Don't Feed Your Dog That

Have you ever been away from your house and dropped a piece of food on the floor? What was your first instinct? To pick up the food, or leave it there because the dog will come and eat it? I am the former.

Lately I have seen a big push with animal fanatics, encouraging pet owners to watch what they feed their pets, especially dogs.

Check out this interesting article on what not to feed your canine.

What human foods should Fido avoid eating?

Teddy Roosevelt Chaucer

On Monday night I got a phone call from an "unknown" number and although I normally answer calls that I do not know, this was a different story. So I went about my business and did not notice until the next day that this unknown caller had left a voicemail.

Well, along came Teddy Roosevelt Chaucer, a one-month-old guinea pig, my belated birthday present from my sister (her guinea pigs just had babies and I had mentioned that I wanted one). Yasharah, my sister named him Teddy Roosevelt and Adam added his last name of Chaucer.

We picked him up last night and ran to the store before it closed to get all his supplies. We love him and could not be happier to yet again add another addition to our family.

All I have to say is, thank goodness Adam puts up with me and my random surprises!

Trimming Your Pets Nails

Trimming your pets nails can be a very intimidating experience. On one hand you can hurt your pet if you cut too deep, but on the other, you can cause your pet extreme discomfort if you do not have their nails trimmed regularly.

So if you are up to the challenge, here are some helpful tips to remember when trimming your pets nails (also, you can always ask your vet to show you how).

Step 1:
The first step is to decide which type of nail clipper you are most comfortable with. There are many kinds, but make sure you take the time to investigate your local pet shop to see the choices available. Once you find the ones you like, try them out and see how they feel in your hand and how comfortable they are for you to use.

Step 2:
Once you have a nail clipper, you're ready to cut your cat or dog's nails. Start by finding a quiet place you can sit with your cat or dog. For smaller animals, you may find it easiest to sit with your dog or cat on your lap. With larger animals, you may want to sit on the floor with your pet, or place your pet on a table or couch or bed.

Step 3:
Stabilizing the toe prior to cutting the nail.
Hold your pet's foot in one hand and push one toe forward so that you can see the nail to be cut.

Step 4:
Now you are ready to cut the nail. Hold the nail clipper in your free hand and cut the nail. If your cat or dog has white colored nails, you will be able to tell where to cut by looking for the pink area on the nail. Cut in front of the pink area. If you cut into the pink area, your pet's nail will likely bleed. If you have a pet with dark colored nails, you'll have a more difficult time seeing where to cut. Try removing a small bit of nail at a time.

Good Luck!

The Park

We have a very nice park that is only about five minutes away. We are very lucky.

This past weekend was the second time we had taken the dogs to get a little exercise.

It never fails, I have a make-shift water bowl and once I fill it up, one of the dogs tips it over. Its okay though, we have a good time.

Check out the dogs at the park...

Sam the Koala

Sam the Koala, famed Aussie wildfire survivor, dies in surgery
The Associated Press
Updated: 08/06/2009 01:52:33 PM MDT

Sam the koala, who gained worldwide fame and sympathy when she was rescued during Australia's devastating wildfires this year, was euthanized Thursday after a veterinarian found the cysts that threatened her life were inoperable.
The 4-year-old koala had developed the cysts associated with urogenital chlamydiosis, which affects more than 50 percent of Australia's koala population.
During surgery, the disease was found to be so advanced that it was inoperable and Sam was euthanized, said Peita Elkhorne of TressCox law firm, which represents the shelter where the koala had lived since the February fires. Read more...

The Famous Nora

So I asked people to send me videos of their favorite animals playing a musical instrument. I got some great submissions, but I thought I would share my favorite one. This is Nora, the piano playing cat.

Check out this home video of Nora playing the piano:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0zgQAp7EYw



Apparently at about the age of one, her owners noticed Nora was interested in their home pianos. They even caught her putting her paws up on the piano keys and playing the keys. Since her owner Betsy taught piano at home and knew how special Nora was, she let her come and play on the spare piano while she taught her students.

Soon afterwards, Betsy's students were bringing their friends over to meet Nora and everyone was taking pictures.



I can tell that Nora is a very special cat and I want to thank her and her owner for sharing her talent with everyone.

Cute

Now I may be biased, but the only thing cuter, would be if Paris was strumming the guitar.



Does anyone have any fun videos of animals playin some kind of an instrument? If so, I would love for you to post a link in my comments section.

I Will Let You Decide

As the title of this post states, "I will Let You Decide." The doggy toilet, to flush or not to flush, that is the question. Check out the video, it offers a lot of information.

http://www.powerloo.com/

Okay, but seriously, are all the plastic bags I am using really hurting the environment...yep maybe they are. So maybe it is time to change up my dog poop routine and try out other options such as the Powerloo.

What's Wrong With This Picture?

Looks sweet and innocent enough, but don't be deceived, my niece Jennifer is deadly.

Appalled

I am absolutely appalled by this article. Who are these people who run puppy mills? Can't they see the damage the are doing to these animals? I have to say that I am glad they are going to be punished!

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090529/NEWS01/705299899&news01ad=1#Puppy.video.a.grim.sight

Check out the police video of the house raid on the right hand side of the page...disgusting!

Bringing Home a New Pet

When parents find out they are expecting a new baby, they make all sorts of preparations. Well bringing home a new pet requires many preparations as well.


I realize that bringing home a new pet can be very exciting, but at the same time a very stressful time for any pet owner. Here are some tips to help you and them through it. Just call it a little advice from someone who has brought home many many new pets over the years.

Before you bring home your new pet:

• Make sure you have all the necessities, such as potty stuff, food, carrier, tags, and toys.






• It is also important to make sure your house/apartment is as pet friendly as possible. Put away breakables, chewables, and things you don't want pottied on, at least until your pet is familiar with its new surroundings.
  


• If you have other pets, make sure you put them away. It is crucial for your new pet to get to know the house without being bothered.

Once you get home:

• Take your new pet straight to their potty place. Let them smell around and get familiar with the area.


• Next find one room in your house where you can let your new pet loose to snoop around and become familiar with. After a few hours you can increase their roaming zone and let them wonder two rooms. Slowly increase their roaming area.

• Once the new pet is familiar with their new surroundings, then you can introduce them to your other pets. Make sure to do this with one pet at a time, bringing your existing pet into the space your new pet is already familiar with. KEEP BOTH ANIMALS ON A LEASH to allow you control over the situation. Many pet owners assume their animals will get along, this may not be the case, especially at first. It is a good idea over the next few weeks to watch how your pets interact with one another.

Good luck! Let me know how it goes.

**If you like what you read here, make sure to share it with your friends by "liking" this blog post.

Quail

For those of you who know us, we get excited about all things animal, and this even includes the cute little quail that hang out around our townhouse.

(Look close, the babies are in front of their parents)

Well last week we were driving home and spotted some baby quail, each about the size of a half dollar. They were so cute that we parked there and attempted to take pictures of them for over five minutes.

Now I don't recommend taking in wild animals, but believe me having a baby quail, or a bird of any kind in the house would be ideal in my mind. Luckily I have Adam there to help me keep a sound mind.

Full House

Having multiple pets can be a challenging but rewarding experience. After a stressful day at the office, the sofa starts to look pretty comfy next to leashes and tennis balls, but it is so important to me that I take time to play with all of my kids, no matter how tired I might be. When I find it hard to muster the energy to be a good pet owner, I try to think of the undying loyalty my pets show me. Their steadfastness helps me remember to reciprocate their affection.

Although there have been many days that I just want to be left alone, I have never once stepped through the front door to find my pets sad to see me. It is such a blessing to have friends that always want me around and never seem to have a bad day.

Ah Paris!

On Saturday Hannah and I went to a yard sale in our neighborhood. But this was no ordinary yard sale. All of the proceeds from this sale went to help a little girl named Mollie to travel to Boston for much needed medical treatment. While supporting this great cause was near the top of our list of reasons for being there, we did have certain ulterior motives. One of our neighbors, Bonnie by name, had plans to sale her 9 week old kittens and donate the money raised to support Mollie. Of course, Hannah and I are easy targets when it comes to kittens, but add a little charity donation for a really good cause and you can forget about it. How could we say no?

We went to the yard sale late in the afternoon, honestly expecting all four kittens to be swept away to wonderful and loving homes by then. To our delighted surprise, none of the kittens had found homes yet! As with most things, Hannah and I were on the exact same wavelength and knew instantly which one we wanted. We made our donation and took home our cute little man, a grey and white fur ball with medium length hair and heart melting, blue-green eyes.

One of the most exciting parts of getting a pet is the responsibility and joy of naming your new friend. Hannah had Sparky before I knew her, so she would have to tell us about picking that name. Eden was named for the garden (get it… Adam and Eden!), Lily was named before we even got her, we simply lucked out that she was white like an Easter lily, and Aedan got his name from the character of a story I was writing at the time, it means fire! Each one of our pets has had a unique but fitting name. When it came to naming our newest family member, Hannah had but one request. She wanted a boy’s name with some femininity. Since we were in the process of scrapbooking our photos from a recent trip to Europe, the first name that popped into my head was Paris! I blurted it out and we both knew it was perfect. I should take this moment to establish the fact that Paris is named after the City of Light and the character in the Iliad, NOT Paris Hilton.

Apart from dazzling tourists, marrying Helen of Troy and slaying the mighty Achilles, Paris spends his days hiding in the closet on top of a suitcase with my shirts and trousers draped around him for maximum protection. His adorable character has already endeared him to us and we can see that he is becoming increasingly attached to his new parents as well. We are hopeful that his sibling relationships will develop at a normal pace. Lily already thinks she’s his mommy, but he keeps hissing at her when she gets too close. Of course, that doesn’t stop her from trying to give him a bath.

Fish

In addition to owning two dogs and NOW (we are very sad about this) only one cat, we also have managed to take care of three fish for about a year.

Now fish can be very tempermental pets to take care of, but I have listed a few tips to help you care for your fresh water fish:

Remember:

• An inch of fish per every gallon of water (no more)
• Tank temperature should be between 74 - 78 degrees Fahrenheit
• If adding tap water make sure to add a cap-full of water conditioner per 10 gallons of water
• The aquarium should be located in a position to take advantage of any available daylight, but not direct sunlight. Near a window is preferable, but the tank should not be in a position where the sun shines directly into it, or the tank will over heat.
• Fish require to be fed at least once a day, but preferably twice a day. Feed them a small pinch each time you feed them.

Dog Hotel?

A good friend of mine sent me a link the other day to a hotel in Idaho that has been designed as a dog (the pictures speak for themselves).




It's called the Dog Bark Park Inn - Bed & Breakfast. I have never been, but I think it is a unique idea. If I am ever in Cottonwood, Idaho I might just stay the night.

For more information, please visit Dog Bark Park Inn.

Cheap Home Entertainment

Watch this video, it explains itself.

Animal of the Week

I have decided to dedicate one post a week to the animal of the week. Each week I will highlight a special pet.

This week I want to highlight a pet at a local Utah shelter, his name is Oscar. I think it is very important to adopt your pets rather than buy from a farm.

He is a neutered male, orange tabby and white Domestic Shorthair. Only nine months old, he is available for adoption. His animal ID number is Animal IDA020140Kennel Location117. To view a picture of Oscar, please visit Oscar.

I picked Oscar as the pet of the week because he is a beautiful cat, and since I know first-hand how great beautiful cats can be, I picked him.

**Please note, I take nominations for pet of the week, so please submit your pets!

On Thursday

On Thursday, May 7th, 2009 Hannah and I lost a precious member of our family. It was determined that Eden had contracted Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP), a fatal viral disease which unfortunately has no known cure. Her sudden death, while heartbreaking, has taught us to appreciate the time we have with our other pets. Eden was unanimously considered a beautiful and affectionate cat by all those who knew her.

I adopted Eden on March 3rd, 2007 when she was just two years old. I have always loved cats, but until Eden I’d never had one to call my own. I remember when I met Eden I thought she was incredibly beautiful. I saw her for the first time through the adoption center window at the PETCO in Sugarhouse (Salt Lake City, UT). Her vivid eyes left a lasting impression. I gave myself some time to think about the responsibility of caring for another life, a practice I highly recommend, and after a characteristically sleepless night, the only question left unanswered was “How fast can I get back to the PETCO?” Hannah and I took Eden home and were almost immediately treated to equal displays of her happy affection and stubborn independence.

We are so grateful for the pictures and memories we have of Eden. Though the time we had with her was sadly cut short, we are happy to remember her as a loving and loyal daughter. Her presence in our lives will not soon be forgotten.

It's a Very Sad Day

Adam is currently working on this blog post.

Scary Day

We had to take our beautiful cat, Eden to the animal hospital this morning. She is having some sort of bacterial infection and it is making her deathly ill. We love her and are hoping she will be able to come home from the hospital tonight. We are hoping for the best. We love you Eden!!!

$3.99 Enjoyment & Relief

When I get home from work I like to put my feet up on the coach and have some downtime.

If it were up to my dogs I would get home from work and wrestle with them on the floor for two hours.

I am no dummy, I realize that while I am away for the nine hours, my pets are at home sleeping, and when I get home they want to play. So naturally, I look for toys or treats that will keep them busy and active, to give me that moments rest that I so desperately need.

Well, this past Friday I found an abvious solution that we like to call "Buddy," our $3.99 stuffed animal purchased at Petco for Lily, our youngest dog. Its hard to tell from the photos taken "wink, wink" that she never puts him down, but believe me its true. So thank you "Buddy" for being a lifesaver!

Dog Grooming

A few months ago I took on the title of dog groomer. I was tired of paying $60 every three months to get my two dogs groomed. Trying to stay frugal, I of course bought a few cheap electric dog clippers, but none of them seemed to "shear the sheep" as I like to call it. Finally I was turned onto the Oster Turbo A5. It is amazing! I can now shave my dogs with professional skill. I highly recommend these clippers.

Some dog grooming tips to remember:

• Bathe and dry your pet before shaving
• Make sure you have the proper tools, i.e. Oster Clippers, brush, and scissors
• Shave going with the grain of the hair
• Make sure the clippers do not get too hot (they could burn your dog), they have cooling lube for this
• If your dogs are like mine, then give them a few breaks during the process

Sparky before his haircut

Sparky during his haircut

Sparky after his haircut and about 10 lbs lighter

Pet Poisons

We need to watch-out and protect our little ones...

I say this beacause, I recently read an article by Suite101.com that lists some of the most common pet poisons around your house. I was shocked to find out that even I, a devoted pet owner did not know about some of these common poisons. I am sorry to say, that my pets have been known to get into such poisons. Not only do I need to be more careful, but we all need to be more careful.

Some of these poisons include:

• human medications, i.e., ibuprophen, acetaminophen, decongestants, cold medicines and anti-depressants

Second and Fourth Most Common Pet Toxins:

• Insecticides and Rodent Bait (i.e. Rat Poison)

A Deadly Yet Common Pet Poison: "People" Food

• Baker's cocoa is the most toxic chocolate to dogs.

Other foods that are toxic to pets include:

• citrus, onions, avocado, raisins, grapes, chewing gum and sugarless candies containing xylitol, caffeine, walnuts, macadamia nuts, and mushrooms, among many others.

For the entire list of pet poisons listed by the ASPCA, or to read the entire article please visit Suite101.com

Our Pets

me (Hannah) and Adam

Sparky

Eden

Lily

Aeden

When starting a new blog, I find it customary to introduce all the key players of the blog. So here I go, me (Hannah), the mom of all the pets, Adam, the dad of all the pets, and the animals themselves listed in order of age, Sparky (4 1/2 year-old maltese mix), Eden (four-year-old blue domestic long-hair), Lily (1 1/2 year-old maltese mix), Aeden (eight-month-old kitten), and the three fish (a corry, koi, and a rainbow shark).