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Here's your chance to BLOG back!

PETLVRs are invited to visit PetLvr.com - [The Blog Corner]

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Today I have added another new script to [The Blog]. It allows the community to join in together and post entries in a spot I call the "PETLVR CORNER". Originally, I was intent on creating a place where poets can come to upload their poems and other pet related work, but it is now expanded to include more.

Readers are invited to participate and add to [The Blog Corner] ...

Their own Training Tips

Upcoming pet related publicity and events

Your favorite pet pictures

Lost and Found - Pets

Poetry inspired by your pet

Pet Jokes

Recipes for your pet

Breeders are welcome to advertise in here

Groomers are welcome to advertise in here

Shelters and adoption agency updates

For sale

Wanted

Post your favorite pet website and why

Dedication to the Working Animals, and ...

More! If you want your own topic, suggest a new one!

To access this script, click the graphic on the side of the page at the top, that looks like this:



Enjoy!

Take care.
HART
PetLvr.com

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Aggression and Fear Behavior In Dogs and Cats

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The following essay is based upon thirty years of personal experiences working with dogs, cats and their caretakers. It is not intended to be a scholarly dissertation of psychological, sociological, or ethical foundations for behavioral modification. The views expressed here are my opinions... you may have a different opinion based upon YOUR life experiences. You are welcome to and I will respect your opinion about this very difficult and emotionally charged topic. While reading this essay please keep in mind that EVERY case of fear/aggression in dogs and cats is unique. No two animals or situations are exactly alike. Nevertheless certain predictable patterns are recognizable, and good judgment based upon informed and thoughtful introspection will lead you to your own best answers.
T. J. Dunn, Jr. DVM

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Aggressive Behavior In Dogs and Cats





Aggressive behavior in dogs and cats can, unfortunately, be a source of conflict for humans. A certain percentage of dogs cats will display aggressive behavior toward their owners/caretakers or other humans. In the feline the aggressive mode may come upon the cat for unknown reasons. The cat will seem to be in a play mode, then the playing turns to more serious stalking, with ears held back and back arched, and often they will growl softly. You can see the fear/anger in their eyes. Or the behavior starts out while the cat is being gently stroked by the owner and the cat begins to become annoyed, then more defensive, then outright aggressive to the innocent owner.

In the canine the fear and aggression occasionally seems to "come on out of the blue" but more often is triggered by getting into the dog's "space" or protective territory. This unsocial behavior, while it may be "normal" if the dog or cat were interacting with another dog or cat to defend territory or signal "leave me alone", can be dangerous to people. Cats in this fear/aggression mode will bite and scratch...sometimes really terrorizing the owners. And dogs, with eyes glazed, teeth bared and with fearful barking and growling, will back owners into a corner or up onto a kitchen counter! In dogs this is often referred to as RAGE SYNDROME and can be a very shocking event for the owner (and I suspect, for the dog as well).

The only way I know to defuse the aggression is to leave the pet's area, just get out of eyesight. Trying to calm the dog or cat, or restraining and disciplining it will simply make the dog or cat even more fearful and aggressive. What is the cause of this aggressive/anger state? It probably stems from very early personality/behavioral development experiences in the pet's life. Events such as deliberate abuse, accidental trauma from objects falling on the pet, scary stimuli such as thunder and lightning, or other animals frightening the puppy or kitty may make a permanent impression on it regarding the world around it. More aggressive littermates can have detrimental effects, too. The critical age range that these events permanently make their impressions generally is from about four to twelve weeks of age; whatever is programmed into the brain's "personality structure" during that time span will then be set for life.

As we all know, there are humans with personality disorders...and outright sociopaths who are a danger to others...and so it is in the dog and cat world. And as difficult as it is to "pacify" the behavior of maladjusted humans who have the benefit of counseling, therapy and medications, and the love and sympathy of family and friends, much more so is the difficulty in modifying the behavior of dogs and cats who pose a threat to their caretakers. Lets face it, these dogs and cats cannot help being who they are; their impressions of the world have been shaped by events not of their choosing. (Can we say the same for human behavior?) Nevertheless when living and closely interacting with humans (and innocent children) daily, any behavior that endangers human health and safety is unacceptable.

My experience during thirty years of working with dogs and cats has taught me that many well intentioned people, certain that their gentle and loving ways will modify the behavior of the fearful/aggressive dog or cat, have learned a hard lesson in animal behavior. Often the "saviors" of these animals have been injured and even psychologically harmed when they learn that all their love and understanding will not correct the aggressive animal's behavior.

I am not saying that all cats and dogs with fear/aggression are lost causes; I am saying that a great percentage of them will continue to be a danger to human health and safety no matter who or what attempts to modify the behavior.

So...what is an owner to do? Consult with your DVM, breeders, and animal shelter personnel about your particular dog or cat, maybe even spend a little money on consultation with a professional animal behaviorist about your pet. If you choose to keep the pet and attempt behavior modification, be prepared for the experience to dominate your entire home life. Every family member will have to contribute to the plan of action and it will be a 24 hour-a-day experience; that dog or cat will be the focal point of your thoughts and activities. Are you willing to do that? Should you do that? I have witnessed many sincere and vigorous attempts to modify fear/aggression in dogs and cats that have left the animal's caretakers frustrated, demoralized and injured in their failed attempts to pacify the pet.

At the heart of the problem is the fact that the animal CAN'T HELP being who it is! It can't reason that the owners do not represent a threat or that the stimulus triggering the fear/aggression is not a real danger ...it simply acts and responds as ordered to by a brain that was imprinted with certain directions that the animal will never be able to modify.


January, 1998

More than four-million Americans are bitten by dogs each year, with more than 750,000 requiring medical attention, says an article in this week's issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Every day, dog bites send 914 people to the emergency room. According to Harold B. Weiss, M.S., M.P.H., and colleagues, the estimated 50 million domesticated dogs in the U.S. still retain many of their wild instincts. It is these instincts that all too often lead to human attacks.

Dr. Weiss studied data from the National Center for Health Statistics National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey for 1992-1994 and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He found that each year dog bites are responsible for:
* Nearly 4.5 million injuries and 20 deaths!
* Nearly 334,000 visits to hospital emergency departments
* More than 21,000 visits to medical offices and clinics
* About 3.73 million injuries that aren't treated medically.

They also found that males were more likely than females to be bitten by dogs and that children had the highest rate of emergency room visits for dog bites. Young children were more likely than adults to be bitten in the head, neck and face area.

Many, many times I have been a part of counseling owners about this fear/aggression problem. If we can rule out and are certain that the animal does not have anything physically wrong that may be triggering pain or discomfort, such as bladder stones, gastrointestinal foreign bodies, tumors or infections, and we are certain that the behavior is personality based, the choice may be to euthanize the unfortunate pet. Even if the pet is "OK most of the time" and only a threat two per cent of the time...is that an acceptable risk for the family to take? If the cat only scratches someone's eye occasionally or only bites severely once in a while, is that acceptable? If the dog only attacks "certain" people or gets frightened only by small children necessitating the continuous separation of small children from the dog...is that an acceptable risk to have living in your home all the time?
Regrettably, I have seen far too many empathetic and sincerely-intentioned pet owners make excuses for their dog or cat's harmful behavior. I have seen children scarred from dog bites that have occurred well after the dog has bitten the child or others in the past. Some pet owners really go too far in excusing the dangerous behavior of their dog or cat, blaming everything but the dog or cat, and these owners fail to see the improper and dangerous priorities they have set. In the case of a dog or cat being a real threat to human safety, you must set aside emotional attachment and look at the situation objectively. You must ask "No matter how much I love this animal, is it a danger to human health? Am I, as the caretaker and person responsible for this animal, willing to gamble that it won't ever tear out someone's eye, bite off someone's nose, scar someone's face...or even worse?" YOU be the judge...and then YOU live with the consequences of your choices.

I have had entire families come with their pet to my animal hospital where everyone is crying and completely emotionally drained by the absolute necessity of euthanizing their pet simply because the dog or cat has demonstrated itself to be a danger to them and others. NOBODY wins in these situations...not the family members, not the pet, not the veterinarian. Simply put, the animal cannot help being who it is. Unfortunately, who it is can be a danger to human health. It's a NO WIN situation for all involved.

And to give away a pet with fear/aggression personality traits to someone else is NOT a solution. The innate tendencies of the animal evolved from genetic predispositions and early brain/sensory inputs. YOU can't help that and neither can the dog or cat.

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Below is an email I received from a saddened dog owner who went the extra mile in trying to solve a fear/aggression problem in an adopted dog. This case had an unfortunate conclusion for the dog... however, the family's decision to euthanize the dog most certainly avoided what was certain, inevitable injury to a family member or neighbor. My personal feeling is that when faced with certain harm to a human or euthanasia for a pet... the human health and safety considerations take precedence. It is a "no win" situation for the family and the dog; but living in constant fear of injury from an unprovoked and unpredictable attack by an animal truly diminishes anyone's quality of life.
T. J. Dunn, Jr. DVM

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QUESTION:
Dear Dr. Dunn,
Our family recently went through a horrible experience with a Siberian Husky that we purchased. The long and short of it is when the puppy was 7 months old she attacked me unprovoked. We took her to the vet to have her checked... physically she was ok and the veterinarian recommended a behavior specialist. We paid a lot of money for her services, which were very professional, and I believe she tried as hard as we did with the dog. We had the puppy spayed and 4 days later the dog went completely crazy, attacking me, my son, and husband over a few hour span. We got her calmed down and took her to the vet. They recommended euthanasia for her and we had to agree. Over two months she "attacked" us four times, not to mention all the growling etc. episodes. I just saw your article about this Aggressive Behavior. I felt like you wrote it for ME!!! I have a question though. I guess am still suffering from guilt and missing her. The vet said that expensive brain scans and tests really wouldn't be worth it since in such a young dog of 10 months of age it would be highly improbable that structural changes would show up. Being distraught at the time and knowing the outcome wouldn't change what we needed to do, we agreed not to test the brain. What are the congenital or inherited traits and could they be definitely diagnosed in a puppy that young? I appreciate your help. Great website. Thank you, Mary Ann B.

REPLY:
Hello MaryAnn,
You and your family surely went farther than most in trying to understand and correct the dog's behavioral problems. Your question regarding having the brain checked is understandable, too, but I would concur with your veterinarian that the chances that the dog's behavior would have physical signs detectable via autopsy, MRI or CT Scan are almost zero.
Some dogs, and humans, too, simply have inappropriate reactions to their environment. Think of it as schizophrenia in humans where no amount of counseling or "understanding compassion" will change what the patient perceives as reality. Your dog was acting in a manner that the dog thought was appropriate for a perceived threat... even though no threat existed; to the dog there was a real threat and an equally real and dangerous response. Don't fight or try to deny the sadness and dismay at the final outcome... it is perfectly natural to feel how you are feeling. But take pride that you were strong enough to make the only decision that a rational human can make in the light of the potential serious and permanent harm the dog could have caused. The fact is that in these situations human welfare must take priority over the dog's when there are no more options.

You might like to read an article in ThePetCenter.com... A LETTER FROM ANNIE.
Best wishes,
and take solace in the fact that you have averted an eventual tragic injury that certainly would have occurred.
Dr. Dunn

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Click on the link at the beginning of this article...

ThePetCenter.com
"The Internet Animal Hospital"

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GoArticles.com - "Tough Guys Talking Plush Dog Toys"

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Tough Guys Talking Plush Dog Toys
by Shannon Weidemann

Recently Camille Tapp with Alpha Pet Products sent me a Billy the Duck Tough Guys Talking Plush Toy. My dog Kelly can be a destroyer of plush toys, ripping them apart and pulling the stuffing out, so I was unsure how long this toy would last.

Billy the Duck is dressed in a suit with bow tie and smoking a cigar. To further enhance the tough guy image he says “Do you think I’m funny? What am I, a clown?” when squeezed. Casino Cat, Dapper Dog, Stogie, and Lyin’ Lion are also available, each with a unique phrase. They are all around 11 inches tall.

Kelly was super excited when the box arrived. It had been packaged with some Buddy Biscuits Liver Treats and the box must have smelt very good. I got the toy out of the box, tossed it and away she went. She smelled the toy all over and then picked it up. She was able to get the toy to “talk” just by biting it. The first time it spoke, she dropped it. Then she quickly picked it back up again and bit it to make it speak again and again.

We have now had this toy for over a week and she loves to play tug of war with it, tossing it in the air and just laying down to chew on it. Billy the Duck has held up really well and is not missing any of his parts or fluff. This would be a great toy for any dog that loves to hear their toys talk.

You can find the Alpha Pets online catalog at http://camilletapp.alphapetproducts.biz They sell items for dogs, cats and people too.

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About the Author

Shannon Weidemann is a Consultant with Watkins, a company specializing in items for your Pantry, Medicine Chest, and Environmentally Friendly Cleaners. She is married to a wonderful husband and mom to one child and two furbabies. Learn more about Watkins and sign up for her monthly newsletter at http://www.greatvanilla.com

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BBC NEWS | England | West Midlands | Drive-thru washing for dirty dogs

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Drive-thru washing for dirty dogs

Unloved mutts in a West Midlands dog home are being spruced up for potential owners thanks to two newly installed automatic dog washes. The Birmingham Dogs Home charity, which looks after 7,000 dogs, says they will save staff valuable time when it comes to washing the unwanted pets.

Dogs are put through the wash at the same time as the family car.

Staff put the dogs inside and then set the machines to shampoo, rinse or blow dry so the dogs can wash and go.

A Shropshire garage also has a dog wash machine which is proving popular.

Shampoo and rinse

Chris Evans, of the 24-hour BP Garage in Trench Lock, Telford, says he has even seen people arriving to wash their pets during the early hours of the morning.

Sunday afternoons are popular with families.

He said: "People go out for the day and their pets come back muddy and they put their dogs through the wash while putting their cars through the car wash."

The coin-operated machine has a bench which the dog can sit or stand on.

"The dog jumps on and the owners use a sort of hose-pipe which is a bit like a power shower," Mr Evans said.

"The dog gets a shampoo and a rinse and most people will give them a blow-dry too.

"Most dogs love it and it saves the owners from bending over when washing them in the bath."

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BBC NEWS | England | Garage's automatic 'dogwash'

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Garage's automatic 'dogwash'


The devices are popular in Spain

A Herefordshire garage is offering its customers the chance to clean their dogs at the same time as their cars. Stephen Morgan, the proprietor of Newtown Cross Garage, Lower Egleton, Ledbury, has installed an automatic "dogwash" after spotting the devices while on holiday in Spain.

The £15,000 system has a 12-minute cycle and four programmes, including shampoo, rinse, delousing and blow-dry.

Mr Morgan said the facility, which boasts a height-adjustable platform, had attracted about 30 canine customers since its installation last Friday.

"I first saw them when I was on holiday in Spain, where most forecourts have them, and they seem to be very popular," he said.

"Washing a dog at home can be a nightmare and this is proving to be a popular alternative."

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I think that's a winner!

HART
PetLvr.com

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WSFA TV Montgomery, AL - Purina 'Em-barks' on Forefront of Download Technology

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Purina 'Em-barks' on Forefront of Download Technology

ST. LOUIS, June 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Move over Will Smith and Jennifer Lopez, barking dogs and meowing cats are making their way into mobile phone ringtones -- and with pets in 63-percent of American homes(2), "woof" and "meow" might become more popular than "Switch" and "Hold You Down."

Today, Nestle Purina PetCare announced the introduction of free, pet-related downloadable ringtones and screens, or "wallpaper," for all wireless phone-owning animal lovers to get their paws on. Owners of the 140 million cats and dogs(3) can also manage their pets' happiness purr-fectly by downloading pet advice podcasts or signing up to receive helpful tips delivered directly to their phones -- all for zero bones. Purina is one of the first U.S. consumer packaged goods companies to pioneer this type of free, direct-to-consumer service.

The dowloadable podcasts will give pet-loving audiophiles access to Purina's Animal Advice radio program. New shows will be published every other week and discuss topics such as animal training, pet surgery, behavioral theories and pet insurance. Podcasting allows listeners to download digital audio files, or MP3s, to their computers or portable media players to enjoy whenever and wherever they want. In fact, Steve Jobs recently called podcasting, "the hottest thing going in radio."

Purina's wireless offerings allow people to download pet-related content by visiting Purina's Web site, http://www.purina.com/download , through their mobile phones. There will be an initial offering of five ringtones. Cat lovers, for instance, can select a meowing cat, the Friskies(R) brand "Feelin' Alright" jingle, or the Fancy Feast(R) brand "ping-ping-ping" of a fork on a crystal goblet that is the hallmark of the brand's advertising. Consumers can easily complement their favorite ringtone by decorating their phone screens with one of five wallpapers of adorable cats or vivacious, floppy-eared dogs.

"As one of the leaders in dog and cat science and nutrition, we're excited to continue our commitment to developing and strengthening the relationship between people and their pets by being one of the first to use this technology to offer free, valuable information to pet lovers," said Michael Moore, director of interactive marketing at Purina. "Given the increased popularity in mobile technology, our latest offering is yet another way for people to showcase their love of animals."

How Wireless Works

Purina's wireless communications are available to consumers with AT and T, Cingular, Sprint and T-Mobile carriers, as long as their phones have text messaging (SMS) capabilities. Major brands including Audiovox, LG, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, Sanyo, Siemens and Sony People are also compatible with the wireless downloads, available at http://www.purina.com/download . With a few additional clicks, they can request to have the pet-care tips sent to their phones.

The content of these helpful cat and dog tips will cover nutrition, health and behavior subjects such as how to help ensure a pet isn't lonely or what a wagging tail really implies. The tips will be sent weekly through a text message and will help owners improve their pets' health and lifestyles.

"Ultimately, this capability allows people to foster healthy relationships and express their passion for their pets," said Moore. "As we continue to improve our site, we will add new and exciting features for cat and dog owners to experience."

Site Renovation

The new wireless download offerings are part of an overall renovation to http://www.purina.com . The renovation will streamline the site's navigation and provide additional resources, such as a Purina activity calendar. The site will continue to feature direct links to Purina's portfolio of brands, supply an expansive collection of pet care information and offer prospective pet owners the opportunity to find the best dog or cat breed for their lifestyle through a breed selector.

In addition, the renovated site will continue to provide links to other sites sponsored by Purina, including http://www.PetFinder.com , which last year was responsible for over 1.5 million pet adoptions, and http://www.DogAge.com , which helps dogs live younger, healthier lives.

To learn more about Purina's wireless downloads visit http://purina.com/download .

(1) The Purina application, ring tones and wallpapers are available from Purina at no charge. However, wireless carriers/service providers may charge a fee for the download or for using the application, depending on the service plan. Interested parties should contact their wireless carriers/service providers for details. (2) APPMA 2005-2006 National Pet Owner Survey. (3) Ibid. CONTACT: Chris O'Donoghue: 312/729-4309 GolinHarris or Kerry Lyman: 314/982-2094 Nestle Purina PetCare Company

CONTACT: Chris O'Donoghue of GolinHarris, +1-312-729-4309, or Kerry Lymanof Nestle Purina PetCare Company, +1-314-982-2094

Web site: http://www.purina.com/http://www.purina.com/download/

Disclaimer: Information contained on this page is provided by companies featured through PR Newswire. PR Newswire, WorldNow and this Station cannot confirm the accuracy of this information and make no warranties or representations in connection therewith.

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Times Community Newspapers - National News - Pet Projects; Keep Your Animals in Mind When Choosing Furnishings

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Pet Projects; Keep Your Animals in Mind When Choosing Furnishings
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
06/26/2005


Close your eyes and there it is, the home of your dreams: welcoming, comfortable, a house beautiful with an easy sense of style. This is a place you can be proud of.

Nowhere in this picture do you see mounds of hair, muddy paw prints, tattered sofa cushions, perhaps an unsettling odor.

Is it possible, you may wonder, to make room for animal companions without alienating the humans in your life?

Julia Szabo knows it is. "That's my mission," says Szabo, author of "Animal House Style" (Bullfinch Press, paperback, $19.95). A lover of both pets and good design, she writes the weekly "Pets" column for the Sunday New York Post and has written about style and interior design for the New York Times, House Beautiful and other publications. ...... (continued)

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Click on the link at the beginning of this article for the full story...

This really is a great article with lots of great sounding advice. You should read it.

HART
PetLvr.com

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Reuters | Latest Financial News / Full News Coverage - It's a brand-savvy dog's life for retail licensing

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It's a brand-savvy dog's life for retail licensing

Mon June 27, 2005 7:12 AM GMT+05:30
By Angela Moore

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fido might seem just as happy drinking his water out of your toilet as he would a Homer Simpson water bowl.

But retailers are betting pet owners are a bit more finicky -- and fashionable -- and willing to pay for new lines of pet products from well-known brand names.

Dog owners now can indulge their inner fashion stylists by outfitting their pets in SpongeBob SquarePants dog collars or Elvis dog sweaters, for example, rather than no-name items.

At the International Licensing Show in New York last week, leading dog brands like the American Kennel Club and Milk-Bone, and entertainment companies like Fox and Nickelodeon were banking that the growing pet products industry will end up being a gold mine.

"This is a huge untapped market," said Virginia King, executive director for Fox licensing and merchandising. "Whether it's a collar or a leash or a T-shirt or a sweater, it's probably one of the biggest potential growth areas for retailers."

Part of this growing trend is the humanization of pets.

People see companion animals as extensions of themselves, which has led to an explosion in designer pet clothing, high-end accessories, swanky carriers and toys based on familiar characters.

Americans will spend more than $35.9 billion -- which includes food, vet care and services like grooming -- on pet-related products in 2005, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association.

In contrast, the U.S. toy industry rang up $20 billion in sales last year.

"If we buy kids a licensed product because we think it's cute, we might do the same for pets," said Sean McGowan, an analyst with Harris Nesbitt.

"But kids are not indifferent to brands, and pets largely are," McGowan said. "If you buy the licensed product, you're really buying it for yourself. So there's a limit to how far you're going to go with it."

FROM KING KONG TO CLIFFORD

Fox is developing a line of pet accessories with licenses from both the animated television show "Family Guy" and last year's teen nerd movie "Napoleon Dynamite."

It's a natural evolution from the lucrative licensing deals associated with the Fox network's long-running animated hit TV show "The Simpsons," whose characters' likenesses -- including pot-bellied dad Homer Simpson and underachieving son Bart Simpson -- appear on everything from underwear to backpacks.

Universal Studio's consumer products group is working on pet accessories licensed under the "Curious George," "King Kong" and "Scarface" brands. And it is looking for pet product opportunities with retro movie and TV brands such as "Animal House," "American Graffiti" and "The Munsters."

Fox is a unit of publishing giant News Corp.; Universal Studios is a division of media company NBC Universal, a unit of conglomerate General Electric Co.; and Nickelodeon is part of Viacom Inc.

Scholastic Corp., best known for its children's books, is pairing its popular "Clifford the Big Red Dog" character with dog food.

"There is a tremendous market in pets. For many people, their pets are like their children," said Al Kahn, chief executive of 4Kids Entertainment, which is the licensing agent for the American Kennel Club brand.

"I don't think the growth has even started. We are just in preliminary stages. Many more pet products are going to be introduced, but like anything else, this, too, can be overdone."

YES -- DOGS WEARING BOOTS

JAKKS Pacific, which makes Cabbage Patch Kids and Care Bears for human kids, recently bought a line of pet toys and treats with licenses such as "Shrek," "SpongeBob SquarePants" and Barbie.

Even corporate brands are getting a piece of the action.

DaimlerChrysler unit Jeep makes pet crates and plans to move into pet carriers.

"Pet products have become such a popular category," said Debra Joester, chief executive of The Joester Loria Group, a licensing agency representing Jeep. "I'm seeing more and more pet owners buying toys, clothing, even boots and Halloween costumes. It's an emerging market, and we'll explore any legitimate opportunity."

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Radio frequency ID tags subject of conference tomorrow

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Radio frequency ID tags subject of conference tomorrow
Monday, June 27, 2005

Radio frequency identification, or RFID, tags are already changing the way companies keep track of inventory, how owners keep track of pets and how turnpikes collect tolls. But what lies in the future?

"RFID: Hype, Reality and Hope," a daylong conference tomorrow at the University of Pittsburgh, will assess this developing technology. Marlin Mickle, an RFID researcher and Pitt electrical engineering professor, will be the featured speaker of the program, which is sponsored by Pitt's Swanson Institute for Technical Excellence.

The conference is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow on the 5th floor of Pitt's Alumni Hall, 4227 Fifth Ave., Oakland. To register or view an agenda, visit
www.engr.pitt.edu/SITE/rfid.

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KSL NewsRadio 1160 - For seniors, pets are more than pretty faces

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For seniors, pets are more than pretty faces
Jun. 27, 2005

(HealthNewsDigest.com)-To say that a pet can be an important part of a senior's life is no shaggy-dog story. Dogs, cats, rabbits, birds and other companion animals are considered by many to be "members of the family." Many people talk to their pets, travel with them, buy them holiday gifts and even celebrate their birthdays.

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) estimates that there are 65 million dogs and 77 million cats kept as pets in America-many by seniors.

According to Kelly Connolly of the HSUS, animals can contribute to a senior's life in a number of ways.

Said Connolly, "By now just about everyone knows that an elderly person who has a companion animal in his or her life can expect to enjoy many physical and emotional benefits, including lower blood pressure, improved social skills, reduced stress and increased physical activity."

Older Americans can have a special bond with their pets, particularly if the senior lives alone or far from loved ones.

For example, adopting a dog was the last thing on Sadae Walters' mind five months after her stroke. She'd recently regained the mobility in her left arm, but her doctor said a dog would get her out walking more, while providing a living companion to nurture. A long search led her to Princess, a medium mixed breed from the Caroline County Humane Society.

Sadae and Princess bonded instantly. On just their second day together, Sadae tripped and fell. Princess immediately pressed close to her side, planting her legs and stiffening her body so that Sadae could reach around Princess's neck and pull herself up. Sadae calls Princess her "treasure," a sweet angel who has enriched her entire family's life.

In addition to their endearing qualities, some companion animals can also play important roles in their owners' lives as "service animals."

Service animals fall into two categories-assistance animals who are trained to provide a specific service, and therapy animals who interact with people in health care, social, educational and recreational settings. These are most commonly dogs and cats, but fish, birds, rabbits and other animals can also be used for service.

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization, representing more than nine million members and constituents.

To learn more, visit the Web site at www.hsus.org/therapypets


© Health News Digest.com 2004 All Rights Reserved.

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New pet toilets debut in Beijing

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New pet toilets debut in Beijing
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-06-28 16:08


A new type of pet toilets that lure dogs with scents will make debut in Beijing.



A pet dog is seen beside a pet toilet which will make debut in Beijing soon. [baidu]


In July Beijing citizens will be able to bring their pets to experience them.

Sources said the pet toilets developed by a company in Zhejiang were designed to address the environmental problem of the excrement and urine left by pets outdoors.

They function by luring pets into the toilets with scents and are water efficient.

Excrement and urine of pets is automatically packaged with degradable plastic with no odor leakage so that it won't pollute the environment and is easy to handle and utilize.

©Copyright 2005 Chinadaily.com.cn All rights reserved. Registered Number: 20100000002731

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Online Greeting Cards should be free, and PETLVRs are invited to send a free greeting card from PetLvr.com

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Today I have added another new script to [The Blog]. It allows you to send anyone a FREE greeting E-card.

I will be adding new pictures to the greeting E-Card database every week. All pictures are taken from PetLvr.com - [The Blog Gallery]. Hopefully there is a picture that suits your needs.

If there is no picture you like .. don't fret! This is what you can do:

(1) Upload a picture to the Cutest PetLvr War section or upload a picture to the PetLvr Picture Club section, then

(2) Email me at info@PetLvr.com to let me know you want to use your picture as a Greeting E-Card, I will have to manually add your picture to the Greeting E-Card database,

(3) Alternatively, you can just email me your picture as an attachment and ask me to add the picture to the Greeting E-Card database. Don't forget to let me know what your Pet's name is!

Please note that if you upload a picture, it will be permanently available for use by other PETLVRs to send as an online Greeting E-Card, and will appear in our Gallery.

With every sent E-Card, you are able to choose a background "TV Theme" song for your message.

To access this script, click the graphic on the side of the page at the top, that looks like this:



Enjoy!

Take care.
HART
PetLvr.com

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I work out of my home, with my two dogs and a cat, and they are quite familiar with my work habits and schedule.

For instance: I have three types of work days that my dogs can recognize..

(1) There are days when I'm really on the go. The phone is ringing off the hook, I'm up the stairs, down the stairs, out for meetings with clients, or clients are meeting me here, or I'm out to the bank, or out to the post office or even lunch.

>> What this means for Maxxie and Sophie is .... is he going out? YAAYY!! A Milky Bone! .. If they keep barking while a client is here?? YAAAY!! A Milky Bone! .. If I go out again?? YAAY!! Another Milky Bone!!

(2) There are days that I am quite busy, and thankfully, the phone is not ringing, and I have no deposits to make, or there is no outgoing mail. These are actually my most productive work days, and I get a lot or work done.

>> What this means for Maxxie and Sophie is .... is he getting another cup of coffee?? YAAY!! Maybe he'll make some toast and give us a piece! is he snacking on some peppers or carrots?? YAAAY!! Maybe he'll give us some vegetables!! Is he moving in his chair? YAAAY!! Maybe he is going to take another break and play with us and beat us up!!!

(3) There are days that I am super busy, and often on the brink of 'stressdom', I'm super busy, the phones can't stop ringing, I'm probably out of supplies and have to go out to get them, I still have stuff to mail or banking requirements, and everything should have been done yesterday!

>> What this means for Maxxie and Sophie is .... UTOH! Better get out of his way!! He doesn't like us anymore and doesn't want to play with us!! We'll just lie here and wait for you to pay attention to us..

Well that's what happened last Friday ... (3) - I went downstairs for my 3rd cup of coffee for the day and saw the cutest picture. Maxxie was lying on a green pillow, and Sophie was sharing that pillow with him. The were keeping each other company, because I was ignoring them.

I had to stop and go 'awwwwwwww', and told them both to wait because I wanted to take a picture of them together like that!

So, I ran to the back room, where my camera has been sitting in its box for weeks now, and ran back to the dogs to take a picture - but - A Dead Battery!! Grrrrr.. Don't you hate that? Well, fortunately I always keep a spare battery charged in the box, so I went back to get it and put it in the camera so I can take another picture, turned around and .. and do you know what I found? Maxxie and Sophie.

The were both quietly following me, keeping within two feet behind me probably wondering what I was doing .. wondering if
(a) they were going to be involved in my plans
(b) it involved Milky Bones or toast or
(c) I was playing a game with them.

I took a picture anyway .. here it is:



This picture is typical of all my non-professional picture taking of Maxxie and Sophie. For some reason, Maxxie always has RED-EYE and Sophie always has GREEN-EYE.

Isn't that weird?

Later on in the day, I did find Sophie back on a similar yellow pillow, trying to catch up on her sleep. One day I will have to make a pictorial blog entry of "HART's Day with Maxxie and Sophie"



Take care.
HART
PetLvr.com

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PET SITTING - A SENSIBLE ALTERNATIVE FOR YOU AND YOUR PETS at ThePetCenter.com

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PET SITTING - A SENSIBLE ALTERNATIVE FOR YOU AND YOUR PETS at ThePetCenter.com

Pet sitting services have really taken its place as an excellent way to have your pets taken care of right in their... 'er, YOUR own home. If you do not have a certified pet sitter near you, it may not be long and you will. There is a Pet Sitters Forum and many websites introducing individual pet sitters' businesses. The information below will introduce you to just what this Pet Sitting concept is all about. It is taken from their website with permission.

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Patti Moran is considered the "guru" of pet sitting and some credit her with the creation of an industry. For over 10 years she was the owner and operator of Crazy 'Bout Critters, a pet sitting firm in Winston-Salem, NC. Patti grew her company from 2 to 41 sitters over those years.

She is the author of Pet Sitting For Profit, considered by many to be the "bible" of the pet sitting industry. Pet Sitting For Profit was first published in 1987, revised in 1991 and 1997. Today there are more than 50,000 copies in print.

Patti is the founder and president of Pet Sitters International, an educational organization "Run BY Pet Sitters, FOR Pet Sitters." Through PSI, Patti is a tireless promoter of excellence in pet sitting. Today Pet Sitters International has 2700+ members.

What's involved in becoming a certified PetSitter?


Working with International Correspondence Schools (ICS), Pet Sitters International has created voluntary accreditation standards at four levels:

* Pet Sitting Technician
* Advanced Pet Sitting Technician
* Master Professional Pet Sitter
* Accredited Pet Sitting Service

Through accreditation you can:

* Raise awareness among your customers about what it takes to be a qualified professional pet sitter
* Distinguish yourself as a true professional
* Sharpen your knowledge, skills and competitive edge
* Earn formal recognition for your commitment to excellence

The PSI accreditation programs are designed expressly for professional pet sitters, with self-paced home study courses to fit into your busy schedules. Depending upon the accreditation sought, subjects covered include:

* Pet Sitting Office Procedures
* Staff Management
* Company Expansion
* Animal First Aid
* Care of Older Pets
* Animal Nutrition
* And Many, Many More

Recommended Quality Standards for Excellence in Pet Sitting

The sitter has a veterinarian on call for emergency services.

All dealings with staff members, customers and industry colleagues are conducted so as to present the pet sitter and the pet sitting industry favorably and positively.

The sitter keeps regular office hours and answers clients inquiries and complaints promptly. The sitter provides references.

The sitter has experience in caring for pets and is clearly mindful of their safety and well-being.

The sitter provides written literature describing services and stating fees.

The sitter visits the client's home before the first pet sitting assignment to meet the pets and get detailed information about their care.

The sitter is courteous, interested and well informed.

The sitter takes precautions to make sure a client's absence from home is not detected because of any careless actions or disclosures by the sitter.

The sitter conducts business with honesty and integrity and observes all federal, state and local laws pertaining to business operations and animal care.

The sitter has a contingency plan for pet care in case of inclement weather or personal illness.

The sitting services provides initial and ongoing training for it's sitters.

The sitter provides a service contract which specifies services and fees. The sitter provides a service rating form for clients.

The sitter refrains from criticizing competitors.

The sitter calls to confirm or has the client call to confirm the client has returned home as scheduled.

The sitter wants to learn as much as possible about the animals in his or her care.

The sitter shows a positive attitude during the initial meeting and seems comfortable and competent dealing with animals.

The sitting service screens applicants for employment carefully.


Why Use a Professional Pet Sitter?

Advantages for your pet:

Reduced stress because of remaining in a familiar, secure environment where all the sights, smells and sounds are familiar.

Following a customary diet and exercise routine.

Not being traumatized by travel to the boarding destination.

Minimal exposure to illnesses of other animals.

Most important, the pet receives love and personal attention while the owner is away.

Advantages for you:

You won’t be inconvenienced or upset by transporting your pet.

You don’t have to impose on a friend, neighbor or relative who may forget to care for your pet.

Your home is made more secure by the crime-deterrent measures provided by most pet sitting services.

While you are away, you can feel confident your pet is in capable, caring hands.

You can use other special services, such as watering plants and bringing in mail.

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Click on the link at the beginning of this article...

ThePetCenter.com
"The Internet Animal Hospital"

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The City of Akron, Ohio, as covered by Leader Publications - Good Samaritans help protect dog

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Good Samaritans help protect dog

To the editor:

So many letters to editors these days regard themes of a negative tone. I wanted to send one to the West Side Leader regarding a recent experience which took place in the Akron area of a more positive, uplifting theme.

On Memorial Day, I came upon a frightened dog in the middle of Quick Road in Peninsula as I was driving past the Humane Society of Greater Akron (HSGA). The dog apparently had been abandoned near the facility earlier in the day.

As I began to follow the dog, I came upon a couple in their vehicle, and we agreed to use their Jeep Cherokee and my Escort station wagon to, more or less, block traffic from hitting the dog. Together, we three coaxed the poor pooch to one of the waiting vehicles using a borrowed bowl of dog food from nearby HSGA.

It worked! We were able to save him from a sure demise on Quick Road that day. He is probably ready for adoption at HSGA now.

I want to thank that nameless couple for helping me to catch that abandoned dog on Memorial Day and do, indeed, hope that they find my letter here in the West Side Leader.

Thanks also to the countless numbers of other anonymous folks who have performed similarly in order to help the abandoned and abused animals in our community.

As a devoted dog lover, I was honored to have been a part of this rescue. Thanks so much again to the folks who assisted me in the effort.

Nancy Kist,
West Akron

Leader Publications
EMAIL
you@akron.com

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Good Job!

HART
PetLvr.com

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CTV.ca | New law gives Hawaiian pets right of inheritance

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New law gives Hawaiian pets right of inheritance
Associated Press

HONOLULU — The audience was eager for the governor to put pen to paper. Some drooled. Catching the spirit of excitement, a few even lost control and barked.

Canines of all sizes and a spotted rabbit named Roxy were among those gathered Friday at the Capitol to watch Gov. Linda Lingle sign into law a measure that allows residents to leave a trust for the care of their dog, cat, or other domestic animal.

Lingle's two cats, Nani Girl and Stripes, were not in attendance.

"As you know cats don't do as well in public settings like this as dogs do," Lingle said.

Friday also marked National "Take Your Pet to Work Day." Several legislators and a number of other workers showed off their four-legged friends, who mostly behaved.

"These aren't just pets. These are a part of the family. You miss them when you're away. You worry about them. They really are important parts of your life," Lingle said.

Animal law attorney Emily Gardner helped draft the original bill. Garner became attracted to the issue while visiting elderly long-term care patients at St. Francis Hospital with her dog, Toby, who works as a therapy dog.

Some of the residents told her they were concerned about their animals and wanted to be able to provide for them after they died.

"I had to tell them that, unfortunately, that the way the law was currently written there was no legally enforceable means for them to do that," said Gardner, as she cradled Toby.

Researching the state's options, Gardner said she found 20 states had legally enforceable trust laws for pets.

"So why not Hawaii? And now Hawaii does," she said.

But for those concerned that the new law might mean their rich, slightly daffy uncle might now leave his empire to his beloved little Fifi, the law has attempted to address those fears.

A court can reduce the amount transferred to a trust "if it determines that the amount substantially exceeds the amount required for the intended use and the court finds that there will be no substantial adverse impact in the care, maintenance, health, or appearance of the designated domestic or pet animal."

But it might also help to be a trustee.

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© 2005 Bell Globemedia Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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GoArticles.com - Five Things You Should Know About Boston Terriers

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Five Things you Should Know About Boston Terriers
by Katelyn Thomas

1. Bostons love to snuggle and cuddle. They want to sit in your lap if they are on the floor. If they’re already in your lap, they want to curl around your neck or burrow into your chest.

2. Just because they’re cuddle bugs, don’t think Boston Terriers are low energy dogs. These dogs need to run and play and run some more. They love to chase after butterflies and bugs and can keep up with much larger dogs.

3. For a little dog, the Boston is a big chewer. Your puppy is going to need plenty of chew toys. If you don’t provide toys, he will find his own. Your furniture, shoes, and even your feet will fall prey to his sharp little teeth.

4. Rotten eggs have nothing on a Boston with gas. These guys seem prone to odorous bouts of gas passing. Avoid changing their diets suddenly and do not feed table scraps to cut down on this smelly problem.

5.Bostons are very smart. Your dog will learn quickly and will enjoy doing obedience and agility. In fact, most Boston Terriers are even willing to do a few stupid pet tricks, especially if you pull out the clicker.

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About the Author

Katelyn Thomas is the webmaster for www.aboutbostons.com and the owner of the outspoken Betsy, the Boston Terrier who writes Betsy's Blog.

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Cats and Their Nutritional Needs - Cats Are Different

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Cats Are Different
by T. J. Dunn, Jr. DVM

Our wonderful life-supporting planet is home to a remarkably diverse and complex spectrum of living organisms. And although all living things do share some common traits and similar biochemical pathways and cellular functions, there are many notable differences that make each creature stand out from the crowd. So even with the thread of sameness joining all the planets’ life forms, diversity and difference makes us take note of each creature’s uniqueness. Maybe that’s why the cat is America’s favorite housepet . . .cats are different!

This extraordinary four-legged feline has, for all of recorded time, evoked wonder and surprise, superstition and affection, damnation and deification. From pharaohs to philosophers to paupers, the companionship of and affection for cats has been a result of the cat’s unique ability to make us humans gaze in awe and admiration.

Eons of special environmental circumstances have forced the cat to evolve some interesting and individualized biochemical activities. Let’s take a peek at how unique the cat is inside, in that mysterious universe of liver and kidneys and glands and fluids where a million chemical reactions are going about their biological business in silent obscurity. And to make our little peek at the inner workings of the cat more interesting, let’s contrast a few of the cat’s biological activities to those of our next most favorite companion the dog.

In so many obvious ways, cats look, act, react, and respond differently than dogs. You never see a cat happily wag its tail; a dog’s reflexes are quick, a cat’s reflexes are incredible; dogs are doers, cats are watchers. These differences are easily noted by simple observation. Now let’s explore some of the unseen microscopic world of the cat – the invisible world of metabolism and chemistry that is just as real as those traits we can see with our eyes.

To begin with we must get a good grip on two terms . . . carnivore and omnivore. The cat is considered by scientists to be a strict carnivore and the dog is considered to be an omnivore. Both species are in the Class Mammalia and the Order Carnivora, but here’s the difference: The cat cannot sustain its life unless it consumes meat in some form. Dogs, however, are able to survive on plant material alone; they do not have to consume meat. But always keep in mind that dogs do best and by nature are primarily meat-eaters. Just because by definition they are omnivores (can digest and utilize plant and animal food sources) does not mean that plant material alone makes a good source of nutrition for the dog. Far too many dogs have been undernourished by those cheap grain-based dog foods. And grain-based cat foods are even worse!

So a good way to think of it is that cats are carnivores, dogs are omnivores, but they both have evolved as hunters of other animals in keeping with their nature as meat-eaters.

There are numerous chemical substances that are required for a cat to remain alive. These substances, some very complex chemical molecules and some very basic and simple, must be provided along the internal chemical reaction pathways at all times. Like other living plants and animals, the cat can manufacture most of its own required substances within its own body’s chemical factory. For example, Vitamin C is a requirement for life sustaining processes for us Mammalia, and dogs and cats make plenty of their own within their body’s chemical factory – the liver. We humans don’t make enough within our body chemical factory... so to keep ourselves alive we have to find some Vitamin C already made (preformed) somewhere in our environment, gather or capture it, then eat it. Without the Vitamin C, we’d die.

Dogs and cats don’t have to worry about gathering, capturing, and eating other preformed Vitamin C. They don’t care where their next grapefruit will come from because they make all the Vitamin C they need inside their own personal chemical factory.

On the other hand, there are numerous nutrients and chemicals that cats need that they can only acquire if they eat animal-derived tissues. That is, they need to prey on other living creatures that do make the essential chemicals that cats don’t! Out of necessity, the cat has evolved ways to hunt down, capture and eat this prey in order to "borrow" the prey's nutrients.

Outlined below are just a few of the unseen, but still very real biochemical differences between cats and dogs. Look these over and you will be even more convinced that cats are different!

Vitamin A... Also called retinol, is required at the cellular level by both cats and dogs.
Cats – Process little or no enzymes that will break down the plant-produced carotenoids. Must eat preformed active Vitamin A (that is, Vitamin A that already has been converted from carotenoids to its active form by some other creature such as a mouse or rabbit). Here’s a good example of why cats are called strict carnivores . . . they need to eat some other animal in order to "borrow" its active Vitamin A!
Dogs – Have enzymes in the lining of the intestine that can break down plant carotenoids and convert these into active Vitamin A.

Niacin... An essential B vitamin (essential means must be eaten, can’t be made inside the body’s chemical factory.)
Cats – Can obtain Niacin only by eating the preformed vitamin. Cannot convert Tryptophan to niacin.
Dogs – Obtain Niacin in two ways. One is by converting a dietary amino acid call Tryptophan into Niacin and the other way is by eating preformed Niacin.

Arginine... Is a building block for proteins, called an amino acid. Arginine is vital to many of the animal’s internal chemical factory’s functions. No Arginine and the entire factory goes on strike!
Cats – Are extremely sensitive to even a single meal deficient in Arginine and are unable to make their own Arginine within their chemical factory. Cats need lots of protein, and Arginine is involved in aiding the elimination of the protein waste products so the wastes don’t pollute the whole factory!
Dogs - Are not very sensitive to low levels of Arginine in their diets and produce enzymes internally that can aid production of Arginine.

Taurine... An amino acid that is not built into proteins, but is distributed throughout most body tissues. Taurine is important for healthy functioning of the heart, retina, bile fluid and certain aspects of reproduction.
Cats – Must eat preformed Taurine and since Taurine is not found in plant tissues, cats must consume meat to obtain Taurine. Cats can’t make their own, therefore, Taurine is essential in the diets of cats. Here again, meat has to be supplied to the factory so the Taurine can be extracted for its many uses.
Dogs – Make their own in their internal chemical factory.

Felinine... Is a compound made from a sulfur amino acid (SAA) called Cysteine.
Cats – Have a much higher requirement for SAA than other Mammalia and are the only creatures to manufacture the Felinine chemical. Felinine’s role in the overall function of the chemical factory is unknown, but like most factories whose wastes generate offensive odors, any Felinine present in the male cat’s urine alerts the neighbors that the factory is up and runnin’!
Dogs – Don’t know and don’t care what this stuff is.

Dietary Protein...
Cats – If fed a perfectly balanced and 100% digestible protein in a diet, the cat will use 20% of that protein for growth metabolism and 12% for maintenance. Here’s any easy way to say it . . . cats need more protein in their diets than dogs do.
Dogs – If fed a perfectly balanced and 100% digestible protein in a diet, the dog will use 12% of that protein for growth metabolism and only 4% of that protein for maintenance. Here's an easy way to say this...dogs need less protein in their diets than cats.

Arachidonic Acid... An essential fatty acid that plays a vital role in fat utilization and energy production.
Cats – Cannot make their own Arachidonic Acid even in the presence of adequate linoleic acid. The reason cats can’t make Arachidonic Acid from linoleic acid is because the cat’s chemical factory (liver) contains no delta-6-desaturase enzyme to convert linoleic to Arachidonic. Tell your cat owning friends about this one. Tell ‘em about the cat’s lack of liver delta-6-desaturase enzyme and they’ll think you’ve got a Ph.D. in biochemistry!
Dogs – Can make their own Arachidonic Acid if they consume enough linoleic acid by eating proper fats. Therefore, we can say that Arachidonic Acid is not an essential fatty acid for dogs.

Fasting and Starvation...
Cats – Do not mobilize fat reserves for energy very efficiently and, in fact, break down non-fatty body tissues for energy. This upsets the internal chemical factory and can lead to a very dangerous feline disorder called hepatic lipidosis. Never put a fat cat on a starvation diet, it might just put the entire factory out of business. (I’ve had occasion to relate this personal fact to my wife!)
Dogs – Can tolerate prolonged fasts and utilize fat reserves for energy.

So, there you have an insight into some of the invisible goings-on in our friend the cat. It should be obvious that a high quality, meat-based diet is imperative to a cat's wellness. There are no vegetarian diets for cats! And feeding your cat a homemade concoction of meat may be a disaster. There are a few good quality meat-based diets available to cat owners. PetFoodDirect.com, America's Pet Store on the Web, ships quality feline diets direct to your door. Take a look at their selection of cat foods. Commercial diets based on corn, wheat, rice and other grains are not a good choice for our meat-eating felines.

The next time you admire a cat's unique personality and behavior, and watch the way they egocentrically carry themselves for anyone to see, remember...hidden beneath that furry skin is another unique and vast universe. There is a veritable chemical cosmos inside your cat that's just as wondrous and magnificent as the cosmos above. You can't see it, but it's there, silently following the rules of nature to sustain our unique and valued feline friends. And it's that complex chemical cosmos, working it's fantastic magic, that prompts us cat lovers to say, truly...cats are different!

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Click on the link at the beginning of this article...

ThePetCenter.com
"The Internet Animal Hospital"

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Brookings Register Online - Horse Show Gets Rolling

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Horse show gets rolling
BY JOHN ANDREWS

Championship competition in the Arabian Horse Association's 2005 Region 6 Arabian Horse Show officially is under way today at the Larson Ice Center.
Hundreds of horses and handlers from across Region 6 (which includes Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota and South Dakota) have been in town since Tuesday, taking part in the pre-show competition. Those who earned enough points to qualify for the regional competition get started today.

Winners in the youth portion qualify for nationals, held in Tulsa, Okla., in July. Adult winners advance to nationals in Louisville, Ky., in November.
While the show draws people young and old from many places across the Upper Midwest, there seems to be one constant among them. Arabian horses have been a part of their lives for as long as they can remember.

Gail Jensen, from Blair, Neb., has one English horse, "Just Breezin,'" competing this weekend. She got heavily involved in Arabians after getting married. Her husband had two Arabian mares at the time, she says.
"So that's how I got into it, and I was always a horse lover," Jensen says. "I've been raising and showing Arabians for 40 years plus. I'm what you call an 'old timer.'"

Jensen says she has horses in Kansas City, Georgia and Arizona. Because of that, she typically competes in between two and four regional shows each year. This weekend's show is her third regional so far in 2005.
"I get to a lot of regionals that are close to those areas," Jensen says. "We like coming up here. Because I'm from a small town, I like the flavor of Brookings. I like coming here. It's a great city, the people are friendly and we have a great time. It's nice and relaxed."

She said Wednesday her horse had a good pre-show, and was ready to begin championship competition.

And her goal? Probably the same for everybody else in town this week.
"I'd like to win a regional championship," she said with a laugh. "Or two."
Deb McGuire's association with Arabians started when she was a child. Riding lessons got it all started for McGuire, a Sioux Falls woman who now serves as the Region 6 director.

"That got me interested in the horses. I ended up buying a horse; there were people who had Arabians. I ended up showing other people's Arabians. I started training my own horses when I was 14."

She doesn't have any of her own horses competing this week, but is showing horses for many of her clients.

Showing in the youth portion of the competition is 8-year-old Hayley Haertel, of Sioux Falls. Haertel's mother, Denise, got Hayley interested in Arabians.
"It's me," Denise says. "I've been showing horses for 20 years, and now she's just following in my footsteps."

Hayley's horse is called "Justi." They compete in a walk/trot class.
"They show in walk/trot application, which is judged on how well she rides the horse, and then they show in walk/trot pleasure, which is judged on how she makes the horse perform," Denise explained. "They have, really, two classes she can ride in."

Hayley says one of the things she enjoys about working with horses is the comfort they can provide.

"Sometimes it's fun because if you're sad, you just talk to your horse and they make you feel better," she says.

Hayley and Justi had a good pre-show, getting four thirds and a second.
"I've never been to anything like this before," Hayley said. "I'm nervous."
She said her goal is to finish in the top five in her class this weekend.


Send us your comments about this article.
The Brookings Register - Online Edition
Brookings, SD

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Take Your Dog to Work Day!!

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Take Your Dog To Work Day®: June 24, 2005

Take Your Dog To Work Day® is an event so big and so important that more than 10,000 companies from around the world will be celebrating along with you. It was created to help homeless dogs find good homes and lifelong companionship. These dogs have great personalities and a lot of unconditional love to give.

The idea behind Take Your Dog To Work Day® is simple—encourage businesses to devote one special day to dogs and their owners as a means of spreading the word about what great companions dogs truly make.

As the creator of this annual event, Pet Sitters International believes that by allowing dogs in the workplace, co-workers who have never before experienced the love and companionship of a dog, or have forgotten the joy that a pet can bring to their lives, will be motivated to adopt dogs from their local shelters, humane societies or rescue groups.

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Did you take your dog to work today?

HART

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My Nikki in training at our nursing home. She is with one of my dearest friends here.

Posted by Ruth

http://www.mimfreedom.com/dogtherapy.htm

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Ananova - J-Lo designs bling for pets

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J-Lo designs bling for pets

Jennifer Lopez is designing a range of jewellery - for dogs. J-Lo already has her own fashion label.

An insider said: "Jennifer just got creative and wanted to extend the range of jewels for animals. She has always found it somewhat frustrating that there are limited accessories available for them."


~~~~~~~~~

Okay then.

HART

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Readers are invited to upload their favorite pet picture and join the "PetLvr Picture Club!"

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Today I have added a new script to [The Blog]. It allows you to upload your favorite PET picture to our blogsite. It is an alternative to our 'Cutest Pet' and 'PetLvr Wars' link on every blog entry previously mentioned in our Who's The Cutest Pet At the PetLvr.com - [The Blog].

To access this script, click the graphic on the side of the page at the top, that looks like this:



Just sign up your pet and upload his/her picture to this site and you can rate other people's pet pictures too. This script is a little more stable than our "Cutest Pet" Voting War link on every post. Sometimes, if one loads up a picture with incorrect extensions or spaces in the filename, the script adds a few blank entries into the database. It shows up as a dead/missing picture. It should work fine once more pictures are added however.

Regardless of which script you prefer .. the FREE ANONYMOUS "Cutest Pet" PetLvr Wars script or the FREE MEMBERSHIP "PetLvr Picture Club" script ... pictures from both scripts will be combined and be available for view in a combined gallery format.

To access this galley, click the graphic on the side of the page at the top, that looks like this:



Take care.
HART
PetLvr.com

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Animals in Nanjing relieve summer heat

35c ... it's hot in Nanjing June 20, 2005

Click on above link for more pictures and related stories...


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Animals in Nanjing relieve summer heat
Last Updated(Beijing Time):2005-06-21 09:36




A giant panda lies beside ice blocks to cool itself down at the Hongshan Zoo in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, June 20, 2005. The highest temperature stood at 35 degrees centigrade in Nanjing on June 20.





A worker sprays water onto an elephant to help it cool down at the Hongshan Zoo in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, June 20, 2005. The highest temperature stood at 35 degrees centigrade in Nanjing on June 20.




Source:People's Daily

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Goldfish Tips - Choosing The Right One: "Choose the right pet shop. Ask people you know who are committed fish "

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Goldfish Tips - Choosing The Right One
By Dane Stanton

Tips to getting the right Goldfish

Goldfish are a temperate breed that can be found in cool streams, lakes, and ponds throughout Asia and part of Eastern Europe. However, the ones you will buy for your tank have been bred in captivity. Once you’ve decided that the Goldfish is the right one for you – you will need to find the right kind of goldfish. Take your time and find out more, rather than just rush out and buy the first goldfish you find in the first pet store you come by. Decide on how many you want to buy. If you really want just a single Goldfish, please do a re-think on the issue because it can get lonely and boring for a lone ranger in a tank! Once you’ve though it out, here are some of the things you must keep in mind:

• Choose the right pet shop. Ask people you know who are committed fish keepers for reputed goldfish dealers. These are the people who care and would have professional knowledge of breeding and nurturing goldfish. See if they give a proper fish guarantee. When you enter the shop, look around at all the tanks. Make sure that the tanks are not overcrowded with fish. See if all kinds of fish are thrown together in one tank or care is taken to separate the various species. Look out for dead floating fish. The dead fish could have spread an infection to the other fish.

• Question the Goldfish Dealer. If the dealer claims that the goldfish are imported, then find out which country they are from and when they arrived. Ask him or her is the correct quarantine procedures have been adopted before putting up the goldfish for sale. If they were bred, find out when they were bred and how the fish have been kept till now as in what kind of medications if any has been used and for how long. Find out if the dealer has used salt in the water.

• Observe how the fish swims. This is a good gauge to identify healthy fish. A fish should be active, swimming with ease and style and poking around curiously at nooks and corners. Choose a goldfish that looks active and doesn’t wobble or tilt to one side or just rest at the bottom. Tap the tank and see how the goldfish reacts. A fish that is slow in its reaction might be a sick one. Make sure that it’s not opening its mouth too much for air, as it might be an indication of problems with the gills.

• Check out the fins. Make sure that the dorsal fin is straight and stands up. The backs of the goldfish should be smooth, without unsightly bumps. Also check that all the fins are healthy, even and are not rotted away or damaged. In all, a Goldfish should have a dorsal fin (unless it is a goldfish without a dorsal fin), pectoral fins that extend out on sides, two anal fins or one right in the middle. Beware a goldfish with just one anal fin that’s placed kind of off to one side. It could mean that the other anal fin is growing inwards and that could be fatal to the goldfish.

• Inspect the looks. Make sure that you give the goldfish you are choosing a thorough look over. See that the fish has a nice symmetrical shape and make sure they don’t have large heads compared to their body. It would do good to feel the fish to check if the skin is too slimy or too dry but at least ensure that the skin is free of spots and odd bumps and that the gills are red. There should be no redness in the anal region and definitely nothing sticking out or leaking out. The outside of the mouth should be free from redness and white strings and the eyes free from white flecks.

• Bag ‘em right. Where you’re buying goldfish, you will have to put them in the ubiquitous plastic bag, but do so with care. Make sure that the dealer leaves enough space on top for the oxygen and the right amount of water. The right amount of the water is that which covers the fish. Do not allow the dealer to add any medicine or drops or anything else. Don’t make the bag too tight and avoid a big bag that might lead to too many folds in which the fish could get trapped and hurt. The bag should be tied till it is adequately taut.

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Dane Stanton is an expert on Goldfish Health Care. For more information about buying the right Goldfish, visit his site at - http://www.infotrate.com/goldfish.htm

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

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GoArticles.com - Understanding the Language & Behavior of a Pet Bird

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Understanding the Language & Behavior of a Pet Bird
by Tippy & Alfred


Birds, just like other pets, have their own ways of
Communicating, or Bird Language.

Birds communicate to other birds and also communicate
to their owners, in a variety of ways. While all species
have their own unique methods of bird language, there
are many generalities.

Birds use their body, body parts and voices to express a
wide range of emotions.

Ways Birds Communicate

Barking
Some birds give out a type of bark when excited or when
trying to prove their dominance.

Beak Clicking
When a bird is clicking it's beak, it is trying to tell
others it is threatened or that it is protecting something.

Beak Grinding
When a bird grinds it's beak the bird is trying to communicate
it is feeling secure and content.

Beak Wiping
When a bird wipes it's beak the bird is trying to communicate
that he is aggravated or upset about something. Beak wiping
is also typically normal behavior for birds when they
are trying to clean the beak or dislodge something stuck
in it.

See Also Why Bird's Bite
http://petcaretips.net/bird-biting.html

Chattering
Some birds just like to talk, talk about anything; their
environment, how they feel, the state of the union....
so to communicate their thoughts, they chatter, sometimes
incessantly, sometimes loud, sometimes soft.

Young birds chirp or chatter when they want fed. Birds in
the wild often chatter as a warning sign to other birds that
something is not right in their environment, or as a call
to attract another bird's attention.

Crouching
If the bird is crouching with it's head toward the owner,
the birds wants to be petted or scratched.

If crouching with head down, relaxed body and raised wings,
the bird wants attention.

If crouching with head down, eyes pinning, flared tail feathers,
ruffled feathers, and a rigid body, the bird is giving
a warning to back off.

Flashing or Dilating Pupils
Flashing or dilating pupils the bird may be trying to communicate
aggression, excitement, nervousness, or pleasure.

Growling
Some birds communicate with a type of growl that means
back off mister and leave me alone.

Head Snaking
A bird that is shaking it's head from side to side means it is
excited.

Panting
A panting bird is overheated, overexerted and uncomfortable.

Purring
A bird can give a type of purr communicating the bird is
relaxed and content.

Singing
A bird sings when it is communicating a message to another
bird, perhaps as a mating call, or when it is content and
happy.

See Also: Why Birds Sing
http://petcaretips.net/why-bird-sings.html

Talking
A Bird talks when it is content and happy and wants to
send a message to the another bird or it's owner.

Tail Bobbing
When a bird bobs it's tail that may mean it's sick, but also
some birds bob their tails when they are talking or singing.

Tail Fanning
Tail fanning by a bird indicates it's unhappy about something
and may become aggressive

Tail Wagging
Just like dogs, tail wagging communicates that a bird is
content or happy.

Tongue Clicking
When a bird gives a rapid clicking of their tongue they
are trying to communicate friendliness or an invitation to be
friends.

Wing Drooping
A Bird will droop it's wings for several reasons.
It may have just taken a bath and it's holding the wings
down while drying. It may happen in young birds who have
not learned how to hold their wings. The bird may be
overheated and wanting to cool itself. The bird may be sick.

Wing Flipping
If a caged bird is flicking it's wings sharply, it is
communicating annoyance or fear. It could also mean the
bird has lost it's balance and is trying to correct itself,
if this is the case the wing flipping won't last long.

Wing and Body Quivering
Quivering wings and body means the bird is fearful of
something in it's immediate environment.

Wing Drumming
Birds drum their wings when they need exercise or out of
boredom. It may also communicate the bird is protecting it's
territory.

Whistling
When a bird whistles it is communicating that the bird feels
content, safe and is at ease in it's world.

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About the Author
Tippy & Alfred
Copyright ©

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