400 dogs seized from Wash. puppy mill

-----this comes from an AP news story-----KENNEWICK, Wash. - More than 400 dogs, including three newborn puppies, have been removed from a puppy mill that is being called “one of the worst cases” of animal abuse seen by animal groups and state officials.

“The conditions were not only shocking, but also heartbreaking to veteran deputies,” said Benton County Sheriff Larry Taylor, who led the raid Wednesday at the Sun Valley kennel of 66-year-old Ella Stewart.

Dogs were found living in wooden crates, shopping carts and other makeshift kennels caked with feces and soaked with urine, investigators said. Detectives wore gloves and put booties on their shoes before walking onto the 2-acre property

All the dogs will need medical care and some will require extensive treatment, Taylor said. Some dogs suffered from malnutrition while others had urine burns and overgrown nails.

Stewart was arrested May 12 after a deputy responded to an unrelated call at her neighbor’s home. Investigators said conditions at her kennel for breeding miniature American Eskimo dogs was deplorable.

Taylor said the dogs weren’t seized at the time because the county doesn’t have an animal control facility and had nowhere to house them. It also took time to find a licensed veterinarian and animal rescue groups to help, Taylor said.

The dogs will be placed in emergency kennels at the Benton County Fairgrounds.

Inga Gibson, state director with The Humane Society of the United States’ West Coast regional office, said it was “definitely one of the worst cases we have seen because of the conditions they were kept in.”

She also said the raid was “one of the largest in Washington state and close to one of the largest in the country.”

Stewart pleaded not guilty to one misdemeanor count of second-degree animal cruelty in Benton County District Court. If convicted, she faces up to 90 days in jail and up to a $1,000 fine. Prosecutors reviewing the case said they may file additional charges.

A telephone call to Stewart’s residence Thursday by The Associated Press was not immediately returned.

Caturday funnies

(via Shannon's Blog)

(via Linkinn)

(via Miezekatzen)

Video: Pooped Out Corgi Puppy

Watch video

(via The Daily What)

alas, the staff is smaller

Dear Museum patrons and friends,

Today, our lovely Sally Cat - you may see her in the profile photo, lounging on the monitor - had to be put to sleep due to a cancerous tumor. I've just gotten home. Normally she would be jumping on my lap and helping me type about now, but no more.

We made sure she had one last terrific day: all the food she wanted, cuddles on the couch with our favorite movie, and a long time rolling about in the back yard, as you may see here:

I tried very hard to let her go the right way. My heartfelt thanks to Chambers Creek Veterinary for their loving and expert care.

Smile, it's Friday!

oysters for the cat

Yes, delicious oysters. Back when Samuel Johnson's cat Hodge was alive, oysters were so plentiful that poor folks ate them regularly; think of that. And in an age where cats were fair game for any mean sport, Johnson loved his cat so much that he himself went to buy Hodge's oysters, saying his servant Francis might feel humiliated by the task. Though Johnson had other cats, Hodge was the one closest to his heart.

In 1778, Johnson's friend Percival Stockdale wrote An Elegy on the Death of Dr Johnson's Favourite Cat, which manages to be heartfelt and tongue in cheek at the same time, and is also the only clue we ever got as to Hodge's color - he was black. Here's a snippet:

And shall not Hodge's memory claim
Of innocence the candid fame;
Shall not his worth a poem fill,
Who never thought, nor uttered ill;
Who by his manner when caressed
Warmly his gratitude expressed;
And never failed his thanks to purr
Whene'er he stroaked his sable furr?

(See poem as a whole in this very cool blog post.)

In 1997 Hodge got his own statue in front of the house he and Johnson had shared. Copyright forbids me to paste it here, but I'll send you to this great photo. And moggies.co.uk has a fine page on Hodge.

Tips for Giving Pet Medication

--------Guest post -----
Pet Article courtesy of http://pet-articles.blogspot.com.

Having a sick pet at home is tough enough without the added stress of medication. Some dogs and cats take their medicine with ease while others need a little coercing.

No matter how difficult it may be to get your dog or cat to take medication, it is important to follow your veterinarian’s instructions carefully.

Pills or Capsules - Step-by-Step

PetFirst Tip
Ask your veterinarian if your pet’s medication can be given with food. If so, trying placing the pill in a small treat.

1. Hold the pill between your thumb and index finger.
2. Firmly grasp your pet’s upper jaw with your other hand tilting your pet’s head back gently.
3. Using your middle finger, slowly open the lower jaw.
4. Keep your middle finger over the small incisor teeth and deposit the pill as far back on the tongue as possible.
5. Close the mouth immediately while keeping your hand over the mouth.
6. Stroke the throat or blow gently into your pet’s nostrils. This will encourage your pet to swallow.

Liquids and Syrups - Step-by-Step

1. Fill the syringe or dropper with medication before beginning.
2. Insert the syringe or dropper between your pet’s teeth and cheek.
3. Close your pet’s mouth and tilt the head back slightly.
4. Gently release the medication from the syringe or dropper.
5. Keep the mouth closed and stroke the throat or blow gently into your pet’s nostrils.

Make sure you stay calm when you are administering medication. You pets can perceive your stress making them more nervous. Praise and a reward after your pet successfully takes their medicine is always a good idea.

Contributed by Pet First Health Care

Labels: cat articles, dog articles

Reminder: If you want to add this article to your website or blog, you must include the following information:

Ridiculous

(via Awkward Family Photos)

amy lowell on a dog's love, 1914

Outside the long window,
With his head on the stone sill,
The dog is lying,
Gazing at his Beloved.
His eyes are wet and urgent,
And his body is taut and shaking.
It is cold on the terrace;
A pale wind licks along the stone slabs,
But the dog gazes through the glass
And is content.

The Beloved is writing a letter.
Occasionally she speaks to the dog,
But she is thinking of her writing.
Does she, too, give her devotion to one
Not worthy ?

-- "Fool's Money Bags," from Sword Blades and Poppy Seed (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1914). And if you thought that was sad, mercy, don't read the poem about the dancing bear.

Today's awwww

(via randompictures)

Freshwater Stingrays Not For The Beginner

On a recent trip to my local fish store, we came across what was labeled a "Teacup Stingray." It was by far a different, unique and fun fish to watch. But, as I often say, it is important to do your research before buying any new fish.

As it turns out, this little teacup stingray, which was only about 6 inches in diameter, grow to over a foot in diameter and need at least 125 gallon of water to swim around.

They tend to be a peaceful species, but will eat any fish smaller then its mouth, and has a barbel with venom. Although the venom usually won't kill a person in these small species, it can cause extreme pain and needs to be dealt with immediately. Therefore, it is important to use gloves when doing any water changes or any time sticking your hand in the tank. In addition, being a peaceful species, they aren't good with aggressive fish in their community.

A lively bottom-dweller, this fish does well with a smooth, soft substrate. They enjoy meaty foods such as blackworms, bloodworms, earthworms, krill, and beef heart. Some people even feed them raw shrimp from the supermarket.

These fish are sensitive to water-quality, so it's important to keep an eye on the your tank. Also, there are several states that ban home aquarium keepers from having a stingray.

o sole meow! pets at the opera

My alert crack local reporter Doug (hey thanks Doug!) sent me a clipping from the Portland Oregonian which I cannot wait to share with you all. As many of you stateside Museum friends head back to work this AM (I know, me too), think with gentle envy of the folks behind the scenes at the Portland Opera.

13 years ago, a little cat down on her luck hooked up with one of the Opera's seamstresses. Christened "Nerissa," she began coming along to work and, you know, helping. And as it turns out, her presence made such a positive impact on the office's mood that management decided other pets should come along and help, too. When you think of how many furry friends over the centuries have aided in the creation of art of all kinds, it makes perfect sense.

The original story at the Oregonian site here, and a video in which you may see the lovely Nerissa here.

name that cat! holiday weekend edition

Porkchop Porkchop Malloy.
Taterhead and Poop Dragon.
The Richard J. Daley Memorial Cat.

Just a few of the most excellent creative names from a MetaFilter thread of November 2008 concerning a cat in need of labeling.

Chairman Meow.
Malajust.
Spatula.

You don't believe me? Check out the thread: This Is My Dog, Reginald McPimplewagon.

Pet Expos Way to Save on Products

For those that haven't been to a pet expo, you're missing out! Various states have fairs and expos catered especially to pets. And many retailers are coming out as vendors at these expos and offering various coupons and specials, as well as free samples.

As retailers (both store, online and mom&pop) are competing for sales, one way to garner exposure is to purchase a booth these expos. Most of the time they'll give out lots of free samples, coupons, while you learn about new products that may (or may not) benefit your pet.

A lot of these expos are either free, donation based, or relatively inexpensive, depending on who is running the event. Not only is a great time to learn about new products, but it is a great day out for any pet lovers. Usually you can bring your pets with you (some require registration/rabies tags) and meet other pet owners and unique dogs. And if you're looking to adopt a dog, many of the expos have adoption centers in attendance....plus you can learn more about specific breeds you may be interested in by talking to both the adoption centers and to other pet owners.

If you've never been to a pet fair or expo, you might be missing out on same fantastic products and deals.

Caturday funnies

found at (It's about my e-mail naming habits.)

look, a puppy!

This is an English Setter puppy owned by one of my husband's friends. This was taken in April, so this is probably a big boy or girl by now, scampering about and eating puppy chow. If you'd like to learn more about the English Setter breed, try this page - or, you could do what I'm doing as I look forward to a three day weekend, and just sit here and say AwwwwWWWww.

Smile, it's Friday!

Fursday Fun

Photo: cheriperry

(via we're living in a den of thieves)

America's Most Popular Pet

There are twice as many pet fish in the United States then there are dogs, according to the American Pet Products Association. In fact, research suggests that pet fish can actually make us smarter and more relaxed by lowering our blood pressure.

Aquariums are increasingly popular because as lifestyles change and become more demanding, it is difficult to give a cat or dog the special attention it needs. And with advances in technology and the amount of products available, having an aquarium is becoming easier. This makes fish ideal for the family pet.

Today's awwww

(via &&&)

kingsford, and other pig fascination

By now I'm sure most everybody has seen the delightful video of Kingsford, an Australian feral piglet of tiny size and big personality who seems to spend his time napping, beach scampering, and generally being clever and dainty. What? You haven't? Go here and prepare to crave a pet piglet.

My goal this morning was to bring you a bit more on Kingsford's breed of pig. While I didn't find that, I did find what I'm sure is the greatest website ever on rare-breed pigs: Professor Bamfield's Rare-Breed Pigs, a treasury of pig knowledge served up with respect and humor. Did you know there were Three Powerful Swineherds of Britain? That Portuguese pigs don't say "oink" but "roncar"? That in New Guinea, someone who doesn't eat pork is considered a heathen? And that St. Anthony the Great is the patron saint of swineherds?

If you visit the excellent site, you will learn all that and more. Chrum chrum (oink oink in Polish).

The secret life of penguins revealed

PARIS (AFP) – Famous for its cuteness and comic gait on land, the penguin also has an enigmatic life at sea, sometimes spending months foraging in the ocean before returning to its breeding grounds.

Zoologists have long wondered where the flightless seabird goes during these long spells away from land -- and now French scientists, in a study published in Wednesday, believe they can supply the answer.

A team from National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) attached monitoring devices to a dozen male and female macaroni penguins (Eudyptes chrysolophus) at the onset of winter on the French Indian Ocean territory of the Kerguelen Islands.

Weighing just six grammes (a fifth of an ounce) each, the gadgets were attached to the penguins' legs by a harmless plastic strap.

The tufty-headed birds headed out to sea a few days later for their annual forage and the tiny recorders logged the location, ambient light and water temperature wherever they went.

The following spring, roughly six months later, the penguins returned to Kerguelen to breed.

The scientists recovered the devices and downloaded the data, and also took blood samples to get a chemical signature of what the birds had been eating.

Once at sea, the birds swiftly swam away from Kerguelen, heading eastwards into the southern Indian Ocean, the investigators found.

They dispersed widely, spending more than 80 percent of their time in a long geographical band between 47 and 49 degrees latitude south.

The rest of the time was spent farther south, closer to the fringes of the Southern Ocean. They did not cross this limit, though, nor did they forage in pack ice.

The birds swam astonishing distances, clocking up 10,430 kilometres (8,930 miles) on average during their six months away. The most adventurous swam up to 2,400 kms (1,500 miles) from Kerguelen.

In the final weeks of the migration, the birds rushed to get home, covering a massive 1,743 kms (1,108 miles) in just one month.

Foodwise, the blood test showed that the penguins had gorged on crustaceans during their time at sea.

Contrary to expectations, they had not tucked into the major species of Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba, which only occurs farther south in colder waters.

The study is important as it pinpoints the penguins' key feeding grounds in the sub-Antarctic Indian Ocean, and thus helps conservation efforts, say the authors, led by Charles-Andre Bost.

Macaroni penguins are the most numerous penguin species, but their population is thought to have declined over the last two decades.

Climate change also poses a threat, as warmer waters and shifting ocean currents will affect food availability.

The paper appears in Biology Letters, a journal of the Royal Society, which is Britain's de-facto academy of sciences.

new and beautiful: a coin to a cat

Chris Hagebak, copyright, 2007.

I happened to be surfing DeviantART Saturday as I often like to do when I stopped short at this work. The simplicity of this image, the rich texture of the background, and the perfection of the cat's form appealed to me. And the title? A Coin to a Cat? Sounded familiar.

It WAS. According to Chris Hagebak, the artist, "The traditional Japanese saying "A coin to a cat" is similar to the English 'Pearls before swine' - it means basically that one shouldn't waste their gifts on those who don't appreciate them. It doesn't have any particular significance here - I just like to add old Japanese sayings to my Asian work." That's right, I'd listed that in an earlier post on cat proverbs. That richly mottled background is stained with coffee, and marks part of a short series portraying Asian-themed cats and mice - check out his sumi-e Kanji Mice.

Chris' profile on DeviantART is called RamonaQ, and here's his website.

Good Hygiene Important to Pet Ownership

Your dog's mouth, coat and paws may not be as clean as you think.

In fact, your dog could easily be carrying infectious bacteria that can make you and your family sick. Just think about these tidbits from ThePetPlace.com

Dogs love to roll around in the dirt and grass but when they do, they can pick up some infectious diseases that can be passed along to you. These are called zoonotic diseases.

Here are just 4 examples:

1. Parasite eggs - Your dog can ingest parasite eggs or pick them up on his paws and coat whenever he comes in contact with infected garden soil or sand. When you touch your dog, that infection can be transmitted to you.

2. Bird droppings - Inhaling the dust from dried bird droppings can cause a bacterial disease called psittacosis. If your dog sniffs dried bird droppings, he will inhale the dust. If he walks through the dried bird droppings or rolls around in them, the dust gets on his paws and in his coat. When you pet him or hug him, you can inhale the dust and become infected.

3. Dog urine - Coming into contact with infected dog urine causes a bacterial infection called leptospirosis. Infected urine can easily get on your dog's paws or coat. If you touch him (or anything that has come into contact with the infected dog urine), you can also become infected.

4. Ringworm - This disease has nothing to do with worms. It is a contagious fungal infection that be passed from your dog to you through contact.

So what can you do to protect your dog, your family and yourself?

Good hygiene is the key ... for both of you.

Caturday funnies

from Cute with Chris

(via Fropki)



from randompictures

joni's cat runs away. music happens.

While writing songs for her 1998 album Taming the Tiger, Joni Mitchell had to discipline her cat Nietzsche for being very naughty. She put him outside for the night, which for her was unheard of - and neither was Nietzsche, for 18 days.

She painted his portrait for a lost-cat notice to give all her neighbors. She called his name, she listened for his steps. And in the silence of her missing cat she wrote the song "Man from Mars."

The cat came back, and in an interview of 2000 Mitchell says (among other tales of her four cats),

When I played the song for him, he stood on his hind legs and danced, so he
recognized it somehow. What had happened is that I was outside at night,
calling, trying to hear his voice, and in so doing I heard far into the distance
in my neighborhood. I'd never listened to my neighborhood as closely as I did
when he was gone.

You can hear a snippet of "Man from Mars" from the Amazon.com sampler here. There's another telling of the story at Anecdotage.com.

Stunning

More on Kevin Richardson, the "Lion Whisperer"

and

Watch Kevin Richardson swim with a lioness

Smile, it's Friday!

(via lukees)

a big dog smile from 1850

Identified as "Children of Lt. Montgomery C. Meigs, in donkey cart with dog, probably Mary Montgomery, Charles, Montgomery, and John Rodgers." Photographer unknown, but taken 1850 or 1851.
Credit: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, LC-USZC4-3599 DLC. With great thanks.

See the smile on that dog? No? Look here:

10 Signs of Pet Anxiety

Pets suffer from anxiety, but unlike their human companions, they cannot verbalize what is causing their discomfort. Instead, they communicate their distress through signs of nervousness and fear by their behavior. A pet is often labeled as having a behavior problem, when in fact the animal is reacting to something he does not understand or perceives might be a threat. Knowing the signs and possible causes of anxiety can help you to ease your pet’s distress.

Below are 10 signs of pet anxiety:

1. Excessive barking or meowing, whining, yelping, crying

2. Pacing, panting, restlessness or running around

3. Cowering, trembling, shaking

4. Excessive vigilance with exaggerated startle response

5. Hiding under furniture, in the bathroom or freezing to the spot

6. Seeking comfort from owner/guardian

7. Drooling, vomiting

8. Inappropriate urination or defecation

9. Destructive chewing

10. Running away

Leaving your pet home alone, boarding/kenneling, veterinarian or groomer visits, new animals or visitors to the home are some of the many causes of anxiety in pets. There are no drugs approved for most anxiety conditions in pets, and even in cases where drugs have been registered, there is concern about side effects, particularly heavy sedation.

Fursday Fun

from A Tale of Two Corgis

from Photocase

the frolicsome kitten, 1824

Dear kitten, do lie still, I say,
for much I want you to be quiet,
Instead of scampering away,
And always making such a riot.

There, only see, you've torn my frock,
And poor mamma must put a patch in;
I'll give you a right earnest knock,
To cure you of this trick of scratching.

Nay, do not scold your little cat,
She does not know what 'tis you're saying:
And ev'ry time you give a pat,
She thinks you mean it all for playing.

But if your pussy understood
The lesson that you meant to teach her,
And did not choose to be so good,
She'd be, indeed, a naughty creature.

-- from Rhymes for the Nursery, by the authors of Original Poems. 16th ed. London: Printed for Harvey and Darton, Gracechurch-street, 1824.

Today's awwww

the dudley experience

His name was Dudley. He was long and low and coal black, and he ate things. Like the pompom off my cute jacket. He was taken in by Carolyn and Mike when Carolyn's dad passed away, and was a secure source of comic relief and aggravation ever after. Then he shuffled off to mutt heaven. End of the story? Oh no. You don't know Dudley.

And so I share with you this essay by my friend, writer Carolyn Rose, about the dog who could manifest chaos beyond the grave.

* * *

Anyone who spent any amount of time with Dudley knew he wasn’t an easy dog to have around. He wanted things his way—RIGHT NOW.

Yesterday I packed up his ashes to mail to NY so my brother can scatter him on the mountain with Dad.

On a previous trip to the P.O. I’d been advised to pack the ashes in a small flat box and then put that in a priority mailing envelope. Seemed simple enough, right?

But, aware of what I call “the Dudley factor,” I showed up with my box, unsealed in case someone wanted to check the contents. I brought along a roll of heavy tape, a scissors, and a marking pen. I even brought the certificate of cremation.

I was second in line and there were four clerks on duty. Within seconds I was standing at the counter where the clerk informed me I needed to seal the box with paper tape. Fortunately, they were able to supply that and I took my project to a work table in the lobby.

When I was done, I got back in line behind four people. There were now only two clerks on duty, so many minutes passed before I reached the head of the line and was called to the counter by the same clerk. “Oh no,” she told me. “You’ve done this wrong. The tape must go lengthwise and seal all the edges. You’ll have to do it again.

Back at the work table, I sealed with a vengeance and then returned to the line to stand behind seven people now waiting to be served by just one clerk.

Twelve minutes later, I reached the counter, handed over the roll of paper tape and damp sponge, and explained that the sealed box (looking not unlike something from an Egyptian tomb) should go inside a priority envelope. “You didn’t need to seal this up if it’s going in an envelope,” he said.

Gritting my teeth, I explained what the other clerk had told me. “Well, it can’t hurt to have extra tape,” he said. He’d slipped it into an envelope when another clerk appeared and told him he’d need to seal up all the seams of that envelope with more paper tape and, “It might not be according to regulations even then.”

“Let’s take a chance,” he said, and sealed away, finishing off by stamping all the seams with “Vancouver” and the date.

And so, after half an hour and $21.95 in postal fees, to my great relief I watched the clerk put the envelope in a canvas sack.

Dudley is on his way back to the Catskills. This trip is far different from the five-day Odyssey that brought him to Vancouver, but return journeys are seldom the same. And somewhere Malcolm, my father, is having a good chuckle about a dog that tried the patience of us all and perhaps, at the same time, strengthened our characters just a little.

-- fini
copyright C Rose 2009

Whistling Orangutan Amazes Scientists

According to an article on ZooToo, an Orangutan at the Washington Zoo has a unique talent - the ability to whistle. While chimpanzees and orangutans have been trained to whistle in the past, Bonnie's ability is highly uncommon as she learned on her own without rewards from human trainers.

Why is it so unique? The ape would have to know how to use her lips and control her breath to make a sound.

Born in captivity and raised by humans, Bonnie the orangutan has always been in close contact with her more evolved cousins; researchers think Bonnie picked up her famous skill from hearing a zookeeper whistle.

a day late: happy mother's day!

snoop holds up a wall

And does it with style, too. Some equal-time graffiti appreciation after Monsieur Chat, this dapper pup is "Cork Graffiti, Snoop by Cuf2." I believe the Cork referred to is (thanks Michael - Corrected from city!) in Ireland.

Caturday funnies

from miezenkatzen

(thanks, Jen)

from Pixdaus

from miezenkatzen

Video: Animals vs. Mirrors

From BuzzFeed a bunch of videos of pets reacting adorably stupid to their own reflections.

(via Miss C Recommends)

more andalusian beauties

Yesterday, when I wrote of El Cid's horse Babieca, I found myself quite frustrated at having so little to offer on what was clearly a special and exemplary breed of horse. Today I went looking for more on the Andalusian horse. . .
. . . and hit the jackpot.

I have found the website for the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art, or Fundacion Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre, in Cadiz, Spain. Established in 1973, the School is dedicated to the Spanish horse, its training and the history and art in which the horse played a major part. This all originated with a show called "How the Andalusian Horses Dance," which is still available to see today, but there is so, so much more. You cannot take this site all in even in 2 or 3 sittings. There is a page detailing the Museum of Equestrian Art, and another for the Horse Carriage Museum. You can learn about the gardens. And if you can get to Spain, you can take courses. Perhaps you would like to watch these elegant, slender, tender-eyed horses train, or tour their shining clean tiled stables.

What a trip you'd have! Have a look.

Smile, it's Friday!

Photo from JNEK Vizslas

Fursday Fun

from Flickr, by jpockele

from randompictures

from Disapproving Rabbits

from flickr, by ngleiz_q

Loving Mothers - Mother's Day 2009

For Mother's Day 2007, we presented A Mother's Love. This year, we continue with "Loving Mothers", a tribute to the love of mothers of every species.

Happy Mother's Day!

Tad Motoyama/Los Angeles Zoo



Amanda O'Donohue/Knoxville Zoo

Win McNamee / Getty Images

Michael Gottschalk / AFP - Getty Images



Save China's Tigers / EPA







Attila Kovacs / AP Photo

Arno Burgi / EPA



Robin Loznak / The News-Review

Liminal Effects



Zhou Qingxian / Zuma Press

Zoo Altlanta via AP

Nigel Treblin / AFP - Getty Images

AP Photo/WCS, Julie Larsen Maher

AP Photo/Wong Maye-E

via My World's a Zoo