Urgent help needed for a special dog!!!

Thanks for everyone's kindness and consideration. Ryker's MRI results were not encouraging. Please do not send any donation. Will be changing this to memorial page when possible. Thank you again.


Hello, dear readers. Today I want to make a plea for a special dog and a special rescue.

This is Ryker. He's a 3 year old male German Shepherd.

Ryker came to live on a farm at 10 weeks of age. He was a model puppy in some ways - learned to potty outside with very few mistakes, rode in the car without trouble from the first day, and happily bounced around his owners' feet every day on the long trek to the mailbox. In other ways he was a little mischevious - he liked to tease the goats, and the coffee table and rocking chair still bear the marks of his teeth. 

At about a year old, he was a healthy, beautiful boy, his owners' pride and joy. 

Soon after that, things started to go wrong. Ryker started having loose stools and was unable to wait to go outside to potty. He started losing weight at an alarming rate. His owners watched him waste away to almost nothing, and cried every day looking at him, fearing each day might be his last. 

Ryker's pancreas had stopped making enzymes, which meant he was unable to digest his food. Through the help of of a wonderful website, epi4dogs.com, he got the help he needed and returned to health. It wasn't easy, his diet had to be changed several times and his medicines adjusted until the balance was finally right, but finally he started gaining weight, and over the course of a year became the fine boy in the first photo. 

That wasn't the end of Ryker's troubles, and his owner's heartbreak though. We all know how fragile the economy is, and what these troubled times have meant to many families. While Ryker was in good health, he needed to be monitored by a vet, eat grain free food, and continue on his enzymes, without which he would not be able to survive. With great sadness, his owner decided that she was unable to give him the care he needed, and started seeking a good home to adopt Ryker. 

It can be difficult to place a special needs dog though. But finally, the owner found a new rescue that was focusing on special needs dogs and senior dogs who had been abandoned in their old age. It was across the county, but transport was arranged by a wonderful group called Rescue Puppies on the Move. Ryker set out two weeks ago on his journey. 

Along the way he met several drivers, and the other dogs in the transport. It was an exciting time for him! He gave kisses to all the people who gave him a ride, enjoyed playing with the other dogs (a little TOO much ... they tried to put him in a kennel for a few minutes and that smart boy figured out how to open a kennel gate to rejoin the other dogs for more fun!). He made friends with a female German Shepherd riding with him, and kept going in the bedroom where she slept to check on her when she didn't come out to play with all the others. 

He arrived at his new home and decided he REALLY liked the man of the house. The new place had other German Shepherds to play with, wide open grassy places to run, and a very caring rescuer who keeps her rescues in the house with her family. His new life was full of promise. 

Then tragedy struck. He had been perfectly fine, but without warning, he became paralyzed in the back end. He lost the ability to empty his bladder on his own. He was taken to the vet for testing, but no injury or illness could be found. 

He's currently on antibiotics in case it's a tick-borne disease, and the vet has volunteered to give him a wheelchair to use for the time being. His rescuer is working around the clock trying to care for him in this suddenly difficult condition. 

He's getting a little tired of being poked and prodded, tested, and having to be cleaned up when he goes potty on himself. For a day he lost interest in food, but after 24 hours he's eating again. He even had a semi-solid poop instead of runny diarrhea, so we are hoping he's getting better, even though the cause of his sudden paralysis is unknown. 

But right now he needs help, urgently. He's having to go in to have his bladder taken care of, since it's been over 24 hours since he was able to urinate. He's being taken to an emergency vet, and can hopefully get the care he needs. His rescuer is temporarily out of funds, since she has had to pay for Ryker's care as well as two 12-year old dogs that were going to be taken to the pound when their owner decided to move out of the country. Ryker's emergency was unexpected. 

A fund has been established through YouCaring for Ryker's medical needs, and over half of the money has already been raised. If you can find it in your heart to donate, any amount at all, you can help make a difference. Ryker's had a hard life, but he's been a brave guy all the way through, and never lost his will to live and his ability to love. At only three years old, he still has a lot of years ahead of him - anyone who's ever owned a German Shepherd knows that they grow out of a long puppyhood at about that point, and turn into the most wonderful companions. I'm hoping he'll keep his goofy, sweet personality even though he is finally maturing, and I'm hoping he'll have the chance to live the life he deserves. If you can help, please consider donating. Thank you so much for reading. 

Photo of Ryker taken today

Click here to donate through YouCaring. They accept Paypal if you prefer. Thank you so much, and Ryker thanks you as well!!!

A friend shared this on Facebook. I'd seen it before, but this version is clearer. This is SO funny, especially if you're a "cat person" ... and my kitty can so relate to this!

Mom's my Biggest Cheerleader

Thanks to Roman May

Mom has been invaluable during this move. She found the right moving company for me and called ahead to set up the pick up. She went to ElectricCompaniesTexas.net and researched the energy companies in our area and even found a kennel we could use to put the dog in for the moving day so he wouldn’t be in the way. She’s hired a fencing company to come in and fence in the yard so the dog will have somewhere to run around once he’s back home – basically mom’s done everything for us! My husband is in his last year of residency and I’ve got a full-time job so I just don’t have time to fly down to Texas and take care of everything. Not to mention flights from California down there aren’t cheap! I love my husband but his job has really cramped our style the last few years. I worry that when he’s done with the residency it’s going to be hard for us to figure out how to be a normal married couple! It’s going to be tough for me to try and meet people in Texas because my husband’s always going to be at work so it’s totally going to be up to me. While we were living in California we spent most of our time hanging out with other doctors – nice but not exactly the entire social circle I want to cultivate. I think I’m going to try and meet some women I can do a garden club with and I’m also going to try and talk to someone at the local library about a book club. It’s been a rough road these last few years but I know it’s going to be worth it one day when my husband’s a real, full-fledged doctor and can set his own hours. At that point we’ll think about having a baby but not for a long time! I’m not ready yet to be a mom.

Help your dog become a true companion

We've seen it before. People fall in love with the idea of a faithful companion, as insightful as Lassie when it comes to knowing what to do, and as loyal as RinTinTin. A dog that can shadow you everywhere you go, yet blend in smoothly because he's so well behaved people barely notice he's there. A true companion.

Then when the anticipated puppy arrives, reality slowly sets in. This puppy pees on the floor, chews up your socks when you aren't looking, howls all night, and thinks "come" is an invitation to play keep-away. Dreams are shattered, and more than one unfortunate pup ends up banished to the backyard or even surrendered as being "too much trouble" or "untrainable".

It doesn't have to be that way. Even Lassie had to be taught where to toilet, to come when called, and to respect his owner's property. (Yes, Lassie was a he because the male's coat was better, and you couldn't tell on television anyway.)

Lassie's training session

Instead of entering into dog ownership blindly, especially for first-time puppy owners, planning and preparation will go a long way to ensuring a happy partnership between you and your new friend. The first thing you should do is to read at least one, and preferably several, good books on raising a puppy. It can be a good idea to network with serious dog-owners in an online forum to hear a variety of ideas (although realize you can get both very good as well as very bad advice this way).

Once the puppy gets home, your real work begins. Plan to enroll your puppy in a training program of some kind. There are several options available, from puppy socialization classes all the way to serious dog training schools which offer various levels of training, from basic obedience to very specialized working or protection programs.

Puppy socialization classes are the most basic form of classes, and we recommend these even for people who are very experienced trainers themselves. These classes give your puppy the experience of being around lots of other dogs and people. The puppy will have the opportunity to  learn and practice good behavior even with plenty of distractions. Proper early socialization is especially helpful in preventing later problems with aggression and fearfulness.

We've met clients who insist they don't want to socialize their dogs because they want them to be guard dogs. This is a mistaken idea! Even if you want your dog to be a protector of your home and to mistrust strangers, early socialization is still important. Without it, you run the risk of your dog simply being fearful of strangers, which can result in a dog that is too afraid to guard the home, or one that guards so aggressively that he must be locked away to prevent him from hurting innocent parties (making him useless for protection - if he can't be free to be with you, how can he protect you?). The best guard is a calm, confident dog that is willing and able to be alert to what is going on around him, doesn't overreact to harmless situations, and obeys his owner.

The next step up from puppy socialization is a group obedience class. Generally these are attended by a number of owners, each handling their own dog, under the supervision of a trainer. These can be cost effective, and also help you to continue to socialize your dog. In this kind of class, the trainer is essentially teaching you how to train your dog. The skill level of the trainer is the most important factor in such a class. Look for a trainer who has had specialized training and ask for referrals from friends who are satisfied with their experiences. Classes may be available that cover increasing levels of obedience work, as well as some specialized work such as agility or preparation for therapy work, etc.

Dog training schools are usually a "boarding school" for dogs. The dog usually lives at the school during a period of intensive training with professional trainers. When the dog reaches a certain level of proficiency, the owners usually attend classes to teach them to work with their now-trained dog. There may be only one session with the owner, or a series of owner classes. These follow-up sessions are very important, because without proper handling, much of the dog's training can be undone.

Because the dog works intensively with professional trainers, the schools usually produce faster and more precise results in the dog's behavior. It is also possible to have your dog trained to a very high level in a program that wouldn't be possible for an individual novice trainer, such as in protection work.

It's a good idea to find out how many trainers will be working with your dog. Ideally he will be working with several trainers instead of just one so he doesn't develop too strong a relationship with the trainer. Ask to tour the facility, and observe a training session. It's also very important to check references and results, since the school will be taking full responsibility for your pet for a period of time. Look for a professional school with certified trainers, and make sure they use training methods you agree with. Find out how much support is available after the dog is trained. If you don't learn to work your dog properly, all that specialized training is going to go to waste.

Whether you want a housebroken pet that obeys a few simple commands or a highly specialized working dog and constant companion, there are many resources to help you shape your dog into what you hope for him to become. Realize that he's an individual, and it's going to take time and effort, but also realize he has a lot of potential, and with the right encouragement and guidance, he can be the companion of your dreams.

Emergency Vet Bills

Photo by Mauricio Alejo

Having a plan in place to deal with unexpected costs is always a good idea, but sometimes life doesn't go as expected. Maybe you were laid off from work, bills cut into your put-away funds, and then your beloved pet is suddenly ill or injured. What can you do in an emergency?

While there are a number of options you can pursue if you have time, if the situation is urgent you may need money right away, especially in the current economic situation where more and more vets are being forced to render only services paid for. Your pet's life could hang in the balance.

If you need immediate funds, a cash loan might be your best option. An impartial service like loanswire can refer you to various lenders, allowing you to select the most favorable terms. Cash loans do have their drawbacks, and you should make sure you fully understand the terms, but are generally less costly than overdraft fees and charges and won't damage your standing as bouncing a check could.

While visits to an emergency vet require immediate payment, sometimes your regular vet may be willing to work out a payment plan with you, though fewer and fewer are offering this option.

If the treatment is something that can be delayed, there are many more options open to explore. CareCredit is accepted by most vets, and they can provide you with the application for this veterinary line of credit. Various health insurance plans are available, but they are unlikely to cover what is now a pre-existing condition. You can also seek help from various assistance groups (we'll cover some of these in a later post) that offer financial or veterinary assistance to pets in need. There may be a breed or disease-specific non-profit that can help you with vet costs. You can also try a local and/or online fundraiser, though this can be a notoriously slow way to raise funds and is best suited if the care can be delayed some time.

Bottom line ... it's best to be prepared in advance, but if emergency circumstances arise, you may have to resort to a quick solution. However if the situation allows the luxury of time, there are other options to explore.

Tractor for sale - unemployed horses?

Photo by Ralph Roletschek

At the turn of the twentieth century, horses on farms were considered almost exclusively working animals. They served as a means of transportation, hauling laden wagons as well as carrying riders. But in their most important function, farmers harnessed their strength to perform heavy field work, such as dragging the plows that broke up the soil. Along with oxen and mules, horses were the main source of heavy labor on farms.

With the development of farm machinery, that slowly began to change. The early steam tractors did not displace many horses as laborers, but with the development of gas-powered tractors and advances in available equipment, farmers slowly began to switch to the machinery which enabled them to put more land under crops.

The horses they had kept in the past needed about five acres per head just to grow their own feed, and that land could now be devoted to more profitable crops. A team of one, two, or even several horses worked by one and sometimes more men could only cover so much ground in a day. By contrast, tractors could run for long hours without becoming tired, or running the risk of founder as horses might when put to work after being idle during the cold season. An even bigger advantage emerged as farm equipment became more sophisticated, allowing jobs that had been done by hand (such as much of the seeding, picking and harvesting) to become automated. With all of these advantages, farm equipment now allowed the farmer to cultivate many more acres using the same manpower.

Photo by Hinrich

Horses have far from disappeared from the agricultural landscape though. No longer needed for long days of plowing or hauling grain to the mill, horses began to enjoy the position of pampered pleasure animals. It is much less common today to see horses toiling in fields. Instead, they usually spend much of their days grazing in open grasslands, running about with their herdmates, or prancing under their riders. Seen more as a luxury now, horses are likely to be considered as pets and kept in their own luxury, wearing blankets in cold weather and kept on high-quality hay.

Photo by Thomas Reich

Far from making the horse obsolete, the tractor has now taken the brunt of the hard work. As a result, horses are more often pets, and farmers are able to produce far larger harvests with fewer hours of hard labor. Don't see a "tractor for sale" sign as putting a horse out of work, see it as a win-win situation for both the horse and the farmer.

Dog Spotlight - Cool Pins!!!

We would like to take this chance to share some of our favorite pins collected on our Pet Board on Pinterest. Today we're going to focus on our doggy friends, but we collect great ideas and outstanding photos of all kinds of animals! We'd love to have you join this board or any of the others you might be interested in. We now have well over 30,000 followers on Pinterest!

Source: fetchdog.com via Trish on Pinterest

This one is great to keep in mind for the upcoming warm summer months. Want to keep your dog entertained and cool at the same time? Just take a large container and fill it with a variety of toys and treats, fill with water, and pop in the freezer. You'll probably want to give a block this size a day or two to freeze solid, but your doggie will delight to licking the ice and discovering hidden treasure throughout the day!

Source: ex-scapes.com via Trish on Pinterest

This pin links to step by step instructions to help you make this hammock-style backseat cover. I really like this design because it protects the entire back seat from doghair and protects the dog in case you have to stop suddenly, keeping your pet from being thrown into the front seat or tumbling into the back floorboard. It can also serve as a barrier to keep your dog from jumping into the front seat and help you train your dog to stay safely in the back.

Source: bhg.com via Trish on Pinterest

This is a wonderful DIY idea. Using two child's chairs, cut out a space for the dog's food and water dishes. Dishes are held in place by the rims (so measure carefully!). I think this is super-cute and it also raises the dishes to make eating and drinking more comfortable for large dogs, especially those who are getting older and might have arthritis or are developing other health issues.

Source: blogher.com via Trish on Pinterest

I just love this one. This cute little doggie cottage was made from the frame of an old console TV. I would LOVE to find an old TV like this to recycle. My dog wouldn't fit, but my kitty would think she had been given a castle! This is one of my favorite DIYs, since it makes good use of what might otherwise be taking up space in the landfill.

Source: solutions.com via Trish on Pinterest

This is one of those products that makes you wonder why no one invented one sooner! A shower curtain with built in gloves that let you reach through and bathe your dog, but keep you safe from being splattered when that inevitable shake from nose to tail happens!

Source: favecrafts.com via Trish on Pinterest

Isn't this just the cutest? This links to instructions for a simple DIY collar for your doggie, made from the collar of a man's shirt. I think the plaid flannel makes this little guy look positively dapper!

Source: solutions.com via Trish on Pinterest

I just had to share this one. I'm not sure how practical it is, since it would probably be covered in noseprints pretty quickly, but I'm sure there are many dogs out there would would just love a porthole to view through their fence. On the other hand, I can also imagine it startling a passerby!

I also have a board devoted to Dogs and Puppies that features outstanding photographs. (Not to mention a separate board just for German Shepherds, my favorite breed!)

A couple of my favorites ...

Source: shihtzudogs.net via Trish on Pinterest

This little shih tzu looks like he's flying!

Source: flickr.com via Trish on Pinterest

GORGEOUS blue eyes on this weimaraner!

Source: Uploaded by user via Trish on Pinterest

This just makes me laugh. It's SO something a lab would do! A friend of mine sent me this one on Facebook and I had to share it to Pinterest and here.

Source: magicalnaturetour.tumblr.com via Trish on Pinterest

Just in time for spring -- I love this photo! I can't decide if she looks like a hippie or maybe she's in a wedding party. Then again, maybe she's in the wedding party of a hippie-themed wedding! Either way, this photo makes me smile.

I hope you enjoyed these! Follow me on Pinterest to see new pins as I find them, or come on over and browse my other pet pins! I have a number of animal-related boards and farming boards as well a photo boards for cats and kittens, and a photo board for other pets, and a board devoted to kitty comedy. Pinterest is a great way to organize all those photos and links!

Breed Spotlight - The Beautiful Bengal

Wild Jaguar

Have you ever admired the rosettes of a jaguar or leopard, wishing you could keep such a beautiful animal as a pet? Of course, wild cats wouldn't make suitable pets at all. But such dreams have long been a part of the cat fancier world. Fortunately, those dreams have been realized in a very special breed of domestic cat - the Bengal.

Asian Leopard Cat - a wild feline

Bengal cats had their start in the crossing of the wild Asian Leopard Cat with domestic felines (Egyptian Maus, Ocicats and Abyssinians, as well as a few other breeds in some lines). The first generation hybrids do not make good pets, but female offspring are bred again to domestic male cats, which is repeated in the second and third generations. By the fourth generation, domestic traits are becoming more fixed. Today's Bengal cats have been selectively bred for decades and are now produced by breeding a pedigreed pair of Bengals to produce kittens, just as other purebred cats are bred.

The aim of Bengal breeders during the development of the breed has been to maintain the "wild" coat coloration in the development of a domestic animal that adapts easily to family life and makes a good pet. Breeders have done an admirable job of adhering to that goal. The Bengal is a confident, active, curious cat with a wild look that would catch anyone's eye.

Brown spotted Bengal - beautiful large rosettes! 

There are a number of coat colors in Bengals, which may be spotted or marbled. Those with larger spots often display the rosettes reminiscent of leopards. Marbled Bengals are especially dramatic, with swirling patterns created by lines flowing across the coat. The coat should be luxurious and soft, though short. They are medium to large cats, weighing between 6-15 pounds, with a balanced, muscular body appropriate to such an athletic animal.

Seal Spotted Lynx Bengal - lovely large rosettes!

Bengals are unique cats, not only in their coloration, but in their personalities. Many fanciers describe them as more dog-like in their temperaments rather than cat-like. They are very sociable, preferring to be in the company of their humans (or other pets) at all times. They usually get along and play very well with family dogs.

Intelligent and playful, Bengals are always looking for the "game" -- everything is evaluated for its potential as a plaything. Bengals often find ways to amuse themselves with things their owners didn't intend to be a cat-toy. Many are quick to learn to play fetch.

Another trait they share with dogs rather than most other cats is their affinity for water. Some Bengals would love nothing better than to join their owners in the shower. We have even seen them combine their love of games with their love of water, happily leaping into a pool or pond to retrieve items thrown by their owners.

Most Bengals love high places, and will find a way to get near the ceiling. They enjoy finding a high perch from which to "stalk" their pretend prey. Many owners find their antics amusing, but if you prefer your cats not to climb, Bengals are probably not the breed for you.

Bengal cats are often very vocal animals, "talking" to their owners and answering when spoken to. Many Bengals have talkative moods mixed with periods of reticence. Some Bengals are quiet, in spite of their reputation for being so vocal.

Bengals are very affectionate cats, but during much of the day they are too busy playing to slow down enough to demonstrate their affection. Most of them greatly enjoy periods of cuddling. However, they often wait until after they've tired themselves out with play, then as they wind down and prepare to sleep they take that opportunity to seek loving attention. If you are looking for a cat to sit quietly in your lap and be stroked for hours a day, the Bengal is probably not the cat for you.

But if you are looking for a rambunctious, fun-loving, active cat who enjoys being in the midst of busy family activity, joining in much as a family dog is expected to do, who enjoys petting and cuddling during relaxing moments, and whose gorgeous and exotic appearance will always remind you of his sleek, stalking ancestors and bring a hint of the "wild" into your home -- then consider the Bengal. He is all of this -- and more!

It's National CAT Day!!!

Today is National Cat Day! In honor of the Day, we're featuring the National Cat Day website.

What is your dog thinking?

Dog owners know their pets have emotions, but we've been told for years not to "anthropomorphize" our pets, and chided that dogs can't possibly have the same feelings as humans. New research has begun to prove what dog owners have always known ...

Do dogs have feelings? Dogs' brain structures are similar to that of humans in many ways, and the structures that produce emotions in humans are present in dogs' brains as well. Dogs have been shown to produce the same kinds of hormones and chemical messages as humans during events that cause emotional responses, so it's very likely that dogs not only experience emotions, but many of the same ones that people do.

The study cautions that not all emotions are created equal. Some are basic, and felt by any young child, such as fear, happiness, loneliness, excitement, anger, joy, sadness, and even love. Other emotions are based more in the intellect and aren't experienced by humans until they reach a greater level of maturity, such as contempt, guilt, and pride. It is not likely that dogs experience these kinds of emotions, since they don't think in terms that would lead them to feel these things.

Does your dog dream, and what does he dream about? What does he think of watching television? Is he saying anything with those barks? Discover magazine delves further into these questions in this month's issue - read more online here: What is Your Dog Thinking?

DIY Cat Scratching Pad

My cats LOVE those corrugated cardboard scratching pads. The only problem is that they love them so much, they end up pretty much shredded in short order. While you can buy refills, I am always hoping to find one that is thicker, so that it would last longer, since my cats seem to develop quite an attachment to their scratching toys - probably because cats release scent at the same time, essentially "marking" their scratching places.

I happened upon a wonderful DIY tutorial for making corrugated cat scratching toys. Love that idea - I can recycle some cardboard boxes I have in the garage and make my cats happy (and keep them happy for longer), all while saving the cost of having to buy refills. Win-win all the way around.

If you need the step-by-step photos, those are on another page. Along with the written instructions, these show exactly how to complete the project.

If you'd like a simpler project, or just prefer a round scratcher instead of the goldfish shape, you can follow the simplified instructions here, or just leave off the triangular tail section.

I'm going to have some happy kitties as soon as I can finish this project!

DIY perfect litterbox solution for cats

Just wanted to share something we came across while surfing the web. Fred Beck was a genius when he came up with a perfect solution to a variety of cat litter box problems, and kind enough to share it with the web at large. Fred's litter box is vented to prevent odors, has a passageway with a mat that keeps his cat from tracking litter into the house, and is designed in such a way that his dogs don't have access to the litter. It also appears easy to clean. If all those don't add up to make the perfect litter box, I don't know what does!

Fred's cat exiting the built-in litter box. You can see how it fits into a large lower drawer in his bathroom.

This is the box, viewed from above. It has a cover that swings out of the way to access the litterbox beneath. (I'm not sure if it might be possible to skip the cover, since the whole unit slides into the cabinet as a drawer? You can see the open passage the cat uses to enter the litter box, fitted with a mat that helps remove loose litter from his paws. The design also prevents dogs being able to reach the pan. Fitted with a bag to contain the litter, the pan is easy to clean.

That gives you an overview. There are more details over at apartment therapy, where the box is featured. Head on over and read up if this is something you'd like to build for your feline friends!

Cutest kitten video ever

I try not to post TOO many of these kinds of things here on the blog. Most of them find their way onto my Facebook profile. But a terrible thing has happened. Facebook has lost - or removed - or whatever - about 90% of the photos, videos, shares, quotes, and everything else I've collected over the years.

So, while I can only track down the most memorable of the lot, I wanted to share the appropriate ones on my blogs, to reach a wider audience and to hopefully not lose them again!

I promise, it's worth it. This little guy makes me smile every single time I watch the video ...

Never Forget ... September 11, 2001

Ask anyone and they will probably be able to tell you where they were and what they were doing when they learned of the tragic events of September 11, 2001.

In the aftermath many heroes came to the aid of those trapped - and many of those heroes were dogs. On Pets-n-People, we want to share a tribute to these hero dogs of 9-11.

Never forget ...

Lost pet? Don't panic ...

When your beloved pet is lost, it's easy to panic. So many things can happen to your pet, and since our animals are such a big part of our lives, imagining your dear companion in trouble or worse can make it difficult to focus on the steps needed to hasten your pet's safe return.

Technology has had an impact on recovering lost pets. Pets be microchipped and registered so that anyone finding the pet can have the animal scanned and your information will pop up. Lost pet recovery services are organized to provide a rapid net of telephone calls to the local area, giving you the best chance that someone who has seen your pet will realize his owner is searching for him. 

Of course you can and should take all the "traditional" steps to recovering your pet as well. Canvassing the area he was last seen with posters, contacting vets within the local radius, and checking all nearby animal shelters on a regular basis. Fast action is often necessary to recover the pet while he is still within the area.

Remember, your pet may be frightened and hiding at first, so don't give up or assume he isn't in an area just because you can't find him or he doesn't respond. And if possible, talk to children playing outside, joggers, and people who may be working in their yards since they are more likely to have noticed a stray animal.  (Unfortunately in this day it does need to be stressed that it is important to take care when talking to children - it might be wise to ask if you can speak to their parents, and request the parents to ask their children about your lost pet, to avoid anyone feeling threatened.)

Above all, don't give up hope! There are of course miraculous stories of pets returning after long absences to be reunited once again with their families.

Cats and chocolate?

A reader has asked whether or not chocolate is also toxic to cats, since we so often hear about toxicity of chocolate in dogs.

Theobromine (found in cocoa) is actually reported to be MORE toxic to cats than it is to dogs. Per weight, the amount of chocolate that would be deadly to a cat would be less than the amount that would kill a dog of the same size.

However, we rarely ever hear of cats being killed by eating chocolate. (In fact, I've never personally heard of a case.) Cats aren't normally attracted to chocolate, since they don't respond to sweet, so they will generally ignore chocolate.

Cats CAN be attracted to chocolate because of other ingredients mixed with it though, so it is still a good precaution to keep chocolate out of their reach. Never offer it as a treat if they do happen to be interested.

Carbon Monoxide

Thanks for the guest post by Esteban Vinson

My husband and I had a terrifying experience the first time we left our newborn home with a sitter to enjoy a night out. I struggled with the decision to leave her, but at the urgings of several other “mommy friends” as well as my husband, I finally acquiesced. We had a very close friend stay with her and headed out to dinner. About an hour later, we received a call from our alarm monitoring service—our carbon monoxide alarm was going off! We quickly grabbed our check and rushed home, where we found our friend in the driveway, waiting on the fire department. Our sweet little girl was asleep in her arms, and hadn’t even been disturbed through the entire process. I still can’t think about what might have happened if we didn’t have the alarm company keeping an eye on our house. We almost decided to cut our monitoring when trying to save some money after having the baby, and I can’t imagine us ever considering that again! You can bet that if you look up adt security reviews you will see one from my husband and me, thanking them profusely.

Book Review - K9 Kitchen

K9 Kitchen - Your Dog’s Diet: the Truth Behind the Hype by Monica Segal.

This book came along at the perfect time for me. In my case, I was dealing with a dog with a medical condition (EPI), but the book would prove educational and useful for anyone feeding a healthy dog, or one with any of a variety of medical problems.  

Ms. Segal begins by talking about her experiences with her dog Zoey, which mirrored my own experiences with my dog. Zoey lost weight and became a walking skeleton, and while the vets offered some help, they were unable to completely turn Zoey around. Finally a holistic vet suggested that she make Zoey's food. Thus began her journey of learning from her dog (as well as a great deal of nutritional study) how to best feed her own dog. 

I found the book to offer a very balanced approach (the truth behind the hype is a very appropriate sub-title!). While many sources adopt a position that a certain method of feeding is THE way to go, and offer information to support their own position, Ms. Segal calmly discusses the pros and cons of several feeding methods, including commercial kibble, raw feeding, home-cooked dog food, and combinations of the various methods. (Some of the specific concerns discussed include the possibility of choking on bones and salmonella in raw foods.) She mentions the common claims and beliefs in support and opposition of these methods and gives an honest evaluation of each. I found her discussions to be very thorough and fair. 

There is quite a bit of nutritional information offered in the pages of this book as well. From discussions on specific groups of nutrients (including vitamins, minerals, and amino acids) to interactions between minerals and other nutrients to a comparison of the nutrient profiles of raw meaty bones of various kinds of meats, the book offers a solid base of understanding canine nutrition. The place (or not) of grains in feeding dogs is covered, as well as a discussion of different food groups and the benefits and problems of specific foods from within each group, including dairy, fish, fruits, vegetables, grains, meats, and offal (organ meats).  Related cost considerations are also discussed, as well as organic foods, and there is a chapter on supplementation.

A few sample diets are given, but one of the concerns mentioned in the book are those who might tend to make up a set recipe for their pets and feed that exclusively, such as though who may tend to feed only chicken as a protein source since it is cheap and convenient. Instead, balance over time is stressed -- feeding dogs a variety of foods over the course of days and weeks so that the impact of any unrealized interaction or other factors are minimized and, just like humans, our dogs receive good nutrition based on eating a wide variety of foods. 

I must admit that this part represented revolutionary thinking to me, as I initially started out looking for "the perfect diet" to feed my dog. My thinking now is how to combine a variety of protein foods and vegetables, etc. in the diet so that he gets a balanced diet overall. Which really brings me to another idea I hadn't fully embraced before ...

Ms. Segal also points out that there is no "one size fits all" and that some dogs may thrive on a diet that is totally unsuitable for another dog. She offers quite a bit of information that will help the reader assess their own dog and make necessary adjustments to the diet. Symptoms such as diarrhea, mucous in the stool, dull coat, refusal to eat, brittle nails, discharges, itching, hyperactivity, eating dirt, and more are covered, with explanations of possible causes and how the diet may need to be adjusted. There is a chapter devoted to making dietary adjustments based on the dog's stool (which has been one of the best indicators for me, given my dog's condition.). An extensive list of blood values that can be obtained from the vet and the impact of diet upon these offers more information for optimizing the dog's health. 

Sections that discuss possible problems and their solutions are almost like a personal Q&A session with the author, and case studies of particular dogs offer more insight into dietary solutions. 

If that sounds like a lot of information packed into a fairly slim book, it is. (And I actually didn't mention quite a few other things!) But fear not -- the author has wonderful organizational skills, and each chapter includes a point-by-point brief summary of the highlights, making all of the information easy to review and assimilate. The writing style is easy to follow and understand, and leaves you with the idea that everything you just read is really such a wonderful "common sense" approach (with a heavy dose of nutritional savvy thrown in). 

For anyone considering making their dog's food, or even anyone who would like to continue feeding commercial food but who wants to be informed about how to buy the best possible food available, and maybe supplement that with healthful options, this book is a must-have. I fully recommend it.

Help! My dog ate chocolate?

A reader asked:
My poodle got down a bag of M&Ms when we were out of the room and ate some. I know I've always heard chocolate is poison to dogs. Will she die?

NOTE: We do NOT recommend contacting via email for what can be an emergency situation! Please call your vet instead! However, we are answering this question for the sake of reference for other readers in the future. (And to let our readers know, the dog was fine. It was a 12 pound dog that ate only 4-5 regular M&Ms.)

Pets-n-People answers:
Chocolate (cocoa) has theobromine, which can cause problems in dogs ranging from digestive upsets all the way to heart attack and death. Of course, there is some variation from one dog to the next, but in general a veterinarian looks at the weight of the dog and the amount of theobromine consumed. The "good news" here (if there is any) is that M&Ms are milk chocolate, and so they have MUCH less theobromine than some other forms of chocolate, like dark chocolate or baker's chocolate. Any dog that eats chocolate is a reason to contact your veterinarian.

As a general guideline, you can expect to see diarrhea and digestive upsets at lower doses. If the dog vomits or has increased urination, these are possible signs that he has eaten a more dangerous amount of theobromine. If it progresses to seizures or worse, the situation is a real emergency. If you are watching your dog for symptoms, you need to continue watching for almost an entire day, since it takes 3 days to metabolize the chocolate. You should see any negative effects within the first day though. (These guidelines are NOT meant to imply that you should not contact your vet though, since dogs CAN experience heart distress soon after eating the chocolate.)

Just to give you an idea of the levels of toxicity from eating chocolate, an 11 pound dog can have heart distress and possibly die from eating 4 ounces of milk chocolate. For a 44 pound dog, it would take about a pound of milk chocolate. On the other hand, a single ounce of baker's chocolate can kill a 44 pound dog, which means an 11 pound dog can die after eating only 1/4 ounce of baker's chocolate.

Bottom line: Chocolate smells good to dogs and they will eat it. Since it can be toxic, it's best to put it away where they can't get to it. If you feel as though you are "depriving" your dog and you must give him chocolate treats, please consider the carob treats for dogs, which smell just like chocolate but are not toxic to them.

We're very glad to hear the dog in the question was fine!

Help! My dog's nails are too long!

From a reader:


"My dog's nails grow really fast, and I usually trim them often. But she was sick for several months, and they grew even faster from her lying around so much, and since I didn't trim them, they got way too long. Her nails are black, and I can't see the quick. I don't want to cut them too short and make her bleed, or hurt her so that she might be afraid to let me trim them again. What can I do?"

Pets-n-people answers:

In your situation, I would probably get a nail grinder. If your dog is used to having her nails trimmed at a groomer's, chances are they already use a nail grinder and she'll be used to it with no problems. If a nail grinder is new to your dog, you will need to introduce her gently. Just be calm, and grind just the very tip of a nail, give her a treat and calm, matter-of-fact reassurance (don't be afraid that she will be afraid, or she may pick up on your anxiety). End the session happily. You can have multiple sessions a day if you are only trimming a few nails until she gets used to it.

Once she accepts it, trim any nails you haven't trimmed in the past couple of days, taking off just a tiny bit at the tip. Two days later, trim them all, once again taking off just a tiny bit. Repeat this every two days, and the quick should recede with no problems. Before long, you'll have a dog with properly trimmed nails who is willing to let you take care of the job anytime it's needed. Another advantage of the nail grinder is that you can blunt the edges easily, while a clipper leaves sharp edges that must be filed if you want a smooth, rounded nail. All the best to you and your girl; glad she's feeling better now!

Considering a pet bunny for Easter?

Many of our customers are thinking about purchasing a pet bunny this time of year. Everyone is thinking about bunny rabbits, Easter eggs and chirpy chicks and it all seems to fit so well with the season. If you're thinking of adding a pet rabbit to your family, read on for more information.

First of all, I would like to caution you that rabbits commonly live for 8-10 years, and can live as long as 15, depending upon the breed, so they are as much a long-term commitment as getting a new puppy. Other factors to consider include the fact that not as many vets are experienced with rabbits, so your veterinary costs could be higher than you might expect to pay for a dog. With those things in mind, if you are still interested in adopting a bunny, one of the first things you need to be aware of is the age of the rabbit.

We've run into many, MANY sellers who push breeders to wean at a young age so they can have kits (baby rabbits) to sell when they are 4 weeks old. While it is possible to wean rabbits at that age, it is not the safest for the kits. Rabbits have very specialized digestive systems that take time to fully develop and become colonized with the bacteria they need in order to digest their food. Weaning at a young age is one of the leading causes of digestive problems, which can often kill a young rabbit.

If at all possible, find a seller who offers rabbits that have been weaned at 6-7 weeks old at the very least. They may not be quite so small and cute, but they would have reached that size in a couple of weeks anyway, and your commitment should be to the adult pet, not only the baby stage. It is much better to have a slightly larger, healthy pet than a tiny and cute one that is sickly and may die.

When rabbits are going through the weaning process, it is especially important to give them plenty of fresh hay. Pellets made especially for rabbits will give them the other nutrition they need. It really isn't necessary to offer vegetables or greens yet, but if you do want to give them some, consider it as a special treat and don't give them too much. Plan to continue feeding hay and pellets as a regular diet.

Your rabbit will need a sturdy cage, whether it is going to be an outdoor pet or an indoor one. If you choose to let it run around inside the house, you will still want to cage it when you can't supervise, since it is almost impossible to teach rabbits not to chew on walls, furniture, and electrical cords.

Speaking of chewing, your rabbit should be provided with safe chewing toys throughout his lifetime. Wood is a favorite, but rabbit toys come in a variety of materials.

Many rabbits will use a litterbox just as a cat will. It is not something they are usually trained to do, but many will simply choose to go into a box to do their business. If you place the box in the corner of their cage to get them used to the idea, they are very likely to use it from day one and train themselves. In fact, if you don't want them going in a box, they probably will anyway. For that reason you are not likely to be successful in giving them a bed or nest in their cage, since they will probably just use it for a toilet.

If your rabbits are pets, it is healthiest to have them spayed/neutered, since rabbits (especially females) can actually develop health problems from NOT being bred if they are intact, and males are more likely to spray urine. In fact, because rabbits are social animals, they will be happiest if you have more than one rabbit, but it becomes even more important to spay/neuter in that case. Female rabbits will breed the day they have a litter of babies, meaning the next litter would be born before the first one is ready to wean. This is hard on the babies and the mothers, and will produce far more rabbits than you want very quickly.

One factor I have not yet mentioned is breed. There are many different breeds of rabbits available, and most people are looking for things like cuteness, small rabbits, lop ears, long hair, or some other physical feature when they make this decision. I would caution you that many of the smaller breeds do NOT have sweet temperaments, and might not always make the best pets. I raise Californian and New Zealand rabbits, which are considered meat breeds and very few people are looking for them as pets. However, after dealing with many kinds of rabbits over many years, I have to say that those two breeds would make wonderful pets. Sometimes I have many litters and so don't have time to pay individual attention to kits as they grow, and yet they are still relatively tame and docile. My adults mostly all come to the front of the cage and most want to be petted daily, even though I didn't handle them when they were babies. They tame very easily (are almost born tame) and are not at all aggressive but rather have very friendly and curious natures. Whatever breeds you are considering, I would urge you to find out about the breed temperament and take that into consideration as well as its physical features.

Good luck with your new family member!

It's National Puppy Day!!!

March 23rd is National Puppy Day! To celebrate, we're directing you to the National Puppy Day website, where you can find all sorts of treats for pets and pet owners alike.

Looking for tips for a happy puppy? Be sure to read their list. We were glad to see the first recommendation is to know the breed you are considering. Different breeds have very different temperaments and characteristics, and a bad match between what you hope for in a dog and what your puppy is bred to become will lead to unhappiness and frustration for pet and pet owner alike. A beagle is not likely to be happy cooped up in a 5th floor apartment. Likewise, an owner who wants a dog to accompany him on his morning jog isn't going to find a suitable companion in a basset hound.

More happy puppy tips include recognizing that the new pet will be a member of the family, not a disposable toy. Proper feeding is mentioned (this is an important topic and becoming more important all the time as the quality of commercial feeds and the number of sometimes fatal problems is growing). It's important to have an emergency vet fund available and to provide proper grooming and training for your pet.  There are also tips for dealing with teething and house breaking.

National Puppy Day encourages adoption, and to help explain why, they offer information on the conditions common to puppy mills. Adoptable pets in need are featured on the site as well. See a list of the top 20 dog names of the year, and visit a number of puppy-related featured sites. One of the cutest ads on the site featured some very creative flower arrangements! (This is from the "adogable" series at 1-800-flowers.)

Puppy theater includes videos of adorable and funny puppies the whole family is sure to enjoy. It was impossible for me to choose a favorite from among all the wonderful videos. The beagle puppy learning to howl, the pug puppy who spots a playmate in the mirror, the golden puppy who tries (unsuccessfully) to intimidate a dandelion, the tiny puppy who attacks a German Shepherd and has him rolling around on the floor (all in good fun) -- these and others are the best of puppyish-ness.

So in honor of National Puppy Day, stop on by, and enjoy yourself!

PINNING IT

Content by Sol Rosales

I logged onto Pintrest.com using my allen clear internet. Recently, I haven’t been able to stay off of the site! Ever since my sister told me about it and invited me to join, I have been hooked. If you aren’t familiar with the site, it is basically like an on-line virtual pin board. You can gather information and pictures from all over the internet and post them into different categories on your pin board. You have to have a picture and a brief description of what you are pinning, but it is easy to organize and you don’t have to rip out anything from magazines anymore and try to keep up with a thousand little papers. You can follow your friends’ pin boards and they can follow yours. You can repin something that you are interested in onto your own board. You can also “like” pins and comment on things that you like. The coolest thing is seeing how many times something that you pinned was reposted. A picture of my dog has been repined almost a thousand times!

Lost pet returns home

Pets are members of our families and share our lives, enriching them in so many ways. They entertain us, comfort us, protect us, provide companionship, and generally work their way into our hearts. So when a pet goes missing, it can mean tragedy for a family.

Having your pet wear ID tags and getting them microchipped are two tools that can help recover a lost pet. It is also important to keep up-to-date photos of your pet that can aid strangers to identify them, and if the worst should ever happen, make use of networks that spread the word.

With all of the technology available, we read more and more stories about lost pets being reunited with their owners. One story of a san antonio lost dog is particularly heartwarming.

Stevie Oedipus Wonder isn't just any dog. He is a Cairn terrier mix of uncertain beginnings. Found wandering around a duck pond, the pup's eyes were closed. His rescuer thought he had been abused and called her mother, Belinda Gutierrez, who took the pup to a vet. The vet determined that the puppy had actually been born without eyes, but he did show signs of being abused. Gutierrez decided to offer the unfortunate blind puppy a home. With Gutierrez, Stevie blossomed. She offered him a home and he repaid her by giving her a new lease on life as well, as she started getting out more in order to exercise the pup.

Then one day, when Gutierrez was not home, her landlord came by. He let the dog escape, and Gutierrez was understandably upset to find her pet missing. Then a few days later, the landlord told her that the dog was dead.

Stevie wasn't dead though. He ended up at an animal shelter, but Gutierrez didn't know she should be looking for him, since her landlord had said the dog was dead. As a result, Stevie was nearing the end of the term the shelter would keep him, and he was scheduled to be euthanized.

The shelter was looking for other options though, and a Brooke Orr, kind-hearted teacher, was touched and offered to take him in when she saw the ad trying to place the blind puppy. It was just the reprieve Stevie needed. Thanks to the teacher's efforts, Gutierrez was notified that her dog was alive after all, and the two were reunited.

Gutierrez was so upset with her landlord that she moved.

We are always happy to read the happy stories of the lucky pets and owners that are reunited. If your pet is lost, make every effort to find them as quickly as you can. Time is critical ... it is easier to find pets who were just recently lost. However, as Gutierrez and Stevie's story shows, don't give up.

Ask Pets-n-People – Can I introduce a new gerbil to mine?

I have a pet gerbil, but I've heard they like to have company. Mine is a female, and she's about a year old. Can I introduce a friend to her?

Photo by limerickdogs

Gerbils are social animals that normally live in colonies, and do like to have the company of other gerbils. Normally they live with gerbils they have grown up with, but it is very possible to introduce a newcomer to your pet and have them get along very well, if you do it slowly.

Start by putting their cages where they can see each other, but not interact. After a few days, take a bit of the bedding or litter from each cage and put it in the other's cage. This will give them the chance to get used to the smell of the other gerbil. If you want to take things very slowly, you might do this several times, each time a couple of days apart.

The next step is to take each gerbil and move it to the other cage. Don't let them come in contact yet while you do this. This will let them get even more used to the other animal's scent, and reinforce the idea that it "belongs" with them. You can also do this every few days, and repeat it a few times. The slower you go, the more likely they will get along.

After allowing them to be completely used to each other's scent, you can try putting their cages next to each other if they have wire cages, so they can interact through the bars. Give this stage some time as well.

Finally, it's time for them to meet in person. Make sure both are recently fed and nothing is going on to stress them (loud noises, the scent of other strange animals in the house, etc.). Have a very sturdy pair of gloves handy if you can, but don't put them on. Prepare a neutral place, such as a playpen type area, that doesn't belong to either of them. Put objects in there to explore, and also to serve as barriers and hiding places. Finally, place both gerbils in the area.

It's normal for there to be a bit of chasing or other excited movement. What you do NOT want to see is the two gerbils forming a furry ball as they attack each other. That is the sign of gerbils locked in serious combat. As long as you don't see that, everything is fine, and hopefully the introduction has gone slowly and well and this will never happen. (If you have taken all the previous steps and they DO fight like this, you may have a gerbil that simply will not accept company.) If you think they are getting too excited, you can always remove them after a brief introduction and return them to their cages, and try again later. Slowly is the best way to proceed.

If you ever do get a "gerbil ball" either in introductions, or because of a serious fight that breaks out among your gerbils, do NOT place your bare hand in the cage! You will want very sturdy gloves and to try to knock them apart, then separate them. This is a sign of serious fighting in gerbils, and once two gerbils have fought like this, the chances are slim that they will ever live together peacefully.

You can increase your chances of having a compatible match by  making sure at least one of the gerbils is young (not a baby, but in the 7-12 month old range is good).

Alternatively, if you like gerbils enough to want a couple of small colonies, you can buy a gerbil of the opposite sex to the one you have, allow them to breed, then separate them with the young males going to live with their father, and the females living with their mother. This will almost guarantee compatible groups, and gerbils don't have terribly large litters so you won't have a dozen babies to deal with. In fact, the main danger of this approach is that you could end up with just a few offspring and they may all be the same sex, so you still have a parent living alone.

Ask Pets-n-People – My cockatiel laid an egg?

"My pet cockatiels share a cage, and the female laid an egg in the bottom of the cage. I want to know if we can save it and raise the baby? Should we give them straw to build a nest?"

Congratulations. :)  The best way to handle this, if you want to let your birds try to raise a family, is to remove that egg and place it in a warm room, and make sure it gets turned several times a day. The egg can survive without being incubated for a while in this way. If the humidity is low, you may want to put a drop of warm water on your finger and moisten the shell. In the meantime, buy (or build) a wooden nest box sized for cockatiels. Cockatiels don't nest in open nests, but need breeding boxes. Give them a bit of aspen shavings, or corn cob bedding in the bottom of the nest box. If they are interested in breeding, the female should start to lay eggs in the nest box. You can add the first egg to the others after she lays one or two.

One thing you will need to watch out for is that many male cockatiels are more interesting in STARTING a family than they are in raising one. We have often seen males that will rush the babies from the nest before they are ready, so they can begin again. If that happens, you will either need to pull the babies and hand feed them (which we really don't recommend for cockatiels, since they are naturally so friendly and easy to tame anyway), or you will need to put the male in a separate cage for a short time. His cage can be right next to the female so as not to interrupt their bond, but just for the sake of letting the babies finish growing before they are forced from the nest box. He can then be returned to live with the female.

Good luck with them!

Upcycled pallet pet bed

Here's yet another pet bed we love ... upcycled from pallets! This looks like a nice, sturdy bed for a large dog, and also gets the bed off the floor. Great for country or cabin decor. Love the name tag on the front as well! You can view these at the Salvage Shack on Etsy.

Pudding - Feline Hero

Pudding, rescued from a shelter earlier this month, repaid the kindness his new owners showed him within hours of being adopted, and saved the life of Amy Jung.

Amy and her son Ethan visited the Humane Society in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin to enjoy playtime with the shelter's cats. One particular cat caught their attention, a large orange and white kitty who had been in and out of the shelter his entire life. Although they hadn't planned to take home a cat that day, when they heard his story, they adopted Pudding. They also adopted his feline buddy, Wimsy, so that Pudding would have a playmate.

That very evening, Pudding had a chance to save his new owner's life. Amy had a diabetic seizure in her sleep. The alert cat noticed things were not right, and nudged, then finally nipped Amy until she regained consciousness. Amy tried to call her son, but he was sleeping. Pudding intervened once again and ran to the boy's room, waking him up so that he could get help for his mother.

Amy and her doctors believe that she would have died if the attentive cat had not taken steps to get help for her. Pudding now watches Amy and lets her know when her blood sugar is low in order to prevent complications from her diabetes.

When you adopt an animal from a shelter, in a very real sense you are saving a life. This is one time the pet was able to repay the favor.

What kinds of toys do pet rabbits like?

A reader asks us: "I have a pet bunny and he seems to want to get into everything. What kinds of toys can I give him to keep him from chewing things around the house?"

You are right to want to provide your bunny with toys. Pet rabbits enjoy chewing, tossing, digging, and otherwise playing with toys in all sorts of ways. You should be aware, though, that while toys may distract him from destroying other things, he really isn't likely to be able to tell the difference between what he's allowed to play with and what is not his toy. Rabbits are notorious for chewing electrical wires and furniture, causing damage and potential fire and shock hazards. Even though you give him toys, you should watch him when he's out of his cage, and "bunny-proof" your house as much as possible.

As far as toys, there are many manufactured rabbit toys available that he is likely to enjoy. We carry quite a selection However, you can also give him plenty of common household items to keep him busy as well. Cardboard boxes (make sure there are no staples or tape) or wicker baskets make fun hiding places. Wooden spoons, pinecones and wood from safe trees are all fun for rabbits to chew. Try stuffing the cardboard centers of wrapping tubes or paper towels with hay for him to unstuff. If  you can provide him with something like a tuna tin, cleaned out and without sharp edges and with paper removed, he likely will enjoy tossing it about. Similarly, he may even enjoy tossing a large metal spoon. Sturdy cat or small dog toys are also fun for rabbits to toss and chase, and many rabbits enjoy hearing a rattle or bell inside. A baby's rattle toy or a small stuffed animal can be a hit (make sure there are no eyes, etc. that can be chewed off and swallowed). A box filled with newspapers provides a place to dig, or you can let him shred your junk mail. If you want to make something for him, try a piece of lumber cut to a few inches long with holes drilled in it. If you can place food within the holes and let him work to get it out, it will provide him with extra mental stimulation.


There are endless ways to engage your rabbit's desire to play. Safety is the issue. Make sure there  are no small parts he might choke on. Be sure the item is non-toxic, since your rabbit is very likely to chew on it. And watch to see how he interacts with his toys ... a certain toy might be perfectly safe for one rabbit, while another may play with it in a way that makes it unsuitable for him.

And have fun playing with your pet!

Wooly Buddy Beds

Here's an idea we can really get behind. Wooly Buddy Beds were created when the owner adopted a kitty from a shelter, and discovered the great needs animal shelters have for all kinds of things. She couldn't make large donations, so she had the idea to make these great pet beds from upcycled wool sweaters, sell a few, and use the money to make more beds to donate to the shelter. Well, the idea was such a great one that it took off and became a business of its own, and she now supports local shelters by donating a portion of the sales of each bed.

We think it's a great idea too! As much as pets enjoy curling up in your clothing, why not give them their own warm wooly sweater to call a bed, and support local animal shelters at the same time!

Breed Profile - Selkirk Rex - the Curly Kitty!

Selkirk Rex kittens

The Selkirk Rex is a fairly recently developed breed. A litter of kittens was born to a rescue cat in Montana, USA, in 1987. One of the kittens was born with a curly coat, and that kitten ended up with a cat breeder. Using first Persians, and then a number of other breeds (including American and British shorthairs, Himalayans, and exotics) the breed was established. They come in two coat lengths, both shorter and longer. The long-coated Selkirk Rex has a very plush coat. Their coats are distinct from other rex cats by being regular in length and there are no patches of missing fur. They have a somewhat wooly look and feel, especially the longer-coated ones.

The head is rounded, the ears medium-sized, eyes large and round, and body solidly built and of medium size. While it is possible for genetic disorders of the founding breeds to creep in, reputable breeders screen for these defects, and all in all, the Selkirk Rex is a healthy and robust cat.

Shorthair variety of Selkirk Rex ... a very nice example!

They tend to be both playful and affectionate with their owners, and if well socialized can be quite outgoing, though they may also be reserved. They are not the high-energy powerhouses of the cat world, and enjoy laid-back time as well as playtime.


While some have claimed they are "hypoallergenic" due to their coat type, the reverse may in fact be true. No cat it completely "hypoallergenic" to someone who is allergic to cats, and the Selkirk Rex may actually prove more irritating to some people's allergies. Some of them need extra maintenance of the coat to prevent it becoming slightly greasy, but that is a genetic factor and does not apply to the breed as a whole.

All colors are accepted, including pointed cats, lilacs, solid colors, bi colors, smokes, albinos, and chocolates.

Note the curling hairs over the entire body of the cat

Fewer variations exist among cats, and it is refreshing to find such a unique type that doesn't introduce any negative issues along with it. We absolutely adore these kitties!