The Petside Digest: This Week's Must-Reads
September 3, 2010
Vet Who Tells it Like it Is: Pawcurious
Dr. V. illustrates the pitfalls of flea denial, with her own animated video.
Jane Smiley Tries Training Her Horse Like a Dog: Family Goes Strong
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jane Smiley took a page from the book of her treat-wielding dog trainer to get over a few hurdles with her horse.
Kickoff of the Never Shock a Puppy Campaign: Pet Health Care Gazette
Lots of great bloggers are spreading the word that it shouldn't have to hurt to learn. Read more about this training campaign at the Pet Health Care Gazette.
Irish Cat Boards a Train, Finds Her Owner Through Twitter: L.A. Unleashed
This one's a fun story about kitty wanderlust, the kindness of strangers, and the power of Twitter.
Adoptable Pet of the Week: Bootz
Bootz is so handsome, I had to feature him. He's a laid-back 5 1/2-year-old currently residing at PAWS - the Pet Animal Welfare Society of Norwalk, CT. Look at those whiskers!
Image Source: PAWS
How Does Your Cat Show Affection?
Ok! I will readily admit when I am talking about our cats, I often lose my sense of objectivity. I am frequently prone to talk about them a lot, and once, was even accused by a dear cat veterinarian friend that I am addicted to kitties. Meow Culpa!
But I am sure you understand that it is difficult to be owned by two such handsome, intelligent, and affectionate felines, who have delightful senses of humor, and resist running off at the fingertips about them at times. So please forgive my occasional bursts of bragging and be gentle with me.
While my love affair with both my cats is a constant in my life, each of them demonstrates their affection towards me uniquely. Hush Puppy, wearing a huge grin, plops in my lap and snuggles his body as closely to me as possible. He rests his head securely on my leg while he softly purrs himself to sleep.
Hubble, on the other hand prefers communicating his love verbally. He enjoys accompanying me around the house, brushing his body against my legs, keeping up a constant monologue with his meows, trills, and chirps while looking up at me adoringly with his beautiful big blue eyes, which follow my every move.
But what I most enjoy about Hubble's extensive repertoire of affection is his penchant for "shampooing" my hair whenever I am sprawled on the couch watching television. As far as I am concerned, since his scalp massages are so incredibly relaxing, the only downside to this bit of bonding behavior is I fall asleep immediately, missing the endings of many programs. Oh well, there is always "on demand" to remedy this problem, and it's much safer than taking a sleeping pill.
So I got to wondering if the gift that Hubble so often bestows upon me is uncommon. And while I was cogitating on the issue, I must have been sending out some rather loud vibrations which were quickly received by a psychically gifted friend. Bless her - she must have forwarded it with great affection in order to put my mind at ease.
However, I seriously doubt I will bother to share this video with Hubble. Mind you I am not stingy, but I worry he might attempt some of the moves the featured kitty is demonstrating. They definitely appear somewhat painful, don't you think?
Enjoy this hilarious short video, which inspired my ramblings, uploaded to YouTube by Cheezburger.
Purrhaps its title could be "Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow?" Leave a comment and tell us what you think.
Photo credit: Hubble by Jo Singer
Labor Day Travel and Pet Safety
September 2, 2010
The end of summer is always a mixed blessing for me. While it brings back some delightful childhood memories, I have recently come to realize that time passed a lot more slowly back then than it does today.
Presently, days keep flying by at record-breaking speed and it is hard for me to believe that the end of summer is just around the corner.
Since Labor Day is upon us, I have recently been reflecting on how my mother used to drag me off to clothing stores advertising terrific bargains around this time. She always tried to send me back to school dressed in the most up-to-date fashions and equipped with school supplies from the Five and Dime Store.
We definitely were not a family that traveled over the long weekend. And since my mother did not permit my father and me to have a cat, we never gave pet safety a thought.
However, many folks nowadays take advantage of the long Labor Day weekend for a last summer getaway and plan bringing their furry companions along for the ride. AAA has some excellent suggestions to keep pets safe while traveling.
While some folks find it amusing to see a dog with its head out the window, ears flapping in the wind, an unrestrained dog can cause major danger. According to AAA, in a car crash at 50 mph, an unrestrained 10-pound dog can exert almost 500 pounds of pressure; in a car crash at only 30 mph, an unrestrained 80-pound dog can exert more than 2,400 pounds of pressure.
Wearing seat belts is now the law. While we are safely secured, it is also essential that pets in carriers are securely restrained, so buckle up any carrier containing a pet. AAA Traffic Safety Culture director, Michelle Harris said, "An unrestrained pet not only endangers itself, but everyone in the vehicle as well."
While keeping a kitty purring your lap may be fun, please don't let your cat roam free in the car. Cats can easily crawl under pedals and become a major distraction, jumping over seats as they dive for a front view seat on the dashboard. But if your pets cannot tolerate carriers, make sure they are leashed safely and securely. Make travel safety a priority for both you and your pets!
While pet travel safety is a serious topic, I must digress with a bit of humor. While writing about pet restraint, a friend's problem with trimming her cat's nails came to mind. Her cat cannot tolerate being held. I suggested a kitty "bag" might be helpful. They are made of soft nylon, specifically designed to help groom "fractious" cats. I sent a link to an item that I thought fit the bill.
Shortly after visiting the website, she replied sending me the cat "bag" instructions. They read; "Instructions: Insert cat. Close collar. Place finger in loop and pull zipper with free hand until secured. Release front leg openings and rear zipper tab as needed for access. Machine wash warm. Tumble dry low heat." Seems like a rather bizarre method for cat bathing!
Anyway, have a safe and wonderful holiday! And please share how you travel with your pets by leaving a comment.
Photo Credit: Flickr user Hanafan
Arrest Made at Doggy Day Care/Boarding in Brooklyn, NY
September 1, 2010
When we must leave our pets under the care of professionals, often we assume that they will be safe and well cared for. But as we all know, unfortunately, this is not always the case.
So when I recently ran across a highly disturbing item about a Brooklyn, NY boarding facility and day care service, published on the ASPCA website, I was shocked. I wondered how anyone could leave their pets and animals, for which they are responsible for, without thoroughly checking out the facility by visiting and obtaining references. I just don't get it!
Recently my husband and I went on vacation. Knowing that our cats are terrible travelers and become greatly stressed out in unfamiliar surroundings, we hired an extremely competent local cat-sitter with impeccable references. And even though our kitties were in the best of hands, and in the company of someone who was extremely fond of them, I still worried if they were eating, using their litter boxes, and feeling secure.
Obviously this ASPCA announcement really got my blood boiling.
According to the ASPCA, their Humane Law Enforcement Agents arrested Matthew Soto, daily manager and co-owner of a doggy day care and boarding kennel called Bark&Play, on August 25. Soto was charged with five counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty for seriously neglecting several dogs boarded at his facility.
In late June, upon discovering that the dogs boarded at the facility were neglected and left unsupervised, ASPCA initiated a total investigation of the facility. They found dogs that were left without appropriate supervision, housed in areas lacking sufficient ventilation, and living in horribly unsanitary conditions saturated with urine and feces.
Tango and Sweets, two emaciated Pit Bull mixed breeds, were transported to ASPCA Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital for emergency treatment provided by veterinarian Robert Reisman, ASPCA Medical Coordinator of Animal Abuse Cases. The dogs were suffering from severe urine burns and other signs of neglect.
What is even more alarming is that Tango and Sweets were only two of the many dogs boarded at this kennel by local rescue groups. Stacy Wolf, ASPCA's Vice President of Chief Legal Counsel for Humane Law Enforcement said, "rescue groups would pay the facility to temporarily board dogs until they found homes for them. However several dogs had been left there for months."
If convicted, Soto could receive a two year jail sentence. Thankfully Bark& Play is now closed to the public, since it was seized last June.
When you must leave your pets with a care-taker or a boarding facility, how do you check them out? Leave a comment and share your experiences.
Photo credit: Flickr user m kasahara
This is not a photo of a dog at the day care facility. It is a Pit Bull Mix
WEEKLY CUDDLE CHAMPION: Sox
August 31, 2010Just like Sox's owner, we could not resist that look! Not only does that face get him nap time on the bed, it also earned him this week's Cuddle Champion title! Congratulations Sox!
Submitted by Vicky Hinds- Coy
"I think my dog can be a Cuddle Champion...His name is Sox and he is the sweetest and one of the biggest lap dogs I know...He knows he's not supposed to be on the bed, but with a face like that how can I stay mad??"
To submit a picture to "WEEKLY CUDDLE CHAMPION" post your pet's picture on the petside facebook fan page wall with the caption "I think my pet is the CUDDLE CHAMPION"! Make sure to tell us your pet's name and a little bit about them!
ADD YOUR PET TO THE TIMELINE
You'll also receive emails that detail your
pet's development.
Recent Posts
The Petside Digest: This Week's Must-Reads
How Does Your Cat Show Affection?
Labor Day Travel and Pet Safety
Arrest Made at Doggy Day Care/Boarding in Brooklyn, NY
Help Save Rocky Mountain Wolves in Danger Today
Is Your Cat a Television Addict?
The Petside Digest: This Week's Must-Reads
Cats and Boxes: A Magnetic Attraction
Bill Preventing Landlords Requiring Declawing and Debarking Passed by Senate
Specials
Check out these deals picked by petside.com just for you!
