Petside Items: Cat hero saves owner from fire

Hooray Jeter...we must first give credit where it's due today to the heroic deeds of a cat in Connecticut who pounced on his sleeping owner until he woke up and escaped from a blazing apartment building. Although Jeter escaped himself, he and many other pets forced to flee the building have had to fend for themselves. There's an interesting twist here, because earlier this week, traps used to catch wild animals in Montana were criticized for the inadvertent danger they pose to wandering pets. But there are two sides to every story. In the case of Jeter, and some of his four-legged neighbors, it is traps that have helped reunite these fire victims with their owners. The weekend is for family time, no matter what the makeup of your household. And since 62% Americans consider their pets a part of their family, Ikea - the world's favorite home store - has made a clever tie in to home and pets. In celebration of National Pet Week (May 4-10), IKEA’s has released some online video shorts and this one titled "Best Friends" caught my eye. It's a glimpse into the keyhole of Jody Applebaum’s life with her two “best friends” and “home-mates” – award-winning West Highland Terriers Frasier and Niles. Jody cares for her pets like any loving friend – even providing affection by kissing them on the lips! On the other side of the world, preparations for the Beijing Olympics are heating up. Strays are a big problem, but news today says that the city is on a massive rabies sweep. It's also reported that the government is offering monetary incentives to pet owners for sterilization of their cats and dogs. It may be rainy, but don't forget that spring is here. Enjoy the weekend and have some fun with your pet!