Not to discount the work of cat rescuers who rescue and care for stray cats. But this passage from Linda Lombardi’s “Animals Behaving Badly” made me wonder how much of shelter crowding might – again, might – be the result of well-meaning rescuers unwittingly “saving” cats who already have families: “Many a perfectly contented outdoor cat has found himself scooped up from his daily route and confined, then seen his photo plastered on ‘found cat’ posters, when all he wanted... Read more
To say that I read a lot would be an understatement; I try to average a book a week, and my topics range from pop fiction to indepth nonfiction on a variety of subjects. But one this is for sure: on my reading list every year are books about animals. All kinds of animals. This year, for example, I stumbled upon a book called “Red Tails In Love” at the used bookstore, about the birds in Central Park, specifically the... Read more
If you’re looking for ways to make 2012 a better year for both you and your animals, here is resolution #4 for animal lovers: Volunteer! I have a lot of animal loving friends who tell me they can’t even consider volunteering at a shelter, because they don’t know if they could handle seeing what happens to animals that don’t find homes. I understand. I saw a lot of sad things during the year I volunteered at our local animal shelter.... Read more
Aflatoxin strikes again as two dog foods are recalled for higher than acceptable levels of aflatoxin related to the corn included as an ingredient in the dog food. Aflatoxin is a naturally occurring mold by-product. Pets that have consumed any of the above recalled products and exhibit symptoms of illness including sluggishness or lethargy combined with a reluctance to eat, vomiting, yellowish tint to the eyes or gums, or diarrhea should be seen by a veterinarian. Here are the recalled... Read more
Here’s some great news: Snickers is going home! You may remember that just before Christmas, retired Chicago police officer James Sak was ordered by the town council in Aurelia, Iowa, to surrender his pit bull service dog, Snickers. Aurelia has breed specific legislation that makes owning a pit bull – even a mix – illegal. In November, Sak and his wife Peggy moved to Aurelia to be near her 87-year-old mother. Snickers went with them. The pit mix is James Sak’s... Read more
Happy Wednesday! We’re halfway through the week – probably a vacation week for most of you – and just days away from the end of 2011. What better way to send off the year than with a hefty dose of cute! Meet Siku, the polar bear who has captured the hearts of animal lovers around the world. He was born on November 22, 2011, to Ilka at the Scandinavian Wildlife Park in Denmark. Two days after his birth, his caretakers noticed that he... Read more
As we continue to talk about ways we can make 2012 a better year for our animal friends – or “anipals” – here’s #3: resolve to be a better pet owner. I know that in my lifetime of having dogs, I’ve been a good, responsible dog owner – and a terrible dog owner. I confess I had the dog that ran the neighborhood. I didn’t always pick up poop. But twenty or thirty years later, I’ve learned more about my... Read more
As we get ready for the new year, here’s another New Year’s resolution for animal lovers: Adopt a pet! Before Christmas, we had lots of discussion about pet shop dogs and animal rescue: Pet sales banned at malls nationwide; rescue stores begin to replace pet shops Setting the record straight on Barkworks, puppy mills and the work of CAPS But did you know that you can also adopt ferrets and bunnies and birds and guinea pigs and every other kind of... Read more
As 2011 comes to a close, you’re probably making a few New Year’s resolutions. Lose weight, exercise, stop smoking, the same old, same old. If you’re an animal lover, how about making a resolution that’ll benefit both you and your favorite animals? This week, we’ll look at 5 resolutions that are perfect for animal lovers. Since yesterday was a holiday (translation: I didn’t get off the couch all day) we’ll do two today and one every day for the rest of... Read more
I love otters. The top video is from youTube user mattbeetee and was shot in 2009 in Blackpool, UK. The bottom video is from scswift, taken in 2007 at the Miami Zoo. Just goes to show that fun is fun the world over! Read more
Heavenly Creatures
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