Do Dogs Need Sweaters?

I am glad to see C. Shar Pei added to the 'needs a coat list'
because my girl has so little fur and shivers without protection!

http://www.slate.com/id/2279264/

Dog daycare is not for every dog, things to consider.

Nice article, courtesy of the Whole Dog Journal:

http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/13_11/features/Doggie-Daycare-For-Canine-Socialization_20127-1.html

Why Wolf Hybrids are a BAD idea!

Great website with good information about this growing problem.
           
Facts and myths:

http://shadowolf.com/General/hybrids.html

Think dogs' mouths are cleaner than ours?

Fact: Dog Kisses Can Make You Sick


Think dogs' mouths are cleaner than humans? Think again. Veterinarians say dogs' chops are teeming with germs like salmonella, campylobacter, and cryptosporidium. These germs get into a dog's mouth from eating spoiled food or when he uses his tongue as toilet paper. Then a kiss moves these germs from pooch to person, along with a nasty course of diarrhea.

In Memoriam: Daddy the Pit Bull

I was in the doctors office and read this very SAD news. I know it is late, but new to me........I gasped when I read about dear Daddy, and the woman next to me said "are you all right"? VERY SAD.........my condolences go out the the Millan family. There will never be a dog like Daddy!

In Memoriam: Daddy the Pit Bull

Cesar Millan, all his family and friends, his staff and volunteers, and dog lovers all around the world today will mourn the passing of one of the most loyal, trusting, well-balanced, and influential pit bullambassadors the world has ever known. Daddy, Cesar’s longtime friend and partner in canine rehabilitation, died peacefully surrounded by family on Friday the 19th of February. He was sixteen years old.

He lived each day of those sixteen years happy and fulfilled as Cesar’s right-hand-“man,” helping to shape the behavior of entire generations of dogs by showing them the way to balance. He stood as champion for calm-submissive pit bulls everywhere, and was instrumental in helping to repair their image as violent, savage, uncontrollable beasts. He successfully battled cancer and weathered chemotherapy, and even got the opportunity to name is now added to that honorable roster of dogs gone by whose influence is still felt today, and which includes some of Cesar’s beloved childhood heroes: "Rin-Tin-Tin." "Lassie." … "Daddy."
He has been immortalized by Dog Whisperer fans in all mediums, from painting, to photographs, to charcoal drawings and papier-mâché sculpture. And, of course, he lives on in his work, reflected in the balance and calm-submission of his protégé Junior, the countless animals to whom he was a positive role model, and in the hearts and minds of everyone who knew him as a calm, sweet, and mellow example of a widely misunderstood breed.


In Loving Memory:

http://www.cesarsway.com/news/daddy-memoriam
If you would like to honor Daddy’s memory and the contribution he made to improve the lives of other animals, you can make a donation to Daddy’s Emergency Animal Rescue Fund, which will provide assistance for dogs who are victims of abuse or violence, man-made disasters (hoarder and puppy mill rescues), and large-scale natural disasters (hurricanes, fires, and other natural catastrophes).

Other pet sitters know that July has the nickname of 'insane schedules'....highlights from my time spent so far:

Lovely Sarah                                        Food for thoughtEllie GirlMr. Jinx

I am back!

Driving with my surfer duck mascot!

I am back! I took a dare and went on vacation for 10 days.......Pretty bold for a pet sitter in SUMMERTIME!......Everything worked out just fine. And I got to get away and soak up some culture! Everything human and NON-ANIMAL. (Does Jay Leno count as non-animal? I was at a show taping).....................O.K. my brothers house did have two cats in residence.............but that is ALL, I sware.

Dolphin Experience Goes To The Dogs!

Traveling With Your Dog..............Be Sure to Plan Ahead!.....some tips from Dog Time

With pet-friendly hotels, cabins, and resort spots popping up all over the map, traveling with your best friend has never been easier. But while jetting off without planning in advance sounds romantic, it can cause sticky situations if your dog is along for the ride.


Practice first
In any endeavor, practice makes perfect. Your angel of a dog could turn into a devil in transit if you embark on a lengthy trip without preparing properly. But with a little advance work, you can help your pup learn to take travel in stride.
•Acclimate your dog to his carrier or crate. Set the carrier up in the comfort of home well in advance, to help your dog view it as a safe and familiar den that's just his. Be sure the carrier's big enough so your dog can stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably.
•Stick to day trips at first. This is especially helpful for a puppy who hasn't been away from home much. A Saturday visit to an unfamiliar locale can help your dog get used to exploring new terrain and meeting new people.
•Try an overnight trip next. Once he's used to short journeys, arrange to spend a night with a friend or relative, or go to a pet-friendly hotel. This will introduce your dog to a variety of potentially anxiety-producing situations, such as sleeping in a new place, meeting strangers, and dealing with the odd noises of a different household or a hotel.

Prepare your dog for a lengthy trip
Whether you're setting out via plane, ship, or automobile, take these steps first to prevent problems while you and your dog are away from home:
1. See your veterinarian. Make sure your dog is in good health, is up-to-date on shots, and has enough of any needed medications for the trip. Depending on the destination, the vet may suggest additional vaccinations. For example, if travel involves hiking in the woods, the vet could advise a shot for Lyme disease.
2. Get a health certificate from your vet. This verifies that your dog's in good condition, and it may be required by some airlines, hotels, or doggie daycare locations in other cities.
3. Talk to the vet about sedatives. These are most important if your pet has had travel anxiety in the past, but you may choose to use them as a precautionary measure. However, your vet may advise against them for airplane travel.
4. Try any new sedatives or medications before you leave. Check to see if your dog has any allergic reactions that require a vet visit.
5. Ask your vet about a microchip. If your dog doesn't have one already, you may want one as a safeguard against losing him permanently in an unfamiliar place.
6. Know the rules at your destination. For instance, to bring a dog across the border to Mexico, the health certificate must be dated within two weeks of the travel date. Most such certificates will remain valid for 30 days, to cover bringing the dog back into the U.S. at the end of your trip.
7. Research dog-walking routes in advance. Remember, dogs are creatures of routine, and yours will need that daily walk no matter where your vacation spot is--plus he'll enjoy the adventure of new outings.
Bottom line: Pet-friendly accommodations make it possible to travel widely with your dog--but regulations and requirements mean it's crucial to plan all the details first.

And always remember to CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR DOG!

Pet Web Cam feeder.................Watch Your Mischief Maker From Work!

This remote-controlled feeder has a built-in webcam that you can use to monitor your dog or cat from work, via either PC or smartphone. The iSeePet 360 requires a wired connection to your home network. An integrated speaker plays a melody, which (with practice) should generate a Pavlovian response in your browsing Bowser, who'll chow down under your watchful eye. What, no two-way conferencing?

TALK ABOUT CUTE!

ARE TOPICAL FLEA AND TICK DROPS DANGEROUS FOR YOUR PET?

Why are male calico's so rare?

Calico cats, with their orange, black and white coloration, are almost always female. So are black and orange tortoiseshells. Why?

The answer has to do with genetics. Every cat has 38 pairs of chromosomes; half of the pairs are from the mother, the other half is from the father. Within every chromosome there are thousands of different genes.
Every female cat receives one X chromosome from her mother and one X chromosome from her father, while a male receives one X chromosome from his mother and one Y chromosome from his father. Within the X chromosome is a gene for coat color.
In calicos and tortoiseshells, one X has the black gene; the other X has the orange gene. White coat color is associated with a completely separate gene.

At conception, the kitten is a one-celled organism, which divides until there are millions of cells that make up the final kitten. Each time a cell divides, it passes on its genetic material.
For the sex chromosomes, there is a battle for power. This is especially true for the X chromosome. If two X chromosomes are present, which determines female sex, one X chromosome will become inactivated at some point in fetal development. When this happens, all the cells descended from the activated X chromosome will have the same characteristics, including coat color.
In calicos, if the X-chromosome that is left functioning carries the orange gene, then all the cells descended from it will result in an orange color. The same is true if the functioning X chromosome has the black gene. If both X-chromosomes carry the same color gene, then the calico pattern will not appear.
Since X chromosomes inactivate at various times in each individual cat, color patches vary.

The story is different for male cats. Males have only one X chromosome, and it is never inactivated. Whatever color gene is present on this X chromosome will determine the color of the cat. Males can be calico or tortoiseshell only if they are born with 2 X-chromosomes and a Y (XXY), allowing one X to be inactivated. This genetic defect (XXY) is very rare.

It is difficult to breed specifically for calico or tortoiseshell cats. Breeding an orange cat to a black cat may increase the chances, but it all depends on whether the kitten is female and at what stage during development the X-chromosome becomes inactive. There is no way to predict or force an X chromosome to inactivate at a certain point in development.

I know I know this sounds like alot to absorb, but basically it means it is easier for the genes to make girl kitties than boy kitties in this breed. I have had and seen male calicos, however most are usually sterile. If you have a male calico get him checked for fertility. Hope this helps.

Please VOTE cat shown in the two photo's above...........three colored male calico?

Bringing your dog to church?

Bring your dog to church day.
The Calvary Episcopal Church in Danvers, Mass., is now allowing members of their church to bring their dogs! The first "Perfect Paws Pet Ministry" will be held later this month and once a month there after. Barking is allowed says the minister but mass will be held in a different room of the church. There will be communion for the humans and special treats for the canines. Owners can submit special prayers for sick animals, dogs that can not be around other dogs and for cats, birds and horses.

UPDATE: After some additional research, this is not the only church that allows dogs. I personally have been to a church event that blesses the animals in the church parking lot but when I came across this story I was amazed they are now allowing animals inside the church. I'm on the fence, one side of me thinks it would be cool to bring my dog with me, the other side thinks it would be a HUGE distraction.

Credit for the above goes to the blog: for the love of dogs:
 http://www.petlovercouture.blogspot.com/

Litter Boxes No-More!

http://www.litterkwitter.com/en/index.php

No words needed

Today, we honor hairballs everywhere!

There is a certain hacking, coughing sound that most cat owners know all too well. This unpleasant sound signals only one thing: Your cat is about to deposit a fresh hairball on the carpet. Over 38 million U.S. households own at least one cat, so certainly many, many people are aware of hairballs. But did you know that today, April 30, is National Hairball Awareness Day (NHAD)?

When a cat coughs up a hairball, it is actually choking. This hacking can be very dangerous and can cause death in some cases. Cats will overgroom themselves, especially in the spring during peak shedding season. To reduce the hair and the hack, many veterinarians recommend proactive grooming with a product like the FURminator Shedding Tool for cats to help lessen the amount of hair ingested. This is a more holistic approach for reducing hairballs rather than altering a cat’s diet with specially formulated food or giving it a harsh laxative to flush out the hair in its digestive system. You can also add a little canned pumpkin to a cat’s meal once or twice a week. The fiber in the pumpkin can help move any hair clods through its system. Specially formulated hairball-control foods and treats have a similar affect.

Cats have primal instincts and the location of their water bowl can prove it. In the wild, a cat would never drag its kill to a watering hole to eat and drink at the same time. House cats have inherited this same instinct. Owners should keep a cat’s water and food bowls in separate locations. The cat will drink more water, which will help its system clean itself of ingested hair.

A cat’s age can affect how they shed. As a kitten matures, its coat changes in several ways: texture, thickness, curl and coloring. This transition may take up to two years depending on the breed. Once a kitten’s coat has matured, it will begin to shed more by dropping its “kitten coat.” Consult with a veterinarian or groomer on the cat’s changing grooming needs.

Keep cats active to stay healthy; they’re athletes at heart. A healthy cat can jump as much as seven times its height. Unfortunately, 21 percent of cats are considered obese or overweight by their veterinarians. Active play with interactive toys encourages cats to leap, stretch and stay active, increasing balance and coordination while also helping your pet maintain a healthy skin and coat.

Joking aside, hairballs are a bummer for cats and can cause vomiting, loss of appetite and constipation in your kitty. Spare your cat from these problems by following these handy guidelines. Learn more about important cat grooming at Cats 101:

1. Brush your cat daily, especially while she's shedding, to help prevent hairballs from forming in the stomach.
2. Use a bristle or rubber brush for shorthaired cats.
3. Brush longhaired felines with a wide-toothed comb or wire slicker brush.
4. Feed your cat a "hairball control" cat food high in vegetable fiber, or administer a commercial hairball prevention preparation available from your veterinarian or at pet stores.

A thanks goes out to Barking at the Moon blog, for the heads up!
http://www.barkingatthemoon-lunakris.blotspot.com/

What color is my cat?

http://www.seregiontica.org/Colors/intro.htm

Dog walks today on the Sacramento River Trail..........

Cooper graduated from puppy school!

After 16 weeks, Cooper has passed puppy school!..........Congrats to the little man................

Dog Fancy names: TOP DOG PARKS

Dog Fancy Names; Top Dog Parks

Dog Fancy magazine
has released its annual picks in America’s Best Dog Parks contest. (Last year’s results) This year’s best dog park is Jackass Acres K-9 Korral, in New River, Arizona.

“In an age when keyboards and touchpads connect us, off-leash parks flourish across the country because they are great gathering places for both dogs and dog owners to come together and enjoy each other’s company,” says Dog Fancy Editor Ernie Slone. “The best parks offer opportunities for socialization and exercise, but also strive to create a special bond and a sense of community.”

The Top 10
1.Jackass Acres K-9 Korral, New River, Ariz.
2.Pilgrim Bark Park, Provincetown, Mass.
3.Kenton Paw Park, Covington, Ky.
4.Cosmo Dog Park, Gilbert, Ariz.
5.Puptown Dog Park, Chicago, Ill.
6.W.O.O.F. P.A.C. Park, Santa Maria, Calif.
7.Hermon Dog Park, Los Angeles, Calif.
8.Prairie Pastures Dog Park, Clinton, Iowa
9.Wantage Dog Park, Wantage, N.J.
10.Bow Wow Beach, Stow, Ohio

How Parks are Chosen Each year, Dog Fancy calls for readers to submit nominations for what they believe to be America’s best dog parks. To be considered, parks must have fencing, double gates and free clean-up bags. Parks are then considered based on a list of criteria including: water for dogs and their people, shade, lights, parking availability and accessibility, support organizations and special events, among others. This year, extra points were awarded to dog parks with an active community group and parks that hold educational workshops or low-cost health clinics.

For the Complete List For the complete story on America’s Best Dog Parks, and to find out which 40 parks made the list, pick up the June issue of Dog Fancy, on newsstands April 27, 2010.
To locate a dog park in you area:

http://www.dogchannel.com/dog-park/ParkLocator.aspx

When to call your clients, when to call the vet

http://dearlabby.blogspot.com/2010/04/pet-sitters-when-to-call-client-when-to.html

They come in pairs.........elephants that is.....

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4696315n

Prosthetic dog 'BALLS' for those who can't stand the thought.........

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36106504/ns/technology_and_science-science/?pg=6#Tech_ScienceAprilFools

"To the world you are a rescue person

To a rescued dog you are the world ''

Think Pit Bulls are what crowd the animal shelters.........think again.

Small Dog, Big Woes; Chihuahuas Crowd Pet Shelters
By Frank James

If you're considering rescuing a dog from a shelter, you might want to think small. As in real small. As in chihuahua small.
Chihuahuas are disproportionately crowding pet shelters, at least in California. (Paul Sancya / AP Photo)

That's because the diminutive, often feisty dogs are piling up big-time in animal shelters.
At least that appears to be true in California. And we know that California tends to lead the nation in trends.
On Wednesday All Things Considered host Robert Siegel discussed the problem with Kat Brown, deputy director of City and County of San Francisco Animal Care & Control.

BROWN: Right now we have 23 chihuahuas and about one-third of the dogs we have in our shelter are chihuahuas or chihuahua cross.
ROBERT: This is unusual?
BROWN: Very unusual.
ROBERT: Who would typically be the dominant breed in the shelter or would there be one?
BROWN: Normally, at least in years past pit bull and pit bull mix have been the most dominant breed. But this year and actually the last couple of years, we're seeing more chihuahua and chihuahua mix.
ROBERT: Why, why do you think you're seeing so many more chihuahuas?
BROWN: I think it's because a number of things. Some movies featured chihuahuas. Also, a pocket pet kind of thing, from some of the movie stars, Paris Hilton. Also, the economy. I think we're seeing more owner-surrendered animals generally across the board.

But chihuahuas unlike other dogs are more difficult to handle sometimes. People think of them as something, they're like stuffed animals or whatever. But in fact they're like a little dog. and they need all of the things that a big dog needs.
ROBERT: Is this similar to the "101 Dalmatians" phenomenon? A movie comes out and suddenly dalmatians are everybody's Christmas puppy and the next year they're in the shelters?
BROWN: I've been in the business for 25 years and I have to tell you, I haven't seen that many dalmatians. I haven't seen a third of our available dogs or a third of our dogs. This is unusual. This is extremely unusual.
ROBERT: Do you get a sense this is happening at other shelters, that this is pervasive?
BROWN: Yes, yes. We have shelters from the Bay Area who also have the same sort of problem. Oakland, Contra Costa, Peninsula Humane Society. Silicon Valley. San Jose. LASPCA (in Los Angeles) said to us we don't have time to count, there are so many of them.

What can G.I.s do with their pet dogs while away in Iraq or Afghanistan?

I got an e-mail today about a dog that will soon be homeless when its owner is deployed to Iraq.
If this guys family won't take the dog into their care, what is a person to do?
It would be nice if a family or friend would keep the dog so the poor guy had one more reason
to make it home alive..........in this case no such luck.

Then the question becomes; what if the dog comes down with some serious, expensive health
issue while the owner is away? What if there is a simple yard escape and a car gets in the way.
Who pays for these potential expenses, not to mention food and basic care?

Should the pets be re-homed and just forget about fostering and the like? One more heartache
for our service men and women...........................one solution? Get us the hell out of these countries
and lets take care of our own!!! In the meantime.......if you have a service man or women in your life
that has a pet, please consider fostering or adopting!

http://www.militarygi.net/army/resources/item/5821

Pet Quote of the Week

" Your cat will never threaten your popularity by barking at three in the morning. He won't attack the mailman or eat the drapes, although he may climb the drapes to see how the room looks from the ceiling." Helen Powers

Rescuer's answering machine/anyone that works in animal rescue will love this.

A RESCUERS ANSWERING MACHINE:
Hello: You have reached ___-____, Tender Hearts Rescue. Due to the
high volume of calls we have been receiving, please listen closely to
the following options and choose the one that best describes you or
your situation:

>   Press 1 if you have a 10-year-old dog and your 15-year-old son has
suddenly become allergic and you need to find the dog a new home
right away.

>  Press 2 if you are moving today and need to immediately place your

150 pound, 8-year-old dog.
>  Press 3 if you have three dogs, had a baby and want to get rid of
your dogs because you are the only person in the world to have a
baby and dogs at the same time.
>  Press 4 if you just got a brand new puppy and your old dog is having
problems adjusting so you want to get rid of the old one right away.
>  Press 5 if your little puppy has grown up and is no longer small and
cute and you want to trade it in for a new model.

>  Press 6 if you want an unpaid volunteer to come to your home TODAY
and pick up the dog you no longer want.
>  Press 7 if you have been feeding and caring for a "stray" for the
last three years, are moving and suddenly determine it's not your
dog.
>  Press 8 if your dog is sick and needs a vet but you need the money
for your vacation.
>  Press 9 if you are elderly and want to adopt a cute puppy who is not
active and is going to outlive you.
>  Press 10 if your relative has died and you don't want to care for
their elderly dog because it doesn't fit your lifestyle.
>  Press 11 to leave us an anonymous garbled message, letting us know
you have left a dog in our yard in the middle of January, which is
in fact, better than just leaving the dog with no message.
>  Press 12 if you are going to get angry because we are not going to
take your dog that you have had for fifteen years, because it is
not our responsibility.
>   Press 13 if you are going to threaten to take your ten year old dog
to be euthanized because I won't take it. (This is all too common!)
>   Press 14 if you're going to get angry because the volunteers had the
audacity to go on vacation and leave the dogs in care of a trusted
volunteer who is not authorized to take your personal pet.
>   Press 15 if you want one of our PERFECTLY trained, housebroken, kid
and cat friendly purebred dogs that we have an abundance of.
>  Press 16 if you want us to take your dog that has a slight
aggression problem, i.e. has only bitten a few people and killed your
neighbor's cats.
>   Press 17 if you have already called once and been told we don't take
personal surrenders but thought you would get a different person this
time with a different answer.
> Press 18 if you want us to use space that would go to a stray to
board your personal dog while you are on vacation, free of charge,
of course.
>   Press 19 if you have bought your children a duckling, chick or baby
bunny for Easter and it is now Christmas and no longer cute.
>  Press 20 if you want us to take your female dog who has already had
ten litters, but we can't spay her because she is pregnant again and
it is against your religion.
>  Press 21 if your two year old male dog is marking all over your house
but you just haven't gotten around to having him neutered.
>  Press 22 if you previously had an outdoor only dog and are calling
because she is suddenly pregnant.
>  Press 23 if you have done "everything" to housebreak your dog and
have had no success but you don't want to crate the dog because it
is cruel.
>  Press 24 if you didn't listen to the message asking for an evening
phone number and you left your work number when all volunteers are
also working and you are angry because no one called you back. >
>  Press 25 if your new love doesn't like your dog and you are too
stupid to get rid of the new friend (who will dump you in the next
month anyway) instead of the dog.
>  Press 26 if you went through all these 'options' and didn't hear
enough. This press will connect you to the sounds of tears being
shed by one of our volunteers who is holding a discarded old dog
while the vet mercifully frees him from the grief of missing his
family.

> ~Author Unknown, but much appreciated

This quick video is worth looking at..........turn on sound!

http://videos.komando.com/2010/03/11/

How cute can they get!

Manufacturer expands recall of chicken-flavored pet food over salmonella concerns

AP                     March 9th, 2010 Manufacturer expands pet food recall

LINCOLN, Neb. — Nature’s Variety has expanded its recall of chicken-flavored pet food because of concerns over salmonella.
The Lincoln, Neb.-based company said Monday that the raw, frozen food is being recalled because it could be contaminated with salmonella.
The recall includes three-pound packages of chicken medallions, six-pound packages of chicken patties and two-pound packages of chicken chubs.
Initially, the company recalled only packages with a best-by date of Nov. 10, 2010. Now packages with best-by dates of Oct. 29 and Nov. 9, 2010, are also being recalled.
Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, especially in young children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. Pets can also become ill if they consume the bacteria.

     Nature’s Variety: http://www.naturesvariety/

Pet Loss Poem and 10 Tips Helping With Pet Loss Link

She is Gone .........In Honor of Lola, My Chocolate Lab!

You can shed tears that she is gone
or you can smile because she has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that she'll come back
or you can open your eyes and see all she's left.
Your heart can be empty because you can't see her
or you can be full of the love you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember her and only that she's gone
or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back
or you can do what she'd want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

http://www.pet-loss.net/index.shtml

Dog and Cat Diary: In their own words: The Human Perspective

Excerpts from a Dog's Diary......

8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm - Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm - Milk Bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!





Excerpts from a Cat's Daily Diary...

Day 983 of my captivity...

     My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets.

      Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.
    The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.
   Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a 'good little hunter' I am. Idiots.

   There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of 'allergies.' I must learn what this means and how to use it to my advantage.
    Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow, but at the top of the stairs.

    I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return.

   The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicating with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now...

Online Dating

Missing Cat Returned after 14 Years!

Fourteen years after her cat, Tiger Lily, disappeared, Ingrid Kerker of Winnipeg, Canada was stunned to receive a phone call from a veterinary clinic, asking if she had ever owned an orange tabby. The clinic had found a feline with an identification code tattooed in its right ear that led to Kerker's old address, reports the Winnipeg Free Press.

"I was just shocked," Kerker tells Paw Nation. "Tiger Lily disappeared on October 12, 1996. I remember because I wrote the date down in my Bible."
At the time, Kerker and her two young sons put up posters looking for their cat, but they never found her. "Over the years, we wondered what happened to her and she would come up in conversation periodically." Tiger Lily had once been a stray that Kerker adopted and had spayed and tattooed. "In Canada, every animal that is spayed or neutered has to be microchipped or tattooed," Kerker explains. "Back then, they didn't have microchipping, so I had Tiger Lily tattooed."

After getting the call from the veterinary clinic, Kerker quickly called her sons, both now in their twenties. "My younger son Rick [now 23] couldn't wait to go out and get her." Rick took along a photo of himself at eight years old, sleeping with Tiger Lily.

"She was very friendly right away," Kerker tells Paw Nation about reuniting with Tiger Lily. "She just cuddled up on my chest and it was like we hadn't skipped a bit." Except, of course, that Tiger Lily was much older. "The animal clinic examined her and we think she's actually 19 years old," Kerker says. The family has no idea what Tiger Lily was doing these past 14 years. All they know is that when the staffer at the animal clinic rescued her, the cat was thin and smelled of diesel fuel.

Tiger Lily is as affectionate as always and loves to hug cheek to cheek. It took her about three days to get used to the two other cats in Kerker's household, though the dog is another story "All three of the cats line up and eat out of the same bowl," Kerker says. "But Tiger Lily's still a little uncertain about the dog."
 
 
 
Ingrid Kerger holds long lost cat named Tiger. Credit: Boris Minkevich, Winnipeg Free Press

Current Dog Vaccine Recommendations from AAHA

Dog Vaccine Recommendations from AAHA


The American Animal Hospital Association no longer recommends that pets be vaccinated every year. Here is a summary of their recommendations and a link to their web site :

The 2006 AAHA Vaccine Recommendation Guidelines say the following:

The guidelines designate four vaccines as core, or essential for every dog, because of the serious nature of the diseases and their widespread distribution. These are canine distemper virus (using a modified live virus or recombinant modified live virus vaccine), canine parvovirus (using a modified live virus vaccine), canine adenovirus-2 (using a modified live virus vaccine), and rabies (using a killed virus).

The general recommendations for their administration (except rabies, for which you must follow local laws) are:
* Vaccinate puppies at 6–8 weeks, 9–11 weeks, and 12–14 weeks.
* Give an initial “adult” vaccination when the dog is older than 16 weeks; two doses, three to four weeks apart, are advised, but one dose is considered protective and acceptable.
* Give a booster shot when the dog is 1 year old.
* Give a subsequent booster shot every three years, unless there are risk factors that make it necessary to vaccinate more or less often.
Noncore vaccines should only be considered for those dogs who risk exposure to a particular disease because of geographic area, lifestyle, frequency of travel, or other issues. They include vaccines against distemper-measles virus, canine parainfluenza virus, leptospirosis, Bordetella bronchiseptica, and Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease).

Vaccines that are not generally recommended because the disease poses little risk to dogs or is easily treatable, or the vaccine has not been proven to be effective, are those against giardia, canine coronavirus, and canine adenovirus-1.

This is of interest to pet sitters and kennels because we will no longer be able to require that animals be "current" with yearly vaccinations. On the other hand, there are many health reasons not to over-vaccinate, and I think this is a step in the right direction.

Don't think that parvo, distemper, rabies and other canine diseases aren't around any more. It is tragic that a parvo outbreak at a local animal shelter causes the entire population of dogs to be euthanized. Protect your dog, and share this information with your family and friends!

Caring for Pets Left Behind by the Rapture For a fee, this service will place your dog or cat in the home of a caring atheist on Judgment Day

Are these people kidding!!!!

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_08/b4167070046047.htm?chan=rss_topStories_ssi_5


http://eternal-earthbound-pets.com/

Doctor casts new light on cat that can predict death

SYDNEY (Reuters) – When doctors and staff realized that a cat living in a U.S. nursing home could sense when someone was going to die, the feline, Oscar, was portrayed as a furry grim reaper or four-legged angel of death.
But Dr. David Dosa, who broke the news of Oscar's abilities in a paper in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2007, said he never intended to make Oscar sound creepy or his arrival at a bedside to be viewed negatively.
Dosa said he hopes his newly released book, "Making Rounds With Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat" will put the cat in a more favorable light as well as providing a book to help people whose loved ones are terminally ill.
"After the New England Journal article you got the feeling that if Oscar is in your bed then you are dead, but you did not really see what is going on for these family members," said Dosa, an assistant professor of medicine at Brown University.
"I wanted to write a book that would go beyond Oscar's peculiarities, to tell why he is important to family members and caregivers who have been with him at the end of a life."
Dosa said Oscar's story is fascinating on many levels.
Oscar was adopted as a kitten from an animal shelter to be raised as a therapy cat at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Providence, Rhode Island, which cares for people with severe dementia and in the final stages of various illnesses.

SIXTH SENSE?
Oscar was about six months old the staff noticed that he would curl up to sleep with patients who were about to die.
So far he has accurately predicted about 50 deaths.
Dosa recounts one instance when staff were convinced of the imminent death of one patient but Oscar refused to sit with that person, choosing instead to be on the bed of another patient down the hallway. Oscar proved to be right. The person he sat with died first, taking staff on the ward by surprise.
Dosa said there is no scientific evidence to explain Oscar's abilities, but he thinks the cat might be responding to a pheromone or smell that humans simply don't recognize.
Dosa said his main interest was not to delve further into Oscar's abilities but to use Oscar as a vehicle to tell about terminal illness, which is his main area of work.

"There is a lot to tell about what Oscar does, but there is a lot to tell on the human level of what family members go through at the end of life when they are dealing with a loved one in a nursing home or with advanced dementia," he said.
"Perhaps the book is a little more approachable because there is a cat in it. We really know so little about nursing homes, and this tries to get rid of this myth that they are horrid factories where people go to die."
Dosa said the story of Oscar, who is now nearly five years old, initially had sparked a bit more interest in families wanting to send their loved ones to Steere House.
Oscar has even been thanked by families in obituaries for providing some comfort in the final hours of life.
But he said Oscar remains unchanged by the attention, spending most of his days staring out of a window, although he has become a bit friendlier.
"The first time I met Oscar he bit me. We have warmed over the years. We have moved into a better place," said Dosa.
"I don't think Oscar is that unique, but he is in a unique environment. Animals are remarkable in their ability to see things we don't, be it the dog that sniffs out cancer or the fish that predicts earthquakes. Animals know when they are needed."

The Puppy Bowl......new this year, ariel footage from the hamster blimp!!

http://animal.discovery.com/videos/puppy-bowl-vi/

Hearding Cats.....Superbowl Ad............worth watching.:0.......meeeooww

http://video.yahoo.com/watch/206844/535507

The truth about animal shelters, rescue groups and responsible breeders.

Rescue from a Shelter

According to Main Line Animal Rescue—an organization that has saved thousands of dogs born in puppy mills—there are several things you need to know about animal shelters before you get a new pet.

Many people feel that you don't know what you are getting with a rescue dog. In fact, if the dog is being fostered by a rescue organization or staying any amount of time at a better shelter, the dog or puppy has mostly likely been fully vetted and trained, and the volunteers and staff will know if the dog is good with children, good with other dogs or cats, housebroken, etc.

The best way to learn more about a shelter or rescue group is by contacting their veterinarian. Find out if they spay or neuter their dogs prior to releasing them to their new families. Good shelters and rescues often spay or neuter their pets before placement. Find out if they test their cats for feline AIDS and feline leukemia.

As with responsible breeders, a good rescue always takes their dogs or cats back if there is a problem.

When giving up your pet, never place an ad or post online: "Free to Good Home." People who need "bait" for dogfights and "bunchers," who look for free animals to sell for medical research, are always looking for free dogs and cats.

                                          
                                   Recognize a Good Breeder

When choosing a breeder look for one who does the following:

     *Ideally, keeps his or her pets as part of the family.
     *Encourages you to meet and spend time with your puppy's parents, and allows you to see          
where they spend most of their time. Area is clean and well maintained.
     *Insists on meeting potential adoptive families. Will not sell their dogs to just anyone.
     *Doesn't sell animals too young—sells puppies only after they are 8 to 12 weeks old, and 8 to 10  weeks old for kittens.
     *Can provide references from other families who have purchased puppies.
     *Keeps breeding dogs healthy, well fed, and well socialized.
     *Provides professional veterinary care for all their animals.
     *Performs health tests on fathers and mothers prior to breeding to ensure their puppies do not have genetic defects.
     *Has a good relationship with a local veterinarian and can show you records of visits for the puppy.
     *Bases breeding frequency on mother's health, age, condition and recuperative abilities.
     *Does not breed extremely young or old animals.
      *Discusses positive and negative aspects of particular animals and breeds with potential owners.
     *Encourages multiple visits to meet the puppy.
     *Will take back any of their animals, at any time and for any reason.

Our dogs are smarter than we think............

"I used to look at [my dog] Smokey and think, 'If you were a little smarter you could tell me what you were thinking,' and he'd look at me like he was saying, 'If you were a little smarter, I wouldn't have to.'"




-- Fred Jungclaus

Breed Snob's

     Hello, I have been wanting to write about people that I call; "Breed Snob's".........when it comes to their dogs.
     Our newest companion dog is a "mixed" breed. A friend at lunch asks, "well what kind of dog is it, can't the vet figure it out"?!
    Just for your information 'friend", your cattle dog when originally breed, was derived from 4 different dog breeds to come up with
yours! Maybe more..........who really knows. Who really cares!!!!

       And many dog breeds have been ruined by humans in attempt to breed looks and the outcome of these dogs is that they suffer from our stupidity. Their health can be compromised from all the in-breeding; nice job.
    And for WHAT, so you can say, "I have a such and such"..................?

    I could lump backyard/puppy mill breeders and true breed snob's into one group, but I don't want to get hate mail. (I help with animal rescue, so I have seen some bad things that this type of breeding can bring about.)

    Then there are the folks online writing in the reverse. Calling
mixed breed dog owners the 'snobs'............I don't think so!!!

And I could mention the new 'designer dogs' that are appearing; that should be saved for another day.

   My two favorite dogs that I was lucky enough to have had in my life were mixed breeds.
   Best Regards,

  Author and my LabraWhip........:-)

Find out what dog breed you are!

I am a Whippet.



discover your dog breed @ quiz meme


http://www.quizmeme.com/dogbreed/quiz.php

Real or Fake?

http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/bigcat.asp

National Squirrel Appreciation Day

Who would have guessed! Well I would appreciate it if the neighbors would NOT feed them peanuts!
They end up EVERYWERE on my property, even with 2-3 large dogs running around most days......

Photo borrowed from blog: Barking at the Moon........check it out......too funny!

http://barkingatthemoon-lunakris.blogspot.com/

Pet loss help site, when you are hurting from your loss.

http://www.pet-loss.net/index.shtml

The Coop and Sister..........gotta luv those ears!!

Raining Cats N Dogs Adoption Day........just pick one!!!

Balls found inside 'rattling' DOG!

Balls found inside 'rattling' dog


This naughty little lab in Scotland was caught with 13 golf balls in his stomach.

Neuter your MALE CAT........stop the neighborhood yowling, fights and vet bills!

Dear Neigbors,
   Get your dammmmm outdoor cats, spay and neutered!
Stop the nightly yowling and fights...............there are
more unwanted pets than homes.............

Read the facts.....................

http://www.petco.com/caresheets/cat/Cat_SpayNeuter.pdf

Black Dog Adoption Discount.........All black dogs must go.

East Montgomery - News
MCAS offers black dog adoption special



Another black dog waits to go home to a good family at the MCAS.
East Montgomery Observer
By KRISTY THOMAS

Published: 01.13.10
   All black dogs must go. Well at least the Montgomery County Animal Shelter would like to see at least 100 or more of its black dogs go by the end of January. MCAS is holding a “Winter Black Dog” adoption special for the month of January where pet lovers can adopt a black dog from the shelter for as little as $40.
    For female black dogs, the fee is $60 and for males, the fee is $40. The fee includes the dog’s first set of shots, a microchip and a spay/neuter. This adoption special is a huge discount from the usual $100 adoption fee.
   “We don’t know why there is a surge in black dogs we take in, but in the adoption rooms, every other dog is a black one and we have 180+ dogs.
For more information on the “Winter Black Dog” adoption special, visit the MCAS website at www.mcaspets.org or contact Glennon at marketing@mcasvolunteers.org.

very cool you tube about N. Cal Earthquake and dog's senitivity!

Pay attention....Reasons to SCOOP YOUR DOGS POOP!

Dog Waste is bad for the environment

     Dogs don’t use toilets
     Dog feces contain the same bacteria that human waste contains. Humans use toilets and have sewers and sewage treatment plants to protect the environment and drinking water.
    But when we don’t pick up after our dogs we are depositing sewage on the fields where we play, trails where we walk, and beaches where we swim.

Non-Point Source Pollution
     Feces deposited in yards, fields and trails runs off into streams, rivers and even into groundwater. This negatively affects water quality.
    Dog waste is estimated to cause between 20-30 % of stream pollution.
    Dog Waste contains nitrogen and phosphorus. These nutrients promote algae growth in lakes, ponds, and streams. This limits light available to aquatic plants. As the algae decays it uses up oxygen that is needed by fish.
    Runoff containing dog waste also causes bacteria levels to rise in waterways and can make beaches unsafe for swimming.

How much poop is there?
      An estimated 1.25 million lbs/year in Whistler
      The very large number of dogs that live in Whistler creates an unnatural volume of waste that the environment cannot handle.

          The large quantity of nutrients in dog poop can "burn out" grass plants by overfeeding them, creating a spotty "minefield" look in yards where poop isn't scooped. DOG WASTE IS NOT FERTILIZER.

How does the poop get into the streams?
         Rainwater and melt-off washes poop into storm drains which eventually empty out into our streams. Even poop deposited far from a stream can still end up in our waterways. Feces may also be carried by overland flow.

What is in Dog Waste?
    Some Common Diseases:
    Roundworm
   Giardia
   Campylobacter
   Leptospira
   Tapeworm
   Cryptosporidium
   E. Coli
   Fecal Coliforms

Dog Waste is a Public Health Issue
      Each of those listed above is a disease that humans can get!

      Us adults may not roll in the fields, roll on the grass with our dogs, or touch the dog’s toys and then our mouths because we understand how diseases are spread.
      Young children are not so careful.
     If a child touches an object that has been in contact with dog feces and then touches their hand to their mouth, they could become infected with a disease.
        Roundworm larva, if ingested by a human, can migrate throughout the body to organs such as the brain, lungs, kidneys, liver, heart, or eyes. Roundworm larva can cause blindness.

Great Reasons to Scoop the Poop:
   1. To Protect local water quality
   2. To Protect our children from disease
   3. To Monitor your dog’s health
   4. To Respect our community and the visitor experience
   5. It’s the law in Whistler  (and other citiies)to pick up pet waste deposited in a public place.

    Although this was written for the city of Whistler...........the facts remain.
SCOOP YOUR DOGS POOP!

Today's saying

"It is better to stay silent and be thought a fool, than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt."

Sleeping through your alarm lately??

BLACK DOGS AND CATS ARE THE COLOR MOST OVERLOOKED AT SHELTERS

Homeless pets, when up for adoption, BLACK is not the color you want to be.

Who knows, superstition, not reflecting light in the dark dismal shelters......................Next time you are looking to adopt a companion animal into your home.........take a look at that black animal, yes, that one there, at the back of the kennel......waiting for YOU!!!

video link:   http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/AmazingAnimals/pet-owners-overlook-black-dogs-cats-animal-shelters/story?id=8785177

English Bull Dogs For Sale SCAM

To my amazement, the local newspaper called me wondering about my ad for an English Bulldog for sale. A "Carla Bailey" wanted to run an ad with MY petsitting phone number attatched with my billing address (which the paper has on file), at least the classified people called me!!!! "Carla" listed an e-mail address, hoping some greedy sucker would write for $400 English Bull. They usually run $1200-$2500.................."Carla" is probably from Nigeria.

WELCOME!

Welcome!!!
I am so glad that you've come to visit. I was hoping you might stop by today! I just love it when friends drop by. I'll put on the kettle and make us a cup of tea, maybe a glass of wine is your thing and we can have a good chat about all kinds of good stuff, like our pets, our gardens, our families, or anything else on your mind.
If you can't stay long this time I hope you'll come again. Thanks for visiting.

Web Site

Check out my pet sitting web site:
www.waggingtailsredding.com