6.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hiNNGn6YNQc/Txma2M1MDrI/AAAAAAAAPlk/homF_ZFN2Ts/s400/3-pt6.bmp" width="306" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Irwin, the pet kangaroo in the middle of a controversy in Broken Arrow, Okla.</em></span></center><br />
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TULSA, Okla. - When we last caught up with Irwin the pet kangaroo, his owner, a woman from Broken Arrow, Okla., had been granted a city council exemption that allowed her to keep Irwin under certain conditions.<br />
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Now the case is - forgive me- bouncing back into the news, with exotic pet owner Christie Karr - forgive me again - all hopped up and moving out of town.<br />
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According to CBS affiliate KOTV, in 2011 city officials revised an ordinance, and allowed Carr to keep the kangaroo as a "therapy pet" provided she meet several conditions: get a permit, purchase a $50,000 insurance policy for any injuries inflicted by the animal, and certify the marsupial has adequate housing for its health and to meet all federal and state guidelines for licensing. <br />
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In April 2011, an anonymous donor paid the liability insurance for Irwin. <br />
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Karr, who's been diagnosed as clinically depressed, says she and her pet kangaroo are moving to live with her parents in McAlester because city workers told her they would take the animal or fine her. But Broken Arrow officials say no threats were made to seize Irwin, and that Carr has simply not filed the necessary paperwork as required by the ordinance.<br />
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"If she did not fill out the paperwork, we are going to have to take Irwin away from her," said Broken Arrow spokesperson Stephanie Higgins. "I do not see the city council denying this application," Higgins added.<br />
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Carr told KOTV she doesn't trust the city. She'll fill out the forms, she says, but until the process is completed, she and Irwin are leaving town. <br />
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As a not so incidental footnote, Irwin has had problems of his own. The kangaroo fractured his neck when he ran into a fence, and that's when Carr initially took him home and nursed him back to health.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red;"><em>*** I am dealing with a family emergency, new posts will resume in 3 or 4 weeks -- While you're here, check out our older posts -- Thanks for stopping by ***</em></span></center></div>John Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569650383063644384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5310501782946920789.post-21464157838448384482012-01-14T07:24:00.001-08:002012-01-14T07:51:22.353-08:00Cloning Your Dog<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Skier Documents Proof of Dog’s Burial, </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Escape from Avalanche</span></center><center><a href="http://helenair.com/news/local/state-and-regional/skier-documents-proof-of-dog-s-burial-escape-from-avalanche/article_e2c220a2-38fe-11e1-9294-0019bb2963f4.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">by BRETT FRENCH - Billings Gazette helenair.com</span></a></center><br />
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A Cooke City skier trekked into the Hayden Creek drainage on Thursday and found proof that Oly the Welsh corgi had indeed been buried alive and dug his way out of an avalanche that killed one of his owners just north of Yellowstone National Park.<br />
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Ben Zavora posted a video on his website, beartoothpowder.com of his trek back to the site, which showed the dog’s tracks following along a ski trail as well as a 3-foot-deep hole 40 feet below where David Gaillard, 44, of Bozeman was found buried last Saturday.<br />
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The smaller hole had fur inside and was no more than about a foot in diameter. Corgis are small dogs, weighing up to about 25 pounds and standing only about a foot tall on stumpy legs. They were bred small as herding dogs to avoid being kicked by livestock.<br />
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“We were all over the place, six of us, and we never saw or heard a thing” during rescue efforts Saturday, Zavora said in the video.<br />
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Whether the dog tried to alert rescuers is unknown. During avalanche training for search dogs, Mark Staples of the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center has been purposely buried.<br />
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“You can hear everything,” he said. “But you could be screaming and it would be hard to hear” from above.<br />
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<b>Passed on trail</b><br />
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According to the fatality report from the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center, Zavora and a companion had seen Gaillard and his wife, Kerry Gaillard, as well as Oly on the day of the accident. Zavora was on his way out of the area and warned the couple that his companion had been partially buried in a small avalanche.<br />
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The Gaillards continued and were searching for a lunch site when the avalanche broke, trapping David Gaillard and Oly. The slide narrowly missed Kerry Gaillard, who searched for almost three hours before skiing back to town for help. Both skiers were wearing avalanche beacons, but hers was old and the batteries may have been weak, complicating her search.<br />
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Zavora joined the Cooke City Search and Rescue that evening to help retrieve David Gaillard’s body.<br />
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“We were here 48 hours afterward doing an investigation and there was no sign of a dog or any other life around here,” Zavora said in the video.<br />
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<b>Return to Cooke</b><br />
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On Wednesday, four days after the incident, the small, stout dog showed up at the doorstep to the room at the Alpine Motel in Cooke City where the Gaillards had stayed — four miles and a couple thousand feet in elevation below where the avalanche struck.<br />
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“We’re thinking it took him that long to get out,” said Kay Whittle, owner of Antlers Lodge in Cooke City. “It’s just bizarre, really. I wouldn’t have believed it was possible.”<br />
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Whittle’s husband, Bill, drove the dog to Bozeman on Wednesday to reunite Oly with his family. Bill was also one of the members of the search and rescue team that recovered Gaillard’s body, so he said it was nice to deliver the family some happy news.<br />
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Gaillard’s daughter, 11-year-old Marguerite, was putting photos of Oly on poster board as a memorial Wednesday afternoon when news of the dog’s survival was phoned in.<br />
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“She found out when she was halfway done with that that Oly was still alive,” Gaillard’s stepdaughter, Silver Brelsford, told the Associated Press.<br />
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Brelsford said Oly was tired but doing well.<br />
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<b>Other incidents</b><br />
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Oly’s ordeal, although unusual, is not without precedent. According to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, in 1966 a dog was buried in an avalanche at a Colorado ski area. Although searchers organized a probe line, they found nothing. Three days later, the dog crawled out from beneath a small tree that had apparently created an air pocket and walked back to the lodge. In the spring of 1884, a dog named Bruiser was rescued from under a bunk in a snow-filled cabin 33 days after an avalanche hit a mining camp near Aspen, Colo., and killed five men.<br />
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Dogs have also been found days after their masters were killed, but it is uncertain whether they were buried in the avalanches or not. In 2004 a dog was found six days after its owner was killed in a Colorado avalanche. In 1995 a dog survived a 1,200-foot tumble when it was swept off a Colorado peak. The avalanche killed his master.<br />
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<b>Family request</b><br />
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The story of the Oly’s survival captured the attention of news agencies and people across the United States and overseas. Calls came in from Stockholm, Sweden, The Weather Channel and Fox News to The Billings Gazette seeking information.<br />
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The deluge of media interest in Oly’s story prompted the Gaillard family, who held a memorial service for David on Friday, to issue a public request:<br />
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“David’s family appreciates the tremendous outpouring of support from the community in the wake of the tragedy that claimed the life of David Gaillard. We share the surprise and delight of his dog Oly’s unexpected return. The invincible spirit of the Welsh corgi who was able to dig himself out and return after four days in the wilderness is an inspiration and a joy to all of us.<br />
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“While our family understands the media’s interest in the situation, we are focused right now on celebrating David’s life. He was a wonderful young man who made an immense contribution to the community and to regional conservation efforts. He passed away far too soon and we are deeply saddened. David’s family will not be providing further interviews and ask that the media respect that request.<br />
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“Those interested in contributing to David’s legacy are encouraged to visit www.defenders.org/dgmemorial. Thank you.” <br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Lucky Cat Survives Gas Chamber Twice</span></center><center><a href="http://www.wmur.com/irresistible/30149428/detail.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">wmur.com</span></a></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: #cc0000;">Andrea the cat is proof that felines really do have nine lives, surviving the gas chamber at a Utah animal shelter not once, but twice.</span></center><br />
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Officials at West Valley City's animal shelter told The Associated Press that Andrea hadn't been adopted for 30 days when shelter officials tried to put her to death in October. She survived, so they gassed her again. <br />
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Shelter officials detected no vital signs and presumed she was dead, placing her in a plastic bag in a cooler. A later check, however, found that Andrea had vomited on herself and had hypothermia, but was still alive. <br />
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Shelter officials said they then decided to stop trying to kill the cat. <br />
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"It was just one of those things where they thought this cat obviously really wants to live," West Valley City spokesman Aaron Crim told the Salt Lake Tribune. "Let's give it a chance to find a permanent home." <br />
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Andrea has since been adopted and shelter officials are investigating why the gassing failed, according to the AP. <br />
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"She's pretty tough, obviously," Janita Coombs, a shelter volunteer who agreed to take care of Andrea told The Tribune. "She's definitely got some will to live."<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Rescued: Beloved 14-Year-Old Cow </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Pulled from Cold Waters</span></center><center><a href="http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20120107/NEWS01/201070342/Rescued-Beloved-14-year-old-cow-pulled-from-cold-waters?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE"><span style="color: #274e13;">Written by Tre</span></a><a href="http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20120107/NEWS01/201070342/Rescued-Beloved-14-year-old-cow-pulled-from-cold-waters?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE"></a><a href="http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20120107/NEWS01/201070342/Rescued-Beloved-14-year-old-cow-pulled-from-cold-waters?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE"><span style="color: #274e13;">vor Hughes - coloradoan.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XkFY03tMleA/TwmfG-p4W9I/AAAAAAAAPiw/AUUBAtEAM4s/s1600/8-pt1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XkFY03tMleA/TwmfG-p4W9I/AAAAAAAAPiw/AUUBAtEAM4s/s400/8-pt1.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>T-Bone, a 14-year-old cow, lies on the ground surrounded by Poudre Fire Authority, Windsor Fire and Loveland Fire Departments who responded after she slipped into a cold pond at the intersection of Ketchter Road and Colorado Highway 25.</em></span></center><br />
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Firefighters on Friday night rescued a pet cow named T-Bone from a lake south of Fort Collins.<br />
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Veterinarians said she is doing OK after spending more than five hours in the icy water.<br />
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The 14-year-old cow walked down a steep bank of the partially frozen lake at Island Lake Marina sometime Friday afternoon and couldn't get back up.<br />
She slid partially into the water, and her owner, Lynn Williams, spent hours trying to rescue the brown-and-white Hereford from the lake west of Interstate 25 before calling 911.<br />
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Firefighters from several departments used rope, slings and a pulley system to haul T-Bone up the steep, muddy bank and onto a nearby road, where she was attended to by veterinarians Andi Lear and Tim Holt.<br />
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They fed T-Bone intravenously and gave her some feed to munch on while firefighters swaddled her in a blue tarpaulin and pumped in hot air from a portable heater.<br />
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"Praise the Lord," Williams said as T-Bone was winched onto the road. "Come on T."<br />
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Lear and Holt said T-Bone appeared to be in relatively good shape, given her ordeal.<br />
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She sat quietly and voluntarily on the ground for at least 30 minutes, her shivering body covered by makeshift warming tent. Lear and Holt are veterinarians with Colorado State University's Veterinary Teaching Hospital.<br />
Holt said the fact that T-Bone was sitting quietly and eating was a good sign.<br />
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"She's doing pretty good," Lear said as she fed T-Bone and wrapped the tarp a little more snugly. "She's OK now. She's had a rough day, so we're just helping her relax."<br />
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Williams said the cow is allowed to wander the area and usually stays out of trouble. She said she was amazed by the response from the local fire-rescue departments, and impressed by the way firefighters worked together to rescue T-Bone.<br />
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"She's a real old cow but she gets around pretty good," Williams said. "We love her. She's more of a pet."<br />
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Firefighters with Poudre Fire Authority, Loveland Fire Rescue and Windsor-Severance Fire Rescue worked to extricate T-Bone from the lake, with assistance from Poudre Valley Hospital EMS paramedics.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Cloning Fido: </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">South Korea's Dog Cloning </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Industry Raises Ethical Red Flags </span></center><center><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/south-koreas-dog-cloning-industry-raises-ethical-red/story?id=15309415"><span style="color: #274e13;">by DAN HARRIS and KINGA JANIK - abc.go.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-745aw0ekLvs/TwmiIWNkkWI/AAAAAAAAPi8/69hIY-7TGOE/s1600/8-pt2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-745aw0ekLvs/TwmiIWNkkWI/AAAAAAAAPi8/69hIY-7TGOE/s400/8-pt2.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Danielle Tarantola missed her dog, Trouble, so much that she paid around $50,000 to have his DNA harvested to create a clone she named Double Trouble.</em></span></center><br />
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Three years after losing her beloved dog, Trouble, the love of Danielle Tarantola's life returned from the dead. <br />
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A new puppy she named Double Trouble is an exact genetic replica of the original, developed in a petri dish by South Korean scientists in what has become a growing, high-tech and highly-controversial, industry of dog cloning. <br />
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Cloning first entered public debate in 1996, when researchers at the Roslin Institute in Scotland successfully produced Dolly the sheep, the world's first cloned mammal. Dolly opened the door for researchers across the globe to attempt to clone other animals, and there have since been successful horse, deer, cattle, dog and cat clones. <br />
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However, the laboratory environment in which these clones are developed, the surrogate mother animals who are charged with carrying the embryo clones to term, and the resulting multiple clones that sometimes have deformities are just some of the animal welfare red flags bioethicists raise with animal cloning. <br />
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Tarantola's journey to get Double Trouble started when she was 18 and she got a lovable mutt she named Trouble. She was so enamored with her new puppy, she painted Trouble's face on a wall in her house, printed his face on her pillows and on her bedspread, and dressed him up in an elaborate costumes. <br />
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"When I got married ... I had him in a tuxedo," Tarantola said. "I loved him to death. I couldn't, no, I probably did love him more than some people who were involved in my life." <br />
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Trouble died when he was nearly 18 years old, and Tarantola was crushed. <br />
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"He was like my baby," she said. "I didn't have children, so he was basically like my son. It was terrible. It was heartbreaking." <br />
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It was then that she reached out to an animal cloning company in South Korea and the only place in the world where people can have their dogs cloned. <br />
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The cost: $100,000. <br />
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At the time, Tarantola had recently lost her job on Wall Street and convinced the company to let her pay $50,000 instead because her journey was being chronicled by TLC for an upcoming hour-long special, "I Cloned My Pet," which airs on Jan. 11 at 9 p.m. ET. <br />
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"I was willing to do it for $100,000," Tarantola said. "I got a deal." <br />
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A few months ago, Tarantola got a phone call from the company's scientists, who informed her that the surrogate mother dog carrying the embryos developed from Trouble's DNA was successfully impregnated. Weeks later, the surrogate went into labor in the middle of the night, and Tarantola watched the birth over Skype. <br />
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But not all clients are so lucky. Quite often, the clones do not survive because of abnormalities or multiple clones are successfully birthed and the client only wants one dog -- but those are just part of the reason the dog cloning business is so fiercely controversial. <br />
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John Woestendiek, the author of "Dog, Inc.," a book about the dog cloning industry, said the practice is based in South Korea because it's a country with much lower ethical standards for the treatment of dogs than is the United States. <br />
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"You can rent [dogs] from farmers for the laboratory and, hopefully, everything goes OK, return them to the farmer, but everything's not going to go OK," Woestendiek said. <br />
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Woestendiek said some of the dogs used in the cloning process as egg donors or surrogate mothers are later sent back to the farms where they are killed and eaten. In South Korea, dogs are raised on farms for their meat.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Pet Pointers: Broken Bones</span></center><center><a href="http://hudsonvalley.ynn.com/content/living/569322/pet-pointers--broken-bones/"><span style="color: #274e13;">By: Lisa Chelenza - hudsonvalley.ynn.com</span></a></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: #cc0000;">A broken bone can happen in an instant. In this edition of Pet Pointers, Lisa Chelenza explains what to do if your pet has a broken bone.</span></center><br />
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Broken bones are a scary and painful traumatic event. They can happen as the result of a pet being hit by a car or an awkward landing just playing in the back yard. Even a small dog or young kitten can be injured falling from a high place. If you hear a yelp and see your pet has been injured, get them to your vet or emergency vet clinic immediately. <br />
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Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Maureen Luschini has seen lots of broken bones and tells us what steps your vet will take to treat your pet. <br />
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“First thing is to evaluate the dog’s overall health status because often times a broken leg is due to a trauma, and if they have trauma to the leg, there could be trauma elsewhere in the body. The second thing we usually do is stabilize the patient, whether that means IV fluids or pain medications. If the patient is stable then definitely pain medication is the next thing we do,” said Dr. Maureen Luschini, veterinarian.<br />
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After your pet comes home, whether you have a large or small animal, there will be more care needed with recovery taking several weeks.<br />
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“Quiet and calm, no major activity, basically lying around inside comfortable on pain medications. Go outside to go to the bathroom and then come back in, so minimum activity is required to help a fracture heal,” said Dr. Luschini.<br />
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If your vet doesn’t offer pet rehabilitation, most can recommend a pet physical therapist in your area to help your pet make a complete recovery after a serious injury. <br />
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The most important thing you can do if you think your pet has a broken bone is get them to the vet as soon as possible.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">"Bella" Becomes Most Popular Name </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">for Both Dogs and Cats</span></center><center><a href="http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/04/4161859/bella-becomes-most-popular-name.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">sacbee.com</span></a></center><br />
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BREA, Calif.- Holding tightly to the title of most popular name for dog lovers, "Bella" shot into the lead among feline fans for the first time in 2011. Though the "Twilight"-inspired moniker has reigned as top dog since 2009, "Bella" trumped "Max" in 2011 as the prime choice for cat owners with a lead of less than 10 frisky felines. Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. (VPI), the nation's oldest and largest provider of pet health insurance, sorted its database of more than 485,000 insured pets to determine last year's most popular pet names. Following are the top 10 most common names for dogs and cats, as well as birds and exotic pets: <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xmVtjBq5GZE/TwmpAIGyibI/AAAAAAAAPjU/xwGn70MxIes/s1600/8-pt4.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="339" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xmVtjBq5GZE/TwmpAIGyibI/AAAAAAAAPjU/xwGn70MxIes/s400/8-pt4.bmp" width="337" /></a></div><br />
The tendency toward selecting human names for pets appears to continue with nearly every name on the top 10 dog names list doubling as a popular name for people. Of the nearly half a million pets insured by VPI, only 13 were named "Fido," and just 17 came running to the name "Spot," which indicates a decrease in the popularity of traditional dog names. Though dog owners are rapidly adopting this trend, feline pet parents seem slightly more traditional with the names "Tiger" and "Tigger" lingering on the top 10 cat names list. <br />
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Charlie remained in the top spot on the birds and exotic pets list, which consists of the most popular names for feathered friends, lizards, gerbils, rabbits and other companion animals. Several new names debuted on the top 10 birds and exotics list this year including: "Buddy," "Angel," "Daisy" and "Coco." <br />
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Although "Bella" and "Max" remain among the most popular names for pets, thousands of others are donning monikers of a less conventional form, such as "Shooter Mclovin" and "Mr. Meowgi." To see some of the more creative monikers selected for VPI's Top 10 Most Unusual Pet Names of 2011, visit www.wackypetnames.com. <br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Do Dogs Go to Heaven? </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">The Bible Isn’t Clear, </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">but Animal Lovers Have No Doubt</span></center><center><a href="http://annistonstar.com/bookmark/17013020-Do-dogs-go-to-heaven-The-Bible-isn%E2%80%99t-clear-but-animal-lovers-have-no-doubt"><span style="color: #274e13;">by Brett Buckner - Anniston Star</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sKaHYYZvmFE/Twmj8fMd1RI/AAAAAAAAPjI/Y-YMX1ZWK04/s1600/8-pt3.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sKaHYYZvmFE/Twmj8fMd1RI/AAAAAAAAPjI/Y-YMX1ZWK04/s400/8-pt3.bmp" width="346" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Frankie the pug dog in the backyard pet cemetery where his owner, Joy Patty, has buried three previous dogs. Photo: Bill WIlson/The Anniston Star</em></span></center><br />
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Jennifer Moore can’t talk about pets without mentioning Pokey. <br />
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Moore was in the fourth grade and playing at her grandmother’s house when she all but tripped over what she thought was a rock. It turned out to be a baby turtle with a tiny crack in its shell. A born animal lover, Moore convinced her mom to make an appointment with the vet to have Pokey’s shell examined.<br />
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“My sister and I nursed him back to health, putting Vaseline on his shell daily,” said the now 30-year-old Moore, who lives in Heflin. “Every week for a year, I checked out the same book on turtles at the library. I became a young expert, or so I liked to think.”<br />
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When Moore left for college, Pokey stayed with her mom. He lived in a large cage built out of an old sandbox covered with chicken wire. A heating lamp fought back the chilly winter weather. Pokey loved people, often sticking his neck out from his mended shell just so visitors could pet him.<br />
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“At times, I swore he smiled at me,” Moore remembered. “I could even yawn in front of him and he would mimic me and yawn back.”<br />
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Two years ago, Pokey died. After being Moore’s pet for 18 years, his passing was very emotional. With tears in her eyes, Moore and her husband said a prayer before burying Pokey in the backyard.<br />
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“How could something as un-cuddly as a turtle make me cry?” asked Moore, who currently has six pets, including three dogs, two cats and a new turtle named Caesar. “The answer was simple. That turtle was part of my youth. When he died, I felt a chapter of my childhood had come to an end.”<br />
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But she also felt at peace. “I knew that Pokey was in heaven.”<br />
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Ask an animal lover if pets have souls, and the response is generally swift and certain.<br />
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“To say that only humans have souls is rather species-centric,” said Susan Sullivan of Anniston, who has two dogs, eight cats and a 19-year-old king snake named Stephen Kingsnake. “Some religions think animals are actually closer to God than humans are because of their simplicity. One can certainly learn and experience the basic tenants that loving, compassionate religions teach by caring for animals.”<br />
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<b>The Bible on animals</b><br />
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The Bible is noncommittal on whether animals have souls, or whether they’ll be in heaven. Genesis states that both man and animal have the breath of life, the main difference being that man is made in God’s own image, while animals are not. <br />
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The prophet Isaiah said God will include animals in the afterlife. “The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on my holy mountain, says the Lord” (Isaiah 65:25).<br />
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In the book of Revelation, the Apostle John’s vision included Christ and the armies of heaven “riding on white horses.”<br />
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There is no question that man and animal are different. But this difference doesn’t necessarily mean a distance or separation from God’s favor.<br />
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“Logos” is Greek for “word,” but in early Christian philosophy it meant much more. Basically, “logos” meant the “essence of the divine,” the part of God that did not stay with God at the creation, but that traveled down into the world.<br />
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While humans obviously use this logos more perfectly than the rest of God’s creatures, it’s important to note that, even though animals can’t give voice to the logos in the same way that humans do, that doesn’t mean they don’t share it, writes Ptolmey Tompkins in The Divine Life of Animals.<br />
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“In other words, even if animals don’t manifest the logos or essence of the divine in the form of a conscious, rational ability, this does not necessarily bar them from participation in the immortality of the divine life that so many traditions promise,” he writes.<br />
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“That’s why Saint Francis could address all animals as if they were his brothers without fear of going against the truth he found in the scriptures, and it’s why so many Eastern saints and holy people could treat animals as if they were their brethren, as well.”<br />
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<b>The legend of Saint Francis</b><br />
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Saint Francis of Assisi (1182-1226) was the patron saint of ecology, nature and animals, among other things, and was the poster boy for man’s harmony with nature. <br />
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Because he truly believed that all of nature was wondrous and all creatures sacred to God, Francis introduced a new way of looking at the world, one accessible to the rich and poor.<br />
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But it’s his relationship with animals for which he is most famous. It was said that birds would quiet down and listen when he preached, and there were many tales of his ability to communicate with animals. <br />
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It’s in the spirit of Saint Francis that various churches, including Grace Episcopal Church in Anniston, host a “Blessing of the Animals” service on the Sunday before Saint Francis’ Feast Day of Oct. 4. Over the years as a priest, Grace pastor Lee Shafer has blessed everything from cats and dogs to snakes – even a hedgehog.<br />
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For Shafer, who’s had both cats and dogs, it all comes down to one thing. It’s all about love,” she said. “On every level and in every bit of scripture, it’s all about love.<br />
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“Nothing shows us how to love better than animals, because their love is unconditional. That’s what we’re saying when we bless these animals. We’re affirming that they bring us joy, and it’s our responsibility to take care of them the way they take care of us.”<br />
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<b>Backyard graveyard</b><br />
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Joy Patty always knew that one day she and her husband would move to the area outside of Piedmont where she grew up. <br />
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So when two of her beloved Chinese pugs died while they were still living in Prattville, Patty buried first Tang (1983-1997), then later Rocky (1996-2004), in plastic coolers in the backyard.<br />
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Four years ago, when they bought a house on Highway 9 between White Plains and Piedmont, Patty reburied Tang and Rocky, who were soon joined by Walker (2002-2011). She added headstones for each.<br />
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Now they have only Frankie, a rescued pug they found on St. Patrick’s Day in 2008.<br />
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While Patty hasn’t given much thought as to whether animals have souls, she knows that, for a couple who never had children, those dogs were a part of her family just the same.<br />
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“People go to the cemetery to visit the people they love who’ve died,” Patty said. “It’s different going to the grave than it is just sitting in the living room thinking about them. That’s the way I feel about my dogs. I know it might sound strange to some … but I wanted them close.”<br />
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There’s no question that losing a beloved animal is cause for grief. “It’s important to honor the lives of those we love,” Shafer said. “And these animals are often family members; they deserve to be treated the same way when they die.”<br />
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Shafer has officiated at several funerals for pets. She remembers one in another state where the family placed its beloved dead cat on a satin pillow on the dining room table.<br />
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“That was kind of creepy … and over the edge,” she said. <br />
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‘In my heaven’<br />
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After the funeral service, be it a simple prayer before burial in the backyard or something more elaborate, the question lingers … what happens next?<br />
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When Barry Nicholls, veterinarian at Animal Medical Center in Anniston, tries to comfort someone who has lost a pet, he’s reminded of what a preacher/client once told him.<br />
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“The Bible said that heaven would be everything you could imagine it to be. ... Since he could not imagine his dog not being there when he went to heaven, then dogs must indeed go there when they die,” Nicholls said. “They did not cover this in vet school, so I have deferred to the preacher’s opinion.”<br />
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Patty concurs. “We’re taught that everything is going to be wonderful up there, but how could it be without the pets we love best?” she asked. “In my heaven, all my dogs will be there.”<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Shih Tzu Bites Off Tip of Home Depot Greeter’s Nose</span></center><center><a href="http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/04/18/shih-tzu-bites-off-tip-of-home-depot-greeter%e2%80%99s-nose/"><span style="color: #274e13;">nationalpost.com</span></a></center><br />
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OTTAWA — A greeter at a Home Depot store in Ottawa will have scars for the rest of her life after a customer’s Shih Tzu dog bit off the tip of her nose last week.<br />
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“It isn’t that nice to see. My little girl goes, ‘Mama, I don’t like you to have a boo-boo on your nose,” Anne Riel said. “It basically will never look like it did before.”<br />
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Riel, a 39-year-old mother of two, said she was working near the doors at the Home Depot in the Ottawa community of Gloucester on Friday when a woman entered the store with a medium-sized Shih Tzu in her shopping cart.<br />
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Riel greeted the woman and bent down to pat the dog, she said.<br />
With no warning, the dog jumped out of the cart and bit off the tip of her nose, she said.<br />
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“No sooner did I touch this dog’s head and literally bend slightly, he bit my nose almost off.”<br />
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With blood gushing from her face, Riel said she started screaming for someone to call an ambulance. Other staff members came to her aid and a manager escorted the dog owner out of the store, she said.<br />
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Paramedics, police and City of Ottawa bylaw officers came on scene and made reports, Riel said. She said the dog owner showed little interest in her injuries.<br />
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“The lady didn’t say sorry, didn’t come see me. She was basically ready to leave,” Riel said.<br />
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At the hospital, Riel said doctors stitched her skin together over the tip of her nose and reattached her left nostril to her face.<br />
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They told her scars from tooth punctures on the right side of her nose will be visible for the rest of her life, she said.<br />
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Riel said she hopes to go back to work Monday, but she’s worried about the off-putting sight of the bandages on her face.<br />
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Home Depot has signs saying no dogs are allowed in the store, Riel said. She said she wasn’t sure if the dog was on a leash, but said if it was it wasn’t being held by its owner.<br />
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Riel said the dog should be put down. “Can you imagine if it was a child? The child would have no face right now.”<br />
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On Sunday, police referred calls the city bylaw department. A city spokesman said the case is under investigation and added the animal’s owner could be charged under the city’s animal care act.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Pet Sense: Teach Cat to Use Post</span></center><center><a href="http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/article/20120106/WDH1010/201060341/Pet-Sense-Teach-cat-use-post"><span style="color: #274e13;">wasaudailyherald.com</span></a></center><br />
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Declawing your pet cat may seem like the obvious solution to prevent unsightly scratching on your furniture. But declawing is actually a painful process that removes a portion of a cat's toes, rather than just its claws. Declawing can also have a negative impact on various aspects of your cat's behavior and its health.<br />
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Before you have such an extreme surgery done on your cat, there are many alternative options to consider.<br />
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Scratching is a natural behavior for cats, and they enjoy scratching because it provides a way to establish their territory, is a good form of exercise, and it feels good to them. You can't make your cat understand through physical punishment.<br />
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Follow these simple steps to have better looking furniture and a happier kitty.<br />
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» Provide your cat with a scratching post.<br />
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» Never try to show your cat how to scratch on a post, it will make kitty wary of using it.<br />
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» Have a rough surface on the post that the kitty can work on happily shredding.<br />
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» Make sure the post is tall enough for the kitty to fully extend its body (at least 28 inches) and it must be secure. Often if a post tips over, cats will refuse to try them again.<br />
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» Sisal textile material is a perfect texture for the cat to shred (these posts can be ordered at www.purrfectpost.com).<br />
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» Keep your kitty's scratching post even when it's shredded, cats enjoy having a "broken in" scratching area.<br />
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Initially, put the post near the areas your cat goes to scratch and keep it in an area that the family is in, not hidden away. Feed your cat and play with her by the post to encourage more comfort with the post. If you cat enjoys catnip, rub dried catnip leaves or powder on the post. Try to ensure every experience with the new scratching post is a happy one. You can hang toys from the post or drag a piece of yarn over it while your kitty attacks it (never leave kitty unsupervised with yarn or string for safety reasons). If your cat has a special sleeping spot, you might want to add a second post in that area. Cats love to scratch and stretch right after they wake up.<br />
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If your cat is still hesitant about the new post but thrilled to destroy furniture, you can discourage scratching by covering the area with aluminum foil or double-sided tape that your cat won't want to touch. You might want to purchase a scent remover from a pet supply store to encourage your cat to stay away from that area. Cats usually do not like citrus odors; using lemon-scented potpourri or sprays will make former scratching sites less appealing.<br />
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The younger your cat is when you start teaching it appropriate places to scratch, the better your chances of success. You may decrease your cat's destruction of furniture by carefully clipping the clear tip of its nails, making sure to never clip into the quick of the nail, which is very painful. You can ask your vet about the best way to clip nails or find information through a grooming salon or cat care book.<br />
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You can also put Soft Claws on your cat's nails. They are a plastic cover which slip over clipped nails to prevent scratching. The covers fall off as the nails grow out and can work up to five months to prevent scratching. Soft Claws are available at any pet supply store or by calling 800-989-2542.<br />
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The best alternative to declawing your cat is to adopt an already declawed cat. You can ensure that you have a declawed cat that won't be able to destructively scratch, you will prevent an unnecessarily painful and expensive surgery on a cat, and you will provide a home for a homeless pet.<br />
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Liz Friedenfels is manager of the Lincoln County Humane Society.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">My Pet World:</span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"> Several Explanations Likely </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">for Yorkie's Picky Eating Habits</span></center><center><a href="http://www.twincities.com/life/ci_19665849"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Steve Dale - twincities.com</span></a></center><br />
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Q: We've spent a fortune on dry dog foods for our 1-1/2-year-old Yorkie, but she won't touch them. We've also tried the best canned foods. I worry because now I've resorted to cooking for this dog, even though lots of times she won't even eat what I make. I'm sick of trying to figure out what she wants. (I do know she likes chicken.) I'm tired of giving away our expensive dog food to the neighbors. Any advice? <br />
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- S.L., Cyberspace <br />
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A: Dr. Jeff Klausner, chief of medicine for Banfield Pet Hospital (banfield.com), says, "If you haven't done so recently, have your dog checked by a veterinarian. For example, portosystemic shunts (abnormal vascular connections) sometimes occur in Yorkshire Terriers, and weight loss and a poor appetite can be symptoms. But assuming your dog is fine physically, somehow this dog has trained you." <br />
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Another possibility is that you're simply offering too much food for too small a dog, and she just isn't hungry. <br />
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While some dogs may be picky eaters, anorexia has never been described in otherwise healthy dogs. Klausner says manufactured food is the best choice. Particularly with small dogs, obesity is more likely to occur when they're fed home-cooked meals. Also, home cooking is typically expensive and time consuming, not to mention the difficulty of preparing a well-balanced diet for dogs. For example, a diet of only chicken would not be a good idea for your dog over the long haul. <br />
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Klausner suggests adding a touch of moist dog food to your pet's home-prepared chicken meals. If she doesn't eat the mixture within 15 minutes, pick up the food dish and try again several hours later. She might even skip eating for an entire day. Once she begins eating regularly, however, offer less home-cooked chicken and more manufactured food. <br />
Whenever your dog refuses to eat, simply remove her food and skip the meal. Over time, she'll skip fewer and fewer meals. <br />
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Q: I made a New Year's resolution, which you helped inspire, to keep our cat, Charles, indoors. Our veterinarian agrees with you on this, and since Charles is at least 13, the vet said it would be more challenging for the cat to handle our cold winters. Since you got me to make a resolution, what is yours? <br />
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- D.A., Lagrange, Maine <br />
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A: Your decision was a wise one. Even in the country, cats must contend with many dangers outdoors. It's also true that as cats age, keeping warm in climates like yours becomes more challenging, and some of the corners they choose to stay cozy in can be deadly. <br />
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Last week, I received an email about a cat who got stuck inside a home dryer vent. Cats sometimes snuggle under car hoods as if they were electric blankets. If an unknowing driver turns on the ignition, these cats can be severely mangled. <br />
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Older cats often slow down, and when their hearing declines, the combination could mean the difference between surviving an attack or being killed by a coyote or bird of prey or crossing a street safely vs. being hit by a car. <br />
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My New Year's resolution is to use my various media platforms, including this column, to support preventive care for pets. I don't have all the answers, but during 2012, I plan to offer many perspectives on this issue. <br />
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Sadly, veterinary visits are on the decline. As a result, preventable and treatable illnesses are on the rise, including diabetes, ear infections, hookworm and dental disease. Many diseases, even some cancers, can be treated more effectively and at less cost when detected early. Prevention, of course, is far less expensive than treatment. Cats, in particular, are missing veterinary care. <br />
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A visit to a veterinarian shouldn't be an ordeal or a last-ditch effort. At the same time, veterinary medicine, in some cases, does need to be more affordable, and options like pet insurance are a part of the solution. <br />
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Write to Steve Dale at petworld@stevedale.tv. Include your name, city and state.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">There's Something Fishy About This Computer: </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Photographer Creates Aquariums Out of Old iMacs</span></center><center><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2080681/Theres-fishy-Photographer-creates-acquariums-old-iMacs.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Mary Mcconnell - dailymail.co.uk</span></a></center><br />
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When Jake Harms was told to throw away an old iMac he couldn't bear to see the sleek computer dumped on a scrapheap.<br />
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Instead, bright spark Jake decided to turn the old machine into an unusual home for his pet fish.<br />
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The 28-year-old removed the electronics inside the G3 iMac and inserted a custom-made fish tank to create the iMacquarium.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DiiCBD_zVds/TwmvpXNAUMI/AAAAAAAAPjg/qnF43b5dMl8/s1600/8-pt5.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DiiCBD_zVds/TwmvpXNAUMI/AAAAAAAAPjg/qnF43b5dMl8/s400/8-pt5.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Ingenious: Jake Harms has to remove all the electrics from this iMac computer before turning it into an aquarium</em></span></center><br />
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At first he just built them for family and friends but now he collects old computers from scrap yards and makes up to 75 iMacquariums year, which he ships all over the world, charging £160 apiece.<br />
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Jake said: 'I couldn't bear to throw the iMac away so I just took it home figuring I could do something with it someday.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y1GYsaERylA/Twmv7Vvc9MI/AAAAAAAAPjs/7oEAUU76yC4/s1600/8-pt6.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y1GYsaERylA/Twmv7Vvc9MI/AAAAAAAAPjs/7oEAUU76yC4/s400/8-pt6.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>A different kettle of fish: These iMacquariums are shipped all over the world</em></span></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dWY6lXq2KMM/TwmwJCynh_I/AAAAAAAAPj4/E3OeLNE9dPI/s1600/8-pt7.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dWY6lXq2KMM/TwmwJCynh_I/AAAAAAAAPj4/E3OeLNE9dPI/s400/8-pt7.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Fishy business: One of the iMacs Jake Harms has turned into an aquarium</em></span></center><br />
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'Then, after some planning and experimenting I had a working iMacquarium - everyone who saw it thought it was awesome and soon I was building them for family and friends. I started collecting broken iMacs from local recyclers, invested in all of the materials and supplies I would need, and started building iMacquariums in my spare time.<br />
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'The hardest bit was making the tank inside, because the computers are not a cube shape the aquarium had to taper at the back. Also, I also had to curve the face of the tank to fit where the monitor's screen used to be o eliminate the gap that would be there if it were flat.'<br />
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Jake, from Nebraska, USA, added: 'I only build about 75 aquariums a year and I have shipped them all over the world. It's a great feeling to take something that was on its way to be trashed and transform it into something that will be admired in someone's living room or office again.<br />
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'Most iMacs I get from the recyclers are very scuffed and scratched, I usually spend about two hours buffing the scratches out and polishing them until they look as new as possible. I've received several comments on how new they look for a 10 year old machine.'</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RVCptMh3BsQ/TxGkcuh4w3I/AAAAAAAAPkE/49BaSTlT9nM/s1600/13-pt1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RVCptMh3BsQ/TxGkcuh4w3I/AAAAAAAAPkE/49BaSTlT9nM/s400/13-pt1.bmp" /></a></div>John Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569650383063644384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5310501782946920789.post-6816928277804546912012-01-07T09:11:00.000-08:002012-01-07T09:11:58.686-08:00Animal World 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZU8EWOYQUPk/Tv_wqj_SFQI/AAAAAAAAPeE/tcaAfe2yokI/s1600/5-p1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZU8EWOYQUPk/Tv_wqj_SFQI/AAAAAAAAPeE/tcaAfe2yokI/s400/5-p1.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>From Getty: LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 21: A five-month-old female slender loris waits to be given her first health check by the veterinary team at London Zoo on July 21, 2011 in London, England. Two female baby slender lorises, who are yet to be named, were given health checks, their sex determined and micro-chipped. Slender Loris is the common name for the strepsirrhine primates who are nocturnal and originate from India, Sri Lanka, and southeast Asia. London Zoo supports conservation of lorises in Sri Lanka, where populations are thought to be under threat from deforestation. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)</em></span></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6xXHjvvqnGg/Tv_xPmwkWMI/AAAAAAAAPeQ/Ca6SftAhw68/s1600/5-p2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6xXHjvvqnGg/Tv_xPmwkWMI/AAAAAAAAPeQ/Ca6SftAhw68/s400/5-p2.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: red;"><em>This photo taken on September 26, 2011 shows a group of giant panda cubs napping at a nursery in the research base of the Giant Panda Breeding Centre in Chengdu, in southwest China's Sichuan province. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)</em></span></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4JAyfD3Rm0c/Tv_xxUj8XnI/AAAAAAAAPec/ZrptOxJnseY/s1600/5-p3.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4JAyfD3Rm0c/Tv_xxUj8XnI/AAAAAAAAPec/ZrptOxJnseY/s400/5-p3.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>A vet holds a Colombian Tigrillo or Margay (Leopardus wiedii) of about nine days old, found in a rural area south of Medellin and taken to the Animal Welfare Foundation, in Medellin, Antionquia department, Colombia on August 13, 2011.(RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP/Getty Images)</em></span></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pkTWIEM4RCc/Tv_ygwajK8I/AAAAAAAAPeo/c5Vg0ZGWkUw/s1600/5-p4.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pkTWIEM4RCc/Tv_ygwajK8I/AAAAAAAAPeo/c5Vg0ZGWkUw/s400/5-p4.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: red;"><em>From Getty: Newborn female Asiatic Elephant (Elephas Maximus) calf born to Johti, a 44-year-old, plays at Ostrava's Zoo on May 31, 2011. The calf was born on April 15. AFP PHOTO / JOE KLAMAR</em></span></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--egY5S0J4Wo/Tv_zwFrstcI/AAAAAAAAPfA/ruBxWGzjfWk/s1600/5-p5.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--egY5S0J4Wo/Tv_zwFrstcI/AAAAAAAAPfA/ruBxWGzjfWk/s400/5-p5.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Three lion cubs play at the Santa Fe zoo in Medellin, Antioquia department, Colombia, on November 4, 2011. The cubs were born on October 9, 2011 at the zoo. (RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP/Getty Images)</em></span></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDOWDqcUJFs/Tv_0SRzn1kI/AAAAAAAAPfM/bJAleKOfTts/s1600/5-p6.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDOWDqcUJFs/Tv_0SRzn1kI/AAAAAAAAPfM/bJAleKOfTts/s400/5-p6.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: red;"><em>Kopatch, a 15-year-old weeper capuchin monkey, carries her one-week-old baby at Ramat Gan Safari, an open-air zoo near Tel Aviv on October 26, 2011. (JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images)</em></span></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7miUg8m003A/Tv_03d30HvI/AAAAAAAAPfY/__iQvD0M4CI/s1600/5-p7.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7miUg8m003A/Tv_03d30HvI/AAAAAAAAPfY/__iQvD0M4CI/s400/5-p7.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Two white tigers cub are pictured on December 5, 2011 at the zoological park of Cerza in Hermival-les-Vaux, northern France. (KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP/Getty Images)</em></span></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CeSXbBJ_GHU/Tv_1fB2jXOI/AAAAAAAAPfk/_7wS2zMYjAg/s1600/5-p8.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="327" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CeSXbBJ_GHU/Tv_1fB2jXOI/AAAAAAAAPfk/_7wS2zMYjAg/s400/5-p8.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: red;"><em>From Getty: A baby Pygmy hippopotamus takes a bath in an enclosure at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo on July 24, 2011. The baby hippo was born on June 22 at the zoo. AFP PHOTO / KAZUHIRO NOGI</em></span></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eNxniwUlWyc/Tv_2DvKu0pI/AAAAAAAAPfw/sudGHmDrdIg/s1600/5-p9.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eNxniwUlWyc/Tv_2DvKu0pI/AAAAAAAAPfw/sudGHmDrdIg/s400/5-p9.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Sumatran tiger Jumilah is seen with her cubs on display at Taronga Zoo on October 25, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)</em></span></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8aZ5BnQZ_FY/Tv_2jbG0A3I/AAAAAAAAPf8/I4L1W-qGFpk/s1600/5-p10.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8aZ5BnQZ_FY/Tv_2jbG0A3I/AAAAAAAAPf8/I4L1W-qGFpk/s400/5-p10.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: red;"><em>A male foal Zebra (Equus quagga burchelli) is seen with its mother at the National Zoo of San Salvador on October 4, 2011. (OSCAR RIVERA/AFP/Getty Images)</em></span></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p36vw_X2LKI/Tv_4jj4g0WI/AAAAAAAAPgI/WzGsPBZ_IO8/s1600/5-p11.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p36vw_X2LKI/Tv_4jj4g0WI/AAAAAAAAPgI/WzGsPBZ_IO8/s400/5-p11.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>A one-month-old baby lion-tailed macaque clings to its mother at Berlin's Zoologischer Garten Zoo August 23, 2011. (JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/Getty Images)</em></span></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2-PdO4QtKp4/Tv_5CeuW5VI/AAAAAAAAPgU/cempDB_YCrY/s1600/5-p12.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2-PdO4QtKp4/Tv_5CeuW5VI/AAAAAAAAPgU/cempDB_YCrY/s400/5-p12.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: red;"><em>A zookeeper holds up Kit and Kitty, the twin red pandas born in June on the first day of their introduction into their new enclosure at Tierpark Zoo on September 13, 2011 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)</em></span></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YsYzyPzqirA/Tv_5fkDQWII/AAAAAAAAPgg/4HD-IirkIXU/s1600/5-p13.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YsYzyPzqirA/Tv_5fkDQWII/AAAAAAAAPgg/4HD-IirkIXU/s400/5-p13.bmp" width="300" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>A chimpanzee cuddles her infant in their newly renovated habitat at Taronga Zoo in Sydney on September 30, 2011. (TORSTEN BLACKWOOD/AFP/Getty Images)</em></span></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UPOUVH6ypoo/Tv_6VgGcM-I/AAAAAAAAPgs/vmzy1wnwOFg/s1600/5-p14.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UPOUVH6ypoo/Tv_6VgGcM-I/AAAAAAAAPgs/vmzy1wnwOFg/s400/5-p14.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: red;"><em>From Getty: An Indian rhinoceros cub plays in a mud hole with its mother Betty at the Tierpark Zoo in August 5, 2011 in Berlin. AFP PHOTO / JOHANNES EISELE</em></span></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_agcVTfGBvs/Tv_8C94Z-7I/AAAAAAAAPg4/dSVgohAV0pM/s1600/5-p15.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_agcVTfGBvs/Tv_8C94Z-7I/AAAAAAAAPg4/dSVgohAV0pM/s400/5-p15.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>A day-old newborn giraffe stands beside his mother at Ramat Gan Safari Park on November 14, 2011 in Ramat Gan, Dikla, near Tel Aviv, Israel. (Photo by Uriel Sinai/Getty Images)</em></span></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-89OArkCPEcQ/Tv_8olyOBuI/AAAAAAAAPhE/Ds46HEYOOAQ/s1600/5-p16.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-89OArkCPEcQ/Tv_8olyOBuI/AAAAAAAAPhE/Ds46HEYOOAQ/s400/5-p16.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: red;"><em>From Getty: Two month old North China leopard cub Nekama sits in a basket in her enclosure at the Berlin zoo on March 15, 2011. Nekama was born on January 7, 2011 and weighs now around 4.5 kilogrammes. AFP PHOTO / JOHANNES EISELE</em></span></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zn5nkBsuxyU/Tv_9XSHIV_I/AAAAAAAAPhQ/Jq2I4fexYfA/s1600/5-p17.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zn5nkBsuxyU/Tv_9XSHIV_I/AAAAAAAAPhQ/Jq2I4fexYfA/s400/5-p17.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>From Getty: A Lion 'Dukat' and lioness 'Rose' walk in the snow in Warsaw's zoo on February 18, 2011. AFP PHOTO / JANEK SKARZYNSKI </em></span></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-caY2iQk-8kA/Tv_941hdcVI/AAAAAAAAPhc/0hQgIyHJ7iQ/s1600/5-p18.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-caY2iQk-8kA/Tv_941hdcVI/AAAAAAAAPhc/0hQgIyHJ7iQ/s400/5-p18.bmp" width="263" /></a></div><center><span style="color: red;"><em>From AP: An adult female Francois' langur coddles a baby at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Friday, Feb. 4, 2011, in Cleveland. The baby was born Jan. 25, 2011. The care of the infant can be shared by several females and not just the mother. Babies are bright orange when born. At about three months of age the color begins to turn black. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)</em></span></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nGR-0kBahco/Tv_-buHmcZI/AAAAAAAAPho/WwYaiOKnY5Q/s1600/5-p19.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="345" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nGR-0kBahco/Tv_-buHmcZI/AAAAAAAAPho/WwYaiOKnY5Q/s400/5-p19.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>From AP: On this photo taken July 8, 2011, a man shows a two-headed albino snake in a private zoo in Yalta, Ukraine. (AP Photo/UNIAN)</em></span></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-drx_TerK3Ac/Tv_-7PRKTcI/AAAAAAAAPh0/b_3W5Ze1E-w/s1600/5-p20.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-drx_TerK3Ac/Tv_-7PRKTcI/AAAAAAAAPh0/b_3W5Ze1E-w/s400/5-p20.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: red;"><em>From Getty: Two dogs plays during an animal rights protest in front of Romanian Parliament building in Bucharest on April 11, 2011. Romanian Chamber of Deputies Administration Committee approved past week the law on stray dogs euthanasia. The draft will be sent the Chamber of Deputies for a vote, which has the final vote. AFP PHOTO DANIEL MIHAILESCU</em></span></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XRXsIfwXDmU/Tv__XaySKFI/AAAAAAAAPiA/93RQdow3DN0/s1600/5-p21.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XRXsIfwXDmU/Tv__XaySKFI/AAAAAAAAPiA/93RQdow3DN0/s400/5-p21.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>From Getty: SAN FRANCISCO, CA - NOVEMBER 23: A Red Ruff Lemur enjoys a Thanksgiving meal at the San Francisco Zoo on November 23, 2011 in San Francisco, California. Fifteen lemurs at the San Francisco Zoo were treated to a Thanksgiving feast of green beans, a fruit salad made up of apples, bananas, grapes sweet potatoes and a turkey made out of monkey chow. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)</em></span></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jByheUNRu6s/Tv__zApDUbI/AAAAAAAAPiM/FpIkUUJESfE/s1600/5-p22.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jByheUNRu6s/Tv__zApDUbI/AAAAAAAAPiM/FpIkUUJESfE/s400/5-p22.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: red;"><em>From Getty: Magdalena, a tortoise with two heads and five legs, is displayed on March 11, 2011 in Zilina. Magdalena has become in recent days, the most popular animal in Slovakia. AFP PHOTO/ STRINGER</em></span></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GCOGy-pMCtw/TwAASbov7eI/AAAAAAAAPiY/wWoG0nRfzyE/s1600/5-p23.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="279" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GCOGy-pMCtw/TwAASbov7eI/AAAAAAAAPiY/wWoG0nRfzyE/s400/5-p23.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>From Getty: A squirrel eats berries in a tree in Cologne, on October 24, 2011. AFP PHOTO / OLIVER BERG</em></span> </center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RA8RLXFKePc/TwAAwUhnrzI/AAAAAAAAPik/xQsyxdg-eMs/s1600/5-p24.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RA8RLXFKePc/TwAAwUhnrzI/AAAAAAAAPik/xQsyxdg-eMs/s400/5-p24.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: red;"><em>Malaysian jellyfish swim in a tank at the Sunshine Aquarium in Tokyo on August 1, 2011. (YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images)</em></span></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">All photos courtesy of </span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">The Huffington Post</span></a></center>John Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569650383063644384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5310501782946920789.post-5245720439333676402011-12-31T07:19:00.001-08:002011-12-31T07:22:45.490-08:00World's Tallest Cat<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Blind Dog, Lost Last Month </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">and Thought Dead, Makes It Back </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">to San Antonio Family for Christmas</span></center><center><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/blind-dog-lost-last-month-and-thought-dead-makes-it-back-to-san-antonio-family-for-christmas/2011/12/24/gIQAxWSyFP_story.html?tid=pm_national_pop"><span style="color: #274e13;">washingtonpost.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rIbbcZZ7k2w/TvdeT9_BxnI/AAAAAAAAPbU/suTO-58eOBU/s1600/2-p1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rIbbcZZ7k2w/TvdeT9_BxnI/AAAAAAAAPbU/suTO-58eOBU/s400/2-p1.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>(San Antonio Express-News, Helen L. Montoya/Associated Press) - In this Dec. 23, 2011 photo, Belinda Gutierrez sits with her blind dog, Stevie Oedipus Wonder, in San Antonio, after the two were reunited after a volunteer at the city’s animal shelter found a Craigslist ad from Gutierrez’s daughter looking for the dog. The cairn terrier mix pup disappeared from his home nearly a month ago, was reported dead and had almost overstayed his welcome at the shelter this week when his owner found him.</em></span></center><br />
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SAN ANTONIO — A blind dog that was lost and believed to be dead is reunited with his San Antonio family for Christmas, thanks to Craigslist, a school teacher and an animal care agency.<br />
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Nearly a month after Stevie Oedipus Wonder disappeared — and was reported dead — the cairn terrier mix puppy is home for the holiday, the San Antonio Express-News reported Saturday (http://bit.ly/unONGF .)<br />
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“This is my Christmas miracle,” Stevie’s owner Belinda Gutierrez said. “I actually thought I was going to have a sad end of the year and a sad Christmas.”<br />
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Stevie, a dog born without eyes and apparently abused by a previous owner, was found early in 2011 by Gutierrez’s daughter as he wandered near a city duck pond. Instantly, the dog became a part of the family, responding to their voices and dragging Gutierrez out for exercise.<br />
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Days after Thanksgiving, though, Stevie escaped — disappearing from the family’s home. Days later, Gutierrez’s landlord told her the dog was dead.<br />
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On Dec. 11, Stevie showed up at Animal Care Services. A collar and tag kept him alive for five days, Jeanne Saadi, the agency’s live release coordinator, said. But with outdated information, the agency failed to find his owners and prepared to euthanize him.<br />
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That’s when Brooke Orr, a high school teacher, saw the agency’s ad seeking a home for the blind dog. She agreed to care for Stevie over the holidays, buying him a few more days.<br />
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Meanwhile, Gutierrez’s distraught daughter posted a lost dog notice on Craigslist, hoping someone would see it and return Stevie.<br />
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Orr noticed the tag dangling on the dog’s neck.<br />
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“I thought that he must belong to someone. So I went to Craigslist and went to lost and found and I put in ‘blind dog,’ and there he was,” she said.<br />
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She contacted Gutierrez, who arrived at the Animal Care Services on Thursday uncertain the dog would be able to recognize her.<br />
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“All he had to do was hear my voice,” she said. “I stood at the entrance of the kennel building and called out ‘Stevie, Stevie.’ And he started barking all over the place.”<br />
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Now back at home, Stevie will awake Christmas morning to a stocking stuffed with doggy treats, rawhide chew toys and carrots, one of his favorites.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Cat Stuck in Engine, Survives 200-Mile Trip</span></center><center><a href="http://www.14news.com/story/16375595/cat-stuck-in-engine-survives-200-mile-trip"><span style="color: #274e13;">14news.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vnz89Wd-wW4/Tvdi8wX-T1I/AAAAAAAAPbs/RV7TIb6B9Xo/s1600/2-p3.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vnz89Wd-wW4/Tvdi8wX-T1I/AAAAAAAAPbs/RV7TIb6B9Xo/s400/2-p3.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>The cat, Eclipse, survived a 200 mile road trip, while riding under the hood of a car. (Source: WJW/CNN)</em></span></center><br />
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MEDINA, OH - A cat may have used several of his nine lives during a recent road trip after being found stuck inside of a car engine. <br />
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Last Sunday, Wayne Polk left Xenia, OH for Cleveland for business. Driving nearly 200 miles for several hours, he stopped at a rest area on Interstate 71 in Medina and noticed a smell coming from under his hood. <br />
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"I was patrolling the northbound rest area on Interstate 71, I approached a parking area and there was a gentleman with his car and his hood was open and he had a cat stuck in it," said Trooper Aleksander Tot. "The cat was pretty calm, seemed really scared and he had burns on his right side." <br />
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Once the cat was removed, Tot called the Medina SPCA, and someone arrived in minutes to rescue the cat. <br />
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"When I got there, the cat was a large cat and I'm looking at this little small Eclipse that he was in and I said, 'how did he get in there?'" asked Mike Bombaris. <br />
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"He's a good cat and as you can see, he's feeling pretty good," said veterinarian Linda Randall. "He has some major singeing of his coat and he also has some burns." <br />
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The cat will undergo surgery to remove any dead tissue from its body and is expected to recover completely. <br />
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"He loves to play and I think he's going to be fine," Randall said.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Walnut Grove Cat Certified as World's Tallest</span></center><center><a href="http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/24/4143543/walnut-grove-cat-certified-as.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Carlos Alcalá The Sacramento Bee</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TlRvguQesSw/TvdkhQq7sEI/AAAAAAAAPb4/vHIBMBpl-s8/s1600/2-p4.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TlRvguQesSw/TvdkhQq7sEI/AAAAAAAAPb4/vHIBMBpl-s8/s400/2-p4.bmp" width="399" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Debby Maraspini of Walnut Grove shows off Trouble, her 3-year-old hybrid certified by Guinness World Records as the planet's tallest cat. Marasapini bred the Savannah cat, which is part African serval, accounting for the exotic appearance. "I was lucky to get a big guy," she said. Guinness in November certified Trouble as being about an inch taller than the previous record holder.</em></span></center><br />
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Trouble looks like trouble.<br />
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Trouble is the Guinness-certified world's tallest cat, and he looks like something you wouldn't want to come across on the Serengeti.<br />
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In fact, the Walnut Grove feline is part African but acts much like your basic domestic house kitty – although he looks about twice as big. <br />
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"He's just a relaxed, indoor animal," said John Maraspina, whose wife, Debby, bred the Savannah cat, a recognized hybrid of house cats and African serval cats.<br />
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Maraspina bred Trouble three years ago. That he wound up so big was a bit of a surprise.<br />
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"I was lucky to get a big guy," she said.<br />
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She enjoyed the size but wasn't focused on it until a friend – who runs a Reno cat show and owns the world's longest cat, Stewie, a Maine coon – suggested they have Trouble measured at the show.<br />
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After mailing videos and affidavits, Debby Maraspina got a 4 a.m. call from London in November, confirming that Trouble – 19 inches, paw to shoulder – officially beat out the previous tallest by about an inch.<br />
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He's only 20 pounds, so he's not likely to do real damage to a human, and he rarely goes outside, so the wildlife on Ryer Island where he lives is pretty safe.<br />
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Trouble may not stalk prey, but he doesn't subsist on 9 Lives, either. He's pickier than Morris.<br />
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According to Maraspina, Trouble goes for rabbit meat and beef.<br />
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"He expects me to get his food out, warm it up and cut it into chunks – off the bone," she sad.<br />
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When not eating or dozing, he'll play normal cat games with a feather dangled on a line at the end of a stick or go watch the fish in the aquarium.<br />
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"He has a spot on the end of the big tank where he sits and watches them," she said. "That's Trouble's Christmas present."<br />
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Savannahs like Trouble can vary greatly in the percentage of wild cat in the hybrid.<br />
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The hybrid breed was created only 25 years ago and recognized about 10 years ago.<br />
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Debby Maraspina wanted something exotic, but she couldn't get an African serval, because they're illegal in California.<br />
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She started breeding the hybrids, who have the exotic appearance.<br />
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The cats are tricky to breed because the males are sterile if they're more than 5 to 6 percent wild and the females can be picky about which males they'll accept.<br />
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Trouble, at 25 percent serval, will not be able to breed, but he's still a good show cat.<br />
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He'll be at the Jazzy Cats show at Sacramento's Doubletree Hotel in January, and he's going to travel to shows as far away as Portland and San Diego.<br />
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He's in more demand now that he's achieved the Guinness certification.<br />
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"Setting a record, it's a draw for us," said Robin Hendrickson, who runs the Reno show.<br />
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Cat shows are "a huge fundraiser," she said. "The money goes to feline welfare organizations."<br />
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She will travel to the Portland show with Maraspina, where Stewie and Trouble will share a room, even though the world's longest and world's tallest don't always get along. <br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Pet Tortoise, Nearly a Century Old, </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Survives Massive Livermore Garage Fire</span></center><center><a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_19548092"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Paul Thissen - Contra Costa Times</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9o92SQYQohI/TvdrOadsw9I/AAAAAAAAPcE/y-l14B9uEEI/s1600/2-p5.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9o92SQYQohI/TvdrOadsw9I/AAAAAAAAPcE/y-l14B9uEEI/s400/2-p5.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>A Mojave Desert tortoise, Pokey, in Livermore, Calif. on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2011. Pokey survived.</em></span></center><br />
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The fire in Livermore destroyed the garage, collapsing its roof and reducing large garbage bins to plastic pancakes. Combing through the wreckage, firefighters came across the shell of a tortoise and were sure it was dead.<br />
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Then Pokey stuck his leg out.<br />
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"We were starting to look for the source of how the fire started," said Battalion Chief Jeff Peters. "We really didn't expect to find a live tortoise."<br />
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Pokey, a Mojave Desert tortoise, is probably about 90 years old, but no one really knows his age, said Fred Frink, who owns the tortoise and the burned home on Aberdeen Avenue. <br />
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"I've owned him since 1962, and he wasn't young then," Frink said.<br />
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Frink lived in Hayward when Pokey came into his life. One day a group of neighborhood children showed up at his door with the tortoise, saying they could not find who owned it. Frink took him in and has had him since.<br />
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Normally, Pokey hibernates from the first week of November through the last week of March. The rest of the year, he roams part of Frink's backyard, eating clover, and occasionally rosebuds, grape leaves and grapes.<br />
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After firefighters pulled Pokey from the rubble, he was taken to an emergency veterinarian in Dublin, where a tiny oxygen mask was placed over his face, Frink said.<br />
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The Dec. 3 fire started in the garage, where Pokey was in a box hibernating, Peters said.<br />
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"It was a very hot garage fire," Peters said. A few firefighters went to a hospital after a bleach bottle in the garage exploded. Others suffered minor burns.<br />
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When the fire broke out, Frink rushed back into the house to get his dog and a large cat. Neighbors saw two other cats escape out a door, though one, a 6-month-old kitten with gray and white stripes, has not reappeared.<br />
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But Frink did not hold out hope for Pokey, who was in the middle of the fire. When firefighters approached holding the shell, Frink thought for sure Pokey was dead. But aside from a few singes on his shell and legs, the old reptile escaped unscathed.<br />
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Tortoises can survive all sorts of harsh conditions, especially when they are hibernating, said Ginger Wilfong of Castro Valley-based Bay Area Turtle and Tortoise Rescue. One tortoise in her care survived the Oakland hills fire of 1991. <br />
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Mojave Desert tortoises are listed as a threatened species. It is illegal to take one from the wild, but it is legal to have them, Wilfong said. And they were easy to come by in the early 1960s, when Frink got his, she said.<br />
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"Woolworth's (drugstore) was selling them for $1.98 a piece," Wilfong said.<br />
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Pokey is awake now, and it's the first time he has been awake in December, Frink said. <br />
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"He's just very happy to be here," he said.<br />
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Contact Paul Thissen at 925-847-2122. Follow him at Twitter.com/pthissen.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Tips for Training the Christmas Puppy</span></center><center><a href="http://www.nwfdailynews.com/articles/christmas-46138-puppy-hope.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">Dr. Dara Johns - nwfdailynews.com</span></a></center><br />
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And what did you find under your Christmas tree? Was it a new puppy? The Disney movie “Lady and the Tramp” forever characterized the new puppy in the home at Christmas time. If you are one of the very fortunate ones who have decided to start the New Year with a dog, today we will go over some housebreaking tips to hopefully ease the training process.<br />
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First of all, remember to be consistent. Just when you think the dog is trained, it will have an accident. Correct him and keep going with the positive reinforcement. With time he will figure this out.<br />
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A puppy has a small bladder. Ideally he should be taken out every two to four hours. If you are not giving him one on one attention, he should be sitting in a kennel. If you are on the computer or washing dishes and he has the opportunity to wander away from you then he can have an accident. He should only have free roaming privileges when you are there to watch for signs of needing to go out.<br />
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Keeping him in a kennel or pet carrier when you cannot be one-on-one with him is known as crate training. The carrier should be just a little larger than he is so that he can comfortably stand and turn around and lay down. Put newspaper in the bottom so that if he has an accident it does not get too messy. If he has an accident in the crate, this is punishment enough, so you do not have to discipline him. Just take him out and clean it up.<br />
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Bedtime is a good time to put him in the carrier. If you use the crate consistently, your dog will come to love it as a safe place. When you are at work, the carrier is also helpful, but you must come home and let him out at lunch time. He should not spend more than four hours in the carrier at a stretch unless it is bedtime.<br />
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While training, it helps to feed him on a schedule. Then you can take him out right after he eats and walk him for at least 15 to 30 minutes. This is the optimum length of time for the ingested food to stimulate a bowel movement. When he has a BM in the grass, leave it there and praise him so that he knows this is where he is supposed to go. If he has an accident inside, scold him and pick up the stool and carry it outside. Place it in the grass and show him so he will know this is where he is supposed to be going.<br />
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Always verbally praise him when you see him go outside in the grass. Often, pet owners supplement this with a small treat. This is very helpful, but keep in mind that treats tend to get out of hand and before we know it our pets are overweight. Once they get the housebreaking down, you can back off on treats. Being properly housebroken is a reward in itself for the pet. The pet will be happier and experience much less conflict if properly trained as a puppy.<br />
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Got a question for Dr. Johns? E-mail her at JohnsDVM@aol.com. Write to Pet Peeves, P.O. Box 224, Valparaiso,, FL 32580. Johns is a Niceville veterinarian.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Don't Feed Him Holiday Leftovers: </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Diets For Dogs, Tips For Softhearted Owners</span></center><center><a href="http://www.worldcrunch.com/dont-feed-him-holiday-leftovers-diets-dogs-tips-softhearted-owners/4355"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Maria Huber - DIE WELT/Worldcrunch</span></a></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: #cc0000;">Do you give Fido a treat every time he's been a good boy? Watch out: canines put on weight fast. But rationing what they eat isn’t enough: here’s how to keep a dog’s weight in check or knock off excess pounds.</span></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gqQimF_ICU0/TvdgydjK4LI/AAAAAAAAPbg/6fNFdKH_fjA/s1600/2-p2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gqQimF_ICU0/TvdgydjK4LI/AAAAAAAAPbg/6fNFdKH_fjA/s400/2-p2.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Don't give in to temptation (GabrielaP93)</em></span></center><br />
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BERLIN -- You just can’t resist giving him a little extra dinner – he’s been such a good boy, and he's just such a cutie...!<br />
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Those pet owners who have no will power whatsoever when it comes to their dog can set off a vicious circle. When a dog puts on weight, it moves less – which only makes the situation worse. But there are strategies to get things back on track.<br />
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“Coffee can eat whatever she wants, but Kandis just has to look at food and she gets fat,” says Anna Matyssek. For 14 years, she has been training dogs for TV work and making sure they stay in shape.<br />
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“I only feed dogs once a day. Since I’m teaching them tricks, I want them to feel hungry for the little treats they get when they do something right,” she says. She regularly palps the dogs’ ribs – the best way to tell if they are getting fat. “You should be able to feel the ribs right away, without having to go searching around.”<br />
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Jürgen Zentek, Professor at the Institute for Animal Nutrition at Berlin’s Free University, also recommends this. “You should be able to feel the spine and ribs, but not see them,” he says. A clearly-defined waistline should also be visible when one looks down at the dog.<br />
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If you suspect your dog is too fat, some behavioral rules will help to resist when you find yourself at the receiving end of one of those heartrending looks that make you want to reach for just a little extra. “The main thing to remember is: no radical diets. A dog has to be fed regularly,” says Emily Darab.<br />
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The vet practice where she works offers a feeding advice service. “‘Light’ dog food can be a solution, but one can also just reduce the amount of daily food the dog gets,” she says.<br />
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<b>Calorie bombs</b><br />
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But mostly it’s not the dog food that’s making the animal fat – it’s the extra treats. “They are calorie bombs, and should be counted in the dog’s daily total intake,” Darab says.<br />
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Jürgen Zentek, who leads studies on dog nutrition, observes that many owners, although they mean well, can’t bring themselves to feed their dog less.<br />
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“Psychologically, it’s not easy for the owner to do that,” he says. So he recommends cheating a little by adding loads of vegetables to the reduced ration. “That way, the bowl is full.”<br />
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“Biologically Adequate Raw Food” (BARF) is currently all the fashion in dog food, and according to Zentek offers one possibility among many others to keep a dog healthy and trim.<br />
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But under no circumstances should it be perceived as a panacea, says Zentek. What it means is that the dog is being fed the way a wolf would feed: on raw meat, bones and vegetables.<br />
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“What’s good about it is that it’s easily digestible and it leaves the dog feeling full. And because it’s high in protein, the animal produces more heat and burns up fat,” he says.<br />
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Dogs are especially susceptible to putting on weight right after they’ve been neutered – so this is a time to keep a particularly sharp eye on exactly how much they are fed, according to Ulrike Falbesaner, who heads the German Federal Chamber of Veterinarians‘ (BTK) committee that deals with matters relating to dog ownership.<br />
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But castration and bad diet are just two possible reasons for why a dog puts on weight. As with people, various problems such as diabetes or an underactive thyroid can also be the cause.<br />
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The potential gravity of such problems should not be underestimated, says Zendek. “More serious conditions can move in very quickly, like heart or circulation problems, or a fatty liver.”<br />
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However, he advises against trying to get too much weight off too fast. “The result is the same yoyo effect you see in people, and the animal is likely to put the weight on again just as quickly.”<br />
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Particularly if illnesses resulting from overweight have already set in, a visit to the vet is a must. For extreme cases, weight-loss medication is available.<br />
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Studies conducted by Professor Zentek have revealed that the most important key to success in getting pounds off dogs is activity.<br />
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If the dog is already too fat, one should slowly build up longer walks and more energetic games. Getting the dog to run alongside your bicycle is a no-no. “Under no circumstances should one overdo it,” says dog nutrition expert Darab. “The very best thing is swimming, it increases fitness and is easy on the joints.”<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Difference Between Ick and Ich</span></center><center><a href="http://www.differencebetween.net/science/health/disease-health/difference-between-ick-and-ich/"><span style="color: #274e13;">differencebetween.com</span></a></center><br />
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<b>Ick vs Ich</b><br />
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We all love pets. Who doesn’t? Pets make us feel good and keeps our stress away. They can sometimes protect us in times of danger or even sacrifice their lives when in need such as stories of dogs saving their owners from death or accidents.<br />
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Some households own fish as their pets as it is very relaxing to see fish swim. Koi’s are one of the more famous and more expensive types of fish pets that can be taken care of. However, when dealing with aquatic pets, we must educate ourselves with the potential diseases that they can get while they are in an artificial vessel such as the aquarium.<br />
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One of the most common causes of death of these fishes is what you call Ick or Ich. Is there a difference between the two? Let us find out. <br />
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Ich has no difference with Ick as the pronunciation of it is with the latter word. “Ich” or “Ick” stands for Ichthyophthiriasis, and the causative agent for it is Ichthyophthirius multifilis. It is a protozoan that thrives in fresh water but it is more common in aquariums. This protozoan is the main cause of fish deaths among aquariums and water tanks. Ick or Ich is also known as the White Spot disease.<br />
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Ick or Ich affects a fish whenever it has a low immune system which is caused by stress. Fish become stressed in some factors such as temperature of the water, the inhabitants, shipping of the fish, and a lot more. Since it is White Spot disease, the appearance of it is like a white spot over the gills and scales of your pet fish. This will cause an irritation and itchiness to the fish for the coming days. The fish will die because of respiratory distress, severe agitation, and suppression of appetite.<br />
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For owners to control Ick or Ich, they must raise the temperature of their aquariums up to 78-80 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 days. This will kill the freshwater Ich. Formalin and Malachite Green are also effective in eliminating this protozoan.<br />
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Summary:<br />
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1. Ich has no difference with Ick as the pronunciation of it is with the latter word.<br />
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2. Ich or Ick, a protozoan, stands for Ichthyophthiriasis and the causative agent for it is Ichthyophthirius multifilis.<br />
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3. Ick or Ich affects a fish whenever it has a low immune system which is caused by stress and may eventually cause death to your pet fish.<br />
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4. For owners to control Ick or Ich, they must raise the temperature of their aquariums up to 78-80 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 days.<br />
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5. Formalin and Malachite Green are also effective in eliminating this protozoan.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Cesar Millan Gives 15 Tips </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">for Pet-Friendly Travel</span></center><center><a href="http://www.justluxe.com/travel/luxury-vacations/feature-1692851.php"><span style="color: #274e13;">Lena Katz - Sr. Travel Correspondent | JustLuxe</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AQgXZGM0P1I/Tvds3GbvxWI/AAAAAAAAPcQ/nx8J8_vQXNw/s1600/2-p6.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AQgXZGM0P1I/Tvds3GbvxWI/AAAAAAAAPcQ/nx8J8_vQXNw/s400/2-p6.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Photo Courtesy of Cesars Way</em></span></center><br />
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Planning to take your four-legged family members along on your holiday adventures this year? If so, here are 15 pointers from Cesar Millan, covering everything from air travel etiquette to off-leash practices to dealing with a potty accident in a hotel lobby. <br />
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Just like nobody likes a screaming baby on a plane, nobody wants to deal with an out-of-control pooch at a party, so follow the Dog Whisperer’s advice and make sure the roads, rooms and skies stay pet-friendly. <br />
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1. If you and your dog are flying, crate the dog before entering the terminal, because inside, you may become distracted by the check-in process. <br />
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2. You definitely don’t want your dog flying with a full bladder or stomach. "I myself like to let Junior [his frequent-flying pitbull] fast a little, control the water intake a little, and definitely let him relieve himself one more time before going in the terminal." <br />
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3. When flying with a dog small enough to go under the seat in a crate, it is acceptable to bring the crate out from under the seat as long as it doesn’t bother your neighbors. Be respectful and always ask people nearby first. <br />
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4. However, taking a dog out of its crate during flight is not safe for the dog or, potentially, for yourself and your neighbors. Think very carefully before you do this and make sure the flight attendant is aware and has given you permission. <br />
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5. When a dog is very scared, the scent of lavender oil rubbed into one’s hands may calm it. <br />
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6. Also try a deep tissue massage beginning on the spine. The pelvis of the dog normally carries the tension, as does behind the cranium. Just make sure that you yourself are calm and centered first. You should never try to help your dog when you feel bad about how he is feeling. <br />
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7. The more you go away from the city, the more you go into different settings for your dog. Remember there could be deer, squirrels or any sort of unknown wildlife, so be mindful about the dog getting distracted. People could also be throwing food on the floor that you may not see at first glance but your dog will smell and try to eat, so make sure you always keep an eye on the environment. <br />
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8. Even in cold weather you can’t ask a dog to stay in a parked car for more than two hours. You always need to keep a window cracked to allow in fresh air. <br />
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9. When you stop midway through a driving day, let your dog out to pee, play with him if he has energy, but there is no need to feed him. Motion sickness for dogs is very different than for humans and this means that he would rather wait until you’re not moving anymore to be fed. If it has been a long trip you can give little pieces of chicken or mini snacks, but space them out. He should get protein to be satisfied, but not a whole plate that will make him sick. <br />
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10. Rescue Remedy can help a carsick dog feel better. <br />
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11. If you’re checking into your accommodations and your dog has an accident, don’t be embarrassed. People understand it is a dog. Let him finish, don’t interrupt; then ask the staff for cleaning things and apologize by cleaning up. <br />
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12. If your dog growls at strangers in a new environment, he’s nervous, not aggressive. It’s nothing for you to be concerned about. When a dog growls, it is just communication, not the beginning of an attack. He is just saying, "Those people are too close, too excited or giving eye contact and I don’t know how to handle it." Redirect with a little bit of food, or don’t move and wait for the humans to move. If you back away, it confirms his fear. Don’t nurture the behavior by saying, "It’s ok," and petting him. Just stay quiet and relaxed, let him feel your calmness, and he will understand that is how he should react. Once you have defused the situation with the dog, you can apologize to the human. <br />
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13. Similarly, if your dog takes to howling or barking in your hotel room, he is probably nervous and just trying to communicate. Do not reward the behavior by giving him affection or sympathy. Use your calm assertive leadership to show that you have the situation under control. If it is not nervous, but nuisance barking and howling, the problem may be a lack of exercise. Take your dog out for a good long walk to drain his energy. <br />
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14. Rules of thumb when considering bringing a dog to a holiday fair, a sledding hill, or any other open-air festivity: Do not take an unexercised dog into a crowded or excited situation. After a long walk, a well-socialized dog is usually welcome, but bear in mind that some states have laws regarding dogs being in places where food is served. Do your research before you head out. <br />
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15. Yes, owners of "toy" dogs, these rules apply to your pets, too. It is important to remember that just because a dog is small it doesn’t mean it can’t be dangerous if it is not well socialized. Almost all dog problems in modern society come from two things: lack of exercise and lack of leadership. Additionally, especially in America, owners tend to give affection, affection, and more affection, when what the dog really needs is exercise, discipline and then affection. It’s very important that we honor the identity of a dog so he can find his life force with us. <br />
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And make sure you always, always have poop bags with you. I often take my Cesar Millan DOOG walking belt with me on vacations to ensure I have everything I need to hand. It is a belt that holds poop bags, wipes, has a pocket for keys and even allows you to clip the leash to your belt so you can walk around and enjoy the scenery hands-free. To get more great information or a DOOG belt of your own, visit CesarsWay.com.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Pet Q&A: </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">A Cat Up a Tree Might </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Need Help to Get Down</span></center><center><a href="http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/13/4117886/a-cat-up-a-tree-might-need-help.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">Dr. Marty Becker - sacbee.com</span></a></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: #cc0000;">When cats get stuck up a tree, are they really stranded? Seems to me if they got up there, they can get themselves back down.</span></center><br />
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Not easily, they can't. Cat claws are designed to move a cat in a forward direction. And if that direction is up a tree, it's difficult to head back down. The gracefully powerful movement of a cat heading up a tree is counterbalanced by the crashing and (if he's lucky) controlled free-fall he'll use to get down. <br />
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Most cats do find their way back down, of course, which is a good thing these days. With municipal budgets being what they are, few fire departments are allowed to respond to cat-in-tree calls anymore. <br />
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At our Almost Heaven ranch we have "barn cats" – typically, former ferals who just wouldn't be happy inside and aren't comfortable being cuddled. We provide food, shelter and top-notch care, and in return they keep our barn free of vermin. <br />
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The deal has gone pretty well over the years, but twice a barn cat has gotten stuck up a tree, most likely chased there by a coyote or wolf (we see both up here in Idaho). Both times I've had to help the cats descend: Once by cutting the tree down and more recently by paying for a bucket truck. Both cats survived, although both were pretty hungry when they got back down to earth. <br />
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If you decide to get out a ladder for a cat stuck in a tree, be very careful. The chance of you getting seriously hurt while reaching for a scared cat is pretty good. Scared cats aren't safe to handle, even if they're yours, so wear heavy gloves if you are going to attend a rescue.<br />
You may be able to whet his appetite by opening a can of tuna, salmon or mackerel and letting the wonderful fishy smell drift upward. I've had it work more times than not.<br />
– Dr. Marty Becker<br />
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<b>Dogs can catch a yawn from us</b><br />
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• Yawning is contagious among people, and researchers from the School of Psychology at Birkbeck, University of London have shown for the first time what pet lovers have known all along – that dogs can also catch our yawns. Researchers said the presence of contagious yawning in dogs suggests that dogs possess the capacity for a rudimentary form of empathy.<br />
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• Not all cats like catnip. The ability to appreciate the herb is genetic, with slightly more cats in the fan club than not. These hard-wired preferences aren't immediately apparent, though, since kittens under the age of 3 months don't react to catnip at all. <br />
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– Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Top Tips to Keep Your Pets Safe </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">and Satisfied at the Dining Table</span></center><center><a href="http://www.emaxhealth.com/8782/top-tips-keep-your-pets-safe-and-satisfied-dining-table"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Timothy Boyer - emaxhealth.com</span></a></center><br />
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To help pet owners make safe choices in what scraps to feed to their pets and which ones not to, Lucy Postins, founder of The Honest Kitchen - a private, family owned pet food company that specializes in fresh, uncooked, home-made pet-food consisting of “people-food” ingredients - provides the following top tips to keep your pets safe and satisfied at the dining table.<br />
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The holiday season is particularly trying on the cook in the kitchen as friends, relatives and family members beg for your attention and snacks while you are preparing a holiday meal that everyone will enjoy. However, another individual in the kitchen begging not just for your attention, but for scraps too, is your beloved pet. While the temptation to toss a scrap from your overly-filled, busy counter top or dining table is great, the risk to your pet’s health is even greater. Toss the wrong scraps and you may be tossing your pet’s life away.<br />
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Listed below are Lucy Postins' top tips to keep your pets safe, and a recipe for a tasty pet treat.<br />
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<b>Food Scraps Safe for Your Pet</b><br />
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• Turkey, Ham, Prime Rib and other meats. These can all be added in moderation; the key thing to remember is to never feed pets any type of cooked bones because they can splinter and damage the GI tract. Also avoid too much fat and gristle, which can potentially be dangerous. Whenever possible, choose free-range, natural and grass-fed meats, which are healthier for you and your pets.<br />
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• Green Bean Casserole. Most pets love the sweet taste of green bean casserole, just do not include the onion topping and serve to pets in small amounts. As an alternative, you can share fresh, raw or cooked green beans to your pets as well.<br />
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• Sweet Potatoes. These are an excellent source of beta carotene and make a highly nutritious meal addition for dogs. Steamed or baked sweet potatoes are ideal, especially since raw root vegetables can be difficult to digest. Avoid giving your pet the holiday-themed sweet potato side dishes that contain marshmallows, syrup or nuts. <br />
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• Cranberries. These are a great addition to your pets’ meals any time of the year, but be wary of the sauce and jelly side dishes. Cranberries contain natural compounds that can help prevent bacteria from adhering to the bladder wall, so they are an excellent choice for cats and dogs that are prone to urinary tract infections.<br />
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• Winter Vegetables. Winter vegetables like pumpkin, squash, chard and kale are loaded with vitamins, antioxidants and fiber, and are great gently cooked for pets. Avoid serving your pets large amounts of vegetables, however, that contain added salt, wine, soy sauce or butter.<br />
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<b>Food Scraps NOT Safe for Your Pet</b><br />
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• Stuffing and Corn Pudding. These products tend to contain onions and raisins, as well as bread and cornmeal, which can lead to ear infections and skin problems. <br />
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• Desserts and Cheeses. When eaten in excess, these can cause stomach problems for pets.<br />
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• Relishes, Pickles and Sauces. These condiments tend to contain heavy spices, sugar, onion and other ingredients that can cause disruption in their GI tract.<br />
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Food Ingredients TOXIC to Your Pet (and should not be fed to pets in any form):<br />
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• Onions<br />
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• Chocolate<br />
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• Macadamia nuts<br />
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• Grapes<br />
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• Raisins<br />
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• Artificial candies containing xylitol<br />
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<b>THE HONEST KITCHEN HOLIDAY RECIPE: Butternut bites</b><br />
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Butternut bites are easy to make and taste delicious! The cranberries also are well suited for pets that are prone to urinary tract infections.<br />
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Ingredients:<br />
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• 1 cup boiled and mashed butternut squash (You can substitute mashed pumpkin or sweet potatoes if you don’t have butternut squash available.)<br />
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• 1½ cups uncooked oatmeal<br />
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• ¼ cup dried cranberries<br />
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• 1 tsp. nutritional yeast<br />
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• 1 tbsp. honey<br />
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Cooking Instructions:<br />
1. Preheat the oven to 370°F and butter a large cookie sheet.<br />
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2. Combine the cooked, mashed butternut squash with the oatmeal, cranberries, yeast and honey.<br />
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3. Mix well so that all the ingredients are very thoroughly combined.<br />
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4. Using a teaspoon, scoop small balls onto the buttered cookie sheet.<br />
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5. Make sure they are evenly spaced out about 1 inch apart and bake for about 10 to 12 minutes.<br />
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6. Allow the bites to cool, and then add these nutritious goodies to your dog’s usual meal or serve them as individual treats!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PJDat8rU6Wg/Tv8iL5bfKdI/AAAAAAAAPdU/cXGxou7Zu7Y/s1600/3-p1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="337" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PJDat8rU6Wg/Tv8iL5bfKdI/AAAAAAAAPdU/cXGxou7Zu7Y/s400/3-p1.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mO8-RKbbOhc/Tv8iL6ziUNI/AAAAAAAAPdc/ixxUqUaqNgI/s1600/3-p2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mO8-RKbbOhc/Tv8iL6ziUNI/AAAAAAAAPdc/ixxUqUaqNgI/s400/3-p2.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-beaie0lUO4A/Tv8iMCEjqRI/AAAAAAAAPdk/W93Aa-Dbh-0/s1600/3-p3.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-beaie0lUO4A/Tv8iMCEjqRI/AAAAAAAAPdk/W93Aa-Dbh-0/s400/3-p3.bmp" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oEFtWTafcHA/Tv8iMJdJ3DI/AAAAAAAAPd4/QS0LhfJVgok/s1600/3-p4.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oEFtWTafcHA/Tv8iMJdJ3DI/AAAAAAAAPd4/QS0LhfJVgok/s400/3-p4.bmp" width="400" /></a>John Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569650383063644384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5310501782946920789.post-33027223184260770432011-12-24T19:27:00.000-08:002011-12-25T08:19:41.480-08:00Military Dogs<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Top 10 Animal News Stories of 2011</span></center><center><a href="http://timesfreepress.com/news/2011/dec/18/top-10-breaking-animal-news-stories-of-2011/"><span style="color: #274e13;">timesfreepress.com</span></a></center><br />
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Camp Bow Wow, a dog day- and overnight-camp with locations throughout the United States and Canada, compiled the following Top 10 breaking animal news stories of 2011.<br />
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--The Animal Rescue Team of the Humane Society saved 1,673 dogs from puppy mills in 2011.<br />
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--A fallen soldier's family brought a dog they named "Hero" from Iraq to their home in Michigan. A social worker in Michigan went to great lengths to get her brother's two pet dogs out of Iraq after he died in December 2008. He had saved the stray Labrador and her pup in Baghdad.<br />
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--When illness forced vets in the United Kingdom to remove a Great Dane's eyes, her canine pal Maddison, also a Great Dane, stepped in and became a guide dog. The pair have been inseparable for years but were looking for a new home together after their owner could no longer care for them. When the Daily Mail featured the heartwarming tale of the dogs, more than 2,000 dog lovers offered to take them. The dogs now live with a couple in Cheshire.<br />
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--Jack the Cat was found after he went missing for more than seven weeks in the American Airlines baggage check area at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. Jack the Cat's whereabouts became a social-media phenomenon. Sadly, the cat died nearly two weeks later, a result of malnutrition that occurred while he was lost.<br />
<br />
--Willow, a cat, disappeared from her home in Boulder, Colo., five years ago. She turned up recently in Manhattan, 1,800 miles from where she was last seen. A microchip implanted when she was a kitten helped track down her owners.<br />
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--When Louie York, a French bulldog, flew cross-country on Sept. 15, from New York to Los Angeles, his 18-hour travel route included stops in Chicago, Omaha, Denver and Phoenix, followed by a seven-hour drive home to the San Francisco Bay Area. French bulldogs have been banned from most commercial airlines -- not for their bark or bite but because so many have died in flight.<br />
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--Dozens of animals were killed after they had been freed from their cages at a 73-acre private reserve in Ohio.<br />
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--Insurance fraud has reached a new low in the United Kingdom, where authorities discovered a rise in claims on pet insurance policies. According to the Association of British Insurers, last year, $3 million was collected in pet insurance compared to $667,842 in 2009.<br />
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--More than 150 diamondback terrapins crossed an active runway recently, disrupting air traffic at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York so that they could continue their mating season.<br />
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--A dog lost in the tsunami was found alive three weeks later floating on a roof at sea near Japan.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Drug-Sniffing 'Tebow' the Dog </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Catches Cocaine Smuggler</span></center><center><a href="http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2011/12/crime-fighting-tebow-the-dog-catches-drug-smuggler-tim-tebow-denver-broncos-tom-brady-new-england-patriots-orlando-international-airport/1"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Michael McCarthy, USA TODAY</span></a></center><br />
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Tebow-mania continued over the weekend even though Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos lost to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.<br />
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A drug-sniffing dog named "Tebow" helped cops catch a cocaine smuggler at Orlando International Airport.<br />
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The crime-fighting canine sniffed out out a kilo of cocaine that was secretly stuffed inside a children's toy, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Details:<br />
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Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation agents told the paper the dog, named for the Denver Broncos quarterback, sniffed out what turned out to be a cocaine-stuffed toy in a bag picked up by Morales Castro, 20, on Dec. 8. Castro initially claimed the suitcase was not his, though he later told police he was paid to take it to someone, according to the report. He faces a federal charge of selling or distributing a controlled substance, according to the paper.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Pet Owners Happy with New Rule Allowing </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">- Again - Burying Human Ashes </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">with Beloved Animals</span></center><center><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/pet-owners-happy-with-new-rule-allowing-_-again-_-burying-human-ashes-with-beloved-animals/2011/12/20/gIQAWwiF6O_story.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">washingtonpost.com</span></a></center><br />
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HARTSDALE, N.Y. — Life is good again — and death is looking better — for animal lovers in New York who want to be buried with their Persians, Pomeranians or potbellied pigs.<br />
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The state Division of Cemeteries has issued regulations that once again permit pet owners to have their ashes interred with their beloved animals in pet cemeteries.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oEkWqGMOMSE/TvCruushSuI/AAAAAAAAPYg/HgM-mXbteys/s1600/1-p1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oEkWqGMOMSE/TvCruushSuI/AAAAAAAAPYg/HgM-mXbteys/s400/1-p1.bmp" width="371" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>In this Jan.19, 2011 file photo, headstones marking the graves of pets are spread throughout the Hartsdale Pet Cemetery in Hartsdale, N.Y. The New York State Cemetery Board has proposed regulations that will once again permit pet owners to have their ashes interred with their beloved animals in pet cemeteries.</em></span></center><br />
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“My wish has been granted and I will be able to be with my furry family forever,” said Rhona Levy of the Bronx, who has planned for years to have her ashes buried with her dog and four cats at the Hartsdale Pet Cemetery in the New York City suburbs.<br />
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“This was one of the best moments of my life,” she added.<br />
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Under the new rules, approved Thursday in Albany, the interment of human ashes at pet cemeteries is permitted under certain conditions.<br />
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The pet cemetery must not advertise that it takes human ashes, and may not charge a fee for doing so. The cemetery also must tell customers who ask about human interment that they would be giving up some protections, such as mandatory record-keeping and restrictions on removal.<br />
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The 115-year-old Hartsdale cemetery has been adding human ashes to pet plots since 1925, and an estimated 700 people have joined the 70,000 animals there. But on Feb. 8, the cemetery division ordered a halt to the practice. Three days earlier, Hartsdale, 20 miles north of Manhattan, had been featured in an Associated Press story about the increase in human burials in pet cemeteries around the country.<br />
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The ban was issued statewide in April. The state said then that only not-for-profit corporations can take in human remains, even if cremated, and charging a fee violated not-for-profit law.<br />
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The state’s declaration angered some animal lovers, especially those who had prearranged their burials at pet cemeteries.<br />
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“Suddenly I’m not at peace anymore,” Levy said at the time.<br />
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Hartsdale asked the state for permission to at least accommodate those who had prepaid.<br />
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Taylor York, an attorney and law professor at Keuka College in Penn Yan, went further. She undertook to persuade the Cemetery Division that since pet cemeteries are private, they’re not covered by nonprofit corporation law.<br />
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York’s uncle, Thomas Ryan, had died in April. He had arranged — and prepaid — to join his wife and their two dogs, B.J. I and B.J. II, at Hartsdale. But the state ruling prevented that, and Ryan’s ashes remained in a wooden box at the home of his sister, York’s mother.<br />
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The Cemetery Division’s new ruling means Ryan can finally be buried, and York said a ceremony is scheduled for Friday.<br />
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“This new compromise gets my mother what she wants and my uncle what he intended,” she said. “It’s a Christmas gift of a kind, but this was agonizing and it’s a real shame that the state leaped before they looked.”<br />
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Just as the Hartsdale cemetery was the first to be told it couldn’t accommodate humans, it’s the first to get permission to resume the practice. The state and the cemetery signed a “Memorandum of Understanding” that permits the immediate burial of human ashes at Hartsdale. The cemetery resumed human interments Friday.<br />
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Ed Martin Jr., president and director of the Hartsdale Pet Cemetery, said Monday he has no qualms about the restrictions. He said the cemetery dropped the $235 fee it used to charge to open an animal’s grave for its owner’s ashes.<br />
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“It’s not that it was a big moneymaker. It was a courtesy more than anything else,” he said.<br />
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York said she took some satisfaction that during the meeting last week, Cemetery Board Chairman Dan Shapiro acknowledged using private property as a cemetery himself.<br />
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“I spread my uncle’s ashes under a peach tree in my backyard,” Shapiro said.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Lost Dog Will Be Home for Christmas</span></center><center><a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/12/20/2554324/lost-dog-will-be-home-for-christmas.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">miamiherald.com</span></a></center><br />
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TAMPA, Fla. -- No one knows how exactly how Addison the dachshund got from Kansas City to Florida recently, but at least she'll be home for Christmas.<br />
When the affectionate, plump wiener dog arrived at animal services in Tampa this month, workers suspected she'd come from a loving home. A scan of her implanted microchip revealed she belongs to a family in Kansas City.<br />
Local dachshund lovers stepped in to help get her home. An elementary school teacher donated her frequent-flier miles and bought a seat on an airplane for the dog and herself. They flew out Monday.<br />
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Addison's family adopted her when she was a puppy. No one seems to know how she got to Florida, but animal services workers suspect she was living with someone here until she got lost. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MZkZYecyi8o/TvaW-8SCoNI/AAAAAAAAPa8/52pSGS9ru9o/s1600/0-keepers.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="149" width="347" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MZkZYecyi8o/TvaW-8SCoNI/AAAAAAAAPa8/52pSGS9ru9o/s400/0-keepers.bmp" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pC82ckbr2rs/TvC-tZM5ALI/AAAAAAAAPZE/9ICRIMySjvI/s1600/1-p4.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="79" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pC82ckbr2rs/TvC-tZM5ALI/AAAAAAAAPZE/9ICRIMySjvI/s400/1-p4.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RphLcdJe27k/TvC-tToVdMI/AAAAAAAAPZQ/qXx6ShzvH74/s1600/1-p5.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RphLcdJe27k/TvC-tToVdMI/AAAAAAAAPZQ/qXx6ShzvH74/s400/1-p5.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><br />
As we close out 2011, there is so much to be thankful for. We are thankful for you and the compassion you have shown the animals at Keepers of the Wild. I am writing you today to tell you about some of the lives you have helped change this year. Please take a moment to hear what your support has done.<br />
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Thanks to the help of committed supporters like you, over 175 animals call Keepers of the Wild home. Most of these innocent animals were rescued from lives of neglect and abuse but can now live the remainder of their lives being cherished and well cared for.<br />
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New arrivals and longtime residents all benefit from quality care on a daily basis. We ensured all animals on our grounds have had fresh water, nourishing food and supplements, medical care, enrichment toys, comfortable shelters and spacious natural habitats-- and their contentment shows!<br />
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Your support also enabled us to rescue twenty-three animals this year and eleven indigenous wild animals were rehabilitated and released back into the wild.<br />
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Most of what I described above couldn’t happen without gifts of time and money from supporters like you.<br />
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Thank you and we wish you all a happy, healthy holiday season!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ymXMxbyJlzM/TvC_UqfHKSI/AAAAAAAAPZo/z4qBXSRsaMQ/s1600/1-p6.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ymXMxbyJlzM/TvC_UqfHKSI/AAAAAAAAPZo/z4qBXSRsaMQ/s400/1-p6.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Your on-going support is crucial to maintaining the animals at Keepers of the Wild. If possible, we hope you and your family will make your best year-end gift to ensure KOTW can continue our life-saving mission. <br />
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Every gift is appreciated and every gift makes a difference.<br />
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<center>Please send your check or money order to:<br />
Keepers of the Wild<br />
13441 E. Highway 66<br />
Valentine, AZ 86437</center><br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Veterinary Q&A: Itchy Skin and Hair Loss in Cats</span></center><center><a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/tailsofseattle/2017048879_veterinary_qa_itchy_cats.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">Posted by Neena Pellegrini - seattletimes.com</span></a></center><br />
<br />
Dr. Stephen White, a professor of dermatology at the University of Califorina, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, answers this week's question.<br />
<br />
Question: My cat has been losing hair in abnormal amounts for six months. She either tugs at it or licks it. I changed her dry food to grain free, but it hasn't seemed to make a difference. It isn't fleas. What can I do to provide her some relief?<br />
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Answer: There are a number of reasons why a cat is uncomfortable enough to pull out its own hair. <br />
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This may be caused by allergies (flea, food or environmental, such as allergies to house dust mites or pollens) or to certain parasites or fungi. <br />
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The most common cause of this discomfort (the medical term is pruritus, or the sensation of 'itch') is a flea allergy -- the more allergic a pet is to fleas, the LESS likely the owner is to see fleas on the pet; only a small number of fleas biting the animal will continue the allergy (which is from the proteins in the flea's saliva, injected in to the pet while feeding).<br />
<br />
However, if we assume that either fleas are not the problem or that the owner has the cat on good quality flea control, then the next step is twofold:<br />
<br />
-- Have the veterinarian scrape your cat's skin for parasites and perform a fungal culture to rule out a dermatophyte ('ringworm') infection.<br />
<br />
-- Start a hypoallergenic diet trial. Unfortunately, there is no intrinsic value of the 'grain free' diets.<br />
<br />
A hypoallergenic diet must be performed using a protein source the pet has not eaten before. These diets are best obtained through a veterinarian's office; most of the diets marketed for allergic pets in pet stores or supermarkets contain a number of different proteins. <br />
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Such a diet should be the only thing fed (plus water) for two months, without any treats, chewable medications, flavored toothpastes or flavored toys. <br />
<br />
It is important in cats to monitor the palatability of the diet, as cats that refuse a new diet for several days can become seriously ill.<br />
<br />
To avoid these problems, the old diet can be mixed in with the new one for the first week. After two months, the pet should be fed its old diet again. If the itching/pulling out of the hair decreases on the hypoallergenic diet, and becomes worse on being fed the original diet, than the pet has a food allergy.<br />
<br />
If not, and if all skin scrapings and fungal cultures have proved to be negative, most likely the cat has environmental allergies and should be referred to a specialist for further evaluation.<br />
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--Dr. Stephen White<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Dog Days: Bo's Whereabouts Spark</span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"> Latest White House Controversy</span></center><center><a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-bo-conspiracy-hawaii-20111222,0,7898906.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fmostviewed+%28L.A.+Times+-+Most+Viewed+Stories%29"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Peter Nicholas - latimes.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5XY4opVeDUQ/TvTFA5JyDsI/AAAAAAAAPaw/ebhYfXZbn8I/s1600/1-p12.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5XY4opVeDUQ/TvTFA5JyDsI/AAAAAAAAPaw/ebhYfXZbn8I/s400/1-p12.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>President Obama shops for Christmas presents with his dog, Bo, at PetSmart in Alexandria, Va. (Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images / December 21, 2011)</em></span></center><br />
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Reporting from Honolulu— <br />
<br />
We live in a world of conspiracy theories -- where nothing is as it seems, where even a politician's benign photo op might have a titillating back story.<br />
<br />
Which brings us to the Obama family dog, Bo.<br />
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Bo was last seen in the company of the president, who took him to PetSmart in Alexandria, Va., on Wednesday as part of a holiday shopping excursion.<br />
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So far, so good.<br />
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The rest of the Obama family, as we know, has already started vacationing and is in Hawaii awaiting the president's arrival.<br />
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Was Bo with them?<br />
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The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported on Sunday that a neighbor spotted Bo on a walk in the tony neighborhood where the Obama family is staying.<br />
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Is it possible? Could the image-meisters at the White House really have insisted that Bo be flown back to Washington for a quick photo-op with the home-alone president?<br />
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That would raise pretty valid questions about whether taxpayers paid for the flight.<br />
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We asked First Lady Michelle Obama's office and quickly got an answer:<br />
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"Bo has been in D.C. this whole time."<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Dog with Three Legs Captures Hearts </span></center><center><a href="http://milpitas.patch.com/articles/dog-with-three-legs-captures-hearts"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Rob Klindt - patch.com</span></a></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: #cc0000;">Recovered from a severe injury, lost dog gets a new home and second chance</span></center><br />
<br />
Humane Society Silicon Valley officials are celebrating the adoption of a special dog this week. Brownie is a young Miniature Pinscher that has just three legs.<br />
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He came to the facility’s Milpitas campus earlier this fall in bad shape. He had a severely injured leg and foot, most likely from being hit by a car.<br />
<br />
After extensive evaluation, veterinarians working with the Humane Society decided to amputate Brownie’s injured left rear leg. The decision was partially based on past experience staff members have had in other cases where dogs did quite well with just three limbs. And Brownie, otherwise healthy and with a good disposition, seemed to be a good candidate for the procedure.<br />
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The decision paid off.<br />
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Staff members were amazed to see Brownie bounce back from the surgery in just 36 hours. They reported that less than a week later he was playing, running and jumping in the on-campus dog park.<br />
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Brownie even starred in a Humane Society Silicon Valley YouTube video that showed him energetically playing with volunteer staff members who eventually let him off-leash to chase balls and run free in the grassy dog park. <br />
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Soon Brownie was greeting visitors and meeting potential adoptive families at the center. It wasn’t long before the right match was made and Brownie found a new home.<br />
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While Brownie is a unique animal, Humane Society workers say his success story is not. Staff members credit success stories like this to the strong support, commitment and financial donations the center receives from the community. The donations allow the staff to care for animals like Brownie without hesitation and offer them a second chance at a full life. <br />
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The Humane Society Silicon Valley operates its Animal Community Center at 901 Ames Ave., Milpitas. The facility includes animal care services, community education, adoptive services, a dog park and pet store. Adoptions are available every day. For details, visit their website at hssv.org.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Are Americans Crazy for Treating Our Pets Like Kids?</span></center><center><a href="http://yourlife.usatoday.com/parenting-family/pets/story/2011-12-18/Are-Americans-crazy-for-treating-our-pets-like-kids/52054058/1"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Sharon L. Peters, Special for USA TODAY</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SMYf3-PWeKc/TvC9B7uL1cI/AAAAAAAAPY4/-Voepb1sHmc/s1600/1-p3.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SMYf3-PWeKc/TvC9B7uL1cI/AAAAAAAAPY4/-Voepb1sHmc/s400/1-p3.bmp" width="308" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Stocking stuffers: Teacher Susan Sallee shops with her basset hound, Gerdi, during one of their routine visits to IncrediPet Select pet store in Lexington, Ky. David Stephenson, for USA TODAY</em></span></center><br />
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The season of giving inevitably prompts pet lovers (53% of dog owners and 38% of cat owners) to gift their animals, often lavishly, says a survey by the American Pet Products Association.<br />
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Obsessed with pets: When is it a problem?<br />
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Are some people over-the-top — in an unhealthy way — about their animals? Probably, says Waco, Texas, psychologist Julia Becker. But the number, she believes, is extremely small.<br />
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There may be a problem if a person:<br />
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-Perpetually neglects other relationships to give excessive time and attention to pets. <br />
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-Uses pets as an excuse to get out of doing other activities.<br />
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The most common issue: <br />
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People who insist on taking badly behaved or ill-trained pets to inappropriate places where they’re not welcome. But that’s not generally a sign of mania; that’s self-absorption, probably evident in non-pet-related actions. “It’s always unfortunate when people aren’t respectful of others,” says Becker, especially when it might fuel negative stereotypes about pet owners.<br />
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It also prompts the question: Is there something, well, weird about that?<br />
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According to a Kelton Research survey commissioned by Milo's Kitchen pet treats:<br />
<br />
•81% regard their pets as full members of the family.<br />
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•58% call themselves their pets' "mommy" or "daddy."<br />
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•77% buy pets birthday gifts. <br />
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•More than half say they talk about pets more than politics or sex.<br />
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Well, grinches, here's what mental health professionals have to say about all this pet-loving goofiness: The blatant puppy love much of America is displaying does not spell the end of society as we know it, and the pet-obsessed are not pathetically off-kilter humans in need of intense therapy.<br />
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"What's the harm?" says Stanley Coren, professor emeritus of psychology at the University of British Columbia and a Psychology Today columnist on human-pet interactions. "Someone may go spend $20 on a rhinestone collar. That's pretty much the worst that will happen."<br />
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"Most people recognize, whatever endearments they use or actions they might take, that their pets are not furry humans," he concludes. But emotionally healthy humans have the "need to nurture," and pets are the perfect recipient. They return the favor of all the love, care and baby talk with their innate ability, proven in scientific studies, to reduce stress, speed healing, and improve humans' fitness and social-interaction levels.<br />
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It must further be noted, Coren says, that people's relationships with their pets generally have none of the "conflict that probably exists" in their relationships with humans. "Who can't use more of that sometimes?" he adds.<br />
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Although many think treating pets as family is brand new, it's centuries old, Coren says. In the 1700s, Frederick the Great, king of Prussia, was deeply devoted to his dogs, and when his greyhound Biche died, he wrote wrenchingly of his heartache: "It is best to be too sensitive than too hard." Playwright Eugene O'Neill didn't get along with his kids but adored his Dalmation Blemie, who had an Hermes raincoat and a four-poster bed. In Julius Caesar's time, women toting small bejeweled dogs about Rome was quite the rage.<br />
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"We tend as a society to be very contemporary-centric," believing the current population has invented every pattern of thought and deed, Coren says. The way he sees it, this magnificent obsession "is not a sea change, it's merely a trend."<br />
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Treating pets like family is "especially pervasive … among empty nesters, singles and/or childless, and the homebound," says Waco, Texas, psychologist Julia Becker. Those groups are growing because we're living longer, and also because so many people aren't having children. Her feeling about pet obsessions: "It's fun for the people who do it. There's nothing wrong with it."<br />
<br />
Lexington, Ky., teacher Susan Sallee is unapologetic about her affection for her basset hound, Gerdi. She threw a party for Gerdi's first birthday in January, sends her to doggie daycare when she works late, and displays puppy photos at work. "Some people may think that's ridiculous," she says with the lack of defensiveness of a person confident in her choices.<br />
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Athough Sallee has a rich, full life, she's warmed by Gerdi's presence. She'll gift her at Christmas — probably new squeaky toys, gourmet holiday doggie cookies and possibly a new bed.<br />
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"It's my responsibility," Sallee says, "to give her a good life." And if what Gerdi has is beyond merely a "good life," Sallee sees that as tit for tat. "Gerdi gives so very much."<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Military Dogs: </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Yuma Proving Ground Trains Dogs for Deployment</span></center><center><a href="http://www.armytimes.com/news/2011/12/ap-yuma-proving-ground-trains-dogs-for-deployment-121711/"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Mara Knaub - armytimes.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j3WOJL2rnKs/TvDCS8JGHpI/AAAAAAAAPZ0/Df8CP9IPYeA/s1600/1-p7.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j3WOJL2rnKs/TvDCS8JGHpI/AAAAAAAAPZ0/Df8CP9IPYeA/s400/1-p7.bmp" width="361" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Capt. Emily Pieracci, left, checks the vital signs of Liam, a 1-year-old Belgium Malinois, during a check up and physical exam at the Yuma Proving Grounds veterinary clinic in Yuma, Ariz. Liam and his handler Sgt. Tudor Lundreth, right, are part of the Tactical Explosive Detection Dog unit that will be deployed to Afghanistan in the coming months.</em></span></center><br />
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YUMA, Ariz. — Aster, a 1-year-old long-haired Labrador Chesapeake, had an upset stomach and threw up in the examining room of the Yuma Proving Ground’s veterinarian clinic.<br />
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The dog is one of several dozens that just arrived from Indiana, where they embarked on a military working dog training program. At YPG’s Mine Detection School, the dogs will train in detecting explosives in buildings, vehicles, buried in the roadway or somewhere in the field, probably in Afghanistan.<br />
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Aster is a “spare,” a standby dog in case one of the others doesn’t pass the medical exam or training. If the playful and energetic dog passes the medical exams, it will take part in “rigorous training” as they learn to sniff out mines and explosives.<br />
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“A lot of the teams don’t make it. They’re cut,” said Mark Schauer, public affairs specialist at YPG.<br />
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Capt. Emily Pieracci, veterinarian officer in charge, gave Aster an antibiotic. “They can get the travel bug, just like people do,” she explained.<br />
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On Thursday YPG veterinarians conducted the physical exams and laboratory tests.<br />
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“The dogs will be examined to make sure they are healthy and medically fit to start training,” Pieracci said.<br />
<br />
“Just like us, if we don’t feel good, if we have the flu, we don’t work as good as we could. It’s their job to keep the handlers alive and the handlers’ job is to keep the unit safe.”<br />
<br />
The dogs already spent four weeks training in Indiana. After their training at YPG, they will be deployed to Afghanistan in early January.<br />
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Each year YPG prepares hundreds of dogs and handlers for deployment overseas, as well as trains K-9 units for civilian law enforcement agencies, according to Schauer.<br />
<br />
YPG has eight different programs from multiple branches of the military, each managed separately and with a unique mission.<br />
<br />
Schauer pointed out that in Afghanistan, “American forces have to contend with an estimated 10 million legacy mines from past conflicts, as well as new devices placed by insurgents. YPG has the expertise, facilities and geographical features working dog units need to train realistically.”<br />
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Sgt. 1st Class Harry Franco, non-commissioned officer in charge of the program, pointed out that YPG’s environment is the closest to Afghanistan’s available in the continental United States.<br />
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“A standard combat engineer would take hours to extract a casualty from this minefield,” Franco said. “We train these teams to do it in 45 minutes.”<br />
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“Dogs are able to detect odors nearly 100 million times faster than humans can, a feat that the soldiers are counting on to save them from danger,” Schauer said.<br />
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The dogs are rewarded with a tennis ball and praise whenever they find hidden explosives.<br />
<br />
Going off into the field, the work is life and death, Schauer noted.<br />
<br />
Outside the clinic, Spc. Ryan Denton and Koma, a 1½-year-old German shepherd, awaited their turn for an exam. Denton said he chose to enter the working dog program because he loves dogs and wants to be an asset to the Army.<br />
<br />
He’s already bonded with the dog. “They don’t like to be out of our sight,” he said.<br />
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Also waiting for their turn were handler PV2 Thurwin Lane and his partner, Bartje, a 1½-year-old Belgium Malinois.<br />
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“They gave me the option. I said yes. It’s an opportunity to try something new,” Lane said when asked why he’s participating in the program.<br />
<br />
He pointed out that he also likes dogs. “I actually have a couple of sheepdog back home (in Rock Point, Ariz.).”<br />
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For Staff Sgt. Matthew Satterlee, who works with Satan (he pointed out the dog was named before working together), a 1½-year-old German shepherd, working with these dogs means “being able to find explosives and save lives.”<br />
<br />
Satterlee noted that Satan stays in a kennel until it’s time to work. “They’re not pets. But you do build a bond, and that’s what gets the dog to work for you.<br />
<br />
“It’s fun for them, it’s a game. Their reward is a tennis ball if they do their job.”<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">Merry Christmas</span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"> and Happy Holidays !!</span></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--A4jwxWPwAU/TvDFPBaaTXI/AAAAAAAAPaA/EsxiYdGEGig/s1600/1-p8.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--A4jwxWPwAU/TvDFPBaaTXI/AAAAAAAAPaA/EsxiYdGEGig/s400/1-p8.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7CagRgqZKhc/TvDFPbUrMFI/AAAAAAAAPaI/OVLeDf5S3ko/s1600/1-p9.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7CagRgqZKhc/TvDFPbUrMFI/AAAAAAAAPaI/OVLeDf5S3ko/s400/1-p9.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n8rEZowE34g/TvDFPUV8KVI/AAAAAAAAPac/zHf6oKNysw0/s1600/1-p10.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="127" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n8rEZowE34g/TvDFPUV8KVI/AAAAAAAAPac/zHf6oKNysw0/s400/1-p10.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5_jd9o_No6E/TvDFP8PjcxI/AAAAAAAAPak/1VSqYdLS9Q4/s1600/1-p11.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="127" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5_jd9o_No6E/TvDFP8PjcxI/AAAAAAAAPak/1VSqYdLS9Q4/s400/1-p11.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iSGVFA7g6-Q/TvdNElp7m0I/AAAAAAAAPbI/DgNae-bLaMg/s1600/1-p13.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="289" width="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iSGVFA7g6-Q/TvdNElp7m0I/AAAAAAAAPbI/DgNae-bLaMg/s400/1-p13.bmp" /></a></div>John Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569650383063644384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5310501782946920789.post-58342519873350696912011-12-17T22:12:00.001-08:002011-12-17T22:15:20.786-08:00Pet Heroes<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Cat Inherits 10mil Empire </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">After Owner Dies at 94... </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">and Becomes Third Richest Pet in the World</span></center><center><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2072417/Italian-cat-inherits-10m-fortune-owner-Maria-Assunta-dies-aged-94.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Nick Pisa - dailymail.com</span></a></center><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RTFT21QpXqE/TuTO_H6EGyI/AAAAAAAAPXw/zoGG0XH7plA/s1600/7-p10.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RTFT21QpXqE/TuTO_H6EGyI/AAAAAAAAPXw/zoGG0XH7plA/s400/7-p10.bmp" width="223" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>From rags to riches: Millionaire Maria Assunta left her fortune to a stray cat she rescued.</em></span></center><br />
<br />
An Italian cat has become the third richest animal in the world after inheriting almost £10 million after his wealthy owner died and left him the entire family fortune.<br />
<br />
Maria Assunta died last month aged 94 years old and according to lawyers entrusted with her estate left the fortune in property to Tommasino, a stray cat she had found and looked after because of her love for animals.<br />
<br />
Ms Assunta had a large property portfolio with homes and villas across the country, as well as several bulging bank accounts and share portfolios but no living relatives.<br />
<br />
Lawyers Anna Orecchioni and Giacinto Canzona who are representing her say that she left the fortune to Tommasino in a will she wrote and deposited with them in their office in Rome in October 2009.<br />
<br />
Mrs Orecchioni explained that under Italian law Tommassino is not entitled to inherit the money directly and the will also asked for the money to be given to a 'worthy animal association, if one could be found.'<br />
<br />
A website dedicated to this most pampered of mutts shows him living in true Playboy mansion style: there are pictures of Gunther surrounded by bronzed girls in gold dresses and gorgeous men in glaring white jeans, as well as splashing about in a blue swimming pool while girls in string bikinis look on adoringly. <br />
<br />
She added:'We had requests from several organisations but in the end we did not find any that we thought were suitable.<br />
<br />
'Then earlier this year Maria told us about her nurse called Stefania who looked after her and who like her had a love of animals and in particular cats. We also could find no living relatives of her at all anywhere.<br />
<br />
'In the end we decided that Stefania was the most suitable person to administer the money that Maria had left in her will. <br />
<br />
'To be honest he doesn't need all that money he is happy with a saucer of milk and some biscuits.'<br />
<br />
Stefania herself said:'I had no idea that she was worth so much money.'<br />
<br />
The world's richest animal is thought to be Gunter, a German shepherd who received more than £90 million after his wealthy and slightly barking heiress owner Karlotta Liebenstien died and left him her fortune.<br />
<br />
In 1988 British recluse Ben Rea left his fortune of £9 million to his cat Blackie. <br />
<br />
<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Top 25 Pet Names of 2011 </span></center><center><a href="http://blog.seattlepi.com/caninechat/2011/12/08/top-25-pet-names-of-2011/"><span style="color: #274e13;">seattlepi.com</span></a></center><br />
<br />
Is your Dog’s name on the list?<br />
<br />
Banfield Pet Hospital has compiled the top 50 pet names of 2011, similar to the BabyCenter list of baby names that was released a few days ago. As the world’s largest veterinary practice, Banfield has a patient database with over 780 hospitals across the country.<br />
<br />
Due to space, I am posting the top 25 dog names of the 50 sent to me.<br />
<br />
1. Bella<br />
2. Max<br />
3. Buddy<br />
4. Daisy<br />
5. Bailey<br />
6. Lucy<br />
7. Molly<br />
8. Coco<br />
9. Charlie<br />
10. Rocky<br />
11. Chloe<br />
12. Maggie<br />
13. Sadie<br />
14. Princess<br />
15. Sophie<br />
16. Lucky<br />
17. Roxy<br />
18. Jack<br />
19. Lola<br />
20. Harley<br />
21. Toby<br />
22. Bear<br />
23. Sasha<br />
24. Jake<br />
25. Ginger <br />
<br />
Woof by any other name is still a woof!<br />
Diane<br />
<br />
Diane Rich Dog Training, LLC<br />
www.spokesdog.com<br />
askdiane@spokesdog.com<br />
www.twitter.com/spokesdog<br />
<br />
<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">With Blagojevich Heading to Prison, </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Convicted Ill. Governor’s Family </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Welcomes New Dog</span></center><center><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/with-blagojevich-heading-to-prison-convicted-ill-governors-family-welcomes-new-dog/2011/12/09/gIQA41cPjO_story.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">washingtonpost.com</span></a></center><br />
<br />
CHICAGO — The family of ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is getting a new dog.<br />
<br />
The Chicago Tribune reports (http://trib.in/u5T6ad) that the Blagojevich family adopted a Maltese-poodle mix from a Chicago shelter Friday. The dog is a former stray taken in by the shelter, PAWS Chicago.<br />
<br />
The family got its first dog, Skittles, to help his two daughters cope with the stress after Blagojevich was arrested three years ago.<br />
<br />
Blagojevich would later joke in an Associated Press interview that he told his daughters if he ever went to prison, “You can get another dog and call him, ‘Daddy.’”<br />
<br />
The shelter’s director says the family is considering another candy-themed name for their new dog: Twix.<br />
<br />
The 54-year-old Blagojevich was sentenced Wednesday to 14 years in prison for his conviction on corruption charges.<br />
<br />
<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Mummified Cat Walled Up </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">in 17th Century 'Witch's Cottage'</span> <br />
<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/10/world/europe/mummified-cat-witch-cottage/"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Bryony Jones, CNN</span></a></center><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m_aDdVGXtlc/TuTRAjaoq3I/AAAAAAAAPX8/BHf-UoAH5hM/s1600/9-p11.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m_aDdVGXtlc/TuTRAjaoq3I/AAAAAAAAPX8/BHf-UoAH5hM/s400/9-p11.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Hundreds of people were accused of witchcraft during witch hunts in the 17th century, most famously in Salem, Massachusetts.</em></span></center><br />
<br />
London -- Engineers have uncovered the haunting remains of a mummified cat bricked up inside the wall of a cottage near the site of one of Britain's most infamous witch trials.<br />
<br />
Workers made the startling discovery during routine maintenance on a reservoir in the shadow of Pendle Hill in Lancashire, England's "witching country."<br />
<br />
They called in archaeologists, who unearthed a cottage believed to date from the 17th century buried beneath a grassy mound. Inside, they found a sealed room where the cat had been walled up.<br />
<br />
The area is famous for the Pendle witch trials, which saw 10 women and two men accused of using witchcraft to murder people in the 1600s.<br />
<br />
It is thought the unfortunate feline may have been buried alive by the cottage's superstitious inhabitants, in an attempt to protect them from evil spirits.<br />
<br />
"It's not often you come across a fairytale cottage complete with witch's cat," said Carl Sanders, project manager for water company United Utilities. "The building is in remarkable condition. You can walk through it and get a real sense that you're peering into the past.<br />
<br />
Whoever consigned this cat to such a horrible fate was clearly seeking protection from evil spirits<br />
<br />
Simon Entwhistle"Pendle Hill has a real aura about it -- it's hard not to be affected by the place. Even before we discovered the building, there were lots of jokes from the lads about broomsticks and black cats. The find has really stunned us all."<br />
<br />
Simon Entwhistle, an expert on the Pendle witches, likened the find -- which he said could be the Malkin Tower, site of a notorious meeting of the "coven" on Good Friday, 1612 -- to "discovering Tutankhamun's tomb."<br />
<br />
"We are just a few months away from the 400th anniversary of the Pendle witch trials, and here we have an incredibly rare find, right in the heart of witching country.<br />
<br />
"Cats feature prominently in folklore about witches," said Entwhistle. "Whoever consigned this cat to such a horrible fate was clearly seeking protection from evil spirits. It's an absolutely spellbinding discovery."<br />
<br />
"It's like discovering your own little Pompei," said Frank Giecco of NP Archaeology, who led the team which excavated the building. "We rarely get the opportunity to work with something so well preserved.<br />
<br />
"As soon as we started digging we found the tops of doors and knew we were onto something special.<br />
<br />
"The building is a microcosm for the rise and fall of this area, from the time of the Pendle witches to the industrial age -- there are layers of local history right before your eyes."<br />
<br />
Archaeologists also uncovered a host of other artifacts in and around the cottage -- including a 19th century kitchen range, tin bath, bedstead and items of crockery.<br />
<br />
<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">10 Pet Heroes to the Rescue Part 1</span></center><center><a href="http://www.usnews.com/science/articles/2011/12/12/10-pet-heroes-to-the-rescue"><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>By Donna Banks, Ann Carrns, Michael Morella - usnews.com</em></span></a></center><br />
<br />
Everybody loves a good-news story of friend helping friend, neighbor assisting neighbor, stranger saving stranger—of people who step forward in a moment of crisis to offer a selfless hand. Sometimes, that hand is a paw or a hoof. Here are the stories of 10 heroic animals that stepped up to protect their favorite humans, often at risk to themselves:<br />
<br />
<b>Freckles, smoke detector</b><br />
<br />
Velma Leger remembers clearly the morning in October 1987 when she discovered her youngest child could barely see. When Leger held up a rattle for Sarah, then 6 months old, the baby reached for it and missed. Many doctors and tests later, it was confirmed that Sarah had bilateral retinoblastoma, a hereditary form of cancer that had caused tumors in both eyes. She received radiation treatment and was cured of the cancer, but developed into a shy young girl and teenager, utterly dependent on her mother and sister. “I used my cane,” she says, “but I was always running into things, and I couldn’t get where I needed to go without help.” (Wearing corrective lenses, she can make out shapes and very large print, but she is legally blind.)<br />
<br />
Sarah’s world began to open up dramatically last year when she was partnered with Freckles, a small goldador guide dog—a cross between a golden retriever and a Labrador. “I could do so much more because of Freckles,” says Sarah, now a sophomore at Louisiana State University–Eunice. “It was easier to make friends, because I could get around by myself, and I wasn’t afraid.”<br />
<br />
In January, while she was home in Leonville, La., on winter break, Sarah found out that Freckles is a lifesaver in other ways, too. One night, after Sarah had said goodnight to her family and headed to bed, Freckles stopped abruptly at the threshold to the computer room connected to her bedroom, blocked her entry, and wouldn’t budge. Sarah was forced to call out for help. The mystery was solved when an odd smell alerted her dad, a firefighter, that the computer monitor was smoldering. Though he grabbed it and took it outside, Freckles refused to settle down until she couldn’t pick up even a whiff, which meant the family was up until 3 a.m. airing out the house.<br />
<br />
“She definitely was not trained to do what she did,” says Jennifer Gerrity, who worked with Freckles at Southeastern Guide Dogs in Palmetto, Fla. “Guide dogs are trained to navigate obstacles, not fires. And they do not perform body blocks.”<br />
<br />
<b>Falstaff, the next best thing to 911</b><br />
<br />
Richard Schulenberg, 70, was gardening one beautiful Saturday morning last October when he began to sweat profusely, his arms went numb, and he felt like he had a constrictive band across his chest. Fearing a heart attack, the entertainment lawyer and producer started down a hillside toward his Beverly Hills home, stopping to rest every few feet. Certain that his partner, Arlene Winnick, had left the house to run errands, he knew he’d have to figure out another way to get help. While he assessed his options, one of his English setters, the elegant Lady Rosalind, wandered by, licked his hand, and continued her stroll through the grounds.<br />
<br />
It wasn’t long, though, before rescue came. Falstaff, also an English setter, seemed to have sensed that something wasn’t quite right. When he found Schulenberg sitting on the hillside, the usually mellow dog began to bark fiercely and wouldn’t calm down. Nor would he leave Schulenberg’s side. <br />
<br />
As luck would have it, Winnick was climbing into her car and heard the commotion. Why hasn’t Richard stopped the dog from barking? she wondered, going to investigate. She helped Schulenberg down to the house, where, in denial, he decided he wanted a shower. Once Winnick heard about the symptoms and realized he hadn’t simply fallen down, however, they went to the ER pronto. Within 90 minutes of discovering that Schulenberg’s left artery was 100 percent blocked, he had a stent snaked through his wrist and up his arm. <br />
<br />
“My doctor told me I was very lucky,” says Schulenberg. “Another 30 minutes, he said, and I would have died.” Since October, Schulenberg has dropped 35 pounds, and Falstaff now carefully patrols the yard.<br />
<br />
<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Pet Q&A: Housing a Wary Outdoor Cat</span></center><center><a href="http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2011/12/10/2151824/pet-qa-housing-a-wary-outdoor.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">mercedsunstar.com</span></a></center><br />
<br />
Q: One of our neighbors has departed, leaving her outdoor cats to fend for themselves. One has started to hang out at our house. We have been feeding him, but he does not allow any close contact. We are interested in getting him an outdoor cat house for the winter. We would place it on our ground-level deck. We see many on the Internet at many prices and wanted your opinion on the best type to use.<br />
<br />
A: This is always a bit of a quandary for me. It seems that every time I put a cat house outside for any feral cats, I find the cats end up sleeping under my car, and there is always a bleary-eyed raccoon or possum in the cat house. <br />
<br />
Any cat house needs to be dry and protected from the wind. I use large Styrofoam boxes that I fill with straw. I cover them with black plastic garbage bags sealed with duct tape to make them more waterproof. The issue is in the placement. Many cats see them as traps and do not want to be in them if they are not in a safe place, so you may have to move the cat house around your yard a bit until you get it in a spot where the cat feels secure.<br />
<br />
Q: We have a busy bird feeder in our back yard that gets frequented by our neighbor's cat every day. I spoke to her about how her cat is harming the birds, and she put a bell on the cat's collar that makes lots of noise, but the cat is still killing birds. Why do the birds not associate the jingling with the obvious danger?<br />
<br />
A: The world is full of bells and other noises and the wild birds in our area have learned to ignore them. Your neighbor's cat is perfectly still right before it pounces on the birds and thus there is no noise immediately before the danger. When the cat does grab a bird, there is too much panic for the others to realize what is happening. So the only fix here is to keep the cat indoors, where all pet cats should be kept.<br />
<br />
Contact Marc Morrone: petxperts2@aol.com. <br />
<br />
<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Pet Safety Tips for the Holidays</span></center><center><a href="http://www.sheridanmedia.com/news/pet-safety-tips-holidays22214"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Ron Richter - sheridanmedia.com</span></a></center><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hAXvXKdXbHw/TuTKG4ur_FI/AAAAAAAAPXk/Nuvp8QZTd2I/s1600/7-p9.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hAXvXKdXbHw/TuTKG4ur_FI/AAAAAAAAPXk/Nuvp8QZTd2I/s400/7-p9.bmp" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Keeping your pets safe during the holidays can form quite a formidable task at times, especially considering the abundance of decorations and food that are common this time of year. Couple that with the traffic of friends and family and you could end up with a sick or stressed out pet. Veterinarian Dr. Laura Wold says that keeping decorative holiday plants such as poinsettias and mistletoe out of reach of from your pets is a good start. Keeping an eye on the food is also a good way to keep your pets healthy, as much of the rich fattening foods we consume during the holidays can be extremely bad for your pets digestive system.<br />
<br />
Many of us with pets like to spoil them during the holidays with toys and what not, but Dr. Wold says that there are some toys that can do more harm than good.<br />
<br />
Dr. Wold said that soft toys are better for cats than they are for dogs, as dogs tend to shred the small soft toys which could present a choking hazard for the animal or small children.<br />
<br />
<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Getting a Snake as a Pet? </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Get Ready for a Whole New Ball Game</span></center><center><a href="http://www.nwfdailynews.com/articles/snakes-45803-snake-getting.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">Dr. Dara Johns - nwfdailynews.com</span></a></center><br />
<br />
Dear Readers: Snakes are pets too. Sometimes I forget to mention snakes because they are not as common as dogs and cats, but quite a few people have snakes for pets.<br />
<br />
I think the first piece of advice I would give someone thinking about getting a snake would be to make sure they know what they are getting into.<br />
<br />
We are not inherently knowledgeable about caring for snakes because they are cold-blooded. This makes their whole system completely foreign to us. It becomes easy to miscue on how they should be raised. For instance, they do not maintain their own body temperature so they are dependent on their surroundings. When a snake is not warm enough, its metabolism is slowed and it is more prone to infections.<br />
<br />
Boa constrictors and pythons require a cage temperature of 77 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Indigenous snakes such as garters require temperatures of 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature can be monitored with a terrarium thermometer.<br />
<br />
Humidity in the cage must stay around 50 percent to 70 percent. If it is not moist enough, the snake’s skin will dry out and it will not be able to shed its skin properly. Keeping a wide mouth bowl that is not easily tipped over full of water in the cage will help maintain humidity. The heat in the cage will cause constant water evaporation.<br />
<br />
Bedding substrates vary, but what works best is newspaper or indoor outdoor carpet. If you use corncob or wood shavings you run the risk of ingestion and subsequent blockage. Bedding should be changed and cleaned frequently. If you use indoor outdoor carpet, having several pieces cut to the size of the cage allows you to change them out and wash them.<br />
<br />
Having large limbs in the cage create a three dimensional area for the snake to move in. It gets him up off the floor and effectively multiplies the available moving space in the cage.<br />
<br />
Most snakes eat small mammals. The choice and frequency is based on the size and type of snake you have. You may start with pinkies, which are baby mice, and go up to rats and even rabbits. Some snakes prefer frogs and small reptiles. Most snakes eat every two to four weeks when they are adults. They eat more frequently when they are babies. The food selection and frequency are best determined by discussing this with knowledgeable snake owners.<br />
<br />
As you can see, a snake is a whole different ball game from dogs and cats. Be very sure you want to embark on this undertaking. Do a lot of research and consulting before you take the plunge.<br />
<br />
Dear readers: If you have any comments or questions, I can be contacted at JohnsDVM@aol.com or you can write me at Dr. Dara Johns, P.O. Box 224, Valparaiso, FL 32580.<br />
<br />
<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Pets Stolen For Quick Cash</span></center><center><a href="http://www.wbaltv.com/news/29800605/detail.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">wbaltv.com</span></a></center><br />
<br />
BALTIMORE -- Some people looking to make quick cash in the tough economy are stealing pets in what has become a booming and disturbing industry in Maryland. <br />
<br />
In early November, Joe Thompson had his 3-year-old Toy Shih-Tzu, Diva, in his hands during a routine midnight stroll in the 2800 block of Erdman Avenue in northeast Baltimore. <br />
<br />
"I cry every time I see these fliers. I want my dog. I don't want to press no charges or nothing. Just give me my dog back. That's all I want is my dog."<br />
- Joe Thompson <br />
<br />
"Me and my dog (are) just strolling. The next thing I know, he had put his hand on me and pulled me toward him and I'm talking to him, 'Man, back up I don't know you,'" Thompson explained. <br />
<br />
Thompson told the WBAL-TV 11 News I-Team and Baltimore City police detectives that the assailant grabbed Diva and fled on foot. Thompson said he gave chase until he became too winded. <br />
<br />
"He said, 'Diva's been stolen.' And, I'm like, 'Are you joking?'" said Thompson's wife, Michelle Rayner-Thompson. <br />
<br />
The couple plastered fliers all over the neighborhood and contacted veterinarians and dog groomers. They also spread the word via social media. To the Thompsons, Diva is worth much more than the $1,300 toy Shih-Tzus can fetch. <br />
<br />
"I cry every time I see these fliers. I want my dog," Thompson said. "I don't want to press no charges or nothing. Just give me my dog back. That's all I want is my dog." <br />
<br />
"I just broke down and started sobbing and I said, 'They've stolen my baby,'" Rayner-Thompson said. <br />
<br />
<b>Kennel Club: Pet Thefts On Rise</b><br />
<br />
Police do not track the incidences of stolen pets, but there's good indication pet theft is on the rise, WBAL-TV 11 News I-Team reporter David Collins reported. Baltimore police said they aren't able to specify how many pets are stolen because the animals are considered property, so the crime is recorded as a robbery or larceny, which is not broken down by what was taken. <br />
<br />
For the first seven months of last year, the American Kennel Club received 150 reports of stolen pets. For the same time period this year, the club received 224 reports -- a 67 percent increase. Reports indicate pets are stolen during home invasions, from parked cars and from owners like Thompson who may be out for a walk. <br />
<br />
For the first time this year, the club said it has seen a new trend of dogs stolen from shelters and adoption events. <br />
<br />
Ines de Pablo, co-founder of pet safety company Wag'N Enterprises, said stolen pets are often resold on the Internet for an easy buck. <br />
<br />
"It's quick money," de Pablo said. <br />
<br />
Perhaps more disturbing is how they are often used in the Baltimore area -- as bait for dogfighting rings. <br />
<br />
"Unfortunately, it's a really sick thing to say, but they always need prey dogs for the fighting dogs to learn their killing skills on or the attack skills. So, they need bait, and they will pay for some of those bait dogs," de Pablo said. <br />
<br />
Last November, Baltimore City police broke up a pit bull ring on Payson Street, where city animal control officials said they believe some of the rescued puppies were being used as bait. <br />
<br />
<b>Some Pets Held For Ransom</b><br />
<br />
Experts have warned that pets are also stolen and held for ransom. A puppy named Scrappy, along with his older brother, Scooby, escaped from their back yard, after which Jajie Shabay Walker, 21, called the dogs' owner, Gloria Chicas, saying he found the dogs but wanted money for their return, according to officials. <br />
<br />
Chicas said Walker told her, "You have to give me $200." <br />
<br />
The ransom was only for one animal, and during the time the dogs were held, Scooby was accidentally struck by a car and killed. Walker has since pleaded guilty to extortion, but he was not prosecuted for theft. He was sentenced to 18 months in jail and paid $65 in restitution for the loss of Scooby. <br />
<br />
As for the Thompsons, they believe Diva has been sold. <br />
<br />
"(We're) not giving up. Even through we are getting another dog, we want Diva to come home. We'll just have two," Rayner-Thompson said. <br />
<br />
In response to the pet theft trend, dog advocates have advised against buying a pet through the online classified website Craigslist. They also warn against telling people how much you paid for a specific breed. Finally, they recommend inserting a microchip or getting a tattoo on your pet's inside thigh. <br />
<br />
Advocates also advise against leaving pets unattended in a vehicle or yard.<br />
<br />
<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Cat with 26 Toes Saves Animal Shelter </span></center><center><a href="http://www.northwestohio.com/news/story.aspx?id=696403"><span style="color: #274e13;">by Tim Wening - northwestohio.com</span></a></center><br />
<br />
In an odd twist of fate, a once unwanted cat has come to the rescue of an animal shelter in need of a new home.<br />
<br />
But this is no typical cat, this orange and white tabby named Daniel is a very special kitty. He has a near-record 26 toes, a phenomenon that is helping the nonprofit Milwaukee Animal Rescue Center raise money to relocate to a new building.<br />
<br />
Normal cats have 18 toes, but Daniel has two extra on each foot due to a genetic mutation called polydactylism.<br />
<br />
Officials at the center found out their rent at a Milwaukee area mall was being doubled on Jan. 1. So, the shelter is buying a new building and is seeking small donations of $26 or $1 per toe. They've collected enough so far to secure the financing with about $80,000 raised since Oct. 24, but they hope to raise $120,000 by Dec. 23 so they can become even more financially stable. About $50,000 of the money raised has come from $26 donations.<br />
<br />
"I've always been a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and this is definitely the case," said Amy Rowell, owner of Milwaukee Animal Rescue Center in Greendale. She found Daniel in October at animal control when she went to pick up another cat. As she bent down to that cat's cage, Daniel stuck his paw out and poked her head. "He was very clearly saying, 'I need to be rescued, I'd like to be your friend, please pay attention to me,'" she said. "And when a sign is that obvious, we tend to not ignore it."<br />
<br />
Daniel was originally going to be adopted out, but Rowell has decided to keep him as a shelter mascot. Daniel's 26 toes--two shy of the Guinness World Records number--don't seem to affect his cat activities. "He runs and he plays and he climbs, he uses a scratching post. He seems to be not bothered by it at all," Rowell said.<br />
<br />
<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Pet Advice: Dog Likely Will Outgrow Ills</span></center><center><a href="http://www.northjersey.com/community/135365833_Dog_likely_will_outgrow_ills.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">northjersey.com</span></a></center><br />
<br />
Q. My whippet puppy, Spanky, is 11 months old. At 8 months, he came down with an eye infection. He was on antibiotic drops which helped, but the eye began looking bad as soon as the drops stopped. We went through two rounds of this eye drop unsuccessfully.<br />
<br />
We went to an ophthalmologist who said my dog had follicular conjunctivitis. He prescribed more drops this time with a steroid. It did help but after three weeks on the drops his eye started getting gooey again.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, Spanky broke out with pimples (which looked just like acne) on his chin, nose, and the sides of his head. He was put on an oral antibiotic and his eye cleared up.<br />
<br />
A few weeks after finishing the antibiotic, Spanky broke out with a new pimple the exact same day the eye started up again.<br />
<br />
I am told the two problems are not related, but I'm not so sure. Any suggestions as to what may be causing these problems?<br />
<br />
A: The type of conjunctivitis your whippet puppy has is very common in younger dogs. Follicular conjunctivitis is a type of eye inflammation that occurs most commonly in the fall and spring but some animals experience eye discharge throughout the year.<br />
<br />
Most young dogs "outgrow" this condition. The small follicles which form on the inside the eyelid allows extra mucus to form, thus the red eyes and increased eye discharge is present. This condition is not contagious to other pets or people and in most dogs; the clinical signs will decrease as the puppy matures. In some dogs, the clinical signs persist for months to several years.<br />
<br />
Symptomatic therapy with a topical steroid/antibiotic drop or ointment allows sufficient medical control for most patients. In severe cases, additional topical or oral anti-inflammatory medication is necessary. Keep your dog's eyes clean with moist cotton and apply the medication as directed.<br />
<br />
Yes, it sometimes reoccurs days to weeks after you complete the therapy. I often try to taper the therapy from twice daily to once daily and then every other day, whatever regimen will keep it under control. The condition should be rechecked by your veterinarian or the veterinary ophthalmologist while using the therapy as it allows the doctor to assess the degree of improvement and help design the appropriate therapy taper regimen.<br />
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The coincidence with the small skin "bumps/pimples" also is common as those are often related to an immature or juvenile immune system. Most dogs often also outgrow the skin problem.<br />
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— Michael H. Brown, DVM, MS<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Blind Horses, Dogs Find Sweet Life on Farm</span></center><center><a href="http://nbbusinessjournal.canadaeast.com/canadaeast/article/1462900"><span style="color: #274e13;">By MIKE DI PAOLA - Bloomberg News</span></a></center><br />
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The Great North Woods were ablaze with color when I visited the Rolling Dog Farm in Lancaster, N.H. Too bad most of its horses and dogs are blind.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZVp3pjhCWIA/TuTUvzQ34AI/AAAAAAAAPYI/Ws06V9yhFeQ/s1600/7-p11.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZVp3pjhCWIA/TuTUvzQ34AI/AAAAAAAAPYI/Ws06V9yhFeQ/s400/7-p11.bmp" width="331" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Alayne Marker, co-founder of Rolling Dog Farm, holds blind and deaf dogs, Spencer and Katie, at the Lancaster, N.H., animal sanctuary. Dogs with two disabilities are the most misunderstood animals at the farm, and can be difficult to adopt out.</em></span></center><br />
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When I first heard of a sanctuary for disabled animals, I wondered whether it crossed a line, going beyond compassion. The animals, many rescued from shelters across the United States, are blind or deaf or have orthopedic and neurological problems.<br />
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"Many times, the day an animal arrives here is the same day it was supposed to be euthanized," said Alayne Marker, who co-founded Rolling Dog with her husband, Steve Smith.<br />
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Part of me was thinking that ending an animal's suffering might be more humane. Such thoughts are erased within a minute of meeting the animals. For one thing, there is no discernible suffering.<br />
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In the paddock, six horses are munching on apples fallen from trees outside the fence. When we enter, the braver ones amble over with an odd gait, heads turned slightly sideways, as they tend to lead with their ears.<br />
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"People think of a 1,000-pound animal that can't see as a train wreck waiting to happen," Smith says. "With most horses, if you give them enough time in a safe environment, they can adapt to blindness and have a wonderful quality of life, as you can see."<br />
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The horses may not fully appreciate their idyllic setting, but they seem happy and healthy.<br />
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Lena is a pure-bred quarter-horse who went blind from what sounds like abuse. Her trainer had tried to correct her propensity to rear by making her tip over, conditioning her to associate rearing with falling. Repeated blows to her head during this "training" destroyed her optic nerve.<br />
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Lena is now a mentor to younger newcomers, teaching them social skills essential for members of a herd. "The blind leading the blind" is a standard joke here.<br />
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Marker and Smith founded the Rolling Dog Ranch Animal Sanctuary in Montana in 2000, and moved the operation to New Hampshire last year, changing "ranch" to "farm" to reflect regional nomenclature. Compared with Montana's vast spaces, the New England site is much closer to essential services, such as vets and grocery stores, saving time and fuel.<br />
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They have seven horses and about 30 dogs on their 132-acre farm, plus one full-time staffer to help with the endless chores. Last year their operating costs ran about $500,000, all raised through donations. Many of the animals are up for adoption via Petfinder.com, and the farmers spread the word through their website, www.rollingdogfarm.org, Facebook and a quarterly newsletter.<br />
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Other residents include some barn cats, a brood of laying hens and 20 Holsteins that graze placidly on the verdant hillside behind the house. The cattle aren't pampered pets, however, but future food for the dogs.<br />
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The Holsteins were purchased from a local dairy farmer who had no use for bull calves. Smith and Marker rescued the animals, which would have otherwise had a short and cramped existence before being processed as veal. Instead, they are raised with tender care in an open paddock overlooking the White Mountains. They are even given names.<br />
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"Our view is, what's the alternative?" Smith says. "What's better than raising them yourself and knowing exactly how they were treated, that you did everything possible to give them as humane a life as possible?"<br />
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Smith and Marker say the most misunderstood animals here are the ones that are both blind and deaf. Most people can't imagine that a life in darkness and silence can be worth living, so they are difficult to get adopted.<br />
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I meet Spencer and Katie, an inseparable pair of lively deaf and blind dachshunds, but I don't think I would have been aware of either disability if I hadn't been told. They seem happy, and why not? With a diet of grass-fed beef and fresh eggs, they're eating better than most Americans.<br />
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"We always tell people, just give them a chance, all they want to be is a dog or a horse and just get on with life, and love and be loved," says Marker. "That's really what it's all about, and we give them that chance here."<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">How Can You Stop Dogs </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">from Growling over Food, Toys?</span> <br />
<a href="http://webstergroves.patch.com/articles/growling-cocker-spaniel"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Patrick Tate - patch.com</span></a></center><br />
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Each week, Dr. Patrick Tate, chief of the veterinary staff and a general practitioner at Webster Groves Animal Hospital, answers reader questions about pets. This week's question comes from reader Mary Anne McCarthy.<br />
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Question: How do I stop my 3-year-old cocker spaniel from growling over her food and toys?<br />
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Answer: Unfortunately, growling over food, toys, rawhides, bedding and other “resources” is a common problem among family dogs. This type of behavior is known as “resource guarding” and usually becomes worse if not addressed. It is important for the owner to develop a plan of action before growling turns into biting (especially if there are young children in the home). <br />
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There are two methods that a pet owner can use to help alleviate the problem.<br />
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The first is to isolate the dog during feeding times, and remove ALL objects (toys, chews, bedding, etc.) that have been “guarded.” This method does not change the negative behavior, but it does prevent a biting incident and may keep the problem from getting worse.<br />
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The second method is to utilize behavior modification techniques (desensitization, counter-conditioning, etc.) to help the dog understand that the approach of a human to the canine’s food, toys and space, etc. is a positive thing. It is best to start these techniques when the dog is a puppy, but they can be successful with an older pet. A helpful source of information is Jean Donaldson's book called "Mine! A Practical Guide to Resource Guarding in Dogs" (available at www.dogwise.com).<br />
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If the problem is mild, a pet owner may be able to improve or correct the behavior without professional help. However, for more serious resource guarding issues (or if young children are present), it is wise to consult an animal behavior specialist. <br />
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To find qualified specialists, talk with a veterinarian and/or see recommendations by the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists at www.dacvb.org and the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) at www.apdt.com. <br />
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Do you have a question for Dr. Tate? Email your questions to Webster Groves Patch Editor Sheri Gassaway. Be sure to attach a photo of your pet, and we'll feature it along with your question!<br />
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About this column: Dr. Patrick Tate, chief of the veterinary staff and a general practitioner at Webster Groves Animal Hospital, answers reader questions about pets.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yo7YGV4BnH0/Tu2DFNi6spI/AAAAAAAAPYU/kQvq8Z5wd10/s1600/17-p1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yo7YGV4BnH0/Tu2DFNi6spI/AAAAAAAAPYU/kQvq8Z5wd10/s400/17-p1.bmp" width="400" /></a>John Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569650383063644384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5310501782946920789.post-66882075202822200492011-12-10T11:45:00.000-08:002011-12-10T21:10:40.935-08:00Pet License Plates<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Pusuke, World's Oldest Dog, Dies In Japan At Age 26 </span></center><center><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/06/worlds-oldest-dog-dies_n_1132675.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">The Huffington Post - Tara Kelly</span></a></center><br />
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The world's oldest dog passed away on Monday afternoon at his home in Sakura, Japan. <br />
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Pusuke, a male cross-breed, was recognized as the oldest dog in the world by Guinness Book of World Records in December last year, reports ABC News. <br />
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Pusuke was 26-years-old when he died, reports the Kyodo News. Born in March, 1985, the dog had just over three months to go until its next birthday.<br />
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That's somewhere between 118 to 185 human years. <br />
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Pusuke died Monday afternoon just five minutes after Ms Shinohara, his owner, had returned home from a walk.<br />
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According to MSN India, the 42-year-old housewife said, "I think [Pusuke] waited for me to come home."<br />
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MSNBC notes that a 28-year-old beagle from the U.S. had previously held the record for oldest dog in the world, though it died in 2003.<br />
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The oldest dog to have ever lived is reportedly a 29-year-old sheepdog who lived in Australia.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Military Dogs Suffer From </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Post Traumatic Stress Disorder</span></center><center><a href="http://technorati.com/lifestyle/article/military-dogs-suffer-from-post-traumatic/"><span style="color: #274e13;">Author: Madeline Bernstein - technorati.com</span></a></center><br />
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Military dogs, like their human soldiers, can return home with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). And why are we surprised? The dogs are asked to locate mines, improvised explosives, search structures and even to assist in the capture of terrorists like Bin Laden. They experience the noises, sights and smells of active combat which in many cases affects their behavior and personalities in the field and upon returning home.<br />
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The New York Times reported that more than 5 percent of the approximately 650 deployed military dogs are developing some form of canine PTSD. According to the Times, the number of active duty dogs has increased to 2,700, from 1,800 in 2001.<br />
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Symptoms among dogs vary. Some develop hyper-vigilance, experience fear of certain places that remind them of the trauma or become uncharacteristically aggressive. Others can become withdrawn, timid or lethargic. It can become dangerous for the dogs and soldiers alike if the disorder interferes with the dog's ability to perform properly.<br />
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Dr. Walter F. Burghardt Jr., chief of behavioral medicine at the Daniel E. Holland Military Working Dog Hospital at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio has posted a series of videos to help train veterinarians to recognize canine PTSD. One features a dog trained to inspect the inside of a car who then refuses to go inside a bus or a building. Another "sits listlessly on a barrier wall, then after finally responding to its handler’s summons, runs away from a group of Afghan soldiers."<br />
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"Our biggest issue that we have with canines is canine PTSD," Army Lt. Col. Richard A. Vargus told the Military Times in September. "We've seen a significant issue with that because when you're standing 10 feet away from an explosion, the dog has emotions and the dog is affected as well." Vargus said that a dog experiencing fear reactions could bite its handler, run away and hide, or simply cower when its team is preparing to go on patrol. The Military Times further reported that according to United States Central Command 14 military working dogs have been killed in action, 6 have been wounded, and 3 are missing in action since May of 2010. <br />
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The treatment for dogs with PTSD can range from extra love and affection, specific training and conditioning to anti-anxiety drugs like Xanax. Some can return to work while others cannot.<br />
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Whether it is right or wrong we ask our dogs to do a lot for us. Dogs assist the disabled, patrol with police officers, search for cadavers at disaster sites and serve in the military. They are neither bulletproof nor free from fear and emotions. Let's remember that and do something compassionate and kind for a dog today.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Dog Shoots Utah Hunter in the Butt -- </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">with His Own Gun</span></center><center><a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/12/dog-shoots-utah-hunter-in-the-butt-with-his-own-gun.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">latimes.com</span></a></center><br />
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Some best friend: A Utah hunter was shot in the behind over the weekend by his buddy's hunting dog.<br />
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Adding insult to injury? He was shot with his own gun.<br />
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The fluke incident occurred when several duck hunters and their canine companion were preparing for a day on the water near the Bear River Bird Refuge north of Salt Lake City. One of the hunters left his loaded 12-gauge shotgun resting across the bow of the boat while he went to attend to some decoys in a marshy area, according to KSL.com in Utah.<br />
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"The dog got excited, was jumping around inside the boat and then it jumped on the gun. It went off, shooting the [man] in the buttocks," Box Elder County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Kevin Potter told the Salt Lake City Tribune.<br />
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The victim was identified as Robert Cottingham but he didn't want to talk on camera, according to Fox 13 in Utah. (Probably because he was mortified.)<br />
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After the shooting, the hunters called 911 and walked to a nearby road to meet emergency workers. Cottingham was taken to a hospital where he had 27 shotgun pellets removed from his rear end, and was later released.<br />
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The incident was labeled a "fluke" by Sgt. Mitch Lane of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, who nonetheless noted that it was a good reminder of the need for gun safety at all times: “The direction your muzzle is pointing and all elements around add to whether accidents happen or not,” he told Reuters.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Another Dog Shoots Hunter, This Time in Florida</span></center><center><a href="http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/10/9356615-another-dog-shoots-hunter-this-time-in-florida"><span style="color: #274e13;">By msnbc.com staff</span></a></center><br />
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It's happened again: A hunting dog has shot its master.<br />
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This time, a man in Florida was hit in the thigh by a round from his Remington .308 on Saturday, TBO.com reported.<br />
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The culprit was a bulldog named Eli. Authorities told TBO.com that Billy E. Brown, 78, was driving to go deer hunting with a friend on a bumpy road in Pasco County near Tampa when Eli "got excited in the truck" and bumped the rifle. The gun discharged, the bullet hit Brown in the right thigh, and he was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, said Officer George Wells, spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Brown's condition was not released.<br />
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Wells said Brown and the friend were about one-and-a-half miles into the woods when the accident -- if you're buying that the dog didn't mean to do that -- occurred. <br />
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The name of Brown's friend was not released. The two have been hunting together for more than 25 years, Wells told TBO.com.<br />
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This incident follows one Dec. 1 in which a hunter in Utah was hit in the buttocks by birdshot after his dog stepped on a shotgun laid across the bow of a boat. The Salt Lake City Tribune said the wounded hunter had 27 pellets removed from ... well, you know.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Statue of Priest’s Dog Joins </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Mary and Joseph in </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">St Patrick’s Cathedral’s Christmas Manger</span></center><center><a href="http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Doppelganger-statue-of-priests-dog-joins-Mary-and-Joseph-in-St-Patricks-Cathedrals-Christmas-manger-134935543.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">By CATHY HAYES,IrishCentral Staff Writer</span></a></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Msgr. Robert Ritchie and the statue of his beloved dog, Lexington, in the Nativity scene alongside Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Photo by Jefferson Siegel</em></span></center><br />
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A monsignor at the famous St. Patrick’s Cathedral has given a statue of his dog a new home in the Nativity scene, alongside Jesus.<br />
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Msgr. Robert Ritchie has placed the 25-inch statue beside the figures of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in the sanctuary’s Christmas crèche, the New York Daily News reports.<br />
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Speaking about how a statue, which has a striking resemblance to his yellow lab puppy, Lexington, ended up in a nativity scene, the clergyman had an interesting explanation.<br />
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“Didn’t the shepherds have dogs to help herd the sheep?” the clergyman said.<br />
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Almost 15 years ago, the priest was devastated over the death of his previous dog and was adamant that he didn’t want to replace his pet, before a friend took him to a pet shop on Lexington Ave.<br />
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“I had just lost a dog who had been with me for 10 years and I swore I wouldn’t get another,” he recalled. “But my best friend dragged me to the store and said, ‘We’re getting you another.’"<br />
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“He licked my hand, and I was smitten,” the monsignor said. “He’s named after the street.”<br />
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In charge of the nativity scene in New York City’s famous St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Msgr. Ritchie felt something was missing from the scene for years.<br />
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“I was in two parishes before I came here where they had dogs in their crèches,” he said. “And when I was in Rome last January I was in two churches where they had dogs. So I said, ‘St. Patrick’s had to have a dog.’ ”<br />
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Ritchie then contacted the Demetz Art Studio in Ortisei, Italy, where the other figures had been carved out of wood. They happened to have a dog statue already carved, so it’s not an identical replica of Lexington.<br />
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“It was a golden retriever,” Ritchie said. “Lexington is a yellow Lab. But the man from the studio happened to be coming to New York and saw Lexington and liked his coloring.”<br />
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The new addition to the manger got mixed reviewers from Churchgoers.<br />
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“I was a little surprised to see a dog in there,” Emily Moore (28) of Manhattan told the Daily News. “I’ve never heard of a dog being in a Nativity scene before. Doesn’t really make sense.”<br />
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Ethan Furman (32), also of Manhattan, disagreed. “I think it makes sense,” she argued. “Jesus was a kind-hearted person, so why wouldn’t he have grown up with a golden retriever? It fits. It’s not like he would have had a Rottweiler.”<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Pet License Plates Surge in Popularity</span></center><center><a href="http://www.9news.com/news/local/article/233757/346/Pet-license-plates-surge-in-popularity"><span style="color: #274e13;">Written by Kyle Cabodi - 9news.com</span></a></center><br />
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DENVER - There are dozens of specialized license plates in Colorado, but the Adopt-a-Shelter Pet License plate, which raises money for underserved animal shelters, has grown incredibly popular in recent months. <br />
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"Within 10 months, it has more than 2,700 plates on the street," Mark Couch, with the Colorado Department of Revenue, said.<br />
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He said that is an impressive statistic considering the dozens of special license plates that people can buy. <br />
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"We have the full gamut of plates that don't sell very well and plates that sell incredibly well," Couch said. <br />
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Couch said only two other specialty plates have been beating the Adopt-a-Shelter Pet plates in sales: one in support of breast cancer awareness, and the other, the Broncos. <br />
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"In the first six months alone this generated $36,000 dollars, "Ralph Johnson, with the Colorado Pet Overpopulation Fund, said. <br />
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Johnson said the next step of the campaign is the construction of billboards around the metro area urging people to buy the plates and raising awareness for homeless pets in Colorado. <br />
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"We're trying to heighten their adoptability by making sure they are sterilized and aren't going to contribute further to the pet overpopulation problem," Johnson said. <br />
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Johnson said many shelters across the state are forced to terminate pets they don't have the resources to care for. <br />
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"30,000 homeless animals are euthanized in a typical year," he said. <br />
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But he said that can change if the license plates keep selling. <br />
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The plates are available at the Department of Motor Vehicles and cost $80. Out of that cost, $30 goes to the Pet Overpopulation Fund.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Around the Web: </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">DogWonderful.com Hotel Search Engine</span></center><center><a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/travel/ci_19448900"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Jen Leo - Los Angeles Times</span></a></center><br />
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WHAT: DogWonderful.com pairs pet-friendly advice and travel deals with a hotel database tailored for those who travel with the furry members of the family. This search engine includes upscale lodgings you might not know accept pets.<br />
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HITS: I was pleasantly surprised by the number of hotels that I like that accept dogs: Trump International in Las Vegas, the Peninsula Chicago, Hotel Teatro in Denver and Le Pavillon Hotel in New Orleans.<br />
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Make sure you select the star rating you prefer before you start your search, or click to sort by "Rating" after you get your search results. <br />
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MISSES: The booking process has a few distractions. I got seriously sidetracked when I used the widget that allowed me to search for adoptable pets in my area. Not such a bad thing after all.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Dog Lost in Virginia 8 Years Ago </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Found in California Animal Shelter</span></center><center><a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/12/dog-lost-in-viriginia-8-years-ago-found-in-california-animal-shelter.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">latimes.com</span></a></center><br />
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A stray dog brought to a Northern California animal shelter turned out to have been reported missing in Virginia eight years ago.<br />
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Now, officials are planning a reunion between the long-lost dog and her grateful owners.<br />
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Around Thanksgiving in 2003, Petunia, then 3 years old, walked away from her family’s farm in Virginia. The family conducted a large search, but never found her.<br />
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Petunia somehow ended up in Yuba County, north of Sacramento, at the Animal Care Services Shelter.<br />
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After a physical exam, the stray was scanned for a microchip.<br />
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The chip contained information about a veterinarian clinic in Virginia. The clinic was able to confirm the chip was registered to an American Staffordshire terrier, and contacted the owners.<br />
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Workers at the Yuba County Animal Care Services Shelter talked with Petunia’s owner, and after a photographic match, are working to get her home in time for Christmas.<br />
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--Sam Cohen, Fox 40 Sacramento<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">In The Company of Dogs</span></center><center><a href="http://www.dogchannel.com/dog-news/2011/12/04/in-the-company-of-dogs.aspx"><span style="color: #274e13;">dogchannel.com</span></a></center><br />
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During the holidays we often have company over who may or may not be “dog people.” This holiday season, help keep the peace with these useful tips to ensure both two-legged and four-legged family members have a good holiday. <br />
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<b>1. Training refresher.</b> Before the company gets to your house, remind your dog of his manners. Often, we teach our dog good manners and then, when we are home alone, we relax on the rules. Whether you have taught him in the past to not jump on company at the door, to sit while being petted, or to not get up on people’s laps, now is the time to remind him of his dog training. <br />
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<b>2. New toys.</b> There is nothing like a new toy to occupy a dog. Buy her a couple Christmas toys and break them out when the company comes. This is especially good for dogs with anxiety towards people because it gives them something to focus on other than the strangers in the room. <br />
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<b>3. Treats.</b> Treats can be a great way to get a nervous dog to accept a new person. Give your guests treats to feed your dog. This will also help avoid guests giving your dog food which may be harmful for them. <br />
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<b>4. Barriers.</b> If you have company coming that have allergies or are not fond of dogs, you may want to partition off your house so that your guests have a “dog free zone.” This can also come in handy when you want to sit down for your nice holiday dinner without a beggar underfoot. Baby and pet gates are perfect for this. <br />
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<b>5. Post the rules.</b> With so many new guests in the house, it will be easy for your dog to take advantage of the situation and get things he or she may not normally get, like sitting on the sofa, table scraps, etc. It can be a health hazard if, for example, your dog has allergies and your guests do not know it or they let the dog outside by himself. Posting the rules on the refrigerator so that everyone sees them, along with allergies and emergency vet contact information, will ensure a safe and happy holiday for everyone.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Tips for Taking Your Pet to See Santa </span></center><center><a href="http://nazareth.patch.com/articles/tips-for-taking-your-pet-to-see-santa"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Mallory Vough - patch.com</span></a></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: #cc0000;">Five tips to think about before heading to the mall with Fido in tow, courtesy of someone who's been there, done that.</span></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>The editor of Nazareth Patch is forced to sit with Santa after her pain-in-the-butt Rottweiler decided she didn't like the man in the big red suit. Credit MyAlbumPics.com</em></span></center><br />
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I took my 80-pound Rottweiler, Allie, to get her picture taken with Santa on Nov. 28, and I could have been better prepared. So, before you start the primping, here are five tips to think about before heading to the mall with Fido in tow.<br />
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<b>5. Go with a friend or family member.</b> Unless you have a four-pound Chihuahua, I recommend bringing a fellow human along for the ride. I brought my best friend -- who Allie loves to pieces -- just in case I went for a drag through the mall and needed some assistance. Luckily, Allie couldn’t get much traction on the linoleum floor. You’ll also need help when signing standard paperwork, which is made so much more difficult when your dog is trying to make friends with the puppy 10 feet away.<br />
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<b>4. Do your hair and dress nice -- just in case.</b> I didn’t plan on making an appearance in the photo with Allie and Santa. As you can see from the picture located to the right, my pain-in-the-butt Rottweiler had other plans. I wish I had worn a nice shirt and didn’t have my hair in the always-favorite ponytail. Allie sat very pretty next to the camera station as if to say, “Go ahead, Ma! You look great!” It took a good five minutes to coax her toward Santa. Thank goodness for treats and squeaky toys…<br />
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<b>3. Speaking of treats, don’t forget to bring a bag of Scooby Snacks.</b> Allie is allergic to the world, so I made sure to bring a small bag of her magical dog food. No matter how well behaved your dog is at home, all of that training flies out the window when you’re in public… with other dogs around. This bodes true for Allie. However, the second I showed Allie a “treat,” which she never gets at home, she sat down and stayed -- for about 30 seconds. She got a lot of treats. Who's the trained one!? The treats were also useful when it was our turn with Santa. It’s amazing what a dog will do for a treat, even if it means getting close to the man in the big red suit.<br />
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<b>2. Know what freaks your dog out.</b> I knew Allie wasn’t going to be a fan of bigger dogs -- she’s used to being the biggest pup in the neighborhood. So when I saw two mastiffs walk in, I was prepared for her to hide behind me and plot her escape. The one thing I didn’t think about? Allie gets upset when she can’t see your hands. She’ll bite at your hands if you hide them in your sleeves, bark and growl if you cross your arms in front of you, and will try to pull off your gloves. What was Santa wearing? Gloves. Did I think to ask Santa to take them off? No. Someone mentioned his gloves after our picture session, and I immediately said, “DUH! I should have known better.” The session probably would have gone a tiny bit better if I had remembered that one thing.<br />
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<b>1. Don’t bring your dog if it doesn’t play well with others.</b> I know this one is kind of debatable, especially if your dog is lovely when at home. But it’s rather unnerving for everyone present when a dog snarls, growls and barks as if they’d attack if not on a leash. Barking is to be expected -- there were two noisy dachshunds in front of us. But snarling and growling? Eh, I’d keep that pup at home, plop ‘em in front of the Christmas tree, and take a perfect -- and free -- holiday photo.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Kandi Stevens: </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Winterize Your Pets</span></center><center><a href="http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/article/20111203/LIFESTYLE/112030306"><span style="color: #274e13;">Written by Kandi Stevens - Valley Oak SPCA</span></a></center><br />
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Fall marks the inevitable onset of winter and the time to prepare — we haul out the winter clothes, insulate our homes, gather up the boots and tune up our cars.<br />
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In the midst of all this preparation, don't forget that it's equally important to winterize your pet, especially if it stays outdoors throughout the winter months. Moisture, wind, extreme cold, inadequate intake of food or water are all hazardous conditions that can cause illness and in some cases death of our pets.<br />
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Winter is also an easier time for pets to get lost, stolen or hurt. Keep your cat inside during winter months; don't let your dog stray far from home. Cats can easily freeze outdoors in decreasing temperatures, and dogs can lose their scent in extreme temps and get lost. Identification is imperative. Your pet should always wear identification tags or you can write on the inside of his collar your name and phone number. Valley Oak SPCA offers microchips for your pets for $35 each; this is a permanent form of identification that could get your pet back to you in the event he is missing.<br />
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If you allow your pet to come into the garage during winter, make sure they don't have access to any dangerous substances. During the winter months, antifreeze and rodenticide poisonings increase as pet owners allow their pets into garages without realizing the dangers they are exposed to.<br />
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Just like us, our pets get dry skin in the wintertime. This may cause your pet to scratch or perhaps when you touch your animal, you receive a little electrical shock. This is a result of the heater running regularly thus drying out the air in our homes. You can help combat dry skin by using a humidifier in your home and routinely brushing your animal, this helps to redistribute oils to its coat.<br />
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Regular exercise is essential for our pets and shouldn't stop because it's cold outside. Indoor pets should be monitored carefully when they're out because they generally have not had the chance to build up a thick winter coat and get cold very quickly. Therefore, dressing your pet is perfectly acceptable. It may need a sweater or some booties for its feet to keep it warm when you let it outside. Knit sweaters or coats made out of cotton, fleece and nylon are available at local pet stores in various sizes and colors along with a host of other winter accessories (including essential collars and identification tags that they should be wearing always) to keep your pooch nice and toasty.<br />
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Older pets or pets with health conditions need extra care this time of year. The cold can leave their joints stiff or tender and they might move slower or more awkwardly. Make sure your pet has a soft, warm bed, and keep a closer eye on them when they're outside playing.<br />
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Also, when traveling with your pet, just as you wouldn't leave them in a car during hot weather because it could have dire consequences; the same is true of cold/frigid temperatures. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, causing the animal to freeze to death.<br />
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If your pet is housed outside, make sure that adequate shelter is provided, one that ensures your furry friend is comfortable and able to escape the elements. Do not use a heat lamp or other type of home heater, this is dangerous, and has resulted in many fires. Several pet and feed stores carry safe heated floor mats or non-electric warm bedding. Deeply bedded straw is another good insulator. Change the straw when it gets wet; moldy straw can cause serious skin irritations and respiratory problems.<br />
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Prevent drinking water from freezing; pets need to have fresh water at all times. Since most animals do not know how to break the ice to get water, heated pet bowls are a solution for frigid temperatures.<br />
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To escape winter elements, cats have been known to sleep under the hood of a car. Before starting your ignition, be sure to bang loudly on the hood and sides of the car to scare him away if he is in there.<br />
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ª Kandi Stevens is volunteer supervisor for the Valley Oak SPCA. Her column appears twice a month in Living.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Hollywood's Top Dog:</span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"> 'The Artist' Star Uggie</span></center><center><a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/12/05/hollywood-s-top-dog-the-artist-star-uggie.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">thedailybeast.com</span></a></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: #cc0000;">The career of a 9-year-old Jack Russell Terrier named Uggie was almost over when he bit a goat. But now he’s the hottest pooch in town, thanks to one of the most memorable performances of the year, in The Artist. Ramin Setoodeh explores the mutt’s Method acting.</span></center><br />
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The list of this year’s breakout movie stars includes: Elizabeth Olsen of Martha Marcy May Marlene; Felicity Jones from Like Crazy; and Pariah’s Adepero Oduye. And then there is Uggie.<br />
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Uggie isn’t a starlet. He’s a 9-year-old Jack Russell Terrier who steals the show in The Artist, a film most Oscar pundits consider a frontrunner in the 2011 Academy Awards race. The movie is a throwback to classic Hollywood, shot in black and white, with no sound. George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is a silent-screen legend. He flirts with a female co-star, Peppy (Berenice Bejo), but the real love of his life is his dog. Uggie accompanies him everywhere, wags his tail adorably, and in one pivotal scene, saves him from a burning building.<br />
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The last pooch this heroic on the big-screen was Lassie, or perhaps Benji. Uggie won the Palm Dog Prize after this year’s Cannes Film Festival, and he’d be a shoo-in for an Oscar nomination, if not for an old Academy rule that prevents animals from being honored. According to Hollywood legend, at the first Oscars in 1929, Rin Tin Tin scored the most votes, but the award for best actor went to Emil Jannings instead. Still, that hasn’t stopped Movieline from launching a campaign on Uggie’s behalf (#ConsiderUggie). Although Uggie does not speak English or use a phone, he does have his own Twitter account.<br />
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Last month, Uggie attended the premiere of The Artist and he walked the red carpet in a bowtie, but he didn’t receive the full celebrity treatment. He wasn’t allowed to sit with the rest of the cast and watch the movie. An employee at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood explains that dogs aren’t permitted inside--unless they are seeing-eye dogs. *<br />
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Uggie comes from a humble background. At 7 months, he was living with a family that was going to send him to the pound after he did something no dog should ever do. “He had bitten a goat in the garden,”* says Omar von Muller, Uggie’s current owner, who adopted him when he heard the story. “Most of the time, when there’s a nice dog with a lot of potential energy, I hate for them to go to the pound. I groomed him to be a performing dog.” *<br />
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Uggie’s film credits include the straight-to-DVD romantic comedy Mr. Fix It with David Boreanaz, and Water for Elephants, opposite Robert Pattinson. Uggie also is a member of an international dog show that features him doing stunts like riding a skateboard, a trick he performs in downtown Santa Monica.<br />
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Uggie landed his role in The Artist at the recommendation of his trainer, Sarah Clifford. ”When I got the script, they were like, we need a good Jack Russell for this French movie, and I thought, ‘I’ve got the dog from this role!’“ says Clifford, who runs Animal Savvy, a company that provides animals for movies. In the script, there’s a lot of live-action performance. There’s a lot of playing and running and the spy -movie stuff--the movie within a movie that George Valentin is starring in. ”Uggie has so much energy and he’s such a showman. He does really cool things that are similar to his character.“*<br />
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She adds: “A lot of dogs in the film business are over-trained. They have a repertoire of 100 tricks. Uggie has just 20 tricks. He doesn’t have all the things that movie dogs have, which is why he’s so natural. *”<br />
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After he was cast, he was such a Method actor, he went to live with one of his costars for three days. Dujardin took him for regular walks and ate lunch with him. He learned the cues to get him to speak, sit and beg, and he also learned Uggie’s secret obsession: hot dogs. “Jean said he had to go into the sausage business because he had so many on him to keep Uggie’s interest, *” says the actor James Cromwell, who plays the chauffer, Clifton, in the movie. “If you don’t have sausages, you are no more interesting to Uggie than a lamppost. “*<br />
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Did he carry sausages? “I did not,”* Cromewell says. “If I did, we’d have a different relationship.”<br />
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On the set of The Artist, Uggie slept in crates since he didn’t have his own trailer. The role of Uggie actually is played by three dogs, but Uggie performed 95 percent of the scenes because he so outshone his understudies, Dash and Dude. To get Uggie to look like the other two dogs, handlers bathed him in a dye that turned his coat white for several months. He also had to undergo one other physical alteration.<br />
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In the movie, you can see Uggie has three little spots next to his butt, * says Muller. “That’s totally made up. One of the other dogs had it, so we had to put it on him, too. *”<br />
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Despite all the critical acclaim, Uggie is facing retirement. At 9, he doesn’t have any other gigs lined up, and he spends most of his days lounging by the pool or playing with Muller’s 6-year-old daughter. “His health is good, but he has a bit of a shaking syndrome that white dogs get, *”Muller says. “People will think he’s nervous or cold, but it’s a neurological thing.”<br />
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“If you don’t have sausages, you are no more interesting to Uggie than a lamppost.”<br />
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While he won’t be at the Oscars as a nominee, Uggie could still be invited as a guest or a presenter. Maybe he’ll even get the chance to mingle with Cosmo, the other hot Jack Russell Terrier of the year, from the Christopher Plummer dramedy Beginners.<br />
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Cromwell for one thinks the Academy should revise its rules to recognize non-human performers. “I wish there was an award, whether it was an Oscar or not, that demonstrated the contributions that animals make in the telling of a story,” * he says. “In the Q&A’s we have, everyone says, ‘Where did you get that extraordinary dog?’” <br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Boxer and Boy Loved to Play Rough </span></center><center><a href="http://www.thenewsconnection.com/article/Guest_Columnists/Human_Potential/Boxer_and_boy_loved_to_play_rough/35015"><span style="color: #274e13;">Eric Williams - thenewsconnection.com</span></a></center><br />
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It’s been a long time since I’ve written a great story about pets and people, and that’s too bad because they are often the kinds of stories who can make people laugh, cry or feel a little more human. One of the great love stories I’ve seen unfold in my lifetime was between a dog and a little boy.<br />
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My older brother Randy had a Boxer named Derby. Boxers are generally strong and energetic canines, but Derby was much taller and thicker than the approved breed standard. He weighed about 100 pounds, most of it tightly-bunched ready-to-spring muscle. The dog had a ferocious glare, a mouth that could engulf a three pound roast, and an inexplicable obsession and hatred of all things feline. The mere whisper of the word “cat” would rouse Derby from a sound slumber into a state of high alert with his ears erect and ominous sounds emanating from his massive chest and throat. He had a don’t-mess-with-me persona instantly recognizable in the animal kingdom. Once while I was pet sitting, I took Derby for a walk. <br />
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A small German Shepherd mix sprang from between two houses, running at me and barking. The unleashed, unfenced dog did this to every pedestrian who walked by, every day. This time there was a refreshing twist. Derby, who had been as far ahead of me as his leash would allow, suddenly reversed direction and growled. The other dog stopped short, turned, ran then crawled beneath a sedan. He didn’t come out until we were out of sight. <br />
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Derby’s devotion to my brother was incredible. A construction foreman, Randy would sometimes have to leave town to work on a project for weeks at a time. When he would return Derby would jump for joy, repeatedly springing so high that he could bring himself to look into my brother’s face at eye level. Randy is over six feet tall. <br />
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My nephew Sam, now grown, always displayed incredible affection and affinity for domesticated animals and the undomesticated ones he could get his hands on. Small for his age, Sam was rough, tough, sturdy and courageous. Unfortunately, the cats and small dogs in his immediate surrounds were often too fragile or too irritable to put up with the sort of energetic play the five-year-old preferred. The instant he and Derby looked upon one another it was love at first sight. Sam ran to pet Derby and the big dog reciprocated by licking Sam’s entire face with a single swipe of his broad tongue. <br />
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Both Sam and Derby loved to wrestle, though when Sam and Derby wrestled it was not exactly a competitive sport. Derby would jump and put his massive paws on Sam’s shoulders. The energy of the leap would have put a strong man on the ground. Derby would then hold Sam down, licking and slobbering all over the child’s face. When Sam would try to get up or get away, Derby would pounce like a lion on a gazelle, repeatedly knocking him back into the turf. To me, the interaction looked frighteningly close to child abuse. Such rough play with such a big and athletic dog would cause many little ones to scream in terror. Not Sam. Sam loved it. <br />
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To this day, I still can’t figure out how Derby knew Sam was having fun and like getting knocked down and slobbered on. Derby was around children all the time, but he only wrestled energetically with people the size of my brother and I or when he played with Sam. <br />
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There’s no question in my mind that Derby loved Sam, though they would see one another only rarely at random family gatherings. In a room or a yard with a dozen or more people on hand, all of whom had befriended Derby at one point or another, Derby’s eyes and his attention would be only on Sam. The big dog would ignore everyone except my brother to spend time with his favorite playmate. Derby has passed on and Sam has graduated from college, but the memory of watching those two wrestle on the lawn can bring a smile to my face every time it crosses my mind. <br />
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I want to be a more entertaining writer and I need your help. Amazing love stories unfold. People who were sickly are healed regaining strength and vigor. Animals perform amazing service to humans and humans exhibit admirable love and devotion to favorite pets. Almost everybody knows of a great human interest story going on somewhere in the terrific community of Castle Hills and they ought to tell us so we can share it with others. Send your story ideas with contact information to Shane@allenpub.com.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">My Pet World: </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Cats Express Their Excitement </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">with a Good Scratch</span></center><center><a href="http://www.twincities.com/life/ci_19433114"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Steve Dale - twincities.com</span></a></center><br />
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Q: Whenever certain people are on TV, our cat, Lilly, runs to the TV and begins to scratch at the set. This happens when certain music comes on. Recently, when Justin Bieber appeared on TV, the cat went crazy. Lilly doesn't have her claws anymore, so there's no damage to the TV, but what is this scratching all about? <br />
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- S.U., Pasadena, Calif. <br />
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A: Cats often express their excitement with a good scratch. Even cats without claws go through the same motions. I can't explain why certain music is more exciting to your cat, who apparently enjoys Bieber. <br />
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Q: I'm concerned that the vaccine to protect cats against rhinotracheitis and the calici virus causes the (viral infections) and helps destroy a cat's immune system. I know two cats whose deaths directly resulted from the feline leukemia vaccine. Can you please tell people not to use these vaccines? <br />
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- A.A., Cyberspace <br />
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A: I'm afraid I can't help because you're wrong. Feline herpes virus (rhinotracheitis) is the most common cause of upper respiratory disease in cats. Calici virus often causes inflammation in the mouth, oral ulcers and/or limping and can be very serious. Both infections occur most often in kittens, cats in stressed or overcrowded environments like animal shelters and those in multicat households. <br />
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Once infected, there may be chronic flare-ups throughout a cat's life. <br />
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Feline veterinarian Dr. Susan Little, of Ottawa, Canada, says, "The vaccine for the feline herpes virus and for the calici virus were never intended to prevent infection. Vaccination does in some cases prevent symptoms, or at least lessens their severity, so cats don't die."<br />
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As for your claim about the feline leukemia vaccine, it's simply not true, says Little, a past president of the Winn Feline Foundation. Most veterinarians do agree that not all cats should be vaccinated for feline leukemia. This has nothing to do with the vaccines but instead is about the lifestyle of individual cats. For example, indoor-only cats are unlikely to be exposed to the disease and may not require the vaccine. <br />
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Certainly, here and there cats do have reactions to vaccines; the most feared of all may be vaccine-associated feline sarcoma at the vaccination site. Some researchers have suggested this aggressive cancer may be associated with some feline leukemia vaccines (those with an adjuvant), but it's not proven and is very rare. If you're concerned, ask about the non-adjuvanted vaccine for feline leukemia. <br />
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Q: I take my dog to visit a hospice once a week. I wish I could describe what a difference this has made for the patients. For our border collie, Lucy, the emotional outlet and work has been wonderful. I was sure I'd be sad working in a hospice, but I haven't felt that way at all. Instead, I have a tremendous feeling of satisfaction. I'm writing in hopes you can convey how programs like this make a difference. <br />
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- S.C., Marietta, Ga. <br />
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A: For 10 years, my wife and I were privileged to take our Lucy to visit patients at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago as a certified animal-assisted therapy dog. Therapy dogs are sometimes able to wiggle their way into hearts and minds where medical science cannot. <br />
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Science has repeatedly documented what such dogs can do. I talked with my friend David Frei, who participates in animal-assisted therapy with his dog through a program he founded called Angel on a Leash. <br />
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No one knows how these dogs are able to achieve the miracles they do. Frei and I agree that while they are patients in hospitals, rehab facilities and hospices, people are living like our dogs live - in the moment. This creates a special connection. And, of course, dogs don't care how patients look or their diagnoses; they love everyone unconditionally. <br />
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After our beloved Lucy passed away in 2011, we set up a fund in her honor with the American Humane Association to support the American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards for animal-assisted therapy: http://bit.ly/ieF5K9. <br />
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Write to Steve Dale at petworld@stevedale.tv.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">WARNING: Bear Attack in Manitoba , Canada </span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13;">These are pictures of an actual polar bear attacking a man. <br />
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The pictures were taken while people watched and could do nothing to stop the attack! <br />
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Reports from the local newspaper say that the victim will make a full recovery. <br />
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See pictures below: (Keep away from young children)</span></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: red;"><em>May your troubles always be smaller <br />
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<center><span style="color: #274e13;">Thanks to Kathy in BHC, AZ</span></center></div>John Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569650383063644384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5310501782946920789.post-63538321360968772322011-12-03T22:22:00.000-08:002011-12-03T22:26:55.956-08:00Crafting with Cat Hair<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Pet Care Poll: </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Most Owners Took Animals </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">to the Vet In Past Year </span></center><center><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/29/pet-care-poll-most-owners_n_1118076.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">By SUE MANNING - Associated Press</span></a></center><br />
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Eight in 10 pet owners have taken their animals to the vet in the past year, with an overall average expenditure of $505, according to a new AP-Petside.com poll.<br />
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Sixty percent of those who took their pets to the vet spent $300 or less, but the average expenditure was boosted higher by the one in eight pet owners (13 percent) who spent $1,000 or more.<br />
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About one in six pet owners say their pet faced a serious illness during the year, and those pet owners spent an average of $1,092 on vet care. One percent say they took their pets to the vet and spent no money.<br />
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Thomas Klamm, 76, of Boone, Iowa, says he and his wife Beverly spent $3,000 on their two Chihuahuas, sisters Kati and Keli, and he would have spent more if necessary, even though his annual income is under $50,000.<br />
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The biggest bills resulted from a spinal condition Kati had, but Klamm says he has a lot of confidence in the vets and senior students at Iowa State University's Veterinary Teaching Hospital in nearby Ames, where the little dogs have been going since they were pups.<br />
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According to the poll, most pet owners have faith in the treatment vets recommend. Overall, 52 percent say vets do not often recommend excessive treatment, 26 percent say that happens moderately often, 17 percent extremely or very often.<br />
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Those whose pets had been seriously ill in the past year were no more likely than others to say that vets suggest treatments that go beyond what is reasonable and necessary.<br />
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Among those who did not take their pets to the vet last year, 52 percent say they only take their pets to the vet "when they're really sick" and a third say they can't afford it at all.<br />
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Luis Calderon, 56, of El Monte, Calif., couldn't afford to take Buddy, his 3-year-old German shepherd, to the vet last year. Buddy was given to Calderon when the dog was 6 months old. "We have become best friends," he says.<br />
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Calderon, a self-employed handyman, has a wife and two kids and says work is scarce. If Buddy needed a vet, Calderon says he would have to go through public services or use credit. "We would have to get him help."<br />
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How much would be too much? It would depend on what was wrong and what the vet said, Calderon says. "At that point I would have to consider whether to keep him or let him go, put him to sleep," he says.<br />
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He hates the idea of putting limits on Buddy's health. "But we have to survive. At this point, my mortgage is No. 1. This month is really close to the edge," Calderon adds.<br />
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Fifty-eight percent of those who did not take their pets to a vet in the past year said they "have a type of pet that doesn't need much veterinary care." Among them, 52 percent have dogs, 52 percent cats, 10 percent fish, and 5 percent birds.<br />
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Not surprisingly, higher-income pet owners (household incomes over $50,000) were more apt to take their pets to the vet than those with incomes below $50,000 – 90 percent versus 74 percent. Forty percent of those with household incomes below $50,000 who didn't take their pets to the vet say they can't really afford to do so.<br />
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Art Jones, 62, of Alameda, Calif., says two of his family's cats died in the last year. He estimates he spent $600 on vet bills – half of that to euthanize one of the cats. The other cat died at home.<br />
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"But we are not so wealthy we can spend thousands on a house pet. That's unfortunate, but that's the truth," Jones says.<br />
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He says he has family friends whose dog is getting cancer treatment and the cost is nearing $10,000. "To me, that's insane," Jones says.<br />
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Over the past few years, Jim Salsman, 51, of Las Vegas, paid for several $500 trips to the vet for his neighbors' cat, Mau, after the declawed feline got in fights with other animals. Last year, the neighbors left and gave the cat to Salsman. He ended up paying another $400 in vet bills, but says he didn't mind because his neighbors were in foreclosure and struggling, and the cat became an important member of the family.<br />
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"He means everything to us," Salsman said.<br />
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According to the poll, dog owners were a bit more likely to take their pets to the vet than cat owners – 85 percent of dog owners compared with 79 percent of cat owners. But dog owners spent a bit less – an average of $537 – than cat owners, who spent an average of $558.<br />
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The AP-Petside.com Poll was conducted Oct. 13-17, 2011, by GfK Roper Public Affairs and Corporate Communications. It involved landline and cellphone interviews with 1,118 pet owners. Results among pet owners have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">'Bionic Cat' Makes Recovery After 40ft Fall</span></center><center><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-16004651"><span style="color: #274e13;">bbc.co.uk</span></a></center><br />
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A pet has been named "the bionic cat" after he was fitted with pins and supports following a fall from a fourth-storey window.<br />
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Sebastian's owners returned to their flat in Edgbaston, Birmingham, to discover him missing in August.<br />
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A day later they were contacted by the RSPCA who had found the tabby struggling to breathe on the pavement.<br />
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Fearing the worst they rushed him to their vets where he was given a 10% chance of survival.<br />
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But three months on, he has made a full recovery and his owners think he may even be jumping higher because of the metal supports in his legs.<br />
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Vet Mark Barton from Manor Vets in Halesowen and owner, Katrin Toots, described Sebastian's operation and recovery.<br />
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A pet has been named "the bionic cat" after he was fitted with pins and supports following a fall from a fourth storey window.<br />
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Sebastian's owners returned to their flat in Edgbaston, Birmingham, to discover him missing in August.<br />
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A day later they were contacted by the RSPCA who had found the tabby struggling to breath on the pavement.<br />
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Fearing the worst they rushed him to their vets where he was given a 10% chance of survival.<br />
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But three months on, he has made a full recovery and his owners think he may even be jumping higher because of the metal supports in his legs.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Save With Cheap Pet Toys </span></center><center><a href="http://marietta.patch.com/articles/save-with-cheap-pet-toys-aa1cf567"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Linda Rehkopf patch.com</span></a></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: #cc0000;">Don't have money this holiday season for pet toys? Make your own interactive dog and cat toys and games.</span></center><br />
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Confession: I hang my dogs’ stocking on the chimney with care. The Labs will stare at it all during the holiday season, hoping for sweet treats and fun toys. Well, probably not, because I anthropomorphize my dogs. A lot. But I like to think they are hoping and wishing.<br />
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Many pet owners will feel the economic pinch this year, and may cut back on the all-out animal gifts. But there are cheap toys and sweet tricks you can provide your pets. If you cannot go to the pet store for that $50 stocking stuffed with catnip, or the peanut butter-filled dog bone, that’s okay. Your animals won’t care.<br />
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Here’s a fun, cheap, interactive toy for your dog that will give him a body and mind workout. The materials are inexpensive, if not already stuffed in the back of your bottom kitchen cabinet:<br />
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•Cookie tins from the dollar or thrift store<br />
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•Tin snips or can opener<br />
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•Duct tape<br />
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•Yummy, smelly treats <br />
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Cut several holes in the bottom of the cookie tins. Wrap the sharp ends of each hole with duct tape to prevent cuts. <br />
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Your dog should be on a sit-stay while you prepare the “toy.” This builds excitement and anticipation for the game. Put a few treats in one tin only, then securely put the top back on so that it won’t pop off if your dog pounces on the tin. Put the treat-filled tin on the floor next to a tin that is empty. Release your dog to “find” the tin with the treats.<br />
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Your dog might bat the tin around the floor, he might paw at it, or he might sit or lay down next to the scented tin. As soon as he’s successful at the “find,” open the tin and let him eat the treats inside.<br />
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You can make this game more difficult once the dog catches on. Add another empty tin to the mix, scatter the tins around the room, place them in a line or in a circle, or even hide the tin with the treats. Pair the command, “Fido, Go Find!” with the activity.<br />
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Put a personal article, like a glove, inside the tin with the treat. Fade the treats, and wait for the dog to find the tin that hides your scented item. Always praise your dog before you let him have his “presents.”<br />
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Stop the game before your dog gets bored during the session, and he’ll continue to look forward to using his nose.<br />
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This is a great mind game for older, more infirm dogs that cannot run after a tennis ball or take long walks or jogs. Even young puppies can be taught the “go find” game; this technique is a variation on training given to puppies being trained for bomb and narcotics detection or search and rescue jobs.<br />
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Cats love a good game just as much as the family dog; they are just more selective and refined in their approach to interaction or play (well, mine were. Your mileage may vary.)<br />
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The best, cheapest, most fun toy to give your cat is an empty paper bag or cardboard box. Put a little catnip in an after-holiday shirt box, and your cat might actually believe she is now the Queen of all things cardboard. In your house, she probably is.<br />
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This holiday season, the best gift for all your pets is time with their owner.<br />
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Whether you sit and watch your cat pop up out of a box, or lay on the floor and let your dog sniff for the treats in your pockets, quality time for the animals doesn’t have to cost money.<br />
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If you have a favorite cheap trick or inexpensive treat you’ve made for your pets, let us know!<br />
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Linda Rehkopf writes about dog care, training and animal welfare issues for East Cobb Patch on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. Her work appears in local and national newspapers, magazines, and websites and has been nominated for the Maxwell Award for Excellence in Canine Writing. She competes in canine sports with her Labrador retrievers, and her first book, "DogLife Labrador Retriever" (T.F.H. Publications) is available online and in local pet and book stores. She and her family have lived in East Cobb for 28 years.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">No Mystery to Pet Training </span></center><center><a href="http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/lifestyles/9005763-423/no-mystery-to-pet-training.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Denise Baran-Unland For The Herald-News</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GkZFJLFZzNk/TtT8H5yYORI/AAAAAAAAPVg/Oh3jLezZENk/s1600/28-p3.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GkZFJLFZzNk/TtT8H5yYORI/AAAAAAAAPVg/Oh3jLezZENk/s400/28-p3.bmp" width="287" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Bark Busters dog trainer John Sullivan poses with two of his "clients," Massy and Capone.</em></span></center><br />
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Shelve the doggie treats, discard your shock collars and forget about intimidation tactics.<br />
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Whether your dog yips at the neighbors, jumps on the counters, howls and make messes when you leave the house or fights with other dogs, Bark Buster dog trainer — and sometime cat trainer — John Sullivan can coach you to train your dog using body language and vocal tones.<br />
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“Communication is the foundation of any relationship, whether it is person to person or person to dog,” said Sullivan, of Naperville. “Once you know how to communicate with dogs in terms they understand and respect, you’ll get the behavior you want.”<br />
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Sullivan joined Bark Busters as a full-time trainer four years ago, although he has been working with dogs part time for more than 20 years. Sullivan owned dogs growing up and he volunteered in shelters. He started training to help dogs with issues become more adoptable. He later discovered the Australian-based Bark Busters and found its training philosophy was similar to his methods.<br />
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Bark Busters founder Sylvia Wilson wanted to provide dog owners with effective, humane methods to manage destructive and aggressive canine behaviors. Some dog owners, when faced with challenges they cannot control or eliminate, relinquish their dogs to animal shelters.<br />
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Worldwide, Bark Busters has trained more than 500,000 dogs.<br />
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<b>Dogs need a pack leader</b><br />
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At the core of many training problems is that owners often fail to appreciate a dog’s need for a “pack leader.” In the home, that leader must always be the adult owners. Aggression in dogs, Sullivan said, is caused when dogs elevate themselves to uncomfortable leadership positions and take advantage of it.<br />
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“If the owner does not demonstrate credible leadership, then the dog assumes he takes over,” Sullivan said. “Dogs are excellent people trainers and masters at finding our soft spots and manipulating us to do things for them on their terms. The most common mistake owners make is giving their dog too much authority.”<br />
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How can you tell if your dog considers himself the leader of the pack? Does he get onto furniture he knows is off limits and—even worse — ignore your commands to get down? Does he bark nonstop? Does he persistently nudge you for attention? Does he socialize badly with other dogs?<br />
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All those problems, Sullivan said, are easily fixable once owners learn how to communicate their expectations. He teaches correction techniques, not intimidation, and there is a difference. Dog training often mystifies owners since the media offers so much conflicting dog training advice.<br />
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“Dogs are not complicated. Humans are complicated,” Sullivan said. “Dogs live in the moment, so you need to be simple and straightforward. Getting people to think that way can be hard, but once they do it, it’s like riding a bike. It works right away, every single time, with every age and every breed. Dog language is universal.”<br />
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<b>At-home training</b><br />
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All training is done in the owner’s home. Most owners require one to three visits before training operates smoothly, as opposed to weeks or months with other training plans. Bark Busters also offers support for the entire life of the dog.<br />
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After the initial assessment, Sullivan ensures the dog has sufficient socialization opportunities with other dogs, even if that dog is the only dog in the house. One easy interaction opportunity is to allow your dog to “play” with the neighbor’s dog. <br />
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Socialization is so important that, if no other options exist, Sullivan will bring his rescue boxer Joe to help out. Joe can assist with puppies requiring socialization, dogs with bad manners or extremely aggressive dogs.<br />
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“Joe is a very confident dog. Nothing shakes him up,” Sullivan said. “My female Maggie is a great dog, but she a little nervous and bounces around a little, so her energy sets off the other dogs a bit. Joe is a strong leader so the other dogs feed off his energy.”<br />
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Sullivan services dogs in the following areas: Braceville, Braidwood, Channahon, Coal City, Crest Hill, Dwight, Elwood, Joliet, Kankakee, Lockport, Manhattan, Marseilles, Mazon, Minooka, Morris, Ottawa, Romeoville, Seneca, Shorewood, Verona and Wilmington.<br />
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Call him at 630-306-3005. For more information visit www.barkbusters.com/page.cfm/ID/50/id_directory/1406.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">$5,000 Grant Supports Meals on Wheels for Pets</span></center><center><a href="http://bangordailynews.com/2011/11/28/news/southern-coast/5000-grant-supports-meals-on-wheels-for-pets/?ref=latest"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Christopher Cousins, BDN Staff</span></a></center><br />
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WINSLOW, Maine — Carlene Shank already had a dog and a cat when her friend passed away recently and left her another dog to care for.<br />
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Making sure her friend’s dog was taken care of was an easy decision for Shank, even though she was unsure whether she would be able to afford the food. Then she noticed a flier at the Spectrum Generations Center in Waterville advertising something called AniMeals, a sort of Meals on Wheels for pets.<br />
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“It makes a big difference once you’re retired and on a fixed income,” said Shank. “I’ve got one dog who eats you out of house and home, so [AniMeals is] a big help.”<br />
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According to Lynda Johnson, who has run AniMeals out of the Spectrum Generations Cohen Center in Hallowell for the past 8 years, there are a total of about 90 pets being served in the Hallowell and Waterville areas. The food is distributed by an already existing network of Meals on Wheels drivers who deliver sustenance to some 400 senior citizens and others who are confined to their homes by circumstance.<br />
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Earlier this month, the AniMeals program received a major boost in the form of a $5,000 grant from the Banfield Charitable Trust, which through its Seasons of Suppers program has a long history of funding for pets and humans across the country. The trust has awarded more than $350,000 in grant money to support pet food programs. The recent grant in Maine was split evenly between the 8-year-old program in Hallowell and a similar program in the Waterville area that is just a few months old but already flooded with pets to feed.<br />
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“Our clients love the AniMeals program because it helps them with their budgets,” said Johnson. “All of this money from the Banfield Charitable Trust is going right to food, and maybe a container or two to keep it in.”<br />
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Users of the program receive about two pounds of dry dog or cat food per week, depending on the number of pets they have. The program has occasionally served other pets, such as birds, but that is rare, said Johnson. Just like Meals on Wheels, Johnson said she knows AniMeals is a resounding success because of the ease with which she collects donations. There is also no waiting list for either program, which is a point of pride for the program.<br />
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“We’re having good luck, which is a good thing because it does cost a lot of money,” said Johnson. Among the businesses who have supported the program are Pet Life, Pine Tree Veterinarians, Tractor Supply and the Riverview Psychiatric Center. Johnson said she buys pet food from a variety of local retailers, many of whom usually pitch in a little extra.<br />
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The rationale behind the program is making sure people who don’t have a lot don’t have to let go of their pets for lack of money.<br />
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“If you’re on Meals on Wheels, you’re already in a scary place anyway,” said Johnson. “Anyone who’s on that program qualifies for AniMeals. I don’t look at how much money they make.”<br />
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Johnson said the AniMeals program in the Hallowell area was among the first of its kind in Maine, though it has been spreading.<br />
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According to Shank, the pet food distributed by the program is of just as high quality as the people food distributed by Meals on Wheels.<br />
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“Whatever kind of food they’re buying, the animals love it,” she said. “We’re all happy here.”<br />
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To inquire about AniMeals or Meals on Wheels, or to make a donation to either program, call 800-639-1553.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Dog Businesses Find Success Even During Tough Times </span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/28/dog-businesses-find-success-even-during-tough-times_n_1093606.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">huffingtonpost.com</span></a></center><br />
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Like many kids, when Jason and Steven Parker were teenagers, they wanted a dog. And like many parents, theirs said no. So they came up with the next best thing to spend some time with man's best friend -- they started their own pet-sitting business.<br />
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The brothers, now 24 and 27, kept it going through college and eventually sold it for six figures. After they graduated, they went on to start K9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel.<br />
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"If you love dogs and want to get into the dog business, now is the perfect time," Steven says.<br />
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You might say dogs are an entrepreneur's best friend too. Consider the size of the market. According to the American Pet Products Association, dogs are found in 46.3 million homes across America. (By contrast, cats are in 38 million, freshwater fish in 11 million, birds in 5 million and saltwater fish are last, in just 700,000 homes.) So it's no wonder so many small businesses and large corporations alike slobber over the $50.84 billion spent on pets every year.<br />
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<b>For the Dogs</b><br />
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The modern-day dog business can trace its roots to the 1920s and 1930s, when movie star dog Rin Tin Tin was in his heyday. In 1918, just a couple months before World War I ended, an American soldier, Lee Duncan, found the famed puppy in Lorraine, France, in a dog kennel that had been bombed. The puppy survived, and Duncan named him Rin Tin Tin, taking the name of a puppet that French children gave American soldiers for good luck. Four years later, when a movie director was having trouble coaxing a performance out of his wolf in the movie "The Man From Hell's River," Duncan loaned out his dog, and a canine career was born. The dog starred in several silent films during the 1920s and four talkies during the '30s.<br />
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As a result, children across the country began asking their parents, "Can we get a dog?"<br />
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During the 1940s, when many fathers were called away to service, the demand for dogs as company and protection grew, and as more people owned dogs, the market for dog products began to thrive. (The 1940 book "Lassie Come Home" probably helped.) By the early 1950s, newspapers began reporting on a booming dog industry, with everything from rubber bones, dog clothes, and prefabricated doghouses to training schools and pet cemeteries. In 1958, Harry Miller, director of the Gaines Dog Research Center, offered a prescient quote to a UPI news reporter. "There's no recession in the dog industry," he said. "It's thriving, with 40 percent of the nation's homes having one or more dogs. We figure the total gross last year, including sale of puppies, food, shows, medical expenses and otherwise, was well over $500 million."<br />
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By the 1960s, pet-grooming facilities, often called dog salons, took off. Dog-rental businesses, which allowed people to rent watchdogs, not so much, although for a brief time it seemed as if it might be embraced by the mainstream. That said, as early as 1933, Chicago entrepreneur Michal Von Motseek owned "Rent a Dog for Any Purpose" Kennels, selling to people who wanted watchdogs and to advertisers who needed dogs to photograph. (The modern-day version, FlexPetz, was founded in 2007, which rents pets to busy families that share them with other families.)<br />
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Franchising in the pet industry also began to blossom in the '60s. In 1964, the first franchised pet store, Pet Docktor Center, opened. According to Katherine C. Grier's "Pets in America: A History," two successful brothers and owners of a pet store in Philadelphia decided to clone their success. For years, Docktor Pet Centers was the PetSmart of its day, prominent in shopping malls across America, until the then-widespread practice of relying on puppy mills brought on a lot of lawsuits. Today, there are just a handful of remaining Pet Docktor Centers in the country.<br />
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It all paved the way for today's booming dog industry. Now, if you want to, you can buy a specially made backpack to carry your dog. Martha Stewart has a line of dog beds, not to mention bandanas and a dog bathrobe. There are life jackets for dogs. Sunglasses too. If they make it for people, chances are they make it for dogs.<br />
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<b>Dog Day Afternoon</b><br />
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In 2007, Jaime and Mark Van Wye, 34 and 43, respectively, decided that they, too, wanted to become part of the dog industry's illustrious history. They opened Zoom Room, a dog agility training center -- near the end of 2009, began franchising and currently have seven locations across the country with several more set to open. Jaime, before opening Zoom Room in Los Angeles, was already immersed in dog culture as a dog kennel owner as well as author of "How to Have an Ill-Behaved Dog."<br />
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When Jaime told her future husband she wanted to open a dog agility facility, Mark -- a marketing guy whose clients included the Nat King Cole estate -- was initially hesitant, but soon warmed up to the idea. "Jamie always had people asking her, 'Where I can train my dog in dog agility?' and her answer was always that they could go to this one place on Thursday mornings at 11 a.m., and there's a huge waiting list. Then we had the realization that it's the number-one dog sport in America, and ESPN was even carrying dog agility competitions. My thought was similar to the 1970s when yoga became popular in America. It was a novelty only practiced by yoga gurus, and now there isn't a gym in America that doesn't have yoga."<br />
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Jaime made a list of a lot of the pros and cons of working in the dog industry and, in the end, felt she had created a business model that stripped away a lot of the negatives.<br />
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Mark says that "kennels and doggie day cares can make money but are not a lot of fun to run. People used to come in and say to Jaime, 'You must love your job. You play with dogs all day.' And she would think, 'No, are you kidding?'"<br />
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Jaime cites some of the frustrations that kennels and doggie daycares have: Zoning issues due to dogs living on the premises; needing someone on staff virtually 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to watch over the animals; staffing issues: liability issues if the animal gets sick or dies; and the costs of caring for the animals.<br />
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"It's exhausting, and you don't play with dogs all day," Jaime says. "You may not even see dogs most of the day."<br />
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<b>'Much Easier to Work with Than People'</b><br />
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That doesn't mean that dog business owners don't find themselves working and playing with cuddly canines. Christy Howard, 39, is the owner of two Three Dog Bakery establishments in the Dallas/Forth Worth market, part of a chain since 1989. She has 12 employees among the two stores, one of which is new and the other 3 years old. Between the two, her stores bring in more than $1 million in sales.<br />
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Howard runs the day-to-day operations but co-owns the mini-franchise empire with her husband, who handles the financials, including insurance (the annual insurance that Howard pays for her two stores, including workers comp, property and liability: $12,000).<br />
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Another cost to be prepared for: Cleaning. Your typical small business doesn't have too many customers who shed, but if you're on the service side of the dog industry, expect to be cleaning up dog fur. And maybe a few other, um, deposits.<br />
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On the plus side, while beleaguered entrepreneurs feel licked at times, it's one of the perks of the dog business. "Dogs are much easier to work with than people," Steven Parker of K9 Resorts quips.<br />
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But what's gratifying and helpful for the dog-serving entrepreneur is how devoted the masters are to their pets. Jason Parker says the economy has affected their bottom line somewhat, but not as much as you might think. "People are spending the same amount of money on their dogs," Jason says. "We have different types of rooms at our resort, and people are still opting for the luxury suites and if not that, the executive rooms, which are cage-free. They may cut their vacation a little shorter, but they aren't cutting back on their dogs."<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Crafting with Cat Hair: </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Not Just for Crazy Cat Ladies</span></center><center><a href="http://blogs.sfweekly.com/exhibitionist/2011/11/crafting_with_cat_hair_not_jus.php"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Angela Lutz - sfweekly.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FO6OQ3utAGY/TtUAxjWBcyI/AAAAAAAAPVs/CLOSrtBuTVE/s1600/28-p4.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FO6OQ3utAGY/TtUAxjWBcyI/AAAAAAAAPVs/CLOSrtBuTVE/s400/28-p4.bmp" width="369" /></a></div><br />
When I was a kid, for Christmas I got one of those dolls whose hair sprouted from the crown of her head when you cranked her arm clockwise like a pencil sharpener. The first thing I wanted to do was give her a haircut, so once I got away from the prying eyes of Mom and Dad, I hacked off her blond ponytail with a pair of scissors. Then I rotated her arm a couple of turns, and, like magic, her hair re-grew.<br />
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Naturally I applied this same logic to my new kitten's fur and whiskers -- if I cut them off, they'd grow back immediately, right? Unfortunately that was not the case, and the poor fella spent several weeks barefaced and sporting several unsightly bald spots. (Don't worry, though: His hair and whiskers did eventually grow back, and he lived happily for 17 years. Also, my parents yelled at me.)<br />
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If only I'd read Crafting with Cat Hair: Cute Handicrafts to Make with Your Cat, Japanese author Katsori Tsutaya's step-by-step guide to turning your pets' fur balls into felt and thereby cementing your status as the crazy cat lady, I would have known that scissors are not an appropriate implement for harvesting cat hair: "When crafting with your cat, it is important to remove hair only by gentle brushing. Do not shave your cat." <br />
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This is good to know, because when the title says "handicrafts to make with your cat," it isn't just being cute. These crafts contain their DNA.<br />
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Coming up: I harvest my own cats' fur and construct some handicrafts... while drunk. On silliness!<br />
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Since the artistic medium here is cat hair, a large part of Crafting with Cat Hair details how to properly brush a kitty. Rule No. 1 is be gentle, and do not, under any circumstances, brush him or her backwards, "even if you usually forgive your cat for scratching you." There are also step-by-step instructions for turning cat hair into felt, as well as patterns for seven craft projects, including finger puppets, book covers, cat portraits, knick knack boxes, and scarf, mitten, and hat embroideries that can be used to start ice-breaking conversations, such as, "I save their hair in a Tupperware container." <br />
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Perhaps because she knows that telling people you make finger puppets out of cat hair is about on par with saying you're a Dungeons and Dragons wizard, Tsutaya points out that cat-hair felt is a lot like less-durable wool felt, a comparison that makes the whole idea seem less weird. "I'll admit that as I was making them I thought, Is it really okay to make something like this out of my cat's hair?" she writes. "But in the end the finished product looked so much like my own cat that I got a big laugh out of it!" <br />
<br />
And it is exceedingly silly, yes -- or as Tsutaya calls it, "a quirky little hobby" -- but it is written with such sincerity and sweetness that in the land of overt mockeries like "People of Wal-Mart," it is actually refreshing. <br />
<br />
The pages are filled with cat photos accompanied by speech bubbles that sound like they were written by your crystal-wielding, new-age aunt: "Did you know that when I'm lying in the sun, not only do I get warm, I also smell as fresh as an aired-out futon?!" There are also tips to ensure cat-hair crafts look their snazziest: "If you have a cat who is more than one color, you can make your puppet multicolored or spotted!" And in the last ten pages of the book, we get to meet the contributors, aka Tsutaya's beloved cats.<br />
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So here are the cats who contributed to my own handicrafts: Bubba Lee Kinsey, the legendary (at least at the local bar) gray tabby of doom, and Phoenix, the calico who is kind of a creepy sex offender. <br />
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Neither of them took kindly to being brushed -- Bubba sank his fangs into my wrist, and Phoenix made a Marge Simpson-esque grunting noise and hid under the bed, so I drank some wine, cranked up the Pogues, and chased them. It's almost as though they knew I was trying to harvest their fur. With persistence I was able to gather enough for a finger puppet and save it in a plastic bag on the kitchen counter, which made me feel like a giant creeper. (One of the bonuses of not having a roommate: No one questions you when you do things like this.) I also broke one of Tsutaya's rules, as my cats were decidedly not willing participants in these shenanigans.<br />
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Having collected the hair, I moved on to the next step: Cutting a pattern out of cardboard. I did not have any regular cardboard just lying around, so I broke another of Tsutaya's rules, which recommends not using any materials that might retain an odor. Here is Phoenix and the pattern I cut from the lid of an old pizza box I pulled out of the recycling.<br />
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After covering the pattern in packing tape to waterproof it, I wrapped it in layers of cat hair until it was fully covered. And I'm not gonna lie: I did not expect it to work, so I got a bit giddy when my crafty hair ball resembled the example in the book. Below, hard-ass supervisors Bubba and Phoenix inspect my work.<br />
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After rubbing the pattern with detergent, which causes the fibers to congeal into felt, and rinsing it with warm water, I drank some more wine and toweled it dry before breaking another rule: I do not own an iron (seriously, people still use those?), so around midnight I stood in the bathroom and blow-dried my cat hair finger puppet while singing along to Regina Spektor. Because if I'm going to do weird girly shit, I'm going for the weird, girly gold.<br />
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The end result was beautiful. I held it up to admire by candlelight while listening to a whiny folk song before I realized that cat hair is likely highly flammable.<br />
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Phoenix was largely indifferent to the great art I made using her hair, but Bubba was so impressed that he tried to eat it. After three glasses of wine, that's all the proof I need: I am awesome at crafts. And now I know what everyone is getting for Christmas this year. You're welcome.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">"People will forget what you said; </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13;">People will forget what you did.</span> <br />
But people will never forget how you made them feel."</span></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WD20J3-lybY/TtUDklXWaMI/AAAAAAAAPV4/miGw6d_nYVk/s1600/28-p5.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="139" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WD20J3-lybY/TtUDklXWaMI/AAAAAAAAPV4/miGw6d_nYVk/s400/28-p5.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<br />
<center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Lily is a Great Dane that has been blind since a bizarre medical condition required that she have both eyes removed.</em></span></center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em><center><br />
</center></em></span><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>For the last 5 years, Maddison, another Great Dane, has been her sight. <br />
The two are, of course, inseparable.</em></span> </div>John Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569650383063644384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5310501782946920789.post-9942617054740218742011-11-26T22:41:00.001-08:002011-11-26T22:42:33.278-08:00Christmas Pet Tips<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Give a Dog a Shower</span></center><center><a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/homegarden/2016858961_plumber26.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">By ED DEL GRANDE - seattletimes.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VebaURAtMdo/TtHZkFN-poI/AAAAAAAAPVU/EDoccBiND84/s1600/28-p2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VebaURAtMdo/TtHZkFN-poI/AAAAAAAAPVU/EDoccBiND84/s400/28-p2.bmp" width="259" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>By adding a diverter valve to your shower, you can choose between a rain shower from above or a concentrated spray from a handheld shower head. Dog owners have found the handheld shower head a helpful tool for getting Fido clean.</em></span></center><br />
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Q: I enjoyed your column a few weeks back about installing a "rain" type of showerhead. While this sounds like something I'd enjoy, for a dog owner like myself there is an issue. Even though approved rain showerheads meet the water-use limits and standards, the wider area of spray would soak me while I'm trying to rinse off the dog. I'd like the luxury of a rain shower, but still need to wash my dog. What do you do in a case like this?<br />
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— Betty in Illinois<br />
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A: I received a lot of letters from dog owners — I am one, too — about how they could install a rain showerhead and still wash the dog. To bring everyone up to speed, a "rain" shower is installed a little higher and is wider than a standard showerhead. Also, it points downward and basically rains on the user. Hence the name.<br />
<br />
Anyway, for most of us there's a simple solution. Along with the rain showerhead, you can have your plumber install a "diverter" control with a "handheld" shower that connects with a short hose. A diverter control can divert the water from the rain head to your personal handheld shower with just the push of a button.<br />
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On a new installation, a wall-mounted diverter valve can be installed to create a custom-looking shower stall. Either way, with a diverter valve you can enjoy a rain shower from above and also have the option of using the smaller handheld shower when you need extra water control. The nice thing is that when the hand shower is on, the rain shower is off. However, strict water codes in some dry areas of the country may only allow one fixture per shower stall. So, check your local water regulations.<br />
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<i>Master Contractor/Plumber Ed Del Grande, an LEED green associate, is known internationally as the author of the book "Ed Del Grande's House Call" and for hosting TV shows on Scripps Networks and HGTVPro.com. For information visit eddelgrande.comor write eddelgrande@hgtvpro.com. Always consult local contractors and codes.</i><br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">This Blind Dog Can Really Hunt</span></center><center><a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/traveloutdoors/2016858917_blinddog26.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">By DOUG SMITH - seattletimes.com</span></a></center><br />
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Watch Norm Moody's English setter, Golly, work a field for pheasants or sharp-tailed grouse, and you never would know the dog has a major handicap.<br />
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"People who see us hunting have no idea he's blind," said Moody, 64, an avid bird hunter who lives near Hackensack, Minn.<br />
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Golly (pronounced "Gully") hunted sharp-tailed grouse, pheasants and prairie chickens this month on South Dakota's expansive National Grasslands with Moody and two hunting buddies.<br />
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"He quarters back and forth just like a regular setter," Moody said of his 11-year-old dog. "When he gets on a scent, he goes into slow motion, and I know right away he's on a bird. Then he locks up and points."<br />
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When the bird flushes and Moody shoots it, Golly knows where to look for the downed bird.<br />
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"He usually heads right for it," Moody said. "I think it's the sound, the fluttering of the wings, and he heads in that direction and finds it."<br />
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Said hunting buddy Don Collins, 70: "He's miraculous; just a super dog. He almost brings tears to your eyes."<br />
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Although Moody lives in the north woods, he no longer hunts Golly there for ruffed grouse. Instead, he hunts 35 days each fall in the open prairies of South Dakota, North Dakota and Saskatchewan, Canada, where his dog is less likely to run into anything. Barbed-wire fences pose problems, but Moody keeps his dog away from them.<br />
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"I make a sound if he's going to run into something, and he stops. I'm his seeing-eye person," Moody said.<br />
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Hunting buddy Larry Olson, 67, of Backus, Minn., said Golly has adapted well to his blindness.<br />
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"It's amazing to me that he doesn't step in a hole," Olson said. "I've never seen him fall down."<br />
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Golly doesn't seem bothered by his lack of sight, Moody said. "He's really a happy dog."<br />
<br />
When Golly was a puppy, Moody had no idea the dog had eye problems. But Moody noticed Golly bumping into brush while hunting ruffed grouse four years ago.<br />
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"I thought he was just a little clumsy," Moody said. "But two years ago, I knew something wasn't right." Golly had trouble jumping into his portable kennel.<br />
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"I took him to a veterinarian who specializes in eyesight. She did a battery of tests, and he was almost totally blind."<br />
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Golly has progressive retinal atrophy, a deterioration of the retinal cells, a condition that eventually causes blindness. The hereditary disease has no known cure. It affects many breeds. Breeding dogs now can be tested genetically for the disease, so people buying puppies from tested parents can be assured their dogs won't develop it.<br />
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"They compensate with their hearing and sense of smell, and that's what he's been doing," Moody said.<br />
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He said he was smitten with the dog from the get-go.<br />
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"He's just a good dog, so mellow. And he's a good hunter." And Golly has endeared himself to Moody and his hunting friends.<br />
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"He has about the best disposition of any dog I've seen," Olson said.<br />
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Moody has ordered another English setter puppy but doesn't plan to retire Golly soon.<br />
<br />
"He'll likely hunt two or three more years," Moody said. "Other than his eyes, he's healthy. And he just has a ball hunting."<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Some Christmas Safety Tips For Your Pets</span></center><center><a href="http://www.petanim.com/18857/msutton/christmas-safety-tips-pets-christmas-joyous/"><span style="color: #274e13;">Written by Melissa Sutton - petanim.com</span></a></center><br />
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For most pet owners, Christmas can be a very dangerous time, so here`s some tips to help keep your pet safe this holiday season. First is wrapping paper and although you might want to ball up some wrapping paper you`ve just torn off a present and throw it at your dog or cat, to play with, this can be extremely dangerous if they swallow any of the paper because the ink and other chemicals might be toxic to your pet.<br />
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If the tape is left on the paper, it can also cause major problems. It`s best to keep all wrapping paper picked up off the floor and resist the temptation to use it as a dog or cat toy!<br />
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Next is Ribbon and/or Ribbon Balls. Though they can provide hours of fun for your cat, they also have chemicals or ink on them as well, plus they are very easily shredded, especially if your cat has not been declawed. It is best to keep these away from your pet and stick to appropriate cat/dog toys. as per http://annstewart2.articlealley.com<br />
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Next are Christmas Goodies & Treats. Although we can eat bags, tins and jars full of sugary, chocolatey treats, our dogs/cats can NOT eat such foods! They can cause major digestive issues in your pet and this is especially true for Chocolate and Dogs, so keep this HUMAN treat far out of their reach!<br />
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Watch out for signs that your pet has eaten something he shouldn`t have, such as vomiting, diarrhea or unusual behavior. If you see any of these signs, get them to the vet as soon as possible!<br />
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If you are going out of town for the holidays or are entertaining for Christmas, you may want to opt for putting your pet in a boarding center for that day, to help ensure your pet does not get into something he shouldn`t! There are many great doggie day care centers in your area, so consider this as an option! For more info, you can visit: www.advantagepetcenter.com</div>John Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569650383063644384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5310501782946920789.post-79941323640136103592011-11-19T10:56:00.001-08:002011-11-19T11:01:41.699-08:00Beer for Dogs!!??<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">When Owls Attack…</span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Dogs: Albuquerque Residents Claim </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Giant Birds are Eating Their Pets</span></center><center><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2060329/When-owls-attack-dogs-Albuquerque-residents-claim-giant-birds-eating-pets-amid-spate-aerial-assaults.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Graham Smith - dailymail.co.uk</span></a></center><br />
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Pet owners in Albuquerque are on their guard after a spate of attacks on dogs by giant owls.<br />
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Officials are uncertain if there is one owl on the prowl for small animals to eat, or whether there are several airborne predators at large.<br />
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But the attacks, which have so far killed at least one dog, have left residents living in the New Mexico city's foothills fearing for their animals' lives.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DNBVX3JMg64/Tr6YMz8ISeI/AAAAAAAAPUA/d2fr2I9ut0M/s1600/24-pt10.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DNBVX3JMg64/Tr6YMz8ISeI/AAAAAAAAPUA/d2fr2I9ut0M/s400/24-pt10.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Night flight: Pet owners in Albuquerque are on their guard after a spate of attacks on dogs by giant owls.</em></span></center><br />
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Local resident Cindy Hummel said: 'We've seen him three or four times. He's huge.<br />
'One day when we were walking and he swooped down over my husband's head.<br />
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'He has a big wingspan - he's a huge owl.'<br />
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Another resident, Marie Iverson, lost her puppy in what is thought to have been a night-time raid on her patio.<br />
She had put the six-month-old dog outside before she went to bed.<br />
<br />
Ms Iverson said: 'All of a sudden I heard this yelp. I thought: "She never normally yelps like that, maybe she wants to come back inside."'<br />
But the puppy had vanished and was found dead by neighbours two days later, after she had presumably been dropped by the owl.<br />
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The head zookeeper at Albuquerque's Rio Grande Zoo told local station News 13 that owls have no problem with eating small animals.<br />
However, she advised residents to keep their pets inside after dark as the nocturnal birds hunt at night.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Paris Hilton's Pet Kinkajou1</span></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tBPIoP2DhOk/Tr6KmY69hpI/AAAAAAAAPSU/9TrB9LHnAHI/s1600/24-pt1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tBPIoP2DhOk/Tr6KmY69hpI/AAAAAAAAPSU/9TrB9LHnAHI/s400/24-pt1.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>This photo provided to the Associated Press shows Joey Fratto, 4, looking at an exotic pet kinkajou, "Baby Luv", left, held by its owner Paris Hilton as she parties at the Fratto house in Beverly Hills, Calif. A kinkajou is a nocturnal, tree-dwelling animal from South America's rainforests and has a dangerous bite as Hilton learned that night, when Baby Luv bit her on the arm and she was forced to go to an emergency room. (AP Photo/HO)</em></span></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Why Are California Birds Getting Bigger?</span></center><center><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/11/11/why-are-california-birds-getting-bigger/"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Joel Shurkin - foxnews.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1XhcD_RFeVs/Tr6Zz3rm1QI/AAAAAAAAPUM/HmetpCJNHoQ/s1600/24-pt11.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1XhcD_RFeVs/Tr6Zz3rm1QI/AAAAAAAAPUM/HmetpCJNHoQ/s400/24-pt11.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>As the climate warms, the birds should shrink, climate scientists predict. So why are the birds in central California getting bigger?</em></span></center><br />
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Alfred Hitchcock would have appreciated this twist: The birds in central California are getting bigger.<br />
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Researchers at San Francisco State University have found that the birds on both ends of San Francisco Bay have greater body mass and longer wingspans since Hitchcock made the 1963 horror film, "The Birds," in which birds went mad and attacked a town on the coast.<br />
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Researchers said that the reason for the growth is believed to be climate change, but therein lies a mystery: The birds should be getting smaller as the climate warms, not bigger.<br />
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San Francisco State University graduate student Rae Goodman and assistant professor Gretchen LeBuhn used data from 14,735 birds collected since 1971 near the northern tip of the bay at the Palomarin Field Station at Point Reyes National Seashore, and 18,052 birds collected between 1983-2009 at Coyote Creek Field Station, on the southern end of the bay. Each bird was caught, banded with an identification tag, and released after being weighed and measured either by the locally based PRBO Conservation Science or the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory. Many were recaptured in later years, providing a data base that could track changes. Dozens of species were involved.<br />
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"The birds in the study included resident birds as well as migrants, so birds from Alaska or Central America were also showing in increase," Goodman said.<br />
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The birds grew on average by about 2 percent in both mass and wingspan.<br />
<br />
The mystery, however, involves a theory known to biologists as Bergmann's Rule, which generally holds that animals get bigger the farther north they are found. Ravens in Alaska are noticeably larger than ravens in the Lower 48. It applies to mammals as well: moose in the Arctic are much bigger than moose in Maine. The reason, the theory holds, is that larger animals can retain heat better and are therefore better able to survive at higher latitudes. Christian Bergmann, the 19th-century German biologist who came up with the rule, thought it applied only to warm-blooded creatures but scientists have found it applies to some cold-blooded animals as well.<br />
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So, as the climate warms, the birds should not be getting bigger.<br />
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The only other similar study of North American birds was done by University of Zurich's Josh Van Buskirk in western Pennsylvania. The birds he studied shrunk, obeying the rule.<br />
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Researchers from Cambridge University and the University of Tel Aviv, working in England, studied passerines (bullfinches and tits), and also found they were getting smaller just as expected.<br />
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"We expected them to show a decrease based on the first few studies," Goodman said of the California birds. "That left us with the puzzle of figuring out what was going on."<br />
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In the study, published in the journal Global Change Biology, Goodman and LeBuhn suggested two reasons for this exception.<br />
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One is that the birds are storing more fat to counter the greater number of extreme weather events that most climate scientists link to climate change. Bigger birds can survive storms better than can smaller ones so natural selection is choosing those with bigger bodies and wingspans.<br />
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The other theory is that the birds are eating a different diet. As the climate warms, plants change as does the population of insects birds might eat. That could contribute to larger birds.<br />
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Wesley Hochachka, senior research associate at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, who studied the size of birds in Germany (they also shrank), had a slightly different interpretation. He said another explanation is that changes in temperature had nothing to do with it.<br />
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"It's not thermal at all," Hochachka said. Factors such as long droughts brought on by El Nino and the extent of the food supply are the most likely reasons. "Basically, Bergmann's rule is irrelevant."<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Mike Tyson's Tigers</span></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KYZWqq8xa0c/Tr6Lg3gZvlI/AAAAAAAAPSg/6avazveZpX8/s1600/24-pt2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KYZWqq8xa0c/Tr6Lg3gZvlI/AAAAAAAAPSg/6avazveZpX8/s400/24-pt2.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>30 Oct 1995: Mike Tyson accompanied by his baby tiger enters his workout place anticipating a fight with Buster Mathis Jr. at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Holly Stein/Allsport)</em></span></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Newly Adopted Dog Runs Off Burglar from Ohio Home</span></center><center><a href="http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/11/4047384/newly-adopted-dog-runs-off-burglar.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">sacbee.com</span></a></center><br />
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HILLSBORO, Ohio -- A southwest Ohio couple who adopted a Saint Bernard to save him say he saved their home from burglary a few hours later.<br />
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Rubert "Lee" Littler says he was taking Hercules outside Wednesday night when the 135-pound dog started growling, then charged after a man running out of their basement. The dog bit into the man's ankle as he climbed a fence and got away. Police say the home's phone and cable lines had been cut.<br />
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Lee and Elizabeth Littler brought the dog home from Highland County's pound less than seven hours earlier. The dog had been found, bloody and dehydrated, by hikers on Oct. 31. <br />
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The Littlers tell The Times-Gazette of Hillsboro (http://bit.ly/suYkUf) they wanted to keep him from being euthanized but now figure he's earned a permanent home. <br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Hugh Hefner's Pets</span></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VOaBkA9exCQ/Tr6McMu2OtI/AAAAAAAAPSs/CZ0HZaD4eJI/s1600/24-pt3.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VOaBkA9exCQ/Tr6McMu2OtI/AAAAAAAAPSs/CZ0HZaD4eJI/s400/24-pt3.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Hugh Hefner's Los Angeles Playboy Mansion, known for its wild parties, also has its own zoo. In this 2006 picture, Hefner's former girlfriend Holly Madison is seen feeding monkeys at the mansion's zoo.</em></span></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Supporters Saddened, Outraged </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">After Ace the Dog Euthanized</span></center><center><a href="http://www.detnews.com/article/20111111/METRO/111110388/1410/METRO01/Supporters-saddened--outraged-after-Ace-the-dog-euthanized"><span style="color: #274e13;">Mark Hicks/ The Detroit News</span></a><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">Court order couldn't save dog who gained thousands of backers</span></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Eac8aniU_vs/Tr6cjfDaE-I/AAAAAAAAPUY/JgKXCfhG32w/s1600/24-pt12.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Eac8aniU_vs/Tr6cjfDaE-I/AAAAAAAAPUY/JgKXCfhG32w/s400/24-pt12.bmp" width="370" /></a></div><br />
Detroit — Ace the dog has been euthanized, city officials announced Thursday, saying they were never served an injunction temporarily ordering the dog be spared. <br />
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The move sparked outrage by the starving stray's supporters and a push for changes to Detroit's animal shelter policies. <br />
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Corbett O'Meara, the attorney for a Detroit woman who believed Ace was hers, said he served a restraining order Wednesday barring the city from euthanizing any pit bulls in their care resembling the dog. A hearing was set for Nov. 16. <br />
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O'Meara said he now plans to move to have Detroit officials held in contempt of court. He also said he would ask for the remains of the dog to be preserved for evidence and identification. <br />
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"I don't know what anyone would have to gain by killing a dog before they have to," he said. <br />
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Ace was found Friday at an Ace Hardware store near McNichols and Interstate 75, starving and abandoned, and taken by Detroit Animal Control. His plight — and a policy by animal control to euthanize any stray not claimed in four days — prompted advocates to rally to save him. The effort went viral after the pit bull mix's picture and plight were posted on a Facebook page. <br />
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Bruce King, general manager of environmental health services at the Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion, said Thursday officials did not receive the injunction and the pooch was put down "at the end of business today … following expiration of the four-day holding period and departmental policy." <br />
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Several people stepped forward claiming to be the owner — including Nitta Moses, who said the dog was stolen several months ago. Sheshowed vaccination and other records proving ownership, O'Meara said. <br />
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But King said those who came forward "failed to provide adequate proof." He said since the dog's plight has gained national attention, animal control dispatch has been "overwhelmed with calls from outside of the city, state and even the country" about Ace, impacting safety because other calls for help were unanswered. <br />
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"We are not insensitive to the overwhelming appeal from citizens for an alternative approach," King said. "We are, indeed, heartened by these appeals. However, if we grant this one exception, we are simply not set up for what will undoubtedly lead to overwhelming appeals in similar cases." <br />
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King also said while "many, many Detroiters" are allowed to own pit bulls, animal control is "operating under policies and procedures enacted to control the stray animal population and prevent injury to persons." <br />
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Still, the decision to kill a pooch believed to be a pet "feels like a gut-punch," said David Rudolph, a spokesman for Detroit Dog Rescue. <br />
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Officials with the Lexus Project, a national group fighting for dogs had set up a trust for Ace. They said they, too, plan to pursue legal action against the city. <br />
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Richard Rosenthal, general counsel for the group, called the move to euthanize Ace "despicable" and could be the spark for a major overhaul in animal control in the city. <br />
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"I think the people they have are irresponsible and Detroit needs to reconsider whether this administration and particularly the people running animal control are the people they want representing them," he said. <br />
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Ace's story led City Council President Charles Pugh to consider changing shelter policies. <br />
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Meanwhile, Ace's death sparked outrage online. <br />
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At the Save Ace page on Facebook, which had some 15,700 fans Thursday, his widely circulated photo was tinted gray with a caption that read in part: "SEEK JUSTICE FOR ME. IF I DON'T MAKE IT DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN." <br />
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"The whole situation is just ludicrous," said Terry Todzonia, a dog lover from Detroit. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mgvEVIYxh_A/Tr6OJbvv1KI/AAAAAAAAPS4/P4bsHFhpppQ/s1600/24-pt4.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mgvEVIYxh_A/Tr6OJbvv1KI/AAAAAAAAPS4/P4bsHFhpppQ/s400/24-pt4.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Ever hear the saying “people look like their pets”, it's a rather superficial, yet scarily accurate, observation isn't it? Well, in the strange world of celebrity, pets not only look like their owners, but like to hit the headlines like them, too...<br />
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Take Rapper, 50 Cent, for instance, he decided to name his “bitch” Oprah Winfrey, after, yes after that Oprah, in a bizarre diss to the chatshow host. Although he later admitted to judging Winfrey (the human one) without first meeting her and they now get along just fine. But that's not all, Oprah (the dog) has a twitter account, (@OprahTheDog ) with over 12,000 followers. Just look at this photo of Fiddy casually shopping for guns with his twitter-famous friend. <br />
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50 Cent is not the only star to have had trouble with his pets though. Take a look through the gallery above to see who else has had animal nightmares!</em></span></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Florida Dog Eats $1,000 Cash</span></center><center><a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/11/11/2497195/fla-dog-eats-1000-cash.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">miamiherald.com</span></a></center><br />
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ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- A Florida dog has ingested an expensive meal after devouring $1,000 cash.<br />
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Christy Lawrenson said she and her husband have been saving cashing to pay off their car. Each time they accumulate $1,000 they take it to the bank to deposit it.<br />
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Two weeks ago, their dog Tuity, who is a Labrador Retriever, chow, bulldog mix, snatched the cash from the counter. <br />
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Orlando TV station WKMG ( http://lb.vg/1ZYb6) said her husband found pieces of hundred dollar bills scattered across the floor.<br />
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Tuity vomited the money and the couple pieced together $900.<br />
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But the dog ate too many serial numbers on the last one-hundred dollar bill.<br />
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The couple sent it to the Department of Treasury with a letter explaining what happened in hopes of being reimbursed for the rest. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NW9Yk8JNL6g/Tr6QtE5hUkI/AAAAAAAAPTE/6-72EDTaGk4/s1600/24-pt5.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NW9Yk8JNL6g/Tr6QtE5hUkI/AAAAAAAAPTE/6-72EDTaGk4/s400/24-pt5.bmp" width="252" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>In 2006 Britney Spears was branded "worst celebrity dog owner" by both Hollywood Dog and New York Dog magazines. According to editor, Hilary O'Hagan she was "the overwhelming choice".</em></span></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Beer for Dogs Goes on Sale -- Becomes Online Hit</span></center><center><a href="http://newslite.tv/2011/11/11/beer-for-dogs-goes-on-sale-bec.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">newslite.tv</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cUBkq6oyCzc/Tr6fDXJVZbI/AAAAAAAAPUk/mdTN01Wi0kk/s1600/24-pt13.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cUBkq6oyCzc/Tr6fDXJVZbI/AAAAAAAAPUk/mdTN01Wi0kk/s400/24-pt13.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>It was a woof night!</em></span></center><br />
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Everybody knows you shouldn't give your dog a sip of your beer, but pooches no longer have to miss out -- because a new brew made specifically for dogs has gone on sale.<br />
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Bowser Beer really is a beer made for dogs. But unlike your Stella Artois it won't get them drunk and it's designed with their digestive system in mind.<br />
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While the beer contains the same malt barley brewers use, the vitamins are good for shiny coats, the hops (which are dangerous to dogs) are replaced with beef or chicken.<br />
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As for the taste, it's described as being a "beefy-malty broth" which most dogs lap it up either straight out of the bottle or over ice or their food.<br />
Makers said they came up with the idea for a dog beer after making a pretzel for dogs and thinking that it would be good if they could wash it down with a beer.<br />
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Jenny Brown of '3 Busy Dogs' said: "It's like a non-alchoholic beer and contains malt like beer. People drink with their dogs and they love the malty taste so here's something tailored to their digestive needs."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SIu4wCy8ww8/Tr6RdKuX7SI/AAAAAAAAPTQ/UsXZ2mR-xDY/s1600/24-pt6.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SIu4wCy8ww8/Tr6RdKuX7SI/AAAAAAAAPTQ/UsXZ2mR-xDY/s400/24-pt6.bmp" width="250" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Lily Allen was forced to cancel her holidays in 2007 when her terrier, Maggie May, was dognapped and held to ransom. Allen paid the ransom and eventually received Maggie back, complete with complimentary fleas. Last year another of her dogs, Mabel (pictured), "got beaten up by bigger dogs. She went to doggy hospital, but she's ok," Allen tweeted.</em></span></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Penguins Get to Try Out London Ice Rink -- Cutely</span></center><center><a href="http://newslite.tv/2011/11/11/penguins-get-to-try-out-london.html#more"><span style="color: #274e13;">newslite.tv</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--OFR7wrRh6A/Tr6h7aIJXgI/AAAAAAAAPUw/okKcyw6WThc/s1600/24-pt14.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--OFR7wrRh6A/Tr6h7aIJXgI/AAAAAAAAPUw/okKcyw6WThc/s400/24-pt14.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Five Humboldt penguins were the first to try out a London ice rink recently -- amusing passing commuters on their way to work in the process.</em></span></center><br />
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The penguins were brought in from Heythrop Zoological Gardens in Oxfordshire to give the rink an inaugural waddling.<br />
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And though native to the coasts of Chile and Peru, the penguins seemed sufficiently happy with a chunk of ice in the heart of the City of London’s square mile.<br />
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Described as London’s only “turn up and skate” outdoor ice rink, Broadgate Ice, is now open to the public… who don't look nearly as cute.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2FLmmOrjSVU/Tr6Ss8eiedI/AAAAAAAAPTc/6xplDTrAc1Q/s1600/24-pt7.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2FLmmOrjSVU/Tr6Ss8eiedI/AAAAAAAAPTc/6xplDTrAc1Q/s400/24-pt7.bmp" width="253" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Jessica Simpson's dog was stolen by a coyote in 2009. Turning to twitter for help, she said: "My heart is broken because a coyote took my precious Daisy right in front of our eyes. HORROR!" Unfortunately for Jessica coyote's can't use twitter, so Daisy was never returned.</em></span></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Why Does My Dog... Stare at Me?</span></center><center><a href="http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/why-does-my-dog-stare-at-me?WT.mc_id=Outbrain_4620137"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Dr. Patty Khuly - vetstreet.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JGDkSD4qgQk/Tr6lu6u664I/AAAAAAAAPU8/qsWxyDlNjCg/s1600/24-pt15.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JGDkSD4qgQk/Tr6lu6u664I/AAAAAAAAPU8/qsWxyDlNjCg/s400/24-pt15.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><br />
It’s not hard to imagine why a loyal dog might stare devotedly at his master. It’s the stuff of Old Yeller, White Fang and Lassie –– starers, all. But some dogs take staring to extremes, following their owners around with baleful eyes as if expecting links of sausage to fly from their human’s fingertips.<br />
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Let’s face it: Dogs love their owners, but when they stare expectantly, it’s not usually because they’re trapped in a reverie of devotion. Rather, it’s because they’re thinking they might get something. And usually, that “something” involves a tasty snack.<br />
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But dogs can—and do—stare at their owners for plenty of non-food issues, too. Indeed, anything a dog might want that a human can provide could be the source of the staring behavior, from a fun game of fetch to a ride in the car or a long run.<br />
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Then there’s the possibility that a dog is simply seeking attention in any form, or perhaps she’s merely waiting for praise or direction. Some dogs may just be trying to read an emotion in our human facial expressions.<br />
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In any case, staring is typically considered to be a good thing. In fact, most trainers encourage dogs to stare at their owners while awaiting their cues. And if you’ve never done it, gazing deeply into a dog’s eyes can be a highly rewarding pastime.<br />
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Before you try it, be aware that staring directly into a dog’s eyes can be considered a direct challenge. That’s why mutual staring is an activity that’s only to be encouraged within the context of a healthy dog-human relationship unsullied by any taint of aggression or behavioral abnormalities.<br />
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This article was written by a Veterinarian. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f4GmULsP1MQ/Tr6TnB5AbnI/AAAAAAAAPTo/2QIycOVID74/s1600/24-pt8.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f4GmULsP1MQ/Tr6TnB5AbnI/AAAAAAAAPTo/2QIycOVID74/s400/24-pt8.bmp" width="250" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Ice T and wife Nicole "Coco" Austin's dog has its own twitter account, with 16,000 followers. that's right, a dog has more followers than you. Take a look, @cutespartacus.</em></span></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Justin Bieber Auctioning Off His</span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"> Pet Snake Johnson for Charity</span> <br />
<a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/justin-bieber-auctioning-pet-snake-johnson-charity-article-1.976289"><span style="color: #274e13;">BY Kathryn Kattalia - NEW YORK DAILY NEWS</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pyKhzwQ6hlE/Tr6WPzfXvGI/AAAAAAAAPT0/CbHgb8h0Yyk/s1600/24-pt9.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pyKhzwQ6hlE/Tr6WPzfXvGI/AAAAAAAAPT0/CbHgb8h0Yyk/s400/24-pt9.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Justin Bieber shows off his pet snake at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards in August.</em></span></center><br />
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Want to be the proud owner of Justin Bieber’s snake?<br />
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Never say never.<br />
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The 17-year-old heartthrob is auctioning off Johnson, the baby boa constrictor he brought with him to the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards, to raise money for charity.<br />
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According to online auction site Charity Buzz, bidding on Bieber’s slithery pet is already up to $2,000 — more than twice the snake’s estimated value.<br />
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Johnson will go to the highest bidder once the auction closes Nov. 29. All proceeds will be donated to Bieber’s favorite non-profit, Pencils of Promise.<br />
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But while owning Justin’s pet boa might seem like a dream come true for some, a disclaimer on the site warns bidders that keeping a snake is a huge responsibility.<br />
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“Before making any decision about keeping one please ensure you have the money, space, knowledge, time, resources and enthusiasm required to properly care for the species you intend to keep, for the duration of its life,” it says.<br />
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And Bieber isn’t just going to give Johnson away to anyone.<br />
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Whoever wins the snake must also be screened upon the close of the auction, sign a personal injury and limited liability release, and guarantee that necessary vet care will be provided.<br />
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“The welfare of this snake is the sole responsibility of the adopter,” the site reads.<br />
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The auction is the latest philanthropic endeavor for Bieber, who received an award for his charity work at the 2011MTV Europe Music Awards.<br />
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Earlier this month, he announced the launch of his “Believe” charity drive, which will donate part of the proceeds from sales of the singer’s Christmas album, “Mistletoe,” to organizations including the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and City of Hope.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Pet Pointers: </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Here's How to Help a Cat with Diabetes</span></center><center><a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_19320123"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Alia Kroos - mercurynews.com</span></a></center><br />
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<b>Q:</b> My cat Tommy, who's a senior, was just diagnosed with diabetes. I didn't even know cats could get diabetes! I was so overwhelmed that I don't think I got all of the information about it to even make a good decision if we are going to treat it. Does this mean I have to give him shots and check his blood every day? How did this happen? Can you help me figure it all out? <br />
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<b>A:</b> In felines, Diabetes Mellitus is a disease that is a result of improper use or lack of production of insulin. Insulin, produced in the pancreas, regulates the flow of glucose from the bloodstream into the cells of the body. When there are insufficient amounts of insulin, the body breaks down fat and protein stores to use as an alternative energy source. <br />
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A diabetic cat will develop high levels of glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream. Cats eliminate some of the excess sugar in their urine. But if left untreated, diabetes can shorten a cat's lifespan and lead to ketoacidosis, which can be fatal. Diabetic ketoacidiosis can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, weakness and labored breathing. Diabetes can also lead to progressive hind-end weakness.<br />
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Signs to watch for: Increased thirst, increased urination, ravenous appetite and weight loss. <br />
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Risk factors: Diabetes mellitus is more likely to affect middle age to older, obese cats -- males in particular.<br />
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How diabetes is diagnosed: A physical exam and laboratory tests that indicate elevated sugar in the blood and the presence of sugar in the urine are signs of diabetes. <br />
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Treating diabetes: Depending on the severity, oral medication, insulin and diet change can be used to treat Diabetes Mellitus. Oral medication to decrease blood sugar levels are available.<br />
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Insulin is administered under the skin typically twice daily, ideally around the same time every day. The type of insulin and amount varies depending on your pet's condition. Special low-carbohydrate diets such as Purina DM or Hills MD may be recommended. Dry and wet food options are available. Over-the-counter foods may also be used. The most important goal is for an obese cat to lose weight.<br />
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How diabetes treatment is monitored: Blood glucose is an instant reading of the current blood-glucose level.<br />
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Fructosamine is a blood test that is sent out to an outside lab that indicates the blood-glucose levels over the last two to three weeks.<br />
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Monitoring at home is essential to watch for changes in symptoms. If changes occur, such as increased thirst, lethargy or decreased appetite, contact your veterinarian prior to giving your cat insulin. If your pet is comatose or seizuring, see your veterinarian immediately. Place Karo syrup on your pet's gums on the way to the hospital if he/she is able to swallow.<br />
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Diabetes can be challenging but manageable, and with the proper care, some forms of diabetes can even be reversible. <br />
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Alia Kroos is a veterinary technician at Adobe Animal Hospital in Los Altos. Visit www.adobe-animal.com.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">My Horse is Scared to Death of Dogs. Help!</span></center><center><a href="http://www.horsechannel.com/horse-experts/natural-horsemanship-advice/parelli-dog-fear.aspx"><span style="color: #274e13;">horsechannel.com</span></a></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: #cc0000;">Pat and Linda Parelli advise how to train a horse to be less fearful of dogs.</span></center><br />
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<b>Reader's Question:</b> My mare is scared to death of dogs. She sees one in the window of a house and gets all antsy. If someone's walking a dog near us, or we have to pass a house with dogs, she's practically out of control. I've only had her a few months, so I don't know if she had a bad past experience. Help!<br />
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<b>Parelli's Answer:</b> It’s natural for horses to be afraid of dogs because dogs are predators. Some horses are comfortable around dogs because they were raised with them, while others are not as sensitive so the dogs don’t bother them.<br />
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A horse like yours, however, sounds quite unconfident and fearful and the dog situation triggers these reactions in a big way. Here’s what you can do:<br />
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1. Get her to be more trusting of you. As her leader, she needs you to take control of the situation and protect her. This starts well before she is near dogs. Are you able to back her up on the ground; how about going sideways? These are two important maneuvers because they cause a horse to think. Horses are designed to run, and not think, acting out of pure survival instinct. Unfortunately, this is dangerous for the rider. By teaching her to be responsive when you ask her to back up and go sideways, you can control her movement and, therefore, keep her mentally present. <br />
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2. Develop her self-confidence. In our program, we use different lengths of leads to play with our horses on the ground. The longer the line, the more you help the horse develop self-confidence. Holding the line short and close tends to make the horse feel more claustrophobic and want to climb on top of you. See if you can “send” her away from you and get her to touch things with her nose … a gate, a bucket, a barrel, et cetera. The more time you spend on this, the more her confidence will build and the more obedient and self controlled she will become.<br />
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3. Find a friend with a dog to help you desensitize your horse. Ask your friend to walk in big circles, about 100 feet wide. Lead your horse behind the dog, as far away as necessary for her to not feel too threatened. Walk behind the dog until you feel the horse begin to relax a little. She’ll probably blow and snort, and raise her head up and down. Don’t get too close; instead, let your horse choose to get closer to the dog. Your goal is to have her be less fearful and grow more curious, thus wanting to get closer. It’s important to not let the horse touch the dog and not to let the dog approach the horse. If this was you, think of the dog as a lion; you would feel much safer if it was moving away from you! <br />
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4. Repetition is very important in building confidence, so do this exercise for seven days in a row, taking as much time as necessary for your horse to settle and want to get closer. Even a step closer is a good place to stop. The second important concept is “approach and retreat.” Any time your horse feels more tense, increase the space between your horse and the dog.<br />
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5. After a few repetitions of the above, you can now play with your horse as the dog walks big circles around you. Ask your horse to focus on you by requesting her to back up, go sideways, et cetera. You need to act as if the dog isn’t even there … it’s not about the dog. It’s about your horse’s self-confidence and trust in you as her leader. If you pay attention to the dog, she will too. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work to pet your horse to calm her down; it helps more to be proactive, focused and unconcerned yourself. For this reason, too, it’s safer to not ride your horse until she’s virtually unflappable.<br />
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6. Finally, do something every day to help your horse become less reactive in general. Things like jumping jacks, skipping around, et cetera, will probably startle your horse at first, but with repetition and by allowing her to move away from you as she needs, she’ll quickly learn not to feel threatened and will start building more confidence. She will develop the ability to think and stay calm instead of panicking and wanting to run.<br />
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7. After returning to riding and passing dogs, think about keeping your horse busy when you see a dog approaching … sideways away from the dog, et cetera. Pretty soon your horse will focus on you instead of the dog. When you have a plan, the leader comes out in you, calm and focused … and horses like that. It makes them feel safe.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U_r-cCYlbU8/Tr6oFxB0BtI/AAAAAAAAPVI/7O281FK01xw/s1600/24-pt16.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U_r-cCYlbU8/Tr6oFxB0BtI/AAAAAAAAPVI/7O281FK01xw/s400/24-pt16.bmp" width="400" /></a></div></div>John Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569650383063644384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5310501782946920789.post-74184635116912795922011-11-12T06:37:00.001-08:002011-11-12T06:41:28.545-08:00Rent-a-Pet???<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Cat With 26 Toes Could Save Rescue Shelter</span></center><center><a href="http://www.kitv.com/irresistible/29661092/detail.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">kitv.com</span></a></center><br />
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A cat with 26 toes is inspiring $26 donations to keep a Milwaukee animal shelter from closing. <br />
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The Milwaukee Animal Rescue Center was not offered a new lease from the Southridge Mall, and now finds itself in need of some new digs, the Huffington Post reported. <br />
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The shelter, which takes in animals from other humane societies and animal control agencies that might otherwise be put down, doesn't get any funding and relies on the community for support. <br />
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Shelter officials are getting some much-needed fundraising help in the form of Daniel, a 26-toed feline who calls the shelter home and is inspiring $26 donations to help cover the $40,000 down payment on an alternative building. The money is needed by Nov. 15. <br />
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"We knew from the beginning he was a special kitty. Now, he's an inspiring kitty," the shelter's Amy Rowell said. <br />
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The polydactyl cat was saved from being put down at another animal shelter.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Snellville Couple Denies Sharing LSD with Dog</span></center><center><a href="http://www.ajc.com/news/gwinnett/snellville-couple-denies-sharing-1216758.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Angel K. Brooks - ajc.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OPCxEs_Mq4Q/TrVIMVCUxgI/AAAAAAAAPQI/YncafWkgz9Y/s1600/24-p3.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OPCxEs_Mq4Q/TrVIMVCUxgI/AAAAAAAAPQI/YncafWkgz9Y/s400/24-p3.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><br />
A Snellville couple accused of giving their dog LSD denies the allegation, Channel 2 Action News reported. <br />
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Nicholas Modrich and Jamie Hughes, both 25, admitted taking the drug and running naked through their neighborhood along Pinehurst Road on Sunday night. But they said they did not give the drug to their dog, which was hit by a car.<br />
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"When (Modrich) went outside naked, I went chasing after him and I think that's when the dog got out," Hughes told Channel 2.<br />
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The couple adopted Oscar from an animal shelter last week, the report said. He was run over during Sunday's incident, and police told the AJC Tuesday that the dog had been euthanized.<br />
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Police said that during questioning, the couple admitted giving LSD to Oscar.<br />
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"They were tripping pretty hard," Snellville police Capt. Harold Thomas previously told the AJC.<br />
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Modrich and Hughes told Channel 2 that the acid was sprinkled on two Gummi worms that they ate.<br />
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"I guess the story got twisted because somebody said we fed him LSD. We never did that," Hughes said.<br />
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The couple faces charges of misdemeanor possession of less than an ounce of marijuana, possession of a drug-related object and public indecency, police said. Modrich also was charged with simple battery for allegedly pulling Hughes' hair.<br />
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Test results are pending for Oscar, and no charges related to the dog have been filed, police said.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Man Says Cat Saved Him from Fire</span></center><center><a href="http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/erie/Man-says-cat-saved-him-from-fire"><span style="color: #274e13;">by: Emily Lenihan - wivb.com</span></a></center><br />
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GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. (WIVB) - A loyal friend alerted his owner to a dangerous situation, early Friday morning. They say a dog is a man's best friend, but a cat came through in a big way for a Grand Island man.<br />
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A Grand Island man says he might not be here today, if his cat Buddy didn’t jump into action.<br />
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“The cat is my savior,” said Carl Kryszak.<br />
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Kryszak’s cat Buddy knew something was wrong early Friday morning, but Carl had no idea. He was fast asleep when a fire broke out in his Grand Island apartment, but thaks to his furry friend, Carl walked away alive and well.<br />
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Kryszak said, “My cat woke me up and the place was filled with smoke. I opened the windows right away and I put the cat outside.”<br />
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Almost immediately after that, Kryszak says he started throwing buckets of water on his apartment’s burning walls.<br />
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Neighbor Bill Grunzweig said, “Our neighbor actually did most of the work getting the fire out before the fire department got here.”<br />
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Fortunately the fire didn’t spread to any other apartments.<br />
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Officials believe an electrical problem sparked the fire at the Country Glenn apartments, and they also think they’ve figured out why Carl didn’t wake up.<br />
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Grand Island Fire Chief Kevin Kock said, “There were smoke detectors in the apartment but they were not alarming on our arrival. The ones in the common hall areas were, but nothing in the apartment.”<br />
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All of the residents walked away uninjured and for now Kryszak and Buddy are staying with other family, while the apartment is repaired.<br />
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Kryszak said, “I’m very thankful the cat woke me up and nobody is hurt.”<br />
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They say cats have nine lives, and Friday morning, you could say Buddy gave one of his to owner.<br />
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Fire officials say Carl’s apartment has about $6,000 in damages. They are repairing the walls Friday afternoon and he should be able to move back in with Buddy, or should we say his best friend, once all the work is done.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Pet Rentals Great for Commitment Phobic</span></center><center><a href="http://www.cnjonline.com/news/commitment-45579-plunge-looking.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">Sharna Johnson - cnjonline.com</span></a></center><br />
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Commitment-phobe? Just not ready to take the plunge?<br />
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Or maybe just looking for a temporary good time...<br />
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Well, there’s a solution.<br />
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Rental pets is a new rage sweeping through metropolitan communities and apparently it’s an idea that is really taking off and gaining popularity, particularly in the concrete jungles.<br />
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I stumbled onto the concept while reading a story on weird things one can rent and was fascinated by the concept.<br />
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After going through an application and screening process, a potential renter can select a pet and take it home, to the park, on vacation or where ever their fancy directs.<br />
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Not an entirely new idea, in a 2008 New York Times article, one woman said she liked renting a cockapoo named Oliver because she was lonely after relocating and found the dog to be a great ice-breaker, attracting attention and conversation when she was out and about.<br />
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Other reasons people give for renting pets range from not being ready to make the commitment to a full-time pet, to making the kiddos happy by giving them a chance to throw Fido a ball for a while.<br />
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The potential is intriguing... Your kid wouldn’t have to stare at their feet during pet day at school, you could use the critter to pick up a date, get that impulsive desire to get a dog out of your system, or maybe even confirm that you are indeed ready to share your life with a dog from the chewing start to the incontinence end of its life, with all the shedding and vet bills in-between.<br />
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One of the most interesting aspects of the pet rental trade is the fact that many of the companies offer rental animals from shelters that are looking for homes.<br />
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The concept of getting people to pay money to foster and love homeless animals by playing on their love of convenience is absolutely brilliant!<br />
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It turns out in addition to dogs and cats, you can also rent exotic animals, horses, ponies, reptiles, birds, fish (complete with tank and maintenance if you’re keep-fish-alive-impaired like me) and — making childhood dreams come true — monkeys (I’m sure an hour is more than enough).<br />
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You can even rent a goat to mow your lawn then send it back — now there’s an eco-conscious approach to chores without long-term risk to your trees and clothesline of dungarees, and the owner gets their animal fed and your money, again, brilliant.<br />
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There are certainly valid reasons for renting, after all, why purchase a backhoe for one job, a car for a week-long vacation, or tables and chairs for one party?<br />
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The most profound part of the whole rent-a-life thing is that it is completely fueled by and based upon people accepting the price tag for embracing their limitations and owning up to the fact they don’t want the responsibility — a novel concept indeed.<br />
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And it’s arguably a little cloudy as to whether that’s a good, or a bad thing. After all, I’d be the last one to look down on anyone for loving a critter.<br />
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The position could be made that rental animals will get shuffled from one environment to the next and of course there’s always the possibility of a bad renter getting their hands on one. Then again, a trip through a shelter will show you rows of snouts already in varying stages of that very cycle, considering there is no screening process for pet ownership.<br />
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I wonder what they’ll think of next. Maybe for the sake of humanity, one day you’ll be able to rent an abandoned baby, or a toddler, or even a neglected elderly person, and then send them back before the obligations and work kick in.<br />
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I suppose until they do and until the pet rental option reaches less metropolitan areas like ours, our choices are a little limited. But I guess if we were so inclined, while we wait for it to come to our area we could always mentor local kids, visit a nursing home, volunteer or donate the money we might use for pet rent … We could call it renting happiness and gratitude.<br />
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Sharna Johnson is a writer who is always searching for ponies. You can reach her at: insearchofponies@gmail.com or on the web at: www.insearchofponies.blogspot.com<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Over Half of Owners </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Will Buy Pet Holiday Gifts </span></center><center><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45208899/ns/business-holiday_retail/"><span style="color: #274e13;">By SUE MANNING - msnbc.com</span></a></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: #cc0000;">Poll shows they plan to spend average of $46 with toys, treats topping list</span></center><br />
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Just over half of American pet owners will buy gifts for their pets this holiday season, and they'll spend an average of $46 on their animals, with toys and treats topping the list, according to a new AP-Petside.com poll. <br />
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Sixty-eight percent of pets getting gifts can look forward to a toy, 45 percent to food or another treat, 8 percent new bedding, 6 percent clothing, 3 percent a leash, collar or harness and 3 percent new grooming products, the poll showed. (Some pets will get more than one gift.)<br />
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"Christmas is about the pets," said Gayla McCarthy, 58, of Kekaha, Hawaii, whose Australian shepherd, Echo, will find a toy under the tree. McCarthy even got a shirt for her husband as a gift to him from the dog, and she'll be giving collapsible bowls that she ordered online to all their friends' dogs.<br />
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Although the average budget for pet gifts among those surveyed was $46, 72 percent of those polled said they'd spend $30 or less. Those who bought gifts for their pets last year said they spent $41 on average.<br />
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Overall, 51 percent of those polled this year said they would buy holiday gifts for their pets, a figure that's been relatively stable in the last few AP-Petside.com polls. It was 53 percent last year, 52 percent in 2009 and 43 percent in 2008.<br />
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Income does matter. Those making $50,000 or more say they plan to spend an average $57 on their pets. Those making under $50,000 say it will be $29.<br />
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Major pet retailers have been taking part in the Black Friday and Cyber Monday frenzy for a few years. Petco Animal Supplies Inc. plans a 72-hour "Black Friday Weekend Blowout," said Greg Seremetis, vice president of marketing.<br />
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Products for both pets and pet owners will be available, he said. "Including pets in holiday gift-giving has been a growing trend in the last few years. More and more pets are being treated as family members and being included in holiday traditions, including having a gift waiting for them under the tree," he said.<br />
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PetSmart Inc. plans to open stores at 7 a.m. on Black Friday, followed by a "Countdown to Christmas" sale beginning on Dec. 16, said spokeswoman Stephanie Foster.<br />
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Online retailer Foster & Smith Inc. plans a live, streaming, four-hour (11 a.m. - 3 p.m. EST) webcast full of sales and giveaways on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, spokesman Gordon Magee said. "As far as we know, with the exception of QVC ..., no other retailer has done a live broadcast like this on Black Friday and Cyber Monday," Magee said. "We are going to give it a go."<br />
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Younger pet owners are more apt to say they'll buy their pet a holiday gift, including 56 percent of pet owners under age 50. Among those ages 50-64, it's 47 percent, and among seniors, 39 percent, the poll showed.<br />
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Lauren Beard, 22, of Felton, Pa., and her family lavished their dog Groovy with gifts last year — including treats and bones — because it was the chocolate lab's first Christmas. "We still love her but it's a little less exciting this year," Beard said. So she reduced her budget of $70 last year to $50, and hopes to get some things on sale. She'll also buy a gift for Groovy's best friend and neighbor, a golden retriever named Tessie, Beard said.<br />
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Ronda Singleton and her husband live in Elk, Wash., and raise and show standard poodles. But they don't plan to get gifts for their dogs or for each other. "If we need something, we go get it," she explained, adding that the dogs get treats all the time. She and her husband like to celebrate holidays with traditional dinners and church services.<br />
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Thomas Koch, 69, in Raleigh, N.C., has something special to celebrate this year — adoption of his adult son should be finalized, he said.<br />
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The two will spend the holidays with their dog, Jessie, a Sheltie-chow mix, and two cats, Tanz and Callie.<br />
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Last year, Jessie got toys and the cats got play mice and a large bag of catnip. "They liked it so much we just threw it on the carpet and let them roll in it," Koch said.<br />
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He covered the goodies last year for a mere $8, but is setting aside $10 this year just in case prices have gone up.<br />
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George Smith, 43, a father of three in Adams County, Colo., says pets are "part of the family, just like our kids." But they keep the holiday gifts for Miley, a golden retriever, and Zippity, a cat, low-key: no fancy wrapping or stockings, just $10 worth of toys and treats.<br />
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Steve Gottula's budget was $100 last year and he figures it will run about the same this year for his two dogs and seven cats. Odie, a dachshund, and Sky, a Dalmatian, will get special bones, and the cats will get catnip and mouse balls.<br />
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Gottula, 48, his wife Leigh (she's the one who brings home the strays) and five kids (ages 6 to 16) live with the nine pets in Spring, Texas.<br />
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His daughters have made stockings for the pets — with their initials — and they are always part of holiday celebrations, Gottula said.<br />
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"The cats like to play with the paper and ribbon and get lost in the boxes and wrappings," he said.<br />
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What do his pets mean to him? "They are entertaining, they are companions. They have little senses of humor. They all have personalities. If you give love to them they give it back — it's unconditional," he said.<br />
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The AP-Petside.com Poll was conducted Oct. 13-17 by GfK Roper Public Affairs and Corporate Communications. It involved landline and cellphone interviews with 1,118 pet owners. Results among all pet owners have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Pet Talk: Touching and Intriguing Tales</span></center><center><a href="http://www.leavenworthtimes.com/opinions/local_columnists/x213524428/Pet-Talk-Touching-and-intriguing-tales"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Anne Divine - GateHouse News Service</span></a></center><br />
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Leavenworth — I am always reading animal-related newsletters and articles to keep in touch with the wealth of information available and would like to share some stories that captured my attention in some way.<br />
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Have you heard about the elephant-dog friendship that lasted eight years? In an elephant sanctuary in Tennessee the pachyderm Tarra recently lost her long-time canine companion Bella. Bella was a stray who showed up and never left.<br />
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For years she and Tarra were completely devoted to each other and usually could be found side by side exploring the acreage. They shared a barn home at night.<br />
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Bella went missing one day and the staff searched everywhere for the dog.<br />
Her body was found in the barn. It was apparent that she had been attacked and killed by a coyote.<br />
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There was no evidence that the attack had taken place in the barn. There was a bit of Bella’s blood on the underside of Tarra’s trunk.<br />
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The sanctuary staff have pieced together what they believe to have happened to Bella. Most likely, Tara witnessed the attack or discovered it soon after and then carried the body of her friend back to their barn home.<br />
Rob Atkinson of the Sanctuary said "I am convinced Tarra experienced the death of her friend that fateful night, brought her home and said her goodbyes. Tarra was a true friend to the end, and Tarra’s sisters and caregivers will continue to take care of her, as she and Bella did each other."<br />
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Tarra will be mourning the loss of her dear friend probably for the rest of her life.<br />
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“The incredible Dr. Pol” is going to be featured on a National Geographic series of that name. It premiered Oct 29 and will be on at 9 pm Saturdays. Dr. Pol is a country veterinarian in rural Michigan who still makes house calls. In his practice he cares for every pet and farm animal you can imagine. He has cared for more than 18,000 patients in his many years of practice and is still going strong and working long hours. His old-school, no-nonsense approach to veterinary medicine should result in some interesting shows, perhaps somewhat like the James Herriot stories.<br />
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A black lab named Tucker is helping scientists understand why the orca population is diminishing in Puget Sound. Tucker, described as a “Conservation Canine” has been trained to recognize the scent of whale “poo.”<br />
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He can detect it from a nautical mile away. Tucker is taken out in the Sound in a boat with the scientists.<br />
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When he “hits” on the scent by becoming highly animated, the researchers collect the poop for testing. DNA testing and nutritional analysis provide valuable information about the status of the marine creatures.<br />
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The scientists have concluded that three reasons for the population decline are: 1) disturbance from private and commercial whale-watching boats, 2) a decline in their primary prey…Chinook salmon, and 3) exposure to chemicals like PCB, PBDE and DDT which are stored in the whale’s fat.<br />
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I am not sure how much of their conclusions are the result of the “poo” testing but it sure is intriguing to learn another way that dogs can help man, who then helps animals.<br />
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Anne Divine is a long time member of LAWS and has volunteered at Animal Control for 18 years. She can be reached at: adivine@kc.rr.com.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Travel Picks: </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Top 10 Tips for Flying with Pets</span></center><center><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/04/us-travel-picks-pets-idUSTRE7A322Y20111104"><span style="color: #274e13;">Reuters.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PcTYyYWaHC8/TrVFJtR-8iI/AAAAAAAAPP8/sZHSZMGy_cc/s1600/24-p2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PcTYyYWaHC8/TrVFJtR-8iI/AAAAAAAAPP8/sZHSZMGy_cc/s400/24-p2.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Cats wait to be loaded into trucks after arriving from Lebanon by cargo jet at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas. Credit: Reuters/Steve Marcus</em></span></center><br />
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NEW YORK (Reuters) - Traveling with pets can be a nerve-racking adventure for first-time fliers - and even more so for their owners. But preparing ahead, from organized feeding schedules to vet visits, is a strategic way to guarantee you and your furry friend will be fine 35,000 feet in the air.<br />
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Online travel adviser Cheapflights.com (www.cheapflights.com) offers its top 10 tips for flying with pets. Reuters has not endorsed this list:<br />
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<b>1. Calculate the costs</b><br />
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The charges associated with carrying pets onboard - whether checked or in the cabin - add up quickly. Research airlines' different rates ahead of time and factor the canine and feline fees into the total cost of airfare - both yours and your pet's - before pressing book. Delta Air Lines for instance, attaches a hefty $200 fee per kennel to check a pet for one-way flights; cabin riders do less financial damage at $125 per kennel. And a good rule of thumb: like general airfare, discount airlines like Southwest ($75) and JetBlue ($100) often charge less for pets.<br />
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<b>2. Call the airline</b><br />
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Start by checking your airline's website for regulations, but also get a verbal confirmation that you and your pet are set to fly. Many airlines limit the total number of animals allowed within the cabin on each flight, so it's important that a reservation be made sooner rather than later -and confirmed 24-48 hours before departure. American Airlines, for instance, caps the number of four-legged fliers at seven per flight: two in First Class and five in Business and Coach.<br />
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<b>3. Rehearse nearby</b><br />
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First-time fliers are sometimes overwhelmed - justifiably - by a 35,000-foot ascent, so it's important to schedule trial runs before the big day of flight. If you live in a city, take your pet for a ride on the subway or other modes of public transportation to familiarize it with both the movement and the crowds. Since the American Veterinary Medical Association frowns upon sedation - the combination of tranquilizers and high altitudes can prove fatal - it's best to travel with calm, drug-free pets.<br />
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<b>4. Visit the vet</b><br />
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Some airlines, like JetBlue and US Airways, don't require vaccination or health and veterinarian documents for animals on domestic flights. It's still recommended, though, that pet owners visit their vet before trips and carry up-to-date medical records and a first aid kit (gauze, tape, eye dropper, etc.) on flights. Many airlines, like United, require you to carry a health certificate issued less than 30 days before departure. To play it extremely safe, get acquainted with local veterinarians at your destination in case your cat or dog gets sick or injured while away.<br />
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<b>5. Prepare the kennel</b><br />
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Squeezing your dog or cat into the claustrophobic kennel you purchased when they were just wee ones won't do on a flight, whether short- or long-haul. Invest in a container that leaves your pet room to turn and stand up without hitting its head on the top of the carrier. Different airlines have different dimension requirements, though the USDA has laid out universal must-haves: food and water dishes, "Live Animal" stickers, upright arrows, bedding and other necessities. Remember to include objects that the animal is familiar with, whether it's a favorite toy or blanket from home.<br />
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<b>6. Attach ID tags</b><br />
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In case of separation, it's important to mark your pet - as well as carrier - with proper ID tags. Attach to the kennel a note with your flight number, contact information and pet's name. Do the same on your pet's collar; remember that a reachable phone number is the most important detail. Many animals nowadays have microchips implanted that shelters can scan to identify the dog or cat within a national database. Tattooed IDs are also an option for pets, and handy when registered with the National Dog Registry.<br />
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<b>7. Exercise the day before</b><br />
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Spoil your dog or cat the day before traveling with extra exercise, the goal being to wear them out. For dogs, that means longer walks and high-energy activities; for cats, a few extra games of Claw the Rope could do. Exhaust your travel companion so the next day's flight is met with relaxation.<br />
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<b>8. Pack food and water</b><br />
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Just like us, dogs and cats get dehydrated on flights. A handy tip: Freeze water before you leave home to ensure your furry friend has water in his dish by the time you both pass through security. United reminds passengers that, according to the USDA, pets must be offered food and water within four hours of checking in for a flight. On United flights, a signature is required to show when your pet was last offered nourishment.<br />
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<b>9. Withhold food</b><br />
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A silly suggestion, considering the aforementioned tip. Of course you can pack food and snacks for your animal's voyage, but it's also important to avoid giving any edibles to your pet for a matter of hours before departure. Nerves are a guarantee, and not just for finicky felines. Queasiness, on the other hand, doesn't need to be.<br />
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<b>10. Prepare for the unexpected</b><br />
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Flexibility and patience are virtues that every traveler should possess. The same holds especially true when flying with pets. Whether your flight is delayed, your dog gets sick mid-flight, or your cat decides he can't wait for the kitty litter - taking pets up in the air can be tough. Bottom line: Plan for the worst and expect the best. Bon voyage!<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Best Breeds of Dog to Train</span></center><center><a href="http://www.petproductmarketing.co.uk/content.php?sid=537"><span style="color: #274e13;">petproductmarketing.co.uk</span></a></center><br />
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Choosing a particular breed of dog can make training them easier. So which are the best to go for? Top dog trainer Pam Mackinnon has some tips.<br />
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The most sociable dogs are the easiest to train, according to Pam Mackinnon. These tend to be the gundogs such as labradors and spaniels, and the companion dogs like poodles and papillons.<br />
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“Certain dogs with broad streaks of independence, such as terriers and hounds, can be the most challenging as their motivation to work with us can be low,” said Pam.<br />
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“Ultimately the more you can enhance the process of working with you the better the dog will perform whatever his breed.”<br />
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Check out these recommended breeds:<br />
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<b>Labradors</b> are a lively, carefree and attentive dog breed. They are very alert and playful and enjoy lavishing affection on their owner. Being highly intelligent creatures makes them easy to train, and the breed excels as show dogs and at dog sporting events. They were bred for hunting both on land and in water. <br />
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<b>Spaniels:</b> Tail-wagging enthusiasm marks the spaniels as a family of dogs that live for two things – the hunt and human companionship. The spaniel family is a delightful group of small to medium-sized dogs, mostly easy to train and keep, wonderful to own. The most popular kinds are cocker and springer spaniels.<br />
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<b>Papillons:</b> Bred to be a companion, this toy dog fills that role to perfection, for it thrives on human company and delights in pleasing its owners. Developed from the Continental Toy Spaniel, the Papillon takes its name from the French word for ‘butterfly’ for the distinctive head markings that resemble that magnificent creature. A lovely dog.<br />
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<b>Poodles:</b> The standard poodle is regarded as the second most intelligent breed of dog after the border collie. The poodle breed is found officially in toy, miniature, and standard sizes, with many coat colours. Originally bred as a type of water dog, the poodle is skilful in many dog sports, including agility and obedience. <br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">The Dog Maxed Out My Credit Card</span> <br />
<a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204394804577011824160591082.html?KEYWORDS=GWENDOLYN+BOUNDS"><span style="color: #274e13;">By GWENDOLYN BOUNDS - wsj.com</span></a></center><br />
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For one New York family, it has been a pricey few years at the doctor's office: Jake was treated for a malignant tumor on his eyelid—for $7,000—and Daisy recently swallowed a rock that cost $3,100 to remove.<br />
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"It's hard, the money, but they are part of the family," says Agnieszka Onichimiuk, whose family lives in Staten Island with their two Bernese mountain dogs. <br />
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Pet owners are feeling sticker shock at the vet. The average household in the U.S. spent $655 on routine doctor and surgical visits for dogs last year, up 47% from a decade ago, according to the American Pet Products Association. Expenditures for cats soared 73% over the same time frame—on pace with human health-care cost increases. Expenditures for people in the U.S. were up 76.7% between 1999 and 2009, according to the U. S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.<br />
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More advanced-care options in areas such as ophthalmology as well as treatment of conditions such as cancer are driving up costs for owners, as well as higher standards for routine care.<br />
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"All of the innovations on the human side [of medicine] have come on over to the vet side, from MRIs and CAT scans to chemo and radiation," says Dennis Drent, president and CEO of Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. <br />
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The cost of medical care for pets is skyrocketing. The proliferation of advanced medical tests and long-term treatments have made pet ownership a significant financial commitment. Wendy Bounds has details on The News Hub.<br />
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Last year, VPI policyholders submitted 51,927 claims costing more than $1,000, up 64% from four years earlier. The average annual payout per pet for cancer therapy rose 14% to $2,821.16 last year, according to insurance provider Petplan. <br />
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"Prices have gone up much quicker in the last 10 years than in the past 30 years, and it's hitting consumers in the face," says René Carlson, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association. "Liability-wise, we now get in much more trouble if we've cut corners" on routine matters, she adds. That often translates into more X-rays, more blood work and other tests.<br />
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There are about 165 million pet dogs and cats in the U.S. When asked how much they'd spend to save their pet's life, 70% of owners said "any amount," according to a 2006 survey of 5,200 VPI policyholders. <br />
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Ms. Onichimiuk, a 33-year-old physician's assistant, and her husband doled out thousands of dollars on oncology treatments, X-rays, medications and lab work trying to keep Jake, their 5½-year-old dog, alive. After he died, she says, "I couldn't imagine losing another dog," so the couple spent whatever it took to save 2½-year-old Daisy after her rock-eating episode. <br />
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Price hikes are also part of an active push by the veterinary industry to improve the bottom line of its practices. Addressing the disparity between rising tuitions and stagnant salaries has been a top priority of the veterinary association, which represents 81,500 vets. <br />
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High student loans and lower salaries than other advanced-degree professions, such as dentistry and law, are putting pressure on vets to raise fees. The average 2010 graduate of a U.S. veterinary college earned a starting salary of $67,359 in private practice but carried roughly double that in debt, according to a study this year by Bayer AG's Animal Health Division.<br />
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Higher fees create a separate issue: People tend to take their pets to the vet less, according to the Bayer report, which can lead to costlier long-term health problems if ailments are left untreated.<br />
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To discourage such behavior, more vets offer or participate in third-party discount plans that for a monthly fee give pet owners price cuts on treatments or perks, such as unlimited office visits. <br />
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One is Pet Assure Corp., a Lakewood, N.J., company that sells discount plans to consumers who then receive savings at participating vets. The plans offer an average 25% discount on most procedures for $7.95 to $13.95 a month, depending on the type and number of animals covered. Pet Assure has signed up 1,700 clinics and 300,000 pets since its 1995 launch, according to Charles Nebenzahl, chief executive.<br />
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Rick Katz in Overland Park, Kan., saved almost $200 on an $800 bill through Pet Assure when Max the Wonder Dog, his 14-year-old black Labrador-golden retriever mix, suffered a seizure eight months ago. "We brought him to the vet and had that all-important question you have with pets, which is, 'How far do you go?' " Mr. Katz says. "The vet said he still had life in him, so we went and had him treated." Of the savings, he says, "It's a big deal. It adds up."<br />
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Other plans are designed to encourage owners not to skimp on preventive care. Enrollment in the "Optimum Wellness Plans" has jumped 15% over the past five years at Banfield Pet Hospital, a chain with 780 offices that is a unit of Mars Inc., the candy manufacturer that makes Pedigree and Whiskas pet foods. Pet owners pay on average between $17.95 and $49.95 a month for adult animals. They receive unlimited free office visits, vaccinations, heartworm tests, two comprehensive exams, annual blood work and in some cases dental cleaning, X-rays and more. <br />
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"We're trying to avoid the long-term illnesses," says Harry Smith, a South Carolina veterinarian and a medical director for Banfield. For clients not on the company's plan, dogs averaged 1.4 visits last year, versus almost three visits for those on the plan. <br />
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Sandra Fain of Kingwood, Texas, keeps her three pets on Banfield's Wellness plan, including six-year-old JoJo, a Maltese. Without the plan, she says she couldn't give her pets "the kind of care they've been getting." That included a $1,500 surgery discounted from $2,500 to repair JoJo's torn ligament and dislocated kneecap earlier this fall. Amputation was the other, cheaper, alternative, she says. <br />
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"But that's my baby, and I wouldn't just cut off his leg, the same way I wouldn't with a child," Ms. Fain. "Pets need just as much as humans do."<br />
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Write to Gwendolyn Bounds at wendy.bounds@wsj.com <br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">10 Things Every Cockatiel Owner Should Know</span></center><center><a href="http://www.birdchannel.com/bird-species/find-the-right-bird/10-things-every-cockatiel-owner-should-know.aspx"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Nikki Moustaki - birdchannel.com</span></a></center><br />
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These days, there’s plenty of great parrot advice floating around, and though much of it applies to the cockatiel, any cockatiel owner will tell you that her bird is special. That attitude might seem biased, but it’s true. The cockatiel requires some special considerations that new owners should know in order to best care for these unique birds.<br />
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<b>1) Cockatiel Dust</b><br />
The cockatiel is one of three commonly kept parrots that create an abundance of bird dust. The other dust culprits are the cockatiel’s close cousin, the cockatoo, and the African grey parrot. You might notice a layer of fine, white dust covering pretty much everything near your cockatiel’s cage, especially objects that draw dust with static, like the television. This dust comes from white powder-down feathers that grow close to the bird’s skin. These feathers emerge among the down feathers, and both are used to help insulate the bird. What’s unique about the powder down feathers is that the tips crumble into a fine dust as the bird preens, spreading the powder throughout the feathers and helping to waterproof the bird. <br />
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The dust isn’t a problem for most people, but it can create respiratory issues and even aggravate asthma for others. Cockatiels can cause allergic reactions in other pet birds kept in close proximity; macaws seem to be especially affected by dustier bird species. <br />
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Bathing your cockatiel frequently helps reduce feather dust, and placing a HEPA filter near the cage will polish the air and cut down the possibility of respiratory issues. I have had many cockatiels over the years, and I never so much as sneezed from the dust. And I’m not a compulsive duster. <br />
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<b>2) Egg-Laying Cockatiels</b><br />
Most hens have the singular mindset to make more cockatiels, even if there’s no male around. Frequent egg laying is a problem in cockatiels, and though egg laying is biologically innate, many female cockatiels will lay way too many eggs in short succession, causing potential health issues, including egg binding, paralysis, and weakening of the bones. <br />
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Just because she’s laying eggs does not mean that your cockatiel needs or wants a mate or to have babies. It means that her body has been sent external signals that it’s time to nest, and she can’t help her instincts. Usually, a cockatiel will come into mating condition when the light gets longer in the spring. An abundance of food and water also prompts a cockatiel to want to set up house. Since you’re not going to restrict your bird’s food and water, restrict the light your hen receives if she persists in laying eggs. Use sun lamps and/or a cage cover to allow no more than 10 hours of sunlight a day until her hormones calm down and she stops nesting. <br />
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If your bird is laying and sitting on eggs, allow her to have them for a few days, and then remove them. It’s not necessary to replace the eggs with plastic eggs, as many canary breeders do. This will only prolong her sitting on them. Nesting is very stressful for a female cockatiel without a male. Most pairs take turns sitting on the eggs, so if she’s alone, she might forgo the food and water dish in order to protect her eggs, even if they’ll never hatch. <br />
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If you have a pair of cockatiels and your hen is laying an abundance of eggs, remove any perceived nesting areas and you may have to move the male to another room temporarily if egg laying becomes a real problem. Consult your avian veterinarian for more advice on this issue. <br />
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<b>3) Cockatiels Can Be Seed Junkies</b><br />
An all-seed diet greatly increases disease in most parrots and decreases lifespan significantly. But what do we feed a bird whose natural diet is mainly seeds? The cockatiel uses the same natural habitat as the Australian grass parakeets, and its diet is similar, although the cockatiel has also been seen feeding on vegetation and insects. Also, the wild cockatiel’s diet consists of both young and mature seeds of all varieties, even seed crops, much to the chagrin of farmers. <br />
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There’s no way to mimic the cockatiel’s wild habitat in the average household. The wild cockatiel eats far more than a pet cockatiel, but it also exercises far more as well. It also doesn’t have a shot at living as long as your cockatiel. So, it’s best to feed your cockatiel according to the research and advice that we use for all parrots; variety is key. Some seed is fine, but supplement it with pellets, cooked diets, nutritious vegetables and fruit. Even though your cockatiel might love seeds, don’t make it the only item in your bird’s dish. <br />
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<b>4) Night Frights & Cockatiels</b><br />
It’s the middle of the night and suddenly you’re woken from a deep sleep by the sound of thrashing and clanging — scary! You know it’s probably not an intruder; it’s your cockatiel having “night frights,” also called “night thrashing.” Cockatiels are notorious for this behavior. Something in the darkness frightens the bird; perhaps a noise, lights or shadows; and the bird tries to take off to protect itself and thrashes around its cage in a panic. It’s not unusual for a bird to harm itself this way, usually an injuring an eye, leg or breaking feathers. <br />
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To prevent or reduce the frequency of night frights, use a night light in the bird’s room, though some birds do better covered in complete darkness. You’ll have to evaluate your bird’s individual preferences after the night frights occur. Try to eliminate the trigger for the night frights. Perhaps your house cat is stalking the birds at night, or headlights shine randomly into the window as cars pass, scaring the bird. If your bird still thrashes at night, consider using a night-time cage without a perch or toys, and line it with towels. <br />
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<b>5) Respiratory System</b><br />
All parrots have a sensitive respiratory system, but the athletic cockatiel is even more sensitive than most. This bird has a very light body for its size, and succumbs to fumes easily. Keep the bird well away from fumes from non-stick coating, candles, air fresheners and aerosol sprays.<br />
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<b>6) Special Trims For Cockatiels</b><br />
The cockatiel is a light bird, so it needs a less-conservative wing trim than heavier parrots. The typical wing feather trim involves trimming the ends of the first five or seven flight feathers. The cockatiel, however, needs all of the flight feathers trimmed and even a few of the lift feathers. A cockatiel with just a few flight feathers trimmed can fly like the wind! <br />
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<b>7) Good HousematesFor Cockatiels</b><br />
The cockatiel is well suited for aviary life. This bird is an agile flyer and appreciates being allowed to take advantage of this natural attribute. It also will appreciate being outdoors in good weather, soaking up the sunshine. Since it is a fairly docile bird, it does well in a large aviary with other docile birds, such as budgies, some species of grass ’keets and some varieties finches. Do not house cockatiels with lovebirds or larger hookbills; the cockatiel is unable to defend itself against these more aggressive birds. <br />
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<b>8) Cockatiel: Long Tail, Big Cage</b><br />
The cockatiel, with its long tail, needs a larger home than a similar-sized bird with a shorter tail; otherwise its tail will rake against the bars and dip into the water cup, making it perpetually ratty. <br />
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Cockatiels also need to exercise, or they risk becoming “perch potatoes.” An overweight ‘tiel can develop fatty tumors, gout, heart disease and general illness. Better to allow your cockatiel daily exercise than to spend a ton of cash at the vet’s office. <br />
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<b>9) Expressive Crests On Cockatiels</b><br />
The cockatiel is the only small parrot with a head crest. The crest raises and lowers according to the bird’s mood. As you get to know your bird, you’ll come to understand what each crest position means. When the crest is raised to full height, it usually means that the bird is excited, fearful or curious. A lowered crest, with just the tip of it sticking up, indicated that the bird is content. Subtle differences in crest positions can signal an entirely different mood. For instance, an angry ’tiel might hold its crest tightly against its head, which is often accompanied with a hunched back. <br />
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The cockatiel is also one of the only small parrots that hisses and “spits” when afraid or behaving aggressively. Your ‘tiel is saying “Back off.”<br />
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<b>10) Define Noisy With Cockatiels</b><br />
Many people get cockatiels because they aren’t “loud.” Well, volume is subjective, and there are plenty of cockatiel owners with neighbors who would argue otherwise. Though the cockatiel isn’t particularly loud, it’s definitely persistent in its vocalizations. I once had an African grey that learned the cockatiel call in his previous home and performed it constantly at 10 times the volume; the worst of both worlds! Don’t get a cockatiel because you think it will be a quieter parrot. Get one because you like what the bird offers; a fun personality and a docile and quirky nature. <br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Boarding a Pet Isn't Limited</span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"> to Kennels Anymore</span></center><center><a href="http://yourlife.usatoday.com/parenting-family/pets/story/2011-11-02/Boarding-a-pet-isnt-limited-to-kennels-anymore/51040790/1"><span style="color: #274e13;">usatoday.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wV-P2QuWWrs/TrVV1tLHleI/AAAAAAAAPQ4/rDYpgbr6f9s/s1600/24-p6.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wV-P2QuWWrs/TrVV1tLHleI/AAAAAAAAPQ4/rDYpgbr6f9s/s400/24-p6.bmp" width="303" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Mary Kay Benson gives German shepherd Heidi a surfing lesson at the training pool, complete with colorful beachfront murals on the walls, at the Barkley Pet Hotel & Day Spa in Westlake Village, Calif.</em></span></center><br />
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LOS ANGELES – You are spending Thanksgiving with Aunt Nellie in Kansas.<br />
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Your dog will be staying in a hotel suite called Neiman Barcus with a flat-screen TV. There might be surf lessons, catered meals, a massage, pawdicure, spa bath and photo shoot.<br />
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Boarding your pet has changed a lot over the past decade.<br />
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Kennels still exist, but many locales also now offer pet-only resorts, hotels or in-home care. Whichever option you choose, there are some basic steps you should take so that arrangements go smoothly, including visiting or getting references for the facility, reserving well in advance of busy holiday times, and making sure your pet meets vaccination and other requirements.<br />
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If money is no object, there is no end to the extravagances you can order for your pet. The Barkley Pet Hotel & Day Spa — which really does have a Neiman Barcus suite — is a one-of-a-kind animal funhouse in Westlake Village, about 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles. You can rent a Serenity Suite for $44 a night or reserve a storefront suite on Rodeo Drive or Hollywoof Boulevard (they start at $72.50 a night). Add-ons include day camp sessions, limousine pickup and delivery, surf lessons, charm school, a mud mask, obedience training, holiday fur-dyeing and filet mignon from the Four Seasons.<br />
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You also get webcams, 24-hour staffing, a veterinarian under the same roof and lots of attention for your pet, said Malia A. Rivera, director of marketing for the hotel.<br />
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Daniel Smith and wife Kimberly Mellon-Smith of Thousand Oaks wouldn't leave their West Highlander white terrier Charlie alone for more than three hours before the Barkley opened. Now he's a regular there.<br />
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"Our dog means everything to us. He's like a child to us, our little buddy. He's part of our family," Smith said.<br />
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For special needs animals — a senior or ailing dog, a puppy that isn't fully vaccinated, a large collection of pets, a pet that doesn't like to leave home or a new rescue dog that isn't socialized yet — home care might be the best choice. A professional pet sitter can come as many times a day as needed, walk and feed the animals, give medicines, even stay overnight, said Gretchen Rexach, who owns Home Buddies Caregivers in Burbank, a franchise of the national Home Buddies in-home pet care service.<br />
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Rexach caters to workers in the entertainment industry with seasonal work and odd hours. In addition to caring for animals, her employees will also water plants and bring in mail, she said.<br />
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Her staff specializes in special needs pets — those that need medicine or careful handling — and can also do overnight shifts for pets that are "just not used to being left alone. They are used to sleeping with somebody," she said. Clients pay $17 for 15 minutes, up to $32 for an hour, $100 for a 12-hour overnight.<br />
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If you're hiring someone for the first time, "don't go with the cheapest or most convenient" option, Rexach said. "Ask for references." After all, you are not only entrusting your pet to a stranger, but your home as well.<br />
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Home Buddies also rents webcams for temporary home use.<br />
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Do research before booking boarding facilities, too, advised Deborah Ropes, general manager of Lucky Dog Resorts in Colorado Springs, Colo. Tour the place, talk to the staff, take a sniff, talk to other customers, she said. And tailor arrangements to your pet's style.<br />
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"If your pet is laid back and loves to play, a daycare playgroup will help him burn off energy and sleep better at night," said Ropes. "Is your pet shy and anxious? A low-volume, low-activity kennel might be best, or call an in-home pet sitter."<br />
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Some facilities, like the Barkley, will let pets drop in for a visit to see how they like it. Others — like Home Buddies' Camp BowWow, a daycare and overnight program — require that animals be brought in for an "interview" to see how they interact with other pets. Most facilities will refuse aggressive dogs.<br />
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Once you've decided on a facility, make reservations well ahead of time. "Our rule of thumb at Lucky Dog is book before Halloween for Thanksgiving, and book before Thanksgiving for Christmas," Ropes said.<br />
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Most facilities close on major holidays and many close Sundays. If you arrive home from vacation late on Saturday, you may not be able to pick your dog up until Monday, so be prepared to do without your dog and pay for the extra day. Find out what happens if you're late picking up; holiday plane schedules and traffic can be unpredictable.<br />
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Most facilities want proof of vaccinations for rabies, distemper and sometimes bordetella (kennel cough). Most vets can easily print out and if necessary fax a record of shots. Some places require that your animal be spayed or neutered, and some even want your pet microchipped.<br />
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Some facilities require collars and leashes, some use their own. The Barkley does not allow any personal clothing, blankets or toys, but some places suggest bringing a piece of owner's clothing. "We encourage clients to bring a T-shirt or other large piece of clothing with the owner's scent well-embedded," Ropes said.<br />
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If your pet has special needs, bring the food, medicine or supplements to the resort or kennel, along with instructions and contact information for your vet.<br />
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Finally, if available, consider scheduling a bath and other grooming just before pickup. It will save you a smelly trip home.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Mila's New PJ's</span></center><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Thanks to John and Ginger in Houston, TX</em></span></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0bQ2_-PaqTo/TrVDSzW6-QI/AAAAAAAAPPw/TdF-nsfotj0/s1600/24-p1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0bQ2_-PaqTo/TrVDSzW6-QI/AAAAAAAAPPw/TdF-nsfotj0/s400/24-p1.bmp" width="400" /></a></div>John Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569650383063644384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5310501782946920789.post-42701980999066608332011-11-05T06:37:00.000-07:002011-11-06T09:50:49.608-08:00Cold Weather Advice for Your Pets<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">You Don't Have to Look or </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Think Like Your Friends </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">to Be Friends</span></center><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Thanks to Bob in BHC, AZ</em></span></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Jack the Cat Remains Frail; </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Airline Will Pay Vet Bills</span></center><center><a href="http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-trb-jack-cat-american-airlines-20111027,1,7756209.story"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Mary Forgione - Los Angeles Times</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bLLHFY-kM1c/TqwB64FVPxI/AAAAAAAAPMA/HSz2fBZ56D0/s1600/21-p1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bLLHFY-kM1c/TqwB64FVPxI/AAAAAAAAPMA/HSz2fBZ56D0/s400/21-p1.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Jack the Cat, found after 61 days at JFK Airport, was in the care of a veterinarian Thursday. (Screen grab from Jack the Cat Is Lost in AA Baggage at JFK on Facebook)</em></span></center><br />
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Jack the Cat is back -- in the news. The ginger-colored cat found Tuesday at JFK Airport underwent surgery Thursday for a wound on his leg but remains fragile after weeks without regular food and water. <br />
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American Airlines, which lost the cat on Aug. 25, says it will pay Jack's veterinary bills and, if asked, transport for the cat and owner Karen Pascoe when Jack is able to travel. Spokesman Tim Smith says he doesn't know how much the care will cost. "We’re just focusing now on helping to see that Jack gets back up to full health," he said.<br />
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The Facebook site run by supporters of the search for Jack posted this Thursday:<br />
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"Jack's surgery was for a wound on his leg .... The vets were pleased with the outcome of the surgery, but he's still not out of the woods. All of his medical issues at this time are a result of 61 days of malnutrition. Keep the good thoughts and prayers coming..."<br />
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The site, called Jack the Cat Is Lost in AA Baggage at JFK, also said Pascoe was being flown to New York to be with Jack, courtesy of American. Pascoe had taken then 18-pound Jack to be shipped from New York to California on Aug. 25 but was later told by the airline that the cat had escaped.<br />
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The search was on. The airline started its own Facebook page dedicated to Jack, and supporters have kept the feline on the nation's radar via Facebook. Since Tuesday, the Facebook page added more than 500 new fans.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BxtYDw8NlaM/Tq6sRXZmQOI/AAAAAAAAPNA/m_W3Qg9RCbY/s1600/22-p2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BxtYDw8NlaM/Tq6sRXZmQOI/AAAAAAAAPNA/m_W3Qg9RCbY/s400/22-p2.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Petie the Dog Back Home </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">in Tennessee with Fanfare</span></center><center><a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20111028/NEWS06/110280384/Petie-dog-back-home-Tennessee-fanfare?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE%7Cs"><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>BY TAMMY STABLES BATTAGLIA AND MARK HICKS - freep.com</em></span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h3BpHVQZCd8/TqwFxsJ7-HI/AAAAAAAAPMM/UrlUPMLf7lE/s1600/21-p2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h3BpHVQZCd8/TqwFxsJ7-HI/AAAAAAAAPMM/UrlUPMLf7lE/s400/21-p2.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Jim Arrighi, 73, of Erin, Tenn., has a joyous reunion on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011, with his Jack Russell terrier Petie, who was found in a Rochester Hills, Mich., backyard this week, 600 miles from his Tennessee home. Petie had been missing for three months.</em></span></center><br />
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ERIN, Tenn. -- Petie the lost Jack Russell terrier arrived home to Tennessee to much fanfare Thursday after being found in Michigan earlier this week.<br />
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And Michigan Humane Society volunteer Nancy Greiser -- the Wayne woman who drove him 600 miles home -- now has an agreement with his owner, 73-year-old Jim Arrighi.<br />
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"I did tell Mr. Arrighi (that) if my beagles ever got away and ended up in Tennessee, it'll be his turn to drive to Michigan," Greiser said.<br />
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She and a friend arrived in Tennessee at 3:30 a.m. Thursday to deliver the dog missing for three months.<br />
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The reunion took place Thursday morning at Arrighi's house.<br />
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Outside the home and nearby, balloons and welcome signs with various spellings of Petie's name -- including Petey, the spelling used by the Michigan Humane Society -- greeted the 4-year-old pooch.<br />
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Inside were family and well-wishers -- and a steak cooked to perfection for Petie by a restaurant, Greiser said.<br />
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But the moment Petie saw Arrighi was the real payoff, Greiser said.<br />
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"He's more excited than I thought he'd be," Arrighi said moments after Petie greeted him with barks and a wagging tail.<br />
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Greiser said Arrighi was "just so happy. He was just so relieved to see Petie back. It was really heartwarming."<br />
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Arrighi had been searching for Petie since the dog wandered from his yard July 28. He pinned up posters and bought ads in the local newspaper, going door to door when he could.<br />
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Earlier this week, a Rochester Hills man found Petie wandering in his backyard and took him to the humane society, where workers scanned the dog and discovered an implanted identification chip that led to Arrighi.<br />
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The reunion couldn't come at a better time, said Arrighi's stepdaughter, Patricia Parchman, 53, who lives about 6 miles from his home.<br />
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About two weeks ago, Arrighi's wife of 37 years, Juanita Arrighi, 77, died with Arrighi by her side in a Nashville hospital.<br />
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"He's not used to all this attention," Parchman said Thursday from Arrighi's home, which was filled with TV cameras, reporters, friends and well-wishers. "But I think it tells him to stay busy and not dwell on losing my mom."<br />
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Arrighi speculated that his dog could have been stolen by a customer at the restaurant near his home or a passerby. Petie was one of several pets reported missing at the time.<br />
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How the dog made it to Michigan is a mystery.<br />
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"He meant a lot to me and my wife," Arrighi said. "I figured he was gone. I thought the chip was a waste of money, but I guess not."<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Cat Hidden in Couch Survives Colorado Fire </span></center><center><a href="http://www.firehouse.com/news/top-headlines/cat-hidden-couch-survives-colorado-fire"><span style="color: #274e13;">Deb Stanley, firehouse.com</span></a></center><br />
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FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- Firefighters have rescued two cats from a building badly damaged by fire on Monday, including a cat that survived the fire in a couch.<br />
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The fire started Monday at 3:30 a.m. at an apartment complex under construction. The flames quickly spread to a nearby building with condominiums and businesses.<br />
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While everyone escaped the condos safely, four cats were reported missing, according to Poudre Fire Authority spokesman Capt. Patrick Love.<br />
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On Tuesday, firefighters inside the building extinguishing hot spots found a cat on the fourth floor, Love said. The cat was taken to Colorado State University's animal hospital. The cat spent the night in the hospital and was released to its owners on Wednesday.<br />
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Then on Wednesday, Love and another firefighter went into the building to search for the last three missing cats.<br />
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Love said they were searching around and under furniture when a firefighter noticed a couch that had a hole in a screen. The firefighter also noticed a depression under the couch, Love said.<br />
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That depression was one of the missing cats.<br />
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Love said the cat wasn't meowing or making any noise so it may not have been found if firefighters hadn't looked closely.<br />
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"It was luck, mostly," Love said.<br />
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Two cats are still missing. Love said live traps have been set in the building to catch the pets.<br />
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<b>Fire Damage</b> <br />
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Love said there appears to be heavy fire damage to the fourth floor and roof of the condo complex. There is water damage to the first, second and third floors.<br />
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Despite that, Love said there is quite a bit of property that can be salvaged.<br />
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The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Love said the investigation may take several weeks or months.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">100 Years Ago: Area Families Use Pets as Lawn-Mowers</span></center><center><a href="http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2011/oct/28/100-years-ago-area-families-use-pets-lawn-mowers/"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Sarah St. John — Lawrence Journal-World</span></a></center><br />
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<b>From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Oct. 28, 1911:</b><br />
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•"A. G. Pike, state pure food inspector, was in town today.... Mr. Pike told us interesting stories of his work in the state. 'I went into one of the largest western towns,' he said, 'where there were four grocery stores all in a row. I asked each one to show me the measures they used for selling cranberries. They all gave me their quart measures and none of them was like the other. And they were all supposed to be selling a quart. Some were over, some less, but we insist on the measures not being too small or too little -- but just right.'"<br />
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•"The Frye family living at 709 Florida has a fine goat for a family pet. When the grass grew too high the goat was turned loose and kept the grass down to the required height. Not only did it save the energy of pushing a lawn mower but the grass was nutritious for the animal.... Broer Gustafson, who lives at 942 New Hampshire street, has probably the most novel idea for keeping his grass cut. The Gustafson family has a large white rabbit for a family pet. Generally these big bunnies are nice to have around, but they are not much good as far as usage is concerned. However, the Gustafson bunny worked industriously. He is kept in a large cage that is moved around in the yard. As soon as Bunny nibbles off the grass in one spot he is moved to another. By this manner the whole yard finally is trimmed down in fine condition. Passersby who know about the pet lawn mower stop and watch it, as everyone in the neighborhood is loud in praise of the work the white rabbit does."<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Aurora Dog Café is the Cat’s Meow</span></center><center><a href="http://www.thestar.com/living/pets/article/1075840--aurora-dog-cafe-is-the-cat-s-meow?bn=1"><span style="color: #274e13;">Jim Wilkes - thestar.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lFIqoS8Fjig/TqwP9MoNfQI/AAAAAAAAPMk/Bg58MuVoYhw/s1600/21-p4.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lFIqoS8Fjig/TqwP9MoNfQI/AAAAAAAAPMk/Bg58MuVoYhw/s400/21-p4.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Buddy's Kitchen, a new doggie cafe in Aurora, offers fresh food for discriminating "pet parents."</em></span></center><br />
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At Buddy’s Kitchen in Aurora, no pooch pun goes unspoken.<br />
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There are baked treats from the Barkery, a daily Yappy Hour and two “wines”— a white Sauvignon Bark and red Barkundy made from water, apple cider vinegar and fruit juice — that pups can slurp at the doggie bar.<br />
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That’s all after wolfing down a $5 platter that begins with crunchy artisan biscuits made on site, followed by a patty of either beef, lamb, chicken or salmon mixed with fava and pinto beans, pumpkin and vitamins. Dessert is soft and chewy cookies scarfed down while “pet parents” sip coffee or tea and get tips from a canine nutritionist.<br />
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It’s all delivered on square porcelain plates through doghouse-styled portals onto turf-covered eating areas.<br />
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It is, according to president and “chief dog wagger” Peter Kaufman, a Starbucks for the pet set.<br />
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“We don’t make dog food,” he explains. “We make food for dogs.”<br />
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Buddy’s Kitchen is the retail front for Kaufman’s manufacturing plant that produces human-grade food for dogs. Aurora Mayor Geoffrey Dawe will officiate at opening ceremonies on Friday.<br />
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Kaufman says the concept — pairing production with retail — is a first in Canada.<br />
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“On the human side you see trends to fresh foods, real foods, locals foods. These are the same things we’re doing here from locally sourced ingredients.<br />
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“It’s an artisan approach, but also embracing science and nutrition to complete the meal.<br />
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“In the past, the pet food industry was predicated on mystery meats, mystery ingredients, that mystery can,” Kaufman says. “A lot of what ends up in many of these hyper-processed pet foods is complete garbage.<br />
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“When you connect the dots, it’s no wonder we see so many of the health issues in dogs today that we see in the human population — obesity, cancer, diabetes, allergies.<br />
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“It’s a cliché, but garbage in, garbage out.<br />
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“But when we start with the best fresh whole food diets that are scientifically balanced, your dog will have to see the vet less for any number of issues.”<br />
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Customers who come to the plant/café in a multi-unit building on Industrial Parkway South will be allowed to wander a corridor with windows that overlook the bakery and butcher shop where workers turn fresh cuts of meat and fish into patties, each topped with an edible heart.<br />
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Kaufman said he sources his ingredients from producers within 100 kilometres of Aurora.<br />
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“We’re using the same ingredients that you and I eat,” he says. “If we can’t eat it, we don’t feed it.<br />
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“The engineering we do is very serious business, making sure the diet is properly balanced and that dogs just don’t survive, but they thrive.”<br />
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Kaufman has worked in the pet industry since 1997, making private label nutritional supplements for dogs, cats and horses.<br />
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“It’s a passion of mine,” he says.<br />
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Kaufman, 41, lives in uptown Toronto, where his twin 12-year-old daughters and 10-year-old son hope he’ll soon get them a new dog. Dave, the family’s 17-year-old cocker spaniel, died two years ago.<br />
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Kaufman has paired with Maurizio Barbieri, Buddy’s executive chef, who oversees the small production line and designs the café plates, which can feature snow peas and sliced strawberries fanned out to complement the meat and fish patties.<br />
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He’s spent 25 years in the food industry, mostly behind the scenes, as a policy advisor for government and maker of artisan breads, pasta and products for human restaurants across Greater Toronto.<br />
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“I can bring all these years of people food experience to people and their pets,” says Barbieri, 46.<br />
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“To see pet parents and their pets fully satisfied is what brings me back to the kitchen every day.”<br />
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Kaufman said that while the concept has been percolating for some time, Buddy’s Kitchen is an idea whose time has come.<br />
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“It’s a place for dog fanatics — dog parents — to engage, to connect, to meet other similar-minded people,” he says.<br />
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Each month he’ll have a special event to parallel activities in the human world.<br />
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When wine snobs are celebrating the release of Beaujolais Nouveau varieties late next month, Buddy’s will be issuing its own wines to a discriminating clientele of four-legged critters.<br />
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Kaufman said he hopes to open other locations in Toronto and area if the concept catches on. <br />
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See Buddy online at www.buddyskitchen.ca and www.facebook.com/BuddysKitchen.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Ask Amy: </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Child’s Birthday Party Goes to the Dogs</span></center><center><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/ask-amy-childs-birthday-party-goes-to-the-dogs/2011/10/13/gIQANrn6SM_story.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Amy Dickinson - washingtonpost.com</span></a></center><br />
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DEAR AMY: Recently, I hosted a birthday party for my daughter’s 5th birthday. I own two dogs, a full-grown dog and a 6-month-old puppy.<br />
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In attendance was my husband’s aunt. Every time I turned around this woman was yelling at my puppy, who is well-behaved.<br />
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She yelled at the puppy when she bounded forward to greet the aunt. After that, just about every time the aunt saw my puppy she yelled at her, including when the puppy peed on the grass (like she’s supposed to do).<br />
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I host a lot of parties at my home, but I’m not inclined to invite this aunt back.<br />
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This was my puppy’s first party, and she did well. My policy is if you catch my kids or dogs doing something they’re not supposed to do, correct them but don’t yell at them for looking at you.<br />
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What should I say next time the aunt comes for a visit? I have no problem putting my pets outside for short visits, but when the kids are running through the house, a dog needs to enjoy it too.<br />
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I really do enjoy my husband’s aunt, but her behavior was unacceptable. -- Dogged<br />
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<b>DEAR DOGGED:</b> In this scenario, the people in your life should come first. Rather than worry about your dogs having a good time at a party, you should do your best to ensure that your human guests are comfortable.<br />
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Many people — myself included — don’t like it (or are fearful) when dogs run toward them and jump up. An older person could easily be toppled by an enthusiastic puppy.<br />
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However, I agree that no guest should yell at your kids or dogs.<br />
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Respond to this respectfully and firmly by saying to the aunt, “I know that ‘Snickers’ bothers you, but we’re doing our best to train her and she’s coming along well. You don’t need to yell at her, though. Do me a favor: If she creates a problem, let me know first and I’ll take care of it, okay?”<br />
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Write to Amy Dickinson at askamy@tribune.com or Ask Amy, Chicago Tribune, TT500, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60611. <br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">My Pet World: </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Giving Female Dog a Male Name is No Big Deal</span></center><center><a href="http://www.dailypilot.com/news/opinion/tn-dpt-1026-petcolumn-20111025,0,1229059.story"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Steve Dale - dailypilot.com</span></a></center><br />
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<b>Question:</b> On a walk with our dog, Payton (a male shepherd/collie mix), we met two girls with a female miniature schnauzer named Butch.<br />
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I realize dogs don't know a male name from a female name, but people laugh at this dog all the time. This is wrong, and I assume the dog has a complex about it. What do you think? — S.H., Chicago.<br />
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<b>Answer:</b> Dogs just accept things and move on. I suggest you do the same.<br />
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People may smile or chuckle when they realize Butch is a female, but I see no harm in that. Dogs put smiles our faces anyway — one of many ways they're healthful for us.<br />
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Now, I do believe dogs can feel demeaned, so if people truly bully Butch over her name, that would be a problem. My advice would be for the Butch's owners to stay away from those boorish, immature folks. As long as Butch's family is loving and cares for their best friend; I think I get the joke — and I think it's funny!<br />
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<b>Q:</b> I'll be attending a Halloween costume contest with our little Japanese Chin, Nancy Oh. I read on a humane website that we shouldn't dress up pets for Halloween because they might feel humiliated. Could this be true? — B.J., New York <br />
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<b>A:</b> I agree that some dogs can feel humiliated.<br />
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They might stand still as a statue, head down, ears back and tail tucked. Other dogs (they tend to be small breeds like yours), however, seem to eat up all the extra attention they get dolled up as Cinderella or Darth Vader. Thinks about it: The family dresses them up (that's extra attention), then everyone tells the dog how cute she looks. What egocentric pooch wouldn't relish all that praise?<br />
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You're the best judge of your pet. For dogs who appear demeaned or want to chew up their costumes, skip the dress-up session; maybe a bandanna will be enough. If your dog appears totally indifferent to the entire affair, or relishes the attention — go for it.<br />
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Be sure the costume you pick doesn't limit the dog's mobility or impair its vision. Tight-fighting costumes are not a good idea.<br />
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<b>Q:</b> My 1-½-year-old miniature Australian shepherd gets car sick.<br />
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I've tried Cerenia (a medication), holistic remedies, the Thundershirt, Dramamine, and a pet-calming tablet. I've tried feeding the dog in the car, and driving without feeding him. He gets anxious and starts to drool when he thinks we're going for a ride.<br />
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I've tried making a game of getting him into the van. No luck. We've tried to make all destinations a "happy place," and have even taken along another dog who doesn't mind car rides. The thing is, despite his problem, we take our dog everywhere. Any advice? — S.D., Cyberspace<br />
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<b>A:</b> "You've certainly made a great effort," says dog trainer Victoria Stilwell, host of "It's Me or the Dog" on Animal Planet.<br />
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Cerenia is an excellent drug for motion sickness, and Dramamine also works. Consequently, the odds are this problem is not limited to the motion itself. Still, it's not a bad idea to check with your veterinarian to insure the following advice makes sense.<br />
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"First, let's eliminate those pre-departure cues," Stilwell says. Pretend that you're about to go for a car ride, but only go to the door. Repeat this move until your dog doesn't seem to care anymore. Now, do the same, except this time, take your dog to the car and offer him a treat. Don't even open the car door to let your dog in. Again, repeat this maneuver until the pet isn't bothered at all.<br />
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"We want to create a positive association with the car," says Stilwell. "This may take a while because the dog is so upset about the car now. Once he's happy to approach the car, open the door and toss special treats inside."<br />
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At the same time, whenever your dog eats indoors, play a CD with music from Stilwell's new Canine Noise Phobia Series (available soon at http://www.positively.com) Soon, he'll associate the music with something very positive: dinner. Once he's fine with jumping in the car and chewing on treats, play the same tune from the CD in the car, at first, without turning on the engine.<br />
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The music is specifically designed to relax dogs, not to mention creating a positive association between the music and dinner. You might also consider using a D.A.P. collar, which emits an analogue of a soothing pheromone.<br />
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Once your dog happily jumps in while you're playing the calming CD, you can finally turn on the engine. However, go nowhere the first few times. Soon, you can drive someplace nearby that your dog enjoys, like a park. Or drive around the block and return home for dinner. Repeat this trip several times before you choose a different destination.<br />
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"This is tedious because the fear is so deeply ingrained," say Stilwell. "The more time you take, though, the more chances of success."<br />
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<b>Q:</b> Once a week, my 12-year-old cat doesn't eat. This has been going now for about a month. Is the cat just being finicky? — C.V., Orlando, Fla.<br />
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<b>A:</b> I wonder if indeed something consistent happens on the day your cat doesn't eat; it could be anything: Aunt Sally arrives for her weekly visit, or perhaps you work longer hours. Any time there's a change in a pet's behavior (especially an older pet), a veterinary visit is recommended. However, it's possible your cat simply is being finicky.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Are Your Birds Affected by the Pine Nut Recall?</span></center><center><a href="http://www.examiner.com/parrot-in-national/are-your-birds-affected-by-the-pine-nut-recall"><span style="color: #274e13;">by Elizabeth Opperman, Parrot Examiner</span></a></center><br />
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A recall on 5,000 pounds of Pine nuts has parrot lovers scrambling to find out if the treats they feed their parrots are affected. The recall was issued when the CDC linked 42 salmonella cases from Georgia, Arizona, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. <br />
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Of those states, New York had the highest number of cases reported. The nuts were traced to Sunrise Commodities, the importer of the nuts, based in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Those who purchased pine nuts in the bulk food department of Wegman’s Markets are advised to return the product for a refund.<br />
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Some bird owners expressed concern when they found that the food they bought contained pine nuts and did not know how to find out if they had cause for worry. One consumer had just purchased ten pounds of pine nuts from Nuts Online, who says they do not get their pine nuts from the importer and are not affected by the recall.<br />
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Salmonella is a bacteria that, in people, can cause fever, possible bloody diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. Salmonella can be passed to birds and birds can be affected by the bacteria. They can also pass along the bacteria in feather dust, droppings, and crop contents. Vertical transmission is also possible.<br />
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Click <a href="http://www.examiner.com/parrot-in-national/are-your-birds-affected-by-the-pine-nut-recall">here</a> to read entire story.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Eldorado Residents Face Off </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Over Keeping Chickens as Pets</span></center><center><a href="http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/Playing-chicken"><span style="color: #274e13;">Anne Constable | The New Mexican</span></a></center><br />
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The Eldorado community still isn't completely sure about how it feels about sun-tracking solar collectors sprouting in the subdivision south of Santa Fe. <br />
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Now it faces another issue that could divide residents: backyard chickens and goats. <br />
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Some say that having a few hens and nannies is a way to live more sustainably; others argue that barnyard animals are smelly, spread disease and would draw more coyotes and rodents to their neighborhoods. <br />
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The subdivision's covenants are somewhat ambiguous on the subject. <br />
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The section pertaining to household pets states that "no animals, birds or poultry" are allowed, except for "recognized household pets" that may be kept for the "pleasure and use" of occupants. <br />
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That language clearly allows residents to have cats and dogs, as well as other inside critters like parakeets, guinea pigs, lizards and fish. But on the surface it would seem to rule out Rhode Island Reds and nubians. <br />
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But maybe not. <br />
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Some residents say the covenants could be interpreted to allow them because they are as much family pets as the dog and cat. <br />
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The board of the Eldorado Community Improvement Association (ECIA) has asked its Sustainability Planning and Education Committee to look into the matter and decide whether to recommend changes in the ECIA's guidelines to clearly permit such animals — and to decide under what conditions they would be permitted. The guidelines assist the board in interpreting the subdivision's covenants. <br />
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A working group of the committee, led by Eduardo Krasilovsky, is doing research into how other communities have dealt with the issue and will prepare a report for the committee presenting both sides of the issue, possibly by the end of the year. <br />
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"There is no easy answer to this," the ECIA's lawyer, John Hays, said. <br />
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In an informal opinion, he said the question hinges on whether hens and goats are generally "recognized household pets." He suggested that one way to address the issue would be to present it to the community. If the community's sense is that hens and goats are OK, then that would support Eldorado's "recognition" of them as household pets. <br />
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The issue has arisen in recent years in other parts of the country. In a North Carolina case, for example, a judge agreed with the owners of two 30-pound dwarf goats that Fred and Barney were pets and not livestock prohibited in the bylaws of their homeowners association. <br />
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In the city of Santa Fe, residents can have as many chickens as they want in their backyards. <br />
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While the city Animal Services Division gets occasional calls about roosters crowing at the crack of dawn, manager Pat Alano said, "It hasn't been a problem around here." <br />
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He said that some years ago there was an effort to restrict the numbers of poultry allowed, but "the City Council said no." <br />
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However, many area homeowners' associations, including the Rancho Viejo North Community Association, prohibit all but "typical household pets." <br />
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In the past, the ECIA board has held that chickens are poultry and required any resident reported for having them to seek a variance from the covenants. <br />
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When the variances were approved, they typically set limits on the number of hens, banned roosters and prohibited coops from being made into permanent structures. Approval was contingent on lack of further complaints from neighbors. <br />
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The current manager said in a recent email to a board member that the staff does not make chicken violations a high priority and would be "happy to treat chickens as pets if instructed to do so." <br />
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At least a dozen Eldorado property owners are keeping chickens, and some have goats in their backyards, "although you wouldn't know it," Krasilovsky said. While some residents have obtained variances, others simply go ahead without informing the ECIA. <br />
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Now the issue is reaching a head. Rather than allow yet another variance, the board last summer decided to table the request before them and try to clarify the matter, said Mark Young, Eldorado's covenant compliance representative. <br />
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Meanwhile, support for allowing chickens and goats seems to be growing in the area. The community college, for example, offered a full-day seminar earlier this year on raising backyard chickens. <br />
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"Times are changing. There are more people in Eldorado who want to have a few chickens," Krasilovsky said. "I think the population has changed and people are looking at building [a] more self-sufficient community. [They feel that] having pets that give us food makes us more independent, more resilient." <br />
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Chickens were permitted in his former hometown, Montclair, N.J., which is much more densely populated than Eldorado, he pointed out. Given that lots in this subdivision are an acre or more, Krasilovsky said, "I don't know what would be the problem here." Hens only require 10 square feet of space to keep them happy, he said, and "you don't need that many hens." <br />
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Dana Richards, chairman of the Sustainability Planning and Education Committee, said supporters of allowing chickens and goats believe that in Eldorado, a semirural community, producing your own eggs and growing your own food is an asset. <br />
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Richards recalled that when his family lived in California, raising chickens was a "wonderful part of the children's upbringing." Here in Santa Fe, he said, people remember the empty shelves during recent snowstorms and road blockages and "want a little more self-reliance." <br />
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He added, "We don't want to put up obstacles to people taking care of themselves or saving money." <br />
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Elan Colello, vice president of the board, said that hens make less noise than dogs, don't bite people, eat the bugs in your yard and "look really cute." <br />
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And, he argued, they really are pets because "Everyone who owns them, they hold them, pet them, scratch them under their feathers. It's not just about the eggs." (Some, according to an Eldorado resident, refer to them as their "feathered pets.") <br />
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Because the covenant states that pets may be kept "for the use of occupants," Colello believes that this "clearly defines our covenants as allowing livestock for use but not for profit of the household." <br />
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On the other side, some residents worry about diseases carried by poultry, barnyard smells wafting into their living rooms and the likelihood that the chickens will attract more vermin and predators such as mice, rats and coyotes to their yards. All these issues could have an impact on the desirability of living in their community, they say. <br />
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Claudia Daigle, who has started blogging on this and other issues (eldoradogadfly.blogspot.com), said, "I understand why people want to have chickens, but they should live on farms. This is not appropriate for a small subdivision." Realtors, she said, tell her that the main reason people buy in Eldorado is because of the covenants. <br />
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Daigle recalled sitting on her couch last summer with the windows open while a herd of goats camped out on Avenida Del Monte Alto, where they were taking a break from eating weeds. "The goats are adorable, but my house smelled like a barn," she said. <br />
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Allowing chickens and goats would "totally change our subdivision and ... will plummet our property values," she predicted. <br />
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Daigle believes, however, that if the community wants to allow them, it must amend the covenants, not just write new guidelines, and a majority of the lot owners must therefore consent. <br />
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If the board does not put the issue to a vote, she vowed, "I will seek counsel to stop it." <br />
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If the amendment passes, however, "Then I will have to accept it," she said. "But that is the only way." <br />
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Contact Anne Constable at 986-3022 or aconstable@sfnewmexican.com.<br />
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From the covenants governing properties in the Eldorado subdivision: <br />
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No animals, birds or poultry shall be kept or maintained on any lot, except recognized household pets which may be kept thereon in reasonable numbers as pets for the pleasure and use of the occupants but not for any commercial use or purpose.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Love Your Pets</span></center><center><a href="http://www2.godanriver.com/lifestyles/2011/oct/30/love-your-pets-ar-1418810/"><span style="color: #274e13;">By: Paulette Dean - godanriver.com</span></a></center><br />
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We have said it many times in the past, and we will say it again: The law can make you provide food, water and shelter for your pets, but the law cannot make you love your pets and want to spend time with them.<br />
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We were reminded of this just recently in two separate cases. A few weeks ago, we were asked to investigate the care of a dog being kept in a lot in the Gretna area. When we went to the address provided, we found a nice, big dog lot with a lone dog in it. The ground was muddy, but the dog had a bowl of water. He was not fat, but not thin. What really caught our attention was how lonely he seemed. He strained to reach us through the fencing, and wagged his tail every time we gave him any attention. A neighbor told us that the owner comes by every day or so to give him food or water, but the owner no longer lives there. That means the dog, basically lives a solitary life with only the sight of traffic on the road to occupy his interest.<br />
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A few days later, we were driving down another street, and saw a dog get so excited about children getting off a school bus. He ran to the road to greet the children, with his tail wagging. The group of about five children paid no attention to him. Not a single one said a word to him, petted him or acknowledged his presence in any way. With his tail still, he followed the children from the bus to their homes.<br />
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Although we allow adoptions of dogs that are going to be kept outside all the time, that is not our first choice. We want the adopted dogs to be allowed inside, where they can become an important part of the family. It is harder for a completely outside dog to have all of his needs met.<br />
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Most people know that dogs are pack animals, but many people do not know that cats like attention, also. Sometimes, when we go to a house, the cats come running up to us, wrapping themselves around our legs. My adopted cats follow me around the house, and sit either beside me or on my lap.<br />
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Birds are flock animals, and may require as much attention as dogs. Yes, I know that from personal experience. Even guinea pigs and rabbits require more than daily food and water, in order to be happy. Hamsters enjoy time out of their cages.<br />
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If families or individuals do not have a lot of time or desire to spend with a companion animal, we suggest that they focus on the animals that are happier as solitary animals. A fish aquarium is a good option. I overheard a man speaking with his wife one day at the shelter, and he told her that it would be selfish to adopt a dog with their current lifestyle. I was grateful that he recognized that.<br />
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The animals that we take into our homes and lives to be our companions have certain requirements to be happy beyond the basics of food, water and shelter. Only people who are willing and prepared to give time and love should be the ones to have companion animals. Having a pet is not a right; having a pet is a privilege that comes with a lot of responsibility.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Some Tips on Bringing Outdoor Pets </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Inside for the Cooler Weather </span></center><center><a href="http://www.news-journalonline.com/columns/pet-project/2011/10/29/some-tips-on-bringing-outdoor-pets-inside-for-the-cooler-weather.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Jacque Estes - news-journalonline.com</span></a></center><br />
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As the thermometer makes that slight seasonal dip, it's a good time to encourage outdoor pets to come inside. While our "low" temperatures may bring a sneer from the upper 48, it's colder than what our critters are accustomed to and bringing them inside is not all about the temperature. This is just an excuse to coax your wild feline to a safer abode -- inside with you. <br />
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A tall climbing post, toys to pounce on and chase around and grass to chew can offer cats outside excitement without the dangers. They are stalkers with no worries. <br />
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Many people are firmly convinced that their cat will not be happy inside. This can be true if the move is sudden and your idea. Cats like to think they are in charge and, in most cases, they are. But there are ways to make the move inside "their" idea. <br />
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Scoop up a cat and force it inside and there will be resistance, and possibly claws. Furniture will be shredded, high-pitched yowling will bounce off the walls, and most owners will quickly surrender out of self-preservation. <br />
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Ease the resistant wild one inside for short periods at a time. If dinner is generally served outside, move it inside and let the animal play inside for a bit afterward. Slowly increase the time they stay in after dinner. Of course there may be those that decide they like it inside and don't want back out after dinner. <br />
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Oh, if only it was that easy. <br />
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Cats need to hunt and their prey can be a ball of aluminum, crumpled up paper or elaborate toys that don't fight back. <br />
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Have a litter box at the ready and place the cat in. The first response will most likely be to bounce right back out, but after a bit curiosity your cat will be in the box scratching through the litter. Old-fashioned scratching posts are out, replaced by corrugated floor "posts" available in the pet supply aisle. Some of these come with a baggie of catnip that can be rubbed into the cardboard to attract the cat. <br />
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An empty box is an unexplainable attraction to cats. Houses with cats rarely have empty boxes. <br />
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A pillow atop a table in a sunny window, various vantage points to watch the birds and bugs, will amuse your cat and you for hours as they watch and press paws against the window. Pet supply stores also have special grass you can grow specifically for the feline's green cravings. This discourages them from nibbling your houseplants and will aid their digestion. <br />
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Why do you want to go to all this trouble? Hopefully, because you love you cat. Dangers abound outside -- cars, wild animals, snakes, dogs, predatory birds and, in Florida, alligators. <br />
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Some cats are more resistant to change than others and a pet behaviorist may be able to help. If your cat doesn't acclimate, refuses to use the litter box, or goes after your furniture, consult your veterinarian to rule out any medical causes. Cat claws can be easily clipped with regular nail clippers, though sometimes it takes one person to wrap the cat in a towel, extracting one paw at a time, while the other clips. <br />
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Persistence will pay off. There's a whole side of your cat, the playful and comical side, that you may have been missing and he may find he's been missing something too -- a nice warm bed.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Cold Weather Means Special Care for Outdoor Pets</span></center><center><a href="http://www.currentargus.com/ci_19209971"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Matlin Smith - Current-Argus Staff Writer</span></a></center><br />
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CARLSBAD — The weather outside is frightful, and a local veterinarian offered some tips to keep your pets safe in the colder temperatures.<br />
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Dr. Robin Sankey from the Carlsbad Animal Care Center said animals should have adequate shelter as the temperature drops over the coming months. Animals should not be kept on chains, but if it is unavoidable, the chain should give plenty of room for the animal to reach and stay out of the cold.<br />
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She suggested bringing pets inside the home or providing an alternate source of heat within the shelter when the temperatures reach freezing.<br />
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Pets should always have plenty of food and water, said Sankey, who urges owners to check water bowls several times a day to ensure that the water is not frozen, leaving pets without hydration.<br />
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Another deadly issue for pets in the colder weather is antifreeze. With its sweet taste, pets are drawn to antifreeze, and ingestion of the fluid can be fatal. Sankey said it is crucial that people immediately clean up antifreeze spills and leaks.<br />
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Other ways to keep pets cozy through fall and winter includes pet sweaters, blankets and boots to protect dogs' paws.<br />
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Livestock should also be closely watched during this time of year, said Sankey. Horses should don blankets in temperatures under 50 degrees and have shelter, and the livestock's water should also be watched closely in the event that it freezes. Sankey said water warmers are available for purchase to prevent freezing troughs.<br />
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The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals offers more tips for keeping your pets warm and safe when temperatures drop:<br />
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- Keep your cats and kittens indoors. Outside, cats can freeze, become lost, stolen or injured.<br />
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- Never let your dog run around off its leash on snow or ice. Dogs might lose their scent in snow and ice and become lost.<br />
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- Wipe off your dog's paws, legs and stomach when they comes in from the snow or ice. Salt or other chemicals might make your dog sick if they swallow them while licking their paws. Their paw pads are sensitive and might bleed if snow or ice covers them.<br />
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- Never leave you dog, cat or any other animal alone in a car in cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator and your animal could freeze.<br />
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- If your dog spends a lot of time outside playing, make sure to give them plenty of food and water to keep their fur thick and healthy through the winter.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Bad Economy Bad for Pets</span></center><center><a href="http://host.madison.com/news/local/article_1588aa8a-00b3-11e1-9918-001cc4c03286.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">BILL NOVAK | The Capital Times</span></a></center><br />
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One of the more sobering stories in this economic downturn is families having to give up their pets because they can't afford to take care of them.<br />
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The Associated Press reported on Wednesday that shelters across the state are at or near capacity mainly because of cats being surrendered.<br />
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According to AP, Heather Schmid, executive director of the Coulee Region Humane Society in La Crosse said the facility is always over capacity with cats but lately it hasn't had enough room for dogs as well.<br />
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The Dane County Humane Society is loaded with cats also, spokeswoman Gayle Viney told madison.com, but there hasn't been an overabundance of dogs, since they are adopted "pretty quickly and regularly."<br />
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Viney said the economy is putting a new slant on why people are giving up their pets.<br />
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"It used to be because you are moving and can't keep the pet, or you don't have time for it, but now we really are seeing it trend toward people surrendering their animals because they lost a job, lost their home," Viney said.<br />
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"What's hard is these are animals we normally wouldn't see, because their owners really wanted to keep them," she said.<br />
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As of Thursday, the Dane County Humane Society has more than 310 adult cats under its care and about a tenth as many dogs.<br />
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Because of the glut of felines, a "pay what you can" promotion to get people interested in adopting cats started Thursday and will run through Sunday.<br />
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The normal adoption fee for an adult cat (six months old or older) at the Dane County Humane Society is $40.<br />
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"Pick your price," Viney said. "Pay whatever you are able to pay."<br />
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The new owner can take a cat home the same day.<br />
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The promotion is on at the Dane County Humane Society main shelter on Voges Road, the west side shelter in a strip mall at Mineral Point Road and D'Onofrio Drive, and at Mounds pet stores.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Money Saving Tips for Shopping</span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"> for Pet Medications</span></center><center><a href="http://www.petside.com/article/money-saving-tips-shopping-pet-medications"><span style="color: #274e13;">by Maryann Mott - petside.com</span></a></center><br />
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Walking out of a veterinary clinic with your pet's prescription already filled makes life easier. But, if you're on a tight budget, you'll be saving money by going elsewhere to buy your dog or cat's medications and preventatives.<br />
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Typically veterinarians charge a dispensing fee of $7 to $12, plus the cost of the medication. According to some estimates, those mark-ups are hefty, ranging from 100 to 300 percent or more.<br />
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Since many drugs prescribed for pets are the same ones given to people, asking for a prescription from your veterinarian is the first money saving step all owners should take.<br />
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"Family budgets are tight and every opportunity to save matters," said Utah Congressman Jim Matheson, who earlier this year introduced the Fairness to Pet Owners Act of 2011.<br />
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The proposed legislation would give pet owners a money saving opportunity; it would give them the ability to shop around for the best prices on medications by requiring veterinarians to write a prescription. Currently, in about half of all states, veterinarians don’t have to provide a prescription to clients, even if asked.<br />
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The American Veterinary Medical Association, which consists of more than 80 percent of all U.S. veterinarians, is out to quash Congressman Matheson's bill, claiming it adds an unnecessary regulatory burden on doctors.<br />
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Of course, the money saving opportunity for the consumer would also cut into profits.<br />
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Wendy Myers, a veterinary practice consultant in Colorado, says drug and medical supplies generate 17 percent of hospital revenues.<br />
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"Depending on which region you’re in, a veterinary hospital’s revenue from flea, tick and heartworm products (alone) is easily $100,000 or more a year,” she told Veterinary Information Network News Service last year.<br />
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Buying pet medications at a reasonable cost isn’t difficult if you know what questions to ask your veterinarian, and where to look for the best deals. <br />
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Here are a few easy, money saving tips to try:<br />
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<b>Money Saving Tip #1: Ask if Human Equivalent Exists</b><br />
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If your veterinarian prescribes an animal-only medication, ask if there's a human drug equivalent instead. Recently my veterinarian prescribed Simplicef -- a pricey, animal-only antibiotic. When I balked at the cost she wrote a script for Cephalexin, a human generic, that I purchased elsewhere.The savings? $52.<br />
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<b>Money Saving Tip #2: Opt for Generics and Shop at Big Box Retailers</b><br />
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Opting for human brand-name drugs and generics (whenever possible) allows you to flex your financial muscle by shopping for the best price at big box retailers like Costco, Target, Sam's Club, Walgreens and Walmart. Better yet, some of these pharmacies offer discount prescription drug programs that sell 30-day supplies of generics for as low as $4.<br />
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<b>Money Saving Tip #3: Comparison Shop</b><br />
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Even among the retail titans, prices on drugs can still vary widely, so be sure to comparison shop, especially for life-long medications and monthly preventatives. A one month supply of Ketoconazole and Cyclosporine – something regularly needed for my dog's skin disorder -- is $89 at Costco. (Membership, by the way, isn’t required to buy from Costco's pharmacy although it offers additional savings.) Across town, at Target and Walmart, I discovered the price jumps to $190. Yikes!<br />
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<b>Money Saving Tip #4: Get a Free Prescription Drug Card</b><br />
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Get a free prescription drug card from the National Association of Counties (NACo) that offers savings of up to 24 percent off the regular retail price at participating pharmacies. The program is for both two and four legged members. Nearly half of all counties nationwide participate in NACo's program and it's available to residents, regardless of age or income.<br />
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<b>Money Saving Tip #5: Check Out Target's New Program</b><br />
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Go to Target if you live in Georgia, Minnesota, North Carolina or Tennessee. The mega retailer introduced the PetRx pilot program last year at more than 140 pharmacies in those states. Locations fill veterinary prescriptions for animal-specific medications and offer free, special flavorings, like chicken, to liquid medications for pets.<br />
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<b>Money Saving Tip #6: Check for Coupons!</b><br />
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Check drug manufacturer websites for printable coupons redeemable at your vet's office.<br />
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<b>Money Saving Tip #7: Don't Be Afraid to Bargain</b><br />
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Lastly, bargain with your veterinarian. Ask for a price match from a Vet-VIPPS accredited online pet pharmacy, or a discount for buying preventatives or regularly needed medications in bulk.<br />
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Savvy hospitals and clinics know about the increasing pressures from outside pharmacies and don't want to lose your business, so speak up. Otherwise, you'll pay up.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">U.S. Pets Getting Sicker; </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Decline in Vet Visits Blamed</span></center><center><a href="http://www.osceolaiowa.com/articles/ara/2011/10/25/8054440310/index.xml"><span style="color: #274e13;">By (ARA) - osceolaiowa.com</span></a></center><br />
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When Michele Sebesto, of Staten Island, N.Y., adopted JC 10 years ago, she said the chihuahua was an invaluable source of comfort. As a New Yorker, she'd just gone through the 9/11 attacks, and the two developed a special bond. Unfortunately, JC had some minor but persistent health problems. <br />
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About twice a year, JC would get a urinary tract infection. During an annual preventive care appointment when JC was about 4, Sebesto's veterinarian took an X-ray and made a startling discovery. <br />
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"When she showed me the X-ray, I couldn't believe it. The kidney stone was the size of a grape, which is pretty big for a chihuahua," Sebesto says. "My veterinarian did surgery to remove it, and I was pleasantly surprised at how fast JC bounced back." <br />
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After the surgery, JC was put on a special diet, and the dog, now 10, sees the veterinarian for regular checkups and has been healthy and free of urinary tract infections since the surgery. <br />
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Unfortunately, Sebesto is part of a shrinking population in the United States. Recent studies show that while the number of pets in America is increasing, fewer pet owners are bringing their pets in for regular checkups, and this could be causing a rise in preventable diseases. <br />
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"Despite the ever-increasing emotional bond we have with our pets, research shows pets are getting less preventive health care," says Dr. Rene A. Carlson, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). "At the same time, illnesses that are totally preventable, such as dental infections, ear infections, diabetes, intestinal worms and heartworms, are increasing." <br />
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<b>Troubling trends</b> <br />
AVMA research shows that veterinary visits for cats and dogs have been on the decline for at least a decade. The average number of annual veterinary visits dropped between 2001 and 2006 from two visits a year for dogs to 1.5 and from one visit per year for cats to 0.7 visits, according to the AVMA's 2007 U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook. <br />
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Perhaps it shouldn't be a surprise that, while veterinary care appointments have been declining, incidents of pet diseases have increased. In particular, totally preventable diseases are on the increase. The Banfield Pet Hospital's State of Pet Health 2011 Report found that since 2006 flea infestations were up in dogs by 16 percent and 12 percent in cats, diabetes increased 32 percent in dogs and 16 percent in cats, and hookworm infections in dogs were up 30 percent and 3.5 percent in cats. <br />
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<b>An ounce of prevention</b> <br />
The vast majority of pet owners care deeply about their pet's health, says Carlson. In fact 59 percent of dog owners and 53 percent of cat owners say they would, in fact, take their pets to the veterinarian more often if they thought it would help their pet live longer, according to the Veterinary Care Usage Study. <br />
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"This study shows us that pet owners really do care about their pet's health and well-being, but they may not correlate the importance of regular checkups with maintaining health," Carlson says. "Pet owners shouldn't wait until a pet is sick to take it to the veterinarian, because pets, particularly cats, will often hide the symptoms of illness when they are sick. So your pet may be sick or in a great deal of pain and it would be very difficult for you to know." <br />
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Pets - excluding tortoises and some exotic birds - have much shorter lifespans than humans, and, as a result, diseases can develop more quickly. An annual checkup for dogs and cats is like a person going to see their doctor once every seven years. What's more, pets with existing health problems, like obesity, are at an even greater risk of developing a chronic condition. <br />
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"It is estimated that 40 percent of dogs and cats are obese. That's 54 million dogs and cats. Obesity can result in life-threatening illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis," Dr. Carlson says. With so much information now available on the Internet, it is estimated that about 40 percent of pet owners turn to the Internet before their veterinarian for pet health care information. But are they getting the right information from credible sources? <br />
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"While some websites may provide valuable background information on diseases, many do not. And relying on what may be misinformation may delay the inevitable visit to the veterinarian. By the time the owner finally gives up on what might likely be incorrect information from an untrained source or advice from other pet owners in a chat room, the pet may be twice as sick or the cure may be many times more difficult or costly. Your pet's veterinarian is the best source for advice on how you can keep your pets healthy, happy and with your family for a lifetime," Carlson says. <br />
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Sebesto agrees. <br />
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"I think that when you own an animal, you have to make a commitment to provide them with veterinary care," Sebesto says. "I take my dog into the veterinarian every year." <br />
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For more information, visit www.avma.org/ounceofprevention.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-2971886-10473071?cm_mmc=CJ-_-2156463-_-2971886-_-Save%20up%20to%2065%25%20" target="_top"><br />
<img src="http://www.ftjcfx.com/image-2971886-10473071" width="125" height="125" alt="" border="0"/></a></center>John Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569650383063644384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5310501782946920789.post-55650623748953635412011-10-29T05:44:00.001-07:002011-10-29T05:46:46.905-07:00Happy Halloween!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V_QfjSqF_DA/Tqa_E3SoFdI/AAAAAAAAPJY/bjWuIvs18_0/s1600/20-p2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V_QfjSqF_DA/Tqa_E3SoFdI/AAAAAAAAPJY/bjWuIvs18_0/s400/20-p2.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Deployed Airman Seeking Help Finding Missing Pet</span></center><center><a href="http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/seeking-44672-airman-deployed.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">nwfdailynews.com</span></a></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: #cc0000;">An airman deployed overseas is seeking the public’s help in finding her missing cat.</span></center><br />
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The black and white cat, named Baby, went missing about two and half weeks ago from her Fort Walton Beach home.<br />
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According to her owner, Baby was not wearing a collar when she disappeared from the home near Hollywood Boulevard and Jet Drive.<br />
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Anyone with information about the cat is asked to contact SOCKS at (850) 863-5756 or by email at shelter@saveourcatsandkittens.com.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Minneapolis Man Charged in Drowning </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">of Girlfriend's Pet Ferret</span></center><center><a href="http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/132346958.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">Article by: ABBY SIMONS , Star Tribune</span></a></center><br />
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A Minneapolis man, in the process of a breakup with his girlfriend, allegedly drowned her pet ferret in its water bowl, according to felony animal cruelty charges filed Friday in Hennepin County District Court.<br />
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Thomas James Hart, 23, is charged with two counts of animal torture or cruelty to a companion animal resulting in death and one count for the purpose of terrorizing a person. According to charges, police were called at 1:49 a.m. Wednesday to the apartment Hart shared with his girlfriend at 1524 LaSalle Av. They found the girlfriend crying hysterically and repeating, "He drowned it! He killed my pet ferret!"<br />
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The woman told police that Hart was her boyfriend, she was trying to break up and he agreed to move out of her apartment at the end of the month. Earlier in the evening, he went to a bar with her and another friend, but he left angrily because he felt the women were having a "girls' night." The women returned to the apartment at 12:30 a.m. The girlfriend told police she went to feed the ferret when she noticed its head was wet and the rest of its body was dry, then realized it was dead.<br />
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Hart then allegedly pulled a knife from his backpack and ordered the woman's friend from the apartment. Both women ran across the street and called police. Hart had previously threatened to kill the ferret, the girlfriend told police.<br />
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Officers searched the building and found Hart hiding beneath a piece of plywood. He was arrested and allegedly said, "I didn't kill that ferret! I opened the front door and just let it go!"<br />
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Police noted that the ferret's water bowl had been taken from the cage and was lying on the floor, and that a couch cushion was soaked. The woman told police she believed Hart drowned the ferret in its water bowl.<br />
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Police found the ferret's body behind a Dumpster in the alley. The fur on its head was wet while the rest of it was dry. Animal Control took the body; an autopsy is pending.<br />
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Hart was arrested and booked into Hennepin County jail in lieu of $25,000 bail.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Firefighters Help Rescue Westport Cat </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">From Storm Drain </span></center><center><a href="http://westport.patch.com/articles/firefighters-help-rescue-westport-cat-from-storm-drain"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Chris Rueli - patch.com</span></a></center><br />
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Arriving firefighters were met by the cat’s owner, Dick Fincher, and directed to the storm drain in front of his residence, according to Assistant Chief Robert Kepchar.<br />
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"Mr. Fincher explained that his cat, “Nip,” somehow had found his way into the storm drain,"Kepchar says. "Firefighters removed the grate and attempted to lure “Nip” to the opening of the pipe so they could pull him out of the drain."<br />
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Several attempts were made, but it was a can of cat food placed at the opening of the drain, and "Nip" hearing Fincher’s voice that brought him within reach. Firefighters held Fincher by the waist as he reached in the pipe and retrieved “Nip”.<br />
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Both were Fincher and “Nip” happy to be reunited, Kepchar says.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">For Jogging Vancouver Cat, </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Life’s a Walk in the Park</span></center><center><a href="http://www.vancouversun.com/news/jogging+Vancouver+life+walk+park/5541301/story.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Kim Pemberton, Vancouver Sun</span></a></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: #cc0000;">‘Doglike’ three-year-old Abyssinian has been trained to go for strolls on a leash and to sit on command</span></center><br />
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Jafari Jamison Underfoot, or JJ for short, loves to jog the Stanley Park trails, wade into the waves of English Bay and has learned to sit on command.<br />
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JJ happens to be a cat, but not just any cat.<br />
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This nearly three-year-old feline is an Abyssinian, which owner Christopher Weeks explained is a breed with many “doglike” qualities.<br />
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Weeks and his partner Rick Bellairs have taught JJ to sit, walk or jog alongside them without pulling on his leash and to politely wait instead of lunging for his food. JJ is also willing to be carried about in a snuggly.<br />
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“Cats can get a bad rap. We almost feel like cat ambassadors. It shows people you can do a lot with your cat than just have a furry lump that does nothing,” said Weeks, who grew up with both dogs and cats but considers himself a cat person.<br />
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“I have to side with the cats. I like the personal interaction you get with a cat and while I know you can have that with a dog, there’s something about the gentleness and trust of a cat,” he said, adding he realizes some people reading this might think, “Oh boy, another crazy cat person.”<br />
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But Weeks is unapologetic as he gushes about JJ, who he describes as the “most diplomatic, polite cat I’ve ever met.”<br />
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Weeks said one of the reasons he and Bellairs have been able to train JJ is the bond they established with him as a kitten. The couple bought JJ from a Port Coquitlam breeder and would regularly visit him from the age of four weeks until they brought him to their West End condo at 12 weeks.<br />
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“People who research cats say the first 12 weeks of life are important for you to be able to show the cat you’re safe and trustworthy. When you take the time to negotiate the rules you can get a very deep inter-relationship established [with your cat],” said Weeks.<br />
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This strong bond made it easier to get JJ to do what most cats won’t — allow himself to be leashed and walk around as if he were a dog, Weeks said.<br />
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The couple was also able to train JJ to sit on command, much like how you would train a puppy, by using treats as a lure and giving a hand sign for him to sit. He said JJ mastered this skill after the fifth try. It comes in handy since the couple are landscapers and often take JJ with them to work, where he’s willing to wait patiently for them to finish.<br />
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When work is over, JJ travels in style. He recently went with them to the pet-friendly Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle, a luxury five-star hotel that delivered JJ’s favourite treat, freeze-dried smelt, via room service on a silver platter.<br />
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“He was like a little rock star. He walked around the place like he owned it.”<br />
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This is also the stance JJ takes on his local walks. Even crossing paths with dogs doesn’t faze him. “He’ll just put his tail up, be very assertive and walk right up. [Dogs] don’t know what he is, since most dogs are used to cats running away,” said Weeks. “It’s kind of amusing to see them run instead.”<br />
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(Note: JJ also has his own website which is at www.facebook.com/jafariunderfoot.)<br />
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kpemberton@vancouversun.com<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Did Kourtney Kardashian Really Just Buy </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Baby Mason a Snake?</span></center><center><a href="http://blogs.babble.com/famecrawler/2011/10/12/did-kourtney-kardashian-really-just-buy-baby-mason-a-snake/"><span style="color: #274e13;">by sunnychanel - babble.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s136dHy7AdA/TqQX1FLXpcI/AAAAAAAAPI0/gbJBlydG0uk/s1600/20-p17.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s136dHy7AdA/TqQX1FLXpcI/AAAAAAAAPI0/gbJBlydG0uk/s400/20-p17.bmp" width="256" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Kourtney Kardashian Goes Snake Shopping!</em></span></center><br />
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Call me a wee bit old fashioned, but I believe one should buy their children pets only untill they are old enough to comprehend the whole “custodian of another living creature” thing. <br />
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And when one does buy your child a pet it usually is in the form of a kitten, puppy, turtle or a gold fish. But Kourtney Kardashian? She bought something way more..err…interesting.<br />
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On Wednesday Kourtney was spotted with sister Khloe at a pet store in New York City where Kourtney reportedly bought her 22-month son Mason a pet snake. Let’s hope he’s a gentle sort (both Mason and the snake!).<br />
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And what did Auntie Khloe wear on such an errand? A pair of the Tres Contente thigh high black leather Christian Louboutin boots (that retail for $2500). Nothing says ‘going to the local pet store’ more than those!<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Dog Brings Traffic to a Standstill on Interstate 84 </span></center><center><a href="http://www.phillyburbs.com/lifestyle/pets/dog-brings-traffic-to-a-standstill-on-interstate/article_cdffce0c-eab7-11e0-9e49-0019bb30f31a.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">phillyburbs.com</span></a></center><br />
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As a pet owner, I am constantly concerned about my dog managing to wiggle off his leash while walking in the city. The threat of cars and trucks running him over is a real possibility if he were to escape.<br />
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So I can't imagine what the owner of this 3-year-old Pomeranian felt when her dog slipped off her collar and ran down a high-traffic section of Interstate 84 near Portland, Oregon.<br />
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Linda Dowdy was walking her dog, Mango, near the 102nd Street Halsey MAX station Monday when the pup wiggled out of her collar and took off running. <br />
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Mango entered onto the interstate and immediately brought traffic to halt as motorists tried to help capture the dog and bring it to safety. Some drivers even got out of their cars and tried to throw blankets over the dog in order to stop her from running.<br />
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But the pooch was scared by all the commotion and continued to run. Luckily, Mango eventually found her way off of the interstate and ran to a local high school where Dowdy's husband Dan tried to capture the pet and bring her home.<br />
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With the help of a local news cameraman and the coaxing of Linda Dowdy, Mango turned herself in and is now safely at home.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">9 Tips to Prevent Dog Bites on Halloween</span></center><center><a href="http://www.pawnation.com/2011/10/24/9-tips-to-prevent-dog-bites-on-halloween/"><span style="color: #274e13;">by Amy D. Shojal - pawnation.com</span></a></center><br />
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Many dogs enjoy the holidays. Nonstop doorbell rings and visitors showering attention may be doggy bliss for your pet. But even friendly, laid-back pooches get their tails in a twist over the disruption to routine. That can be dangerous for pets and for people.<br />
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Dogs recognize people by smell but also by sight. A dog may not recognize a favorite human behind that Halloween mask. Miniature goblins, witches and other ghoulish visitors often are strange children he won't know. A flowing cape or sparkly fairy wings can be scary. A frightened dog easily mistakes a waving "light saber" or pitch fork as a weapon aimed to hurt.<br />
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Halloween is a high risk holiday for dog bites with children in costumes that scare dogs encountering strange pets on their own turf. And when hero dogs defend themselves, their homes and their people from "space aliens" your child could get bitten. Wolfsbane, garlic and holy water won't help but these tips can keep trick or treaters safe and the dogs happy, too.<br />
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<b>Call Ahead.</b> It's best to plan trick or treat visits with people you know-and ask them about confining their dog before you arrive. Pet "parents" want to keep their "fur-kids" safe, too, and should appreciate your thoughtfulness.<br />
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<b>Keep Doors Clear.</b> Closed spaces and especially entryways get dogs excited. Your pet will be hyper-protective of doors and gates. So when the kids arrive, keep King in his own room. Advise your children to avoid entering a stranger's gated fence when a dog is inside-that keeps him from escaping, too.<br />
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<b>Admire From a Distance.</b> Costumed kids should not approach, touch or play with any dog they don't know. Even a known pet may be suspicious of a three-foot Sponge-Bob. Cute dogs may be friendly but swipe candy or knock down a toddler.<br />
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<b>Supervise.</b> There's nothing better than parents eyeballing their kids and dogs. An adult should always be present when kids and dogs mix. Petting any dog requires permission first from the person who knows the dog best.<br />
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<b>Ask Before Treating.</b> Candy can be dangerous for dogs. And some owners may not want you to treat their dog with food rewards, either, so always ask. Offering a treat to an unknown dog might tell him you're a walking smorgasbord open for business so he pesters you-or mugs you-for the trick or treat bag.<br />
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<b>Look Away.</b> Should you notice a strange dog, don't stare. In dog language that can challenge to dog to show you the sharp ends of his teeth.<br />
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<b>Be a Tree.</b> Loud giggly voices, running and arm waving can be so exciting to dogs they chase kids out of reflex and perhaps knock them down. So if a strange dog does approach standing still-like a tree-helps keep him calm.<br />
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<b>Be a Log.</b> Dogs instinctively jump up to check out a human's face, and that Halloween mask may prove too intriguing. But if your child gets knocked down, coach her to act like a log-roll up and be still-until the dog goes away. Otherwise a wriggling kid teases the dog to grab the costume-or an ankle-and play tug.<br />
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<b>Avoid Doggy Gangs.</b> Just like rambunctious kids, when a bunch of friendly well behaved dogs get together they can egg each other on and paw-step over the line. So give doggy gangs some space. If their approach concerns you, don't run or yell-stay still. You can sacrifice the candy by throwing it far enough away to entice them to munch while you walk away.<br />
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Approximately 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs each year with 800,000 individuals-half of them children-requiring medical treatment. Half of all children in the US experience a dog bite by age 12, with 5 to 9 year olds and boys at significantly higher risk. That's actually a low percentage compared to other types of injuries, but still scary enough for Halloween. Use these tips and avoid adding to the statistics.<br />
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Amy D. Shojai is a certified animal behavior consultant and the award-winning author of 23 pet care books, including The First-Aid Companion for Dogs & Cats. Amy also appears on Animal Planet's CATS-101 and DOGS-101, writes for puppies.About.com and lives in North Texas with a senior citizen Siamese and smart-aleck German shepherd dog. Read her blog on Red Room. <br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Pets Instinctively Hide Their Pain </span></center><center><a href="http://www.hollandsentinel.com/features/x464387974/Pets-instinctively-hide-their-pain"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Dr. Eric Heitman - The Holland Sentinel</span></a></center><br />
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Holland — Dr. Heitman: My vet sent home some pain meds for my dog after surgery, but I didn’t give them to him because he seemed fine to me. When I went back for my check up, my vet seemed a little perturbed that I didn’t follow the directions. Should I have given the meds even if he didn’t show signs of pain?<br />
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<b>Answer:</b> I’ll try and answer your question by looking at the bigger picture, because I believe your veterinarian sent the meds home because he/she believed they were important, but at the same time, your perceptions of your own pet mean a lot as well.<br />
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Most of us grew up watching Lassie. She made it kind of clear when she was in pain; she’d whimper, hold her paw up, and Timmy would pull the thorn out and all would be well. As such, most of us associate pain with obvious signs in dogs. Some of the obvious signs might include: whimpering, limping, hunched back, guarding of the belly, tense belly, different posturing (such as a “praying position” when the pooch lays down the front end but keeps the back end up off the ground), growling or snapping for no apparent reason. When we see these symptoms we are pretty sure our friend is hurting somewhere. But what about less obvious symptoms?<br />
<br />
Our domestic dogs have descended from their wild ancestors, and as such still retain many of the instincts of wild animals. One of these instincts, as it relates to this discussion, is the fear of showing weakness. <br />
<br />
In Mother Nature’s world, showing weakness is serious. A prey animal slowing down behind the herd (ie showing weakness) is prime pickings for predators.<br />
<br />
A wolf or wild dog showing weakness may be shunned from the pack and left to fend for themselves. As such, they are programmed to hide any signs of weaknsess, one of the most important of which is signs of pain. This means that our pets are often good at hiding their discomfort.<br />
<br />
I saw an intersting video a few years ago which showed the difference between how pets respond to pain when we are with them as opposed to when they are alone. A dog was videotaped during the recovery period following a routine surgery. When he was with his family, he wagged his tail and seemed to act fine. But, when he was alone, with the camera still running, he sat curled up, very quiet and didn’t act as good. This suggested to me that he probably was a little achy, but tried not to show that to his “pack.”<br />
<br />
In a nutshell, most of our pain medications nowadays are safe and have few ill effects (they are not perfect and a small percentage of dogs do experience difficulties though). As a veterinarian, I wouldn’t mind being accused of treating pain that wasn’t present, but I’d feel awful if there was the possibility of pain and I didn’t do anything about it.<br />
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In your specific situation it is difficult for me to know the right answer. My best advice is that if you have questions about whether medications should be discontinued is to check with your veterinarian. Depending on the procedure, it could be that you were fine without giving the meds. Hope this helps.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">My Pet World: </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Socialization Can Ease </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Shy Dog's Anxiety About Strangers</span></center><center><a href="http://www.twincities.com/life/ci_19089001?nclick_check=1"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Steve Dale - twincities.com</span></a></center><br />
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<i>Certified applied animal behaviorist Patricia McConnell answers selected reader questions this week. McConnell has written some of my favorite books about dogs. Her most recent effort (with Karen London) is "Love Has No Age Limit: Welcoming an Adopted Dog Into Your Home." Learn more at patriciamcconnell.com.</i><br />
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Q. We recently adopted the most precious little dog, some sort of terrier mix. But she was obviously abused because the poor thing is shy of strangers who want to pet her. Any advice? <br />
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— B.H., Orlando, Fla.<br />
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A. "Good for you and congratulations on your new family member," McConnell says. "Lots of dogs from a variety of backgrounds are afraid of strangers. This doesn't necessarily mean the dog was abused; more likely, it means the dog wasn't appropriately socialized."<br />
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Get some really tasty treats, and when strangers come to the house, their job will be to ignore the dog - except to toss treats in her direction. Over time, they can just drop the treats near where they're sitting, so your dog comes closer. Still, they shouldn't force themselves on the pup, but wait until they're approached.<br />
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"Soon, take the treats outside on walks, and ask people to offer your dog some," McConnell says. "It's best if people can squat down to the dog's level, which isn't as intimidating as standing over the dog."<br />
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McConnell adds, "Be patient and don't push too hard. It may take a year for your dog to come out of her shell."<br />
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Your dog will be pleased to get all these treats, but do remove some of her kibble, so you're not writing me in six months about an overweight pooch.<br />
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Q. We adopted Ricky, our 1-1/2-year-old beagle, six months ago from a college laboratory. We love him to death, but he follows me everywhere; he's very needy. He cries when I go to work and has huge separation anxiety. Also, he's stubborn. When we go for walks, he sits down wherever he wants, even in the middle of the road. I use treats to bribe him, but he manipulates me to give him a treat by sitting down on purpose. He's too smart, isn't he? <br />
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— A.M., Buffalo, N.Y.<br />
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A. "Beagles are smart and were bred to work independently of people; their partner may be their nose," says McConnell, of Madison, Wis. "Ricky is training you faster than you're training him. So, don't wait until he sits to offer treats; do that all along the walk. In fact, replace dinner with tasty training treats."<br />
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As for the separation anxiety, McConnell says to begin by teaching your dog some independence and that life goes on even if you're not in the room. Toss kibble around the room. While Ricky is searching for the goodies, walk out of the room for just a few seconds. Do this as often as you like, and over time, stay out of the room for longer periods of time. The idea is for you to return before Ricky cries or comes to find you.<br />
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"Similarly, you may want to leave him a chew treat and then leave the house, but at first for literally just seconds," McConnell suggests. "This may seem tedious; the progression is gradual at first and then happens more quickly."<br />
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Also speak with your veterinarian or a qualified dog trainer about additional tools, including an Anxiety Wrap (a fabric the dog wears that provides comfort by fitting comfortably yet snugly); D.A.P. (Dog Appeasing Pheromone, an analog of an appeasing or calming pheromone that comes as a collar or a plug-in diffuser); and Chinese or homeopathic methods. For serious separation anxiety issues, an anti-anxiety medication is often suggested. McConnell authored a booklet about helping dogs with separation distress called "I'll Be Home Soon."<br />
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Q. I have two male Yorkshire terriers, father and son. One of them isn't neutured. In the past, they've gotten into arguments and scrapped, but we were able to break them up fairly easily. Now, the fights are more frequent and serious. Both dogs were injured in the last go-around. I'm afraid one of them may be seriously injured or killed. Any advice? <br />
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— E.P., Cyberspace<br />
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A. "The problem between a father and son, an intact dog among the two, and the fact that they're both terriers — yes, this is potentially very serious," McConnell says. "Your first job is to keep both dogs safe — and that means separating them. The second job is to bring in a qualified dog trainer or a veterinary behaviorist. You really do need someone to personally assess what's going on."<br />
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The expert will likely ask you to consider neutering the dog that's still intact. While lowering rocketing testosterone may help, you're no doubt now dealing with an entrenched behavior, which a professional can help you to manage.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Hints From Heloise: Emergency Pet Info</span></center><center><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/hints-from-heloise-emergency-pet-info/2011/07/05/gIQA7E33TI_story.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">washingtonpost.com</span></a></center><br />
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Dear Heloise: I want to let you know that I have followed your column for years. I am sending you a copy of a book that I had made up with phone numbers, pictures and emergency information in case of an accident. I have a service dog that goes everywhere with me, so I felt it was important to have information that is readily available. I have showed other people who also take their dog with them, and they love the idea.<br />
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I keep mine in the car on the seat, where it is visible in case of an accident. This doesn’t necessarily have to be only if you have a dog; it can be used for any type of emergency information. -- Ruth in Salem, Ore.<br />
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Ruth, we love your hint, and this is one that folks who travel with their dogs should consider. I’m sure Brandy, your Shetland sheepdog, is a wonderful help to you. Woof! Woof! -- Heloise<br />
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<b>DOG SCOOT</b><br />
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Dear Heloise: Sometimes my dog scoots his bottom across the carpet. Why does he do this? It’s embarrassing, especially in front of company! -- Sandy in Texas<br />
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Sandy, here are a couple of scenarios of what could be going on:<br />
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* Dogs, like skunks, have anal scent glands. The glands can become clogged, which can irritate the dog. This usually will require a trip to your vet to express the glands.<br />
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* Watch your dog’s bowel habits. If the dog has had diarrhea, he may need extra cleaning.<br />
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Talk to your veterinarian. -- Heloise<br />
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<b>ALLERGIES</b><br />
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Dear Heloise: My terrier had a skin rash, and I didn’t know what was causing it. I showed the rash to my vet, and he did some tests.<br />
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I researched a bit also, and found that dog food containing corn can cause allergies. It seems some dogs may be allergic to corn or wheat in their food. We found a dog food that is free of corn products, and the dog’s skin cleared up right away. -- J.H. in San Antonio<br />
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<b>A FISH OUT OF WATER</b><br />
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Dear Readers: When you bring a new fish home, introducing him into his aquarium is very important. The fish needs to acclimate to the water correctly.<br />
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Keep the fish in his original bag from the pet store and have him float on top of the tank water for about 30 to 60 minutes.<br />
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The bag will slowly reach the temperature of the aquarium water, and the fish will not be “shocked” by a water temperature change. -- Heloise<br />
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Send a hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Tex. 78279-5000, fax it to 210-HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com. Please include your city and state.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Gary Bogue: </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Cats & Dogs: Just How Clever are They?</span></center><center><a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/gary-bogue/ci_19147707"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Gary Bogue - Contra Costa Times</span></a></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: #cc0000;">Liquid amber's glow<br />
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tells me fall is here again.<br />
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Red salutation!<br />
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-- by Gun Johnston, Diablo</span></center><br />
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Dear Gary:<br />
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My 2-year-old red tabby male cat, Sunshine, opens a jar of cat food by pushing the jar over and stroking the side of the lid until the jar opens so he can enjoy an afternoon or nighttime snack whenever he wants it.<br />
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Some years ago I also knew an Albany dog who was proficient in unscrewing lids to water bottles whenever he desired a drink. I helped put in a garden with soak hoses set up. The dog fully disconnected all the hoses with his remarkable skill. I believe he was at least part Australian cattle dog.<br />
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Ann Chappell,<br />
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Hayward<br />
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Dear Ann:<br />
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I never cease to be amazed at the cleverness of our pets. You could let the cat feed himself (yeah, right). And the dog could have helped you with your gardening. Less work for you to do. Works for me.<br />
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Can anyone else top that?<br />
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Dear Gary:<br />
<br />
I was admiring a garden spider in a tomato plant wire cage. The spider became agitated. A hummer zipped by my ear and the spider was gone.<br />
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I think the hummer went on through the cage but it happened so fast I didn't see it. Part of the Greatest Show on Earth.<br />
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Chuck Glass,<br />
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Walnut Creek<br />
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Dear Chuck:<br />
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Hummingbirds prefer spiders for lunch. They're partial to drumsticks.<br />
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Dear Gary:<br />
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So many hummingbird stories this year, but I needed one of them last year.<br />
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I was spraying my flowers when a hummingbird flew within 18 inches of my head, stared at me, then backed off before coming even closer.<br />
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It finally gave up and flew away.<br />
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I wondered what it wanted but know better now ... all it wanted was a shower.<br />
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Olive Miller<br />
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San Mateo<br />
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Dear Olive:<br />
<br />
A friend takes a spray bottle of water into her yard, holds up a finger and when the hummer lands on it, gives it a good spraying.<br />
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Everyone has a fun time.<br />
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Dear Gary:<br />
<br />
A story told by a colleague of mine from years ago had me wondering often about a cat's capacity for vengeance. She, a single woman, had always shared the bed with her cat. But when her feline-averse boyfriend moved in, the cat was banished from the bedroom. <br />
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One night as they were getting ready for bed, they discovered to their shock that the cat had left a calling card -- the solid kind -- atop the boyfriend's pillow.<br />
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My colleague thought it was hilarious, as did I when she told me the story. We joked that at least it wasn't a horse head.<br />
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According to her, the cat was housebroken and had never done its business outside the litter box. So was that a vendetta? Or was kitty merely scent-marking what was once its territory?<br />
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York Lee, cyberspace<br />
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Dear York:<br />
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Cats don't have any problem communicating their feelings. Just ask any cat owner.<br />
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A final note<br />
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O'dark thirty this morning I woke up to the sounds of thrashing just outside the open window -- not a sprinkler, not the wind. Looked out the blinds, it was a buck marking its territory as rutting season has started. Since does hang out in the area, the bucks show up this time of year. Time to be mindful and keep pets out of the way of rutting season in our backyards. (Brian Murphy, Walnut Creek)<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Happy Halloween from Mila </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Our 4.5 lb Watchdog & Bundle of Joy</span></center><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Thanks to JL and Ginger in Houston, TX</em></span></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JJ_Yt39ETgY/TqQLw7oaB3I/AAAAAAAAPIQ/fRVLK5k6QBc/s1600/20-p1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JJ_Yt39ETgY/TqQLw7oaB3I/AAAAAAAAPIQ/fRVLK5k6QBc/s400/20-p1.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>I'll get you, my pretty! And your little dog, too! Heh heh heh heh</em></span></center>John Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569650383063644384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5310501782946920789.post-80885222399601290572011-10-22T08:08:00.000-07:002011-10-22T08:08:34.539-07:00Pet Costumes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lJnulKKBCBs/TqLUj4gVdLI/AAAAAAAAPGA/-iFvlCuRmrg/s1600/19-p1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lJnulKKBCBs/TqLUj4gVdLI/AAAAAAAAPGA/-iFvlCuRmrg/s400/19-p1.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Firefighters Give Dog Mouth-to-Mouth </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Resuscitation After House Blaze Rescue</span> <br />
<a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/10/20/firefighters-give-dog-mouth-to-mouth-resuscitation-after-house-blaze-rescue-115875-23501879/"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Natalie Evans - mirror.co.uk</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1sTTtf1mh2w/TqGPICrwatI/AAAAAAAAPEs/LAuArvbjgCU/s1600/18-p5.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1sTTtf1mh2w/TqGPICrwatI/AAAAAAAAPEs/LAuArvbjgCU/s400/18-p5.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Wausau firefighters Jared Thompson, left, and Jamie Giese give artificial respiration to a dog that was rescued from a house fire (Pic: AP)</em></span></center><br />
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FIREFIGHTERS Jamie Giese and Jared Thompson performed an unusual rescue when they gave mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to a dog.<br />
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The pair attended a house fire in Wausau, Wisconsin, where the family’s pets were still trapped inside the burning building.<br />
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Dwight Borchardt, 17, returned from walking one of his dogs at around 4pm on Tuesday to find smoke billowing from the second floor.<br />
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While dad Todd Borchardt and his fiancee Kim Carlson were out of the house, pet cats Lavender and Mocha, and pet dog Coda were stranded inside.<br />
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The teenager attempted to search for the missing animals but was overwhelmed by heavy smoke.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6TsYXlayxoQ/TqGPXo5--SI/AAAAAAAAPE4/_EjenXpfUU0/s1600/18-p6.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6TsYXlayxoQ/TqGPXo5--SI/AAAAAAAAPE4/_EjenXpfUU0/s400/18-p6.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Firefighters Jared Thompson (L) and Jamie Giese rush pet dog Coda to safety</em></span></center><br />
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The firefighters found seven-year-old Labrador Retriever in shock, sitting in a rocking chair in the room where the fire is believed to have started.<br />
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The men carried the stricken pooch to safety where they performed mouth-to-snout resuscitation.<br />
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They also poured water over his soot-covered fur and used an oxygen mask to try and revive the animal.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TiEXiWDUXE8/TqGPmEWUBtI/AAAAAAAAPFE/dbn9-nyXdb0/s1600/18-p7.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TiEXiWDUXE8/TqGPmEWUBtI/AAAAAAAAPFE/dbn9-nyXdb0/s400/18-p7.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Coda gets a kiss from owner Kim Carlson</em></span></center><br />
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Speaking after the rescue, Giese admitted “It was all improvised” while Thompson said he had remembered tips from former reality TV show Rescue 911.<br />
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The heroes’ quicking thinking paid off, as Coda was taken to two different pet hospitals, staying overnight at the second to recover.<br />
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The lucky mutt had only been with the family for four days after previously living with a family friend.<br />
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Speaking to the Wausau Daily Herald, son Dwight said: “He’s just a sweetheart. He’s been following me around for two days straight.”<br />
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And the rescue has a happy ending – moggies Lavender and Mocha were found safe and well in the basement.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Police Say Someone Broke a Window </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">and Took Oregon Death Row Dog </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">from His Kennel</span></center><center><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/police-say-someone-broke-a-window-and-took-oregon-death-row-dog-from-his-kennel/2011/10/18/gIQAv3datL_story.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">washingtonpost.com</span></a></center><br />
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ALBANY, Ore. — Blue the dog had spent his days locked up in the Albany Pet Hotel, waiting while his death sentence is appealed. Now police say someone climbed the fence at the hotel, smashed a window and helped Blue the dog escape death row.<br />
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Albany police Lt. Casey Dorland said Monday that the only thing reported missing from the kennel is the fugitive canine. Police believe he was taken sometime Sunday night or early Monday morning.<br />
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Blue was sentenced to die last fall after he bit a toddler, but his owner appealed. The dog has been housed at the pet hotel waiting for his case to be resolved.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Woodland Woman Says Dog Held for Ransom </span></center><center><a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016527391_apwadogransom.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">seattletimes.com</span></a></center><br />
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WOODLAND, Wash. — A Woodland woman says her pet bulldog named Jaggar is being held for ransom by thieves demanding money and her prescription drugs.<br />
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Jennifer Thomas told KATU she noticed her dog missing more than a week ago after she saw a man and woman in her driveway. Since then she has received text messages from people threatening to torture the dog to death unless she pays the ransom.<br />
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Thomas uses a wheelchair, says she doesn't have the money and needs the medication because of an accident.<br />
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Despite warnings not to call police, she asked the Cowlitz County sheriff's office for help.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Mountain Lion vs. House Cat</span></center><center><a href="http://www.nbc-2.com/story/15741624/mountain-lion-vs-house-cat"><span style="color: #274e13;">nbc-2.com</span></a></center><br />
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DENVER - Gail Loveman was working at the computer when she turned around to see a very disconcerting staring contest. <br />
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A mountain lion was looking through her sliding glass door right at her cat, Zeus. <br />
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"I was sitting here working at my computer and as you can see my back was to the glass sliding doors, and I heard some rustling, but I have two Maine Coone cats, so I figured they were messing around in some papers and at some point, she said. <br />
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"Maybe it was the noise - I turned around and this mountain lion was at my sliding glass door about 4 feet away from me." <br />
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"So luckily my camera was sitting here and I grabbed it and started taking pictures," she said. <br />
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Those pictures quickly spread like wildfire over Twitter and Facebook. <br />
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Loveman says the mountain lion walked along the deck and then came face-to-face with Zeus. <br />
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"I have one very fuzzy [picture] where he is just sort of kissing the mountain lion," she said.<br />
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After looking in her yard, she realized there were several more mountain lions. The one at the window was a teenager and the mother stayed farther away.<br />
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"My guess is they climbed up these rocks here because this is where the mother was," Loveman said. "One of them was up here on the fence and they say mountain lions can jump 10 feet with 100-pound deer in its mouth, so I knew they would be able to get out, but this lion was poised on the fence with all four feet." <br />
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She says the encounter is a lesson for people living near wildlife.<br />
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"My number one thing I would say is: don't let your animals out. Don't let your cat go out. There are hawks, there are eagles, there are is foxes - if you care about your animals keep them close. Keep your cats inside and your dogs by your side," she said. <br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Kangaroo Mauls Woman Walking Dogs</span></center><center><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/kangaroo-mauls-woman-walking-dogs-045618033.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">yahoo.com</span></a></center><br />
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An Australian woman mauled by a kangaroo as she walked her dogs said on Wednesday it was a miracle she survived the attack, in which the native animal clawed her head and body.<br />
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Janet Karson told The West Australian newspaper she was walking her three dogs in the bush near Manjimup south of the western city of Perth on Saturday when a kangaroo leapt out in front of her and one of her dogs gave chase.<br />
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When she caught up with her dog the kangaroo had hold of it, so she grabbed a stick to lever its claws off the dog.<br />
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"And then it reared up in front of me -- it was huge," she told the paper.<br />
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"All I can remember is its claws going to work on me and the smell of my own blood when my head fell on to its chest.<br />
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"I thought, 'That's it, I'm finished'."<br />
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Karson, who suffered cuts to her neck and back and needed more than 20 stitches to her battered ears, is not sure whether the dogs fought off the large marsupial or whether it "just hopped off".<br />
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"I honestly believe it's a miracle I'm alive," she added.<br />
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Kangaroos are found across Australia but attacks against people are rare.<br />
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In July police were forced to pepper-spray a giant red kangaroo after it bounded into an elderly woman's garden in outback Queensland as she was hanging out the washing and attacked her.<br />
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The giant red can grow up to two metres (more than six foot six inches) tall.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">My Pet Tiger</span></center><center><a href="http://blog.timesunion.com/highschool/my-pet-tiger/23352/"><span style="color: #274e13;">by Alexis Willey - timesunion.com</span></a></center><br />
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She has soft fur, glowing green eyes and the most annoying ‘meow’ in the world. But she’s not a REAL tiger. Her name is Callie and she’s just my pet cat that I hate to love, especially when she wakes me up in the middle of the night looking for food.<br />
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Rounding out the whopping three animals my family owns (we also have two Labradoodles who I’m sure I’ll blog about eventually), Callie is an established member of my household and a genuine goddess.<br />
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Apparently though, a large and continuously growing number of people are no longer satisfied with keeping domestic animals as pets. Where a ferret used to be an unusual sight, many families are now calling alligators, sugar bears, foxes, tigers and monkeys by familiar names and sticking them in cages. The demand for exotic pets has created a multi-million dollar a year industry for the legal and illegal sale of bizarre house pets.<br />
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On Oct. 18, an Ohio man and owner of an ‘exotic-animal park’ released his pets from their cages and committed suicide, creating a panic in the community and endangering the lives of hundreds of people. Police responded immediately and after a night of hunting, nearly 50 exotic, endangered and majestic animals were killed. Murdered. Shot down hopelessly in the attempt to protect community members from the dangerous “pets.”<br />
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18 Bengal tigers as well as numerous other animals were among those killed. <br />
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Personally, I’m outraged. I understand the threat to the public and sheer confusion the situation must have created, but why couldn’t the guns have been traded for tranquilizers sooner? <br />
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A small number of animals were tranquilized and taken to the Columbus Zoo, but why did 49 animals have to die in the crossfire? The public was alerted to the situation and advised to remain indoors and schools were closed to protect residents.<br />
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The few extra minutes it may have taken for a plan to be made and precautions to be taken could have saved the lives of the helpless animals. Obviously agitated and out of their natural environment, the animals weren’t friendly, but should the mistreatment and instability of their owner determine their fate, and ultimately, their doom?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JlEDHLrD14U/TqGKpp3Wr1I/AAAAAAAAPEg/bNGCuW3CuVA/s1600/18-p4.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JlEDHLrD14U/TqGKpp3Wr1I/AAAAAAAAPEg/bNGCuW3CuVA/s400/18-p4.bmp" width="374" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>A Bengal tiger similar to the 18 that were killed. Photo by Associated Press.</em></span></center><br />
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The problem lies not with the individual situation, however, but with the society in which this kind of “collecting” of exotic animals for personal pleasure is accepted. Occurrences like this are becoming more and more frequent yet law enforcement agencies are still at a loss with how to deal with them properly.<br />
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The problem lies at the source; the only way to stop this, is to keep wild animals in the wild. Why are these animals allowed to be pets at all? And why aren’t measures being taken to prevent these sort of problems before they occur? Frankly, I think people should be happy with a pet dog or fish. Fish never charge at police officers…<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Cat Hit by Car Rescued from Inside Dashboard</span></center><center><a href="http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/10/15/cat-hit-by-car-rescued-from-inside-dashboard.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">dispatch.com</span></a></center><br />
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A three-hour rescue mission saved a cat that had been hit by a car and became stuck behind the car’s dashboard when the driver tried to take it to an animal shelter.<br />
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The driver, Nehal Dhruve, pulled over to see whether the cat was OK after striking it Thursday on Leap Road in Hilliard.<br />
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Dhruve said she wanted to take the cat to the Capital Area Humane Society, so she put the cat in her car.<br />
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“Instead of staying in the seat, she went under the dashboard,” Dhruve said.<br />
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The humane-society staff called in a mechanic to take apart the dashboard and attempt a rescue. However, his hands were too big to get to the cat, so an animal-care staff worker gave it a try.<br />
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The worker freed the cat and handed it to veterinarians, who checked it out.<br />
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Dhruve said she wants to adopt the cat but wanted to talk it over with her family.<br />
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Daryl McKay, the mechanic who suffered some cuts on his hands, donated his services.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Help Your Pet Handle Halloween's Scares</span></center><center><a href="http://yourlife.usatoday.com/parenting-family/pets/story/2011-10-21/Help-your-pet-handle-Halloweens-scares/50852512/1"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Jennie Willis, usatoday.com</span></a></center><br />
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The air is getting crisp, the leaves are turning and Halloween is approaching. Children will be putting on costumes, obscuring their faces, and houses will be decked out with lots of strange decorations. Halloween might be fun for us, but it can be downright spooky for our pets.<br />
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Halloween night can be particularly scary for pets that don't like doorbells, strangers and people passing the yard. Pets that have not been well socialized can react with fear or aggression towards new experiences and strange people.<br />
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To be sensitive of your pet's needs, here are things you can do to make Halloween a good experience for your pet:<br />
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• Keep outdoor cats and dogs inside, minimizing their exposure to lots of people. Dogs barking at strangers passing the yard can invite pranksters to throw things at them. Outdoor cats will encounter new situations that may cause them to behave in an unsafe manner.<br />
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• If you take your dog with you trick-or-treating, keep them on leash and watch for signs of stress. These can include panting, pacing, drooling or barking reactively at the environment. Trick-or-treating isn't for everyone, so if your dog is stressed, take it home.<br />
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• Put candy away in a pet-safe container. Chocolate is toxic for pets, and eating candy with wrappers can cause choking or obstruction of the digestive system.<br />
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• Don't have pets come with you to the door when you answer it. There is a risk they could escape in the confusion; also, some children don't have experience with dogs and might be frightened.<br />
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If your pet is afraid of knocking or the doorbell, try these steps to change how your pet feels about what the doorbell means. Dogs that bark at the door are often anxious about what these sounds signal.<br />
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• Practice ahead of time. Make a small door-knocking sound (even from the inside of the door) and feed your dog a treat. Repeat this until the dog doesn't bark and waits expectantly for the treat. You have now established a predictive relationship between the knock and the treat.<br />
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• Increase the knocking sound gradually, repeating a dozen times at each level of intensity, until the pet is non-reactive at each higher level of sound.<br />
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• The doorbell usually represents the highest level of reaction. Sometimes cooperating with a family member with the door open is important. Start by feeding the treat exactly at the same time as the doorbell rings and progress to a slight delay (half a second) between the sound and the treat.<br />
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If done correctly, you will watch your pet progress from a fear response to anticipating the next sound with pleasure.<br />
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If your pet is extremely nervous about the doorbell and you can't make progress with counterconditioning, consider leaving a basket of candy with a sign on your doorstep allowing children to bypass the doorbell ringing all together.<br />
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Have a safe and happy Halloween.<br />
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Dr. Jennie Willis is an instructor of animal behavior at Colorado State University and owns a private pet consulting business. For more information, visit www.Animal BehaviorInsights.com<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Ahwatukee Couple Open Pet Resort in New Home</span></center><center><a href="http://www.azcentral.com/community/ahwatukee/articles/2011/10/19/20111019ahwatukee-couple-pet-resort-new-home.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">by Allie Seligman - The Arizona Republic</span></a></center><br />
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When Tammy Teeter moved to Arizona four years ago, she left behind the dog-boarding kennel she opened and ran for 12 years.<br />
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She didn't leave behind her passion for training animals, though. For the past three years Teeter and her husband, Howard Teeter, have run a mobile training business that has served more than 700 customers.<br />
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The couple went to customers' homes, but also brought dogs back to their own house in Ahwatukee, sometimes boarding them for owners who were out of town. "Our customers just kept saying, 'we want more,' " Tammy said.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eV4nP6KjXJA/TqGRaZZ9uNI/AAAAAAAAPFQ/raLAkMYF1Fo/s1600/18-p8.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eV4nP6KjXJA/TqGRaZZ9uNI/AAAAAAAAPFQ/raLAkMYF1Fo/s400/18-p8.bmp" width="375" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Ahwatukee couple Howard and Tammy Tetter opened their Wiggles and Wags Pet Resort after three years of running a mobile training business in the East Valley. Nick Oza/The Arizona Republic</em></span></center><br />
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It came to a head this year, Tammy said, when they were "busting out" of their home. Now the couple have a new venue, Wiggles and Wags Pet Resort, at 1811 E. Baseline Road in Tempe.<br />
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The dog boarding, grooming, training and daycare business opened officially on Oct. 1, and Tammy said the response has been great. Several hundred people came to the grand opening, she said, and many of the mobile business customers have transitioned over to the pet resort.<br />
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The couple met when Howard was visiting his brother and ran into Tammy at an event. "I got to know her a little bit, and she was giving me advice," he said. In 2007, she and daughter Nina moved from Georgia to be with him.<br />
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Between learning about a new state, raising Nina and taking care of her own dogs, Tammy said she wasn't ready to open another business. "I had just run the other one for so long," she said. "Maybe I did just need a little break."<br />
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Instead, she wanted to open a small, mobile pet-training business. Howard retired early after 30 years in sales and marketing management in the technology sector, and offered to help Tammy start her new venture.<br />
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"I'm the business side, and Tammy brings all the credentials," he said.<br />
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After three successful years, though, Tammy said she realized that her passion is in training dogs and running a boarding business. "That's what I'm really good at," she said.<br />
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Wiggles and Wags is split between two buildings: one where Tammy teaches obedience classes and grooms dogs, along with two other groomers. Dogs are boarded in the other building and play outside in a shaded play area complete with play pools.<br />
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Howard opens the shop at about 6 a.m. each day, and Tammy leaves at 10 p.m. At night, they can watch what's going on with the boarded dogs through cameras that stream to their iPhones.<br />
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"When I get a buzz, I can look at the feed and tell you exactly what's happening," Tammy said.<br />
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There's not much chance the dogs will be able to leave their rooms, though, Tammy said. She recently locked herself in one by accident.<br />
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"I know the dogs can't get out because I couldn't get out, and I have thumbs," she said.<br />
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Each room has a large glass door so the dogs can look out and a "shy panel" if they prefer privacy, Teeter said. Owners are encouraged to bring in the dog's bedding and toys to make the animal more comfortable.<br />
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"It actually becomes their room and they can just settle down," she said.<br />
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Rooms range from 4-by-5 feet to 5-by-7 feet, and prices are from $30 to $40 a night for one dog. Additional dogs can be added to the same room at a reduced price.<br />
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It's also easier for the dogs to relax if they get worn out during the day, Teeter said. The dogs go to a large yard area in shifts. Some dogs go alone, and others are grouped by temperament and size.<br />
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The dogs go out as often as they need to, Teeter said, without the extra play time fee many kennels charge. "It is unheard of here in Arizona," she said.<br />
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Dividing the dogs into groups means play time isn't too chaotic. If all the dogs were free at once, "you just end up with mounting and fighting type behaviors," she said.<br />
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Wiggles and Wags also offers pet daycare for $20 a day. Dogs play and rest in air conditioned rooms from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Some customers bring their pet every weekday, and some come two or three times a week, Teeter said.<br />
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"It's basically structured around what the owners want," she said.<br />
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Tammy's main focus is still on training dogs. She teaches group obedience classes, meets with owners and their dogs individually and trains rescue dogs.<br />
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Small changes in behavior can make a big difference, Tammy said. In most cases, her customers just a few gripes that make life with their pet less than ideal, she said.<br />
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"I find that most people are pretty happy with their dogs," she said. "They just have one or two things that drive them crazy."<br />
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Tammy said she has also seen the impact training can have on rescued dogs, who may come to new owners with unwanted behaviors.<br />
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Wiggles and Wags works with dogs taken in Lost Our Home Pet Foundation, a rescue group for pets abandoned because of foreclosures or financial hardship. The return rate has gone down significantly since she started training with them, she said.<br />
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Karen and Jim Donker of Scottsdale met the Teeters earlier this year when they needed help training their puppy, Majerle. Karen heard Tammy's name from a friend and gave her a call.<br />
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"They were just completely awesome," she said. "They have some sort of a command over dogs that's just wonderful. You look at it and go, 'I want that.'"<br />
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Karen said she was impressed right away with the way Tammy could read her dogs.<br />
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"She's way more than a trainer," she said. "She just has a really special way with animals that is amazing."<br />
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When the pet resort opened, Karen signed Majerle up for obedience classes, something she said has proved to be a good investment.<br />
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"They call it dog training, but it's really people training I think," she said. "I am 100 percent convinced that it isn't the dog. It is the owners."<br />
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The Donkers returned home from a trip Monday, and Majerle and 14-year-old Picasso spent the time they were away at Wiggles and Wags.<br />
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This was the first time either dog has been boarded, Karen said, and though she was nervous to leave them, "I was comfortable."<br />
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"Knowing Tammy and Howard as well as I do, I know they're in great hands," she said.<br />
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For rates or more information, visit www.wigglesandwagsboarding.com<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">9 Things You Must Know Before Purchasing a Parrot</span></center><center><a href="http://www.petanim.com/17834/msutton/9-purchasing-parrot/"><span style="color: #274e13;">Written by Melissa Sutton - petanim.com</span></a></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: #cc0000;">If you are considering getting a parrot, here are 9 things you need to know that could change your mind.</span></center><br />
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Number 1 is that parrots must have daily contact with their owners. The Cockatoo, Lory and Jacob will require special care everyday, while the Amazons, Budgie, Conures and small African parrots don`t require quiet as much daily attention, to stay healthy & happy. Daily attention is extremely important in socializing these birds and the more time spent, the better!<br />
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Number 2 is that it is expensive to own a bird, not to mention if you are interested in breeding them. With food, the huge amount of toys you`ll need, vet care, nails, beak and wings care, etc., it will be costly, as bird medicine is a specialized field. Because a bird`s instinct is to hide illness, for fear of the flock protecting itself, thus attacking them, it is often times in the advanced stages before discovered, which will require more intense treatment.<br />
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Number 3 is that parrots are VERY loud! In the wild, they live in huge groups and that loud voice is how they contact and communicate with each other. Be aware that they will accept you into their flock, so every morning they call the nock to start the day and every evening they call the nock to get ready for night time & sleeping. You should NOT restrain them or get upset at them for this, it is their natural instinct! as per http://limoeg.articlealley.com<br />
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Number 4 is not all parrots will talk. Even though most parrots have the ability to talk, not all of them care or have the desire to speak. A few of the most talkative are the Budgie, Jacob, Yellow-Fore Headed Amazon and Double Yellow-Headed Amazon, but there`s still no guarantee they will talk!<br />
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Number 5 is that birds love to make a mess everywhere, because in the wild, the bird`s job is to “afforest” the wood, meaning they take a piece of it`s food and the rest goes on the ground. Be prepared to spend at least 30 to 45 minutes every single day, to clean up your bird`s cage, water/food bowls, floor and all messes.<br />
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Number 6 is that parrots must take a bath regularly. Find the method that suits your bird best, whether it`s in the shower, splashing water from a bowl or in the kitchen sink.<br />
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Number 7 is that parrots love to destroy things and spend 90% of their time, in the wild, consuming and looking for food. You MUST supply tons of toys and different kinds of foods, such as fruits, nuts and veggies, to keep them from getting bored, or they may direct their attention to your furniture!<br />
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Number 8 is that parrots bite! All birds bite! Usually out of fear or anger, and it`s their way of telling you ” I don`t like that!” as they bite each other in nature to communicate, they think it`s perfectly fine to bite you. There are many ways to teach your bird not to bite, it takes time & patience, but SOCIALIZATION is key!<br />
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Number 9 is that birds are NOT for children. Because they are so intelligent, live a long time and require daily interaction with their human flock, a child is not the right owner for them as they go through many changes like school, college, moving out of parents home, etc., which makes it virtually impossible to keep such a long time companion. For more info, you can visit: www.BirdCagesBlog.com<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r7WDGbw6_N8/TqLW_tZxjKI/AAAAAAAAPH4/Vw5dPTH0KvI/s1600/19-p11.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r7WDGbw6_N8/TqLW_tZxjKI/AAAAAAAAPH4/Vw5dPTH0KvI/s400/19-p11.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Cq-2TJFRkM/TqLXLqWCI1I/AAAAAAAAPIE/atn8K2Q6DFc/s1600/19-p12.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Cq-2TJFRkM/TqLXLqWCI1I/AAAAAAAAPIE/atn8K2Q6DFc/s400/19-p12.bmp" width="400" /></a></div>John Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569650383063644384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5310501782946920789.post-62964872532333889892011-10-14T15:31:00.000-07:002011-10-14T15:31:05.093-07:00Halloween Pets<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">PREHISTORIC DOG FOUND</span></center><center><a href="http://www.skyvalleychronicle.com/BREAKING-NEWS/PREHISTORIC-DOG-FOUND-br-Had-mammoth-bone-in-mouth-791475"><span style="color: #274e13;">skyvalleychronicle.com</span></a></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: #cc0000;">Had mammoth bone in mouth</span></center><br />
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(NATIONAL) -- How long has man’s best friend been man’s best friend? Answer: a very long time.<br />
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The remains of three Paleolithic era domesticated dogs, including one with a mammoth bone in its mouth, have been unearthed at Předmostí in the Czech Republic, according to a discovery.com report here <br />
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The Paleolithic (or Palaeolithic) Age, Era or Period, is a prehistoric era distinguished by the development of the most primitive stone tools ever discovered and encompasses roughly 99% of human technological prehistory.<br />
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It extends from the earliest known use of stone tools, probably by Hominins such as Australopithecines, 2.6 million years ago, to the end of the Pleistocene around 10,000 BP (before the present era).<br />
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During the Paleolithic, humans grouped together in small societies such as bands, and subsisted by gathering plants and hunting or scavenging wild animals.<br />
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What is particularly interesting about the case of the dog with the bone is that researchers believe a human inserted the mammoth bone in the dog’s mouth after the death of the animal -- meaning it might have ritual importance.<br />
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The large bone in the dog's mouth could signify "that the dog was 'fed' to accompany the soul of the dead person, the dog’s master, on its journey into the afterlife.<br />
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Rob Losey, an associate professor of anthropology at the University of Alberta, told Discovery News that the new study is "very convincing," and shows "quite clearly that the dog domestication process was underway thousands of years earlier than previously thought."<br />
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He thinks the “distinctive treatment given some of the remains also is compelling,’ and this indicates to him that a special connection had developed between people and some dogs early on -- long prior to any good evidence for dogs being buried.<br />
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The dogs that were unearthed were described as large animals with an estimated body weight of just over 77 pounds and a shoulder height of at least 2 feet.<br />
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The shape of their skulls resembles those of a Siberian husky, but these animals were larger and heavier than the modern Husky.<br />
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The dogs died when they were between 4 and 8 years old, suffering from numerous broken teeth during their lifetimes.<br />
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Based on what is known of the human culture at the site, the researchers believe these dogs were used as beasts of burden for the hauling of meat, bones and tusks from mammoth kill sites and of firewood, and to help with the transport of equipment.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">World's Shortest Cat is 6 Inches Tall</span></center><center><a href="http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2011/10/05/Worlds-shortest-cat-is-6-inches-tall/UPI-21271317840894/?dailybrief"><span style="color: #274e13;">upi.com</span></a></center><br />
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SAN DIEGO -- Guinness World Records says a Munchkin Cat from California measuring only 6 inches tall has been certified as the world's Shortest Living Cat.<br />
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The record-keeping organization marked Tuesday's World Animal Day by certifying 3-year-old Fizz Girl, owned by Tiffani Kjeldergaard of Southern California, as the feline with the shortest stature in the world.<br />
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Fizz Girl is a Munchkin Cat, a breed known for its unusually short legs.<br />
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Kjeldergaard said she has bred Munchkin Cats for years, but Fizz Girl is by far the shortest.<br />
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"Fizzgirl knows that she's short, but she has no problems climbing and getting to the highest places in the house," she said.<br />
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The previous record holder, a Himalayan/Siamese mix named Itse Bitse, measured 3.75 inches tall, but later went missing.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Pet-Napper Nabbed, </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Pug Puppy Reported Safe, </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">say Colo. Cops</span></center><center><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20116266-504083.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Barry Leibowitz - cbsnews.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pgrvIvnpjyI/TpCCA3OFAzI/AAAAAAAAPDQ/HdcRa0RENyA/s1600/17-p7.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pgrvIvnpjyI/TpCCA3OFAzI/AAAAAAAAPDQ/HdcRa0RENyA/s400/17-p7.bmp" width="307" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Pug puppy stolen from, and returned to, a Lone Tree, Colo. pet store<br />
(Credit: KCNC) (CBS/KCNC)</em></span></center><br />
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LONE TREE, Colo. - A puppy pilfered from a pet store - a pug, no less - has been returned to its proper owner, and the perpetrator has been arrested, say Denver area police.<br />
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Surveillance video recorded the suspect playing with the $1,200 pug in the store in Lone Tree, Colo. Monday afternoon, reported CBS affiliate KCNC.<br />
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The woman spent some time with the dog, then left and returned to Just Pets a few hours later.<br />
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"(She) really liked her, said she was in love with her; was going to think about her and come back," store owner Lisa Stone said, according to KCNC.<br />
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Stone said the woman said she wanted to buy the dog but needed a few more minutes. Meanwhile, another customer came in to look at kittens. When Stone went to the back of the store the pug-napper dashed out the front door.<br />
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"I didn't see anybody anywhere; nobody running, no car, no nothing -- gone," Stone said.<br />
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According to the American Kennel Club, pet theft is a growing problem nationwide. Approximately 224 pets have been reported stolen in the first 7 months of this year compared with just 150 in the same period of time last year.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Starving Dog Leaps from Third-Story Window</span></center><center><a href="http://www.ohmidog.com/2011/10/06/32426/"><span style="color: #274e13;">ohmidog.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7IZHh7FPpUY/TpCAiO3U0XI/AAAAAAAAPDI/t4uYu4HDAqs/s1600/17-p6.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="289" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7IZHh7FPpUY/TpCAiO3U0XI/AAAAAAAAPDI/t4uYu4HDAqs/s400/17-p6.bmp" width="385" /></a></div><br />
Animal control officials in New Bedford, Mass., are seeking the public’s help in finding the owners of two pit bull-type dogs left in a vacant apartment — one of which, apparently starving, jumped out of a third-story window.<br />
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The emaciated 1-year-old female jumped from the window on Sept. 30, breaking her hip and hind leg, according to South Coast Today. She’s now being treated at Cape Cod Veterinary Specialties.<br />
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The second dog, a four-month-old puppy (pictured above), was found inside the apartment. The two were believed to have been abandoned two months ago when the tenants moved out.<br />
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The Animal Rescue League of Boston is asking for the public’s help to offset the costs associated with the dogs’ care and rehabilitation. Those interested in making a donation can call (617) 426-9170, Ext. 615, or visit www.arlboston.org/donate.<br />
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Anyone with information about the dogs or their owners is asked to contact New Bedford Animal Control Officer Emmanuel Maciel at (508) 991- 6366. <br />
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“This constitutes felony cruelty against an innocent animal,” says Lt. Alan Borgal, director of the Center for Animal Protection at the Animal Rescue League of Boston. “We are counting on the public to step forward with information to help bring the person or persons responsible to justice.”<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Kidnapped Cat Back with Owner</span></center><center><a href="http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20111009/OSH0101/310090064/Kidnapped-cat-back-owner?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Cimg%7CFRONTPAGE"><span style="color: #274e13;">Written by Sharon RoznBk - northwestern.com</span></a></center><br />
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TOWN OF CALUMET — A kidnapped cat named Slim is back home with its owners.<br />
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The tabby cat was sleeping comfortably at home on Saturday afternoon, said Linda Struye, who owns Little Farmer Orchard on Highway 151 north of Fond du Lac.<br />
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"I'm sure he's had a few rough nights. He deserves a rest," Struye said.<br />
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Literally hundreds of people contacted Struye with offers to help find her missing cat. She said if it were not for the goodness of strangers, he probably still would be missing.<br />
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"It was unbelievable. People called me from as far away as Ohio and Indiana," she said.<br />
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The story of Slim was reported Thursday when Struye noticed the friendly feline missing and knew he wasn't the kind of cat to wander away. After posting a lost cat message on the Little Farmer Facebook page, Struye got a call stating a woman with some children was spotted at the Little Farmer around 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, carrying the struggling cat to the car.<br />
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Like something out a dimestore detective novel, Slim was traced to a residence in Ripon, but nothing could be proven and the woman wasn't talking.<br />
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Then one night, almost a week later, a vet technician who lives in Ripon spotted a strange cat in the neighborhood she thought might be Slim. When the cat still was outside Saturday morning, she contacted the Green Lake Animal Shelter.<br />
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"When I got the call about the cat, I was reasonably sure it was Slim," said shelter manager Janine Rubeck. "When his owners came to get him, he settled right into her arms and started to purr."<br />
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Struye said she doesn't know if Slim was let go by his captors or ran away. He seemed no worse for wear, just happy to be home to cuddle with his cat buddy Crispy.<br />
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She said everyone from a pizzeria employee to a retired policeman had been on the lookout for her beloved pet. There were midnight forays to scour the city of Ripon. A woman from Oshkosh offered to come down and search the area.<br />
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"The fact that people do care and put all this pressure on the family who took Slim is why I have him back. I am overwhelmed right now by the goodness of people," Struye said.<br />
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The Green Lake Shelter microchipped Slim to keep him safe in the future.<br />
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"It's great to be part of a happy ending like this. It makes everything we do worthwhile," Rubeck said.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Gooooal! </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Bo Obama Plays Soccer at the White House</span></center><center><a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20535103,00.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">people.com</span></a></center><br />
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Let's move! Bo Obama knows what to do. <br />
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When it comes to the First Dog, he's just a chip off the old First Family block. With mom Michelle Obama spearheading physical fitness and healthy eating in her initiatives as First Lady, Bo has an accessible role model and has been following her lead. <br />
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During a youth sports clinic at the White House on Thursday, the Portuguese water dog got onto the field and got in some playtime with a soccer ball. <br />
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The energetic pooch took the ball in his mouth at one point and even got the First Lady's trip director, Alan Fitts, to kick it around with him. That's some fancy footwork! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vWDksGMfQkM/TpB4UunkU9I/AAAAAAAAPCY/eZ64UepCJsM/s1600/16-p12.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vWDksGMfQkM/TpB4UunkU9I/AAAAAAAAPCY/eZ64UepCJsM/s400/16-p12.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Jennifer Aniston Has Puppy Love </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Moment Sans Justin Theroux</span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"> </span><a href="http://www.celebuzz.com/2011-09-26/jennifer-aniston-heads-to-good-morning-america-sans-justin-theroux-photos/"><span style="color: #274e13;">celebuzz.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Dk8B9qG788/TpMR0chBDqI/AAAAAAAAPDo/dc3GjX8A-Eo/s1600/17-p10.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Dk8B9qG788/TpMR0chBDqI/AAAAAAAAPDo/dc3GjX8A-Eo/s400/17-p10.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Jennifer Aniston was spotted solo Monday morning as she headed to Good Morning America to promote the Lifetime movieFive. <br />
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After her appearance on Good Morning America, Jennifer stopped to pet and snap a quick photo of an adorable Dachshund puppy. So cute!<br />
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The actress directed one of the five shorts, making it her directorial debut. She said of the project earlier this year:<br />
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“Our hope with Project Five is to entertain, inform and inspire dialogue, research and prevention. Otherwise, our goals are small. We want these films to move people and empower those affected by breast cancer to stand tall through this challenge, which impacts ALL of our lives, no matter who we are.”<br />
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Meanwhile, Jen’s ex Brad Pitt‘s movie Moneyball didn’t win at the box office as expected. The film was beat out by the likes of Lion King in 3D which grossed $22.1 million, while Moneyball only pulled in $20.6 million. <br />
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Jen’s appearance heading into GMA is one of the few we’ve seen without her new beau Justin Theroux by her side. The two were out and about in NYC all last week. <br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">5 Pet Costumes for Halloween </span></center><center><a href="http://salem.patch.com/articles/5-pet-costumes-for-halloween"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Kevin Letourneau - patch.com</span></a></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: #cc0000;">This October, transform man's best friend into the costume contest-winning pooch he's destined to become. Here are a few ideas to get you going.</span></center><br />
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Put your paws up — October is in full swing and we are at Halloween Ground Zero. Calling all boys, ghouls, critters and creatures. Whether or you love it or leave it, this is our time. Whip out the sewing machine and paint those faces, but please, by all means, don’t leave Sparky behind. It’s his time too. <br />
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While you’re sifting through the attic trunks of costume wigs and rags, take a moment and think of what your little pal may be feeling like rocking this season. Charles Barkley? Octokitty? Bunny Madoff?<br />
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Here are 5 pet costume ideas to get you going:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lznDuOQFTak/TpB7g2JNeII/AAAAAAAAPCg/A30kicTHCBk/s1600/17-p1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lznDuOQFTak/TpB7g2JNeII/AAAAAAAAPCg/A30kicTHCBk/s400/17-p1.bmp" width="400" /></a></div>•<strong>Penelope's Castle</strong> — Storm the living room castle in one of Penelope's Pet Boutique's medieval line of costumes ranging from Knight, King, Queen and Dragon. We recently bumped into Wendy sporting the fire-breathing dog breath-look. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wgOVagABok4/TpB7tK1OG6I/AAAAAAAAPCo/C44c0qb0C2o/s1600/17-p2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wgOVagABok4/TpB7tK1OG6I/AAAAAAAAPCo/C44c0qb0C2o/s400/17-p2.bmp" width="400" /></a></div>•<strong>Batpup and Super-Dog</strong> — Comic book legends from the Justice Breed come home with these super powered and super cute costumes from Living With Pets. A perfect pair for a doggy play date, this team-up is sure to keep Kitty Wonder Whiskers at attention and on her paws.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EzIldKmE_qI/TpB76XFxbCI/AAAAAAAAPCw/stKO_SgPoYc/s1600/17-p3.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EzIldKmE_qI/TpB76XFxbCI/AAAAAAAAPCw/stKO_SgPoYc/s400/17-p3.bmp" width="400" /></a></div>•<strong>Bat Wings</strong> — Go batty with flying rodent wings from Living With Pets. Bat wings make for an easy accessory for the big night. Made by a mother-daughter team in Seattle, all products sold at Living With Pets are made in America.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vxFjeNrgHGk/TpB8Hu_HZLI/AAAAAAAAPC4/d1Fv-BN8RyE/s1600/17-p4.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vxFjeNrgHGk/TpB8Hu_HZLI/AAAAAAAAPC4/d1Fv-BN8RyE/s400/17-p4.bmp" width="400" /></a></div>•<strong>The Boo-cage</strong> — Okay, so the logistics of taking Polly out to play Halloween night might sound like a nightmare, but why not keep things festive by decorating the birdcage? Take an old bed sheet, cut out a couple holes and put your parakeets to sleep with a ghost costume that'd even Charlie Brown would envy.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VkHvy2ErZ0k/TpB8SIk39hI/AAAAAAAAPDA/1pn-cwu7ISs/s1600/17-p5.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VkHvy2ErZ0k/TpB8SIk39hI/AAAAAAAAPDA/1pn-cwu7ISs/s400/17-p5.bmp" width="271" /></a></div>•<strong>The Red Baron</strong><br />
Speaking of the Peanuts gang, you could always grab your beagle a pair of goggles, drawstring hood and red scarf to pay tribute to the World War I Flying Ace like Snoopy from It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.' Doggles can be purchased at Penelope's Pet Boutique.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Halloween Pet Safety Tips</span></center><center><a href="http://www.kionrightnow.com/story/15637877/halloween-pet-safety-tips"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Jasmine Viel - kionrightnow.com</span></a></center><br />
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SANTA CRUZ, Calif.- Halloween is a fun time for kids and many adults, but can be a frightening and stressful time for pets. <br />
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The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter is reminding pet owners about safety during the upcoming Halloween holiday. Pets can get very startled by costumes and other unusual activities surrounding the Halloween celebrations. Constant door knocking, bell ringing, and unusual appearing guests can stress pets or spook them. This can contribute to escape or aggression.<br />
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Learn what to be aware of to protect your pet and stay safe this year! <br />
Halloween Pet Safety Tips:<br />
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•Keep animals confined indoors on Halloween. Seclude them safely in a room away from the door and distractions. <br />
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•Walk pets before dark to avoid any altercations with costumed characters. <br />
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•House animals indoors just before and during Halloween. This protects pets from pranksters who tease, injure, steal, or harm animals. <br />
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•Make sure pets are wearing collars with current identification. Many pets get spooked and escape. Unfortunately they end up in shelters without identification. <br />
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•Keep pets away from costumed ghouls and goblins. Halloween bites are not uncommon. Even friendly animals may bite due to stress, fear, or protective aggression. <br />
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•Store and dispense candy so that it is not accessible to pets. Many treats are toxic and even lethal to pets. Especially poisonous are "sugar free" sweetener xylitol and chocolate. <br />
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•Don't dress up pets unless they love it. If you do dress them up make sure the costume isn't annoying or unsafe. Avoid restriction of movement, vision, hearing or the ability to breathe or vocalize. Costumes should not contain small dangling accessories that could be consumed or cause choking. <br />
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•Restrict your pet's access to decorations. Jack o' lanterns with candles are obvious fire hazards, but cats can also get tangled in streamers. Pets can also become ill from eating holiday decor.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Wagging Tails Pet Tips - </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">My Puppy Is A Chewer, </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">What Can I Do To Stop Him?</span> <br />
<a href="http://www.wawa-news.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9809&Itemid=99999999"><span style="color: #274e13;">Written by Tracy Blackmore, WaggingTailsKennel.ca</span></a></center><br />
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Many new puppies chew on everything when they start teething. The need hard stuff to chew on to help break the teeth through the gums.<br />
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There are many people who figure they can just take a soup bone and toss it to the puppy and it will be ok. BUT, this is not always a good idea. A soup bone in the raw state (before cooking) can cause harmful bacteria to your puppy and can cause food poisoning.<br />
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<b>Ok, so what if I boil it to kill the bacteria?</b><br />
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Boiling will kill the bacteria, BUT it also softens the bone so that it can splinter and break apart. The best thing to do with a soup bone for a puppy is to microwave it for about 2 minutes to kill the bacteria, let it cool for 15 or 20 minutes then give it to the puppy, but keep a close eye on it, once the puppy starts making ridges in the bone take it away. When a bone splinters it can get into the puppy's throat and cause bleeding, or it can cause splinters in the stomach lining and all this can cost major amounts for vet bills and possibly even death in some cases.<br />
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<b>What about rawhide?</b><br />
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The problem with rawhide is that a puppy can not digest it. It is ok to give them a pressed rawhide for a few minutes, but even that is not recommended for puppies under a year old.<br />
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<b>So what can I give my puppy to help stop the chewing?</b><br />
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It is recommended that "natural" treats be given to help with chewing, a good sturdy toy, rope toy, solid toy, etc. To help with the chewing phase. Another treat would be a raw carrot, depending on the size of the puppy a carrot stick or for larger puppies a whole carrot, or even some frozen green beans, the whole type. These are terrific natural treats for puppies.<br />
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<b>What if they don't like them?</b><br />
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Well, there are also natural biscuits on the market that are hard and take smaller puppies a long time to get through them, the larger puppies are a little harder to help out. But with perseverance you will be able to find natural treats to help with the chewing.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Mutt-I-Grees Mania</span></center><center><a href="http://www.app.com/article/20110930/NJLIFE06/309300029/Dogs-help-schools-lick-bullies?odyssey=nav%7Chead"><span style="color: #274e13;">Written by - Sharon L. Peters | Special for USA TODAY</span></a></center><br />
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<center><span style="color: #cc0000;">Dogs help schools lick bullies</span></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SQ_mDU-qBt8/TpHBz086HBI/AAAAAAAAPDY/vm9dYnIyYuE/s1600/17-p8.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SQ_mDU-qBt8/TpHBz086HBI/AAAAAAAAPDY/vm9dYnIyYuE/s400/17-p8.bmp" width="276" /></a></div><center><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>Model Beth Ostrosky Stern poses with puppies for the 2011 North Shore Animal Mutt-i-grees Mania in New York. Mutt-i-grees is a program from the Yale University School of the 21st Century and the Pet Savers Foundation of North Shore Animal League America. / ASSOCIATED PRESS</em></span></center><br />
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Sweet-natured dogs lolling about classrooms are helping take a bite out of bullying -- and other bad behaviors -- in Kansas City schools.<br />
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No More Bullies teaches, with dogs’ help, responsibility, compassion, self-control and integrity. Since its small launch five years ago, teachers and counselors have become so convinced of the positive impact on kids’ behavior that it’s booked into the 80-classroom max it can handle, and there’s a long waiting list of requests for next year.<br />
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The curriculum, developed by ex-teacher Jo Dean Hearn, humane education director at animal rescue group Wayside Waifs, is presented an hour a day for five days by trained volunteers -- accompanied by irresistible canines.<br />
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“The animals are the glue that helps the children stay focused and understand the message,” Hearn says.<br />
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Adds teacher Peggy Everist: “There’s a lot of specific language, like being fair, and using compassion or integrity, that plays out with the students throughout the year.”<br />
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A growing number of programs use animals to get kids’ attention while teaching respect and conflict resolution. Most are free; some charge nominal amounts to cover expenses; some help schools apply for grants to cover costs.<br />
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Mutt-i-grees, a program from the Yale University School of the 21st Century and the Pet Savers Foundation of North Shore Animal League America, is just barely out of the gate and is already in 900 schools in 28 states. The curriculum consists of at least 25 age-appropriate 30-minute lessons, each aimed at building social and emotional skills.<br />
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Real animals aren’t necessarily in the classroom (though some teachers invite therapy dogs, and many visit shelters). Teachers use dog-shaped hand puppets as instructional aides for younger grades; animals are the pivot point of lessons; and there’s information about keeping safe around dogs developed with dog trainer Cesar Millan, whose foundation pledged $1 million.<br />
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“It’s a highly scripted, user-friendly … blueprint teachers can adapt to their own styles and needs,” says Matia Finn-Stevenson, an expert on child development, schools and learning and director of Yale’s School of the 21st Century. She and her team have spent two years developing the Mutt-i-grees curricula now used in two grade ranges (pre-K through third grade, and grades 4 to 6). Grades 7 and 8 are in testing.<br />
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Why it works is simple, says Finn-Stevenson: “Children have an affinity for animals. When animals are the topic of their writing or reading exercises, they are engaged.”<br />
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The long-term effect on civility is indisputable, says Cheri Brown Thompson, founder of the Orangeburg, S.C.-based Healing Species, a decade-old program that uses rescued dogs in a 13-week classroom course. “Even academic scores go up,” she says, citing the group’s studies comparing standardized test scores a year before and after the class. “The teacher is spending less time refereeing, and kids settle down better.”<br />
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Thompson aims to interrupt the violence cycle she learned about in law school: Most violent offenders “were abused as children and began abusing animals when they were still children. The missing component is compassion … not receiving it and not understanding what it is. We can teach compassion. What better way than through a rescued dog that returns love even in the face of hate?”<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">A Cat Lover Learns How to Talk to Dogs</span> <br />
<a href="http://coronado.patch.com/articles/a-cat-lover-learns-how-to-talk-to-dogs"><span style="color: #274e13;">Jennifer Reed - patch.com</span></a></center><br />
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A veterinary student finds that, as Martin Buber said, "an animal's eyes have the power to speak a great language." <br />
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In my life, I have always had cats. And I have always talked to them. First, it was the playful gibberish of a six-year-old's imagination, then the secrets of teen angst and eventually, a mutual understanding in silence as my pets and I grew older together.<br />
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I tell my cats every day that I love them, that their paws smell good, that they are my best friends, the loves of my life and that I am glad, so glad, they happened to me. Never once have they said anything back, and never once have they needed to.<br />
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It goes without saying for me that cats are my passion. I am an animal lover through and through, but for cats there is a special place in my heart — a place that jumps to life every time a feline comes through the treatment door.<br />
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Dogs are a different story. I have been pining for a pup of my own for the last decade or so and I gush whenever I see random dogs on the street, but truth be told, I'm kind of afraid of them. And during my first month at the Drake Center, I realized I really don't know how to talk to dogs at all.<br />
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I spent my introductory week at the practice tip-toeing around the jumpy, slobbering creatures. I had been around dogs before, of course, but not nearly enough to know what they were thinking, or when they might bite. In an effort to look like I knew what I was doing, though, I put my fear away and jumped into the world of dogs with both feet.<br />
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I went about handling them as best I could and the only way I knew how — which, apparently, was like cats. I knew that I was a novice by the way I too-gently restrained nervous patients and the lighthearted laughter of a co-worker who told me I was letting the canine beasts boss me around, but I truly realized the error of my ways when I found myself cooing and clucking for a dog's attention.<br />
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A gentle voice and some coaxing go a long way for a cat, a creature for whom commands fall on deaf ears. As any cat's human will tell you, it's the kitty who owns you — not the other way around. Dogs, on the other hand, love and need to be told what to do.<br />
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I'm still no professional canine wrangler, but over time my timid voice grew louder, my restraining arms stronger and my commands more confident.<br />
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I thought I was finally learning how to talk to dogs, but just when I had gotten the hang of it, I found a lump on one of my favorite boarding patients.<br />
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She was a beautiful, middle-aged golden retriever with a sunny personality and unbeknownst to me, she had cancer. The lump would not be removed, I was told, because she was already dying. A few weeks, maybe, was all she had.<br />
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That day I took her out to the yard, where for the first time, we did not play ball or tug-of-war. Instead, we sat together in the shade and I began to talk. I gave her a hug and told her she was a good dog who didn't deserve her fate. I told her that it would all be okay and that I would remember her. Then I told her I loved her, to which she responded by offering me her paw.<br />
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Some may not believe that animals can understand us, but if there was ever a time I knew they did, that was it. And I found in that moment that I knew how to talk to dogs all along, because the language of love and the bond between human and animal is universal.<br />
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Jennifer Reed is a writer and animal lover who recently left her position as a Patch editor to pursue a career in the veterinary field.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Dogs Eat More Than Homework: </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Mishaps Often Behind Dog Illnesses</span></center><center><a href="http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/27/3941849/dogs-eat-more-than-homework-mishaps.html"><span style="color: #274e13;">sacbee.com</span></a></center><br />
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CINCINNATI -- After turning the house upside down in search of her diamond earrings, Deb and Merrell Wreden glanced down at their 2-year-old Jack Russell Terrier and wondered simultaneously the same cringe-inducing thought: "Could Lola have swallowed them?" After all, it wasn't the first time their otherwise lovable pooch had treated various household items as her own personal buffet.<br />
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A quick trip to the vet confirmed their suspicions, and the dreaded waiting game was on. Two days later, the earrings were back in place, albeit with a little less luster than before. <br />
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The Wredens – and Lola – were lucky. As thousands of pet owners find out each year, left to their own devices, many dogs will eat just about anything.<br />
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"Not a week goes by where I don't see at least one dog that has eaten something it shouldn't have," says Dr. Jennifer Coates, a Colorado-based veterinarian and author. "Whether it's from eating people food, gobbling up something disgusting or dangerous on a walk, such as poisonous plants, or chewing on a household item, dogs can get quite sick, and the cost of treatment – sometimes including surgery – can quickly climb." <br />
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According to Dr. Coates, some of the more expensive digestive afflictions to treat, which are seen on a regular basis, are:<br />
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•Pancreatitis. Dogs can get pancreatitis by eating inappropriate foods from the table – fat drippings from meat, chicken skin or other greasy, high-fat scraps are most commonly to blame. Symptoms can range from a tummy ache to vomiting and diarrhea, and severe cases can even be fatal. Sometimes, pancreatitis develops when there is no identifiable cause. Cost of treatment: averages $535<br />
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•Foreign bodies. Puppies, in particular, are apt to consume anything lying around the house – a tennis ball, a child's rubber duck, an empty plastic soda bottle, etc. It can happen to even the most responsible pet parents, and many times surgery is required to remove the item. Cost of treatment: surgery averages $1,800<br />
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•Medications. Whether it is a medicine prescribed for Lassie – heartworm pills are tasty, and dogs will polish off the entire package when given the chance – or drugs meant for a human family member where Fido chewed through the bottle, overdoses require fast action and can mean several days of hospitalization. Cost of treatment: averages $610<br />
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•Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Some dogs – both young and old – have persistent digestive problems without a history of eating what they shouldn't, and those diagnosed with IBD typically require lifelong treatment, including a special diet and medicines. Cost of treatment: averages $540<br />
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Given how common digestive afflictions are in dogs, Dr. Coates recommends that owners consider pet insurance.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Six Ways to Save Money With Your New Dog</span></center><center><a href="http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2011/09/29/six-ways-to-save-money-with-your-new-dog/"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Ed Avis - foxbusiness.com</span></a></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dLLb3-K8MGA/TpHDUneWCeI/AAAAAAAAPDg/1w7JqA-LIco/s1600/17-p9.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dLLb3-K8MGA/TpHDUneWCeI/AAAAAAAAPDg/1w7JqA-LIco/s400/17-p9.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The kids have been begging for a puppy for six months, and you finally decide a dog might just complete your family. Plus, the canine may teach your kids a few things about responsibility and caring for others, right? Those are good reasons to get a dog, but before you bring Spot home, take a few minutes to consider the finances.<br />
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With shots, vet care, food, toys, boarding, insurance…that pup's expenses will add up fast. Here are six tips for trimming some of Fido's bills:<br />
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<b>Don't buy from a pet store or breeder</b><br />
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There are several good reasons to avoid pet stores and breeders when you're seeking a new dog, perhaps the least of which is that you'll save money. Some commercial pet businesses such as dog breeders have been accused of mistreating their animals, and sometimes pure-bred dogs - which is what pet stores and breeders typically sell - have more medical issues than mixed-breed dogs.<br />
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A much better place to get a new dog is a shelter or canine rescue organization. These non-profit organizations take in animals that are abandoned, neglected, or abused, and try to find new homes for them. Many of these animals make great pets. They're not free - you probably will need to pay for the first round of shots and other veterinary care - but they will cost substantially less than the typical pure-bed puppy at Pet Palace.<br />
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Your kids will love the animal no matter where it came from, and a mixed-breed canine will provide essentially the same dog experience as any full-breed.<br />
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<b>Skip the vet</b><br />
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One of the most shocking expenses new dog owners encounter is the fat bill from the vet. An urban pet owner will be lucky to walk out of a routine visit with a bill smaller than $300. It's highly likely that you'll want your dog spayed or neutered - figure $300-$500 extra for that surgery. Yikes! That's some serious dough. There are, however, some ways around those expenses.<br />
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First, have your animal spayed or neutered at the Humane Society or other shelter - these places will do them at-cost, which is more in the range of $50 to $100. Then, get your shots through organizations such as Luv My Pet. These businesses set up mini-clinics at major pet stores and provide all the necessary immunizations for about a third of the cost of your typical vet. Search under “low cost pet immunizations” to find an organization near you.<br />
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But there's a catch: Neither the Humane Society nor Luv My Pet provides regular veterinary attention. You may decide you'd like the comfort of having a regular vet check your pet, keep its records, advise you on diet, etc. You can still visit your vet for those things, even if you do the other things at a low-cost clinic. Your vet won't be happy about it, but she'll still welcome your business.<br />
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<b>Skip the kennel</b><br />
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Another chunky bill pet owners face is boarding when they take a dog-less vacation. Depending on location and services, boarding can easily run $25-$75 per night. That week at grandma's suddenly got more expensive! Dodge that expense by hiring a neighborhood kid or nearby relative to walk and feed your dog twice a day. Pay that person $10 per day and everyone will be happy.<br />
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<b>Nutrition matters, but you can save money on food</b><br />
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Sure, the ads are compelling: XYZ Super Dog Food will make your dog's coat sleek and keep the pep in his step. But less expensive dog food isn't going to poison Barky - buy him the normal-level stuff and pocket the savings. But don't try to compensate by giving your dog human food - it's not good for her and it will make her into a slobbering, jumpy beggar.<br />
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<b>Keep your dog “toys” simple</b><br />
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Let's be honest: Does your dog really need the $25 pet toy in his stocking at Christmas? No, he'll be delighted and amazed that everyone is home an extra day. Give him a few old socks tied into knots and his eyes will bug out with joy.<br />
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<b>Skip obedience school</b><br />
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How obedient do you need your dog to be? You can easily spend $150 for a group class or $100 per hour for private classes - crazy, right? Teach your dog a few key basics, such has coming when you call her name and not jumping on visitors, and you're good to go.<br />
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Any elementary dog training book from the library can help you teach your pet those tricks and dozens more. Yeah, if you have a problem dog that barks all night, you may need to shell out for professional help. But most families are pleased when Fluffy simply sits on command.<br />
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<b>The bottom line</b><br />
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Dogs can be amazing companions that improve the lives of you and your children. But they can also be money drains. Apply the above tips and those expenses won't get between you and your enjoyment of Snowball.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Ask The Vet: </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Dog is Friendly with Others </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">- Until They Get Close</span></center><center><a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/27/DDPN1L7T97.DTL"><span style="color: #274e13;">Trish King - San Francisco Chronicle</span></a></center><br />
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Q: My 6-year-old chow/retriever mix acts friendly toward other dogs when we are out walking on a leash. She even wags her tail, but as soon as they get close she fiercely growls and lunges at them. How can I stop this annoying behavior?<br />
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A: This is often seen as a baffling behavior, and not only by dog owners. Professionals also disagree on why some dogs are friendly until they get too close.<br />
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When dogs meet dogs appropriately, they approach the last few feet fairly slowly, arcing their body and wagging their tails in wide sweeping motions to show goodwill. Generally, they sniff the other dog's neck, then hindquarters, and then move back to the neck. After that, both dogs will relax and go on their way.<br />
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Sometimes the greeting goes awry. The dogs will meet, and you'll notice one or both of them stiffening - their tails go up, and they rise on their toes. As soon as one moves at all, there could be a fight. It appears that they discover that they don't know each other, but they are too close to retreat. <br />
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When flight is not an option, fight can be the result. This is called conflict behavior. There are some dogs that actively challenge others - these dogs trot purposefully up to other dogs and sniff, but do not allow the other dog to sniff back. If the other dog does, they react unfavorably. <br />
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If your dog is otherwise friendly, behavior modification usually involves teaching the dog how to greet other dogs quickly and then move on. This process should generally be overseen by a professional who can read canine body language, because the timing can be critical. Sometimes dogs need to meet several times before they feel comfortable enough to actually interact. <br />
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Trish King, Marin Humane Society director of behavior and training. www.marinhumanesociety.org.<br />
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<center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Lost in Suburbia: </span></center><center><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Bathroom Etiquette for Dogs</span></center><center><a href="http://www.ardmoreite.com/mysource/family/x827643989/Lost-in-Suburbia-Bathroom-etiquette-for-dogs"><span style="color: #274e13;">By Tracy Beckerman - GateHouse News Service</span></a></center><br />
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Just when I got the kids to finally stop following me into the bathroom, the dog started doing it.<br />
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I thought, actually, that he might have gotten the idea from the kids. Maybe he thought it was a really fun place to be because whenever I was in there, it suddenly became the most popular room in the house. When your kids are little, you kind of expect this and grudgingly learn how to help someone with their two-times table while you are seated with your pants around your ankles. But once they become teenagers and they are still walking in on you so they can ask for money to go get pizza, it becomes significantly less acceptable.<br />
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Because we had moved into the house when the kids were little, we never put locks on the bathroom doors. And because we had a really old house, the doors never quite stayed closed when you shut them. Still, I thought that a knock on the door was more than reasonable to at least give me the opportunity to say, “I’m busy” before someone barged in on me.<br />
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The kids accepted this new rule.<br />
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The dog … not so much.<br />
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The first time it happened, I thought it was kind of cute. The second time, a little less so. But when the dog started following me into the bathroom every time I went to answer nature’s call, I finally had it.<br />
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“Out, Out, OUT!” I yelled. He tucked his tail between his legs and sulked out of the room, just far enough to get to the other side of the threshold before sitting down to wait. But wait for what? For me to come out? For me to invite him back in? To protect me in case Mr. Whipple arrived and yelled at me for squeezing the Charmin? I was perplexed. Why was the dog so fascinated with the bathroom?<br />
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Then one day when I was in there, he followed me in and I let him stay. As I wrapped up my business, I reached out for some toilet paper and dropped a spare square on the bathroom floor. The dog jumped up, dived on the toilet paper and devoured it instantly. I raised an eyebrow. Then two. I had a thought. To test my theory, I ripped off another square of toilet paper and offered it to the dog, he sucked it down like it was a T-bone steak.<br />
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So the mystery was solved. My dog was a TP addict. It wasn’t me that interested him in the bathroom, it was the squeezably soft and evidently quite delicious bathroom tissue.<br />
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I went to the TP website and checked to make sure there was nothing toxic in the paper and then phoned the vet to make sure this wasn’t a problem for the dog.<br />
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The vet said it should be OK, with three conditions:<br />
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- Don’t let the dog eat too much of it.<br />
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- Make sure the toilet paper is clean.<br />
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- Make sure he changes the empty roll when he is done.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0wyNDoTUfbk/Tpi2SBsNcpI/AAAAAAAAPDw/n1QtYfRtLdI/s1600/17-p11.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0wyNDoTUfbk/Tpi2SBsNcpI/AAAAAAAAPDw/n1QtYfRtLdI/s400/17-p11.bmp" width="400" /></a></div>John Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569650383063644384noreply@blogger.com0